Two Years Later…

Daniel paced back and forth anxiously. The more time passed, the more certain he became of how absolutely ridiculous it was that fathers were of no use at all when their wives were giving birth!

Hannah had been in labor since the middle of the night, and it was already after noon now. Thankfully, Della lived here, being Hannah’s stepmother, so there was no need to go and fetch her.

Still, Daniel almost wished Della didn’t live here, if only because going to get her would have given him something to do! He’d gladly watch water boil in the kitchen, at this point.

However, Ophelia already had that covered. She had stopped by for a visit with Hattie, and she’d quickly decided to take the little girl back to her father so she could return and lend a helping hand to Della and Hannah.

Ezra was sitting on the porch as Daniel paced back and forth. He was fairly sure his father-in-law was there solely as a calming presence. Daniel wished it was working better, but he could admit to himself that it was helpful for his nerves to see how unworried Ezra was.

After all, if Ezra wasn’t anxious at all, surely there was nothing to be concerned about. He took comfort in this fact, though it still didn’t keep him occupied.

Even Toby had something to do, gladly offering to watch the ferry for them and to let people know that the ferry wouldn’t be making any crossings today, just in case they didn’t see the sign.

It wasn’t a very useful task, considering folks would probably pick up on its closure simply because of no one being there. He was sure the young man was just using it as an excuse to linger and to let people know the baby was soon to be born any minute, not that Daniel minded.

Eventually, Ezra must have gotten tired of his pacing, as the older man reached over, grabbed his cane, and then poked Daniel’s leg while telling him, “Sit down for a while.”

Daniel shook his head, refusing to even try. “It wouldn’t do any good.”

He paced a while longer, noticing how slowly the shadows moved under the cottonwood trees. Even with all they went through with Whitaker, he’d never felt a day drag on to such an extent.

Finally, he decided he would just go inside and grab a glass of water as an excuse to subtly ask how things were going. Surely, it had been long enough that no one would mind if he checked in again.

Stepping into the house – ignoring Ezra’s amused huff behind him – he was pleased to see that Ophelia wasn’t in the kitchen. It gave him the opportunity to sneak closer to the room where Hannah was in labor.

Then, he reconsidered. Maybe Ophelia was in the room with Hannah because there was a complication of some sort and Della needed her help! No longer having any intention of keeping up with his intended ruse of getting water, he strode right over toward their room.

When he was just a couple of steps away from the door, a specific sound had him freezing as all of the breath left his lungs: the sound of a baby crying.

He wasn’t sure how long he stood still, but when he did close the short distance to the door, it was as though he was in a trance. Lightly rapping on the door with his knuckles, he half suspected that he was imagining the sound.

But, no, he could still hear a baby intermittently crying. Thankfully, it was only a second before he heard Ophelia on the other side of the door, telling him in no uncertain terms, “If that be you, Daniel, I expect you to stay out there for just a mite longer. Hannah’s just fine, and so is y’all’s daughter.”

Daniel mentally froze once more. Daughter. He had a daughter! Both Hannah and their daughter were fine! It sent a flood of overwhelming joy rushing through his veins.

He ended up just standing there until Ophelia opened the door. She pursed her lips at the sight of him so dumbstruck, but he didn’t look at her, not even when Ophelia told him, “You can come on in. Hannah’s been cleaned up a bit.”

He didn’t truly hear her, as his eyes never left Hannah. She was propped up against a small pile of pillows, and there was a baby in her arms. Their baby.

Hannah had loose strands of hair all over her face, she was pale, and there were circles under her eyes. Despite all of that, she was smiling, and Daniel was smiling back at her. She was beautiful; they both were.

He only stopped when he was right beside her. They both spent a moment doing nothing but gazing down at the pink baby in awe. Though she was wrinkly, her eyes weren’t open, and she wasn’t even completely clean, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.

It was Hannah who broke the silence between them, softly telling him, “I know we talked about a lot of name options, but… Now that she’s here, I’d like to call her Mary Ophelia, if that is all right with you. Mary Ophelia Merritt.”

Daniel gently sat down on the edge of her bed, tentatively reaching out to place a hand on Mary’s head. “I like it,” he told her, glancing over his shoulder to try to see what Ophelia thought of the name.

However, the woman in question wasn’t there; only Della was. Della saw his look and shook her head, telling him, “She left the moment she could so she could get Caleb and Hattie. She knew they’d want to see the baby. I’m sure she’ll be right proud about the little one having her name, though.”

Daniel nodded, turning his attention back to his newborn daughter as Della cleaned up around the room. Hannah dozed off for a little while, but Daniel didn’t move at all. He could hear Della coming in and out of the room, but he didn’t acknowledge anything otherwise.

Eventually, Mary started to wiggle in her blanket, her face scrunching up as she started to whimper. This woke up Hannah, who stretched a little before blearily blinking her eyes for a second.

He placed a hand under Mary, just in case Hannah moved too much. He needn’t have worried, though, as Hannah hadn’t even fully woken up before she was beaming down at their baby.

She stretched again and then said, “I think I’d like to get some fresh air on the porch for a little while. It’ll be easier for folks to see her that way anyway; there’ll be more room.”

Daniel shook his head, about to tell her that she shouldn’t be moving. However, Della spoke up first, saying, “That is fine, as long as Daniel carries you so you don’t have to walk. While you are there, it’ll give me the chance to change your bedding.”

He glanced over his shoulder to send Della a questioning look, but Della seemed sure of her statement that it would be fine. Considering she was a midwife, he saw no reason to doubt her.

So, a few minutes later, after Mary had been fed, Daniel was setting Hannah on the bench in front of the house. He placed her legs on the bench as well to keep her lying down, and Della followed behind with a couple of pillows to put behind Hannah’s back for comfort.

Daniel sat behind Hannah’s head to offer her more support. This gave him a perfect view of Toby. The young man was staring at the baby with wide eyes, standing several feet away as though he wasn’t sure he was allowed to come closer. Daniel smiled, finding the sight amusing.

After Hannah was settled to Della’s satisfaction, the midwife turned and told Toby, “You can come closer in a moment; just wait your turn.”

Toby nodded as Della went over to Ezra, helping him from his chair and over to stand at Hannah’s side so he could see his granddaughter. Daniel couldn’t help but puff out his chest just a little. Sure, it was ridiculous, but he was so proud of the new life he’d created with Hannah.

Ezra didn’t linger long, only reaching out to stroke Mary’s cheek before doing the same on the side of Hannah’s face. With a look at Daniel, which told him that he better do a good job of raising her, Ezra then turned and went back to his chair with Della’s help.

Della nodded at Toby that he could take his turn now. Toby was still hesitant as he came closer. Then, with a mischievous smile, he looked up at Hannah and Daniel and told them, “I think she’s a really pretty baby. That said, my littlest sister was a prettier one.”

Daniel narrowed his eyes as Hannah chuckled for a moment. He told the boy in no uncertain terms, “If that’s how you feel, there’s no need for you to be here. She’s the loveliest baby girl in the county, and that’s the end of the matter.”

There was snickering all around, but Daniel didn’t mind. While he truly thought he was right, he was in far too good of a mood to be the slightest bit offended about others potentially not agreeing with him.

Toby said his farewells, promising to let folks know about the good news, and then turned and left. He hadn’t been gone long before a wagon came up toward the house. Caleb was driving the wagon, Ophelia beside him with Hattie in her lap.

The moment the wagon came to a stop, Ophelia jumped down and set Hattie on the ground. The little girl instantly ran over to Hannah, excitedly calling her name over and over, her black curls bouncing all around her head.

Hattie didn’t stop until she was about to climb up into Hannah’s lap, only to realize there was already a baby there. Hannah and Daniel both laughed a little as Hattie’s dark eyes went wide at the sight of Mary.

Loosening the blanket so Hattie could see better, she explained, “Do you remember how I told you I was going to have a baby?”

Hattie looked up at Hannah, back down at Mary, and then pointed and asked, “Baby?”

When Hannah nodded, Hattie grew excited, waving her hand as she said, “Hi, nu baby! You gonna be my fend! We play games and have fun.”

As Hattie kept chattering away at Mary, Ophelia approached and quietly asked, “What did you decide to name her?” Daniel let Hannah be the one to answer, and he simply sat there and enjoyed getting to watch as Ophelia looked surprised and then touched at the news.

Caleb huffed, complaining in a good-natured tone, “At least you didn’t give it to her as a first name. I still intend on using it someday for a littlun of my own.”

Daniel teasingly replied, “First, you’d have to actually get yourself a wife.”

Ophelia had already told them during past visits about how Caleb had hit it off with a new schoolteacher who had started teaching classes in New Canaan. Caleb was only one of the adults making the time to learn from her, but she had shown an equal amount of interest in him as he did in her.

In fact, they might as well already be courting, considering how much extra time she managed to give Caleb. Therefore, it caught everyone’s attention when Caleb rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze falling to the ground as he said, “Actually…”

Even Ophelia was looking at him questioningly. Caleb grinned, announcing, “I decided to go for it, and I asked her to marry me. She said yes.”

After everyone congratulated him, Caleb added, “We hope to get married in the fall.”

Daniel was pleased for Caleb, who deserved this new chance at happiness. It was especially nice to know right now that Whitaker was far away, serving his life sentence in the federal penitentiary at Jefferson City.

Sam and a few of the other men with him were also serving life sentences, and none of them would be coming anywhere near them.

It had taken a while to set everything to rights, but all of the wrongfully taken land had been restored to its rightful owners. In cases where the rightful owners were dead, it had been given to their next of kin.

Daniel was pulled out of his wondering thoughts when Hannah turned her head to look up at him, telling him with a smile, “I’m sure that Charlotte and her Uncle Gideon will be glad to know all the news in your next letter. Make sure you invite them both to come down here to meet her.”

“I will,” he assured her.

Kissing the top of her head, he let himself revel in how wonderful everything was. This river had become home to him, and he couldn’t imagine his life any other way.

As everyone rejoiced at all the good news, the river was adding its gentle murmur in the same way it always was. It was a steady presence in the life he loved.

THE END