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heart.
    His son would have been about this child’s age. Is this how it would feel to hold his own flesh and blood on hislap? To feel the touch of his little hands as they explored the cuff of his sleeve? To hear his son babble nonsense noises and giggle?
    By now, would he have been taking this sweet baby smell for granted?
    If it wasn’t for Miss Amelia Hawthorne, Hank could have remained numb to the pain searing his heart like a hot iron. He wouldn’t have been forced to face all he had lost, to touch and feel all the joy he would never know.
    And if it wasn’t for her, he probably wouldn’t be sheriff of Glory, Texas, either.
    He had to get out of this house. Now.

Chapter Six
    U pon entering the bedroom Rebekah shared with her husband, Amelia found the young woman lying on a pallet on the floor. Rebekah Ellenberg insisted on giving birth as she’d seen Comanche women do during her years in captivity. At least Hattie had successfully talked the young woman out of delivering her child on the ground outside.
    Amelia had known the Ellenbergs for years. She’d nursed Hattie back to health after a Comanche attack on the Rocking e Ranch. She knew all the heartbreak Joe and Hattie had suffered. But time and prayer heals all wounds and when Rebekah came into their lives, Joe found his faith again.
    Amelia prayed that one day, her brother Evan might find the peace of mind and of heart that Joe had finally found.
    She knelt on the floor beside Rebekah and comforted the young woman in the last stages of delivery. Little Orson Wolf, named after his grandfathers, had come so swiftly Amelia had barely arrived in time to usher him into the world. But it appeared his sibling was not going to follow his lead.
    Rebekah was in great pain, clinging to Joe’s hand, pushing with all her might but nothing was happening. Afraid this might be a breech birth, Amelia sent Joe after Hattie and did a quick examination. The baby was well positioned, so Amelia suggested Rebekah scream as loud and long as she wanted. A few moments later, the child began to move.
    Hattie knelt on the opposite side of the pallet and supported Rebekah’s back. Amelia encouraged the young mother to push. The birth process was too far along for Amelia to give Rebekah a concoction of sweet nitre and syrup of saffron, or laudanum, or acetate of morphia.
    The time for rest was over. There was nothing to do at this stage but encourage her to try to push her baby into the world.
    When Rebekah screamed again, Joe came running. His dark eyes were shadowed with worry. Sweat beaded his brow.
    “Where’s Orson?” Hattie was about to leave, but Rebekah clung to her hand with a strength that belied her pain.
    “I handed him to the gent that drove Amelia out here. I forget his name.” Joe looked lost as he stared at his wife. As he smoothed back her hair, his hand shook. He pressed a wet towel against Rebekah’s brow.
    As if he sensed her gaze, Joe’s eyes found Amelia’s. She forced a smile.
    “This isn’t unusual, Joe. It’s just not what you all expected after Orson’s easy arrival. You let her hang on to you and everything will be fine.”
    “Dear God,” she whispered. “Let this child come into the world to love and serve You. Let Rebekah and Joecontinue to live out their lives as witness to Your goodness and the blessings You bestow upon us.”
    Joe and Hattie added, “Amen.”
    Rebekah screamed. And pushed. And screamed.
    Twenty minutes later, Orson Wolf’s sister entered the world with a lusty cry.
    Amelia had two equal lengths of string ready. She tied off and cut the cord and handed the infant to Hattie, who carried her over to a wash table where a bowl of warm water waited. Rebekah’s gaze followed the woman’s every move until her mother-in-law brought the baby back and laid her in Rebekah’s waiting arms.
    As Joe and Rebekah stared in wonder at their perfect little girl, Amelia monitored Rebekah, expecting the womb to contract and expel the