Free Frontier Gift of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 5) by Dorothy Wiley

started down the trail leading away from their house, intending to go hunt rabbits. But as soon as he heard voices on the front porch he stopped.
    He watched, hidden behind a large pine tree as the midwife left their house. When her wagon passed by him, Mrs. Smith’s wrinkled face was frowning even more than usual.
    The old woman shook her head and muttered loudly, “I’m going to lose sleep over this one.”
    That made him think something was wrong.
    The midwife snapped the wagon team’s reins harshly and hurried away.
    He wasn’t exactly sure what a midwife did, but when he’d asked, his Pa told him that the woman would help his mother with delivering the baby that grew inside of her. Then, he’d asked why the midwife came today, because his mother didn’t act as if she was having a baby now. His Pa said it was to be sure everything was all right.
    That meant something might not be right. Judging by the look on the woman’s face, the midwife’s visit must not have gone well.
    He shifted his face to the other side of the tree trunk and glanced back at his mother. She still stood on the porch. Her eyes gleamed as though she wanted to cry. Then she clasped her hands to her mouth as if she were trying to hold something in. But it didn’t work. She started crying.
    The sight caused him to fret even more and he didn’t feel much like hunting now. His rifle clutched tightly in his hands, he turned into the woods. His lips quivered and his eyes burned. He wanted to get away. Somewhere where he could cry without anyone noticing.
    What if she died, just like his first mother did?
    Worry squeezed his chest and made him shiver. He began walking faster as scary thoughts built in his mind. Soon he started to run. His boots hit soggy earth, now and then, where the sun’s rays poked through the bare tree branches, melting the snow. In other places, his strides crossed patches of thick snow nestled in the shade of evergreen trees.
    He’d known panic only once before, when he’d fallen into that hidden cave. It felt just like this. Like he was falling into something black and terrifying.

    A stab of guilt pierced Catherine’s heart. She’d been unable to safely bring her first baby into this world. Would this child suffer the same fate because of her? She closed her eyes, her heart aching with remembered grief for one child and mounting fear for the other.
    Because she loved Sam so dearly, she already deeply loved this babe. She didn’t even know it was possible to love as much as she loved thisinfant still growing inside her. She glanced down and placed a hand on her belly. She could almost feel the child reaching out for his mother’s love—a love that was special and unique—and without a doubt a gift from above.
    Remember what you told Little John
, suddenly came into her head. Bowing her head, she promptly did as she’d bid the boy. She simply asked God to keep her and her baby safe and give her courage. Feeling better, she stood there a moment, letting the cool air soothe her face and calm her heated emotions. She dried her eyes with the corner of her apron, took a few deep breaths of the pine scented air, and let them out slowly. With each new breath, her heart felt more at ease.
    As the noisy wagon disappeared down the road, Catherine composed herself and wiped her face in time to hide her tears before Sam sprinted up to the porch.
    “Damn that ornery old woman. She left without speaking to me. Well? What did she have to say?”
    Catherine hesitated not wanting to lie to Sam. “She thinks I will bear a big healthy son.”
    Sam’s eyes widened and his face lit with joy. “A son?”
    “Yes, Sam. She thinks it’s a boy because he’s so big. She thinks he’ll be tall, like you. Speaking of tall boys, where’s Little John?”
    “He asked permission earlier to hunt rabbit and I told him to be back before dark. I should have made him stay close to the house after what happened this morning.”
    “I’m sure