Daughter Of An Outlaw

Forgiveness Within A Daughter

I made up with Eugene for now, but didn't completely trust him. He knew why, and he's been slowly making it up to me. I was more pregnant than ever, and was somehow afraid that I was gonna have twins. Mostly because me and Eugene were twins, and Momma was making jokes about it. But besides that, I was pretty much ready to have this child at any moment.

When Jeremiah's second birthday came, I was already thirty five weeks pregnant. We celebrated with a cake, and got him a brand new bed as well. Also, during my time of being pregnant, Momma, Pa, Uncle John, and Uncle Charles were building onto the house. They added one more room, which was where Jeremiah was gonna be once the new baby came.

One night, as I struggled to stand up due to my stomach holding me down, Pa helped me up by pulling me upwards. I was thirty seven weeks now. And then it happened. My water broke.

Pa looked underneath me, surprised at the puddle.

"Bria, did you just-"

"No," I shook my head, "no. That would be my water breaking."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Don't just stand there," Momma replied, setting the dirty dishes down, "go get the wagon ready! We ain't gonna have a repeat of last time!"

I chuckled before feeling a sharp pain. I bent over in pain.

"Oh, I hope he's fast," I mumbled, sitting back down.

"Everything okay?" Eugene came out from the hallway, holding Jeremiah.

"Mhm," I groaned, gripping the arms of the chair, "just having a baby."

"Right now?"

"Yes right now," I looked up at him, "can you stay here with Jeremiah?"

Eugene stared at me, his eyes wide. "You want me to stay here?"

"Well, I want Momma with me, and Pa's gotta drive the wagon, so who else could stay?"

"I-I don't know-"

"Exactly."

Jeremiah wiggled from Eugene's grasp, coming over to me. "Momma, are you okay?" He reached up and touched my cheeks.

"Momma's fine," I replied, brushing a strand of hair away, "I just have to go see Dr. Phil, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay."

"Now, you're gonna be here with Uncle Eugene tonight, so you better listen, okay?"

He nodded again. Pa came through the back door panting. "Wagons ready."

Momma looked down at me. "Come on, let's go have your baby."

*****

After two hours of enduring labor pain, I finally gave birth. It was a beautiful baby girl who had a head full of curls. Pa had went to get Henry, and they both arrived just in time.

I stayed the night at the doctors office for the night just to make sure nothing went wrong. Henry stayed with me, as did Momma. I was up most of the night feeding our new baby.

Henry sat down next to me on the bed, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. Momma was asleep in the chair across from the bed. He kissed my forehead before letting out a sigh.

"So, what should we name her?"

I hummed. "I'm not sure yet." I looked up at him. "Your Ma passed away when you were young, right?"

He nodded. "Pneumonia."

"What was her name?"

"Madeline Jane Williams."