The sight of the three-month-old made him smile, as always. “You’re going to be a handsome man, just like your pa,” he whispered. Joshua had been born in late January. Hawk had had to help with the delivery because Deborah Stevens had trouble getting to their cabin through the snow. Everything had gone fine and Hawk exulted in this new son of his. Iris Taylor, who had come in to help Elizabeth get the children ready, smiled. “It’s amazing how much that child has grown. I believe he’ll be as big a man as you are, Hawk.” “I hope he’ll be smarter,” Hawk said. He cradled the baby in his arms for a while, listening as the women in the kitchen were running around trying to get the food ready to go. Finally, putting the baby down, he passed through the kitchen as they discussed the upcoming day of celebration and talked about seeing friends who had not been in the settlement for some time. Stepping outside the door, he found Sequatchie, Andrew, and Jacob, who had hitched up the wagon and saddled the horses.
