Chapter 16

Hattie

Hattie looked into the brown eyes of the little girl that lay in her arms. Joshua had fixed her a bottle as soon as he got back with the supplies. She’d greedily sucked the whole thing down in nothing flat. She probably hadn’t had anything to eat all day. It was a wonder that she was as calm as she had been.

The deputy and Joshua had seen her back to the Bride House. Once inside, she had been set upon by every woman in the house. They’d coo’d and aww’d and gushed over the little dark-haired, brown-eyed girl.

Before Hattie knew what was happening, the little one was being passed from lady to lady. They had all wanted to hold her and sniff that smell that was uniquely baby. Then finally they’d passed her back to Hattie when the odor coming from her newly soiled diaper overcame the pleasant smell of the baby.

She was everyone’s darling until she needed changed and then she was completely Hattie’s responsibility. Mrs. Williams came out of her room to see what all the fuss was about and had gone to get Sheriff Jack to ride out to her farm and have Glenn go out to the loft and drag down one of the cradles stored there.

Hattie cleaned her up and took her to their room. They would need to get a can with a lid to put the soiled items in before the smell ran them all out of the house. She marveled at this little one. The baby snuggled up in Hattie’s arms as they sat in the rocking chair. Hattie found herself talking to the little girl.

“Well now, what should we call you? I can’t keep calling you baby or little one for however long you’ll be here. Especially since it could be a long time. I couldn’t see sending you to school and telling the teacher your name is Little One. You look like a miniature version of my friend Haddie, but I can’t call you that either since it’s also my name. Oh, I know, Haddie’s middle name was Rose and mine is Ann so I’ll call you RoseAnn. Do you like that name RoseAnn?”

The baby giggled and reached for Hattie’s face. “Okay then, RoseAnn it is. I’m not your first mommy little RoseAnn, she went to heaven. So I guess I’m your mommy now. I know what it’s like to have your mommy go to heaven. Only I didn’t get another mommy. Don’t you worry, I’m going to make sure you have a mommy from now on.

“A mommy and seven aunts. Even if they won’t change your poopy diapers. Just know this, little RoseAnn, as long as there is breath in my body I promise you’ll be loved, protected, and cared for. Nothing will change that, even if they find your family.”

Hattie pulled the little girl up onto her shoulder and hugged her tight as tears of longing ran down her face.

She knew she was setting herself up for heartbreak if RoseAnn’s family could be found, but she didn’t care. Already she loved the little girl like she was her own and she’d keep her promise even if it was from afar.

This child would always be loved, wanted and protected. If someone tried to hurt RoseAnn, then Hattie would make them pay and keep her daughter safe. Now they just had to convince Joshua that they needed to get married so RoseAnn would have a Papa, too.

Joshua

Finally, Joshua had gotten to return home. His fires were almost out and his water had boiled away. He stoked the fires and retrieved more water. Joshua saw the envelope laying on his table and smiled. He’d read it while his water heated again. Joshua opened it, pulled out the letter and saw Haddie’s last letter was in it as well. He set that aside and opened the letter from Hattie.