26. Rebel

I didn't callEvie because I wanted to surprise her. Viper picked Reaper and me up at the airport. I had just stepped out of the truck when I heard Evie singing. She was writing a song and then playing her guitar, putting music to words. It amazed me how she could write and compose a song.

Reaper walked on the porch. "Hi, Evie." She stopped playing and stood up. Where is he?"

"I'm right here, sweetheart. She ran to me. I wrapped my arms around her, and she put her arms around my waist and kissed my chin. I chuckled and kissed her passionately.

"I'll leave the two of you alone," Reaper said.

"I'm so happy you are home. How do you feel?"

"I'm a little sore, but I'm on the mend. How is everything here?"

"Hannah and I had dinner with Grandma yesterday. I'm glad she moved here. She will be at Steel's at four in the morning on the day of his family reunion to help the women cook. His aunt is picking her up. She is so excited. Moving here has helped her so much."

"That's great, sweetheart, but I wanted to know about you. How are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm doing good. Better now that you are home. I love you, and I missed you. I hope you don't have to go overseas too often. It's scary that you were shot. I wanted to go to you. But I didn't want to leave Hannah."

"You're a wonderful mother to my daughter. I love you for that and a million other reasons. You're mine and will always be mine. Evie, will you please marry me and become my wife?"

"Yes, I will marry you and become your wife and Hannah's mommy. I love you so much." I pulled her in for a long kiss until I heard a little voice.

"Dada!" I turned my head, and everyone was watching us at the screen door. "She said yes!" I announced as I opened the screen door, picked up the baby, and held her close. She kissed my cheeks.

"Yay!" Everyone yelled. We are having a wedding!" Allison said. I looked at Evie. She smiled at me and then at everyone.

"I can't wait to become part of this family," she said.

"Sweetheart, you are already a part of this family. You are a big part of this family," I said, putting my arm around her.

"Mommy," Hannah said, putting her arm around Evie's neck and kissing her. I saw the tears in her eyes, but she wouldn't let them fall. I saw her blinking to keep them from falling. One little tear escaped, and she hurriedly wiped it away.

"Dinner is ready," Ghost said, and we all joined him in the kitchen for spaghetti, salad, and sweet tea.

Spartan, Benni, and Amy joined us, along with Viper and Bailey and their children, Ryan and Carly and their two kids, and Allison's other brothers and wives. It was a wonderful family dinner. Ghost and Allison out did themselves with dinner. It had been a while since we all got together for dinner. We put together all our tables, and the kids had their own tables to eat on.

Allison looked at us, and then she spoke. "I have some news I wanted to share with everyone."

"What is it, honey?" Ghost asked, looking nervous.

"I was going to wait and tell you, but everyone is here, so here it goes. "We are having a baby!"

"What? We're having a baby," Ghost exclaimed. He picked her up and twirled her around.

"Be careful, you'll hurt her," Reaper said, laughing. Carrie is going to kick herself for not being on the mountain."

"I'll call my sister later," Ghost said, holding Allison off the ground. He leaned down and kissed her deeply before Spartan cleared his throat. "We're going to our house tomorrow to start the remodeling. I want everything finished before the baby arrives. You have made me so happy, sweetheart. Is it bedtime?"

We all laughed, shaking our heads. When everyone went home, and we were in bed, I held Evie in my arms. We had just made love, and now my eyes were closing. I woke up an hour later when I heard Hannah crying. I flew out of bed. I grabbed my sweats and put them on as I ran.

"What's wrong with her. Oh my God, she's burning up," Evie said as I picked Hannah up. I ran to Allison and Ghost"s room and threw their door open. I ignored Ghost, pointing the gun at me. I went straight to Allison, Evie following behind me. "She's sick," I said.

"Let me put something on, and I'll look at her," Allison said. I turned around, but I did not leave the room. Ghost got out of bed, naked, and pulled on some sweats. He took Hannah from me. I let him have her because Ghost was a medic in the service. Hannah vomited all over him.

Allison took her from him and put her on the bed as Evie stood next to her, talking baby talk, trying to calm her so she wouldn't be scared. She vomited more and more as Evie picked her up and was able to calm her.

"Let's take her to the kitchen so I can check her thoroughly," Allison said. I took Hannah from Evie and followed Allison.

"Daddy's got you, baby. Daddy won't let anything hurt you. Look, Aunt Allison is going to make you all better." I took her clothes off and then took the warm cloth Evie started wiping her with and wiped her face myself.

All the time, my heart was beating hard and fast. I was scared something bad was happening to my child. I didn't realize I was shutting Evie out when she was trying to see what was happening with Hannah.

Then she told me to move over so she could see the baby. "Mommy," Hannah said. I pulled Evie up to where we were, and she took Hannah from my arms and kissed her. "Mommy loves you, baby."

"She has a bite right here,"Allison said, showing us where the bite was on Hannah's leg.

"What do you think bit her?" I asked.

"I don't know, but she needs to go to the hospital. I'll call and have everything ready for when you get there. I'll dress her while you two get dressed." I looked at Evie; she was wearing my tee shirt, and my sweats were low on my hips. We hurried to our room and dressed as Allison dressed Hannah.

We refused to leave Hannah's side when they asked us to sit in the waiting room. Before I could say anything, Evie shook her head. "We aren't leaving our daughter's side, so please don't ask us to leave the room again. We want to know what bit our baby and made her so sick."

"We will know as soon as the doctor has a chance to look at her leg," she said as if we were going to accept that.

"Dr. Allison Bellmont called for a doctor to look at Hannah."

"I know she did, but the right doctor wasn't here, so we had to call him."

"I hope he's not going to take long. That's when Allison walked in with Reaper and Ghost.

"Where's the doctor?" Allison asked.

"He was home, so we had to call him. He said he would get here as fast as he could. I'm sure he'll be walking in any minute. There cannot be this many people in here."

"I'm not going anywhere; my niece is sick, and I'm staying here until I see what bit her. I will be spraying the house and yard, but I have to know what I'm killing."

Evie rocked Hannah back to sleep. She had stopped vomiting, but her fever was still high, and her leg was all red. "Let me hold her for a while, sweetheart. You can have her back after you rest your arms," I said.