by Kate Morris
Others come out of the house to find out what Kelly is so excited about. They rush out to congratulate them. Sue cries. Paige smiles, but it seems forced. He isn’t sure if she is sad because of her miscarriage or if she does not believe in having children anymore because of the way the world is now. He has heard as much from Reagan regarding Paige, but Herb is confident that someday Cory will be able to change her mind.
The children decide that since everyone is outside anyway, they might as well chase lightning bugs and each other. Their laughter fills the farm and his heart.
He wishes he could just live in the joy of this moment. These children will inherit his farm someday, and the men know how important it is that they destroy any and all threats that could stop that from happening. Herb knows what they are capable of, but he does not share their confidence that they can so easily defeat this large group of evil men and their corrupt leaders. Gaining the help his son is offering is going to make it a greater possibility, but it does not stop the doubts from entering his mind as he watches Arianna chase Huntley around the yard, her laughter ringing out in the night like the tinkling of bells. This farm was meant for this, for the laughter of children and the security that the family provides. He looks up to find Derek standing in the open doorway from the front porch to the entry hall. He is leaning on his cane again, apparently sore from using his brace, which is proving the most brilliant contraption he has ever been a part of building. The intensely grave expression on his face, however, mirrors Herb’s worries as he, too, watches the children play so carefreely.
