IF YOU EVER LEAVE

by LARONDA 2004

Author's note: THANK YOU, NORA FOR ALL THE HELP.

Savannah Cross hummed as she washed the dishes. She dried the last dish and placed it in the cabinet. She placed a hand on her stomach and smiled. She and her husband were expecting their first child. She was just a few months along but she could feel the baby growing more and more each day. She suddenly felt weak and nervous, she grabbed a nearby chair and held on with all her might.

Rachel Cody entered the farmhouse. She held her six month old son tightly as he was a little pistol. He was covered head to toe with mud. She smiled at him and pushed his fine blonde hair back. "Savannah!" Rachel heard a moan and she rushed to the kitchen where she placed little Cody on the floor. She rushed the table. Savannah was lying on the floor. Her eyes filled with tears and concern. "Rachel" she cried. Rachel looked down. Savannah's dress was covered with dark red blood. Rachel gasped. "Oh God!"

Doc Barnes sighed. "I am sorry, Mrs. Cross." Savannah put her face in her hands and sobbed. He rubbed her shoulders. Buck entered the room as Doc Barnes walked towards him. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "I am so sorry for your loss."

Buck wrapped his arms around Savannah and she placed her arms around his neck. She looked up at him her brown eyes filled with tears "You probably hate me now." Buck held her tightly. "No darling I love you, why would I hate you?" She looked up again and smiled. "Because of the baby." Buck cupped her face in his large hands. "I love you, Savannah, no matter what."

Savannah and Buck sat down in a bench at the church she held her husband's hand and sighed sadly. "God has the baby now," Buck smiled, "if you ever leave." Savannah turned to him. "Huh?"
Buck grinned. "My mother said if a person leave for heaven the family remembers them with a song."
"What is it called, Buck?"
"My mother called it If you ever leave." Savannah smiled
"My people say this ' Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints' ".

THE END