While visiting another town one day, Cadmus ran across a young girl picking berries in a nearby forest. This had to be the most beautiful girl Cadmus had ever laid his eyes upon. Cadmus thought to himself as he watched her from atop his trusty steed. 'I must be at least 15 years her elder!' , and he was for she was but 18 years of age to which he was 33 years wise. He contemplated for a moment, as he decided to himself 'Why not?' He jumped down from his horse and approached her.

"Hello young lass, My name is Cadmus. I am from Shenandoah, just over the hills." He pointed and bowed.

Unstartled by his presence, the young maiden turned to him slowly and smiled warmly as she spoke.

"Why hello Sir, My name is Moira, I was wondering if you were ever going to speak." Moira smirked gently as her eyes twinkled to him.

"Huh? Oh...heh." Cadmus was taken aback by her knowledge of his presence but blew it off, thinking she must have seen him. He chuckled heartfully at her bluntness.

What Cadmus didnt know was that Moira did not see him, but rather she felt his presence, and heard his thoughts as well. For Moira had a sixth sense, some might call a telepathic ability, for she could hear the thoughts of others, and sometimes had visions of what was to be in the near future.This frightened Moira at times, but she was a kind-hearted lass and just let it become part of her.

Unfortunately others were not so kind, for Moira was chased from her villiage in her early teens for the "powers" she had. This forest now her home, a cottage over yonder far away from any travelers path, she built with her own fragile hands was where she resided.

Cadmus had forbidden Moira from venturing to town alone. He said it was for her own safety. But Moira could hear his silent thoughts.....how he "knew she would be unfaithful" once she ventured to town alone.

The days went on like this for quite some time until Moira was struck with an illness. Moira would wake up in the mornings, sick to her stomach, she felt too weak to do any of her daily house work. It was only then, when this happened that Cadmus finally took Moira to see the town doctor.

"A baby?!?!" Cadmus exclaimed. "A baby!!! Wooooohoooo!!"

Cadmus was overjoyed! Moira's face lit up to see her husband jumping around with excitement. Cadmus then hugged the doctor and the nurse midwife, then his wife and the two of them headed out the door.

One day during the seventh month, Moira was sitting in bed knitting booties for the baby, when Cadmus rushed in excited, again home early from the hunt.

"Look, my love, Look!!" Cadmus exclaimed as he held up the tiniest hunters jacket. "Jacob Shumacher, the town tailor, custom made this for the boy to wear when he gets old enough for me to take him on his first hunt."

Moira smiled gleefully at her husbands excitement. She chuckled lightly as she asked, "But Cadmus dear, what if it's a girl?" Moira smirked.

"Bah!" Cadmus answered with a wave of dismissal at the idea.

Moira frowned as she heard his thoughts as he walked away. "If she does anything right, she WILL give me a son."

Moira sighed heavily as all her happiness from the past several months was crushed. Moira knew in her heart the child was a girl, she had even been hoping so. Now she prayed to the Heavens....."Oh God, dear God, please let this child be a boy."

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The next two months went by quickly. Cadmus danced around with excitement and glee. Moira putting on a smile for her husband, hiding her sorrow for what she knew was soon to come.

With frequent visits to the doctor and midwife, Moira had become close friends with the midwife, Gretchen, who seemed to tend to her more. Moira had even confided in Gretchen about her "special power" in concern for the baby. Gretchen assured her the child would be fine, maybe even inherit the special gift, or something of the like of its own. Moira also told Gretchen of her concerns about the way Cadmus may react if the child was a girl.

Gretchen smiled softly at Moira "You are very emotional now dear, pregnancy tends to have that effect on women. I am sure you are overreacting." Gretchen smiled again. "I am sure, if it is a girl, Cadmus will love her just as much."

"Cadmus, Love, I think its time." Moira's voice trailed off as she cringed from another stomach pain.

Cadmus slowly rolled over and looked at his wife thru sleepy eyes. Then it hit him! His eyes popped open, and he jumped from the bed.

Moira chuckled and nodded to him. "Go get Gretchen, my love, I do not think we have time to get Dr. Davidson." She grimaced and grabbed her stomach as she spoke.

Cadmus nodded to his wife as he frantically got dressed. He quickly kissed her forehead then ran out the door.

Moira took deep breaths and gritted her teeth as pains shot thru her, all the while still praying for the child to be a boy. She knew she would love a girl just as much, but it was the love of Cadmus She feared the child would lose.

She heard the clippity-clop of horse hooves outside and knew they had returned.

Cadmus had rushed back in with Gretchen by his side. "What can I do? how can I help? He asked the midwife excitedly.

Gretchen saw the look of despair on Moira's face, knowing she did not want Cadmus in there, and so she spoke firmly to Cadmus.

"You can boil me a large pot of water, the largest you have, and get me a dozen or so clean towels....and then you can wait.....in the other room." Gretchen saw Cadmus's lips begin to open with argument, but she cut him off quickly. "we can handle this here, and I DON'T need you in my way!"

Cadmus nodded reluctantly and did as the midwife ordered. Moira sighed with relief.

As Cadmus left, the midwife looked to the worried and frightened Moira. "It's ok Dear, everything is going to be ok."

Moira nodded unconvinced as she jolted in her bed. She managed to sputter the words..."please be a boy!!"

Gretchen hushed her as her eyes opened wide. "My goodness this child is coming now!!!!" With that she grabbed two towels and soaked them in the water quickly.

Gretchen smiled brightly as she gently wrapped the child in a fresh towel and placed her in her mothers arms. "It's a girl Moira, a beautiful, wonderful little girl, such a little thing too. Why she couldn't weigh more than 5 pounds."

Moira smiled warmly at her daughter, and kissed her bald head as she hugged her tight to her chest.

"Let me go tell Cadmus he can come in now" Gretchen smiled warmly.

Moira sighed slightly knowing her husband's reaction already. She jolted as another pain shot thru her.

Gretchen walked out and smiled brightly to Cadmus. "Cadmus, You have a beautiful baby girl!!"

Cadmus's face lost all expression as he stood there speechless.

"You can go in now ." Gretchen smiled warmly as she offered.

"Umm..no..thats ok....I will wait till you are done." Cadmus turned and walked to the kitchen. He stood there emotionless as he doused the fire in the stove.

Gretchen frowned, now knowing all Moira's fears were confirmed. The midwife deep in thought for a moment, concerned for the child's welfare, she jumped as she heard the scream from Moira's room.

"GRETCHEN!!!"