Page 26 of Westbound Awakening

"You will stay here for a few days. You don't look well enough to travel right now."

John opened his mouth as if to argue but stopped when she tapped her foot and nodded, "I'd appreciate it."

Not sure what to do, Mae took a breath. "I will get a bedroom ready for you." Her eyes swept to the other side of the table, and she noticed a small child who sat opposite John. He'd not moved since she'd entered, so she'd missed him being there. What was she thinking? Of course it was John's child. He'd mentioned needing the boy to stay. She swung back to John. "Did his mother come with you?"

"No, just us two."

She made her way toward the child. "My name is Mae." Her attempt at a smile failed.

Exact replicas of John's serious eyes looked back at her. The boy seemed at ease around strangers. "Hello."

"His name is Wesley," John told her. "My son."

"It’s more than obvious since he's your spitting image." Mae patted the boy's head and looked at John who stared at the boy as if noticing the resemblance for the first time.

"He's got your eyes, dark hair and seems to have your personality as well."

He gave her a questioning look.

Elma came back inside. "Alan is gone to fetch Doctor Kennedy. I will go see about Senor Hawkins."

"No," Mae stopped her. "I will go back. Please see about Mister McClain and Wesley." She was not ready be alone with John, didn't want to know why he was there with only his son. Not today. Thankfully, he did not try to stop her.

She went back to her father's bedroom to wait for the doctor to arrive but could not sit still. Twice she went to the door and started to leave, turned away and paced back to the window. Maybe she should go and talk to John, if he planned to leave the child with her. Where was the boy's mother?

John's wagon remained in the front of the house. Alan appeared and drove it away to the back where the stables were.

Why was John here? Why did he come alone with only the child? It was obvious he was very ill. Her face softened at recalling the small child. He was adorable; no doubt a replica of what John had looked like as a babe. Did John leave the boy's mother? Was it possible? No, perhaps, his she was away, and John needed help caring for the boy. Wesley. Yes that was his name. John needed help with Wesley since he was not feeling well.

Her head falling forward snapped Mae awake at Doctor Kennedy's voice just outside the doorway. The opening of the door made her jump to her feet and move toward it. Elma stood with him, a grim expression on her face. The doctor moved past Mae into the room and she would have followed him except for Elma taking her arm.

"Allow Doctor Kennedy to see after your father. Come have a cup of tea in the kitchen with me. You look exhausted."

She turned to look at the man in the bed, a virtual stranger yet she could not stop the sorrow from engulfing her. "All right, yes." Mae permitted Elma to steer her toward the kitchen.

They drank tea in silence for a few minutes, Elma watched her closely. "You have a good heart Senorita. You care for your father even though you never got to know him well." Elma shook her head at her shrug. "He loves you. A day rarely passed that he didn't mention you."

Mae heaved a sigh. "I don't know what I feel. Perhaps it’s just that I don't like to see anyone suffer… Speaking of which, where are John and his son?"

"Senor McClain went to lie down, and the child is asleep as well. I gave him something for the fever," Elma replied. "He said he felt bad asking you to look after the boy for him until he recovers."

"Oh," Mae replied, not sure what to think. "Did he say what was wrong?"

"I think he is very ill. Do you not have any idea?"

"No…well, his leg is injured. He was shot." Mae wondered if perhaps it had become infected again. "Doctor Kennedy should see about him once he finishes with father."

As if prompted, the doctor called for them, and both went to the master bedroom. "I'm sorry." His somber eyes met hers and then Elma's. "Your father has passed away Miss Mae," the doctor turned to the bed. "I'll give you some time with him."

Elma linked her arm through Mae's, her brow pinched. The woman no doubt was suffering even more than she. After all, she'd lived there for years, had known her father well. Mae patted the woman's hand, and Elma looked up her eyes filled with tears.

"Doctor, please wait." Mae went to him and told him about John. She went down the hall to the bedroom next to her and opened the door. Both John and Wesley were asleep, with the boy snuggled next to John's much larger body. Mae smiled at the sight and captured it in her mind. She picked up the boy, and John woke.

"I'll leave you to see about him doctor." Mae walked out with the sleeping child in her arms and placed him in her bed then went back to find Elma.

Joshua walked into the front room an hour later. He went directly to her father's bedroom and came back only a few minutes later ashen. "Uncle Joe wanted to be buried over in the east field next to Aunt Mary. I'll take care of it." Joshua fidgeted with his hat and looked to Mae. "If there's anything you need, I'm right next door."

What could she possibly need? Her life, if she chose to remain in Texas, was set. No money problems, an honest existence. And Virginia, although not the best of circumstances, it was a familiar comfortable place.