Page 27 of Westbound Awakening

"We can discuss later if anything it all rightly belongs to you." Mae replied.

Joshua walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Don't think or say anything else on the matter. I am happy and don't begrudge you this house or the land. Like I said before, Aunt Mary and Uncle Joe took very good care of me. They were the best parents anyone could wish for. Raised me, being mine died when I was fourteen."

When Joshua left, Mae closed her eyes and immersed herself in the total silence of the moment. Elma was making arrangements for the wake, and Doctor Kennedy was still with John.

She let out a breath and opened her eyes at the sound of soft footsteps. Wesley stood at the doorway, his dirty bundle against his chest. "Momma?"

Mae went to him and scooped him up as he began to cry. "No baby, don't cry, please don't cry. I don't know where your momma is, and I am afraid if you keep crying I'm going to have to cry with you."

The little boy clung to her, his little body shaking as he sobbed and took shaky breaths in between. Mae began to him rock back and forth while rubbing his back. When Wesley continued to cry, she began to sing. It was an old song Miss Lady would sing to her when she cried for her mother.

"Sweet and low, sweet and low Wind of the Western Sea"

"Blow, blow, breathe and blow Wind of the Western Sea"

"Over the rolling waters, blow, Come from the dying moon and blow…"

Finally after little Wesley stopped crying and laid his head on her shoulder, he took another shaky breath. "Momma," he whispered.

Mae cradled him against her until his little body went limp and the bundle fell to the floor with a soft thump. She bent to pick up the pitiful parcel and returned to her bedroom, thankful the sleeping child could not see her tears. "Oh darling where is your mother?" She kissed his soft hair and laid him in her bed. He stirred a bit, but thankfully continued to sleep.

"Miss Hawkins?" Doctor Kennedy peered in from the doorway. "I must speak to you. It's urgent."

After a quick wipe at her cheeks with the back of her hands, she followed the doctor to the kitchen. When he hesitated, she poured him a cup of coffee he readily accepted. Lines of fatigue stretched across his brow, the man sat and took a couple swallows of the hot liquid. "I'm afraid I have to lay the burden on you of making a very difficult decision for John."

Mae sunk into the nearest chair. "I'm exhausted Doctor Kennedy. I am not sure I have any strength left." She looked to the back door desperately wishing someone would enter and take control of the situation that was about to get much worse. When no one did, Mae sighed and met the doctor's eyes. "Is John going to die too?"

"No Miss Hawkins, not if I amputate his leg today."

15

Clouds covered the sun, and the day turned gray. Fitting, Alan thought and leaned against the rail. He looked toward the interior of the ranch house. All the windows had light pouring out from them. He lit a cigarette and inhaled the sweet tobacco deeply before releasing the smoke. Things were chaotic inside, death did that, made people spur into action. Something he was quite familiar with.

Without thought he rubbed the center of his chest. The familiar pang did not lessen. Footsteps neared, and Joshua came to lean against the fence beside him. "Could use a hand digging the grave."

"Yeah, I figured as much, got the shovels," Alan said and motioned with his head to the tools next to him. "The old man will be put to rest right. He deserves it."

"Can I have one?" Joshua motioned to his hand rolled. They remained quiet for a few minutes before Joshua spoke. "You're going to have to hire more help, will need more ranch hands before the harvest."

"Just tell me where to go. I'll take care of it."

"Mae doesn't know anything about ranching; however she's smart. I can tell it in her eyes. She's a business woman back in Virginia." Joshua told him.

Alan nodded, without speaking.

"Don't know about a woman living alone here. Not married and all." Joshua mumbled.

"You thinking about offering?" Alan said, only to shrug when Joshua's widened eyes met his. "She's a beauty."

"Yeah -- yeah she is, seems to me she's got something going with that man, the one who escorted her from Virginia. He's here now, came with a child." Joshua went for the shovels. Talk time over. The man grabbed a shovel and walked away. When Alan went to follow the back door of the house opened.

Elma hurried out and headed for him. The sorrow etched on her face made Alan look away past her shoulder to the tree line, the reminder of days past pounding at his temples.

"Senor Alan, can you please go to town and get the pastor to come for the burial tomorrow?" The woman clutched a handkerchief and twisted it until Alan thought it might tear in half.

"Yes, I'll go as soon as I finish helping Joshua with the grave." He threw the last of the hand rolled down and ground it into the dirt with his boot. "Don't worry about anything Elma. You've got my help for anything you need."

"Thank you Senor Alan." Elma dabbed fresh tears that slid down her cheeks and looked toward Joshua who was already headed to the tree where they were digging. "You are a good man."