Page 56 of Westbound Awakening

"And I love you John McClain. But..."

"But?"

"Please keep moving; don't stop." She lifted her hips to emphasize her words.

Thankfully he took instruction well.

When their movements reached a frantic pace from which there was only one outcome, the breathtaking destination of bliss, Mae called out his name and lost all control flaying under him.

John's hoarse cry penetrated through the fogginess and she held him until he finally relaxed.

"I love you Mae, I love you so much." John began pressing kisses all over her face and Mae knew it was true because she accepted it fully, the words sinking into her very soul.

Epilogue

Sitting on the front porch he worked oil into the leather of a new saddle, John watched Mae and Wesley stroll back to the house. They'd kept their tradition of taking walks every day. Side-by-side the two loves of his life walked toward him. Mae seemed to be speaking to the boy while he listened intently. She gave Wesley lessons daily, from the basics like writing and arithmetic to history and other things. It worked out well that thanks to Miss Lady's insistence, Mae was well schooled. Wesley would grow up to be the same.

Each day John became more grateful for the beautiful woman he'd married. Now as she grew round with their second child, she insisted they refer to the baby as, claiming Wesley as her first, she was radiant.

Mae looked up and waved toward him. When their eyes met, his heart began to pound in his chest. The love he felt for her barely containable beneath his breast.

"You should not be moving around so much," John admonished when they reached the house's porch.

Mae rolled her eyes and accepted his help to sit. Elma materialized and brought with her a light blanket. "Senora Mae, you should rest. The baby will come any day now."

"If I left it up to you two, I'd spend my days in bed bored to death," Mae fussed, but accepted the blanket and placed it over her lap.

"Pa I go see the calf?" Wesley asked shuffling from one foot to the other with impatience. At almost four now, he'd began to shed his chubbiness. "Mr. Alan said I can help him."

John nodded and Wesley shot from the porch, sprinting toward the barn.

"I'm glad Alan remains with us. Wesley adores him," Mae said smiling and tracking Wesley's retreating figure.

John agreed. "Yeah, he's got a way with kids. I'm surprised he's not married and had some of his own."

Mae rolled her eyes. "Oh it's obvious, it won't be long until we celebrate another wedding and perhaps there will even be children of his running about."

"What are you talking about Mae?" John asked.

"The reason Alan remains here is the same reason Lucinda does. They care for each other, but they are taking their time, getting to know each other."

"Oh." John was glad Lucinda asked to remain when Miss Lady passed away. The solemn young woman claimed to have no reason to return to Virginia, especially since Mae sold the brothel to Butch Mason. "Now that I think about it, I have noticed certain looks between them. Heck I thought it was this land the reason they remain, everyone just falls in love with it."

She reached for John's hand and looked to the distance. "This place is beautiful, I can't wait to fill it with children, to see them run and play with Wesley and this one." She patted her stomach.

"Fill it?" John's eyebrows were raised and his mouth open in mock horror. "Where do you get the idea I want more children Missus McClain?"

Mae slapped at his arm. "I overheard you telling Joshua the other day. You've always wanted a large family."

His eyes lingered on her stomach for a moment. "I am looking forward to my life with you Mae. I love you more than life itself."

Tears sprung and she went to wipe them away but John leaned forward and took her face in his hands and kissed them away.

"I would have never taken you for such a romantic," Mae sniffed. "You were always so stern and rigid."

"Survival. It's how I could cope with everything I saw and had to do," He kissed her again softly.

"Oh!" Mae straightened and grabbed at her stomach. "That was a hard one."