for the man that made my life hell on Earth, what makes you think I'm upset with you? I ain't angry at you, Samuel, I'm angry for you."
"So, what does that mean for us, Mary Ann? I don't understand what I'm supposed to do."
She stood up and waddled over to him. Mary Ann grabbed his hand and laid it upon her belly. Sam inhaled sharply and felt tears sting his eyes, but Mary Ann held him steady by putting her hand across his. "You can see this as a second chance and a blessin' or you can see it as just another curse tryin' to break you down. Ask me to climb that mountain with you or follow Beth home. It's your choice."
Sam closed his eyes and dropped to his knees. He pressed his ear against the bump that cradled his child. It wasn't Savannah. It wasn't his Malia. Sam could practically taste the smoke on his tongue and smell the fire that took them away. "I can't stand this anymore. This is eatin' away at me. Climb the mountain with me."
"And if you don't find what you're lookin' for?" she asked quietly.
"Then I find the Wendigo Spirit and I do what Wesley failed to do the first time."
Mary Ann looked away and stepped back. "That's suicide. You can't fight that thing."
"No, I can't. But I'd much rather die tryin' than to keep livin' like this and hurtin' you. I just want us to be out of our misery, Mary." Sam stood up and walked over to her. He reached for her, and Mary stepped into his embrace.
"I'll pack my things and meet you outside in the wagon."
Sam kissed her forehead, still taken aback by the fact that she allowed him near her. "Mary Ann."
"Yes?"
"If this works, I want you to be my wife, and I want us to be a family. A real family. I don't want us to make the mistakes our parents did."
She yanked him down into a kiss that stole the last of his will. Mary Ann gasped as Sam tangled his hands in her hair and angled her perfectly for a deep, sensual kiss. He felt the glorious light of her love melt away some of the ice that had built up around his heart.
Sam felt her heart sing and tasted her tears as she pulled him closer. He had to try to make amends. If not for himself then for Mary Ann. When she pulled away, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Whatever happens...know that I love you, Mary. More than I should."
She bit her bottom lip and said, "It's about damn time, Samuel Cassady. And I love you too. I always have."
Chapter Thirteen
Mary Ann climbed into the saddle and pulled a poncho over her shoulders. Sam reached up and adjusted the hat on her head before he mounted his mare. Jesse strapped the bedrolls down, and Wesley handed Mary Ann some gloves for her hands. Boone and Abigail watched from the doorway of the stables. “Thank you, everyone. I wish we had time to say goodbye to everyone. Wesley, please give Charlotte my best when she awakens.”
“Huntin’ down them outlaws took a lot out of her, so I’ll be sure to do that. You be careful now. The both of you.” Wesley waved them goodbye and headed into the house. The snow had begun to melt enough that the mountain path was visible, but the air still had a crisp chill as the wind blew.
Jesse and Ruth followed Wesley inside, but Beth exchanged a few words with Sam that Mary Ann had not been privy to. When all was said and done, Sam led her away from the ranch. He was quiet for nearly an hour as he watched the lands change. Mary Ann was the one who broke the silence. "I've been thinkin' about names. If I'm havin' a boy, then I want to name him after you...if that's all right."
"And a girl?"
"I was hopin' to name her Kate or Marylin. Somethin' simple." Mary Ann patted her horse on the side, and the happy stallion tossed his mane. "I feel like I've missed quite a lot. What happened when you and Boone talked?"
"I...ugh...can't really remember much," he replied. "I know we argued, but then Charlotte gave me a vision."
"A vision?"
"In the vision, she was used as a conduit for power and I was her weapon. We destroyed everythin' that crossed our paths, and then we raised the third spirit