I ain’t gon’ lie. I did not expect him to say that.
“A steak?” My voice quivered a bit. He grinned nodding, and that was all I needed to see. I lost it laughing and felt horrible for doing so. I mean that’s not funny, a man dying and all… but a steak?
“I miss seeing that.” He whispered.
“Missed what?” I asked sobering.
“I missed your laugh. I missed your smile. I missed your purple gaze.” He brought his hands up and buried them in my hair.
“I missed your wild hair…” He paused for a moment then brought his mouth close to my ear.
“Did you know that it was you who saved my life?” He whispered in my ear. I shook my head confused.
“What do you mean? I thought you said Saafiyah and Gideon saved your life. I was there that night, Lyon and Solomon saved your life.” He shook his head.
“It was you. It was your prayer.”
I frowned. “How did you know about my prayer? I didn’t speak the words out loud.” He grinned.
“The man with no shoes told me.” My mouth opened in surprise.
“I saw him! I saw the man with no shoes when I died!” It was his turn to frown.
“When you died?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I flat-lined during labor, and while I was out, the man with no shoes came to see me.”
“What did he say?” I had his full attention.
“He said that I was wise to come back here to the farm but not to get comfortable because one day I’m going to watch it burn. And that Luke is to be set-apart to the Ancient of Days.”
“I knew it!” He said pumping his fist in the air.
“That little joker strong as heck. Do you see a bruise on my face?” He asked, indicated the spot Luke had punched him. He leaned in so that I could get a closer look. When I brought my face in to see what I could see, he turned his head at the last moment, taking my lips in a kiss that left me breathless.
“The whole time my memory was gone, I was haunted by a pair of purple eyes. I saw them every night in my dreams!” He lifted me to sit on the wooden fence in front of him. Pressing himself between my parted legs which was a little scandalous because I was wearing a dress.
“I don’t know why you’re afraid of the new me. When like the old me, I love you with my whole heart, mind, body and soul.” As he spoke, he open mouth kissed my neck, causing tingles to race down my spine, to pool in my center.
“It doesn’t matter that we can’t have any more children, which might be for the good. Something tells me I’m going to have my hands full with Luke.” I held my head back and laughed. Something tells me he’s right. When our laughter died down, his gaze sobered, holding me in its clutches.
“Yas… you promised in your prayer to seek the old way. That’s why the Ancient of Days spared my life. Don’t fear the new me. Celebrate it baby. I found the old way. I have so much to show you. I found the answer to the secret.”
“What secret?” He leaned in to kiss my neck.
“The secret to who we are.” He whispered, before he proceeded to make love to me, there against the barn. Reminding me with each powerful thrust what it was like to be loved by him. And as the wind snatched my cries of passion from my lips, I celebrated the new him.
Epilogue
6 Years Later…
“Yas, come quick! Gabe knocked out William again!” Gabrielle said as she rushed out the back door. Luke and Dynasty ran with her, their little faces lit up with anticipation. They knew that they were getting ready to witness a show. Quickly, I washed the raspberry glaze I was making off my hands and hurried out the back door.
Goodness! This was Gabe’s third time this year knocking out Ms. Willie Mae’s bull. She said next time he did it she was going to shoot him. Now granted, Ms. Willie Mae couldn’t hurt a fly if she tried, but she was an old lady that talked a good game and was just as temperamental as her bipolar bull. And for some reason, Gabe just couldn’t do like everybody else around these parts and just stay out of their way.
No! Gabe had to go and rile her up.
You see, the problems all started six years ago when he decided the corporate world was no longer for him. He said that Mac’s death would not be in vain. His best friend’s biggest fear was that Gabe would never learn to embrace life and live each moment to the fullest. So, he sold his shares of Calhoun Investments to Kenny and picked up cattle herding.
Now, all that was beautiful, that is not the problems I speak of. I was more than thrilled that Gabe decided to become a farmer. And was determined to make Mac proud of him. However, us accruing cattle gave William more a reason to find a way pass the fence to get at our cows.
“You better stop hitting my bull you heathen!” I could hear the old woman yelling.
“Ouch! Stop hitting me with your broom, you just as looney as that damn bull!” I heard Gabe yell back. I could also hear the fellas laughing. When I finally made it to the area of land where all the action was taking place, it was to find Ms. Willie Mae in a multicolored moo-moo with her slippers on and rollers in her hair, chasing Gabe around the clearing with her broom.
Gabe’s men, slash ranch hands, had grown significantly since he decided to turn the farm into
