Lucas carried Mikayla to their bedroom, setting her down, he quietly closed the door. She was already slipping out of her dress and he slowly turned her around and gently started working his fingers to undo her corset laces.

"I always hated these things," he muttered.

She giggled nervously, pulling her hair out of the way. He noticed her trembling, and pulled her close to his body, putting his face in her hair he whispered into her ear, "are you alright?"

Mikayla nodded, leaning into his hard chest, his hands smoothed across the thin fabric at her waist, and she closed her eyes as he brushed his lips over her neck. He turned her around to face him, sitting her down on the bed he started to unbutton his shirt, exposing the tanned, hard abdomen underneath. She boldly reached out her hand, running her fingers down his chest, causing him to groan.

Gently, but with urgency, he laid her back on the bed and started pulling down the straps of her camisole.

"Wait," she stilled his hand and he froze.

"What's wrong?" He questioned gently.

"Listen."

Lucas shook his head, trying to focus, but with her laying there before him, it was quite difficult. But then he heard it - hoofbeats.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, he rolled off of her, picking his shirt up off the floor, he hurried to the kitchen, looking out the window he saw Mark riding into the barnyard. That boy had the worst timing.

"Hey Pa!" Mark exclaimed excitedly, "I caught two fish at the wide part of the stream, think Mikayla would cook 'em for supper?"

Lucas shrugged, "ask her."

Mark looked around, "where is she?"

Just then Mikayla walked out of the bedroom, fixing her hair. "Right here, Mark. I'd love to make your fish for supper," she smiled kindly, taking Mark's harvest she began to prepare. Lucas wordlessly headed for the barn for evening chores, Mark on his tail.

"You okay, Pa?" He asked, looking at Lucas curiously.

"I'm fine," Lucas replied, cringing at the roughness in his tone. Why did he sound so angry?

Mark quickly and quietly did his work. Something was bothering his Pa, he didn't need to add to his father's woes. When they finally finished and returned to the house, Mikayla was just pulling the cooked bass out of the oven with Andrew on her hip.

"Well, I think I made good use of your fish, Mark," she said joyfully. And she had, the fish were beautifully cooked and plated, with a side of carrots and fresh forest berries. They ate till their bellies were full, then spent some time on the porch that evening, Andrew sitting in Mikayla's lap as she watched Lucas help Mark cart train his horse.

"Alright, that's enough for tonight, time for bed," Lucas insisted, leading Mark's horse back to the barn.

"Aw, cmon, Pa, it's barely sunset!" Mark whined, motioning to the still bright sky.

Lucas gave him a look that caused Mark to head in, getting ready for bed. Mikayla sensed the anxiousness in Lucas, and knew he was impatient to return to what they'd been doing earlier that afternoon.

Walking into the house, she fed Andrew a bottle, watching his eyes get heavier, she laid him in his crib for the night. She quickly undid her corset, slipping out of her undergarments, she put her nightgown over her head, but left nothing underneath. Soon, there was a light knock on the door.

"Yes?" She questioned.

Lucas slipped through the door, "It's just me," he said quietly, his voice hoarse. He laughed at himself, like it would be anyone else. He was wringing his hands, fidgeting, she could tell he was nervous.

"Should we pick up where we left off?" She boldly suggested, and he answered by closing the distance between them and laying her down again. Sliding his hands under her nightgown, his breath quickened when all he felt was bare skin. His heart was pounding, it'd been a while since he did this.

She was shaking nervously. "Are you alright?" He asked, genuinely concerned. "I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to do."

She gave him a small smile and said breathlessly, "I'm not doing anything I don't want to do."

Quick as a wink, he pulled the shirt over his head. Mikayla admired his muscular torso in the setting sun. Slowly he slid his hands up her legs, pulling her nightgown up over her head. She'd never been so exposed in front of a man... in front of anyone. But she trusted Lucas. He was a kind and honest man, an uncommon find so far in her young life. Lucas was virtuous, handsome and brave, he cared deeply for others. She felt excited and happy when he was around. She didn't know much about love, but she felt certain this was it.

As if reading her thoughts, as Lucas ran his callused hands down her bare body, he whispered in her ear hoarsely, "I love you, Mikayla."

Closing her eyes she smiled, wrapped her arms around his back and responded, "I love you too," and she let herself be completely consumed in this perfect moment with him.

Lucas awoke early as usual, Mikayla's hair was splayed across his bare chest, his arm draped around her naked shoulder holding her snug to his body. She was breathing steadily, a soft smile on her lips, her eyes closed in a peaceful sleep. He watched her for a while as the sun slowly rose, not wanting to leave this moment. In all his life, he never thought he'd find another love. Not one as perfect as this. And the remarkable thing was, Mikayla was nothing like his first wife. Sure, she was kind and gentle, but she had a fire that made him feel like a giddy teenager again. The sun was over the horizon when he finally slipped from under her grasp, pulling on his clothes for the day. He gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek, and left the room to head to the barn.

Mark was awake when Lucas walked through the kitchen.

"Pa? You're just getting up? Are you sick or somethin?"

Lucas smiled, "just got a late start is all." Pulling on his boots he said, "if you head out with me now we can get all the chores done before breakfast."

Mark hurried to get dressed and headed out to the barn with his father.

Mikayla frowned, reaching out her fingers in her half asleep state, she felt nothing but bedsheets beside her. Sitting up, she stretched, looking around the room. Baby Andrew was still asleep in his crib, a rare occurrence of him actually sleeping through the night. What a gift, she laughed to herself. Well, she couldn't stay in her dream world all day, so she got up reluctantly, dressing in a plain blue skirt and white shirt, ready to begin yet another normal day. But it wasn't normal. Everything had changed.

As Lucas and Mark entered the kitchen for breakfast, a heavenly scent hit their noses.

"Is that bacon?" Mark said excitedly.

"It is, although I'm sad to say it's getting down to the last in the smokehouse." Mikayla responded, turning from the stove. She caught Lucas's eye as she set the steaming plate on the table, giving him a cheeky wink. Mark went to play with Andrew on the floor and Lucas went to grab the dishes for breakfast from the shelf. As he did, he felt Mikayla's hand play across his back as she reached around him for the butter, her hair tickling at his nose. He got a deep whiff of her heavenly scent, making him almost drop the plates as his mind went back to the night before. Looking over at her, she grinned devilishly, biting her full bottom lip. If he thought Mikayla as a friend was exciting to him, Mikayla as a lover was going to be a whole other level.