Disclaimer: Magnificent Seven does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit. Any references to people, places, businesses, etc. are entirely fictitious.
Did you really think Maude was gone?
A/N: While the first six chapters are firmly a part of the OW storyverse, chapter seven is not.
If you only like OW stories, consider an amnesiac Maude is found, rescued by a handsome (and rich) man in the style of Senior Armendariz of ASJ, taken back to his hacienda where she recuperates, all injuries except her memory restored. They fall in love and live happily ever after with or without a bust of Caesar. Skip this chapter.
Chapter seven may be considered a link between my OW stories and the AU Aw Hell series.
Chapter 7: Return Journey
…an amazing woman
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"I never got the chance to tell…," insisted Maude again.
Voices called to Maude. Mama, Papa, her sister Susan, and brother Frank all dead these many years, all told Maude they loved her. Jay was there. In her perception, he was dashing as always, with that cheeky grin, still the handsomest man she'd ever seen. He held out a hand? Beseeching, as he had so long ago. He wanted her to come with him. As much as she had once loved Jay, Maude refused this time. There was something she needed to do.
"I didn't tell Ezra and…"
The comforting knowledge that Mary and the others would take good care of Ezra filled Maude with a sense of peace. The warmth of a dear young woman joined her for a moment. Ellen? Thank you, Mother Maude. Then before Maude could respond, Ellen was gone again.
"Josiah!" thought Maude again, "I need to tell him…"
How long had she been repeating that thought? A presence seemed amused by her persistence. Maude almost thought the presence chuckled.
"What's so important?"
Maude stammered and tried to explain. She really needed to go back. She had to tell Josiah…
"Oh, that."
The presence beamed in agreement.
"Yes, it is important."
The darkness faded and Maude felt herself shimmer into the light. She stood in an unfamiliar room. A breeze blew in through the open window. Cottonwood trees sheltered a squawking crow. Ezra and Mary's home stood nearby. A dear man sat at a desk. He stared at her in surprise.
"Josiah?"
"Maude?"
His hair was darker than she remembered. And Josiah no longer had that grizzled look from many years in the desert. Somehow, he looked younger. Maude reached out to touch the gentle man. Her hand passed right through his arm. She blinked in surprise. Maude hardly heard his next words.
"I go by Joseph now," replied the big man.
"Joseph?"
"For now," nodded Jos 'I ah. He tilted his head to look at her. "You've been gone a while. Do you know where you are?"
Maude smiled. There was no place else she'd rather be.
"Of course, I'm with you in Four Corners."
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A/N2: Story touches on depression (Ezra), sometimes referred to as melancholy in the nineteenth century, and mania (Ella). Story is not meant to make light of any type of mental illness.