Epilogue

Epilogue

T hree months later…

Mattie climbed out of the rover and waited impatiently for Jeb to dismount from Trojan. He’d insisted on riding separately so he could watch over her and she hadn’t argued because she knew how important it was to him to protect her. But they were home now and she flung herself happily into his arms as soon as he reached the ground.

“I can’t believe it — we’re rich!”

He laughed, a laugh that came so much more easily these days, and swung her around in a circle until she was dizzy and breathless with laughter. Then he held her steady until the world stopped spinning, smiling down at her.

“As far as I’m concerned, we were already rich. I have everything I’ve ever wanted right here in my arms.”

His words filled with warmth but she shook her head.

“As much as I appreciate the sentiment, you know you like having a home as well.”

Fortunately the outlaw gang hadn’t caused any real damage and a thorough cleaning had removed all traces of them. Since then they had added on to the shelter twice, using some of Jeb’s accumulated savings. He’d had no previous use for the money and insisted he was happy to contribute to their partnership, despite her initial objections.

The first addition was a large dome that could be opened to let Trojan wander freely in and out but could also be closed and connected to their living area. The horse liked to stay close to them and, as Jeb had pointed out, he did take up rather a lot of room. Sylvester also approved of the arrangement and frequently chose to stay with Trojan rather than sharing the new bedroom that was the second addition.

Jeb had insisted that they needed a larger bed but while he took full — and delightfully creative — advantage of it during their frequent bouts of lovemaking, she always woke to find him wrapped around her, holding her as tightly as he had in the narrow bed alcove. But she enjoyed the extra room as well and had already made several updates to make the basic white dome feel more like part of their home.

“I like having a home,” he agreed, dark eyes warm and loving, “but wherever you are is my home.”

She rewarded his sincerity with a kiss that quickly turned passionate, but before he could lift her into his arms and carry her off to that big bed, a small yellow missile came flying towards them. Sylvester landed on her shoulder with a series of admonitory chirps.

“I know, sweetie,” she said soothingly. “I didn’t like leaving you either, but the market is a big place and you’re a very small bird.”

He gave a tiny huff, a clear imitation of the noise Trojan used so frequently, but he allowed her to stroke his head for a moment before flying off to scold the horse as well. She could swear the horse actually looked abashed before Sylvester finally settled into his favorite place perched on his back.

“Your bird has very poor timing,” Jeb grumbled, but she saw the glint of humor in his eyes.

“We’ll have plenty of time later,” she promised. “But why don’t we unload the rover first?”

Of course he insisted on doing most of the work, and she gave the heap of packages a guilty look as he added the last one to the pile.

“I may have gone a little overboard.”

“You deserve it — and as you were so eager to point out earlier — we can afford it.”

The sale of the lithium had been even more profitable than she had hoped. Following Jeb’s advice, she’d sold small amounts to several different dealers rather than one large sale, hoping to avoid attention. As far as she could tell it had worked, at least for now. Jeb had insisted on buying the materials he needed to expand the security system he had set up around their property with part of the profits, and he seemed as happy about that as she was with her less practical purchases.

She’d bought everything from fabric to baked goods and she gave a delighted sniff as she unwrapped a loaf of fresh bread.

“Doesn’t this smell heavenly? Bread is one of the few things I really miss from Earth.”

“Anything that makes you smile like that is all right with me,” he said softly and she smiled at him again.

“Maybe we should celebrate by having a picnic outside.”

He agreed and helped her gather up the bread as well as some of her other food purchases, including a rare and extremely expensive orange, and carried them out to the table they had set up on the ridge at the edge of the claim. They enjoyed the food and the warmth of the sun and made plans for the future before eventually falling silent. He pulled her onto his lap as they looked out across the desert.

“I wonder what’s happening in the cavern,” she said eventually, and he shrugged.

He’d made several attempts to remove the blockage before admitting that it was beyond him. Clearing the tube would require major equipment and could be as destructive as the explosion itself.

“I don’t know, but maybe that’s for the best. If Mars is trying to heal itself, it doesn’t need any interference from us.”

She agreed with him, but she also regretted the lost opportunities to explore and study the odd new life.

“I had one of those dreams again last night,” he added.

They both had them occasionally and they were always the same — flying through the skies of a warm, blue-green world, their bodies sleek and powerful. Twice she had dreamed of mating in mid-air and both times Jeb had had the same dream, turning to her with an almost desperate fervor when they woke.

“Do you think Mars really was like that once?” she asked softly.

He shifted her position so that she was straddling him, the hard length of his cock pressed firmly against her as his hands cupped her hips.

“I’ve learned not to dismiss anything as impossible.”

She had to admit he was right. Life on Mars was supposed to be impossible as well, and not only were they here, but more life lay hidden beneath the surface. Life…

“I was thinking on the way back from the market.”

“About your new wealth?” he teased.

“ Our new wealth,” she said firmly. “But yes, in a way. There’s more than enough to fund the claim for the remaining three years of the agreement, which means this land will be ours. Forever.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“I do too, and what I was thinking is that now that we know this will be our forever home, maybe we should think about sharing it.”

She held her breath, but he only gave her a puzzled look.

“You want other people to live here?”

“In a way. I was thinking of one person. A very tiny person.” She put his hand over her stomach. “A new member of our family.”

The shock on his face would have amused her if she hadn’t been so anxious about his answer.

“You mean you want a child? With me?” he asked carefully.

“Yes, as long as that’s what you want—”

And then she couldn’t speak because he was kissing her, his mouth and tongue ravaging hers as he crushed her against him. When he finally raised his head she was breathless and clinging to him.

“Is that a yes?” she gasped.

“Yes,” he growled, a hungry, predatory sound that sent a delicious shiver down her spine. “A thousand times, yes.”

He laid her back across the table long enough to tear off her pants and panties and free his cock from his jeans. He thrust a thick finger between her legs, testing her readiness, then came down on top of her, filling her in a single long, hard thrust, the overwhelming stretch almost painful before it transformed into an exquisite pleasure.

He set a demanding rhythm, his hands tight on her hips, but she rocked up against him eagerly, taking him deep, her legs wrapping around his hips as she sought to draw him even deeper. The urgency of his movements matched her own and she clung to his shoulders as the pressure built and built, and then his cock began to vibrate inside her, sending her flying into an explosive climax. Her body convulsed, clenching around him as if she were trying to hold him captive inside her. He gave a hoarse cry, the guttural sound reverberating through her bones and echoing out across the barren landscape as his release spilled into her in long, hot pulses.

“I love you, Mattie,” he whispered into her ear as they slowly caught their breath, and she smiled.

“I love you too.”

He nuzzled her neck, his breath warm and welcome as the air began to cool, then slid his hand down between them to touch her stomach. A new look crossed his face, one that looked an awful lot like fear.

“Do you think we can do this?” he asked softly, his hand warm against her stomach.

She covered it with hers, cradling the potential new life inside her.

“I think the two of us can do anything, including raising a child who will be happy and healthy. One who will never feel abandoned,” she added fiercely.

“Never,” he echoed, then smiled at her. “We do make a formidable team.”

He kissed her, the taste of him even more delicious than usual, and then he swept her up in his arms and carried her to their shelter, to the home they had created together on this new world.

***

Deep beneath the surface, more new life was taking place. Fueled by the blood it had absorbed, lichen grew, spread, and divided until it was no longer a single tendril but a mat. The cells multiplied and branched, spreading across the chamber in a delicate carpet. The moss became thicker and heavier until it sank down, taking root in the mineral-rich soil beneath. The roots stretched and multiplied, dividing and expanding, until they formed a web that spanned the entire chamber.

The moss grew taller and broader, its velvety fronds spreading out above it and casting a soft glow of light across the floor. Buds began to form, swelling and sprouting, growing into fragile flowers that glowed faintly in the soft light. They bloomed in brilliant reds, blues, and greens, their stems arching to create a forest of blossoms that perfumed the air.

And finally a new pod formed, this one different than the others but even more precious. It nestled among the fronds, protected and nourished, and a figure began to take shape inside it.

When the first leaf unfurled, the lichen shivered with joy. It had done its task. The ancient legacy of this once forgotten planet would survive.

Life had triumphed once again.

THE END