The Devil Walks Among Us; Book l - Completed 4/21/22

Southside of Heaven

Mountain sunlight peered through the sheer curtains of the bedroom. For once, Mia awoke with a smile, feeling refreshed as she couldn't remember if she had suffered through a nightmare again. Rolling over, she smiled at Michael, seeing him sleeping heavily for once. He was one to almost always be awake first, especially early in the morning.

Looking around the room, Ella was sleeping peacefully in her crib that the welcoming family had leftover as this rental was a part of their family ranch, although it was a ways away from their main home. Slowly, she sat up in the bed, stretching her arms above her head before draping her legs over the side of the bed, slowly standing to her feet to approach the window, peering the curtain back slowly to take a peek of the sunrise. Gasping, she stood there watching, waiting for something to change, although she wouldn't be upset if anything did. She smiled as she watched Harlow and Lilo graze peacefully with the mountain landscape behind them.

Michael turned his head, feeling Mia's presence gone from his side. He kept his breaths steady as he didn't want to disrupt her thoughts. He watched as she admired the sunrise, looking as if she were a child in a candy store. After a few moments, Mia shut the curtain back, turning to walk back towards the bed with a smile on her face. "You love it here, don't you?" He asked, opening his arm to her as she laid back down, her cheek pressed against his chest.

"We're on the southside of Heaven." He felt her smile.

"I'm not so sure I'll ever make it to Heaven, but I'm glad I can look at it while I have the chance."

"Stop it, Michael," She frowned. "You never know-"

"Mia, you know as well as I do. God or whoever our creator is... There's not a chance for someone like me. I walked this earth as a killer with no mercy for who was in front of me. I had no regrets for it. It got me at a young age, but I can't blame it on something that doesn't exist. It was all me-"

"But you've changed, Michael. You're not the man you used to be-"

"It doesn't matter, Mia. I'm not deserving of any type of Heaven."

"I guess there's only one way to find out then, huh?"

"I guess."

"Just... Just live out the rest of your life on good terms. Be true to yourself. Be the man I know you are and make peace for yourself and throw away what you were. People change their lives every day and I'm sure they still go to Heaven..."

"I'm not so sure on how to do that. I guess I've been doing right?"

"You have, but you know how to really tell if you're on right terms?"

"How?"

She smiled, "On the back of a horse."

"Oh, no, no, and no. I'm not getting on a horse." He scoffed.

"Why? Afraid Lilo will get a hint of how big and bad a man like you is and buck you off?"

"No."

"Then what? Don't like being in control?"

"Nope."

"Please? For me?" She asked, her bottom lip pursed and her eyes wide.

"Don't give me that whole puppy dog look. I don't like dogs."

She giggled, "Surely you'd have an exception for me."

"Mia." He chuckled, turning his head away from her, hiding the grin on his face.

"Come on, Michael," She giggled, reaching up to cup his cheek as she got up to hover over him. "Pretty please? I'll let you ride Harlow. He's as mellow as they come."

"Is that so?"

"Well, I mean he gets cold-backed sometimes and likes to buck, but if you ride that out, then you'll be fine." She giggled.

"Mia, I don't know about you, but I'm over sixty. If I fall off of a horse I'm going to be a pile of dust." He chuckled.

"Then your answer of whether or not you'll make it to Heaven will be answered then, won't it?"

"You drive me crazy, woman."

"I know, but you love me."

"You sure about that?" He arched a brow, grinning at how he loved to taunt her.

She pouted, "Fine, I guess you don't."

He laughed, pulling her back down onto his chest, cupping her cheek before pressing a kiss to her lips, "You know I do. More than anything."

"Really?" She giggled.

"Except for Ella. She has my heart." He chuckled.

"Same here, Mister." She laughed, returning the kiss and grasping hs face.

"I love you, Mia."

"I love you too," She smiled. "But that still doesn't get you out of riding a horse."

He huffed, "I'll do it one time and not again."

"Works enough for me." She smiled.

*

"Alright, Michael, just put your left foot in the stirrup here, grab the horn, then hoist yourself up," Mia explained, holding Harlow's reins to hold him still as she could tell Michael was nervous. "You'll like it once you get used to it."

"I don't know about that, Mia," He huffed. "You know one of us needs to get back to Ella, right?"

"Michael, LJ begged to spend time with her. She's fine. And we'll be fine. Trust me for once." She smiled.

"Mia-"

"You're not getting yourself out of it by making excuses." She giggled.

"Fine." He huffed, taking another deep breath before following Mia's instructions. He had to admit that he was nervous and he was sure Harlow was picking up on it.

"Relax, babe," She giggled. "Now pat his neck and relax."

"I can't relax, Mia. I'm on top of a horse twice my size that's going to kill me."

"He's not going to kill you. Just relax. I could put you on Lilo and you'll really be in for a ride."

"I'm good right here."

"That's what I thought."

After mounting Lilo, she turned to look at Michael, who had a death-grip on the saddle horn, leaving the reins laying across Harlow's neck. Shaking her head, she couldn't help but smile as she motioned for Michael to follow her. "Too fast, Mia..."

"He's walking," She laughed. "Grab a hold of the reins and just relax."

"How do you make it look so easy? You're riding without holding on." He scoffed.

"Because I'm relaxed, Michael. We'll walk around here for a bit before going on the trail."

After what felt like hours, a half-hour went by slowly as it contained nothing but Mia showing Michael exactly what to do and how to do it. Eventually, he became comfortable enough to go on the trail. "See? I told you it's not that bad." She smiled at him.

"I guess you were right about something." He poked.

"You keep it up and I'll nudge her up to a trot and we'll see how much you whine."

"I take it back."

"That's what I thought," She smiled. "Ain't it beautiful?"

"Another thing you're right about."

"What's that?"

"Being on the southside of Heaven."