The Bear

Written by: James Guy (jimguy46@hotmail.com)

Archive: Manzana Core (http://www.oocities.org/manzanacore)

Rating: pg-13

Characters : Q H G

Evening was following as the rider dismounted and set up camp for the night. "Well horse, one more day and we will be home. Three days in the saddle have given me saddle sores on my saddle sores." He said.

He hobbled his horse and stripped off the saddle. Laying his rifle against the saddle, he gathered firewood. He carried a rifle for hunting food and protection against mountain lions and other predators. Lighting the fire, he heard the horse scream and turned in time to see a huge monster killing the animal. Reaching for his rifle he fired and struck the bear in the chest as it stood up. He quickly reloaded and was starting to aim when the bear attacked him. He ducked a paw swipe and fired again, this time the bullet entered the bear’s eye and shattered the brain. But the bear was not finished.

With a dying move, the bear grabbed the man with both paws and attempted to bite the man’s head, a canine tooth ripped the man’s scalp and the claws shredded his shirt leaving deep scratches in the man’s arms. Then the bear decided to give up and collapsed on the man, Almost 400 pounds of dead California black bear crushed the man into the soft dirt.

It was early the next morning when a rider in black passed this same trail. Her horse became agitated and refused to go further. The Queen of Swords swung down to investigate and saw the gutted horse. Nearby lay a dead bear and a large pool of blood

As she walked around the bear, she saw a foot sticking out from under the carcass. Suddenly she heard a muffled groan and jumped back, sword in hand. No, this was not an animal groan but a human one. The man was struggling. Using her sword, she cut a limb from a tree, got a stone to use as a fulcrum and tried to raise the bear. "You are going to have to help me," she yelled. Even that did not help.

Using her sword as a shovel, she dug down in the soft dirt, underneath the man and tried the fulcrum a little at a time. Finally, the man emerged, half-unconscious. "Madre dios," she said as she saw the bloody man. This renewed her strength and at last the man was free, How much blood was his and how much the bear’s she didn’t know.

She spied the man’s canteen and opened the saddlebags to find a cloth, a shirt or anything she could use. What she found almost made her faint. The saddlebags held medical supplies and bandages. It couldn’t be. She wiped the blood from the man’s face and it was. Doctor Helm. Tears flowing down her face, she carefully washed the blood from his face. Ripping off his shirt, she washed the rest of him to the waist.

There were many scratches from claws but the worst was the torn scalp. She bandaged the wounds and then found some thread and a needle in the supplies. She also found a bottle of whisky, which she poured, over the wound.

He came to with a scream and so fast that she dropped the bottle, stood up and promptly fell sprawling over backwards over the saddle. The bottle landed right side up, but as the Queen had stood up, she dropped the doctor’s head, which had been nestled, in her lap. It made a thud as it hit the ground.

"If my head didn’t hurt so much I would laugh," said the doctor as he spied the Queen draped over backward, legs apart over the saddle. "That is a very unladylike position to be in" he continued. " Are you offering yourself?" She quickly stood up "In your dreams doctor, you simply startled me and I forgot the saddle was there. When I invite you, you will know it." She said indignantly. "When?" he asked. Ignoring the comment, she said, "Why were you playing with that bear? I thought you were dead." "I was cold and need a blanket," he replied.

He saw the bandages and touched his stitched scalp. Where did you learn to sew so finely?" he asked. The queen approached and touched his scalp and checked the stitches. "A friend taught me," she said as she pressed her breast within an inch of his face. "When I was young. I’m older now. Staring at her cleavage, which he wanted to bury his face in, he said "Was that before or after you learned to kill?" And then bit his tongue. "I’m sorry I shouldn’t have said that, especially after you saved my life. She pushed him away but not far. He reached up and touched the damp mask. You have been crying. Are you hurt?" "I had something in my eye." She replied. "Or is it possible you were crying for me?" He said.

"Nonsense, men, just because a woman cries, you think it because of you. You saved me from a snake and from Montoya on that cliff. I’d say we are even." She said. "We seem to be saving each other too much, " he said. "Maybe we are both in the wrong line of work."

She had been lightly running her fingers over his chest as she spoke. He slipped his hand behind her head and pulled her to him. Lips met and locked but she did not resist. Both were soon lost in their passion.

Suddenly a horse neighed and the Queen broke off the kiss. Standing she heard the sound of horses drawing nearer and saw a cloud of dust. "I must be going," she said as she mounted and raced away, being careful to stay out of sight.

A patrol led by Captain Grisham rode up. "Doing a little bear hunting, Doctor?" sneered the Captain. "No, just dancing," replied the doctor. "Surely you didn’t bandage yourself." Said the Captain as his eyes traveled the ground. "It would seem that you had a visitor. Who was it?"

"A seamstress. Now can I trouble you for a ride back to town? My horse, it seems is dead. Perhaps a drink first," he said as he handed the bottle to Grisham. "For medicinal purposes only, of course." "Of course," said Grisham as he took a drink. "Sergeant, get a horse for the doctor and detail some men to bring back that bear. It might make a good rug."

A couple of days later Doctor Helm was relaxing on the veranda in front of his office. "How are you doctor? I heard your were out hunting." Said Tessa Alvarado with a coy but innocent look. She came close and placed her hand on the stitches. "I couldn’t have done better myself." She said, leaning closer to the doctor. His eyes traveled to the fullness of her bosom. The Queen of Swords is very talented, Doctor maybe she should be your nurse." Doctor Helm suddenly looked up. Eyes locked and their faces were inches apart. "She could help me patch up all the men she cuts open with her sword." He said. For a moment they just looked at each other, Tessa mouth quivering in the expectation of a kiss.

"Tessa, are you ready to go?" called Marta heading for the doctor’s office. "Damn," said Tessa in a low voice. She quickly and lightly kissed the doctor. "I’m glad you were not badly hurt, Doctor" she said as she stood and left.

Lost in thought, Doctor Helm remembered the last kiss he had received, the one from the Queen of Swords. \\Could it be? No, those two are entirely different. One is strong and confident and the other is a spoiled rich woman but . . .\\ "Doctor can you help my son?" said a woman pulling a young boy behind her. \\Another day\\ thought the doctor. \\Thanks to the Queen of Swords\\

The End