Curador

This story was originally slated for the VS3 and was written prior to the finale.

Disclaimers: The characters from the Queen of Swords are copyright to Fireworks Productions and Paramount. No copyright infringement is intended or revenue expected from their use. The story plot and other characters are copyright to the author, James Guy.

Summary: Doctor Helm sets up an office away from Santa Elena and gets help from an unusual source.

Doctor Robert Helm walked into his quarters and tossed his saddlebags onto the table. He brushed the trail dirt off of his duster and hat. \This is where I came in three years ago. I am back, thanks to the persuasiveness of Tessa and the interference of Churi.\ He hadn’t come back with Tessa from the Tehacapi mountains but had stayed a couple of days to mentally rejuvenate before coming back. Now after another long ride to see a patient he was tired. Tessa’s hatred of him had caused his regular patients to look elsewhere for medical treatment. Ever since then he had been riding out to the far-flung haciendas and he was tired, besides having saddle sores on saddle sores. It also kept him away from Grisham’s replacement, as he knew Montoya would become suspicious if the replacement ended up dead and Helm was anywhere nearby.

He picked up the saddlebags and started unpacking his meager possessions. He looked at the three shirts, four pairs of pants and a small flintlock pistol. He picked up the pistol and checked the charge. He had started carrying on his long rides, as one never knew when one might come across a rattlesnake. Placing the pistol in a drawer, he covered the firearm with the clothing and closed the drawer. He walked over to the desk and sat down and rested his face in his hands. He looked up when he heard a knock on the door.

"Entrada."

The door opened and in walked Doctor Pirenne. "Doctor Helm, I never did get a chance to talk to you since you returned. I am glad you decided to come back but I am curious as to why."

"Have a seat." He laughed. "Took you long enough. It’s not like I got back yesterday, but I know what you mean. Everyday I am riding out of town." He got up and got poured some water into a glass from the pitcher on the nightstand. "It seems I was caught by the Chumash and an old friend. It seems that if I had continued, I might have run into the Apaches and my hair would be decorating some buck’s lodge."

Pirenne smiled. "That would seem to be a logical choice. I wonder if they have a scalping knife sharp enough to penetrate that hard head of yours."

Helm shook his head. "I guess that would be a challenge wouldn’t it?"

Pirenne grew serious. "Robert, I really am glad you are back. Being the only Doctor in this area is something I don’t really want to do. I don’t know how you did it alone for so long. I can see just the pueblo, but you treated everyone, even the natives."

"It had its moments. I too was happy to have a fellow doctor in town and one who was not from Spain, even if he was French."

"Yes we are quite a pair. At one time we were on opposite sides of a war and here we are working together."

"Doctor Pirenne, you do seem to have taken all of my patients. What is there for me to do?"

"Doctor Helm, your patients came to me because they felt they couldn’t trust someone who was drunk all of the time. Believe me, I would rather have some patients but not the whole territory." He grinned. "Promise me that you won’t leave, at least for now."

"I give you my word, I will stay in Santa Elena, at least for awhile."

"Good. You know that I am a surgeon, but I am not an expert in General Medicine as you are. I would tremble in fear to go out and treat the people in their homes. As it is, I am not quite sure about Marta and her baby."

Helm sat up straighter. "What is wrong with Marta?"

"Besides her threatening to put a spell on me, she may be a breach."

"Are you sure? I usually don’t find out until just before delivery."

"Well, I am not sure, things do not seem right. I haven’t delivered very many babies. These women can usually deliver with just a midwife, but Señora Petroff and Señorita Alvarado have been very insistent that I am the one to help. I hate to say it Robert, but Señorita Alvarado told me that you are not to be allowed near Marta for any reason."

"I understand. She persuades me to return and still doesn’t trust me to treat her or Marta. At this rate I may just go fishing all the time."

"Here’s a thought. Why don’t I treat the townspeople and you treat the outlying area and the Chumash."

Helm nodded. "That might be an ideal solution. I may try to find a small house outside of town where I can live and no one in town has to see me. I think I like that idea better anyway, that way I can avoid certain people."

"You mean Señora Petroff, her husband and Señorita Alvarado?"

"You are very observant, my friend."

"Do you mind if I call on you to help on occasion?"

"I would be happy to help." Helm reached over and the two men shook hands. "This can be the clinic."

Pirenne stood up and walked towards the door. "See you around Robert." He walked out and closed the door. Helm looked around the office and got up, grabbed his hat and duster and walked out. In a short while, he was mounted on his horse and rode out of Santa Elena.

On the veranda of the Cantina, Señora Hidalgo watched Helm leave and immediately got up and got into her buggy. She drove out of town, straight to the Alvarado Hacienda.

Tessa heard the buggy come to a halt in front of the hacienda and walked outside. "Vera, what are earth? You raced in here as if the world was on fire."

"Tessa, you told me Doctor Helm was back, but I saw him leave town, just after a visit from Doctor Pirenne."

Tessa looked at Vera. "Did they argue? Was there a fight? Maybe he was going for a ride."

"I don’t think so. Doctor Pirenne walked by me while he was talking with Vlad. I heard the Doctor tell Vlad that he would be taking over Doctor Helm’s office as a clinic very soon."

"Did Doctor Helm look angry when he left?"

"That’s what doesn’t make sense Tessa. He comes back and then leaves."

Tessa looked perplexed. "Wait Vera, did he have his saddle bags with him?"

"Now that you mention it, he only had his medical bag and a bedroll. Now I am confused."

Helm rode for three hours until he found the site of a Chumash village near a stand of Oak trees. He surveyed the site before he dismounted by what must have been the Wot’s Ap (Chief’s house), due to the

size. Night was falling as he built a campfire and prepared his meager dinner. Rolling out his bedroll, he lay down and stared at the multitude of stars in the Milky Way before falling asleep.

The morning sun rose over the San Rafael Mountains and touched the face of the sleeping Englishman. As he rolled over he became instantly awake. He was not alone. Slowly opening one eye, he saw the figure of a man. A Chumash.

The Indian stood up. "Brother, it is about time you woke up. What brings you here?"

Helm sat up and yawned. "Churi, how long have you been sitting there?"

"Since before Father Sun awoke."

"Sorry to have kept you waiting." He got up and walked the stiffness out of his limbs. "I don’t have much but you are welcome to what I have." He saw that the campfire was burning and the coffeepot was hanging over the fire on a tripod.

"Churi smiled. "I remember you drink coffee. I hope I made it right for you."

"Gracias, brother. Care to join me?"

"No thank you. I tasted it once when our sister made it some time ago."

Helm laughed. "Tessa can’t boil water without burning it, let alone make coffee." He grabbed his metal cup and poured the liquid into it.

Churi watched his blood brother. "You still haven’t told me why you are here. I take it things do not go well with you and Tessa."

Helm shook his head. "No they aren’t. There is another Doctor in town and we decided that he will treat the people of Santa Elena and I will treat the people of the outlying haciendas and my brothers, the Chumash."

"I can’t help you with Tessa, but I can help you with an Ap." He turned and signaled. From out of the forest, ten warriors emerged. By nightfall, a medicine lodge fifty feet in diameter stood where once the Wot’s Ap had stood. Another Ap, thirty-five foot in diameter was next door with several smaller ones were finished. An Ap Yik (sweat lodge) had been rebuilt and smoke was exiting the structure from the hole in the roof. Helm walked into the smaller of the two large Aps and noticed that his gear was placed on a bed made of earth and grasses, in the Chumash way.

For a week, Tessa took her morning ride in different directions, trying to cut Helm’s trail. One morning she paused near a stream to water her Palomino horse, Lindo.

"You seem troubled, sister."

Tessa jumped and whirled towards the sound of the voice. "Churi, you startled me. You are about the only one I know who can sneak up on me."

Churi smiled. "I was waiting here when you rode up. You are looking for our brother?"

Tessa looked at Churi. "Yes. He has run away again. Wait. What do you know?"

"He is living in an old village about an hours ride from here."

"I’ll bet he is sulking and is drunk again."

"Why don’t you go see him and make your own decision?"

"Did he tell you what happened? I’ll bet he really made me look like the bad one."

"He told me nothing except that you were no longer together."

"He did something that I cannot forgive him for. I can’t trust him."

"He is a good man, Tessa. I know he cares for you. Don’t you feel anything for him?"

Tessa sat down on a fallen log. "No! Maybe. Yes. I don’t know anymore. I tell him I know longer want to see him and then chase him down and bring him back when he leaves. Now I am doing it again." Tears welled up in Tessa’s eyes as she held her head in her hands.

Churi walked over and sat down next to her. He put his arm around her shoulder as she leaned into him. "I wish I could take away the pain Little Sister, but I can’t. Maybe the two of you should spend some time in the Ap Yik. Come we will go to the village. It is now known as El Pueblecito del Curador, the Village of the healer."

Tessa mounted her horse and Churi jumped up behind her. They remained silent as Tessa urged Lindo into a trot. She observed the terrain as they traveled, looking for markers so she could find her way back. \Damn you Robert. I convince you to come back to Santa Elena to help the people and then you hide way out here. I guess he took me at my word about helping the people.\ She was brought out of her thoughts as Churi motioned for her to ride through an arroyo. A few minutes later they rode out onto a mesa.

"Tessa, do you see the tree line? That is where the village is."

Squinting, Tessa saw a thin ribbon of smoke in the distance and turned towards it. She urged Lindo into a faster trot and finally saw the Ap. If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought it was an inhabited Chumash village.

Helm heard the hoof beats and walked out of the midsize Ap as Tessa and Churi rode up. He looked at her and his face grew serious.

"What are you doing here? Am I not far enough away from you?"

"I thought you had run away again and broke your promise."

"What do you care? It’s all about power isn’t it? You don’t want me, but you damn sure don’t want me to have a life of my own."

Churi took Lindo’s reins as Tessa dismounted. He mounted the Palomino and galloped away as the combatants argued. Tessa turned and watched as her horse disappeared in the distance.

"Great now I have to walk home."

Helm glanced at her. "Serves you right for tracking me down. I don’t need a keeper." He looked towards the way Churi had ridden. "You had better start walking as it will be dark in a couple of hours."

"You won’t let me stay the night?"

"In case Churi didn’t tell you, Mi casa es Mi casa. Only my patients come here."

Tessa felt an anger come over her at the insult. She started to turn away but stopped. "I don’t suppose you would loan me a horse?"

"My horse is the only way I have to visit my patients. This is not a livery stable. You got here on your own, you can leave on your own."

"You really hate me that much?"

"Señorita, it was you who made it perfectly clear that you wanted me out of your life, then you keep interfering with my life." He stormed into the AP Yik but stopped and turned towards her. "What the hell do you want from me?" He turned and stomped inside.

Tessa followed him into the dimly structure. "We need to talk."

"Do we? I need to meditate. He threw some water on the heated rocks and draped some green ferns over them. Steam rose as he sat down and removed his boots and shirt.

Tessa looked at him through the steam and saw sweat already accumulating on his bare chest. She sat down across from him, separated by the pit. She removed her boots and slowly unbuttoned her shirt as Helm watched. She took off the shirt, leaving only a chemise. Sweat ran down her body in rivulets.

Neither spoke as the steam and smoke rose and created a thick screen inside the Ap Yik. Tessa moved closer to Helm so she could watch him. As she moved, so did he. Away from her. When he was again on the other side of the pit, Tessa stood up and pulled him to her. A look of terror seemed to overcome his face as she grabbed his head and forced her lips onto his.

Tessa kissed him deeply and Helm responded in like manner. As her hand played with his chest, Helm pushed her chemise over her head. They knelt down, still kissing as the smoke whirled around them

Tessa opened her eyes and saw Helm still in the same position across the pit. She shook her head. "What the hell did you put on the rocks?"

Helm shook his head. "Just some ferns that the Chumash put in here.

Tessa walked over to a pile of ferns. "This is peyote. The last time I got mixed up with this, my horse and I had a running conversation."

"I did say I wished to meditate, but you insisted on coming in here." Helm looked at her. What did you see?"

Even in the Ap, she still felt warmth on her cheeks. "I don’t wish to talk about it. What did you see?"

Helm shook his head. "I have an idea that we had the same dream. Did it end with your chemise coming off?"

Tessa shrugged her shirt on. "Yes."

"I am going to kill Churi."

Tessa grabbed his arm and turned him around. "Get in line." She stormed off towards her Indian Blood Brother.

"Churi what did you do to us?"

"I did nothing. What are you referring to?"

Tessa stopped in front of Churi. "I, we had a strange dream and when we awoke we were in the same place we started at. It was like we had never moved."

Churi looked at Helm and Tessa and then grinned. "How many of the leaves did you use?"

"Leaves? I used three stalks."

"Three stalks? You chewed three stalks?" He shook his head. "We Chumash only chew on one leaf."

Tessa looked puzzled. "Chew? Robert placed the three stalks on the rocks."

Churi laughed. "Sister, burning the peyote will cause you to have strange dreams. It is said that burning peyote will cause everyone to dream about their most hidden desires."

Tessa looked at Helm. "This is your fault."

"My fault? Ok so I burned it instead of chewing it, but I did not make you dream your desires."

Tessa stomped off towards Lindo. She took the reins and mounted. "Come on girl we are leaving this insanity."

Lindo raised her head up and down. "It’s about time."

Tessa’s mouth dropped open. "What did you say?"

Lindo neighed.

Tessa nudged Linda and they rode away from the village.

Churi walked up to Helm. "I wonder why she is so upset about a dream."

Robert grinned. "If she had the same dream I did, I was in it."

"No wonder she is upset. Next time remember to chew not burn."

Robert grimly nodded. "If there is a next time."

Tessa rode quickly towards home, her thoughts all a jumble. \Damn you Robert. When I woke up this morning, you were on my mind. You think you have troubles, well I have troubles, I have worries, and sometimes after riding as the Queen, I have wounds to bind. You are the only one who is mixed up and wants to run away. I do every morning.\

Lindo stopped and Tessa realized that she had pulled back on the reins. \Dios, I just remembered. Montoya is to take a shipment of gold to Monterey tomorrow.\ "Come on Lindo, we have to get home. I intend to make a midnight withdrawal tonight when Montoya won’t expect it."

The moonless night hid the movements of the Queen of Swords as she crept into Montoya’s office. Silently she opened the bookcase that hid the secret stash of gold and stolen artifacts. She looked in to see the ill-gotten goods that Montoya was storing. Under a shelf, was a tarp covered lump. Using her main gauche she opened the gate with the skills she had learned from the man she used to love, Robert Helm. She smiled lightly at the thought. She found the chest in the center of the room and again used the gauche to open the lock. She smiled as she found three large sacks of gold. \Too bad I can’t walk out with all it.\ She looked around and an idea formed in her mind. The pulled the tarp away from the lump and found several stacks of books. A few minutes later, she crept back out of the office with one bag of gold. The rest were under the tarp while the books were in the chest.

Early the next morning, from his balcony overlooking the Pueblo, Montoya watched as two guards carried the money chest from his office and placed it in the back of an open wagon, securing it with ropes. A thin smile crossed his lips as he gazed at the two drivers on the boot, three in the back of the wagon and six mounted soldiers as escorts. "Sergeant Mendoza, if the Queen shows up, don’t chase her, shoot her."

Mendoza looked at Montoya and saluted before leading the wagon out of the Pueblo.

Mendoza and another soldier walked their horses through the canyon fifteen miles from Santa Elena. His eyes scanned the canyon rim as the road turned East for two miles before turning back North. Mendoza was taken by surprise as his horse started trembling and bucking, throwing the hapless rider to the ground. His companion had the same issue with his horse and the wagon team appeared extremely agitated. The ground started to pitch violently from one side to the other throwing the soldiers from the wagon as a crack opened in the earth. The terrified soldiers ran to the sides of the canyon as a boulder the size of six wagons was unsettled from the rim and crashed into the wagon, snapping the wagon tongue and freeing the horses. As the horses ran down the canyon, the soldiers watched as a crack could be seen opening in the canyon walls and floor under the wagon. As the earth rocked, the crack became a hole and the wagon and boulder disappeared and the ground caved in around it. The earth stopped shaking.

Mendoza stood up and dusted himself off. He looked for his horse but could not find it. Turning he found his companion crumpled by the canyon wall, his neck bent in an unusual angle. He checked the man as the other soldiers came up. "Ruiz is dead." He shook his head. "See if you can find any horses. Anyone else injured?"

Private Trujillo walked up. "Sí, Sergeant. Cruz and Santos have broken legs."

Three soldiers ran up the canyon and came back a few minutes later with the wagon team and three horses. They loaded Ruiz onto one of the horses as well as the two injured men. They walked towards Santa Elena, leading the horses.

Trujillo looked at Mendoza. "Sergeant, don’t you want to ride?"

"One dead, two injured men and a chest of gold under a large boulder and buried in the ground. I think walking will be better than what Montoya will do."

Tessa and Vera were sitting at the cantina doing what women normally do, conspiring against men, in this case Robert Helm. "Vera, I can’t believe it. He is actually living in a rebuilt Chumash village by himself."

"Tessa, he must really be lonely. I’ll bet he misses you. Why don’t you two make up?"

Tessa looked over towards Pirenne’s office and saw him standing in the doorway. "Vera you know I don’t trust him. I won’t even allow him to treat Marta or myself. After yesterday, I definitely never want to see him again."

"Ok, you don’t want to see him again, so why don’t you let him go?"

"Let him go? He can go to Infierno as far as I am concerned."

"Is that why you rode after him and brought him back? Is that why you chased him down again yesterday?"

Tessa opened her mouth when the earth shook violently, sending tables, chairs and patrons to the ground. Tessa looked up to see the roof of the porch come crashing down, pinning Vera and shattering the table they had been seated at.

"Vera! Are you all right? Can you hear me?" She saw a trickle of blood coming from Vera head and found that she was pinned under a beam. "Ayuda, Ayuda, Help me." Tessa yelled as loud as she could. She glanced over to see if Doctor Pirenne was coming over and gasped. The front of his office had caved in. There was no sign of the Doctor.

A crowd was gathering at the cantina as men dug through the rubble to free Vera. Tessa saw a pair of hands in a uniform grab a piece of the beam she was under and forced it up, releasing her. "Señorita can you get her out?"

Tessa rolled out from under the beam and fought for control. She looked into the worried face of Colonel Montoya. "Gracias, Colonel. How is Vera?"

"I don’t know, we need to get her to Doctor Pirenne."

"Doctor Pirenne. He was standing at his doorway when the quake struck." She looked to see a crowd surrounding the office.

Montoya rushed over to the Doctor’s office as several men carried Pirenne out of the destroyed building. "Are you all right, Doctor?"

Pirenne grimaced. "My leg is broken. Someone will have to set it for me. Are there many injuries?"

"Señora Hidalgo has been injured, I don’t know about anyone else. Damn where the hell is Doctor Helm? I will have him shot when I find him."

"I doubt that would help, Colonel. Doctor Helm and I discussed having two Doctors in such a small community and I suggested that he treat the outlying community. I haven’t seen him since. Maybe Señorita Alvarado can help."

Tessa heard her name as she came up to the Colonel. "Maybe I can help, how?"

Montoya turned to Tessa. "Do you know where Doctor Helm is? We can use him now."

"He is many miles from here, Colonel. He is treating the people of the far away haciendas and the Chumash."

"He would rather treat the Chumash rather than his own people? That’s not what I pay him for."

Tessa scowled. "Colonel, as I understand you don’t pay him anything. You dismissed him when Doctor Pirenne came to town and I might add, Doctor Helm is not one of us. He is an Englishman, not a Spaniard."

"Señorita, you know what I mean. He is treating the Indians."

"Colonel, he is a blood-brother to the Chumash. They are his people, as much as I am."

"My pardons, Señorita. I forgot that you are a blood-sister to the Chumash also." He shook his head. "Do you think you could persuade him to return and help?"

"I doubt it, Colonel. The last time I saw him, I made it clear I never wanted to see him again. He won’t come if I ask him."

"What if I sent soldiers to bring him back?"

"The Chumash would kill you."

"My soldiers are armed with muskets."

"Colonel, do you remember what happened in Santa Barbara when that pirate raided Alta California? The Fathers trained the Chumash to fight and later they stole muskets and escaped into the hills. The Chumash are trained and have muskets as well. Besides, if your soldiers get there, they may not come back. Do you remember what happened the last time your men entered a Chumash village?"

"I sure you will remind me."

"You know I will. One of your men shot me."

"You will never let me forget that will you?"

"Not on your life, Colonel. I guess I could at least try."

"Thank you Señorita. The sooner you leave, the sooner you will return. Vaya con Dios."

Tessa found Lindo, still tied to the hitching post. She untied the reins and mounted her horse. She guided Lindo out of the pueblo and put her stead into a gallop. She had a long way to go.

Shortly after Tessa had ridden away from the village, Churi pulled Helm into the AP Yik. "It is time brother for you to go on a vision quest for your spirit guide. I will help you do it right."

"A Spirit Guide? Why would I need a Spirit Guide?"

"Everyone needs a Spirit Guide to help them through life. I will be there by your side but will not interfere. In return, when you have found your guide, you will tell no one what your Guide is, not even me."

Helm nodded and sat down by the heated rocks, feeling the warmth from the pit. He watched Churi hand him 2 small peyote leaves that he rolled in a ball and stuck them in his mouth. He closed his eyes as he chewed the leaves.

Helm found himself in a forest, running. He could hear his breathing but not see his own body. He felt each slap of his feet in the underbrush. Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy and he noticed there was no other sound. Ahead he caught sight of a movement and followed, as he could not get a clear view of what was moving.

It seemed like hours before he broke from the forest and stood on a cliff as a broken plain stretched out before and below him. In the distance he could see the ocean. A shadowy figure moved just inside his peripheral sight. Every time Helm turned his head the figure disappeared.

He looked toward the ocean and in the distance spied a figure on a horse riding along the coast, the horse’s hooves splashed in the water on the beach and the mounted figure’s hair whipped out behind her chased by a wolf. The figure was definitely a woman as no man was ever built that way. The rider disappeared behind a rock and Helm watched, waiting for her to reappear from the other side, but she didn’t.

He felt as if he were floating over the plain like a bird until he was over Santa Elena. In the distance to the North, he saw a puff of dust snake it’s way South directly towards the pueblo. In an instant the pueblo was gone leaving nothing but a hole. The wail of a wolf came to his ears and he turned towards the sound. He caught sight of a four-legged figure and recognized an animal. He started towards it but with the flip of a wolf’s tail the animal disappeared and then there was nothing.

Helm opened his eyes and stared into the face of his blood brother. "Churi, something bad is going to happen. I saw it."

Churi scowled. "What did you see?"

As Helm related his dream, he felt a know grow in his stomach. "Churi, I have to go. I am needed."

Churi nodded. "Go my brother. I will get the people to gather and be ready to help you if you need it." He clasped Helm’s right arm with his own. "Stay safe."

"Churi, I saw a wolf."

"I said I would not ask but since you have freely told me here is what the wolf spirit means. The wolf is a symbol of death and rebirth. It represents instinct linked with intelligence. A wolf outwits its enemies, has skill in protecting itself and its family and it takes advantage of change. I have seen these qualities in you, so it seems natural that the wolf would be your Spirit Guide. Your guide will not be just any wolf, but a particular one. Be on the lookout for a wolf that is distinct. Not all wolves look alike."

"Thank you brother."

Helm saddled his horse, grabbed his bag and mounted. He turned towards Santa Elena and raced away. He thought about his dream and urged his horse even faster. From the corner of his eye he noticed a wolf off to his right, pacing him. "Are you my Spirit Guide, Wolf?" The wolf stopped and howled.

Helm found the trail to Santa Elena and pulled his horse to a standstill. "Better take a breather, Equus. There is still a long way to go." He looked up to see a rider racing towards him. As the rider came closer, he recognized Tessa.

Tessa slowed down when she saw Helm and the knot in her stomach relaxed. "Robert, we need your help. Vera has been injured Doctor Pirenne was trapped in his office and has a broken leg." She let Lindo walk about to cool down.

"What are you doing here anyway?"

"I had a dream and was told to go to the pueblo."

"Told? Told by whom?"

"My Spirit Guide. First I saw you disappear then I saw the earth crack open and Santa Elena disappear." He looked at her. "Why did you come for me?"

"Colonel Montoya was going to send soldiers for you, but he suggested that I come instead, rather than starting a war."

"Fine as long as I know it wasn’t your idea. Let’s go." He nudged Equus in the ribs with his heels. Tessa followed suit.

Tessa and Robert rode into Santa Elena a few hours later and went straight to Helm’s old office, where the injured had been taken. Helm walked in found two patients Vera and Doctor Pirenne. Vera lay on a bed with a bandage around her head. Pirenne sat on a bench with his leg propped up and a splint on his leg.

Pirenne looked up. "Robert, I see Tessa found you. Guess it was all for nothing. I already took care of Vera as she was the only one injured."

"I suppose that splint is the best you could do for a broken leg?"

"I told a couple of soldiers how to set the leg and then I passed out. Guess the splint was the best they could do."

"I will mix up some plaster and do it properly." He looked at Tessa. "Señorita, will you please help me get him to the examining table?"

"Of course, Doctor." They helped Pirenne to the table. "Is there anything else you need me to do?"

Helm looked up at Tessa and stared into her eyes. "Yes." He shook his head. "I have to make a cast for his leg. Will you please cut the splint off while I make the plaster?"

Helm washed the plaster off of his hands and dried them on a towel while examining his work. "Well Roger, that should keep you out of action for awhile. I will stop in every couple of days to check on you, but now I must be going."

The door opened and Colonel Montoya and two soldiers walked in. "Going somewhere Doctor?"

"Yes I am, I am going back to my home."

"I am afraid that you are not going anywhere except to the jail. That is your new home. Guards, arrest him."

The soldiers grabbed him and forced him out of the door. "You can’t do this. I do not work for you anymore."

"Ah, Doctor, I am the Commandant and I can do anything I want. You will treat the people while Doctor Pirenne is incapacitated. Then we will discuss the penalty of an unauthorized alien in Alta California. An Englishman to boot."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then you will be executed as a spy. Guards." The guard pulled Helm down the street, followed by Montoya. Montoya cocked his head as he heard the howl of a wolf. \Odd, we have never had a wolf this close to the pueblo and certainly not in the daytime.\

Tessa walked outside and mounted her horse and rode out of town. She was five mile out of town when she found herself surrounded by Churi and his warriors.

"Tessa, we came to help Robert."

"He needs your help, but not the way you are thinking. Come we will go to my hacienda. We need to talk."

Colonel Montoya smiled as he walked onto the balcony of his office. \Today I will get rid of Doctor Helm and the Queen of Swords.\ He turned as he heard a knock on his door. He walked into the office. "Come in."

A soldier walked in. "Sir, the garrison is in place."

"Good. You have men on the roofs and hidden to cover all directions of the jail?"

"Sí, There is a man on the roof of each building. The Queen of Swords will not get away this time. We will not fire until she comes out of the jail."

"Good. Make sure everyone is alert."

A foggy night settled over Santa Elena as the soldiers waited for the Queen of Swords to arrive. One by one figures stepped out of the fog and knocked out the guards. The guards were stripped of their uniform coats and hats. A four-legged creature crept out of the fog towards the jail as three two-legged creatures scaled the wall to the jail.

Colonel Montoya paced back and forth in his office, waiting for the inevitable cry that the Queen was spotted or a volley of gunfire. The heavy fog was a sure invitation for her to rescue Doctor Helm. He looked towards the window when he again heard the howl of a wolf. He shrugged and walked back into office.

"Buenos Dias, Colonel."

Montoya turned towards the sound of the voice of the woman he was waiting for." He smiled. "Buenos Dias, Reina. I am surprised that you are not out freeing your beloved Doctor Helm."

The Queen laughed. "You mean out there in that cold wet weather? Colonel, would you want me to catch a death? Besides, you and I both know that it is a trap. If I set one foot into that jail, I will be riddled with bullets from the soldiers you have on every rooftop and alleyway. Besides, Doctor Helm is not my beloved, just a man I use when I get careless." She walked to the desk where Montoya’s sword lay. "Actually I came here tonight to discuss a couple of issues."

Montoya smiled. "Ah, you have come to ask for the freeing of Doctor Helm. Actually I was hoping that you came here to surrender. "

"Not hardly. Actually I have here to deliver a complaint from your soldiers."

"What? Why would you be interested in my soldiers?"

"They are lodging a complaint about their lack of warm clothing when you make then stand guard on a cold wet night such as this."

"If you didn’t keep stealing my gold, they would have their new uniforms. Just in the last two days I have lost a gold shipment and my only qualified Doctor has a broken leg."

"I am flattered that you think I am responsible for an earthquake but I am not. I only take half of the gold shipment. We both know that the soldier’s uniforms come from the money you keep. You also have two qualified Doctors in Santa Elena, which brings up issue number two."

"And what would that be?"

"You brought Doctor Helm to Santa Elena so you cannot call him a spy. He is also a blood brother to the Chumash, so he has as much right to be here as you do. Just think Colonel, you have two doctors. One to treat the townspeople and another treats the outlying haciendas and the Chumash."

"He treats Indians when we needed him here. I even had to send Señorita Alvarado to fetch him."

"Actually Colonel, Doctor Helm was ten miles away and riding towards Santa Elena when he met Señorita Alvarado."

Montoya shook his head and waved his finger. "Wait. Go back to the soldiers and their uniforms. Those are wool uniforms, why would they need heavier ones?"

"Oh, did I forget to mention that they had donated their uniforms to a more needy group of people?"

Montoya frowned. "More needy?"

"Doctor Helm has many friends." She swung her rapier and pinned Montoya’s sword as he reached for it. Her main gauche was at his neck. "Naughty, Naughty Colonel. Play nice."

Montoya let go of his sword.

The Queen removed the temptation away from Montoya. "You should know Colonel that it was Doctor Pirenne’s idea for Doctor Helm to establish his office away from Santa Elena."

A wolf howled in the night.

Tessa smiled. "I think that is my queue to leave. Have a nice sleep Colonel?"

Montoya furled his brow. "Sleep?"

Tessa swung her fist and connected to Montoya’s chin. He was knocked out before he hit the floor. "Yes, sleep." She turned and walked out onto the balcony and slipped over the railing.

Montoya woke up and rubbed his jaw. He got up, staggered downstairs and walked to the jail. Between the alleyways he found several soldiers knocked out, with their uniform coats tossed on top of them. He walked to the jail and found more soldiers unconscious and the jail doors thrown open. "Damn her and damn him." He walked into Helm’s office and found Pirenne. "Doctor, do you have any idea why Doctor Helm left town?"

Roger nodded his head. "Actually I do. I told you I suggested that he would be more comfortable treating the outlying areas and I would treat the citizens of Santa Elena. He came back on his own when he felt that he was needed."

Montoya turned and stormed out of the office and went back to his. A soldier staggered up to him. "Put your uniform back on before I have you flogged." He swung his fist and knocked the hapless man out. He shook his hand. "Damn that hurt."

It was had been three days since the night that the Chumash had freed Helm and Colonel Montoya officially rescinded the arrest warrant. Every time Tessa went near the clinic to check on Doctor Pirenne, Doctor Helm managed to leave out the back door. He had come into Santa Elena every day to check on Roger. Although immobilized, Roger had been able to treat most of his patients. He still was unable to walk without his crutches and kneeling was out of the questions and standing for long periods of time sent him for the laudanum to kill the pain. One morning Roger became annoyed by a case of books that Helm had left on the floor near the bed. He set the crutches aside, bent down and picked up the boxes to carry them to the desk. As he hobbled across the floor he started to lose his balance and let go of the books. Roger screamed in pain as the box dropped on his plaster-encased foot and shattered it. As he swung around trying to catch his balance, he tripped over the strewn books and fell, smashing his right arm into the desk. Roger heard the sharp crack and more pain before he passed out.

Roger woke up in bed with a cast on his arm and a fresh bandage on his leg.

"About time you woke up. Are you planning on making a career of testing my broken bone setting abilities?"

Roger laughed. "Robert, how did you?"

"How did I know? I come every day to visit and I walked in to find you pretending to be a throw rug. What the hell were you thinking?"

Roger coughed. "I was thinking how sloppy you are. Why did you leave those books next to the bed?"

Helm frowned. "Next to the bed? I left those books in the exam room. Someone else must have moved them."

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Helm walked over and opened it to find Tessa Alvarado.

"What can we do for you Señorita?"

"I came to see Doctor Pirenne." She looked past Helm to see Roger on the bed. "What happened?"

Roger looked at Tessa. "We were just discussing how that box of books ended up by the bed."

Tessa looked over at the box. "Those? I found them in the examination room and moved them out here before having someone take them out to Doctor Helm. Why?"

Robert walked up. "It seems that Roger didn’t like running into them and decided to move them. Unfortunately he dropped the box and broke the cast, then tripped and fell, breaking his arm. It seems that you are responsible for Rogers being laid up in bed."

"Me? Just because I moved them before having them brought to you? How did I become the bad one?"

Helm frowned. "It’s easier to make me the bad one, isn’t it Señorita Alvarado?"

The door flung open and Pedro walked in out of breath. "Doctor Pirenne, please come quickly Marta is trying to have her baby and she is in a lot of pain. My Maria told me to come and get you."

Helm turned to Pedro. "Doctor Pirenne isn’t going anywhere. He has a broken leg and a broken arm."

Pedro looked at Tessa. "Señorita, what are we going to do? Marta needs a Doctor."

Helm grabbed Pedro by the arm and turned him around. "What do you think I am, a barber?"

Pedro lowered his head. "I am sorry, Doctor, but Maria told me that Marta said only Doctor Pirenne. You are not allowed in the house."

Helm looked angrily at Tessa. "Fine. She only wants Doctor Pirenne then she can have him." He picked up his medical bag. Let me know when the funeral is." He turned to walk out.

Tessa grabbed his arm. "What do you mean by that?"

"You have a problem with me and you turn everyone against me including Marta. Well now you will have to pay the price. He obviously can’t help deliver the baby and you refuse to allow me to help. She is your friend so you can lead the funeral procession if she dies. I am going back to my village."

Tessa stared at Helm’s back as he walked out and slammed the door. She turned to Roger. "What is he babbling about?"

"I have not delivered many babies and I told him that I thought Marta would be a breach. If I had two hands, I might be able to help, but not with one. Robert is the only one with the knowledge and experience. He’s right, you condemned Marta and her child."

Tessa looked at Roger, fear showing on her face. She raced outside and mounted her horse. Turning Lindo, she urged the animal into a trot until she cleared the pueblo and then galloped away, towards Helm’s village. She raced down the road for an hour, cursing Helm under her breath. She finally brought Lindo to a halt and let her blow to catch her breath. There was no trace of Helm. \I’ll bet he ran away again. Who needs him? Marta needs me.\

Helm had mounted his horse and headed out of town. He stopped at the edge of town when he heard a wolf howl. Instead of taking the road back to his village, he turned towards Marta’s home, a wolf paced him about three hundred yards away.

Roman came out of the house as Helm rode up. "You are not welcome in out house, Doctor Helm, go away. Only Doctor Pirenne will help Marta."

"Doctor Pirenne cannot make it. I am the only Doctor available."

Roman brought himself upright towering over Helm. "I said you will not step foot into my home."

Helm slumped his shoulders. "I know that Señorita Alvarado has convinced you and Marta that I am the evil one, but Marta may not survive if I do not help her."

"No. You may leave now."

"Fine. I will leave, but don’t you ever say I didn’t try to help." Helm started to mount his horse when he heard the howl of a wolf in the distance. He stopped and turned around. "You go to hell. I am going to help her with your permission or without it. I won’t leave here and let Marta die."

Roman started to stop Helm but stopped when her heard the word that terrible word. "Die?"

"Yes die. The baby may be backwards and she needs help or she will die. Is that what you want?"

Roman slumped his shoulders. "Go help her."

Helm walked into the house and into Marta’s cold stare. "Get out! I do not want you here."

"Look. Doctor Pirenne has a broken leg and thanks to Tessa a broken arm. He told me that he thinks the baby is backwards. If it is, you or your baby may die, or both. Now do you really want me to leave?"

Roman came into the house. "Marta, let him help. He never did anything to you. You only hate him because Tessa told you to."

Marta’s anger dissipated. "My baby could die?"

Helm nodded. "It is a possibility, but I can’t tell until examine you. Pedro said you were in a lot of pain."

"I feel like there is a horse inside of me. All right. What do you want me to do?"

"Just lie back on the bed. I will need to put m hands on you, if you agree."

Marta nodded and lay back on the bed. Helm gently put his hands under Marta’s shift and moved them up her thighs. He felt the birthing area and stopped when he felt the object of his search. "Marta, do I have your permission to look?"

Marta nodded and Helm lifted her shift. He replaced the shift. He glanced around the room until he spotted the birthing chair in the corner. "Roman, bring that chair over here then help me get her on it."

He squeezed Marta’s hand. "It’s not a breach at all, Marta."

"Then what is it? It hurts so much."

The two men positioned Marta on the birthing chair. "You can blame Roman for being such a big man. I would say that your baby is a small mountain." Helm checked again after Marta was seated. "Ok Marta, push."

Tessa was anxious as she rode up to the Petroff hacienda. There were no horses or people around the casa. She dismounted, tied the horse’s reins to the hitching post and walked inside. There was absolute quiet and the lack of sound unnerved her. She saw the massive hulk of Roman standing by Marta’s bed and a tear fell from her face. She was too late. Panic filled her. She saw Roman look at her questioningly and then smile.

"Would you like to meet our son?"

Tessa almost ran to the bed and gave Marta a hug and then kissed the little baby on the forehead. She looked again. This was no little baby. "I see everything worked out all right, Marta without a Doctor. Poor Doctor Pirenne is injured and that coward Helm ran off. I looked all over for him. Now there are two things that I won’t forgive him for."

Marta placed her son in Tessa’s arms. "Hush, Tessita. Roberto was here. He helped me deliver my son. He was fearful that the baby would be a breach, but instead he was just a big baby. Roberto says he must weigh about thirteen pounds. You should be glad that Roberto is such a conscientious Doctor that he refused to listen to you, me or Roman about helping me."

"Roman?"

Roman grinned at Tessa. "Si, he came here and I told him to go away. He refused and challenged me. Then he challenged Marta. Doctor Helm is a brave man and a good one."

Tessa frowned, as her hatred for Helm seemed to dissolve. She sat down carefully with the baby. "What is his name?"

Roman took Marta’s hand in her. "Antonio Nicolai Petroff. Antonio for Marta’s uncle and Nicolai for my father."

Tessa kissed little Robert. "Where is Doctor Helm now?"

Marta looked at Roman before answering. "Tessita, he said that he had kept his promise to you but since the baby is here, there is nothing else to keep him in Santa Elena."

Tessa handed the baby back to Marta hugged her and Roman and left. She mounted Lindo and wiped a tear from her eye. The thought of Helm leaving for good sent a chill down her spine. \Robert as angry as I am with you, I don’t think I could bear you leaving.\

A wolf howled in the distance.

written by Sylvia Tyson
Originally recorded by Ian and Sylvia