ENCOUNTER 6
THE OTHER QUEENS

By JoLayne
EnyaJo@aol.com

RATING: PG
CHARACTERS: T/Q, H, M, G, OCs Tina, Annie
SUMMARY: After Helm and Marta's fight, he heads toward town and encounters the Queen.

~~~~~

DUSK

Helm rode along at a steady pace toward town, away from Marta. Their argument played over and over again in his mind. He didn't like the way he just taken off, but she wasn't in the conversational--or passionate--mood. She was convinced that because a piece of paper with a drawing on it turned up at an inopportune moment, he was going to die. Another day that he would survive would be another day that they would have missed being together. If he chalked up enough days, maybe he could convince her that her tarot reading was wrong. Yes, the past was important and they should heed it, but they also had to think about their future. They could have a wonderful future together and no Spanish battleaxe's curse was going to change it.

Helm was just going to turn his horse around, point him back toward the direction of the Alavarado hacienda to talk some sense into Marta when he heard something behind him. He only caught a peek of the ass of a horse just going behind a copse of trees. Suddenly, he felt he was being watched. Helm stopped the horse to scan his vicinity. It was getting too dark to see anything clearly.

"Get down from the horse, now!" A voice broke the tension that had built up in Helm's heart and throat. He turned toward it only to have his horse roar back from a stick hitting him just under his jaw. Helm fell to the ground, dazed from having landed on his shoulders and head. Suddenly a woman with long dark hair and a lace mask was standing above him. The Queen?!

"You!? You're muerto!" He had almost been able to cut open her corpse to find the killer bullet as she laid cold as ice and straight as a board in Montoya's warehouse after her body had been rode into town in the back of a wagon.

"Surprise, surprise," she sang out in English. Then her voice turned cold to announce, "I'm your worst nightmare." The last thing he expected was seeing the Queen alive, the next last thing he expected was the Queen to attack him, so he hadn't protected himself from her opening attack. He reflected on the words she spoke, in English, but with an Irish brogue. Since he knew that the woman above him wasn't the real Queen, he rolled over to get back on his feet. She kicked Helm in the ribs, then again when he lifted and turned to the side. The kick to the kidneys flattened him. Helm couldn't move a muscle. Very good, he thought. It takes some men years to perfect that maneuver. He felt her fumble through his coat and pants pockets.

"What are you..." There was no time for pleasantries. He grabbed her hand and expertly twisted it, making her flip over onto the ground. Helm slowly lifted himself up-which took all the strength he could muster. It was the Queen of Swords that had attacked him, but that was not her voice. "What in the bloody hell is going on?!"

The Queen shook her head to clear it from the fall and quickly jumped back on her feet. She pulled out her sword and looked to Helm as if she was going to use it. He tried to stand, but the searing pain in his back made that an impossibility. The woman dressed as the Queen paced around him. He tried to turn and keep her in his line of vision, but he couldn't. He grunted, "You want to take her place? Huh?" The woman didn't speak, only lunged at him with the sword which he rolled out of the way of. "Let me tell you, you've got her act wrong. She fights against people like you."

~~~~

Tessa, dressed as the Queen, had gotten off Chico's back and threw his reins over a branch. When she looked back at what she expected, a man wearing an overcoat--eerily similar to Doctor Robert Helm's--she got the surprise of her life. She herself was fighting him. "I was right," she announced to Chico. "There are more of me!"

Helm's horse galloped by her, then past and kept on going. She hopped back on Chico and kicked him on the side to take off at lightening speed to the scene.

~~~~~

The fake Queen stepped out of her fighting stance and stood straight up. Helm tried to decipher the wide smile on her face as he still tried to get up, protecting his side and back that seemed to be on fire. Then she spoke again in English. What surprised him was that she wasn't talking to him. "It's about time you showed up. This one looked like he wouldn't fight back, but I always was a bad judge of character."

Helm turned around to see another Queen ride up on horseback. He painfully got to his feet as the other Queen kicked him on the jaw as she rode past. After slamming back on the ground, the kick to the head, along with the kidney punch he had gotten earlier, it was even more difficult to move, let alone stand. But it wasn't impossible. Never underestimate the power of self-preservation. Helm got to his knees just before he was grabbed from behind and a dagger was stuck into his back. Helm let out a pained wince and fell back against the first Queen, then flopped forward to the ground.

~~~~~

Annie,d ressed as the Queen of Swords, hopped off her steed and walked to her companion still fumbling through Helm's pockets. She said, also in English with an Irish brogue, "Needed a little help here, Tina?"

"He put up a fight, Annie. That was a first. They usually don't." Tina said. She pulled out Helm's gold pocket watch. She whistled. "This wasn't cheap."

"That isn't yours," they heard a woman steely announce in Spanish, just before a whip wrapped around Tina's head and yanked her off balance. The gold watch rolled from her hand, and came to a stop by Helm's head. Tessa reached down and debated on whether or not to pull the dagger out of his back or if that would make the wound worse. It was actually Dr. Helm laying there! Tessa was mortified. He could be dead; he wasn't moving. It was getting so dark outside that she couldn't even tell if he was breathing. She was worried about him, but she had two women with weapons to deal with at the moment or they could both be dead.

Before Tessa could take her stance against the two women, Annie delivered a hefty kick to Tessa's ribs. She then grabbed Tessa's hair and laughingly observed, "Hey! It's real. No wig." Annie pulled her head all the way back and said, "So, we meet the real Queen at last."

Tessa pulled at Annie's wig, exposing the woman's bright, short, red, matted hair. Tina took a dagger out of her boot but Tessa was faster. She pulled the dagger from Helm's back and stuck it into Annie's leg, who was still holding her by the hair, then thrust it up as she stood. Annie lifted off the ground, then fell back. She held her leg, screaming in pain and assaulted Tessa with colorful language. Tessa couldn't understand all the English words, but she certainly understood the sentiment behind them.

Tina grabbed her from behind. Tessa slammed her heel down on the woman's foot and elbowed her cheek, stunning her. She turned to see that Tina also had red hair as the wig fell back off her head. Her hair was long, it fell out of the bun and the ends landed down past her waist. Tessa sneered as she stood poised to attack either woman as she said, "You like to dress up as me? Well, you have to act like me also! Who are you and why are you doing this?" She indicated Helm's body and thoughts came like rapid fire through her mind. It was Helm who was stabbed! She inwardly laughed at the thought that when she had first spotted him riding from her estate that he was Marta's lover. He must have been paying a visit or tending to a worker who may have gotten hurt. If a worker was hurt, she should have been at home, not gazing at Don Nogales on a bucking bronco! As soon as she dealt with those two imposters and got Helm to Marta to heal, she'd have to find out what happened at her hacienda.

The whip marks on Tina's cheeks and nose were clearly visible in the moonlight as the two woman danced around each other, each inspecting their opponent. Tessa was pleased to see the wound, but hoped she wouldn't have to kill either one. She remembered Helm's admonishment when she had killed that soldier for him in Montoya's office and came to take it under advisement when she fought. The Swordmaster Juan had done a good job in training Tessa as it didn't take long to disarm and knock out Tina. Annie finally stood, compensating for her stabbed leg. Tessa smiled at her while still trying to look imposing. Tessa only kicked her on the leg wound, then gave her an upper jab to the jaw. Annie fell back to the ground and didn't move another muscle. Not even after Tessa roughly nudged her with a foot. Except for the stab wound to that leg, Tessa was sure that they would both survive.

Tessa had a dilemma. Take the imposters into town--and would ruin her cover that the Queen was still alive--or get Helm to safety, if he wasn't dead already. She fell on her knees beside Helm and checked his breathing. She was thankful hear him grunt when she tried to turn him over. She prodded Chico to lay on the ground and pulled Helm's body over the horse's back. "Up, Chico. Good boy," she said as she made sure Helm didn't fall off as Chico got to his feet. She climbed up behind Helm lying belly down across the saddle and yelled, "Go Chico!"

~~~~~

Grisham and his men had ended their day of drills when the sun had set and were riding back to town when one of the soldiers spotted two prone figures off to the left. Grisham told them to check it out as he continued towards town. When they hollered that it was two women, Grisham looked back and stopped his horse. He saw that one of the soldiers was on the ground inspecting a body. The soldier yelled, "It is two Queens of Swords!"

"What the hell?" Grisham rode to them to see for himself. There were indeed two women dressed in the Queen's costume, unconscious. He got off his horse and grabbed a torch from one of the soldiers to light the scene better and saw blood on the ground, hoof prints in the mud leading away. He didn't know what to think about the Queens. Why they were dressed in such a way? There were two of them! The Queen was supposed to be dead. Were these imposters to take over her work, or were they the actually thieving Queens that he had heard rumors of but had dismissed? He ordered his men to take the woman into town for questioning when they wake. The women were lifted onto two horses' backs which each soldier would hold in front of him. Grisham said, "Get Helm to look in on them," before they rode away.

Grisham followed the tracks on his white steed, but couldn't see them well. After the rain had softened the ground, he knew that the tracks would still be there in the morning as the ground would harden. He would pick up the trail then. He quickly rode to the men on their way into Santa Helena. Grisham's first priority was to be present when Montoya got a look at their prize.

~~~~~

Tessa, with Helm's body across Chico's back, loudly rode to her hacienda and yelled for help. Eladio rushed out of the stables. Other farm hands ran from their houses on the property and into the yard. They were all overcome with amazement at seeing the Queen in the flesh. Tessa knew it and declared, "Dr. Helm is injured. The Gypsy woman must tend to him." She thought to herself, It makes it difficult when you are the only doctor in the county.

Tessa slipped off Chico's hind quarters and motioned for the men to help her. The workers stood staring at her in a daze. More men, and their wives and children, came running, shouting, "La Reina!"

The Queen's secret was out and all who gathered looked at her in shock. Tessa told them, "Yes, I am alive. I have had to remain hidden because Montoya thinks I am dead. I can go about my business a little more easier that way. Please, do not tell anyone." After hearing a lot of, 'si' and nods of heads, she told them, "Go back to your houses."

She handpicked Eladio and another worker, Raphael, with two flicks of her wrist. "You and you. Help get the doctor inside." They pulled Helm off of the horse as Tessa hoped that Eladio for one wouldn't recognize Chico as he was the one who cared for the horses. From a careful looking into his eyes, Tessa could tell that the last thing he was looking at was the horse. His gaze alternated between her and the doctor. Helm slipped down and into the capable hands of the two men who carried him to the house. "The rest of you, go back to your houses." She ran past the men carrying Helm to the door and opened it for them.

~~~~~

Marta had seen the workers and their families move back and forth by the kitchen window and was just walking into the living room to find Eladio and Raphael enter with a body; the Queen held open the door. Madre Dios! Why did Tessa appear to them as the Queen? Marta asked, "What is happening?"

The men carried the man in to set him down, but the Queen said, "No!" Marta wondered if it was because they were going to lay the body on her mother's favorite velvet sofa. The men looked at her. "Bring him to a bed," she said. "He will be more comfortable."

Marta asked, "What is going on? What happened?" Then she saw his face. The injured man was Robert Helm! Marta was horrified and declared, "Madre Dios!" about ready to faint.

"The Queen is alive!" Raphael announced the news. "She brought him to you for help."

"What? I'm fine. Where did..." Helm stuttered in a daze.

"In the bedroom," Tessa ordered the men, pointing further into the house. Eladio and Raphael carried Helm past Marta, who stood in shock. They stopped at the first bedroom they came to, Marta's.

Tessa whispered to her, "Marta? Go!" She nudged Marta toward the others.

Marta went into her bedroom to see them lay Robert Helm on her bed. She rushed to his side and tenderly held his hand. "What happened?"

"I ... nothing...," Helm mumbled. Then he clearly ordered, "You have your orders! Get them in the morning..." He fell back exhausted on the bed.

Tessa stepped forward, past Raphael and Eladio, and told Marta, "He was stabbed in the back. The lower back."

Helm moved his head, "Where...?"

"Sh," Marta told him. "You are with me. Do not worry."

"What? Who..."

Marta brushed the hair off his forehead. "You are on fire. Did you hit your head?"

"Leave me alone," he weakly grumbled, pushing her hands away. "I have orders... I have to..."

Tessa told the men, who had backed up to the door. "Go back home. Don't tell anyone that you have seen me." When they didn't move, she ushered them out. At the back door which she lead them to, she told them again, "It is best if Montoya believes that I am still dead. Do not tell anyone so I can continue my work."

"Yes, ma'am," Raphael said as he lightly touched her arm as if to make sure she was real.

Tessa smiled at him and nodded for him to go. "But you," she told Eladio. "Will you stay with the Gitana to tend to the doctor?" As soon as he nodded the affirmative, Tessa ran out of the house and got on Chico and rode away to continue the ruse that she didn't live there. As long as Eladio was inside the house, he wouldn't see her sneak back and get Chico in his stable.

~~~~~

Marta lit the lamp on her bureau then rushed back to check on Robert. The old Spanish woman's curse came back to her mind with full force.

~You will never see good fortune with any man!~

From what Marta remembered, her finger was a mile long as she had pointed it at her. It was a gnarly finger, her long fingernails were as sharp as tacks.

~All men who love you will die! You will never know the joy of a new born child in your arms!~

Marta shivered as she looked at Helm completely still and silent. His eyes were closed and he looked to not even be breathing. She dared not touch him for it would confirm that he was dead. She heard movement at the door and turned to see Eladio standing there, his hat in his hands. "Ma'am," he said. "The Queen said I should help you tend to the doctor."

Marta nodded and bucked up the courage to touch Robert. She placed her hand on his chest and felt it slowly rise and fall. She breathed a sigh of relief. She told Eladio, "Get a water basin and a sponge, some rags, and some more blankets."

Marta started to unbutton Helm's shirt and remembered how adorable he was the night he came to that very room, when he was taking his clothes off for her, struggled with that tie. What should have been a happy memory dissolved into remembering the exact spread that the cards laid when she read his fortune. The Empress card flashed in her mind and seemed to vibrate before her eyes as she heard Senora Reboso's curse over and over. Marta started weeping. She knew Robert's fate was sealed. He wouldn't live and Marta didn't even know what was wrong with him.

Eladio came back and set the basin and rags on the bureau and tossed a blanket over the chair. He stood silently as Marta got hold of her senses. She had to see what was wrong with Robert and determine if she could help him in any way. She motioned for Eladio to help her take Helm's coat, suit jacket, and shirt off so she could see what damage had been done to his body. As she felt the lapel of the suit jacket, she realized that he had dressed up to see her again. She hadn't seen that jacket under the overcoat when they argued over the dead rose bushes. She had always been proud of her ability to see so much, but she hadn't seen what had been right in front of her.

Eladio respectfully placed Helm's overcoat and jacket on the dresser, nicely folded, even though they were ruined by a huge blood stain and slit from the dagger. Marta continued to unbutton his shirt when Tessa walked into the room tying her robe at her waist saying, "What is all the commotion?"

Eladio bowed his head to his mistress and said, "The Queen is alive. And she brought Dr. Helm to Marta. He is hurt in some way."

"I see," Tessa said. "You can go, Eladio. I will assist Marta. Thank you."

Marta heard Eladio leave and felt the bed jostle as Tessa sat on the other side of Helm's body. She had the shirt unbuttoned and looked at his well defined chest that she was held close to her so recently. She laid her hand on his bare chest again and lowered her head in sadness. Then she felt another hand on hers. She looked to see it was Tessa's.

Marta asked her, "You were there?"

"It happened before I could reach him." Tessa grabbed Marta's hand and said, "He was attacked by two Queens of Swords. He was stabbed in the back, Marta. We have to see if he's still bleeding."

Marta slid Helm's shirt over his shoulders and pulled it out from under him. The blood on the shirt terrified her but didn't look fresh to her eye. Marta and Tessa carefully turned him over on the bed and both gasped when they saw his back. His skin was bruised, splotches of red and purple on his lower back. Marta sat back with her hands to her mouth, tears rolling down her cheeks, thinking it had been all her fault. It has come true. He is going to die. Marta gently rubbed her hand over them as if hoping she could erase them. Then her hand went down to the small red clotting of blood that covered the small entry wound. She looked at her fingers and none of the blood transferred onto them.

Tessa said, "The wound seems closed," as she rubbed at it with her own finger. "Is that a good sign?" When Marta didn't answer, Tessa nudged her. "Marta! What do we do? Snap out of it! He needs your help. What do we do?"

Tessa had knocked Marta out of her revery. Marta had tended stab wounds while they were still in Spain. Thankfully, Helm was no longer bleeding. She got the water basin and a sponge and cleaned around the wound, being gentle around the bruising that covered his lower back so she didn't hurt him more than he already had been. She asked Tessa to watch over him while she made a poultice to cover the wound. As she left the bedroom, she heard Tessa say, "I will."

When Marta returned, she asked, "Has he awaken?"

"No," Tessa said, not having left her post.

Marta applied the poultice and wondered what she could do for the bruising that seemed to have darkened in the short time since she had last seen it. Since the stab wound wasn't seeping, she sponged off the rest of Helm's upper back and neck, under his arm pits and sides. Tessa watched the process. She stood and walked around the bed to stand behind Marta when she had finally sat up straight having completed her task. Tessa massaged Marta's shoulders and said, "So... I think I now know who your lover is."

Marta softly nodded.

"Why couldn't you tell me? Me?" Marta could hear the disappointment in Tessa's voice as it trailed off, the questions still lingering in the air.

"It wasn't meant to be, Tessita," Marta said looking over her shoulder. "I always knew it. I just did not want to think about it."

"What are you talking about?" Tessa lightly jostled Marta's shoulders. "You care for him. You love him, I can tell by how you touch him. Of course it was meant to be. Dr. Helm is not bleeding. He will be all right."

Marta softly touched the bruises on his back. "It may not be the stab wound that could kill him. He has a long recovery ahead of him, if he recovers at all."

Tessa sat behind Marta and put her arm around her shoulder. They leaned their heads together and watched Helm sleep. "He will be all right, Marta."

"How can you be so sure?"

Tessa pulled Marta's face toward hers so she could see her say, "Because you love him and you will not allow it."

CONTINED in Encounter 7