by Barb Shuler
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Georgie
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This was not how I had planned on the day going. We were going to go riding, check on the fence and gates and come back for lunch. No one said there would be a Godzilla sized bear eating a cow. No one said Phoebe’s horse was going to be a douche and toss her. No one said I’d have to scoop up a rifle and shoot a bear in order to stay alive myself. I killed that poor animal for doing something so natural. She was defending her meal and her cub. And what did I do? I shot her.
Though, now that I am staring down at my dog who has battle wounds from said bear, I don’t feel so bad. Bitch hurt my dog. I couldn’t stop my tears as Tango whined in my arms. The moment Danny slammed the ATV into park and started screaming for Abraham I felt myself start to shake and pray.
“AAAAABE!! DAAAAAD!!!!! JOOOON!!!!”
“What the hell, kid?” I heard Jon’s voice as he moved closer but I sat frozen. “Holy Shit. ABE! Shift your ass man.”
God, please, I beg you. Don’t take my baby from me. He had to be okay. I couldn’t lose him, not now, not ever. No. I needed him to be okay.
“Son of a bitch. What happened?”
“Bear attacked him. That’s all I know. Bubba sent me back with them before I got the whole story.”
I could hear the panic in Danny’s voice. It would match mine. Hysterical laughter was building inside me. Someone tried to take Tango from me. He whined and I started to cry harder.
“Georgie, sweetheart you have to let go.” Abe’s voice was soft and demanding. “That’s it honey, let me have him.”
I let Tango go and crumpled over, sobs wracking me as I saw the blood now covering me. I stumbled off the ATV and made it about two steps before I lost everything in my stomach. I was shaking violently when I felt an arm go around me.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Abigail's voice floated over me. Her grip tightened around me. “Daniel, what happened?”
“Bear attacked him. Georgie killed it... ”
“Dammit. Okay, go see if your brothers need anything. I’ll get Georgie cleaned up. Where is your sister? Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she has a cut on her head, but she’s fine. Tater and Cody were riding back with her.”
“Okay, good. Now, come on, Georgie girl, let me get you cleaned up. Is any of this blood yours?” I couldn’t answer her. I wasn’t sure. No? Yes? Shit, it all happened so fast.
“T-Tango,” I sobbed harder as she tried to get me away from the barn. I couldn’t leave him. He needed to know I was here.
“Daniel, is this her blood?”
“I- I don’t know, Ma. I didn’t get a look at her before.. Ya know.”
“Come on, let me get you cleaned up. Abe won’t let you in there right now. Let him work. Tango is in good hands. I can promise you that.” I tried to let Abigail’s words sink into me. Tango would be fine. He had to be.
The sounds of horses brought my head up and I saw Tate slide off the saddle, the small brown furball in his arms.
“Cody, take him, her, whatever it is and put them in a paddock. Not with the horses, they’ll all shit themselves if they get a good whiff. Call Jace, tell him to hightail it over here and get what he needs. Take him back out there to the site. Pa, you’ll need to go, too. The bear killed a heifer,” Tate called out. The people around us started to move.
“On it,” was all Cody said before he walked off. Tate scooped me up and left Abigail to fuss over Pheobe.
“I needed to get the blood off you baby.” His words made panic run through me all over again. I’d never been so scared in my life as I was right now. I started to sob and tried to get free of his grip.
“Tango!”
“Calm down. I got ya, darlin’, stay with me. Tango is going to be okay. Abe will make sure of it,” I said as I walked up the stairs and into the house.
I went straight up to my room and sat Georgie on the bed. After turning the shower on I kicked my boots off, and stripped down to my boxers. I helped her strip down to her undies. She had on a white bra that was red with blood. I eased it off of her and stripped her panties off. She needed no reminder of what happened right now. I moved us to the shower and helped her in.
I gently washed every inch of her, removing every drop of Tango’s blood and some of her own. She had small scratches on her arms, as well on her chest. I’m guessing those were from Tango’s nails as they rode back to the house. Georgie was like a zombie standing under the spray of the shower. It was hurting my heart to see her in so much pain and be helpless to do a damn thing.
I shifted her slightly so I could wash her hair. I massaged her head and it was then that she seemed to come around slightly. By the time I was done rinsing her hair and running the conditioner through it she was crying again. I stood under the spray and just held her. She needed this quiet time to get it all out. She would have to be strong for Tango and for herself.
When the water went cold I got us out of the shower and dried off. Ma had brought in clothes while we showered so I got her dressed, then dressed myself. Her cheek was swollen, and nice and purple. I was seriously worried that she had broken it. Doc would be making a house call today, for sure.
12
Was it a Dream?
Georgie
I'd been out of it since the Doctor had been out to see me. Was it bad I still couldn’t remember the poor man’s name? Sad, but true. He didn't seem to mind, though. Plus, by the time he got here my face hurt so damn bad that each time I blinked I felt a tear roll down my cheeks. I still don't know what went wrong. I've handled guns before. Rifles, shotguns, handguns even…. I've never had one jump like that and crack me across the face. My PaPa would be rolling over in his grave at this. He had taught me better that.
As I replayed what happened my heart pounded a beat in my chest you could have danced to. When Phoebe's horse threw her my only reaction was to jump down, grab the rifle, aim and fire. The crack of the bullet was lessened by the crack my face made. I grimaced as I held my head.
The poor Doctor had no idea I was beating myself up over all of this. He kept talking to me, making me calm even when I didn't want to be. I guess he felt sorry for me. My cheekbone was not broken, from what the Doc could feel and see. But without an X-ray there was no way to say for sure. I refused to go have one. Not right now. I wasn't leaving until I knew my dog was all right.
The Doctor had given me a few different pills to take - pain meds, of course, something to calm my nerves and then something else but I can't remember what. I really hope Abigail and or Tate were paying attention to the what and dosages cause, I wasn’t. I was however, fighting off the effects of the pain pills and panicking over Tango, though not as much as I had been. I’d given up at one point and curled into Tate’s side, letting the warmth of his embrace lull me into closing my eyes and I dozed. I can't say I really slept. My mind wasn’t really able to shut down some. That was until Abbie needed him. I'd pushed him away so he'd go take care of his daughter, which left me to snuggle into the empty couch.
It felt like hours, maybe even days had passed, and yes, I know that’s an exaggeration - but waiting is not my thing. Add in the haze of medications I wasn't used to and it was an unreal mind trip. When Abe and Jon came back into the house from the barn saying Tango was okay, I’d rushed out here, albeit too fast. I was like a weeble wobble as I made my way across the yard. In my rush I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, which caused me to go ass over teakettle once I made it in the barn door. But, really, no one said to watch out for hay bales in this place.
I finally made it into where my poor pup was and hadn't moved from this spot next to Tango in the hay of this empty stall since Abe reminded me of what he'd said inside. Tango would be fine and back to normal in a few weeks. He just needed time to heal. And to rest. Pup was on bed rest, Doctor’s orders.
Abe and Tate had come back out here a few hours ago to check on Tango and myself. I had questions now that the fog of medication was gone and Abe had to
once again explain everything that happened to me.
When the reality of what happened actually sank in, my heart stopped a few times. Abe explained in full detail as to what he'd had to do to get Tango - or as he jokingly called him, Humpty Dumpty - back together. There was need to suture - stitch up - six lacerations - which is Doctor speak for deep cuts - on his back, left side and left flank. A couple of the lacerations went to the bone but were clean cuts. The muscle would heal nicely without any trouble. There was no debris in the cuts either, but he had cleaned them and put in a couple of drainage tubes to allow for better healing.
There was also an issue with one of his back legs and now, Tango’s left hind leg was in a cast. There was a clean break across the top part of his leg which should heal just fine thanks to the small rod that was now a permanent part of him. He had a few stitches on his muzzle, a couple by his left ear and above his right eye. The Bear's claws missed all vital parts and organs. Thank God, but my poor pup was going to be out of it for a while. My heart was breaking. I was too busy worrying about stopping the bear that I missed my poor dog risking his life to give me that extra second I needed to get off more shots.
The sounds of the hay rustling around me pulled me from my doze and I looked up to see Tate and Phoebe standing in the door of the stall. I yawned and scrubbed my hand across my face forgetting I was bruised. I yelped as an extreme pain shot through me. The tears started and before I knew what was going on Tate had me pulled into his lap.
“Damn, Georgie, that wasn't very smart. Shit. Here, baby, take these,” he said. His words were filled with worry and pain of their own. I took the pills he offered me and handed him back the bottle of water he'd put in my hand. He refused the water so I drank until it was empty.
I don't know how long we sat there with me draped across Tate's lap and Phoebe curled into the wall, one hand resting on Tango’s paw. When I opened my eyes again it was light out. I shifted and curled into the warmth of Tate's body and looked over at Tango. He thumped his tail on the hay and I moved to lay in front of him. His tongue snaked out to lick my face as he whined. I kept my voice low as I tried to soothe him. I figured Abe would be out soon to give him more pain meds too.
“Hey, buddy. I should kick your butt. You know that?” I wiped a tear away and sighed. “What were you thinking, taking on a crazy bear like that? What if I lost you? I couldn't take it.” He just thumped his tail and licked my nose. “You big dummy. I love you. Don't you do that again. You hear me, mister?”
I heard the straw behind me crunch and looked up to see Tate scrubbing both of his hands over his face. He blinked and rubbed his neck.
“I'm sorry,” I said looking over at Phoebe, who was starting to stir.
“Is Tango okay?” She asked through a big yawn. She rolled her neck as she pushed out a hand to sit up.
“He’s stable,” Tate said through a yawn.
“You guys should have slept inside last night. I’m sorry… so.. sorry...” I frowned, feeling bad for their discomfort. Hating the way I was feeling right now. Hating that my dog, the last piece of my PaPa I had, was almost taken from me. I hung my head closer to Tango’s muzzle and let the tears fall again. So much had happened in the last six months. Or was it seven now? Shit, I had lost track of time. Was that a good sign or not? My mind was a whirlwind of confusion, anger and sadness. I felt hands move to my shoulders and that opened a floodgate of tears unlike the ones from last night. I heard Tango whine, Phoebe whispering frantically for Tate to do something and the pain in his words as he tried to soothe me.
“Come on, Darlin’, it’s okay. Please don’t cry baby.”
“I’ll go get Mama.” I heard Phoebe’s words as Tate pulled me closer to him. His warmth wrapped around me. He was my rock now. I hadn’t known him long, but this man, this man meant so much to me… but I wasn’t enough. I wasn’t even whole anymore. I was lost. There was no soothing me. I was broken, unlike before. I couldn’t run from this pain. I couldn’t abandon the feelings I had put a bubble around to hold them closer to my heart. The few memories I had of my father floated through my mind. The memories of my PaPa as he taught me to ride my bike for the first time. Our visits to the cemetery to place flowers on my parents gravestone.
“Take her inside. Get her a hot shower and some meds for pain. You all look like hell. Really, Nathaniel, what were you thinking sleeping out here? She should have been in a bed. She’s hurt and scared. Sleeping in the barn didn’t help a thing.”
“Ma, she wanted to be with Tango. I wasn’t telling her no. And I wasn’t leaving her to deal with this alone,” he snapped.
I heard the tinge of anger in their voices and shook my head. Wincing when my hair brushed my cheek. Yes, it was that sore. The pain sort of brought me back. I sat up from his chest and looked around. Everyone was there. Solemn faces, glares from Abigail. I patted Tate’s arm and wiggled so he’d put me down. When I was on my feet I bit back another sob and swallowed hard.
“Don’t. Just don’t.” I took in a deeper breath and closed my eyes before I spoke again. “I was not leaving Tango. Period.” My voice cracked and I had to fight hard to not break down again. “I’m sorry we’ve been such a pain. We can take him back to the cabin, I can take care of him on my own.”
I brushed past them and out of the barn. I needed air. I could do this. Tango was going to be fine. Abe said so. I had to stop feeling sorry for myself and what I lost. I wasn’t the only person here. Everyone has lost someone they love. I had taken the life of an innocent animal and now that was something I had to live with as well. I’d never been so torn and out of sorts. There was a low grumble coming from the small building behind the barn so I moved to investigate. It was a good distraction. One I needed. I peeked in the small diamond window on the door and saw the bear cub pawing at the hay around it. He or she was just a little bigger than Abbie from what I could see. The cries it was letting out broke my heart. I’d taken it’s Mama from it.
I pulled the slide latch and pulled the door open. The cub stared at me and grumbled again. I moved in slowly and sat on the floor by the door. I waited until the cub came over to investigate me before I ran my hand through it’s fur. It was soft but coarse in spots. The small paws had some killer claws but I wasn’t scared of it. For now, at least. The coat was a shiny black, minus the spots where dirt was covering it. I smiled as I watched the cub investigate me. It’s nose nudged at my cast and I laughed softly.
“That smells weird to ya, huh? It’s a pain in the butt to deal with. You will have lots of new adventures coming up soon. You lost your mama, I’m sorry for that. I know what it’s like to grow up without a mama. My mama decided she didn’t want to live anymore. She left me for a bottle of pills and a bottle of gin. My PaPa always said she was a strong woman, but the devil inside her was just stronger.”
I sniffled as the bear climbed up and nose my chin. I shifted my head to keep the sore side of my face from its reach. “You know, I barely remember my daddy. He went out one day and never came home. When I was seven a man came to the door. He was a cop, and he told PaPa that daddy’s body had been found. He was gone too. I didn’t cry, I didn’t know him enough to cry.”
Hearing a scuffle behind me I turned to see we had an audience. They had apparently followed me from the barn and I was so lost in my own sorrow that I didn’t even notice. I closed my eyes and turned away from them. Jesus, now they would know just how broken I was. I put the cub back in the hay and stood up. As I shut the door and latched the lock Tate pulled me to him and scooped me up. I had no idea what he was doing, but I let him carry me off. I hid my face in his chest and with a sigh I trusted that he was not going to leave me like everyone else seemed to.
13
Feelings
Tate
Listening to Georgie pour her heart out to that cub splintered something inside me. She had seemed so in control since she arrived. I’d not asked about her past. She had offered a few bits here and there, but I figured she would tell
me what she wanted when she was ready. She already knew my dirty laundry. Hell, she got to come face to face with part of it a few weeks ago. She needed me now more than I thought.
I gave Georgie no choice but to accompany me into the house this time. Once she was in my arms, that was it. She went willingly. I didn’t say a word until we were upstairs, in my room. I sat her on her feet and lifted her chin with my finger. Her face was swollen and bruised from yesterday. Her eyes were bloodshot, red rimmed and swollen. Even with all that, she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I leaned in and kissed her softly. I needed her to know that I was here for her. I wasn’t leaving her to do any of this on her own.
I said nothing while I slowly stripped her of her clothes. Kneeling, I took her socks and shoes off. Her fingers curled into my shoulders as she lifted one foot at a time. When she stood before me completely naked I stood and leaned in to capture her lips again with mine. Without a word her fingers trailed along the buttons to my shirt and then pushed it off my shoulders. I pulled back from her long enough to grab my t-shirt and pull it off. My chest pressed against hers and the jolt of lust that shot through me made me groan. Her hands working my belt and then popping the button to my jeans didn’t help. She truly had no idea what she did to me.
I kicked my boots off and stepped back to push my jeans and boxers off. My socks followed and there we stood, both as naked as the day we were born. I pulled her back to me and kissed her again as I backed her into the bathroom. Once the water was on and a good temperature I used my body to push her inside and shut the door. I had her where I wanted her, with her back pressed against the cold tile. My lips moved from hers to trail along her jaw, her neck and across her collarbone. My fingers slid down her sides and gripped her hips as my mouth moved down along her breast. My lips wrapped around the pebbled peak and I smirked as she let out a strangled moan.