Crystal Lake.

[All_for_you]

WOW    Korvo 

Love your story can't wait to read then part      MMWAHHHH

[Korvo]

Sweaty, out of breath I reach the car again and I look behind me to see if anyone followed me or even noticed me. But it stays quiet between the trees and after a few minutes I get into the car and slowly drive back to the main road.  There I stand still for a moment, head lights still off, engine just running stationary. I debate wether to turn left or right. Left to the relative safety of the back roads, away from the city where there are less prying eyes. Right to drive along the shores of the lake, closer to the civilised world but also giving me a view of where she lives and works now.

I give in to the need to know more about her life now and turn right. The sky is getting lighter behind the hills and slowly turns from black to a deep grey. The road winds itself  around the foothills that end in rocky beaches, hugging the unruffled, silver water of the lake. Then the road turns away and up, climbing a steep hill at the edge of the water and the lake almost disappears in my rear view mirror. Then I reach the top and a great view unfolds before my eyes. The whole lake can be seen from this peak, the sandy beaches near the cabins, the rocky cliffs at the other end and the tree covered hills surrounding the cool water. Beneath me, at the foot of the hill a spit of land curves out into the lake, with a single, majestic pine at the very tip of it.

At the end of the small cove the spit has formed, just for a second, I see a hunting lodge hidden in the background of small spruce and pine trees. As I pass over the top, the lodge disappears out of sight again, the view narrowed by trees along the road. I make a mental note of the lodge and drive on, the road following the shore line of the lake again. The sky is getting lighter and lighter and I start to get a little anxious, wanting to get out of sight before the sun comes up and people get out of bed. At the first intersection, I turn off the road along the lake and head up into the hills. After about 10 miles I drive into a small track that leads into the woods and after half a mile I am completely out of sight, the track ending in a dense spruce grove. With a deep sigh I turn off the engine, push the chair back as far as it will go and stretch out. I yawn, tired from being up all night, the stress of bullets flying around me and visiting her cabin. I close my eyes and immediately fall asleep, trained to doze off at any given chance.

Hours later, with the sun high in the sky, I wake up with a grumbling stomach. Slowly I sit up, straightening the chair and adjusting my dark blue sweater while I scan the immediate surroundings. The thick grove is deserted, empty except for the raven that found a resting spot on a tree stump, the bark blackened, struck by lightning. My heart stops for a moment, but then I see his beak tucked under his wing, his eyes closed, the bird asleep. I let my breath escape through my teeth in relieve as the raven only appears when there is trouble. Where he comes from, why he comes and why he comes for me are questions that have haunted me for years. But he was there each time there was eminent danger. I’ve learned to blindly trust on him over the years.

But never has he slept in sight, almost within reach of me. A great weight falls of me as I realise that if he rests here peacefully, then I am lost to the world, safe. My growling stomach warns me that I will have to leave this place soon. A queasy feeling starts to settle in my stomach, grows worse until I have to gag. I haven’t eaten a thing in over 24 hours and I am very thirsty too. I look around the car but it is completely empty. Only the registration papers are clamped between the sunvisor and the roof of the car.

Though I could easily survive in the wild, I am not in the mood to go out and look for fresh water. On my drive here, I spotted a gasstation and I decide to go there to stock up on energy and water. Continously scanning the terrain, I slowly drive down the track, back to the main road. Before I can be seen from the road, I hop out of the car and leave the engine running and the door open. Close to me is a small hill that forces the road into a wide bend and offers me the opportunity to look half a mile in both directions, checking for oncoming traffic. As both sides are clear, I run back to the car, jump in and leave the bumpy track as quick as I can without creating dust clouds. The gasstation is close to the intersection of the lake and there I will have to get into the open, but I need food and water quickly.

After about 15 minutes of driving, I see the gasstation appear in the distance. When I start to slow down to turn into the parking lot located at the side, I pass a sign. ‘Welcome to Crystal Lake’.  I snicker, I will have to let my contact know his guys made a mistake. A first in so many years. It’s Crystal Lake, not Silver Lake. I put on my expression less mask, the face of an average looking man, with an average looking car and an average looking outfit. The kind of man you quickly forget in a bacchanal environment as AChat City. I step into the small convenience store of the gasstation and quickly get the things I need. A couple of sandwiches, a few bottles of water, twinkies and a bag of hot cheetos. There isn’t much else the small store has to offer but I get one more thing at the counter. A guilty pleasure I only rarely submit to. In the car I press the lighter down, put a cigarette in my mouth and light it when the lighter is ready. I deeply inhale and savour the sharp taste, soothing the unnerved feeling that resides deep inside my soul.

[Korvo]

It’s late in the afternoon when I return to the grove and I settle in for a long evening and night. When I turn off the engine of the car I find Grit, the name I gave the raven after his warning call,  in the same position as I left him in and this time he is awake. The raven looks at me with his intelligent eyes, then spreads his wings and flies off, cawing his sad cry. Quickly I gather wood and light a small fire, making sure I use the dryest wood to prevent the fire to produce too much smoke. I curl up besides it and prepare to go to sleep, setting my phone for 3 am, the dead of night. It will be a moonless night tonight, but clear. A good night to visit the lodge I spotted on my tour around the lake.

It’s when I close my eyes that I remember the panties that I put in my pocket and with a cheeky grin I take them out and hold the skimpy piece of cloth between my fingers. Before my mind’s eye I see her look around the bathroom door, looking at me in my undies on the bed, asking me to close my eyes. I do as she requests and hear her come into the room as I place my hands over my eyes. “No peaking!” I hear her say, giggling as she gets into position. “Ok, you can look at me now..”. I open my eyes and turn my head to the left, where I find her under the  spot in the ceiling, as if she was in the lime lights.

She chose a classic pin up pose. Her body turned, offering me her profile,balancing one leg on her toes, her knee bend sligtly forward, her back arched, pushing her apple butt outward, her breasts forward. She put her hair up in a messy tail, put on red lipstick matching her lingerie and her favorite perfume. Excited I let my eyes drift over her luscious, sexy body. Her breasts pushed up by the red, laced bra, covering her mounds to just above her small areolas. Her frame slender, her waist small, flowing smoothly into her hips and buttocks. The straps of the red lacey thong emphasize the line of her hips, then disappears between her cheeks, her front blocked by view by her thigh. She turned her face towards me and smiled, letting her body follow until she stood straight before me. She put her arms behind her back and pushed her chest out, almost making her breasts spill out of her bra.

She looked at me with sparkling, sultry eyes as she started to slowly dance, moving her body sensually, pushing me back to the bed as I made an effort to get up. “Stay and watch…” she said and stepped back under the lights, continuing her dance, swaying her hips sensually from side to side while she circled around herself. She was in front of the big mirror that she had mounted on the wall and only looked at herself from then on. Her hands started drifting over her body, touching her thighs, her buttocks, moving up over her tummy, cupping her breasts, then brushing over them as she moved to caress her neck. She licked her lips slowly, making them wet and shiny, her eyes grabbing mine in the mirror as she put her fingers in her mouth and started to suck on them provocatively. She pouted her lips, pushed her fingers against her mouth and let them slide in slowly, her cheeks collpasing visibly. Then slowly she moved them out, her digits wet, glistening, the fingertips licked by her flicking tongue.

She placed her hands on her stomach and let one hand slide down, slowing her dance to a gentle sway of her hips, her hand travelling down at the slowest pace. Her fingers curled as they slipped underneath the strap of her thong, then stretched as they slid between her thighs, the tips of her fingers disappearing out of sight. She closed her eyes and slowly started to move her hand, gently sliding her fingers over the petals of her sex, parting them gently before moving her hand upwards a little. She moaned silently but visibly as she touched her button, her thighs tightening, then the glow of pleasure glowing in her eyes.

She pleasured herself slowly, knowing I was watching in awe, knowing she was tortuing me in the most pleasant way. She told me not to toch or even come near here but my hands was itching and my cock stood hard like a pole. I denied touching myself, denied myself the pleasure as I was captivated by her sinnful dance. I watched as she spread her legs a little wider, then pushed her hand further between her thighs, whimpering as she entered herself with her fingers. Her body shocked a little, uncontrolled spasms as she opened herself up and slid her fingers into her narrow, drenched passage, absorbed in her own world of pleasure, seemingly forgotten about me.

I watched her before when she pleasured herself for me, her hand was moving at a much faster pace as it was now, aimed to bring herself to orgasm. This… this was different. She brought herself to a higher level of sexual arousal, sustaining it until she mastered her control over it. With each move of her hand I could see the aura around her change, deepening in colour, heightening in intensity, thge temperature in the room raised with a couple of degress.

And then she suddenly opened her eyes and looked at me in the mirror, seeing the burning need for her that built up inside me. She smiled and het hand appeared from between her thighs, fingers glistening in the light, coated with her nectar. She turned and moved to the bed, pushed me to my back and straddled me around the hips. She kept me down to the bed, pushing my shoulder to the matress with one hand, then placed the tips of her wet fingers against my lips. She nodded when I slipped my tongue through my lips, trying to steal a taste of her desire. Then she slowly fed me her fingers, allowing me to clean them off with my tongue and lips, allowing me to savour her sweet, deep and rich taste. Then she pulled my undies down and sat on top of me, pressing her drenched panties against my shivering, twitching member. She didn’t allow me to move, pushing my hands away when they slid to her buttocks, pushing me back to the matress when I raised myself to kiss her. Instead she started grinding into me with her hips, leaning in and bringing her mouth to my ear.

“I’m taking you as my Valentine’s gift too… I’ve always wanted a toy for me to use…”

Then she kissed me, rubbing her wet, heated sex over mine while our tongues danced a slow, passionate tango. Suddenly our love making is interrupted by a loud buzzing noise that we can’t locate and before I know it, the dream has disapeared in thin air and I open my eyes.

My phone lays next to me, buzzing the alarm that I set earlier that night. It'’s 3 am and the cold air suddenly makes me shiver. The fire has gone out but there are still some embers and I move in closer to blow on them, feeding the glowing , dozing fire new energy to feed on. A first flame springs to life and starts to lick the dry grass and small twigs I’m offering it and soon a second and third flame attack the dry fuel hungrily, multiplying quickly until a small fire is warming my hands and face. As I look around to find the bottle of water I brought, I see the flames mirrored in the black eyes of grit, staring at me from his tree trunk, except his eyes invisible in the dark night. I take a few sips of water and stretch by the fire until I am warm and suple. Having fed the enflamed beast only a little to feast on, the flames die away quickly again, a sign for me to leave my camp and head for the lake. I push myself to my feet and walk over to the car, ready and eager to leave. This might be a good place for me to be reunited with her.

[Korvo]

I reach the lake in 15 minutes, passing the now closed gasstaion on my way. I could swear that Grit was sitting on the road sign with the name of the lake on it, but it is so dark outside I could easily be mistaking. He wasn’t there at the campsite when I woke up, but ravens hunt during the evening and night and I assumed he was looking for food. A light breeze moves the tree tops and makes the silver water of the lake ripple as I turn onto the road along the shores. The sky is cloudy and only once in a while, the moon peaks through when the clouds shard for a few moments.

I follow the winding road along the shores of the lake, the slight crack of the opened window allows the cool night air to brush over my face, keeping my awake and on my toes. In the distance I see the spit of land forming a sharp point driven into the mirroring surface of the water. At the very tip, the lonely pine tree raises majestically above the water. When the clouds are pushed aside again for the blink of an eye, the light of the moon catches a small, dark shadow gliding close to the water, then flaring up and disappearing between the branches of the magnificent pine.

I am close to the lodge and slow down my speed. The road starts winding up the side of the hill, around the cove that is nestled against the flanks and I spot a small track disappearing between the trees, towards the hunting lodge. Branches are crossing the small trail, a sign of little or no use and soon I have to stop the car and get out, the trees almost touching the sides of the Chevy, preventing me to drive up to the lodge. I turn off the car and get out, taking in the moist smell of the woods. Quickly I follow the tortuous track until I see the trees give way and open to a clearing. The hunting lodge is just a few yards away, practically invisible, almost completely overgrown with vines.

The lodge is dilapilated, the door hanging from a single hinge, creaking in the light breeze. The window is cracked, the shutters fallen to the ground, half decayed. On top of a small canopy under which firewood used to be stored, I find Grit moving nervously around. Since I drove pretty fast he must have flown here ahead of me. I had long given up my amazement of how he could be at just the right place at just the right time. Somehow I knew our souls were connected and he was my talisman, my totem animal. Assured by his presence, I make my way to the door and step inside the decaying building.

As soon as I step in, I know this is not the place for me and her to meet again after so many years. I look around quickly in the single room, then step out again to take a closer look around the small building. Though the exterior is run down, there is still a stone chimney and the roof didn’t seem to be leaking, the floor inside was dry and dusty. This might be a good base to plan my strategies from. It beats sleeping  in the car or on the cold, damp floor in the woods. When I walk around the corner and around the small building, I discover a pile of dry fire wood under a canvas tarp, cut to size along time ago. Surrounded by tall, dense trees, hugging the side of the hill, I feel confident the lodge can’t bee seen except on the top of the hill where I spotted it in the distance. But I am trained to spot places like this and it’s doubtful anyone else would. I decide to stay and immediately walk back the trail to the car. With my all-purpose knife I cut off leafy branches and camouflage the car, making it virtually invisible to the wandering eye. Then I head back to the lodge and start building a small fire in the fire place.

Only when the warmth of the flames starts to blanket my body, I give in to the stream of thoughts, memories and emotions that I kept under lock and key. Her beautiful face appears before my mind’s eyes and like every time her eyes locked in with mine, I drown immediately in the mirrors of her soul. For a while only her eyes exist, mesmerising me, enchanting, pulling me down deeper in the ocean of memories that wash over me now. My view widens again and her face is right in front of me. Her mysterious look curling her lips in a tentative smile, the little dimples in her cheeks becoming deeper, giving her face grace and character, emphasizing sensual aura around her.

A tear runs down my cheek as I feel her kiss me goodbye, a last kiss after a turbulent relationship that lasted close to a year. That last moment together with her is still like a deep canyon running through my heart. Ofcourse I understood why we had to part, why we had to follow our different paths in life. Ofcourse I pleaded her to stay even though I knew my attempts were futile. Ofcourse I had to finally grow up and in fact her leaving was the best thing that happened to me. Still, deep down inside, there was the feeling that I would have her back in my life one day.

The day she left was the saddest day of my life and made a profound impact. For years I believed that I would never love a woman again like I loved her and in a way that was true. Until now I only had short encounters with women, coincidental meetings on my never ending journey. Not being able to stay in one place long, I never had made the effort or had the opportunity to connect myself to someone on a deeper lever as a night of sex. It made me sad but I accepted it as a part of my life, the consequences of a life as a shady lobbyist that made his succes by blackmail and cohersion.

I chose my life and job willingly, knowing that an empty life would wait for me, knowing that I would have to cut my ties to everyone I loved. I would be on the run constantly, never being sure of my safety and I couldn’t put my loved ones in danger. Especially not her. But before I could cut myself away from her, she had made the decision already and cut herself away from me. She had her own dreams to follow and she knew I was heading into a direction that she would not be able to follow. She made it easy on me, considerate as she always was. And maybe that hurt me the most, the fact that she loved me so much that she was willing to leave me for it. To have lost such an amazing woman wounded me deep in my soul.

And then the day came that I saw her.  Moving from one town to the other, from my last safehouse to the next, I passed through this town and saw her crossing the street, right in front of me. I recognised her immediately and was so stunned that I didn’t react until the car behind me started honking. The light turned from green to orange to red and in the rear view mirror I saw a bulgy, muscular man leave the enormous pick up. Seemingly upset. Not wanting the lime light on me, I floored the gas and took off with squealing tires, running a red light and nearly missing an odd pedal car, with two women in it dressed as traffic cops. Indeed the sirens went on as the pedal car turned to persue me but after a turn they were out of sight and I was out of reach. I sped out of the county, not wanting to wait for back up or a faster police car to track me and layed low for a few days at my new hide out.

From the second I saw her, I knew I had to see her again. If only just to smell her feminine scent, to drown in her eyes again, to bask in her presence. And now that my last hide out wasn’t safe anymore, I had another reason to see her. She was the only one in the vicinity that I trusted enough to ask for a temporary place to stay and she was the only one I wasn’t sure wouldn’t turn me down. Still, I would trust my life with her and now I only needed a way to get in touch with her unnoticed.

[Brandybee]

The drive from the AB&G was fairly quiet. I was thankful. My hair had just seemed to be wild and unmanageable. I kept my speed to a reasonable amount, not wanting to attract the attention of the local traffic police.  I would never hear the last of it if Pafe & Satoire pulled me over to write a ticket.

I parked in front of my loveable log cabin , Moose Lodge,  and glanced  over at Covems and Amy’s place across the lake. There didn’t seem to be any movement and wondered when they would be back.

I stepped out into the fresh air and breathed in deeply. The wilderness smell of the lake and pine trees, mixed with a vague hint of spam, always gave me the warm feeling of being home again.

The lake looked pretty and peaceful with a hint of a morning fog still hanging in the air.  It gave it an air of mystery that could easily inspire many a writer. The sun was out but hidden for the moment by fluffy clouds in the sky.

Smiling, I climbed the small steps onto the wooden decking and bent down to the flower pot with a red rose to retrieve my key.

I opened the door, stepped inside and placed the key on a little cut glass bowl on a table by the entrance and shut the door.

I flicked the radio on and Celine Dion – The Power Of Love blared out  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BHoj8uFdr8
I began singing along to her as I headed towards my bedroom and looked in my wardrobe for clean clothes.

I frowned when I saw my underwear drawer had been left open in my rush to get to work and that the skimpy items were all messed up inside. I chose the items I wanted and quickly tidied them up again. I threw them on the bed with the other clothes, before heading for the bathroom.

Ten minutes later, I had finished my shower and sat at my dressing table taming my hair in my traditional plait and making my face up again.

I dressed and checked myself in the long horizontal mirror and was pleased my new dress fitted so well. I chuckled to myself that Lover would at last see the dress he had bought with his hard earnt money.  His penance for losing a bet on the Daytona race recently.

“Looking Good Girl,”  I murmured as I twirled making sure no pantie lines were showing. Then my eye caught something on my pillow in the light as the sun crept into my bedroom from behind a cloud. The sunlight peeked and then flooded the room.

I turned and walk over to my Queen size bed and saw it there.  A silver necklace!  But not just any Silver necklace. My Silver Necklace!  A delicate silver chain with the tear-shaped sapphire, my birth stone. The gemstone caught the light again and glowed softly from within. The way it was laid carefully across the pillow had been deliberate and I knew he had been here.

I caught my breath and held it as time seemed to rocket back to the past. The night of my birthday. A night of joy yet tinged with sadness. He had placed the necklace around my neck from behind me, admiring me in the long mirror opposite us. And we had fell in each other’s arms.

That night I had made mad passionate love to him, knowing I would leave him at dawn. His kisses set me on fire, his touch ignited me, like no other ever could.

Destiny had already decided our fate, had made it impossible for us.  Two spirits destined to meet but never to be.  My heart fluttered in excitement as I closed my eyes, remembering his kiss, the whispers of his passion as he seduced me so expertly and drew out the naughty whore, he loved to tease.

Even now, he had the power to arouse. Just the thought of him sent my pulse racing and a warm tingle throughout my body.

I breathed out shakily, and opened my eyes, transported back to the present day. 

I looked round my cabin for more signs of him but found nothing and wondered how he had found me and how he had gotten in to my bedroom. There was no sign of a break in.

I returned to the necklace on the pillow.  He had placed it in the same way I had that dawn morning I had left him, except he was asleep in the bed next to it then. 
I smiled, he had wanted me to have it back.
“Thank you” I whispered to him. “I will treasure it, like our memories”

I picked the necklace up from the pillow and put it on. It settled perfectly on my neck and I held the sapphire tear drop gem, feeling close to him again for the first time in years.

Then I switched the radio off, locked up again, placed my key under the secret flower pot and drove back to the AB&G.

Overhead a Raven circled and followed my car to the AB&G and as I parked up and walked to the entrance, he “cawed” before flying off.
I looked up at the sound but the raven had already flown out of sight. My inner instinct was trying to tell me something but the message was vague and too encrypted for me to work out.
I found myself touching the tear sapphire again, as I walked through the AB&G doors to the jolliment inside and other things took my attention.

[Korvo]

The tears dry quickly sitting this close to the fire and the warmth of the flickering flames penetrate my whole body. My body feels tired, heavy but my mind is working at full speed. She must have found the necklace last night and had a full day to think about what the message means. I know she knows I left it. Only I could have returned it to her as she left the necklace with the hanger in my hand when she turned after our kiss and walked out the door. She is an intelligent woman and she would know that I didn’t leave the necklace on her pillow just to return it. She will conclude that I need her. But for what, will remain a mystery to her. Even I don’t  know exactly what made me want to find her.

And yet there is no doubt in me, nothing telling me I am doing the wrong thing, no warning from my gutt or Grit. I knew that I had to see her when she crossed the street in front of me, not caring to look inside the car, holding her head high and proud. Restless in mind, I push myself up on my feet and start to walk back and forth in the small, single room of the lodge and I start to weigh my options in my mind. I can go back to her cabin and either hide outside or inside. But I want to meet her alone and for all I know she brings someone home. I need to stay in the shadows at almost all cost.

I can’t go to the bar that she apparently owns either. Though it’s on the edge of the city, the parking lot was packed when I passed it the night before. And after the initial text with her adress from my contact, more texts followed with more information about her. Apparently her bar was popular and she was doing well. Besides the cabin, she also owned a luxuries appartment and often spent time on a yacht, though it wasn’t confirmed she owned the yacht. She spent a good share of her money on shopping in high end fashion shops and found herself in the spotlights as an ambassador of the city she lived in. In the public eye, adored and respected, she fulfilled an important role in the community. And though suitors where lining up for her, she only had a few relationships worth mentioning.

In a way that information made me feel sad and happy at the same time. A woman of her beauty and her spirited personality shouldn’t spend a day on her own. Not having a partner in her life is not what I wished for her. At the same time I felt a spark of hope of being able to be near her again.  But for that to happen, I need to get in touch with her first and find a place to meet. Suddenly I feel confined and I step outside to get a breath of fresh air. Grit is still sitting on the canopy, his intelligent eyes following me as I move the middle of the clearing and look up to the sky.

The clouds drifted apart right above me and I can see the stars and the moon. They have a warm glow over them, the cold light now rich as cream, dessert sand drifting high up in the stratosphere filtering the light. I turn my head to the north, finding Sirus, the dog star above the horizon. It’s in the exact direction of her cabin and the star seems to float above it. Grit suddenly caws, flaps his wings and caws again. I turn my head to look at him and as our eyes meet, he spreads his wings and flies off towards Sirius as the clouds cover the sky again in their misty blankets.

I follow him as long as I can with my eyes but soon he disappears in the night, his wings dissolving in the deep darkness. I remain looking at the sky for a few more minutes, smoking another cigarette and gathering my thoughts. A feel of excitement creeps up inside me as I realise the surprise it must have been for her to find the necklace. A gnawing feeling closes around my stomach at the same time, the worry of her rejecting me suddenly growing to unfathomable proportions. Quickly I shake the feeling off me, shrugging my shoulders. The cold air has gotten its claw around me and with a shiver running down my spine, I go back inside the lodge and nestle myself on the floor in front of the fire.

Unnoticed I slipped my hand in my pocket and fished out her red panties and full of thoughts I play with them, letting the soft, frail fabric run through my fingers. Though she wore the panties only once for me, she did wear the bra a second time. I remember coming home one night and opening the door, finding the house lit with hundreds of candles. The furniture in the livingroom pushed to the sides and in the open space in the center stood a simple, wooden chair. Around the chair, a circle was made out of white sand and on 4 points candles were put, forming a square. Underneath the chair on the floor sat a wooden box,  locked with a small padlock.

She stood between the door and the chair and I was startled when I saw her at first. A small mask was hiding a part of her face and she had raven feathers worked into her hair. Her eye make up was black, her lipstick bright red, her face pale white. She wore only a bra besides the red leather, thigh-high boots with needle point heels. She had a hand in her side, her fingers stretching out over her hip, her arm dangling nonchalantly down her body, her slender fingers arched around a riding crop.

“Close the door, strip and sit on the chair”

[Korvo]

My breath caught when I saw her standing there, powerful, dominant, demanding. And when the tip of the riding crop hit the side of her boot with a loud crack, roughly pulling me back to the present.I had no choice but to obey her. With my eyes peeled to her body, I gave the door a push and it swung shut with a soft click. Mesmerised by her appareance, overwhelmed with the powerful aura around her, my hands slid to the buttons of my shirt and the belt around my waiste. I don’t think it took me more as ten seconds to get naked before her, answering to a deep, undiscovered urge inside me.

Her face showed no expression while she watched me undress and stand in my place, unbalanced, hopping from one foot to the other. Then she crossed her arms over her chest and moved her head to the right, bringing my attention to the chair. It took me a moment but then got her hint, having forgotten about the third command she gave me, trying to grip the situation. Quickly I moved to the chair and sat down, making sure I didn’d disturb the circle of sand around it.

Slowly she moved in closer, her hand back on her hip, her arm extended, the tip of the riding crop touching my knee, then slowly sliding higher over my leg. She stopped outside the circle and gave me a look over, not showing her pleasure or discontent. Instead she turned and stepped out of the circle, allowing me to stare at her perfectly shaped buttocks. It stirred my imagination and aroused me to see her like this. Strong, dominant, powerful and even though I wasn’t sure what she had planned, i knew i would follow her lead. She turned right after crossing the sand barrier around the chair and locked in my eyes.

“If you are a good boy, you will be rewarded. If you are a bad boy, I will punish you.”

Her lips curled into a slight smile for the blink of an eye when she noticed the flicker in my eyes and the twitch of my half hard member. She crossed her arms underneath her breasts and spread her legs a little, the lips of her sex profiled in the shadow between her thighs against the warm light of the candles behind her. It made me drool when I noticed them being slight seperated, a sign of her arousal.

“You are not allowed to touch me unless I say so. You are not allowed to breach the circle.”

She placed the tip of the riding crop on my knee again and let it slide higher, barely touching my skin. She touched my balls, then let the leather run along the shaft, resting at the tip before taking it away. It sent a shiver down my spine and my cock twitch in my lap.

“You are not allowed to cum until I am done with you.”

With that she stepped into the circle again and place her boot on the edge of the seat, between my legs. It startled me and I moved backwards, pushing myself into the back of the chair, the tip of her boot awfully close to my balls. She let out an eerie laugh and pushed her foot down, gently caressing the shaft of my cock. Trying to control myself and following her rules, I gripped the sides of the chair with my hands as hard as I could, my knuckles whitening with the effort. My member reacted to her touch and started to grow, veins throbbing underneath the skin.

She stood back on two feet as soon as the tip of my cock showed itself, glistening wet with my arousal. Hhe leaned in, grabbed my member and rubbed her thumb over the head. She collected the drops of precum pooling in the little slit and brought them to her lips, licking her thumb clean with the tip of her tongue.Then she leaned in and kissed me full on my mouth, slipping her tongue in between my lips and letting me taste myself. The kiss lasted only a second and she leaned back again, only to place her feet at either side of the chair and sit down in my lap.

Her fingers folded around my shaft and she locked in my eyes again as she slowly started to move her hand up and down. Her expression was the same but the light in her eyes had changed. From a bright, excited look, her eyes were now smouldering with passion and desire and I could see her chest move up and down a little faster, her mouth slightly open. She licked her lips, dry from her hot breath, and leaned in as if she was going to kiss me. But before her mouth touched my pouted lips, she licked across them, ending the tip of her tongue at the tip of my nose, then moved to my ear.

“You will be my toy tonight my Raven. Does that turn you on?”

With that phrase flowing from her delicious mouth, she cupped my balls with her free hand while she  circled her thumb around the head of my cock.My hips bucked automatically and in instinct my hands shot to her hips to hold her in place. Immediately she slid off my lap, raised her hand and let the tip of the riding crop land on the outside of my thigh, leaving a red mark and line across my leg. The sting and the whipping crack made me suck in my breath and i fought not to let out a cry to deny her that satisfaction but a tear formed in the corner of my eye and threatened to roll down my cheek. I forced myself to keep looking into her eyes as i endured the sharp sting, then slowly the tension in my body subsided as the pain faded away.

[Korvo]

She let the tip of the riding crop trace the red line on my leg, then moved back in to sit in my lap. She grabbed my cock again and gently started stroking it, bringing it to full erection now. She smiled and moved in closer until her pelvis touched the veiny skin of my shaft, catching it between our bodies. She slid one hand in my hair and pulled on it sharply, forcing me to tilt my head back, exposing my throat. She leaned in and placed her lips on my throat and sucked. I could feel the blood rush to the spot on my neck that was caught by the vacuum of her mouth and I knew she was marking me. I gripped the chair even harder while I fought the urge deep inside me to pick her up and empale her on my member, wanting to take over control but I knew she was testing me, she knew she could bring me to a state of lust where I lost all control and fucked her mercilessly. She aimed for that when we made love, wanting me to submit to my need for her completely, thriving on the excitement it gave her that she could evoke this feeling inside me.

She let go of my skin and leaned back, inspecting the red mark on my neck, watching the skin relax and the dark red colour intensify, then deepen in shade. Satisfied with her work, her attention went back to my cock and she started to move her hips, tilting them as she rubbed her sex over my shaft. I felt her heat radiate against me as she moved in closer to mark me, now she was marking my cock with her desire, the juices collecting behind her closed lips now running free as she pressed her entrance against me. She kept pulling on my hair, keeping my head tilted and preventing me to see her face though through my eye lashes I could see her eyes closed  and the corner of her bottom lip caught between her teeth.

I started to hear soft moans escaping through her lips as she pressed herself even harder against my hard shaft. She lifted herself off my lap and started grinding herself into me, shamelssly rubbing her wet sex against me, driving her nails into my shoulders in her passion and need. Suddenly her breathing stopped and her body started to shock and tremor, jerking against me as she reached her peak. She leaned into me while her orgasm ripped through her body  but as it started to subside, she looked up into my eyes again with a very determined look on her face. She let go of my shoulders and reached down, grabbed my wet cock and guided the head to her entrance. As soon as the tip had opened her, she pushed down and forced herself onto my shaft. She moaned loud as she pushed herself down on me and started rocking her hips back and forth in a quick pace. I leaned back as far as I could, offering her as much of my cock as possible, quickly brought to the brink of explosion as she grabbed me with her tight sex.

She fucked me forcefully, bouncing in my lap, her fingers on her clit rubbing vigorously while she held on to me with one hand. Her breasts were jumping in front of me and I could see little beads of sweat starting to form on her forehead as she took me. She panted and cursed, lost her rhythm and started all over again, this time pushing my head between her breasts. I started licking and kissing every part of her skin that I could reach as I turned my head from left to right and felt her shiver in my arms. She increased the speed even more, fucking me for her own pleasure, breathing irratically, close to her peak and when I grabbed her ass and aided in keeping her rhythm, she didn’t stop. Within seconds she exploded on me a second time and the convulsions of her sex around my shaft almost brought me to my own peak. Grasping the ledge with the tips of my fingers, I kept myself from orgasming and I let her ride out the aftershocks of her pleasure.

She collapsed in my arms and rested her head on my shoulders, softly kissing the red mark she left in her sexual high. Slowly she regained control ove rher breath and with that, control over the situation. She stood up and let me slide out of her dripping sex, my member standing at full attention, my balls tight and ready to explode at the lightest touch. Still unstable on her legs, she stepped out of the circle of sand, breaking the barriere as she dragger her boot through it. She slowly made it over to the couch and kneeled on it, her legs spread wide, her wet, opened sex glistening in the candle light. She looked back over her shoulder and nudged her head, her gesture setting me free of the bonds she tied me with before.

In two stpes I was behind her, grabbing her hips and positioning myself. I pushed forcefully forward as soon as the head of my cock touched her engorged lips and entered her completely, pressing my pelvis hard against her tight butt. As soon as I entered her, I felt her body go limp in my hands as she surrendered to me, giving me my reward. And I took it, letting go of the restraints that shackeled the beast of lust inside me. I mounted her and fucked her hard, deep and remorseless, claiming my prize with a vengeance. She offered herself willingly, knowing I’d take her selfishly, forced by the lust she unleashed inside me.
I roared her name when I orgasmed, my fingers sunk deep into the soft flesh on her hips, leaving bruises behind as I spilled my seed inside her. The shockwaves of pleasure raging through my body were too intense to withstand and I collapsed, sinking through my knees and falling to the couch besides her. As I tried to catch my breath, heavily panting from the energy given to take her, I felt her move next to me and rest her head on my arm, pressing her soft body against me. I turned my head as I felt her eyes on my face and as they connected, I saw the soft smile on her lips and the deep sense of happiness and fulfillment in her eyes. We both reached a reignless state of pleasure that was unkown and undiscovered before, both giving as much as the other needed and taking as much as we needed ourselves.

That night we grew closer together, knowing that we would always be there for eachother, that we could trust on eachother blindly. And that feeling had always remained strong inside my heart. I knew, that if circumstances asked for it, I could put my life in her hands and know she would do anything to help me. And her help is needed now, more than ever.

[Brandybee]

I snuggled in to my dungeon four poster bed after the dwarfs had kindly rinsed me down in the shower and dried me off.  They had rinsed all the excess oil away from the Pudding Pit in The AB&G,  but I still smelt of strawberries and my skin was wonderfully soft.

After such an earth shattering orgasm, the Das Bootful’s of Ale and poppers, I slept like a baby till early dawn. I awoke about 6am and quickly showered and decided to go have breakfast at home in Moose Lodge.

Sometimes I needed a few hours to myself to recoup. The bar could get very busy and manic.

I drive back to Moose Lodge and open up the door and step inside. It always felt welcoming and homely. I flicked the radio on and Motown music filled the cabin. I went into the kitchen, put the kettle on to boil and began to cook bacon and eggs on the stove. The smell made my tummy rumble and I realised I was ravenous.

Soon, I was eating and relaxing with my hot English tea on the decking overlooking Lake Crystal. The day was cool but not cold and the sun had started to rise. The birds had begun to twitter in the trees and rabbits were foraging and playing in the grass. I really did love this place and the home I had made here.

In the distance, I thought I could see some wispy smoke in the direction of the old run down hunting lodge but wasn’t sure with the slight fog hanging over the lake.

It was all very peaceful and I found myself wondering of times past and the sapphire drop once more around my neck. I bought my hand up to fondle it gently between finger and thumb.

I wondered what he was doing now, if life had treated him well and if he had finally settled down with a good woman. That latter thought made me smile.
Maybe that was the message that the Sapphire on my pillow had meant. That he was breaking old ties and beginning new.  A sudden feeling of melancholy washed over me and thoughts of what might have been. But then I wouldn’t have come to Crystal Lake and settled in the community I had and the thoughts of all my friends and the bar came to mind and their smiling, mischievous faces.

I finished my plate and leaned back in my chair looking at the beautiful view of the lake. The beauty of it never failed to amaze me.

I vaguely noticed a raven flying in closer and it reminded me of him again. He had a Raven that had bonded to him in spirit , that had taken to him and followed him around. He was never far from his side. 
“Gromit, Gruel, Granite,”  I tried to remember the name he called him and then it came to me, as a small stone bounced on the wooden decking just in front of my table… “Grit,  Grit was his name.”

I looked to see where the stone had come from and saw him. The Raven had dropped it to get my attention and flew onto the wooden railing, near to where I was sitting.  He flexed his wings and looked at me through jet black eyes.
I stared at him, “Grit,”  I murmured. “Is it you?”  He stared hard at me, as though trying to speak to me and I knew it was him.  “Is he here too?”   Again I knew the answer as soon as I had asked it. “He was around”

My stomach twisted in excitement and a shiver caused goose bumps on my skin.

“Don’t go any where.” I told Grit, hoping he did not have the urge to leave straight away.
I went inside and filled a saucer with cereal grains and placed it on my table outside, oposite to where I had eaten, for him with another containing water. Then returned inside.

I fetched out one of my small, navy blue velvet ring pouches and placed a small padlock key inside. I smiled. He would immediately know what it was for, if he thought about it. But importantly, he would know, I knew he was here. Then I quickly wrote down the address he could reach me at if he needed me. I folded the paper into four and pushed it in the pouch too.

Grit was on the table, eating as I had hoped.  I showed him the pouch and he cocked his head to one side to examine it and then slowly allowed me to place it round his neck.
Just as I had finished doing so, he viciously went to peck me. I quickly moved my hands away. He was telling me, he was still wild and capable of looking after himself.

I sat back respectfully and watched him pause to eye me and then continue to eat. All the time, he maintained that alert watchful look.

I sipped my tea again, enjoying that he was spending time with me.  He flew to the wooden railing again and began to preen himself.  He stayed for about 5 more minutes before “Cawing” and flying on to my table. I thought he was saying a sweet good bye but he quickly dove his beak to the silver coloured tea spoon in my saucer and took off with it over the trees and out of sight.

“Why you little thief,” I muttered under my breath and chided myself for not remembering Ravens liked to collect shiny, glittery things. Grit was obviously no exception.

I cleared the table, minus a tea spoon and went inside to do the washing up. In another few hours I would be back at the AB&G.

[Korvo]

With a sudden jerk I wake up. The dirt floor is cold and the cinders in the fireplace have almost died out. I push myself upwardsand as i straighten my back, pushing my arms up as I stretch, I feel my underpants sticking to my stomach. The scent of my semen drifts up to me and I dip my fingers inside my tight boxers. My semen is still moist, though getting sticky, meaning I had a wet dream not too long ago. I grin as the dream comes back to me, vividly, sending shivers of pleasure down my spine.

I get up and head out the lodge to my car. I need fresh clothes, especially after my exciting dream. Carefully I aproach the car, finding it in the same hidden state as how I left it. The notion eases my tension a little. Carefully I remove some branches and leafs until I can open the trunk. I zip open the sportsbag that’s inside and take out a fresh pair of pants, undies, a white shirt and a dark blue sweater. I put the clothes under my arm and make my way to the water, the small cove running close to the path that leads to the lodge.

Quickly I undress and carefully I slide into the cold, crystal clear water. Too much noise could cause an echo rolling between the trees and the hillside towards the water. And despite the early hour of the day, there is the possibility that people are awake and at the lake. Or maybe still awake. I let myself slide under after taking a deep breath and under water I rub my hands firmly through my hair. Then I wait until the water has settled and carefully I appear above the water again, keeping myself as small as possible. I let my hands run over my body, washing the sweat, dust as semen off my skin, then slowly I make my way to the trees again. With my bundles of clothes clutched in one hand, I take a short sprint and dash to the lodge.

Shivering I kneel down at the fireplace and start blowing on the cinders. Encouraging the small glimmer of heat, gently washing air over it, it starts to grow and glow and is soon hot enough to kindle a few twigs. Quickly I build up the fire until it is big enough to warm me but small enough to create just a whim of smoke. I rub my hands hard over my body, whiping off droplets and heating my skin. Soon I am dry enough to put on my clothes and after a few more minutes at the fire to warm through and through, I step outside again and let the sun dry the last droplets of water on my face.

I let my eyes roam the hillside and woods around me, looking for undetermined shadows, hidden hints of movement, trying to feel the prying sting of watching eyes. But all seems quiet and still around me, the lodge forgotten, off the beaten trail. The rustle of wings forces me to turn around and as I look, Grit folds up his wings after landing on the small firewood canope. He moves his head from left to right, kinks his neck repeatedly as if something is bothering him. Slowly and carefully I come closer, opening my hands and extending them to him. He looks at me with pitch black eyes, grabbing my look until I am close enough to touch him. Only then I see the small pouch around his neck, the dark blue velvet almost dissolving in the deep black of his feathers.

Grit stands still as I bring my fingers closer to him, taking the little pouch carefully of his neck. As soon as he is freed, he outs a loud caw, jumps off and flies away, quickly disappearing behind the trees. With his job done he decided his presence was not necessary anymore. I cast a last look, then focus my attention on the small pouch in my hand. I look around as I move to the entrance of the lodge, making sure the surroundings are still friendly before I move inside. I sit down in front of the fire, legs crossed, and start to open the knot that keeps the pouch closed. My fingers tremble, the tips are cold and I get frustrated when I can´t at the first try.

With a growl I drop the pouch in my lap and start to rub my hands together hard, warming my fingers and fingertips, then flexing and bending them, clenching them to fists and stretching them out as far as I can. Then I relax and start to feel the warmth fill my fingers. Slowly I pick up the pouch and start to fiddle with the knot again, this time managing to pry it open. I hold up one hand and turn the pouch upside down, seeing something shiny slide out and falling into my hand,. I clench my hand around it and miss catching a small, folded up piece of paper. I place the pouch next to me on the floor and pick up the piece of paper, then I open my hand.

My heart is almost jumping out of my chest with excitement. I´ve been sweating since I discovered the pouch around Grits neck, my fingers and legs trembling. He came back with something and this could mean only one thing. Who else but her would put a pouch around his neck. He must have found her and she must have recognised Grit. As soon as I open my hand and find the small key, my heart bursts and my stomach explodes with soaring butterflies.

She still has it… I can´t believe my eyes, I can´t believe that she kept the little silver key with our initials engraved in it. And if she still has it, it means that I still have a place in her heart. I feel the big grin on my face as memories start flooding in and quickly I get a hold of myself and focus on the folded up piece of paper in my other hand. Holding the key still in my hand, I open the note and immediately recognise her handwriting. Round, voloptuous, sensual letters flowing graciously over the paper. It´s an adress and the adress surprises me.
`The Ice House, dungeon with the chair`

Dungeon? What does that mean? Dungeon with a chair? Does she have a dungeon? Is she into BDSM now? In what role? As Dom or Sub? I shake my head in disbelief, then call myself to order. I grab my phone and put the batteries back in to turn it on. Quickly I text a message:

Request: Location of “Ice House”, lay out, owners, purpose. Report in 3 hours

After checking that the message was sent, I take the batteries out of the phone again and store them seperately. I found a loose stone with a small space behind it at the base of the fireplace. I leave the phone there and place the battery on top of a wooden joist. My stomach starts to rumble and I realise that I haven’t eaten for a long time. The bit of food I picked up at the gasstation has all gone and I don’t want to risk to have to go to town to stock up, so I decide to find food in the woods. Spring has started and I have seen an abundance of green leafs I can pick and fish jumping in the cove.

I pick up two of the plastic water bottles I saved and start my hike. I climb the hill and quickly cross the road unseen, jumping between the trees on the other side to get out of sight as quickly as I can. I find a narrow game trail, indicating the presence of hares, and follow it for an hour. The sun has come up now and is shining brightly, warming the cool morning. The trees open up a bit and I find a small stream curling itself along the side of a hill. The water flows slow in some parts, the stream obstructed by rocks and logs, the sun sparkling in the rippling water.

In the corner of my eye, I see a two trouts taking a sun bath, an occasional flick of the tail to keep them in position in the slow pull of the water. I freeze immediately and croutch down, making sure I am behind them and not bloking the sun. I slowly creap forward, staying in their blind spot, making sure I don’t disturb the water. Then, when I have no other choice but to step into the water, my fingers almost touching them, I shoot forward and scoop two arms full of water out of the stream, tossing it towards the shore. One trout slips away, sliding off the side of my arm, the other is hurled between the trees, flapping wild and unbridled. Quickly I jump after it, picking up a stick and hitting it behind the head as soon as I find it. Breakfast.

Suddenly an unnerving feeling hits me and I freeze immediately, listening as closely as I can while I scan the woods around me. There it is, a soft ruffle of leafs in the distance, down the hill. But coming closer, now soft voices mixing in, a man and a woman. In my croutched position I start to move backwards, a quick first few steps, then slowing down as I see two figures appear from the trees. I find a hollow at the foot of a tall oak and slip in, covered from the front by blue berry bushes.

The man and the woman walk up to the stream and then slip into a tight embrace, kissing eachother passionately. She has her arms tight around him and is moving her hips back and forth, rolling her pelvis into him, while he has her hands on her ass and starts to pull her skirt up. She seems eager and her hands disappear underneath her skirt and quickly her panties are slid down her legs. She steps out with one leg while her hands tend to his pants and when they slide down his legs, she follows and kneels on the leaf covered forest floor.

Without seeing it clearly, I know she is pumping his cock right now, her head bobbing up and down, twisting, turning, pushing between his legs. He is leaning back against a tree, one hand in her hair, the other moving aimlessly over his own body.

Her head moves faster, a steady pace, a fixed direction, his eyes closed, his mouth half opened. I hear her gag as she forces his cock down her throat, setting his passion ablaze. She is suddenly turned on her knees and pushed against the tree, his hand now bunching her hair, keeping her  head in one place. His hips start to buck as he starts to fuck her mouth, his groans of pleasure starting to echo, bouncing off the trees. His movements get franctic, then his whole body tenses and freezes and a muffled cry is cast into the open. His body trembles with after shocks and stumbling he steps back and releases the woman. She stays on her knees and brings her hand to her mouth, collecting the drops of semen that landed on her face, clearly savouring her catch. Her other hand is moving frantically between her thighs, jerky, uncontrolled. Birds fly up as she cries out her pleasure, erupting with her hand between her thighs, leaning into the man as she spasms in ecstasy.

He kneels down and holds her while she slowly regains control over her body and they stay like that for a few minutes. Then they slowly get up and silent, holding hands, they walk off between the trees. Not unmoved by the scene I just witnessed, I adjust my pants to give my erection room and slowly start to make my way back to the lodge. The three hours are almost up and I need to check my phone for messages besides tending to the growl in my stomach.

[ItsAmy123]

I sigh heavily as I close the door of the main entrance to the cabin behind me. Placing my suitcase down on the porch, I step forward and take in the horizon. All the memories of the past year flood my mind and my eyes get a tad bit watery as I take in the beautiful sky and the lake's water shimmering against the reflection of it. I take a deep breath before I kiss the key enclosed within my hand and then turn around to go carefully place it under the mat.

With that, I proceed to pick up my suitcase and head on my trail. I quietly hum to myself as a distraction from my thoughts. I walk and walk and walk… and keep walking onto the next chapter in my life with his plaid shirt on matched with black leggings and a pair of sparkly red heels, along with a brown suitcase filled with memories that my hand clutches onto tightly.

[Covems]

[Covems]

Feeling a bit of resolve, after running through all the emotions.  My morning started out as any other morning… happy… contented.  Then I read the lines… and like waves washing up on the lake shore… there washed my emotions.  Disbelief… sadness.. that empty feeling a man gets when he's suddenly stunned and isn't quite sure what to do.  Then I got angry.. upset…

Finally after all those feelings from my past came bubbling up… I thought of something.  I'm going after her.

I saddle General Hancock and lead him from the stable to the front porch. 

“Doc,”  I say, “keep a watch on things here.  You lads have been the best companions a man could hope for, I want you to know that.”

I continue, “I'm going after Amy.  General Hancock and I may be gone for a while… who knows.. we may never return.  Anyways… I want you lads to mind Miss Brandy, let her know where I've gone and keep us in your prayers.  Leave the cabin unlocked, in case Amy comes back.”

I climb up into the saddle… and stoop down a bit. “Bye lads.”

I pull the reins and turn the General… we make our way from the cabin and head for the railroad tracks.  “It's our only clue General,” I say, “if she wants to be found, we'll find her.”

[Brandybee]

It had been a gruelling day at the AB&G and I was looking forward to getting back to Moose Lodge at Crystal Lake.  As I pulled up to my cabin the dwarfs were sitting on my porch, looking glum.

I wondered how they had beaten me back. They had been in the bar when I left. I mused if there was a secret tunnel they had built or found. They were excellent miners after all.

I got out my truck and walked round to the other side to get my groceries. They scurried up to me and it was obvious they had elected Doc as their spokesman.

“Miss Brandy,  They’ve left.”

“Who’s left?” I ask absently, loading my arms. Some of the other dwarfs take some of the bags

“Mr & Mrs Covems”  Doc answered, looking tearful.

“Where’ve they gone?”

“We don’t know”  Doc answered.

I knew something was wrong then.  “What’s happened?” 

Doc shook his head.  “ Miss Amy left for the railroad track on foot. She had a case with her.  Master Covems seemed upset and went after her on General Hancock. He didn’t know when he would be back”

I looked at all the dwarfs who were sniffling and fighting back tears. I felt a lump in my throat and tears in my own eyes starting to well.

They looked devastated.

I go to the paddock and see Zee grazing the field. I’m thoughtful for a moment. Bear’s horse is too big for my inexperienced hand and then think of one of Covem’s horses.  Blossom  of course.!

“Is Blossom over at Coves Cabin?”  I ask. Blossom was a gentle palomino horse.

Doc nodded miserably.  “They are all there”  he told me referring to the 7 donkeys too.

“Go saddle up Blossom for me and I’ll make some sandwiches,”  I suddenly decide, “ Oh and can you fetch me some of Two Feathers' liniment from Coves medicine cabinet”  Thinking it’s very useful for saddle soreness, especially an inexperienced English Arse.

Doc suddenly began to smile,  “When did you last ride on a trail and live off the land and shoot a gun?”

I grin at him, “mmm,  Happy Trail last summer with The Mantle Drive” and remembering how sore my bottom was after.  “ Lived off the Land and guns?  Never”  I admitted. “ I couldn’t kill anything.  I have a sling shot to frighten things though”  I added brightly.

“I will go and get ready.”  I continued,  “Go and saddle up Blossom.  And drop a note in to Stone and Jayc to look after our places.  I’m not sure when Bear will be back.

I’m soon dressed and pick up Bear’s old battered hat to put on.

“What’s you plan?”  Doc asked.

“To bring them back of course.”  I answer simply.  “They belong here”

The dwarfs all grin at me.  “You could die out there in the wildness. It’s a big country,”  Doc reminds me

“Well you best pray I find them soon otherwise I’ll haunt them forever,”  I mutter as I fill my saddlebags with food and water & carrots for Blossom. And then,  “Take this note to the bar & give it to Old Joe.”

I practice sitting on the horse when one of the dwarfs give me a boost up.  I set off.  Luckily it seems like the weather may hold and I head off passed the lake hoping my English butt will measure up to the punishment and that I can remember how to pull the rains properly to guide Blossom.

Thirty minutes later, unknown to me,  the dwarfs have done all the notes I have asked them and begin to follow my Happy Trail, following Covems, following Amy.

[Covems]

Sitting high in the saddle on General Hancock, I pull my binoculars out of the saddlebag and peer into them.  Using the focus wheel, I pull the cabin into view.  It doesn't look worse for the wear.. the grass is high, showing signs of not being maintained… all the windows look intact and the front door looks to be closed.

It is quiet.  Very quiet.  In a way, it seem eerie to be so still.  There was always something going on at the cabin… some sort of activity, but now… well… it's just plain quiet.

“General,” I say, “let's get closer.”

Giving a tug on the reins and little heel to his side puts the General in motion.  We move in at a slow pace, and I can sense that General Hancock is taking it all in, too.  We approach the front porch, and I survey the grounds.

The canopy has been taken down from over the picnic table.  The fire ring is still there… though it looks to be unused for quiet a spell.

I dismount from the General, and lead him around the back to the corral.  'Lets get that saddle off you,” I say to him, and proceed to unbuckle the straps.  I pull the saddlebags off and hang them on the corral fence.  I put the saddle under feed cover along with General Hancock's blanket.

Having taken care of the General, I left him in the corral and walked around the cabin.  The flower boxes need to be cleaned out and replanted, but other than that and the high grass, the place looks pretty good.

I get to the side of the cabin and see the pick-up is parked there, though if my memory serves me, that isn't where I left it.  Moving to the front of the cabin, I open the front door and go in.  My feet sink a little bit into a loose board.  “I don't remember any loose boards,” I think. 

That's when I heard it.  That unmistakable sound of ropes being pulled through some pullies.  “Dammit,”  I mutter out loud to no one, “they've set a trap.”

Sure enough, in the blink of an eye, my feet are yanked from the floor, the entire room flips upside down, and I'm swinging… feet in the air… in a simple, yet very effective snare trap.  My hat drops to the floor with a little thud…  I can almost reach it with my hands…  almost.

Hanging there for roughly 10 mintues, gives me time to look about the place.  Though it was with an upside down view.  It looks pretty much as when I left it.

I hear voices… very familiar voices coming from the back porch.  “He's here!”  He's back!”  “No more Mr. Rules!!” 

Then there's jostling and some arguing… the back door practically bursts open and four of the dwarfs come scampering across the floor.  I'm hugged and swatted on the back and my hair gets tussled and they're all talking at once.. well.. except Dopey, but he never says much.  Then Dopey plants one of those big, sloppy kisses on my face.

The dwarfs free me from the trap, and after our greetings and getting reacquainted and catching up, the four of them decide to go back and tell the other three dwarfs that General Hancock and I have returned.  “I'll be along shortly,” I tell them, “first thing lads, is I want to just sit and think.”

The sun has gone down by the time I set up an aluminum chair next to the fire ring, and using some tinder and a match get a nice fire going in it.  After a while, I pour a cup of freshly brewed, camp coffee… sit back and take in the view of the lake.  It doesn't seem as pretty for some reason.

[Author]

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