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Notes Chapter 9; Will drastic measures have to be taken for our two heroes to be saved…?

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Once Upon A Time in the Old West

Chapter 9: Lone Star

Stella:

The lantern light's flickerin', but I got determination burnin' strong inside. Reckon it's gonna take some good hard thinkin' to solve our current predicament, however, I ain't one to shy away from a challenge, and bein' in a predicament only makes me more determined to get out of it.

So I give Mac's hand another squeeze, "You know I'm real good at figurin' things out. Won't take me no time at all to think of somethin'…"

He smiles, and that's a grand sight indeed. Smilin' ain't somethin' Mac Taylor's too practised at, so it's welcome all the more. Can fairly say it makes my heart lift, and sends away some o' that dark and cold I had creepin' into me.

"Got no… no doubt but you will, Stella." He says, and that makes my heart lift even more. I'm gonna do this, for both of us. 'Cause if nothin' else, I need to keep seein' that smile on his face. It's a sight I won't ever get tired of.

I sit down beside him, not lettin' go of his hand, and start gettin' my thoughts in order. Guess some people might be thinkin' of waitin' the problem out till help arrives. However, that ain't my style. Could be waitin' any number of hours here in the dark and cold, and Mac ain't got that long. Besides, I ain't missed that water creepin' up on us. Strikes me suddenly then what it is, and it ain't a happy realisation; the pool that feeds the waterwheel, that's gotta be where it's from. Might've been frozen on top, but underneath's gonna be one heck of a large amount of water to be leakin' in. Ice cold water…

Can't think about that though. Gotta keep thinkin' how to get out. Much as I hate to admit it, I know can't get Mac out by myself; I gotta be realistic.

We're gonna need help…

And we can't wait for help to come to us…

Which means I gotta go and get help!

I'm jumpin up, "Figured it out, Mac! I got a plan…"

He's gonna find objections, but I'll override 'em.

"W-what kind of a plan?" He's frownin' already.

"A real good one." I say, "You're gonna be fine and dandy, 'cause I know exactly what to do!"

"You ain't in a hurry to… to tell me."

Darn that way he's got of figurin' things out before I'm ready for him to do so… Well, can't be helped, I gotta tell him, and truth is, he ain't got much choice in the matter.

I take a deep breath, and it all sorta' comes out in a rush, "I'm gonna climb up outta here and ride back to town and get help and ride back here and get you out…"

Mac sure has a strong grip. Reckon my fingers might be near enough crushed. Don't mind though, show's he's got strength left.

"You ain't takin' that risk, Stella!" He's mustered a real strong voice too, "Can't… can't have you doin' that! We had a dangerous enough ride comin' here, and there were two of us…"

He breaks off and coughs, so I take the opportunity to take hold of his shoulders, gentle as I can, "I know it ain't gonna be a stroll down Main Street, but I got my pistols and I got Blaze, plus I still got the packets of food in my saddle bags, should I need 'em. I ain't gonna get into any trouble. Reckon we saw to those wolves good and proper, they ain't gonna be botherin' me…"

Even as I'm sayin' that, I'm tryin' to reassure myself it's true. Sure could do without any more encounters like we had on our way. I'm shudderin'… But it's just 'cause I'm cold. Nothin' else….

Huh, that's another thing, thinkin' on. Reckon Mac's gonna be gettin' cold lyin' here. Gotta do somethin' about that.

"Here, you're gonna need this." I got a cloak on over my coat, so reckon I can spare the coat. Mac's gonna protest, but I'm takin' it off and arrangin' it careful as I can around him, "Don't argue with me, 'cause I'm only gonna close my ears to it. Real good at bein' deaf when I need to."

"Stella, you…"

"Can't hear you, sorry." Put my hands up to my ears, even though I'm feelin' real unkind, but this is the only way.

Mac's got a real exasperated look on his face, so I try and smooth it away by placin' my hand on his cheek. Use somethin' of a softer voice too when I say, "Way I see it, you're in a far worse position here than me goin' out there. If both of us stay here, neither of us is gonna be safe. This is the only way."

"Gotta b-be another…"

I shake my head, "Ain't no other way. And I'm sorry to say this, Mac, but there ain't a lot you can do to stop me. This is the only way we're both gonna get outta here. You hear me?"

"I hear you, but…"

"Ain't hearin' any ifs and buts from you."

Even though his voice is raspy, and his eyes are closin' again, he's still with me, "Guess I ain't got… got much choice in the matter."

"No you ain't!"

Don't meant to be cruel, but I gotta find some way of keepin' him buoyed up and talkin', keepin' him fightin'. 'Cause if he's got the strength to argue, then he's got the strength to survive… 'Cause he is gonna survive! I ain't even gonna start thinkin' about what I'd do…. No. No, I ain't gonna think that.

I'm kneelin' beside him now, holdin' his face in my hands, brushing his cheekbones with my thumbs. "You listen to me good. I know how to keep myself safe out there, even on my own. I'm plenty capable, and you know Blaze is a horse to be trusted. Me and him have been through some times together, but I trust him to keep me safe. Exactly the same as I'd trust you, and exactly the same as I know you trust me…"

"Trust you with my… my life, Stella."

Ain't gonna let him see me cry... 'Cause I ain't cryin'. Ain't time for it, and it does no good. So I give my eyes a quick wipe and smooth his hair down for him, "Good, that… that's good to know, 'cause I trust you with mine too, Mac. So this is what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna climb up outta here, 'cause I reckon I can do that if I'm real careful and take it slow, then I'm gonna make sure Blue's okay, get back up on Blaze, and ride back to town…"

I'm strokin' his cheek all the while I'm tellin' him this. His skin's cold, oh it's so cold…

"You… you gotta be careful. Can't let anythin' happen…"

"Aint' gonna let anythin' happen to me. Promise. I'm a big girl and can take care of myself, even out in a blizzard. Anyway, it ain't so far to town, Blaze'll have had time to rest up some, he'll get me there in no time. Then I'll be back here even quicker."

A frown's wrinklin' his forehead, and I can see he still ain't happy, so I give his hand a squeeze, "I'm the one who's good at makin' plans, ain't that right?"

"Don't… don't rightly know what I'd do without you to make plans, Stella…" Reckon there's a ghost of a smile on his face…

No! That ain't the right thing to be thinkin' at all! Mac's livin' and breathin' and he's gonna stay that way for a good while longer, 'specially if I've got anythin' to do with it. We got too many things we still got to do. Too many things to be doin' together, too many things not yet said or asked, that I'm gonna make sure will be said and asked.

So I gotta get goin' to make sure of our future times together…

"I'm gonna leave the lantern here for you, Mac, 'cause I don't want you lyin' here in the dark, that ain't a pleasant thing for anyone, reckon I'll be able to see by moonlight out there, and Blaze'll be a real help in rememberin' the way… No, don't you start protestin', you ain't gonna be able to change my mind. The lantern stays, got plenty of candle left to keep it goin' till I get back with folks."

"H-how you gonna see to get outta here?"

Now he's askin' a good question, but I know the answer, "I got enough light to see, I'll hang the lantern a little higher…" My word's true to my action, and I lift it, careful as I can, "There. All done. Best get myself goin' so's you ain't here any longer than you have to be."

I'm lookin' at all that jumble of wood I gotta climb up, and suddenly I'm feelin' a fair bit daunted. Sure is a long way up, and a long way back down if I fall…

I ain't gonna fall. That's all there is to it.

I bend down to give Mac a few last words of encouragement, and a kiss on his cheek to give him a little warmth back, "You hang on there, Sheriff Taylor." I'm clutchin' at his fingers now, and my voice has almost died to a whisper, "Don't be goin' anywhere I can't find or follow you…"

No, I ain't gonna be whisperin', I'm gonna say this loud to him… "I'll be back here real soon, and gettin' you out!"

I will. I know I will. There ain't no alternative. 'Cause I love this man in front of me, and I ain't gonna let him go.

"Ain't goin' anywhere, Stella." He smiles at me. Then the frown comes back, and I can see pain in his eyes, and that hurts me, 'cause there ain't nothin' I can do to stop it. Even though I'd take it all on myself if I could…

But I'm wastin' time, Mac's time. I gotta go; much as a part of me wants to stay with him, and can't almost bear the thought of leavin' him alone, I know that ain't a course of action that'll do us any good.

So I take a deep breath and with a final touch of his hand, I'm hitchin' my skirts up ready to climb out. May not be the most ladylike thing to be doin', but I don't care, gotta think practically here…

"Stella?"

I'm not gonna believe his voice is soundin' fainter, because it ain't.

"Yeah, Mac?" Got one hand on a piece of wood, the other holdin' my skirts.

"Before you… you go, need to… to tell you somethin'."

I'm shakin' my head as he's sayin' that, 'cause I got an idea of what he's about to say, and I'm gonna hold him to tellin' me when I get back here and get him out, "No, save your strength. Don't be doin' no more talkin', you hear? I got an inklin' what you're gonna say, and don't be thinking' you gotta tell me now, 'cause you don't. This ain't your last chance, you can tell me when you're safe outta here. And that's my last word on the matter!"

With that, I put my foot onto the heap of rubble, and look up again. Then wish I hadn't… Sure is one hell of a long way up. Seems even further than when I last looked. Better take in another deep breath…

I'm ready, I gotta go. I'll keep talkin' to Mac as I'm climbin' up, reckon it'll help me. Could almost say we been lucky with the way all this wood and rubble's fallen, as it gives me somethin' to climb on. Don't know how steady it is though. Guess I'll just have to find out… There, got one foot up, now the other, and I'm off the ground. Gotta keep takin' it real slow and steady. It's all gonna be good and fine…

"I'm gettin' there!" Daren't look down, don't want to be gettin' any dizzier. That'd never do. Not gonna be a faintin' female.

Another deep breath, and I'm stretchin' my hand up, catchin' hold of another spar of wood that's stickin' out. Seems to be holdin' my weight, for now, and I'm a step higher up…

"Stella!"

Only takes a second for me to look down and see what I'm standin' on's slippin'… Mac's warnin's come just in time as I throw myself forward onto another muddle of stuff that wobbles real precariously…

I hold my breath.

Keep myself as still as possible to let it settle…

Still holdin' my breath…

Then it settles. Only took seconds, but they were seconds that felt like a whole eternity… Phew. Can feel my heart bangin' against my ribs and I gotta take a moment to breathe before I keep goin'.

"I'm all right, Mac!" I yell, hopin' my voice has got a cheerful ring to it, even though I'm feelin' almost as scared as a rock rabbit facin' a mountain lion, "Thanks for the warnin'!"

"Be… be careful!" His voice floats up to me, and I can't stop a wry kinda' smile. Careful, huh? Reckon we coulda' both been a fair bit more careful about comin' here in the first place. However, what's done is done, and I'm bein' as careful as I can. Reckon it ain't so far to go now…

I'm tryin' my darnedest to ignore the groanin' noises all this wood and such is makin'; gotta block my ears to it and carry on… Need to stay real focused on what I'm doin. Gotta keep thinkin' about Mac. Gotta think of all the situations I been in that've been worse than this. Sure there's gotta be plenty…

Guess they've escaped me for the moment though. Where's the memory of a perilous situation when a girl needs one to distract her, huh?

I risk another look down before settin' my foot on the next bit of wood I can see that don't look too rickety. Mac's still lookin' up at me, still got his eyes open, and I manage a smile which I hope he can see.

"Nearly at the top! Not far…"

Damn. Shouldn't have looked down… Now I'm feelin' real dizzy, this ain't good… Gotta keep goin… Gotta hold on…

Another few deep breaths and I reckon I'm all right… Even though things are kinda' spinnin' around me… Keep lookin' up. Gotta keep lookin' up…

Luckily, I find a few more hand and foot holds without too much difficulty, and a few more wobbles later and I'm seein' a beautiful sight; the floor me and Mac came fallin' through, with a fair portion of it still intact. Reckon if I can just grab a hold of that piece of floorboard which ain't too far from my hand. Gotta stretch for it a little way…

Before I can stop myself, I'm slippin' and my feet are slidin' away from me…

I make a lunge for the piece of floorboard I was tryin' for, and hold on with all my might…

Now here's a problem; I'm hangin' by one hand onto a piece of wood that's so rotten, it's more holes than wood; my feet are danglin' into nothin'; and I can't look down 'cause I know that there's a whole heap o' nothin' then a mighty hard landin' if I fall…

I ain't gonna fall… Got two hands here so I'm grabbin' hold of another bit of wood… It's outta reach, but not by too much… If I can just…

Got it!

This is all fine and good, got two hands holdin' onto somethin' now, all I need to do is keep them holdin' on till I can figure a way of gettin' the rest of me onto somethin' more solid than thin air…

I'm draggin' myself onto that floor. Got my chest and stomach up, now if I can kinda' wriggle a bit more… Little bit more…

Made it.

Might need a few short moments lyin' here on my front to catch my breath again before it flies away from me. They sure were a long few moments hangin' there… Gotta confess, this ain't an activity I ever want to do again…

Better call to Mac, let him know I'm all right, 'cause he'll only be worryin', "Mac? You hear me?" I shift myself round, still lyin' on my front, and look down. Don't wanna risk standin' up too soon in case those floorboards ain't gonna hold me. And don't know if I quite got enough breath yet to hold me up. Sure is a mighty great hole below me, and a mighty long way we fell. Gotta thank my lucky stars we weren't killed…

Mac ain't answerin' me.

I ain't gonna panic... Explanations's plain and simple, I didn't shout loud enough, and he's a long way down…

"Mac? You gonna answer me?"

Still silence.

My heart's thumpin' and my fingers are grippin' the edge of the floor, "Mac! Answer me! I did enough shoutin' earlier, don't make me have to do any more!"

I'm hangin' right over, peerin' down, and I can see he's got his eyes closed again…

"Mac Taylor!" Gonna make myself hoarse, but I don't care. All I care about's him answerin'…

After what seems an age, I hear at last all I wanted to hear, when a whisper floats up to me, "S-Stella?"

I start half laughin' half cryin', "Yeah, who else is it gonna be? I'm at the top, so in a moment I'm gonna be leavin you. But not for long, you hear? You'll hardly know I've been gone, then we'll be back to get you outta there!"

"Take care…"

I hang onto his words as I get myself standin' up and outta there. Got the memory of his face burnin' in my mind as I face the blizzard and cold outside.

Blue and Blaze are both waitin' patiently, so I give Blue a pat and tell him he's gonna see his master real soon, then I climb up onto Blaze and tell him where we're gonna go. I set my face towards Hattanville and don't look back. Gotta keep ridin', no stoppin'. For Mac. I'm soon feelin' the lack of my coat, so I pull my cloak round me tighter, but I got a chill in my heart that any number of cloaks ain't gonna warm.

I've left Mac behind…

But I gotta keep goin', for him.

Don't take long before I hear those wolves howlin' in the not so far distance. My hand goes straight to my nearest pistol; get it restin' on the pommel of the saddle, ready to fire at any moment. 'Cept it's gonna be harder this time; no lantern to see by, only a pale snow-light. So much snow, can't even see the stars.

The snow's fallin all over me, settlin' down my neck; thousands of freezin' flakes that I gotta keep shakin' off me, and outta my hair and eyes. Whirlin' round so much it near enough blinds me… Then I hear a howl close by and my heart thumps faster. So I fire some warnin' shots to let them wolves know I mean business. Blaze has his ears pulled back, and I know he's unsettled, but he ain't gonna let me down, even facin' wolves and a blizzard.

Gotta keep goin'… For Mac.

But it's so cold. So cold. Can't stop my teeth chatterin'; least it sorta' drowns out the sound of the wolves… Gotta keep goin'. Soon be back in town. Soon be warm. Soon have Mac warm again…

More howls…

Few more shots loosed from my pistol stops 'em for the moment. Reckon they realised I won't make 'em a good meal… Gotta hope that anyhow. Still keepin' my pistol to hand. Can't take any chances. And it's still a long way to go before I reach town… A long, cold way.

Hits me hard then as I'm tryin' to shield my face against a barrage of snow… I don't know where I am. I don't know where in the wilderness I am. All I can see around me is a whole spinnin', dizzyin' mess of snow… Nothin' but white to see… I'm lost… I'm lost…

I ain't lost. Just a little uncertain of my exact position, temporarily. Gotta keep goin… Gotta trust Blaze; he knows where he's goin', even if his mistress is kinda' confused for the moment…

And cold. Got a feelin' like ice spreadin' all through me… So cold. Numb. Feel my fingers freezin'. Gettin' kinda' hard to keep a hold of the reins… Feel tired too. Real tired. Reckon it's all this snow… That freezin' white mess o' snow seems to have gotten into my head… Makin' me feel dizzy… I'm rubbin' my eyes… Seem to want to close… Maybe if I closed 'em for a few seconds, only a few seconds…

No, can't be doin' that. Real bad idea. Might never open 'em again. Gotta stay awake… Gotta try and hold on. Gotta hold on…. Can't fall off… Can't…

There's somethin' ahead… I'm blinkin'… Somethin' shinin' through the snow… Can't entirely make it out… Lights? Sure looks like lights…

Why are there lights? Maybe it's lanterns… Maybe someone's shinin' a lantern… But who'd be doin' that? Maybe I'm seein' things… Can't be sure any more. Can't hardly keep my eyes open…Too tired now… Too cold… Too much snow…

No… I gotta hold on… Can't be much further now… Maybe I oughtta head towards the lights… Maybe lights'll get rid of those wolves… Can hear 'em howlin' again… Closer… Wind's howlin' too… Blowin' the snow round me… Blowin' wolves closer to me…

Gotta trust Blaze knows what to do… He's keepin' goin'… He's gonna get me there… I gotta hang on to him... All down to me… Gotta keep goin'. For Mac's sake… I gotta keep goin'… Gotta hold on… Hold on… So tired though… So cold…

Hold on…

So tired…

Hold on…

So Cold…

Cold…

Cold…

Can't seem to help myself with the peril… Please, please review; I hope you liked this chapter! My new job starts tomorrow, so reviews will really help :D Thank you, Lily x