Mac stopped and turned around with the stick of wood in his hand. His green eyes glowed with fire. "Come and get me!" he said.

Before Quincy and the others could react to the sudden change of events, Mac swung his club like a bat and whammed one of them in the head. He fell to the ground and didn't move. "Who's next?" Mac asked.

Quincy and the other stopped and stared at Mac. "You can't hold off both of us," Quincy said.

"I'll die trying," Mac declared. He watched them both and kept his club ready. "Which of you wants his head bashed in first?"

They moved apart as though they would circle around Mac. He watched them both, knowing what they were doing, so he attacked the other guy. He swung the club at the man, but he grabbed it and they struggled over it. Mac knew Quincy was behind him though. Suddenly, Quincy grabbed Mac right around his sore ribs. Mac almost cried out with pain, but he would not give in. He let go of the club with one hand and elbowed Quincy in the nose, which made him lose his grip around Mac.

The other guy was surprised by that action, which gave Mac just a moment of advantage. He twisted the club and got it from the guy and then swung it and made contact with the man's head. However, Mac felt something hard hit him in the back of the head. He fell to his knees, but he was determined that he would not pass out. But then, Quincy grabbed Mac around the neck with his arm. Mac pulled at his arm, but he could not budge it. He elbowed him in the stomach, but it didn't break his hold at all, so Mac aimed lower. Quincy lost a little of his grip. Mac was starting to feel lightheaded. He knew he had to break that hold, so he rammed his elbow into Quincy's straddle again.

Mac fell to the ground as Quincy's hold on his neck was broken. Mac coughed and gagged. He tried to get his breath back, but then Quincy kicked him in the ribs. Mac thought he saw lights. Pain exploded in his sore ribs and seemed to radiate through his whole body. Mac thought he could not get his breath back now. Then Quincy jerked him up off the ground. He glared at Mac. "I'm gonna pay you back for that," he said, as he kneed Mac in the straddle twice.

Mac thought he would die. He felt himself hit the ground. He wondered if he would die right here lying in the forest. He noticed Quincy walking away the way Stella had gone. Mac knew he had to get up. He fought the urge to moan and whimper as he moved. He could not let Quincy get to Stella. He looked at the other two men. They were out cold.

Mac fought his way to his feet. His whole body was in pain. He felt sick, but he had to stop Quincy. Mac swallowed and waited for his head to stop spinning. He stared after Quincy. Mac felt anger surge in him at the thought of Quincy touching Stella. He started after him. He would fight till his last breath. "Quincy!" he yelled.

Quincy turned around. "Are you not done yet?" he asked.

"You won't touch her!" Mac declared.

"Oh, yes I will. I'm going to touch her all over and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

Mac glared at him. He thought his blood would boil. "Over my dead body, you will."

"I can't kill you, but I can sure make you think you're going to die. She doesn't want you to die, she wants you to be humiliated."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. That's all she told me. I guess I'll know eventually. I can think of lots of ways I could humiliate you."

Mac was starting to get his breath back now, even though his body felt like total pain. "I'll kill you before I will let you touch Stella," he said.

"How you gonna do that, Taylor? You couldn't even fight off Quinn."

Mac glared at him. "She drugged me. I'm not on drugs today."

Quincy folded his arms. "You're still a weakling."

"I'm still standing."

"Only because she doesn't want you killed."

"Come on then. Take me down."

Quincy took a step toward Mac. Mac bent his legs in a ready stance. "What are you waiting on?" he asked.

"Hold it!" someone said.

Mac looked past Quincy and saw a Ranger and Stella. The Ranger was holding a rifle. "Put your hands up," he said.

Quincy glared at Mac and put his hands up. "I'm gonna kill you next time, Taylor," he said.

"There won't be a next time," Mac said.

Stella took handcuffs and put them on Quincy. "There are two more," Mac said.

"I've got help coming," the Ranger said.

Stella ran over to Mac. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Mac could see she had been crying. "Yes, I'll be okay." He wiped a tear off her face. "Don't cry."

"I was so worried about you."

Stella hugged him. Mac almost cringed, but he put his arms around her. He was exhausted. He stumbled a little. Stella looked at him. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked.

"I'm tired," Mac said.

"As soon as I get your statements about what happened and get these three taken care of, you can go back to your cabin," the Ranger said.

Soon, more Rangers arrived. They took Quincy and the others into custody and gave Mac and Stella a ride to the headquarters. They gave their statements about the situation. Mac yawned, as he was waiting for Stella.

"You need some coffee?" one of the Rangers asked.

Mac looked at him. "Yes, thanks."

He brought Mac a cup of coffee. Mac didn't know if he could drink it or not. He was in severe pain. "I think…" Mac didn't finish his sentence.

The Ranger caught Mac before he hit the floor. "Mac!" Stella exclaimed. She ran over to him. "Mac!"

They got Mac onto a couch there in the station. Stella opened his shirt and removed the bandage around his ribs. The bruising was very dark purple. "When did he get that?" the Ranger asked.

"A few weeks ago, but it was getting better. He must have gotten hit here again," Stella said.

"Looks pretty bad. We better call for paramedics. We don't have any medical staff here."

Stella leaned over Mac and stroked his hair. She cried as she thought of how relaxed and happy he had been earlier. She kissed his forehead.

"The paramedics are coming," the Ranger said.

"Thank you," Stella said.

Soon, an ambulance arrived. They took Mac to the nearest hospital. A doctor examined him. Mac groaned when he touched his side. "Sorry, young man," the doctor said.

Stella almost smiled at him calling Mac young man, but this doctor was older than Mac. "He definitely has some broken ribs in there," the doctor said. "We'll have to do some x-rays, but I don't think he has a punctured lung. He seems to be exhausted."

"I'm sure he is," Stella replied.

"Must have been some ordeal."

"It was."

After Mac was x-rayed, the doctor knew he had three broken ribs, but not a punctured lung. "He's going to be very sore for a while," he said. "He's lucky neither of those ribs shattered." He wrapped Mac again, while he groaned. "I can give him some pain medication. That should help with this pain."

"Thank you, doctor," Stella said.

Mac groaned loudly as the doctor tightened the bandage around him. He opened his eyes this time. "Just relax, Mac," Stella said. "The doctor is wrapping you."

"Can't breathe," Mac said.

The doctor put an oxygen mask on Mac. "Breathe deeply now," he said.

Mac tried to take a deep breath. "I think I'm dying," he said.

"No, you're not dying, but you will be in a lot of pain for a while. But I will give you something for that."

After Mac had his pain medicine, the rangers helped Stella get him back to the cabin. Mac was shivering because he didn't have his jacket on, but it was warm in the cabin. They got him into the bedroom and onto the bed. "Thanks for all your help," Stella said.

"If you need us again," one of the rangers said. "We're always here."

"Thanks."

Stella locked the door behind them and made sure the back door was locked too. She went back into the bedroom. "Sleep with me," Mac said, groggily.

Stella crawled onto the bed and lay down beside him. She pulled a blanket over them, and they were both soon asleep…

The next morning, Mac woke up to the smell of bacon. He had brought breakfast food with them, including coffee. He smelled coffee too. He tried to move, but excruciating pain shot through him. He groaned slightly. "Stella," he said.

"I'll be there in a minute," Stella called.

Mac waited and soon she came into the bedroom. "How do you feel?" Stella asked.

"Can you help me sit up?" Mac asked.

"Sure."

Stella sat down on the side of the bed and helped Mac sit up while he groaned loudly and almost whimpered. "Mac, you don't have to get up," she said. "I was going to bring your breakfast in here."

Mac leaned his head on her shoulder. "Just give…me a minute," he said, trying to keep his breath. "I want to eat in there with you."

Stella wanted to cry. She stroked his hair. She could feel him trembling. "I would eat here with you. I don't want you to fall."

"There's nothing wrong with my legs, Stella. I just have to get used to this pain."

"Get used to it?"

"Yeah. I have to tolerate it." Mac raised up. "I have to go to the bathroom."

Stella had been out there this morning. "You know, that place is very cold early in the morning," she said.

Mac smiled slightly. "That's okay. Maybe it will wake me up."

Stella stood up and Mac put his feet on the floor. He felt like his chest was on fire. He looked at Stella. "I'm sorry for ruining this vacation," he said.

"You haven't ruined anything," Stella said.

"I'm afraid I'm not going to be very good company like this."

"I have to go and check the breakfast. I'll be right back."

Mac watched Stella leave the room. Then he grimaced and almost bent double with the pain. He moaned softly. He didn't want her to know how much pain he was really in. Right now, he thought he might die. He stood up slowly and began a slow walk toward the living area, keeping his hand on his side.

Stella came back before he got to the doorway. "I was going to help you," she said. She put her arm around him and they walked into the other room.

Stella opened the front door and they went outside. "Well, if you would go back inside, I wouldn't have to go all the way out there," Mac commented.

"Okay." Stella went back inside. The difference between man and woman: it was amazing. She smiled as she went back into the kitchen. She didn't want to burn anything. She thought she heard something. "Mac, are you okay?"

"Yes," Mac answered. He had just thrown up, although there wasn't much in his stomach this morning. He had gagged a lot more than he threw up, and it did not help his pain one bit. He felt so sick, he just fell down on his knees and leaned over the side of the porch.

Stella knew she was hearing something now. She walked toward the door. "Mac, are you alright?" she asked.

"I'll be right in," Mac said, trying to get his stomach under control. He couldn't seem to stop gagging.

Stella finally looked out the door. She was alarmed when she saw Mac leaning over the porch. "Mac," she said, and went to him.

"I'm okay, I'm just sick."

"Mac, I think we need to go back home. This is no place for you like this."

"It's just as good as home. It's more peaceful."

Stella stroked his hair. Mac finally felt like his stomach was settling down. "I think I can get up now," he said.

Stella helped him while he groaned in pain. She helped him get inside and sit down. "I'll bring you one of the pain pills the doctor gave you," Stella said.

Mac nodded. He couldn't think of anything better. "What kind is it?"

"You have Morphine."

Mac sighed. "I guess it will be better than nothing."

"I'm sure it will."

Stella brought him a pill and some water. Mac swallowed the pill and leaned back on the couch. "Thanks for tolerating me," he said.

"Any time," Stella said. She kissed his forehead.

When Stella had breakfast ready, they sat at the table and ate. Mac ate slowly. He didn't know if his stomach was up to this yet or not, but the more he ate, the better he felt, and soon his medicine kicked in. "Whoa," he said. "I think that medicine just hit me."

Stella looked at him. "You okay?" she asked.

Mac just stared at the table a moment. "I think I'm numb." He looked at Stella. "You're beautiful."

Stella stared at him a moment. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"You come over here and I'll show you how okay I am."

Stella's mouth dropped open. "You're not okay." She got up from the table. "Come on." She helped Mac up from the table. He stumbled a little.

Mac laughed a goofy laugh. "I can't feel my feet," he said. He looked at Stella. "So beautiful."

"Come on." Stella led him into the bedroom and put him on the bed.

"Are you going to undress me?"

"Shut up before you embarrass yourself. Just go to sleep."

"Why don't you come here with me?"

"Mac, go to sleep."

Stella went back to the table. She hoped he would get over that soon. She didn't know medicine did him that way. Then again, morphine was a powerful drug. She heard Mac start singing "Lucille". Stella almost laughed, although she knew it wasn't funny. She had never heard Mac sing like that, and sounded like he was in a drunken stupor.

Stella cleaned off the table while she listened to Mac go from that song to "Baby Come Back". She couldn't help but laugh. But he soon got quiet and she figured he was asleep. When she got everything cleaned up, she looked in at him. He was sound asleep.

Stella thought she would go out and try to catch some fish. Then she remembered she would have to bait the hook. She thought about that a moment. She didn't want to stick her hand into that cricket cage. She couldn't stand the thought of them crawling on her. She supposed she could wait a while and then maybe Mac would wake up and feel like fishing.

Just then, she heard Mac snore. Stella rolled her eyes. She went out on the porch and sat in the chair. She certainly didn't want to sit in there and listen to his snoring all morning. She smiled at the thought. They were here alone together in a beautiful place. She wished that hadn't happened last night, but at least they had more time. She hoped Mac did love her. She thought she had been in love with him a long time. When he woke up, maybe they could explore that some more while they fished.