Chapter 6

Hannah gently tended to her patient. The man she had found in the ravine was still unconscious and was starting to run a fever. He restlessly moved his head from side to side and moaned softly. Hannah gently bathed his face and torso with a cool cloth but it didn't seem to be helping.

Straightening up, she decided to make some willow bark tea. Willow bark had aspirin like properties that helped reduce fevers and relieve pain. Hannah opened a jar of dried willow bark that she had ground into a powder and measured 2 teaspoons into a pan of water. She let the tea simmer for l5 minutes and then let it steep for half an hour. When it had cooled, she poured it into a cup and carried it back over to the pallet on the floor.

Slipping one arms behind the man's head, she gently raised him up enough to hold the cup to his lips. It took some time but she finally managed to get most of the tea down her patient. Laying him back down, she quickly checked his other injuries. The gash on his temple was worrisome. It looked red and inflamed. It could be getting infected. She made a mental note to keep a close eye on it. She spread a homemade ointment on the other abrasions and cuts which seemed to be healing nicely.

Angel padded over to her side and nuzzled her gently. Smiling, she rubbed the dog's head fondly. Angel had been her only companion since her parents died. She had trained the dog herself to obey both hand signals and spoken commands. She knew that Angel would fight to the death to protect her from harm. Being alone now, having Angel there helped her feel safe and secure. So did the rifle mounted above the fireplace. Hannah was an excellent shot and often went hunting for game in the woods surrounding the cabin. She also had several hidden traps that she checked daily. Squirrels, possum, rabbit and fish was part of her regular diet. She also kept a milk cow and several chickens and once a year she slaughtered a hog for the meat. Life in the mountains was hard but it was the only life that Hannah had ever known.

She depended on the generosity of a neighbor on the other side of the mountain to keep her supplied with the staples she couldn't grow herself: sugar, flour, salt, and some of the spices that she used on a regular basis. They were the only other family she had contact with on the mountain. It was a simple way of life uncluttered by the modern world that existed in the valley below mountain.

"He's hurt really bad, Angel. I don't know if he's going to make it," she said as she continued to caress the dog beside her "I wonder what he was doing here on the mountain? I hope those men that were looking for him don't come back." Angel laid her head in her mistress's lap enjoying the loving attention and gentle touch.

Satisfied that Starsky was resting as comfortably as possible, Hannah stood up and walked over to the stove where a pot of stew was simmering. She knew that keeping the injured man dehydrated was the main priority right now, as well as keeping an eye out for infection. Infection was the one thing that had to be avoided if possible since there was no doctor readily available here on the mountain. That was why the mountain folk had to learn to care for their own injuries and illnesses using the age old remedies that had been passed down from generation to generation. Hannah had learned at an early age how to set a broken bone and to stitch up a wound.

Three days later, Starsky opened his eyes for the first time. His eyes were bright with fever and unfocused but he was awake. Hannah was mesmerized by those dark sapphire eyes. She smiled at him even though she knew that he wasn't really seeing her.

"It's going to be okay," she reassured him gently "You're going to be okay. You're safe now." Those eyes drifted shut but it was a natural restful sleep instead of the delirium that had held him captive since his rescue. Hannah brushed back a wayward curl from his forehead and gazed at his handsome features that were more recognizable now that the bruises were starting to fade and the swelling was going down.

Hannah's gaze drifted down his bare torso and lingered on the patchwork of scars that marred his chest and stomach. Obviously, whoever he was, this man was no stranger to pain. She recognized some of the old scars as bullet wounds and found herself wondering once more about this man's past. Sighing softly, she stood up and went about her other chores leaving Angel by his side to watch over him as he slept.

When Hannah turned in for the night, she patted Angel and said "Take care of him, girl." She knew that the obedient dog would lay by his side as they both slept, alerting Hannah if he needed her assistance during the night.

The next morning Hannah arose and immediately checked on the man. She was surprised to find that he had urinated during the night wetting both his underwear and the pallet he was lying on. She knew that was a good sign but it also presented a bit of a dilemma. He needed to be cleaned up but that meant taking off the rest of his clothes and touching a man in places that she had never touched anyone before. Still, his welfare was her responsibility and she would have to put her modesty aside.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she carefully tugged at the wet underwear. She slid them down his long muscular legs and laid them aside. Rising to her feet, she fetched a pan of water and some soap. She also found an old comforter to use as a dry pallet. Kneeling back by his side, she carefully rolled him to one side and pushed the wet blanket beneath him, at the same time spreading the dry comforter out behind him. Rolling him back over so that he was lying on the dry pallet, she shoved the wet blanket aside.

Taking another deep breath, she began to wash his flaccid genitals. She found herself examining the dusky colored cock that nestled in a patch of thick wiry curls with interest. Even flaccid the organ was long and thick. For a brief moment, she allowed her fingers to caress the heavy balls that hung between his legs. Her stomach fluttered with an emotion she couldn't identify making her blush self consciously. She quickly finished the task at hand and covered him with a sheet.

She dumped the used water outside and put it back in its usual place. She put out some food and fresh water for Angel, then went outside to gather the eggs and milk the cow. She knew that her patient was in safe hands with Angel by his side. When she returned to the cabin, Angel whined softly to get her attention. Glancing at the pallet, Hannah noticed that the man's eyes were open again and he was looking around the room. His eyes still looked feverish but he seemed more alert than before.

Hannah knelt down beside him so that he could see her clearly and smiled. "Hey, my name is Hannah. You're going to be okay."

"Hur..rts," he said in a hoarse, raspy voice finally focusing his eyes on her face.

"I know it does…just try to rest for now. I'll make some tea that should help with the pain." Even before Hannah finished speaking, he closed his eyes and drifted back off to sleep. She rocked back on her heels pleased that he seemed to be improving. While he slept, Hannah made two loaves of homemade bread. After they had finished baking, she whipped up some thick white gravy. Cutting off a slice of the still warm bread, she covered it with gravy and sat down at the table to eat her meager meal.

As she ate, she thought about the man she had been caring for. She was relieved that the worst of the crisis seemed to have passed. When he woke up the next time, she would try to get him to drink some more willow bark tea and maybe eat some broth. He needed to rest and regain his strength as his body continued to heal.

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