\u201cDo you two know how to ride?\u201d<\/p>\n
Standing in the horse stall, watching Helena saddle one of the horses, Michelle realized a flaw in Helena\u2019s plan. Yesterday, when the woman said they\u2019d be taking the horses, the phrase must not have registered in her brain. If it had, she would have spoken up that she had no idea how to ride a horse.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Michelle asked, surprised. There weren\u2019t a lot of horses in their town. Or any, for that matter. Michelle couldn\u2019t think of anyone who owned one. She wondered where Samantha could have learned to ride one.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Samantha said, then when Michelle gave her a curious look, \u201cmy Aunt Tammy has horses.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about you?\u201d Helena asked, pausing to look at Michelle.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, no,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou two can ride together, then,\u201d Helena said, then turned to the white and black horse in the other stall, \u201clooks like you get the day off, Oreo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOreo?\u201d Michelle laughed, then she noticed that the horse\u2019s back third and front third were black and the middle was white. She laughed harder when she realized the horse did resemble an Oreo cookie.<\/p>\n
\u201cNice,\u201d Samantha said, grinning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis old gal,\u201d Helena said, stroking the horse she was saddling\u2019s neck, \u201cis Sweetie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy Sweetie?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she is<\/em> a sweetie. As gentle as can be,\u201d the woman said, returning to fastening the straps that held the saddle in place, \u201cshe shouldn\u2019t be a problem for even a novice rider.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about him?\u201d Michelle asked, nodding at the horse that was already saddled.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Bucking Bill,\u201d Helena said.<\/p>\n \u201cBucking Bill?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we were breaking Bill here, he kept throwing Allen,\u201d Helena said, laughing, \u201cAllen muttered something every time he got thrown that rhymed with Bucking Bill. Since we couldn\u2019t call him that in polite company, we changed it to Bucking Bill.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle laughed at the implied expletive, wondering how mad a horse would have to make her call it \u2018Fucking Bill\u2019. She decided getting tossed to the ground a couple of times would do it.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you are going to ride him?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t worry about him,\u201d Helena said, smiling at her, \u201che\u2019s a gentleman now. Just had to get used to the saddle, is all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Michelle said, nodding.<\/p>\n Helena checked her work, making sure the saddle was comfortably secure on Sweetie. Satisfied, she stepped out of the stall, closing the door behind her. To the girls, she said, \u201cLet\u2019s let the cows out for a while since we are probably staying the night at the tower.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are?\u201d Michelle asked, surprised.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be late before your parents make it to the town I was telling you about,\u201d Helena said, walking over to the cow pens, \u201ctrying to navigate the watchtower road at night would be ill-advised. It\u2019s barely more than a dirt track that would be incredibly hard to follow in the dark. Hell, it\u2019ll be hard in broad daylight. They should stay in town tonight and come get you in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMom isn\u2019t going to like that idea,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n Smiling, Helena said, \u201cThat\u2019s why you are going to tell her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat,\u201d Michelle said, sourly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can call your parents after we let the cows out,\u201d Helena said.<\/p>\n They put the cows out in the pasture, then returned to the cabin. Helena started making breakfast while Michelle picked up the phone to call her parents. Michelle stepped out on the porch to make the call. She didn\u2019t need the privacy, just wanted to look out at the woods still softened by early morning fog. This place was so beautiful.<\/p>\n Sitting on the porch step, she dialed her father\u2019s number. She frowned when she got a lack of service message. Hanging up, she called her mother. She sighed with relief when it started ringing.<\/p>\n Her mother came on the line after two rings, said, \u201cHi, sweetie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Mom. How are you and Dad?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWrung out,\u201d her mother said, with a little laugh, \u201cthe flight, then trying to find an SUV to rent\u2026 It took us a while to get on the road, but we are coming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHelena thinks it\u2019s going to be late when you make it to town,\u201d Michelle said, then took a deep breath, \u201cshe thinks you should wait until morning to try the watchtower road.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d Her mother asked.<\/p>\n \u201cApparently it\u2019s not an easy road to take.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure we can manage,\u201d her mother said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you should stay in town. Helena knows you want to come get me, but\u2026 I\u2019ll be fine until morning,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n Her mother was silent for a moment, then sighed, \u201cI\u2019ll talk to your father. Are you sure you\u2019ll be okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Michelle said, laughing, \u201cwhat\u2019s one more night, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGod, you and your father,\u201d her mother said, with mock disgust.<\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking of Dad,\u201d Michelle said, remembering the message she received when she tried to call him, \u201cI couldn\u2019t get through to his phone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t have service in Canada on that old phone of his,\u201d her mother said, then laughed, \u201che wanted me to cancel his camping trips for him, but I told him I\u2019m not his secretary.\u201d<\/p>\n Away from the phone, Michelle heard her dad say, \u201cIf I had a secretary, I\u2019d have brought her and left you at the house.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing, Michelle asked, \u201cI\u2019m not costing Dad business, am I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe only had the one trip scheduled, and I let him use my phone to cancel it. Everyone understood when he told them what was going on. He\u2019s going to take them out for free when we get back,\u201d her mother said.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me put this on speaker,\u201d her mother said.<\/p>\n Her dad said, \u201cMaybe I\u2019ll let you take my place, Michelle. I could use a weekend off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure Michelle is tired of being in the woods, Dear,\u201d her mother said.<\/p>\n Smiling, Michelle said, \u201cMaybe next time, Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMichelle says we should hole up in town tonight and try the watchtower road tomorrow,\u201d her mother said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d He asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHelena says it isn\u2019t safe at night,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n Her dad was silent a moment, then said, \u201cHow long will it take you to ride to the watchtower?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are leaving today\u2026 Staying the night at the tower,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that safe?\u201d her mother asked.<\/p>\n Laughing, Michelle said, \u201cAbout the safest thing we\u2019ve done since we crashed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGod,\u201d her mother said, sighing, \u201cyou and your father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll come get you at first light,\u201d her father said, laughing.<\/p>\n ——————————————————<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll stop here and have lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n Breakfast had only been a couple of hours ago, and Michelle wasn\u2019t particularly hungry, but she was happy to get off the horse for a bit and stretch her legs. The saddle wasn\u2019t big enough for her to ride behind Samantha comfortably, the back lip worrying at her backside incessantly. Not that Samantha looked much more comfortable. She had to sit so far forward, she was all but humping the horn.<\/p>\n Back on the ground, Michelle stretched her long legs, grimacing at how tight her thighs felt. By Helena\u2019s estimation, they weren\u2019t even halfway to the tower. She might not be able to walk by the time they made it there.<\/p>\n Seeing Michelle walking a little gingerly, Samantha said, \u201cYou look a little beat up, Babe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe saddle is kicking my ass,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can switch for a while,\u201d Samantha said, then suddenly grinned at Michelle, \u201cprobably wouldn\u2019t be a bad idea if you learned how to ride a horse\u2026 You should know a few things in case I get hurt or something and you have to take over.\u201d<\/p>\n Recognizing her own words, Michelle laughed, \u201cSmart ass.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s not wrong, though,\u201d Helena said, pointing at Sweetie, \u201cif there was ever a horse to learn to ride on, it\u2019s Sweetie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think so?\u201d Michelle said, looking at the horse tethered to a tree a few feet away. Sweetie was busy munching on some grass, oblivious that she was being talked about.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a long ride to the watchtower,\u201d Helena said, shrugging, \u201cmight as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess it couldn\u2019t hurt to learn,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n The three sat in a circle and divvied out sandwiches and bottles of water. Even Blue had her own goody bag. They were just four girls enjoying an early lunch.<\/p>\n Helena was looking at Blue curiously, then finally turned to Michelle to ask, \u201cDid you notice Blue always stays upwind of the horses?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm, no,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cI wonder if she is doing it on purpose?\u201d Helena asked, looking back at Blue, \u201cDo you think she knows she\u2019d spook the horses if they caught her scent?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be surprised,\u201d Michelle said, reaching out and scratching Blue behind her ears. She smiled when the wolf laid her head in her lap.<\/p>\n Helena looked at them for a moment, then shook her head and laughed, \u201cI think you are pulling my leg about just meeting Blue a couple of weeks ago. You two look like old chums.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve come a long way from Blue wanting to eat me and me trying to shoot her with my bow,\u201d Michelle said, smiling as she stroked the wolf\u2019s head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou really faced down a pack of wolves with a bow you made out of a stick and your shoe strings?\u201d Helena asked.<\/p>\n \u201cTechnically, I only faced down Blue,\u201d Michelle said, a little embarrassed, \u201cshe ran the rest of the pack off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStill,\u201d Helena said, shaking her head, \u201cthat\u2019s either the bravest or dumbest thing I\u2019ve ever heard. Maybe both.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing, Michelle said, \u201cGee, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat in the world got you out in that clearing first thing morning?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saw the wolf tracks at our old camp\u2026 I don\u2019t know. I guess that was too close for comfort. I wouldn\u2019t have been able to sleep knowing wolves were that nearby.\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I can understand that,\u201d Helena said, then snorted, \u201cI don\u2019t understand why Blue back down, though. Even if she was smart enough to recognize the bow, her pack had you surrounded. All she had to do was keep your attention on her, and they would have done the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI really don\u2019t know why she decided to save me,\u201d Michelle said, laughing when Blue lifted her head and licked her neck, \u201cI got lucky, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d say you did, too,\u201d Helena said, smiling at them, \u201cyou didn\u2019t get eaten, and you made a friend. Pretty lucky, I\u2019d say.\u201d<\/p>\n They talked about the girls\u2019 trip through the woods as they ate, and Michelle got the feeling Helena was researching the story was thinking about writing. Finally, Michelle had to ask, \u201cAre you working on your story idea?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA little,\u201d Helena admitted, smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you ever written a lesbian love story?\u201d Samantha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, no,\u201d Helena said, with a self-conscious laughing, \u201cthat\u2019s the one thing I\u2019m a bit worried about. I\u2019m not sure how the naughty bits work when it\u2019s two women, but I don\u2019t think that\u2019ll be a problem since my characters are two young girls. The romance part I can write and love- well, I figure love is love, regardless of who the two people are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good line,\u201d Michelle said, taking Samantha\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n They finished the rest of their lunch, cleaned up their mess, then it was time to get back on the horses. Michelle stroked Sweetie\u2019s neck, said, \u201cBe gentle, Sweetie. This is my first time.\u201d<\/p>\n Sweetie whinnied her understanding.<\/p>\n Michelle got on first, scooting as far forward as she could and lifting her feet out of the stirrups so Samantha could sit in the saddle behind her. She had a moment of apprehension as she picked up the reins. Helena assertations that Sweetie was a gentle horse calmed her nerves some, but the fact that the horse could easily throw her and Samantha didn\u2019t completely leave her mind. It wasn\u2019t that she was afraid of the horse, just respectful.<\/p>\n \u201cRelax,\u201d Samantha said, putting her arms around Michelle\u2019s waist, \u201cif you are nervous, you\u2019ll make Sweetie nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat,\u201d Michelle said, thinking that telling her not to be nervous because it\u2019ll make the horse anxious wasn\u2019t the best way to calm her nerves.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll do fine,\u201d Samantha said, giving her a reassuring squeeze, \u201cthere\u2019s nothing to riding a horse. Sweetie will do most of the work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReady?\u201d Helena asked.<\/p>\n Taking a deep breath, Michelle nodded. She watched as the woman gave the reins a little flick to get Bucking Bill walking. Michelle mimicked the motion, and Sweetie started walking next to the other horse.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother flick of the reins lets Sweetie know you want to go faster,\u201d Samantha said, then added, \u201cor you can put your heels into her sides, but we probably won\u2019t need to do that. This terrain isn\u2019t built for speed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cUse the reins to tell Sweetie which way you want to turn. Pull back on the reins if you want to slow down or stop,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it,\u201d Helena said, smiling at her, \u201cnothing to it, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess not,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a little finesse to riding that comes with practice, but you know the basics,\u201d Helena said.<\/p>\n \u201cFour or five hours of this and you\u2019ll be ready to come to Aunt Tammy\u2019s with me,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe we should see how it goes when I meet your parents before we start planning trips to other relative\u2019s,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d Samantha said, laughing, \u201cat least you still have a couple of days until you meet my parents.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know each other\u2019s parents?\u201d Helena asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do, but…\u201d Samantha said, squeezing Michelle a little tighter, \u201cthings have changed a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d the woman agreed, smiling at them.<\/p>\n \u201cMom and Dad still think we don\u2019t like each other very much,\u201d Michelle said, laughing, \u201cit\u2019s going to be a shock when we tell them we are dating.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt first, maybe,\u201d Helena said, patting Michelle on the knee, \u201cthey\u2019ll figure it out when they see you two look at each other.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Michelle said, taking a deep breath, \u201cyou are probably right.\u201d<\/p>\n ———————————————-<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you two gather some firewood.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm, yeah,\u201d Michelle said, rubbing her lower back. A couple of hours ago, she and Samantha had switched spots, and her back and legs were killing her. The rear lip of the saddle had done a number on her, again. Luckily, they had made it to the tower, and Michelle was glad the ordeal was over.<\/p>\n Michelle glanced around the rundown, single room shack. It had been gutted a long time ago, all furniture and equipment removed when funding was cut to the project but it wasn\u2019t empty. At a guess, Michelle figured someone has been using it as a hunting camp and as recently as this past hunting season. There were fold-up camp chairs and cots, a cheap card table, and a hodgepodge of pans and utensils. Empty beer cans and a discarded box that used to contain 30-06 rounds littered the table.<\/p>\n Her eyes went to the cast iron cook stove in one corner. It looked incredibly heavy, and she doubted the hunters had lugged it all the way out here. She figured when the shack was abandoned, the stove was left behind for the same reason. It was just easier to leave it.<\/p>\n It would be dark in an hour or so, and the temperature would drop with the failing sun. A fire would make the night much more comfortable. Whatever the reason for the stove still being here, she was glad for it.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on,\u201d Michelle said, offering Samantha her hand.<\/p>\n Outside, they found Blue curled up next the door. She lifted her head from her paws, then got to her feet when the girls walked by. The wolf fell in beside them as they started to look for some dry firewood.<\/p>\n Looking down at Blue, Michelle smiled. She realized she had fallen in love with two girls this last couple of weeks, not just one. From the moment Michelle decided not to loose her arrow, a bond between them had begun to grow. The things the Canadian wild had put them through had only cemented that connection. There was no denying the quirky wolf had found a special place in her heart.<\/p>\n Her smile slipped when she thought turned to tomorrow. She has been avoiding thinking about what would happen when her parents picked her up. She hadn\u2019t wanted to think about the possibility of having to say goodbye to Blue, again. It had nearly ripped her heart out the last time she had to.<\/p>\n Coming to a stop, she sank to her knee. Eye to eye with the wolf, she said, \u201cI love you, Blue.\u201d<\/p>\n The wolf\u2019s brilliant blue eyes didn\u2019t waver from Michelle\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow, I\u2019m going to leave this place,\u201d Michelle said, swallowing hard past the lump in her throat, \u201cmy parents are coming to take me home.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha put her hand on Michelle\u2019s shoulder, squeezed it reassuringly. Smiling up at her, Michelle covered her hand with her own. She needed the support.<\/p>\n Turning back to Blue, she said, \u201cI can\u2019t ask you to come with me. It would be selfish on my part.\u201d<\/p>\n Blue continued to hold her gaze. Looking into the wolf\u2019s beautiful eyes, Michelle felt a shiver of wonder work up her spine at the connection. She didn\u2019t think Blue understood the words she spoke, but the message was being received, anyway.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2026 If you want to come with me, that\u2019d be…\u201d Michelle said, a tear slipping down her cheek. Wiping it away, she said, \u201cIt would have to be your decision. I want you to come with me, but I can\u2019t ask you to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis place is amazing,\u201d Michelle said, her voice thick, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to leave it if I were you. Hell, I don\u2019t want to leave, either.\u201d<\/p>\n Blue nuzzled her neck, and Michelle hugged the wolf for a moment. She really didn\u2019t want to let go, but she forced herself to release Blue. Wiping her eyes, she said, \u201cI wish you could tell me what you thought about all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n Getting to her feet, Michelle gave Samantha a sheepish smile, said, \u201cSorry. I had to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha hugged her, said, \u201cIt\u2019s okay. I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe better find some wood before it gets dark,\u201d Michelle said, wiping her eyes, again.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n Michelle tried not to think about the decision Blue would have to make tomorrow as she picked up an armful of sticks and logs, but failed miserably. There was a very good chance she\u2019d have to say goodbye to the wolf tomorrow. Even if Blue did want to go with her, she\u2019d still have to convince her parents to take a wild animal home with them. Then there was the border crossing into the United States. Blue might pass as a wolf-like dog breed, but there had to be some sort of paperwork required to bring an animal into the States. A visit to a veterinarian for a series of shots for rabies and distemper, if nothing else.<\/p>\n With a lot of fallen limbs under the trees from the recent storm, it didn\u2019t take them long to gather a couple of armfuls of logs and kindling. When they stepped into the shake with their haul, Helena looked amused.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are just staying one night,\u201d Helena said.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess we gathered too much,\u201d Michelle said, sheepishly, \u201cstill better too much than not enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Helena said, standing up, \u201clet\u2019s get some candles lit, then we can go up to the crow\u2019s nest to watch the sunset. It\u2019s got to be quite a view from up there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCrow\u2019s nest? Is that what it\u2019s called?\u201d Michelle asked, thinking about the lookout platform at the top of the tower.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d Helena said, laughing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt works for me,\u201d Michelle said.<\/p>\n They lit some candles around the shack to push back the lengthening shadows. The sun was low in the sky by the time Helena fished a flashlight out of her backpack. They wouldn\u2019t need it climbing the stairs to the crow\u2019s nest, but coming back down it would be dark.<\/p>\n Outside, Michelle looked up at the watchtower. It was a metal behemoth, probably fifty feet tall at the peak of the crow\u2019s nest\u2019s roof. Steps wound up the interior of the structure, giving access to the ten-foot by ten-foot lookout platform. The crow\u2019s nest itself was a six by six glass box in the middle of the platform.<\/p>\n Blue followed them to the base of the staircase, looked up at the steps, then seemed to change her mind. She sat down to wait.<\/p>\n \u201cAre these steps safe?\u201d Michelle asked, noticing rust showing through the paint in some places.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably,\u201d Helena said, putting her weight on the first step. It groaned some but seemed solid enough. Bouncing on it to be sure, Helena said, \u201cSeems okay.\u201d<\/p>\n They climbed to the top of the stairs, emerging on the walkway that surrounded the crow\u2019s nest. Michelle\u2019s eyes widened as she looked out at the forest. Above the treeline, she could see for miles in every direction.<\/p>\n \u201cWow,\u201d Samantha said, grinning at her, \u201cit\u2019s so beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n Putting her arm around Samantha\u2019s waist, she said, \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n From their spot at the railing, they watched as the sun lost its place in the sky to the encroaching night. It sank lower and lower until only a red band of clouds could be seen. Even that was lost as darkness claimed the sky. They stayed a while longer, watching as the stars came out.<\/p>\n Finally, Helena said, \u201cIt\u2019s getting chilly. We better get the fire going.\u201d<\/p>\n ————————————————–<\/p>\n \u201cCome on. Let\u2019s go up to the crow\u2019s nest.\u201d<\/p>\n Nodding, Michelle threw back the sleeping bag and stood up. When she saw Samantha picking up a couple of the smaller logs, she smiled and picked up one of her own. Opening the grate on the wood stove, she poked her stick inside until caught nicely.<\/p>\n With the burning stick as a torch, the girls took the protesting stairs up to the top of the watchtower. Since the sun had gone down, the temperature in the glass bubble had fallen, and Michelle was glad Samantha had thought to bring the makings of a fire.<\/p>\n Taking the wood from the girl, Michelle noticed Samantha had something tucked under her arm. She started smiling when she saw it was the bearskin. She had kind of hoped she\u2019d get another chance to make love on it before they made it back to the States and it looked like Samantha was thinking the same thing.<\/p>\n As Michelle started building a fire inside the little potbelly stove, Samantha unrolled the bearskin in front of it. Michelle almost burned her fingers when she saw Samantha starting to get undressed out of the corner of her eye. As the girl wriggled out of her jeans and pulled her shirt over her head, Michelle willed the fire to light faster. Even in the light of the single burning log they had brought from down below, Samantha looked incredibly sexy.<\/p>\n Luckily, the wood they had gathered was nice and dry and took fire quickly. Satisfied their small fire wasn\u2019t going to go out, Michelle stood up and dusted off her hands. She smiled as she found herself in the arms of a very naked Samantha. Looking down, Michelle saw the girl\u2019s bra and panties must have joined the rest of her clothes on the crow\u2019s nest floor.<\/p>\n \u201cCouldn\u2019t wait?\u201d Michelle asked, playfully.<\/p>\n \u201cJust saving time,\u201d Samantha said, hooking her fingers in Michelle\u2019s shirt and pulling it up.<\/p>\n Raising her arms over her head, Michelle let Samantha undress her. It didn\u2019t take the girl\u2019s eager hands long to get her naked, her clothes tossed aside in a rush. Without a single thread of cotton between them, their bodies came together, and their lips met in a heated kiss.<\/p>\n The fact that her parents would be here tomorrow to get them was in the back of Michelle\u2019s mind. Tonight was their last night here, and Michelle intended to make the most of it. She thought with the way Samantha was kissing her back that the girl was probably thinking the same thing.<\/p>\n Michelle wasn\u2019t sure how long they stood like that, kissing and touching. A minute or an hour, she couldn\u2019t say. Time always got a little fuzzy when they were together, but tonight the clock melted away altogether.<\/p>\n Eventually, she remembered the fire and the bearskin. Stretching out on the rug, Michelle pulled Samantha atop of her. The warm lick of the fire and the fur tickling her back seemed like an extension of Samantha\u2019s caress as the girl\u2019s hands ran over her body. Michelle shivered with excitement, her nerve endings crying out for more.<\/p>\n Her desire stoked hotter than the fire in the little potbellied stove, Michelle was more than ready when Samantha moved down her prone body, leaving a trail of kisses on her stomach. The caress of Samantha\u2019s tongue across her bud sent delicious shivers of pleasure through her young body. Her moans and sighs joined the pop and crackle of the burning logs in the quiet crow\u2019s nest. Samantha\u2019s able mouth soon had her cries drowning out those other sounds. Her back was arched, and her fingers were clutching at the bearskin underneath her as she surrendered to the lovely things the girl was doing with her tongue and lips.<\/p>\n When Samantha eased her fingers inside of her, Michelle knew she was in trouble. The tease of her fingertips against that magic spot and the flick of her tongue was more than her body could handle. Her overwhelmed nerve endings were screaming for more, even as her body tried to shy away from the intense pleasure. Samantha grabbed her thigh, held Michelle\u2019s writhing body to her mouth. She was merciless as she drove Michelle closer to ecstasy.<\/p>\n It all became too much for Michelle, and she felt her body tightening toward a climax. The pleasure of Samantha\u2019s hot mouth on her bud and the inescapable pressure of Samantha\u2019s fingers on her g-spot did her in. With one final cry, she lost control of her body as it shook with her orgasm. Her hips jerked like she was pitching a fit.<\/p>\n \u201cJesus,\u201d Michelle laughed, giving her girlfriend a stunned smile.<\/p>\n Samantha crawled up and gave her a kiss. Putting her arms around Samantha\u2019s neck, Michelle pulled the girl down atop of her, again. The kiss lingered a while, intensifying with each caress of their tongues. Michelle\u2019s orgasm hadn\u2019t lessened her desire at all, and Samantha hadn\u2019t yet tasted that sweet release.<\/p>\n We need to remedy that<\/em>, Michelle thought, rolling them. She started to reciprocate what the girl had done to her, but she paused with her lips pressed to Samantha\u2019s breast when she saw the girl fumbling for something behind her. She laughed when she saw the improvised strap-on in Samantha\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cUse this,\u201d Samantha said.<\/p>\n Taking it from her, Michelle asked, \u201cWhen did you grab this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Helena wasn\u2019t looking,\u201d Samantha said, grinning, \u201cit\u2019s been stuffed under our sleeping bag since dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeriously?\u201d Michelle said, laughing.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat,\u201d Samantha said, mischievously, \u201cI wanted you inside of me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWow,\u201d Michelle said, amused. She gave the girl a deep, lingering kiss, then stood up. Stepping into the bikini bottom, she smoothed it into place. She saw Samantha looking at the handle jutting out from her lower abdomen, saw the girl\u2019s eyes flash with excitement.<\/p>\n I guess she really does want it<\/em>, Michelle thought, crawling back onto the bearskin.<\/p>\n Michelle was a little surprised when Samantha urged her to her back. With the fur once again tickling her back and buttocks, Michelle watched with interest as Samantha got to her knees and threw a leg across her stomach. Straddling her hips, Samantha eased down onto the chisel handle, using a hand to guide it home. The girl moaned as it slipped deep, her eyes widening as it filled her up. She sat astride Michelle a moment, getting used to the feel of it inside of her, again. When she was ready, Samantha began to move up and down on the improvised dildo, each pump of her hips pushing a moan from her slack mouth.<\/p>\n The flex of Samantha\u2019s pneumatic body drew Michelle\u2019s eyes, and the girl was mesmerizing in the flickering light of the fire. The flames accentuated the curves and planes of Samantha\u2019s lovely body, heightened the girl\u2019s already considerable sensuality until Michelle couldn\u2019t look away.<\/p>\n The interplay of shadow and light across Samantha\u2019s taut stomach and bouncing breasts as she rode the dildo stimulated a primitive part of Michelle\u2019s mind. Making love by firelight spoke to her animal side, something she had learned about herself during these weeks in the wild. She wondered if it\u2019d be the same under artificial light. She doubted she\u2019d want the girl less if the light came from a bulb and not an open flame. Still, she thought laying with Samantha by a fire would always have a special spot in her heart.<\/p>\n Her hands were jealous of her eyes. Michelle ran her hands over Samantha\u2019s thighs and stomach, up to cup her breasts. The girl\u2019s soft skin and taut muscles thrilled her sense of touch the way the flex of her hips had drawn her eyes. The more she explored Samantha\u2019s lovely body, the harder it became to stop. Like a drug, she was addicted to Samantha, high on her.<\/p>\n Michelle wasn\u2019t the only one excited by her touch. Samantha was biting her lip and trying to keep quiet, but she wasn\u2019t having any luck. Michelle\u2019s hands on her body, and the chisel handle turned dildo inside of her had her little cries of pleasure filling the crow\u2019s nest. Those little animal noises of enjoyment only grew louder and more urgent the fast her hips moved. Michelle thought she was going to make herself come.<\/p>\n The thought barely had time to pop into Michelle\u2019s head when she saw Samantha start to lose control of her body. Michelle helped finish her off, pushing her hips up once, twice, three more times. It was all it took, and Samantha lost herself to the pleasure washing through her body. She sat astride Michelle for a while, careful not to move.<\/p>\n Brushing her hair out of her eyes, Samantha gave Michelle a dazed smile and said, \u201cGod, I love this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think we can smuggle it back to the States?\u201d Michelle asked, playfully.<\/p>\n \u201cIf not, I\u2019ll just have to make another one,\u201d Samantha said, leaning in and kissing Michelle.<\/p>\n Laughing, Michelle said, \u201cYour dad\u2019s going to be wondering where all the handles to his tools went.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha kissed her one more time, then said, \u201cI might have a better idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMom sells ceramic knickknacks,\u201d Samantha said, easing off the handle and stretching out next to Michelle, \u201cshe makes her own molds. I help her with the larger ones.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay,\u201d Michelle said, wondering where Samantha was going with this.<\/p>\n \u201cShe also made me some devil horns out of silicone for my Halloween costume.\u201d<\/p>\n Raising her eyebrows, Michelle asked, \u201cYou were the devil for Halloween?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA sexy devil,\u201d Samantha said, blushing when Michelle laughed, \u201canyway, Mom has really sensitive skin. Regular silicone would have broken her out, so she got some special hypoallergenic type.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that important?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n Grinning, Samantha said, \u201cIt\u2019s body safe. It says it right on the container.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBody safe?\u201d Michelle said, then her eyes got wide, \u201cOh. You mean…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Samantha said, her smile widening, \u201cI can make us the real thing\u2026 Well, the real fake thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking at her girlfriend, Michelle said, \u201cWhy do I get the feeling you already thought about this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as I saw the words\u2019 body safe\u2019,\u201d Samantha said, laughing.<\/p>\n \u201cYour Sharpie would be so jealous,\u201d Michelle teased.<\/p>\n \u201cShut up,\u201d Samantha said, shaking her head.<\/p>\n \u201cHalloween was like eight months ago,\u201d Michelle said, meeting Samantha\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n Shrugging, Samantha said, \u201cAfter Bianca broke it off with me, I didn\u2019t need it as much. It\u2019d be a lot of work to make. I\u2019d have to make a model out of clay, cast in plaster, make a plastic mold, then make the dildo itself. Then there\u2019s the fact I\u2019d be grounded forever if I got caught with a dildo. Or using Mom\u2019s stuff without her permission for that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think it\u2019s worth getting in trouble over?\u201d Michelle asked.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah,\u201d Samantha said, grinning, \u201cdefinitely.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughing at her enthusiasm, Michelle said, \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey,\u201d Samantha said, giving her a look, \u201cI\u2019d be doing it for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle leaned in and kissed her tenderly, said, \u201cAnd I love you for it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh huh,\u201d Samantha said, pretending to be hurt.<\/p>\n Kissing her again, Michelle pulled the girl close. Samantha came willingly enough, and the heat behind the kiss started to build. Both girls had had an orgasm, but their desire was far from extinguished. Michelle thought it would be quite a while before either of them was ready to call it a night.<\/p>\n ————————————————————<\/p>\n Her breathing finally under some sort of control, Michelle turned her head and smiled at Samantha. When the girl smiled back at her warmly, Michelle said, \u201cThat was so good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt might be our last chance,\u201d Samantha said, her smile becoming playful, \u201cfor a while, anyway. It had to be good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe keep saying it\u2019s our last, then we get another one,\u201d Michelle said, her smile widening as she thought about the \u2018last time\u2019 in the barn, then the \u2018last time\u2019 in the shower.<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Samantha said, laughing.<\/p>\n Sighing contentedly, Michelle said, \u201cI\u2019m not complaining though. I could get used to this \u2018last chance\u2019 sex.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe, too,\u201d Samantha said, rolling on her side and giving her a kiss. Pulling back, she met Michelle\u2019s eyes and said, \u201cPromise me something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Michelle asked, smiling at her.<\/p>\n \u201cThat we\u2019ll always make love like it\u2019s our last chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Continue to Part Fourteen<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDo you two know how to ride?\u201d Standing in the horse stall, watching Helena saddle one of the horses, Michelle realized a flaw in Helena\u2019s plan. Yesterday, when the woman said they\u2019d be taking the horses, the phrase must not … Continue reading