Choosing My Life - Bear And Rachel

The night of horrors

Rachel

I watched all the people leave except the big giant. He was staying to keep away the demons that came out at night. He suggested he sleep outside to help me feel safe, but the woman glared at him and told him she trusted him. Besides, I already felt safe with him for some reason. But my feelings were confusing me. He was a male who wasn't related to me. It wasn't logical that I felt safe with him when I never felt safe with Pa. I only ever felt safe with my brothers.

That woman said he was a protector. Did he protect them against demons as well? I shouldn't steal their protector if he's that important to them. But then, he's got no way of leaving now anyway. The last of the vehicle lights was turning onto the road.

He turned around and walked back to me.
"You need to be in bed." He grumbled at me. I stared at him mutely. He did a growling sigh.
"Am I allowed to touch you?" He asked. I gasped.
"I'll take that as a no. " He replied to himself. "Miss Henderson, you are sick. You need to keep yourself warm. Would you like to please make your way to the kitchen, or considering your condition, I may be required to carry you."

My mind melted down, I couldn't think. I knew he carried me before, but I had fainted, so surely that didn't count. It was like Pa forcing himself on me. I was still a Virgin, even though... nausea ripped through me. I gripped the doorway, clamping my mouth shut. My legs have way slightly, making me slide a little.
"Miss Henderson, you're going to have to talk to me. Tell me what's going on." He crouched beside me, hands hovering but not touching.
"Can't,"I gasped,"I'll go to hell."
A rumble emanated from him.
"Not true, sweetheart. I've been there. You have to do much worse than talk to a man to be sent there."
I slowly turned my head to look in his eyes. They were dark and pained.
"You've really been there?" I asked breathlessly.
He blinked, and I saw his lips twist wryly inside his beard.
"Yes, Ma'am. It was horrible, but I came back." He whispered.
"Were there women there?" I asked.
He nodded, then gently gathered me into his arms and stood up so my head was on his shoulder.
"Yes, Ma'am. But they were dragged there, they didn't deserve to be. There were a lot of innocent people there, trying to find a way out." He walked to the kitchen and started to lay me on the bed.
"Can you tell me about them?"
"No, Ma'am," he shook his head sadly, "It's not good for me to remember."
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I went silent as he pulled the blankets over me. This gentle man had been to hell and had been returned, when so many others hadn't. Part of me wanted to ease his pain, but I didn't know how. He smoothed down the blankets, tucking me in like Danielle and Ma used to when I was a child. He moved to light another candle, so he had light, then he opened the stove and poked the coals to get more heat.

I heard him grunt, and then he rose and took his candle to the pantry. He grunted again and came out with a big pot.
"Where's your water?" He asked.
"There's a pump near the barn, on the north side." I replied. He nodded and put his candle on the kitchen table, before walking outside with the pot.
I waited, watching the flame jump and burn, and listening to the fire crackle. I could hear the pigs grunting outside. Pa hated them, but we didn't often have meat, except for them. Only now we didn't have any meat. He was too old, and I too young, to butcher them on our own. I felt myself get lulled into doziness.

A crack woke me up. It sounded like a gunshot. I looked around. There was a pot bubbling on the stove, and the candles were burnt down a bit. I must have fallen asleep. Where was the giant protector. What was his name? It was like an animal, scary but cuddly.
"Bear?" I whispered. That was it. I called it a bit louder. Nothing. Had the demons got him? He said he'd been to hell and back, surely some common night time demons wouldn't have got him. My chest started to tighten.
"Bear?" I squeaked. I was scared. If he had been hurt, what would I do?? I could barely look after myself.

A large figure loomed in the doorway. I screamed.
"Hey, it's OK, it's only me." Bears sweet rumble came from the beast. I burst into tears.
"I'm sorry, I thought you were still sleeping." He stepped over to me and crouched down. I could see his face in the flickering lights. Something came over me, and I put my arms around him to hold him.
"I, I heard a sound. A crack. And I couldn't see you, and I thought the demons had got you like they got my brothers and my sister." I babbled as my face buried itself in his beard.
"Shhh," I felt his arm cradle me, and his body start rocking me, soothing my fears. " That crack was a gunshot. I saw some rabbits while I was getting the water, and had a craving for rabbit stew." He explained in his low voice. I could feel it vibrating his chest. "I didn't see any monsters, only that big ol' momma pig and her babies. And I don't think the monsters will be bothering them any time soon."
I giggled at the image of our big sow facing down monsters who threatened her babies. I left my face in his beard for a bit longer. It felt nice, a little bit prickly, but in that soft, crinkly sort of feeling. He turned his face to mine and pressed more of his beard against me.
"I'm going to have to piece out these rabbits if we're going to have rabbit stew tonight, sweet pea." He told me.
I sighed in disappointment and lifted my head.
"I'll help you." I offered.
"No, sweet pea, I'm looking after you. Just settle back and rest."
I didn't have much choice. I could feel myself getting weaker.
He stood up and moved to the table. I sank back into the blankets to watch him dissect the rabbits and place them in a pot to cook. My eyes grew heavy watching him work, and I fell asleep.