Burden to Bear (7 page)

Douglas had to admit it was true.

“I’m just afraid that you’ll change your mind in a few weeks,” he admitted.  “I don’t want to get too attached to this idea of us being together if it’s not going to last.”

Sarah stroked his back gently.  “I promise you that I am not entering into this lightly.  How could I?  I was just about killed.” She paused. “Let’s deal with tomorrow when tomorrow comes.  If we want to eventually have kids, we’ll talk it over.  Right now, I just want to get in your pants.  Were-bear sex is mind-blowing!” She giggled and ducked her head beneath the covers.

Douglas could not resist.  A few moments later, he was moaning and groaning in ecstasy as she skillfully pleasured him with her small warm tongue. 

They made love for hours into the night, and Douglas was thankful that Grandfather’s housekeeper had put them into a room at the far end of the house where no one could hear them.

***

The next morning, over breakfast, they began to make plans to return to the city.  Both had missed too many of their classes to salvage what was left of the semester.  They decided to take the summer off to relax and then begin the same classes again in the fall semester.  Sarah was disappointed, because if she had remained with her original schedule, she would have been student teaching in the fall.  Now she would have to delay that until next spring.

During the few weeks they were visiting Grandfather’s estate, spring had arrived.  Sarah felt a tinge of regret that they must soon leave this country paradise at the time of year when it was the most picturesque.  Chum-Chum and Noodle loved their new home with the healer, especially since they could now go in and out as they pleased.  She hated the fact that she had to crate them up again and return them to the apartment in the city.

“Why don’t you let the healer have them?” Douglas asked.  He would shed no tears at the absence of Sarah’s cats in her apartment.

Sarah knew this and shook her finger at him. “I know how you feel about those cats,” she said.  “And if you love me, you should love them.  But I have to admit, I was thinking the same thing.”

“You know that cats hate supernaturals right?” Douglas said.  “They can sense our powers.”

“I didn’t know that!” Sarah exclaimed.  “Is that why they attacked Wilson?  And is that why they don’t like you?”

“Yup.”

“Hmm.” Sarah pondered this revelation.  “Perhaps if we are going to be spending a lot more time together, they should get a new home. The healer is perfect. She doesn’t have any supernatural powers, then?”

“No,” Douglas replied.   “I’m just as surprised as you are.  She’s entirely human. But I think she’s some kind of witch.  The cats are taking to her like familiars.” He leaned closer to her and whispered.  “Want to know a secret?  I think Grandfather has a crush on her.”

Sarah sniggered.  “No way.  They’re both so – old.”

Douglas was bent over in laughter.  “She rebuffs him on a daily basis.  It’s so comical. Don’t get me wrong.  I love him and all,” he explained.  “But I don’t envy his love interests.  It takes a strong woman to be in a relationship with that man.”

Sarah understood completely.  She had learned a lot about Grandfather’s eccentricities after spending the last few weeks in his home.

“By the way,” she said.  “What is the healer’s real name?”

“She has no real name,” said Douglas.  “I asked her what I should call her the night I brought you in.”

“And?”

“She told me to call her ‘Healer,’” Douglas laughed.  “She was dead serious.”

“Well, after breakfast, let’s go over and ask her if she wants to keep the cats,” Sarah said.  “They’ll have a better life here on the estate.”  She began scooping eggs into her mouth. “Bet I can finish before you,” she challenged. 

Douglas needed no other encouragement.  Grandfather cured his own bacon and served it for breakfast every morning.  He wolfed down the remaining food on his plate.

The walked arm-in-arm to the healer’s cottage, enjoying the beautiful morning. 

“Sarah, I would like you to come stay with her when Grandfather and I go on our trip this summer,” Douglas said.

“Oh yes, your annual trip to your chateau,” Sarah remembered.  Then she laughed. “Douglas, is your annual trip just an excuse to shift into a bear and run around naked in the woods and eat berries and grubs?”

He actually blushed and she laughed louder. 

“I’m sorry,” she apologized.  “I won’t make fun of your trip again.  But, look, I love my independence.  I’ll be perfectly fine alone for a few weeks in the city.  Besides, what are the odds I’ll meet another snake demon in this lifetime?”

Douglas knew that she was right.  He let the subject go. 

The healer was delighted to take permanent responsibility of Chum-Chum and Noodle.

“She’s becoming a crazy cat lady,” Douglas whispered to Sarah when the healer walked into the next room. Sarah smacked him.

“Hey, I was a crazy cat lady,” she said.  “They’re good company.”

She knelt down on the floor and rubbed Chum-Chum’s belly.  “I’m going to miss you,” she said, making kissy faces.  “But I know that you’ll be happier here.”

“Why don’t you spend some time with them,” Douglas suggested.  “I have a few errands to run for Grandfather.”  He seemed anxious to remove himself from the proximity of the cats.

“Sure,” said Sarah.  “My babies need some love.”  She settled down on the floor next to Chum-Chum.  The cat purred contentedly.

Douglas disappeared.  Sarah did not see him again until almost dinnertime. He knocked on the door of the cottage, where Sarah was reading with the cats snuggled around her.  He pulled a bouquet of wild flowers from behind his back.  “For you, dear.”

Sarah looked up in surprise.  “Thanks!” she said. “You know I love daisies.”

Douglas held out his hand to lift her up from the floor.  She took it, and as he lifted her, he said, “Dinner awaits.”

“Oh, with your grandfather?” Sarah asked.

“No,” Douglas said.  “In the meadow.”

He led Sarah past the cottages and into the meadow.  The strolled through the long waving grasses until they came upon a picnic blanket lying on a mowed portion of grass.  A picnic basket lay on top of it, stuffed with food. There was also a bottle of champagne and some glasses.

“What’s this?” Sarah exclaimed in delight. 

“Dinner,” Douglas said simply. “Sit,” he ordered.

Sarah did as she was told, and Douglas filled a plate with fried chicken, potato salad, fresh vegetables, fruit, and cheese.  He then filled the two glasses with champagne, and passed one to her.

“This is decadent,” Sarah said. 

“Wait till you see dessert,” Douglas warned.

They ate and chatted and eventually the sun began to set.  Little insects began to chirp.  Sarah noticed a firefly. 

“Do you see that?” she pointed to the tiny blinking light.  “It’s the first firefly of the season.”

“With all his brothers and sisters,” Douglas added, as a thousand little tiny lights suddenly flickered throughout the meadow.

“What a perfect night,” Sarah sighed.  “I love this time of year.”

She was abruptly aware that Douglas was kneeling before her, holding a tiny box with a giant diamond ring.

Her mouth dropped open.

Douglas grinned.  “Will you marry me?”

Sarah looked shocked, but she sat up, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and grinned. “Okay.  Yes,” she said.  “We are together all the time anyway. Why not make it official?”

Douglas radiated happiness.  He slipped the ring onto her finger, leaned forward, and kissed her.

“Let’s do a long engagement, though,” Sarah insisted.  “There’s so much more I want to know about were-bears.  I want to be totally educated in this supernatural stuff before we tie the knot.”

Douglas agreed.  “Whatever makes you happy, dear.” He pulled her closer to him and kissed her harder.  Then they rolled giggling onto the picnic blanket.

It was going to be a long night of love-making in the meadow.  The fireflies winked to one another in approval. 

THE END

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