Survival of the Fittest Chapter 1 Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine except for the Dalton clan and Bruce. I got this idea through the spirit of Christmas. Yes, I know it's early. But I don't really care. by: Becky Warren e-mail:vladikov@hotmail.com The December air was exceedingly fresh. The waves were crashing onto the shoreline. Steve Sloan and his father were sitting on the deck talking about Steve's girlfriend, Alex Dalton. They had been going out for a good three months and were still going strong. For his birthday, Alex had given Steve a German Shepherd puppy. She thought since he was a cop, a dog might be a good idea. Steve fell in love with the little puppy as soon as he opened the box containing the little guy. Steve named him Bruce. "Dad, I think she's the one for me. I can just feel it. I like dirt bikes, she likes dirt bikes. I like to surf, she likes to surf. All the things I do, she likes. It's perfect it fits." " Do you like doing some of the things she does?" " Yeah. I think I found a new sport through her. Horse-back riding. It's really relaxing, but the first time you do it, your thighs hurt." Steve said as he rubbed his thigh. "That's because your thigh muscles are stretching. You know I like her too. She's articulate, polite, funny, and very pretty." Mark said giving a pat to Bruce who was laying besides Steve's feet. " Yeah." Steve said. He was cut off by a ring on the door bell. Bruce got up from his resting position and ran through the open screen door and to the front door. Alex was waiting at the front door. "Alex's here." Steve called. Steve opened the front door and she flew into his arms. "Hey lover." She said as she gave him a long, passionate kiss. "Hey baby." He reciprocated. "You ready?" "For what?" "You forgot, didn't you?" "What?" "Remember, you promised that since you had off for a week, we would fly out to my cabin in Colorado and stay there. It would be you and me, the horses and the dogs. But mainly just you and me." "Oh, let me go pack..." Steve said as he went down the stairs. Mark had come into the room and had listened to their conversation. Alex saw him as Steve and Bruce went downstairs. "Nothing like guilt and gentle persuasion." She said to Mark as she gave him a hug. "It's good to see you again Dr. Sloan." "Please, call me Mark, and it's good to see you too Alex." "So what are you going to do while we are away?" " I may putter about the garden or I may get called on duty. You never can tell when some major emergency may roll along." Steve returned with a large duffel bag and a pair of hiking boots in hand. Bruce had his leash in his mouth. Steve and Alex had spent a lot of time with Bruce to where he would follow every command Steve, Mark or Alex gave him.20 "He's ready to go." " Al, should I bring any of his dog food?" " Nah, I bought some Purina Lamb and Rice before I came over here. Jules and Alexander are going with us, speaking of which, they're waiting outside in the Jeep." "Well Bruce, old pal, are you leaving me behind too? Mark said. 09 A whine came from Bruce. Everyone laughed just as Jesse and Amanda were walking through the door. 09 "And just what are we laughing at?" "Bruce." Mark said still finishing off a chuckle. Amanda perked up and came to Bruce's defense. "Oh leave poor Brucey alone." she said as she petted the dog's ears. "Steve, where you off too?" asked Jesse "Colorado. For a week." " Nothing but R&R." Alex added." Shall we? We'll be late for the plane. My dad won't keep it at the airport all day you know." " Your dad owns a plane?! Mark, Amanda and Jesse " Yup. He owns this big Veterinary clinic in England and he owns the Waltham Centre and has some stock shares in the Purina Company. Plus my grandparents left him a LARGE inheritance after they died a couple of years ago. If you think about it, the amount of money they gave him would be enough to put twenty-two kids in college at 500,000 dollars for tuition. So I think it's a total of 11 million. C'mon Steve we're late." The mouths of the other four in the room dropped as she said 9111 million'. Alex gave Mark, Amanda, and Jesse as she went out the front door. Steve stayed behind for a quick second.20 " Bruce you coming?" he said. Bruce ran out the door to the Jeep. "It looks like he is. Now Steve, will you go. You're going to be late." Mark said. " I'll see you guys later. Dad, I'll call you later. Don't worry. We'll be back before Christmas. I promise." Steve said as he grabbed his jacket out of the closet and went out the front door. The weather man got a report of snow storm headed towards Colorado. Problem was that Alex and Steve never got the weather report. When Alex and Steve reached the airport, they had a minor case of Jet lag. Alex's brother, Wade was waiting for her with a GMC Yukon. They walked out of the plane accompanied by three dogs, Two German Shepherds and a Siberian Husky. "Wade!" she squealed. She ran over to him and gave him a big hug. Wade reciprocated and gave a stern look over to Steve. " Who's this?" Wade asked, eyeing Steve. Steve began to get nervous. "Wade, heel. This is my boyfriend, Lieutenant Steve Sloan..." "Lieutenant?" Wade questioned. "LAPD." Steve cut in. Wade seemed more at ease now. With that he pulled Steve to his side and whispered something in his ear. "You hurt my sister, physically or emotionally, you'll be sorry." he whispered as he gave Steve a laugh and a slap on the back. Steve shot Alex a "Help me" look. She came to his rescue. "Wade, dear, help me and Steve unload the plane." Alex said as she collected one of the bags from the back of the plane. There were four bags, one for Steve. one for Alex, one for the dogs, and one for the skis, hiking and ski equipment. "Wade, is Daddy home?" "Yeah, why?"20 " I want to get two horses for us when we leave for the cabin." 09 Steve was putting the dogs and the bags in the back of the Yukon.20 "Well, it's getting late. Mom and Dad are waiting for us, I told them you were coming." Wade said as he got into the back seat. Alex got into the driver's side and Steve on the passenger's.20 As they were driving, Steve was marveling at the beauty that Colorado was known for. Pike's Peak was towering above Colorado Springs. Alex noticed him gazing out the window. "Beautiful isn't it? I love it here. It's my second home." " Yeah, I've always thought this place was neat." 09 Wade chimed in the conversation. " Yeah, I remember when we came here for our cousin's wedding. We loved it. Alex was 12, Eric was 15, and I was 18. Mom and Dad were set on living here after we had all graduated from college." Bruce was getting jittery and so was Jules and Alexander.20 "We're almost there , just hold it in guys." Alex said to them. Fifteen minutes later they entered a long drive way to a huge estate and several barns. "We're here!" Alex exclaimed 09 Steve was stunned by the mass of the land. Right behind the house was a forest and the base to a mountain. Alex drove right up to the house. They stepped out of the vehicle. Steve went behind of the Yukon to get the dogs. Bruce, Jules, and Alexander were ecstatic to get out of there that they ran right out of the back as he opened the door. " Guys, get over here!" Steve yelled. They didn't listen they just ran around the yard and played. "Steve dear, It's okay. The whole place is surrounded by fence. They can't get out even if they tried. Besides, they've been locked up for the past four hours. Now let's go in and say 91Hi'. We'll be here for three hours I promise. It'll be just you and me after that." "Including the dogs and horses, right?" "Exactly." Alex's dad came out to the semi-circular drive that went to the front door to the house. He was an old man, but he didn't look it. The only thing that gave his age away was the gray hair that engulfed his head. he was dressed in a flannel shirt, jeans and boots. "Daddy!"20 "Alex." his voice was low as he said her name. She ran over to her father and gave him a hug. He was so happy to see her. It was like she was his long lost daughter and he finally got to see her at last for the first time. " My God, how long has it been since I last saw you?" he asked. " Three months, Daddy." she said as she planted a kiss on his cheek. 09 Alex's dad caught a glimpse of Steve through the corner of his eye. "And who is this strapping young lad?" he asked her. " Daddy, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend Steve Sloan." 09 Steve reached out his hand to Alex's dad's hand .20 "Mr. Dalton." " Call me Ray. Well, Come on in. It's getting cold. Alex, where's Jules and Alexander? I heard them barking out here." "They're running around with Steve's dog." she gave a whistle and all three dogs ran over to her. Bruce caught Ray's eye.20 "What a magnificent animal! What's his name?" "Bruce." "Daddy's just like me when it comes to animals." Alex's mom, Diane, walked out of the front door with an apron wrapped around her tiny waist.20 "Will you get in here! You'll get a chill!" Steve grabbed Bruce by the collar and put his leash on. 09 "No need for that dear." said Diane. " Just call him in the house. I have food and water all ready for them." They all went in the house laughing and talking. The dogs followed behind them.20 The inside of the house made Steve think of Christmas in a cabin. The smell of apple pies and cookies loomed through the house. Ray had ushered them into the family room where Eric and his wife, Kim, sat by the fire place. Wade's wife, Jill, was resting on the couch drinking hot cocoa and talking to Eric and Kim. Jules, Bruce and Alexander had laid down by the window. Snow had began to fall. On the fireplace mantle, Stee saw pictures of Alex when she was younger. She was pudgy, but so cute. The particular picture she was looking at showed Wade and Eric and some other child. They all looked alike, but Steve was wondering who the fourth child was. Ales saw him looking at the picture. "I was a pudgy thing wasn't I?" "Who's that kid?" "That was my baby brother Johnny. I was nine when that picture was taken.He was six years old when he died, that was fout months before, on Christams Eve. I called him 91my baby' . I miss him so much." "I'm so sorry." " Would you like anything to drink?" asked Ray. 09 Steve asked for a cup of cocoa. Through the corner of his eye a very tall, muscular guy came down the winding staircase. "Oh sorry sir, I didn't hear the doorbell ring." said the man in an Australian accent. "That's okay Sebastian. This is Steve." said Ray. 09 Sebastian gave a bow to Steve and one to Alex.20 "Sebastian, you don't have to do that you know. I don't like it." Alex said. "As you wish, Madam" he kidded. He shot a glance to Kim who giggled with delight. " Oh stop it!" Alex laughed as she gave him a hug. " I think I'll help Mrs. Dalton with the dinner." " Steve, I'd like to introduce my brother Eric and his wife Kim. This is Wade's wife, Jill."20 Steve shook Eric's hand and shook Kim's. Instead she grabbed him and gave him a hug. Steve was overwhelmed. Everyone loved him like he was part of the family. In fact the whole atmosphere he experience here felt like Christmas. He liked it. Moments later. Sebastian came forth to the family room. "Dinner is served." he said. They all went into the large dining room where a table laden with all sorts of food lined the table. Steve and Alex sat next to Sebastian on the right side of the table while Wade, Eric, Kim and Jill sat on the left. Ray sat at the head of the table and Diane at the foot.20 " Dear Lord, we thank you for giving us this week together and for everything you have done for us. Thank you for bringing every one here safely . In your Holy Name we pray, Amen." Ray said as everyone had sat down at the table. On that note, he passed around the bread. "Diane, I do believe you out did it this year." Ray said as he looked around the table. Sounds of Christmas carols rang through Steve's ears.20 "Yeah Mom, but it looks good anyway." Wade said as he took some of the bread and handed it to Jill. Alex got up from the table and called to the dogs. "Why are you calling them?" "They have to eat too you know." The dogs bounded into the room. Alex went into the kitchen where their bowls were and brought them out to the dining room.20 The dogs ate as everyone else were still filling their plates. "Alex honey, what horses are you going to take to the cabin?" "I was thinking Rimrock and Max. They are good for snowy days on the trail." " That they are. Do you know, when your mother and I were stocking the cabin with supplies today, I happened to bring up the sleigh for you two. It's all bright and polished. The runners are ready to go, all you need to do is hitch 91em up and go." "Thanks Daddy."20 09 After they had all finished, they all helped clean up the dinner table and wash the dishes. They went into the family room where Alex and Ray sat down at the piano that was resting comfortably by the wall by the window. They began to play carols on the piano. Every one sang including Steve. He was wondering what his father was doing now. Alex looked over in Steve's direction. She saw a bit of worry in his eyes and she told her father to take over for a second she's be right back. "Steve, honey what's wrong." "I'm wondering about Dad." "You call him. There's a phone right there on the wall in the kitchen." " I'll be right back." "Okay." Steve dialed his father's number. "Dr. Sloan." "Hi Dad!" "Hi Son, how are you?" "Stuffed. But other than that I'm fine. You?" Steve heard his father talking to somebody. "It's just Steve Amanda." " Amanda and Jesse still there?" "Yup. Their joining me for dinner. So what's happening there?" "Well, the whole Dalton clan and I are singing Christmas carols and it's snowing kinda hard." "You singing? It may snow in California after all..." he laughed. " Oh cut me a break. Dad you have got to see this place. It's HUGE." "I assume it would be." "Well, I'll leave you to your guests. Here's Alex's cabin number and her parents' number just in case you need something." Steve gave his father the two numbers" "All right Son." "Bye Dad." "See you later Steve." "Is he okay?" "Yeah. What time is it.?" " Nine thirty, why?" "Nothing." "At ten, we'll leave. Then it's our wild holiday to ourselves. But the day before we go back to California we come back here. My parents want us to spend a day with them." "All right." "My parents are waiting. Dad's getting lonely at the piano." 09 They walked hand-in-hand back out to the family room. 09 "Well, look who came back to join us." said Kim. 09 Alex rejoined her father by the piano. He stopped in midst of The First Noel. " Daddy, why'd ya stop?" " It didn't sound right with out you dearest." "Well let's get this show on the road before me and Steve have to leave." "Oh that's right." Ray said as he quickly ran into a rock in roll phase of "Jingle Bell Rock". After thirty minutes. Alex, Steve, and Ray went out to the barn. Alex had drove the Yukon up to the barn and backed it up to the horse trailer her father had kept. She hitched the trailer to the Yukon and went to join her father and Steve in the barn.20 "Alex, you get Rimrock and I'll get Max. Steve just open the back of the trailer." "Rimrock, where'd you get that name?" asked Steve. "I read it in the Horse Whisperer. I thought it was a good book." 09 Ray came forth with a black thoroughbred stallion. Alex gathered a lead rope from the tack room and went down one of the halls. Ray led Max up the ramp and into the trailer. Alex brought out another black thoroughbred, but this one was a mare. "Beautiful, isn't she?" she said to Steve. "Stunning." Steve said looking at Alex. His eyes were only on her. Ray waved his hand in front of Steve's face. Steve moved out of the way as Alex led Rimrock up the ramp and tied her lead rope to the post. "Steve help me get the saddles and bridles out of the tack room." "Steve?" she questioned. It was obvious that his mind was else where and she gave him a gentle slap on the butt that got his attention. " Steve, help me out here in the tack room." They walked into the tack room. Alex picked up a black saddled that had an Aztec motif to it. It had blue, purple and a muted pink color to it. It was a very attractive saddle. She told Steve that each saddle had a horse's name on the rack. Just pick up the one labeled "Max" on it. The saddle matched the one Alex picked up. Two black bridles were in Alex's hand. They walked out to the trailer and put the saddles and bridles in the compartment that was located on the outside of the trailer. Steve noticed how the snow was still falling. Alex had put a bag of horse feed in the next compartment and went to help her father feed the other horses. They returned fifteen minutes later. They got in the Yukon and drove back up to the house. There, everyone had collected outside onto the drive to say goodbye until Saturday when they would all be together again before Alex and Steve had to return back to California. Alex gave her father another hug. Her mother stood by the door way with the dogs sitting at her side. The others stood on the edge of the drive way. After saying her good-byes, Steve loaded up the dogs in the Yukon and got in on the passenger's side as Alex got in on the driver's side. "Oh, Mum, Steve's father my call here in case we're not at the cabin." "Okay, have fun you two." " Be careful," answered Alex's father.20 09 Kim whispered something into Alex's ear. " That's all him underneath of that shirt! Damn is he good looking. Girl you done good!" They drove out of the estate well-fed and happy that for the next week it would be them and only them. "Wow, your mom is a good cook." Steve said as he rubbed his stomach. "Sometimes she goes over board with the cooking. I remember when I was little I used to each too much of it and I'd gain fifty pounds. Luckily, I lost it all. See, my dad loves the food she makes but he wishes that she would cut back on the amount she makes. We had so many leftovers that we didn't know what to do with." Steve looked at her again. She was a beautiful woman. She had long, curly, brown hair that went down to her shoulders. her eyes were a muted blue that shined in the light. Her skin was tanned from the years she had spent in Los Angeles. She had a childish smile that illuminated her face. She looked back at Steve. She smiled and laughed, " What are you looking at?" "You." "You don't know how bad I want to stop this car and just jump on your lap." "Then do it." "I can't. I have to get these horses up to the cabin before we, you know." " Drive faster for I all I care!" kidded Steve. They told jokes and stories until she pulled into a drive way. There were trees that surrounded the log cabin that sat before them. It wasn't too secluded, the trees sat behind the cabin and evergreen trees were around in. A lake nested in front of the cabin. To Steve's vision, it was the forest equivalent to his father's beach house. The cabin was surrounded by a thick blanket of snow that made it look homey. A barn was settled far away from the house but not by much. Surrounding the barn was fence on each side that came up to the doors to the barn. " Steve, we're here." " Finally!" Alex drove up to the front of the barn door and backed up to it. She and Steve got out and they opened the horse trailer door. Alex was the first to get a horse out. Rimrock was jittery at first but she calmed down. Steve took Max down the ramp and followed Alex into the barn. Each of the horses were lead into a stall where they were fed and watered. Alex and Steve finished unloading the trailer and putting everything into the tack room. Then, they shut the barn door and drove up to the cabin. They had started to talk about the things they were going to do as they unloaded the dogs and their luggage from the Yukon. The doorway to the cabin was a wooden door with an oval-shaped glass window. The cabin was instantly illuminated when Alex flipped a light switch that was located on the foyer wall. A glass chandelier had illuminated the hall . In the foyer, there was a large staircase that lead up to the second floor. "Wow." was all Steve said. " Peace and quiet. I'm going to go get the dogs settled into the back room before we go upstairs. You gonna help me?" "I guess so."20 They walked back to where a large bay window was located in the kitchen. It looked out onto the woods. Bruce, Jules and Alexander were led into the kitchen by their leashes and had their beds placed on the floor . Alex filled their food bowls and water bowls while Steve put the baby gate on the entrance to the kitchen. The dogs were sleepy and so were the two love birds. The each grabbed their bags and headed up the staircase. Alex showed Steve into a large bedroom that had a king-sized bed and a large bathroom. There was a bay window that looked out onto the lake. There was a window seat that matched the room's southwestern decor. Steve and Alex threw down their bags and jumped onto the bed. They were intertwined in each others' caresses that Alex broke away from moments later. "Let me slip into something more comfortable." 09 She grabbed her bag and ran into the bathroom. Moments later she returned in a sexy negligee an rejoined Steve on the bed.Steve noticed several bruises on her thin arms. Each were lessening in color. She saw him looking at the bruises and she saw some tears in his eyes. He couldn't bare to look at the abuse she had taken.20 "Old boyfriends. They wanted to mark their territory." " Who would do such a thing?" 09 Steve hugged her firmly to reassure her that he wasn't going to hurt her.She began to shiver a little bit and he took note of that. Luckily, there was a fire place in the room and wood in a basket. Steve saw matches were laid on the mantle. He left her on the bed and put some wood in the fire place. There was some paper lying next to the basket. He crumpled it up and put it in between of the logs and lit them. Steve then put the screen in front of the fire place and returned to his girlfriend who was eagerly waiting for him. "I'm all yours now." she said. " Thank God!" he said as he planted a kiss on her lips. She had stop shivering as soon as he laid on top of her, providing extra warmth to keep her warm.20 "You know, my family really likes you, a lot." 09 Through each individual kiss that he was laying on her neck and chest he said,20 "Really, I never would have guessed." "Are you hungry?" " Yeah, but not for food." 09 Steve pulled his jacket off and his sweatshirt and Alex pulled the blankets back on the bed and got in. His muscular, bare chest revealed several scars from bullets that had been inflicted onto him. He stood there in his Ralph Lauren jeans. He saw Alex looking at the scars on his chest. " Just some souvenirs from the job." " I'm sorry, I never knew." "That's okay." Steve unzipped his jeans and left them fall to the ground. He was wearing the boxers Alex had gave him for Christmas. They had Dr. Seuss' grinch on them. "A little festivity to brighten up our weekend." he joked as he got into the bed. He pulled the covers over Alex and himself. "Now where were we?" he asked. " I think we were right here." she said as she laid on top of him and began to kiss him on the lips. "That's right." Then next morning, Steve got up and found that Alex was still sound asleep on his chest. Moments later she woke up. "Well, good morning sunshine." Steve joked. " Hi." she said sleepily. He gave her a kiss.20 09 "You were great last night." she said. " If I had known you would have been that good, I have stopped the car and attacked you right then and there." "I would have done the same thing. I never knew it could be like that." She got up and went to the bathroom. Steve heard her running water for either a bath or a shower. He decided he would join her. he got up and grabbed his bath robe from his bag. He saw her putting some bubble bath solution into the running water.20 "Mind if I join?" "Not at all. In fact, I was about to fetch you." They both submerged themselves in the warm water.09 Mark in the meantime was terribly bored. He had puttered about the garden twice. He had finished the last mystery book in the house. Mark was beginning to fall asleep when a loud rapping startled him. It was Jesse and Amanda. They looked like they were going out for a day shopping or something. Jesse was wearing a denim shirt and khakis. Amanda was wearing a dark blue Nautica T-shirt and light blue jeans. "We thought you might like to go for a day on the town." " What do you mean?" " Well, since Steve's in Colorado, we thought you'd like to spend the day with us. I happened to get my hands on some "Phantom of the Opera" tickets." said Amanda. "They're for later." " Go get a shower and get dressed. We'll wait." Twenty minutes later Mark returned wearing jeans and a short-sleeved flannel shirt. They left the house in Amanda's car. They were talking about Steve's girlfriend "I like her a lot. She's so funny. Always knows how to pick you up when you're down." said Mark. "Steve really likes her. Do you think, you know, that this one could be the one ?" Jesse questioned. "I hope so. It's time Steve settled down. Have some kids." Amanda said. "I'd like to see Steve try that. Remember when your friend had the quadruplets?" "Oh god yes." Amanda said. " He passed out while she was in midst of giving birth." "What's this?" Jesse asked. "Long story. We'll tell you later." "Anyway, I remember that Steve would hand me every baby. Complaining 91This baby hates me!' It was so funny." " I remember that." Amanda said. "I'll never forget that." "Me neither." "I can just imagine Steve as a daddy. I have this picture sitting in the back of my head. He's decked out with a baby carrier in his left hand and in his right arm a t tiny baby. I think it'll look cute." Jesse said with a mischievous smile. Steve and Alex, now dressed and in the kitchen, were having breakfast with the dogs. They were planning their day. "I think we'll start with the trail. Then maybe skiing and later a nice sleigh ride. What do you think?" "I don't care." " Well, let's let these guys out, they look like they need to go." Steve petted Bruce's head. Something seemed different about him. "What's wrong Bruce old pal?" Bruce just eyed Steve with a sort of worried look on his face. "Probably nerves. He's been locked inside all night and most of this morning." "Must be. He's too young for arthritis, I think." 09 Steve went out to the foyer and picked up the animals' bag. He took out Bruce's favorite tennis ball and a fur brush. "Maybe this will help. Come here Bruce." Steve commanded. Bruce did as he was told and sat down by Steve. Steve gently ran the brush through his fur. He seemed less tense as Steve brushed his fur. Alex cleaned up the breakfast and gathered Steve's boots and hers. Jules was a large Siberian husky female who was getting jealous of Bruce. She began to yap. "Jules, stop it!" commanded Alex. Surprisingly, she stopped. Steve had finished brushing Bruce and went to get his boots but Alex had handed them to him. "Thanks." he said as he looked out the window. The snow had stopped. It made the forest look mystical, like a setting for a story book. It was rather pretty. He finished lacing up his boots and went out of the kitchen followed by Bruce, Jules, and Alexander. Alex was out on the front porch. She was waiting for him. The dogs excitedly ran out of the house almost knocking Steve over. " Are you sure we want to do this?" he said. "It's cold." " That's because you don't have your jacket on silly." "Oh." he went back into the house and returned with his jacket. "Shall we?" said Steve holding out his hand for hers. 09 They walked out to the barn hand in hand. Alex got Rimrock out of her stall and showed Steve how to put a saddle on for future reference. Next, she showed him how to put a bridle on. Now it was Steve's turn to do it without her help. He got Max out of his stall and began to put the saddle blanket on. Soon he was done. Alex checked it to make sure it wouldn't fall off. "Good work." she rewarded him with a kiss. "Thanks." "Now, grab the reins and get on."20 He did as he was told and sure enough, he was riding a horse with out her help at all. She mounted Rimrock and both of them rode out of the barn. Alex got down and shut the barn door.20 "Okay Steve, now Lesson two. Holding a horse while you're on one." Just hold her reins while I go stick the dogs in the house." "Are sure I should be doing this?" "Steve, they're the best horses I have. They are no trouble." She went back to the house and put the dogs back in the kitchen.Steve saw her putting an unloaded shotgun behind the saddle and some boxes of shot gun shells into the saddle bags. She came back and took the reins from Steve and got back on. "What's the shotgun for?" "In case of an emergency like if you are getting attacked by an animal I can shoot it. I don't care to much for rabid, wild animals. But if we should get hurt, I have a first aid kit in my saddle bags." "Ready?" "Yeah." 09 She gave the horse a tap on it's haunches and she went off followed by Steve. They rode for a while. Steve grabbed his gloves out of his pocket and put them on. "Steve, dear, here put these on. These are insulated. I knew you would bring those so I had Daddy make these for you. I think you'll like them. She handed him a pair of gloves. They were black suade. On the inside they were made of sheep's wool. They were warm. "Thanks. That's better."20 They rode in silence for awhile. Alex was surprised how well Steve was riding. He sat high in the saddle like a real cowboy. She thought he looked sexy like this. She liked that he was enjoying the ride. He had a smile on his face. She felt something that she never felt before. Alex thought she had found the one she wanted to spend her life with. She wondered if he felt the same. "My cousin really likes living here. She met her husband here too. You'll see her Saturday. She and Steve, that's her husband, and my two aunts and uncles will be there. My mother raved about you to them and now they want to met you. You really made an impression on my family, they really love you." "Who wouldn't?" he joked. " You're such a ham!" she laughed. "You know what?" he asked. "What's that?" " I bet I can beat you to that tree down always." " Just try me." she laughed. She kicked the horses haunches and took off. Steve followed. First, she was in the lead. Then, Steve was winning. They were tied as they reached the tree. "You know Steve," "What?" "Out of all the boyfriends I had, you're the best one of them all. You know how to ride. You're funny, you're passionate. I've only known boyfriends who hit me." "Alex, I'd never do that to you. You have to know that." 09 09 They stopped the horses at the tree and Alex pulled out a pocket knife. She began to carve a half a heart onto the tree and handed the knife to Steve who finished the heart. He handed the knife back to Alex. She began to carve 91Alex Dalton' and handed the knife back to Steve who carved his name. He wrote 91Forever and Always Together' . He then handed the knife back to Alex who wrote 91 December 13, 1998'.20 "Now we will be together here. Our names are now immortalized." She said. She leaned over and they kissed. They rode away from the tree, the house on the horizon behind them. "Here's the trail." she said. She lead Rimrock onto the trail. Steve and Max followed. The horses' hooves left tracks in the snow.20 "Well, if should we get lost, we have the hoof track to get back." "Let's hope so. I need to call Dad later."20 "Don't worry. We need to get back soon, I think I left the dog food bag out in the kitchen. I don't want them to over-eat." " We don't want that now do we." " Nope. If we're lucky, we may get to see a wolf back here. They are really neat to look at. I remember when I saw my first one. It was a couple of years ago. Snow was all over the place an Daddy and I were riding on this very trail. We saw the wolf dart across the woods and begin to howl. It didn't pay any attention to us at all. Then I remember a bear attacking my baby brother, Johnny. We were riding here on Christmas Eve and we had stopped because Johnny saw something and he wanted to go take a look at it.Then the bear came out from behind the tree and ..." she began to cry as she pulled the reins to make Rimrock stop. Steve did the same. She got down and tied the horse to the nearest tree. Steve got down off of Max and walked the horse over to where Alex had leaned up against the tree. She had tears, running like rivers, falling down her cheeks. Steve tied Max to the tree and went to Alex. He grabbed her into his arms and rocked her back and forth. Through the tears, she started to say, she couldn't do anything to stop it and neither could her father. They didn't even notice the snow falling. "Daddy told me to run back to the house and get the shotgun, I couldn't, I was to scared. I was frozen stiff in horror. When the bear finally went away, there was no life to him. For years, Daddy and I blamed ourselves for Johnny's death." She clung tighter to Steve, who let her cry as hard as she wanted too. Steve noticed snow falling. He was still rocking her back in forth trying calm her down. 09 "It's allright, Alex. You did what could." Her crying got more fierce and she burried her face deep into his chest 09 "I could have saved him but I was to cowardly to do it.!" she bellowed. "Alex, listen to me, it was an animal that was probably weighed more than 700 pounds. You couldn't do anything to make it go away. "20 Steve was caressing her hair as he spoke softly to her. The stood there together for a while until she broke away from his embrace. Her face was red from the tears. She pulled out a hankechief and rubbed the tears away. "I better get them off or the might freeze on my face." " Mmm." " You don't know how long I've wanted to do that." "I imagine so." "I've held those tears in for years. I always thought that if I cried about Johnny or anything else Daddy might get upset. For three weeks Daddy didn't come out of his room. Mum said he liked to keep his feelings tucked inside. After that, Daddy and I rode together with a shotgun ever since." " I would too." Steve said. A wolf howl stopped them dead in their tracks. Nearby, there was a wolf and what looked liked like to be a large male at her side. Steve and Alex held their breaths and took in the picture. The wolves' eyes looked back at them. To them, it looked like they were smiling. The wolved turned around and ran back into the forest. It was an incredible sight. "That's you and me Steve. We're just like those wolves." 20 09 ------_NextPart_000_0007_01BE2695.7B54F320 Content-Type: text/plain; name"Survival of the Fittest 2.txt" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: attachment; filename"Survival of the Fittest 2.txt" Survival of the Fittest20 Chapter 2 09 Alex untied Rimrock and hoisted herself up on to her back. Steve went and united Max from the adjacent tree and did the same. They began to ride further down the trail.20 "Thanks Steve, I really needed to do that." "I'm always here for you, no matter what." 0B The trail lead them past lakes and a river. They saw deer and their young pawing at the snow to get some grass that buried underneath the thick blanket. They saw wolves darting from place to place and rabbits bounding from holes that were made in the snow. "I think it's time we head back. It's getting dark and the snow's picking up." Alex said. The night sky came fast. Now, the sun had set and there was no light to lead them back to the cabin. The moon wasn't giving enough light either. Alex whipped out a flashlight from one of the saddle bags. "Don't we come prepared?" " I have matches in there too, you know?" She shined the light behind them. This doesn't look familiar. Where were they? She couldn't see the hoof prints. Had they taken a wrong turn? No. It isn't possible. I've ridden this trail hundreds of times, she thought. "What's wrong?" he asked. "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto." she said. She stared over in his direction. "What do you mean by that?" Steve sounded worried. " I mean, we're lost. I think we took a wrong turn somewhere and went off of the trail. I hope I have a cell phone in here somewhere. Maybe Daddy can tell us where we are." "How do you know he will know?" "My dad's been through every inch of the trail and every where surrounding it." She said as she searched in the saddle bags for a cell phone. Her luck was beginning to change, for there in the saddle bag, was her cell phone. She turned it on. Nothing.20 "Now what?" Steve asked. " Cell phone's dead or the phones are down." "Or you can't get cell contacts up here." "That too." Mark, Amanda, and Jesse had changed their clothes and went to the opera house. Mark was getting worried as the night progressed. Steve didn't call or leave a message on the answering machine. But the worry soon left him. "Maybe they are just out for the day." Mark said aloud. "Huh?" "Oh, nothing." Steve and Alex were riding through the woods, taking this trail and that. Until something looked familiar. It was a dead end. Steve and Alex were getting cold and hungry and the horses were tired and hungry. The decided to stop for awhile. Alex tied the horses up to a tree and went collect wood for a fire. There wasn't much wood on the ground, just twigs and boughs from trees. They decided to make the best of it. Alex and Steve cleared most of the snow from off of the ground and found some grass. Alex laid it on top of the twig pile they made. She went for the match box in her saddle bags. With match box in hand, she struck a match and lit the fire. It was a small fire, but at least it provided some warmth. " I'm hungry." Steve said. he was rubbing his stomach. He looked at his watch it read 8 o'clock. 7 a.m. was so long ago. "I am too." she said as she laid her back against the nearest tree. She watched the horses paw at the snow. She looked up at the sky. The snow was slapping her face with its coldness. She tilted her head towards Steve's . He was resting his head on the tree. "I'm so sorry, Steve. I didn't mean to get us lost." "It's okay." He said as he pulled her close to him. She laid her head on his chest and started to hum something. It sounded familiar from somewhere. "What are you humming?" he asked.09 "Oh some lullaby my daddy used to sing to me." "Sing it for me please. You have such a beautiful voice." " That's because I practiced all through high school and church." "Sing it." "Alright." She started to sing, " A gentle breeze from Hushabye Mountain softly blows on Lullaby Bay. It fills the sails of boats that are waiting. Waiting to sail your worries to sea." "I know that form somewhere. I can't put my finger on it, but I know it." She finished the song and Steve gave her a round of applause. He pressed her body closer to his to warm her up. The fire died down and Steve fed it to keep it going. Alex soon fell asleep and he held her even as he began to drift off into dreamland. The next morning the fire was gone and the snow had begun again. Alex was the first to get up. Steve's arms were around her. She tried not to wake him and succeed. She wandered around a bit , but not straying far from their makeshift campsite. She saw a stream running through the forest. She went for a closer look. There were fish in it. It wasn't frozen all the way through and the fish were swimming rather freely. She went back to were Steve was and waited for him to wake up. Meanwhile, she just re-adjusted the horses' fleece girth straps, fleece breast collars and saddles. She gave the horses a check to make sure their tongues weren't bleeding from the bits of the bridles. On the flank cinch ring of the saddles, she had mounted a pouch through the loop. She opened the pouch and pulled out her inhalers. She was an asthmatic and she felt like her chest was in a vice grip. She took her prescribed inhalations and placed them back into the cinch pack. She then checked the scabbard to make sure the safety was on the shotgun. It was and she went back to Steve's side. He woke up fifteen minutes later. His face was bright red from the cold. "Well, Good Morning! I found our breakfast." 09 He rubbed his eyes. "Good, I hope it's bacon and eggs." " Um, not exactly." 09 She showed him the stream she found. There were still fish swimming freely in the stream.20 "Okay, now how are we going to get them?" " Watch and learn." she said as she stepped into the stream. She handed Steve her gloves and she put her hands into the water and stood there quietly. Suddenly, she whipped her hands out of the water. In the cup of her petite hands was a large fish.20 "Oh, you're good." he said. "I'll go gut this guy and now it's your turn. Just stand there silently and when you feel a fish swim through, grab it quickly and take your hands out of the water." He handed her his gloves and did exactly what she did. Except, it took him more time. She finished gutting her fish and started to rebuild the fire. She placed her fish on a stick and set it to roast on the fire. She checked the saddle bags again. Steve returned back to the fireside with a medium-sized fish. He took the knife she had left on a log stump she found. "What are you looking for, dear?" "Aha! I knew I put them in here." "What?" " I can't remember." "That's a big help." Steve said as he put his fish on a stick and into the fire.20 "I wish I could remember what I did with those extra blankets." "What blankets?" "These blankets that trap in solar heat and use it to warm the occupant underneath it." she said. " Man, I wish you had found them last night. I am frozen solid." he said as he put his gloves back on. "I wish I did too. I don't like the fact that you're still cold." she came up to him and hugged him tightly. "Maybe this'll warm you up." she gave him a kiss.20 "That'll do the trick." They were locked together for awhile when she broke away and went to check on the fish. "Here, Steve this one's ready." she said as she handed him the larger fish. "It's hot." "I assumed it would be." When Alex had got the other fish eaten she put some snow over top of the fire and went to put her gloves on. Alex hoisted herself on Rimrock. She wasn't going to worry Steve about her asthma acting up. He was shivering and his nose was nipped with red. She wondered if She had something to put around his face to keep him warm. "Now what are we going to do?" " Well, I hope we can un-lose ourselves. If not, we're in deep doo-doo." 09 Steve sneezed and she gave him her handkerchief she kept in her pocket. "Steve are you warm enough? I brought an extra set of clothes in case one of us fell through some thin ice." " No, Do you have some warm jeans and about seven sweatshirts?" " I brought some insulated chaps for the two of us. Here, let me help you." She pulled herself down off of the horse and went into the saddle bags that were hooked onto Max's saddle. She pulled out two folded pairs of chaps.20 "Get down and come over here." She said as she unfolded the first pair of chaps.09 Steve got down and she pulled the chaps around Steve's waist. She buckled them and zipped the legs of chaps to Steve's. Steve help her put hers on. 09 Mark was now getting really worried. Amanda and Jesse were looking in on him. Mark was sitting at his desk in Community General. He was hoping Steve would call and let him know he was okay.20 "Mark, I'm sure Steve's all right. He's a tough guy." Amanda said. "I hope you're right. I don't know what I'd do with out him." " Don't worry too much, Mark. He'll call soon. I hope. I'm getting worried too. It's not like him not to call you." "I hope he's okay." "Dr. Sloan, there's a call for you, line 2." said one of the nurses from out in the hall. Mark got up from his seat and walked out to the nurses' station. "Dr. Sloan." "Hey Doc Sloan!" "Hi Dale..." He said as he put his hand over the receiver. "It's Dale. he's drunk again. What do you want Dale?" Dale Collins was a regular at the emergency ward and every doctor and nurse knew him by name. "I was just wondering, is a gunshot wound supposed to hurt." "I imagine so, why?" " `cause, I've just been shot." "Dale, where are you?" "At home. The usual." "Um, Amanda dispatch a ambulance to the pub down the street, you know." "Dale, what happened?" "I think I got shot." "I know. Who shot you?" "I think I did." "Dale! This is the second time this week!" "Oh look, they're here! Hi guys, you look happy to see me again." Mark hung up the phone and went down to the Emergency Ward.20 09 "Ho-hum. Another great day with Dale Collins." Steve was beginning to get better as the day progressed. The sun was beginning to shine and most of the snow storm had gone.20 "Good, God's humoring us. Maybe we may get lucky and find our way back to the cabin." "Let's hope so, My butt's beginning to hurt." "Do want to take a rest?" "Nah, but can we walk a bit, my legs are getting stiff." "Sure." They dismounted and walked . Everything was covered with snow. They were walking knee-deep in snow, luckily the chaps kept the cold out. Steve looked at Alex, she was gasping. "What's wrong?" "I can't - cough- breathe!" Alex's blue eyes were watering and sweat beads were dripping from her forehead. She sat down in the snow. "Steve,-gasp-get my - gasp- my inhalers, they're in that pouch on the cinch ring." Steve quickly got the inhalers out of the pouch and brought them over too her. She looked like she had a purple hue to her face. He didn't know what to do. " Hand me the blue one." she said as a loud whistle came from her throat. Steve quickly gave her the blue one. She took about five puffs on the inhaler. Steve sat down next to her, holding both horses reins. Ten minutes later, she seemed like she was breathing normally and She slowly got up. " You have asthma, don't you?" he asked. "Yes. I've had it for many years and it doesn't seem to be under control yet." "We need to get you back and fast." She protested. "I'm fine. It always happens when I'm nervous. I just want to get back to the cabin. I think we should get started again." They started to walk again. The forest was getting thinner and more spaced out. Bye nightfall there were no forest. An occasional evergreen tree brushed past them. They decided to stop for the night at the next evergreen tree. Instead, there was another small forest ahead of them. They stopped on the edge and tied the horses up to the trees. They found some twigs and boughs from trees and brought them back to where the horses were. Alex decided that since the night's air was getting much colder than last night's she was going to take the saddle blankets off and use them for Steve and herself. Steve was huddled up against a tree and she brought him over one of the blankets. "Maybe this will help. Here. The horses' fur is long enough to provide some warmth for themselves. We can use them for tonight." she said as she draped Max's saddle blanket around Steve's shoulders. It wasn't big, but it was just right. Alex laid down next to Steve and put her head in his lap. " I hope I can get us home." "I hope so too." " Steve?" "What?" he said softly. he was stroking her hair.20 "What if I can't get us out? What if we're forced to live like this forever?" "I don't think it'll be forever, but I'll bet you some one is looking for us." "You're such an optimistic." "Is there something wrong with that?"20 "No." She huddled up close to him and she put some of her saddle blanket on him. They stayed like that until they fell asleep. Alex's head was resting up on his chest and her body was on top of his. By morning, the fire had burned out and both were up and ready to go. The morning was dismal. They sky was gray and snow was falling lightly. They decided they would walk again. So they saddled the horses and took their reins in their hands and started out into the open space that was in front of them. For a ways, they walked in silence.20 " Now, I wish we had never went out for a ride." "Why do you say that?" " Look at the mess I got us into." "Alex, you did nothing wrong, it's just a little mistake." " More like big mistake. I'm so stupid." She said as she banged her head with her fists. She was walking slower than Steve. He turned around toward her and suddenly, CRRRACKKK! Steve fell through what looked like a snow pile, but it really was thin ice buried under snow. "Steve!" Steve was splashing about in the below freezing water. Alex needed to do something and quick. She knew that the human body can last up to four minutes in freezing cold water. She kneeled by the hole in the ice. Steve was turning purple in the face. She quickly grabbed his jacket just as he was about to go under the ice. She tugged hard to get him out. Every time he tugged on his jacket, he would inch forward. Finally, she got his whole body from the ice cold water. It looked like he wasn't breathing and his face was a purplish blue and his lips were slightly blue. "Oh God! Steve!" she screamed. Why did this have to happen? She had to do something for him now or she would lose him forever. She felt for a pulse. He didn't have one. Then, she remembered how to do CPR from when she was called to do it in front of her eighth grade class for a project. She tilted his head back and pinched his nose so that whatever air she put into his airway, wouldn't come out through the nasal passages. She un-zipped his jacket and placed her hands, one on top of the other, and started to do the chest compressions.She kept on doing CPR for what seemed like forever. When she had given up all hope, she pulled Steve close to her and cried. She rested his head on her shoulder. Alex felt a light, cold gust of wind on the left side of her neck where Steve's head was resting ,limp. She didn't feel the wind on the other side of her neck. That was strange to her. Could it be?, she thought. There's no possible way he could be alive. He was under for at least five minutes. She felt Steve move, but it was a quick, little sweep of his head. She readjusted his body and tilted his head so that his closed eyes met with her red, teary ones. She heard him cough very lightly. By some miracle, Steve was spared from death. His eyes fluttered open. 09 "Oh thank, God! Steve, look at me." He groaned. She held his shivering body closer to her. She needed to get him dry clothes and close to a fire. The woods wasn't far from where they were. She couldn't carry him and lead the horses. It takes two hands to carry someone and one to hold two sets of reins. How was she going to get him back to the woods? She had an idea about placing him on or over Max's back and leading him back to the woods. But how was she going to get him up on the horse? He must have weighed sixty, seventy pounds more than her. She looked back at Steve whose eyes were open and looking at her. "Steve, can you hear me?" 09 He shook his wet head. Individual locks of his hair looked like they were turning into ice. His nose was running and he was shaking.20 "Come on, I'm taking you back to the woods."20 She put his arms around her neck and tried to pick him up. He was a tad bit too heavy. She tried again. This time with much more success than the first try. She carried him over to where Max was lying down. He had run off when Steve had fallen through the ice. With Max lying down, It should make getting Steve up on him easier. Rimrock stood near Max as Alex put Steve on his back. She steadied Steve on Max's back. She placed Steve's feet through the stirrups. Steve was conscious and trying to talk to her. "Shhh. Don't talk. Just hold the reins tightly for a second." she said as she handed him the reins. She gently tapped Max on the rear and he got up off of the ground. Steve actually stayed on the horse.20 "Don't worry Steve, I'm gonna get you warm soon. Just hang on." Alex got on Rimrock and grabbed hold of Max in case Steve was too cold to steer him. Alex kept the two horses at a slow trot. She prayed to God that Steve would be all right. She prayed the same way when Johnny was attacked. She cried out to God hoping that some one would hear. She had a gut feeling that he wasn't going to make it. She hoped that feeling would go away. Alex stopped at the first few trees she came to. She quickly got down and tied Max and Rimrock to a tree. "Can you get down?" "I think so, I can't feel my legs." Steve swung his leg over and almost got off, but he fell. Luckily, Alex caught him.20 "I'm so cold." "I'm going to get a fire started real soon. Just hang in there." She quickly ran all over the get some twigs and broken boughs from trees. When she gathered all the twigs she could hold, she came back to her makeshift campsite. Steve was huddled against a tree. His lips were turning purple. She rushed to get the fire started. She threw the twigs down and made a bed for the fire with the boughs. Alex dug through the snow to see if there was grass buried under it. There was. She quickly plucked it all and laid it on top of the twigs. She was running to get the matches. She found the box and struck a match on the side. Her luck was quickly changing. A wind gust blew the match out.20 "Damn!" "Wh-wh-wh-what ha-ha-happened?" Steve said through chattery teeth. "The match blew out. Don't talk dearest." 09 She tried another match. This time it stayed lit. She dropped it quickly on the grass. The bed ignited. Alex brought Steve closer to the fire and went to get the dry clothes in her saddle bags. She pulled out insulated jeans, some long johns, a pair of socks and two sweatshirts. She pulled off her saddle and Max's saddle and took the saddle off of Max. She took the saddle blankets and took them over to Steve. "Here, Steve. let me take your jacket off. I'm going to get some dry clothes on you."20 Steve's blue eyes looked at her like she was crazy, but he let her do it anyway. He was soaked clean through to his flannel boxers. She quickly unzipped his jacket and tossed it to the side. She pulled off his gloves and his sweatshirts. She had to get the long johns on him and quick. She put the long john shirt on him, followed by the two sweatshirts. Steve was sneezing and coughing and spitting up water. She pulled his jeans , his socks and his boxers off. She didn't look as she pulled the long johns over his legs and up to his waist. She then pulled the jeans on him and zipped them up. She put the socks on his feet. "Steve, I'm going to get you back if it kills me." She said as she placed one saddle blanket on his upper torso and the second on the lower half. She rolled him closer to the fire. She stayed awake all through the rest of the day until the next morning. She woke Steve several times during the course of the night to make sure he was breathing and was still alive. He was, but not by much. He was just barely breathing one time. She put her jacket over him to provide some warmth. She prayed harder than before that he would make it. Then she got up and began to hang his frozen clothes by the fire. She hung them by sticks she had picked up off of the ground. After she had rejuvenated the fire with more twigs, boughs and grass, she used the extra sticks and stuck them into the snow. She hung them near the fire, hoping they'd get dryer quicker. She was starting to get cold and she huddled closer to the fire. She decided they would stay here for a couple of days until Steve would be well enough to continue their long journey home. She knew it would be a grueling one. There was unknown dangers, avalanches, animals, thin ice. She didn't know what was going to happen to Steve. She hoped he would survive. She needed him. She couldn't stand a life without his fiery passion, his smile, his love for her. She wished Mark was here. She wished she could get him back to the cabin to where he would be warm and at ease. Steve stirred and she went over by his side. "Alex?" he chattered. She ran over to his side. 09 "I'm here, baby." "I'm so c-c-c-c-old-d-d." "I know, I know. I'm trying as hard as I can to keep you warm. Don't talk, go back to sleep. Shhh." she placed his head in her lap. The crackle of the fire made her remember two nights ago when they were alone together in the master bedroom of her cabin. She wished they were there now. The fire's glow dimmed and she gently laid his head sown on her jacket and went to feed the fire. Night came and went , and came again. Time seemed to pass like it was an eternity. She kept the fire going the whole time, hoping Steve would recuperate so they can make it home alive. She wept as she looked at the huddled mass before her. Ray and Diane decided they would come up to the cabin and have dinner with the two lovebirds. They came to the door and knocked. No one answered. "Must be out on the trail." Diane said. "The dogs are still inside the house." Inside the cabin, the dogs were making a racket. "Better let them out." said Ray as he grabbed a key from his back jeans pocket. He unlocked the door and saw the alarm wasn't touched since the 13. It was the 16th of December. "Do you think they went back?" "Nope, because they would have brought back the horses and would have told us they were leaving." "That's true. Let's hope they aren't lost." " Well, I think that's what happened. The dog's water bowls aren't full and neither are their food dishes. Look at the floor, that's what you get for leaving an animal in one room for to long. I don't think Alex would allow this would you? She knows better." Ray said pointing at the animal manure all over the floor. "Should we call the police?" "Maybe. Um, I'm to old to bend over and clean this mess up..." " I'll clean it up, just let the dogs out before we have another mess." Diane said reaching for the Clorox bleach and the mop. Ray went out the front door with three anxious dogs at his heels. Ray sat on the porch swing and watched the dogs scampered around the yard. Bruce just trotted along the yard with his nose stuck to the ground. Diane came out the front door and sat next to Rat on the swing. "Remember when we'd watch Alex and Jojo run about the yard." "Yeah, she was in love with that dog. I remember when we bought Wade and Eric their first dogs. They had their dogs sleeping in their beds and everywhere they went, they wanted the dogs to go too." "I miss those times." Diane said looking out over the horizon. The sun was blocked by clouds and the wind was cold against their faces. After a half an hour, they had called in the dogs. Ray picked up the phone and dialed his friend, Kris Brooks, one of the local police officers. "Kris?" "That's me. Kris "Kringle". What's up Ray?" "Alex and her boyfriend are missing somewhere out here." " Should I release the hounds?" "Stop joking Kris, I mean it. The alarm on the cabin hasn't been touched since the thirteenth." " I'll be right over. I'll get some of my elves from the precinct." he laughed. "Thanks." " No problem." A good hour and a half went by and Mark was not so sure he wanted to discharge Dale . He didn't want to see him back in the emergency ward again until next year. But, with his luck, he would be back tomorrow. Mark went back to his office and sat down at the desk. He was poised for the phone in case Steve called. Amanda and Jesse happened to be walking down the hall and saw Mark get up out of his chair and walk over by the window. He was staring blankly through the glass. He didn't even notice them when they came in. "Hi Mark." Jesse said. He and Amanda exchanged glances when he didn't answer Jesse's salutation. 09 "Mark?" Amanda said as she waved a hand in front of his face. As soon as she waved it back and forth for a while, he came out of his trance. 09 "Huh? What?" "It's us Mark. What's wrong?" "It's been three days and Steve hasn't called me.I'm getting really worried." "He's probably having such a good time up there that he must have forgotten." "That's not like Steve, you should know that you two." Mark said. 09 They stood in silence for a while, until Amanda broke the ice. "Why don't we all go back to your place, Mark. It's time you went home anyway, your shift ended an hour ago." "I suppose." he said as he grabbed his jacket off of the rack and headed out the door with Amanda and Jesse at his heels. When the arrived to the beach house, Mark put on one of his Johann Sebastian Bach c.d.'s and went to check the answering machine, hoping that there would be a message from his son. There were no messages. Mark plopped down in his chair. He was getting nervous. On his desk, he found the numbers to Alex's parents' home and her cabin. He dialed Alex's parents' first. No one answered "Here you go, Mark." Amanda said handing him a cup of herbal tea. He didn't touch it right away. He tried Alex's cabin. Finally! An answer. Maybe his luck was changing. "Hello?" said the voice. " Hi. Is Steve there? It's his father. "Dr.Sloan, this is Alex's father, Ray. I was just about to call you. I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. It's concerning Steve." Mark's heart sank. His mind was running a mile a minute. Steve ment the world to him. "What's wrong? Where's Steve?" "That's the bad news, we don't know where he or Alex are.I've got a friend of mine, a cop, who's sent out the bloodhounds and several other officers to help find them. I was thinking, may be you would want to come out here in case anything turns up rather than me calling you all the time.I could send my pilot down to get you if you wish." 09 By now, Mark was scared to death thinking that Steve's lost out in the wilderness. But his nerves calmed down a little bit after he remembered that Steve had been in worse situations than that. Vietnam for example. Mark thought for a moment.20 "Yeah, I'll be at the airport. what time do you think the plane will get here?" " Well, If I send it off now and it takes an hour and half may be two hours tops. I think it should be there by four in the afternoon at the latest.Oh ,bring warm clothes. We just had a snow storm down here and it's really cold." "I will." Mark hung up the phone. Amanda and Jesse watched his face for a moment or two.He turned away from the phone with is hand over his mouth.20 "Mark, what's wrong?" "Steve and Alex are missing. Her parents haven't heard anything fom her either." "Oh my God!" Amanda said as she came over to comfort him. "I'm flying out there to see if I can help." Amanda nodded and she motioned to Jesse who happened to be standing by the other side of Mark. 09 "Do you want us to help you pack?" "Nah, you guys have to get back to the hospital anyway." "Are you sure?" "Absolutely. Now get going." They left Mark and he went into his room to get packed. Alex sat near Steve the whole night. She woke him up several times to make sure he was okay. He seemed to be getting better as long as she kept the fire well-fed. By morning, she had noticed a dramatic improvement of Steve's condition. Some color returned to his face.She had put her gloves and his gloves on Steve's hands so the wouldn't freeze. 20 "Steve can you get up?" "I'm not sure." "Try, please. I want to get a move on. Somewhere through these woods, there has to be another way back to the trail." Steve attempted to get up. He was a little wobbly at first, like a newborn foal getting to its feet for the first time. Soon, he was on his feet. "Can you feel your legs at all?" " A little bit better than yesterday. In fact much better." " You warm enough, or do you want to stay for another day?" " I think I can mangage. My jeans are really warm though." "That's because I put you in long johns and insulated jeans. You were like in and out of consciousness half the night, or at least I think you were. You were probably sleeping." She said as she picke up the saddle blankets and put hers on Rimrock and handed Steve his. "Maybe this'll help warm you up." She said giving him the saddle by his feet. They saddled up the horses and Alex went back to throw snow on the fire. She got on Rimrock and he on Max and the rode off into the morning.It was an amazing day. You could see the Rocky Mountains in the sun showing off their majesty with the light. Snow-capped and gorgeous, the mountins were also a death trap for those who venture far into the clouds.20 "Aren't you cold?" Steve asked. Steve was still wearing her jacket and he never knew it. "A bit. could you give me my jacket? I put it on you last night."20 Steve unzippered the jacket and handed it over to her.With one hand holding the reins, she pulled her left arm through the jacket jacket on and then switched the reins to her left hand and stuck her right arm through the jacket. She zippered that up quick and grabbed hold of the reins with both hands.They could see where Steve had fallen in the ice from where they were riding. "We're not going over there..." Alex mumbled. She stopped Rimrock and took a look around her. Surrounding them were woods and a giant open space in front of them. It could have been a lake, but you couldn't tell from the snow. She gently tapped the horse's haunches and lead on with Steve right beside her. She was deciding which way to go. She decided to take the clearning. You could see for a couple of miles and Alex was hoping it was near a highway or some kind of road. Rimrpock and Max hesitantly walked across the snow . After a while they felt safe and picked up the pace. The sooner Alex got them home the sooner she could get Steve to a hospital. He was sneezing and he had a wheezing cough. Alex and Steve reached the end of the clearing and there was more forest.20 "Oh well, we might as well go throug this." she said. Alex steered Rimrock into the woodland. Steve followed. He looked dead to her. The color was flushed out of his face again and circles were under his eyes. "Do you want to stop and rest, Steve?" "Nah, I can manage." "You're positive?" " Yup." "Alright, we won't be stopping for a while." They continued their journey through the woods. They rode in silence for hours. Alex hated the silence. She knew Steve had been through a lot the past couple days, but the silence from him bothered her. Alex stopped from time to time to check on Steve. he was alright, but he still had that pale color. The circles had disappeared from under his eyes. Steve kept up with Alex for the whole day and she admired him for his strength. She nudged the horse on through the woods. Trees towered high over their heads. The wind grew colder as the day progressed and clouds began to roll into the sky. She hoped that another storm wasn't coming. The horses trudged through the built-up snow all day and they were getting tired, as was Steve. "We're going to stop in a couple of minutes, Steve. Just hang in there." Back at the cabin, cops were sitting all around the place. Kris was head of the "search party". He had a map of the trail and its surrounding areas. The trail ran through the middle of Pike National Forest and stopped. "Allright guys, here's our plan.We scope out the trail, then span out by pairs. Vickers, you'll team up with Donatelli. You'll seard the southern most quadrant. Mitchell, you and Montain will search the east quadrant. Winters and Troy will take the west quadrant. Dr.Sloan, Mr.Dalton and I will take the north quadrant. Guys saddle up, this may be a long trip. As soon as the doc comes, we are outta here! Yo Mitchell, did you get a line out to the National Park service?" Mike Mitchell was a yound blonde-haired man in his early thirties. "Yeah, they said they'll keep an eye out. The already sent a watch team out and found nothing. The guy I talked too, when asked about the surviving the wilderness, said that it would be slim to none. Hey, when's the doc gonna be here?" "He should be getting here soon." " Raymond!" " That poor man has been through enough and as soon as he gets off your plane you're taking him on a long excursion through Pike National Forest?!" Diane screamed at her husband. By now Wade,Eric,Kim and Jill were all there with Diane at the cabin. "Diane, we have to. There's no other way to find them if we don't get a move on quickly. Wade and I have all ready hauled eleven horses up here. One for all of us and two pack horses. We're going to find them." " And what if you don't? Huh, what happens then?!" she spat the words right at his face. He knew she was thinking about Johnny when she said that. The whole Dalton clan did. He hesitated with his answer, "Then we'll just have to look harder." At six thirty, Wade left the cabin to pick up Dr. Sloan from the airport. They came back at seven- fifteen. Ray had persuaded Kris to hold off the search until tomorrow at 6:30 in the morning. " Hi Dr.Sloan." Ray said.20 09 Mark sook his hand and told him to call him Mark. Ray shook his hand and said that he must be exhausted and sent him to get some rest in the guest room up the stairs and to the left.20 "We'll be leaving at six o'clock tomorrow morning." " Don't worry about Alex, Ray. She's in good hands. If they get in a tough situation, Steve'll get them out" Mark said as Ray was about to exit the door. Ray stopped and turned to face Mark. "I have to worry about her,I'm her father." "Just as I am Steve's." Ray was speechless. He said goodnight to Mark and went downstairs. By six thirty, they were all saddled and ready to go. Mark needed a little bit of help at first. Ray showed him the basics. Soon, Mark was getting adjusted to the feel of being in the saddle. They left for the trail in silence. Ray was ahead of the group who pointed out the beginning of the trail. Mark was somewhat behind the group. In the corner of his eye, he saw something on a tree. "Ray, I think I found something." He shouted.20 09 Ray turned his horse around. " What?" 09 Mark steered the horse towards the tree. There in the tree, was the carving that Steve and Alex had made a couple of days ago. "Take a look." he motioned to Ray and the cops. Ray and Kris looked at the carving in the tree. Ray read it aloud. " "Alex Dalton and Steve Sloan. Forever and Always Together... December 13, 1998" "They were here. At least we know they were on the trail at some point."20 Kris said. 09 Steve and Alex stopped for the night by a lake. They were lucky to find big chunks of wood to put on tonight's fire. Alex had propped Steve up on a tree and covered him up with the warm saddle blankets. She went to her saddle that was resting on the snow. She looked in her saddle bags for the matches. Where were they? She went over to Steve's saddle. They weren't in there either. She must have left them back at the last place! Steve looked at her face. She was frowning and she was close to tears. "What wrong , honey?" " There isn't going to be a fire tonight, Steve. I can't find the matches. I must have left them at the last campsite." "Come here and sit next to me." he said. His voice was low and tired. She came over to where he was sitting and sat down beside him. He laid her head in his lap and stroked her hair while she buried her face in to his lap. She was crying and she didn't know why she was. "It's no big deal, Alex. I'm fine." "No you're not. You have frosbite and you fell into a lake. You nearly died." "But I didn't. I'm still alive." "And if I don't get you out of this God damn forest, you won't be!" she bellowed. They were so busy talking that they didn't hear the sound behind them. Alex had fallen asleep with her head still nesting in his lap. Steve just sat there with his eyes closed for a moment or two the drifted off into sleep. The sounds were getting closer. It sounded like something was very hungry. It made low growling sounds as it snuck through the forest. Alex and Steve both heard something snap loudly again and again. They jolted awake. Alex quietly ran for the shot gun and grabbed a couple of rounds from the saddle bags. She ran back over to Steve. She loaded it and laid it next to her... By the sounds it was making it was animal-like. "What is it?" Steve asked her. She was frantic. " Bear. I can just sense it." She went for the shot gun, but before she could reach it, she felt herself being thrown. She felt her body being slammed to the ground and she heard the bear growl and roar as it attacked her. The bears claws slashed her flesh. She was screaming for Steve to help her. Steve was near tears and he was crying as he grabbed the gun from off the ground. He couldn't see the bear or Alex, but he could hear her screams and the bear's growls. He shot the gun off towards the source of the growls. The bear roared in what seemed to be agony. He reloaded and shot again. Again, an inhuman scream arose, the bear's voice was blood-curtling and deafening. Steve heard the bear tromp off into the woods. He looked for Alex on the ground. Everything was pitch black.20 09 "Alex!?" End of Chapter 2 ------_NextPart_000_0007_01BE2695.7B54F320 Content-Type: text/plain; name"Survival of the Fittest 3.txt" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: attachment; filename"Survival of the Fittest 3.txt" Survival of the Fittest Chapter 3 Steve searched for Alex in the dark. A low groan caught Steve's attention. It had to be her. Steve quickly walked to the source of the noise and bent down. His eyes were not adjusted to the darkness yet, so he let his hand run down the object. After a quick second, he knew it had to be Alex. He bent down and picked her up. He felt something wet on his hands, it must have be blood. With his eyes much more adjusted, he found the tree and the horses. The saddle bags were laid up next to the trunk of the tree. The he remembered what Alex had said days before. She had packed in a first-aide kit. He gently laid her body down on the saddle blankets and went through both sets. He found the flashlight and the first-aide kit in the same set of bags. He flipped the flashlight switch on and flashed it over Alex's body.20 The ray of light from the flashlight on her body made Steve look away. Her face had large slash marks running from her forehead down to her neck. Her right arm was ripped open and he could see a small bit of her bone piercing through the torn flesh. Her arm wasn't broken though, which confused Steve. Her clothes were ripped apart and blood-soaked. He put the flashlight in his mouth and started to give her a thorough check-out. Steve took off her torn jacket and sweatshirt. There was a large gash that went from the tip of her sternum all the way down to her belly button. Steve traced it with his bare finger. As he ran his finger down, he felt the light rise and fall of her chest. The wound, however, was not deep. Steve thought it would have been worse from the size of the claws and the bear itself. Steve poked and prodded her body for any other wounds. He looked down at her legs. Her pants were slashed and torn open. Each leg had deep scratches down her thighs and to her ankle. He needed to stop the bleeding as soon as he could. He opened the first-aid kit and pulled out everything. Sterile pads, Band-Aids, tape, gauze, and some antiseptic. Steve put most of the gauze on the deeper cuts and pressed down very hard to stop the bleeding. Steve spent most of his time applying pressure to her arm. He changed the gauze every ten minutes because the wound was bleeding profusely. Soon the blood flow had stopped seeping from her arm and he taped one dressing to her arm. He wrapped some gauze around her tiny waist and up to her chest. He realized that there was no more gauze to cover up the wounds. He used sterile pads to help clean up the blood from off her legs. She was pale and she was groaning as was putting on the bandages. "Shhh. Don't talk." he said softly. Her voice was shaky, "Somehow that sounds familiar." she coughed. 09 " It should, you said that several times to me the past few days." he tried to make light of the situation.20 "Thank God you're alive. For a second there, I'd thought I'd lost you." By nightfall, Mark's thighs hurt and he just wanted to get down off that horse and walk around. They hadn't found anything, not even one little footprint.20 "Well, it's time to send out the calvary." said Kris. He looked at the map. They had given out maps to all of the police officers when they drew out their plans. They had met at the foot of Signal Butte.20 "What do you mean?" Mark asked. " He means he's going to dispatch a helicopter." said Donatelli. He rode right up to Mark's left side.20 "Where the hell have you been?" Montain said. "We've been here for an hour waiting for you two." "Looking at something interesting." Vickers replied. "And what, was that?" Mitchell questioned. "A matchbox." "What's so interesting about a matchbox?!" Troy interjected. "You wouldn't find a matchbox lying in the middle of the forest." Donatelli said. "Where did you find them?" Kris asked. " Oh, by Tarryall Creek. Right near the woods. It looked like someone had built a fire and has two horses." "How did we deduce that they had two horses?" Kris interrogated. "Hoof prints." "Yeah, it hasn't snowed in two days, so you can still see any tracks an animal would leave in the snow." "How do you know it was a horse? It could have been deer or a ..." Troy said. "Or a horse." Vickers laughed. " The horses' must have had shoes put on, because the hoof prints had shoe indentations on them." 20 They decided to head back, for it was getting dark and much colder. Mark tried to object, but Ray just told him that in the morning they would go out again and the helicopter would search around a Tarryall Creek and lower part of Chessman Lake. Reluctantly, Mark turned his horse around and followed Ray back to the cabin. Steve had laid Alex's head in his lap again and had rested up against the tree. Her body was warm against his. He looked down at her face, which was buried into his jacket. She was very much awake, but she was shaking. She was frightened out of her mind and Steve tried to comfort her by stroking her hair. Several times, he checked her bandages to make sure they were secure. The bandage that enwrapped her chest and stomach was blood-soaked and he un fastened the tape and looked for some where to rinse the blood out. He took the flashlight and by sheer luck, he found a running brook a couple of feet away. The brook water was clear and clean and he bent over to rinse the blood out. The water was cold against his bare hands and he quickly pulled the bandage out of the water and rung it out. He was quick about putting the bandage back on and he quickly zipped up her jacket. He rolled her over on her back and laid her body on top of his. He stayed awake most of the night and by morning he was lightly dozing. Alex started to move a little bit and Steve snapped awake. " How are we feeling?" he asked her softly. "Like I got ran over by a train. Oww." she answered as she flopped her head on his shoulder. The scratches on her face were healing fast and forming scars across her cheeks. She sighed and he put his hand underneath her chin. He turned her head to face his face. He kissed her gently on the lips. She was giggling as he did so. "What's so funny?" he asked. "Do you know you are growing a beard?" " Really? How's it look?" " It's just a heck of a lot of stubble right now. It looks cute." "Naturally." he said as he stroked his chin. " Hey, you're right. Shave it or keep it?" "I think you should... owww!" "What?" "My leg hurts really bad. It feels like it's broken." "It didn't look broken when I first looked at it. Then again, I'm not a doctor." He took a quick glance and saw a large bump in her skin. Alex moved her leg slightly and cringed. The bump seemed to flinch as she moved her leg.20 " I think you're right. It looks to be broken." Steve said as he got a closer look. It was much easier to examine her with the sun shining. It was a beautiful day and the light shone brightly in Alex's curly brown hair. Her face was the darkest color of red and the tip of her nose was slightly black, as were her fingertips. "Well, I don't know what I can do about your leg. Unless, you've got an idea." " I've never taken a class in human medicine, but I think we have to snap it back into place." " That sounds painful." "I think it would be, but I've always knocked out my patients before I put a bone back in place. Then again, my patients are animals...Well, Doc, let's get to work." "Doc?" " That's you for right now." " I don't think I'm going to like this." "Grab ahold of my foot and yank it towards you." "I really am not going to like this." " Just do it." "If you say so." Alex clung to the tree as Steve yanked on her leg. She screamed in pain. She passed out seconds later. Mark sat on the couch next to Diane and Ray. The dogs laid next to the fireplace while Bruce laid his head down by Mark's feet. Kris and the others were in the kitchen discussing more routes on where the chopper should go. They decided Tarryall Creek would be best from the evidence they found yesterday. It was Christmas morning and still no sign of Steve or Alex. The tree in the corner of the living room was decorated with a Dr.Seuss motif. Grinch and Cat in the Hat ornaments hung from bough to bough. The tinsel was red silver and the lights were all different colors. Presents sat untouched underneath of the tree. Mark heard Kris pick up the phone and call somebody, but the conversation was broken off by Donatelli and Montain raiding the fridge and marking obscene noises. Kris came out of the kitchen and joined the group in the living room. "Well, all we can do know is cross our fingers and pray." 09 Alex had been passed out for a couple of hours and was beginning to come to. "Wh-what happened?" "You passed out right after you told me to yank on your leg." "How long have I been out?" Alex said as she rubbed her eyes. "Well, let me see. I think a good three hours. Then again, my watch stopped." "Oh that's helpful." she said as she moaned with pain when she turned on her side. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. You may pass out again. Alex?" Alex passed out while he was talking.20 "Nighty night." he said as he sat down next to her and took a look at her chest bandage. The wound had stopped bleeding profusely. He was examining her other injuries when he heard something. He thought it sounded like a helicopter. He ran out of the woods to the clearing and stood out near the lake. He looked up into the gray, cloudy sky and saw nothing.20 "Get a grip Steve. You're just hearing things." he said to himself as he started to walk back to the forest. Then, the helicopter sounds were coming back around. Steve stayed around, when out of the gray clouds, he saw the chopper circling the forest . He quickly tried to take off his jacket with his frozen fingers. The zipper was hard for him to grasp. The jacket was a radiant color of blue. The inside was a lime green color and he turned it inside out. He waved it above his head hoping to get the attention of the pilot. No luck. The pilot turned right around. "Kris?" "Yeah what's up Marty?" "I think I found something." "What?" " Well, from this height, I know it's a fluorescent green and it's moving around in a circle. I'm turning around to get a better look." "Take care Marty." Kris hung up the phone and walked out into the living room. Bruce had sat down by the window with his head on the window seat. He stared blankly out the window. Mark was scratching his ears. "Well, guys. Marty thinks he's found something." "What?" Ray asked. "Doesn't know, except for it's fluorescent green." " What color?" Mark asked. "Fluorescent green, you know like a lime green." "Mark, do thing you know something?" Diane asked. "What color was Steve's jacket?" he asked all of them. "A very handsome color of blue. It matched his eyes." Diane said. "Yup. What was the inside like?" An amazed look swept Ray's face. "Lime green fleece!" he said. "That's right! Lime green fleece." Mark said with a smile. The phone rang as soon as Mark finished his sentence. Bruce just looked up at Mark. Kris went to go answer the phone.20 "Really?! Oh my God that's great. Yeah, I'll take them up to the hospital." Kris said as he hung up the phone. "WE FOUND THEM!" "Oh thank God!" Diane screamed.20 "How are they?" "Well, Steve's got a severe chill, a really bad case of frostbite. Alex's got a broken leg and from what I've heard from Marty, she was attacked by a bear." "Oh my God. Is she still alive?" Ray asked. "Yup. She was passed out when the found her." "What about my horses?" Ray questioned. "Don't worry. Marty called the park ranger and he's gonna be by later with them." "I'll have Wade stay behind." "Well, grab your coats. It's starting to snow again." 09 They left for The Memorial Hospital of Colorado Springs, leaving Wade, Eric, Kim, and Jill behind to wait for the horses to arrive at the cabin. Mark walked into Steve's room. It was dark inside the room. Steve laid in the bed that was resting near the window. Mark crept up to the bed and sat in the chair that was sitting next to the hospital bed. Steve's chart rested on the edge of the bed and Mark picked it up and looked at it. Steve had a mild case of frostbite and a severe case of hypothermia. Mark looked up from the chart and looked at Steve, who was curled up into the fetal position underneath several blankets. Steve started to stir and Mark went to the side of the bed.20 "Well, Hi there." Mark said with a smile. Steve's blue eyes fluttered open and he was looking straight up at his dad. 09 "Oh, hi. Where's Alex." "Oh she's in the next room. Don't worry, she's doing just fine." "Come on Dad, you can tell me the truth." "I am. She's lost a lot of blood though. Other than that, she's fine." 09 Steve sat up in the bed. "What day is it?" "Christmas evening." "How long have I been gone? "Thirteen days." "Wow." Steve said with a yawn. "Get some rest. I'll check in on you later." Mark said softly but, Steve was already asleep before he could finish the sentence. He quietly went out of the door and went into the next room. Ray and Diane were sitting next to the bed. Alex was lying flat on her back, asleep. She was pale and the scars on her face were starting disappear.20 "The doctors said she was going to be fine." Mark said reassuringly. "I hope so. How's Steve?" Ray asked as he held Alex's right hand. "Oh, he'll be up and about in a couple of days." Mark left the room and went back into Steve's. Steve was curled up into a ball again, this time he was softly snoring. Mark chuckled to himself and picked up the phone by the bed. He dialed Amanda's number and then Jesse's to tell them that Steve was okay and that they would be coming home in a couple of weeks if that. Two days passed before Steve was up and out of bed. Diane had stopped by this morning and dropped off some of his clothes for him. Dressed in a pair of blue plaid flannel pajama bottoms and a light blue T-shirt, he spent half of the day in Alex's room. Her tanned skin was pale and she looked very fragile, like a porcelain doll's. The morning sun shone brightly through the venetian blinds and illuminated her soft, curly, brown hair. She was still asleep. Then, the door opened and one of the nurses came in. " Hello." she said softly. She was a petite brunette with wide, emerald eyes. 09 Steve smiled and whispered a "Hello" politely back to her. She checked Alex's pulse and she smiled back at Steve. "She's doing fine." she whispered as she looked at her I.V. to make sure it was in place and the drip was constant. It was and she said goodbye and went out the door. Steve was getting sleepy and he began to nod off when he heard Alex softly groan. Her eyes opened slowly and she was squinting. "Hey Baby." Steve said as he scooted closer to the bedside. "Where am I ?" "The hospital." "What day is it?" "Um, two days after Christmas. I think it's Sunday." "I missed Christmas?!" "It appears to be that way." "I didn't get a chance to give you your present." she said softly. "Ah, but that's where you are wrong my dear." he said with a smile. "Huh?" "You're the greatest Christmas present I have ever gotten." He said as he gently laid a kiss on her lips.