Turtle Dove: A Lesbian Romance

by Marian Stack

  “Joe.” She shouted out his name and then immediately recanted the causal nature of her outbursts, and immediately retreated into a subservient posture. “Excuse me, Mr. Foster, with all due respect, please forgive me. With regards to the stress of this experience I have forgotten my place.” Megan stepped back allowing her future brother-in-law and boss to pass by.

  “The Chief, Mayor, and I have been in radio contact with the survivors. They are in good spirits and relatively good health. Now I have also been informed that my sister and the guide have been secured into the military search and rescue helicopter that I was able to commission, and are now in route, and will be landing at the local high school football field shortly. Everyone that matters are leaving now.” As Joe spoke to the group he purposely looked over in Megan direction however he also purposely looked over her head as if her presence didn’t matter. His distaste for his sister’s choice of fiancée was always a bone of contention with the two of them but now having spent nine stress filled days in close proximity elevated his dislike for this persons conceit and greed to unimaginably lows.

  As the helicopter hovered over the empty school ball field, with the exception of the entire rescue and enforcement vehicle, Joe Foster could barely contain his excitement, as he observed the slow decent of the extremely large air ambulance.

  After allowing the dust to settle, and after receiving the all clear to approach the resting helicopter blades, Joe reached for Megan’s arm, as she stood next to him, and by a simple nonverbal stare, he demanded that she remain behind. He wanted to be the first to speak to his sister before the blubbering began. He always disliked the way Megan seems to manipulate his sisters’ actions as if she was being groomed for something.

  Her first reaction was to contest the command by offering an equal look of dominance but then immediately changed her look to humility, and conceded to his wishes.

  “My sweet little sister, I’m so sorry for placing your life in jeopardy. Can you ever forgive me?” Joe wept as he held his sisters hand after she had been placed on the waiting ambulance gurney.

  “Brother, this wasn’t your fault. For this catastrophe I take ninety percent of the blame.” Blair’s voice sounded empty as if the rescue she had wanted so badly to arrive in the beginning, it now seemed that the arrival of the rescue would bring her back to her customary life. And for some reason she didn’t understand the melancholy feelings that was surging through her weakened body. It was as if she wanted to return to their life in the cave to regroup in its safety.

  And then she suddenly released her normal quick shill of a voice as she stopped the heart filled moment with her brother because as she looked over his right shoulder, she noticed the second cage being removed from the helicopter, “where are you taking my girlfriend?”

  Startled at first by the broadcasted question, Megan immediately took note of her fiancées loving attention towards her paid guide and silently began her personal veiled promise to destroyDove’s White Water Adventures,and anyone that may get caught in the cross fire.

  “…and Joe, please make sure that Rain stays with Turtle.” Blair’s frantic sounding voice sparked her brother to walk over to the other gurney and inspect the two other survivors that his sister seemed to care so much for.

  He approached the other ambulance just as Turtle and Rain were about to be pushed in, “Excuse me Miss…could I possibly have a minute with you?” He respectfully inquired from Turtle but also looked for permission from the EMT’s.

  “Yes, if she’s fine with that we can wait. Neither patients are in life threating condition, however they will both need medical attention and what looks like plenty of rest.”

  Turtle for the first time in these past nine days allowed tears to well up in her eyes allowing the overflow to run down her dirty and bruised face, as she expressed her deep remorse. “Mr. Foster, I can’t express to you enough how deeply sorry I am that your sister went through this ordeal under my care. I promise I will do whatever you wish to make this up to your family.”

  Appreciating the sincerity in her words and her voice, Joe merely leaned over and gently kissed Turtle on the cheek and stated, “thank you for returning my sister back to me. We…I will always be in your debt. If you ever need anything just ask.” And then as he was about to turn and walk away, he rapidly turned to his right and stated as he gently reached for the wolf pups head and ears, “Your companion, Rain… is it? I’ve never seen one so small but so fearless. She’s very cute,” and much to the surprise of the two EMT’s waiting just beyond the open doors, who had both been on the receiving end of the wolf’s true defensive nature, Rain allowed the affectionate gentle touching, offering in return a very low continuous purr.

  As Joe turned to walk back to his sister who was now being smothered by Megan’s forced love and attention, his last statement to Turtle was, “Remember… whatever you need.”

  “I don’t give a good God damn, I want Miss Foster to be transported to a medical facility that has a larger inventory than band aids and peroxide. Now complete whatever necessary medical attention is required to assure that she is able to travel the moment our private helicopter returns from whatever the fuck they are using it for. Got it?”

  Hearing the unpleasant commands, Joe once again interjected his authority into another hostile conversation implemented by his sister’s pompous girlfriend. “Miss Post, that is quite enough. I will take over my sisters’ care and transportation from this point onwards.” Then as he turned towards Blair’s attendants he stated but with a much more civil tone, “However part of Miss Posts’ information is correct. I very much would like permission to have her released into my care as soon as possible. I’m sure your facility is adequate during normal events, however with the added pressures of these past two weeks, I’m quite sure that your resources have been pushed beyond their limits. Now if someone could direct me to the whereabouts of the Chief of Police, I need to finalize my business with her and the Mayor and then we will be leaving your town.” He concluded his conversation with a firm handshake to both the EMT’s who were caring for his sister.

  “Sis, I will be right back,” he voiced as he reached for her hand offering a gentle squeeze of love, and then with a whisper, “and I’m sure that you will remind your girlfriend to remain civil and pleasant and quiet, until my return.” He stated without wasting another second on pleasantries regarding her personality eccentricities.

  As Mr. Foster turned away to complete his business of having his sister released into his care, Megan immediately turned towards Blair, smoothing her with more amplified affection.

  “Yes Megan I cherish you too, but I really need to talk to Turtle. I need to know how she is doing.” Blair had been moving her head from side to side attempting to avoid the slobbering kisses that Megan was smothering her with. “Megan, please stop! I want to talk to Turtle.” She pushed Megan’s head away and commanded her to listen. “Will you get someone to have her wheeled over here? Oh never mind, I can walk. Nothing is broken, please unhook this line of intravenous or at the very least follow me to the other ambulance so I can talk to Miss Dove and I want to make sure that Rain is okay too, she’s probably very scared.”

  Shocked but intrigued, Megan released her grip on her fiancée and followed behind as the EMT with the line of fluids attached to Blair’s arm walked towards the other waiting ambulance.

  As she stood back and watched she was unnerved by what she witnessed.

  As Blair rushed her approach, Megan noticed her girlfriend’s mannerisms change dramatically. She leaned in and offered this stranger a very noticeable elongated loving kiss on both cheeks that she herself should have received. And then as the conversation continued it became very obvious to Megan that these past nine days in the wilderness became more than just a time frame of survival. There was clear loving affection towards each other regardless of how hard both women were trying to hide it.

  Case in point, when the two women looked into each other eyes th
eir gaze was held with intensity, and as their fingers fondled each other hands, there was noticeable longing in each slight movement. Not to mention the closeness of their bodies without either making any attempt to concede to each other’s personal space, and then the final slap, the joined personal affection they both had towards the wolf pup as if they were caring for a small child.

  “Well Turtle honey, I mean Miss Dove, what do you think we should do about her care? And who do you think she should live with while you are recovering?” She questioned as she remained standing next to the ambulance gurney, with her hands moving from fidgeting with Turtles’ blanket up around the chest area, to her hands affectionately rubbing Rains’ fluffy fur.

  As she listened to the concern, she was unable to concentrate because of the tall elegant woman standing behind Blair, seemingly unwelcomed to enter into the conversation. With using her eyes alone, Turtle began to offer Blair direct eye movements towards the woman and the need for her to turn around. Unable to understand Turtle’s twitchy eye movements Blair leaned in towards Turtle expecting to receive a whisper, but all she heard was “really.”

  Blair had momentarily forgotten about her fiancée’s presence, and the moment she heard her voice she put Turtle’s twitchy eye movements together with her memory lapse that her fiancée was present and with as much dignity as she could muster, quickly shook off her captivation towards her nine day old relationship and turned to introduce Megan.

  “Oh please don’t let me interrupt.” Megan’s voice was dripping with sarcasm as her body language shook with internal detonation.

  “Don’t be so silly, my love.” Blair gestured her hand out forwards to be able to hold onto Megan’s as she began her introduction, at the same time she attempted to balance and hide her newly found ‘love of her life’.

  “Miss Turtle Dove, allow me to finally introduce you to my girlfriend…or should I say fiancée Miss Megan Post.”

  “It’s my pleasure to have finally met you. Miss Foster spoke often of you during our adventure. You are a very lucky woman.” Turtle’s voice sounded genuinely sincere.

  “Nice to meet you too, and by the way my fiancée has been hovering over you…well she must think a great deal about you too.”

  “Well she’s been through a lot and…” However Megan chose not to listen to anymore bull shit niceties and simply walked away from the two deceitful women.

  “Oh don’t worry about her, she’s just angry that she is not the centre of attention. She’ll get over it. Now back to Rain.”

  “Well if it was up to me, I would pick Susan, but sadly I don’t have any idea about her at this moment in time. I’m somewhat surprised she isn’t here.” Her voice seemed weak with disappointment.

  “Excuse me, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but if you are talking about Susan Joy, she remains in the hospital, the same one we should be getting you to.” The EMT’s message was well received.

  “Hon,” Blair stopped short, then cleared her throat, “My apologies, I mean Miss Dove, that’s great news that your friends survived as well. But now our dilemma continues, who will take care of Rain?”

  “Well now it seems to me that the decision to who will care for Rain is Rain’s. She remains very young and with both us leaving her she will more than likely become very depressed and despondent. But if she chooses it may take the sting out.” Turtle confessed her worries in a slight whisper that was directly offered to Blair, and then her gaze was averted to the group of VIP’s approaching them at a rather accelerated pace. It was Mr. Foster with the Chief and the Mayor following closely behind him.

  It was the Mayor who spotted Rain first and could not seem to resist the urge to quickly approach. And then as rapidly as she took those few steps forward to touch the wolf pup, it was her wife, the Chief of Police who immediately stopped all forward progress. “Slowly my dear this little…” she waited for confirmation.

  “Girl.” Blair stated proudly.

  The Chief continued, “this little girl, needs to pick her own pack members, for now, not the other way around. Don’t forget she’s not a puppy, but a wild animal.”

  “Just full of knowledge aren’t you.” The mayor affectionately leaned into her wife’s personal space. And then with very precise movements, she moved closer to the gurney and offered the wolf pup a small piece of homemade beef jerky.

  “Oh come on…that’s cheating.” The Chief softly declares, with the full understanding that they just won the contest, and will be the new caregivers for a small and feisty wolf pup.

  “You have to keep up.” The Mayor softly sarcastically replies, offering Rain another small strip of jerky.

  “Well it seems to be that this problem has just been fixed.” Blair stated somewhat relieved but heartbroken at the same time as she understood that watching this little girl grow up wasn’t in the cards for her.

  “Well now that we have taken such good care of an orphaned wolf pup do you think we can get back to caring for the humans? Mr. Foster when do you think you will receive your helicopter back, enabling us to get your sister the medical attention she requires?” Megan’s voice reverted back to her egotistical self.

  “It should be arriving...” then hearing the familiar sound of his helicopter, he presented a quick half turn of his body and completed his message, “now.”

  Then everyone heard the sounds of the helicopter as it crested the ridge, and began to travel towards the landing spot, everyone but Blair. She couldn’t seem to make her body move. Flashes of the past nine days ran through her mind like a run-a way freight train. Her body trembled as she watched the EMT begin to load her girlfriend into the back of the ambulance, and the sight of the Mayor holding onto her little girl, seemed too much for her to comprehend. And then without warning her brother had moved his arm around her waist to begin the process of loading her into her ride. “Joe.” She cried out.

  “Yes sweetie, I know, but we have to let her go, and we have to get you some help.” He had not seen his sister this disorientated in a very long time.

  “Excuse me.” One of the EMT’s had approached the helicopter. “Miss Dove would like to talk with Miss Post. Miss Post would you mind.”

  “Not at all. I would love to stay a little longer in this lovely town.” Her voice of self-importance filled the inside seating space, as she began her exit.

  “What?” The volume of the sharpened question literally placed fear into Turtles’ soul.

  With Megan refusing to enter the ambulance Turtle began her unprepared speech, “Thank-you for allowing me a few more minutes of your time. I wanted to apologize to you for placing your fiancée in such grave danger. I can only imagine that you were beside yourself with worry, but let me be the first to tell you that your fiancée handled herself with grace and courage. We survived because she was able to stand up and be counted. I’m sure that once she is settled back into her life she will talk about this adventure and I believe you will be amazed by what she has accomplished, but in the meantime again my sincere apologies.”

  “Was that all.” Megan snorted out.

  “If I may say, Miss Post you are a very lucky woman to have found such a wonderful person to share your life with. Meeting your fiancée and being with her these past nine days was inspiring. Good luck to you on your special day.” Turtle offered Megan her hand attempting to end this meeting with the offer of a respectful hand shake.

  Megan on the other hand merely looked at the outstretched hand, moved the top portion of her body in as far as humanely possible without touching anything that might contain germs and stated with obvious anger. “And those nine days, it’s all you will ever have.” Then moving her index finger towards Turtle’s forehead and shockingly so, placed the tip of her finger directly on the middle of the forehead and pressed pushing Turtle’s head back onto the pillow, snarled and then without another word Megan turned and callously walked away.

  Startled by the sudden loud voice, “Are you ready?” The EMT asked as she jumped into t
he back of the ambulance. “We need to get you to the hospital.” As the back doors closed to the ambulance, Turtle stared up at the roof of the vehicle in a state of bewilderment as she and it bounced across the playing field.

  Settling in her plush seat next to her fiancée, Megan chose to remain unusually quiet. Which naturally sparked Blair’s curiosity, as to what was just discussed with a person she had just been intimate with for the past several days that wasn’t her fiancée, not to mention the calamity that took place at the cabin? Instead Megan just stared out the window watching the small town of Carterville leave her vision and her memory, as the luxurious helicopter sped off with little effort.

  Unnerved, by the silence from her girlfriend Blair attempted to spark up a conversation, “So what did Miss Dove want to talk to you about?”

  Megan again chose to remain silent which placed Blair in a very uneasy position.

  Feeling the uncomfortable silence between the two love birds, Joe decided to look up from his laptop and also began to wait for Megan to respond. “Well, your fiancée just asked you a simple question. Is the honeymoon over so quickly that you can’t even answer her simple question?”

  Seething with anger, Megan took a deep breath and nonchalantly asked, “Who the fuck names their little girl ‘Turtle’, I mean really, were her parents in their right mind or was there just a little too much fornicating between second cousins? And then to top it all off, a surname of Dove. I mean really.” Then looking directly into Blair’s eyes, “Oh come on Blair don’t give me that look. I know you better than you know yourself and I know the first time you heard that young girl’s name you absolutely remarked and I’m positive it wasn’t pleasant… So what did we talk about, you of course and how brave you were and how wonderful it was surviving the great outdoors adventure with you and blah…blah…blah…”