Prologue

        Michaela stood, her feet frozen to the ground the tears still spilling from her eyes.  It was almost more than she could bear; letting the one she loved so deeply go.  But deep down she was hurt. It was the first time she had given all of herself to someone and loved them with all her heart.  Now it seemed as if her love for him didn’t matter anymore, or was the pain to fresh for her to see the real truth?

            She didn’t move again, until Sully was gone from her sight.  Picking up her medical bag, Michaela turned away and headed off to see patients that lived too far away from town to travel in for sick visits.  Maybe in being around other people, she could put the pain behind her and slowly mend her already broken heart.

            Arriving at the Robinson cabin, Michaela found things to be rather desolate and quiet.  Normally the family would be outside doing various household activities.  Elise always seemed to be doing laundry and hanging wet clothes on the line with her young children scurrying about her feet.

            Michaela gave a soft knock on the door.  A few moments passed before one of the little ones came and opened it. Wyatt looked at her with wide eyes, as if he’d never seen a pretty lady before.  “Hello,” Michaela said softly to the young boy.  He blinked at her, and then disappeared behind the door, leaving it open just a crack.  It seemed like an eternity before anyone appeared at the door again.

            This time she was greeted by an older girl, “Oh, it’s the doctor.  Please come in, sorry about my brother, he ain’t used to strangers.”

            “So I noticed,” Michaela replied, accepting the invitation to come inside.

            “Ma!” Fern yelled, as she went off in search of her mother.

            The cabin was dark, except for the few places where light was shinning through the thin sheets covering the windows.  Dust seemed to be everywhere and the sink was piled up with dishes.  Michaela began to wonder what had happened.  What it something bad?  Why hadn’t anyone taken good care of the house?  Before she could get any further, the girl was back again, this time with her mother in tow.

            Michaela noticed right away that Elise’s appearance was very much disheveled. Her hair was a mess, dirt smudged on her face and her clothes looked as if they hadn’t been washed in a week.  Yet, the woman bore a wide smile as soon as she spotted her.

            “Dr. Quinn, I’m so glad ta see ya.”

            “You too,” Michaela greeted her warmly, trying to hide her concern for the current state of things.

            “Can I get ya anything, somethin’ ta drink maybe? Or would ya like somethin’ ta eat? Oh I’m sorry the place is such a mess,” Elise rattled on.  There was something wrong, and Michaela knew it.  She was trying to hide pain, and using the rambling as a cover up.

            “I’m fine, thanks.”

            “Well…umm….”

            Michaela didn’t know whether to state why she came, or if she should console Elise first.  If only she would talk, and let herself begin to heel.  “Is everything all right?”

            Elise looked up at Michaela, tears brimming in her eyes and threatening to spill down her pale cheeks.  “No, it’s just that….”  Michaela reached out and touched her arm, “It’s alright, you can tell me.”

            “It’s….it’s….T..t…Ted,” Elise stammered.  “He’s been sick, dying I’m afraid.  Can’t bear the thought of lossin’ him.  “Friad I’ve been to busy tryin’ to get him better that I’ve neglected the house.”

            “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Michaela didn’t hesitate to reach out and hug Elise.  It wasn’t long before the woman’s sobs racked her thin body.

            Fern stood nearby, with Wyatt at her skirts, watching their mother and the doctor.  They’d never seen her so upset over their father’s illness.  Frightened by what he saw, Wyatt clung to his sister’s skirts.  “Mama be ok?” he asked.

            Fern hugged him close, “Course she will.”  Deep down she wasn’t sure if their mother would be ok.  She’d been a mess for nearly a month; would the pain ever go way?  All she wanted was to have her mother back again.

            Pulling back from the hug, Michaela looked into Elise’s eyes still filled with pain, and a small glimmer of hope.  She wanted to tell her that everything would be ok and that her husband would come back to her.  Letting go of the doctor, Elise wiped the remaining tears from her eyes.

            “Maybe you can fix him?”  She asked meekly.

            “I’ll do everything I can,” Michaela replied.

            Elise led her back to the room she shared with Ted. Michaela almost didn’t see his lifeless form.  Ted had become weak from the influenza, his wife doing everything she could to bring his fever down.  His face was pale from the illness and beads of sweat gathered on his brow.

            Michaela sent a frightened Elise off to bring her a glass of water.  When she returned, a small amount of quinine was mixed in.  She then brought the glass to Ted’s lips, inviting him to drink.  It was difficult at first, but he slowly managed to drink all of it.    “I want you to mix a pinch of this for him every three hours until he’s better.  If there is no change in a week, I want you to send for me.  Ok?”

            Elise nodded, as she accepted the medicine offered to her.  “Thank you, I appreciate what you done for him.”  “You’re welcome.”  Michaela turned to leave.

“I’m afraid I don’t got much money….but will ya take some of my jam?  It’s real good.”

            “Sure I’d love some.”

            Elise beamed, and ran off to find a jar of her best blackberry jam to give the doc, returning moments later with a jar in hand.  “Here ya are doc, hope ya enjoy.”

            “I’m sure I will, and thank you.”

            “Welcome.  You return home safe now.”

            Michaela smiled and nodded before exiting from the Robinson’s cabin.  She had never seen such a devoted wife, standing by her husband’s side through thick and thin.  It would be Elise’s strong will and their love that would have the power to pull him through.

            Walking home Michaela felt somewhat relieved at having helped a patient in need.  But the pain from earlier was still fresh in her mind and it would take time for it all to disappear. Deep down she hoped she wouldn't have to keep Sully away for long.

****

            Fighting tears, Sully turned and walked away from Michaela, leaving her standing there with tears in her eyes.  A part of him wanted to run back and comfort her, drying the tears.  But she had made that clear, she didn’t want to be around him.  His heart broke when she told him all that had been bothering her.  He knew what it was like to give your heart to someone and be hurt in the end.  It pained him to have to turn away, but what else could he do?

            Losing Michaela was something Sully didn’t want to do, and he sincerely hoped she would come back to him.  He couldn’t live without her; she had become a living, breathing part of him.  The waiting was going to kill him, but what other choice did he have?  Would there be away to win his heartsong back?  Didn’t she know his heart was hers?  Someway he had to show her, but how?

            Sully wanted to be alone, to think, but he remembered promising Brian that he would take him fishing.  He turned towards town, hoping that maybe spending time with him would help clear his head.

            Brian walked out of the store, holding a small package of candy.  His stomach had gotten the better of him while waiting for Sully to return and the thought of gumdrops had been too much to handle.  He’d paid a nickel for the candy, and was just popping a few into his mouth when Sully appeared.

            “Hey, Sully.  Wanna a gum drop?” Brian asked, while chewing the two pieces he’d just popped into his mouth.

            “No, thanks.”

            “You don’t know what your missin’.”  Came the reply from Brian as he continued to munch on his candy.

            “How ‘bout we go try our luck at catchin’ some fish?”  Brian stopped eating long enough to grab Sully by the hand and lead him out of town.  He wasn’t going to pass up a fishing trip.

            Brian and Sully sat in silence for what seemed an eternity.  Each seemed to be taking in the surrounding area, the beautiful lake with the rays of sun illuminating it in places.  Both poles had been cast, and then set into the ground, waiting for the fish to bite.

            Sully had hoped the trip would help him abandon any thoughts of Michaela, but it seemed everywhere he looked was a remembrance of her.  He was reminded of their first adventure in the woods, when Michaela wanted to get a sample of water from Harding’s Mill.  She had ended up nearly helpless, and he discovered how soft her long flowing hair was.

            Looking over at Sully, Brian saw a sad faraway expression on Sully’s face.  He knew Sully had gone to talk with Dr. Mike, and wondered if everything was ok.  Deep down he wanted it to be, they belonged together.  His thoughts then traveled back, when Sully had confronted the anger in him over his kissing Catherine.  He had been so upset and confused, not knowing where to turn.  Now it seemed as if things had been nearly turned upside down.

            “Sully?”

            “Yah,” Sully answered a moment later.

            “What’s wrong?”

            “Nothin’”

            Brian glanced at Sully, a puzzled look on his face, not understanding how “nothing” could be wrong.  He didn’t know how Sully could look so sad, and yet have nothing be the matter.  Surely if he had talked to Dr. Mike, things would be ok, right?

"Brian, do you remember when you wanted me to marry your ma, before her birthday?"

He gave a small nod, fully aware of how he'd tried to get them together then.

"Well this is one of those times.  She knows Catherine kissed me and is havin’ a hard time dealin’ with it."

“But I thought that….”  Brian was really confused, how was it that Catherine kissed Sully, but he didn’t kiss her?

“Thought  what?”

“Oh never mind.”

Sully took his hand, placing it on Brian’s arm while looking straight at him, ‘Whatever’s botherin’ ya, you can tell me.”

            “I don’t get all this kissin’ business, it just don’t make sense."  Realizing that this was going to be a difficult conversation, Sully chose his words carefully.  “When two people kiss that really love each other it’s a beautiful thing.  But when someone kisses another who doesn’t love them, it’s like kissing a wall.”  Brian looked at Sully a moment, pondering over his words.  He’d never kissed anyone before in his life and he wanted to believe Sully.  Sully was after all his hero and he looked up to him with admiration.

“You and Dr. Mike love each other, but you don’t love Catherine?”  Brian asked timidly.  He wasn’t sure about the latter.

“I don’t love Catherine.  You’re ma is my heartsong, there is no one else in this world I’d rather spend my life with, than Dr. Mike.”  There was sincerity in Sully’s voice when he spoke the words about Dr. Mike, and Brian saw the look in his eyes.  He was telling the truth, and being a man of his word, Brian believed him.

~Part One~

Chapter One

Elise began administering the quinine to her husband later that day, after Dr. Mike had left instructions with her.  She vowed to do anything she could to make him well again.  Seeing him ill in bed, broke her heart, missing the wonderful man full of smiles always caressing and kissing her.  Now he had turned into a frail man.

Going to the cupboard, she took out a small glass and put some of the medicine into it.  She then sent Wyatt outside to fetch some water, and when he returned, she poured some of the water into the glass.  As soon as the water hit the quinine, Elise watched as it clouded the water making it appear a murky white color.  Find a spoon, she gave it a quick stir, and headed to the bedroom.

Ted was sleeping peacefully when she entered the room.  The sunlight that had played on his face earlier in the day had faded away.  The paleness in his face was even more evident with the dimming light.  She stood in the doorway for a moment, remembering the days when they had first met.

She was only eighteen at the time, still young and naïve in the ways of the world.  There hadn’t really been any men in her life either, except for her father and her sister’s suitors.  They both seemed to have men falling at their feet.  Elise didn’t really mind this, but as she watched her friends’ pair up with boys to go to the Halloween dance, she began to feel left out.  Was there a man out there who found her attractive?  If there was, would he ask her to the dance?  Or was she doomed to go alone?  She’d even considered not going, but Rachel had insisted that she go.

Grumbling somewhat, Elise had gone to the party, dressed as a fairy from one of Shakespeare’s plays.  She had spent a lot of time on the costume, hoping to have handsome young man on her arm, but the way it was looking, she would be hanging out with her friend all evening or by herself.  Half way through the evening, Rachel had abandoned her, leaving her to fend for herself.  Elise had stood seeing everyone snuggled together dancing, had been too much for her.  Tears in her eyes, she ran straight to the livery the only place she felt safe.  The horses wouldn’t bother her or ask silly questions to make sure she was ok.  The only thing she hadn’t counted on was encountering someone else in the barn.

Ted had just finished cleaning out the last of the stalls, and had just shoveled the last of the manure into a pile, when he heard a noise.  It sounded as if someone was crying softly somewhere in the barn.  He didn’t think it could be possible; he was the only one in the barn right?  Ignoring it, Ted went ahead and put the shovel away that he’d been using and wiped the sweat from his brow.

Just then he heard one of the horses let out a loud sniff, followed by the rustling of hay.  Ted froze, his heart skipping a beat, he wasn’t alone.  The moment wasn’t caused by a horse either, someone was in here crying.  Tying his bandana around his neck, Ted began to search the barn.

Elise pulled her legs to her chest trying to make herself disappear into the corner of the stall.  She wanted to make all the pain from the evening go away.  Going without a date to the dance had been horrible and something she vowed never to do again.  And her friends, what were they thinking, leaving her their in the pale moonlight?  Did they even care, or where they too caught up in their own romances to even notice her? But before Elise could get any further in her thoughts, the sound of footsteps sent a wave of fear through her body.  There was someone out there, were they looking for her?  She doubted that, her friends didn’t seem to care about her much tonight.

Ted searched each stall high and low, and was about to give up hope, when Belle nudged his hat off.  “Hey now, you better watch it there girl.”  Belle let out a loud sniff and pawed the ground.  “Alright, now what’d ya do with my hat, little lady?” Ted asked, once he realized his hat wasn’t on the floor by his feet.  This only produced more nudging from Belle, who seemed to be enjoying herself in not letting the whereabouts to the hat be known.  When he reached up to pet her mussel, Belle moved and let the intruder be seen.

Elise had never been so scared in her life when the stall door opened.  She wanted to run but there was no where to go, having backed herself right into a corner.  There was the temptation to run once the gate was open, but what was the use there?  But something kept her sitting there in the corner, soon becoming aware of a pair of eyes on her.  Slowly lifting her head, Elise could just make out the features of a handsome man, glowing in the moonlight.  Her heart skipped a beat; he was so handsome she thought she might be in heaven.

Ted could just barely make out the outline of a small figured nestled in the corner amongst the hay.  Could this be who was making all the noise? He wondered to himself, but was too afraid to ask.  It was only when she looked up at him, and then stood in the glow of the night did he realize his heart would be lost forever in her beauty.

The sound of Ted stirring brought Elise out of her pleasant memories of yesterday.  Making her way to his side, Elise set the glass on the nightstand and ran her head down his cheek.  “Ted,” she whispered, “Are you awake?”

“Mmmm,” came the reply.

“I’ve brought you something to drink.”

Ted blinked open his eyes to find his wife seated by his side, a look of worry in her eyes.  With all the strength he could muster, his limp hand touched hers, causing tears to well up in Elise’s eyes.  In the past few days, he had barely shown her any affection, and now…

Elise would have loved to continue the moment, wishing for the days when he would touch all of her with his lips and his soft caresses.  But right now his health was more important.  She reached for the glass and brought it slowly to Ted’s lips.  He began to drink, spilling some of the murky liquid down the sides of his face.  Having grown weak, it was hard to do even the most simple of tasks.

****

            Brian looked over at Sully, beaming has he held a squirming fish firmly on his line.  It had taken all afternoon before a pull was felt and once Brian started to reel it in, the fish had nearly dragged him into the water.  “That’s quite a fish ya got there.”

            “Thanks Sully.”  Brian replied as the fish continued to try and free itself, smacking him every once in a while with its large fin.  “Think ma will let us have it for dinner?”

            “Don’t see why not.”

            “Good.  I can’t wait to show ma what I caught.  Coming, Sully?”

            An uneasy feeling crept into Sully’s stomach, unsure of what to tell Brian.  As much as he wanted stay for dinner, Michaela probably wouldn’t want him there, having made it quite clear that she didn’t want to be with him right now.  It pained him so much to hear her say that, afraid that he might really lose her.  Yet he didn’t want to disappoint Brian by not going.  With some reluctance, Sully gathered his things and headed back to the homestead.

        When they arrived, Brian marched proudly up to Dr. Mike to show her the fish he’d caught.  Michaela had been hanging laundry, and turned around when Brian spoke, “Hey ma! Look at what I caught today.  It’s she a beauty?”  Looking down at his glowing face, “That’s some fish you have there young man.  She’s quite a nice looking fish.”

            “Can we have it for dinner?” Brian asked eagerly. 

“I don’t see why not.”

“Thanks, ma, you’re the best.” Brian replied before running into the house fish in hand, still beaming.

Michaela turned back to her laundry, hanging more wet clothes on the line to dry.  She hadn’t bothered to turn around and notice Sully standing there, staring right at her with pain in his eyes.  The pain was still fresh in her mind and she didn’t want to turn around and face him right now, not after all that had happened.

Just as Michaela finished and had grabbed the basket to make her way inside, Sully’s voice broke the silence in the air.  “Why are you doing this too me?”

“Doing what?”  Michaela asked, not even bothering to look him in the eye.

“You know full well what I mean.”

As much as she wanted too, Michaela didn’t want to give in, and started for the door.  Tears were already beginning to well up in her eyes, as she fought the urge to run into his arms.

Sully’s heart nearly broke when he saw Michaela brush him off, not even looking him in the eye as she turned towards the homestead.  “Don’t do this,” he pleaded.  “You’re not making this any easier.”

Michaela stopped in her tracks, his words echoing in her head.  Slowly, she allowed herself to turn and face Sully, his face full of pain and sorrow.  It was almost more than she could bear to see.  “Oh Sully,” Michaela whispered, before setting down her basket and leading her heart lead her to where she belonged.  The tears were being to fall freely now, not that she cared to make them stop.  Sully reached with his hand, gently wiping the tears from her eyes.

“I won’t pretend to hide the pain I felt when I heard you kissed Catherine.  And as much as I wanted to run, my heart would break in two if I did.  You’ve become a part of me Sully and I don’t want to let that go.”

Sully was nearly overcome with emotion at Michaela’s actions and her words to him.  Just the other day she had pushed him away, and now she was inviting him back in.  His heart was overjoyed, wanting to pull Michaela right into his arms, holding her tight and never letting go.  But a part of him was afraid to do that, not sure if she would let him after what had happened.

Before Sully could contemplate his feelings any further, he felt Michaela’s warm body against his and her arms encircling him.  With tears filing his eyes, Sully gently put his arms around her, holding her close to him not wanting to let go.

Chapter Two

            After a few days the color in Ted’s cheeks began to return, from a pasty pale color to one of healthy pink.  Some of the paleness was still evident amongst the small pink flushes.  Elise had been faithfully administering the quinine each day as told, praying that he would live.  The first night Ted had nearly frightened her to death, waking up with a cold sweat.

            Her thoughts had drifted back to the day Ted had made his affections known to her.  That night in the barn, Elise had mumbled a reason what she had to leave, too overcome with emotions.  She had been frightened of her own feelings for the young man.  Why was it that her heart pounded so?  Was there a reason why her knees wanted to give way each time she looked into his eyes?  To escape had been the only reasoning she found to be worthwhile.

            The moment she stepped into the moonlight, Ted’s breathe caught in his throat.  She was a stunning creature, with soft creamy skin, light brown hair that fell below her shoulders all part of her petite form.  He had never seen such a beauty in his life and dared not blink for fear it might all go away.  Ted watched as she gazed into his eyes for a brief moment, one he never wanted to end.

            But when her gaze when from soft to hard, his heart nearly broke not being able to fathom what he had done.  Was there any harm in looking into a beautiful woman’s eyes?  He certainly hoped not.  As he continued to stare in her eyes, nothing would prepare him for what was to follow.

            Unable to reason with the strong feelings that washed over her, Elise turned and ran from the barn.  She couldn’t stay there and contemplate why her feelings were on a rollercoaster ride.  Never in her life had she felt anything like this, something that scared her more than anything.  Elise hadn’t stopped running till she reached home, a good few miles outside of town.  By the time she did reach the small cabin called home, she was out of breath and her chest hurt badly from having run without stopping.

            Ted stood frozen to the ground, expressionless with a broken heart as he watched her run away from him.  He wanted to run, but his feet wouldn’t let him.  What had he done?  Did she find him repulsive?  “No, she can’t have found me that undesirable.”  There was that brief moment when her eyes were soft and pure, blue depths that he could find himself lost inside.  He stared at her wake frozen in time, until the moment when Belle nudged him out of his dream.  She must have sensed something was wrong and came to his rescue.  In one fluid movement, Ted mounted Belle and rode off into the dark of night.

            The burning in her chest wasn’t there, but the fear she felt that night was.  Elise felt something hit her back, and didn’t think much of it, till it happened again only this time it threatened to rip her clothing off.  With a pounding heart, Elise turned her eyes meeting in the dark with her husband’s pale form.  Sweat was dripping from his brow and he looked near blue.  Her heart leapt in her throat worried that it was the end and he would be gone.  But she didn’t want it to be, he had to fight, had to hang on.

****

            Sully wandered through the woods, wishing Michaela was still wrapped in his arms.  He hadn’t wanted her to let go, and when she did the warmth was gone and cold air filled the void. Standing there he had watched her give him a small smile, before turning towards the homestead.  It wasn’t until the door closed that Sully forced his feet to move, and left before the tears fell.  It almost seemed as if they had been through so much in so little time.  He remembered the first time he had truly been alone with her, frightened by his own emotions.

            Michaela was insistent on getting water from Harding’s Mill, and he didn’t want her to go for fear she would be shot.  She didn’t seem to pay that warning any mind, already set on going.  Once alone, Sully hadn’t counted on his feelings for her beginning to surface.  He tried to fight them off, but when Michaela rendered herself helpless, it was more than he could do to touch her.  Her hair held a softness to it that he could get lost in, all the while fighting the urge to pull her into his arms.

            It was during a rainstorm when everything changed and neither really knew what to do.  Michaela had nestled herself under a blanket, while Sully chopped wood for their shelter.  She knew that if he didn’t dry off soon, he was going to catch cold.  When she called him inside, and he snuggled up against her, Michaela hadn’t been able to resist intertwining her hand with his.  It frightened her some to realize how she needed Sully in her life.  After all he had always been there for her.  But behind that need were new emotions she hadn’t felt before, not even with David.

            Those emotions would continue to build as they shared their first kiss on her birthday, and when Sully traveled all the way to Boston.  Sully still remembered how much he missed Michaela after being gone for so long.  Worried he had packed his things and headed east, unknown to the fact that he would be trying to win back his love.  Now it seemed he was trying to do the same thing all over again.

            The rustling of leaves, brought Sully’s thoughts to a halt.  Stopping in his tracks, senses on the alert, he looked around him for what had caused the noise.  Everything was usually quiet, as if there was someone else there hiding amongst the trees, the kind that gives you an eerie feeling. Slowly, Sully lowered himself behind a nearby bush, not wanting to be seen.  But that might have been too late, as something whizzed by his ear at a rapid speed, the force, causing him to fall to the ground.  Seconds later, a deer came charging out of the trees, an arrow lodged in its side.

            Blood trickled from the open wound; it wouldn’t be long before the deer wouldn’t be able to run anymore.  She was a beautiful doe, just like his Michaela.  He wanted very much to save the poor animal, but the hunter was bound to see him, and then what?  Would he fall prey too?  Other Indian tribes sometimes hunted in these woods and some weren’t very forgiving.  Yet he still entertained thoughts of running.  The last time he’d encountered a hurt deer, young Brian had talked him into taking the animal home and having Dr. Mike fix him.  The deer had later healed, but not without Michaela finding out his real name.  Sully hated it, and felt better if no one knew, it was better that way.

****

            Michaela had dreams all night, filled with fleeting images of Sully.  Once she laid eyes on him, it was impossible for her to remove his face from her thoughts.  Emotions had begun to stir that she had never felt before, and all of that frightened her.  She remembered the first time his hands touched her, and the first time she let herself stare at him.  Michaela felt she could get lost in the depths of his blue eyes and tangled in his hair.

            Their first night alone, she had gone looking for Brian.  After his mother had died, Michaela had taken in him, along with his brother and sister.  Brian hadn’t been particularly happy with the arrangement and had run off to live with the Cheyenne.  Sully was his hero.  She had searched all day for Brian, calling out his name and waiting in anticipation for a reply.  Only later she was found by a small ban of Cheyenne and taken to the reservation.

            Michaela was immediately taken to a large teepee where figures were gathered around a blazing fire.  One of those figures was Sully, and she found it very hard to keep her eyes off him as the firelight played with his features.  It had been hard enough for her to spill the words out of her mouth with the gentle way he was looking at her.  Being alone with him later that evening, Michaela had felt the tension in the air of wanting him to hold her and when he touched her, the sensations that went through her body were unbelievable.  What was this man stirring in her?  Where these feelings normal?

            In another dream, they were both out in the woods, fighting their emotions.  Michaela had insisted on getting a water sample, and Sully complained that she would slow him down.  Both of them had grumbled, until she had rendered herself helpless.  She had fallen and broken her wrist, and her appearance had been slightly neglected.  Her hair was a mess and needed brushed.  Michaela had tried to remove all the pins from her hair, when she felt gentle hands from behind removing them.  The sensations returned and again she didn’t know what to make of them.  But once Sully began to brush through her long hair, Michaela became more relaxed, beginning to enjoy his gentle touch.

            When that scene vanished, Michaela found herself lying on the ground under a shelter has the rain poured down.  A part of her wanted Sully to hold her close and keep her warm, but she didn’t quite know how to express that feeling.  Growing up in society, such things were considered improper for a young lady to think or even do.  Yet Sully’s presence gave Michaela a sense of comfort that she would be safe from harm.  Before long, Michaela found the words leaving her mouth, beckoning him to come inside out of the rain.  As Sully lay down close next to her, she couldn’t help but reach for his hand.  From then on nothing had been the same, and their feelings slowly showing forth.

Chapter Three

            Tears welled up in her eyes, as she watched him struggle with the unknown in his sleep.  It was frightening to watch something so dear fighting for the very existence to be alive.  She wanted to cry out, tell him to wake up, wanted it all to be a dream.  But it wasn’t done; reality was right before her eyes.  Sitting up in bed, Elise carefully reached out her hand resting it gently on Ted’s cold wet hand.  She watched as he stopped shivering, his body returning to a calm state of mind.  Had the worst past, or was there more to come?  Frightened still, Elise’s heart beat in anticipation of what might come.

            Somehow beyond his sweat, Ted felt a gentle touch rest on his hand, covered it sweat.  It felt like the touch of an angel from heaven, had he died or was this all a dream.  Daring to wake up from dream, he slowly opened his eyes to find a beautiful face basking in a sliver of moonlight.  Blinking, Ted’s eyes slowly began to make out the figure of his wife.  His heart nearly broke when he saw the sadness in her eyes and the tears threatening to spill.  With his free hand, he rested it on top of her small one, his eyes never leaving her face.  In small stroking movements, Ted let his hand caress Elise’s and then reach up to run along her pale cheek.

            Elise closed her eyes relishing his touch on her skin, something she hadn’t felt in so long and had deeply desired.  Sensations ran all through her body as his hand traveled down her neck and on the bare skin peering through her nightgown.  Before she had time to think, Ted gave her hand a pull and drew her to him.  Their lips met with such a passion, Elise felt herself melting into a puddle of love and desire.  She could feel his hands working the buttons on her nightgown, enabling his hands to caress all of her creamy white skin.

            Ted couldn’t help himself after seeing his beautiful wife basking in the pale moonlight with tears in her eyes.  He also noticed a longing in her eyes, and now he was beginning to match that.  Laying Elise gently on her back, Ted began to place soft kisses behind her ears, down her neck and collar bone before paying attention to her swelling breasts.  He could feel her heavy breathing and hear her soft moans resulting from his soft touches.  Moving further down, he places kisses in a most sensitive spot, sending his wife into ecstasy.  Coming up for air, Ted gathered Elise in his arms, holding her close to him as she regained strength.

            Nuzzled against her husband’s firm chest, her fingers played with his shirt opening.  She watched him close his eyes and fully enjoy the softness of her touch.  When Elise removed his shirt, placing delicate kisses on his neck and chest, Ted nearly melted into oblivion.  Her touches were like a teasing feather, giving him the greatest pleasure for a short amount of time, and it wasn’t long before they drove him crazy with desire.  He wanted to free himself of the barrier between them, but she had filled his mind in a puddle of passion.  Ted begged her stop, feeling himself go weak with each teasing touch.

            After what seemed like months, both Elise and Ted were able to read each other’s minds.  She sensed his desire to become one with her, and responding she removed the barrier between them.  Nearly melting, at the slowness of her movements, Ted eagerly took Elise into his arms when nothing stood between them.  His kisses were eager and hungry, wanting to devour all of her sweetness.

            In a tangled mess of sheets and bodies, Elise and Ted reached the climax of their passion and love for each other.  All the pent up desires Elise had been holding on to came unleashed the moment his touches and kisses started. Ted felt like a new man, seeing his wife through new eyes.  They had always been on slightly different pages when it came to the love they shared behind a door, but tonight that all changed.  Becoming one, their love would never be the same again.

****

            Before Sully had any more time to think of moving again, a figure leapt out of the bushes.  He didn’t see anything coming, being lost in his thoughts, felt a hard weight land on him.  Moments later everything went black.

            Hawk had been hunting the doe all morning and had finally felt a sense of accomplishment, when he hit his target.  However, the feeling had been short lived, as the doe had run away yet again.  Maybe she was a free spirit after all?  If that was the case, then no wonder she was so hard to catch.  Not wanting to waste time, he jumped up and over the bush he had been hiding behind, only to find himself land on something other than the ground.

            Looking down he noticed a fringed jacket, and long hair, both of which couldn’t have belonged to a lady.  Getting up, Hawk was able to get a clear view of the figure lying there.  He was dressed almost like an Indian in his fringed jacket right down to his moccasins.  Who was he?  A million questions ran through his head as he slowly forgot about the animal he was chasing.

            Sully began to feel himself slipping away.  Whatever had landed on him had been strong enough to knock him out.  The feeling of falling that he hadn’t felt since trying to stop two men from killing buffalo was returning.  They had beaten him to a pulp after he had gone there to talk.  He had been left for dead.  If it hadn’t been for Cloud Dancing finding him and Michaela…  “Michaela,” Sully called silently.  She was the only one who could make the light shine, taking away the darkness that enveloped him.

****

            Michaela woke from her dream suddenly, over come with a strange sensation that something wasn’t right.  She couldn’t explain what it was, or how someone could be calling to her while she was sleeping.  “Who could be doing this?” Michaela thought to herself.  This whole feeling seemed rather frightening, not being used to calls while unconscious.

            Getting up Michaela went over to grab her robe from the chair, some shoes, and headed outside to gather eggs for breakfast.  The air was cool and crisp, the morning dew still fresh on the ground.  Michaela walked over to the chicken coop, and started to go inside, when something caught her attention.  Stopping dead in her tracks, she heard a noise sounding almost as if it was a bird, but wasn’t?

            A moment later Cloud Dancing appeared out of the clearing, as if stepping out of thin air, making his way towards Michaela.  He had been learning a new tune on his flute, when Hawk had come back to the reservation in complete shock.  The young brave couldn’t speak, and managed somehow to lead him to Sully.  Hawk had felt terrible about what he had done, explaining everything to Cloud Dancing.

            The mistake had been an honest one, but Sully’s life may be hanging in a balance, as he still lay motionless on the ground.  By making a quick observation of the situation, there was only one who could save him.  Michaela, the one who had cared for him the last time he was badly hurt.  Cloud Dancing had found him then too, only then Sully had been nearly beaten to a pulp and left for dead.  His face had been badly bruised and swollen, and it was hard to say what damage had been done to the inside.

            Michaela noticed immediately the concern that marked his face, something was seriously wrong.  Her heart skipped a beat, hoping that it wasn’t Sully; it was the last thing she needed to rack her emotions even further.  She studied his face for some recognition of hope, but found none.

            “It’s Sully, he’s badly hurt.  I don’t think there is much I can do for him.  He needs you.  You’re the only one that can save him.”  Tears welled up in her eyes, no this couldn’t be happening, not Sully.  She recalled the last time he was badly hurt and how painful it had been waiting for him to wake.  Once he had, she discovered he was paralyzed from the waist down.  She wondered then if he would ever walk again.  Now it appeared as if his life was hanging in the balance and again and up to her to bring him back.

            After gathering her medical bag and grabbing a coat, Michaela followed Cloud Dancing into the woods.  Stricken with worry, she hadn’t even bothered to change.  Despite all they’d been thought, he needed her there as much as she needed him.

            Cloud Dancing led Michaela right to the spot where Sully had fallen.  Hawk was still standing there motionless, afraid to move.  He was still broken up from what happened and stared at the body as if some miracle was going to happen.

            Michaela noticed the Indian first, and then when Cloud Dancing moved aside, her eyes traveled downward.  She hadn’t been prepared for the site before her.  Sully hadn’t moved and things didn’t look good at all.  Trying to remain composed, Michaela knelt down to examine Sully.  Parting his hair, she leaned in putting her head close to his wanting to feel his warm breath on her face.  But there was nothing.   Beginning to get worried, Michaela reached for one of his wrists, desperately trying to find a pulse, anything that meant he was still with her.  She couldn’t let anything happen to Sully, not now not ever, he had to wake up.  The tears in her eyes began to spill as she lowered his wrist to the ground, unable to speak any words to describe her feelings.

            Cloud Dancing chose that moment to tell Michaela of Sully’s devotion to her when she was sick with the influenza.  Truth be told he hadn’t left her side, coming to him for help.  He also sensed Michaela wanted to give up, thinking Sully was gone forever. She had yet to learn fully that he was a fighter; he would fight his way back to Michaela.

            It’s up to you if you want him to live.  Your love for Sully is stronger than the will of spirits.”  Michaela turned, was he speaking the truth?  She wasn’t ready to accept that he was gone, even thought she felt in her heart that he was.  “What are you saying?”

            “It’s up to you,” Cloud Dancing repeated.  “Just as it was up to Sully, when you were sick with the influenza; he wanted you to live.  He brought you to me when all your medicine ran out.  I could see in his eyes how much he wanted you to live and how much he was willing to fight to make that happen.  Now it’s your turn.”

            Michaela let the words sink in, taking a moment to realize the impact behind them.  She had no idea Sully had fought so hard for her life so soon after coming to Colorado Springs.  Just the thought brought more tears to her eyes, spilling down her cheeks.  Turning back to Sully, Michaela vowed she would do everything in her power to bring him back to her.

continued