Part Three  

Chapter Twenty Two

           Elu stepped inside his teepee carefully, as not to disturb the sleeping maiden in his arms.  She had been sleeping so peacefully since he found her, that he wanted nothing to interrupt her sleep.  Once inside, Elu carefully laid her down on his bear skin rug and then prepared to lay a fire.   Elu sat with his back to the teepee wall, as the fire began to burn, smoke curling into the air as if in a dance.  His eyes landed on the maiden, with her pale skin and golden hair, who looked more beautiful as the firelight played with her features than when he’d found her.

            There was something about her that Elu found mesmerizing, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.  He’d seen other Indian women whose beauty shown through enough to make a man stumble in his speech.  Yet Elu hadn’t been attracted to any of those.  This maiden sleeping before him began stirring emotions in him that he’d not felt before.

            Catherine began to stir, feeling the warmness of a fire nearby and wondering a little where she was.  “Mmm,” Catherine mumbled, as she rolled over on her side, facing the fire and Elu. Elu’s body froze at the sight, and his heart beat thudded inside with anticipation.  He soon felt his eyes permanently glued to her waiting to see what she would do next.

            Catherine rolled all the way over on her right side and slowly opened her eyes to find herself enveloped in darkness and the warmth and light of a burning fire nearby.  Her heart leapt with a small ounce of joy thinking that she was with Sully and he was going to help her find her family.  But when she fully opened her eyes and sat up the sight of the man before her, her heart skipped a few beats.

            She could just make out his chiseled face, with dark eyes softening in the firelight when they gazed upon her, and his long dark hair that fell just past his shoulders.  At first Catherine wanted to turn away and bolt from the dark eyes pouring into her, but something kept her from doing so.  Catherine soon became lost in the dark eyes staring deeply at her through the firelight and smoke.  She couldn’t explain the force keeping her from turning away as it was something more powerful than she could ever explain.

            Elu had braced himself for the moment when the maiden would open her eyes; yet nothing could have prepared him for the outcome.  Catherine was so lost in his dark eyes that she almost didn’t see him move towards her.  Elu moved beside her; his breath causing warm tingles on her skin as he dared let a finger run through her golden hair.

            Catherine nearly lost herself into oblivion at his touch; she’d never felt anything like it before.  She turned to face him in the darkness of the teepee, the firelight still playing with shadows all around them.  There was a longing in his eyes, he wanted her so much but was afraid to even touch her more for fear she’d disappear.  Catherine reached out to take his hand, feeling the strength of it in her own small delicate hand.  She then smiled at him, “You stay here with me,” she breathed into the night air.  “I stay,” Elu answered in the same breath of a voice that she had used. 

            His answer brought more of a smile to her face before she nestled herself on his chest, soon feeling his strong arms envelope her in their safety and warmth.  Catherine didn’t’ know why she felt she could trust this stranger, but the more she lost herself in him, the more she didn’t want to let go.

****

           Michaela wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep in the rocking chair, Brian had since left her lap and the air was chilly.  A shiver ran down her spine, as she brought her hands to her arms, rubbing warmth into them.  Michaela made to stand up, finding her legs a little wobbly and stiff from sitting in one position for so long.  She began to walk towards the bed, releasing the pins and needles in her feet.  Michaela bit her lip to drive out the pain as she made the short distance to her bed, where she collapsed and drew the quilt over her.

            Michaela felt drained emotionally with all that had been going on since Catherine walked to their lives.  She never imagined a man as Sully who only had eyes for her, could even think of betraying her love for him.  It had been too much for her to bear and even being in the woods with him had been somewhat of a test.  Sully was a man who wanted to help, yet why couldn’t he leave Catherine be?  Couldn’t he see how much she had hurt their relationship?  Michaela tried not to think of it all, as a part of her need to heal and another felt empty.  Sully had become a part of her and letting go in any capacity was not easy.

Brian walked into the room rubbing the sleep from his eyes; as the sun began to pour through the windows.  It had been hours ago when he’d left his ma’s lap to find the comforts of his own bed.  He made his way fully into the room to check on her wondering if she was still there.

            Brian noticed right away that the rocking chair was empty and a small form huddled deeply under the covers.  He walked over to the side of the bed, “Ma?” he called softly as if not to startle her.  He got no answer, and tried again this time a little louder.  “Ma?”

            “Mmm…” came a faint mumble underneath the covers which sounded like one of discomfort than a please don’t wake me.

            “Ma, wake up, it’s mornin’,” Brian replied in a voice that insisted she get up, but to his dismay she didn’t move.  In his fourth attempt, Brian laid his hand on her to give her a nudge.  Brian pulled back his hand immediately after touching his ma; her body was chilled not warm as he was used to.  Panic and fear began to set in, something wasn’t right.

            Trying to hold back tears, Brian patted off to find Colleen, he needed help and fast.  “Colleen,” he called out.  “Ya gotta wake up.”

            “Brian, go away,” Colleen mumbled back.

            “No I won’t,” Brian shot back.  “Ma’s freezing, something ain’t right.  Ya gotta come quick.”

            Colleen was about to turn over and shut out Brian, when his last words rung in her ears.  Ma’s freezing, something ain’t right.  She forced open her still tired eyes and climbed out of her warm bed.  Brian seeing the results he wanted quickly grabbed her hand as soon as her feet hit the floor to take her to where their Ma was.

            “Oh my gosh,” the words stumbled out of Colleen’s mouth in shock.  Just yesterday Dr. Mike had been the picture of health and now she was near cold as ice.  Colleen tried to think of what to do through her panic and rising fear of what seemed to be a strange illness.  “We gotta find Sully, Cloud Dancing, someone,” said Colleen when she’d finally found her voice again.

            Brian didn’t waste any time in running off to the barn to wake Matthew.  He didn’t think he’d be allowed out on his own like that, unless his brother or sister was with him.  Brian nearly collided with the barn door and fumbled with it for a minute before he could get it open.  He threw being quiet as a mouse to the wind; as he rustled up the hay and thumped up the ladder.

            “Matthew, it’s ma.  We gotta find Sully.  She needs help, fast,” said Brian in a rush of words.  Matthew who had been sleeping peacefully was startled by Brian’s interruption and barely caught all he said.  He did hear enough to know he needed to get up for some reason.

            “Slow down, little brother, whatever it is I’m up.”  Some relief washed over Brian’s face as he went back down the ladder.  “We gotta get the horses, have to find Sully.”

            “Hang on,” Matthew called out as he began to climb down.  “Why are you in such a hurry to get the horses?”

            “Ma, she’s sick awful bad, we gotta get Sully,” Brian replied, wasting no time in finding a bridle and saddle.

            “What’s she got?”  Matthew asked, seeing how his brother was in such a rush.  Why he needed Sully and not other townsfolk was beyond him at the moment.

            “Dunno, it’s bad.  She’s all cold under all them covers,” Brian replied slow and steady.  With the look Brian gave him, Matthew knew whatever it was, was serious.  Brian wasn’t one to cry for help unless he really needed it and with a mother he was on shaky ground.  He didn’t want to lose another mother.  Without wasting another minute, Matthew threw on clothes, mounted his horse and rode off leaving Brian standing there in his night shirt.

Chapter Twenty Three

   Colleen was frantic with worry over what to do.  The hot flashes were coming on in strange ways that once she figured out a solution; it was thrown to the wind once the attack came.  She couldn’t seem to keep Dr. Mike warm when she was shivering, nor could she think of anything to keep her cool when she was throwing off all the blankets.  Colleen was fighting a losing battle and she sincerely hoped that Matthew would be back soon with help.

            Brian returned to the house once Matthew had disappeared into the woods.  His little heart was worried sick wanting so much for Dr. Mike to live.  He walked over to Colleen, and seated himself next to her at the table.  “Colleen?,” Brian asked in a meek voice.  “Ma’s not gonna die is she?”

            Colleen broke out of her trance, “Don’t go thinking like that.  Ma’s gonna be fine.”  Just as soon as the words left her mouth, Colleen wondered if they were really true.  She wanted Dr. Mike to live, but without knowing the illness she wasn’t sure what was going to happen.

            Just then Michaela jerked awake throwing back the covers that had once kept her warm as her body tossed and turned.  Colleen rushed over to find Dr. Mike bathing in sweat.  Beads of it had formed on her face and were trickling down the sides.

            “Brian, go get me a cloth dunked in water.  We need to cool her down,” Colleen asked in an urgent voice.  Brian took off to find a cloth and soak it before he came back.  Colleen was left standing at the side of the bed waiting for the episode to end.  A moment later Brian returned with the desired cloth which he handed to Colleen.  She took the now heavy cloth and began to dab the sides of Dr. Mike’s face with it, but try as she might it was difficult.  Michaela moved each time Colleen reached for her, and at times Colleen  missed her face and the cloth landed on her nose or mouth.

            Brian stood near his sister, a growing worry forming in his eyes with each toss and turn Dr. Mike took.  He was worried when she was sick before with the influenza, but now not even Colleen could figure out what was wrong.  His small hands reached for his sister, as he wrapped them around her, “Promise you’ll make her better,” he asked in a meek voice before he buried his head in her skirts.  Colleen reached out an arm to hold Brian close to her, “I’ll do everything I can to make her better,” Colleen replied with a voice full of empty hope.

****

            Sully lay inside his lean too deep in sleep as the sun began to rise around him.  He hadn’t stayed long in the clearing last night and somehow he managed to find his shelter.  Emotionally exhausted, it hadn’t taken long for Sully to drift off to sleep and to dreamland.

            Surrounding him in the old familiar walls was the warmth of a slowly burning fire not as strong as it once had been.  The hour had grown dark and the fire was the only glow about the room.  In a rocking chair nearby, he saw her sitting there wrapped in a blanket.  Her face looked solemn, almost sad as if she’d lost something near and dear to her heart.

            The last time he’d seen Michaela before he left town, she’d been upset with him her face filled with worry.  She hadn’t wanted him to go back to Catherine, after all she told him Catherine needed to let go of him.  The face he saw now was full of the sadness he’d not seen.   He wanted so much to be right there with her, but would she accept him?  After all it was her decision to be alone “right now.”

            Sully wanted to smile when Brian showed up a little while later, ending up on Michaela’s lap.  The image of a mother and son rocking back and forth nearly brought tears to his eyes.  She had let the tears begin to fall as Brian nestled himself in her lap doing his best to comfort her.  His heart started to break as the image stayed, before all went black.

            In the darkness he couldn’t see anything, but he could feel her screaming out to him, needing him, wanting him.  Sully tossed and turned trying to bring back the image, not wanting her to disappear from his vision.  It was when the screaming finally stopped, when Sully woke with a start, shouting Michaela’s name into the air.

            Wolf was by his side in seconds, whining with concern that showed in his eyes.  He nudged Sully in the arm to get his attention, slipping his head under his arm.  Sully turned to Wolf, patted him on the head to let him know in silence that he was alright.  Wolf seemed to understand as he lay down with his head in Sully’s lap.

****

            Matthew never let up on his speed as he raced through the woods in search of Sully.  The faces of his brother and sister were enough to tell him the situation with Dr. Mike was grave.  He hoped that by the time he found Sully and brought him back that it wouldn’t be too late.

            To late?  Matthew thought to himself for only a moment.  He didn’t want to dwell on lost hopes as that would get him no where.  Dr. Mike would get better, she had to, right?  Matthew didn’t want to stop and think any further of what might befall things if they got worse.  He was the oldest and needed to keep his emotions at bay, not letting them seep through the surface.

            Matthew kept Scout going, not letting him break his fast speed as he scanned his surroundings for Sully.  In another several yards, Matthew spotted smoke rising and as he got closer saw that he’d stumbled upon an Indian village.  He slowed the pace at which Scout was running so as not to disturb the peacefulness of the village and cause uproar.  The last thing he needed was an army of Indian’s chasing after him.

            Matthew slowed Scout down to a trot as they got near the outskirts of the village.  He wasn’t sure at this point where he was as he’d been so full of fear that everything around him was a blur.  Before long the sounds of his horse’s hooves hitting the ground caused several Indians to look up and stare, some in wonder and others in fear.  He caught each one of their gazes noting more so the ones that looked at him in fear.  Those that had fear in their face he watched move inside a teepee only to emerge seconds later with a weapon of choice.

            Matthew’s breath caught in his throat, what was he to do now?  By the looks of things he was going to be prey for vultures and any other animals that feasted on dead bodies.  He slowly dismounted, left his horse standing there, as he made his way forward with hands held up in the air.

            “I come in peace,” Matthew called out to anyone there who might understand him.  He was greeted with looks and sniggers.  On close examination, Matthew soon realized he was dealing with dog soldiers, and they were no friends of his.  “My ma, she’s ill.  I’m lookin’ for someone.  Can’t anyone help me?”  More of the same followed, along with some raising their weapons to make Matthew their latest target practice.  He wanted to say more, but figured it would be useless sending him to a grave sooner rather than later.

            Matthew’s heart pounded as one dog soldier covered in war paint approached him.  “Why are you coming here?  We don’t associate with your kind.”

            “Ma’s a friend to the Cheyenne medicine man, Cloud Dancing.  She needs his help.”  Matthew replied hoping for some recognition and daring not to speak Sully’s name just yet.  He doubted Sully was a favorite amongst them either.

            “Don’t care ‘bout her, unless she got some fine hair for my belt,” the Dog Soldier remarked with a grin and laugh that sent chills down Matthew’s spin.  He didn’t care much for this boy in front of him.

            Matthew watched as the dog soldier did circles around him, spitting at the ground every so often.  He was beginning to make him nervous and uneasy with each step he took.   Matthew was afraid to move for fear he’d get an arrow put into him somewhere.  When the dog soldier finished circling Matthew, he came right up to him, leaving mere inches between his face and Matthew’s.  “I don’t like ya and it’d be nice if ya left us along.  We don’t care bout your ma or this Cloud Dancing that ya speak of, so why don’t ya just ride off back where ya came from.”

            Matthew couldn’t stand the smell of garlic that reeked on the dog soldier’s breath, nor the arrow pointed right at his heart.  Any sudden movements would be unheard of along with trying to block out the smell.  All he really could do was carefully mount his horse and pray he got out of there alive.

            “Sorry to have bothered you.”  Matthew replied trying not to let his voice shake.  He then slowly backed up to mount his horse, all the while keeping his eye on the soldier who’d been a little to close for comfort.  With some fumbling, Matthew managed to mount scout and tear off into the distance, amid a flood of arrows.  Apparently they meant to finish him off no matter what, yet the only arrow that got to him when through his head.

            Matthew sent Scout flying through the tall grass and straight through the trees trying to put as much distance as he could between the village he’d found and himself.  He wasn’t paying much attention to were he was going, until he got caught on a branch and slid to the ground in a thump.

          Matthew slowly opened his eyes to find himself looking right up at his horse, who seemed perfectly content with out the bother of a rider.  He made an attempt to rise up, but found that his vision spun a little as he did so.  Lying back on the ground, Matthew ran his fingers through his hair discovering a trickle of blood.  He must have gotten cut by the branch as he fell and hit his head on something when he landed.  For now he would just lay there until his head felt better and he could move again.

Chapter Twenty Four

            Sully heard the sound of horse’s hooves preceding a loud thump, waking him from the trance he’d been in.  Wolf whined and looked up at his owner wondering too where the sound had come from.  Sully got up slowly, and motioned for Wolf to follow him as he moved quietly through the brush.  He didn’t want to disturb the horse or draw any attention to himself.

            Sully noticed at a glance when he was close enough, a hat with an arrow through it and feared the worst.  Could there be a ban of dog soldiers here attacking settlers in the woods?  He didn’t trust them nor did he want to make any sudden moves. 

            When Sully was no more than a breath away, he began to note a familiar form lying on the ground.  The dress looked very much like something he’d seen Matthew wearing and as his eyes traveled up his suspicions were confirmed.  Sully didn’t waste any time in coming into the clearing nearly scaring Matthew half to death.

            “Shhh, we can’t be drawin’ attention to ourselves.”  Sully wasn’t about to take any chances if there was danger lurking about.  Matthew nodded in understanding, he didn’t want that to happen either especially after his encounter in the village.  “We gotta get ya outta here.”

            Sully offered Matthew his hand which he reluctantly took before pulling him up off the ground.  Matthew winced in pain as he was lifted up; the dizziness was even more prevalent now that he was sitting up.  Sully was about to ask what was wrong, when he saw the blood trickling down the side of Matthew’s face.  Thinking quickly Sully found something for Matthew to hold on the wound while he went over to a nearby stream.  As he hoped there were cattails growing there of which he promptly rubbed off what he needed for a paste to put on Matthew’s cut.

            Matthew objected at first to the paste as it stung, but after a moment it began to sooth and once the dizziness had past he was able to get up again.  Once Matthew was up, Sully wasted no time in leading them both out of the clearing and to his lean too.

            “We can’t stay long,” Matthew said breaking the silence when he was sure they were safe.  Sully looked at him puzzled, there didn’t seem to be any danger lurking about at the moment.  “What’d ya mean?”  Sully asked hoping Matthew might elaborate.

            “Somethin’s not right with ma, she needs ya.”  The words hit Sully like a tree hitting the ground after being cut down.  Images of the dream floated in his mind as the words “she needs ya” echoed through his thoughts.  Sully had sensed that something wasn’t right and now Matthew had just confirmed the truth he’d known all along.

****

            Colleen watched in horror as Dr. Mike had a frightening episode that not only involved a hot flash, but lead anyone in the room to think she was delusional.  Everything she said made no sense as if her sentences and words were scrabbled together and it was up to the listener to figure it out on their own.  She didn’t even hear the sound of the door open or the footsteps that followed, her eyes glued to Dr. Mike in fear.  What was happening?  Could she be losing another ma?

            Brian clung to her skirts in silence, Matthew standing behind them, as they watched with gentleness as Sully lifted her into his arms.  The episode she’d had exhausted her and she lay limply as Sully held her close to him.  Sully’s heart was breaking just by looking at her limp pale form.  Her face didn’t seem to have the glow that it once did and her body felt weightless against his.

            Sully forgot all about where he was and the children as he began to open up his heart again to Michaela. “You are the song of my heart, the music that plays so sweetly in my ears, bringing sunshine and smiles to each new day, now you lay before me, a pale form of what you once were, my heart aches to hear your song again, it threatens to break at the thought of losing you, please don’t let the song die, it’s only just beginning,” Sully spoke in hushed whispers into her ear, hoping with all his heart that she would hear him and fight to keep the song alive in his heart.

           Sully tenderly held Michaela till the fire burned low and the last candles had been snuffed.  The children had long since found their beds.  Matthew was grateful to have Sully there, Colleen looked somewhat relieved and Brian still looked worried.  But they all knew in an unspoken silence that Sully wasn’t going to depart till Dr. Mike was better.

            Michaela even in her deep slumber had heard the words Sully had spoken.  She felt his presence in the room and his arms around her long before he’d opened his heart.  She hadn’t the strength to open her eyes or to send him off.  All she could do was submit herself to him.

            Sully’s words had almost been more than she could bear.  He’d broken her heart and now he wanted her to be strong again and be his heartsong.  Michaela had been in such pain and now the buddle seemed to have burst.  She couldn’t fight her own feelings, she loved him more than any words in a poem could express.

            Michaela began to stir, as the night became still with everyone fast asleep except for the creatures of the night.  Her eye lids fluttered open and she breathed in the familiar smells of the handsome mountain man beside her.  Sully had managed in his sleep to still keep an arm around her.  Michaela moved ever so slightly so as not to disturb Sully.  She wanted very much to get out of the clothes she was in.

            Sully felt movement beneath his arm causing him to slowly open his eyes.  He soon found himself staring into the beautiful face of his heartsong whose eyes looked like that of a darling puppy wanting attention.  His hand came gently up from around her waist to caress the soft tendrils of hair that enveloped her back, as Michaela fell back against the bed with hardly any strength to rise.

            Sully moved to look gaze upon Michaela in the dimness of the evening light.  He could feel her breath caress his face as he took in the scent he had grown to love.  Her body was beginning to gain warmth again and her cheeks felt warm to the touch as Sully ran the side of his hand down them.

            Michaela stared deeply into Sully’s eyes for some recognition that he wasn’t going to hurt her again.  Her eyes pleaded with him to mend the pieces he’d broken and love her again as he once did.  She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him, as hard as that had been for short time.

            Sully returned her stare with his own studying her eyes, her face, giving her a soft loving look and gentle touches.  He saw the pleading in her eyes and the pain behind them, wanting nothing more than to have her eyes look at him with love again.

            Michaela’s eyes over time began to soften, realizing deep down that Sully did love her with all his heart and she had nothing to worry of his love.  She was his and there would be no other to complete him.  Sully watched as a slight smile played upon her lips in the darkness before her eyes slowly closed into a peaceful slumber.  He placed a light kiss on her cheek before lying beside her, only to feel her nestle into his arms moments later.

            When morning came the light of the sun and the innocence of the children found two souls nestled together as one.  Brian beamed a little happy to see Sully with his ma again.  Colleen blushed, her face turning a deep red, embarrassed to see her Ma and Sully to intimate with each other.  Matthew held his own before shooing them outside to wash up.

            It was some time before Michaela stirred awake to find herself still enveloped in Sully’s embrace.  Without a word she reached her hand up to run along his tanned jaw like a feather, preceding a soft kiss on his cheek.  He had come back to her, but what lay ahead were two lost hearts longing to be one again.

Epilogue

“Ma” Wyatt called, “Look what I do,” he then turned to the tree and beamed with pride.  Elise smiled down at her young son who stood proudly next to his creation.  He had tried so hard with his Pa’s help to carve as he had one done many years ago.

            Ted came up a moment later, scooping Wyatt into his arms.  “He done good.”

            “Yes he has,” Elise echoed in reply.  For now below the two hearts was a smaller one with a “W” carved inside.

            “Did all myself,” Wyatt stated proudly, which brought smiles to his parent’s face.

            “Wow, I’m impressed,” Elise answered with a motherly smile and a gentle touch on his arm.

            Fern had been standing in the doorway watching all that her Pa had done with her little brother.  He had been so patient with him while he carved and never angered when Wyatt made a mistake.  Now she could see the love in his eyes and slowly began to realize that he wasn’t going to hurt his family anymore.  She came slowly out of her hiding place, moving towards the tree where the rest of her family stood.

            Wyatt soon spotted her and called to her, “’Ern, come tee.  Did all myself,” he beamed with another grin while pointing his small hand to the carving.  Fern smiled a little and when she got closer she saw the lopsided heart and crooked W that her brother had done.  “You did a nice job,” Fern complemented his handy work.  If it had been her the heart would have looked about the same.

            “Would ya like ta try?”  Ted asked with some hesitation, as he wasn’t sure how his daughter would react.  She hadn’t warmed up to him much since he’d gotten better and mended his ways.

            Fern turned to look up into her father’s eyes with the innocence of a child wanting to love and trust.  She saw the same trust and love in her father’s eyes along with a smile on his face; he truly wanted her to do this. 

            Fern gave a small nod, as Ted set down Wyatt and picked her up into his arms.  She was now at the level where the hearts had been carved, her parents large ones and Wyatt’s smaller one.  Ted reached into his back pocket and pulled out the tool that he had used earlier to help his son.

            With Elise and Wyatt watching, Ted used the up most patience to guide his daughter through the process.  A few times she got frustrated and wanted to stop, but his gentle coaxing kept her going.  It was some time later when Fern had finished and Ted had set her back down.

            “Look ma,” she called to her proudly just as her brother had done, “I made one too.”

            “Yes you did and it looks lovely,” Elise replied with a smile.  Wyatt giggled with pleasure, “Ern da one too,” as he marched over to take his sister’s hand.  The two of them beaming with pleasure at the work they’d done.

            Ted turned to Elise watching her gentle ways with the children and how happy she looked.  Elise looked up at him with tender loving eyes that spoke volumes. He realized then how much he loved her, and their two children.  Forgetting the children were still around, Elise and Ted moved towards each other as their hands intertwined, there bodies stood next to each other, while their lips met out of a love for each other. There wasn’t anything in this world that could take them away from each other and no greater happiness than to have their family back together again.

In my heart you’ll always be no

Matter how far away you are

I know you’ll be there through thick and thin

Writing me letters as a war rages on

Around you as you fight to get back

When I’m sick I know you’ll be there for me

Never giving up hope that I’ll live again

To have and hold you

Even at our breaking points

I know you’ll be there

Fighting for my life, working to earn my love

For nothing will separate me from you

As our hearts are one to stay

Forever and always

No matter where you are

You’ll always be, in my heart

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