Moment of Truth A New Twist
Chapter1
When Michaela returned home late with blood on her clothes Sully had all ready heard that she had been called out to the reservation. He was worried and when he asked what had happened Michaela had to tell him that a soldier had beaten Cloud Dancing. As soon as she told him that Sully started to run to get his horse to ride out to the reservation.
Michaela yelled after him, "Wait, don't go out there!" Sully stopped and as Michaela gently touched his shoulder she said, "If you go out there you will only make things worse for him. Please don't go. Let's talk about it tonight after the children are in bed." Sully turned around and reentered the house, but he was obviously upset.
After the children were all in bed and their darling Katie was sound asleep in her crib in the little room next door to her parents hugging her bunny as she slept Michaela and Sully entered their bedroom changed into their night clothes and climbed into their bed holding each other for comfort. Sully started talking first to his heartsong, his soul mate. "They beat him for just bein late. The soldiers can do anything they want and it is gettin worse."
Michaela felt for the Indians as Sully did and asked, "What is going to happen to the Indians? How long will the army keep them on reservations?
"I don't know."
"The whole country fought a war to free the slaves who is going to be willing to fight for the Indian? I think it is up to us"
Sully looked into his wife's eyes and knew she really meant that just as she did when they helped Cloud Dancing escape from Custer while the hurdy gurdy was going on. However he knew this time it would be even more dangerous and they had even more to lose. He gave his wife a squeeze and a kiss and suggested they sleep on it. That is the way they fell asleep, in each other's arms as usual.
After breakfast the next morning as they were getting ready to go into town Sully asked his wife if she was going out to the reservation to check on Cloud Dancing. She said she was as soon as she dropped Brian off at school and Katie with Becky. "How about if I come into town to have lunch with my two best girls, and learn about how my brother is doin or is your schedule of appointments too full?
Smiling Michaela responded, "No, I would love to have lunch with you. We will meet you at Grace's about noon."
Michaela's morning had been busy with wall-to-wall appointments after she returned from the reservation. She was pleased to be able to pick up Katie from Becky and then join her husband at Grace's Café. She knew Sully was concerned about Cloud Dancing so as soon as they were seated she reported, "He is in a lot of pain, but he is starting to regain his strength. He is going to be all right."
Sully showed his pain in his eyes as he said, "This time. You know how hard it is on me to have to wait for my wife or my children to bring me word about the reservation. I have to go see my brother myself." He begged Michaela with his eyes for her understanding about this.
Michaela knew how dangerous it was for Sully to set foot on Palmer Creek Reservation, but she also understood how much he needed to see Cloud Dancing. Even though she was shaking with fear she shook her head yes. She knew he needed to see how he was doing for himself. All she could say with tears in her eyes was, "Please be careful."
That night Sully snuck onto the reservation and into Clod Dancing's shack. He found his brother lying on a shelf wearing white men's clothes, which broke his heart. With Cloud Dancing were some of the other Indians taking tender care of him. These other Indians recognized Sully from when he was the Indian agent. They told him how angry everyone was on the reservation. They were forced by the army to wear white man's clothes, and to live in these shacks. They were not allowed to use there language or their medicine or conduct any or their ceremonies. They begged him to help them escape from the reservation. They felt that living only one day free was better than living the way they were now. Sully thought to himself that probably some of the others would escape while he and Michaela got Cloud Dancing out. Sully did not know that these Indians had acquired and saved some money and guns for an escape. Sully only thought that it would be harder for the army to recapture Cloud Dancing, if there were other Indians running too. He had no idea that the other angry Indians were going to start a war with the army if they escaped. He thought it would be safer for he and Michaela with other distractions rather than worse for them because they set warring Indians free.
When Sully arrived home he climbed into the bed quietly so as not to disturb Michaela. However as soon as he was in the bed his wife turned around took him in her arms and asked how things went. He assured her that the army didn't see him and then told her about Cloud Dancing and the other Indians he had spoken to. Sully and Michaela were in agreement that they needed to get Cloud Dancing out of there.
Sully talked to Michaela about the danger in their desire to free his brother. He mentioned that there are a lot more soldiers guarding the reservation than there was guarding the barn where Custer had held Cloud Dancing. He also pointed out to Michaela that they had so much more to lose if they were caught. They had Katie now. Michaela knew it was much harder for them to do something dangerous, even if it was right, because of Katie. She reminded Sully of two things. First they had chosen a wonderful couple to raise Katie if something happened to them. Secondly she reminded him that they had never let fear rule their lives. For example he had gone after Noah Mc-Bride because a boy had been kidnapped, and she had agreed to treat the woman with leprosy, because that is who they are and it is who their baby is.
They held each other tighter realizing what was to come. They decided to let Robert E know what they planned. They knew they could trust him, as he had helped them before. Besides they needed three horses for their plan that would not be recognized as theirs if they had any chance of getting away with breaking Cloud Dancing out.
When Sully confided in Robert E that he and Michaela needed his help because they had decided to help Cloud Dancing leave Palmer Creek Reservation. Robert E's first response was, "What about the army? That's treason Sully."
Sully responded, "We can't turn our backs on him. Who else is goin to fight for him?"
Robert E understood, but feared for his friends, the Sully's. He agreed to loan them three horses for their plan.
Next Sully went to Loren's store to buy some blasting powder which he told Loren was for blasting some stumps off Preston's property. While Sully was working on Preston's house Preston came up to him with more changes. That gave Sully a good idea on how to stop working for Preston, so he would have the time to help Cloud Dancing. When Preston presented Sully with his latest changes, Sully lost his temper and quit working on the homestead. Preston was shocked and said he wouldn't pay him anything for all the work he had all ready done. Sully, who didn't care smiled and said, "I ain't going to be working for you any more." Sully now had the freedom to work with Michaela to free his brother.
Preston just stood there dumbfounded, as Sully disappeared over the horizon. Preston hated Sully. He couldn't understand why a man who dressed only in buckskins and spoke like an uneducated bum had a wife like the beautiful, well-educated Michaela. Preston couldn't even get her to call him anything but Mr. Lodge. The Sully's certainly confused Preston Lodge. Their love was beyond his understanding. He also had no idea who would finish building his house. In spite of his dislike of Sully, he had to admit he was the best house builder he had ever known. The parts of the house that were done were amazing when it came to quality. It would never occur to Preston that it was his constant changing of his plans that had prevented it from being done. If he had left Sully alone he would have been living in his new home for a while now.
When Matthew came to dinner at the homestead he noticed the three strange horses gazing in their pasture. Mathew grew suspious. After the dam incident he worried about what Sully might do about Cloud Dancing being beaten and not being able to attend Katie's birthday party. Mathew knew that how the army was treating Cloud Dancing was wrong, and he used to be supportive of Michaela and Sully trying to help the Indians. He had warned them that the army was coming when they helped the Indian trying to bring wormwood to his sick son in New Mexico. His mother had to spend a few days in jail for that, but the Indian got back to his family. However, the longer Matthew was sheriff the more respectful of the law he became. After Sully had to spend three weeks in jail Michaela and Sully were more cautious about letting Mathew know what they were up to if it wasn't following the letter of the law. Michaela and Sully believed in following the law when possible, but they also believed that if the law was wrong in a particular case it was necessary to break it to do what was right.
That evening when Matthew was visiting, Michaela noticed that Sully was distant and quieter than usual. She knew they needed to finalize their plans since the problems at the reservation with Cloud Dancing were wearing on her husband. When they retired to their sanctuary after the children were in bed she started tonight's discussion. "Cloud Dancing doesn't belong on that reservation. I know you want to help him and so do I. I know it is very hard on you to have to stay away and rely on your children or I to bring you news. Neither of us wants Katie growing up, seeing him dressed like he is now and living in a shack. The question we have to decide is do we want for him. To just survive or to truly live?"
Sully thought about her last question. He knew she truly understood how he felt, so he knew he could share his thoughts with her about all of this. "He would have the best chance to survive on the reservation if he obeyed all of their rules and hoped to stay out of their way. That, however, is not living. What he would have to give up to increase his chances to survive is not worth it."
Sully worriedly said, "I know I am askin you to risk our chance to survive as a family to help Cloud Dancing live again."
"You are not asking me, Sully I am volunteering. I agree with you and I want to do this with you. We will make sure our children are safe so if this doesn't work they will still have a wonderful life. Our family will survive no matter what, just a different."
As they climbed into bed together Sully smiled and wondered how he was ever blessed with such a woman, one that was willing to risk everything for his brother to have a real life.
As Michaela settled down into her husband's warm embrace, she knew there was one thing they still hadn't discussed and she knew it was going to be the hardest part of their plan. "Sully, there is one thing we have to decide and promise each other." Sully looked at his wife questionably, but let her continue. "Sully we are risking our lives and our family life to help Cloud Dancing live again by joining the Northern Cheyenne to be able to live free again as his ancestors did."
"Right, I know that Michaela."
"We have to keep that in mind if one of us is captured by the army."
Sully showed fear on his face for the first time wondering what his wife was thinking. "What do you mean?"
"If one of us is caught by the army the other has to promise to continue with our plan to save Cloud Dancing and not drop it to save the one of us who is arrested."
"Michaela this new law they have, The Patriots Act, allows the army to torture prisoners to obtain information important to the safety of our country. I fear they will bend that law to include findin out information about the Indians. If one of us is captured they might use that law on us."
"I know Sully, I heard you talking with Dorothy when that law was first explained in the Denver paper. If that law can be twisted to apply to the Indians I am sure that if Sergeant O'Connor were still here he would use it against us if he could. He hates both of us so much. I think Sergeant Mc Kay is more reasonable."
Incredulously Sully asked his heartsong, "And you expect me to leave you in the army's hands while I take my brother to safety if you are caught? They could reassign O'Connor back here."
"I know they could and yes we have to both promise each other that if we are to even try this, otherwise what is the point of even attempting to help Cloud Dancing. If either, or both of us are caught we are going to have to face the consequences. We have been lucky so far when we have broken the law. Sergeant Carver dropped my charges when I warned the Indians and General Wooden released me from jail after Dorothy published a picture of Katie and I with an article in the Denver Post. Matthew was able to get your prison sentence reduced when you tried to stop the dam.
I don't think we will be so lucky this time. We will have to pay for this if we are caught. If one of us is going to face being punished by the army it should only be for saving Cloud Dancing, not just for trying. If one of us is caught and the rescue is aborted, to try and free the other then no one wins. It will be worth some pain if Cloud Dancing is free, but not if all fails."
Sully stared at his wife. He understood her reasoning, but could he leave her in the hands of the army and ride off?
Michaela knew what he was thinking. It would be just as hard for her to leave with Cloud Dancing if Sully was captured, but she truly felt it was the only thing that made sense. If they couldn't promise each other this there was no point in even trying.
As they looked at each other they knew that this was right no matter how hard it would be. Sully said, "Yes, I promise I will continue with the plan even if you are caught because I know you would think it was worth it if our plan is successful. We know neither of us would ever betray the other, so after Cloud Dancing is free the one of us that is free will be able to work for the release of the other."
"I also promise this to you, Sully, even though it would be the hardest thing we ever do."
An impish smile crossed Sully's face. "In case our plan doesn't work tomorrow night I would like us to make love tonight as slow and sensual as we ever have, in case it has to last a long long time."
Michaela smiled and responded by very slowly starting to unbutton Sully's nightshirt.
The next morning before they left for a normal day they went over their plan and looked around their homestead as if they might not see it ever again. They checked with the children that their plans were still set. The children knew that Michaela and Sully were going away for a few days via horseback. Colleen and Brian were going to stay at the clinic with Katie so others in town would have an easier time keeping an eye on them. Matthew was going to go out to the homestead and take care of the animals.
When it was nearing dusk Michaela closed up the clinic also looking around like she would never see it again, but the children didn't notice. They just thought she was checking that she didn't forget anything. She said good-bye to her children and rode off to meet Sully and execute their plan.
Michaela was going to set off the blasting powder as a distraction for the army and a signal to Cloud Dancing to meet Sully behind his shack so Sully could lead him to the horses. Once Michaela set off the explosion she was to meet them at the horses.
At first their plan started off perfectly. The army was disoriented when they heard the explosion and their response was disorganized. Cloud Dancing left his shack and met Sully easily and they made it to the waiting horses. After they mounted, Sully looked back to see how close Michaela was, but he witnessed his greatest fear. As she was making it over to the horses a soldier grabbed her arm and started to take her back to the reservation. A tear ran down Sully's cheek as he watched his wife being arrested. As she went, Michaela looked back and could tell Sully was keeping his word to her, so she turned away not wanting to give away his position and went with the soldier raising her head a little higher to show her husband her bravery. Sully turned away from his wife and urged his brother on as they set off for the Northern Cheyenne territory.
Cloud Dancing noticed that his brother had left his wife in a precarious position to rescue him. He could tell it had been prearranged and he knew he could never have better friends and family than Sully and Michaela. He prayed to the spirits for Michaela. He hoped his brother would not lose his wife as he had lost Snowbird.
As the soldier and Michaela headed back to the reservation they heard gunfire. Michaela wondered whom the army was shooting at. She knew Sully and Cloud Dancing were long gone. The soldier tied Michaela up to a fence post so he could go down and investigate. Michaela thought about trying to escape, but decided that it wouldn't help but hurt her. She was too well known. If she did escape, she would just be on the run for the rest of her life and not be able to raise her family, as she wanted. It was better to face the charges now and get what ever her punishment was to be over with.
It turned out, unbeknownst to Michaela, the shooting had nothing to do with Sully or Cloud Dancing. Other Indians had used the confusion that Michaela caused to escape. Some had guns and were firing at the army who were shooting back. This Indian revolt was going to make things much worse for Michaela. She would be blamed. Things started settling down because the army had gotten the Indians still there back in their shacks. Sergeant McKay had decided to send search parties out at first light to recapture the escaped Indians. He knew he should wire headquarters to report what happened and to have reinforcements sent. When the soldier returned to his commanding officer, Sergeant McKay, with the prisoner he said he saw set the blast the Sergeant was surprised that it was Dr. Quinn. He didn't say anything, but took her with him into town when he went to send the wire. First he stopped at the jail to talk to the sheriff Matthew Cooper. The Sergeant knew that he was Michaela's adopted son so he needed to be sure he would do his duty. He knew however it would be more comfortable for Dr. Quinn to be held in the town jail than on the reservation in a tent.
When Sergeant McKay first arrived at the jail he went inside to talk to Matthew leaving his prisoner outside under guard. He asked the sheriff if he would have a problem keeping an army prisoner in his jail if it was someone Matthew knew well. Mathew responded by telling McKay he once arrested his adopted father and kept him in the jail for his three-week sentence. The sergeant felt comfortable then and had Michaela brought in. Matthew was shocked. McKay said, "Dr. Quinn was under arrest for setting off an explosion, to allow Indians to escape the reservation. I thought she would be more comfortable imprisoned here than on the reservation until her trial." Matthew just shook his head and put his Ma in jail. He expected Sully to do something like this not his Ma. "Mathew you don't have to stay here with me I promise I will not try and escape."
Normally Matthew would believe his Ma, but he worried since he would not have thought her ever setting off an explosion to let Indians escape. Matthew asked if she had eaten supper and when Michaela said no he went to Grace's to get a tray with a late supper for her. He also decided not to tell anyone especially his brother and sisters where their Ma was so they could have some more time with out worry.
The next morning Matthew brought another tray for his Ma with breakfast. Little did they know that it would be the last decent meal Michaela would have until after her trial. As she ate, the army reinforcements arrived led by the dreaded Sergeant O'Connor. After he learned what exactly had happened he almost smiled when he was told that
Dr. Quinn had been seen setting off the explosion, and was under arrest. O'Connor assumed command per General Wooden's orders. He put McKay in charge of the reservation and sent his men out to recapture or actually kill the escapees. O'Connor then went into town to take charge of the army prisoner.
O'Connor threw open the door to the jail and with a sneer on his face he ordered Matthew to turn the army prisoner over to him. This struck fear in both Matthew and Michaela's heart. Even Matthew knew of the animosity O'Connor held for his parents.
O' Conner looked toward Michaela and sneered at her as he said, "Nice to see you in this situation Mrs. Sully." Next O'Connor tossed a set of shackles for both hands and feet with a chain in between to Matthew and ordered him to hurry up and put them on her since he would be taking charge and transporting her back to the army camp. Matthew tried to argue about him following orders to keep her here, but O'Connor would have nothing to do with it. As Matthew entered the jail cell to chain up his Ma, she cooperated and whispered to him, "Don't argue with him I knew that this would happen to me when I was captured. I was lucky to have one decent night's sleep and two good meals. Take care of our family for me, please." Matthew told her of course and always, as he helped her stand wearing the heavy chains. She shuffled out to O'Connor and he grabbed her roughly by the arm. "Your cushy arrest is a thing of the past Mrs. Sully. You will pay for what you've done!" Michaela swallowed the lump in her throat and set herself for what was to come. She had no doubt that O'Connor meant exactly what he said.
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