"It's not brave, it's selfish, it's what I want." Dorothy's words echoed in her mind. She'd told Cloud Dancing she'd follow him anywhere, give up everything, all she knew, just so they could be together. He'd called her brave. But she knew she wasn't brave. She was afraid of what life might be like without him. She couldn't dare to think of it—except now she had been thinking of nothing else for the past week.

Cloud Dancing had been given the right to live where he wanted in the town, and come and go as he pleased. He had been given freedoms other Indians didn't have. She had been so excited at first, thinking of their lives together. No, it wouldn't be easy. The town would take some time to get used to them as a couple. Maybe they'd never get used to it. She might lose the Gazette. She might lose some friends. But they'd be together, and that was all that mattered. Or so she thought.

It had been two months since Cloud Dancing had been given his freedom, and she had seen little of him. At first she had made him dinner every night. At first they would sit outside her the back porch, sharing his cloak, talking about his future, his plans to build trade between the whites and the Indians. But now, she hadn't seen him in two weeks. Could it be she had over stepped a boundary? Had she thought more of his kiss, his touch than were really there? Had he decided their relationship was better off as friendship?

Doubts besieged her. If only she could see him.

She watched as Sully helped Michaela out of their wagon. Sully and Cloud Dancing had been hunting together. She'd assumed they were both still out. But yesterday, she had seen Sully in town. And he had told her that they had been back from hunting for over two weeks. Sully looked up and waved to her. She lifted a hand half-heartedly before going back inside to set the type for her current print of the newspaper. After today, she'd clean up, and begin compiling stories for next week's addition. Every week, the same thing. In the past, writing had brought her comfort and security. She had a purpose. Then, realizing she would give it all up just for a chance to be with Cloud Dancing brought a new kind of clarity to her life. But, now, she wondered if she could trust her own feelings at all.

She heard a wagon passing, and ran out to meet it.

"Sully!" she called, hoping he would hear her over the din of rattles and clanks from the wagon. He pulled up short, and waved to her.

"Dorothy? Did you need something?"

"Have you seen Cloud Dancing lately?"

"I saw him this morning."

"How is he?"

Sully sat up taller, and stretched his back. He probably didn't realize it, but whenever he did that, it was a sign to her he was avoiding the truth. Not lying, not completely, but not being honest. Still, he did look her in the eye. Most folks didn't know how well writers could read people. If they did, they'd probably never talk to her at all.

"Well, he seemed fine. Busy, but fine." He looked away, down the street before he made eye contact again. Another sign he was hiding something.

"Good. That's good. Is he all settled on Daniel's land then?"

He stretched again. "He's decided to set up on my place. He said it wouldn't have felt right to be on Daniel's land without the other Cheyenne."

"I didn't know that." What else didn't she know? "Maybe I'll stop by and see him."

"I, uh, don't know if he's there now. He said something about hunting again. He's been in and out." Sully's words streamed quickly form his mouth.

"Well, then, I'll wait and see if he comes into town."

"Yeah, that's a good idea. I'd hate for you to drive out all that way and miss him. Well, I've got to go Dorothy."

"Sure. Have a nice day, Sully." He didn't look at her, but switched the reigns over the horse's backs and drove off.

Something was up, but she didn't know what. When she had last spoken to Cloud Dancing he had been excited to live on Daniel's land. And now he wasn't even there. She shook her head. Maybe Michaela would give her a straight answer. She was her best friend, after all.

Dorothy finished type setting and started to print the paper. By noon she had twenty copies. It was a slow process, but worth it. By evening, she would have 100 copies, all ready for her readers to buy. She had added two out of state columns to her front page. And best of all, her own column had been picked up by the Denver Times. They even suggested they had interested parties in adding it to their bigger city papers. Wouldn't that be something? Her column going nation wide.

Dorothy cleaned her hands off, wiping the ink onto her apron before abandoning the apron on the laundry heap. She brushed back her hair and headed over to the clinic. Michaela usually took a break for lunch to play with Katie and catch her breath. Her clientele had grown since the storm and the spa closing. They were rebuilding, but it would be some time before it was finished. And then she would be overseeing the clinic there until a real doctor could be convinced to come out. As much as she knew Michaela loved being the only doctor, Dorothy knew she needed help.

Dorothy knocked on the clinic door and peaked inside. Michaela was putting Katie's jacket on her.

"Did I catch you in time to share lunch over at Grace's?

"Oh, Dorothy. Actually, we've eaten our lunch early. I have an appointment outside town. Sully is coming by to get us."

"I see. Well, another time then." She smiled at Katie and Katie grinned back at her. "By the way, I heard Cloud Dancing is making his home out your way."

"Yes. I haven't been to see him there, yet. But Sully said it's coming along."

"I see." She reached out and brushed Katie's hair.

"Dorothy, is everything okay?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "I haven't seen Cloud Dancing in two weeks. And now I find out he's moved onto your land, and I did't know he was doing that either. Michaela, I'm afraid I've made a mistake."

"A mistake?"

"About us. I thought," she broke off. "I guess I didn't read him right. And I read folks pretty well. I guess my own feelings go in the way."

"Dorothy, I don't think that's it. Really. I'll talk to Sully. I'm sure things aren't going the way you think. I've never seen Could Dancing so happy as when he's with you. His eyes literally light up when he sees you. Don't make any hasty judgments."

"I'll do my best. I had hoped you knew what was going on."

"I'm afraid I didn't know anything was, or I would have told you. I'll speak to Sully."

"I've already tried that." She laughed lightly.

"I'll get to the bottom of it. Indian ways are different than our ways…but two weeks is still two weeks!"

At least Michaela was as indignant as she was.

Dorothy walked back across the street, her anger rising. Why did she have to wait? Just because Sully told her to? She'd go out to their homestead and track down Cloud Dancing herself. The only thing she knew was she couldn't wait another week, or day, or even hour to know where she stood with the man.

As she entered the newspaper office, her resolve slipped. There were the papers to get out by deadline. She would have to wait until tomorrow.