Chapter 4
Sully laid on Michaela's chest, trying desperately to keep himself from breaking down in tears. Michaela rubbed his back and after a few moments of nothing but soothing words, she momentarily fell silent.
"Sully," she spoke.
"Hmm?" He skipped a breath.
Michaela could not tell if he had been asleep or not, but she didn't inquire if he was. Instead, she carried on with another question.
"What's wrong?" Her voice was soft.
She could feel Sully's body tense at her words.
"Sully," she fingered at his hair.
"Nothing," he sniffed.
Michaela sighed. That was a lie. She would not have found him crying, alone in the barn at such a late hour at night, if nothing was wrong.
"Sully," she pressed. "Please, tell me. What's bothering you?"
Sully remained silent. After a few moments, he rolled away, his back facing her.
Michaela sighed and touched his shoulder, but to her surprise, he pulled away.
"Don't," he mumbled under his breath. "Please. Just don't."
Michaela moved her hand away and didn't say a word. She didn't know what to say. But Sully took her attention before she could think about what to say.
He pulled the cover away and sat upright. Before he could make a move, Michaela spoke.
"Don't leave," her voice cracked with emotion.
Sully heavily sighed and laid his head in his hands.
"I can't stay," he tensed.
Sitting up, Michaela scooted beside him. She didn't touch him, for fear he might dart out of the room.
"Why?" She asked.
"I'm going to…" he stopped.
"What?"
"Please," he looked at her with tear filled eyes. "Don't make me…just leave me alone."
Michaela blinked away her own tears.
Sully's heart broke at the sight. He was tearing her apart. But he couldn't be near her, he couldn't let her see him like this.
"Sully," Michaela slowly reached for his hand. "You don't have to talk. You don't have to tell me anything just…please…don't leave," she tried not to cry but failed.
Tears rolled down Michaela's cheeks and Sully swiftly, yet gently wiped them away.
He then gave a slight nod.
"I won't leave," he whispered.
Michaela sniffed and nodded as well. Then she stood and made her way across the room where she, Sully didn't know what she was doing, and he didn't look to find out.
He just laid back down and closed his eyes, but he didn't fall asleep. He remained awake for many hours. Long after, Michaela laid back beside him. He could sense, she was not asleep either. But he stayed as far away as possible from her. His mind was keeping him awake with endless though. As was Michaela's. Thoughts of questions for her husband and she knew he would answer none of them.
XXXXX
Early that next morning, Sully was in the barn tending the horses. They didn't need to be tended to, but he had to do something to busy himself. The sun was just beginning to rise above to mountains, he felt as if it just set.
Rubbing a hand over his face, Sully gave a yawn. He was extremely tired, but he didn't want to sleep for a single second. And he especially didn't want to lay beside Michaela.
The sound of the barn door opening disturbed the silence.
Sully turned to see Brian standing there.
"Brian," he let out a breath.
"Morning Pa," the boy quietly entered the barn.
"What are you doing up so early?" Sully brushed his horses back.
Brian shrugged.
"Just awake, I guess," he replied. "What about you?"
"Couldn't sleep," Sully said.
"Matthew and Colleen are up too."
Sully nodded in understanding.
"Why don't you start getting ready for school?" He said. "I'll take you."
"Okay," Brian turned and departed the barn.
Now that Sully was left alone, he leaned against a post beside him and let out a heavy sigh. Today was going to be another difficult day.
XXXXX
Sully stood at the anvil at the Livery, molding a burning iron. His mind began to wander as he pounded heavily at the metal. He thought about the happenings last night. How he almost left, and Michaela nearly begged him to stay. Had it gone that far? That his wife had to chase him to make him stay. What was he becoming? Had he let himself go for that long?
The cliff. His mind was there again. The other day, he forced himself to visit that dreaded place. The fear that filled his soul was that when he was first injured.
He could see him so clearly as if he stood before him once again. He could hear the gun clicking, the gravel under his feet. He could feel the punches one after another. But what frightened him the most, was the fall. Being pushed from the cliff, the loss of breath as he fell through the air. The harsh impact of his body against the rocks, and the choking fear of awakening under water.
"Sully!" A voice disturbed his thoughts.
Sully's head shot up and he violently flinched back.
"Easy," it was Robert E.
The younger man let out a shaky breath.
The blacksmith frowned.
"You alright, Sully?"
Sully swallowed heavily and nodded.
"Yeah," he breathed. "You just startled me, that's all."
"Well, by the way, you were pounding on the iron, I thought you might break it."
"Sorry."
"Take it easy," Robert E. patted his arm.
Sully nodded and continued on with his work. But what he didn't realize was that Robert E. hadn't stopped watching him. The blacksmith stared at Sully with questioning eyes. For the past few days, Sully hadn't seemed himself. He seemed more reserved than usual. He would come into work at an earlier and quietly did his work and quickly departed. But there was a stress on his shoulders that Robert E. noticed and he appeared to be getting worse as the days went on.
But who was he to say if Sully was stressed or not? He probably was, but if he was just left alone he'd come around soon enough.