Chapter 7

They had been riding along the slopes of the mountain range that stretched from south to north for two days now. Although it would have been more comfortable to take the roads in the plains, Sully had chosen this way deliberately. They could hide more easily in the woods and avoid the forts that were scattered at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

For today's night camp he'd chosen a place close to the Fourmile Canyon Creek near the young town Boulder. The forest was still dense here so they could even dare to make a fire. Fortunately it hadn't rained for quite a while, so the twigs and small branches they would used were dry, not producing telltale smoke.

"Feels like the old times," Sully said wistfully as he built a circle for the fire with stones that the children were bringing him from the creek's edge.

Yet the moment the words were out he knew they weren't true. The days when he'd roamed the woods with his Cheyenne family had been peaceful, even carefree in a way although they always worried about finding enough food for the tribe. Not even the familiar sounds and smells could cover up that the picture looked very much the same but the situation had changed completely: they were running for their lives.

Back then Cloud Dancing had made his life worth living again, and now Sully was doing the same for his brother. No one and nothing could keep him from that. He wouldn't be here anymore without the Cheyenne so it was his turn to save him. In order to fulfill his mission Sully had cleansed his mind, suppressing any thought that might distract him from the task.

He glanced at Cloud Dancing who grimaced in pain as he carefully lowered himself onto the ground. But even when he eventually sat, the medicine man didn't respond to his friend's remark.

The Cheyenne was concerned. Not for himself or the children that had joined them but for his brother. The longer he stayed away from Colorado Springs, the more difficult it would become for him to explain his absence. But Sully had flatly refused to go back to his family when he'd asked him to do so. Recognizing then how important it was to his friend to take him north, Cloud Dancing knew it was useless to suggest it again. Apart from that he acknowledged that he wasn't well enough yet to make it all the way up to the Tongue River Valley on his own, only accompanied by Little Arrow and his sister.

Thus he stayed silent. He closed his eyes and prayed to the spirits that Sully's life wouldn't be destroyed because of his desire to help.

Eventually, the fire burned. It was small enough to not be noticeable from the distance but strong enough to boil some water for tea. Whilst Cloud Dancing lay on his fur Sully and the two Arapaho sat cross-legged, looking into the dancing flames.

"Wanna tell now how ya found us?" Sully asked quietly, using a stick to push some twigs to the centre of the fire.

Before his sister could reply, Little Arrow grinned mischievously, "We followed you."

"What?" Alarmed, Sully looked from the boy to the girl. If that was true he hadn't been cautious enough. "Since when?" he demanded.

White Fawn held his gaze when she responded, "The first day."

Stunned into speechlessness Sully stared at the girl who wasn't intimidated in the least. She could tell by now that this white man was no threat to her and her brother. It was he who took them to their destination, not the Cheyenne how she'd initially thought.

"We were with the woman and children on the wagon that left the reservation," she elaborated. "Then the soldiers came after us and shot. Our mother was hit. Before she fell to the ground she told us to follow the medicine man."

Since the children were small they didn't have any problem to escape in the turmoil that started once the soldiers caught up with the wagon. Right before their mother was shot White Fawn had spotted the Indian agent who ran with the Cheyenne towards the edge of the reservation. It wasn't difficult to find and read their tracks, and it was even easier to follow because the noise of the men's horses swallowed any sound that might have given their own presence away. When they eventually noticed the soldiers this morning, White Fawn knew it was time to reveal themselves.

After learning the girl's story, Cloud Dancing looked at Sully who ran his hand through his hair as it was his habit when he was upset. The Indian knew his brother: all he had heard was that the mother of the children was dead. He saw it as his fault; the escape he'd planned had turned into chaos. Now he was stricken with guilt.

"You are not to blame," the medicine man said sincerely as he sat up with quite some effort. "It was her decision to flee."

The children didn't understand what was going on between the men but waited for their decision about what would happen with them. Soon enough they knew.

"I'll take ya up to the Northern Territory. I promise," Sully vowed when he eventually looked up again. "Tomorrow we'll try to make it to the Red Feather Lakes. We'll pass two more forts on our way."

He didn't have to say more. Each one at the small fire knew what that meant.

xxx

It was still dark outside when Michaela sat up in bed, gasping for air. A large black rock had been hovering over her threatening to fall, smashing her. When she realized that it had only been a dream, relief flooded her yet it didn't hold long. As she turned in order to look whether she had woken Sully, her gaze fell on the empty place on his side of their bed. Her nightmare was going on.

Exhausted, she pushed the hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ears. The more alert she became, the more she felt the pain in her left hand. Obviously, the dose of morphine had worn off and a dull ache behind her temples reminded her that there was a price to pay for using the drug. Fortunately one of the children had left a glass of water on her nightstand so she could at least do something against her dry mouth.

After taking a few small sips she rose from the bed, wanting to check on Katie.

Her daughter slept soundly, sucking on her thumb from time to time. Gently, Michaela pulled it out although she knew it wouldn't take long for it to be back at its old place.

Looking at the innocent face of her slumbering baby, Michaela felt the chill from the afternoon again. How could a grown man threaten to shoot a small child? Any child? In fact, any other human being?

What would O'Connor do once he'd find out that Sully wasn't at Yellowstone Park? She wouldn't take the risk that he came close to her children again, and of course there was only one solution: she had to get them out of his reach.

Although she shivered in the cool night air she didn't don her robe as she went over to the window; she was too occupied by her contemplating what to do. Colleen would be back in college soon and was already an adult like Matthew. They weren't in as grave a danger as Brian and Katie. At least she hoped so.

No matter how Michaela twisted and turned it, she could only think of one place where her younger children would be protected and safe: Boston. She would send her children to Boston.

Feeling as if a weight had been taken from her shoulders, she took in a deep breath, exhaling it slowly with her eyes roaming the yard beneath her, not really seeing it. Yet suddenly an unusual sight arrested her attention and she took a quick step back.

Three soldiers had built an observation post on the way to her family's property, and one of them was looking in her direction. She didn't know whether he had spotted her, but she felt exposed all the same. Only now did she begin to comprehend what O'Connor had meant when he told her that he would watch her every step.

Slowly retreating into her bed she was even more determined now to take Brian and Katie out of here. The only question was how to get them to their grandmother.

However, her head barely touched the pillow when she had second thoughts already. Sitting up again she chewed on the tip of her right thumb, thinking hard. It was not foreseeable how long it would take until their situation wasn't dangerous anymore. Wouldn't her sending the children away damage this family even more? Brian was almost thirteen; he had deep roots in Colorado Springs. As much as he loved his grandma, he would still feel alone only with his little sister around. No friends, no Matthew nor Colleen, and maybe worst of all, she herself wouldn't be there for him right after he lost his second father. The same went for Katie; she'd already lost one parent. Was it wise to take the other one from her, too?

An itching inside of the plaster distracted her from her troubled thoughts. Frowning, she turned on the lamp next to her bed. Worriedly, she noticed the dark red color of her fingertips, which even held a blue hue. She had been reluctant about using plaster, fearing that the bruising on the back of her hand might swell. She should have listened to her instinct. All she could do now was cut off the pinching bandage and find another way to stabilize the bones.

When she left her bed she made a mental note that she needed to discuss with her children what they thought was more important: being safe from O'Connor in Boston or feeling secure by staying with the family.

xxx

After they convinced Michaela to turn in now that Matthew was with them, the Cooper siblings had made their own plans in the evening. At the breakfast table they went over their new schedules as they heard their mother come down the stairs. All their heads were turned towards her when she at last entered the kitchen.

Upon seeing Dr. Mike everybody moved. Colleen rose and went to the hearth, filling a plate with scrambled eggs whilst Matthew and Brian got up simultaneously in order to pull out a chair for their ma. Matthew was faster.

He waited until she sat before he asked quietly, trying to keep the concern out of his voice, "How are ya?"

He had helped Colleen in the middle of the night to cut through the plaster. It had to be done in a way so that a part of it could still be used like a case for the broken part of her hand. It hadn't been easy, but somehow they'd managed. Getting a glimpse of the injured hand in the dim light of the oil lamp he'd been shocked, so of course he failed in sounding relaxed. How could one pretend to not be worried upon seeing a beloved one in pain? Not only the physical, obvious pain but even more the one that darkened her face?

As expected, Michaela didn't want anyone to fret. "I'm fine, Matthew. Thank you," she assured as she gratefully glanced at Colleen who put down the plate before her.

Adjusting the sling for her arm around her neck she didn't notice that the children exchanged a look which was the sign for Colleen to broach the news. So it happened that both women started to speak simultaneously.

"Ma, we talked it through…" said Colleen whilst Michaela began, "I have something to discuss with you."

"You first," Colleen offered, almost smiling.

Michaela thanked her with a nod and came straight to the point. "What would you think if we take Brian and Katie to my mother?" she began. "Boston is…"

"What? No!" Brian looked aghast as he put down his biscuit on his plate. "You can't send me away!"

Michaela sighed. "I don't send you away, Brian. All I want for you is to be safe from Sergeant O'Connor. I would never forgive myself if…"

"Dr. Mike." Matthew's calm voice stopped her from continuing.

"Dr. Mike," the young man repeated bending towards her, shortly touching her hand on the table in a soothing way. "Separatin' Brian and Katie from us is not a good idea."
"But the sergeant…" Michaela interjected, willing her children to understand the danger before they made a decision.

"He's left town last night." Matthew silenced her with that. He waited until he saw that the importance of this information had sunk in before he continued, "Indians attacked the town in the late evenin' and the army is chasin' them now. I talked to McKay, and he said that O'Connor's headin' north 'cause he thinks the dog soldiers have a camp there."

Michaela didn't correct her eldest; she was sure that O'Connor was going after Sully: Yellowstone was located north-west of Colorado Springs.

Taking his chances, Brian instantly made use of the pause in the conversation. "Ma," he said eagerly, picking up his biscuit again, "we've made a plan. Colleen will help ya at the clinic and keep an eye on Katie when you're there. But when ya gotta ride out to your patients, I'll take care of her. And me and Matthew're gonna share the chores here at the homestead so ya don't have to worry 'bout anythin'."

The boy's eyes shone with enthusiasm as he explained the plan. "What do ya think?" he asked, looking at her expectantly.

Michaela searched Colleen and Matthew's faces whether their mind was already set. It was.

"Alright," she conceded, not knowing yet whether she was relieved that the family would face the upcoming challenges together. "If you are certain…"

"We are," Matthew confirmed as he got up from his seat. "I gotta go to town," he explained reaching for his hat on the chair next to him.

He was already at the door when he put it on his head, saying, "Need to take stock of the damage the dog soldiers caused last night."

"See ya later!" Brian called after him before he took another large bite from his biscuit.

Michaela couldn't help but smile at the sight; it gave her a sense of normality. She wasn't alone in this; they would make it through this ordeal together.

Picking up her fork, Michaela began to eat as well.