The Hazle Eyed Monster chapter 7

(Firstly huge apologies for how long it has taken me to put up this chapter. I have been writing some short stories and this chapter just didn't seem to inspire me, however the next chapter is already mostly planned in my head and I hope to get it out later this week)

Sully looked around at the lush vegetation and thick trees as he and Michaela briskly made their way to the Indian Reservation to seek help from Cloud Dancing. The late afternoon sun was starting to sink towards the horizon and despite the rapid pace at which they were travelling, Sully feared that they would be making their return journey in the dark, which although he had done so on a number of occasions, it was not something that Dr Mike would be familiar with.

He glanced over at her, noting the strained expression on her face and her frown of concentration. She looked so anxious he wished there was something he could do to ease her mind but he knew that when it came to medical matters, particularly those pertaining to her own children, there were no words of comfort that he could offer. So instead he did the only thing he knew how. He reached over across his horse and gently squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

Michaela started at his touch. Her mind had been miles away. In her head she had been reviewing Brian's medical history and comparing his symptoms to other cases she had heard of or treated herself, but to her frustration nothing seemed to fit. Despite her initial fright she felt her neck relaxing under Sully's warm and firm grip and she was amazed to physically feel some of the tension literally drain away under his touch. She inclined her head ever so slightly in his direction as if to acknowledge the pressure of his fingers and the sentiment that had accompanied it.

"Try not to worry Dr Mike."

"I just don't understand what could be the problem. He presented initially with what looked like some sort of abdominal pain but then he was fine. He had no temperature and didn't display undue pain when examined."

"Maybe Cloud Dancing will be able to help."

Michaela pulled her horse to a sudden stop and reached over and grasped his hand hard.

"I hope so Sully because I tell you that I just don't know what to do."

"He's a young and strong boy Dr Mike."

"Young and strong people die all the time Sully." She saw a shadow pass across Sully's face and realized what she had said.

"I'm sorry Sully, I didn't mean to…."

"It's alright. It's true what you say. People who shouldn't die do." Sully nodded his head in the direction of the rapidly setting sun. "We better keep moving Dr Mike, it's going to be dark real soon."

Michaela looked up, momentarily confused as to how time had kept ticking when to her it seemed only minutes since Brian's collapse.

Sully had whispered to his horse and they were already trotting off into the distance. Michaela urged her own horse to follow.

They did not speak again until they reached they saw the Cheyenne camp. As always the people did not seem too concerned at their appearance and Snow Bird came forward with a smile when she was the Dr Mike was accompanying Sully.

"Snow Bird, where is Cloud Dancing? Dr Mike needs to speak to him urgently."

"I'm sorry Sully, but he is not here. The spirits have called him up to the Black Hills for a time of solitude and visions."

Michaela slid off her horse, the worry in her face almost painful to see.

"He's not here?" Michaela turned her frantic eyes onto Sully as her legs seemed to buckle underneath her. Sully reached her side and she collapsed into his arms. Snow Bird watched them anxiously.

"Dr Mike, what is the matter?"

"It's Brian, there's something wrong with him. I don't know what it is. I was hoping that Cloud Dancing might be able to help me."

"Cloud Dancing is very close to Brian. If he thought that Brian was in some danger he would not have gone."

"It's only just happened Snow Bird. Cloud Dancing would not have known."

Snow Bird shook her head "He would have known and he would not have gone. Are you sure Brian is really sick?"

"Sully had to carry him into the clinic. He could hardly walk from the pain."

"I am not a healer like my husband Dr Mike but I know when your children are sick you will do anything to help them."

Michaela turned anxiously to Sully "What do we do? Do we go and find him or head back and I try to help him on my own."

"The Black Hills are at least a days ride from here Dr Mike. I think it is too far."

"But I need his help. I don't know what to do." The final admission that things were well and truly out of her control seemed to shatter her composure and she began to weep on Sully's shoulder. He stroked her hair and tried to comfort her. And for a moment with his hands smoothing down her hair, she felt safe.

The beating of Sully's heart seemed to grow louder and louder until Michaela realized that is was not his heartbeat she could hear but the sound of hoof beats resounding through the camp. Someone was coming and in a big hurry.

Michaela glanced up, hoping to see Cloud Dancing riding through the camp, not unlike a knight in shinning armour from days of old but the person that she saw on horse back only served to increase her fears.

"Matthew, what is it? What are you doing here? Is Brian worse?" The questions just fell from her mouth so quickly that Matthew did not have time to respond. Clearly he had been racing for both he and his mount were totally out of breath.

He shook his head and answered what he considered to be her most urgent question.

"Brian is fine." Sully came forward with some water for Matthew and his horse and Matthew gulped at the cold liquid eagerly. When he finally had sated his thirst and was able to speak without panting he went on to answer the rest of her questions.

"Dr Mike, I have something to tell you about Brian and you are not going to like it."

"But I thought you said he was fine."

"He is fine. He always was fine."

"I don't understand what you are saying Matthew."

"There was never anything wrong with Brian at all. He was faking it."

"There must be some mistake. I saw him with my own eyes. Are you sure he is not just pretending to be fine because he doesn't want to worry us."

"He confessed to me that he pretended to be in pain."

"But why would Brian do something like that?"

For the first time Matthew glanced over at Sully, a look that Sully quickly interpreted.

"It's about me and Marina isn't it?"

Matthew looked down at the ground before nodding his head. "He saw the two of you together and he didn't like it and he figured if he pretended to be sick that…." Matthew broke of, hesitant to complete the sentence."

"Go on Matthew please. Tell me what Brian said." Michaela still could not believe that Brian would be so deceitful.

"Well he thought if he was ill the two of you would work together to fix him and he was hoping that it would remind you both that you liked each other."

Michaela stood totally stunned. She was not sure which part of the story was more disturbing, the fact that she could not see through the pretense, or that her own son could act in such a manner.

She felt deeply ashamed and embarrassed.

Snow Bird took the opportunity to bow her head and walk back to the rest of the camp.

Michaela was reluctant to look at Sully but her head snapped up when he spoke to Matthew.

"Why would Brian confess all this? Wouldn't he be better off keeping it a secret."

"Marina caught him spying out the window on you two. She confronted him and he yelled at her."

Despite her chagrin at Brian's behaviour, Michaela could not help feel a tiny pinch of pride that Brian had no more regard for Marina than she did herself.

Sully however sensed that there was more that Matthew was not telling them.

"So he yelled at her and then confessed?"

"No, he only told us afterwards that he had been fine all along."

"Afterwards? After what?"

Matthew again looked like he would rather be any where else on earth than have to break this news.

"After, Marina stormed out of the clinic, took Jake's horse and galloped out of town yelling about how she was going to come and find you and tell you about the sort of family that you were mixed up in."

Sully was instantly alert.

"You mean to tell me that Marina stole a horse and is wandering around out here trying to find us."

"To be honest Sully, it doesn't sound like Marina is too concerned for my welfare. It would appear to be you that her sole interest is in." Michaela was quick to point out.

Sully grabbed the reins of his horse and quickly mounted. Michaela's heart sank at the worry on Sully's face and his apparent eagerness to rescue Marina.

"Matthew, take Dr Mike back to town. I will search East of here along Bear creek until it reaches town."

"Loren has already organized two search parties. I am supposed to meet him with them on the other side of the ridge." Matthew appeared indignant about being sent home with his Ma. His Ma was inclined to agree with him."

"Sully, this is my fault as much as it is Brian's. Let me go with you and help you find her. I feel responsible."

"This is nothing to do with you Michaela. But if it is humanly possible, Marina has even less sense and skills to cope out here in the wilderness then even you did when I first met you. I need to get her safely home to her Father."

"You said so yourself earlier that it was getting dark and it wasn't safe. It would be better if Matthew met the others and I stay with you. Then we will be like another search party."

"I don't have time to argue with you Dr Mike. Please just go back with Matthew to town where you will be safe."

"If you don't have time to argue with me than we better just get moving." And without another word she clambered onto her horse and trotted in the direction of the creek.

Sully sighed in frustration

"So, I guess I will just be heading off to meet the others then." Matthew was most eager to depart from the uncomfortable tension that wafted around the camp like a bad smell.

He watched as Sully peered in the direction that Michaela had ridden off on her horse and then suddenly galloped off into the encroaching darkness. With a sigh of relief that he didn't have to join those two, Matthew set off to find the other searchers.