Chapter 10

Sully had studied the map again, and after consulting Cloud Dancing it was decided that they would continue traveling around five in the evening. The men took turns in guarding their camp and napping while the children were advised to rest as long as possible. It was easy for them to fall asleep; after their first real meal in days their eyelids soon grew heavy.

Knowing that it would be difficult to find food during the upcoming days, Sully caught some more fish and prepared them for drying; yet with the silence and solitude of the afternoon unwanted thoughts returned to him. Simply blocking them out didn't work anymore, now that he was closer by himself than he had been in months. When he'd learned that Cloud Dancing had almost been beaten to death he'd willingly entered the dark tunnel that didn't allow him to see anything but the fear that he might be too late with preparing his brother's escape. Fortunately the medicine man was now gaining strength again, and if they managed to get up to the Northern Cheyenne territory there was a real chance for him to live a free life for the rest of his days.

However, with Brian entering his mind earlier a strange feeling had settled inside of Sully's chest. It grew with every passing hour, making take in deep breaths almost impossible. Although he wasn't able to exactly interpret the sensation he at least knew it was a warning. He only couldn't tell whether it was about his family in Colorado Springs or rather about an approaching danger on this trip.

Assuming the latter because it was the obvious he was particularly careful when they eventually resumed their way north.

Much to his relief their riding through the woods was uneventful and he even dared, after he was sure they'd crossed the border to Wyoming by then, to lead them along the forest's edge. If need be, they could quickly vanish into the protection of the wood again.

No one was around though, and they continued riding after dusk. The hot day quickly turned into a starlit night, and in addition a full moon provided them with enough light for them to travel safely. It was close to midnight when they finally reached the place from where they would start crossing the plains.

This last wood they passed through was a small one surrounded by even land, like a rocky promontory overlooking a bay. Around two hundred yards before them was stretching a long line of stamped soil, trodden by thousands and thousands of feet and hooves, leading straight from east to west.

"Rattlesnake Pass," Cloud Dancing said quietly. From now on, the land would be new to him.

He knew from the map though that they had still to cover thirty-five miles through rather flat land without trees before they would see the range of hills that were their destination for this part of the trip. Casting a searching look at his friend in order to gauge his mood he decided it was time to make it clear that he would take responsibility again.

"White Fawn should ride with me from now on," he suggested, his voice firm.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Sully instantly rejected the plan, adjusting the boy's arms that reached from behind around his waist. "You're still in pain, and who knows what ridin' in twos will do to your wound."

Yet the medicine man didn't give in. Not this time. "We are faster when we each take a child, letting them sit in front of us and hold on to the mane like White Fawn does now." Turning his eyes to the boy sitting behind Sully he affirmed rather than asked, "You can do that, can you?"

Little Arrow nodded eagerly. It would be a relief not having to try to keep a grip on Sully whilst his cheek rested against the man's back. He would finally get a full view of the land surrounding them.

Sully didn't like it, but he was aware that his brother had a point.

"Alright," he nodded, "We'll give it a try."

His words weren't out yet when both Arapahos already climbed down from his horse. Sully, however, still went on, "But as soon as… What?"

Cloud Dancing's form had gone rigid, and Wolf, who had been quiet all along the way, let out a low growl.

"Riders from the east," the Cheyenne said, turning his horse back to the wood.

xxx

Sergeant O'Connor was quite pleased with himself. Having changed horses already twice, first at Fort Lupton and then at Fort Collins, he and his men had been able to reach the plains of Wyoming after only thirty-six hours of relentless riding. Half of the way was covered.

He was going to Yellowstone National Park in spite of his conviction that Mrs. Sully had lied to him, yet by proving this he could add to the charges he would press against her as soon as he returned to Colorado Springs.

Their next stop was Camp Brown around one hundred and fifty miles ahead. Depending on how his men were holding up they would only change horses again and immediately continue on their way. He knew though that his companions' patience with him was wearing thin for he had only allowed them a couple of hours of sleep since they'd left their base camp in Colorado.

One of the two soldiers with him was the young boy who witnessed the interrogation of the doctor. O'Connor hadn't made up his mind yet what to do with him. The easiest solution would be having him involved in a battle, no matter how small. It was normal that soldiers were shot to death during a fight. There was, however, Sergeant McKay to consider who would grow even more suspicious than he already was.

Although O'Connor was not afraid of what the man could possibly report he still knew that he needed to be careful. Not all of his superiors approved of his methods like General Wooden who wouldn't mind if he killed every Indian and Indian friend that crossed his way. There were too many of President Grant's officers in the army by now. All they wanted was the Indian matter to be settled quickly and quietly, without losing their face in front of the public. It was this kind of officers who'd already cautioned him twice. The army, however, was O'Connor's life and he had no desire to leave it.

With all these thoughts on his mind he still paid attention to his surroundings. He'd taken several possibilities regarding Mr. Sully's whereabouts into consideration. One of them was that he was actually heading north, and if he'd calculated right the two fugitives could already have made it up to this place. Thus he kept checking the edge of the woods on their left as if his arch enemy would appear there any minute, and if he did he would be ready to strike.

When it actually happened, O'Connor's heart leapt inside of his chest. As he caught a movement between the trees only a few hundred yards ahead of them he didn't doubt for one second the identity of those who were hiding behind the trees.

Since he was leading their group he didn't have to command his soldiers; they simply followed suit as he pulled at the reins, forcing his horse to halt.

O'Connor didn't give an explanation when he pointed to the suspicious spot, saying matter-of-factly, "We're gonna take a closer look there."

The moment Sully recognized Sergeant O'Connor a chill raced through his veins. He didn't have to think, he knew what to do.

"Ya take the kids back. I'll distract them," he said in a low tone, getting ready to ride out into the open.

Yet Cloud Dancing held his hand up to stop him. Bending down to the children he whispered something in Cheyenne, and before Sully could react, they ran out from their hiding place, pretending to play tag.

Dumbfounded by the sight of a girl chasing after a small boy, O'Connor stopped his horse again.

"What the hell…" he huffed not trusting his eyes, especially when the children suddenly stopped upon noticing them. Stunned he watched as they waved in their direction and then vanished between the trees again, only leaving the sound of a light giggle behind.

For his men this was it. They looked at him questioningly, expecting to be ordered back onto the road.

Yet the sergeant didn't believe in children appearing from nowhere in which they disappeared again. Not in an uninhabited place in the middle of the night, not when he was searching for two men whose nature it was to deceive.

"It's a trick," he decided, getting ready to start towards the treeline again.

The two soldiers glanced at each other, fearing their officer had lost it after riding like a maniac for almost two days with only little sleep in between. They were tired and hungry and had enough from being treated as if they were just horses. In fact, at the moment they would prefer to be horses for then they would have been exchanged.

"I thought we're after a white male and an Indian," the older one dared to object.

"And I say it's a trick!" O'Connor growled, glowering at the man.

"How?" The soldier was incredulous. "Ya think they are in disguise?"

"How dare you, Martins! Don't forget who you're talkin' to!" O'Connor was glaring daggers by now, not wanting to waste any more minute.

"But ya said we need to get to Camp Brown as soon as possible," the young soldier spoke up now as well. He had met Mr. Sully's son Brian at the reservation. "And we don't have a reason to think these kids are with Mr. Sully," he added, blushing about his boldness but still continued, "They ain't his."

That was the first argument that went through to the sergeant. As certain as he was that Sully was hiding from him just a few hundred yards away, as well did he know that the boy and the girl had no connection to him.

Sully had been holding his breath until the soldiers turned back to the street. To be precise, all four of them had. They stood impossibly still until even the last faint sound of hooves beating the road subsided.

Only then did Sully shift on his horse and looked at Cloud Dancing.

"What's O'Connor doin' here?" he burst out, not able to contain his anxiety any longer.

He knew the answer though, and, without knowing it, he was as sincere as the sergeant had been that it was him hiding behind the trees. Thus he answered his own question, "He's lookin' for us."

"He is riding west," Cloud Dancing pointed out quietly, although he shared Sully's suspicion.

"I can see that." Sully was about to lose his nerves which made him impatient. "But what's he doin' here in the first place?"`

Cloud Dancing sensed rather than saw the children drawing closer to him and knew they needed to find an answer to this question soon. If the sergeant was in the area because he knew about their destination, someone in Colorado Springs must have talked. There were only two possibilities, and so he explored the first one.

"How much did you tell Dr. Mike?" he wanted to know, keeping anything that could be interpreted as an accusation away from his tone.

Sully didn't take offence about the question's indications. After all, his fearing Michaela could give away anything, even if only unconsciously, had been one of the reasons he'd kept her in the dark.

"Nothin'," he simply replied, frowning as the truth of his brother's former words sank in. The soldiers were heading in a different direction than theirs; they'd just crossed ways. Coincidences happened. They simply should resume riding.

Yet the Cheyenne thought he hadn't heard right. "What do you mean with nothing?"

"What it says," Sully replied, with his thoughts already on the way.

Only when his friend's silence stretched he glanced at him again, wondering what was wrong.

"You should go home," Cloud Dancing said firmly, holding his white brother's gaze. He could not even start to imagine what Dr. Mike was going through; she must be worried beyond measure.

Sully, however, slowly shook his head. He knew he owed Michaela some explanations but not before he finished what he'd started. "I'll take ya all up north like I promised. Ya still need my help, and ya know it," he at last retorted, matching his brother's determination.

With that, the topic was closed for him, and Cloud Dancing acknowledged that this mission was important to his friend. He would not question that.

It was around two in the morning when each rider adjusted the child sitting before him and gently kicked their horses' side, urging them into a canter. The North Star guided them.

xxx

At the same time, Michaela lit the lamp at her bedside again. She gave up on her attempt to fall asleep.