Some one horrible this way comes.
Let me know what you think
Kate x
O'Connor's Ghost
"You didn't have to stay you know," Brian wiped his hand free from ink and moved to the work bench were Matthew was sat patiently folding papers.
"Ma's worried about you?" Matthew told him softly. "She thinks you're working too hard."
"Did she ask you to stay?" Brian looked slightly crestfallen.
"Nah," Matthew neatly stacked a bunch of papers. "I figured we don't get to spend any time together now I've moved away, I miss us. Going fishing, just spending time together."
"I miss ya too," Brian admitted, he blushed, "won't ya get lonely on the train by yaself?"
Matthew shook his head. "We'd only travel as far as Omaha together anyway, sides loneliness of a train journey against spending time with my little bro. Think I'll live with the loneliness," Matthew winked at his younger brother. "Are you ok other than just work, you seemed kinda distant?" Matthew looked at his younger brother with concern, the true reason for his slightly extended stay. He had chosen to stay a few extra days over beyond Colleen, Andrew and Elizabeth who had all left this morning along with the Howells.
Brian sighed and slumped into the stool, "I just been thinking."
"Bout?" Matthew pressed.
"I'm gonna be seventeen in a few weeks and I've been real lucky, I had two Ma's and our real Ma she's been gone longer then she was with us. I get scared I'm gonna forget her sometimes. I guess I miss her at Christmas, I got this memory of when we were kids the last Christmas before she died and each time I think about it it's gets fuzzier," Brian wiped his eyes with his wrist.
"You won't forget her Brian," Matthew shook his head. "None of us will, she's part of us."
"I know," Brian sighed. "I think it's seeing Katie so excited and how Ma and Pa are with her I get kinda jealous we never had that." He looked tiredly at the floor, "I just remember our real Ma being tired and trying to make it special even though she had nothing," he sighed. "You ever get scared we're gonna turn out like him?"
"Like Ethan?" Matthew shook his head violently. "Never gonna happen."
"How do you know, he's part of us too," Brian looked terrified at his older brother, scared that one day he would look in the mirror and see Ethan Cooper staring back at him.
"Coz he weren't around to taint us," Matthew rose from the seat tenderly he squeezed his brother's shoulders. "You were raised by Sully, and Sully's a real man, you follow Sully your gonna be alright. Just look how you are with Rosie, that's pure Sully."
Brian smiled as he brought his arm up to take his brother's hand, "Thank you."
"No problem," Matthew patted Brian's other shoulder. "I met a lotta men Brian, a lotta evil men like Ethan, you're about as far from them as you can get. You ain't ever gonna be like him."
Brian smiled and rose from his seat, he held his arms out hoping that his brother would understand what he wanted. After a second Matthew pulled him in and the two brothers hugged tightly. After a few moments Brian slapped Matthew on the back and Matthew repeated the action, the tenderness gone replaced with manly machismo required of a male on the western frontier. "Can I ask ya to do something for me?" Brian asked quietly as they moved apart.
"Sure, what is it?" Matthew sat back down on his seat and began to fold the papers once more.
"Can you help me change my name?" Brian asked, he smiled as Matthew looked up at him with surprise. "I kept Cooper because of our real Ma but like you said I'm Sully's son. I know they adopted me and Colleen but I'd kinda like for it to be visible that I'm theirs."
Matthew grinned, "I can do that, I'll draft it up for ya file it for ya," he chuckled. "Brian Cooper-Sully, got a good ring to it."
"It does," Brian nodded in agreement. "You change people's names alot?"
"No," Matthew shook his head. "I know how to do it coz I changed mine."
"You changed ya name?" Brian looked at his brother in surprise.
"Yeah," Matthew smiled, "changed my middle name from Ethan to Charles," he waved his hand clearly wanting to change the subject. "So how bout you and Rosie?"
Matthew grinned as Katie slammed into his legs with a fearsome hug, "I don't want you ta go Mattew," she mumbled into his torso as she hugged him for dear life. "Summer is soooooooooo long away!"
I know Katie girl," Matthew patted her back. "But I'll write ya,"
"You will," Katie looked up at him with glee. "Oh Mattew you such a good brother."
"You're a real good sister," Matthew hauled his four year old sister onto his hip. "You do me a favour?"
"Anything," Katie looked at him adoringly.
"You keep an eye on Brian for me," Matthew asked softly, he glanced to the left to where Sully and Brian were loading his bags for him. "I think he's a little bit sad, could use a few extra hugs."
"I'm on it," Katie nodded seriously. "I'll get de ovhers on it too," she grinned. "We'll hug him to pieces."
"Good I knew I could count on you," Matthew kissed her as he lowered her to the ground. He turned to Michaela and smiled weakly at her, her face was pale her eyes wide with surprise, no doubt because of what he had just told Katie. "He's alright," he assured her, "just worried he was forgetting our real Ma and that he would turn out like Ethan."
"That's preposterous," Michaela shook her head, loosening a fine spray of hair from her hat. "Brian is nothing like..."
"I know," Matthew told her softly. "I know, I think it's coz it's Christmas."
Michaela sighed. "Yes it can be confronting. Who's that with Sully?" she blurted as she stared down the platform.
Matthew turned to look and froze, he knew the sight well, the smartly dressed forceful man trying to give Sully a piece of paper which Sully was refusing to take. Matthew let go of his sister's hand and jogged down the platform.
"Look you got to take it," the summons server was trying to explain.
"Matthew Cooper, I'm Mr Sully's lawyer," Matthew piped out, extending his hand for the paper.
The server gave a sigh of relief and slapped the paper into Matthew's hand "Thanks, look sorry man, it's my job," he looked at Sully apologetically.
"Get my bags," Matthew muttered as he stared at the contents of the summons.
"What is it?" Michaela asked as she hurried to join them as fast as she could with both the babies and Katie in tow.
"Sully's being sued for damages," Matthew took a deep breath. "Pertaining to the unlawful killing of Sergeant Brian O'Connor."
"What?" Michaela stared at her son in shock before her eyes flicked onto her husband, he had paled, all of the blood looking like it had drained from his face.
"Don't worry," Matthew folded the piece of paper in half. "I'll sort it, we might have to have a hearing but I can fix this in five minutes. You still have your pardon right?"
"Of course," Michaela answered for Sully.
"Don't worry," Matthew repeated. "I can fix this, she'll be out of your hair in a few days."
"She?" Sully finally found his voice.
"Irene O'Connor," Matthew muttered, "his wife."
"His wife," Brian muttered. "Who'd want to marry him?" he shook his head, comfortingly he placed his hand on Sully's shoulder. "Don't worry Pa, Matthew will sort it out I know he will."
Michaela slipped into the seat beside Sully and curled his hair through her fingers. "Talk to me," she urged him, massaging the base of his neck with her finger. "She won't be able to do anything," she prompted. "Not when you have this," gently Michaela picked up one of the most important pieces of paper in existence, Sully's Presidential pardon.
"But what if she does, what if the judge says she has a case," Sully sighed and gripped hold of her hand. "I don't want you to suffer because of what I did."
"We won't," Michaela assured him, tenderly she took hold of his cheeks, cupping her hands around them and directing his head to look directly at him. "We have some money saved and we can remortgage the house."
"No," Sully shook his head violently, "I won't have our house being taken away from us."
"How is this any different with what we did when that sickness infected the clinic?" Michaela pointed out gently. "As long as we are together, it's just money Sully," she kissed him softly. "It means nothing really. Besides I know a very good architect who took a major in shelter building," she smiled.
"How are you so calm about this?" Sully sighed. "She could be about to ruin our life, I could be about to ruin our l…"
Michaela silenced him with a kiss. "Never, you will never ruin our lives. What you did was not your best decision but you did it for the right reason. O'Connor was an evil man, what he did, what he threatened to do was unspeakable. She will not win."
Sully stared back at her his blue eyes filling with tears that threatened to spill down his tawny cheeks, "I want to believe ya."
"So believe me," Michaela kissed his forehead. "She will not win, what Judge will go against the President of our country and besides you have the best lawyer there is."
Sully smiled and pulled her closer. "He is good."
"The best," Michaela reiterated as she leaned in and placed her head on his chest listening intently to the steady comforting beat of his heart. "Everything will work out Sully, I promise."
Sully sank into his chair as the woman swished past with her lawyer, in the eight days since he had been served he had barely slept for fear of what would happen this day. He had been having nightmares about what type of woman Irene O'Connor would be. It hadn't helped that Matthew had been to Denver 3 times, trying to speak to the judge to get the case dropped but he had not been able to see him.
Slowly he turned his head to look at Irene O'Connor, she was a small woman, sour looking, perfect for the bully man that O'Connor had been. Nervously he looked over his shoulder to look for Matthew who had yet to arrive, his absence doing nothing to calm Sully's nerves. He gave a sigh as he realised Matthew had finally turned up.
"I'm so sorry you had to come all this way," Matthew spoke courteously to an older bearded gentleman that Sully recognised as the judge who had presided over Johnny Reed's case. "I did try and see you but you were always out."
"No that's quite understandable Mr Cooper," the judge took his hat off and balanced his folders and brief case. "If you just show me the pardon and I'll put an end to this."
"Oh of course," Matthew held out the precious piece of paper. "As you can see everything is in order."
The judge scanned over it and nodded. "Indeed. Mr Snyder," the judge called Mrs O'Connor's counsel. "Good morning," the judge spoke to the man pleasantly as the lawyer approached him. "May I suggest you do your research before you make a case against someone. A Presidential pardon," he nodded to the piece of paper that Matthew was still holding. "I would not be presumptuous as to go against the President, Mr Sully is a well respected member of the Land Registry Team and at the time Sergeant O'Connor was engaged in a war effort, it is not uncommon for soldiers to die. Will Mrs O'Connor be suing the Army next?" The judge shook his head. "I will not hear this case, it is an irrelevant case, with no merit whatsoever that should never have been filed in the first place. This case is dismissed. Mr Snyder I shall be sending your office my bill, which will include Mr Cooper's three return journeys to Denver where he tried to stop this case and this waste of time. Understood?" He nodded tiredly. "Thank you Mr Cooper it was nice to see you again, thank you for your effort. Now if you'll excuse me I must get back to the station I hope the train has not left yet."
Matthew nodded goodbye to the Judge before slowly extending his hand to the other lawyer to shake.
"Well played Cooper," the other lawyer muttered ignoring Matthew's hand as he stalked off to tell O'Connor's widow her case had been dismissed.
Matthew smirked at the other lawyer's back and shook his head before giving his surprised looking family a huge smile.
"I don't get it," Brian called as his furiously wrote on his reporters pad. "Why did he drop the case without a trial?"
"Sully has a Presidential pardon clearing him of any wrong doing," Matthew explained as he handed the precious piece of paper of to Sully. "No Judge would go against the President and say Sully was involved and did wrong and therefore open to being sued," Matthew grinned. "Don't matter what party they follow, most judges got dreams of politics, they don't want to be seen to rock the boat too much unless it's the right way."
"Thank you so much Matthew," Michaela threw her arms round Matthew's neck, giving him a brief tight hug before stepping back to let Sully thank Matthew.
"Thanks Matthew, I don't know how I can ever repay ya," Sully grasped Matthew's forearm his whole body loosening as the sentence that had been hanging over him vanished.
"You don't need to," Matthew placed his hand on Sully's arm and smiled at him. "I owe you a hundred times more coz of what you guys have done for me, Brian and Colleen." He smiled at Michaela, "I guess you could do me one thing though. I'd need Brian's help as well."
"Anything," Sully smiled earnestly at the young man who he considered his son.
"Yeah, what is it?" Brian leaned over the pew.
"Would you two be my Best Men?" Matthew grinned as both of the men looked shocked.
"You're Best Man," Brian squealed slightly. "Sure Matthew!"
"Why do you need both of us?" Sully asked quietly.
"Well I figured Brian is real good at speeches," Matthew smiled at his brother. "I know you ain't too keen on talking in front of folk," Matthew grinned at Sully. "But I reckon I'm gonna need a strong steady hand to guide me on the day and you're the strongest steadiest person I know."
Sully smiled warmly at Matthew and lifted his hand to touch the young man's chest. "It would be an honour."
"Thanks Sully," Matthew smiled at his pseudo father.
The tender moment was broken by the sound of screeching, Irene O'Connor clearly not happy about what her lawyer was telling her.
"Why'd she do this Ma?" Brian asked as he slipped his arm around his mother's shoulders protectively.
"I'm not certain Brian," Michaela sighed as she leaned into her much taller son for comfort, she caught Sully's eye, letting him know that she wished she was in his arms.
"Money probably," Matthew sighed. "I doubt she has much income, a war widow's pension probably isn't much."
"It's such a shame," Michaela looked at the woman piteously. "O'Connor was a despicable man but he did die in service. It just shows how these unfortunate woman must suffer, not only have they lost their husband but they have lost their means to support their family."
"That's real charitable Ma," Brian muttered. "Especially after what she's just done."
"Yes well," Michaela took a step towards the wall, putting a greater distance between her and Irene O'Connor as the woman stalked from the church. "It's all over now."
"Yeah it is," Matthew drew a line under the subject. "You think I could grab Katie out of school a second?"
"Out of school?" Michaela frowned "Why?"
"If I get the next train, I'll be able to get the train to Cheyenne and catch the last train to Omaha. I'd be able to get home by tomorrow afternoon, rather than the day after tomorrow."
"You're missing Trudy huh?" Brian teased, "You can't wait to kiss her."
"Shut it," Matthew jokingly pushed his little brother. "Yeah I do, I also need to get back for work, I need to get that house, should have enough for summer for putting a down payment on the house, otherwise we're living with her parents," he sighed, "can't have that. I wanna carry her over our threshold not her Ma and Pa's."
"I can't believe the next time we shall see you will be your wedding," Michaela covered her mouth with her hand trying not to tear up. "I'm sure Miss Wyvern will permit you to say goodbye to Katie briefly."
"Yeah you better say bye to Katie," Brian chuckled. "There'll be hell to pay otherwise."
He smiled as he watched her sleep, his beautiful wife, her hand under her cheek as an extra pillow her body curled towards him. Every part of him wanted to kiss her and wake her up but she looked so peaceful he couldn't bring himself to do it. So he was content with watching her. He shifted, his elbow protesting slightly at his current position. She stirred. Sully held his breath. Slowly her eyes peeled opened.
"Sully," she mumbled sleepily.
"Hey," Sully whispered his hand stroking her arm.
"Are you alright?" she yawned, her eyes fighting to stay open.
"I'm fine," Sully shifted closer to her. "I was wondering if we could do some holding?"
"Holding?" her lips curled enticingly in the corner. "I think that can be arranged."
Sully grinned as she slid her leg between his, anchoring her leg behind his knee and using that to pull herself closer to him. Her head came to rest on his chest over his heart. He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Thanks," he kissed her silky hair. "I love you."
"I love you too," Michaela mumbled as sleep tried to claim her.
"Thank you for being there for me," Sully whispered. "I couldn't have done it without you," he kissed her once more.
Michaela turned her head up to look at him. "You would have been fine," she smiled and kissed his warm chest. "It's all over now, no more O'Connor's to worry about," her eyes closed for a final time as she slipped into slumber.
Sully grinned and kissed her for a third time her scent encompassing him pleased beyond words that it was now over.
Michaela smiled at her two youngest as they played together in the corner of the clinic, Sully needing to be out in the open after the stresses of the past week had asked her to watch the babies while he worked at the livery on Violet's birthday present. As she had been uncertain of what could have happened the day before Michaela had purposefully not scheduled any appointments so she could have been around for Sully had the worst happened. Today though it had been like a cloud had lifted from their family, Sully had been happy and upbeat and they could finally look forward. Michaela smiled and made a note on the calendar that the year had started afresh for them on the 11th of January rather than the first day of the year. She rose from her seat and moved to her two daughters.
"What are you doing?" Michaela cooed to Esmee as she knelt next to the two children.
"Payin," Esmee told her with a serious look.
"What are you playing?" Michaela asked her middle daughter gently. She curled Violet's wispy hair round her finger. The baby turned her head to look at her and cooed in response, slowly Violet hauled herself to her feet and moved forward in a little trot to collapse into Michaela's arms. The baby burbled and giggled. "You're having fun I see," she tickled Violet on the tummy.
"Esee fun," Esmee nodded and gave her mother an equally beautiful smile, "Mama pay?"
"Yes Mama will play with you," Michaela adjusted Violet so she could lift one of the toys that the children had been playing with.
"Mama irl," Esmee explained with a serious face. "Esee boy, irl and boy iss," Esmee held out her toy, "iss."
"Kiss," Michaela chuckled and brought her toy to Esmee's. "Esmee did your sister teach you this game? Did Katie teach you this?"
"Kaeee," Esmee grinned. "Yup Kae…."
Michaela and Esmee screamed as the rock sailed through the glass panel of the clinic door. Violet turned as the rock hit the floor, surprised by the sudden thud. Michaela grabbed hold of her daughters and pulled them close to her, terrified that something else would come flying through the broken window. She could hear yelling on the street, Hank shouting after who ever had vandalised the clinic. The door flew open, Michaela stifled her scream but Esmee could not, the toddler upset and startled by what had happened, not helped in the least by her mother's racing heart.
"Ma!" Brian rushed to them. "Are you alright?"
"Ban," Esmee reached tearfully for her brother, "Ban!"
"It's ok Es," Brian lifted the upset toddler from his visibly startled mother. "You're safe."
"Caela!" Sully shot through the door. "Are you Ok?"
"Yes," Michaela managed to find her voice. "We're fine." She smiled weakly as she clutched Violet close to her, the baby grizzling because of the tightness with which she was being held and her mother's evident fear. "What happened?"
"Irene O'Connor," Brian scowled he handed Sully Esmee. "Hank went after her."
Sully clung onto his toddler daughter. "You alright Na'he?"
"Papa no ike," Esmee pointed at the paper covered rock. "No ike."
"Papa doesn't like it either," Sully hugged Esmee tightly, "but we're Ok, aren't we Na'he," he forced himself to smile. "It's alright."
Esmee looked at him uncertain. "Mama sad," she announced shaking her head.
"Mama is alright," Michaela rose to her feet, she stepped into the safety of Sully's arms, their daughters safely between them.
They looked around as Brian cursed.
"Brian," Sully asked nervously. "What is it?"
Brian held out the paper that had covered the stone. "That woman is a witch."
Sully took the piece of paper and scowled, angrily he screwed the paper into a ball. "Did you say Hank had gone after her?"
"What did it say Sully?" Michaela asked nervously.
"Don't matter," Sully hissed.
"Sully I want you to take the girls home," Michaela spoke softly.
"I ain't leaving you," Sully wheeled round and stared at her incredulously. "No way!"
"I need to clean up," Michaela pointed to the broken glass. "And I would rather you were at the homestead," she stopped as both Sully and Brian looked at her with fierce intensity; the idea that the homestead could be in danger clearly not crossed their minds.
"Sides," Brian toed the rock. "I'll be here to look after Ma. I'll bring her straight home as soon as we pick up Katie."
Sully's jaw clenched, clearly the idea not sitting well with him but he nodded. "Thank you," Michaela whispered.
"Don't worry Pa," Brian crouched down and picked up the rock. "Hank will get her and I'll make sure nothing happens to Ma."
Michaela smiled as she listened to Katie chatter away with Ben about their spelling test, her little girl so animated about her learning such a fulfilling feeling, the fact that she had managed to give that small part of herself to her daughter. Her daughter's excitement almost glossing over the horrible incident in the clinic this morning. That final ebb of fear that as Hank did not catch or find Irene that she was still about pushed to the back of her mind by her daughter's gorgeous excitable nature.
"So it was a good day," Michaela pulled Katie's hand eager to get her to the wagon and Brian who was just closing up the Gazette to take them home.
"Real good Mama," Katie smiled at her. "Miss Wyern said I is," she frowned. "I am a sure bet at getting the thology. It'sa about poems."
"My clever little girl," Michaela smiled at her daughter. "And what about you Ben?"
"Not the thology," Ben sighed sadly. "I ain't at good at learning as Katie. She's real real smart, I'm just kinda smart, kinda smart never does anything."
"I don't know, you might surprise yourself," Michaela offered the little boy. "May is a long way off yet, you have plenty of time to earn merits."
"I guess," Ben sighed. "What is…" Ben muttered looking past Michaela.
Michaela turned to look at what Ben was staring at. Katie moved as well, darting in front of her to see what was going away. The spray of red came out of nowhere and Michaela screamed as the warm wet liquid hit her. She gagged as she tasted the iron tang of blood in her mouth. Opening her eyes she realised she was covered from head to toe in wet fresh blood and a split second later she realised Katie was too.
"YOU EVIL WITCH!" Ben ran forward he launched his book strap from his hand hitting Irene O'Connor hard.
Michaela took a step forward for the first time in her life wanting to strike a person out of anger, but Katie screamed, the shock finally passing over her, the little girl giving short intermittent screams hopping from one foot to the other as she realised she was covered in blood. Michaela dropped to her knees and tried to wipe Katie's face. "It's Ok Sweetheart, we're OK."
"!" Katie squealed her screams turning into sobs. "Maaamaaa!"
Michaela pulled her little girl in tight.
"Ben Johnson!"
Michaela looked up at the sound of Cadence's voice, the school mistress running down from the school closely followed by Rachel Wyvern.
"That witch threw blood over Katie and her Ma!" Ben yelled collecting his books from the ground where he had thrown them after the still fleeing Irene O'Connor.
"I know I saw," Cadence shook her head with disbelief. "Mrs Sully, are you and Katie hurt?"
"No just shocked," Michaela whispered, not sure she could take another shock like this today. "I need to bathe her," she stood lifting a sobbing Katie to hold her tenderly.
"You need to bathe yourself," Cadence sighed. "Ben, I want you to go with Miss Wyvern to your uncle, Rachel, if you could get the items that Mrs Sully will need to clean herself with, I would be grateful and bring them up to the school house. Mrs Sully, if you bring Katie up to the school house, I'll get some water on, you can at least wash ya faces and hands." She held her hand out to guide Michaela up to the school. "And Rachel if you would tell Mr Slicker, I know he will want to know."
"Sure," Rachel put her hand on Ben's shoulder guiding him towards town. "Good throw," she whispered to the little boy as she led him away. "Don't worry Ben." She glanced over her shoulder to watch Cadence lead Michaela and Katie up to the school rooms, the trail of blood where it had been thrown at them visible on the grass. "Mrs Henderson will look after them and Mr Slicker will stop the nasty woman."
"Mama!" Esmee called gleefully as the front door opened, "Mama?"
Sully rushed to the doorway at the sound of his daughter's voice. "Caela, I was worried what…" he frowned taking in her wet hair, the way she was carrying Katie, the way neither of them were wearing clothes they had worn this morning. "Caela?"
"Wain?" Esmee asked as she threw her arms round Michaela's legs.
"No Sweetheart it didn't rain," Michaela lowered herself to the ground so she could hug her other daughter. "A very horrible lady threw something at Katie and I."
"Threw something?" Sully whispered, his face matching Esmee's as they stared at Michaela and Katie in horror. "Threw what?"
"Blood," Katie mumbled, she lifted her head from Michaela's shoulder and stared up at her father with sad tear filled eyes. "She frew blood all on us," she sniffed. "It goed in my hair and in my eyes and on my dress," she held her arms out to her father. "Papa it horrible!"
"She threw blood at you?" Sully dropped to the ground, he ran his hands through Michaela's wet hair and pulled Katie onto his lap. "Twink I'm so sorry, Caela I …"
"You shouldn't apologise," Michaela shook her head. "This was not you."
"What is happening about it?" Sully scowled.
"She wan off," Katie sniffed. "Benny frew his books at her."
"Jake has ordered Joe to physically remove her from town if he sees her, and if she does anything else to arrest her and try her with whatever we can," Michaela took a shuddering breath.
"Caela," Sully shuffled closer. "I'm sorry, I wasn't there. I shoulda protected you."
"None of us knew this would happen," Michaela reasoned trying to keep her resolve. "How could we?"
"Pa," Brian ran in through the door. "I need you."
"I'm busy now Brian," Sully looked up at his son, "Where were…"
"PA!" Brian voice cracked. "I need you, now."
Sully frowned and he handed Katie back to Michaela. Slowly he followed Brian out of the homestead and down onto the driveway. His face twisted with pure anger at the sight of Irene sat on her horse staring intently at the house. He gripped his tomahawk and before he could engage his rational mind he was running.
Somehow he wasn't sure how Brian got between him, his tall seventeen year old son using all his body weight and strength to stop him.
"PA NO!" Brian slapped Sully hard across the face. "Pa STOP! Ma needs you! Katie needs you!"
Sully stared blankly at his son, other noises filtered in to his anger, the sound of Michaela panting terrified, Katie whimpering, Esmee also. He turned back to the homestead, his wife and daughters staring at the intruder with fear but also at him, their eyes wide.
Shaking with anger Sully raised his tomahawk and pointed it at Irene O'Connor. "You come near my family again and I'll really give you a case."
"Pa go inside. Please," Brian begged, regretting his choice to ask his father to help him out. "Please Pa. Please go in." He pushed Sully once more trying to make him move towards the house. Slowly Sully retreated drawn in by his daughters' tears. Brian waited until Sully had entered the house before he turned to look up at Irene O'Connor, her face was straight like she couldn't understand the anguish she had just caused an innocent woman and her child.
"What's wrong with you?" Brian shook his head. "How could you do that to a kid?"
"I didn't mean for the little girl to get hit as well," Irene told him her voice without a hint of regret. "I just want her to suffer so he can see how I suffered."
"You're mental!" Brian spat at her. "Ma did suffer; she searched for days thinking he was dead and then he had to live out in the woods till we could prove he was innocent. We all suffered. And the only reason it happened was because of your husband. Because he hated Indians' so much. Because he thought he was better than them," Brian rolled his head slightly, his blood coursing through his veins, his muscles feeling like they were tensing up. "You're no better than him. Now you better leave, and I don't just mean the homestead, you better leave town." Brian turned to follow his family into the safety of their home.
"Oh Yes," Irene bristled. "Or what?"
Brian turned back to her with a withering look. "I won't stop him, not many people would." He turned away once more his breathe held until he heard the sound of a departing horse.
Irene kicked the horse harder then she needed the young man angering her even more then Sully's pointless wife, with her screaming and fancy clinic. She kicked the horse again, needing to feel speed, feel the frigid wind rushing through her hair and across her hot skin. She had been frightened when Sully had ran at her his tomahawk outstretched, but it would have proved her point that he was a dangerous man. She kicked the horse again, but it was a kick too far. Instantly she grabbed the reins tighter, trying to stay on as the horse jerked to a halt in disgust. But her leather gloves slid over the leather reins and she went flying off the horse landing on the ground with a heavy thud.
She groaned struggling to remain conscious but she could feel herself slipping, her eyes going out of focus but not before she saw the white face of a wolf and beyond that the red face of a long haired Indian.
Katie sniffed once more and stared at the changing shapes on her ceiling. She couldn't sleep every time she closed her eyes she saw the rush of blood coming towards her, could feel it on her skin. She had had two baths today, one in the school house and then another in front of the fire with Mama and her sisters, but she still felt dirty, like the blood was still on her. Sniffing she pushed back her covers and slid out of her bed. Even though it was dark she knew her way by heart and she quickly made her way to her parent's room. Slowly she approached the bed, her parents were entwined together, her Papa holding her Mama tightly. "Mama," Katie whispered, touching her Mama's face.
Michaela peeled her eyes open. "Hello Sweetheart."
"I not sleep," Katie told her sadly.
"Would you like to come in with your father and I?" Michaela held her arms out to Katie. She smiled as the little girl nodded and clambered up onto the bed. Lovingly she hugged her daughter tightly. "Is that better?"
"Little," Katie muttered snuggling in close to her mother. "I don understan Mama, why that lady hate us, why she do it?"
"She's very angry," Michaela told Katie softly. "People do things they shouldn't when they are very angry."
"Like Papa wiv his Tomhawk," Katie sighed. "Brian very strong I not think he gonna stop."
"I would have stopped," Sully whispered sleepily. "I didn't mean to scare you Twink, I'm sorry."
"It's Ok Papa," Katie looked over her Mama to her Papa. "Mama can I be in da middle of you and Papa?"
"Certainly," Michaela allowed her little girl to climb over her before turning inwards so she could hug both Katie and Sully.
"Dats good," Katie whispered as she snuggled between her parents. "Mama who died?"
"Died?" Michaela asked nervously, not sure exactly what Katie was referring to as the little girl would have no recollection of what happened in her infancy with her father and the odious O'Connor.
"All da blood," Katie whispered. "Someone gotta have died for all that blood."
Michaela exhaled slowly. "It was pig blood Katie, do you remember Mr Benson coming and apologising to us."
"Da meat man?" Katie asked, remembering the small stout man rushing up to her Mama, the man who usually travelled round selling the meat to the homesteads.
"Yes the meat man," Michaela kissed Katie. "He keeps the blood so people can make black pudding."
"I guess he didn't know who she was," Sully whispered, kissing Katie as his hand lovingly and comfortingly stroked Michaela's arm. "With the town growing there are new folks all the time."
"Yes," Michaela smiled weakly. "But she is gone now you don't need to be afraid anymore."
"Alright," Katie sniffed. "Can I sleep wiv you?"
"Of course," Michaela nuzzled Katie, pressing herself up against her daughter as tightly as she dared.
"Yeah," Sully whispered. "We like having a Twink sandwich."
"I like bein in one," Katie smiled. "I'm all safe and warm when I am. I love you Mama, I love you Papa."
"And we love you Twink," Sully kissed Katie. "I'm real sorry your got scared today, Papa will do everything he can to make sure it never happens again."
"I know," Katie turned her head to look at her Papa. "But make sure you don do anyfing silly, we need ya. Right Mama. We need Papa."
"Absolutely correct," Michaela kissed Katie once more. "Time for bed now Sweetheart," she smiled as Katie obediently closed her eyes. "Tomorrow is a new day, and everything will be fine."
Irene woke with a start, she was lying not on the ground but in furs, a fire in the centre of a cone shaped room. No not a room a tepee, she shook her head, the heavy smell of animals and herbs clouding her mind.
"You are awake." A warm precise voice rang out to her. "Come Wolf she is awake."
Irene shuddered as part of what she had taken to be furs moved, an animal, a wolf moving off into the gloom to the owner of the voice. "Would you like a drink?"
"Who are you?" Irene managed to whisper fear taking hold of her chest. She had never encountered an Indian before but she knew of their savagery from the news that her husband had written her.
"My name is Cloud Dancing," the soft voice came again, "I can offer you water, ambient or warmed or a tea."
Irene gasped as the long haired man appeared out of the gloom. "You're a savage!"
"I think if you were to compare the two of us you would be deemed the savage," Cloud Dancing told her with a sigh. Carefully he ladled some water from the pot over the fire and took a drink.
"What are you going to do to me?" Irene whispered, terrifying thoughts of butchery and savagery running through her mind.
"Nothing," Cloud Dancing sighed. "You fell, you may be despicably mean but I would not leave anyone to the mercy of mother nature. Even your husband."
"What do you know of my husband?" Irene spat at Cloud Dancing.
"He was a soldier, who liked to follow orders and interpret them as saw fit." Cloud Dancing sighed again. "Sergeant O'Connor was a man who I am not sad is dead."
"You're just an Indian," Irene spat at Cloud Dancing. "You're not even..."
"I am many things," Cloud Dancing cut off Irene's insul.t "Many things and you shall know none of them. You will never understand me, or my people. Or the people like Sully and Dr Mike who treated my people with the love and compassion that we needed."
Irene snorted and drew herself into a ball, "So what are you going to do to me?"
"Absolutely nothing," Cloud Dancing looked her up and down. "I would not touch you. I have only ever been with my wives."
"And where are your wives now, savage?" Irene spat at him.
"One was taken by sickness," Cloud Dancing swallowed, his hand brushing up his forearms, the pain of losing Dorothy still fresh. "The other was murdered by soldiers who were following orders. She died along with over a hundred of my people, men women and children." He fixed his dark eyes on Irene, his eyes flashing with anger. "You are free to leave whenever you feel ready. Town is a few hours walk in that direction. If you leave now you will arrive at daybreak."
"What about my horse?" Irene stood up.
"It bolted," Cloud Dancing scowled at her. "It liked you as little as I do."
"Jake."
Jake scowled as Joe Peterson called out to him, he ignored the sheriff.
"Jake," Joe ran up onto the walk outside the Barbershop. "We got a problem."
"We?" Jake scowled. "What is it that you can't deal with now?" He asked the Sheriff with exasperation, annoyed by how much he was being called upon by the young man to make all the decisions that Joe as Sheriff should make.
"That woman," Joe lowered his voice. "You know the one that attacked Dr Mike and her kid, she's in the office."
"Get her on the train," Jake growled. "I told you, I don't want her here and I don't want to waste town funds on her. Dr Mike asked us to leave it be, so we ain't pressing charges."
"I would," Joe looked nervous. "But she's saying that she got kidnapped and raped by an Indian last night."
Jake raised his eyebrows, "she said what?"
"That an Indian…" Joe began to repeat himself.
"I heard," Jake scowled. "Did she say what Indian?"
"No," Joe shook his head. "But there is only one around here."
Jake scowled and stepped off the walk in the direction of the Sheriff's office, Joe was right there was only one Indian in these parts the rest had long since fled because of the army. He kicked open the door. "What's this bull*rap then?" he scowled at Irene O'Connor.
"An Indian…" Irene started to explain, she made a noise meant to sound like crying but Jake could see through it.
"Only one Indian in these parts, your husband scared all the others off" Jake spat at her. "Cloud Dancing would never 'sully'," he smirked at his choice of word, "himself by touching something like you." He seized Irene round the elbow. "Get up."
"You're hurting me," Irene gasped at Jake's tight grip.
"Good," Jake hissed at her, "No more then what you deserve for what you did to Dr Mike and Katie," he pushed Irene out onto the street. He dragged the woman towards the station, pleased that the train was there waiting and that all he would have to do was throw her on the train and give Horace the ticket fare.
"You're really hurting me," Irene squirmed in Jake's hand. "Let me go!"
Jake ignored her and pressed on, reaching the station in moments. He rounded the train and scowled at the sight of Michaela at the post office window. Irene calmed beside him. "Don't even think about it," Jake hissed at her. "Hey you, get her on the train," he shoved Irene towards the porter. "Make sure she stays on."
"HAPPY NOW!" Irene shouted.
Michaela turned slowly and stared at Irene with wide eyes.
"Gag her too," Jake ordered and he marched up the platform to put himself between Michaela and Irene. "Horace, I need you to file that thing with the line about banning folk from coming here by train."
"Sure thing Jake," Horace whispered moving out from the post office to join Jake in his barrier of protection to Michaela.
"YOU THINK YOU ARE ALL BETTER THEN ME!" Irene screamed grabbing hold of the carriage railing preventing the porter from dragging her into the carriage.
"We don't think we know," Jake hissed at her. "None of us would ever do what you did. You deserved that … you two were made for each other." He closed his eyes briefly as the porter managed to pull the screaming woman inside. "Good Riddance!"
"Thank you Jake," Michaela whispered holding her arms tight around herself, trying to make herself feel better. She moved slowly away from the post office wanting to make as much distance between her and the station. As she rounded behind the train she broke into a run. Her feet pounding across the cold hardened floor, her skirt threatening to trip her up. As she neared the clinic she saw him, returning from dropping Katie off at school, paused outside the gazette where he had left the babies. "Sully," she whispered but in her ears it sounded like a shout. He turned his head and as soon as he saw her began running. They collided and his arms came protectively round her. "She's gone," Michaela whispered, her legs feeling like they would give way, Sully's grip the only thing keeping her standing. "She's gone."
"Oh Caela," Sully held her tight feeling her strength flowing out of her. "We're safe now we're all safe now," Sully closed his eyes and drank in his wife's scent using it to calm himself as he silently prayed to every deity known to man that this was the last that his family would ever have to do with anyone related to Brian O'Connor.
