CHAPTER 25

In a small clearing several miles from town Cloud Dancing laid the last stones that formed a large circle, as he had done for Sully's vision quest. He divided it into four quadrants and set down offerings of tobacco and a buffalo hide. The small fire he had already lit was burning in the circle.

Sully sat nearby with Michaela cradled in his arms, half concentrating on her and half on what his brother was doing. The wolf lay nearby, calmly observing all three humans. When the Indian finished spreading out the buffalo hide, he came near, fluttering crow feathers over Michaela, to purify her, then repeated the gesture with smoke from a pipe.

Then standing back, he instructed softly, "Place her in the medicine wheel."

Sully nodded and stood, placing Michaela reverently on the hide in the circle, near the fire, and then mirrored Cloud Dancing to sit cross-legged on either side of their patient.

The Medicine Man picked up a small pot of herbs he'd been brewing, poured a cup, and motioned for Sully to lift Michaela's head. He did, and as Cloud Dancing eased some of the brew into her mouth, she unexpectedly opened her eyes, staring at Sully's bearded face bending over her. Surprised, he managed a smile and stroked her hair, but the moment was quickly over and her eyes soon fluttered closed again.

Cloud Dancing sat back and began to chant a Cheyenne song to call on the healing spirits. The song was loud and seemed to pierce the air, startling the birds and small animals nearby.

He repeated this action over and over throughout the day, chanting to his spirits, and coaxing his patient to take some of the herbal brew. Sully watched over Michaela, stroking her hair, her face, her arm, making sure she remained covered by the blankets, and praying to Cloud Dancing's spirits and to the God of his childhood to let her live.

OOOOOOO

Michaela felt something hot touch her lips, a cup of sorts, and felt hot liquid enter her mouth. She swallowed by pure reflex, not really tasting the brew.

Images in her mind and physical sensations were confused and jumbled together. She thought she was in her bed at the boarding house, though she didn't remember going to bed...then she almost had the feeling of being in Sully's arms again, as she had been after he rescued her in the desert. But as her consciousness swam a little toward the surface of the deep pool in which she was lost, the bed felt more like hard ground. Voices were muffled, except an occasional loud piercing yell, but she was too exhausted to try and see who was yelling, or why.

Her dreams of Sully had taken a more pleasant turn as well, her latest one actually quite wonderful; they were racing across the desert, she on Flash, he on his black stallion, and she was winning. She looked back over her shoulder and grinned at him flirtatiously. He grinned back and she could see him urge the stallion faster. She laughed out loud in her dream and turned back around to continue on. When the race was over and they slowed the horses, she turned to look at his face. The sun was in her eyes and she had to strain to see, forcing her eyes open – but he appeared different. He seemed to have a beard, and his hair was longer. He even looked worried, although he smiled and reached to stroke her hair. It didn't make sense, and the effort exhausted her tiny store of strength.

Her subconscious, however, somehow knew she was safe, so she closed her eyes and slipped back into the world of dreams again, totally unaware of the intense vigil taking place on her behalf.

OOOOOOO

Hours had passed, as evidenced by the sun positioned much lower in the sky.

Michaela still hovered between sleep and unconsciousness, and Sully remained by her side making sure she was covered against the approaching cooler evening air. He reached for the cup to try and give her another sip.

Cloud Dancing rose again to walk the circle, chanting, but quite a bit softer than he had earlier in the day. Then suddenly he threw a tobacco offering on the coals and turned to walk away.

Sully watched him with concern, not understanding. Was he giving up? Giving his patient a quick glance, he rose and followed, reaching out to grasp the Indian's muscled arm.

"Will she live?"

Cloud Dancing met his eyes, turned to stare at the prone woman, and back at his brother.

"She fights hard," he stated matter-of-factly.

Sully already knew that. Michaela always fought hard in all aspects of her life. That wasn't the question.

"But will she live?" he queried again, urgently.

Now the wise Indian gave a small smile offering almost teasingly, "That is up to you."

Then he turned and continued on into the woods to relieve himself, which was where he was headed in the first place.

OOOOOOO

The men kept up their vigil all night, with Sully barely sleeping a wink. He had settled himself into position on the ground, cradling Michaela's head and shoulders on his lap as he huddled in his blanket poncho, the wolf asleep against his thigh helping to keep him warm. Wishing they were back at camp and inside his teepee, he kept the night breeze off of her the best he could, while Cloud Dancing made sure to keep their campfire burning strongly. Throughout the long night, the Indian brewed several more batches of the healing tea, silently observing his brother's dedication in caring for the woman.

As soon as it was light, the men packed up and returned to town with their patient. When they reached the boarding house, Sully entered carrying Michaela, still wrapped warmly in the blankets. She hadn't regained consciousness again. They were followed by Cloud Dancing carrying the clay pot filled with the herb tea in one hand and a bag of the dried herbs in the other. They entered the center door and ascended the stairs, encountering Olive coming out of a room with an armload of sheets. She stopped and gave the trio the once over, wondering about this Cheyenne 'friend' of Sully's, then sized up Dr. Mike's condition.

"Well, she don't look no worse."

"She needs a sip of this tea every hour," Sully instructed as he carried Michaela into her room at the end of the hall and laid her on the bed, which Charlotte had just finished freshening with clean sheets and blankets. She now stood back to watch. Cloud Dancing handed Olive the clay pot. She met the Indian's dark, serious eyes with a look of doubt, sniffed the pot and made a face.

Sully motioned toward the buckskin bag in his friend's hand. "And there's enough leaves there to brew tea for the others."

Daniel came to the doorway, eyed the medicine man suspiciously, and then watched Sully lovingly unwrap Michaela from the covers in which he had transported her and settle her comfortably in the bed as she softly moaned.

Charlotte glanced at the others, and then reached for the bag, offering a smile of gratitude to the tall, handsome Indian. "I'll do it. Come help me, Colleen," she instructed her daughter, who had just stuck her head in the door. The two quickly left to carry out the instructions.

Sully pulled a chair up next to the bed and took the clay pot from Olive. With practiced ease, he gently lifted Michaela's head and coaxed a sip into her mouth, catching with his finger several drops that overflowed. Then he felt of her forehead, nodding once as if in answer to his own question that yes, her fever still seemed lower than the previous day. He was worried the cold of the night and the stress of bringing her back would cause a relapse, and he was determined that wouldn't happen.

Daniel watched his friend's ministrations and noticed how familiar Sully seemed in his actions toward the beautiful Michaela – as if he were used to touching her and taking care of her. The thought made him grit his teeth hard, but he remained silent. Instead, he moved to the chair by the wall next to the bed and took a seat across from his friend.

When Sully was satisfied Michaela was stable, he made sure she was tucked in and sat back in the chair with a tired sigh. It had been a long twenty-four hours since he woke up in his comfortable teepee at the reservation, and a very long and cold night 'on duty'. But he wasn't complaining. He knew she had done as much and more for him – on more than one occasion. And at this point, he wanted to be the one to be taking care of her. He could finally tell her his feelings – tell them all – he felt like shouting them from the roof. He couldn't wait for her to wake up.

"Where ya been for over three months, huh, Sully?" Daniel asked softly, but with a bit of an edge to his voice.

Sully raised his eyes to meet his friend's across the expanse of the bed, silently reading him, just like he always could. Choosing to ignore his friend's query, he asked one of his own.

"How long you been here, huh, Daniel? And where you been for the past...how many years?"

"I got here almost four weeks ago – to catch up with ya, see how you were gettin' along." With that, Daniel remembered about Sully's wife and he pressed his lips together for a moment. "I...uh...I heard about Abby. I'm sorry, Sully. Sorry I was so far outta touch..."

Sully clamped his lips together and gave a shake of his head, moving one hand in a 'don't worry about it,' gesture. "S'okay. I, uh...didn't 'xactly try and send ya a telegram or anything. I didn't stick around here long after she...they..." he stumbled to a halt, glancing at the door to the room as he just realized Cloud Dancing had silently slipped away. He felt bad that he hadn't thanked him, enough, for his help.

Glancing back at his one time best friend, he continued, "Her Pa - well, you know how he was about us gettin' married anyway..." he paused and Daniel nodded. "Loren blamed me when Abby...and I just couldn't stick around."

"Michaela...Dr. Mike, told me you went away and wound up in Arizona and she met you there. What was ya doin' in Arizona?" Daniel queried, the question having been burning in his mind ever since Michaela had mentioned it.

Sully studied his friend – whom he would once have trusted with his life. Now...he saw a man who might very well be a rival for the woman he loved, so he chose his words carefully, knowing Charlotte was the only person in town besides Michaela that knew he had been in the army. "I...spent a lot 'a time lookin' for a shady spot."

"Yeah, but I mean...what were ya do..."

"So what about you?" Sully interrupted. "You ever find that gold mine you wanted?"

Daniel narrowed his eyes, wondering if Sully was hiding something. Unable to imagine what it could be, he shrugged lightly and consented to changing the subject.

"Sure did. Got real lucky," he murmured with a tiny smile of satisfaction.

"That a fact? How lucky?"

Daniel tilted his head back and laughed softly. "Ain't you got no manners no more? You don't ask a man how much his gold mine's worth. But no matter, cause I sold it anyhow."

"Sold it!" Sully gaped, incredulous. "Why?"

Daniel shrugged again, glancing at the woman on the bed. "Oh...cause I found out that the lookin' and the searchin' was more excitin' than the findin'. The money was nice, but...it made me wish I had...somebody ta share it with – you know?"

Sully glanced at Michaela also, and then back at his friend. "Yeah...I do know. You, uh...ever meet a woman you could...do any sharin' with?" he asked cautiously, unconsciously holding his breath.

Daniel swallowed and leaned forward, elbows on knees, looking straight into his long-time friend's eyes.

"I think I just might have, Sully. If she'll have me," he murmured softly, meaningfully.

The two friends locked eyes and stared long and hard, each remembering past arguments and fights, their contests always evenly matched. Though Daniel was a taller, bigger man, Sully was quick and agile, and could fight dirty if he had to. He could put a larger man on his back before his opponent could blink an eye – and Daniel knew it. Neither one wished for this to become a physical fight – but at that moment, neither one could stand the thought of losing to the other the possible hand of the lovely lady doctor.

Sully swallowed dryly, realizing that this new challenger for Michaela's love was yet another man with money. No...she told me in that vision that riches, position, and influence don't matter to her. I know she cares about me...she risked prison to help me... Sully encouraged himself. But the nagging thought came that Michaela would probably do that for anyone she cared about...

Saying nothing, Sully finally turned his attention back to Michaela. He reached for her hand, folding it securely between his larger ones, gazing at her as she moaned softly, reacting to something in her unconscious dreams

Daniel sat back and relaxed in the chair, observing.

He wondered how this would all turn out...at the end would he have a woman to share his life with?

Or leave his friend and the woman behind forever...