Chapter 26

Sully knew he shouldn't feel the way he did, but he couldn't help it. Michaela had managed to get an appointment for the echocardiogram at the hospital last night, the evening of her first day at her practice. She had succeeded so quickly because she had made a deal with the doctor in charge of this medical device: she would step in for him, giving a lecture to first-year residents about a theme of his choice. Now Sully felt he owed her, and fortunately Daniel had had an idea what to do about that without upsetting her. They both knew Michaela wouldn't appreciate the idea that a debt was paid because, in her opinion, she was only doing her job.

It was Tuesday morning, and the two friends were at Sully's homestead. Daniel had pointed out that the house itself was great but apart from the trees that surrounded the property there was only soil. That was why they had met at Rick's Garden Center earlier where they chose two huge flowerpots, potting compost and, after some advice by a young shop assistant who flirted with them, a bunch of different-colored asters that would bloom till late autumn.

Much to Daniel's astonishment Sully had chuckled at some of the young woman's remarks. His friend hadn't been so at ease with himself for what felt like an eternity. He knew the reason though: Michaela had seen on the screen of the ultrasound scanner last night that the hole in Hannah's heart was already closing. She'd called it a small ASD which was apparently the least serious of the different types of holes that existed. She'd still taken some blood though to be on the safe side, not wanting to miss anything. Sully had been so relieved that he'd called him the moment Hannah had fallen asleep after their visit at the hospital.

Of course Hannah was with them now, but Maude had made conditions: the little girl was to wear rubber boots, had to be bundled up and get hot tea every hour for the air was still crisp in the morning although the blue sky promised a warm day later. Sully had agreed to everything as had Hannah. She wanted to play in her sandbox and had run there the minute she left the SUV. After making sure the rain hadn't turned the box into a pool she was allowed to play as long as she wished, and so she did.

While he and Daniel were taking care of the pots, Sully glanced at his daughter now and then. She seemed to be especially happy about the wet sand because this way all her cakes turned out fine without collapsing immediately. He grinned to himself when he saw her cock her head to one side, admiring her work. She looked just like Maude in those moments. Maybe Abigail had looked the same as a child...

"I've been thinkin' and did some research," Daniel broke in on his thoughts when they had put the garden mold into the pots which they had placed left and right next to the foot of the stair to the porch.

Sully didn't reply but straightened his back and looked at him expectantly.

"I'm gonna start a business," Daniel went on, "but I'll need your help."

Instantly wary, Sully waited silently. Wanting his help normally meant help for him in the disguise of a job, a job that would allow him to have a regular income. In his opinion he did quite well though, actually very well at the moment with the rent he would get every month for this house. As he had done all his adult life, he used to take odd jobs whenever an opportunity showed up, and it never hurt when he liked what he had to do. Working for Robert E. now and then was always satisfying, even cooking at Hank's from time to time when there was a special occasion. Lately however, which meant ever since Abigail died and he'd met Cloud Dancing, he mostly looked for occupations in companies or organizations that were engaged in environmental preservation, including animal protection. Unfortunately those didn't pay very well, which was a cause for constant arguments with Loren. He'd offered him to work at the mercantile again and again, but Sully simply wasn't a salesman. In order to show his appreciation though that he and Hannah could live at the Bray residence and that they helped him raise his daughter he did all the repairs that didn't demand a specialist. Actually, this saved his father-in-law a lot of money since his house was from the late nineteenth century and needed a lot of fixing.

Anyway, Sully was suspicious of what Daniel would come up with and was ready to argue.

Daniel considered his friend for a moment. He had to deliver his plan right or Sully would assume he only wanted to do him a favor. Cautiously approaching the subject her began, "Ever since ya introduced me to Cloud Dancin' I wondered if there could be done more to keep the Indian traditions of this area alive. I know there are museums for the tourists and occasional festivals, but I think that people who come here to climb Pikes Peak might also be interested in wandering along old Indian trails."

Seeing that Sully was more alert now he pulled out two folded sheets of paper from his jeans pocket. He sat down on the top of the stairs to the porch, waiting until his friend joined him. As he smoothed out the creases of what seemed to be a print from the Internet he began to explain, "That's the Royal George Region trails. It's only an hour from here, and we could take people there by van, starting at Hank's hotel. I've already talked to him and he won't mind some extra profit." Making this last point was important for Sully to see that he wouldn't be the only one involved.

When his friend reached for the pages Daniel gave them to him. Trying not to appear too eager he looked over at Hannah who had switched from making cakes to building a tower by filling her little bucket and turning it over on top of the pile she already had. This time the sand didn't comply though and crumbled to the ground. Hannah put her hands on her waist and shook her head in mock exasperation before she started all over again. Daniel grinned. He'd seen this gesture by Miss Olive not only once. It seemed that Sully's daughter was a good observer.

He suddenly remembered that Michaela had told him she'd been as old as Hannah was now when her interest in medicine was stirred by her father. It was really time that Sully accepted his role in the little girl's life, and for that it was important that he wouldn't leave for weeks, even months, on end. This new company would give him the opportunity to stay in town.

Daniel was determined to open his business no matter what but he hoped his friend would recognize its potential and take it as a chance for a new beginning.

"Most of the routes ain't a challenge," Sully remarked dryly, still studying the map. "The Gold Belt tour sounds not bad but I'm sure there are too many tourists already. Ya wouldn't get a real impression about how life's been here a hundred or more years ago."

Daniel had anticipated this kind of objection and turned over one of the sheets. Its back showed a sketch and he pointed at the lines, "We can make up our own tour starting here at Knife's Edge, cross this area here and end up at Florissant. It's not every day that ya see fossils like the petrified redwood trunks that are thirty-five million years old."

"Hm." Sully looked up. The idea sounded promising because it meant he wouldn't have to leave Hannah for long periods of time. But there were still two problems. "I think it will be weird when you are my boss," he said, casting a sideways glance at his friend. Actually, having any boss for an indefinite period of time wasn't tempting at all.

Knowing his friend by heart Daniel was conscious of this problem. It was one they both had. "I hoped ya would agree to be partners," he revealed carefully, waiting for Sully's protest which came immediately.

"I don't have money to invest and…"

Daniel didn't flinch at Sully's glare when he cut him off, "It's not always 'bout money. You know about this area a great deal and I don't. In comparison to you I'm still kind of new here, and we'll need a guide that can point out things that are not common knowledge."

They'd been so absorbed in their conversation that neither had noticed that Hannah stood at the foot of the stairs looking up at them, listening intently.

"What's pettified?" she asked curiously.

Sully instantly got up and went down the steps. As he lifted his child into his arms he explained, "It's when a tree gets real old and the wood turns into stone."

Hannah looked at him wide-eyed. She'd never heard about something like that but it definitely sounded very interesting. "We go an' look?" she pleaded. "Now?"

There were a lot of reasons why they couldn't go there right away but the most important at the moment was that a truck was approaching the homestead.

Sully glanced up at Daniel, and in mute agreement they both went to the gate. On their way Sully put down Hannah, promising, "We'll talk about that later, sweet girl. Now go and play a bit longer, alright?"

Hannah didn't like this turn of events but went back to her sandbox. From there she watched how her dad opened the gate and let in a huge car. It barely had stopped when a man hopped out of it. She didn't understand what was spoken for the engine was still running but she thought it too interesting to miss anything what was going on and took a few steps closer.

"From Boston? Already?" Sully exclaimed in disbelief. Michaela expected the transport tomorrow the earliest.

"Mate," the truck driver said, "this woman, Mrs. Quinn, pays for the distance I cover, not for the time I need for it. But nowadays you are lucky when you get a job like this so of course I took it." He shrugged dismissively.

Sully liked this no-nonsense manner. "Ya wanna rest and have a coffee before we unload?"

"Nope," the driver shook his head. "I wanna get rid of the stuff and then crash on a bed in a motel. Can you recommend one?"

"Hank's," the friends said in unison, so for the young man this was decided.

He climbed back into his cabin, killed the motor and took his keys for opening the back. Once its doors stood wide Daniel and Sully took a look inside.

"What's in the boxes?" Sully asked. There were at least twenty packing cases. If they were full of clothes they couldn't store them in the barn as Michaela had planned.

"Books in most of them," the driver said, "and I hope you'll both help me with them for I don't wanna hire an extra hand. Costs time and money, and that's two things I don't have."

Daniel had already pulled out his cell phone and was about to dial when Sully stopped him, "What ya doin'?"

"Calling Michaela," Daniel stated the obvious.

"Don't." Sully shook his head. "You know how she is. She would want to come but can't abandon her practice yet would worry about us if she stayed there. And if she came she would think her patients might need her and be concerned about them."

Daniel sighed. His friend was right, and like him he didn't want to cause Michaela any discomfort.

"So what do we do?" he asked. "Put everythin' in the barn as she said?"

Sully shook his head. "Could get too clammy there later in the year."

"Ya believe she will stay here this long?" Daniel raised his eyebrows.

"Sure," Sully grinned and pointed at the few pieces of furniture in the truck. "I guess her mother wouldn't have sent those if Michaela ain't attached to them. Ya need big rooms for this kind of desk and bookcase, and the apartments that are usually available in town don't have them."

Daniel eyed his friend doubtfully. "I had the impression it was something personal when she said she didn't want to stay here."

"We get along just fine," Sully insisted. "She smiled at me last night and it wasn't faked. Now, let's get all this stuff in the house."