A couple days later when everything had calmed down again with Wildfire a short distance away. Logan knelt alone on the prairie bent forward the tips of his fingers lightly touching the ground. Eyes closed in concentration.
After a few moments he released a shaky breath opening his eyes looking around. Before he closed his eyes pinching the bridge of his nose. What am I doing wrong?
You're thinking too much Red Dragon stated plainly. You need to stop thinking about it and just do it.
What exactly are you teaching me again?
It's similar to what your morpher does when the other are in trouble.
Frowning as he stood straight Logan asked, you mean I'll be able to activate it whenever I want?
No…I mean that when you master it…you won't need it…
Sighing Logan rolled his eyes. Did you watch Star Wars again when we were back in Angel Grove?
What can I say, I love my Yoda, he replied with a laugh as Logan turned as a pair of all too familiar scents caught his attention.
"Kimberly, Springs Dawn," he said, nodding to each girl the reins of their horses held in their hands.
"White Falcon," Springs Dawn said, before glancing around. "What are you doing here?"
Shrugging he glanced around. "Becoming…one with nature," he answered making it as close to the truth as possible.
For a second they looked at him before Springs Dawn nodded while Kimberly narrowed her eyes. "Well Cloud Dancing is going to teach Medicine Woman more of what he knows."
"You coming?" Kimberly asked.
Smiling he nodded. "Does the sun rise in the east," he answered before giving a whistle and Wildfire came close.
When Springs Dawn was out of ear shot and after shooting her a look before they mounted up Kim whispered, "so what were you really doing out here?" and she glanced at him.
Pausing Logan glanced over. "I think we both know that there are fighting styles that I can only practice in private," he whispered back. "Now come on, we have to meet the others," and he slipped onto Wildfire and rode out.
Hey look on the bright side…it was pretty much the truth…Red Dragon said, trying to settle his uneasiness.
When the three of them met up with Dr. Mike, Sully, Cloud Dancing, Brian and Colleen the group headed out to gather wildflowers and herbs. When they arrived at the spot and the group broke apart to do their own things. Cloud Dancing showed Medicine Woman, Logan, and Kimberly two nearly identical leaves. While Wolf rests beside Sully who was doing something with Brian.
"This one cures," he instructed lifting the one in his right hand. "This one kills," and he lifted the left one before handing them to Mike.
For a second Mike looked from one to the other. "I can't see the difference," she said, sounding a little distressed and the other two nodded in agreement.
"What you cannot see you can feel," he tells them runs her fingertip over each leaf.
Mike and the other two exchange a look. "One is sticky."
"That is the poison," and both Logan and Kimberly each had a feel of the leafs.
Before another word could be spoken Brian comes running up to them. "MA! MA!" he called out happily with some bulbs. "I found some wild onions," he proclaimed beaming with pride as Sully came up sheathing his knife.
"We'll have them for supper," she said, eagerly giving the boy a couple affectionate rubs.
Colleen approaches with some flowers.
"Aren't these pretty?" Colleen asked, coming close some flowers she picked with Springs Dawn in hand.
After examining the flowers Cloud Dancing told the girls, "That is called napivaho."
"We call it Chamomile," Mike said. "It makes a lovely tea. Very restful."
"Also good for stomach trouble," Cloud Dancing put in and for a beat of silence he scanned the land around him. "The earth give us everything if we know how to look."
"Or feel…," Mike put in holding up the leaf
"Or trust…" Kimberly muttered.
They exchange a smile. Suddenly we hear a gunshot echo on the wind. Followed by a low rumble. "What's that?" Mike asked, aloud as the group whipped around toward the sound.
Without a word Logan, Kimberly. Cloud Dancing, Sully and Wolf, run to the ridgeline in the direction of the gunfire, and Mike, Springs Dawn, and the children follow.
As everyone reaches the top of a ridge and looks off in the distance. Their eyes fall on a herd of buffalo that are running away in a valley below.
"My God," Medicine Woman muttered in shock as more shots ring out. Several buffalo fall in their tracks. Dead before they hit the ground.
Raising his eyes from the slaughter Logan scanned the land around them. "There! On the ridge line!" he finally barked pointing to a leathery buffalo hunter on the opposite ridge.
With the others squinting into the distance toward the man. "I can barely see him," Kimberly said, looking at him. "How can you?"
"I've always had good eyes," Logan said, quickly as the man raises his rifle and aims, fires again.
As he starts to reload, Logan goes stiff as he feels something like a growing storm was on the horizon. Looking left and right eyes going everywhere. Finally he paused seeing something standing alone in the distance. Blinking a couple times he rubs his eyes, not sure what he saw.
He was brought back with a jolt from the thunder of another rifle shot. Giving himself a shake as the echo in the distance died, he returned to watching the slaughter.
"Ma, what's he doing?" Brian asked, looking up at her from where he stood in front of her.
"He's been hired by the railroad to kill buffalo," Sully explained.
"Why?" Mike asked, frowning.
"They say it's to feed the workers," Sully said, a flint of steel in his eyes.
"But why so many?" Mike said, her stunned voice echoing in the silence between shots.
Mike looks at Cloud Dancing. "Because they know when the buffalo are gone, the Cheyenne people will disappear," he said, gravely.
"In other words," and everyone looked at Kimberly. "They're trying to starve the tribes out," and a tear rolled down her cheek as she watched a dying suffering buffalo lifted its head with a mournful sound.
At a movement Logan looked down and saw that Spring Dawns hand slip into his. Slowly looking up into her face to see she was crying at the sight. Unable to bare it he gripped her hand interlocking their fingers and pulled her into him.
As she soaked his shoulder with her tears he looked back up at the heard then to the spot. Only to see that what had drawn his attention was gone. Red Dragon…what the hell was that?
That…was a spirit…and a powerful one at that…and right now…he's angry.
His eyes returning to the slaughter he thought, I don't blame him…and remind me to keep on his good side, as he thought about the burning fire in the eyes of the white buffalo.
The next day Logan and Kimberly rode to the clinic trying to keep their minds off the previous day's slaughter. Walking they paused at seeing the crowd on the street centered on a well-dressed man in a three piece suit before entering the clinic. And froze when they Mike about to lance a blister on Horace's telegraph finger. He looking pale and frightened like a child coming for a shot.
"Don't look. It'll be over in a second," she said, trying to keep him calm. Then turn his head when he didn't look away. Before she lances the blister, and he gave a moan of pain.
"This usually only happens around the holidays, but I been sending a lot of telegrams back east for that railroad fella. They're out there right now, surveying the street," nodding toward the door and paused when he saw Logan and Kim standing there rooted to the spot.
"Believe us Horace we wish we didn't see that either," Logan said, after giving himself a shake.
"For what?" Mike asked, as they closed the door behind themselves.
"They're talking about bringing the railroad right through town," Horace continued and when Mike was done with his finger the group filed outside.
Again Logan and Kimberly looked at the crowd as they gawk at a crew of two surveyors, who are sighting a transom. That and Kimberly finally take notice of with interest. After eyeing the surveyors, they look again at the man in the suit who was talking to members of the crowd. Turning to see them, he gives them a wave and goes right to them.
"Mr. Bing, who are these lovely ladies and fine gentleman?" the man asked, Horace eyeing the three of them.
"I'm Logan," taking his hand.
"Kimberly," and Kim shook his hand.
"I'm Dr. Quinn," Michaela said, extending her hand.
"Doctor?" the man asked, frowning.
"Yep, she runs the clinic," Horace said, smiling pointing up at the sign.
Not looking up at the sign the man whips out a card holding it out to Medicine Woman. "Thaddeus Birch, Attorney at Law,' he proclaimed and she took it and read it. "Who know I had a lady doctor take out my lumbago in St. Louis," he said, confidently.
Looking up from the card the three eyed him. "Took it right out, did she?" Mike asked, skeptical.
"You bet, but she wasn't as pretty as you," and Birch shot her a smile.
Seeing right through the guy Logan and Kim shared a glance as Mike flipped the card over before lowering it. "So, you own this building?" Birch asked, gesturing to the clinic behind her.
"Yes, sir, I do," Mike said, eyes narrowing.
Putting on a million dollar smile and said, dramatically, "Well, madam, I have some very good news for you. You know the Continental Republic Railroad?" and at her nod he continued, "Well, they're bringing the tracks right through the center of town."
"Really? Right here?" Kimberly said, crossing her arms.
"Before you can say Jack Robinson, this little town is going to be bigger than Denver!" he proclaimed shaking his fisted hands for dramatic emphasis.
"Well, whata ya' know!" Horace said, and Logan could almost see the stars in his eyes.
"And to make that dream come true, I'm here to purchase all the land parcels in town. At a very handsome price," he said, and as the people murmured excitedly Logan let out a puff of air shaking his head a half grin on his face.
"This is excitin'!" Horace said, in the same excited tone and both Logan and Kim looked at him again.
"Let me understand, Mr. Birch. The railroad is coming right through the center of town?" Mike asked, hiding her skepticism.
"You betcha. Depot will be right where the saloon is," and turning he waved a hand at the building in question. "Loading chutes for the stockyards right there," and he points to clinic. "Warehouse and a two story hotel right there ..." and he points at Loren's store. "Complete with a genuine crystal chandelier shipped all the way from London. That's in England, you know," he finished slowly looking back at Michaela with a smile.
"So I've heard," Mike said, and Logan heard the edge in her voice at being talked down to by him.
"Golly," Logan said, dramatically. "I always thought it was in France or Scotland," and he faced the crowd as Kimberly gave a light snort and chuckle behind her hand. "Listen up everybody London is in England!" he proclaimed in a mocking English accent.
Frowning at the two of them Birch asked, slowly, "Are you two mocking me?" he asked, pointing from one to the other.
"My Mr. Birch?" Kimberly said, acquiring the same accent a hand on her chest looking mortally offended. "We never dream of it," she said, with a dramatic air hand going to her forehead.
Eyeing them Birch continued, "yes, ma'am, there's some big changes coming. Lot of money to be made. This is truly your lucky day," and dipping his hat to Mike turned back to the surveyors.
"I'm not so sure about that," Mike murmured as the three turned and walked back into the clinic.
Once inside and the door closed both Logan and Kim let loose their laughter over what happened. "So you don't think this is genuine?" Mike asked, eyeing them.
"I doubt it," Logan said, shaking his head resting his back against the door arms crossed after wiping a tear from his eye. "Buts it's possible it might be."
"Why?" Mike asked, frowning as she sat behind her desk.
"He could have been sent by the railroad to get people to sell their lands at a cheaper price so they won't have to pay the full price for it," Kimberly explained with a wave of her hand leaning on the examination table. "Its low… but it happens."
"But personally…" and both looked at Logan. "My money is on that it's a con," he finished jabbing his thumb into his chest.
The next day at the reservation Logan and Kimberly were by their horses brushing them down with bundles of dried grass as they watched a pair of braves spoke angrily to Black Kettle, Cloud Dancing and Sully who was down on one knee giving Wolf some affectionate rubs.
"I am going to stop this buffalo hunter!" one snapped jabbing a finger at Cloud Dancing.
"You must listen to reason, it is too dangerous to leave the reservation!" Cloud Dancing said, trying to reason with him.
"Are we to do nothing, then?" another Brave demanded.
Then the group turned to Black Kettle spoke trying to calm them down, "It will bring great sorrow on our people if we make war now." As he spoke Logan's eyes turned to some women and children standing nearby, listening. Springs Dawn among them.
"I will not let my people starve!" the first brave snapped jabbing his finger at Black Kettle before he shot Sully, Logan, and Kimberly a flinty look before he talked away with the others.
Shaking his head Logan watched the Brave walk away. The other Braves watch him go, talk among themselves. A weary Black Kettle turns to Sully as eh said, in Cheyenne, "you better go after him."
For a second Black Kettle was silent before he shook his head. "You must talk with this white man who kills the buffalo. Help me brother, help me keep the peace." Sully nods, Black Kettle walks away. The other braves drift off into the camp.
"I have never heard Iron Knife talk to Black Kettle that way," Sully said, as Cloud Dancing came close.
With a mournful look he looked at the three of them. "His only child died of hunger last winter."
Closing his eyes at his words Logan looked away shaking his head. "No parent should ever burry their child," Kimberly whispered a note of sadness for the loss in her voice.
"I'll ride out and have a word with the man the railroad hired," and Logan and Kimberly looked at him.
"I will come with you," Cloud Dancing insisted.
"That's probably not a good idea," Logan said, and Cloud Dancing looked at him.
"Why?"
"Buffalo might not be the only thing he likes to kill," Sully said, simply and silence fell.
"then I will ask for the ghost buffalo to protect you as he protects the herd and my people," Cloud dancing said, and nodding in thanks Sully took his arm before moving toward the horses.
"Do you want us to come with you?" Kimberly asked, as they followed leaning their mounts.
Looking at them when he reached his horse Sully shook his head. "No I should be fine," and he slipped onto his mount. "I'll meet you both back here later, and we'll head for the homestead for dinner."
"We keep having meals there and Mike just might start charging us for meals," and smirking at Kim's words Sully rode out.
For a few second the pair watched him go before Logan turned to Kim. "You okay?" he asked, catching the worried look in her eye.
"Yeah…," she said, slowly looking at him. "It's just a feeling…," and biting her lip she adverted her gaze. "…you…ever get feelings like this."
"Sense I met you guys?" he said, after a second before he grinned. "All the time," then he looked back where Sully had disappeared from their sight. "But he's a big boy and we got to practice," and mounting up the pair rode out.
Do you think the spirit we saw the other day could be the Ghost Buffalo that Cloud Dancing mentioned? Logan asked, Red Dragon.
More than likely…but I hope not.
Why?
Well…to be frank…he ah…is a…little bull headed about his job…
At this Logan let loose a snort and Kimberly looked at him. Did you just make a joke?
No I was frank.
"What's so funny?" Kimberly asked, frowning.
Shaking his head Logan said, "Nothing…something just popped into my head."
Oh, ha, ha very funny…everyone's a critic.
A couple hours later Sully rides up to the buffalo's hunter. Dismounting he eyes a huge, obscene mountain of buffalo hides piled in a wagon. Eyes narrowing he turned to see the hunter sitting in front of a tent, having a drink. Before him a fire is going, and a rough looking skinner tends to a stew pot.
A second buffalo skinner comes from inside the tents, looks out to see him. "I'm lookin' for your boss," he called out openly.
"That'd be me," the hunter said, picking up his rifle the frills on his buckskin shifting as he stood.
"Name's Tate Rankin," one of the skinners said.
Finding it hard not to look at the piles of skins, the carnage it represents Sully moves forward. "Name's Sully. I come to speak on behalf of Chief Black Kettle of the Cheyenne," his hands going to his rig.
"You some kinda half breed, or somethin'?" Rankin asks eyeing him and his men chuckle wickedly.
"What I am doesn't matter," Sully answered eyeing the man. "What I come to say does," and he looked at Rankin.
"Okay," the man started giving Sully a once over again. "Talk."
Looking the man in the eye Sully continued. "I know you've got your job to do for the railroad. But the Cheyenne need buffalo."
With a gleam in his eyes and a half grin on his face Rankin held his gaze. "Mister, the railroad don't give a damn what the Cheyenne need. And frankly, neither do I."
"All Black Kettle asks is that you leave them enough buffalo to survive the winter."
For a second Rankin was silent as he considered his words. "Well, Mr. Sully," he said, taking a step forward. "Why don't you tell ol' Black Kettle and the rest of them Cheyenne to eat coyotes," he said, the grin growing wider. "Plenty of them around," and he gestured to the prairie with his rifle. The skinners laugh ... until Sully's look shuts them up with a look.
"I'm just doing my job. Railroad's coming, Mr. Sully, whether you like it or not. You can't stop progress," Rankin continued after a beat.
"What's progress to some, is death to others," Sully countered looking back at him.
"Then, I guess the Indians will have to go the way of the buffalo," Rankin countered back stepping into his face.
"They won't go without a fight, and they won't wait until the last buffalo is gone," Sully said, in warning.
"You wouldn't be making threats, now would you…?" Rankin hissed an edge coming into his voice.
"Black Kettle does not want a war, but he may not be able to stop one," Sully said, cutting him off
For a second Rankin was silent. "And which side you gonna be on, Mr. Sully?"
Sully was silent for half a beat. "You keep killing buffalo like you been doing and you'll find out," and with that Sully turns to get back on his horse. Rankin picks up his buffalo gun and slams Sully in the back with the rifle butt.
Sully does down hard. Biting back the pain he starts to push himself up. Turning when a hand came down on his shoulder and a fist from one of the skinners plowed into his face sending him back down.
"Get him!" he heard Rankin bark. At once arms wrapped around his middle and the other skinning jerked him to his feet. "Hold him!" Rankin hissed dangerously as Sully struggled to free himself.
With a smile on his face Rankin shifted his grip on his rifle before driving the butt into Sully's gut. As Sully started to push himself up he was soundly kicked in the face twisting him onto his back. The three men kicks him repeatedly. When they finally stopped ... Sully is ominously still moaning in pain.
"Get rid of him," he heard Rankin say before the world went black.
Just as the sun was starting to go down Logan and Kimberly rode back into the camp a little sweaty from their workout. As they dismounted they were met by Cloud Dancing a hint of fear on his face. "Have either of you seen Runs With Wolves?" he demanded half frantic.
Slipping from their mounts the pair blinked at him. "What? He isn't back yet?" Kimberly demanded. While Logan turned to scan the prairie.
"no, we have not seen him sense he left for the hunter's camp,' and Logan turned back to Cloud Dancing. "I fear something has happened," and a worried Springs Dawn came close.
After shooting her a look he started barking orders. "Okay people we're losing daylight fast! Kimberly…," and he faced her. "You and Cloud Dancing search the ravines in case he found his way there! Cloud Dancing you take the north…Kimberly the south," and they each nodded.
"What about you?" Kimberly asked.
"I'll take the hunter's camp!" he said, jabbing his thumb into his chest.
As they mounted up again Springs Dawn drew close to him. "May I help?" she asked.
For a second they locked eyes. "Get a horse."
In short order Logan was flat on his chest peering over the edge of a rise at the buffalo hunter's camp. Narrowing his eyes his vision zoomed in on the three men around the camp fire and their voices traveled to his ears. For a couple minutes he listened to them talk eyes going wide at their words he slowly drew back reigning his senses in.
Slipping back onto Wildfire he took several deep sniffs. Catching the right scent he turned Wildfire and galloped across the prairie.
You know this would just use what I've been trying to teach you, Red Dragon as Logan reined in Wildfire to make sure he was heading the right direction.
Maybe because I'm still having problems with it!
So you settle being a human bloodhound? Red Dragon concluded as Kimberly came into sight Springs Dawn on a horse beside her.
"Learn anything?" she called out as Wildfire dug his hooves in as Logan reined him in.
"Yeah I think I know where he is!" he answered.
As fast as their mounts could carry them Logan and Kim headed out as Springs Dawn rode for Cloud Dancing. Reaching the spot they leapt from their mounts and looked over the edge of the ridge.
"SULLY!" Kimberly screamed as they quickly made their way down to him and the other person lying next to him dressed in buckskin.
Reaching him Kimberly turned him over gasping at his bruised and battered face. "He's alive!" she called out as Logan checked the other man. "But barely! Somebody beat the hell out of him! How's he?" and she looked over at the two.
"He's dead!" Logan answered eyeing the giant hole in the brave's chest before moving close to her.
"Is it Iron Knife?" she asked, and he nodded. At the sound of approaching horses their heads whipped up hands going for their weapons. Then relaxed when they saw it was Springs Dawn and Cloud Dancing whose mount was dragging a travois.
"How is he?" Cloud Dancing demanded as the pair came close.
"He's alive!" Kimberly answered.
As Cloud Dancing knelt to examine him Sully stirred and a single word escaped his lips, "Michaela."
One by one the group looked at each other. "He has a better chance there then here! Let's move people!" Logan barked and they lifted carefully off the ground.
As quickly and as best they could they rode for the homestead with Springs Dawn riding on the travois to keep an eye on Sully. As they neared the building they heard Colleen shouting from inside. "It's a people brush, not a wolf brush!"
"Colleen's right. But we have a family rule against hitting ... now both of you apologize this minute!" Came Mike's voice as they pounded on the door Logan and Cloud Dancing delicately supporting Sully.
A couple seconds Matthew opens the door. All react to Cloud Dancing standing there holding the battered, unconscious Sully in his arms.
"Sully!" Mathew cried out in shock from where he and the children stood rooted.
"Dear God ...! What happened?" Mike quickly ushers them in, and Cloud Dancing and Logan place Sully on the bed as gently as possible. Wolf comes inside, settles at the foot of the bed as the everyone gathered around it.
Mike stands over Sully, frightened by his deathly appearance... but then she reaches to feel his pulse. By her look to the worried children they at least know that there is one.
"Black Kettle sent Sully to ask the white hunter to spare enough buffalo for our people," Cloud Dancing started to explain and Mike looked up at him. "This was his answer," and he gestures to his injured brother.
"When he didn't come back to the reservation for us to come to dinner here, we went to look for him," and she looked at Logan.
"When we found him he spoke your name," Mike looks from the bloodied Sully across the bed at Cloud Dancing.
"So we brought him here," Kimberly finished.
For a beat silence ell, as Cloud Dancing and Mike look at one another, an acknowledgement of their respective skills. They'll work together to save Sully.
"Matthew ... my medical bag!" she snapped and the young man sprang into action. "I will need your help," and Cloud Dancing nodded.
None of them got any sleep that night, though Brian has finally fallen asleep on the rug by the fire with his wolf. Logan, Kimberly, Springs Dawn, Matthew and Colleen sit at the table watching, as Mike tends to Sully's swollen face, changing a bloody bandage, one of many covering his visible wounds. Cloud Dancing kneels on the opposite side of the bed, chanting quietly, passing a smoking piece of cypress up and down the length of Sully's body.
Slowly Colleen climbed to her feet and walked over to look down at Sully. "Dr. Mike?" her question hangs in the air as eyes turn on her. Cloud Dancing stops chanting.
After looking at the girl for a couple seconds Mike applies another bandage. "I can only see what's on the outside at this point. I have no idea what damage is inside," and she looks across at Cloud Dancing with her own silent question.
"The spirits say it is bad," he answered solemnly
"How bad?' Michaela asked after a beat.
For a second Cloud Dancing was silent before he said, with determination, "he will live."
This gives comfort to the children, but Mike, Logan, Kim, and Springs Dawn senses the foreboding in Cloud Dancing's voice. Reaching over Logan gives Kim's hand a comforting squeeze.
Now I know how they felt the time I lost conscious doing magic, he thought to himself.
The next day Logan and Kim were outside getting some air as Mike is taking down dried bandage strips from the clothesline. Suddenly Matthew bursts out the front door.
Turning to look at him he barks. "He's waking up!" he says excitedly before they could say anything and they barrel inside.
Inside they watch Cloud Dancing stands over the bed. Sully's swollen eyes struggle to open enough to see, let alone focus on them, and when he tries to speak, his voice is a mere rasp. "What? ..."
"Cloud Dancing brought you. He found you at Rankin's camp," Mike explained for them.
At once Logan say painful recognition in his eye. "Right ..."
Biting her lip Mike bent over the bed so he could see her clearly. "Sully, listen to me. Now that you're awake, it's very important that I examine you. To check for internal injury," she explained.
He manages a nod. She pulls back the quilt, revealing him covered by only a sheet, underneath which he's naked. Sully's aware of his nudity.
Matthew and Logan senses this. "We undressed you," Sully gives a nod of thanks and relief.
They watch Mike presses on his side. He winces. Then the other. He cries out involuntarily. As gently as possible, she manipulates both arms, hitting on one spot that elicits a pained grunt. Mike proceeds with the examination, very careful to move the sheet discreetly, lowering it to Sully's waist. She begins to probe his chest as gently as possible. Big ugly bruises all over. Sully moans and Logan closed his eyes knowing what it meant and how it felt. For everything to hurt.
"I know you're in terrible pain, but, please, try to distinguish for me the differing degrees. It's important," Mike pressed on and he nods again.
She probes some more. He winces. She presses on his rib cage. He cries out involuntarily. She presses the other side; this time he grits his teeth against the same pain. She slips the sheet back up, then carefully exposes one leg. She begins to examine them as she did his arms but elicits no expression of pain from him. She glances up at Cloud Dancing, then reaches for her medical bag. She takes out an instrument shaped like a wheel at one end, with small prongs on it. She runs the instrument down the side of Sully's leg. Logan and Kim's eyes widen in horror when he says nothing. She tries the other leg. Still nothing and Logan and Kim's worries deepen. He can see what she's doing, and it hits him with a wave of panic.
"My legs. I can't feel them," he mutters and they hear the fear in it. "I can't move them!" and the fear turns to panic.
She runs the instrument across the soles of his feet. "That?" she asked, worried looking at him.
He shakes his head. "No!" The kids look devastated, as Sully looks from Mike to Cloud Dancing to Logan to Kim, panicked. "What's goin' on?"
"Some sort of paralysis. I don't know exactly yet," Mike said, trying to calm him.
"The bruise on his back…," Kim muttered and Sully's eye swiveled to her. "Something must have happened when you took that hit!"
Slowly Sully looked back at Mike. "I'm paralyzed?"
"The problem may just be temporary," she said, trying to sound hopeful.
"What do you mean?"
"Well ... it could be an accumulation of fluid pressing on your spinal column ... but with time the swelling will go down and the feeling will come back,"
"That has to be it," and Sully turned to Logan. "Your back didn't feel or look broken when we brought you here."
Slowly Sully looked at Mike. "How long?"
Silence fell as all eyes turned to her. "I don't know," she admitted before looking across at Cloud Dancing, appealing.
"There is a root. When dried and made into a salve ..." he said, looking at the people around him. "It can heal."
"But you never saw it yourself," Sully pointed out.
Without answering, Cloud Dancing heads for the door. "I will search for this root."
"I will help," and Springs Dawn followed him out.
They all watch the door close behind them. Turning back Logan see Mike fights back her emotions. "I'll get something for the pain.
She quickly retreats to her ... where she fumbles with a bottle of laudanum powder, as the tears well and roll down her cheeks. Suddenly she felt a pair of hands on her shoulder and turning she looked at Kim behind her.
"He's going to be fine," Kim murmurs comfortingly to her. "He's young, he's strong…and he's stubborn," Mike lets out a chuckle at that as she nods. "So don't you give up on him…he's going to be fine…," Kim said, again as her own tear runs down her cheek.
For the next few days neither Logan nor Kimberly left the homestead. Both wanting to keep close to Sully.
On the third day the pair was making the evening fire as Colleen takes a bowl of soup to Sully, who sits, propped up in bed, his arm and chest bandaged, his face less swollen but badly bruised. His mood is dark. Wolf and Pup rest on the floor near the fire place.
Grinning a little at Pup's antics to get Wolf to play with him. But the older Wolf just remained where he was mirroring his master's mood.
"No thanks," they heard Sully say and glancing over their shoulders saw him reject the soup Colleen offered him.
"Dr. Mike says you gotta eat," Colleen persisted urging the bowl on him.
In his good nature Brian brings him one of Colleen's newly baked sugar cookies instead. "How bout a cookie?"
"Brian, he needs somethin' nourishin'," Colleen half scolded and Kim smiled shaking her head.
For a second Brian's face dropped. "You can have it, if you eat all your soup," he said, trying to sound strict and Logan let lose a snort a smile growing on his face.
This gets a slight smile from Sully. He takes the soup and uses his good arm to eat some of it. After shooting each other a glance Logan and Kim turned back to the task at hand.
Smiling at his success Brian sits at the foot of the bed. "Sully, tell me a story."
"Brian, let him finish eating," Colleen said, returning to the other cookies cooling on the table.
"That's alright," Sully said, realizing it will take his mind of things, then nods, knowing what story he'll tell. There's an undertone of his own emotions regarding the subject matter that escapes the children, but not Logan or Kim. "It's the story of the white buffalo."
Colleen comes back over. "A white buffalo?" she asks and sits on the other end of the bed as Logan and Kim straighten to lean their backs against the mantle.
"There's no such thing!" Brian said, excitedly.
Smiling at the boy Sully nods. "Yep, there is. But only one in a million. The Cheyenne believe the white buffalo guard the herd."
"You ever seen one?"
Sully shakes his head. "The Cheyenne call him Running Ghost."
"Running Ghost? Is he a real ghost?" Brian said, trying to keep still.
"He's a spirit," and they look at Logan.
"That's right," and they turn back to Sully. "and Cloud Dancing says if you see him, then he's real," the kids contemplate this for a moment, as Sully has a few more bites of soup, but before he could continue Mike and Matthew enter through the side door, carrying supplies.
"Hello, everyone," Mike said, smiling at them.
"Hey, ma," Brian said, jumping off the bed and runs to her. She gives him a quick hug. "Cookies before supper?" she playfully scolding him noticing the cookie in his hand.
"Naw, it's for Sully," Brian defended and she looks over at Sully, and his feigning cheerfulness.
"And how is the patient doing?" she asks moving close. His mood shifts to dark again. He looks away, sets the soup bowl down. Colleen shrugs her shoulders to Mike. "Children, why don't you let me, White Falcon, and Dancing Heron talk to Sully, alone, please?" The kids exchange looks, then exit.
Mike goes over to the bed followed by the other two. "Sully ... I know you're upset, and no one can blame you, but these injuries take time," she tried to sooth him and keep his mood up.
"She's right Sully," and he looked at Kim as she moved close and sat down next to him. "My father always said, the first step to any recovery is to have a positive attitude.
For a beat there's silence in the house, then he looks at her ... into her. "Tell me the truth ... will I heal?"
Again silence fell for a beat as everyone looked at Mike. "I don't know," she admitted.
Again there was a beat of silence. "What are the odds?"
Medicine Woman bit her lip. "The truth?"
"The truth."
Mike lowered her gaze before looking at him again. "I have no idea." In frustration he hits the bed with his good arm. "Now, wait a minute. You could start to heal in a matter of days. Or weeks..."
"Or not at all?" Sully interrupts.
Trying to bring him out of his down Mike continued. "...it could even take months. But there are things we can do to speed the process," she insisted.
With that Mike pulls the covers aside to reveal Sully's legs. "What're you doin'?" Sully demanded trying to cover himself up again.
"We need to keep your legs healthy, in case your spinal cord is healing," Mike explained as she starts bending one of his legs at the knee, in and out.
"You're wastin' your time," Sully protested giving her a hard stare. "I can't feel anything."
"That's not the point. We need to keep the muscles strong..." and she puts his leg down and starts massaging it. "...stimulates the blood circulation."
Logan watched Sully as he watched her. He saw that he may not be able to feel it, but he can see her hands running up and down his legs.
Logan and Kimberly share a glance when they see there's a sensual rhythm to it. Medicine Woman can't help but feel it, too. She glances up at him, and their eyes lock. Suddenly, he uses his upper body strength to roll to his side, away from her, even though it hurts his rib cage.
"I just wanna be by myself right now." Michaela nods, ashamed that she's relieved to get away from him, as well. She stands, starts to go. "And don't be feelin' sorry for me."
She stops and faces him. "I'll make you a deal. I won't feel sorry for you, as long as you don't feel sorry for yourself," he turns his head to look at her as she turns and goes outside... where the kids are glumly hanging around out front.
After watching her go and close the door behind her Logan turned to Sully. "You know that sounds like a pretty good deal to me," he said, and Sully looked at him. "Because the way I see it you've got two options. Option A: you can lay here and die moaning and moping over what happened," Sully's one good eye gained a glint of steel. "Option B: You can dig deep into that spirit of yours and fight to regain your legs," for a few seconds Sully held his gaze before he slowly lowered them.
The next day Logan was helping Mike getting some water from the barrel as she fed the chickens. Turning at the sound of approaching horses they turn and see Cloud Dancing appear from behind the barn Springs Dawn on a horse beside him.
"Ha-ho," he calls in greeting which they return. "How is my brother?" he asked, as they drew close and dismounted.
"Better, but still no feeling in his legs," Mike reported.
Nodding Cloud Dancing slipped of his bag and handed it to Mike. "You found the root?" Logan asked, as she opened it showing the roots inside.
He nodded. "Grind these and make a salve. Wash his legs with hot water, then rub it on him."
"Thank you," Mike said, grateful.
Cloud dancing nodded before looking at the house. "May I see him?" he asked, concerned.
For a half a beat Medicine Woman shifted uncomfortably. "I'll tell him you're here, but he doesn't want any company right now."
For a second Cloud Dancing was still before he shook his head. "Do not bother him. Tell him I will return when it is safe," and he moved for his horse.
"Safe?" Mike asked, confused and Logan faced the man fully growing worried.
Solemnly Cloud Dancing faced them. "The soldiers are coming to keep my people on the reservation," he explained and Logan's eyes closed letting out a breath of frustration. "Two more Cheyenne have been killed by this Rankin. There is much talk of war."
"Were they Iron Knife's friends?" Logan asked, looking at the man.
"One was…the other was another father whose child died of hunger," and Logan shook his head looking away face hard at that.
"Can't Black Kettle stop it?" Michaela asked, concerned.
"I do not know," Cloud Dancing said, shaking his head then mounted up and started to ride out.
As the sound of horse fades away frowning Logan turns back to still see Springs Dawn still there. "Springs Dawn," he growled walking up to her after putting the bucket down.
"I thought I could help with Runs With Wolves," she said, while behind Logan, Michaela took her leave into the house shooting them a glance before disappearing inside.
"And if you get found here you could get yourself killed!" he said, before taking a breath to calm himself looking away before looking at her again eyes narrowed. "But is Sully the only reason you want to be here?"
Month opening slightly Springs Dawn asked, softly, "Do you really not know?"
For a few seconds he held her gaze before he closed his eyes lowering his head unable to look at her. Knowing he couldn't avoid it anymore.
"Springs Dawn," he muttered walking forward cupping her cheek looking her in the eye. "I can't give you what you want," he said, simply in a soft voice. At once her mouth parted and he saw a tear form. "It has nothing to do with you," he said, quickly and she blinked. "I have someone…waiting for me…back where Dancing Heron and I come from," he said, trying to make her understand as he drew his hand away and curled into a fist. "But…if I didn't…," he finished letting the last part hang his eyes closing again to look down at the ground.
For a few seconds there was silence then he felt delicate fingers cup his chin raising his face until he was looking at her again. "You truly are a rarity among white men White Falcon…for…I think any other white man would have taken advantage of this…but for your honor…you've restrained yourself," and for a second they just looked at each other. "And now I know…I was right to give my heart to you," she said, and before he could say anything she captured his lips into a kiss.
When she pulled back she gazed at his surprised expression. "After you go home…and something happens between you and her…know that I will be waiting…" and with those words said, she turned slipped onto her horse and after looking at him one last time turned and rode away.
As she disappeared he blinked giving himself a shake. "So you finally did it," and he turned not surprised to see Kimberly leaning against the door.
"Yeah," he said walking to her. "And she loves me even more for it, I seem to have that effect on women," finishing with a playful cocky grin they walk back inside. Kimberly giving him a playful swat on the back.
Over the next couple of weeks the group work to get Sully back on his feet using various methods like one day they took him to the Hot Springs for a heat treatment. "All right, let's get you in the water," Mike said, hopping off the wagon.
Matthew and Logan lift Sully up out of the wagon, and carry him into the water. Mike wades in with them, and helps support his body.
"What I want you to do is, move your arms through the water. We'll move your legs," she instructed him.
"Don't worry Sully ... we got you," Mathew reassured him.
He starts to move his arms as instructed, and the group begins to move about the pond as one. "You look good Sully!" Colleen called out from the shore next to Kimberly.
"Remember what you taught me!" Brian called out next to her wearing Mathew's hat. "You said, 'just lie back and look at the sky'," he encouraged and Logan felt the man begin to relax more as he did that. "Ma said, the hot springs will make you feel better!"
"Keep going Sully!"
"Keep going Sully!"
Another day Sully was lying in bed, on top of the covers, with Mike, the Reverend, and the kids gathered around him with Logan and Kimberly. Sully now wears a shirt and a pair of pants. A short, wooden pole, with a rope tied around either end, hangs from the ceiling beam over the bed.
"You can do it Sully!" Colleen said, trying to boost his confidence with a smile.
"Go on, Sully," Brian encouraged. Sully takes hold of the pole with his good arm and manages to lift himself a few inches from the bed. Brian's counting. "An inch better'n yesterday!"
"And a whole lot better than two weeks ago!" Mike said, happily and Logan nodded as Sully lowers himself back down.
"One more Sully, for the Lord," the Reverend egged on.
Sully gives him a look, before locking eyes with Logan's and Kimberly's unphased faces before he pulls himself up again, drops back. Breathing deeply he looks at them again. For a second they don't move then smiles begin to grow and Logan nods.
"Amen."
A couple days' later Logan and Kim sit at the table playing chess while beside them Colleen and Brian play checkers, while Matthew gives Sully's legs a good rubdown with the salve.
"Check," Kimberly said, moving her queen. Sighing Logan sits back in his chair trying to decide his next move.
Meanwhile Mike works at her desk in her office alcove beyond. She tries to concentrate, but finds her gaze drifting toward the bed, watching Matthew massage Sully. She forces herself back to her work, but again she finds herself looking over, her eyes drifting the length of his leg, from thigh to knee to calf to ...suddenly she jumps up from her desk, startling everyone.
"They moved!" She barks running to the foot of the bed. So do everyone else. "Your toes! They moved!" They all stare at his feet. Nothing happens. "Concentrate," she urges Sully.
They watch as his face screwed up hard as he can in concentration. All eyes turn to his feet. Then at long last they gave a small noticeable twitch.
"They moved!" Brian cried for joy.
"They sure did!" Medicine Woman said, ecstatically.
Matthew leans down and grabs Sully's good arm exuberantly, as Brian and Colleen hug him around the neck and Logan and Kimberly give each other a set of energetic high fives before embracing. Sully looks over their heads at Mike. They share a look that goes beyond touching...
"You're gonna be walking again before you know it," she said, happily a tear of happiness forming.
"That's good," Sully Said, then Logan paused as his face started to harden. "Cause I have things to do," he finishes quietly and Logan catches Sully's eye turns away and he looks at his tomahawk and knife and his eyes fill with revenge.
A few days later Sully is seated on the side of the bed, his legs on the floor. Logan and Matthew stand on either side of him.
"Now, we must go very slowly," Michaela said, in front of him holding a crutch. Sully nods. He grabs onto their arms, and pulls himself up to a standing position. Mike hands him the crutch. "If you start to get dizzy, I want you to tell me." Sully, holding onto Logan and Matthew, using the crutch, takes some shaky steps. "Are you alright?"
Sully nods. "Yeah."
They walk a little further, then stop. "Do you want to rest?" Mike asked, concerned.
"No ... I wanna try it on my own," and Logan and Mathew look at each other.
"You're not ready for that."
"Yes, I am."
He pulls free of them, but they stay near his side. Sully attempts a few tentative stops alone. But then ... his legs cave in. Logan and Matthew grab him to keep him from falling. He regains his balance.
"I wasn't gonna fall," he protested.
Mike and Matthew look at each other. "Of course not," Logan said, encouragingly.
"Absolutely not," Mathew agreed. The pair steer him back to the bed, where he
thankfully sits back down.
Meanwhile in town after having lunch at Grace's with Colleen and Brian who went to the store. Kimberly watches some of the newly arrived soldiers from the clinic porch. Looking over she sees Grace with Robert E. he takes payment from a horse soldier, watches as he mounts up, joining four horse soldiers. They ride out of town. And she frowns as Hank walks over from Jake's store smoking his usual cigar.
"Bet you're glad to see them soldiers back here for a while," she heard him say to the pair.
"Ain't glad to see another Indian war start up," Robert E. stated plainly back as she moved closer.
"Now, what's this I hear from Mr. Birch bout you two not selling?" at once both Robert E and Grace tensed.
"I'm not," Robert E. stated after shooting Grace a look.
"Me, either," Grace said, stepping closer to Robert E as he walks back to his forge, pulls out some iron horseshoe, checks the color, sticks it back in the coals.
"Well you both better think hard, cause you only got one more week to make up your minds!" Hank said, looking from onto the other.
"We're not against the railroad coming through. We think it's a good idea," Grace defended and Kimberly lowered her gaze.
"Then why ain't you selling?"
"Mr. Birch offered me what he said, was a fair price for a Negro. I just want a fair price, same as you or Jake or Loren," Robert E. said, and Kimberly could almost hear the contempt in his words.
Loren and Jake, what's going on? Kimberly thought to herself.
"When Mr. Birch comes to my cafe, he doesn't pay any less for my cooking, why should he pay less for his land?" Grace piped in on that note.
"Well, if you want my advice, you better take what you can get, cause the railroad's coming, and anybody stands in its way gonna…get…run…over!" Hank half threatened emphasizing it with a few jabs of his fingers and Kimberly quietly moved behind him ready to move on him if she had to.
"Don't be getting so riled up, Hank,' Robert E. said, his eyes drifting to her and back.
"Robert E. you ain't seen me riled up like I'm gonna be if you don't sell!" Hank pressed on.
Not taking his eyes off the man Robert E. at once took the horse show out of the forge with his tongs and held it out threatenly. "You know when you get hot, you're like this piece of iron, you get weak..." he warned as Hank eyed the red hot metal. "…and pretty soon you break," and with that he lowered the shoe into the bucket of water where it gave a mighty hiss.
"And you know the old phrase? Don't you Hank?" Kimberly growled and Hank whipped around to stare at her as she walked around to stand by the two. "'You play with fire…you get burned…'" she hissed. For a few seconds Hank looks at them then tosses his cigar into the water before he turned and left. "Now do you two mind telling me what the heck is going on here?" Kimberly demanded facing Robert E. and Grace.
Later that night while Mike is at the fireplace, stoking the fire. Matthew, Colleen and Brian are putting away the dinner dishes. Logan and Kimberly sit alone in a corner talking.
"So Birch is buying up all the land in town for the railroad," Logan muttered in an undertone after she told him what she learned in town. "And Hank has become his lapdog."
"Yeah and from what Robert E. and Grace told me Loren and Jake already sold to him," Kimberly continued in the same undertone.
Not surprised Logan shrugged. "That sounds like them…when it comes to money they aren't ones to think things through."
"You still think it's a con?"
Slowly he looked at her. "Like I said, 'I'd put money on it," then turned when movement caught his eye and watched as Sully, walking slowly, starts for the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mike sad intercepting him.
"Get some firewood," he explained nodded to the small pile.
"I'll get it. Why don't you sit down," she urged.
"I can manage," Sully protested.
"I'm afraid your doctor doesn't think so," Mike over rid. "Not yet."
"I'd listen to her," and Sully looked at Logan. "With your injuries its best to take things slow."
Mike leads a frustrated Sully to a chair. Where he sits.
"I'll get the firewood, Sully," and with that Mathew leaves and as he goes out. Brian goes to sit next to Sully.
"Boy, are we lucky ... nobody else has a doctor for a ma," he said, trying to sooth the man's agitation.
Sully shoots a look at Mike. She smiles, managing to get a smile out of him. "You're lucky, all right."
"Sully, you never did finish the story bout Running Ghost," Brian said, and Logan and Kim perk up at this.
"'Running Ghost?'" Medicine Woman asked, taking interest.
"It's a white buffalo. One in a million," Brian explained looking at her. "Right Sully?" he asked, looking at up at the man.
"That's right," Sully said, after a beat.
Colleen comes over and sits down too as Logan a Kim moved closer leaning against the mantle. Matthew comes in with an armload of firewood, and after laying with the rest of the fire wood stokes the fire.
Sully waits for everyone to gather round before he starts. "It was back in the Winter of 60. Cloud Dancing was hunting out near Cedar Lake. He heard the sound of crackin' ice. He climbed a ridge to look. A herd of buffalo – musta been a couple of hundred of em - were tryin' to cross the lake. But the ice started to give way. He watched, waitin' for the worst to happen.
"Golly!" Brian muttered in awe.
"It was then he saw the most frightenin' sight. There appeared before him a giant, white buffalo ... as white as the snow. The herd saw him, too. They stopped in their tracks. And for some reason, they turned and went back. Then, the white buffalo ..."
"Runnin' Ghost," smiling Logan sushed Brian.
Smiling at the boy Sully continued. "Runnin' Ghost, turned and Cloud Dancing saw his eyes were bright, glowing red. Burning like a hot coal in the fire. That ghost buffalo looked right at him and Cloud Dancing said, it was like the buffalo could see into his spirit." And there was a beat of silence and Logan's thoughts drifted back to the day he saw the spirit. "Then, the white buffalo turned and disappeared into the trees," Sully finished and the kids sit motionless, holding onto the moment ... as Mike watches lovingly from the fireplace
The next day Logan watches Sully with Kimberly and Mathew as he struggles to walk, using his crutch, holding on the side of the barn. He turns, starts back in the other direction. He's sweating from the strain. We hold on him, driven by rage, determined to get better.
After walking the other way again he paused. And all three straighten as he leans the crutch on the side of the barn and takes a few unsteady steps forward. Close behind they watch him closely in case he starts to fall as he continues to move and picks up his tomahawk.
Keeping as close as they can they watch as Sully throws his tomahawk and it bounces off the barn. Frustrated, he walks over, picks up the axe. He moves slowly, still in pain. There's a great anger in his eyes. He stops about ten feet away, turns, lets out a yell and throws the tomahawk again. This time it sticks. Logan, Kim, Matthew and Sully exchange a look.
The next day Logan and Kimberly were heading toward the clinic when they heard her voice call out, "Mr. Birch?"
Looking over they pause as they see as Mike crosses to Birch who was about to go into the saloon and next to him was Rankin. "What should we do?" Kimberly asked.
"Hopefully keep her from doing something stupid," Logan hissed back and they moved forward until they were next to her.
"Can we talk? I need some information," she requested of Birch.
"Perhaps later," Birch said, moved to go inside again.
"I just need the name of the railroad president," she insisted eyes narrowing.
"I'm very busy."
"His name's Eli Stowe. Lives in Chicago," Rankin said, and everyone looked at him Logan and Kim doing their best to hide their contempt for the man. "Thaddeus, where are your manners? Ain't you gonna introduce me to these pretty ladies?" and Kimberly's jaw tightens as he eyes her and Michaela.
"I'm Doctor Quinn," Mike said, when Birch hesitates.
"Tate Rankin," Rankin dipping his hat.
At once Logan's eyes shift to Michaela who froze at the name. A look comes over Mike. "You're the man who almost killed Sully."
"Who's Sully?" Rankin asked, confused.
"He came to talk to you. Unarmed, and you nearly beat and kicked him to death," Michaela continued unthinking.
"Medicine Woman," Logan hissed in warning.
"He ain't dead?" Rankin asked, remembrance coming into hi eye as he eyed Logan and Kim again.
"No, and it's a miracle he isn't," Mike continued ignoring Logan's warning.
"I was only defending myself ma'am," Rankin lied and Kim put a warning hand on Mike's shoulder.
"Why don't we let a judge and jury decide that."
"Michaela," Kimberly hissed.
"What are you talking about? It was a fair fight," Rankin continued and Logan saw right through the lie.
"You are a liar!" Mike snapped out.
"That's enough Mike!" Logan hissed again drawing her back.
"Don't be calling me a liar to my face," and the three turned back to Rankin as he swatted away Birch's hand. "I'll forget you're a lady."
"You are a liar!" Mike hissed out as Logan and Kim held her back. "And I am going to see to it that you are arrested and tried for attempted murder," he threatened before she stalked off Kimberly making sure she did.
Rankin moves to follow then froze catching the look on Logan's face. A look that clearly said, that he could kick any number of asses. Then gesture for more.
Slowly he backs up keeping his eyes on the man before he reached the corner and turning to join the other two as he heard Rankin say, "Why don't you ask around. See where I can find this Sully fella. I'd like to finish what I started."
"Now you've gone and done it!" Logan snapped at Medicine Woman when he got close to them.
"What do you mean?" she asked, looking from one hard face to the other.
"You might as well have painted a bull's-eye on Sully's back!" Kimberly snapped. "Now come on we have to get back and move him!" and they quickly gathered their horses.
When they got back to the homestead things happened quickly. Soon Matthew was leading his horse out of the barn to where Logan and Kim stood with theirs. As Sully comes out (his blanket draped over his shoulders) of the house, followed by Mike. Wolf waits for him by Logan.
"It's too early for you to be riding,' Mike was protesting as they drew close.
"I can't stay here anymore," he said, taking the reins of his mount.
"How do you know he'll come after you?" Mike demanded.
Slowly Logan, Kim, and Sully look at her. "Because you told him I was still alive," Sully says simply.
At once realization comes into her eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry, he'd a found out sooner or later," Sully said, as painfully pulls himself up into the animal.
"There was a man watching the house this earlier," and all eyes turned to Mathew. "Buffalo skinner. He rode off when he saw me."
"He must have been in town in Rankin,' Kimberly breathed out and she and Logan looked at each other.
"Only one way to end this," and everyone looks at Sully.
"If you think you're in any condition to take on Rankin..." Mike started to snap taking the reins of the horse to stop him from going.
"The Cheyenne are about to start a war. The Army is keeping them on the reservations. Rankin goes, the Army goes with him. No war. Nobody gets hurt," and Logan lowered his gaze seeing the logic in his words.
"But they'll just send more hunters. What will you do? Kill them all?" Mike demanded countering his words.
Sully waited a beat before saying, "thank you for taking care of me."
"Sully, don't do this."
"I've got to," and he they hold each other's gaze before he looks to Matthew. "Take care of Wolf til I get back," and Mathew nods calling him over.
Sully starts off. Mike grabs his reins again. "If you kill Rankin then you're no better than he is. And if that's what you have in mind, then I don't know who you are anymore," she started as he locks his eyes on her again. "I've never seen you like this ... and if you kill him, I never want to see you again," at those words Logan and Kim stare at her. "Never!" and she turns and goes back inside fighting back her tears.
Sully solemnly watches her go before he urged his mount forward and the three rode out. "You know she's right," and Sully turned to Logan as they entered the forest heading for his camp. "You're in no condition for a fight."
For a few seconds Sully is silent before he answered. "No I'm not…but with your help I will be," and Logan stared at him mouth parting slightly.
"Then if we do this you'd better do it for the right reasons…and with a clear head."
A couple days later Kimberly is heading back into town checking up on things when she meets up with Mike on the road. Rather abruptly. "Dancing Heron!" Michaela's voice called out behind her and twisting on her mount Kimberly looked behind her.
"Mike!" she called back waving back at her.
"Where have you three bene the last couple of days I've been worried," Mike said, drawing up alongside her.
"Sorry…but the fewer people know that the better," Kimberly answered as they continued on to town.
Nodding in understanding Mike fell silent. "And how is Sully?" Mike asked, hesitantly.
Biting her lip Kimberly hesitated before answering, "he's as good as he can be…he's got Logan training him again."
"What!" Mike snapped drawing her horse to a stop with a jerk.
"It was going to happen weather we liked it or not!" Kimberly said, quickly trying to calm her. "We just thought it would be better that he did it in a way that he wouldn't hurt himself?" and the pair started forward again.
For a second they were silent as they entered the meadow. "Does he still plan on killing Rankin?" Mike asked, looking hopefully at Kimberly.
Sighing Kimberly shook her head. "We don't know he doesn't talk about it."
As the riders past the telegraph office on her way to the clinic. Horace is sweeping the porch. Looking up at the sounds of approaching horses seeing them.
"Dr. Mike? Dancing Heron?" he calls out leaning the broom against the building.
Mike and Kimberly stops at the clinic. Horace moves to them. Facing him they dismount and Mike slips her bag from the saddle horn.
"I sent that telegram to the Marshall's office in Denver for you," he informed Michaela and she nods in thanks. "I hope they do something to that man beat up Sully."
"I do too," Mike said, softly then moves to go inside.
"You ain't mad at me are you?" at once both women turn to look at him frowning in confusion.
"Why would we be mad?" Kimberly asked.
"For selling out to Mr. Birch."
Sighing Mike shook her head. "Everybody has to make up their own mind Horace. If you want to sell, that's your business," and she moved for the door again.
"Didn't have much choice. Hank said, he'd give Myra's contract to a fellow in San Francisco if I didn't make a deal," Horace continued trying to make them understand.
"Then you did the right thing Horace, for both you and Myra," Kimberly reassured him with an affectionate pat on the tall man's arm before turning to follow Mike.
"Dr. Mike, you know anything about stock certificates?"
At once they both stop and face him again frowning. "What do you want to know?" Mike said.
After glancing around Horace continued. "Well, I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but Mr. Birch offered me some stock in the Continental railroad instead of money for the down payment..."
"That's not unusual," Mike said, and Kimberly nodded in agreement.
"Nope, but the stock's got a different railroad name on it," and Horace pulls out a certificate from his vest pocket, shows it to Mike.
For a second both women look at it. "Horace, I think I'd like to send a telegram," Mike said, and they quickly move to the telegraph.
"Where to?" he asked, keeping up.
"Chicago."
A couple hours later Mike and Kimberly enters the saloon holding a telegram with Horace, Jake, Loren and Robert E to find Birch seated at a table. He's going over his paperwork, checking the deeds.
Glancing over his shoulder at the sound of the swinging doors he smiles at them. "Well, Dr. Quinn, your three weeks are up, have you changed your mind? Ready to make a deal?" Birch says getting up, pulls out a chair for her. Mike sits down with Kimberly and the assembled group standing around them with Myra moving close to Horace.
Medicine Woman collected herself before she started, "I've never been against a railroad coming to town, Mr. Birch. I'd welcome the chance to get medical supplies on a regular basis. And as soon as Mr. Rankin is brought to justice, I'll be happy to negotiate a sale."
At once Birch's smile widened. "Music to my ears, Doctor."
"But I won't sell to you."
Birch froze blinking at her words. "What?"
"I'll sell to the railroad when it gets here, which according to the board of directors might not be for another year-and-a-half," Mike continued and there's a immediate reaction from the saloon patrons turning to listen and Hank comes close standing beside Birch.. "Mr. Birch doesn't work for the railroad. He works for himself. He buys up all the property, or a controlling interest, then sells it for a profit to the railroad," Medicine Woman informed everyone and Kimberly could feel the air gaining a hint of danger to it.
"What about the stock he gave us?" Jake demanded.
"You got some too?" Horace asked, quickly looking at the man
"We all got it. Just like I suspect, we all got taken," Loren snapped glaring down at the man.
"Not true. You'll receive a fair price when the land sells," Birch stated trying to regain his position.
"But not as much as they'd make selling to the railroad themselves," Kimberly said, leaning down on the table.
Slowly a livid Jake leans forward and laying his hands on the table. "You tricked us. I want my deed back."
"I'm sorry, but this was done fair and square. Nothing illegal about it," Birch said, as he starts to stand.
At once Hank grabs Birch by the shoulder and shoves him back into the chair. "Loren, you got any tar left?" and Birch's head whipped up to stare at him in horror.
"Yep. Got some feathers, too," and the man looked at Loren.
"Are you threatening me?
"Yes," the three men growled.
"I'm not a lawyer, Mr. Birch," and Birch looked at Michaela. "But I know one who works for the railroad you pretended to represent and I'm sure he would be happy to prosecute you for fraud."
"Enough said, Doctor. I'll return the deeds," and Birch picks up the papers, hands them to Mike. He then slowly turns to Hank. "Uh, about the money..." he starts quietly looking up at the man.
"What money?" Hank warned threatenly.
"What money?" Loren put in.
Looking forward Birch lets out a defeated breath. "You're going to make a lot of it," and he stands slipping on his hat. "Good day," and Birch exits escorted by Hank. Who throws him out onto the street.
Smiling Kimberly shook her head as Mike handed out the deeds. "Hank always was one for the dramatic," she muttered and Mike chuckled as Hank retook his position behind the bar.
Later back at their makeshift camp Kimberly reported what happened. "Man I wish I had been there," Logan said, who had been leaning against a tree. "Now pay up," and he thrust out a hand.
"Oh come on Logan it wasn't a real bet," she protested to his grinning face. "You're not really going to do this are you?" he slowly nods. Grumbling she reaches into her pouch and shoves the money into his waiting palm. "Card shark!" she growls. Letting it roll over his shoulder he gives the bills an affectionate kiss. "You knew didn't you?"
Smiling he answered, "remember the Museum back home?" and she nodded. "It gave the time when the railroad came," and chuckling he shielded himself from her raised clawed hands.
Sighing and lowering her hands she looks over at Sully who was washing up in the river. "So how's he doing?" she asks nodding at the man.
Sighing Logan turned to look at him. "Better than before," he muttered soberly.
"Well enough to take on Rankin and his cronies?" Kimberly asked, concerned.
"Maybe but either way we move today," and she stared at him. "I can't change his mind…and believe me I tried," then jerked his hand away as she made a swipe for the money. "Sorry denied," and he walked away.
"Come on Logan! I would like to buy a dress from here!" she called after him.
"And how would you get it home."
Meanwhile Mike stands on the porch, looking out, pensive. She struggles to reach a decision then does and heads for the barn.
Later Mike rides into camp. Cloud Dancing and Black Kettle are there looking up at her from her position on the horse. "Sully, White Falcon, and Dancing Heron is going after Rankin. You've got to help me find them and stop them," she said, quickly to them before they could saying anything.
Cloud Dancing turns to Black kettle says something in Cheyenne and Black Kettle shakes his head. "We cannot do that," he answered her.
Half desperate Mike half pleads, "Why? Sully's barely strong enough to walk ... he's going to get himself killed this time."
Just as worried as her Cloud Dancing says, "This has become Sully's fight now. We cannot interfere."
"If he doesn't get killed, he'll be arrested for murder. Why won't you help save him?" she pleaded with them.
"Since the Army has come we cannot leave the reservation. If we do we will start a war," Cloud Dancing said, trying to get her to understand.
And both look at Black kettle as he says in Cheyenne. "Tell her we will help in the ways that we can."
"Black Kettle says we will do all we can to save him," Cloud Dancing translated for her.
"Then so will I," Mike said, and she turned her horse.
"You must find him. You are the only person he will listen to," Cloud Dancing encourages and nodding Mike spurs her horse, rides off.
Exiting their hiding spot in the woods Logan, Kimberly, and Sully rides, looking to the horizon, following a trail to Rankin. Each proudly wearing war paint. Pausing Logan pulls Wildfire to a stop looking around.
"Logan what's wrong?" Kimberly asked, looking at him.
Looking at her he shook his head. "Nothing let's get going," he answered urging Wildfire on while the chanting rung in his ears. While back at Black Kettle's camp Cloud Dancing, Black Kettle, other Cheyenne conduct a ceremony to summon the white buffalo. Cloud Dancing holds a shield with the buffalo drawn on it. They make offerings, drum, sing songs, imploring the spirit to help their brothers and sister. And elsewhere hot on their trail Mike rides her horse looking for them.
After riding along the prairie, passing the carcasses of countless fallen buffalo. The three were flat on their chests looking over the ridge at Rankin's camp. And only saw the skinners there. "Me and Dancing Heron will take Bevus and Butthead. Rankin is all yours," Logan said, looking at Sully who slowly nods and they withdraw.
From her hiding spot Kimberly watches one of Rankin's skinners throws buffalo hides onto a pile. As he moves away she silently sneaks up behind the man before keeping low uttering a small whistle. The man hears him and turns around, but it's too late. Acting fast she sweeps the man's legs out from under him, sending him face down in the mud.
Just then, the second skinner enters the area, carrying hides. He sees Kimberly knock the man pout with a knife strike to the base of his neck, drops the skins and goes for his gun. But, before he can draw, Logan nails him with a flying side kick from behind.
Quickly regaining his feet the man faced Logan brandishing his knife. "I'm going to skin you alive half breed," he growled.
"Then stop talking about it and do it," Logan replied beckoning him on.
At once the man stabs out at him and deflecting it Logan leans to the side. Nailing in the side of his head with the back of his other hand sent him back a few steps. Teeth bared in frustration the man wildly swings the edge of the blade at him.
Catching the man's arm in mid swing Logan hit him in his side with a kick before pushing him back with a double palm strike. Then sent him spinning to the ground with a hard spin kick across the face.
Walking around him Logan watches as he climb back to his feet the charged him again. Defecting the knife again Logan kicked him in the gut sending him back. Quickly following his feet crossing over he leapt forward nailing him with a second spinning kick across the face.
Stay down, he thought as he watched the man slowly climb up again.
Again he stabbed out at him and twisting around it Logan locked out his arm sending the knife flying. After spinning him around he pulled the skinner forward driving his face into the side of his rising elbow. Pulling him forward again sent him sprawling to the ground as he flipped the man onto his back. Still holding his arm Logan side flipped over the man so he was face down on the ground before he dropped to one knee locked out his then with a jerk broke it.
As the man screamed in pain Logan picked him up. And rolling back kick him up and over where landed hard on his back the wind knocked out of him as he rolled across the ground cradling his arm Kimberly rushed over as Logan leapt to his feet. "Why is it whenever you fight someone like this…you break a limb," she said.
"Good way to make sure they stay down, and besides I put him down three times, he's stubborn" he answered then they whip around at the sound of a gunshot.
"Sully," Kimberly muttered in fear.
"We got to find him!" Logan snapped trying to catch his scent.
Logan he's downwind you have to… Red Dragon started.
But…
No buts! Red Dragon snapped at him. And remember don't try, do it!
After giving Kimberly a glance he gave a whistle for the horses. Before he dropped to one knee inhaling deeply eyes closed as he pressed the fingertips of one hand on the ground. Focusing hard he exhaled deeply raising his gaze to the sky and he was now alone on the prairie nothing else around him a small glint in his eyes.
Lowering his gaze flashing of images flashed before him. He saw Rankin siting on his horse before he slipped off and raises his rifle. He fires a shot, reloads. A few dead buffalo near him. Then he hears a war cry Sully's war cry. He looks over to see Sully riding towards him, tomahawk ready. Rankin climbs down off his horse, pulls out his rifle, and takes aim at Sully.
With a jerk Logan let loose a few shaky breaths as he struggled to stay up right as the magic took its toll. "Logan are you alright? What the hell was that?" Kimberly demanded bending down to help him up.
"I know where he is!" Logan snapped as he slipped onto Wildfire.
"What? How?" Kimberly demanded slipping onto her mount.
"It's a ninja thing," he answered and they galloped off. I did it! He thought ecstatic by his success.
I always knew you could.
Meanwhile Rankin closes one eye, draws a bead. His finger tightens on the trigger and then ... he loses focus, disturbed by what he sees a white buffalo charging for him where Sully had been. As it dissolves before us, changing into the image of Sully riding toward him, full speed, tomahawk out, giving a war cry as he bears down on Rankin. As Rankin shakes it off, raises his rifle to fire at Sully. Who keeps on coming. Rankin frantically reloads to get off another shot.
As he shoves the cartridge in, cocks, raises the rifle. Raising it he sees Sully is on top of him, swinging hard as he rides by, catching Rankin as he fires, blocking the tomahawk meant for his skull with the barrel of the rifle. The force of Sully's blow sends Rankin hard to the ground.
Sully turns his horse, comes back for the kill. Just as Logan and Kimberly arrive raining in their horses to watch. As he rides straight for Rankin. Hearing Sully, the buffalo hunter turns. But before he can react, Sully leaps from his horse, diving onto him. The two men hit the ground.
Rankin breaks away, pulls his knife. The two men warily circle each other like a pair of wolves. "This time I will kill you," Rankin threatens brandishing his knife at the man.
"Make your move," Sully dared him as he spun around him a coupe, times.
Rankin flips his knife over, waiting for a moment ... then he throws it at Sully. Sully jumps out of the way of the knife. Rankin sees he's off balance and rushes him and they go down again.
Rankin gets in a few quick punches from above. Sully arches and flips him over. Rankin goes for the knife, grabs it, but Sully is on top of him. He slugs Rankin and pulls the knife from his hand. Sully grabs Rankin's hair and raises the tomahawk for the kill. With baited breath the pair still on their horses watch Sully as he slams the tomahawk down at his face. He sticks the blade into the dirt by his ear, slicing part of it. Sully lifts the tomahawk, places the blade edge on Rankin's face.
At once loan closed his eyes sighing in relief. "Be gone by morning. Take nothing with you," he heard Sully warn the man as he opened his eyes. They watch as Sully gets to his feet. "If I ever see you again, I will kill you," he finished as they brought his horse close and with a heave pulled himself on.
As they start to ride out Rankin pulls himself to his feet, wipes the blood from his ear, looks about, and grabs his rifle. He loads it, as he raises the rifle, about to shoot Logan turns.
"Sully behind you!" he cried out in warning and the other two turn. As Rankin hesitates as he hears something behind him. He turns. And all of them freeze staring at a giant white buffalo with fire red eye charge at him.
Rankin paralyzed, unable to move for a second turns toward the thundering animal. Draws a bead on it and fires. He stares horrified as the great buffalo was unaffected by the bullet. Dropping a round he franticly reloads and fires again. With the same results. Unable to get out of the way, he screams. As the White Buffalo knocks Rankin down gorging him with it horns.
Logan and the other turn their gazes away from the sight. When they look again Rankin bloody broken body lay the feet of the spirt who turns its head to look from it to them. As they slowly ride away under its scrutinizing gaze.
Mike rides along the ridgeline, looking, then stops. When she sees Logan and Kimberly and Sully barely hanging on. As Mike rides to them, the pair pulls Sully horse to a stop beside them. For a second he looks at her then clutching his abdomen leans far forward on his horse before sliding off landing in the soft grass.
"Sully!" she cries as she jumps off, rushing to him as the other pair slip from their mounts.
There's a long beat of silence between the group as Mike drops to her knees when she reaches them. "It's over," Sully said, weakly as she places a supporting hand on his shoulder.
"Tell me you didn't kill him," she said, half pleading and Logan and Kim looked from her to him.
Sully looks at her, shakes his head. "I didn't…I didn't," he struggled to get out then rolling over collapsed his head coming on in her lap. "I didn't kill him," and she let out a sigh of relief turning her gaze to the heavens.
Then slowly she looked at Logan and Kimberly. "We didn't kill him either," Logan said, shaking his head.
"Then who did?" Medicine Woman asked, openly.
"I DID," boomed a powerful voice and they turned jerking back startled at the sight of the White Buffalo come down toward them.
"Bow down," Logan whispered urgently as it drew near.
"What?" Kimberly asked, in fear.
"Bow down!" he hissed out and pushed her into a bowed position as he dropped down in respect.
Coming level with them the spirt drew its gaze over them. "I THANK YOU, FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE HERD AND THE PEOPLE. THEY WILL NEED YOUR COURAGE AND KINDNESS IN THE TIMES TO COME…" then slowly he drew one starry eye on Sully. "I PROMISE YOU WILL HEAL…," then he turned that eye on Logan and Kimberly. "AND YOU WILL RETURN HOME…UNTIL THEN…MAY THE GREAT SPIRIT WATCH OVER YOU…" and with those final words he dissolves into a mist and like smoke disappeared in the breeze.
For a few seconds there was silence then Medicine Woman asked, openly, "What just happened?"
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," Logan muttered still slightly shaken hardly daring to believe what had just happened himself.
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