A couple weeks later Logan, Kim, and Sully were out on a small rise by the forest giving Brian a lesson in tracking while their horses grazed. At the moment Logan and Kim were stretched out on the grass enjoying having a lazy day.
On impulse Logan lifted himself up on his elbows a piece of grass in his mouth to see. Brian following Sully along through the brush Wolf at their heels. He pauses to indicate a broken branch with a tuft of hair on it. He looks to Brian.
"Deer?" the boy said, eager to please.
Sully smiles. "You learn fast," and they continue on a ways Sully giving Wolf an affectionate rub.
"He does learn fast," and Logan turned to Kimberly who had sat up to watch the pair.
"Making the family proud huh?" Logan commented and she chuckled and he glanced over at her dark brown mare that Black Kettle had recently given her.
"So how does it feel to have your own horse?" he asked, nodding at her.
Giving the animal an affectionate glace and smile. "It feels great," she half sighed and she looked back at him. "At least now I don't have to borrow a mount every time I have to go anywhere."
"But why Flicka?" he asked, eyebrow arched.
Going a little red she shrank in the shoulders. "I loved the books," she said, in a quiet voice and he chuckled
They both turned back to the pair as Brian asked, "Think I'll do good in school?"
"Sure, you will," Sully reassured him.
"In church, the Reverend said, it's time to build the new schoolhouse."
"Makes sense. Spring rains are over," and Logan nodded in agreement.
"You gonna help?" the boy asked, looking at the three of them.
"Don't think so," Sully half murmured as an uncomfortable glace went around.
There was a beat of silence before Brian continued, "bet I know why."
A set of curious glances came from Sully, Logan, and Kim. The Logan leaning on one knee. "The Cheyenne got no need for book learnin'," the boy continued.
"Who told you that?" Sully asked, frowning.
"You did," the boy answered at once.
At once Logan and Kim stifled a chuckle as Sully lowered his gaze remembering. "Got you there my friend," Logan muttered.
After shooting him a look Sully said, "Oh ... Well, what I meant was they have a different way of teachin', that's all. They talk it - mostly in stories ... But book learnin' s just as important," Sully told the boy as they took a few more steps. "Look at Dr. Mike. She wouldn't be able to do her medicine without it...," he continued dropping down to one knee to look Brian in the eye. "Books are real important, Brian, don't you forget that," and he tapped the boy on the chest with the stick.
"Nice save," Kimberly muttered.
"Then why aren't you gonna help build the school?" Brian asked, and the three fell silent.
Uncomfortable, Sully avoids an answer by stopping to squat down pointing to some animal tracks. Brian looks. "Bear?" the boy asked, as Logan and Kim locked eyes.
"Mountain lion," Sully corrected as Logan nodded toward the horses.
"You know everything," the boy complemented as the two climbed to their feet and started toward the animals.
"Personally I don't blame him…," Kimberly said, glancing back. "I mean, I wouldn't want to build a school that would practice segregation," and Logan nodded in agreement.
"No, I'm short on book learnin'. But don't you be. You go to school and ..."
Brian interrupts, spotting something in the sky. "Look, Sully! A hawk!"
At once the three looked to the sky. "No ... an eagle. The Cheyenne believe they're sacred," Sully explained as they watched the Bald Eagle soared lazily across the sky on the thermals.
"How come?" Brian asked, looking at Sully.
"Eagles are supposed to hold great wisdom." He starts walking again, as Brian lingers behind, still staring up at the mythical bird, gliding the air currents. "There was once a Cheyenne boy born so wise they named him Soars Like Eagle. As he grew older, he grew even wiser, until one day the great birds themselves adopted him. They swept him up from the earth, taught him to fly, to sail forever with the enlightened ones..."
Brian's voice calls out. "Hey, Sully, White Falcon, Dancing Heron look at me!" Sully stops and the three looks back. To see Brian climbing high into the tree. "This is fun!" Brian called out as he climbs a branch higher. "I jumped off the hayloft once. It was just like flyin'," and an edge of fear stabbed into Logan.
"Brian, get down," Sully said, standing straight and Logan and Kim took a step closer.
The boy spreads his arms like an eagle's wings. "Catch me, Sully!"
"Brian, no!" Sully starts running toward the tree Logan and Kimberly on his heels. Brian jumps, and for a glorious instant, he is flying...
Sully strains to make it in time to catch him, but gravity's inexorable pull wins the race. The boy plummets to the ground with a sickening thud. Sully reaches him, stricken at the sight of his unconscious form. "How is he?" Logan demanded skidding to his knees Kimberly next to him.
"He's alive," Sully said, as he puts his head to Brian's chest, then reassured that he's alive, gently lifts him and heads for help...
At once Logan steps in his path. "We need to get him to the clinic fast! Give him to me Wildfire is the fastest!"
"Logan…," Kim started.
"We all know I'm right on this! And Wildfire maybe the wildest of our horses but out of all the children he's closest to Brian!" Logan snapped interrupting her as the horse in question came over head held high. "And the more time we spend arguing this the worse it is for him!" and he nodded to Brian in Sully's arms.
For less than a second Sully hesitated be he nodded in agreement. At once Logan sprang on to Wildfire. "Ride hard and fast, well, catch up to you," Sully said, as they handed the unconscious boy to him.
After nodding in understanding Logan in a low tone to the animal, "run like the wind Wildfire!" and in a thunder of hooves and a blur of motion Wildfire shot forward.
A breakneck speed ride later where the ground and surroundings had turned into a blur and Logan trying to remember the last time Wildfire had gone as fast as he did. Brian lies on the examining table, surrounded by Dr. Mike, Sully, Logan, Kim, Colleen, and Matthew. Brian is smudged, rumpled and a little woozy, but conscious, as Mike examines him, moving his limbs carefully, checking for broken bones.
She does her best to conceal her own anxiety over his condition. "Sweetheart, be sure to tell me if anything hurts."
"Nothin', Ma," the boy said, smiling up at her.
Biting her lip Mike moves over to Sully, Logan, and Kim. "How long was it before he regained consciousness?" she asked, them.
Still shaken the three looked at each other. "Uh, about an hour or so ... He came to just the other side of the creek," Logan reported to her.
She's worked her way up to Brian's head. "Did you see what part of his head hit the ground?" and she looked at them again.
"It happened so fast ... Then it all seemed to slow down and it was like it wasn't really happening..." Kimberly said, ringing her hands.
Looks pass between Mike and Colleen and Matthew. "Sully, White Falcon, Dancing Heron I realize you're upset..."
"We're all right, its Brian we gotta worry about," Sully said, and Logan glanced at him at the defensiveness in his tone.
After looking at him for a second Michaela nodded. "Exactly ... so I need you to try to remember how he landed-what part of his head did he hit?""
"I don't have to 'try'. I can remember. The side ... He was lying on his left side ... and his head was pushed into the ground," Sully said, and the other two nodded both of them knowing they weren't going to get the image of Brian laying motionless on the ground out of their heads anytime soon.
"Was it twisted?" and Medicine Woman ran her fingers through that part of the boy's hair.
"No ... He just looked like he was asleep," Logan said.
Brian looks between them. "I'm all right, Ma, honest," then moves to sit up as Mike still checked him over.
They all reach to push him back down. "Hold on, there..." Mike said, forcing a smile. "I just want to poke around that silly head of yours, before you go flying out of any more trees, young man." He nods, and Mike palpates his skull, lingering on the back of his head. "I can't feel any lumps or bumps..."
"Told ya…" Brian said, with a smile. Mike looks into his eyes with her ophthalmoscope, satisfied. "I shouldn't have climbed up that extra branch."
He sits up, and this time no one stops him. He's regained his equilibrium and looks fine. But the look that Logan and Kim shared still had traces of worry in their eyes. "You shouldn't have climbed up that tree at all," Mike half scolded him.
She can't help glancing at Sully, who already feels bad enough. "Dr. Mike's right. No more stories," and Logan looked at the man dumbstruck.
"Aw..." Brian wined.
"Pretty soon you can go to school and do your learnin' from books," Sully continued trying to change the boy's disappointed mind.
Brian turns, legs dangling over the edge of the table, about to jump down. "Wait a minute ... One more thing," Mike said, before she takes out her reflex hammer and taps his knees. His reflexes are normal.
He takes it from her and shows it to Sully. "Ma's got a tomahawk, too, Sully," the boy said, and Logan grinned knowing the boy would find a way to get the stories from him.
Sully manages a smile and a nod for him, but then turns to Mike. "So, he's all right?"
"Apparently, he's fine," she shrugged.
"Good," Sully said, absently and he gives Brian a quick pat on the shoulder and walks out with Logan, Kim, and everyone else looking after him.
"Hey, wait, Sully..." Brian called after him.
But Sully closes the door behind him. "Is Sully mad?" Brian asked, looking up at Medicine Woman.
For a beat Michaela was silent. "Only at himself," she answered looking at him before lifting him from the examination table to the floor.
And the children walked out. "He's not the only one," Logan murmured in a worried tone anxiously rubbing the back of his neck before he, Kim, and Medicine Woman shared a small worried look.
The next day parishioners exit the church, as Loren, Jake and a few others hang around at the base of the steps, waiting for the Reverend to finish his good-byes. Mike and the children are the last ones out. They linger as Logan and Kim walk over to join the small group in their discussion...
"About time we built that school house," Loren was saying.
"What about on the hill?" Brian asked, as he points to a knoll at the end of the meadow.
"Nobody asked, your opinion."
Logan and Kimberly shared a glance. "Stubborn old man," Kimberly whispered leaning close and Logan nodded. "When do you think he'll start acting like the honorary Grandfather he is," and Logan shrugged.
"That would be a good spot..." the Reverend said, agreeing with Brian as he eyed the spot in question.
Brian smiles up at Mike, who nods her approval. "What about over there?" Jake said, trying to turn the spotlight as he indicates an area on the opposite side of the meadow from where they're standing.
The Reverend tries to be tactful. "That's a lovely place, but it might interfere with some of our social events..." and he slowly looks back at the knoll. "Why don't we just take a look..." and they start off in that direction. As the group follows him across the meadow, past picnickers and children playing Logan and Kim smirking at the look on Jake's face... "First we'll need someone to design the schoolhouse, draw up some plans..." The Reverend continued as they kept moving.
"What about that fella from Denver who did the church for us?" Loren asked, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder back at the church. "It's a good church."
Others glance back, nodding, agreeing. "It certainly is. It oughta be. He was a real architect."
"There, that settles it," and he put his thumbs in his vest pockets a smug look on his face.
"Loren, we can't afford a real architect for the schoolhouse," the Reverend pointed out facing the man.
Frowning Loren returned his gaze. "Why not? We raised five hundred and fifty dollars. I'd say that should pay for a heck of a schoolhouse."
"But that money's not just for the building. It has to pay for the teacher, the desks, the books..." the Reverend listed off.
"Books are real important," Brian piped up Loren across Dr. Mike to look at Loren.
"I know that…," the man snapped in his gravitating tone.
Smiling Brian tugs Mike's sleeve. She leans down. He whispers, "Sully said, so," and she beams at him and Logan smirks.
"He's right Loren," and Loren turned to Logan and Kim. "That money was raised was build not just a building but a school," Kim said, crossing her arms and Logan nodded.
"So ... Who'd like to volunteer to be Foreman?" the Reverend said, looking at the men.
"I will," Jake said, at once.
"Me, too ..." Loren said, right behind him.
"Jake, Loren ..." the Reverend smiled at the two of them.
Matthew speaks up, to Mike's, Logan's and Kim's surprise. "Reverend?"
"Matthew...?" The reverend continued looking at him.
"What about Robert E.?" Mathew asked, a silence falls over the group. Mike and Matthew exchange a look while Logan frowned in thought.
"I can't think of anyone better…you?" Kimberly muttered before looking at Logan who nodding in agreement.
"Well, now, Matthew, we probably shouldn't volunteer others without knowing their feelings on the matter..." The Reverend started and Logan's frown deepened at the tenseness in his tone.
"I know he'd want to. Just ask him later," Mathew interrupted.
"We're decidin' this now, not later," Loren interrupted and Logan sensed the urgency to change the subject in his tone.
"But Robert E. knows more about buildin' things than anybody in town..."
"Now, hold on. I helped my pa build his first shop in Pittsburgh," Jake defended.
"I built that storage shed behind my store," Loren continued.
Olive gives him a look and under her breath..."And it leaks like a sieve."
"Mathew's right," and everyone looked at Logan. "Whenever one of you needs repairs done you always go to Robert E.," Logan pointed out as they arrive at the knoll, look about, and stare out at the meadow.
For a second there was silence. "Fine, then. Loren and Jake will team up on this," the Reverend said, plastering his smile on and blinking Logan and Kim shared a glance.
From the looks on their faces this isn't what either Loren or Jake had in mind, and Matthew looks disillusioned.
Mike reacts not only to his defeat, but to how it came about. "Reverend...?"
"Yes, Dr. Mike?" the Reverend asked, looking at her.
"With all due respect to Loren and Jake ... Why is Robert E. being disregarded?" Mike demanded trying to keep calm.
For a second the Reverend bit his lip uncomfortably. "It's like I said, Robert E. isn't here to..."
"That's my point. Why isn't he here? I know he's a religious man…," Mike interrupted.
"They have their own church," Loren explained and Logan felt his face harden.
"On the east end of town," Olive put in at Mike confused face.
"I've never seen any other church," Mike said, after a second of thought.
"There isn't another church," Logan muttered voice going hard and Mike turned to him.
"Well ... It's not exactly a church, it's more of a meeting hall," and Michaela turns back to the Reverend.
"Are you referring to that shack up past the feed and grain?" Mike demanded in a surprised tone.
Again the Reverend shifted uncomfortably. "I wouldn't call it a shack..."
"I would," Dr. Mike interrupted with a snap.
"And it is," Kimberly said, slowly in a hard voice. "After all it's also used as storage for the Feed and Grain."
"They prefer it that way," Olive said, shifting under their gaze.
'"They?"' Michaela breathed in disbelief.
"They or You," Logan growled taking a step forward outraged at their lack of humanity at the subject.
"Now, just a minute ... We were all unionists," Jake defended take a step back under his glare.
"That's right," Loren and Olive said, in agreement.
"Fine. Then we're all abolitionists. So I'm sure you'll agree that our church's door should be open to everyone," Medicine Woman said, and she looks around. Eyes avert. None of them would go that far.
The Reverend surveys the surroundings, turning as he does. "Yes, this is the perfect place for the new school house."
But Mike doesn't want to let him off the hook. She goes up to him, facing away from the meadow. "Reverend...?"
He opens his mouth to respond but suddenly he spots something behind her ... Brian, playing ball. He misses an easy catch, goes after the rolling ball and stumbles, falling right across someone's picnic blanket. Sounds of startled yelling and clanking dishes.
"Brian!" he calls out Mike whirls around, alarmed. She, Mathew, Colleen, Logan, Kim and The Reverend run toward him. The others react and follow.
Mike and the Reverend arrive with Logan and Kimberly, as Matthew and Colleen are helping Brian up.
"I'm sorry, Ma," Brian said, as Mike takes him in her arms.
"Are you all right?" Mike asked, running her eyes up and down him.
He nods, but looks upset over the damage he's done. Colleen is busy helping a woman clean up the mess. Her husband stands aside, glaring, his Sunday shirt and suit splattered with cherry pie.
"It was just an accident," he reassures her.
Mike nods, then to the woman. "Mrs. Cathcart, isn't it?"
"That's right."
Giving her a smile Michaela stands. "We're very sorry for the inconvenience, and I insist on paying for any damage." The woman nods. Colleen hands her the last of her dishes, then stands next to Mike and Brian. "If you'll just let me know how much..."
"I'll let you know," Mrs. Cathcart said, rather dismissively while behind Dr. Mike, Logan and Kim share a glance.
Mike lifts Brian and leads Matthew and Colleen away, as she notices...approach from town. He pulls her cart of pies and cookies for sale. As they cross the bridge, Robert E. spots Mike, Logan, Kimberly, and the children and nudges Grace. They both wave. Mike waves back with Logan and Kim. Matthew and Colleen hurry ahead toward them, but Mike maintains her pace, carrying Brian, who leans his head on her shoulder as he drifts off.
She watches as people gather, then glances up at the church thoughtfully... "Will it ever end?" she asks as Logan and Kim drew close.
For a second the pair is silent. "Not for a long time," Logan answered sadly in an undertone and her eyes closed in disappointment. "But like we told you before…never give up the fight…"
Mike's wagon appears over the crest of the road, as Jake heads across the meadow toward town in the background...
"Look! They're buildin' the school!" Brian calls out pointing as he climbs up behind Mike. "How long before it's done, Ma?" and Brian look at the back of Dr. Mike's head.
Mike starts to turn and face him when Mathew answered, "with those blockheads..."
"Matthew..." Mike hissed then turned to Brian. "It may take a while," and Logan pulled Wildfire to a stop.
Focusing he watched Loren and Jake and a few male onlookers are gathered at a site on the opposite side of the meadow from the church. A couple of barrels sits with a plank of board across them. On this makeshift table is a large piece of paper with a drawing on it. Jake and Loren bend over it, while the other men observe.
"You made it too wide. Looks like a square box," Jake complained with a wave of his hand.
"That's 'cause it is a square box. That's what buildin's are, case you ain't noticed," Loren snapped back.
"The church ain't a square box, and this is gonna be sittin' right across from it," Jake countered waving his hand toward the building in question.
"Then maybe you'd like to chip in extra for that architect, and I'll just get on back to the store," he said, dropping the eraser and pencil before he starts to walk away.
Jake reached for his upper arm stopping him. "I'm just sayin', we could at least try to make it look nice. People gonna blame us if it don't."
Loren stops and comes back to the plans. He hands Jake a pencil and a gum eraser. "Be my guest." After taking them Jake starts to work on the drawing with the pencil and eraser. Loren watches. "Hold on, you fool! You just rubbed out the instructions!" Jake stops, looks flustered. "Aw ... just put 'em back. Two buckets of nails, some hammers, though I can't think of a man don't own one already..." He stops, realizes Jake isn't writing. "Well, go on," and he waves his hand at the plans.
After a second Jake holds the pencil out to Loren. "You do it," Logan frowned trying to remember the last time he said, that when it came to something like this.
"You're the one erased it," Loren said, annoyed pushing the pencil and eraser back at the man.
"I said, do it yourself!" Jake said, quickly and Logan's eyebrow arched at the tone in his voice as he thrusts the pencil at Loren angrily, and realization dawned on Logan...
"You can't read, can you?" Jake's silence says it all. Loren smiles. "Wait 'till I tell..." he says laughing and Jake throws the eraser down and stomps off.
Well, that explains a few things, Red Dragon said, as they watched Jake go. Especially how he missed his last name and Colorado misspelled on his sign.
Chuckling Logan urged Wildfire forward and cantered into town. He was just joining the others as Matthew pulls the wagon up in front of the store. After Mike helped Brian down she and Colleen start into the store. Brian still stands behind Matthew slipping off his hat looking at the inside.
"Think my hat's too small," Brian said, and Logan paused in his dismount and both Kim and him looked at the boy.
"Since when?" Mathew asked, turning to look at his brother as he check the harness on the horses.
"I must be growin', 'cause it feels too tight ... Hurts my head," still half on his animal Logan and Kim share a glance while Matthew gestures to Mike, who's now paused in the doorway.
"Tell Dr. Mike and maybe she'll buy you a new one," Mathew suggested.
For a second Brian was silent before he shook his head. "Naw," and he slipped his hat back on and heads down the street.
"Brian? Where are you going?" Michaela called after him.
"To help Mr. Bray build the school!" he called back over his shoulder.
"Sully sure lit a fire under him 'bout this school thing," Mathew said, watching him go and Logan nodded in agreement finally on his feet. After slipping back in Matthew pulls away in the wagon. "Gotta get out to Miss Olive's. See you 'fore sundown," he calls back to his family and Mike waves, glances after Brian a beat, then she and Colleen go into the store.
After watching them go Logan and Kim turned back to follow Brian's progress. "Could just be a bruise," she said, trying to convince herself more than him.
"Or it could be a hemorrhage," Logan said, just as worried and then turned into her gawking stare. "What? I've been a martial artist long enough to know about that old boxer's injury," he defended.
"I guess so," Kimberly said, then returned her gaze to the retreating boy's back. "But either way we should keep an eye on him…and pray it's just a bruise's scalp," and with Logan nodding they started to follow before she paused outside the saloon. "Oh great now what's he drowning?" she moaned and Logan turned and starting back followed her gaze.
Shaking his head he watched Jake take another drink with Hank and Myra nearby. "He's got a new thing to drown each day of the week," Logan sighed.
"What do you think it is this time?" Kimberly asked, looking at him.
"Isn't it obvious?" Logan asked, then look over at Jake's new barber sign. "He can't read…," he said, simply then looked back at her. "And from the way he stormed away from Loren he found out."
"Which means it's going to be all over town," Kim muttered shaking her head.
Inside the saloon Jake's at the bar, fortifying his ego with a shot of whiskey. Hank's ever-ready to commiserate. Myra's there, too leaning against the bar.
"Who cares who he tells? Hell, I can't read either," Hank says between puffs on his cigar and Jake reacts to this.
"Me either. But it might be nice to know how if..." Myra said, a little tentatively.
Hank cuts her off, "Hasn't hurt us none, has it?"
"We own our own businesses, same as him," Jake said, his ego beginning to refortify.
"Thant's right," Hank agrees.
"'Sides... who wants to read anyway?" and he takes a sip from his whiskey. "Nothin' but bad news."
"That's for sure," and Hank pours them more
"He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named. And rouse him at the name of Crispian," and the three jumped before turning to see Logan standing in the threshold of the swinging doors. "He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors, And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'" and Logan stepped in the doors swinging shut behind him. "Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars. And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.' Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember with advantages," he continued and put his hands on Jake's and Hank's shoulders.
"What feats he did that day: then shall our names. Familiar in his mouth as household words Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd," and reaching forward Logan took Jake's whiskey shot and held it up. "This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember'd; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me. Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition," and lowering it he looked from Jake to Hank. "And gentlemen in England now a-bed. Shall think themselves accursed they were not here. And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks. That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
For a second silence rang in the Saloon as everyone had turned to look at him. "What the heck was that?" Hank demanded.
Smiling Logan put the shot glass back down on the bar counter. "That was Shakespeare, Henry V's great speech," and he turned to Myra. "If you really want to learn to read I can suggest a tutor," he said, to her before patting her shoulder and moving to leave.
"Just what are you trying to prove?" Jake demanded of his back.
Stopping in the doorway Logan was silent for a second as quick words passed between him and Red Dragon. "'No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance,'" he said, as he slowly faced the men then left them dumbfounded.
Waiting for him outside Kimberly straightened from the post she had been leaning against. "Thank God we read Henry V when we studied Shakespeare," she muttered and he nodded as they start running down the street after Brian. "By the way who said, that other thing?"
"Confucius."
"Yes I'm confused I don't know who it was."
"No that's his name, Confucius."
"Oh…" Kimberly said, lowering her gaze in thought. "How the heck do you know about him?" and she frowned at him as they darted across the bridge.
"A friend told me and they just pop into my head," he shrugged.
Friend front and center…by the Gods that man was annoying, Red Dragon said.
They arrive just as Brian comes up. Loren is muttering angrily to himself, erasing much of what Jake had done and trying to restore his original drawing. The sun beats down, and he's wondering what possessed him to volunteer in the first place. His cronies slip away while he's preoccupied.
Brian's voice make's him jump. "Hey, Mr. Bray."
"What in tarnation?!" he barked in alarm before looking down at the boy. "Don't go creepin' up on a body like that!" he snapped out in more annoyance then anger while Logan and Kimberly snickered behind them.
"Sorry," the boy said, then looked up as Logan places a hand on his shoulder.
"You should be," Loren said, then goes back to work while Brian leans on the table to look at the "plans". Both Logan and Kimberly frown as he squints, rubs his eyes, then looks again.
"I came to help," Brain continued looking up at the old man.
"Hrumph," acknowledged Loren who is still wrestling with the drawing. Brian stares at the paper with an odd expression before he turns leans his back against the makeshift table slipped off his hat and started rubbing his temples. While next to the boy Logan and Kimberly share a look. "Hand me that eraser would ya boy?"
Brian turns grabs the eraser but it slips from his hand onto the ground. After he drops down to get it Logan and Kimberly watch in silent horror rooted to the spot as his hand first goes this way, then that, patting the ground. Missing the eraser each time.
"You deaf, boy?" Loren demanded giving them a glance.
"Mr. Bray…? White Flacon…? Dancing Heron…? Where are you, I can't see nothing!"
Loren slowly turns around a look of horror on his face as Logan and Kim crouch gently taking the boy by the shoulder. Slowly Logan reaches out and runs his hand in front of the boy's eyes ... unseeing eyes.
"Who is that? Mr. Bray?!" Brain said, in a half panic.
Loren hurries around to him... "I'm right here, boy," he says soothingly... and before Logan and Kimberly could takes him in his arms. He runs for town...
"No, no, no! Spirits above and below please no!" Kimberly snapped as the two followed.
Mike and Colleen are crossing from the general store to the clinic, as Loren (the Reverend calling after him) comes running across the bridge, carrying Brian, yelling... "Dr. Mike! ... Dr. Mike!"
She drops her packages at the sight of them and starts running toward him. His yelling draws everyone-Horace, Hank and Jake, Myra, Grace, Olive, Robert E.-as they meet in front of the telegraph office. The Reverend comes running from the church, close behind.
"What happened?" Dr. Mike demanded when they got close.
Loren's so out of breath from the effort that he struggles to get the words out. "He's blind!" Logan answered for him and Mike looked at Logan in horror. "He just suddenly couldn't see anymore."
"Brian?" Michaela said, softly to the boy striking his cheek.
He looks around, trying to place her voice. "Ma?!"
"What's wrong?" the Reverend asked, when he caught up.
"He's blind!" Loren finally said.
Mike takes Brian, looks at his eyes, realizing in horror that it's true. "Ma?"
"I've got you, Brian," She clutches him to her as she rushes into the clinic Colleen, Logan, and Kimberly on her heels...
Inside Logan, Kimberly and Colleen watch anxiously as Medicine Woman examines Brian. While outside the townsfolk crowd the porch of the clinic, sitting on the bench, the steps, and the boardwalk. Some stand, like Jake and Olive. All wait anxiously. Loren paces up and down, still trying to take it in. "One minute he was fine. The next minute, blind," Loren said, as he continued the pace ringing his hands as he shakes his head. "Never saw anything like it," and the people around him murmurs, nods-upset and confusion.
His attention going back to what's in front of him Logan watches as Brian sits on the examining table again. Colleen watches behind her brother as Mike examines his eyes, ophthalmoscope in one hand, and a candle in the other. She moves the latter slowly from side to side, across what should be his full line of vision.
"Tell me when you see the flame," Mike instructs him.
But his eyes stare ahead blankly. Nothing. Colleen looks to Mike, frightened, but Mike has no encouragement to offer. She blows out the candle.
"I don't see it yet, ma."
"That's alright, sweetheart," Mike said, trying to sooth him running her hand down his back.
"It's all dark. Is it nighttime?"
A beat of silence follows. Mike, Logan, Kimberly, and Colleen look at each other, the sunlight streaming into the room. "Yes, it's nighttime ... You just close your eyes and rest."
Brian nods and lays back and Michaela slips off his shoes, as Colleen covers him with a light quilt. Brian closing his eyes. "Maybe my head'll stop hurtin'."
Mike tries to keep the alarm out of her voice, as she strokes his hair. She nods to Colleen toward a bottle of powder. Colleen takes the cue and quickly mixes some into a cup of water. "Where does it hurt?" Medicine Woman asks as she hand the glass to the boy.
"All over," he answers after drinking the sleep aid.
After the group shared a glance they move into the other room. "Shouldn't we give him some laudanum?" Colleen asked, after Logan closed the door.
"Not in neurological cases, I'm afraid," Medicine Woman answered aside to her.
A short while later they exit outside to find the crowd waiting. Everyone jumps to their feet, looking at her expectantly for an explanation.
"I think it's what's called a sub cranial hemorrhage ... like a bruise, but on the inside of his head," a distraught Mike explains to them all.
"What's that got to do with his eyes?" Jake asked.
"I'm not exactly sure, but if the blood collects, it applies pressure ... It must be affecting his vision," Michaela answered.
"It's like…," Logan said, trying to think of an example with Red Dragon quickly helping him. "Have you ever seen the inside of a beehive?" and Jake a few others nod. "The brain is like that and just as fragile…so if you apply pressure to one area…everything around it could be affected."
Again silence falls. "So what can you do?" Loren asks in an emotional voice.
"I'm afraid I don't know very much about the brain. I mean, no one does, really. There're a few specialists..." and he pauses as a light comes into her eye. "Horace, I need to send a telegram to Boston immediately!" and she darts down to the telegraph.
"You bet," the man says struggling to keep up with his large stride.
She leads the way next door. He follows, with the others trailing right after her into where Horace goes right to his telegraph key, bypassing a written version. Logan, Kimberly, Loren and the others crowd in around her, as many will fit, the others peering in the door and window.
"It's to Dr. Michael Mackay. He was a colleague of my father's," Mike says quickly as Horses gets ready.
"Doctor Michael Mackay..." Horace says as he taps it out.
"Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts," Mike continued and Horace taps the key as fast as he can, then looks up. "Urgent. Child with brain injury, causing blindness. Condition critical," you could hear a pin drop, grim looks are exchanged Logan putting a comforting hand on Kim's shoulder who reaches up to hold it. "Please advise as to nearest specialist. Michaela Quinn, M.D," She turns facing the crowd for a moment, then moves through them wordlessly.
Horace calls after her, "I put the return address!" but she's already out the door and heading toward the clinic.
She's fighting back tears. Some start to follow her again, including Loren, but Olive steps in front of them. She shakes her head for them to leave Mike alone. They all obey, reluctantly drifting back to their own business. Logan and Kimberly follow her back into the clinic to find Colleen sitting quietly next to Brian.
"He's asleep," she whispers to them and they nod.
A beat of silence, then Michaela also whispers. "Colleen, would you please ask Robert E. to lend you a horse and ride out to Olive's and tell Matthew?" Colleen nods, starts out, but then goes to Mike for a hug. Mike holds her reassuringly. "It'll be all right."
Colleen looks up at her, wanting to believe. Mike manages to hold her gaze, until she breaks away and leaves on her task. The moment the door closes and Logan and Kimberly turn to her, as the tears spill over. She watches Brian sleeping, and the tears turn to sobs...neither of them can think of anything to say.
When she regains her composure the three has moved Brian up to a recovery room, where he'll be more comfortable. Medicine Woman's eyes red and puffy, she keeps vigil at his side, while Logan and Kimberly watching from different spots in the room. Suddenly with a clatter the door downstairs and a with a rushing of feet from down stairs and Mathew and Colleen appear at the door. Brian stirs at the sound. Mike puts her finger to her lips to shush them, but it's too late.
"Sully…?" Brian says hand reaching toward the door eyes turned toward the ceiling.
Gently Michaela takes his hand. "No, Brian, it's me ... and Colleen and Matthew and White Falcon and Dancing Heron," she reassures him and they all move close.
"I'm here little brother," Mathew said, trying to reassure him.
"I can't see you, ma, put on a lamp," Brian said, and Logan notes the edge of fear in his voice. Again a beat of silence. "Please."
At another beat Logan and Kimberly turn to Michaela. She can't avoid this any longer. She takes both of his hands in hers. "Brian, there's no need for a lamp..."
"But I can't..."
She interrupts, finishing the sentence for him. "…see. I know. That's just it. You can't see right now..." and she bit her lip before continuing on, "Brian, it turns out something did happen when you hit your head. Something that's blocking your vision. I've sent for a doctor to fix it."
"But, you're the doctor, Ma."
Smiling Michaela rubbed his cheek. "This doctor knows more about injuries like yours."
"Like Sully, White Falcon, and Dancing Heron knows more about the woods?"
A smile slowly growing on her face Kimberly nods. "Exactly."
After a second's silence Brian said, "I dreamed me and Sully were flying and we could see everything, even Boston. I waved to grandma. She waved back."
The story bringing a smile to her and everyone's faces Mike held his hand tightly as a tear ran down her cheek. "Did she?"
Even in the darkest of times that boy can find the light, Red Dragon mused.
"Yeah... I wanna tell Sully. Where is he?" Brian said.
Mike looks at Matthew. "That's a good question ... Matthew was just going to get him for you."
"Yeah, I was just goin'," the young man says quickly and he gives Brian a pat on the shoulder, but from the look on Mike's face, he changes that to a quick, but fierce, hug, then takes off.
A short while later Logan was alone on the balcony of Brian's room leaning against the railing. Looking over he sees Olive comes out the front door, putting on her shawl. Loren is sweeping, closing up for the day.
"I'm goin' over to pay little Brian a visit," he hears her say looking over at Loren who doesn't reply. "Loren?"
"I heard you."
"Aren't you comin'?"
"You go on."
Olive shakes her head. "Honestly, sometimes I think your heart's made of stone," and she leaves.
Frowning in disappointment Logan eyes Loren who watches as she walks off toward the clinic. Then frowns as the minute she turns her back, he stops sweeping and goes into the store. Eyeing the man's reflection in the window a small smile grows on his face as he sees him ripping brown paper from the roll on the counter.
"Cactus covered marshmallow," Logan muttered turning and walked out of the room. Closing the door behind him he spies Kimberly leaning against the wall by the stairs a tear in her eye. "Kim?" he said, and she jumped before looking at him. "What's wrong?" and he moves close to her.
For a second she's silent. "I'm scared Logan, I'm scared," she finally admits and as the tears start flowing Logan draws her into his arms.
"He's going to be alright…," he said, trying to reassure her rubbing the small of her back as she soaked his shoulder.
Shaking her head she says quietly, "Logan I've already lost my father…this is my great, great, great, uncle…I…I…I don't want to…"
At once he quiets her by drawing back. "Now you listen to me," he says quietly trying to reassure her to her looking her in the eye. "He's going to be fine. And if he isn't you can deck me."
She chuckles at that and after a second she nods. "I guess I would be more assured if your father was here to heal him."
"He wouldn't be able to do much if he was," and blinking she looked at him.
"But he…," she started in the same under tone.
"Healing broken bones bruises or injuries like that is completely different from injuries like Brian's," Logan explained. "To even to think to attempt to heal an injury like this would require healing magic at the highest level."
A short while later the pair comes into the main room as Mike sits at her desk pouring over her medical books, when the bell rings and in comes Myra with a bouquet of wild flowers. "Things are slow so Hank let me off to pick these for Brian," she explained before they could say anything
Mike takes them. "Thank you. They're beautiful..." The word catches in her throat.
Myra understands. "And they smell real good, too. I only picked the ones that smelled the best," Michaela and the other two nods, appreciative.
"He's asleep right now, but as soon as he wakes up, I'll have him smell them," and Medicine Woman manages a wan smile.
Myra nods. "You tell him they're from me and Horace. He wanted to come over, too, but he won't leave that telegraph. He said, he's not closin' 'till he hears back from that doctor no matter how long it takes," she said, as the bell jingles again.
Mike smiles appreciative of that. "He's a good man, Myra. You're very lucky ... And so is he."
"And you're a good woman Myra," and she looks at Kimberly. "He's a lucky man."
Myra blushes, not used to such praise, just as Olive enters. Myra takes this as a cue to leave, but a pleading look from Logan, Kimberly, and Mike to Olive.
"Afternoon', Myra."
Myra stops, amazed at being greeted by Olive while Logan and Kimberly blink in surprise. "Afternoon', Miss Olive," she returns but then hurries on out.
"Mark this day on my calendar," Logan mutters in amazement as Olive comes over to the desk, sees the open book. Kimberly jabs an elbow inter his ribs.
"It's real serious, ain't it?" Olive asks Michaela.
Mike nods, trying to keep her voice steady, as she explains, "there's no way to tell if the bleeding has stopped. If it hasn't, he'll get worse. Unless a doctor comes in time to relieve the pressure, he could even..." and she stops unable to say it.
For a second Olive just looks at her. "Boston's a long way off. How much time are we talkin' about?"
"I don't know. I just don't know," Mike answered and Olive takes her hand.
A little while after Kimberly was back upstairs in Brian's room standing on the threshold of the balcony with Colleen. The pair watches over Brian as he awakens. He reaches out into his darkness.
"Ma?"
Colleen takes his hand as she sits next to him on the bed and Kim turns to face them holding herself. "It's me, Brian."
After a brief pause of silence. "Colleen ... How long 'fore I can see again?" the boy asked.
After a brief pause where she and Kim share a glance. "Shouldn't be too long."
"Good, 'cause I wanna see the new school," and the pair blink.
"Matthew says, the way they're goin', maybe nobody'll ever see it," Colleen says and Brian looks genuinely upset at this as he rolls onto his side. "He's just jokin'," Colleen says quickly trying to sooth the boy. "You hungry?"
"Kinda," the boy answered.
"Dr. Mike said, you should eat," Colleen said, then starts ticking her brother and Kimberly smiles as she draws a smile out of him. "You want soup or stew?"
"Soup," Brian answers giggling.
"I won't be long," and Colleen starts to leave.
"I'll go with you," Kimberly said, at the pairs goes out.
Meanwhile Matthew rides across a small rise with a grove of trees on one side, ironically passing Sully, who sits just a short distance away, but camouflaged by the trees. Sully is equally oblivious, sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, in a meditative state Wolf's head on his lap.
As the girls are getting the food for Brian. Logan is just coming to the top of the stairs to see Brian a guitar over his shoulder when he pauses. When he see Loren tiptoes down the hallway to the door of the recovery room. He bends down to leave the cone shaped packages in his arms, but the door is open and Brian hears him.
"Colleen?" comes Brian's voice and Logan smiles.
You are no Ninja Loren, he thought imagining what the man would have done to not be noticed outside.
"No," Loren finally answers after a beat.
"Mr. Bray?" and Brian's voice gaining an edge of excitement.
"Yeah," Loren admits and slips into the room.
"You come to visit me?" the boy continued growing more excited.
Logan silently slips by the doorframe to listen. Now that's how it's done.
"I did," and Logan hears him walk to the bed and sit down. "And I brought you somethin', too."
And Logan hears him rustle with the packages, then… "Licorice!"
"You bet," and another beat of silence and a broad smile grows on Logan's face.
"Taffy!"
"Righto."
Another beat of silence. "Gumdrops!"
"Your favorite," Loren said, as Logan heard the boy eat it.
He hears the old man put the package in Brian's hand and the boy continues eating the gum drops.
"You see the world's full of smells and tastes and sounds…wait," and Logan listen to quickly shuffling and the door to the balcony being opened. After some more movement. "What d'ya hear?"
"A wagon... horses ... people talkin'..." Brain counted off as each sound met his and Logan's ear. "... Hey, Robert E.'s dog barked!" and Logan nodded at hearing the animal.
"That's right... Here..." and at shifting if the sheets Logan peers around the frame to see Loren scoop Brian up in his arms and carries him out onto the balcony and takes a deep breath. "Smell that?"
Brian sniffs. "Horse biscuits?"
Laughing Loren shakes his head. "No... past that."
Brian sniffs again, deeper, concentrates, then finally. "Honeysuckle."
For a second Loren was silent before he nodded. "Honeysuckle," and he turned freezing when he saw Logan leaning against the frame watching them a half grin on his face arms crossed his chest.
"Mr. Bray? Mr. Bray what is it?" Brian asked, feeling the man tense up. "Is someone there?"
Grin still in place Logan straitened. "It's just me Brian."
"White Falcon," he said, excitedly.
Nodding Logan said, "Yeah I thought you might like some music but…"
"No please…" Brain said, excited as Loren moved back towards the bed. "It's kind of like what Mr. Bray was just telling me."
Nodding Logan said, "Yeah something like that," as Loren sat on the bed holding the boy in his arms.
Taking a seat Logan swings the guitar forward. "Now this is something that someone very dear to me used to sing to me when I was done hope you like it," and he starts to play a soft tune.
"In a world so far away
At the end of a closing day
A little child was born and raised
Deep in the forest on a hidden place
Mother never saw his face
Ancient spirits of the forest
Made him king of elves and trees
He was the only human being
Who lived in harmony
In perfect harmony
Ancient spirits of the forest
Made him king of elves and trees
He was the only human being
Who lived in harmony
In perfect harmony
The woods protected were fulfilled his needs
Fruit by birds, honey by bees
He found shelter under trees
He grew up in their company
They became his family
Ancient spirits of the forest
Made him king of elves and trees
He was the only human being
Who lived in harmony
In perfect harmony
Ancient spirits of the forest
Made him king of elves and trees
He was the only human being
Who lived in harmony
In perfect harmony
A thousand seasons
They passed him by
So many times, have said, goodbye
And when the spirits called out his name
To join forever, forever to stay
A forest spirit he became
Ancient spirits of the forest
Made him king of elves and trees
He was the only human being
Who lived in harmony
In perfect harmony
Ancient spirits of the forest
Made him king of elves and trees
He was the only human being
Who lived in harmony
In perfect harmony
In perfect harmony
Spirits of the forest
Made him king of elves and trees
He was the only human being
Who lived in harmony
In perfect harmony
Ancient spirits of the forest
Made him King of elves and trees
He was the only human being
Who lived in harmony
In perfect harmony
In perfect harmony," as he finished up with a few strokes of the strings Kimberly appeared at the door.
At a look on her face Logan put the guitar aside Brian smiled. "Thanks you White Falcon," Brian said.
Smiling Logan nodded. "You're welcome now if you excuse me a second," and climbing to his feet walked out of the room with Kimberly. "What is it?" he asked, when they were a good distance away.
"Mathew just got back, he can't find Sully," she told him.
Sighing he looked away rubbing the back of his neck. "He's probably still feeling bad about what happened and doesn't want to be found," Logan muttered and Kimberly nodded.
"That's what I figured to," she said. "Could you try to find him," he looked at her. "Look my time in the 1700s made me a good tracker because of Hawkeye but you were taught by your father. Not to mention you can do that Ninja…," she said, quietly so not to be over heard.
He raised his hand to quite her. "I had a feeling you'd ask me…I'll find him…," and with that he descended the stars and was out the door.
Later Kimberly sitting and reading in a chair while Mike is asleep in the chair next to Brian's bed. It's very late, very quiet, when suddenly a ruckus of yelling explodes outside the street, jarring Mike awake and jerks Kimberly from her book.
"Dr. Mike! ... Dr. Mike!" Horace's voice calls.
The sound of door slamming, footsteps pounding up the stairs. Colleen and Matthew come in from the other rooms, half-awake and still dressed in now sleep-rumpled clothes, just as Horace bounds into the room, waving a telegram.
"He's coming, Dr. Mike!"
By now, several others have followed-Myra, Hank, Jake in pants hurriedly pulled up over his long johns-and crowd in to hear.
Mike reads the telegram out loud, "Dear Dr. Quinn, Dr. Mackay has informed me of your emergency. Brain surgery is my specialty, and I would be happy to help. I shall arrive by the next stage from St. Louis, where I live and maintain my practice. Yours truly, Dr. Arthur Renner," her voice lightening with each word and the people around her begin murmuring happily and Kimberly sighs in relief. "St. Louis! He'll be here on Friday's stage!"
Medicine Woman then turns to look at Brian, then realizes that throughout all of the hubbub, he hasn't stirred. She sits next to him. "Brian?" Nothing and Kimberly move close. "Brian?!" She tries to nudge him awake. He doesn't respond. She shakes him. Still nothing.
"Brian!" Kimberly said, also trying.
"Dr. Mike?" Mathew asked, worry starting to creep back into him. Michaela shakes her head, not wanting to know what she knows. Kimberly watches as Medicine Woman takes Brian's hand and raising it above his face let it drop. Right on to his face.
"Dr. Mike?!" Colleen asked, gripping her brother's arm.
"He's slipped into a coma," she muttered in despair.
"Angel…," Kimberly muttered in fear.
The next day Mike sits with Brian, Colleen and Kimberly at her side. Matthew's there, too, as well, as Olive and the Reverend. Mike leans over and lifts Brian's eyelids, monitoring pupil dilation.
"You just checked a minute ago," Colleen said.
"I did?" a tired Mike asked, her.
"And a minute before that and a minute before that," Colleen pointed out and Kimberly put her hand on her shoulder.
After a moment of thought Michaela nods and sighs. "I feel so helpless, just waiting."
Suddenly, Sully and Logan appears in the doorway along with Cloud Dancing and Springs Dawn. "What're you waitin' for?" Sully asked. While Logan staring down at the unconscious Brian. Images of Angel flashing through his mind.
Before anyone could answer Michaela sprang to her feet facing them. "Where have you been?" she demanded of Sully.
"I came as soon as I heard," he said, to her.
"Do you even know what's happened?" Mike pressed on waving her hand at the boy.
"White Flacon found me last night at the Reservation. Told me everythin' he could. We met Robert E. just filled us in just as we rode in," he explained and he looked down at Brian.
"And hearing what had befallen Little Eagle," Cloud Dancing said, nodding toward Brian. "we had to come."
"How is he?" Sully asked.
"What do you care?!" and the pair look at the furious Medicine Woman as she rounded on him. "You disappear for two days..."
"You didn't seem to want me around," Sully interrupted.
"So you went off to sulk?"
"No ... I went off to pray," Sully said, and looks are exchanged among the others. Only Mike, Logan, Kimberly, Mathew and Colleen knowing what he meant. "I was asking the spirits forgiveness, because I knew Brian coulda been hurt."
"'Could have been?'" Michaela demanded pushing him back. "He is hurt!"
"I didn't know 'til..."
"How could you… how could any of you let him climb up that tree?!" she interrupted looking from Sully to Logan to Kimberly. Logan closed his eyes as her words struck home.
"Little boys climb up trees all the time…"
"He said, it was because of a story you were telling him. Well, I'll thank you not to fill his head with such nonsense ever again-if there's anything left to fill!"
Colleen starts to cry. Matthew holds her. "Stop it!" Olive snaps at Medicine Woman. Who reacts to the reprimand. "I never noticed you mindin' Sully's, Logan's, or Kimberly's help with the children 'til now that somethin's gone wrong. Way I see it, it's as much your fault, as his. You were too busy tryin' to be a mother and a doctor all at once!"
At once Kimberly sprang to her feet and Logan whipped around to face her eyes blazing. "How dare you! Get out!" Mike screeched at her.
"I will not!"
"This is none of your business!"
"Oh, yes it is! It's everybody's business!" and Olive looked down at Brain. "You're not the only one loves that boy!"
"Stop it, both of you!" the Reverend snapped and Logan blinked knowing it's a rare flash of true anger on his part, and it does stop them short. "The Gospel teaches us not to blame, but to forgive. And if you can't forgive, then at least put your own selfish concerns aside and think of Brian. He's still with us!" he takes a beat, trying to calm himself. "He may even be listening."
"He's right!" Logan snaps and gets between Olive and Mike. "What happened, happened and there's nothing we can do to change it! We can either stand here all day play the blame game over what happened!" and he looks from one to the other. "Or we can put our differences aside and work together to help Brian! Now what's it going to be?!"
This thought shakes them all up, fills both women with shame, especially Mike, who steps out into the hallways where she tries to wipe the tears from her eyes, but they keep coming.
Sully, Logan and Kimberly follows her out closing the door behind them. "I'm sorry," he says trying to comfort her. She shakes her head, finding it difficult to talk, as she fights back the flood of emotion. "If anything happens to Brian..." just the thought unleashes the sobs from him.
She goes into his arms. "No... Please, God, no..."
Sully holds her, strokes her hair. She tries to talk through the tears. "Logan and The Reverend's right. It wasn't your fault. Or any of your faults."
"Well, it sure wasn't yours," Sully said, and she looks up at him.
"Sully...?" she said after a beat, as he waits for her to continue. "I don't know if he can last until the doctor gets here. Now, that he's slipped into a coma..." and Logan's face drops while Kimberly looks out the window.
"Then what are you waitin for? Far as I'm concerned, the doctor's already here," Sully says gently but firmly as he rubs her arms
Medicine Woman shakes her head. "I can't. I barely know the procedure. One wrong move, and he might never see again ... or worse, he might not even be Brian anymore," she said, between sobs.
"She's right Sully," and they look at Kimberly as she turns back to them. "Back where we're from you have to have specialized training to operate on the brain…one wrong move…"
Looking from Kimberly to Michaela before he pressed on. "You've done operations that you didn' know. I was there, remember?"
Tears running she shook her head again. "It's not the same."
"Why not?"
"Because he's family," Mike says simply.
"But that's all the more reason..."
"No, you don't understand," she interrupted trying to make him understand. Her voice drops to almost a whisper. "It would be one thing to lose him...but quite another if it was by my own hand," she looks into his eyes, her vulnerability complete and he pulls her into him.
Stepping forward Logan says, "Medicine Woman it may not count for much but…we know how you feel right now," and she blinked looking at him. "Back where we're from… there's a girl that we know. A little older then Brian…she's been in a coma for almost six months," at his words Mike stared.
"How did it happen?" she asked.
"Her father beat her," Kimberly answered coming close to Logan for support catching the look on his face. Mike sucked in a breath of shock. "He almost killed her. She managed to call Logan and he found her and got to help in time."
Before another word could be spoke Logan walked away, down the stairs, and out the door. He didn't stop until he was around the corner and alone. Leaning against the back of the building he takes a several deep breaths trying to calm himself.
"You want to talk about it?" unsurprised he looks at her at Kimberly. "Whenever it comes to Angel you get like this. You went to see her in the hospital every day after school and before you went to work. More than Tommy, Dana and their father. Why?"
Slowly he looks forward. "Because I knew…"
"Knew…," she started then paused and he heard realization come to her.
"I knew what was happening to her…," and he looked at her. "I was there when she was in the hospital for her dislocated shoulder…I set it…" and pushing forward he takes a couple steps alone still not looking at her. "I said, nothing," and he looks at her again. "I said, nothing and now because I said, nothing she's in a coma because of it," he finished and she looked at him.
For a second she just looked at him then she stepped forward and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Logan it wasn't your fault…it was her father and him alone. Not you who put her in a coma," she said, trying to reassure him.
The next day they were back at the clinic. Where Mike hasn't slept in nearly three days now. And as she pores over her medical books compulsively, as if some miracle will leap from the pages. Logan, Kim, and Sully trying to convince her to get some rest to at least think better. Though they had barely gotten six hours between them in the last few days themselves.
They were just taking a break from it on the porch with Robert E., Cloud Dancing, and Springs Dawn, and the Reverend when Matthew barrels out of the building, not even noticing them sitting on the front bench or leaning on the posts. They watch him head down the street.
"Where's he going?" Kimberly muttered watching him go.
Shrugging focusing trying not to grimace as some things sounded like a cannon going off in his head. Matthew walks up to Jake just as he's is brushing down a customer on the porch. "Why'd everybody stop buildin' the school?" he demanded.
"Ask Loren. I ain't part of that 'team' no more," and Jake nodded toward the store where Jake was sweeping.
Matthew heads for the general store where he finds Loren sweeping his part of the boardwalk. "I wanna help build the school," he declared.
"Aw, Jake loused up the plans so bad, I gotta start all over," the man said, jabbing his thumb at Jake.
"How long will that take?" Mathew demanded
"Who can say?" Loren answered melancholy with a wave of his hand.
That's not the answer Matthew wanted. He turns and flies out of there. And Logan rolls his jaw with a small moan rubbing his ears. "What's wrong?" Kimberly asked, concerned frowning at him as Springs Dawn comes close.
"My ears are ringing and they just popped," he answered truthfully. "I hate it when that happens."
Then Reverend, Sully, Logan, Kimberly, and Robert E. are suddenly confronted by Matthew. "We gotta build the school," he said, before they could even open their mouths.
"That's all been arranged, Matthew. There are more important matters at hand right now..." the Reverend said, from where he stood next to Robert E. while Logan and Kim moved closer.
"It's for Brian. It's what he wants most. That's what he told Colleen... Now, Jake's washed his hands of it, and Loren's got no plans, so why not let Robert E. be the foreman? We could get it done in no time," Mathew said, and Logan lowered his gaze before looking at Kim who nodded.
"Now, Matthew, you can't be sure Robert E. is going to want to volunteer for something that... well..." The Reverend started pausing to find the right words.
"What the Reverend's tryin' to say is, I might not wanna do all that work for free on a school that won't welcome Negro children," Robert E. explained for him.
"Or Indian children," Sully put in next to Cloud Dancing and Springs Dawn came close.
"Or pretty much any children who aren't white," Kimberly said.
"Or Christian, or has new ideas," Logan finished and the pair looked at the Reverend before Matthew looks to the Reverend, who can't deny it. There's a tense moment,
"But…" and everyone looks at Robert E.. "Like the Reverend says, there more important matters at hand right now," and he looks at Sully, Logan, and Kimberly.
"Wouldn't you agree?"
For a second the three are silent. "Yes, sir," Sully answers and Cloud Dancing nods.
"Hell yeah," Logan nods.
"Get me a tool belt," Kimberly mutters hopping off the porch.
The group turns and starts for the meadow. Matthew falls in with them, but they barely get more than a few feet when Horace rushes out of the telegraph. "He ain't comin'!" They stop in their tracks. "He ain't comin'!" Horace continues to himself devastated. "He ain't comin'!"
A short while later Sully, Matthew, Logan, Kimberly, Cloud Dancing, Springs Dawn, Robert E., the Reverend, Colleen and the rest of the townsfolk-Jake, Loren, Olive, Hank, Myra, Grace. Stood gathered around Medicine Woman, as Horace delivers the bad news. "Flash flood washed out the bridge at Cascade. The stage is gonna have to go all the way down to Porterville to cross. It won't get here 'til next Wednesday.
There's an excruciating silence, as Mike absorbs this. Finally... "Brian won't live until next Wednesday."
For a second silence rings from that. Then Colleen starts inside. "I'll get the operation room ready."
Mike takes her by her upper arms. "No," she said, looking her in the eye. "You can't assist me this time."
"What?" Colleen asks in a low voice.
"No family members," Mike said, in a finalizing tone and gently moved Colleen into Olive's arms.
"But..." Colleen quietly protested as Olive takes her.
"Please...," Michaela asks Olive who understands and ushers a protesting Colleen up the street toward the General Store.
Jake then moves forward. "I'll help you," he offers.
"Aw, they said, you fainted dead away at my operation," Loren pointed out.
Jake ignores Loren, keeping his eyes on Mike. He wants desperately to be able to do this, to prove something, at the very least, to himself. "Won't happen again, you got my word."
She senses something in his tone, his determination. She nods, then looks to Grace. "Can you do it?"
She's still for a second before she firmly nods. "Yes, I can."
Michaela looks at the others, her eyes resting on the Reverend. "I think we'll need you, Reverend."
"Of course," he says moving forward.
Mike nods at her unlikely trio. "We have to hurry," and turning she leads them to the clinic door, watching them go inside, first Grace, then Jake, then the Reverend. Sully starts to follow, but Medicine Woman stops him. "No family."
She means it. He realizes there's no sense wasting precious time arguing. She turns and goes inside the clinic, closing the door behind her.
For a ten minutes the group waits outside the clinic. Logan not sure how much he can take just waiting looks over at Sully. Leaning against the post opposite him fidgeting with his tomahawk. Not taking it anymore he flips it over catching it by the handle. Without a word he turns and heads for the meadow Logan, Cloud Dancing, Springs Dawn and Kim on his heels. Robert E. follows them, then Matthew.
In short order after arriving the men and Kimberly stand around Robert E. as he works on the schoolhouse plans. When he puts the finishing touches to it, as Sully, Kimberly, Logan and Matthew look on.
With barely a word to each other they set to work. Sully and Matthew work with Robert E. to lay boards for the schoolhouse foundation. It takes the three of them to lift each heavy timber with Kimberly directing them.
They bend down in concert to pick up the latest board. "Ready?" Sully asks and they nod. Then hoist another plank into place.
Trying not think about what was going on in the clinic they worked. When they have finished laying the planks and begin nailing them into place. As Logan and Kimberly finished driving in nails with the other side of their tomahawks they look up at a sound. And smile when they see people cross the meadow some carrying just tools. Others pulling wagons of wood planks.
In short order it seems like half the town had showed up to help none of them caring that they were taking orders from Robert E.. Not long after Logan and Kim did a round of pulling up the cart of wood and Sully quickly unloaded it with a few others. While Logan and Sully helped lift op one completed wall frame and Kim helped nail it into place. Loren arrives at the schoolhouse site, sees the men working, stops at the work table and examines the plans. It's clear that he's impressed. Horace comes up behind him, then the others, some bearing food and water.
A couple hours later Logan takes a water break and after drinking some then poured some on the back of his neck he looks around him. It seemed as though the entire town is now united by the single purpose of building the schoolhouse. Men swarm over the task, as kids carry water buckets, and women aside from Kimberly hand out sandwiches and pies. Even Hank is there. With this many men, it's going up fast.
Ata familiar sent Logan turns and sees Mike coming up, as several of the men work in concert to raise the last framed wall of the structure. The outline of the schoolhouse is recognizable. She's surprised by the activity, not to mention the near-miraculous progress. Tapping Sully he nods to her. He stops hammering looking at her. The awareness of her presence spreads instantly. Suddenly, silence-all eyes upon her.
"Brian survived the operation," The relief is palpable, and Kimberly and Logan let loose their pent-up breathe the later closing his eyes. But everyone still waits, knowing there's far more to it than that. "It appears to have been a success, but there's no way to know for certain until he regains consciousness."
There's a beat, then the sound of a hammer driving a nail. It's Robert E. He drives another one, intent on finishing the task in time. Matthew follows his lead, striking his hammer, too, then, suddenly everyone is back at work. Except for Sully who pauses in mid swing. Catching his eyes Logan nods before nodding in her direction he goes over to Mike as she turns to head back to town.
"Are you all right?" he asks when he reaches her.
She hasn't the strength to keep up a front any longer. She just shrugs, dazed, exhausted. "I'll walk you back."
She nods, following him. As they walk, she starts talking her tone is flat, "I did everything I could."
"'Course you did."
"Now, we just have to wait."
"That's right. Its outta your hands."
"Literally," Michaela says wistfully stops and looks back at the forging of the schoolhouse. "Brian will want to sit in the very front row of desks."
Looking back Sully nodded. "Yep. Knowing him, he will." For a beat, as she continues to stare. "Come on, Dr. Mike... You need some rest."
As he gently, he takes her by the hand and leads her across the meadow. Logan lowers his gaze from them and gets back to work.
That in the recovery room Brian lay in the bed, his head bandaged, still unconscious. Sully's asleep on the floor with Logan and Kimberly, Wolf beside him. Colleen and Matthew asleep on cots that've been crowded into the room. There's one for Mike, but she's not in it. Instead, she sits in the bedside chair, holding Brian's hand, watching him. Wolf is also watching Brian, gets up and goes to lay his head next to the boy's. The movement stirs the three on the floor awake. They see the tableau, Sully looks about to say something, then thinks better of it
The next day work, continues in full force on the schoolhouse. Several men, including Loren, labor to complete the siding, while Robert E. directs the raising of the roof. Sully, Logan, Kimberly and Hank stand side-by-side, along with Horace, Matthew Cloud Dancing, and now, too, the Reverend and Jake. On command, they lay on the muscle and lift a heavy cross beam, hoisting it into place
In the recovery room Mike has seemingly not moved from Brian's side. The cots are folded away, and Colleen sits on the end of the bed. She stares worriedly, though not at Brian, but at Mike.
"Should I give Brian some more sugar water?" Colleen asks.
Mike nods. Colleen gets the glass and spoon and dribbles the water between his lips. Grace and Olive enter with trays of food. Mike doesn't even look up. Grace sets her tray down and takes over for Colleen with the sugar water.
"You eat, now. He needs you to be strong," she tells the girl.
Colleen nods, starts to pick at the food. Olive goes around to Mike, sees last night's tray on the table by the bed, untouched.
She shakes her head, sets the fresh tray right on Mike's lap, then sits on the edge of the bed, facing her. And says firmly, "Dr. Mike..." Michaela looks at her. "This time I'm not askin' you to eat, I'm tellin' you," Mike nods, but makes no move. Olive takes Mike's hand and places a muffin in it. "And I'm not leavin' here til you do."
She lifts Medicine Woman's hand with the muffin to her mouth. Finally, Mike takes it. Olive nods her encouragement. She looks over at Colleen and Grace, who share in her relief. As Mike chews and swallows, Olive holds a glass of milk up to her lips. She takes it and drinks...
That night in the Saloon no business as usual. Tonight, this is the gathering spot for most all of the weary men who've been working on the school-except for Sully, Matthew, the Reverend and Robert E. The mood is subdued. No rowdy drinking or whoring in the face of Brian's crisis. Hank, Jake, Loren, Horace and Myra and another prostitute sit quietly at one of the tables. Horace reaches to pat Myra's hand reassuringly. Hank notices, but lets it slide.
Meanwhile a restless Kimberly scans the recovery room eyeing a sleeping Sully, Matthew and Colleen stopping at Mike's cot. She, too, has finally fallen into a deep sleep.
Letting out a sigh of relief at this Kimberly moves to the balcony door and stepped out into the moonlight. Wishing they had managed to fit Cloud Dancing and Springs Dawn who had to take space in the other room. Leaning against the railing she looked up to the moon before looking over at the meadow's tree. Where she could barely see a lone shadowed figure moved with rapid fluid motions.
The next morning after Kimberly had finally found sleep and Logan had come in. there're's not a sound to be heard, but something stirs Medicine Woman. She sits up and looks to the bed. Brian's not in it. She's up and out of the room in a flash, without even waking the others.
She hurries in from upstairs calling his name which wakes the trio on the floor who seeing the empty bed follows with Cloud Dancing and Springs Dawn coming out of their room to follow. There's no sign of him, but the door is standing open. She runs out into the street calling for him. The three start looking around frantically for him Logan squatted low looking for fresh tracks and looking up pauses with him, Sully, Kim, Cloud Dancing, and Springs Dawn looking in the same direction. Then turning toward the meadow she spots what had caught their attention...
Brian, with bandaged head and dressed in his nightgown Wolf next to him for support, walks very slowly, very carefully across the bridge, holding onto the rail.
Mike takes off running down the street. Behind her, Sully, Kimberly, and Logan follows, keeping their distance...
"Brian?!" Dr. Mike calls out to him. He doesn't respond. "Brian?!" She catches up to him, just as he stops, his back to her. This stops her, as well, just inches from him. "Brian?" she says quietly squatting down so her head was level with his.
A short distance away Logan, Kimberly, and Sully watch that's there's still no response. The groups not sure, but he seems to be looking in the direction of the schoolhouse-which now stands complete, in all its simple glory, a rust-red wash setting it aglow in the first light.
"Brian?" Medicine Woman says again in almost a whisper as she reaches for him.
Suddenly, he turns, smiling in wonder... "Look, Ma ... the schoolhouse."
Medicine Woman realizes he's all right. She clutches him to her, tears streaming. "Yes, sweetheart ... the schoolhouse," and the pair gaze at the newly minted building.
Sully comes closer now. Brian sees him and reaches out. A beat, then so does Medicine Woman. He moves to them, embracing them both...
"My Kingdom for a dame camera," Logan muttered a grateful tear in his eye and even if he wanted to he couldn't keep the giant smile from spreading across his face as Springs Dawn and Cloud Dancing move forward. Beside him Kimberly nods with a great sniff. "You were right," at that she looked at him and he slowly looked at her. "What happened to Angel wasn't my fault…and I need to stop blaming myself for what happened…after a…it's not going to help her."
For a second she was silent then a great smile spread across her face. "Bout time you realized I'm always right," and he let loose a great fit of laughter his tears falling from his face. "I just hope Angel get the same ending," and she looks back at the picture perfect scene and Logan nods in agreement as they move forward to join it a ecstatic Colleen and Mathew coming up behind them.
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