"Nemehotâtse, hemeho." is "I love you, sister" "Tsevestoemo!" is "My other half!" Tosa'Nahesta? is Where is My Heart? Tosa'e netao'setsêhe'ohtse, Nahesta is Where did my heart go? Ehesta nemeo'ôtse is Heart Song "Mé'anéka'êškóne énomáhtse htsestá!" is "Bastard! You stole my heart!"

Chapter 41 Slumber, My Darling

1900—Boston

She looked through the foggy window, watching each snowflake descend upon the whitened ground. She leaned her forehead against the glass, rolling it back and forth, back and forth as her dreams faded into the morning. They were sweet dreams, beautiful dreams. Dreams of youth and vitality, of dancing with sweet angels—not like now. Her aged hand slid down the glass, and she sighed as she felt a tremor run through it. She didn't want to think about it. No. She wanted to see him. Where was he? She wanted to tell him everything.

Suddenly, her bedroom door pushed open and a smile spread across her face. She didn't have to turn around. She knew it was him.

"I brought ya some breakfast," he said, his voice deep and rich, like slow pouring honey. She looked over her shoulder, meeting his eyes. She smiled shyly as his eyes roamed over her nightgown like she was a girl of twenty, but somehow, she didn't mind.

"Thank you," she said. "You can set it on the table."

He set it on the table and looked back to her, hesitating ever so slightly, "I thought we could eat together this morning, if ya don't mind."

Relief washed over her, thankful that he wasn't avoiding her like she thought. "Not at all. I wanted to talk to you actually."

He sat down and glanced at her through the corner of his eye. "Yeah? What about?"

She shook her head, not understanding his nonchalance. It didn't fit. "In a minute. I just want to look at you right now."

"Michaela…" He closed his eyes, pushing his chair back from the table.

"Shh…" she whispered, placing her hands over his. "I missed you last night."

"Michaela—"

She had found his nervousness endearing, but at this point, she didn't quite understand it. "I know what you're going to say. Please don't. We've been through too much together. You've shown me more compassion and respect than anyone else—you and Doc Boo. But that's not why… I can't explain how I feel—"

His eyes glazed over, and he looked down sadly. "We never could."

"What did you say?"

He gathered himself again and continued, "Nothin'. Look, I'm not goin' to lie to ya. I'm not goin' to tell ya I haven't been dreamin' about that…all my life. But trust me, things are better simple, Michaela."

She stood up from the table, turning her back to him. "Why? I don't understand."

He got up and followed her. He almost put his hands on her shoulders, but instead, he placed them in his pockets. "I know. I know, sweetheart. I know ya don't. But if I had to watch ya break your heart again, if I had to do that, I would die."

Michaela turned around, searching his eyes. "I don't understand. Who—who are you to me?"

"I'm—I'm just Sully."

1893

Stephen watched Lina pull her collar tightly around her neck. He had seen several cases like it before, but none that had left such pronounced scars behind. "Are you in any pain?"

Lina frowned, still unsure if he was actually going to stay or leave. "Not—not anymore. Instead, I feel nothing. The tissue is beyond repair."

"Nothin'?" Stephen placed his hands over her tight fists and gently pried her arms apart, revealing the scar tissue again. "Everybody's gotta feel somethin'."

Cautiously, he touched her neck with the tips of his fingers. She didn't breathe or take her eyes away from him. "Ya needn't be afraid," he whispered. "I'm not leavin'."

Tenderly, he ran the back of his hand down the side of her neck and stopped when he felt her inhalation. "There?" he whispered. Lina shook her head slowly, a rush of tears coming to her eyes. His dropped his hand lower, caressing the flesh just above her sternum. She closed her eyes. He stepped closer and whispered, "There?" A deeper pause followed, but she shook her head again. Lower he went, until he touched the simple bow of her camisole. He loosened it, freeing her from its tight hold. He pushed the cotton across her collar bone until it fell from her shoulder, and he moved down, until the charred skin softened at the swell of her breast. His fingers played over the untouched skin and she gasped, an infantile cry of life escaping as he moved lower and grasped her skin more fully in his palm, pulling her closer to him as he watching her feel his touch.

Lina's body woke with a jolt, as her innermost fear and desire were met all at once. This was wrong, she knew, but she couldn't hold back from this stranger, this friend, this boy, man who stayed. He needed to touch someone real as much as she needed to be touched—she could feel it.

And then her eyes flew open as she nearly went blind from the white heat that surged through her body, and she saw the white rush of surge, and the brightest white light she had ever seen, and an angel from heaven, white like snow—and then she saw her face…her face…white as a ghost, reaching out screaming, the mistress of her time, lost among them all.

1883

As she was about to follow No Harm into the unknown, Katie was pulled back by the roots of her hair fast and hard. Her scream pierced the night sky and Sully reacted impulsively to her pain as he attempted to jump the porch railing. Both soldiers grabbed him, holding their barrels on him, but Michaela burst forward, jumping on the back of the Major, hitting him as hard as she could until he released Katie's head.

The Major threw Michaela off of his back, knocking the back of her head with the end of his rifle. Michaela's entire body twisted around, and she fell to her knees, seeing nothing but white as Katie's arms reached out for her, breaking her fall. "Mama!" she called out helplessly, "Mama!"

Major Elliot did not waver and aimed his gun at Michaela, but focused his attention on Katie. "Get back in the house, Katherine. If you don't, I will not hesitate to kill your mother."

Katie stood up slowly, bracing Michaela's weight against her body. "If you touch my mother again, I will not hesitate to kill you."

Elliot laughed mockingly and released the safety of the rifle. His entire face dropped to reveal nothing but raw hatred. "Get. Inside. Now!"

Everyone was pushed back into the homestead in a frenetic pace. Stephen and Abby clung to each other as they were shoved into the corner by the stairs. Michaela and Sully were quickly bound and gagged to each other and forced to sit in dining room chairs. The Major glared at his subordinate officers as he held on to Katie's arm. "Take the other two upstairs and lock them up. Make sure they can't get out."

"What—what are ya doin', boss?" The Second Lieutenant finally spoke up.

"Your job is not to question me, Lieutenant. Take the girl and the boy upstairs now!" He bellowed, his face now red like passion. The Lieutenant swallowed nervously and turned towards the two young people, seeing his own eyes reflected in each of theirs.

The Major turned around, finding the harder eyes of the First Lieutenant. "You. I want you to follow the tracks of that savage and find out which direction he went. My guess is he's not too far away."

The Major turned to Katie, his eyes wild with disgust. "Now don't be stupid, girl. That fool thinks he's protecting you by running? He's sadly mistaken. If you tell me where he went, I'll be kind enough to let you live. But if you don't, I will kill your family members one at a time. Do you want that on your conscious, Katherine?"

"Namehoto," Katie seethed, glaring directly into the Major's eyes. "Nanaa'e—"

"Speak English!" He yelled before whipping his fist across her face. Michaela screamed beyond the thick cotton in her mouth, thrashing so violently the hard wood floor of the cabin began to shake. The Major took the back of his gun and slammed it into Sully's mouth. Michaela froze as he flipped the gun around, ready to shoot Sully. "Doc, if you make one more sound—"

Michaela reached for Sully's hands, and frantically tried to feel for his pulse, making sure he was alright. Sully quickly stilled Michaela's hands with his own, bringing her fingers in between his. Sully began to move his hands deftly against Michaela's, pulling at the tight rope that tied them together. He turned his head and caught her eyes in a flash, and she understood and was still.

"That's better," the Major growled as he circled Katie. "Now, I'm going to give you one last chance. Tell me where No Harm went."

"Namehoto. I love him. Nanaa'e. I would die before I told you where he is."

"Well then. Who am I to argue with true love?" Elliot slammed the barrel across her back, making Katie's knees buckle as she skidded across the splintered floor.

Katie's back rose up, filling with air as she groaned, "Namehoto. Nanaa'e!" As he beat her, her light skin darkened, brown and violet finding its way to her flesh, but she didn't cry. She found her mother's eyes and lost herself in them as the pain slowly disappeared into white nothingness.

Just as Katie's eyes closed, Sully ripped through the ropes and leapt forward, screaming as he threw the Major against the front door, shattering the glass frame around his head. The door flew open and Sully and the Major fell out into the porch.

Michaela ran to Katie's side, picked her limp body up in her arms, and brushed the bloody hair way from her face. "Katie, Katie baby, open your eyes, sweetheart. Open your eyes," Michaela begged, as she kissed Katie's dark lids.

Her eyelashes fluttered against Michaela's lips, as she gasped for breath, "Ab-by… Y-you have to get Abby…and B-boo out."

Sully's back crashed against the window. Michaela and Katie's heads jerked up. "Come on, sweetheart. We don't have much time."

Michaela lifted Katie on her feet, but the glare of the Major's black rifle caught her eye, and she saw a sudden flash of Suzanne's crazed, darkened eyes as she shot them without abandon. Those eyes mocked her again from the cold, black end of the barrel. She swore she would never touch a gun again. But as she heard the smash of glass, the wood cracking, and the pained breathing of her daughter at her side, she grabbed the gun. Without abandon.

Stephen and Abby backed into the girls' room, Stephen's arms encircling his sister protectively.

"Now. You two get in there...and…and don't make a sound," the young Lieutenant ordered nervously.

"Ya don't want to do this. I can tell." Abagail looked directly into the Lieutenant's eyes, reading his fright. "Let us go."

The Lieutenant twitched, but kept moving forward. "I'm sorry. I-I…I have to do this. I'm sorry. Now you just back up now."

"Wait—" Abby reached out and put her hand on his wrist. "Ya know this isn't right. Officers don't hold families hostage in their homes. This is about a sick grudge that Major has against an entire race of people. Ya know this isn't right!"

A bead of sweat fell down the lieutenant's forehead, and his head shook viciously as he removed her hand from his arm. "Do you want me to lose my job, girlie? I got a wife at home two months pregnant I got to support!"

"Then how can ya do this to me? Look at me! Look at me!" Abagail screamed, forcing him to look at her pregnant stomach. The lieutenant glanced for only a moment and then averted his eyes, unable to look at her.

He held up his gun, hardening. "Get in there. Get!"

"Stop! Ya can't do this! You know this is wrong! Ya know it!" Abby hit the door as hard as she could, but it slammed in her face.

Brian stepped into the dark house and dropped his carpet bag on the floor. "Abby? Where are ya, darlin'?"

He ran up the stairs of their modest home, but she was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, he heard the door open downstairs, and a smile sparked his face as he raced down the steps. "Abagail?" he called out again.

"No, it's just me, son!" His high hopes dropped slightly when he saw his mother moseying about the living room, and he replaced his smile quickly when she caught his eyes. She smirked and shook his head. "Come here, boy, and don't ya be puttin' on airs for me. I know ya were hopin' I was that bride of yours."

Brian took off his hat and wrapped his arms around Charlotte. "I'm sorry, Ma. It's just that a month is too long to be away from her. I came home early. I couldn't stay away any longer."

Charlotte laughed. "I'm so happy for ya. For both of ya. I can't wait to hold another grandbaby in my arms."

Brian looked about anxiously. "Ya know where she is, Ma?"

She frowned and smoothed down his hat hair. "Well, I saw her earlier goin' to her Ma's clinic. She might be stayin' with her folks again."

"Has she been goin' there a lot?"

Charlotte nodded slowly. "Or she's been keepin' me company at the boardin' house."

Brian sighed and walked towards the sofa, picking up a half-finished, yellow cotton blanket. "Well… I'm gonna take her with me next time. Her and the baby. I can't do this to her anymore. I can't do it to myself."

Charlotte nodded and put his hat back on his head. "Well son, why don't ya go out there and tell her that, instead of sitting her moonin' over her with me?"

"I think I will, Ma. Thanks."

Michaela and Katie slid up the side of the staircase. Michaela looked down at Katie as she reached the top step, and she put her hand on the side of her face. "You don't have to do this, Katie."

Katie nodded fiercely. "Yes, I do."

"Alright. On the count of three." Michaela cocked the safety. "One. Two…"

"Three!" Katie pushed her forward and Michaela aimed the rifle at the unguarded Lieutenant.

"Let my children go now!" The Lieutenant spun around and held his shaking gun straight at Michaela.

"P-put the gun down!"

"Not until you open that door!"

"PUT IT DOWN!"

"Abagail! Stephen!" Michaela called out, as she kept her eyes on the Lieutenant. "I need you to step away from the door!"

"I got Stephen in the corner, Mama!" Abby's muffled voice cried out from behind the door.

"Lady, I don't kn-now what the hell ya think you're doin'—" All of a sudden, Michaela shot the lock of the bedroom, sending the hinges swinging wide open.

Michaela turned her gun back on the Lieutenant. "If you were going to shoot me, you would have done it already."

"How do you know? I could still pull this trigger."

"I wouldn't try me. I was in jail for nine years for murder." Michaela closed her right eye and walked towards the Lieutenant, holding the rifle a foot away from his heart. She smiled sweetly. "Aren't you lucky they let me out?"

The Lieutenant swallowed and slowly lowered his gun as he stared into her unflinching eyes. Michaela nodded. "That's good. Now just give my daughter your gun and leave."

The Lieutenant quickly thrust his gun into Katie's hand and ran for the staircase, not looking back until Michaela's voice followed him. "And if you ever show your face in Colorado Springs again, I will shoot you."

Michaela held her stature until she heard his footsteps crawl away through the side door, and then she turned to Katie, finally letting her face drop as it turned white with vertigo. "Take-take it," Michaela stammered as she keeled over, growing sick to her stomach. Katie took the gun out of her hand and silently called Abagail and Stephen to help carry their mother into the bedroom.

The Major grabbed Sully's hair, swinging him around until he broke through the porch railing, landing hard on the wooden floor. The Major ground his knee in Sully's back and spat in his ear, "You're an Indian lover, aren't you, Mr. Sully? You'd do anything for them, wouldn't you? Tell me, you lie down with a squaw before? Feel her dark skin against your own? I bet you liked it, didn't you, Mr. Sully? Enough to turn your own wife and daughter into Indian lovers too—"

Every muscle in Sully's body surged as the Major's hot air breath touched Katie and Michaela, and whether it was adrenaline or the hand of God, he would never know, but Sully pushed up from the ground and knocked Elliot's heavy weight off of his body, sending him flying down the stairs.

When Sully lifted his head, the Major was lying at the bottom of the stairs, passed out cold.

"Ya ok, Mama?" Stephen put his hands gently on the side of her face, examining the darkening bruise on her temple.

"I'll be alright, Boo. We need to look at your sister though. She might have broken some ribs."

Michaela started to get off the bed, but Stephen pushed her back down. "No, Mama. I'll check. You rest."

"I am fine," Katie got up, inhaling sharply, as she walked towards the window, looking down. She turned around and looked at all of them. "We cannot stay in this room. It is a death trap."

"Katie," Abagail frowned, trepidation clear in her voice. "Where are we gonna go?"

"We can climb out of this window. I will run into the barn and grab the horses and—"

"You're not seriously thinkin' about goin' after No Harm, are ya, Katie?"

"I have to, Abby."

"But ya know what he said! Ya told me yourself! He's gone, Katie! Or are you so blindly in love with him that you can't understand that?"

"He is not gone, Abby! I am sorry Brian is not here, but No Harm would never leave me—" Before Katie could finish, Abby reared back her hand and slapped her hand across Katie's face.

"Wake up, Katie!" Abby screamed, angry, hurt tears forming in her eyes. Abby put her hands on both sides of Katie's face, holding her still. "Don't go, Kates. Please, please don't go. I don't want to lose you again. I need ya. I need ya so much."

"I will always come back to you, Abby. But I have to go now. I have to find him. I have to." Suddenly, the slam of wood against the window sill shocked everyone to their feet. Stephen slipped his hand into Michaela's, and Abby and Katie dropped their heated stances as Abby pulled Katie maternally into her arms.

A deep groan came from the ladder as Sully's head finally surfaced. "Papa!" Stephen ran to the window sill and helped pull him inside.

"Thank ya, Boo." Sully scanned the room. "Is everybody alright?"

"We are fine, Pa," Katie pushed away from Abby's arms and went to the window. "Did you get the horses ready?"

"Katie, stop this!" Abagail screamed, her voice ragged, "We need to go into town—ya need to let Ma examine you!"

"Girls!" Michaela stood up, reaching for Sully as a sharp pressure pushed towards the front of her skull. The room went silent as she gripped her eyes and Sully's hand. She swallowed and opened her eyes.

"Michaela…?" Sully whispered, placing his hand on the small of her back.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." She stood stronger and looked in her children's eyes. "But we aren't going to be fine if you two keep fighting. Now, we have to get out of here, and we have to do this together."

"Your ma's right. I tied Elliot up downstairs, but that don't mean we should drop our guard. We gotta climb out this window and head out through the woods. I don't want to take any chances. Then we'll go into town where it's safe—"

"I cannot go with you, Papa. I have to find him. I know he is waiting for me. I know it."

Sully sighed, and looked in his daughter's determined eyes. "No Harm had to run, Kates. If he stops for you, they'll find him, and they'll kill him."

"I have to do something! You know that, Papa! You walked across the country to find Mama when they took her away. You left us then—I must leave you now. Don't you understand?"

Sully looked in Katie's set, determined eyes, and then turned to Michaela, her expression unreadable. She knew the power of loving someone like that, how it took over every sense and impulse in her entire being, but she also knew how far yet her daughter had to go. And it was a long road. The longest she had ever traveled.

But Katie's voice broke through the heavy silence, light and hopeful for the future, "He asked me to be his wife, Tsevestoemose?, just like that. And I am going to be. Somehow."

Sully closed his eyes. Katie had never asked him for a single thing in her life, but now she was asking him the one thing he didn't know he could give. "Kates…" he barely whispered.

"Please Papa. Just let me go." Sully pulled Katie into his arms, growling in frustration. "Alright. Alright. You can go, but I'm gonna be ridin' with ya. Now let's get out of here now."

Sully began to climb out of the window first, and Katie followed him at a much slower pace, her breathing ragged and labored.

Before Katie was out of the window frame, Abagail ran to the window and grabbed her face in her hands. "I love you. You better come back. Hanna Katherine Cooper might even be here by that time, and she's gonna need her aunt. I need her aunt."

Katie pressed her lips against Abagail's in a firm, soul-touching kiss only shared between sisters. "Nemehotâtse, hemeho."

And Katie was gone down the ladder. Abby turned to Michaela, fright in her eyes. "Mama… Ya have to go with Katie. She's not breathin' right. I'm worried she's doin' too much. I—"

"Shh…" Michaela kissed Abby's forehead. "I don't want you to worry anymore, Miss Sully. You need to be calm right now, especially for this little one." Michaela put her hand over Abby's belly. "You're going to be the best mother, you know that?"

"I hope so. You'll go with her? Keep her safe?"

Michaela nodded. "I want you and Boo to go straight to the clinic. You'll be safe there. And I want you to go to bed. This stress isn't good for the baby."

"Michaela! Abby! Boo! Hurry!" Sully called from the ground.

"You first, Mama." Stephen helped Michaela swing her arms over the sides of window sill. Michaela took a deep breath as the height seemed to lift her head away from her body for a moment. But then the sounds of the horses and her children's urges pushed her to continue down the ladder.

Suddenly a gunshot fired out, sending Bongo running into the trees. The First Lieutenant had returned from his mission with a fully loaded gun and was in front of the house, calling out their names. Michaela looked at Sully, and he quickly held out his hand as she jumped on the back of his horse Emo'onahe with him.

Katie, on Flash, looked up to the bedroom window where her sister and brother where still held captive. As the cries got louder, Abagail shook her head and pushed the ladder away from the window. "Go!" she screamed, "Go!"

Michaela's eyes flashed with blinding white fear. "How can we leave you here?"

Abby took Stephen's hand in hers. "We'll find a way out of the house, don't worry. We'll get into town, I promise. Just go! Please! They're coming! They're coming!"

The First Lieutnant spun around the side of the house and began shooting, giving them no time to think. Flash began to fly in the night, and Emo'onahe, with two frightened, beautiful spirits on its back, ran to catch Lightening Woman.

Stephen leaned over the window sill as he watched them get away, his excitement shaking his muscles all the way to the bottom of his toes. His face brightened with hope, as he could almost feel relief. "They're gonna make it, Abby. I can feel it. Those soldiers will never catch Flash and Emo'onahe. And Katie's gonna be alright. You don't gotta worry no more."

"Boo," Abby said faintly, her back turned to him as she walked slowly to the bedroom door.

"What, Abby?" Stephen said nonchalantly as he kept peering out of the window.

"Maybe…maybe we should think about headin' into t—"

And then there was screaming silence, louder than Stephen had ever heard in his life when his sister stopped speaking.

As Brian galloped down the main road out of town, he pulled back on his reins as he saw a soldier running from the opposite direction. Brian frowned, not knowing what to make of it, and kicked his horse in the side, pushing him forward.

"Soldier!" Brian asked. The Lieutenant immediately looked up, shock and fear in his eyes as his head jerked to the right and the left and behind him again, as if someone was following him. "Where are ya comin' from?"

The Lieutenant rubbed his forehead, shaking his head vigorously. "N-no where, sir. No where a'tall."

"You don't have a regiment, sir?"

"Ah, um. No sir. I'm done. I'm done with it. I gotta go. I-I-I gotta go." The Lieutenant turned from him, covered his arms around his body and continued to walk along the road, muttering to himself.

Brian turned back, and began to start again, but he paused, listening to the Lieutenant's ramblings. "I'm sorry, honey… I'm so sorry… It wasn't my fault. I'd never hurt ya. I'd never hurt ya. It was him, not me. It was him. It was him…."

As he heard his nonsensical ramblings, something clicked inside of Brian. Something wasn't right. He kicked his house into a full blown gallop and road—closer and closer towards the Sully homestead.

Katie beared down on Flash's main as they road deeper and deeper into the woods, driving herself to the only place she could imagine he would be, that, or driving herself mad. She didn't know which. If he wasn't there, she knew all was lost.

Sully followed Katie as best as he could while keeping a firm hand wrapped around Michaela. He looked over her shoulder, searching her pale face and glassy eyes. "Michaela?" he whispered. "Are ya sure ya don't need to rest?"

Michaela closed her eyes and opened them again, stiffening her body in his arms as they road. "The children first, Sully. I promised Abby I would take care of Katie. I can't break anymore promises. Then we'll worry about me."

"Ma! Pa!" Katie called from ahead, her breath like a broken harp. "We are close!"

Stephen ran to Abagail, not knowing how to pick her up. Tangles of beautiful black curls were everywhere, and he smoothed them away, finding her pale face asleep. "Abby?" He yelled forcefully, his voice cracking with boyish age, "Abby, come on, darlin'… Ya gotta wake up… Mama says we need to get into town now."

Slowly, Abby's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled faintly at Stephen. "Hey Baby Boo."

"Don't call me that!" Stephen cried a little, turning his face away from her. "Ya scared me."

"You'll always be my baby brother. What else am I supposed to call ya?" She giggled a little bit as he scowled at her as he went around to her shoulders to help lift her. When he lifted her to a sitting position, Abby screamed out, grabbing on to Stephen's hands.

"What—what is it?" Stephen asked, panic washing over him. A moment later, he didn't have to ask, as a warm liquid surrounded his knees. "Oh…um… We need to get ya off the floor, Abs. Um… Let's… Let's get ya into the bed, ok?"

As Stephen pushed her up with all his strength and led her to the bed, he quickly scanned his memory, thinking of all the things he had seen his mother do or say about pregnancies. He put two pillows behind her back and covered her up with the sheets and comforter. He brought in fresh blankets and poured a basin full of water, placing it on her beside table. His mother's medical bag. Where had she put it? He ran downstairs, and there it was, beside the chairs where those jerks had tied Mama and Papa together. Stephen quickly ran back upstairs and sat beside Abagail.

"Ya feelin' better?" Stephen asked as he ran a wet cloth over her forehead.

"No," Abagail said irritably, but then quickly put her hand over Stephen's free one. "But I'm awful glad you're here with me, Doc Boo."

Katie could hear the rush of water in the distance, as her heartbeat sharpened with each step they made, closer and closer until they cleared through the trees, and there she was again, in the beautiful expansive stream down from the creek. She jumped off of Flash and ran into the chilled water, white currents splashing around her as she filled the expansive space with her presence.

"Tsevestoemo!" She called out, hope and joy filling her voice. "Tosa'e Nahesta?"

Sully slowly helped Michaela get off the horse as they watched Katie spin around in the water, looking in every direction for a sign of No Harm.

"Things are never gray, are they, Sully?" Michaela dropped her head on his shoulder, the tension swirling, swirling to a tight knot as she watched Katie spin and spin with the brightest hope in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" Sully asked, supporting her slumping shoulders.

Michaela shook her head, seeing everything at once. "Things are always black or white. Never gray. If he's not here—"

Sully shook his head. "He'll be here. I would never lose faith in you. He'll be here."

"She'll lose hope."

Brian jumped off of his horse as he reached the Sully homestead, an eerie sensation crawling all over him the moment he saw the front door wide open. He quickly ran up the front steps and into the house, calling out, "Abby! Abby darlin'!"

"Up here!" Stephen yelled from upstairs, a wariness in his voice. As he began to mount the stairs, he stopped abruptly when he heard a quiet, pained moaning coming from Abby's old room. He jumped the stairs two at a time until he got to the door, and Stephen quickly stood in front of him, his sleeves rolled up and sweat running down his face profusely.

"Brian," Abby smiled and looked up at him, reaching for his hand. Brian quickly went to her, confusion filling his face.

"Abby… Darlin'… But the baby's not due for a few more weeks… Your ma said so—"

"It's ok, Brian, I'm fine. Mama will be back soon. And it'll be ok. Boo's takin' good care of me. Ain't ya, Boo?"

Stephen smiled cagily, twisting the damp cloth in his hands as he quickly moved to the window, looking for any sign of their parents.

Brian watched Stephen walk to the window and looked back at Abagail. He kissed her forehead and smiled reassuringly. "Don't ya worry. Boo and I will make sure everything's just right for ya, and before you know it, we're gonna have a beautiful baby to love and hold for the rest of his life."

"Her life," Abby said confidently, a sparkle lighting her fading eyes.

"As long as she looks like ya, I'll be the happiest man in the world." Brian kissed her soundly on the lips before standing up and going to the window where Stephen stood.

He turned his back to Abby, so she couldn't see his face and asked, "What the hell happened tonight, and why in God's name isn't Michaela here with her?"

"They found out about No Harm, Brian. It was really bad. No Harm had to run, but they caught Katie. She got beat up really bad. Mama too. I don't know about Papa. He's pretty tough. But Papa stopped the main guy… this Major... who hates Katie and No Harm… but Katie was determined to go after No Harm, and Abby made Michaela promised to take care of Katie. And we couldn't get out of the house before Abby just collapsed, I guess from all the stress and—"

Brian closed his eyes for a second, and then opened them, trying to have patience and be in control. "Ok, ok, Boo. Ya did good. You've taken real good care of her so far. How much do ya know about delivering a baby?"

Stephen shook his head, his heart sinking to the floor. "I—I've never done it. Mama says that I'm still not old enough. That I have to be about thirteen."

Brian rubbed his forehead, thinking, thinking of anything. "Ok…ok… What if I go get my ma? She used to be the mid-wife a long time ago before your ma was here."

Stephen nodded, twisted his fingers behind his back nervously. "Ok. Um. That might be ok. But…but…what if she still needs a doctor?"

Brian froze and just stared at Stephen. "Ya said your ma was comin' back, right?"

"Right," Stephen said more confidently than he felt.

"Then Abby'll have a doctor. It'll be ok. We can do this, little brother, don't ya worry." Brian put his hand on Stephen's shoulder before heading out again.

Katie stood in the middle of the rushing stream, her body trembling as the cold, numbing sensation finally reached her heart. "Tosa'e Nahesta? TOSA'E NAHESTA!"

Her will and determination broke a little bit more, and the pain in her ribs began to cut acutely, as breathing became more difficult as she screamed once more, using all of her air supply, "Tosa'e netao'setsêhe'ohtse, Nahesta!"

As if she were held up by strings from Heaven, they suddenly snapped and collapsed, falling to her knees in the water. "Ehesta nemeo'ôtse," she cried, her face crushing against the wet, jagged rocks. "Ehesta nemeo'ôtse!"

Michaela closed her eyes, turning into Sully's chest, unable to watch at Katie anymore. "Go get her, Sully. Please, please go get her."

Sully nodded and left Michaela standing in the bank as he slowly walked to Katie. He sank down beside her, placing both hands on her back. "It's ok, babygirl. Papa's here. Papa's right here."

Sully brought her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her, falling back on his knees as he held her. Katie's head fell back against his shoulder, and from the darkest part of her soul, she rejected everything, "NO!"

Stephen brought a fresh pitcher of water into the bedroom, and placed it on the bedside table. Abby watched him, a soft smile etched across her face. Her face was sweaty, making her fair skin seem that much paler. He glanced at her as he poured the fresh water into the pitcher. She winked at him. "What?" he asked curiously.

"Oh nothin'," she whispered amusedly, even while she grimaced in pain. "I just never thought much about ya really bein' a doctor until now. I think you're gonna make a fine one, Boo."

"Yeah," Stephen said wistfully, "I just wish I could do more. But Brian should be back soon with Charlotte and ma—"

Suddenly Abby screamed out, her back arching high off the bed as a sharp contraction ripped through her body. She reached out blindly and took Stephen's hand. Stephen winced, but kept his focus on her. "Ok Abby… That's good… Contractions are good… Just breathe through it and hold my hand, darlin'… Just hold my hand… I've got ya—"

Michaela could hear the hooves before she could see them. Quickly she picked up her skirts and ran out to Sully and Katie, taking the horses with her. "We have to go," she said hurriedly. "They're behind us!"

Katie pushed out of Sully's arms, despair now pure anger. "NO!" she said fiercely. "I am never running away. I am not leaving this place until he comes back. I refuse to live like that! I will not hide! I will not hide! I WILL NOT HIDE!"

The First Lieutenant and the downtrodden Major pushed through the trees and spotted them immediately.

"There's the girl," The Major pointed at her without his weapon.

Katie glared at him and screamed, her voice not her own, "Mé'anéka'êškóne énomáhtse htsestá!"

And as fast as lightening could go, she ran towards white horses.

Abby was too quiet now. Her last contraction had been over ten minutes ago. Was that normal? He didn't know. He didn't know anything. He stood up and began pacing the room. He turned around and looked at her face. None of her curls were falling in her face or bouncing around wildly. Her hair was wet and smoothed back. Drenched. Not like his annoying, crazy Abby was supposed to look. Suddenly his eyes went to the bottom of the bed. The comforter. There was blood. A small bit of it.

Stephen quickly pulled back the blanket. "Oh my God…"

Blood was everywhere.

"Abby!" He called out desperately, trying to control the waver in his voice, "Abby, darlin', can ya here me?"

Abby's eyes fluttered, and she smiled faintly, "Mama? That you, Mama?"

Stephen quickly removed the bloody comforter. "No…no darlin'… Mama's not here yet. It's Boo. I need ya to promise you're gonna stay awake with me, ok? Ya gotta stay awake."

"I stay awake, Boo."

"You're bleedin' a lot. I'm… I'm gonna try and stop it." Stephen did the best he could, putting extra towels beneath her, trying to stop the flow of blood.

"The—the baby?" Abby whispered faintly.

Stephen shook his head, trying, trying so hard not to show her his fear. "I—I don't know, Abby."

"Where's Mama?" Abby whimpered, her voice child-like.

"She's with Katie, Abby. But she's comin' back. She promised ya, remember?" Footsteps suddenly made their way up the staircase, and Charlotte and Brian appeared in the doorway.

Charlotte stopped abruptly in her steps once she saw the blood. She turned sharply to Brian. "You get back on that horse and go find Dr. Mike this second. This girl can't wait."

Michaela didn't understand what Katie was doing until she heard the pounding of water and land against each other. And she didn't have to ask where her heart was. She felt it dying in that moment. She ran as fast as she could. But since the day Katie was born, no one had ever been as fast as her. But Michaela ran anyway. She reached out for her babygirl, trying to stop her, knowing that saying NO wasn't enough, but if she could just touch her, if she could just look in her eyes, and say, yes, I know you're heart is broken, I know it is, but I would tear out mine and give it to you if I could, then maybe she would stop. But her baby was so fast. So strong. So beautiful. So defiant. Her baby was her. She was her heart, and she leaping, leaping, leaping high into the sky, high above the world, so much further than she had ever gone herself. And when Michaela reached the edge, she would have jumped too, but Sully stopped her, he kept her grounded while their daughter flew down into white surges, crashing like lightening.

"Mama!" Abagail cried softly, her head shaking back and forth as Stephen wrapped his arms around her. "I—I want my mama…"

Stephen kissed the side of her cheek, trying to calm her tremors. "Brian went to get her, darlin'. He'll be back soon. I promise."

Charlotte covered her back up with a fresh blanket and nodded to Stephen. They walked out in the hall together. She put her hand on his shoulder. "Boo… I've done all I can for your sister. Made her comfortable. But all we can do now is wait for your ma."

Stephen looked down, and he shook his leg uncomfortably. "What if Mama doesn't get here?"

Charlotte put her hand on the side of Stephen's innocent face. "You're such a sweet boy. Ya just go be with your sister now."

Stephen walked back in the quiet room, and Abby turned her head slightly. "Why ya got such mopey eyes, Boo?"

He crawled up in the bed beside her and leaned his head beside hers. "I'm sorry, Abs."

Abby reached for his hand. "Ya worried about me?"

Stephen turned his face away from her so she couldn't see his eyes. "Are ya mad?"

She pulled his hand next to her face. "Nah. It's good to know ya care a little bit."

He turned and looked at her at her. He was crying. "I love ya, Abby."

"I know." She smiled, squeezing his hand. "Will you sing me our song?"

"Mama's song?"

She smiled happily, closing her eyes. "Yeah. Sing it for me."

Stephen frowned, trying to remember the words. He couldn't do anything right for her. And he couldn't stop crying like a baby. He had to get this right. "I'll try. Um… Slumber, my darlin'… thy mother is near, guarding thy dreams from all terror and fear…" He paused. "Uh… I forget the next part."

Abby smiled slightly. "Ya sing off-key."

"Mama does it better." And he wanted her here so bad.

She tightened her hold on his hand. "But I like your version. Keep goin', Boo."

Stephen took a deep breath, "While others their revels keep, I will watch over my Abby. Slumber, my darlin'… the birds are at rest…The wandering dews by the flow'rs are caressed…Slumber, my darlin', I'll wrap thee up warm…And pray that the angels will shield thee from harm…" Stephen stopped and looked out towards the night sky. "Do ya believe in Heaven, Abby?"

"I…"

"Abby?" Her eyes were closed, but a soft smile lit her face.

"I can see her, Boo. She's here. She came—"

As Brian pushed through the clearing, he saw something he could only write about, something that he would never speak about in words to anyone ever again.

Sully was holding Michaela back over the edge of a waterfall. Her hands were reaching out, as if to catch something falling.

The words they said to each other, he could not repeat.

But his heart could not wait. Abby needed her. He road down to the stream, straight to them. His plea was simple.

Michaela's face was white like lies as Sully lifted her into his arms and put her back on the horse. They left immediately.

The Major appeared from the bottom of the waterfall where they had been searching for Katie. He stopped Brian.

He looked at the young man's eyes coldly. "Tell them we found the body. Their daughter is dead."

As they looked into each other's eyes, there was such peace, such comfort. There found home. "Mama," Abby whispered, her eyes bright and full of life. "I never thought—"

She smiled and held out her hand, and Abagail felt such a surge, like waves surrounding her, pulling her under in a white current, but she was safe, as long as she held that hand, as long as she followed her—and suddenly, she could hear her baby cry, see her bright blue eyes, touch her soft, pink fingers and tiny hands, and they were all together, in such a sweet, sweet slumber.

"Abby!" Stephen cried over her, his hands shaking violently as she didn't respond to his voice. "Please wake up, please…please…. Just a little bit longer, darlin'… I just… I just don't know what to do!"

The door burst open, and Michaela pushed Stephen away from Abagail.

Stephen stammered back, his boyish uncertainty finally breaking down.

After a few moments, Michaela stood up riggedly. Her eyes completely dead as she turned around and faced Stephen, Sully, Brian, and Charlotte.

"I failed them," she said. "I'm sorry."

Slowly, she walked past them, leaving her girls' room. She went to her bedroom, shut the door and locked it.

She went to her window. She opened the latch and felt the night air hit her like ice. She thought of the rushing waves. She thought of the stillness of the heart. She thought of it all. She stood up on top of the desk. What would it be like to be an angel? She could hear Sully's voice on the other side of the door. If she were an angel, she could dance in the skies were her babies. If she were an angel, she could have protected them both. If she were an angel, she could fly.

Sully kicked the door down, and they eyes flashed with each others.

"I'm sorry. I love you," she whispered. And then she flew, meeting lightening and angels.