Chapter 20

After long hours of going up the lower parts of the mountain, interrupted only by a few short breaks to take a sip from the canteen or to eat a bite, the climbers reached a small almost plane area. Looking at the sky, Sully recognized that dusk was approaching and he decided that this was the right place to settle down for the night. Without even looking at Amanda, he told her, "You take care of a fire and I'll make sure that it's safe here."

The young woman only nodded and let her things fall onto the ground. She was exhausted and frustrated, nothing had worked the way she had wanted it to until now. Tomorrow, she decided, things had to change. First, she wanted to climb slower, and she wasn't only determined to reach the peak but on her way there, she needed more breaks so she could take in all the sights that opened up to her. And she needed to communicate; it had almost killed her to keep her mouth shut all the time. It was no fun if she couldn't share her thoughts and she didn't like to be ignored. Sully had acted as if she didn't exist; of course he had made sure that they were going the right way and that the path was safe for her, but that had been all. While she was gathering the wood for the fire, she thought back to the moment when they had left Chris and Dr. Mike. Well, she was sure now that Sully was head over heels in love with the doctor but that didn't mean Sully and her couldn't be friends, very good friends if she had her way. Soon, Chris would be at school all morning and she didn't want to spend these hours alone; Sully could be a good companion since the doctor would be busy as well. However, if she was honest to herself, it had bothered her that Chris seemed to be really close to Michaela and she had noticed the concerned look that they had shared, too. She didn't want for her fiancé to come to the wrong conclusions; she needed him in her life. Although she loved her family dearly, she wanted to finally escape the ranch and the hard life there; she wanted her own life at the side of a respected man. Chris could give her that and she wasn't willing to risk it. She just couldn't help herself when such an interesting character like Sully was around her, all she wanted was his attention and to know that he cared for her…

While Sully was looking around for potential danger, his thoughts were still with Michaela as they had been all day. Now, he actually wished that he had taken the teacher's offer to cancel the trip, he wasn't sure if his assurances would last until they were back. Maybe, this climbing was the one action that would be the last straw. Of course he was sure that Michaela wouldn't just vanish from his life, he knew she would never leave Hannah. However, he had to admit that it was his fault that their relationship didn't improve; he had still avoided talking about Flying Sun, mostly because he didn't really want to think about it. The moment he had told the Indian woman that they were the same, he had meant it and that frightened him in a way. He knew that he didn't love her, but the way they had spent their time together for one and a half years had been very comfortable and he still felt more at home with his Indian family… On the other hand, he was sure that he didn't want to live his life without Michaela and his daughter, and even more, he was sure he couldn't.

Sighing, he turned his thoughts back to the task in front of him. He was glad that the day had gone by without any problems and that even Amanda had cooperated. That's why he was taken aback as she welcomed him back to their camp for the night with a sarcastic comment. "So you remembered me?"

Only at that moment, he became aware that it was almost dark by now; he had been so deep in thoughts that he hadn't noticed how long he had been looking around. However, he didn't appreciate her almost provoking remark, but he didn't deign her an answer and just glared at her. Then, upon seeing that Amanda had placed their bedrolls next to each other, he took his and put it down so that they would sleep on opposite sides of the fire. This didn't improve Amanda's mood and she told him; "I wouldn't bite, you know. And Dr. Mike isn't here to judge whether you act her proper way or not."

Instantly, she knew that this had been the wrong way to approach him because Sully immediately shot back, "Leave Michaela out of this!"

Taking a deep breath, Amanda calmed herself down and tried another tactic. She had lived with men all her life and knew how to handle them. It would be ridiculous if she couldn't do it with this one. After an appropriate period of time she made another attempt. "Look, Sully, I know that you are doing this for Chris, but he wanted this for me because he knows how much it means to me to climb a mountain at this time of the year." When Sully neither responded to nor rejected her, she continued more sincerely, "Why don't we make the best out of this situation? I know that you enjoy being outside as much as I do. It would be a waste of time if we don't pay any attention to the surroundings; so why arguing, you could see this trip as a break from your life as I'm trying to do it and when we return to town, we both will have new energy to face the daily challenges of our lives." She bit her tongue so as not to add, "And that woman who only restricts you."

Sully regarded her thoughtfully; in a way she was right. He had to spend a few days out here, so why not make the best out of them? Exhaling a long breath, he let his shoulders slump and agreed. "All right, but it will stay the way it has been today, I'm gonna go look for the path we'll take…"

Amanda hastily interjected, "Of course," and bowing her head so he couldn't see her triumphant smile, she added, "I have only one wish, could we slow down our pace a bit? I don't know how long I can climb in such a speed as we did today…" She made her voice trail off and this had the longed-for effect.

Immediately feeling guilty for not being sensitive enough to the needs of the young woman, Sully assured her, "Course we can go slower, just tell me when I'm too fast."

Knowing that she shouldn't overdo it, Amanda only nodded. There would be enough time for her to make him talk, she knew now how to manage him; he was the protective type and she would make sure to take advantage of that.

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On Friday morning, Michaela, Hannah and Wolf were on their usual way out to the reservation to bring the milk; only today, they had a companion. Cloud Dancing had agreed to see the town's teacher who was interested in learning as much as he could about the Cheyenne so he could tell his pupils correctly about the history of the place they were living in. Chris was excited and thankful that Dr. Mike had made it possible for him to talk to the medicine man. He had to admit that he had begun to admire the petite woman next to him; she wasn't only a great doctor, as he knew from his own experience, but also someone who cared for everyone in need. He was happy that she saw him as a friend and he respected her far too much to allow himself to see any more in her than that, not even in his thoughts. He knew about her feelings for Sully and since he had witnessed how Sully had assured her his love and how she had struggled with her emotions afterwards, he felt terribly. Even now, a whole day later, he could tell that Michaela was still upset. In an attempt to comfort her, he said quietly, "I'm sorry Dr. Mike, I should have never taken Sully up on his offer to take Amanda on that trip."

Snapping the reins in order to encourage the horses to go on faster, Michaela contemplated how to reassure Chris. After a few moments she replied, "That's all right, really. I'm glad that this way Sully had the opportunity to thank you for saving Hannah's life. He doesn't like to be in debt to anyone. Don't you worry, I think you even did him a favor; Sully loves to be outside for days on end."

Chris looked at her and asked hesitantly, "Do you think that is why he didn't take my offer?"

Michaela glanced at him questioningly, "What offer?"

"I told him that we could cancel the expedition because I don't want him to miss this little girl's birthday," he tickled Hannah's sides and made her squirm and giggle on his lap and added, "Amanda is grown up, after sulking for a time she would have come around."

Michaela's mind started to race as she attempted to digest this information. Why had Sully insisted on going? Because he wanted to spend time with Amanda? She instantly dismissed this thought. Or was it his pride and he just didn't want he to lose his face in front of the town? Or was it the opportunity to be outside again, even if it was only for a few days? She didn't know it and to her surprise, she suddenly felt herself calm down. Her mind had made a decision that her heart didn't approve of; she knew it because the familiar knot she had carried inside of her chest for many years had taken its customary place again; however, she would end the emotional turmoil she had lived in far too long. She would see Sully as her friend from now on, nothing more and nothing less. She was aware of the fact though that Hannah didn't need a friend but her father. Well, they would have to talk about that as soon as Sully was back…

Chris was unsure about what to do, Michaela hadn't said a word since he had broken the news to her but she didn't look as if she was angry either. He searched for a way to lighten the mood and decided to talk about an idea he had for the school. To gain her attention he asked, "Dr. Mike?" and when she turned her head in his direction he added, "Are you all right?"

With a half smile, Michaela assured him, "Of course I am." Sensing the teacher's uncertainty she added, "Is there something you wanted to tell me?"

Chris nodded. "It's something about the school." Meeting her expectant look he continued, "I've thought about the children who have a long way home and those whose parents have, uhm, difficulties giving them enough to eat. How about a lunch after school for all children who want it? We could talk to Grace about preparing it, maybe they can even take their meals at her café…"

Michaela was instantly enthusiastic about the suggestion. "That's a great idea! I'm not sure about the café though, I think we should rather add an extra room to the schoolhouse. You could use it for other occasions as well. I'll ask Sully…" Speaking his name made her breath catch in her throat, but the concerned looks from the teacher and her daughter made her continue, "… to do it."

Chris regarded her thoughtfully, he silently scolded himself for telling her that Sully had had a choice about if he went on the excursion or not. Well, it was too late now and so he stayed on topic, "Another room would be great, I could use it for the meetings with the parents as well or when we perform a theatre play…" Suddenly, his voice trailed off because he remembered that the doctor had told him about all the furniture she would need for her new clinic and that she had wanted for Sully to make them.

Michaela looked at her friend questioningly, "Why did you stop talking?"

Hesitantly, so as not to upset her again, Chris reminded her, "I think we'll have to wait with the room until all the work at your clinic is done."
Michaela knew what he meant and thought about it for a moment. Then she looked up at him again and gave him another of her half smiles, "Well, the school is a matter of more urgency since it belongs to the town. I will ask Robert E. to help me with my furniture. I hadn't been sure anyway if I would ask Sully; I know that he would rather be outside in the woods than doing such a lot of work at a certain place. It will be enough if he'll agree to build the additional room."

Her tone in the end had made it clear that the discussion about that issue was closed, that's why Chris didn't give a comment although he was sure that Sully would love to help the doctor with her equipment.

When they arrived at the reservation, many eyes watched them. It always took a while for a stranger to be welcomed there but since the white man came with the medicine woman, the Indians were willing to see about him. However, Cloud Dancing and Snowbird had only eyes for Dr. Mike because they instantly recognized the expression on her face: although she smiled, her eyes remained sad and this concerned them deeply. Only Flying Sun felt her hopes rising, she knew it meant that her observation during the white woman's last visit had been right. Maybe Sully had even left her already…

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The mountaineers had resumed their climbing after breakfast. Amanda was satisfied, not only had they eaten their meal in an almost friendly atmosphere but Sully had slowed down their climbing pace as well. He had even stopped with her from time to time to take in the view at the landscape beneath them. For an hour though, he acted strangely and she decided it was about time that he shared his thoughts with her. She kept her voice low and gave it a concerned tone as she approached him. "What's wrong, Sully? You can tell me, maybe I'm able to help."

But Sully lifted his hand to make her stop talking. A while ago, an uneasy feeling he couldn't explain to himself had settled down into his stomach and he just knew that something was wrong. Looking around, he hadn't detected anything that might have caused the anxiety he sensed. The only thing was that with every step he went up higher and higher, the bond between him and Michaela seemed to lose more and more of its power and he constantly fought the urge to turn around and go back to her. However, the moment Amanda spoke to him, Sully spotted a track that shouldn't be there and he was immediately focused on the task of keeping the young woman safe. With a gesture of his hand, he told her to stay where she stood. Taking his tomahawk out of his belt, he carefully moved with noiseless steps until he reached a rocky but plane area some thirty yards away from the place where he had left Amanda. He didn't dare believe his eyes: there sat an at least seventy years old woman aiming a pistol at him. Laying down his tomahawk and slowly lifting his hands, Sully quietly suggested, "You better put that gun down before you hurt anyone, Ma'am."

The old lady, however, didn't show any sign of fear and while she put the pistol down, she chuckled dryly, "You may be right, and you sure aren't the mountain lion I expected."

Alarmed, Sully asked, "You've seen one?"

The woman nodded, "A few minutes ago."

"Amanda, come here!" Sully shouted and within a matter of a few seconds she stood beside him. He glared at her, "I told you to not move." But the young woman only grinned at him and then turned her attention towards the old lady.

Sam Lindsay was amused, a quarreling couple was a nice distraction for a while but then she had to see how to get rid of them again. Slowly straightening from the ground, she introduced herself, "I'm Samantha Lindsay, but I prefer to be called just Sam. I'm on my way to the top and I'm determined to go by myself… And you are? A young married couple?"

Amanda grinned, she found it amusing that it looked as if Sully and she belonged together. Her companion though instantly set their new acquaintance straight, "We ain't no couple and never will be." Softening he added, "The name is Sully and this is Amanda Miller. I'm just her guide to the top because her fiancé couldn't do it."

The young woman rolled her eyes; it could have been fun to play a couple for a while…

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As much as Sam had insisted on being left alone again, Sully hadn't listened and he wasn't impressed in the least as Amanda had tried to convince him that he had to comply with the wishes of other people and then even accused him of trying to ruin her trip. Since he had found the traces of two mountain lions, he knew it was only safe for everyone if they stuck together.

The rest of the Friday they made good progress on their way to the peak and after he had found the right place for their camp, Sully made sure that they took turns in keeping guard throughout the night.

Saturday though was very frustrating for him. It rained heavily all day and they couldn't think of attempting to climb because it was far too slippery. The only thing he could do was to look for a dry shelter. They sat in the cave he had found and while the women were chatting, he watched as the hours went by. Since he had time to think again, the uneasiness from the day before returned and seemed to increase with every minute and he also knew that if the weather didn't cooperate soon, his returning in time for his daughter's birthday was in danger. He knew he couldn't miss it, he just couldn't. Sitting with his legs crossed at the edge of the cave next to the fire, Sully closed his eyes and all he was able to do was to ask the spirits for their help.