Chapter 111

June 6, 1871 – Colorado Springs

"That break his healing quite well, Mrs. Jacoby. Have you kept it in the sling as Dr. Cook instructed?" Michaela asked, jotting a few notes down in a folder.

"Yes, doctor," the older woman replied. "Mr. Jacoby asked if it'd be alright if we paid you in chickens. We're a little short on money right now, and…" Michaela held a hand up and gave her a warm smile.

"That would be just fine." Michaela fashioned a new sling for her patient and tenderly wrapped her arm up in it.

"Thanks, doctor. Ya have no idea how glad most of us women folk are to have ya back. Dr. Cook's a good doctor, don't get me wrong, but he just ain't got the touch." Mrs. Jacoby winked at Michaela. "I don't think ya got much to worry about."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Some of the men folks…well, Mr. Jacoby was tellin' me last night that they wanna petition to have Dr. Cook stay around. But I told Mr. Jacoby, I said, Dr. Mike's the best doctor there is around, and ain't nobody gonna replace her."

"That's very kind of you, Mrs. Jacoby," Michaela said with a wide smile. She finished tying up the sling. "There you are."

"He'll bring the chickens by your place on his way home tonight."

"That'll be fine. Thank you." At that moment, the door opened, and Andrew came in to take over Michaela's shift. He froze uncomfortably when he saw his ex-patient.

"Ah, I'm sorry Michaela, Mrs. Jacoby."

"That's alright, Andrew. We're finished here." Michaela helped Mrs. Jacoby out before she turned to gather her things. "I'm sorry I ran a little over today."

"That's quite alright. This is your clinic after all." Michaela tensed at the tone of his words. He smiled nervously and fidgeted with his bag. "I…I'm sure you've heard talk around town…"

"Talk?"

"About my status here in Colorado Springs." Michaela said nothing, and Andrew shifted nervously. "I don't plan on staying longer than I'm needed, Michaela, I assure you. The men of the town have this idea that I'll be staying longer than necessary, which is not what I planned or am planning. I just wanted you to know that." Michaela smiled.

"It's your own decision, Andrew. I can't make it for you. Besides, with the hospital being built, more doctors are going to be needed. I've observed you, and you do a wonderful job. If you do intend to stay, I'd like to offer you a position once the hospital opens." Andrew raised an eyebrow.

"That's very kind of you, Michaela, but I have a practice to get back to. If…anything should happen when I return, I'll definitely keep that in mind. I appreciate your offer." Michaela smiled.

"Well, it's an open invitation. Besides, I don't expect for the hospital to be finished for quite some time." She started for the door.

"Umm…Michaela?"

"Yes?"

"How are you doing?"

"I'm feeling better than ever," she admitted. "Well, maybe that's a lie, but physically, I feel great."

"Good," Andrew said with a smile. "That's great. Well, I'll see you tomorrow." Michaela nodded.

"Have a good day," she called, shutting the clinic door after herself. Sully was waiting in the wagon, and Johnny and Little Wolf sat in the back with the three wolf pups.

"Oh, I nearly forgot!" Michaela exclaimed. "I'm sorry, Sully."

"That's alright. We still got plenty of daylight left." He got out of the wagon and pulled her into his arms, giving her a soft kiss that made her smile and tremble at the same time. Johnny and Little Wolf both made faces and laughed quietly to themselves, while Sully and Michaela finished greeting one another. When they finally pulled apart, Sully softly caressed her cheek with his thumb, as he leaned in close to her. "How was your day?"

"Busy," she admitted. "But I promise I stayed off of my feet as much as I could." She smiled, as he kissed her forehead. "How about you?"

"Got some work done around the house, and I got a job from Mr. Jacoby."

"Really?" Michaela asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He was bringin' chickens by…guess they were payment. He said he was gonna bring 'em by later, but since he was passin' through, he figured he ought to get to it before he forgot. Anyway, he asked me if I'd mind helpin' repair his roof. Winter did a lot of damage, and he's willin' to pay me to fix it."

"Sully, that's wonderful!" Michaela exclaimed, kissing her husband and hugging him close, not caring that her loud exclamation had caused several people turn to see the commotion before returning to their everyday lives. "I figure that by the time I'm done, we'll have enough to save for that trip to San Francisco." Michaela smiled a little.

"That's still a little while away, Sully."

"Yeah, but it don't hurt to start savin' ahead of time, hmm?"

"That's true," she replied, hugging him again, grateful for their blessings.

"Ya ready?"

"Mmmhmm," she answered, as he kissed her cheek. She flashed him a smile before allowing him to help her up into the wagon. As soon as he'd climbed up into the driver's seat, they took off out of town.

Ruth stepped out back of the mercantile to get a breath of fresh air. It was too noisy and crowded in the middle of town, and she had a headache that didn't want to go away. Leaning against the back of the establishment, she closed her eyes and put her hand to her forehead. She took a few deep breaths, feeling a wave of nausea roll over her like a sudden storm. She felt weak now, and she slowly lowered herself down onto an empty crate to sit.

The heat was beginning to get to her, and she was feeling dizzy. Everything was spinning, and she realized that she probably needed to see Dr. Mike or Dr. Cook, whoever might be there. But as she started to stand up, she felt her knees buckle underneath her, and she fell onto the ground. She wanted to call out for help, but before she could, everything went black, and the sounds around her began to fade out.

On a Train to Dallas

Carrie stared out at the land that passed them by. They'd had a train delay, and they were only halfway to their destination. Carrie's worries about her father were increasing by the minute, and the only thing Daniel knew to do was to be there if she needed to talk, but she hadn't said much of anything since they'd boarded the train in Colorado Springs.

At the last stop, Daniel had gone to pick up dinner. Carrie's plate was half-full and already cold.

"You don't want anymore?" he finally asked after a half hour of silence.

"I'm not hungry."

"You gotta keep your strength up."

"I had plenty."

"Ya ain't barely eaten much at all since we left Colorado Springs."

"I said I ain't hungry," she insisted, her tone never changing.

"Will ya look at me?" She turned, her eyes boring into his. Dark circles surrounded her eyes, and she blinked, her eyes bleary at the sight of his face. The concern that welled in his features was painful to look at, so she looked away.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine." Why was she deliberately trying to push him away? Daniel collapsed against his seat, not sure of what else to say. He knew she was scared, but she didn't have to shut him out like this. He'd never seen her quite like this before. Even when the whole thing with Jake came about, she'd at least opened up to him. Now, she was cold and distant, and he didn't know how to reach her.

"I don't think ya are fine."

"You callin' me a liar?"

"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm callin' ya," he replied, his nerves wearing raw. Carrie snapped him a glare that told him he didn't know what he was talking about before she looked back out the window. "I don't know what to say to you. Why don't ya talk to me?"

"I don't got nothin' to talk about, Daniel. We don't have to talk all the time, ya know."

"But we don't have to sit and stare out the windows all the time either. I know you're scared. Ya lost your ma not long ago, and now you're afraid of losin' your pa. It's normal for ya to be upset." Carrie didn't flinch. She only stared out the glass window, her eyes reflecting the countryside that passed them by.

"My Pa used to take me horseback ridin' as a little girl. He didn't have a lot of time on his hands, but he always made room for me. No matter how long we'd been travelin' the drive that day or how sore he was from the ridin', he'd hoist me up in the saddle in front of him and take me off…just me and him. He'd tell me all kinds of stories, but it wasn't enough. I knew that it wouldn't be long, and one of the cowboys would come runnin' up or we'd have to get back. But the time I had with him was worth it."

"You're talkin' like you ain't gonna see him again."

"You think he'll still be there when we get there, don't you?"

"'Course I do. Don't you?" Carrie shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I had a dream last night that we got there and he was fine. He was smilin' and laughin' and jokin' around like he used to do."

"Don't ya think that might be a good sign?" Daniel asked, concern creasing his brow again.

"I hope so," she whispered, her fingertips touching the glass of the window. "But I know better than to rely on dreams. Dreamin' never got me very far." With that, she shut down again, and Daniel could do nothing but take her hand and squeeze it to let her know he cared. He only hoped that if the worst happened, he wouldn't lose her for good.

Cheyenne Reservation

"Everything appears to be fine, Snow Bird. Your pregnancy is progressing right on schedule." Michaela smiled, as she turned her back to give Snow Bird some privacy while she cleaned up.

"I worry about the birth."

"You've given birth before, Snow Bird."

"I do not fear the birth," Snow Bird explained. "I fear the future for my child. What will happen if I do not eat? My child will go hungry."

"That's not going to happen," Michaela assured her.

"The winter will be long, Cloud Dancing says. He says food will be scarce." Michaela turned to her friend and patient.

"Everything will be fine, Snow Bird." Michaela placed her hand on the concerned mother's shoulder. "You and your child will be provided for."

"The army does not send supplies."

"We'll work something out. Perhaps Sully and I can talk to the townspeople, and—"

"No. Then hunters will provide," Snow Bird said matter-of-factly. "They will provide what is available. Your people will not work with us. The Spirits have already spoken of that." Michaela nodded slowly, wishing there was more she could do for her Cheyenne friends. But, she knew there was no way she could possibly help provide them all with food. She knew it wasn't her place, though her heart was breaking at the thought of how bleak the upcoming winter was looking for them. "It is still many months away."

"I'm sure it will work out," Michaela said softly, doubt in her voice. She honestly didn't know what else to say. But when the sound of laughter broke the silence, they slipped out of the teepee and into the sunlight. Cloud Dancing and Sully were watching Johnny and Little Wolf play with some of the other Cheyenne children. Little Wolf stood propped up on crutches, and the other children ran and danced around him.

"He's getting stronger," Sully said with a nod toward the boy. "Dr. Mike's been takin' real good care of him, and we've been makin' sure he's getting enough to eat."

"He looks much stronger. He will be able to re-join the tribe soon?"

"Dr. Mike thinks it'll still be a few weeks." Michaela and Snow Bird sauntered over to the men, and Sully's eyes lit up at the sight of his wife. "We were just talkin' about you."

"Oh?" she asked curiously, as Cloud Dancing turned to Snow Bird with concern.

"Don't worry," she assured him before he could say a word. "Dr. Mike says our little one is safe and healthy, and so am I." Cloud Dancing beamed with sheer pride and turned to the doctor.

"Thank you."

"Snow Bird's doing all the work. She's a strong woman, Cloud Dancing. Just make sure she continues to get her proper nutrition and rest. It won't be too much longer, and you'll be parents all over again."

It was past dark when the wagon neared the homestead. Johnny and Little Wolf were sleeping soundly in the back, and the wolf pups were lazily snoozing, curled up with the boys. Sully had one arm wrapped around Michaela, while his free hand helped guide the horses. But his attention was mainly on the beautiful woman pressed against him. Her eyes were closed, and her head rested on his shoulder. Once in a while, he'd place a kiss to the top of her head, and he'd feel her hand squeeze his knee. This small gesture meant so much.

"Michaela?"

"Hmm?"

"Ya aint' too tired, are ya?"

"I'm a little tired, but we'll be home soon," she assured him with a yawn.

"You're sure that goin' out to the reservation didn't wear ya out too much?"

"I'm fine, Sully," she said for what felt like the sixteenth time that day. "I need to get used to working again. I haven't pushed myself too far, and I don't plan on it. Please, relax. I don't want you to worry about me."

"I always worry."

"You don't have to."

"I know," he replied, kissing her cheek. She turned into him, brushing her lips against his in feather-light kisses, feeling his warm breath against hers. They smiled against each other's kisses, reveling in the moment, until the sound of whinnying up ahead startled them both. They peered into the darkness, and it wasn't long before eight horses came up carrying Kid Cole, Andrew, Robert E., Horace, and surprisingly, Hank. The eighth horse carried no one.

"Oh, Sully. Thank God we found ya," Horace called out.

"What's going on?" Michaela asked abruptly. "Has something happened?"

"It's Ruth," Kid Cole said through a cracking voice. "She ain't nowhere to be found. We need your help, Sully. We brought a horse for ya." Michaela and Sully exchanged worried glances, and Sully nodded.

"I'm gonna take Michaela and the boys into town, and I'll catch up with ya."

"No, Sully," Michaela said urgently. "Ruth needs you. Please, I can make it back into town on my own."

"I ain't leavin' you."

"Sully! This is important! They need you. I'll take the boys into town, and we'll stay at the clinic." He didn't feel right about leaving her like this, but he knew she was right. So, he roused Johnny from his sleep.

"Johnny?"

"Hmm?" the boy asked with a yawn, rubbing his eyes and squinting into the dark. "What's wrong, Pa?"

"I need ya to stay awake and keep a watch out. I gotta leave, and I need ya to help get your ma and Little Wolf safely back to town."

"Alright," the boy said with a nod. "Where ya goin'?"

"I'll explain that later," Michaela assured him. "He has to go, sweetheart." Sully gave Michaela a quick kiss, squeezing her tight, before he hopped out of the wagon and mounted the other horse, still feeling wary about leaving them like this. And a few moments later, they were riding off, while the wagon veered off toward town. What nobody noticed was the wolf pup that had gotten too curious about the situation and had hopped out of the wagon, following after the search party at full speed.

Ruth opened her eyes, feeling a sharp pain in her head. She couldn't see. It was too dark, but she could make out the twinkle of the stars, as she moved bouncily along underneath them. She didn't know where she was, but she was lying down. She must've been in a wagon. But she didn't remember ever having gone anywhere. The last thing she remembered was going outside to get a breath of air.

"Cole," she murmured, bringing her hand to her head. She felt something damp against her fingertips, and she strained to see.

"He ain't here, darlin'," came that very voice that sent shivers down her spine.

"Jim," she said groggily, trying to sit up but failing miserably.

"That's right, sweetheart. You don't gotta worry about him ever again. You're safe now." She wanted to scream, but she couldn't find the strength, and as a wave of nausea swept over her, the twinkling stars disappeared, and her head fell back against the wooden panels of the wagon, luring her into unconsciousness again.