Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has been patient with me this past month. I'm finally back into the swing of things, or getting there at least, so I hope you'll hang in there and let me know what you think about the coming chapters! Thank you so much! Ashley

Chapter 114

June 7, 1871 – Outside of Colorado Springs

"I think we lost 'im," Kid Cole announced pleasantly, as the horses came to a halt three miles up the road. Wolf panted heavily ahead, and he continued sniffing around to pick up a scent again.

"Don't be too sure," Sully replied. "We need to keep movin'."

"Good thing is I think we gained at least an hour on Jim and Ruth."

"Don't be too sure of that. They coulda slipped down another road. We might be goin' the wrong way for all you know." Kid Cole glared at Hank over his shoulder.

"I'm getting real sick of hearin' you talk like that," Kid Cole warned. "If you wanna give up and go back to Colorado Springs, you go right ahead…take your chances with the bobcat. The rest of us are goin' after my wife." The moon began to peek out from the rain clouds that were too stubborn to pour their contents down onto the earth. Everyone glanced at Hank, their eyes wary and tired of his complaints.

"Didn't say I was givin' up, now did I?" He pulled out a flash and took a sharp swig, swallowing the burning contents that finally settled in the pit of his stomach. He grinned devilishly before jabbing his horse with the heels of his boots. The rest of the men did the same, and they continued on in a tense silence.

June 8, 1871 – Colorado Springs

Michaela sat at Grace's Café, poking around at her food. Normally, she was starving by this time of the afternoon, but now, she felt as if she couldn't eat a bite. She was receiving stares for various folks around town after last night's meeting, but she didn't seem to notice. Grace felt like telling them all to get out of her café, but then again, she had her family to think about, and money was tight.

"What's the matter, Dr. Mike? Ain't feelin' right?"

"Not really," she answered quietly. Grace wiped her hands on her apron and slowly sat down next to her friend.

"It'll get better. It will."

"I'm not stupid, Grace. I know better. Besides, I'm just…worried about Sully."

"Sully's a grown man. He can take care of himself."

"I know." Michaela continued to pick at her food.

"How's Dr. Cook?" Michaela shook her head.

"He's suffering from severe heat exhaustion, and the fever is most likely due to the fact that he's been exposed to the elements for the first time since arriving here. I'm sure he'll make a full recovery, but right now, he's still in and out of consciousness. I'm trying to keep him comfortable."

"You're doin' a real fine job, Dr. Mike," Grace said softly. "You just keep doin' what you're doin', and I'm sure the men'll have Ruth back in no time." Grace patted her hand and went back to work. Michaela pushed her plate aside and made a move to stand up, but she felt a hand on her shoulder stopping her. She looked up to see Timothy standing there, his eyes heavy and full of exhaustion. She knew he hadn't slept since the previous evening's meeting.

"Reverend," she said softly. "Please, sit down."

"How are you doing, Dr. Mike?" he wondered, taking a seat next to his friend. Michaela bowed her head for a moment, searching for the words. "I'm sure they'll be back soon. You just have to have faith." Michaela smiled awkwardly but nodded.

"And how are you? I know yesterday was very difficult…"

"I don't regret the things I said, Michaela," he said quietly, folding his hands around an empty coffee cup, which Grace came to fill up. "They were things that…that needed to be said." Michaela looked away. "I don't want ya to feel like I said them just on account of you. I said 'em, 'cause I thought it was my place. I have a daughter to think about…a family to stand up for. I consider you my family." Michaela wasn't sure what to say. She simply settled her hands atop her stomach and traced circles along the patterns on her dress. "Mrs. Dewitt came calling at the church this morning, and she brought me a blueberry pie. She said she thought I had courage." Michaela smiled a little.

"Mrs. Dewitt is a sweet woman," she said softly, "but I'm afraid there are several others that aren't as forgiving." She swallowed hard, and Timothy nodded his head.

"You're right, Michaela. I'm telling you this in the strictest of confidences." He lowered his voice. "I've received several comments from many women around the town. They're too afraid to publicly support you, but they do very much admire the way you've stuck to your beliefs and fought for…"

"That's very kind of you to say. I just…I'm just worried about Sully right now and about my patients. That's what I'd like to focus on." Timothy nodded.

"Of course. I'm praying for them, Michaela."

"So am I, Reverend. So am I."

Sully stared straight ahead as the other men talked quietly, looking for any sign of Ruth. Sully couldn't keep his mind on the matter at hand at the moment. His thoughts kept wandering back to town. With Andrew ill, what would happen if Michaela needed him? Dr. Bernard was only a telegram away, but it could still take a day or two for him to get there…so much could happen in so little time. A lump of guilt began to settle and roll about in Sully's stomach.

He gripped the saddle horn and hanged his head for a moment, thinking and praying to the Spirits to watch over Michaela. He couldn't bear the thought of anything going wrong. She'd told him to go, and they had needed him, but it was also his job to protect his family. What if it happened again? What if he was gone and there was nothing he could do? Hearing his little girls screaming and Abagail crying out for help flooded his ears, and he felt ill. Her screams turned into Michaela's, and Hanna and Lily's cries became Johnny's and Little Wolf's. He could hear the babies crying.

Palms sweating, Sully felt his heart starting to race. He was scared, and when he opened his eyes, he glanced over to see a pair of concerned eyes staring back at him.

"Sully? Are ya alright?" Kid Cole placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"I…I…don't know." Had it been his own fears or a premonition from the Spirits?

"Let's keep goin'. I got a business to run, and I'm losin' money each day we're out here," Hank grumbled. Sully nodded.

"Hank's right. We gotta keep goin'."

"If you ain't feelin' right, maybe we ought to wait," Robert E. suggested, getting a vehement shake of the head from Sully.

"No. We're goin'. Ruth needs us."

Back in town, Johnny sat on the porch of the clinic. Little Wolf and Mary were inside helping Michaela with dinner. Rebecca and Timothy had been walking down by the creek, and Gabby hadn't wanted to tag along. So, she spotted one of her best friends and hurried over to sit beside him on the porch.

"Hey Gabby," he said quietly, looking off toward the woods.

"Hey," she said softly. "No word yet?"

"Nope. I think they need help."

"You do?" Her eyes were wide and sparkling.

"I just got this feelin'," Johnny said in a whisper. "I think Pa needs my help. But I can't leave ma alone."

"Johnny Sully, what are you thinking? You can't go out there after them! You could get hurt!"

"I…I'll be careful. I asked Brian to help and check in on ma. I wouldn't go if I didn't think Pa needed me." He looked down guiltily. Gabby shook his shoulder impatiently.

"You can't leave!" she exclaimed.

"Keep it down, will ya?" he shushed. "I'm gonna sneak out tonight. I don't want ma to worry, so…"

"Did you hit your head or something? Johnny! If you leave without saying anything, she's gonna worry more than anything! She doesn't need that right now! Dr. Mike needs you here, because she's worried enough about your father!"

"But I got this feelin', Gabby. If I don't go and somethin' happens…I don't know what I'd do." Gabby sighed heavily.

"At least tell her, Johnny."

"No! She won't let me go if I tell her! You…you gotta tell her tomorrow. Just give me enough time to get out there, and…"

"You're just a kid, Johnny."

"So are you, but you can't tell me you wouldn't go lookin' for pa if something was wrong." Gabby groaned.

"Well, that's not the same."

"How isn't it? Me and you both ain't had much time with our pa's, have we? Please, Gabby. Don't say nothin'. If ma gets worried, tell her I'm ok, and I took Byron."

"I can't do that, Johnny. You should tell her yourself. She'll worry less if she hears it from you." Johnny sighed with frustration.

"Fine. Just…don't say nothin' to nobody 'til I'm gone, ok?"

"You're going to get us both in trouble."

"I'll make it up to you. I will!" he promised. Gabby shook her head and smiled a little.

"Well, alright," she said quietly. "But if you so much as get hurt out there, I'll…I'll never talk to you again!" Johnny rolled his eyes but extended his hand.

"Deal."

"You're looking much better, Andrew," Michaela said with a smile. Andrew smiled weakly, and he watched Michaela waddle across the room.

"No word from them yet?"

"Nothing yet," she said with an uncertain shake of her head. "But I'm not giving up hope. Ruth needs us to think positively."

"They all do," the young man added. "They'll make it back. With Ruth." Michaela nodded, hoping for the best. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Andrew. You're the one I'm worried about."

"You're taking it easy?"

"Yes," she assured him. "The babies are active, and I'm tiring easily, but I know my limits. I'm sitting down and putting my feet up when it's possible."

"It's possible right now, but you're pacing around the room. That's not good for the babies, Michaela." She froze for a moment, feeling the urge to spin around and spew her thoughts and opinions at him, but she chose to refrain and clenched her hands together. Her patient watched her for a few minutes longer, and finally, he spoke again. "As a doctor, I'd tell you to avoid all stresses. As a fellow human being, however, I'm telling you that when this is all over, your family needs a little break. Take a vacation, Michaela."

"I can't take a vacation, Dr. Cook," she said, standing up straight and placing her hand on her back. "I have a pregnancy to think about. I have Johnny and Little Wolf. I have a hospital's construction to oversee. I have a practice—"

"—that I can easily look after for a week," Andrew finished. "After everything you've been through, you deserve a break."

"I can't think about that right now," Michaela responded. She moved toward the door. "You should rest."

"And so should you." With a tired nod, Michaela left the room and escaped into the cold, desolate one that she had spent the last couple of nights in. She had spent too much time there, and just as she and Sully were becoming adjusted to living as a family for once, everything had been turned upside down. She missed having him there to hold her at night. She missed waking up in the middle of the night to hear him breathing. It had always left a comforted feeling inside of her. She felt safest when he was there, and with him out there, she knew that anything could happen.

She sat down on the edge of the bed and placed her hands on her tummy, closing her eyes and arching and stretching her neck.

"He'll be home soon," she breathed. "Your papa is a strong man. He's the most courageous one I know. He'll be back, and we'll go on…we'll wait for you. He can't wait to hold you in his arms. He's excited about being a father again, and the thing I want most is to see him smile when he sees you both for the first time." A tear slipped down her cheek, and she felt the babies kick in response. "Just hang in there, little ones. It'll all be over soon enough."

Pulling his pack tightly over his shoulder, Johnny placed the note on his mother's desk. He tried his best to stay silent. He'd snuck out of the room, made sure Little Wolf was still sleeping, and he'd made his escape down the staircase. Now all he had to do was make it outside, go to the stables, and saddle up Byron. He was prepared for this. He didn't want to think about his mother's reaction, because he knew she'd be scared and worried. He'd tried to assure her the best way he could in the note, but he knew that mothers worried, and there was no way she'd approve of his leaving. If his father could find his way around out there, so could he.

He slipped out into the warm night air, and he hurried across town to the stables.

Byron was awake, munching on oats, when the boy slipped in.

"Hey, boy," Johnny whispered. "We're gonna go on an adventure." Byron snorted, and a whine from the door startled Johnny. He turned, peering into the moonlight that sifted in through the half-open stable door. Pup sat there, his nose pointed upward with confidence and his eyes glowing in a way that might make the fiercest stranger cower and run away. But Johnny knew better. "C'mere, boy." Pup did as he was commanded, and Johnny ran his fingers through the soft tufts of fur on the wolf pup's head. "Your brother Wolf's out there too. Ya miss him, huh? Well, we'll bring him and my pa back home. You can find him, can't ya, boy?" Pup sniffed Johnny's pack, knowing he had licorice and gumdrops in there somewhere.

The wind picked up, and the stable door slammed shut, causing the boy to jump nearly out of his skin. He shook his head and started saddling his horse. If he was going to help save his father, he was going to have to be a lot braver than that!

As soon as Byron was saddled, he opened the stable gate and led his horse out. Mounting him, he led the horse away from the stable and out into the night. Pup tracked ahead, and Johnny felt a lump forming in the pit of his stomach. Worrying his mother was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had to keep his family together no matter what. And as he disappeared into the night, a shadow trailed along behind him, making sure not to lose sight for fear of getting lost herself.