Chapter 6

Finally Sully was able to relaxed back into the soft leather bench seat, holding tightly to his rock and saviour, above all the woman he loved with his entire being. He was amazed at the developments of the past twenty four hours, marvelling that he was actually a free man, courtesy of the President of the United States. After the past weeks he had thought this would be impossible.

…

As he'd been escorted out of the Federal Prison gates to a fate worse than death in the torrential rain. He heard his transport guard's voice saying he'd get the transfer papers from under the front seat.

Instantly Sully recognised the voice of a man he'd spent the past few weeks with: General Ely Parker.

Suddenly his need for self preservation kicked in and he threw himself into the wagon and lashed out at the prison guard, landing his boots onto the man's jaw sending him reeling backwards.

Next instant the General was forcing his way into the back of the wagon as well.

"Stay down!" was the crisp order as both men lay low in the swaying horse drawn wagon that was driven away at full speed.

"Who's driving?" Sully insisted with his suspicions instantly on his fiancé.

In the gloom of the madly swaying carriage the General looked at Sully simply saying "Dr Quinn," as bullets ricocheted off the iron bars at the back of the prison wagon.

…

Delivered safely to Murder Bay Sully held onto Michaela as if she would just vanish in a puff of smoke fearing that this was a dream he was living and he was afraid to wake up.

The General had wasted no time in continuing on with the wagon once they had alighted wishing them Gods speed before he disappeared around the corner quickly and silently.

Immediately all the freed slaves recognised the couple especially the lady doctor who had spent hours the last weeks tending the sick. Banding together they began freeing her man from the shackles and devising a plan to help them escape. They warned that the soldiers would inevitably come as this was always the first place they tipped upside down in their hunt for escaped fugitives. People at the bay were accustomed to this as they were not allowed the privileges of other free citizens.

As the manacle was being removed Sully looked at Michaela and marvelled once again at her courage. He loved her more than his own life and was sure he could never repay her. Remembering another time long ago when he had told her after freeing Cloud Dancing from in the hands of General Custer, "You have the courage of a warrior." He'd also told her "Women stay in camp or Cheyenne say you'll become a brave," when she insisted on going and looking for Brain after he'd run away. Well she had proved them right: she was a courageous brave.

Finally the last clang of the mallet on metal freed him. Rubbing his grazed wrists he thanked the smithy. Suddenly there was an urgent knock at the door informing them of the approaching army unit.

With the help of their new friends Michaela and Sully had eluded capture and met General Parker in the War Department records office. Scanning the documents of the time Michaela had found the orders he'd received on that fateful day. Handing them to Sully the signature of the ordering Officer showed up as if it was written highlighted: Colonel George Steward, now the Senator in charge of the Congressional Inquiry for the Interior.

Pieces of the puzzle were all beginning to make sense and fall into place. Abruptly, without a word urgency seized the group as they all realized more or less at the precise moment that Parker had said there was a recital at the White House that evening. Realizing the Presidents life was in mortal danger they made haste to get to the White House with the utmost speed.

The plan was executed without a hitch and General Parker acted as a decoy while Sully and Michaela slipped in unnoticed. For the second time within a number of days she had used the secret passage into the President's office.

Scurrying down to the atrium where the recital was being conducted they had observed a sniper on a nearby roof top as Sully had suspected would be the case. A person with that skill would be the only one able to be accurate enough to get off a fatal shot and assassinate the man in charge of the country, effectively railroading all the reform programs that the President had begun to implement.

Applause was erupting as the musicians had finished their performance, when with his heart pounding Sully pushed through the throng of people and body slammed the President onto the floor when a bullet pierced the window missing its intended target. Pandemonium erupted with Sully being *slugged over the head by the batten-wielding policeman.

Then there had been the accusations from both sides accusing the other of treason. Finally the President had retrieved the only remaining piece of evidence clearing Sully of any responsibility of murdering a civilian during the war. Taking a moment the President had seen the truth as Dr Quinn had stated. He was still a little*rattled at how close he'd come to being assassinated by these conspirators who all were holding high positions within the government.

Finally President Grant pardoned the pair for any crimes they may have committed by freeing Sully.

…

Sully had his own attire returned after the President's secretary had gone to the prison to retrieve them. With the police in charge they witnessed that these two dangerous men were indeed securely incarcerated in prison to await trial.

The next day had been spent quietly recovering from the traumatic past couple of weeks. They had once again been offered accommodation in a suit at the White House as the children had rejoined them just after all the commotion the night before.

At their departure from Washington there had been a stir among the other train passengers sighting the President and his wife accompanying the family to their carriage. As the family had witnessed on a few occasions the President was pacing impatiently up and down the platform, eventually deciding to continue on with the little ceremony he had planned.

He offered Sully a job as Indian Agent in Colorado Springs, stating he'd like to have someone he could trust. Then the general arrived and informed them that Senator Steward had hung himself in his cell that morning.

Sully was then given the most precious gift of all: his freedom and reinstated with the insignia of his position as an officer in the army and his unconditional discharge.

Sully used his officer's sabre to salute General Parker as he left knowing he owed his life to him as well.

They said their grateful goodbyes to the official party and alighted into the train carriage for their trip home.

….

Finally the excited children had drifted off to sleep as all the excitement of the past twenty four hours had finally been explored and analysed over and over. Sully smiled as he looked over at Brian who still had the ceremonial sword clasped in his hands. His epaulets and the appointment for Indian agent in the leather satchel were safely placed in a carpet bag on the carriage luggage rack above them. They had discussed about going to their sleeping compartments and had decided that this night they were all going to remain close together to support each other, unwilling to be separated again at the moment.

As silence enveloped the compartment Sully drew his love closer each with their memories and so grateful that the nightmare that had begun weeks ago was finally over. Although they hadn't needed any proof they knew now that the other was their anchor in a rough sea, now they were sailing into calmer waters heading home to Colorado.

Sully leaning against the window wall of the compartment drew Michaela between his legs as she leaned against his chest and wrapped his arms around her drawing in a deep breath, absorbing the scent that was uniquely her. He bent down and placed his face in her hair with a feeling of over whelming contentment as he kissed the top of her head, marvelling that Michaela had gone to such extraordinary lengths to save his life. She was indeed the most precious of beings and she had agreed to love him and marry him. He felt so extremely grateful that she had come into his life as he looked around at all they had, a family already. He thought, "thank you Great Spirit for this exceptional woman in my life."

Eventually they began to speak about the past weeks; their fears and terror of the night mare they had just survived how they had feared for the other, not knowing all that they may be enduring. They filled all the blank spaces of what had happened. Sully marvelled at this amazing woman who loved him unconditionally. She was just happy to be back in his secure embrace thinking, "this is the only place I want to be." She didn't want to even contemplate what she would have done if she'd lost him for forever. Realizing how close she had nearly come on hearing him sentenced to death, a shiver went up and down her spine. Michaela realised that she would have willingly given her life to save Sully. They were two of a kind; she knew without a doubt he'd do exactly the same for her. Sitting back, Michaela thanked God for protecting them when they most needed it. "Thank you for protecting our family from harm."

Turning so she could see him they embraced offering each other strength; grateful that it had become a remarkable part of their love for each other. Sully and Michaela knew that they had something very special and appreciated that connection few couples ever felt. Finally sharing a deep and satisfying kiss they drifted off to sleep wrapped in each other's arms, dreaming dreams of the future, not the past; lulled by the noises and rocking of the train travelling as a whole family homewards.

The end

Thank you for reading and all your comments.

*slugged strike with a hard heavy blow. (Australian Oxford Dictionary)

*rattled alarm, agitate, or fluster (the question rattled him) (AOD)