A couple weeks later Logan was back in town with Sully when loud voices drew their attention. Coming around the bend, they saw Matthew fighting with a well-dressed kid on the ground. Darting forward to help as Michaela tried to break them up a man grabbed her and started to pull her away. In response, Sully grabbed the man pulling him off her.
Facing him the man swung wildly. Ducking under it Sully first drove one fist into the man's gut followed by a blow to his kidneys. Then shoved him to the ground where he law moaning.
Just as Logan grabbed Matthew and started pulling him away from the boy another man wearing a fancy black western hat and a long coat came around the Saloon. "Hey, hey!" he barked darting forward and grabbing the other boy pulled him away. "Let him go!" Logan, and the man finally separated them. "That's enough!"
"He started it!" the boy snapped.
"Ma, he knocked down my eggs," Brian said, running to Michaela and wrapping his arms around her waist and as Logan struggled to keep his grip on Matthew saw the basket of broken eggs on the ground.
"You start this fight with my son?" the man demanded.
"NO SIR!" Matthew snapped calm enough for Logan to loosen his hold.
"Calvin did!" a man in the crowd that had encircled the fight shouted.
"Your son bumped into my son, made him drop his eggs," Mike said, in an angry tone glaring at the man. After he glanced at the spilled broken eggs, he looked around as he heard the crowd around them begin to murmur in agreement. The man not saying a word pulled a gold coin from his pocket and tossed it on the ground at their feet. "I think an apology is more in order," Mike said, as Brian picked up the coin and slipped it into his pocket.
After looking at her, again both of them turned and left. "Who's Mr. Personality?" Logan asked, as Sully stepped closer.
"Clay Harding, he's a mining baron here in the territory," Sully said, an edge to his voice.
"And I take it you're not a fan of him," and Sully looked at Logan.
The next day at the reservation Logan and Sully watched in a tipi as Cloud Dancing gave more chamomile tea to calm the stomach of another sick member of the village. "This is the fourth person in one day," Logan muttered. "All of them have the same problems. Upset stomach, hair loss, and a bitter taste in the mouth."
"Do you think it could be some kind of white man's poison?" Springs Dawn said, looking at him as she nursed another.
Sighing Logan shook his head. "It seems pretty slow for a poison…," he said, then looked at Sully. "Let's go to town and see if they're having any problems like we're having here," and he nodded.
Pulling their horses up to the clinic both of them dismounted and walked in. Upon their entry Mike, the Reverend, Olive and a man named Ezra look at them. "Sully, White Falcon, is everything alright?" she asked.
"No there are a lot of people sick at the reservation. We came to if there were any problems here in town," Logan said, looking at the people around him.
"Well there are," she said, waving her hands at the people around her.
"I had to cancel choir practice," the Reverend said.
Frowning she looked from the Reverend to Sully and Logan. "Upset stomachs?" she asked, and they nodded. "Have you noticed any…hair loss?"
At that, they all frowned. "Bull's-eye," Logan muttered, stepping forward.
"How did you know that?" the Reverend said, running his fingers through what hair poked out under his hat.
"The Reverend is the fourth person I've seen today with these symptoms. Ezra has the same thing," and she waved her hand at the man. "It's almost like some kind of poisoning."
"The Cheyenne are starting to think the same thing," Logan said.
"You mean someone's is trying to kill us?" the Reverend asked, shocked.
"Or them."
"No," Mike said, dismissing the thoughts. "We may have all eaten something bad."
"I got a terrible, bitter taste in my mouth," Ezra said, and they looked at him.
"It's the same with the Cheyenne," Sully said, frowning.
"So do I. It tastes sort of like metal," the Reverend said, bringing his hand close to his mouth.
"Yes, me to," Olive said.
"What have you been drinking?" Michaela asked, quickly and the Reverend shrugged. "Where do you get your water from?"
"Willow Creek," he said.
"Does anyone else get it from there? Everyone in town?"
"I do," Olive, said, looking at her. "But not the Indians…"
"Yes they do," and they all looked at Logan. "Willow Creek empties into a river that runs near the reservation. That's where they get some of their water," he explained.
"Not me," Ezra said, and they all looked at him.
"A lot of folks have wells," the Reverend explained.
"Are you sure you haven't drunk water from Willow Creek?" Mike asked.
"No, ma'am," Ezra said, shaking his head.
"Then that isn't the source," Mike muttered, sounding disappointed.
Sighing Logan rubbed the back of his neck then froze. As Ezra sipped, form his hip flask. "What is that?" he demanded, and looking over Mike stepped closer to him.
"Moonshine," he answered.
"Ezra, you running a still?" Olive demanded, stepping close.
"No, ma'am. I bought this off of Happy Walter," Ezra defended.
"Where does he get his water from?" Mike asked, quietly.
"…Willow Creek," he muttered, and all eyes turned to her.
A few hours later after warning people at the reservation Logan, Sully, the children, and Mike were out at a forested part of Willow Creek. Matthew carrying a bag of supplies over his shoulder. "What are we looking for?" Brian asked, as he walked along the river as it gurgled along.
"Anything unusual," Mike answered as she shifted something's in the water with a stick. "That isn't normally around," she clarified when Brian gave her a blank look.
"There's a tree frog," he said, pointing.
"That's not what she means," Colleen moaned.
"Over here!" Logan called out next to Sully.
"Between the rocks," Sully said, pointing as they all started gathering around them.
"That silver stuff?" Matthew asked, and Logan nodded.
After looking at it Mike said, "Give me the cooper pot."
"I was wondering why you brought it," Colleen said, as Matthew handed it to her.
"What is it?" Brian asked as she rubbed it against the rock.
Bring it close she examined the spot where she rubbed the pot against the rock where a little bit of the silver substance clung. "I can't be positive. Who has a nickel?" she said, and quickly standing Matthew handed her one. Taking it in her hand, she rubbed it against the substance and when she removed it, a shiny spot was left. "Its mercury," she muttered, and silence fell over the group.
As soon as they got back to town, Mike went to straight to Horace and soon enough he was nailing a sign to the telegraph office warning of the contamination. Which read:
DANGER
BAD WATER
WILLOW CREEK IS
CONTAMINATED WITH
-MERCURY-
HIGHLY POISONOUS
DON'T DRINK WATER OR
EAT FISH CAUGHT THERE
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
DR. M. QUINN
"Where does Willow Creek have its source?" she asked, as he finished Logan and Sully standing nearby.
Looking at them "uh, well let's see. It winds up back towards the hills there," and they turned to look where he was indicating. "And then it goes through that new claim of Mr. Harding's. Oh, my god?" he said, and they looked back as a look of mortification passed over his face.
"What?" Logan said, stepping closer.
"I wasn't supposed to say nothing about that claim," he said, fearfully and eh looked around them to see if anyone was listening. "Please, don't tell no one. I took an oath," he begged.
"We, won't don't worry," Mike said, and Logan and Sully nodded and Horace relaxed. "Where does the stream go from there?"
"Well, it winds around Harding's Mill…"
"Gold mill?" Sully asked.
"Yup. They, crush all the rock from his mines, separate out the gold."
"Thank you Horace," Mike said, eagerly.
"Please don't say nothing."
"We won't don't worry," Logan said, patting his arm before they turned and left.
"Am I missing something here? What does mercury have to do with gold?" he asked, as they started toward the Saloon where they had seen Harding go with his son and one of his men.
"Miners use it to separate gold from ore," Sully explained.
Slowly Logan nodded. "And the mercury could be in the excess rock they dump out of the mill and into the river," he said, understanding as they walked in.
After looking around Mike walked over to Harding table. "Mr. Harding, may I have a word with you?" she asked, as Logan and Sully hung back by the door. Sully with a hard face. In answer, Harding sat back in his chair. "Do you happen to use mercury in your mining operation?"
"Yes, I do. It's the best thing for separating gold from ore."
"Is it possible that some of that mercury could have find its way into willow creek? It does run right past your mill," she said, keeping her voice pleasant.
"It runs by a dozen other mills, to," Harding defended.
"Would you mind if I came? Took a sample? People here are getting sick and I'm concerned," and Logan saw Harding's men and Calvin look like a private joke had been told.
"You're dame right I'd mine," Harding said; bring his chair forward to look her in the face with hard eyes. "We don't allow outsiders. Lot of folks jump claims and that leads to shooting and killing."
"You're the one doing the killing," and they all looked at Sully. "I lost two friends in one of your cave-ins."
Well that solves that mystery, Logan thought.
"I run a safe operation."
"Mr. Harding," Mike said, leaning on the table an edge coming to her voice. "Mercury poisoning builds slowly until the lungs and kidneys give out and you die with painful convulsions," she said, and Logan again saw Calvin laugh.
"This is not a laughing matter, and we're not interested in your claim," he said, and they all looked at him. "People here and elsewhere are getting sick from mercury poisoning. Which we have found in the creek."
Chuckling Harding shook his head. "That's quite a tale. But it's not my concern." And he took a sip from his whiskey.
"Oh, yes, it is, sir," she snapped quietly.
After looking at her one more time, he looked at his son and men. "Let's go," he said, and they all got up to leave.
Not willing to quit Mike turned on her heel. "Mr. Harding," he stopped. "If I can prove to the authorities in Denver that mercury is coming from your mill…I'll shut you down," she warned.
"And it'll be about time," Sully said, from where he was.
Slowly Harding turned to face her before taking a step closer. "You stay off my land," he said. "Trespassers get shot," and with that he turned and left.
In the wake of his leaving, the three looked at each other. "Well that could have gone better," Logan muttered.
Soon after, they were walking out side in the direction of the meadow. "I'll need to get a sample from the water by his mill," Mike said, solemnly.
"We'll get it," Sully offered.
"I'll go with you," and they looked at her. "I need to do some chemical tests at the source."
"You teach us we'll do them for you," Sully said, and Logan shook his head.
"That won't work," he said, as they walked along the fence.
"Why?"
"Couldn't trust the results," she explained.
"I've done some assay work," he protested.
"No, it's not that. The judge might find your results biased. You made it clear you have a score to settle," she explained.
"And I'm your friend and a friend to the Cheyenne," Logan said. "I have enough black marks against me."
"The trip is too dangerous," Sully said, looking at her.
"I can manage."
"You heard what Harding said," and both of them looked at Mike. "He's going to shoot anybody on the spot."
"We'll have to be careful," she said, shrugging it off.
"You go with us, you're going to slow us down, and more people are going to get sick," he said, trying to reason with her.
For a few seconds she was silent. "All right," she finally said, and Sully sighed in relief. "I'll go by myself," she finished before walking away and Sully gave an exasperated sigh.
Shaking his head Logan watched her go before looking back at his friend as he leaned against the fence. "You know she's head strong enough to do it, right now we're her best chance of coming out alive," Logan said, and Sully looked at him.
Early the next morning the group rode up to the gated fence that posted Harding's mining lands. Mike's horse carrying saddlebags filled with what she need for the trip. Which included clothing, a tent, soap, some food, her hat, some beauty items, which included soap and a mirror, a case with test tubes, and various chemicals. In other words, apparently she needed a lot.
Slipping off their horses Logan and removed the planked poles baring the entrance. "What about the guards?" Mike asked, leading the horses through.
"Be here at high noon," Sully said, watching her. "It's not too late to turn back," and she ignored him as they picked put the poles and slid them back into place in the fence. "Can't be looking out for you."
"Neither of you won't have to," she instead and turning they remounted their horses and they rode off.
When they camped for the night with Mike under her tent while Logan and Sully set up their bed rolls just beyond it. At a sound they watched as she poured some water into a small bowl and began to rub her face and neck down with a wet cloth with the top two buttons of her shirt undone. "Don't go wasting the water," Sully said, and she looked at them.
"We can't drink from the creek," Logan said, as they unbelted their weapons.
"And it's going to be a while before we get to a spring."
She looked at Sully. "Can't we make a fire?"
"Nope someone might see it," Logan said, laying down his unsheathed knife planted lightly in the ground next to his head.
After Sully slipped off his beads and laid them aside, he laid down as well. Before Logan closed his eyes for sleep, he saw Sully turn his head to watch as she redid the buttons of her shirt. Pausing when she saw him looking and he at once looked away. Sighing Logan rolled over.
"Good night," she said, and they remained silent as she laid down Logan catching them looking at each other once more before sleep to them.
The next day Logan and Sully woke early and started readying their horses as Mike slept on. "Why didn't you wake me?" she asked, after they heard her stir.
"I said, we'd leave at sunup," Sully answered.
"You could at least have given me a warning," she protested and they heard her begin to pack up her things.
"I just did," Sully said; swing his blanket onto his horse. "Better hurry and pack up all that junk."
"It's not junk," she hissed.
Looking at her Sully said, "Please don't be using that fancy soap, 'cause if I can smell it, everybody else can to," and he turned back to his work.
Lovers quarrel, Logan thought as he finished.
"I knew this was a bad idea," Sully muttered, as he and Logan moved to help her.
Later with Logan and Sully keeping watch on the open land before them for trouble. Mike ran some tests on the river water as she sat one its sandy banks. When she was done, she closed her case of test tubes and moved closer.
"We're still on track," she said, moving close to them and they started unpacking her horse.
"Lest rest here," Sully said, moaning under the weight of some of her saddlebags.
"Well, don't stop for me, I'm fine if you want to go on," she said, frowning.
"We're stopping for the horses," Logan said. "And then we'll ride until dark."
"You all right with that?" Sully asked.
"Of course."
They were just turning when the horses gave a grunt and jerk, "whoa, whoa, easy boy," Logan and Sully said, trying to sooth them.
"What is it?" she asked, as they whipped around and looking they dropped her things to the ground.
"Don't know," Logan said, as he scanned the land. "Could be a bear, another wolf…" then froze as he and Sully saw what it was at the same time.
"It's a mountain lion!" they hiss pointing at the lion moving across the grass at the base of a rocky hill.
"Mountain lion," she muttered, in fear.
As if it heard her, it raised its head looking at them and gave a loud snarl. At the sound of it with panicked whinnying, the horses turned and bolted. Whipping around hey called out to them but the frightened animals ignored their protests as they made their flight.
Looking back, they saw the great cat still looking form the retreating horses before back to them. "Do mountain lions, attack people," Mike asked.
As Sully drew his knife and tomahawk Logan said, "They only attack people basically for three reasons. One: if you get between them and their cubs. Two: they mistake you for prey. And three: they're sick or starving," as he quietly drew a arrow and loaded his bow.
He heard her gasp. "The mercury?" she muttered, and he nodded then slowly the cougar turned and started down toward them.
"Whatever happens stand your ground," Sully said, as the wind suddenly began to pick up and Logan's morpher began to heat up.
"What the…," he started then as a flash of lightning and clap of thunder sounded which sent the cat running.
"What's happening?" Mike barked as Sully drew her close for protection
With his arms raised to shield his eyes Logan watched as the wind continued to pick up. Suddenly from out of thin air a good distance from them electrical energy started striking the ground at a twenty-foot diameter emitting high-pitched sounds that remained Logan of nails on a chalk board. Then just as suddenly from that same spot the portal that had dragged him to this time grew, and dropped Kimberly rolling across the ground before vanishing leaving no evidence that I had been there.
Wide eyed Logan watched as with a moan she raised herself off ground and in frustration she started brushing herself off not noticing them, "and he tells me not to let go! I get back for a couple months and this happens again! I am getting really tire…"
"Kimberly!" Logan barked
At once, she stopped her ranting and her head whipped up. "Logan!" she barked darting forward and dropping his weapons he met her half way to embrace warmly and tightly as of they were both afraid to let each other go. "Logan I was so worried…," she said, her voice full of emotion.
"Yeah you sounded it," he said, stepping back. "And I gotta say you have incredible timing."
"What do you mean?" she asked, frowning and he pointed in answer and looking her eyes widening at the sight of the still running cat. "Where are we?" she asked, looking around at the forest and mountains.
"The Colorado territory." At once, she whipped around to gawk at him. "Near the town of Colorado Springs," and she blinked.
"Okay when are we?" she asked, trying to get a grip.
Logan sighed before biting his lip trying to decide how to break it to her. "We're in the 1860s," he said, deciding the direct approach would be best.
For a few seconds she stared dumbstruck. "I need to sit down," she muttered, then plopped right onto the ground. "Why couldn't we have just had a nice normal time at the Gymnastics Nationals? Without all this happening? And how long have you been here?" and she looked over his attire.
"Fate, and…about six months," Logan said, shrugging. She just stared.
"Ah White Flacon?"
At the sound of Mike's voice Logan froze his eyes closing. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, and he turned to face Sully and Mike.
"Do you mind telling us what just happened? And who is she?" Mike asked, pointing.
Face griming he helped Kim to her feet and approached the to. "She's an old friend. And I promise you will get your answers when we set up camp," he said, and they looked at each other. "But for right now would an introduction suffice?"
For a few seconds they didn't move then Mike stepped forward offering her hand to Kimberly. "Dr. Michaela Quinn, but you like your friend can call me Mike," she said, and Kimberly's eyes went wide.
After he gave her a discreet elbow to the ribs, she shook her head. "Kimberly Hart," she said, taking it.
"I'm Sully," Sully said, offering his.
After she shook it, he turned. "Now we gotta move. Leave everything but what you need," he said, dropping what he still carried in a pile.
"Aren't we going after the horses?" Mike asked.
"They're long gone by now," Logan said, as he and Sully picked up their blankets and bedrolls as Kimberly watched.
Behind them Mike started pulling pots and pans out of her saddle bags as well as excess clothes and utensils. "Come on!" Sully urged with a wave of his canteen and they watched her pull more clothes out of the other bag then hesitated with her mirror before putting it back.
"Mike come on I may have just arrived and I don't know what why you're out here but even I know we have to hurry," Kimberly said, moving forward to help her repack what she needed. When the two were done Mike quickly hung them over her shoulder and Kimberly picking up the tent they followed.
When she was, level with him both Kimberly and Logan slowed down a little so Sully and Mike so they could speak in private from the others from hearing what they had to say. "Did she say her name was…," Kimberly started in a low whisper. Logan nodded. "And is he?"
"More than likely."
"Did you…," again Logan nodded. "How many people can say that they met their great-great-great-great grandparents?" she said, in wonderment.
"Not many."
That night after they set up camp Logan and Kimberly sat before Michaela and Sully. After they told everything, they could both Michaela and Sully stared dumbstruck at them. "So let me see if I understand you?" Michaela said, looking from one to the other. "You're saying that you're both from the year 1994 and you were both sucked through time to now."
With a light smile, Logan shrugged. "Considering what you saw when and how Kimberly arrived, and not to mention you remember how I was dressed when we first met," and he waved a hand at Sully. "And how Kimberly is dressed now," and he waved a hand at her jeans, boots, and shit that stopped a good few inches above her belly button. "Is it really that hard a stretch?"
For a few seconds Mike and Sully looked at each other. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Sully asked, looking at Logan.
"Maybe because it probably go something like this," he said, and then started playing the conversation for them. "Hi I'm Logan I'm from about one hundred and twenty years into the future…no sir I have not been to the saloon…please sir put down the scatter gun…no please allow me to send that telegram to Bellevue," and silence fell.
"I suppose that's understandable," Mike said, finally.
"And that's how you know so much about Custer and Chivington…because where you come from it's already happened," Sully said. Looking at each other Kim and Logan knew they had reached a touchy subject. "Why didn't you warn Black Kettle and the village of the massacre?" Sully demanded.
Sighing Logan shook his head. "Hey remember I helped get Black Kettle to safety."
After glancing at him Kimberly looked at them again before saying, "one because we were just starting to study this part of history in school. And two we can't interfere with it," and they looked from her to each other. "Because if we change the past our present would be at risk…if we ever get back that is."
"What?" and they looked at Mike. "You two can't go back?"
Sighing Logan shook his head. "Portals like the one that brought us here open and close at random. And the hard part is that until it opens again or until friends of ours figure out a way to get us back, we're pretty much stuck here," Kimberly said.
"How can friends of your get you back?" Sully asked.
"Let's just say they're very resourceful," Logan said. Not to mention they have Zordon working with them. "Now we have a long day ahead of us so we should get some sleep," and Mike and Sully nodded.
"But first can someone explain to me why you three are out here in the first place?" Kimberly said, looking at all of them.
"We're seeing if a local mining baron has been contaminating the town and Black Kettle's water supply with mercury," Logan explained and she looked at him.
"So nothing real exciting," she muttered, sounding relieved.
"Did I mention that he has a tendency to shoot intruders?" Again, she looked at him. "And I don't mean with a camera."
"Great," she muttered, her face falling in her hand.
The next day Kimberly and Mike returned from where they had bathed in spring they had camped by. They turned to find both Logan and Sully still laying on their matts eyes open fixed on a spot between them. "Shouldn't you two be…?" Kimberly started then froze at the sound of a rattle and then she saw it. Curled up ready to strike between the two of them was a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.
Trying to think of what to do Kimberly's eyes fell on the mirror in Mike's hand. "Use the mirror," she muttered.
"What?"
"Tenth grade biology snakes don't have eyelids."
Getting the idea Mike raised the mirror and catching the sun on it shone the light in the snakes face. As the beam of light fell on it, Sully sized his chance. Bolting up he seized his tomahawk and brought it down cutting the snake's head off. As everyone released the breath, they had been holding he picked up the body and tossed it aside.
"Handy little piece of junk, huh?" Michaela said, smugly holding it the mirror as Kimberly bent over resting her hands on her knees exhaling deeply.
"I'll never complain about it again, oh boy," Logan said, in a breathless voice as he breathed deeply to slow his racing heart. Sully meanwhile remained silent and Logan knew he wouldn't either then got up to get ready to leave.
Around mid-day they risked they climbed over a small hill and paused at the sight of an encampment with a large tree next to a tent. "That's Happy Walker's still," Sully said, indicating the place where the man made his moonshine.
"'Still'?" Kimberly asked, leaning close to Logan.
"Where he makes moonshine…whiskey," he answered and she nodded.
"Should we see if he's there?" Mike asked.
Immediately Sully shook his head. "No. He's crazy. Shoots at anything that moves."
"Great is there anyone in this time period who isn't trigger happy?" Kim muttered, openly.
"You wait here," and Sully and Logan moved forward then paused when he saw Kimberly do the same. "Kim…," he started.
"hey, in our time women are allowed to fight and I'm almost a good a fighter as Logan," she hissed interrupting him.
For a spilt second he thought about it then again they moved forward all including Wolf on alert. As they came around the tree, they found a man obviously dead with patches of his hair missing and resting in an odd angle as he clutched a large jug. At the sight of him, they relaxed and Sully nodded Mike over.
"He's dead," he muttered, when she reached them and she knelt to examine him, after smelling the contents of the jug recoiled and the other three moved in front of him, and squatted down. "must have been the poison," and Michaela after running her fingers through what was left of his hair and it came out a good chunk in her fingers.
Later they were crossing a rocky ledge when Logan, Sully and Kimberly looked back to see Mike struggling with her load (her well groomed hair a little ruffled and sticking out in places, and her clothes looking the same) after refusing Kim's help with it. "You need that tent?" Sully asked.
"It might rain," she said. In answer, they looked up at the clear sky before looking back again and she sighed. "All right I'll leave it," and she slipped it from her shoulder.
"And the jug?" Kimberly asked.
"That's evidence," and they nodded before continuing.
When they came to a section that towered over them spotted my numerous small black holes they stopped. "Now here we have to choices. One: we could go this way and save a day," and Sully pointed to the wall of rock before them. "Or we can go around that way," and he gestured off to the side to where the ledge met the woods going around.
"I say we climb it," and they all looked at Mike.
With their more practical clothing Logan, Kimberly, and Sully carrying everything scaled it easily using the holes in it as foot and hand holds. When they laid their things at the top Sully hung as far over as he could offering a hand to Mike who was having trouble because of the skirt of her dress.
At a sound, they looked up and saw a wagon rider come down the path below through the trees. "Guards!" Sully hissed and Logan and Kim dropped low.
As she turned to look, one of Mike's feet came close and the sudden jolt made her loose her grip. And before Sully could grab her, she silently fell and landing hard, she kept quite as she rolled across the rocks stopping on her side. As quickly and as quietly as possible, they got down to her.
When they reached her, she was clutching her wrist. "You hurt?" Sully asked, helping her into a sitting position.
"I think it…I think it's broken," she gasped out in pain and they looked at each other.
A short while later after Logan and Kimberly retrieved all their things. They stopped in the woods where they reset the bones in her wrist and secured it in a splint. Leaving to get something to eat they returned she had used a section of cloth from her skirt as a sling.
They watched as she lifted as canteen onto her crossed legs and after failing to pull the top off with her good hand. Employed her teeth. Sighing Sully walked forward to help.
"I think I know where you get your stubbornness," Logan muttered, and Kimberly glanced at him as they stayed where they were to watch.
"Wrist hurt?" Sully asked, as he pulled the top off and poured some water into a cup.
"A dull ache," she answered.
"Best give it a rest, hmmm," he said, handing her the cup.
"Thank you, but I don't need you to wait on me," she said, before taking a sip.
"Definitely get it from her."
"Yeah, ain't it great?"
At Michaela's words, Sully sighed in frustration. "There's no shame in letting people help you!" he snapped.
Looking at him, she lowered the cup. "I'm sorry," she sighed. "I just wanted to show you that I could do whatever you could," she admitted. "Now look at me I'm almost helpless."
"Why don't you quit trying so hard?" Sully asked.
"Old habits."
"Give 'em up."
"Mike even I ask for help when I need it," Kimberly said, as she and Logan came forward. "And you are anything but helpless." And she smiled at them. "But it makes you stringer when you admit you need help," Kimberly finished and Mike lowered her gaze.
As they stood walking round her, she finished what was in the cup. Then picking up her mirror sighed in despair at her reflection. Setting it aside, she started undoing what used to be the elegant bun her hair was in. When she was having trouble, Sully knelt and she paused before lowering her hand as with a gentle touch freed her hair then taking up a brush began to brush it straight.
Watching all this Logan and Kim shared a glance before she grinned and nodded. And slowly and quietly, they slunk into the forest. Giving them their moment alone.
Later when Dr. Mike was feeling up to it, they were on the move again. After walking for a couple hours, they came to a wide calm part of the river as their path along it ended. After glanced around Sully threw his blanket over his shoulder.
"We'll cross here, but watch your step…come," he said, motioning with his hand toward the other side then walked into the water.
Sighing Logan looked at Kim. "Sorry you don't have a change of clothes."
She shrugged. "I'm a big girl. I can handle it," and with that in a single file line they all quietly slipped into the river keeping what they were carrying high.
As they walked, the water level reached their waists and looking around for danger with Sully Logan eyed Mike as she struggled to keep her injured arm high. Some of her things floated next to her in the river. After looking at her also, Kimberly moved forward and before she could protest, slipped some of her burden to herself. For a second the woman looked at each other before Mike nodded with a smile.
They were just nearing the other side when a sound drew Logan's attention up. "Down!" he hissed, grabbing Sully and pulling him back just as the dynamite landed in the water.
The next second with a mighty clatter it exploded throwing water high into the air. When it settled both women rushed forward to grab the men who lay motionless in the water and dragged them to shore. Just as they found cover in some thick cattails both Logan and Sully with some sputtering regained consciousness then became still at the sound of approaching horses.
A couple seconds' later two horses appeared the riders astride their back one of which Logan recognized from town scanning the river for them. "Bodies must've gone down stream," he muttered, and with that, they turned their horses and followed the river still searching for them.
When they were far enough away, the group emerged from the cattail and slipped away going the other direction. "Morons," Logan muttered, as they slipped from sight thinking to pay them back next time he got the chance.
"Yeah morons with dynamite," Kim corrected him and he looked at her.
When it was safe enough to take the chance, they stopped at a large tree to strip and let their clothes dry. Needless to say, boys were on one side girls on the other.
"For someone who's nearly helpless, you did good," Sully said, after a couple hours after check his blanket. The bedding wrapped around his waist like Logan shifted as he moved.
"We were lucky," Mike said, from where she sat in her petticoats on one of the great roots.
"Yeah lucky they didn't have something more powerful then dynamite," Kimberly said, from behind the tall bush that concealed her naked form.
"The Cheyenne would say…you have a debt on me," Sully said, as he wrapped a strip of cloth across his brow to keep his wet hair out of his face.
"We all have a debt on each other," Michaela said; before she eyed Kim's underwear that hung so its owner could easily reach it. "Women from the future must be pretty liberal," she commented.
"Lest just say we're thought of with more respect and regard," Kimberly said, then her hand appeared and after testing, the fabric pulled the articles of clothing out of sight.
"You think the clothes are dry?" Mike asked, glancing over her shoulder.
"I don't know; we'll check," Logan said, and standing moved with Sully to check their clothes bathing in the sun. "Don't look," he warned.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Dr. Mike said, and after glancing behind her got up as they approached with her dry skirts and shirt. "Keep your eyes shut," she warned feeling behind her for the shirt that Sully held out for her his eyes closed.
"Logan! Don't you look!" Kimberly warned as he approached with her jeans, shirt, and socks.
Sighing he shook his head. "Kimberly you're like a sister to me!" he said, exasperated. And a mother he thought as he tossed the clothing over the bush. "So relax," and he turned and walked around back to retrieve his clothes.
As Michaela after freeing her injured arm slipped it into the sleeve before reaching behind to slip her uninjured one into the other sleeve. "Could you do up the buttons?" she asked, facing Sully as Logan watched.
Slowly Sully turned to face her and as she held the shirt closed he slowly moved up glancing at her as he did. When he reached the top button, she held his hands in hers and they locked eyes. "Ahh, Logan I still need my boots?" a now fully dressed Kimberly with the exception of her boots said, softly.
Logan jumped snapping a twig and the other two snapping out of their trance the pair looked over at them. Glancing over at them, Kimberly went red realizing what she had interrupted.
"Kimberly! Do you mind?" Logan snapped.
"Sorry Mr. Sensitive," she commented moving to collect her boots.
That night as they set up camp the rain that Michaela had fear was announced by thunder in the distance. By the time, Logan and Sully had built two shelters that the girls sat comfortably dry with small fires under with dug trenches to divert the flowing water. It had become a downpour.
"Sully!" Michaela called out to him.
"What?!" he called back.
"Come inside."
"It'll stop soon," he reassured her as Logan went under the cover of one he'd be sharing with Kimberly.
"Don't be stubborn," she said, and squatting down he looked at her.
"It's an old habit,' he admitted.
"Give it up," she said, smiling.
"Touché," Logan muttered, and Kimberly chuckled.
For a second Sully was still then with another roll of thunder he moved behind her and slipped under the cover of the lean-to. "They make a great couple," Kimberly commented as they laid down together him with one arm wrapped around her to clasp her hand. Holding his hands over the fire Logan nodded and Kim looked at him. "What did Sully mean?" and he looked at her. "What massacre?"
For a few seconds Logan held her gaze before looking back into the fire. "You're looking at a survivor of The Sand Creek Massacre," he said, simply and she inhaled sharply.
"Was it…really bad…or like the battle history says it was for so long?"
Slowly Logan shook his head drawing his legs close and resting his chin on his kness. "There were mainly women and children there. It was a massacre," he said, in a quiet voice that was quickly going hard. "I can still see them…women, children as their husbands and fathers tried to defend them. Shot in the back as they ran screaming from the charging soldiers…and I can still hear their screams…," and he faced Kimberly who stared at him in shock a tear running down one cheek. "Chivington promised them refuge…and gave them a bloodbath," and turning picked up a stick and began poking it into the fire. "He didn't even have the courage to fight them during the day."
For a few seconds Kimberly tried to think of something to say to that. Unable to think of any she reached out and wrapping her arms around him held him close. "Before or after if you ever need to talk…," she promised and nodding he patted her hand.
The next day they finally arrived at Harding's mill, which had water pouring into the creek from a Flow Shute. As guards, rode by they hid in ample cover. Wolf above them kept low and quite.
When the guards were gone Mike handed Sully a test tube from her case. After checking if, the coast was, clear both Logan and Sully darted forward toward the river just under the falling water. With Logan, keeping an eye out Sully quickly filled the tube with water and corking it, they both returned.
"Put a piece of iron pyrite in this…," Michaela instructed handing him another tube.
"Fool's Gold?" Kimberly asked.
She nodded. "Exactly. Now I want you to pour just a little of this into there," she instructed holding out another corked tube holding a clear murky liquid to Sully. As he uncorked it with his mouth, she warned, "Careful, its acid," and Sully froze looking at her.
Carefully Logan took the cork from his mouth and Sully poured a little of the acid into the tube with the Fool's Gold. "What's that smell?" Logan asked, as a pungent smell met his nose.
"Hydrogen sulfide gas," Kimberly said, and Mike looked at her in surprise. "I'm taking chemistry in school now," she shrugged.
Shaking it off Mike continued. "Now, cut a piece of cloth off my petticoat," she instructed and dropping down drawing his knife Sully cut a strip of cloth from her underskirt. "You're going to soak the cloth in the water from the river…put it over the glass…and if there's any mercury in the water, it should turn black," she continued as Sully stood and did as she instructed.
"Look," Logan muttered, as the cloth went from white to a sickly yellow to a solid black.
Before they could celebrate however, they turned or looked up at the unmistakable sound of a coking rifle. "Hold it! Right there," the guard warned as he leveled the rifle on them. Two more guards behind him.
At a sharp command, Wolf took off running and lifting his rifle the man fired. The bullet striking where the animal had been. "You missed!" one of the guards said.
As the first one leveled his weapon on them again Logan muttered, "do worry we'll come quietly, we got what we wanted. Just take us to your boss," and they raised their hands.
Soon enough they stood in Harding's camp on a rise overlooking the mountains their thing before him on a table Calvin a short distance away. As Logan glanced at Kimberly thankful, she didn't have anything from the future in her pockets. "What's all this clap trap?" Harding asked, opening Mike's case and pulling out a test tube.
"It's a crude way to test for mercury in the water," she answered.
"There's nothing wrong with that water!" he snapped replacing the tube and snapped the lid closed.
"Would you drink it?" Kimberly asked, crossing her arms.
Smiling he shook his head as he stood. "I will not engage in theatrics," she said.
"Good. Then you won't object to sending a sample to Denver for analysis?" Mike said.
"My father's word is good enough!" Calvin snapped.
"Well according to our tests it's also no good," Logan said.
At that, Harding walked around the table looking at them. "Let me remind you, Dr. Quinn. You four are the ones that have broken the law here. You come on my land without my permission in spite of clear, posted warnings..."
"You refused permission," Michaela said.
"Now, we know why—your mines aren't safe," Sully said, from next to Mike his arms crossed the hard look back.
After looking at him he said, "I got the right to shoot you…," as he looked at Mike again.
"And you'll be hung for it," Logan said, and Harding looked at him. "You really think we came here without people knowing?"
For a few seconds he was silent. "Ben," and one of the men Logan saw in town came forward. Put them in that tent there. Make sure they're not disturbed," he ordered. "We'll settle this. We'll settle it all in the morning," and with that he walked away in clear dismissal. After watching him go, they turned to Ben before under his escort turned and walked away.
Inside the tent, they sat on either the ground or what furniture was inside. "What do you think they're going to do?" Mike asked, looking at Sully sex to her on the cot.
"Take us someplace. Make it look like an accident," Sully answered.
"Well that's not going to happen without a hell of a fight," Kimberly said, and she discreetly flashed Logan her morpher, which she had managed to keep.
Discreetly he shook his head. Then before another word could be spoken, there came fast footsteps and Ben appeared at the entrance. "Come one out! Now!" he barked.
Frowning they did as they were told. He quickly led them back to the table as Harding brought Calvin forward. Who at the moment was clutching his stomach and breathing hard.
"My boy took sick. You got to fix him," Harding explained as he sat Calvin down in a chair.
Rushing forward Mike knelt to examine him. "What happened?" she asked.
"My stomach hurts real bad…something terrible…I've been throwing up," he said, between breaths.
"Did you drink any of the water from the creek?"
"Of course not. We got a spring," Harding said, and the four of them looked him.
"Well that explains why he wasn't willing to take the risk," Kimberly said, and Logan nodded.
"You have a bitter taste in your mouth, huh?" Michaela asked, Calvin after turning back to him. After the boy nodded she asked, "Did you eat or drink anything mixed in that water? Any…anything unusual?"
"Just that moonshine you brought."
"You drank that?" Harding demanded.
"It's full of mercury!" Michaela snapped springing to her feet looking down at him.
At her words, Calvin looked up at his father. "You said there was nothing wrong. The water was good," he said, in disbelief.
"You brought that poison here!" Harding snapped jumping up to look at Michaela.
"You created that poison!" she shot back.
Before they could argue more Calvin gave a loud groan as he doubled up more. "Help him!" Harding snapped and they dropped back down.
"I don't have my bag!"
"Well, you're a doctor do something!"
For a few seconds Michaela thought. "Get me some charcoal. Powder if you have it," she instructed.
"Charcoal?"
"It absorbs the poison. We'll have him swallow some," she explained.
At once Harding sent Ben for it and they tried to sooth Calvin. Half an hour later, they found Harding near the edge of the rise facing the view his face in his hand. "Calvin's going to pull through," Mike said, and Harding looked at her. "Charcoal worked."
"Can I see him?" he asked.
She nodded. "I, uh…sent one of your men into town to get some paregoric. It will calm his stomach. Give him plenty of milk, and of course, don't let him have any water."
At that, he sighed looking down at the creek below. "Yeah, the water. I guess people better be warned not to drink it," he said.
"That's not enough," and he faced Logan.
"Everything is effected by the mercury. The fish the animals," Kimberly said.
"Do you know how much it would cost to change this operation?" he demanded.
"What about the cost in lives," Logan snapped. "This isn't a quick fix."
"It almost cost Calvin's," Mike said.
"You could build a tailings pond," and they all looked at Sully as he stepped forward. "Damn up the waste, keep it from seeping into the rivers."
For a few seconds Harding was silent before looking away nodding. "Yeah, I can do that," he muttered.
"How soon?" Mike asked
"I'll talk to my foreman," he said, looking at her rather sharply unaccustomed to being spoken to like they have been and she held her ground. "I'll talk to him today," he said, softer and she nodded. "What do I owe you?" he asked, reaching into his pocket.
She sighed. "Maybe instead of paying me, you could, um, make a settlement with the family of Happy Walk," she said, and he stared.
"All right," he finally said, putting his money away and turning. "I'll lend you some of my horses to get back to town."
"Thank you."
He froze at Mike's words. "I, uh…I'm the one that should be thanking you. I'm…I'm grateful for what you did for Calvin," he said, facing them hands on his hips.
"Stop putting mercury in the rivers and make that settlement and we'll call it even," Kimberly said, and after a second he nodded.
"Hey, boss," and they turned to see Ben signal them as a rider came into camp.
"Matthew!" Mike called and rushed over.
"Dr. Mike, are you alright?" as she reached him and threw her good arm around him.
"We're fine and ready to leave," Logan said, and they all nodded.
As they were leaving Ben watched Kimberly as she prepared to mount up. "Strange that they brought a whore with them," he muttered, and she froze.
Face hard both she and Logan faced the man before she marched up to him. "Call me a whore one more time," she dared in a deadly voice.
Smiling he leaned close. "You're a…," he started but never finished as she drove her fist into the man's gut. He doubled up under the blow as the air rushed out of him then reared back as she nailed him with an uppercut sending him sprawling to the ground.
Standing over him she put her foot on his prune form blood seeping from his broken nose. "Anybody else have anything to say?" she demanded, looking around. They all shrank back. "I didn't think so," she muttered, then turned and swung onto her horse.
"They'll never live it down for him, getting beat by girl in two blows," Logan muttered, and she grinned looking at him as they rode out.
"But when we get back to town you'll need new clothes, otherwise you'll probably be taken as one of Hank's girls," Sully said, as he rode close to her.
She looked at him. "What is he a player?"
"In a sense," Logan said.
Almost an hour later, after hearing the sounds of approaching voices they found the rest of the search party being led by Wolf. As the group made up of Jake, Hank, Loren, and Horace. They gave cheers at finding them they rode close all but Matthew frowning that they were all dressed only in their long johns. Then recoiled at the strong stench of skunk.
"Oh man! Who got hit?" Logan said, covering his nose in the crook of his elbow.
Ignoring him Jake pointed at Mike. "You're-you're hurt?"
"Oh I fell down and broke my wrist, that's all," she explained.
"Well, Dr. Mike, we've been searching for you forever. For days!" Loren said.
"Certainly looks like it," Kimberly said, eyeing how dirty their long johns were and the tares in them.
"That's what Matthew told us," Sully said.
"Well at least this ride wasn't a total waste of time," Hank said, looking at Kimberly. "And who would you be?"
"Don't! Get any ideas Hank!" Logan barked sharply in warning.
After eyeing the dangerous look in his eye Hank muttered, "Folks in town was worried you'd get shot."
"Well, thank goodness you found us," Mike said, smiling at the private joke between her group.
"Come on, boys; let's take 'em home!" Horace barked and urged his horse in the opposite direction Jake following.
"That ain't the way!" Loren barked and they paused.
"Why don't I lead the way?" Sully suggested.
"Please," Logan said, half laughing. "But you guys, stay down wind," he said, motioning to Hank and the others and they all rode out.
When they got back to town they saw a lot of people gathered behind Robert E's livery setting up tables. And just over some shelves, resting on a barrel was a sign that read 'Grace's Café.'
"Good for her," Logan muttered, and beside him Mike and Sully nodded just as people spotted them and with raised voice ran out to meet them.
"We were so worried what happened?" Colleen said, joyfully when she got close eyeing Michaela's splinted arm.
"Oh, nothing serious," Mike said, reassuring her as they dismounted Sully helping her down. "I'm so glad to see you," and Mike held Colleen close then Brian after the boy release Matthew.
"Oh, thank God you're safe!" Olive said, as she and Mike embraced.
"Whose this?" Colleen asked, eyeing Kimberly.
"I'm Kimberly, an old friend of Logan or White Falcon, whatever you call him," she said, offering her hand and Colleen shook it.
"Three cheers for the search party," the Reverend called out, at once the crowd obliged as the Horace, and the others stood proudly.
"I'm touched that you came to help us," Mike said, looking at them. "But there's more good news. Mr. Harding has promised that no more mercury will be dumped in the streams," and the crowd cheered again.
"What happened to your clothes?" Olive asked, eyeing them.
"Skunk," Horace answered simply and the people laughed.
"Well, gentlemen, you're just in time for the opening of my new café," Grace said, rubbing her hands in the dishrag she was holding. "Now how'd you like a nice hot meal?"
"We're starving!" Jake said, his mouth starting to water.
"Well good because I got chilly and beans. I got apple pie, I got cornbread," she counted off and Logan licked his lips.
"Cornbread?" Loren said, eagerly.
"Maybe you'd want to freshen up first," Olive said.
"After we eat," Hank said, slipping off his hat and batting it to get the dust off in her's and Grace's faces before he and the rest of the town moved to sit in the café as they agreed.
"Come on ma let's go!" Brian said eagerly pulling on her skirts.
"In a minute you go on a head," she said, and he darted forward with the eager crowd.
"We know who the hero is you found 'em," Logan heard Loren say next to Matthew.
"Turns out they didn't need anyone's help," Matthew said.
"Well, I'm following you next time," and Logan laughed as the four looked at each other.
"Thank you," Mike said, looking at Sully.
"I'm the one that owes you," he said.
At that, she smiled. "Why don't we…call it even?" she said, lightly and after smiling, he nodded. Then she turned to Kimberly. "Well I guess we'd better change your clothes otherwise like White Falcon said, you might be taken as one of Hank's girls," and she nodded over toward the saloon where Myra and the others were coming out to the café.
Turning to watch them, she shrugged. "I don't see what the problem is that's pretty conservative back home not to mention here I've seen photographs of high class women from this time dressed..." she muttered, then paused as Logan leaned close and whispered in her ear. "Okay get me a new change of clothes. Preferably with pants," she said, quickly and they chucked as they moved off.
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