"Whoa. Whoa," Matthew brought the horses to a halt, Brian continuing to trot Taffy around the wagon in a circle.
"Brian, we're home, ain't nowhere more to go," Colleen laughed, Brian reluctantly dismounting the horse and leading her towards the barn.
"Now you're going to bed for awhile," Colleen, having slid from the back of the wagon, approached Michaela's side, as she stood up slowly.
"Matthew ah," Colleen waved her hand impatiently, getting his attention.
"Oh hang on, Dr Mike." He quickly jumped from the wagon, reaching his hands out slightly uncertainly to lift Michaela down. Looking between the ground and Matthew's outstretched arms, Michaela realized she'd have to accept the help and, with as much dignity as possible, was lowered to the ground.
"Thank-you, Matthew," Michaela rested her arms against the side of her skirt, taking in her surroundings.
Michaela looked around the familiar homestead slowly, as if she was seeing it all for the first time. Feeling something brush past her, she looked down to see Pup sniffing her shoe, and patted him lightly on the head, more out of habit than deliberate consideration.
"I'll ah, help Brian get Taffy settled into the barn," Matthew decided, directing his words to Colleen, with a subtle glance in Michaela's direction.
"Oh, right, come on, Dr Mike," Colleen gestured towards the homestead, making her way up the few steps and opening the door slowly.
Michaela followed behind her, struggling to keep up both physically and mentally. The wagon ride from town had been exhausting and Michaela found it difficult to concentrate on simple things without feeling distracted.
Colleen, not wanting to rush her, went on ahead, making sure Brian's toys were picked up from the floor and turned the sheets down on her mother's bed. She looked up as Michaela arrived in the doorway and stepped into the room.
"Everything's the same as it was, Dr Mike. Here, I'll make us some tea before lunch," Colleen looked across towards the stove, feeling uncomfortable. Watching as Michaela tentatively progressed from the doorway to the bed, sitting down with a sigh and letting her head fall to the pillow.
"You wanna sleep for awhile, I can," Colleen placed the pot of water back down on the stove, gesturing that she could make herself scarce.
"No, you carry on. I'll just rest until lunch." Michaela moved her head slightly from the pillow, trying to get comfortable.
"Ma! Ma!" Brian raced in from the back door, his voice shrill and energetic.
Michaela sat up quickly, trying not to reveal how startled she'd been by the noise.
"Brian! You can't just come in here like this. Out until I say so! Now!" Colleen frowned, raising her voice to the point where the young boy began backing away towards the door.
"I, I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell Ma about Taffy," he whispered, looking down at the floor.
"It's all right, Brian, come over here," Michaela, having had time to recover from her shock, patted the edge of the bed lightly. After a moment, Brian timidly approached.
"Now, what were you going to tell me?" She rested a hand on his shoulder as Colleen returned her attention to making the tea.
~.~
X.O.X
~.~
Sully called Wolf back to his side, the animal spotting the reservation in the distance.
"Wait, boy." He repeated, reaching for the beads, turning them over in his left hand repeatedly. As much as he knew he had to confront Cloud Dancing about the events that had transpired, Sully also knew unequivocally that he did not blame the Cheyenne for what had happened. Pushing the beads back deeper into his pocket, he rested his hand lightly on the Wolf's head, gesturing for him to continue his stride.
Reaching the reservation quicker than he expected, Sully scanned the crowd for his brother, spotting him talking with an elder, in what appeared a heated discussion. Sully looked down at Wolf, who whined and edged his way forwards in indication that Sully should intervene.
"No, boy." Sully called, his voice enough to draw unwanted attention from several of the nearby Cheyenne.
Sully lowered his head as Cloud Dancing approached him, interlocking arms immediately in friendship.
"My brother," Cloud Dancing whispered, his expression one of concern.
Whilst being held in captivity by General Custer, Cloud Dancing and his village had heard of Walks on Cloud's death from the women who'd been at the dog soldier's camp. The women had been taken to the confinement in town on the Tuesday before Michaela's rescue, when the army had failed to locate either Dr Quinn or Sully.
"Cloud Dancing, I," Sully, not aware of this revelation, and lost for words, reached for the beads, handing them to Cloud Dancing with as much respect as he could muster.
"I, know, my brother. I learned of this many days ago," Cloud Dancing, although having had a week to mourn his son, was mesmerized by the colored beads laying in his outreached hand. He'd considered that his son would come to a bad fate from the moment he joined the war party, however, understood why he had needed to do so.
Sully looked confused, not understanding how he had come of this information.
"How? I," Cloud Dancing cut him off, his voice shallow and dignified.
"The women from the dog soldier's camp were brought in by Custer last week. They told me of my son's death. It is all right, Sully. The spirits told me of a great misfortune many moons ago. I just did not think it would be this." Cloud Dancing and Sully were interrupted, when Snow Bird appeared at her husband's side, taking the beads from him.
"Snow Bird, I am sorry I could not have prevented this." Sully reached forward to touch her arm lightly, their eyes meeting briefly. She nodded in understanding, looking towards Cloud Dancing before speaking.
"We heard from the army that Dr Mike was rescued, is this true?" Snow Bird, tilted her head, concerned for the Medicine Woman.
"It's true," Sully looked sharply at Cloud Dancing, his eyes conveying that there was more that needed to be said.
Cloud Dancing, hearing the dull inflection in Sully's voice, frowned. From Sully's expression, Cloud Dancing was aware of the dark sadness staining his soul.
"The army had said she was not hurt, this is not the case?" Cloud Dancing felt Snow Bird step closer, instinctively knowing that her husband could read Sully deeply.
Sully looked away seeing the curious stares from various members of the tribe, recognizing several of the women from the dog soldier's camp.
"No, if the army had learned the truth, you would have all been killed," Sully informed him, seeing the look of bewilderment cross Cloud Dancing's face.
"I do not understand." Cloud Dancing spoke quickly, realization suddenly dawning on him. He had heard of the events leading to his son's death.
"One Eye hurt her," Sully began, immediately being silenced by Cloud Dancing, who raised his arm in understanding.
Cloud Dancing looked away sadly.
The silence that followed was broken by Snow Bird, who, as her English was more limited than her husband's, had failed to understand, questioned what had just been disclosed. Turning to place an arm around his wife's shoulders, Cloud Dancing lowered his head, his voice strained.
"É'e'ho'eoestôhnósesto," he spoke quietly.
Sully met eyes with Cloud Dancing instantly, understanding his brother's words.
Snow Bird's face fell the minute she'd heard her husband's voice, her eyes falling closed whilst they continued to talk.
"You know this places you all in more danger. You cannot leave the reservation now. My people do not understand the difference," Sully remembered the heated discussion the townspeople had had that morning.
"I understand. What has happened to the dog soldiers?" Cloud Dancing glanced to Snow Bird, who's head was still lowered.
"Apparently they were all killed," Sully replied, not feeling capable of retelling Cloud Dancing the events in their entirety. "By the townsmen."
"Come," Cloud Dancing gestured for Sully to join a few other Elders sitting around a fire.
Sully, appreciative of the distraction, followed, taking a seat by Cloud Dancing. Sully, his eyes drawn to the dancing flames of the fire in front of him, listened to their words, his mind trying to comprehend the turmoil he found himself in.
Occasionally, Sully and Cloud Dancing would meet eyes. Sully saw the deep sadness in Cloud Dancing's face.
No more words needed to be spoken.
~.~
X.O.X
~.~
"That was a real good supper, Colleen," Matthew placed his fork down on the plate, having finished his dessert.
"Thanks. Brian, you want another piece of pie?" Colleen reached forwards to offer him the slice of freshly baked strawberry pie.
"Nah, Matthew can have it," The young boy smiled at his older brother, Matthew's eyes lighting up playfully as Colleen placed the food on his plate.
Michaela clasped her hands on the table in front of her, pushing her dinner plate away with a smile.
"Dr Mike, you sure you don't want some?" Matthew gestured with his fork to the piece of strawberry pie on his plate.
"I'm sure, thank-you Matthew," she sighed, gazing from each of the children down to the fireplace, watching the flames flicker backwards and forwards as the wood crackled softly.
The children continued giggling as Matthew teased them, slowly devouring each mouthful of pie, deliberately over-exaggerating the amount of satisfaction he was deriving from the taste.
"Aw, no fair, Ma. He's playing with his food. Ma," Brian turned away pretending to sulk as Matthew cut into the pastry, each time a little smaller so as to draw out the regret Brian was feeling at giving up the last piece.
"Ma, make him stop," Brian whined, leaning over to pull on her sleeve, Colleen opening her mouth to reprimand him, however it was too late.
Michaela, still captivated by the fire on her left, didn't react until she felt the tugging on her right upper arm, immediately turning and pulling her arm away, with such force that the blue and white china teacup in front of her was knocked across the table, everyone freezing at the noise created as it smashed upon impact with the wooden floorboards.
"Brian!" Colleen chastised instinctively, her eyebrows lowered in anger and she looked to Matthew for support.
"I, I'm sorry. I didn't mean," The boy's chin quivered, more in shock from Michaela's violent reaction than from the broken china.
"Here, I'll get it," Matthew stood, quickly beginning to carefully collect the assorted pieces of crockery from the floor.
Michaela, not aware of Brian's tugging on her arm until after the cup had hit the floor, had remained still, allowing her mind to take in the sequence of events rationally. She'd had no recollection of overreacting until after the china had smashed, and took several moments to convince herself that the anxiety-provoked defensiveness was not required. Her breathing gradually slowing.
The room fell quiet as Matthew finished gathering the rest of the broken pieces, Brian delicately sliding from his chair, to approach Michaela.
"Ma? I'm real sorry I scared ya," Brian's voice was hushed as he reached his mother's right side, his head tilted nervously.
"It's not your fault, sweetheart," Michaela reached to wrap her arm around his back, pulling him closer to her in an obligatory embrace.
Matthew and Colleen exchanged worried glances, deciding someone was definitely going to have to talk with Brian about boundaries.
"I'll take that," Colleen reached for the broken pieces of china, wrapping them in a cloth, turning to her younger brother.
"Brian, come help me get some water for the dishes," she met Matthew's eyes once again, as she indicated in Brian's direction briefly.
"Do I have to?" He reluctantly pulled away from Michaela's embrace, trudging behind Colleen waiting until they were alone before continuing to complain.
"Colleen, why'd you get me out here, you never need help with," Colleen grasped his shoulder, fingers pressed against her lips, gesturing for him to be quiet.
The pair headed into the barn, Brian immediately remembering his newly-gained horse, jogging over to her to rub her nose.
"Brian, just wait a minute, we need to have a talk first." Colleen rolled her eyes, herself tired from all the physical and emotional demands placed on her over the previous week.
Looking up, hearing the raggedness in his sister's voice, Brian brought his hand back to his side, taking a seat next to her on a pile of hay.
"You still mad at me for before?" He sulked, dropping his head.
"No, I'm not mad at you, Brian. I didn't mean to sound as if I was. I was worried," Colleen sighed, rearranging her skirt over her knees and lower legs.
"About Ma?" He whispered, looking up at her with concern.
"Yeah and you. All of us. Brian, Matthew told you about what happened to Dr Mike, didn't he?" Colleen asked tentatively, hoping her brother had covered the sensitive topic.
"No, Miss Dorothy did, but Matthew talked about it too," Brian frowned in concentration, preparing for another 'talk' he knew was coming his way.
"Well, we just gotta be more careful 'round Dr Mike for awhile," Colleen, about to put a time length on the end of her sentence, trailed off, for she honestly had no way of knowing how long it was going to take for Dr Mike to return to normal, if she ever truly would.
Brian, defensive by this point, huffed, feeling as though he was getting different rules from everyone, and always being told off.
"But Ma said I could hug her. Everyone's always yellin' at me, telling me not to go near her," Brian breathed heavily, wiping a hand across his face to catch the tears forming in his eyes.
"Oh, Brian, that's not what I meant. I meant, just be, well sensitive around her," Colleen struggled for an analogy the ten-year-old could grasp. "You remember when you were little, and you used to be scared with the lightening and thunder sometimes?" She reached to hold his right hand, squeezing it tightly as he nodded, calming down.
"Now we all knew that nothing bad was gonna happen and that the thunder and lightening couldn't hurt you but you didn't. It's sorta like that for Dr Mike. She was out there, cold, alone, in the dark all those nights, Brian. She was probably real scared. It's like. last year when you were climbing the tree and fell and hit your head," Colleen drew a breath, Brian quickly interrupting with enthusiasm:
"And Ma saved me," Colleen nodded to continue her explanation.
"She did, but I haven't seen you climb a tree since," she raised an eyebrow, hoping her younger brother's intelligence would allow him to latch onto the comparison she was trying to make.
"No, I, don't really wanna. Even when Steven and Lewis climb the kissin' tree sometimes, makes me nervous," Brian wrapped his arms around his chest, the image flashing through his mind.
"Exactly. So can you understand how it's the same for Dr Mike? I mean, we know you were only kiddin' when you pulled on her arm, but if that reminded her of something that happened when she was kidnapped, well, that'd be scary, wouldn't it?" Colleen swallowed, finding herself speculating on what trauma Michaela had been subjected to.
"Yeah. I'll make sure she knows it's me 'fore I touch her or anythin'," Brian looked across at his sister, leaning against her for approval.
Colleen's face melted when she felt the boy against her left side, shaking her head with a smile as she turned to tickle him affectionately.
"Come on, let's go inside," Colleen pulled Brian carefully to his feet, brushing off the straw on his back and legs.
"Do you think if I ask her real nicely, Ma'll read me a bedtime story?" Brian chewed his lower lip, Colleen brushing the hay from her skirt, looking to him with a smile at his childlike attention span.
"Maybe. Wait until we're going to bed, then ask, but she might be tired, Brian," Colleen tried to prepared Brian for the possible rejection.
"Oh," he murmured, as they made their way from the barn, Colleen closing the door softly.
"But if she doesn't, I'll read ya one." She ruffled the boy's hair, as they approached the back door, Brian suddenly gripping her wrist.
"Colleen, shouldn't we get the water?" He waited, Colleen turning quickly with a light chuckle.
"See, you are smarter than me," The two siblings continued picking excess straw from each other as they made their way contently back to the water pump, hoping no-one would comment on the time it had taken them to draw two buckets of water.
~.~
X.O.X
Thursday, 20th May, 1869
One Day Later
X.O.X
~.~
"Brian, you dressed yet?" Colleen placed the bowl of scrambled eggs down in the center of the table next to the plate of bacon, looking towards the drawn curtain that partitioned off their sleeping area.
"No," Brian replied gruffly, Colleen frustrated as she took her seat opposite Matthew, sliding the chair noisily across the floorboards.
"Well, hurry up, or you're gonna be late for school," Colleen glanced briefly in her older brother's direction, dropping a spoonful of eggs onto her plate unenthusiastically.
Michaela, still in her nightdress and dressing gown, sipped on the cup of tea in front of her, frowning momentarily.
"It's not like Brian to be slow getting ready," she commented, grasping the fork in her left hand and tentatively picking at the bacon on her plate.
Colleen shrugged, the exhaustion and annoyance beginning to show across her face.
The three continued eating for several minutes, Matthew finishing first and placing the knife and fork down gently on the edge of his plate.
"Hey Brian, come on. Taffy's all ready," Matthew hollered, trying not to sound overly impatient. Olive had given him the rest of the week off work, and he'd planned to work on his homestead, and spend the day with Ingrid on a picnic.
"All right, I'm ready," came the eventual reply. Brian pushing the curtain aside and stomped across the room, his shirt not buttoned and suspenders hanging from his waist.
"Here, I saved you some breakfast," Colleen forced a smile, gesturing to the plate beside her.
"Brian, since when did you forget how to dress yourself?" Matthew stood, pushed his chair back and approached the boy, quickly finishing preparing him for the day.
"Do I have to go to school?" Brian queried, looking from Colleen to Michaela.
"Why, don't you feel well?" Michaela appeared swiftly by Matthew's side, bending down to check Brian's forehead and glands.
Brian shrugged slowly, only one shoulder moving, as he opened his mouth, allowing Michaela to look at his mouth and throat.
"Well, you don't have a fever, or swollen glands, and your throat looks fine, too," Michaela trailed off, noticing the look of desperation sweep over Brian's face.
"Come on, Brian. You're gonna be late," Matthew rested a hand on his shoulder, pushing him lightly towards his place at the table.
The young boy sat gingerly, head hung as he pushed the food into his mouth mechanically.
~.~
X.O.X
~.~
"Word's spreadin', Jake. Why I had three men askin' me about it yesterday, and they'd ridden in from Soda Springs," Loren shook his head, turning another page in the newspaper, sitting comfortably on the bench.
"What you telling me for? Can't help people talking. Not if what they're saying's true." Jake began wiping the excess soap from his customer's chin and neck, pushing the chair into an upright position.
"That's it, Mr. Howlser." He patted the man's shoulder, waiting for payment.
"Morning, Jake, gentlemen," the Reverend smiled, looking around the barber shop, nodding to Hank and Loren as he sat down on the long bench.
"Thanks. Oh morning, Reverend." Jake took the money with a very brief smile, motioning for Hank to take his seat.
"Just a shave, Jake. You leave my tresses alone," Hank sneaked a teasing look at the barber, knowing how badly he'd longed for the opportunity to give Hank a decent haircut.
"Wouldn't touch them, Goldie Locks," Jake chuckled, reaching for the bowl of lathered soap.
"Yeah, well from what these guys were saying, people are talkin' as far as Soda Springs, and with that reporter leaving yesterday, won't be long 'til word reaches Denver," Loren proudly informed the group, unable to resist the opportunity for enlightening conversation, especially when he was the one doing all the enlightening!
"Oh, that's awful," the Reverend shook his head, resting his left arm on the back of the bench.
"Don't see what's so awful about it. Could be good for business," Hank tipped his head, narrowly avoiding the razor blade.
"Oh, Hank, don't be so selfish. How on earth can you say that!" Timothy defended, glancing at Loren who too had considered the financial advantage.
"Nothin' selfish about it. Michaela's gonna make a fortune, people'll be queuing up with bogus medical complaints just to meet her!" Hank chuckled, Timothy standing in disgust.
"I can't believe you all, your just as bad as the children. This is serious. Real serious. And you're all acting like it's some trivial piece of entertainment!" the Reverend rarely raised his voice, however felt the occasion warranted it.
"Aww, now don't get all fired up, Reverend. 'Course we know it's serious, but sure makes you wonder what happened out there. I mean, Dr Mike don't seem like the type a woman who'd, well, just let that happen," Loren lowered his voice, the reality of what they had been all joking about seconds before sinking in.
"Yeah, bet she put up one hell of a fight, Woulda givin' anything to see that and um, help, of course," Hank retorted, quickly receiving disapproving looks and therefore ending his sentence more appropriately.
"Don't be stupid, Hank, from the reports I got from the army, 'bout that other woman, if she'd a fought she'd be dead. They killed the army captain's wife, in the end," Jake gripped the razor tighter in his right hand, bringing the blade to Hank's neck and resting it against his throat symbolically, all eyes drawn to the metal object, attention drifting only when Jake began the first shaving movement upwards.
"You ah said it, Jake," Loren finally replied, momentarily startled by the visual demonstration he'd just witnessed.
"No way Michaela didn't fight. That woman'd argue with a deaf horse if she thought she could change it's mind. Nah, she wouldn't a givin' herself up lightly, that's for sure." Hank couldn't wipe the fascinated smile off his face, as he leaned back further in the chair; he really would have enjoyed being a fly on the wall for that one.
"Well, obviously she did, not from what we saw. Blood everywhere and she was tied up so it's not like she woulda made it easy," Jake continued scraping the razor across Hank's rough skin, images from the dog soldier's camp invading his consciousness.
"Aw, bound too? I really did miss out on all the fun, didn't I," Hank sighed, depressed that he'd refused to help with the rescue mission.
"None of you have any decency! I hope to see each one of you Sunday mornin' praying for forgiveness after this little display. Remember, gentlemen: idle gossip is the devil's work," Timothy rose to his feet, looking between each of them with disgust before leaving.
Hank interlocked his fingers with satisfaction.
"Now that the preacher's gone, Jake, tell us the rest," Hank turned his head to smile up at the barber.
"There, you're done." Jake, not enjoying Hanks' persistence, pushed the chair forwards once again, extending his hand for payment.
"Bunch a wimps, the lota ya!" Hank chuckled, before handing Jake the money and sauntering from the shop.
"That man. We were just talkin' and he had to go too far," Loren folded his newspaper neatly beside him.
"Yeah, not something I like havin' to remember. He weren't there, it ain't the same," Jake wiped the razor carefully, before immersing it in alcohol to sterilize it as he had been instructed.
"Maybe he's got a point. Maybe we shouldn't just talk like we were," Loren lowered his head, shame creeping into his heart.
"Yeah, 'sides details ain't important. We know what happened." Jake reached the same conclusion Loren had, his gaze drifting into the white bowl where the razor blade lay soaking.
"Exactly," Loren affirmed, moving into the red velvet chair in front of Jake, preparing for a shave and haircut.
Jake nodded slowly, reaching for a comb and scissors to begin working on Loren's hair.