For personal use and select distribution only © by Judith A., October 2006
No Greater
Burden
By Judith A.
Chapter Twenty-Three | Chapter Twenty-Four | Chapter Twenty-Five
It had been almost a week since Dorothy saw Cloud Dancing with the young Cheyenne woman. During that time, her curiosity about the nature of their relationship intensified. When she could no longer quiet the questions echoing in her head, she abandoned her self-imposed exile and began spending more time at the reservation. Only by observing their interaction, could she amass the necessary evidence to tell her what they were to each other. However, the more she saw of Cloud Dancing, the more perplexed she became. It was apparent they didn't share a lodge, nor did they spend a great deal of time together. Yet, when Dorothy saw them together, she couldn't deny they shared a connection. Despite searching for clues to the contrary, she had concluded that they were romantically linked, and she wondered if Cloud Dancing had fathered the child she was carrying.
With each passing day, Dorothy experienced an ever-increasing urge to speak with him. As hard as it was to admit, Michaela had been right. It was foolish to have traveled all this way to visit him, only to turn around with no more than a few words passing between them. The regret would be too hard to bear. She didn't want to return home without talking to him, and she hoped they could still be friends. Having come to the end of their time at Darlington, Dorothy knew she no longer had time to waste.
Dorothy left the campsite early in the morning, after explaining her plan to Michaela. She was no longer nervous or worried about how Cloud Dancing might react. After spending the past few days mourning the death of what she had once shared with him, she realized she had nothing to lose. By avoiding her, and acting as if she were invisible, Cloud Dancing had hurt and rejected her more than she ever thought possible. There wasn't anything else that could hurt her now. Unafraid of the consequences, she was ready to speak her mind.
Cloud Dancing sat alone outside his lodge with his hands wrapped around a cup of coffee. It was in the quiet, reflective dawn hour that he noticed Dorothy stridently heading toward him, wisps of her fiery red hair falling around her face. He was surprised to see her heading in his direction. The increased frequency of Dorothy's visits to the reservation, and her attendance at the Massaum ceremony, had not gone unnoticed by him. However, when she made no attempt to speak with him, he took it as proof of a mutual acceptance of the futility of their relationship. Watching her now, he wondered why she had come to Darlington in the first place.
So much had changed for him since he opened his heart to Dorothy. Their connection began when he reluctantly agreed to be interviewed for a book she intended to write about him. Her pledge to burn the book if he found it objectionable showed such courage and confidence that he couldn't refuse. Over time, what started as collaboration grew slowly to friendship and later to love. Cloud Dancing had even convinced himself that a liaison with Dorothy offered the best hope for his people. Together, his voice and her words would change the tide of public opinion, leading to a different destiny for the Cheyenne. Instead, the battles with the Army intensified and more Cheyenne died. Eventually, he came to accept that their relationship was impossible. That truth led him to the more crushing realization that he had abdicated his responsibilities for far too long.
It had shocked and unnerved him to see her arrive with Michaela and Sully. He dealt with the emotions it brought to the surface in the only way he knew, by ignoring her. At first, it had been easy to pretend she wasn't there, since their paths rarely crossed. Now, with her constant presence on the reservation, Cloud Dancing felt a weakening in his resolve. Despite his best intentions, he found himself seeking her out with his eyes more than he should, and when he found her, he would let his gaze settle on her longer than necessary or appropriate. At this moment, caught in the throws of a private war with his emotions, he steeled himself as she headed right toward him.
Dorothy stopped directly in front of him with her feet apart, hands on hips, and her head tilted slightly back in a defiant posture. "Cloud Dancing, I'd like to speak with you."
As he looked up at her, Cloud Dancing knew how a deer felt in the target of a bow and arrow. "Dorothy, now is not a good time. I am to meet…"
Dorothy cut him off. "Make time Cloud Dancing. I have been here for nearly two weeks and the whole time you've acted like I'm invisible. We'll be leaving in a few days and I won't leave without talking with you." Her sturdy resolve crumbled when she saw him looking at her as though she were only a memory. "Don't you know I came to see you? I thought…I thought we were friends."
Her voice was edged with more bitterness and hurt than he expected. Immediately, Cloud Dancing regretted his behavior. He had thought it would be easier for both of them if they simply remained separate. Hearing she would be leaving soon, and knowing he hadn't spent any time with her, filled him with remorse. Whatever their relationship was in the past, they were friends. Cloud Dancing was ashamed he hadn't remembered that until now. "We will talk. Not here." He glanced around the reservation, concerned about arousing unwanted attention. Cloud Dancing stood, and with a nod of his head, beckoned Dorothy to follow.
They walked silently across the reservation, stopping at the site of the Massaum ceremony, which now looked like an open prairie, the grass stiff and sharp in the fields. Above them, two birds flew high in the sky, and Cloud Dancing couldn't prevent his stomach from twisting in envy at seeing how they took their freedom for granted. A lone lodge was the only sign of the events of the past five days. "We will talk inside. It is cooler and we will not be disturbed."
Dorothy entered the lodge, which was now devoid of the sacred articles and skins placed inside the other day. With the blanket still spread out on the floor, Dorothy took a seat. Cloud Dancing sat across from her, his legs crossed in front of him.
She came to the point. "Ever since I arrived you've acted like I'm not here. Now, I want to know why."
Cloud Dancing had no answers to her questions. Finding one that would satisfy her now strained his mind. "I have not been ignoring you. Many of my people are sick and I have spent many hours with Michaela tending to them. There was also the ceremony," he explained.
His excuses left an aching and hollow feeling in her chest. Dorothy was certain the truth would have hurt less than these empty evasions. "I came on this trip because I wanted to see you again. I had hoped we could spend time together. You could show me what you're doing to make life bearable here."
Cloud Dancing studied the pattern in the blanket as he formed his next words. "I never wanted you to see me here."
"Why?"
"This is no place for a man."
"You're the same man you've always been. The man who cares about his people above all else, the man who's doing everything he can to keep your traditions alive for the future, the man…the man I fell in love with." Her eyes probed and searched him, seeking a soft place, but his eyes were flat and expressionless.
He tried to bury his memories deep so that his face would not speak. "I would have preferred to remember our time together unspoiled by present circumstances."
"Well, I wouldn't," she said, her voice so loud that it startled them both. "I don't want you to be just a memory, Cloud Dancing. I know we can't go back, but I was hoping I could be a part of your life now and into the future…as a…a friend…like Michaela. You've treated her better than you've treated me." By the subtle shift in his body, she knew she had struck a chord in him.
Cloud Dancing heard the truth of her words. Dorothy's arrival had rattled him. All this time he thought he was protecting her from seeing him a prisoner, and from learning about Two Voices, when in reality, he was protecting himself. He feared what being near her again might evoke. Even now, sitting across from her, this need in him was something he had forgotten about, something he thought he had buried forever. It was a surprise, and not a welcome one, that she could still move him like this.
The time for the truth had come. He knew, once she heard it from his lips, she would no longer want to be friends. "There is something I need to tell you."
"I think I know."
His eyes widened. "You do?"
"I've seen the two of you together," she said, staring at him, her expression blank. "I won't tell you it's easy to accept, but I am pleased you have found someone to share your life here." Those words were hard to say, especially when she was seated so close to him. Being here with him like this brought back familiar feelings. She longed for him to take her into his arms and tell her she was mistaken. Knowing she wasn't, she pushed the thought aside to continue. "I want you to be happy, Cloud Dancing."
Cloud Dancing saw the woman he had known. He put out his hand, reaching for hers. She placed her hand in his, lacing their fingers together. His emotions were in turmoil. All at once, doubts about his decision to leave Colorado Springs, buried deep beneath layers of duty and responsibility, were surfacing again. Seeing Dorothy again propelled him backward in time with a force that left him shaken. Seated before her, talking, had accomplished what he most dreaded. It filled him with a torrent of memories from their days together. After a time, he found his voice. "She is called Two Voices. We are to be married."
It was harder than she expected to hear her assumptions confirmed. "I am happy for you Cloud Dancing," she said, her voice catching in her throat.
"It is something I must do for the tribe," he weakly explained. "I desire children to carry on my work."
Dorothy removed her hand from his, knowing that was something she could never give him. "Looks like you got a head start," she quipped, attempting to lighten the mood.
Cloud Dancing realized what she must be thinking. "You do not understand. Two Voices' husband passed on. It is his child she carries. I am marrying her to take care of her child and to someday bring another child of my own into the world. The children are our only hope for the future."
"Do you love her?"
"I am very fond of her."
"I see."
"I believe we will be as happy as we can be living here."
"Then I'm glad for you Cloud Dancing. I truly am."
"Thank you."
"Since we're only going to be here a few more days, do you think we could take a walk tomorrow…as friends. I'd still like to hear about the work you're doing for…for my writing."
"As friends," Cloud Dancing repeated. "I would like that."
* * * * *
"Katie," Sully called. "How'd ya like ta go ridin'?"
Katie sat on the ground with her legs crossed and her head in a book. Upon hearing her father's voice, she turned around. Her eyes grew wide with excitement when she noticed him leading a small chestnut mare toward her. "Where did you get her?" she asked, leaping up to stand beside the small horse.
Seeing her face light up at the sight of the horse was worth more than all the bartering he had gone through to arrange the horse for Katie. "I borrowed her from a friend of Cloud Dancin'. It's a nice mornin'. Thought we'd take a ride…spend some time together."
Katie absently stroked the horse's back. Her size and coloring brought to mind her own horse back home. "Can we go now?"
Sully chuckled at her fretful excitement. "Sure." He helped Katie mount the horse, assuring she was comfortable and secure.
With a bright, beaming smile, she trotted the horse alongside her father to where his horse was waiting. Sully climbed up on his horse and waved goodbye to Michaela and Josef, who were about to leave for the reservation. Noticing the pout on Josef's face at being excluded, Sully made a mental note to take him out hunting for supper later, just the two of them. After a final reassurance that Katie was ready, he flicked the reins and guided them away from the campsite toward the wide open plains.
Father and daughter had been riding along through the great sun bleached plains for over an hour. Grasslands stretched out in all directions, the tallest of them reaching to their knees. Though she preferred the tall mountains of Colorado to the flat grasslands of Oklahoma, riding here, with her father, nothing around them in any direction, made her feel like they were all alone in the wide open landscape. Sully, too, felt the peaceful solitude of the prairie drawing him in.
The further into the plains they rode, the soil began to take on a reddish hue. It was dotted everywhere with short clumps of bunchgrass, sagebrush, and blue gamma grass. They continued riding until the grass dropped away into a series of canyons. That's when Sully knew they should stop for a rest before turning around. Though Katie had become quite a good rider during this past year, he didn't want to take a chance that her inexperience might cause the horse to lose her footing on the uneven canyon trails. When they reached a bluff overlooking the plains, Sully pulled on the reins, stopping his horse. Following right behind him, Katie brought her horse to a halt.
"We'll rest here for a bit then head back," Sully said as he dismounted his horse. He helped his daughter to the ground, took her hand, and together they walked toward the edge of the bluff to take in the scenery below.
Katie lowered herself to the ground and looked out over the vast land trying to locate the reservation. "I've missed riding," she said, accepting an apple from her father.
Sully took a seat beside her. "We'll be goin' home soon. You can ride all ya want then," he said, taking a bite of his apple. He had mixed feelings about returning home. He had enjoyed renewing his bond with Cloud Dancing and the Cheyenne. Despite all their difficulties, being with them again was even better than he expected, and he didn't know how he was going to say goodbye to Cloud Dancing this time knowing his future was so tenuous.
Spending time with the Cheyenne filled a need in Sully that no one fully understood, not even Michaela. This trip had been what he needed most, and he would always be grateful to his wife for suggesting it for him. Still, he knew it was time to go home. Michaela was looking forward to being back in Colorado, as was everyone else. Yet, whenever he thought about going home, he got a strange feeling that gnawed at him from deep inside. It was a feeling that something had been left undone. "Kates, have ya had a good time bein' here?"
"Yeah. I like getting to know the other kids." She paused and her face took on a somber expression. "Papa, why do they have to live here…like this?"
Sully swallowed hard. "When I first met the Cheyenne, they had their own land, there was plenty o' game ta hunt, an' they could take care o' their families. As more people moved west, the government took away their land and put 'em on reservations."
"It's not right," Katie said. The expression on her youthful face was so serious. "They're not that different from us."
"No, they're not." Sully put his arm around his daughter. "Katie, sweet girl, if this trip has shown ya that then it's all I ever wanted. For you and your brother ta see the Cheyenne as I see 'em. When ya hear teachers and kids at school tell ya the Indians are savages, you'll know different. You'll stand up for 'em."
She scooted closer to her father, leaning into him. "I know now why it was so important for you to bring us here. I'll stand up for them. I promised Live in Hopes that I'll keep learning their stories."
"Kates, you're spendin' a lot o' time with Live in Hopes. Ya wanna tell me what the two o' you been doin'?" Sully had finally broached the real reason he asked her to go riding today.
Katie edged out of her father's embrace and pulled back the hair that had fallen into her face during their ride. "Nothing much." She evaded the question as she concentrated on braiding her hair.
Sully noticed the abrupt change in her demeanor. He stifled a laugh at seeing his daughter exhibit the same habit as his wife when she wanted to avoid answering his question. "Ya must be doin' somethin'."
"We talk."
"'Bout what?"
She felt her father's steel blue eyes bearing down on her, demanding an answer. Katie promised Live in Hopes she wouldn't tell anyone about teaching him English. At the same time, she couldn't lie to her father. After several seconds of indecision, she figured out how to tell the truth without revealing her friend's secret.
"Netone'xovomohtahe," Katie said.
Not expecting to hear what he heard, Sully barely registered her words. When he figured out that Katie had asked him how he was, he was even more confused. Before he could answer she spoke again.
"Nehaeanahe."
"Why are ya askin' me if I'm hungry?" As he finished the question, it dawned on him. Katie didn't know this much Cheyenne before she got here. "He's teachin' ya Cheyenne."
"I was gonna surprise you."
"Ya just did."
"Are ya teachin' 'im English too?" It was a hunch, the confirmation of which came when he looked at the expression across his daughter's face. She looked just like she did when he caught her reading late into the night after she was supposed to be asleep.
"I'm not supposed to tell."
"Why not?"
"His parents took him out of school. They don't want him to learn English or to read. I've been helping him in secret."
Sully considered what she said for a moment. "Katie, that might not be the reason they took 'im outta school."
"Huh?"
"The school here makes 'em cut their hair an' change their clothes. It teaches 'em that it's bad ta be Indian. That they have ta reject who they are ta learn. His folks might not be against 'im learnin', just the way they do it here."
"It's not bad to be Indian."
"I don't think so either."
Katie turned in her seat to look directly at her father. "Please don't tell anyone, Papa. Please. I promised."
Sully reached out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I won't tell anyone 'cept your Ma. She's been worried 'bout how secretive you been actin'."
Katie averted her eyes. "I didn't mean to worry anyone."
"Do me a favor," he said, reaching up to stroke her hair. "Talk ta Live in Hopes 'bout tellin' his folks. I don't think they'd mind you teachin' 'im. I know I'm real glad he's the one teachin' ya Cheyenne."
"He thinks they'll be mad. He really wants to learn Papa. He thinks it's his…" she searched for the word he had used. "…his destiny."
"Destiny?"
"He thinks you and Mama gave him his name so he could build a bridge between our people."
As they talked, Sully realized Katie had gained a newfound maturity on this trip. Though impressed by his daughter's growth and insights, his pride was tempered by a trace of melancholy. He wasn't anywhere near ready to let go of his little girl. Learning that the name drawn from Black Kettle's words had placed such a burden on the young boy, who had so little control over his own destiny, filled him with guilt. Everything had gotten worse for the Cheyenne since Live in Hopes had been born and Sully had to wonder if such a bridge was even possible any longer.
He placed his arm around his daughter again. "Katie, if there was ever somethin' you really wanted ta do, but ya thought your ma and me were against it, we'd want you ta talk ta us about it 'fore ya did it in secret. Do ya understand?"
Katie looked up into his eyes. "Yes."
"Don't ya think Live in Hopes' folks feel the same way?"
"I guess. But, what if you wouldn't let me do something I really wanted to do? What if it was the most important thing in the world to me and you wouldn't let me do it?"
Sully gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "If we came ta understand how important it was ta you, we would."
"You would?"
"Yep. When Brian was younger than you, all he talked about was flyin'. He wanted ta make a flyin' machine."
She giggled. "There's no such thing."
Sully chuckled at the memory. "That's what we told 'im, but Brian wouldn't give up. Your ma told 'im no each time he asked. She was afraid he'd hurt himself like the time he jumped out o' the tree. But, he never gave up. In time, she saw how much this meant ta Brian so she let 'im try."
"Did it work?"
"No, but each one flew a little farther. Will ya at least talk ta Live in Hopes 'bout what I'm sayin'?"
Katie nodded. "Papa, can I ask you something?"
"Anythin'."
Katie looked out over the prairie before speaking. "What does it mean to have a strong spirit?"
"I'm not sure I can put it into words. It's somethin' ya just know when ya see it. Your ma has one o' the strongest spirits I've ever seen."
"She does? What makes it strong?"
Sully's voice became soft and melodic at the thought of his wife. "She's brave, strong, and passionate 'bout things that matter. The first time I saw it was when she stood in front of a chargin' Army ta protect the Cheyenne. We were hidin' behind a tree an' the next thing I know she's up and runnin' right toward 'em, her arms in the air. I'd never seen anythin' like it."
"She did that?"
"Yep, and a lot more, too." Sully pulled his daughter close. "You're a lot like 'er, ya know. Your spirit's just as strong," he said then he kissed the top of her head. Katie nuzzled into his chest, her head tucked under his chin. At that moment she felt certain that no one in her whole life would ever make her feel as special as her father.
* * * * *
"Where are we going?" Michaela asked. Her hand was locked tightly in Sully's as he led her from the riverbank through the winding, narrow path of a red granite canyon.
"You'll see," he replied, a hint of mischief in his tone.
In an effort to make sense of her husband's mysterious behavior, she became distracted by her thoughts, nearly losing her footing on the ragged edge of the canyon. "Will you at least tell me how much further we have to go?"
"Nope." He enjoyed playing this game with her.
"Why not?"
Sully stopped walking and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him. His touch was warm and welcome. He moved even closer, so close that his lips were but a mere breath away from hers. "It's a surprise," he whispered before softly kissing her lips. "Stop frettin'. You're gonna like it."
Michaela could hardly remember a more relaxing or pleasurable day. She and Sully had set out in the morning with a blanket and some provisions, prepared to enjoy an entire day together. They rode into the tall grasses of the plains in the same direction Sully and Katie had gone the day before. Since arriving at the reservation, they hadn't had much time to spend with each other. During their stay here, Michaela had wanted to give Sully the freedom to spend as much time as he needed with Cloud Dancing. With their friend so far from Colorado, she knew he would not have many other opportunities to visit him. For her part, the needs of the Indians were so immense that she filled her time tending to the sick and teaching some of the women how to take preventive measures against disease. When she had a moment to relax, she spent it with the children, Night Crane or Dorothy.
With their time at the reservation coming to an end, Sully had been spending even more of his time with Cloud Dancing and Running Wolf. He often didn't return from the reservation until long after she had fallen asleep, only to head back before she woke. She missed her husband terribly, especially snuggling next to him at night, but she knew they would have time together when they returned home. In these last few days, she vowed not to rob him of a moment of time with his friends. So, it took her completely by surprise when, last night, Sully suggested they spend this day together, just the two of them. From the look in his eyes when he asked her, she knew he missed her as much as she missed him.
They stopped for lunch by the riverbank at the foot of a canyon that rose several hundred feet into the air. The water was clean and inviting, glistening in the sun. The clear water, on a cloudless day, provided a perfect mirror for the canyon and the trees along its edge. They took the opportunity to bathe and wash their clothes, and Sully convinced Michaela to let him wash her hair. When he was done, he allowed her to return the favor by washing his. As they sat in the heat of the midday sun, waiting for their clothes to dry, their bodies hidden from view by a light coverlet, they caught up on all they hadn't found the time to share with each other during the past few days.
Sully told her of his relief in having healed the tension with Brian. He revealed his pleasure in being able to share more of the Cheyenne with his son these past few days. Together they relished in Brian's continued growth and maturity, while discussing their excitement and concerns regarding his impending trip. When Sully shared the truth about Katie's secretive behavior, Michaela felt her heart swell with pride in her daughter.
They shared a laugh about Michaela being the last to learn of Cloud Dancing's upcoming marriage, and she chided her husband for having to hear about it from Dorothy. When she first learned the news, she was hurt and disappointed that Sully hadn't shared Cloud Dancing's secret with her. However, after confronting him last night, they talked it through, and she came to see that his omission didn't reflect a lack of trust in her, but his commitment to a friend. Michaela was even a bit relieved she hadn't known sooner because it would have been awkward to spend time with Dorothy without accidentally revealing the truth. This afternoon, after some teasing about how he could have kept that news from his wife, she assured him she respected the promise he had made to his friend. As the afternoon wore on, their talk turned to their fears of the future for Cloud Dancing, Running Wolf and the rest of the Cheyenne.
For most of the afternoon, Michaela sat with her naked body pressed against her husband's nude form, his arm protectively holding her close, the coverlet draped across their shoulders. As they talked, they would occasionally pause to share slow, soft kisses and tender touches. Unaccustomed to spending an afternoon unclothed, at first Michaela felt her modesty winning the battle against Sully's encouragement. However, the longer they remained in their private cocoon, the easier it was to relax, and she was surprised to find the freedom from clothes exhilarating. She loved the feel of Sully's body next to hers and the touch of the warm breeze against her skin. In this natural state, their conversation seemed more intimate and meaningful. As the hours passed, it became increasingly difficult to concentrate on his words. It had been over a week since she and Sully had been together as husband and wife and here, now, amid the loving caresses and sweet kisses, she knew it was only a matter of time.
Michaela's mind was waging a battle of conflicting emotions. Rarely had they found the time to spend hours alone together in conversation. She didn't want their dialogue to end. At the same time, her body, that had been growing warm from the proximity to him, was now raging with desire. It was torture waiting for Sully to take the initiative, and after a while, she didn't know why she was waiting.
She leaned over to kiss his chest as her hand roamed lightly down his side, pausing at a particularly sensitive spot. Sully responded by kissing the top of her head then resuming their talk. Perplexed, she tried another tactic. As she hooked her leg over his and ran her fingers lightly across his neck, she felt his body jerk. He startled her by rising to his feet, gathering their now dry clothes, and suggesting they be on their way.
Speechless, and feeling as if she had been dropped in a tub of ice cold water, she dressed quickly. She was flustered and embarrassed, and not at all ready to return to the campsite. Faintly, as if she were under water, she heard Sully say something about leaving the horses. There was someplace he wanted to take her on foot. His outstretched hand beckoned her, and when she placed her hand in his, her fluster turned to intrigue when she noticed a desire in his eyes that mirrored her own.
For the past twenty minutes, they had been climbing higher into the canyon. With every step, Michaela grew more curious about Sully's odd behavior. She couldn't figure out why he wanted to leave their cozy oasis on the riverbank, at the moment when she felt they were at the precipice of igniting their passion, to trek up the side of a canyon. When they turned the corner, Sully slowed his pace, stopping in front of a huge canyon wall that rose over two hundred feet above them.
The late afternoon sun bathed the wall in just the right light to bring out its colors. Before them was an explosion of orange, yellow, and deep rust, a great chromatic symphony. It looked as if a painter had spilled his colors down the side of the canyon, and years of wind and rain had blended them together in a dramatic display.
"Sully, it's incredible," Michaela gasped, awed by the spectacle of color.
"It sure is," he said, marveling at the mastery of nature's artwork. They stood transfixed by the wall for several minutes before Sully reached for her hand again. "C'mere," he said, guiding her inside a cave directly across from the wall. The cave's dark, cool interior contrasted sharply with the bright sunshine directly outside. The cave's ceiling was high enough for them to stand and it was at least 20 degrees cooler than their campsite. Sully removed a blanket from his satchel and laid it out on the floor. He gestured for his wife to sit down.
Michaela took a seat facing the opening of the cave so she could still view the colorful canyon wall. "I don't know what I'd rather do more, stay in here where it's cool or sit outside and look at the colors of the wall."
Sully sat down beside her. "We can do both. No one's expectin' us back 'til mornin'."
"Morning!" Michaela became alarmed. "Sully, we can't possibly stay here all night. Who will look after the children? What will…"
Sully brought his fingers to her lips, silencing her. "Ya think I don't know your concerns by now Michaela. Trust me. I've taken care o' everythin'."
"But…"
Sully leaned forward, placing a kiss on her mouth to keep her from talking. Trailing his lips along the side of her face, he breathed on the sensitive skin beneath her earlobe causing her back to arch. "Stop frettin'," he whispered. He pulled back to look into her eyes, hoping he had ended her protests. "Michaela, we've hardly had any time together since we got here. We're goin' home in two days an' I wanted ta get ya all ta myself for a day an' night 'fore then. Brian an' Dorothy are gonna watch the kids. No one's expectin' us back 'til mornin'. Do ya think ya can stop frettin' long enough ta relax an' enjoy it?"
The corner of her mouth turned up in a faint smile. "I think that depends on you." She framed his face in her hands. "You were rather obtuse by the river."
Sully choked back a laugh and scooted closer to her. "I can think of a few things you'll enjoy." He brushed her hair to one side as he tilted her head back, and leaned down to kiss her neck. He trailed soft kisses from her neck, along her throat, until his mouth claimed hers for a tender, leisurely kiss. It didn't take long for the day's pent up desire to rush forth in a dizzying tangle of mouths, tongues, and hands. They pulled away to catch their breath, collapsing into each other's arms. After his breathing calmed, he whispered. "I ain't dense." He paused to rest his forehead against hers. "With what ya were doin' ta me, if I'd stayed there one second longer, we never woulda seen this place."
Michaela lovingly caressed his face, the tips of her fingers tracing his cheekbones. "I do think I'll enjoy it here, after all." She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close. "I'm glad to have seen this place. How did you find it?"
He smoothed her hair with his fingers. "Cloud Dancin'. I wanted a private place no one knew about. We haven't had any real privacy since our last night at home. Figured it was time."
"Hmmm, I remember. So tell me Sully, does the entire reservation know about our rendezvous?
"Just Cloud Dancin', Runnin' Wolf, Night Crane, Dorothy, and Brian." He kissed the soft spot between her shoulder and her neck. "It don't matter who knows, Michaela. We're married."
Michaela grew uncomfortable. "Sully, there's a difference between knowing what happens from time to time between married people and our family and friends knowing that you and I have come to this place tonight for…for that purpose."
"From time ta time," he repeated, muttering under his breath. He was hardly able to suppress the smirk on his face or the laugh threatening to escape from his lips. "Is that why we're here?"
"Sully," Michaela chastised, poking him in the ribs. "I don't appreciate being mocked."
Sully grabbed her hand, raised it to his mouth and kissed her fingertips. "I'm not mockin' ya. I'm glad ta know ya wanna be with me as much as I wanna be with you." With his eyes locked on hers, he smoothed the stray hairs away from her face as he gently stroked her cheeks, letting his fingers linger on the fullness of her lips. "Don't worry 'bout other folks. They got their own lives. They ain't gonna be thinkin' 'bout us."
As his thumb gently traced the softness of her lips, Michaela began to relax and leaned into her husband, resting her head on his shoulder. In response, he brought his hand to her head, his fingers gently and sensually massaging her scalp. As if by silent mutual agreement, they shifted their bodies to gaze out at the wall through the cave opening while continuing to savor the gentle caresses as they held each other close. The dipping sun created shadows of different colors and shapes that danced along the colorful canyon. They remained content to watch the display of shadows and light until darkness smudged the colors into night.
Light from the gibbous moon seeped through the cave opening, casting their features in a gentle glow. Michaela turned in Sully's arms to face him, gazing into his eyes to silently communicate her desire. Letting her know he felt the same, Sully leaned forward to kiss her. What began as soft, slow kisses quickly erupted into a desperate hunger, as their mouths greedily sought satiety. Sully's heart was pounding as he lowered them both to the blanket, their hands touching and roaming their familiar terrain.
Michaela moved her hands under his shirt to caress his chest, her fingers toying with the brown curly hair. Then she brought her hands around his torso to massage the taut muscles of his back as she pressed his body against hers. Her hands grabbed the material of his shirt and she urgently pulled it up over his head, tossing it aside. Rolling on top of him, she brushed her lips against the hair-dusted skin of his stomach and chest. Moving back up to his neck and down again, she left a trail of kisses from his collarbone to his navel, occasionally teasing him with her tongue. Sully relished in her enthusiasm to give herself with complete abandon and was just as eager to give all he had to her until neither knew where she began, or he ended, or even where they found themselves.
Nimbly she undid the button on his buckskins and slid her hand under the waistband as he was easing her blouse from her shoulders. Sully could feel her struggling to slide his buckskins past his hips while he worked to remove her skirt. Tangled in material that stubbornly refused to cooperate, Michaela groaned into his chest from her burning need for them to be freed from their constraining garments. Sensing they weren't getting anywhere, Sully placed his hands over hers to stop their frantic movements. Then he rolled them sideways, took Michaela's hand in his and brought them both to their feet.
Placing his hands on her waist, he pulled her close to undo the fastener in the back of her skirt. It drifted to the floor and he helped her step free of the pool of material at her feet. Then he raised her arms over her head so he could remove her camisole. The garment discarded, he brushed his fingers along the side of her breast. Like the canyon before them, age only seemed to enhance her beauty. She still took his breath away. Her body's sensuous curves, the sweet smell of her skin, and her soft hair, curtaining him when she lay atop him, were all his undoing.
She watched as he lightly skimmed his fingers down the side of her body, sending heated sparks coursing through her. Then he completed what she had begun by shedding his buckskins. After all these years, she was still in awe of how beautiful his body was. The line of his back, the way his waist and hips narrowed, his slightly bowed legs, giving him fluidity when he moved, even his scars, because she knew their stories.
Sully moved toward her, his gaze locked with hers, as he brought his hand up to caress the bare skin of her shoulder. She melted into the warmth of his body. His breath warmed her neck, and as his hand found the small of her back she leaned further into him. He brushed his lips against hers several times before claiming her mouth for a lingering kiss. She felt his tongue against hers and brought a hand to his face, tracing his cheekbones with her fingers. He sighed in absolute surrender as he crushed her flush against his chest, both of them breathing rapidly.
With their arms wrapped around each other and their mouths engaged in a soulful rhythm, they knelt to the floor. Sully's hands roamed up and down the sides of her body before he leaned backward taking Michaela with him. No longer constrained by clothes, they hungrily touched and kissed one another, their hands in constant motion, not wanting to break their contact. In a culmination of desire, they joined together, experiencing once again the depth of the love that ran between them. Even in their heightened anticipation of being together again, the fulfillment always brought—along with the familiarity—a jolt of surprise.
Chapter Twenty-Four | Chapter Twenty-Five | Chapter Twenty-Six
Michaela and Sully lay with their limbs entwined, cocooned in an embrace, as sunlight stretched into the mouth of the cave lapping at their naked feet and ankles. They were awake, but quiet in each other's arms, the only movement between them was his fingers on her temple, gently stroking. Under her hands his chest was as hard as oak. Neither of them knew the last time they felt so unhurried and uninhibited.
Michaela was the first to move. Her arm had fallen asleep, and to ease the uncomfortable numbness, she repositioned it, shaking it to bring the limb back to life. She felt a rush of happiness as she gazed down at her husband, remembering how fully they had loved each other through the night.
Still groggy, Sully shifted his position in response to Michaela's stirring. He feared her movement signaled a desire to hurry their return to the campsite, something he knew was inevitable, but for which he wasn't nearly ready. It would be difficult to leave this place. Their time together had been far more incredible than he had ever anticipated when he first planned it. They had a rare opportunity to spend an entire day together, then, as night fell, surrender to each other in complete privacy, knowing they wouldn't be disturbed by one of the children or an emergency at the clinic.
Before Michaela, Sully never imagined that someone could love him so knowingly, with such tenderness and passion. It was out of their rich past and deep trust that it was possible for them to express themselves with a freedom he had never known before. More than novelty, it was their familiarity and profound connection that most aroused him. A small sigh of relief escaped from his lips when she lay back down beside him.
Sully propped up on one elbow, and smiled down at his wife. "Mornin'."
Michaela returned his smile, relishing in how always, upon awakening, he smiled at her. His smile could warm her as much as his touch. "Good morning," she replied.
Sully stretched his arms out to the side and moaned contentedly. "Ya sleep all right?"
"Yes," she replied, unable to contain the broad grin on her face. "Wonderfully."
Sully touched her hair, moving it back from her face, and kissed her fully on the mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer, deepening the kiss. When they broke apart, Michaela spoke. "Thank you for bringing me here."
"You're welcome," he replied, leaning in again for a soft feather light kiss.
Michaela brought herself to a sitting position, curious about how the morning light on the canyon wall changed its colors. Sully sat up with her. For long, silent moments they gazed at the lighter shades of the golden hues. The cool early morning air chilled their unclothed bodies. Sully reached for the coverlet, draping it over them, and huddled closer together. To get a better view, Michaela shifted her body to the side, resting her feet across Sully's thighs. Unconsciously, he began massaging the soles with his thumbs.
"Your feet are cold," he whispered.
"They're warming up," she replied with a playful smile. She paused to consider possibly spoiling this morning by bringing up the subject they had so far avoided. "Sully, how do you feel about going home?"
"Back ta the campsite?"
"No. Home. We planned to leave the day after tomorrow."
Sully was quiet for a long time. "It's hard leavin'."
Michaela reached over to touch his leg. "I know it is. But, did the trip give you what you wanted?"
Sully leaned his head against hers and breathed deeply as he formulated a response. His fingers continued to stroke her feet, the movements idle, almost sensual. "It's been real good spendin' time with Cloud Dancin' again. I missed him even more than I remembered." He felt his wife gently caressing his temple, encouraging him to continue. "It was good for the kids. Katie and Josef made friends an' appreciate the Cheyenne."
"It was good for all of us," Michaela concurred.
"I'll miss Runnin' Wolf, too. In a short time, he's become a good friend."
"Sometimes you meet people and form an immediate bond. I felt that way about Charlotte. And, after we overcame some initial distrust, I believe it was like that for us with Running Wolf and Night Crane. Apart from Robert E. and Grace, there aren't any couples back home who share our values and what we want for our children."
"No, there aren't." His thumbs massaged her feet with long, slow strokes. "I wish it was easier ta visit with 'em."
"I do, too."
"You saved a lotta lives, Michaela. I wish…" he stopped.
"What is it?"
He remained quiet, staring out at the canyon wall. His fingers ceased their movements and he just held her feet in his hands. "I wish I could've found a way ta help 'em. Wish there was somethin' more I could do."
"Sully, I know you do, but it's enough to be their friend. Cloud Dancing believes they alone have to take charge of their future. How the Cheyenne survive depends on them."
"I know that's how he feels, but they need help."
"They need to help themselves."
"I have this feelin' I'm s'posed ta do somethin', only I don't know what it is."
"Could it simply be your frustration at your inability to change their lives?"
If only there were some motion or some sound to alleviate the ponderous stillness around them as Michaela worried about Sully and Sully worried about his Cheyenne friends. After a long while, he turned to face his wife. "I know we're goin' home Michaela. It's hard, but I know it's time." She kissed his forehead then pressed her forehead against his, where her lips had just been. "S'pose it's time ta head back ta the campsite," he said reluctantly.
Michaela wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you think we could stay a little longer? I'm not ready to leave just yet."
Sully was surprised, but pleased by her request, especially since he wasn't near ready to leave either. In this place, alone together, the world was perfect. There was no hunger, death, cruelty, or injustice, just profound love and peace. "S'pose no one'll miss us for a few more hours."
She linked her fingers with his. He brought their joined hand to his lips for a kiss. Sully tilted her head toward him, leaned forward until his mouth touched hers. Then he lifted his mouth from hers and kissed the soft center of her palms in the same way he had kissed her mouth. Returning to her lips, he kissed her again. Michaela kissed him back, softly at first then deepening it with all the passion and love in her heart. Without breaking their contact, his arm sought out her waist and encircled it. The other hand slid down her spine to the small of her back pressing, urging her closer. In moments they were falling back onto the floor of the cave as he molded the contours of his body into hers.
* * *
The morning sky was overcast, threatening rain. A dense blanket of light gray clouds cooled the air, providing a welcome diversion from the monotonous daily staple of sunshine and blue skies. It hadn't rained for six weeks, and though the storm clouds didn't look capable of producing much moisture, they were greeted with hopeful anticipation. Running Wolf and his family sat outside their lodge enjoying the cooler temperatures, each pleasantly engaged in their own activity, but soothed by each other's company.
Running Wolf brought the blade of his knife across the smooth wood of the bowl he was carving. "Are you giving the girls a lesson today?" he asked his wife. "The deer the Dog Soldiers brought back should provide a good opportunity for them to learn how to prepare hides."
"No, I teach tomorrow. Some of the children have never been taught about all the deer gives us and the gratitude we owe the deer for giving his life so we may eat and stay warm." She drew a long piece of sinew through the side of one leg of the buckskin pants she was making. The deer carcasses had been divided among the families for their use in making clothes and tools. Night Crane had carefully softened the hide, using the deer's brains and fat and was now assembling the pieces with strands of sinew taken from alongside the deer's spine. After she finished the buckskins, there would be enough skin left over for a shirt and a garment for the baby.
"With the government providing their clothes, will they think it worth the trouble to make their own?" Running Wolf asked. He rounded the edges of the bowl with his knife.
"The government does not provide the garments our people wear. We must never lose the sense of accomplishment that comes from doing for ourselves." Night Crane tied off the end of the leg with the sinew, satisfied one was finished.
Running Wolf glanced curiously toward the game stationed between his two sons. Eyes Like the Sky had set up a checkers board between him and his brother. He borrowed the game from Josef so he could practice, having grown frustrated at always losing to one of the Sully children. New Promise lay in a basket across from him, oblivious to the game, but nonetheless entertained by his brother's facial expressions and the timbre of his voice.
Running Wolf watched his son alternate between moving black and red markers across the board with a sense of purpose. "Who's winning?"
Eyes Like the Sky gave his father a tolerant look, letting him know he hadn't missed his sarcasm. "I am!"
"He's not much competition," his mother gently chided. "Are you seeing Josef today?"
"I will meet him later. I'm finally going to beat him at checkers," Eyes Like the Sky said. He jumped his red piece over his brother's black one, capturing the round black marker.
"Is that what you're playing?" Running Wolf asked. He had watched his son's last few moves beginning to understand how the game was played.
"You want to play? I can teach you." Eyes Like the Sky was ready for some honest competition.
Running Wolf nodded, set his bowl aside, and moved opposite his older son next to New Promise. He repositioned the basket for better access to the board. Eyes Like the Sky explained the rules of the game then let his father make the first move. Their first few moves were tentative as each person tried to prevent their piece from being taken. Eventually they ran out of safe squares. Eyes Like the Sky took the first piece from his father. For the next several turns, they alternated capturing pieces from one another.
"Cloud Dancing asked me to serve on the tribal council," Running Wolf told his wife, pondering his next move.
"He did?" She was intrigued, but not entirely surprised. By now she had finished the second leg of the buckskins and was working on the waistband. "You are not Cheyenne."
Running Wolf jumped his piece over his son's, capturing two of them. "He and Chief Strong Bow thought I might lend a different perspective. They know I have chosen to live as a Cheyenne. A man often attaches greater value to what he chooses."
"Have you given him an answer?" Night Crane was proud of how well her husband had integrated himself into the tribe. He had always been seen as a leader, something that had gotten him into trouble in the past. It seemed as if he had truly left the unpleasantness behind to build a new life.
Eyes Like the Sky lifted up in his seat. "I got a king!" He triumphantly removed two of his father's pieces, landing on the far square. For that, he placed another piece on top of his and gained the ability to move backward as well as forward.
Running Wolf glanced at the board, weighing his options, since it was apparent he was losing. "I said yes."
Night Crane gave him a loving smile and reached for his hand to squeeze it. Life on the reservation was hard. Food was scarce, sickness took many, and it was difficult to live according to their cherished traditions. The hardships were enough to plunge an average man into despair, but Night Crane was happier than she had been in a long time. That happiness came from being reunited with those few from her band who had survived Washita, from the daily tasks of cutting open a rattlesnake and finding a baby squirrel in the undigested contents of its stomach or softening, tanning and sewing deerskin for buckskins or moccasins, and most of all from the contentment she saw in the eyes of her husband and her oldest son. For the first time, they both had finally found a place to fit in.
"What will you do on the council?" Eyes Like the Sky asked. He continued to capture and gather up his father's pieces.
"The chiefs from each band form a council to decide on important matters to the tribe. They decide such matters as when hunters will leave the reservation for food, the ceremonies to be conducted and how to work with the whites. The chiefs seek the council of others in the tribe to inform their decisions. These others include men of all ages and status along with women, each offering a different perspective that should be heard. I will listen and offer my views to the chiefs."
"How will you know what to say?" Eyes Like the Sky asked.
Running Wolf accepted defeat in their game of checkers and began to set up the board for a rematch. "I will listen, talk among my family and friends, and offer my point of view."
"Your father is a wise man," Night Crane added with a proud smile.
"I know, but how will you know what's right?" The boy felt the weight of the responsibility his father had just accepted.
"I won't always be right. I will speak from what I believe to be right. It's all we can do," Running Wolf explained. "You and your mother will help me." He gave his wife a smile filled with appreciation for her unwavering support.
Night Crane glanced out toward the path that led to their lodge as a light misty rain began to fall. Out of the gray haze, she saw Cloud Dancing with three other men from the tribe heading their way. Raindrops settled on their hair and fringed buckskin shirts, making them sparkle. Assuming they were coming to discuss tribal business with her husband, she stood and prepared to make tea for their visitors. Before entering the lodge, Night Crane smiled broadly at the men and waved.
* * *
Michaela and Sully walked through the center of the reservation with their hands linked casually together. After leaving the canyon, they arrived back at their campsite by mid-morning only to find it deserted. A note had been left in plain sight under a rock by the wagon, letting them know Katie and Josef had gone berry picking with Live in Hopes and several other children from the reservation, and Brian and Dorothy had gone into the nearest town for more supplies for their trip home tomorrow. Finding their family otherwise occupied, they decided to head to the reservation for a visit with Running Wolf and Night Crane and then later to spend time with Cloud Dancing. It was their last full day here and they both wanted to spend as much time with their friends as they could before the time came to say goodbye.
They passed the school, the Indian Agent's office, and several lodges before reaching the road that led toward Running Wolf's home. The sunlight that woke them early this morning had been replaced by a whitish gray sky. A light rain had just begun to fall. It was little more than a mist and the delicate damp spray felt refreshing against their skin when compared to the endless days of ferocious heat. The wind had picked up, and as it hit the trees, the leaves drifted from their branches like a flock of birds.
In the distance, they saw the lodge with its distinctive robe hanging from the door. Though they couldn't see the detail from this far away, they remembered the design was exquisite. The vibrant colors of a river, sun, eagle, and a buffalo spoke of courage, and new beginnings. They noticed a group of people outside the dwelling, but they couldn't yet identify who they were. The gathering was a welcome sign, for it meant Running Wolf and Night Crane were home. They were pleased for their friends. In the time since they arrived, both of them had become valuable members of the tribe and well regarded by its leadership. As their steps advanced closer toward the lodge, Sully recognized Cloud Dancing. Eager to be with his friends again, he picked up their pace.
As they grew closer, the friendly gathering that they both had presumed awaited them, revealed itself with foreboding. Sully released Michaela's hand and slowed his steps to more closely observe the tense, rigid bodies up ahead. Angry hand gestures were coming from one of the Indians. Before Sully had time to fully evaluate the situation, he heard his wife gasp in a terrified way that sent a cold chill coursing through his body. She was ghostly white and as Sully followed the direction of her eyes, he saw Running Wolf being held with his hands behind his back by one Indian as another punched him in the face and chest.
* * *
Sully arrived at the front of Running Wolf's lodge panting hard from his sprint to help him. The surrealistic scene he stepped into rattled and disoriented him. Running Wolf was on the ground, his nose bloody and one eye beginning to swell shut from the beatings he had endured. An Indian held his hands behind his back while tying them with a rope. Another had his hands under Running Wolf's armpits pulling him to his feet. Night Crane and Eyes Like the Sky huddled by their front door in terror, their faces streaked by tears, while the baby wailed at the top of his lungs. The beautiful deerskin robe that adorned their lodge had been ripped from the door and now lay in a heap on the ground. Cloud Dancing stood stone still impassively observing the situation; he never even acknowledged Sully's presence. A casual onlooker to their interaction would have guessed the two men were strangers, not as close as brothers.
"Stop 'em Cloud Dancin'," Sully yelled. His voice sounded desperate. Cloud Dancing stared straight ahead. He didn't even look at his friend. Sully tried again, but again, there was no response. As anger crept up his neck, he took matters into his own hands. Reaching Running Wolf's side, he attempted to pull the two Indians off him. He grabbed one by the back of his buckskin shirt, punched his face, and let him fall hard to the ground. When he reached for the other assailant, Sully felt an arm snake around his neck, nearly choking him. Another hand pinned his arm awkwardly behind his back. Sully was immobilized by the vice grip of yet a third Indian.
"Why aren't ya doin' somethin'?" Sully yelled to Cloud Dancing. He tried in vain to wrestle free from the tight hold the Indian had on him. "Let 'im go. He ain't done nothin'."
Cloud Dancing reluctantly faced his friend, wishing he had found a way to prepare him for this news, or somehow convinced the Dog Soldiers to wait until Sully had left for home before confronting Running Wolf. This is not how Cloud Dancing had intended for Sully to find out. With the Dog Soldiers set on taking action and Sully away with Michaela, Cloud Dancing had no opportunity to speak with his friend before now. In this awkward moment, it fell on him to urge that his brother depart before the Dog Soldiers directed their anger toward him. "Sully, this is none of your concern," he said. His voice was so remote, Sully hardly recognized it.
"None 'o my concern?" Sully could hardly believe this was Cloud Dancing before him. "Runnin' Wolf's my friend. That makes it my business."
Michaela finally caught up to her husband. She was out of breath and horrified by the scene before her. While Sully was being held, one of the Indians had lifted Running Wolf high into the air and dropped him, letting him fall. He had been so dazed and weak from the beatings that he fell hard. Immediately upon seeing her friend's condition, her physician's instincts took over. With no thought of the danger, she ran toward Running Wolf as his bruised and bloody body was once again being yanked to its feet. Set on not letting her near him, one of the Indians pushed her hard with his free arm causing her to lose her footing and tumble to the ground.
The blow to his wife acted as a shot of adrenaline to Sully. He gathered the full force of his strength and broke free from the hold the Indian had on him. In a flash, he was by Michaela's side. He helped her to her feet, and when he confirmed she was all right, he again tried grabbing Running Wolf out of the clutches of the Dog Soldiers. The Indian that held Running Wolf kicked Sully in the stomach, momentarily knocking the wind out of him. He landed doubled over on the ground, gasping for breath. Cloud Dancing walked toward Sully and offered him a hand up, but Sully shoved it off and rose up on his own, determined to deal with Cloud Dancing later. The Dog Soldiers proceeded to roughly lead Running Wolf away from the lodge. Throughout the ordeal, Running Wolf remained silent, not making eye contact with Sully, Michaela or even his family.
"You must leave now," Cloud Dancing hollered. It sounded like a warning and it startled both Sully and Michaela. "It is no longer safe for you to be here."
"Cloud Dancin', he ain't done nothin'. You're makin' a mistake. He's our friend," Sully pleaded again.
"That man is no friend of the Cheyenne," he said, unable to make eye contact with Sully.
Night Crane felt a hand on her back before she realized Michaela was by her side. She heard faint sounds of comfort, but couldn't hear the words over the loud voices of torment in her mind. In the time since the Dog Soldiers had come for her husband, she felt like she was shrinking, slowly disappearing. The sobs of Eyes Like the Sky had grown fainter as she became smaller and smaller. She was numb. She could no longer feel and she could barely see or hear the action in front of her. Through eyes clouded by tears, she saw her husband being dragged away by two men as heated words filtered into her mind.
"Why ya lettin' 'em take 'im?" Sully asked again, his arm waving toward Running Wolf in agitated motions. "We'll get ya outta this," he called to his friend. I'll figure somethin' out."
"He is a murderer," Cloud Dancing finally said. He was confident that once Sully learned the truth, he would understand why he condoned the Dog Soldier's actions.
The remaining Indian with Cloud Dancing spoke next. "He will pay for the Cheyenne lives he has taken."
"Cloud Dancing, please," Sully begged, grasping his arm to force him to listen. "There's gotta be some mistake. You know Runnin' Wolf. He ain't a murderer. He saved my life." Sully's face was twisted in anger and his voice strangled.
Cloud Dancing wrenched his arm from Sully's fingers. "I do not know Running Wolf, and I am sorry, Sully, but neither do you." He said Running Wolf's name like he was spitting out a pebble he'd found in a piece of meat.
"He scouted for Custer. He killed our people," the other Indian blurted out at last.
For a moment Sully just stood there as the words hit him with almost physical force. Then his face returned to some calm place. "Ya got the wrong man!" Sully turned to Night Crane. "Tell 'im they got the wrong man."
Night Crane was caught in a prison of her emotions and hadn't heard Sully address her. Beside her she heard Michaela urging her to say something, but she didn't know what. Her heart was breaking and her mind refused to focus.
"This is some kind of terrible mistake," Michaela said. "Night Crane, please tell them they're wrong, that Running Wolf couldn't be the man they're looking for."
The jumbled words filtered through Night Crane's mind and rearranged themselves in some logical sequence of comprehension. She stepped forward, and with haunted and horrified eyes, she looked from Michaela to Sully and back again several times. Her look was strange. Even stranger was her silence. Then slowly she shook her head, drew in a breath, hesitated for another second and then spoke. "They have the right man."