Part 42
Brian rummaged through the homestead looking for things he would need, his thoughts whirling madly in his head. He rooted around under his bed, hunting for an extra pair of socks, and brought forth a wooden box - his treasure box. He’d nearly forgotten about it. Opening it, he surveyed the contents ... a picture of his father, some rice from Ma and Sully’s wedding, a piece of rope that Pup had liked to play tug with, the beads Sully had given him, a note Anthony had passed him in school (and nearly been caught!), a handkerchief that had belonged to his real Ma ... As Brian picked up each item and examined it, his mind was filled with memories, some good, some bad. His fingers delved into the box and came forth with a carved wooden owl - small, but perfect in detail. As he turned it over in his hand, snatches of memory came back to him.

He’d been a little older than Katie, he guessed. Ma was still alive and Pa hadn’t left them yet. Sully and Abigail had come by and stayed for supper. Ma and Miss Abigail had disappeared into the back room for a time and when they came out Miss Abigail had disappeared into the back room for a time and when they came out Miss Abigail had looked very pleased and had run over to Sully. "Charlotte says just two more weeks!" she’d said breathlessly and Sully had hugged her hard and laughed out loud. Brian remembered he’d asked Matthew why they were so happy and Matthew had told him she was going to have a baby. Then Brian had asked a lot more questions that Matthew had refused to answer.

Brian remembered his Pa sitting moodily in his chair and muttering something about Sully’s troubles just beginning. But Pa had been in a bad temper a lot lately and Ma had advised the children to stay clear of him for awhile. After supper he had slapped his hat on his head and stalked out without a word. Brian knew he’d gone to town.

But Sully and Miss Abigail had stayed, laughing and singing by the fire and talking about names for the baby. He thought Miss Abigail wanted to name it Brian if it was a boy, only it sounded more like "Bi-ran_ when she said it. Sully didn’t like this. It seemed as if it were a joke between them and Miss Abigail had teased Sully about it. Then Ma and Miss Abigail had gone off to look at some sewing Ma was doing and Colleen had begged Sully for a story. Brian had added his pleas to his sister’s and had looked to Matthew to join in, but he’d stood quietly aloof, although he did not move away when Sully at last laughingly acquiesced.

Brian fingered the owl now, remembering he and Colleen, cuddling one on either side of Sully as he told them a tale about a miner’s boy, about Matthew’s age, whose father had been trapped in the mine and who’d believed in getting him out when everyone else said it was too dangerous to even try. He’d gone out in the woods by himself to camp and to pray for a way to save his father and a white owl had appeared to him and showed him the way to a back entrance so small and well-hidden that no one even knew about it ... Brian had fallen asleep almost before the story was ended but the next day Sully had returned with a little carved owl for each of them - Ma had said later he must’ve stayed up all night. When Sully had given them the owls he’d told them, "Always follow what you believe in, no matter how foolish it seems. It could lead to your dream". Brian remembered he’d flung his arms around Sully crying, "I wish you were our Pa!"

"Bri-an!" Colleen had cried in embarrassment and exasperation.

Sully’d just grinned, ruffled his hair and said, "How about I just be your friend?" a statement echoed in later years when they were trying to get him together with Dr. Mike, before he was ready. He had strode away soon after and that had been the last time they’d seen him for a long time. The next day Ma had been called out to attend to Miss Abigail who’d started having her baby early. She hadn’t returned until late the following day, dirty, disheveled and heartbroken. Colleen looked a question at her and she’d shaken her head.

"I lost ‘em" she’d said, "both of ‘em. What they needed was a doctor" and she’d sat down at the table and let the tears come. They’d all cried when they realised Miss Abigail was dead and that their friend Sully had lost both his wife and baby. Brian learned soon after that it was no good asking when Sully was going to come back to see them.

All this came back to Brian as he held the small owl carved for him so long ago. He thought about following what he believed in, now - about finding his dream. He believed in Sully and his dream was to have him home, free and clear, without the charge of treason, without further sentencing hanging over his head. It seemed appropriate that the owl that Sully had carved for him had suggested the way.

"Robert E!" Matthew hailed the blacksmith as he entered the cafe and was pouring himself a cup of coffee.

Robert E brought his mug over to the table where Matthew was sitting. "How ya doin’, Matthew?"

"Ya got a minute, Robert E?"

"Sure" Robert E sat across from Matthew. "What’s up?"

"I was wonderin’" Matthew began, "what d’ ya know about how Sully’s progressin’ on Preston’s homestead?"

Robert E drew a hand down his face a looked thoughtful. "Well, I know Preston keeps complainin’ that he ain’t doin’ enough ..."

Matthew waved this away impatiently. "I know that. What I really wanta know is what’s left ta be done an’ how long will it take ta do it". Seeing Robert E’s puzzled look, he went on, "I figure Sully’s got all he can do right now seein’ ta Dr. Mike. I just thought maybe I could help out a little by finishin’ up whatever there is ta be done".

Robert E looked uncomfortable. "Well now, I dunno, Matthew. Ain’t that what they call a ‘conflict o’ interest’ for ya, you bein’ sheriff an’ all?"

"I don’t think so" Matthew replied defensively. "We’re family - no reason I can’t help him out."

"I guess not" Robert E allowed. "Th’ other thing concerns me, though, is would Sully want ya over there without him to supervise th’ work? I know he’s mighty particular ‘bout how things get done ..."

Matthew felt impatient. When were people around here going to realise he was an adult, now? It seemed all his life the people he knew best hadn’t given him any space to grow up. He remembered back to when his ... when Ethan had still been around. It didn’t matter what he was doing - mucking out stalls, milking, mending fences, chopping stovewood - Ethan was always there to do it better. "You’re doing that the hard way, son" Ethan would tell him. "Here, let me" And then he’d take the pitchfork or hammer, or axe, or whatever and with a few short, swift movements complete the job Matthew had been struggling to do. The result was that Matthew had never learned to do any of those things very well.

It was the same with Dr. Mike and Sully - whether it was getting married, or driving cattle, working for the mine or being sheriff - everyone always had a better idea how he should do his job. Now Robert E obviously didn’t feel he was qualified to work on Sully’s homestead "without supervision".

Robert E, watching Matthew’s evident inner struggle, felt uncomfortable. "Y’ know, Matthew," he said, "y’ might talk t’ Hank. He rode out there when Dr. Mike ... took sick. He might have some idea what’s left t’ do. An’ Sully’s been orderin’ supplies from Loren - ya could see if there’s any he hasn’t picked up yet".

Matthew heaved a sigh and stood up. "Thanks, Robert E" he said, turning to leave.

"Oh, an’ Matthew?" Robert E spoke up.

Matthew turned back to face his friend.

"Ya need any help out there, just ask!"

Matthew nodded. "Thanks, Robert E" Turning away again he headed off to the saloon to talk to Hank.

Part 42
Sully sat beside the bed watching Michaela sleep. She stirred occasionally, but her breathing was deep and even. He remembered sitting in this very room more than six years ago, wanting to run, knowing he had to stay. The grippe had hit her hard and with no quinine left, it seemed very likely they would lose her. Unable to stand by and do nothing, he prepared to seek the only help left to him. But Matthew had intervened, offering to go himself, indicating with a look and a gesture that Sully should maintain his vigil there. What had Matthew known then that he hadn’t known, or more accurately, hadn’t wanted to know? He told himself he didn’t want the Cooper children to lose another mother so soon but as he knelt by her out at the Indian camp, while Cloud Dancing chanted and performed his healing ritual, he fed her the fever tea and stroked her cheek and knew it wasn’t just the Coopers he was worried about. And this knowledge frightened him.

Bringing her back to the clinic, he had sat by her bed and dosed her with the tea at the proper intervals and watched her breathing and listened to her feverish moans until they both fell into a deep sleep.

He’d had no time to reflect on the elation he’d felt upon her awakening, but had hurried to tell the children and Olive. When they had left and Michaela had fallen asleep again, he felt himself drawn to her as iron to a magnet. He’d kissed her forehead and it had felt right and with the rightness came a feeling of wonder and then the little voice saying ‘But what about Abigail?’ And he’d paused. Then stilling the voices within him, he’d sat down by the bedside again and willed her to get well. Time enough for questions later. For now, Cloud Dancing had left her recovery up to him.

Through half-closed eyes, Sully watched her now and his memories were so vivid that when he heard her voice cry weakly, "Sully?", it took him a moment to remember ‘when’ he was. Quickly he came back to the present and bent over the bed with a smile. "I’m here" he said, taking Michaela’s cold hand in his warm one. "I’m here" he repeated and sitting on the edge of the bed, he smoothed her brow. "D’ ya think ya could drink a little more tea?"

"Please" she gave a small smile and began to sit up.

"Be right back" he told her, kissing her hand, then releasing it.

Michaela sipped her tea, savoring its warmth as Sully sat silently, thinking of how best to put the next phase of his plan into action. Finally, he decided to plunge right in. "I got a plan" he told her, "t’ take ya away from here for a bit - just th’ two of us - t’ do some healin’ together".

Looking flustered, Michaela reached to place her empty cup on the bedside table then ran her hands through her hair distractedly. "Sully, I couldn’t possibly ... the clinic ... my patients ..."

Sully grinned in exasperation and relief. She was beginning to sound like the old Michaela. "It’s just turned Sunday" he informed her. "Folks won’t expect ya t’ be available t’day. Y’ still need ta rest an’ recover. Doctor’s orders!"

"‘Doctor’s’?" Michaela quirked an eyebrow.

"Uh ... I’ll tell ya about that later. D’ ya think you’re up ta ridin’ a little way in th’ wagon?"

Too weak to protest and deep in her heart wanting to give in, Michaela nodded.

Sully grinned and suddenly threw back the covers and picked Michaela up in his arms. "Sully!" she protested.

"Uh-uh" he said, holding her tighter, "‘member I’m th’ doctor an’ you’re th’ patient. Ya gotta do what I say!" He gazed at her and for just a moment his eyes blazed and Michaela leaned back into his arms with a sigh of submission.

He carried her downstairs and, leaving her nightshift on, he bundled her into her long coat. He sat her down and helped her put her boots on her feet. Seeing the dark windows and how still everything was, Michaela asked, "Sully, what time is it?"

"Just past one" he answered.

"In the morning?"

"Yep. Wanted ta get outta here without a lotta people seein’" When all was in readiness, he blew out the lamp, and picking Michaela up again, he exited the clinic, balancing carefully as he pulled the door closed and locked it, still holding his wife carefully.

The wagon was waiting out in the street, brought there by Robert E and he knew it was full of supplies and things he had requested from the homestead, courtesy of Grace. He placed Michaela on the wagon seat and hopping up himself, he clucked to the horse. With his wife leaning up against him, they clattered, unobserved, out of town.

Robert E lay awake in the bed beside his sleeping wife. She had been more tired than usual lately but a lot had been going on and they’d all been under a lot of strain.

He and Grace had taken the Sully wagon out to their homestead and Grace had loaded it up with supplies from a list Sully had given her. Then she’d insisted on going by first their own house and then the cafe to pick up ‘just a few extra things they might need’ before parking the wagon in front of the clinic as Sully had requested.

Robert E hoped this little time away Sully had planned would be good for both of his friends. Goodness knows they needed the break. Meanwhile, Robert E worried about Matthew and his plans to try to complete Preston’s homestead. Sully had told him a little about the damage and destruction that had gone on out there and had been pretty plain that he didn’t want his family and friends involved in what he saw as his battle. He was clearly afraid that anyone who became involved in the project at this point might be putting themselves in the line of fire. "It’s best we all stay away for awhile" Sully had told him. "Maybe they’ll give it up and leave us alone".

But if Matthew was determined to take this on, there wasn’t much Robert E could do to stop him. And if he wasn’t going to stop him, he might as well join him. In fact, the more people they could get to work on the project, the better. People who snuck around doing their evil deeds by night were usually cowards as he had very good reason to know. He’d talk to Matthew, and some of the other men in the morning.

With this thought in mind, he rolled on his side and put his arm around Grace who snuggled closer to him with a little sigh. It was time to join Sully’s battle, just as Sully had so often joined his. As he drifted off to sleep, he thought he heard the rattle of a wagon on its way out of town.

Part 44
Brian dozed by what was left of the campfire he had built, then shook himself awake. He had meant to stay alert but he was still weak and tired from his illness. He had tried to pray, to meditate, hoping for a sign or an inspiration as to how to help Sully. To keep himself awake he stood up and began walking. He reached into his pocket and felt the little owl he had placed there, rubbing it with his thumb as if for luck.

A thin shaft of moonlight wafted through the trees and splashed on the path before him, like a rivulet of silver. He followed it a ways, suddenly breaking into a clearing. The weird light played tricks on his eyes and it took him a few minutes to realise what he was looking at. It was Preston’s new homestead, only he was coming at it from the back. He’d never seen it from this angle before. As if in a trance, he followed the path of light to the house and walked all around it. It was hard to tell in the dark, but it certainly looked to him to be near completion. Looking around warily for non-existent observers, he carefully let himself into the house. It was darker in here, but enough light came in the windows for him to see the interior was still under construction. Cabinets and shelves were assembled but had yet to be attached to the walls. He wished he had brought a lantern. He didn’t dare try to explore too far in the dark. He let himself out as carefully as he had gone in, wanting to leave no sign that he had been there. He descended the porch steps and was about to head back into the woods when he heard the sound of a wagon. Who would be coming along here at this time of night? He flung himself to the ground behind a pile of lumber and supplies that lay beside the porch, then dared to lift his head a little to see what was passing by. It was a wagon, all right -- their wagon, he was sure and it looked like Sully driving with Ma leaning up against his shoulder. They were headed out of town. What in the world were they up to at this time of night? Had Ma gotten worse? Brian was on the verge of jumping out and intercepting them, even though he knew he’d be in big trouble, but then he stopped. Maybe Pa was taking Ma somewhere to get help. He always seemed to know the right way to do that. As he squatted behind the pile of building supplies, Brian felt the owl digging into his leg through his pocket and suddenly he had his answer. The moon had showed him. He watched the wagon disappear over the rise, then hurried back to his camp. He tried to coaxed the fire back to life then, tiring, he rolled himself up into his blanket and fell into an exhausted sleep. Tomorrow he would plan his strategy.

Sully kept the horse to a slow pace as they headed toward their destination. He slowed even further as they came abreast of Preston’s homestead. All was quiet there. He felt a little pricking at the back of his neck as they went by but laid it up to nervousness about leaving the place empty and untended. He hated to do it but Michaela was more important than Preston’s homestead and he wasn’t about to put family or friends in danger by asking them to keep watch there. He had told Robert E he didn’t want any of them near the place lest they make themselves a target for whoever had it in for him -- if there was such a person. He had slept there with Wolf for nearly a week and there had been no sign of any disturbance.

Michaela had been dozing on his shoulder for most of the way, for which he was grateful. He figured she needed rest more than anything right now. At last they reached their destination and he pulled the wagon to a halt. The place had changed in five years -- new growth had sprung up, the trees were all bigger, the little stream wider. The clearing seemed smaller, due to the new growth, but there was plenty of room to set up camp. Carefully he put an arm around Michaela and spoke to her quietly. "Michaela, we’re here". She blinked sleepily and tried to sit up straighter. "Can ya sit like that ‘til I can help ya down?" Sully made sure she wasn’t going to topple then hopped down quickly, reaching up to lift her down from the wagon. He led her over to a large boulder and seated her upon it, then hurried back to the wagon for a blanket which he wrapped snugly and securely around her. "I’ll make camp real quick" he promised her, "an’ then you can go back ta sleep". She nodded wearily, pulled the blanket more tightly about herself and closed her eyes.

Sully quickly built a fire and cleared a place for their bedroll. A glance at the sky and a test of the wind told him it was a clear night with little chance of rain. He would build a lean-to, if need be, tomorrow, but wouldn’t take the time now. As he spread their blankets and arranged their sleeping place, he couldn’t help but grin to himself, thinking of sleeping together here under the same blanket. He had to ask himself why they’d never returned to this special place and truthfully, he couldn’t answer. Well, they were here now and hopefully it would prove a place of healing for Michaela as it had been for him.

Sully finished setting up their sleeping place then walked over to the boulder and helped Michaela to her feet. He sleepwalked her over to their bedroll and helped her to lie down, then he lay down beside her, pulling the blanket up over both of them then drawing her close into his embrace. Soon they both were asleep.

Part 45
Matthew awoke early, wondering why he felt so annoyed. Remembering, he threw back the covers and sat up. Going to the room Brian had been using, he first knocked and, receiving no answer, opened the door and looked in. No Brian and his bed had not been slept in. Matthew was pretty sure he hadn’t slept at home, last night, either. He had stopped by the place late last evening, hoping to arrive in time to help Brian with the chores and had ended up doing them all himself. He supposed Brian might have been invited to stay the night at the Taylor’s but it would have been nice if he had checked in with his brother, first. Brian didn’t even know about Sully’s plan - - he’d asked Matthew to fill Brian in. Brian might have gotten busy helping out at the Taylor’s, but he should have remembered his other responsibilities -- it wasn’t that far from the Taylor’s to the Sully homestead. As he washed up and dressed, Matthew figured he’d have a few words for his brother this morning at church.

Muttering to himself as he performed the morning chores -- again by himself -- Matthew tried to get his mind on how he was going to approach Robert E this morning about completing the work on Preston’s homestead. His talk with Hank had revealed Hank’s opinion that Sully was all but done. Of course, Hank wasn’t sure about the interior, but with enough manpower they should be able to put a good dent in what was left to do in the couple days Sully and Dr. Mike were away. He didn’t know why Robert E had seemed so skittish about it yesterday, but he was determined to be more assertive today. He would see to it that the job was done, with or without help.

Sully was awake and tending the fire when Michaela began to stir. Smiling, he eased over and squatted beside her. "Mornin’".

Michaela smiled and stretched. "Good morning". She half-rose, then looked about her in puzzlement. "Sully?"

" ‘s all right" he reassured her. "We came out here last night, remember? You were more than half asleep." Michaela sat all the way up and looked around some more. Sully took the blanket she had pushed back and draped it around her shoulders. "It’s still a bit chilly" he explained. "Feel like some coffee this mornin’? You been drinkin’ a lotta tea lately ..."

"Yes, please"

Soon Sully and Michaela were seated comfortably by the fire, each with a steaming mug in hand. Sully had been able to mix up some biscuit and cook some eggs, thanks to the supplies Grace had provided and he was glad to see Michaela showing an interest in the food. While they ate, he finally told her about how he and Jake had tried running the clinic for the day and how so many of the patients had been highly suspicious of their efforts to help them, asking when the ‘real’ doctor would be back. He had told her some of this before, when she was locked in the room, but he doubted she’d really heard or wanted to hear, then.

Now, she actually laughed. "Well, now you know how I felt!" she said, half-teasingly.

Smiling, he said, "I was thinkin’ ‘bout when ya first come ta town. ‘Bout how everyone was expectin’ ‘Michael Quinn’." He paused, remembering. "Folks was all excited havin’ a fancy doctor from Boston comin’ ‘specially when the ones in Denver and St. Louis wouldn’t give ‘em th’ time o’ day. They’d wired all around here an’ even t’ soma th’ medical schools but no one wanted ta come to a little town with no hospital where the folks prob’ly couldn’t pay a lot." He chuckled. "A lot of ‘em were gettin’ awful uppity about it ‘til Jake tried ta bring ‘em back to earth. He was feelin’ a little put out since he’d been doin’ mosta th’ doctorin’ other than midwifin’. He didn’t like that they were so happy ta be gettin’ a ‘real’ doc. He said what I’d kinda been thinkin’ -- ‘If this fella’s so great, why’s he comin’ here? Why ain’t he takin’ over his dead Pa’s practice and workin’ in that fancy Boston hospital?’ But folks was too far gone with this ta pay him any mind. They had all kinda stories about ya ...."

"Stories?" Michaela was enjoying Sully’s tale and wondering why she’d never heard any of this before.

"Yep. ‘Bout how many lives you’d saved back in Boston. ‘Bout how ya were comin’ out here ta start a hospital. They even talked ‘bout what ya looked like ..."

"What I looked like?!?"

"Yep. Michael Quinn was supposed ta be tall, with dark hair an’ a big mustache!"

"You’re making that up!" Michaela challenged.

"Nope. Jake heard it from Loren who heard it from someone at the saloon who’d heard it from one o’ th’ farmers -- but of course he couldn’t remember who. Then came th’ day you arrived in town. I was helpin’ with the negotiations at treaty council and saw ya trailin’ along after the Reverend. Couldn’t figure who ya might be, dressed so fancy an’ all. Then I saw the black bag and realised you had ta be the new doctor!" Sully’s eyes shone with the memory. "I watched ya fall face down in th’ mud an’ then pick yourself right back up again an’ go on. I heard the stories how ya wouldn’t let them send ya home but insisted on takin’ th’ job even when they told ya they didn’t want ya. Then I saw ya again in the mercantile, standin’ up ta Loren about puttin’ up your advertisement for a place ta stay, an’ takin’ down his sign about dogs an’ Indians ...Even when the soldier put the sign back up an’ I busted it with my tomahawk, ya hardly even blinked! Ya just reached over an’ put up your notice. I knew then that the people of Colorado Springs had met their match! It was a pretty good joke on them after the way they’d been goin’ on about their fancy eastern doctor. I knew a woman was not what they’d had in mind. I also knew I was gonna try ta help ya".

"Well, I certainly didn’t have that impression at first" Michaela declared.

"What d’ ya mean?"

"Why, the way you looked at me ... like I was some sort of strange specimen or something!"

"You were strange!" Sully countered, "dressed so fancy an’ bein’ a doctor an’ all. Most women woulda run screaming th’ first time they fell in th’ mud, let alone encountering a wolf, an Indian an’ a ‘savage’ who threw tomahawks! But ya just said ‘Good morning gentlemen’ in that prim little voice and took off with Charlotte ta get a horse. You were also ... th’ most beautiful thing I’d ever seen".

Michaela lowered her head, blushing, then looked back at him. "Well, I must admit I found myself somewhat attracted to you and I was surprised and pleased when you offered your homestead. But then you didn’t even tell me your name!"

"Ya didn’t ask!" Sully pointed out.

"Truthfully, you were so reticent, I was afraid you’d change your mind if I said anything at all".

Both were silent for a time, remembering those awkward earliest encounters. Finally Sully spoke. "I was afraid when ya saw the homestead that that would be the thing that would finally send ya runnin’ for home. I didn’t know how run-down it had gotten. But ya just said ‘I’ll take it’, an’ then commenced makin’ a home of it".

"Well, I had lots of help with that!" Michaela remembered. "Charlotte and the children helped me clean it up and do the necessary repairs to make it livable. And then when Charlotte died and the children came to live with me, that’s when it really started to become a home. That’s why it was so devastating when we almost lost it".

"When Loren claimed it belonged to him and demanded it back" Sully remembered.

Michaela nodded. "I tried to put a brave face on it, telling the children how convenient it would be to live at the clinic. But truthfully, I don’t know what we would have done if he’d forced us out."

Very quietly Sully said, "Maybe I’da hadta build another homestead -- on land that was clearly mine".

Michaela turned to him in surprise. "That wouldn’t have been exactly proper" she said.

"Why not? It was my land an’ I had a right ta build what I wanted and rent to whom I pleased."

"Well, it’s easy for you to say that in retrospect" Michaela said, "but back then ..."

"Back then it’s exactly what I was thinkin’ of doin’. Why is that so hard for you to believe?"

"Well, I had the idea that I made you uncomfortable. And I’m afraid I was rather ... well ... brash ... with you about accepting the fact that Abigail was gone ..."

"Brash?" Sully said, raising his eyebrows. Then he went on, "I knew th’ kids would hate movin’ back ta town. We were already somehow ‘connected’ by then, you , me an’ th’ kids. You know that. ‘Sides," he grinned, "I would’ve felt awkward comin’ for supper if ya lived in town -- too many people around".

They were silent again for awhile, comfortable together, then Michaela said, "I’m sorry, Sully"

"Sorry?"

"Yes. For all this ..."

Sully squinted at her. "For bein’ out here alone with me?"

Michaela shook her head impatiently. "No, no. This is wonderful, Sully. But I know you have other things you could be doing, should be doing ..."

Sully put a finger on her lips to silence her. "Nothin’ is more important than you gettin’ well an’ rested" he told her.

"But that’s just it, Sully. I’m not really ill! I just got so tired and overwhelmed and I just felt I couldn’t take it anymore. I screamed at all those people ... the children ... I can’t imagine what they all must think!"

"They think I’m doin’ the right thing by bringin’ ya out here to recover. Ya need healin’ same as if your body was sick. Cloud Dancin’ would say somethin’ was out of balance ..." He paused, thinking about his brother, wishing he were here. Feeling that they’d talked long enough for now and seeing that Michaela was having trouble keeping her eyes open, Sully suggested, "Why don’t ya lie down for awhile now while I clean up?" He helped her over to their bedroll and tucked the blankets around her. "We can talk more later".

Michaela snuggled down under the blanket and sighed. Then, looking up at Sully she suddenly burst out laughing. "A mustache?" she said.

Smiling, Sully touched her upper lip with a teasing finger. "Yup. Right there". Then he kissed her where her mustache would have been, if she’d had one and went to clean up the breakfast things.

Part 46
Matthew arrived at church just after the bell finished tolling. He tiptoed inside and slid into a pew next to Loren, who nodded to him as he continued to bellow out the opening hymn. Matthew glanced around surreptitiously, looking for Brian, but he saw only Peter Taylor sitting between Bonnie and Sam. He was restless throughout the service and could not have said what the sermon was about it his life depended on it. When worship ended he flung himself down the aisle and out the door trying to decide whether to accost Peter first or to try to speak to some of the men about helping with Preston’s homestead. His decision was made for him when Bonnie and Sam were the first to come bounding down the steps followed by Peter calling, "Whoa! Slow down you two!" When he spotted Matthew, he walked over and drawled, "Howdy, Sheriff, how’s it going?"

Matthew grinned distractedly. "Hey, Peter. Is Roberta all right?"

"She’s fine" Peter assured him. "It’s just that we figured it would be to much, trying to get everyone ready this morning. We decided it would be easier if Bobby just stayed home with the little ones."

Matthew felt a twinge of guilt as he thought of Roberta trying to manage her twins plus two extra small children. He hoped Brian was helping out a lot. "I’ll be over later ta pick up the kids" he promised.

"Oh, they’re no trouble" Peter assured him. "Bobby’s in her element, having the time of her life. She always wanted a houseful. We’ll be glad to keep Katie and Gordon until Sully and Michaela get back. I’m sure you have enough to do, as it is."

"Well, if you’re sure ..." Matthew said gratefully. "Listen, will you give Brian a message from me? Tell him I need him ta take care o’ th’ chores at th’ homestead t’day? I did ‘em al yesterday, but I really need him t’ do his share t’ day ..." he paused when he saw the puzzled look on Peter’s face.

"I’ll be glad to tell him, Matthew, if I see him, but ..."

"Y’ mean he’s not at your place?" Matthew exploded.

Peter shook his head. "I haven’t seen him at all!"

Bonnie, who had sidled up and was listening in, spoke. "He came by the house yesterday, but Mother told him that we were taking care of Katie and Gordon and that he should go home and take care of his own chores. She told him about how he and Sam couldn’t be together for two weeks because of how they ..."

"Thanks, Bonnie" Peter interrupted, "now can you run along and let us talk a moment?" When she had skipped off, he tuned to Matthew who had pulled of his hat and was gritting his teeth in frustration. "Do you think he’s all right?"

"I don’t know" Matthew said aggravatedly. "Of all the times for him to pull a stunt like this ..." He glanced around, watching as the other people he wished to talk to one by one mounted their wagons or horses and rode away. "I needed t’ talk t’ people about helpin’ t’ finish up Preston’s homestead an’ now I gotta go chasin’ after Brian. He should know better ..." He jammed his hat back onto his head.

Peter laid a calming hand on Matthew’s shoulder. "It’s not time to worry yet" he said, "You know Brian can take care of himself. Why don’t you tell me what you have in mind about Preston’s house, then you can go back to the homestead and see if you can figure out what happened to Brian while I see if I can talk to the people you wanted to see this morning" He turned slightly to include Robert E, who had just joined them, in the conversation.

"Everythin’ all right, Matthew?" the blacksmith asked. "Heard ya say somethin’ ‘bout Brian ..."

Matthew grimaced. "It looks like he’s taken off somewhere. I was just gonna go back t’ the homestead to se if he left any indication of where he went".

"And I’m going to talk to some people about working on Preston’s place while Sully is gone so he doesn’t get too far behind. I expect the judge to be coming within a week. Care to help me, Robert E?"

Robert E bit his lip and looked at the ground, then straightened his shoulders and nodded. "Sure, Peter, I’ll be glad t’ help".

"Great!" Peter rubbed his hands together. "Matthew, I’ll stop by the Sully place later this evening. If you’re not there, I’ll leave a note. Please keep us abreast of what’s going on".

"Sure" said Matthew, "I will. An’ thanks, Peter, Robert E!" He took off running for his horse while Peter and Robert E put their heads together to plan their own strategy.

While this was going on, the young man in question had fixed himself a pretty nice breakfast from supplies he had brought and was now seated on the steps of Preston’s homestead looking at the set of plans he had searched for, and finally found, inside. He kept a wary ear out for anyone who might be approaching on the road, but it was a quiet morning and he figured most folks were probably at church.

He had toyed with the idea of showing up at church, himself, but he was afraid if he had, he might not have easily gotten away again. He wondered if Matthew had found the note he’d left. Brian knew he’d probably be angry, but having done a task and gone on a vision quest, himself, Matthew would surely come to understand why he felt he had to do this.

He turned the plans over and over in his hands, trying to see which parts had been completed and which were yet to be done. They weren’t very like the type of plans they’d used when he’d helped Sully make that dollhouse for Katie. Plans in hand, he walked around, inside and outside the house, admiring the work Sully had done. He knew he couldn’t finish it all himself and decided to set himself a few simple tasks that he knew he was capable of.

Startled by the sound of a wagon on the road, Brian consulted the sky and realised that church must be over. It was time to take cover again. Tomorrow he would begin.

After church, a group of townspeople trooped over to the cafe where they set out food they’d brought to share, then gathered at the tables to gossip. Grace set out a pot of coffee and a pitcher of cider, then sat down at a table with Dorothy, Horace and Loren. Hank sauntered in to see what the action was and seated himself at a nearby table next to a grumpy-looking Jake. "Where’s your ‘senorita’, Jake?" he asked.

Jake threw him a black look then replied, "She went ta Denver. Ta church."

"Why didn’t ya go with her?" Hank persisted.

"Didn’t feel like it"

"I don’t see why she gotta go all the way ta Denver when we got a perfectly respectable church right here!" Loren chimed in.

"She’s Catholic" Jake said darkly.

"So what?" Loren protested.

"I had a cousin was gonna marry one o’ them Catholics!" Horace declared. "But she told him if they didn’t go to a special Catholic service every week they’d burn in Hell forever! And the services weren’t even in English but some foreign language!"

"Ah, that’s Latin, that is" Loren said. "Buncha mumbo jumbo ‘f ya ask me"

"Nobody asked you, Loren" Jake said dryly.

"Has anyone heard anythin’ about Dr. Mike?" Horace changed the subject.

Dorothy and Grace exchanged a quick glance. They knew Sully didn’t want a lot of people knowing what they were up to.

"Matthew was in church this mornin’" Loren offered. "But he acted like he had ants in his pants or somethin’ -- couldn’t sit still for a minute!"

"Didn’t realise my sermon was so stimulatin’" said the Reverend, who had just arrived, guided by his cane. Loren drew out a chair for him and he sank down gratefully. "What were you all saying about Dr. Mike?"

"We were sayin’ nobody knows how she is" Dorothy told him.

Jake snorted. "Y’ mean nobody knows where she is"

"You were over at the clinic yesterday, Jake, didn’t you see her?" Loren asked.

"No" Jake said crossly. "Sully just asked ta borrow my tub so I helped him take it over there and then he as good as kicked me out"

The conversation was interrupted when Preston strode purposefully into the cafe. "All right, where is he?" he said without preamble. Blank faces stared up at him as he approached Dorothy’s table.

"Where’s who?" Loren asked petulantly.

Preston placed his hands on the table and leaned forward. "Where’s Byron Sully?" he enunciated carefully. "And while we’re on the subject, where is Dr. Quinn? Has anybody seen either of them recently? Sully has not worked on my homestead since Thursday and Dr. Quinn never once came out to my clinic, as promised." His lips pulled back in the semblance of a grin. "I don’t suppose any of you have seen either of them recently".

"In case you haven’t heard, Dr. Mike took sick the other day" Grace informed him.

"Sick?" Preston retorted . "My understanding was that she was simply unable to cope with the pressures of being a wife, a mother and a doctor"

Grace seemed about to retort when Dorothy looked up in surprise, staring at something over Grace’s shoulder. "Oh my goodness!" she cried, her hand to her heart, "Soldiers!" Everyone turned to look as a group of soldiers on horseback trotted briskly down the road that ran past the cafe.

"What are they doin’ back" Jake exclaimed. "Thought we got rid of them two years ago!"

Preston had straightened and was staring at the procession with a pleased look on his face. "I wired them!" he stated. "That is," he amended, "I wired the Army. I understand the judge will be coming soon and I felt they still might have an interest in the outcome of Sully’s case. I know everyone here wants to be sure that the same type of travesty does not happen again!"

"Aw, what’re ya talkin’ about, Preston?" Loren blustered. "Th’ Indians are gone. They all got safe passage to th’ north, long time ago ..."

"Loren’s right, Preston" the Reverend put in, "the Reservation’s empty, there’s no one there to ask for Sully’s help ..."

"Yes," Preston smirked, "but who knows what cause Byron Sully will decide to take up next? Defending the trees against the lumber mills? Rescuing the little forest animals from the hunters? Besides, right now our main concern should be keeping him from disappearing into the woods before his trial can be completed ... if he hasn’t done so already. It looks as if we may have to engage the Army to track him down right now!" Preston was getting more and more worked up and the people at the tables looked at one another uncomfortably.

Hank leaned back and blew a puff of smoke into the air. "Why don’t ya calm down, Preston? Sully ain’t goin’ nowhere"

"Then where is he?" Preston demanded. "I see a pattern emerging here. Sully has ceased work on my homestead, he is nowhere to be found ... that man is a danger to this town and ..."

Grace stood up. "Well, I don’t know about the resta you folks, but I’ve heard about all I want to. I’m gonna go home and spend some time with my husband"

The Reverend also rose. "And I have some things to take care of over at the church..."

Murmuring assent, the others rose and began to make their way out of the cafe, casting covert glances at Preston as they left. Preston’s mouth tightened and his nostrils flared as he watched them. As Hank passed by, he leaned in toward Preston with a grin. "Give it a rest, why dontcha" he advised. He tapped Preston on the chest, then sauntered down the street.

Jaw set, Preston lifted his chin and a smile played about his lips as he thought of Judge Roland. Maybe these blind, foolish people couldn’t see what he did about what Sully was really like, but he was sure the Judge would be in agreement. The tide was due to turn in his favor. Determinedly he strode away to greet the Army contingent.

Part 47
Michaela slept for a long time; a deep and restful sleep. Sully cleaned up the breakfast things, constructed a lean-to, tended the fire and caught a rabbit for their supper. He prepared the rabbit and set it to stew with some vegetables Grace had sent along. Then he sat by the fire, thumbing through a book of poetry he had brought along - an anthology, Michaela had called it when she’d given it to him last Christmas - poetry by a lotta different folks all in one book. He vaguely remembered books like this from back when he was a child, before ...

"Sully?" Michaela was sitting up, looking at him. She blinked, shaking off the disorientation of sleep. "What time is it?" she yawned.

Sully looked around and up at the sky. "Prob’ly about three" he said. "Ya had a good sleep".

Michaela looked around at the lean-to and the fire with its simmering pot of stew. "You’ve been busy" she commented.

"Yep". Sully grinned impishly and picked up something beside him, hiding it behind his back. He walked over and sat beside Michaela, saying, "Fixed ya a little snack ..." and presented her with a piece of bark. Michaela took it and seeing what it held, looked back at Sully, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, a gleam in her eye. For a moment they gazed into each other’s eyes, flashes of memory arcing between them, then Sully snuggled a little closer to her and taking a fat berry from the improvised platter, he held it to her lips. "Open up" he said. Michaela took the fruit, savoring its sweetness. Sully then dipped two fingers into the honeycomb and held the dripping sweetness out to her. With a glance at him that was almost shy, Michaela licked his fingers clean, then ran her tongue around her lips to remove any residual stickiness. They gazed at each other again, then Sully leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on her lips.

When they parted, Michaela sat back, then stared off into the distance for a moment. "When I was with the Dog Soldiers that time, I was so frightened ... yet I knew you would come for me. I’m not sure how I knew," she admitted, "I mean, I know you were upset - even angry with me - for telling Custer the truth about who killed those soldiers".

"I wasn’t thinkin’ ‘bout that" Sully told her. "Once they kidnapped you, all I thought about was gettin’ ya back safe" He paused, choosing his words. "When I couldn’t track ya anymore, I hadta try ta find ya with my heart - and we’d been so ... so far ‘apart’ lately, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to".

Michaela looked at him. "It made that much difference?"

Sully thought before going on. "You an’ me, Michaela, we got somethin’ special, we always did. There were other times when I knew you was in trouble an’ I was able ta be there for ya ... an’ you done the same for me" Michaela nodded, remembering. "But when ya said ya couldn’t ‘be with’ me ..."

"Because of Catherine" Michaela interjected.

"Yeah. When ya drew back from me that way, I felt like the connection was maybe broke for awhile ..."

"But I felt you looking ... I knew you were out there!" Michaela protested. "I even called out to you!"

"An’ I heard ya callin’ me even thought ya weren’t right nearby. Guess it proves our connection is stronger than th’ things that might keep us apart".

Tears filled Michaela’s eyes. "Two years ago everyone tried to convince me you had to be dead. Even Dorothy told me I had to ‘face facts’. But I knew, I knew deep inside myself that you were alive. That connection was there, Sully. So when Roberta came with the news that she had found you - it was no surprise".

"Ya might wanta ask her about who found who ..." Sully commented with a grin. Then seeing that Michaela’s eyes were still tear-filled, he put his arms around her and drew her close. "Hey," he said, "I didn’t bring ya out here to upset ya - we came here so you could relax and we could enjoy some time t’gether away from all that, all right?" He wiped her tears and kissed her gently and Michaela managed a wan smile. Glancing toward the fire, Sully continued, "Supper’s almost ready. Ya hungry?"

"Well, we did just have a snack ..." Michaela teased.

Sully’s eyes twinkled. "Pretend you’re in one o’ them fancy places like in Boston or Denver" he told her, "where they give ya a little somethin’ while you’re waitin’ for ‘em ta cook your meal".

"An appetizer" Michaela supplied.

"Right. That was just your ‘appetizer’".

Michaela played along. "Well, then, by all means bring on the main course!"

They ate the delicious stew and when Michaela teasingly inquired about dessert, Sully brought forth the remains of the berries and honeycomb and they fed each other, sharing some very sweet kisses between bites. When they finished, Michaela went down to the stream to wash away the last of the stickiness. Sully watched as she paused at the bank, looking all around with a thoughtful expression on her face, and a smile played about his lips. He straightened the big blanket out and rearranged their sleeping rolls to make a comfortable place to sit by the fire as he waited. She returned from her ablutions, gliding through the dusk like a vision and he welcomed her into his arms. She laid her head on his shoulder and gave a sigh of deep contentment. "Sully?" she said at last, not moving from his embrace.

"Hmmm?"

"Are we ... are we where I think we are?" She drew back to look up into his face and he smiled down at her and, unable to resist, kissed her nose.

"Where d’ya think we are?" he asked.

"Well ..." she began, "of course it’s changed a bit, but it looks like ... it reminds me of the place you came when you had the megrim ... the place where we ... where you ..."

"Where I asked you ta marry me" Sully finished. He guided her down onto the blankets, continuing to hold her close once they were seated. "Best thing I ever did" he said quietly.

Michaela turned to look at him. "I was always curious, Sully - why here? Why then?"

Sully stared off into the distance, remembering. "When I was in th’ sweat lodge, prayin’ for healin’ of th’ headache, I had a vision. Cloud Dancin’ came t’ me first an’ he showed me you comin’. You were so beautiful, all in white ... an’ we came t’gether an’ I was holdin’ ya an’ it felt so right ... An’ then suddenly you were walkin’ away from me, leavin’ me an’ I didn’t want that t’ happen ..."

"And you called out my name" Michaela remembered.

"I knew I had t’ ask ya - right then, right there. Now I know it was real good that I did"

"Why do you say that?" Michaela wondered.

"Say I hadn’t asked ya then -- an’ then we found out that that Andrew fella was really David ..."

"Would it have made a difference? You mean you wouldn’t have ‘fought’ for me if we hadn’t been engaged?"

"I don’t know, Michaela" Sully shook his head. "If I hadn’ta asked ya an’ you hadn’ta said ‘yes’, then maybe I’da figured that David had a valid claim on ya and it wasn’t my place t’ interfere".

"I’m very glad you asked, then" Michaela said in a heartfelt voice. "That was such a painful time - for all of us - you, me, the children - perhaps most of all for David in the end. But I wouldn’t have wanted things to turn out any other way. And it helped me to find out things - about myself, and about you and David, that I might never otherwise have known"

"What things?"

Michaela thought carefully before answering. "You helped me see that, as much as I wanted to marry you, I really was afraid. It’s why I felt tempted to ‘go back to a simpler time’, as you so astutely put it. But you were right - one can never go back. When you gave me the freedom to decide and promised to be there for me whatever my decision - and you asked the children to do the same - I was able to see how truly deep your love for me was. And then later David tried to tell me that you and I were too different, that it would never work. He told me he wanted us to ‘pick up where we left off’. I knew then, with excruciating clarity, that choosing him would be a huge mistake - and that losing you would be a bigger one still. And I was so afraid I had lost you ..."

"You never lost me" Sully assured her fervently. "The moment I asked ya an’ you said ‘yes’, I gave ya my heart forever." He paused for a moment, lost in memory, then he turned to Michaela with a grin. "D’ ya remember what happened after that?"

Michaela reddened and lowered her gaze. "Well, you kissed me ..." she ventured. "I must say that was the first time I’d ever been kissed -- or kissed anyone -- like that!"

"They just didn’t teach ya anythin’ useful in Boston" Sully teased. "Then what happened after that?" he prodded.

"Well, we packed up and headed back to town to tell the children. You ... your headache was gone and ... What?" she said, seeing he was staring at her with a huge grin on his face.

"I remember I asked ya if ya wanted ta stay another night up here with me!" Sully was grinning wickedly and Michaela became flustered.

"Well, now, you know that would hardly have been proper ..."

Sully leaned closer and gazed at her seductively. "Why not? We’d already spent a night or two together ... If anything, bein’ engaged shoulda made it more proper ..." he ran his hand up and down her arm, causing her to shiver involuntarily. She looked at him from the corners of her eyes, trying to ascertain the degree to which she was being teased. Relenting, he admitted, "I was real glad you said ‘no’".

"Oh you were, were you?" Michaela said archly.

"Mmmm" Sully replied. "If you hadn’t, I mighta been tempted ta do things I shouldn’ta..."

"Really?"

"Mmmmm. Things a gentleman shouldn’t do with a lady. Leastwise not if they ain’t married."

"Such as?" This time it was Michaela who was being provocative.

Sully breathed deeply and gazed at his wife. "Well, first off, I’da wanted ta hold ya close..." He demonstrated. "An I’da wanted ta kiss ya more..." He showed her this, too. "An’ I mighta been tempted ta ... touch ... ya" His voice was becoming hoarse. "An’ maybe ta ... loosen your clothing ..." He continued to act out what he was telling her.

"Sully?" Michaela’s voice was low.

"Mmmm?" He was fiddling with her buttons.

"We are married now" she reminded him in the same low, husky voice.

"We are, aren’t we?" he rasped as he lowered her to the blanket. Then, propriety cast aside, they proceeded to demonstrate to each other some of the many advantages of married life.

Part 48
Preston strode briskly out of the cafe and over to where the soldiers had reined up their horses. The sergeant in charge was a stocky man, clean-shaven with hard features and flinty eyes. He gazed about him as if he didn’t much like what he saw. The five men who accompanied him seemed simply to be awaiting his orders.

Preston hurried up to them, giving his best public smile. "Good afternoon, gentlemen, welcome to Colorado Springs!"

"You’re Lodge?" the sergeant growled shortly.

"Preston A. Lodge III at your service!"

"Sgt. Michael Tanner, U.S. Army. You wired for us" It was not a question.

Preston’s ingratiating smile lost some of its dazzle at the sergeant’s harsh tone. "That’s right. I felt there was no point in taking any chances with things getting out of hand. I don’t know how aware you are of the situation here, but if you and your men will accompany me to the Springs Chateau, I can fill you in over dinner. I’ve also taken the liberty of setting aside some rooms for you to ..."

"Is this establishment nearby?"

"Well, it’s just outside of town, really only a short ..."

"We’ll camp in that meadow over there" the sergeant said with a lift of his chin. He then barked some orders to his men who immediately wheeled their horses, heading down the main street toward the meadow by the church. The sergeant turned back to Preston. "I am well aware of the situation here, if you are referring to the upcoming hearing for Byron Sully" he said the name as if it tasted bad. "I am also aware that sympathy in this town runs high in his favor. You were right to wire for us and I’m sure you understand why we must remain close to town to make sure the situation does not get out of hand.

"Of ... of course" Preston was a little taken aback by the venom in the sergeant’s voice. "I can see to it that your meals are brought out to you and ..."

"Mr. Lodge, we are soldiers. We set up a military encampment and eat soldiers’ rations. We are here to do a job, not to be mollycoddled!"

"Fine, fine" Preston said, spreading his hands placatingly. "You’re in charge!"

"You’re right" Sgt. Tanner replied. "Let me tell you something else, Mr.. Lodge. Sgt. Brian O’Connor was my best friend. We came up together, served together, then he was sent out to this God-forsaken wilderness to be in charge of imbeciles and savages. He was the one called on in an emergency situation to try to bring peace back to this hell-hole. For his efforts, he was killed and the murderin’ Indian-lover responsible was not even charged with his death. If he had been, he wouldn’t have gotten off so easily."

Preston looked startled. "Sgt. O’Connor was killed in a fall from a cliff"

"Who told you that, Byron Sully?"

"I think everyone just assumed ..."

Sgt. Tanner broke in, "Even if that were true, he was killed while in pursuit of the fugitive. It amounts to the same thing". Taking a deep breath, he seemed to regain control of himself and went on in a more normal tone, "I will meet with you first thing tomorrow. Do you have a council? Good. As mayor, will you be able to assemble them for an emergency meeting tomorrow?"

"Well ... I ... that is, I’m not mayor at the present time" for once Preston was flustered, but he quickly regained confidence. "But I can arrange a meeting with him and the other council members. Well, some of them. I must warn you, Sully’s wife is a member of the council".

"A woman on your council? This town has more problems than I thought!" For the first time Sgt. Tanner laughed. "I’ll see you in the morning, then" and giving a mock salute, he galloped off to join his men. Preston stared after him thinking to himself that things were going even better than he had hoped.

Matthew swung the axe until it bit into the chunk of wood, then banged it up and down until the wood split in two. For the second time in recent days he found himself regretting that he’d always allowed Ethan to take over for him instead of insisting that he take the time to show him how to do this. He envied Sully the liquid movements with which he’d send a piece of wood flying in two. By rights Brian should be doing this task here at the homestead so he, Matthew, could accomplish the same thing at his own home.

When he had found the note Brian had left he was angry at first. For a smart kid Brian could be awfully stupid sometimes. He could understand his excitement that Sully had suggested a vision quest in the near future. He still got a thrill, and a pang, remembering his won. There had been no other experience in his life like it, but he still ached inside when he remembered his had been just prior to his engagement to Ingrid.

He remembered the task Cloud Dancing had set him of finding the perfect egg of a red-tail hawk and how exacting he had been. Matthew had almost given up. But seeing it through had been worth it.

Now, it seemed, Brian had set himself his own task, but why Brian had chosen now to do it ... Well, he’d said in the note it was because he wanted to figure out a way to help Sully. Matthew shook his head. He guessed it hadn’t occurred to Brian that the best way he could help Sully right now was to be available to help maintain the homestead while he was away ... that running off could only cause more problems. Matthew tried to remember being Brian’s age, but he and Brian were so different. Brian treated everything as a quest of some sort.

Matthew had no doubt that Brian could manage in the woods alone - he’d been on enough trips with Sully to have learned what he needed to know. Matthew knew that many times Sully had allowed Brian to take the lead on such trips, just to be sure he could apply all that Sully had taught him. He guessed it would be more trouble than it was worth to go after him at this point. He really didn’t even know where to start looking.

His thoughts were interrupted when Peter rode into the yard. "Any word from Brian?" was his first question.

Matthew explained about the note and that Brian had gone off into the woods to "seek guidance" on how to help Sully.

Peter looked around at the pile of wood Matthew was splitting and at the other chores that needed doing and shook his head, but did not state the obvious. He only said, "Boys!" then added, "I spoke to some of the men about helping out tomorrow with Preston’s homestead. I think we have enough coming by at various times to get a good bit of the work done. I’ll try to swing by myself and give you a hand"

"Thanks, Peter. Thanks a lot" Matthew gave him a heartfelt handshake. "I’ll get over there first thing and see if I can figure what needs to be done". He surveyed the woodpile he had created. "Well, seeing as there’s no one here, that oughta do for now. I’ll be headin’ back t’ my homestead, but I guess I’ll see ya tomorrow!"

Peter hesitated , then said, "I guess you ought to know, soldiers rode into town this afternoon".

"Soldiers? What for?"

"Dorothy said Preston summoned them. Something about wanting to keep the peace when the judge comes. He seems to feel Sully will try to flee".

"Is this a problem?" Matthew searched Peter’s face.

"I don’t think so. But I will keep a close eye on things. Maybe I’ll be able to have a word with them tomorrow."

Matthew nodded, then waved as Peter rode off. As sheriff he guessed he’d better try to have a word with the soldiers, too. Best to establish right from the start who was in charge of keeping order around here. With a last glance around the homestead, he prepared to take his leave.

Part 49
Early Monday morning, some of the men of the town began gathering at Preston’s homestead. Jake strolled onto the property with studied casualness, thumbs hooked in his vest pockets. Loren, staring into space, his lower lip wedged between his teeth, turned his attention to the new arrival. "What ya doin’ here, Jake? Thought ya said ya had enough helpin’ Sully after that day at th’ clinic he put ya through!"

"Oh, um" Jake shifted his eyes from side to side like a boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Teresa thought I should come" he mumbled in a low voice.

"Uh-huh" Loren nodded sagely, running his tongue over his teeth. "Won’t be long now" he predicted. Seeing Jake’s questioning look he explained, "‘til we hear them weddin’ bells! Once you get a woman tellin’ ya what ta do, it’s only a matter of time!"

Jake reddened, then pushing his hat to the back of his head, he stood taller and pronounced, "Well, I thought I should come -- as mayor, you know, -- just ta check things out ..." Seeing Loren continue to nod with a knowing look on his face, he snapped, "Well, what’re you doin’ here? I never knew ya ta leave the store on a Monday. Ain’t that one o’ your busiest days?"

Loren shook his head. "Aaah, Dorothy took it into her head ta straighten out all th’ shelves taday an’ do an inventory. Says she wants ta pay me back for lettin’ her stay there, again. I told her she didn’t hafta, but there’s no talkin’ ta that woman once she has an idea in her head. Told me I’d just be in th’ way, so I thought I’d wander over here ta see what was goin’ on". He turned a wide-eyed innocent look on Jake whose turn it was to grin knowingly.

Matthew and Robert E trotted into the yard, seemingly deep in conversation, followed shortly thereafter by Horace. Soon, several other men drifted in and stood about talking in small groups. Peter had done his work well. Matthew and Robert E dismounted and Matthew immediately went from group to group trying to gather everyone together so they could discuss what needed to be done. Things were noisy and chaotic. Hank, who had been seated on the porch steps blowing smoke rings and observing the goings on, sauntered over to Matthew. Winking, he said in an undertone, "Are ya sure Sully’s gonna be happy about all this? He’s mighty particular ‘bout how the work gets done ..."

Matthew, growing impatient with what seemed like a steadily increasing number of people who found him incompetent, said through gritted teeth, "I know what I’m doin’, Hank!"

"All right, all right, calm down!" Hank said, "I just would hate ta see Sully get back from a nice, relaxing getaway with his wife ta find people swarmin’ all over his worksite"

Matthew chose to ignore this, saying only, "If you’re here ta help, we’re gettin’ together to decide what everybody’s gonna do"

Hank shook his head. "I got a business ta run, unlike somma these other folks. Right Jake?" He clapped his partner on the back and received a glowering look in return. "Maybe I’ll come back later and see how you all are doin’"

Not wasting any time, Matthew hastened to address the crowd. "Now I think we need ta put someone in charge ..." he began, his voice raised to be heard over the hubbub.

"That would be you, I suppose?" Jake said with a smirk.

"I think it should be someone who knows this kinda work" Matthew continued, ignoring him, "so I thought Robert E would be our best choice ..."

There was a murmur of voices, some dissenting and some speaking approval. Loren’s voice rose over the rest, "Ah, what makes ya think Robert E wants ta be in charge?"

"I think it’s a good idea!" Horace put in staunchly.

"Who asked you?" Jake said rudely.

"I already talked ta Robert E" Matthew said, raising his voice again, ignoring the exchange. "He’ll decide what needs ta be done and who’ll do it"

"Well, me an’ Jake already decided we’re gonna work on th’ inside" Loren said stubbornly, "Ain’t that right, Jake?"

"Uh, sure" Jake covered his startled look with a yawn. "Let’s get goin’" He slouched into the house, followed by a strutting Loren.

Matthew and Robert E watched them go, then exchanged glances, silently agreeing just to let things go. Robert E then began to speak about what needed to be done outside, and to assign people to the various tasks.

It was a frustrated Preston who hurried toward the cafe that morning. It was as if everyone in town had fallen off the face of the earth. The barber shop was shut up tight, and no amount of banging brought anyone to the door. The mercantile had been his next stop. Here he found Dorothy taking items off the shelves, counting them and making notes on a piece of paper she was carrying around with her.

"Loren?" she’d said vaguely. "I saw him here earlier" She’d glanced around doubtfully as if expecting to find him stashed in a bin somewhere. "Ya might try the barber shop" she suggested helpfully.

"Thanks" Preston answered through gritted teeth. He had the feeling Dorothy knew more than she was letting on so he wasn’t going to waste his breath explaining that the barber shop was closed. A quick stop at the Gold Nugget revealed only a few employees washing glasses and wiping tables. Hank had been seen riding out earlier but no one had seen Jake all morning.

The clinic was locked and a large sign that hung from the door proclaimed, "CLOSED". Preston rang anyway, then hit the door with the palm of his hand in frustration. The fire at the forge was banked and at the livery the few horses that were there stamped and snorted, but there was no sign of Robert E. So Preston headed for the cafe, the last logical gathering place, unless everyone was at the church, which, on a Monday morning, he sincerely doubted. There had been no town meeting called of which he was aware.

As he entered the eating area, he saw Sgt. Tanner seated at a far table looking impatient, but no sign of any of the others for whom he’d been searching all morning. Grace glanced up as he came in, then continued busying herself stirring something at the stove. "Morning, Preston" she said, her back to him. "Would ya like coffee?"

"What I’d like" Preston said through his teeth, "is to know where your husband, and for that matter, the mayor and the rest of the council are this morning!"

Grace turned and fixed him with her steady gaze. "Robert E had business to take care of this mornin’, but I’ll be sure ta tell him you were lookin’ for him when I see him"

"I’m sure you will" Preston muttered as he stalked over to Sgt. Tanner’s table.

The sergeant was drumming his fingers on the table and as soon as Preston approached he snarled, "What is going on here, Mr.. Lodge? You told me you would contact your mayor and have him assemble the council sot hat we can best decide how to go about keeping the peace around here at this crucial time"

"Well," said Preston with an attempt at levity, "things are pretty peaceful right now. In fact, nobody seems to be around at all!"

Tanner regarded him coldly. "Don’t your people have businesses to run? Who are your council people, anyway?"

"Well, let’s see" began a slightly flustered Preston. "Robert E is the blacksmith but there was no one at the forge this morning and I just asked Grace where her husband was" he indicated the cafe-owner with a nod of his head, "but she just said he had ‘business’ this morning".

Tanner looked startled. "That cook is married to a white man?" Seeing Preston’s look he said incredulously, "You have a colored man on your council? I guess that shouldn’t surprise me. Go on"

"Dr. Quinn is nowhere to be found" Preston continued, "and the clinic is closed. She is purported to be ill, though I have my doubts ..."

"Dr. Quinn? She? This is the wife of Byron Sully you told me about?"

"That’s right" Preston smirked. "She chose to keep her own name after the wedding. Loren Bray runs the mercantile but he wasn’t in, either. Dorothy Jennings, who used to run the paper before I took it over and who now clerks in Loren’s store, was there, but she wasn’t very forthcoming about his whereabouts. Mayor Jake Slicker runs the barbershop which was closed this morning and is also a partner in ownership of the Gold Nugget saloon. It’s been a long time, and I thought he’d given it up, but I suppose he could be off on a bender somewhere ..."

"Your mayor is a drunk?"

"Well, I thought ‘was’, but who knows?" Preston shrugged non-noncommittally. His defeat by Jake in the race for mayor still rankled after all this time. He looked up and a smile crossed his face. "Ah, at last!" he said.

"What d’ you mean?" the sergeant growled.

"Our final council member, Hank Lawson" Preston waved Hank over and introduced him to Sgt. Tanner. "I was beginning to think everyone in town had disappeared" he joked.

Hank took a puff on his ubiquitous cigar and sat down with the two men. "Why?" he asked, "Who ya been looking for?"

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