Cloud Dancing peered into the east as the sun began its slow ascent above the mountain tops bringing the pale, misty light of the dawn on this bitter winter’s day. He took a deep breath. "I do not believe you have cause to doubt her now …..," he remarked sombrely.

Sully shrugged his shoulders disconsolately. "But what she said …. it just wasn’ like the Michaela I thought I knew ….."

"There are many reasons why a person may say something …. and what is said may not be heard as the speaker intended …. What is it you are doubting?" asked Cloud Dancing, concerned for his close friends who were in discord. When Sully again shrugged his shoulders, unable to put into words his feelings, Cloud Dancing suddenly asked, "You would recall many years ago when Matthew undertook his vision quest?"

Sully’s perplexed eyes flew to his friend’s face. "Yeah, of course," he replied dismissively, "But what’s that got to do with Mic…?"

"He was set a task ….. one which would need a man’s courage and strength ….. Do you remember?"

"To collect a perfect egg from the nest of a red tailed hawk ….. I remember …."

"And why did that task require courage? It was not because of the climb high into the branches of a tall tree or up a steep cliff face …." Cloud Dancing watched Sully’s face carefully. "It was because Matthew would have to face the female hawk as she defended her nest and her young …. was it not?…."

Suddenly suspicious of the meaning behind Cloud Dancing’s story, Sully again shrugged, and his eyes returned to the flames.

"And what of the female hawk? Was she afraid of the strange two legged creature that had climbed the tree to her nest? ….. No …… She was frightened of what that creature might *do* ….. or cause to happen ….. and so she fought to keep her nest and eggs safe ….. Matthew had her claw marks on his hand …. remember?"

Sully’s face remained impassive but he was obviously listening.

"The hawk’s reaction would have been the same if it had been another hawk, a mountain lion or a bear threatening her nest and family …. She would have thought only of their safety …." He paused, allowing Sully to mentally digest his analogy and then he continued, "And the male hawk? When he returned to the nest …. he knew nothing of the danger to his family ….. only that one egg was missing ….."

Sully said dully, "Me an’ Michaela talked …."

"When the female hawk watches her mate set out in search of food for their family she cannot be certain that he will ever return …. And if he does not return to her she has no knowledge of the reason why ….. As she watches him soar up into the skies and over the mountain tops away from her, does she not want to be soaring up there with him …. alongside him? Yet the safety of her nest and her family must come first …."

Sully slumped down closer to the fire, pulling his blanket more closely around himself against the freezing air. "Michaela once said we were like two hawks ….," he mused.

"I have seen Michaela with the Cheyenne … I have seen her compassion for a people with whom she has no bond other than friendship ….. her defence of my people against Chivington, her quest to Washington …. You have seen this too and more ….. There is no reason to doubt her."

There was a long, silent pause while both men contemplated what effect the return of the Cheyenne, however temporary, may have on their lives. Cloud Dancing suddenly stood and looked down on his brother. "Have you and Michaela ever talked about what your family endured while you were in hiding and away from them?"

Sully said softly, "She won’t tell me everything …. Says it aint necessary ….. that I don’ need to know …. don’ need to keep goin’ over the past …."

"Perhaps I know more than you …. for Dorothy has told me a little of what happened in town …. the jeers, the threats, the harassment from the army ….. Michaela is unable to soar into the skies with you right now …. fly alongside you …. know that you are safe ….. as she once did …. Remember Washington and later the pardon she won?….. You must talk to her ……. try to understand why she feels threatened by the return of the Cheyenne …. I am certain that it has nothing to do with the people themselves …."

Sully’s eyes remained fixed on the flames of the fire as Michaela’s had the night before.

Cloud Dancing smiled down at his downcast, confused friend. "You said that Michaela would see to the injured child. I will go now and try to persuade them to bring him here to Palmer Creek ….. If you can bring her out this afternoon …. we should be in the woods, two hills over …. where the two streams meet …. you know the place?"

Sully nodded silently.

Cloud Dancing momentarily laid his hand on Sully’s shoulder. "Until this afternoon my friend," and he moved silently and swiftly away, leaving Sully lost in thought, his eyes focussed on the flames as if expecting to see in them the answer to his troubles.

Michaela drew the wagon to a halt in front of the clinic and pulled on the brake. She took a deep breath and prepared to face an uncertain day. She would’ve much preferred to be at home …. although Sully wasn’t there. His absence brought back so many unhappy memories - her heart sank and unwanted tears momentarily glimmered in her eyes.

Kathleen clambered down from the wagon and reached up for Katie, who, sensing her mother’s depression, had been fractious throughout the ride into town. Placing her charge on the ground and holding tight to her hand, Kathleen reached up to assist Michaela. She was worried about her friend who was far too pale and had dark circles under her eyes. Sully’s absence at breakfast had been explained to the children merely as his making an early visit to Cloud Dancing at Palmer Creek, but Kathleen had heard the raised voices the night before and was aware of Michaela’s distress, though at the moment she was uncertain as to what she could do about it. She tentatively suggested, "Perhaps Katie and I will go for a walk Michaela ….. visit Mr Bray …. Is there anything you need at the store?"

Michaela regarded her wanly and said quietly, "We’ll need something for tonight’s supper …. perhaps you and Katie could choose …."

Kathleen nodded and said quietly, "We’ll be around town if you need us for anything …. I’ll collect Michael from Grace at ten and we’ll go visiting …. or perhaps come back to the clinic and play …."

Michaela nodded gratefully.

As Kathleen and Katie headed for the mercantile, Dorothy appeared on the porch of the Gazette office. She watched her friend gather together her files and medical bag from the back of the wagon and make for the clinic door. "Mornin’ Michaela," she called. When her only response was a half-hearted wave Dorothy’s brow creased in concern. She glanced back at the clock on the wall of the Gazette office and then pulled the door shut behind her, she would see if her doctor friend was alright.

Michaela was sitting slumped in the chair at her desk when Dorothy knocked and entered the clinic. "Mornin’ Michaela," she said again. "Thought I’d just see how you and the family were doin’ after all the Christmas celebratin’." As she spoke she was observing her friend closely and what she saw only worried her more.

Michaela gave her a weak smile. "We’re fine Dorothy," she returned, politely but dispassionately. "And you?"

"Oh, I’m fine too …. I really enjoyed my Christmas this year …. Thank-you for allowin’ me to join your family." There was a long pause while Dorothy tried to think of some way to persuade an obviously distracted Michaela to open up about what was worrying her. Again she glanced at a clock – nearly twenty minutes before the first patients would arrive. She suggested with a heartiness she didn’t feel, "You look like you could do with a cup of Grace’s coffee and maybe even a couple of her piping hot biscuits Michaela ….. By the look of you, you didn’ eat much breakfast …. hope that mornin’ sickness aint comin’ back …… How ‘bout we go over to the caf� for a little while?" When Michaela looked as if she was about to refuse, Dorothy resolutely reached across to the hook behind the door and grasped her friend’s heavy woollen shawl. "Come on," she urged. "Times a wastin’."

Realising that her friend was determined, Michaela shrugged her shoulders in defeat and rose from her chair.

Having placed their order with Grace, Dorothy said quietly, "Alright Michaela ….. its obvious somethin’s worryin’ you ….. sometimes it helps to talk about it ….."

Michaela took a deep breath, unsure what to say or even where to start. Then she abruptly stated, "There’re indians back in the woods near here ….. Cheyenne …."

Michaela’s pronouncement was the last thing Dorothy had expected to hear. "There are?!" she exclaimed.

"Mmmm ….. about twenty of them Sully said …… headed down here from the north because of the fierce winter …."

"Does Cloud Dancin’ know?" asked Dorothy, suddenly wondering what her dear friend’s reaction might be.

"Mmmm …… Sully and Brian spoke to him yesterday about them ….. I daresay he’ll be visiting them today …."

Dorothy sat back in her chair feeling a little overwhelmed. Momentarily forgetting why they’d come here to the caf�, she was suddenly anxious about what the presence of Cheyenne in the area might do to hers and Cloud Dancing’s growing relationship. Would he have need of her friendship if he had the company of his own people? She bit her lip and her brow creased in consternation. She’d been reluctant to acknowledge even to herself how important the medicine man had become to her, and she’d certainly never really talked to anyone else about it. What if that relationship was now to change …. not be as close? Her heart began to beat a little faster and she nervously fiddled with the doily on which sat a vase holding a single winter daisy.

Dorothy’s reveries were disturbed by Michaela saying, "Of course we’ll have to keep their whereabouts to ourselves ….. I believe it would be better for all concerned if neither the townspeople nor the army were to find out about them."

"Oh … of course …..," replied Dorothy. She sat back as their steaming cups of coffee were placed in front of them, then her eyes returned to her unhappy friend. "You seem real upset ‘bout somethin’ Michaela …… surely it aint about the indians …."

"No …. its not the indians Dorothy ….. but Sully and I did have words about them last night …." Michaela’s eyes suddenly welled with tears. "Sully got angry and walked out ….. after supper ….. late …. and he didn’t some back."

Dorothy reached over to grasp her friend’s hand comfortingly. "Sometimes Sully needs time to think things through Michaela …. you know that ….."

"Yes … I know …. but this time was different …. He wouldn’t listen to my side of the story ….. he leapt to the wrong conclusion and condemned me for it ….. I really didn’t mean what he thought …..," murmured Michaela, putting into words what had been going around and around in her head throughout her lonely, sleepless night.

"Knowin’ Sully ….. he’ll think it through an’ be back to hear your side some time today," said Dorothy quietly. "He loves you too much to let a disagreement hurt what you two got."

"That’s all very well …. but what he said …. and the way he acted ….. it hurt ….." Michaela trailed off, silently musing over the argument with Sully, coincidentally preceded by the strange and disturbing dream she’d had yesterday morning. Didn’t he realise what was worrying her? She couldn’t bear the thought of him becoming involved with the indians again to the exclusion of herself and the children. She sighed and returned her attention to her editor friend. "I’m sorry Dorothy, burdening you with my problems …. We’d both better get back to work …"

"Hey Michaela ….. it aint a burden …. that’s what friends are for …. sharin’ the good an’ the bad," rejoined Dorothy with a reassuring smile. "Come on …." She stood and then gave a helping hand to her friend as she awkwardly pushed back her chair and stood also. Then two, very preoccupied women made their way back to their respective workplaces.

Sully pushed the door of the silent homestead open and entered, making for the fireplace where the remnants of a fire still glowed in the hearth. He squatted down and held his cold hands out towards the heat.

"Hey Sully," Matthew quietly greeted him, as he entered the house his arms laden with firewood.

"Hey Matthew," returned Sully without turning around.

The younger man walked to the fireplace and dumped his load of wood in the woodbox, then perched himself on the edge of a wingback chair. "Where ya bin? Missed ya at breakfast …," he said quietly.

"Just ridin’ …. Where’s ya ma?"

"Went into the clinic …. took Kathleen an’ Katie with her ….." Matthew paused and then asked, "You an’ Dr Mike alright?…… Heard ya come into the barn an’ collect your horse, then ride out late last night ……"

"Just somethin’ we gotta work out Matthew, that’s all ….. Did she say she was comin’ home at the usual time?"

"Yeah …. said she’d be home for lunch ….. You gonna talk to her then?"

"Maybe …."

"She looked real upset this mornin’ ….. like she hadn’t slept ….. figured maybe you two’d had a fight ….."

"A disagreement I’d call it ….."

"Dr Mike upset about Brian spendin’ his time with the indians …. an’ takin’ things without askin’?"

Sully turned to look at Matthew questioningly.

"Brian told me all about it while we were playin’ checkers last night ….. he was worried ‘bout Dr Mike an’ what she’d say about it ….." He trailed off watching Sully’s face carefully, then added, "Funny coincidence …. Dr Mike dreamin’ like that agin yesterday and then you two comin’ home talking about Cheyenne in the woods…."

Sully gave him a sharp look. "Dreamin’?"

"Yeah …. just like she used to I reckon …"

"Like she used to?"

"Yeah …. you know …. after Washita …"

"No I don’ know Matthew …. Maybe you better tell me ….."

"You don’ know ‘bout Dr Mike’s nightmares?"

Sully shook his head.

"After Washita ….. she used ta have ‘em nearly every night ….. she’d wake up screamin’ ….. Colleen was best with her ….. used to crawl into bed with her an’ just hold her …..When she got back from spendin’ that time with Cloud Dancin’ the dreams weren’t as bad …. but she still had ‘em …. only not as often …. I just assumed you knew ….. After all …. that was only a coupla months before you got married ….."

Sully shook his head wonderingly. As if he was thinking aloud, he murmured, "A coupla times I’ve known she’s had a bad dream … whimpers an’ cries in her sleep …. I just hold her an’ she settles down …. But that aint happened for a long time …. Maybe a coupla years …. an’ she never told me what the dreams were about ….."

"A coupla times when you were hidin’ in the cave she had dreams …. I heard her ….. but I dunno if they were the same kinda dreams …. But yesterday she had the dream sittin’ here in this chair …. holdin’ Katie …. woke up cryin’ out an’ frightened everyone, especially Katie….. She told me it was about the Cheyenne … seemed real upset about it."

"She ever told ya exactly what she dreams about?"

"Nah …. I figured it was about what the two of you saw at Washita …. If it effected her as badly as that …. I’m sorta glad she’s never told us the details…."

Sully nodded. "Strange she had that dream yesterday …. That’s why she was so quiet last night aint it? ….. An’ I …… I ……" He stood and took a few deep breaths. "Thanks for tellin’ me Matthew …. helps me understand her better ….. Cloud Dancin’ wants me to take her out to Palmer Creek this afternoon …. One of the kids is hurt real bad …. I wonder if she’ll go with me ….."

"Knowin’ Dr Mike ….. even if she’s still upset with ya ….. she’ll go …. Won’t see a kid sufferin’ …. will she?"

Sully smiled and nodded. "You’re right ….." He headed towards the stairs. "Better git cleaned up before she gits home." As he climbed upwards he murmured under his breath, "Why is it I’m forever learnin’ new things ‘bout her? …. Things I shoulda known…"

Sully jumped nimbly from the wagon and ran around to help Michaela down. She looked tense, pale and tired and his heart ached for her. The ride out to Palmer Creek had been conducted in virtual silence … each of them lost in their own disturbed thoughts and yet so aware of the other’s presence. When Michaela had arrived home and turned her sad, hurt eyes on him, he’d wanted the earth to open up and swallow him. He was at a loss to know how to break the ice with her. He needed to talk with her, honestly, about her fears, make her understand that he cared about how she felt …. and yet …. in the back of his mind was the thought that maybe Michaela didn’t fully understand how he felt either. At home, with Katie climbing all over him and a concerned Kathleen hovering nearby, he hadn’t had a chance to broach the subject. He knew he needed to speak to her alone.

As anticipated, she’d immediately agreed to journeying out here, although it was obvious to him that she was not really up to it physically. He’d ensured that she was well wrapped up in warm blankets for the trip and had cushioned the hard, wooden wagon seat with pillows but there were lines of tiredness in her pale face and she painfully stretched her aching limbs as he placed her on the ground.

"Ha ho, Michaela, Sully," said Cloud Dancing, as he emerged from the trees and approached them. "I am glad that you came …. the boy …. Little Blackbird …. is very ill …."

Michaela immediately reached for her medical bag which Sully had removed from the back of the wagon, and followed Cloud Dancing back into the woods. Sully tethered their horse loosely and trailed after them. Both of them were surprised by the number of indians congregated in the natural grotto deep amongst the tall trees. Sully turned questioning eyes on Cloud Dancing.

"They decided that as there are so few of them left that they should stay together …. They have all journeyed down here and will stay as long as is needed …," said the medicine man. He approached a small group assembled around a crude litter. "Michaela … the boy is here …."

Michaela hurried forward and then was a little taken aback to discover Brian kneeling by the boy, their hands firmly clasped. "Hey ma," he said quietly, as he moved to the boy’s head so that there was room for her. She nodded a greeting and then awkwardly bent over the small, very ill child, smiling reassuringly at him and whispering a greeting before drawing the blanket back to examine his leg.

Sully watched intently as his wife tended her patient, her gentle hands brushing his silky, black hair back off his fevered brow and moving carefully over his damaged leg, her whispered words of comfort, her obvious concern when she diagnosed the poor condition of his wound, her command of the situation, and surprisingly the acceptance by the indians of her ministrations. No, there was certainly no reason to doubt her devotion to the Cheyenne and their welfare.

After a few minutes she stood and turned back to Cloud Dancing. "His leg is badly infected and Sully was right …. its not set properly …. that should be done …. but it’s the infection that is of most concern …. There’s no saying how far it has spread, nor how virulent it is …..," she said worriedly.

"What should be done then?" asked the medicine man. "Can his leg be saved?"

"I honestly don’t know Cloud Dancing ….. he’s in such pain and his fever is high …" She paused, thinking the matter through, and then seemed to make up her mind. "We’ll set the leg and cauterise the wound …. treat the fever ….. and then we’ll just have to wait ….." She turned to Sully and rested her hand on her stomach. "I can’t operate on him on the ground ….not like this ….. You’ll have to find some way to raise him up …. a sort of temporary operating table." As he nodded and moved away to consult with Flying Hawk, she once again bent down to the wide-eyed, feverish child on the ground, placing her hand on his forehead. "Its alright sweetheart," she said gently. "We’ll try to make you feel better as soon as we can …"

As she struggled to undo the buttons down the back of her dress, her thoughts flew to the young indian boy, Little Blackbird. She really hadn’t wanted to leave him ….. his fever was still alarmingly high and he hadn’t reacted very well to the chloroform. She momentarily thought back to the time she’d had to cut away the dead tissue and cauterise Sully’s leg wound when he’d fallen from the cliff with O’Connor. She’d deliberately not given him chloroform then, knowing that it was better for him in the long run and aware that he could withstand the pain. But she hadn’t been able to inflict that sort of pain on the young boy … he was already so ill. And so she’d administered the anaesthetic, hoping that he would recover from it and that she wasn’t doing any damage to live tissue around his wound. She knew that Cloud Dancing was able to administer the correct dosage of pain-killers and fever reducers, he had done it many times before, but she still would’ve liked to stay there in the woods with them, to hold vigil over her young patient while he fought to overcome his serious illness.

She ran her hand over the swell of her stomach. Sometimes, despite the joy and gratitude she felt for God’s gift of another child, she wished that bearing it wouldn’t hamper her so much when someone desperately needed her doctoring skills. Again she sighed.

She heard Sully at the back door of the homestead and realised that soon he would join her up here. Would he try to talk to her now? She was aware that he’d wanted to several times this afternoon, but each time something or someone had intervened and the opportunity had passed. On the way home, in the bitter cold and the moonlight, she’d struggled to stay awake and upright and perhaps he’d been aware of it because he’d been very quiet, though ever ready with a supporting arm or hand when needed. What would he say about last night when he did eventually broach the subject? And what would she say to him? Suddenly the thought of trying to focus and be rational in her present state of exhaustion was extremely daunting. Perhaps if she hurried she could be in bed and feigning sleep when he finally came in.

Sully took a deep breath and began to mount the stairs to their bedroom. He knew he’d been delaying this – the homestead stove and fires had been banked and checked more than once, each lamp had been extinguished and then the oil replenished … He just didn’t know what he was going to say to her!

He’d watched her out there at Palmer Creek, working tirelessly on the young boy, desperate to bring his fever down and reduce his pain. Had she been as aware of him and he had been aware of her? Probably not. When her medical skills were being utilised, everything else was pushed into the background. But now? Would she want to talk? Despite his conversations with Cloud Dancing and Matthew he still didn’t fully comprehend Michaela’s reaction the night before. He’d thought that she was almost as devoted to the Cheyenne as he was … He took a deep breath …. perhaps that was going too far …. But he had expected that she too would be overjoyed to see them return to the area. Yes, there was danger …. but such a small band ….. hidden deep in the woods …. there was very little chance of them being discovered. After all, indians had been evading enemies of all sorts for hundreds of years.

He’d worried about Michaela this afternoon and evening. It was obvious that she was exhausted and even while she’d been operating on Little Blackbird she’d had to stop a few times to stretch her back and leg muscles. He knew that the wagon tray had not been the correct height for an operating table, nor had it been easy to manoeuvre around, but it was the best they could do under the circumstances. And then several times on the way home she’d nodded off to sleep, her head dropping onto his shoulder and her body going limp. Luckily he could trust their sure-footed horse, because he’d often had to let go of the reins to prop her up again and hold onto her.

He walked slowly and quietly down the landing. Usually he looked forward to this time, when he would join her in the only truly private place they had, amongst a household of children and young adults. Ever since they’d returned from their honeymoon nearly four years ago their bedroom had been a sanctuary, where they could talk, love each other, and be totally themselves, revealing themselves to each other in more ways than one. Despite their current problems he smiled to himself – over the years Michaela had certainly learnt to be natural with him when they were alone, to show him a passionate side of herself that would surprise, even shock, most of those who knew her. His skin warmed a little.

He pushed the door open, expecting to see her seated before the fire or at the dressing table brushing her hair, but instead she was in bed, lying on her side, her back to the door, apparently sound asleep. He shook his head ruefully. Perhaps she was more angry with him that he’d thought. She seldom ever went to sleep without at least wishing him goodnight. But then, to be fair, he had procrastinated downstairs, with the fires and the lamps. Perhaps she had just tired of waiting for him and fallen asleep. In the back of his mind was the notion that she could be pretending. Would she do that? He shrugged his shoulders and began to quickly undress.

A few minutes later he crawled into his side of the bed and pulled up the warm covers over his chilled skin. He turned onto his side to face her. The moonlight through the frosty window highlighted her face and yet her features were blurred. That didn’t matter. He knew every soft curve, every line. If he closed his eyes he could visualise them clearly. He reached out and tenderly ran his fingertips over her brow, down along her cheekbone and across her full lips. He edged closer and placed a tender kiss to her forehead. How could this woman make his heart pound, just by laying here asleep beside him? If she was indeed asleep. He lovingly ran his hands over her shoulders, under the covers, down her side to her stomach which he gently caressed. She sighed in her sleep and her mouth opened as if to speak but she smiled instead. Then suddenly she edged forward, her arms encircled him and she rested her head up against his chest. She moaned softly and pushed up against him until he embraced her, supporting her back and holding her close. She sighed again, this time with obvious contentment. Sully smiled. Yes, she was definitely asleep, for it was highly unlikely that, if she’d been awake, she would’ve responded to him as she had. He gently caressed her shoulders and drew her closer. It looked as if they would have to talk in the morning.

Michaela woke and slowly opened her eyes. It was still very dark, the room only slightly illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the curtain. She was suddenly conscious of the warmth and scent of Sully’s skin beneath her cheek, the weight of his hand on her shoulder and his deep, steady breathing lightly stirring the hair falling across her forehead. And then she remembered - the hurt of the last couple of days and the fact that they had not talked about it, sorted out their problem. Her first instinct was to pull back, move out of his embrace, but then she had to admit to herself that she really *was* where she wanted to be. Lying alone here in their bed last night, she’d missed the reassurance of his presence at her side, the comfort of knowing that he …. and she …. were safe and together. Despite any disagreements they might have, this closeness, this physical part of their marriage would always be important to her, more important than she had ever dreamt possible.

She relaxed back into his embrace and then suddenly her stomach rumbled, loudly and aggressively, and she realised why she’d woken. She thought back and remembered that they’d eaten almost nothing since lunchtime yesterday (when she’d had very little appetite). Now her body was objecting and objecting loudly to trying to sustain two on so little. As her stomach growled again, she realised that there was no alternative but to rise and go down to the kitchen. Trying not to disturb Sully, she slowly and gently pulled away from him, awkwardly rolled onto her other side and out of the bed, before hastily pulling on her gown against the cold.

Down in the kitchen she quickly stirred up the fires in the stove and the grate so that soon the air assumed a pleasant warmth. She lit the lamp above the kitchen table and then began to search through the cupboards and meat safe for the remnants of last night’s supper, assumingly prepared by Kathleen. She came across cold ham, fresh bread and to her delight, about a third of one of Grace’s apple pies. Trying not to make too much of a clatter she lifted down a china plate, set a kettle on the hob for chamomile tea and withdrew the requisite cutlery from the drawer. Within minutes she was seated up close to the kitchen fire, feasting on a thickly cut ham sandwich and the piping hot beverage.

Sully tiptoed down the stairs, fully expecting to see Michaela huddled before the living-room fire, still fuming over their disagreement - his immediate thought when he’d woken and discovered her missing from their bed. Instead, peering over the stair railing into the dimly lit kitchen he spied her munching hungrily on a sandwich and sipping on tea. The firelight was flickering on her waist-length coppery hair and she occasionally rubbed her hand over her stomach, as if reassuring it that she was doing all she could to fill it. He chuckled to himself. There was little wrong with her physically if she was able to eat as enthusiastically at this time of the morning, or more correctly, night. He took a few tentative steps downwards, inhaled deeply and whispered, "Enough of that there for me too?"

Michaela jumped and her eyes flew to his. "Yes … of course," she replied. "I’ll get you a plate."

She began to rise but he halted her. "No … I’ll get it …. you stay where you are in front of the fire …"

Michaela subsided back into her chair and continued to eat, though perhaps her previous enthusiasm had waned a little. Soon Sully joined her and they sat in uneasy silence for a while, eating mechanically, their thoughts racing.

Then suddenly into the eerie quiet Sully asked softly, "Dream wake ya?"

Michaela’s eyes flew to his. "No," she replied warily. "A growling stomach." There was a long pause and then she added a little accusingly, "Who told you?"

"Matthew mentioned it this mornin’ …. or should I say yesterday mornin’ …. Said you had a nightmare sittin’ in the chair in front of the fire …." Sully trailed off, watching her face which so often told him all he wanted to know without words being spoken. When she dropped her eyes to the floor, obviously unwilling to give him any explanation, he murmured, "He assumed I knew about your dreams ….Why didn’ ya ever tell me?"

Michaela’s lip was clenched tightly between her teeth and her colour had risen. "I couldn’t," she whispered.

"Why not?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Oh I don’t know," she said quietly. "We weren’t even married when they started …"

"What’s that got to do with it? Besides, Matthew said ya had bad dreams when I wasn’ here last year too …. We were married *then* …." Sully watched as a series of conflicting emotions flashed across her face. "Tell me Michaela," he insisted.

She turned her eyes to the flames of the fire and quietly intoned. "I used to have nightmares as a child too …. Mother always inferred that it was a sign of weakness …. I didn’t want you to think I was weak too ….You seemed to cope with the horrors of Washita so much better than I …. I suppose I was embarrassed …."

"Embarrassed?"

"That I couldn’t cope …. that I couldn’t help you any more than I did …." She trailed off then lifted her eyes to his. "Your loss was so much greater than mine ….. and yet it was *me* having the nightmares …. I lost dear friends ….. you lost family …."

Sully reached across and grasped her hand. "I had my fair share of nightmares too Michaela …. still do ….. only they aint like yours ….. they don’ happen while I sleep …. they’re with me while I’m awake ….. all the time …." Sully reached up to grasp his medicine bag and beads only to realise that they were hanging on the bedpost upstairs. "You know how I felt ‘bout puttin’ my pouch an’ beads back on ….. they bring back memories that make me wanna choke …. But you an’ Loren made me realise …. I can’t change what happened ….. that’s part of my life ….. an’ I gotta keep on livin’ it …. Its your strength that helps me do that ….."

"*My* strength??"

"Yep …. It was your strength that got me through that time after Washita an’ later all those months when we thought I might hang for murder an’ treason …. I’d go deep into the woods …. wonderin’ ‘bout my life …. whether my friendship with the indians was worth anythin’ ….. an’ whether I was gonna git to live my life like I wanted ….. an’ I’d feel you callin’ me back …. bringin’ me home …."

Tears welled in Michaela’s eyes. Prompted by Sully’s confession and honesty she said softly, "I didn’t mean what you thought the other night ….. I don’t want you to forget your link to the indians …. the Cheyenne …. to walk away from them …. I just couldn’t bear it if we were to be separated again ….. I barely made it through last time ….. It hurt that you thought what you did and then walked out …."

Sully swallowed and took a deep breath, struck by the sadness in her tone. "I’m sorry Michaela …. I guess your reaction was so different to what I expected that I was worried an’ confused." He paused and then said reassuringly, "Me gettin’ involved with Flyin’ Hawk’s band ….. spendin’ time with ‘em …. aint gonna lead to what happened last time. These people are livin’ free ….. though maybe they don’ see it like that …."

"Yes Sully …. but for how long? And if something does happen? ….. What will you do?" whispered Michaela. She lightly caressed her stomach. "I need you with me ….. us ….. That doesn’t mean always being by my side ….. but it does mean being honest with me ….. I think that’s what hurt the most last time …… you didn’t see fit to take me into your confidence … to tell me what you were planning ….."

Sully hung his head and murmured, "It wasn’t like that Michaela ….. I wasn’ thinkin’ straight ….. I figured that what ya didn’ know wouldn’ hurt ya." He stopped and gulped. "Couldn’ have been more wrong could I?"

"No …. you couldn’t," agreed Michaela, suddenly overwhelmed with disturbing memories of that six months when she hadn’t known whether he was going to live or die …. or whether she could keep her family safe. "My dreams were different then … to the ones after Washita ….. I saw you walking away from me ….. towards ….. I don’t know what ….. all I knew was that I couldn’t go with you if you asked me to …. but you didn’t anyway …."

He reached out and grasped her hand, "I aint ever leavin’ ya Michaela ….. I couldn’t survive that ….. I need you so bad sometimes it hurts ….."

"But you nearly did leave me … although it wasn’t intentional ….. and I might have had no idea why …. Sully …. all I’m asking is that you be honest with me ….. tell me what you’re thinking …. feeling …. I *need* to know….."

Sully nodded and raised her hand to his lips. "I think …. I hope ….. I’ve learned my lesson Michaela ….. though nobody really knows how they’re gonna act in a crisis …. an’ at the time that’s how I saw it …. All I knew was that I had ta git Cloud Dancin’ away from there …."

"I know ….. an’ whether you believe me or not …. I understand," murmured Michaela, gently cupping his face and raising his eyes to hers. "I really do," she reiterated.

Holding her gaze Sully said softly, "Alright … seeing we’re bein’ real honest … will ya tell me why you reacted like that the other night ….. why ya seemed almost frightened when I told ya there were Cheyenne back near here?"

Michaela reddened and immediately dropped her eyes to the floor. She was silent for a long time while Sully patiently waited, knowing that it was best to let her take her own time, rather than push. Then she raised her eyes again. "Honestly?" she asked softly.

"Uh huh …."

"You won’t get angry ….. like the other night? ……"

"No …. I promise …. I’m ready to listen now," murmured Sully contritely.

Michaela took a deep breath and then spoke softly. "I feel like ….. like …. Sully, there are limits to how much a person can endure ….. Our getting involved with the indians …. Cheyenne once more ….. on any level ….. poses another threat to our family." When he began to shake his head she quickly continued, "We’ve been through so much ….. always trying to do the right thing and always trying to help in any way we can. But its never been enough …….. we’ve never been able to stop them dying ….. from hunger, the army ….." Her eyes began to fill with tears and she rested her shaking hands over his. "I don’t know about you …. but I don’t think I can go through it again …. I opened my heart to them in a very personal way ….. Snowbird, Black Kettle, No Harm …. and then had to deal with losing them and a part of myself in the process. I don’t know whether you ever noticed ….. but while I did all I could medically at the Palmer Creek Reservation …. I never got close to the people out there ….. like I did with Cloud Dancing and Snow Bird ….. I just couldn’t …. and stay sane …. knowing the peril they were in and also knowing that whatever I did probably wouldn’t count for much in the end ….. Can you understand?"

Sully’s eyes were raking her face, trying to perceive her contention. "I dunno Michaela," he murmured. "Shouldn’ we still try ta help …. ta make their life a little more easy …. Not just turn our backs on ‘em an’ walk away?"

Michaela gently cupped his face with her hands. "I’m not saying that I’ll walk away from them and their needs …. Nor would I ever ask you to do so …. knowing the way you feel about them …. I’m just asking you to understand the way I feel and ….. and ….. perhaps give me a little leeway when I find it difficult to accept something we need to do for them …. or something you *want* to do …." Sully tilted his head to lightly kiss the palm of her hand indicating that he finally understood and so Michaela added, "Sully … please don’t blame me for thinking twice … or even three or four times …. about getting involved again …. maybe setting myself up for more heartbreak … for them …. or me ….. you… any of the family …." She gently caressed the swell of her stomach and murmured, "Especially now …."

Sully abruptly stood and then grasped Michaela’s hands in his own, drawing her up and into his close embrace. Her arms came up to surround his waist and she leant her cheek against his shirt-covered chest. They stood like that in silence for some time, the crackling of the fire amplified in the dim light and small space. Finally Sully pulled back a little and murmured, "We were always worried ‘bout being too different …. you an’ me …... but we aint ….. well at least not in two ways I can think of …."

Michaela looked up at him quizzically.

Sully gently pressed her head back against his chest and whispered, "When you came to Colorado Springs … it wasn’ just cos of your doctorin’ was it?" Giving her no opportunity to reply to his rhetorical question, he continued, "You’d lost David in the war …… an’ then ya pa ….. you were gettin’ away ….. escapin’ the hurt ….. just like I did when I signed up ….. an’ then later when I joined up with the Cheyenne ….. When we met ….. we both were tryin’ to avoid bein’ hurt agin ….. but somewhere along the line we had ta reach out …. an’ we reached for each other ……." His embrace tightened and he buried his face in her silky hair and kissed the top of her head. "An’ then there’s our independence ….. both of us always thinkin’ we’re right ….. that we can do things on our own …. Only I reckon if our three years of marriage have taught us anythin’ …. its that we aint right about that …." He pulled back a little and cupped her face in his hands so that their eyes met. "So Michaela …. I promise that I’ll always talk to ya ‘bout any plans I might be makin’ ….. an’ I know its past an’ there aint much I can do about it now …. but I’m so sorry that I didn’ take ya into my confidence last time …. an’ for all the hurt it caused ya ….." he avowed sincerely.

Michaela nodded and gave him a watery smile, then murmured, "But I can’t promise not to try and stop you …. if I think its too dangerous ….. or foolhardy …. Is that alright?" Sully also nodded and gently caressed her cheekbones with his thumbs. Michaela continued, "Do you remember years ago …. when we had to get Cloud Dancing away from Custer …. during the hurdy-gurdy?

"Uh huh."

"It was dangerous ……. but we did it together ….. We formulated the best plan between us and it worked ….. I was terrified …. but it worked and he escaped."

Sully bent down to kiss her cheek and whispered, "I get your point Michaela …. we work best as a team huh?"

"Mmmm ….. please …."

Sully rested his hand under her chin and raised her face to his. Gazing into her eyes, he declared, "I promise," and then he claimed her lips with his. The kiss was long and deep, reaffirming their love and commitment to each other. Michaela’s arms came up to lovingly encircle his shoulders and she pressed herself up close to him, while his muscled arms held her tightly against his chest and their mouths continued to move in a primitive rhythm of loving avowal. Finally their lips parted but they did not. They stood in their firm, warm embrace before the dying fire, savouring their closeness and belief in each other. At last Sully pulled back and said softly, "You should be sleepin’ ….. still a while before dawn …. You go on up …. I’ll fix things down here an’ join ya in a moment …" Michaela nodded gratefully and walked slowly towards the stairs. She had fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep by the time he joined her only a few minutes later.

A wagon pulling into the yard woke Michaela. Through narrowed eyes she glanced towards the window to surmise the sun had been up for quite some time. She heard footsteps on the porch steps and then Kathleen and Matthew greeting someone. A deep male voice signified that it was Thomas. She guiltily realised that she should be downstairs welcoming their early visitor but felt too lethargic to move.

She closed her eyes again and immediately was arousingly aware of Sully’s warmth against her back. He was laying spooned into her, touching her from neck to knee and she was suddenly overwhelmed with a desire her mother would undoubtedly say was unladylike and should, with willpower, be quelled. His hand was gently cupping her breast and she blushed as she felt her skin tingle and her nipples harden, stirred by her awareness of him. She gently edged back against him, mentally absorbing his nearness, the curves and hardness of his body. She ran her hand up his arm, over the muscles, revelling in the texture, the strength. Then all of a sudden she wondered whether he was awake and whether, if he was, he would be aware of her arousal. Of course he would! She knew her breathing had quickened and her skin warmed. He would instantly know that too. She took a deep breath and willed him to rouse.

Just as she was beginning to wonder whether she might kiss him awake, sudden loud squeals of delight emanated from downstairs. A high pitched female voice, obviously Kathleen’s, was excitedly exclaiming about something and rapid talk between both young men and Kathleen ensued. Stirred by the young woman’s squeals, Sully abruptly sat bolt upright in their bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He murmured groggily, "What’s goin’ on?"

Michaela smiled and replied, "I don’t know exactly, but I think Thomas is downstairs." She suddenly eyed Sully hopefully. "You don’t think he’s finally agreed to Kathleen staying here do you!?"

"I doubt it …. He’s bin pretty fixed in his thinkin’ where she’s concerned." He began to rise. "I’ll git dressed an’ go see what’s happenin’. You take it easy …."

Despite the excited voices in the living-room below, she’d lingered here in their bedroom, taking her time over dressing and doing her hair. Try as she might, she still could not dispel her earlier overwhelming need to be with her husband …. alone.

She’d hated it when she and Sully were in discord. She’d experienced too many unsettling, frosty silences as a child, her mother at one end of the elaborate dinner table, her father at the other, unspeaking, angry glances shooting between them. Often, in her child’s view, it had been caused by no more than her father arriving home late from the hospital or the surgery and her mother being angry about his long hours. Nevertheless, she and her sisters had often sat in uncomfortable silence while their parents feuded.

She sincerely hoped that their own children had not been as aware of the problems between her and Sully yesterday, although she knew that Matthew had because he and Sully discussed it, but she prayed that the others had been oblivious. And now? Now she needed to be with her husband, to show him how much she loved him, in every way she could. But there was a whole day’s activities to be undertaken first, before she could show him that. She took a few deep breaths and pulled the bedroom door open.

Sully heard her as she awkwardly descended the stairs to the living-room, and he bounded up out of his chair to give her a helping hand. As he pulled out a chair so that she could sit with the others at the dining table, Kathleen excitedly exclaimed, "Michaela, you’ll never guess what’s happened!! Thomas is going to be working in Colorado Springs!"

Thomas immediately coughed abashedly, waved his hand and expostulated, "Kathleen … nothing is finalised as yet …. I must return to Charleston …."

Michaela was watching the two of them in puzzlement. "Colorado Springs Thomas?" she asked in amazement. "How? When?"

Kathleen again exclaimed, "The Senator …."

"Senator Dinston," elaborated Thomas.

"Yes … Senator Dinston …. he’s offered Thomas employment …. based at the Chateau," continued Kathleen, as if her brother had not spoken.

"Managing the Chateau you mean?" asked Michaela, silently pondering the prudence of the Senator’s offer.

"No …. no ….," replied Thomas. "As his aide in the western territories ….. I would be living at the Chateau …. but travelling all over the west …. from here to California, Arizona, Wyoming ….. under his instruction, conducting and overseeing his affairs. I would also have a reporting role at the Chateau …. ensuring that all business is conducted properly and legally …. The Senator is soon to appoint a manager to see to its everyday operation."

"And so I’ll still see him all the time! We’ll both be residents of Colorado Springs …. Isn’t that a wonderful solution to our problem?!" exclaimed Kathleen, brimming over with joy at the luck which had befallen her.

"Kathleen …. as I said, nothing is finalised as yet …. I must return to my employment with Senator Greenwood in West Virginia tomorrow as planned … I will seriously consider giving him notice, however there are many other concerns which also require our mutual consideration. We have an extensive household in Charleston which will not take care of itself," declared Thomas. From the impatient tone of his voice it was apparent that he had already stated as much several times prior to Michaela’s arrival. He continued, "And as any decisions should be made by both of us I would like you to return with me."

Kathleen’s face fell. "I’d rather not Thomas ….. you’ve always made all the decisions before …."

"A fact against which you have constantly railed ….," admonished Thomas.

"True ….. but as I’ve already made the decision to stay here …. I see no reason why I should return. *When*….. yes *when* …. it comes time to pack up our belongings and store them, or transport them here, I am confident that you and Mrs Blakely will be able to do the job quite adequately," adjured Kathleen.

As the excited exchange went on amongst the young brother and sister, Sully was surprised to feel Michaela sidle towards him and then surreptitiously lay her hand on his knee. He smiled to himself and then gently covered her hand with his before giving it a loving, reassuring squeeze. Both of them suddenly became aware that Thomas was once again pontificating. "Well it remains to be seen whether I accept the Senator’s proposition. I’ve been with Senator Greenwood in Charleston since I graduated and I believe I have a secure future with his administration. Considering changing position, location and lifestyle at my age must be given a great deal of thought."

Sully, who was beginning to tire of the young man’s arrogance, abruptly interjected, "Yeah …. I’d consider it carefully if I was you Thomas ….. aint easy livin’ out here ya know …. I remember you tellin’ Kathleen as much." Matthew and Kathleen turned and regarded him in shock, unwilling to believe that he may be deliberately jeopardising their future together. Ignoring their scathing looks Sully continued. "Ya know …. If you *do* decide ta live here …. there’s gonna be a lotta fences ta mend," he stated cryptically.

Thomas had been halted in his tracks. "Fences?"

"Metaphorically speaking," interpolated Michaela, almost certain she knew what Sully was up to.

"Yeah fences," warned Sully. "Me an’ Michaela weren’t that only ones who heard ya say some pretty uh … unkind things about our town …. I seem ta recollect you called it ‘uncivilised’. Some folks aint as forgivin’ as us."

Thomas at once looked a little sheepish, and then more than a little defiant. "I’m sure I shall be able to handle the residents of Colorado Springs," he said assuredly. "When I said those things I was defending Kathleen’s honour …. people will soon realise that …"

"Welllll ……. if you’re sure?" mused Sully, the touch of irony in his voice not lost on Michaela but undetected by Thomas. Matthew was still regarding him quizzically. Sully continued, "When ya arrive here to stay … me an’ Michaela might be able to help ya square things up a little …. Livin’ in a place where most of the folks have taken a dislikin’ to ya can be pretty lonely."

"Ah …. yes ….. I’d appreciate that …. I shall look forward to your counsel, however I’m certain that I shall soon acquire friends here," replied Thomas, now convinced that he was missing something, but deciding to take the older man’s words at face value. He suddenly pushed back his chair and stood. "Well its time I returned to town. I must pack, and then Senator Dinston has invited me to dine with him at the Chateau." He picked up his hat from the table. "Good morning Dr Quinn, Mr Sully. Ah Kathleen, I would appreciate you escorting me to the buggy …. I wish to speak to you alone …."

Kathleen nodded, immediately stood and took her brother’s proffered arm.

When the brother and sister had departed, closing the front door behind them, Matthew abruptly turned to Sully. "What was that all about?" he demanded. "Kathleen *wants* her brother livin’ here ….. an’ you sounded like you were puttin’ him off the idea …."

Sully gave him a sly smile. "Did he sound put off, Matthew?" he asked quietly.

"Well …. no …. Sorta angry that you thought he’d find it hard livin’ here …" returned the puzzled young man.

"An’ what was the last thing he said?"

"Um …. that he looked forward to ya helpin’ him git on here …. an’ that he’d soon have friends in town."

"Does that sound like a man who’s still thinkin’ ‘bout whether he’ll take the job or not?"

Matthew smiled and then chuckled. "No … sounds like he mighta made up his mind." The young man paused and then added a little ruefully, "Or maybe his mind was made up when you offered him a challenge he couldn’ refuse huh?"

Sully’s eyebrows rose and his eyes sparkled. He stood and rested his hand on Matthew’s shoulder. "If I were you …. I’d be out there makin’ sure he aint browbeatin’ his sister into goin’ home with him anyway, huh?" he warned.

Matthew nodded, gave him a grateful slap on the back and headed out the door.

As the door closed behind their eldest son, Michaela awkwardly rose from her chair and grasped Sully’s hand. "Well done," she whispered, as she moved closer.

Sully shrugged his shoulders self-consciously. "Just needed a little pushin’ in the right direction is all," he murmured. "Now we better git you some breakfast, time’s agoin’."

She leant up against him. "Mmm …. wish it wasn’t," she murmured ambiguously.

"An’ what would ya be doin’ if it weren’t eh?" replied Sully softly, responding to her close proximity.

Michaela blushed and before she could stop herself, her eyes flew upwards and her hold on his hand tightened.

Sully lifted her hand to his lips. "You’d be upstairs huh?" he whispered teasingly. "Doin’??"

She raised herself on tiptoes and lightly brushed his lips with hers. "That," she murmured with a seductive smile. "And more …." She lowered her eyes, stepped closer and wound her arms lovingly around his back, pressing her cheek up against his chest.

Sully smiled delightedly and returned the embrace. "Like that huh?" he whispered against her ear. "Mmm … I’d like that too …. only …."

"Only …… I have to go to the clinic …. after all its my last day for some months ….. and then to the Chateau to work with Myra …. and then out to Palmer Creek to check on Little Blackbird. Its going to be a *very* long day …." Michaela continued, a little dispiritedly.

"An’ I’m goin’ out to the old homestead site with Matthew an’ then to Palmer Creek with you," added Sully. "How ‘bout we take Katie out there with us this afternoon? …. I’d kinda like her to meet the Cheyenne ….," he suggested.

"You’ll have to bring her out to the Chateau for lunch then," replied Michaela, expressing no misgivings about his suggestion.

"Good … now for breakfast," said Sully. "But before that ……" He leant down and claimed her lips with his, kissing her soundly, hungrily and urgently, building on the fire kindled by their teasing. When they at last parted, he lovingly ran his fingertips over her reddened lips and said softly, "That’s just ta keep us goin’ ….. til tonight ….," and he turned and headed for the stove, putting the kettle on the hob to heat.

Michaela wearily drew the wagon to a halt in front of the Chateau. Saying goodbye to the clinic for a while had been surprisingly difficult. When Katie was born she’d been forced to hand over to Andrew, but she’d had the distraction of a new and beautiful baby to combat any uneasiness she felt about turning her livelihood over to someone else. However, this time she was finishing early, with some six weeks still to go, and while she knew it was the right thing to do, the knowing didn’t exactly allay the misgivings she felt.

She pulled on the brake, placed the reins on the seat beside her and prepared to step down. This particular task wasn’t as easy anymore, with her swollen stomach hiding her feet and their secure placement from her anxious eyes.

Just as she took a deep breath and placed her foot on the wheel Hank reined in his horse beside her. "Hold on Michaela ….. let me help ya," he offered, as he clambered down from his horse, tethered it to the hitching post and reached up for her. She gratefully placed her hands on his shoulders and he easily lifted her down.

"Thanks Hank, I appreciate it," she said gratefully.

"Anytime Michaela …. Now anythin’ ya need from the wagon?"

"Just my medical bag," she replied. "You’re a little early today …"

"Yeah well …… things were slow at the Gold Nugget this mornin’."

As they approached the portico of the Chateau, Michaela informed him, "I want to check the medical clinic before starting work with Myra today."

Hank nodded, and then much to Michaela’s surprise, followed her into the clinic which opened off to the side of the main foyer. His loud and shrill whistle of appreciation when he spied the interior again caught her by surprise. "Phew …. kinda fancy aint it!" he exclaimed.

"Well … yes," agreed Michaela. "One thing that can be said for Preston Lodge … he spared no expense when establishing this facility." She gazed enviously around at the expensive and comprehensive array of equipment and fittings.

"Daresay it had somethin’ to do with wantin’ to outdo *you*," remarked Hank with insight.

Michaela’s eyes flew to his face and she regarded him quizzically.

The barkeep shrugged his shoulders and continued his nonchalant exploration of the room. "Couldn’ have a woman providin’ better care than his precious Chateau clinic, could he? Wouldna taken him long to realise the doctorin’ was gonna be hard ta match, so the clinic itself had ta be better. Bet you could do some pretty special things with this kinda equipment huh?" He paused at one of the exercise machines and ran his hands over the metal frame. "What’s this contraption?"

Michaela was gazing at him in astonishment. She knew she’d come a long way with Hank during the past six years, their relationship had settled into a grudging and sometimes uneasy friendship, but she’d never heard him openly offer her praise before. She shook herself and concentrated on answering his question. "Um …. its an exercise machine …. It simulates such movements as walking, running, rowing ….. it exercises the muscles of the back, arms, legs and stomach."

Hank chuckled. "Huh!" he scoffed. "What’s wrong with gettin’ out into the fresh air an’ actually walkin’ or ridin’ …. Gotta be better for a person I reckon than workin’ at a machine in a stuffy room like this …."

Michaela joined in his laughter. "I expect you’re right Hank ….. but some of the clients Preston encouraged to stay here were …. ah ….. a little shy of exercising in the conventional manner …. However ……" She paused lost in thought.

"You’re thinkin’ of Myra aint ya?" queried Hank after a moment. "She could use a machine like this …. even though she aint up ta bein’ outdoors yet …. Right?"

Michaela nodded. "You’re right Hank …. I don’t know why I haven’t thought of it before …. I suppose I’ve so rarely been in here …. though that’s about to change …."

"Whatdya mean? You fixin’ on takin’ over the clinic here as well as the one in town?" asked Hank in amazement. "Seems ta me you should be takin’ it easy …. not workin’ two jobs."

Trying not to take umbrage at his tone, Michaela quietly replied. "Today was my last day at my clinic for some months Hank. I’m going to be working out here a few mornings a week so that I can continue with Myra’s rehabilitation. Andrew will be working in town fulltime until after the baby is born."

"Oh …. well ….. seems like a good idea ….. some folks in town’ll miss ya though …."

Michaela smiled. "Well …. I suppose the next few months will pass quickly enough, especially with a new baby to look after …. though I must confess I’m going to miss my clinic and patients also …"

While Michaela opened and checked various drawers and shelves, Hank wandered over to the tall mahogany bookshelf and aimlessly perused the unexciting titles it held, running his fingers over the expensive leather covers. His back to her, he murmured, "How do ya think folks out here gonna react to seein’ a pregnant lady when they come visitin’ the Chateau doc?" Michaela’s jaw clenched and spots of colour appeared across her cheekbones, however before she could think of a suitable retort Hank continued, "A woman doctor takes some gittin’ used to …. but one in the family way? …. Well some folks that don’ know ya might wonder …." He paused, then added, "Course, folks in town’ve got used to their lady doc …. I even heard some sayin’ they’d find it hard to go back to a fella …. Still … if ya aint ever come across one before …."

Michaela’s anger dissipated as quickly as it had flared. She’d never heard it put as simply before. Perhaps it *was* a shock to see a woman doctor when one didn’t even know they existed, let alone a *pregnant* woman doctor. For years she’d fought the prejudices of men and women, rich and poor alike, who, through their ignorance, had objected to her ministering to them, merely because she was a woman. It had taken many years of perseverance in Colorado Springs to win across the majority of the community, though there were still a few who refused to seek out her skills. Of course she’d been aided by the fact that she’d been the *only* doctor, so unless they consulted her they were on their own. So *how* would some of the Chateau guests/patients react when they were confronted by her at the clinic door? She shrugged her shoulders. She would just have to wait and see…..

Michaela leant back against Sully, savouring the feeling of his arms around her and chuckling with him as they watched the antics of their tiny daughter. She was currently running in excited, ever smaller circles pursued by two, slightly older, laughing, Cheyenne children. Ever since their arrival at Palmer Creek some two hours earlier, Katie had been the main focus of attention. While Michaela had tended to a slightly improved Little Blackbird, Sully had introduced his daughter to the small band of Cheyenne. It was obvious from the very beginning that the indian children were fascinated by her soft, pale skin and golden hair. Occasionally one would reach out and tentatively stroke her head, running the fine locks through his or her fingers. Katie’s good-natured reaction to these hesitant approaches had been to mimic them and then to clasp the hand of the shyest and babble in her usual, often unintelligible language. It mattered little that the children could not understand each other. They had quickly become friends, speaking the universal language of children, through touch and play. Michaela and Sully had watched as she’d been gently handed around amongst the women and older children, presented with her own special beads which she now wore proudly around her neck, and introduced to some of the simple games of the Cheyenne. The fact that it was bitterly cold and the indians were in considerable peril being in the woods so close to Colorado Springs seemed irrelevant. To Sully, the introduction to the Cheyenne of his much loved daughter gave him a sense of wellbeing, and took him to a time and place he had longed for ever since the government had begun their eradication of all the tribes from the Territories. He sighed and wrapped his arms more tightly around his wife.

"What are you thinking about?" murmured Michaela.

"Only that I’m glad she had this chance to meet up with ‘em …. I wish she was a little older though …. so she’d remember ….," he replied softly.

"There may be other opportunities Sully ….. and we have Cloud Dancing …."

"I guess ….. but hearin’ his stories an’ actually bein’ with ‘em are two different things … She don’ see anythin’ different ‘bout them …. just that they like her an’ she likes them. Sure wish some so-called adults could see it like that ….."

Michaela lovingly stroked his arms which held her so tightly, protectively. "We can bring her out here while ever Flying Hawk’s band is here …. and while ever its safe ….." She glanced across at their youngest son who was sitting quietly beside the prostrate Little Blackbird. "I’m glad Brian also had a chance to spend some time out here with them …. He’s grown into a wonderful, caring young man hasn’t he?"

"Mmmm …. Sure has … helps that his ma’s like that too …."

"And his pa …," added Michaela. "I have a feeling that in the future his writing may have something to do with preserving what remains of the indians and their traditions. He seems to have an innate understanding of what’s right and a drive to do something about it …."

Sully leant down to gently kiss her cheek. "We’ll hang onto this special time …. store it away in our memories …. tell Katie about it when she’s older …. an’ hope that this aint the last chance we git to spend time with the Cheyenne ‘round here …"

Michaela assured him, "Well we’ll be out here quite a lot during the next few days. Little Blackbird’s going to need my attention for a while yet." She paused as a stiff, icy breeze suddenly blew up and she shivered.

"We better be headin’ back huh?" suggested Sully, peering up into the rapidly darkening sky. "Might not beat a downfall of snow."

Michaela nodded in agreement and stepped forward out of his embrace to fetch her son and now weary, but happy daughter.

By the time Sully drew the wagon to a halt in their yard Michaela felt chilled to the very bone. Her feet and hands were numb, despite their wool coverings, and her face felt burnt by the icy air. Sully had completed the drive back with Katie on his lap, the fronts of his coat closed around her. She was now asleep, her breathing deep and even, but Michaela was a little worried about the possible effects of the extreme cold on her. During the drive there had been a few light flurries of snow, enough to dampen their coats and hats and add to the numbing cold. She glanced across at Sully and couldn’t help but smile. His hair was sprinkled with silver and his eyelashes tipped with icy white. It gave her an idea of how he might look when they were old and grey. She imagined she looked much the same. Sully gently handed the sleeping Katie to her and then clambered down from the wagon before reaching up for his daughter again. As he did so, the front door of the homestead opened and Kathleen and Matthew emerged.

Kathleen hurried forward and took the sleeping little girl from her father. "We were starting to worry about you," she said softly. "Matthew said he thought the snow was going to start in earnest soon. Is Brian with you?"

"Yeah, he’s in the barn …. beddin’ down Taffy," replied Sully. "You take Katie into the warm …. I think she’s alright …. The cold hit real sudden like …." He turned to his wife. "You go in an’ git warm too … I’ll be in soon as the horses are in the barn …"

As Sully walked down the landing towards their bedroom the lilting melody of a waltz, emanating from the music box he had given Michaela for Christmas, floated on the cold night air. He smiled to himself in relief. He’d been a little concerned about her throughout supper. Unlike their daughter, who seemed to have come through their journey in appalling weather with flying colours, Michaela had huddled before the fire, wrapped in a wool blanket, occasionally shivering despite the cosiness of the room. When Katie had once again started to drift off to asleep Michaela had brought her up to her room and, after settling her, retired to their bedroom where Matthew had earlier ensured there was a roaring fire.

Now Sully pushed the door open and grinned as he spied Michaela sitting in the rocker by the fire, wrapped in their wedding quilt, her stockinged feet stretched out towards the leaping flames. She was wiggling her toes and rocking slightly in time with the music and colour had returned to her cheeks.

She turned at his entrance and smiled up at him – the moment she’d been longing for since early this morning!

"Feelin’ a little warmer now?" he asked softly, walking across and squatting down beside her.

"Mmmm …. I thought I’d never feel my feet again," murmured Michaela.

As the music began to wind down, Sully cranked the handle on the music box and then turned back to her. "Glad ya can feel ‘em agin….," he whispered. He stood and held out his hand to her. "Cos there’s nothin’ I like better than dancin’ with my beautiful wife …"

Michaela automatically put her hand into his, and then realised his intention. "Sully!" she exclaimed. "Here? Now?"

"Uh huh."

"Here alone? Its late …. and we’re tired…," she demurred, stirring under his seductive gaze and his gentle caress to the palm of her hand.

"Much better *here* an’ *alone* …. Kinda dancin’ I got in mind’d git us both thrown outta the Sweethearts’ Dance, maybe even Colorado Springs …" chuckled Sully, grasping the edges of the quilt around her shoulders and urging her to her feet.

"Sully?" she exclaimed in mock protest, more than willingly allowing him to pull her into his embrace.

He momentarily shook out the quilt and then draped it first around his wife and then around his own shoulders, tucking the edges in to secure it, so that they were now wrapped close together, a little like a Christmas bonbon. His arms encircled her and he rested his chin on the top of her head. Then he began to move, just a gentle swaying to the rhythm of the music.

After a few moments, Michaela sighed in contentment. "I’ll never be able to dance with you at the Sweethearts’ Dance again," she murmured against his chest.

"Why’s that?"

"Because I’ll want to hold you close like this …. and it wouldn’t be proper …"

"No … I guess it wouldn’t …."

Michaela tilted her face up to look into his eyes and saw such a look of adoration in them that it took her breath away. Oh so slowly Sully brought his smiling face down closer and closer to hers. He placed light, teasing kisses to her forehead, each temple, each cheek, her nose… By the time he reached her mouth Michaela’s heart was pounding and she enthusiastically captured his lips with hers, pressing close and deepening the kiss until they were oblivious to everything else around them, including the fact that the music box gradually wound down and stopped. For an immeasurable amount of time, and to the lone accompaniment of the crackling of the fire, they clung together, mouths and tongues and then hands arousing wondrous sensations.

Finally they parted and Michaela again rested her cheek against his chest, her rapid breathing mirroring his. Beneath the warmth and darkness of the quilt, his hands continued their intimate exploration of her clothed body, nurturing her high state of arousal.

Careful not to disturb the quilt cocoon around them, Michaela brought her hands up and began to slowly undo the buttons on his shirt, trailing her fingertips sensually over his heated skin as each button gave way, allowing her access. She murmured softly as she worked, "Know what I was thinking about when you came in?"

Sully took a deep, calming breath. "No."

"Its nearly New Year."

"Uh huh." He quivered at her touch.

She gasped as his roving hands brushed the sides of her sensitive breasts, but she continued nonetheless. "When I was a child and then a girl, still living at home, I used to wonder each new year what I’d be doing in five, ten, twenty years and whether I’d be happy …" She lightly kissed his chest as she pulled his shirt free of his buckskins, and pushed the fronts back. She began to run her fingers through the dark hair.

Sully moaned softly. "And?"

Her fingers paused to tease his nipples. "I never imagined how happy I’d be …. My life may have turned out very differently to everyone’s expectations …. including mine … But I wouldn’t change a thing ….."

Sully was now breathing *very* heavily and his buckskins were feeling extremely tight. "Even when we disagree ….?" He reached behind her and began to undo the line of buttons down the back of her dress.

Her arms encircled him, under his shirt, and her hands slipped in under the waistband of his buckskins, caressing his heated skin. She purred, "I don’t like it when we argue …. But I enjoy the making up part …. And each time it happens we learn more about each other …."

As her hands returned to his front and began to fumble with the fastener at his waist, Sully worked more frantically on the long line of buttons. His heart was pounding so hard he was sure she’d be able to hear it. "I’m sure …. learnin’ …. somethin’ …. ‘bout you now ….," he gasped, as her hands began to work some very arousing magic. "Um … should we be doin’ this? …. With the baby an’ all?"

"I’m sure baby doesn’t mind a bit," returned Michaela, slowly moving her hand lower and then more intimately against him. She blushed. "We might need to … uh …. try another way to ……"

The quilt around their shoulders abruptly gave way and fell to the floor. Neither made any effort to retrieve it for suddenly they were free to push shirt and gown off over exposed shoulders and toss them aside. They edged a little closer to the fire and continued the sensuous mixture of caresses and disrobing until finally they stood together, heated skin against skin, mouths seeking and finding old and new ways to arouse the other. After one especially long, passionate kiss Michaela stood on her tiptoes to whisper against his ear, "I’m warm now."

"Mmmm … me too …," he murmured softly in reply, lost in his tender explorations of her changing and beautiful body.

She kissed his neck, causing the blood to rush to the surface and his skin to mottle. "I need you now ….. please ….," she whispered.