Their money for mining finished very soon, so they needed to search for any job again. Sully, when he still was at the mining camp, learned some carpentry, and now he could repair some furniture, or fence, or even build the barn. (- Why do you do it? It's for your future family? - Daniel asked mockingly. Yes, indeed, - Sully seriously answered)
Sully was right, learning this - his skills brought them some money from time to time.
One winter they reached a small town named Colorado-Springs. Fortunately, they found a job here - one of the newcomers engaged them to help to build his homestead. This town was kind and friendly, except the local storekeeper, Mr. Bray, who didn't like them. However, they had no much money, and visited his store very seldom. But once they have seen the pretty dark-haired girl, standing at the counter instead of Loren or Maude Bray. This was Abagail Bray, their daughter. She just returned to Colorado-Springs from her aunt's ranch. Neither Sully, nor Daniel didn't have much experience in flirting, so they both became confused.
Can I help you, gentlemen? - the girl asked.
Two pounds of nails, please, - both answered at the same time.-
Just a minute, I'll take it from the upper shelf, - she smiled. Then she turned to Sully and added, Mister, would you please help me with this stepladder.?
Sully was very embarrassed. He looked at Abagail, then at Daniel, and finally muttered: Sure…
He dragged out the old and heavy stepladder, and the girl began to climb on it. Suddenly, the stepladder began to creak, and its upper stair broke under her foot. Abagail lost her balance, but Sully caught her.
Oh, thank you, - she smiled at him, - I could broke my leg, but you saved me! How I can thank you?!
What about a picnic this Sunday? - Daniel asked . The girl was cheerful and pretty , and he thought just about a little flirting. But Sully looked at her unable to take away his eyes and utter any sound.
I'd be glad, - she answered, - but I can't. I was engaged this November, and the townsfolk would be shocked to see me with two young gentlemen. This is a small town, and …
And the best pastime of the townsfolk is gossiping, - Daniel finished
I'm afraid so, - Abagail agreed. She doesn't pay much attention to Daniel's courting, instead of it she turned to Sully again:
I've heard, you're a carpenter. Could you please repair some furniture for us?
Sully reddened and after a long pause said: Sure…sure, I can.
Daniel suddenly felt a kind of discomfort., noticing his friend's reaction.
This moment Loren Bray came in. He gazed at them unfriendly, than grumbled at his daughter: I left just for few minutes, and you're already flirting with some vagrants!
I'm not flirting! - Abagail objected, - they've buying the nails. Besides that, this gentleman, Mr.…
…Sully , - Daniel prompted. Sully himself still silently stood looking at Abagail.
Well…Mr. Sully is a carpenter. He was so kind to agree to repair this step-ladder, our chairs and shelf.
Two bucks, - Loren growled out
Three, Pa, - Abagail said, - It's too much work.
Well, three, - Loren agreed reluctantly, - Now get out you both, I'm going to close.
Seems, you're fell into a trap, - Daniel noticed, as they left THE BRAY'S MERCANTILE. Sully just lowered his eyes and said nothing, and Daniel understood he was right in his anxiety.
Actually, Sully fell in love with Abagail, so as she. Her fiancée, Martin Anderson, was not a bad guy, but she was bored to death listening about his ranch, and cattle, and grain prices. Certainly, Sully who read the books, and was able to talk about a lot of things, was much more interesting for her. Besides, there was one more reason. Sully was very gentle and tender with her, and it looked so different with all the local guys' way of flirting.
Meanwhile, the winter was gone. It was the time to move further, but Sully unexpectedly refused. Is it because of Abagail? - Daniel asked him.
Yes, - Sully confessed, - I want to marry her and stay here, in Colorado-Springs.
Wait.. - Daniel was taken aback, - Do you mean, you MUST marry her?
Certainly not! - Sully outraged, - How you can think of me like this?! I just want to ask her to marry me.
You're crazy! - Daniel got angry, - She's already engaged, are you forgotten? Her father never allows her to marry such a ragamuffin as you are.
But it's 'Abagail' who will choose , - Sully said. Daniel knew how stubborn his friend could be sometimes, and just sighed gravely. Something was going to be changed in their life, and this changes were unpleasant for Daniel. Sully became very embarrassed with his friend's words. Actually, Martin, Abagail 's fiancée, was the owner of a large ranch , but Sully had no any property, just his hands, and his head…and his love to Abagail. What would be better for her? He was doubt, if she'll agree to marry him, so didn't go to the store for a few days.
When Daniel came there (they were still needed in something for the building), he saw Abagail crying. What's wrong? - he asked
She raised her eyes on him:
Daniel, please say me the truth - why Sully didn't come here for 3 days? He…he doesn't love me?
Certainly, not! Sully loves you with all his heart, - he sighed, but continued:- and he wants to marry you. But he doesn't know how to say you….because you're already engaged.
It was just my father's decision! - she exclaimed, - not mine! I'll never marry Martin, because I love Sully! I'd be happy to be his wife!
Daniel managed a smile. Truth was, he hoped that she finally will obey her father. But this hope flied away - nothing could hinder them to marry…nothing could stop Sully to destroy their friendship.
He noticed Loren walking through the square to his store, and left hastily . Abagail stopped crying and looked happy. But Daniel was absolutely not happy this time.
Sully finally asked Abagail to marry him, and she said "Yes". Loren became furious, but his wife, Maude Bray, liked Sully more then Martin. She secretly gave them a piece of Bray's land, and Sully began to build a homestead there. Daniel was managed to help him, after all ,Sully still was his best friend. But they began to quarrel very often.
You're a traitor! - Daniel yelled at him, - Do you remember - we're vowed to be friends for the rest of our life, and now you betray it! We're going West to search for gold together!
We were kids, - Sully objected, - but now we're growing up. Just imagine - we may spend our life for nothing with this searching. Did you ever seen such folks? When they understand that their life is almost gone - without home, family, friends - it 's too late. They begin to drink hard, and finally die of this. I don't want us to do the same…Daniel, what about you also stay here? - he suddenly asked.
Never! - Daniel outraged, - I'll see, what you could say, when I become a rich man! (Sully just shrugged his shoulders.)
What are you going to do with your 'family' but without the money?
I have my hands and my head, so I could find any job to feed my family Sully looked at Daniel almost pleadingly: Daniel, once you'll feel yourself tired with all this running, searching…It's better think about this while you're still able to think about something but the gold…
Forget it! - Daniel yelled, - Now we're goin' by different ways, if you want it - fine!
He slammed the door behind him.
Daniel was walking along the town square, when he met Abagail. Evening, - he muttered, going to continue his walk. But she stopped him.
Daniel, I need to tell you something… He guessed, what she was going to tell him, but stayed obediently.
Daniel.. - she began, - I know, you're angry for Sully…Don't blame him, please, but the family is what he was dreaming about for a long time.
Abagail, - he said, - Sully was my best friend…more than a brother since we were 10….
Why you're saying "he 'was' " - I think he still is your best friend, it doesn't matter that he would be married. If you're really more than a brother to him, you must try to understand his feelings and respect it. You're very close, but you're two different men in the same time. She looked at Daniel's eyes: Sully is suffering so much about you're blame him for his decision. Help him, if you wish the best for your best friend…please.
I..I'll try, - Daniel said.
Thank you, - Abagail answered and walked to the store.
He thought about her words all the day along. Abagail was right, they were different, in spite of they were friends. He doesn't need to force Sully to do, like he, Daniel Simon ,wants - such as Sully must let Daniel go by his own way…And they'll remain the best friends though.. So, few days later Daniel finally brought himself to talk with Sully: Sully, I have something to tell you, - he said.- I've talked today with some folks in town…They're going to move to Nevada, for gold. They have a good map, and asked me to go with them… Daniel stopped , then continued: Well…I'm sorry that I couldn't be your best man at your wedding, but I wish you to be happy with your wife and children.
Thank you, Daniel, - Sully just said, - You'll be my best friend for the rest of my life. Can I name our son in honor of you?
I'd be glad, - Daniel answered, -Sully…I was stupid, forget all this rubbish, I've told you. Sully looked at him with gratitude and said:
I'll miss you, Daniel…
I'll miss you also. Sully… would you please write me sometimes about your family? I'll find the way to receive your letters. I 'm not so good in reading and writing - thought, you'll be always somewhere nearby. But I'll ask someone to read your letters for me.
Sure, Daniel. And ask him to write me back, so I want to know about you… They couldn't sleep this night, talking, reminding their childhood and their journey to West…The friends felt they must say good-bye to each other like men , but didn't know how. They were still too young at all…
Daniel paused. This moment the window slammed with the wind.
Brian, would you please come upstairs and look at Katie? - Michaela asked, - I'm afraid, this noise could wake her. Sure, Ma! Don't go on telling without me!
OK, Brian, we'll wait for you.
When Brian came upstairs, Daniel leaned to Michaela and said quietly: We've bought a bottle of whiskey this night - we wanted to look like the 'men'
Daniel! - Sully outraged, - It's not a good subject for talking about!
But Daniel didn't pay attention: Do you imagine what the awful headache we both had the next morning? We had no much experience with drinking, - he grinned.
Actually, we were still the kids, - Sully finally smiled also, - but we seemed the growing men to ourselves.
Brian returned and reported: Katie's asleep. Are you telling this story more while I was there ?
Michaela shook her head, and Daniel continued: Certainly, I missed Sully very much. He wrote me about the wedding, and about his life with Abagail. Loren never even visited them, but Maude was often…Sully was working at the mine again, and in his last letter he wrote that Abagail is pregnant, and the baby will be born in September. The Christmas passed, but there was no any more letter from Sully. I tried to write him, but didn't receive any answer. After the winter was gone, I began to worry about Sully and finally came to Colorado-Springs.
Nobody already remembered him in town, just the blacksmith, Robert E., said him "hello" passing by. But when Daniel tried to ask him about Sully he just sighed gravely and went away.
Then Daniel made his way to the 'Bray's Mercantile'. There was Maude Bray, standing at the counter, dressed in black, and Daniel guessed that something awful has happened here.
Maude recognized him and, through the sobs, told that Abagail died in labor, and the baby died also. Sully was disappeared the next day after the burial.
I was so sorry for him, - Maude cried , - when I saw him at the cemetery standing aside alone…I know, he loved our Abby with all his heart, and mourned so much. I was going to ask him to live with us just for a while - but Loren forbid me even to say a word with Sully. Loren blames him for Abby's death. Reverend Johnson said, he saw Sully sitting near their graves all the night along, but next morning he was disappeared , nobody knows where…
Loren Bray became furious when he noticed Sully's friend, talking with his wife. -Maude!!! - he yelled, - MAUDE!!! What's the hell you're doing?! I told you before to throw them both away, as soon as they just show their faces here!
What do you want ? - He turned to Daniel, - You're looking for your friend? I don't know where he is, AND I DON'T WANT TO KNOW, hope, he's dead also!
He stopped short noticing the look of Daniel's face, but finally yelled again: Get out of here while I'm not going for a rifle! But for you both, all might be different!
You're right, - Daniel became furious also, - Sully might be safe …If he's dead also, as you're wish him , it would be your fault!
Daniel slammed the door behind him, but still had heard Maude crying while he passed the town square…
He made a big mistake, coming to Sully's homestead. It was very painful sight - the empty and abandoned house, that was a home of a happy young couple just several months ago. The wardrobes were opened, and the cloths were scattered all over the floor , the windows were open and some broken…Sully even didn't lock the door, leaving this place.
Daniel closed the door and rode away. He went to the small cemetery near the church and put some flowers on two new graves - large and tiny. Abagail, - he whispered, touching the wooden cross, - you know, you and this little one were all he loved…I promise, I'll do all that's up to me to find him…Hope, he's still alive.
He was not sure in this, however. There was the war, and Daniel was afraid that Sully will try to enlist to the Army, wanting to be killed and join his family.
Leaving the town, he asked the local midwife, Charlotte Cooper, to write him in case she'll know something about Sully…
Few years passed. Daniel was traveling through all the West, still searching for gold. He changed a lot of jobs, once even thought about getting married, but couldn't bring himself to do this. When he already lost any hope ever find Sully, he unexpectedly received the letter from Charlotte Cooper. Sully was alive. The Cheyenne Indians found him half-dead in the woods, and Sully joined their tribe. Few times he came to town to put flowers on the graves, but never spoke a word with any townsfolk …. Daniel still missed his friend very much. But he was alive - and this was the main thing. He understood that Sully needs some time to heal his soul, and it's not right to bother him .
Almost a whole year passed until he finally heard from Sully again. This was a very short letter, just a few lines, but it was written by Sully himself. He just wrote that there are negotiations between Cheyenne and the Army, and he is a kind of mediator and translator . He, as before, has visiting town very seldom, but Charlotte Cooper gave him an address of Daniel…
There were just a few lines in this letter, but Daniel understood with great relief, that his friend is still mourning, but at last has found a courage to live farther…..
You know the rest of this story, - Daniel finished
Well, - Michaela joined in, - then the female physician from Boston arrived to Colorado-Springs, and noticed the crowd of Indians in the meadow near the church…
And she was so amazed with this sight, that suddenly tumbled right into the mud…, - Sully added. Sully!! - Michaela outraged mockingly
What? - he asked innocently, - It's a truth.
Yes, it's a truth…- she agreed.
But it's not all I was going to say, - Sully continued, - Then she gave me the best family in whole world, - he leaned to Michaela and kissed her cheek.
That's much better, - Michaela complimented him.
Brian laughed, and Michaela and Sully joined him, reminding the first Michaela's arriving to Colorado-Springs.
Daniel looked at them unusually seriously, and when they stopped laughing, said: I've just thought…you're right, Sully …
About what? - he wondered
Once you told me that one day I'll be bothering with all those endless travels and adventures…That's right.
What do you mean?
The family is not so bad as I was thinking before…So I decided to stay here and have my own family with time…
That's great! - said all three at the same time…
Ma! Papa! - they suddenly have heard from upstairs.
You'll see how wonderful to have the wife and children, - Sully said, rising from the chair.- I'm coming, Kates! -
He turned to Daniel, and smiled -… even those children, who don't want to sleep at night,
Well…I think so, - Daniel said. This time he was actually sure in this.