…and here they were already hidden in boundless plains"
Bridget Hunter added a last phrase and signed the point…the one more story of Wild West was ready…one more story that nobody will read. While Bridget wrote it, she imagined that all this was happened with her. After all, who can say that the author of histories, full of action - fights, shootings, and other adventures - is unable even to go downstairs, and needs to spend her life in a despised wheel-chair?! Anyway, writing gave her the chance to feel like all others, even for several hours. .… Bridget was almost 13, and 3 of it she sat in this chair, after the fall from the spiral stairway. Is was her blame, as her governess said - the young ladies from good families never interested in garrets? Her cousins never did things like this! They didn't like her stories , and said that it's not for girls. Once she gave it to her cousin Edward, but he just laughed at her, and it hardly was finished without fight. - Did you ever seen an Indian? How can you write this stuff!
- I've read about Indians, - Bridget answered.
- And " Mary Ann with her fairy hair" - is you, of course?
Such a foolish! - and he giggled in a disgusting way..
Bridget felt furious and tried to hit her cousin, but he suddenly jumped aside, and she hardly not slumped on the floor together with her chair. Her aunt and parents run there when heard the noise. They were ashamed of Edward that he offended the poor cripple. Bridget tried to object that it was ' she' who began the fight, but nobody listened her, and now Edward not even visited her room. Certainly, he was very nasty guy, but nobody except him look at her as at all others… Except him and Grandma Katherine . They were good friends, but she visited Hunter family very seldom, an then, about 2 years ago, left to America. There was some mysterious story about her son, who was found after more than 20 years, and grandmother came to him. Some months after it she married the local shopkeeper, and in the opinion of Bridget's parents, definitively disgraced their family. Father did not allows Bridget to read letters from grandmother, and there was no more people who was interested in her stories - that was ' grandmother' who managed her to write westerns… Bad cousin Edward was right - "the fairy-haired beauty Mary Ann ", the main character of all her stories, was her. She was so beauty, and brave, and clever…and she didn't looks like Bridget Hunter with her invalid chair - just with the color of hair…Few years ago they've visited a lot of hospitals and clinics, there was physicians who rumpled and bent her legs, but now it was clear that she will never walk again. It was awful, but her loneliness was much worse…she missed her only friend, Grandma Katherine, very much.
Bridget rolled up her chair to the window and looked outside. She noticed an old postman, who was walking towards their house. Good morning, Mr. .Atkins! - Bridget called him.
Morning, young lady, - the postman answered, - here is the letter for you, from America. I'll give to your mother… Nobody's home, - Bridget lies, - just throw it to the window!
The postman stretched her an envelope, and walked away.
Bridget rolled her chair out of the window and opened the letter. It was addressed to her mother, Mrs. Hunter, but the girl was not very ashamed - there was the only chance to read something from Grandma.
"Dear Jane! - Grandma Katherine wrote, - you still don't want your daughter to write me or to read my letters…you can convict me, if you want…but what I need to suggest you is very important for Buddy (it was Bridget's nick, when she was little girl, only Grandma Katherine called her like this ). Byron's wife, Michaela, is a doctor. She thinks, that the hot springs will be good for her legs. She wants to check it. Please, send Buddy to Colorado-Springs even for a while.. With love, your Ma."
Bridget couldn't believe in such thing - Grandma is going to invite her to real Wild West!!!!
Sorry, Ma, I've opened your letter, - said Bridget when the family sat at the dining table., - I didn't notice that there was "Mrs." . Grandma thinks, hot springs in her town probably can fix my legs.
What the rubbish! - her father interrupted,
But perhaps we can try? - asked her mother timidly.
The best London physicians examined her, - said Mr. Hunter angrily, - but your mother offers us help of country doctor, and - woman!
She's M.D. from Boston, - Mrs. Hunter said softly.
It doesn't matter! - Mr. Hunter declared, - We all understand that nothing can fix her legs.
But I want to try! - said Bridget.
You must not to argue with your father,- he began, but Bridget objected :
That's 'me' who's sitting in this wheel chair, not 'you'…I want to try!
George, please, let her try! - mother asked, - if we have any chance, we need to use it…please!
Finally, he agreed, and they sent the telegram to Colorado-Springs, and two days later received the answer.: "Dear Buddy! My son (and your uncle) will get you to Colorado-Springs. He will be in London in September,2. His name is Byron Sully. Hope, you both will be good friends. With love, Grandma Katherine".
There is no end for your mother's eccentricity! - Mr. Hunter exclaimed, - Why she didn't come here herself, but sent some stranger instead?!
George, he's my brother, - Mrs. Hunter answered ,
Your brother! And additionally named Byron! I can swear, he never heard about real 'Byron'! Such a good brother for you - this dirty and ignorant cowboy…or kind of it…
However, Bridget was very excited! She couldn't sleep at night, trying to imagine this mysterious man named Byron Sully…
He looked not like she imagined him. He has a long light-chestnut hair, bright-blue eyes, like Grandma Katherine, and was wearied in very unusual style - in leather trimmed coat and buckskins. Except this, there were an Indian beads on his neck. Bridget could notice that Clifford, their servant, took his coat by two fingers, with great disgust. But to the wonderment of all Hunters, his manner of speaking was good and gentle…,besides, he was laconic.
There was no any shadow of insincere sympathy in his blue eyes when he stretched his hand to Bridget, and she responded him for this.
I've packed my luggage, - she informed.
Fine, - he answered, - I got a carriage for us. Mr. Hunter, Mrs. Hunter, I was glad to meet you, but it's time to go…
What do you mean "time to go"? - Mrs. Hunter asked - Ms. Filbern isn't ready yet.
Who is she?- Sully wondered
She is Bridget's nurse …you must understand, - Mrs. Hunter explained looking on Bridget's chair.
I don't need a nurse! - Bridget objected, -I don't need a nurse! - Bridget objected, - I can take care of myself!
Certainly, not!
Mrs. Hunter, - Sully cut in , - I think we can manage without a nurse. Mother didn't tell me about her, and I have just two tickets. Don't worry, I'll take care for her.
Are you aware, Mr. Sully, what are you talking about?!- Mr. Hunter exclaimed, - Do you know what is it - to take care of …
"Of the cripple", - he's going to say" - Bridget thought. She hated when somebody talked about her like this. It sounded awful…like a kind of condemnation.. But Sully not allowed him to finish, and she thanked him in her mind.
I'll take care of her, - he repeated, - you don't need to worry about .
And how about your guarantees? - Mr. Hunter asked.
Sully shrugged his shoulders and simply answered: My word.
Your word? You're joking? - asked Mr. Hunter coldly - we've seen you for the first time. Your mother sometimes…always did unreasonable things.
Bridget looked at Sully. ..seems, he also began to lose his patience.
We need to hurry, the carriage is waiting, - he said through the clenched teeth. - Excuse us, - he added then.
Well,- Mrs. Hunter sighed, - I think we can trust you, Mr. Sully, but be careful, please.
We'll send you a telegram as soon as we arrive to Colorado-Springs, - Sully promised.
Bridget was managed to listen a lot of advises, and finally her wheel - chair was placed into a carriage, and she sat near by Sully, Her notebook and diary were hidden in her bags, and she was full of hopes to write more stories when she'll arrive to the West.
You 're lucky that you do not suffer a seasickness, - said Sully, carrying her chair to the deck.- I like to look on waves…perhaps because I was born on a such ship.
You were born right on a ship? - Bridget asked Yep. My parents decided to leave England about a month before my birth. My brother Aidan was 4. It was hard for Ma, she raised in a rich and refined family- like yours, and then she was forced to move to unknown country . My father was going to be a farmer. He liked a farmer's work, so as Ma then. But when Aidan died, we moved again to NY. - He stopped and silently looked on greenish water. Bridget understood, that's not a right time to ask more about his family.
At the second time I was traveling by ship with my friend, - Sully continued after the long pause, - You'll see Daniel, now he is our sheriff. We ran away from the orphanage, wanted to go West. But we have no time to look at waves, we had no tickets, and needed to hide
I like to look at water too- Bridget said, - One more - how I can call you - "uncle Byron" or "Mr. Sully"?
- Just "Sully", please. I hate my name. Ma named me after Lord Byron , but as you can see, I don't look like "Lord"…
- well like it. And you can call me "Buddy", it's my baby nick, only Grandma calls me like this.
- Fine.
- Thank you, - Bridget said
- For what? - "For looking at me as I'm not an invalid" - she thought it, but said aloud:
- For having this troubles with me
He looked at her attentively: Please, never say it again.. If you are different, it doesn't mean you're worse…
Bridget reddened. She wanted to take out this awkwardness, and changed the subject.
She touched the beads on his neck and said:
- Very beautiful. It’s Indian beads?
- Yes. It's a gift from my friends - Cheyenne.
-Real Indians??!! Do you mean, that I can see them?
-There no more Indians in this area. But one of them you will exactly see. Cloud Dancing will be glad to meet you.
He touched the beads and continued: - I not even thought that someday get it back. It disappeared , when I was hidden from the army - he stopped short when noticed that said something spare and took a look on Bridget,- hope, your parents will never know that I was wanted ?
Bridget imagined the reaction of her parents and giggled, - Certainly, not! If you tell me, why you're wanted…
- It's not so funny , as you seem, - Sully said - but I'll tell you. Promise..
Their journey was very long, but Bridget enjoyed it. She praised God that Ms. Filbern didn't follow her. Sully didn't bother her with his help - he just was near every time she needed any help. They talked all the time about a lot of things, and he never looked at her as at the kid, or at the invalid. They both were interesting in this chatting.
When they finally arrived to NEW YORK, Bridget was going to ask him about his childhood - after all, he raised there. But Sully was not adjusted to speak of this. Even in the train he was still upset and stressed . Bridget wanted to distract him from his sad memories, so she confessed that writes Westerns. But Sully unexpectedly showed a great interest in it:
- Can I ever read it? - he asked
Certainly! I'll give you , as soon as we will arrive, The last story I has written is about how the bloodthirsty Indians… She suddenly has noticed a look of his face, and stopped short
- They're not "bloodthirsty"- Sully objected, - I 'd better use this word for army, who kill them.
But I've read they are cruel and take out the scalps…
Well…sometimes they did. But you must understand - it was after whites killed their wives and children, stole their land, brought them starvation and diseases . Indians are such human beings as you and me…It was 'white man', who taught them to take out the scalps - before they cut off only enemy's brides, as a trophy. But when whites began to pay their scouts for every scalp…
His blue eyes became almost steel with anger, and Bridget said timidly: I'm sorry…I didn't want to hurt you…
No, you didn't, - answered Sully more calmly.- There are not truthful books you've read. It would much better for you to read Dorothy's book (she is the owner of town's GAZETTE)…or talk with Cloud Dancing.
Perhaps, my stories aren't very good, but when I'm writing it - I feel as if I can do all the things like other people…who can walk…and run…and ride. It’s awful- to understand that I'll spend all my life in this chair…
I know, - he nodded, - it's an awful feeling.
Bridget suddenly became furious - she didn’t want him to feel sorry of her, as their parents…as all of them!!! - I don't need your sympathy! - she exclaimed.- I don't need you to feel sorry of me!
- I didn’t say "I feel sorry"! - he answered, - I said "I know".
How you can "know", if you never were on my place!
She became sorry on her roughness herself. Finally, it was not Sully's guilt . She was going to apologize, but he suddenly said:
- I was…I thought I'll never walk again, and even Michaela could not say nothing comforting…
- But after all you 're walking again?
- I was so lucky.
That was the hot springs that fixed your legs?
- Hot springs, and exercises, which Michaela forced me to do, and herbs of Cloud Dancing…
- Can all this help me as it helped you?
- We will do all we can, - Sully promised - So as me, - Bridget agreed. She still ashamed of herself, so tried to change the subject again: - You promised to tell about your beads - how you got it back ?
- I received it in package with the letter from Sgt. McKay.
- Sgt. McKay? You just told me he's the honest person - how he can still be the sergeant and kill Indians?
Sorry, I was wrong - he's not a sergeant anymore. He is a sheriff in Deadwood, Wyoming. He wrote, it's better to catch robbers, than kill innocent people…I can object nothing…
He looked through the train window: - Buddy, look - we're almost home!
Bridget saw a station, and even was able to read the sign "COLORADO-SPRINGS".
When the train stopped, Bridget notice her Grandma Katherine, who stood at the platform. There were also some other people - women, holding a little girl, and old gentlemen. They smiled and waved their hands. Bridget guess that it was Sully's family who came to meet her.
Sully carried her out of the train, and conductor helped to bring her wheel-chair.
Buddy, my dear! - Grandma hugged her tightly and kissed, - I'm so glad they allow you to come here! Sure, you'd like our family and this town
I'm already like it! - Bridget answered,- It's the first big journey in my life!
She turned to other family members:
Mr. Bray, Mrs. Sully, nice to meet you.
She is "Dr. Quinn" - Mr. Bray corrected her, - Nice to meet you too. I think, you'd like this,
He put the big cornet on her lap :
Katherine told me, there's no such kind of candies in your England.
Thank you, - Bridget smiled. - Sure, I like candies.
When Bridget saw that Sully kisses his wife, she unexpectedly felt a thin needle of jealousy, but didn't show it.
Morning, Bridget, - Michaela said, - You can call me "Dr. Mike", like all the townsfolk.
Well, -Bridget answered, - and you call me 'Buddy", please. Michaela nodded.
Let's go home, - Michaela suggested, - Perhaps you both are tired and hungry…
You're absolutely right, - Sully agreed.
…and tomorrow I'll check you at the clinic. I need to examine your legs.
Do you really think I'll ever can walk again? - Bridget asked.
I don't want to give you wrong promises, - Michaela answered honestly, - but I'll…we'll try…But it's for tomorrow, and now - let's go home!
About a week passed. Bridget was so excited to be there, that this time flied away like just a day .She felt as she came into another world - all the things there were so different. She liked laughing and chatting during the lunch, and evening chess party with Michaela, Sully or Brian, and playing with little Katie, and, of course, Sully's friend, Wolf. She always was a real "doggy person", but her father didn't like any pets at home.
One of the most unusual experiences was a riding. She didn't ride a horse herself - Sully sat behind her. But her mother would be shocked if she'd ever seen her daughter on the horse's back. It was in her opinion, very dangerous.
But Bridget didn't feel any fear. There was no danger for her, when Sully was beside her.
Bridget was just 13, but she 'd read a lot of novels, and it was clear for her: her feeling to Sully was not just a gratitude…
While Bridget was in clinic, she saw a real Indian there! As she guessed, he was Sully's "brother", Cloud Dancing. He shook her hand and then gave her a little gift. It was a small rawhide bag with the beautiful beadwork on it. He together with Michaela checked on her legs, and forced her to turn right and left. Then Michaela told Bridget to lay on her stomach, and her fingers ran along girl's spine.
Bridget was ready to hear the same things, she'd heard before - but there were Cloud Dancing's words instead: - You will be able to walk again….
What?!! - she didn't believe her ears.
You will walk again, - he repeated, - if you'd overcome your fear…
Both, Bridget and Michaela, looked at him in great wonder:
The fear is inside you, - the medicine man explained calmly, - It's not 'your legs' that don't allow you to walk, it's 'your spirit', that's scared…
"Out of balance"? - Michaela asked, - I remember, you told me once…
Cloud Dancing nodded. You must overcome it, Bridget, - he said firmly, - You're strong enough to do it. Almost all in your healing is up to you… Ha'ho, see you, my friends, - he added and left.
Michaela looked very puzzled, so as Bridget.
Dr. Mike, - she asked, - do you agree that I have a chance?
I don't know exactly, - Michaela answered, - but there is something I want you to know. If your spine was broken, there must be a bulge on the spot of fracture. But I couldn't find it…So I need to think about it…
Anyway, - Bridget said, - it's better than I've heard before…
Michaela entered the bedroom. Sully rose from the chair and put his finger on his lips: Katie's asleep …
Fine, - Michaela whispered,- I'm too tired to tell her stories…
How's Buddy? - Sully asked, - Can you help her?
Michaela shrugged her shoulders: I don't know yet…Cloud Dancing was at the clinic today. He's sure, that her problems are not physical but psychological.
Perhaps, he can see something that we can't see,
Perhaps, - Michaela agreed, - I want to help her…so as you. I noticed, you become very close to her.
Yes, she's strong…just like you, Michaela. She doesn't want to give up, and I'll do all that's up to me…
So as I, - Michaela said, - And I need to talk with Buddy tomorrow…
Buddy, - Michaela asked next day, - we need to talk. It's very important for your recovery. I need to know exactly, what happened this day, when you were injured? It 's bad memories, but I need to know ALL.
I fell from the stairway, - Bridget answered, - and couldn't get up the following morning…
THE FOLLOWING MORNING?!! - Michaela exclaimed, - What do you mean? You could walk right after you fell?
Yes, I got up and walked to my room. I was in pain, but it was not unbearable.
Why you didn't tell me before?
I told it to the doctor in London, he said it was just a shock.
Michaela shook her head in anger to her ignorant colleague.
I doubt his diagnosis was right, - she said, - Perhaps, I'd better agree with Cloud Dancing. Buddy, did you scared of something this day? It's very important. Please, try to remember.
I remember it, - Bridget answered in low voice, her eyes filled with tears, - but you must swear don't tell my parents… even Grandma.
I swear, - Michaela promised
Me too, - Sully added, - We can keep the secrets. Come on, Buddy, we're with you.
Well, - Bridget began, - We moved few days before it, and I wanted to check all our new house…