Cloud Dancing was so surprised at this change in Hank that he didn't know quite what to say. "Hank, there is nothing that can be done to change the past, but we can make the present and the future better."
"You're right and I have an idea of how we can do it. I think we should add some Indian items to the library to show how the Indians lived and a little about their lives. I think Dorothy should write your story so that future generations will be able to know what the Indians had to endure and how they lived. I want to get to work on it as soon as we get back."
Cloud Dancing looked at Hank. "Thank you."
Hank extended his hand for Cloud Dancing to shake. Cloud Dancing took Hank's hand and knew he had a new friend in Colorado Springs.

Michaela had worked late at the clinic and Sully had brought Brian and Katie in so they could all eat supper with Matthew at Grace's. Shannon and Carolyn had taken Brian and Katie to the cafe to meet Matthew while Sully went to get Michaela at the clinic. Sully and Michaela were just closing the clinic when Hank's horse arrived in town.
"Sully, isn't that Hank's horse? Look it's limping. Where's Hank?"
"Yea' that's Hank's horse. Let's go see what is happening."
Sully and Michaela quickly crossed the street. Sully quietly grabbed the reins as the horse stopped in front of the saloon. Sully did a quick check of the horse's leg. "He's not hurt bad, just bruised. I'll take him over to Robert E to look after. Maybe Jake or Loren knows where Hank is."
Sully took the horse to the livery and then met the family at the cafe. Jake and Teresa as well as Loren, Dorothy and Robert E were all there. "Does anyone know where Hank is?"
"He went hunting. Why?" Jake wondered why Sully would be worried about Hank.
"I just left his horse at the livery with a bruised leg. Hank is no where around."
"That's not like Hank to let his horse get away from him. Do you think something has happened to him?"
"We'll have to go looking. It is too late to start tonight, but I am going to start first thing in the morning, if anyone wants to go with me." Jake, Matthew and Robert E all volunteered to accompany Sully. After supper the men agreed to meet at the clinic at 6:00 a.m. to get an early start and then headed home.

The four men had been riding for about four hours when Sully, who was in the lead, stopped in the road. Just ahead he saw Cloud Dancing coming towards them and it looked like he was pulling something. They rode ahead to meet him. As they got closer Loren was surprised to see that Cloud Dancing was pulling Hank on a litter. Jake was the first one off his horse with Sully close behind. After explanations from both Hank and Cloud Dancing, Sully attached the litter to his horse. Robert E let Cloud Dancing ride on his horse behind him and the group headed towards town.

A crowd had gathered at the clinic by the time the men arrived. Someone had seen them in the distance and word had passed quickly. As Sully carefully helped Hank up and started into the clinic, Jake was ready to offer his help but stopped short when Hank asked Cloud Dancing if he would help Sully get him into the clinic. All the townsfolk looked at each other in surprise. Dorothy's jaw dropped a mile. Hank smiled at the looks on everyone's faces. Then he looked at Dorothy. "Dorothy, when you can close your mouth, and Michaela is done with me, I'd like to talk to you about writing a book."

Michaela had been very surprised at the turn of events, but had not let it show. "Hank, the bump on your head is not very serious. Also, Cloud Dancing has set your leg very well and did a fine job of stitching up your gunshot wound. I will give you something for the pain and infection, but I won't have to do anything else."
Sully couldn't hide his surprise when Hank said, "I know. Cloud Dancing did a great job. Since you weren't there, there's no one else I would have wanted working on me. Thanks again, Cloud Dancing. I'm going to start working on those ideas right away." Cloud Dancing and Hank shook hands and Cloud Dancing left with Sully still not sure what had happened. He quickly followed Cloud Dancing as Michaela let Dorothy in at Hank's request.
Sully was very pleased when Cloud Dancing told him about the trip back to town and the ideas that Hank had. With help from a very unexpected place, the Indians would not be forgotten.
Dorothy and Michaela were both very pleased as Hank told Dorothy about his idea for the book and asked her to write it. He asked Michaela if she would help set up an area in the library to start a small Indian museum. Both women knew that Hank had changed his opinion of the Indians and that they would not be forgotten if he could help it.

The Sully home was filled with people on Thanksgiving Day. They had invited all their friends. Dorothy, Cloud Dancing, Grace, Robert E., Jake, Teresa, Loren, Daniel and even Hank and Preston joined the family for Thanksgiving. After the dinner that Grace, Dorothy, Shannon, Carolyn and Michaela had prepared, the group took the opportunity to go around the table and tell what they were thankful for. With all the blessings they had, it took them two hours to share their thanks with each other.
But the one memory everyone would have of this Thanksgiving was when Hank looked at Dorothy and Cloud Dancing as he was leaving and said, "it is too bad that your relationship wouldn't be accepted outside of Colorado Springs. But, I for one think that if two wonderful people love each other like you do, you deserve to be together." He left several people staring after him with dropped jaws. Hank sure had been changing a lot.

Christmas was just around the corner and Colorado Springs was humming. The town was decorated brightly. Memories of other Christmases were on the minds of several of the townsfolk. There was the year the Reverend went blind. One year a Jewish family had arrived in town and was not treated very well. Then there was the year Mrs. Quinn had sent Brian a dog. And last year, Sully had just been pardoned and would be home in time for Christmas.
Michaela was feeling a little lonely. She missed Colleen and Andrew and they had indicated they would not be able to get home for Christmas. This would be the first Christmas the family was not altogether. Michaela had known it would happen sometime, she just wished it wouldn't be so soon. She was headed for the clinic mentally going over her Christmas list. She knew she would have to send Colleen and Andrew's presents soon if they were to get them by Christmas. Maybe she should just wire her mother and have her get their presents for her. She was so busy thinking about what to do, that she didn't notice the couple sitting on the bench outside the clinic. She would have walked right by them if she hadn't heard Sully's voice behind her. "Andrew, Colleen, when did you get here? I thought you weren't going to be able to come because of your classes and the money." Sully had been on his way over to the clinic to see his wife. He was surprised to see his daughter and son-in-law on the bench.
Michaela turned around when she heard what Sully had said. "Colleen, oh it is so good to see you." Michaela pulled her grinning daughter into her arms. Sully reached out and shook Andrew's hand with a firm handshake.
"We just got here. We didn't plan on coming, but Aunt Shannon contacted my professors and arranged for me to complete my work a week early. She paid for the tickets out here and got my work for the first week of classes after the holidays so I can do it while I am here. She said it would be a Christmas present for the whole family." Colleen hugged Sully as she explained.
Matthew, Carolyn, Katie, Daniel and Shannon were crossing the street at that moment. It took a minute for Matthew to realize his sister was on the porch with his parents. "Colleen, Andrew. Am I glad to see you."
Brian had been heading towards the clinic from school and started running when he heard Matthew's voice and saw his favorite brother-in-law and sister on the steps. "What are you doing here? I thought you couldn't come."
Once again Colleen told the story of how they had been able to make the trip. Daniel leaned over and kissed Shannon who was in his arms. She was special. The whole family thanked her for making it possible for Andrew and Colleen to come home.
"I really haven't met my niece and her husband. I did it for me as much as for everyone else. I wanted to meet these two very special people who are a part of my family." Shannon blushed.
"Michaela, Sully, there you are." Michaela turned to see her mother and three sisters, Rebecca, Claudette, and Maureen. "We've been looking for you." Her mother hugged Michaela.
"Mother, Rebecca, Claudette, Maureen. What are you doing here?" Michaela was happy to see her family.
"Shannon thought it would help make Christmas a happy one if we all came and sent us the tickets. We traveled out here with Colleen and Andrew. We had a very pleasant trip."
Michaela looked at her sister-in-law with love. However, she thought about all the people who were here and wondered where she was going to put them and how she was going to cook for all of them. Shannon seemed to sense her frustrations.
"I have made arrangements for your Mother, Rebecca, Claudette and Maureen to stay at the Chateau. I have rented a wagon for them to use while they are here. Carolyn and I will be staying at the clinic so Andrew and Colleen can have Colleen's old room. Carolyn, Colleen and I will be sharing the cooking responsibilities and have Christmas dinner all planned. After all Michaela, you need your rest."
Michaela and Sully had not told her mother or Colleen and Andrew yet about the baby. They were going to send telegrams on Christmas Eve as part of their present.
"Michaela, are you not feeling well?" Mrs. Quinn was beginning to worry that having so many people around may be too hard on her daughter.
"Yeah, ma. Are you all right?" Colleen had not questioned her aunt's suggestion that they do the cooking. After all, her mother was improving, but still wasn't the best cook in the world.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Michaela, I didn't realize they didn't know." Shannon felt bad that she had been the one to let the news slip before Sully and Michaela were ready.
"That's ok. I think now is a good time to tell them." Michaela looked at her mother, sisters, daughter and son-in-law. "Sully and I are going to have another baby in June."
"Mama have a baby? Katie no see baby. Katie want baby." Everyone laughed as Katie tried to understand how her mother could have a baby. She didn't see one.
"Well, I guess we should tell you our news." Colleen and Andrew had planned to wait but neither one could keep their news a secret any longer. "We are going to have a baby in July." Colleen was lost in hugs and congratulations from everyone. Everyone was still smiling as they went to get settled in their respective rooms.

Michaela carefully studied each family member and friend and filed away memories. This may be the last Christmas they would be together as a family and she wanted to remember every second of this day. She thanked the Lord for her family, friends and a wonderful Christmas.

It was late January and everyone wanted winter to be over. Michaela had just put another log on the fire when there was a knock on the door. She opened the door to find a very nervous Robert E. "Dr. Mike, Grace has gone into labor. Ya' gotta' come quick." Sully had grabbed Michaela's coat when he saw Robert E and Shannon had grabbed her bag. As Sully helped Michaela with her coat, Matthew ran out and saddled two horses. Shannon had become Michaela's "right arm" lately and would accompany her.
Grace had been in labor about four hours before Robert E had come to the homestead. As Michaela check, she was progressing quite rapidly. It wouldn't be long before Robert E and Grace would be parents. Michaela had put Robert E to work heating water to keep him busy. Shannon proved herself very useful by seeming to read Michaela's mind and having what Michaela needed before she asked for it. She was right beside Michaela to get the baby and take care of it as soon as it was born.
They didn't have to wait long. Soon Robert E and Sully (who had come to give Robert E moral support) heard Grace's screams and then a baby's cry. They were waiting for the bedroom door to open so they could see the baby when they heard the baby cry a second time. They wondered what was going on when the baby cried a third time. They were just about to open the bedroom door and ask what was going on when it opened and there stood Shannon and Michaela together. Shannon had two babies in her arms and Michaela had one in hers. Grace had delivered triplets-two boys and a girl. "Robert E, would you and Sully please help Shannon clean these guys up while I tend to Grace? As soon as they are clean, please bring them back in so Grace can hold them."
Robert E was in a state of shock and just looked from Sully to the babies. Sully grinned from ear to ear. "Robert E, ya' take one and I'll take one. They won't break ya' know."
Just at that moment there was a knock on the door. When Sully opened it as Robert E was taking his daughter from Michaela, Dorothy was standing there. "I saw Sully ride in and stop here and then I saw all the horses out front so I assumed Grace was having her baby." At that moment Dorothy realized there was not one, but three babies. "Three???"
"Yes, they were just born, please close the door and help us clean them up." Robert E still wasn't too comfortable holding his daughter.
Dorothy became all business and took one of the boys from Shannon. As they gave them all baths and put warm clothes on them, she looked at Robert E. "What are you going to name them?"
"Well, we had decided on Jennifer if it was a girl and Jeffrey if it was a boy. Now we can use both of them, but we hadn't really planned on two boys." He gently laid Jennifer in the crook of her mother's right arm and the boy he indicated would be called Jeffrey in the crook of her left arm. He then took his other son and looked at Grace. At the same moment, both Grace and Robert E said, "James." So the triplets were Jennifer, Jeffrey and James.
A very exhausted but happy Michaela, Sully and Shannon headed for the Sully homestead. The population of Colorado Springs had just grown by three.

It had been three months since the birth of the triplets. Michaela was reading a new medical journal when Sully and Daniel walked in. She smiled as Sully came over to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Daniel says he has something he wants to talk to us about." Sully and Michaela both had a good idea of what it was, but they were going to pretend they didn't.
"Oh, and what would you like to talk to us about Daniel?"
Just then Matthew came into the clinic. "Oh, hi, Daniel." Matthew was a little nervous.
"Did ya' want somethin', Matthew?" Sully watched a little amused at Matthew playing with his hat and trying to bring himself to tell them what he wanted.
"I was looking for you, Sully, to talk to you, but Daniel was here first."
"Ok, Daniel can tell us what is on his mind first and then we can talk. Is that ok, Matthew?"
"Sure, that will be fine." Matthew was very nervous now and Sully wondered what was going on. He had an idea, but he wasn't sure.
"All right, Daniel, what is on your mind?" Sully turned his full attention to Daniel pretty sure he knew what Daniel wanted.
"Well, I wanted to know if it would be alright with all of you if I asked Shannon to marry me."
Sully was thrilled that Daniel wanted to marry Shannon. He knew Shannon would be thrilled, too. But he was going to make it hard on Daniel-after all he was his best friend. "Well, I don't know. She's pretty special ya' know. I wouldn't want just anyone marrying my sister. What do ya' think, Michaela?"
"I believe you're right. We're all the family she has and we need to watch out for her. We can't let just anyone marry her." Michaela was enjoying this as much as Sully.
"Yep, my sister needs me to protect her. We'll have to think about this one."
Daniel was having as much fun as Sully and Michaela. He threw his hat at Sully who ducked just in time. "Well, I think she needs someone to protect her from you! And I believe I am just the man to do it."
Sully grinned. "Yep, I believe ya' are." Sully reached out to shake Daniel's hand. His voice was emotional. "I really couldn't think of a better person to protect her or to be my brother-in-law. But you know as well as I do, she still has one thing bothering her that may make her reluctant to say yes."
"Yes, I know, but I'll convince her everything will be alright. She'll be safe now." Daniel grabbed Sully's hand. The two men looked at each other a moment and then embraced.
"What do you think, Matthew? Is it ok if I marry your aunt?" Daniel wanted to help make Matthew less nervous.
"I think that is great. As a matter of fact that's kind of why I am here, too."
"To marry your aunt?" Daniel got what he wanted-a smile from Matthew.
"No, I wanted to talk to Ma and Sully about asking Carolyn to marry me."
Michaela was very happy at that moment as her son who had known so much pain in love now wanted to get married. Carolyn had become a part of the family from the first time she was in the Sully home. Michaela had hoped the relationship between Matthew and Carolyn would develop as they made a good couple. However, she didn't want Matthew getting hurt again, so she had not pushed and there was law school. "Matthew, I am so happy for you. I think she will make you a very good wife. What are your plans for law school, then?"
"Well, I know it will be hard and Carolyn may not say yes for the same reason Aunt Shannon may not say yes. But I'll convince Carolyn she's safe now, too. We'll be ok."
"Congratulations, Matthew." Sully gave Matthew a big hug.
"She hasn't said yes, yet. I just hope she will."
Sully and Michaela had planned a picnic to help the process along. It was a warm Spring day in late April and they were headed for the waterfalls. Colleen and Andrew had come home for a short vacation--thanks to Shannon. Lunch was lively as Colleen and Andrew talked about Colleen's schooling and Andrew's growing practice. After lunch, they all played a game of baseball as Michaela, Colleen and Katie cheered them on. When everyone started getting tired, Daniel asked Shannon to go for a walk. Shannon invited Andrew and Colleen and Sully and Michaela, Matthew and Carolyn, and Brian and Sarah (who was becoming a regular in the Sully household, too), but they declined. Well, all but Matthew and Colleen and they headed the opposite direction.
As they walked hand in hand, both seemed deep in thought. "A penny for your thoughts." Daniel was the first to break the silence.
"I was just wondering why no one wanted to join us for this walk. They always enjoy this spot and walking here. It is not like them to turn down a chance to enjoy this."
"Maybe they wanted us to have some time to ourselves." Daniel had reached the spot he was looking for.
"Maybe you're right. Oh, Daniel, it is beautiful here. Look at the rainbow. It is the finishing touch to God's beautiful creation."
"Yes, Shannon, it is. This is the perfect spot."
"The perfect spot? For what?"
"For this." Shannon turned around to see Daniel down on one knee in front of her. "Shannon, will you do me the honor of marrying me?" Daniel had taken Shannon's left hand in his and was placing the ring he was carrying on her finger as he asked the question.
Shannon didn't hesitate. She pulled her hands from Daniel's and threw her arms around his neck. "Yes, oh yes." And they both laughed as Daniel lost his balance and they rolled in the grass. Then something occurred to Shannon. "But what about----"
She didn't get a chance to finish her question as cheers were heard from nearby. Shannon realized that the family had followed them and were watching from a safe distance-far enough away to make it private, but close enough to hear the answer. She knew that they all were in on the plan. "How long have you been planning this?" She looked from Sully to Daniel to Michaela as they joined them.
Sully was helping Shannon to her feet. "Only since this afternoon, Sis. Welcome to the family, Daniel." Sully gave Shannon a big hug and shook Daniel's hand as everyone was talking at once trying to congratulate the happy couple.
Just then Matthew and Carolyn came from the other direction and Sully said, "Well?" Even Daniel was holding his breath.
"She said yes." The cheers went up again and hugs and congratulations were once again going around the group. There was going to be two weddings in the Sully household.
No one noticed the changing sky. Suddenly it became black and the thunder started to roll. Daniel stopped swinging Shannon and looked at Sully and both said at the same time "Let's go." Sully picked up Katie and everyone started running for the wagons.
As they ran, Brian tripped over a tree root. He fell into Shannon knocking her off her feet. When she fell, she hit her head on a large rock and just lay motionless. Michaela quickly checked her over and found an open wound on the right side near her temple. She pressed a cloth on it to stop the bleeding. No matter how hard they tried, they could not get Shannon to wake up. The bleeding stopped and Michaela tried once again in vain to wake her up. "We have to get her to the clinic now!" Just as Daniel picked her up, the heavens opened and it began to pour. Daniel and Michaela carefully put Shannon in the back of the Sullys' wagon and tried to make it as comfortable as possible. They pulled a tarp over the top of the back of the wagon to keep the rain out as much as possible. Sully and the others picked up the items from the picnic.

"Andrew, you bring Matthew, Carolyn, Sarah, Brian and Katie with you. We'll meet you at the clinic." Sully had put all the picnic items in the back of Andrew's wagon.

Brian and Sarah climbed in the back of the wagon Andrew had rented for the day. Matthew climbed in beside him and put one arm around Brian and the other around Carolyn as Sully handed Katie to Colleen who was already in the back. They pulled a tarp over them as well as Andrew started the wagon.
It was slow going back to town as the rain was coming down hard. If there wasn't the urgency to get Shannon to the clinic, Sully would have stopped and found a safe place for them to wait out the storm. But instead, they had to keep going. Sully wanted to go as fast as he could back to town, but he knew he had to be careful. If only the rain would stop. All the way back to town, each one was asking God to let Shannon be all right.
Daniel carried Shannon into the clinic and laid her on the examining table. Michaela and Carolyn got some towels and blankets and started to dry Shannon off. Colleen collected the instruments they would need to check Shannon over. Daniel started a fire in the fireplace while Matthew tried to get Katie dry. Sully and Andrew had found some clothes they had left at the clinic a couple of days earlier when they had to help Daniel at the jail with some repair work. They quickly changed out of their wet clothes and Andrew had gone to help Colleen and Michaela. All of them were deep in thought. They all knew that not being able to wake Shannon was a not a good sign. Daniel, Sully, Matthew, Sarah and Brian were quiet as they stood by the fire to get dry. No one heard Michaela walked up behind them.
"There's nothing more we can do right now. We'll just have to keep an eye on her." Michaela looked at Colleen and Andrew hoping for one of them to know something she didn't. But she knew they didn't. "Daniel, will you please move her upstairs?"
There were tears in Daniel's eyes as he picked Shannon up in his arms. How different it was from just a little while ago when he was swinging her by the waterfall. Now she lay limp in his arms. He couldn't lose her-not now. Sully's heart went out to his best friend. He knew Daniel was hurting. Sully gave Michaela a quick hug as she followed behind to take care of Shannon.
When there was nothing else Michaela could do for Shannon, she turned to leave the room. She placed her hand on Daniel's arm.
"Michaela, Sully asked you this once before not too long ago and I need to ask you again. Is Shannon going to pull through? Will she be ok?"
"I have to give you the same answer this time as I did then. I really don't know. All we can do is wait and pray."
"I want to stay here with her for a little while. Can we be alone?" Daniel pulled the chair closer to Shannon's bed and sat down. He took Shannon's hand between his and started silently praying.
"Sure. Stay as long as you want. I'll just be downstairs if you need me."
Sully pulled a disheartened Michaela into his arms when she reached the examining room. Just then there was a commotion outside the door. Before anyone could react, the door opened and Dorothy, Loren, and Robert E entered with Dorothy in the lead. "What happened?"
"Why do you ask?" Michaela was surprised to see them.
"Well, the rain had stopped and we were just on our way over to the cafe for a cup of coffee when we noticed the two wagons standing outside the clinic. Robert E knew that one of them was the one he had rented to Andrew. We didn't expect you in town today. The only reason you would be here today was if something was wrong, especially in the rain. It was raining so hard I couldn't see my hand in front of my face."
Michaela quietly explained to the group who had just joined them what had happened that afternoon. It was a very solemn group standing there when Michaela finished.
Dorothy was the first to break the silence. "Shannon will be all right. Remember the last time she hit her head-she woke up a week later. Maybe it won't be as long this time. Will you have to operate, Michaela?"
"No, it isn't pressure that is causing the problem. She has a concussion." There was a worried silence as each one absorbed this idea. Each one knew what that could mean and no one wanted to think about it.
"If there is anything we can do, please let us know." Robert E led the solemn group out of the clinic. A hush fell over Colorado Springs as the word spread that Shannon was in a coma. Prayers were being said all over town for a lady that had recently become a part of Colorado Springs. Even the news of Matthew and Carolyn's engagement couldn't lift the spirits of the townsfolk.

Daniel looked up, but didn't say a word as Sully went to check on Shannon-and Daniel. He had been in that position once-when Michaela had been shot. Now he wanted to be there if and when Daniel needed him. "Daniel, would you like to take a break and go get something to eat at Grace's? I'll stay with Shannon and let you know if anything changes?"
"No, I want to be here when she wakes up. I'm not really that hungry right now anyway."
"But you need to eat something. It won't do her any good if you get sick from not eating."
"I'll get something later. Thanks, Sully."
As Sully left, Daniel was going through his "picture gallery" of the times he had spent with Shannon. There were the long walks they would take after supper and the talks out on the porch at the homestead. The one picture he went back to several times was the one that was just a few hours ago-when he had asked Shannon to marry him. Was it only a few hours ago? It seemed like an eternity ago. Daniel silently prayed for the opportunity to marry Shannon and spend the rest of his life with her.

May 1 dawned bright and beautiful. Jake woke with a happiness that had filled him lately. He was proud of their new house that was finally completed on the inside as well as the outside and he was going to be a father any day now. He lay in bed thinking about how much his life had changed since he met Teresa. He was filled with happiness and pride, but he was also filled with apprehension. He was going to be a father-him-Jake Slicker. What kind of father would he be? He really wanted this baby but he was very scared.
Teresa turned in her sleep next to him. She had a hard time getting comfortable these days, but soon that would be taken care of. Jake leaned over to kiss her. Just as he was about to kiss her cheek, Teresa woke with a start. She grabbed her stomach and moaned. Jake jumped back startled. "Are you all right, Teresa?"
"I just had a pain in my stomach. I am fine now."
"Maybe you should see Dr. Mike."
"It was only one pain. Let's wait and see what happens."

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