Bridget was excited that she could move her legs again, but still was worried for Sully. Grandma Katherine cried and smiled at the same time, when she found out what happened. Now she came to see Michaela and share this wonderful news with her, and Bridget couldn't wait for her to come back.

So she was happy to see Colleen, the elder daughter of Dr. Mike and Sully, entering the room. Bridget had never seen her before, since she lived in Philadelphia with her husband, and they both owned a clinic there. Now they were waiting for their first child.

"Hi, Bridget!" Colleen said, smiling, "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too!" Bridget answered, "Do you know how Sully's doing?"

"It's nothing serious. He just needs some rest, and Ma gave him some medicine for the pain. He told me what happened to you - congratulations!"

"Thank you. I still can't believe it…it was so unexpected!"

"I'll help you with the exercises," Colleen promised, "but I'm afraid I can't help much, 'cause the baby will be born very soon…I want 'Ma' to deliver my baby, so I'm here."

"Do you want a boy or a girl?" Bridget asked.

"I want a little girl. I'll name her Charlotte, after my real Ma."

"I thought Dr. Mike was your Ma!" Bridget wondered.

"She and Sully adopted us- me, Matthew and Brian - when our Ma died. But you're right, they 're the best parents in the world…Our biological father left us, when I was 12, and Sully was like a father to us even before Dr. Mike arrived here…"

She paused, then added:

"But there was a time, when I was sweet on Sully. I was 14, almost like you. I've read the story, 'Rocky Mountain Hero,' and thought Mr. Colt, the main hero, looked just like Sully.

I was so foolish, that I ran away to an abandoned mine so that Sully would rescue me, like Mr.Colt rescued his Carolyne. It sounds funny now, but I seriously fell in love there…But Sully was out of town, and he didn't receive my letter.

While I was waiting there, an avalanche began, and Sully needed to really rescue me….I was just a kid, but he respected my feelings … I was a fool but Sully was so patient to explain to me that I was wrong.

It's fine, that he became my Pa. I love him very much, but it's a different kind of love…it's not…something I invented for myself…"

Bridget reddened, but didn't say a word…Fortunately, at this moment Dr. Mike entered the room…

"Oh, here you are, Colleen! Buddy, I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier!"

"Dr. Mike, how is Sully?" Bridget asked worriedly, "Was he hurt badly?"

"I don't believe so. There is no sign of skull trauma or concussion."

"So can I see him…please?!"

"I gave him laudanum for the pain, he's sleeping now. But tomorrow he will be happy to see you. Buddy, he told me about you. Cloud Dancing was right, you'll walk again…surely!"

"I tried to stand up again, but I couldn't!" Bridget asked very upset, "Why?"

"Your muscles were passive for a very long time, so you need to do some exercises every day. Sometimes it will be painful…You need to be patient, Buddy, and you'll do it."

"I'll do it every day. I can bear the pain."

"I know." Michaela nodded. "You're a very brave girl."

"Sully's the brave one. 'He' saved my life!" Bridget objected.

"Sully just told me the same about you!" Michaela smiled, "I think you both are distinguished!"

Michaela and Colleen said goodnight to Bridget and left. Bridget waited for a few minutes, then pushed herself from the bed to her chair. She rolled it from her room, then glanced around. There was silence everywhere, and Bridget struggled forward to Sully's room.

There was just one lamp, giving off a dim light, and she waited near the door, looking at Sully, who slept peacefully in his bed. He looked still weak and pale, but there was no Dr. Mike near him - so, Bridget thought, his injuries must not be so bad.

Then she took a deep breath, and rolled her chair closer to his bed. She leaned to him, trying not utter any sound, and gently kissed his cheek. Sully didn't stir, and Bridget lingered a little before she left his room. It was the moment she was dreaming about since she saw Sully first time…and it happened.

But Bridget was aware that something was changed. She still loved Sully, but it was a different kind of love…Colleen was right, as if she read Bridget's thoughts.

Her feelings toward Sully were great and deep…but it was not like in her favourite stories. Now she loved him as somebody who could take care of her…protect her…as if he was her father…She nearly burst into tears, when she remembered about her own father.

She returned to her room and climbed into bed. She thought that she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, but she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

Next morning Grandma Katherine took her to visit Sully. He looked much better, and was arguing with Michaela.

"I insist!" she told him. "You need to stay in bed today!"

"But Michaela!" he protested, "I'm fine. My head doesn't bother me…"

"Doesn't bother you at all?" Michaela looked at him suspiciously.

"Well…perhaps a little…" Sully confessed.

"Do you feel any dizziness?" she asked.

"Almost none!" he answered.

"Good!" she said firmly "You can leave the bed when you answer 'absolutely none' not 'almost'."

"Michaela!" he protested again, "I can't stay in bed…"

"...the rest of my life?!" she finished, "Sully, I'm talking just about one or two days! So, do you trust your doctor or not?"

"Yes…Absolutely!" he smiled. "Morning, Mother, Buddy. How are you?"

"I'm fine!" Bridget smiled in answer, "Nice to see that you're better!"

"He needs some rest though." Michaela said, "I need to help Andrew to prepare all the necessary items for Colleen…You can chat a little, then I'll bring your breakfast. What do you think about that?"

"Sounds good." Sully said, "We have a lot of things to talk about."

"If you need something - just call me," Michaela told them, "I'll be downstairs."

A few minutes after Michaela and Mrs. Bray left, Colleen entered the room:

"Morning, Sully, Bridget! Are you hungry? I've just passed by Grace's cafe, and saw her getting a pecan pie from the oven. So I think…Oh! Oh, my God! - she suddenly put her palm on her belly, and her eyes widened, - I think…I think, it's time…- OH MY GOD!!!"

Sully jumped out of the bed, but sat back as a strong wave of dizziness pushed him back down.

"You don't need to do it!" Colleen protested, "I can do it by myself…Oh!"

The dizziness passed, and Sully stood up again, and took Colleen downstairs.

"I'll be back very soon!" he promised Bridget.

It seemed to Bridget that Sully had been gone for hours, but the clock showed her that only 10 minutes passed. Then she heard Michaela's voice downstairs:

"Don't worry, Colleen, you'll be fine!"

"Yes.. I know…I'm a doctor myself, remember….Is it always so painful?"

"Unfortunately, yes!" Dr. Mike answered, "The contractions will be stronger, but it means your baby will be born very soon…"

"Michaela," Andrew said, "I read once that it's better for some women not to lie down when …when they're in labor, but to sit or even stand."

"Well…" Michaela answered, "It's not a bad idea. You can take any position that feels better for you, Colleen."

"The Cheyenne women often give birth in a squatting position." Sully added.



Just now Michaela noticed him.

"Yes, Cloud Dancing told me that once…" she paused, "Sully, what are you doing here? You need to be upstairs, in bed!"

Bridget didn't hear his words, but she knew he was protesting, so Michaela cut him off:

"Thank you, Sully, but we don't need your midwife skills now. There are two…three physicians here, so you must go upstairs, Buddy's waiting for you!"

A few minutes later Sully appeared. He looked very upset, but smiled at Bridget:

"Sorry, I left you alone."

"That's OK." she said, "Sully, what did Dr. Mike mean by 'midwife skills'? Have you seen someone have a baby before?

"I haven't just 'seen' it," said Sully proudly, "It was 'me' who delivered Katie. We were alone in the woods, so I had no choice…I never was so scared before…or so happy!"

Bridget looked at him in great wonder. All the men she'd ever seen never did things like that.

However, she'd never seen anyone like Sully. Her father always said that a man, who ever conceded with a woman in an argument, is not a real man. Sully often agreed with Dr. Mike when they argued…he was happy that she's working at the clinic…he often nursed Katie, or washed dishes, or even cooked meals (sometimes better than Dr. Mike) - but he was a real man. The best one she'd ever knew. "I'll be the happiest girl in the world if he were my father, - she thought again and sighed heavily.

"What's wrong, Buddy?" Sully asked.

"Nothing." she said quickly.

He nodded:

"Fine. What if I go back downstairs just for a minute?"

"No!" Bridget objected, "Dr. Mike told you to stay in bed, and asked me not to let you get up!"

"She won't even notice me!" Sully said, "I'll be back in just a minute."

Their dispute was broken by Brian who carried a full tray.

"Morning, Pa, Buddy! Ma told me to bring you breakfast."

"How is Colleen?" both asked at the same time.

"Ma said everything is all right. The baby will be born very soon. But also she asked me to watch for you…I'll stay here."

"Well." Sully said, "Let's talk about something…Do you know that Buddy writes stories - just like you?"

"I don't know…" Bridget said shyly, "They're probably not as good as yours."

"Can I read some?" Brian asked.

"Me too!" Sully added.

"You can read some of mine while we read yours!" Brian suggested.

- Bridget couldn't sleep tonight. Almost all night she lay awake looking at the ceiling.

It had happened…she dreamed about it so many times, and now her dreams came true. She'll walk again…so she needs to return home.

But now she couldn't imagine how she'd live there, without her new kin. Everything in the Hunter's house was up to Mr. Hunter's moods, and it was the same in all the families Bridget ever knew.

It was different here, in Colorado Springs. They were good friends in this large family, and nobody was afraid of anyone. All the problems were discussed with the whole family and every opinion was respected - even little Katie's. One time Bridget heard how Sully begged Brian's pardon for raising his voice to him without proper reason! She couldn't imagine something like this in her own family.

Her father yelled at her and her mother very often, and he did not even think to apologize.

Grandma Katherine also became different here. In England, she was always sad and quiet. She wondered so much looking at her grandmother laughing joyfully, or merrily chatting with customers in Mr. Bray's Mercantile.

Bridget liked Grandma's husband also - he was sometimes grumpy, but a kind man, and he was very gentle and tender with his refined wife.

How she will live without them so far away, in England?!

Then she thought about her mother and understood that she missed her. Bridget found the matches and lighted the lamp. She took her crutches and walked slowly to the table. There was her notebook, the pen and the inkwell. She took the pen and wrote: "Dear Ma!"

"I think it's time to stop this!" Mr. Hunter declared, putting the letter aside.

"Stop what?" Mrs. Hunter asked.

"Bridget has been living in the wilderness too long!"

"George," his wife said, "she's walking again, and it's Dr. Quinn who healed her!"

"Well, we'll thank Dr. Quinn, but now we can invite the best physicians of London to examine her!"

"These 'best physicians' told us she'd never walk again!" Mrs. Hunter reminded.

"She'll grow unsociable there, with your unbalanced mother and her…her savage!"

Mrs. Hunter stood up straight, her blue eyes darkened with anger:

"You're talking about my mother and my brother, George, so you must watch your language! You called him 'Savage' - but Bridget is walking again because of him…and before she became a cripple because of you!"

"What?" he asked, hardly believing that his timid wife could speak to him like this. "You'd better think about taking your words back, Jane!"

But she was not going to give up. It was so unusual for her, that Mr. Hunter felt a kind of worry…or even fear.

"I want you to know something. I was so stupid that I didn't tell Bridget what really caused her to stay in a wheelchair for 3 years - but now it's time to make things right. It's too hard to be scared all our life, George. It's enough!"

"So, do you want a divorce?"

"No, I don't!" she objected. "You're my husband and my daughter's father. I just want to make some terms for you. Properly speaking, it's just one term."

He was so surprised (perhaps even frightened) that he said nothing.

"I want you to send a letter to Dr. Sanders, and take a course of treatment in his clinic. If you won't - divorce will be the best choice for us."

"Perhaps, you're forgotten that everything here belongs to me!" he yelled, but she cut him short:

"Except Bridget and me. You'll never hurt us again! We'd better go to live in Colorado Springs!"

"I'll take Bridget from you!!!" he became furious, but she looked at him unusually calmly. "I'll send for my lawyer right now!"

"No need to waste your money for nothing." she answered "No judge would ever give a child to a dope fiend!"

She turned away and walked to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Mrs. Hunter locked the door, and took the envelope she just received from Colorado. There was a picture of all their new kinsfolk, and there was her daughter in it, standing on her feet and smiling broadly.

"I won't let him hurt you again!" Jane Hunter whispered.

Then she looked to the man standing near Bridget…her brother she'd never seen before. Jane was suddenly aware that she trusted him from the first time she saw him. His face seemed so familiar - he had the same eyes and hair colour she did.

She smiled and said quietly:

"I was right today, Byron, isn't it? I couldn't let things be after you did this for Bridget. If he pushes me away from here, I'll come to your town, brother…"

She put the picture back into envelope.

Jane Hunter never thought her husband was a cruel man. Her father was the same, just like all the men she'd ever seen. Husbands always abased their wives, and they didn't dare to complain - it was the usual thing, she saw the same in all the families she was acquainted with.

She never thought about these things…until the day she received the telegram from Sully. There were just 5 words - OUR BRIDGET IS WALKING AGAIN…and these words changed all her world completely….

Suddenly she heard a knock at the door. To her great wonder, he began peacefully:

"Jane…I just sent a letter to Dr. Sanders…and I 'll let Bridget stay there for a while…"

She smiled and said as gently as she could.:

"Thank you, George. We both - Bridget and me - appreciate it."

Now time in Colorado Springs flew so fast for Bridget! She was busy all the time. A few weeks ago she left her crutches, and learned to walk with just a walking stick - but Michaela promised her that next month she could leave the stick also.

Michaela and Brian had a talk with the local teacher, Mrs. Slicker, and she let Bridget to join the class after she passed a few exams.

After school she sometimes helped Michaela at the clinic, or Grandma Katherine at the store. Dorothy posted two of her stories in the GAZETTE, and the third one was sent to Denver, to the young writers' competition.

Colleen and Andrew left for Philadelphia, and all the family missed them, especially little Charlotte, and her adorable toothless smile.

Sully taught her to ride, and said she has good riding skills now. They spent much time together, as usual, talking about all the things in the world.

Bridget was very happy, and tried to avoid thoughts about returning home…and living in fear again.

Meanwhile, Christmas approached. The entire town looked very smart, with Christmas decorations on every door and the Christmas tree at the town square.

Bridget tried to help Michaela and Sully as much as she could, and somewhat forgot about her sad thoughts…until Brian came home and gave her two letters.

The first letter was from Denver. It said that Bridget's story would be included in the collection of young writers' stories about the Colorado Territory.

"Congratulations!" Brian said, "It's so interesting to see your own story in a real book!"

"I still can't believe it!" Bridget confessed.

"Which of your stories did you send there?" Sully asked her.

"You haven't read it yet. It's new. I just wrote about this town, and all of you…"

"I hope I don't look like some 'Rocky Mountain Hero' there?" Sully said teasingly, "Dorothy flattered me too much in her book - I'm not so unobjectionable."

"Don't worry." Bridget answered in the same tone, -"I wrote about you looking for Katie, while we were in Manitou."

All the family laughed, remembering this case. Katie was happy to play with her Pa almost all day - so was he. They made an awful mess at the homestead though…

"I'm shivering in horror, when I remember it!" Michaela grinned.

"You came back too early!" Sully tried to justify himself, "We weren't finished cleaning yet!"

"Weren't finished? You're joking! The cleaning took about a week. I still can't imagine - what were you doing?"

"Just playing!" Sully said innocently.

"What kind of games were you playing?" Michaela inquired, "Tornado? Buffalo hunting? Or something like that?"

Sully just lowered his eyes - she almost guessed right.

"She's a girl, Sully!" Michaela reproachfully looked at him, "She must play quiet games."

"Certainly." he agreed, "For instance, she helped me make lunch."

"Oh…" said Michaela, remembering how their kitchen looked after Katie's efforts to help.

"Katie was excited!" Sully added.

"I can understand why. You indulge her, Sully. Children twist you around their little finger, and you can't tell them 'no'."

"That's not true, Michaela." Sully tried to object uncertainly.

"Well…do you remember that Byron the deer? Brian asked you to bring him home…did you tell him 'no'?

"I.. I tried…" Sully looked at Michaela guiltily, but his blue eyes shone with joy.

"That was just the beginning." Michaela declared, "Then he brought me a lot of fowl - birds, animals - for Brian's request. Buddy, can you imagine this - these two even asked me to cure them all!"

"But it seemed to me, you enjoyed it!" Sully said.

"Well…" Michaela answered, smiling, "Perhaps you're right."

That started another burst of laughter, and Bridget forgot about the second letter.

"Buddy, did you forget about the next envelope?" Brian asked her.

"Oh.. I almost forgot!" she opened the second letter.

It was from her mother, and Bridget's eyes filled with tears as she read it.

"My Ma will be here next week, and she's going to take me home!"

"Perhaps she'll stay with us for Christmas." Michaela supposed, but it was a poor consolation - just a few days couldn't solve the problem.

"Buddy." Sully suddenly rose from his chair, "Let's go walking for a while…"

"I have some chores at home," she began, but he said firmly:

"It can wait…"

"Are you afraid of going back home?" Sully asked.

They were sitting on the log near the creek - this was their special place for secret talks.

"Yes!" Bridget confessed, - "It could happen again any time…"

"Buddy, we thought you'd be safe here - but you were kidnapped."

"You rescued me!" she objected. "I'm afraid of nothing when you're with me - but you'll be so far away…"

"Buddy!" Sully said seriously, looking into her eyes, "Last year Michaela was shot by some crazy man. She just opened the clinic door, as she did usually - and he shot her without saying a word. She was afraid to leave the homestead for a long time after - since she understood that nobody could make his life absolutely safe. "

"It's not the same!" she cut him off, "That was a stranger who shot Dr. Mike, but this was my father, who loved me, and I loved him…I can't understand why he did it, so I'm not sure he won't do it again. It would be better, if I knew the reason why…"

"Well…" Sully said thoughtfully, "So we have no choice. We gave you our word, but now it's necessary to talk with your Ma."

Bridget shook her head.

"If we don't, you'll be afraid the rest of your life. She's the only one who can explain what happened with your father. But I can promise you one thing, - we'll never let him hurt you again ever!"

"Promise?" she asked.

"Do you remember what I said to your Ma when we left for Colorado Springs?"

"I'll take care of her?"

"Exactly."

"But you did it - you took me here."

"I didn't mean just taking you here. I'll be glad to do it every time you need me…"

"All the time? Until I've grown up?"

"Sure!" he smiled, "Even after that, if you want!"

Bridget hugged him and whispered into his ear:

"I love you, Sully!"

She paused and then added:

"It's not like what happened with Colleen a long time ago - she told me about that…I love you, but it's…it's different."

"I know." he smiled at her, "I love you too, Buddy."

"Sully?" she suddenly said.

"What?"

"Would you please talk with my Ma?"

"Sure!" he said and squeezed her hand, "Thank you, Buddy!"