It was the second day Michaela had gone to meet the train. There were no more messages from Sully, and the telegram disturbed her more and more. She was sure that Sully was in trouble again. Matthew was there too, looking at the passengers leaving a train. He saw a small boy jump down, then a teenager with a baby in her hands.


"Doctor Mike!" he shouted. "Look, Sully is -"


Michaela noticed Sully jumping out of the train. His right hand was in a sling.


"Ma!" the boy cried. Michaela at once understood that it was her daughter. She ran to them on the platform.


"Praise the Lord, you're back! Sully, what happened to your arm?"


"It's nothing," he began, bu Katie interrupted him. "Don't worry, now he feels fine."


"Now?" asked Michaela suspiciously. "What do you mean by 'now'?"


Mrs. O'Donnell took out the bullet - and I helped - assisted her - "


"BULLET?!!" Michaela exclaimed.


Sully gave his daughter a look, but it was too late.


"What happened? Now tell me, you both!" Michaela insisted.


Katie sighed. "There was a shooting ...and Pa was shot… I didn't know what to do, but, fortunately I saw O'Donnell's homestead. Mrs. O'Donnell helped Pa and fed the baby."


"What baby?! For the Heaven's sake , explain this to me!!!"


"Here," Katie said and gave him to Michaela. he baby smiled, and Katie was delighted. "Look, he loves you!"


"Sully?" Michaela asked. "That's a Cheyenne baby!" "Well," Michaela said. She was taken aback and didn't think much about her words. "We shall find a good family to adopt him - "


She stopped short when she saw the look on Sully's face.


She understood that something had changed inside him… He was glad to come home to his family, but at the same time she knew that Sully had seen something awful, and that those memories pressed on him and she couldn't ask him about it.


"Ma," Katie broke the silence. This is Lisa O'Donnell. You should help her."


"Nice to meet you, Lisa" Michaela said. "I'm Michaela Quinn, Sully's wife and the town's doctor."


She noticed the ugly scar on Lisa's face and added, "Lisa, I've carried out similar operations, and successfully … I can't promise anything for certain, and it is necessary to examine you in the clinic, but it seems your case is not a difficult one for surgery."


"So, I'll become a girl like the others?" Lisa asked quietly.


"Certainly. You'll become a pretty girl," Michaela smiled.


Matthew approached them. "Hi, Ms. O'Donnell."


"Just Lisa, please."


Michaela noticed that he looked at this girl with great interest. She hadn't seen that since Emma had left Colorado Springs.


"I'll show you where our wagon is. We'll take you to town. And will you have dinner with us?"


Michaela was very surprised - and very glad for her son at the same time.


Katie looked at her father with exultant air.


"And now, Katherine Sully, we are going to have a very serious conversation with you," Michaela told her.


"I already have had one with Pa, on the train," Katie sighed.


"I won't run away anymore. But if I hadn't what would have happened with Pa and the baby?"


"It's the truth, she saved our lives," Sully confirmed. "We have a very brave daughter, Michaela. The Cheyenne would say, she has a brave's heart."


Michaela noticed the shadow which ran across his face at the mention of the Cheyenne, and her heart was filled with pity. But she didn't want to show it and so, she said aloud, "You're right. What can you expect from a girl who was brought up by three men?"

The day was long and busy, but at night it all began again. Again the Cheyenne were running through the plains, again soldiers shot them all in cold blood. He couldn't help them. He himself felt like running.


"Sully!!" Michaela sat up in bed, looking at him very concerned. "What happened? You were speaking in your sleep…no…screaming 'stop it, there are women and children … ' And something else, I think, in Cheyenne… How do you feel? Let me check your shoulder…"


There's nothing wrong with my shoulder," Sully answered. Do not worry about…"


He stood up and approached the crib.


"Can I help you?" Michaela offered, but he refused.


"I'll take him downstairs. You must be tired from the clinic, and he won't let you sleep."


Michaela tried to object, but Sully just took the baby and went downstairs with him.

When Michaela woke up in the morning, she found that Sully was not there. The baby's crib was empty. She quickly dressed and went downstairs, where Katie with a gloomy face packed her books for school.


"Katie, do you know where Sully is?"


"He fed the baby and left, said he'll be back in the evening. He didn't want to disturb you. Is everything all right with him?"


"I don't know. He's in bad spirits."


"I think it's because of the Cheyenne..."


"Perhaps, yes," Michaela agreed with a sigh.

Several more days passed, but nothing changed. Every day Sully left early in the morning, trying to leave earlier than Michaela would wake up. The baby was always with him. Michaela tried to talk with Sully many times, but every time he answered, "Please, let's not speak about it."


All the townsfolk were very surprised to see Sully nursing the baby, and it became the subject of brisk discussion.


"I can't understand," Loren said, as soon as Sully left his store with a new baby bottle. "He's goin' with this baby everywhere."


"The baby looks like an Indian," Hank noticed. "Sully probably brought him from this fort. I think, he'll take trouble from the Indians till the end of his life. But it's strange, why doesn't Doctor Mike nurse the baby?"


"She probably has enough problems," Jake assumed. "Maybe they quarreled?"


"I think so," Loren agreed. "Sully doesn't look himself…Here's Brian, we can ask him..."


Brian came to the store and was surprised by such steadfast attention laid upon him all of a sudden.


"Hi," he said. "Mr. Bray, can I buy some paper for the GAZETTE?"


Brian was now the owner and publisher of the town newspaper instead of Dorothy. The name of the young publisher was already known even in Denver. A small book of his stories had been released there. Brian also had a wide number of acquaintances even in the central newspapers, thanks to Dorothy Jennings. She had become a really famous writer; the whole country knew of her westerns. Brian was proud to know her and weekly sent his newspaper her to Yellowstone, so that she would know all the news from Colorado Springs. Dorothy lived in Yellowstone National Park, writing a book about it. A year ago Welland Smith had offered Cloud Dancing a job in National Park, and they both had accepted this offer.


"I have a lot of paper," Loren said, "but first you'd better explain to me, what happened with Sully?. Did he quarrel with your Ma?"


"No, he didn't. Sully just came from Fort Robinson. I read about a massacre in the Washington Post. Something awful happened there. Almost all the Cheyenne were killed… like at Washita, and Sully, probably, saw all this. I think it's very hard for him to go through it again."


"This is a disgrace," Loren suddenly interrupted him. "It is possible to understand when the soldiers kill their warriors - it is war. But if the adult men shoot the women and children, it isn't right."


"I want to write an article for my newspaper," Brian told him. "Like Ms. Dorothy did. Let the whole city read it, and then we can write a letter to Congress from our whole town."


"I'll sign it," Jake agreed.


"Me too," Hank said unexpectedly. All of them looked at him with surprise, and he added, "I don't like them, as you know, but killing children isn't a man's business."


I will definitely write that article," Brian promised, "If I manage to talk with Sully. Only he can tell us the truth."


But Sully refused to give an interview for the newspaper.


"Pa, it's very important," Brian attempted to persuade him.


"For whom?"


"For all of us.. We then can publish it in the larger newspapers, even send the letter to Washington."


"Brian, I have written dozens of letters - to the President, to the Military Department, to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to newspapers … and all my efforts were to no avail…Nobody is interested."


"But when Ms. Dorothy wrote about Washita, a lot of townspeople changed their minds."


"But it didn't return the Cheyenne, and in Washington it's not of interest to them what a small town is thinking about …"


"You want to give up?" Brian asked. "That doesn't seem like you …"


"It's already too late," Sully answered.


All of a sudden the baby began to cry, and Sully left to feed him.


Brian was very upset. He sat at the table, looking over his papers.


"Pa doesn't want you to write it?" Katie asked


"I think so," Brian sighed. "I can write it anyway, but I won't, if he doesn't want me to."


"He's spending all his time with the baby," Katie said discontentedly. "Sometimes I hate it."


"Don't talk like that!" Brian was indignant. "You were there yourself and you know how hard it was on him. We need to be patient …"


"And then everything will be all right with Pa?"


Brian nodded. He had an idea, a very good idea, in his opinion...


"Let's go fishing!" Katie asked him. "Pa is too busy with the baby, and Matthew went to visit Lisa in the clinic."


Brian picked up his papers and stood up. "Let's go! But we need to go to the station before. I need to send a telegram."

It was evening. Sully sat by the fireplace, deep in his sad thoughts, with the baby on his knees. Suddenly he saw something through the flame - somebody's familiar face…


"Black Kettle…" he whispered, not expecting an answer. It was only a dream, he thought. But the answer came.


It's me, Ho'neosovaestse…I know you are in mourning for my people."


It wasn't just a dream, but some kind of vision - too real and clear.


"I'm sorry…" Sully said. "I'm so sorry…There are no more Tse-tse-staetse - almost all were killed…and the others are prisoners in their reservation…I can't imagine your people dead…"


"Alive," Black Kettle objected. "Free and alive…"


"FREE AND ALIVE?! Where?"


"There…in your hands," Black Kettle explained. "You must 'turn back' again, Ho'neosovaestse, and remember all the wisdom of our people. . and share it with your son…"


"I'll do it," Sully promised.


"I know you will," the Chief's face disappeared through the tongues of flame…


Sully opened his eyes. He suddenly felt that the darkness in his soul had been stepped back a little."


The baby stirred on his knees. "Hey, little one!" Sully called. "We're going to meet your-"he stopped, "Michaela... in town."


He felt the sadness again. He wasn't sure that Michaela was ready to become a mother for this baby.


At the same time Michaela sat at the table in the clinic, but her mind was far away from the daily paper work she was doing. She was trying to understand what was wrong with Sully - it was as if a wall had grown between him and everyone else … He wouldn't even let her near the child, explaining it by saying that she got tired in clinic. She understood that this child was the only tie connecting him with the Cheyenne. Those people were family to him, he would never give the baby to anyone else.


She didn't dare dream of a second child, for that would make her cry at night, by the thought that she couldn't have a baby anymore. She was so puzzled … But how could she explain it to Sully, in his condition?


On the one hand, she, as a doctor, understood, that it was symptoms of depression, and if not paid attention to it, it would end in madness or suicide …as had happened with Sully's mother… But she also understood, that, it wasn't exactly a medical problem. She had felt similar pain after Washita … But Sully and the children had helped her, and Cloud Dancing… Cloud Dancing!… Certainly! Tomorrow in the morning she would send him a telegram and ask him to come. She was sure that his presence would help Sully heal his soul.


Somebody knocked at the door. Michaela opened it, surprised to see Sully with the baby in his hands.


"We're goin' home. Have you finished?"


"Yes, certainly, it's already late, certainly, it is time to go home!"


"Are ya tired?"


"No. Sully, I want to talk with you …"


"Let's talk later," he told her helplessly.


"...About the baby" Michaela finished. "The truth is, I have a lot of work here, but this boy needs a mother. I was so depressed when I found out I couldn't have any more children …but now I have one more chance to raise this baby instead…Sully, it was 6 years ago, but I still remember everything. And you do too. I need it, Sully. My silly words there at the station, means nothing. I was just so puzzled. Let me hold him please …"


She took the baby and put him on her lap. "Look, he has long eyelashes…like mine, and his smile looks like yours…Sully, you're a good father, the best I've ever seen , but he needs a Ma also. Does he have a name?"


"No…not yet. The Cheyenne named him Lives Free …"


"A good name. But we can't call him 'Lives Free Sully,' or 'Lives Free Quinn'…We need to choose another one, and then ask the Reverend…"


Sully kissed her cheek tenderly and whispered in her ear, "Thank you …"


"You've told me many times: what happens to you, happens to me … I can't imagine what would have happened to me after Washita without your help. You always supported me in my difficult times… Please, allow me now to make it better for you …"


He was silent for a long time and then answered, "I'll tell you… A little later.. this evening."

Approaching the homestead, they saw: all the carpets hung outside and Brian was beating them out diligently. Katie swept the porch with the same diligence.


"What happened?" Michaela was surprised.


"Just cleaning!" Katie answered joyfully.


"In honor of what?"


"Tomorrow some guests are coming!"


"Your grandma??"


Brian shook his head. "Nope. Try again."


"Robert E. and Grace? Colleen and Andrew?"


"Cloud Dancing and Ms. Dorothy!" Katie declared.


"Katie!!!" Brian scolded her.


"But they were just here for Christmas!"


"I sent a telegram to Cloud Dancing," Brian said. "I thought Pa needed to see him…"


"That's what I needed most of all," said Sully. "Thank you."


"You're welcome," Brian answered proudly.


"I can't believe it!" Michaela exclaimed. "I was going to send the same telegram tomorrow morning, but you have beat me to the punch!"


"Supper is ready," Katie said aloud.


They went into the homestead. "You prepared all this?" asked Michaela. "Brian, you continue to amaze me!"


"He didn't do it," Katie answered for him. "That was Lisa. She and Matthew visited us.I told Pa before - they're going to marry. When Lisa has recovered from the surgery they plan to visit Mrs. Jackie together…to talk with her."


"KATIE!" Brian yelled. "You can't keep any secrets!"


"Don't fight!" Michaela said. She approached the table. Brian followed her, but Sully held him back by the elbow.


"Brian?"


"What, Pa?"


"I was just thinkin', that you were right."


"About what?"


"About your article... It's too early to give up. Perhaps we should talk about it..."


The long day at last was finished. Michaela examined Lisa, and was pleased with results. There remained only a thin white stripe on her face, and in a few years it would disappear. It didn't matter to Matthew, however. He had really fallen in love. Michaela approached the crib. The baby slept peacefully. She gently kissed his tiny fist. She already loved this baby.


She looked over at Sully. He lay with his eyes open, looking at the ceiling. Michaela sat beside him and took his hand. "You can't sleep?"


He nodded. "When I close my eyes, I see it again... every night. They were locked in the old barracks...without food, or water, or firewood for a week… even the children. Captain Wessels wanted to force them to go back to their old reservation on the Missouri river, but the Cheyenne didn't want to die there. They preferred to die free."


Michaela sat, listening with great attention, afraid to utter a word.


"They broke the windows and tried to escape, but they couldn't." He spoke as if each word hurt him.


"I see it right now… they are running through the plains, and soldiers shoot them… And even in the darkness the snow is red with blood."


He closed his eyes and sat up, pressing his temples.


Michaela stroked his hair tenderly, and her hand suddenly stopped when she noticed a number of gray locks in his rich chestnut hair.


"I couldn't help them," he ended.


"You did," Michaela looked to the crib. "He will be free, as they wanted."


"He will grow among the whites."


"You and Cloud Dancing will tell him all about his people."


"We'll try… I'm so grateful to Brian, that he invited Cloud Dancing…"


"Sully," Michaela told him with great concern. "You look so restless. Can I give you some medicine?"


"No, there's no need," he answered. "I shall bear it... with time. I simply need time …and some help. I was wrong when I thought that I could do it by myself. If not for you, I would have lost my way."


She kissed his forehead. "There's no more 'me' and 'you'. There's only 'we', okay?.. Sully, I have a name for our baby. You wouldn't be against naming him in honor of my father?"


"Josef Sully. Doesn't sound bad… I'd be proud to give him that name."


The baby stirred in his crib. Sully stood up, but Michaela stopped him. "Lay down, you need to rest… I'll do it."


She approached the crib. "Hi Joe," she said, picking him up. "Let's let Pa rest, and you will stay with your Ma. How do you like that?"


The baby smiled widely, and she kissed his little son with love and tenderness...