"Perhaps Ma is already in Boston," Katie sighed and placed the dirty dishes into the basin.


"I think so," Sully nodded, "Do you miss her already?"


"A little," she confessed


"So do I."


"It doesn’t mean that I don’t like to stay with you", Katie hastily said, She suddenly stopped and dug into her pocket:


"I’m sorry, Pa, Horace gave me a telegram for you, here it is."


"Thank you," Sully looked at the telegram, "this is from Brian. They need to stay in N.Y. for a while. How about few days with Robert E. and Miss Grace?"


Katie sighed gravely. She loved her godparents, of course, but now she was dreaming about following Sully in his trip to Wyoming.


"Poppy", she began carefully, "may I ask you something?"


"No", Sully immediately answered, "Don’t even think about it."


He knew his daughter very well, and guessed what she was going to ask.


"Why?" she exclaimed, "You took Brian with you to the Red Rocks when he was just two years older than me!"


"Remember, what we promised your Ma, you wouldn't get into trouble!."


"We'll be safe there!" Katie shrugged, "We’ll travel by train, then by stagecoach…that’s all. I’ll help you at the National Park, and then I’ll make a report for school."


"No running everywhere, no climbing trees?" Sully asked suspiciously


"Promise! You know my word is good."


"I know," Sully said, and Katie hugged him tightly:


"Thank you! Thank you, Pa!"


"You're welcome", Sully sighed, "Now go to sleep, we need to get up before dawn."


"How about a story?" Katie glanced at him


"Katie…you’re not a little kid anymore."


"So tell me a story for grown-ups", Katie smiled, and he said:


"Well, okay."

---

"Pa, are there any Indians there in Wyoming? I mean, free Indians", Katie asked


"Just some small groups. They are still hiding from the army."


"Are they Dog Soldiers?"


"Some of them. They are from different tribes...Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho…doesn’t matter, all they want is to fight or to die as braves."


"Mr.Bray said that they robbed the farms", Katie said


"Sometimes. They are angry at all whites, but they have a reason, you know" he sighed gravely, "Now go to sleep. Good night, Kates."


He kissed her cheek and left the room.


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