William had changed little over all these years.


“I’m so happy to see you again, Michaela!" He exclaimed , smiling broadly.


"I’ve read your article about plastic surgery. That engineer should feel very lucky that he met you."


"I did this once more." Michaela said, " Lisa, Matthew’s wife had a scar on her cheek, almost like Ellen's, even larger. Now, two years later, it is barely visible ."


"I didn’t know that Matthew got married. Mrs Quinn told me once,that his fiancée died."


"Yes, and he was grieving for Ingrid for a very long time. Fortunately, he met Lisa two years ago, they have a son."


"I remember your wonderful children", William said, “ I hope all of them are fine."


"Colleen and her husband Andrew live in Philadelphia, they both are physicians and started their own clinic there. So, we have two lady doctors in our family."


"That’s wonderful! " William grinned, “ How about your younger son, Brian, I remember he liked candies and ice cream so much!"


"He and his wife Sara live with us, they own the town newspaper. But it’s not enough for Brian, he released two books of his own stories last year, and a NY publisher promised to release the third one next month".


"I’d be glad to read them."


"I’ll send them to you. I think he’s a very good writer…but I'm afraid he still likes candies and ice cream, although he’s a grown man, taller than you. Our younger daughter, Katie, goes to school, she’s 10, and she looks a lot like her father. She’s “her father’s girl”, as I was once. And this is Joe, our youngest." She pointed at Josef, who was playing with his stuffed toys on a carpet.


"Yes…” William tried to hide his wonderment, looking at the black haired and swarthy child. Michaela, he’s…


"He’s the youngest." Michaela smiled politely, but her tone showed William that it was time to change the subject "He’s two."


"Yes, of course…” William lowered his eyes.


"Michaela,“ Claudette inquired, “ I can’t remember, what Mr. Sully is occupied with now? He was an Indian Agent once…"


"Yes, but long ago. Now he’s a town commissioner, and he’s working for the Interior Department. He’s created the Mountain Rock National Park in Colorado. He has a prestigious job now, if this is what you want to know, Claudette."


William cleared his throat: "I think it's time to see our patient, what do you think, Michaela? " He didn’t want two sisters to quarrel.


"You’re right , William." Michaela stood up.


"Don’t worry,“ Claudette told her, “ Mary will take care of your…” she paused, “ of your son."

---

Kaiie struck one match after another, trying to build a campfire, and finally she did it.


The girl returned to the stagecoach, and took their bedrolls. Then she noticed Sully’s rawhide bag. Sighing with relief, she withdrew the small pack signed “Willow Bark” and the roll of bandages.


She bandaged Sully’s wound and threw the contents of the pack into the tin cup with boiling water.


When the tea cooled , she carefully lifted Sully’s head and put the cup to his lips.


"Poppy,“ she pleaded, “ please drink this…please, it will help you."


Sully’s eyes fluttered open: "Michaela…” he whispered hoarsely


"It’s me, Katie…” the girl said, fighting back tears. "Please, drink this."


Sully managed several sips, then his eyes closed again.


Katie slipped under the blanket near Sully. She felt his body shivering , and hugged him carefully, trying to keep him warm…

---

Some voices awakened her. Momentarily Katie seemed that she was somewhere during their trip , and this accident was all just a bad dream…She lifted her head, looking at the gray October sky. Then she turned her head to Sully….It was not a dream. Sully was badly hurt, and nobody could help them here.


Sully didn’t stir. His breathing was rapid and shallow, and he definitely had a fever.


Katie unbuttoned his blood stained shirt, and looked at his wound. The bleeding had stopped, but all his right side looked like one large bruise..


Katie dampened the cloth with her canteen, and placed the wet rag across Sully’s forehead. She had seen Michaela do this many times.


Meanwhile , the voices became louder. There were some men near the stagecoach.. At first, Katie thought they were soldiers, because some of them were in army uniforms. But their horses were bareback, and finally she realized that they were Indians. Any other girl would hide deeper in the woods. But not Katie Sully. She knew from her early childhood that Indians are friends. So she let them notice her…


And soon she was noticed.


One of the Indians approached and silently gazed at her. “Tok’ha’wo? " asked the second brave, trying to look above his friend’s shoulder.


“Wa’shi’chu " the first brave answered.


Katie couldn’t understand them, so she decided to use sign language:


"I‘m not an enemy. My father and I need help."


The Indians (there were three or four of them now) looked surprised " the little white girl used the prairie language like an Indian."


"Help us." Katie repeated.


One of the Indians said something, addressing her, and she shook her head.


"I don’t know your language, I can speak Cheyenne."


"Sha’hiyela“ the brave said, and pointed at the tall man in a tight army jacket.


The Cheyenne brave looked at Katie with hostility, then, pushing Katie out of his way, approached Sully and withdrew his revolver. Katie rushed to him, shielding her father with her hands.


"NO! " she screamed in Cheyenne, “ Don’t kill him! First you must kill me!"


Then she added contemptuously: "Since when are the brave Dog Soldiers fighting with their own people? Look at this!"


She grabbed Sully’s beads and medicine pouch: Look! He walks the path of Tse”tse”staetse, the Black Kettle’s tribe adopted him. His Cheyenne name is Ho’neosovaestse.


"Black Kettle was a wise chief.“ the Cheyenne said reluctantly, lowering his revolver, “ You both will go with us."


"My father needs a doctor. He’s hurt badly. Would you take us to the nearest town?"


"No.“ he said, “ We’re not going there. Lame Bear will take care of your father. He’s a medicine man."


Anyway, that was better than just sitting there helplessly, and a hour later Sully was placed on the travois attached to Cheyenne’s horse. For all this time he didn’t regain consciousness.

---

The camp was hidden deep in the woods. There were neither women and children, nor even dogs. Just about a dozen young and middle aged men. They were Dog Soldiers, like Sully told her about, Katie guessed.


There were no teepees, just several lean-tos and a jagged army tent, where the Indians settled Sully and Katie.


Most of the braves belonged to Sioux tribe, and the tall Indian was the only one Cheyenne among them. They didn’t speak English (perhaps, they just didn’t want to speak the white man's language), but, anyway, Katie had to ask the Cheyenne to be her interpreter.


Later, in evening, the Lame bear, medicine man, visited them. He brought some herbs, and brewed a strong smelling tea. Then, he lifted Sully’s head and forced him to swallow few sips.


The medicine man removed the bloodstained bandage and checked on Sully’s injuries.


The Cheyenne brave (his name was White Wolf) took Katie out of the tent, in spite of her protests:


"I’ll stay with him! " she insisted, “ My Ma is a doctor, a medicine woman, I'm not afraid of blood!"


White Wolf shook his head: "Nobody must disturb Lame Bear during the ceremony."


Soon, she had heard a muffled moan from the tent, and tried to get free, but the Indian put his hands on her shoulders:


"He removed the bullet. He will tell us when he's finished."


Finally, she was allowed to enter the tent. Sully lay on a blanket, his eyes half open. He looked exhausted.


"Katie…how are you? " he said with effort.


"I’m fine." Katie said, “ This medicine man will help you, and we’ll go home soon."


Michaela…she will worry…” Sully whispered barely audible, his eyes closing again.


Katie touched his hand, but he drifted back to unconsciousness, and didn’t respond.


"Lame Bear said, your father has a strong will, and good health.“ the Cheyenne translated the medicine man’s words to Katie, “ he’s struggling, but his condition is dire. Only the Great Spirit knows if he will live."


"No. .I don’t want him to die…” Katie whispered helplessly. She covered her face with her palms, and the tears dropped through her clenched fingers.


"Lame Bear will try more medicine. We must hope.“ White Wolf told her uncertainly.


Katie still cried, and the brave silently stood there, looking at her. Then, unexpectedly for himself, he reached up his hand and slightly stroked her golden brown disheveled locks.


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