Just Fairly
" First we need to pack all this stuff, " Sully looked
around, " if we're
really going to move to the new homestead today"…
" You must be tired from your journey, " Colleen
supposed, " what if we
move tomorrow?
" No, " Michaela shook her head, " I want to start a
new life in new
homestead!"
" Yes, " Brian added, " you want to be with Sully
alone in your room!"…
" Brian! – Colleen covered his mouth with her palm and
rolled her eyes.
"But that's the truth." – Brian tried to release, and his
voice was muffled " Hank
said just today, you both need a time for..."…
Sully struggled not to burst into laughter with all his
might, looking at
Michaela's puzzled face.
" Come on, Brian, " Colleen called her brother with the
sweetest voice, not
allowing him to finish his sentence " Let's help
Matthew with the wagon!"
She almost dragged him out of the room, and Michaela
and Sully couldn't help
laughing, exchanging glances.
At the next moment Matthew came in:
" The wagon is full, " he reported, " we're going to
move, while you're
packing the rest, and then I'll come back.. I'll take
Colleen and Brian with me.
Of course they spend much more time kissing and holding
each other, than packing
the belongings.
" Oh, " Michaela finally exclaimed, " Matthew will be
here soon…Sully, let's
pack."
" Sure, " he grinned, not releasing his embrace.
" Sully, " Michaela insisted, "come on, take this
chest!"
She reached out to give him a small chest, but suddenly dropped
it to the floor. The
cover broke off and some papers spilled out of the
chest…Michaela kneeled to look at
them, trying to guess what they were.
" Here are Charlotte's letters, " she finally said, "
It seems nobody's opened
this since kids moved to this homestead."
" Are you going to leave them here?" – Sully asked
" No, I'll take them – for Colleen and Brian.
They would want to read them."
She picked up the letters and put them back into the
chest.
" Here's one more, " Sully pulled a paper from under
her shoe and involuntarily
looked through the text. It was a telegram.
" What is it, Sully? Sully!" – Michaela looked at him
with some fear.
He couldn't take his eyes from the sheet of paper, and
his hands were appreciably trembling.
" Sully?" – she put her hand on his shoulder, " are you
alright?"
" She had found her… " he finally uttered, " Charlotte
had found Abby, but
couldn't tell me…the telegram arrived the day she
died."
" What are you talking about ? Who is Abby?" – Michaela
didn't understand
" Abby is my daughter, " Sully said in a low voice.
" You… you told me, Abagail died together with the
baby…and baby's name was
Hannah, not Abby"…
Sully lowered his head:
" There were two girls…twins, and Abby survived…but
she was kidnapped a few weeks later.
" Kidnapped?!"
Sully nodded, turning away from her, his eyes moist.
" Why didn't you tell me?"
" I couldn't, " he answered, barely above a whisper, "
it was so…painful…I was trying to find her, but…" he sighed, " I
couldn't…so I left
Colorado Springs and enlisted in the Army…I didn't know,
that Charlotte tried
to find her too"…
Charlotte Cooper squeezed the telegram in her hand.
She finally did it and was
so proud of herself…
Sully will be in town today for sure, to put flowers
at the graves of
Abagail and Hannah, she thought to herself.
She will show him the telegram, and the pain and
despair will finally
disappear from his eyes. Although the Indians gave him
the strength to live,
the deep pain and grief ...and guilt were always
with him…the terrible
guilt…
Sully blamed himself that his infant daughter was
kidnapped. He
never
reproached Charlotte, but she knew – it had stayed
with her also.
The vision of the first time she met Sully filtered
into her mind, it was the summer of 1859.
She had just nursed Brian and put him into his crib.
Ethan was, as always,
somewhere in town. Truly said, she knew exactly where
he was– at Hank's…
Somebody knocked at the door, and she came to open it,
hoping that her
husband
had finally decided to come home.
She was surprised to see a tall blond man standing
there, but he looked
familiar.
He worked out at Le Meux's silver mines, and visited
town from time to time
for
supplies.
"Shh," She put her finger to her lips, "my baby is
asleep."
"Sorry, ma'm,." – he said in a low voice as he removed
his tattered hat,
"I'm Daniel Simon… I was told, you're a kind of
doctor…"
"All there is around these parts, but I'm just a
midwife…You'd better ask
Jake
Slicker."
"Can't do that ma'm, he's drunk. " he looked at
Charlotte pleadingly, "My friend hurt his arm.....looks bad…would you please check on him?"
"Well, all right, yes," Charlotte nodded, she turned to her elder son,
"Matthew, I have to go tend to someone, now you watch after Brian for a while"…
"No," Matthew grimaced, "he'll wail again."
"He's sleeping," Charlotte said with a soft but stern
voice, "and I think
he'll be sleeping
until I'm back…Look after Colleen, she can help ya
with Brian, I'll be back soon…"
"Okay," he said reluctantly.
Daniel's friend was about his age, but looked younger,
perhaps because he
was smaller and thinner. Glancing at his sun-bleached
disheveled hair and
deep blue eyes , Charlotte thought with a smile, that
a lot of girls would
be sweet on him.
He was sitting on the cot, cradling his bandaged arm
and looked surprised
when
Charlotte walked toward him.
"No need to bother Mrs.Cooper, Danny." He told his
friend, then turned to
Charlotte, "Good morning, Ma'm.".
"Good morning, well it ain't that for you now is it?
Let me just look at
your
arm, I ain't a
doctor, but maybe I can help you with it. What's your
name?" Charlotte sat
next to him.
"Sully," he answered, hesitating as she gently took
his arm.
"That's your name or a nickname?" She asked.
"That's my surname," he answered, still hesitant.
"Everyone calls him just Sully." Daniel added.
"Now you gonna take this dirty bandage off and let me
look?" Charlotte
asked.
"There's no need… nothing serious," Sully slowly
removed the bandage,
seeing
this
woman meant business, "Danny, you shouldn't have
bothered this nice lady."
Daniel just waved his hand. "And let you bleed to
death? Someone gashed him
with a
knife."
Charlotte shook her head, "I don't care how he got it,
That's none of my
business, but you,
boys, are too young for saloon fights."
Daniel chuckled, "This wasn't a saloon fight! Some
drunk at the store tried
to
abuse Miss
Abby, and Sully pushed him away. You know, he and
Abby are….."
Sully gave his friend an angry look and he immediately
changed the subject,
"Sully
didn't
complain, but I know it hurts – he tossed and turned
all night."
"Well, I'll try to help you." Charlotte smiled, but
she was not so sure
that
she
could help here. The wound looked bad, and Charlotte
could only
clean the wound and put a few stitches in it.…
"How much do I owe you?"Sully asked as she finished
Charlotte looked at their worn clothes and answered:
"Nothing…after all, I'm not a real doctor."
"No," Sully shook his head, "you left your kids , your
chores…please,
take at least this."
"
He dragged a small chest from under the cot and
withdrew some carved
wooden
toys.
He ran his fingers over the smooth wood, "Here, this
one is for your boy,"
he
gave her the
horse with a wagon, "and this one – for your girl."
He handed her a small doll shaped piece,
"Unfortunately, I have nothing for your
youngest now…but..."
Charlotte almost gasped, "So beautiful! You have a
real talent for
carving!
" You wouldn't need to work in a mine if you'd sell
them."
" "No," Sully smiled, embarassed by her comments, "I
do these carvings just for myself and my friends."
"And for all the kids around." Daniel smiled.
"Well, thank you, Sully! It's the nicest 'thank you'
I ever got!"
Charlotte told
him.
Sully nodded as he slid the chest back under the
cot.
"Take care of yourself and you should be fine," she
said, although she still wondered.
The Cooper kids enjoyed their new toys.
"Where did you get them?" Matthew asked.
"A very nice young man from the mining camp gave
them to me for you."
"What kind of man?" Little Colleen asked.
"A very nice, good man," Charlotte smiled.
"So, why he's living in a mining camp? Miss Olive
told us they are and fighting there…," Matthew said.
"He just has no other place to live."Charlotte
explained, "That's where those men live."
"Why wouldn't he come for lunch?" Colleen asked,
"There are no apple pies in this mining camp are there?"
"You're right." Charlotte agreed, she thought it was
a good idea to invite the two young men to lunch.
"Besides that," she said out loud, "they could help
repair the fence, Ethan
never did."
>
Daniel appeared at the Cooper's two days later…
Charlotte was sitting near the window, holding Brian. Olive, who was visiting
her today, was playing with Matthew and Colleen. Ethan,
as always, was spending time in Hank's saloon…
Charlotte became more aware each day that her
marriage was
broken. Ethan held no interest in her nor their children.
She wiped the tear from her cheek and sighed
gravely, looking at the rain
through the window…
>
Daniel was soaked through to his bones, the water
dropped on the floor
from
his hat…He was out of breath, it seemed as if he ran
all the way from the
camp.
Looking at his sad and worried face, Charlotte
guessed, "Sully? He's worse?"
Daniel nodded, "Please, Mrs.Cooper, help him…Jake is
not in his barbershop, the door is
locked…please…"
"Yes, of course, I'll go with you." Charlotte told
him, "Wait a minute."
Olive appeared from another room, glancing at
Daniel:
"I know you…Your friend is sweet on our Abby." She
noticed Charlotte rushing about the room, "Where are you going, Charlotte?"
"His friend is hurt badly," Charlotte explained,
"Would you please stay
here with the kids?"
"Sure," Olive said, "I like how this lad, Sully,
is courting Abby…can't
understand why Loren hates him…" Olive wondered out
loud.
>
This time the tent was full of miners and it was
very noisy, Charlotte
coughed from the smell of cheap cigars, whisky and
dirty clothes. Through the cigar smoke she barely could see Sully, who was
laying still on his cot, his eyes closed.
He didn't stir, as Charlotte approached and touched
his hand. She put her hand on his forehead. – he was burning up.
"How is he?" Daniel tried to look over her shoulder
"Bad, I'm afraid," Charlotte said honestly, "he
can't stay here, I'll take him home…Then you'll go to the army camp for a doctor."
"Sure…Mrs Cooper," he looked pleadingly at her,
"please… make him well…
he's my best friend, we have nobody except each
other in a whole world…"
"I'll try , Daniel…Now, go get the wagon." She sat
at the edge of his cot
and took his hand. His wound was red and swollen.
Sully's eyes fluttered open, "Abby… " he whispered
hoarsely, "Abagail…"
"No, Sully, it's me, Charlotte…I'll take you to my
homestead….you'll be fine," she whispered.
"No, I'm fine, don't want…to bother you," he could
barely be heard, then his eyes closed again.
>
Olive just rolled her eyes looking at Sully, "You
need help here." she said
firmly, "I'll stay
here for the night." Sometimes she wondered about
her friend's common sense.
Daniel brought the doctor from the army camp, but he
didn't tell them any
good news.
"The infection is severe," he said, "but he'll have
a chance if
we.........ah, amputate his arm as soon as possible."
Sully struggled to sit up, "No," he whispered,
"please…no!"
"That's his right arm!" Charlotte exclaimed, "Doc,
he's only about 20,
and he has no kins…you can't do it."
He shrugged, "He has no choice, if the infection
spreads..."
Olive interrupted, "Suppose, you're wrong?" She
glared at the doctor and
then stepped toward Daniel, "Here is some money, pay the
doctor and show him
out."
"He will die without amputation!" The doctor
protested, "Let me know if you change your mind. I really advise you to think,
while it's not too late. You will be responsible!!"
After he left, Charlotte, Daniel, and Olive briefly
glanced at each other,
wondering
what they should do.
"I've seen once how one of my cowboys did this for
his friend, and it
worked…We need to reopen his wound, clean it and
then cauterize with a
glowing knife or poker," Olive said.
"Do you mean.....Olive!" Charlotte was shocked,
"That's like branding your cattle!"
"Exactly," Olive nodded, "but that's his only chance."
She leaned down next to Sully and asked, "Sully, did
you hear us?"
He nodded weakly
"Do you want to try? It's very painful, but perhaps we can save your arm.
What do you think?"
"Okay…" he whispered, his eyes closing again
"Charlotte, take the young ones to Emily," Olive
said, "and you, Daniel,
bring me a large knife from the kitchen "
" Don't worry, I'll feed Brian, if he gets hungry, "
Emily told Charlotte,
" Thank you, Emily…Didn't want to bother you, but…
Abby told me Sully is a good man, " Emily said, "
Does she knows what's
happened to him.
" No, " Charlotte answered, " we'll tell her, but
Loren….
" It seems that he'll feel better with Abby at his side, "
Emily said, " They are
courting, you know…
" Well, Daniel, hold him tightly, " Olive ordered ,and taking a deep
breath, pressed the red- hot knife to the open wound.
Sully's eyes opened wide, he pulled up with an agonizing scream and fell
back, unconscious.
Daniel turned pale and covered his mouth with his
palm. Charlotte almost
fainted as well. Olive looked calm, but she was scared
too.
She took a deep breath:
" Now we need to wait…
Ethan didn't come home that night…this behavior was
typical for him for last
several days….
The kids were already asleep, and Olive returned to
her ranch…She finished
her daily chores and looked at the window
again…nothing.
She sighed and went to the bedroom…
Sully was awake…he was definitely in pain, but didn't
want to bother
Charlotte. However, his fever was lower.
" How are you? – Charlotte asked
" Better, " he answered in a whisper, " Mrs.Cooper…he
didn't saw off my arm?
" No, Sully…It seems you're really better. Now, you need
to rest .Would you
want some water?
He nodded, and she helped him to sit up. As he drank
the fill of the glass,
she helped him to lie back down and involuntarily
slightly stroked his wavy
hair.
Sully took her hand:
" My Ma always did like this…" he said softly, " she
was very kind…like you…
He closed his eyes, and within a minute drifted off to
sleep, still holding
her hand, like a child, holding the hand of his mother
Charlotte's eyes moistened. He was so lonely, so
sensitive, although he
tried to hide it. How desperately he needed someone
to hold him, love
him…She didn't know how he lost all his family, but
she could imagine how
painful it could be for him…
She was sitting near him almost all night. Before the
dawn his forehead
became cool and damp, the fever was gone.
Charlotte rose from the chair and took Sully's jacket,
to sew it up. When
the took it, the small photo fell on the floor from
his pocket. That was a
family portrait – a man in a dark suit, young woman
and two kids. The
youngest one was about 3 or 4, with long light locks,
and, to her
wonderment, Charlotte recognized Sully in him. He
looked like his mother.
Charlotte gazed at the face of young woman. She didn't
look like the women
Charlotte knew, her face was fine and refined, and
Sully took something from
her…His friend Daniel was simple and common, but Sully
was different…
The knock at the door interrupted her thoughts…But
that was not Ethan
again..that was Abagail Bray, her eyes wide opened
with concern, and her
hair disheveled:
" Mrs.Cooper…Aunt Olive just told me, Sully's very
sick. How is he?"
" Definitely better…He's resting now."
" May I see him?"
" Sure…Abby, did he already?
" What? – Abagail blushed
" Propose to you.
" No, " she smiled shyly…" Not yet, but…
" Wait a minute, " Charlotte came to bedroom and bent to speak to Sully.
" Sully, here is somebody who wants to see you.
A wide smile crossed his face:
"Abby?!
" Yes…But, Sully, I want to warn you – I'll lock the
door, and won't unlock
it until you ask her something."
Sully turned serious:
" Do you think she'll agree?"
" I'm sure, " Charlotte smiled…" Now, go on!
Some time after, she secretly opened the door and
glanced inside. Sully sat in his bed, propped on the pillows, holding Abagail's
hand. His face was very happy. Abigail's back was to Charlotte, and she
couldn't see her face,
but she heard her speaking softly: " Sure, I will,
Sully! I love you too…
Charlotte stepped back and closed the door. Soon,
Abagail appeared, her eyes
shining.
" Thank you so much, Mrs.Cooper! – she exclaimed
" For what? – Charlotte raised her brows
" For giving us… giving Sully a chance to tell me…and
for saving his life."
she said smiling
" Truly said that was Olive who saved his life…but,
anyway, I'm happy for
you. Are you going to convince Loren?
The smile faded.
" No, " Abagail sighed, " he's so stubborn. But I
don't care! I'll marry
Sully that's all…I don't know why he hates Sully! My
ma likes him, so as
Aunt Olive.
" Sully's a good man, " Charlotte said, " I think,
Loren just can't admit
that you're already grown-up and are able to make your
own decisions. I
think, he'll change his mind then…But, anyway, you can
live in my
boardinghouse as long as you want.
" Thank you… Sully's going to build a house for us. My
ma said she will give
us a piece of land…
" That's great, " Charlotte smiled, " You'll be happy
together… Sully needs
family so much…
" I know, " Abagail said, " I'll be his family…
Sully spent a few more days in Charlotte's
boardinghouse, until his arm
healed. Daniel visited him and told him that the foreman
tried to fire Sully,
but other miners defended him. He was very happy to
see his friend looking
better, but didn't show much joy as Sully told him
about Abagail.
Ethan almost didn't care about Sully's appearance in
their home. He was
much more interested in his poker debt, and spent all
the time at Hank's
again.
During this time, Sully did a lot of the daily chores
instead of Ethan, although
his arm still bothered him.
Besides that, Charlotte even was surprised, how her
kids enjoyed Sully 's
company.
Next day after Daniel's visit she delivered a baby
in a farm far from
town, and rushed home, imagined the wails of hungry
Brian and anger of the older
kids.
But the first sound she had heard was the kids laughing. Even
Brian, smiling
broadly and cooing, shook the new rattle. Matthew and
Colleen were preparing
the table for supper, chatting with Sully, who stirred
something in a pan.
"Sully told us stories! Sully taught me to chop the
firewood! Sully made us
gravy!" the kids told her at the same time
"'Mr.Sully', " Charlotte corrected, but Sully shook
his head…
" No, just Sully, please…I used to…
" Okay…Sully, I've never knew you're so good with
kids…
" I like kids, " he answered with a broad smile, " you
have wonderful kids,
Charlotte. I always dreamed about having a big family…
" You'll be a wonderful husband and father, "
Charlotte told him, " Abby's
very lucky.
" It's me who's lucky, " Sully answered.
" I've already told the Reverend about the wedding
ceremony, " Olive whispered
into Charlotte's ear.
They were standing in a distant corner of Loren's
store.
" I'll ask Grace to cook something special, " Olive
continued,
" Fine…But, Olive..did you talk with Loren
Olive frowned:
" He's stubborn as a mule. But Abby's definitely his
daughter, told him,
she'll marry Sully anyway, even without Loren's
permission."
Maude Bray closed the door behind the last customer
and joined the women:
" I visited Sully yesterday, " she said in a low
voice, " in their new
homestead. It's really pretty, I couldn't believe such
a young fella built
all this just by himself I know, Abby will be happy
with him, he's so kind
and gentle…
" Sure, " Olive agreed, " he's not a lazy drunk like
that Martin is…That's
just Loren's stupid stubbornness! Maude, what about
the wedding dress?
" Dorothy just finished it, " Maude said, and turned
to Charlotte, " She's
my younger sister.
This minute Loren appeared, and three women, exchanging
glances, returned to
their chores.
The wedding was very decent and simple. Unfortunately,
neither Olive nor
Daniel was there. Olive was driving the cattle in New
Mexico, and Daniel
left with some other former miners to Nevada for gold
rush.
Maude, Emily, some Abagail's and Sully's friends,
Charlotte, Ethan and their
kids – not very many people were there.
Loren didn't come to Abagail's wedding, and told
Maude, who tried to
convince him, that he has no more daughter. But even
this couldn't spoil the
happy wedding.
After the ceremony the newlyweds went to their new
home and Sully solemnly
carried his wife over the threshhold.
Five years they lived happily together. They often
visited Charlotte, and she noticed the sadness in Abagail's eyes, as she
looked at little
Brian. But she didn't want to give up and every time
told Charlotte:
" I know, we'll have a baby, you'll see…
" Congratulations, Sully, " Charlotte appeared at the
homestead porch,
holding the tiny bundle." you have a daughter.
" May I hold her? " Sully asked, carefully taking the
baby from Charlotte.
He smiled, looked at tiny face of his newborn daughter
and dark fluff on her
head – future dark and silky hair of her mother.
" Hey, little one, " Sully whispered to the baby, "
I'm your Pa, and I love
you …so much."
" She's a beauty, " Charlotte said, " just like her
mother…
" May I see Abby? – Sully looked at Charlotte
worryingly, " How is she?"
" Tired, " she answered, " you'll see her later, and
now she needs some
rest"…
Suddenly, they had heard a scream from the room, and
Maude's yell:
" Charlotte, hurry! She's having contractions again!"
" Looks like you'll have twins, Sully, " Charlotte said as
she rushed back.
In mid-afternoon they arrived at the Denver hospital, but
it was too late. The baby girl lived just for few minutes, and Abigail died
an hour later from the blood loss.
They returned to Colorado Springs, and, as they reached Bray's store,
Maude turned pale, gasping for air and collapsed.
Charlotte asked Sully to drive back home and promised
to help him later. But
she spent a lot of time with Maude, then talked with
Jake about taking care
of Abagail's body…anyway, she could go to Sully's
homestead just before midnight.
She had found him desperately pacing back and forth,
cradling his crying baby.
" I don't know what to do ," he lifted his reddened
eyes, filled with tears,
to her, " she's hungry, but I don't know how to feed her…I can't believe,
that Abby's gone."…
He turned away, his shoulders shaking with silent
sobs.
Charlotte put her hand on his shoulder.
" Sully, I know…that's awful. But you must be strong
for your baby, you must
raise her, Sully…I'll milk the cow, and we'll feed
her. Now, I'll show you how to change her diapers. She's so beautiful, your
daughter…" Charlotte
talked non-stop, trying to comfort Sully somehow, to
distract him from his grief and despair.
Her voice was calm and soothing, but she was afraid even
to imagine how Sully felt, staying almost all night alone in his empty
homestead with crying newborn.
Finally the baby was fed and changed, and slept
peacefully in Sully's arms.
" Put her into her crib and get some rest, Sully, "
Charlotte advised, "
You'll get sick without eating and sleep."
Sully shook his head
" I'd better hold her…Let her stay with me."
Charlotte's heart ached with sympathy, but the truth
was, she could help Sully just a little.
" I need to go back home, " she said, " but I'll come back
in the afternoon to help."…
She squeezed his hand:
" Hold on, Sully…for your daughter's sake."
He lifted his head:
" I will, " he said barely above a whisper, " I know I
must… but it's so
hard….."
After the funeral Loren yelled at Sully, blaming him
for Abagail's death.
Sully stood silently near the grave, holding his tiny
daughter. His lips
quivered, but his eyes were dry. In Charlotte's
opinion he looked just
awful…He said nothing to Loren, as if he didn't hear
him at all.
" Loren, " Charlotte finally inquired, " don't yell like this, you'll scare
your granddaughter."
" I don't need this breed!, " Loren yelled even
louder, " if it caused my
daughter's death!"
" You told her she's not your daughter anymore, "
Sully spoke for the first time, " but she loved you anyway."…
Loren just turned his back to him, and departed,
drawing away with the sobbing Maude.
Next evening Sully knocked at Charlotte's door.
" She's crying all the time, " he said, fear in his
eyes, "and spits out
the nipple…and she dirtied all her diapers."
The baby was swaddled in Sully's clean shirt.
" That's her tummy, " Charlotte told him, " It seems that
cow's milk doesn't agree with
her."
" So what can I do? – he asked
" We'll put a warm cloth on her tummy, and…Sully, I
have an idea! There is a couple in my boarding house…the lady was in labor
just a few days ago, but her baby…he's gone. I think she'll agree to feed your
baby."
Daisy Hughes agreed. Her husband was very excited,
looking how the colour
returned to her cheeks. She even smiled a bit, holding
a baby.
Since that day Sully brought Abby to Mrs. Hughes every
morning and in the evening fed her breast milk from a bottle.
Life seemed to return back to normal. Sully still was grieving for
Abagail and Hannah. But now he had little Abby,
someone who needed him so
much. She gave him strength to live.
Than Charlotte did something she would blame herself
for many times over. Ethan
suddenly became so tender and gentle with her, as he
never was for the last few years. He invited her and the kids to Denver for a week,
and she agreed. Before they left, she asked Sully to stay in her
boardinghouse until they come back.
Those seven days were the happiest days Charlotte had spent in
many years. The Coopers spent a lot of time just walking the streets,
shopping, having lunch in the restaurant.
There was a time when she hoped there was a chance to
save their marriage.
Sometimes she worried about Sully and his baby,
but she knew the Hughes were there to help him…besides that, she would be back
soon.
When Coopers returned, neither the Hughes
nor Sully were in town.
A few days later, Ethan left her without any explanation,
taking all the family's money with him.
Abby cried three or four times during the night. Sully
tried to comfort her, but nothing helped. The baby was definitely hungry,
and showed this very clearly.
Finally, Mrs.Hughes had heard the baby's wails, and
knocked on Sully's door:
" Mr.Sully, I think she's hungry
" Yes, " he said, " I just didn't want to bother you at night.
" It's no bother, " she smiled, " please, let me
take her to our room
…I'll nurse her, and you'll get some rest.
She sympathetically looked at his sunken cheeks and
dark circles beneath his eyes.
"No, I'm fine, " he protested,
"You're not, " she objected, " please, let me…
Abby's tiny face wrinkled and she started to cry
again.
"Okay, " Sully agreed reluctantly. He knew what this
woman had been through…She
helped him so much, he thought, and deserved to nurse
a baby for a while…"
"Thank you, I'll take her later,
" You're so beautiful, " Mrs.Hughes whispered into
baby's ear, as she left
Sully's room, " I love you so much…can't bear if he
takes you away from
me…I can't!"…
Just now, as Abby was taken to another room, Sully
felt how exhausted he was. Since Abby was born, he barely had proper food
or sleep.
"I'll just sit here for a while, " he thought, " and
then go get Abby.
He relaxed in a chair, then his eyes closed and he
immediately drifted off into a very deep sleep.
" Edward, hurry please…we need to leave now! "– Daisy
Hughes pleaded, " We'll
take her home.
" Wait! – her husband stopped her, " Daisy, we can't!
That's Mr.Sully's
baby!"
" It doesn't matter, " Mrs Hughes exclaimed, " Please,
Edward…I beg you…
" Are you crazy? – Mr.Hughes cried, outraged, " Just think
what you're doing! You
just asked me to kidnap the child! Mr.Sully will have
all the rights to put us into jail"…
" I don't care, " she said stubbornly, " She's OUR
BABY now!"
" Then think about Mr.Sully, " Mr.Hughes tried to
bring his wife to reason,
" this baby is all the family he has."
" He will marry again and have more children of his
own…And you know, we'll
never…never"…
She started to cry hysterically.
The doctor told her she'll never have children. The
baby that died a few
minutes after his birth, was their last hope.
Mr.Hughes remembered, how
Daisy tried to take her own life after doctor told her that.
He knows she could try it again, this time
successfully.
He took a deep breath…
" Daisy, " he said finally, " okay, let's pack."…
Sully awoke with a start. It was late afternoon, that meant he slept more
than twelve hours. It was time to take Abby from Mrs. Hughes.
It was quiet in the boardinghouse…Very quiet, Too
quiet.
Sully knocked at the Hughes' door, and it opened
itself.
The room was empty. The Hughes' were gone, as well as their luggage, and
Abby…
Sully couldn't believe his eyes. He rushed to the
street, stopping all the
townsfolk passing by, asking them, if they saw the Hughes
leaving. But they saw nothing like this.
Sully didn't know what to do. Emptiness and despair
claimed him, as the last tie that connected him with his family, was broken. He
walked aimlessly along
the street, and suddenly noticed the newspaper soaking
in a puddle near the
barbershop .The large headline caught his eyes – "THE
NEWS FROM THE
BATTLEFIELD"…
It was the only way out, " he thought. He could die
there, be killed in
the war and finally join his family there, in Heaven.
Next day he was on the way to Saint Louis . He
couldn't know how close he
was there to his daughter…
Charlotte Cooper smiled, putting the telegram into her
chest.
" I'm hungry! – she had heard Brian's voice from
another room.
" Wait a minute! – Charlotte told him, " I need to
milk the cow.
She stood up and went to the barn. There was thick
brushwood around – nobody
has time to pull up them. This summer there were many
rattlesnakes in a
woods nearby, and widow Peterson told her a few days
ago, that the snake ate some eggs in her barn. So, Charlotte warned the kids
to be careful there and take a large stick with them…Charlotte did the
same, but now she was so excited with the news about Sully's daughter, that she
absolutely forgot
about the stick…
" What are you going to do now? – Michaela asked Sully
" I'll go get her, " Sully said firmly, " That's all.
" Okay, you're right, " Michaela turned away
He turned her face to him and looked at her eyes:
" Michaela…what's the matter? It seems like you don't want me
to take her?
" No… she's your daughter, and that's what you must
do…I understand."
" Michaela, " he pulled her closer, " my feelings for
you never change…don't
worry. But we need Abby to live here, with us. I gave
Abagail my word to do
all I can to make my girl happy."
" I know, " Michaela tried to hide her concern, " I
gave a word to
Charlotte, and never regretted…Hope, you Abby will be
happy here…
" She will, I know, " he smiled at her.
" Cloud Dancing, I'm going to Saint Louis, to take my
daughter back!" – Sully
was in a hurry to bring the news to his best friend.
" I'm happy you know she's alive and safe. But the
Spirits told me that you
must make some important decision, and must be wise
enough not to do
something ill-advised. Things sometimes look different
after you think them through."
" There is nothing to think about, " Sully said, "She's my daughter. She was kidnapped. Now I'm going to take her back. That's all."
The medicine man shrugged:
" That's what the Spirits told me."
" You mean, Michaela might be upset with that, feel as
if I try to compare
her with Abagail? But she understands me, I talked
with her"…
" I don't know, " Cloud Dancing repeated, " that's all
they said"…
Michaela looked at the train moving from
Colorado Springs, and her eyes became wet.
" He'll back very soon, Michaela, " Dorothy put her
hand on Michaela's shoulder, " Don't worry. I know, you're newlyweds,
but your husband must
go out of town from time to time, and you must stay
here and wait…That's the woman's lot."
" There's something else, Dorothy, " Michaela
admitted, " I'm scared….Sully
will bring here Abby, his daughter…he will see her
every day, and she will
remind him"…
" Michaela, " Dorothy gazed at her, " did you really
think that Sully could
forget Abagail? She was the part of his life, but it
doesn't mean he doesn't
love you. You're wrong, if you're worrying about his
feelings for you…You know, Michaela, Sully loves you with all his heart,
but he must keep his
promise, without this he couldn't be the Sully you love."
" I know, but…there is another problem….this girl
lived for about seven
years in this family, and now she needs to get used to
another one…She
couldn't remember Sully, and I'm doubt she'll love us,
who took her from the
people who raised her"…
" Did you try to talk with Sully?"
" No, I didn't want him to think that I'm worried
because I'm jealous."
Dorothy nodded:
" I know Sully will make the right decision"…
" I hope so, Dorothy, " Michaela sighed, " I hope so"…
The Hughes family didn't move anywhere. Their house in
Saint Louis was almost
as large and fancy as the Quinn's in Boston.
A gray –haired man opened the door and looked at
Sully's buckskins with disgust.
" Did you come the wrong door, Mister?" – he asked not
very politely.
" I don't think so, " Sully said, " I need Mr.Edward
Hughes or his wife."
" I'm sorry, " the butler answered, " they aren't
home. I don't know when
they will be back"…
Suddenly Sully had heard the bass barking and noticed
the dog, huge as a
calf, running to him from the corridor.
" Ralph! Ralph! Get back!" – the butler yelled, " You'd
better get out of
here, Mister, so he doesn't bite you."
But Ralph approached Sully and suddenly stopped,
lifting his big head and
gazing at him. Then the dog sat near his feet and his
tongue slightly licked
Sully's hand.
" William, look!" – a small girl appeared from one of
the rooms , "It looks like
Ralph likes him!"
She turned to Sully, " He likes you, mister."
Sully's heart stopped for a moment...that was his
daughter. His Abby. Now,
at almost seven years old, she looked like her mother, with
the same hazelnut eyes and long dark hair, but her hair was wavy, like Sully's.
" You're wrong, William." she told the butler, " Ma
and Pa are home, they
are upstairs. Let me show you, Mister"…
" Miss Hughes, " William began, " we don't know this
man and..."…
The girl shrugged:
" Ralph likes him. He never was mistaken before."
She took Sully's hand and accompanied him upstairs.
" I'm Abby, " the girl introduced herself, " and here
is Ralph, my best friend. He's a St. Bernard dog. Pa told me, some bad
people tried to kidnap me once, and I need Ralph to protect me I don't know why
he likes you……He
usually doesn't like any stranger," …
"I'm not a stranger, my sweet girl…" Sully thought, "
You can't even
imagine, how happy I am just to look at you…'
" What is your name, Mister? – Abby asked
" Sully." – he finally uttered. The lump in his throat
didn't allow him to
speak, and he barely fought tears back.
" Nice to meet you, Mr.Sully, " Abby smiled, " Here…
She opened the door to the reception room.
Both Hughes rushed up and turned white, as Sully
entered the room.
" That's Mr.Sully. Ralph likes him, " Abby said
proudly.
" Abby, sweetheart, please go to your room."–
Mr. Hughes told her, trying
to stay calm, " Mr.Sully…we need to talk…
" Okay, " she answered reluctantly, " Come on, Ralph,
" she grabbed the dog
for his collar and left.
"How did you find us?" – Mr.Hughes asked
" I came to take my daughter back, where she belongs –
Sully said instead of answering the question, "and I think this will be just fair.
" We love her and took care for her all these years."
Mrs. Hughes inquired
" We gave her a loving family , and she'll have the best
education in this
area," Mr.Hughes said, " You never could do for her
all we're able. Don't
you think about her boon?"
" What are you talking about? – Sully interrupted him,
" she's my daughter,
my blood, and you just kidnapped her when I trusted
her to you! She's my
daughter, and must live with her father!
" Abby doesn't know you . She knows us as her real
family, and you'll be JUST A STRANGER who came to take her from the
people she loves."
" Do you want me to take her through a trial?" –
Sully asked coldly, " I really doubt you'll be able to win this battle."
Mr.Hughes lowered his head.
" I know you have all the rights to bring me to
trial, Mr.Sully. It's my
fault, but I did this for my wife…she couldn't have
the children of her own,
and tried to kill herself, after our baby's death. .I
was afraid to lose her
too . You've lost your family once , you know how hard
it is.…Daisy and Abby
are all my family and the sense of my life."…
Sully stood silent…Entering this fancy house, he was
full of anger at the
people who stole his baby. He knew he must take his
child back and restore
the justice…But he could imagine what this man
felt…once he, Byron Sully
felt just the same, as he lost all he lived for in one
moment…He couldn't
look at the frightened and pleading eyes of these people
and threaten them with a trial anymore.
Mrs.Hughes rose from her chair:
" Mr.Sully…when you take her from us…" she choked
with tears but took a
deep breath and continued, " please let her take her
dog…he's her best
friend, and he'll remind her"…
Her voice faded again for a moment.
" That's most important…Abby has nightmares from time
to time…would you
please sit with her and talk a little ,as she wakes up
at night, like we did… And, please, let us visit her, once a year…
Sully stood frozen. The strange feeling of deja vu
claimed him. He could
swear he had heard this once…that was Michaela who
spoke those words , as
the kids, Colleen and Brian climbed into the carriage
of Ethan and Lillian
Cooper…
He could never forget how Brian looked at them, there
was such despair in
his tear-filled eyes, when the carriage moved, taking
him from the people he loved…
He remembered such an emptiness and sadness that
filled his own heart…and
how it suddenly pounded with hope, as Coopers stopped…
"Stop the carriage, Ethan …We can't…Let them go."
"You'll always be a stranger for her, Mr.Sully. She
knew 'us 'as her family"
"You must be wise, my brother. Wise enough not to do
something ill-advised"
This looked so simple few minutes before…This looked
so difficult now…Sully
didn't know what to say…
" I need to talk with Abby, " he finally said and went
upstairs. The Hughes'
pleading eyes followed him on his way…
Ralph stood up and waved his tail as Sully entered the
room. Abby grinned:
" He's already missing you, Mr.Sully. Do you like
dogs?"
" Yes, " he answered, unable to take his eyes out of
her smiling face.
" Have you any? – she asked, looking in wonderment how
Ralph approached and
put his head on Sully's lap.
" Yes, I have my Wolf… " he managed a smile in
answer…The truth was, he couldn't
decide what to do. How desperately he wanted to take
his daughter home, to
Colorado Springs,immediately, to tell her that he,
Byron Sully, is her father, and had searched for her for many years…to be with
her for the rest of his life…
But the next moment he remembered the trial, "Cooper
Vs Quinn", and Michaela's words:
"You
were not there Mr. Cooper, but we were because we are
the children's family
now.
What makes a family is not merely blood. It's the
days, the hours, the
weeks we spent together through thick and thin."
That was not his fault that he couldn't be with Abby
all these years. The Hughes were. They played with her, told her bedtime stories, taught her to walk and talk, and then to read and write.
They sat near her bed when she was sick and comforted her, when she had nightmares.
They
smiled with her when she was happy, and dried her tears when she cried.
Abby was too small to remember him, but those people
were near her since she
was a baby…
"I wanted justice, " Sully thought, " but this is not justice, at least, not for
Abby" He never wished his daughter to feel what Brian and Colleen
felt once….
("Stop the wagon…we can't …let them go…")
" Wolf?" – Abby asked him, her brown eyes wide with
wonder, " this is his
name?"
Her sweet voice brought him back to reality.
" Actually, that's not just his name. He is a wolf." –
Sully answered
" How did you tame him?"
" I didn't, " Sully shook his head, " he just came to
me when I needed a
companion…he came to me during the ceremony, when I
lived with the Cheyenne.."
" You lived with Indians?" – she rolled her eyes, " Did
they kidnap you?"
" No, they just found me in the woods half-dead and
saved my life."
Abby sat closer to him, there was great interest in
her eyes:
" You were lost there?"
Sully stopped for a moment…His heart was breaking. He didn't know if he has
any right to tell her the truth…
(You must be wise , my brother…You must think well…")
" No, I just wanted to die, " he said honestly, " I've
lost my family…my
wife and baby, and I wanted to join them"…
" How sad!" – there was a sympathy in her eyes, "I can't
even imagine if something wrong could happen with my MA and Pa… but
that's good, that you
changed your mind then"…
" The Cheyenne helped me…especially Cloud Dancing, the
medicine man…
He advised me to conduct a ceremony of Vision quest,
to find my path again…I was sitting on a top of the hill, alone, for
four days and nights,
without food and water…. I was praying to the Great
Spirit , asking him to
show me the way…and suddenly I saw the wolf cub.
He looked at me, but
there was no fear in his eyes. Then he came to me and
licked my hand, and
when I returned to the village, he followed me. He
follows me everywhere
since this time, because he became my Helpmate."
" Like a guardian angel? – Abby asked
" Yes, " Sully answered.
" Great! – she admired, " How he looks like, your
Wolf?
" Would you bring me a piece of firewood?" Sully asked
" Sure, I ask William! – she run away.
Sully took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a
brief moment. He made his
decision, and suddenly felt as if the heavy load fell
down from his
shoulders. "Abagail, I 'm sure, I did the right thing,
" he whispered, " I
hope you'll forgive me…"
Next moment Abby ran back with the piece of wood.
He carved the figure of Wolf in not more than thirty
minutes.
" How beautiful, Mr.Sully! – Abby's eyes lit up, "
Thank you!"
" He's my "guardian angel", as you just told me, " Sully
smiled at her, " let
him stay here on your bedside table and protect you as
well"…
" And remind me about you, Mr.Sully, " Abby took his
hand, " I always knew,
Ralph never makes mistakes. He likes you…so do I."
Sully felt a lump in his throat again, but controlled himself.
" Good bye, Abby….I love you."
He stroked Ralph between his soft ears.
" You know, Abby, you don't need to be afraid of bad
guys anymore – nobody
will kidnap you."…
The Hughes stood near the door . Sully looked at their
frightened eyes and thought for how long this fear was in their hearts
…Any day he could find
them and take away their only treasure, their little
girl…and they were
waiting all those years.
" You…you told her?" – Mrs.Hughes asked, " Are you
going to take her…away from us?"
" No, " he said, not hearing his own voice, " Let her
stay with her Ma and
Pa."…
They were shocked. They looked at him in bewilderment,
unable to believe their ears.
" Please, write me about her, " Sully said, his voice
hoarse and unsteady,
"and give me her picture…
" Sure, " Mrs Hughes rushed to the bureau and took a
small framed daguerreotype of Abby , " we appreciate this…this is
so noble, Mr.Sully..
Sully shook his head:
" No, this is just fair…
He looked upstairs for the last time. There was his daughter, standing and
smiling at him. There was the carved figure of Wolf in
her hand.
" Good-bye, Mr.Sully! – she said, " See you again!"
She waved her free hand.
Sully reached the front door and turned back:
" Mr. Hughes, Mrs. Hughes…" he said, " you don't need to
be afraid anymore!"…
Then he departed…
Michaela met him at the train depot. He was alone, and
Michaela wondered:
" Did you find her, Sully?"
" Yes, I did, " he was very laconic, and she
understood, that this was not the
right time for any explanation. So, Michaela just
kissed him softly and took his hand:
" I missed you so much…Let's go home. Matthew is
waiting with the wagon."
He kissed her in answer, and said:
"I'd like to go home, Michaela, but I have something
to do here in town. Go home with Matthew, I'll be there soon."
"I'd better wait, " she said,
He squeezed her hand:
" Michaela…I thought it was so clear: I'm her father,
and I need to take
her back .But I couldn't…I remembered how Ethan tried
to take Colleen
and Brian…how upset they were."…
" How you could compare yourself with Ethan?! –
Michaela felt outraged, " you
never tried to leave your daughter, that was this
woman who kidnapped her!"
" I've thought the same thing, " Sully nodded, " but things
are different
now.Sure, I could take her back, but I knew it's not
fair…for Abby. I didn't
want to do the same that Ethan did…I let her live with
the people who love
her…After all , Abagail wished her girl to be happy,
and she's happy now"…
He took a deep breath… Now I need to do something.
I'll just be a few
minutes."
" I'll wait …" Michaela said
" Okay, " he answered and went through the town
square…
" Loren, may I talk to you?"
" Sully, you're back? – the storekeeper was really
happy to see his
ex-son-in-law, " Where've you been?"
" In Saint Louis."
" Was it something for your job?"
" No. You must know, Loren…" he paused, " you have a
granddaughter…Abby.
She's about 7 now, and she's a beauty, like her mother
was"…
The eyes of the older man moistened:
" Did you…Sully, why you didn't bring her here?"
" I was going to, Loren. But I didn't want her to suffer,
to be taken away from
the people she knows as her parents…I think it's
better for her…But I
want you to take this."
He put a picture in Loren's hand.
" She definitely looks like her mother, " Loren said,
" but…you gave me
this, but how about you, Sully? Have you another
picture?"
" Yes, I have, " he nodded, " here, " he put his palm
against his heart, "that's enough for me…I don't know, perhaps you'll
blame me for my decision…
" Nobody could blame you, Sully, " Loren answered, "
Abagail would
understand you, I'm sure…You did the right thing.
" I'll let you know, when they write me." – Sully
promised. He turned back
to the porch, looking for a moment at Loren, who stood
near the counter,
still holding the picture…
Sully directed his steps to the graveyard, and was
surprised, to find Michaela. She stood between the graves of Abagail and
Hannah, her hand lay on the wooden cross.
He had heard her speaking something and stood still
not approaching her…
" I know, you'll understand, " he had heard, " Sully
did the only right
thing. Your girl is happy with her adoptive family.
You know, Sully never
could leave his baby, but now he did this for her
sake… …The truth was, Abagail,
I was jealous, I was puzzled, how I could raise your
daughter…I'm sorry, but
don't blame Sully for what he did…he did this not
because of me...…he just
wanted Abby to be happy. That's Sully, we both know so
well, who always
cares about people."…
She turned to Sully:
" I feel she heard me…and understood. You did the
right thing , Sully,
no doubt."…
Sully approached and took Michaela's hand
" I believe so, " he whispered into her ear. I believe
so…….
THE END
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