For personal use and select distribution only © April 1999 by S.L. Snyder

THE WILDERNESS
by S. L. Snyder

Timeline: August 1873


It was late afternoon. Michaela and Sully were sitting on the steps of the homestead, watching Katie at play.

Mama... papa... look Bran!" Katie said looking down the road.

Brian was coming down the road at a full gallop, but they could see he was smiling so they weren't worried that something was wrong.

"Pa...Pa!" Brian yelled as he pulled Taffy up in the yard and jumped off. "I thought of a name for our business!"

"What?" Sully asked.

"Could we call it Wilderness Guides?"

"Well, son, that sure sounds good. What'ya think, Michaela?" Sully asked.

"I think it's a wonderful name. How did you think of it, Brian?" Michaela asked.

"Just came to me today as I was riding home. Couldn't wait to get here and tell ya."

"I guess we got a name," said Sully. "We'll carve us a sign. Ya thought of the name just in time, Brian. I got a letter from Senator Selkirk today. Some friends of his are coming out to stay at the Springs Chateau next week and they want to go on a couple'a day trips. He said they can ride horses. They'll let us know when they get here."

"Where are we gonna take them, Pa?" Brian asked.

"You can plan the trips. Ya need to talk to Robert E about hiring four horses and Grace about a picnic lunch," said Sully.

"Wow! Thanks, Pa! I'll go start it now," said Brian, running into the house.

"You certainly made Brian's day," Michaela said, smiling at her husband.

"Well, if he's wants to be part of the business, I think he should plan trips. I'll go over the plans with him and make sure they're okay. I'll let him guide the trips, too, and I'll follow up in the rear."


Brian was sitting in their new office behind the clinic, finishing the plans he had started on the night before. Sully was just outside, carving the sign. "Pa?"

"Yes, Brian?"

"Don't ya think any people we take on a trip should see the Red Rocks?"

"Yeh, I think so."

"Me, too. I think I'll plan one day at the Red Rocks and the places around there. And the other day maybe up into the mountains a way, or maybe Daniel and Cloud Dancing would let us take them on the old reservation land. That's got lots of things to see and do.....Daniel!" Brian called, as he saw Daniel walking by.

Daniel came over and shook hands with Sully, then Brian. "I see you're making a sign, Sully. Does that mean you thought of a name?"

"Brian thought up the name, Wilderness Guides. I'm making a sign for the door," Sully said.

"That's a good name." Daniel told him.

"Thanks. Hey, Daniel, could I take the people up on your land for one of the trips? It'd be just a day trip and there's a lot of things to see there."

"Sure thing. Just make sure Cloud Dancing knows you're coming and where you’ll take them.”

"Okay. I'll go and talk to him now!" Brian said, putting down his paper work and running for Taffy.

Sully and Daniel watched Brian go. "You sure have lit a fire under him, with this guide business. I saw him early this morning and he said he was planning and leading a day trip next week."

"Yeh....he's real excited about it. He knows lots about this area and will make a good guide. He's planning to take them to the Red Rocks first."


A few days later at the guide office, Brian said, "Here are all my plans for the trip, Pa. Do you want to go over them?"

"Yep. What did Cloud Dancing say the other day?"

"He said it was okay and even told me about some good places to take the people. I also had an idea. I asked him if we could buy some of the Cheyenne Necklaces from him....you know, the ones he's sold before. That way we could give each person one as a thank you. He said he'd just give them to me, but I told him since it was for the business, we should buy them."

"Good idea. You are very smart to think of that. Did he agree?" asked Sully.

"Yeah!" Brian said, beaming at the praise from Sully.

"I had another idea, but thought I should ask you first. I'll bet there are other people who would be interested in the stories like those Cloud Dancing told the senator and his sons. I know it would be nice for Cloud Dancing to have money for some things. So if the people want to hear stories about the Cheyenne, we could hire Cloud Dancing."

"That's another good idea, Brian. We can go up and talk to Cloud Dancing."

"Talk to Cloud Dancing about what?" Michaela asked as she came out of the clinic and picked up Katie, who had been playing outside the office, under her father['s watchful eye.

"Tell your ma about your ideas," said Sully.

Brian told Michaela, to which she responded, "Those are wonderful!"

Brian's smile grew wider, if that was possible, "Thanks, ma!"

"I haven't seen Cloud Dancing for awhile, so if you're going to go see him today, I'd like to go too," Michaela said.

Sully smiled, "We'd like that. Why don't you close up about two and we'll all ride up. Okay, Brian?"

"Yeah! Can Katie ride with me?" Brian asked.

"Sure," Sully replied. "Katiedid, do you want to go see Cloud Dancing?"

"A-ho! Me see A-ho!" Katie exclaimed.

"Katie, his name is Cloud Dancing!" Michaela said.

"A-ho!" Katie said, smiling at her mother, with mischief in her eyes.

"Michaela, ya ain't gonna win this one. You say that every time Katie calls him A-ho. She knows his name. I think she just says A-ho to get a rise out of ya!" Sully said.

Michaela shook her head, "I suppose you're right. But I'd like to hear her say Cloud Dancing."

"She will when she's ready."


Michaela locked up the clinic and joined Brian, Katie and Sully for the ride up to see Cloud Dancing. As they rode into the meadow, they saw him sitting in front of his teepee.

"A-ho!" Katie yelled, waving. Cloud Dancing smiled, stood up and waved back at her. When Brian rode up to him, Katie held out her arms, "A-ho, kiss!"

Cloud Dancing took Katie and kissed her on the cheek as Michaela and Sully rode up and Brian dismounted.

"How are you, Cloud Dancing?" Michaela asked.

"Well, my friend. You look well, as does Katie," he said.

"We are."

"Cloud Dancing, Brian and I would like to talk to you about a job," said Sully.

Cloud Dancing set Katie on the ground, sat down beside her and the others sat down with them. He handed Katie a toy he had made for her, which kept her occupied, while Brian told Cloud Dancing about his idea. When he finished, Sully said, "It's important for ya to understand that if you agree to this, along with the necklaces, we will pay ya because we're making money off it."

"I will think about this and talk to the spirits. I will let you know tomorrow...will that be okay?" he asked.

"Yes, of course. Take as long as you need," Sully replied.

They spent a little more time visiting with, then the Sullys mounted and headed for home.


Michaela opened her eyes to see the face she loved so much leaning over her, close, looking into her eyes. She smiled and his lips came down to meet hers. She would never get tired of those lips on hers.

"Mornin', love," Sully said.

"Good morning, Can I have another?"

Sully laughed and lowered his lips to hers again. This one was longer and deeper.

"Today's gonna be a nice, warm day. How 'bout you play hooky and we go riding?"

"Me?.....play hooky? What if there's a problem?"

"Andrew and Colleen can take care of it."

"That's true."

"So is that a yes?"

"Well.....what about Katie and Brian?"

"Brian wants to go in and work on the details for his trips. He can take Katie with him and watch her, or have Colleen watch her at the clinic. He can also ask Colleen to stay at the clinic and send for Andrew if he's needed. They'll make sure Katie and any patients are okay. Yes?"

"Yes! I would love to go with you!"

Sully kissed her again and then got out of bed. Michaela stayed put and watched him walk around the end of the bed, enjoying the sight of her husband's naked body. He turned toward her and saw her watching. He smiled at her, she smiled and blushed at being caught. He walked over to the bed, pulled back the covers, took her hands and pulled her out of bed and into his arms.

"Here, let me help ya get dressed," he said, laughing as he pulled her nightgown over her head. Now she was naked too. He pulled her tight against him, relishing the feel of skin against skin, and they kissed and kissed and kissed.

"Sully, we'd better stop if we plan to send the kids off and go ourselves. A few more minutes and we won't want to stop!"

"Hmmm.....yeah....." Sully took a step back and smiled. "Later...."

Michaela laughed. Sully pulled on his breeches and went to wake Brian to tell him of the plans.

After breakfast, Brian saddled Taffy. Sully handed Katie up to him while Michaela stood by. "We'll see ya tonight here at home. Ya okay?"

"Yeah, Pa. Katie's good when she rides with me. Huh, Katie?"

"Yeah...me and Bran and Taffy."

"Thanks, son. Your ma and me really appreciate this."

"Have a good time. Bye, Pa, Ma."

"Bye-bye," said Katie, waving.

"Bye." Sully and Michaela told them as Brian turned Taffy toward town and they went riding off.

"I'll saddle Flash and Wind," Sully said.

"While you're doing that, I'll put together a small lunch."
They kissed and went to do their respective tasks. Michaela packed the saddlebags with lunch and some towels, just in case.

Michaela and Sully headed up to the hills. They rode slowing, stopping often to look at scenery and animals, enjoying each other and the day. Around noontime, they reached a little valley, near Palmer Creek, with a small creek running through it.

"Let's eat here," Sully said.

They dismounted and tied the horses where they could get grass and water. Michaela got her saddlebags and Sully joined her on the bank of the creek. Sully pulled Michaela's legs over to him and took off her shoes and stockings, running his hands suggestively up her legs to do so. Michaela looked into his face the entire time. Then he shed his moccasins. They sat with their feet in the creek.

They ate lunch, taking turns feeding each other bits from the meat and vegetables Michaela had packed. The meal took awhile as they kept getting lost in each others eyes. No words were spoken. Sometimes they shared a bite, which ended in a kiss. They had an orgy of licking fingers, lips and faces. It was a quiet, enjoyable time.

When the meal was finished and the saddlebags packed away, Sully said, "Let's go wadin'." He stepped into the creek and reached up for Michaela's hand. Michaela took his hand and stepped into the sandy-bottomed creek bed. They wandered down the shallow creek, hand in hand. The current swirled around their feet. Over the sound of the water, they heard the sounds of the forest. Sully let go of Michaela's hand and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close and turning her to face him. He raised his hand to trace the outlines of her face.

Michaela raised her hands to cup his face and draw his head toward her. She pulled his head down so she could kiss his forehead, then each eye, the tip of his nose and then their lips met. Their tongues met and enjoyed. Sully moved his hands up to bury them in Michaela's hair. He pulled her face back, bent down and kissed her neck. Then he slowly moved his kisses upward, to her chin, lips, cheeks, nose, eyes and ended on her forehead.

They moved apart. "We'd better go back to the horses," Sully said. Michaela nodded her head.

Again holding hands, they waded back to the horses. Michaela got out one of the towels she had packed. Sully took it from her and slowly dried each inch of each foot. Michaela could feel her body tingling at his touch. When her feet were dry, Sully put her stockings back on, moving them up her legs in the same sensuous manner he used to take them off. He followed with her shoes. When he reached for the towel to dry his feet, Michaela took it from him. She lifted up his foot and slowly dried it, inch by inch, all the time looking into his eyes. She dried the other foot in the same manner and put his moccasins on.

They mounted their horses and slowly headed for home. They were riding very close, their horses were touching. Sully reached over and took Michaela's hand. She smiled at him as he raised it to his lips and gave her a kiss. They continued to hold hands as they went down the valley.

About half way home, the skies opened up with a summer shower. Sully knew they were close to a shallow cave with an overhang and he guided them there. They dismounted and Sully tied the horses under the overhang. He turned to look for Michaela and found her standing in the warm rain, arms outstretched, face turned to the sky. She had worn a lightweight blouse, skirt and camisole. The water plastered these to her body, following every curve. Sully marveled at the awesome sight. He walked out to her.

In no time at all they were both soaked to the skin. A light breeze sprang up, giving them a slight chill and making Michaela's nipples stand taut. Sully enjoyed the sight. When Michaela realized what he was looking at, she automatically tried to pull her blouse away from her body. Sully laughed and took her hands, "Ain't nuthin' I ain't seen before."

"I know," she said, blushing, as he cupped her breasts, covering her nipples, and kissed her.

As the rain stopped and the sun came out, Sully led her into the cave, which was so shallow it almost seemed an extension of the overhang. As they passed the horses, he got the other two towels out of the saddlebags. "We need to get dry. We'll take our clothes off and I'll spread them on the bushes just outside. Shouldn't take too long to get them fairly dry now that the sun is out."

They quickly undressed and Sully spread out the clothes. When he moved back into the cave, Michaela was beginning to dry herself. He took the towel and finished the job, slowly, sensuously. Kissing each area of her body as he got it dry. When she was dry, she took the other towel and began to dry him in the same manner, kissing him as he had her. She urged him, with a slight pressure, to part his thighs. It surprised him when she didn't miss those areas with her kisses. This was the boldest she had ever been. He began to respond to her touch. He pulled her up and they began kissing.

"Sully, we can't, the floor is dirty," she whispered, "the towels aren't big enough."

"Shhh.....we don't need to lay down.....remember the waterfall....let me show you....." He started caressing her body, moving his lips to her nipples and his hand down between her legs. She moaned with the pleasure he was evoking. She felt his lips pull at her and she didn't know if she could wait much longer as her body arched into his. She felt his manhood pushing between her legs. He reached up, under her arms, and slowly raised her up, her arms around his neck. She wound her legs around his waist as she reached down to grasp him and guide him home. Their lips found each other as his powerful thrusts brought them to the pinnacle and with one final thrust, they became sated.


Between their clothes sitting in the sun and the ride home in the wind, their clothes were dry as they rode up to the homestead. Brian and Katie were already home, playing on the porch. They dismounted and Sully took the horses to the corral as Michaela went up to greet the children.

"Did you have a nice day, Ma?" Brian asked, as Sully came onto the porch and picked up Katie.

"Yes, very nice," Michaela replied.

"Brian," Sully said, "we found a nice valley with a small creek that would be a good place for part of a day trip. We waded in the creek and ate our lunch there. You could plan a picnic around it. It's in the foothills, near Daniel's land. Come on, let's go in and look at the map and I'll show you where it is."

"Has it got a name?"

"Not that I've heard of."

"Can we call it Wilderness Valley?"

"Why not....sure..."


"Sully," Michaela said as she lay in their bed, wrapped in his arms, her hand resting over his heart, "thank you for today. I loved playing hooky. I loved everything that happened."

"You're welcome. I loved it too. You surprised me, though, at the cave when we were drying each other."

Michaela immediately blushed, knowing what he was referring to, and turned her face into his chest. "I didn't mean to...."

"Shhhh.....I liked it. Our bodies belong to each other and we shouldn't worry about touching, kissing, any part of them."

"I.....I enjoyed it," she whispered. "I like the feel of you, but then I'm afraid I've done something improper."

"Not for me, you ain't. I like your boldness when you ain't afraid to touch me. I like that you enjoy my body the way I enjoy yours. It's a goodness and there ain't nothing improper about a husband and wife enjoyin' bein' together."

Michaela turned her face and her lips were near his nipple, which she kissed. Then she moved her body closer, expelling the air from any of the small spaces left between them. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything....you should know that."

"Well....it's....well....personnel.....about....."

"Don't matter what it's about. Ask."

"I know what happens to me, my body, when you touch and kiss my.... " gesturing to her breasts and nipples "....I was just wondering if the same thing happens when I touch or kiss...." nodding towards her hand as she covered his nipple.

"Mine?"

"Yes."

He chuckled. "Well, since I ain't you and don't know what you feel, I can only tell ya what I feel. It's an amazin' thing that you can give me so much pleasure through your touching and kissing. I'd never have thought this part of a man's body was that......"

"Sensitive?"

"Yeah. My whole body reacts to your caresses."

Michaela lay there, running her hand through his chest hair, thinking. Sully was caressing her back. "Sully? Remember back to Dorothy's trouble, to her operation?"

"Umm-hmm...."

"After it was over, I was at the old homestead in front of the mirror....touching myself and wondering. You came in and said you'd still love me, even if something like that happened. That was before we were married, before we began our intimacy. Do you still feel that way?"

"More'n ever. Yeah, I love your breasts, your body, but that ain't what makes you, the person that I love. Michaela, if we couldn't never make love again, it would be enough to be with ya. I need to be with ya. Losing a part of your body wouldn't change that. It's your heart and soul that I need, that make me satisfied."

"I love you, Byron Sully. I need you too, your heart and soul."


Brian was sitting in the guide office, going over his plans. They were expecting the senator's friends any day now and he couldn't wait. He had everything ready and he had gone over his plans with Sully. He was thrilled that Sully hadn't made any changes.

"Hey, Brian, what are you doing?"

Brian stood up, thrilled to hear her voice, "Hey, Sarah. Come in and sit down. I'm going over the plans I made for two day trips pa and I are taking some people on."

"Is this like the trip you took to Pike's Peak?" Sarah asked.

"Well, sort of. But they're only day trips. When we went to Pike's Peak, we were gone 10 days. One day we're taking them up to the old reservation and the other day to the Red Rocks," he replied.

"The Red Rocks? They'll like that. I sure did."

Sully walked into the office, "Hi, Sarah, Brian."

"Hello, Mr. Sully." Sarah said.

"Hey, Pa."

"Brian, Colin just sent word that the Nelsons, Senator Selkirk's friends, will be arriving on the train tomorrow. Colin will have the hotel buggy meet them and take them to the hotel. He's asked us all out to dinner there tomorrow night to meet the Nelsons. Have ya got everything ready?"

"You bet, Pa. All I need to know is when they wanna go so I can let Robert E know about the horses and Miss Grace about the picnic."

"Okay, Son."


The Sullys/Coopers and Cooks arrived at the Springs Hotel, where Amanda and Colin greeted them on the front porch. After greetings were exchanged, they went into the restaurant where the Nelsons were waiting. Colin indicated the Nelsons, “Morris, Beryl, and their children, George and Virginia, I’d like you to meet Dr. Michaela Quinn Sully, known as Dr. Mike, Byron Sully, called Sully. Their children, Brian , Katie, Matthew, who is soon to be my son-in-law, and Colleen, who is married to this fine young man, Dr. Andrew Cook, my clinic’s physician.”


The first trip, to the Red Rocks, took place the next day. The Nelsons were awed by the sight. Brian showed them where Sully and he had found the injured hawk. He told them about Michaela tending to the hawk and how his folks set the hawk free to fly again with her mate.

As they were having lunch, "Pa, will you tell them the story about Running Ghost?"

Sully smiled at Brian, "Sure, son." He told them the story of the white buffalo.

"Do you think it could have been a regular buffalo covered in ice particles or snow?" Morris asked Sully.

"Well, that's always possible. But I seen somethin' like it myself. We were having trouble with hunters killing buffalo for sport, to get rid of them for the railroad, but leaving the meat to rot. One of them killed an Indian who tried to stop them..."

"And beat you up too, Pa."

"Yeah, got me too," Sully said, smiling at Brian. "After Dr. Mike fixed me up, I went back to the hunter to tell him to leave. When I turned to ride away, I heard a noise and looked back to see him aiming his rife at me and then something white hit 'im. It was big and looked like the form of a buffalo, but I was a ways away. Michaela found me after that and went down to see if the hunter was really dead. She found him with holes in him looking like he was gored."

"That was a relief to ma cuz she was afraid pa was gonna kill the hunter, huh, Pa?"

"Yep. But I didn't."

"So you do think it was Running Ghost?" Morris asked.

"I'd say it's a good possibility. Anything's possible."


Two days later, Brian and Sully took the Nelsons to have lunch in Wilderness Valley and then up to Palmer Creek to meet Cloud Dancing. They also had the opportunity to meet Dorothy, who was there, writing the trip up for the Gazette. Cloud Dancing had decided to tell some Cheyenne stories. He knew the money would come in handy to buy supplies for his people up north. He told them how the Cheyenne Nation began.

"Is that the same way the other tribes feel?" Beryl asked Cloud Dancing.

"Each of the peoples has it's own legend about the beginning, as do yours. It was the belief of many of my people, among them my chief, Black Kettle, that everyone should respect the beliefs of others. It is only possible for all to survive if the respect is there."

"I agree," said Morris. "It's one of the reasons we came out here, after William Selkirk told us of his trip. Can we meet your chief?"

"It is not possible. Black Kettle and many of my people died at Washita."

"May I ask what happened?" Beryl asked.

Sully took over the story, knowing it was hard for Cloud Dancing to speak of Washita. "Black Kettle and most of the village were camping along the banks of the Washita, waiting for permission to enter the reservation at Fort Cobb. Early one morning, while the braves were away, Custer and his men attacked the camp, killing old men, women and children, including Black Kettle and Snowbird, Cloud Dancing's wife, taking a few women and children prisoner. Michaela, Cloud Dancing and I arrived shortly after."

"My friend, No-Harm, was killed, too," said Brian. "But he saved a baby by covering it with his body. Ma and Pa named him 'Lives In Hope' and he is now with the Northern Cheyenne in Montana."

"How terrible!" Beryl exclaimed. "But Custer is still free. Why wasn't he charged with the murders?"

"The Army has protected him," Sully said. "He claims he was attacked and only retaliated. Of some villages that may be true, but Black Kettle had always asked for peace."

"Maybe some day he will be brought to justice for his crimes," Morris said. "I am a lawyer for a group that wants to conserve nature and the native people, Cloud Dancing, and with your permission I will take these stories back east and try to use them to get laws of protection. We are a small group and as of yet in the minority, but I believe one day, hopefully soon, we will prevail."

"I thank you. I would be pleased to have the legends of my people told to the white man in the east. Dorothy put many down in a book, but she had to burn the book when Sully and I were wanted by the Army."

"But I have been trying to re-write the book," Dorothy said, smiling at Cloud Dancing. "I'm close to finishing it."

"When you finish it, please let me know. I will use all my contacts to help you get it published."

Dorothy smiled, "Thank you, Morris. I will certainly do that."


Colin and Amanda came to the homestead to join the family for dinner.

"Brian, when I said goodbye to the Nelsons today, they raved about the trips you took them on," Colin said. "Thank you for showing my guests such a wonderful time."

Brian smiled and looked at Sully. "It was fun. I like being a guide and telling people about this stuff. And I'm keeping a journal of everything we do and maybe I can send some articles to the Denver paper so more people would know."

"Well, son, I'd say our business is on the way. I'm really proud of you and the way to handle all of the plans and the trips."

"Thanks, Pa," Brian exclaimed, beaming.


The guests were gone, the children in bed and Michaela and Sully were sitting by the fire having tea.

"You sure made Brian's day at dinner tonight."

"He really did well. After the Nelsons paid us, together we figured out what we owed to Grace and Robert E. Then we talked about what to do with what we had left. I was waiting for Brian to ask for some for himself, but he didn't. He thought we should put some of the money into the family living expenses, buy some supplies, like blankets and such for overnight trips and that we should put the rest away for future trips. He also wants to pay Dorothy to print up some papers about the business that we can put at the train station, at the Gold Nugget and at the Springs Chateau. I told him to write something up and we'd see."

"It's nice to have Brian involved in making money for the family. It's good for his pride."

"Yeah and I feel like that if a trip comes up while I'm surveying, he can handle it. I would like to take some of the money and put it aside for Brian's education."

Michaela smiled, "Thank you, Sully, for being a wonderful husband and father."

"My pleasure." He reached out and took her hand. They sat there, enjoying this quiet time and being together in the security of their home, near the wilderness they loved.


I am the Spirit in which I came.
Being Human, The Lesson in itself.
My Love Within is the bottom line
and has withstood the tides of time

I'm here to give and receive
of the joys and the trying.
The breaths of Nature to absorb,
inner pains and angers to release

Being the Warrior that I am
I will leave this place alive.
Alive with Love in which I came
grateful of the lessons all the same

---- Chan Heawak


The End

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