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

YELLOWSTONE
by S. L. Snyder

Timeline: August 1873
Author's note: I don't know if the Denver-Rio Grande had a spur up to Bozeman, Montana, and I don't know the time to travel by horseback from Bozeman to Yellowstone – for the purposes of my story, I have taken author's license with these subjects!


Sully was at the livery, talking with Robert E when Horace walked up.

"Sully," said Horace, "been looking for you. Got a telegram from Mr. Smith. Do you need to answer?"

"Thanks, Horace." Sully took the telegram and quickly read it. "No answer right now. Thanks, Horace. See ya later, Robert E."

Sully headed for the clinic to see if Michaela was busy. She was with a patient and there were two more waiting on the bench. He realized she would be busy for awhile, so he decided he could talk to her at home. He stepped off the clinic step and as he started toward Grace's, he heard his daughter giggle. He looked toward the sound and found her standing on the porch of the Gazette looking at something on the ground. He could tell Dorothy was right inside the door as he could see her skirts. He stepped up on the porch.

"Hey, Kates, what'cha doing?"

"See, Papa, see hopper!" He glanced at the ground and saw a grasshopper at her feet. As she bent down to touch it, the grasshopper jumped away. "Where go, Papa?"

"Don't know, Kates. He just hopped away. Hey, Dorothy."

"Hello, Sully. Miss Katherine and I have been watching some grasshoppers. Loren was here and started to step on one, but Katie yelled at him to stop. He hadn't seen the grasshopper and she startled him by yelling. But it worked, he didn't step on it.

"Poor Loren," Sully said, smiling. "Hey, Katie, I'm gonna go have some pie. Wanna come?"

"Yep!"

"Dorothy?"

"No, thank you. I've got some type setting I need to get done."


"Katie, finish your dinner, please," Michaela said. "We've all finished. You need to stop playing with your dinner. You can't help Brian with the horses if you don't finish right away."

"Me hurry, mama! Bran wait?"

"If you stop playing and finish, he will wait."

Katie settled down and finished her dinner while Brian helped Michaela clean the table. "Finished, Ma! Papa! Me finished."

Sully had been by the fire, sharpening his knife, when Katie finished. He got up and came over to the table. "Good job, Katie. Ya can get down now, but ya need to carry your plate out to your ma. Okay?"

"Kay!" Sully helped her down and handed her the plate. She carefully took it to Michaela. "Mama! Here!"

"Why thank you, Katie. You may go with Brian now."

Katie rushed over to Brian and took his hand. They headed for the barn to feed the horses.

Michaela finished in the kitchen and joined Sully in the living room. Standing by the fireplace, they shared a kiss.

"Did ya have a good day?"

"It was a busy day. I had quite a few patients and for a time they were lining up outside. No major problems, just sprains and splinters and small cuts."

"I know. I came by not long after lunch and saw people waitin'."

"Did you need something?"

"Just to talk to ya. When I saw you were busy, I went to Grace's for some pie."

"Alone?"

"No. I had this little girl with me. I had to take her away from 'hopper' hunting."

Michaela laughed. "Dorothy told me about the grasshoppers and about Katie startling Loren. Katie sure is interested in nature. Guess she takes after her pa."

"She ain't far away from her ma, either. She notices everything. In fact, near the cafe some dogs were mating. She wanted to know what they were doing and could she go over to them."

"What did you say?"

"I told her that they didn't wanna be bothered cuz they was trying to make puppies. I didn't know what else to say and sure don't wanna lie to her, even at this age. It musta satisfied her. She didn't ask anythin' else. But I reckon we better be ready, cuz she'll ask again. And she might not wait til she's as old as the other kids were!"

"We have our hands full, Sully."

"Yep." Sully replied, smiling at Michaela. He gave her a kiss, which she enthusiastically returned. They continued kissing and wrapped their arms around each other. Then they heard giggling. They turned to see Katie standing there, watching them and giggling.

Brian came in the door just then, seeing Katie, but didn't notice his folks right away. "What'ya laughing about, Katie?"

"See ma and pa! They's..." and Katie made a kissing noise.

Brian glanced over and smiled. "It's called kissing, Katie," Brian said. "Can you say kissing?"

"Nope."

Sully and Michaela laughed. "Hey, Katiedid, ya want me to read ya a story before ya go to bed?"

"Yep. Now, Pa?"

"Now. Let's go."

"Sully? You didn't tell me what you wanted in town earlier."

"I tell ya later, after Katie's asleep." Sully gave Michaela a kiss and took Katie upstairs.

"I'm gonna go read, Ma. Do you need anything before I go up?"

"No thank you, Brian."

Brian kissed Michaela on the cheek and went up to his room. Michaela blew out the lamps, made sure the doors were locked and went upstairs. She stopped outside Katie's room and listened to the rich, deep voice of her husband, reading to her daughter. She smiled....life was good right now. She went to get ready for bed and was in bed reading her medical journal by the time Sully came in.

"Is she asleep?"

"Yeah. She stayed awake awhile. Fought goin' ta sleep. Her eyes'd droop, then she open 'em wide. Finally, sleep got the best of her. We got about half way through the story."

Michaela smiled. Sully took his clothes off and got into bed with her. She put her journal down and turned the lamp down. Sully pulled her to his chest and kissed her forehead.

"Are you going to tell me now what you wanted earlier?"

"Got a telegram from Welland...."

Michaela pushed herself up from his chest, "You're going away?"

"Don't jump to conclusions, Michaela. Come on, lay back down," he said, pulling her back down. "I want ya to promise to hear me out before ya say anything. Okay?....Michaela?"

"Okay," she said, hesitantly.

"Welland would like me to go to the Yellowstone for a week or so. He needs some surveying done. Wants me to teach the caretaker there how to survey. And he wants some opinions on the wildlife there. He said he knew you and me didn't like it when we were apart any length of time. So he suggested you go with me. It'd be a nice vacation for the two of us. I ain't answered yet. I'll go, but only if you go with me. What'd ya think?"

Michaela put her lips against his chest. He knew she was thinking. After a little while, she asked, "What about Katie and Brian?"

"Matthew and Brian can stay here. I'm sure Colleen and Andrew would take care of Katie. And all our friends in town will watch out for her, and the rest of our family."

"How long would we be gone?"

Sully took hope in this question. "Ain't sure. I'd guess not more'n a coupl'a weeks. We'd take the train up to Bozeman and ride horses down into the Yellowstone. I think the trip there would take four days. How long we'd stay would depend on what we got done. You been around me when I been surveying and could help me with that and with checking on wildlife. We could do this together....and I promise we can spend some time just enjoyin' being together. Then the same amount of time to come home."

While he had been talking, Michaela had been running her fingers up and down his side. Now she moved her hand to caress his chest. Sully was almost holding his breath, waiting for her to talk. "What's the weather like?"

"Like here....mebbe a little colder."

"Who else would be there?"

"Clive Buckman, the caretaker. His wife.....she's a Sioux Indian. Welland would meet us in Bozeman and ride down with us. Welland would only be there one day."

Michaela raised up a little to look into his eyes. "You really want to go, don't you?"

"Not without you."

She smiled and kissed him. "I love you, Byron Sully, and I would love to go to the Yellowstone with you."

"Yeah?" He asked, looking at her with a big grin.

"Yeah!"

Sully pulled her down to him for a big thank you kiss. "I love ya, Michaela. Go or stay, I love ya. But thank ya for agreeing to go."

Michaela started nibbling on his chin. "Maybe it's to thank you for not moving there....for staying here in Colorado Springs. Or maybe I just want to be alone with my husband for a little while......we can be alone, can't we? We won't be spending all our time with Welland and the caretakers, will we?"

"I'll make sure we have some time alone.....don't worry about that." He wrapped his arms around her and rolled over to put himself on top of her. He kissed her nose, her lips, her chin. "I even promise to try and find a waterfall."

"Sully!" she exclaimed, laughing. He grinned. She reached up and softly bit his nose.

"Ow!" he said, laughing. Just for that....."


The next day, Sully and Michaela had lunch with the family and told them of their plans. Colleen and Andrew gladly agreed to take care of Katie and the clinic. Brian and Matthew had no problem staying at the homestead. Sully sent a telegram to Welland advising him they would be in Bozeman in one week, arriving on Monday at the latest. They decided to leave Colorado Springs in two days, on Thursday evening, taking the last train to Denver. The train to Bozeman left Denver mid-morning on Friday.

The family had an early dinner together, at Grace's, on Thursday. After dinner, they went to the station to see Sully and Michaela off.

"We'll miss you very much," Michaela said.

"We'll miss you too, Dr. Mike," said Matthew. "But we'll all take care of each other, so don't worry about us. We want you to have a real good time together and enjoy the Yellowstone."

After the goodbye kisses and hugs, Michaela and Sully boarded the train and waved goodbye as the train left the station. They arrived in Denver late that evening and stayed in a room at the small hotel next to the train station. The next morning they boarded the train for Bozeman. They enjoyed the scenery as they went north. There were no sleeping compartments on this train and they had to sit up. They were able to stand and stretch as the train was moving, and they got out for short walks when the train stopped to take on coal, water or new passengers. Michaela had packed enough food for their meals and they took naps in each other's arms.

They arrived in Bozeman early Sunday evening and found the hotel Welland had told them about. As they were checking in, Welland found them. "Dr. Mike, Sully! Welcome to Bozeman."

"Hello, Welland," Michaela said as Sully shook his hand.

"I'm glad to decided to come, Dr. Mike. You'll like the Yellowstone. I'm happy you'll finally see this wilderness, Sully. Clive is anxious to learn how to survey the park. Do you think you'll be up to joining me for dinner in about an hour?"

Sully glanced at Michaela and when she nodded, he told Welland, "We'd like that."

The bellboy took Michaela and Sully to their room. They washed up, changed and rested until time to meet Welland. They enjoyed a quiet dinner as Welland told them about the trip down to the Yellowstone. As they parted for the evening, Welland asked, "I'd like to leave here about seven in the morning....is that alright with you?"

"Sure. We'll see ya then," Sully replied.

Michaela and Sully were in bed and asleep within minutes of returning to their room. They woke early the next morning and met Welland in the lobby. They were on the trail by seven. With brief stops for lunch and to rest the horses, they rode all day. While they enjoyed the scenery, they were anxious to get to their destination. They finally made camp at seven in the evening.

"We're near the park and should reach the boundaries before noon tomorrow," Welland told them. "We should reach the cabins by mid afternoon. There's five cabins there. Clive and his wife have one and the others are for visitors. The cabins are about three miles from some hot springs. There are some men waiting there for me. They want to show me some mountains south of the Yellowstone. They're hoping we can present a bill to congress to protect the area. I'll be leaving with them on Wednesday morning. Clive has a list of what needs to be done, but there will be some time the two of you can wander around the area by yourselves."

"That sounds good ta us. I promised Michaela there would be some time for just us. With all that's gone on in the last few years, finding time alone gets harder."

Welland grinned, "I imagine that young daughter of yours is a handful. What is she, about two now?"

"She was two in May, and yes she is a handful," Michaela said. "Thank goodness for the other children. Brian is very helpful, even though he's 14 now and has a sweetheart."

"Your children have always impressed me. You must be very proud of them."

"Yeah, we are," Sully said, smiling at Michaela.


They broke camp at seven on Tuesday morning. True to Welland's word, they reached a valley, northern boundary of the Yellowstone, by noon. The trail at the border was marked by a sign advising they were entering the Yellowstone, an area designated by Congress as a national park and protected area. The sign said no hunting. Another sign had a crude drawing to show there was no hunting, erected for those who could not read. The travelers stopped there and had lunch.

A few hours later they passed the hot springs and then arrived at the cabins, located near a small river. The caretaker, his wife and the men waiting for Welland came over to greet them.

"How ya be, Welland?" asked Clive. "Have a good trip?"

"I've been fine and the trip was good. I'd like you to meet Byron Sully and his wife, Dr. Michaela Quinn. Dr. Mike, Sully, this is Clive Buckman, his wife, Little Feather, John Calhoun and Roger Keegan."

Little Feather came over to Michaela, "Please sit, Dr. Quinn. You would like tea?"

"Thank you. I would love some tea, Little Feather. And please, call me Dr. Mike. I'd be please if all of you would."

Little Feather gestured for the rest to sit down as she brought out tea and coffee.


After a little rest and conversation, Welland sat down with Roger and John to go over their travel plans for the next day. Little Feather took Michaela on a tour of the cabins and showed her which one she and Sully would stay in.

Sully and Clive unloaded the pack horses and Sully showed Clive the surveying equipment Welland had brought. Sully went over the basic surveying methods with Clive. Clive showed Sully a crude map he had made of the area, explaining the surveying would help him improve the map and make sure the boundaries of the Yellowstone were well marked. "I made another copy of this map for you. I marked the areas where most of the buffalo are, where you can find the elk, and some other points I thought you might like to check out. Welland said you and your wife might like to check some of the areas out yourselves."

"Yeah, we would. In a day or so. Thanks for the map."

Later that afternoon, Clive took Michaela and Sully on a tour of the area. They used Clive's extra horses so that the ones they rode from Bozeman could rest. They stopped a few times so Clive could do some surveying under Sully's tutelage. He showed them another small river and a wall of black rock (in later years to be identified as obsidian, a 'glass' formed by volcanic activity). He told them about the hot springs they had passed and mentioned it was nice to go soaking in the springs at the end of a long day.

They had an early dinner so that Michaela, Sully and Welland could get some rest after their two day trip. Although the days were nice and warm, the nights got very cold. There were a number of blankets on the beds. Michaela was already in bed when she heard Sully say goodnight to Welland and come in the cabin.

"Hurry, Sully, it's cold, even with the fire. Come to bed."

"That sounds good, 'cept I know you're being selfish. You just want me to warm ya."

Michaela giggled, "Oh, how you see through me, sir! Just hurry!!"

Sully undressed quickly and crawled into bed with Michaela. He put his arms around her and pulled her onto his chest. "Is this better, love?"

"It's getting there. I've enjoyed this trip so far. I like these people. Little Feather told me she and Clive have been married four years. They love being here. It was hard for them to live with her people, and we know our people aren't very accepting. When Welland asked them to move here, they say yes immediately."

"Welland has told me how Clive cares for this place. He believes in protecting the land as we do. Buffalo hunters came a few times, but Clive captured some and turned them over to federal marshals. The men went to jail for a long time for hunting on land protected by the government and that has scared the others off."

Michaela kissed Sully on the chin. "I shall sleep good tonight. I'm so tired."

"Are ya too tired?"

"For what?"

"A little loving," he said, caressing her arm. Then he kissed her forehead.

"I'm never too tired for that," she whispered, running her hand over his chest, seeking out his nipple and caressing him.

He started undoing the buttons on her nightgown, reaching through the opening to cup her breast. His lips sought hers and they shared a lingering, passionate kiss. His hand returned to her buttons, which reached the entire length of her nightgown. When he had them all undone, he pushed the sides of the nightgown away and bared her body, which glistened in the firelight. She reached down and began to caress his manhood, feeling him shudder and respond to her touch, and harden in her hand. He moaned with pleasure.

He started to move on top of her. "No," she whispered, "let me." He rolled to lay flat on his back. She sat up and rid herself of the nightgown. She reached down to grasp him again, administering tender caresses. He urged her on with his whisperings of love and pleasure. She moved to be on top of him, her hand still encircling his manhood. Slowly, very slowly, prolonging the pleasure for both of them, she guided him inside. His hands were on her hips as they started moving together. He reached up to cup and caress her breasts, lingering on her nipples. Michaela arched her back as the rivers of electricity started coursing through her. Sully brought himself up to a sitting position and encircling her breast with his mouth, while wrapping his arms around her. He lost himself in sucking and caressing her nipple with his tongue. Then he moved to the other breast and repeated his actions. She was emitting small groans and moans as the pleasure became intense, between his mouth on her breast and his thrusts inside of her, she was quickly being overpowered. She dug her fingers into his back and shuddered as she reached the peak. He too was there with one final, powerful thrust.

Slowly, Sully lay down, pulling Michaela down with him. She put her lips against his throat and kissed him, then moved to kiss each nipple. She felt him soften and they became disengaged. They rolled over on their sides, arms wrapped around each other.

"I guess ya weren't too tired, huh?" he whispered in her ear. In response, she bit his ear and pinched his backside. He laughed, "Goodnight, my love."


Michaela awoke to the cool, crisp air of the cabin. The blankets were wrapped tight around her. She saw Sully crouched, stoking the fire. "Sully?"
"Stay in bed. It's too cold yet. Let the fire warm the air first."

"Are you coming back to bed then?"

"Yep....as soon as the fire's going good."

When the fire was raging, he stood up and came toward the bed. Michaela watched him, enjoying her husband's naked body. The way the muscles rippled when he moved. A smiled was splayed across her lips and her eyes were twinkling.

"What?" Sully said as he pulled the blankets away from her and cuddled down next to her, wrapping them up in a cocoon.

"I was just thinking how far I've come....to be able to watch and enjoy the sight of a naked man. And to let a man see me naked. I mean, I've seen naked men before, but only as a doctor. I've always thought of their parts in a purely clinical way. But I look at you, the different parts of you, and I am so aware of how much pleasure your body gives mine. I want every woman to know this and I feel sorry for those who don't. You have awakened in me something I never knew existed. From the way some of the women in the quilting circle talk, those that enjoyed their husbands at first, don’t now. I keep expecting to lose some of my desire for you. But after three years, it's still just as strong as on our wedding night....if not stronger. I don't ever want to stop wanting you!"

"And I don't ever want ya to stop. And I won't stop wantin' you. Whenever I ain't with ya at night, I think of ya, dream of ya, laying next to me. There's times when my body thinks ya are with me."

"What do you do?"

"Find a cold creek!"


Sully and Michaela joined the others for breakfast, then said goodbye to Welland, John and Roger. They watched them head off to the south.

"Sully, Dr. Mike, there's a valley a coupl'a hours ride from here that have most of the buffalo. Little Feather has made us some lunch and I'd like to take ya there. Welland wants the valley they're in surveyed and I don't think I can do it alone."

"Sounds good, Clive. Michaela ain't seen many buffalo since she come to Colorado Springs. This'll give her some idea of what it was like to have 'em running all over. How many ya think ya got?"

"With the calves this spring, mebbe 300."

Michaela, Sully and Clive headed out. "I like to call this place Buffalo Valley," said Clive. "It's on the banks of a big river that we call The Yellowstone. Up at the northern end of the valley, there's a big waterfall."

Sully glanced at Michaela and smiled at the mention of a waterfall. "How big is the waterfall?" he asked.

"Don't rightly know. 'Bout five times taller then that there tree," said Clive, pointing at a tree that was more than 30 feet high.

Taking their time and enjoying the scenery, it took almost three hours to reach the banks of the river. Clive didn't need to point out the waterfall, they could hear it. At the end of the valley they saw a spectacular waterfall. Across the river they saw the buffalo herd.

"There's a log bridge we can use to cross the river, but the horses have to stay here. The way the wind's blowin', we can get pretty close to the herd if ya want," Clive told them.

Sully glanced at Michaela and the look on her face told him he didn't need to ask. "Yeah, we'd like to get close."

They dismounted and Clive led them to the log bridge. "Michaela, remember, just concentrate on the log. Don't look to either side. I'll be right behind ya."

Michaela nodded at Sully. Clive started across the log first. Then Michaela started. She sensed that Sully was very close behind. She looked only at the log and proceeded slowly. She didn't think of anything else....just watching her step. Then she saw the grass of the other side, glanced up and saw Clive holding out his hand to her. She took it and stepped off the log, with Sully right behind.

"Ya did that fine, Dr. Mike," said Clive. "Ever been on a log bridge before?"

"Yes, but not one that crossed a raging river. Just some small creeks and gullies back home."

Sully was behind her and he put his arms around her shoulders. He kissed her cheek, "Good job."

Michaela smiled at her husband.

The wind was blowing toward them and they were able to get within fifty feet of the herd by inching along on their stomachs. They laid close to together and Clive whispered, "That calf right there, the one with the white mark under his eye, he's one o' the newer uns. He's maybe 3 weeks old. I'd say we only lost one or two calves to the wolves this year. This valley is pretty protected by the river and more open space than the wolves like. Losing more elk to the wolves....elk's in a valley further down with a lot of cover."

They stayed put for awhile, watching the buffalo graze. When Clive signaled them, they inched slowly back. They traversed back across the bridge and settled down for lunch. After lunch, Sully and Clive got ready to do some surveying. She sat on the ground and watched them to their surveying. Sully was so good at teaching. She had brought a book along and alternated between reading and watching everything. Sully and Clive had ridden south down the valley and were gone about an hour. They came back to where Michaela was.

"We got 'bout half an hour left, Michaela, before we'll be ready to head back," Sully told her.

"May I ride up to the waterfall?" Michaela asked.

"Sure," said Clive. "It's a pretty safe valley and time 'o day."

Michaela rode up the valley. When she got close enough to feel the fine mist of the spray, she tethered her horse and went to sit on one of the numerous large rocks along the bank of the river.


"Ya got a nice lady there, Sully. Welland says she's a good doc."

"Yep on both. She's a good ma, too."

"How many kids ya got?"

"Three adopted and one baby."

"How old are they?"

"Our baby girl, Katie, is two years old. Brian is 14. Colleen is 19, a college graduate and recently married to the town's other doctor. Matthew is 22, studying to be a lawyer and will probably get married soon."

"Sounds like a nice family. Me 'n Little Feather would like to have kids. Just ain't happened yet."

"Good luck. It's nice having the kids. But it's been nice getting away from them for a little while. Having time for just the two of us."

"Welland thought you two might wanna get away for a little while. Been needing to check another valley where the elk usually are. Ya could go down there tomorrow, just the two of ya. Mebbe stay overnight. I got a tent and the weather's been good."

"Thanks, Clive. That's sounds like a good idea."

"I can finished packing the stuff. Why don't you go down and get yer lady?"

"Thanks."


Michaela had lost herself in the sound and beauty of the waterfall. All of a sudden, she sensed she was not alone. She glanced around and saw Sully tethering his horse with hers. She watched as he climbed the rock up to her and sat down. They shared a kiss.

"Wanna take a bath here?" Sully said with a big grin.

"No! Have you felt the water?"

"Yeah....it's brisk."

"I'll say it is! Ice water!"

He laughed, put his arms around her and hugged her. They sat for a few minutes, then headed back to meet Clive.


It only took them a couple of hours to return to camp. They reached the cabins around dinnertime. Little Feather had dinner waiting. Afterwards, they sat around the outside fire, enjoying the company.

"Welland say you have Indian friends," Little Feather said to Sully.

"Yeah. I lived a while with the Cheyenne....with Black Kettle's people."

"Washita," Clive said. "We heard about it."

Sully nodded. "My blood brother is Cloud Dancing, a medicine man. He has taught Michaela many of the Indian medicines. He lives near Colorado Springs."

"I thought the government was making Indians live on reservations or up in the northern lands," Clive said.

"Mostly. But our town passed a law sayin' Cloud Dancing can live there and do trade tween us and the Northern Cheyenne. A friend bought the old Palmer Creek Reservation land and he shares it with Cloud Dancing."

"You have good town," said Little Feather.

"Yes, most of the people are good," said Michaela. "But we have our share of problems. Our townspeople have accepted Cloud Dancing, for the most part, because his tribe helped the town through some bad times. For instance, a few years ago we had a drought and the Indians shared their food with us at Thanksgiving."

"There was also the time you got sick," Sully said. "It was right after Michaela came to Colorado Springs. The town got an influenza epidemic. Michaela used her medicine to treat everyone, but when she came down with it, the medicine was gone. Cloud Dancing treated her, using the Willow Bark tea."

"Yes, he did. I was hesitant in the beginning to use medicines I did not know, but that incident changed my opinion. I use them a lot now. Of course, Cloud Dancing wouldn't have been able to help me if a certain man didn't get involved. Sully took me into the woods to Cloud Dancing, against the judgement of the townspeople," she smiled, "he saved my life."


Friday morning, Sully and Michaela headed for the valley where the elk were. Clive circled the valley on the map. He told them there was a raised place at the north end of the valley where they could set their tent up. They had a pack mule with the tent, blankets and some food. The valley was south of the cabins and it took them four hours to get there. They stopped a lot because of the spectacular scenery. Sully found the path just where Clive had indicated. The horses had to be left at the bottom as the path was steep, small and very rocky. Clive had stayed there before and he had built a corral, using a natural cave for three sides. It was a protected area for the animals.

Sully and Michaela carried their supplies to the top, with Sully making two trips. When they reached the top of the path, they found a rocky out-crop, surrounded on three sides by trees and a spring seeping from the rocks, forming a small pool of drinking water. He set up the tent. "Come on, let's go for a walk in the valley." He took her hand and they returned to the valley floor. They wandered around, spotting small creeks, an elk herd in the distance and numerous fauna. They spent most of the afternoon enjoying the sights. They returned to the camp in the late afternoon. Michaela was yawning when they reached the tent.

"Ya tired?"

"A little....it's all the fresh air and exercise."

"What don't ya take a nap? I gotta go get us somethin' for dinner."

"You aren't tired?"

"Nah....I'm use to it. I don't spend all day in a clinic." He put his arms around her and they kissed. "Come on." He led her to the tent and held up the flap for her to go inside. She sat down on the blankets they had spread on the ground, but before she could take her boots off, he knelt down and took them off for her, massaging her feet as he did. He helped her take off her clothes and put a blanket over her. "Sleep, love. I ain't gonna be far. Just looking for a rabbit or two." He leaned over and gave her a tender kiss.


Sully climbed back up to the camp and tent where he had left a sleeping Michaela. He put the rabbits, and the bow and arrows, down by the tent, then pulled back the flaps. Michaela was still asleep, lying there in only her camisole, having kicked the blanket off. He stood for a moment, gazing at his beautiful wife. He would never tire of her face and form. He was glad that the camisole was all she needed, in the summer, as a cover under her clothes. In the winter, she added the pantaloons that covered her legs from his sight. He smiled to himself as he thought of her form and how whether thin or big with pregnancy, he enjoyed the sight of her. Then he wondered what made him think of her pregnant. They often talked about another baby, but so far nothing had happened. He could close his eyes and remember how beautiful her naked body looked when she was pregnant....her enlarged breasts and belly attracted him as much as her slender form did.

He wanted her here and now. He was beginning to react to the desire for her. Sully took his clothes off and lay down next to Michaela. He untied the ribbons on the front of her camisole, then slowly pulled the camisole aside to expose her breasts. He ran his fingers lightly across her nipples, watching as they responded to his touch. She squirmed a little as he continued to caress her. He undid the rest of the camisole so he could move his hand down between her legs and continue the caresses. He watched as she responded to the caress, her teeth caught her lip, then the tip of her tongue poked through and ran over her lips. Seconds later, Michaela's eyes flew open to look into the sharp blue eyes and smiling face of her lover.

She shuddered as his hand touched a particularly sensitive spot. He leaned down to kiss her lips tenderly, which she responded to with more force. She felt his erect manhood push against the side of her leg. She reached behind his back to clutch the cheek of his backside. He moved from her lips to her breast and ran his tongue over her nipples. She didn't think she could wait much longer for him to enter her. As if reading her thoughts, he moved on top of her and entered the body of his beloved. Sully watched the emotions splayed across her face each time he thrust, a sight he would never tire of. Again her teeth were catching her lips as the waves of pleasure enveloped her. Michaela opened her eyes to see him watching her, a wondrous smile on his face. She smiled back and their eyes remained locked as they reached the end, and shuddered in unison at the release.


As they were eating dinner, they heard the howling of wolves.

"Are they close?"

"No....other end of the valley I 'spect. We're safe. In summer they find enough food. I'd only worry if it was winter. The horses'll be okay."

"I had a wonderful day today. Thank you."

"Welcome. And thank you. I enjoyed returning to my sleeping wife."

Michaela smiled, remembering.


Michaela woke up and stretched in the early morning light, finding Sully's spot empty. She looked around the tent and didn't see her husband. His place was warm, so she knew he had just left. Getting up, she wrapped a blanket around her, went to the opening and looked out. Sully was standing outside, nude, looking out over the little valley. She smiled, remembering a similar scene, but he wasn’t nude then. They hadn’t been married then and he had rescued her from One Eye and the Dog Soldiers.

"Sully?"

Sully turned around, smiling. "Good morning, love. Did ya sleep well?"

"Yes, but I woke up missing you."

He opened his arms and she quickly went to him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her good morning. She opened her blanket and enclosed him in it with her.

"When I saw you standing out here, I thought of another time….when you saved me from the Dog Soldiers.”

“’Cept I had pants on then.”

Michaela laughed, “That’s the first thing I thought of too!”

They kissed again.

“Sully, I can't begin to tell you how wonderful this trip has been," Michaela said. "I love our children very much and wouldn't give them up for anything, but sometimes I think it would have been nice if it had been just the two of us at the beginning of our life together. The feeling of being out alone with you, in the wilderness, is an awesome feeling. We could have spent a lot of time travelling and staying at out of the way places like this."

"I know what ya mean. But if we had met sooner, maybe wouldn'a fallen in love or been at the place we needed to be to know we were for each other."

Michaela smiled and pulled him tight to her. "Cloud Dancing and you have taught me enough to tell you I think no matter where or when we met, we would have ended up together. From the first time I saw you, with Black Kettle, in the meadow, my heart and soul belonged to you. It just took me awhile to see it."

"You're right, of course. I belonged to you also. I think Black Kettle knew it right away....he normally wouldn'a asked about a clumsy white woman. Now as I look back on it, mebbe that was his way of telling me, of drawing my attention to you. While he always wanted peace with the white man, he had never asked about a specific person before. He seemed to accept you faster than he accepted me. He matched Cloud Dancing on his visions of the future."

"That means a lot to me, Sully. There are times when I think of him, and Snowbird, and the others and my heart aches. I do miss them."

"I miss 'em too, my love," he whispered in her ear and held her a little tighter.

They stood there, arms around each other, enjoying the morning, the solitude and each other.

"Michaela, I told Clive we'd be gone til tomorrow. That we'd probably spend two nights up here. No one will come looking for us. Let's stay here in the camp this mornin'. We can look at the valley and watch for wild life, we can talk and make love.....and we don't even have to get dressed til this afternoon when we gotta do some surveyin'."

"You mean no clothes? Stay naked?" asked Michaela, blushing.

"Why not? No one to see us. You can wear yer camisole, wrap up in a blanket or mebbe one of the big towels we brought...."

Still blushing, Michaela looked into his eyes. Then, with a school girl's mischievous grin, "Okay....I'll do it! I won't put clothes on!"

"That's my girl!" He gave her a long, hard kiss. "Now, how 'bout breakfast?"

After breakfast, they did the little cleaning up that was necessary. Michaela kept a towel wrapped around her, but Sully had no covering. Michaela couldn't believe she was actually doing this, but she enjoyed watching Sully as he did their chores.

"Michaela, are ya day-dreamin'? Just standing there, starin'?"

She blushed and laughed, "No, I'm watching you."

He smiled, "But I can't return the favor....it's warm enough....."

She stood there a moment, gazing into his eyes. Then she dropped her towel. His eyes twinkled and his smile grew. “I sure do like the scenery,” he said as he walked over and put his arms around her. He claimed her lips and they enjoyed the moment.

Sully took a blanket and spread it on the little knoll overlooking the valley. With a sensual smile and look, he reached out, inviting her to join him. She took his hand and came to him. No word was spoken as they sat down, he put his arm around her and they gazed out at the valley. They watched a pair of hawks swooping low over the valley, looking for prey. They went up and down on the air currents. Finally, one of them dove straight for the ground, changing the angle of the dive just as it looked like it would crash into the earth. The hawk rose with a creature in it’s talons.

“What a thrill,” Michaela said, “to see that! Such grace and precision.”

“How can anyone see that and wanna destroy the wilderness?”

“Because they can’t see the beauty in it, Sully. They only see the land they want, the things they can grow for profit, or the game they can kill.”

“Don’t they see if we don’t preserve some of this, many years from now, people could die cuz there ain’t enough land or air or water?”

“Many don’t, my love. They only see what’s right now. They can’t think about the future for their children, grandchildren…. It’s like with the Indians. If people would only meet and talk with those such as Cloud Dancing, they’d learn to appreciate what the Indians can give to us. But they are afraid of what they don’t understand. Their prejudices have given them blinders when it comes to seeing new things.”

“Yeah….you’re right. When I first came here to work in the mines, all I could see was the money I could make. But my time with the Cheyenne taught me so much. If others could see….”

“Dearest, you ended up with the Cheyenne when you couldn’t sink any deeper in despair. They were there to pull you up and help you to appreciate living again. You were receptive to their teachings. If you had met them when you were mining, maybe you wouldn’t have been as receptive.”

“Mebbe. But you saw and learned.”

“Only because I had you to teach me. And now that you’re working with the government, you can do much to save our lands. You have a hope for the future.”

“I have a hope for the future cuz of you. If ya hadn’t come to me, I would’a felt the same bout the land, but wouldn’a done anything about it. I wanna make the future better for you, for our children. Sometimes I think those men in Washington ain’t listening, but then I come here, to this park and realize there are some back there who care. I guess all we can do is keep trying…to save the land, the animals, the Indians.”

“And we will keep trying, Sully. And our children will….. We have to keep the faith.”

“Yep….keep the faith. I can, as long as I can look up and see you, see our children. You are my faith, Michaela. Before, when ya got shot, when I was afraid I’d lose you, the future looked dark. I knew I’d go on for the children, but the light would be gone. I need ya.”

“I need you, too. I never expected to need a man the way I need you. When bad things happen, when I lose a patient, when the children get sick or hurt, I feel you helping me. You support me. Even when I knew we loved each other and would be married, I never expected to be so much a part of you.” Michaela laughed. “Even when we argue, when I get angry with you, if I thought I’d never see you again, or talk to you or feel your arms around me, I would lose so much of myself. “

Sully smiled and took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips for a kiss. You are a part of me, too, Michaela. I think the first time I knew how strong our connection was, was when the Dog Soldiers took ya. My heart was in pain, thinking I might lose ya. I can’t ever put in words how I felt as we sat on that cliff, waiting for night to come, and you asked me to hold ya. After I killed that man during the war, I never wanted to kill anyone again….never felt the need to, until they took you. I knew then that if they hurt you, killed you, I wouldn’t rest til they was all dead…..and when One Eye went off the cliff, well….it didn’t bother me.”

“You mean if they had raped me, you would have killed them?”

“Yep.”

“But….”

“No, Michaela. I would have. I know.”

Michaela reached up to caress his face. “You are a very special person, Byron Sully.”

“Only because your love makes me special. You’re the special one.”

Michaela smiled. “I think we both feel the same way. I know your love is what makes me special. I feel wrapped up in you.”

“Me and you, Michaela, together we can do just about anything.”

He kissed her on the cheek. She returned the kiss, but on the lips. And the passion grew. Sully pulled Michaela back and soon they were no longer just sitting on the blanket, all the while their lips were joined. His hand slipped up to caress her breast, teasing her nipple. Her hands were on his neck, then slowly she ran them lightly down his back. She knew her touch was affecting him. He moved down to suckle on her breast as she dug her fingers into his back. Then she reached between their bodies to grasp and caress him. His moans of pleasure spurred her on.

He moved his hand down her body, caressing every inch, until he reached his goal, causing her to moan with pleasure. The caressing continued, each enjoying the pleasure they were giving to the other. Then they joined together, each movement sending sensations coursing through their bodies. The motion increased in intensity until the all consuming release was reached.

Sully felt Michaela tighten her arms around him. “Michaela?”

“I was just to keep you here. I like feeling you on top of me. I want to keep you inside of me,” she whispered.

“It’s okay. Why are ya whispering?”

She cleared her throat in embarrassment, “ Because I….well…..I…..”

“Cuz ya ain’t suppose to feel this way? Cuz ya ain’t suppose to want me to stay inside? Cuz Boston wouldn’t like it?”

“Yes,” she whispered again.

“Well, darlin’, this ain’t Boston, remember? I love your bravery of asking, your enthusiasm. Sides, I like staying in ya as long as possible. Makes me feel even more connected to you. I don’t much care what Boston thinks. I think it’s just fine!”

She smiled and he kissed her. He traced her face, eyes, nose, lips, with his fingers. As he moved over her lips, she caught a finger with her teeth, pulling it into her mouth and then releasing his finger. He smiled and kissed her on the nose. Finally, Sully withdrew, rolled over on his back, with Michaela’s head on his chest and her hand over his heart. She loved to feel his heart beating after they made love….so rapid at first and then slowly returning to normal. She ran her fingers through his chest hair, over his skin, loving the feel of him. He enjoyed all of it, running his hand up and down her back, matching her caresses.

“Michaela?”

“Hmmm?”

“This afternoon, when we go to survey, the spot is near a hot spring. Clive told me ‘bout it. Thought ya might like to take a bath, or at least a lazy soaking, with yer husband?”

“I think I could be persuaded.”

“What kinda persuasion do ya have in mind?”

“Oh….a little of this….” She said as he ran her hand down his body, “and a little of that….” She said as she reached her goal.

“Again?” he asked, laughing. “Woman, I think ya aim to wear me out.”

“I do,” she replied as she turned her head to grasp his nipple and caress it with her tongue. She moved her hand up to caress his other nipple. She felt them harden, and under her hand, she felt his heart beat increase. She raised up to look in his eyes, and there she saw desire to match her own. She lowered her lips to his and slipped her tongue inside his mouth as they kissed. He loved it when she became the aggressor. He kept as still as he could, allowing her to do as she pleased. She kissed every inch of his face and then moved lower. She rained her kisses on his chest.

Then she began to move her lips lower, kissing him again and again. She reached his belly button and kissed it as her hand went lower again. He was very aroused, but she wasn’t done yet. She moved her hand between his thighs and touched, caressed, his other, oh so sensitive places. He smiled at her forwardness. As she continued, he knew she was going to have to make her move soon. He didn’t think he could hold on much longer.

“Michaela?” he said, hearing the huskiness in his voice.

“Hmmmm?”

“Michaela, not much longer….”

“Uh huh…” she said as she continued the caressing.

In a few more minutes, he said, “Michaela….I’m serious….I can’t…..”

She looked up at him with a mischievous smile, “Can’t what, my love?”

“Are ya trying to torture me?”

“How did you guess?”

He groaned and then she relented. She moved on top of him, grasped his manhood and guided him into her. As she rose over him, he reached up to caress her breasts, run his fingers over her hardened nipples, bringing her to his level of arousal. The rapidity of their movements increased. He groaned with pleasure as his release came. Shortly thereafter, she had her own shuddering release.

She lowered herself to lie on top of him. Her face buried in his neck and the softness of his long hair. He put his arms around her and held tight.

“Love you, my heartsong,” he whispered in her ear.

“Love you too, my heart,” she replied.

They lay like that awhile and then he heard her even breathing, telling him she was asleep. He gently withdrew and rolled over to lay her on the blanket with his arms around her, her head cradled on his shoulder. He wasn’t tired. He thought about how far they had come together. That he could have won the heart of this cultured Boston doctor still amazed him at times. He couldn’t help but think back to his days in New York when his parents were still alive.

In a little while, her breathing changed again, and she whispered, “Are you asleep?”

“Nope. Just thinkin’.”

“About what?”

“My childhood.”

‘What about your childhood?”

“Oh, to grow up poor on the docks and end up in the west, married to the best woman in the world.”

Michaela laughed. “We fit together so well because you’re the best man…. Sully, tell me about your life back then?”

Sully kissed her forehead. “Not a lot ta tell. Til he gave up, Pa worked hard on the docks. Ma took in laundry to help. Every day, she’d make our lunches, and me and my brother would go down and eat with him. After lunch we’d stay there, playing with the other kids, watching the ships go in and out, seeing the fancy people board fancy ships to sail for Europe.” He paused for a moment, remembering. “Once in awhile, while we ate, Pa’d tell us stories. He told us once, about comin’ to America and how Ma went into labor aboard ship. They thought they’d be in America when they had me, but I come early. Wasn’t no doctor, so the other woman passengers helped her. Pa though she was gonna die cause the screaming was louder than before. My brother sat there and cried, but Pa didn’t have a way to comfort him. Once I was born, everything was okay. He didn’t care much for Ma wantin’ to name me Byron, but he said she cried until he gave in.”

“I’m glad he did. I like Byron!”

“Michaela!”

“Sorry, dear, but I do. Go on…”

“It was during the times at the docks I met Daniel. He was the same age as me, six, but bigger. We just seemed to be friends right away. He didn’t have much in the way of family. He and his ma had lived with her sister cause his pa had left when he was a baby. When he was six, his ma died…. he didn’t know from what. He was still living with his aunt, but didn’t spend much time there cause she had nine kids and not a lot of time for him. He’d come home with us a lot and Ma treated him like one of us.”

“When did your brother die?”

“About six months after we met Daniel. There was this guy who had two horses at the docks. He was always letting the older boys ride. Pa had told us not to, but my brother really wanted to….so he did.” Sully paused. Michaela took his hand and squeezed it. “I ain’t sure how it happened…he got on the horse and went just a little way when the horse reared. He fell back, but his foot caught in the stirrup and the horse took off. It was Pa and the men who worked with him that stopped the horse….but it was too late. The police came, but weren’t too concerned….it was just the boy of an immigrant dock worker….no one important. That’s when things changed at home….at least til then the place had love if nothing else. Ma cried a lot….When Pa was home, he just sat there, staring at nothing. Rarely talking. I still took his lunch to the dock, but he’d just take it and walk away, not talking. I’d eat with Daniel. About six months after that, Ma and me were waiting for Pa to come home for dinner, when one of the guys who worked with him came up to say Pa had collapsed at the dock and was dead. No one ever told us why, but Ma was convinced it was from a broken heart.”

“You must have been very confused and hurt.”

“Yeah. But Daniel helped. He’d already been through it. I tried to help Ma in every way I could. I wanted to help her with the laundry jobs, but she wouldn’t let me. I got a job running errands for the guys Pa worked with. Daniel helped me. She lasted almost four years after Pa died. Daniel and I came home one night and she wasn’t there yet. A little while later the police came to tell me they found her body. They didn’t think it was an accident. I only remember parts of that time, Daniel told me the rest. The rent was paid through the end of the month, two weeks away. Daniel stayed with me. The landlord tried to help us, but his wife felt two boys of our age shouldn’t be staying alone, so she called the welfare people after about a week. Their son warned us, so we took what we could and left. Headed south to Virginia, then later went west. Ain’t ever been back.”

“Why did they think it wasn’t an accident?”

“The police told the landlord. They didn’t know we were listening. Some people saw her standing on the shore, looking at the river. They didn’t see her go in, but there was hardly any slope to the river and they didn't think she could have fallen in. When they looked for her later, they saw her floatin’, face down, out a way. One of them went for the police and a couple of others went in to pull her out.”

They were silent for a few minutes, then Sully felt a tear drop on his chest. “Michaela? You crying?”

“Yes, a little. Sorry. But it’s for that little boy who lost, in such a short amount of time, the three people he loved most. You could have turned out very bad….joining the gangs on the dock….hurting people. It’s good you and Daniel left New York. I want to wrap that little boy up in a cocoon and take the hurting away.”

“You have, dear heart. I ain’t bitter anymore. I think of them with a lot of love now. Loving you, the children, has helped me understand them. If Ma loved Pa even half the way I love you, I understand her pain. For a long time, even when they was working hard, my brother and I felt a lot of love from them.”

A little while later, Sully said, “You know, I ain’t never told any one this before….not even Abagail.”

“Why?”

“Don’t know. Not good at telling folk things like this. It wasn’t easy to tell you….not at first…..but now it is.”

“Thank you for trusting me.”

“I trust you with my life, Michaela. None of the rest matters.”

“You and your brother were really close, weren’t you?”

“Yep. He was five years older. I thought he was the best. I wanted to do everything he did. At home, he taught me things, showed me things. On the docks it was a little different cuz he didn’t want his friends to know he liked his little brother. He’d act all mad that I hung around him, but at home he’d tell me it was just an act….that he really didn’t mean it. I thought we’d always be together.”

“I’m glad you had Daniel as a friend when all this happened. It’s better you weren’t alone…”

“Yeah…he’s a good friend. At ten, without Daniel, I’m not sure I would’a come west. Probably would’a gone with the welfare people. Daniel and me gave each other courage.”

“Tell me about your mother….what she looked like….how she was.”

“She was gentle and kind….a good wife, a good mother. She was a little taller than Pa. She had green eyes and her hair was like mine. She was pretty as I ‘member, but looked tired all the time. Her hands were real rough from all the laundry. Once in awhile we found pennies on the ground….I’d use mine to buy her lotion…..it made her feel good. Pa had black hair and blue eyes. Ma used to say I got my hair from her and my eyes from him. She’d read to us a lot….poetry mostly. Her favorite was Lord Byron!”

“From the sound of it, you got your kindness and gentleness from your mother, and your reticence from your father.”

“What’s that….reticence?”

“Oh, not talking much. ‘A man of few words’ as they say. An unwillingness to share your thoughts.”

Sully laughed. “Yeah….sounds like me, sorta….more like me before you!”

“Yes, you talk to me. But not many others. You share some of your thoughts with Cloud Dancing, the children, Robert E and Daniel….but not much to others. Not like me, anyway!”

He smiled. “You make up for me. You share thoughts with everyone. But not all your thoughts….”

“No…many I save just for you! And now, I think it’s lunch time.”

After lunch, they dressed and rode the horses down the valley to the place Sully needed to survey. He quickly went about his business, with Michaela watching. When he was done, they rode a little further to find the hot springs. The water looked very inviting. They quickly shed their clothes and got into the water, staying along the bank, where they could sit.

“Sully, this is wonderful!”

“Knew ya’d like it.” He smiled and moved around to face her. “Too bad we can’t do this back home.”

“We can and have. Everything that is but have no clothes on.”

“No clothes is what I like best.”

“I don’t know about you, Byron Sully!”

“Yeah ya do. And ya like it!”

“Yes, I do,” she agreed, with a slight blush.

They shared a kiss. Then Sully turned around and lay back, using the bank as a pillow. He reached up and pulled Michaela down to lie next to him, her head on his shoulder and his arm around her. They lay there, enjoying the feeling of the water, the peace of the valley and each other.


After dinner, they undressed and then cuddled in a blanket, in each other’s arms, and sat on the edge of the mesa, watching the moonrise over the valley.

“Sully?”

“Hmmm?”

“Someday I would like to come back here and bring the children. At least Katie and Brian….the others if they would like to. I want them to see the peace and beauty of this park.

“Sounds good ta me. I know they’d like it. Brian would end up writing about it.”

“Yes, and Katie would go exploring, like she does at home. She just has to know about everything.”

“Yep….just like her ma.”

“Excuse me?! I do not have to know everything!”

“No? I got it wrong?”

“Of course!” she replied, laughing.

“Sorry. My mistake, dear,” he smiled and gave her a kiss. “Forgive me?”

“Certainly…..that is if I get another kiss.”

“Don’t know ‘bout that……price is kinda high!”

“That’s a dangerous statement, Mr. Sully!” Michaela said, trying to be serious (but failing).

“Here, let me make it up to you…..like this….” He said as he cupped her breast. “And this…..” as he nuzzled and kissed her neck.

“Okay,” she whispered, “you made it up…..” and then his hand started roaming. “Oh….oh….Sully…..yes….”

“I think it’s time to go inta the tent, Michaela.” He stood up, helped her to her feet, and led her into the tent. They lay on their blankets and Sully started caressing her again, only this time she returned the pleasure. His lips and hands were doing incredible things to her. She felt like she was vibrating in her need for him.

She placed her lips against his ear, “Sully?”

“Shhh……”

“Sully?” she whispered again, with more urgency.

“Not yet, Michaela…..wait…..”

She knew it couldn’t be much longer before he entered her. His manhood was throbbing against her. Slowly, he moved on top….enticing her…..teasing her…..close but not quite there. She wanted to grasp him, but he had her hands trapped. And then he relented, and as he entered her, all the sensations burst forth in her body. He no longer had control. He needed her now, as much as she needed him. The desire overwhelmed them. As their bodies merged, their minds, hearts and souls were one.


Michaela woke up as the light of day filtered into the tent. Sully was still asleep and she was wrapped in his arms. She enjoyed this moment. It was so rare that she woke before him. She kept still, reveling in the feel of his body against her. She thought again, as she often had over the years, about how her friends seemed to think that intimacy lost something the longer a couple was together. For her, it just got better. And last night had been incredible. The feelings this man, this love of hers, brought out in her were ones she could never have imagined.

Then she felt his lips on her forehead. “How did you know I was awake?”

“Just knew…..just like I know when somethin’s wrong with ya. Don’t really know how.”

“Thank you, Sully.”

“Fer what?”

“These last few days have been wonderful. After I told you yes, I had some doubts. But I’m very glad I came with you. And being alone with you…..that’s been the best part of all.”

“I’m glad ya came, too. It’s great havin’ ya to myself for awhile; not having kids or patients interruptin’ us.”

Michaela lay across Sully’s chest, folded her hands under her chin and looked into his face. “My handsome lover. I love you so. I lose myself in those deep blue eyes.” She kissed his chin, then his lips.

Sully put his hands on either side of her face and returned that kiss. “And I love you, my beautiful lover. It’s nice when ya call me your lover. I know it ain’t always easy for you to use words like that.”

“No, not always easy. But when I look at you, when we’re alone, I don’t mind using those words. I do think them, you know, when I see you walking down the street, across the table at meals…. Sometimes I have to look away because I want to be alone with you. When we’re in public, I’m always afraid someone will guess what I’m thinking. It worries me.”

“People ain’t gonna guess. ‘Sides, even if they did, it ain’t a bad thing. ‘Member, married folk can think that way. It ain’t bad that we want each other.”

“I know. It’s just my inhibitions, I guess. Before you woke up this morning, I was remembering that some of my friends, like Myra and Grace, said that after awhile of being married, you don’t want each other the same way, that the passion is gone. I don’t feel that way, Sully. If anything, I want you more now than in the beginning. I start to think something’s wrong with me.”

“Nothing’s wrong, Michaela. We got somethin’ special. And not all married folk think some of the passion is lost. Cloud Dancing and Snowbird didn’t. And I’ll bet Dorothy and Cloud Dancing don’t. ‘Sides, the point is us and how we feel. I think even when I’m a hunderd, I’m gonna want ya, need ya, the way I do now.”

“Oh, Sully! When I’m a hundred, I too will want you. Of course, when I’m a hundred, you’ll still be younger!”

“Yeah…well….that’s okay…..I like ‘em older!”

“Byron Sully!”

“Michaela, ya know age don’t bother me. It don’t matter you’re a little older….never did. It’s like ‘fore Katie, when ya were talking that ya might not be able to have kids…..and at that time you were already carrying our Kates. I told ya then, I married who I wanted to….that nothing else mattered. That’s still true today. I don’t want, will never want, anyone but you. To tell ya the truth, I can barely remember Abagail. I know I loved her, but the love I have for you overpowers anything. Like Cloud Dancing says, things happen for a reason. Abagail and David happened to show us the right path we was to take….allowin’ us to find each other. To the end of my days, I will thank the Great Spirit for picking us as soulmates.”

“My darling Byron….you speak these things so well. And you make me so happy…… Does it bother you if I call you Byron?”

“Nah….not from you…..but only you…..when we’re alone. It sounds good.” He smiled and gave her another kiss. “Michaela, tell me ‘bout you and Marjorie growing up…..ya seemed not ta be friends for most your lives.”

“Marjorie was the baby until I came along…..she was five. I was unexpected. Mother and Father thought they were through having children. My earliest memories of Marjorie are of her pinching me, pushing me out of her way, calling me names. I never really knew why, except for the things Rebecca told me. She said from the beginning Father paid more attention to me than my sisters. Rebecca, Claudette and Maureen were old enough that it did not bother them, but it really bothered Marjorie. We had a nanny and Marjorie was always telling the nanny that I bit her…..I don’t really remember if I did, but the nanny was on Marjorie’s side and she would tell Mother or Father. If it was Mother, she would tell me to behave. But Father would ask Marjorie what she had done to me to make me bite.”

“It’s too bad your folks and nanny took sides. Should’a let you and Marjorie work it out ‘tween the two of ya. It musta been nice though, having so many sisters.”

“I was only close to Rebecca. Claudette and Maureen didn’t really want to be around a tomboy. They refused to call me Mike, as did Marjorie. They said Father was wrong to give me a boy’s name and that it was the name that made me a tomboy and want to be a doctor. They always tried to send me upstairs when their friends were visiting….they were embarrassed. Rebecca spent time with me, but by the time I could appreciate it, she was dating and married at 19. The others said it wasn’t ladylike to like the things I did, that I shouldn’t be interested in sick people, or see anyone without clothes, and that I would never find a husband. After David asked me to marry him, they said the wedding would never happen.”

“I’m glad they were right ‘bout that. If you’d married him ‘fore he went to war, you might not have come west when he was missing. ‘Sides, even if ya had, and we’d still gotten married, our wedding night wouldn’a been as good. I gotta admit I was glad you hadn’t been with a man before. I don’t know if David would’a been considerate of that innocence….ya might not have been willing to enjoy our love makin’ the way you do.”

Michaela gave an embarrassed laugh. “I’m glad, too. David was never the romantic. We didn’t do a lot of kissing or being alone together. Most of our time together was at the hospital, or listening to Father. When we attended social functions, we were never alone, and I don’t think that bothered David. Now when I look back, I’m not sure he would ever have liked that I would be a practicing physician. I thought a lot about that when Miriam was here. She told me her husband had given her a choice….him or being a doctor….she chose him. Thank you, my love, for never making me choose.”

“Ain’t a decision I had ta make. You were already a doctor….it’s part of who ya are. Although your folks took sides, I don’t think you’d be the same Michaela I love if your pa hadn’t taken a special interest in ya. I get the idea folks back east ain’t interested in developing the minds of their daughters. Just want ‘em to make a good marriage. Your pa treated you different….so if it was the name, good. I like that you’re beautiful, but I like your mind and soul even more…..that we can talk about the things we do….. I’ve learned a lot from ya. Almost makes me feel educated.”

“I have also learned much from you. And you are educated….just because you haven’t had formal education, doesn’t mean you are not educated. You are, in the ways of nature and people, and your common sense. Living out here, if I could only have one kind of education, it would be yours. In the long run, mine would not help me survive…..yours would. I am so thankful our children have both. You are so wise in the ways of people, of their feelings.”

“You are too, Michaela.”

“Only because of you, my love. Think of how many times you have had to remind me to think about people’s feelings….to stop thinking like a doctor….”

“Ya just weren’t expose ta things like feelin’s very often. Ya spent so much time with your pa, going to hospitals and treating them sick people. Ya didn’t have much chance to learn ‘bout people ‘cept for their bodies. I seen ya be the tough doc, but I seen ya be the soft, tender woman, too….and not just with me. Oh, my Michaela, we sure make a team, don’t we?”

“Yes, Byron, we do. I guess we compliment each other. We are so different and yet, the same.”

Sully hugged her tight and kissed her on the top of her head. “Together, Michaela, always together.”

They lay there awhile, enjoying the togetherness. Then they gathered their stuff and headed back to the cabins.


“Michaela, ‘member that lake we saw on the way here?”

“Yes.”

“How ‘bout we stop there for lunch? Bet I could catch some fish. You could too, if ya want”

“Stopping there would be nice, but I’ll leave the fishing to you.”

They reached the lake just before noon, tethered the horses, Sully set up his fishing pole and sat down at the edge of the lake. Michaela sat next to him, content to be near him.

“Tell me about Daniel and you traveling west, after you left Virginia.”

“Well, a wagon train was leaving fer Oregon. We asked ‘em if we could work for them in order to go west. The leader hired us. He and his wife didn’t have kids, so she kinda mothered us. Trouble was, we weren’t use to it. By the time we got to Oklahoma, we’d had ‘nough and decided to leave the wagons.”

“How old were you then?”

“‘Bout twelve. The guy gave us some money….said we’d done more’n our share of work. We had enough to buy two horses and some food, then we headed west on our own. We weren’t in no hurry. Sometimes we’d stay in a town a few days, working to earn more money to travel….then we’d head on again.”

“Did you ever have problems with authorities? Trying to get you with a family?”

“Nah…..always acted like we knew where we was going when we were around people. ‘Sides, they didn’t look too carefully. Daniel was big and looked older than he was. We figured that helped. We seen lots of things coming west….good and bad.”

“It must have been an interesting adventure.”

“Mostly it was…..then we reached Colorado. We met up with some miners and started helping out at the mines, running water to the men, doing work above ground. Then when we were old enough, we started going into the mines.” Just then, there was a strike on Sully’s line and he hauled in a fish. “Hey, think this one is big enough fer both of us?”

“Yes, I do….it’s quite big.”

“I’ll clean it then. Why don’t you get the fire started?”

They enjoyed a lunch of fish and leftovers. After lunch, they sat at the edge of the lake, watching hawks flying over and ducks on the lake. Sully looked at Michaela and she was smiling like she was remembering something.

“What’s ya smilin’ about?’

“Remember Mr. Watkins, the photographer?”

“Yep.”

“I was just thinking how much he would have liked to be here taking his pictures. He probably has gone blind by now. I hope he took a lot of pictures and has a lot of memories.”

“Yeah, I hope so too. Ya know, he’s the one started me thinkin’ more ‘bout us.”

“He did? How?”

“A few days ‘fore the town picture, we were up where he could take pictures of Pike’s Peak. He told me you said he was going blind. Said not to feel sorry for him. Told him I didn’t but was offering my help. He said I’d be in the town picture then and I said I couldn’t promise that. He said he saw I had a problem making promises. That if a woman looked at him the way you looked at me, he’d fall on one knee and promise himself to her forever. Sure did make me start thinkin’.”

“That’s why you brought up the birthday kiss just before the town picture, why you were in the picture!” Michaela exclaimed with her eyes twinkling.

“Yep. ‘Fore that, even with the kiss, I wasn’t sure how I felt. But he got me to thinkin’. After that, things kept changing…..kept thinkin’ ‘bout ya more…..wonderin’ ‘bout us…..”

“I owe Mr. Watkins a debt of gratitude!”

“Hey….I would’a seen my feelin’s sometime!” he said, laughing.

“Yes….but when? When you were too old to do anything about it?”

“Michaela Quinn Sully!” He reached over and started tickling her.

“Sully…..St…st…stop!” She was laughing so hard she could barely talk.

“Not til ya say you’re sorry!”

“I am….I am!”

“Say it!”

“I’M SORRY!!!!”

He replaced the tickling with kissing. “Good….I like this better’n ticklin’.”

“Me too….”

“Mmmm….real good…..”

After a few minutes, Michaela said, “Sully? If we keep this up…..”

“Yeah…I know…..guess we ought head back.”


They arrived back at the cabins by mid afternoon.

“Howdy, Sully, Dr. Mike,” Clive said as he greeted them. “Ya have a good time?”

“It was wonderful, Clive,” Michaela said. “The valley is absolutely beautiful. I can’t thank you enough for recommending it to us.”

“Glad ya liked it, Dr. Mike. We got lots o’ places like that here in the park. The last survey I need your help on, Sully, is just south of here. It’s got some geysers I think ya’ll like. We’ll go tomorrow cuz I know ya plan to leave on Tuesday. Little Feather is gonna pack a lunch and go with us. She don’t like to ride far and this is less than an hour’s ride.”

“That’ll be nice, Clive. Me and Michaela have enjoyed all the sights we seen here. We even talked that we’d like to bring our kids here someday.”

“We’d like ta meet your family. Welland told us some about them. Now, I got a deer yesterday and Little Feather is making a nice dinner. Why’d you go to your cabin and rest til dinner time. Ya all are probably tired from the travelling. I’ll call for ya when dinner’s ready.”

“Sounds good. Thanks,” Sully said.

As they entered the cabin they were using, Michaela turned to Sully, “I think I’d like to take a little nap. Will you join me?”

“Sure.’

They both undressed and got into the bed. Michaela snuggled against Sully and was asleep in minutes. Sully lay there with his arms around Michaela, thinking about their trip of the last few days. He had really enjoyed having her all to himself, much as he loved his kids. He decided to try and set up other trips with just Michaela, not often, but enough to enjoy their time alone. He’d enjoyed how Michaela let herself go during their time alone. He knew it was hard for her, letting go of Boston and her family’s ideas. He smiled at the thought of her.

“Sully?”

“Hey….good evenin’.”

“Did you sleep?”

“Nah….not tired.”

“What is that smile for?”

“You. Been thinkin’ about the last few days. Thanks for being willin’ to try new things when we’re alone.”

“Thank you….for being patient with me.”

“Ain’t no problem….love ya so it’s easy.”

“I love you, my dearest husband.”

She turned her head up for a kiss. There came a light tap on the door. “Yeah?” said Sully.

“Dinner time,” Clive said.

“Thanks. Be there in a few minutes.”

They got ready and went to dinner with Little Feather and Clive. Little Feather had prepared a wonderful meal. “I want this to be goodbye meal. I know you here one more night, but Clive brought deer in, I decide it be good time. I enjoyed knowing you. It nice to know people who do not think bad of my people.”

“Thank you, Little Feather. Sully and I appreciate this, it is very good. And we have enjoyed meeting you and seeing the park. You live in a very wonderful place.”

Little Feather smiled, “Yes. You our friends now.”

“Me and Michaela are happy to count you and Clive as our friends.”

After they finished dinner, they went out to the porch to sit, talk and enjoy the evening. After awhile, Little Feather got up, went inside and brought something out. “I want you take back something from the Yellowstone. This hide of deer we have tanned.” She rolled out the hide and there was a painting of the waterfall they had seen in the valley of the buffalo. She handed it to Sully and Michaela.

“Little Feather,” Michaela said, “this is beautiful. Did you paint it?”

“Yes.”

“We will be proud to hang it in our house. It is a very good reminder of this visit. It is very beautiful.”

“Sure is….thanks a lot, Little Feather. Me and Michaela loved this valley and the waterfall.”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

Little Feather smiled, “I happy you like it.”

Clive smiled at his wife with pride. “Little Feather paints a lot. I ain’t never seen her give one away before. She don’t think she paints good.”

“Heavens, Little Feather, you are a wonderful artist. Anyone would be proud to have a picture such as this. If you decided to ever sell your paintings, we would be happy to help you, won’t we, Sully?”

“Yep. Ya paint real good.”

“Thank you. I think and talk with Clive.”


“Sully, Little Feather’s painting really is beautiful,” said Michaela as she snuggled in bed with Sully.

“Yeah. It’ll look real pretty in the homestead. They sure are nice folks.”

“I agree. We should tell Cloud Dancing and Dorothy about the park. Maybe they could come here for a vacation. It would be nice for them to be around Clive and Little Feather.”

“Good idea.” He put his hand under her chin and turned her face up to his for a kiss. During the kiss, he moved his hand down to caress her breast. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For not wearin’ your nightgown. I sure like it when ya don’t. Like feeling your skin next ta mine.”

“I like it too. At home, I worry the kids will come in without knocking. But here…”

“Mebbe at home I need to start locking our door!”

“Byron!” she said, laughing. But as he had continued his caressing, her laughter dissolved into sounds of pleasure. He started kissing her….first her forehead, then moved slowly down to her lips. Michaela’s hands were caressing his back. She returned his kisses with enthusiasm. Then he moved his lips lower, to concentrate on her breasts. He teased her nipples with his tongue, then traveled lower. She thought she would burst with pleasure as he moved down her body….the pleasure he was giving her was exquisite. He arrived back at her lips as she buried her hands in his hair. They continued kissing as their hands roamed each other’s bodies. Finally their bodies joined and together they reached the heights of pleasure.

Slowly, their heartbeats returned to normal. Sully moved off Michaela, rolling over on his back. Michaela turned, laying her head and hand on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. They drifted off to sleep, secure in their love.

By mid morning, they left for the area Sully and Clive were going to survey. Sully and Clive rode ahead. Michaela and Little Feather rode slowly, while Little Feather asked Michaela about her children.


“Gotta tell ya, Sully, Little Feather and me are sure impressed by your wife. Welland told us she was from Boston. Kinda expected to see a society lady who didn’t like the wilderness. Ain’t many women treat Little Feather like an equal, but Dr. Mike does. Makes Little Feather feel good. Dr. Mike don’t seem to put herself above anyone. Little Feather told me she was real please to call Dr. Mike a friend.”

“Thanks, Clive. I know what ya mean. When I first saw Michaela, met her, I didn’t think she’d last long in Colorado Springs. But she was determined ta help people and make it on her own. She ain’t never treated someone bad cuz they’re different. She’ll treat anyone who needs her doctorin’.”

“Being so different, folks probably find it hard to accept that’s you’re married.”

“Lots of the town people were surprised when we started courtin’. They couldn’t believe Michaela could love me. A banker moved to town right after we got married, he's always sayin’ he don’t know how she could be with a savage. But our friends understand and we know we got somethin’ special. I’m real proud she loves me. She’s my soulmate.”

“I’m impressed she’s open to using Indian medicine. Can’t believe other docs would do the same.”

“I know. She was slow to use ‘em at first, but now it’s a regular part of her doctoring. ‘Fore we got married, her ma was sick in Boston. Michaela went there and ended up treatin’ her with Cheyenne Medicine. Her ma’s doc said her ma had cancer and would die…. Michaela thought different, thought it might be the oysters her ma liked to eat, treated and cured her. Our son-in-law, Andrew, is a doctor. He came out to Colorado Springs with my mother-in-law, right after medical school. Michaela was two weeks from having’ our daughter and her ma brought Andrew out to deliver the baby. He ended up stayin’ in Colorado Springs and marryin’ our daughter, Colleen. Andrew was not sure ‘bout using the Indian medicines , but he’s seen Michaela use them and how they worked and he started usin’ ‘em. Uses them all the time now.”

“That’s good. More oughta see the medicines are good. Been around a long time. So your son-in-law delivered your baby?”

“Well….no….he didn’t. Ask Michaela about it….it’s a good story.”

“I will. She’s a real special lady, Sully. It ain’t easy to find someone to share your life with. I thought I never would….til I met Little Feather. Then I didn’t think she’s like me….being a white man and all…”

“I can see you’re real happy, Clive.”

“Yeah. But only cuz we able to live here. When we first got together, white folk said some real bad things, treated us…mostly her…real bad. Many in her tribe weren’t much better. It works good for us here and we ain’t got a problem not living around others. Welland comes by now and then…and he send others around, like you and Dr. Mike.”

“Cloud Dancing is with a white woman. Dorothy’s the editor of the Colorado Springs newspaper. Michaela and me were talking it might be nice for them to come up here for a few days. They’d enjoy metting ya and seein’ the area. Dorothy ain’t seen buffalo and she’d like that.”

“Let ‘em know we’d be pleased to have ‘em come.”

“I will. Thanks.”


While Sully and Clive surveyed, Michaela and Little Feather set their meal out in view of the geysers. Then the men came to join them for lunch.

“Dr. Mike, Sully was telling me about your family. He said your son-in-law came out to deliver your baby, but he didn’t. I asked why and Sully said to ask you.”

Michaela smiled. “Actually, Clive, Sully delivered our daughter. An Army Sargent was taking Cloud Dancing to another reservation and Sully had an order from the chief Indian agent to stop him. They had already left Palmer Creek and Sully followed to bring Cloud Dancing back. The Sargent didn’t accept the order, they were in a fight, the Sargent cut Sully’s shoulder and knocked him down a river bank, breaking his ankle. In the meantime, Cloud Dancing got away and came for me. I didn’t care I was close to having the baby, Sully was hurt and needed me and I went. We found Sully, I sewed his shoulder, but as I was getting ready to set his ankle, with Cloud Dancing’s help, the Sargent and his men found us. They took Cloud Dancing and said they would send help. I set Sully’s ankle and we went to the wagon to go home when I went into labor. There wasn’t much chance the Sargent would send help back, I couldn’t travel home and I wasn’t about to let Sully leave me alone and go for help, even if he had wanted to.”

“Which I sure didn’t. Wasn’t gonna let my wife have the baby alone in the woods. I knew I’d never get help in time, even if I was ta leave her, which ain’t likely!”

“Sully was wonderful. He put up with the moods a woman goes through during labor…..one minute I pushed him away and the next I wanted him to hold me. We spent the night there and in the early morning, Katie was born, delivered by her father, after cutting the umbilical cord, which was holding her back. If I had been alone, I’m not sure Katie or I would have survived.” She smiled warmly at her husband. “He was my rock and our deliverer.”

“Ya musta been scared, Sully.”

“Sure was. Years before I’d even met Michaela, I was married. My wife and child died in childbirth. It took the Cheyenne to bring me back to the living. I thought about losing Abagail and Hannah a lot during the night with Michaela, knowin’ if anything went wrong and I lost her and the baby, I’d lose me, too. I couldn’a lived without her. Looking back on it, Michaela has told me that it was a real normal birth, but it sure didn’t seem like it then.”

“You did brave thing. In my tribe, no one has spoken of brave helping birth of child. Women only are there.” Little Feather smiled, “If we are to have baby, Clive would have to be my helper…..now he can see it is possible.”

“Yes,” Michaela said, “it is possible. But if you find yourself with child, Little Feather, please get word to me. At the very least, I can send you some information on how Clive can help when the time comes.”

“I will do, Dr. Mike. Thank to you.”

“Dr. Mike, I ‘preciate your concern for Little Feather. It nice to know a doc who cares ‘bout her. And ya let us know how much the doctorin’ costs…we be glad ta pay it.”

“The cost is another visit here with you, Clive. Sully and I have enjoyed our trip here and the time we have spent seeing your beautiful park.” Sully nodded in agreement.

“Ya got it, Dr. Mike. And next time, like ya said, bring yer children.”


After finishing the surveying and returning to the cabins, Sully and Clive updated the maps ith all of their surveying work. Then after dinner and spending some time with Little Feather and Clive, Sully and Michaela retired early to prepare for their journey home the next morning.

“This has been a wonderful trip, Sully,” Michaela said as she cuddled up close to him.

“Yep…I liked it too….mostly liked time alone with you. Ain’t likely we’ll forget the things we saw here. ‘Specially since we got Little Feather’s picture of the falls ta remind us. “

“I also enjoyed the time with you. And the time up there, on that little mesa…..it’s truly something to remember.”

Sully smiled, “I’ll remember it well….when my proper Boston wife enjoyed freedom from clothes. Kinda gotta be careful or we’ll be in town and I’ll look at ya and see ya as you looked up there….” Michaela blushed as Sully laughed. He pulled her as close as possible and kissed her forehead. “Thanks for comin’ with me. I wasn’t sure you’d leave the kids for this long.”

“If Colleen and Andrew weren’t there to watch Katie, I probably wouldn’t have. Now that Brian is getting older, I don’t feel as bad about leaving him, and I know Matthew will watch out for him. Thanks for asking me to come with you.”

He smiled, “Welcome….you’re beginning to really miss the kids, huh?”

“Yes. Aren’t you?”

“Yeah. It’s been good ta be away, but it’ll be good ta get back to them.”

They enjoyed a kiss. Soon, she fell asleep and he followed not long after.


They woke up early Tuesday morning, both anxious to begin their trip home. They packed, had breakfast with Little Feather and Clive and began their trip to Bozeman. As they rode, they enjoyed the scenery and each other’s nearness. By lunch time, they reached the park boundaries. After a brief lunch stop, they resumed their journey, taking less time travelling north than they did coming to Yellowstone. By evening, they were near enough to Bozeman to begin seeing outlying ranches. They set up camp at nightfall.

“How close are we to Bozeman?”

“Probably about 4 hours away. We’ll be there earlier than I thought. I think Welland said there’s an evenin’ train. If we get there in time to take it, we could be in Denver by Friday instead of Saturday like we planned. Then mebbe I could convince my wife to spend a day in Denver with me. We could catch the early train on Sunday to go home. Kids aren’t expecting us til Monday. Should be home when church gets out. We’ll surprise ‘em. What’d ya think?”

“I think your wife would love to spend a night in Denver with you. And surprising the children will be fun!”

After dinner, they settled in for the night, tired from their trip north.

The next day, they arrived in Bozeman just before lunchtime and returned their horses to the livery stable. After lunch, they got tickets for the train and food from a nearby café for their journey to Denver. They arrived in Denver Friday afternoon and checked into the hotel they had stayed at a few times before. They were tired and decided to stay in the hotel suite the rest of the day.

Sully left Michaela in their room and went down to arrange for dinner to be brought up to them, and as a surprise, he arranged for a bath for Michaela. Not long after arriving back in the room, the hotel staff carried in the bathtub and water, setting them up in a small nook meant for the bath.

“Sully! Oh, thank you!” As soon as the staff left, Michaela quickly disrobed and got into the tub. Closing her eyes, she sank down in, feeling the wonderful warmth permeate her body. She opened her eyes to see her husband gazing at her with that smile that brought out his dimples. She smiled up at him. “Just one more reason why I love you….you are so caring…..thank you, my love.”

“Welcome….and I love you, too. Just soak and enjoy. They put some more buckets on the fire to keep ‘em warm. Let me know when you want some more warm water.”

Sully picked up her clothes and returned to the bedroom, laying them on the bed. He took off his clothes and wandered back into the nook. Michaela was laying still, eyes closed and a heavenly smile. He stood and watched her, enjoying the sight of her. Michaela felt his eyes on her and she opened hers.

She smiled seductively at the sight of him. “Why don’t you pour some warm water in and then join me? You look prepared for a bath!”

He grinned, “Sounds good. Think I will.” And he did, sitting in the tub, facing her, their legs crossing.

She reached over, tracing his face, moving his hair out of his eyes. He took her hand, kissing each finger. Slowly, they moved closer to each other. Soon their legs were wrapped around the other’s body. They were trading kisses and caresses. She took the soap and started coating his body, then he returned the favor. He had left a bucket of warm water on the floor, which she picked up and poured some of it over him to rinse off the soap. She handed the bucket to him, and her poured it over her. Once they were rinsed off, they got out of the tub and took turns drying each other off. When they were done, Sully scooped Michaela into his arms and carried her to the bed. He set her down on the bed and turned to lower the lamp. When he turned back, she was laying down with her arms stretched out to him. He quickly joined her.


They decided to spend Saturday wandering around Denver….seeing some of the places they had been during their honeymoon and vacations. They also wanted to do some shopping for the children.

“Michaela, it’s close to lunch time. Wanna find a restaurant?”

“Sounds very good, dear.”

“Sully! Dr. Mike!” came a call behind them.

Turning around, they saw Sargent McKay. He came walking up to them and shook Sully’s outstretched hand.

“Sargent McKay,” said Michaela, “it’s nice to see you.”

“We were just going for lunch. Join us?” Sully asked.

“I’d like that,” McKay said.

They found a small restaurant and settled down to have their lunch.

“So, how’s the family?” McKay asked.

“They’re fine,” Michaela replied. “Matthew has decided to be a lawyer and is working towards a degree.”

“I’m glad fer that. Always felt guilty he resigned from being sheriff cuz I made him choose. Things sure was messed up then.”

“I’d say the blame ain’t all yours, McKay. He wouldn’a been in that position if I hadn’t….”

“Yeah, but thinking back on it, can’t say I blame ya for what ya done. Over the time I spent around Colorado Springs and the more I learned about O’Connor and Palmer Creek, I can see why ya did what ya did. It’s likely your friend, Cloud Dancing, would have eventually been seriously injured or killed by some of those soldiers. I been reading up on some of the things the Army’s been doing out here and there’s a lot I disagree with. General Custer has sure done damage, and O’Connor and Major Morrison are a lot like him.”

“What ever happen to the Major?” Michaela asked.

“He was court-martialed, sentenced to 5 years at Leavenworth for disobeying the order of the President and after that he’ll be on probation for 10 years. He lied on the stand, saying the indians were getting ready to attack. I testified about being arrested by him and then Welland Smith testified. Some of the soldiers with us that day also testified….they saw the way things was going and knew if they didn’t tell the truth, they’d end up in jail too. The judge gave Morrison one chance to tell the truth and said if he didn’t, his sentence would be 15 years or more. So Morrison finally told the truth. Admitted he hated indians and wanted to kill all of them, even women and children. The judge warned him that once he got out, he’d better live in the east cuz if he got into any trouble with Indians in the 10 years of probation, he’d go back to prison.”

“It’s very sad that he has so much hate. But there are so many like him. This country just fought the war to free the colored people and they don’t see the Indians in the same way. It should not matter what color your skin is, all people should be free to live where they want and do what they want, as long as they don’t hurt others.”

“I agree, Dr. Mike. That’s why I’m gonna leave the Army. More ‘n more, the Army is being ordered to round up Indians and hold ‘em on reservations, or raid the villages and massacre them. Palmer Creek was the first one I been to, but since then I’ve seen a few others. Not long ago I was at East Fork…..Palmer Creek was a great place compared to East Fork. The Indian Agent there sells most of what he gets for the Indians. I complained about it and got told to mind my own business. Done a lot of thinking and decided I can’t be part of that.”

“Where ya goin’ to live and what’s ya gonna do?”

“Ain’t really decided, Sully. Right now I’m taking a few days leave and when I return, I’ll put in my papers.”

“Well, ya could always come to Colorado Springs. Folks there would welcome ya.”

“Yes, they would, Sargent. They appreciate your efforts. We are a growing community and I’m sure you could find something.”

“Might just do that, Dr. Mike. Really like your town and the area. I’ve saved some money….kinda thinking about getting some land and starting a small farm. And could ya call me Terrence? Ain’t gonna be a sergeant much longer.”

“Of course, Terrence,” Michaela said, smiling.

“That little girl of yours must be getting big?”

“Yep. And gettin’ more mischievous all the time.”

“And she’s thrilled to have her papa around all the time. She’s very much a papa’s girl!”

"And your other children?"

"They are fine. Brian is beginning to court a young lady he's liked for a long time. Colleen married Dr. Cook and they have settled in Colorado Springs for the time being."

"And their ma tries ta keep 'em near her! Not sure she likes 'em growing up."

McKay laughed, "Sounds just like a mother!"

"Men!" Michaela said, laughing at her husband and McKay.

They enjoyed the rest of their lunch and said goodbye. "Til we see ya again in Colorado Springs," Sully said to McKay, shaking his hand.

As Michaela and Sully were finishing their shopping, they passed the Denver Opera House and saw that Gilda St Clair was performing. While they were asking about tickets at the office, Gilda's manager, Max Henderson, came out. "Dr. Quinn? Sully?"

"Mr. Henderson, how nice to see you. And how is Miss St Clair?"

"She's good, thanks to you. After we left Colorado Springs, we went to San Francisco and saw a specialist. He made her rest for a few months. He told us you did a fine job and that Gilda owes her singing voice, let alone her life, to you. Are you planning to come to the show tonight?"

"We were just checking inta it," Sully said.

"No need. You're honored guests….Miss, give these two free tickets and the best seats….after the show, come backstage. Gilda will be glad to see you."

"Thank you, Mr. Henderson. Is Emma still with Miss St Clair?"

"Yep. Gilda'll do anything to keep Emma. She's never had more beautiful and comfortable dresses. I'll let Emma know you'll be here tonight."

"Thank you."

Michaela and Sully went to a clothing store to but clothes for the Opera House since all they had with them were the clothes they wore on their trip. They returned to the hotel with their packages and rested before going out.


The Opera House was full, except for a few seats set aside for special guests like Michaela and Sully. They were escorted to their seats in a box and the usher told them someone would come for them after the show to take them backstage.

Gilda’s singing was wonderful. Sully and Michaela sat there enjoying the show, holding hands.

As the applause was dying down, Gilda said, “One more song for this wonderful audience. And I am dedicating this song to the physician who saved my voice, Dr. Michaela Quinn of Colorado Springs. Please join me in thanking her. Dr. Quinn and her husband, Byron Sully, are in that box,” she said, pointing to them. As Gilda began clapping, the entire audience joined in. Michaela blushed and nodded to Gilda, while Sully help her hand tightly, proud of his wife.

The show was over. Michaela and Sully were sitting in the box, watching the audience leave. “Dr. Mike?”

They turned around to see Emma. “Emma!” Michaela exclaimed, getting up to hug her. “How are you?”

“I’m fine. I love travelling with Gilda. I’ve seen so much. Please come with me, Gilda is anxious to see you.” Emma took them backstage, where Gilda was waiting for them.

After spending some time with Gilda, mostly listening to her stories of her adoring fans, Michaela and Sully excused themselves to go back to the hotel. Emma walked them to the door.

“How is your family?” Emma asked.

“Fine,” Michaela replied. “Katie is growing like a weed. Colleen is married to Andrew. Brian and Sarah are developing a relationship. Matthew is studying to be a lawyer and will probably marry soon."

"Is he happy?" Emma asked.

"Very much. Amanda's father manages the resort that was built."

"Good. He deserves to be happy. I know he cared for me, even thought he loved me, but not like it should have been for people who want to be married. I think we both wanted to be in love. I thought a lot about it after I left and I knew if I really loved him, travelling with Gilda would not have mattered. Please tell him that and tell him I am very glad he's happy."

"We will. I'm glad you're happy, Emma. You deserve to be."

Emma smiled, "Thanks, Dr. Mike. And how's Hank?”

Sully laughed. "Ya wouldn't believe the difference. He’s the deputy sheriff now and doing a good job.“

“My goodness, that is a new Hank! Please tell him and the others hello for me,” Emma said as she opened the door for them.

“We will. If you ever have time, come see us.”

“I will. Thank you.”

In the carriage on the way back to the hotel, Michaela snuggled in Sully’s arms. “That was nice. Emma looks good.”

“Yep. And I was real proud when Gilda said thanks to you when she was on stage.”

“Thank you,” Michaela whispered.


Sully and Michaela arrived at the depot. boarded and found their seats, now anxious to be heading home. As the train headed toward Colorado Springs, the scenery became more and more familiar. They pulled into the station before noon, dropped their bags off at the clinic and headed toward the meadow where the church goers were just settling into the Sunday picnics.

As they approached their family, Katie saw them first. “MAMA!! PAPA!!” she yelled, getting up and running into her father’s arms. The rest of the family gathered around to welcome them home.

After the picnic, Sully picked up their bags and they headed home with Katie and Brian. Katie sat between her parents, a little hand on each arm, chattering away about how she missed them and what she did while they were gone. The rest of the family would be there for dinner, giving Sully and Michaela time to settle in at home, if they could with Katie so excited.

Colleen and Andrew picked up dinner at Grace's, with Amanda and Matthew bringing desert from the resort. Michaela and Sully gave out the gifts they brought home, showed them Little Feather's painting and told them about the Yellowstone.

"Ma, Pa, we're glad you had a good time,," said Colleen, "but we are very glad to have you home. We missed you very much."

"Yep! Missed ya!" exclaimed Katie.

"We missed you, too, and we thought about you often. We had a wonderful time though and hope return to the park one day with some or all of you."

Sully smiled. "It's nice to be home….to see you all lookin' well and happy. We really missed ya!"


Michaela woke up to some amazing sensations. She could tell it was early morning and she was home in her own bed, but after that, nothing really mattered as her body reacted to soft, sensual touching. She turned her head to look at her husband. He was on his side, with one leg hooked over hers. His fingers were drawing circles around her nipples and she was reacting to his touch.

“Hmmm…..nice…..Good morning my love. What is it you want?”

“Morning. You. Loving. In our bed.”

He leaned over and his mouth replaced his fingers, which became busy elsewhere. Her desire intensified as he continued travelling her body with hands and lips. She began caressing him, bringing his desires to the height of hers. Each caress sent thrills through her body. He lost himself in the feel of her. He buried his head in the valley between her breasts as her hands traveled down his back. Then their lips met and he moved over her. Finally, the desire overcame them as he entered her and they completed the journey.

Sully looked into Michaela's eyes as he gently kissed her again. "Being with ya, making love with ya all the places we been, the best is still here, in our home, in our bed. I love ya, Michaela, with my heart and soul."

"I love you, too. And yes, this has always been the best place for us."


Desire engulfs me.
I see red mountains arched against the sky
glowing in self-condemnation.
My eyes are half-lidded.
I feel it too.
Tears of want and selfishness
sting my lids and scorch my cheeks.
My hands are searching and seeking,
demanding.
Then sweet ecstasy and overwhelming fatigue,
with sweet tongues of fire
coursing our bodies together as we lie side by side
complete in immortality and sheer peril of desire.
And it ends, yet still runs,
fleeing from enclosures soft and warm,
cells of imprisonment, now released
to try.
And if to fail, to die.

-by D.O.S

The End

Send all comments to me at thorcatfic@yahoo.com.