Pup's eyes had opened just few days ago. His brothers and sisters were crawled around their mother, and were going to take another portion of milk. Noticing that, the pup tried to break loose from Brian's grip. Finally, he did this and joined the others.
Let him take his lunch, Brian, - Sully told the boy, - you can play with him later. Brian nodded.
They look like your Wolf. Is he their Pa?
Yep. Their ma, Cloud Dancing's dog, is a half-breed too, as the most of Indian's dogs. They're good hunters and good friends, 'cause they have wolf's courage and dog's devotion…
The pups sucked milk with great diligence.
Brian, it's time for your lunch also, - Sully reminded him, - I've promised Dr.Mike to take you home…
Sully, - the boy looked at him pleadingly, - I want this pup to be mine…please…
Well, - Sully answered, - I think, it's too early for taking him apart from his mother…
I can wait, - Brian added quickly, - until he'll getting bigger.
Besides that, you need Dr.Mike's permission first.
Brian frowned, but then his face lit up again:
I'll wish him as the Christmas gift. My Ma and Dr.Mike - they both told that Christmas wishes always become true.
Sully nodded, and they both walked toward home.
Few weeks passed, and Christmas was coming very soon…
The pup now ran across Sully's lean-to, sniffing all around, and Wolf looked at him suspiciously.
Sully patted Wolf's head:
Don't be jealous, Boy…that's your son, and he's for Brian.
Wolf raised his head from his paws, and looked at Sully who was carving something. If Wolf could read, he could understand there was a beautiful-carved signboard "Dr.Michaela Quinn, M.D./ Medicine Woman". Sully finished his work, and polished it with his sleeve…He began to carve it when Chief Black Kettle gave Dr.Mike her Cheyenne name He'ôhma'heo'o - Medicine Woman. But he had no any good reason to give her this present…
Sully sighed gravely and put the signboard aside . Then he stood up and added some firewood to the campfire.
Few minutes after, Wolf raised his head again, looking at Sully, who sat near the fire, his eyes closed. Wolf gently touched his hand by his cold wet nose, but Sully didn't stir, deep in his thoughts…
There was the smart Christmas tree, and the happy family around - the young couple and two their boys.
The younger is just about 4, he looked at the packed gifts under the tree, and then - at his mother with a question.
There is nothing for you, Byron, - his older brother teased, - you were not so good through the year.
Byron fought back tears with all his strength - he's "a man" and this is improperly to cry like a girl.
Aidan! - their mother said, - don't tease your brother! You both were good boys, and you both will have something for Christmas.
She kissed them and unpacked their gifts. The little boy's eyes lit up, when he had seen the beautiful rocking horse. He jumped and hugged tightly his mother, then father - even Aidan (he's not so bad at all, it spite of all his teasing) Mother smiled at him:
Perhaps, that's what you're wished for Christmas?
Yes, indeed! - the boy answered
All the Christmas wishes become true, - mother told him and kissed him again…
…That was the first Christmas he remembered very clear, and the dream about is repeated several times through all these years.
…He woke up with a smile on his face, but the reality was much worse. There was the Christmas Eve, and the snowflakes stlll were quietly falling to the ground - but now his family was gone, and he was in orphanage, where nobody needs and loves him…and he knew that this happy time never comes back. His eyes filled with tears, and he couldn't help it, silently crying into his pillow.
Suddenly he had heard some stirring at the next cot. He quickly wiped tears from his cheeks, as his friend walked to him.
Merry Christmas, Sully! - he whispered into Sully's ear, and put something small on his blanket. There was his clasp-knife with two blades , Daniel was the only proud owner of such a thing…
Merry Christmas, Daniel, - Sully whispered in answer. He had found some marbles in his pocket and put it in Daniel's palm. - This was my favourite holiday…
He suddenly remembered mother's favourite Christmas hymn, " Silent Night, Holy Night…", and his eyes became wet again…Daniel diplomatically turned away and walked towards his cot…
Looking at the ceiling Sully thought: some Christmas wishes become true anyway. He has no family, but he still has a friend….
The next Christmas they met somewhere in the woods, near the campfire…
That was my favourite day in whole year, - Sully said to his friend. He sighed heavily:
Well…we have no Christmas tree,
…and the Christmas turkey, as well, - Daniel added
…but we still can make a wish, - Sully finished, - My Ma told me, the Christmas wishes always become true…
Daniel shut his eyes for a second, them declared:
To find a lot of gold! Sure, your wish is the same, isn't it?
But Sully shook his head:
No, I wish to ever have a family…My own family, wife and children…I'll make them the best Christmas I can….
Some years later Sully met Abagail…He thought a lot of times, that his Christmas wish has been fulfilled, looking at his young beautiful wife…
There was the same dream about his early childhood before THAT Christmas. Abagail woke him with a tender and loving kiss, and whispered into his ear:
Merry Christmas! I have a wonderful gift for you…
And later, when they were unpacked their gifts, she looked at him, her dark eyes sparkling, and said proudly:
You know, there would be three of us to meet the next Christmas…
Hugging and kissing her, he reminded his mother words again…
The next Christmas was blacked out from his mind - there were no place for any holidays, no days and nights - just the grief and emptiness inside him. All that he wished was to join them wherever they were…but this wish had not fulfilled.
He could imagine the snowflakes falling down to the ground and covering it with a white blanket …Cloud Dancing's black hair became almost gray from the snow as he entered the teepee.
There was warm and cozy inside the lodge, and the medicine man took off his blanket capote and sat near the fireside. But before that he looked at the white man laying on the buffalo skin . Cloud Dancing leaned over him , and the smile of relief touched his lips.
You're better…- he established, - How are you feeling?
Yes, I'm better…Thank you, - Sully answered.
He felt tired and dizzy a little, but much better…He was alive, and to his wonderment, he enjoyed this feeling.
Ma'heo'o , the Great Spirit needs you to be alive - it means He'll show you your path again…I can tell you a lot of stories about this…
Cloud Dancing's voice seemed to sound from somewhere far away. Sully's eyes started to close, and the last what he had heard was the Snowbird's voice:
Perhaps, he's too weak to listen your stories…
The medicine man nodded, and said, smiling:
Perhaps…but he's strong enough to live on….
Wolf’s warm and dump tongue licked his face. Sully opened his eyes and stood up, taking the pup from the ground by one hand. He was going to visit the graves of Abagail and Hannah, and hoped to see Brian after church and give him his Christmas gift…
But there were neither Dr.Mike nor Cooper kids at the church. Sully was going to ask somebody about them, but suddenly had seen Loren Bray, walking right towards him…There was Christmas, so Loren didn't say any word, just looked angrily at his ex-son-in -law…He stopped near the small crowd of townsfolks to wish them merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Mr.Bray, - Emily Donovan smiled, - That's a pity, Dr.Mike and her kids are not here. What's wrong could be with them?
Nothing wrong, - Jake answered her instead, - there was snowstorm, and they couldn't be here because of it…
Sully imagined how upset the children are that they couldn't join the others…so as Dr.Mike. There was her first Christmas in Colorado-Springs, ans she will spend locked in the homestead…
The pup under his coat woke and struggled to release. Sully patted the small head:
Well.. I'll give you to Brian anyway…- and he left town, walking toward the homestead.
He doesn't know how long he stood on the porch, looking inside the house, to the family, that was sitting around the table, joining their hands in prayer…The family…that was all he was dreaming about for many years. With all his heart he wished to be there, among them - but he still hesitated on the porch, …
He looked at Michaela through the window, and his heart was pounding again.
Wolf looked at him attentively, then pulled him by his sleeve to the door…
All the Christmas wishes become true, boy. You're right- Sully took a deep breath and finally knocked to the door…
Michaela put out the lamp. The kids were already asleep (Brian was hugging his pup).
There was her first Christmas here, and it was happy…She looked through the window to the chain of Sully's footprints on the snow , and walked to the table. Michaela had found the signboard, Sully gave her, and smiled, patting its wooden surface…
"All the Christmas wishes become true, " - she whispered to herself. - That's right…
She didn’t answer Brian, when he asked her, what she wished for Christmas…Truly said, she wished to see Sully here, among them, as a part of the family…