This story is part of the Virtual 8th Season. It's the 7th in the series. To read all of the 8th Season click here
January 1875
But the accompanying soldiers were not as certain. One kept his eyes on the horizon. “I think we better call the general.” With a short, sharp whistle, the remaining company of soldiers came up behind the three scouts. “What is it Sergeant?” the general asked, coming up alongside his soldier.
“Injuns Sir, coming across the plains.”
“How many?”
It was then that the soldiers saw the heard of buffalo that the scouts had seen. The heard was small due to the butchering the army had done over the last few years. Still, a band of Indian hunters followed the animals, hoping to feed their tribe. “Enough for a massacre,” another soldier said as he drew his weapon.
It was just before sunset when Tim Arrey and his buddies, Gary, Rick, and Jack, headed out to Deadwood Creek. With fishing poles in hand, the four young men walked along side the water until they came to Tim’s favorite fishing spot. Tim planted himself down on the muddy bank, motioning for his friends to join him. When they hesitated, Tim simply cast out a line. “Come on fellas this here’s the best fishin you’ll ever find.”
“Tim, we’ve been ridin for 6 hours. Why’d you bring us all the way up here?” Gary complained.
“Yea, ain’t this injun territory?” Rick asked.
“Since when are you concernin yourself over a few injuns?” Tim rebutted.
“I ain’t concernin myself over em. I’m concerning myself over myself.”
Tim just laughed. “You boys aren’t afraid of them savages are ya?”
“Course not,” Jack insisted. “It’s just…we heard they’ve been attackin innocent people up and down the plains.”
“Been a few unfortunate massacres,” Gary added.
“But the army hasn’t always been comin up on top,” Rick reminded them.
“That’s right,” Jack said. “I heard just the other day that two sergeants were killed in one of them battles.”
“We’re at war boys,” Tim said. “People are gonna die.”
“My sister said that the injuns just wanna live peaceful on their land. That if the Army would just leave me be and we stayed off their land, that we’d all be able to live together without no killins.”
“Jack we all know how crazy your sister is. Sympathizin with the enemy never got us anywhere.”
“They do get mighty riled up when we get on their land,” Rick pointed out.
“The Indian territory stops about a mile down the creek,” Tim said. “We aren’t on their land. But if you three are too scared to be so close, then you best head home. Me, I’m gonna fish.”
“I just don’t see why we can’t fish where we always do.” Gary said. “Just behind Widow Benson’s place. What’s wrong with that?”
“Window Benson don’t have fish like there are here.” Tim said. “You’ve seen the beasts I’ve brought back.”
“Let’s just go guys,” Rick said. “He ain’t gonna listen.”
“It’s you that ain’t listenin!” Tim called as his friends walked away. “Scared little boys.” He said under his breath. “They’re just scared. No adventure in em.” Tim felt a tug on his line and slowly drew it in. He threw the fish down in the bucket he had brought and went to the ground, looking for more bait. He dug down into the fertile mud of the bank, hoping to find some worms. What he found proved to be a much greater find.
It was only a small shimmer at first, Tim figured it was a trick of the setting sun. But when he hit a hard spot, he knew something besides dirt was sitting below him. He quickly gave up his search for worms and began digging toward the shining object. When he finally pulled it out of the land he held it in his hand. A small piece of gold, not bigger then his thumb, but surely there was more where that came from.
Days later, Tim found himself face-to-face with the United States Army. After hearing of the gold find, a senator had sent them to investigate. Lieutenant Samuel Boydston was in charge of finding out as much as he could from the boy. It was odd that anyone would find anything so close to Indian land. There wasn’t a town for miles. Boydston sat the boy down one evening and had a nice talk with him. “How’d you find yourself so far from home?”
Tim spoke calmly, knowing that even if his mother were to find out where he’d been spending his weekends, she was sure to forgive him once she saw that gold. “I get bored round here when there’s no school, so on the weekends, I’ve been goin up to Deadwood.”
“All alone?”
“Well most of the time.”
“Why there?” Boydston asked. The Indian lands were so secluded from the rest of the world. There shouldn’t have been anyone anywhere near there. “That has to be…”
“Takes me ‘bout 6 hours on horseback.” Tim said, still unfaltering.
“Why go so far?”
Tim shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. Good fishin.”
“And you found the gold up there.”
“Yep.” That’s all he’d been sayin since he found it. Everyone seemed so uncertain about it. A teenage boy that far from home. They just couldn’t believe it. Either that, or they didn’t want to.
“Can you show me on the map?” the Lieutenant asked, pulling a map from his stack of papers. He spread it across the table. “This is the best one I could find of the area. But the Indian borders and the creek aren’t noted.”
“I can show you where the creek is, but the spot isn’t on most maps. The people making them don’t have access to the exact borders of the Indian land so they can’t survey it or map it out.” Tim looked carefully at the map. “But I can show you where the creek runs. That should at least get you started.”
“Show me as close as you can.” Lieutenant Boydston said. “We’ll take care of the rest.”
“Small traces of gold were found along the banks of Deadwood Creek, just near the borders of the Indian land in the Black Hills. Lieutenant Samuel Boydston says that the U.S. Government is doing what it can to secure the area and extract what they can from the land. There is no word yet on how much gold they expect to find or what they will do with it. Boydston also warns that no one should attempt to start another gold rush. Anyone found within a two-mile radius of Deadwood will be imprisoned for interfering with government business.” When she finished reading, Dorothy placed the newspaper down in front of her. She couldn’t help but think what the discovery of gold would mean for Cloud Dancing and the other Indians in the Black Hills.
Her look did not go unnoticed by those people around her. It was noontime in Colorado Springs and despite the cold January weather, they had gathered at Grace’s for lunch. When Dorothy began reading out loud to Loren and Jake, Grace, Robert E, Hank, and Horace all gathered around to listen. “Don’t worry about Cloud Dancin.” Grace said, placing a comforting hand on Dorothy’s shoulder. “Like the article said, it’s just outside the Indian land. Nothing’s gonna happen.”
“I just can’t help but think what this will mean for them. The current government won’t tolerate them so nearby.”
“What do you think the governments gonna do with all that gold?” Loren asked.
“They didn’t say how much there was,” Grace said, pouring more coffee into Loren’s mug. “Maybe there isn’t any more there.”
“They wouldn’t be makin such a fuss if there wasn’t more.” Jake said. “There’s probably enough to make the whole army filthy rich. Not to mention all them politicians.”
“It didn’t say nothing about the Army getting the gold.” Robert E. pointed out.
“No but the Army’s part of the government and they’re the ones gonna be doin all the work. I bet them politicians give them all the gold they don’t need. And all us hard working folks get nothin.”
“You’ve never had a problem with the Army before Jake.” Dorothy said.
“That’s cause before they were working for us. Now they’re just causin trouble.”
“What do you mean?” Grace asked.
“I just mean that all they’ve done lately hasn’t helped us any. They keep killing innocent people and then wonderin why them injuns kill them in return. Plus I heard about all sorts of scandals goin on in Washington. The politicians are stealin money from wherever then can and the working folk are the ones who have to pay up.”
“Excuse me,” a voice interrupted the conversations. Everyone in the café stopped and turned towards the unfamiliar voice. When they looked, they saw a middle-aged man fully dressed in an Army uniform. “Can we help you?” Loren asked.
“I’m looking for Mr. Byron Sully. Might one of you know where I might find him?”
“Sully ain’t been in town much lately,” Loren said. “Not with the new baby and all.”
“Michaela’s been keeping her leash mighty tight,” Hank grinned
“Now don’t go talkin like that,” Loren grumbled.
“It’s not wrong for her to ask for a little help.” Dorothy said. “Having a new baby is rough at times.”
“Ain’t a father’s place,” Jake said, adding his two cents.
“I don’t mean to interrupt this pleasant conversation,” the stranger said. “But I really must talk with Mr. Sully as soon as possible.”
“I’ll take you out to the homestead,” Horace offered. “I already told Dr. Mike I’d bring out their mail today.” Horace rose from his seat and grabbed the stack of mail he had brought along with him.
The soldier nodded gratefully. “Thank you Sir.”
“What does the Army want with Sully now?” Hank asked.
“That’s official government business,” The man said. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Just so long as it don’t have something to do with injuns.” Loren said. “That’s caused us enough problems ‘round here.”
“I assure you Sir, there will be no trouble for Colorado Springs.”
Act 1
The man pulled his horse to a stop in the road and looked over at Horace. “Now why would you think something like that.”
“I… well… I… Sully ain’t exactly had the best of luck where the Army is involved,” Horace finally answered.
“So I’ve heard,” the soldier said, half under his breath. He had read up on Byron Sully before venturing across the country to Colorado. Despite all the black marks on his record, Sully was the man he needed. “Don’t you worry Sir, as long as he cooperates, Sully won’t be in any trouble.”
The men then nudged their horses on and rode to the homestead without further conversation. Horace rode up first, got off his horse, and went up to the front door. The soldier waited until Horace knocked to dismount. He stood with one leg up on the first step and waited for an answer from within. When Sully came to the door, he opened it slowly. Seeing Horace on his stoop, he opened the door fully. “Horace, what can I do for you?”
“I told Dr. Mike I’d bring the mail out,” Horace said. “She was expecting something.” Horace handed over a small stack of letters.
Sully took them graciously. It was then that Sully noticed the soldier standing in front of his house. “He come with you?” Sully asked the telegraph operator.
Horace turned around and remembered the man who had ridden with him. “Oh, I almost forgot,” he said bashfully. “He said he needed to talk to you so I offered to bring him out.” Thinking again about Sully’s past with the Army, Horace worried that he might have made a mistake bringing the stranger out to the homestead. “I hope that’s all right.”
Sully eyed the soldier suspiciously but promised himself not to pass judgment until he had heard what the man had to say. “It’s fine, Horace,” he assured.
The soldier stepped forward and offered his hand to Sully. “I believe I should introduce myself. I’m Lieutenant Boydston. I’ve come for your help Mr. Sully.”
“My help with what?” Sully asked warily.
“Perhaps we might speak in private,” Boydston suggested.
Horace took the hint and decided to head back to town. He offered his goodbyes to Sully and best wishes to be given to Dr. Mike and went off on his horse. When the telegraph operator had departed, Boydston turned back to Sully. “I hear you’ve done survey work for Welland Smith?”
“That’s right,” Sully said, still trying to gauge this man’s motives.
“The Army needs some surveying done up in the Black Hills. You were recommended for the job. Everyone says you’re the best.”
Upon mention of the Black Hills, Sully’s ears perked. Anything bringing the Army that close to the Cheyenne and Sioux was something he would fight against. “I ain’t interested,” he answered simply, not waiting for any kind of explanation.
“I don’t think you understand,” Lieutenant Boydston said. “I was sent to find you. You not accepting the job is not an option.”
“Why me?”
“Like I said, you’re the best. Smith speaks highly about you in Washington circles.”
“About my surveying work?” Sully asked.
“Among other things.”
“What kind of job you got planned?”
Boydston answered as simply as he could. “We need to know exactly where the boundaries of the Indian Territory lie.”
“What for?”
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that Mr. Sully.”
“Then I’m afraid I can’t help you out Lieutenant Boydston.”
"Suit yourself," Lieutenant Boydston said.
He turned, walked over to his horse, and mounted it. "If you change your mind, I'm only a telegram away," he added before heading back the way he came. Michaela appeared next to her husband cuddling their son to her chest. She pulled the blanket around him closer to protect his delicate skin from the harsh cold.
"Who was that?" she asked.
Sully wasn't sure how much she had heard. "Nobody," he told her. There was no need to upset her if she had missed most of the conversation. While his eyes had been focused on Boydston’s trail, Sully then switched his gaze to the baby in Michaela's arms. He placed his head gently on Shawn’s tiny head. "Let's get him out of this cold."
Michaela noted that Sully wasn’t telling her something but decided it wasn’t the time to prod. With every intent of bring up the visitor later that evening, she turned and headed back inside. As he followed his wife inside, Sully tried his best to shake the worry he felt over the Lieutenant’s visit.
"It cold. Why you leave door open Mama?" Katie asking standing by the door shivering. Sully closed the door and picked her up. "I'll warm you up," he told her giving her a big hug. Katie squealed with delight.
"Shh Katie, your brother is sleeping," Michaela told her. Katie frowned and squirmed until her father let her down. She ran to the stairs and stomped up each and every one of them. Michaela couldn't help but smile.
"We never went through this with Brian when Katie was born," Sully said.
"Brian was already eleven years old. She'll get over it soon. It's called sibling jealousy. All of my text books say it’s perfectly normal," Michaela assured him.
"Still. I'm goin' go check on her," Sully replied.
Michaela watched as he climbed the stairs and then placed the baby in the cradle.
Sully approached Katie's closed door and opened it. Katie was sitting on the floor playing with her dollhouse. "Hi Papa," she greeted him.
Sully sat down on her bed. "Come here Katie," he told her patting the bed next to him. Katie put down the dolls she had and climbed up onto her bed. "What's botherin' you hunny?" he asked her.
"I got to be quiet all time. Baby always seepin," she answered.
"Do you love your brother?" Sully asked her.
"Yes, I love my brudder but he no fun. You said baby would play with me," Katie answered.
"I did say that,” Sully acknowledged. “And he will when he gets a bit older. He's got a lot of growin' to do to even get to how big you are. You know you started off that small too.”
"I still don't like to be quiet," she reminded her father. Sully smiled as Michaela's stubbornness started to show through. He kissed her forehead and headed back downstairs.
"Is she ok?" Michaela asked, seeing her husband descend the stairs.
"She'll be ok. It’s just that sibling jealousy you talked about," Sully replied.
Later that afternoon, Michaela decided that she needed to get out of the house. She and Sully agreed that lunch at Grace’s was what everyone needed. When they arrived at the café, they were invited to sit with Dorothy, Loren, and Jake. Katie immediately ran to Dorothy and climbed into her lap. "And how are you today Miss Katherine Sully?" Dorothy asked.
"Good," Katie answered.
"And how is that beautiful baby?" Dorothy asked, moving her gaze to the infant in Michaela’s arms.
"He just got up from his nap. Would you like to hold him?" Michaela asked.
"Yes," Dorothy answered. She began to move Katie over to one knee, but the little girl took care of things on her own. With a frown she jumped down from Dorothy’s lap and wandered over to Loren, who was sitting a few seats away.
Dorothy and Michaela barely noticed the little girls behavior as the moved Shawn between them. "He gets cuter everyday," Dorothy complimented rocking him slowly back and forth.
Katie stomped her feet on the ground. No one seemed to notice her at all since that baby was born. She looked towards her mother and then to her father. They were both smiling at that baby. She didn't know what was so special about him. 'All he does is eat, sleep, and cry,' Katie thought.
Loren seemed to notice the frustration in Katie's eyes. He leaned towards her and whispered, "You want to get some candy?"
Katie's eyes immediately lit up and she nodded her head. He rose from his seat and took Katie's hand. "We'll be back," he said winking at Sully. Sully nodded his head. The two walked towards the Mercantile and for the first time that day Katie had a smile on her face.
Shawn started to cry and Michaela took him from Dorothy's arms. "Someone's hungry again. I'll be back soon," she said excusing herself. She headed towards the clinic for some privacy to feed her child.
"Sully," called a voice. Sully turned to find Horace walking to their table clutching a piece of paper. "This telegram just come for ya," Horace said handing the paper to him.
"Thanks," Sully replied. Horace returned back to work and Sully unfolded the paper in his hand. He silently read the contents of the telegram. A few moments later he excused himself and headed towards the clinic. He let himself in the front door and started walking up the stairs. "Michaela," he called.
"In here," she called back. Her voice sounded from a room down the hall. Sully walked to it, opened the door, walked in, and closed it behind him.
"I'm just finishing up," she told him. Noting the look on his face, she added, "Is something wrong?"
"I got a telegram from Cloud Dancin'," Sully replied, still not sure exactly how to tell his wife what was going on.
Immediately recognizing the severity of the situation from Sully’s tone, Michaela grew worried. "Cloud Dancing? What did it say? Is he alright?"
Sully could see she wasn't in a position to read the telegram so he decided to read it aloud.
Sully,
"The army’s in the Black Hills? Do you know why?" Michaela asked lifting Shawn to her shoulder and burping him. Sully was silent and Michaela knew at that moment he did know something. “Sully, what is it?” Michaela implored after his silence.
"That man that came to the homestead this morning asked me to scout for him. He said Welland Smith recommended me," Sully told her. “He’s with the Army.”
"What do they need you to survey?" Michaela asked him.
"They want to know where boundaries the Indian Territory are." Sully answered.
Michaela’s heart did flip-flops in her stomach. “Oh Sully, what are they planning now?”
“I don’t know,” he said honestly, “but I mean to find out.”
“But how?”
“By taking that surveying job.”
“You’re going to work for the Army?”
“I wasn’t,” Sully began. “Not until I got that telegram.”
“You’re really going to do this?” Michaela asked a hint of shock in her voice.
“Yes I have too. I can’t let the Army hurt the Indians anymore. I have to find out what they are going to do and stop it before it happens.”
“So you’re going to go off to the Black Hills and commit treason against the Army. We’ve been through this once Sully. I can’t do it again.”
“I’m not doing anything that’s treasonous.”
“Spying on the Army and then using that information against them. Sully we know how these people work. You won’t get away with it.”
“But Cloud Dancin’ needs me,” Sully answered.
“So does your family,” Michaela told him. She got up and walked out of the room and down the hall towards the stairs. Sully walked out into the hallway just as she was walking down the stairs.
“Michaela,” he called.
She didn’t stop or turn around but continued downstairs. She laid her son down on the bed and sat next to him. She turned around so that her back would be to Sully when he came downstairs.
“Michaela I’m tryin’ to talk to you,” Sully replied when he reached her side.
“There’s nothing more to talk about. You’ve already made up your mind,” Michaela told him.
“Don’t be upset,” Sully said placing an arm on her shoulder. She moved it off, picked up the baby, and walked almost to the door.
“You’re upset,” Sully said.
“Why shouldn’t I be? We have a new baby and you’re acting as though we have no family at all,” Michaela said.
“Don’t say that. I love my family but Cloud Dancing is a part of that,” Sully replied raising his voice.
Dorothy was outside, just about to knock on the door when she heard a commotion coming from inside. She stopped and listened.
“What are ya doin’?” Loren asked coming up behind he, Katie in tow.
“Shhh,” she said putting a finger to her lips.
So now Loren’s ears perked up and he listened too. Katie had no idea what was going on but the loud voices of her parents frightened her. Grace came over to see what was going on. She scowled at Dorothy and Grace for prying. “Come with me Katie,” she said taking the girl’s hand and leading her away. “You can’t let her hear this,” she scolded Loren.
Despite Grace not approving, Dorothy and Loren turned their ears back to the door. “Any other time I wouldn’t have a problem with it but we have Katie and now Shawn. They need their father at home,” Michaela told Sully.
“It will only be for a few days,” Sully said.
“That’s not the point. It’s hard to cater to both Katie and Shawn’s needs all by myself,” Michaela told him.
“You had no trouble takin’ care of Matthew, Colleen, and Brian,” Sully stated.
“How can you compare this to that? It’s completely different!” she exclaimed her voice getting higher.
“What’s goin’ on?” Hank asked walking over.
“Dr. Mike and Sully are havin’ a fight,” Loren explained.
A smirk appeared on Hank’s face. “I can’t miss this,” he said placing his ear against the door.
“You can stay mad all you want but tomorrow morning I am leavin’ for Black Hills,” Sully told Michaela.
“Don’t you dare walk out on this family!” Michaela warned. Sully walked to the door, opened it, and nearly plowed into Hank, Dorothy, and Loren.
Sully just slammed the door, uncharacteristically not caring if anyone saw his anger. Michaela flung the door open. Michaela swung the door open with every intent of yelling at her husband some about waking up Shawn, but when she saw her friends standing there watching, she bit her tongue. She looked at them for a moment, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but when she looked up and saw sully steadily walking away from her, her anger returned. With a swift turn of her skirt, she went back into the clinic and slammed the door herself.
As Michaela tried to calm Shawn back into sleep, she was fuming over her argument with Sully. She tried to calm herself but the feelings that begged Sully to stay were still there. His disregard for them hurt her deeply. She waited for Sully to return, almost certain he would. But after ten minutes there was no sign of him.
Act 2
Michaela turned around and saw Hank leaning coyly against a beam on the saloon porch. “First,” she began, pointing her anger at him now, “My marriage is none of your concern. It was rude of you to eavesdrop and especially discourteous to continue when you knew we were having an argument. Bringing that act into such innuendos as you just did is vulgar and offensive to me, Sully, and our children.”
Without any further words between them, Michaela continued on to the Mercantile. When she walked through the door, Dorothy and Loren both turned towards her. Without words, they just looked, wondering how angry she was at them for spying. Curtly, Michaela asked for her daughter.
“She’s over at Grace’s” Dorothy answered. “We didn’t want her to hear….”
Michaela left without even bothering to discuss her friends listening in on her private conversation. She was too angry at Sully, with the addition of Hank’s comments, to even think about them right now. Dorothy, however, would not let her friend walk away angry. “Michaela, wait,” she said, stepping out onto the porch. “Are you ok?” Dorothy asked her friend.
“I’m fine,” Michaela lied.
Dorothy noticed the bite on her words and tried to apologize. “Michaela, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“To listen in on a private conversation between me and my husband?” Michaela asked. “Because it looked to me like you had your ears nailed to the door. I’m not certain as to how this was trying not to listen.”
“It was wrong of me,” Dorothy acknowledged.
“Yes it was,” Michaela reiterated.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Michaela hesitated a moment, wanting a friend to confide in, but she ignored the urge. “I have to get Katie and head home. If Sully is leaving tomorrow, he’ll want to spend some time with the children before he goes.”
“Mind of I ride along?” Dorothy asked. “I’d like to speak to Sully.”
“What ever for?” Michaela wondered.
“He’s going to the Black Hills?”
“Apparently so. As you heard, I could not convince him otherwise.”
“I’d like to go along… to see Cloud Dancing.”
“I don’t know what Sully will say, but if he’s going you might as well go along.”
“He feels it’s something he has to do,” Dorothy noted. “How can you ask him to sit around here when he wants to be there?”
“Don’t support him,” Michaela told her curtly.
“I’m not choosin’ sides Michaela. I’m just tryin to get you to see why this is important,” Dorothy explained.
“Sully never had problems seeing when things were important,” Michaela said. “But putting his life in danger and thus risking the future happiness of our children’s lives is not worth it.”
“Danger?!” Dorothy exclaimed. “Michaela, what’s going on?”
Michaela looked puzzled. “You mean you didn’t hear?”
“All I heard was that Sully was going to the Black Hills and you didn’t seem to want him to go, because of the kids and all. I don’t see much danger in that.”
“It’s not just his leaving,” Michaela responded. “Its how he’s going about it and what he’ll be doing that worries me.”
“What’s he planning on doin?” Dorothy asked.
Michaela hooked one arm with Dorothy while holding Shawn’s basket with the other. “I’ll tell you about it on the way to Grace’s.”
“He’s going to survey for the Army?” Dorothy asked just as they were arriving at the café. “That’s so unlike Sully.”
“I know it is,” Michaela replied with all seriousness.
“But I think I can convince him not to do it,” Dorothy offered.
“How? He won’t even listen to me.”
“The man who came by the homestead this morning, he was with the Army?”
“That’s what Sully said,” Michaela replied.
“And he wanted Sully to survey lands around the Indian Reservation?”
“He wanted to know where the boundaries to the Indian Territory were, yes.”
“Let’s get Katie and Shawn home,” Dorothy suggested. “Then I have something you might want to read.”
When they arrived at the homestead, Michaela took Shawn and Dorothy followed closely with Katie. Leaving the wagon out front, they took the kids inside. Katie quickly disappeared upstairs to play in her room. After laying Shawn down in his cradle, Michaela built up a fire. When the flames were blazing, Michaela joined Dorothy at the kitchen table. “What was it you were going to show me?”
Dorothy took out the newspaper article she had shown the town early that morning. “I think I know what the Army wants.”
Michaela quickly skimmed the article. When she was through, she looked up, shocked. “They want to know where the boundaries are so they know if they’re mining on Indian land.”
“That’s what I was thinkin,” Dorothy agreed. “The question now is what will they do if they find out the gold is on the reservation.”
“I don’t think I want to know,” Michaela said. “It won’t be good.”
Almost 20 minutes later Michaela and Dorothy heard the front door open. They looked up from their tea and saw Sully walk into the room. He warmed his hands by the fire and looked in on his son in the cradle.
Seeing that they had company, Sully did his best to maintain a normal atmosphere. He planted a gentle kiss on Michaela’s cheek and whispered an “I’m sorry” in her ear.
“I’ve asked Dorothy to join us for supper,” Michaela told her husband. “She’d like to talk to you about something.”
“What’s that?” Sully asked the writer.
Dorothy wasn’t sure whether she broach the subject straight out and even less sure that she should discuss it with Michaela in the room, but this was her opportunity. “I’d like to go with you… to the Black Hills,” she stated matter-of-factly. “To see Cloud Dancing.”
Sully slightly cringed at the idea. He didn’t want anyone involved in this that didn’t need to be. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea right now Miss Dorothy,” he began. “I think there’s going to be some trouble and I don’t want to see anything happen to you.”
Dorothy, however, was prepared for this argument. “I’ve thought of that, and Michaela and I have discussed it. If you don’t do surveying work for the Army you won’t be involved with them. All that will need to be done is negotiations between them and the Indians. Both sides will listen to you. I can spend time with Cloud Dancin.”
Sully liked the idea of not having to do survey work, but did not see how it was possible. “Dorothy I don’t think you understand…”
“No, Sully,” Michaela interrupted. “Listen to her. The Army is out for gold.”
“Gold?” Sully asked.
“That’s right,” Dorothy said.
“In the Black Hills?”
“Found it in Deadwood Creek.”
“We can’t let them that close to the reservation.”
“So,” Dorothy posed. “I can come along?”
“We’re leaving on the first train tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll be ready,” Dorothy insisted.
Soon after Dorothy left, Michaela heard Sully bringing Katie to bed. She had left them earlier to feed Shawn and get him to bed. By the time he walked back into the room, Shawn was asleep, and Michaela was lying in bed reading.
Sully kissed his sleeping son and then started packing for his trip. Michaela looked up from her journal to say something, but stopped herself. After continuing in silence for what seemed like an eternity, Sully went over to the bed and tried to talk to his wife. Michaela did her best to pretend that she was enthralled with the article she was reading. Sully leaned in and tried to kiss her, but she turned away from him. “Are you just gonna stay mad?” he asked.
“I just think that you shouldn’t go.”
"You brought Dorothy out here so we could make plans to go together and now you want me to stay again?"
“I’ve always wanted you to stay. Dorothy had information that made the situation slightly less treasonous. I couldn’t let that go unsaid. But we still need you here.”
“Don’t try and make me feel guilty. I have to go and help my friend,” Sully replied.
“We’re not going to solve this tonight,” she told him. “We could talk all night but you’ll still end up doing what you want.”
“You think I want to leave?” Sully said, raising his voice. “You think I want this for Cloud Dancing? I would be more than happy to stay here with you and the kids but this is here, now, and I will not stand by and watch them kill my friend.”
“You don’t even know what is going on for sure. What if the Army gets their gold and leaves peacefully?”
“When has the Army ever left the Indians alone? They’re up there, there’s going to be trouble.”
“And you’re putting yourself in the middle of it.” Michaela rolled over then and blew out her candle. She was finished arguing.
Sully leaned over and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. “Michaela, I have to,” he said in a whisper.
“Good night Sully,” Michaela spoke ending their conversation and any hopes of solving anything that night.
The next morning Michaela was awoke by Katie jumping on the bed. “Papa says he’s ready to go.”
“Where’s your brother?”
“Downstairs.”
Michaela quickly dressed and brushed her hair before heading downstairs. “Katie tells me you’re ready to go. I suppose you need a ride into town,” Michaela said.
“Do you have to stay upset with me?” Sully asked.
“I can’t stand here and pretend I’m fine with it when I’m not,” Michaela answered.
“Michaela I know you’re unhappy but I just can’t stay here and do nothing,” Sully spoke.
“I know,” Michaela said softly. “I’m just worried about you…. And Cloud Dancing.”
“Then you understand why I have to go.”
“I understand,” Michaela insisted. “I just don’t like it.”
“Neither do I,” Sully said.
Colorado Springs was not the only place in America that got wind of the discovery of gold. As word spread across the country, people packed up and headed to the Black Hills. Despite the government warnings, the people came. Most obeyed the two-mile radius rule, thinking that if there was gold in that area, there must be some nearby as well.
The Army had secured the area that they believed to be richest in gold. As more people arrived in the area, they were forced to take action. Several documents were drawn up, each one widening the space of land the government had control over, thus pushing the eager rushers further and further from the gold.
Sully’s refusal to do the surveying work, however, had slowed down the process of obtaining the gold significantly. Yes, there were papers keeping civilians off the land, but until a proper survey was done, the land could not be officially government property. Without that, they could not do anything. The Army was at a standstill. Soldiers spent their days patrolling what they thought to be their borders. There was no digging, no panning, and no grand discoveries.
The Indians in the Black Hills were growing restless. The dog soldiers would go out everyday to watch the soldiers. No one knew why there were so near, but they meant to find out. The appearance of white people, seemingly settlers, worried the Indians even more.
One afternoon, the tribal leaders were gathered to discuss the onset of the whites in the area. When the warriors returned, they made their presence known among the counsel. They came in just as Cloud Dancing was again insisting on peace. “If we attack, more of our people will die,” he said.
“We cannot stand by and let them take our land,” one warrior said.
The others agreed. “They have taken our land before and if we let them we will do it again. We must stop them before it is too late.”
“What do you propose we do,” Cloud Dancing asked. “Attack them. Then we would be no better than they are.”
“We can protect our land, our women and children.”
Crazy Horse stepped in. “Protecting our land, the tribe, is what is most important. Killing the innocent is not the answer.”
“There are no innocent among them,” yet another warrior said.
“The spirits have told me not to fight,” Sitting Bull told them. “They have sent us a guide, a peacemaker.”
“Where is this peacemaker?”
“There can be no peace with the Army.”
Sitting Bull insisted. “Cloud Dancing has asked his friend for help. We will wait on him.”
“What good will a white man do? He cannot know how we suffer,”
Cloud Dancing tried to convince them. “Sully is my brother. Although our blood is different, we walk the same path. He will help us.”
“And while we wait on him, our land fills with white men. The Army has set up camp on the Deadwood and we sit around and do nothing. How long will you wait for this man to save us?”
“The spirits are our guides,” Crazy Horse said. “If we do not heed their advice, they will fail us. If Sitting Bull says the spirits spoke to him, then we must listen to what he says.”
“The spirits spoke to me as well,” a dog soldier claimed. “And in my vision I saw blood. There will be fighting.”
“But we will not start it,” Cloud Dancing urged.
Act 3
“Katie be quiet,” Michaela scolded.
“I hate that stupid baby!” Katie yelled.
She stomped up the stairs giving the last one an extra stomp. Shawn’s face scrunched up and he started to wail. Michaela lifted him up and started rocking him. “Shhh…. Its ok sweetheart,” she said in a soothing voice.
Katie watched from the stairs, tears streaming down her face. “Mama used to do that to me,” she said to herself.
An idea popped into her head and she ran back upstairs and into her room. She took the sheet off her bed and started dumping things onto it. “I’ll live by myself like Cleen and Maffhew,” she said after wrapping her things up. She remembered how Matthew told her how he used to live in the barn and she decided that’s what she’d do.
She walked back downstairs, carrying her bundle. She saw her mother sitting in the rocking chair with the baby. Quickly she headed to the back door. She slowly opened it and walked outside, partly closing the door behind her.
Michaela opened her eyes and realized she had been sleeping. She looked down to find Shawn still fast asleep in her arms. She stood up slowly and laid him in the cradle, deciding to check on Katie. Katie wasn’t in her room and Michaela took notice to her missing sheet and dolls. She figured she was in another room because Katie liked to play in Colleen’s old room. Michaela checked in every room but Katie was nowhere to be found. Michaela rushed downstairs, calling out Katie’s name.
She noticed the back door was ajar and remembered Katie liked to brush Flash and talk to the other animals. She made sure Shawn was ok before she headed to the barn. She opened the door and walked in calling Katie’s name.
From the loft, Katie’s head peeked over the edge. She ducked back and hid in the hay. Michaela called her name one more time before giving up and leaving. She walked a complete circle around the house calling out her daughter’s name each time a little louder. She almost headed out farther but remembered the sleeping baby inside.
“Sully why did you have to go now?” she asked aloud.
Just when she was about to give up and ride into town, Brian rode up. “Hey Ma! What’s the matter?” he asked dismounting his horse.
“Your sister’s missing,” Michaela explained.
“Missing? But where would she go? Why would she run off?” Brian asked.
“Sully left this morning to help Cloud Dancing and Katie is having a problem with jealousy towards Shawn. And I’m afraid she’s run away,” Michaela answered.
“Go back in the house with the baby. I’ll find her Ma,” Brian insisted.
Michaela didn’t want to but she trusted her son. And she was right to trust him. Within ten minutes he walked through the door carrying Katie. Michaela ran to her daughter and took her from Brian’s arms. “Katie where were you?” she cried.
“I found her in the loft of the barn. It took some coaxin’ and talkin’ but I got her to come down,” Brian explained.
“Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” Michaela told her daughter kissing her.
Michaela set Katie down and Brian took her aside. “Maybe I could watch Shawn while you and Katie have some alone time. I think it would do her a world of good,” he suggested.
“Here we are,” Sully said helping Dorothy off of her horse. Dorothy took a few minutes to familiarize herself with her surroundings. Indians were everywhere but there was only one she was looking for.
Finally she spotted Cloud Dancing. Sully headed towards his friend and Dorothy followed. Cloud Dancing’s eyes widened when he saw the woman heading towards him.
“Why did you come here?” he asked.
Dorothy was surprised and a little hurt by his tone of voice. “I… I… came with Sully. I’m gonna write a story,” Dorothy spoke. She wasn’t totally lying but she did leave out the real reason she had come.
“It is too dangerous for you here. You shouldn’t have come.”
“Someone’s gotta write the truth Cloud Dancing,” Sully interceded. “You know Dorothy will do that.”
Cloud Dancing softened, not able to stay upset. After all, he was as glad to see Dorothy as she was to see him. He gave her a soft smile. “You only came to write?”
“There was one other reason,” she said, remaining vague.
“Well it is good then that you have come,” he added. Dorothy smiled. “I am sorry but I must talk with Sully now,” Cloud Dancing replied pulling his friend aside. Dorothy took the hint and walked off in the opposite direction.
She was seriously considering why she had even come. But she quickly remembered when she glanced back at him and he smiled at her. Dorothy found this to be the opportune moment to start interviewing people while the two men talked.
“How are things at home?” Cloud Dancing asked.
“Michaela was upset that I came,” Sully answered.
“I hope I have not caused any problems,” Cloud Dancing replied.
“No. She’s ok.”
“The Dog Soldiers are growing more restless every day. I worry they may attack the soldiers,” Cloud Dancing explained.
Sully answered with an explanation as to why the soldiers were there, since Cloud dancing had yet to find this out. He explained what Dorothy had told him about the gold rush. “The Army’s tryin to buy the land so they can have claims on all the gold.”
Cloud Dancing’s concerns immediately heightened. “And then where do we go? This is the only place we have left to go. If they take it…”
“Let’s just try and stay clam for now,” Sully suggested. “I’ve asked Welland Smith to negotiate in Washington. I just hope he gets to the Army before anything happens.”
Welland Smith arrived at the reservation alter that same evening. After short inquiries, he found Sully in Cloud Dancing’s teepee. The two men greeted each other and then got to business.
“Did you talk to em?” Sully asked warily. He had every faith in Smith’s dedication to the cause, but when the Army was concerned, nothing should be taken lightly.
“I didn’t have to,” Smith responded. After Sully’s confused glance, he continued. “All my negotiations were done in Washington. I settled the purchase of the land with the parks department. They claimed there was nothing they could do without declaring the land a national site, thus keeping it from Indian use as well, but after enough convincing they were able to convince the Senators not to allow the army purchase.”
“And does the Army know?”
“I sent a telegram to Boydston myself. They have been ordered to leave the Black Hills tomorrow.”
Sully extended his hand to Smith. “Thank you Sir,” he said. “You don’t know what this means to me… and to the Indians.”
“You’re not the only one who wants to see these Indians alive and well Sully,” Smith told him. “I’m just glad there was something I could do.”
“We should tell Cloud Dancing and the others,” Sully suggested.
“I was wondering where they were,” Smith admitted. “Only the women and children were around when I arrived. And this is Cloud Dancing’s teepee, isn’t it?”
“He is with the elders, preparing a sweat lodge for prayer. Many feel lost in this. They are lookin for answers.”
“Then we should bring them the good news.”
Together, they left the teepee and went in search of the elders. When they came to the sweat lodge, Sully hesitated, not wanting to interrupt. When he heard conversation and not prayer chanting, he entered, Welland Smith right behind him.
“Another white man?” one Indian said. He turned to Sully harshly, “You have brought this man here?”
“He’s come to help,” Sully insisted. “He’s a friend to the Indians.”
“The white man is not our friend.”
“You’re trustin me. Trust him too.”
Before any other objections could be put forth, another person in the group spoke in Smith’s defense. “He is a friend,” the Indian asserted. “He brought us safely to the Black Hills.”
“That is correct,” Cloud Dancing said. Without having been told, he knew why Sully had invested in Smith’s help. “He brings us news from Washington?”
Smith spoke then, finally seeing that he would be trusted. He explained to the present tribe members what had happened in Washington. “The Army will be leaving,” He swore. “There will be no further intrusion on your land, I assure you.”
“And those who have come searching for gold?” an elder asked. “They will leave as well?”
Smith opened his mouth to answer but before he could utter a sound, a gunshot rang outside. Everyone went out to see what had happened. Five drunken soldiers, Boydston included, were standing on the edge of the tree line, weapons in hand. When they say the Indians emerging from their lodgings, they took aim. Three shots were fired simultaneously. The Indians could do nothing but retreat to their teepees once more. Even that left them out in the open to fire.
The dog soldiers grabbed weapons of their own and prepared to extinguish the enemy. “No!” Cloud Dancing shouted. “We will not fight them.”
“There are only five,” one warrior pointed out. “They will easily be defeated.”
“You don’t know how many more there are out there,” Sully warned. “They could kill everyone in camp.”
“Let me talk to them,” Smith suggested. “They won’t harm me.”
“This is our fight,” another warrior shouted.
Still, the warriors were held back. As the soldiers stumbled across the grass, a confrontation was started. Sully, Cloud Dancing, Welland Smith, and some other brave men began walking towards the intruding soldiers. When they met, one soldier held his rifle up to shoot one of the elders point blank. Sully grabbed the gun and with the end, hit the soldier’s hand.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Smith warned Lieutenant Boydston.
With slightly slurred speech, Boydston replied. “This was our land. What right do you have interfering with a good thing? You work in Washington,” he further reminded Smith. “You would have benefited.
“At a cost that I was not willing to pay,” Smith told him.
“Someone put you up to this.”
It was only then that Boydston recognized Sully’s presence. “You!” he shouted. “This was your doin. I should have know not to trust an Indian lover. I should have know not to get his name from someone like you,” he added pointing to Smith.
“Your orders are clear,” Smith said. “Stay off the reservation and be out of the Black Hills tomorrow morning.”
One of the other soldiers spoke up then. “You think you’re gonna stop us? We got a whole Army behind us.”
“And if you do anything to harm these Indians…” Sully warned.
Smith broke in with a real threat, “You will be court marshaled.”
Seeing that his Lieutenant was about to give up on the cause, one angry soldier took initiative. He drew a knife from his boot and stabbed the nearest Indian. The wounded man fell to the ground. Cloud Dancing knelt down to him and began ending to wound. Fortunately, it was only a small wound to the upper thigh. The man would live.
Welland Smith took the soldier and placed him under arrest. “You don’t hjave the authority!” the man yelled.
“I have the full authority given me by our Commander-in-Chief,” Smith stated. “I suggest you take the rest of your mean back to camp before you get yourselves into any more trouble,” he told Boydston. “And be out of the Black Hills before I get to the creek in the morning.”
When the new day arrived and the Army had fled, everyone decided that the Black Hills were safe once more. For how long, no one could say, but this problem at least had been resolved. Sully and Dorothy began making plans to return to Colorado the following day. Having not had much chance to talk with all of the problems, Cloud Dancing and Dorothy finally sat down together around a warming fire.
"Did you get your story done?"
"I still need to write about what happened last night," Dorothy said. "But it's mostly done"
"That is good," Cloud Dancing replied throwing a few sticks into the fire.
"I didn't just come for the story you know," Dorothy continued.
"That is what you said."
"I wanted to talk about... us."
"Us..." Cloud Dancing repeated the word.
Neither knew where to begin, or what to say. They both remained silent, watching the burning wood and rising flames. "There's somethin worryin you," Dorothy noted. Is somethin on your mind?"
"I've been thinking about us for awhile. Been trying to decide what we are to one another."
"So have I."
"I just never seemed to come to a conclusion…until now.”
"And what's that?" Dorothy asked, not liking the tone in his voice.
"If it weren't for these people," Cloud Dancing began, indicating his fellow Indians, "I would be all alone. My people are gone, but here I have found a new place... a new family. The Army killed our people before... and now I feel I am watching them die again."
"But what can I do?"
“You can write the truth, just as you said."
When Cloud dancing said nothing further, Dorothy knew what he wanted to say. "And that's the only place I fit into your life."
"You will always be in my heart."
"But I always be second won't I?"
He turned to her and grasped her hands. "I am sorry."
"I understand," Dorothy insisted. Though her emotions swelled, she knew that he was right. "Your people must come before us."
"We shall remain friends," Cloud Dancing insisted.
“Forever.”
“You will find another love.”
“I’m too old to find someone else,” Dorothy claimed.
“But your friends at home will keep you happy.”
“I’ll be happy knowing your still in my life…even if it is only as my friend.”
Cloud Dancing smiled. “I am glad you understand.” He moved his hands from her grasp and wrapped them around her. A single tear fell down her cheek as Dorothy leaned into his embrace.
Act 4
Finally she turned her attention to her daughter. “Katie what would you like to do?” Michaela asked her daughter.
“You have no time to play with me. You have to take care of Swan,” Katie answered. She continued to play with her dolls.
“Brian is going to watch the baby for awhile. That way you and I can do whatever you want without being interrupted,” Michaela explained.
Katie’s eyes lit up. “You mean we can play anything I want?” she asked again not truly believing her mother.
“Anything you want darling.”
“I want to wide horse,” Katie replied after some careful thinking.
“I don’t think you’re big enough to ride a horse yet,” Michaela told her.
Katie frowned. “But you said anything,” she reminded her mother.
Michaela was torn. She knew Katie was too young to be getting on a horse but at the same time she had promised her anything. She didn’t think Katie would have chosen something so out of the blue. She had hoped it would have required something quiet.
Michaela thought for a moment then with a sigh she granted her daughter her request. She wanted the time they had together to be special and if riding a horse was going to keep Katie happy then so be it.
She decided Flash would be the horse for the job because he was always very gentle. She got her ready as Katie eagerly and impatiently waited. Michaela took extra precautions and even considered tying Katie to the saddle so she wouldn’t be able to fall off.
Besides that fact Michaela held onto her daughter’s waist as the horse walked. Katie didn’t seem to be bothered by it and squealed with delight. “You still know how to have fun Mama,” she said.
Michaela smiled up at her daughter, realizing she wasn’t the little baby she used to rock to sleep. Katie was growing up.
When Michaela and Katie arrived home, the little girl ran into the house to tell her older brother all about her afternoon. This time, however, she remembered to be cautious of the sleeping baby. When she saw the baby awake in Brian’s arms, she decided to tell them both about the horse ride.
Michaela smiled contently as Katie gushed over her day. She noticed the mail on the table and sat down to look through it. When she came across a telegram from Sully, she tensed, hoping he was writing about his homecoming and not of some unfortunate happenings on the reservation.
She began reading and smiled at Sully’s keen sense of what was going on. “I know you are sitting at home right now worrying about me. The kids are playing by the fire and you’ve forgotten to begin supper.” Her nerves calmed. Instead of fear Michaela only felt longing for the return of her husband.
However, as Sully’s letter continued on to describe the confrontation with the soldiers and the wounded Indian, Michaela tensed again. Sully assured her that the wounded man was healing well and that Welland Smith had escorted the troops out of the area. The mere thought of Sully in the middle of such action was enough to bring a few stray tears to Michaela’s eyes. Although Sully’s words were meant to reassure her that the trouble was over, she could not believe that after such an incident everything would smooth out so easily. She worried that there would be more trouble, and Sully would be right in the middle of it.
Not able to read on, for fear of worse news, Michaela placed the paper down momentarily. She tried to regain composure and instead of dwelling on what might happen, she focused her attention on her children, who were still laughing together in the living room.
She rose from the table and stuffed the letter in her pocket, promising to finish it later that evening, when the children would not be able to gauge her reaction. Certainly even if there was bad news to follow what she had already read, the letter would end on a happy note, with some loving memory that would ease her nerves and allow her to sleep without Sully by her side.
After making sure that Brian was ok with Katie and Shawn, Michaela went outside to brush down Flash. Her mind kept wandering from her task to the letter that was burning in her pocket. She drew the paper out and began reading where she left off. Slowly she slid down into a sitting position, her eyes never leaving the page.
“I know this is only going to make you worry about me, but try not to. I’ll be home before you know it. All I can think about is getting home to you and the kids. I want to kiss them goodnight and climb into bed next to you.”
Michaela was reading out loud by now, trying to imagine Sully’s voice whispering the words in her ear. She was so engrossed in her thoughts, a mixture of worry and hope, that she didn’t notice the barn door open. She continued reading, but soon her voice mixed with that of another, standing behind her.
“I want to hold you in my arms and tell you how much I love you.” Michaela felt Sully’s arms wrap around her and closed her eyes as his lips found her neck. She was engrossed in the moment and dropped the letter to the floor.
Sully moved around to kiss her lips. She took him in willingly. When they parted Michaela looked up at him, “Don’t stop,” she pleaded.
“Glad ta see me?” Sully asked.
“Michaela held him close once more. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”
Sully picked up the letter from amongst the hay. “I told ya I was fine,” he noted, pointing to his very words.
“I know,” Michaela acknowledged. “I just couldn’t help thinking that something was going to happen, or had already happened. It was days ago that you wrote this.”
“You can stop frettin,” Sully comforted. “I’m home safe.”
“And the Indians?”
Sully sighed deeply. “They’re ok… for now. I just don’t know for how long they can keep bein saved by the few people who care that they survive.”
Michaela gave her vote of confidence. “As long as they have friends like you, they’ll keep going.”
“I can’t do it alone. The government’s against em. If Welland Smith hadn’t been there….”
“But he was,” Michaela reminded, trying to quell her husband’s worries.
Sully looked up into her eyes and saw her concern for his happiness. “I love you so much Michaela.”
“And I love you,” Michaela responded. “The children will be glad you’re home.”
“How have they been?”
Michaela rose with her husband’s assistance. She placed her arm around him and leaned gently on his shoulder. As they walked out of the barn and toward the house, she began relating the events that he had missed.
Sully stopped her outside the front door. “Sounds like they’ve been running you round in circles.”
Michaela only laughed. “I love every minute I spend with them. I just missed having your help keeping Katie occupied. She really resents the time I spend with Shawn.”
“I’m sure your afternoon together helped,” Sully assured her. “You won’t get many chances to do that when you go back to work.”
“I’ve been thinking about that while you were gone,” Michaela admitted. “I really need to go back soon. Shawn’s two months old now. He should be ok to be without me for a few hours. I already talked to Sarah, and she is going to watch him and Katie in one of the rooms upstairs.”
Sully leaned in and kissed her. “And I thought I was going to have to drag you away from this place,” he teased.
“I’d love to stay home forever,” Michaela admitted. “But I love my work too much.”
“I know you do,” Sully said. “It’s one of the reasons I love you. You’re a great doctor.”
Michaela blushed at the compliment. “Should we go inside?”
“No other place I’d rather be.”
It didn’t take Dorothy long to get her articles ready for print. She made up a special edition of the Gazette specifically on the events. Her coverage included not only an article on the confrontation with the Army but also first hand accounts from the Indians of events that happened before she arrived on the scene. Dorothy also managed to get an interview with a soldier as well as on of the potential settlers.
Once the articles were written, however, Dorothy had nothing to occupy her time. She spent her days trying to run the everyday tasks associated with the paper but instead found herself unable to do even the simple task of oiling her press. Since her articles on the Black Hills were completed, she had nothing that would keep her attention away from Cloud Dancing.
Night after night, Dorothy sat up in her bed unable to fall asleep. She knew that keeping her relationship with Cloud Dancing strictly a friendship was the best thing for them to do, but still, the loss of something further weighed on her mind. She tried everything to distract her thoughts from him, but no matter what she did, everything kept leading back to Cloud Dancing. Even writing could not sway her thoughts.
Finally she threw on a robe over her nightshift and headed over to the Mercantile. She had to talk to someone and she knew Loren would understand. She knocked softly at first but when there was no answer, she knocked harder. She saw Loren’s shadow coming down the stairs and towards the door. He looked out from behind the curtains. When he saw Dorothy standing there, he quickly opened the door.
“Dorothy, what are you doin? It’s the middle of the night.”
“I’m sorry for wakin you Loren. I just…”
“What is it?” Loren asked, sensing there was something wrong.
“Can I come in?” Dorothy posed.
Loren held the door open and let her walk past him. "Its good to have you back,” he said as he closed the door and locked it.
"I was only gone a few days Loren," Dorothy responded.
"It’s still good to see you back. I really enjoyed your story on it."
Dorothy lowered her eyes and responded quietly. "Thank you."
"You've got something on your mind don't ya?" he asked.
"And how can you tell a thing like that?" she asked back.
"I've known you for a lot of years. I can tell these things," he answered.
She paused not knowing if she should or even could tell Loren what had happened. Loren took her hand. “You look exhausted.”
“I haven’t been sleepin well,” she admitted.
“Was it that bad?” Loren asked, hoping the events his friend had written about were not too traumatic for her.
“Oh, it’s not that,” Dorothy claimed. “Everything worked out the best for the Indians.”
“There’s something you aren’t telling me,” Loren knew.
“I just… I didn’t want to be alone tonight.”
Loren immediately offered what he could. “You can stay in your old room,” he said. “And I’ll be right upstairs.”
Dorothy gratefully accepted the room, but assured Loren that she would only be staying the one night. He settled her in bed and then sat down next to her. “Dorothy, I hate seein you like this. Somethin’s different. Let me help.”
"Cloud Dancin' and I decided to be friends," Dorothy replied. “Nothin more than that.”
Loren looked up at her, momentarily shocked. He had never thought that this would have happened. She cared for Cloud Dancing so deeply, and he for her. That was obvious. "I'm sorry," Loren said sympathetically. He opened his arms and without hesitation Dorothy leaned into them. He held her tight and she rested her head on his shoulder and let a few tears fall.
Loren didn’t have to say anything. Just his comfort allowed Dorothy to express he feelings she had needed to let out. “I love him so much,” she said through the sobs. “Seein him have to fight everyday just to survive… it breaks my heart.”
Loren continued holding her and gently wiped away her tears. “He has to live for his people now. That’s the best thing to do,” she said, calming. “I know he loves me too, but it just cannot work. Somewhere inside, I guess I always knew that. It just hurts to know that all we will ever be to each other is friends.”
Loren pulled back so that she would look at him. He met her eyes and spoke gently. “Cloud Dancing will always love you,” he told her. “And so will I.”
Dorothy smiled at him thankfully. “I love you too Loren Bray.”
Epilogue
Coinciding with the financial Panic of 1873 causing high unemployment in the East, Custer's report suddenly attracted hundreds of people to the Black Hills region. The rush started in 1875 and exploded in 1876. Although it was illegal, the lure of gold caused many people to trespass into the Sioux reservation. Prospectors first found gold during the winter of 1874, and by 1875 there were 5,000 miners on the borders of the region. The development of Deadwood began in the spring of 1876 as illegal entry was overlooked by government troops. In September, the Sioux Treaty of 1876 ceded the Black Hills to the U. S. government and legally opened the region to whites in February 1877. Gold was first discovered in Deadwood sometime in August or September of 1875.
After three years of people digging up gold, and Deadwood’s population growing, the gold rush in this town had come to a halt due to people moving on to bigger and better gold strikes. Those who stayed were put to work by extracting gold from rock (which many found was tedious and left the town for this reason). Due to this reason the town had its up downs of gold findings, population growths, and industry spurts after the gold rush fever was over. The gulches of South Dakota's Black Hills region were the sites of the American West's last great gold strikes, and Deadwood was the focal point for the regions gold rushes and subsequent hard rock mining booms.
That's the end! Please leave comments!
Teaser
A crisp January breeze gusted across the open plains of the west. A light snow left from the great storm a few weeks before just barely covered the dead grass. The frozen ground cracked beneath the weight of horses, trotting slowly over the land. Three men sat atop the creatures, carefully surveying the plains. “Looks clear,” one of the riders said.
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Horace led the soldier to the Sully homestead. The rode in silence until they neared the last bend in the road. The kind man’s concern for a friend finally got the better of him. “Is Sully in some sort of trouble?” he asked the soldier.
The Army is close and the tribe grows worried. The spirits have spoken and say that danger is coming. The spirits did not say what kind. The Dog Soldiers are growing restless everyday. They want to attack the soldiers and kill them. They have even spoken of raiding nearby towns. Please send word if you know what the Army is planning. We need your help.
~Cloud Dancing
After having enough time to settle down, Michaela decided that she should head home herself. Sully was obviously not coming back. She wrapped up Shawn and placed him in his basket then headed out the clinic door. As she made her way to the Mercantile, where she expected Katie to be, Hank chose to interject his opinion on the fight. “You know Michaela,” he said. “If you ever need a real man, I’m right across the street. I mean if Sully’s gonna be away and you get lonely…”
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“Katie would you please go play with your flute in your room, you’ll wake your brother,” Michaela told her daughter. Katie grew frustrated. “Always be quiet, baby seepin’ all the time,” she said raising her voice. Inside his cradle, Shawn started to stir.
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“Are you sure you’ll be fine?” Michaela asked Brian for the third time. “Yes Ma. I’ve done this before. I’ll be fine. You and Katie have fun,” Brian insisted.
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The Sioux Indian Reservation in Black Hills was established in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. The treaty prevented white settlers from entering the region and was enforced by the U. S. military. Gold was known to be in the hills but as long as gold fields farther west were profitable, rumors of gold in the Black Hills were left uninvestigated. All of this changed when Lieutenant Colonel George Custer arrived in the Black Hills in the summer of 1874. Custer was establishing a new military post and his company included at least two experienced miners who panned gold as they forded the regions creeks. Custer reported the presence of gold on August 3, 1874.