ACT IV

It seemed an eternity before riders could be heard approaching and John Fulton and Preston Lodge drew their horses to a halt at the edge of the clearing and quickly made their way across to the stunned and injured group. Sully turned imploring eyes on the doctor. "She aint come to yet John," he murmured. "I don' know what's wrong with her ... Cloud Dancin' says there's a bruise on her forehead ..."

The doctor gave a brief nod and then turned his attention to the patient. As the medicine man had done, he checked her pulse and finding it strong, began a careful check for injuries. At last he looked up at Sully. "Help me turn her over," he instructed. "Onto her back ..."

Sully gulped and then as gently as he could, assisted the doctor. "You found anythin'," he asked fearfully.

John shook his head. "Not as far as I can see ... I wish she would regain consciousness ... then she could tell us ..."

As if on cue, Sully felt Michaela's fingers grip his hand and she groaned. He immediately bent over her. "Michaela?" he whispered hopefully.

"Sully," she whispered, her eyes remaining closed and her brow furrowed in pain. "My leg."

He stroked her hand reassuringly and turned worried eyes on the doctor who was already moving down to examine her legs.

Gently easing her stocking down on her left leg, John drew in a deep breath and began to gently prod the area below the knee with his fingertips.

"It ... it feels like its broken," moaned Michaela, tightly grasping Sully's hand as the pain became more intense.

"I'm not sure it is," mused the doctor, continuing his careful examination. "Its very badly bruised though .."

Michaela cautiously opened her eyes and then squeezed them shut again as a combination of light and rain caused her distress. Sully instantly tried to bend further over her to shield her from some of the rain, although he was dripping wet himself.

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes again, only to realise with horror where they were and what had happened. She immediately tried to pull herself up into a sitting position. "Matthew? ... The others?" she queried urgently, painfully turning her head to find them.

"Matthew's fine Michaela," Sully reassured her. "He's over there with one o' the fellas ..."

"Mr Morris?"

"He's fine too," Sully remarked wryly.

"Is anyone badly hurt?" she asked, now much more alert.

Sully swallowed. "The fella near Matthew is gonna need John ta look at him when he's finished with you," explained Sully. "The other fella ..."

Michaela flinched. "Russell's dead?" she asked sorrowfully.

"Uh huh ... musta bin hit full on ..."

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to compose herself, then peered down at John Fulton. "You better check the other man John," she said calmly. "Its only my leg ..."

"You sure?" he asked. "Nothing else hurts?"

She raised her fingers to the lump on her forehead. "Not enough to be a problem ... please check him ... then let me know about his injuries ..."

The doctor nodded, then hauled himself up from the muddy ground and headed over to where Matthew sat by the injured worker.

"You really alright Michaela?" asked Sully. "You were out to it for a long time ..."

"How long?"

"More 'an a half hour I reckon ..."

She again felt the lump on her forehead. "Perhaps a light concussion ... but I don't feel too bad now," she reassured him. She peered down at her leg which was already turning a livid shade of purple, and gulped. "I'm ... I'm not sure I'm going to be able to walk though ...," she murmured.

"Its alright ... Hank's bringin' back some help from town," he said softly. "Then we can get ya home an' inta the warm." He looked over to where John was working on the injured mill hand. "Preston's steerin' clear," he remarked. "Just as well ... I don' know what I'd do if he came over here ..."

Michaela grasped his hand. "Perhaps he's learnt his lesson," she said quietly. "He's going to have to deal with the consequences of refusing to listen to you ... including dealing with Russell's family ..."

"An' me ... He put you in danger ..."

"*I* put myself in danger Sully," she reminded him sheepishly. "By coming out here .."

"Yeah ... well ... we'll talk about that later," rejoined Sully a little sternly. "Preston brought this trouble on himself ... but no-one shoulda died just cos he's stupid," he asserted, just loud enough he hoped for Preston to hear. The banker wisely chose to ignore him, at least for now.

******************
"You sure you wouldn' rather be upstairs in bed?" queried Sully yet again, as he tucked a blanket around Michaela and ensured that her injured leg was comfortably supported by a stool.

"I'm certain," she rejoined, holding her coffee cup between her hands to warm them. "I want to be here with you ... not on my own upstairs ..."

"You sure you aint in too much pain? Ya want some more tea ... or maybe some o' that laudanum John prescribed?"

She smiled. "Please stop fussing Sully ... I'm fine," she assured him.

"What about your head? ... Let me check your eyes agin ..."

She dutifully lifted her eyes to his and he bent to peer into them. "They look alright," he commented softly, lightly brushing his lips over hers.

She patted the stool beside her, urging him to sit with her, then after he'd settled and taken her hand tenderly in his, she asked tentatively, "What do you think'll happen out at the mill now?"

He shrugged and lowered his eyes to the floor. "Don' really care ... You know what *I'd* like to see happen ...," he returned, a touch sullenly.

She reached out and cupped his face. "Yes I know," she rejoined tenderly. "But we both know an accident like this won't deter Preston when he's staked so much on the mill's success." She lowered her eyes and her lip trembled momentarily. "I've been thinking about Russell's family ... What are they going to do now? I keep remembering him standing up to Preston at the meeting at Grace's ... telling him about the heartache he'd caused with the collapse of the bank in the Panic ... Then when Preston offered him the job out at the mill, he thought things were taking a turn for the better ... Now his family's lost him ..."

"If it were someone else ... I'd say they might help ... but Preston?"

"He can be kind of cold can't he," mused Michaela. "But surely not that cold ..."

"Guess we'll have ta wait an' see ...," suggested Sully, cynicism in his tone. "Ya know I'm goin' back out there in the mornin'."

"You are?!" exclaimed Michaela. "Why?"

"Goin' out with Hank an' Cloud Dancin' agin ... gonna have a talk with Morris ..."

"About what he did to Dorothy?"

"Uh huh ..."

"I hope she's alright?"

"Cloud Dancin' was goin' inta town ta see her ... He's pretty angry about it ..." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and drew her in close against his chest, grateful it hadn't been Michaela Morris had approached.

"Did she tell you why he did it?" asked Michaela diffidently.

"No .. she tell you?"

Michaela swallowed and nodded. "He somehow knew about her and Cloud Dancing ..."

Sully frowned. "How'd he know? An' what's it got ta do with him anyway?"

"He ... um ... apparently ..."

"Its Preston agin aint it! Fillin' Morris's head with notions he has no business even knowin' about ... that man!"

Before Michaela could think of something to appease him, there came a knock at the homestead door. Both sets of eyes flew to the clock on the mantle. It was after eight and still raining. Who could be calling at this hour and why? Sully clambered up and headed to the door. He pulled it open to reveal a wet and windswept Dorothy. "Hey Sully," she said quietly. "Hope you don' mind me comin' out here like this ... but ... well ... I was worried about Michaela ..."

Sully pulled the door wider open and beckoned her inside. "Course we don' mind Dorothy ... come in ...," he entreated.

Before stepping across the threshold, she shook the rain from her hat and shrugged out of her coat. Sully took them from her and she hurried across to Michaela's side. "How ya feelin' Michaela?" she asked at once. "I couldn' believe it when they said you got hurt ... Its your leg aint it? I'm sorry 'bout everythin'."

Michaela regarded her worriedly. Her friend was pale, and seemed distracted. "I'm fine Dorothy ... It was a close call ... but compared to others." Michaela trailed off.

Dorothy sat herself in the other wingback chair and rejoined sorrowfully, "I heard about Russell Sydes ... What's his family gonna do now? Preston sure has a lot ta answer for ..."

Michaela nodded. "And so does Mr Morris ...," she said softly. "I didn't realise until later ... but Russell appeared not long after I arrived ... He just stayed in the background, but ..."

"You think he was makin' sure what happened to me didn' happen to you?" concluded Dorothy in shock.

"Do you think he knew what went on between you and Mr Morris?" asked Michaela. "You said he helped you up and onto your horse .."

Dorothy frowned. "He might've guessed," she replied thoughtfully. "I was pretty upset ..." She bit her lip and tears rose in her eyes. "Seems like everythin's goin' wrong," she murmured desolately. She abruptly stood, walked over to the fire and stared down into the flames.

"Dorothy?" asked Michaela worriedly, especially concerned when she noticed her friend tremble. "What's happened?"

Her back to them, Dorothy took a deep breath, then answered soulfully, "Cloud Dancin's ... he's ... he's goin' away ... north ... to the Tongue River Valley ..."

"He's gone there plenty o' times before Dorothy," Sully said quietly.

She turned to face them. Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears, as she said wretchedly, ""Cept this time he's talkin' 'bout not comin' back ..." At last the tears rolled down her cheeks and she twisted her handkerchief tensely.

"Not comin' back!" exclaimed Sully.

Dorothy nodded and then continued, "He says after seein' the mess out there today, he can't stick around an' watch what's happenin' ... But only a few weeks back he told me this was where he belonged ... here ... with me ... with us ..."

"Are you certain you understood him Dorothy?" asked Michaela, obviously perplexed.

"I understood alright ... I tried ta git him ta change his mind ... but it seems like he's decided ...." She hung her head and murmured, "I thought I meant somethin' to him ..."

There was a long silence in the room while each pondered their dear friend's announcement. At last Michaela's eyes opened wide as a thought occurred to her, and she asked calmly, "Did you tell Cloud Dancing why Mr Morris tried what he did today?"

"Course I did," replied Dorothy at once. "We don' keep secrets from each other."

Realising where Michaela's thoughts were going, Sully asked, "An' he told you *after* that he was goin'?"

Again Dorothy's eyes welled with tears. "Uh huh ... we had supper ... an' then just before he got up ta go ... he told me ..."

Michaela reached out her hand to her friend who moved across and stooped down to take it. "Give him some time to think things over Dorothy," Michaela recommended quietly. "It must be very difficult for him ... living like he does ... but I know he cares for you deeply."

The older woman swallowed and nodded. "I don' know how I'd bear it if he went away an' didn' come back," she said softly. "I love him so much ..." She lowered her eyes to the floor and fought the tears that threatened to fall once again.

Michaela continued to hold her hand and offer reassurance, while over her friend's head, she met Sully's eyes worriedly.

*******************
Preston Lodge straightened his hat and plastered on a smile he didn't feel as the south bound train from Denver pulled into the Colorado Springs railroad station at nine the next morning. He had slept little the previous night, haunted by the scene that had met his eyes when he'd ridden into the mill yard the afternoon before. The sight of Russell Sydes' crushed body would haunt him forever.

The last thing he needed right now was to have to be polite to a couple of do-gooders from back east, however, his upbringing and his concerns for his business forced him to do so. As Franklin Hough alighted from the train, Preston stepped forward. "Good day sir," he offered. "I was expecting you."

Franklin Hough was a round little man - rosy cheeks, wide smile, sparkling blue eyes - but underneath, he was sharp and had a sometimes cutting wit. "Ah ... Mr Lodge," he said with an amiable smile. "Thank-you for meeting us ... I know you are a busy man ..." He turned back to introduce his tall, thin, and somewhat dishevelled companion. "This is George Grinnell ... a journalist with the new 'Forest and Stream' magazine. He was anxious to journey west and see some of the magnificent forests and mountains of which he has only read."

"Welcome Mr Grinnell," responded Preston, shaking the man's hand. "Now ... perhaps you would both like me to take you out to your accommodation at the Chateau? ... You must be tired after your long journey ..."

"But no ...," exclaimed Mr Hough. "We have only a couple of days in this beautiful part of our country ... and we are anxious to see your mill ..."

Preston swallowed. "I'm afraid you're not going to see it at its best," he apologised. "You see ... the rain ... and I'm afraid we had some problems yesterday ..."

"Problems?" asked Grinnell, his journalist's mind ticking over.

"Well ... yes ... some ground gave way ... the heavy rain you know," explained Preston haltingly.

Hough waved his hand dismissively. "We are both well aware of the vagaries which can beset an enterprise such as yours," he said with a smile. "But ... as I said ... we are both most anxious to see it."

Preston inwardly sighed and then indicated his buggy standing by the side of the station. "Very well," he said. "But the road may be a little rough ... still a lot of water about ..."

"Don't worry about us Mr Lodge," George Grinnell reassured him. "We're used to forest and mountain trails."

Preston collected the two men's baggage and then led them over to his buggy. As Franklin Hough stepped up into the seat, he remarked, "Oh ... by the way Lodge ... your father sends his regards. I had dinner with him only a couple of weeks back ... He is anxious to hear how your mill is progressing."

Preston's jaw clenched momentarily and then he again plastered on a smile. "We'll be going then shall we," he said, climbing up into the front and taking up the reins.

***************
Bill Morris looked up with dismay as the three riders rode into the clearing. After a sleepless night and heavy work since dawn, the last thing he needed was to be blamed again as he had been yesterday. He peered up into the still heavy skies as if seeking divine guidance and then took a deep breath. As they climbed down from their mounts, he strode across and addressed Sully and Cloud Dancing. "You two come out here ta gloat," he charged with bravado. "Don' need any more interference from you ..."

"Hold up fella ... they came out here with me," said Hank authoritatively, striding over to stand by the foreman. He tapped his badge pinned to his lapel. "Wanted ta speak with ya about what happened yesterday ..."

"The flood weren't my fault," retorted the man with surprise.

"Aint talkin' about the accident," rejoined Hank. "Talkin' about the way you mighta treated a lady."

Morris frowned. "Don' know what you're talkin' about," he returned.

"Dorothy Jennin's came out her yesterday afternoon ... didn' she?" Hank inquired.

"Oh .... *her*," answered Morris, his eyes narrowing.

"Yeah ... her," rejoined Hank. "Seems ta me ... you might notta bin a gentleman where she's concerned ..."

"That what she said?" the foreman challenged.

"Not in so many words ... but me, Sully an' Cloud Dancin' here know her pretty well ... We could tell somethin' happened."

Morris chuckled derisively. "The indian aint the only one huh," he remarked, deliberately misinterpreting Hank's meaning.

"Whatdya mean by that?" demanded Sully angrily.

The man laughed out loud. "What I mean is ..." His eyes glittered. "That woman aint no better 'an a whore ... keepin' company with an indian ..."

Cloud Dancing's fists clenched, his expression hardened and he suddenly lunged at the foreman, only to be firmly held back by Sully and Hank on either side. "He aint worth it Cloud Dancin'," Sully muttered, struggling to maintain a hold on his angry friend. "You don' wanna be in trouble with the law ..." The medicine man lowered his head and took a deep breath.

Hank on his other side, abruptly stepped forward. "That aint a problem for me," he declared, unexpectedly swinging his arm back and then thrusting it forward, his fist connecting forcibly with the foreman's jaw. "Mister, ya got no right ta mistreat a lady ..."

Morris reeled backward, his lip split and bleeding, but before he could defend himself, an imperious voice could be heard calling indignantly, "I saw that Hank Lawson ... What right have you to be assaulting my foreman?" Preston Lodge clambered down from his buggy and strode angrily across to the group of men.

"Assaultin'?" queried Hank with feigned surprise.

"Yes ... assaulting ... We all saw it ..." Preston gazed across at Sully and Cloud Dancing, both of whom refused to meet his eyes. "Well didn't you?" he demanded of them.

There was silence until Sully said disdainfully, "Maybe we did an' maybe we didn' ... but he deserved what he got."

"I ... I ... didn't do anythin'," Morris protested.

Sully at last met Preston's eyes. "Why don' ya ask him why Dorothy's hat an' coat are up in his office ... or why she got back inta town yesterday afternoon covered in mud ... an' bruised."

Preston looked genuinely shocked and turned to Morris. "What does he mean?" he demanded. "*Was* Dorothy Jennings here yesterday ?... I didn't see her ..."

The man's lips suddenly thinned. "I aint sayin' anythin'," he muttered.

"Ah ... Mr Lodge?" called Franklin Hough, who with his friend had been patiently waiting in the buggy. "Is everything alright?"

Preston waved dismissively. "Just fine Mr Hough ... just fine ..." He addressed Morris, "I'll talk to *you* later." He turned to the other three. "And I'll discuss this assault later also ... but right now I have enough problems to deal with." His voice dropped as footsteps could be heard approaching.

"I see what you mean about the flooding out here Lodge," said Hough, his smile still broad. "But I daresay there are no problems which cannot be overcome." His twinkling eyes met Sully's.

"We'll talk later Preston," said Hank, as the threesome began to move off. "Think you oughta know what's bin goin' on ..."

Preston nodded and turned to his two guests, only to be forestalled by Mr Hough saying amiably, "Excuse me for a moment Lodge, I must have a word with that young man." He nodded toward Sully. "I met up with a friend of his recently."

He scurried after the threesome and hailed Sully. "Byron Sully isn't it?" he asked, holding out his hand. "Franklin B Hough," he introduced himself. "Welland told me I would easily recognise you. He sends his regards." As Sully shook his hand and the others wandered off towards their horses, he said conspiratorially, "Quite a little skirmish I witnessed back there."

"Man got what was comin'," rejoined Sully concisely. "Gotta learn how ta treat a lady ..."

"Welland said you were a forthright young man ... and it seems he was right," returned Hough. "Also said to disregard the exterior ... and concentrate on the mind," he murmured, almost to himself.

"What's that supposed ta mean?" demanded Sully, not sure how to react to the strange statement.

"Ah ... just my musings. I want to thank you Mr Sully for the opportunity you've provided me ..."

Sully's eyes narrowed. "Opportunity?"

"Oh yes ... a chance to visit these magnificent forests and mountains ... to perhaps play a part in their preservation." He chuckled. "A unique and calculating idea you had ... ah ... *encouraging* Preston Lodge to preserve the land, almost before he's started destroying it ..."

Sully shrugged. "Only thing I could think of ... Only I wasn' sure anyone would listen ... that's why I wrote Mr Smith ..."

"Oh we're listening my lad," rejoined Hough. "I'm afraid there are still too few of us ... but we're having some impact. George over there hopes to promote conservation through 'Forest and Stream', a new magazine published for the first time last year ... and I am becoming more and more well known in political circles ... Unfortunately we will not be able to save everything we wish ... but even small successes are better than none ..."

"Sounds like somethin' my wife would say," returned Sully with a rueful smile.

"Then she's a wise woman Mr Sully ... By being an active participant you have the opportunity to influence the right people, and with that astute and cunning mind of yours, contribute to minimising the damage being done and preserving what is good in this country ..."

Sully shuffled his feet embarrassedly. "I don' know about that," he muttered.

"I do ... Its men like you we need working actively on the ground," responded Hough immediately. "Now Welland was telling me about a unique rock formation ... the Red Rocks I believe he said ... Mentioned that you're working towards them being preserved as a National Park." When Sully nodded, Hough urged, "Although we have only a couple of days in Colorado Springs ... we would both very much like to see this Red Rocks area ... Is there any chance you could show it to us?"

Sully suddenly smiled widely, "Sure there is," he rejoined. "You just say the word."

********************
Getting right to the point, Sully said quietly to Cloud Dancing, "Dorothy says you're leavin'." The two men had dismounted to give their horses a breather on the way back to Palmer Creek, while Hank had headed into town.

"I believe it is best," replied the medicine man calmly.

"For who?" asked Sully bluntly.

"You do not think I have a right to join my people in the northern lands?" challenged Cloud Dancing defensively.

"I didn' say that ... course ya do ... if you're goin' for the right reasons ..."

"I cannot always be here ...," the medicine man said ambiguously.

"That's true ... none o' us know what's gonna happen in the future ...," agreed Sully. "I reckon I know why ya goin' ... but Dorothy's don't, an' she's pretty upset."

Cloud Dancing frowned. "I know this," he rejoined. "But it is better that I go ..."

"Why's that?"

"You heard why that foreman tried to hurt her yesterday?"

"Uh huh ..."

"So you see why I have to go ... My being with her is putting her in danger ... I know we cannot be apart if I stay at Palmer Creek ... so if I go north ..." Cloud Dancing trailed off, his gaze fixed on something far off into the distance.

"Then you'll never know what's happenin' to her," said Sully quietly. "What makes ya think she's gonna be any safer cos you aint around?"

Cloud Dancing turned to regard him thoughtfully. "But there would be no reason for men such as Morris ... for what happened yesterday to happen again ..."

Sully shook his head. "Men like that are always gonna be around ... they just need an excuse ... If you go north ... away from her ... you won't know if she's safe or not ... If ya stay ... at least ya can try an' do somethin' about keepin' her safe ... an' happy ... Aint that what its about? Love I mean? I aint ever known you to run away ..."

"I am not running away ... I wish to protect her ..."

"Seems a funny way o' doin' it ta me ... an' it sure aint the way she'll see it ... She knows what lovin' ya means ... that it aint gonna be easy ... But she does love you ... need you ... I suppose it comes down to how much *you* love *her* ..."

"That is why it is best if I go ..."

Sully shrugged. "Like Hough just told me ... sometimes ya gotta accept a situation for what it is ... an' do your best ta make it better ... for everyone ..." He trailed off and his brow furrowed as a notion occurred to him, a notion that made his stomach turn. He shook himself, and then added quietly, "Think about it ... you wanna be separated from her ... not knowin' what's happenin' to her ... what she's doin' ... or do ya wanna be a part of her life? Its up to you ..." He grasped the reins of his horse and quickly mounted. He peered up into the sky. "Reckon we aint seen the last o' the rain ... let's git back before we git wet all over agin ..."

Cloud Dancing nodded and he too mounted his horse. There was little else said on the way back to Palmer Creek as both men became lost in their thoughts.

*****************
"Still think its too early for you to be comin' inta town Michaela ... ya still can't put any weight on that leg ...," Sully asserted yet again, as he drew the wagon to a halt in front of the clinic.

"I don't want to stay long Sully ... but I do want to see how John's doing at the clinic ... and I must see Dorothy ... I'm worried about her," rejoined Michaela, lovingly stroking his arm.

He nodded, clambered down, circled the wagon and reached up for her as she edged along the seat towards him.

"Dr Mike!" exclaimed Loren, as he hurried over from the mercantile, Jake close behind. "Ha ya feelin'? Anythin' we can do for ya?"

"I'm fine Loren ... Jake," she replied. "I'm only staying a short while today ... but it won't be long before I'm back full time.

"That's good Dr Mike," returned Jake, reaching up to assist Sully, as he lifted her into his arms. "You be sure ta ask if ya need anythin'."

"We will ... and thanks," replied Michaela, her arms around Sully's neck as he cradled her.

As Loren and Jake began to move off, Michaela felt Sully's body tense and then he said tentatively, "Ah ... Jake?" The mayor turned back again, so he took a deep breath and said quietly, "Anyone volunteered for that Mining' Board job yet?"

Jake smiled ruefully. "What do you think? Everyone's layin' low ..."

Sully swallowed. "I mighta changed my mind about it ... I mean ... If ya can't git anyone else ta do it ..." Jake's eyebrows rose and Loren's mouth dropped open while Michaela regarded him with an odd mixture of surprise and pride. "I aint sayin' I'll do it for a long time or nothin' ... just see how it goes .. I mean ... if I don' feel comfortable doin' it ... then I won't be stayin' on ...," Sully clarified. "That is ... if ya still need someone ..."

"Ah ... sure ... we still need someone alright," declared Jake. "But what made ya change your mind?"

Sully settled Michaela more comfortably in his arms. "Lot o' things bin happenin' around here lately ... an' maybe I don' like some o' it ... but well ... I figure I gotta play my part ...," he explained haltingly. He suddenly looked Jake in the eye. "Ya know ... if I don' like the look o' some company ... or what they're suggestin' they're gonna do ... I won't agree to 'em settin' up here ... no matter how much money it'll bring to the town ... If ya don' like that, then I aint the right man for the job ..."

Jake held up his hands in mock surrender. "Yeah ... we know that ... an' there'll be some in town who'll try ta git ya to change ya mind ... maybe even includin' me an' Loren ... but I think we'd rather that, than havin' our town ruined by more folks like Preston who don' care what trouble they're causin'," he adjured. He paused and then said, "Ya know we'll have ta discuss it at Town Council?"

"Sure I do ..."

"An' maybe some folks won't like it ..."

"Ever known that ta put me off before?" asked Sully with a wry smile.

Jake shook his head wonderingly. "Nah ... I guess I aint ... I'll call a meetin' for early next week huh? You should be alright by then Dr Mike?"

"I'll be ready Jake," said Michaela with a wide smile.

Loren and Jake set off for their respective establishments, and Sully, with her still held securely in his arms, stepped up onto the clinic porch. Before he could knock at the door however, Michaela tightened her hold on him and then kissed him soundly. "I love you so much Byron Sully," she said quietly. "And right at this moment I feel very, very proud ..."

Sully regarded her ruefully. "Don' go gittin' ahead o' yourself Michaela," he rejoined. "Don' know whether the Town Council'll agree ... an' besides ... like I said ... if I don' feel comfortable ..."

"We'll see," she said knowingly. "We'll see."

********************
"Looks like the clouds are clearin' up at last," Sully observed, leaning on the homestead porch railing and peering up into the sky.

"I was becoming tired of the rain," Michaela remarked, from where she sat in a wooden chair, her leg supported by a stool.

"If it weren't for that bad leg o' yours I'd take ya down to try out the swing like I promised," he suggested playfully.

"As long as you make sure its safe," she rejoined with a grin. "I'll look forward to it."

He chuckled and remarked, "Pity Hough an' Grinnell had ta see the Red Rocks on a day like today ..."

"I'm sure they saw enough," she reassured him.

He nodded. "Talked ta Cloud Dancin' agin this mornin' ... He aint leavin' after all ..."

"He's not!" exclaimed Michaela in pleased surprise.

"Changed his mind ... decided this is where he belongs ... Better ta be with her ... than not bein' able to watch out for her ..."

She bit her lip. "Dorothy will be so pleased ...," she said softly.

"They've got a hard road in front of 'em ..."

"They're both very strong people ..."

Sully nodded and then turned to face her, his back against the railing. "Hough told me Preston's agreed to some of the conservation measures," he said, watching closely for her reaction.

"He has?!" she exclaimed. "And you didn't bother to tell me as soon as you came home."

He shrugged. "He's still gonna work that mill ... an' he was already doin' one o' the things ... though he didn' know it at the time ..."

"What's that?"

"Selective loggin' ... leavin' the young trees ta grow ... instead o' cuttin' 'em down with the others ...," Sully explained. "I just hope he sticks to it ... Hough even got him thinkin' about replantin' .."

"Do you think he'll do it?"

"Can't tell with Preston," remarked Sully. "Like as not he'll forget all about it after Hough an' Grinnell are gone ..."

Michaela shrugged her shoulders and commented, "Perhaps not ... Dorothy told me today Preston's returned the farm to Russell's family ... the one they lost when his bank collapsed ... to compensate them for his death ..." Sully's eyebrows rose. "Not only that ... he fired Mr Morris ... It seems Hank filled him in on what the foreman did to Dorothy ...," she added. "It helped that Dorothy had contacted Denver about Morris too ... seems he was never cut out to be a foreman ..."

"Like maybe I aint cut out to be on that Minin' Board," added Sully, already questioning his decision.

"That remains to be seen ... *I* have complete faith in you ... just like Grace and Robert E ..."

He moved across and squatted down to face her. "Long as I know I'm helpin' ta make this place better for Brian an' Katie, Robert A an' Olivia ... that's what'll keep me goin'. Like Hough said ... I gotta make the most of the situation ... instead o' just gittin' angry an' tryin' ta ignore what's goin' on ..."

"That's what made you change your mind?"

"Uh huh ... guess it's what Cloud Dancin' realised too ..."

He turned to the door as Katie and Brian emerged. "Thought I'd take Katie down to the swing seein' the rain's stopped," Brian suggested.

"Long as ya test it before she sits on it ... an' ya don' push her too high," agreed Sully with a smile.

"Yea!!" squealed the little girl, taking her brother's hand. "Come on Brian," she urged, tugging him towards the steps.

As they watched the siblings make their way to the oak, Michaela offered, "Why don't you go down there and join them? ... I know its where you want to be ... Besides I'd feel better about it if you were there ... to watch out for her."

He leaned in and kissed her lovingly, before standing and then sauntering down the steps and across the yard after them. She sighed with pleasure. He'd never really understand how proud she was of him, but then, that didn't really matter, as long as in this rapidly changing world he could remain true to himself.

THE END

Author's notes:

In 1873, Franklin B Hough read a paper at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Portland Maine, entitled, 'On the Duty of Governments in the Preservation of Forests'. This inspired the Association to prepare and submit a Memorial on forest preservation to Congress, which initiated Congressional interest in forest protection.