Night Watcher
Virtual Season 7
by Paola C.
TEASER
Scene 1 - Day 1
By now the season was well into December; yet snow was holding, and the
cold winds from the mountains still gave some respite, at least during
the day. Loren had only recently put in use his best woolen waistcoat,
and the scarves and mittens on his shelves were largely untouched.
"Nah, it *is* cold, I tell ya," he was saying to anybody willing to
listen, looking out at the street under the morning sun. "It's just that
people don't wanna buy a new scarf - they're usin' the old one till it
falls to pieces."
Michaela was looking with longing at a beautiful new frying pan. "It's
been a hard time for everyone, Loren," she said. She put the pan down.
"I'd better think about what I'll put into it for the Christmas dinner,"
she added under her voice.
Sully and Cloud Dancing, who was back in town to spend the Colorado
Springs holidays with his Colorado Springs friends, were more entranced
by the hunting knives. Clearly Loren had ordered a lot of fine things in
the hope that people would buy them to give away as presents, but until
now, everything was just gathering dust on the shelves. Jared was up on
the ladder, trying to make room for new items which had just arrived and
which very few could most likely afford.
Sully turned and came to see what Michaela was doing. "Big plans for the
Christmas dinner?" he asked with a smile.
Michaela sighed. "Remember last year? We were coming back from the
Tongue River Valley..."
"Sure. We didn't even know if we would be back on time for Christmas..."
"*I* knew," Cloud Dancing said, without even turning from the shelves.
Michaela glanced at him, amused. "But this time," she went on, "I would
like some time to prepare the presents and the dinner." She looked around
archly. "I've become quite the gourmet, don't you know?"
Loren laughed under his breath. "Nobody ever doubted that, Dr. Mike." He
raised his eyebrows at Sully, who answered with a hopeful look.
Privately, Sully was relieved at seeing the old man look so much more
hearty, despite disappointments and his recent afflictions.
Then Sully got serious. "Won't be easy to pull off somethin' stylish.
What with the Panic and all, we're still tryin' to cope."
"Yeah," Loren added with a disappointed grimace. "Grace keeps complainin'
that food supplies don't arrive, an' I told her..." He brightened
suddenly. "Hey, I don't know if this is useful to ya, but I'm expectin' a
supply of canned meat an' other goods at a low price from Denver."
Michaela's eyes widened. "Loren, do you expect us to eat canned meat for
Christmas?"
"No, I expect you to eat canned meat now! This could allow you to save
for Christmas purchases."
While Michaela was considering the option, they heard a noise outside -
fast steps on the porch, getting closer. They got a glimpse of a long,
gangly figure speeding by the window, then the bell jangled brusquely,
the door flew open and Horace burst into the store.
"Dr. Mike! There you are." He stopped to regain his breath, red in the
face, a strip of paper clasped in his hands.
"What is it, Horace?" she asked, alarmed.
"Wire from East Fork. It's the Indian Agent. They say there's been a
revolt."
Michaela felt Sully stiffen at her side. Her eyes went to Cloud Dancing,
who was slowly turning away from the shelves, horror and surprise on his
face.
Horace didn't wait for her next question. "There are some wounded, both
soldiers an' Indians. Reckon the garrison's doctor is not much, if they
even have one."
"I must go," Michaela said firmly, holding her own shock in check.
"I will come with you," Cloud Dancing added. She looked at him and
nodded.
"I'll come too," Sully said quietly.
They all turned at him as though he had appeared out of thin air, even
Horace.
Michaela's face registered worry and pain, as much for his words as for
the ones she was about to tell him. "Sully - I'd rather not."
There was no need for questions. The events of Palmer Creek the year
before were still very much in everybody's mind. Sully looked into her
eyes, his own eyes burning. "Michaela... I can't stay out of this. I
won't plunge headlong into trouble. I swear it."
She looked at him for what seemed like ages. In fact it was just a split
second, the time it took her to hold out her hand to Horace, who gave her
the wire. Reluctantly, without ever leaving Sully's eyes, she nodded.
There was an almost imperceptible, relieved loosening in Sully's face and
stance. He turned, thanked Horace with a pat on the back and went out.
Cloud Dancing followed him swiftly.
"We need to tell Brian and Katie," Michaela called following the two men.
All plans for dinner put aside, for who knew how long, Michaela pattered
after them, a scarcely reassured look on her face.
END OF TEASER
