Several minutes passed as Sully’s family and friends clustered around him—hugging him, congratulating him, pumping his hand over and over.  The first kiss and embrace Sully reserved for Michaela, followed in rapid succession by embraces from his aunt and his children, and friends like Dorothy and Grace.  Sully and Cloud Dancing clasped arms, and then embraced each other tightly, united by their enduring bond, and the joy of their mutual freedom.  Robert E. shook Sully’s hand so hard it felt in danger of falling off, and then pulled him into a hug as well.  Loren, Andrew and the Reverend came up to him in turn, shaking his hand and clapping him on the back.  Even Jake shook Sully’s hand, smiling with uncharacteristic but genuine warmth.

     Hank hung back while the others hovered around Sully, but finally he approached and stood appraising him for a moment.  Sully met Hank’s eyes, awaiting his reaction

     “The judge done right,” Hank said levelly, and held out his hand.  Sully shook it respectfully.

     “Thanks, Hank,” he said.  “That means a lot.”

     Hank nodded, then looked around at the many men still milling about.  “Gold Nugget’s open, gentlemen!” he announced loudly.  “First drink’s on the house!”

     Sully smiled to himself.  “Never let it be said that Hank would miss a chance to turn a little profit,” he thought   And then on the heels of that, “Well, why not?  He’s earned it.”

     He craned his neck, scanning the crowded room in search of McKay.  After a few seconds Sully spotted him, standing in the corner speaking with Corporal Collins.  McKay glanced up and caught his eye, and Sully nodded to him across the room.  Presently McKay and Collins made their way to his side.

     “I owe you a debt of gratitude, Corporal,” Sully said sincerely.  “You done a brave thing—I can see why the sergeant trusts you so much.”  He shook Collins’ hand.

     “I’m glad I could help—but it was really the sergeant who was brave,” Collins said, glancing loyally at his superior.

     “I agree with you on that,” Sully said readily.  He turned to McKay.  “I don’t know how to thank you.  The risk you took for me—well, I’ll never forget it.”

     “You took quite a risk for me, not too long ago,” McKay reminded him.  “What I did was not that remarkable in comparison,” he added deprecatingly.

     “Nope—you ain’t gettin’ off that easy,” Sully disagreed.  “Like the corporal said—you’re a brave man, Sergeant—and an honorable one,” he declared, refusing to allow McKay to treat his sacrifice so lightly.

     McKay colored at Sully’s praise, but then said unexpectedly, “Wouldn’t you say it’s about time you called me ‘Terrence?’”

     Sully was surprised, but touched.  He looked McKay in the eyes.  “I’d like that. Thank you, Terrence.”

     “My pleasure,” McKay responded.  “I mean that.” He cleared his throat, then added, “Well—we’ll let you get back to celebrating with your family and friends.”  He touched his hand to the brim of his cap, then he and Collins walked away.

     Sully’s eyes roamed over the happy and caring faces grouped around him.  He was moved beyond words by their friendship and devotion, and deeply appreciated their congratulations.  But suddenly it seemed a little too close in the church, and he felt an overwhelming need to be out in the fresh air.

     “T want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for everythin’ you done for me, and for your kindness and carin’ for Michaela,” he said.  “Like the sergeant said, now’s a time for celebratin’, and I hope all of you will join Michaela and me at the homestead later for a proper gatherin’ to celebrate her recovery and my freedom,” he added, as Michaela smiled and nodded in agreement.

     “I’ll bring the food!” Grace chimed in, and everyone laughed.

     Sully smiled.  “Thanks, Grace,” he said sincerely.  “I hope to see you all there,” he went on.  “But right now, if you’ll excuse me—I  could kinda use a breath of air.”  He smiled a brief apology at everyone, then left their midst, walking quickly up the aisle.  The others looked after him sympathetically.  Michaela remained a moment longer to express her own thanks to the group, then followed him out.

     When she emerged from the church, she found Sully standing midway down the steps, looking around him wonderingly.

     “What is it?” she asked gently, slipping her arm through his.  He looked down at her.

     “No guards,” he said, as if he still could not quite believe it was true.

     “And there never will be again,” Michaela declared, regarding him joyfully.  “We got our happy ending, Sully.”

     “Looks like it,” he said softly, cupping her cheek as he bent his head to hers for a kiss.

     They heard the sound of someone clearing his throat behind then, and turned to see Matthew looking slightly embarrassed at his intrusion.  They both gave him a smile of welcome.

     “I was so proud of you today, Matthew,” said Michaela.

     “Me too,” Sully agreed.  “And more grateful than I can ever say.”

     “I don’t know if I could have done it without McKay’s help,” Matthew said honestly.

     “You woulda found a way,” Sully told him.

     “I hope so,” said Matthew.  “But it was McKay who gave us the break we needed.”

     “He did an amazin’ thing,” Sully agreed.  “I hope he and the corporal will join us later,” he added.

     “I’ll make sure they know about it,” Matthew promised him.  “Looks like we got a party to get ready for,” he added, grinning.  “I’ll round up Colleen and Brian and see about gettin’ the homestead ready for your homecomin’.”  He retraced his steps into the church.

     “’Homecoming,’” Michaela repeated softly.  “What a beautiful word.”  She stared lovingly into Sully’s eyes.  Lost in their admiration of each other, they weren’t immediately aware of the approach of a tall figure.

     “Well, that was quite a speech you made in there, Sully,” commented Preston suddenly, startling them both and giving them a thin smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

     Sully regarded him coolly and didn’t answer.  Unfazed, Preston continued, “Yes, indeed, that was a very noble offer of yours to make restitution to the people you hurt.  Tell me—does this mean I can expect your prompt return to my property to complete the work you so rudely abandoned?”

     “Michaela tells me you already got men to replace me and finish the buildin’,” Sully said shortly.

     “That’s true—but their work was of inferior quality,” Preston replied.  “I was forced to dismiss them.”

     “That ain’t my problem anymore, Preston,” Sully told him.

     “On the contrary,” Preston said, the false smile vanishing from his face.  “You made a commitment to me Sully, which you failed to honor.  I’m within my rights to hold you to our agreement.”

     “There’s plenty of good craftsman in need of work,” Sully said.  “And you can afford to hire the best.  My offer was to all the people who don’t have money to rebuild.  They’re the ones I hurt, and they’re the ones I’m gonna help.”

     “Awfully smug, aren’t you?” Preston said.  “Would you continue to be so high and mighty if I threatened to bring legal action against you for breach of contract?”

     “Appears to me the judge ain’t too happy with you right about now,” Sully answered, givng him a sardonic smile.  “I don’t think he’d look too kindly on you bringin’ another lawsuit.”

     “I will have satisfaction!” Preston declared sharply.

     “Don’t you owe the judge some money?” Sully said blandly.  “If I was you, I’d take care of that.”

     Preston’s face darkened.  “Speaking of ‘owing,’ you still have a mortgage with my bank, and I’ll expect payment promptly, the first of every month!”

     “It’s time for my wife and me to go home,” Sully said cuttingly.  “*If* you’ll excuse us.”

     Preston’s mouth closed with a snap, and he turned and stalked off.

     “That may not have been wise, Sully—goading Preston like that,” Michaela said worriedly.

     “It’s the most fun I’ve had in months,” Sully said, grinning down at her.  “Michaela, like we talked about last night—we got the means to pay off the mortgage once and for all.  First thing tomorrow, with your blessin’, I’m gonna do just that.  And with what’s left, I’m finally gonna set things right with the people in town—if you agree,” he added.

     “The money couldn’t be put to better use,” Michaela told him.

     “There probably won’t be much left for the kids after I’m done,” Sully warned her.

     “We’ve always provided for the children and we always will, Sully,” Michaela assured him.  “They have our love, and that’s worth more than all the gold nuggets in creation.”

     Sully gazed at her in admiration.  “Not just any woman,” he repeated in awe, and took her in his arms.

* * * * * * * * * *

     Sully leaned against the railing of the porch, filling his lungs with the crisp night air and  revelling in the peace and serenity of the darkness.  Behind him, lamplight spilled warmly out of the windows of the homestead, and brought a shimmering glow to the beveled glass panel of the front door.  He could hear the muted conversation and laughter of their guests, and was glad and grateful for their company.  But the feeling of claustrophobia which had plagued him earlier had returned, driving him to seek escape to the open spaces outside.  He hoped their friends and family would forgive his rudeness, but he wasn’t especially worried; everyone seemed to be having a fine time without him.

     He heard the door open, and looked gratified—if not surprised—when he saw Michaela slip outside.  Once again, she’d read his mind.  She was swathed in a flowered, fringed shawl, and carried a glass of Grace’s cider.  Sully held out his hand to her and she joined him readily.

     “I thought I’d find you here,” she said, smiling at him gently as she handed him the glass.

     He took a swallow of the sweet, tangy liquid, then placed the glass on the rail, looking a little guilty.  “Just can’t seem to get enough of bein’ outdoors,” he admitted.  “Feels like forever since I was able to come and go when and where I pleased.  Guess I ain’t bein’ very polite to everybody, though,” he added apologetically.

     “I’m sure they understand,” Michaela reassured him.  A peaceful silence fell between them as they gazed out toward the mountains, nearly invisible in the soft darkness.  After a while Michaela said, “I can hardly believe it was little more than a week ago that you came to me here.  Remember how we made love before the fire—and you told me about your mother and I told you about Rosalind?  It seems as if a lifetime has passed since then.”  She looked into his eyes.

     “I remember,” Sully answered, meeting her gaze.  “I never dreamed, when I was with you that night, that our lives would change so much.  Fact is—when you were hurt, layin’ unconscious in that bed, I was afraid we’d never get to this place,’ he confessed quietly  “I was so scared then, Michaela—way more than I ever coulda been ‘bout goin’ to prison.  And then the night I saw Flagg shoot at you—“

     Michaela put her fingertips to his lips, stopping his words.  “’Don’t think about bad things—only good,’” she quoted softly.  “Someone very precious to me told me that once, and it was wonderful advice.”  Sully smiled in modest recognition, recalling the words he’d said to comfort her when Michaela confessed her fears about motherhood just before Katie was born.  Gently he touched her cheek.

     “It’s all over now, Sully—all the fear, all the pain, all the heartbreak of being apart,” she went on.  “You’re home, at last—and no one can ever take you away from us again.  Even Cloud Dancing is free, thanks to you—we can all finally go on with our lives.”

     “I’ve been thankin’ the spirits over and over,” Sully agreed.  “I feel like I don’t deserve so much happiness, but I’m gonna do everythin’ in my power to earn it from now on.  I just wish—“  He paused.

     “Tell me,” she said.

     “Well, the bad things are over for us, but nothin’s really been settled for the Indians.  Cloud Dancin’ says the release of the Indians from town helped to show Black Moon that we weren’t his enemy, and so he’s been tryin’ to talk peace with the other tribes.  But most of the other tribal leaders are still resistin’ ‘cause they don’t trust the army.  This whole thing could go on for a long time to come.”

     “I’m afraid—not everyone has found their ‘happy ending,’” Michaela said regretfully.  “But you can’t give up hope, Sully.  If there’s a path to peace, I know you and Cloud Dancing will find it—or make it, yourselves.  You just need to have faith.”

     “If you’d told me that a week ago, I wouldn’t have been able to believe it,” Sully confessed.  “but after everythin’ that’s happened—you survivin’, the town forgivin’ me, and now me bein’ free, at last—I’m finally beginnin’ to understand how powerful faith can be.”

     “There’s something even more powerful than that,” Michaela told him signficantly, turning to face him and slipping her arms around his waist.  He bent his head and pressed his forehead to hers.

     “You don’t gotta tell me—I already know.  Us,” he said softly.  He stroked her hair with one hand, as he used the other to pull her more closely to him.

     “Yes, us,” she whispered.  “Together, Sully, we can do anything!”

     “Like this?” he said, closing his mouth over hers and kissing her with an intensity that left her breathless.

     “That’s definitely a start!” Michaela responded, when she could speak again.

     “More like—a preview of things to come,” Sully promised.

     “Can you give me another hint?” she asked, smiling seductively.

     “Well, I wouldn’t want to give away the entire plot,” he teased.  “I like takin’ each chapter in order.  But I guess another little preview—“ he kissed her, “or two,” he kissed her again, “or three, or four . . .”  By this time they were both giggling, feeling like giddy schoolchildren.  Face flushed, Michaela finally wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes.

     “I love you, Mr. Sully,” she said.

     “And I love you, Dr. Quinn,” he responded, and kissed her again, this time slowly, sensuously, and with an ardor that sent tremors through Michaela’s body.  She clung to him.  “If one could touch joy,” she thought, “it would feel like this.”

     “At it again?” said an amused voice below them.  Sully and Michaela jumped and pulled back from each other as they looked down from the porch to see Hank looking up at them with a knowing grin.

     “Hank,” Sully greeted him, a trifle abashed.  “We wondered what was keepin’ you—“ he paused, suddenly aware that he hadn’t heard the sound of hoofbeats announcing Hank’s arrival.  “Where’s your horse?” he added.

     The saloon-keeper ascended the steps.  As he drew near, they could see streaks of mud on his clothes, and bits of leaves and twigs caught in his long, blonde hair.  A nasty-looking cut marred his forehead.  And there was something else . . . but Sully couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

     “I was ridin’ out here when somethin’ spooked my horse.  She threw me and took off.  I been walkin’ the last hour,” the saloon-owner explained.

     “That cut looks as if it might be deep,” Michaela observed, slipping automatically into “doctor-mode.”

     “Caught a tree branch on my way down,” said Hank dismissively.  “I’m all right.”

     “You still need attention—perhaps even stitches,” Michaela told him.  “Do you feel any dizziness, or nausea?”

     “Nope.”

     “That’s a good sign,” she acknowledged.  “You probably don’t have a concussion, but I’ll still want to examine you to make sure.  Do you have pain anywhere else?” she inquired.

     Hank smiled at her expansively.  “Told ya—I’m fine,” he said.

     “You will be, when I’m done,” Michaela said.  “Come inside with us now, and I’ll get my medical bag.”

     “Bossy, ain’t she?” Hank observed to Sully.

     Sully grinned.  “This is news?” he asked, and Hank chuckled as the three of them went into the house.

* * * * * * * * * *

     “I’ll go out with you tomorrow and help you track your horse,” Sully offered to Hank as Michaela applied disinfectant to his wound and covered it with a bandage.  Fortunately the cut had looked more serious than it was, and after sponging away the dried blood, Michaela had determined it would not require stitches.

     “Thanks—‘preciate it,” said Hank.  He sat at the kitchen table while Michaela ministered to him.  Sully leaned against the sink, his arms folded across his chest.

     “For tonight, we’ll be glad to give you the loan of a horse to get you back to town,” Sully went on, then glanced at Michaela.  “If he’s all right to travel, that is?”

     “Yes, he should be fine,” she confirmed.

     “Obliged,” Hank said.

     “There!--finished,” said Michaela.   She began to gather up the disinfectant and her instruments as Hank reached for his jacket, which he’d disgarded earlier and hung on an adjoining chair.  As Sully watched the gesture, it hit him.

     “That’s it!” he exclaimed suddenly.  Michaela and Hank looked at him curiously.

     “What?” Michaela questioned.

     “Your sheriff’s badge,” Sully said to Hank.  “It’s gone.”

     “Oh yeah,” Hank said, reaching up reflexively to push the hair off his forehead and wincing slightly as his hand brushed the bandage.

     “You lose it in the fall?” Sully asked.

     “Nope—turned it in to Jake this afternoon,” Hank answered.  “I quit.”

     “Quit?” Sully repeated, startled.   Michaela  looked equally astonished.  “But you been covetin’ that job for years,” he added.  “What would make you give it up?”

     “Let’s just say—it ain’t what I expected,” Hank replied.

     “What do you mean?” Sully asked.

     Hank shrugged.  “Well, I thought it would give me power over them that was doin’ me wrong—that I’d get to carry out the justice they deserved.  ‘Stead, there were all these regulations to follow—and I had even less freedom than before to do what I wanted.  It made me see I’m happier livin’ by my own rules.

     “’Sides,  sometimes—“  Hank’s expression became thoughtful.  “Sometimes it was hard to tell the good folks from the bad.”  He stared into Sully’s eyes.  “Things weren’t always as—‘black and white’—as I used to think,” he added quietly.

     Sully looked back at him in understanding.  Apparently both he and Hank had learned something valuable over the course of the last several days.

     “Anyway, I got a business to run,” Hank changed the subject abruptly, getting to his feet.  As he slipped on his jacket, his familiar grin reappeared.  “Long as there’s men with a taste for whiskey and women, I’ll do fine.”  He winked at Michaela, then strolled out to the front room to join the other guests.

     “And just when I thought Hank couldn’t surprise me anymore,” Michaela remarked wonderingly, moving into the circle of Sully’s arm.  He looked down at her and nodded, then they both smiled  contentedly as they watched the bright faces of their family and friends.