The Legend of Black Wolf - Sully's Journey Home

Chapter Thirty One

        That winter, Black Kettle's tribe, including Sully, followed the buffalo herds to the winter grounds. For warmth, Sully was taught in the construction of his own teepee. Although he still camped a bit separately from the tribe, he was invited to join in their meals and to witness some of their celebrations and ceremonies. As he began working with Hook Nose in understanding English, which was quite a challenge, Sully himself was getting quite an education in the ways of the Cheyenne people.

        Even with the limited language barrier, they found a way to make themselves understood among one another. At times, when he was unable to communicate his thought exactly, Sully could use a coal from the fire and trace a drawing onto something as a means to get his point across. Hook Nose and some of the other dog soldiers would sometimes act out what they were trying to say until Sully understood their Cheyenne word. Cloud Dancing helped as much as he could with pronounciation, but often had other duties that kept him away from his friend. It was those times, when Sully often struggled, as a fish out of water, trying his best to become like one of them.

        One particular night, after a great feast of buffalo, Sully sat back from the others and tried to contemplate his mood as of late. He stared into the flames of the nearby fire while thinking of how similar the winter hunting grounds were, yet how different. He was more than a week away from Colorado Springs, and with the food not being as plentiful as in summer, it was too far for him to go back just to visit her grave. The feast they'd just enjoyed was the first big meal since leaving the summer grounds. Black Kettle was quite concerned with how the white man had thinned the herds for his own selfish reasons. All were grateful for the plenty provided by the Great Spirit, but they also knew that it was nothing to expect on a regular basis. Not one piece of the buffalo was wasted that night.

        As Sully sat there, thinking of Abigail, he quietly watched a newly married couple tenderly helping each other back to their tent much earlier than the rest of the tribe. The Great Spirit hadn't yet blessed them with children, and so the two of them were gazing at each other with clear intentions as they walked. It reminded Sully of when his marriage was also new. He tried not to ponder a cold night, such as this, when all they had to keep warm was each other. His gaze went back to the flames before him, but his thoughts were of the young love in the teepee, and of such burning love as he would never have again for himself.

      Cloud Dancing could see that Sully was consumed with his thoughts, but he did not interrupt his friend. When Sully stood abruptly and snapped his fingers for Wolf to follow him back to his teepee for the night, Cloud Dancing only nodded goodnight to him. In spite of his work with Hook Nose, he had been uncommonly quiet, and it had not gone unnoticed by the medicine man.

        It was a long time before he could get comfortable that night, and even then, Sully could not sleep.

        

        As he lay there, Wolf by his side, he thought long about Abigail and their marriage. He had been at peace with Abigail and Hannah's passing for some time, so it was a bit surprising to feel himself miss her in such a way after watching the new couple retire to their tent. He hadn't expected to miss sharing the night with her once he had come to terms with her death. Yet, tonight, as he allowed himself to admit it, he realized that he had felt those feelings a few times in the past and had simply ignored them.

      Sleep was long in coming, and when it finally did, his thoughts still lingered on his sweet wife, even in dreams....

        There were no words to speak - Abigail was rather shy and quiet, even in bed. But Sully could always tell by the way her eyes would flutter shut that he was providing her exactly what she wanted. Sometimes, they nestled down in the small bed and held each other, as if letting go meant slipping off of the edge of the world. Other nights, Sully had to work Abigail's sore shoulders until she was in a more blissful mood. Tonight, the cold pressed them together out of need, and her eagerness showed him that she had been thinking of him all day as well.

        As he traced her neck with his hot kisses, she clung to his chest, whimpering with delight. The nightgown had been disposed of long ago, and as she lay warm and willing under him, he felt her length, stopping to trace teasing circles at the most tender spot on her hip. Slipping her hand down low on his waist, she pulled him tighter to her as his kisses descended ever lower, nibbling, teasing.

        She whimpered in the dark. Impatient to meet with her, he nestled himself ever closer, feeling her cling desperately to him.

        "Byron..." She whispered.

        The night was chill, but with Abigail so near, his temperature seemed near the boiling point. He could feel her supple skin pressed to his as he held her small form tightly in his arms. It had been a long day for both of them, and the only thought that had kept him going was of this very moment.  Alone together, in bed, with no-one to interrupt him, he worshipped his young wife eagerly.

     

        "Abby!" Sully whispered in his sleep. The pet name on his lips startled him awake. Sully found himself in the cold teepee, alone. His mouth was dry, everything was pitch black, and, but for the sound of his breathing, all was quiet. Wolf picked up his head to nudge Sully's leg with his nose. Closing his eyes, the dream came flooding back to Sully with aching clarity. His heart was pounding from the memory of feeling her so close, so alive in his arms. He did not know how it was possible, but his body certainly felt that it had been all too real. 

      The realization that he would never have Abigail in that passionate way ever again suddenly broke his heart anew. Her whisper was the only way he would ever love hearing the sound of his first name. Without her, there would be no more of that. Those nights sharing the love that had created Hannah had been all too brief, and now they were over. In the dark, he thought of the long life that stretched out before him. A life spent helping those who had saved him, of repaying that debt he owed them in return for this new chance at life.

      It was a life of a different purpose, but not of love.

      Confused with his feelings, he grabbed his red and black coat, flung it over his shoulders, and stalked out into the night at last hour before dawn. Wolf paused to stretch in the chill early morning air, then followed. It was a walk that lasted several hours, but no matter what, Sully couldn't get the scent of her hair or the feel of her touch on his chest to go away.