The Train/301 (TT)

Sully took Mike and the children to the site of the new homestead and said if he started now, it would be completed by spring for their wedding. Mike told everyone of the news about the contest for the train between Soda Spring and Colorado Springs, and Sully said that if the train came, they would be moving. Cloud Dancing returned to Colorado Springs, saying his soul was at peace about Walks on Clouds and that the spirits had told him about the engagement and about the railroad. When the town council met to decide about entering the contest for the railroad, Sully did not speak but was clearly upset when Mike voted to try to attract the railroad and left. Mike found him at the new site and he agreed that they both wanted what was best for the children. But, Sully said the buffalo and elk would starve to death because they would not cross the tracks, and thus the Cheyenne would die, and that in 10 years there would be fences crossing the land and he did not want to see that. Mike tried to calm him, saying that there was no decision yet. After a small raid on the visiting railroad officials by the dog soldiers, Mike went to the reservation to see Sully and Cloud Dancing. She tried to convince both of them that if the railroad came, she might be able to build a hospital that would treat the Indians and everyone. Mike and Sully again visited the new homestead site, and Sully carried her across the imaginary threshold and described the room layout, including 4 bedrooms upstairs: Brian's, Colleens, theirs and one for who ever might come along. They talked about having a baby, and Mike asked if he wanted a boy or girl; Sully said a girl if she had Mike's eyes, but when Mike said she would be stubborn like she was, Sully said "that's the way I like 'em." Sully met Matthew at the old homestead and offered it to Matthew as a gift; Matthew hesitated, saying he would miss Sully as their lives diverged, and Sully gave Matthew a hug. When the news came that the railroad had chosen Colorado Springs and the townsfolk believed Mike had influenced the committee, Sully saw the celebration. That night, Sully tried to express his feelings about the railroad when Brian was so very excited about its arrival. When Mike said he should not spoil Brian's excitement, Sully said Brian should see both sides. When Mike dismissed Sully's feelings, he said that nobody cared about his feelings and he wanted her to respect his opinions. Brian got upset at their argument but they insisted they were still getting married. Later, outside, Sully assured Mike they were still getting married and that he would always love her. Mike said that neither of them could have stopped the train coming, but that they should fight to make the changes work for them. Sully said he was good at fixing things when he could see what was wrong, but that this was so big he did not know where to begin. Mike encouraged him and promised that if she saw his heart breaking, they would move. The next day, Sully brought Brian a whistle he had carved and told Brian it was ok if he wanted to travel away from Colorado Springs. But Brian said the good things about trains is that they brought you home again, and that he would always come home to Sully and then they hugged. That day, during the town's celebration of the decision by the railroad, Sully went to the homestead site, and in a prophetic moment, was hammering a nail to begin work as Mike was given the honor to drive the silver spike.

Fathers and Sons/302 (F&S)

Sully caught Brian and Steven looking at Mike's physician reference books, and when Mike caught him, tried to explain to Mike that Brian was at that age of curiosity. Mike insisted on talking to Brian about procreation when Sully offered to give him the basics because there were certain things a boy should hear from a man. Mike asked Sully if his father had told him things, and he said no, but he wished his father had. After Loren left for Bolivia, Sully again talked to Mike and said that she was making too much of Brian's curiosity, and that all boys look at girls surreptitiously, as he and a childhood friend had done to his friend's sister (as he did not have a sister). Sully again offered to talk to Brian and again Mike refused. When Brian ran away, Sully insisted Mike not go after him; rather Matthew and he followed. When they found Brian and Loren together, Sully sent Matthew back to tell Mike he'd bring Brian home tomorrow. Sully stood guard and was ready to use his bow and arrow against a bear but Loren was able to scare the bear away. The next morning, Sully showed up at Loren and Brian's camp. He explained to Brian that he understood the confused feelings Brian was having, and that Brian could talk to him anytime he wanted. Sully told Loren that Cloud Dancing had rescued his horse and mule, and he took them to the Reservation. Sully stalled Loren from leaving by having the Cheyenne given Loren a new name (One Who Stands Against the Bear) for his heroic act and performing a ceremony where he received an eagle feather. Sully told Loren the Cheyenne believe you get a new name when something important happens in your life, and that the Cheyenne cherish the wisdom that comes with age, and that older men become fathers to all sons, counsel to all men and are of value to the tribe. While Loren went through the ceremony, Sully held Brian and swayed to the drumbeat. After returning Brian to home, Sully talked to Mike and assured her that Brian did not need any more discussion. He assured her that she would have done well by herself, but because a young boy needs to hear certain things from a man, and if he or Loren were not there, she would have found someone for him to talk to. Mike asked what Loren told Brian, and Sully repeated Loren's advice that woman have one thing that men need --- love, and added that a woman's love gives a man courage. Mike asked him what he had told Brian, and he answered that he only knew one thing about women: you got to be lucky enough to find the right one and then never let go.

Notes: A continuity error: Mike asks if Sully's father told him of sexual matters, and Sully says no, but he wished his father had, but in WTHI, Sully said his father died before he could know him.

Ladies Night I and II/303 (LN)

Sully was at supper at the homestead when Mike expressed her concern about a patient who did not want to be treated. The next day at the clinic, when she told him it was a woman's disease and because there was so little research, she did not want to confess to the patient that she was unsure of what to do. He told her to tell the patient but listen to your instincts and take a stand about a course of action. Much later, Sully was helping Robert E when Dorothy approached him to ask him to talk to Mike for her. She said that she appreciated Mike's intentions but that she had to make up her own mind, to which Sully agreed. Dorothy noted that Sully had not asked what the issue was and he said there was no need to. She noted what a pair Mike and Sully were, that both would go to the ends of the earth to help someone but that Sully never pushed or pried, never fought his way into other people's troubles. Then she told him that Mike thought she had cancer and she could not accept losing part of herself, and asked if he could understand that, and he said he could. Sully went to Mike and said that because the patient was Dorothy, it changed his advice to her. He said because the patient was a friend, Mike should take a stand and then accept Dorothy's decision, but Mike said she could not let a friend die without a fight. Later at the clinic, Mike told Sully he was right and she wanted to be Dorothy's friend, and he took her home. The next Sunday, at a picnic after church, Sully went with Brian to plant an acorn Dorothy gave him. When Dorothy decided to have the operation, Sully was there and listened to Loren's fears and desires. Days later, at the homestead, Sully came up behind Mike who was looking at herself in a mirror and said "I know what you are thinking and the answer is yes. I'll always love you no matter what happens. I'll always see you as beautiful as the first day I saw you."

Note: the first evidence of Sully was window dressing: at the first conversation in the clinic, the establishing shot is from the outside of Sully looking out, framed by the window. Continuity note: Jake starts to be repelled by Dorothy surgery.

Cattle Drive I and II/304/305 (CD)

Part I: Sully and the others went after Olive when her cattle crew sent a telegram saying she was ill. Sully knew they were properly following the Goodnight Trail. At Olive's grave, Sully stayed behind, preferring to say his last words to Olive in private: "I always respected you, rest easy." He cut a lock of his hair and laid it on the grave in the manner of the Cheyenne who believed it showed respect and grief. When Matthew inherited the cattle, Sully knew they were bringing $40 per head in Chicago, and he agreed to help Matthew bring the cattle back to Colorado Springs. As everyone was practicing, Sully roped a cow riding at full speed but was pulled of his horse and dragged; he got up sheepishly. When Mike was learning to rope, she roped him instead and pulled him close for a kiss. Matthew instructed them to sing to the cattle, and as everyone else rode off, Sully tried two words of "Get Along Little Doggie" but said "no." Matthew and Sully had disagreements about the route to take from the beginning; Sully offered to scout but Matthew said he needed someone he could trust riding drag. Sully said they should go Battle Rock because he knew water was there and Matthew decided to go the Sandy Flats because the grass would be better even though he was unsure of the water. Sully told Mike that Matthew was going to lose the cattle and Mike replied the cattle belonged to Matthew. On the way, they found two dead cowboys. Sully surmised Apache shot them. There was no water at Sandy Flats and Matthew decided to drive the cattle to Piute Flats and Sully backed him up to a cowhand, saying he had seen the water there. Later, Sully was off thinking when Mike approached him. He told her that he knew there would be no water at Sandy Flats because of the snow pack and lack of rain last year, and that Matthew's decisions were making everyone suffer. Mike asked him if the Indians would attack and he said he did not think so. Finally, Mike asked him to persuade Jesse, who had shown an interest in Colleen, to leave. Sully said Jesse was young and cocksure but they needed him on the trail. At the next waterhole, Sully was sleeping when the cattle stampeded and he rode out to help stop it.

Part II: Matthew realized Jesse and others were missing, along with 20 cows and money, and started to ride out after them. Sully stopped him but they had an argument, with Sully saying that he did not want Matthew to ride against two armed men, and that he had responsibilities to the cattle and the people here. Matthew insisted on going and Sully shoved him; Matthew got up and charged Sully who threw him to the ground; Matthew seemed to offer a hand out which Sully took and Matthew promptly sucker-punched him in the stomach. Matthew charged Sully again, who threw him to the ground again and told him that if he did that again, Sully would knock him out and tie him to the wagon until he came to his senses. Matthew initially stayed, but left later, and when he came back with the cows and money, Sully was angry because Brian was with him. Matthew said he did not know Brian was coming. Sully never participated in the birth of a cow. Sully warmed some water for a bath for Mike, and washed her arms, neck and back, first with his hand and then with a rag. He told her that he remembered the first time he saw her and thought she had the most beautiful, long brown hair. He then kissed her heck and her lips and Matthew interrupted. When a band of Indians showed up on the ridge, Sully said they were Apache or Kiowa but were not the others because those tracks lead south. He surmised they were hungry and rode out to meet them. They wanted 5 cows and Sully offered three, and when they wanted bullets said he did not have any. As Sully rode back to talk to Matthew about giving them three cows, the Indians attacked of sorts. One rode toward Sully in a face-saving ritual called "counting coup" stole several cows. When Matthew was angry, Sully said they had no bullets and were just hungry and stole them for show. When the cows were bunched at a stream Sully suspected of having quick sand, Mike fell off her horse in the middle of the cows and Sully saved her. He took her to camp to doctor her wounds and was very angry, telling Matthew it was his fault for Mike's injuries. Mike tried to calm Sully, asking him if he never made an honest mistake. Sully rode to Matthew and made amends. They drove the cattle through a grass fire and when the wagon did not come through, Sully and Matthew rode back and rode the wagon horses rough the fire. Sully was about to go back for Mike when she came through and he said her name quietly to himself. Finally back in Colorado Springs, Sully told Matthew he did a good job, and after Matthew rode on, Mike told Sully he had done a good job and they kissed.

Bone of Contention/306 (BOC)

Sully arrived in town to learn that Dr. Porter, a paleontologist, had arrived looking for dinosaur bones. He ate supper with the family that night. The next day, Sully watched as Porter examined various bone submissions to Porter, particularly one from Hank, Jake and Loren. When one bone of the "animal" skeleton they submitted to Porter actually was that of a dinosaur, Porter moved to find the site from where it came. The land identified by Loren was also ancient Cheyenne burial grounds and Sully objected to any potential digging there. Sully went to Cloud Dancing to warn him; Cloud Dancing became very angry and Sully recognized that despite Porter's army escort, the Dog Soldiers would retaliate. The two of them watched Porter set up camp at the site. The next day, Sully was at the site when the soldiers found warnings from the Dog Soldiers and Mike was summoned when a soldier was injured. Sully showed Mike that Porter had packed up an Indian skeleton and both objected to Porter. Porter ordered them off the site, and Sully told Porter that he would be leaving shortly as well and then showed Mike the Dog Soldiers surrounding the area. Sully discovered that the Dog Soldiers had stolen Maude's body from the town graveyard and woke the Reverend who alerted the town. The townsfolk went for the army to go after the Dog Soldiers, but Loren approached Sully, saying that he knew the townsfolk care less for Maude's body than they did for killing Indians. He asked for Sully's help to retrieve her body, and Sully took him to see Cloud Dancing. Hesitant at first, Cloud Dancing suggested that he might get the Dog Soldiers to return Maude's body if Loren got Porter to return the Indian bones. Loren agreed to try and then went to Mike to tell her of the offer, and Sully said he had a plan. Porter had packed and was heading out of town when Mike, Jake, Hank, Horace and others objected to Porter taking the Indian bones. When Porter again refused, they parted ranks to allow Porter to see Sully smoking a cigar and holding a stick of dynamite near a wagon holding the dinosaur bones. Loren then stepped forward, doing the same, near the wagon with the Indian bones. They threatened to blow up the bones unless the Indian bones were given to them, and Porter relented when the soldiers refused to help. Mike and Sully hugged in their success, and they, the family and Loren took the bones back to Cloud Dancing. Cloud Dancing said Maude's body had been treated with respect and returned. Sully hugged Brian as they watched Cloud Dancing take the bones back to the burial grounds. Comment: Mike tells Brian of the Cheyenne belief that is you respect the dead, their spirits can follow the hanging road to their camp in the stars and that the Cheyenne believe everything has a spirit.

The Library/309 (TL)

Sully and Matthew brought crates to the clinic that held Mike's father's library books. He attended the ceremony when Mike dedicated the library to the town. That night, Sully and each family member were engrossed in their own book when he decided to take his outside to read on the porch. Mike joined him, inquiring as to what he was reading. He said poetry and she asked him to read it. He read a poem by Walt Whitman and Mike became embarrassed by its suggestive nature, saying it was not appropriate and she did not want it around the children. He pulled back at first, and then suggested that they could read poetry again together and kissed her on the cheek. Sully attended the town meeting where the citizens and council members voted to close the library until the Reverend could censor the books. Sully asked why the Reverend's judgement was better than any other person. He walked with Mike and the others as they closed the library, and objected to Jake taking the lending list, but Mike stopped him from acting. Later, he talked with Mike on the porch and she talked of her plans to move the books to a room in the clinic so anyone might borrow any book they wished. He asked if he could read Whitman, and when she said not around the children, he asked if was the children or herself she was talking about. She confessed her fears and began to wonder if she would be able to handle marriage. Sully stopped her and said that she was getting ahead of her self. He said courting was like reading a book in that you read each chapter in order, and although some were harder to get through than others, you read each one lest you cheat yourself out of the whole book. That seemed to calm her and he put his arm around her. Early the next morning, Sully and the family broke into the library and began packing the books. The townsfolk objected and Sully shoved Jake as he threatened Mike. As they were taking the books from the wagon into the clinic, the townsfolk stole many crates and Jake set fire to them. Sully ran and tackled Jake but Mike stopped him from further action. He then ran to get water and blankets to put out the fire. The family and Sully then tried to sort out the books and dry out the ones that could be saved. He followed Mike to the church when Mike took the Bible to the Reverend and made a point about the stories in the Bible and censorship. That night, he read more Whitman to Mike on the porch and she was willing to listen.

Note: Dorothy teaches Jake to read.

Halloween II/308 (H2)

Sully had a hard time believing Brian that there was a monster in the barn, but he refused to join the posse looking for him. He noted that he uses snares for trapping which causes less suffering than metal traps. The monster turned out to be John, a former railroad employee. Sully was against Mike doing plastic surgery on John, arguing that John should choose for himself. When Dorothy saw John at the clinic, he advised Dorothy to forget what she saw because he knew the townsfolk would not understand. At the town's party for Halloween, Sully did not dress in a costume.

Money Trouble/310 (MT)

Sully and Mike wanted to buy a fancy window for the new house but Sully did not have enough money and refused to let Mike pay for it. When she secretly did and he learned of it, he was angry with Mike for going behind his back, for which she apologized. But Sully refused to let her add her money to the project. He paid for the window but then ran out of money to continue the house. He tried to sell rabbit pelts but Hank said they did not bring much money and that Sully should hunt bear, but Sully refused. Cloud Dancing told Sully that Mike would always earn more money than he would because Sully would not own a saloon or wear a wool suit. After initially refusing, Sully agreed to join the wild west show and would earn $25 for five shows. In the first show, he was uncomfortable with the costume he was required to wear as well as the way he was introduced, which reinforced what the townsfolk thought of him. He threw 3 knives and his tomahawk blindfolded, but would not throw doubled-sided axe at spinning Indian and he stormed off. At the new homestead, Mike agreed to live in a house Sully can afford and then he agreed to accept money from Mike for the house.

A Washington Affair/311/312 (AWA)

Mike and the family went to Washington, D.C. to lobby for the Indians and Sully and Cloud Dancing reluctantly agreed to go with them. There, they met General Parker and were invited to a social at the White House, where Sully played billiards. Mike testified but two senators recognized Sully as a union sniper they had used earlier, and thought he was aware of the current plot to kill President Grant. They arranged for Sully to be arrested for desertion. Mike worked to try to get Sully out of prison and he finally told her of the story of his desertion from the Union Army: after Abagail died, Sully was distraught and decided to enlist in the Union Army to lose himself. He became a sniper because of his shooting skills and was given the rank of Lieutenant. The date of the written orders for Sully's first mission was June 20, 1863. After completing the assignment, Sully was so overcome by guilt that he deserted. He was suspicious of the assignment and then learned that the man he assassinated was not a Confederate General, but a businessman selected for some contracts, which then went to a competitor. Mike and General Parker found evidence that the orders were written by one of the two Senators on the Indian Affairs committee, and this combined with evidence from Brian, became convinced of the plot on Grant's life. They broke Sully out of prison and they foiled an assassination attempt on President Grant. Because Sully did not run but saved Grant, the President pardoned him and gave him the job as Indian Agent.

Notes: Abagail would have to have died in early 1863 or late 1862 to make this timeline. Her grave marker says 1865, TH made it 1866. In an interview, Beth Sullivan said he joined the army in 1864.)

Indian Agent/307 (IA)

One beautiful morning, District Superintendent Hazen came to Colorado Springs to swear in Byron Sully as an Indian Agent, but Sully insisted they wait until the Cheyenne arrived. Black Kettle, Cloud Dancing and others witnessed the ceremony. In the saloon afterwards, Sully refused whiskey and wanted the conversation with Hazen to be completed so he could get the supplies to the Cheyenne. When Mike, Matthew and Sully took the supplies to the reservation, Sully found Cloud Dancing playing his flute for Snow Bird, with the news that she was pregnant. As they talked, Sully said he hoped to be able to change things for the better, but Cloud Dancing feared that neither the Cheyenne nor Sully could talk two roads at once. The shipment contained very little food and Sully said he would look into it, just as other braves came with liquor. Cloud Dancing said Franklin had never left the white man's world. That night at the homestead, Sully began filling out quadruplicate forms (4 of everything and 3 too many), and was proud of Mike's support for his work. The next day, Sully approached Hazen to ask for more food and Hazen said he'd work on it. Hazen asked if the Cheyenne would be peaceful and Sully said they would not fight unless it was called for. Sully, Mike and Matthew brought another shipment but it too had no food. Sully attempted to break up a fight between drunken Indians but Cloud Dancing stopped him, saying Sully was not their great white father and that Hazen's promises meant nothing. Sully returned to town and bought as much food as he could from Loren with his month's pay, and a brave came to request Mike come to the reservation. They found the braves very drunk and she treated them. Cloud Dancing apologized to Sully for his words earlier when Sully tried to stop the drinking, and then told Sully it was Hank who had sold them the liquor. Sully confronted Hank who said Sully should speak to his boss and Sully went straight to him. Hazen admitted he set up trade between Hank and the Cheyenne to promote trade and Hank's cooperation and offered Sully opportunity to make money on such trades. Sully did not hear him or understand but simply demanded to know where the rations were, and Hazen said he would send a wire to get some. Sully said he better hurry because the Cheyenne's patience was wearing thin and so was his. That night at the homestead, as Mike and the children tried to find things they might do to help, Sully was quiet and went for a walk. Mike went to him and asked him if he had found an answer but he said he could not hear the spirits clearly. She asked him to tell her what he was thinking. He said, "When Abagail passed on and I left this place for the woods, I did not care much what happened to me. I did not eat or sleep. I would have died if Cloud Dancing had not found me and taken me in. The Cheyenne gave me things I never had before, filled up the empty places inside me. I was a silver miner. We took metal from the earth and we did not care much what the earth looked like when we got done. All that mattered was the silver. The Cheyenne taught me what is precious is the earth and the spirit of the people is the people. I owe them. If we lose the Cheyenne, we will lose something more precious than silver." Sully then said that there was something going on but he could not figure it out, but that Hazen had something to do with it. Several days later, Sully, Mike and Colleen rushed to the reservation to find that Snow Bird was losing her baby. After the tragedy, Black Kettle called for a ceremony to renew the sacred arrows. Sully explained that the medicine arrows represented the soul of the people, and if the soul was sick, the arrows must be renewed. Sully translated the ceremony for Mike as Black Kettle said, "Our arms are strong, our hearts are proud. But crazy water makes our arms weak and our hearts black." The dog soldiers interrupted, saying they should break the treaty and go steal food. Franklin said they should break the treaty and go steal crazy water. Black Kettle said, "Crazy water will put out our spirit fire. If we are to renew our sacred arrows, we must drink it no more. We must keep our word and never break the treaty. We must find our path again or we will be a lost people, a people without hope." The next day, Sully asked Horace about Hazen's telegram and learned Hazen had not sent one. Sully found Hazen in the saloon who told him that the provisions were gone, sold to Loren, and Sully said he knew now what Hazen was doing: starving the Cheyenne to force them off the reservation so the army would come and kill them. Hank interrupted and Sully shoved him, and then saw the sacred arrows that had been traded for whiskey. Sully said he would send a telegram to President Grant. Sully went to Loren who denied responsibility and Sully told the gathered townsfolk of Snow Bird's miscarriage. At the homestead, Sully was repairing something outside the barn when Horace came with Grant's reply, which told Sully there would be no help from him. He told Mike he wanted to quit and was surprised when she supported him. He thought about it and threw the regulation manual into the fire, saying he'd help the Cheyenne in his own way. At church on Sunday, the Reverend and Sully appealed for donations of food from the townsfolk, and afterwards, Dorothy told Sully and Mike where Loren was storing the food rations he bought from Hazen. Sully, Mike and Matthew broke into the storage shed and took the food. On the way out of town, they stopped to talk to Hazen. Sully told him that following orders was not a good enough reason to do what he did, and Hazen called Sully an idealist and that life would change him. Mike said Sully was not an idealist because he was willing to fight to make a better world. Sully then went to the saloon to take back the arrows, and when Hank tried to stop him with his gun, Sully simply tripped Hank and left. They took the supplies to the reservation where Sully found Cloud Dancing playing his flute again for Snow Bird. Sully gave Cloud Dancing the sacred arrows and Cloud Dancing thanked him. Sully said "and I give you mine, for all your gifts to me." Cloud Dancing approached Snow Bird and kissed and hugged her, and Sully did the same with Mike.

Thanksgiving/313 (T1)

Sully and Mike were traveling back from Denver when they met up with Kid Cole and Sister Ruth and invited them back to Colorado Springs for Thanksgiving dinner. On the stagecoach, Sully beat the Kid at poker while they all discuss names for a baby that Carey and Brandon McGee and Sully would not tell them his name, saying it comparable to Ezra. When Carey felt ill, Sully climbed out and asked the drivers to go faster. When they did stop for her pain, the McGee's robbed the stage. Sully led Mike, Sister Ruth and Kid Cole to the way-station to find it empty, and just as they were walking up to it, some Dog Soldiers attacked. The party ran to the cabin and could not fire back because the Kid dropped his gun. Cole used Sully's tomahawk to explode bullets through bullet holes towards the approaching dog soldiers and they retreated enough for Sully to run out and get the dropped gun. That night, they could not escape because of the full moon. The next morning, it was decided that Mike and Sully would l sneak away to get help. They were able to stop two of the dog soldiers when Mike feigned a sprained ankle and Sully surprised them. In the fight, Sully was able to grab a rifle from the one of the dog soldiers, but it was out of bullets and he threw it away. They hid as other dog soldiers arrived and began firing, but then a posse came and the dog soldiers retreated. They went back to get Kid Cole and Sister Ruth and had a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving.

A First Christmas/314 (AFC)

Sully arranged for trading between Mr. Frankel and the Cheyenne and Cloud Dancing said it was a fair trade. He defended the Frankel family and fought with Jake when the mob from town overturned their wagon. He helped lift the wagon off Mr. Frankel. He agreed to leave the Christmas social early, saying Mike knew how he did not like socializing. He attended the satyr with Mike and the family and then the tree lighting, but did not join in the singing of carols.

The Year: 1870

Things My Father Never Gave Me/317 (TMFNGM)

Sully went hunting with mixed emotions when Robert E had a big job to do fixing a steam engine for the railroad. He returned with pelts just as Peter was about to wire Mr. Tait about the delays Robert E was having on the repairs as the two Chinese helpers had taken sick, and Robert E's frustrations had caused Mathew to quit helping. Sully suggested that Peter wait, since luck and always change, and Peter waited. Sully still has mixed thoughts about helping Robert E because it was for the railroad, but Mike convinced him that it was for a friend. Sully helped Robert E, which lead Matthew to return as well. They got the job done by the deadline, and Sully helped Robert E. stoke the fire and create the steam pressure. The engine held, and Sully knew they were one step closer to the railroad's arrival.

End of the World/316 (OFTW)

Sully was in town when Dorothy read a prediction that a comet would destroy the world in three days. He was with the family when Brian saw the falling star and Mike explained meteorites. He was in town when Hank and Loren turned the town's water supply red. He was fixing the bench on the clinic porch when the kids wanted to build a shelter, and as Mike and the family sent a telegram to an expert she knew. Sully came to the clinic and wanted to do something special with Mike. He said he did not believe the comet was coming, but that if not tomorrow, we are all going to leave this life and questioned what kind of regrets we would have-reading another medical textbook or spending time with the ones we love. Mike confessed she always wanted to fly a kite to he took her to a secluded space and helped her fly the kite. But when the kite crashed, he wanted to do it again but she went back to town. At dinner that night, Sully and Mike questioned Brian about where Colleen was but she came home. The family went to the clinic, and Brian slipped away to take a meteorite back to its resting place. As a storm increased, Sully and Colleen went after Brian while Mike attended to Robert E. They found Brian but Sully waited to interrupt him until he had finished his prayer and then the three headed back to the church where everyone was gathering. The storm broke and a wet Sully, Colleen and Brian got to the church just before Mike, and held each other until midnight passed.

Note: Cloud Dancing told Brian that the Cheyenne believe a falling star is a soul making its way to their final resting place.

Pikes Peace/315 (PP)

Sully's horse was spooked by a rattlesnake and thew him. He sprained his left ankle, but Sam on the passing stagecoach, made the driver stop and get him and his horse. Sully introduced Sam to Mike. Later, while night fishing with the family and Sam, he asked Mike was she was distracted. Mike's family will not be coming for the wedding, and Sully offered to go to Boston for the wedding, but Mike said no. When Mike set out to find Sam on Pike's Peak, Sully could not go because of his ankle and was less than supportive because he was worried about her safety. In town, he stood by Horace while Myra had her baby. When Mike returns, he limped toward her and embraced her.

Cooper Versus Quinn/318/319 (CVQ)

At the homestead one night, Colleen asked Sully to be the father in the father/daughter chariot races coming up at "Roman Day" for school and Brian said Sully was like their pa anyway. Sully agreed and he and Mike told them of their idea to formally adopt the children, to which the children agreed. While riding to town the in wagon, the family was playing a word game and Sully started with "Mississippi." They found Ethan and his new wife, Lillian. When Sully was showing Ethan a rental house, Ethan asked what Mike and Sully had said about his last visit and Sully told him about the letter. On Sunday, when Ethan brought the children back late, Sully helped Colleen out of the buggy and carried Brian into the house. The next day at the homestead, Sully was helping Brian build his catapult for "Roman Day" when Sully asked if he and Colleen still wanted to be adopted, and Brian said yes, that they did not ever want to leave Sully. Brian asked about his real pa, and Sully said Ethan would still be Brian's other pa. Ethan arrived and began to tell Brian how to build it but Sully said Brian had his own plans and Ethan seemed to back off. Ethan then told the gathered family that he had decided to let Mike and Sully adopt the kids. After Ethan signed the papers, Sully said thanks and shook his hand. The next day, Sully took Ethan looking at land for sale. Ethan said he wanted to invest money in land near the railroad as he and Lillian were the executors of the trust Lillian's father set up for their children. Sully said he'd buy land far away from everyone else. The next day, Mike and Sully rode into town to find Ethan waiting. Ethan said he'd changed his mind about the adoption because Mike had determined that Lillian could not have children. That night, Sully and Mike told the children the news and Mike promised they would not let Ethan take the children. After the children went to bed, Sully told Mike about Ethan's motives. Ethan and Lillian came to Roman Day preparations and started talking to Colleen, but she became upset and told Ethan that Sully was her father. Ethan sued for the children, and first attacked Sully's "fathering" with the example in The Operation and Mike's "mothering" in Orphan Train and Return Engagement. During a break, Sully urged Mike to use the truth about church Money (FD) and the inheritance, but Mike refused, saying that no one would trust them if they said they lied about the church money. Mike refused to take the opportunity to do so in her questioning of Ethan and the kids jumped up saying Sully was the best father they ever had. Mike's defense summary included examples of Sully's fathering from Pilot, Heroes, Crossing the Line, and the happy times in Return Engagement and The Race. Afterwards, Sully said Mike did well but the judge ruled against them, bringing both to tears. The next day, Ethan took the children and Sully and Mike spent a lonely dinner at the homestead. The next day, Sully was packing up Brian's catapult to take to the festivities when Matthew approached him. Matthew did not want to wait for an appeal but Sully said they had to do it right. Matthew was not comforted and asked Sully if he was afraid of Ethan and said Sully should fight him. Sully still insisted they would do it with the law and Matthew said he'd find others to help who were not cowards. Sully grabbed him and choked out that he was not a coward, and that being brave means not doing what every muscle in your body wants you to do. Sully ask if Matthew thought that he did want to strangle Ethan till he had no more breath, but Sully said it was not the way and it would not fix things. Matthew broke down and Sully hugged him, telling him it was not over. Everyone showed up for Roman Day, and as Sully stepped up to run with Colleen in the race, Ethan came in and took over. All the townsfolk said it was not right and Sully was crushed. Sully and the family watched as Brian's catapult failed. Later that night, Mike wanted to steal the children and run away and Sully objected, saying he did not want to live like a criminal. Just then, Ethan came to the homestead and said the children had run away. Mike, Matthew and Sully went searching for them, and found them and took them back to town. Colleen was sick and she rode in front of Sully. He helped her down and as Ethan insisted on taking her away, she collapsed and Sully caught her and carried her into the clinic. Sully stayed as Mike treated Colleen. Horace came to the clinic with a telegram that said their appeal had been denied. Sully wanted to continue the appeals but Mike gave up, saying she had broken her promise to the children. Sully said it was not her fault, to which she agreed. Mike said she hated Ethan, but Sully said her anger would not hurt Ethan one bit, but it would hurt herself. Colleen got better and Mike and Sully said goodbye to the children. Sully said the children would come back, that you always come back to the people you love. Lillian changed her mind and the children race back from the buggy to Mike and Sully.

What is Love?/320 (WIL)

Sully was pleased when Mike suggested that they spend a romantic Valentine's Day together, and teased her about getting gifts for each other. Later, Sully had to attend an Indian Conference in Denver on the holiday and they both stoically accepted the decision. But Sully came back early and met Loren on the road waiting for Dorothy's gift to be delivered. Their conversation affirmed that both were in love, and they were blind fools. Sully gave Mike an engagement ring that he had purchased several months earlier but was waiting for a special occasion. He gave it to her just before she went on stage during the town play.

Baby Outlaws/321 (BO)

Sully was part of the family group that took in Belle Star as she recuperated from a gunshot. He joined in the family fun and sang and danced to "Buffalo Girls." When Belle tried to escape, Sully pulled Belle off her horse as she tried to escape and took her to jail. After Belle's partners kidnap Brian and Colleen and the rest of the family finds them at a remote cabin, Sully silently agreed with Mike to let Belle go. When the family learns Belle has continued her life of crime, he told Mike that one of the things he loves about her is her faith in people.

Permanence of Change/324 (POC)

As the town debated Charles Darwin, Sully refused to tell Mike his feelings on the topic, saying the Cheyenne believe people are no different than animals, and that he won't ask questions that cannot be answered, so all that matters is right now. Sully went to the Daggett farm to observe his treatment of his ward, MaryAnn. In a confrontation with Daggett, Sully threatened him to protect MaryAnn's health or else. Later, for the town meeting, Sully brought MaryAnn to the town meeting and held her while the decision was made. After the town council removed MaryAnn Daggett from her guardian, Sully said that man did not evolved from apes, but perhaps from eagles, referring to the Cheyenne reverence for eagles.

Washita/322/323 (W)

Part I: Sully returned from a trip trying to get supplies for the reservation and found oddities with the family, such as Mike reading a book upside down. But the news of his failure to find food and supplies, and Mike's news of more dog solider raids and Custer's arrival took over upset them.. Sully and Mike bought food themselves for the reservation, and while they were there, told Cloud Dancing of the news that the army wanted them to move south to Fort Cobb, and that no more food would be sent here. The death of an Indian who was hunting food caused Cloud Dancing to join the dog soldiers and he would not listen to Sully's pleadings to stop. Later, at the homestead, Black Kettle came to visit, calling Sully his son and asking if he had seen Cloud Dancing. Sully translated for Mike, and they told Black Kettle they were caring for No Harm, a young child. Black Kettle says he lives in hopes that someday, their two cultures could be friends. Later, while talking on the porch, Sully suggested that Mike attend a dinner that Custer was giving. Mike and Sully did attend and Mike tried to persuade Custer. When Custer brought up that fact that the Treaty of Medicine Lodge did not give northern hunting rights to the Cheyenne, Sully said that part of the agreement was verbal, and he knows because he was there. The dinner was disrupted by the arrival of railroad workers injured in an attack by dog soldiers, and after Mike treats them, Sully rides off to find Cloud Dancing. He finds him and they talk of the injustice to the Cheyenne, of the northern Cheyenne who are free only because no one wants to move into their land. Cloud Dancing asked his brother if there was nothing he would not fight for, and Sully was silent. Cloud Dancing told Sully that Black Kettle was moving the tribe south to Fort Cobb. The next day, Mike and Sully went the reservation as the tribe readied to leave, and Mike learned that her name came from Black Kettle's wife, Medicine Woman Later. They sadly watch the tribe leave, including Snow Bird. A week later, Mike finds the headboard Sully is carving for their wedding bed, and while she watches him work, they talk of the Cheyenne and how Black Kettle and the others should be safe at Fort Cobb by now. She asked Sully if he wished he had gone with them, that they were his family. He told her that they were and always would be his family, but that his heart belonged to her now. They embraced in a passionate kiss, but before it went too far, Mike pulled away and they laughed. The next day, Matthew learned Custer was ordered to the south to Indian territory, and then Cloud Dancing came to the homestead to tell them that Black Kettle was turned away from Fort Cobb. Mike and Sully, with Cloud Dancing, left to try and reach Black Kettle and stop a massacre. While resting on the way, Cloud Dancing told Mike of his own father, who was a warrior and learned medicine and passed it onto him. They finally came upon the campsite along the Washita to find everyone massacred.

Part II: As they approached the camp, Mike found Black Kettle and his wife dead; Sully found Snow Bird barely alive and she died in Cloud Dancing's arms. Sully found No Harm dead, but under his body, Sully found a baby who was still alive, and he cried cradling the baby. Just then, some Arapaho warriors came and mistakenly shot Sully in the arm before Cloud Dancing could convinced the Arapaho that Mike and Sully were friends. Mike and Sully agreed to keep the baby, and Cloud Dancing rode off with the Arapaho over Sully's objections. Mike and Sully took the baby and headed back to Colorado Springs, but Mike began drawing away from Sully. Arriving home, Grace and Robert E took the child as Sully helplessly watched Mike pull further away. But Sully was of support to Brian, and told him that although the Cheyenne believed that No Harm joined his ancestors with the great spirit, Sully also believed that No Harm's spirit was with them too. As Sully struggled to stuff his feelings down because he cannot release them with Mike, Robert E inquired after the family and told him that Mike had not come to see the Cheyenne baby. Sully suggested to Mike that the family might visit the child, but she said she was going to work. After a moment of non-sympathy with Brian, she ran to the barn and finally let go of her reserve and broke down. Sully explained to Matthew that he was not going to comfort her just yet. He said that her grief was more than losing people you care for, that is was about her inability to have done anything to prevent it, and that she had to find a way to get her hope back. Sully realized that it was not he who could do it, but Cloud Dancing. Sully rode to find Cloud Dancing at the same spot where he grieved for Walks on Clouds and learned that Cloud Dancing returned because the spirits said there was something yet undone with Mike. He returned to the homestead and broke into Mike's reserve and told her that Cloud Dancing did not blame her and wanted to teach her more about Cheyenne medicine. He told her that when a medicine man teaches, he loses some of his own power and thus it would be appropriate if Mike gave Cloud Dancing a gift that spoke from her heart. She thought and showed Sully the Cheyenne wedding shirt she was making for him, and he thought Cloud Dancing would be honored. He wanted, however, to try it on just once, and as he did, Mike reached out for him and they began to heal. Sully took Mike to Cloud Dancing and returned home to the children. Brian was helping Sully put the wedding bed together and they talked about how sometimes, good things come from bad things, and how the baby might grow up to be a great Cheyenne leader because No Harm saved his life. Sully took Brian to see the baby. Mike returned and they prepared for Cloud Dancing's departure with the baby. They gave him the wedding shirt, saying the stones over the heart would protect him and the claw of the hawk would give him courage. As Mike took the baby from Grace, Sully said to Cloud Dancing that he was not saying goodbye, and Cloud Dancing said there was no such word in Cheyenne, and they embraced. Mike gave the baby to Cloud Dancing and told them they named the baby "Lives in Hopes" after the words of Black Kettle. Cloud Dancing left for the northern Cheyenne territory, and the family hugged each other in their own attempts to heal.

Sully's Recovery/328 (SR)

Sully was dispirited over the massacre at Washita and prepared a letter of resignation to deliver to Hazen at a nearby army camp. Over Mike's objections, he departed, saying he won't have any more to do with the government's treatment of the Indians. On the way, Sully found Loren, who was trying to claim old Cheyenne land for sale, and helped to fix Loren's wagon wheel. After Loren broke his leg in a wagon accident, Sully set the leg and was willing to sew up the wound with horsetail but Loren refused. Sully built a litter for Loren and set off for the army camp because it was closer. They encountered squatters taking land early who forced them into taking a longer route. Part of the road was washed out and Sully first led the horse and litter across the area, and then helped Loren across. Just as they reached the other side, Sully slipped and slid down the grade; Loren was able to grab a rope and throw it to Sully, and together they pulled him up. During the trip, Loren inquired about Sully's attitude and first, Sully tried to dissuade Loren from purchasing the land. But as his depression grew, Sully gave up trying to convince Loren. Loren noticed and told Sully it was not like him to give up, saying he was getting married soon. At first Sully tried to change the conversation, but then said he had lost every family he ever had, beginning when he was 10, his father tried living in the city and just gave up, and then his mother drowned herself. Then, Sully continued, he lost Abagail, and now the Cheyenne. Loren said there is always something to be done. Sully remained resolute in his desire to resign, and as they traveled toward the army camp, Loren taunted Sully, saying he had given up, just like his folks. At the camp, Sully offered to take Loren's bid for the land back to town but Loren refused, saying he did not want to own something that represented the massacre. Just then, Hazen came into the tent and Sully decided not to give him the resignation letter. When Loren and Sully returned to Colorado Springs, Sully tore up the letter and told Mike he changed his mind.

Comments: an inconsistency that Sully says here his father died when he was 10. Sully also confirms his mother's death was suicide.

Ready or Not/325 (RON)

The Reverend counseled Sully and Mike as their wedding approached. At first, they were in high spirits, agreeing to hold the ceremony in the meadow. Then the Rev suggested they look into their hearts to see if there anything that needed forgiving. Both denied there was anything, so they began talking about what attracted one to the other. Sully saw Mike fall in the mud (Pilot) and how he fell in love right then. But Mike said she did not know what to make of Sully the first time she saw him, in Loren's store. Sully said that she was clumsy and willing to try anything, no matter how foolish, which included getting her tooth pulled (Pilot), inability to cook (TV), sweeping floors (Pilot), roping Sully (CD), teaching her to walk like a man (TR). But Mike countered that he often doubted her abilities, and they relived Bad Water. Sully thought that they had kissed in BW, but Mike reminded him is was at her birthday (HB). Mike said she had thought that the kiss meant something but the next time she saw him, Sully acted like nothing had happened. Then she pointed out Portraits where Sully said he was not ready and said she did not understand. Sully countered that she said she was not ready either, but Mike said she said it only because she was embarrassed and that he should have known that she was lying. Sully began to get irritated but the Rev could not continue because he had to teach school. As they continued the conversation, Sully said that he knew he loved Mike at that point but did not see how it could lead to anything because of their differences, and cited examples from the Boston trip (WTHI), but Mike countered that he learned quickly in Boston. Sully said he was glad to get home to show her his world (GT). The Rev encouraged their differences, but Sully brought up the time that Mike tried to change him, dancing (BF), searching for water (GT), and the train (TT). But the Rev said everyone has disagreements but the key is how you handle them. Then the Rev said there were two common problems in marriage, money, to which Mike interrupted and said they had handled that issue, and the Rev continued saying "conjugal duties." Sully said they knew about that because they had different notions of courting, with examples from turkey hunting (GT), dance lessons (BF), and their discussion of courting (GT). Mike insisted that they needed good conversation and Sully agreed but said he liked kissing. She thought there was always a time and place, and he said he always thought it was the time. Mike bristled and suggested he might want another woman, and when Sully said he wanted only Mike, the Rev interrupted and said they would have to continue later. Sully objected saying they were picking at scabs and bleeding, and Mike said if they had healed properly they would not bleed and she left alone. At the next session, the Rev starts taking about trusting each other as different people cross their paths. Sully brought up the time that the Rev proposed to Mike (OT). The Rev apologized but Sully cited William (WTHI). After remembering how he said, "I love you" on the train, he asked Mike why she did not come with him, and she said she had the children and family to take care of. Sully said he thought he would never see her again, but they recalled her arrival homes (WTHI) and his proposal (RE). The two had almost made up when the Rev mentioned David. They recalled Sully's asking Mike what she wanted to do about David (RE), and his fight with David (RE). They agreed how hard it is to be in the middle and Mike brought Catherine (AW). Mike could not understand why Sully walked away when she said she could not be with him, and Sully could not understand why she could not let go of the issue and stormed out. The Rev asked Mike if she wanted to get married, and she said that Sully was the most honest, kind and generous person she had known. She recalled his taking an Indian child to safety (BS), rescuing Brian from the cliff (Pilot), his donation of blood to Loren (TH), how he took care of her during the epidemic (TE), and how he rescued her from the dog soldiers (A). Mike said she counted on Sully and he came in and said the same thing, citing his migraine (RE), when he was beaten by the buffalo hunter (RG) and when she pulled him to safety in the river (BW). They remembered the times when they had worked together, to save Cloud Dancing (TP), to save Matthew (CTL), escaping the dog soldiers (A). Mike then said Sully had given her the greatest gift of all, her freedom to choose when she was caught between him and David (RE), but said that she was not as generous about Catherine. Sully said that he simply felt sorry for her, that he understood what she had been through and could talk to her, but that he did not love her. Mike said she understood that now and asked if Sully could forgive her. He said yes and asked her forgiveness for hurting her even though he did not mean to and she said yes. Mike confessed that she was nervous about the wedding night and Sully said she should not worry, that they would take things ever so easy. Sully said she should trust him, and she said she did. Sully concluded that the only thing they would be wondering about is why they did not get married sooner.

For Better or Worse/326/327 (FBOW)

Sully came upon the townsmen and Brian having a conversation at the train station and he asked Robert E to fix the hacksaw. After they left, Hank took bets that Sully would not go through with the wedding. Later, Mike found Sully at the new homestead. Her family had not wired to say they were coming, and Cloud Dancing would not be there as well. Sully said he'd be her family and she said she'd be his best friend. Mike asked Sully if they could have a double ring ceremony and Sully refused, and as she tried to explain herself, she also confessed that she did not want to change her name, citing the fact that the Cheyenne don't change their names. Sully had enough and said goodnight. The next day, Mike visited him at the new homestead to talk about Matthew and Ingrid, and Sully told her he had offered the old homestead to Matthew months ago. She asked why he did not tell her then and he said he did not see any reason to set her going on about it and that a man had to make those kind of decisions himself. She stormed off. The next day was the celebration for the train's first arrival, and Sully came to town for something else and saw the wanted poster for Cloud Dancing that Custer had Horace put up. He left but Custer saw him. Mike's family arrived on the train and Mike told Elizabeth that Cloud Dancing picked the date for their wedding. Mike and Sully learned that Elizabeth has brought many items for their wedding and tried to object, but Elizabeth went ahead anyway. Matthew and Sully rode ahead to the new homestead on the day Mike took her family to see it. Sully again offered the old homestead to Matthew and asked Matthew to think about it. As the others arrived, Sully watched Mike's reaction to her family's reaction to the house, and later than night asked her when she was going to look at things through their eyes. He left abruptly, saying there was something he had to do. Sully went to the woods, to a place where he knew Cloud Dancing would come, and he did. They talked of marrying good women, and Cloud Dancing gave Sully his own wedding shirt, and Sully said that he wanted Cloud Dancing to be his best man but that Custer had put a bounty on his head and he should run. Cloud Dancing said he would be at the wedding and left because they heard horses. Sully appeared to be hunting when Custer came up to him and when Custer realized Cloud Dancing was gone, he arrested Sully. Custer teased him, saying he could kill him, but Sully said people were watching him. Custer then said he'd kill Cloud Dancing, and Sully said Custer could, but then he would have to kill Custer. Custer found that funny and let Sully go without his horse. Sully walked home all night, knowing he had missed the rehearsal dinner. Meanwhile, Elizabeth told Mike that Sully was the kind of man who could not face the commitment, and Colleen defended Sully. After church, Brian saw Sully coming from the woods and Mike ran to him. Sully told her he had been to see Cloud Dancing and was detained by Custer. Then Mike said they should elope because she was ready to see the world through their eyes and he said they only had to do the wedding their own way. He then suggested that she did not have to change her name if he did not have to wear a ring and she agreed. The next day, Sully was in town when Matthew got him to go into the saloon for a talk to find everyone but Loren. Sully refused whiskey and Hank indicated he lost the bet about Sully skipping town. They gave him a new hacksaw. Sully then turned to Matthew and insisted he takes the old homestead and Matthew finally agreed. The next day, after the wedding shower for Mike, Sully overheard Elizabeth refuse to give Mike away, so he went to Loren and asked him to give Mike away. Sully said that he did not think that Abagail would begrudge it, and Loren softened and agreed. (Loren visited Elizabeth and said he regretted for the past 10 years not giving Abagail away on her wedding day.) Sully then went to Abagail's grave, cut off his braid, and said that he had let it grow since they day she died, keeping her with him, but now he was moving on. He rose, gazed at the grave one more time and walked away. Sully prepared for the wedding at Jake's barbershop, and chose to wear Cloud Dancing's wedding shirt. He went to the meadow and approached Elizabeth, telling her not to take his choice of the shirt over her tux in a personal way. She confessed she had invited Custer, and Sully said that she did not know what it meant. Just then, Cloud Dancing rode into view. Jake and Robert E knocked Custer out by moving a bench and they tied him up in the clinic. Cloud Dancing joined Sully at the altar and Mike came down the isle. They both said the "I do's" and Cloud Dancing gave Sully the ring for Mike. As they kiss, Cloud Dancing slipped away. The celebration began with Sully dancing with Mike, photographs are taken, the cake is cut, and Sully even danced with Elizabeth. Sully and Mike rode to the train station, and they found the car decorated for their honeymoon and trip to Denver. As the train left, Sully carried Mike to the bed, but she protested that it was not dark yet, so Sully closed some of the shades and kissed her. Mike closed the last shade and they settled in for the honeymoon.

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