Fan Fiction!!
Not Guilty
by: Chrystal Johnson
Andrew stood next to Preston greeting the newest arrivals from the train.
He didn't want to be greeting these guests, he wanted to see a certain young woman. He smiled as a picture
of colleen formed in his mind. Her beautiful chestnut hair pulled back with a satin
ribbon, a tendril of hair escaping and blowing in the breeze. Preston nudged him, erasing
the picture in his mind. Andrew looked up to see the Chateau's carriage bringing in the
new guests from town. He watched as the driver helped a pretty blonde down. Preston
took the arm of the young womans mother and began to speak.
"Welcome to Colorado Springs and to the Springs Chateau and Health Resort. I am
Preston A. Lodge III and this is Dr. Andrew Cook, he will be here to see to your every
medical need."
Preston said as they passed by Andrew on their way inside. Andrew then went inside his
small office and began clearing away the files he'd been working on when Preston came
to get him. As he picked up his jacket to leave for Dr. Quinn's clinic to see Colleen, he
heard a knock on the door. He sighed disappointed he was going to have to prolong
seeing colleen. He answered the door to see one of the newest arrivals.
"May I help you miss?" he asked.
"Mr. Lodge said you would be able to help me with these terrible headaches I've been
having." she said pressing her manicured hand to her forehead.
"Come in, please." he replied opening the door so she could enter the examination room.
She sat on the table, while Andrew put his coat down on the chair. He began to ask
questions about the headaches, so he could properly diagnose her.
"Miss Masters, I believe your headaches are called migraines. The blurred vision is a
side affect of the headaches." he said going through the cabinet containing all his
medicines.
"When you have another headache empty this packet into a glass of water. Drink it, then
try to rest, it'll help." he said helping her down off the table.
"Thank you Dr. Cool." she said as she turned to head down the porch.
Andrew picked up his jacket and quickly locked his door and headed towards town.
*******************************************************************************************
"Colleen, how's school?" Dr. Mike asked her daughter while she checked her supplies of
medicine.
"Wonderful. Though I'm glad it is Spring Break. I really need a vacation." Colleen said
smiling.
I'm finished changing the sheets, is there anything else?' Colleen asked.
"I can't think of anything." Dr. Mike said turning to glance at her.
"Do you mind if I go for a walk?" Colleen asked.
"Of course not. Have fun." Dr. Mike said smiling at her.
Colleen picked up her shawl and headed out the clinic door. She clutched the white cloth
around the front of her deep green dress. She headed towards the meadow where she
used to go to be alone and where she and Andrew would walk. She hid her face afraid
everyone would know who she was thinking of. When she looked up, she saw Andrew
walking towards her.
"Andrew, what are you doing in town?" she asked smoothing her skirt.
"I heard from Michaela you were coming home for Spring Break, and I just wanted to see
how your studies were coming along." he replied stopping in front of her.
"Schools great. Very exciting." she said smiling up at him.
"Would you like to take a walk?" he asked offering her his arm.
"I'd love to." she said placing her arm through his.
They began to walk towards the meadow.
"How's your practice at the chateau?" she asked as they reached the meadow, which was
beautiful with the new spring flowers
"Great, not exactly what I thought I'd be doing when I decided to stay in Colorado
Springs. Mostly headaches and upset stomachs." he said laughing alittle.
"Just today I diagnosed Miss Masters with migraines." he said gesturing with his right
hand.
"Miss Masters?" Colleen asked.
"Yeah, she and her family arrived today from Denver." Andrew answered turning his
head to look at her.
"Does she have pale blonde hair, and pretty blue eyes?" Colleen asked.
"Yeah I believe so." he said nodding his head.
"Mary's here?" she said in surprise.
"Mary?" he asked.
"Yeah, she and I have a few classes together. I told her about the chateau." Colleen said
tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ear.
The rest of their walk consisted of talk about the town. Andrew delivered her back to the
clinic and headed back to the chateau and no doubt a long line of patients.
********************************************************************************************
A few days later Colleen was talking to Daniel and Matthew outside the jail when the
chateau's carriage stopped on the street. They watched as a man and a woman helped a
your lady down and assisted her to the front of the jail.
"Mary,? What's happened?" Colleen asked as she recognized her class mate.
"We can talk inside." Daniel said opening the door to allow Mary and her family to enter.
Colleen went inside to comfort her friend.
"Now, honey tell the sheriff what happened." the older gentleman said in an angry tone.
"Yes, what happened." Daniel asked offering them a chair.
"She was attacked." her mother said.
"Attacked?" Daniel asked.
"Yes at the chateau, she was walking outside last night after dinner, and returned later
dirty with her dress torn. She said she was grabbed from behind and pulled into the
bushes. He was going to rape her sheriff. Thank goodness for some other late night
guests out for a stroll." her mother said smoothing her daughters hair.
"Did you see who the attacker was?" Daniel asked.
Mary sniffed and wiped away a few stray tears.
"Yes." she choked out, her voice strained from crying.
"Who was it?" He asked.
Mary sniffed again.
"Dr. Cook." she replied then began to sob again.
Colleen got sick to her stomach and rushed from the office. She couldn't believe what
she'd just heard. Andrew? Not him. Matthew places a hand on her shoulder.
"I don't believe it was Andrew, Colleen." He whispered.
"Oh, Matthew, Andrew would never do something like that." she said tears steaming
down her cheeks.
"Maybe we should find out his side to the story." Matthew said standing up.
Colleen followed him to the horses and they rode out to the chateau to get to the bottom
of the story.
*****************************************************************************************
Andrew looked up as Colleen and Matthew walked into his office.
"Maw, Colleen, is something wrong?" he asked standing up.
"Andrew do you know Mary Masters?" Matthew asked.
"Yeah she was here yesterday complaining with her migraines again." he replies
gesturing to her file on his desk.
"Andrew, she's accusing you of trying to rape her last night." Matthew said.
Andrew sat back sown in his chair.
"What?" he asked in shock.
"She said you grabbed her and forced her into the bushes last night after dinner."
Matthew explained.
"I would never do something like that. That's inhuman." He said in disgust.
"I was here last night working on patient files." he added.
"Why would she say things like that about you?" Colleen asked breaking her silence.
"O don't know. She was here yesterday and seemed upset when I declined her invitation
to a picnic, because I had work to do here." he said remembering her visit.
Afew minutes later Matthew and Colleen decided to leave so they could begin working
on Andrew's defense.
"Colleen." Andrew said lightly touching her arm. She looked back at him.
"It wasn't me." he said, his eyes pleading with her, asking for her to believe him.
"I know you didn't Andrew." She said touching his hand. She turned and followed
Matthew to the horses.
******************************************************************************************
At dinner that night Matthew and Colleen explained the days events to Sully and Dr.
Mike.
"Andrew?" Dr. Mike asked in surprise.
"That's who she said." Matthew replied.
"Andrew can't even be in the same room with a woman without getting nervous." Sully
contributed.
"He couldn't possibly do something that horrible." Dr. Mike replied.
"That's what we said. We're going to try and get to the bottom of this." Colleen said
joining in and letting them know her and Matthew's plans.
Sully and Dr. Mike agreed to help and every one said their goodnights. Colleen couldn't
sleep so she sat in front of the fireplace trying to sort out all her feelings. She didn't know
how long she'd been there with her knees drawn up to her chest, it didn't seem long, when
Dr. Mike touched her shoulder.
" He didn't do it Dr. Mike. I know he didn't." Colleen said finally letting the tears fall.
" I know he didn't ." Dr. Mike said hugging the sobbing girl.
Colleen finally calmed down enough to get some sleep, but was up earl the next morning.
************************************************************************************************
She was sitting at her quiet spot in the meadow trying to figure out what to do, when she
heard someone approach her. She looked up to see Mary standing there.
"Hi Colleen." she said smiling weakly.
"Hi Mary." she said looking at her hands. " I'm sorry about what happened she replied.
Mary tool it upon herself and sat down next to her.
"It's so creepy at the chateau now. I don't feel safe by myself anymore. I'm afraid he's
waiting for me." she said speaking.
Colleen didn't say anything, she just sat there watching the flowers blow in the breeze.
"I have nightmares at night about that night. I still see us walking together, then all of the
sudden I'm in the bushes and he put his hand over my mouth, if I didn't bite him I
wouldn't have gotten away." she said tears spilling down her cheeks. Colleen made up
the excuse she had to help Dr. Mile with her organizing and left.
************************************************************************************************
Colleen hurried to the clinic where Dr. Mike and Andrew were. She opened the door and
ran inside.
"She's faking it all. It's made up. Her story's inconsistent." she exclaimed.
"Slow down, now what did she say?" Dr. Mike asked.
"The other day she told Daniel, that she was walking alone when Andrew grabbed her
from behind and pulled her into the bushes, and she escaped when a couple came out for
a stroll. Afew minutes ago she told me, she and Andrew were walking together when he
pushed her into the bushes, and escaped when she bit his hand." she explained.
"Colleen's right, she's lieing." Daniel said from the door. "I got in touch with a few other
sheriff's and her family has sued 2 doctors, as a lawyer for alleged attack's in the last 2
years. Plus Mr. and Mrs. Grant were outside that night, right after dinner until late, they
never saw either Mary or Andrew." Daniel explained.
"But why would she pick Andrew?" Dr. Mike asked.
Because she knew about him." Colleen spoke up.
Everyone looked at her with a questioning glance.
"At school, there is a group of us who talk about home and I've mentioned Andrew a few
times." she explained.
"The judge is coming tomorrow. Don't worry Andrew." Matthew said patting his
shoulder.
Daniel and Matthew left to go back to the jail to work on the case. Dr. Mike went to have
lunch, leaving Andrew and Colleen alone.
"I feel this is my fault. If I hadn't said anything to her about you, she would never have
accused you of doing something like that." Colleen said sitting down beside him.
"It's not your fault Colleen." He said laying a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I always knew you were innocent." she replied looking at her hands.
"Thank you for believing in me. It means a lot. I don't know what I would have done if
you would have thought I was guilty." he said touching her hand.
Colleen looked up into his eyes. Andrew leaned forward and lightly kissed her lips.
"I love you Colleen. Have ever since I came here." he admitted.
Colleen couldn't believe what he was saying.
"I love you too Andrew." she said smiling at him, touching her hand to his cheek. He
removed her hand from his face and kissed it.
******************************************************************************************
Andrew sat in the church which was being used as the courtroom. Colleen was sitting
beside him on his left as Matthew and Daniel on his right. Daniel had the Grant's testify,
along with several character witness's, and colleen with the version Mary had told her.
The judge took in everything that was brought to his attention and took an hour to make
his decision. Everyone filed back into the church as when everyone was seated, he spoke.
"Will the defendant please rise?" He asked.
Andrew, Daniel, Matthew and Colleen stood.
"Based on the all of the evidence I've heard today, I find the defendant, Dr. Andrew
Cook, not guilty." he said just before the entire room erupted into applause.
The judge did fine the Masters' for slander. Andrew hugged Colleen tightly.
"Congratulations." she said as he held her tight.
"Thank you." he said smiling. "Would you mind walking with me later?" he asked.
"I'd love to." she said smiling back.
They met at the clinic and walked to the meadow. Andrew picked a beautiful daisy and
offered it to her. Colleen accepted it and they stopped next to the oak tree in the middle
of the meadow.
"Colleen I need to ask you something." he said.
"What?" she asked smelling the flower.
"Did you mean it when you told me you loved me?" he asked.
"Of course I did." she said touching his arm.
Andrew stuck his hand into one of his vest pockets and knelt down on one knee, showing
her a small gold ring with a small diamond .
"Colleen Cooper, will you marry me?" he asked.
"Yes Andrew, I'll marry you." she said looking down at him, a tear escaping and rolling
down her cheek.
Andrew slid the ring onto her hand and wiped the tear away.
"I love you Colleen." he said before kissing her lightly on the lips.
*********************************************************************************************
Colleen sat quietly on one of the benches outside the train station her belongings beside
her and a white box on her lap. She nervously looked at the clock above he ticket
window. She sighed the train was 10 minutes late, she hoped she arrived on time. She
had alot to do. She had to set-up her practice at the chateau, there were a thousand things
to do before the wedding 6 weeks away. There was the decorations, dresses for the
wedding party, the food, she couldn't name everything she had to do in 6 short weeks.
She glanced up when she heard a whistled. She smiled as she saw the cloud puffing from
the stack of the huge locomotive. As the train pulled in to the depot she gathered her
things. A tall, thin man took her luggage and stored it in the baggage car. Colleen
boarded the train and took a seat by the window and smiled, she was on her way home,
for good. When the train finally departed from the station, she leaned her head back
against the seat, and began thinking about Colorado Spings. She must have fallen asleep,
because she opened her eyes when the train slowed down, she looked out the window and
her heart lept, she was home. She was the first one off the train. She hugged Dr. Mike,
Sully, Brian, Matthew and Dorothy. She stopped when she reached Andrew.
"I've missed you so much." he said as she jumped into his arms.
"I've missed you to." she said as she hugged him.
They separated and rejoined the others. Sully picked up Colleens bags and began
walking to the wagon.
"What's in the box Colleen?" Dr. Mike asked.
"Oh it's my wedding gown. Grandma sent me a catalog from Boston and I picked the one
I liked and she found a shop in Denver that had the dress and had it sent to me at the
college before I left." she said explaining how she came to have the dress .
"Well that was thoughtful of mother. I'll have to write and thank her." Dr. Mike said as
they reached the wagon.
Dr. Mike left to take care of a patient and Sully put the bags into the wagon.
"We're ready to head to the homestead Colleen." Brian announced.
"I was hoping we could have lunch and discuss some wedding plans." Andrew said
looking at Colleen.
"Me and Brian can take your things to your room if you want." Sully said.
"Thanks Sully, Thanks Brian." Colleen said hugging them both before heading to Grace's
Cafe.
They ordered lunch and began talking about plans.
"My family will be arriving the day before the wedding." Andrew said as Grace brought
their food.
"Dr. Mike's family will be here a few days before, they want to help." Colleen said taking
a sip of her coffee
"They'll be a big help. The house's almost finished." he said before taking a bite of
Grace's delicious stew.
"It is? Can I see it?" She asked trying to hide her excitement.
"Tomorrow, I have to go back to the chateau. We'll take a picnic lunch with us." he said
smiling.
"That sounds lovely, I can't wait." she said finishing her lunch.
*****************************************************************************************
Colleen dressed the next morning in a floral print dress and went down to breakfast.
"Mornin' Dr. Mike, Sully, Brian." She said.
"Mornin' Colleen. What do you have planned for today?" Dr. Mike asked.
"Well, Andrew and I were going to go look at the house today and I thought I'll settle in
at the chateau." she said sitting down at the table.
"Sounds like fun. Have you decided on the dresses for the wedding party?" Dr. Mike
asked as Sully and Brian went out to hitch up the horses.
"I saw some rally pretty ones in the catalog, I was looking at from a shop in Denver.
Their a light blue satin, with lace around the hem. It's a very pretty dress. I don't know
who I'm going to ask to wear it ." she said returning her thoughts to the one thing she
couldn't figure out. Who was going to be her maid of honor. "Matthew has agreed to be
Andrew Best Man." she said still searching her mind for someone, then her face lit up.
"Ma, would you be my Maid of Honor?" she asked in a rush.
"Colleen I don't know what t say?" Dr. Mike said in surprise.
"Say yes. It would mean alot to me." Colleen replied.
"O.K., I'll be your Matron of Honor." Dr. Mike said hugging her daughter.
**************************************************************************************
Around noon Andrew came by to get Colleen. He stopped down the road from the house.
"You have to close your eyes." he said turning to her. Colleen closed her eyes tightly.
"You can't peak." he said smiling.
"I won't." she said giggling.
Andrew started the buggy down the road. He stopped in front of the house. He helped
Colleen down and turned her towards the house.
"O.K. now you can open your eyes." he said from beside her.
Colleen opened her eyes to see a magnificent house. Large front porch, with a swing.
The front door had a large window in it.
"Can we go inside?" she asked.
"Of course." he said taking her hand. They climbed the steps to the door. Andrew
opened the door and picked her up. He carried inside and sat her down. Colleen looked
around. The kitchen was in the back of the house, the dining room was to the right, the
living room was to the left, with the large window and fireplace. Colleen walked to the
stairs. She climbed them and saw 3 rooms. A small one and 2 larger ones. The small
one Colleen knew it was built to be a nursery. The one large room next to it was to be
their room. The window that over looked the front of the house and the river beyond the
trees, had a seat built into it. Colleen noticed all the rooms were furnished with beautiful
oak furniture. The dining table and chairs, the cabinets in the kitchen, the love seat and
sofa in the living room, the beds and dressers in the bed rooms.
"Andrew the furniture, it must have cost a fortune." she said lightly touching the dresser.
"It's solid oak. It was pretty expensive but it will last a long time. which is a wise
investment." he said smiling. "So do you like the house?" he asked a little nervous.
" I love the house, it's beautiful. I love the seat I can sit here and read or just look
outside." she said staring out the window. Andrew hugged her.
"I'm glad you liked the house. Are you ready for our picnic?" he asked.
"Let's go." she said leaving the room headed for the stairs. She stopped to look into the
smallest room, her eyes fell on the wooden cradle in the corner. She smiled and
continued. Andrew retrieved the basket from the buggy and they walked to a grassy hill
next to the river. They ate a wonderful lunch of fried chicken, biscuits, corn on the cob,
cookies and lemon aid. Colleen was happy at that moment. She was finally going to
marry the man she loved, and had a beautiful house to live in. Her dream house.
******************************************************************************************
Colleen sat in the clinic staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her auburn hair was
pinned up with ringlets hanging down. She had small flowers adorning the front.
Everything was set, Grace had planned a wonderful buffet, the reverend had a beautiful
ceremony prepared, and Dorothy had written a beautiful piece that was going to be ran in
the Denver Post and The Boston Gazette. She sighed, She didn't remember why she was
getting married, she knew it was silly, she knew she loved Andrew, but did she love him
enough to marry him? She heard voices outside so she went to the window. She parted
the lace curtains behind Dr. Mikes desk and looked at the street. Sully, Matthew, Robert
E, and Andrew walked down the street towards the church. Colleen's heart swelled, she
knew at that moment why she loved him so much. She turned and went back to where
her dress lay. She took off the simple dress she had on and picked up the beautiful white
satin and lace gown. It was off her shoulders, long sleeved, with a bow adorning each
sleeve. The skirt was full with lace trim. She stepped into it and put her arms into the
sleeves. She turned and carefully began to button the buttons in the back. She then
slipped each foot into a slipper that matched the dress. At last she picked up the veil.
She centered it and placed the pins in her hair to hold the piece of lace into place. She
smiled at herself.
"Good-bye Colleen Cooper." she said, "Hello Mrs. Andrew Cook." she said smiling even
more. Just then Dr. Mike, her Grandma, and Dorothy came in, and began to cry when the
saw her in the dress. They all shared hugs then helped Colleen pick up her dress and
walk to the church. Dr. Mike walked down the aisle and Colleen could hear the piano
play the opening strains of the wedding march. Sully offered her hiss arm as Robert E
opened the doors of the church and everyone stood. Colleen smiled as she walked
towards Andrew. They stopped a few steps away as the reverend asked who gave this
woman to this man. Sully answered, then placed her hand in Andrews.
Colleen and Andrew exchanged their vows and rings.
"With the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the
bride." the reverend said to Andrew. Andrew looked into Colleens eyes and leaned down
for a light kiss to seal the vows they'd just spoken. Everyone followed the couple outside
to the wonderful buffet Grace had prepared. After a few hours of dancing, eating, talking
and opening gifts, Colleen and Andrew were off to catch their train to Denver. They
boarded the train and waved as the train left the depot and everyone shouted their
goodbyes and good wishes along with handfuls of rice. Colleen smiled as she watched
everyone wave to them. She finally marriad the one man she loved and was going to start
a family with him. She remembered what Mary had accused him of and she knew this
caring, sensitive and loving man could never do that anyone , she did know, however,
that he was guilty of one thing.......... Stealing her heart.
THE END
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