by Beth Mott
It was a beautiful spring day in Colorado Springs. The sun was gleaming warm and bright high in the sky and the birds were gaily announcing the coming of summer. The inhabitants of the town were enjoying every bit of the glorious day as they conducted their daily business. Even Loren Bray was in an especially happy mood for a change. In fact, he promised Brian Cooper when he came into the store that morning that he would take him fishing later that afternoon after things slowed down a little and Brian was finished school. Brian was pleased and rushed back to the clinic to inform Dr. Mike that he would be late for supper. Dr. Mike smiled in approval and Brian took off at a run for the school house. Dr. Mike watched him go and sighed as she realized how big her young son was getting. He'll soon be a man. She thought to herself. He's growing up so fast. Then she started thinking about Colleen and Matthew.
How much they've grown and changed in the years since their mother died. Matthew has become such a wonderful man. Kind and caring, always ready to put himself out for others, but also ready to fight for what he believes is right, even if it isn't widely accepted. But, Michaela has observed, that Matthew was also good at finding the legal ways of accomplishing his purpose. Using little legal loopholes or little known methods to do something. She was beginning to think that her older son would make a really great lawyer.
Then her thoughts turned to her older daughter, the one she missed so dreadfully. She was so proud that Colleen was accomplishing her dream of becoming a doctor, but she must admit that she wished she were here. Even when she came home on visits, Michaela felt that she still didn't get to see enough of her. True, they worked in the clinic together and spent many nights up late talking, but Colleen's attention was divided. She no longer spent every moment with her family, but divided her time and attention between them and a certain young doctor.
Michaela didn't begrudge the relationship, and she couldn't have wished for a better young man for her daughter than Andrew Cook, but even still, Michaela was finding it hard to share her with the young man. She knew she must learn to let go. Colleen was growing up and she would someday be on her own, with her own practice, her own home, and her own family. Michaela smiled again. At least she still had Katie for a few more years. She glanced over at her daughter who was contentedly playing in the corner of the room.
"Yes, dear sweet Katie," Dr. Mike said to the little girl. "I'll still have you for a few more years."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Dr. Mike turned as a terrified young woman came rushing in.
"Dr. Quinn, you have to come quick!" the young girl admonished, gasping for air.
"What is it?" Dr. Mike asked in concern.
"M-my little brother fell off the barn roof. He's broken his arm really bad. He's in a lot of pain!"
"I'll get my bag." Dr. Mike grabbed her coat and rushed to get her bag and picked up Katie. "I have to take Katie over to the Gazette to give her to Dorothy. I'll be right with you." The girl nodded dumbly as Dr. Mike turned to head to the Gazette. Before she got there she met up with Matthew.
"Dr. Mike," He called. She stopped and turned to face him. He waved a piece of paper and said, "Colleen just wired she's coming home tomorrow afternoon. She says her exams are finished, so she's home for the summer."
"That's great." Dr. Mike replied distractedly.
Matthew's face became serious. "What's wrong?"
"Morgan Truman broke his arm in a fall. I have to go with Connie and see to him. I was just taking Katie over to Dorothy."
"Why don't you leave her with me?" Matthew suggested, stuffing the telegram back in his pocket and reaching out for his sister.
"Are you sure?" Dr. Mike asked, handing her over.
"Sure. I have nothing pressing to do. I have to ride over to the Chateau. Horace asked me to deliver this letter from Colleen to Andrew." He smiled a little slyly. "And Colleen asked us to tell Andrew of her arrival tomorrow. Katie and I can take a little ride."
"Thanks Matthew." Dr. Mike said smiling gratefully at her son. "I'll see you later."
"We'll see you back at the homestead later." Matthew told her.
Dr. Mike nodded. "Okay. Oh, Brian's going fishing with Loren after school, so he'll be a little late coming home."
"Okay. See you later." Matthew and Katie waved good-bye to Michaela, then turned to head over to where Matthew had left his horse tied. "Want to go for a little ride, Katie? We're going to go out and see Andrew. Would you like that?" The little girl smiled at him and squealed in delight. Matthew felt his heart melt. He tightened his hold on the little girl and gave her a hug. Katie hugged him back. When they reached the train station where Matthew had left his horse the young man asked Horace if he'd come hold Katie for him while he mounted.
Just as Matthew had Katie securely seated in front of him on the saddle, a well dressed man came over to Horace and asked how one would get out to the Hot Springs Chateau.
"There's a wagon from the Chateau that takes people from town to the hotel." Horace informed the man. "It just left about five minutes ago."
"When does it come back into town?" The man asked.
"Usually when the next train comes in, occasionally before if some of the hotel guests want to come into town." Horace explained.
The man looked a little disappointed. Seeing his expression, Matthew offered, "I'm heading that way myself, sir. If you want I can take you out to the hotel."
The man eyed Matthew and Katie sitting on the horse and commented jokingly, "Do you think you have room up there for one more?" The man began to chuckle.
Matthew smiled at the comment then replied, "It may be a tight fit, but I think Dr. Mike's wagon is still at the clinic. We could borrow that."
"And what will he use?" The man asked. "A doctor needs some form of transportation."
"She can use my horse." Matthew replied.
"Very well then." The man agreed.
Matthew nodded, then leaned over and looked at Katie. "I guess, dear Katie, we'll have to take that ride later. We're going to take the wagon instead." Katie squealed and clapped her hands. Matthew looked at the two men and smiled. "I guess she's not too terribly disappointed." He lifted Katie up and handed her to Horace, then dismounted. Taking Katie he said, "I'll be right back. I'll go get the wagon."
"I might as well come with you." The man said. "I only have this one bag."
Matthew nodded then looked at Horace and asked. "If Dr. Mike comes looking for the wagon would you tell her if she needs to take my horse she's welcome to it?" Horace nodded.
"This way sir." Matthew lead the way to the clinic. Once they got there he put Katie down on the ground and tied the horse to the hitching rail. Katie reached over and clung to his leg and giggled. Matthew looked down at her and laughed.
"She's a real cutie." The man commented. "Is she your daughter?"
Matthew looked at the man in surprise, then smiled, "No, she's my baby sister."
"Sister?" The man looked equally surprised. "Why, there must be twenty years between you." The man exclaimed. "Your mother must be getting up there in years."
"My Ma died. Seven years ago." Matthew said bluntly.
The man's face looked sympathetic, but also confused. Matthew explained.
"When Ma died, she asked her good friend, Dr. Michaela Quinn to look after me, my sister and my little brother. About three and a half or four years ago, Dr. Mike and her husband, Sully, legally adopted us. Then almost two years ago, Katie joined the family."
"I see." The man nodded. "I wasn't trying to pry or anything though."
Matthew smiled, "It's okay. You're not the first person I've explained it to."
"What about your real father." The man asked.
Matthew's face clouded. "He ran off when my brother was a baby. He's a no good selfish man and I have no use for him and neither does the rest of my family. The best thing he ever did for us was give up custody to Dr. Mike and Sully."
The man's eyebrows raised in surprise but he didn't make a further comment. In fact before anything else could be said, Katie decided to stretch her legs and took off running across the dirt street.
"Katie!" Matthew cried in horror and took off after the little girl. He grabbed her just as a man came barreling out of Hank's saloon. Hank stood in the door angrily glaring at the man.
"I never want to see you around here again!" He yelled. Then he looked up into the terror stricken eyes of Katie Sully. The girl looked at the man on the ground then back at Hank and suddenly began to wail. She turned her face into Matthew's coat and sobbed from fright and confusion.
Hank, feeling sorry about frightening the poor little girl, walked over the man on the street and started talking softly to Katie.
"It's okay, Katie. I didn't mean to scare you. I was just mad at that man. It's okay."
Katie turned her head slightly to look at Hank. "Hey Katie look at this." Then Hank made a funny face. Matthew looked at the saloon operator in disbelief. Katie giggled, then hiccoughed, then giggled again.
"That's better, Katie." Hank smiled. Then he patted her on the back, flashed a sheepish grin at Matthew and waved to the little girl. Katie waved back.
Matthew, still in slight shock over the behavior of the surly barkeep just watched Hank as he retreated back to the saloon.
"Are you ready to go, young man?" The man called, bringing Matthew back to reality.
Matthew turned and nodded. He walked back to the wagon and waited for the man to climb up, then handed Katie up to him. Once Matthew was settled, he put Katie on his knee and headed the wagon towards the hotel.
"Slight fever, headache, chills and sore throat." Andrew commented as he listed off his patients symptoms.
"And my whole body aches, too." The young woman added.
"It sounds like you have a catarrh." Andrew diagnosed.
"Is that serious?" The young woman asked concerned.
Andrew shook his head. "Bed rest is mostly what you need. Maybe a soak in the hot springs to help soothe the aches. And I'll give you some Willow Bark Tea to help with the fever and headache. He went over to the shelves that held his medicine and selected a bottle. He measured out some of the tea and then returned to the young woman.
"Brew these into a tea and drink it every few hours." Andrew instructed.
The young woman accepted the tea and stepped down off the examination table.
"Thank you very much, Dr. Cook."
"My pleasure." Andrew opened the door for the young woman. Just as she was about to step out a little girl came running into the clinic.
The young woman smiled in delight and bent over, "Oh, my how cute you are, little girl."
Andrew looked at the little girl and as he reached down to pick her up, exclaimed "Katie! What are you doing here?"
"You know this little girl?" The young woman asked.
"Yes, I do. She's my..." Andrew started to say, but then Katie put both of her hands on either side of his mouth and pushed the sides of his lips together. Andrew laughed and Katie squealed in delight, exclaiming "A'du, A'du!" as she impulsively threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
"I'd say she likes you very much." The young woman commented.
"Oh, yeah, Katie and I are great friends." Andrew laughed, as he gave the little girl a kiss on the cheek. Afterwards he commented. "But what is she doing out here all by herself?" Suddenly heavy footsteps on the wooden walk outside announced the anxious arrival of Matthew. When he saw Katie in Andrew's arms he sighed in relief.
"You are going to give me a heart attack before the day is over, darling Katie." Matthew chided breathlessly. "I turn my back for one instance and she's gone."
"Well, she's fine." Andrew assured him, laughing again as Katie gave his neck another impulsive squeeze.
"Thank goodness. Wouldn't Dr. Mike have my hide if something happened to her." Matthew sighed, relief showing in his face. Then, after watching his baby sister for a moment, laughed and teasingly commented to Andrew, "Oh, dear, looks like both my little sisters are crazy about you. I hope their won't be a fight!" Andrew blushed in embarrassment, but there was a pleased smile on his face.
"Sounds like you have a way with the young ladies, Dr. Cook," the young woman finally commented, a light teasingly tone in her voice.
Matthew looked at the young woman in surprise, as if noticing her for the first time and then smiled.
"Oh, Pardon me." Andrew flushed again, this time for his lack of manners. "Matthew, I'd like you to meet Miss Douglas, she's a guest here at the hotel. Miss Douglas, I'd like you to meet my good friends, Matthew Cooper and this is his baby sister, Katie."
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Douglas." Matthew nodded.
"Likewise, Mr. Cooper." Miss Douglas smiled. Then, turning to Andrew, she reached out and took one of Katie's little hands, "And you too, Miss Katie." She glanced from Andrew to Matthew and then back again and, after a moments hesitation, said, "I'll just leave you two gentlemen alone. If you'll excuse me. Thanks again, Dr. Cook."
"My pleasure, Miss Douglas." Andrew smiled in return.
"Pretty little thing." Matthew commented, giving Andrew a sly look out of the corner of his eye after the door had closed behind her.
Andrew shrugged and replied, "I didn't notice."
Matthew smiled teasingly and said, "Boy, you must be in love."
Andrew blushed hotly and Matthew diverted his attention by reaching into his coat pocket. "I have a couple telegrams here for you." He handed him the pieces of paper. "And...a letter." He waved the envelope in front of his face.
Andrew reached out and took it from him. After reading the return address his face broke out into a huge grin.
"One of the telegrams is from Colleen saying that she's coming home tomorrow afternoon, for the summer." Matthew said, taking Katie so Andrew could read the telegram.
Andrew's face broke into a huge smile. "That's wonderful!"
"Listen, why don't you come on over for supper tomorrow night, I'm sure the family would like to see you and I know Colleen would enjoy being able to spend the evening with you." Matthew invited.
Andrew smiled again, "I'd love to."
"Well, I'll leave you to read your letter." Matthew commented and smiled knowingly.
"Thanks again, Matthew."
"My pleasure. I'll see you later."