Colleen

It'll be good to be home thought Colleen as she starred out the train window. Her thoughts were interrupted as she started to cough violently. Then suddenly she blanked out. The next thing she knew the train was stopping at the Colorado Springs depot. She got off and started looking for Dr.Mike. Finally she made her way to the clinic. When she got there she found the CLOSED sign hanging on the door.

Then she spun around to go to RobertE's to get a horse. But started to feel dizzy again. So she sat down for awhile. When she got up she went to RoberetE's she talked for awhile then headed for the homestead. She went rather fast because in Denver couldn't ride horses. When she got there she found that no one was in site so she headed for Matthew's.

When she arrived she found Matthew. She and her brother extanged hugges and kisses then Katie walked around the corrner. Colleen asked if Dr. Mike was there.Then she learned that Sully, Brian, and Dr. Mike were at the reservation and that they wouldn't be back for three days she told Matthew that she had to go to the homestead to study they hugged once again and as they were doing so she thought that she would go to see Andrew because she knew she was sick.

After Matthew let her out of his embrace she turnned as fast as she could (so she could leave as fast as she could so she wouldn't give Katie the germs.) but a little to fast. She fainted. "Colleen!!" He yelled as he ran to the limp body. "Colleen! Wake up! Colleen!!

All the noise produced Daniel from the barn. "Matthew!", he called, "What happened?"

"She just collapsed," responded Matthew. "Hitch up the wagon, we have to take her to Andrew!"

"Colleen! Colleen! Wake up please Colleen!"

"What's goin' on Mafhew?" said Katie.

"Katie, Colleen's sick. Please stay back, I don't want you to get sick too."

"ok"

"Matthew bring her out, the wagon's ready!"

"Comin'," said Matthew, "You grab Katie and sit up front. I'll keep Colleen safe in the back."

"Let's go."

10 minutes later at the hotel....

"Andrew, Andrew!!" hollared Daniel. "Andrew! Come quick! Preston, get Andrew!"

"Daniel, help me undo the hatch!"

Inside the clinic Andrew was organizing his medical books when he was interrupted by a loud banging noise on his door. He ran over and opened the door. When he saw who Matthew was holding he sped up and started examining her. "Matthew what happened?" asked Andrew.

"She was turning to leave and collapsed." he responded. 5 minutes later on the porch....

" Her arm is broken in two spots. Matthew, I think she has contracted pnemonia again. Since she has had it before her body should be able to fight it faster. But right now I must perform a surgery to remove the liquid from the lungs."

"Andrew as much as I hate it I have to go into town. Daniel is going to Denver, so I have to take his place as sherrif for awhile."

1/2 an hour later Andrew is done with the surgery and is removing the "In surgery sign" from his door. Preston barges in.

"What is going on here, Andrew you're supposed to be seeing hotel guests, not using that in surgery sign to get time to yourself."

"Preston, I was performing a surgery."

"On who, may I ask?"

"Colleen Cooper."

"What is she doing here? Why isn't her mother doing it at her clinic? "

"Michela is at the reservation. And if you'll excuse me I must return to her to see how she's doing."

2 days later.....

Preston walks into Andrew's Clinic. "Andrew?"

"Yes, Preston."

"How's Colleen?"

"She's been in and out of consciousness all day. Michaela will be very upset when she comes home tomorrow."

"Yes, do you need any supplies ordered?"

"Yes, I was going to start making a list. Let's see here...alcohol, either, chlorophorm, bandages, sheets, ......"

"Andrew, what's that noise coming from the other room?"

"Colleen! Preston please leave and on your way out hang the surgery sign!"

Andrew runs to the recovery room to Colleen's side and listens to her lungs. He whispers "They are alsmost full!!!" He picks her up, carries her to the examination table to remove the liquid. Two hours later he is finished. He carries her back to the recovery room. And steps on to the porch.

"Andrew, is Colleen alright? The surgery sign has been up for hours."

Solemnly Andrew replies, "Matthew she's been in and out of consciousness all day."

"Can I see her?"

"Certainly, But she can hear you so you need to be strong."

"Thanks."

"Wait Matthew, you should leave Katie out here with me. A bad form of a cold causes pnemonia. The pnemonia itself isn't contageous but the cold is. Katie's immune system is too weak. She'd most certainly catch it."

Later that evening....

Andrew is sitting next to Colleen. She stirs. He moves to the bed and listens to her lungs. "Hummmm sounds clear."

"Andrew?" Colleen meekly wispered.

"Colleen, how are you feeling?"

"My arm hurts and I'm tired."

"Colleen do you remember what happened?"

"Yea, on the train I started coughing, then I blanked out. Then when I went to the clinic, ma wasn't there. I got dizzy then I rode to the homestead. No one was there. I got dizzy. Then I rode to Matthew's. He said ma was at the reservation, I saw Katie and wanted to leave before she got sick. I turned, then blanked till now. I guess when I fell this happened." She said pointing to her arm.

"You said you blanked out on the train also?"

"Yes"

"Do you know about how long......"

Andrew was interrupted by Colleen coughing violently. He ran to the office and came back with a wet rag. He went to cover Colleen's mouth and nose. She started to push him back. In between coughs she said, "No please. No ether, please no. No Andrew no!!"

"Colleen please let me. It will simple stop your coughing. It won't knock you out. Please Colleen." Colleen stopped fighting him. Andrew brought her some food from the hotel dining room then she went to bed.

The next morning Colleen woke to the sound of Andrew talking to an almost hysterical Michaela. She heard Sully calming her. She sat up and started smoothing her hair as best as she could. She dearly loved her mother and hated to be the cause of this much worry. She at least wanted to look kind of good.