June 1874
Chapter 1
The stranger sat at one of the tables at Grace's café. All around her people filled the tables of the outdoor restaurant. She had been meaning to visit this small town of Colorado Springs, but was never able to until now. This town meant something to someone very special but until she saw the place for herself, this outsider never realized why. The young woman sat at a table, patiently awaiting service. At first she was a bit annoyed. How could an establishment be run like this and expect the customers to ever come back. But as she was thinking this, the young women overheard something that made her stop criticizing.
Standing over a large pot, slowly stirring its contents was a woman very familiar to the stranger. Although she hadn't seen her aunt in ten years, the woman still recognized her. She still wore her hair up, although most likely it was because she didn't want it in the food, not because of an overpowering sister. Her skin was the same color brown and her eyes, those eyes that she had once envied. They were even more beautiful than she remembered. The young woman's thoughts began to drift but were interrupted.
"Can I get you somethin?" Olivia asked again.
The girl looked up startled out of her daydream. "Oh, I'm sorry." She glanced around looking for a menu. When she didn't find one, she was at loss for what to do. "Um, what's, what's good here?" She asked.
Olivia had been working for Grace for a few months now. After loosing her husband, she had needed to find work in order to provide for her children. Grace had offered her a job in the ever-growing café. "Well, usually, I'd suggest the meatloaf. It's the best I've ever tasted. But Grace is a bit preoccupied today." She said as she nodded over to the woman at the stove. "So I think I'd go with somethin the other girls can make. Maybe the chicken or ham?"
"Well, if the meatloaf is that good, I'll have to come back another time. But for now, I'll have ham and if possible some warm milk and some kind of vegetable?"
"Yes ma'am. That'll be right up."
"Thank you." Olivia walked away to prepare the meal. The newcomer sat and watched the woman at the stove. "I was right." She thought to herself. "It is Grace. I can't believe she's still here."
As the girl continued to watch, Grace suddenly called to someone the stranger didn't know. "Robert E. come taste this sauce for me." The man set down a large beam of wood and wandered over to the stove.
"Grace, you've made that sauce ten times today and it's tasted the same each time. Stop worryin yourself over nothin."
"This isn't nothin Robert E! My sister's comin. I just want everything to be prefect."
"Your sister's not gonna care how your sauce tastes Grace. She's comin to see you and Ben, not to try your cookin."
"But Robert E, she's used to all that fancy cookin that them professionals do down in New Orleans. She's been workin for on of the richest ladies down there. My cookin is nothin compared to that. Plus I think she will care?" She added as she turned back to the sauce.
Robert E. took her hand and turned her around. "Grace what are you talking about? She's your sister and she doesn't care about your cookin."
"You don't understand Robert E! She's not this great wonderful person you think she is. There are some things you don't know about my past...Some things no one knows but us?" Again Grace turned away, not able to face the man she loved. She longed to tell him all her secrets, but some things were just too painful to talk about.
Robert E. sensed that she was hiding something, but he didn't want to push her into talking. "Well, I'm here to listen. But you gotta tell me Grace. I can't pull information from a hat."
"You don't want to hear all this now Robert E. Let just forget about it all right. I've gotta lot of work to do."
"Ok, I'll stop asking but later you're gonna explain this. I'm gonna go clean up then we gotta head over to the train station."
"Oh goodness! Is it time already? The food's not ready, I haven't even started to clean the house! And Ben! We gotta dress Ben!"
"Hey, calm down. Ben is with Sarah at the house. She already got him ready and she tidied up. And Olivia and the other girls can finish here. They ran this place fine without you after Ben was born. I'm sure they can handle one afternoon. Everything's gonna be fine Grace."
"Oh I forgot Sarah was around. I guess we better get over to the station then."
"Hey, slow down. I'm a mess. Let me wash up. You go pick up Ben and I'll meet you back here."
**********
"Well Miss Katie what should we do today?" Dorothy asked as she walked down the road with Katie in her arms. She had just picked up the little girl from the clinic. She watched the child for few hours each morning while Michaela worked. It was a treat for them both and she still had plenty of time to work on the Gazette.
"Wanna play in dirt!" Katie exclaimed.
"Oh my. We don't want to get your dress all dirty. How about we go play at Miss Dorothy's office for a bit."
"Yea! Play paper! Make mama picture!"
"Ok Katie you can draw on some paper."
After settling Katie on the floor to draw, Dorothy sat down at her desk and set to work on editing an article Brian had written about Colleen and Andrew's house being finished and them moving in.
When Dorothy looked up, Katie was nowhere to be found. "Katie!" she called. "Don't hide from Miss Dorothy. We gotta be headin back to see mama."
After looking all around the tiny office, Dorothy went outside. Katie was not there, but faintly, Dorothy heard her cries. After running around to the back of the building, Dorothy found Katie sitting in the dirt crying. "Oh Katie what's wrong?"
"The buggies try and eat me!" she cried.
"They tried to eat you?" Dorothy questioned as she picked the little girl up off the ground.
"Ya, see." Katie held out her arms and showed Dorothy where she had been bitten. There were also a few on her face and neck, but the child had not yet noticed them.
"Well Miss Katie it looks like you had a fight with some mosquitoes."
"No." Katie said seriously shaking her heard. "I not fight, that is bad. muitoes fight me, but I no fight."
"Ok Katie. It's ok. Lets take you to see your mother."
"Mama make it better?" Katie asked between her lessening crying.
"I'm sure she will Katie. Your ma's a good doctor."
When Michaela opened the door, she was shocked at the sight before her. Dorothy was standing there holding a crying Katie. The little girl was covered in red spots as well as a good amount of dirt. "My goodness what happened?!" She asked as she took Katie in her arms.
"The buggies fight me mama. But I not fight I promise."
"I'm sorry Michaela. I looked away for a second and she was gone. I found her behind the office. She told me she wanted to play in the dirt, but I told her no. I guess she didn't want to draw anymore. I think some mosquitoes got to her. They were swarming all around."
"That's ok Dorothy. It was an accident." She turned to Katie. "Now Katie tell Miss Dorothy thank you for playing to day."
"Thank you miss Dorfy. We draw later?"
"Yes Katie we can draw again sometime. See you later Michaela."
"Ok Katie, lets get you cleaned up." Michaela said after Dorothy left.
"No mama it itches!" Katie replied as she tried to struggle away from her mother. "I want Poppy!"
**********
Andrew scrambled around the kitchen trying furiously to keep Colleen from working too hard. First he had insisted on cooking their breakfast and then later lunch as well. Considering how breakfast turned out, he was surprised Colleen had even let him back in the kitchen. Andrew was determined to clean up by himself, so immediately after the meal, he began to clear the table. But by the time he made it to the kitchen, Colleen had already started on the dishes. "Colleen, why don't you let me do that. I've done the dishes plenty of times. I think you should sit down for awhile."
"Andrew you have got to stop fussing over me. I'm not gonna be able to take another six months of this."
"I'm sorry. I just don't want anything to happen to you or the baby."
"Andrew, we're fine. You know that better than anyone, not including myself of course."
"You're right. But you will have to slow down one of these days."
"Don't worry Andrew. I'm not going to do anything that would hurt our baby. Now, can I finish the dishes? We've gotta get to the clinic. Ma's expecting us to take over after lunch."
"Why don't you stay home today and rest?" Andrew suggested.
Colleen was really tired of this suggestion. Already he had brought this up three times that morning. "Andrew I'm fine. Already, I only work half the day. I'm not stopping work when I'm only three months along. Nothing is going to happen. Now please, stop being so overprotective of me."
"I'm sorry Colleen. The doctor in me knows that there's no harm in working as long as you don't over do it. I guess the father in me is worried to death."
Colleen recognized his fear. She took his hands in hers and kissed him. When they broke apart, she told him "Andrew I sometimes worry too. But we can?t go on worrying. We'll end up sitting around the house doing nothing."
Andrew smiled. He knew she was right. He always wondered how could she be so calm. "I know. You are just like your mother you know that?" He leaned in to kiss her. "I love you Colleen."
"I love you too Andrew."
"Well, we better get to work! How about I wash and you dry. Then we'll go to the clinic."
Chapter 2
The young woman sat at the table, no longer waiting for her meal. It had only been a matter of minutes since Olivia had walked away, but this stranger was getting restless, though it had nothing to do with food. She had overheard the entire conversation. Grace still thought her mother was alive and coming to Colorado Springs. She sat there pondering how this could be. When she saw Grace and Robert E. head over to the train station, she knew she had to stop them.
Leaving her food, which had just arrived, she ran towards them. Upon reaching their side, she grabbed Robert E's arm for support. He turned around started for neither he nor Grace had seen the young woman approach. "Can I help you?" he asked.
The stranger immediately drew back her arm. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I...It's just I need to talk to you."
"Do we know you?" Grace asked.
"Well, yes but I doubt you remember me. It has been over ten years."
"Ten years! Why you would have only been a girl then!" Grace exclaimed.
"Yes I was. I was six last time I saw you."
"Well, I must say I don't remember, but if you'll introduce yourself, I'm sure I will."
"Yes, of course. I'm..." The sound of the train whistle brought everyone back to why they were standing in the middle of the street.
Grace stood there, wanting to leave, but not wanting to leave this stranger who claimed to know her. The young woman waited, not sure how to reveal her identity. Robert E. solved the awkwardness "We're on our way to meet someone at the train station. Why don't you walk with us and tell us whatever it is you need."
"Actually, that's part of the reason I'm here. The woman you're meeting isn't on that train."
"What are you talking about?!" Grace asked, quite startled that this stranger knew anything about their visitor.
The stranger looked directly into Grace's eyes. "Don't you remember me Aunt Grace?"
Grace stepped back, providing a small space between her and the girl. She was startled at first that this person was claiming to be her niece, but when she looked into those eyes, there was no doubt. "Oh my goodness! Ruth?"
"You do remember me!" Ruth said softly, trying to stop herself from crying.
"I can't believe it! What are you doing in Colorado?"
"I came to se you of course. Why else would I travel this far from home?"
"Well, I was just wondering the same thing. Your mother is on that train. Why couldn't you just come with her?" Grace was very confused, but then she remembered one of the first remarks Ruth had made, before she had made her identity known. "But you said something about the person we were meeting? Are you saying your mother isn't on the train?"
"That's right she's not." Ruth was hesitant to explain any further.
"Well why on earth not? Couldn?t she have at least told us she wasn't coming?"
"Aunt Grace, I think I should explain...Ma died about a week ago. The doctors don't know what she had and they couldn't help her. I'm sorry to have to tell you like this?"
Grace just stood there stunned. "My sister is dead?" was all she could manage to ask.
"Yes, pa was so upset he began drinking. He was taken to the hospital and they say he's not going to make it...alcohol poisoning or something like that. I couldn't stand to be there any more. So I came looking for you. You were always more of a mother to me anyway. Pa probably doesn't even know I'm gone."
Realizing how hurt this young girl must be, Grace took her in her arms. "Oh you poor thing! I'm sorry. You must feel awful."
The tears were now flowing down their faces. "It's really alright Aunt Grace. You know how ma is. It's really losing pa that's hurting the most."
Grace could feel her heart breaking. This young girl, who had once been like her own daughter, was now in such pain. "Well what are you planning to do now child?"
"I hate to ask...but I was thinking I could... stay here?"
Grace momentarily turned to Robert E. Although he had never met this girl, he knew what this meant to Grace. He nodded his approval. "Of course she can stay with us. Any family of Grace is my family."
"Oh thank you." Ruth said. "This means so much to me." She hugged Grace and then went to hug Robert E. too. They began to walk back to the café. It was then that she noticed Ben. "who is this?" she asked.
"Where are my manors?" Grace asked. "This is our son Ben."
"He's adorable! How old is he?"
"He's almost seven months."
Suddenly an idea came to Ruth "Grace why don't I take care of him. You must keep pretty busy at the café. It sure would be hard to watch him while doing all that."
"Well, Sarah, that's a girl in town, watched him sometimes. But yes, it is hard. She can only watch him after school so usually one of the girls who help out with serving and cleaning watch him while I cook."
"I think it's a great idea Ruth." Robert E. cut in. "I'm sure Ben will love you."
"Well, why don't we go back to the house and get you settled?" Grace suggested. "Where are you staying now?"
"Actually, I'm not staying anywhere. I just arrived on the train early this morning. My only bag is at the café still. I didn't bring much."
"Ok, we will go back and get your bag and then go to the house. We can go to the mercantile later and get you anything that you might need. And if there is still some things you'd like to get from home, we can send for those somehow."
"Aunt Grace, I've dreamed of this day for so long."
"Me to Ruth." Grace admitted as they continued walking, there arms around the other's back. "Me too?"
They continued walking in this fashion with Robert E. and Ben walking beside them. While Robert E. was glad that Grace seemed so happy, he was worried about this girl. Why was she so unemotional about her mother?s death. There was something that only these two women standing beside him knew. Something from their past that was painful and hidden. Yet there was a sense of peace when they were together. What secret were they hiding?
**********
Colleen and Andrew arrived at the clinic early in the afternoon. Dr. Mason was in a conference in Denver and Michaela had plans with Sully, so they agreed to work part of the day.
"Oh thank goodness you're here." Michaela said as they walked in the door. She was holding a very crabby Katie, trying everything to get the child to stop fussing. "I have to go get Katie home. She's itching all over. Apparently, there are hundreds of mosquitoes behind the Gazette office. She wandered back there while Dorothy was looking after her."
"Do you need any help ma?"
"No, Colleen. She just needs a warm bath and some calamine. I'm sure I can handle it. Once I get her to stop scratching, she'll probably fall asleep."
"But what about your plans with Sully?" Colleen asked.
"We'll just have to postpone them. Sully'll understand."
"Why don't you leave Katie here Michaela." Andrew suggested.
"Andrew you know how difficult it is with her when she's well. You'll never get anything done if I leave a cranky three-year-old with you."
"You're right. We'll see you tonight for dinner ma?"
"Yes, Matthew is coming too. It'll be great having the entire family over."
"You feel better Katie." Colleen told her as she kissed her goodbye.
Katie responded by wiping the kiss away and swatting at her sister. "No kiss, Colween."
"Katherine Sully." Michaela scolded. "That's no way to treat your big sister. Now tell Colleen you're sorry."
Katie mumbled a sorry as she buried her head in her mother's hair.
"I better go. I'll see you two later." With that, Michaela headed out to the wagon and took Katie home.
Colleen turned around after she closed the door behind her mother. "Just makes you want one of your own doesn?t it." she said to Andrew.
"Yes it does." He replied as he took her in his arms and kissed her. "And soon we will."
"I still can't believe it's all real." Colleen acknowledged. "I'm finally a doctor, I have a wonderful house, the best husband in the world, and we're expecting our first child. What more could I ask for?"
"And I have the most extraordinary wife. Who has a wonderful family."
"They are great aren't they."
"They are the best family I've ever known and I'm proud to call them my own. Your ma gave us jobs, your pa built us our house, and I've never had brothers and sisters. Katie is so amusing and Brian and Matthew are just the way I always imagined my brothers would have been."
"Then you really are happy."
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just thought you might be upset that we left Philadelphia."
"It was upset about leaving my practice, but Colleen, my heart is here. I guess it always has been. I couldn't live anywhere else. I see that now."
"I love you Andrew." Just as she leaned in to kiss him, there was a knock on the clinic door. They broke apart and Andrew went to answer it.
When he opened the door, he saw Dorothy standing with a worried look on her face. "Dorothy are you ok? You look concerned about something."
"I was looking for Michaela Have you seen her?"
"She just left a few minutes ago with Katie. She was headed home." Colleen told her as she came up behind Andrew.
"Oh well, I just wanted to make sure Katie was ok. I feel so bad about she getting bitten up like she did."
"I'm sure she'll be fine Miss Dorothy. She was a little cranky, but ma doesn't seem too concerned about it. A few mosquito bites never hurt anyone."
"Yes, I'm sure you're right Colleen. Be sure to tell Michaela I stopped by." Dorothy said as she walked out the door.
"Of course." Andrew replied, seeing her out. "Don't worry about Katie, she's a tough girl."
"Just like her ma." Dorothy responded. They all smiled, knowing just how true that was.
When Dorothy left, Andrew took Colleen back in his arms. "Now where were we?" he asked.
"I think we were here?" Colleen leaned forward and put her lips close to his.
"I think you're right." He replied before taking her lips with his own. They were interrupted once again by a knock at the door. They broke apart and recovered before Andrew called for the person to come in.
"Hey Andrew, Colleen." Sully greeted them when he entered the clinic. "Where's yer ma?"
"I thought you were meeting her at the homestead." Colleen replied.
"Well, I was, but I got done with work early and figured she'd still be here so I came to pick her up. It'd be silly for us to meet at the homestead if we were both in town."
"Yes, that does make since, but Ma already went home Sully. Katie ran into some mosquitoes behind the gazette and was itchin pretty bad, so ma took her home." Colleen told him.
"Is she ok?" Sully asked worriedly.
"Oh, she'll be fine, once the itching stops." Andrew reassured him.
"Well, I guess I'll go see if I can help at all. See you two tonight?"
"Yes, we'll be there. Goodbye Sully."
Chapter 3
Sully arrived home in record time. He wasn't sure why, but he had a strange feeling that he should be at home. He somehow felt that he was needed. After putting his horse in the barn, he went inside to find Michaela asleep in one of the wingback chairs. Katie was asleep on her lap, wrapped in a light blanket. They both looked so peaceful that he didn't want to wake them, but he was worried about Katie. He gently woke Michaela.
"Hmmm...Sully?" Michaela mumbled as she woke. "Oh Sully, the picnic...I'm sorry but I can't go anywhere now. Katie..."
"Shhh. I saw Colleen and Andrew at the clinic. They told me."
"But why were you at the clinic?"
"I finished early, so I figured I'd pick you up." Looking at Katie he asked, "Is she ok?"
"I gave her a warm bath and put calamine on her bites, but she was still itching terribly. I finally got her to stop scratching and she fell asleep."
"Why don't I take her upstairs. Then we can have our picnic here."
"Ok, but let's keep her down here in case she wakes. She's been quite clingy today."
After setting up a makeshift bed on the floor, Sully gently took their sleeping child from Michaela and laid her down. While he made sure she was still asleep and comfortable, Michaela went to the kitchen to retrieve the picnic lunch that Grace had put together. She seemed to take quite a long time to return, but when she did, she had a blanket and the basket in her arms.
"Smells good." Sully commented. "Should we eat in here or outside?"
"I thought we could sit on the porch. That way if Katie wakes, we can still hear her. But we can enjoy being outside at the same time."
Sully smiled. "Sounds good." He took her hand and led her to the porch.
When he stepped out the door, Sully quickly noticed that Michaela was no longer behind him. He went ahead and set out the blanket and food before going back inside to look for her. After looking all over on the first floor, he went up to their bedroom. He found her on her knees looking under the bed. "Whatca lookin for?" he asked.
His voice startled her and Michaela almost hit her head on the bed. "Oh Sully, you scared me." She said as he helped her up off the floor.
"Sorry... So you gonna tell me what you were looking for?"
"I was trying to find our book of poetry."
"Any particular reason?" Sully asked with a sly grin on his face.
Michaela played along with his toying. "No, I just thought I'd find it. I haven't seen it in awhile so I thought I should look for it."
"Well what about our picnic."
"I guess the book can wait." Michaela sighed.
It's just a book Michaela." Sully teased.
"I know it's just a book." She replied.
Sully put his arm around her waist and led her out the bedroom door. "Come on. We'd better eat before Katie wakes up."
**********
Dr. Mason arrived back in Colorado Springs on the afternoon train. He looked around as he stepped off the train. The excitement he felt was just like when he had first come to the small town. Only this time the excitement was not over arriving.
"Horace? Can you be sure my bags get over to the clinic?"
"Of course Dr. Mason. As soon as they're unloaded."
"Thank you." Dr. Mason replied as he gave Horace a few coins. "I appreciate it."
"Oh Dr. Mason, this came for you the other day." Horace went to the mailroom and pulled out a letter.
"Thank You Horace." Tim took the letter and sat down on a bench to read it. After taking a few minutes to read it and to collect his thoughts, Tim went immediately to the clinic to talk with Dr. Quinn.
**********
On the same train were two unexpected travelers. Horace was standing on the railway platform when he saw them step off the train. "Myra? What are you doin here?" When he saw them, Horace first thought he was seeing things.
"Papa, we're gonna live here!" Samantha told him as she reached his arms.
Horace was shocked. His mouth just about dropped to the floor. Myra saw the shock and uncertainty in his face. "That's right honey." She said. "We're moving back home."
"But why?" Horace asked.
"We'll talk about that later" was all Myra would say. "Come on Sam. We have to go talk to Mr. Hooper about the house."
"You're buying a house?" Horace questioned. "And who's Mr. Hooper?"
"Well, actually, I'm getting it as part of my new job. Mr. Hooper is the new owner of Preston's bank. He's my boss, from the bank in St. Louis."
"When were ya planin on tellin me all this?"
"Horace please." Myra begged "I'll come by and talk with you later." With that she took Samantha's hand and walked towards the bank. Horace just stood on the railroad platform and watched them walk away.
**********
"Sully what are you doing!?" Sully had come up behind Michaela before she reached the stairs and took her in his arms.
"Looked like you could use some help."
"Well I am perfectly capable of walking down the stairs Sully."
"I know. But sometimes I can't help myself."
"Are you going to put me down or are we just going to stand here?" she questioned.
"Neither."
"Sully come on," she begged. "Put me down." Despite her pleading, Sully continued down the stairs with his wife in his arms. Michaela was giggling all the way at the boldness of her husband. After four years of marriage, he could still make her blush. When they reached the bottom, he paused and pretended to put her down but then chose not too. He carried her outside and put her on the porch swing. "You wait here."
**********
When Dr. Mason walked into the clinic, he was expecting to see Dr. Mike sitting at her desk or possibly with a patient. Instead he found Colleen and Andrew putting away medicines and bandages that had just come in. Colleen was the first to notice Tim's presence. "Oh Tim you're back! How was the conference?"
"Um the conference, oh yes, it was good. Very informative." He avoided eye contact as his eyes wandered around the room, obviously looking for something that wasn't there.
Colleen and Andrew gave each other a puzzled look. They couldn't figure out why Tim was acting so odd. Tim finally spoke up. "Is Dr. Mike around? It's not here day off is it?"
"No Michaela and you were scheduled today." Replied Andrew. "But she had plans for the afternoon so due to you being gone, we agreed to work this afternoon. Then Katie got into an unfortunate accident with some mosquitoes so Michaela took her home to care for her."
"Just perfect." Tim mumbled under his breath, annoyed at having his plans yet again adjusted to the schedule of his so called colleagues. "Do you know if she'll be in tomorrow?"
"I would assume so. It's Colleen and your day off tomorrow so we'll both be here." Andrew answered.
"Yes of course you'll be here. Well would you like me to take over here, seeing how this is your only day off together."
"That's not necessary Tim." Colleen replied catching Andrew's eye to make sure he agreed. "We weren't expecting you until later this week anyway. We can handle things for the rest of the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of the day."
"Well thank you Colleen. If you see your mother please let her know I'm back early."
"Of course. We'll be having dinner with the family tonight so we'll tell her then."
"Ok then. I'll see you both later then." With that Dr. Mason headed up the clinic stairs to the third floor. Those few rooms hidden from the rest of the clinic that had become his home.
Dr. Mason sat on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. Nothing ever went how he wanted it too. He had planned everything out, what to say, how to act. But Michaela had ruined his plans once again. Why was it that nothing was going according to his plans? He had though that coming to Colorado Springs would be a good opportunity.
After thinking it over for some time, Tim decided that he had to talk to Dr. Quinn right then. He had been holding in his feeling for long enough. If he was going to do something to change his life, then now was the time.
Tim sneaked out the back door of the clinic so that Andrew and Colleen wouldn't see him. Just another thing that was wrong with his life. He was sneaking away from his home, or at least the building he had hoped to call home. When he first began living at the clinic, he enjoyed it. But as time pasted, it seemed like more of a bother. He was always there in emergencies, he was the one staying up late with patients. He relished those times when the townsfolk forgot he was there and they woke Dr. Quinn in the middle of the night. Sometimes he would hide upstairs, on the extra floor Sully had built for him to live. He would stay there and not acknowledge that his so-called colleagues were downstairs working to save one of their friends. He would often feel guilty afterwards, but no one ever said anything so he assumed they had everything under control.
Tim went to the front of the clinic and saddled his horse. He quickly rode out in the direction of the Sully homestead.
Chapter 4
After spreading a quilt on the porch, Sully went back to the swing and carried Michaela over to the picnic spot. "Now what do we have to eat?" he asked as he peeked inside the basket.
"You mean you don't want to be surprised?" Michaela taunted as she took the basket away.
"Don't you think you've kept me waiting long enough. What with your book search and all?"
"Alright Mr. Sully. I get the point. I think we have a many of your favorites here."
Michaela pulled out fried chicken, potato salad, and chilled apple cider among many other favorites. She feed Sully a bite of chicken. He took with his mouth and let his lips linger on her fingers. Sully returned her overture and they continued the meal in this fashion.
But only a few minutes into the meal, they were interrupted by Katie's cries.
"I'll go get her." Sully offered
"Hey Katie girl." Sully said softly when he reached his daughter?s side.
"Poppy buggies eat me." She told him sadly.
" know. Mama told me. How do they feel?" He asked taking her into his arms.
"Itchy."
"I know it's hard, but try not to scratch em. That'll just make em hurt more."
"I'll try Poppy." Katie managed to say between a yawn.
"That's good Katie. Now do you think you can go back to sleep?" He already knew she was drifting back to sleep. He held her close for a few minutes and gently rubbed her back until she was once again sound asleep. He put her back down on the blanket he had placed on the floor. Then he returned to Michaela's side on the porch.
"Where's Katie?" she asked.
"Went right back ta sleep. I think she just wanted to be sure we were still around."
"How is she?" Michaela asked, the doctor in her worried about the mosquito bites.
Sully knew how she felt. "She was a bit itchy, but I think she's gonna be fine."
"That's good. Why don't we get back to our picnic."
"Well actually, I'm not too hungry any more."
"What do you mean you're not hungry? We have all this food and we've barely touched it."
"I was thinkin we could read some poetry." He suggested as he pulled the book of poetry Michaela had gotten him last Christmas out from behind his back.
"Sully! Where'd you find that?"
"I had it all along. I wanted to surprise you."
"And you couldn't have told me this earlier? I've been upset all his time because I couldn't find it and here you've had it all along."
"Well you didn't expect me to ruin the surprise did you."
Michaela tried to stay upset but could not quite succeed. "Yes I did." She claimed fighting the grin that soon spread over her face.
"Well I guess we'll just have to pretend it's still lost." Sully said teasingly. He went to put the book inside but Michaela stopped him. "No Sully, I'm sorry. Please read me something."
"You mean you're not mad?" Sully taunted.
Michaela smiled. He knew she was joking but he still made her say it. "Of course I'm not mad Sully. I was only joking. You know that."
"I know." He said as he returned to her side. "Now what should we read?"
"You pick."
Sully took Michaela in his lap and wrapped his arms around her. She held the book and he opened it to one of his favorite poems. He began to read the sweet words, but he soon found that he couldn't talk. Michaela had turned around to face him and quickly taken his lips with her own. Before long they were sharing in a passionate kiss that could have lasted forever. But they were interrupted by the sound of a horse approaching the homestead.
"Who could that be?" Sully asked as he could not yet recognize the rider who was still a far from the homestead.
"I don't know but maybe someone needs my help. I'm going to get my bag."
"Michaela wait." Sully cautioned as he grabbed her arm. When she turned around, they both saw the rider come to a slower pace. Then he turned and took the other road. Now he was heading away from their Sully property. "Well I guess it was just some random traveler. No one we know." Sully commented. "Now where were we?"
Michaela retook her place next to Sully. She slowly leaned in closer to Sully's face. "I think we were about..." She leaned in closer, almost touching his mouth. "Here..." she said as she claimed his lips for her own. The two shared in a long passionate kiss than would have continued had they not been interrupted.
Sully opened his eyes for a moment and saw someone walking towards the homestead. He quickly broke off the kiss and tried to recover from his overpowering feelings for his wife. Michaela, meanwhile, was confused by this sudden lack of interest on Sully's part. "Sully what..." She turned then and saw that not two feet from the porch was Dr. Mason. "Tim!" She exclaimed, "You're back early!"
"Yes, I just back on this afternoon's train. The lasts two sessions of the conference were cancelled so I exchanged my ticket and came back early." Tim quickly realized that he had interrupted a private moment. His face flushed and he turned away embarrassed. "Ohh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt Dr. Quinn...I'll just be going."
"Is something wrong Tim?? Michaela questioned. Then realizing that he was not on a horse, she continued. "And where's you're horse. I'm sure you didn't come all the way from town on foot."
"Oh, he's tied up just over there." He pointed to an area on the edge of the Sully property. "I always take the wrong road coming up here. But Colleen said Katie wasn't well so I didn't want the clomping of the horse to awaken her if she was asleep so I walked from just down the road."
"That's very kind of you Tim, but an approaching rider is not likely to waken Katie. Now I know you didn't come all this way to inquire about Katie's health. Is everything alright at the clinic?"
"The clinic?...Oh yes, I stopped by there first looking for you. Everything seemed fine to me."
Still puzzled by this unexpected visit, Michaela continued questioning. "Ok if everything is well at the clinic, was there something else you needed me for?"
"Well I just wanted to talk with you about something...but it's obvious you're busy...I don't want to intrude...It can wait."
"Tim if there is something you need to say then say it." Michaela encouraged.
"No, no. I'm sorry. I'll just find you sometime tomorrow at the clinic maybe? It's really not that important."
"But..." Michaela began. But Tim had already turned around and was heading back to his horse.
"Now what was that all about?" Sully had quietly observed the odd exchange between his wife and her colleague. He finally spoke when Dr. Mason was out of earshot.
"I don't know." Michaela said. "He seemed a little upset. I wonder if everything was alright in Denver?"
"Oh I think everything was fine in Denver." Sully said, taking Michaela into his lap. "He was just embarrassed by what he stumbled upon today."
"Sully!" Mike exclaimed as she playfully hit Sully?s arm. "How can you say that?"
"Well it's true." Sully chuckled. "Did you see the look on his face?"
"Well you may be correct," Michaela said trying to sound as if she didn?t want to admit it. "But why did he feel the need to ride all the way out here in the middle of the afternoon, and when he just got back nonetheless. It must have been a tiring few days. I would have thought he'd want to relax some. Something else is wrong Sully."
"I don't know." Sully replied. "But I'm sure you'll find out soon enough. He did say he would find out tomorrow."
"Do you think we have time for some poetry?" Michaela asked.
"I think Katie should be asleep for awhile longer." Sully returned. "What would you like?"
"What were you reading before?"
"Emerson."
"Ok start there again."
"Good idea." Sully found his place and by Michaela's request continued the Emerson poem he had begun before Katie woke up.
**********
Later that evening, Horace and Myra sat at the café. "Mama, can I see the baby?" Samantha asked after she had finished eating.
"Yes sweetheart. But be careful. He's a lot smaller than you are."
"I will mama." The little girl happily skipped over to visit with Grace and Ben.
As soon as Samantha was out of earshot, Horace finally had a chance to talk with Myra. "Myra, you gonna tell me what's going on?"
"Nothing is going on Horace. It's just that Mr. Hooper offered me the job here and I thought it would be nice to be back in Colorado. He just recently bought Preston's bank and was lookin for volunteers to come out here. So I leaped at the opportunity. I thought that you?d be happy."
"I am happy Myra. I'm glad that you and Sam are so close. But it seems so sudden. You sure there's not another reason who came back?"
Well, there was another reason, but Myra wasn't ready to tell Horace that yet. She needed time to sort through here feelings and to see if he felt the same way she did. It was all very confusing. "I told you that Mr. Hooper just bought the bank. He wanted to open it as soon as possible Horace. That's the only reason I'm here."
Myra had just enough time to finish her statement before Sam came running back to the table. "Mama, when I see Katie?"
"Well, Katie has already gone home with her family for the evening. But I'm sure she'll be in town tomorrow."
"I want ta see Katie now!" Samantha whined.
Myra was sympathetic. Although Sam and Katie were just over a year apart in age, they had become good friends. During their visits to Colorado, Myra would have Katie over to play with Sam. Those two could hardly be separated. "I know you miss Katie sweetheart, but it's getting late. I promise we'll see her in the morning."
"Yer ma's right." Horace broke in. "We should get you to bed so that you're ready to move into that new house of yours tomorrow."
"We have so much to do. We can't possibly finish in time to stay there tonight." Myra noted.
"Don't worry about it Myra. I'll take care of it. And for now you two can stay with me, if that's ok with you. I can sleep in my office."
"That will do for now." Myra agreed.
Chapter 5
"Did you hear about Miss Grace's sister?" Brain sat at the dinner table with his family. Matthew, Colleen and Andrew were all over for supper. He was eager to share the exciting, though sad news he had heard today in town.
"I didn?t even know Grace had a sister." Michaela commented.
"I didn't know either. But I was over near the café today and I saw her with a girl. I heard them talking about Grace?s sister."
"Brain, it's not polite to eavesdrop."
"I wasn't eavesdroppin, I just overheard. I wasn't there long so all I heard was that Miss Grace?s sister was dead."
"That's horrible!" Michaela exclaimed.
"Who was the girl?" Matthew asked.
"I don?t know. Never seen her before."
"Well how old was she?" Colleen questioned.
"I?m not sure, but she looked about my age. I wonder who she is."
"Well I'm sure we'll find out in due time." Michaela said, trying to keep any gossip from forming in Brain's creative mind.
Suddenly remembering, Colleen piped in "Oh ma, I forgot to tell you that Tim is back early."
"Yes I know."
"How do you know?" Andrew asked. "He went up to his room and didn't come back down until we were leaving."
"He came by here early this afternoon. He said he had something he wanted to talk about but then he wouldn't say what." Sully told them.
"That's odd. I wonder why he would sneak away like that. So he left without saying why he came by?" Colleen inquired.
"Yes. He said the last two conference meetings were cancelled and he was back, but that?s about all." Mike told them.
"He did seem a bit distracted when he came into the clinic." Andrew interrupted. "I'm sure we'll find out soon enough though. Tim isn't really one to keep to himself."
"Yes, I'm sure we will. He said he'd come see me at the clinic tomorrow." Michaela told them. She gave Sully a look that said she was worried about this. Knowing Michaela didn?t want to talk about this any further, Sully changed the subject. "Matthew, you haven't said anything about school. How are your studies going?"
"It's going well. Mr. Clark says that I can take the exam a semester early, meaning in December."
"Oh Matthew that's wonderful!" Michaela beamed.
"And I've decided to stay home for the summer." Matthew continued. "I was hoping I could stay here?" He asked hesitantly.
"Can you really skip all that time and still test early?" Sully questioned.
"Yes, I could go back to Denver and continue studying and take the exam at the end of the summer, but I decided to take a small break and spend some time with my family. Besides next semester will be a lot of review time. I can do that here seeing as I have all my books and the information."
"You know we always love to have you back home." Michaela told him. "And you can always stay with us."
Suddenly out of the blue, Katie stopped looking back and forth, closely following the conversation, and decided to join it. "Mama when I see Sam?"
Everyone was puzzled by what brought this on, but Michaela carefully reminded the three-year-old that Sam was not near by. "Katie, sweetheart, Sam lives in St. Louis remember. You won't be able to see here until she comes to visit again."
"She visit soon." Katie informed everyone. "Mellie told me."
"Who?s Mellie?" Andrew inquired.
"Androo! You knows Mellie. She my friend."
Andrew looked around the table, giving everyone a puzzled look as if to say, "Who is she talking about?"
Katie let out a heavy sigh as she left the table and set out for her bedroom. "Katherine Sully, you haven't finished eating yet." Michaela called after her. She looked at Sully who was just smiling. "She'll be back." he told them.
A few minutes later, Katie returned with her doll, Mellie. She came around the table until she was standing right next to Andrew. "See Androo. Mellie is sad you not member her."
Andrew grinned. "I'm sorry Katie. I remember Mellie now."
"You tell Mellie sorry." Katie instructed.
"I'm sorry Mellie. How could I forget someone as pretty as you?"
"Mellie say thanks." Katie told him.
"Ok Katie now back to your supper." Sully told her. Katie placed her doll down next to her and continued the meal. After everyone had finished eating, Brian and Matthew volunteered to clean up. "You don't have to do that boys. We can handle it." Michaela protested.
"No, ma. We want to really." Brian told her.
"If you insist."
"And we have to get going ma." Colleen said. "We want to get home before it gets too dark out."
"Yes of course Colleen. Andrew, I'll see you at the clinic tomorrow."
As Colleen and Andrew headed out the door, everyone went to say goodbye. When they were gone, Sully closed the door. "Why don't you take Katie up to bed. The boys and I will clean and lock up down here."
"But it's so early." Michaela argued.
"I know, but Katie's lookin tired."
"Yea and I want to get to bed early so I can help Miss Dorothy at the Gazette in the morning." Brian told her.
"Well ok. Matthew, will you be ok in Brian's room or would you rather I put Katie in the nursery and you can be in Colleen's old room by yourself?"
"Well if it's ok with Brian I'll stay with him. No need to kick Katie out of her new room. It'll be just like old times right little brother?"
"Yea. It'll be great." Brian grinned.
"Well then I guess I'll see you two in the morning."
"Goodnight ma." Brain said giving his mother a goodnight hug. Matthew followed him and then they all said goodnight to Katie as well. "Poppy tell me a story?" Katie asked.
"I'll be up in a little bit Katie. You go on with yer ma right now."
"Ok Poppy...Let's go mama."
**********
The next day Michaela left Andrew at the clinic and went to the café to meet Sully. While she was waiting for her husband to show up, Grace came over. "Dr. Mike, I'd like you to meet Ruth. She's my niece from New Orleans."
"It's nice to meet you Ruth. What brings you all the way to Colorado Springs?" Michaela asked.
"Actually, I'm movin here." Ruth told her. "My ma passed away and my pa stopped carin bout livin too. So I came to stay with Aunt Grace."
"Oh you poor thing. To lose both parents like that. How awful."
"Well actually my pa's not dead as far as I know. But he was close to it when I left."
"And you didn't want to stay with him?" Dr. Mike just couldn't understand why this girl was not upset by her parents' death.
"In my mind, my pa died a long time ago."
Grace knew that Ruth didn't want to talk any longer so she changed the topic. "Dr. Mike, how are things working out at the clinic? It must be different havin three other doctors around."
"Well yes, it is quite different." Dr. Mike replied. "But it's wonderful. We all have more time off of work and everyone seems to be getting along great. I thought at first that Colleen and Andrew would be upset with Tim, but they work together wonderfully."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Just then Sully came up behind his wife. "Hey darlin."
"Sully you made it. This is Ruth, Grace's niece. Ruth this is my husband Sully."
"Please ta meet ya Ruth."
"And you Sully."
"Well I best be off. The food won't cook itself." Grace stated.
"Yes and I have to get back to the clinic soon so we best get some food. It was nice to meet you Ruth. I hope you enjoy it here."
"Thank you Dr. Mike. I hope I do too."
**********
When Michaela got back to the clinic, she found Andrew on his back in the rear room. Katie was on his stomach tickling him with all her might.
"Katie?please stop...I give up...you win..." Andrew tried to coax the light-hearted girl into letting him free.
"What is going on back here?" Michaela demanded playfully when she entered the room. "Katie if you don't let him up I think he may never stop laughing."
Katie turned to see her mother standing in the doorway. "But mama Androo is fun."
Michaela picked up her daughter, freeing Andrew from her tickling fingers. "I know he is sweetheart but Andrew and I have work to do. So you need to be good so we can get home early."
"I miss Sam." Katie pouted, burying her head in her mother's hair.
"Oh Katie. Why have you been missing Sam so much recently?"
"She my bestest friend mama."
Just then there was a knock at the door. "I'll get this Michaela." Andrew called as he headed towards the door. Before Andrew could fully open the door, Samantha Bing darted past him to the rear of the clinic, calling Katie's name the whole time.
"Saaam!!!!!" Katie yelled as the two little girls ran into one another and embraced. Michaela stood there stunned for a moment, but then went out to the front area of the clinic. "Myra, it's good to see you."
"I'm sorry Dr. Mike. Sam wanted to see Katie so bad. I couldn't keep her away anymore."
"When did you get back?"
"Yesterday afternoon."
"How long will you be staying?"
"Actually, Sam and I are moving back."
"Oh Myra that's wonderful. Katie will be thrilled. You just can't keep those two apart."
"They are quite attached." Myra admitted. "Well, I didn't mean to barge in like this. I have some errands to do before I meet Horace at the house so I can't stay long."
"The house?" Michaela questioned.
"Yes. My boss owns a house just outside of town. I'm buying it from him. We need to move all of our things in."
"Well if you need any help just let us know."
"I think we'll be fine. Horace had most of our things taken over there already...Well I really must be going. I can take the girls with me."
"Oh no, let them stay. We only have a few patients scheduled. It will be a lot easier to entertain Katie if she has someone to keep her company."
I don't want to interrupt your work Dr. Mike."
"Myra, it's fine. Besides they'll have so much more fun playing than tagging along for errands."
"Alright then. I'll be back to get Sam as soon as I'm finished."
"No need to rush. Take your time."
"Thanks Dr. Mike."
Chapter 6
Hank stood on the porch of the Gold Nugget and gazed across the street when he saw Myra coming out of the clinic. "We'll lookie here. Some people just can't stay away."
Myra walked over to the saloon to see the bartender. "Hello Hank."
"What brings you back here. Got tired of all them fancy St. Louis banks?"
"Hank, in case you forgot, my daughter's father lives here."
"That's always the excuse ain't it."
"It's not an excuse Hank, it's the truth. But if you really must know, Sam and I are movin back."
"Where is that little cutie?"
"She?s over at the clinic playing with Katie."
"Yea, well, like I said. It's just an excuse. Now why you movin back here? There ain't no bank in case you forgot. Preston lost all his money. Still can't figure out why he's been stickin 'round town. No chateau, no bank. If ya ask me he needs to pack up and leave again. Don?t know why he came back after the crash."
"Well what Preston does is no concern to you Hank. And there will be a bank, my boss bought it from Preston. He's hired me to get it up and running again. But that doesn't matter. It's not the only reason I cam back."
"Oh really. What else you got here?"
"That's none of your business Hank. No if you'll excuse me I need to go pick up some things from Loren."
**********
"Michaela walked to the back room of the clinic to find Katie and Sam still embraced in a hug. She didn't want to interrupt so she stepped back and watched them from the doorway, hoping to stay unnoticed.
"Katie I missed you." Sam said when they broke apart.
"I miss you more. Mellie said you'd come back."
"And Chrisie said you miss me. I told her I come home soon."
"That how Mellie knows too!" Katie exclaimed. Katie and Sam had each given each other special dolls for Christmas the previous years. It was an idea of Myra's that when they missed each other, the dolls would remind them of their friend. It had worked wonders. Whenever one of the girls was missing the other, the doll kept her company. It was like they had formed a special bond with the toys.
"What you wanna play?" Katie asked. "No more dirt mama said."
"Let?s pretend."
"Pretend what?"
"Umm...We can play sisters!"
"But I gots a sister."
"I don?t."
"Ok Sam. I's be your sister."
"I love you Katie."
"Me too Sam."
**********
Later that afternoon, Myra came to pick of Sam. "No mama. I wanna stay with Katie."
"Sam sweetheart, we have to help papa over at the house."
"Myra I don't mean to interrupt, but perhaps Sam can stay with us tonight."
"Oh Dr. Mike, she's been here all afternoon. I don't want to be a bother."
"It's no bother Myra. They miss each other so much. I hate to break them up so soon."
"Alright then. Do you want me to pick her up at the homestead tomorrow or here?"
"I'll be here at the clinic tomorrow so just come by whenever it's convenient."
"Sam honey, come say goodbye to mama."
"Where you goin ma?" Sam questioned.
"I'm going to go meet papa. You are going to go stay at Katie's house tonight."
"Yea! Katie!"
"Now you have fun and be a good girl for Dr. Mike."
"I be very good mama."
"I love you Sam." Myra said, taking her daughter into her arms.
"Loves you too ma." After the hug, Sam scrambled back to where Katie playing.
**********
The next morning, Myra came by the clinic to pick up Samantha. After much begging from both the girls, she took Katie with them to see the new house. The rest of the day was quite at the clinic. Besides a boy who played a little close to the poison ivy, they had had no patients.
Dr. Quinn sat at her desk reviewing patient files from the previous day when Dr. Mason walked in from the back room where his office is located. Nervously wringing his hands, he approached Michaela?s desk. "Umm...Dr. Mike, can I talk to you?" he asked nervously.
Having not heard him approach, Michaela looked up from her work a bit startled. "Of course Tim." She said after regaining her composure.
"Well, it's just...Dr Mike, I'm afraid that at the end of the week..." Dr. Mason began, but found it difficult to say what needed to be said. He turned around for a moment, unable to face her. After walking away from the desk, he swallowed hard, turned back around, and continued. "At the end of the week I'll be returning to Denver?for good."
"What are you talking about?" Michaela was astounded by what she had just heard. She stood up behind her desk walked across the room. "How can you just walk out?"
"Well, now that your daughter and son-in-law returned, my services just aren't needed."
"They most certainly are!" she responded. "Tim, this town is growing bigger every day. My daughter and I both have families to raise. We just aren't available to be full time doctors. If you leave, Andrew will be covering all the slack."
"Well maybe that's part of the problem. Have you ever thought that maybe, I would like to not just be here to pick up whatever you don?t want to do? You treat Andrew and Colleen as if they were truly your partners, but me...Since the clinic at the chateau closed, I've had to do whatever you want at your convenience. It's obvious that you never considered me your partner. Just the hired help."
"That's ridiculous. You are just as much a partner in this clinic as Andrew and Colleen. I mean they've only been here less than a month. Everyone is still adjusting."
"No Dr. Quinn, I'm afraid that you've made it clear that I am not needed. I'm sorry, but I've been offered a position in Denver and I'm taking it. My train leaves in five days." Before Michaela could get in another word, Dr. Mason was already out the door.