Chapter 21

"And in conclusion Lord," the Reverend intoned, head bowed, eyes closed. "We ask that you continue to watch over Faith, Douglas and May O'Connell and little Samantha Bing at this time, and that you keep Colleen and Andrew Cook safe as they journey to Pennsylvania. We also thank you for Dr Anna McLeod who has decided to stay in Colorado Springs to work with Dr Mike ... Amen." Where moments before there had been passive silence in the church, a sudden buzz filled the air as the Sunday congregation absorbed the information the Reverend had slipped into the final prayer of the service. All eyes darted to the attractive, and now slightly embarrassed, woman sitting beside Dr Mike.

The Reverend didn't have to see his congregation to be aware of their reaction. He fought to hide his smile and said to them, "May the Lord bless you all ... Now I'm sure you'll all want to introduce yourselves to Dr McLeod at the church picnic in the meadow and I know Grace has prepared some of her delicious apple cider, so let's all enjoy this beautiful fall day ..."

Michaela had tried to prepare Anna for the scrutiny she would endure at first, but nothing had prepared her for the ogling, the inaudible comments behind hands, the almost mocking introductions and politeness at the church picnic. As the feed and grain merchant wandered away sniggering derisively, Anna turned to Michaela and asked with despair, "Was this what it was like for you when you came here Michaela?"

"A little," Michaela reluctantly conceded.

Sully shook his head ruefully. "A little Michaela?" he queried with disbelief. When she shrugged her shoulders in reply, he informed Anna, "When Michaela came here folks didn' even know there could be women doctors ... Nobody'd talk to her ... She didn' have a patient for months ... Folks were pretty mean ..."

"Except you," she said softly.

This time *he* shrugged. "There were a lotta reasons for that," he said lovingly against her ear. He returned his attention to Anna. "Things've changed around here some ... People'll act like they are today ... but some of 'em'll be your patients tomorra ... Its their way o' warnin' ya not ta think you're better 'an them ..."

"I wouldn't," she rejoined at once.

"*We* know that ... but they're wary o' strangers ... especially strangers with college educations ...," he explained further. "Course ya gotta know ... some of 'em'll *never* be your patients ... just like they still won't come ta Michaela ..."

"Because she's a woman ..."

"Uh huh ...."

Anna shook her head. "I don't know why I expected it to be any different to Washington ...," she muttered, disappointment in her tone.

"Oh its different, very different," defended Michaela. "Once you win their trust, as you already have with Myra and Grace, they're fiercely loyal ... They become friends as well as patients ... They'll work beside you in a crisis and condemn you when you let them down ... They have high expectations of you personally and expect you to become part of their community, without lording it over them ..." She glanced across at Sully. "I learnt the hard way ... many times ... and sometimes I still make mistakes with them, but there are so many of them sitting here at this picnic I regard as friends ... good friends ..."

Anna surveyed the many people enjoying the sunshine, families and couples alike. "I feel like I'm starting behind everyone else," she murmured wistfully.

"Compared ta when Michaela came, you're startin' pretty close ta the line," remarked Sully.

"This hasn't put you off?" asked Michaela anxiously.

Anna shook her head. "Oh no, I'm not deterred that easily," she said with a determined smile.

"So we'll help ya move your trunks across to the clinic this afternoon?" verified Sully, almost certain what the answer would be.

She nodded. "And I'll start work tomorrow ... just as we planned," she rejoined.  She stood and regarded the entire Sully family as they sat together on their blanket. "I feel like some cider," she said. "Can I get some for anyone else?"

Brian clambered up to stand beside her. "I'll help ya," he offered. "We'll get some for everyone ..." Sully dug into his pocket and handed him some coins. "Thanks pa," he said as he proffered his arm for Anna. She proudly took it and they wandered away towards the table near the church.

Michaela leant back against Sully's shoulder as they watched in silence the progress of their son and new friend through the crowd.  Sully suddenly chuckled. "She sure is makin' an impression," he remarked, noting the many interested male eyes fixed on Anna as she passed.

"I hope she'll be alright on her own at the clinic," Michaela commented, suddenly worried.

"Maybe ya better have a word with Hank ... he lives right opposite ... he could keep an eye out for her ..."

"Hank?!"

 "Why not? Ya said he behaved like a gentleman when she arrived ..."

"I wonder what he thinks now he knows she's a doctor?" Michaela pondered.

"Only one way ta find out ..."

She nodded and leaned more heavily against him. Again there was silence, until Sully asked, "You alright Michaela?"

"Mmmm ... just a little tired ... its been a busy few days ..," she replied, shifting William who had fallen asleep in her arms. "I wonder where Colleen and Andrew are right now ... or Dorothy and Cloud Dancing," she mused.

Sully brought his arm around to help her support William and gently kissed her temple. She was right. It had been a busy few days, but also an emotional few days. He'd seen the circles under her eyes, and noted the telltale silences and occasional sighs. Truth was, he was feeling much the same. So many changes, she'd said. So many changes they had trouble keeping up.

He bent forward so only she could hear and, in an enticing whisper, entreated, "How 'bout we take some time for us later ... just you an' me? Whatdya say? We could maybe go away overnight?"

She sighed. "That sounds wonderful ... but I have to work tomorrow ... Its Anna's first day remember? Besides ... what about the children?"

He glanced across to where the newlyweds were playing with Katie and a number of other children. "We'll get back early ... in time for ya ta start work with Anna .. an' maybe Matthew an' Kathleen'll take the kids? Kathleen's gonna be lookin' after 'em tomorra anyway ..." he ventured.

"They stayed the other night when I was called out ..."

"They might agree again ..."

"It doesn't seem fair ... they have their own life to live ..."

"I'll ask if ya like ..."

Michaela smiled ruefully. "The truth is Kathleen's too nice to say no ... even if she wanted to ...," she said fondly.

He gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "Just this once let's not worry about that ... We'll make it up to 'em somehow ... I've even got in mind where we could go ...," he murmured longingly.

She turned her head and peered up at him, her eyes reflecting his own longing. He smiled and dipped his head to give her a quick kiss, then he edged back and stood. "I'll go ask," he said, eagerly striding away.

*********************
Hank stood on the saloon porch, casually leaning against the railing, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. Business was always slow on a Sunday, especially when there was a church picnic. All those men who came in regularly for the liquor and entertainment suddenly discovered they had families on church picnic day. Still, he figured business would pick up soon. The picnic was breaking up now and once those fellas got their families home they'd find an excuse to come back into town.

His eyebrows rose speculatively some fifteen minutes later when Michaela walked across from the meadow and unlocked the clinic. Usually she and the family went straight home after. Maybe someone was sick. His curiosity intensified when she also unlocked what was once the main door of the building and then propped it open. She didn't seem to be in any hurry though, like she would be if a patient was being brought in. Of course Myra and Samantha were over there still, up in one of the recovery rooms. Maybe this had something to do with them?

She disappeared inside for a little while and then re-appeared at the door. She seemed to be waiting for someone. At last his curiosity was satisfied when from the direction of the guesthouse appeared first the very attractive Dr McLeod, followed by Sully and Matthew who were struggling to carry a large, and obviously heavy, trunk between them. He fought hard to contain the smile that threatened to appear on his face. It seemed Loren was right. Dr McLeod *was* staying in town! That was alright by him! He bit his lip as he watched Matthew nearly trip up the step of the clinic porch. He knew just how heavy those trunks were. He and a couple of fellas from the saloon had moved them from the station to the guesthouse the day she arrived. She sure had brought a lot of stuff with her. But then, it was understandable he supposed, if a person was moving clear across the country to live and work. A few seconds later Brian appeared with one of her carpetbags. He too was struggling with the weight.

He straightened, took a deep breath and ensured his shirt was neatly tucked into his trousers. Now was as good a time as any to get to know the lovely doctor a little better. By his reckoning there was another trunk and at least one more bag to bring over. He stepped off the porch and across the street just as Sully re-appeared at the open door of the clinic. "Saw what you were doin' Sully," he said, trying not to sound too eager. "Thought you could do with a hand." Sully acknowledged his offer with a nod and the two men, closely followed by Matthew and Brian, headed back to the guesthouse.

*********************
Sully drew the wagon to a halt in the clearing and peered awkwardly down on the beautiful face of his sleeping wife. She was nestled up to him, her head resting against his shoulder. She'd fallen asleep only fifteen minutes or so from home and even the wagon bumping over the rough terrain hadn't stirred her. It didn't matter any to him. He had her all to himself for the evening and night. Just having her close like this was a good start. He raised his hand and gently ran the back of his fingers down the soft skin of her cheek. "Michaela?" he whispered softly. "We're here ..." She stirred a little but did not waken. He tried again, this time stroking the back of her hand. "Michaela? Need ta wake up now ..." This time her eyelids fluttered and she peered up at him, her trusting, loving look enough to stir his senses. "We're here," he said again softly, a smile he reserved only for her on his lips.

She smiled, stretched a little and asked, "Where?" before finally gazing around at her surroundings.

When a look of confusion crossed her face he said indulgently, "You'll realise where we are in a little while ..." He stood, jumped to the ground, then turned and held his hands out to her. He gently lifted her to the ground and then held her just a little longer that was necessary. It was times like these he wanted to hold her, protect her, forever. He reached into the back of the wagon, removed a couple of blankets and took her hand in his. "We're gonna head up that slope over there," he explained. "It aint far ..."

They took the steep climb slowly, carefully and silently, until at last they emerged on a ridge from which it seemed the whole of Colorado could be seen spread out before them. Gripping his hand tightly, Michaela murmured, "Oh God Sully," in awe of the beauty around her.

He looked down into her face alight with pleasure and said, "You recognise it now?"

She frowned, then much to his surprise, asked, "We've been here before?"

He nodded. "Uh huh ... long ways back ...," he replied, spreading one of the blankets on the ground.

She scrutinised the scenery and shook her head, disgruntled with herself. "I'm sorry Sully," she said softly, regretfully.

Far from showing any displeasure, he shrugged, sat down on the blanket and held out his hand to her. "Don' matter," he said tenderly. "You'll remember soon I reckon ... Sit here with me huh?"

Her brow still a little furrowed, she joined him on the blanket. He urged her to sit between his knees and lean back against his chest so they could both view the picturesque scene across the valley to the deeply shadowed mountains beyond. He wrapped his arms around her and dropped his chin onto her shoulder.

"When were we here Sully?" she asked softly after a short while.

"Like I said ... long ways back," he replied noncommittally.

She caressed his arm and insisted, "Yes ... but when?"

"Just relax Michaela ... It aint important," he rejoined, kissing her neck.

She sighed. It seemed he wasn't going to tell her. The place *was* vaguely familiar, and yet it wasn't. Again her brow furrowed in thought and as if he could sense the tension in her, he hugged her closer and again kissed her neck tenderly. "Just wait," he whispered. "You'll know ..."

They sat for perhaps more than an hour as the evening began to close in around them, the fiery sun dipping behind the mountains in the distance and flushing the few wispy clouds with tinges of cerise and orange. Suddenly, as she drank in the splendour of the sunset, she knew, and turned slightly to look up into his eyes, her own alight. "Told you you'd remember," he whispered as if he was reluctant to disturb the profound silence.

"I can't believe I didn't recognise it," she whispered in return. "This place ... its so ... it filled my dreams for so long ..." She trailed off in wonder.

"It did?" he asked.

She nodded. "When you brought me here ... and told me you'd never shown anyone else ... I felt as if you were trusting me with something precious ... some part of yourself ... I ... I ... held that dear to my heart all the time we were courting ... I often dreamed of it ..." She paused and lowered her eyes as a slow blush crept up her neck to her face. Then she continued softly, "I suppose I didn't remember the place as much as what it meant ..."

He smiled and gently placed his thumb under her chin, raising her eyes to meet his. "You remember what else I said back then?" he asked.

She nodded again. "You said its the place you come when you lose your way ...," she recalled.

"Uh huh ... aint bin here for a long time now though ..."

"So you haven't lost your way since then?"

He immediately shook his head. "You know that aint so," he said quietly. "But I don' need ta come here ta find it agin ... not like I used to ..."

She frowned, perplexed.

"Go somewhere else now ...," he added.

"Where's that?"

"Wherever you are," he replied assuredly.

She swallowed and again turned to peer up into his eyes. He was looking down at her, such a look of devotion in his eyes, she was overwhelmed. She managed a whispered, "Sully," before he dipped his head for a long, loving kiss. She nestled back against his chest and sighed when the kiss was over. At last she said, "What made you come here now?"

"When I was stayin' with Cloud Dancin' at Palmer Creek for the Cheyenne healing we talked about it ... It was the first time I realised how long it'd been an' why ...," he rejoined solemnly. "Told him I'd bring you here agin soon ..."

She swivelled around on her knees to face him, throwing her form into silhouette. "Do you feel lost now?" she asked with loving concern. His face was lit by the red-flushed sky behind her.

He shook his head. "No ... not exactly ..."

"But you are worried about something aren't you? Its Cloud Dancing isn't it?"

"Only whether I'll ever see him agin ..."

She clasped his hands. "We will Sully ... I'm sure of it ... but please ... if you're worried about him ... or .." She trailed off and swallowed before taking a deep breath and continuing, "Or if you feel you need to visit with the Cheyenne ... I'll understand ... just tell me ... please ..."

He drew her into his embrace. "Told you I didn' need ta come here now ... just needed to be with you," he murmured against her ear.

There was a long heartfelt silence until Michaela whispered unexpectedly, "Do you?"

He frowned. "Do I what?" he asked, puzzled.

"Do you need to go north ... to the Cheyenne?" she asked tentatively.

He leaned back a little and ran his thumbs tenderly across her cheekbones. "No ... not right now," he rejoined quietly. "Got all I need right now ..." She nodded and so he added, "Maybe sometime I'll feel the need to do like you said ..."

"And you'll talk to me about it?"

"Uh huh ... We'll talk about it together ... we'll both know when the time is right ..." He kissed her lightly, then said, "Cloud Dancin' told me I live in two worlds ... Sometimes it aint easy findin' the right balance ..."

"I don't want you to ever feel I'm holding you back from doing something you need to do ... *you* have to decide the right balance ... not me ..."

He gave her a half smile. "But I can't make that decision on my own ... got other people ... you an' the kids ta consider ....," he said lovingly.  "You're what keeps me on the right path ... well most o' the time anyway ..."

"And you do the same for me," she rejoined sincerely.

He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them reverently. "You wanna head back down to the wagon now?" he asked, his meaning obvious.

She turned back momentarily to gaze out over the now darkened valley. "The light will be gone soon ...," she said. "It might be best ... Perhaps you can see in the dark ... but I can't," she teased.

He smiled. "Should o' brought the lamps," he said, standing and then pulling her to her feet. He couldn't resist drawing her in hard against his body. "Got you all to myself," he said seductively. "No medical emergencies ... no kids ... just us ..."

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Sounds wonderful," she murmured alluringly. Placing her hands at his nape, she drew his head down and claimed his lips with her own. The kiss quickly deepened and assumed an urgency that left them breathless. She momentarily broke off the kiss and giggled. "Why is it this always seems to happen when we're alone in the woods?" she queried rhetorically, before resuming the kiss, if anything increasing the intensity even further.

This time *he* drew back and panted softly, "We better head back now ... or I aint gonna be able ta stop an' we'll be stuck up here all night ..." He bent to scoop up the two blankets they'd brought with them.

"I can think of worse things," she purred, her hand creeping under his shirt to caress his heated skin.

He gulped. "Got more blankets down there at the wagon ... an' supper," he muttered, his senses alive.

She giggled again, then grasped his hand. "Come on then," she said enthusiastically. "It won't take as long to climb down as it did coming up ...," she urged, drawing him to the back edge of the ridge.

Before they started down, he again wrapped his arms around her, then lifted her off her feet and laughed aloud. "My prim and proper Boston bride," he chuckled indulgently. "Whoever would o' thought ..."

"Thought what?" she queried, indignation in her tone, her eyes twinkling.

"Thought she'd o' been so enthusiastic," he rejoined lovingly. He kissed her soundly, took her hand protectively in his and they started down the slope.

*********************
Anna stepped down from the clinic porch and headed for the telegraph office. After her first night in her new home she was feeling both rested and excited. Colorado Springs was so different to anywhere else she'd been and to know she had a position as a physician here was exhilarating. But first there were two telegrams she had to send right away. As she walked through town, several townspeople acknowledged her with a nod. Perhaps Sully had been right. Perhaps she would find acceptance as a doctor here.

She glanced down at the two, brief telegrams she'd prepared for Horace to send. The first was to Dr George Fillmore at St Clare's clinic in San Francisco. It read, "Have secured a position in a medical practice in Colorado Springs and so will not be arriving for my interview tomorrow as planned. Thank-you for the opportunity to apply for the position there. Sincerely Dr Anna McLeod."

The second was to Lucille Dolan in Washington DC. It read, "Lucille. Have secured an ongoing position with Dr Michaela Quinn in Colorado Springs Colorado Territory. As soon as possible please make arrangements as we discussed. I look forward to seeing you. Anna."  Her eyes sparkling, she momentarily held the piece of paper against her heart. Her joy would be complete when Lucille arrived. She wasn't sure how she'd contain her excitement for the next couple of weeks.

With a definite skip in her step, she reached the telegraph office, greeted Horace with a radiant smile and  handed him her note and a couple of coins.

Chapter 22

Michaela watched Anna steer her rented buggy out of town towards the Chateau and then she stepped back inside the clinic. So far the younger woman had been both amenable and receptive to any suggestions and had been quite happy to travel out to the Chateau to take the morning clinic.  Michaela sincerely hoped no nearby rancher or Chateau guest made things difficult for her new colleague on this her very first day.  

She reached up to the hook behind the door and lifted down her apron which she proceeded to put on. Already the clinic seemed empty without Colleen. She smiled wistfully as she realised they should be arriving in Pennsylvania sometime that day. Anna was right about the way she'd felt starting medical college. There was a strange mixture of fear and excitement when stepping into the unknown. She could just imagine how Colleen would be feeling. She shook herself and made her way upstairs to check on her young patient.

As she walked down the landing she was surprised to hear Samantha sobbing, and Myra gently trying to placate her. She hurriedly made her way into the recovery room to the little one's bed. "Samantha sweetheart," she said anxiously. "Are you in pain?"

The little girl bit her lip, then shook her head, uncontrolled sobs still bursting from her throat.

"It aint that Dr Mike," said Myra apologetically. "She's doin' real well from the surgery ..."

"So what is it?" asked Michaela with concern.

Myra gave her a rueful look. "She heard the kids an' the school bell," she explained wryly.

Michaela frowned and then it dawned on her. "Oh sweetheart, you were supposed to start school today weren't you?" she questioned sympathetically.

With that Samantha's crying renewed.

"She was so lookin' forward to it Dr Mike ... its all she's talked about for weeks," explained Myra, gently holding her little daughter's hand.

"I ... I was gonna sit next ta Douglas," the little girl sobbed. "He ... he was gonna show me everythin' ..." She clenched her fist and held it against her mouth in childish anguish.

"He'll still do that sweetheart ... when you're all better and can start school," suggested Michaela kindly.

Samantha shook her head. "I ... I wanna start school with the other kids ... not after ..." she pleaded, her sobs turning to hiccups.

Michaela smiled. "Why don't I ask Douglas and Mrs Slicker to come over here after school finishes ... They can tell you what they did in school today. How does that sound?" Michaela offered.

The little one's crying abruptly stopped and she hiccupped loudly as she pondered this compromise. At last she nodded and said sadly, "Alright ..."

Myra leaned down to give her daughter a hug, then turned to Michaela. "Thanks Dr Mike ...," she said. "I gotta be back at the Chateau by lunchtime ... Gotta work this afternoon."

"That's fine," said Michaela with a smile. "Samantha and I will get along just fine ... won't we sweetheart?" she said, gently brushing a wisp of hair back from the little girl's forehead.

"Ya won't forget what ya said about Mrs Slicker an' Douglas?" Samantha implored softly.

Myra and Michaela chuckled. "No ... I won't forget," she assured the little girl. "Now if you two are doing fine in here ... I better go and see whether I have any other patients ..." She walked across the room and then paused at the door. "I doubt they'll be as cute as this one though," she said as she exited the room. She smiled when she heard giggles emanating from the room instead of the earlier sobs.

*******************
"Well ... I didn' know you had a new lady friend Reverend," joked Grace as she walked across to one of the tables in the café at lunchtime.

The Reverend smirked, then explained, "May's ma went up to Rawlins with Matthew on the morning train Grace ... I said I'd look after her while Douglas is at school ... And before you say anything ... me an' May are getting along just fine ..." He gently placed his hand on the little girl's shoulder.

"I can see that," chuckled the café owner. "Should o' been a pa a long time ago Reverend," she said jovially.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Would o' been if things had worked out," he said, a touch of regret in his tone.

"Mrs O'Connell an' Matthew comin' back on the afternoon train?" asked Grace. "That's quite a trip in one day ..."

The Reverend shook his head. "They expect ta get back tomorrow," he explained. "Thought there might be some legal work ta be done ..."

Grace frowned. "So who's lookin' after the kids tonight then?"

"We're gonna have supper here an' then I'm staying with them ...," he said at once. "We're going to look after each other ... aren't we May?' he said with a smile.

Grace's eyebrows rose. "You are are ya?' she said with a chuckle. "Well just remember me an' Robert E are real close .. so if there's anythin' you need ..."

"We'll be fine Grace ... Douglas is pretty good at looking after things," returned the Reverend. "I'm just going to keep them company ..." He trailed off, then shook himself and turned to his tiny, silent companion. "I wonder what you'd like for lunch hmmm?" he asked rhetorically. It was still of continual concern to him that she remained mute since the trauma of losing her father and brother. His eyes narrowed in thought. "Meatloaf?" he posed. "Chicken maybe ... or soup?" Accordingly, when there was no response, he turned back to Grace. "Maybe you got an idea what May likes for lunch?" he asked hopefully.

She chuckled. "If I remember right she aint got much of an appetite ... unless its for pie," she rejoined.

"Well ... I can't tell her ma I fed her on pie ... so we better have some soup an' biscuits ta start ... then maybe pie," he ordered.

"Sounds like a good plan ta me," she chuckled. "I'll be back with it real soon ..."

A few minutes later Grace returned with two bowls of steaming soup and a plate of biscuits hot from the oven. "There we are you two," she said heartily as she placed the food on the table. She eyed the expression on May's face with amusement. The four year old was obviously not partial to soup. "Anythin' else ya need?" she asked.

"No thanks Grace," returned the Reverend. "We'll be fine now ... but we might have pie later." Unbeknownst to the Reverend, little May's eyes lit up.

Grace smiled to herself, wondering how he was going to know if May was eating her soup. "Just call if ya need me" she offered, moving off.

The Reverend made a show of fluffing out his napkin and picking up his spoon, hoping May would copy him. Then he took a generous spoonful of the delicious soup and sighed with pleasure. "Good isn't it?" he said with a smile, not expecting an answer. For several minutes this pantomime went on. All the while he wondered whether May was eating and cursed the blindness that forbade him knowing. He could still feel her presence beside him. Sometimes her arm would brush against his, or she'd wriggle in her seat and bump him, but there were no sounds of spoon against bowl, or slurping of soup. In a quandary as to what to do next, he was almost to the point of calling Grace when he felt an unexpected but insistent tugging on his coat sleeve. He placed his large hand over the tiny one that was clutching his sleeve tightly and bent down to say quietly, caringly, "Somethin' wrong May?" He waited expectantly, but was still astonished when a very young voice quietly insisted, "No soup ... pie!" He fought the sudden tears that welled in his eyes, and despite the lump in his throat, asked, "What was that little one?"

"Want pie," she reiterated, this time a little more loudly.

He smiled through his tears, and rejoined, "Oh you do do you?"

"Uh huh," came the reply.

"What about the soup?'

"No soup ..."

"What'll ya ma say I wonder ..."

"Please ....," she implored, still gripping his coat sleeve tightly.

He chuckled and then called out to Grace who hastened over. He bent to whisper in the little one's ear, "Maybe you'd like ta tell Miss Grace what you'd like huh?" He gave her a loving, reassuring squeeze.

Her eyes open wide, May peered up at Grace and in a voice barely above a whisper, asked, "Pie please ..."

Grace tried vainly not to show her astonishment. She knelt by the little girl, gently cupped her cheek and managed to say tenderly, "Just this once you can have any pie you want little darlin' ... but don' tell your ma ... Its so good ta hear your voice at last ... Wait til Douglas comes back from school ... he'll be real pleased too ..." She stood and smiled down on the Reverend. "You got a knack with kids ... you know that? I think you've got a friend for life in that one ..."

He smiled and gently took May's hand. "Think I'll have pie too Grace ... same kind as May huh?"

Grace smiled broadly. "Sure thing Reverend ... two o' my best comin' up ..." She scurried away to fill the order while two very different customers sat side by side, inordinately  pleased with themselves.

**********************
Sully gazed around the Gazette office in wonder. "You've taken on quite a job son," he said, pride in his tone.

Brian shrugged. "I've bin workin' here for a long time now pa," he rejoined. "Bit worried about the articles though ... don' wanna sound like a kid's writin' 'em ..."

"A kid aint ..."

"Yeah ... well ... that's not the way a lotta other folks'll see it ..." 

"Maybe your ma an' me could look at 'em first ... that is if you don' mind," Sully suggested.

"I don' mind," Brian responded at once. He strode across to the desk and picked up a piece of paper. "I wrote this short article about Dr McLeod," he said, handing it to Sully. "She won't give me an interview until she settles in here ... She suggested maybe a coupla weeks from now."

Sully nodded and scanned the short piece. He looked up and smiled. "Looks good ta me," he said, handing it back. "So you got enough ta fill the next edition?" he asked.

"I'm gonna write somethin' about school startin' back today an' that should just about do it ... I got Miss Dorothy's editorial too ... an' some notices an' advertisements ..."

Sully nodded, then as a thought occurred to him, he asked, "You were gonna head up ta Denver this week weren't ya ... to the Denver Post?"

"Uh huh ... but I can't leave here now ... I sent Mr Proctor a telegram tellin' him so ..."

"Hope he don' mind ... You tell him why you can't go?"

"Uh huh ... told him I was gonna be runnin' the Gazette for a few weeks ..."

Sully smiled wryly. "Bet he's surprised about that ... Did ya finish that article you were writin' ta take up there? The one about Red Fox?"

"Yeah ... I finished it ..."

"Why don't ya send it to him anyway ... while its still news ..."

Brian frowned. "You think?" he asked.

"Uh huh ... send it to him an' ask him for suggestions about it ... that way he'll know you're still interested ..."

Brian picked up his writing tablet from the desk. "Maybe," he mused. "I spent a lot o' time on it ..."

"Another reason why you should send it to him ..."

Brian abruptly looked up into his father's eyes and smiled. "Alright ... I will," he said assuredly.

Sully clapped him on the back. "Good," he said proudly. "Now ... you said you're gonna print tomorra?"

Brian nodded. "Tomorrow afternoon," he verified.

"Fine ... I'll be here ... but like I said ... you're gonna have ta start me right at the beginnin' ..."

Brian grinned. "You'll be alright pa ... it aint that hard ...," he advised.

Sully obviously remained dubious. "We'll see," he commented unsurely. "We'll see ..." 

**********************
Most of the lamps had been lowered by the time Michaela came slowly back down the stairs after putting Katie to bed. She wandered across to where Sully was bent over his work at the dining room table, peered over his shoulder at the paper and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Looks good," she said proudly, relaxing against him.

"You think?" he asked, caressing her hands where they rested on his chest. Before him lay a sketch of a largish and rather stylish house.

"Mmmm ... but I still can't believe Hank wants to build a house like this ..."

"He said he wanted it bigger than the house he had in mind for Myra ... a bit fancier too .."

Michaela shook her head pensively and unconsciously slid her hands inside Sully's shirt to caress his bare skin. "It just doesn't sound like him," she said. "I can't imagine him living away from the saloon ..."

"Neither can I ... maybe he's thinkin' 'bout a change of career ...," Sully posed with humour.

Michaela rested her chin on the top of Sully's head and chuckled. "Much as I don't approve of what he does ... I can't imagine him doing anything else," she remarked.

"He always wanted ta be sheriff ..."

"You think that's what's behind this?"

"I doubt it ... he'd have ta be elected ... an' since Daniel left nobody's bin too keen ta raise the subject ..."

"We'll have to have a new sheriff some time ... the town's growing ..."

"An' you think it'll be Hank?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "We've never had many volunteers for the job," she observed. "But he seems to be making a lot of advance preparation for a maybe ..."

Sully chuckled. "Maybe bein' sheriff aint what he's got in mind ... maybe he wants ta settle down ... maybe even get married ...," he suggested, a touch of irony in his tone.

Michaela shook her head. "Well ... if he has Myra in mind I think he's going to be disappointed ... She's not interested ... told me so ... months back ..."

"He told me the same ... when he first talked about buildin' a house for her," Sully agreed. "So it aint her he's got his mind on ..."

Michaela leant forward and kissed his temple. "Perhaps we're not even on the right track ... There could be a reason we haven't even thought of ...," she proposed.

"Well ... whatever it is ... if he wants me ta build his house ... I'll do it ... I enjoyed helpin' Matthew with his ...," Sully asserted. He pointed at his sketch. "What do ya think o' these windows? Do ya like 'em ... You're an expert on windows ... aint ya?" he said with a smile.

Behind him she grinned, recalling the incident of the window during their courtship. "It worked out alright," she boasted, again bending to kiss his temple. Then she asked softly, "Do you have to finish this tonight?"

He deliberately placed his pencil down on the table and asked, "What ya got in mind?"

"Well ... I was just recalling where we were this time last night ..."

"An' what we were doin'?"

"Mmmm ..."

"It was nice ..."

"Yes ... it was ...," she responded dreamily.

"Under the stars ...."

"Uh huh ..."

"Just you an' me ..."

She sighed, "Mmmm ..."

He glanced upwards. "Maybe I *don'* have ta finish this tonight," he mused.

"You don't?" she asked, feigning surprise.

"Could do it tomorra mornin' ..."

"You'd be less tired then ..."

"Maybe ... maybe not ...," he suggested cheekily, turning to peer up onto her flushed face. When her shining eyes met and held his gaze, he pushed the paper aside and stood, pulling her into his arms. "Ya know that's all you've ever gotta do, don't ya?" he murmured against her ear.

"What's that?" she whispered, her hands already under his shirt and caressing his skin.

"Look at me that way ... just like that ..."

When she leant forward to lovingly kiss the skin at the open neck of his shirt all control deserted him. With a growl he swept her up into his arms and headed for the stairs.

*********************
Michaela drew the wagon to a halt in the yard of Matthew and Kathleen's homestead and climbed down to the ground. She was a little earlier than she'd expected, but Anna had insisted she could manage the clinic for the final couple of hours so Michaela could leave.

She'd called into the Gazette office before heading out of town, wondering how father and son were coping with printing the next day's edition of the newspaper. An indulgent smile appeared on her lips. Poor Sully. He'd stood there looking at her exasperatedly, his hands and shirt covered in black ink while Brian worked diligently on setting type for the next page. It seemed learning how to work a printing press was not as easy as it sounded. Consequently, she'd plan for a late supper tonight. Perhaps she'd even bath the children before supper, rather than after.

She climbed the steps to the front door and knocked. Seconds later a dishevelled Kathleen answered, her eyes opening wide in surprise when she saw who her caller was. "Michaela!" she exclaimed. "I didn't expect you yet."

"I thought I'd take the children off your hands early," said Michaela, disturbed by her daughter in law's appearance but trying not to show it.

The young woman smiled. "They're both playing inside," she said, beckoning Michaela in.

"I hope they've been no trouble ..."

"No ... none at all ...," Kathleen averred sincerely.

As soon as Katie spied her mother, she ran towards her and was scooped up into her arms. She placed a wet, welcoming kiss on Michaela's cheek and wrapped her arms around her neck.

"Have you been a good girl for Kathleen sweetheart?" Michaela asked lovingly.

The toddler gave an exaggerated nod, then leaned towards her mother's ear and loudly whispered, "Kafeen sick mama ..."

Michaela's eyes flew to her daughter in law, who, having heard the little girl's claim, now stood guiltily wringing her hands, a slow blush creeping up her attractive, yet somewhat worried face.

Continued ...