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Chapter 23
Her
gaze on Kathleen, Michaela slowly lowered Katie to the floor and then quietly asked her,
"Sweetie ... will you go play with William for a minute while I talk to
Kathleen?" The
little girl looked up at her with wide eyes showing a wisdom beyond her years. "You
gonna make Kafeen better mama?" she asked seriously. Michaela
smiled indulgently. "I'm going to try sweetheart," she replied. The
little one nodded, obviously satisfied, and scurried off to join William at the other end
of the long living-room. Michaela
returned her attention to her daughter in law. She took a step closer and asked
sympathetically, "What did Katie mean when she said you were sick?" Eyes
welling with tears, Kathleen tried an unconvincing, "Its nothing Michaela ...
probably something I ate ... that's all ..." Michaela
frowned and considered the young woman's appearance and demeanour carefully. At last she
asked shrewdly, "How long have you been feeling unwell?" Kathleen
swallowed and shrugged her shoulders. "A little while" she replied quietly. "A
little while?" Again
the younger woman swallowed, discomfited. "More
than a couple of days? A week? Two weeks?" Michaela quizzed. Kathleen
bit her lip. "A ... a ... few weeks," she managed to mumble, before scrabbling
for her handkerchief as tears started to fall. Michaela
tried valiantly not to show her dismay. Finally she asked, "Why didn't you tell
me?" "I
... didn't want to worry anyone ... especially Matthew ... and I ... I thought it would
pass ..." "But
it hasn't ..." She
shook her head. "No ...," she murmured. "It hasn't ..." Michaela
covered the short distance between herself and the younger woman and rested her hand
comfortingly on her shoulder. "I think you and I need to talk sweetheart ... and I
need to know if there are any other symptoms ..." Kathleen
nodded resignedly, looking thoroughly dejected. Michaela
glanced back at her two youngest children who were still quietly playing together.
Deciding that they would be alright for a few minutes, she gently took Kathleen's arm and
led her towards the bedroom. Once inside, she began to grill her daughter in law as to her
true condition. It didn't take long to establish that her initial suspicions might be
well-founded. "So this feeling of tiredness began even before you returned from your
honeymoon?" she verified. Kathleen
nodded. "Mmmm
... well now I think its time I did an examination ... Is that alright with you?"
Michaela inquired kindly. The
younger woman's brow furrowed and she nodded uncertainly. "Its
alright sweetheart ... It won't hurt ... I just have to confirm my theory ...,"
Michaela said compassionately. "So
you know what might be wrong with me?" Kathleen queried fearfully. Michaela
nodded and smiled. "Perhaps," she replied. "I'll soon know for sure." Some
minutes later, Michaela gently assisted Kathleen to sit up and then walked across to the
washstand to wash her hands. At last she turned back to the nervous young woman and smiled
indulgently. "How long have you and Matthew been married now?" she asked. "About
eleven weeks," replied Kathleen quietly. "Please Michaela ... is it
serious?" she asked, tears again threatening to fall. Michaela
walked back to the bed and took her hand. "No sweetheart ... its not serious ...
unless you have something against being pregnant ..." Kathleen gasped and Michaela
added, her smile now broad, "About eleven weeks I'd say ..." The
young woman's grip tightened on Michaela's hand. "I ... It can't be ...," she
stammered. "We've only been married a few weeks ..." "That's
all it takes," rejoined Michaela. "But
... Matthew told me ... we've talked about it ... he told me about Grace ... and Mrs
Slicker ... even you ... He said it took a while ... I ... I wasn't to count on it
happening too quickly ...," mumbled Kathleen, a certain excitement creeping into her
voice. "Everyone's
different sweetheart," said Michaela caringly. "It seems you conceived very
early in your honeymoon ..." Kathleen
bit her lip as memories and expectations whirled through her head. She took a deep breath.
"So the tiredness ... and nausea ... that's what it was? I mean ... there's nothing
else?" she confirmed, as if she couldn't quite believe what was happening. Michaela
shook her head. "No ... there's nothing else ... and hopefully ... in the near
future, the nausea will pass ... I can't say the same for the tiredness though ...,"
she explained benevolently. Kathleen
suddenly rose from the bed and hugged Michaela. "Oh ... I wish Matthew was
here," she exclaimed elatedly. "Congratulations
sweetheart ... I'm so pleased for you ... and I know exactly how Matthew will react ...
Have you heard from him?" asked Michaela. Kathleen
shook her head. "I'm assuming he's on this afternoon's train as planned," she
said. She wrapped her arms around herself and said excitedly, "I can't wait to tell
him ..." Before
Michaela could say anything more, a loud, indignant yell could be heard from the
living-room. She raised her eyebrows in amusement and hurried out to lift her unhappy son
into her arms. "I
didn' do anythin' mama," Katie claimed at once. "He didn' wanna play no more
..." Michaela
chuckled and turned to Kathleen. "Something to look forward too hmmm?" she
laughed, jiggling William on her hip. Kathleen
giggled. "I can't wait," she said happily. With
that, Katie tugged insistently on her mother's skirt, trying to gain her attention. When
Michaela bent slightly towards her, she asked with confidence, "Kafeen all better now
mama?" Kathleen
walked across and lifted her into her arms. "I'm just fine sweetheart ... your mama
helped me a lot," she informed the tot. She lovingly kissed the little one's
forehead. "Thank-you for worrying about me ..." Katie wrapped her arms around
Kathleen's neck and gave her a wet kiss on the cheek in return. Michaela
regarded her darling daughter with pride, then addressed Kathleen, "We'd better go
now ... you can rest until Matthew arrives back ... We'll talk more about things in the
next day or so ... alright?" Kathleen
nodded enthusiastically, her eyes bright. "After I've told Matthew," she said
happily. Michaela
nodded and moved towards the front door. "Katie ... have you left anything
behind?" she asked, watching Kathleen bustle around collecting in a bag all William's
things. Katie bent to scoop up her favourite doll, Manfa, from the floor and trotted after
her mother. Michaela
and Kathleen packed everything into the back of the wagon and Michaela lifted Katie onto
the seat preparatory to stepping up herself. She turned back to her daughter in law and
with a smile said, "I really am pleased for you ... I know how much you both wanted
children ..." Kathleen
grasped Michaela's hand. "Thank-you," she said sincerely. "For everything
... I feel foolish for not having realised ..." Michaela
chuckled. "Don't," she said vehemently. "I'm a doctor ... and *I* didn't
realise with Katie ..." "You
didn't?!" exclaimed Kathleen in surprise. Michaela
shook her head. "I know it sounds ridiculous," she admitted. "But it's the
truth." She ended with an embarrassed giggle. She
turned back to the wagon, only to be arrested by the sound of a rider, approaching fast.
Much to both women's surprise, Loren rode into the yard. "Dr Mike?" he called,
even before his horse was fully stopped. "Train's bin held up about three miles north
o' town ... folks are hurt ... Doc McLeod an' some others are already headed out
there." Before
Michaela could say anything, there came a loud, anguished "Matthew?" from beside
her. She spun around to see a stricken Kathleen, ashen-faced and trembling. "Matthew's
just fine Kathleen," called Loren at once. "He's the one managed ta get inta
town ... he's gone back out there with the others, but he's not injured." Kathleen
took a couple of deep, soothing breaths and whispered, "Thank God ..." Michaela
was torn. At last she said reluctantly, "Kathleen ... the children ..." The
young woman visibly pulled herself together and instantly assured Michaela, "They can
stay here ... you go ..." "Are
you sure?" Kathleen
nodded. "Of course ... You're needed ... now go ..." Michaela
gave her a grateful smile and hauled herself up into the wagon, while Kathleen lifted
Katie and William back down. As Michaela picked up the reins, Kathleen whispered,
"Look after him Michaela ... please ..." She
nodded, reached down to momentarily clasp the young woman's hand, then set the wagon off
at speed for town, Loren riding alongside. ******************** As
they hurried towards her new colleague, she asked, "Anyone else?" He
shook his head. "Got a passenger took a bullet in the arm ... not too serious, Jake's
lookin' after him ... apart from that there's some cuts from flyin' glass ... from the
train windows ... Mrs O'Connell's one of 'em ...," he explained further. Before
stooping to kneel across from Anna, she asked worriedly, "Matthew?" "He's
fine ... ran the three miles or so inta town ta raise the alarm ..." She
nodded with relief and turned her attention to the train engineer on whom Anna was
working. The man's shirt had been torn open to lay his blood-covered chest bare. High on
the chest was a bullet hole, bleeding profusely. His breathing was laboured and he was
unconscious. Anna
looked up as Michaela arrived and breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad you're
here," she said seriously. "The bullet has to come out ... and I've never done
the procedure before ..." Michaela
nodded and asked, "His pulse?" "Rapid
... but still strong ..." Michaela
looked up at Sully. "We'll probably have to operate," she said. "We'll need
lamps, water, blankets, bandages ..." Without
question, Sully hurried away to make arrangements for the surgery, while Anna watched the
cohesion between the two with both admiration and a touch of envy. "It
doesn't look like we could get him back to town without his condition deteriorating
badly," said Michaela. She looked across at her colleague. "Have you been able
to feel the bullet?" Anna
shook her head. "Too deep," she remarked. "I just hope there's no damage to
the aorta or any other major blood vessel ..." "We'll
soon find out," rejoined Michaela. She looked up and then edged back as Sully arrived
with the requested items. It was
close to an hour later when Michaela wearily stood and flexed her aching knees and back.
Sully immediately came to her side. "He gonna be alright?" he asked, his eyes on
both the unconscious patient and Anna, who was monitoring his vital signs. "I
hope so," she replied. "He's lost a lot of blood, though we believe he may have
escaped any really serious damage." "That's
good ... How long before we can head back into town?" "Ideally
I wouldn't move him yet ... but these conditions are hardly ideal," replied Michaela,
gazing across at the stationary train and then several wagons in which train passengers
dejectedly sat. "We'll have to be extremely careful moving him," she added
worriedly. Sully
nodded. "We'll help ya ... me an' Hank an' Jake've all done it before ..." "How
long before they can get someone here to drive the train into Colorado Springs?"
asked Michaela. "Horace
arrived out here a while back ... he says the railroad's sendin' a relief driver by stage
... Should be here in a few hours ..." He eyed her shrewdly. "You thinkin' of
waitin' an' taking this fella back by the train?" She
shrugged her shoulders. "It would be a more comfortable trip," she said.
"But as we don't really know how long it'll be ... we better stick to the original
plan." She watched Anna stand and stretch as she had done minutes before. Anna
glanced across and grimaced. "I've never been called upon to perform such a procedure
in Washington ... or in such conditions ...," she commented. "In fact ... bullet
wounds are quite rare ..." "I'm
afraid they're one of the more distasteful aspects of practicing medicine in the
west," responded Michaela ruefully. "How is he doing?" "Pulse
is steady ... still a little fast perhaps ... and since we closed his wound I do believe
his colour is improving ..." Michaela
nodded. "It seems you're going to have another patient in the clinic tonight ... I
hope that's alright with you?" "That's
what I'm here for Michaela ...," rejoined Anna. "I'll start cleaning up here and
then we can head back into town hmmm?" She bent and began to collect together various
bloodied cloths and instruments. While
Anna worked, Sully drew Michaela aside. "When we get back an' everyone's settled ...
me an' some of the fellas are gonna go after the two that got away ...," he
announced. Michaela raised alarmed eyes to his. He gently took her hand. "They can't
get away with it Michaela ... you know that ..." "I
know," she responded in a small voice. "I just wish it didn't have to be you all
the time ..." "You
know I can track 'em quicker an' anyone else ..." She nodded despondently and he
caressed her hand. "Matthew, Hank, Jake an' Robert E are all comin' with me ... They
won't've got too far yet ..." "You
won't take any risks?" "Course
not ... but it'll be hard stoppin' the others ... you know how hot-headed Hank can be
..." She
gave him a wry look. "Just don't let him or any of the others put you in danger
..." She suddenly frowned. "You said Matthew is going with you?" "Uh
huh ... he's the only one saw 'em ... We wanna be sure we got the right fellas ..." Her
frown deepened and then she shook herself. "Let's head back," she said
determinedly. ****************** "Well
... he's not any worse ... Anna's sitting with him now ...," replied Michaela,
glancing across to where a number of riders were waiting. "What happened with the
train passengers?" "The
one's headin' for here have gone home to their families ... Hank's put up a lot o' the
others who were supposed ta be headin' further south ... an' a couple o' 'em went out to
the Chateau ..." He glanced back at the men waiting on their horses. "I better
go ..." She
nodded resignedly. "Do you have any idea of the direction they headed?" she
asked anxiously. "Tracks
away from the train headed east ... we'll go back up there an' take up the trail," he
replied. "There's
little daylight left," she remarked, noting the dulling of the light. "We'll
go as far as we can ... camp for the night an' head off again at daybreak ...," he
explained. "I'm
glad there's a group of you going ... At least you've all done this before ...," she
remarked, trying to reassure herself. He
smiled indulgently. "Brian wanted ta come too," he admitted. "He
did?" she exclaimed, instantly worried. "But
he decided ta stay here instead ... an' write an article for the Gazette about the
hold-up," he finished with satisfaction.. He dipped his head to give her a quick kiss
and headed back to his horse. She
followed him, thankful for his persuasive powers, then peered up at her eldest son.
"Could I speak with you Matthew ... just for a minute?" she asked quietly. "I'll
be fine Dr Mike," he assured her ruefully, recalling several similar incidents in his
past. "I
know you will," she said at once. "That's not what I want to say ..." His
brow creased and then he climbed down from his horse and made his way across to her. "Ah
... Matthew, I was wondering ... well ... whether you really needed to go this time,"
she began unsurely. "I
said I'll be fine Dr Mike," he said a touch irritably. "Um
... I know ... actually I was thinking of Kathleen ..." "You'll
tell her where I am won't ya?" "Yes
... of course ... but ... well ... I think it might be better if you went home." When
he regarded her oddly, she went on, "I think she might need you now ..." "What're
ya talkin' about Dr Mike?" he prodded. Then his jaw clenched. "Is she sick? I
knew it ... I knew something was wrong ...," he declared heatedly. "Ah
... no ... she's not sick ... not really ... but I think it would help her to know that
you're safe ... that you're not putting yourself in danger ..." "She's
gonna have ta git used to this sorta thing happenin' Dr Mike ... I used ta be sheriff here
an' I'm expected ta join in things like this ..." "I
know you are ... and I'm sure she *will* get used to it ... but just this once I think it
would be better for all concerned if you went home ...," she counselled, vainly
hoping he'd listen to her. "Is
this anythin' ta do with you not wantin' me ta go?' he quizzed. She
immediately shook her head. "No," she said. "Not at all." With
his horse suddenly becoming fractious, Hank called impatiently from the group of riders,
"We headin' out before dark or not?" "We'll
be there in a minute," rejoined Sully distractedly. He'd been standing beside the
pair, as perplexed as Matthew. He'd watched Michaela carefully. There was something
unusual happening here, something he didn't understand, but he trusted his wife. So
finally he quietly proposed, "We can manage without ya Matthew ... You can give us a
description of these fellas an' we'll find 'em ... You can identify 'em for sure when we
bring 'em back ..." Matthew,
raking his mother's face, seeking answers, appeared uncertain, but then did suggest,
"I didn' see their faces Sully ... they wore kerchiefs ... but I can tell ya what
they were wearin' ... their size an' all ..." Sully
clapped the young man on the back. "Decision's made then ... come on over an' tell us
all about 'em ... then you head home ...," he said assuredly. Obviously
still torn, Matthew nodded and walked back to the men on horseback. Michaela
stood on her tiptoes to give Sully a quick kiss. "Thank-you and please ... you be
careful," she implored. "We
will," he said, then turned and strode across to join the others. After
Matthew had provided them with as complete a description of the two train robbers as
possible, he and Michaela watched the posse ride out of town. When they had rounded the
bend leaving only a cloud of dust, he turned back to Michaela. "Is something wrong
with Kathleen ma?' he implored. "Somethin' ya didn' want the others to hear?" She
smiled and rested her hand on his shoulder. "Just go home to her sweetheart ...
you're all she needs right now ... you'll see ..." He
swallowed, wanting desperately to believe nothing was untoward. At last he nodded and
headed for his horse. As he mounted, she called, "Tell Kathleen I'll be there to pick
up the children as soon as I can get away from here ... alright?" He
nodded, waved and galloped out of town towards his homestead. Michaela
smiled. Matthew had always wanted children. They'd been an integral part of his dream with
Ingrid. Now Kathleen and his life with her was his dream. She'd have given anything to be
there when he heard the news, but some things were private, between husband and wife.
Recalling her discovery that she was expecting Katie, and Sully's joy when she told him,
she hugged herself with delight, then turned back toward the clinic where a very ill
patient awaited her attention. Chapter 24
The
Reverend straightened his jacket and then knocked on the door of his old room behind the
church. He hoped the children would not yet be in bed. The door finally opened a crack and
a brusque voice said, "Yes?" "Its
me Mrs O'Connell ... the Reverend," he replied at once. "Loren mentioned you'd
been hurt in the robbery ... I wanted to check if you were alright ... If you needed
anything ..." She
instinctively raised her hand to the cut on her chin which paled into insignificance in
comparison to the still prominent scar which ran down the left side of her face from
temple to jaw. "Its fine," she rejoined quietly. "Just a small cut ... Dr
Mike cleaned it for me ... it'll be gone in a few days ..." He
smiled. "That's good," he said. "I bet the children were pleased to see you
home ..." Lost
in her own miseries, she'd forgotten to thank him for looking after the two children while
she'd been away, and more importantly for the change he'd brought about in May. She
reluctantly pulled the door wide open and invited, "Why don't you come in? ... The
children are getting ready for bed ..." "I
don't want to interrupt," he protested. She at
last smiled. "The children would never forgive me if you didn't come in ... they will
have heard your voice ..." With
that Douglas appeared at his mother's side. "You come to visit Reverend?" he
asked guilelessly. "Maybe you've got one o' those good stories?" Always
charmed by the small boy's ways, the Reverend smiled and returned with a chuckle,
"I'm not sure about that ... I may have run out ... How many did I tell last night
before you two went to sleep?" The
little boy giggled and shrugged his shoulders. "A couple," he replied with
amusement. "Mmm
... just a couple?" "Yeah
a couple ... an' then some," the boy conceded. He reached out and took the Reverend's
hand, something he was much more comfortable doing than was his mother. "Come on
in," he invited. The
Reverend made his way inside and as soon as he was comfortably seated, May pulled herself
up onto his knee and leaned back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and
returned his attention to Faith. "You sure you're alright?" he asked again.
"It must've been frightening ..." She
swallowed. "Yes it was," she replied. "But Matthew was very brave ... He
pushed me to the floor of the carriage and then protected me until it was all over
..." The
Reverend nodded. "He's a good man," he affirmed. "Have you heard how the
train engineer's doing?" Grace
told me he's going to be fine ... She took supper to Dr Mike and Dr McLeod ..." She
paused, took a deep breath, then said quietly, "Reverend?" "Mmmm
..." "I
wanted to thank you for looking after the children while I was away ... I couldn't believe
it when I heard May speak ..." Her shimmering eyes alighted on her tiny daughter.
"Its like you've given her back to me," she murmured thankfully. He
smiled. "She did that all on her own," he rejoined. "I think she got
frustrated trying to communicate with someone who couldn't see her ... voice became her
only option .." "Well
whatever the reason ... thank-you," reiterated Faith. The
Reverend tenderly kissed the little one's head, then inquired, "And the trip ... was
it successful?" "Well
yes ... some," she replied guardedly. "I'm glad Matthew Cooper was with me ... I
think I'd have given up trying to deal with the men at the bank ..." "But
he didn't give up?" She
shook her head. "No ... he insisted I had rights ... and finally they allowed me
access to our account ..." "And
was it as you'd thought?" "Actually
there was a little more there than I'd imagined ... enough to perhaps rent a modest house
... as long as I can entice people to have their children learn the piano ..." The
Reverend smiled. "So you're staying?" "At
least for now ... I'm still not sure what I'll do with the property near Rawlins ... there
are too many bad memories associated with it ...," she rejoined, her voice dropping.
Then she added wryly, "Actually after today I momentarily thought of returning back
east ... but that would feel like betraying Peter somehow ..." "I'm
sure you'll do fine here ... after everything settles down," he assured her, trying
not to sound too eager. She
nodded and then quickly added, "I hope so ... for the children's sake ..." "And
for your own ..." "I
suppose ... but they're what's most important ..." "You
gonna tell us a story now Reverend?" Douglas impatiently demanded from his bed. Little
May wriggled in his arms, then added her own stipulation. "The one about the
princess," she said, her voice soft, perhaps from lack of practice. He
smiled and then set her on her feet. "Alright then ... as soon as you're in
bed," he informed them. He heard the patter of bare feet and then the rustling of
bedcovers before both young voices declared in unison, "We're ready ..." ********************* A
burst of raucous laughter from across the street brought her back to the present. She
wondered who was looking after the Gold Nugget while Hank Lawson and the others were out
looking for those train robbers. She had to admit she liked the man, despite his
occupation. There was something honest and down to earth about him, yet he was always the
perfect gentleman in her presence. She contemplated what they might be doing out there in
the wilderness right now. She couldn't imagine being alone, in the darkness, no-one else
around for miles. She smiled at her foolishness. There was quite a group of them out there
in the night, working together. She'd
never liked being alone, entirely alone. It unnerved her.
She shook herself. If things went well, that would not be the case for much
longer. She had to become accustomed to this new place, these new people. They'd offered
her an opportunity she'd been unable to gain back east. So much depended on her making a
success of it. Her
patient moved restlessly in his stupor. He still hadn't regained full consciousness. A
couple of times his eyes had shot open and he'd appeared to try to focus on her, but then
they'd closed again. She dreaded telling him what had transpired out there, about his
colleague. How did one overcome such tragedy? She shook her head ruefully. She knew the
answer to that all too well. She'd
finally managed to convince Michaela to go home a while back. She'd been a little
indignant at first when Michaela lingered, thinking she lacked trust in her new colleague,
but had come to realise that was the way Michaela practiced medicine - total devotion of
time and effort to her patient, despite knowing there was another doctor on hand. She
truly admired the way her colleague had worked in appalling conditions this afternoon. Of
course, talking to her later while watching over the patient, she'd learned of the vast
experience Michaela had of such medicine. She found it hard to believe she might one day
be as competent in such situations, and yet, in the back of her mind, was a growing
appreciation for the somewhat rugged life here and the unique people and circumstances it
presented. At
last the patient moaned and raised his hand to his bandaged chest and her attention
returned completely to him and his comfort. ********************** He
gazed over at the printing press. It was late, he was tired and there were still two pages
of the original newspaper to be printed. He rubbed at his eyes, stood and stretched. He
had two choices. He could give up on trying to finish the printing tonight, have his ma
check his new article, then set and print it and everything else tomorrow, thereby putting
this first edition out late, or he could complete the print run and sell the paper as
usual tomorrow without the article about the train robbery. Of course he could then print
a one page special addition tomorrow afternoon. He wondered what Miss Dorothy would do. It
didn't take long for him to come to a decision. If she was here, she'd get the paper out
on time, she'd say that's what the readers and the advertisers counted on, then she'd
print the special edition later. He sighed. It was going to be a long, long night. Why did
the train robbery have to happen during his very first edition? He
reached for his heavy printer's apron, turned up the lamps and strode wearily to the
press. ********************* "Are
you sorry?" asked Kathleen, nestled happily on his knee. "Not
one bit," he declared. "She wouldn' tell me what was happenin' ... I figured you
were sick ... I've been noticin' how you've been lately ..." He shook his head.
"I shoulda asked ya about it I s'pose ..." He lowered his eyes and tightened his
loving hold on her. "Guess I was afraid," he admitted, shame-faced. She
gently kissed his forehead. "I can understand that," she rejoined softly.
"Now you don't have to worry ..." He
chuckled. "Not worry!" he exclaimed. "Six more months of it I reckon
..." "Women
have been having babies since the beginning of time," she murmured, resting her head
on his shoulder. "Not
*my* woman," he returned ruefully. "I dunno if I've told ya how much this means
ta me ..." "You've
said ... in so many ways," she responded. "It means a lot to me too. I'll have
to tell Thomas tomorrow. I'm not sure how he'll feel about it ..." "Don'
matter how he feels," Matthew said with an indulgent smile. "Your brother has a
life of his own ... an' so do you ..." "Can
you believe this has happened so soon?" He
shook his head. "Nope ... I just assumed it'd take a while ..." "Mmmm
... so did I ... but I'm glad it didn't ..." "Yep
... so am I ... We got a lot ta think about huh?" She
nodded. "This shouldn't change things much though ... I still want to look after the
children during the day ... Katie and William, Michael and sometimes little May, if her
mother is giving piano lessons ..." "You
sure you'll be up ta that?" She
nodded and returned adamantly, "Of course ... and you should continue your law
studies ..." "Gotta
admit ... I liked helpin' Mrs O'Connell up at Rawlins ..." "Good
... then that's what you should do," she said with a smile." She lovingly kissed
his chin and relaxed further into his arms. "You
gittin' tired?" he asked. "A
little," she confessed. "Its been an exciting day ..." "Sure
has," he agreed. "We'll go ta bed in a minute ... but right now ... I just wanna
hold ya ... alright?" She
smiled and lovingly ran her fingers through his hair. "More than alright," she
murmured with a contented sigh. ********************* Sully
shrugged. "Don' know ... she didn' tell me," he said noncommittally. "She
looked kinda serious," commented Jake. "Hope nothin's wrong with Kathleen
..." "That
boy's had enough ta face in his life without that," contributed Robert E. "Michaela
woulda told me if somethin' was wrong," Sully asserted. "Didn' look like
somethin' as serious as that ..." "Maybe
she had an accident or somethin'," suggested Jake. When Sully looked about to
protest, he added hastily, "Not serious or nothin' ... just somethin' where she
needed her husband home with her ..." "Guess
we won't know til we get home," acknowledged Sully. "But from what Michaela said
... its better he's home with Kathleen than out here with us ..." "Speakin'
o' which ... how's Teresa doin' Jake?" inquired Robert E. "Surprised ya decided
ta come along ..." "She
aint far enough along for it ta be a worry ... besides ... I'm mayor ... got a duty ta
bring these fellas in ...," he replied, a touch haughtily. "Guess
you're lookin' forward ta bein a pa," teased Hank. "Ya waited long enough
..." "Look
who's talkin'," Jake snapped. "Least I settled down ... Don' see you doin' the
same ..." Hank
humphed in disgust. "Can ya imagine me with a wife an' kids?" he retorted, irony
in his tone. "Don'
know what its like til ya try it," said Sully quietly. There had been a certain
unfamiliar edge to Hank's voice. "Aint
likely too neither," the barkeep declared belligerently. "Might
find you're missin' somethin' ...," advised Sully. Hank's
lip curled. "Course you'd know," he sneered defensively. "Maybe
I do," returned Sully calmly. He waited for one of Hank's snide remarks, maybe a jeer
about Michaela's earning capacity as compared to his, but none was forthcoming. Instead,
Hank muttered, "How'd we git onto this anyway? .. Started out talkin' 'bout Matthew
an' Kathleen ..." There
was no reply to this and the group lapsed into silence. Some minutes later Jake remarked,
"Wonder how that engineer's doin' .. he looked pretty bad ..." "Michaela
said he was holdin' his own," commented Sully. "Was
a time a bullet in the chest woulda killed a man," mused Jake. "Before
we had doctors in town," added Robert E. "Sounds strange talkin' about
doctors." He emphasised the s in the word doctors. "Still
aint sure how folks are gonna take ta *two* women doctors," Jake remarked
sceptically. "They
aint got a choice," said Sully. "Anna McLeod was the only one applied for the
job ..." "She
did alright out there at the train," suggested Hank, his tone even. "Don'
imagine she's had ta work in a place like that before ..." Sully
smiled. "Heard her say she aint," he agreed. "Michaela said she did good
..." Jake
shook his head. "It was good she was in town when that happened ... but I know there
are folks who're gonna object ta havin' ta see a woman doctor or no-one ..." "I
agree with Sully," said Hank unexpectedly. "They aint got a choice ... Most
folks've accepted goin' ta Michaela ... Now they're gonna have a choice between her an'
Doc McLeod ..." "An'
who would *you* choose Hank?" charged Jake, his eyes narrowing. Hank
shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Don' often git sick," he said. "An'
if I was shot or somethin' I suppose I'd choose the one who was closest ..." he added
with a grin. "What about you?" "Took
me long enough ta git used ta Dr Mike," replied Jake. "Aint gonna change now I
guess ..." "I
reckon we best be thankful there are two doctors in town without worryin' about 'em bein
women," offered Robert E, often the voice of reason. "See
it the same way," contributed Sully. "You
would!" accused Jake wryly. The
mountain man shrugged his shoulders, guilty as charged. "We probably should turn in
now ... gotta git movin' at dawn ...," he suggested. There
were general nods of consensus and tin coffee mugs were upturned and then tucked away in
packs. Within minutes all was quiet except for the muted crackling of the fire as it
burned down. Sully lay on his back staring up
at the stars, musing on the events of the day, including the recent conversation. Hank
puzzled him lately - building a grand house, spiritedly defending the new lady doctor, his
snide remarks kept to a minimum. Was the man softening in his old age? Or was there
another reason, one improbable and yet, to Sully, credible. He smirked. It couldn't be,
could it! She shook his head ruefully, glanced up at the stars, whispered,
"Good-night Michaela" then turned on his side and closed his eyes. ******************** She
took a couple of steps to the window to peer out into the darkness. It seemed there were a
million stars twinkling in the sky tonight. She whispered a soft, yearning,
"Good-night Sully". She smiled as she realised he didn't even know about Matthew
and Kathleen yet. She wondered what he'd say. She knew he'd be happy for Matthew after all
the young man had been through. She turned back to gaze at the empty bed. She'd
come to hate it when Sully was away. Of course, some times were worse than others. When he
was away for Welland Smith she could tell herself that he was safe and would soon be home,
but at times like these, when he was out hunting down killers such as Red Fox and the
train robbers, she couldn't help feeling nervous. She wondered what he was doing right now
and where he was. The posse couldn't have gone more than a few miles beyond the train
robbery site before night set in. She
sighed and decided the only thing to do was to go to bed and hope she could sleep. She'd
flipped her hair back behind her shoulders and started toward the bed when a plaintive,
"Mama" could be heard and Katie poked her head around the door. "Sweetheart
... what are you doing out of bed?!" Michaela exclaimed. Katie
entered the room dragging Manfa along behind her. "Wanna sleep wif you mama,"
muttered the tired little girl. She looked across at the empty bed. "Where's
papa?" she asked despondently. Michaela
had spent a long time with Katie when she'd put her to bed, explaining her father's
absence, but it seemed the little girl needed further reassurance. She squatted down so
that she was at eye level with her daughter and said softly, "Papa's out looking for
some men ... remember ..." Katie
screwed up her face as she pondered the pronouncement and then nodded. "Want him ta
come home," she entreated. "I
know you do ... so do I," rejoined Michaela lovingly. "But he has a job to do
..." The
little one shook her head. "No job ... Want him here," she insisted. "Oh
sweetie ... he'll be back soon," returned Michaela soothingly. Katie's
jaw set stubbornly. "You get him," she demanded. "I
can't ... I don't know where he is right now ... we just have to wait for him to come home
..." The
toddler's bottom lip trembled and Michaela feared she was going to cry, but instead, she
stated assuredly, "I sleep wif you mama ..." She walked across to the bed and
eyed its challenging height for an moment, then placed Manfa on the bedclothes and
endeavoured to climb up. Michaela
watched her daughter proudly. It was so obvious she'd inherited her father's indomitable
spirit. She walked across, placed her hands at Katie's waist and boosted her up. The
toddler immediately moved across to Sully's side of the bed and slid under the covers.
Michaela didn't have the heart to admonish her, or reject her notion. Truth to tell, she
needed the company too. She too climbed up into the bed and lay down facing her tiny
daughter who was watching her intently. "Goodnight sweetheart," she said
lovingly. "Night
mama," whispered the little girl, tiredness beginning to overcome her. "Love
you," murmured Michaela. "Love
you too," Katie returned, closing her eyes. Michaela
smiled, her heart bursting with love and pride. Nothing else mattered when you had people
in your life who returned your love tenfold. She edged across and kissed the little one's
cheek. Tomorrow was another day, but just for now, she was content with her life. She
closed her eyes, her thoughts turning to her beloved husband as she drifted off to sleep. |