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Circle of Life 23-24

 

 

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.

********************
Sully, still wearing his shirt stained with printer's ink,   rushed across to Michaela as soon as she arrived at the scene. Several townspeople were comforting distressed, but thankfully uninjured, train passengers, while a small group was bent over a couple of men laying prostrate on the ground. He quickly lifted her down from the wagon and explained, "One o' the robbers is dead ... he's over there ... Driver died before we got out here too ... took a bullet in the chest ... Engineer's hurt pretty bad ... Anna's workin' on him now ... could probably use your help ..."

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.

******************
Michaela opened the clinic door in response to a light tap to find Sully on the doorstep. He was dressed for riding. "How's he settlin'?" he asked with concern.

"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 ..."

*********************
Anna leant forward over her patient and once again took his pulse. Good, no change, at least not for the worst. She leant back in her chair by his bedside and returned to her reverie. It felt strange being here in this quiet, dimly lit room - unfamiliar surroundings, smells and sounds. She was still feeling some exhilaration from the events of this afternoon. She'd been presented with a challenge and had come through it, perhaps not with flying colours, but satisfactorily. She envied Michaela's coolness under pressure and the faith the townspeople seemed to have in her. Trust, she'd told her, had to be earned. She sincerely hoped she'd gone some way towards earning it today.

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.

**********************
Brian brushed back a lock of hair that had fallen forward on his forehead and contemplated his finished article on the train robbery and its aftermath. He had to admit he was pretty pleased with it and rued the fact that he'd promised to show anything he wrote to his ma or Sully before printing it.

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.

*********************
"I couldn' understand why Dr Mike kept tellin' me I should come home," repeated Matthew for the umpteenth time. "I was all set ta head out with the others ..."

"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.

*********************
Hank tossed the dregs of his coffee contemptuously into the darkness beyond the firelight and asked, "What was that business between Michaela an' Matthew about Sully ... just before we left?" Members of the posse was sitting in a circle around a dwindling fire.

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.

********************
Michaela placed her hairbrush down, stood and wandered across to William's crib to gaze down on him. He was sleeping so peacefully, blissfully unaware that his father was somewhere out there in the night, perhaps in danger. She sighed. Her baby boy was growing so fast. She shame-facedly recalled the momentary pang of jealousy she'd felt when announcing to Kathleen that she was pregnant. She wouldn't admit it to a soul, but despite having two darling children already, she somehow envied Kathleen. Perhaps it had something to do with her just starting out. She shook herself. She had more in her life than she'd ever dared to dream and now ... She gulped. She was going to be a grandmother! She took a deep breath to quell her alarm. She was being ridiculous.

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.

Continued ....

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