Chapter 17

She was in her mid thirties and of medium height - taller than Michaela, yet not as tall as Dorothy. She was not a classic beauty, her brow a little wide, her full mouth a touch big, but in all she was stunning and Hank couldn't take his eyes off her! It was her hair you noticed first. It was the colour of summer sunshine and although it was pulled back and bunched severely at her nape, wispy tendrils of tight curls escaped from their confining pins and framed her face, accentuating its softness and the intensity of her emerald green eyes. Despite the simplicity of her subdued dress and tiny grey hat, she carried herself with an elegance and poise that caused heads to turn and yet one sensed she was oblivious to any effect she was having.

Horace, despite the fact that he should have been up at the office assisting the arriving and departing train passengers, trailed after Hank. He'd never seen such a pronounced reaction from the man before. He watched as the barkeep again straightened his jacket nervously, all traces of his usual arrogance gone. He shook his head bemusedly. People acting uncharacteristically always perplexed him.

By now the woman was standing by her abundant luggage, obviously deciding what her next course of action was to be. Hank removed his hat and said quietly, "You look like you need some help ma'am ... Could I be of assistance?"

She spun around to face him and in so doing took his breath away. "Actually I was wondering whether I could leave my luggage here until I can find somewhere to stay," she replied, her voice soft and yet assured at the same time.

He gestured towards Horace who was hovering close behind. "Horace'll look after it ... Won't ya Horace?" he said with a smile.

"Yes ma'am," Horace said at once. "I'll git some fellas ta help me move it up closer ta the office ... alright?"

The woman turned her smile on him, causing a similar effect to Hank's. "I'd appreciate that," she said sincerely. He nodded mutely and beckoned to a couple of townspeople to help him with her trunk.

"You got somewhere ta stay?" asked Hank, striving to regain some of his usual assurance. "Someone meetin' ya?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm afraid I've arrived unexpected," she explained. "Do you know Dr Michaela Quinn?"

"Sure I do ... She's the town's doc," replied Hank immediately. His eyes narrowed momentarily. "You another one of her sisters?"

The woman chuckled. "No ... no relation," she returned, her eyes twinkling.

"But you know her?"

"Well ... from a long time ago .... Could you please direct me to where I might find her?"

"She's got a clinic down the street ... but she mighta gone home by now ... She's got little kids ..."

The woman's eyebrows rose. "She has?" she said with surprise.

"Uh huh ... You didn' know?"

"No ... and I don't know why I'm surprised," she replied, a touch embarrassed.  "I suppose I just never pictured her that way ..." She frowned. "Perhaps I'll try the clinic anyway ... then I'll have to find some accommodation for the evening."

Hank smiled. "Maybe I can help ya with that ...," he said. He held out his hand. "Hank Lawson at your service ma'am ..."

She returned his handshake and smile. "Anna McLeod," she responded.

He acknowledged her introduction with a nod and said, "Horace'll make sure nothin' happens to your things Miss McLeod ... I'll show ya where Michaela's clinic is ... alright?"

"Thank-you Mr Lawson ... I'd really appreciate it," said Anna, with a total lack of affectation.

Hank smiled, a trace of his usual smugness returning, and proudly proffered his arm. She took it and they set off down the main street of Colorado Springs.

*********************
As Michaela descended the stairs, Sully glanced up from where he stood by the stove and asked, "They asleep?" She nodded and he added, "What about Brian?"

"He's sitting up in bed writing an article for the editor of the Denver Post ... I think he wants to make a good impression," she explained, moving to his side.

Sully smiled and lifted the kettle from the heat. As he poured near boiling water into the half-full bathtub, he asked, "What's he writin' about? Did he say?"

She shook her head. "It's a mystery," she said with an indulgent smile. She collected the soap and a clean cloth from the bench top and placed them by the tub. "You have everything you need?" she asked, eying the steaming water.

"Uh huh," he replied, undoing the buttons on his shirt.

She turned towards the living-room. "I'll leave you to it then," she said. She started to walk away only to be arrested by a sultry voice suggesting, "You could join me ya know ..."

She turned back to face him, then glanced up the stairs and regretfully shook her head. "I don't think so," she murmured.

He too glanced upwards and then smiled ruefully. "Stay an' talk to me then?" he asked, divesting himself of his buckskin trousers.

She smiled and picked up the soap as he stepped into the large copper tub. Once he was settled in the water, she knelt down beside the tub, lathered the cloth with soap and asked, "What did you want to talk about?"

He shrugged his shoulders and sank further down into the soothing water. "Anythin'," he said. "What's bin happenin' while I've bin gone maybe ..."

"Well ...," began Michaela, running the soapy cloth over his chest. "Bess left for St Louis on Friday ..."

"Bet you were upset ..."

She paused momentarily and then admitted softly, "A little ..."

"Wish I coulda bin there ..."

"She understood about you being with Cloud Dancing ..."

He nodded and gently stroked her hand with his thumb. "What else happened? You get any applications for the doctorin' job?"

She paused again and then said in a small voice. "No ... What am I going to do Sully after Andrew leaves? I was sure there'd be some young doctor out there who would jump at the chance of coming west ..."

"Gotta admit I thought the same thing ...," agreed Sully. "But don' give up yet ..."

"Matthew suggested I advertise again ... perhaps in more newspapers ...," she said, moving around behind him to run the cloth over his shoulders.

"Might be a good idea ..."

She sighed. "Five days Sully .... That's all ... and our little girl will be going off to medical college ..."

"You're gonna miss her huh?"

"Mmmm ... very much ... She's grown into a wonderful young woman ..." She leaned forward to rest her forehead against his head and her hands stilled on his chest.

He reached up and grasped her arms, then gently caressed them. "She'll be back Michaela ... for the holidays ... an' maybe one day she'll practice medicine right here in Colorado Springs ...," he said softly.

"I hope so," she returned wistfully. "But I can't help remembering how she was when Miriam invited her to San Francisco ... she was so excited about seeing a big city hospital ..."

"Don' forget ... she's gonna have the same trouble you did ... those men doctors aint gonna like workin' with her any more 'an they liked workin' with you ..."

Again she sighed. "I don't want her returning here to practice just because there's no alternative," she said ruefully.

"Things'll work out ... they always do ... an' she's got Andrew ta look out for her ... Besides ... attitudes ta women doctors must be changin' by now ..."

"Is that why there are so many applications for the position here?" she stated with an uncharacteristic touch of sarcasm. "Perhaps I should have signed the advertisement Dr M Quinn."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Could be a lot o' reasons I guess ... might not have anythin' ta do with havin' ta work with a woman doctor ...," he suggested, his tone lacking conviction.

She sighed again. "Well ... if I can't get someone I'll inevitably have to relinquish the Chateau clinic ..."

He patted her arm comfortingly.  "You're gettin' ahead o' yourself again ...," he counselled. "There just might be an application on a train somewhere headin' this way ..."

She smiled and kissed the top of his head. "I hope so," she murmured.

He reached up to cup her head with his hand. "Now ... you gonna give me a hand with this bath an' shave or aint ya?" he asked. "Cos I aim ta get rid o' this beard before I can go up ta bed," he added teasingly. He sensually ran his hand down her neck and then across her cheek.

She swallowed and then sidled around to face him. Her eyes locking with his, she dipped the washcloth into the now soapy water and then, starting at his calf, ran it caressingly up his body to his chest and back again. He'd only been gone a few days,  but she'd missed him. She'd missed being held, she'd missed talking things through with him and she'd missed this, this physical connection they had. She raised herself to her knees and then leant across, closer and closer until she could feel his warm breath on her face. She paused, just enjoying his closeness and the desire she could see in his eyes, then she claimed his mouth for a long, deep and languorous kiss. As the kiss continued he pulled himself more upright in the water and leaned towards her enthusiastically. At last they paused to catch their breaths and Michaela unconsciously rubbed at her top lip which was stinging a little from his whiskers.

He chuckled and said huskily, "Told ya I had ta get rid o' this beard before we went upstairs." He reached out and lovingly caressed her reddened lips with his thumb. He couldn't resist drawing her back to him for another deep kiss, then he edged forward and stood. She too stood and then picked up the towel and began to dry him off, her movements slow and sensual. At last he grasped the towel, hurriedly wrapped it around his waist, and muttered, "Maybe we'll go upstairs after all ... You can help me get rid o' these whiskers an' I can help you get a little more comfortable ..." To illustrate his meaning he slowly undid the top two buttons of her blouse.

She smiled up at him and rejoined breathily, "My thoughts exactly Mr Sully ..." With that, she grasped his hand and tugged him resolutely towards the stairs.

********************
"Andrew's going to take over from me at one o'clock," said Michaela, as she stood at the homestead door the next morning, her medical bag in her hand. "So I'll be home not long after," she added. She bent to kiss Katie who was standing leaning against her father's leg. "You look after your little brother for me," she said softly and the little girl nodded confidently. She straightened and then stood on her tiptoes to kiss first Sully and then William in his arms.

Sully gave her a gentle nudge. "If you don' get goin' you're gonna be late for your first patient," he recommended with an indulgent smile.

Her eyes roamed over her family congregated in the living-room. "Its times like these I almost wish I didn't work," she said wistfully. "And when I think what might happen if I can't find a replacement for Andrew ..." She trailed off and momentarily closed her eyes.

"Its gonna be fine Michaela ... you'll see ... now get goin' ... We'll see ya at lunchtime," he urged again.

"See ya ma," called Brian from where he was hunched over his writing tablet at the dining-room table.

She smiled her goodbye and hurried down the steps to the wagon.

Sully watched her for a moment, recalling their so satisfying loving of the night before. She really was a remarkable woman and he was very proud of her. He momentarily wondered if she knew that. He decided he'd have to tell her again sometime soon. As the wagon disappeared out of sight down the road, he closed the door and returned to the living-room. He placed William down on the mat where a number of toys had been placed.  He turned to Katie. "You gonna play with William for a while?" he cajoled. "An' maybe later we'll go down to the stream ..."

"I be a good girl papa," rejoined Katie immediately, sitting down by her brother. "Brian comin' ta stream too?" she asked.

Sully wandered over to his son who was still industriously writing. "How about it Brian ... you comin' ta the stream with us later?"

The young man's head shot up in surprise, as if he hadn't heard what Sully had said. "Huh?" he said, placing his pen down.

Sully smiled. "You still writin' that article for the Denver Post editor," he asked. "You're sure puttin' a lot o' time into it ..."

Brian glanced down at the page covered in his script and replied, "Uh huh ... I want him ta see what I can do ..."

"What's the article about?" Sully inquired.  The young man swallowed and appeared reluctant to answer. "Brian?" he asked again, puzzled.

"Um ... maybe you won't like it pa," he replied uneasily.

"Why wouldn' I like it?" asked Sully, still more puzzled.

"I'm ... I'm writin' about Red Fox ..."

Sully's eyebrows shot up, then he said quietly, "You sayin' he was all bad an' got what he deserved?'

"Not exactly ..."

"You sayin' why he was doin' what he was doin'?"

"Uh huh ..."

"You tellin' the truth about how he was killed ... an' his men too?"

"Uh huh ... an' about how hard it was for Cloud Dancin' an' you ta do what ya did ... Thought I'd talk about the Cheyenne too ... How the tribe comes first an' the individual second ..."

Sully nodded. "Then why would I be upset about you writin' it?" he said proudly. "I trust you Brian ... I know you've come to understand the Cheyenne ... Your article might be the only true account o' the story ..."

"I don' reckon it'll be printed pa," the boy said at once. "They aint gonna publish somethin' I wrote in a big city newspaper ... but I want Mr Proctor ta read my stuff ... an' know I don' write just from one side ..."

Sully lovingly tussled his son's hair. "They oughta publish it ... an' I'd be real proud ta read it when you're finished ... alright?"

Brian smiled embarrassedly and lowered his eyes to the paper.

Noting his son's discomfit, Sully wandered away towards his two youngest children, saying, "You get back to it then ... but maybe you could take a break later an' come down to the stream with us ... Whatdya say?"

Brian smiled and returned, "That sounds good ..." He once again picked up his pen and began to write.

*********************
Out of bed much earlier than his usual mid-morning, Hank, a cup of steaming coffee in his hand, wandered out onto the saloon porch, leaned against the railing, and waited. He wasn't disappointed. Only about fifteen minutes later she appeared from the direction of the guesthouse. He took in the sight of her and shook his head. No, his mind hadn't been playing tricks. She *was* beautiful. He watched as she enthusiastically greeted Michaela and then inwardly sighed when she went inside the clinic. He'd been thinking of her most of the night and the more he thought, the less he believed she's ever have anything to do with him. He emptied the dregs of his coffee cup into the street, turned on his heel and re-entered the Nugget.

**********************
Michaela was just tying her apron when the knock came on the clinic door. She sighed and looked up at he clock. So much for completing the patient files piled up on her desk! She tucked an errant tendril of hair behind her ear, strode to the door and opened it. Her eyebrows rose when she perceived a well-dressed, female stranger on the doorstep. "Oh my!" the stranger exclaimed, before she could say anything. "You've hardly changed at all ..." Michaela frowned, at a loss as to the identity of the woman. Again, before she could speak, the stranger gushed, "Dr Quinn ... I'm sorry for arriving unannounced like this ... You see I saw the advertisement in the newspaper the day I was leaving on the train ... for San Francisco ... I'd intended arriving there a couple of days early ... to familiarise myself with the city ... but then I saw the advertisement and couldn't resist detouring here ... I recognised the name you see ... I couldn't believe you were practicing out west ... and prospering it seems ... if you must take a partner ..."

The attractive younger woman paused for breath and Michaela raised her hands to stop her continuing. "Perhaps you could introduce yourself?" she asked calmly, her eyes twinkling.

The woman blushed. "I'm sorry," she said chastened. She held out her hand. "Dr Anna McLeod," she said. "From Washington DC ..."

Michaela tried desperately not to let her surprise show.  "Ah ... Dr McLeod ... perhaps you should come in ...," she invited.

The younger woman entered the clinic and proceeded to examine every detail of the rustic room. At last she turned to Michaela, awe on her face. "Its wonderful," she said, a delighted smile hovering on her lips.

Michaela quickly glanced around. "It's the best I can do," she said, moved by the doctor's reaction. "Ah ... you indicated you knew me?" she queried. The woman's face was still unfamiliar to her.

Again Anna blushed. "Well ... I didn't exactly know you," she began. "But you're the reason I became a doctor ..."

"I am!?" exclaimed Michaela. "How? Why?"

"I was at your graduation ... I was seventeen ... My sister Mary was in your year ... I listened to you in your graduation speech tell us all to follow our dreams ... I'd been considering medicine, but I wasn't sure I could follow in Mary's footsteps ... You convinced me .."

Michaela bit her lip, overcome. At last she said,  "Mary McLeod ... I remember her ... How is she doing?"

Anna lowered her eyes to the floor. "She passed away ... nearly seven years ago now ... She succumbed to influenza ... caught from one of her patients ...," she explained, her tone subdued.

"Oh dear ... I am sorry," Michaela sympathised.

Anna swallowed. "I suppose it's a possibility we must all face ... as doctors ...," she said resolutely.

Michaela nodded, then asked, "You arrived on this morning's train?"

Anna immediately shook her head. "No ... last evening ... A very nice man assisted me with my luggage and found me a room at the guesthouse for the night ..."

"A very nice man you say?"

"Mmm ... Hank Lawson he said his name was ..."

Michaela bit her lip and strove not to smile. She'd heard Hank Lawson described as many things, but 'a very nice man' was not one of them. Not only that, he'd apparently decided the guesthouse was more suitable for the lady doctor than the Gold Nugget. The barkeep suddenly rose in her estimation. "Ah yes ... I know Hank," she said noncommittally. "And you said you're on your way to San Francisco?"

"Yes ... I'm hoping to secure a position there ... I've spent the last four years working in a war veterans' hospice near Washington, but the government has just closed it down ..."

"And so you're travelling all the way to San Francisco?"

Anna gave her a wry smile. "I'm afraid little has changed back east Dr Quinn ... women doctors are still regarded as pariah ...," she explained. "There is the possibility of a position at a free clinic in San Francisco ... on a probationary basis at first ... I want to practice ... and if I have to go all the way to San Francisco to do it ... I will ..."

Michaela smiled and held out her hand. "I know exactly what you mean," she said, empathising with the woman's plight. "And please ... call me Michaela ..."

"And I'm Anna ... Um ... I intend staying a couple of days ... I wonder if you'd allow me to work with you during that time? I won't interfere ... I promise ... but I'd like to observe ..."

"Of course ... I have no objection at all ... You'll soon discover that there is all manner of cases in a small town, most of them easily treated. And you must meet my son-in-law Dr Andrew Cook ... He and my daughter Colleen are leaving for Pennsylvania in a few days ... Colleen is about to start medical college ... That's why I advertised the doctor's position here ..." When Anna frowned in puzzlement, Michaela asked, "Is something wrong?"

Anna smiled embarrassedly. "Ah ... no ... I just never pictured you with grown up children ... You must have been here a long time ..."

Michaela rested her hand on the woman's shoulder. "It's a long story," she said, her eyes twinkling. "But I daresay you'll hear most of it while you're here ..."

Chapter 18

Michaela climbed the steps to the homestead aware she was a lot later home than she'd intended, but it just hadn't seemed right to leave Anna without showing her as much of the clinic and town as she could. Of course Colleen and Andrew were quite capable of doing it, but, truth to tell, she'd been enjoying herself and lost track of time.

As she entered the house she was struck by the silence. She walked across to the table, put her medical bag down and then saw the note. It read:

"Michaela,
Me and the kids have taken a picnic lunch down to the stream. Come join us when you get home.
Love Sully."

She smiled. There were a million chores to do, but they could wait. Joining her husband and children in the late summer sunshine sounded much more appealing. She quickly washed her face, let down her coppery hair and brushed it until it shone, then set out for their usual spot beside the stream.

She paused on the edge of the clearing and watched them for a few moments, unobserved. Sully had baby William, who was completely naked, at the water's edge. To his great amusement, he'd learnt how to splash, and giggled loudly each time the glittering droplets sprayed into the air.  He was soaked, his fine baby hair plastered to his head, and he seemed oblivious to the coldness of the water. Nearby, Katie and Brian were industriously working on building something, still unrecognisable, from pebbles and stones. They both sat on their haunches, a picture of concentration as their creation took shape. She smiled indulgently. Times like this she was reminded just how lucky she was.

She didn't think she moved, but suddenly Sully's head flew up and his eyes met hers. He smiled welcomingly and said, "We were startin' ta worry ... You're a lot later 'an you said ... Busy mornin' huh?"

The three children's eyes flew to her also and Katie clambered up and ran into her mother's arms. Michaela  picked her up and kissed her, placed her on her hip and walked across to the blanket spread out on the grass.  "Not exactly busy," she said with a smile. "I had a visitor ..."

"Who?" asked Sully and Brian in unison.

She sat herself on the blanket and straightened her skirt, building the suspense. "A young doctor from Washington," she replied at last.

Sully's eyes opened wide. "He just turned up? No telegram or nothin'?" he exclaimed.

She smiled wryly.  "Well ... yes ... but you're wrong about one thing ..."

"What's that?"

"Its not a he ... it's a she ...," she announced.

"Another lady doctor ma?!" exclaimed Brian. "Bet you were surprised ..."

"When did she arrive?" asked Sully.

"She came on yesterday's afternoon train ... Hank looked after her ..."

"Hank?!"

Michaela chuckled. "Yes Hank ... and from all accounts he was a perfect gentleman ..."

Both shook their heads ruefully. "Maybe she was bein' polite," quipped Sully. "What's her name Michaela? How'd she get here so fast? She must want the job pretty bad ta come all this way ..."

Michaela appeared to muse on something for a minute, then said unsurely, "That's just it ... I don't know whether she *does* want the job ..."

"Then why'd she come here ma?" demanded Brian, puzzled.

"She's on her way to San Francisco ... She recognised my name in the advertisement ...," Michaela explained. Sully stood and wandered across to her side. As he approached, she picked up a towel and held out her arms for her baby son. She wrapped him in the towel and lovingly kissed the top of his damp head.

Sully asked, "Whatdya mean she recognised your name? Do ya know her?"

She shook her head. "No ... but I went to medical college with her older sister Mary ... Anna ... that's her name ... Anna McLeod ... recognised me from my graduation ceremony ... I gave the graduation speech you see ..."

Sully gave a wry smile. "Ya musta made quite an impression for her ta remember you after all this time ...," he remarked, his eyes twinkling.

Michaela didn't let him down. "It wasn't *that* long ago!" she exclaimed indignantly.

Sully and Brian exchanged amused looks and then chuckled.   Her eyes flicked from one to the other and she blushed. Sully reached out and lovingly squeezed her knee.  "Did she mention wantin' the doctorin' job?" he asked.

"She only referred to the advertisement ... She reminds me of myself .. She's heading to San Francisco because she couldn't find a position in Washington ... She's determined to practice medicine ... no matter what it takes ..."

"What about her workin' here Michaela? Think she'd be interested?"

"Sounds ta me like she *is* interested pa ... comin' all this way ... no matter what she says ...," suggested Brian.

"Well she hasn't told *me* that ... not yet anyway ...," asserted Michaela. She smiled wryly. "I'd lose most of my male patients if she did stay ...," she added ambiguously.

Sully's eyebrows rose in surprise. "What does that mean?" he asked.

"Well ... this morning I thought I'd better show her the town ... Everywhere we went the reaction from the men was the same ... Horace could hardly utter a word ... and I thought two men at the mercantile were going to fall over when they saw her ..."

"You sayin' she's real pretty?"

"Pretty's probably not the right word ... nor is beautiful ... but she *is* striking ... very striking ..."

"Well that accounts for Hank's attitude! Can't wait to meet her," quipped Sully.

Michaela's eyes flew to his, but the twinkle in them showed her he was joking. "You'll have the opportunity tomorrow evening ... I've invited her to supper ...," she said with an answering smile.

"Wonder what the town'd think of another lady doctor?" suggested Brian thoughtfully.

"They've accepted me," said Michaela at once.

"Well ... most of 'em," agreed Sully indulgently. "I gotta say ... I agree with Brian ... Its an awful big coincidence her turnin' up here ... Any idea if she's a good doctor?"

Michaela shrugged her shoulders. "Not really," she admitted. "But she has asked if she can work with me while she's here ... She observed and offered her opinion while I saw my patients this morning ..."

"That clinches it," said Sully smugly. "She wouldn' be wantin' ta work with ya if she wasn't tryin' ta impress ya ...."

Michaela still looked undecided. "Perhaps she just wants to learn from me?" she suggested in a small voice.

Brian and Sully exchanged amused glances before Sully said quietly, "That could be it ... We'll soon see won't we? When'd she said she's supposed ta be leavin'?"

"In a couple of days ... She's working with Andrew this afternoon ... and me all day tomorrow ..."

Sully nodded. "It'll be interestin' ta see what she does next," he forecast. "Now ... I dunno about anyone else ... but I'm starvin' ... Hand me the picnic basket Brian."

**********************
Sully dropped the washing basket at Michaela's feet and mopped his brow in an exaggerated fashion. While Michaela continued to peg the wet washing on the clothesline beside the house, he joked, "Phew ... how long is it since the washin' was done!? You better not find any more or I'll go on strike ..."

Michaela paused, eyed her teasing husband, and said calmly, "You wanted babies ... Dirty washing comes with the territory ..."

He held up his hand and said with a smile "Alright ... alright ..." Then added hopefully, "There aint any more ... is there?"

She chuckled. "No ... this is the last of it ... then we can start inside ..."

He moaned. "Remind me ta always be workin' at Hank's new place on Wednesdays from now on won't ya ... Glad we had that picnic lunch before all this ..."

Again Michaela chuckled. "Its not so bad," she said with satisfaction. "When I saw you all waiting for me at the stream today, I realised just how lucky we are ..."

He reached out and lovingly cupped her face. "I was only jokin'," he said quietly. "I know how lucky we are ..."

She closed her eyes and held his gentle hand against her face for a moment.  Then, abruptly, his hand left her and she opened her eyes to see him gazing down the road. "Someone's comin' ... riders," he said, squinting against the sunlight. She walked down the slight slope of the garden with him and as the identity of the riders became obvious they both smiled welcomingly. As soon as they halted in the yard, Sully walked across and held the bridle of the first horse to assist Dorothy down, then turned to Cloud Dancing and grasped his forearm in the traditional Cheyenne greeting.  "Ha-ho," he said with a smile.

"Hope we're not interruptin' anythin' Michaela," said Dorothy at once. "We wanted ta talk to ya ...."

"Only washing," chuckled Michaela. "And neither of us mind being interrupted in that ..."

The older woman smiled. "I can understand that," she murmured ruefully in reply. She led Michaela towards the porch steps, then sat down. "Is Brian around? We'd kinda like him ta be here too," she asked quietly.

Michaela eyed her friend with growing suspicion. Something was going on here. "He's inside," she replied. "With Katie and William ..."

Sully took the porch steps two at a time. "I'll get him," he offered, also beginning to wonder what was going on. He emerged within seconds, William in his arms. Katie, upon seeing Cloud Dancing, hurried down the porch steps and into the medicine man's embrace. Brian followed close behind his father and sat himself on the steps with the adults.

At last everyone was settled and all eyes were expectantly directed at Dorothy and Cloud Dancing.

Dorothy swallowed, then announced soberly, "There aint any easy way ta say this ... so I'll just tell ya straight ... Me an' Cloud Dancin' are gonna head north ... back ta the indian territory ..."

There was a moment's shocked silence until Michaela managed in a strangled whisper, "Forever?"

Cloud Dancing shrugged his shoulders. "We do not know ... but I must be with my people now ... My family is here ... but my people are far away ... living in fear ... I must be there for them ..."

"An' they will help in Cloud Dancin's healin'," added Dorothy surely.

"Another month or so an' it'll start gettin' real cold up there ... remember last year," advised Sully quietly.

"We are aware of this ... and unlike the rest of my people we have somewhere to come back to if the winter becomes too hard," rejoined Cloud Dancing quietly.

"An' we've got the beautiful quilt ya gave us for our weddin' ta keep us warm," offered Dorothy in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.

Instead, Sully suggested seriously, "You know you can bring Flyin' Hawk's people back down here agin for the winter don't ya? We'll look after 'em like we did last year."

Cloud Dancing nodded. "We know this," he replied gratefully.

"When are you thinking of going?" asked Michaela with dread.

"We were thinkin' maybe the day after tomorrow," replied Dorothy.

Michaela flinched as if hit. "So soon?" she asked softly.

"I am worried about the Cheyenne," said Cloud Dancing earnestly. "I want to be with them as soon as possible .."

Both Michaela and Sully nodded resignedly.

"What about the Gazette Miss Dorothy?" asked Brian anxiously.

The older woman took a deep breath. "I gotta admit ... I'm worried about what to do with the paper," she said quietly. "I know you can set type Brian ... an' print it ... but the articles ..." She trailed off, then said more surely, "I don' wanna sell the paper ... not yet anyway ... so I was wonderin' if you could maybe keep it runnin' for me ..."

"Me?!" exclaimed Brian. "How?"

"You'd only have ta put out a coupla issues a week ... maybe two pages each ... I'm gonna spend the next couple days writin' editorials ... enough ta have one in each edition for the next few weeks," she explained. "An' there'll always be public notices an' advertisements ... You could write short articles on anythin' happening in town ... though I'd want your ma an' pa to check 'em before you set 'em ... alright?"

Brian took a deep breath and nodded, overwhelmed.

"You'll probably need some help too ... runnin' the press ... An adult might be better than someone your own age ... You'd have to train 'em ...," advised Dorothy.

Brian swallowed. "I aint sure an adult'd listen ta me," said Brian in a small voice.

"I'll give ya a hand," offered Sully suddenly. "I aint got a clue how anythin' works ... so you'd have ta be real patient ..."

Brian nodded. "Thanks pa," he said quietly. His eyes went to Dorothy. "I aint sure I can do it," he said. "An' what's the town gonna think ... havin' a kid run their newspaper?"

"What the town thinks has never stopped you before Brian," rejoined Dorothy quietly.

"She's right," added Michaela. "And wasn't it you who told us in no uncertain terms a while back that you weren't a kid anymore?"

He nodded, then couldn't resist adding, "But that aint the way the town'll see it ..."

Dorothy smiled at her protégé and instructed, "Ya just gotta remember the rules Brian ... If you wanna express your opinion ..."

"Then its an editorial," finished Brian.

"And in an article you report the facts ... from both sides ... You don' make anything up ...," continued Dorothy.

The young man nodded.

"What happens when your editorials run out Dorothy?" asked Michaela. "And what's Loren going to say? After all he owns part of the newspaper doesn't he?"

"I'm gonna speak to Loren first thing tomorrow morning. At least now he knows about me an' Cloud Dancin' ... that should make it a bit easier ...," she replied. "In a few weeks we should have a clearer idea o' what we're gonna do ... an' I'll let you know ... til then I'm relyin' on you Brian ..."

"I won't let you down Miss Dorothy," he returned, a touch of uncertainty in his voice.

"I know you won't," she said at once.

"We're going to miss you both so much," said Michaela, her eyes darting from one to the other. "You're family ..."

"And sometimes family must move away to achieve what they are driven to achieve ... Just as you did when you left Boston," returned Cloud Dancing.

She nodded. "I wish the winter wasn't coming ... We could come and visit," she said wistfully.

"There'll be opportunities for that Michaela," said Dorothy indulgently. "Besides ... we don' know if we're goin' up there forever ..."

"You'll both be in our prayers ... Please ... be careful ... If something was to happen to you ..."

Both Dorothy and Cloud Dancing reached across to grasp Michaela's hand. "We will be careful ...," said Cloud Dancing soberly. His eyes met those of his brother, who was very quiet. "You understand why we must do this ... don't you?" he implored.

Sully nodded. "I understand," he replied in a sombre tone. "But I don' have ta like it ... Michaela's right ... We'll miss you both ... I guess we've both come ta rely on you ..."

Dorothy's eyebrows rose in surprise. "An' I thought it was us who relied on you two," she said with a smile.  "We'll see each other again ... I promise ... an' we'll be thinkin' of you every day ... wonderin' how you're all doin' ... picturin' the babies growin' ..." She trailed off, then put her hand on the stair rail and pulled herself to her feet. "We better head back if we're gonna get everythin' done ... We'll come by an' see you the mornin' we leave ..."

As Michaela also stood, she pulled her dear friend into her arms. "Please ... look after yourselves," she whispered against Dorothy's ear. "You're very special to us ..."

Sully also hugged his brother.  "I guess I always knew in my heart this day would come," he said very quietly. "An' I've bin dreadin' it ... Not knowin' what's happenin' to you is gonna be the worst ..."

"Your heart will tell you," rejoined Cloud Dancing confidently. "I will be with my people ..."

Sully nodded. "Just remember some o' your people are down here too ... worryin' about ya ...," he advised.

"We would never forget that," the medicine man replied.

As the pair mounted their horses, waved and set off for Palmer Creek, Sully wrapped his arm around Michaela's shoulders and drew her close. Her eyes suspiciously bright, she whispered, "Do you realise they're going the same day as Colleen and Andrew? I told you everyone was leaving."

Unable to reply, he squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, lovingly kissed her temple and led her slowly back towards the house.

**********************
"I know ... I know ... you'll have the meatloaf Hank," stated Grace smugly.

"An' I smell fried chicken don' I Grace?" inquired the Reverend with a smile.

"Ya sure do," she responded.

"I'll have that too," ordered Loren, licking his lips.

Grace chuckled and then bent to tickle her son Michael under the chin, as he sat on his father's knee. Then directing her gaze at Robert E she said, "I'll bring you a cup o' coffee ... I got a joint roasting in the oven for our supper ..." Robert E nodded his head resignedly, causing the others to laugh as Grace hurried away to her serving area.

As the men settled back to await the arrival of their supper, Loren asked eagerly, "Any o' you seen that new lady doc who's visitin' Dr Mike? Dr McLeod?" Hank nodded, while the others shook their heads. Loren continued, "Dr Mike brought her inta the mercantile to introduce her ... Ya could've knocked me over with a feather ..." He paused and chortled. "There were two ranchers in the store ... plum forgot what they were lookin' for when they spied her ..." 

"I assume she's rather ...ah ... eye-catching, Loren?" suggested the Reverend wryly.

"Yeah ... ya could say that," responded the storekeeper, his smile broad.

"If I remember right ... Dr Mike had the same effect on some when she came here," mused the Reverend.

"Til we found out who she was an' how much she likes to interfere," quipped Hank, humour in his tone.

"I suppose she aint turned out so bad," Loren reluctantly defended. "But this Dr McLeod ... If I was a few years younger ..."

"A *few* years!?" exclaimed Hank good-naturedly, resulting in a sound punch on the arm from the storekeeper.

"Hey ... Remember I haven't seen this woman ... an' never will ... Tell me what she's like huh?" the cleric probed hopefully.

"That's easy," rejoined Loren at once. "First ... She's a little taller an' Dr Mike ... an' her hair is blond ... Remember Emily? ... Lived here some years back? ... She was blond ... Well Dr McLeod's hair's even lighter 'an that ... like the sun's shinin' on it all the time ... an' I figure its probably curly cos little bits curl around her face ... She's got big eyes ... hazel I think ..."

"They're green ...," interposed Hank quietly.

Loren's eyes narrowed in thought, then he conceded, "Yeah ... maybe ..."

The Reverend's eyebrows rose at Hank's interjection and he asked speculatively, "How'd *you* meet her Hank?"

The barkeep shrugged his shoulders dismissively. "Saw her arrive on yesterday's train ... She needed help with directions an' things ... Didn' know she was a doctor then ... She didn' say ...," he quietly replied.

There was a certain tone in the man's voice that piqued the Reverend's curiosity. "She's pretty huh?" he asked.

"Like Loren said," returned the barkeep noncommittally.

"Where's she stayin'?"

"At the guesthouse," Hank replied.

Again the cleric's eyebrows rose. "You didn' suggest the Gold Nugget?"

"Dr McLeod's a lady ... Figured the guesthouse was better for her ..."

By now, even Loren was eying the barkeep with interest. "Aint ever heard o' you knockin' back custom," he remarked with a smile.

Again Hank shrugged. "I know what's right," he said, quiet indignation in his tone.

Loren held up his hands in mock defeat. "Sure ya do ...," he agreed. "Only it aint like you ta ignore a pretty lady is all ..."

"I didn' ignore her ... Showed her where Michaela's clinic was ... introduced her ta Mrs Duffy at the guesthouse ... then helped git her luggage from the station ...," retorted Hank.

"Sounds ta me like you spent a lot o' time doin' what's right," the Reverend commented, a smile hovering on his lips.

"Look ... forget it," expostulated Hank. "She'll be gone in a coupla days anyway ..."

"Maybe not," returned Robert E pensively. "Maybe she'll end up replacin' Andrew ..."

Hank's ears pricked up. "She said she was only visitin' Michaela," he asserted.

"Uh huh ... on her way ta San Francisco," agreed Loren. "But seems a strange coincidence don' it? ... her turnin' up just when Dr Mike's advertisin' for a new doc? Aint sure how the town'd look upon another lady doctor ..."

"I expect they'd get used to it," said Robert E.

"Took 'em a lot o' time ta get used ta Dr Mike ... an' those who don' like goin' ta her have bin goin' ta Andrew ... They wouldn' have a choice if Dr McLeod stayed ..."

"They'd have a choice between her an' Dr Mike," suggested Hank quietly.

Loren shook his head. "Yeah .... But some'd say that aint much of a choice ..."

"What are ya talkin' about Loren? ... You've bin goin' ta Dr Mike for years ...," protested Hank.

"I aint talkin' about me," rejoined the storekeeper in exasperation. "A lot o' other folks've never got used ta havin' a lady doc in town ... an' if there were two ..." He trailed off and smiled wryly.

"Give her a chance is all," said Hank crossly.

In return, Loren scoffed, "That's rich comin' from you ... You aint exactly bin the most acceptin' o' fellas in this here town ..."

"Maybe I'm changin'," Hank retorted tetchily. He looked up and saw with relief that Grace was heading their way with their supper.  "Can't we talk about somethin' else besides the fancy Dr McLeod," he complained. "Loren ... thought I'd come by tomorra an look at some o' those catalogues you got ... The Nugget could use a spruce up ..."

Continued ....