Chapter 43

The sun was beginning its descent in the western sky when Sully galloped into the Chateau forecourt and slid from the back of his horse. Almost in the same swift, urgent motion, he crossed the paved yard and entered the dimly lit lobby. His expression grim, and barely acknowledging Myra's friendly greeting, he nodded towards the manager's office. "He in?" he asked shortly.

Myra's brow furrowed. "Uh huh," she replied. "Somethin' wrong Sully?"

"Not for much longer," he returned, purposefully making for the door.

Myra scurried after him. "I'll tell Mr Tilson you're wantin' ta see him," she offered.

"No need for that thanks Myra ... I'll tell him myself," he said gruffly, pushing the door open and entering forthwith.

Finally confronting Tilson was affording Sully a oddly satisfying combination of revenge and relief. He'd charged out of the clinic, guiltily ignoring Michaela's cries, set on tearing Tilson to pieces, only to discover the man was no longer in town. Hank had tried to talk to him, briefly, but he'd warded him off. He was mad enough without getting into a dogfight with Hank! On the way out here he'd gone through in his mind what he wanted to say, but he was so angry the thoughts and feelings became confused. All he knew was this man was a menace and the sooner someone did something about him the better!

Adrian clambered up from his chair as Sully abruptly entered his office. His face paled when he noticed the mountain man's dark expression and set mouth. "Ah ... Mr Sully," he said, his voice catching. "Can I help you?"

"We gotta talk Tilson," stated Sully ominously.

"Ah ... we ... ah ... Perhaps an appointment?" stammered the manager, picking up his diary.

Sully snorted. "I aint needin' no appointment ... we're gonna talk ... NOW."

"Yes ... well ...," stuttered Adrian, slumping back into his chair. "I ... I ... don't know what the problem is ... but if you care to take a seat ...," he offered reluctantly, indicating the chair on the opposite side of the desk.

Sully shook his head. "I aint like my wife Tilson ... I don't need ta put space between you an' me ... fact is ... I'd rather stand here ..." He took a couple of steps forward, around the desk so that he loomed over the now obviously quaking man. "We're gonna set some things straight ... an' you're gonna listen," he decreed forebodingly.

"I ... I ... don't know what you mean Mr Sully," rejoined Adrian, his breath coming in short, nervous gasps.

"Oh .. ya don't huh?" continued Sully. "Well then maybe I can refresh ya memory ... an' the first thing is ... ya gonna stay away from my wife do ya hear?! She don' want nothin' more ta do with you ..."

"I ... I ... I've never done anything improper," he protested. "And today ... I ... I ... saved her life ..."

"Oh ya did huh? ... An' how exactly did she come ta fall off her horse? ... You were there ... ya musta seen ..."

"I ... I ... don't really know," he replied haltingly. "One minute she was riding towards me ... the next she was falling ..."

"An' you had nothin' ta do with that?" asked Sully sarcastically.

"No ... no ... of course I didn't," replied Adrian indignantly.

"Just like ya had nothin' ta do with the fire in San Francisco ... or Andrew's buggy losin' a wheel?"

Adrian's mouth dropped open in feigned shock. "I have no idea what you're talking about ... and I resent your insinuations ...," he blustered.

"Oh they aint insinuations ... they're fact ... an' if I had ta ... I could call witnesses ta prove you had somethin' ta do with those things Tilson ...," warned Sully, his voice lowering threateningly. "But them things aint the main reasons I'm here ..."

Adrian pulled himself upright in his chair and said peremptorily, "I think you'd better leave ... before I call for help ..."

Sully scoffed, "An' who ya gonna call huh? This town aint like your big cities back east ... where ya can tell folks what they expect ta hear and have 'em believe ya ... just cos you're manager of some fancy hotel ... Folks around here know me ... an' they know I don' lose my temper quick ... but when I do ..."

Adrian slumped back into his chair. "I don't take kindly to threats Mt Sully," he protested feebly.

"Me neither ... but me an' this town don' take kindly to bullies neither ... an' I figure that's exactly what you are ...," rejoined Sully.

"I have no idea what you mean."

"Oh ya don'? What about not bein' able ta git your own way with Michaela ... an' then takin' it out on some defenceless girl who don' know any better ..."

"But she's just ..." Adrian stopped and reddened.

"She's just what Tilson?" demanded Sully. "A prostitute ... a whore ... that makes it alright huh? Not in my book it don'!"

Adrian's jaw set. "I have no idea what .. or who ... you're talking about ..."

"Oh yeah ya do ... I reckon it wouldn' take me too long ta find a whole lot o' people who'd fill in the blanks for me ... includin' Myrna herself ... an' Hank ..."

"Myrna?"

"Uh huh ... that's the girl you've taken ta beatin' up when ya can't git your own way ..."

"She told you that?"

"No ... she kept her mouth shut ... just like ya told her to ... But you must think all us folks here are stupid if we can't put two and two together an' come up with the right answer ..."

Adrian's expression suddenly hardened and he sneered, "I can make a lot of trouble for the people of this town Mr Sully ... I have a great deal of influence in certain places ...I suggest you desist with these unsubstantiated allegations ..."

Sully abruptly backed away and chuckled contemptuously. "You take the cake Tilson ...," he remarked derisively. "Here ya are ... causin' no amount o' trouble .. an' you're threatenin' me ..."

"I repeat ... I have no idea what you're talking about ..."

Sully's tolerance suddenly dissolved. He swung around and strode back to stand over the man still seated in his expensive leather chair. He bent over and placed his hands on each arm of the chair so Adrian was effectively captured. Pinning him with his steely eyes, he warned, "You better listen ... an' ya better listen good Tilson ... Me ... an' a lotta other folks in this town won' put up with you frightenin' an' hurtin' folks no more ... You come near my wife an' family agin an' you'll live ta regret it ... or maybe ya won't live at all ... Michaela's already frightened ta git around on her own ... that aint ever happened in this town before ... She told me all about you annoyin' her back when she was in college ... Even though its years back she still gits upset about it ... Its happenin' to her all over agin ..."

"I ... I ... would never annoy Michaela ... she's very dear to me," protested Adrian.

"An' there's another notion ya gotta git over," rejoined Sully immediately. "Michaela is *my* wife ... I love her with all my heart an' soul ... an' I'll do anythin' ta make sure she's happy an' safe ... do ya hear me? I'll do *anythin'*.

Adrian swallowed. "Your threats are unnecessary," he returned quietly. "But perhaps you should check your facts with Michaela ... Perhaps you are just a little too sure of your wife and her feelings for you ..."

Sully's jaw clenched and he took a deep breath. Finally giving in to his anger he reached down and grasped Adrian by the collar, pulling him up out of his chair. "I don' haveta check anythin' Tilson ... I *know" with every part o' me how Michaela feels an' how I feel about her ... no-one an' nothin's ever gonna change that," he breathed, his eyes fixed so close he could see the small capillaries in Adrian's cheeks swell as the man's fear grew. "I reckon its about time you thought about movin' on ... ya aint wanted around here ... this is a good town full o' God-fearin' folk ... they don' need ... or want ... the likes o' you around ...," he suggested menacingly.

"I .. I ... have a job here," objected Adrian. "And I do believe you have blown this out of all proportion ..."

"Oh I have, have I?" sneered Sully, shoving the man back into his chair. "Well when people start gittin' hurt .."

"I .. I... told you I haven't hurt anyone ..."

"Myrna'd tell ya different ... so would Andrew ... an' Michaela's lyin' in bed back at the clinic ... bruised an' sore ...," rejoined Sully.

Adrian shook his head. "I had nothing to do with Michaela's being hurt ..."

"Just like ya didn' have anythin' ta do with her fallin' on the steps o' the library years back?" charged Sully.

Adrian suddenly paled. "She accused me of that?" he asked with dread.

"Oh yeah .. she knows it were you ... just like she knows it were you today ..."

"But .."

"But?"

Adrian's brow furrowed. "She wasn't supposed to ..." He stopped mid-sentence as he realised he'd said too much.

"Wasn't supposed to what?" queried Sully with a sneer. "Wasn't supposed ta git hurt? Wasn't supposed ta git knocked out?"

Adrian's breath was coming in short panicked gasps. "I ... I ... wanted to talk to her again ...," he whispered.

"Well that aint gonna happen now ... she don' want anythin' more ta do with you ... do ya hear?"

Adrian swallowed and swiped with his handkerchief at the sweat beading on his brow. "I ... I'd like to hear her say that," he said doggedly.

Sully shook his head ruefully. "Don' ya git it? ... She *has* told ya ... in every way she can ... but ya won' listen ..." Again Sully's patience ran out. He grasped the man by the lapels of his jacket and drew him to his feet. "I'm gonna say this only one more time ...," he pressed menacingly. "I expect ya ta start packin' ta leave ... an' I expect ya to be gone in the next two days ... we don' expect ever ta hear from ya agin ... an' if we do ..." He left the warning hanging in the air.

"And if I don't?" queried Adrian, with one last ounce of defiance.

Sully's hold tightened on the man's lapels and he drew him close. "An' if ya don' I might be tempted to do a lot more o' this." His fist clenched, swung back and then surged forward to forcefully connect with the man's chin. Adrian immediately and soundlessly crumpled, blood oozing from a small cut by his mouth. Sully breathed scornfully, "You don' know how lucky ya are I aint done that before ... an' more ... an' don' think I won't do it again ..." He abruptly shoved the man backwards so that he staggered. "I'm gonna be watchin' ya Tilson," he warned. "You better be on that train outta here ... real soon ..." He strode to the door and then turned back momentarily to see the man leaning heavily against the desktop. He snorted mockingly, pulled the door open and left, banging it shut behind him.

********************
Sully bounded up the stairs of the clinic and strode down the landing to the recovery room, aware he had some explaining and apologising to do to Michaela. He was sure though that he could make her understand why he'd felt compelled to finally confront Tilson. After all, he'd been patient up to now hadn't he? He entered the room and was taken aback to discover her bed empty and the covers pulled up. He headed back out onto the landing, calling, "Colleen? Andrew?"

His daughter appeared from Andrew's room within seconds and sighed with relief when she saw Sully. "You're back pa," she exclaimed. "You alright?"

He nodded. "Sure I am ... where's Michaela?"

"Ma insisted on Matthew an' Kathleen takin' her home," replied Colleen, her eyes narrowing. She rested her hand on Sully's arm. "She was real upset pa," she said softly.

Sully shook off the feelings of guilt and asked, "Was she alright to go home? I mean Andrew checked her out didn' he?"

"Yeah ... she was alright ... no sign of concussion ... but she was startin' ta stiffen up from the fall ...," replied Colleen. Deciding to try again, she asked fearfully, yet resolutely, "You .. you didn' do anythin' did you? To Mr Tilson I mean?"

"Just set him straight on a few things is all," replied Sully dismissively, already moving towards the stairs.

"Pa ... she's gonna take a lot o' convincin'," warned Colleen as he started down.

******************
Sully slammed out of the clinic, strode across to his horse and prepared to mount. "We're gonna haveta do somethin' about him you know," commented Hank from where he was nonchalantly leaning against the stone wall of the clinic. When Sully turned and raised his eyebrows questioningly, Hank explained, "Saw ya come back ... knew Michaela'd gone home ... thought it was time ta talk ..."

"Aint none o' your business Hank ... an' I aint got time ta *talk* ...," retorted Sully angrily. "Besides this mess is your fault ..."

Hank's eyes widened in astonishment. "Now how do ya figure that?" he asked. "Tilson aint my friend ..."

"Well he aint mine neither ... an' *I* aint bin protectin' him ..."

Hank raised his hand to object. "Hey ... there're a lotta things you don' know Sully," he remarked.

"Yeah ... well maybe there's a lotta things *you* don' know neither," Sully retorted. "Like ... did you know it was him made Michaela fall this afternoon?"

Hank shook his head and his jaw clenched. "Figured as much ... couldn' git him ta admit it ..."

Sully's head snapped up. "You tried?" he asked in surprise.

"Yeah ... 'fore I came out lookin' for you ... said he had nothin' ta do with it ... didn' believe him though ... Did he admit it to you?"

"Not in so many words ... but I learnt enough ta know he did it ...," rejoined Sully, grasping the bridle of his horse. Then he turned back again. "Why didn' you tell me Michaela an' him had a run in?" he accused.

Hank shrugged his shoulders. "Weren't none o' my business ..."

"It was enough o' your business for you to step between 'em."

"Yeah well ... like I told him ... he don' have a right ta be hurtin' women ..."

"That what ya told him when he beat on Myrna?"

Hank's eyes narrowed. "How'd you know about that ..."

"Like I told Tilson ... put two an' two together ..."

Hank shook his head. "Aint come across someone as sneaky before ... some fellas have a bit much ta drink an' lose their temper ... but this fella ... he comes in angry ... don' haveta drink ta be that way ... you can see it in his eyes ..."

"So why didn' ya do somethin' about him?" accused Sully again.

"I got my reasons," responded Hank evasively. "After I seen him with Michaela I told him he weren't allowed in the Nugget agin ... an' he weren't allowed near Myrna no more neither ..."

"Seems ta me you shoulda done that a long time ago," challenged Sully. "How's it feel ta know that girl's bin hurt an' its your fault cos you didn' stop him?"

"Nature of the business Sully," replied Hank off-handedly, though his eyes showed Sully's barb had struck home. "I assume you had it out with Tilson earlier?" he asked, the familiar sardonic expression quickly returning.

"We had words," replied Sully ambiguously.

"Just words?" scoffed Hank. "I had a feelin' you were gonna have trouble stoppin' at words ... Figure he aint the sorta fella's gonna be put off too easily ..."

"Told him ta leave town," added Sully, mounting his horse in one quick fluid movement.

"Ya did huh? Reckon he'll go?"

"Better ... if he knows what's good for him ..."

"Wouldn' be surprised if this fella don't ... know what's good for him I mean," muttered Hank.

"Then he'll learn ... I aint puttin' up with him hurtin' my wife ... or anyone else for that matter ... If he won't go on his own ... I'll make him go," stated Sully, turning his horse towards home.

"Yeah well ... if ya need any help ... I'm your man," called Hank to Sully's swiftly disappearing figure.

******************
In the summer twilight, Sully rode into the yard at home and gazed upwards at their bedroom window with misgiving. All of a sudden, convincing Michaela of his best intentions loomed as a much more daunting task than he'd previously imagined. He walked his horse into the barn, gave it a quick rub down and fresh hay, realising all the while that he was procrastinating, and then made for the house. As he entered, all those sitting at the supper table turned to silently gaze at him, for once the faces not exactly welcoming. The one face he sought however was not amongst them.

Katie, too young to recognise any signs of friction, slid from her seat and ran into his arms. "Papa!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck as he lifted her high into the air. He returned her loving squeeze and then addressed his family, "Michaela upstairs?" he asked.

"She's resting Sully," Kathleen informed him quietly. "I took her a supper tray a few minutes ago ..."

He nodded and then placed his daughter gently on the floor. "Better check on her then," he said, his tone subdued.

"She's real angry pa," Brian told him. "Why'd ya go out there?" he asked accusingly.

"Somethin' had ta be done Brian," rejoined Sully resolutely.

"He alright Sully?" asked Matthew with both interest and concern.

"If ya askin' whether I hurt him, the answer's no," Sully offered evasively. "Well ... not really ... tried ta make him see sense is all ... I'm gonna go talk to ya ma ..."

"You want some supper?" called Kathleen, as he began to mount the stairs.

"No ... not yet anyways ... thanks," he replied, his heart beating unaccountably hard.

Chapter 44

Sully quietly turned the door knob and pushed the bedroom door open, deciding that if Michaela was sleeping he wouldn't wake her. When he entered, she was laying on her left side, her back to the door, her untouched supper tray on the night-stand. He tiptoed close to the bed and peered over her to see that a sleepy William was laying beside her, tucked up against her stomach and breast, and her hand was resting protectively on his stomach. "Michaela? You sleepin'?" Sully asked softly. There was no response, but when her hand gently caressed their son's stomach he knew she was still awake. "How ya feelin'?" he asked. "Can I git somethin' for ya?" Again there was no reply. He sighed and perched himself on the side of the bed. "Ya gonna haveta talk to me sometime," he said softly.

"Not until I'm feeling a little less angry," she rejoined grudgingly, her hand again lovingly caressing their son.

"Ya gotta admit it was time someone did somethin' about him," Sully rationalised.

"Perhaps ... but not the way you intended ..."

"You don' how I intended," he rejoined quietly but indignantly, becoming annoyed at having to speak to her back.

"I know you," she returned stubbornly. "I remember what's happened in the past ... even if you don't want to ... Rankin ... Sergeant O'Connor ...You get angry and ..."

He swallowed. "Alright ... so what *do* ya think I did?" he asked, hurt by her lack of trust.

"I don't even want to think about it," she replied, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

He reached out and tentatively placed his hand on her arm. "I've learnt a lot over the years Michaela ... an' besides ... I aint like him," he said softly. "I wouldn' beat on someone for the sake of it ..."

"You didn't touch him?" she asked in a small voice.

There was silence while he considered how he should frame his reply. "I can't say that," he finally replied honestly. "I guess I did touch him ... but not like you're thinkin' .."

She turned her head slightly to peer up at him. "So what did you do?" she asked, close to tears.

"Tried ta make him see sense," he replied single-mindedly, touched by her shimmering, hurt eyes looking up at him.

"How?" she demanded.

"Let him know I was on to him an' his tricks ... let him know I wouldn' stand for him hurtin' folks, especially women ... let him know it'd be best for everyone if he left Colorado Springs," rejoined Sully, unconsciously caressing her arm in the telling.

She rolled back away from him again. "We talked ... we agreed you wouldn't do anything rash," she accused, her tone offended.

He swallowed. "You said you knew me Michaela ... Ya couldn' expect me ta stand by no more ... while he hurt you an' goodness knows who else ...," he appealed.

"We could've talked about it ... planned how we were going to handle it," she suggested quietly. "We agreed a long time ago it was better if we did things together ..."

Sully gulped. There was no refuting that statement. They *had* agreed to work together to solve problems, especially after the incident with O'Connor and the indian uprising. "I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "You're right ... we did agree ... but you an' our family's the most precious thing ta me ... I *hadta* do somethin' ... it was tearin' me up inside ..."

She bit her lip and then said so softly he could barely hear her, "What do you think its doing to me?"

Sully sighed. Deep down inside he'd known he was doing the wrong thing, leaving Michaela at the clinic and heading out to the Chateau set on revenge. He'd recognised the pangs of guilt for what they were, but strangely he still didn't regret actually having confronted Tilson. The man was a menace and delivering an ultimatum to him still provided an odd sense of satisfaction. Again he gently caressed Michaela's arm. Somehow he had to make her understand how he felt and why he'd done it. He abruptly stood and then leant over to pick up William who was now sound asleep. Michaela did not protest, but did curl up tighter, her hand resting under her chin. Sully gently put William in his crib, caressing him as Michaela had been doing, until he was sure the baby was still sleeping soundly and then he returned to the bed. "Ya aint eaten your supper," he said quietly.

"I'm not hungry," Michaela replied dourly.

"Gotta eat," he urged. "Especially now .."

"Especially now?"

"When ya nursin' William ... an' you've bin hurt ... aint gonna heal if you're not eatin' right ..."

She sighed. "Its just one supper Sully," she said crossly. "I'll be fine ..."

"That what you'd tell one o' you patients if they wouldn' eat?" His light teasing was greeted with silence. "Come on Michaela ... talk to me," he urged. "I didn' hurt him ... I didn' do anythin' ta embarrass ya ... All I did was the same as you a few days back ... I tried ta git him ta see the truth ..."

He heard her take a deep breath. "I ... I ... was so worried," she said softly.

"Why? I can look after myself ... especially against the likes o' him ...," responded Sully resentfully.

"That's not what I was worried about .."

"Well what was it then huh?"

She at last rolled slightly to look at him over her shoulder, her eyes shimmering with tears. "I .. I don't want to lose you again," she said soulfully.

"You aint gonna lose me," he returned immediately.

"But if you'd hurt him ..."

"I didn' .."

"He could have had you charged ... you could have ended up in jail ...," she continued, ignoring his interjection.

Quickly removing his boots, he circled the bed and then climbed in to face her. "He makes me real mad Michaela," he said truthfully, locking his gaze with hers. "More mad 'an I've bin since ... well since O'Connor maybe ... He's hurt you ... an' Andrew ... Mr Beauchamp ... an' Hank's girl ... but I wouldn' do anythin' ta separate us agin ... It weren't just you who was lonely all those months ... it was the worst time in my life ... Bein' truthful I'da maybe liked ta do somethin' to him ... teach him a lesson ... but I wouldn' ... not if it might git me inta trouble ..."

Michaela's eyes swept over his face, trying to gauge the truth in his words. At last she murmured, "Oh Sully ..," as she reached out and ran her fingers down the side of his face. "You charged out of the clinic ... so angry ... and all I could think was that we'd be in trouble again ... I ... I couldn't stand that ..."

"Neither could I," he rejoined, reaching out to take her into his arms, regretfully forgetting her recent bruises. She winced and he immediately backed away. "I'm sorry," he said contritely. "I forgot ... are ya real sore?" She lowered her eyes and bit her lip. "Michaela?" he asked with concern.

"A ... a ... little stiff," she admitted ruefully.

Sully instantly edged back off the bed. "Well .. we gotta do somethin' about that then," he said assuredly, picking up the supper tray of now cold food. "I'll be back in a minute ..."

He re-entered the room a few minutes later armed with a number of clean cloths, a couple of small dark bottles and a bowl of steaming, hot water. Michaela hadn't really moved except that she looked a little more relaxed than she had the last time he'd come in.

He quietly turned the key in the lock and then said tenderly, "Alright ... the kids are lookin' after Katie ... so the first thing is ta examine the damage ... aint that right doc?" He placed the things down on the night-stand and then gently helped Michaela to sit up. He grimaced along with her when he realised just how difficult and painful it was for her to move. He gently removed her stockings and undid the buttons on her blouse and skirt, before assisting her to her feet and easing her clothes from her body. His breath caught at the sight of the already livid bruises on her shoulder, ribs, hip and legs. As he sat her down again, he bent and lovingly kissed the top of her tousled head. "No wonder you're sore," he said softly, running his finger gently over the largest bruise on her hip.

She at last looked him in the eye and smiled ruefully, "Actually it's a good thing the bruises are coming out this quickly ... it means they're not too deep ... and will heal sooner ..."

He raised his eyebrows. "A good thing huh?" he queried sceptically, shaking his head. "Can ya lie down on ya back?" Her teeth clenched against the aches, Michaela did just that, attempting to draw the sheet up over her nudity as she did so. "Hey ... can't treat my patient if she's all covered up," said Sully, grasping the sheet from her hands and turning it down again. She blushed, and he leant over to gently kiss her lips, but then did not immediately straighten up. His breath warm against her skin, he said adoringly, "You ... an' our kids ... are the most precious things in my life ... I aint ever gonna do anythin' ta jeopardise our lives together agin ... understand? Believe me?" She nodded, mesmerised by his blue eyes which seemed to see right down into her soul. Then he straightened. "Good ... now we got that sorted out ... we gotta do somethin' about these," he said with a loving smile, while again running his finger lightly over one of her innumerable bruises.

For the next half hour or so, Sully lovingly applied warm cloths dampened with oil-scented water to her bruised body. Just before he placed a cloth on he would kiss the bruise tenderly, and when it was taken off he would repeat his loving action. Michaela gradually sank into a languid state of cherishment in which the bruises no longer pained her and her bones no longer ached, her entire being centred on the one who was showing her his love in the most endearing way possible. She closed her eyes and savoured his loving ministrations, experiencing an odd blend of lethargy and arousal. At last, when he paused for a moment, she opened her shining eyes and gazed up into his. It was immediately obvious that she wasn't the only one aroused. He was breathing deeply and his hand trembled slightly where it lay on her stomach. She reached up for him and appealed in a whisper, "Sully ...," her invitation indisputable.

He swallowed. "I .. I don' wanna hurt ya," he breathed.

She shook her head. "Just hold me ... please," she beseeched. "I need you to hold me ..."

He instantly stood, shed his clothes, circled the bed and climbed in beside her. "Ya gotta tell me if I hurt ya," he implored, drawing her tenderly into his arms. Her sigh of pleasure in finally laying with him made his heart pound. When she raised her eyes and unconsciously licked her lips in anticipation of his kiss, he growled softly back in his throat and then gave in to their mutual desire, taking her mouth with his in a gloriously prolonged and satisfying kiss. At last, both breathing heavily, they pulled back a little. He tenderly brushed her hair back from her face and whispered, "Don' ever forget I love ya more 'an life itself Michaela ... an' I'll do everythin' in my power ta make sure you're happy an' safe ..." She smiled, nodded and nestled down against his chest. "I'll remember Sully," she whispered with pleasure. "I'll remember ..."

*********************
Michaela completed the patient file on which she'd been working for the past five or ten minutes, then stood and filed it away in the wooden cabinet against the clinic wall. Sully had tried to dissuade her from working this morning, but with Andrew out of action with his shoulder she'd gritted her teeth and come in to the clinic. The truth was that as long as she kept moving, the bruising wasn't as painful as she'd anticipated. She'd told Sully before breakfast that his loving care the night before must have done the trick and he'd joked in return that perhaps he was working in the wrong profession. She smiled as she remembered eliciting his promise that he would work his magic only on her, and then her pulse quickened recalling the delicious kisses which had followed. Realising that Colleen might well be watching her, she quickly schooled her features and returned to her desk. A sudden loud and discordant clap of thunder made her start in surprise and her eyes immediately met Colleen's. The dark clouds had been building up all morning and it seemed a summer storm was well on the way. "Its getting closer," she commented with a smile.

"Maybe you should go home early ma ... before the rain starts," suggested Colleen. "I doubt there'll be any more patients."

Michaela nodded. "Perhaps I will ... as soon as Sully gets here .."

Colleen nodded in satisfaction and then flinched as another clap of thunder rolled overhead. A sudden, unexpected knocking at the clinic door made them both jump and then giggle with embarrassment at their nervousness. "I'll get it ma," offered Colleen, striding across the room and pulling the door open. She smiled when she recognised their caller.

Freddy McFarlane held up a small packet of letters and two packages. "Morning Colleen ... Dr Mike," he greeted. "Horace thought you might like me to bring these here before the rain hits." He handed them to Colleen and then stepped back. "Better keep going ... got quite a bit of mail to deliver in a hurry ... see you later ...," he said, scurrying away towards the mercantile. Colleen watched him for a brief moment and then closed the door and brought the mail across to her mother.

"He's a very pleasant young man isn't he Colleen?" Michaela remarked, as she flicked through the packet of letters.

"Mmm ... a real gentleman ... Apparently he's only here for a few months and then he's returning to St Louis ... he's going to work for his father," replied the younger woman.

"You haven't been riding with him lately?"

Colleen shook her head and then explained quietly, "Me an' Andrew've talked while he's been in bed with his sore shoulder ... an' I've decided I'm not goin' ridin' with Freddy again ..."

Michaela's eyes narrowed. "I thought you enjoyed the company when you're riding ...," she commented quietly.

"Oh ... I did ma ... but I knew it bothered Andrew ... that I was out in the company of another man ...," rejoined Colleen. "When Andrew got hurt ... I ... I .. realised how much I love him ... an' when we weren't sure what was wrong with him ... well ... I thought I was bein' ripped in two ... Maybe he don' like ridin' like I do ... but there's so much more we can .. an' do ...share ... an' if it bothers him to know I'm ridin' with Freddy ... then I'm not gonna do it anymore ... cos I couldn' go on if I lost him ..." She paused and her shining eyes met those of her mother. "You understand ... don't ya ma?"

Michaela reached across and grasped her daughter's hand. "Oh yes sweetheart ... I understand ... but please ... don't ever lose who you are in trying to please Andrew .."

Colleen smiled. "I won't ma ... Andrew knows I'm my own person ... but I don' haveta upset him by spendin' time with another man ... when he's the man I want to spend the rest o' my life with ...," she clarified.

Michaela nodded in understanding and then both sets of eyes instinctively flew upwards as the first, large drops of rain began to fall. As one, they headed for the door and pulled it open. The rain, light at first, had abruptly turned into a deluge, sending people scurrying for shelter. As they stood there, gazing out, a buggy slowly splashed around the corner from the direction of the livery and headed down the street towards them. Much to Michaela's dismay, Adrian was driving. He slowed his horse as he perceived her in the doorway. As their eyes met, his jaw set and his eyes blazed fire. Michaela paled and her heart began to pound. Although it had concealed a dark secret, his smile had always been forthcoming, but today there was no smile, just a look of absolute fury and hostility. She abruptly grasped Colleen's arm, pulling her back inside, then slammed the door behind them to lean back against it, striving to calm her clamouring nerves.

"Ma?" asked Colleen in alarm. "You alright?"

Michaela nodded, unable to articulate her strange reaction.

Colleen clasped her ma's hand and said quietly, "I saw him ma ... but he was headin' back out to the Chateau ... no need ta worry ..."

Michaela nodded and took a deep breath. She'd never have believed that a single man could elicit such fear and loathing in her. Now she almost wished Sully *had* done something more concrete about him!

**********************
"That was a delicious supper Dr Quinn," commented Bess, as Michaela wandered into the living-room from the kitchen.

"Thank-you," she replied with a smile, taking the vacant wingback chair opposite the older woman. "I'm glad you enjoyed it ... but please ... won't you call me Michaela?"

Bouncing William on her knee, Bess smiled ruefully. "The habits of a lifetime are difficult to break Dr ... Michaela," she remarked. She gazed around the cosy living-room. "You have a beautiful home ..."

Michaela smiled and her eyes met Sully's. "It was a labour of love Bess ... Sully built it for me ... in the year we were engaged .."

As she'd done upon first meeting the couple back in St Louis, Bess marvelled at the bond which seemed to exist between them. "You should be very proud of yourself Sully," she said sincerely. "Its not just a house ... it's a home ..."

Sully, seated on the rug before the fireplace, shrugged his shoulders self-consciously and then drew his tiny daughter towards him and onto his knee. "I got a lot more outta it than I give," he murmured, kissing the top of the little one's head.

Bess smiled indulgently. Realising that he was reluctant to talk of himself she relaxed back into the comfortable chair and watched as Katie playfully tussled with her father before the fireplace. She'd rarely felt such peace and was enjoying being part of this extended family if only for the evening. Her eyes alighted on the chessboard. "Ah ..," she exclaimed. "Who's the chess player hmmm?"

"Sully and I both play," replied Michaela.

"An' I'm learnin'," added Brian. "Do you play Bess?"

She chuckled. "I did ... some thirty odd years ago ... haven't had a game since ..."

Sully met her sparkling eyes. "I'll give ya a game," he challenged.

"You wouldn't be trying to take advantage of an old lady now would you Sully?" she asked with a teasing smile.

He shook his head and returned her smile. "Figure I might git a chance ta win ... Michaela beats me more often an' not ..."

She straightened in her chair. "I may not have played in many years ... but I should warn you that I was pretty good in my day ..."

Sully's face fell momentarily. "That's my luck," he joked, quickly standing to move the chessboard in front of Bess's chair.

Michaela stood and then picked up William from Bess's knee. "Well ... I'll put the children to bed and then make us some fresh coffee ... by that time I should be able to play the winner ..."

Sully smirked. "Hope ya ready for a long night Bess ... Michaela takes a lot o' time over every move ..."

"Well we'll have to make sure we limit the number of moves she makes then ... won't we Sully," rejoined Bess with a grin, as she turned her attention to the chessboard and their first moves.

Some four hours later the chess tournament was still in progress. Bess had turned out to be a formidable opponent, barely scraping past Sully to win, but with a return of confidence, had ultimately also beaten Michaela. Now Sully and Michaela were playing, with Bess providing advice to Sully on the best moves. Along the way there had been much laughter and some serious discussion when the old lady had inquired as to further developments regarding Adrian. All in all it had been a very enjoyable evening while outside the occasional summer shower provided an accompanying drumming on the homestead roof. The older children had all retired to bed hours before. At last Sully triumphantly proclaimed, "Checkmate!" and Michaela sat back, shaking her head.

"How did you do that?" she pondered, examining the positioning of the pieces on the board.

"Reckon we better have Bess back another evenin'," suggested Sully with a smile. "Pretty soon you an' me won't even provide good competition for her Michaela ..."

Michaela continued to shake her head. "I still don't know how you did that ...," she repeated.

Bess smiled in satisfaction and then edged forward in her seat. "Well ... its late ... I better be heading back to the Chateau," she said reluctantly.

Michaela glanced across at Sully and then offered, "Stay the night Bess ... its still very wet out ... and it'll be after one o'clock by the time you get back ... Sully can take you out there in the morning ..."

The old woman appeared to give the matter considerable thought. "I don't want to put anyone out," she said with a frown.

"You won't be putting anyone out," Michaela assured her. "We are quite used to having guests ... though I hope you don't mind sharing Katie's room ... it's the only one with a spare bed at the moment ..."

Bess shook her head. "I won't mind at all ... it's a long time since I've had the company of young people ...," she asserted with a smile.

"I better warn you ... she tends to wake very early ... I think she takes after her father," teased Michaela.

"That's also not a problem," the old woman rejoined. "Now if we don't get off to bed, she'll be waking before we've slept at all." She stood and stretched her arthritic limbs. "I want to thank you both for your hospitality ... it means a lot to me," she added sincerely.

"We're glad to have you here," Michaela assured her. "Now come ... and I'll show you to your room ..."

********************
Breakfast was a jolly affair in the Quinn/Sully household the next morning. Katie, having woken to discover Bess occupying the usually vacant bed in her room, had been in high spirits, keeping them all entertained. William too, seemed on his best behaviour. They had all decided that Michaela and Sully would take Bess out to the Chateau and then head into the clinic in town, while Kathleen would take the two smallest children out with her to Matthew's homestead until lunchtime.

Just as Kathleen and Michaela finished washing the breakfast dishes a rider could be heard galloping swiftly into the yard. Sully quickly pulled the door open to see Robert E clamber down from his horse and bound up the steps to the porch. "Robert E?" queried Sully with alarm.

"Hank sent me out here Sully," panted the blacksmith. "Said to git Dr Mike real quick ..."

"Is he hurt?" asked Sully, as Michaela hurriedly gathered together her things and came up behind him.

"He seemed alright," replied Robert E. "But he said it were urgent ..."

"We're on our way Robert E ... thanks," called Sully, as the blacksmith retraced his steps down from the porch.

Sully turned to Michaela who, he was concerned to see, was very pale, even frightened. "I'll go saddle the horses," he said. "You fix things up in here ... an' tell Bess ..."

As he started out the door, Michaela grabbed his arm. "Myrna!" she said in a stricken whisper. "Sully ... what if its Myrna again?"

He grasped her hand reassuringly. "Then you'll do all ya can for her ... an' after that we'll see what else we can do ...." He let her go and then ran down the steps, across the yard and into the barn.

A grim-faced Hank met them as they rode up to the clinic. "Bring ya bag Michaela ... though I aint sure what use it'll be," he instructed ambiguously, already starting back across the road.

Both Michaela and Sully hurried after him into the dim confines of the hotel. Unexpectedly, he did not head to the left and along the corridor to Myrna's room. Instead he carried on through to the back of the hotel and out into the yard to the woodpile.

The dreadful sight that greeted them brought them all up short. Michaela paled and whispered, "Oh my God ...," her breathing quickening and tears springing to her eyes.