After they’d set out they’d talked about Katie and Brian’s exploits during the past three weeks, how Colleen and Andrew were doing and even a couple of cases Matthew had been working on, but he realised that the nearer they’d got to home, the more quiet she’d become, even leaning in to him and resting her head on his shoulder. Now he knew why.

She was too pale and her hands shook as she reached out to be assisted down. "Michaela?" he said quietly. "You feelin’ sick again?"

"Its alright Sully, the trip into town had the same effect on me this morning … I’ll be alright in a minute," she reassured him.

As he lifted her down his hands lingered at her waist and she instinctively moved forward into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his back and rested her cheek against his shirt-covered chest. Just having him here with her was all she needed right now. Sure her stomach was churning sickeningly, but that would soon pass, but her love for this man, never! Sully’s arms encircled her waist and he drew her close against his chest. His hold slackened for a minute as he asked worriedly, "Maybe I shouldn’t be holdin’ ya so tight."

Michaela’s response was to reach up and to draw his head down for a light kiss. "I’ve waited three weeks for you to hold me like this," she said quietly. "And a little upset stomach is not going to make me wait any longer."

Despite being worried about her, Sully chuckled appreciatively. "Can’t say I wanted to wait any longer either," he responded. "But I think we’d be more comfortable inside. This summer sun can’t be too good for you anyways."

Inside Sully was immediately mindful of Colleen’s and Dorothy’s advice about Michaela resting and he looking after her. "How ‘bout I fix us a hot drink, maybe coffee, while you go upstairs and git ready to lay down for a rest," he suggested, wondering whether she would acquiesce.

"But what about you Sully?" she responded immediately. "You probably haven’t even had lunch."

"I’m fine," he answered. "I ate earlier."

Michaela nodded in relief and Sully gave a silent vote of thanks to the spirits that she hadn’t asked for any details. Michaela stood watching him for a moment and then seemed to come to a decision. "Maybe I *will* go upstairs but I don’t think I could handle coffee Sully. I might enjoy a chamomile tea though."

"Well you go up then. I’ll be there as soon as the kettle’s boiled," ordered Sully gently, noting the paleness of her skin, though she was looking decidedly better than she’d looked when they first arrived home.

Sully munched on an apple as he waited for the kettle to boil. He could hear Michaela moving around upstairs and then there was silence. He’d been looking forward to coming home to her and the kids almost since the day he’d left, but he’d never expected to see Michaela unwell like this. She was so seldom sick and it worried him.

He brewed the chamomile tea and made coffee for himself before heading upstairs. When he entered their bedroom it was to discover that Michaela had removed her skirt and blouse and had climbed into bed under the covers. She was sitting propped up against the pillows and thankfully a little colour had returned to her cheeks.

"Here, be careful, its still real hot," said Sully gently, as he handed Michaela the cup of tea. He sat himself on the edge of the bed and drank his coffee watching Michaela as she tentatively sipped, as if unsure what the possible repercussions might be. Apparently there were no ill-effects because she drank it all, and then handed the cup and saucer back to him before sliding down in the bed a little.

"That was good," she said, trying to stifle a wide yawn.

"Now Colleen and Dorothy said ya gotta rest, so I’ll go do some chores downstairs while you sleep," said Sully gently, brushing a wisp of hair back off her face.

Michaela slid further down and then trailed her fingers over the bedclothes beside her. "Stay with me," she said softly. "Please."

"Are ya sure?"

Michaela nodded. "Please."

Sully quickly shucked off his shirt and buckskins and slid in under the covers beside her. She immediately rolled onto her side and towards him, wrapping her arm around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. She sighed contentedly as he began to run his fingers soothingly through the hair around her face.

Sully was a little startled though when she began to gently caress his skin and to place light kisses to his chest. "Aahh …. Michaela …… I don’ think this is what Colleen an’ Dorothy had in mind by restin’," he muttered with a smile, stirring under her gentle touch. "You’re supposed to be layin’ quietly, gettin’ ya strength back …. remember?"

Unexpectedly saucy, she replied, "I *am* laying here quietly. Its *you* whose strength seems to be deserting him!"

"Well then I better git up an’ go downstairs," he said with a chuckle.

"Alright, alright, I’ll be good," she conceded. She nestled her head back into the familiar hollow between his neck and shoulder and suggested, "Now tell me how it went in St Louis."

"Well if there’s anythin’ likely to put ya to sleep, that’s it," Sully said with an ironic chuckle.

"Tell me," whispered Michaela sleepily.

"Well its just like it was with the indians Michaela. A lotta fellas who aint ever been west of St Louis, sittin’ there makin’ decisions ‘bout what’s gonna happen to the land an’ such. A lotta talkin’ but not much action," he answered, a touch of cynicism creeping into his voice.

"Do you have to go back? ……. Soon?" asked Michaela hesitantly, unconsciously holding her breath, waiting for his reply.

He registered the tension in her body and tightened his embrace. "Not for a few months now. Gotta prepare a detailed report for the end of October. I’ll probably haveta go on a few overnight trips, surveyin’ an’ such … but that’s all."

Michaela’s breath expelled in a long relieved sigh and she unconsciously resumed her previous light caressing of his skin. "I’m glad," she said quietly. "I miss you so much when you’re away. But I’m sorry your trip wasn’t more fruitful."

"I did have one win," said Sully proudly. "Senator Greenwood’s aide an’ adviser agreed to comin’ out here so he can see Colorado first hand. He’s comin’ in November. I’ll have just one week to convince him that this land aint like any other."

"I’ll help you," offered Michaela.

"I know you will. I figured he should stay with us here if that’s alright with you."

"Of course it is. Tell me about what else you did while you were away. Did you meet any interesting people?"

"You know me Michaela. Aint one for socialisin’. Did what I hadta do an’ then went back to my lonely hotel room."

There was a long silence in which Sully began to think that Michaela had fallen asleep, then into the quietness she said in a low voice, "Speaking of lonely hotel rooms …." She paused and then went on unsurely, "Sully can I ask you something?"

"Anythin’ … you know that Michaela."

"This is something sort of personal," she went on, her voice very low and a little unsteady.

"Come on, I don’ mind. We aint got no secrets from each other."

But even Sully was startled when she suddenly asked, "Sully … do you dream?"

His eyes turned questioningly to hers. "Dream? As in hopin’ for somethin’ in the future?"

"No … dream …. at night, while you’re asleep."

"Sure … don’ everyone?" he answered, his brow creased in puzzlement.

"D-do you ever dream about ….. about ….. me ….. us …. like this?"

Sully buried his mouth in Michaela’s hair to mask the broad grin which all of a sudden appeared on his face. He said slowly, "Lyin’ like this … in each other’s arms … ya mean?"

"Well … yes …. and …… and more."

"More Michaela?"

"You know …. us *together*."

He decided to put her out of her misery. "Ya mean us lovin’ each other. Sure I do. Sometimes when I’m away I dream of ya an’ wanna git on the next train home an’ forgit what I’m there for. But you’ve bin fillin’ my dreams like that for a long time. That year we were courtin’ was the longest year of my life."

Her eyes flew to his. "But we’d never …….. never …. you know ….."

"I know … that was the problem. Lucky I was livin’ out in the woods so no-one ever saw me wake up all sweatin’ an’ …… an’ wantin’ to hold ya so bad it hurt."

She blushed and tightened her hold on him, realising that back then she’d had no idea of what it would be like to love him like this, to be together. But of course *he* had.

With a gentle smile he asked her, "Do *you* dream of us like that?"

Her blush deepened and she lowered her chin to her chest. She answered shyly, "Uh huh. Especially this time….. while you were away. The dreams were so vivid I’d have trouble realising they were only dreams after I woke. You being here’s not a dream is it Sully? You *will* be here when I wake up won’t you?"

"Ya aint dreaming Michaela … I’m here ….. an’ I’ll still be here later …when ya wake …. I promise." Despite knowing that she should be resting, Sully couldn’t resist lowering his head to cover her tremulous mouth with his, to seal his promise. Michaela’s mouth opened instinctively and she enthusiastically rolled closer to him, to hook her leg over his and then to raise herself up so that he could better access her mouth. The kiss deepened, their hearts pounding, their breathing uneven, their bodies ablaze with a volatile liquid fire. Wanting it to go on forever, they continued for as long as possible their leisurely, passionate kisses and caresses, but inevitably, their loving intensified until they were swept away, consumed by their need and cherishing of each other.

Afterwards, Sully lay spooned into Michaela’s back, his hand gently trailing up and down her arm. "We shouldna done that," he said contritely. "You were supposed to be restin’."

"I feel more rested now than I’ve felt in days … so please don’t say that shouldn’t have happened."

"What about your stomach," he asked worriedly.

"I’m not even thinking about it." She reached up to grasp his hand and to pull it forward to rest against her chest. "Lying here like this is just like one of my favourite dreams, only we’re out in the woods and its raining and …. and …. we’re not even married yet."

"Ah ….. when we went lookin’ for what was pollutin’ the stream. That’s filled my dreams many times over too."

"Really? In my dream you’re holding me like this and I take your hand and kiss it like this …… and I can feel you all warm against my back and I know that you’re mine forever." Michaela’s voice was becoming lower and sleepier by the minute. As sleep finally claimed her she muttered, "Dorothy said my dreaming reminded her of Myra when she took to sleep-walking. Do you remember that Sully?"

Sully chuckled and replied, "Yeah … I remember ….. but that was ‘cause she was ….." He stopped as a sudden thought struck him. His brow creased and he raised himself on his elbow so that he could peer into Michaela’s face, but she was now sound asleep.

He rested his head back on his pillow as ideas and memories crowded his mind.

Nausea? Well that hadn’t happened with Katie, but he sure knew of it happening to lots of women. The dreaming? Well he hadn’t heard of that before, but then Michaela hadn’t heard of sleep-walking being a symptom before it happened to Myra. Tiredness and tearfulness? Those had *definitely* happened with Katie. He thought back to this morning and Dorothy’s indulgent smile as she handed them the apple pie and then told him that Michaela had to keep her strength up. It all fit! His heart swelled to bursting but he took a few, deliberate, deep breaths. He was getting ahead of himself. He could be wrong, but he’d be willing to bet that he was right!

He once again raised himself on one elbow and gazed awe-struck at the beautiful but pale face of his sleeping wife. He reached out to gently brush back a few wisps of her coppery hair which had fallen across her eyes and mouth, and then lifted her heavy tresses to place gentle kisses on her neck … over and over ….. He whispered softly in her ear, "I love you Michaela Quinn."

She opened her eyes and peered at the lace-curtained windows of the bedroom. Something about the light was odd, the sun wasn’t shining in as it would early in the morning, in fact, the outside light had a yellow tinge which was more usual in the evening. And then she remembered, or thought she did. Sully *was* home. She shivered with delight as she momentarily relived their lovemaking this afternoon. She instinctively reached to the left, behind her, but all she encountered were crumpled bedclothes. Her heart sank, maybe it *was* just another one of those vivid dreams which had been consuming her sleeping and waking hours the last few days.

She was startled out of her reverie as the door handle rattled and turned and the door opened inward. Sully stepped quietly inside and then smiled lovingly down at her when he realised she was awake and watching him, her eyes wide.

"Hey," he said softly, loving concern shining in his eyes. He squatted down and reached out to brush her hair back off her face. "You’re finally awake. You’ve bin sleepin’ a long time."

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, loving his gentle hand on her skin.

"How ya feelin’?" he asked, leaning across to kiss her lightly.

"Mmmm …. I’m fine ….. You *are* home … I was beginning to think I’d dreamed it again," she replied sleepily, returning his kiss.

"You’re not feelin’ sick?"

"I .. I don’t think so," she replied uncertainly.

Sully slid his hand in under the covers and gently caressed her soft curves. "Think ya feel like comin’ downstairs for supper. The kids, specially Brian an’ Matthew, are worried ‘bout ya."

With one hand she covered his on her stomach, interlocking their fingers and holding them still against herself. With the other she reached out to draw his head down to hers for a long, leisurely kiss.

As the kiss ended, Sully closed his eyes, smiled and whispered, "Mmmm …. I’ll haveta go away more often if you gonna welcome me home like this."

She tensed for a moment, knowing that he was only joking, and yet conscious that he would have to go away again at some stage. She gently cupped his face and ran her thumb across his cheekbone, her heart in her eyes.

He resumed the gentle caressing of her skin under the covers. "Its alright," he said gently. "I’m not goin’ away for a long time now. I reckon you might need some lovin’ attention. Now are ya well enough to come downstairs?"

"If you continue to do that, I might never get out of bed," she whispered shyly, covering his hand lightly with her own. But she nodded and taking his proffered hand, let him slowly draw her up into a sitting position.

"Now take it real slow," he warned her. "Brian said it hit ya this mornin’ after ya stood up."

Sully watched her intently as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and tentatively rose to her feet. She shivered as the cool evening air hit her warm, bare skin and he reached for her nightgown and robe, helping her slip into them.

Michaela held her breath as she slowly stood up and began to move around, then paled as her stomach momentarily lurched sickeningly as it had this morning and then quickly subsided. She smiled reassuringly at Sully whose brow had creased with concern as he’d noticed her change of colour. "Its still not completely right, but I think I’m on the mend. Better be careful about what I eat for supper though," she said readily.

"Well I got soup made, thought that might appeal …… an’ we got the pie Dorothy gave ya for dessert. Think ya could handle that?"

She nodded gratefully and let him lead her downstairs.

Three pairs of anxious eyes watched her as she slowly ate her way through a bowl of Sully’s delicious chicken and vegetable soup and then a small piece of pie. Katie, oblivious to their concern for her ma, sat in her high chair, demanding attention by chattering exuberantly in her own unique language, only about one in four words actually decipherable. Sully, Matthew and Brian slowly relaxed as the wholesome food seemed to have no ill-effects on Michaela, and gradually the conversation became more animated as the boys prodded Sully for details and anecdotes of his trip to St Louis.

Later, sitting by the fire, a cup of hot chamomile tea in her hand, Michaela listened to the familial banter of the three males in the kitchen as they did the clearing and washing up. She’d been ordered into the living-room in no uncertain terms and had not felt up to arguing. She smiled as there were indignant yelps from Brian as Sully and Matthew set upon him with wet tea-towels. She suddenly felt that all was right with the world (well *her* world anyway) now that Sully was home again. She had to hastily place her cup of tea on the table beside her chair as Katie, who had been playing at her feet, suddenly clambered up into her lap, favourite book in hand, to nestle into her ma’s softness – a sure-fire sign that bedtime was not far off.

When Sully at last entered the living-room, after the cleaning up was finished and the boys had gone to Brian’s room to play checkers, it was to discover a very drowsy mother and daughter slumped down together in the comfortable wingback chair. Michaela had ceased reading and was gently stroking her daughter’s forehead with her fingertips as the little girl drifted off to sleep. Sully was startled when Michaela glanced up at him with tears glimmering in her eyes.

"Michaela?" he whispered.

She bit her lip and once again her gaze returned to her tiny blond-haired daughter. "Isn’t she beautiful Sully?" she murmured. "And she’s growing so fast. She’s not a baby anymore. I wonder how much longer she’ll let me hold her like this." A single tear rolled down her face and dropped onto Katie’s shoulder.

Fighting the urge to reassure her that Katie would appreciate being held by her ma for many years to some, and convinced now more than ever, that what he thought might be effecting Michaela was indeed true, Sully merely said in a soft voice, "Here, let me take her upstairs an’ put her to bed. I aint bin able to do that for three weeks. You stay here an’ rest … I’ll be back as soon as she’s settled."

Michaela reluctantly surrendered their daughter to Sully’s care and watched as he gently held Katie against his chest. The sight of her husband holding their baby so tenderly made her heart swell and pound as those inexplicable tears fell anew.

As Sully passed her on his way to the stairs, he reached out to gently squeeze her shoulder, his mind working overtime on how he was going to approach the subject he so dearly wanted to raise with her.

When he returned she was sitting just as he’d left her, though her eyelids were decidedly heavier. "Hey," he said quietly, reluctant to disturb her.

She glanced up at him and smiled sleepily. "I slept all that time this afternoon, but now I’m sleepy again. I feel like I could sleep the whole night through," she murmured wonderingly, stretching her arms out in front of her and yawning deeply.

"Is there room in that chair for me?" asked Sully, taking her outstretched hands in his.

"Mmmm … definitely," she smiled, moving to the edge of the seat.

"I got a better idea," he said mischievously, drawing her slowly to her feet, dropping into the chair and then pulling her down to sit in his lap.

She smiled contentedly as her arms instantly wound themselves around his neck and she dropped her head onto his shoulder, nestling into him. "Mmmm … this is much better than dreaming ….," she said softly, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

Holding her in a tender embrace and gently caressing her back, Sully decided it was now or never. "Michaela?" he said tentatively.

"Mmmm ….," she answered, so relaxed she was in danger of falling asleep in his arms.

"Bout them dreams …"

"Mmmm …."

"Don’ ya think its kinda strange Dorothy thinkin’ its like Myra when she was sleep-walkin’?"

"Well no ….. not really. Of course we found out why she was doing that ….. remember …. she was ……….." She suddenly sat bolt upright and turned to look into Sully’s blue eyes which were shining with a mixture of anxiety and hope. Her skin heightened in colour and her eyes narrowed as she considered the implications of what he’d just said. "You don’t think Dorothy thought I’m ….. no ……. she couldn’t ……. after all …….." She stopped as she realised that she’d certainly given Dorothy just cause during the past few days and yet had never really considered the possibility herself.

Sully smiled indulgently as he watched memories, ideas doubts and hopes flash across Michaela’s face as if she were stating them out loud. He seemed to have been holding his breath forever and felt about to expire, so at last he said non-commitedly, "Well?"

She took a deep breath and said slowly, despite the excited skipping of her heartbeat, "Well …. I suppose it *is* possible ….. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it myself …. I was so anxious for you to come home ….. and the dreams ……" She blushed furiously as jumbled images flashed through her mind. Suddenly her eyes filled with ecstatic, happy tears. "Oh Sully …. if only it were so ….. its what we both want so badly …. do you think? ……"

Trying in vain to hide the broad grin which continually threatened to appear, Sully suggested, "What I think is that a visit to Andrew might be necessary …"

There was a moment’s pause, then suddenly the happy glow disappeared from Michaela’s face and her brow suddenly creased as she said decisively, "No!"

"No?"

"No. Well at least not yet," she conceded.

"Michaela?"

She dropped her head and said softly. "I want to wait … to know more for myself ….. I’m a doctor …… I can monitor …... I want to be surer before seeing Andrew."

Aware that there was something going on here that he didn’t yet understand, Sully said quietly, "But don’ ya want to know for sure?"

"I want to wait ….. to keep it between us for a while ….. our secret …. please understand," she implored. "I just want to wait until I’m more sure that there really *is* a baby and everything’s going to be alright."

"I like the idea of it bein’ just us knowin’ Michaela, but I also wanna know that *you’re* alright."

Michaela took a deep breath and, making a silent decision to be totally honest with him, she said in a low tone, "Sully….. last time ….. when you were away and I found out I was pregnant …" Her eyes filled with tears, but she continued, "Everyone found out …. Everyone knew …. And then I lost it …. I couldn’t go through that again ….. please understand." She gazed at him through tear filled eyes, reminiscent of a child afraid of being misunderstood, and then buried her face in his neck, reliving the nightmare, afraid for the future.

Sully suddenly understood - the ecstasy of discovery, the pain of loss, the well-meant sympathy of friends and family - he understood so well. "Shhhh …….its alright ….. we’ll keep it a secret for now Michaela, as long as you keep well, an’ there aint any problems." he soothed, his eyes also shining with tears. "Though if anythin’ happens, or looks to be goin’ wrong, we’ll see Andrew real quick. Alright?"

Michaela nodded in gratitude and love and then, chasing the dark clouds away, she giggled and said, "I can’t believe I did it again Sully. Please don’t let on to anyone that you and perhaps Dorothy guessed before I did. I’ll be a laughing stock. A doctor who can’t even diagnose her own pregnancy!"

"Michaela, we better not get too far ahead of ourselves here. We aint certain yet …… are we?"

That thought sobered her a little. "No …. I don’t suppose we know for sure, but when I put all the symptoms together, instead of considering them separately, or not considering them at all, as I was doing while you were away, they certainly indicate the answer we want. We’ll wait a few weeks and see. Alright?"

Although his eyes were shining with delight, Sully said in a serious tone, "Yeah, I know its hard not to git too excited …. But we gotta stay calm until we know for sure."

Despite their reasoned arguments, it was obvious in both their faces that there was more than hope binding them together in this very personal secret. They both knew in their hearts that a new brother or sister for Katie was on the way and neither could have been happier or more excited.

"Well, guess its time to go upstairs. We gotta make sure you git lots of rest," said Sully, his face at last breaking into a broad smile. He started to slide forward in the chair, preparatory to standing, when a sudden thought struck him. "What are we gonna tell the kids," he asked quietly.

"They won’t know anything unless we decide to tell them, will they?" she asked in puzzlement.

"Michaela, by the look of it, this pregnancy aint gonna be the same as when ya had Katie. For one thing, what if the sickness hits ya agin in the mornin’? The kids are gonna be awful worried when their ma’s feelin’ poorly an’ there don’ look to be any answer for it. An’ what about Colleen? She’ll guess for sure."

"Sully, we don’t know whether I had nausea due to being pregnant or not. Maybe it *was* something I ate. We’ll think of something if the need arises. As for Colleen? I must admit that’s one of the reasons why I’d rather not see Andrew yet." She smiled as he nodded knowingly. Then she added, "Meanwhile I’m looking forward to just savouring this feeling with you and you alone for a little while. Hmmm?"

"I’ll be alright," she said quietly, gripping his hand tightly as another wave of nausea swept over her. "Please …. just unlock the clinic door so we can go in."

Once inside, she sank into the chair at her desk and took a few deep, deliberate breaths. She’d been so proud of herself after she’d got up this morning and, although afflicted with severe nausea, managed to gradually complete the various necessary tasks with only a few minor setbacks. She’d caught Brian watching her intently a few times and he’d even hesitantly asked whether she was still sick. She’d told him that she was a lot better, although not yet fully well. He’d accepted that, and then been particularly helpful, especially with Katie, lessening his ma’s workload a little. Sully, on the other hand, had watched her like a hawk and fussed around her until she’d snapped at him, demanding that he go out and hitch up the wagon so that she could get ready for work in peace. He’d looked a little hurt momentarily, but then had just smiled and done as she asked.

The trip into town had been very unpleasant for her, despite the bright, sunny, summer weather, but deep down she was almost glad she was still nauseous this morning. After all, if it *had* been a stomach upset and she’d been well today, then one of the most obvious symptoms of a possible pregnancy would have been gone. Never able to rely on her irregular monthlies as an indicator, the nausea was the surest symptom she had. She sighed. If indeed she was pregnant, she sincerely hoped that this morning-sickness would be a passing phase. She’d had some patients who’d endured it throughout the entire nine months! She gulped and wondered how she would manage and she wasn’t sure that Sully would survive it either!

He was bustling around now getting the fire going so that he could boil the kettle. When he’d at last woken her this morning he’d brought a hot cup of chamomile tea up to their room, and she’d discovered by this fortuitous action, that the tea definitely had a soothing effect on her stomach and nerves and if ever she needed something soothing it was now!

A little later she was still sitting at her desk, a cup of hot tea in her hand, when Dorothy knocked and entered. Through the windows of the Gazette office, she’d watched the family arrive at the clinic in their wagon and she was anxious to know about the state of Michaela’s health. One look at her friend’s face was enough to tell her that all was not well. "Michaela," she said with concern. "You’re still not well, are you?"

Michaela could but shake her head and take another sip of her tea, her stomach was still churning uncomfortably and, as had happened yesterday she was suddenly bone-tired. "I’ll be fine Dorothy …. its not as bad as yesterday," she managed to say before another wave struck her.

Dorothy’s blue eyes narrowed with sympathy for her friend and then she swept them over the clinic. "Where’s Sully an’ Katie?" she asked, sure that she’d seen them arrive with Michaela.

"Sully was hovering over me and Katie was restless, so I sent them both off to the train station to collect the mail," Michaela answered with a wry smile.

"Yesterday you were pinin’ for him and now you’re sendin’ him off," Dorothy chuckled.

Michaela blushed and said, "I know. It *is* wonderful to have him home but he’s worried about me and wants to do everything for me."

"Well, a lotta women would give their eye-teeth for a husband like that!" exclaimed Dorothy.

This brought a smile to Michaela’s wan face. "I know I’m lucky … I’m just not feeling well enough to appreciate it at the moment," she admitted, as she took another sip.

"What’re ya drinkin’ Michaela," asked Dorothy curiously, wondering what was in the cup her friend was clutching in her hands.

"Its chamomile tea ….. I’ve discovered its one of the few things that seems to settle my stomach at the moment."

Dorothy smiled at her friend, now certain that she knew what was causing the nausea. "Michaela …" she began.

Sensing what was coming, Michaela interrupted with the first thing that came into her head, "Ah Dorothy …….. is Brian going to help you at the Gazette this afternoon?"

Dorothy regarded her friend in puzzlement for a moment, and then, accepting that Michaela did not want to discuss her condition any further (for now), she took her friend’s lead. "Uh … yes …. he’s gonna help me with the reportin’ of the town council meetin’ this evenin’ …. if that’s alright with you.

Michaela looked aghast at this reference to something she had totally put out of her mind. "I’d forgotten all about the town council meeting," she said despairingly. The prospect of a long, long day stretching before her did little for her disposition. She shrugged her shoulders and sighed.

Just then there was a knock on the clinic door and Dorothy immediately stood to leave. As she preceded Michaela to the door, she kindly advised, "Michaela, you better try to get some rest this afternoon … close the clinic a little early if ya have to … but ya aint gonna be able to go on like this for long ….. bein’ sick ….. workin’ all day …. not eatin’ properly ….. an’ then workin’ on town business in the evenin’." She took her friend’s hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Alright?" she said quietly as she walked out the door.

Knowing that Dorothy was telling her much more than she was actually saying, Michaela nodded her thanks, and then welcomed Mr Finney as he entered the clinic for a scheduled consultation about his arthritis.

Now well aware that Michaela disliked being the centre of attention, especially when she was not well, Sully kept a low profile for the remainder of the morning. While she treated a steady stream of patients, he played with Katie upstairs, took her to visit Robert E at the livery, brewed cup after cup of chamomile tea and fetched lunch for the three of them from Grace’s. He hated watching Michaela suffer this way, though as the morning wore on, she did regain a touch of colour and he did persuade her to eat a light lunch before she once again went back to greeting her patients as if nothing was wrong. Of course, the most observant couldn’t fail to notice her pale skin and her slightly shaky hands, but as most of her patients were concerned with their own illnesses she managed to carry on as if there was nothing wrong at all.

However, by mid-afternoon she’d had enough. Sully was relieved when, at around three o’clock, she suddenly announced, "I think I’ll lock up now ….. there’s no-one waiting outside and if there’s an emergency they know to ring the bell."

Before she could change her mind, he strode across to the door, swung it open and hung the ‘closed’ sign outside. He then returned to pick up his tiny daughter who had been sitting quietly playing for some time, and said with a slight smile, "Its time for a nap for Katie an’ I reckon she’d enjoy havin’ her ma join her." His eyebrows were raised in a query as he waited for Michaela to object. He was surprised when she only nodded and then walked into his embrace.

Upstairs, he pulled back the quilt on the double bed in one of the recovery rooms and laid his tired daughter down on one side. He then turned to his equally weary wife and proceeded to undo the buttons on her blouse and draw it off her shoulders, then to remove her long skirt. She offered neither resistance nor aid as she gazed sleepily into his eyes, loving his gentle caring attention.

Laying quietly on the bed, Katie was watching this turn of events with fascination. Usually her ma and pa gave her a kiss and then left her on her own. She was even more surprised when her ma climbed up on the bed and lay down beside her. She immediately cuddled up against her ma’s breast and sighed in contentment. But then, much to her dismay, her pa turned to leave the room. She raised her head and said plaintively, "Pa?!"

Sully stopped and turned back. His daughter’s eyes glimmered with tears and she patted the bedclothes beside her. "Papa too," she murmured. "Pease….."

Sully’s eyes flew from his daughter’s to his wife’s. Michaela nodded and smiled and so he grinned and stooped to remove his boots before joining the two of them on the bed. He immediately reached out to draw them both into his embrace.

Katie was in seventh heaven. "Mmmm …" she murmured. She pointed at Michaela. "Katie loves mama," she whispered. Then she rolled slightly to point at Sully, "An’ Katie loves papa." Sully leaned down to place a gentle kiss on the happy little girl’s forehead. Then gently tickling her under the ribs he whispered in turn, "An’ papa loves Katie an’ papa loves mama." The little girl nodded her head slightly in response before sleep finally overtook her.

Sully looked over the top of Katie’s blond head into Michaela’s beautiful, tired eyes which now shimmered with tears of pride and happiness. He couldn’t resist leaning across to kiss her lovingly - a long, deep, fervent kiss which she returned in kind, no further words required. And then Michaela’s eyes drifted shut as she too succumbed to much needed sleep.

Michaela looked out over the sea of faces before her and wished that she and her family were at home instead of sitting here in the church on this balmy summer’s night. She knew many of those present at the town council meeting by sight, or they had attended the clinic as patients occasionally, but generally the crowd was made up of homesteaders whose properties were either bordered by, or dissected by, the stream which ran north south through town.

As the proceedings evolved, she tried to concentrate, but her thoughts kept drifting off in other directions and a couple of times she even had to ask for something to be repeated. The entire family had enjoyed supper at Grace’s before the meeting and she was pleasantly aware that her stomach had not reacted adversely at all. In fact, apart from still feeling a little tired and overwrought she felt better than she had for a few days. She looked up and spied Brian who was furiously writing in his reporter’s notebook, not missing a moment of the meeting (she suddenly thought with amusement that perhaps she would ask him later exactly what had gone on), and then Katie who was sound asleep in Sully’s arms. Sully’s eyes were staring straight ahead at her sitting at the front of the church, as if he was worried that she might faint or be sick again so she gave him a slight reassuring smile before attempting to turn her attention back to the matters at hand.

Dorothy too was having difficulty concentrating. She’d never seen Michaela this quiet at a council meeting. Usually she was the one who would make sure that all sides were heard, and invariably she also came up with a solution to the problem being discussed. But tonight her friend seemed far away. She glanced to the left at Sully whose devoted gaze was solely on his wife. She’d been right! She was *sure* she was right! Not only that, she could tell that both Sully and Michaela now knew it too! She couldn’t hide the momentary smile which lit up her face. Her friends deserved something wonderful to happen to them. The past year had been difficult and a new addition to the family would mean so much to them.

Grace jumped involuntarily as the baby suddenly decided to roll over, or so it seemed to her. She gently rubbed her stomach in a soothing motion and tried to concentrate on what was happening. She proudly watched as Robert E asked a question, the answer to which Aidan Darcy had difficulty justifying. There were some folks in town who still resented Robert E having a seat on the council, but he’d worked for it and she couldn’t have been prouder. Her eyes moved across the table of assembled councillors to Dr Mike. She seemed awful quiet this evening. Too quiet. It wasn’t like her. She’d been like that for a few days now, Grace realised. And she wasn’t eating properly either - soup and pie weren’t enough to feed a healthy body! She watched as Dr Mike’s eyes momentarily dropped closed and then she seemed to shake herself and try to concentrate on the meeting again. Maybe her friend was sickening for something. She looked to her right at Dorothy whose eyes were also on Dr Mike. But Dorothy didn’t look worried, in fact she looked sort of excited. Grace turned back to Dr Mike and wondered.

Teresa Slicker sat back in her chair frankly bored with the proceedings. She had never believed it was appropriate for women to attend council meetings, but Jake had wanted her to come and so she had agreed. As for women actually being on council! Her eyes flew to Michaela Quinn, the only woman she had ever known to participate in town business. Dr Quinn was very quiet tonight, much quieter than usual. Although she did not believe women should speak on council, it struck her as strange when Dr Quinn did not. The doctor looked tired, and as if she was having trouble concentrating. Perhaps she was not well. Brian had been quiet also in class the last couple of days. Perhaps there was something going on at home which was worrying them. Her attention flew back to Jake as he stood and proposed a solution to the current problem.

Michaela was relieved when Jake finally called a halt to the discussion and proposed a vote on the possible solution. Although Aidan Darcy was not going to very happy, a compromise on water access was the only solution for the homesteaders south of town. All councillors agreed and the meeting was adjourned.

Michaela ruefully eyed their wagon as Sully drew it to a halt in front of the church. She had been feeling much better since her restful sleep this afternoon, but memories of the last two trips to and from the homestead made her feel decidedly uneasy.

Unbeknownst to Michaela, Sully asked Brian to nurse Katie on the ride home and to sit on the opposite side of his ma so that she was firmly seated between them. He explained to their son that he was worried that Michaela was still not well and might fall asleep. The boy readily agreed and they set off.