A Trunk Full of Dreams
Sully wiped the sweat from his brow before reaching for his canteen. The sun had been beating down on him all morning while he worked. Taking a drink he relished the feel of the water as it cascaded down his throat. Closing his eyes he poured a little over his head, feeling it run through his hair, down his face and onto his shirt. He had sweated through most of it already with pounding nails into his hew home. Home.
He smiled to himself at the thought of what he was building for his bride. Ever since he was a boy, he'd seen how men fawned over plans for a "grand home" and he had been waiting patiently for his turn to come. Years ago he had built just a plain homestead for Abigail; this time it was different. Michaela deserved the best and finest home he could build, which he had found wasn't as easy as drawing a picture, but he had found a way to do it.
After putting the cork in his canteen, he set it back down on the ground, looking over his plans once again before proceeding. The foundation of the home was starting to take shape, slowly. Over the course of the morning he had driven many a nail into the boards to construct the beautiful home he envisioned in his mind.
Picking up another board, he placed it in front of him, reaching for a piece of sandpaper to sand it down before joining it to another. His craftsmanship was precise, even as he sanded. He looked up at one point while sanding as a hawk cried out high above and a doe stared him in the face before darting back into the woods.
Sully smiled to himself, pleased with the location he'd picked away from everything. He enjoyed the peace and quiet, away from the bustling town and the train. Something he didn't care for at all. They were noisy and didn't belong out here in the wilderness. Michaela he knew thought differently about the train, she wanted it to come as much as the rest. She was thrilled to be able to get supplies faster, and above all else the train held a special memory for her. In her heart she held dear the memory of him telling her he loved her on a train in Boston. That memory alone seemed to settle their differences, along with the promise that if she ever felt his heart breaking, they would move.
Michaela did her best to keep hold of the heavy hammer she was given to drive the spike into the rails. The rails that would bring the train to Colorado, something she had wanted from the very start. All those around her cheered on as she lifted the hammer before hitting it squarely on the head, driving it into the rail just a bit more. She smiled at their encouragement and cheers while she concentrated on the task at hand.
When she was done, she looked up with a big smile as she let the hammer fall to the ground. It had taken some of the strength out of her, yet all those around her moved towards her and lifted her in the air.
She looked around her from her position in the air watching everyone's smiling faces. All the people she loved, except the one who held her heart with his love. A part of her wished he could have been there to see this, but she knew deep down his views on the train. In her son's eyes it had almost torn them apart as all they seemed to do was fight about the inevitable change coming. She hoped maybe one day Sully would accept the train. Yet through it all they did make a promise to each other, one that she would hold within her all of her days.
Once her feet were back on the ground, Mr. Tait congratulated her on driving the spike home. "You did a wonderful job. This town is lucky to have you as one of its upstanding citizens." Michaela blushed, "Thank you. I think the train will do a lot of good for this town." Mr. Tait smiled, "Oh it will, I have no doubts." Michaela returned the smile before looking for a way out of the crowd. She wanted to find her children and go home.
Brian came up to her beaming with pride, "Look Ma I got my own train hat now." He smiled up at her, his face glowing with pride.
"It looks very nice on you, Brian." It was a little big but she didn't want to injure his feelings.
"You look like an engineer, there, little brother," Matthew remarked as he ruffled the hat on Brian's head.
Brian giggled and ducked out of his older brother's reach, "Hey stop that."
"Are we gonna stay to enjoy the food at Graces?" Colleen rushed up to ask, her face flushed from the exertion.
"I don't know…" Michaela began but was met with two sets of pleading eyes. "Oh alright, you go run along."
"Sure you're gonna join us?" Matthew added noting the faraway look in her eyes.
"I think I just want to go home for now, but thank you."
"Alright, see you there." Colleen called over her shoulder as she and her brothers took off towards Grace's.
Michaela watched as Matthew went off to catch up with his brother and sister. She normally would have enjoyed some of Grace's cooking, but today she just wanted to be alone for awhile. Enjoying a private smile, she made her way over to the clinic to get Flash and ride home.
Once on the road, Flash's hooves pounded the earth as Michaela urged her forward. She loved the feel of the wind at her back as Flash ran effortlessly. It was a wonderful feeling and a special bond the two of them shared. Her mind traveled back to the day when she rode Flash in a race for men only. It was something she might not have done had it not been for Sully and the children helping her learn to walk and talk like a man. She had done her best to look the part, and was thankful she didn't have to speak. That race had been a special one for her, not just winning it, but the simple gesture at the end. Sully had plucked a rose from the garland just for her, an action so sweet that spoke volumes. She couldn't help but blush at the memory and wonder if he somehow knew how fond she was of roses. The beautiful flower was so delicate and held one of her favorite scents in its petals. In her most private musings, she thought of herself as Sully's rose. Something she would never tell a soul for fear of embarrassment.
Michaela slowed Flash down as they approached the homestead, causing the chickens to scatter about from the loose grain they were feeding on. "Whoa, girl." Flash snorted in reply as she stopped to let her mistress slide off her saddle and onto the ground. She then nudged Michaela the moment she was near her again as if to say, "Where's my apple." She led Flash into her stall in the barn, and removed her saddle and blanket before reaching into her pocket for one last apple she had left her in pocket. It was nice and warm, just the way Flash liked them.
"Here you go," she cooed as she lifted it towards her horse's soft lips. Flash didn't waste a moment before reaching out to grab the apple and devour it in several crunches. Michaela gave her dear horse a pat before securing her stall door and before making her way inside the house.
Her arms suddenly began to ache as she removed her hat, pins from her hair, and her town clothes. She felt like a free bird and at the same time a sore one, musing that she must have strained her muscles using that sledgehammer. She tried to rub the soreness from them, but nothing seemed to take away the dull pain. Doing her best, she found some clean clothes and managed to get her hair into a loose braid before settling down in the rocking chair with a blanket. Before long she was fast asleep.