English is not my native language and I'm still looking for a beta reader, so if there are spelling or grammar mistakes… I'm sorry! But you can still apply for the job as my beta reader!
Disclaimer:
Sadly, I do not own the characters of "Dr. Quinn Medicine
Woman"… One Beth Sullivan does…
Rating:
I don't know anything about these ratings, but let's say T or
PG-13. Just to be safe...
Warnings:
This story is situated right before the last movie, which is about 2
years after the ending of season 6. However, at the time I write this
story, I haven't seen the most of season 5 and 6. I've seen it a
long time ago, but I've forgotten about most things. So it's
possible that some things don't match with the things that happened
on the show during the last 2 seasons. You could say that this story
is slightly AU…
This
story has NOTHING to do with my previous stories! It's a
standalone… Zack is alive!
Genre:
Drama / Tragedy (Yes, I'll be killing someone off again… YOU HAVE
BEEN WARNED!)
Summary:
When Hank visits his son in Denver, he
walks into Myra. Though, she isn't the woman he remembered…
"Life
is a wheel of changes
But changes are life
And someday we will
have to say good bye
But our spirit will survive
Love is
phasing
Love is moving
To the rhythm of your sight
In the
darkness I get closer
To the crossing point of light
Reason is
lasting, passion is living
And dying is teaching us how to live"
- Enigma
Chapter 1
Spring 1875
Horace looked outside the window from his telegraph office. It was late in the afternoon, almost time for supper, so he would be closing up soon. It hadn't been a busy day for him; he had sold some train tickets, sent some telegrams, cleaned his working space and sorted the incoming mail. With nothing else left to do he had sat down on his chair and had decided to enjoy the peaceful silence. The sun shone brightly over Colorado Springs and birds called cheerfully to one another. Horace loved the sound of it. He looked at the people passing by. Most people he knew, but there were quite some people as well he had never seen before. How this town had changed in the last couple of years.
He thought back to the first time he had gotten to Colorado Springs. There had been just a few houses, a church and Loren's Mercantile. Everyone had known each other. But over the years, the town had grown, in many ways. The population had grown immensely and the town had gotten more prosperous. The first big change had been the railroad. He remembered what the announcement of it had done to the citizens. Some of them had been delighted by it! It would mean more visitors, which meant more money! But there had also been some people who had been completely against it; who didn't want the town to change.
Horace sighed. Everything had changed so much the last few years. Not just the town, the people as well. Colleen for example. He remembered her when he first came to Colorado Springs. She had just been born. Now, she was a married young woman who would be graduating soon. And who would have thought Jake would ever get married? But he did… with a wonderful woman who brought out the best in him. A knock on the window and a loud cough shook Horace from his thoughts.
"Ya ain't sleeping on the job, are ya Horace?" a familiar, mocking voice asked him. "Hank!" Horace called and looked at the tall, longhaired man in front of the ticket window. "What can I do for you?" he asked politely, though he didn't mean to be. He never liked Hank, in fact, there had been a time he had downright hated him. However, he knew the feeling had been mutual. It still was… "I'd like to buy a train ticket… to Denver," Hank said and put some money on the counter. "Ya going to visit your son?" Horace asked. "Not that it's any of yer business," Hank answered annoyed, "but yes… I am." Why is it so hard to have a normal conversation with this man? Horace thought. He can't say anything without being sarcastic or mocking me… or just being rude! Horace sighed and decided to keep the conversation strictly businesslike. He took the money from the counter, gave Hank some change and handed him the train ticket. "Here you are," he said, "Have a nice day." Hank nodded his thanks and walked away.
Speaking of change… Horace thought, now there's a man who will NEVER change! Always being rude, annoying, making fun of people… making fun of me… He remembered the time he was about to shoot Hank. He had never been that angry in his life. Hank had threatened Myra with a gun… Myra… It had been their engagement party. They were so happy… And then Hank had barged in… drunk… carrying a gun. Myra hadn't seemed afraid, but Horace had been. At that very moment he had been sure Hank would have killed Myra where she stood. But then Sully had thrown a block of wood which had sent Hank into a coma. Horace remembered grabbing a rifle himself and pointing it at Hank's head. He had wanted to kill him. Not just because of the incident. It had been because of Myra as well. He knew Myra cared for Hank, somehow… And no matter what Horace did, he knew she would always have a soft spot for Hank. Horace just couldn't understand why… What did Hank have, that he hadn't? Sometimes it felt like she cared more for Hank than for her own husband… Ex-husband…
Horace knew Hank had a good side… well, sort of anyway. The man just hardly showed it. He cared for his son, that was for sure. And he had shown that to the entire town. He cared for his Nana… even borrowed Horace's life to show that… And he was the only one who could stop baby Samantha, Horace's daughter, from crying… Samantha…
If there was one life that had changed in the last few years it had been his own. When he arrived in Colorado Springs he had been in his early twenties, and pretty much a 'nobody'. However, thanks to a whole lot of hard work he had been able to become 'somebody' in this town. He had his own business and he even got a seat on the town council. And who would have thought he would ever find a girl? He certainly hadn't… He wasn't a looker, in fact, he was more like the town's geek. But he had fallen in love with one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen and to his surprise she had loved him back. Myra… sweet, beautiful Myra… She was a saloon girl no less, but he had loved her! And they had gotten married, even gotten a beautiful daughter! He had never been more happy… but then everything had started to change… again… but for the worse this time… He and Myra had started to grow apart. They didn't understand each other anymore and in the end Myra had decided to leave him. And she had taken Samantha with her. It had been the worst moment of his life. Her departure had sent him into a huge depression. He had never felt such grief before… He had shocked everyone by trying to commit suicide. Myra had even come back to talk sense into him… Eventually he had been able to pick up his life again, though he had changed for good… He would never be the Horace everyone once knew…
After that last visit, he never heard from Myra again. He sometimes wondered where she was… what she was doing now… He missed her from time to time as well as his daughter. He missed his daughter even more! But they were gone now, and he knew he couldn't keep on waiting for them to come back. They would never come back to him… He would never see them again… Never… Never… Horace sighed and looked at the clock. It was time to close up again. Another day had passed. Another day without Myra… without Samantha… He stood up and walked outside. He locked the door and headed home. His home… An empty home…
TBC
I just couldn't help myself… I just HAD to write again! Well, maybe some people will be glad that I did… So, tell me: What do you all think? Like it? Hate it? Should I continue? Press the blue button below please!
