Chapter 2
"What do you think, Mr. Sully?" Charles Baker looked expectantly at his architect. He was so thankful that the young man had at last agreed to work for him. At first he hesitated when he learned about the time this project might take because of the size of the new house that would be basically built out of stones. Mr. Baker knew from the newspaper that Mr. Sully was a widower and had a daughter living in Colorado Springs. As a father who had missed his only child far too long, he understood that the young man didn't want to leave his little girl for several weeks or even a few months and so he had agreed when Mr. Sully asked for a week to think it over.
To make sure that Mr. Sully would work for him, Catherine's father had not only granted him to have all weekends off but also had doubled the payment he was first willing to give as soon as he noticed the change in his daughter. Since the architect had entered their house for the first time a week ago, she was like a different person. Suddenly interested in her surroundings, she was even accompanying them out to the future building place right now.
Sully nodded in acknowledgment to Mr. Baker's question and his eyes where bright as he looked around. He was somewhere else in his thoughts though; he was remembering Michaela's reaction to the spot for their new homestead when he had shown it to her the day before. It was a place with a beautiful view and the creek only a few hundred yards away. Majestic old trees and lush vegetation graced the land that was far enough away from town for him to feel comfortable but close enough for Michaela so she could still see her patients easily. She had first looked at him with so much love in her eyes that his heart started to race once again. Then she threw her arms around his neck and momentarily forgetting their daughter, she even started a kiss that grew into a heated one. Only Hannah's giggling had broken them apart…
Catherine was watchful to gauge Sully's every reaction. It was obvious to her that he felt like an Indian. He didn't only acknowledge their ways by wearing buckskins, beads and a pouch but he cherished Mother Nature as well. When her father had mentioned that some trees might need to be chopped down before the building could start, Sully had suggested looking for a way to keep them alive first.
Every night since their first meeting, before she fell asleep, Catherine transported herself into a dreamland, imagining her life with him. If she only believed strong enough, it would become true. This tactic had worked for her before when she suddenly had to live in a completely strange world. In the end, she loved her Indian family dearly and was loved back by them. She had learned that the most important thing for the Indians was to stay together. When they met other Indians who had lost everything, her tribe took them in and gave them a new home. She was sure that Sully would do the same for her. However, she couldn't ask him directly, it had to be his decision. It couldn't hurt to help him to see his possibilities though.
Wondering what he was thinking, she noticed his faraway expression. Her eyes never left his face as she asked, "You like it? Would you want to live here?"
Sully snapped out of his reverie and took in his surroundings again. The land that Mr. Baker had chosen was beautiful and even included a part of the adjacent wood. Without being aware of the deeper meaning that her question held for Catherine, he replied, "Sure, it's nice out here."
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During the following few days, Sully spent most of his time in the Baker's house. He was busy with the planning and the blueprints. Mr. Baker had told him that he wanted his daughter's every wish to be considered and so Sully thought nothing of it when Catherine never left his side. He had to make sure that the house would be built exactly the way she wanted it to. This was his job.
However, in Catherine's mind, every word Sully spoke to her, every smile he granted meant that he had agreed to take care of her. He always asked her for advice and when it was possible, he took her wishes regarding their new home into account.
On Wednesday, Sully began to leave the house more often because he had to order the building materials and hire men who would work with him. Catherine didn't like that development; she needed to see him to be sure he wouldn't vanish out of her life again. After experiencing profound loss already twice in her still young life, she felt only safe when the people she loved were within sight. She knew that she was lucky because her father worked at home in his office and his business partners visited him rather than he having to go to their houses, and she wanted the same for Sully; she had to think of a solution…
When Catherine learned at supper on Thursday night that Sully would leave for the weekend the next afternoon, she desperately searched for a way to keep him with her. She knew about his daughter, too and thought that was his only reason for his wish to go back to Colorado Springs.
When Sully got ready to rise from his chair after they had finished dessert, Catherine laid her hand on Sully's forearm to stop his movement.
"Please, sit down again. I wanted to ask you to stay." Catherine's voice was low.
Questioningly raising his eyebrows, Sully complied and looked at the young woman he had grown fond of over the last few days. He could tell that she had taken in the Indian's way of looking at life and he liked that. Although Catherine was obviously immensely rich, she never acted that way. She never demanded but rather suggested and always tried to understand when he explained his reasons to her when they disagreed. Well, he knew another woman who was the same and much more… Thinking about Michaela made Sully's face lit up and misinterpreting that, Catherine smiled at him. "So you will stay with us?"
"Catherine, honey," Mr. Baker chimed in from across the table. "Mr. Sully has a daughter who is waiting for him and I promised that he will…" Seeing that his daughter's eyes were rolling back and her face growing pale, he knew what would happen next. "Mr. Sully, you have to…"
He didn't need to finish his request because Sully already was at Catherine's side when she suddenly slumped in her seat. Acting quickly, he picked her up from her chair and holding her limp body in his arms, he was startled when she suddenly started cramping. Anxiously he asked, "What do we do?"
The concerned father came over to help him to place his daughter on the chaise longue, "I don't know what it is, it has already happened a few times, usually when she gets worked up..."
"Did you ever ask a doctor about that?"
Mr. Baker shook his head, "I couldn't convince her to see one yet, she is frightened of strangers."
Sully nodded in understanding. "Maybe I can have Michaela come with me next week or so."
The older man asked in bewilderment, "What for? Catherine says she doesn't need company."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Sully had to chuckle as he explained, "Michaela is the town's doctor and my…"
"Oh!" Mr. Baker cut him off because it suddenly dawned on him; after all, he hadn't only read but actually studied that article, "Dr. Michaela Quinn! She seems to be a remarkable woman."
Sully didn't like the expression of admiration on the other man's face and so he immediately wanted to set him straight, "Yeah, she is and she is my…"
Again he couldn't finish because now, Catherine groaned and started to wake up. Instantly, Mr. Baker bent over her; "Catherine, can you hear me?"
His daughter's troubled eyes stared back at him and he had to strain to understand her whispered words, "Is… Sully… is he still here?"
"Yes, honey, he is." Affectionately, he stroked her blond hair back from her brow.
"May he stay with me?"
Straightening, Charles quickly contemplated what to do. He wasn't sure yet whether he liked that Catherine wanted Mr. Sully so close to her. After all, although the architect was a smart and nice young man, he stood more than one step beneath them on the social ladder… However, if he could help bring his daughter back into life, he could look over it. "Sure, honey, he will."
Initially, Sully had wanted to flatly refuse the request. He hadn't even been asked if he wanted to stay, but he had been able to read the taxing look his boss had shot him and he didn't like it. So it was as much an act of defiance as one of compassion as he agreed, "'course I keep ya company."
He wasn't aware that he had just made his second grave mistake.
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It was shortly after dawn on Saturday and Sully was angry with himself. He had missed the Friday afternoon stagecoach because he hadn't noticed the time while Catherine was telling him her story. All Friday morning, he had marked the outline of the new house with wooden stakes and string and only went to the Baker's again to tell his boss that he would start with his work on Monday without first coming into town so he wouldn't have to wonder about his whereabouts.
Catherine had heard him entering the house and joined the men. She had recovered well but for Sully, she still looked sick and sounded desperate when she asked him to stay a little longer. She had wanted to talk to him the night before but Sully had convinced her to rather sleep while he was sitting next to her. He knew from experience though that Catherine needed someone who would listen, for him that had been Cloud Dancing. Since he still had a couple of hours before the stagecoach left, he had stayed. He learned how her Indian village had been ambushed and everyone besides her had been killed. Catherine had witnessed it all without being able to do anything to stop it and only survived because of her blond hair. Bursting into tears, she had searched for comfort and needed to be held. Sully's heart had gone out to her and so he rocked her gently in his arms, murmuring consoling words.
When he finally noticed what time it was, the stagecoach had already left Denver. On his way to the hotel he had send a telegram to Michaela to tell her he would come the next day. Sully knew that she would be disappointed but he was sure she would understand; it had been important for Catherine to finally tell someone, it was her first step towards healing…
Now he was pacing the square of the train station and waiting for the stagecoach to arrive. The whistle of the train coming in from St. Louis startled him out of his troubled thoughts; and soon some of the disembarked passengers joined him in his wait for their vehicle.
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Elizabeth Quinn was tired and her back was sore from sitting on a small bench in a train compartment for ten days. She hoped that the upcoming ride on the stagecoach would be over soon so she could finally settle down in a nice hotel and rest her exhausted body. Looking around, she noticed that this town wasn't comparable to Boston. Not only were the buildings far less impressive but also the people here looked rather ordinary. She wished she were already back home again. Thank God that Dr. Burke accompanied her and relieved her from the unpleasant little tasks like looking out for the booked tickets right now. A sudden noise of a carriage arriving at full speed distracted her from her thoughts. The door flew open and a blond young woman, wearing a fashionable dress that made it clear that she belonged to the upper class, raced towards an Indian and threw herself into his arms in bright daylight! Profoundly shocked, Elizabeth gasped. What a behavior! She hadn't even known that the savages were allowed to be in town! Turning away from the scene in disgust, her face lit up when she saw Dr. Burke arriving at her side again.
That way she missed how Sully gently but firmly freed himself from Catherine's arms. "What are you doing here?" He wasn't only surprised but a little annoyed as well.
Catherine detected the angry tone in his voice and taking one step back, she let her arms hang down at her sides. Remembering that she wasn't supposed to push a man, her voice was small when she admitted, "I was hoping to convince you to stay, I…" She trailed off and looked shyly up at his face. He had been so kind the day before, his presence made her finally feel safe again and so she didn't want him to leave, even if it was just for a couple of days.
Sully took a deep breath; he didn't want any complications with his boss' daughter. "Catherine, listen to me." He paused until he could be sure to have her full attention. Locking eyes with her, he continued, "I got a family in Colorado Springs. I'm engaged and will marry Michaela as soon as I have built us a new house. For that I need money and that's why I took the job from your father. That's the only reason for me to be in Denver: to earn money. And I can't and don't wanna be more for you than a friend, ever. Do you understand?"
Catherine instantly tried to forget everything Sully had just said and only clung to the word friend. As a friend he would be there for her and since she would never see the woman he seemed to love, she could still pretend that there wasn't anyone else. That was good, she would handle it. Still looking into his blue eyes she promised, "I do."
"Good." Sully smiled in relief, he was glad that he had set her straight and wouldn't have to fear that she might misinterpret any of his actions in the future. He had learned from his experience with Flying Sun.
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Mrs. Quinn couldn't believe it, they had to share the stagecoach with that man and he had actually tried to charm her! Maybe young women fell for his blue eyes but with her, he was at the wrong address. With disgust, she glared at him from time to time to remind him to keep his distance. All she could do was pray that the four or even five hours they would need to reach the town her stubborn daughter had chosen to live in, would be over fairly soon.
The closer they came to Colorado Springs, the more excited William grew. Soon he would see Mike again and he hoped that she at least welcomed him as the friend he once was for her. He had agreed to accompany Mrs. Quinn because he wanted to help her in trying to convince her daughter to come back with them to Boston. If they didn't succeed, he had promised to stay on the frontier and take care of Michaela. He was determined to make sure that she would get everything she needed, no matter whether it was his professional help as a colleague or him being there as her friend.
Sully's discomfort grew with every mile the stagecoach covered. When they had entered the vehicle in Denver, he had offered his hand to the older woman to make it easier for her to embark. He had been taken aback by the disgusted look she shot at him and stepped aside to make room for the man who had turned out to be her traveling companion. Now they sat across from him never speaking one word. There was something about the woman he found familiar, but receiving another glare from her, Sully turned in his seat to look out of the window. At their next halt, he would ask the driver to allow him to sit with them, inside here, he felt as if he was suffocating. On Monday, he would ride to Denver, this way he wouldn't depend on a schedule to come back to Michaela and Hannah.
As soon as the stagecoach came to halt in front of the mercantile several hours later, Sully threw his bag onto the ground and hopped down from the seat next to the driver. He had already spotted his two women when the vehicle had rolled onto the main street and couldn't wait to hold them in his arms.
Hannah instantly demanded to be put down as she spotted her pa and now she was scampering at her highest speed towards her father. "Pa!" She almost fell over her own feet as Sully hurried to meet his little girl and pick her up. Lifting her above his head with outstretched arms, he made her squeal with delight. Bringing her down to rest her on his left forearm he asked, "Have ya been good for your ma?"
Gaining a vehement nod in response, he stepped closer to Michaela who had reached their side by now. Anxiously searching her face for any anger because of his delay, his face lit up when he only detected love and worry there. Pulling her close with his free arm into a tight embrace, he whispered into her ear, "I'll greet ya properly when we're alone."
Blushing once again, Michaela relaxed against him and was simply happy to have him back.
Sully let his eyelids drop momentarily and nuzzled into her soft hair she had let down especially for him. His voice was raspy with desire as he suggested, "Let's go home."
At this moment, Elizabeth Quinn had managed with Dr. Burke's help to finally get out of the stagecoach. Looking around to get oriented, her gaze fell onto a couple, standing in a tight embrace. Wasn't that the savage? Suddenly her eyes grew wide in horror. "Michaela!"
Her scream pierced the peaceful atmosphere and made Michaela instantly tense up in Sully's arms. Turning towards the very familiar voice, she froze in her place. "Mother!" She didn't dare believe her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
Elizabeth marched towards her daughter and facing her, she hissed, "Bringing you to your senses!"
Directing her next words at Sully she demanded, "Take your filthy hands off of my daughter!"
Hurt and embarrassed, he let his arm drop from Michaela's shoulder and took a step away from her. Michaela immediately grew furious. "You have no right to talk to Sully this way. You have no right to talk to anyone with such arrogance!"
Becoming aware that a crowd had gathered around them and was curiously gawking and listening, Michaela took a deep breath and suggested, "Let's go into the clinic."
While she was turning to go ahead, her eyes caught another familiar face from her past. Abruptly stopping, she asked in bewilderment, "William?"
Smiling broadly, Dr. Burke stepped closer. He reached his hand out to greet her and after he placed a kiss to the back of her hand, he covered it with his other one and couldn't conceal his delight when he stated, "It is so good to see you again, Mike…"
Lightly irritated he looked at Sully who had stepped closer again, with Hannah still in his arms. The long-haired man looked as if he wanted to stare him down. Embarrassed, William let go of Michaela's hand.
Glancing at Sully, Michaela noticed his clenched jaw and decided to immediately make a clear stand. "Mother, William, this is Mr. Byron Sully, my fiancé. And this little girl," she took Hannah from Sully in her arms and rested her on her hip in one swift movement, "Is our daughter Hannah."
Before Michaela could introduce her mother and former friend to Sully, she was cut off.
"You are engaged to him?" Elizabeth asked incredulously. "I hope you know that he has another woman in Denver!"
"Mother!" Michaela's exclamation sounded unnerved and so she was. Her mother hadn't been here for ten minutes yet and she had already managed to make her feel embarrassed and extremely frustrated. Of course Michaela instantly dismissed the accusation she had just heard as ridiculous. There would come a time she would remember it though.
