Chapter 1

A lonely stagecoach crossed the Colorado plains. A young woman, actually she was thirty years old, looked out of one of the windows, lost in thought. Here she was, Michaela Quinn, in the middle of nowhere, trying to start a new life. The last six months had been very painful for her. Her mind wandered back.

After she had kept vigil next to her father's bed for three days he left her. She was alone. In order to not break down in front of her mother's eyes she did what she had learnt to do: she pushed the emotions in the back of her being. She knew she couldn't count on her mother who had disapproved of all she had done in her entire life. She hadn't respected her wish to become a doctor, had even called it ridiculous and improper. After Michaela had finished medical school her mother had told her that she could only work as a doctor because her father couldn´t stop spoiling her and indulged in letting his daughter work with him.

After the funeral it became evident to her that at this point, her mother was right. She had worked side by side with her father for seven years and the other doctors in the hospital had grudgingly acknowledged her presence. It now became obvious they had done that only because of her father. No one wanted to work with her now and Elizabeth Quinn had closed the office of her late husband. At every door Michaela introduced herself she was rebuffed. She was used to constant rejections but now the only person who had constantly supported her all these years was gone.

Finally she found an advertisement that a little town at the frontier was looking for a doctor. She answered it and as a precaution told them she was a woman and they told her nevertheless she could come. She hoped that they not only would tolerate her but also learn to accept her.

Now here she was. In the distance she could already see a mountain range. The driver had told her it would only take two hours from here to arrive at her final destination.

The mainstreet of Colorado Springs was unusually crowded. The members of the town's council were in the middle of a discussion. "I told you we don't need no doctor let alone a darn woman," Jake Slicker, the barber, muttered under his breath.

"Jake, we already had this discussion. The town is growing. I don´t know what we had done if the flu had reached us. Do you know how many have died in Soda Springs? They lost half the town!" The Reverend Timothy Johnson was tired of those constant arguments with Jake.

"Aww… leave it be, Jake." Loren now entered the discussion. "All I want is to finally sleep a whole night again. Wasn't it you who told me we should see a doctor about Hannah? If the doc can make stop her crying I don't care if it's a woman!"

Hank, the barkeeper, smirked. "Know what I think? Must be a mannish woman if she's workin' in a man's place. Maybe she even has a mustache!" He was very pleased with himself about this joke.

"Stage is coming, stage is coming!" seven year old Brian Cooper shouted as he ran towards the men. By now there were nearly twenty people standing around curiously awaiting the arrival of the new doctor.

The stagecoach drove in in a huge cloud of dust and pulled up in front of Bray's Mercantile. The door opend and suddenly the women who were standing there gasped because of the fancy clothes the emerging woman was wearing. The men were equally stunned. Even Hank was speechless for a moment, but he quickly caught himself. "Look what we have here! This could be interesting!"

Her medical bag firmly held in her left hand, the right one on top of her hat, Michaela glanced out at the crowd. She was fully aware of the townsfolk's stares, though she didn't think they had anything to do with her appearance. She was used to this reaction because she was a woman and a doctor. So she didn't give it a second thought. Her only problem at the moment was how to get down to the soiled street nearly two feet under her shoes.

Finally the reverend broke the spell. He stepped forward and helped her out of the coach. "It is nice to meet you, Miss Quinn." The Reverend shook her hand suddenly unsure of his decision.

Michaela automatically amended "That's Dr. Quinn, sir. Dr. Michaela Quinn."

"Of course, of course," the reverend tried to compose himself. "The town's council made some preparations for your arrival. Oh sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Reverend Timothy Johnson."

Jake still was not sure if she was real. He had never seen such a beautiful creature before. He stepped forward too and grasped for her hand. If he could feel her then she wasn't a dream.

"Ahem, Jake Slicker, madam." He couldn't help but adding, "I make the doctoring around here."

"Another doctor?" Michaela was confused. Why did they call for her if they already had a doctor?

"Aww, Jake! Can't you just stop that?" now Loren joined in. He turned to Michaela and explained, "He's the barber, that's all." Reaching out his hand he said, "Loren Bray. I own the mercantile here. And if you're settled in at the clinic, I have an ill child."

Michaela was relieved. It seemed they actually needed her. "I could examine the child right now; you only have to show me where to go." Michaela smiled reassuringly at Loren.

"But shouldn't you first…" the reverend tried to make his point.

"It's alright, reverend, we can take care of my things later." Michaela was already on her way to follow Loren leaving the astonished townsfolk behind.

Entering the mercantile Loren shouted for his wife. "Maude, the doctor is here!"

From above came the faint cries of a baby and a woman's voice. "Could she come upstairs?"

Seeing the infant Michaela was instantly alarmed. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"Aw, she's crying all the time, that's happening." Loren lost his patience. "Do something, I can't take it anymore!"

"Why don't you go downstairs, Loren, I'm sure there are some costumers waiting," Maude suggested. Slightly grunting the storekeeper left.

"She has to do what?" Loren some fifteen minutes later exclaimed disbelievingly.

"Your granddaughter suffers from a navel hernia and the only way to help her is an operation," Michaela patiently explained.

"Do you even know what you are talking about? No one cuts my girl open!" Loren's temper rose.

There it was again. Michaela was sure if she had been a man he never would have doubted the diagnosis and the way of treatment. She straightened up, raised her chin and looked directly in his eyes. Her tone was determined. "I'm sure you are aware of the fact that Hannah's state of health has dramatically worsened during the last few days. You have probably noticed that she can't keep her meals down. She's getting weaker, Mr. Bray."

Loren looked less self-confident now. Michaela continued, "There is a tear in her stomach muscle around the navel." She turned to Maude. "Did she cry a lot when she was younger?" Maude nodded yes. The doctor's speech was directed at Loren again. "The intestine pokes through the hole. I have to move the bowels back to their right place and then sew up the tear. If I don't, the hernia could become strangulated. In fact I'm sure this is already the case here. If I don't operate, cut off the gangrene tissue this girl will die for sure. If your mannish pride could overlook the fact I'm a woman just for a moment I can save your granddaughter's life. And for your information , I am not new at this profession. I've been a doctor for seven years already, not to mention the experience I had with my father before receiving my degree. Hannah's suffering won't go away like a cold, Mr. Bray."

Suddenly aware they weren't alone in the store Michaela stood up even straighter and Loren grudgingly gave in.

In the evening an exhausted Michaela sat next to a cot where little Hannah rested peacefully now. The last few hours had seemed to be flown by. After the discussion with Loren, a slightly hesitant Reverend had explained to her what the town had planned. Charlotte Cooper couldn't afford to support the boarding house any longer, so the town had rented the downstairs floor for the new doctor and Charlotte kept the rooms upstairs for herself and her three kids.

Although the Reverend had become nervous about the woman's acceptance of this, Michaela was actually very pleased. The town had even prepared one of the rooms with an examining table, made by the town's blacksmith Robert E., which was very helpfully during the operation. One of the other rooms she took for herself and the third room would become a recovery room.

Until she would be fully settled down, Charlotte had invited her to take the meals with her family. Michaela was grateful and had accepted the proposal for that evening. Little Brian couldn't take his eyes off of the beautiful lady. Colleen, a 12 year old fair-haired girl had been amazed at the prospect of an accomplished woman. "You are a real doctor? You went to college and everything?"

"And everything," Michaela had answered her.

Only the eldest son Matthew, who was already sixteen, had seemed to be slightly embarrassed by her presence. Michaela enjoyed the meal with the small family, but her thoughts were most centered in relief that the operation had gone well. Charlotte had helped her with the chloroform and the light. And now all she had to do was observe the healing process. Although he had hesitated , Loren had eventually agreed that Hannah stayed with the doctor in the clinic.

So here she was awaiting the challenges the life in this town would face her with.