Chapter Two
"Gone? But… that doesn't make any sense." Colleen frowned down at the dinner in front of her, then looked up to meet her adoptive father's gaze. She had come home on the train later that day, and Sully had decided to hold a family dinner (Matthew had joined them) and announce the… news.
"'Course it don't," Matthew said. "None of this adds up." He really did know that it made perfect sense—everything did—but was trying to keep his younger siblings clueless for their own sake.
"All I know," Brian announced, "is that I hate Daniel! Why, if I was twice the size I am now—"
"You ain't," his brother put in.
"—I'd show that fella just what I think of him!"
"Brian." Sully threw him a stern look.
"That's no way to be thinkin'," Matthew said.
"I don't care!" The young boy scowled. "I hate 'im!" With that, he stood up and stomped away to his room.
The three adults shared awkward eye contact before simultaneously staring down at their food.
"Sorry," Sully spoke up. "I ain't the best cook."
Colleen abruptly pushed out her chair from the table. "I'll go get Brian."
"No," Sully objected. "Just give him some time. It'll be awhile before he understands."
Matthew breathed a deep sigh and ran his hands through his hair. He sat quietly for a moment before turning to look at his father. "Are you sure it was her?"
The latter nodded solemnly.
"I don't get it!" Colleen blurted. "It doesn't seem like something she would do."
"I wish I could explain it." Sully looked at her sadly. "But I'm just as confused as you."
"I thought she loved us." Colleen's dark eyes filled with tears.
"'Course she does," Matthew said.
His sister bit her lip. "Then why?" She stood up and made way for the door, sliding a coat around her.
"Where you goin'?" Sully asked.
"The hotel." Before either of the men could argue, Colleen went outside, mounted her horse, and rode away.
Andrew Cook paced back and forth in front of his clinic's roaring fireplace, deeply immersed in thought. Beside him sat Colleen, her gaze occasionally shifting from the floor to look up at him in concern. He hadn't said anything for several minutes, which worried her greatly.
"Andrew."
He turned to her and cleared his throat. "What happens now?"
"I don't know." Colleen tried to swallow the lump in her larynx. "Sully only has enough money for me to finish this year's schooling. After that…" She couldn't finish.
He nodded his understanding. "You could always work at the clinic in town."
She shook her head. "It wouldn't feel right. Besides, I don't have the proper doctoral degree."
"The people in town know you," he said. "They trust you."
"Yes, but with Colorado Springs growing so fast, I won't be able to count on that for long."
Andrew chewed on the inside of his lip thoughtfully. He knew what to do; the answer was quite simple and obvious, but he wasn't entirely sure if she would agree to it. After all, she was going through a lot right now. A relationship to add to her burdens didn't seem like such a good option.
Still, it pained him to see her there, staring sadly at the flames in front of them, and he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms and soothe her.
Shh, shh. It'll be all right. I'll take care of you now—
Andrew shook his head to clear away the daydreams. "Are there any suitable jobs in… Boston?" Massachusetts had never seemed farther away than when Colleen left for college, and the thought of her staying there permanently shook him up badly.
"I don't know. I'll think of something."
He took a deep breath. This was it. "Well, if you can't find anything there, you're, um… more than welcome to stay here. I'll convince Preston to let you have a room for free."
"Thanks, but, that won't be necessary." Colleen struggled to keep her composure and barely managed to succeed. "If worse comes to worst, I'll stay at the homestead with Sully. He'll need all the help he can get."
Andrew nodded, feeling like an idiot. Katie. Of course. How foolish he'd been, thinking that Colleen would leave behind her baby sister—and the comforts of home—to stay there at the hotel, much less with him. They were only friends, after all.
"I… I'd better be going." She stood up, gathered her dress, and made every effort not to meet Andrew's piercing gaze.
"Right." He glanced at the clock on the mantle. "Would you like me to… er… drive you home?"
"I'll be fine."
It's almost midnight, he wanted to argue, but bit his tongue and held the door open for her instead.
She turned to look at him before leaving. "Goodbye, Andrew."
"Goodbye, Colleen."
He wondered if he'd ever see her again.
