Modern Day Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Chapter II
Since it was now early summer the park was drawing many hikers and campers to explore the park's 346 miles of trails and enjoy the fields of wildflowers that were in bloom at this time of year all around the park. Since all these trails were at high elevations many hikers needed their doctor's approval to hike or even stay in the Rockies. Not all summer visitors listened to their doctors so Michaela was often busy at her clinic with the influx of tourists suffering form altitude induced health problems. The Rocky Mountain National Park draws millions of visitors all year round so the Sully's being busy was nothing new. Since both of them were their own bosses they were able to arrange days off together to enjoy this wonderful area at this time of year. Their favorite activity in this season was to backpack into one of the lesser-known high meadows with beautiful wildflowers. Here they could enjoy some privacy to roll around in the flowers and enjoy each other like newlyweds should.
One day Sully noticed an advertisement in the Boulder paper about the opening of a new theater in town for live performances. Boulder is one of the nearest cities to the National Park. Sully knew Michaela would love to go to performances there like she had enjoyed in Boston. He did not enjoy Opera or other "long hair music" like Michaela did, but they both enjoyed light opera. Broadway Shows were even enjoyable to Sully. Sully decided to buy Season tickets to the light opera season, which was to have 6 performances this season. He really looked forward to giving them to his new bride just as a gift because he loved her.
Sully beat his wife home again this evening as he usually did. He had time to put candles around the living and dining rooms as well as around their bedroom and bath. He had brought home roses to which he also scatter about downstairs in vases. He had bought some extra rose petals, which he scattered on their bed and in their extra large bathtub. He smiled when looking at their tub thinking of how smart he had been to include that in his house plans. They had certainly enjoyed that fixture since they had moved in. Just as Sully finished upstairs he heard his wife enter the home downstairs. Michaela looked around the room and wondered what made this night extra special. She saw the flowers and the candles. She also saw a bottle of champagne chilling in a silver ice bucket and a gift on the table with a red bow on it. Had she forgotten something? Sully was always so romantic, but she wasn't use to that and feared she might disappoint him.
As Sully came down the stairs he noticed the worried expression on his wife's face. "What's wrong?"
Looking around the room Michaela asked, " What's all of this, did I forget something?"
Sully chuckled as he took Michaela in his arms and answered, "Can't a man do some thing for the woman he loves just because she makes him so happy?" With this statement they kissed expressing their deep love. As Sully poured them a glass of Champagne Michaela opened the gift he had laid on the table. When she saw the tickets she smiled and said, "Oh, Sully Tickets to six shows. I didn't even know there was such a theater in Boulder."
"This is a new theater, it is their inaugural season."
"Sully, these are seventh row center seats. You spoil me so!"
"And I love doing it too!" laughed Sully.
The rest of their evening was spent eating, sipping champagne, and making love! Not a bad evening for a wonderful couple!
A few days later as the Sully's were eating fruit for their dinner's dessert and enjoying the fire in the hearth Sully said, " I had an idea for another activity the park could organize at this time of year." Sully loved having someone to discuss his ideas with rather than always being alone. He and Michaela were truly partners in life as well as love. Sully was not a doctor but had a lot of training for emergencies so he was able to discus her work some too.
Laughing Michaela responded, " Don't you have enough activities? A visitor here could stay on the go for a month and never repeat an activity."
"Yes, but that way there should be something for everyone to enjoy the park. Do you remember when we rode bikes down the volcano on Maui? That activity was open to all kinds of people because they were driven up to the peak and the ride was all downhill. There are places here in the Rockies where we could do that."
"I agree that would be fun, but remember you need good bikes with strong brakes and helmets of course."
"I am glad you approve of that idea. Maybe we can be the first to test it once I have it set up. There is another project on my mind. You know that approval must be obtained before anything can be built in the park. There is a church that would like to build a mostly glass chapel on one of the peaks to hold wedding ceremonies. They would position the church to get beautiful sunsets behind the alter. They would set up tents for the reception in keeping with their surroundings. It would be a beautiful place for weddings, but I don't want to approve anything that might hurt the environment. So far all I have done was to order an environmental impact study.
"That is a good idea, Sully, that would help you decide if this chapel would hurt the environment. Protecting the land is the main objective of the National Parks System. Maybe if they do build this beautiful glass chapel we could test it out first too just like the bikes?"
Laughingly Sully reminded Michaela, " We are all ready married."
Smiling Michaela replied, "I know, but I would marry you again and again anywhere anyhow."
Sully pulled her into his arms and said, "Me too! I love talking things over with you. It is so wonderful to never be alone again, to always have you for support whatever comes up in our lives we will face it together not alone!"
A big smile spread across Michaela's face. "I understand I always thought I would be alone before you came along, now I know I will never be lonely again."
They fell into each other's arms and joined in a kiss of two souls becoming one. These were two strong individuals, but now they were even stronger as a couple!
There was one thing where these two were keeping secrets showing that they still hadn't totally learned to trust each other with everything. The United States Government was planning to modernize the Search and Rescue team stationed at this National Park. The newly trained team was going to receive a state of the art helicopter like the coast guard uses. This park is the largest one and it needs this advanced training and equipment. Sully had been selected to be in charge of this newly trained team. He knew that search and rescue was dangerous, but that was something he had always done, but now he had a wife and he feared she would be scared for him and not want him to do it. What Sully didn't know was his new wife, Michaela, had also agreed to be on this team. They wanted a doctor on the team and she was perfect. Sully had taught her a lot of outside skills like backpacking, mountain climbing and repelling. She had not told Sully for the same reason he hadn't told her. She knew it was dangerous, but helping others even in dangerous situations is just what Michaela did. She was afraid that Sully would not want her to do something this dangerous.
They both knew they were going to have to tell their soulmate before the training started. One evening while they snuggled together in front of the fire they both started to talk at once. They laughed and then Michaela let Sully go first. "Michaela, the government wants to modernize our search and rescue team and they want me to be in charge. Now don't overreact I have been doing this sort of thing for a long time and I will receive even more training. I know it will be hard for you, but I will stay safe even when we have to rescue someone. I promise I will always come back to you. I know it is hard on you waiting for my return, but I will return."
Sully waited expecting a scared reaction from his new bride, but instead Michaela smiled at him. "I actually won't be sitting here worrying about you because I will be with you."
Sully looked at Michaela wondering what she meant. They wanted a doctor on the team, they asked me and I agreed."
"I suppose you know how dangerous this is, but I can't really say anything since I have chosen to do this too."
"I know search and rescue is dangerous we are even going to learn how to repel down from a helicopter for example, but doing this is just the kind of people we are and marriage didn't change that. Besides I would rather have both of us on this team rather than just one of us and the other back here worrying."
"I can see that Michaela, because I thought nothing of saying yes, but the thought of you doing this really scares me. This is one time that I wish you weren't so much like me."
After this emotional discussion they put their arms around each other and went upstairs to their favorite room in their beautiful house.
The training was very hard work for both of them. They often came home scraped up some and sore. They often spent their evenings soaking in their tub and then rubbing liniment on each other. In spite of the hard work the Sully's excelled in the training. Those who were sent out from the government to do the training were very impressed with them both.
Most of the time when a hiker was reported lost they didn't take the whole team up in the helicopter to search. When serious injuries weren't known to have occurred Michaela didn't go. The whole team knew advanced first aide techniques so Michaela was often more help remaining at the clinic to get ready for surgery and be a reference to those in the field.
One day a strong earthquake hit the park area. The clinic didn't experience any damage since it was built to the highest earthquake standards. But from the clinic you could hear rock slides all around. It was a surety that some hikers would be caught in some of these scattered about the park. Michaela set her staff at the clinic to setting up for injuries while she grabbed her rescue gear and took off for the airport where the helicopter was housed. She was half way there before she got the call to go.
As they took off Sully briefed the team on the helicopter. He had groups on horseback and jeep scouring the park to find anyone who needed help and he had the list of wilderness permits so the helicopter team could check on those people scattered about the backcountry of the park. Sully knew that in spite of the rules there was still probably some hikers that hadn't filled out forms letting the authorities know where they were headed in case of emergency. All they could do was check on those that they could find and hope the others were safe.
As they flew over the backcountry hikers would wave at them letting them know all was OK with their party. As the sun was setting the helicopter team had located the last party in the backcountry and all was well. They knew they had dodged a bullet that no one was hurt. Sully on the walkie-talkie had received reports from his ground teams that all the campgrounds had been checked and all was well. As the helicopter was heading back Sully received an emergency call. A hiker had gotten to a ranger station to report that the rest of his party was trapped in a rockslide high in the backcountry. The only way to reach them would be by helicopter since there were no roads up that way. The pilot was given the location and they took off to find them. As they were flying the pilot signaled Sully to come over to talk. Michaela was using the binoculars hoping to spot the injured hikers. The pilot told Sully that he was concerned about their fuel. They had been up all afternoon. When they added the weight of the injured hikers to the helicopter they might not have enough fuel to return to base safely. Sully understood so he told the pilot that when they pulled up the hikers he would stay below and hike back to base. If there was anyone who could take care of himself in the back country it was Sully, but he knew Michaela would worry, but it was the only idea he had to solve the fuel problem and rescue the injured hikers.
From the back of the helicopter Michaela yelled that she had spotted the hikers. From the description of the injuries that the one hiker had provided Sully knew he would need Michaela to repel down too. The Sully's used their ropes to get down to the hikers like practiced veterans. Michaela set to work stabilizing the two injured hikers to make it safe to transport them while Sully was organizing the supplies coming down from the copter. When Michaela was ready they got the first hiker into the rescue basket and sent him up to the helicopter. As they waited for the first inured to make it up and for the basket to come back down Michaela looked around the area and spotted the extra backpacking gear Sully had the copter send down. She turned around to her husband and questioned why there was backpacking equipment.
Sully explained the fuel and weight problem to Michaela so she would understand why he was planning on hiking out. Much to his surprise his wife did not get upset about his decision, but instead took the walkie talkie from him to ask the helicopter to send down a second backpack with all the supplies she would need to hike out with Sully. Sully looked at his wife incredulously shaking his head, but he knew there was no point arguing. As the helicopter flew back to the hospital with the two rescued hikers the Sully's started looking around for a place to camp for the night.
Sully knew it would take them at least a couple of days to hike out if the weather held and if the trails weren't blocked by rockslides from the earthquake. If they encountered problems it could take longer. He knew this park better than anyone and he and his wife were both experienced backpackers so he was not worried. The Sully's found a suitable place to spend the night and would be quite comfortable in their down sleeping bags zipped together protecting them from the cold tempetures at the high elevation. Before going to bed Sully got out the detailed map of the park that was included with their supplies to plan the best way for them to hike out. He wanted Michaela to understand the way just in case they were hurt or were separated. When they climbed into their joined sleeping bags sully pulled his wife close to his body and surrounded her with his strong arms.
He whispered in her ear, "I know this isn't as comfortable as our bed, but we will stay warmer this way."
"I will sleep anywhere in your arms. I am never cold there," smiled Michaela.
In the morning they ate one of the freeze-dried meals included in their pack and some coffee. After cleaning up their campsite and packing up their trash they started on their trail home. At first they were making good time, but they kept running into rockslides causing them to take detours. By the time it started getting dark and they had to find a place to spend the night Sully knew it was going to now take them at least three days to get back.
The weather continued to be good, but on their second day hiking back they ran into even more detours. When they settled down for their third night they realized they were only half way back, facing at least another two days of hiking. They realized that the people back at park headquarters were going to be worried about them, but there was nothing they could do about it. Michaela worried aloud, "Will they contact our next of kin on our emergency cards now that we are so late and unable to make contact?"
"I don't know, Michaela, but having met Rebecca I am sure she won't over react and we can reassure her when we get back.
Michaela thought to herself, "Yes, Rebecca is level headed, but Michaela knew that if she was contacted because of her sister she would be on the next plane overreacting in spite of her level head.
Since the Sully's were past the time they thought they would still be camping their packed food was gone and they were having to find food along the way instead. Normally, in a National Park, you were not allowed to pick plants or trap animals, but this was the exception. They picked greens like wild onions and garlic along the trail. They collected mushrooms and berries and caught fish in the streams. They were actually eating well, but they both missed their coffee.
Back at headquarters Michaela was right they were getting worried. They feared something could have happened to one of them, which was slowing them down getting back. They decided to contact their next of kin just in case there was a problem at least they would be forewarned.
Sully's emergency contact was his Aunt Martha who lived in New York. When they tried to contact her they reached her secretary. Aunt Martha was Sully's only living relative. She was his mother's sister and was also very wealthy. She would have preferred that Sully lived differently taking what she saw as his rightful place in society and that he used his money more rather than giving so much away, but she did love him. Sully had taken Michaela to meet his Aunt before they wed and Martha was very pleased. She knew Michaela came from a good family even if not has high society as the Sully's and Martha hoped she would be good for Sully. She even hoped she might provide an heir for their family even if she was older than most first time mothers. Aunt Martha was fearful that their family line could end with Sully, which broke her heart. As soon as Aunt Martha was informed she had her pilot fly her out to Colorado in her Lear jet. The thought of this young couple, the future hope of her family being lost in the earthquake-damaged wilderness frightened her.
Rebecca took the notification call herself and turned white as a sheet. She said thank you to the official that called and said she wound be out there as soon as she could. When she called her husband at work to tell him he suggested that she take her mother with her. Rebecca wasn't so sure that was a good idea considering the relationship her mother and sister had, but she would like company and her husband couldn't get away from work now and someone needed to be there for their children. Rebecca packed a carry on bag and headed over to her mother's house. When she told her mother where she was going and why, her mother stood up called for Martha to pack her a suitcase and announced she was going to Colorado. Rebecca was actually surprised, but pleased with her mother's reaction. At this point Rebecca's husband called with flight choices. As soon as Elizabeth was ready the women left for the airport.
Aunt Martha arrived first of course and went to headquarters to get an update. Nothing new had happened so she went to the nicest hotel in the area. It wasn't what she was use to, but she would make do. A few hours later Rebecca and Elizabeth arrived and also head for headquarters, but received the same news. Rebecca had rented a car and she knew where Michaela kept an extra key to her home from her last visit so she took her mother to the Sully's home. As they were going there they drove past Michaela's Clinic. When Elizabeth saw the sign "The Joseph Quinn Memorial Clinic she got choked up. She knew her husband would have been proud and honored. Joseph had really gotten to know this daughter of his since he died when she was so young, but she realized he would have been proud to have one child take after him. When Rebecca parked their rental car in front of Michaela's log house Elizabeth was actually impressed. It was warm and welcoming. The garden and the orchard were well cared for and were full of fruits and vegetables. Her daughter living in a log cabin is not what Elizabeth dreamed for her, but it was better than she thought it was. When Elizabeth entered the house she was even more surprised and pleased. This home was full of modern connivances and decorated to perfection. It showed that a loving couple lived there. Out of the corner of her eye Rebecca could tell her mother was pleasantly surprised.
After Elizabeth and Rebecca laid down in one or Michaela's guest rooms to rest from the plane flight they decided to go back to headquarters before it became dark and there would definitely be no news overnight. Aunt Martha had the same though and went to find out more too. They arrived about at the same time and when the Assistant Park Ranger noticed that they didn't know each other he introduced them. Aunt Martha invited Michaela's relatives to dine with her at her hotel and they accepted. Rebecca drove the three women to the hotel. When they sat down in the main dining room. Aunt Marta started the conversation.
"Sully brought your Michaela to meet me in New York before they were married. I was very impressed with her and thrilled at his choice for a wife." Elizabeth smiled and thought she must have been successful in teaching Michaela proper manners since this woman was obviously well bred and well to do. She thought that Michaela must have made a better choice in whom to marry than she had thought.
Rebecca spoke up, "My husband and I met Sully and though he was the perfect man to marry my sister, we couldn't be happier."
"Being a park ranger even it charge of the largest park in the US is not what I had envisioned for the heir to our family, but he loves what he is doing and he is good at it. I know that this wonderful couple will be safe because Sully can take care of himself in the wilderness better than anyone and he loves his wife beyond all measure and he will protect her no matter what happens."
Elizabeth smiled and responded, " Michaela is very strong and smart herself so I know she also will be OK." Rebecca smiled and thought of what Michaela would think if she knew her mother was complementing her strength and intelligence. Rebecca knew her mother always wanted her daughters to be the best and always enjoyed bragging about them, but she never heard her include Michaela in her pride for her children.
The next morning when Rebecca and Elizabeth were getting ready to head over to headquarters they felt another aftershock of the earthquake. After the shaking stopped they could hear rockslides echoing in the park. This made them nervous for Michaela's safety. They arrived at the office at the same time as Aunt Martha and noticed the rescue helicopter taking off. When they got inside the first thing they asked was if the helicopter was searching for the Sully's. They were informed that no the helicopter was off searching for visitors which might need help because of the last earthquake. Elizabeth yelled, "Why aren't they looking for my daughter? Shouldn't you care more about your own workers than visitors?"
The park ranger in charge turned to Elizabeth and explained, "When your daughter and her husband volunteered to be on our park's search and rescue team they knew it was dangerous and agreed to put the visitors to the park lives in front of their own. When they repelled down the ropes from the helicopter to help the injured hikers, they knew they were putting themselves in danger and they did it freely. When Sully tried to stay down alone to spare fuel so we could all get back here safely Michaela wasn't about to let him hike back alone especially knowing they would be safer together than one alone. They volunteered to do this and would be upset if we used resources for them when park guests need them. Besides they have both been highly trained and no matter what difficulties they are facing I am confident that they will return safely."
Elizabeth was shocked, "Are you saying my daughter slid down a rope from a helicopter? How could her husband let her do something so dangerous?"
Rebecca just shrugged her shoulders and laughed like anyone could stop her sister from doing something that she thought was the right thing to do. The park ranger asked, "You don't know your daughter very well, do you? You don't stop Michaela from doing anything to help others, it is in her nature, dangerous or not. Sully and Michaela are a team; I have never seen two people that love each other more. Sully tried to keep Michaela safe, but she wouldn't hear of it. Together they will succeed I know.
At this point Aunt Martha joined into the fray; "My nephew would never put his wife in danger they seem to be very much in love and very much alike putting others before themselves.
Everyone was arguing so hard, except Rebecca, that no one noticed the Sully's enter the office. They were dirty, but safe. They watched what was going on and laughed, "Isn't anyone going to say welcome back?"
They all turned around and rushed over to hug them dirt and all. Elizabeth was the first to comment on how they looked. "You are filthy!"
Michaela giggled and answered, " There aren't showers on the mountain, Mother and we were afraid people would be worried about us taking so long so we didn't stop and take a swim this afternoon.
This shocked Elizabeth, "You mean you would have swum naked outside to get clean?"
With a big smile on her face Michaela introduced her mother to her husband, "Sully, this is my mother, Elizabeth Quinn, who obviously knows nothing about living in the wilderness."
Sully stuck out his hand to Elizabeth and laughingly said, "Nice to meet you, Mom"
Michaela and Rebecca laughed. Rebecca greeted Sully to break the shock by saying, " Nice to see you again Sully. I am glad you two could join us.
Aunt Martha spoke up, "Why don't I take your family to my hotel while you two get cleaned up and then maybe we can all dine together this evening before your extended family goes home.
"Thank you, Aunt Martha, but I have been gone a long time and I need to check on the condition of the park."
"And I need to check in at the clinic for the same reason", added Michaela.
Suddenly the ranger who has been running things interrupted. He held up a piece of paper and explained, "This has come from the United States government. Mr. Byron Sully and his wife Dr. Michaela Quinn-Sully have been awarded the Medal of Freedom the highest medal awarded to civilians. You have been granted a week's leave to recover and then you are both to go to Washington DC to be presented this award by the President himself. One of those hikers you risked your lives to save was the President's nephew."
Elizabeth, Rebecca and Aunt Martha beamed with pride. Michaela and Sully looked at each other and said, "We don't need any medal we were just doing our jobs."
I told them you two would say that, but the president's sister is so grateful that she has to do something for you for saving her only son. A temporary ranger and doctor are coming to assist us for two weeks while you are off. We will be fine and your jobs will be waiting for you when you return. Let this mother express her gratefulness and enjoy your time off and that is an order. The Sully's laughed and agreed to have dinner with their family after they went home to clean up. They knew it could be an interesting evening. The Sully's went home to bathe in that extra large tub of theirs. As they soaked and tried to relax Michaela laughed. "I hope my mother didn't see this tub while she stayed here considering her reaction to the idea of us bathing in a creek."
"I can tell why you knew so little about sex when we met, you mother is really uptight."
"Actually I enjoyed having you teach me about the physical side of life," teased Michaela as she reached under the water to tease Sully.
"I enjoyed teaching you because you are an amazing student taking every lesson further than I could ever dream. I wish we could go use the beautiful bed I carved for you instead of going to dinner with our family."
"Me too, but I believe this is an obligation, they did fly out here because they were worried about us. I am really surprised my mother came, I mean she didn't even come to the wedding."
"Don't worry Michaela remember I am your family now and I will always be with you."
Michaela smiled, and said, "I know. But I think we need to get ready now. Maybe it will be an early evening"
12
