Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
"Coming Home: A Christmas Story"
Written By: Emily A. Linzi
(Colorado Springs, December 1877)
On the way back to the homestead from town Michaela was still trying to place where she might have known Nia. She knew Brian's friend looked familiar even though she hadn't seen her for almost 10 years and a young woman does a lot of changing it that amount of time, but it was bothering her nonetheless.
After everyone got settled in the homestead in their respective rooms, the family sat down to dinner. The table was flanked with all the dinner trimmings of a thanksgiving dinner. Since the whole family wasn't able to be together for Thanksgiving, Michaela thought it would be nice to postpone it until the family could be together. Gathered at the table along with the family were Dorothy and Cloud Dancing who were happy to see the family back together again. Just as they were finishing dinner Michaela realized where she had seen Nia before, but she decided to hold off on telling Nia until she knew for sure. After the dinner was finished and the dishes done, Nia decided she wanted to get some fresh air and stepped outside into the cool Colorado air.
"Nia, are you okay?" Asked Brian.
"Yes, I'm just thinking about Boston and how busy it is." Said Nia.
"Compared to here Boston's a little too busy, but I think you have something else on your mind?" Said Brian.
"What do you mean?" Asked Nia.
"I don't know. Life, your career, Maybe? Pick one." Said Brian.
"I was just thinking about do I really want spend my life hidden away in a back room editing other people's work and only submitting my work under an assumed name, someone who doesn't even exist." Said Nia.
"That person does exist though, that person is you and if you have to go to another paper to experience the joy of seeing your own name in a by-line, I will gladly go with you." Said Brian.
"I'm just wondering if it's really what I want or something I did to survive." Said Nia.
"Well if it's not then we'll figure something out." Said Brian.
"Let's just forget about it and enjoy our time with your family." Said Nia.
"Okay." Said Brian as he hugged Nia close to him.
(The Next Morning)
Brian woke up and decided to go into town and talk to Mr. Bray about getting something for Nia that would be a special gift for both of them just in time for Christmas.
"Morning Mr. Bray, Reverend." Said Brian as he walked into the Mercantile and saw the older gentleman who he revered as close as a grandfather to him and the Reverend Timothy Johnson who had become blind some years before.
"Mornin' Brian, how are you, I heard from a reliable source that you had a young lady accompany you home this season." Said Mr. Bray.
"Yes I did her name is Nia Parsons." Said Brian.
"Well you'll have to bring her by while you're here in town." Said the Reverend.
"I'll be sure to do that Reverend, actually I came in to ask if you had any catalogues that have jewelry in them?" Asked Brian
"I believe I just got one in, ah here it is. What do you want with it anyways?" Asked Mr. Bray.
"I just wanna get Nia something nice that's all but nobody can know about it. I want it to be a surprise." Said Brian
"You got it, which one so I can order it and so it will be in time for Christmas?" Asked Mr. Bray
"This one here." Said Brian as he pointed to a picture of a very lovely piece of jewelry.
"Are you sure that's a serious piece of jewelry there." Said Mr. Bray.
"Yes I'm serious about Nia, and I want that piece of jewelry." Said Brian.
"Okay I'll put the order in. That will be 75 please." Said to Brian as he started pulling out the cash.
"Thanks Mr. Bray, I'll talk to you later Reverend." Said Brian as he walked out of the store.
Michaela meanwhile was sitting in the clinic still racking her brain trying to figure out where she knew Nia from and it hit her like a flood gate opening. Nia was a little girl from the Sacard Heart Orphange in North Boston. Michaela had treated the girl for Bronchitis and started to teach her how to read and write. She spent so much time with this child it pained her to leave her behind. She then started think if she hadn't left Boston her whole life would have been different.