CHAPTER 4

Brian walked up the stairs to tell Ellie that dinner was ready. As he approached her room he saw the door was open. Stopping in the door way he saw her sitting on the bed; her back to him. He couldn't help but notice how lovely her hair was. It was long and had a natural wave that made it flow beautifully down her back. Ellie didn't seem to hear his approach so he said tentativley, "Ellie?"

Popping up quickly at the sound of her name Ellie turned toward the door. Brian jumped a little from her abrupt reaction and said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle ya."

Quickly putting the picture under a pillow Ellie said, "Oh, it's ok. I guess I was just…day dreaming."

Brian had noticed the photograph but didn't think he should ask about it after her quick disposal of it. Instead he said, "I guess you must be tired after all that traveling."

"Yes, it was a long journey. I'm glad to finally be here!"

"Are you settled in? Do you need anything?"

Ellie smiled at his kindness. "I'm fine, thanks! This room is wonderful."

"Probably not as fancy or big as your room in Boston though." Brian said off handedly.

"Well, size isn't everything and I think your home is so….I don't really know how to describe it…. but it's got a nice feeling. I like it! It's been a while since I've been some place I felt so…comfortable." Ellie was about to say, 'safe' but caught herself.

Brian considered her comment for a moment. He wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. He sensed she was referring to something other then being uncomfortable on a train for the last few days. Unsure of his impression he simply said, "I'm glad you like it! I just came to tell you that dinner is almost ready. Sully will be home soon too. He's my pa. He'll be glad to meet you."

"Great!" Then, in her silliest and most dramatic voice, with her head tilted back, pronounced, "I'm starved!"

Ellie watched with satisfaction as Brian chuckled and replied, "Me too! Come on!" She followed him down the stairs.

Just as Ellie and the rest of the family were about to take their seats at the table Sully came through the door followed closely by Wolf. "Hey, everybody." He put down his things and bent to give Michaela a kiss, placing a loving hand on her abdomen. Katie came flying at him, "Papa!" she wrapped her body around one of his legs. "Hey my Katiebug!"

"You're just in time for dinner." Michaela said.

"Sure smells good." Sully said as he affectionately kissed his wife again.

Ellie watched this scene with pleasure. She was forced to bend down and pet the dog that had been sniffing relentlessly at her since it had entered the house. When Ellie let her fingers stroke behind the animals ears it sat down and reveled in her touch. When she stopped running her fingers through the dogs hair, it got up and pushing her leg, whined for more. Obligingly Ellie again let her hand rest behind the dogs ear. Michaela turned to Ellie and started to make introductions, "Sully I would like you to meet Ellie Burton. She's new in town and needs a place to stay for a little while. I told her she could stay with us in Colleen's room." She turned to

Ellie and said, "Ellie, this is my husband, Sully, and I believe you've already gotten acquainted with Wolf." Michaela chuckled lightly.

Ellie smiled and bent her head in a shy greeting to Sully. This ruggedly handsome man was not at all the kind of man she had pictured Dr. Mike's husband to be. He had no proper Boston appearance to him that would identify him as the kind of gentleman that would be married to a Boston bred lady like Dr. Quinn. A tomahawk hung from his hip and his long hair and beaded necklace gave him a rough look. However, he possessed a friendly face. Ellie's observance of his gentle touch and the sparkle in his eyes as he gazed on his wife, left no doubt in her mind that Sully was a gentleman in ways many Boston men were not. She hoped he would be alright with her presence.

Sully stuck out his hand to the young lady and said, "Nice to have you Miss Burton. Welcome to Colorado Springs."

Ellie blushed at being called Miss Burton. She shook Sully's hand and said, "Thank you Sir. Please, just call me Ellie though. I want to thank you for letting me stay with your family."

"Sure, we can always make room for one more. Besides, it looks like Wolf has decided you're alright!" Sully grinned at her and she felt herself blush slightly.

"Sure seems like he likes ya." Brian agreed as they began to take their places at the table to eat dinner.

Sully turned to his wife as she loaded up her plate, "How are you feeling? Seems like your appetite is good." He grinned knowingly.

"Yes, the morning sickness isn't as bad anymore." Michaela said with a blush.

Ellie considered this exchange and smiled as she asked, " I don't mean to be rude but… are you expecting?"

Before Michaela could respond Katie bounced in her chair excitedly exclaiming, "Mama's going to have a baby! I'm gonna be a big sister!"

Ellie smiled widely and said, "Congratulations!"

"Thank you." Michaela said.

"How far along are you?" Ellie asked.

"Only about two and half months. New Years should bring with it our new little addition." Michaela beamed happily.

"That's wonderful."

As they began to eat and Ellie listened to the family as they chatted about they're day.

During a lull in the conversation Brian said, "Ellie's from Boston." He attempt to ease Ellie into conversation. He could tell she was feeling a little out of place and wanted to try to make her feel comfortable and at ease.

"Yes, we had a pleasant chat at the clinic today; all about how things have changed there." Michaela said.

"So, what brings ya to Colorado, if you don't mind me askin'?" Sully said.

Ellie swallowed her bite of chicken and said, "Well…I just…wanted to get away I guess; see a new place. The farthest ticket I could afford was to Colorado Springs, so I took it!" She smiled and hoped she didn't sound too childish.

"Well, we hope you enjoy it here." Sully said.

"Thank you."

"Is your family back in Boston?" Brian inquired.

"Um,…well, my uncle is there."

"What about your ma and pa? Don't you miss 'em? Why didn't they come with you?" Katie asked with concern.

"Katie, that's not polite sweetheart." Michaela said.

"But, if I went far away I would miss my family." The little girl declared sweetly.

Ellie smiled and said, "It's alright." She turned to Katie and said kindly and simply, "I do miss my ma and pa Katie. I miss my little brother too."

"You have a brother too? Like me?" The little blond girl looked excited to have something in common with this new friend.

"I sure do! But,…. I can't see my family like you can see yours."

"Cuz they live far away?" Katie asked in excitement of trying to guess the correct answer.

Ellie smiled at her and said, "Well,…sort of, yeah."

"Where?" The little girl piped out.

"Well… see… my family is in heaven."

There was silence at the table and Ellie thought that maybe she had said too much. She hadn't meant to make things serious but she figured there was no point in lying about her family. As Katie pondered what Ellie had said she finally declared, "They get to live with the angels! "

"They sure do." Ellie blinked back tears at the little girls innocent comment.

Michaela said softly, "I'm so sorry Ellie. We didn't mean to pry."

Ellie gave her a small smile and said, "It's alright. No harm done. It happened a long time ago. I was eleven."

"It's hard loosin' the people we love. Never quite leaves ya." Sully sympathized.

Ellie was surprised by his quiet, knowledgeable words. She gave a smile of gratitude for his understanding.

"My ma died when I was young too." Brian said in an attempt to help Ellie feel comfortable.

"But I thought…" Ellie looked at Dr. Mike in some confusion.

"My real ma died when my sister, brother and I were young. Dr. Mike took us in and became our new ma. Then when Dr. Mike and Sully got married we got a pa too." Brian smiled with satisfaction.

"That's wonderful! I never would have known."

"There's more to family then just being blood relations the way we see it. Brian, Colleen and Matthew are as much our children as Katie is." Sully said.

"You have an amazing family Sir." Ellie said sincerely.

"I think so too. And just call me Sully." Ellie smiled shyly and nodded her consent.

"And your uncle that's in Boston, did he ….." Michaela began to ask.

Ellie anticipated her question and said, "Yes, he's my only living relative so I moved in with him after my parents died."

"So, what are you going to do now that you've left home? Are you going to stay in Colorado for awhile?" Brian asked.

"Yes, what are your plans?" Michaela asked innocently.

Ellie's eyebrows came together and then one rose and she said truthfully with a shrug of her shoulders, "I haven't really thought it through that far to tell you the truth. But…well, I've been toying with the idea of traveling around to different cities and putting on piano concerts. People could come and listen for a nickel or something like that….Then I could save up the money until I could afford to settle down somewhere and maybe teach lessons or do music in a school house." Ellie was afraid her idea sounded foolish so she shyly added, "But, I don't know, it's just kind of a dream I've had… to play for people…. and it could be fun to teach. I'm not too sure it will work out though."

"You play the piano?" Michaela asked interestedly.

"Yes. I love it!" Ellie bit her lip as if confessing a secret. Her blue eyes sparkled with joy. "I've played ever since I was a child."

"Brian plays too." Sully said.

"Yeah, but I bet I'm nowhere near as good as you are." Brian interjected.

"You play?" Ellie said enthusiastically.

"Yeah, a little."

"He's gotten pretty good actually." Michaela said.

Ellie smiled as Brian blushed slightly from the praise of his mother.

"Maybe we could play a duet, or we could do a concert together!"

"Really?" Brian asked intrigued.

"Why that would be a lovely idea!" Michaela encouraged them. "We don't often have concerts and things like that here."

"But, no one knows me and…well…do you really think it would work? Do you think people would come and actually pay?"

"Well, if you really want to do it then you gotta start somewhere. Might as well try it out. We could help." Sully said to her.

Michaela chimed in, "Brian could talk to Dorothy about printing something in the Gazette to advertise it and get the word out to people."

"Yeah, I could even write an article about ya so folks could get to know ya a little bit." Brian offered.

Ellie was overwhelmed by their offer to help. She smiled broadly. Her eyes were wide with surprise and hope. "I don't know what to say…."

"Does that mean you'll do it?" Brian asked expectantly.

With a slight , hesitant shrug of her shoulders Ellie sweetly said, "I suppose so!"

"Great! I'll talk to Dorothy tomorrow about getting started on advertising. Is it alright if I interview you?" Brian asked.

"Yes, but only on one condition."

"What's that?" Brian asked.

"You have to agree to play with me in the concert." Ellie said shrewdly.

"But… I'm not so sure…" Brian stammered.

Ellie folded her arms in front of her and eyed him.

"It'd be a good experience and opportunity for you to brush up Brian." Michaela said.

"I don't think she's going to take no for an answer son." Sully said with a chuckle.

"Please Brian? Don't you want to? She's really pretty!" Katie chimed in.

Sully let out a laugh. Ellie felt her face burn with embarrassment. Michaela, who was unsuccessful at keeping back a smile, said, "Katie!" Her tone was not very successful at disciplining the young girl to the fact that she was struggling to swallow her laughter.

Brian's face turned pink and he conceded, "Alright, you win."

Ellie smiled at him with pleasure and let a musical laugh escape her lips. "Good thing your little sister is so persuasive!"

They finished their meal with laughter and good conversation. Michaela notice the dark circles under Ellie's eyes and saw her stifle a yawn as they dried the dishes. "Why don't you turn in for the night Ellie. You've had a long journey and I've no doubt your exhausted."

"I think I will." Ellie put the dish she had just dried on top of the others. Turning to Dr. Mike she said, "Thank you again for letting me stay here and for all your help."

Michaela put her arm around the girl and gave her a little squeeze. "Not a problem. Now, go get some sleep."

As Ellie made her way to the stairs Katie ran up to her, "What about a story?"

"Oh, I forgot."

"Katie, Ellie is tired." Michaela said.

Kneeling down Ellie said, "I'm sorry Katie. Would it be alright if I wait until tomorrow night to tell you a story?"

Katie nodded in the affirmative and then asked, "You promise?"

Ellie took Katie's little hand in her own and linked the little girls pinky with hers, "Pinky promise!" Ellie beamed at her. Rising, Ellie turned to Sully and Brian before mounting the stairs, "Goodnight."

They said good night in return and Ellie made her way up to her room. She laid on the bed and let her body sink into the soft mattress. Her mind could hardly believe all that had happened with in the last few days. She had arrived in town that morning feeling ill and alone. Now she laid comfortably in the home of a wonderful family who not only had given her a place to stay, but had given her hope that she could do what she had always wanted to do. A renewed sense of joy filled her at the thought of being successful in supporting herself and starting a new life. In the back of her mind a thought formed that threatened to destroy her peace……. What if he came for her? He was sure to find her eventually. Ellie refused to dwell on those dark questions and possibilities. She took out the photograph from under her pillow. After looking at it for a moment she whispered, "I love you." She then placed the picture of her loved ones safely back behind the pillow and fell into a deep sleep.