Chapter 4
Half an hour ago Michaela had still been kind of frantic after realizing that Mr. Sully's homestead was built at the end of a side street to a side street and that even the main road was completely deserted of houses. It was only the distant traffic noise that told her in what direction the town lay. She'd been angry with herself for not bringing a map but then she remembered her iPhone. At this moment she was very grateful that she lived in the twenty-first century and even more so when her phone found an Internet connection. This way she'd been able to search the yellow pages and call a taxi that took her to the address that Cloud Dancing had given to her.
It turned out that the joint practice was located in the middle of Old Colorado Springs. It was not identic with the center of the city which lay more east. Michaela liked that though and appreciated that the streets were lined with family homes and small shops rather than with high office buildings. Much to her joy a cozy-looking restaurant called Grace's Café was right across from her new workplace. That wasn't only convenient right now because she could have breakfast there but also later once she'd start her job. She wasn't much of a chef and might get in trouble if she had to rely on her own cooking skills.
It was a nice summer morning and so she chose a table on the patio from where she could watch the street. After her first sip from her mug Michaela couldn't help but smile: the coffee was hot and tasted wonderful. She was so absorbed with enjoying her drink and the view that she didn't notice the attention she aroused amongst some of the other guests and the café owner.
Grace, an African-American woman in her mid-thirties, glanced at her from time to time while she went around, making sure all her patrons were properly cared for. Most of them were regulars; the tourists would come later in the day. Grace was sure the woman at table 17 wasn't a tourist but she hadn't heard of anyone moving in the neighborhood either. If the stranger visited somebody she sure wouldn't have breakfast on her own. Looking at her new guest again Grace realized that the woman hadn't touched her food yet. Taking this as a welcome opening she straightened her skirt and stepped out on the patio.
"I hope there ain't anything wrong with your food," she said when she arrived at the table.
Startled, Michaela looked up. Embarrassed she quickly assured, "No, certainly not. I was only lost in thought…" Her voice trailed off as her gaze went over to the two-story building again.
Grace noticed and explained, "We call it the clinic but it's a group practice of three doctors. Well, actually only two 'cause Cloud Dancing's a medicine man. He and Dr. Bernard look for a new partner though." She heaved a deep sigh. "I really hope they will find a decent one."
"You didn't like Dr. Cassidy?" Michaela wondered, not able to hide her curiosity. It would be good to know what the man had done wrong so she wouldn't repeat his mistakes.
Grace rolled her eyes and scoffed, "He was a relic from the 19th century. Women who worked were to him like a red rag to a bull and he made no bones about tellin' them what he thought."
"I see," Michaela said. There was definitely no danger that something like that would come from her.
"Wait." Grace put her hands on her hips and eyed the woman before her. "I've never seen ya here. How'd ya know the doc's name?"
Putting down the mug she'd still been holding Michaela smiled somewhat embarrassed and got to her feet. Proffering her hand she introduced herself, "Michaela Quinn, MD. I'm the new partner over there."
As she indicated the clinic, Grace returned the handshake and smiled widely. "Oh thank God, a woman doctor! I gonna tell that Maude; she'll be so relieved."
"You the new doc?" A man in his forties appeared behind Grace's back as if he'd been hiding there and only been waiting for the right cue to make his presence known.
Before Michaela had the chance to reply, a drawling deep voice chimed in, "What's goin' on?"
"Hank!" Grace jumped, turning towards a tall man who suddenly stood at her other side. He had long dark-blonde, wavy hair that hung beyond his shoulders, making him look quite dangerous.
"What?" Hank smirked at the café owner, raising his eyebrows. "I just wanna be a good citizen."
"You two behave," Grace demanded, her smile having turned into a disapproving expression. "That's Dr. Quinn, the new…"
"The mighty Quinn, huh?" Hank chuckled as he scrutinized Michaela from head to toe. "I could offer ya a job in my business. Would be more fun."
"For whom?" Michaela asked, clasping her hands in front of her. She raised her chin, waiting for an answer. No one would have guessed that she was feeling extremely uncomfortable because the man seemed to undress her with his intense blue eyes. Fortunately covering her emotions had become second nature to her, not only because she often needed to do that professionally. She'd been harassed by her sisters, apart from Rebecca, her oldest one, as long as she could remember. She couldn't afford to appear weak.
Hank, however, knew when it was fruitless to continue his teasing. Exchanging a knowing look with the other man he slightly bowed in mock surrender. Gesturing with his thumb he said, "This here's my friend Jake. We run the hotel around the corner. If ya need a room, we're your men."
Somewhat relaxing Michaela responded, "Thank you, gentlemen. But there is no need. Cloud Dancing's brother offered his house for the night, and later this afternoon we will leave town anyway."
"Cloud Dancing's brother?" asked the two men in unison, and even Grace looked at her questioningly.
"Mr. Sully," Michaela explained, not understanding the puzzlement she'd caused and even less so Hank and Jake's laughter that followed her statement.
Seeing her expression Hank smirked again. "They are brothers as much as me and Jake here." Turning to his friend he suggested, "We could be whiskey brothers. Sounds nice, don't ya think?"
"Now, ya two," Grace scowled. "Leave the doctor alone. She's my guest and I want her to have breakfast in peace and quiet."
While Hank chuckled and stepped back, Jake still hesitated to move and only when Grace swatted him half playfully, half seriously with the fabric napkin she'd carried on her forearm did he turn around and left for his table.
The café owner didn't want for the new doctor to get a bad first impression of the neighborhood. "These two can be a pain but are quite harmless," she assured as she rearranged the small vase with a few daisies on the table while Michaela sat down again.
Yet Michaela smiled. "That's fine," she said and paused a moment before she continued, "What was that about Mr. Sully? Cloud Dancing told me he is his brother."
"Cloud Dancin' is a real Cheyenne and they're blood brothers." It was a small blond boy with missing front teeth who gave her this information as he stepped to the table, his hands shoved in his pockets.
"That's right, Brian," Grace affirmed. "But ya shouldn't disturb my guests. Now… Comin'!" she shouted in the direction of the café when her name was called from inside. "Sorry," she said to Michaela, "but it's pretty busy at the moment."
"I'm fine," Michaela quickly assured.
While Grace hurried away Brian continued looking at the stranger until he eventually asked, "You a real doctor?"
"That's right," Michaela replied.
Brian seemed to be relieved and went on, "I got a friend who's real sick. Can he come to you?"
"Certainly," Michaela nodded. "I will open my practice in four weeks the latest. Then your friend is welcome any time."
"Ya sure?" Brian was still skeptical, and Michaela thought he must have made a lot of bad experiences with physicians.
"I tell you what," she bent toward him conspiratorially. "My patients in Boston used to call me Dr. Mike. I'd like it if you did so as well."
"Good," was all Brian said before he suddenly ran away.
Smiling, Michaela shook her head and resumed drinking her coffee that was unfortunately quite cold by now.
She had barely started to eat her biscuit when Brian appeared again, dragging a boy his age with chocolate-brown skin with him. He pushed the boy in front of her and requested, "Tell him, Dr. Mike. Tell him that he can come to you when he's sick again."
"What's your name, Sweetheart?" Michaela asked the child that looked at her with anxious eyes.
"Anthony, Ma'am," the boy replied in a quiet voice.
"He's Miss Grace's son," Brian piped up again.
"I see," Michaela said and looked back at Anthony. "Anthony, I will soon have my office right across the street and I promise you that whenever you feel sick you can come to me and I will do my best to help you, alright?"
A shy smile flew over the small face and Anthony nodded. Brian didn't give him the opportunity to say more though; he already pulled him away.
"Told ya so," Michaela heard him say and then she was alone again.
When she was in a restaurant in Boston she'd always been an anonymous amongst strangers. She had the distinct feeling that would be very different in her new hometown.
xxx
While Michaela made first contact with people in town Sully's mind was occupied by too many thoughts swirling around in his head. On the one hand there was the fact that he would be taking a road in the afternoon he had avoided for more than two years although he used to love it. When Maude, Abigail's mother, had shown him the parcel of land she would give her daughter for her wedding gift, he had been thrilled about its location. For some reason, Abigail had always assumed it lay at Angel Terrace which was a very quiet street west of the Garden of the Gods Park, yet it didn't. Their new homestead was in fact pretty close to it but a tad more north.
Sully thought the location ideal. It was a small side street of Cedar Heights Drive that formed a T-intersection at its end, but most important was that there were no other houses around. He had grown up in a group home where he'd always been watched, and living in a place without prying eyes sounded like Heaven to him. Abigail liked the idea as well, and so he had built their house bit by bit at the far right end of the T. It had taken him quite a while but it had been done in time for their baby's arrival. However, Abigail never made it to live in their new home.
When he'd been there last night it hadn't been so bad, but driving along the familiar route in bright daylight would bring back all the dashed hopes, and he really didn't look forward to that.
But there was more. Actually, the upcoming task worried him even more than getting his emotions under control on his way to his house. He simply couldn't imagine what had gotten into Cloud Dancing to send him this woman. Even if she was an environment activist she didn't look like someone who'd enjoy two weeks out in the wilderness. Even worse was that Daniel had simply laughed at him when he'd asked him to meet them halfway to the camp to accompany them.
He had no choice; he would have to spend two nights with Michaela alone in the woods. If he only knew why this made him so nervous…
Eventually banishing all these disturbing thoughts from his mind he opened the door to Maude's kitchen. "Ya want me to fix somethin' else before I leave?" he asked, sounding like his normal self, not allowing his nervousness to shine through. He had still some hours to get a grip on himself.
