Hey all, an apology, not my favourite chapter nearly deleted it but I had to keep it in as it introduces the character of Georgia who has an important part to play in a later chapter. I hope you that you like it more than I do
Crushed Velvet
Georgia stared excitedly out the window as the train steamed through the countryside, or more importantly the wooded wilderness. When news had come that her old Uncle Roscoe had died leaving her a small farmstead near Colorado Springs she had thought all her dreams had come true. Finally she had been able to escape the state she was named after, the place she hated so much, the place that had squashed and stifled her, squeezed her spirit from her. Spirit she was only able to get back when she was with the girl who sat beside her staring equally as excitedly out of the window. They weren't stupid, even though they were young they knew that in reality that Colorado Springs would be the same as their village outside Atlanta, but at least in Colorado Springs they could play their ruse. They could be left alone to enjoy each other as they saw fit. Left alone on the farm they could be as they wished, only having to pretend when other's were around, they could relax in their company never having to worry about being caught out by their troublesome parents. Georgia slid her hand down beside Evelyn's, her fingers intertwining with the girl she loved more then anything. The girl she was to spend the rest of her life with.
Of course they would say they were sisters, and with both of them having Irish heritage they could pass for sisters but they would know, they would know and experience and love as they wanted, away from the prying eyes. Free to love as they wished.
Brian smiled politely as he sidestepped the two young women who had just climbed down from the steaming train.
"Sorry, er excuse me young man" the taller of the two called him back "Sorry, do ya know where we can hire a wagon from" she smiled disarmingly at him,
"Down by the livery" Brian pointed towards Robert E's shop "You just moved here?" he asked pausing a moment to look properly at the two young women. They were roughly the same age as him, the taller one slightly older then the shorter one, both had striking blue eyes, the younger one with dark brown hair, the other with a rich auburn, both having a wide eyed innocence and something he could not quite place.
"Oh yeah," The taller one smiled. "I'm Georgia Sheridan and this is my sister Evelyn."
"Brian Cooper-Sully," Brian introduced himself, shaking their hands in turn. "I run tha gazette, what brings ya to Colorado Springs."
"Our uncle died," Evelyn spoke up softly. "He left us the land."
"Old man Groves?" Brian looked quizzically at them.
"Yeah, he was my Mother's older brother," Georgia smiled a little awkwardly, as she explained the different name.
"Well nice to meet you," Brian smiled. "Sorry about your uncle," he looked awkwardly at his hand. "You know how to get there? I could point you in the right direction."
"Thank you, but the solicitor sent us a map," Georgia fingered the map nervously, "Thank you for the offer though."
"No worries," Brian smiled relieved that he had been the gentlemen and they had refused as he had much to get on with. He inclined his head to Georgia and darted away leaving the two women to contend with their luggage.
"You should have got his help," Evelyn pointed out as she hauled her bags towards the end of the platform.
"He's a reporter," Georgia stated. "They ask questions."
"Oh yes," Evelyn scowled and followed Brian with her eyes. "I didn't think of that," she gave Georgia a disarming smile. "You're so clever."
Georgia rolled her eyes. "You are silly," she lifted her trunk and dragged it towards the dirt street. "But I suppose one of us has to be."
Michaela smiled as she sat at the table, Brian for the first time in many weeks home from work for supper, no doubt because Rosemary and Jason had come over to discuss the wedding.
"I don get it," Katie mumbled as she mashed her potato into her plate. "Why?"
Michaela looked quizzically at Sully having missed what they were discussing as she had gone to put the kettle on.
"Brian was saying that he was gonna ask The Reverend Johnson to marry them," Sully told her with a soft smile.
"I fink Reverwend Alex be upset," Katie pointed out, her lips pulled into a pout as she considered her pastors feelings.
"I was gonna ask him to be my best man," Brian told them all quietly.
"What about Matthew?" Michaela raised her eyebrows. She frowned as Brian gave a soft sigh "Brian?"
"He ain't sure if he is coming," Brian sighed again. "He's not sure if Trudy is gonna be up to travelling and he don't wanna leave her."
"Mattew no come," Esmee looked up from her bowl alarmed. "Colwe?"
"That's sad," Katie muttered, her brow creased as a thought struck her. "What about Gamma?"
"Grandma is coming, "Brian assured his little sister.
"Colwe," Esmee hit her palm against the tray of her highchair demanding an answer.
"Inside voice sweetheart," Michaela cooed to her daughter as Sully reached out and smoothed her hair.
"They've asked for time off from the hospital, but they are waiting for an answer," Brian informed the table sadly, somewhat deflated that his siblings appeared to not be able to attend his wedding. He smiled as Rosemary placed her hand over his. "Least I've got you girls to be the bridesmaids though."
"You're going to look so pretty," Rosemary smiled at Violet who had looked up from her food. "So pretty."
"Petie," Violet mumbled and gave a beaming smile.
"Mama!" Katie inhaled sharply and stared up at her little sister with surprise. "Violet said a big word!"
"She did," Michaela tenderly stroked Violet's hair. "She's a clever girl," she coaxed Violet to look at her, "Clever girl," she repeated slowly.
"Ma," Violet gave a sloppy smile and turned her face back to her food.
"You got real smart kids," Jason piped up. "Just like Rosie was when she was that age, quieter though. She used to chatter away morning noon and night."
"Pa," Rosie blushed as her father gently teased her.
"Oh, this is quiet," Brian grinned at Katie who made a face at him before giggling. "They're on their best behaviour."
"Because of me?" Jason looked a little upset that the children were acting differently because of him.
"No," Sully chuckled. "Because there is pie for afters."
"Miss Grace's pie," Katie grinned, she sent a nervousness look at her mother.
"That's alright Katie," Michaela smiled at her daughter. "I think we all know that I am not the most skilled at cooking."
"Ya better then ya were," Brian pointed out with a cheeky smile.
"Thank you Brian," Michaela shook her head. "Though perhaps Rosie, you should teach the girls how to cook."
"Yah," Esmee clapped excitedly. "Wosie cookin us," she frowned. "No cook us, cook wiv us."
"Maybe you could help me cook your Ma's birthday cake," Rosie offered.
"Yeah," Katie grinned. "But that's not for ages," she fixed her most hopeful look on her face. "Can we cook sometime sooner?"
"Sure," Rosie nodded.
"Dis weekend?" Katie asked eagerly.
"She can't this weekend," Jason mumbled. "Sorry girls, she's helping her old Pa out. Gotta move Old Man Groves animals back to his farm."
"Oh yeah Georgia, the new owner, I met her today." Brian commented. "At the station, her and her sister...um Eve I think."
"Roscoe never mentioned her," Jason looked at Brian curiously, "But then he was losing it," he chuckled. "Poor old thing."
"Por old fing," Esmee copied him, she giggled. "Papa," she flexed her index finger at him, indicating for Sully to come in close. The two of them had a whispered conversation for a few moments.
"Go on Na'he," Sully prompted the little girl.
"May Iee be scused?" Esmee requested, "Iee need ta go" the little girl elaborated.
"You may," Michaela nodded.
"Papa up peas," Esmee held her arms out for her father, who quickly lifted her out of her chair and set her on the ground. Esmee scampered towards the privy to handle her business.
Jason chuckled and looked towards Michaela. "Thanks for having us over. I miss this, the noise of a dinner table."
"Well our family is definitely noisy," Michaela smiled indulgently at Katie and then at Violet as the nearly two year old scooped a large handful of mashed potato and deposited it in her mouth. "and messy," she shook her head as half of the handful spilled down Violet's chin.
"How families should be," Jason smiled across at Rosie and Brian who seemed to have vanished into their own little world which included just them. "Noisy and messy and loving. You got plenty of that."
"We do," Michaela caught Sully's eye. "Plenty indeed."
"I don't believe it," Evelyn spun excitedly round the small cabin which was their living space. "Our own home." She grabbed Georgia, pulling her away from the just lit stove and into her arms for a tight hug. "You're amazing."
"I had an uncle who died," Georgia pointed out, resisting the urge to turn and taste Evelyn's sweet lips. "We have a lot to do."
"We can do that tomorrow," Evelyn kissed Georgia's shoulder. "We should celebrate."
"Oh," Georgia spun in Evelyn's arms. "And what did you have in mind?"
"Well it's the first time that we have been able to..." Evelyn blushed. "Well you know. It is the first time that we will be able to be together without the fear."
Georgia smiled and moved her arms so that she was holding Evelyn, taking up her position as the more dominant of the pair. "Without the fear, that shall be nice," she hesitated from kissing her love. "I love you."
"I love you," Evelyn whispered back, her eyes sparked and she gave Georgia a coy yet cheeky smile. "I made the bed."
"You did huh?" Georgia tightened her grip around Evelyn.
"A bed," Evelyn giggled, "makes a change from the woods," she pulled from Georgia's grip and moved slowly towards the room which was the bedroom. "Are you coming?"
Georgia nodded, her hands moving to untie her apron. The fabric garment dropped to the floor and Georgia stepped over it moving to join Evelyn in the bedroom. To take the step that neither had taken before, to love in peace.
Horace looked up as a man slammed his hand against the counter. "Can I help you?" he asked nervously, taking in the red face of a middle aged man who was clearly angry.
"You got a Doctor here?" the man growled, his face stained with the dirt of travel.
"Sure do," Horace pointed down the street. "Dr Mike, she's real good."
"She?" The man nearly spat. "A woman."
"Best Doctor I ever seen," Horace stood up, defending Michaela. "Real smart. Helped near about everyone in this town."
"Guess she'll have to do," The man growled. "Where will I find her?"
"Round the corner, can't miss the clinic, she'll only be in till 12 though," Horace noted the time. "Ya gonna have to hurry."
"She gonna know how to get to Groves Farm," the man growled again.
Horace narrowed his eyes. "Reckon she does. Why?"
"None of yours," The man spun around and stomped towards the street.
Horace followed, "Reckon it is, I'm the mayor."
The man snorted with derision. "Figures," his eyes fell on Robert E who paused and returned the stare. "Negro's, lady doctors," the man muttered under his breath. "Figures they'd run here."
"Look here, you be civil now," Horace pulled himself to his full height. "We don't want no trouble here."
"Well ya got it." The man called angrily as he stomped round the corner.
"Look whatever it is I'm sure we can fix it," Horace continued after the man. He winced as the man instead of ringing the bell like Michaela's sign requested banged on the door with his fist.
The door was thrown open immediately, Klara standing annoyed on the other side, as the noise of one of the Sully girl's crying filtered through.
"You the doctor?" The man scowled at her.
"No I'm the nurse," Klara spoke coolly to him. "Are you injured?"
"Need ta speak to ya boss." The man made to step into the clinic, but Klara put her body in his way.
"Dr Quinn is busy at the moment. What is the nature of your requirement to speak with her?" Klara sent the man a glowering look.
"Need ta hire her." The man scowled but took a step back, seeing that Klara was not going to let him in. "My daughter has an abnormality. I got her a place at an asylum, I need you to make sure she don't run off."
"I'm sorry," Michaela blinked a few times as she stepped to the doorway, processing what the man had just said. "Are you asking me to drug your daughter?"
"You the doctor?" he looked confused by Michaela's appearance before shaking himself. "She's sick in the head" The man scowled, clearly uncomfortable about talking about this in the open, he looked down. "She don't think she is but she is. Evelyn, she needs help."
"Evelyn," Michaela repeated. "You are Evelyn and Georgia's father, Roscoe Grove's nieces."
"I ain't that witch's father," The man spat. "That witch, poisoned my little girl, made her...do things."
Michaela frowned and took a step forward. "Mr..."
"Farley," the man told her, looking as if he was fighting back his tears as his anger seemed to melt away. "Bill Farley."
"Mr Farley, come in please," Michaela stepped back to allow the man into the clinic. "Klara would you take the girls to Sully?"
"He's working on the house," Klara pointed out, giving Michaela a strange look as she tried to figure out what was going on, and why Michaela's demeanour had changed so suddenly.
"Yes of course," Michaela nodded as if she had just remembered where her husband was. "Perhaps you could take them to the swings."
"Sure," Klara gave Michaela a questioning look. "Come on girls," she held her hand out to Esmee who was sat snuffling on the floor in Katie's arms, while Violet sat playing oblivious to her sister's distress at the noise from Mr Farley banging on the door.
"You sure?" Katie got up slowly before helping Esmee to her feet. "Mama I can stay with ya," she gave Mr Farley an angry look. "I don't think we should leave ya."
"I'll be fine Sweetheart," Michaela told Katie softly.
Katie sighed heavily and slowly moved towards the door. "Alright, but you be nice to her," Katie held a warning finger up at Mr Farley. "Mama got a baby growing in her tummy."
Bill Farley looked at Michaela properly for the first time. "Oh Congratulations." He offered weakly
"Thank you," Michaela smiled, she quickly kissed her children as she ushered them out the clinic and moved to sit at her desk. "Mr Farley please sit," she waited patiently for the man to sit down, his anger seemingly gone now, replaced by a bewildered look of confusion. "Mr Farley tell me about Evelyn's abnormality."
"I...I," the man dropped his head into his hands. "It's immoral."
"Evelyn, I take that she has run away with Georgia," Michaela pressed gently. "That they are..."
"Don't say it," Bill Farley looked up at her imploringly. "It ain't right, a girl and a girl, it ain't right."
"I see," Michaela folded her hands on her desk. "And you have found somewhere that will take her." she spoke carefully, while she was uncomfortable with homosexuality, she understood it, that is was not an abnormality as Bill Farley described it but was something far deeper than that, something in a person's biology. She also knew that wherever Mr Farley had found to 'treat' his daughter would do little more than torture her.
"Yeah," The man nodded. "But I couldn't afford to get them to find her." He shuddered. "I can barely afford it as it is. She...she's just a little girl."
"How old is Evelyn?" Michaela asked softly, knowing that the age would be important.
"She's seventeen."
"I see," Michaela looked down at her hands and sighed. At seventeen, Evelyn was still a minor, and as such Michaela would have to be involved if Mr Farley requested. She sighed sadly, if Evelyn had been only one year older she could have refused her involvement, she could have refused as Evelyn was an adult, she could have sent Mr Farley to the sheriff's office for it to be dealt as a legal matter. She swallowed, not that she wanted to subject anyone to that type of treatment, but if the inevitable was to happen she really did not want to be part of it.
"You don't agree with what I'm doing do ya?" Bill Farley looked at her accusingly.
"I have seen these sanatoriums." Michaela spoke softly/ "They are not..."
"It will cure her." the man protested.
"I hope it will." Michaela forced herself to smile. "Mr Farley I will sell you the medicine you require, but in my condition." she smoothed her skirt over her budding bump to emphasis her point/ "I do not want to be involved in this." she forced her smile into what resembled an apologetic look. "There is another Doctor in town, at the Chateau Health resort. though he is in Denver today..."
"I'll buy the medicine," Bill Farley rubbed his hands nervously.
"Very well," Michaela rose from behind her desk across to her medicine cabinet. "How long is your journey?"
"To the place, a couple of days," Bill Farley muttered quietly. "Why is that important?"
"I need to know how much to give you," quickly she took what he would need and portioned it into a small glass bottle. "That will be a dollar and fifty cents please," Michaela turned sharply.
"Really?" The man swallowed. "That much?"
"Yes," Michaela held her breath, hoping he would change his mind about drugging his daughter. She exhaled slowly as he handed over his money. "A few drops in her drink will suffice, every four or so hours, no more than that."
"Well thanks for your help then," Mr Farley took the bottle and examined it quickly. "Do you know..." he's eyes met with Michaela's and he stopped. "Don't judge me," he whispered, his anger gone now, replaced purely by an quiet desperation. "What would you do?" He did not wait for Michaela's answer, instead moving out of the clinic.
Michaela sighed heavily and rested her hip against her medicine cabinet. She looked up at the sound of the soft knock at the door.
"You Ok Dr Mike?" Horace asked nervously hovering in the doorway.
"Yes I'm fine," Michaela told him softly. "I think I shall go home."
"Alright," Horace looked at her cautiously ."You want me to get ya wagon for ya?"
"Yes please," Michaela smiled gratefully at him. "I shall get the girls."
"You sure you're alright?" Horace studied her face, which suddenly looked very tired and drained.
"Nothing a good hug from my daughters won't fix," Michaela forced herself to smile. She paused beside the doorway and reached to touch Horace's arm. "Thank you for your concern."
"No bother Dr Mike," Horace smiled at her, his hand gently patting hers "Just remember Dr Mike. Whatever ya had to do, it was for a reason. Whether ya agree with it or not. Ya did it because ya had too"
"Were you listening?" Michaela asked him softly her eyebrows raised.
Horace shook his head. "Before ya shut the door I heard what he said. I ain't so dumb, Only two reasons a man put's his daughter in one of those places," he patted Michaela's hand once more. "I'll get ya wagon for ya."
Georgia looked up from her book on animal care she had picked up once she had found out she was to inherit a herd of cattle. She looked across at Evelyn, who was stood at the stove trying to encourage the kettle to boil. "What you reckon? Welcome committee?" Georgia smiled getting up from the table, as the dominant of the pair seeing it as her role to open the door.
"Probably not," Evelyn giggled. "Probably it's the man who brought the herd over. Reckon he's forgotten something."
"Probably right," Georgia opened the door a fraction as she turned her head to greet whomever was at the door. "Good afterno..." her eyes flared and she made to slam the door.
"George?" Evelyn moved forward nervously.
"Go," Georgia hissed at her, straining to keep the door closed.
"Wha..."
"EVIE!"
Evelyn froze, her stomach sank, she had had less than a full day of her new life, less than a day, and he had found her already.
"Evelyn go," Georgia urged. "Hide." She smiled briefly, for a minute moment her strength against the door diminishing.
In that briefest of moments the door burst open. Georgia went flying backwards, falling back and striking her head on the table.
"George!" Evelyn ran forward, ignoring the fact that it was bringing her closer to her father who had burst in, wanting to get to her love. "NO!" she screamed as her father seized her. "Let me go, let me go," she jammed her foot down onto her father's, making him gasp and lose his grip for a moment. She wrenched herself free from his grip and dropped to her knees, gently she cradled Georgia's face. "George," Evelyn whispered. "Georgia wake up, I need you to wa... NO!" She screamed as her father grabbed her once more. "No, stop it. STOP IT!" She flailed her head as her father poured something bitter and acrid into her mouth. "What. Stop it," she gasped trying to bring her head back to focus, she kicked and screamed but something did not seem to be right. Her body seemed to be going numb, not cooperating at is should, not doing as she wanted. "Stop," she protested weakly, her body feeling like it had gone heavy, so heavy that she was not able to move it. "What?" stop struggling and her father lowered her slowly to the ground. "What?"
"It's for ya own good Evie."
Evelyn blinked trying to follow her father, but her chest was slowing her breathing becoming shallow.
"I'm going to get you help Evie."
Evelyn followed her father as he moved to collect her still packed bag. She tried to open her mouth, tried to tell him that she did not need help, that she was happy, that she was in love, that she had all she needed, but whatever he had poured into her mouth was working fast, was preventing her from speaking, and by the haze in her vision was slowly taking away her sight. She swivelled her failing eyes onto Georgia trying to focus on her as the haze descended further. Trying to memorize every single facet of the woman she loved to her memory because she knew whatever help her father was going to get for her. She knew that she was as good as dead and that when, if, she ever escaped this 'help' she would never find her way back to Georgia. She tried to raise her head trying to get a better look but it was too much and finally the haze of drugs settled around her and Evelyn passed into unconsciousness.
Michaela ran her hand along her face as she watched the girls playing on the floor in front of the fireplace. Bill Farley's words where ringing in her ears, "What would you do?" She knew that the situation Mr Farley found himself in was unusual and it would unlikely happen to one of her children, but there was something else within his words. 'My daughter has an abnormality'. Abnormality, not normal, Evelyn was not normal, just as Violet was not normal. Michaela's eyes fell on her littlest daughter, her dainty beautiful Violet, sweet poor little Violet. There was so much about Violet's life they could not predict. She would speak but how much? Would she ever learn more than the few words that she knew now? Was she destined to be mostly mute? Or was she destined to be perhaps only a year behind her peers which is how she seemed to be now, her language skills that of a a child around 1 years of age, rather than one who was nearly two. Michaela sighed. There was so much that could be affected by her daughter's deafness, deafness which seemed to have worsened as she had grown older. They didn't even know if she would be able to go to school as Katie did, as Esmee would. If she couldn't hear the teacher, then how would she learn, was her deafness destined to make her a child who was considered stupid. That is if there was not a problem with her ability to learn already. She had noticed that recently that Violet did not operate the same way her sisters did, that Violet showed signs of not being able to process things such as sequences, whereas both Katie and Esmee had gone through a phase where everything had had to be in some kind of order. Violet appeared to struggle with recognition of shapes and letters and even when it did appear that she could hear she struggled to follow. Michaela bit her lip trying not to cry, she was forcing herself not to think about it, knowing that in truth there was nothing she could do about it and that Violet would probably catch up, but she couldn't help it. She smiled as she felt the nudge against her skin once more, almost as if the baby was trying to tell her not to worry. Tenderly she rubbed the growing swell, her thumb stroking over where she had felt the baby.
"Is da baby kicking?"
Michaela chuckled as she looked up from her stomach, Katie's little face full of excitement. "Yes."
"When can I feel it?" Katie asked hopefully.
"Not yet," Michaela smoothed Katie's hair. "It's still too little, but I promise as soon as I think you will be able to feel it I shall let you."
"Ok," Katie grinned and trotted back to her game.
Michaela watched her elder daughter for a few moments, smiling as she watched Katie play out one of her large fantasy worlds out in her head, each of her toys playing a particular role.
"Ma," Violet's voice piped up, making Michaela look down. "Ma," the toddler repeated again and held out a sheet of paper, the toddler obviously having got hold of Katie's pencil box. Michaela took the paper and studied it, surprised by the rather neat and precise drawing on the page.
"Thank you Violet," Michaela lifted Violet's chin and smiled at her daughter, earning her a huge smile in return. Michaela studied the drawing again and smiled widely, her daughter's unwitting gesture allaying her fears. Violet was a creative soul, and even if her speech did not improve or she did have problems with her learning, she would always have her creativity. "It's beautiful." Michaela shifted herself forward and slowly rose from the armchair. "Where shall we put it?" she bent down and took Violet's hand, leading the toddler to the bookcase. She placed the drawing on the top of the book case, carefully propping it against the wall. "There," Slowly Michaela got to her knees, already finding that kneeling was proving problematic with her growing waistline. She wrapped her arms around Violet and cuddled her tightly. "Doesn't that look pretty?"
"Petie," Violet confirmed, using her words with pride. The auburn haired toddler snuggled in, cuddling her tightly for a moment before looking down to look at her mother's stomach, a faint expression of annoyance on her face as she realised she could not cuddle her mother how she wanted because her mother was bigger than usual.
"That's the baby," Michaela told her softly. "Your little brother or sister," she took Violet's hand and rested it on her middle, "Baby," she made eye contact with her daughter, "Can you say baby?"
"Ba," Violet tried. "Bavy."
"Good girl," Michaela kissed Violet lovingly on the cheek. "Mama loves you."
"Ma," Violet responded by grabbing Michaela's face and holding it so she could kiss her on the lips. "Ov."
Sully yawned as he pushed his horse on towards home. He had spent a long hard day, digging out the foundations for what would be Brian and Rosemary's new home. He was building the house on a plot of land that was mid way between their house and the Hart's ranch. The building was going to be large, a bungalow with 6 rooms of varying size and purpose leading off a main central living area. The size was due to Elizabeth's generous financing of the construction, coupled with during a disagreement about the number of rooms, Katie pointing out that she and her sisters would need somewhere to stay. Once he had got the foundations and fireplace in situ along with the main support posts Sully knew the construction would be easy as it was essentially a collection of squares around the one central fireplace. He had planned that it would take anything between 6 to 12 weeks but he was erring towards the 12 weeks as he was planning to look after the girls more so that Michaela would not overwork herself. It was for that reason he was eager to get home. He knew that as it was Saturday Michaela and the girls would already be home, which meant that Michaela would have been lifting the girls in and out of the wagon, something he was not keen on her doing. He smiled to himself as he thought of his wife's growing form. To him there was nothing more beautiful then he already stunning wife carrying their child, plus it made her vulnerability come out and all her pretence at being some kind of super woman vanish as she ended up struggling with the simplest of things and more often than not needed some kind of back or foot massage to make her feel better. Pampering Michaela was one of his favourite things to do and now as her belly was really starting to grow she needed that pampering more and more. He slowed the horse as he rounded the bend and frowned as he took in the sight of a young woman staggering down the road. She had stopped and turned, no doubt hearing the horse. Concerned Sully moved pushed the horse on towards her. The young woman ran forward towards him, staggering across the road, making him having to pull the horse into a rear to stop her from being run over.
"Please you have to help," she grabbed hold of his foot, her dove grey dress was stained with blood around her shoulders. "He took her."
"You're hurt," Sully told her ignoring her pleas for help. "What's your name?"
"Please you have to stop him taking her."
Sully frowned, the young woman seemed confused, but he wasn't sure if it was because she was frantic about whoever had been taken or because she was injured. Sully slid down from his horse and grabbed her round the elbows. "What is your name?"
The young woman stared at him for a few moments before finally speaking. "Georgia."
"Georgia, you're hurt," Sully tightened his grip as she wobbled.
"I need you to..." Georgia started to speak.
"I'll go into town but I need to take you to my wife." Sully guided her to the horse with ease he lifted her up onto the horse. His nice relaxing evening of pampering Michaela vanishing before his eyes.
He hauled himself up on behind her and seized the reins flicking them to move the horse on. The force of the horse movement made Georgia slump back against him, the force of the movement too much for the weakened young woman. "We need to find Evelyn," she mumbled, gripping hold of Sully's arm as she felt herself sagging. "I need to find her."
Horace shook his head once more. "I really don't think she should be travelling when she is like this." Horace scanned the man who had come to 'rescue' his daughter the young woman llaying prone on the floor. He really did not want whatever drama this was causing but he could not in good conscience allow the man to board the train when his daughter seemed to be barely breathing.
"I need to take her," the man shoved him. "She is my daughter, you can't stop me."
"There is a train later on. I am asking you to wait and let me get Dr Mike to look her over before you travel," Horace took a step back. There was a small crowd beginning to form, watching him stand his ground with the man and the curious scene of the girl lying on the floor.
"She is my daughter and I am taking her now," the man growled.
"Look sir, I just don't want anything to happen to her," Horace scanned the young woman's grey looking face. "I'm real sure she should not be that colour."
"You got a medical degree huh?" the man jabbed his fingers into Horace's chest.
"I don't want any trouble," Horace held his arms up and took another step back.
"Well don't make none, me and my daughter are leaving," Bill Farley knelt down so he could pick up Evelyn.
"I'm just concerned that's all," Horace tried to stop him. "I really think she should be checked out."
"You want me to have a look?"
Horace turned at the sound of Klara's voice, the young nurse stepping through the crowd and moving over. "I'm a nurse."
"She's fine," Farley pushed her away.
Klara flicked her eyes ."No she is not," She forced the man to lower the girl to the floor. "Did she have a head injury?"
"No, I just gave her the medicine," Farley shook his head.
"What medicine?" Klara looked at him, she rolled her eyes when the man shrugged. "Was it from Dr Mike? Did she say what is was?"
"Nah," Farley shook his head. "She just gave me a glass bottle."
"Have you got it?" Klara pressed, positioning Evelyn's head in the hope it would help the young woman breathe better.
"No, I dropped it," Farley looked at the young nurse, annoyed that she was prying. "Why is this important?"
"She might be having a reaction," Klara told him pressing the back of her hand against the girl's forehead. "Sometimes people are allergic to the medicine they are given, it makes them sicker."
"It's just supposed to make her sleep," Farley shrugged. "That's what I asked for."
"Ok, some kind of sedative," Klara pressed for more information. "What did Dr Mike tell you to do?"
"Couple of drops in a drink every couple of hours," Farley shifted uneasily.
Klara nodded. "Ok, so she's had a couple of drops of a sedative, maybe you gave her a little too much."
"I don't know how much she had," Farley blinked a few times, for the first time fear rising in him as he realised he had ignored the lady doctor's instructions. "We were struggling, I kind of forced it down her throat."
"The whole bottle?" Klara's eyes bulged, she looked nervously up at Horace. "How much did Dr Mike give you?"
"Enough for a few days," Farley made eye contact with Klara. "Is that bad?"
"Yeah," Klara redoubled her effort to monitor the girl's pulse. "You've overdosed her. Horace ride out and get Dr Mike."
"No I'm leaving," Farley shoved Klara away and lifted Evelyn again.
"No, Someone stop him," Klara blocked his path, she caught sight of Brian in the corner of her eye, "Brian get your Ma, please get her."
"Look, Sir, I think what the nurse is saying is right, having an overdose is real bad." Horace swallowed thinking of his own time when he was in the black pit of depression when he had tried to take his own life. "Maybe Dr Mike can give her something to make her wake up."
"I don't want her to wake up." The man turned using his backside to push past Klara and Horace. "I need her to be like this till I get to where they can help her."
"No, She needs to wake up now," Klara grabbed at Evelyn's hand, the girl suddenly becoming some bizarre tug of war rope.
"Get your hands off her," Farley kicked at Klara making her stumble back.
"Hey," Hank appeared out of the crowd. "Leave her alone."
"Dad, you have to stop him taking her. She could die," Klara caught her breath.
Hank nodded and moved forward to stop Farley from getting on the train. "Ya hear that, ya kid could die."
"She's just sleeping," Farley dismissed it, his anger masking the worry he felt in his chest. "She'll be fine."
"No she won't," Klara moved forward again, but Hank held her back so that she did not get too close. "We need to let Dr Mike have a look at her, she could be in a coma, she could die, she might stay in a coma forever. We need to take her to the clinic, where we can help her."
"I am taking her where they can help her," Farley growled.
The train whistled signalling that the driver wanted to leave. Klara stepped forward grabbing hold of Farley's coat. "Sir, if you take her, your daughter could die."
"Get off me," Farley kicked out again, Klara barely dodging in time, his foot missing her face by an inch.
Klara stared at the closing door and made to move forward but hesitated, Hank's hand on her shoulder making her stop indefinitely. "He won't listen will he," she whispered slowly turning to look at her father.
"Nah," Hank shook his head. "You OK?"
"Sure," Klara sighed. "I better go tell Brian not to worry. We were too late for her. There's nothing we can do."
"Papa," Esmee and Katie jumped up from the floor as the door burst open anticipating their father's entrance. Both the children froze as their father rushed in supporting Georgia his top covered in her blood.
"PAPA!" Esmee burst into tears thinking the blood was her father's.
"It's alright Na'he, Papa is not hurt," Sully soothed her. "Where's your Ma?"
"Privy," Katie mumbled, her eyes wide as she took in the blood covering her father's shirt. "You suwah you Ok Papa?"
"Sure thing Twink," Sully smiled at her, he grimaced as Violet started to cry also, the toddler having finally turned around after noting her sisters absence and spotting the blood on his shirt. "Twink can you get me a cloth, Georgia's head is bleeding and I need ta stop it."
"Ok," Katie ran to her mother's bag to get the cloth her father requested.
Sully smiled at his two crying toddlers wanting to rush and scoop them into his arms but knowing he couldn't with his hand pressed against Georgia's head.
"Sully?" Michaela appeared round the corner having completed her ablutions.
"I found her at the side of the road, I don't think the cut is big," Sully explained as Katie arrived with the cloth. "It just won't stop bleeding."
"Let me see," Michaela moved forward taking the cloth from Katie and pressing it against the back of Georgia's head. Michaela gave Sully a subtle nod, letting him know that it was OK to go and look after the girls who were crying in the living room. "Katie," she smiled at her wide eyed, nervous looking older daughter. "Will you be my nurse?"
"Ok," Katie nodded, she turned and collected Michaela's bag bringing it to her mother so that Michaela could have what she might need. "What do I do?"
"Can you talk with her for me," Michaela smiled, Katie did as she requested moving to sit in the chair next to Georgia giving Michaela a chance to look over to see Sully had pulled his shirt off and was now kneeling in the living room with a girl on each knee cuddling them tight, assuring them that he was OK.
"My name's Katie," Katie told Georgia as she settled into her seat. "Mama is a really good Doctor so your gonna be fine."
"No I won't," Georgia shuddered slightly. "He took her."
"Who took her?" Katie frowned confused.
"Evelyn, her father," Georgia sniffed trying to stop crying. "We fought."
"And he hurt you!" Katie asked aghast that a man would hurt a lady.
"I tried to stop him coming in, I fell backwards and hit my head on the table," she winced as Michaela pressed against her skull checking for fracture.
"Sorry," Michaela told her softly, replacing the cloth. "Were you unconscious?"
"Yeah," Georgia confirmed. "I don't know for how long, when I woke up they were gone."
Michaela sighed, her guilt rising as she realised she was responsible for Georgia's injury, but equally glad that she had not been there as she could have put herself and the baby in harm's way. "I'm sorry Georgia," Michaela whispered carefully.
"I know you couldn't help it," Georgia whispered back, cutting straight to the point, somehow knowing despite Michaela not admitting it, that the lady doctor had been involved. "She was seventeen, I know you had no choice, no one did." Her head sagged forward, meaning that Michaela's pressure on her head wound decreased. "I just thought we'd be left alone, that they would just leave us now that we weren't there."
"There there," Katie patted Georgia's hand. "I'm sure your Papa loves you as much as ya sister."
Georgia stared at Katie for a few moments. "She wasn't my sister."
"Oh," Katie looked at her mother for help. "Brian said," she flicked her eyes towards the door, perceiving her brother's footsteps on the porch. She slithered from her chair and rushed to the door, throwing it open. "Brian," she greeted her big brother. "You said dey was sisters."
"Er..." Brian looked nervously at his sister before looking up at Michaela. "Ma I need to talk to you," his eyes fell on Georgia.
"What has happened?" Michaela asked wondering why her son, who was rarely home before 7 in the evening was home at 4.30 in the afternoon.
Brian shifted nervously from side to side, his eyes on Georgia. "I don't think that I should…"
"Is it Evelyn?" Georgia turned to look at him. "Has he taken her? Did you see her was she OK?"
"I…um…she was sleeping." Brian said carefully, conscious that his sisters were crying around him. "Her father had given her all the sedative that Ma gave him."
"All…" Michaela stopped herself from saying what that might mean, stopping herself from alarming and upsetting Georgia anymore than she already was. She closed her eyes drawing her strength from deep down inside herself to keep herself together. "It is so she did not hurt herself running away."
"These places, wherever he is taking her," Georgia twisted to look at her. Holding Michaela's gaze, seeking assurance. "They are bad places aren't they?"
"People think they are helping them, no one really understands your…" Michaela stammered stuck for words. "I'm sorry."
Georgia sighed, her tears rolling down her cheek, her head sagging. "I understand, just fix my head please."
"Georgia, if you would like you can stay here tonight," Michaela pressed the cloth down once more. "You should not be alone with a head injury."
"I want to be alone," Georgia told Michaela, her tone dead, "I just want to be alone."
Sully stirred as rolled onto his stomach, he had crossed onto Michaela's side of the bed, and instead of rolling over to spoon up against his beautiful wife, he was now lying on his stomach on her cool side of the bed.
Pushing his hair out of his face he rested himself on his elbows and turned to look around the room. He gave a soft sigh as he saw Michaela stood in the window, her shoulders resting against the eaves of the house, her hands on her middle, her eyes focussed out into the blackness of the night. Slowly Sully climbed out of bed and crossed to her. "You Ok?" he asked softly as he touched her elbow.
"Yes" Michaela responded automatically.
"But?" Sully pressed smiling as she absently rubbed her middle, the action pushing her shift tight against her skin showing the change in her size and shape in all its glory, her tiny slim waist a memory of the past, the new baby making it's presence known.
"My hips are a little sore," Michaela muttered softly.
"That's it?" Sully pressed, he stepped in behind her, easing her off the wall and letting her form drape across him, so that he could wrap his arms around her and hold her tight.
"It's just where everything is starting to get heavy," Michaela whispered, her voice trembling.
Sully kissed her temple. "What happened was not your fault."
"I gave him the..." Michaela started to speak.
"You told him how much to give her as well. He did not listen," Sully held her as tightly as he dared.
"What if she dies?" Michaela clung to his arm, tears rolling down her cheek.
"Michaela," Sully rubbed her arm soothingly. "This was not your fault, please don't blame ya self," he kissed her once more. "It's not good for ya or the baby."
She sniffed a few times at mention of the baby, her hand tenderly stroking the swell. "If our children..."
"I would love them," Sully answered for her. "No matter what I will always love them." He slipped from beneath her and twisted round so he was facing her. "I will always love you, no matter what,"
"Oh Sully," Michaela threw her arms around him, "I love you."
"I love you too," Sully lifted her gently. Carefully he manoeuvred her to the bed and settled her down on the edge. "You need to get some rest."
"I know," Michaela whispered, lovingly brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Sully..." she paused and looked down at her growing belly. "I really do love you."
"I know ya do, ya daft thing," Sully kissed her sweetly on the lips, "and you," he bent down and kissed her belly. "You got the best Mama in the world," he whispered to his baby within his wife. "She's the smartest, kindest most beautiful woman ya ever gonna see. But we gotta take care of her," he smiled up at Michaela. "Sometimes she forgets."
"Sully I..." Michaela started to protest.
"No," Sully placed his finger on her lips. "You have nothing to feel guilty or sorry about. You are a great doctor, sometimes we can help the people we want to. Sometimes we just have to let them go," he frowned as she began to cry once more and pulled her into his arms. "I'm never gonna let you go. I'll always have you."
