Michaela walked towards the depot. Sounds of the finishing work upon the new station building were ringing through the air. Birds were singing from high above, occasionally swooping down to investigate the nearby creek. Men and women bustled beside her, smiling a knowing, happy smile. And the doctor could not help but grin from ear to ear.
"Michaela!" Dorothy exclaimed, walking up behind her friend and wrapping an affectionate arm around her. "How is the future Ma today? I can't believe how big you are gettin'! And isn't it a beautiful day!"
The characteristic crooked smile crept on her lips and she looked around. Indeed, it was a beautiful spring day for the town of Colorado Springs. "Yes. It is wonderful." A hand went to her stomach and she felt Dorothy begin to steer her towards a nearby table at Grace's Cafe. "And I am doing well."
Dorothy was quick to help her into the chair, fussing over her as though a red-feathered mother hen. It was mere moments before Grace came rushing up to them, a glass of lemonade in hand. "Dr. Mike! I declare, ya ain't gonna be able to get much bigger than that!"
"I feel rather awkward," Michaela confessed, blushing slightly. Despite her friend's good intention, she did not enjoy being reminded about her weight. The fact that she was roughly the size of a barn made her nauseated without the assistance of the two lives growing in her womb.
"But you're still radiant. Oh, Michaela. This is so excitin'. How much longer?" Dorothy's eyes were alight with interest.
"Six more weeks," she nodded. Unfortunately, due to the fact she was carrying twins, her mother was not going to be able to make it in time for the birth. Not without taking the stage, and she did not want tosee her mother after that ride again.
"And Sully is gone?" Grace looked around to double check for customers before sitting down. Only for a moment; it wasn't exactly a peak time.
Michaela nodded in confirmation. "Only for about ten days. He left this morning." She forced a smile, staring off into space. Her mind flickered with the memory of that morning easily.
"What's
that sound?" she whimpered from her barely sedated state on the
bed. Sully's arms were wrapped around her, tight against his chest as
one hand pressed lightly against her abdomen to feel the strong
kicking from their child beneath. Children, he corrected. "What
sound?" She sighed. "I thought I heard
something." "Did ya get any sleep?" He knew
that the sun had been coming far too early for his wife. Raising
himself up slightly, he looked down at her face, concerned over the
discomfort she was displaying as she attempted to move. "Perhaps
five minutes. He was going after my spine all night. Or my bladder.
Uh," she signed and tried to rub her face into the pillow, as if
that would chase away the day. "What time are you leaving?" His
brow furrowed as he looked down at her, worry even more evident and
he softly caressed her cheek. "I ain't so sure that I should be
going, Michaela. With ya bein' so close..." his voice trailed
off as she attempted to shift but ultimately gave up. "Don't
worry, Sully. The babies aren't due for another six weeks. Matthew
and Brian are nearby. If we need to, we can ask Robert E and Grace
for help." She opened her mutlicoloured eyes and looked upon him
with love. "Don't worry." Her face reached up to caress his
cheek. "Women have been having babies for thousands of
years." "Yeah, but how often are they havin' twins?"
He knew that it was not only the fact that she was having twins which
was calling for her concern. He knew that she was worried about her
age and whether or not she was strong enough. Whether she would be a
good mother; not only a good mother, but also a good doctor at the
same time. And a good wife. He smiled and looked down upon her, the
blue eyes radiating his love in a manner that his lips could not
express. "I'll be fine." She reassured him once
again, her fingers tangling in his long hair. "I had thought
that you would like to get away from your barn-sized wife for a
couple of days." A smirk; she was poking fun at herself, though
she was fairly certain that Old Lady Riley's barn was actually
smaller than her in her current state. Shaking his head, he
reached down and gently kissed her forehead. "Ain't got a barn
for a while. Wood ain't too nice to sleep next to. Nope." He
shook his head again and cupped her face in his hands. "Last
time I checked, I had the prettiest woman in the world as my
wife." "Who just happens to currently be the size of
a barn." "Who just happens to be carrying our two
beautiful kids, which makes her even more beautiful than
before." "You never answered my question..." He
looked at her curiously. Which one was she referring to, now? "When
are you running away?" On the inside, he felt his gut
twist a bit at her choice of words. He was "I didn't mean it like that, Sully. It's just.. I'm
so tired. And..." The tears were creeping into her
eyes. Without thinking, Sully pulled her to a sitting position
and cradled her head protectively into his chest. She was afraid. He
knew that. But getting her to confess it, on the other hand, was an
entirely different matter. She was tired; heck, "Shhhh. It's fine. I know." For a
few minutes, they remained curled on their bed. Listening to one
another's breathing. Desperate to remember the other's scent. When
they finally pulled back, Sully curled a lost strand of hair back
over her ear and smiled. "I love you, Michaela. Never
forget that."
Michaela
smiled grimly at the memory, lost in her thoughts and oblivious to
the words around her. "I'm sorry. I have to get over to the
clinic. Myra is bringing Samantha by shortly for a check up."
With pleasant smiles and fond farewells, Dorothy and Grace said goodbye to their doctor.
---------------------------------------------------
The stage was on time. It was monumental. In fact, Loren was so shocked that it was on time that he didn't know what to do. His day was often scheduled around the idea that it would be late. The train would be better, he assumed and assured himself. Shaking his head, he guided the packages that were his towards the mercantile. He saw Brian run across the street at a full blown trot before bounding up the steps into the store.
"Now, be careful!"
He had to at least give the appearance of a disgruntled old man. He couldn't handle losing his reputation.
"Sorry, Mr. Bray! But Ma said I could have candy!" He held up his prized penny and grinned his smile. He had lost another tooth and Loren shook his head with a chuckle.
"Save your money. A new bundle of candy might be in these packages. If you help me unload them, I might just see about givin' ya a free piece."
"Really?" The boy beamed.
Loren knew he was going to be a heartbreaker in a matter of years. The smile, the bright eyes, the look of...
Brian's face was falling.
"Brian?" He looked at the essential grandson with concern, learning slightly to place a hand on the lad's shoulder.
"Mr. Bray..." Brian was staring at someone exiting the stage coach.
Loren turned to look at the distraction. A woman. Beautiful figure. Bright blond hair. Eyes that looked around a pleasant wonder with a cherub-faced child with dirty blond curls at her hip.
Catherine.
