Chapter 7
The later it became, the more nervous Michaela grew. It was almost 5 o'clock and Sully wasn't here yet. What kind of appointment did he have? And whom did he meet? Michaela's heart began to pound faster. Perhaps another woman?
She went to the kitchen, asking Martha to make a snack for her and Sully. A few minutes later she came to the kitchen again, asking for water and juice. Then she went back to the library. And while he still wasn't here she went to the parlor, looking out on the street. But there was no sign of him.
"Michaela, for goodness sake," Elizabeth looked up from her stitching, "Why do you walk around all the time? You make me nervous!"
"I'm waiting."
"For what?"
"Mr. Sully. He'll come for a visit."
"Again?" her mother asked and frowned. "You know what I think about it."
"Yes, but it doesn't matter."
"Michaela!"
With that Michaela went back to the library and prepared the chessboard. Suddenly she raised her head. Hadn't it knocked? She looked out from the library into the hall, where Harrison was just about to open the door.
"David!" she called astonished, "What are you doing here?"
"That's not a very kind welcome, honey!" he came to the library, pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek. Because his behavior made her uneasy, she squirmed out of his arms.
"I didn't expect you today. Hasn't the nurse told you that I cancelled our meeting?"
"Yes, she has, but I thought she was mistaken. I couldn't imagine a reason for your cancellation." He saw the chessboard. "Look, you've already prepared the chessboard for us."
"David. This is not for us. It's for Sully and me."
"What?"
"Yes, he will be here, soon. I promised to teach him chess."
David was concerned.
At this moment it knocked again on the front door. It was Sully. He entered the house and Harrison led him to the library but when Sully saw David, he hesitated a moment, because he hadn't expected to see him here. Hadn't Michaela told him, that David wouldn't come today?
"Good evening, Dr. Mike, Dr. Lewis." Sully greeted politely.
"Mr. Sully, would you please excuse us." David said in an abrasive tone.
"Sure." And he went back to the hall.
"David, what's the point of that?"
"Michaela, I saw you!"
"You saw what?"
"You and him, at the park. Hand in hand. Last Sunday."
Michaela blushed. „That's none of your business, David."
"Michaela, you know I love you and I thought you would love me too, at least you would like me."
"You know I like you very much, but…"
"It's because of him, am I right?"
"David, please…"
"Look back to what we had, Michaela. We are meant to be together. We are from the same world, we share the same interests. But little by little I feel you're slipping through my fingers. Please don't throw away your good life because of...him."
"David…"
"You know that I love you, don't you?"
She nodded.
"I don't want to lose you."
"David, you can't enforce feelings."
"Does this mean, you don't have feelings for me but for this mountain man from Colorado?"
She didn't answer.
"I don't believe it," he said doubtfully. "I'll go now. Maybe you come to your senses and then you'll know who is the best man for you and your future life."
He looked her deep into the eyes and Michaela swallowed hard.
"I love you, Michaela," he said with a voice full of tenderness and then he kissed her softly on the mouth, turned around and left the house without a view toward Sully.
Michaela was concerned that Sully had seen the kiss, but he stood outside in the hall. For a moment she closed her eyes and tried to feel something – but there was nothing. David's kiss hasn't stirred any feelings – no butterflies in her stomach, no rapid heartbeat, no warmth in her heart. Nothing. She didn't love him. She knew it now – definitely.
After David was gone Sully entered the library, finding a somehow confused Michaela.
"Is everything all right, Dr. Mike?" He asked her.
"Yes, yes, of course," she answered and cleared her throat. "He only came here to tell me something," she explained to him.
"Dr. Mike, you don't have to explain."
"Well, then let's play chess, Sully."
Rapidly the evening went by and now it was time for Sully to go home.
"I gotta go, Dr. Mike."
"Oh, is it already that late?" she looked at the clock that stood on the board. "Wouldn't you like to eat something before you go, Sully? Martha has prepared a light meal."
"Thank you, Dr. Mike, but I'm not hungry. I've already eaten before I came here."
"With your date?" and immediately she regretted the words that had slipped out of her mouth. He looked at her with sad eyes and she noticed that her words had hurt him deeply.
Quickly she changed the theme. "Well, then we should carry on with our chess lessons next Wednesday."
"I won't be able to come the next few Wednesdays."
"Mr. Parker cancelled your extra day off?" she asked.
"No, not at all. But…" he answered, avoiding the issue.
She interrupted his answer. "Sully, like you said before, you don't have to explain anything. You can do what you want with your free time." But truthfully she was disappointed that he wouldn't visit her any longer on Wednesday. Was it because he had an appointment today? But with whom?
He noticed her disappointment and he wanted to explain everything to her, but he had promised to say nothing.
"Please, trust me," was everything he said to her.
A moment of silence followed and Michaela thought that Sully might try to kiss her, like he had last Sunday, but he didn't. Instead he only kissed her cheek tenderly.
"Good bye, Dr. Mike."
Michaela nodded, disappointed that he hadn't kissed her and she watched him heading out of the library, turning once again, waving.
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Meanwhile July was almost gone and August came near. Michaela and Sully met every Sunday for a walk or a picknick and they loved to be together and the feelings they had for each other had grown stronger and stronger with every time Michaela and Sully met. He took her hand whenever it was possible and there was a sensual feeling between them, that neither of them could deny, but no one dared to mention it. For outsiders it looked as if they had nothing in common. She, a smart lady doctor from Boston, wearing the finest dresses, and he, a simple craftsman from Colorado, who wore buckskins and long hear. She liked the opera and elegant restaurants, he had never been there. She was well educated, he had only visited a primary school in New York before he headed out west. The most of his knowledge and wisdom came not from a school but from life. But both believed in doing what was right, both helped the downtrodden, both had a big heart.
Today was one of their Sundays together and they had taken a long walk through the Common. Before his visit was over Michaela asked him if he wanted to take supper with her at home.
"Actually, Michaela, there is something I want to show you, a special place. It's not so far from here."
Michaela couldn't image what he wanted to show her but she agreed with a nod and they started down the street, still walking close together. Soon they neared the River Charles and walked along the bank.
"We've been here before, Sully! It's the Charles."
"I know it is, but believe me, you have never been at the place I'll show you."
"Where is that place?"
"This way," he said, pointing in the direction with his arm.
They walked along the bank for a while when Sully left the main way and turned right to a path that had become overgrown with grass and weed and they stopped there.
"Sully, where are we now?"
"Still at the river."
Michaela shook her head. "I've been at the Charles so often but I've never seen that hidden path."
Sully moved on but Michaela hesitated.
"We can't go further. Sully, look at this sign 'No trespassing'."
"It's okay, believe me," he tried to reassure her, but she still felt uneasy. "Dr. Mike, don't you trust me?"
Michaela swallowed, but nodded.
He took her hand in his. "Follow me."
They walked along the overgrown path and again and again her dress got entangled with the thistles that grew on the path and several times she almost fell but Sully didn't let it happen. Suddenly the path ended, the view opened and Michaela was overwhelmed by the place that lay in front of her. She detected that this was a small peninsula that reached into the river. In the middle stood an old oak tree and next to it was a crumbled lean-to, maybe built by kids. Butterflies flew around wild thyme and wild orchids.
"Oh, Sully, that's breathtaking! Like a secret garden." She walked and looked around, taking in the surroundings. Apparently no one has been here for a long time – except of Sully. "That's where you have been so often after your work?"
"Yeah." He came to her side and took her hand in his. "I come here at least thrice a week and I'm enjoying the peace and the quiet. It feels a little bit like home."
"Tell me," Michaela said to Sully, "What do you miss most about your home in Colorado?"
He hesitated a moment but then he told her, "My Cheyenne-brother Cloud Dancing, my wolf..."
"You have a wolf?" Michaela turned to him, couldn't believe what she had heard. "A real wolf? Isn't it a wild animal?" she asked him.
"Yes it is, but not this one. I found him wounded in the woods when he was a puppy and ever since then he is with me. I guess he don't understand why I'm away for so long now. But he is in good hands with Cloud Dancing and his tribe."
"Is there something else you miss?" she asked him.
"Well, my friend Charlotte and her children, especially her youngest, Brian," he explained, "and not to forget Grace's wonderful apple-pie," he laughed. But then his facial expression got serious. "I miss the open range, the silence, the blue sky. I miss watching the deer in the wood and the smell of the trees. I miss the red rocks, where I can sit for hours, watching hawks and eagles. For me, this small place here feels like a little bit of that."
Suddenly he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. Michaela let it happen and rested her head on his shoulder. For a moment she held her breath because of this unusual nearness to a man, but quickly she relaxed and she had to admit that this was a comfortable feeling.
"A little bit of home," she realized and he nodded. "It must be wonderful where you live."
"It is. And I hope I can show it to you, someday."
For a moment both of them thought the same – let's say almost the same - without knowing the other one's thoughts: He considered a life together with Michaela in Colorado Springs at his new homestead. She imagined a life together with Sully in a nice house here in Boston.
Michaela's head still leaned against his shoulder and Sully stroked her hair gently. The quietness around them wasn't disturbed by anything. The only thing to be heard was the twitter of some birds.
"You love nature, do you Sully?"
"Yeah. I love and respect it. Like everyone should. Look at the Indians. They not only live in the nature, they live with it. Everything they need – mother earth offeres it to them." And he added in a sad tone, "But for how long still?"
"I've never thought about that," she said honestly.
They stood there for a while when Sully laid his jacket on the ground and asked Michaela to sit down. She did and he took a seat next to her.
"Please, tell me more about your town, Sully, about Colorado Springs," Michaela requested.
"Well, like I already told you, our town is a small one. Things are safe. No one locks the doors. It's peaceful. Mostly. I often head out with Brian. We go fishing or explore the environment or sit for hours in the woods, talking. He misses a father and I guess, somehow I'm like a father to him. You will not believe how many questions a young boy like him can ask!" Sully smiled. "Sometimes we camp down by the creek for a weekend, listening to all kind of sounds and watching animals: owls, coyotes, hawks, squirrels, raccoons. And his mother isn't worried, because she don't have to. This scenery is a wonderful place for children to grow up. I'd like my own children to have the chance to grown up like that, too."
"You would let your children camp out in the woods or at the river over night?" she asked him.
"Why not?"
"That wouldn't be possible here in Boston," she said and looked around, "even on a peaceful place like this. I think it would be too dangerous," she sighed.
Slowly the sun disappeared and the sky darkened.
"We must go home now, it's getting dark." Michaela told him and stood up.
"Must we? How sad!" he replied, sighed and stood up, too. Then he looked up into the sky where he spotted something.
"Look," he showed up to the sky, "Can you see this bright clear star? This is the North Star. It never moves and because of that you can always use it for navigation. Whenever you get lost in the woods – or here in a big city like Boston – look at the North Star and it will show you your way home."
While she stood near by him, watching the North Star, he turned to her, looking at her lovely face.
"Michaela?" It was the first time he called her that and she noticed it with a shiver.
"Mmh?"
"I want to kiss you."
She raised her eyes to his deep blue ones and her heart began to race faster.
"Then you should do it," she permitted whisperingly.
And he took her in his arms and touched her face gently with his hands, still looking into her eyes. He brought his face to hers and slowly their lips met and she took heart and opened her lips for him. And Sully kissed her like he had wanted to do for weeks. This kiss felt unbelievable and it lit a fire deep inside their hearts. Thousands of butterflies run around Michaela's stomach and both where breathless when they came up for air.
"Oh Michaela, what do you do to me?" he whispered while she clung to him and he held her close. Michaela lifted her hand and stroked his hair back, touched his face while he ran his thumb over her trembling lips. He lowered his head and kissed her again, deeper this time, passionately. And when her tongue touched his, he growled low in his throat.
After this neverending kiss he buried his face in her soft, pleasant-smelling hair. And suddenly the magic words escaped his mouth and he whispered barely audible "I love you". He said it so low that Michaela nearly overheard it. Had he really said "I love you"? Maybe she had misheard. But she didn't dare to inquire, because she thought she would made a fool of herself. Thus she rather continued to nestle against him.
"I wish we could stay here forever," he told her and brought her hand to his mouth, kissing the back of her fingers.
"Forever," she agreed.
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Today was Friday, Josef Quinn's birthday. Sully's boss, Mr. Parker, was very kind and gave Sully half a day off, much to the displeasure of his team mates, in particular Ben, who still wasn't Sully's friend.
Sully went to a barbershop, took a bath, had a hair cut (only a little) and a shave. After this he went back to the lodging, got his new suit out of his cabinet and eyed it. This wasn't the kind of clothes he normally wore. The last time he wore a suit was on his wedding with Abagail. And that suit wasn't as elegant as this one that hang at the cabinet now.
He sat down on his bed, considering if he really should go to this event today. If it weren't because of Michaela he definitely wouldn't go. He sighed and stared at his clothes again when the other workers came back from work.
"Uuh, look at this! Mr. Sully, Parkers darling, lays here in his bed, resting, while we were toiling at the building site!" It was Ben's cynical commentary. He went to Sully's cabinet, touching his suit. "Mmh, very elegant, Sully. I guess, you'll visit this sweet little woman of yours, this elegant whore from Beacon Hill."
Sully jumped out of his bed, his face red with anger, and his narrowed eyes locked at Ben.
Just at this moment Sinclair entered the lodging and he had heard Ben's statement.
"If I were you, Ben, I'd keep my mouth shut. And you Sully, calm down."
"What do you say, Sully?" Ben replied, still eye on eye with Sully, "should I keep my mouth shut?"
"Don't think you can," Sully spat at him.
"Go ahead, won't you hit me like last time?"
Sully stared at him a long time. "Some other time." And with that he took his suit, turned around and walked away from Ben.
"You are a coward. I knew it."
Sully stopped a moment, took a deep breath but didn't answer. He sat down on his bed instead where Sinclair waited for him.
"Well done, Sully. He isn't worth it." And he patted Sully's shoulder, "Believe me!"
While Sully put on his elegant suit Sinclair was beside him.
"Can I ask you something, Sully?"
"Yes."
"I know you've met this lady doctor very often since you are here in Boston."
"Is this a problem for someone?"
"Well, it's not like you to be with two woman at the same time," Sinclair told him.
"I don't know what you mean?"
"What about this woman in Colorado Springs who loves you?"
"Like you said, she loves me. That doesn't mean that I love her, too. That's a big difference. Besides, that's none of your business!"
"Okay, okay. That's your private thing, Sully, I understand," Sinclair answered, a little bit offended about Sully's harsh tone.
"Right." And with that Sully continued putting on his clothes.
Ben, who was still in the room, acted as if he was busy, but he eavesdropped the talk between the two men and so he heard Sinclair mention that woman back in Colorado who obviously loved Sully, and he kept this knowledge in his mind. Maybe this information could be useful someday.
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Josef's birthday party was in full progress but there was still no sign of Sully. Rebecca grew nervous. Why didn't he come? Had he changed his mind?
At that moment a late arriving guest entered the house and caught the attention of all the guests who stood in the hall, in particular the women. It was a good-looking man, dressed in an elegant black suit. He greeted the attendees with a nod and walked in the direction of the Quinns who he spotted near the library.
Elizabeth saw him first and was stunned, on the one hand that he really dared to come tonight despite her warning that she didn't want to see him here, and on the other hand because of his elegant appearance.
"Mr. Sully!" Elizabeth called and eyed him from head to toe. "I have to compliment you for your new attire," she had to confess and he smiled about her compliment.
"Good evening Mrs. Quinn." Gentlemanlike he paid his respect to Michaela's mother and handed her a bunch of flowers like he had when he first visited the Quinns in May.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said and she couldn't deny that he had good manners.
Then Sully turned to Josef. "Good evening, Dr. Quinn.
"Mr. Sully, I'm very glad you followed my invitation," he told him with a kind smile.
"Happy birthday, Sir." He handed Josef a wrapped present. "This is for you."
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Sully." Josef unwrapped a hand carved wood box with his initials engraved on the lid. "That's wonderful, Mr. Sully! You've made this?"
Sully nodded, "Yes, Sir. It's for your pipes."
"Wonderful." And while Josef looked fascinated at this special gift he recognized that Sully looked around, searching.
"She's in the parlor, dancing. She can hardly save herself from all these admirers tonight. You ought to act, son," Josef whispered to Sully and patted his shoulder. "Go."
Sully turned and walked into the adjoining parlor, where a string quartet even played a waltz.
Elizabeth had heard Josef's words and didn't feel happy about his instruction. She also wasn't happy that Sully had come to the celebration at all. Although he looked very handsome tonight in his elegant suit, she wanted to keep him away from her daughter.
Even when Sully entered the parlor, that was now used for dancing, he caught the attention of the guests, especially the women, but he didn't recognize it because he was looking for Michaela. Finally he spotted her, dancing with a tall middle-aged man. Sully had a long close look at Michaela and his heartbeat quickened because she looked adorable with her pinned-up brown hair and her strapless jade-green ballroom dress. The dress accentuated the perfect form of her body and he was kind of dazed by her loveliness and beauty. Unlike the other ladies who flaunted their jewels, she only wore a small golden necklace and fitting earrings. For him she was a living dream.
"Good evening, Sully." Rebecca and her husband Richard approached him. "You look good, tonight " Rebecca told him with a kind smile, "But I guess that's not necessary to say. Look at the faces of all these women around you and you know what I mean."
And for the first time since he had entered the Quinns home he noticed the women who starred at him. But this time it wasn't because he looked that strange as when he wore his buckskins. No, this time the women's gazes were admiring. And with dismay he realized that some of the women's gaze was lascivious!
"Where is Michaela?" Rebecca asked Sully and looked around the room.
"There she is, dancing."
David, who stood a few steps away, wasn't glad to see Sully here tonight as well. He knew he was a rival to him. He watched him for a moment then he walked into his direction.
"Good evening, Mr. Sully," he greeted him with a nod but he didn't stop but passed by in direction to the dance floor.
"Dr. Lewis," Sully greeted back and he saw how David approached Michaela, inviting her for the next dance.
Sully, still standing at the side of the dance floor, watched them both and he had to admit, that they looked good together. A sigh escaped his throat.
"Don't worry, Sully, everything will be fine," Rebecca told him, "Believe me. Anyway, Michaela hasn't seen you yet."
Right at this moment his eyes met Michaela's and she was astonished. Could this be? No, it couldn't! Was this man next to Rebecca really Sully? She registered his clean-shaven face and the elegant suit he wore. His sun bleached hair lay on his shoulders and his eyes gleamed deep blue into her direction.
While she danced with David her head always turned to Sully and twice she stepped onto David's feet because she lost rhythm.
"Honey, what's wrong with you?" he asked her but he didn't expect an answer because he knew she had spotted Sully.
"N…Nothing," she stammered, still looking at Sully.
When the music stopped, Sully came to the dance floor, two glasses of champagne in his hand.
"Hello, Michaela," he greeted her with a tender smile.
"Good evening, Sully," she answered in a low tone.
"Dr. Lewis, I hope you have nothing against it that I invite Miss Quinn to a glass of champagne," Sully said with a grin and handed Michaela a glass. Then he offered her his arm and they walked away, leaving behind a speechless David.
"Sully, I've never expect to see you here tonight. Not after my mother's harsh words," she told him truthfully.
"Same's for me," Sully answered. "But your father insisted on my coming."
"I'm glad he did!" she said and her eyes sparkled when she looked at him. "And…you look very…handsome tonight," she said and flushed.
It wasn't as if she hadn't known that he was gorgeous, but...oh my God...he looked so... sexy! She had never seen him in a suit before, therefore it was a little bit strange for her but she thought her heart would beat so loud, that it could be heard by him.
"Thank you."
Both took a sip from the champagne.
"Would you like to dance with me, Michaela?"
"Yes! But I thought…"
Without another word he put their glasses aside and lead her to the dance floor. She took his hand while he laid his other hand around her waist and then he swirled her around to the rhythm of the waltz.
"Sully, I'm surprised! You are a very good dancer! But didn't you tell me that you can't dance?"
"A good friend taught me," and with a grin he looked to Rebecca who danced with Richard next to them.
"Rebecca?" Michaela asked astonished and he nodded.
"So that was the cause why you cancelled our meetings the last few Wednesdays?"
"Yes," he answered with a grin.
And with thankful eyes she looked at her sister and without a word Rebecca knew what Michaela wanted to say.
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David watched them from the edge of the room and when he saw her lying in Sully's arms, he got jealous. Elizabeth who had pity for him, came to his side.
"We have to do something, David! No, you have to do something!"
"There is nothing I can do."
"Yes, you can. And you know exactly what it is!"
And with this she walked away, let him stand there alone with his thoughts.
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I hope you enjoyed Chapter 6 and 7 - tell me what your opinion - And Chapter 8 is coming soon...
