Michaela resolutely kept her gaze out of the window, trying hard to avoid the other woman's staring eyes, as the carriage slowly made its way through the town. The silence had lain heavily ever since the door had been closed behind them. Michaela felt strongly that the tense woman in front of her had something on her heart. When Mollie had offered to accompany her Michaela had been genuinely surprised, and she still had no idea why she had volunteered.
William had been quite upset when Michaela, after her nap, had asked Brian to stay with his sister, and had started to prepare, in order to go and see little Anthony. He had strongly insisted that she was in no condition to go. William stated further, that Mr Free, under the circumstances, certainly had understood that he needed to seek medical assistance elsewhere, if his son needed further treatment. Realizing that his arguments had done nothing, but to make Mike even more determined, he desperately insisted that he would go himself the day after. He begged her not to go, argued that it was not safe; not only because of her injures, but also because of the area, and he even reminded her that Andrew might be out there looking for her. Unable to make her change her mind, he had tried to get Brian to tell his mother not to go. Even though Brian wanted his Ma to stay where it was safe, he knew better than to try and change her mind. Instead he had insisted on going with her, but Michaela had really wanted him to stay with Colleen. It was then Mollie had surprised all of them, by offering to accompany Michaela to the Free's house.
A very hesitant William had walked the two women to the carriage, and much to Michaela's irritation he had given the driver strict instructions to drive extra carefully, and to not let the passengers out of his sight. She had been forced to bite her tongue, in order not to tell him that she was indeed a grown woman, and that she was competent to make her own decisions. Unfortunately the annoying truth was that she was his guest, and that she desperately needed his help in order to keep Colleen safe. So she had swallowed her pride, and stiffly tried to find a comfortable position. It felt like a knife sting in her side with the simple task of just trying to breathe, the doctor in her recognized the insanity in even considering making the uncomfortable journey. Determined not to let anyone know about her doubts, she had pretended to focus on the passing views of the town outside the window.
In the corner of her eye Michaela saw Mollie take a deep breath, as if preparing to speak, just as they felt the carriage slow, and heard the driver ask for directions for Mr Free's home. Seeing Mollie lose her nerve, hastily turning her attention outside the window, Michaela let out a relived sigh.
Suddenly aware of their surroundings, Mollie gasped in shock. She had never been in this part of Boston before, and seeing all the ramshackle little houses, on both sides of the dirty street, made her want to scream to the driver to turn around and bring her home. But even if she had given in to her instinct, she realized that the street would be much too tight to turn the carriage. She swallowed hard to suppress the panic that rapidly filled her chest, as she watched as curious people, of all different appearance and age, quickly filled up the narrow road.
The word about the arrival of the fancy carriage travelled like wildfire, and everyone, peeked by their curiosity, gathered up around it, in order to find out what it was doing in their neighbourhood. "Move!!" The driver's harsh voice penetrated the carriage, causing Michaela to quickly open her window and stick her head out. She was just in time to see the angry driver direct forceful lashes towards three young black boys, whom he obviously thought had come to close. "Stop it!" Michaela's high-pitched voice filled the air, drawing all eyes towards the carriage. "Stop it!" She repeated, as she hastily climbed out the door.
Kneeling in front of a scared, silently sobbing boy, Michaela softly reached out to examine his obviously hit upper arm, which he tried to cover with his little hand. Feeling the fancy white woman's hands on his body, the scared boy instantly tumbled backwards. "It's alright, I just want to look. Please don't be scared. I'm a doctor, I want to help." Her soothing voice was soft and gentle, as she placed her warm hand on the boy's shoulder. Hesitating only a few seconds, the little boy decided to trust the kind lady, and slowly took a step closer removing his little hand.
"Miss Quinn, please return to the carriage!" The little boy jumped at the driver's angry voice, and Michaela furiously turned to face the man. "That's Dr Quinn, and I will not be told to what to do! This is my patient and I will stay here and help him in any way I can." Her eyes flashing with rage as she looked at the man. "Patient? It's a Nigger!" Michaela felt the little boy hide behind her skirt, taking a deep breath, her voice low and calm as she spoke. "Please give the carriage some room to turn." As the crowd slowly started to back away, she once again turned to the driver and continued in the same tone: "Please take Mrs Burke home, and do not bother to come back here."
Just before the carriage started to move a shrill tone broke through the tense air. "Wait! Let me out as well!" All eyes turned towards the carriage as Mollie, apparently not used to climbing out of carriages without assistance, clumsily made it to the ground. Almost regretting her own actions as her feet reached the muddy ground, embarrassed she smoothed her silk skirt, and started towards Michaela. "Mrs Burke!" The driver quickly climbed down from his seat and started after Mollie. Grabbing her arm, he tried to pull her back towards the carriage. "Let me assist you back into the carriage Mrs Burke!" he hissed though clenched teeth. "Let go of my arm!" Mollie's voice was high, as she desperately tried to break free from the man's strong grip. "You heard the lady!" Rapidly turning towards the voice, the driver found himself staring straight into a huge black man's chest. Abruptly releasing his grip on Mollie's arm, raising his hands to the air, he hastily retreated to the carriage.
"Dr Burke is not going to like this!" The driver shouted over his shoulder, as he sped up the horses, by sending a couple of loud lashes though the air. Shocked, Mollie just stood there staring after the disappearing carriage. "You okay Mame?" Mollie jumped at the feeling of the man's hand on her shoulder. "Thank you Bill!" Michaela gave the man a grateful smile before she continued; "Bill, this is Mrs Burke – Dr Burke's wife, and Mollie, please meet Mr Free – Anthony's father." Hesitating, Mollie took Bill's outstretched hand, her voice hardly more than a whisper as she spoke for the first time, "Thank you Mr Free." Seeing the question in Bill's eyes, Michaela simply answered by saying, "Mrs Burke was kind enough to accompany me to see Anthony." Bill nodded towards Mollie before once again turning to Dr Mike. "I didn't expect to see you again after…" He looked down, not sure how to continue. "How is your daughter?" Michaela tried to force a bright smile. "Colleen's resting, but I believe that she will be okay." Her smile faded and she looked directly in to his kind eyes. "Thank you for all you did for us." Suddenly very aware about the curious crowd surrounding them, the big man looked at his feet before once again raising his gaze to the white woman before him. "Thank you Dr Mike, for all you did for my boy." Giving the man one of her genuine crooked smiles, she softly added; "Let's call it even."
Reaching for the little boy still hiding behind her skirt, Michaela continued in a more concerned voice: "May this brave young man please accompany us to your home? I need to tend to his arm." Recognizing the dirty little face that peeked out from behind the doctor's fancy dress, Bill gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Come on Joey, Dr Mike is going to make it feel much better." The crowd started to breakup as the three of them, followed by a very hesitant Mollie, started walking towards the Free family's home.
The sun was on its way down as Sully finally reached the hill, from where the homestead first came into view. Allowing his exhausted horse to take a brief break, he took in the peaceful picture before him; the yard – tidy as always, the family's horses calmly eating hay in the paddock; even from this distance he could make out Flash among them, Michaela's dearly beloved little mare. The smoke that slowly rose from the chimney, made out as if it were trying to reassure him that his family was safe at home waiting for him. But not even the beautiful sight before him could wipe out the aching feeling in his side, and the darkness in his heart. Not wanting to waste another second, he almost forcefully dug his heals into his faithful companion's sides. Both horse and rider seeing their goal, moved as one as they raced into the yard.
Even before the horse had come to a halt, Sully had jumped off and was on his way up the stairs. Almost falling over Wolf, who in his older days had made it his job to be lying on the front porch, devotedly guarding his master's house and family, Sully stumbled into the house, and with a voice hoarse from worry and exhaustion, he managed to shout, "MICHAELA!" Grabbing the wall not to fall, he heard someone move in the kitchen, and he suddenly sensed the lovely aroma of dinner cooking. His face broke up in a huge smile; she was home, his Michaela was home and everything was all right! Eagerly running into the kitchen he came to an abrupt halt. "MICHA…" His voice died in the middle of her name. The woman standing in front of the stove was not his wife. It was not Michaela! He felt his blood freeze to ice, as he met Grace's worried eyes.