Disclaimer:I do not own Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman. That right belongs to the creators of the show ,The Sullivan Company,CBS,A&E.I do not want to infringe on the rights of anyone meantioned in this story.
He was sitting in front of his lean-to with his legs crossed in meditation. As if he sensed his presence Sully opened his eyes to see Cloud Dancing standing in front of him. A smile appeared on his face as he got up to clasp arms in a cheyenne gretting with his friend.
"It's good to see you my friend." Sully said pulling Cloud Dancing into a hug.
"The Spirits told me to come here.You have news." Cloud Dancing stated simply.
"Wonderful news.We found her . Thank God we found her." Sully said as his eyes started watering.For the first time today he let his emotions show here in front of his friend.
"It is good news." Cloud Dancing said but his face conveyed a different meaning.
"But-" Sully said knowing his friend had more to add.
"But I see trouble. The Spirits showed me in a dream. It will not be an easy road. She does not remember.It will take much time to earn her trust." the medicine man advised.
"I don't care how long it takes. She's alive. That's all that matters." Sully said as tears finally fell down his face."I'll take her any way I can."
Before they left Colleen and Brian being so excited at the prospect of finding their ma told their friends and some of the townfolk. So when time came to leave on the stagecoach three days later some of the town showed up to wish them well on finding Dr.Mike.
"Tell ya ma I can't wait till I see her again." Dorothy said hoping that it was her best friend they would find in Castle Rock.
"She's got amnesia ,Miss Dorothy. She probably won't remember us or the town." Colleen said trying to sound as professional as Dr.Mike.
"She will in time,don't you worry." Dorothy said as she stepped back towards the mercantile.
"Here's some candy fo ya ,Brian." Loren said handing him the jar. Then turning to James he held his hand out for him to take.
"Good to see ya again,James. Don't be a stranger ,ya hear."
Taking Loren's hand James said,"Thanks Loren.I appreciate it." as the stagecoach door closed carrying Sully,the children and James to Castle Rock and to an uncertain future.
As the stagecoch drove on the group discussed how they should handle the situation once they got there.Brian being as young as he was couldn't understand why they just couldn't go up and tell Dr.Mike who she was.
"Because she don't know us,Brian." Colleen said getting frustrated with her brother.
"Sure she does." Brian said simply.
"Sully,please explain to this child why we can't do that." Colleen said sarcastically.
"I'm not a child!" Brian yelled pushing his sister on the arm."Are to." Colleen said pushing back on her brother."Are not!" Brian yelled back."Are to!" Colleen yelled back.
"Kids!" Sully yelled getting their attention."That's enough!" which immediately silenced them. "You're sister right though,Brian.We need to make sure it's Dr.Mike first before we tell her who she is."
"But why Sully?" Brian asked hoping Sully would make it clear to him.
"What if it wasn't Dr.Mike. It was someone else but they had a family looking for them like we're looking for ya ma.If we tell this lady she's Dr.Mike and we're wrong she'll be awful disapointed.Won't she?" asked Sully hoping he was putting it in a way Brian could understand.
"Yeah,she'll be real sad." Brian said looking down.
"So it's best we just keep it between ourselves for now,Brian." Sully said hoping this was enough of an explaination for him."Alright?" Sully asked.
"Alright." Brian said sadly looking outside the stagecoach window.
The stagecoach stopped in front of the boarding house in Castle Rock to let all the passengers off. As the drivers handed down their luggage to Matthew and Sully the children looked around at their surroundings.
"It's sorta the size of Colorado Springs." Colleen commented looking around at the buildings.
"I like Colorado Springs better." Brian said tired of travelling on the stagecoach.
"Where is she?" Sully said turning his attention to James. They didn't discuss where Dr.Mike was living at on their ride into town.
"I think first ya'll need to settle in your rooms." James started but was interrupted by Sully who was now giving him an angry look.
"I didn't come all this way to be kept away from her.I want to know where she is." Sully said pulling on James's jacket.
"First off,the children are tired and probably want to clean up first which is why I suggested that." James said pulling out of Sully's hold on him."And second,she knows me.She trust me. I thought the best way to handle this was to introduce her to ya. If ya just go in there like this you're going to scare her to death and she won't have nothing to do with ya."
Sully, finally seeing the point the older man was making, hung his head and said quietly,"I'm sorry.It's just been so long."
"I know it has." James said putting his hand on Sully's shoulder,"But we gotta do this in a smart way."
"I don't want to scare her." Sully said speaking out loud one of his fears.
"Go on up and get settled.I'll be back in a few minutes." James said as he watched Sully and the children go into the boarding house.
As the door to the boarding house closed he picked up his belongings and looked over to where the general store was.He hoped he was doing the right thing. There was no turning back now.It was time to face the music.It was time to face Molly.
