Chapter 13

Sully still stood close to Michaela, facing Marjorie Quinn who looked challengingly at her little sister. He was taken aback, not fooled in the least by the seemingly teasing tone. This was a serious confrontation and not their first one; he was sure about that.

"A friend," Marjorie huffed. "Is kissing him what you call gaining experience?"

Michaela was spared from a reply because the door opened again, revealing David. His pleased expression instantly vanished at the sight before him. Although Mrs. Quinn had told him that there was a visitor for Michaela from the frontier, he hadn't expected the guest to be more than a simple acquaintance. He could tell by the way the couple stood together that they were quite familiar with each other. Eying the man suspiciously David explained his arrival, "I'm here because your mother asked me to convey the message that she wants you to return home instantly, Michaela. I am to accompany you." His emphasis on the last words made it clear that no one else but him would go with her.

If it was possible, the color on Michaela's cheeks heightened. Not only that Marjorie had been incredibly rude to Sully, now David made it even worse. However, she knew that she couldn't discuss things right now and that was why she rather chose the subtle way of ignoring his statements as to show David what she thought of his behavior. Looking up at Sully she noticed his strained expression. Smiling reassuringly she quickly introduced, "Sully, this is David Lewis. We are childhood friends." Turning to the man who was now her colleague, she continued, "David, this is..." Only now did Michaela become aware of the fact that she didn't know Sully's first name. David instantly made use of the tiny pause she made at this point. "Dr. Lewis," he amended making his position in society clear.

Sully, somewhat recovered, replied without giving any emotion away as he proffered his hand, "I'm just Sully. And there's no need for your company. I got a room at the Quinn residence so I can take Michaela..."

Yet to his astonishment she interrupted him, "It's alright, Sully."

Searching her gaze he saw her embarrassment. However, only when she apologetically looked at him with a pleading expression did he understand. Although she still was to meet him, it seemed as if Mrs. Quinn wanted to avoid him being alone with her youngest daughter. Of course he knew about chaperones but he always thought it ridiculous to treat adults like children that had to be watched to keep them away from mischief.

He raised an eyebrow and the ends of his mouth curled up slightly as he nodded. The relief on her face was his reward. Michaela, however, wasn't done yet. Turning to David again she informed him, "Mother knows that I took the night shift and…"
"That is why she called for me," he replied, "I'll stand in for you… after I take you home. Until I'm back, Marjorie will stay here."

Realizing that there was no use for further discussion, Michaela pivoted as to examine her father making sure that she couldn't do anything for him before she left.

……………………………………

Elizabeth Quinn impatiently paced before the window of the parlor, occasionally looking out hoping she would see the carriage with her youngest arrive. She was so angry with Michaela that she couldn't express it in words. As if it wasn't enough that she was already on edge, worrying about Josef. When she returned home from the hospital earlier, Rebecca had informed her about the new guest in their house. Usually, this wouldn't be a problem; the Quinn household was well known for its hospitality. Yet something in Rebecca's eyes had made her ask more thoroughly about the newcomer and she hadn't liked what she heard. Of course she wasn't prejudiced against Indians, but such a man wasn't the right company for her daughter.

Finally hearing the carriage approaching before she even saw it, Elizabeth Quinn straightened her shoulders. She would have a very serious word with her daughter.

Sully was nervous about meeting Mrs. Quinn, and seeing Michaela's obvious distress when they were on their way didn't improve his emotional state. Adding to that, the aftermath of the long, draining train ride began taking its toll on him. Not only was he tired, he suddenly longed for a bath in the creek and wished he had the chance to shave before he faced Michaela's mother for the first time. Feeling the carriage pull to a halt, he made sure that he was out of it before this so-called childhood friend. Sully could easily tell that the doctor wanted to be more; he wasn't sure about Michaela though.

However, when he held up his hand as to assist her down onto the pavement he felt the light tremble of her small hand in his. As she stood next to him, she looked up searching his gaze. For a moment they simply stood, lost in each other. For Michaela knowing Sully was by her side meant that she didn't feel alone anymore, and Sully silently promised that he would do anything to support her.

And so he did. When Mrs. Quinn welcomed him in a non-committal tone, he could tell that she didn't like his presence in her house, better said in her daughter's life at all. If he hadn't known about the difficult relationship between Michaela and her mother he would immediately have left, rather looking for a hotel room. But he stayed; being sincere that Michaela would need him here. Yet he took the hint when Mrs. Quinn asked her daughter for a face-to-face conversation. Excusing himself for the night he reassuringly laid his hand on Michaela's shoulder before he ascended the stars.

They had barely entered the parlor when Elizabeth began, "Michaela Anne Quinn," her face was one mask of pure ire by now, "This time you overstepped the mark. I never approved of your father instilling this ridiculous idea about you becoming a doctor in your mind. I always hoped you would remember what I taught you about acting properly in society; that you would eventually come to your senses. But things have only grown worse over the years. I thought that you had reached your lowest point when you went west but I was wrong."

Michaela had listened motionless looking down at her feet. Yet now her head jerked up, "What do you mean?"

Elizabeth should have been warned seeing the deep wrinkle between her daughter's eyebrows. She was, however, so caught up in her anger that she didn't notice but went on, incredulous that she had to explain, "What I mean??? I mean that… that man! First you come back only to try play doctor instead of being your mother's support and then you even draw such people to our house! If your father knew what has become of you…"

"Leave Father out of that," Michaela's tone was dangerously quiet, "He is the only one in our family, next to Rebecca, who ever supported me in making my dream come true. He would be happy for me that I met a man like Sully who accepted me for who I am right from the start – a doctor. I will always be one, Mother, although I sometimes think you really hate me for that. And now excuse me, I have to get some sleep because tomorrow I will tend to Father again."

She was already about to turn in order to leave the room when Elizabeth stopped her, "You are in my house, young lady, and here you will go only after I finish our conversation. I'm not done yet. You will tell Mr. Sully that he should return to his woods where he seems to live and as long as he is here, I forbid you to be alone with him. In addition you will…"

"I won't." Not having her temper under control anymore, Michaela yelled at her mother.

None of her daughters had ever dared to do so and thus Elizabeth was speechless for a minute, even the more because Michaela went on still in a raised voice, "I'm not a child anymore, one you can order around, Mother! If you can't endure the sight of your wayward daughter I will take a hotel room tomorrow!"

With that she pivoted and stormed out of the room.

…………………………………………………………..

Elizabeth always had a way of upsetting Michaela. David was well aware of this fact, as he had been her source of comfort more than once during their childhood. She was always so resolute in front of her mother but as a child the moment she was out of her mother's presence she would give into her tears or self-doubt. Stepping into the door of the library the next morning, David could see her in the window seat with arms folded around her knees and for him it was like a flashback. Why hadn't he noticed her earlier when they were teenagers or even in medical school? His heartbeat sped up at this thought, his mind lingering on the sight of Sully in Josef's hospital room. Yet this man's presence didn't cause him to back down in the least. David liked a challenge and for him, winning Michaela's heart was exactly that.

"Michaela?" he asked quietly to gain her attention.

Swallowing hard, Michaela turned her head. She knew the voice wasn't Sully's but she hoped anyway, the longing to see him growing fierce inside of her. Disappointment was clearly visible on her face when she recognized David's form. "Oh, David… uh…." Her fingers played with the material of her skirt as words failed her.

Misreading the situation, David invited himself in making a beeline for her side. He laid one strong palm against her back and began to gently rub. "Elizabeth upset you?" he asked.

Michaela managed a weak smile. "Just like old times, huh?"

David nodded and then moved to sit down in front of her, reaching out to cover her hand with his own. Taking the gesture as completely platonic, Michaela allowed it and even relaxed at little remembering how good a listener David was. "Do you want to talk about it?" he offered.

"Not much to say really. She's upset at the same things as always. I'm not a proper woman. I'm not keeping my place. I'm bringing shame on the family and making people talk about us." They had a new argument in her room in the morning, her mother insisting that she wouldn't move out.

"Is this about you being Josef's doctor?" David asked now softly rubbing her fingers.

Michaela nodded. "That's a large part of it." She decided against adding the Sully conversation for now. After all, they hadn't spoken about Abigail yet. She needed him now but things were still so messy between them and she wasn't sure how to even explain their relationship. Lost in these thoughts, she barely heard David's next question.

"Are you glad your friend came to see you?"

She looked up with wide eyes. "Hmm?"

"Your friend? Sully?"

Michaela looked slightly perplexed. "What about him?"

"Are you glad he came to see you?" David repeated, wondering what had her suddenly so preoccupied.

"I am," she said softly a light smile forming at the corners of her lip. She left it at that, unaware of a presence in the doorway of the library, observing the scene for himself.

David pressed on. "To come all the way from Colorado, he must be a very good friend."

"He is," Michaela said lightly. "He was one of my first friend's in Colorado. Through Sully I gained the trust of the Cheyenne and am able to practice medicine among them."

"Cheyenne?" David's eyes widened. "Indians?" A tiny nod from Michaela made him cringe. "Certainly, you aren't treating Indians? That cannot be safe."

Michaela laughed at David's naiveté. "David, it's perfectly safe. And well given that my first real patient in town was a saloon girl…" She laughed again and it made David smile.

"A saloon girl? No wonder your mother is having a conniption at your escapades."

"Oh goodness, she doesn't even know about these things yet. It's only the fact that I'm acting like an equal with the male doctors and entertaining male visitors."

This last line dropped the smile from David's face. "Male visitors? Michaela, I'm not getting you in trouble, am I?"

"No," she insisted her tone still light and airy. "I'm afraid it's Sully who had her in an uproar."

Feeling as if the moment was now or never, David gave her hand a light squeeze. "Michaela what exactly is Sully to you?"

Her cheeks instantly turned red and that should have been enough to alert David to her feelings for Sully. Yet he ignored the physical signs, choosing to take her words at face value. "It's complicated," she whispered pulling her hand away suddenly.

"More than friends than?"

Michaela wasn't sure what to say. She hated to feel foolish like this but honestly she had no idea how Sully would define them. If they had spoken, if she knew for certain he'd told Abigail, Michaela would have told David that Sully was courting her but for now she was left speechless. How could she say that he was her beau, when she wasn't certain? "He's a very good friend," she finally answered definitively, her tone indicating that the subject was not open for further discussion.

David smiled at those words and moved to give her a one armed hug. Michaela was distracted though by a sound that she was certain was the front door. Hoping that it might be Sully finally returning home after a morning walk, she rose quickly taking David off guard. By the time he caught up with her, she was already in the hallway, inquiring of Harrison.

"Who was at the door? Was it Sully?" Her eyes wandered to the steps.

"Yes, ma'am," the butler answered.

"Where is he then?" Michaela peaked around the corner of the dining room, thinking he might be standing within earshot.

Harrison looked confused. "I don't know Miss Michaela. He did not say where he was going."

"He left?"

Harrison nodded, watching as Michaela's face fell. "When he arrived home, I told him you were in the library." She didn't hear anymore of the butler's words. Things suddenly became clear to her. He had heard her words to David. "A good friend." If she had heard him say something similar about her it would have been upsetting. This wasn't entirely her fault she reasoned. He was the one who drug his feet on telling Abby about the two of them but at the moment that didn't matter. She had to find Sully as soon as possible.