Rose
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in Dr Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and the show belong to the creators not me. This is just a story for fun.
Chapter 21
Next Morning
Elizabeth sat on the bench outside the clinic taking in the morning air and the early sights and sound of the town rising to greet another day.
Loren had been watching Elizabeth through the window of the Mercantile for a little while now. She looked so deep in thought at first thought it might be best to leave her but his intrigue grew. He exited the Mercantile pulling on his winter jacket as he went to greet Elizabeth on the clinic porch.
"Mornin Elizabeth,"
She looked up to see the familiar face she considered a friend in Colorado Springs. "Good morning Loren. You are awake early this morning?"
"Ya get used to it when ya own a general store," he smiled "Mind if I sit with ya for a spell?"
"No I don't mind take a seat," She gestured to the space beside her.
"I saw ya come to the clinic late last night...heard that the children were in a accident in the woods," he opened the topic he supposed was on her mind.
Elizabeth turned her head to the side "My, news travels fast in this town!"
"Sure does...nothing stays secret here long," he winked.
Elizabeth nodded and continued to watching the street. Loren noticed that Elizabeth was not acting herself. "The kids are alright aren't they?" He worried.
"Nothing serious...Katie has a cut leg and Brian has a broken arm,"
"I'm sure Michaela fixed em up good," he was sure. In his opinion Dr Mike was the best doctor he'd ever met.
"She did yes," her reply was short.
"Is something else the matter?" He asked
"I am beginning to realise how old I am getting...I never felt so old as I did yesterday," She revealed
"How do ya mean?" his brow creased
"I was sat on that tree stump not being able to help my grandchildren who were upset and injured down that slope. All I could do was sit there and wait until Michaela and Sully found us,"
"What could you have done if you were able?"
"I could have tried to reach them,"
"And get yourself caught down there too. Ya would have been injured too. Look at Brian he's a young fit lad and you said he's got a broken arm!"
"I know..." She sighed still feeling helpless. "I just can't help feeling I could have done more,"
Michaela and Sully's bedroom at the clinic
Michaela awoke to the sound of muffled voices. She lifted her head she saw that Sully was still sleeping soundly. She smiled softly at the rugged good looks of the man she loved. She would never tire of looking at him. She slowly moved away from his embrace and slipped silently out of bed. She checked on the twins they too were sleeping they had only woken once in the night to be fed. They were very good at sleeping through the night already which Michaela was very grateful for.
She made her way to the balcony doors where she could hear the voices of her mother and Loren Bray. She quietly opened the door and made her way out in to the chilly morning air. She knew that eavesdropping was wrong but she just couldn't help it.
"I used to think I could out run getting older but before you know it, it catches up with you," Loren spoke.
"Yesterday has proven that fact to me. I just don't to miss moments of my children and grandchildren's lives, that is what frightens me the most. I don't want to wake up one day and find that I am too old to do anything. Michaela lives out here so far away from me...probably next time I see Katie and the twins they would have already forgotten who I am,"
"Michaela and Sully wouldn't allow that. Besides they will visit you won't they?"
"Mmm I suppose..."
"Elizabeth Quinn you will outlive us all. I reckon we aught ta live life while we still got it don't ya think? What do ya say we talk a nice walk and maybe have some lunch later?"
Elizabeth turned to face Loren and smiled. "I think you're right I should live my life while I still have it. I would like to come with you but what about your store?"
"Aww I'll open up later. Jake will be the only customer in this morning and he can wait," Standing up he offered her his arm.
Elizabeth stood and accepted Loren's arm. "Well let's go then Mr Bray,"
Michaela watched as Elizabeth and Loren took off across the meadow. She knew that Elizabeth was getting older and it worried her that she didn't see her as much as she would like. They had always had their disagreements but she never stopped loving her mother and at this point in their lives they were closer than they ever were. Michaela made a mental note that she needed to make more of an effort to go to Boston to see her mother and family. Michaela hated the thought of her children not knowing the only living grandparent they had only because she lived across the country.
Feeling the cold Michaela turned back into the room. Sully was still sleeping. She quietly went into the hall and checked on Katie and Brian, they too were sleeping. She made her way back to her room. She saw Sully on the bed his golden back exposed in the sunlight that filtered into the room. She had the option to either get dressed or to slip back into bed. Michaela decided to get back into bed.
"Umm...come here your all cold," Sully mumbled his eyes still closed. He pulled her in to his arms. "Mmm...That's better. Where did ya go?"
"To check on the children,"
"Mmm..." he mumbled dozing off again.
"Sully?" she turned to her side to face him.
"Yeah," He opened one eye.
"You know that Colleen and Andrew will be moving into their new homestead soon,"
"Yep..." he opened his other eye to look at her fully.
"I was thinking maybe we could set up a nursery for them at the new homestead. I know Colleen hasn't had time or the energy to do anything and I know Andrew hasn't thought about it," she suggested.
"I reckon it's a good idea," He tucked some of his hair behind his ear "I think I could make some furniture for the room,"
"And I could make a small quilt and some curtains," she smiled glad he liked her idea.
"I like your thinking Dr Quinn," he grinned and leaned over to kiss her. "I'll make a start on the designs later when we get home. How are the kids?"
"They are still sleeping. If there were any problems they would have called out to us during the night. Mother has gone on a walk with Loren I heard them leave a while ago,"
"It's nice for her to have a friend here to visit," Sully commented.
"I was also thinking that we should visit mother in the spring or maybe the summer. I overheard mother talking to Loren..."
Sully tickled her side "Michaela Quinn were you eavesdropping?"
Michaela bit her lip "I might have been," she admitted squirming away from his hands.
"It's rude to eves drop," he pretended to be shocked.
"I didn't really mean to but I heard them talking about getting older. Mother is worried that she is not going to be able to see the children as much as she would have if she was younger. I want her to see the children as much as she can but as years go by it will become more difficult for her to travel to Colorado Springs,"
Sully caressed her cheek kissing her forehead. "Don't worry if your mother can't travel to us I guess we will have to make regular trips to Boston,"
Michaela burst into a wide grin. "You would do that? Regularly go to Boston?"
"For you I'd go anywhere. You're the only reason I like Boston," He smiled kissing her softly.
"Oh I love you...What did I ever do to deserve you?" She hugged him tightly.
"I think the same about you," He kissed the top of her head.
Mid October 1871
Katie had made a complete recovery from her ordeal. She still had a minute scar on her leg thanks to her mother's fine stitching. Brian's arm was healing well but was still in a sling and his movement was restricted but Katie had been helping him do his chores and also at the gazette. Katie saw it as her chance to make it up to Brian for wandering off and ending up down the slope.
Before anyone knew it, it was Colleen and Andrew's moving in day. Michaela and Sully had been working hard to get a nursery set up for them in secret. Elizabeth was looking after Katie and the twins while Michaela and Sully where setting up the nursery before Colleen and Andrew arrived with Dorothy, Grace and Robert E.
Sully had tirelessly been making furniture day and night to get finished in time. Michaela had been working hard too, designing and making the soft furnishings for the room.
Michaela leaned against the doorframe watching Sully put together the crib. She watched him wiping his brow unaware that she was there.
"You know this reminds me of something," she commented gaining Sully's attention.
He turned to face her "Aren't you doing any work? They'll be here soon," he teased.
"We only need to brush out the room and add the curtains besides I think we deserve a break," she raised her eyebrow suggestively.
Unable to resist her he walked to her wrapping his arms around her waist. "What were you reminded of?" he referred to her earlier comment.
"When I found the headboard you were making for my wedding present," She upturned the corner of her mouth.
Sully smiled at the memory of that day. "As I remember we sank to the floor and we were doing something like this," he leaned in and kissed her.
Michaela's heart was beating a little faster just at the nearness of him and his lips against hers. Pulling away Michaela wrapped her arms around his neck. "That was nice but I think it was something more like this," She lifted slightly and kissed him passionately running her lips sensuously over his pressing her body as close as she possibly could.
Once the kiss ended Sully looked at her breathlessly. "I think your right, let's try that again," he claimed her lips again. Caught up in the passion of the moment Sully pressed Michaela's body gently against the doorframe. He ran his hands over her body. He lifted his hands and undid the first couple of buttons of her shirt. He kissed her chin then her neck and newly exposed chest.
"Sully...," her breath was ragged and she was finding it hard to string a sentence together.
"Mmm...," he didn't allow his lips to lift from her neck as he responded.
"We can't...we can't do this...here," she swallowed hard.
Knowing she was right Sully he pulled back kissing her lips softly both catching their breaths but holding each other tight.
"Knowing our luck at getting caught someone is bound to walk in on us," Michaela smiled recalling the many times they had been discovered in an intimate moment. Many by the children!
"Ya know I consider myself quite lucky," Sully stoked her sides.
Michaela grinned. "Why is that?"
"Because I have you, you're all the luck I need,"
Sully made a move to kiss her again but Michaela headed him off by grabbing a wet cloth that was in a nearby bucket. She threw it at his chest soaking his shirt. "I think you need to cool off Mr Sully," She very quickly ducked out of his embrace knowing she wouldn't be able to get away with what she just did.
Sully lifted the wet rag and saw Michaela taking off into the kitchen. He followed in a few short strides he caught up with Michaela in the kitchen she was stood behind the table with an infectious grin on her face.
He raised his eyebrow quizzically at her. "Come here," he reached out his hand to her.
Michaela shook her head no with an up turned grin. Sully took a couple of steps around the table towards her and Michaela took a couple of steps around the table away from him. Michaela laughed as Sully sped up to catch her. She miss judged the corner of the table a knocked her leg. Sully caught her hand and spun her into his arms against his chest.
"Got ya now," he smiled "You ok?"
She smiled at him looking into his deep blue eyes. "Yes just a knock," she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Want me to take a look?" he asked suggestively.
"Not now," she giggled. "Maybe later," she raised an eyebrow.
"I'll look forward to it...do ya think that ya could help me dry off my shirt,"
Michaela looked sheepish "Sorry...,"
Unable to resist the nearness and the scent of her he lowered his lips to hers. The kiss was soft a gentle at first then grew more passionate. Their lips moving together and hands roaming over each other's bodies lost in their own little world.
They didn't hear Colleen enter the house. Colleen cleared her throat loudly with an amused look on her face. Hearing Colleen Michaela and Sully stopped kissing and looked in the direction of the noise still in a locked embrace and swollen lips.
"We can't leave you alone for two minutes can we?" Colleen grinned.
Michaela blushed and they slowly backed away from each other. "Umm...Sully and I haven't finished organizing your surprise yet,"
"That's ok I'll wait outside on the porch with Andrew," Robert E, Grace and Andrew entered the house.
Grabbing Andrew's hand Colleen exited the house. Michaela and Sully made their way to the nursery. "I told you we are unlucky when it comes to having intimate moments," Michaela whispered.
"I still think I'm pretty lucky," Sully lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.
Later
Sully and Michaela had made Colleen and Andrew cover their eyes and stand in the doorway of the nursery.
"Ok you can now open your eyes," Michaela announced.
Colleen looked around the room. It was a beautiful surprise; she could see all the love that had gone into preparing this room for them from Sully's craftsmanship to Michaela's stitching.
"Oh I love it. It's perfect, thank you," Colleen hugged her mother and father.
Andrew ran his hand across the wooden rail of the crib admiring the craftsmanship. He looked into the crib picturing his child sleeping there.
"Thank you Sully, Michaela it's a lovely room," Andrew smiled.
"You're both welcome. We are just glad you like it,"
Colleen rubbed her stomach. "I can't wait until are little one is able to use it,"
Michaela and Sully's bedroom
Michaela entered the bedroom and shut the door quietly behind her. Sully was stood in the firelight without his shirt hold Josef close to his chest rocking him slowly. Michaela's heart swelled with love at the picture of Sully holding their son.
She also couldn't help the longings that stirred at the sight of Sully with the fire light dancing over the contours of his body. His muscular back flexing each time he rocked Josef. The desire to touch him and caress his skin was all too much to resist. Moving closer she lay her hand softly on his back.
Sully turned to look at her smiling. "He's almost asleep,"
"Good," she spoke quietly moving closer so that she could get a better view of her son's peaceful face. She cupped the back of his head ever so gently then kissed his soft baby skin. "Good night little one," she checked Ann was snug and warm before she readied herself for bed.
First she took down her hair letting it fall loose down her back.
"Did Katie go down ok?" Sully asked as he sat in the rocker next to the crib.
"She finally did after two stories," Michaela chuckled.
Sully smiled at the thought of his daughter's nightly struggles to stay awake. He saw Michaela begin to undo her shirt and then un-tuck it from her skirt. He couldn't take his eyes from her. Her skin so smooth and beautifully lit by the fire, the elegant way she moved and brushed her hair, the way her eyes sparkled. His breathing became deeper. He wanted to kiss her skin, caress her body and hold her to him all night long. He considered himself the luckiest man in the world to have her love.
Michaela stepped out of her skirt aware that Sully had become quite and watching her every move. Her skin tingled knowing he was watching her undress. Next she removed her undergarments her heart pumping more and more as she did so. She selected a white cotton sleeveless night gown and slowly slipped it over her head knowing that it wouldn't stay on very long.
She made her way over to where Sully sat with Josef. They locked eyes and Michaela upturned her lips into a sultry smile. Their eyes told the desire that they both shared. She took Josef from Sully. She carefully placed him in the crib wrapping his blanket around him.
Sully reached for her hand pulling her so that she stood between his legs. He stroked her hips through her night dress feeling the warm skin beneath.
"I've finally got ya to myself," He looked up at her.
Michaela tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. "I was thinking the same about you,"
"Would you like me to take a look at that bump on your leg now?" he asked with an amused grin.
"I'm sure it's nothing," She remembered bumping into the edge of the table when Sully was chasing her earlier. Right now it wasn't forefront in her mind.
He began to lift the edge of her nightgown raising it above her knee exposing her thigh to him. He spotted a small purplish bruise. He kissed the area softly. Michaela took a deep breath her breathing deepening at the nearness of him.
"I think you'll be ok,"
She ran her hands through his hair caressing his scalp with her finger tips. "I think I will be soon," she raised her eyebrow at him as he looked up at her.
Sully stood lifting Michaela off her feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck her face merely an inch from his face. She could feel his breath on her skin.
"What can I do to make you feel better?" he asked.
"You can kiss me,"
"Here...," he kissed her chin.
"Yes," She tilted her head to the side encouraging him.
"Here?" he kissed her jaw line and neck
"Yes,"
"Here?" he kissed her lips tenderly.
Michaela didn't answer she just looked into his eyes communicating the love she held for him. Sully placed her back on her feet. He kissed her passionately letting his lips explore hers. As they pulled apart Michaela still had her eyes closed lost in the moment.
"What else can I do to make you feel better?" he continued to play their game.
Michaela opened her eyes at the sound of his voice. She reached for his hand a led him closer to the bed. "We can go over here," Sully loved it when she was bold like this.
Sully stopped her and reached for the hem of her night gown he lifted over her head gazing at her form adoringly. He ran his hand over her curves slowing awakening every pore of her being. Michaela's breath was rapid her chest moving up and down.
He helped her lay on the bed while he removed his buckskins. Michaela watched she could never tire of his physic or the way he looked at her as he was doing now. She moved over to make more room for him.
She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him passionately. Soon his lips travelled down her body. When he reached her lips again she whispered "I love you so much,"
Sully caressed her body he reached a sensitive place. Michaela arched her back and let her head fall back into the pillows; she gripped the bed sheets in her left hand. Sully smiled at her reaction then kissed her deeply.
Michaela wrapped her arms around him and made him roll onto his back. Sully pushed back her hair from her face caressing her cheek as he did so. "Beautiful,"
Soon they were making love by the firelight in the warmth of their marital bed. Spent from the emotions that they shared for each other they collapsed onto the bed catching their breaths. Sully gathered her into his arms holding her close and kissing her head.
"I defiantly feel better now," Michaela boldly commented.
Sully rubbed her back "Good," he pulled the blanket over them and snuggled down next to her.
"It's been a busy day," she placed her hand over his heart feeling the steady beat.
"Mmm...I'm glad that Colleen and Andrew liked the nursery. Ya did a good job on the bedding and curtains," he kissed her nose.
"Thank you, your wonderful furniture set it off though," Her eyes shone with love.
"We make a good team," Sully's eyes became heavy with sleep.
"I agree," She stroked is side laying her head on his chest.
"Night," he kissed her head.
"Good night," she closed her eyes sleep overtaking them both as the fire in the hearth still glowed casting a light over the lovers.
Chapter 22 coming soon....