Standing near the exit, Sully received more attention than he wanted when people finally left the church. While the looks from the women were appreciative, the men mostly expressed that they thought him a fool. How could he waste such an opportunity to earn a large amount of money!
Hank hissed in passing, "You're gonna regret that, I swear. Think of my words!"
After Michaela had talked to Mr. Goldt for a few minutes she joined the group with Maude, Charlotte and Colleen. Letting go all her reserve Charlotte's daughter excitedly tugged at Dr. Mike's sleeve and looked at her wide-eyed, "Does that mean I can go to college now and be a doctor, too?"
"If this is what you want, of course." Michaela had to chuckle about the girl's eagerness. "The only thing you have to do is to learn as much as possible." Reaching for Hannah, who was almost sleeping now in her grandma's arms, Michaela asked the other women somewhat unsure, "Do you think Sully will…?"
She was interrupted by Loren. "Aw, don't you worry, Dr. Mike. Sully had helped build a lot of cabins after he had married Abigail. He had built the homestead all by himself." After a short hesitation he added, "I was wondering, ehm…where will you buy all the supplies for the building?" If she would order all things at his mercantile…He couldn't contain his excitement.
"All things that are needed will be ordered from you. I want only people of our town to be involved in the whole process of building the school."
Now some eavesdroppers stepped closer. "Does that mean you will hire all the workers here, too?" It was Mr. Deaver who had asked.
Turning to him the doctor assured. "Yes, it does. But it doesn't mean I will hire you, this lies in Mr. Sully's responsibility."
Sully had waited patiently and now they were finally on their way home. This time she had asked him if he wanted to take the reins. He had to smile when he remembered that she almost seemed to be shy doing so. Sitting now side by side on the driver's bench of the wagon he sensed that she didn't dare ask him why he had volunteered to be the architect. He cleared his throat and turned his head to her. "I don't know how often I already had to apologize to you for jumping to wrong conclusions and I hope this time will be the last one. I'll show you that I can make things better. In fact I love building homesteads. You only have to tell me what youwant."
Relieved, she returned his smile and started to explain her plan.
While she put Hannah to bed, he made a sketch of her dream. He stood next the to table when she stepped back to him. Seeing his drawing she breathed, "Oh Sully, it's beautiful!"
She hadn't expected him bringing to paper exactly what she had in her mind. With teary eyes she looked up at him, and now he was surprised because without a warning, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "Thank you!" he heard her whisper. He held her close and didn't want to let her go.
The next few weeks went by quickly. After Michaela had signed the papers Mister Goldt had prepared, Mister Lodge had given up trying to convince her. But he had assured her he wouldn't give up his plan of his health resort. The marshal from Denver, who had actually arrived on the morning after the town meeting, had been very angry at Hank when he found out that there was no evidence against Dr. Quinn at all. And Michaela's patients came back, tentatively first, because most of them were ashamed at how they had treated her, but steadily. Sully was almost healthy again and the stone made foundation walls for the schoolhouse were already built. Now Christmas was approaching and Michaela had told Sully, she needed to talk to him in the evening. Maude and she had decided, it was time for the men to let go of old disagreements and anger. The women had planned that they would spend Chritmas at the mercantile together.
When supper was finished Sully cleared his throat. "I got something I wanna talk about, too."
"What is it?" Michaela was curious and Hannah also looked expectantly.
"Well, I think I should move out of the barn again."
Hannah was excited. "Pa 'n bed 'gain?" She loved having her father in the house.
Sully slightly chuckled. "No, sweet girl. I'll go sleep somewhere else."
"Why?" The little girl was puzzled.
Sully turned towards Dr. Mike. "The men at the building site are talking. It don't matter to me but I think after all that happened we oughta watch what they are saying about you."
Michaela blushed and looked down at her hands placed in her lap.
Hannah didn't like it when she was left out. She tugged at her father's sleeve and made him turn back to her. The girl had heard what her Pa had said but she didn't understand why he wanted to go away because other men talked. "Why?"
Sully sighed. "A man and a woman should only live at the same place when they're married. But me and your Ma ain't married."
The girl was insistent. "Why?"
Michaela's blush deepened and Sully began to stammer, "Well…you know…it is…ehm, marrying isn't something you just do. It takes time. I…" He stopped when he saw he had lost his daughter's attention.
Hannah was looking across the table now and it was obvious that her Ma was considering her father's words. It concerned the child and she asked anxiously, "Ma?"
Michaela's mind raced. She hadn't been prepared for Sully's announcement. If she was honest, she would have to admit that she liked their arrangement. Since he had been well enough he had helped around the house and he always watched Hannah when she was busy with chores or cooking. And in the evening it had become a habit that they sat together either at the table or, if the weather was good enough, on the porch stair. Sometimes they talked, but often they just sat in a comfortable silence. She had actually forgotten she was only a guest in this house. But of course he was right. Now, that she could be sure she wouldn't lose the girl…But it was hard nevertheless.
She straightened up and directed her words at Sully. "Since Hannah is close enough to you in the meantime, it is time for me to let you be the family you are. This is your house, Sully. I can move back into the clinic."
"No!" The girl instantly climbed down from her chair and rushed to Michaela. She clutched her Ma's waist with her little arms and buried her face in her chest. "No! Pease, 'n't go!"
Sully was taken aback. How could she think he wanted her to go? "Of course your Ma will stay, Hannah. I still have some places where I can go."
Michaela was incredulous. "It is winter, Sully, you can't hardly sleep outside."
"The Cheyenne live outdoors their whole lives, Dr. Mike. I will manage," he assured.
The girl was torn now. The thought of losing one of them devastated her and tears started to fall. "Ma 'n Pa stay, pease!"
Michaela tried to soothe her. Stroking the soft blond hair she assured, "We'll find a way sweetheart. Right, Sully?" He frowned but he nodded.
They found an agreement. In the evenings he wouldn't leave until his daughter had fallen asleep. During the days nothing had changed, he only slept somewhere else. She hadn't asked where he went every evening and he didn't tell.
In the middle of January the shell of the schoolhouse was done. Michaela hadn't expected it to be so soon, that's why she hadn't thought of a teacher yet. But Horace had taken care of the advertisements now and when she was about to leave the Telegraph Office, he called her back. "Dr. Mike, wait! I almost forgot, Sully's got a letter, too. Would you mind giving it to him?"
She was surprised and took it. "Sure, why not?"
It was obvious to her, the letter came from a woman; the writing and the smell of lilacs…She felt her heart skip a beat. Although they had been growing much closer over the last few weeks she still felt insecure about him.
Walking back to the clinic she found herself daydreaming again, something that happened quite often lately. There were only tiny hints that there could be more between them, and she wasn't even sure if she wasn't just imagining it. But when he helped her down from the wagon…she couldn't remember the first time when she had felt his hands linger an instant longer on her waist than necessary. She had surprised herself when she didn't want to move away. His hands were so warm and so strong…Or when they sat next to each other on the driver's bench of the wagon…when they took a bend his thigh seemed to touch hers more often now, earlier they hadn't touched at all…or when she gave Hannah from her arms into his their hands always met recently or…
In the evening he was already about to leave when she remembered the letter.
"Sully, wait!" She caught him in the doorway, reaching for his arm. "Horace gave me a letter for you." She pulled it out of the pocket of her coat that hung next to the door and gave it to him. Leaning against the door frame she waited for his reaction.
Sully could barely hide a smile, not that she was curious. But so was he, although after reading the sender he already knew whom it came from. Smelling at the envelope he raised his eyebrows, grinned at her and opened it. He was sure she thought the letter came from a woman.
After he had skimmed over the content he smiled down at her. "It seems I will go to a wedding."
She tried in vain to not let him see her confusion, and for a moment he enjoyed this. Not because he wanted to tease her, but seeing her reaction he could finally be sure he wasn't only the father of the child she adored.
"It's from my friend Daniel, I've told you about him. He's getting married next month. I promised him once if that day ever came, I'd be there."
Although her relief was palpable she asked concerned, "So you will have to leave again?"
Stepping closer he told her, "I've got a better idea. Daniel will start his family and I will show him mine."
She was not quite sure what he meant. "You want to take Hannah with you?"
A flying smile crossed his face. The townsfolk only knew her as a smart, independent woman who knew her own mind. But he had witnessed her insecurities as well and when he saw her now almost shyly standing in front of him, the urge to take her in his arms was overwhelming. "I'd like you to come with us."
She blushed and averted her eyes from him. "I don't know, Sully…"
He closed the distance between them and let the letter drop onto the floor. Laying his hands on her shoulders he whispered, "I do."
She looked up at him nervously, longingly. Slightly shaking her head she begged nearly inaudible, "No!"
But he didn't listen. His right hand caressed her cheek and when she almost melted under his touch he used his other hand to cup her face. When he slowly bent down she breathed, "Oh my God!" and closed her eyes.
It seemed to last an eternity until their lips finally met in a first brief attempt to explore the feeling that would come with this touch.
Never before in her whole life had Michaela experienced such a surge of emotions. She felt frightened and happy at the same time. She didn't want the sensation to end and when his lips started to caress hers with tenderness and longing, her knees weakened and her hands stroked up his back to finally hold on his shoulders for dear life.
Sully fought his own battle. When she didn't shy away, he dared venturing further and enveloped her mouth with his. He let his hands wander down to her back and her waist to hold her as close as possible.
Michaela thought she was drowning in him. When she sensed his tongue trying to part her lips, she opened her mouth and let him in. She had never done that before. The tip of his tongue meeting hers sent shivers up and down her spine and she started to tremble. Her heart raced and she could feel the drum in his chest resonate through her ribcage. She was losing control.
Sully knew he had to stop. Though he had longed to kiss her for a long time, he hadn't been prepared for the avalanche of longing he experienced right now. Her body seemed to be a part of his and he didn't want to let her go. But if he wanted to keep her, he would have to, now.
With great difficulty he removed his lips from hers. Showering her face with wet kisses he whispered, "See ya tomorrow."
Without waiting for her reply he left her abruptly.