It wasn't easy to convince Michaela to go only with Daniel and Hannah on the excursion to Angel Lake. When Sophy came up with the excuse of a headache, the doctor immediately wanted to examine her. But the firm assurance of the young woman that a rest was all she needed, finally satisfied Michaela to agree in leaving for the afternoon. She didn't ask if Sully would come when he didn't get ready to join them.
They returned to the ranch much earlier than expected. They didn't even have a chance to see the lake because all ways leading there were snowy. So they had no choice but to turn back.
Arriving at the house they heard the sound of a music box from inside. Daniel reacted fast and sent Hannah to her Pa to announce that they were back. In the meantime he tried to distract Michaela by explaining the functions of the different buildings in the valley beneath them. When they finally entered the house, Michaela was fully aware that the music had stopped. She also noticed that Sophy was blushing and Sully looked embarrassed. Daniel didn't seem to be concerned about that and it wasn't her business as to what was going on here. But she began to wish she didn't have to be there.
Of course Sully immediately sensed her discomfort but knew he couldn't do anything about it right now. She wouldn't believe him anyway.
At the breakfast table the next day Daniel announced, "I'll take us all to a nearby valley this morning. It's a surprise for Sophy," and he bent towards her to give her a peck on the cheek. "But I have a reason why I want to show it to you, too." He turned to his friend and smiled at him.
An hour later they all stood on the edge of a valley. It wasn't as large as the one they came from but it was still lovely. The slopes fell gently and on the ground grew several groups of trees. A brook that was frozen at the moment crossed the valley from one end towards the other. In the distance a range of snow-covered mountains was to be seen. Both women exclaimed simultaneously, "It's beautiful!"
Daniel beamed and positioned himself behind his fiancée. Wrapping his arms around her he told her, "That's where we gonna live."
Sophy turned in his arms and looked up at him. "Really?"
He kissed her soundly and then assured her, "Really."
When he stepped back from his fiancéehe turned to his friend. "How do you like it?"
Sully responded tentatively, "I agree, it's beautiful. But ain't you already living in a wonderful place?"
For a moment Daniel was puzzled. "Yeah, but…Oh, of course! It seems I didn't tell you yet… The house we're living in for now belongs to Sophy's father." When he saw that Sully wanted to interrupt him, he hastily assured, "He doesn't live there alone. Obviously I forgot to tell you that he will arrive with Sophy's brothers and all the servants after lunch. The house will be crowded enough, believe me. But we can stay there until our own home is built."
Then he hesitated for a moment. He had thought about the suggestion he wanted to offer before he knew about Sully's recent family situation. But he continued nevertheless. "I thought there could be two houses, one at each end of the valley." Having the attention from all of them he paused again. His bride was still radiantly smiling at him, Sully was unsure what to expect and Hannah, holding her Pa's hand, seemed to be happy just because she was together with all of them. But Daniel could tell by seeing Michaela's facial expression that she knew what would come. He looked from her to his friend again. "One house for my family and one house for yours. Wouldn't that be great?" He couldn't hide how much he enjoyed this idea.
Michaela immediately turned away from them. It would always be the same. There would always be either Indians, another woman or a friend Sully might decide to live with. Or if someone noticed his qualities as an architect, even a job could take him away from Colorado Springs. Of course he wouldn't abandon his daughter again, he would take her with him. She had known it from the day she took the girl in that this day would come. Hannah wasn't her child. But if she was honest, it wasn't only Hannah anymore. Why couldn't she just keep her emotions under control? She was angry with herself. She had already decided to close her heart again after seeing him with that Indian woman. "Then finally do it!" she silently screamed at herself. And when she heard Sully replying to his friend, the wall around her was already rebuilt.
"Thanks for the offer, but I can't do that. My life is in Colorado Springs." Sully spoke with total sincerity.
Daniel tried to object, but Sully angrily looked at him, pointing with his head in Michaela's direction. Clearing his throat, Daniel gave in for the moment. "Alright, we'll talk about it later."
When everyone entered the carriage again and sat on their seats, Hannah wanted to climb onto her Ma's lap. Michaela stroke the girl's soft blond hair and told her, "You should go to your Pa, sweetheart. He might be jealous if you always come to me."
Sully knew what she was trying to do but he was determined to not let it happen. "Don't worry about that, sweet girl," he grinned at his daughter to show her this wasn't a serious conversation. "I wantcha to stay with your Ma." Hannah smiled back at him happily. While she was making herself comfortable on her Ma's lap, she missed the mute conversation between her parents.
They were staring at each other. Sully's look was almost angry and he told her to stop that nonsense. She replied with, she only wanted what was best for the child. Neither of them gave in and suddenly their expressions changed. The connection was back. For a few moments his gaze broke the wall, caressing her hurt soul. And she let that happen.
Feeling tears arise Michaela abruptly turned and looked out of the window.
By the afternoon five of the eight rooms upstairs were occupied. Besides Michaela, Hannah and Sully, Sophy's brothers Peter and Paul and Paul's young girlfriend Sandra, who had just immigrated from Germany, were placed up there as well. Hannah instantly liked Sandra because she found the way she spoke funny. Peter and Paul were twenty years old twins and they were as like as two peas, though Peter insisted on being the older one, even if it were just ten minutes. But the most impressive character of the arriving people had been Sophy's father, Mr. Carl Wilson. It wasn't only that he was a tall, handsome man in his fifties with still blond hair and almost green eyes; the way he firmly took care of everything and everyone with authority was impressive, too.
The introductions were kept briefly because there were a lot of wedding supplies to be unloaded from the wagons and the carriages.
During dinner that evening, they all sat together in the dining room. Hannah was astonished by the large table. Even the chairs were bigger than those in the kitchen, and because she was too small to sit comfortably there, she was allowed to sit on her Pa's lap. She loved it.
The conversation at the table was light and mostly about the upcoming wedding the next afternoon. But the head of the household seemed to have been distracted. From time to time he looked at Michaela who was sitting opposite him. She didn't notice him because she couldn't get the moment in the carriage out of her mind. She finally admitted she was only fooling herself if she believed, getting over Sully would be as easy as she had hoped.
Sully on the other hand was fully aware of Mr. Wilson's attention for Michaela. He didn't like it. From the moment the man was introduced to Dr. Mike, he seemed to be searching for something he had forgotten and kept staring at her.
Eventually Michaela noticed the gaze. Looking back at the man she tried to be polite. "Is there something you want to ask me, Mr. Wilson?"
Without breaking eye contact he replied, "Living in the West is not the destiny you were raised for, am I right?"
She wasn't sure where this was leading. "No, but it is my choice, Mr. Wilson."
He acknowledged her answer and nodded. "A free spirit, I like that." He hesitated for a moment and laid his knife and fork down. "You must excuse my behaviour, Miss, but I swear I've already known you."
All at the table had fallen silent by now and observed the talk. Slightly blushing, Michaela assured him, "I have never seen you before, Mr. Wilson."
He seemed to be more and more convinced. "The way you talk…May I ask you where you come from?"
"I grew up in Boston, but now I live…"
"Boston!" It wasn't only Mr. Wilson who was astonished but his children as well.
Sophy told her, "We are from Boston, too."
Michaela was pleased. "Really? Then we should have a lot to talk about."
Finally it dawned on Carl. "May I look into your eyes again, please?" Michaela was growing uncomfortable and Sully now knew for sure that he didn't like this conversation.
But when an insistent, "Please?" followed, Michaela did the man the favor.
"Mismatched eyes, hazel and olive! I knew that I've seen you before! You are the son Josef Quinn didn't have on Valentine's Day. He called you Mike and showed off with you and your intelligence, your skills and mismatched eyes every time he was asked about his children."
Michaela blushed heavily. All eyes were on her now. "You knew my father?"
"Yes, I did. And you called me Uncle Carl when you were three." Michaela still didn't feel better about the situation.
Sandra was puzzled, she had some difficulties with the new language. She bent towards Paul and whispered, "I don't understand, how can she be a son?"
Mr. Wilson heard her. "My dear, Josef Quinn already had four daughters and he was sure the new child would be a son, born on Valentine's Day. But it was neither a son nor was it on February 14th. It was five minutes later. Back in those days, he was teased everywhere he went. But when the girl grew up he couldn't have been prouder of her. Unfortunately we lost contact when we moved to another part of Boston." He turned back to Michaela. "If you don't mind I'd like to invite you to my library after dinner. There is a lot we have to talk about."
Michaela couldn't believe it. What a coincidence! It would be nice to talk to someone who had known father. "I'd like that. But first I'll have to put a little girl to bed." Turning to Hannah she added, "And sing a lullaby. Right, sweetheart?" The child nodded eagerly.
It had been a pleasant talk. They had questioned each other about the past and present so Michaela felt a little piece of home in this strange place. When she was passing Sandra's room later, she heard the same music like the other afternoon, as well as the young woman's laughter and Sully's deep voice. She felt a sudden pang of an emotion that she had forbidden herself. Deciding to ignore it she went to her own room, straightening and lifting her chin up.
The next morning the women were busy with the ceremony's preparation for the afternoon. There were things the chambermaids couldn't do like creating the perfect hairstyle for the bride. So it was Michaela's job. Sandra was teaching Hannah how to throw the rose petals, while the men had important things to do as well, like distracting the groom. The best way was to have a billiard match.
However, Sully had excused himself. He needed fresh air and some quiet time to think. Last evening Daniel had renewed his suggestion. But as much as he liked the location, living in this place was out of the question, not without Michaela. She would never leave Colorado Springs, at least not now. But then Daniel had asked him to build the house and the hotel in town. That would mean he had to stay just for a while. He didn't know yet if he really wanted to do that. Sully sighed. Why couldn't he just talk to Michaela and find a solution together with her? He had noticed at breakfast that her behaviour towards him had become formal again. But she had secretly watched him. He knew it because he had caught her looking at him when he talked to Sandra. He could only hope she hadn't heard them that evening and wished he had never agreed to the dance lessons. He still went about the steps clumsily, but Sandra had assured him a woman in love would look over it. A woman in love…How he wished it was true!
More guests arrived in the course of the morning and by afternoon almost seventy people were present. The ceremony would begin soon. In their room Michaela dressed Hannah in a new beautiful white gown.The girl was excited and couldn't keep still for one moment. But her Ma didn't seem to notice it. She was caught in her own thoughts. Michaela wasn't sure if she really wanted to put on the dress she had brought along hoping to surprise Sully. She had packed her things before that morning at the reservation. Maybe she would just take the light-blue one… Turning her attention to Hannah again she was amused at the sight of her with reddened cheeks because all of the excitement. "If you don't calm down young lady, you will be worn out very soon and fall asleep during the ceremony." The girl shook her head resolutely. That would never happen. She wanted to see her Ma and her Pa dancing and eagerly asked, "You now dess?"
Michaela had to smile at her daughter's antics. "Alright, I'll do it now. And after that I'll put the ribbons in your hair. But, you will have to stop hopping around then or you will lose them."
Hannah just nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed to watch her Ma. There were two dresses hung on the wardrobe's door. When her Ma reached for one of them the girl instantly objected. "Wong, Ma!"
Michaela turned to her irresolutely. "Sweetheart, I think I should…"
But the child was insistent. "'pise, 'member?"
"I really don't know, Hannah. Your father and I…"
Climbing down from the bed Hannah begged, "Pease!" Reaching her Ma she hugged her legs and repeated, "Pease!"
Stroking the blond hair Michaela sighed. Bending her head back she momentarily closed her eyes and then decided, "Alright, I'll do it for you."
Hannah hugged her Ma's legs even tighter. That had been difficult!
As a flower girl Hannah had to wait outside with other children while Michaela took her seat in the room where the ceremony took place. Daniel already stood next to an improvised altar awaiting his bride. By his sidewas a tall, dark stranger in a perfect fitting black suit. Something about him was familiar, Michaela just couldn't put her finger on it. But when he turned in her direction, she gasped. Blushing, she instantly covered her mouth with her hand. It was Sully, clean shaven and his hair was slicked back. He looked incredibly handsome and when their gazes met for a moment, her blush deepened even further.
The ceremony had been pleasant. Nobody stumbled, Hannah threw all the petals as Sandra had taught her and the priest didn't speak too long.
Sully was relieved when it was finally finished. He didn't like to stand in front of all guests and could tell that some women were staring at him. He didn't like that either, and he knew it wasn't over yet. Though he longed to hold Michaela in his arms, he hated the idea of dancing. He was sure he would step on her toes. Sighing, he decided to look for her on the pretext of looking for Hannah.