Chapter Nineteen

Colorado Springs, Sully Homestead

Having just fed Flash, Fire and Taffy with some oats and a few extra apples in the barn, Michaela walked back into the house when she heard them. Again! The unmistakable sounds of whispered secrets and conspiracy coming from the upper rooms. Suspiciously, she squinted her eyes. There was something going on, she just knew it! For days, no, for weeks now, some strange machination was taking place in her own house, things that she was not supposed to know about. Sully had been acting utterly strange during the last few days. Whenever she had proceded to go into Colleen's old room for a clean-up, Sully had held her back and told her that he would do it some other time, that she needed to take it easy. Mostly, he had distracted her with other *arguments*, most of them involving his lips. It was the same with the barn, whenever Michaela wanted to milk the cow or tend to the horses. In fact, today was the first day that no one had interrupted her going in there. And now to increase her suspicions, Sully's and Brian's audible whisperings!

Michaela supported her belly with determination, a gesture that had become indispensable if she wanted to move along a little faster. Just as she was about to climb up the stairs, Sully came down towards her, taking several steps at once, slightly out of breath.

Grinning smugly and visibly proud, he took her by the hand. "'Chaela, I got somethin' ta show ta ya. We got a surprise for ya."

Irritated, she let herself be pulled along. Astonished, she noticed that Brian and Katie had lined up like tin soldiers in the hallway outside Colleen's room. She looked at her children in bewilderment. But they offered no explanation. Sully leaned in front of her and opened the door to the room with a little flourish.

Michaela's heart stopped as she entered. Fascinated, she looked around. Her initial irritation immediately gave way to excessive surprise and delight.

"Oh Lord, this is beautiful. A nursery!"

She looked around spellbound. The walls had been repainted in a friendly shade of yellow. She wondered why she hadn't smelled the paint. Pictures of flowers and animals, most of them Katie Sully or Brian Cooper originals, hung on the wall. Colleen's closet had been lightly stained to match the color of the wall. On one side of the room was a new chest of drawers that would serve as a changing table. In one corner stood a beautifully crafted, upholstered, new rocking chair and in the other corner, head to head, just below the window, were the room's showpieces: two stunning cots, with long wooden rods at the sides and beautiful flowers carved into the headboards. The work of a loving father. But what also attracted Michaela's attention were the wood-carved stars and moons, suns, clouds and birds hanging on strings from the ceiling. In each bed lay a brightly colored rattle, waiting to be played with.

Michaela was left breathless and for once she was completely speechless. Why hadn't she noticed, smelled or heard any of this? Her family must have magical qualities to hide such a wonderful surprise from her!

"The blankets an' most of the toys are from Elizabeth." Sully told her. "She's picked them out with Rebecca an' sent them here as soon as we wrote about the twins. Those rattles are from Loren. He gave us one of each color fer either a girl or a boy. We did the rest... Look! Brian an' Kates drew these great pictures. Colleen and Jennie made the beddin' and the upholstery. 'Course, Colleen agreed ta let us use her old room when the babies are bigger and ain't sleepin' with us anymore... Anyway, Brian and Matthew helped me with the cabinets an' the beds. Uh, I hope ya like them the way they are. ...'cause they're awfully heavy."

"Oh, Sully! It's perfect. I think it's so beautiful. I never even thought that long ahead. When did you do all this?"

"Oh, it wasn't that easy," Sully lamented. "I know ya, wife. We used ev'ry minute ya weren't here. Ya got any idea how hard t'was ta keep somethin' like that away from ya? Keepin' ya away from this room an' the barn seein' that's where we've bin workin' on the funiture."

Brian chimed in. "We carried the beds up here last night when ya were sleepin'. It's a wonder ya didn't wake up ta all the noise we made. 'Specially when Matthew stubbed his toe. But we made it, didn't we? Ya had no idea."

"Not a clue." Michaela confirmed very moved. "Thank you. I think it's so nice and I'm sure the babies will think so, too. You all helped. I don't know how to thank you."

"Cookies!" Katie yelled. That was the most fitting reward for all the hard work the little girl could imagine.

Michaela, Sully and Brian snickered and Brian took his little sister's hand. "Come on, Katie. I'll get us some cookies downstairs. After all that work..."

Sniffling, Michaela hugged her son and kissed her daughter. Then she was alone with Sully. She wrapped her arms around his hips and put her head on his chest, "Thank you," she whispered. "These cradles and furniture are beautiful. You took all that trouble for my surprise. I knew there was something going on here, but I never would have thought of this."

Sully kissed her on the forehead and caressed her face. "Ya're welcome." he said. "I jus' wanted ta make somethin' special for the kids. I want them ta have everythin' I have ta offer."

"They will." Michaela was sure. "As are Brian and Katie and the older children. They'll have a family that loves them dearly and is so much looking forward to their arrival."

Sully took Michaela a little tighter in his arms. "Yeah, that's right. The babies are lucky because they'll have ya as their mother."

"And you as their father," she concluded and stood on her toes to kiss him.

ooooooooooooo

Armed with a writing pad, a pen and a book on the meaning of English first names they had found in Josef's library, Sully and Michaela sat propped up in bed and laughed at the rather outrageous suggestions the book made.

"Alfreda...Aetheldryth... Concordia... Ermintrude...or here, take Cuthbert... Processus, Wyrrtun. Really, who wants ta name their kid like that?" Sully puffed his cheeks. "That's invitin' bullyin' for a lifetime."

"Um, yes." Michaela nodded with a vacant expression. "Here's another one of your favorites. Ezra. That means 'the helper'."

Sully gave her a warning look. "Not in a thousand years."

Michaela smiled. "Well, I guess Byron Jr. is out of the question, too. Although *I* love your name, Byron Sully!"

Sully made a disparaging grunt. "Mmmpf."

He turned to the next page. "Let's focus on girls' names. Ellen means torch or moon, Mary means lover or love... ...Isabel, Lily, Karen, Julia... Hey, it says here Katherine means pure. That's fittin', ain't it?"

"Mmmm-Hmmm. I have Alan, Charles, William..." Michaela replied absently. Looking up from the book, she inquired. "Tell me, is there a reason for your fixation on girls' names?"

"Hm?" Sully murmured. "I jus' bin thinkin', just in case ya give me another girl who's jus' as beautiful as her mother. Well, then she must have a suitable name, right?"

Michaela returned, "Well, either way. I'm not taking any orders as of now. And besides, you got that little girl you wanted. I'd like to have my little boy now. Or would you mind?"

Sully knew she was joking. "On the contrary. I think we're gonna keep whatever comes along," he quipped. "Let's see, we got plenty of options, don't we?"

"Yes, you're right. We could have two girls, two boys or one of each. For that, the girls or boys could be identical or fraternal. That means we have to choose at least four names. Two boys' and two girls'. So let's get busy!... Sully?"

"Huh?" Distractedly, he looked at her.

"Sully, I'd like to name a boy after the man who gave you back your freedom. After all he made it possible for you to be here with us. The President."

Sully raised his eyebrows in amusement. "Ya wanna name one Ulysses?"

"Lord, no!" Michaela laughed. "I mean Grant. That's a nice, strong name, isn't it?

Sully gave her a kiss. "Grant," he tried the name on his tongue. "Yeah, I like that. Agreed. Let's honor the man who made all this possible. I dunno if I'd be here pickin' out baby names if it wasn't for his pardon... But there's someone else I'd like to commemorate, so ta say."

"Who?" Michaela asked curiously.

"Your Pa." Sully explained. "Ya told me so much about him that I feel I know 'im. I'm sure I would've respected him as much as ya did. He must've bin a remarkable man."

"He was." Michaela was deeply touched. "Oh Sully, you really want to name our son Joseph? That would make me so happy." There were tears of joy in her eyes again.

"That's all I ever wanted." Sully said.

"Sully?"

"Hmmm."

"I wonder why I never asked. But what were your father's and brother's names?"

Gulping, Sully replied. "Aidan... Aidan was my Pa's name. And John was my brother's but I used ta call him Johnny or Joey." Not wanting to reopen old wounds, Michaela touched his knee.

Straightening up he asked "Girls' names?"

Michaela had it covered. "I was thinking about Charlotte for a middle name. The children would really love that... And Alexandra or Victoria, because I always liked those names. I had an aunt Victoria and she was a genuinely lovely person."

"Yeah, I'd like that, too." Sully looked over at Michaela, who for the umpeenth time tried to supress a tired yawn. As she was about to cover her fatigue Sully realized that she obviously found it increasingly hard to keep her eyes open.

Gently, he took pad and pencil out of her hands and encouraged her to rest. "We can continue tomorrow. We still have some time. Ya three need your sleep."

Without giving any resistance, Michaela watched Sully turn off the lights and let herself be pulled into a comfortable embrace, the only position in which he was able to find a proper sleep. Only a few moments later, Sully could tell from his wife's steady breathing that she was in the land of dreams and he set out to join her in slumber.

ooooooooooooo

It was an exciting and long awaited day for Katie Sully. She knew as soon as she woke up in her little bed that this day would be special. Excited, she kicked the thick blankets that covered her away, only to shiver a moment later when the crisp morning air hit her little body.

Slightly frustrated she cried for attention. "Mama! Papa!" She waited in vain for a few minutes for one of her parents to pick her up. After a few more moments it became too much for her insatiable curiosity.

Her father had removed a few bars from her cot some time ago, so that she could climb out of the bed on her own if she needed to. With a little effort she commenced to do just that. On tippy-toes she snuck through her room, opened the half-open door and walked along the corridor until she met yet another obstacle, the closed door to her parents' room. But Katie Sully was a smart child. Undeterred, she pulled up a stool that usually served her mother when cleaning the house. Placing it carefully, Katie could finally reach the handle and open it quietly. On tiptoe, she crept quietly into the gloomy bedroom and looked up at her parents' bed. Her mother lay on her side and was fast asleep. Her father lay close to her Mama, snuggled into her back, his arm draped around her chest. He, too, had his eyes still closed. Katie's brow wrinkled. How could her folks sleep like that? They must be awfully hot! That's where she got her inspiration to reach up and tug at her mother's blanket.

"Mama! Mama!"

But she just couldn't wake her mother up! So she ran to the other side of the bed and climbed up with the skill of a monkey. There she happily pawed Sully's stubbled face and alternately smacked wet kisses on his cheek. "Papa, Santa's comin'," she yelled. That simply must wake her father up!

Sully mumbled something in a half-sleep and finally he opened one eye and looked at the blonde shock of hair beside him.

"Hey, Kates," he muttered sleepily. "It's Christmas. Are ya excited?"

What a question! Katie nodded her head exaggeratedly and grinned at him. Sully reached over, snatched her in his arms and started to tickle her. Katie giggled her exuberant, melodic girly laughter as Sully teased her incessantly.

That finally roused Michaela and she turned around, smiling. Just as Sully lifted his daughter high above his head, she greeted them. "Why, good morning to you. Someone's up very early. Could this have anything to do with Santa Claus possibly being here last night?"

"Yeah!" Katie cried enthusiastically.

Grinning smugly as if to say 'your daughter', Sully glanced over at his wife. He was glad to see that the weariness of the day before had vanished from her features. As they had entertained a large group of guests on Christmas Eve, his wife had spent most of the day preparing the feast in the kitchen with the help of Colleen and Jennie. After attending the Christmas service in town, the family had returned to the homestead with their closest friends to celebrate Christmas Eve in peaceful companionship. Cloud Dancing and Dorothy had joined them along with Daniel, Horace, Robert E., Grace and Rose. Loren and the Reverend were glad to have people who cared about them during the holidays. What no one had believed possible some years ago, Jake and Teresa had happily accepted the invitation. Most astonishingly, Hank had come, too, proving to be a real asset to their party. Little Katie and one or two of the ladies had been reeled in by the heretofore unknown charms of the barkeep. The house had been packed to a bursting point, but Sully could not remember a more joyous Christmas. This morning, the Sully-Quinn-Cooper-Cook clan would again be joined by Dorothy and Cloud Dancing, Grace with her family and Daniel. An hopefully, Christmas celebrations would continue just as merry as they had ended last night.

Sully had worried that it would all become too much for his very pregnant wife. But his apprehension was dissuaded by the happy look Michaela threw at him at that moment. Carefully, she took over Katie and brushed a light blonde lock from her face. Leaning foward she whispered in her girl's ear. "Merry Christmas, sweetheart. Do you think you can wait a little while longer until your siblings and friends are here? Or should we go downstairs and look if Santa's left any presents?"

That was a rhetorical question, of course. Sure as day, Michaela knew what the answer would be. Just as she knew that a long-haired 'Santa Claus' with his highly pregnant 'elf' had placed all the presents under the mighty fir tree in the middle of the night.

"Pwesents!" Katie yelled, enthusiastically clapping her little hands.

"Alright, Miss Katie. What do you think of this? You may open one present now and we'll wait with the rest until our guests arrive."

"Yeah!" Katie agreed and jumped up and down excitedly on the bed until Sully caught her in mid-air, put the delightedly shrieking girl over his broad shoulder and carried her out of the bedroom.

While Sully helped their daughter put on some clothes and together they went to wake up Brian, Michaela stayed back a little longer. She stroked her belly with a satisfied smile, thinking about the surprising conversation she had had with Teresa Slicker the night before.

When the babies had bothered her with their active kicks, Michaela had brewed herself a cup of tea and excused herself for a bit to take a little breather on the porch. Admiring the clear winter sky, she was happy that it had snowed just in time for Christmas. Inches of thick, white snow coated the meadows and fields surrounding their home and on the horizon Michaela could detect some more clouds waiting to unload their winterly burden. Nevertheless, she had enjoyed the freshness of the air very much when she had heard footsteps behind her.

Teresa Slicker had tracked her down and approached the doctor. A bit formally she had begun their conversation. "I wanted to thank you again for inviting us, Dr. Quinn. My husband and I very much appreciate your hospitality."

Spontaneously, Michaela had replied, "Mrs. Slicker, please call me Michaela or Dr. Mike. Everyone does."

"Very well," Teresa finally replied. "Dr. Mike, vale! But only if you call me Teresa... Uh, Dr. Mike, I have been meaning to tell you this for a while but somehow the opportunity never really presented itself... I wish to apologize for the way I acted towards you when we first met. For the things I said to you, si. That you should be looking after your husband and children rather than your profession. I was very unfair to you, si. I have watched you. Your family. They are very happy and I believe they feel that way because *you* are who you are. I apologize for my words back then. You are a good mother and a good wife and a very good doctora to boot. I realize that now that I have found my own calling. I wouldn't want to give up teaching if my husband forbade it... Dr. Mike, do you think we could start over?"

Michaela had been relieved. Her relationship with the conservative teacher had always been a little difficult to say the least, although Michaela had always admired and appreciated her open honesty. She had often wished that this discord would one day go away despite their mostly different views and now this chance seemed to have opened up. Therefore she had reassured Jake's wife. "There's nothing to forgive. We all have the right to our own opinion. We just had a bad start. I'd also very much like to start anew... I'm Michaela."

And with that, she reached out her hand to the mayor's wife and Teresa accepted it willingly. "Michaela. It is my pleasure to count you among my friends."

Katie's delighted giggle brought Michaela back to the present. Michaela sighed and laboriously heaved herself out of bed as to not miss the early present opening for their youngest daughter.