Chapter Twenty-One

Colorado Springs, Sully Homestead

Unlike his wife, who was busy playing with Katie on the floor still in their morning gowns, Sully was already fully dressed for the day in a thick leather coat when he walked past them both, to answer their front door. As he had figured, the expected visitor patiently waited outside.

"Good morning, Reverend. Happy New Year," Sully greeted the clergyman.

"Happy new 1874 to you, too, Sully... Dr. Mike?"

"She's over there," Sully told the blind priest.

"Reverend! Happy New Year!" Michaela also happily welcomed Timothy Johnson, relieved that he could not see her in her early morning attire.

"I notice in your voice," the Reverend began, "that you've recovered nicely from last night's festivities. You sound more alert than the folks I met on my way out here, considering that most of them haven't found their way home until early morning."

The night before, the New Year had been celebrated by the townspeople of Colorado Springs. As there was not one single building in town that could accommodate all the residents, Preston Lodge had seized the profitable opportunity and invited the entire town to a grand party at the Château. Michaela and Sully attended with their family and all their friends. They enjoyed the music and dances from their seats. It had not been nearly two o'clock when Michaela and Sully had been tired and left the event with their already sleeping daughter.

"Speaking of finding one's way," Timothy Johnson said. "I have to thank you once again, Sully, for riding the road to your house so many times with me. My horse had no trouble whatsoever finding the way. I'm always happy to get to do more and more things on my own. Being more independent. Thank you for agreeing to come with me today. Even now that I find my way around here, I'd be totally lost out there. Be sure to find the gratitude the ranchers we're going to visit. They've all gotten used to me dropping by during the weeks after Christmas and would be very disappointed if I didn't come to spread the Good Word."

A little reluctantly, Sully looked over at Michaela. He was hesitant to leave her alone now, especially after she had told him that she might give birth soon, even if it was for only a few hours. Nevertheless, when the Reverend had approached Sully last night if he would be willing to act as his guide to the settlements of his flock, people who were either too frail or far off to be able to attend Christmas Service, Michaela had urged her husband to volunteer.

Uncertain, Sully stooped down to Michaela's level once more and caressed his daughter's blonde locks. "Are ya sure that I should go? Matthew could..."

"Matthew's still asleep." She reminded him of the fact that their oldest son had spent the rest of the short night in Brian's room after he had made sure that his still recuperating little brother got home safely from the Château.

Michaela continued, "And besides, we'll truly be able to manage without you for a few hours. Now, go on! You'll be back all the sooner."

"I'll take care of him, Dr. Mike," the Reverend joked, misinterpreting Sully and Michaela's conversation. "Have a nice day, Dr. Mike. You ready to go, Sully?"

Taking one last look at Michaela, Sully helped Reverend Johnson out of the house and on his horse to once again prove his ever-present readiness to help others in any way he could.

But only a few moments after Michaela had bid her husband goodbye and settled down in one of the more comfortable wingback chairs, there was another knock at the door. With difficulty, Michaela heaved herself up and opened the door, a smile on her face. "What's now, Sull...?"

But it wasn't her husband standing in front of her, but a dishevelled looking Jake Slicker, who was propped into an upright position by Hank.

"Morning, Dr. Mike!", Jake humourously tapped his hat, which was belied by his painfully contorted face.

"Jake? Hank? What happened?" Michaela exclaimed and unconsciously drew nearer, sniffing for the dissappointing trace of alcohol in the mayor's breath. There was none. Noticing, Hank grumbled "Got a lil' late this morning for the two of us. I guess we was the last ta leave. The axe of Jake's buggy broke, I guess, landin' 'im in a ditch. He's sayin' it's his side that hurts." On Michaela's scutinizing look, he elaborated. "I saw 'im fall. I guess he was lucky, don't think anythin's broken. 'twas an accident. He's bin sober as a Sunday school teacher... Can't say the same about meself," he quipped.

Jake groaned and grabbed his chest.

"Seein' as we were almost in town, so a lot closer ta here than the Château, I figured ya might be already up and about, hopin' ya could doctor on him."

"Yes, yes. Of course. Come in!" she shooed in the two of them, pulling her cream-colored robe a little tighter. "How come things like that always happen to the two of you?" she asked incredulously.

With Hank's help, Jake slumped down at the dinner table where he was promptly attended by Michaela.

"Does Teresa know?" Michaela asked and Hank informed her "No, Loren brought her home around the time you guys left. She ain't bin contacted. She might be worried."

Michaela looked at Jake's injury and felt the already slightly bluish areas. "Nothing to worry. It's not that bad. Nothing's broken. However, you've got two bruised ribs that will heal soon. I'll put something on them, Jake. An ointment, mostly arnica. Then I'll dress them rather tightly. You're going to be able to ride home after that."

Michaela treated Jake and Katie, who was used to her mother patching up patients in the dining room every now and then, had gone back to playing with her doll. That was when the shuffling noises and the hollering in the upstairs hallway became louder and Matthew and Brian soon came scrambling down the stairs. Looking up at the two of them, Michaela couldn't hide her big smile when she beheld her youngest son. Brian had, as young people his age often did, quite miraculously bounced back from his injuries. They had all been immensely happy and relieved to learn that he had suffered no long-term effects from his fall.

Startled by the presence of Hank and Jake, Matthew halted his steps, causing Brian to bump into him. Grinning, Michaela informed them of what had happened and, their curiousity satisfied, the boys set to work on the chores that had to be done in the barn despite it being a holiday.

As Michaela prudently applied the salve to the skin over Jake's ribs, beginning to wrap it up with some gauze and a tight bandage, she noticed that her supply of said arnica ointment was rapidly running low. As the medicine was supposed to relieve some of Jake's pain and decrease the swelling, she wanted him to take home a small can of it for Teresa to rub in on the following days. Remembering that there should be a fresh batch in her bedroom's cupboard, she made a mental note to retrieve it after she was finished. So when she had the bandage around Jake's chest and the mayor looked like he was feeling a little better, Michaela excused herself. "I'll get you some more of this ointment, Jake. You should let Teresa massage it in every now and then over the next few days. That should be sufficient for the pain to be bearable... Would you two please keep an eye on Katie for a few minutes?"

So Michaela set about the dreadful task of climbing up the stairs in order to collect Jake's medicine as well as maybe putting on something more presentable. But going up the narrow flight of stairs seemed to be easier said than done as Michaela had lost all sense of equilibrium and the overview of her lower body by now. As to not trip over her nightgown and morning coat, she picked up the hem just a little over her bare feet. That act was, of course, oggled by Hank, who had been standing unusually quietly by his pal's side. "Nice ankles, Michaela!" Alluding to her enormous belly, he grinned his killer-smile. "Oh, sorry. Forgot that ya ain't seen them in a while."

Michaela raised up her chin majestically and gave him a look that made him shut his mouth. She still got it! Throwing an appreciative glance after her, she disappeared from his sight.

Once in the master bedroom she rummaged around in her cabinet for the tins and cans she had at the ever-ready if one of the family members got sick. Berating herself for stowing them in one of the lower drawers, she bent down as far as her figure allowed and that was when she felt it! 'Feeling' was a gross understatement! With the passing of a second a sudden, stabbing pain tormented her, as if someone had stuck a knife into her stomach. These were no longer some mild, preparatory contractions that she had felt every now and then in the last few days. This was it! The pain was stronger, streaming out of her womb into every limb of her body, paralyzing her every movement. She was far too surprised to suppress the cry of pain that was coming out of her throat.

Downstairs, Matthew and Brian had just entered the front door, loaded with stacks of wood to keep the family warm on this cold winter's day. When suddenly a high, blood-curdling scream reached them, the two of them dropped the wood on the floor, horrified. After a stunned exchange of looks, the boys rushed upstairs to come to their mother's aid. Matthew was the first to reach Michaela and Sully's bedroom. Still in the doorway, he saw his mother struggling to walk up to her bed.

Panicked, he rushed to her side in order to support her. "Ma? Ma, what's wrong?"

But Michaela could not speak a tone. The only thing she was able to do at that moment was grit her teeth and hold out the pain. She was now *very* certain. It was definitely labor pains plaguing her. When the first, initial contraction subsided, she could finally pant. "Labor... The babies are coming now, Matthew!"

Gently, he helped her sit on the bed, her head propped up with pillows.

As long as she was fully aware of what was happening around her, she gave the boys all the instructions she thought were important now. "Matthew, take this to Jake. He knows what it's for." With great presence of mind, she pushed the can of ointment into his hand. "Then one of you must ride to Andrew and Colleen's. I need Andrew now. And please..., Please find Sully. He has just left with the Reverend. They can't have gone far."

When the brothers were almost out the door doing what she had asked them to do, she called out to them. "And make sure someone's watching out for Katie, alright? I'm going to lie down for a bit..." she added warily.

ooooooooooooo

Hank and Jake had looked at each other in utter dismay when Jake finally offered his thoughts. "Do ya think she stepped on a rusty nail? Happened ta me once. I'm tellin' ya that hurts..."

Hank, however, looked at his buddy in astonishment and barked back, unnerved, "Are ya dumb? Doncha know anythin' about women? Haven't ya seen her lookin' about ta pop? She's havin' her baby now."

"Ya think so?" Uneasy, Jake looked around like a squirrell looking for a hole to hide in. That kind of thing wasn't his field of expertise at all.

The Cooper boys sprinted down the stairs again and Matthew just confirmed that their Ma was having the baby. "Ma's in labor... Oh yeah, Jake, this is for ya..." He threw the salve in Jake's hands. "We was gonna go get Andrew and Sully as soon as we can. Will ya two stay here and keep an eye on things?" That was more of a rhetorical question as the front door had already fallen shut behind the boys, leaving the bachelor and the relatively newlywed alone with a toddler and a woman in labor.

Jake and Hank looked at each other with complete disregard. Uncertain of what was expected of them, they heard Michaela's suppressed cry of pain. Katie had heard it, too, and her brown eyes wandered up the stairs where she was expecting to see her mother's form.

"You go!" Both men demanded of each other at the same time.

Jake, of course, began lamenting at once, "Aaaw, Hank. I can't do this! Ya know I can't. I couldna listen to Grace's screams back then... 'Sides, ya got a knack for Dr. Mike. Ya know her better than me. All ya gotta do is go up and see if she needs anythin'. An' 'sides...", he was looking for another excuse when he caught sight of little Katie "...'sides, someone has ta look after the kiddo... And if I remember things right, she likes Uncle Jake way better than Uncle Hank seein' that she never spit on *my* vest before."

Hank smiled dryly and resignedly. "All right!" he growled, and at the bottom of the stairs tried to gather up all his courage. Hank Lawson, the nurse! That was not what he had had in mind for the day.

In the hallway, outside of a room that Hank assumed must be the master bedroom Hank heard Michaela whimpering softly. He hesitantly knocked on the frame of the open door. "Can I come in? Can I help ya in any way?" he asked nervously and immensely relieved that she had modestly covered herself with a light blanket. That way he was in no danger to see something that would... douse his zest for life.

Michaela could only shake her head while she sat leaning against the headboard of their big bed and concentrated on breathing in and out. Hank was about to turn around again and leave when she waved wildly at him, her new ring shining brightly, signalling him to come closer. Hank followed her wish and bent down to her.

"Hurtin' a lot, doncha?" he asked needlessly but benevolently.

When Michaela could speak again, she moaned. "Mhmm, it's alright. It's going to get worse!... I thought you both left. Is Jake looking after Katie?" Hank nodded, his face saying 'more or less.'

Pleased, she implored. "Hank, please, would you stay with me for a little while? I know it's not exactly your thing, but I really need a strong hand to squeeze right now."

"Dammit, woman! What is it about you that I can't say no to?" Hank drawled. "Well, we started this thing together, it's only fittin' that we end it tagether."

Her consternated face made him smirk. "Remember, I was there when ya found out."

Sighing, he reached for her hand, relieved that she had not asked for something that he couldn't provide. However, his naivety was soon belied when he learned firsthand of the strengt a woman in labor could exert on his own body.

ooooooooooooo

Sully and the Reverend had travelled several miles when they heard the familiar shout of a boy who was clearly experiencing the breaking of his voice. "Pa! Pa!"

Alarmed, Sully turned his horse around and saw Brian coming towards them at a rapid pace. Heart in his throat, Sully asked him fearfully. "Is it Michaela? She alright?"

Brian tried to calm him down. "Ma says ta come get you. It's time!"

Sully wasted no time. Over his shoulder, he hollered at Brian. "Make sure the Reverend gets back safely, Brian!" He left the Reverend in the capable hands of his son. "Sorry, Reverend. We gotta do this another time!"

At neck-breaking speed, Sully raced his horse Fire back home. Today was the day! In a few hours he was supposed to meet his new children.

ooooooooooooo

Andrew and Colleen had come the short way by buggy as Andrew still had not gotten around to polish his riding skills. Panting, Andrew arrived at his in-law's bedroom, completely out of breath from the wild ride that an anxious Matthew had encouraged him to take. Colleen would await the birth with her brothers and sister downstairs in the living room, for although she was well on her way to becoming a doctor herself she did not want to face the conflicting emotions when treating a family member. They had spoken about it and decided that this was best for everyone. She trusted that her husband would give her mother the best of care all by himself.

Andrew almost tipped over his poorly laced up shoes when he saw Hank Lawson of all people at the edge of his mother-in-law's bed, supporting Michaela with her breathing by panting pathetically along with her!

Putting down his medical bag and rolling up his sleeves, Andrew asked soberly. "How far apart are the contractions?"

"Seven minutes," Hank replied in Michaela's stead, astonishing Andrew even more. "I got an actual watch here!" he growled on Andrew's more than dubious gaze.

"All right, Michaela," Andrew smiled confidently. "Let's get to work."

Perturbed, Michaela looked at her young son-in-law. "What does it look like to you what I've been doing all along?"

Andrew grinned apologetically. "I'm sorry. I meant, *I* will get to work... Hank, thank you, I guess. Would you mind leaving us alone now?"

To his utter amazement, Hank *did* mind a little leaving her to fend on her own. He knew he should be happy to be going his merry way but he was really hesitant to leave when she looked so miserable and like she could use a good friend in addition to the capable hands of a doctor. So he warily asked her. "Michaela, if ya need me ta, I could stay on for a lil' while until Sully gets here."

But Michaela's sense of propriety and modesty had not left her enough to take his kind offer. Depending on Hank when she had no one else to turn to was one thing. But despite the great deal of pain she was in, she was not that selfish to grab the next best pair of hands when all she was longing for were the supporting arms of her husband. So, between two contractions, Michaela profusely thanked Hank for his support but gently relieved him of his duty. Huffing a little, an irritated Andrew thought it best to get used to the idea that things were sure to get a little unorthodox on this day. Nevertheless, he tried to speed this goodbye on a little by starting to spread some more blankets over Michaela, which would prevent the doctor's sense of modesty from being hurt. For further comfort, Michaela shed her dressing gown remaining in a light, wide nightgown. This made it easier for Andrew to judge how far the birth process had already progressed.

He could clearly see that labor had been induced. But the cervix was only half dilated, nor had the amniotic sac, or in this case sacs, ruptured. So it would probably still take quite a while. Pleased that everything looked fine, he gently patted Michaela's hand.

That was the moment, that to his astonishment, Andrew noticed the ongoings and noises in the downstairs rooms. What was going on? Had a circus set up camp in the Sully's living room...?

Author's note: I want to thank each and everyone who took the time to comment on my little story. Every message has been taken to heart.

A big thank you again to Liza. Your overall experience is greatly appreciated.

On a side note: Do you want to guess at the sexes and names of the twins? Each name has already been mentioned. Drop me a line.