Chapter 24

April 26th 1867

Beacon Hill

Annabelle jumped up hearing the cries of little Hannah, her eyes growing wide. "Damnit," she whispered. Knowing that she could get caught any second she quickly pulled herself from Sully's arms. If there was one thing Andrew told her it was, don't let anyone see you.

"Michaela…" Sully's eyes fluttered. "Michaela…"

"Go to sleep," she stroked his face. "It's late."

Opening his eyes Sully looked toward the woman sitting in front of him as she quickly put on her clothes. "Michaela," he smiled, rubbing her arm. The light from the moon peeked into the room casting a slight color to her face. Blinking a couple times Sully's eyes began to grow heavy. Her movements were fast as she threw on her skirt and buckled her shoes. Sully opened his eyes again just as Annabelle came down to place a kiss to his lips. Looking into her eyes Sully smiled warmly inviting her kiss and as she quickly pulled away he looked intensely at her. Her face was beautiful in the moon light and her big green eyes shone through. Looking over her appearance once again his brow furled. "Michaela…"

"Go back to sleep," Annabelle got off the bed and grabbed her wrap from off the floor.

"Your eyes…" Sully drifted in and out.

"Shhh.."

"They're green," Sully's head fell to the side as sleep overcame him.

Giving once last glace at Sully, Annabelle opened the door and looked down the hallway. She saw Hannah at one end still crying out at the top of the stairs. "Little brat," she scolded. Slipping out of the room, she walked toward the back of the hall and went down the maids back staircase. Sneaking into the kitchen Annabelle waited until one of the scullery maids was out of view and tiptoed to the back door and ran out into the black of night.

"Gwandma!" Hannah's voice was now a low squeak as hiccups began to overtake her little body.

"Goodness child what is all this screaming about?" Claudette rushed up the stairs. "I can hear you clear across the house!"

Hannah clutched to the bottom of Claudette's gown as she continued to sob. "Dr….Dr…Mike's cryin'!" she sniffed.

"Crying?" she looked around. "I thought she was putting you to bed. And would you please let go of my dress, you're getting your tears all over it!"

"I wanna see Dr. M-mike."

"She's probably already down stairs. Come on lets put you to bed. You can see her in the morning," Claudette grabbed her hand.

"But.."

"No buts young lady. I know my sister would let you get away with murder, but tonight you need to sleep." Opening the door to Hannah's room Claudette ushered her up to bed and pulled the covers up over her. "Now go to sleep and no more crying at the top of the stairs."

"Go…go see Dr. Mike pwease," Hannah whispered.

"I'll see her downstairs. Now go to sleep." Claudette closed the door shaking her head. Deciding to take the back staircase to the kitchen Claudette past Michaela's room and stopped suddenly hearing the muffed sounds of weeping. "Michaela?" Claudette was taken back. Quietly she opened the door and gasped at the sight.

Michaela's pillows were thrown about the room and a pitcher was shattered on the floor. Michaela lay bawling in the center of her bed. Quickly Claudette entered the room closing the door behind her. "Michaela?" Claudette sat on the bed putting a hand on her back. "Michaela?"

Pulling back as if stung Michaela whipped around looking in her sisters eyes, "Please go…go away," she breathed.

Claudette was almost frightened at her sisters' appearance. Tears drenched her face and her eyes were bloodshot matching the crimson of her cheeks. "What on earth happened?"

Michaela looked into Claudette's eyes and for the first time actually saw real concern and it broke her. "Oh Claudette," Michaela's tears began anew as she dropped her head in Claudette's lap.

Claudette's eye's opened wide at the uncharacteristic move of her younger sister. She didn't even know how to respond, the whole situation making her feel uncomfortable. She could tell by the way Michaela was heaving and clutching onto her skirt something terrible had happened and no matter how angry she had been with her in the past she couldn't make herself feel mad at her sister at that moment.

Rubbing Michaela's back, Claudette tried to open up communication. "Michaela what is it? What happened?"

"I…I thought he l-loved me…" she whispered through her tears making it difficult for Claudette to hear.

"Love?" Claudette was confused. "What are you talking about? Michaela you're not making any sense."

"Sully…Sully!" Michaela bunched Claudette's skirt between her fingers trying to release some of her pain.

"Sully? Well, of course he loves you Michaela, in his odd little way." Never wanting to admit to Michaela, Claudette could see in Sully's eyes that he did love her sister. Never had she seen a man more devoted to a woman, than Sully. The way they doted on one another made her sick at times and more than once she even called her sister on it telling her how inappropriate they were acting.

"No," Michaela continued to cry. "Why…why w-would he do this to…to me? To us…"

"Do what? Michaela come on now," Claudette put her hand under Michaela's chin bringing her eyes up to match her own. "What happened? Did you and Sully have a falling out? I thought I heard you bickering earlier."

"Sully was with a-another wo-woman!"

"Another woman?" Claudette was more confused. "You mean downstairs? Now that you mention it I did see him dancing with some woman I've never seen before," she thought back. "Is that what put you in such a truffle? I'm sure he was just being nice. Honestly, Michaela if you're going to cry every time Sully talks to another woman, you're in for a lot of heart ache."

Shaking her head back and forth Michaela swallowed hard. "You…you don't u-understand."

"Michaela look at you," Claudette frowned. "Well, you probably can't even see yourself through all these tears. You've always been so naïve when it comes to men. No matter how much they say they love you, a pretty lady is always going to turn their heads. It's just their nature."

"He grew impatient," Michaela realized pulling her self up from Claudette's lap. "He…he didn't want to wait any longer."

"Impatient?" she asked.

Michaela's cheeks turned red. "Never mind."

"Michaela I'm trying here, really I am. But you're not making any sense. What did Sully not want to wait for?"

"I saw him with another woman, Claudette!" Michaela blurted out, clearly frustrated.

"Michaela I know you saw-"

"In his bedroom!" Michaela didn't let her finish.

Claudette's eyes doubled in size, finally catching Michaela's meaning. "No!" she was aghast.

"Y…y…yes…" Michaela started to cry again.

"I can't believe it!" Claudette was truly surprised. "On the night of your engagement party no less! The gall of that man! Does he have no shame?"

"Oh, god…" Michaela couldn't stop the tears from coming. "What am I going…going to do? What am I going to…to tell everyone? I love him…so much, Claudette."

Claudette's heart went out to her sister. She had never seen Michaela so heart-stricken and vulnerable in her life and it made tears come to her own eyes. "Oh Michaela," Claudette wrapped her arms around her. "I know you did. I know."

Suddenly a knock came to the door and Rebecca peered inside. "Michaela mother is looking-"Rebecca stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing her sister. "Michaela!"

"Oh Rebecca, thank goodness!" Claudette was relieved. "Come here and sit with Michaela," Claudette rose from the bed.

"What's wrong with Michaela?"

"Apparently she caught Sully in cahoots with another woman," she whispered. "In the bedroom."

"No, not Sully," Rebecca was shocked. "It must be a misunderstanding. Sully wouldn't do that to her."

"Well I'm going to get to the bottom of this," Claudette went to the door.

"Where are y-you going?" Michaela looked up.

"I'm going to throw that strumpet from his bed, what else!"

"Claudette no!"

"Michaela!" Claudette put her hand to her hip. "He's not going to get away with hurting you like this. He has no right to even be under this roof!" And with that she stormed out.

Marching down the hallway Claudette wasted no time and threw open Sully's door. "Oh!" she exclaimed. Sully was lying in bed asleep, stark naked. "Well I never!" She was about to slam the door when something caught her eye. A lace handkerchief was on the floor under the night stand. Keeping her eyes diverted from Sully's naked body she picked it up. Smelling of cheap perfume she noticed the initials A.D. embroidered on the bottom. "I think I'll keep this!"

Turning around Claudette slammed the door behind her and bumping head on to Maureen. "There you are!" Maureen eyed her sister. "Why are you in Sully's room?"

"You won't believe what happened!"

Cromwell's Brothel

Annabelle took a deep breath and closed the door behind her and leaning into it. "That was close."

"How did it go?" A voice came from the darkness causing Annabelle to jump.

"Andrew?"

David emerged from behind the red lace curtains.

"You scared me! How did you get in here?" She wondered, looking around.

"How did it go?" he persisted. "Did anyone see you?"

"No body besides, Michaela," she smiled, please with herself. "To bad Sully and I never did get to…you know," she lifted her brow.

"What do you mean? I thought you said Michaela caught the two of you together."

"Don't worry," Annabelle moved closer to David placing her hand on his chest. "She saw enough. She was in tears when I left."

"Are you sure?" he was skeptical.

"If you want I can show you just how Michaela caught us," Annabelle pushed her body onto David's.

Moving back, David pulled himself from Annabelle's touch. Reaching into his suit coat he pulled some bills from his pocket. "Here," he shoved the money in front of her. "Take this and be gone by morning."

"Gone? What are you talking about?" Annabelle snatched the money from his grasp, quickly counting it.

"I want you out of Boston," he eyed her.

"What?" she looked at him. "We never discussed that. That's not what you told me! That's not what you said!"

"I can't take the chance of having anyone see you. Just wait till everything calms down then you can come back to Boston."

"Where am I supposed to go?"

"I don't care as long as it's far away from Boston. You have money now!" David moved across the room and opened the door. "You are to be gone by sun up. Do you hear me? Sun up!" And with that he slammed the door behind him.

Annabelle stared at the door for a few moments contemplating her fate. She didn't want to leave Boston, she liked Boston. "Sully," she said a loud. Maybe she can even get Sully now. He won't be marrying that stuffy doctor after all.

Moving to her bed, Annabelle stuffed her money under her mattress. Glancing at the clock she noticed it was almost one o'clock. Yawning she started to remove her gown and take the pins from her hair. Crawling under the covers she turned to her side and looked out the window. "Umm…" she sighed. "I think I'll stay," she smiled. "After all there's a lot to stay for."

The Quinn Estate

Michaela laid on her bed unmoved, still dressed in her party gown staring aimlessly out the window at the rising sun. When a knock came to at her door she still didn't move.

"Is she asleep?" Maureen whispered looking toward her sisters.

"She's still dressed," Marjorie frowned.

Claudette and Rebecca walked into the room and sat on the bed next to Michaela. "Michaela, darling, are you alright?" Rebecca touched her arm. "Did you get any sleep?"

Marjorie moved in closer taking in her sister appearance. "She looks positively awful."

"Marjorie!" Maureen scolded.

"What? She does!" Marjorie shot back.

"How would you feel?" Claudette admonished.

"Well we tried to tell her Sully was not a suitable husband. It was only a matter of time before he did something like this. At least he had enough common sense to do it before the wedding."

"Are you condoning what he did?" Maureen was surprised.

"No, I'm just saying men always tend to sew their wild oats before they get married. It's perfectly normal."

Turning her head toward her sisters Michaela looked up at Marjorie but didn't say a word. Her chin starting to tremble again, but no tears came. She feared she didn't have any left. "Why couldn't I be enough?" she whispered.

"Honestly, Michaela!" Marjorie sat on the bed next to her. "This is just so typical of you! Always thinking you're the best at everything. That you're just invincible and nothing can ever happen to you! Well here's your little wake up call! You're not perfect, and just because you love somebody doesn't mean they love you back!"

"Marjorie!" Elizabeth stood in the threshold of Michaela's room. "What is the meaning of this? What are you all doing here?" Walking further into the room Elizabeth took in the appearance of her youngest daughter and gasped at her unkempt façade. Rebecca came down last night during the party saying that Michaela was sick and wouldn't be able to make it down rest of the night. Figuring she was still sick, Elizabeth sat down the bed with the rest of her daughters. "Are you still sick?" she placed her hand to Michaela's forehead.

"Sick?" Is that what you told her?" Marjorie gleamed at Rebecca.

"Marjorie," Rebecca looked to her sister holding her breath hoping she would say no more.

"Michaela you're still in your gown," Elizabeth frowned. "You could have least changed."

"Mother," Claudette spoke. "We need to talk."

"Wait, where's Sully? Wasn't he sick too? Perhaps it was something you two ate? I hope the guests don't get sick as well. Oh, dear that wouldn't be good," Elizabeth held her hand to her heart. "I would be the laughing stock of all of Boston."

"Oh, I'm sure you won't have to worry about that!"

"Marjorie!" Claudette scolded. "Enough!"

Elizabeth looked at all her daughters. All except for Marjorie were seated next to Michaela upon the bed. Her youngest daughter still unresponsive. "What's going on?"

Rebecca, Maureen and Claudette looked at one another not wanting to be the one to tell their mother. Michaela closed her eyes hoping to block everything out, a headache overtaking her senses.

"Oh, for heavens sake!" Marjorie spoke up. "Michaela caught Sully in bed with another woman last night during the party. And now she's just in shambles over it."

Michaela turned over in bed burying her face in her pillow letting out muffled cries feeling like a helpless child that couldn't stop their tears.

"What? Elizabeth didn't think she heard right.

"Its true mother," Maureen spoke.

"Well I knew it," Elizabeth sighed. "I went against my better judgment and now I'm paying the price. Where is he? Where's Mr. Sully?"

"Right here," Sully walked into the room. "Mornin' everyone. Where's Micha-"

"Mr. Sully I believe you need to leave," Elizabeth rose from the bed. "I'll have Martha pack your things and I want you gone within the hour."

"What?" he shook his head. Looking into the room he saw Michaela still dressed from the night before, her face hidden in the pillows. "Michaela? What's wrong?"

"Stay away from our sister!" Claudette and Maureen stood in front of the bed, blocking Sully from entering. "She doesn't ever want to see you again."

"What's going on? Michaela!" he walked further into the room. "Michaela."

Rising, Michaela turned and looked at Sully.

"God, Michaela," Sully pushed his way through. "What's wrong?"

"How…how could you?" She started to cry again.

"How could I what? What's going on?"

"For heavens' sake," Marjorie piped up. "It's one thing to do what you did, in my mothers home, but it's quite another to lie about it."

Sully looked at each one of Michaela's sisters and then to her mother. Something was definitely wrong.

"Just leave, Sully," Michaela brushed away her tears, her heart breaking at the thought of Sully and going back to Colorado without her as his wife.

"I think I have a right to know what's going on! I'm not going anywhere!"

"Give it up!" Marjorie again took a stand. "She caught you last night in bed with that Jezebel."

"Marjorie that's quite enough. I didn't raise you to talk in such language. If your father was here he'd be appalled!" Elizabeth broke her silence.

'Another woman?" he put his hand on his hips. "Ya saw me with another woman?"

Looking away Michaela swallowed the lump in her throat, closing her eyes she blocked in the tears. She didn't want to cry in front of him, but that was useless. The pain in her heart was worse than it had ever been. It was worse than when he left her about two years ago and worse than when Jackson died.

"Huh!" Sully was more than perturbed, raising his voice.

"Mr. Sully I'd advise that you leave now. Clearly my daughter doesn't want to talk with you."

"Well I ain't leavin' till I get to the bottom of this."

Thinking she was going to get sick Michaela got off of the bed and walked briskly toward the door. Quickly Sully grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Where ya goin? I think I at least deserve an explanation." Looking into her eyes Sully saw such pain, her once sparkling, bright eyes, were dull and lifeless. "Michaela ya have t' listen t' me!"

Slowly shaking her head, Michaela took her other hand and brushed Sully's hand away that was clutching her arm. "You need to leave," she said indigently. Walking out of the room she headed downstairs and entered her father's library, closing the door behind her.

"What did ya say t' her?" Sully looked at all her sisters. "Ya tell her I was cheatin' on her? Did ya!"

"Michaela's the one that saw you," Claudette announced. "We didn't have to tell her anything."

"And I'm sure you didn't fill her head with any crap, either!" Sully looked around at all of her sisters. "I know ya don't like me and ya don't like my ways. But what ya got against Michaela? Huh? She never did anything t' anyone of ya!" Sully was now fuming. One half of him wanted to rush and find Michaela and the other half wanted to shake each one of her sisters till they told him something. "All she wanted was t' have each one of ya at her weddin', that's all. She's never said one bad word by any of ya, ever! And this is how ya repay her? Ya think that I would really cheat on her? I love her more than anythin' and I have a daughter that loves her like a ma, you like I would do that t' my little girl? You'd really think I'd do that to the two girls in my life that I'd die for? Huh? Do ya!"

Each one of the sisters and Elizabeth stood frozen not knowing what to say to the man of few words that so suddenly laid everything on the line. For a moment each woman had a flicker of doubt that Sully would do such a horrible thing. But they knew their sister, and Michaela was not one to make up such outlandish accusations.

"So are you saying that Michaela made this entire story up?" Marjorie contested.

"I didn't say that."

"Well maybe she didn't really want to marry you," Marjorie cocked her head to the side. "Perhaps this is her way of getting out of it. You know how dramatic she always used to be as a child."

"Marjorie, I really don't think Michaela would do that," Rebecca was skeptical.

Sully shook his head, completely disgusted with the whole situation. Turning around he started to walk into the hallway.

"Where do you think you're going?" Elizabeth demanded.

June 1870

Michaela sat under the tree, in front of the homestead with Hannah, Rose and McKenna, reading a chapter from their favorite Hans Christian Anderson book.

"…and so it was said that the three little princesses lived happily ever after."

McKenna looked up to her mother as she sat on her lap, giving her a smile she leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Happy mama," the child beamed.

"Yes, sweetheart, they lived happily ever after."

Hannah and Rose sat on either side of their mother happily taking in the summer day. "Mama?" Rose called.

"Umm…"

"Can we sleep outside tonight?"

"Sleep outside?" Michaela laughed. "Why would you want to do that?"

"Papa say dat it's fun!" she giggled.

Michaela rolled her eyes. "He would say that."

"Can we?" Hannah asked.

"I'll talk to papa about it," she winked.

"Mama?" Hannah tapped her mothers side.

"Umm?"

"Ya gonna have another baby?"

"What?" Michaela was caught by surprise. "Another baby?"

"Yah! We was talkin' and me and McKenna and Rose want another sister."

"Oh you do, do you?"

"Yep, Mama!" Rose hugged her. "Pwease!"

"Well, I'll talk to Papa about that too. Is that all right?"

"I tink dat papa want a boy, Mama," Rose spoke up. "He say everywhere he wook he see's girls!"

"Papa loves all of us," Michaela couldn't keep in her giggle. "But don't you think it would be nice to have a brother?"

"I guess," Hannah shrugged.

McKenna looked up to her mother from her lap and whispered in her ear. "I wove baby."

April 26th 1867

Quinn Estate

Michaela submerged her tired body in a tub full of warm water Martha and drawn for her. Clutching onto the sides she titled her head to the side and let out a deep breath. So many thoughts ran through her mind and she didn't know what to think of anyone of them. Deep in her heart she knew that Sully would never hurt her. But she couldn't erase the memories that filled her head of the night before. Watching the bubbles float across the waters surface she fell into a trance and didn't hear the shuffling as the door to the wash room opened.

Sully watched from afar careful not to scare Michaela. Only seeing the back of her head he couldn't tell if she was sleeping or awake. Hearing the quiet sniffle of her cries he soon got his answer. He didn't know how much more of her cries he could take. Boldly he closed the door behind him and walked into the room. "Michaela," he spoke low.

Quickly snapping her head around, she folded her arms across her. 'What are you doing in here?" she demanded. "Get out!"

"No," he was adamant. "Not till ya listen t' what I gotta say."

"I said leave!" she grabbed for her towel.

"And I said no," he remained calm. "I wanna talk t' ya."

Quickly she wrapped the towel around her body and walked out of the tub. Sully followed her and placed his hand on her arm, turning her around. "Let me go," she twisted her arm staring Sully straight down.

"Michaela," he sighed. "I don't know what ya saw, but it wasn't me. Ya know I wouldn't cheat on ya. Ya know it!"

She was frozen in thought for a moment, not knowing what to say. She never thought that Sully would lie to her face without so much as a flinch. "Sully please, don't do this."

"Michaela ya gotta tell me what ya saw last night. You at least owe me that."

"I don't owe you anything!" She walked out of the washroom and into her bedroom slamming the door and locking it behind her.

"Damnit," he held his breath. Sitting down in the chair opposite the tub Sully held his head in his hands and sighed. This was going to be a lot harder than he anticipated. Something had happened last night and he was going to find out what it was.

Rebecca stopped in the doorway and peered in the washroom. She could clearly tell Sully was tormented and knew by just the sight of him that he would never hurt her sister. If it wasn't for Michaela's adamant testament she would have taken Sully's side completely, now there were only a few lingering doubts in her mind. She promised herself she would get to the bottom of this mystery. "Sully?" she slowly entered the room.

Quickly looking up Sully rose from his chair. "Mrs. Dickinson," he nodded.

"Rebecca," she shook her head. "You can call me Rebecca."

"Thanks," he mumbled not really knowing what to say.

"I like to speak with you if I may," she started. "In my fathers' office."

"Okay," Sully knew he couldn't refuse.

Walking the short distance from the washroom to the library Sully's mind reeled at what Rebecca could want to talk to him about. Entering the library he sat in the chair in front of Josef's partners desk and Rebecca sat on the other side.

Rebecca held her hand out before her. "Let me just start out by saying I'm going out on a limb here, Sully. I don't believe that you would hurt my sister and I'm going to help you. I'm going to help you find out what happened last night."

Sully sat there god smacked for a moment. "You…you believe me?"

"I'll believe you till you give me a reason to change my mind. Michaela and I have always been close and I haven't seen her act like this since she found out David was killed. It hurts me Sully to see Michaela the way she is."

"And it's killin' me," he emphasized.

"I don't believe that you would do this to my sister. I see how you act around her. And frankly something just doesn't add up."

"What's that?" he moved in closer.

"I need to speak with my sister first, there's some things I need to know. Then I will talk with you."

Sighing Sully smiled for the first time all day. "Rebecca, thank you."

Rebecca's eyes still held concern. "There's only one thing I need you to do while I speak with Michaela."

"Anything."

"Stay away from my mother."