Dead of Winter
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman-1880
Chapter Six: Behind the Snowfall
The impending Christmas holiday halted Matthew's looming destiny and allowed a father to get to know his granddaughter. Though it was the coldest winter that most of the residents of Colorado Springs could remember, as snow blanketed the ground, Zach and Liliana's arrival brought cheer to the dreary moods of the town, especially to Hank. The once sullen and almost mute young boy had become the blooming father, still caring and passionate, but truly happy and dutiful on the playful Lily that inspired many of his drawings. Also, Zach and Brian's friendship blossomed as Brian yearned for someone to talk to as well as a playmate for Evie. Hank though he hated to admit it, could be found buying dolls and candy for the small child, and seemed the doting grandfather. Still, it wasn't to last.
"I wish it were better news, Dr. Mike." Jeremiah replied sorrowfully handing her a telegram, that he had picked up from the sheriff in Denver. He felt sorry for Michaela and her family, he wished they could focus on the birth of the girls rather then Matthew.
"Thank you Jeremiah, I-." she was interrupted by the wild, maddening sound of huff prints and wagon wheels.
"Ma! Ma!" her youngest son yelled with angst as he sat holding the reins. Michaela ran quickly questioning the look on Brian's face. She knew something was seriously wrong.
"Ma, it is Zach, he's collapsed and he is breathin' funny." Brain said with a little bit of Colorado and a bit of Boston.
"Has he complained of anything before?" Michaela spoke as they rushed Zach into her clinic and as a worried Hank, though trying not to show it , appeared by his son's side.
"There's nothing you can do, Michaela." Hank said laying the young man on the bed.
"I don't even know what is wrong with him, I'm sure I can help Zach, once I find out." she told him looking at Hank strangely.
"He's got Cancer…Leukemia. He came back here to die." Hank told painstakingly. "Zach told me that the doctor in New York, told him he only had a few weeks to live."
"Why didn't you tell me Hank?!" Michaela stated shocked by the secret. Searching though the crowd that had formed looking to see if anyone else was at shocked as she was. It reminded her of when the town denied to tell her who Zach really was, and how hurt she felt.
"He didn't want anyone to know. Especially you, he knew you'd poke and prod him." Saddened and speechless Michaela looked toward her son for answers, wondering if he had known as well; but Brian's face told her the answer was no. Winter was about to claim it's first victim.
In her pocket was an unread telegram.
*~*
For Andrew, two surprise daughters was a little more then he could handle. Now that Colleen had awoken and was out of danger he had little Beth to worry about. Still, already only days old, Andrew could see differences in their personalities; Alexandra or Lexi which he nicknamed, her was the eldest and biggest, fiery, cranky, stubborn, a crier and protector; the one that he knew would give him trouble in the future, but the one that melted his heart the most. Lottie (Charlotte) the mediator, smart, and no matter what anyone said Andrew saw her smile and laugh at any given moment and whom he saw the most of Colleen in. Little tiny Beth or Elizabeth looked different then her sisters but she was small and sweet, adorable, lovable and good tempered.
"Good morning sweetheart." Andrew cooed as he held Lottie and ticked her softly. "Let's go see Mama." as he carried the small child, Lexi and Beth slept soundly in the handmade cradles done by their grandfather.
Colleen sat pensively staring out the window. Though it had taken several days for her to recuperate she was beginning to gain her strength back. Still, this time alone allowed her to think as did others. The whole town began to dredge up memories about Rosemary and Reid. Colleen wondered what had happened to her now so many years later for she had never come back to Colorado Springs and her family had long since moved away. Back then Colleen hadn't thought killing should be revenged with killing, and even now she still didn't think so. Sully who had been so silent then and now, thought prisons were for killers, but did he want Matthew in jail for the rest of his life? Dr. Mike had wanted to kill criminals because it made her family safe, Colleen was sure that's probably what others felt about Matthew, those who didn't know him. But, she did know him and had never thought he'd take the life of someone and it scared her. Could he do it again if somehow he escaped? Colleen was not sure. Brian saw Matthew's side. Ms. Dorothy had believed in proper hangings, if she was still thinking that now Colleen didn't know. Hank who'd been Matthew's deputy at the time, had stayed uncharacteristically mute, Jake didn't care, and now he had turned inward towards his family and Robert E had seen to many hangings in his time to agree with the practice. It was ironic that then as Matthew had hung Reid that it was to be his fate as well. The town came together then to make it safer, to show a lawful town, to punish a stranger, keep its civic duty, now it kept quiet in the shadows, no one saying a word.
It was then that everything really began.
For Dr. Mike, she finally became aware of her son's fate. The telegram opened on her desk, detailing the guilty verdict of the court and the execution date of her son. In this instant her world came crashing down before her and the rest of the Sully-Cooper-Cook family threatening never to let go. As for the young girl that darted past Michaela as she fell apart, Lily held onto her father's hand as Zach seemly slept soundly. Still, as Brian went to check on his friend, Zach he would never awaken.
A/N: More to come!
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman-1880
Chapter Six: Behind the Snowfall
The impending Christmas holiday halted Matthew's looming destiny and allowed a father to get to know his granddaughter. Though it was the coldest winter that most of the residents of Colorado Springs could remember, as snow blanketed the ground, Zach and Liliana's arrival brought cheer to the dreary moods of the town, especially to Hank. The once sullen and almost mute young boy had become the blooming father, still caring and passionate, but truly happy and dutiful on the playful Lily that inspired many of his drawings. Also, Zach and Brian's friendship blossomed as Brian yearned for someone to talk to as well as a playmate for Evie. Hank though he hated to admit it, could be found buying dolls and candy for the small child, and seemed the doting grandfather. Still, it wasn't to last.
"I wish it were better news, Dr. Mike." Jeremiah replied sorrowfully handing her a telegram, that he had picked up from the sheriff in Denver. He felt sorry for Michaela and her family, he wished they could focus on the birth of the girls rather then Matthew.
"Thank you Jeremiah, I-." she was interrupted by the wild, maddening sound of huff prints and wagon wheels.
"Ma! Ma!" her youngest son yelled with angst as he sat holding the reins. Michaela ran quickly questioning the look on Brian's face. She knew something was seriously wrong.
"Ma, it is Zach, he's collapsed and he is breathin' funny." Brain said with a little bit of Colorado and a bit of Boston.
"Has he complained of anything before?" Michaela spoke as they rushed Zach into her clinic and as a worried Hank, though trying not to show it , appeared by his son's side.
"There's nothing you can do, Michaela." Hank said laying the young man on the bed.
"I don't even know what is wrong with him, I'm sure I can help Zach, once I find out." she told him looking at Hank strangely.
"He's got Cancer…Leukemia. He came back here to die." Hank told painstakingly. "Zach told me that the doctor in New York, told him he only had a few weeks to live."
"Why didn't you tell me Hank?!" Michaela stated shocked by the secret. Searching though the crowd that had formed looking to see if anyone else was at shocked as she was. It reminded her of when the town denied to tell her who Zach really was, and how hurt she felt.
"He didn't want anyone to know. Especially you, he knew you'd poke and prod him." Saddened and speechless Michaela looked toward her son for answers, wondering if he had known as well; but Brian's face told her the answer was no. Winter was about to claim it's first victim.
In her pocket was an unread telegram.
*~*
For Andrew, two surprise daughters was a little more then he could handle. Now that Colleen had awoken and was out of danger he had little Beth to worry about. Still, already only days old, Andrew could see differences in their personalities; Alexandra or Lexi which he nicknamed, her was the eldest and biggest, fiery, cranky, stubborn, a crier and protector; the one that he knew would give him trouble in the future, but the one that melted his heart the most. Lottie (Charlotte) the mediator, smart, and no matter what anyone said Andrew saw her smile and laugh at any given moment and whom he saw the most of Colleen in. Little tiny Beth or Elizabeth looked different then her sisters but she was small and sweet, adorable, lovable and good tempered.
"Good morning sweetheart." Andrew cooed as he held Lottie and ticked her softly. "Let's go see Mama." as he carried the small child, Lexi and Beth slept soundly in the handmade cradles done by their grandfather.
Colleen sat pensively staring out the window. Though it had taken several days for her to recuperate she was beginning to gain her strength back. Still, this time alone allowed her to think as did others. The whole town began to dredge up memories about Rosemary and Reid. Colleen wondered what had happened to her now so many years later for she had never come back to Colorado Springs and her family had long since moved away. Back then Colleen hadn't thought killing should be revenged with killing, and even now she still didn't think so. Sully who had been so silent then and now, thought prisons were for killers, but did he want Matthew in jail for the rest of his life? Dr. Mike had wanted to kill criminals because it made her family safe, Colleen was sure that's probably what others felt about Matthew, those who didn't know him. But, she did know him and had never thought he'd take the life of someone and it scared her. Could he do it again if somehow he escaped? Colleen was not sure. Brian saw Matthew's side. Ms. Dorothy had believed in proper hangings, if she was still thinking that now Colleen didn't know. Hank who'd been Matthew's deputy at the time, had stayed uncharacteristically mute, Jake didn't care, and now he had turned inward towards his family and Robert E had seen to many hangings in his time to agree with the practice. It was ironic that then as Matthew had hung Reid that it was to be his fate as well. The town came together then to make it safer, to show a lawful town, to punish a stranger, keep its civic duty, now it kept quiet in the shadows, no one saying a word.
It was then that everything really began.
For Dr. Mike, she finally became aware of her son's fate. The telegram opened on her desk, detailing the guilty verdict of the court and the execution date of her son. In this instant her world came crashing down before her and the rest of the Sully-Cooper-Cook family threatening never to let go. As for the young girl that darted past Michaela as she fell apart, Lily held onto her father's hand as Zach seemly slept soundly. Still, as Brian went to check on his friend, Zach he would never awaken.
A/N: More to come!