************
Afterwards
Part 3
Author: Mac
Disclaimer in Part 1
************
Michaela was in the barn, saddling Flash. She was tired of being cooped up in the house. She could take a quick ride into town and be back before dark. She seemed to have a phobia for riding alone at night...
She was slowly getting back into the swing of things with the help of her family and friends. She loved it, but it was starting to get to her. At times, she just wanted to be left alone.
Michaela jumped at the noise she heard outside. She stopped what she was doing and grabbed the first thing she could find: a pitchfork. She cautiously made her way to the front entrance of the barn.
She swung the pitchfork back and stopped. "Sully!" she exclaimed breathlessly.
"Mornin'," he replied. "A little jumpy?"
"Sorry. I just heard a noise, I suppose it was you."
Sully watched as she leaned the pitchfork against the well and walked over to Flash. "You goin' ridin'?"
"Yes, if you must know," said, fastening the saddle.
"Want company?"
"I'm going into town. I'll be all right."
He crossed his arms. "Michaela, are ya sure you're ready to ride off on your own?"
"Of course I am!" Michaela said angrily. "All I'm doing is riding into town, eating lunch, then coming back! I'm not a child!"
"I'm sorry, Michaela. It's just..."
She walked over to him and pulled him into a hug. "You're worried about me. I know that, Sully, but I'm fine. If it weren't for you I wouldn't have been. I love you."
"I love you too."
************
Sully watched Michaela ride off twenty minutes later. "Hey, Sully," Matthew said, "how long have you been here?"
"A while. You headin' into town today?"
Matthew nodded. "Colleen's taking care of the clinic and Brian is helping Mr. Brey. I'm picking them up later this afternoon, why?"
"Go now. Make up some excuse."
"What are you talkin' about, Sully?" he asked. "Besides, I still got chores to do."
"Nevermind. See ya later."
Matthew suddenly got a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Maybe whatever Sully was talking about had to do with Dr. Mike. He ran into the barn to saddle up his horse. The chores could wait.
***********
Michaela smiled happily as Flash galloped along the dirt road. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and there was a cool breeze blowing from the mountains. It was a perfect day.
Well, it was until Flash suddenly stopped. Michaela's senses immediately went on alert. "What is it, girl?" She scolded herself for being quick to ignore Sully's suggestion for company.
A gunshot caused Flash to rear up in fright and since Michaela was caught off guard, she couldn't hang on. She landed flat on her back, her head narrowly missing a rock.
"Flash!" she called out, but the horse was gone.
Michaela heard laughter that made her hair stand on end. Her she was with no means of transportation, no protection, and (she was standing now) what looked like a sprained ankle.
"Well, look what we have here, Billy."
Billy grinned, moving closer to her. "Awfully pretty to be out all alone, ain't she Chris?"
"Awfully..." Chris replied.
Afterwards
Part 3
Author: Mac
Disclaimer in Part 1
************
Michaela was in the barn, saddling Flash. She was tired of being cooped up in the house. She could take a quick ride into town and be back before dark. She seemed to have a phobia for riding alone at night...
She was slowly getting back into the swing of things with the help of her family and friends. She loved it, but it was starting to get to her. At times, she just wanted to be left alone.
Michaela jumped at the noise she heard outside. She stopped what she was doing and grabbed the first thing she could find: a pitchfork. She cautiously made her way to the front entrance of the barn.
She swung the pitchfork back and stopped. "Sully!" she exclaimed breathlessly.
"Mornin'," he replied. "A little jumpy?"
"Sorry. I just heard a noise, I suppose it was you."
Sully watched as she leaned the pitchfork against the well and walked over to Flash. "You goin' ridin'?"
"Yes, if you must know," said, fastening the saddle.
"Want company?"
"I'm going into town. I'll be all right."
He crossed his arms. "Michaela, are ya sure you're ready to ride off on your own?"
"Of course I am!" Michaela said angrily. "All I'm doing is riding into town, eating lunch, then coming back! I'm not a child!"
"I'm sorry, Michaela. It's just..."
She walked over to him and pulled him into a hug. "You're worried about me. I know that, Sully, but I'm fine. If it weren't for you I wouldn't have been. I love you."
"I love you too."
************
Sully watched Michaela ride off twenty minutes later. "Hey, Sully," Matthew said, "how long have you been here?"
"A while. You headin' into town today?"
Matthew nodded. "Colleen's taking care of the clinic and Brian is helping Mr. Brey. I'm picking them up later this afternoon, why?"
"Go now. Make up some excuse."
"What are you talkin' about, Sully?" he asked. "Besides, I still got chores to do."
"Nevermind. See ya later."
Matthew suddenly got a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Maybe whatever Sully was talking about had to do with Dr. Mike. He ran into the barn to saddle up his horse. The chores could wait.
***********
Michaela smiled happily as Flash galloped along the dirt road. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and there was a cool breeze blowing from the mountains. It was a perfect day.
Well, it was until Flash suddenly stopped. Michaela's senses immediately went on alert. "What is it, girl?" She scolded herself for being quick to ignore Sully's suggestion for company.
A gunshot caused Flash to rear up in fright and since Michaela was caught off guard, she couldn't hang on. She landed flat on her back, her head narrowly missing a rock.
"Flash!" she called out, but the horse was gone.
Michaela heard laughter that made her hair stand on end. Her she was with no means of transportation, no protection, and (she was standing now) what looked like a sprained ankle.
"Well, look what we have here, Billy."
Billy grinned, moving closer to her. "Awfully pretty to be out all alone, ain't she Chris?"
"Awfully..." Chris replied.
