Chapter Two: A Boston Afternoon

"So he brews the willow bark?" Michaela asked with wide eyes. Sully smiled and nodded as he and Michaela sat on a picnic blanket in the common. They had had breakfast, but they had spent several hours discussing medicine. Sully didn't know much about it, only what Cloud Dancing had told him and taught him.

"Cloud Dancin' knows a lot about the earth and what it gives us. The people in Colorado Springs don't care what the Indians have to say. The townspeople live in fear and so do the Indians. The white men are bitter toward the Indians. Maybe it's some kind of pride. I don't know."

"But the Indians were there first. You'd think they'd be respected."

"You'd think," Sully replied. "Just because they were here first doesn't mean they're respected. They're pushed around by the government because their way of life is different."

"That doesn't seem fair."

"It ain't. The Cheyenne are being pushed farther and farther away from the good huntin' spots. Three of the children died last winter. They ain't got enough food to get them through next winter. They need medicine that they don't have and can't get from the earth."

"I wish there was something I could do. It's terrible to think that I have everything I need when they have so little." Sully shook his head.

"Don't feel bad. It ain't your fault." Dr. Mike took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.

"It's about noon. Do you feel like joining my family for lunch?"

"Lunch with your family?" Sully asked.

"Well, I don't want you to have to go back to the hospital and sit there all alone with Cloud Dancing while he rests. You need a decent meal. It's free."

"I don't need charity."

"That's not what I was saying. I was just extending an invitation."

"Will your family mind?"

"It should just be my mother and myself. My sisters are all married with families of their own to take care of. They're much to busy to come home for three meals every day."

"Well, if you don't think your ma would mind, I'd be happy to join you." Sully stood and he held his hand out. Michaela took his hand and he pulled her up. They joined hands, gathered up the picnic blanket, and headed off toward Michaela's home, stopping by the hospital on the way to drop off some soup for Cloud Dancing.

Sully stared up at the large house that Michaela called home. At first he thought it was part of a hotel, but Michaela informed him that it was the place she had been living since she was born.

"I haven't been spending enough time at home anymore, but I honestly don't mind. My mother is always on my case, trying to convince me to give up being a doctor. She wants me to get married and have children."

"You don't want that?"

"Of course I do, but I want my career as well. I want to be a doctor."

"Well, it's your decision, Dr. Mike. I don't see why your ma should have a say in it."

"She thinks that because she gave birth to me that she can control my life. I sound so childish, but I'm so tired of her insulting my decision to become a doctor."

"Have ya told her about it?"

"Many times, but she still stands firm."

"Well, maybe it's time you told her exactly what you're gonna do with your life."
"How can I do that when I don't know what I'm going to do with my life? Mother is very set in her ways, and she strongly believes that a woman's place is at home. I don't understand how a woman like her could have a daughter who is completely opposite." Michaela smiled a little. "When I was a little girl, my father would tell me that the stork dropped me off into his lap and that mother had nothing to do with the way I am."

"He lied to ya?"

"Not really," Michaela replied. "Every time mother would yell at me for not being a normal child, he would tell me that to make me feel better. I did know better, but it was nice to pretend for a little while. My father has never really lied to me."

"He sounds like a good man."

"He is," Michaela said with a nod. "He is." She took a deep breath and turned the doorknob to her front door. "Here we are." Michaela took a deep breath, preparing herself for her mother's reaction to Sully's appearance. She knew Elizabeth wouldn't say anything while Sully was in the room, but she knew she'd be hearing about it later. She didn't care though, because she quite liked being in Sully's company. She wanted to learn more about him and Colorado Springs.

As soon Michaela opened the door, the chambermaid Martha greeted her with a warm smile.

"Welcome home, Miss . . . Dr. Quinn." Martha was also very accepting of Michaela's career. Harrison, the butler, greeted her with the same warm smile.

"Your mother has been worried, miss," Harrison warned.

"I supposed I figured she would be," Michaela replied with a sigh. Martha and Harrison glanced at Sully. "Please set another place at the table, Martha. Mr. Sully will be joining us for lunch."

"Very well," Martha replied. She hurried off to do as Michaela asked. Michaela saw Sully looking around the foyer at the high ceilings and the beautiful paintings.

"Come along. I'll introduce you to my mother." Sully followed Michaela down a long corridor until they arrived in a brightly lit dining room. Elizabeth was seated in her usual seat, sipping a cup of tea. "Mother?" Elizabeth looked up from her cup and her eyes grew wide.

"Michaela!"

"Sorry I didn't come home last night, mother. I was busy with a patient at the hospital."

"And this morning?"

"The same patient needed my attention, and I spent the afternoon in the company of Mr. Sully." She looked back at Sully and gave him a nod. He stepped into sight. "Sully, this is my mother Elizabeth Quinn. Mother, this is Mr. Sully." Sully nodded in Elizabeth's direction.

"Mrs. Quinn."

"I've invited Sully to have lunch with us. You don't mind, do you?"

"Apparently not," Elizabeth replied shortly. "Please sit down, Mr. Sully." Michaela sat in her usual seat across from her mother while Sully took a seat beside the doctor. After Martha brought the lunch out to serve, the three began to dine in silence. After a few minutes, Elizabeth cleared her throat.

"So, Mr. Sully, where exactly are you from?"

"Colorado Springs."

"Sully keeps the peace between the townspeople and the Cheyenne."

"Indians?!"

"Yes, ma'am," Sully replied with a nod. "They saved my life. I'm indebted to them." The rest of lunch was increasingly tense for Michaela. She knew Sully felt completely out of place. She had tried to do something nice for someone, but her mother was once again stepping in and making that nearly impossible." After lunch, Michaela walked into the foyer with Sully.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't think nothin' of it," he replied. "She ain't used to someone like me. I don't expect her to be. I better be headin' back to the hospital to visit with Cloud Dancin'."

"I'll be along later to examine him. If I'm not happy with his progress, I'll keep him another day or so." Sully nodded.

"Thanks Dr. Mike." He left and Michaela started up the stairs and toward her bedroom.

"Michaela, may I have a word with you?" Elizabeth asked as she walked into the foyer. Michaela took a deep breath and descended the stairs.

"What for, mother?" Elizabeth decided to be direct and get right to the point.

"I don't want you to see that man again."

"Excuse me?" Michaela asked, her eyes widening with surprise.

"You heard me perfectly clear, Michaela. I don't want you to see that man again!"

"Forgive me, mother, but I don't see it is any of your business to tell me whom I spend my time with."

"I am your mother and I know what's best for you."

"Mother! If you knew what was best for me, you would have supported me when I told you I wanted to become a doctor! You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do!"

"Michaela, honestly, he's merely a mountain man! You can't possibly be thinking of settling down with him!"

"What are you implying? If it's any of your business, Sully and I just met yesterday. He and I have been talking about Colorado Springs and the Cheyenne. Mother, you need to stop focusing on my status as a single woman. If I decide to court one day, I'll do it without your input!" Michaela turned and stormed out of the house, tears welling in her eyes, wanting only to be able to talk to her father; for him to tell her that her mother was just overreacting. Of course Elizabeth was overreacting. It was her specialty.

Michaela rushed into her father's office and shut the door loudly. Sully, who had been in the other room with Cloud Dancing, came out to see what was going on.

"Dr. Mike? I didn't expect to see ya here so soon."

"I'm sorry. I just needed to get away from mother."

"Don't apologize. It's your office."

"Oh it's not my office. It's my father's. I'm simply his assistant."

"From what I've seen, you ain't no assistant. You went to college and you became a doctor."

"That's a matter of opinion."

"What are you talkin' about? What happened after I left your house?"

"My mother happened," Michaela said, removing her lacy gloves and drying her eyes.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"Not really. The argument was actually about you."

"Me?" Michaela nodded and took a deep breath.

"She actually forbade me to ever see you again."

"Ah. Well, she don't have to worry about that anyway. I'm leavin' as soon as Cloud Dancin' does." Michaela looked up into Sully's eyes and she saw something in them she had never seen in another man's eyes before. She hadn't had much experience with keeping the company of men, but this man was different. He had a kindness in his eyes, a softness that seemed out of place in a man of such nature. "Anyhow, I'm sorry I was the reason you and your ma fought. I probably startled her. I mean, I don't exactly look like someone from Boston. How was she supposed to accept me like this?"

"Don't worry about it. My mother isn't a very accepting person. Besides, I don't think people should be judged by their appearances."

"That seems like a reason you ain't gonna turn out like your ma. Don't be afraid of that."

"I can tell that you're scared of growin' to be like her."

"Perhaps you're right." Michaela was in absolute amazement that Sully had known her fears when she hadn't even revealed them.

"I know that I've only known ya for about a day, but I can tell you got a good heart."

"Thank you," Michaela whispered. "It means a lot to me to hear that from someone I don't know." Sully smiled a little. "I had better go check on Cloud Dancing." Michaela headed into the other room and Sully leaned against the wall with his arms folded over his chest, watching Michaela's every move. She fascinated him; stirred up something inside of him that he never thought he could feel. It had been a long time since he had had this reaction to someone before. He had been with a woman, yes, but he had been young and in love. But the truth was, he had been too young to know what love was.

"Sully?" Michaela asked from the other room. Sully heard her calls and ran into the other room.

"What is it?" Michaela was kneeling over a very sweaty Cloud Dancing.

"He's developed a fever."

"He was fine just a minute ago."

"I need to bring his fever down. Will you sit with him while I get my supplies?" Sully nodded and did as Michaela asked.

The next few hours were critical as Michaela nursed Cloud Dancing back to health. Cloud Dancing's fever broke, but Michaela decided she wanted to keep Cloud Dancing for another day and night. He could leave in two days.

She finished washing her hands and leaned against the wall, watching Sully through the window in the door. Sully was gentle and got whatever Cloud Dancing needed. He was a loyal man, and from what she could tell, he was honest. Something about him made her feel things she never had before. It was all new to her, but somehow she knew they were good feelings. It frightened her a bit, especially because he was leaving in two days with his friend.

While Michaela went about some research at her desk, Sully sat at his best friend's side. Cloud Dancing was feeling much better, and he was even up for talking.

"You care for this medicine woman."

"What?" Sully asked. "We just met."
"That has nothing to do with it. You care for her."

"I've never met anyone like her," Sully admitted. "She's beautiful and smart. She's unlike anyone I've ever met."

"Even Abagail?" Cloud Dancing asked. Sully looked away.

"Yeah. Abagail was somethin' special. I think Dr. Mike is too in a different way."

"You do care for her."

"Now I didn't say that."

"You don't have to say it with words. Your eyes tell the truth." Cloud Dancing chuckled and Sully could help but smile.

"You must be feelin' better."

"She's a true medicine woman. You know that."

"It don't matter what I know. I just met her and I won't ever see her again once we go back to Colorado Springs."

"The spirits tell me different."

"What?"

"The spirits tell me you will see her often."

"That ain't true."

"You doubt the spirits?"

"No, but I doubt you heard them right. They probably told ya while you were sick."

"No," Cloud Dancing replied.
"What?"

"The spirits told me you would meet a beautiful woman who would change your life while you were here in Boston. They told me you would care for her and see her often. They told me this while we were on the train."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Sully asked.

"I wanted you to be surprised," Cloud Dancing replied. He began to laugh and Sully shook his head.

"I'll let you get some rest." Sully left the room and went out to sit in Josef's office. Michaela was seated at her father's desk with a book open before her. "You always have your nose in a book?" Michaela looked up, her eyes searching Sully's.

"Well, I can't learn anything new if I don't research it."

"Not everything you have to learn comes from a book." Michaela felt herself starting to blush just as the door opened and a middle-aged man came in carrying a suitcase and a medical bag."

"Mike! How's my favorite girl?" Michaela looked up with wide eyes and she smiled with happiness and relief. Sully watched her rush over to hug the man. The older man smiled and took a deep breath as Michaela pulled away from his hug. "Well, my dear, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Josef looked at Sully with non-judgmental eyes, the same eyes Sully saw in Michaela.

"Certainly," Michaela replied with a smile. "Sully, this is my father Josef Quinn. Father, this is Mr. Sully." Sully reached his hand out, not sure if this man would actually shake the hand of someone of his appearance. Sully was almost surprised when Josef accepted Sully's hand and shook it.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sully. How do you know my daughter?"

"It's nice to meet you, Dr. Quinn. Your daughter here treated my friend."

"She did, did she? Oh tell me she didn't go cutting on him?" Sully chuckled when Josef laughed. Michaela just shook her head.

"No she didn't. She took real good care of him."

"He was an Indian. None of the other doctors would take care of him, so I had Sully bring him into your office. He's pulling through nicely. There was a complication with a fever, but that's broken."

"Do you mind if I examine him?" Michaela looked at Sully and nodded in approval.

"Go ahead. You'll have to get his permission first." Josef chuckled.

"You're one of a kind, Mr. Sully. I hope my daughter has been hospitable."

"She's a great doctor."

"You don't have to tell me that twice. I know my little girl is a wonderful doctor. She's going to run me out of business!" The doctor laughed and Michaela just grinned and shook her head. Josef went back to look at Cloud Dancing while Sully stayed with Michaela.

"I can see it." Michaela wrinkled her brows.

"You can see what?"

"I can see that you are like your father. He's a good man just like you're a good woman." Michaela smiled and looked away, blushing again. The way this man could look into her soul and compliment her was completely foreign to her. She didn't mind it, but she was starting to think that the next two days would pass far too quickly.