Chapter 6: Eagerly Awaiting

It was late October now, and Michaela hadn't heard back from her family about her engagement to Sully. She wasn't sure if they had even received her letter yet, but she wasn't going to write them back until she knew their feelings on the subject.

Michaela's relationship with Sully was thriving, and they were finding it hard to control themselves in public. They needed to be in each other's arms as much as they could possibly find time for, and they would end up stealing kisses when they had a private moment. They were trying to make it a point to say goodnight later in the evening when the feelings were starting to build up. They didn't want to have any more close calls like that day in the woods.

Other relationships in Colorado Springs were thriving as well. Matthew and the young immigrant from Sweden named Ingrid had started courting, much to Charlotte's approval. She loved the girl as if she was a part of the family, making everything much easier for her growing son. Charlotte was becoming weaker in a slower pace. She was still strong and bull-headed, which made Michaela sure that she was going to be around for quite awhile.

Robert E. and Grace were now courting, and Michaela knew it was only a matter of time before they god married. Grace was now managing her café with Myra's help. Myra was surprisingly helpful with numbers, making Grace's job a whole lot easier.

When it came to Myra and Horace, they were courting, much to Hank's dismay. It was obvious to everyone that Hank had taken a liking to Myra, but they weren't at all sure what Myra thought of him. Everyone was warning Myra to stay away from Hank, that he was bad news, even his good friends Jake and Loren.

Colleen, Brian, and Matthew were growing increasingly attached to Michaela, and Charlotte was pleased to know that the family she wanted her children to have, was coming together nicely.

The children had officially moved into the clinic to be with their mother, so Dorothy had her pick of the rooms above Loren's store. Dorothy and Michaela were growing close as well, and things were finally starting to settle down in Colorado Springs.

The stagecoach rolled into Colorado Springs on a lazy Friday morning. Michaela was sitting out on the porch of the clinic with Brian who was teaching her all about a book he read about frogs. She was listening carefully, loving the little boy's enthusiasm about the book he had read.

"Did you know that some frogs can far as I am tall?" Brian asked with wide eyes.

"No, I'm not sure I knew that," Michaela replied with a grin. Sully walked up with Wolf behind him.

"Hey Sully!" Brian said with a grin. "I was tellin' Dr. Mike about the book I read about the frogs. Her and Colleen have been helpin' me read, and I really like it!"

"That's good, Brian. I'm proud of ya."

"Sully?"

"Yeah, Brian?"

"When you and Dr. Mike get married, you'll be my pa once we come to live with you and Dr. Mike. When you're my pa, will ya take me fishin'?" Sully swallowed hard, realizing that he was soon going to be inheriting three children.

"I'll take ya fishin' anytime, Brian. All ya gotta do is ask."

"Can we go tonight?"

"You'll have to ask your ma first."

"Okay, I'll go ask her now." Brian ran into the clinic and Michaela smiled up at Sully.

"You really know how to talk with him."

"You're doin' a good job too," Sully replied. "He's really warmin' up to ya. All of 'em are."

"I'm glad," Michaela replied. She smiled and she noticed something across the street. Sully saw the look in her eyes.

"What is it?"

"Oh my . . ." she began. She watched as the townspeople stared at the stagecoach much like the day she arrived in town. Sully caught what she was gazing at and he took her hand. "Sully . . ."

"It's gonna be alright." She stood and Sully let go of her hand. She started to walk over toward the stagecoach, and then she began to run. Josef Quinn turned around and saw his daughter. His eyes lit up and he held his arms out to his daughter.

"Mike!" he exclaimed. Michaela rushed into his arms and they hugged tightly.

"Father! You're here!"

"Hello Michaela," came another familiar voice. Michaela looked over to see her mother standing at the stagecoach. She pulled away from her father and gave her mother a soft hug.

"Mother," she said with a smile. "What are you both doing here?"

"As soon as your mother and I heard you were getting married, we decided to come out here. We weren't sure when the wedding was going to be, so we figured we'd have to get here as soon as possible. Girls?" Out of the stagecoach hopped Rebecca, Marjorie, Claudette, and Maureen. Michaela's eyes widened and she wondered how her family made it all the way from Denver in the stagecoach without killing each other.

"I can't believe you're all here. I'm afraid to disappoint you all, but the wedding isn't until May."

"May?!" Marjorie exclaimed. "You should have specified in your letter."

"We hadn't set a date yet. We're starting to talk about May." Sully made his way over to the group and put his arm around Michaela.

"Sully!" Josef said with a proud grin. "I am proud to call you my son-in-law. You're the closest thing I've got to a son." He extended a hand and Sully shook it gratefully.

"Dr. Quinn."

"Please, call me Josef, like I've asked you before," Josef said with a chuckle.

"Father, you shouldn't have traveled out here with condition."

"What condition? My heart's as good as it ever was. I'm as good as new." Michaela rolled her eyes. "Don't worry. I'm taking it easy."

"Mr. Sully," Elizabeth said with a smile, "I have come to peace with the fact that my daughter is marrying you. But I insist that you both move to Boston as soon as this wedding is over."

"Mother!" Michaela exclaimed, "Sully and I are making a life here, and we are going to live here once we are married."

"Please, Michaela, don't try to keep this farce up," Marjorie said with a yawn.

"Farce? Marjorie . . ."

"Marjorie, I do not think this is the appropriate time to discuss this. Perhaps we can put our things in the nearest hotel," Rebecca suggested.

"The closest thing we have to a hotel 'round here is the clinic," Loren spoke up from the crowd.

"I'd be happy to let you stay in the empty rooms. Nobody is ill, so we have more than enough rooms."

"That'll do, Mike," Josef said, kissing his daughter's cheek. The Quinn family made their way to the clinic with Sully. As they walked inside, Brian came running down the stairs.

"Sully! Ma said we could go fishin'!" Brian exclaimed. Brian's outburst had startled the Elizabeth and the Quinn sisters, except for Michaela of course. Sully picked up the boy.

"That's great, Brian." Brian looked at everyone in fancy clothes and looked at Michaela.

"Dr. Mike? Who are they?"

"These, Brian," Michaela replied with a smile, "are my mother and father and my sisters."

"Does that make them my grandma, grandpa, and aunts?" Brian asked.

"What on Earth is he talking about?" Maureen asked.

"It's a long story," Michaela replied.

"Well, not yet, but after you become our ma," Brian explained. Everyone looked at Michaela and Sully cleared his throat, sensing how uncomfortable his wife-to-be was.

"Brian, why don't ya go see if Mr. Bray needs any help at the store."
"Okay," Brian replied reluctantly. He ran out of the clinic and Michaela led her family upstairs to the empty rooms. There was a room for Maureen and Claudette, one for Rebecca and Marjorie, and one for Elizabeth and Josef. The beds were freshly cleaned and made.

"This place is charming, Michaela," Rebecca said with a cheerful giggle. Michaela smiled and hugged her favorite sister.

"Thank you," she whispered. Sully offered to bring the ladies' things up to their rooms to give Michaela some time with her family. Josef went to help him, even though he couldn't do too much with his body still healing from his heart attack.

Michaela was alone in the room with her mother, and she felt an uncomfortable, awkward knot in the pit of her stomach.

"Mother, I know you may not approve of my choice to come here, but I had to do it. I had to follow my heart. I thought you would at least be pleased that I decided to marry."

"I could have found a proper suitor."

"I don't want anyone else, mother. I love Sully, and we are getting married in May."

"Michaela, I wish you would reconsider."

"Mother, you don't even know Sully."

"Well, I have plenty of time to get to know him."
"What do you mean?"

"Your sisters will leave with the next stagecoach since the wedding so far away, but your father and I are staying."

"What?" Michaela asked, her throat going dry.

"Your father and I are staying until the wedding is over."

"You're serious?"

"Your father has given up his practice. He's retired and left his patients to his colleagues since you weren't there to take them."

"Oh," Michaela said, looking away. "Well, you can't use pity to bring me back to Boston, because it won't work with me. You don't have to stay until May."

"It won't be good for your father to make different trips to and from Boston," Elizabeth pointed out. "We have all the time in the world, so we'll be here getting to know the man you've chosen to marry." Michaela smiled slightly at her mother and left the room, shutting the door behind her. She looked upward and said a silent prayer, asking God to grant her the strength to put up with her mother again.

Michaela had checked on her sisters, all who seemed to be in irritable moods except for dear Rebecca. Josef was also in quite a cheery mood, but he was always cheery when it came to his youngest daughter.

Michaela finally had some peace and quiet as she descended the stairs. She exited the clinic to find Sully sitting on the porch, whittling away at a piece of wood. He looked up when he saw her, and he saw how much pressure her family had put on her by showing up unannounced.

"I have something to tell you," Michaela started.

"Okay," Sully replied, putting his knife away.

"My mother has just informed me that she and father are staying until the wedding's over."

"Your pa just told me," Sully replied with a nod. Michaela sighed with relief that she didn't have to be the bearer of bad news. She loved her family, but she wasn't sure if she could put up with her mother for several months in a row. Sure, she had put up with her for twenty-five years. This was different now because she had had a break.

"You aren't mad?" Michaela asked slowly.

"Nah," Sully replied. "It just means that I'll have to finish my surprise up sooner than I thought."

"Surprise?" Michaela asked. Sully nodded with a gleam in his eye.

"C'mon. I'll show it to you." Sully took Michaela's hand and led her to the wagon. They got in and Sully started off out of town. They didn't stop until they reached a beautiful clearing where tools were scattered and brick and stone were laid. Michaela gasped when she saw what Sully had been doing. He helped her out of the wagon and pulled her into his arms. She rested her head on his chest and they embraced lovingly as they observed the beautiful scenery. "This is where we're gonna live."

"Oh Sully, it's breathtaking," Michaela whispered. "I can't wait to live here with you. I want to be your wife. I can hardly wait for our wedding day."

"Me either," Sully agreed. Michaela looked up into Sully's eyes and kissed him softly, temporarily forgetting about how worried she was that her family had come to town. She felt like she was going to be scrutinized every waking moment, but that's how it was with Elizabeth. She didn't want to think about her visitors right now. All she wanted to do was stand at the site of her future home with the man she loved in her arms. After all, that was all that mattered. "Michaela, if ya want, we can move the weddin' up. We can get married sooner than we planned."

"What do you mean?"

"I figured getting married in May would be good because it'd give me time to finish the house. But, with Charlotte sick and your family here, we could have the weddin' in a couple of months. We won't need the privacy until the children come to live with us, so we could live at the old homestead until the new house is finished.

"Oh, Sully, that's a sweet idea, but I couldn't ask you to do that."

"Do what?"

"To live with your new wife in the home you built for your first wife."

"That don't matter, Michaela. Abagail would understand that I'm in love with you."

"I wouldn't feel right, Sully."

"Here we go again," Sully said with a sigh. Michaela sighed took and took Sully's hands in hers.

"I want to marry you, and I don't care when that happens. It can be now, in May, or in twenty years. As long as I know I'm going to have you with me for the rest of my life, that's what counts."

"You said you wanted your father to give you away and for Charlotte to be your Matron of Honor."

"I do," Michaela replied.

"Then ya gotta let what you want come true. How long do you think Charlotte has left?"

"There's no way of knowing," Michaela admitted, "but she is getting weaker." Sully kissed Michaela softly.

"Personally I can't wait to marry ya, but if you wanna wait, that's fine too. I just want you to be happy."

"I will be."