Chapter 7: Family Matters

"He didn't even tell you he was building a new house?" Rebecca asked with a gaping jaw and wide eyes. Michaela grinned and shook her head.

"He wanted it to be a surprise."

"That's so romantic," she replied with a sigh. Michaela nodded.

"He wants to have it built by the time we're married, but he's offering to push the wedding up so the children's mother can be my Matron of Honor. Along with you of course," Michaela replied.

"Well, if you were planning on having Charlotte as your Matron of Honor, I don't want to step on any toes."

"Oh no! I would be honored to have you as my Matron of Honor as well," Michaela replied with a grin. She and her sister hugged briefly and smiled together.

"And if you're worried about Marjorie, Claudette, and Maureen, don't. They're just jealous because the man you're going to marry isn't a stuffy business man with no personality." Michaela grinned and she and her sister linked arms as they walked. Michaela had never liked the husbands her sisters had married, except for Rebecca's husband. He and Rebecca were very much alike, and that was why Michaela enjoyed having him as a brother-in-law so much.

"Rebecca, I could use some advice."

"What kind of advice?"

"Well," Michaela began, blushing slight, "I know the wedding is months away, but I've . . . I've never been . . ."

"You've never been with a man?" Rebecca asked. Michaela nodded sheepishly and Rebecca chuckled. "I had suspected you hadn't, and I applaud you for waiting."

"Well, you are my closest sister and I feel like I can tell you anything."

"You can tell me anything," Rebecca promised.

"Well, I could really use some advice. Sully's been married before, and, well," she found herself blushing again. Rebecca held her sister's hand and squeezed it snugly.

"I'll tell you everything I know." Michaela and Rebecca walked off to have a little girl talk.

Sully was out working on the homestead. He was determined to finish it before the snow came. He knew it would be coming in at the end of December, so he only had two months to finish it. He knew the task was damned near impossible, but he knew that if he put his mind to it, he could do anything.

He was hammering away at what was going to be the start of the siding of the house when he heard hoof beats nearing. He put his hammer down and took a look at the foundation he had laid with his own hands. He couldn't wait to carry Michaela over the threshold after it was finished.

He saw that the mystery rider was Matthew coming up quickly. For a moment he feared that something had happened to his wife-to-be, but the look on Matthew's face wasn't one of panic. He smiled when he saw Sully. He dismounted the horse and walked over. Sully and the young man clasped hands and shook.

"What brings ya out here?" Sully asked.

"I heard you were buildin' this place for Dr. Mike."

"It's for all of us, Matthew. Dr, Mike, you kids, and me."

"I was startin' to worry how we were all gonna fit in Dr. Mike's homestead," Matthew replied, removing his Stetson and wiping the sweat from his brow. He replaced the hat where it was originally took a drink of water from his canteen. "I was wonderin' if ya needed any help buildin' the place. I ain't lookin' for pay. Just a way to help out my family."

"Well, I really want to build this place for myself, you know? But, I could use somebody to bring lumber and help me saw it."

"I can do that," Matthew said.

"I'd appreciate it," Sully said with a chuckle.

"You think you'll have this place up by the time May gets here?"

"I'm plannin' on havin' it built by the time the snow gets here."

"By yourself?"

"I'm gonna try," Sully replied. "I've got a bunch of supplies on the way from Denver and Soda Springs. I'm plannin' on surprisin' Dr. Mike."

"What do you mean? How are ya gonna surprise her?" Sully smiled secretively and cleared his throat.

"Well, Dr. Mike wants your ma to stand up with her at the weddin'. She also wants her pa to give her away. Just between the two of us, I'm not sure Josef's gonna be 'round till May. I ain't sayin' that to be negative, but I don't want her walkin' down the aisle without her pa to give her away."

"So what are ya gonna do?" Matthew asked.

"Well, I'll explain it all later. Is Dr. Mike goin' to be leavin' anytime today?"

"She's going to the Thomas' farm. She won't be back till sundown," Matthew replied. "She's leavin' after she gets back from her stroll with her sister."

"Which one?" Sully asked with a laugh.

"Rebecca, I think. There's too many of 'em," Matthew replied with a chuckle.

"Alright. As soon as Dr. Mike leaves, you get her ma, pa, and sisters to come over to Grace's. Does your ma feel like getting out?"

"She's been wantin' some fresh air for weeks."

"Well, if she feels like it, bring her and get Dorothy, Loren, Grace, Robert E., Myra, Horace, Jake, Hank, and Reverend Johnson to meet you there. I'll explain everything as soon as I get there."

"Alright," Matthew replied slowly. He wasn't sure what Sully was planning, but he knew that this was going to be something big if it involved the town's important citizens (even Hank) and Michaela's friends and family. "I'll get back to town."

"I'll be along in awhile," Sully replied. Matthew nodded and mounted his horse, riding off toward town. Sully went back to working on the first wall of the house he was going to help raise his soon-to-be family in.

Michaela had started off toward the Thomas' farm, and as soon as she had disappeared around the bend, the townsfolk who had been invited to the get together at Jake's rushed over that way. Matthew, Brian, and Colleen helped Charlotte, who was more than thrilled to get out for a few minutes to stretch her muscles. She had a heavy shawl and afghan around her shoulders to keep her warm.

Everyone was seated around two long tables at the café, and Grace was getting hot coffee and cider for everyone. Matthew was trying to calm everyone down. None of them quite knew what Sully was planning to talk to them about. They only knew that he wanted them all there.

Hank pulled a flask from his vest and took a swig of whatever liquor was stored inside. He took a puff from his cigar and scanned the crowd.

"What does he want?" Myra asked, looking up at Matthew.

"I don't know. He just told me to bring ya'll over here."

"This is absurd," Elizabeth said, starting to stand up. Josef put a hand on his wife's arm.

"Our future son-in-law wants our attention, so we should give it to him." Elizabeth sighed heavily and looked at Rebecca who smiled at her. Elizabeth shook her head and looked away. Rebecca was her eldest daughter, but she never took her mother's side. She was always defending Michaela, and sometimes Elizabeth even felt that Rebecca was right.

Sully walked around the corner of the livery and everyone fell silent, their eyes resting on the mountain man who had called them all together without Michaela's presence.

"Where's my daughter?" Elizabeth demanded.

"She's out at the Thomas' farm," Colleen pointed out.

"Oh," Elizabeth replied under her breath.

"I demand to know what's going on," Marjorie said, exasperation dripping from her voice.

"Well, I know you're all probably wonderin' what's goin' on," Sully started.
"Yes, we are, Mr. Sully," Maureen chimed in.

"Let him have a chance to speak, Maureen," Josef warned. Maureen hushed and watched Sully was confusion and irritation in her eyes.

"As you all know, me and Dr. Mike are plannin' on getting married in May. Well, Michaela's startin' to worry. She wants to have her pa give her away, and she wants Charlotte to be there as her Matron of Honor." Colleen took her mother's hand and squeezed it a little. Charlotte smiled at her daughter and patted her hand. "I'm buildin' a new homestead, and I'm plannin' on havin' it built by the time winter gets here, but if it ain't finished, I can wait it out till the spring."

"So why have you brought us all here this evening?" Elizabeth wondered.

"Well, I was wonderin' if I could have help from all of you."

"What do you want from us?" Jake asked. Everyone all looked at Sully and he cleared his throat, preparing to begin his speech. He only hoped the townsfolk and Michaela's family would cooperate.

Later that evening, Michaela was relaxing in the rocking chair at the homestead. She had removed her shoes and was warming her toes in front of the fire. She let her hair down and was sitting in her comfortable night gown with a book of poetry in her lap. The afternoon had been a long one. The Thomas' were having problems with food poisoning, but luckily it wasn't too serious. She had given them all the recommended treatment, and advised them to get rid of their cows and purchase new ones, even though the cost would be quite high. She warned them against eating any more of the meat from their own livestock.

Now that she was home, she could relax and read. But she was having trouble concentrating on Emerson's words. With ever beautiful line in his poems, she would think of Sully and the way he made her feel. She was so happy that he was building a new home where they would raise their family together and make new memories.

Michaela fell asleep in her rocking chair with a smile on her face, but a dream filled her thoughts.

The cries of a newborn baby filled the room, and Michaela opened her eyes. She sat up in bed feeling cold. She smiled with relief when she saw Sully sitting up on the edge of the bed with a child in his arms.

"Sully?"

"She's just wantin' to see her ma and pa. I don't think she's hungry."

"You're so wonderful with her, Sully," Michaela whispered. She scooted over to sit beside him, resting her chin on his shoulder and peering down at the baby in his arms. The contrast of the baby against her father's bare chest was beautiful to Michaela. His dark complexion and the baby's pale skin reminded Michaela of a piece of artwork. She couldn't get over how perfect her child was, and she was so happy that Sully was the man she had created the child with.

"I can't believe she's ours," Sully whispered as the baby's eyes drifted shut. Michaela smiled and pulled the child into her arms. The baby's head lolled and rested on her shoulder. The feeling of that child in her arms gave her a sense of strength of which she had never felt before. She felt like she could do anything; be anything.

Michaela's eyes flew open at the crack of dawn as a rooster crowed outside. She yawned and felt as if she hadn't gotten a moment of sleep. She stood and stretched out, letting her aching muscles contract and relax.

For a moment, she wasn't sure what day it was, but she quickly remembered that it was Halloween. In all of the confusion with her family arriving the morning before, she had completely forgotten that she had a finished Halloween costume hanging beside her bed. On top of making her own witch's costume, she had helped Charlotte make Matthew, Colleen, and Brian's. She loved helping do things for the children, because it was practice for what was to come in the future. However, doing these things with Charlotte was bittersweet because she knew Charlotte wouldn't be around forever to help her with the kids.

Michaela felt a chill so she quickly slipped out of her nightgown and into the dress she had laid out for the day. She smiled when she looked down at the beautiful engagement ring on her finger. She sighed and couldn't help but think about Sully.

A knock came to the door and Michaela opened the door. Sully was standing there with a pumpkin in his hand.

"Good morning," Michaela said with a smile.

"Mornin'," Sully replied. "I brought this, and I figured we could carve a jack-o-lantern tonight."

"That would be lovely," Michaela replied with a bright smile. "Bring it inside and put it on the table." Sully did as Michaela asked. He turned and walked over to her, taking her hands in his. "Are you coming to the Halloween party tonight?"

"Um, I can't," Sully replied quickly.

"Why not?" Michaela asked.

"I need to work on the new house."

"At night?" Michaela asked with concern in her voice.

"Yeah. I just want to get a little more of the framework finished."

"What's the rush?"

"I don't know. I just want to finish it as soon as possible," Sully replied, swallowing hard.

"You have quite awhile."

"I know. I just . . . I don't feel like goin' tonight. If it means that much to you I'll go . . ."

"No. That's alright," Michaela replied. She kissed Sully's cheek. "I might not go either."

"You have to go. Brian and Colleen are looking forward to you seein' their costumes."

"Perhaps you're right. Well, I'll bring you some food and cider from the party."

"Alright. That sounds good," Sully replied with a smile. He kissed her softly and started toward the door. "I'll hitch up the wagon and drive ya into town."

"Okay. Oh, Sully?"

"Hmm?" he asked, turning back around.

"Are you alright with my family being here?"

"Why wouldn't I be alright with it?"

"I don't know. They're very outspoken."

"Like you are?" he asked. "I think I can handle 'em."

"You're brave, Mr. Sully," Michaela said with a chuckle. Sully pulled her back into his arms.

"Not as brave as you, Dr. Quinn." He kissed her forehead and left her wanting more of his touch. She quickly finished getting ready and joined him in the wagon for their trip into town to start the new day.