Chapter 10: Growing Up

Cloud Dancing and Snow Bird were celebrating the first year of their daughter's life. She had survived the winter thanks to Michaela and Sully, and today marked the anniversary of her birth. Cloud Dancing and Snow Bird had brought the child by the Sully homestead, where Michaela had presented her with a blanket, and Sully had presented her with a necklace made especially for her by her white father.

Now that the Cheyenne family had departed for the reservation, Colleen, Brian, and Matthew were cleaning up from the party they'd thrown. Cheyenne didn't typically throw parties, but Sully and Michaela had insisted on giving their Cheyenne daughter a proper first birthday party. They loved having the opportunity to spent time with her, and the kids enjoyed being around Cloud Dancing as well.

While the children were inside cleaning up, Michaela was sitting on the porch, enjoying the beautiful June afternoon. The front door was propped open, and the nine-month-old boys were sitting on the porch, playing together as Wolf and Pup pushed them around with their cold, wet noses.

Sully was up atop the roof, working on fixing a leak, which had sprung the night before during a terrible storm. Michaela could hear him hammering away, and she was beginning to get a headache.

Connor had a funny but determined look on his face, and Michaela began to wonder if that was a look Sully had seen on her face before. She couldn't help but smile and wonder what was going through her little boy's mind.

Daniel, on the other hand, was reaching out to Pup. He grabbed the wolf's tail and gave it a yank. Though he wasn't strong yet, his tug had been hard enough to make the dog yelp and snap. He wouldn't dare to hurt the baby, but he sure was getting tired of being pulled on!

"No, Danny!" Brian exclaimed, rushing out the door. Daniel, understanding the world 'no,' let go of Pup's tail. Brian sighed and looked at Michaela.

"Ma," he groaned.

"I think your little brother is in need of a nap," Michaela pointed out, starting to get up.

"I'll take him. You rest," he said with a smile. Brian was turning into quite a sweet young man, Michaela noticed. He had just turned ten a few days ago, and had received his own horse from Michaela and Sully, with the help of Cloud Dancing. He'd named the horse Taffy, and he'd been nearly inseparable from that horse since he'd gotten it. Sully and Michaela only thought it was fair that he get his own horse, since he was growing up, because Sully had already made plans with Robert E. in town to purchase a horse for Colleen's upcoming fourteenth birthday. It was less that two weeks away.

Just as Brian was reaching down to pick Daniel up, the boy grabbed hold of his brother's pant leg, and slowly pulled himself to his feet.

"Ma!" Brian exclaimed. Michaela's eyes went wide, and she stood quickly.

"Sully!" she exclaimed. Sully, hearing his wife's calls and thinking something was wrong, started down the ladder and nearly fell in the process. He rushed around to the front of the house just in time to see that his son was sitting on his bottom.

"What happened?!" he asked. "Is everyone alright?"

"Daniel was standing!" she exclaimed, picking her son up in her arms. Sully breathed a sigh of relief, happy that nobody was hurt.

"Only for a few seconds, but he was," Brian said with a nod. Sully smiled, forgetting for a few moments that he'd nearly fallen off of a ladder as he was rushing to his wife's aide. Brian picked up Connor. "I bet Connor will do it soon too."

"That's my boys," Sully said with a grin, patting Daniel's soft head. Connor crawled over to Pup and tried to sit on him, but the dog rolled over, making the task a bit difficult.

"Dog," he said with a grin. Connor and Daniel had been learning words and games lately, and they were picking up on them very well. Michaela was amazed at how fast her children were growing. In three short months, she would be celebrating her boys' first birthdays.

Colleen and Matthew had joined their family on the porch, and everyone was so excited that Daniel had pulled himself to his feet for the first time. Everyone was sure that the twins would be walking soon enough.

Once the children had gone back inside to finish their chores, Michaela and Sully settled down on the porch steps, each holding a son in their lap.

"I can't believe they're about ready to start walking. I just hope that Daniel's falling won't affect his wanting to walk." Sully smiled.

"All babies do that," Sully replied. "I've seen it lots of times at the reservation."

"I know," Michaela replied with a smile. "It's not like riding a horse. Walking is something that comes naturally to most people, but riding a horse is something you've got to learn."

"Like you had to learn," Sully replied.

"So did you!" Michaela laughed. "I learned before you did." Sully rolled his eyes.

"I s'pose ya did." He leaned over to kiss her.

"It's such a beautiful day," Michaela commented. "It's a shame we're wasting it here at the house."

"Why don't we all go for a walk?"

"A walk sounds lovely," Michaela replied with a smile. Just as they were about to stand, a rider approached. It was Hank!

"Hank? What's goin' on?" Sully wondered.

"Kid Cole's back in town, and there's somethin' you gotta hear," he said quickly. Kid Cole had left once the dust had settled after Bret and Tom Jacobs' death. It was quite a surprise that he'd returned so quickly. His presence had made the town feel safe, and Brian had even written his final essay for school on Kid Cole helping his pa stop Bret Jacobs.

"I'll hitch up the wagon," Sully said quickly. Michaela gathered both of her sons into her arms, and Sully started off toward the barn. Michaela took the boys into the homestead.

"Will you three watch your brothers? Your father and I need to go into town."

"Is everything alright?" Colleen wondered.

"I'm sure everything's fine."

"Go on then," Matthew replied. "We'll look after Connor and Danny." Michaela smiled and nodded her head. She turned quickly, grabbed her medical bag, and left the homestead, shutting the door behind her.

Sully pulled the wagon up to the front of the homestead, reached his hand out to Michaela, and helped her in. Hank rode off toward town, while Michaela and Sully followed closely behind.

They followed Hank all the way into town, and pulled up at the livery. Sully helped Michaela down, and they started over toward the center of town. A crowd was gathered around Kid Cole who was trying to keep the peace in town.

"Are our children safe?" one woman wondered.

"Is he dangerous?" a man asked. Michaela and Sully battled their way through the crowd with Hank leading the way.

"Oh how glad I am to see you folks," Kid Cole said once he spotted the Sullys. Sully clasped hands with the man, and they shook.

"What's going on?" Michaela insisted immediately.

"I was in Denver, 'bout to go lookin' for a bunch of cow rustlers when I got word that somebody had broken out of prison. Don't worry, he ain't anywhere near these parts yet, but he's on his way." The first thing that came to both Sully and Michaela's minds was David Luther. But he wasn't a threat to them, was he?

"What's this got to do with us, Kid Cole?" Sully wondered. Jake put his hand on Sully's shoulder, a grim look upon his face.

"It's Ethan Cooper."

"You're sayin' he's comin' for us?" Matthew asked as the Sully family sat around the dinner table that evening.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen," Michaela interrupted. "All we know is that he escaped from a Denver prison a few days ago, and he's heading toward Colorado Springs."

"He ain't gonna take us away is he?" Brian asked with worry in his voice.

"Brian, the only thing Ethan's gonna do is go back to prison where he belongs," Sully pointed out.

"What are we gonna do if he gets here?" Colleen wondered. Michaela and Sully looked at one another.

"We'll discuss that later," Michaela replied. "Right now, I think it would be best if the three of you went up to bed."

"But school's out, ma," Brian said softly.

"Do as your ma says."

"What about the chores?"
"We'll take care of them," Michaela replied. The children looked at one another before starting upstairs. Michaela picked up Daniel into her arms. The boy had managed to fall asleep during dinner, and it was time he and his brother went to bed. Sully took Connor, and the boys were put up to bed a few minutes later.

When they were back downstairs, Michaela began to clean up, and Sully noticed that her hands were trembling. Sully put his hand on her back, and Michaela turned around quickly. He saw the fear in her eyes, and he hated seeing it there.

"Sully, what are we going to do? We can't let Ethan hurt the children."

"That won't happen," Sully promised. "They're gonna be safe."

"We need to take precautions."

"Like what?"

"We could have the children stay with someone. Maybe Myra and Hank could take them in. I'd hate to ask them, though, because they've done that quite a few times. Perhaps Grace and Robert E. could look after them. They're in town, so they would be a bit safer." Sully nodded.

"I think you're right."

"You do?" Michaela hoped.

"'Course I do. I happen to believe that a ma does what she thinks is best for her kids. Most ma's anyway." He kissed her softly. "You are a good ma, Michaela. No matter what happens, I know that won't ever change." Michaela smiled, grateful for Sully's confidence in her.

"So we'll ask Robert E. and Grace in the morning? I'm sure Anthony would appreciate the company."

"Sure thing," Sully replied softly.

"Do you think Connor and Daniel are safe?"

"I wouldn't put anything past Ethan Cooper," Sully admitted. "They'll be safe with Grace and Robert E., and we'll stay in town at the clinic just to make sure nothin' happens." Michaela nodded. "Don't fret now. You need to get some rest. I'll finish up down here."

"I'm not tired," Michaela insisted.

"But you gotta rest. The baby needs ya to rest." He placed his hand on her stomach, and she smiled lovingly.

"You're right," she whispered. Sully raised an eyebrow. "Hey, don't let it go to your head." Sully laughed and pulled Michaela into a kiss before she reluctantly pulled away and retreated up the stairs.

Sully finished up with the dishes and chores downstairs, and when he was finished, he walked outside to sit on the porch. He looked up at the starry night sky and wondered what life would have been like if he had never gotten on that train to Boston; if he had never met Michaela.

It seemed strange to think about it, because he wouldn't have had his life turn out any other way. Michaela and the children gave his life a new meaning, and gave him a new reason for living. He had been so lost after Abagail and Hannah's deaths, and once he found his way again, he never thought once about sharing that life and way with another person. Michaela had changed all of that, and he was grateful for her presence in his life.

A coyote howled in the distance, and Wolf's ears perked up. Sully patted him atop the head and looked out towards Pike Peak. He sighed as the wind blew through the trees, rustling the green June leaves. They were black against the night sky, and Sully began to think about how everything seemed black and white at night, like a living photograph. When the sun came out in the morning, it seemed to unveil all of the secrets of the night.

A floorboard creaked behind Sully, and he turned around slowly to see Brian standing there.

"Pa?"

"Brian, what's wrong? It's getting late."

"I can't get to sleep. Can I sit with you for awhile?"

"Sure," Sully replied with a smile. He scooted over on the step so Brian could sit down beside him. Sully put his arm around his son.

"Pa?" Brian asked.

"Hmm?" Sully wondered, still feeling his heart warm when the kids called him 'pa.'

"He's not gonna hurt us, is he?"

"I won't let him," Sully replied.

"I don't wanna go anywhere with him."

"You don't have to, son."

"But I feel bad." Sully turned to Brian.

"What do ya feel bad about?"

"He was our first pa, and he was part of the reason I was born. Same with Colleen and Matthew. If our real ma hadn't met him, we wouldn't be here now."

"That's the one thing that I'm grateful to Ethan for," Sully replied, patting his son's back.

"But isn't it wrong to wish somethin' bad to happen to your real pa?" Sully cleared his throat.

"I ain't sayin' it's good to wish bad things on anybody, but sometimes the mind can't help it. He was your real pa, but just 'cause he helped make you didn't make him a father. Bein' a pa means bein' there for your family, lovin' 'em, and helpin' 'em through the tough times. Same thing goes for bein' a ma."
"I miss my real ma sometimes."

"There's nothin' wrong with that. We all miss Charlotte."

"Even ma?"

"'Course she misses her. Charlotte was a good friend."
"Sometimes I feel bad for bein' happy. Sometimes I think that I should be sad."

"Why do ya say that?"

"Because my real ma is up in Heaven, and we're down here with a new family."

"That's what she wanted, Brian," Sully replied, squeezing his shoulder. "That's why she made all those arrangements before she died. She wanted you, Matthew, and Colleen to have a good family. You are happy here, aren't ya?"

"'Course I am. I just wish my real ma was here too so she could be happy with us."

"I'm sure that she's happy and watchin' over us all right now."

"Ya don't think ma would be mad that I wish my real ma was here, do ya?"

"Brian, we want ya to be happy, and I'm sure your ma doesn't mind one bit that you think of your real ma, ya miss her, and ya wish she was here to be happy with ya. It's normal."

"Sully?"

"Hmm?"

"Do ya ever think about your ma and pa?" Sully swallowed hard as Brian leaned his head on his father's shoulder.

"Yeah. I do," he replied quietly. Brian fell asleep shortly after, and Sully took him upstairs to bed. He checked on the other children before turning down all of the lamps and joining his sleeping wife in their bedroom.

The sun rose early, and Michaela woke after getting a good nine hours of sleep. She still felt tired, but she expected that with being pregnant.

Sully was still sleeping when she climbed out of bed, and she knew she had better get the boys up and ready. They would be grumpy if they slept too long. So, she quickly dressed and sat down to run a brush through her hair. She felt like wearing her hair down today, so she left it hanging loosely down her back. She started to stand up when she felt her stomach give way to nausea. She rushed out of the room and to the washroom, hoping she could hold on to find the pot to empty her stomach into.

Sully woke to the retching sounds coming from the washroom, and he knew Michaela was being bothered by morning sickness again. He got out of bed and pulled his pants on. He decided to get the boys woken up so she wouldn't have so much to do.

When he started down the hall to the boys' room, he could hear movement downstairs. He could smell bacon and hear it crackling on the skillet. Colleen was up. Sully walked into the bedroom and both of the boys were sleeping.

"Alright guys, it's time to get up." Sully picked them both up into his strong arms, and they whined as he carried them down the hall to the washroom for their morning baths. He passed Michaela in the hall, and her face was pale.

"Mornin'."

"Mhm," she mumbled.

"Go lie down, and I'll take care of this." Michaela nodded, not feeling like doing much else at the moment. Sully took the boys into the washroom, put them down in the empty tub, and went downstairs to get the water that Colleen heated up every morning for the sole purpose of the boys' baths. He noticed that Brian was outside playing with Pup and Wolf, but the barn had been left unattended. Matthew's job was supposed to be to clean out the stables. Sully had asked him to do so three days ago, and it still wasn't finished.

Sully sighed, knowing that Matthew had been busy with preparing for college, but he couldn't neglect his chores either. He carried two pails of hot water upstairs and set them down in the washroom. He turned around, walked down the hall, and knocked on Matthew's door.

"Matthew?"

"Five more minutes," Matthew grumbled in his sleep. Sully knocked again.

"C'mon, son. It's time to get up." Matthew had to get this done today, because he would be staying in town with Robert E. and Grace for the next few days. The barn couldn't be left unattended for that long.

"Five more minutes!" he repeated. Sully banged on the door, prompting Brian to come out of his room, rubbing his eyes.

"What's goin' on?"

"I'm tryin' to wake your brother up."

"Oh, I can do that," Brian replied with a gleam in his eye. He pounded on the door. "Matthew! Matthew! Wake up! Ingrid's here!" The sound of two feet thudding on the floor was followed by the door swinging open. Sully laughed to himself, and Matthew looked at Brian. "Piece of cake."

"What's goin' on?"

"You promised me three days ago that you'd clean out the barn."
"I'm tired, pa," Matthew replied.

"You were restin' all day yesterday," Sully replied. "I know ya been workin' hard, but ya made a promise." Matthew sighed and nodded.

"I'll get it done." He went back into his room to get dressed, and Sully went back into the washroom to give the boys their morning baths.

Meanwhile, Michaela was sitting up in bed. She knew she wouldn't be able to get anymore sleep. It was almost impossible to sleep in the mornings or afternoons with a house full of children and one more on the way.

She sighed heavily and rested her head back on the pillow. Her stomach felt as if it was doing cartwheels and somersaults inside of her. Her head ached, her muscles were sore, and this was only the third month. She knew what was in store for her, but she had temporarily forgotten about all of the swelling, aches, and pains that came along with pregnancy once the boys came into the world.

Michaela found herself becoming increasingly warm, so she got out of bed and walked over to the window. She opened it and breathed in the fresh morning mountain air. The sun was shining, and the day was bright and beautiful already.

A moment later, she heard her name being called, splashing and a thud, and became alarmed. Michaela rushed out of the bedroom and down the hall to the washroom. When she walked inside, the sight before her was definitely not an alarming one. Sully was sitting on the floor in a puddle of water while Connor and Daniel were both standing in the washtub, their hands on the side, with proud grins on their faces.

"What happened?!" she wondered. Sully started to laugh.

"The boys started standin' up, I wanted to call ya in here to see, but I tripped over a pail of water, fell, and here we are." Michaela bit her bottom lip and grinned.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Look! They're standin' up!" The boys' strength wasn't built up very high yet, and their little legs gave way. Both of them splashed down into the water, giggling and splashing all along the way. Matthew, Colleen, and Brian all rushed into the room.

"What happened?!" they wondered. With that, Michaela and Sully looked at one another and proceeded to burst into laughter, beginning the day happily but not sure of what the rest of the afternoon would bring.

"Of course we'll watch 'em," Grace said, looking at Michaela and Sully as she scooped out pieces of apple pie for Anthony and Mary. "We ain't got lots of room, but I can make up some beds. We've got a . . . a cradle the boys can share." She looked away, thinking of the baby daughter she'd lost not so long ago. Michaela put a hand on her friend's arm.

"Thank you, Grace. This means a lot."

"We'll keep quiet about it, too," Robert E. replied. "Ethan Cooper is bad news, and we ain't gonna let 'im hurt those children." Sully nodded in appreciation, put his arm around Michaela, and walked with her toward the clinic with the boys in tow.

"You sure you're feelin' up to stayin' at the clinic today?"

"I'm fine," Michaela replied. "The nausea's gone, and I've got work to do anyway. Could you possibly ride out to the homestead with children and pack up a few things?"

"'Course," Sully replied with a smile. He leaned in to give his wife a kiss. "You sure you're feelin' fine?"

"I'm fine," Michaela replied. They walked into the side room and put the boys down for a nap. Michaela gave her husband another kiss before he left the clinic to get the kids. Michaela settled down at her desk and began to go over her books. As she was doing so, she heard screams coming from outside.

"Dr. Mike!" Olive called as she rushed across the street. Michaela rushed to the door and went outside.

"Olive? What is it?"

"It's Loren! He's been shot!" Gunfire sounded again, and Michaela and Olive rushed into the clinic to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. "That's him!" Michaela looked at Olive, fearing the worst.

"Who?" Michaela asked.

"Ethan Cooper." Michaela felt her heart skip a beat, and a few moments later, the sound of boots on the porch of the clinic were heard next. The door opened all the way, and Ethan Cooper stood in the doorway.

"Dr. Quinn," he said with a crazed look in his eyes. "I believe you have somethin' that belongs to me."

"You won't get them!" Michaela warned.

"Oh I will," he replied with a snigger. "You're comin' with me."

"I won't!"

"Unless you want me to kill this innocent lady, I'd do as I say." He squinted into the dimly lit room. "Miss Olive? You're lookin' mighty fine."

"Can't say the same 'bout you," Olive rebutted. Ethan sneered down at them. Prison had changed him for the worse, and Michaela knew he was being serious. Ethan pulled back the hammer and put his finger on the trigger. When Michaela didn't get up, he shot out one of the clinic windows.

"Alright! I'll go!" she screamed. She stood slowly, and Ethan grabbed her roughly by the arm. Olive began to hyperventilate, knowing that her brother lie shot just a ways down the street, and the doctor was being taken away.

"Come on nice and quiet."

"You've created a scene, Mr. Cooper," Michaela managed to choke out.

"If they know what's good for you and themselves, they won't come lookin' for us without bringin' my kids with 'em." Kid Cole appeared in the doorway with his gun pointed directly at Ethan's back.

"Turn around real slow, Mr. Cooper." Ethan didn't waste anytime. He threw Michaela to the ground, and knocked Kid Cole flat on his back. Kid Cole went unconscious after hitting his head, and Michaela hit the floor with a heavy thud. Ethan grabbed her again, this time by the hair, and pulled her to her feet. As he was dragging her out the door, the twins began to scream in the other room. Ethan threw Michaela face down onto his horse and rode off out of town. Grace rushed into the clinic.

"Miss Olive! What happened?!"

"Ethan Cooper shot Loren and took off with Dr. Mike!" Olive exclaimed. "The boys are in the other room. Stay with 'em! I have to get to my brother." Olive rushed out of the clinic and down the street to the mercantile.

Sully rode into town with the children and the things they needed for the next few nights. Sully didn't know what to think when he saw a group crowded outside of the mercantile. Hank was kneeling beside Kid Cole at the clinic, trying to get him to wake up. The older man finally came to his senses and joined the rest of the crowd over at the mercantile. Sully and the children broke through the mob of people, and saw Grace standing with the twins on each of her hips.

"What happened?" Sully demanded.

"Ethan Cooper came after the children and took Dr. Mike instead," Grace said with worry in her voice.

"No!" Matthew screamed. "I'll kill him!" Matthew rushed to get a horse, and Brian followed. "Stay here, little brother."

"No! She's my ma too!" Sully felt his blood boiling at the thought of Ethan Cooper's grubby hands on his wife.

"Both of you stay here with your sister! I'm gonna find 'em!"

"No!" Olive screamed. "He said that nobody better come after 'em unless you bring the children. I think he's truly intendin' to kill Dr. Mike if he don't get those kids."

"We ain't goin' with him!" Colleen screamed. "We have to get ma back!"

"It's gonna be alright," Sully promised. "I'll be careful not to let him see me. I'm gonna try to get her back." Which way did he ride? A few townsfolk had seen him take off with her, and pointed him in the right direction. Sully mounted a horse and rode off, swearing to whatever power was watching over them that he was going to find her and bring her back, no matter what.

"Colleen!" Olive called. Colleen looked at Miss Olive. "Loren's shot, and your ma's not here. I need you to take care of him."

"But I . . ."

"You're his only hope, Colleen," Dorothy said with tears in her eyes. Matthew, still reeling from the news of his mother's kidnapping, put his hand on his sister's back.

"You can do it, Colleen." Colleen was shaking, but she knew Michaela would want her to be strong. She looked at Jake.

"Mr. Slicker, I'll need your help." Jake swallowed hard, knowing he couldn't let his friend die and not do anything to stop it.

"I'll help ya get him to the clinic."

Michaela sat upon a pile of smelly old bearskins in the corner of an abandoned mine. Sully knew the mines like the back of his own hand, so Michaela felt confident that he was going to find her.

Her hand was on my stomach as she began to worry about her baby again. But her mind was also wandering to the children, her husband, and Loren, who could be dying for all she knew. She knew she had to be strong, and she couldn't let Ethan know she was pregnant. If he knew that, he might use it against her. She couldn't risk it.

Ethan sat upon an old crate, polishing his gun. Michaela found it mildly ridiculous. Why was it that outlaws and army soldiers alike always polished their weapons when holding their prisoners hostage? Was it some way to assert their status as a superior; the alpha male? At least wolves were respected. Outlaws didn't deserve that kind of respect, and Michaela didn't intend to show respect to Ethan Cooper, though she knew she had to be careful for the sake of her unborn baby.

"What do you intend to do with me?" Michaela managed to say after several minutes of silence. Ethan paused his actions for a moment long enough to cast a cold stare in Michaela's direction. The look in his eyes chilled Michaela to the very core.

"I never wanted to hurt any of ya, but ya left me no choice. If I don't get my kids, I'm gonna kill ya." Miss Olive heard me well and clear, so she better know to step up and let your husband know to bring my kids."

"You know you're a wanted man. Ethan, do you want to take the children into that danger?"

"I'll take care of my own," Ethan replied. "You don't need to worry about 'em anymore."

"Ethan, you do know that Sully and I have custody."

"That don't matter. Blood is blood, and those kids are my blood!"

"Think about this, Ethan," Michaela warned. "If you harm me, those children will never trust you again." She knew they would never trust him, but she had to keep calm and limit herself on the things she was saying to him. She couldn't anger him in any way.

"I won't harm you unless your precious Sully doesn't bring my children to me."

"And if he doesn't?" Michaela swallowed hard, waiting anxiously for Ethan's next words.
"I recall hearin' 'bout his first wife dyin'. I'd hate for him to have to bury another one."