Chapter 7

Colorado Springs

Friday 24th October, 1873

"Good mornin' Horace" said Brian"Ma sent me ta collect the letters."

"Oh good mornin' Brian. well, there are two letters for ya. One for ya an' the other for your parents. It seems they're from Matthew" said Horace handing the boy two letters.

"Thanks Horace" said Brian, as he took the letters and descended the steps to go home on his horse.

He tore open the letter addressed to 'Brian Cooper'. It was definitely from Matthew.

Hey there little brother!

How are you going at school? See to it that you study so that you can come here to University some day cause it's really nice. I have a lot to do, but it's interesting.

I already wrote a long letter to ma and pa so I'm not gonna repeat the same things, but there are some things you and me should discuss between us as promised before I left, remember?

So, how's ma? Is she looking tired as she did with Katie? See to it that she doesn't over-work! And how's pa going with his new work? He's quite famous here you know!

Try to help them, understood? I am counting on you! If you need help, just tell me, an' I'll be there on the next train! Now, important news! I've said to ma and pa, but I feel I have ta say it to you as well.

I changed my surname! I'm not a 'Cooper' any more! I talked to a lawyer, and I became a 'Sully'! Now, I know how you felt about Ethan, and I'm not expecting you to fully understand my decision, or to accept it, but I know how Ethan treated me, Colleen and you, and I don't want anything ta do with him, so please understand! When you and Colleen were adopted legally by ma and pa, I well, wished to have been with you, even if I never showed it, but it has always been on my mind!

I have to stop. Read ma's letter for more details! See to it that you study and keep an eye on ma' and pa!

Bye,

Matthew Sully

Brian couldn't believe what he had just read. His brother had changed his surname! He must immediately tell his pa! He rode as fast as he could. He entered the homestead, giving a fright to everyone in the house.

"My dear Brian, calm down. What's happened" asked Michaela as she noticed the happy expression Brian had as soon as he barged in.

"Yeah son, what happened" asked Sully who had Katie in his arms.

"Matthew's written! He's changed his surname" babbled Brian.

"He what? He would never do that" exclaimed Michaela.

"Look, read your letter. He told me, in my letter, he changed his surname from 'Cooper' to 'Sully'. He doesn't want anythin' ta do with our real father" continued Brian.

Michaela sat down and tore open the letter starting to read. Silence fell in the room until Sully rose up to stand behind Michaela and read the letter. They were both smiling at what was written, and Brian could see that his father was very happy.

"So, you believe now" asked Brian, as soon as his parents had finished reading the letter.

"Yes Brian, we believe" answered Michaela.

"Would I be able ta change my surname as well? I think I finally realised both Matthew an' Colleen were right 'bout Ethan. He aint a good father, he never was, an' never will be. He never took care of us, but left us alone, an' if it hadn't been for Sully, we would never have had a real father, so I think I'll change my surname too, if you let me do it, I mean" said Brian as he took the letter from his ma's hand, wanting to start reading it.

Both remained silent. Sully didn't breathe a word, and finally Michaela spoke.

"Well, it's up to you sweetheart. Do whatever you like, if you feel like it, but remember that until some time ago, you still believed your father could come back" replies Michaela.

"Sully's my pa now" replies Brian"I'll change my surname." Michaela knew he was sure about what he was doing.

"But there isn't any lawyer here. You'll have to wait for Matthew to come for Christmas, and he can bring you a signed document like his, and all you have to do is put your signature" said Michaela.

"Yeah, that's what I'll do" Brian replies looking at the letter. "Anythin' new? Besides Mat changin' his name"

"Well, there seems to be another news. Read it, and you'll understand" replies Michaela, as Sully seats himself down.

"I'll go to my room,' says Brian as he goes towards the stairs up to his room, closing the door behind him.

The letter said so-

Dear ma and pa,

Sorry it took me so long to write but I didn't have time, till I settled in my new life. Here everything is fine, and I'm having fun, even if I have a lot to do. I miss going riding but I can't do anything about it. I can just walk about in the streets looking at the shops. Grandma and Aunt Rebecca are really nice people. Grandma has really changed since I'm here. They all treat me like a king, and even call me 'Master Matthew'. I am eating really good, and have a large room, with a large desk.

How are you? Ma see that you don't work too much, cause if I get to know you're not resting I'll come straight home. And how are you pa? You're really famous here you know. As soon as I say my name, since now I use your surname (you'll understand further on), they all look up and ask if I'm your son, and if I'm as good as you, but I say no-one is as good as you! Pa take care of ma!

Pa I wanted ta tell you to stop building my house. I know you have a lot to do, but that's not the point. I have decided ta live with you, until I maybe, get married, if for you it's ok. I can sleep in Colleen's room no? Well, pa please stop building it. I'll continue building it when I'm about ta get married! Thanks!

I've made friends with Tom Wilson an' Mary Hunter, who's Alex's best friend, and who also studies law with me. Oh and by the way, I have met the most enchanting lady in whole Boston, and even in Colorado. Her name is Alex Parker, short for Alexandra. She's studying law with me, since from this year, women are allowed to study law as well! She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Her father is a lawyer, in fact he teaches at University. Her mother is a normal Boston lady, not like you ma! She hasn't got any brother or sisters! When I'm with her I become speechless! We have tea together each day. I think I have already fallen in love with her, and I think she's as well in love with me cause she reddens up whenever I look into her eyes!

Now the news is that I have changed my surname! You know how I was ashamed of Ethan, and that I never believed he was a father to us, even when he came back ta take Brian an' Colleen with him. I want nothing to do with him anymore, so I decided to take pa's surname if for you it's OK. I hope Brian understands, since he still believed Ethan could come back, but I won't change my opinion about Ethan. He never took care of us. Alex told me that all I needed is a lawyer's signature. Since her father is a lawyer, she took me to him, he wrote this document, I signed it, and so did he, and it's done! When we're home for Christmas I'll show you the legal document! So now, I'm a Sully!

Well I think I said all that was ta be said! That was the most important anyway. Right now it's midnight, so you can imagine how tired I am, an' I can't think right on what to write! Write again in about two weeks' time, and don't worry about me!

Bye!

Love

Your son,

Matthew Sully

Brian just smiles saying"So, that was the other news! My dear brother has a girlfriend huh" and goes downstairs to have dinner.

Late in the evening, all go to bed, and Sully is caressing Michaela's abdomen in bed. He hadn't said a word all through dinner, and not even now.

"It seems to me Matthew has finally fell in love again! He seems to be getting on well there" says Michaela, trying to bring Sully to talk.

"Yeah" replied Sully.

Michaela looked at him and knew that his mind was far away!

"So, what's the problem? Don't tell me you're not happy about what Mat did, and what Brian intends to do" said Michaela.

"Nah, I am very, very, happy. It's just that, I still try to understand why Mat did it, an' even Brian" replies Sully, still pensive.

"I think I know why they did it" replied Michaela after a while.

Sully raises himself up on one elbow to look in her face.

"Oh yeah? So tell me" he said.

"Well, look. I'm not sure, but I think Mat has finally broke the last tie he had to his biological father, which was his surname. You know how much he disliked Ethan, and so he changed his surname. And now Brian has decided to do the same, realising his brother was right all along, and that his father never took care of them" she replies.

Sully eyes her intently, and shakes his head.

"It could be, but till I hear their reason, I can't fully understand" he replies.

"But why? Brian told you his reason, and Mat, well, it's just to show us, especially you, that he is happy to be part of the family. What is there to understand" asks Michaela amazed.

"It's just that he never showed he really belongs here, especially accepting us as parents! He didn't call us 'ma' an' 'pa' but just 'Dr. Mike' an' 'Sully'. I mean, how come this big change? He even asked me to start building his house, meaning he wants to live on his own! Now can ya explain that change ta me" burst out Sully, leaving Michaela speechless.

"First of all, he started calling you 'pa' before he left. He's already said why he did it in his letter. He said he wants nothing to with Ethan, how he was ashamed of him! And, maybe in Boston, he discovered he has parents that love him more than anything, and that he wants to be as much part of the family as he can be! So, he told you to stop building his house and that he wants to live here. The best solution is if you ask him for an explanation. But I believe, that he finally realised he has a family, and that there's no need for him to live alone" finishes Michaela sleepily.

"It makes sense" replies Sully settling down in bed, taking Michaela in his arms, resting her head on his bare chest"But I still want ta talk to them about it."

"Well, you can talk to Brian tomorrow, and to Mat at Christmas dear" replies Michaela, happy that he was going to put his mind at rest, or at least for now.

"Till Christmas" jumped Sully"I can't possibly wait till then! I'll go to Boston an' talk ta him"

"Just because he changed his surname! Oh come on honey, it's not going to be a catastrophe if you talk to him on Christmas" replies Michaela.

Sully realised she was right and sank in bed again.

"You're right. I'll talk to him at Christmas. What's done is done" he replies smiling.

"So, how do you feel about him changing his name, and now it seems, even Brian" asks Michaela.

"I think it's wonderful! I'm really proud of them" replies Sully.

"Me too."

Dorothy is riding her horse. Today is the great day. She's going to start writing her book again, and this time, she was not going to burn it! She approached the cave where Sully once used to hide. She left the horse there and decided she would continue on foot.

As she approached Cloud Dancing's tepee, she could see smoke coming up from amongst the trees. It was very quiet and she knew that he was at peace with nature here. As she approached, he sensed her presence, but said nothing. She came out from behind the thick trees and stood in front of him.

"Good morning Dorothy" greeted her Cloud Dancing.

"Good mornin'" replied Dorothy, still with her paper and pencil in hands.

"Do you want some bark-tea" offered Cloud Dancing.

"Erm... no thank ya" replied Dorothy as she sat down on a trunk nearby.

"So, what brought you here" asked Cloud Dancing.

He knew why she had come here, but felt like he wanted to tease her.

"Don't tell me ya forgot! I came here to start writing the book 'bout ya. If ya don't want, for me it's ok" she replied shocked.

Cloud Dancing just laughed out loud, leaving Dorothy more amazed.

"What's so funny" she asked, her temper rising.

Cloud Dancing stood up from the ground where he had been seated.

"I'm just enjoying my time teasing you" replied Cloud Dancing as he sat down beside her on the trunk and took her hands on his.

She blushed slightly but said nothing.

"So, shall we start writing your book" he asked.

"Yes, when you're ready" she replied.

Jake entered the kitchen where Teresa had prepared breakfast and was packing the last of her paper for school.

"Good mornin'" he greeted her as he sat down.

"Oh, good morning Jake" she replied coldly.

Jake noticed something was wrong again from the coldness in her voice.

"Is something wrong honey? You've been acting strange fir the last days" Jake asked.

She looked up and glared at him.

"Of course something's wrong! Dr. Quinn told you..." started Teresa her temper rising only to be interrupted by Jake who was smiling.

"Ya talked to Dr. Mike? Oh at last you're friends. Ya see I told ya she's a..." started Jake, to be interrupted by a furious Teresa.

"I said I had gone to TALK to her, and NOT MAKE FRIENDS! Now will you listen to me! Dr. Mike told you not to work for four weeks, and you go to work after only 18 days! Now tell me Jake Slicker, are you trying to kill yourself in the intension to show us you can do something we all know you can't do, and that is to build a house! You're NOT A BUILDER! Now are you going to ask Sully for help or not" she asked.

"Now now wait. Ya know that goes against my pride" he said.

"I don't care about your pride Jake! I care about your life" she shouted back.

"So if you don't care about pride, why don't ya talk to Dr. Mike"

"Don't try to change the subject! Will you ask Sully for help"

"I'll ask Sully for help only if ya make friends with Dr. Mike" he finished as he stood up from the table, grabbed his hat and coat and went out.

Teresa sighed after he left and sat down. If she wanted her husband to remain alive, she had to talk to that woman.

Colorado Springs

Sunday 26th October, 1873

The whole town family was reunited in the meadow like every Sunday, but a very heated discussion was going on.

"I agree we keep the same festives as the past years for Halloween" said Jake.

"Yeah, he's right! It was always a lot of fun" added Loren.

"Do you agree to prepare the food Grace" asked Michaela.

"Oh yes sure. I have Christine and Noella to help, and any other help is kindly appreciated" replied Grace.

"I'll help if ya want. I'm not that good, but I might be handy" said Dorothy.

"Will it be held at your Café Grace" inquired Teresa.

"Yes, if you'd like to. I'd need you to help me decorate it however. I can't take care of that as well" replied Grace, stroking her belly.

"We'll help ya honey... won't we Sully" replied Robert E.

"Yeah, sure we will" confirmed Sully.

"Jake an' I can take care of preparin' the punch" offered Hank.

"Oh thanks Hank" said Grace pleased.

"When can we start decoratin'? I'd like ta help" asked Horace.

"Yeah, me too! I could cut the pumpkins if ya want! I always loved doin' that" suggested Loren.

"I can help ya Mr. Bray" shouted Brian eagerly.

"Oh sure ya will kid! All other children if they want" said Loren.

"Why is it that you all seem different this year" asked the Reverend, who, together with Andrew, had been silent listening till now.

"Seems this town is finally learning to love each other" replied Michaela.

"That's wonderful news" said Andrew and Teresa together.

"So, when can we start" asked Jake.

"Well ya can start the punch whenever ya want, while you others can start decoratin' from tomorrow! We'll live in the Halloween atmosphere for a while" said Grace.

"We'll come tomorrow then" said Sully.

"But shouldn't be workin' Sully" asked Horace.

"It will serve me as a break" said Sully as the families all went to different parts of the meadow for their respective picnic.

End of Chapter 7