Chapter 9
Colorado Springs
Saturday 1st November, 1873
"Good mornin' Sully" said Horace greeting the other man.
"Good mornin' Horace. How are ya feelin' after yesterday" asked Sully.
"Oh fine! I had real fun! Jake's punch was delicious and so was Grace's food. An' I loved helpin' in the other decoratin', especially hangin' the pumpkins! Boy they were really fabulous"
"Yeah, we had fun too, especially Brian. Pity Matthew an' Colleen couldn't be here. Thanks for helpin' us decorate Horace"
"Aw you're welcome" said Horace.
"I came to collect our letters" Sully changed the subject.
"Oh yeah sure" said Horace as he searched for Sully's mail, and handed it to him"There's also two telegrams. They came in early this morning."
"Thanks Horace. Is there any wood for me" asked Sully.
"No, not till this mornin'. Maybe there's somethin' on the afternoon train. I'll let ya know"
"Thanks Horace, good day" said Sully as he left and walked towards the clinic, reading his letter from Boston.
"Hey Michaela" said Sully as he entered the clinic and closed the door behind him.
She looked very tired, even if he couldn't understand why since she was sleeping a lot these days!
"Are ya alright? Ya look tired"
"Hey honey! Oh yes I'm fine. Any news" she replied seeing the letters in his hand.
"Oh yeah. This is from Colleen, an' this is..."
"Colleen! Oh great, give it to me" cut him off Michaela rejoicing at finally receiving a letter from Colleen.
She snatched the letter from his hand, teared open the envelope and began reading the letter aloud, interrupting Sully from reading his own-
Hey ma and pa!
How are you? I hope you're fine. Ma see you don't work too much! And how is your work going on pa? Sorry it took me so long to write but I had a lot to do. The apartment I am in is quite nice. We have a sitting room, where we sit every evening and have a talk, a kitchen, a bathroom, two bedrooms, and a study room with two tables! It's great for what we pay! I'm fine here. The lectures are good and very interesting.
I am receiving the copies of the Gazette, so please thank Dorothy for me. I am also missing Grace's delicious pie! Angie, short for Angela, who's my roommate, isn't a great cook, so only I cook, and you can imagine what a great variety of meals I can do!
I haven't made a large number of friends, in fact, I only talk to Angie. She's my best friend. She's quite a good 'detective' and seems to read my mind. At first I thought she was quite unnerving, but getting to know her well, she isn't unnerving at all. She's quite good at school as well. She says her father has a hospital in Boston. Haha, imagine a hospital in Colorado Springs! Well, whatever.
So, please let me know how everything is going on at home. I really don't have any other news to tell you, except that soon I will have the exams before the holidays! Universities work like this nowadays! We have exams before we leave for Christmas Holidays which are called "Half-yearly Exams" and exams in June which are called "Annual Exams"
Say hello to Brian and Katie for me! And also to Andrew, even though I write him a lengthy letter! Looking forward a lot to Christmas Holidays! I long to come home!
Love
Colleen
When she finished reading the letter, Michaela had tears in her eyes.
"What's the matter" he asked her as he sat down on the table.
"Oh Sully! She's missing home, and I miss her too. She says she's fine, but I can tell she's homesick" she replies.
"But she's already been away to College, why is university that different"
"Maybe because now she's married."
"Could be. Yesterday Andrew told me he was missin' her, so I guess, they're draw"
"You're right. It must be hard for him as well" she said.
As she put away the letter, she noticed that Sully held another in his hands, and two sheets of paper, which looked like telegrams.
"What are those" she asked.
"It seems I'll be able ta talk to Matthew sooner than I planned"
"And why would that be"
"The letter is for me from Johan. They have a certain 'party' each year before Christmas holidays, where all their employees gather in Boston for this great dinner, an' obviously, I have ta go"
"Oh this is nice! You have t be very elegantly dressed then! How long will you be gone" she teased.
"I leave in a week, an' will be gone only for four days."
"ONLY"
"Oh come on! Don't be dramatic"
"I'm not dramatic Mr. Sully! I'll just miss you"
"Me too" Sully replied as he captured her mouth with his.
"You must tell Matthew! He'll be pleased" she said.
"I aint tellin' him. It's gonna be a surprise"
"That's a nice idea! Can I come" she asked hopefully, knowing what the answer was going to be.
"No you can't. It will only be for four days! An' after all, ya have ta remain here ta look after Brian an' Katie, an' even the clinic. Ya can't leave Andrew alone"
"Yes, I knew what the answer was going to be" she replied as she stretched her hands over her head and stood up.
Her belly was growing bigger by the minute, noticed Sully, even if she was only three and a half months pregnant! He hoped nothing would go wrong this time. He wouldn't tolerate it, and neither would Michaela.
"And what's in the telegrams" she inquired.
Dear Ma and Pa,
I had a lot of fun yesterday at the party. There was a lot to eat and drink and I laughed a lot at costumes. I just wore Colorado Springs' clothes!
Hope you had fun. Give my love to Brian and Katie.
Love,
Matthew
Ma and Pa,
I had a lot of fun yesterday at home with Angie. We cooked a special dinner and played some games. It was great.
Hope you had fun. Give my love to Brian and Katie... and especially to Andrew.
Love,
Colleen
"I'm glad they had fun. Its the first time they were away for Halloween" said Michaela sadly.
"But it won't be the last time" commented Sully.
Boston
Thursday 13th November, 1873
Lectures were finally over for the day. Alex was waiting for Matthew outside the University. They had all their lectures together, since they were attending the same course, and every day, since when Matthew changed his name, they went for a cup of tea together in a Cafeteria in front of the University. They always exited University together, but today, Matthew wasn't feeling very well and so he had asked Alex to wait for him outside while he went to wash his face with some water. She had told him to go home, but he insisted not to put off their daily appointment, so she gave in, knowing how hard-headed he was.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted, when a young man, the same one who had seen her at the University's Cafeteria, approached her. She didn't know him, but he knew her.
"Good morning Ms Parker" said the man.
"Good afternoon" Alex replied surprised.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm John Smith. I study medicine. Can I have the honor to have a cup of coffee with you"
"Well... I'm waiting for a person... so I don't think it's possible" replied Alex, noticing how good-looking he was.
"Is it a friend or a fiancée" John asked.
"What difference does it make"
"If it's a friend, I'm sure he, or she, wouldn't mind me getting my own share of your friendship, and if it's a fiancée, then I would kindly ask him to let me go out with you, and then you choose between us."
Alex was taken aback by his words, which sounded like those of a ghost.
"I've already chosen Mr. Smith" she stated.
"So this fiancé of yours, Matthew Sully, has literally taken your heart away hasn't he" he insisted.
"How do you know his name" she asked, alarmed.
"Oh I know many things Ms Parker, many, many things" he breathed in her right ear.
Matthew appeared at the top of the stairs and saw John speak in Alex's ear. He was shocked. What did that man want from her?
He approached them. John looked up and saw him, so he kissed Alex's hand and said:
"We'll meet again soon Alexandra."
"Leave me alone" she replied as she withdrew her hand from his grasp, he smiled and left, just as Matthew reached her and put his arm round her waist.
John made in time to see this from under his eye, and his rage only built up.
"Who was he" asked Matthew as he faced Alex.
"A person called John Smith" she replied, not removing his hand from around her waist.
"An' what did he want"
"Just asked me to go out with him and have a cup of coffee" she simply replied, as if nothing had happened, but his hold on her waist tightened.
"An'... an'what did ya answer" he asked a bit frightened of the answer.
"That I couldn't go out with him because I had a fiancée"
"An' who would that be" asked Matthew relieved.
Alex looked up at him.
"You" she said as she kissed him on the cheek.
Matthew's face reddened but he said nothing.
"Shall we go then" he asked.
"Sure" she replied as they went to the cafeteria, his hand still round her waist.
John was hiding in the shadows behind a tree, from where they couldn't see him, but he could see them. He could see that idiot cowboy with his arm around her waist, and her kissing him on the cheek.
"Oh you'll pay for this Mr. Sully. Wait and see" muttered John to himself, as he followed them to the cafeteria, remaining some distance behind so they don't notice him.
"Will the University organise another party, for Thanksgiving this time" inquired Matthew.
"Pa said they usually do. I don't think they'll change plans" replied Alex.
"I'd like to go" said Matthew eagerly.
"Oh me too, and so would Tom and Mary! This will be the best thanksgiving ever"
Colorado Springs
Monday 24th November, 1873
"Lunch is served" said Grace as she entered her husband's workshop, carrying his lunch.
"Hmm, smells good" he says as he takes the basket form her hands.
"An' it tastes good"
"Oh, I know. I never doubted that. So, any new clients" he asked.
"Yeah, two new couples, always thanks to the new owner of 'Springs Château'!
"Ya sure can say that. Uhm listen, I talked to Sully this mornin'. He'll do the cradle for us, I think durin' his Christmas holidays."
"Holidays? Do they give him holidays as well"
"Oh sure! He has two weeks for Christmas, three days for Halloween and three days for Thanksgiving"
"An' how did ya know all this"
"He told me"
"Oh yeah, of course. Ah listen, I have ta go cause there are a lot of people waiting ta have their lunch. See ya at home ok"
"Sure" he replied, kissing her softly"How is the preparing of Thanksgiving food progressin"
"Well, we're still a little behind but we'll manage"
Then she left and went to her Café. Michaela was seated at her and Dorothy's usual table, with her head in her hands. Grace approached her.
"Hello Dr. Mike! Aint feelin' well"
"Oh hello Grace" Michaela replied lifting her head"No I'm fine, don't worry. I see you have two new helpers here! They're quite kind and gentle! Who are they and are they any good at cooking"
"They're Noella and Christine. They're not that bad at cookin'. But ya see, I still cook the majority of the food, an' they only serve the plates till now, but I did let them cook once. An' even after the baby's born, they'll still work for me. I can't handle all this Café alone"
"You aren't taking any risks are you"
"Oh no Dr. Mike. I cannot allow anything to happen"
"Well, nobody can Grace" replied Michaela, caressing her own belly.
"Oh come on Dr. Mike. Ya already have four magnificent children, what else can ya ask for"
"You're right Grace, but even so, nobody can take risks. Seems to me there are two new couples" Michaela remarked.
"Oh yes there are! All thanks to the new owner of the 'Springs Château'" replied Grace.
"How would that be" Michaela asked confused.
"Oh ya see, the new owner seems ta have been advertisin' his Château a lot, cause many more clients are arriving in town. Now it seems that the cooks at the Château aint that good, so people come here ta eat. Some couples I even serve them breakfast, lunch an' dinner"
"This is a great news Grace! Congratulations"
"Thanks Michaela, even if, all this is thanks to the bad cooks the Château has! But, why haven't ya ordered a piece of my pie" asked Grace curiously, noticing Michaela hadn't ordered her lunch.
"I'm waiting for Dorothy, and... oh here she comes" replied Michaela as Dorothy arrived and sat down.
"Good afternoon! Sorry I'm late Michaela! Hello Grace how are ya" said Dorothy.
"Hi Dorothy. I'm fine. So, what shall ya two eat" replied Grace.
"I'll take a piece of pie please" replied Michaela.
"Me too Grace" added Dorothy. Grace left them to get their lunch. Michaela turned to look at Dorothy.
"So, how is your book going on" Michaela asked.
"Fine thanks. We're still at the beginning" Dorothy replied.
"Oh don't worry. There's no hurry."
"What shall we do for Thanksgiving? Jake will reunite the town this afternoon."
"As far as I know Grace is preparing the food already, so I guess Jake only wants to see who can help in preparing the tables"
"Yeah you're right. I long for this Thanksgiving."
"Me too. We have a lot to thank for" said Michaela as she looked down at her belly and smiled.
Philadelphia
Thursday 27th November, 1873
There was a knock on the door and Colleen went to answer it. When she opened the door, there was a man dressed in uniform, carrying a bouquet of flowers. He was very good looking, and Colleen couldn't speak at first.
"Hello" she finally said"how may I help ya"
"Hello miss" he said, taking off his hat"I'm looking for Angela Walker. Does she live here"
"Oh yeah sure! Who are ya"
"Oh I'm sorry. I'm Manuel Collier, pleased to meet you" he replied.
"Pleased to meet ya. I'm Colleen Cook. Please come in" she said, opening the door wide for him to enter.
Angela was descending the stairs with a heavy box in her hands, full of books she was studying for the exams, when Manuel entered and she didn't see him. Instead, she bumped right into him, and both fell on the floor.
"Colleen pay attention to where you walk" cried Angela without even looking up.
Manuel stood up from the ground and gave her his hand.
"Happy Thanksgiving Angela" was all he said and she looked up to look at him.
Colleen would remember that look for ever.
"MANUEL" cried Angela as she stood up and threw her arms around his neck.
Colleen left them alone and went in the kitchen. After some minutes Angela entered the kitchen. Her face was reddening and her hands were trembling.
"Hey Col, listen I'm going out with Manuel, and I don't know at what time I'll be back. Would you mind tidying up the plates today? I'll do them tomorrow... I'm sorry to leave you here alone on Thanksgiving" asked Angela.
"It's OK Angie, don't worry. Just go an' have fun. See ya in the mornin'"
"Thanks Col you're an angel! Oh God, I'm so happy! I haven't seen him for a year! This is a surprise" said Angela as she waved goodbye to Colleen and both she and Manuel exited the apartment.
Colleen sank down in a chair and sighed. Why was it that even Angela had her fiancée here, while her husband was miles away at home? Why had she been so stupid to leave? Now that Manuel was here, Angela would spend less time with her, and she would feel more lonely. But she couldn't go on like this. She had to react. So she stood up and began washing the plates.
Her mind wanders off to that glorious moment...
REVEREND
Do you, Andrew, take Colleen to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?
ANDREW
I
do.
REVEREND
Do
you, Colleen, take Andrew to be your husband, to have and to hold
from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer,
in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as you
both shall live?
COLLEEN
I
do.
She had been so
happy! But now, she wished she had never left Colorado Springs.
She finished washing the plates, went in the sitting room and sat on the sofa with a book in her hands. She had a lot to study, but her mind wouldn't concentrate on the book she was reading. Instead it went back to the first day she had seen her husband. When her Grandmother had first introduced him to them...
ELIZABETH
This
is Andrew Cook. Doctor Andrew Cook. (To Michaela) He will deliver
your baby.
He was in his mid-twenties, the ultimate city boy on his first trip to the frontier. He was boyish and a bit wide-eyed.
They were all memories. She was still remembering such special times when she finally slept in front of the fire. She hoped it would soon be Christmas so she would be home.
It is like this that Angela found her when she went home. She decided not to wake her, but covered her with a blanket, and went upstairs to sleep. She felt a little sorry for abandoning Colleen for Thanksgiving.
End of Chapter 9
