Chapter Four
Michaela left Cassandra lying in her bed after the examination. The girl was healthy considering the predicament she was in. Michaela had to speak with Hank right away, and she didn't know what to expect from him when she told him the truth about Cassandra.
Hank was standing behind the bar with a fresh whiskey bottle in his hands. He looked up when he saw the lady doctor walking toward him.
"So how is she?"
"This isn't a good situation, Mr. Lawson," she replied quietly, walking up to the bar. Hank smirked.
"It's just Hank. Would ya like a drink, doc?"
"No thank you," Michaela replied coolly. "But I would like to talk about Cassandra."
"What about Casey? She ain't dyin' is she?" For once he had a concerned look in his eyes. But, that didn't last long when a smirk came over his face.
"No," Michaela replied, swallowing hard. "She's not on contract, and she can leave at any time, correct?"
"'Til she signs one. Why?"
"She's not twenty like she told you she was when you met her."
"I figured she wasn't. How old is she? Seventeen? Eighteen?"
"She's fifteen years old," Michaela replied. Hank's face turned a little white. He hadn't expected that!
"Ya gotta be kiddin' me! Fifteen?"
"Yes. Hank, I need you to understand that the only reason she decided to work for you was because she has a family that she sends money to. I can send her back to her family. She can find another way to make money."
"Ain't that up to her?"
"She doesn't want to work for you."
"I ain't heard her complainin' yet."
"Well, don't trouble yourself in worrying about losing customers," Michaela pointed out. "She won't be working for you anymore." Michaela was trying his patience, and he didn't like it when he felt challenged by anyone. Especially women.
"Like Hell she won't!" Hank spat. A noise from behind caused Hank to look back at Cassandra.
"She's right, Hank. I quit. Dr. Mike's gonna find me a real nice job, and I won't have to lie to my Ma anymore." Cassandra disappeared back toward her room, and Hank walked out from the counter to stare down at Michaela. She stared back at him with just as much intensity.
"Ya got a lot of nerve, doc. If I didn't hit ladies, I'd sure give you a good one right now."
"Well, then I suppose it's good for both of us that you're able to control your anger, Hank." She backed down and started toward Cassandra's room again to help her.
"Ya think you can just come in here and take away my girls? Ya got another thing comin'."
"She's not your property Hank, and she doesn't deserve to be treated that way. She's not your concern any longer." She turned back toward the rooms, and Hank grabbed her elbow. "Take your hands off of me!"
"Leave her alone, Hank," came a low, warning voice from the swinging saloon doors. Wolf came in alongside his master and bore his teeth to the bartender. Sully stood staring down Hank the entire time while little Brian slept on his shoulder.
"Why don't ya put the kid down, Sully, and we'll talk about this right now?" Hank suggested. "Or settle it like real men."
"No need for that. Just let go of the lady, and Wolf'll back down."
"I don't see no lady here." Michaela tugged her arm out of Hank's grasp and moved to the back room to find Cassandra.
"I'm warnin' ya Hank. If ya ever grab the lady like that again, you'll have me to answer to. And if ya get through me, he'll be here." He nodded toward Wolf. Hank was silent, digesting every word Sully had said.
As soon as Michaela and Cassandra reappeared, Sully escorted them out of the saloon with Wolf tagging along behind them.
"Thank you Sully," Michaela said quietly as they walked over to the clinic.
"Hank can be a nice guy when he wants to be. He ain't afraid to say what he thinks, but I don't think he'd ever try to hurt ya. I think he was just tryin' to scare ya, but that didn't give him no right to put his hands on ya the way he did."
"I'm fine," Michaela pointed out. "Cassandra, are you alright?' Cassandra nodded with tears in her eyes.
"I just wanna go home."
"Where do you live?"
"I live in Soda Springs, but I was in Manitou lookin' for work when Hank found me," she explained. Michaela nodded and understandingly rubbed the girl's back. She remembered something.
"Sully! I believe there are some items waiting for me in Soda Springs." She looked from Sully to Cassandra. "Cassandra, why don't you go into the clinic and get changed?"
"Okay." The girl left Sully and Michaela alone, and Michaela turned to Sully.
"I know this is asking a lot, but I know you said you'd like to help me today. Would it be possible for you to take her to Soda Springs and pick up my freight?" Sully nodded.
"If ya wouldn't mind watchin' Brian, I'd be happy to do it." Michaela looked at the sleeping baby and swallowed hard. Sure, she'd cared for infants before, but she'd never been left alone with one for several hours at a time.
"Well," she said slowly, "I suppose it shouldn't be any trouble. He can help me while his father's away then." She smiled, trying to show that she wasn't nervous about caring for this little boy. Sully knew she was, however, and he smiled. He had confidence in her, so he wasn't afraid to leave his child in her care.
"Don't worry. Brian's pretty good about lettin' ya know what he wants and needs." They sat down on the bench outside of the clinic, and Michaela took Brian into her arms. The boy's head rested upon her shoulder, and she realized how nice it felt to hold a baby in her arms.
"Is she gonna be alright?" Sully asked, nodding toward the door of the clinic.
"I hope so," Michaela whispered. She couldn't discuss the girl's case, but she hoped that the medicine she'd given Cassandra at the saloon would help to clear up the problem. She'd seen it in many young women, and she had seen it clear up after a few treatments. More than likely, one of Hank's customers had given it to her.
It wasn't long before Sully was in the wagon, waiting for Cassandra to say her goodbyes to Michaela. Michaela had taken her to the mercantile to pick up a few things.
"We've wired for your family," she said softly. "They'll be expecting you." They walked out of the mercantile, and Cassandra shivered, rubbing her arms nervously.
"What am I gonna tell my ma?" she asked softly.
"You'll know what to say, Cassandra," she replied softly. "But, what I want you to do before anything else is visit the doctor, alright?" Cassandra nodded and gripped the bottle of medicine that Michaela had given her and told her to brew in a tea. Cassandra smiled as Michaela adjusted Brian on her hip.
"Ya know what?"
"Hmm?"
"You're the first doctor I ever seen."
"Well, to tell you the truth, you're the first patient that I've had since I've been here." She grinned at little Brian. "Well, the only patient that can tell me what's bothering them, that is." Cassandra smiled.
"Thanks Dr. Mike." Michaela nodded and watched as the girl got into the wagon beside Sully.
"I'll be back before the kids get out of school."
"See you," Michaela called, waving after him. She realized, as the wagon was pulling away, that for a few minutes, she'd felt like a part of Sully's family. She looked at Brian and smiled again. "Well, Brian, would you like to help me at the clinic today?"
"Dr. Mike?" She turned to see Robert E. and Grace walking her way.
"Oh, Robert E., Grace! What can I do for you?"
"Abagail said ya needed some help with some things ya sent from Boston."
"Oh, that," Michaela replied quickly. "Sully went on ahead."
"Oh. Well, if ya got the time, would ya mind takin' a look at my hands? The lumbago's really botherin' me today." Michaela nodded.
"Why don't you go into the clinic and have a seat. I'll be with you as soon as I take Brian up for a nap." Robert E. nodded, tipped his hat and started in the direction of Michaela's clinic.
"Oh, I'll take 'im," Grace offered as her two oldest boys ran around her chasing one another.
"If you're sure he won't be a bother?" Michaela asked.
"Sure. He and Anthony get along just fine."
"Alright then," Michaela replied gratefully. "Thank you."
"We'll be over at the café. C'mon children." She took Brian and started across town with the four youngsters. Michaela turned quickly and headed for the clinic to join her patient.
Unfortunately, the weather wouldn't permit Michaela to go about meeting potential patients once the rain began to hammer down upon the dry, dusty soil. Instead, she spent a quiet afternoon caring for little Brian and doing a bit more rearranging in the upstairs rooms that would soon become recovery rooms.
Brian was crawling around on a blanket she'd laid out on the floor in her own personal bedroom. She had shut the door as to prevent him from crawling out. She'd become frantic earlier in the day when he'd snuck out and nearly crawled to the staircase, so she was taking extra precaution considering the fact that he was also able to walk. Luckily he wasn't able to reach the doorknob.
As thunder rattled the entire clinic, Michaela wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and moved to light another oil lamp. With the clouds becoming thicker and thicker over the sun, it was getting dimmer and dimmer outside. She wondered why Sully wasn't back yet. It was past noon, and he had said he'd be back before the children got out of school. But then again, he probably hadn't expected the storm. She hoped he was alright out there in the wagon with no shelter. But the more she thought about it the better she felt. After all, he had been living in Colorado Springs for a long time and had been on his own for even longer. He knew how to take care of himself.
"Up!" Brian shouted as he looked over at Michaela. She turned from the bedroom window and walked over to kneel down on the floor. Brian had pulled himself up into a standing position and was staring curiously at the lady doctor.
"Don't worry Brian. Your papa will be here soon."
"Up!" Brian called again. Michaela pulled him into her arms and stood. She carried him back over to the window and pointed out at the dreary street scene. All of the shopkeepers were confined within their stores, and the few people on the street were frantically trying to get home and out of the rain.
She noticed the sun beginning to peak through the rain clouds causing the rain droplets to sparkle like a billion tiny diamonds disappearing into the dark dust upon the streets. She had never noticed how beautiful the rain could be, because in Boston, it had been a nuisance when she was running late for her duties at the hospital.
"Wain," Brian said with a giggle. Michaela grinned at the bright little boy. Holding him and playing with him seemed to bring out a totally different side, and it felt so right to become maternal.
"That's right! You're a smart little one, aren't you?"
Before too long, Brian grew tired, and she put him down for a nap and returned downstairs to begin polishing and cleaning the few medical instruments that she had. She had to wait for the supplies Sully was bringing back to arrive along with those she still needed to send for in Boston. When a knock came upon the door, she wondered for a moment if it was Sully returning, but when she opened it, she was faced by a plain but pretty young woman whose belly was sticking out quite far.
"Good afternoon," Michaela said with a smile.
"Afternoon," the lady replied kindly. "My name is Myra Bing, and this is my husband Horace."
"It's nice to meet you," the doctor replied with a nod and another smile. A look of realization came over her face. "Horace Bing? You're the telegraph operator."
"That's right, ma'am."
"I was about to come see you in order to post a wire to Boston."
"Oh? Well, I was bringin' Myra so she could make sure everything's alright with our baby. She's been real worried."
"Horace," Myra scolded. "I'm not worried. I know everything's alright." Michaela watched the two with a twinkle in her eyes. These two were obviously first-time parents, and it was so sweet to see new life about to enter the world.
"Don't worry," Michaela noted. "It's perfectly natural for expectant parents to be nervous. Why don't you come in, Myra, and I'll take a look."
"Thanks Dr. . ."
"Dr. Quinn," Michaela finished. "But everyone else feels more comfortable with calling me Dr. Mike."
"Dr. Mike," Myra pondered briefly. "I like that." She made her way inside, slowly but surely, and Michaela turned back to Horace.
"You're more than welcome to come inside."
"Ah, I gotta be getting back to my post. Would ya like me to go ahead and send that wire to Boston for ya?"
"That would be fine! What would I owe you?"
"Well, me and Myra ain't got so much money right now. Would ya take an even trade for checkin' on Myra and the baby?"
"That sounds fair to me," Michaela replied. She disappeared into the clinic, wrote down what she needed the telegram to say, and sent Horace on his way with it. When she finally joined Myra, the young woman was sitting nervously on a cot that the doctor had laid out until her examination table could arrive. She was picking at little fuzz balls on her shawl, and it was obvious that she wasn't used to doctors. "Alright Myra, let's begin. Shall we?"
"Uh, okay," Myra replied, not knowing what to do next.
"Have you ever been examined before?" The woman shook her head.
"Nope," she explained. "I grew up here all my life, and when my mama and daddy died, I married Horace. We never had a doctor here 'til you came along."
"Ah," Michaela replied with an understanding nod. "Well, it's nothing to be afraid of. I'm just going to wash my hands, and we'll begin."
"Okay," Myra replied nervously, watching as the doctor moved about the room to wash her hands and dry them. She realized that the place was very clean. There wasn't a dust or dirt spot in sight! "My this place sure is clean!"
"It's important to keep a medical facility such as this one clean, Myra. It takes down the risk of infection and further complications with injuries or illnesses. In hospitals like in Boston, there are people who clean every corner and crevice every day. Unfortunately, I have no help in that department, so I have to do it all myself." Myra thought for a moment.
"Well, would ya be interested in havin' some help? After the baby gets here, that is."
"Help?"
"I could clean for ya," she explained. "Ya don't have to pay me too much, just a little." Michaela began to wonder why this woman would want to come clean the clinic every day. It wasn't the most fascinating or enjoyable job."
"Well, I could use the help, but I'm afraid that I have nothing to pay you right now."
"Oh," Myra replied quietly. "Well, I'd be willin' to help. It ain't everyday ya meet a lady doctor, so I kinda feel lucky that Colorado Springs has one."
"I appreciate that, Myra," Michaela replied with a smile. As she examined Myra, she checked everything from the baby's position and heartbeat to Myra's temperature and overall wellbeing. From talking with Myra, she learned that the girl hadn't had an education, and had spent most of her life working with her mother and father on their farm. When she'd met Horace in town, he'd taught her to read, and she had spent a lot of time with him. He had more money than her parents had, but he wasn't wealthy by any means. Her parents had died just a year before in a fire, and as soon as that had happened, Horace took Myra in, and they had married. Michaela gathered that Myra loved him, but it seemed more of a friendship kind of love that had developed a bit over time. But, to her, it seemed like a marriage of convenience. He had a wife to cook and clean for him, which was a good thing for him considering Myra had revealed that her husband couldn't do either, and she had a husband to support her since she wasn't really qualified for many jobs.
After the complete examination was done, Michaela filled out a few things in a new medical record for Myra. One more new patient to add to her files seemed to be a blessing from above. Perhaps people would come around more quickly than anyone had expected!
"You and your baby seem to be in excellent health considering the fact that you haven't had any care during your pregnancy. What concerns me is the fact that you've been on your feet for hours on end helping Horace at the telegraph office."
"Is that gonna hurt the baby?"
"I don't believe any harm has occurred as of yet, but your baby will be here within the matter of a week or so. You need to rest and stay off of your feet as much as possible until then." Myra nodded slowly, and Michaela noticed tears in her eyes. "Myra? Are you alright?"
"Yeah," she replied. "It's just that . . ."
"What?"
"Oh, never mind. Don't pay no attention to a moody pregnant lady." She put a smile upon her face, but Michaela wasn't convinced. Nevertheless, she decided to let it go for now."
"I'll come by to check on you in a few days."
"Thanks, Dr. Mike." Myra left, and Michaela watched as she walked to the telegraph office to tell her husband about the doctor's orders.
The rest of the afternoon, for Michaela, consisted of jotting down notes here and there in the records she had started to keep. She made one especially for little Brian, noting the illness he'd suffered. She'd started one for Jake, though she hadn't treated him yet. She had the feeling she would be doing so rather soon. Myra had her own, and even Cassandra, though she figured she'd never see the young girl again.
Around two o'clock, the door to the clinic opened, and Sully came walking in with a heavy box in his arms.
"Afternoon, Dr. Mike," he said, straining a bit as he balanced the heavy object. Robert E. followed behind him.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Michaela said with a smile, stepping out from behind her desk.
"Where do ya want these?" Robert E. asked.
"Upstairs if you can manage. Any of the rooms would be fine." Robert E. and Sully nodded and started up the stairs. Michaela peeked out to see two more boxes covered by a burlap tarp in the wagon. Sully and Robert E. were soon unloading them and bringing them inside. Robert E. made his way down the stairs after the second unloading, and he tipped his hat to the young doctor.
"I best be getting home now, Dr. Mike. I promised Grace I'd watch the children while she takes some soup to Widow Johnson."
"Have a good afternoon, Robert E.," Michaela called to him as he left. She shut the clinic door as thunder rumbled again. She sure hoped that the rain would stop soon!
"Thanks for watchin' Brian for me today," Sully said as he came down the stairs. Michaela turned to face him, and she noticed that he was soaked from head to toe. He was breathing rather heavily from lugging those heavy boxes up the stairs, and his entire presence started something deep inside of Michaela.
"He was no trouble, I assure you," Michaela replied. Sully started for the door. "Where are you going?"
"I figured I'd go home and get a change of clothes." Michaela furrowed her brows. "And then come all the way back here only to get soaked again?" She pointed upstairs, reminding him that Brian was napping. Sully felt foolish, but he knew she understood.
"Why don't you just wait the storm out here where it's warm and dry? I'd hate for you to have to be my next patient. I have plenty of towels upstairs that you can dry off with."
"You're sure ya don't mind?"
"Of course not," Michaela replied with a smile. "Come along, and I'll show you where you can hang your clothes to dry." She led him up the stairs and into her own room. He knew it was hers, because all of her luggage and a few of her dresses were scattered about the place. She pulled a rocking chair over in front of the only upstairs fireplace, and she glanced at Sully.
"You can hang your clothes to dry here, and there are fresh towels in the bottom drawer of my bureau."
"Thanks Dr. Mike," Sully replied with a smile. She nodded and left him alone to go about what he was doing. She peeked over at Brian who was still sleeping away.
As Michaela stepped out into the hallway, she leaned against the door, feeling happy again. Why was it that whenever Sully was around, her spirit felt so much more free and happy? She even felt physically better with him around.
A knock came to the door downstairs, and Michaela rushed down to answer it. She was surprised to find a soaking wet Abagail, Matthew, and Colleen.
"Mrs. Simmons let us out early," Matthew explained. "Do ya know where Pa is?"
"Actually yes," Michaela replied, glancing at Abagail. Abagail took off her bonnet and wrung the rain water out on the porch.
"Dr. Mike!" Sully called from upstairs. "Which drawer are the towels in again! It's getting kinda chilly up here!" Michaela's eyes went wide, and her heart skipped a beat. Oh God! What would the children think! She saw Abagail's face turn a nice shade of white at the sound of Sully's voice. Michaela had to think of an explanation and quickly. There was nothing to be embarrassed about, but she could definitely see how this situation could be easily misinterpreted.
"Why's Pa lookin' for towels?" a very naïve little Colleen asked. Matthew obviously thought nothing of the situation either, and Michaela breathed a quick sigh of relief. Abagail, however, obviously had much bigger worries on her mind.
"The bottom drawer, Sully!" Michaela called up, feeling like a fool for shouting like that. She looked back at the children. "Come on inside." Matthew and Colleen bounced in playfully, and Michaela took their soggy coats. Abagail nervously shut the door as she walked in. "I'll take your coat as well."
"That's okay. I ought to be getting home soon anyway."
"Nonsense," Michaela said, trying to be as hospitable as she could under these circumstances. "Come on in, and I'll put on the kettle. If your parents are worried, I'll let them know that I offered you a dry place to stay out of the rain."
"You shouldn't trouble yourself, Dr. Mike. Remember I live on top of the general store." She thought about Sully upstairs. "Maybe I should take the kids with me."
"No. We'll be fine, won't we children?" Matthew and Colleen nodded vigorously. Abagail didn't look so certain.
"On second thought, I'll go ahead and stick around." Michaela nodded slowly.
"I'll go put on the kettle," the doctor repeated. She escaped into the other room, threw some water into a kettle, placed it on the stove, and rushed up the back stairs as quietly and quickly as she could possibly go. She rapped on Sully's door, and she heard movement in the room.
"Dr. Mike?"
"Yes, it's me," she replied quietly in a whisper.
"What's goin' on?"
"Your children and Abagail Bray are downstairs at this very moment. I believe Abagail is getting the wrong idea."
"So?" Sully asked. Michaela was taken aback. How could he ask such a question of her!
"What do you mean by that? Sully!" Sully opened the door a crack and stuck his head through. Michaela swallowed hard, seeing that he was naked expect for a single towel around his waist. She turned her back to him in order to avert her eyes.
"I mean, why do you worry so much 'bout what people think of you?" Michaela thought for a moment, and Sully continued. "You know what the truth of it is, so why should ya worry 'bout what other people think?"
"Because, I'm assuming that what Abagail must be thinking is of an entirely inappropriate situation."
"Well, let her think what she wants."
"I most certainly will not! I'm going to go have a talk with her." She turned just long enough to look into his eyes. All thoughts were lost, and she turned away again. A few moments passed.
"Thought you were gonna go talk to her."
"I am."
"You're still standin' here, and my clothes ain't any drier." Michaela exhaled sharply and made her way down the hall and the back stairs. Sully shut the door and leaned against it, laughing to himself. She was so proper, and that was one of the many charming qualities he loved about her.
When Michaela finally arrived back downstairs, Abagail was pouring tea from the kettle into two cups. Michaela froze when she entered the room from having come down the stairs.
"Tea's done," the girl noted. "Ya nearly let it boil over."
"Oh," Michaela replied quietly, accepting a cup from Abagail's hand. She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, thought about what Sully had said, and decided to try to explain the situation to the young woman. "Sully ran an errand for me today, and he was caught in the rain. He's trying to get dried off now." Abagail eyed the doctor.
"That so? Well, the rain seems to be lettin' up."
"So it is," Michaela said with a nod, glancing out the window. She went to speak again, but Abagail shook her head.
"Ya don't have to explain. I ain't gonna say nothin' to nobody." She took a sip of the tea and placed the cup down into its saucer. "I really should be goin' home." Abagail Bray left quickly, and Michaela heard a crash coming from the other room. She rushed in to see Matthew standing over her favorite vase. Well, he was standing over her favorite vase that had been broken into several pieces anyway.
"Matthew!" Colleen exclaimed. "You broke her vase!" Matthew's eyes were wide from being startled, and he looked over at Michaela.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Mike." Michaela stared down at her favorite vase. It had been a present from her grandmother many years ago. It was over seventy years old, and it had belonged to her great-grandmother first. She knew it had been an accident, and she also knew that somehow the vase could be fixed. She couldn't yell, especially because these weren't even her children. Besides, the poor boy looked genuinely sorry.
"I'm sure it was an accident," Michaela replied, kneeling down to pick up the pieces of the broken vase. Colleen looked at her brother and shook her head.
"Look what you did, Matthew."
"I said I'm sorry!" Matthew screamed. He realized how loud and angry he'd sounded, and he rushed out of the clinic and into the muddy street. Michaela dropped the pieces back into the pile.
"Stay away from these. They're very sharp, Colleen." Colleen nodded, and Michaela rushed out of the clinic after Matthew. He was stopped in the middle of the street. He'd tripped and fallen in the mud, and Michaela felt so bad for the poor boy. "Matthew?"
"Leave me alone," he cried, standing and pulling his arms around himself as he began to shiver. Though it was August, the remaining drizzle from the storm was quite chilly. Several of the townsfolk and shopkeepers came out onto their porches to see what was going on. Most in the streets continued on about their business as to not attract too much attention to the boy.
"Come inside." She reached a hand out to him. He pulled away before she could touch him.
"I don't wanna."
"I'm not angry, Matthew. It's just a vase. It can be fixed, you know?" Matthew turned to face the doctor, and Michaela saw that tears were in his eyes. "It's alright." He broke down sobbing, and Michaela knew something more was bothering him. She held her arms out and gathered him up. As she stood with the boy in her arms, she turned to see Colleen looking out of the window. "It's alright," she whispered once more before heading inside with the crying child.
