Chapter Four
The smell of breakfast cooking downstairs made Michaela wake early the next morning. She noticed that it was barely seven o'clock, and she groaned, knowing that not even twenty-four hours ago, she'd still been on the train from New York.The sound of horses prancing down the street forced Michaela out of bed. She walked over to the window and threw open the drapes. Sunlight filtered in, and Michaela noticed how there wasn't a snow cloud in the sky. She felt appreciative of that! It had snowed enough in New York, especially on Christmas. She and her father had spent Christmas having dinner with a few needy patients, and it had been the most memorable Christmas Michaela had ever had!
A knock came to Michaela's door, and she turned quickly. What if it was Sully? She quickly pulled her robe over her nightgown and ran her fingers through her long, tangled locks.
"Come in," she called. To her relief, Martha came walking in with hot towels.
"I thought you could use some warm towels this morning, miss," she said with a smile. Michaela smiled gratefully at her maid.
"Thank you, Martha." Martha nodded and placed them down on Michaela's bed. She started for the door. "Martha?"
"Yes, ma'am?" she asked.
"Is Mr. Sully awake yet?"
"I don't believe he is, ma'am. Dr. Quinn asked me not to wake him. The poor fellow must be exhausted." Michaela nodded.
"Thank you, Martha." Martha nodded and started back downstairs to finish cooking breakfast. Michaela took one of the towels into her hands, removed her robe, and ran the warm fabric over her skin. It felt nice, but it only made her want to crawl back under her covers and sleep the rest of the day.
The room was chilly, so after Michaela was finished, she slipped her robe back on and moved over to sit at her vanity mirror. She began to fix her hair, and she looked down at herself, not sure of what to wear that day. Usually, she just found the first thing in her closet that was clean and not wrinkled, but today, she felt like looking nicer than usual.
She let her hair fall down her back again, and she moved to her closet. She picked out three dresses. One was light blue with white lace around the collar, and it was one of her favorites. However, one of the other two dresses caught her eye: the dark blue dress with the white lace around the collar and sleeves. She looked back and forth between the two dresses and finally settled for the light blue one. Yes, this was the dress.
Michaela slipped into the dress and easily did up the buttons, silently saying a thank you that it buttoned in the front. She'd hate to ask Martha to come in and help her lace up her dress and have Sully accidentally pass by the open door. Well, perhaps she wouldn't hate it, but it certainly wouldn't be proper!
She looked at herself in the mirror, taking note of the way the dress fit her body. She normally didn't take much time to fret about her body, because she'd never had to worry about her looks all of her life. People had praised her beauty since she was a child. She didn't always appreciate it, but she knew what people thought of her. She doubted their sincerity sometimes, and many times, she didn't feel beautiful. She'd never met anyone who actually made her feel beautiful by the way they stared at her. Until Sully.
Today, her heart told her to get dressed up. Then she remembered why. She was going to stroll about the city on Sully's arm. She felt her breathing quicken, and she shook her head.
"What am I doing?" she asked, placing her hand on her chest, feeling her heart quicken from panic. She couldn't go out like this! She looked too fancy for just a stroll about the town. She had to change and quick! Just as she was going to unbutton her top, a rap came to her door.
"Michaela," came her mother's voice. "Martha's about to serve breakfast! Your father's waiting. Don't be late." Michaela sighed heavily. This would have to do for today.
"Coming, Mother," she called. She quickly rushed to put her hair up. She pulled it back into a loose up-do, letting her natural under-curls spiral at her neck. She looked at herself in the mirror. Why did she care to look? Her head told her that she didn't want to impress Sully. Her heart told her that she didn't need to. He was already impressed.
She needed to get a grip. These thoughts of Sully were not helping her in any way, and she was finding that concentrating wasn't an easy thing anymore. What was this? Was it love? Because she wasn't so sure she wanted any part of it if she lost all control of her thoughts like this so often. No! She needed to stop. It couldn't be love. She hadn't even known him for a week yet. Love was not in the cards. Friendship, yes, but love…
"Michaela?" came her mother's voice.
"I'm coming!" she called out a little loudly, knowing for certain she had to have frightened her mother. Elizabeth's footsteps descending down the stairs made her breathe a sigh of relief. It was time for breakfast.
She walked down the hall and passed by Sully's room. She momentarily wondered if she should knock on his door and see if he was awake, but she decided that seeing him right now wouldn't help matters at all. So, she turned toward the stairs and walked down to the kitchen.
Her mother and father were silent as Martha served their plates. She served one for Michaela as well and retreated back to the kitchen.
"You look lovely today, Mike," Josef said with a smile. "What's the occasion?"
"No occasion, father," she said with a blush. Elizabeth noticed Michaela's dress as well.
"I hope you're not playing dress up for our houseguest." Michaela caught her mother's icy gaze and suddenly remembered her parents' argument. She decided not to bring it up, however and to play dumb.
"Excuse me?" Michaela glanced from Josef to Elizabeth. "Just yesterday you were hoping that he and I were courting."
"I changed my mind," she replied, cutting a biscuit in half.
"You don't change your mind easily, mother. What accounts for the change of heart?"
"Do I have to have a reason?" Elizabeth asked. Michaela eyed her mother and glanced at her father. Josef slightly shook his head, but Michaela wouldn't give this one up just yet.
"I've known you for a long time, mother. You don't usually change your opinions of someone so quickly." Elizabeth placed her dining ware down onto the table and looked her daughter straight in the eye.
"I've never been deceived by my own family before."
"When did we deceive you?" Michaela asked, anger rising. She wanted to hold her tongue, but it wasn't easy!
"By letting that…that street scum into our home without telling me who he really was!"
"Mother, we didn't deceive you at all. We told you he was from New York, and that's the truth."
"You let me go on believing he was wealthy," Elizabeth retorted.
"We never said such a thing," Josef spoke up in defense of himself and his youngest daughter.
"It shouldn't matter what kind of money he has, mother. He's a good man. He's a respectable man."
"Oh, stop it, Michaela! Honestly, where did I go wrong with you?" Josef cleared his throat. Michaela looked at her mother and shook her head. She decided not to indulge her mother any longer. It was only adding kindling to the flames. It wasn't helping anyone.
"Mr. Sully is a guest in our home, Elizabeth. He's my guest, and he's Mike's guest. So, he should be treated accordingly."
"Aren't we going to wait for Sully before having breakfast?" Michaela asked, trying to change the subject.
"You know we always have breakfast at this time. If Mr. Sully is going to continue to be a…guest in our home, he should know when to arrive at dinner. If he doesn't get here in time to eat, he doesn't eat." Michaela was about to reply back to her mother with something snippy, but Josef cleared his throat. Footsteps were heard from the parlor, and a few moments later, Sully came in, oblivious to the conversation that had just taken place.
"Mornin'," he said with a smile. Michaela glanced at her mother before looking at Sully.
"Good morning, Sully. Did you sleep well?"
"I read a few more fables and went right to sleep," Sully replied with a smile. Josef looked between the two, not quite understanding. Michaela looked at her father.
"Sully has been reading some of my old books, father."
"Children's books?" Josef asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I still read them from time to time, father," Michaela said with a smile. "I still enjoy them to this day!" Josef winked.
"I gave those books to you, and I can tell you that I got many a good read from them myself." Sully chuckled and looked toward Mrs. Quinn.
"You look nice today, ma'am.: Elizabeth merely faked a smile and took a sip of water. Sully looked from Elizabeth to Michaela, and Michaela merely looked down at her plate as Martha came in to serve Sully. Michaela looked especially beautiful.
"What books did you read back in New York?" Josef asked, sipping at his hot coffee.
"Anything I could get my hands on mostly. I really liked the poetry. I found a book by Walt Whitman," he explained.
"Poetry?" Josef asked. Michaela smiled at Sully. He surely didn't look like the type of man who would sit down and read a poem, let alone try to understand the words written on the page! But, then again, he wasn't like any man she'd ever known before. She also couldn't help but feel her stomach begin to get jumpy at the fact that Sully liked Walt Whitman's poems. Whitman was her favorite!
"Yep," Sully answered simply. "My ma read poems to me before I went to bed at night. Stories too. I guess that's why I gotta read before bedtime sometimes. Usually when I'm in a new place." Josef nodded.
"Sometimes it's difficult to adjust." Sully glanced at Michaela.
"I know what ya mean. Sometimes things are easy, but other times, ya find somethin' ya weren't even expectin'." Michaela's eyes wandered up to look into his, and their gaze locked for several moments. Elizabeth noticed it this time.
"And is that a good thing?" she asked. Sully's eyes stayed on Michaela's.
"Sometimes, it's a very good thing," he replied. He felt his own skin start to flush, and he quickly grabbed a glass of water. Michaela finished eating in silence.
"Excuse me," she said, standing up. She started to walk out of the room, needing to get out, needing to get away from the obvious stares that Sully was sending her way.
"Mike?" Josef asked, standing. Elizabeth put her hand on his.
"Let the girl be, Josef," she warned. Sully stood.
"I'll go after her."
"No, son, I don't think that's a good idea," Josef said quietly, sitting down and resuming his coffee. "One thing you must learn about my Mike is that she needs her space sometimes."
Michaela stepped out into the crisp January air. It was freezing cold, and she wrapped a shawl tightly around her shoulders. It was too cold to do much of anything, but she knew she had her stroll with Sully to look forward to. She felt foolish, and she had no idea how she was going to explain her behavior to him, so she truly hoped that he wouldn't ask.
She felt so angry with her mother. She had been so rude behind Sully's back, and Michaela felt embarrassed. She felt embarrassed for the entire family. She knew that Sully was an understanding man. She could just tell. But, she hated the fact that her mother had to be so insensitive. She then felt guilty for asking herself why her father ever married a woman like Elizabeth. Had Elizabeth been different once, and if so, what made her change? Michaela didn't want to think about that right now.
"You ready for our walk?" Sully asked from behind. Michaela spun around. "I know your Pa said ya wanna be alone, but ya looked upset; like ya needed to talk."
"I don't need to talk, but thank you for being concerned," Michaela said with a smile. Sully held Michaela's coat out to her.
"Ya sure look like ya need this though. Don't think it'd be good for the doctor to get pneumonia." Michaela smiled a little. Sully held the coat open, and she slipped her arms through.
"Thank you. You're right. I'd like to go for our walk now." The truth was that she was scared, but she certainly wanted to be as far away from her mother as possible today.
"Did ya get enough to eat at breakfast?"
"Yes. I lost my appetite, however, so we may need an early lunch." Sully nodded.
"Ya sure it ain't somethin' ya wanna talk about?"
"I'm sure," she replied quickly. "I'll wait for you to get your coat." Sully nodded, and he rushed back inside so Michaela wouldn't have to wait long. "Sully?" she called before he shut the door.
"Hmm?"
"Will you get my medical bag? I'd feel better knowing it was with me." Sully nodded and continued inside to fetch his coat and her medical bag. Sully returned a few minutes later, and Michaela linked her arm through his. They walked in silence for several minutes, and Sully felt her tensing at his arm.
"You're not comfortable with me, are you?"
"What?" Michaela asked, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her medical bag in one hand.
"Every time I'm around, ya get nervous." Michaela felt her heart beginning to race.
"I don't think this is an appropriate conversation to have, Sully," Michaela said under her breath. Sully looked at her as they walked.
"Why not? We're friends, right?" Michaela looked up at him, her steps faltering a bit.
"Friends. Yes, of course. I think we've established that, haven't we?"
"Not really," he admitted. "I mean, ya offered to bring me out here when I was your patient." Michaela smiled a little.
"Yes. But, I think we know enough about one another by now that it's safe to say we're friends." Sully chuckled.
"I like the way you put that," he said with a nod. "Just 'cause we know a lot about each other don't mean we're friends though."
"What would you call us then?" She grimaced at the 'us' word. Sully thought for a moment.
"I think 'friends' is a good word to describe it," he said with a smile. Michaela chuckled, feeling more and more comfortable with him by the moment. They were friends. That was established. Now, if only she could convince her hormones that they were friends and nothing more, everything would be perfectly normal. Little did she know that he was thinking the same thing, though he wasn't fighting those feelings nearly as much as she was.
As they were about to turn off of the street, a young man came walking up. Sully heard Michaela groan under her breath, but she smiled at him anyway. The young man's face fell when he saw Michaela with Sully.
"Good morning, Miss…Dr. Quinn," he said, taking his hat off. Sully noticed right away that this young man was different. He was tall and very skinny with very little muscle tone. His hair was dark and laid flat on his head. He appeared to be trying to look older than he really was judging by the clothes he wore.
"Albert," Michaela said with a nod.
"I came to ask if you'd like to go for brunch, but I can see you have plans."
"Yes, Albert," Michaela said with a smile. She tightened her arm around Sully's, and he certainly noticed. "This is Mr. Sully. Sully, this is Albert Johnson. His family is a long time friend of the Quinn family."
"Nice to meet ya," Sully said, extending a hand. Albert looked wary of him, but he smiled and shook his hand anyway.
"Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow," Albert asked.
"I'll be rather busy all week, Albert," Michaela replied with a hint of exasperation in her voice.
"Oh. Well, some other time then. Good day." He walked off, and Michaela and Sully started off in the other direction. Michaela shook her head.
"What was that all about?" Michaela let out a nervous giggle.
"Albert Johnson," she said with a sigh, and a tired smile. "He's been calling on me for over three years. We've known each other since we were children, but Albert has this idea that I care for him the way he cares for me. It just isn't so. I've turned him down nearly every time, though I must admit that I've taken his offer out of pity on a few occasions." She shook her head again. "Oh, Sully, he's a good young man, but he doesn't understand that I'd rather he not call on me anymore."
"Why don't ya just tell him?"
"I have," she laughed. "He doesn't really understand the concept of the world 'no.' He wouldn't hurt a fly, but he's determined to marry me one day." Sully smiled, almost jealous that this man was still on Michaela's good side despite his desperation to court her. "Mother doesn't truly like him either, but she's given up on sending him away. She's so desperate for me to marry." Michaela felt herself tense up again, and Sully felt it, but she soon relaxed. Perhaps just being friends with Sully was enough. She felt that she could tell him things she couldn't tell anyone else. It might get awkward if a courtship were to take place.
"My ma wanted me to marry Sarah Roberts," Sully admitted.
"Who was Sarah Roberts?" Michaela asked, not being able to help feeling a twinge of jealousy. Sully grinned.
"The first girl I ever kissed."
"I see," Michaela said with almost disappointment.
"Did you love her?" She immediately scolded herself inside. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to pry."
"It's alright," he assured her. "I don't think it was love. We were five."
"Oh," Michaela replied with a smile. "My ma sure was hopin' we'd get married though. She said we'd give her beautiful granddaughters. Can ya believe that? She was makin' plans before I even knew how babies were made." Michaela laughed, blushing a bit.
"Mothers," she whispered, shaking her head. "Sometimes they have the best intentions for you, and other times…" She was silent now. Sully understood though. Something was going on with Mrs. Quinn, but he felt it wasn't his place to pry. If it was meant to be, he'd find out sooner or later. For the time being, it certainly wasn't any of his business.
It wasn't long before they reached the downtown area, and Michaela pointed out old historical buildings, and showed him some of the newer architecture.
"Boston truly is a beautiful place," Michaela said with a smile. "It just takes some getting used to." A small child ran by, pushing his way between Michaela and Sully. He continued to run as if nothing had happened. "And that's another thing you should get used to." She laughed a little.
"It's nice," Sully said. Michaela shook her head a little. He was trying, at least!
"You'd probably prefer the West to this place," Michaela said with a smile. Sully shrugged.
"I've never been there, so I can't say. Just seems that people wouldn't be in so much of a hurry to get places out there. I like that." Michaela nodded.
"Me too." Sully glanced at her, and she merely smiled. They rounded another corner, and just as Michaela was about to speak again, a gunshot rang out. Women screamed and children cried, and Michaela felt herself falling, falling in Sully's arms. He landed on his back, and he was her cushion. His arms were holding her tightly, and he was whispering for her to stay down…stay down.
"Sully," she gasped, looking up to see what had happened. Sully pulled her closer and closer, keeping his arms tightly around her.
"Stay down, Michaela. Stay down!" Michaela was staring directly into Sully's eyes, and their mouths were so close they could feel each other's breaths. Michaela gasped when the screams of a man were heard, and she wriggled out of Sully's arms. She started to run blindly toward the sounds of a man in agony. Sully was practically at her heels, and it wasn't long before they saw a man running toward an alley. Michaela saw another man lying in a pool of blood as pedestrians still lay low to the ground.
"I'm goin' after him," Sully said, pointing to the alley.
"Sully! No!" Michaela screamed. But, it was too late. Sully was already running in that direction. "Please, be careful!" Michaela knelt on the frozen ground next to the man. He was bleeding profusely, but from the way he was bleeding, she knew that the bullet had passed through him. That was probably a good thing!
"Sir? Sir, it's alright. I'm a doctor," Michaela said, looking down into the pain-twisted face of the man with salt and pepper hair.
"Doctor?" he groaned. He shook his head.
"Please, sir, just relax. You're going to be alright," Michaela said, unsure of her own words. The man was too weak to put up much of a fight. The man was in critical condition, and Michaela knew that if she moved him without stopping the bleeding, he was going to die. She quickly removed her coat and put it under him. She rolled him over, and he screamed in pain. His head lolled back onto the pavement, and Michaela gently wrapped her coat around him to keep him warm. The exit wound was in the front, so Michaela pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and pressed it firmly to his chest.
"Papa!" a girl screamed, scrambling up from the sidewalk and rushing to her father's side. "Papa!"
"Oh, sweet girl," he said, his voice trembling.
"Please, sir, try not to talk." Michaela reached for her medical bag. She needed to work on him now before he bled to death on the street.
"What are ya gonna do?" the girl asked.
"I need to stop the bleeding and sew the wound," Michaela explained. "I know this isn't the most sanitary place, but it's my only choice." The young woman took her father's hand.
"Please, just don't let my papa die."
"I'm going to do everything I can." At that point, the older man was screaming in pain, and Michaela pulled out a bottle of chloroform. She put some of it on a gauze bandage and placed it over his nose and mouth.
"What are ya doin'?" she asked frantically.
"He needs to be asleep for this," Michaela replied. Once the older man was unconscious, Michaela went right to work. "What's your father's name?" The young woman was trembling. "Miss?" At that moment, Sully came back over.
"He got away," Sully said angrily. He looked down at the older man who was losing his color quickly. "How is he?"
"He's losing a lot of blood," she said as she sewed. Sully noticed that Michaela was shivering, and she was trying to steady her hands. He pulled his coat off and wrapped it around her, careful not to jostle her as she worked. The young woman at their side was sobbing uncontrollably. "Sully? Will you walk with her? She shouldn't have to see this." Sully nodded. Michaela looked at the girl. "What's his name, Miss?"
"Loren," she said quietly over her shoulder as she started to walk away with Sully. "Loren Bray. I'm Abagail. Please don't let him die."