Chapter Eighteen

For at least twenty minutes, they walked in silence, holding hands and listening to the sounds of the city as it passed them by. The sun was bright, and Michaela felt more free than she ever had. She wanted to run and dance and play, and she wanted to sing out to the world that she was happy. But, before she could do any of that, she had to tell Sully what had happened that terrible night with David. Only after that could she truly be free. It was time to let go of the past.

Sully watched her as they strolled through the park. He searched her features, realizing that she was searching too. She was searching for the words to say to tell him what David did. He needed to know. He didn't want to rush her, but the sooner he knew what David had done, the easier it would be to help her through it.

"Michaela, we really do need to talk about this," Sully said quietly, breaking the silence. Michaela nodded sadly.

"Yes, I know we do. I'm just not quite sure how to talk about it." Sully gave her hand a squeeze.

"He didn't hurt you?" She shook her head

"He tried." Sully motioned toward a park bench, but she shook her head. She wanted to keep walking; walk away from the past. "He dragged me into the alley. He knocked me down and hit me across the face. He tried to choke me, and I kept fighting for breath." The memory became so real to Michaela, and the fear that she hadn't let herself feel was starting to surface. She was shaking, and Sully knew it wouldn't be right to touch her just yet. She needed to let it all out first.

"Go on," he urged her. She bit her bottom lip, and the tears clouded her eyes. She quickened her pace, and Sully hurried to keep up with her.

"He left me with some scratches and bruises, but they've healed now." She stopped and turned to him. "The only visible scar he left me with is hidden…here." She adjusted her hair so he could see the faint pink scar that was hidden under her hair. Sully felt the anger boiling inside of him. "Somehow, I managed to fight him off. I kicked and punched blindly, and I fought him away before he could…" Her voice trailed off, and Sully reached out and touched her arm, giving it a gentle squeezed to let her know that it was okay. They continued to walk. "He could have killed me, and I was almost to the point of giving up, but…I saw you." Sully was on the verge of tears by now. He was holding back his anger toward David. He wanted to kill the man, but he knew that wouldn't solve anything. It wouldn't change what had happened. It wouldn't make the situation easier on anyone.

"Me?" Michaela nodded.

"I saw your face, and you gave me renewed strength. I fought him off. I wanted to kill him, Sully. I wanted him to die." She covered her mouth with a trembling hand and let her tears spill over. "Oh, I shouldn't say that." Sully shook his head.

"You can say whatever ya want," he promised. "It's just me, remember?" Michaela looked at him…really looked at him and knew he was right. Over all of her years of life, she'd been taught what was appropriate and what wasn't. But, nothing like this had ever happened to her. Her world had shifted, and he wanted to break out and go back to before David attacked her. She wished she could go back and make everything beautiful again. "Just say whatever ya feel like sayin', Michaela." She shook her head.

"Saying it won't do any good," she replied quietly. They continued on, and Michaela squeezed Sully's hand. "It won't change what happened or fix it." Sully picked up Michaela's hand in his and kissed it, taking a long, slow breath. "I'm so glad you're here."

"I shoulda been here when ya needed me." Michaela felt Sully tense up. "I shoulda been here for ya. If I'd been here, David wouldn't have…God, Michaela, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry this happened." She stopped again and framed his face with her hands.

"Listen to me, Sully," she whispered. "There wouldn't have been anything you could have done. David was determined. He was determined to have his way with me. I'm only thankful that thinking of you gave me the strength to fight him off. I'm thankful that we're both alive and well and together right now." She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight. "The important thing is that he didn't get to go through with it. He didn't finish what he'd started." Sully was still angry.

"Didn't he get arrested? Didn't he even go to jail?"

"For a few days, yes," Michaela said, looking away. "His lawyer was too smart." Sully balled his fists so tightly that Michaela could sense the energy coming from him. A frown crossed her lips, and her tear-filled eyes blinked a few times.

"I wanna kill him," Sully muttered. "What he did to ya…" Sully was trembling now, and Michaela felt terrible.

"What he did to me was wrong. I've lived with it, Sully. I survived, and I'm thankful that he didn't…that… It's over now, Sully."

"I know, but he still tried! He deserves to pay!"

"Sully, listen to me. I know you. I know your heart. You don't have it in you to kill a man, even if that man is David."

"That monster hurt you! He doesn't deserve to be breathing."

"I agree," Michaela said, brushing a tear from her eye. "But we won't let him hurt us. Not anymore. If you killed him, he wins. You'd go to prison, and we'd be apart." She took a deep breath. "After it happened, I wasn't afraid. I was angry. I was hurting, but I wasn't afraid. The fear eventually came along, but now that you're here, I feel safe. I feel loved. Sully, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I only wanted to protect you. But, I just need you to know that I'm fine. I'll be fine as long as I know you're happy and that you're safe." Sully sighed.

"C'mere," he whispered, pulling her close. "I'm sorry it had to happen."
"Me too, but it's over. I want to move on. Can we do that, Sully?" He smiled a little.

"I think it's a good idea. But, it's gonna be hard not to want to go after him and strangle the life out of him."

"Believe me, I've thought about that a million times, but just remember, anything we do to David won't hurt him. It'll only hurt us, and we've been through enough. I just want to enjoy the time we have together while you're here." As they continued on, her eyes went wide. "Sully!"

"What?"

"Your job! You're here a month early!" Sully grinned sheepishly.

"I got my surveyin' done early," he explained.

"Even with a broken ankle? Sully, how did you do it?" Michaela asked incredulously.

"I managed," he laughed. "I worked extra hard as long as I could, and I finished way ahead of time. I'm glad Welland Smith only gives me a little to do at a time." Michaela smiled, squeezing his hand.

"So am I." He saw the life flush back into her face, and that bright smile appeared. He'd missed it so!

Michaela breathed a sigh of relief, happy that everything was out in the open. She felt a million times better now, and she hoped Sully realized that. So, she decided to lighten the conversation. They sat down upon a park bench, and Michaela ran her hand along Sully's arm, feeling the material of the buckskin coat. "Sully?"

"Hmm?"

"Where did you get these clothes?" Sully looked down at his attire.

"Ya don't like 'em?" Michaela grinned.

"I didn't say that. Actually, I think they suit you better than what I bought you here in Boston. You look very handsome." Sully chuckled.

"Well, thank you." He leaned in to press a kiss to her lips, and she leaned into him, enjoying the way his lips felt against her own. It was still a new feeling, yet at the same time, it felt so right and familiar. When they pulled away, Sully watched Michaela's soft cheeks flush red, so he decided to continue on. "Cloud Dancin' has been teachin' me a lot 'bout nature that ya can't read in books."

"You've also gained a new pet, right?" Sully laughed.

"Wolf ain't really a pet. He's a friend. Cloud Dancin' says Wolf's my protector."

"Because he found you in the storm?" Sully nodded.

"I'd like to meet him someday." Sully glanced at her.

"Who? Cloud Dancin' or Wolf?" Michaela grinned and stifled a laugh.

"Well, both of them!" she replied. She suddenly realized that she was still clutching the advertisement in her hand. She looked down, and Sully finally decided to ask.

"What's that?" Michaela stood and smoothed out her skirt. Sully stood with her, and they walked on. She handed him the paper, and she studied his features as he read it silently to himself. "You're considerin' it?" Michaela nodded. "I remember them sayin' they needed a new doctor. It's true, 'cause folks there always go to the barber, and he don't really know anything 'cept how to cut hair." Michaela sighed and nodded.

"Yes. I think it's smart to consider it. I mean, I've been working with father for so long, and he's truly getting to the point where he should retire. I think he's holding out so I'll feel welcome at the hospital. I don't want him protecting me. I know it's time that I do something on my own, and being in Colorado Springs would be a new, fresh place to start. After everything that's happened here in Boston, I'd rather be someplace new." She looked up into his eyes. "I'd rather be with you." Sully nodded and softly kissed her cheek as they walked. She grinned up at him.

"It's your choice, but I can't think of anything I'd like better than to have you out there with me. But, I don't want ya goin' if ya ain't gonna be happy." Michaela smiled a little bit and stopped again. She caressed the side of his face with her fingertips.

"I won't be happy without you," she whispered. Her eyes were so soft and innocent, and as Sully stared deeply into them, he wanted nothing more than to whisk her away to Colorado Springs. He wanted to be with her forever, and he knew that now more than ever. "We've been apart for the last few months, and it's been the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. Oh, Sully, you'll never know how much I missed you." Sully wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked, and she leaned her head upon his shoulder. Her arm moved to wrap around his waist, and they received stares from just about everyone they passed. Michaela didn't care, because she knew that propriety didn't matter just then…not after what she'd been through. They could stare all they wanted! "I'm going to tell Mother and Father that I'm going back to Colorado Springs with you." Feeling as if he was in a dream, Sully suddenly snapped back into reality. He pulled away from Michaela for a moment, and she questioningly looked up into his eyes.

"Michaela, ya know this might not be a good idea." Michaela knew exactly what he meant, and he was only saying it out of concern for her. After all, what would people think of two people, obviously in love, traveling across the country together without being married? People around Boston would automatically assume something sinful was going on, and it would be the hot gossip for at least a month. Michaela sighed and nodded. "C'mon, we'll go back to the house and talk about it." Michaela smiled up at Sully, grateful for how understanding and supportive he was.

Charlotte Cooper was bone tired. She was so tired from working in the garden all day that she'd taken a nap under a large oak tree, and she'd slept for hours! It was only after the children started looking for her that she woke.

"Here she is!" Brian called, pointing in Charlotte's direction. He rushed over, and Matthew and Colleen weren't too far behind him. "Whatcha doin' sleepin' under a tree, Ma?"

"Oh, I suppose I'm just tired from all that garden work."

"C'mon, Ma. Ya need to rest. You go lay down in bed, and we'll take care of dinner." Matthew helped Charlotte up, and her growing belly took over her balance. Matthew steadied her, and she laughed a little at her own predicament. Colleen put her arm around her mother's waist and walked on the other side of her. Brian trailed along behind.

"When's Pa comin' home?" Brian asked. Ethan had taken off a week ago to see about work further west, and Charlotte didn't expect him home for a month or two. He'd left her with very little money at all, but it was all he'd claimed that he had. She had a bad feeling that he wouldn't come home, but she knew that he would, because he still owned the deed to the farm, and that deed was locked away safely. Charlotte felt sad that she couldn't trust her husband. He was a loving man, but he was too overcome by greed and liquor to ever be the same man she had married so many years ago.

"Stop askin', Brian," Colleen said, rolling her eyes. "That's the tenth time you've asked today!" Charlotte felt a strange cramping in her back, something she'd felt back when she thought she was having a miscarriage. She gasped in pain, and her kneels buckled underneath her. Matthew scooped her up in his arms and rushed her into the house. "Ma! Are you okay, Ma?"

"I'll be alright, Colleen. I just need to rest."

"I'm gonna ride into town and get a doctor." Charlotte was about to protest, but the pain hit her again. She nodded to her son.

"Hurry, son," she said quietly. Matthew ordered Colleen and Brian to stay with Charlotte and not let her out of bed. He ran out to the barn, saddled Lightning, his horse, and he rushed off to get help.

"Ma? You okay?" Brian asked worriedly.

"I'm just fine, Brian," she said with a positive smile that was lined with worry and pain. "This little one is just bound and determined to get here 'fore its rightful time. "We ain't gonna let that happen, are we?"

"No, Ma," Brian said, holding his mother's hand. Colleen swallowed hard, not quite certain her mother was right. She'd helped her mother with several pregnant ladies, and many, many times, the pregnancy had come to a tragic end after symptoms like this.

"I hope Matthew hurries," Colleen whispered, moving over to look out the window, seeing Lightning running across the prairie, throwing a trail of dust behind him with every leap and gallop. She looked over at her mother, and she noticed that the pain seemed to be easing up. Charlotte was more relaxed, but that didn't mean anything. A young girl she was, but she wasn't naïve. She knew the way this process worked, and if Charlotte was to give birth right now, the child would surely not survive.

Albert sat on the picnic blanket across from Lydia. His mouth hung open just a little, and his eyes were glistening with tears that threatened to fall. Lydia was sobbing rivers into her handkerchief now. She'd told him everything. She'd told him about how her mother had grown sick, how David had seduced her and how he'd offered to give her money to care for her money. Then, he'd gotten her fired, the money never came, and her mother died. Albert had been silent for going on five minutes, taking it all in.

"Lydia," he finally spoke, "this wasn't your fault." She nodded her head.

"Yes it was. It was partly my fault."

"What David did to you…"

"It was my idea too! It took the both of us to do what we did, and I didn't even regret it! I wanted him to love me, and I wanted to feel loved by him, but he could only love one woman. Love…well, it certainly wasn't love, but he was obsessed with her. He used me to get over her. He told me things I wanted to hear, and I believed him."

"But what he did to you…"

"I let him. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I thought I could make him love me, but after it happened, I realized that the man wasn't capable of loving me. He wasn't capable of doing anything if it didn't relate to…"

"Michaela," Albert breathed. Lydia nodded.

"I've even tried to blame myself for what he did. I tried to tell myself that if I'd kept him satisfied…"

"No! Don't think of blaming yourself for what he did to her." She nodded.

"I know," she said softly. "I just wish there was a way to take it all back."

"But it's over now. You don't need to worry about him anymore." Lydia dabbed at her eyes.

"Everyday since it happened, I've been begging God for forgiveness. I've been trying to find a way to keep myself from going straight to…" She couldn't say the last word, and Albert moved closer to her.

"I'm not saying that what you did with David wasn't wrong, but I know people who've gotten swept up in passion and done things they've regretted. You're not the first, only or last person in the world who has done or will do this. Don't be so hard on yourself, Lydia. You know what you did, and you know that you regret it." Lydia broke down into tears again. The way he spoke let her know that he was really concerned for her. Others wouldn't bother to say those things, but not Albert. Albert was different than anyone she'd ever met.

"You shouldn't be so nice to me," she sobbed. "I'm no good." Surprising himself, Albert took her hands into his.

"Don't think that. Don't say it," he said softly. "I know you well enough to know that you are a very good person. I wondered why you acted the way you did when we first met, but I can't blame you for not trusting me. I was a stranger, and then there was what David did to you. Well, you had every right to not trust me. The things you've done don't make you who you are, but what you learn from those things do." Lydia sniffled, and Albert handed her a fresh handkerchief, seeing she'd about ruined the one she had been using. "Please, Lydia, don't be hard on yourself. It was the past, and you can move on from it. You don't have to let this destroy you." Lydia looked into his eyes, and she blinked her tears away.

"You're right," she whispered. "I do need to move on. I've been trying. There's…there's nothing keeping me chained to him, so why should I think about him? Why should I waste my time thinking of a man who did nothing but hurt me?" Albert smiled.

"Exactly." He brushed away a tear she'd missed, and his hand lingered on her cheek for a moment. His cheeks grew red, and he realized that he had been himself with her this entire time. He hadn't been under pressure to impress anyone, and in the meantime, he'd started to fall for her, and she hadn't rejected him. "Don't cry anymore, Lydia. Not over him."

He stood in the shadows of the giant poplars and apple trees, and he watched as they strolled toward the front gate of the park. His hidden eye twitched beneath the patch, and his good eye darkened at the sight of the woman he yearned for walking with the man he despised most.

He watched her arm slip through his, and their hands joined. His very soul ached to tear them apart with his bare hands. He wanted to kill them both and feel their blood on his hands. They had to pay for what they'd done. They'd made him suffer.

David began to walk toward them. He felt as if he was marching to his execution. He was there for one purpose and one purpose only. This time, he was the executioner. He'd kill them both if he got the chance. He wanted her, and if he couldn't have her, Sully surely couldn't.

Michaela was feeling a little better as she walked with Sully, but she heard the slight scuffling of shoes behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder out of habit. For a moment, she thought she was picturing him, but he became closer and more real. It was him. She clamped her hand on Sully's arm, stopped in her tracks, and Sully whirled around to see what was wrong. Face to face, they were, the two men who'd claimed to love her.

"David," Michaela breathed, every part of her being wanting to run away. This was the first time she'd come face to face with him since the night of the attempted rape. They'd seen one another in passing at court, but this was the first time they'd come so close together, and Michaela felt a sickness bubbling up inside of her stomach, wanting release. The sight of him did this to her. She wanted nothing more than to hurt him at that moment.

Sully tensed on Michaela's arm, and she stepped away, knowing he was angry and upset at the same time. He stepped toward David, and both men were silent. Michaela watched them, wondering what would happen next.

"David," Michaela spoke up, "you know what the judge said. You aren't supposed to come near me." David and Sully were almost toe-to-toe now, and neither one of them seemed to have heard her.

"Ya best get out of here," Sully said, looking into the eye of the man he hated most.

"Why don't you leave?" David asked, his voice gravelly and strained. "She doesn't love you." He looked at Michaela. "Do you? You love me. You belong to me. I tried to prove it that night, but you…you wouldn't have me." Michaela knew it was no use explaining anything to David. He was insane. Obviously, his psychiatric treatments were not being of any help. Sully, hearing David's words, pushed the man away.

"She don't wanna see you. Now, get outta here before I do somethin' that ain't gonna help matters at all." David looked Sully square in the eye.

"Is that a threat, Mr. Sully?" Sully didn't answer, and Michaela knew that this was not going to be pretty. "Can't you see that she's afraid?"

"You made her that way!" Sully barked.

"She doesn't belong with you!"

"Ya made that decision a long time ago, when ya made her choose. You were the fool, David. Ya let her go, and now ya think ya can have her back, but it ain't that easy. Look at her." David pushed toward him, but Sully grabbed him by the back of the coat. "Look at her!" David looked toward Michaela, but she had stopped trembling. The fear of David that had come to surface was fading away again. No, she wasn't afraid. She was sick. She was filled with such anger toward him, and she knew it wasn't healthy, but he'd done this, and he'd left those scars.

Sully let him go, and David stepped toward Michaela. Sully stepped between them.

"Sully, it's fine," she whispered.

"See, Michaela? I've changed since then. I was a fool, but I've changed." Michaela shook her head.

"I don't know you anymore, David. You're not the man you used to be." She reached for Sully's hand. "Sully, I want to go. Let's go and not speak of this to anyone." She didn't want to start any more trouble. Deep down, she knew that even if she went to the judge, David would only spend a night or two behind bars, leaving him even angrier. This re-affirmed her need to leave Boston. She needed to go to Colorado Springs and get away from everything; away from David.

Michaela gave his hand a tug, and Sully's eyes cast a cold warning glance at David before he turned and began to walk away with Michaela. Sully was being the better man. But, not two moments later, a mighty push sent Sully stumbling forward. He let go of Michaela's hand just in time, and he turned to see David moving toward him, his face red with anger. Sully made sure Michaela was safely out of harm's way. Sully then met David's charge with a heavy push, sending the doctor barreling backward and falling onto his back. He hit the ground with a sharp thud, and Michaela wanted to yell at them to stop, but a part of her wanted to see Sully beat him. Part of her wanted to hear David scream.

David pulled himself up and threw Sully back. Sully hit the ground, and he felt the wind being knocked out of him. He couldn't breathe, and David loomed over him, straddling him and moving his fist through the air like a hot knife through butter. His fist connected with Sully's jaw, and Michaela screamed out.

"Sully!" Michaela screamed. Sully groaned in pain and forced air back into his lungs, but when David moved to punch him again, he acted quickly, grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. He rolled back and pushed David to the ground, pinning him.

"Stay away from Michaela," Sully growled into his ear. "If ya ever come near her again, I will kill ya." David rolled onto his back and tried to throw a punch in Sully's direction, but his fist hit the air. Sully stood and moved toward Michaela, leaving David in the dirt where he belonged. But, David didn't stay down. He stood as Sully and Michaela began to walk away, and he lunged at Sully again. Michaela yelled out, and as if by instinct, Sully reached out and threw a punch at David. His fist connected with David's mouth. He grabbed his tomahawk and pushed David back into the dirt. The blade came slicing through the air and connected with the ground right beside David's ear. David yelled out, and Michaela slowly and nervously stepped forward.

"Sully, let's go. Please," she urged. Sully placed his weapon back into his belt and grabbed David by the collar.

"I'm warnin' you. Stay away from her. She don't wanna see you."

"Let her speak for herself," David spat, blood seeping out of the corner of his mouth. Michaela stepped forward. It was time to let go of the past. She had a future with Sully, and she felt that now more than ever. David was a part of her past that needed to stay in the past. Sully stood and wrapped his arm around the woman he loved.

"I've told you many times David. Stay away from me. Stay away from my family." She glanced up at Sully, and he gave her a supportive nod. "Let's go." Sully glanced down at David once more before he and Michaela turned and walked away, leaving the bitter, broken man just as angry and a little sorer than he was before he'd approached them.