Chapter Two
Blankets were being held out on the balconies and beat with switches to get the dust out, and pillows were being fluffed for reasons I knew nothing of. Michaela and I were working on fixing up the recovery rooms upstairs, and we already saw a few minor problems that needed to be taken care of. But, I knew a hammer and a few nails would fix it, and we had plenty of time to worry about it.
"These beds are perfect for recovering patients," Michaela said with a smile upon her lips as she brought in a blanket and folded it, placing it at the foot of the bed. I watched her and sat down on the bed for a moment. She smiled and moved across the room. I knew she could feel my eyes on her, and I could see her cheeks growing red. I loved the way she could flush at just a look, and it made me feel good to know that she was as crazy about me as I was about her.
A knock came to the door, and Lydia walked in with a smile upon her face.
"Michaela, do you need any help?" she asked, her fingers moving upon her extended stomach, touching the places that I could only assume she felt the baby kicking at.
"You can help by resting," Michaela replied. Lydia sighed with a chuckle and sat down in a chair beside the balcony.
"Where's Albert?" I wondered, hoping Hank and Jake hadn't gotten to him. I didn't think that a liquored up Albert would be very pleasant on our first night in Colorado Springs.. Lydia felt her cheeks growing red.
"Some of the men stopped him to ask questions about the new lady doctor," she laughed. "They didn't figure that asking you would help, so they're swarming around poor Albert." Michaela rolled her eyes and shook her head with a laugh.
"They could ask me," Michaela replied. I crossed the room toward her and smiled.
"Yeah, but maybe they wouldn't know what to say to a beautiful woman from Boston that had the courage to go someplace new and try somethin' different. What have they done that's so great?" Michaela turned in my arms and let out a content sigh. I loved it when she did that, because I knew that I'd eased her worries. "'Sides, Albert would only have good things to say about ya."
"I certainly hope so!" she exclaimed, wriggling out of my arms to fold another blanket. I walked over to stand upon the balcony. I watched as Mr. Bray swept off his porch floor, his white hair sticking out underneath his nicest hat. A few townswomen were picking out fresh apples and polishing them on their skirts. Down the street, Hank Lawson leaned his bar chair against the railing of the saloon porch and took a long puff on his cigar while other men questioned a bewildered-looking Albert. Albert was clutching a briefcase and trying to answer all of his questions in Michaela's favor. Jake, who was about two inches shorter than Albert, seemed to be towering over the poor man. I felt the need to rescue him, but when Robert E. gave Albert a swift pat on the back, relaxing him, I knew he could survive on his own.
A knock came to the open door, and I turned to walk back inside. Loren Bray's daughter Abagail was standing there. She smiled when she saw me, and I saw a look of jealousy cross Michaela's face. It was the same look that I'd seen her wearing so many months ago in Boston. I felt guilty for feeling a little aroused by the idea of Michaela being jealous. She knew that I'd never love another woman the way I loved her. She knew I'd never look at another woman the way I looked at her. But, her jealousy was endearing, and it made me love her all the more.
"Hope I'm not interruptin'," she said softly, smoothing her hand over her long, black hair that was pulled up into a bun. "I just wanted to come see if everybody was getting settled."
"Of course you're not interrupting," Michaela replied quietly. "Come in." Abagail shook her head.
"Oh, I can't stay. I just wanted to come say hello. Dr. Quinn, I'm real glad the town council voted for ya to come work here. Ya saved my pa's life, and I'll always be grateful." Michaela smiled a little, and Abagail looked at me, her eyes staring into mine for what seemed like a full minute. It made me uneasy. Her entire presence made me feel awkward. She had appeared to be happily married when I'd seen her with Martin, and now, she was looking at me as if she was a young schoolgirl in love.
"Thank you," Michaela said quietly, looking at me for a brief instant.
"I also wanted to say congratulations on the wedding. I'm happy for you both." Abagail played with the wedding band upon her own finger for a moment. "Martin and me are real close by, so if ya need anything…" Her eyes fixed on mine again, but my gaze moved toward Michaela, and I gave her a wink to let her know that all was well. Lydia was oblivious to the unspoken words that we were sharing, and after Abagail left, the color returned to my wife's face.
"That was sweet," Lydia said with a smile as she rested her hands upon her belly. I watched Michaela swallow hard, think about saying something, decide against it and place a folded blanket upon a bed.
"Michaela?"
"Hmm?" she asked, a hint of surprise and relief in her voice that I had called her name. Lydia realized that something wasn't quite right, so she stood.
"I'm going to make sure Albert's all right." She gave us both a smile before she left the room. I walked toward Michaela, and her cheeks began to turn a soft rosy color, beautifully contrasting with the colors of her eyes.
"Somethin' botherin' ya?" I wondered, knowing exactly what was bothering her but wanting to hear it from her.
"No," she replied, obviously lying.
"Michaela," I said sternly, as I gently touched her shoulder. She surrendered under my touch and turned to face me. "Ya can tell me anything."
"I think she's still sweet on you." I chuckled and shook my head.
"She's married, Michaela. She's got a husband, and she's…"
"I know," she replied. She moved away from me and shut the door. "Sometimes people are married to one person and attracted to someone completely different." I was surprised to hear this coming from her, but I knew she was insecure about some things. I knew I would have spent forever proving to her how much I loved her, even if she never believed it. But, she did believe it, but I wanted to work just as hard anyway. However, I loved playing with her too. Sometimes, she didn't realize what I was doing, but pushing her buttons seemed to enhance our desire for one another, and it made us see one another in new lights all of the time. We loved to challenge one another, and it was something that kept us on our toes. We were comfortable with it, and our love grew from it. We challenged one another in positive ways to counteract the difficult challenges of everyday life.
"What are ya sayin'?" I teased. "Are ya attracted to somebody even though you're married to me?" Michaela shook her head and slightly rolled her eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous, Sully," she said, turning away from me. But, I took her hand in mine, and she turned back to face me. "Of course I'm not."
"Well, the notion had to have come to ya somehow. What's goin' on?" For a moment, something flickered in her eyes. Did she really believe that I believed this? I didn't believe it, though it was always nice to be reminded that she had eyes for only me as I had for her. We both had our insecurities, after all.
"Sully, I was merely stating a fact! That doesn't mean it's true in our case," she said, placing her hands on the curve of her hips. "If you truly believe that I would be…" Her face flushed. "Sully, this conversation is entirely inappropriate."
"Why's that? We're married. We ain't got nothin' to hide from one another." I stepped closer, and my eyes bore into hers. She stepped backward, and her hands gripped a bedside table. "Unless there's somethin' ya wanna tell me?" Michaela's face was flushing furiously, and my own smile was growing wider. She knew I was pushing her buttons on purpose, and I saw that flicker of excitement dance across her face.
"You're the only man I look at, Sully. You're the only man that makes me…makes me feel the way I do when we're together." My smile faded, and I gently touched her cheek.
"Prove it," I replied, my voice lower than a whisper. Michaela's arms eagerly encircled my neck, and I kissed her with such intensity that I thought we'd both knock over the table behind us. She giggled against my lips, as I pulled her closer, and she finally pulled back.
"Sully!" she exclaimed in a whisper. "What if…" I slowly pulled away and strode across the room. I could feel her eyes on my back, and it thrilled me to the core. I made sure the door was shut all the way, and I turned the lock. I heard her breath catch as it latched into place, and I turned toward her. We met halfway, and I pulled her close. "Where were we?" Moments later, we were losing ourselves in one another, sharing and exploring as if it was the first time. We could never tire of this, and that was one of the many reasons I adored the love we shared.
The words spun around and around in her head, yet she still couldn't grasp them. Sully in a coma? No, it wasn't possible. It absolutely could not be true. Sully was strong and able, and he fought too hard to ever slip into a coma. Despite her vast medical knowledge, Michaela couldn't accept that Sully was lying there before her but couldn't open his eyes to look at her or move his hand to hold hers. A coma? No. A coma was next to death for many people, and Sully couldn't die. He couldn't leave her, when they'd just started their life together. What kind of sick, cruel joke was it to let a husband and wife travel to their new life together, only to be halted by a horrible train wreck? What kind of a God could let this happen to her husband?
"Sully," Michaela whispered, scooting her entire body onto the bed beside him, resting her head on the pillow beside his head and whispering into his ear. "Sully, open your eyes. Let me know you hear me." The doctor looked away. He was intruding where he didn't belong. He had to leave, and he knew it. He slipped out unnoticed, closing the door behind him. "Sully, let me know you hear me." He didn't move, and her tears began to fall with ease as her entire body trembled. "Please don't leave me. Please. Prove them wrong. Wake up, Sully! Wake up, and tell me you're all right!" She closed her eyes and nuzzled her face in his neck. She felt the pulse of his heart beating strongly against her lips, and she kissed him. She wanted to wake him, to rouse him, but nothing worked. She put her hand to his chest and felt his heart beating so strongly. Everything was right. Everything was perfect, except he wouldn't wake up. It was killing her to know that her husband was everything he always was, except he couldn't prove it. She knew he could hear her. Her heart told her he could, but she couldn't get him to wake up. "Fight. Fight for me, Sully. Please don't give up. You're stronger than that."
She held him, as she sobbed against his neck. Her tears stained his shirt, and she brushed her hand against his hair, feeling its softness against her skin. She felt the dried blood where he'd hit his head, and she wanted to fix him. She wanted to take away the pain. She could heal, but she didn't know how she could heal him. She was in no frame of mind to heal her husband. She wanted to, but her body was too exhausted. If she tried, she'd kill him.
Michaela felt cold now, and she curled up tightly against him, holding him close and willing him to survive. She thought she felt him stir, but when she looked up into his face, she knew he wasn't coming back yet. She knew he was fighting, but he hadn't broken free. He was a fighter, and she knew that if she gave him time, he'd make his way back to her. He had to.
The door opened a little, and Michaela wanted to scream, but she couldn't find her voice. She looked over to see the little blonde-headed boy standing there.
"Sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't know nobody was in here. I was…tryin' to hide." Michaela pulled herself off of the bed, keeping an eye on Sully for a moment. She turned back to the boy.
"It's okay." He nodded. "You can come in." Michaela bent down a little and lifted up a layer of her skirt to dry her tears.
"I'm Brian," he announced. "Colleen and Matthew are my brother and sister, just so ya know." Brian looked around her to the man lying on the bed. "Who's that?" he asked in a small voice. Michaela swallowed hard.
"He's my husband. His name is Sully."
"What's wrong with him?" the five-year-old asked with big, bright, sad eyes. Michaela felt fresh tears forming. He sensed her pain. "Sorry."
"No. No, it's all right. Where are your brother and sister?"
"They went to see Ma. They thought I was with 'em," he explained. "I snuck out, 'cause I didn't wanna see my Ma hurtin'." Michaela felt that lump in her throat growing larger.
"They're going to be worried about you."
"I'll be ok. I can take care of myself."
"You're awfully young," Michaela replied, kneeling down onto the cold, gray floor.
"I'm almost six," he protested, his two front teeth missing. Michaela smiled a little. She couldn't help it. She stood and reached for his hand.
"Let me take you to your mother before she worries." The little boy shook his head and moved away.
"Can't I stay here for a little while?" He moved across the room toward Sully's bed. "Is he an Indian!" His little hand reached out to touch the buckskin fabric of Sully's pant leg. Michaela moved to stand on the other side of Sully's bed.
"No, but he's a friend to the Indians."
"Gosh, I never met an Indian before. Think I might meet one someday?"
"There's always a first time," Michaela said with a hesitant smile. Brian looked up at her.
"Ya said you're a doctor?"
"Yes."
"I didn't know ladies could be doctors." He scratched his cheek with his fingers. "What's your name?"
"I'm Dr. Quinn," she replied. "Michaela Quinn-Sully, actually." Her fingers played along her wedding band. She hadn't really sad that last part for his benefit. She just wanted to say it to let her heart believe that she would always and forever remain his wife.
"That's too hard to remember. What else to people call ya?" She thought for a moment.
"My father calls me Mike."
"Dr. Mike," Brian replied. "I can remember that. If anybody ever needs a doctor, I'll tell 'em to go see Dr. Mike." Michaela smiled at the boy's innocence, and he moved to look more closely at Sully. "Bet he's real nice."
"Yes," Michaela whispered.
"He must be real tired. He's sleepin' awful good." Michaela turned away so he wouldn't see her tears start to fall, but she couldn't help it. She let out a sob, and Brian hurried around to her. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make ya cry, Dr. Mike. Please, don't cry." He took a dirty handkerchief out of his pocket and offered it to her. He was so sweet that she couldn't refuse him. She took it and dried her eyes. "I hope he wakes up real soon, Dr. Mike." Michaela nodded, taking a deep breath, her heart beating quickly, breaking for the sweetness in the boy's voice and the sadness in her husband's grim condition.
"So do I." She took his hand in hers. "Come along. We'll go find your mother." He finally nodded, and Michaela took him out of the room. She stole a quick glance at Sully, hoping to see him move, but he didn't. He lay there like he had when she first found him like that. She sighed and turned out of the door and into the hallway, looking forward, hoping that when she came back, he'd be awake to tell her it was all a horrible mistake.
Brian led her through the double doors and down a hallway, where Colleen and Matthew were frantically searching for their brother. Colleen saw him first.
"Brian!" she exclaimed. The young girl rushed to kneel beside her brother. "Ya ain't supposed to run off like that! We thought ya…ya got…"
"Don't ever do that again!" Matthew interrupted, scolding his little brother. Brian looked down, yanking his hand from Michaela's. He seemed to disappear within himself, and Michaela noticed it in the way he slumped his shoulders and placed his hands in his pockets. "I'm real sorry, Ma'am."
"He told me your mother was hurting. Is she feeling better?"
"She's better," Matthew said quietly. Colleen shook her head.
"Our ma's a midwife. I've seen ladies like this. It ain't good." Brian snapped up.
"Dr. Mike can fix her." Matthew and Colleen looked at one another in confusion. Brian looked up at Michaela. "Fix her, Dr. Mike." Michaela gave a defeated sigh.
"Brian, I would love to help your mother, but I haven't got the supplies…"
"It's a hospital," Matthew said quickly.
"But I'm not in charge…"
"You're a lady. Ya know how these things work. Ya didn't see the man who tried to look at Ma earlier. Please, Ma'am. Dr. Mike?" Michaela sighed softly.
"Alright," she whispered. "I'll see what I can do." Michaela followed the children out of the hallway and into the room where several pregnant women were resting. Most of them were sleeping, and there wasn't a doctor in sight. The children led her to a bed in the corner where a middle-aged woman rested with her hands on her stomach. Worry creased her brow, and she looked as if she'd been worrying for quite a long time. G ray hair was starting to sprout at her temples, and she fascinated Michaela. She looked like a woman who knew her place in the world and had learned to accept it.
"Her name's Charlotte," Colleen whispered. Michaela knew she looked terrible. Her eyes were red from crying, her hair was a mess, her clothes were stained in blood, and dirt stuck to the dried sweat upon her face. But, Charlotte looked past it all.
"Hello," she said tiredly.
"Hello, Charlotte," Michaela replied. "Your children tell me you're uncomfortable."
"You could say that," Charlotte chuckled. "But nothing is ever comfortable these days." She looked Michaela over. "You don't sound like you're from around here."
"I'm not. I'm from Boston. My husband and I were traveling here."
"You were on the train, weren't ya?" Charlotte asked quietly. Michaela nodded, but she changed the subject.
"I'm a doctor. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I don't know," Charlotte replied. "The doc who just saw me didn't seem to know much 'bout my condition. I told 'im that there's some scars left from when the youngest was born." She gestured toward Brian. "Told 'im that the doc I saw in Kansas said I might die givin' birth. Said they'd have to take the baby." Michaela was amazed at how bold Charlotte was to say those words in front of her children, and she noticed how strong the children were being. Little Brian was trying, but the world was still a big, scary, confusing place to him.
"Well, I could examine you and give you my own opinion."
"Ya don't think the other doc would care?"
"It's not up to him. In my opinion, it should be up to the patient to decide how she's cared for." Charlotte smiled a little.
'Thanks, doc." Michaela nodded and went about cleaning her hands for a proper examination. Just as she was cleaning her hands, Charlotte gripped her stomach and let out an ear-shattering scream.
Lydia woke in the unfamiliar hospital room, remembering the events of the train wreck and feeling sore and tired. Her eyes adjusted to her surroundings, and she smiled when she saw Albert sleeping with his chin propped on his hand. She gently ran her fingers through his dark curls, and he stirred. He realized she was moving, and his eyes popped open, and he took her hand in his.
"How are you feeling?" he whispered.
"Tired," she whispered. "I feel like…I hurt." Her hand moved to her stomach. "The baby?"
"Just fine," he whispered. "The both of you were lucky." Lydia let out a relieved sigh. Her heart stopped racing, and she slowly calmed. Albert tenderly played with the loose tendrils of hair that framed Lydia's face. "I was so worried." Lydia smiled coyly and placed her hand upon her husband's cheek.
"There's no need to worry about me or this baby. If we can survive a bullet and a train wreck, I think we can survive just about anything." Albert softly kissed her forehead.
"Don't joke like that, Lydia. I don't want you saying things like that."
"I'm sorry, Albert. It's been a rough few months, and I think that making the best of them is easier than sitting around complaining about it." She sat up a little, and Albert watched her like a hawk. "Would you stop? I'm fine." She couldn't help but smile at his worry. She knew he was only concerned about her, because somehow, she always ended up being caught up in something that could ultimately end badly for her or the baby. She knew she needed to be more careful, but there really wasn't any way to prevent getting shot or being the victim of a horrible train accident. "How about you, my love? Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. I'm mostly worried about you."
"Sully and Michaela?" Albert's expression faded to one much grimmer. "Oh no…they're not…"
"No," Albert replied hastily, shaking his head. "Michaela might've had a concussion, and Sully…Sully might not wake up. I saw him when they brought him in, and I overheard doctors talking. He might not make it through the night, Lydia."
"No," Lydia whispered, shaking her head. "Not Sully. This shouldn't be happening to them." She sighed heavily. "It shouldn't be happening to anyone. I need to see Michaela."
"She's probably still with Sully. I'll go look for her, but you should rest." Lydia nodded her thanks and tried to relax against her pillow. She watched as Albert moved into the hall. He began to search for Michaela, and it wasn't long before he heard a voice from behind him.
"Sir? Sir!" Albert turned. "Were you aboard the train that crashed?"
"Yes. I was."
"They're bringing in all of the baggage and other possessions that they could salvage." He pointed the way to the luggage room, and Albert nodded absently. It didn't matter right now. Nothing mattered but his wife and his friends, and he had to do whatever he had to in order to help them.
"Charlotte, breathe. Don't panic," Michaela coached as the older woman grabbed her stomach and screamed out. Matthew pulled Colleen and Brian close.
"What's happening'?" Brian wondered. Colleen knew. Matthew knew. Michaela swallowed hard.
"Charlotte?" Michaela asked. "When are you due?"
"Beginnin' of September," Charlotte cried out. Michaela sighed heavily.
"Alright. I believe this little one wants to make its appearance a little bit early. But, it's only a couple of weeks early. Don't worry, Charlotte." Charlotte shook her head.
"Worryin' is in my blood, doc. I can't help it." She closed her eyes and breathed through the pain. Michaela looked at the children.
"Go find her doctor." They stood, stunned. "Now! Go on!" She knew that she shouldn't be doing this right now. But, Charlotte needed her, and that child needed her. "Charlotte, just relax. This baby's going to be here soon, and you'll have four beautiful children." Charlotte cried out again, and Michaela watched the doors, waiting for the children. When Charlotte cried out again, blood and fluid spilled onto the sheets. Michaela knew this baby wasn't going to be able to be born this way. She had to take it, and if the other doctor didn't have to arrive soon, she'd have to work alone.
She reached for any supplies she'd need, and she set them out close by.
"Charlotte, whatever you do, don't push. Hold it in. You can't push." The children immediately returned with an older doctor. He was about her father's age with a bald spot in the middle of his hair.
"What on Earth is going on here?" he asked bitterly.
"This woman needs a Caesarian Section," Michaela called out.
"That is my patient, Miss!" he replied.
"I understand that, but I'm a doctor too, and I need assistance here. She can't give birth naturally."
"I'll be the judge of that," the doctor replied, pushing past Michaela. Charlotte was in too much pain to protest, and Michaela was stunned as she was pushed aside like yesterday's breakfast. Michaela moved toward the children when they began to weep, and Charlotte fixed her eyes on them, trying to get her mind off of the pain. She watched as Michaela put her hands on Brian's shoulders, and he turned to hide his face against her hip. Colleen was gripping Matthew's arm tightly with one hand and the back of Dr. Mike's shirt with the other. "Get those children out of here, Miss." To Michaela, this man was just like Dr. Lancaster in New York. He was pushing her aside and giving her small tasks just to get her out of his hair.
"I should help, doctor."
"You are not in any shape to perform such a surgery! You're fresh off of a train wreck, you're covered in God knows what, and you're hysterical. I will not have a hysterical woman butchering my patient!" Brian began to tremble against Michaela, and she knew that this wasn't such a place for children.
"Come along, children."
"No! My ma's a midwife, and I help her. I know what happens when they cut 'em open. I seen it before, Dr. Mike!" Colleen tried to hide her tears, but they were obvious.
"Your mother's going to be just fine. Come along. This will be over soon, and you can come back and see her. Matthew picked Brian up and put his arm around his sister. The four moved into the hallway, and Michaela leaned against the wall in exhaustion. Charlotte's screams could be heard, and the children's eyes averted to every other possible place in the hall. Brian was whimpering in Matthew's arms, and it broke Michaela's heart. Then she thought of Sully. She had to see him. She knew she should be with him, but when she saw the scared, trembling forms of Charlotte's children standing there, she knew she couldn't leave them alone. They needed to take their minds off of what could go wrong.
"Michaela!" came a voice at the end of the hall. Michaela turned toward Albert's voice as he hurried down to meet them.
"Albert? Is it Lydia?" Fear grew inside of her. "Is it Sully?"
"No, no. A lot of the luggage was recovered from the train. It was brought here for the victims to claim. I thought maybe you'd want to find yours and Sully's if it was salvaged." Michaela nodded her head in exhaustion.
"I can't leave right now, Albert. You know the luggage we carried." Albert nodded in understanding and started to turn away. "How's Lydia?"
"She's awake. She's in good spirits."
"Good," Michaela replied. Albert wanted to say more, but he didn't think it was the time. He gave her a nod, and then he nodded at the children. A moment later, he disappeared out of the hallway, and Michaela was left alone with the children.
"Why's it so quiet?" Matthew asked, moving toward the door.
"Matthew, don't go in there," Michaela warned. "The doctor will be out soon."
"You're a doctor! You should be in there," Colleen exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, Colleen. It was out of my hands this time."
"Ya shoulda took it in your hands then." She began to sob again. Michaela sighed softly and gently rubbed the girl's back.
"It's going to be all right. You'll see."
"Pa left us. Ma can't leave us too," Brian whispered.
"Hush, Brian," Matthew said softly. "Ya don't gotta go tellin' everybody our life story." Michaela sighed heavily and turned toward the doors. She wanted to help that poor woman in there. Hysterical female? She scoffed. He certainly was a lot like Dr. Lancaster, and she had a strong feeling that she was going to get that reaction from a lot of people.
"What do you think? Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl?" Michaela asked, trying to lighten the mood. Colleen sighed heavily.
"I sure hope it's a girl. It's getting mighty crowded with all these boys around."
"I want a brother!" Brian protested.
"Well, it can't be both, so which is it?" Matthew asked with a laugh. "I wouldn't mind havin' another little sister myself. The one I got ain't so bad." He suddenly realized why Michaela had asked the question, and she gave her a nod of thanks. Silence followed for several more minutes, everyone wondering what was happening and hoping for the best.