Chapter Eighteen

Another week had passed and it was nearly October. Time was flying, according to Michaela, but it seemed to be passing everyone else by slowly. Poor Abagail was still at the clinic, recovering from her surgery, but she was being sent home soon. She was grateful, but she hadn't even seen the daylight since she went in for her surgery. Her curtains were always closed tightly, for she came down with a fever, and her eyes became sensitive to the light. She was feeling a little better, well enough to let Martin open her curtains just a little on this surprisingly sunny day. It wouldn't be sunny for long.

Michaela and Andrew were standing over Abagail's bed and checking her vitals. Abagail couldn't help but smile. Two doctors were tending to her every need, and so was Martin, as he right now sat at her bedside and held her hand in his, telling her how much he loved her. She was the luckiest woman alive, she thought, to have so many people caring about her and pulling for her to get well.

Loren was sitting on the other side of Abagail's chair, trying to encourage his daughter to get her strength back. She hadn't had much of an appetite, and the first couple of days after her surgery had been excruciating. Dr. Strauss had kept her medicated, but she would wake at all hours of the night, crying like a small child. She had been so sad and so helpless, and she reminded Loren of when he and Maude first had her. She'd been a beautiful baby, but she had been so helpless that she couldn't even lift her own head. She'd been tiny but strong, and she learned how to survive fast. As an only child, and a girl, she had to learn how to pull her weight around the house, and she had. She'd been a wonderful girl, and Loren prized every moment he could remember of her life. His girl. His Abby. It frightened him to think that he had almost lost his little girl.

"Your incision is healing well, Abagail," Michaela said happily. This was her second day back to work after a wonderful five days of rest and relaxation at home with Sully and Katie. He had taken care of the baby when he could, and she had rested and built up the strength that the past few weeks had taken out of her. She was feeling better than ever and more alive.

"When can I go home?" Abagail asked, her pale face turning up to the doctor with pleading eyes.

"Hopefully by tomorrow. I want to change your bandages once more, and if there is no more seepage by morning, I'll go ahead and send you home with strict orders of bed rest."
"No argument here," Abagail replied. "I feel like I could sleep for a month and still be tired."

"That's normal," Michaela said with a smile. Andrew handed her the tray of gauze and bandages, and he left the room with Martin and Loren. Michaela smiled a little helping Abagail all the way out of her shirt so she could wrap her better.

"Martin says it don't matter if we have children."

"He's a good man." Abagail nodded, tears in her eyes.

"I want children though."

"There's always adoption, Abagail. You know that." Abagail nodded.

"I know," she whispered. "I just wanted the chance to feel my baby growin' inside me and kickin' me. All these ladies brag 'bout how wonderful it is, but I ain't normal no more. I'll never get that." Michaela put her hands on Abagail's shoulders.

"You are normal in every way, Abagail. There are many women who can never conceive even if they have…everything they need. You're not alone, Abagail." Abagail wiped her tears away and nodded her head.

"Just finish the bandages, will ya?" Michaela complied and did as Abagail asked, moving slowly and gently with a mother's touch. She tied the bandages at her side and helped her with her shirt. Her eyes searched Abagail's, but Abagail looked everywhere but at her.

"Grace is bringing breakfast for you. I'll check on you after you've eaten." She walked toward the door.

"Dr. Mike?"

"Yes?" She turned back to face Abagail.

"Thank you. For savin' my life, that is." Michaela smiled.

"You're quite welcome. Rest now, Abagail. You're going home tomorrow." Abagail nodded, and she closed her eyes. Michaela moved into the hallway, and smiled at Andrew, Martin and Loren. "She's going to rest for a while. You may sit with her if she wants." Michaela walked down the stairs and was about to sit down at her desk, when Sully walked in with something rolled up in his hands. "Sully?"

"Hey. Ya busy?" A smile was obvious upon his lips, and Michaela walked toward him.

"Not anymore. What is it?" Her eyes sparkled, ready for whatever her husband had to tell her. His smile grew wider, and he handed the papers to her.

"Just got these in the mail. By the time we sign 'em and send 'em in, the month'll be passed. Judge thinks that nobody's comin' for her." He looked down, a frown slowly spreading, and it made Michaela's heart catch in her throat. "He also sent this." He handed a small clipping to Michaela, and she looked at it. It was from a Topeka newspaper. The headline read: WIDOWER ETHAN COOPER FOUND DEAD. Michaela looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Don't say nothin' 'bout the children, 'cept that an aunt was s'posed to come look after 'em."

"Those poor children," Michaela breathed. "They must be so frightened."

"Yeah," Sully said quietly. "They'll make it. From what ya tell me 'bout 'em, they're strong kids."

"They had to be. They had to take care of one another, while Charlotte was in the hospital." Sully enfolded his wife into his arms, and she sighed against him. "I can't believe it, Sully. She's almost ours." She couldn't help but be happy! This child had been brought to them during a difficult time in their lives. It was almost official in every way.

"She already is. We're just makin' it official." Michaela nodded.

"Well, you know what I mean." He chuckled with a nod and kissed her softly. "Ready to sign 'em?"

"More than ready," she breathed. The moved toward her desk and smoothed the papers out on the firm oak. After a few pen strokes on a few pages, they looked at one another with smiles mirroring each other's on their faces. They shared another sweet kiss, before Sully rolled the papers up again.

"I'll take these over to Horace, and then we'll celebrate." Michaela nodded, and she watched as Sully left the clinic. She sighed happily and moved over to the bassinet by the window.

"Little Miss Katie, you're our little one now." She inhaled the sweet scent of the soft blonde hair that was beginning to grow on Katie's head. "Katherine Elizabeth Cooper Sully. Miss Sully. That's what they'll call you one day. I hope you're happy here, little one." Katie grinned a little, and Michaela held her close. "I love you so much, sweet heart. So much." Michaela turned at a noise behind her.

"Oh! Am I interrupting?" Julianna asked, stepping out from the back hall with her shawl draped over her shoulders and her money purse in her hand. Michaela smiled.

"You're not interrupting, but something wonderful is happening right now."

"What's that?" Julianna asked, her eyes wide with wonder and curiosity.

"Sully is taking the adoption papers to Horace right now. They're signed and ready to send back to Denver."

"That's wonderful news!" Julianna said with a smile. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you," Michaela said with a grin. She kissed Katie's cheek and placed her back down into the bassinet. "Have you given anymore thought to the town council's offer? I don't think the Reverend can keep teaching for much longer."

"I'm actually on my way to the church to give them my answer." Michaela eyed her.

"So, are you staying?" Michaela asked hopefully. She had gotten to know this young woman lately, and she enjoyed her stories about New York and her travels. They had a lot in common, yet they were so very different.

"I'm staying," Julianna replied, defeat almost dripping from her voice. "But, I want them to realize that this is a temporary position, and I may leave anytime I choose. I may get bored of living out here." She hated being confined. Nothing was worse than feeling obligated to stay somewhere. She didn't want to drown in self-pity or self-loathing for choosing to stay. She needed the freedom to live.

"You could never be bored here after living in New York all of your life. There is such beauty here that you can't get back there."

"That's true," Julianna said with a soft sigh. "There's only one Pike's Peak." Michaela smiled and nodded, a chuckle escaping from the back of her throat.

"Good luck." Julianna nodded and left the clinic. She began to walk across town, her black shoes squishing in the soft mud that was left after the storms yesterday. The breeze was biting today, despite the sun, and her cheeks turned red from the cold. She thought about the events of the past week, and her head nearly spun. She had gotten the chance to sit down and talk with Dr. Strauss during his three day stay at the clinic after Abagail's surgery. He was so very much like the Andrew Strauss she had met on the train, yet he was so different. She wondered what had happened to the stranger she'd met. Obviously, he wasn't this Andrew Strauss. Because of this, the stranger intrigued her further. A man with a very mysterious past and a patch over his eye had been afraid of her, and then he had changed into someone completely different. He had been charming and witty. He had been romantic. At the end of the night, he had been that mysterious, dark, closed up man that she knew from their first encounter. He was quickly turning into the man from her book.

She had started to wonder if she was going mad. Perhaps she had brought the character from her novel to live in her own mind. Perhaps her novel was becoming a part of herself, and her studies of mental illness were giving her one! It sounded like a case for a sanitarium. She wanted to know more, but she wasn't sure how. She had no name to go by, only a description. Besides, she didn't think she would ever see him again, though her heart wanted to. She wanted to delve deep into the mind of this fellow and find out what made him tick. She knew it was probably not a good idea, but she had never done things the easy way. Knowing that he might not be "right in the head" made her even more fascinated.

Julianna sighed as she stepped up onto the porch of the church. She smoothed out her skirt and placed her hand on the doorknob. She gathered her thoughts and moved into the church house. The council, minus Jeb Martin, was seated at the long conference table beside the altar.

"Afternoon, Miss Garavaldi," Jake Slicker said with a nod. The other fellows stopped talking and waited for her to step forward. "Did ya decide yet?" Julianna controlled herself. She wanted to scold him for acting like a petulant, impatient child, but she decided it would be best to keep quiet for now. She had to remember to have patience with people like this.

"Yes I have," she replied. "I will accept the job offer, but I must warn you that I wish to have the freedom to leave the position at any time. I don't plan to live here permanently, but I think I will be here long enough to get these children started with a proper education." The men looked at one another and whispered amongst themselves. Julianna couldn't help but roll her eyes while they weren't looking. They were only wasting time. They had no other choice. They were desperate. They were going to accept her conditions.

"You're hired."

He dismounted the horse at the edge of the trees after having made an excellent woodsman over the past three days. He had survived in the woods long enough to get here. He had gotten to her, and he had found Colorado Springs. He watched as men and women walked through the meadow, enjoying the last bit of sunlight the tiny town would be able to enjoy for a while. A storm was coming, and it was sure to be a nasty one.

His eyes scanned over the sight, and he climbed back onto his horse. He began to move toward the nearest road, not wanting to look like he'd just come from the woods, which he obviously had. So, he doubled back a little bit, and he enjoyed the sights around him. He was moving and staring, but he wasn't paying attention to the road ahead of him. In his mind, he wasn't doing anything wrong. He wanted to see her.

"Hey Mister!" came the voice of a little boy as a rickety wagon passed by. "We got turned 'round. Could ya tell us where we are?" David's eyes, even his bad one, gleamed in the sunlight, as he turned his horse back around. He moved up to line up with the driver's seat. An older boy stared at him suspiciously, but he looked to tired to be a threat.

"Colorado Springs, son," he said, a hint of pride his voice.

"We did it, Matthew!" Brian exclaimed. "We're here! Hooray!"

"Thanks Mister," Matthew said, tipping his hat. He urged the horses on. "Let's go find Dr. Mike." David's head snapped up at them.

"Excuse me? What name did you say?"

"Dr. Mike."

"Michaela Quinn?" His heart nearly burst.

"That's her!" Brian said with a grin. "Ya know her? She's real nice. She looked after Ma." His head bent a little. "'Fore Ma died, anyway." David looked at the little boy, studying the way his voice grew sad, and his eyes grew thick with tears at the mention of his dead mother. David had never shed a tear after the funeral. His parents had died by his hands, and he had wanted it that way. His heart leapt at the thought of them suffering, burning. He hated them. He hated everything they were about. His only solace had been the wonderful people who had taken him in, raised him, tried to raise him and get rid of the evil inside. He'd masked it well, but his heart still bled with every beat, bled with desire, rage, anger, hate and the need to expel everything inside of them that reminded him of the past.

"We're old friends," He said, wringing his hands on the horse's reins, thinking about the fear in her eyes the night he dragged her into that alley; the night he almost…

The wagon started toward town, and David watched them go. Who were they? Why did they want his Michaela? They had no right to talk of her, when he hadn't even gotten to be close to her. How long had it been? How many months, weeks, days, hours or seconds had it been?

It was then that he saw her. She was walking from the church, and she was heading back toward town. He cleared his throat. She didn't know who he was. He could still be Andrew Strauss for a little while.

He rode toward her for a few minutes, watching her move without a care. His eyes narrowed in the sun, waiting for the clouds to cover it and take away the pain and the light. Soon, he dismounted, and he followed her like a snake in the grass. Her blonde hair was sparkling like gold in the sunlight. Her hands were fidgeting with her money pouch. Her dress billowed at her feet, scooting across the damp grass occasionally. She looked like a portrait, and he fought the urge to reach out and touch her. His voice could not be stopped.

"Julianna," he breathed. She halted and stiffened at the voice. That voice. That…voice. She turned to see him, and she almost couldn't believe it. For a moment, she thought she had gone mad. He was standing there in front of her, just as handsome as she had remembered, but there was something about him. There was a look in her eyes that made her question everything she remotely knew about him. She didn't know him at all.

"You," she said quietly, stepping toward him. "You're here? How?" There were so many more questions to ask, and they were all pounding at her head, screaming to be released and asked. But, she couldn't bring herself past his sudden presence. What was he doing there? Why was here standing before her now, and what did he think he was doing?

"I have my ways." Julianna stepped forward once, noticing the missing eye patch and the way the sun soaked into his hair and kissed his skin. He had shaved, but she had recognized him immediately.

"You're different. You're not…" He stepped forward, silencing her with his interruption.

"I'll explain it all later, but you have to trust me." Julianna pulled back. She shook her head, her eyes glaring into his, yet at the same time, reaching out to him, needing to know what he was all about.

"I can't trust a man who doesn't give me his true name." David looked stunned. "Andrew Strauss is in town right now. Oh, he's a doctor from California, but he's certainly not you." Her eyes narrowed, and she was still shocked at seeing him. But, David was no longer looking at her. His eyes were staring toward town now. His fists were clenched at his sides. He turned back toward his horse. "Wait!" He didn't stop, but she followed after him. "Please, tell me your name!" He mounted his horse, but she grabbed the reins. "Tell me your name."

"I told you my name." She shook her head.

"You lied."

"That's not who I am anymore. The man you met…this is me. This is who I am."

"What should I call you?"

"You shouldn't call me anything," he replied. He tugged the reins from her grasp. "I need to find her. She needs me. I'll find her soon. Soon." His words made no sense to her.

"Find who?" But before she could say another word, he was racing off toward town. She watched, fear in her eyes. She was confused. This man wasn't perfect, and he wasn't sane by any means. But, he was hurting, and her heart broke for him. She could still see the good in him that made him who he was. The pain and the confusion showed past everything else. So, she picked up her skirts and hurried toward town, hoping that he wouldn't disappear before she could talk to him again.

As she waited for Sully to return from the telegraph office, Michaela heard a horse gallop past furiously, and she rushed outside of the clinic, only to see mud being thrown up in the path of the escaping horse. She tried to catch a glimpse of the rider, but it was too late. Several townsfolk were coming out of their homes and stores to see the commotion, but the rider was long gone. Katie began to scream inside, and Michaela knew she couldn't stay outside much longer, before Katie's fit turned into a full blown tantrum. She saw Sully leave the telegraph office and come rushing over, Horace rushing out too.

"Michaela? You okay?"

"I'm fine," she said, shock coating her voice.

"Saw that man tear through town. I'm gonna go after 'im and see what's goin' on."

"Be careful," Michaela made him promise.

"I will," he replied. He kissed her before jumping on his horse's back and rushing out after the man on the horse. Julianna came rushing over, her face red from running and her dress soiled of mud.

"Julianna? What on Earth?"

"Did you see the man on the horse that came running through town?"

"Yes, I did. Sully went after him." Julianna's eyes went wide. Something didn't sound right about it. She didn't know the man very well, but she didn't think he deserved to be chased like that, and she didn't think he would appreciate it either.

"He did? Oh no. I don't think he likes being followed, Michaela. I have to go after Sully and stop him."

"You know this man?" Julianna's eyes grew dark, her head confused and her heart even more so.

"I thought I did." She rushed over to the livery and took a horse from the corral. A moment later, she was rushing out of town, mud and dirt flying up behind her. Michaela watched in utter shock and confusion, as Katie continued to scream inside. She hurried inside to tend to her baby, and she hoped that her husband would be safe.

Sully stopped his horse, when he heard another picking up speed behind him. He watched, waiting for the rider to come into view, and he was surprised when he saw who was gaining on him. Julianna pulled back on the reins, slowing her horse when she caught up to Sully.

"Julianna? What're you doin' out here?"

"I…I'm going to visit someone." She knew that wouldn't suffice. "I saw you ride out of town chasing that man, and I thought I might be able to help."

"Do ya know the man on the horse?"

"You could say that," she replied.

"Tell me about him," Sully said quietly, taking a swig of water from his canteen.

"I don't know much about him, except he told me a name that wasn't his. All this time, I thought he was Lydia's cousin."

"Andrew?"

"He said his name is Andrew Strauss, and that he was…I just assumed. I confronted him, and that's when he took off. I don't think he takes well to confrontation."

"Well, ya best come on back to town with me. He's long gone by now."

"Actually, I was also…riding back out to the Miller house. I promised Rose I'd help her master a stitch I learned in New York," she lied. Sully nodded, not thinking of anything but getting back to his wife and daughter.

"You be careful," he said. "I doubt he'll come back."

"He wouldn't harm me even if he did," Julianna assured him. Sully looked down.

"I wouldn't be so sure. Sometimes there are folks that can surprise ya. Sometimes folks are somethin' completely different that what they appear to be." Julianna eyed him.

"It sounds like you've had a lot of experience in this."

"Ya could say that." He looked toward home. "Trustin' people is somethin' ya gotta do with your gut. There've been times when I've known people just by the first impression, and most times, my gut's been right. Just be careful, Julianna."

"I will. Thank you for your concern. You should get back home. It sounded like Michaela needed help with Katie. Congratulations, by the way. She told me about the adoption papers." Sully beamed with pride now.

"Thanks," he replied. "I think we're gonna have a celebration dinner. You should come."

"I don't think Lydia would appreciate that," she said quietly. "I'll see you and Michaela later." Sully nodded and started off back toward town. Julianna waited until he was out of sight and earshot, and she pushed her horse onward, hoping to find her mysterious stranger.

He had made a quick trip through town, and he had spotted the medical clinic. Yes, that was where she was. He knew it. She had to be. Now he was a good five miles outside of town, and he would be safe. He would wait. He would watch.

He frowned, tying his horse up and sitting down against a fallen tree. Sully had followed him. He knew it. He had seen him for only a moment, but he had made a quick escape through the trees. He was only a few yards off of the main trail, but with the heavy brush and thick trees, he was well hidden from any search parties looking for the lone rider who sped through town.

Sully had turned back, but he knew somebody else was coming. They couldn't find him. If they did, he'd have to do what he could to keep them quiet. They couldn't know where he was. Only she could. He knew she'd find him. He wanted her to find him. Only time would tell, but if he knew her as well as he thought he did, she would find him soon.

Michaela was just placing Katie back down in her bassinet, when she heard a knock at the door. She glanced down at Katie, hoping the knock hadn't woken her. But, the little girl was sleeping peacefully, and she was curled up under her blanket.

"Just a moment," Michaela called, moving across the room and opening the door. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the three Cooper children standing on the porch, tired, dirty and hungry from their long journey. "Oh my God."

"Hi Dr. Mike," Brian said tiredly.

"Brian," Michaela whispered. She looked into the eyes of all three of them, and each of them looked relieved to see her, though Matthew's posture was rigid, and his jaw was clenched. "Come in. Come in." Pain was in her voice, memories of the past rushing back to haunt her. She ushered them all inside and closed the door firmly behind them. Colleen immediately spotted the bassinet, and she hurried over to see her little sister. There was a connection that couldn't be broken, and Michaela couldn't deny that.

"That Katie?" Brian asked. Michaela nodded, stunned. She smiled at the boy. She said the only thing she could think to say that was fair. Was it fair? Would Charlotte think it was fair?

"Yes. Go see your sister." Matthew's head snapped up. Sister. She still called Katie their sister? Was she being courteous?

"We don't need your permission to see our own sister," he said flatly. Michaela was surprised at the jab, and she looked at the oldest boy.

"I didn't mean to imply that…"

"We came all this way for her. We don't need nobody's permission but ours." Matthew moved across the room, and Michaela stood back, feeling like an outsider again. She couldn't help but let her heart break as the children looked at the baby with awe and devotion in their eyes. It was so sad, because this was the portrait of a family that been reunited, yet they could never truly be whole again.

"She's getting big," Colleen said with a smile.

"She's a healthy eater," Michaela replied. Matthew looked toward her. "We've been feeding her from a bottle, and she's really taking to it."

"Her name's still Katie, right?" Brian asked.

"'Course it is," Matthew interjected. "Ain't nobody changin' the name Ma wanted for her."

"Of course not," Michaela said quietly. She felt a wave of nausea, and she held onto the side of her desk. The children didn't notice, and Matthew lifted Katie up into his arms.

"We swore we'd come back to get ya. We'll be a family again, just like Ma wanted." Michaela felt her heart stop for a moment.

"Excuse me?" She couldn't think of a better response.

"We're takin' her with us." Colleen and Brian backed away. Michaela wasn't sure what to say now. She swallowed hard. "Pa's gone."

"I know," Michaela whispered. "I found out today. The judge from Denver sent an article with the adoption papers." Matthew held Katie closer.

"Adoption papers?"

"Sully and I put out articles in several papers…"

"We know. We found one," Brian spoke up.

"Hush, Brian," Matthew said quickly. "Go wait outside."

"I'm stayin'!" Brian replied.

"Me too," Colleen replied. Michaela moved toward Matthew.

"Where do you plan to go?"

"We'll find a place. We ain't goin' back to Kansas. It ain't home no more." His head was spinning. He knew in his heart that what he was doing wasn't right. But he had to keep them together. He couldn't break the family up any further. Not anymore. They deserved a good life. A good life. Could he promise them that?

"What do you plan to do to earn money?"

"I'm sure there's plenty of ranches 'round here."

"You're just a boy, Matthew," Michaela said softly.

"I'm sixteen."

"You're fifteen. Ya ain't sixteen 'til next week," Colleen retorted. Matthew glared daggers at her. She certainly wasn't helping matters at all. Colleen squeezed Brian's hand. "Think 'bout Katie."

"How do you intend to feed yourself and three children with no income to speak of?"

"I'm the man of the house now. I'll find a way." Michaela sighed heavily. She shook her head. "We did all right."

"I'm sorry Matthew. I'm sorry for your loss, and I'm sorry for everything you've been through. But, I can't in good conscience let you take that child out of here. She needs a home, a family. Sully and I have given her that, and we love her very much. Can you honestly say you can provide her with a warm bottle every night and tend to all of her needs?" Matthew's resolve was quickly deteriorating. Michaela looked at the children. "Your mother loved you all so much, and she wouldn't want to see you living like this. She wants you to have a family."

"We got a family," Matthew said. "It's just a little broken right now. We don't need a Ma and Pa no more."

"Maybe that's the way you feel," Colleen said quietly. She took Brian's hand. "It ain't been easy, Matthew."

"What are ya doin'?"
"I'm tellin' the truth! Ya can't be strong all the time. You're still a kid like us!" Matthew looked at his little sister.

"What are ya doin'? Are ya tryin' to keep our family apart?" Tears sprang to Colleen's eyes, and she shook her head. How could he think that? How could he be so selfless and selfish at the same time?

"No! I don't want us to be apart, but I don't want Katie to have to go through what we did comin' out here! Ya got hurt, Matthew, at that saloon! What if somethin' worse woulda happened? We wouldn't have nobody to look after us, and we ain't old enough to take care of ourselves. We had as long as we could with Ma, but Katie…Katie didn't get that. She needs a ma. She needs to be safe and loved."

"So you're just gonna let some stranger take care of Katie?" Michaela gently moved to take Katie from Matthew's arms, because the little one was starting to fuss. He didn't try to stop her, and his arms began to tremble. At that moment, the clinic door opened, and Sully came in. His eyes were narrow with concern, when he heard his daughter crying.

"Michaela? What's goin' on?" Michaela moved toward Sully, and she handed Katie to him.

"Sully, this is Matthew, Brian and Colleen Cooper." Sully's eyes widened. She had told him about them, and he looked down at Brian. This boy had come to visit him during his coma. Michaela turned back to the children. "This is my husband, Byron Sully."

"Byron?" Brian asked. Sully knew that voice.

"Just call me Sully."

"We ain't callin' ya anything. We're takin' our little sister and leavin'." Sully and Michaela glanced at one another. Matthew made a move to take his little sister.

"Hold on," Sully said quietly. "Michaela told me what happened to your family, and I'm real sorry, but ya ain't takin' Katie anywhere. We just signed the adoption papers, and the stage coach just carried 'em off to Denver."

"Ya can't do this!" Matthew screamed. "She's our blood! She's our sister!" Katie began to scream louder, and Matthew felt like someone had ripped his heart out. Colleen was begging him to calm down, and he found himself trembling. What had happened to him? When had he gone from being a boy concerned for his family to a young man trying to cause trouble every where he went? This wasn't good for anybody, least of all Katie.

"Michaela, take the baby upstairs," Sully said quietly, eyeing Matthew. Michaela didn't want the baby to be frightened, so she complied and carried her off. Sully stepped toward Matthew. "Look, son. I know you're scared. I know things look bad now, but ya gotta realize that goin' 'bout it like this ain't helpin' nobody. Ya lost your ma and your pa. So did I. It's tough, and I can't imagine how tough it is for ya, bein' so young. If ya wanna be the man, ya better start actin' like it. Look at them. Look at your brother and sister." Matthew slowly turned toward them. "They're scared. They're hungry. They're tired. So are you. Ya ain't thinkin' straight."
"I'm tryin' to keep my family together!" Matthew shouted. "I promised I would! I promised!" Brian moved toward his brother.

"Ya did that, Matthew," he said softly. "Ya did what Pa didn't do. Ya did what ya could to get us here so we could see Katie. I'm proud of ya." Matthew was trembling now. He sucked in a sharp breath.

"Me too," Colleen whispered. "You're my big brother, and I look up to ya more than anybody. I knew ya could get us here. But, I don't think it's right to take Katie away. Yeah, I want our family together, but Katie looks so happy here. I don't wanna see her grow up and get dragged from place to place. I want our little sister to have a good home." Those words were spoken by a ten year old? When had she grown up so fast? He saw it now. He saw the way his brother and sister stuck by him, but put him in his place. How had he gone from knowing what to do to being completely lost? He was still a boy in so many ways; a scared little boy who needed his mother and father, only he didn't have either one of them.

Michaela entered the room again, and all was silent. Sully moved toward her, wrapping his arm around her waist. He pulled her close, and they stood together, watching the children embrace. They'd taken a long journey, and it had ended, and now they could cry and release their fears and frustrations.

When it seemed that Matthew was calming down, Michaela stepped forward.

"You must be starving," Michaela said softly. "I'll go to the café and pick up something for dinner."

"Don't bother," Matthew said quietly. "We ain't stayin'."

"Ya ain't leavin' right now, Matthew," Sully said quietly. "I can't let the three of ya go like this. Ya need food. Ya need sleep."

"We have plenty of rooms upstairs."

"I said don't bother," Matthew replied. "We don't need your charity."

"No, but you do need nourishment."

"We ate."

"You can eat again," Michaela replied sternly. She looked at Sully, and he nodded. "I'll be back in a few minutes." Michaela left, and she closed the clinic door. She leaned against it, sighing heavily. She hated being stern with those children, especially since they were so vulnerable after the death of their parents. But, she had Katie to think of, and Matthew wasn't of age to care for a family on his own. They needed a good home. They needed parents they could count on. They needed a mother who would love them just as much as Charlotte had. They needed a father who would be there, unlike Ethan.

Tears sprang to her eyes. She wished she could give that to all of them. Things were so stressful now, and she wasn't sure what kind of help the children needed. They had been through so much. The least she could do was give them a warm place to stay and a few good meals. After that, what? Could she actually let the three of them ride out of town with not a penny to their names? She knew she couldn't. It broke her heart, and she tried her best not to break down. She took a deep breath and thought of Charlotte.

"I wish you were here, Charlotte. They need you now more than ever."