Please note: I changed the last paragraph in chapter one; so for those of you who read the first chapter when I first published it, this alteration does make a slight difference in how characters act through out this chapter…just an FYI…enjoy!
Chapter 2
He was falling, but she could not reach him. The fear in his eyes struck a chord in her heart and crushed her conscience. She was helpless to him, merely a bystander watching him plummet to his inevitable death. Her mouth formed to scream out to him, but no sound was ever uttered from her throat; it was as if something ate up all the words that never got the chance to sound. How she wanted to leap over that cliff after him; but as she could not speak, something enabled her movement as well. His fall lasted for what seemed to be a torturous eternity; however, the drop was nothing compared to horror of the end. Right before he hit the ground, she caught his gaze; and in that moment, she saw all the terror and angst in the white of his eyes. Then those eyes disappeared and the world spiraled as she screamed silently into the darkness.
Michaela's screams were now audible (very audible) into the darkness of the night. Her head and vision swirled as she shot up, disoriented and afraid. Oh, what happened? Michaela thought to herself wearily, while she cupped her hands together and held her head in them; allowing memories and nightmares to circle back into her mind fully. I had hoped it would be nothing but an awful nightmare; why must this, of all dreams, be the one to come true? Tears continued to escape Michaela's bloodshot eyes, when she heard a faint rustle in the near by bush, followed by the crunching sound of quick footsteps upon the leaf blanketed forest floor. Michaela quickly attempted to compose herself as she recognized the silhouette and footstep pattern; but she found no real use in attempting composition, for she felt she had lost her dignity long before this moment.
Sully rushed to Michaela's side and placed his hand upon her shaking shoulder. He had been talking to Cloud Dancing when he heard the palpable cry of Michaela's voice out into the darkness and he realized that he should not have left her alone for a moment. It had been three days now since Michaela had uttered a single coherent word to Sully, and he felt helpless to her in this time meant for admittance and consolation. However, Sully understood how Michaela felt. He knew of the desire to keep everything inside and not let the rest of the world see the suffering that one was enduring. He had taken that same path not five years ago, and it had nearly cost him his sanity as well as his life. He could not let this lovely, beautiful, young woman give up the rest of her life the way he almost had. Sully felt that he had to spare her the same fate that he held.
"Michaela? Michaela, it's ok...you're ok, you're safe...it was just a dream..." Sully whispered gently while rubbing her shoulder.
Michaela looked through the darkness, up into Sully's gaze, while all the anger and bitterness that had built up inside of her over the previous week, spilt out before she had a chance to stop it. "It's NOT just a dream! It happened! My husband died while getting supplies for me! He died because of me! It's NOT ok, and I'm NOT ok! You don't understand what I'm feeling...you don't know what it's like!" Michaela screamed at Sully. After all her anger and frustration was released, Michaela crumbled into herself, feeling emotionally drained and upset.
Sully stared past Michaela as memories and emotions simmered inside of his gut. A piece of him was about to scream back at Michaela and set her right; but he controlled his feelings, knowing full well that he had lashed out at quite a few people when he was put through similar scenarios. Sully closed his eyes to the pain of the memories and spoke through gritted teeth.
"That's where you're wrong. I do know what it's like. I do know the pain and pure suffering that coils around your very soul, until ya can't breathe...until ya don't want to breathe. Ya just wish it was you who fell, you whose life was wrenched physically from ya. 'Cause now you're left with your life emotionally lost; and ya think that perhaps this is worse than the former. Well, perhaps for a time that is true Michaela, but I promise ya, the pain does dull as the days progress. No, I can't promise ya that it will ever go away completely, 'cause nothing will ever be the same again; but it can get better. And from what I've seen from you already, you're a pretty strong woman, you'll probably do better than I ever did..." Sully trailed off, as painful images of his past circled around in his head.
Michaela stared at Sully dumbstruck and guilt-ridden. She had not even thought of the possibility that Sully could have been through what she had. This man truly was intriguing! "I'm...I'm so sorry, I...I didn't even think...I..." Michaela sputtered.
"It's ok, you didn't know." Sully interrupted, and then exhaled deeply, trying to put the torturing memories into the back of his mind. "Now, I know this will be hard, but I really think we should get ya into town today or tomorrow. Then, ya could decide what to do from there...I mean; the stagecoach comes around once every two weeks, so if ya want to go back to Boston, I don't think anyone would object..." Sully said trailing off, not exactly truthful in all of his words. There was definitely one person who wouldn't want her to leave just yet.
Michaela nodded solemnly. She had had every intention of going back to Boston, yet something in her gut made her want to stay. Something told her that she needed to keep going, not to sulk in remorse, but to carry on as she would have if it had not been for David's death. "Can we go today?" Michaela said determinately, though her voice still cracked slightly from the tears.
Sully nodded and shrugged. "Sure, if that's what you want." When he saw Michaela nod again, Sully turned and started collecting the necessaries for their journey to town. He was actually quite surprised that Michaela was so willing to get back into town, figuring that she would not want to face the rest of society yet. However, he realized that she only wanted to get on the next stage and get home as soon as possible. This idea disheartened him somewhat, for reasons Sully could not account for. He had no connections to the lady doctor, and he wasn't even sure if they could be considered friends. Yet there was no denying that something deep within him was triggered when he first laid eyes on the beautiful young woman.
As the sun rose over the Colorado valley, Sully and Michaela rode towards Colorado Springs. Much to her dismay, Michaela found that, during a storm which occurred the previous night, lightning had struck her wagon, burning all of her and David's possessions. Luckily, Michaela stored her money in her medical bag, which had been attached to the saddle of her horse that Sully had brought back to his 'home' the first night. Still, the left over ashes symbolized the charring of hopes and dreams to Michaela.
They rode in a hush, for there were no words that needed to be said or exchanged at that moment. It was not until the sun peaked directly overhead, proclaiming the time of noon, before the period of silence was interrupted. "Colorado Springs is just beyond those trees." Sully pointed towards the light between the trees, which indicated an imminent clearing. "I'll take ya to the telegraph office first. Horace will get ya ticket on the next stage coach."
Michaela merely nodded, not really paying attention to Sully's words. She was entranced by her surroundings, as she gazed at the sun beams that broke through the forest branches, casting heavenly shafts of light onto the forest floor. The rays danced hypnotically due to the gentle gusts of wind, which fled through the trees like a restless bee. Everything seemed so peaceful, so beautiful, Michaela couldn't understand how there could be such splendor left in the world. Not after everything, not after her loss…
As they came onto the clearing, the intensity of the sun's brilliance blinded Michaela and Sully momentarily, as their eyes adjust from the dimness of the forest. They had arrived to a large, open meadow, where a one-room church stood serenely at the far end. On the far horizon, Michaela could see a few small buildings, which she assumed to be the outskirts of the town. After their brief pause, Sully started across the meadow in a light canter, followed quickly by Michaela.
As they approached the rustic buildings, Michaela was surprised to find that the few buildings she assumed to encircle Colorado Springs, actually made up about a third of the entire town. Colorado Springs certainly was different than Boston. Michaela kept her horse close to Sully's as they moved into the bustling, unpaved roads of the town. She couldn't help but notice the odd gazes she received from the various people they passed by, and it caused Michaela to feel even more self-conscious. Although she had done her best to freshen up by a stream near Sully's camp, Michaela was well aware of the awful appearance of her windswept hair and mud-stained dress. However, as they continued to ride casually through the dust-ridden streets, Michaela found that most of the intensity held in the gazes was directed at Sully. Michaela did not have the opportunity to ponder on the situation, for Sully suddenly brought in his reins, halting the horse, and dismounted. Michaela looked up ahead, to find that they had arrived at a small edifice, which bore a sign displaying the words "Telegraph Office".
Michaela jumped from her trance when she felt a hand gently graze her arm. She whipped around to find Sully retracting his hand from her, after merely attempting to get Michaela's attention and help her dismount. Michaela felt her cheeks grow warm and become glazed with a rose tinge as she recognized her overreaction. Taking in a deep breath to calm her racing heart, Michaela nodded and reached back out for Sully's hand. She swung her leg around the horse, as Sully's hands found her waist and guided her down to the ground. As soon as her feet skimmed the soil of the earth, Michaela and Sully broke away from each other; as if they'd been shocked by an electric charge. Both refused to meet the other's gaze; and after an awkward moment of adverted eyes, Sully nodded towards the telegraph office before he began to make his way over there, Michaela following silently in his midst after grabbing her medical bag off the horn of the saddle.
"Sully! Well I'll be!" said a rather tall, and somewhat gawky fellow from inside the office as Sully made his way up to the counter. "We haven't seen you for, let's see… goin' on three months. What brings you into town?"
Sully did his best to ignore and downplay the telegraph attendant's comment, to minimize Michaela's curiosity on the subject. "Afternoon Horace, um when's the next stage coach to Denver comin'?"
"Well it's coming in today! Should be here 'round one this afternoon. Want tickets?" Horace nodded to Sully and the young woman behind him.
Sully shook his head. "No, just one please. Thanks." Sully said as Horace handed him a ticket. Sully then turned to face Michaela. "Stage should get here in about forty minutes. We can wait over on those benches if ya like."
Michaela nodded and followed Sully over to the benches situated next to the telegraph office. "What are you going to do in Denver?" Michaela asked as they sat down.
Sully looked at her with great confusion. "What do ya mean?"
"You just bought a ticket to go to Denver. I was just curious to know what you were going to do there."
Sully shook his head and stared at Michaela with a puzzled gaze. "The ticket's for you…so ya can get back to Boston…"
Now it was Michaela's turn to be in utter perplexity. "Why would I want to go back to Boston? Am I not welcomed as a doctor here?"
Sully's forehead creased in bewilderment. "Ya actually want to stay here? I mean; I assumed you'd want to go home after what happened…"
Michaela dropped her gaze and shook her head. "No, I gave up everything I had back in Boston to come here. I'm not about to let myself make those sacrifices vain. I…I have to keep going, and move on. David, he died trying to get us here; and I won't let his death be in vain either..." Michaela whispered the last part more to herself than anyone else. Then Michaela looked back up at Sully with a gleam of confidence in her eyes that had not been seen since David's passing. "So, is this town still in need of a doctor?"
Sully stared in awe at Michaela. Never had he met a lady, or anyone for that matter, with such courage and strength; and Sully actually found himself envying her. Quickly composing himself, Sully nodded. "Yah…I'm sure they'll need ya! Um, let me give this back to Horace, just one second." Sully stood and walked quickly back over to Horace.
Michaela remained seated where she was as she gazed wonderingly at her surroundings. This entire place was so new and different than anything she had ever seen before, and she felt a twinge of excitement and nervousness settle in the pit of her stomach, below her heavy heart. Then something caught her eye. A young, blond, little boy was climbing on a stack of carelessly placed lumber. Michaela foresaw the accident before it happened. Quickly, Michaela stood, medical bag in hand, and made her way across the street just as a large piece of wood at the base of the pile gave way and the entire mound tumbled from underneath the dear child. Michaela was the first to reach the youngster, and she quickly went into her 'doctor-mode' as she began to care for the now bawling child. The child held his ankle in discomfort and rocked back and forth in pain. Michaela gently touched the boy's arm to gain his attention. "Mind if I take a look at that ankle of yours?" Michaela asked with an encouraging smile.
The boy looked up into Michaela's eyes and somehow found that he could trust her. He nodded and let go of his injured ankle. Michaela began to examine the boy's foot and leg methodically, while a crowd grew around the two. "What's you name?" Michaela asked the boy while digging into her black medical bag.
Just as the child was about to answer a middle-age woman with dark, curly, hair pushed her way to the front of the crowd, followed by a young girl, no older than seven and a young man, who appeared to be about twelve. "Brian Cooper! What have ya gotten your self into now?" The woman bellowed to the young boy; then her attention was directed to Michaela. "Thanks ma'am, I can take it from here…"
"Oh that's quite alright, I'm a doctor. And it seems that you child as merely sprained his ankle." Michaela said with a smile.
The encircling crowd suddenly hushed at Michaela's comment. "You a real doctor?" The young girl asked in amazement.
Michaela stood and dusted herself off before extending her hand to the apprehensive mother. "Yes, I'm Dr. Michaela Quinn…and I believe I am your town's new doctor." Dead silence greeted her response, and Michaela realized then that things weren't really as different in Colorado Springs as she had anticipated. Prejudice lingered just as much in these people as it had back in Boston.