Day 3

Sully opened his eyes slowly, not wanting to open them at all. His arm was sprawled across the spot where Michaela should have been sleeping. He rolled over and smelled her pillow, the scent of her beautiful hair still lingered. He listened and heard the children rummaging around downstairs. Colleen was probably making breakfast and Brian was probably trying to finish his last minute homework.

Although he didn't want to, Sully got out of bed and got dressed. He made his way downstairs and watched as Brian did his homework and Colleen stirred the eggs on the stove.

"Mornin', Sully," Brian said.

"Mornin'," Sully replied.

"Breakfast'll be ready in a minute," Colleen announced.

"Thanks Colleen," Sully responded.

"Finishin' your homework?" Sully asked Brian.

Brian nodded. "An essay on this book we been readin'."

"I finished mine three days ago," Colleen stated.

Brian ignored her but Sully couldn't help but smile at Colleen's love of school. She reminded him so much of Michaela and her determination.

"I was gonna ask ma to help me with it but I forgot," Brian stated.

"I coulda helped ya," Sully offered.

"I know," Brian replied, "but ma's real good at writin'. Not that you ain't good at writin', Sully, I just…"

"It's alright, Brian," Sully cut him off. "Ya don't hafta explain. I know your ma's real good at writin'."

"But you're real good at doin' other things," Brian told him.

Sully laughed. "I know, Brian." He hadn't meant to make Brian feel bad. He knew that Michaela was much better at things related to school but Sully wanted Brian to know that he would always be around to help him whenever he needed help, no matter what the topic.

Colleen walked around the table with the frying pan and dished out some eggs onto everyone's plate. When she had finished, she sat down to eat with Sully and Brian.

"What are we gonna do after school, Sully?" Brian asked, closing his homework book and picking up his fork.

"What do ya wanna do?" Sully asked.

"Let's go fishin'! Brian exclaimed.

"I hate fishin'," Colleen replied.

"Then you don't have to come," Brian retorted.

"Brian, we gotta pick somethin' that everyone wants ta do," Sully reminded him.

"Y'all can help me make supper," Colleen suggested.

"I don't like cookin'," Brian responded.

"Ya liked makin' that pie with Grace for the pie contest," Colleen stated.

"That was different."

"How?"

"That wasn't cookin', that was bakin'."

"Well, then you can bake a pie for dessert."

"I don't want to bake a pie!"

"Alright," Sully interjected, stopping the fight. "We won't go fishin' and we won't be cookin'."

"Well, then what are we gonna do?" Brian whined.

"We'll…we'll figure somethin' out," Sully stated. "Finish your breakfast and I'll take ya ta school."

Brian sighed but ate the rest of his breakfast in silence. Sully began racking his brain, trying to think of something that he could do with the children after school. He wouldn't mind taking Brian out fishing but it wasn't fair to Colleen. Sully suddenly realized that being a parent was much easier when Michaela was around.

Hank sat at the bar stool, his hand cupping a glass of whiskey. The saloon was full of men, drinking, laughing, playing poker, and otherwise having a good time. It was the third bar in the area that Hank had visited that morning. The first two didn't have prostitutes.

"Want another?" The bartender asked Hank. Hank nodded but did not speak. The bartender poured him more whiskey. "Haven't seen ya in here before. Where ya from?"

"None of your business," Hank replied, staring at one of the young girls who had her arm around a man playing poker. Hank guessed that she wasn't more than sixteen but she was pretty.

"What's her name?" Hank asked the bartender.

"None of you business," the bartender replied.

Hank smiled. "How much she cost?"

"Elaine!" The bartender called. The girl looked up at him and left the man playing poker. "This man wants ta know how much ya cost."

"How much ya got?" She replied, sweetly.

"Quite a young girl to be in this kind of work," Hank observed.

"I promise ya it'll be worth the money," she insisted.

Hank smiled. "I bet it will be. But, you come work for me and I promise ya you'll be makin' double."

The bartender reached for his gun from under the bar and pointed it at Hank.

"No one threatens to take my girls away from me!" The bartender sneered.

"Ain't takin' her from ya," Hank explained, "just askin' if she'd rather be makin' more money."

"You get out of here, ya hear!" The man shouted.

Hank nodded. "I'll just hafta go find myself some other women."

"Well, find 'em somewhere else!"

Hank downed the rest of his whiskey and exited the saloon. He walked across the dusty street, wondering where he should head next. He knew that there had to be potential women out there somewhere but he wasn't sure where to look. Women such as those that he was looking for didn't usually just stand around on the streets waiting to be hired.

He walked down the road, wondering if he should pick up the train to the next town, when he saw a woman watching him from across the street. When he walked towards her, she disappeared between two buildings. Hank looked around, wondering if there was anyone watching him. When he was sure that he was all alone, he followed the woman. He found her sitting behind one of the buildings, but he could not see her face. Her hair was in front of her face and she wore a bonnet that shadowed her eyes.

"Hear you been lookin' for saloon girls," the woman whispered.

"Ya interested?" Hank asked.

"Maybe," the woman answered.

"Let me take a look at ya."

The woman pushed her hair behind her ears and took off the bonnet. Hank looked at her face and noticed bruises along her jaw line and on her cheek. Her lips were swollen and scabbed and one of her eyes was bruised so badly that it barely opened.

Hank gasped, first at the sight of the woman's face and then at the fact that he suddenly recognized the woman. As he stared at her, he wondered if who he was really seeing the woman he thought she was.

"Maria?"

"Hank!" The woman cried, quickly putting the bonnet back on and pushing the hair back in front of her face. She stood and began to walk away from him when he grabbed her arm and pulled her back, although not forcefully.

"What happened to ya?" Hank interrogated, knowing from her voice alone that it was the woman he thought it was.

"I didn't know it was you," she insisted.

"Maria, who did this to ya?" He demanded to know.

"It don't matter. I…"

"And when did you begin in the whorin' business?"

"I'm not in the whorin' business," she clarified, "I've just been lookin' for some work is all."

"Well, where have ya been? What have ya been doing?" Hank looked down at her hands and saw the simple ring that she wore on her left hand. "You're married?" She nodded. "Did he do this?" Hank pointed to her face. "Did your husband do this to ya?"

She began to cry. "I need help, Hank."

"Tell me where he is and I'll…"

"No!" She cried. "I need your help to get outta here. I don't have any money for a train ticket but I have to get outta here."

"What 'bout your husband?"

"My husband is a very respected man in this town. He's a doctor, runnin' that conference that they're havin' over at the hotel with a man from Boston. That's why I was able to get away today. He's been so busy with that conference but I gotta get outta here. Please, Hank."

"Then he did do this to ya?"

"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important," she begged.

"You ain't in some kinda trouble are ya?"

"The only trouble I'm is if I go home to him. He'll kill me, Hank, I know he will. I have to get outta here. Please, help me."

"I guess you can come back with me ta the saloon back in Colorado Springs."

"I can't go with ya. He'll recognize you…"

"Recognize me? I ain't never met your husband."

She nodded. "You have." She paused. "I married Robert."

"Robert!" Hank exclaimed. "You married Robert!"

"Please, Hank. I know what you're thinkin' but he used to be nice to me. He used to flatter me and buy me gifts. He used to love me…until he started drinkin'. He started drinkin' and then I couldn't have a baby and he just…"

"Maybe he wouldn't recognize me," Hank replied. "It's been a long time."

"Even if he didn't recognize ya, I can't go to your saloon. He'll look for me there. He knows that it's the only work that I can…"

"So you are in the whorin' business?"

"I just hafta make some money and then I'll be gone but it just can't be in a saloon. Please Hank, ya gotta help me."

"I ain't 'fraid of him. He comes lookin' for you and…"

"No, Hank! He's got friends. Friends in high places and we can't risk it. I just need ta get out of here just for a little while and then I'll be gone."

Hank sighed. "I know someone who can help ya."

"Who?"

"A doctor friend."

"A doctor but he knows all the doctors Hank and…"

"This ain't a normal doctor, Maria. She's…"

"She?"

"Just trust me."

She nodded. "I've always trusted you."

He smiled and took her hand. "Come with me."

They began walking briskly towards the hotel.

Michaela listened attentively at the speech being given on a new surgery that was being studied to help people's eyes who were going blind. The first seminar that Michaela had attended earlier that morning was equally as fascinating. It was about different medications and their reactions with one another. Michaela sat beside William, who, at the dinner the night before, had introduced her to many of the physicians, all of them male. Some of them seemed to look at Michaela with disgust while others were intrigued be her. While the speaker began showing off the different instruments needed for the delicate eye surgery, Michaela silently thanked Sully for convincing her to go on the trip at all. She realized how much more interesting and informative the seminar was than reading the same information in a medical journal or book. She reminded herself to send a telegram to Sully in the children when they broke for lunch to tell them that she was alright and that she was having a good time. She hoped the same could be said for them.

As Michaela listened to the speaker, she couldn't help but hear the commotion that was going on outside the closed doors of the meeting room. She tried to concentrate on the speech but she swore that she heard her name being shouted.

"Is something wrong?" William asked quietly, noticing Michaela's inattention.

"I'll be right back," Michaela whispered in response, standing up as quietly as possible. As she reached the door, hoping that she wasn't attracting too many stares, the doors burst open. Michaela stood face to face with Hank.

"Michaela," he panted, out of breath from having run to the hotel and having argued with the man who sat at the front table. He was the same man who had tried to stop Michaela from entering the conference.

"Hank?" Michaela exclaimed as the speaker stopped speaking and all eyes turned to them.

"I gotta talk to you," Hank exclaimed.

William stood and went to Michaela's side.

"What is the meaning of this?" He demanded to know.

"This is between me and Michaela," Hank replied.

"Well…I…" Michaela stuttered, unsure of what to do. The look in Hank's eye, however, told her that it was something important. "Excuse me."

She walked out of the room with Hank in toe.

"What is the meaning of this?" She wondered angrily as she led Hank into a corner of the main lobby. She watched as William closed the doors to the meeting room and tried to calm everyone inside.

"I need ta ask ya a favor, Michaela."

"What kind of favor?"

Hank leaned towards Michaela. "I need ya to look at someone."

"Who?"

Hank began walking out of the hotel, expecting Michaela to follow him. She watched him walk towards the front doors and then glanced over at the closed doors of the meeting room. She was unsure if she should follow him or if she should return to the lecture and hopefully not suffer from too many prying eyes. She sighed, thinking that if there was someone really outside who needed a doctor, she had the obligation to help him or her. As Hank disappeared through the open doors, Michaela rolled her eyes and followed him.

Outside, Michaela found Hank standing behind the hotel building, his back towards her. She approached him. As he heard her footsteps, he turned to her and she saw Maria huddled behind him.

"Oh my God," Michaela whispered. She kneeled in front of the woman, ignoring Hank altogether. Suddenly she kicked into doctor mode and wished that she had her medical bag. Maria tried to hide her face but Hank placed his hand on her shoulder, assuring her that everything was going to be okay.

"This is the lady doctor I was tellin' you 'bout," he assured her. "She's gonna take real good care of ya."

Michaela couldn't help but feel proud with Hank's kind words. She knew that he was never too accepting of her being a doctor when she had first arrived into town but, like most everyone else, he had learned to accept her even if he didn't usually verbally admit it.

"I'm Dr. Quinn," Michaela said. She began to look over Maria's wounds, trying to determine which ones should be stitched. She knew that all of them should be cleaned but she didn't have the things that she needed. "What's your name?"

"Maria," Maria replied.

"Maria, who did this to you?"

Maria didn't reply.

"It was her husband," Hank answered.

"We need to get these wounds cleaned and stitched up," Michaela explained. "I'm going to need my bag and some other things. You should come up to my room where I have more supplies and…"

Hank grabbed Michaela's arm loosely and brought her away from where Maria sat.

"Hank," Michaela protested. "She needs…"

"She can't go in there with ya."

"Why not?"

"'Cause…"

"Because why?"

"Because her husband's one of them doctors."

"Her husband? The man who beat her? He's one of the doctors at the conference?"

"He's the one runnin' the event with some fancy Boston doctor."

"Dr. Clarke? He's running the event with Dr. Hansen. He doesn't seem like the type…"

"He may not seem like the type, Michaela, but those bruises say different."

"We can call the sheriff," Michaela suggested.

"He's a doctor, Michaela. He's a distinguished member of the community. Don't think the sheriff would quite listen to what Maria has ta say."

Michaela hated to admit it but she knew that he was right.

"Well, I have to treat her wounds, Hank. Otherwise they could get infected or…"

"She needs ta get out of here, Michaela."

"Out of here?"

"Her husband's gonna come lookin' for her and we gotta get her outta here. I was gonna take her ta Colorado Springs ta stay in the saloon for a while but she says her husband'll be lookin' for her there."

"Why?"

"Don't know."

Michaela didn't believe him but she didn't press the matter. "She can stay at the clinic," Michaela offered.

"Don't like the idea of her stayin' there by herself."

"What's your interest in her anyway?"

"Don't matter. Ya gonna help me or not, Michaela?"

"Of course I'll help you but…" Michaela was desperately trying to think of a plan. Whoever the woman was, she was obviously important to Hank. "Why don't you go back to Colorado Springs and stay at the clinic with her?"

"I can't."

"Why not?

"He'll be lookin' for me."

"Hank, I can't help you unless I know what's going on," Michaela replied, frustrated. She wanted to help but it was becoming increasingly more difficult.

"Please Michaela."

Michaela sighed as a thought popped into her head. "She can stay at the homestead."

"Homestead? Your homestead?"

"Yes. That way we know she'll be safe. I'll go with her on the train."

"Ya can't do that, Michaela."

"Why not?"

"'Cause the doc'll notice you're missin' and when he finds out that Maria's missin',

too, he'll go lookin' for ya both."

"How do you know that? How do you know that he wouldn't just think that I decided to return home for personal reasons?"

"Because he's already seen me lookin' for ya. He may not have realized I was who I was yet but if he goes home and sees his wife missin' and realizes that I've been in town with a lady doc who just decided to go home after fightin' so hard to get into the conference, at the same time as his wife disappeared, he'll know somethin's up." Hank sighed. "All I know is as of right now, the doc's been so busy with the conference, he ain't even been home. Now that he's seen me, if he recognizes me, he might go home and try lookin' for her. You gotta stay here and make sure that he don't go home."

Michaela sighed, not liking the fact that Hank was being so secretive about the whole thing. Michaela didn't mind helping a woman who obviously needed help but she felt like she should at least be given some kind of explanation. Knowing that Hank wasn't about to give one, Michaela gave in.

"She can stay at the homestead with Sully. He can watch over her and it's far away from town so even if he does go looking for her, he won't be able to find her. She can stay there until she's feeling better and then we'll figure out something and maybe then you'll be able to tell me what all of this is about."

Hank looked back at Maria who was sitting, pretending not to listen even though she heard every word. Michaela walked over to her and kneeled in front of her.

"My husband will take care of you," Michaela told her. "You'll be safe there."

"Thank you," Maria whispered.

Michaela stood and turned towards Hank. "I'll telegram Sully and let him know that she'll be on the next train."

"What if Horace blabs 'bout a new lady comin' ta town?"

Michaela sighed. "I'll tell him…I'll tell him it's a friend coming to visit."

Totally forgetting the conference, Michaela started walking towards the nearby telegraph office.

"Thank you, Michaela," Hank yelled after her.

Michaela kept walking, hoping that she was doing the right thing.

Sully walked past the clinic, Wolf in tow. He nodded to familiar faces as he passed but did not say much to anyone in particular. He approached the telegraph office.

"Mornin', Sully," Myra said, leaning over the half door of the office.

"Mornin' Myra. How are ya this mornin'?"

"Better now that I just put Samantha to sleep," Myra answered.

Sully smiled. "Just wait 'til she starts growin' up and then you'll wish ya had more of them sleepless nights."

Myra smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right. So, what can I do for ya?"

"I'm pickin' up a package for Michaela. Some kind of medicine, I think."

Myra reached underneath the counter and brought out a large box wrapped in brown paper. She handed it over to Sully who took it.

"Dr. Mike sure does love her medicine, don't she?"

"She certainly does, Myra."

Sully thanked her and turned to walk away. As he made his way over to Robert E's, he heard his name called from behind. He turned and Horace was running awkwardly towards him as only Horace could run.

"Horace?"

"Telegram for ya, Sully from Dr. Mike."

Horace handed the telegram to Sully. Horace stood for a moment where he was, always interested in the reactions that people had when they received telegrams. Horace always had the privilege of knowing the news first but he knew that, under his oath, he could not say anything. Sully opened the telegram, juggling the large package of medicine in the crook of his elbow and read it to himself.

Sully, Everything is going well in Denver but I've gotten some unexpected news. A friend of mine is coming to visit Colorado Springs. Please keep her at the homestead and protect her. I'll explain later. Love, Michaela.

Sully read the letter once more to make sure that he caught every word. Although it seemed like an ordinary telegram, Sully knew something was wrong. Michaela would never instruct Sully to protect someone unless it was important. Although Sully didn't really understand the telegram, he trusted Michaela and he knew that if she was asking him to do this, it was important. Sully folded the telegram and turned to Horace.

"Horace, when does the train from…"

"'Bout an hour…12:30," Horace answered before Sully could even finish asking his question.

"Thank you, Horace."

"You're welcome, Sully."

Horace began walking away when Sully stopped him by pulling on his arm.

"I'd like to keep this a secret," Sully explained. "This friend of hers…it's a surprise for Matthew." Sully hated lying but he didn't feel as if he had a choice. Something was wrong and Michaela had left it up to him to make sure that the whole town didn't know about it. "We've been thinkin' that since he's been so down 'bout Ingrid's passin' that we should…"

"I understand, Sully," Horace interjected. "You don't gotta explain. I won't tell no one 'bout her comin'."

"'Bout who comin'?" Robert E asked as he approached both Sully and Horace.

Horace gave Sully an apologetic look before excusing himself and heading back to the telegraph office. Sully looked at Robert E, the man he had come to trust as his own brother. Robert E had helped him and Michaela so many times before. Sully couldn't help but wonder if he would need his help now.

"We gotta talk, Robert E."

Robert E nodded and led Sully to the livery where the only prying ears were the horses.

"What's goin' on?"

"I'm not really sure," Sully replied honestly. "I just got a telegram from Michaela tellin' me that a friend of hers is comin' on the next train and I need ta protect her."

"Who's her friend?"

"Don't know."

"Dr. Mike say anythin' 'bout expectin' a friend 'fore she left?"

"No, and I don't think it's really her friend. Her telegram makes it seem like I'm supposed to keep her at the homestead and not let anyone know she's here."

"How do you know that?"

"Just a hunch, I guess."

"Are you gonna do it?"

"Of course I am. I just don't know what I'm gonna tell Colleen and Brian."

Robert E thought for a moment. "Just tell 'em exactly what the telegram says. Tell 'em that she's a friend of their ma's who didn't know that Michaela was gonna be outta town so she decided to come by for a visit."

Sully nodded. "Thanks Robert E."
"You just let me know if ya need anythin'."

"I will."

The men shook hands as Sully walked away, trying to think of what he should do next. They had the spare room in the homestead so that wouldn't be a problem but he knew nothing about this woman. He didn't know how Michaela knew her, how old she was, or why he was supposed to protect her. Sully knew to trust Michaela but he also knew that he would feel much better if he just had a little more information.

An hour later, the train rolled in at exactly 12:30. Sully stood on the platform, watching as a few people stepped off the train. He had no idea how he was going to recognize this woman. Horace watched the people step off the train from the entrance to the telegram office, also trying to take a look at the mystery woman.

"What ya lookin' at, Horace?" Jake asked as he walked over to the office and leaned against the wall.

"Just seein' who's comin' in on the train," Horace replied.

"Lookin' for anyone in particular?"

"Nope."

Jake always had a sense for when Horace was lying. Then again, most people had the same sense when it came to Horace as he wasn't the best liar in town.

"That so?"

"That's right."

"What's Sully doin' waitin' for the train? Thought Sully didn't like trains much."

"Wouldn't know, Jake, why don't ya ask him?"

"Think I just might."

Sully watched as what appeared to be the last passenger step off the train. He did not see any woman traveling alone. He looked down at the telegram once more and read that Michaela did say the next train. Then again, maybe they couldn't get on that train and it would be the next one that she would be on. Sully was about to head off to ask Horace when the next train would arrive when he saw the woman being helped down the train stairs. She wore a high collared dress and a large bonnet that covered her face completely. The two articles or clothing Sully immediately recognized as belonging to Michaela.

Sully made his way over to the woman and took her hand to help her down the last step.

"You a friend of Dr. Mike's?" She nodded. "I'm Sully, Michaela's husband. Do you have any luggage?"

"No," she answered.

Sully tried to get a better look at her but he knew that she was hiding her face for a reason. "Let's get you to our home and maybe then you can tell me what's going on." He led her over to where he had the wagon but before they safely reached it, Jake stepped in front of them.

"Welcome to Colorado Springs," Jake said, shaking hands with Maria. "I'm Jake Slicker, mayor of this town and I wanted to be the first to welcome you to our beautiful town."

Maria quietly thanked him.

"She don't wanna talk, Jake," Sully stated, helping her up into the wagon.

"And you are…?"

"Maria."

"Maria, what a beautiful name. How do you know Mr. Sully, here?"

"She's a friend of Michaela's," Sully quickly answered. "Didn't know Michaela'd be outta town this week so she's stayin' with us in the homestead."

"Stayin' with ya?" Sully nodded and Jake nudged Sully in the ribs. He lowered his voice. "Good cover, my friend."

"Cover?"

"Sendin' Michaela away for a week and invitin' this lovely young woman to visit y'all. Bet Michaela doesn't even know 'bout it."

Sully eyed Jake angrily. "It ain't what ya think, Jake."

"Seems odd that a woman like Dr. Mike would willfully allow a pretty young woman ta stay with her husband while she wasn't around," Jake observed.

Sully climbed on the wagon. "She's just a friend, Jake, and don't go spreadin' rumors that she's somethin' more." Sully grabbed the reins and the horses took off.

Jake watched the wagon go but then went back to the telegraph office. Horace was inside, sorting packages.

"Who is she, Horace?"

"Didn't Sully just tell ya that she was a friend of Dr. Mike's?"

"Don't think that's all she is."

"I think you should leave your nose outta other people's business."

Jake smiled, knowing that Horace knew more than he was telling and that, sooner or later, he would find out what it was.

They rode the entire way to the homestead in silence. When they arrived, Sully showed Maria the spare room and laid out some of Michaela's dresses for her to wear. She barely spoke and when she did, it was only in a whisper. She kept her face hidden at all times. Sully didn't ask any questions about her, even though he desperately wanted to know more about her, and she didn't ask any questions about him. When the tour of the homestead was over, Sully sat her down at the table and made her a cup of tea.

"Michaela's telegram didn't tell me much about you," Sully stated as he sipped his own tea.

"There's not much to know." Sully was almost relieved that she spoke using more than just yes and no but he was almost angered that she wasn't offering any more information. Maria sighed and began to untie her bonnet. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm not used to being able to talk freely." She took the bonnet off and just as Michaela had done, Sully gasped.

Regardless of how much information he knew, Sully knew that he was doing the right thing by helping the poor, young woman.

"Who did that to you?" Sully questioned.

"I'll tell you everything," Maria replied, sensing that she could trust Sully. "My husband is a doctor in Denver. He's one of the men runnin' the conference that your wife is attendin'. He began beatin' me a few months ago after he started drinkin' and I failed to get pregnant and he hasn't stopped until this conference came up and he became preoccupied. I've been tryin' to work to get money to get away but he's always watchin' over me. Dr. Mike offered to help me get away from him and she sent me here. She was goin' to come with me but she's stayin' at the conference to make sure that my husband doesn't realize I'm gone until I can get as far away from him as possible."

"How did you find Michaela at the conference without your husband seeing you?"

"Hank."

"Hank? How did you find Hank?"

"We sort of…stumbled upon each other," she answered. "He helped me find Dr. Mike."

"Hank? Hank helped you? Are we talking about the same Hank here?"

She smiled. "So, even after all these years, he hasn't changed."