Doctor Mike was prepared to start the blood transfusion procedure. Colleen had arrived from school and was caring for the marshal who was showing signs of improvement, but he had still slept most of the day. The deputies, Mr. Smith and Mr. Barr, had also arrived and were waiting for any more information about the shooter that the marshal may be able to provide.
Grace offered to take care of Brian until Blake's condition improved, so he was with her, and would help to prepare for the dinner crowd at the cafe'.
Sully lay on the cot next to Blake's bed, his arm extended toward his brother. Anna refused to leave, even after Michaela had explained the procedure she we be performing, in great detail. Anna didn't quite know what to expect, if Blake would wake up immediately or not, but a small part of her hoped that Blake would open his eyes and come back to them right away. If that happened, she wanted her face to be the first he saw.
"Sully," Michaela, said..."I'm going to begin now...you will feel some pain at the penetration site, as you did the last time"
"I know what to expect Michaela...I'm ready," Sully responded in a serious tone.
Anna stood nearby, but quickly looked away as Doctor Mike began to insert the pointed metal instrument into Sully's arm. She took a deep breath to fight the queasy feeling that spun in the pit of her stomach.
Michaela finished Sully's portion of the procedure, then swiftly attended to Blake and repeated it on him. "I'm done with that part now Anna," Michaela informed her, after she noticed Anna's averted gaze. Anna exhaled the breath she held and turned her eyes back to the brothers, who were now connected by a thin tube, as well as kinship. Anna slowly returned to the chair at Blake's bedside.
"When will we know if it is going to work?" Anna asked Michaela.
"I can't be certain Anna...sometimes the transfusions work, sometimes not at all. But I'm hopeful, that because they are brothers, there will be a better chance of success...and, that it will work quickly, for Blake's sake." Michaela replied.
Anna nodded her head. Doctor Mike had already explained that part before, but Anna hoped for positive news more than anything. "This has to work," she thought to herself. "Please God, please bring him through this, let this work," she whispered silently for His divine intervention.
Sully closed his eyes and willed his brother to become stronger, as though his own determination flowed along with his blood, into Blake's body.
"Doctor Mike," Colleen called from the marshal's room. "He's wakin' up"
"Be right there Colleen," Michaela replied. "Anna, come get me if there are any changes," she added and left the room.
Anna nodded and sat contentedly, at just being close to Blake. With Sully in the room, she refrained from whispering the sweet words of encouragement to Blake that she wished to. While the transfusion was taking place, she closed her eyes for a moment, her lids heavy with exhaustion. While Anna rested, Blake began an internal struggle to reawaken. He could feel something stirring, radiating through his arm...flowing through his body. This was a soothing sensation, not like the gunshots that pierced his abdomen, neither was it a feeling like the surgery Doctor Mike had performed to keep him alive. This was almost a pulsing force, that propelled him closer to the surface, up from the bottom of a deep, dark expanse. Blake tried to speak, but his mouth would not move. He tried to open his eyes, again they did not respond to his will, some heavy force suppressed his limbs. He detected that something, someone was near him, urging him to keep rising from the depths that tried to restrain him. Desperately he tried to move, speak, but none of his body would obey.
Marshal Hickson was now fully conscious and able to relay to the deputies what he remembered of the incident. He spoke quietly, the usual spark missing from his voice, still weak from his injuries. "I was sleepin' on my bed roll and then I heard a sound at the door," he said. I tried to reach for my gun, but before I could move, he was inside and fired off two rounds at me"
Marshal Hickson suddenly winced in pain. Doctor Mike noticed this and started to prepare another shot of morphine. "Here marshal, this should ease your discomfort," she offered.
"No thank ya Doc," he replied. "I bin through worse and made it just fine without any fancy medicine. ...but a cuppa water'd be good," he replied.
Colleen poured a fresh cup of water and helped the marshal to drink a few sips.
Michalea explained, "Gentleman, I will allow a few more moments with the marshal, then you will have to leave him to rest again. Colleen, I'm going back to check on Blake and Sully," she said and left the room.
Deputy Smith asked, "Did ya recognize 'im"
The marshal shook his head slightly, "naw, but I got a feelin' I know who it was...Jarett Collins comes ta mind"
Deputy Barr agreed, "Yeah, we figgurd it must be him, seein' as Emilie Burns was missin' too...we alreaddy put the word out fer 'em," he added.
"Good...that's good," the marshal replied, a bit more relieved at knowing that at least someone was looking for the wanted pair of criminals.
Michaela entered the room to find Sully with his eyes fixed on Blake, and Anna sleeping while sitting up, at his side.
"It's almost over," Michaela said softly, to not disturb Anna. Michaela prepared to removed the transfusion device from Sully's arm, then Blake's.
"She told me...about being in love with Blake," Sully whispered to Michaela. "I was right," he said with a slight look of satisfaction, tinged with concern.
"I know...she told me too. We had a nice chat earlier," Michaela replied. She worked cautiously and carefully removed the tube that had connected them and bandaged each brother's arm. Then she proceeded to check Blake's vital signs. A faint smile appeared on her face, Sully barely noticed it, no one else would have detected it at all, but he could see it there.
"What is it Michalea?" He asked and lifted his head to read her expressions more clearly.
"His heart rate has come up and he is breathing at a much more steady pace," she said but still tried to hide her sprouting hope.
Sully smiled broadly as he lay his head back on the pillow. His part was done, and he now needed to rest away the effects the transfusion had on him.
Anna stirred at the sound of their voices and opened her eyes immediately, ashamed at herself for having nodded off...even if it had only been a few moments. "Doctor Mike?" She asked, "is he going to be alright"
"So far, I'd say, things are looking a bit better," she answered.
"So the transfusion is working?" Anna asked eagerly.
"It's still too early to tell, but the first signs seem to be positive," she replied.
Anna sighed audibly, but felt like singing out loud, at the first real sign of improvement. "Blake, if you can hear me, please, keep fighting," Anna said softly, a smile on her face as well.
Blake heard a muffled voice, as if he was under water. He wanted to swim toward it...it drew him closer..."who is there," he wondered...but drifted helplessly, aimlessly in the abyss.
Jarett Collins and Emilie Burns had already traveled a fair distance from Colorado Springs, considering he tried to stay on the roads less traveled. Emilie was hot and already tired of the journey, yet they still had quite a long way to go ahead of them. She had already asked Jarett to stop so they could rest, to which he had promptly replied "No"
"Why can't we stop Jarett? I need to stretch my legs...please, darling," she implored in a sweet voice.
"I have already explained Emilie...we have to keep moving dearest...they may be on to us already...the farther we can get from Colorado Springs each day, the closer we get to making our dreams in Mexico a reality...there is a small town that we'll reach before dark, if we keep going...I have a contact there...he will feed us and put us up for the night, no questions asked." Jarett explained confidently.
Emilie crossed her arms over her chest and sighed heavily. There was no changing his mind now and she knew it.
"Don't you worry your pretty little head my dear, I promise, we will get there safely," he added with a smile.
Emilie's disappointment softened a bit and she edged closer to him and put her head on his shoulder affectionately.
"You're right Jarett...you know what you're doing," she said and closed her eyes dreamily as she tried to imagine what their new life in Mexico would hold as they continued the dangerous journey.
Several hours had passed since Sully shared his blood with Blake. Colleen and Michaela had helped him to her room so he could rest for a little while longer without being disturbed. Anna paced the floor near Blake's bedside, only taking a few moments at a time to sit and rest.
Michaela approached her and said, "Anna...it's past suppertime. Colleen is going to the cafe' to bring back some food for Sully and the marshal...you need to eat something too," she said in an almost authoritative tone.
Anna knew better than to argue with Doctor Mike and conceded. "Alright...I suppose you are right, Michaela"
Michaela replied with a slight smile, "Happy somebody agrees with me. Anna, try not to worry...these things take time," she said supportively and placed her hand on Anna's shoulder.
"Thank you Michaela..I know," she said.
Michaela left the room to tell Colleen to bring something extra for Anna to eat as well.
Anna lit the small oil lamp on the table next to Blake's bed. She then plopped back down on the chair and almost missed the seat. "Ouch!" she squealed more loudly than she should have, as her bottom hit it's hard and unforgiving edge.
Blake thought he heard a woman's cry for help. It wasn't as muffled as the voices he had heard before. He could see some light at the surface of the water and forced himself toward it. His limbs were heavy and slow to respond, but he pushed up with all of his strength. As he got closer to the surface, he thought he saw Annie, struggling to reach for him, but she was floundering and kept going under the surface. "I have to help her, but how?...He reached up with his arms and slowly she came into view. He surfaced above the water, they were in the large pond at the falls... he saw her radiant face, her eyes locked onto his, "Annie," he spoke "I'm here," but she didn't seem to hear him.
Anna noticed that the expression on Blake's face had changed a bit, like he was contemplating a serious thought. She edged in closer to him and stroked his hair as she whispered, "Blake, can you hear me...please wake up...I love you." She placed a soft kiss on his parched lips.
Blake clearly heard Annie speak the words "I love you." He moved closer to her in the water and replied, "Annie, I love you too," as he kissed her soft, tender mouth.
Anna jumped back, as she felt Blake's lips move under hers. "Blake? Did you just...kiss me?" She asked full of wonderment.
Blake's eyelids fluttered for just a second as he struggled to open his eyes. He wanted to see Annie's face, kiss her once again.
"Blake, open your eyes, please try," she said, tears forming in her own.
He forced his eyelids to obey and as they did, he saw the outline of Annie's face hovering over him. He focused on her...trying to decide if he was in a dream or if he was really awake.
Anna saw the recognition in his dull eyes and knew at once, that he had come back to them, come back to her. "Blake," she said softly, "Welcome back."