The Past Comes Back

Chapter 1:

Michaela carefully rose from her desk after completing the last of her daily patient files, moving to window she looked out into the busy street of the town that she had grown to love more than she ever thought possible. A smile crossed her face as she watched Brian playing with Katie in the meadow. Michaela still couldn't believe how perfectly things were going for her family especially after all the turmoil that they had endured the year before with Sully hiding from the army and with the miscarriage of their second child.

Her hand moved down to her belly. She was entering her seventh months of pregnancy. Closing her eyes she thought of the miracle that was growing within her womb. After her miscarriage she and Sully had feared that they'd never know the joy of having another child, but that fear had been laid to rest the day that Andrew had told her that there would in fact be another addition to the Sully family. After being pardoned of the murder and treason charges Sully had started working with different Congressmen and other politicians, leading tracking parties for those who seemed interested in turning the Red Rocks into a national park.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the sound of horses. A smile came to her face when she saw Sully getting down from his horse just outside the clinic. Moving to the door Michaela pulled it open and came face to face with her soul mate. Sully smiled the special smile that was only meant for Michaela as they moved inside and he closed the door. It had been a very long two weeks since they'd seen one another.

Moving forward a step Sully pulled her into his embrace. "God Michaela, I've missed you."

Finally allowing the tears to fall Michaela wrapped her arms around his neck. "I've missed you too."

Sully move back for a moment to gaze into her unusual eyes then smiled. "Are you gonna kiss me?"

Michaela giggled. "You've got to kiss me first Mr. Sully." Then before she could say another word Sully's lips found hers.

Sully moved back from the kiss after a few moments and laid his forehead against hers. "Have you been gettin' some rest?"

Michaela smiled. "The children have made sure that I'm taking very good care of myself and the baby."

Sully reached behind her into her medical bag and pulled out her stethoscope then smiled playfully as he moved back from their embrace. "May I?"

Michaela giggled as she sat down and took the instrument placing it in her ear then she laid it on her stomach. When she'd found the heart beat she took it from her ear. Sully smiled as he knelt down and placed the instrument in his ear. After listening for a few moments he looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "That's the most amazin' thing I've ever heard."

Michaela smiled as she laid her forehead against his. "That's our baby."

Meanwhile at the general store, Loren, Dorothy and visiting Olive are busy working. They are not paying attention to the door and miss when Loren's estranged daughter Abagail entered the store. She smiled as tears came to her eyes. "Papa?"

Loren turned around and stared in disbelief. "Abbie, is that really you?"

More tears slipped down Abagail's cheeks as she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh Papa, I've missed you so much."

After they part Abagail embraced her Aunts. Olive cleared her throat as the moved back from their embrace, "When did you get back into town?"

Abagail smiled. "I just got off the train a few moments ago." She tells them she just got off the train. She looked at her father again. "Where is Byron?" Abagail always thought it was silly that he hated his first name and to his chagrin refused to call him anything but Byron.

Loren, Olive, and Dorothy look at one another not sure how to tell her about the changes in Sully's life since she's been away.

Abagail noticed the strange looks between them and suddenly became frightened. "Has something happened to him?" Loren shook his head. "No darlin' he's fine but there is somethin' that you need to know before you see him."

Fear rose inside her once again. "Papa, what's happened to my husband?"