When the Past Came Back

Chapter 2:

Before Loren could answer, Abagail heard a familiar voice behind her. "I ain't your husband anymore,"

Abagail quickly turned and saw a very shocked Sully standing just inside the store. A smile broke out over Abagail's face as she happily ran across the room throwing her arms around his neck, but it only lasted for a moment. She backed away when she didn't feel him returning her greeting. "You're still angry with me, aren't you?"

Sully shook his head. "No, I got over you leavin' a long time ago."

Abagail smiled. "I hope that we can go for walks like we used to and spend time together."

Sully shook his head. He knew that he needed to explain this to Michaela before she saw Abagail. Moving back out the door he turned. "I need to talk to someone."

Abagail began to pout as she always did when she didn't get her way. "Do you have to do it this minute?"

Sully nodded. "It's important." Then without another word he hurried from the store heading to clinic again.

When Sully reached the clinic he was about to enter when he heard that Michaela was talking to a patient, he nervously began pacing as he waited, wondering how he's going to explain the situation to her.

A few moments later Michaela opened the door and led Mrs. Carlson out. Sully greeted the older woman with a smile then entered the clinic. Michaela entered after him and closed the door. She smiled teasingly at her husband. "Missed me that much?"

She let out a gasp of shock when Sully walked over and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I love ya more than anythin'."

Michaela's heart started to beat faster as she backed away. "Has something happened to one of the children?"

Sully shook his head. "No they're fine."

She slowly let out the breath that she wasn't aware she'd been holding. "Sully, what are you so upset about?"

He shook his head and moved away from her. "I'm not sure how to tell ya this."

Michaela moved over and put her hand on his shoulder. "You know that you can tell me anything."

At that moment there was a knock on the door. Michaela looked at Sully apologetically then moved away from him. She opened the door and gasped when saw Sully's supposedly dead first wife standing there.

Regaining her composure she smiled. "May I help you?"

Abagail smiled sweetly. "I was looking for my husband, Byron Sully."

Sully turned from the window. "I'm your ex husband."

Michaela moved aside and let Abagail enter the clinic then she closed the door.

Sully moved away from the window. "What are ya doin' here?"

Abagail shrugged. "I was hoping we could take a walk together so I followed you."

Sully folded his arms over his chest. "I told ya I can't talk right now." He glanced over and saw Michaela sit down at her desk. He noticed that she looked slightly pale as she continued to stare at the younger woman. "Byron, I'd like to go to Hannah's grave but I don't want to go alone."

Sully sighed knowing that he couldn't get out of it. "You go on to the cemetery I'll be there in a few minutes after I'm done talking to Dr. Mike."

Michaela glanced at him slightly startled at the use of the name he used before they were a couple.

Abagail smiled brightly. "I'll see you in a little while."

She moved to the door and looked back at Michaela. "It was nice meeting you Miss…"

Taking a deep breath, Michaela stood and extended her hand. "Dr. Michaela Quinn."

Abagail's eyes widened. "You're the doctor?"

Michaela smiled. "Yes."

Abagail released her hand. "That's an interesting job for a woman."

Sully smiled proudly. "She's a wonderful doctor, we're lucky to have her."

Abagail was taken back by the admiration that she saw in his eyes for the lady doctor. "Byron, please don't be too long." With that she left the clinic.

When she'd gone Michaela turned to Sully. "What's going on?"

He moved to her and put his hands on her arms. "There's somethin' that I shoulda explained to ya a long time ago." He led Michaela back to her desk where he made sure she was seated before he knelt down once again taking her hands in his. "Ya know that my first child Hannah died the night she was born?"

Michaela nodded. "I thought Abagail died that night as well."

Sully shook his head. "Charlotte was able to save her but a couple of days after Hannah's funeral she ran off." Sully looked down trying to swallow the lump in his throat. Even though it had been years since that night it was still a very painful memory.

Michaela squeezed his hand to give him strength and also to get his attention. He looked up at her. "Sully, if she's not dead then why is there a cross with her name on it in the cemetery?"

Sully sighed and shook his head. "After we ran off and eloped Loren was so angry that he not only disowned her but he placed that marker there telling the entire town that to him Abagail was dead."

Michaela shook her head. "That doesn't sound like the Loren who's been like a grandfather to Brian and Katie."

Sully nodded. "That's not the Loren we know now, the man who loves our family, but that was how he was back then."

Michaela looked up at him again. "How did Abagail react to what he did?"

Sully took a deep breath. "She was very hurt and I was angry, in fact, he and I had some harsh words over it many times."

Michaela nodded. "I'm sure it hurt everyone involved."

Sully smiled slightly remembering his late Mother-in-law. "Her ma tried to help the situation by talkin' to him but he wouldn't even listen to her."

Sully released her hands and rose. He moved to the window and looked out toward the graveyard where he saw Abagail kneeling at their daughter's grave. "Miss Olive left Colorado Springs because of what Loren did."

Michaela rose and came up behind him. She took a deep breath before asking the question that was terrifying her. "Sully, are trying to tell me that you and Abagail are still legally married?"

Sully turned quickly and pulled her into his arms again. "No Michaela! A few months after she left I got divorce papers from a lawyer in Denver." Sully shook his head. "I was ready to get on the next stage and go there to find her but she sent a letter with the papers telling me that she wasn't in Denver and that the divorce was something that she thought was for the best for both of us." Sully moved back slightly and looked into his wife's eyes. "I was so hurt and angry because she ran off and wouldn't talk to me about how she was feelin' that I signed them and sent them back to the lawyer then I left Colorado Springs." He cupped her cheek. "I swear today is the first time I've seen her since that time."

Michaela felt hurt that he'd never told her that Abagail was alive but she could see in his eyes how much his past truly hurt him. She placed her hand over his as it rested on her cheek. "I believe you Sully."

He looked deep into her eyes. "I know I've hurt ya."

Michaela turned away from him and started to walk away. "That's not important right now."

Sully turned her back toward him while she was still in reach. "It's very important to me."

Michaela looked down for a moment. "I am hurt that you're just now telling me about this." Looking up again into her beloved husband's eyes, she smiled. "But I know that your past hurt you very much."

Sully shook his head. "That's no excuse for me keepin' this from ya."

Looking he looked into her eyes once again. "Please say you can forgive me."

Michaela smiled. "I love you so of course I forgive you."

Sully shook his head and smiled. "How did I get so lucky to find a woman like you?"

Michaela wrapped her arms around his neck. "We both got lucky when we found each other." With that Sully leaned down and kissed her.

Before the kiss could get out of control Michaela pulled back. "What are you going to tell Abagail about us?"

Sully looked into her eyes again and spoke with conviction. "I'm going to tell her that you're my wife and we've got a beautiful family together."

At that moment there was a knock on the door. Sully moved away from Michaela and opened it. He wasn't surprised to see Loren along with Olive and Dorothy. Loren cleared his throat "May we come in?" Sully moved aside letting them enter. Loren looked at him and then Michaela. "She came here didn't she?"

Sully moved over and put his arm protectively around Michaela. "Yes she was here a few minutes ago."

Loren shook his head. "I'm so sorry about all this Dr. Mike."

Michaela moved away from Sully and embraced the older man. "You've got nothing to be sorry for."

Olive looked at Sully. "What are you going to do?" Sully looked at Michaela for moment then spoke. "I'm gonna tell her the truth."

Loren nodded. "That's for the best."

Sully turned to Michaela again. "I should get going before she comes lookin' for me again."

Michaela embraced him. He could feel her slightly trembling in his arms. "It's gonna to be all right, 'Chaela."

Michaela leaned up and kissed him briefly. "I'll wait here until your done then we can go home."

Sully smiled. "See you in a while." Then he exited the clinic.

Dorothy moved over and put her arm around the younger woman. "Michaela, everything's going to be alright."

Olive moved to Michaela's other side. "Dorothy's right, it's going to work out for the best for everyone."

Loren cleared his throat. "I should get back to the store." He looked at Dr. Mike again. "Will you be all right?"

Michaela smiled. "I'll be fine."

Dorothy looked at him and smiled. "Olive and I'll stay until Sully comes back." Loren nodded then without another word left the clinic.

Michaela shook her head. "He shouldn't feel guilty that his daughter has come home."

Olive patted her hand. "He's worried about Abagail but he's also worried about you, Sully, and the children."