When the Past Comes Back

Chapter 3:

As Sully approached the cemetery he heard Abagail talking to their daughter. "I know I've been away for a long time but your mama's back and soon your papa and I will work things out and be a family again."

Sully stopped behind her. "We can't go back to the past."

Abagail looked up startled then stood again. "We don't have to go back; we can build a new future together."

Sully shook his head. "Things have changed since ya been gone."

Abagail moved toward him. "I'm sure that it's nothin' that important."

Sully sighed knowing that this was going to be extremely difficult. "I've got to tell ya somethin'."

At that moment Brian ran over with Katie in his arms. "Hey Pa," Sully spun around hearing his son's voice. Without a backward glance at Abagail he hurried toward them. Kneeling down in front of his youngest son, Sully put his hands on Brian's shoulders. "Son, I need you to take your sister and go wait for me at the clinic with your ma."

Brian looked past him at the woman that was staring at them. "Pa, who is that woman you're talkin' to?"

Sully squeezed his shoulder. "Your ma and I'll explain everythin' to ya and the other kids later at home."

Brian looked at Sully again. "Okay Pa."

Sully smiled and rose. "I'll be there as soon as I'm finished." With that Brian turned and hurried back toward the clinic.

Once they were out of sight Sully turned and walked back to where Abagail was standing. She stared at him with a very confused look on her face. "Byron, why did that boy call you Pa?"

Sully looked around and noticed that some of the townsfolk were watching them. Putting his hand under Abagail's arm he guided her toward the church. "Let's go to the bridge so we can talk privately."

She smiled as she leaned closer to his side. "I can't wait to be alone with you again."

Once they arrived at the bridge Sully looked out across the meadow for a moment gathering his strength and all his emotions. Abagail put her hand on his arm. "Byron, love, what's goin' on?"

Sully turned toward her then stepped back slightly so that she wasn't touching him. "The boy you saw at the cemetery is Charlotte Cooper's youngest boy Brian."

Abagail smiled. "My word, the last time I saw him he was a little thing." Then she frowned remembering Brian's words to Sully. "Why did he call you Pa?" Sully looked directly into her eyes. "This is going to be hard for you to hear but you have to listen to everything I'm going to tell ya."

Abagail nodded. "You know I'll listen to whatever you got to say."

Taking a deep breath Sully started to explain. "Dr. Michaela Quinn is really Dr. Michaela Quinn-Sully, we were married in 1870."

Abagail shook her head. "No, that's not possible."

Sully nodded. "And the reason Brian called me Pa is because Michaela and I adopted him and Colleen a few months before the weddin', we woulda adopted Matthew too but he was already of age but to us he is our eldest son."

Abagail stared at him trying to take in what he was telling her. "What happened to Charlotte?"

Sully pointed toward the graveyard. "She died a little while after Michaela arrived in Colorado Springs."

Abagail looked at Sully again. "If she is such a wonderful doctor why couldn't she save Charlotte?"

Sully heard the underlying sarcasm in her voice but ignored it. "Charlotte had been bitten by a rattlesnake and the venom was moving too fast for Michaela to help her."

Abagail looked at him again. "Who was the little girl in Brian's arms?"

Sully couldn't help but smile. "That's mine and Michaela's three year old daughter Katherine Elizabeth, but we call her Katie."

Tear started running down Abagail's cheeks as she turned her back to him. "How could you do this to me?"

Sully sighed. "It took me a long time to get over you leavin' but after I met Michaela I started to live again and eventually over time we fell in love."

Abagail wiped furiously at her tears then suddenly slapped him across the cheek. "I'm never going to forgive you for this Byron Sully!" With that she turned and ran across the bridge toward the mercantile. Sully rubbed his throbbing cheek for a few moments then he walked toward the livery to get the family's wagon.

A few minutes later he pulled up outside the clinic. He climbed down and knocked on the door. Olive opened it and let him inside. "Is everything all right with you and Abagail?"

Sully shook his head as he entered the room. "She's very hurt and angry that I've moved on with my life." He looked around the empty examination room. "Where is Michaela?"

Dorothy stood up from her seat behind Michaela's desk. "She and Brian took Katie upstairs to rest for a little while."

Sully walked toward the door leading to the recovery rooms. "I'm going to get my family and take them home."

Olive and Dorothy moved to the door. Dorothy looked at him again before exiting. "Please let us know if you or Michaela need anything."

Sully smiled at both women. "Thanks for everythin'." Dorothy and Olive smiled in return then headed back to the store to try to help Loren with Abagail.

Sully walked up the stairs and stepped into the hallway. He could hear Michaela and Brian talking. "Ma, is everything all right between you and Pa?" Sully opened the door and entered. "Yeah Brian, we're fine."

Katie held out her arms. "Papa, pick me up!"

Sully smiled and reached over to the bed. "That's my sweet Kates."

Michaela stood. "How did it go?" Sully shook his head. "We'll talk about it at home." Then he looked at Brian. "Can you take Katie down to the wagon?"

Brian rose from his chair and took Katie from Sully. "Sure Pa."

When they were gone Sully moved over and pulled Michaela into his arms. "Let's go home."

Michaela looked up and saw the troubled look in his eyes then she noticed the redness in his cheek. She reached up and gently stroked it. "What happened?"

Sully sighed. "She slapped me." Michaela felt her anger rise in her chest toward the woman that had come into their lives again after so many years. "You were only trying to explain things to her."

Sully shrugged. "It's not important."

Michaela stood up on her tiptoes and tightened her arms around Sully's neck. "I love you, Mr. Sully."

He smiled the special smile that was only meant for her. "And I absolutely love you, my heartsong." They kissed briefly before turning and leaving the room to head home. They exited the clinic and found Brian and Katie already in the wagon. Sully looked at Michaela. "Where are Matthew and Colleen?"

Michaela smiled slightly. "Colleen and Andrew are out at the Chateau and Matthew is helping out at Olive's ranch but they'll both be home for dinner."

Sully helped her onto the wagon then got in beside her. "Let's go." Then he got onto the seat beside her and called for the horses to get going.

As the family headed out of town toward the homestead they passed by the mercantile. Abagail looked up from the counter, where she was working and watched as they rode by. "Where are they goin'?"

Dorothy looked up from her desk then she rose and walked over to the counter to stand beside her niece. "They're headin' home."

Abagail put down her pencil. "They live at our homestead?"

Dorothy shook her head. "A year before they married Sully built them a beautiful new house."

Abagail looked down. "So no one lives at our old house now?"

Dorothy hesitated for a moment before answering. "Sully and Michaela agreed that Matthew should have it."

Abigail looked at her with a shocked expression. "Papa agreed to that?"

Dorothy put her arm around Abagail's shoulders. "It wasn't his decision since he gave Sully the deed a long time before he and Michaela started courtin'."

Abagail pulled away from Dorothy and headed toward the door. "I think I'm going to go for a ride." Then she left the store.

Dorothy watched as she entered the livery. "Please don't cause them any trouble." Then she returned to her work.

Abagail rode out of town heading in the same direction that she'd seen the wagon going. She saw the family turning into a homestead in the distance. Turning her horse she rode into the woods near the house so that she could watch the family without being seen. As she watched, Brian jumped down and Michaela hand Katie down to him then the boy carried her inside.

Sully jumped down from the wagon and came around the wagon to Michaela down. Abagail's anger intensified as she watched Sully wrap his arms around Michaela and hold her close. Closing her eyes she balled her fists at her sides. "You never held me like that when we were married." She whispered softly. She opened her eyes when she heard Michaela's laughter. Her heart caught in her throat as she watched Sully pick Michaela up and carry her up the steps into the house.

Once they'd closed the door Abagail rode out of the woods and headed back toward town.