When the Past Comes Back

Chapter 5:

The next morning as the family arrived in town Colleen headed to the chateau to see Andrew. Matthew rode toward the livery to leave his horse then he was going to see Daniel, who had just gotten back in town the previous evening from Denver. Sully drove the wagon to the clinic and parked. Brian jumped down and ran toward the school. Michaela handed Katie to her father. After placing the little girl on the porch he turned and helped Michaela down from the front of the wagon.

Once she was down he picked Katie up once again and moved toward the door of the clinic. Just as they were about to enter they heard Abagail's voice "She's a beautiful child." Michaela and Sully turned.

Michaela smiled slightly and took her daughter from Sully. "Thank you." She looked up at Sully. "I need to get her settled before my first patient arrives."

Sully once again took his daughter into his arms. "Sweet girl, you be good for you Mama today."

She giggled as she hugged him tightly around the neck. "Love you Poppy."

Sully tightened his arms around her giving her a loving squeeze. "I love you too, honey." Then put her back in Michaela's arms. "I'll come for you and Katie at noon for lunch at Grace's."

Michaela smiled. "We'll be waiting."

Sully put his arms around her and pulled them both close as he whispered in Michaela's ear. "I love you."

Michaela tightened her free arm around him for a moment. "I love you too." He let them go after a moment and watched as they disappeared inside.

Once they were gone Sully turned toward Abagail. He could see the hurt reflected in her eyes but he knew that he had to be strong for himself and his family. "We need to talk."

Abagail's face suddenly brightened as she moved over and took his arm. "Do you want to go for a walk in the meadow?" Sully nodded then they walked off the porch.

As they walked through the meadow Abagail looked around and sighed. "Remember all the times we used to come here to be alone?"

Sully stopped walking and turned to face her. "I don't think about those days anymore."

Abagail glared at him. "Oh and I suppose you don't think about our daughter either."

The words ran through Sully like a knife and his anger grew. "I think about Hannah all the time."

Feeling guilty for her hurtful words Abagail reached out to touch his cheek. "I'm so sorry Byron, I didn't mean that."

Sully stepped back out of her reach. "Just because I've moved on with my life doesn't mean that I could ever forget about Hannah."

Abagail bowed her head. "I really am sorry about what I said."

Sully took a deep breath to calm his anger. "I want ya to stay away from my wife and family while you're here."

Abagail looked up at him too shocked to respond at first. When she found her voice again it was dripping with sarcasm. "I suppose your wife asked you to say that to me?"

Sully shook his head. "I made the decision last night when I saw the fear in my children's faces that I was going to leave them and their Ma to come back to you."

Abagail reached out and took his hands in her own. "Byron, they're gonna have to accept that you and I are going to be gettin' back together again."

Sully pulled his hands free. "Abbie, I've tried to explain this to ya since ya came back, Michaela is my wife and I'm never gonna leave her or our children."

Abagail folded her arms over her chest. "Well you can tell your perfect little wife that she doesn't need to worry I'd never dream of coming near her!" Then without another word she turned and hurried back toward the mercantile.

Sully watched her go then returned to the clinic to get the wagon so he could take it to the livery where he was going to be working with Robert E for the day.

Later that morning Michaela left the clinic and headed to the meadow, where she picked two beautiful bouquets of flowers then she headed toward the cemetery. She first went to Charlotte's grave and placed one bouquet in front of the cross. After speaking to her children's biological mother for a few moments she turned and walked the short distance to Hannah's grave. She carefully leaned down and laid the flowers on the rocks that covered the grave then stood there for a few moments. "God bless you little one."

Once she'd paid her respects to her late stepdaughter she turned and came face to face with a very angry Abagail. "What are you doing at my baby's grave?"

Michaela sighed. "I come out here everyday and place flowers on her grave."

Abagail glared at her and folded her arms over her chest. "What gives you the right to do that?"

Michaela's anger grew. "I have the right because I'm married to her father."

Abagail stepped just a bit closer to her. "I wouldn't get comfortable Dr. Quinn because you're not gonna be married to Byron much longer."

Michaela stared at her in shock. "What are you talking about?"

Abagail walked over and sat down on the bench under the large shade tree. "Dr. Quinn you and I are grown women and we can be honest with each other." She looked up at Michaela again. "Once you've given birth to your baby I want you to sign over custody of the children to me and Byron, then you can return to Boston and forget that you ever lived here."

Michaela couldn't believe the gall of Sully's former wife. "You're out of your mind!"

Abagail rose again. "You don't belong here Dr. Quinn so do everyone a favor and go back to Boston."

Tears suddenly filled Michaela's eyes as she moved to leave the cemetery. "Stay away from my family!"

Abagail watched her hurry away calling out to her retreating form. "You're not going to win this fight Dr. Quinn I've become a formidable opponent when it comes to getting what I want."

Michaela turned and looked at her again. "You won't get my family!" Then she hurried as fast as she could back toward the clinic.

After Michaela had gone Abagail moved over and knelt down beside her daughter's grave. She took the flowers that Michaela had lain on the rocks and proceeded to destroy them then she placed her own in their place. "You don't have to worry about that woman anymore darling you're Papa and I are going to be together and we'll have a happy life with your brothers and sisters after she's gone." After a few moments she rose from the ground dusted her skirt off turned and headed out of the cemetery.

As Michaela reached the porch of the clinic she sat down on the bench and let her tears fall. Unbeknownst to her, Olive and Dorothy had just come out of the café and were talking to Grace when they looked toward the clinic and saw Michaela sitting on the bench wit her head in her hands.

Olive looked at Grace. "Do you know where Sully is right now?"

Grace nodded. "He's workin' with Robert E at the livery."

Dorothy saw Abagail coming from the cemetery. She noticed that the young woman stopped and looked toward Michaela for a moment before going on her way. "I think you should get him because somethin' tells me that Michaela needs him." Grace nodded then hurried toward the livery as Olive and Dorothy headed to the clinic.

Grace reached the livery and walked inside. Robert E and Sully looked up from the project that they were working on. Robert E dropped his hammer and moved to his wife's side. "Is somethin' wrong?"

Grace nodded. "Olive, Dorothy, and I just saw Dr. Mike sittin' on the porch of the clinic cryin'."

Sully put his hammer down. "I gotta go check on her."

Grace took a deep breath to calm her anger. "Sully I think somethin' happened between her and Abagail Bray again."

Sully looked at Robert E. "I'll help ya with this later." With that he turned and bolted out of the livery without another word.

Robert E embraced Grace. "Everythin's going to be fine."

Grace held him tighter. "They've been through so much; I wish that girl would just leave 'em alone."

Sully reached the clinic and opened the door. As he entered he saw that no one was downstairs then he heard the unmistakable sound of his wife's crying. Moving to the door that led upstairs he quickly opened it and ran up the stairs. He had just reached the second floor when he heard Michaela's voice from one of the recovery rooms. "Abagail wants me to sign over custody of Katie, Brian, and the baby return to Boston." Sully's anger hit a boiling point. He knew that Michaela would be all right for a few more minutes so he turned and headed back downstairs and exited the clinic.

He walked the short distance to the mercantile. Entering he saw Abagail helping Loren with inventory. "I need to talk to you right now!"

Both Loren and Abigail turned when they heard the anger in his voice. Loren stepped down off his ladder. "Sully is everything all right?" Sully shook his head but didn't answer.

He then turned his attention to his former wife. "I thought I told you that I didn't want you near my family."

Abagail sighed. "Byron, it wasn't my fault she was at Hannah's grave."

Sully folded his arms over his chest. "You coulda given her the time she wanted to pay her respects."

Abagail's eyes flashed with anger. "That woman has no idea what it's like to lose a child!"

Loren moved to her side and grabbed her arm. "That's enough!"

Abagail looked at him shocked by his reaction. "Hannah wasn't her daughter."

Sully recovered from the remark and spoke again. "Michaela and I know exactly what it's like to lose a child." Then without any further explanation he turned and left the store.

Once he had disappeared Loren turned to Abagail. "That was a very cruel thing to say and you're going to apologize the next time you see Sully and Dr. Mike."

Abagail eyes grew defiant. "Why should I apologize?"

Loren sighed in frustration. "Abbie, last year Dr. Mike had a miscarriage."

Abagail remained silent for a moment then whispered. "She can't replace her baby with mine."

Loren shook his head. "She isn't tryin' to do that." Loren took her by the arms and looked into her eyes. "Dr. Mike is a very good doctor and a wonderful woman and I can't allow you to come back and try to destroy their family."

Abagail's anger rose as she listened to her father's defense of the woman she hated most in the world. "She's takin' everything that's rightfully mine and I'm gonna to make her pay!"

Loren tightened his hold on her arms. "You're not gonna do anythin' except stay away from them as Sully asked or you'll have to go back to New York."

Abagail stared at him in shock. "You'd send me away?"

Loren took a deep breath. "Darlin', that's the last thing that I want to do but if you continue to cause trouble for Sully and his family I'll make sure you're on the train personally."

As her tears began to fall Abagail broke free of his hold. "I hate you!" Then she ran upstairs.

As Sully approached the clinic the door opened and Colleen stepped out. "There you are Pa!"

Sully put his arm around her shoulders. "Is your Ma okay?"

Colleen shook her head. "She's been askin' for you."

Sully kissed her forehead. "You go on to wherever ya were headin' and we'll see you later tonight at the homestead."

Colleen hugged him tightly for a moment then she stepped off the porch. "Love ya Pa!"

Sully watched as she disappeared then entered the clinic. He opened the door to the upstairs and quickly ran up the stairs. When he reached the recovery room he entered and found Matthew and Brian, who had gotten out of school early and Katie there along with Olive, Dorothy and Grace. Michaela handed Katie to Matthew then stood. Holding out her arms she let her tears fall again. Sully rushed across the room and pulled her into his arms. "Shh darlin' everything's all right."

Dorothy, Grace, and Olive rose from their seats. Olive put her hand on Matthew's shoulder. "Why don't you and Brian bring Katie and come to Grace's for some pie?" Matthew looked at Sully and Michaela again. He saw that his parents needed to be alone so he stood he picked Katie up. "Come on Brian." Then they all left the room.

After a few minutes Sully moved back and cupped Michaela's face. "Are ya and the baby all right?"

Michaela wiped the tears from her face. "She said that I should go back to Boston and let the two of you raise our children as your own."

Sully pulled her into his embrace again. "She can't cope with the things that have happened in her life and it's made her bitter."

Michaela lifted her head from his chest. "Please don't defend her."

Sully shook his head. "That's the last thing I'm gonna to do."

He kissed her forehead. "Michaela, you're my heartsong and I'd never let you leave me or our children."

Releasing her Sully moved over to the bed and sat down then held out his arms. Michaela immediately came over and sat down on his lap. "Ya need to take it easy for yourself and the baby."

Michaela sighed in his arms. "I'm fine now that you're here."

Sully pulled back. "Well you and I are gonna lie down for a while."

Michaela shook her head. "I'm fine besides I have some files to update." Sully put his finger to her lips. "Do you have anymore patients today?"

Michaela shook her head. Sully smiled. "That's good because you're gonna lie down and take a nap before we head home."

Michaela laid her head on his shoulder again. "I'm not going to argue with you because I've learned after all this time that you can be just as stubborn and headstrong as I can."

Sully chuckled. "Yes I can." He gently placed her on the bed beside him then rose. "I'm gonna go to the café and ask that Matthew take the kids home."

Michaela reached for his hand. "You're coming back aren't you?"

Sully leaned down and kissed her. "I'll be back before you miss me." He then walked to the door and opened it.

Just as he was about to step into the hallway Michaela spoke again. "Too late,"

Sully looked at her over his shoulder. "It's too late for what?"

She smiled. "I miss you and you're not even out the door yet."

Sully chuckled. "I'll be right back." Then he left.

He exited the clinic and walked across the street to Grace's café. There he found the kids having their pie. By that time Colleen had joined them. Katie looked up and saw him coming. "Poppy!"

Sully smiled and picked her up. "How's my sweet girl doin'?"

Katie pointed to the table. "I got Pie!"

Sully kissed her forehead. "Yes, I see your pie." He handed her back to Colleen.

Brian put his fork down. "How's ma?"

Sully sat down beside Katie's chair. "She's gonna take a nap before we head home."

He looked at Matthew. "Can you take the kids home and stay with them until we get back?"

Matthew nodded. "No problem."

Sully rose. "I told your Ma I'd only be gone a few minutes so I better get back."

Colleen rose and handed Katie to Brian then she hugged Sully. "Don't worry Pa; we'll take good care of Ma from now on."

Sully returned the embrace. "Yes we will."

He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. "I'm still flattered that I was your first crush."

Colleen smiled. "And you always will be." Then Sully released her and left the café.

Abagail watched him enter the clinic and close the door then she walked toward the café. As she entered she walked toward the table where the Cooper/Sully children were seated. "Hello I'm Abigail Sully."

They all looked up. Brian put his fork down. "Don't you mean Bray?"

Abagail shook her head. "I'm married to your Pa Byron Sully."

Brian rose and took Katie from Colleen. "No you're not he's married to our Ma."

Then he turned to Matthew. "I'm gonna take Katie to the meadow."

Matthew nodded. "Go ahead little brother we'll join you in a minute." With that Brian left.

Once he was gone Matthew looked at Abagail again. "What is it you exactly want Ms. Bray?"

She sighed and shook her head. "I just thought we should meet and get to know one another since Dr. Quinn will be going home to Boston once she's had the baby and the children will be living with me and your father."

Matthew rose and grabbed his hat then helped Colleen to her feet. "No, Ms. Bray our Ma isn't leavin' she'd never do that to us or to our Pa." He then led Colleen out of the café to join their siblings in the meadow.

At that moment Grace approached. "Why can't ya leave 'em alone?"

Abagail turned to her. "If I wanted comments from a servant I'd ask!"

Olive rose from her seat and approached. She grabbed her by the arm. "She's no ones servant she owns this establishment, now I want you to apologize immediately!"

Abagail stared at her Aunt for a moment then looked at Grace once again. "I'm sorry." With that Olive led her out of the café and they headed toward the cemetery.

They arrived and Olive made her way to Charlotte's grave followed by Abagail. Olive knelt down and said a silent prayer for her best friend then rose and dusted off her skirt. "Aunt Olive, why aren't you raisin' Charlotte's children?"

Olive shook her head. "I wasn't here when she died and she asked Dr. Mike to raise them while on her deathbed." They walked toward Hannah's grave.

Abagail looked at her. "You coulda taken 'em from her when ya came back to Colorado Springs."

Olive shook her head. "They were settled and I saw they loved her, besides I'd never go against Charlotte's last wishes."

Abagail heard laughter and looked across the meadow. There she saw Matthew and Colleen chasing Brian and Katie. She looked down at the grave of her only child. "Whose life hasn't she interfered in?"

Olive shook her head. "She doesn't interfere in anyone's life, she only does what she thinks is best."

Abagail looked at her Aunt. "You think it was for the best that she came here and stole my husband away?"

Olive sighed. "We've tried to explain that to ya, they fought their feelins for a long time but they finally had to give in to them."

Abagail shook her head. "I'm never going to accept that!"

Olive lifted her niece's chin until they looked into one another's eyes. "You're gonna accept it because that's all you can do and you're gonna stop trying to interfere in their lives." Then Olive turned and walked out of the cemetery leaving her niece staring after her.

At the clinic Sully finished locking the downstairs doors then headed upstairs to the recovery rooms. He entered the room where he'd left Michaela and found her standing by the window looking out. Moving up behind her wrapped his arms around her waist as far as he could reach. "I thought you were gonna take a nap."

Michaela smiled as she leaned back against him. "I wanted to wait for you."

After a moment Sully released her and pulled back the blankets on the bed then he smiled and held out his hand. "Join me?"

Michaela smiled then removed her skirt. Sully walked to the door and locked it. Michaela looked at him curiously as he moved toward the bed. "Why did you do that?"

Instead of answering her question he removed his clothes and slid under the covers beside her.

He moved closer pulling her into his arms. "This is more comfortable."

Michaela leaned up and kissed him. "I love you Mr. Sully."

He smiled and cupped her cheek. "And I love you Dr. Quinn-Sully."

Michaela shook her head. "When we're together I'm Mrs. Sully." She whispered as she laid her head on his chest falling asleep almost instantly.