The Past Comes Back
Chapter 7:
Matthew arrived at the old reservation land a little while later. He jumped off his horse and looked around for his Pa. "Sully, where are you?"
Sully quickly rushed out of Cloud Dancing's teepee and waved. "Matthew, I'm over here!" Turning Matthew ran toward him. Sully caught him by the shoulders when he'd gotten closer. "What's happened?"
Matthew took a few deep breaths before he spoke. "Ma's gone into labor."
Sully looked back at the other men. "I gotta get back ta town." McKay put his hand on Sully's shoulder. "We're coming with you." Then they all got on their horses and galloped out of the old reservation.
Meanwhile back in town, Brian arrived at the chateau. Jumping off his horse he ran up the stairs to where the doorman was standing. He was about to ask where Andrew was when he saw the young doctor talking to Preston near his clinic. "Andrew!" Both men turned as Brian ran toward them.
Preston folded his arms over his chest. "Young man, it's very bad manners to yell like that."
Brian ignored him and looked Andrew. "Ma's gone into labor."
Andrew put his hand on Brian's shoulder. "You head back to the clinic and I'll be there as soon as I've gathered my things." Brian nodded then mounted Taffy and rode back toward town.
Once he'd gone, Preston grabbed Andrew's arm as he turned to go into his clinic. "You can't go anywhere!"
Andrew turned and glared at him. "I may work for you Preston but Michaela and Sully are my friends and right now she needs me so I'm going!" With that he turned and ran back into his clinic. Preston stood there shocked at Andrew's outburst.
When Andrew came out again, he got on his horse. Preston moved to the steps as Andrew rode off. "Andrew, come back here this minute you've got patients!"
When he could no longer see Andrew, he shook his head. 'That mountain savage is going to be the death of Michaela one of these days,' he thought as he turned and marched back inside the chateau.
When Andrew arrived, there was already a crowd outside the clinic. They moved aside and let him pass as he stepped up on the porch and entered the building. Brian sat down beside Loren with Katie on his lap. "Ma's gonna to be all right, isn't she Mr. Bray?"
Loren put his arm around the boy. "Of course Brian, your Ma's a strong woman."
At that moment Matthew, Sullyand the other menrode up. Sully jumped off his horse and hurried to Brian and Katie. "Has there been any word?"
Loren shook his head. "Andrew got here a few moments ago and went inside." Sully moved over and sat down beside Brian.
Robert E walked over and put his hand on Sully's shoulder. "This is a bit different then when Katie was born huh?"
Sully chuckled as he took Katie from her brother and held her close. "Yeah it's very different."
At that moment Abagail walked approached the clinic. "What's goin' on?"
Sully looked up. "My wife's in labor." He then handed Katie back to Brian and approached her. "Please leave us alone." Abagail looked down for a moment then looked up at him again. "I'd like to be here for you and the children."
Loren rose. "No, you go back and take care of the store." Abagail sighed in resignation. "All right Papa." Then she walked back toward the mercantile.
Once she was gone, Sully looked at Loren. "I'm sorry if I was mean to her."
Loren shook his head. "It's not proper for her to be here while your wife is givin' birth." Then they sat down again.
A few minutes later Colleen opened the door and stuck her head out. "Is Pa back from the reservation?"
Sully stood and moved into sight. "Is somethin' wrong?"
She smiled and opened the door wider. "Ma's ready for you to join us."
Sully couldn't help but smile. "She wants me with her again?"
Colleen nodded. "She told us that she couldn't do it without you." Then they disappeared inside.
An hour later the crowd could hear Michaela's cries coming from the clinic. Katie shrank against Brian's chest. "Is baby hurtin' Mama?"
Matthew rubbed her back soothingly. "The baby's not hurtin' Ma on purpose,"
She looked up at him. "Ya promise?"
Matthew chuckled and took her from Brian. "I Promise little sister."
Loren rose from the bench and looked at the kids. "Katie, how would you and Brian like to come to the store for some candy?"
Katie smiled and clapped her hands. "Goodie!"
Brian looked at Matthew. "Do you think we should leave right now?"
Matthew handed Katie back to him. "Yeah little brother, go on." With that Brian rose and they walked toward the store.
As they entered the mercantile, Abagail rose from Dorothy's desk. "Is everythin' all right?"
Loren looked at Brian. "Ya help your sister pick out her favorites." Nodding, Brian carried Katie to the candy counter.
Loren approached Abagail. "I brought them so that Katie wouldn't hear her Ma screamin'."
Abagail looked over at the children again. "Why didn't Byron come with them?"
Loren smiled slightly. "He's in the clinic with Dr. Mike."
Abagail's eyes widened. "It's not proper for a man to be with a woman as she gives birth."
Brian looked up hearing her words. "It's what my Ma wanted like when Katie was born."
Abagail turned toward him. "What do you mean?"
Brian looked at Loren who nodded for him to continue. "Pa delivered Katie when he and Ma gotstranded in the woods."
Abagail shook her head. "That's unbelievable."
Loren looked at Brian again. "I know what types of candy you and Katie like, so you go on back to the clinic and I'll bring in along in a few minutes." Brian nodded then carried Katie out of the store.
Once they were gone, Loren turned toward Abagail again. "It was very inappropriate of you to come ta the clinic earlier."
Abagail sat down at the desk. "I thought I could give Byron support since I'm responsible for Dr. Quinn going into labor."
Loren moved closer. "What did you do?"
Abagail looked down at her hands for a moment. "I was so angry that you had her contact my doctors that I went to the clinic and confronted her."
Loren shook his head. "What did you say to her?"
She looked up at him again. "I told her that I should be the mother of Byron's children, not her."
Loren sighed. "I warned you about causing more trouble for them."
Abagail eyes widened. "I'm sorry Papa, please don't send me away."
Loren's heart broke hearing his daughter's plea but he knew that he had to stand firm. "I'm sorry Abbie but I have no choice, later this afternoon after everythin' has calmed down I will get you a train ticket for New York and I'm gonna wire your doctor to meet you at the train station, you need to go back to that hospital for a while so that you can get well." With that he turned and picked out the candy for Brian and Katie then left the mercantile.
In the clinic Michaela was pushing with all her strength. "Oh this is harder than I remembered." She moaned.
Sully leaned down and kissed her damp forehead. "You're doin' fine Michaela." He looked up at Andrew and Colleen, who smiled and nodded.
Colleen took her mother's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Pa's right Ma, everything's going fine,"
As another contraction started, Andrew looked up at Michaela. "This should be the last one so I need a big push." Michaela nodded as Sully and Colleen helped her to sit up. She pushed with all her strength, crying out until a cry pierced the air.
Colleen looked up at Andrew who smiled. "Looks like you've got another girl."
Sully looked down at Michaela with tears in his eyes. "Thank you for our family."
Michaela was about to answer when her eyes widened. "Andrew I think I feel something!"
Andrew got backinto position at the end of the bed and examined her. "Michaela I believe I know why you went into labor early."
He looked up at Michaela and Sully with a huge grin on his face. "I see another head crowning."
Michaela's tears started to fall as she looked at her husband. "Oh Sully, we're having twins."
Sully let his tears fall unheeded down his cheeks. "I love you so much." Sully and Colleen helped her up and she pushed once again until another loud cry was heard in the room.
Laying Michaela back down Colleen moved to the end of the bed. She looked up after a moment and smiled at her parents. "It looks like we've got a new baby brother too."
Michaela began to cry harder as the babies were cleaned and then brought over to them. She looked up at Sully and smiled through her tears. "We have our baby boy."
Sully knew that she was referring to the baby she'd miscarried while he was in hiding. She had been certain that it would have been a boy. He smiled and kissed her tenderly. "Yes we do."
After delivering the afterbirth, Michaela was helped up into a sitting position and then her new daughter was placed in her arms. She looked up at Sully and smiled then looking at Colleen she said, "I think Papa should hold his new son first." Colleen moved around the bed and laid her baby brother in his father's arms for the first time.
Andrew cleaned everything up and then rose to his feet. "We'll go downstairs and let everyone know."
Michaela looked up. "When can we see the rest of the family?"
Andrew smiled. "We'll bring them back up with us." Then he escorted Colleen out.
When they reached the porch, Colleen opened the door to the anxious crowd. She moved out and ran to Matthew. "We have a new brother and a new sister." The crowd began to cheer.
Dorothy smiled as tears fell down her cheeks. "That must be why she went into labor early." She took out her pencil and notepad to write down the pertinent information about the newest members of the Sully family for the next edition of the Gazette.
Colleen looked at her brothers again. "They're healthy and beautiful."
Katie looked at her big sister. "Can I see Mama now?"
Everyone laughed as Colleen took her younger sister from Brian. "Of course Sweetie, they're anxious to see you."
She looked at her brothers. "They want to see all of us." With that kids moved toward the clinic door and entered. Everyone on the porch stayed for a few minutes more to celebrate then they left to give the family their privacy.
When Loren, Dorothy, and Olive returned to the store, they found Abagail waiting on a couple of customers. Once the women had left, Loren took something out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Here's your ticket for tomorrow mornin's train." Abagail took the ticket then silently turned and headed upstairs.
Dorothy and Olive looked at one another then at Loren. Olive spoke first. "What was that about?"
Loren sighed and shook his head. "She told me that she had aconfrontation with Dr. Mike this morning before she went into labor, so I told her that I wanted her to go back to New York and go back into the hospital."
Dorothy put her hand on his shoulder. "That may be for the best."
Loren sighed. "Yeah but it's not easy for me to send my daughter away again."
Olive moved to him. "Loren, you've done everything you can to make her feel welcome again but she's got to learn that she can't have things back the way they were before she ran off."
Loren nodded. "I'm going to the café for some pie and coffee."
The women smiled. Dorothy linked her arm through his. "We can celebrate the birth of Michaela and Sully's new son and daughter."
Loren smiled. "Yes we can." Then the three of them left.
As soon as they had left Abagail came back downstairs. She watched as they walked across the street toward Grace's. "I'm not leaving without my baby girl." She whispered almost maniacally then she returned to her room to think of a plan.
In the clinic Sully and Michaela sat holding the twins as their other children looked on. Brian touches his brother's small fist "What are their names?"
Sully looked at Michaela and smiled. "We decided if it were a girl we'd name her Charlotte Colleen Sully."
Matthew and Brian smiled as Colleen rose and came over to her parents. "I'm honored that you included my name."
Michaela looked up at her oldest daughter. "You were my first little girl and we couldn't think of a more proper name for your new baby sister."
Sully looked down at his son lying quietly in his arms. "And we decided if we had a boy we would name him Daniel Josef Sully."
Matthew smiled. "They're good names."
At that moment Andrew came in. "I hate to do this but your mother needs her rest as do the babies."
The kids rose and Matthew picked up Katie. "We'll get some dinner at Grace's."
Michaela looked over at Sully. "Why don't you go with them?"
Sully shook his head. "I'll get somethin' later."
She shook her head. "You need to eat besides you should spend time with the rest of the family."
Sully was going to argue when Michaela put a finger on his lips. "The babies and I are probably going to sleep so you won't miss anything."
Sully kissed her finger that lay against his lips then pulled it away. "I'll be back as soon as we're done."
Michaela smiled and then suddenly yawned. "I'll be here."
Sully put baby Daniel in his cradle then he took Charlotte and put her in the extra cradle that had been in one of the other rooms. After making sure Michaela was comfortable he kissed her. "I love you Mrs. Sully."
She smiled at him as her eyes drooped. "And I love you Mr. Sully." Then she drifted off to sleep. Sully then took Katie from Matthew and followed the older kids from the room.
When they entered the café they joined a group at one of the larger tables. Hank took a puff of his cigar and chuckled. "Hey, Andrew kicked you out already?"
Sully sat down with Katie on his lap. "No, Michaela did."
Everyone at the table laughed then Dorothy spoke "Sully, have you and Michaela decided on the names yet?"
Sully smiled. "Our new daughter's name is Charlotte Colleen Sully and our son's name is Daniel Josef Sully."
Daniel looked up from his dinner. "I'm honored."
Sully smiled at his friend. "We thought you'd like that," he teased. Daniel's heart swelled as he finally realized that everything that had happened when he had come to Colorado Springs the first time that had threatened his friendship with Sully was now forgiven and forgotten.
At that moment Grace came over and took the family's orders as the small celebration continued.
At the clinic Abagail quietly opened the front door. Looking inside she saw that it appeared to be empty. She once again closed the door then moved to the door that led to the recovery room. Entering the hallway she started to climb the stairs.
When she reached the second floor she opened up the first door she came to but it was empty. Closing it she moved to the door directly across the hall. Pushing the door open she saw Michaela sleeping peacefully in the bed. Then her gaze fell on the two small cradles that lay close to the bed. Creeping into the room she closed the door behind her then slowly made her way to the cradles.
After looking at the baby boy for a moment her attention shifted to the little girl in the second cradle. Abagail smiled as he gently reached down and picked her up and cuddled her close whispering softly in her ear. "That's my sweet little Hannah."
At that moment Michaela moaned and shifted. Abagail looked over at the bed anxiously but noticed that Michaela hadn't woken. Looking down at the baby girl in her arms she knew that she had to get out of the clinic quickly before she was caught so she silently turned and left.
A few minutes later the sound of one of the baby's cries brought Michaela awake. She smiled as she looked over at the cradles. Slowly sitting up she took a deep breath and then stood. Moving to the cradle she picked up her son. "Shh darling, Mama's got you." She moved to the bed and sat down once again. "We need to be quiet so that we don't wake your sister." Then she looked toward the cradle where her daughter had been sleeping. Noticing that the cradle was empty Michaela looked around calling out anxiously, "Sully, are you here?" When no reply came she rose and moved to the window. Looking out she noticed that there was a crowd at Grace's. She squinted and saw Sully sitting at one of the tables with Katie and the other children; she also noticed that Andrew was at there.
A sudden wave of terror crept through Michaela as she turned and looked toward the cradle again. She looked down and noticed that Daniel had finished nursing. Laying him on the bed for a moment she quickly buttoned her gown. 'I've got to find her!' She thought as she picked up her son and made her way out of the recovery room and downstairs.
At the café Sully and the children rose from their seats. "We're going back to check on Michaela."
Andrew also rose. "All of you can stay at the clinic for the night and you can take your family home in a couple of days."
Sully smiled. "That's good."
At that moment they heard a scream coming from the direction of the clinic. Sully looked at the others then gave Katie to Colleen before he bolted from the café.
As he reached the clinic porch he saw Michaela standing just outside the door holding one of the babies. As he reached her he saw that it was Daniel. "What's wrong?"
Michaela looked up at him as tears ran down her face. "Charlotte's gone."
Sully put his arms around her. "What do you mean she's gone?"
Michaela took a deep breath to calm her emotions. "I woke up when Daniel started to cry and I noticed that Charlotte wasn't in her cradle."
More tears spilled down her face. "Oh Sully, where's our baby girl?"
Sully pulled her and Daniel close to his side as the others approached. Matthew came to his mother's side. "What's happened?"
Sully looked at him. "Charlotte's gone." The crowd around them began talking amongst themselves.
Jake moved cleared his throat. "We'll get our horses." With that he, Hank, Robert E, Matthew, Daniel, Cloud Dancing ran toward the livery.
Loren moved forward. "I'll get you some supplies." He took off toward the store.
Michaela looked up at Sully. "Please find her."
He kissed her forehead tenderly. "I will I swear." Then he opened the door to the clinic and escorted her inside with Dorothy, Grace, Olive, and Colleen following.
When Loren reached the store, he entered and moved around gathering the supplies Sully and the others would need.
Setting some of it down on the counter he noticed a note in Abagail's handwriting. Picking it up he began to read:
Dear Papa,
I know that I've caused a lot of pain since my arrival, so I am going to do as you asked and leave. I just wanted my life back the way it should have been, but now I see that that's not possible. Byron has moved on. So I'm taking Hannah and leaving for good. We'll be fine. She'll be raised the way that Byron and I always wanted. Please tell him that we love him and that someday we'll return.
Love Always,
Abagail