Sully couldn't remember the last time he had felt so happy. He wanted to tell the whole world that Michaela and he were courting. Well, first Hannah and Loren would hear the news and the new couple was almost on its way to meet them now.
When they left the clinic, Sully stepped down from the porch while Michaela was locking the door. As soon as she turned to follow him on the somewhat muddy road, he held out his hand to support her.
"Sully!" She couldn't help but laugh. "I've stepped down here a hundred times!"
"It's slippery and I don't wanna see you fall," he insisted. Though feeling a little strange about all the attention Sully was paying to her, Michaela secretly reveled in the new situation. She had never felt so cherished before. When they started to walk towards the bridge, she felt his strong hand protectively lying on the small of her back.
Hank, leaning in his usual posture against a post of his saloon porch, watched them. Seeing Sully acting like an eager little watchdog and Michaela blushing as if she were a school girl, convinced him that there was something going on between the two of them. It seemed Sully had managed to crack the shell the good doctor had lived within so far. Raising an eyebrow, he smirked after them. From what he knew of the two of them, this relationship would become interesting to observe.
Loren sat with Hannah on the bench that was built around the trunk of the huge oak in the graveyard. He felt a little more at peace with himself. Dr. Mike had been right in sending him outside to inhale the fresh air and feel the sun on his face. His granddaughter had been mumbling all the time it took them to walk out here, but now she had grown silent as well, sensing her grandpa's need for silence in this place.
Eventually directing his gaze towards the town, Loren saw Dr. Mike and his son-in-law approaching. Something about them was different, but the old man couldn't tell what it was. Suddenly Hannah noticed her Ma and her Pa as well. With an imploring look she gazed at her grandpa. "Aw, just go, I don't mind," he answered her unspoken question.
That was all the little girl needed to start running towards her parents. When she came closer to them, she noticed their happy faces and that her Pa was even holding her Ma's hand! Her heart started to pound wildly. Did that mean everything was finally well again?
Seeing his daughter toddling towards them, Sully's heart nearly burst with joy. He would have his family! He gave Michaela's hand a gentle squeeze before he let go of her and then he took a few fast steps until he met Hannah. He stooped down to pick her up and lifted his little girl above his head, making her squeal with excitement.
Loren felt himself relax seeing this little scene. It was a piece of normal life, without the constant feeling of a heavy heart. Growing curious, he wondered what had happened to change the mood between Dr. Mike and Sully so drastically. He decided to just ask. "What's going on, Sully?"
Pulling Hannah back against his chest, the proud father was happy to give away the news. "We're courtin'!"
Hearing this, Loren's tears threatened to come back. Inhaling a shaking breath, he said with a hoarse voice, "Maude would have been happy to know that." Quickly brushing a tear away, he smiled at the doctor. "But you've told her, right? That's why she was so calm in the end."
Casting Sully a sidelong glance, Michaela blushed and admitted, "I promised her to stay Hannah's mother as long as I could."
Sully was surprised, "Ya did?"
Slightly embarrassed, she replied, "It's no secret that I love this little girl." She tickled Hannah's side which heightened the toddler's delight. "And it was Maude's last wish, how could I deny her that?"
Loren swallowed hard. "I ain't forgetting that, Dr. Mike. I owe ya."
But Michaela didn't want to hear that. "You owe me nothing. I did it for Maude and for Hannah."
The next few days seemed to just fly by. Michaela and Sully had resumed the rhythm of life they had shared when Sully had built the schoolhouse. For Hannah it was as if her father lived with them in the old homestead. He was still there when her Ma put her to bed and when they had breakfast, he was there as well. But something had changed. Her parents always smiled when they looked at each other and when they thought she didn't watch they even kissed. Every night before she fell asleep, she spoke a secret extra prayer that life would stay that way.
The following Saturday the three of them had lunch at Grace's Café. Michaela and Sully were sitting facing each other while Hannah was placed at the head of the table next to them. They were so caught up in talking about their plans for the afternoon and evening, they didn't pay attention to their surroundings. Suddenly Sully stopped talking. Looking over Michaela's shoulder, he saw two women coming towards their table. Recognizing the younger one his heart first skipped a beat and then began to pound wildly. He rose from his chair and whispered, "Abby!"
Michaela had watched him with growing concern. When she saw his face draining of all colour, she wanted to cover his hand on the table with hers, but he straightened at the same moment and took it away from her. Then, hearing him uttering his late wife's name, the doctor was instantly alarmed. "Sully? What's wrong?"
He didn't answer, he just kept staring at someone behind her.
In the meantimea young woman left Dorothy's side and rushed towards Sully. Throwing her arms around his neck she hugged him tightly and squealed with delight, "Sully! Mother told me only now that you are back. I'm so glad to see you again!" Bending back to catch his reaction, she noticed his pale and confused face.
Dorothy quickly explained, "This is my daughter Mary. Don't you remember her? I asked her to come here to help you with your daughter."
Still in shock, Sully didn't move. Mary, however, turned towards Hannah, lifted her up from her chair and into her arms. "Aw, you are cute. My name's Mary, I'm sure we will get along just fine."
Hannah was totally confused. Why should she get along with a stranger? What was the matter with her Pa? He wasn't saying a word and was just staring at the young woman holding her. Her Ma seemed to be too stunned to speak as well. Finally she stretched her arms towards Michaela and pleaded, "Ma, pease." She squirmed in the strange woman's arms until she was in the safe haven of her mother's embrace.
Mary was puzzled. "Ma? I thought…"
Dorothy cut her off. "We can clarify that at supper this evening. Sully, I want you and your daughter to join us at seven o'clock. Don't be late, I will cook a special meal to mark the occasion."
Finally Sully found his voice again. What was Miss Dorothy thinking? Still staring at Mary he responded, "There are three people in our group, Miss Dorothy."
But the red-haired woman dismissed his remark. "It will be just our family, Sully, my brother-in-law, my daughter, the husband of my niece, his daughter and me. It will be the reunion of our family. We will see you at seven o'clock sharp." She didn't give him another chance to object. Gripping her own daughter's arm, Dorothy practically dragged her away. Almost running next to her mother, Mary turned to Sully and playfully shrugged. "See you tonight, Sully. I can't wait!"
Sully still stood for some moments before falling back onto his chair. What did this all mean? Suddenly remembering his dream, a wave of panic engulfed him. He would lose Michaela because of Mary! He couldn't let that happen. Raising his head to search for her eyes, he noticed the concerned expression on her beautiful face. Somehow he had to convince her to stay with him. The first thing he could think of was to implore, "Michaela, please don't give up on me."
Michaela was puzzled. "Why should I? Just tell me…"
Sully didn't let her finish. Grasping for her hand on top of the table as if it were his lifeline, he promised, "I'll tell you everything. Mary was still a kid the last time I saw her. I think she was twelve or so. She and Abigail were really close. She spent all her vacations in Colorado Springs." Sully paused a moment. Taking a deep breath, he eventually continued, "Abby told me that Mary was sweet on me. We found that amusing; as I told you, she was just a kid. She even helped us to elope. After that her mother forbade her to visit us again. But she and Abby wrote letters to each other until the end." Sully's voice trailed off. He remembered Mary being always in a good mood and constantly getting into mischief. He had liked her back then. She still seemed to be nice but he didn't need her in his life. It was astonishing how she looked like Abigail when he first met his future wife though…Instantly dismissing that thought, he made a decision. Gently stroking the back of Michaela's hand with his thumb, he looked into her eyes again. "I just ain't going this evening. We stick to our plan…"
Michaela covered his hand with her free one. "Sully, Mrs. Jennings was right about one thing, you are a member of her family. You don't have to give that up because of me."
Sully shook his head. His dream haunted him. "No, Michaela, I don't wanna get mixed up in that trouble. I'm so glad that we are finally together that I ain't willing to take any risk."
Michaela smiled despite her worries. She knew exactly what Dorothy planned. But she had to make sure that Sully really wanted her, even when there were other women from his past around, so she tried to reassure him, "Avoiding problems won't solve them, Sully. You should go. I'm sure I will find some way to to spend the evening."
Sully gazed at her in admiration. Michaela never ceased to amaze him. It was obvious that she knew as well as he did that this dinner could cause a whole new set problems intheir relationship,and yet, she was urging him to go. Well, he was willing to do everything in his power to never hurt her again. Looking down on his hand in hers, he smiled. Lifting one of hers to his lips, he pressed a gentle kiss on its back. Then he gazed in her eyes again and whispered, "I love you."
It was seven o'clock in the evening when Sully and his daughter arrived at the mercantile. Hannah was still upset that her Ma wasn't with them. Although her parents had assured her that it was alright this way, she knew it was because Aunt Dorothy didn't want her Ma to join. Sure, it was true that she was just a little girl; but she wasn't stupid. She had been there the whole time and understood every word. She didn't like to be here without her Ma, she didn't like it at all.
Sully was about to knock when the door flung open. Seeing him, Mary smiled broadly. "I'm so glad you came! It will be great, Sully, you will see. Even Uncle Loren is joking again."
Although Sully had already seen her this afternoon, he was stunned again. It was as if he had gone back in time and Abigail opened the door. Of course there were slight differences in Mary's appearance, but her voice sounded like Abby's and even her eyes sparkled in the same way his wife's had when she was happy. Taking a deep breath to brace himself for what was to come, Sully carried his daughter into the mercantile.
Two hours later they still sat around the table. The meal had been delicious and the conversation light. Loren felt that he could finally breathe again. Hannah had happily agreed to sit with her grandpa and the old man reveled in the knowledge that he held his own flesh and blood on his lap. Secretly, he started to like the thought that Hannah could come back to live in the mercantile. There were two women which would dote on herhere now and he knew that they would care for her well… Thinking like that, however, made him feel slightly guilty. He knew all that Hannah was today was owed to Dr. Mike. He decided not to think about that right now and to just enjoy their time together.
Mary was happy. Sully was even more handsome now than he was then. Though his clothes were kind of strange, she liked how he wore his hair now. Talking about their time together when she had just been a teenager had even brought a smile to his face from time to time. Her mother had told her that he was still grieving and could use some distraction. Since she always had liked him, she would do her best. Maybe he could see more in her than just a friend from the past…
Dorothy was pleased with herself. Everything went exactly the way she had hoped. Her daughter did a great job in entertaining Sully in a way that didn't give away the purpose of all the trouble: to show him that his true family was gathered around this table. The only problem was that child. Why could that girl not show a pleasant smile? Maybe she was tired.
Although Hannah always liked to sit on her granpa's lap, today it was different. No one talked to her and her Pa had only eyes for Mary. She didn't like how the young woman often touched her father's arm when she laughed and how she made her Pa smile. Right now she didn't even like her Pa. She felt that it was wrong sitting here and having fun while her Ma was all alone by herself at the homestead. That wasn't fair. And she was so tired, all that she wanted was to sleep right now. Just when she had decided to say something, Aunt Dorothy seemed to see it and anticipated her. "Sully, I think your daughter is tired. I've prepared her a cot in Mary's room so you don't have to make the ride out of town at this hour."
Before her Pa could react, Hannah protested. "I wanna go Ma!"
Sully instantly felt guilty and tensed up. He had been so consumed by his conversation with Mary that he hadn't even looked at his daughter. "Sorry, sweet girl. I didn't pay attention to the time. We should have been gone an hour ago." He rose to step to his daughter.
But Loren liked the idea of having his granddaughter here in the morning. "Aw, Sully. Leave her here. It ain't gonna hurt anyone." Bending down to his little girl's ear, he whispered, "I'll tuck you in and tell you a story. How does that sound?"
Hannah gave her Pa a pleading look. She wanted home to her Ma. But Sully knew it was rather late and his daughter's eyelids were already dropping. Michaela would understand, she always thought about what was best for Hannah. So he decided, "Alright, I'll be back first thing in the morning to take her to the homestead."
Now Mary was puzzled. "Where will you go? We've prepared a bed for you as well. I was hoping we could talk a little bit longer."
Sully didn't feel right about it. "At least I should ride out and tell Michaela…"
But Dorothy cut him off. "Don't be ridiculous, Sully. She knows where you are. You can see her again tomorrow." Then even Loren added, "Come on, Sully. It's the first time in ages we are having a nice evening together. You ain't wanna ruin it now."
Still not sure if he was making the right decision, Sully gave in. "Okay, we will stay. But it's just because it's a special occasion."
At the homestead, Michaela had given up waiting. Somehow, she had known Hannah would be invited to stay at the mercantile. However, she was wondering why Sully hadn't come back to inform her and get the bunny. Obviously, he had takenan invitation as well. She only hoped, it was just for this evening.