The next morning, Dorothy was in an extremely bad mood. Mary had left Colorado Springs on the evening stagecoach, in spite of how hard her mother had begged her to stay. She had said she had made a fool of herself long enough and wanted to go back to St. Louis.
To make matters worse, although Dorothy knew that her brother-in-law wasn't a talker, the fact that he had spoken even less since yesterday got on her nerves. And now he was strolling through the store as if he was searching for something and didn't even know what it was. From time to time he grunted and sighed, and it was driving her crazy. "Loren Bray, what on earth are you doing?" Her sharp and impatient tone startled Loren. He didn't even look at her as he replied, "Aw, just looking for a gift."
Dorothy was puzzled. "A gift? For whom and why?"
Loren didn't answer. It had been yesterday in front of the clinic that the realization of how close he had come to lose his little girl had hit him hard. He felt almost ashamed that he hadn't thanked the teacher yet. However, he had never been good at such things and looking for a gift was like torture for him. Finally, his gaze fell onto a shaving brush. Silently sighing in relief, he took it together with a bar of shaving soap to the counter where he wrapped it up.
Dorothy's voice interrupted his thoughts again. "Won't you tell me what's going on?"
Loren still hesitated. He knew she would want to come with him if he told her where he was going and he didn't want to upset Dr. Mike again. However, seeing how Maude's sister stood in front of the counter, hands on her hips and an agitated look on her face, he knew, he had to inform her. "Aw, I just gonna pay the teacher a visit and look in on Dr. Mike, but I don't wanna …" He knew it was too late to tell her that he wanted to go by himself, because Dorothy had already taken her apron off. Secretly, Loren had hoped Dr. Mike would solve the problem with Hannah for him but now it seemed he had to take a stand. This time his sigh was audible.
Although Michaela was used to sleeping under any possible conditions, the last night on the cot in her old room at the clinic hadn't done her any good. First her thoughts about Sully had kept her awake, and then Mr. James had woken up several times. At dawn, she had reluctantly given him another dose of morphine. She was determined though that it would be the last one. In the latest edition of her medical journal she had read about a study which discussed evidence in support of the possibility that patients could grew addicted to the drug and she definitely didn't want to expose Mr. James to that danger.
Feeling the headache that had plaqued her all morning grow worse, Michaela decided to make herself some coffee in the examination room. She had just entered it when a soft knock on the door announced that her morning wouldn't be as quiet as she had hoped. Her uneasiness increased upon seeing who the visitors were. She didn't move to let them in as she asked, "What can I do for you, Loren?"
The old man didn't meet her eyes. "Uhm, I…that is we…"
Stepping next to her brother-in-law in order to appear at her full height, Dorothy interjected. "We are here to visit Mr. James and that's something you can't deny us."
The doctor had to smile, despite herself. In a dangerously quiet tone she replied, "That's where you are wrong, Mrs. Jennings. This is a clinic and until I decide that you can disturb my patient, you won't take so much as one step into his room."
Loren felt extremely uncomfortable. He knew Michaela was right and since he still had to talk to her about something important, he didn't want to get her angry with him. Before Dorothy could open her mouth again, he quickly assured, "And we know that, Dr. Mike. I just wanted to thank him for saving Hannah from getting hurt."
Michaela softened. She knew that the thought of possibly losing Hannah frightened Loren. Stepping aside to allow them entrance, she said. "Just wait here, I will see if he is awake."
When the doctor was out of ear shot, Dorothy demanded, "You should finally set her straight about Hannah. Why are you such a coward when it comes to her?"
Loren knew it was his sister-in-law who had to be set straight. "Aw, just leave her be. Actually, it had been Maude and me who asked her to take Hannah in. And now since Sully is back, it ain't our business any more."
Dorothy's mind raced. There had to be another argument left…Suddenly it came to her. "How much have you paid her? I'm sure Sully doesn't have enough money to give her a salary."
Loren stared at her. "Huh? What the hell are you talking about?" Slowly but surely he lost his patience.
They both hadn't heard the doctor's return and turned around startled, hearing her voice, "I'm not a nanny, Mrs. Jennings, I'm a mother, and mothers are only paid with the love of their children. You should know that."
Dorothy, however, wasn't ready to acknowledge the facts yet. "But her real family…"
It was then that Loren eventually lost his temper. "Aw, Dorothy, stop that. Hannah loves Dr. Mike and that's all that counts." Turning towards Michaela, he asked, "What about the teacher, can we see him?"
As they sat on chairs next to Mr. James' bed, Dorothy still fumed about the way Loren had talked to her. But if she really had to bury her plan to take the child in, she had to search for something else because in the mercantile wasn't enough work for all the energy she had inside of her. Her attention shifted towards the other persons in the room again when she heard Loren clearing his throat. "Uh, Dr. Mike…"
Michaela was pleased that her patient's condition had considerably improved after the good sleep that he had finally found. Relieved, she could breathe easier and the headache started to dissipate. So she smiled when she looked at the storekeeper. "What is it, Loren?"
Encouraged when he didn't hear any anger in her voice, he started again. "Uhm, I was wonderin'… Grace said that you asked her to cater the ceremony when you officially open the school. She said she would do all her shoppin' at the mercantile and there will be a lot to order…" His voice trailed off for a moment. He couldn't quite contain his excitement about the profit he would make. That school sure was a great gift, he had already made some money from all the building materials that had been ordered in his store.
Dorothy gaped at Loren. "A ceremony? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Loren snapped out of his pleasant thoughts. Turning towards Michaela, he tentatively added, "I wanted to ask if there's gonna be one now, Dr. Mike…because there would be a lot of things to order and I have to be sure…"
Before he got his words muddled again, Michaela assured him, "Of course there will be a ceremony." Looking at her patient, she considered his condition and then continued, "The way I see it we will just postpone it maybe a week and then Mr. James can participate as well."
Now wide-awake, Chris was astonished. "You think my foot will be well within a week?"
The doctor couldn't help but smile. "Of course not, Mr. James. But by then, you should have recovered enough to sit on a chair without great discomfort. When you will be able to begin with the lessons,is another matter…"
The teacher swallowed hard. Could he really dare to hope she would still hire him no matter if or how his foot would heal? But she wanted him to be at the ceremony, that was a good sign, wasn't it? Sensing his concern, Michaela assured him, "There is no reason I can see to break our contract, Mr. James. We will wait until you are well enough to start teaching the children of this town."
Dorothy still couldn't believe it. No one had told her about such an important event! What if there were other people who didn't know about it yet? They had to be informed! And then, it hit her out of the blue. "A newspaper!" she exclaimed, "That's what this town needs! And I will do it." For a moment, all the eyes in the room were on her. Dorothy was very pleased with herself. What a great idea! She would be an important member of this town and she would be informed about all the significant things that were going on.
If anyone in the room had known how much trouble was to come because of this idea, they all would have tried to talk Dorothy out of this. For now though, Dorothy continued to revel in her genius; not even Hannah and Sully's arrival couldn't distract her from her thoughts.
Hannah was relieved when Aunt Dorothy finally left the room with her grandpa. She was still tired because she hadn't slept well. She had missed her bunny. The little girl had spotted her favourite toy the moment her pa had carried her into the recovery room. Bunny sat propped up against the pillow right next to Mr. James's head. Observing that her new friend looked much better than yesterday, she knew that Bunny had been good for him. Maybe…She didn't finish that thought because she didn't want to be selfish. Her ma always said that a doctor had to think of the sick people first. Taking a deep breath, she directed her gaze at her ma and her little face lit up. It was wonderful to be in the same room with her again.
Seeing Sully with his daughter in his arms standing next to the door, Mr. James grinned to himself. Both their longing looks spoke volumes. Sully's gaze was directed at Dr. Quinn and showed the same desire that Chris was sure would be in his own eyes if his fiancée entered the room right now. And it was also obvious that the little girl longed for her stuffed toy. He found the child adorable and wanted to set her mind at ease.
"Hello, Hannah." he said, immediately grabbing her attention. "I wanted to tell you that your little friend was a wonderful companion for me last night. I know, however, that he missed you terribly and that's why I think you better take him home again, I don't want him to get sad."
He hadn't even finished the last sentence when Hannah was already wriggling out of her father's arms. Down on the floor, she rushed towards her bunny and clutched him to her chest. Her blue eyes sparkled when she looked up into her big friend's face. "I take care."
Chris chuckled. "That's what I hoped for."
Michaela had seen exhaustion creeping into her patient's eyes and ordered that everyone, including herself,left his room. On their way to the examination room, the three of them met the Cooper family in the hallway. Brian instantly rushed towards Sully who was carrying Hannah again. Hopefully, the boy asked, "Hey Sully, are ya goin' fishin'?"
Sully smiled down on him and gave him a friendly tap on the back. "That's what I had in mind. Wanna join us?"
Brian didn't even wait until Sully had finished his question; he was already on his way to the stairs and shouted over his shoulder, "I'm getting my things!"
Charlotte was embarrassed by her son's behaviour. "Sully, you don't have to take him every time he asks you."
Sully just shrugged. "I don't mind, really. And it's more fun when there are three of us. Right, sweet girl?" He raised his eyebrows and grinned at his daughter. Hannah was so happy to have her bunny back that she would have agreed to anything and nodded eagerly.
Turning towards Michaela, Charlotte's facial expression changed. "Dr. Mike, there is something I have to tell you. Do you have a moment?"
Michaela had noticed for several days that her friend had seemed to have something on her mind and so she didn't want to let her down. "I have an appointment in a few minutes but I would be happy to meet you at Grace's for lunch."
When Charlotte hesitated, the doctor added, "I wanted to invite you and Colleen some time soon anyway to thank you for your help during the last several days." The midwife felt her daughter's pleading gaze and agreed. "Alright, we'll meet you at noon."
After Charlotte and Colleen had left the clinic, Brian returned with his fishing rod. He was eager to leave immediately. "Come on, let's go!"
Carefully putting Hannah down, Sully instructed, "You two go on out on the porch, I still wanna have a word with Dr. Mike."
Taking the little girl's hand, Brian complied and Michaela and Sully were finally alone for a moment. Stepping closer to the woman he loved, Sully told her in a low voice, "I've missed you."
Michaela blushed and averting her eyes she admitted quietly, "I've missed you too."
Sighing in contentment, Sully closed the space between them and wrapped her in his arms.
He buried his face in Michaela's hair and whispered near her ear, "We'll be back for supper, is that alright with you?" Feeling her nod, he bent back to look into her face. The blush still lingered on Michaela's cheeks and Sully knew he had to keep his desire under control. That's why he just pressed his lips on her forehead, held her tight again for a moment and then hastily left. Michaela couldn't take her eyes off his retreating figure and sighed. Actually, she wouldn't have minded if he had kissed her like he had yesterday. But he would be back in the evening…maybe then…