Chapter 16

August 1866

Colorado Springs

The end of summer was rapidly approaching, and the citizens of Colorado Springs wanted to have one last summer fling. A small dancing area was constructed in the meadow with colorful streamers adorning the base. Women bought new dresses, and men visited the barbershop. Everyone was making a big hoopla over the dance. They all wanted to know who was going with whom and who was dancing with whom. Even the busy lady doctor that was examining her patient had the dance in the back of her mind.

"I believe you're all over the catarrh, Charlotte." Michaela smiled at her friend. "But if you feel that you can't breathe again, put those stinging nettles into that tea I told you about."

"Will do, Doc." Charlotte eyed her friend. "So," Charlotte said as she lifted off of the examining table, "are ya planin' on goin' t' this fling tonight?"

The question caught Michaela off guard. Secretly she wanted to go very much, but Sully had never asked her. And as each day passed by, her spirits dropped a little more. So she tried to push it out of her mind as best as she could. But today, as she saw everyone picking up their last minute items, she felt that same twinge in her heart.

"Umm…no I wasn't planning on it." Michaela looked down, filling out Charlotte's chart.

"Why ever not?" Charlotte put her hands on her hips.

"Well…for one, it's not fun going by yourself." She lifted her brow.

"Why would you be going by yourself? Didn't Sully ask you?" She came right to the point.

"No…"

"No!" Charlottes voice peaked. "I'm gonna ring that boys neck! What's he thinking of not askin' you?"

"Charlotte…" Michaela neared. "Please don't say anything to Sully."

"Why ever not? He deserves a good ear pullin'!" Charlotte pointed out. "If you're courting, you should be going to things like this together."

"That's just it Charlotte. I'm not sure if he wants to court any longer." Michaela looked away.

"What in God's name would put that idea into your head?"

"I…I think it makes him uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable?" she wondered. "Uncomfortable how?"

"Well…when people found out we were courting, they gave him a hard time. He didn't tell me about it but I've heard people talking."

"Oh…" Charlotte understood.

"They're bringing up Abigail," she whispered.

"Ohhhh…" Charlotte realized.

"I mean people are giving us a hard enough time now. What would they do if they knew about…about before."

"Well…I'm the only one that knows about you two, and I ain't sayin' nothin'," she smiled. "I think ya both been through enough, and ya deserve t' be happy."

"Thank you, Charlotte." Michaela hugged her. "I just don't want this to be uncomfortable for Sully. He seemed so…so happy when I agreed to court him." Her cheeks reddened. "And things just seem different now."

"Charlotte eyed her," Did ya ever think about asking him to the dance?"

Michaela giggled, "No…"

"Well why don't ya? I'm pretty sure he wouldn't say no t' ya."

"And I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to. Or else he would have asked me already."

Charlotte picked up her purse and pulled out two bits and placed them on Michaela's desk. She then walked to the door and opened it. "Never know till ya ask."

Michaela watched Charlotte exit her clinic, and she looked to the clock. It was after five. The dance would be starting in two hours. Michaela pushed her files to the side, deciding she would do them tomorrow. She felt tired, so she decided to call it a night and go upstairs to make herself some tea and hopefully fall asleep while reading her favorite book.

Boston

Martha entered through the back gate of the Quinn home and quickly met eyes with Mrs. Quinn. Elizabeth's face turned up in a smile when she saw her chambermaid, but then she saw the frown that etched her face. "No…" Elizabeth's face dropped.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. No letter's from Miss Michaela today."

Elizabeth signed. "I just don't understand why she's not returning any of my letters. That just isn't like Michaela."

"The poor dear's probably still devastated about losing her fiancée." Martha tried to reason with her. "That's two for Miss Michaela now, Ma'am. It just doesn't seem fair."

"It's been over three months since Jackson passed away. Michaela would have written me since then. Perhaps something has happen to her out there. Without Jackson there to look after he,r who know what trouble she could get herself in." Elizabeth put her arms around herself and began to pace the cobblestone walkway.

"Mrs. Quinn," Martha walked up to her. "Miss Michaela is a smart woman. I'm sure she's just fine. She'll write you soon."

Elizabeth thought for a moment. She knew her daughter was a smart woman. but smarts don't help you when you're living in the middle of nowhere with savages. "If I don't hear from her soon, I'm going out to Colorado Springs…again."

After closing the gate, David wheeled himself back down the path to the hospital. He had to do something. Elizabeth couldn't go to Colorado Springs. He cursed himself and his wheelchair. For weeks his progress had been on the up, and he thought he would be walking soon. But lately he'd been having a blinding pain shooting up his leg and through his back, and the only thing that would make him feel any better were the shots of Morphine that Madeline would give him. And that would make him tired, so he'd sleep the days away not doing his exercises and getting weaker by the day. "Damn it!" he growled.

Colorado Springs

While walking up the stairs to her room Michaela thought to herself. "Oh Sully…" she sighed. "I really did want to go to the dance." Maybe I should just go and ask him. But would he be home? She thought. He'd been leaving town so much lately. He would drop Hannah off early in the morning and would be back around suppertime. And he never once told her where he was going.

She walked into her room and pulled down the drapes, not wanting to see the town making their way toward the dance. Setting her medical bag on the chair something caught her eye. She turned fully around, and on her bed was a beautiful scarlet red dress. Her hand covered her mouth as she walked closer. It was beautiful. The dress was something you would see in the likes of Boston. "Oh my goodness…" she sighed, as she touched the silky fabric. She picked the dress up and held it up to her body, as she looked in the mirror.

"Do ya like it?" A voice came from the hallway.

Michaela swiveled around, as Sully walked into the room. "Sully!"

"Hey," he smiled.

The first thing she noticed was the dapper black suit Sully was wearing. His hair was neatly brushed back, and he smelled of cologne. She knew he had never looked more handsome.

"Sully you look-"

"Ridiculous?" he smirked.

"No!" Her eyes widened. "What are you doing?"

Sully smiled. "You never answered my question. Do ya like the dress?"

Michaela looked down at the gown that was in her arms. "Sully, it's so beautiful. But why? What's it for?"

He laughed, "I was hopin you'd wear it do the dance tonight."

Michaela eyes lit up. "I…I thought you didn't want to go. You…you never asked."

"Sorry," Sully looked down. "I know I'm late. If you don't want to go, it's okay I'll just-"

Michaela put her finger to his lips. "I'd love to go to the dance with you."

Smiling, Sully put his hand on her shoulder. "Good."

"Sully, you didn't have to get me this dress. It must have cost you a fortune." She admired the beadwork on the neckline.

"You're worth it." His smile matched hers. The dress did cost a fortune though. He thought back to the days he spent in Manitou working trying to pay for it. He held off on asking her to the dance, because he was afraid he wouldn't have enough money to pay for it.

Michaela looked at herself in the mirror. "Oh dear, there isn't even time to get ready."

"You look fine just the way you are."

Michaela tossed her braided hair behind her. "My hairs falling out and-"

"Ya look beautiful," he finished her sentence. Sully moved behind her and pulled the rawhide that was holding her hair back. Slowly he unbraided her hair and turned her to look in the mirror. "Wear your hair down. I love it that way."

"Sully…" she blushed.

"I'll leave ya to get ready. I'll be waitin' down stairs." He quickly left the room and descended the stairs.

Biting her lip to keep from smiling, Michaela's eyes lit up. "I won't be too long," she called after him. Turning around to look in the mirror Michaela could see the blush that crept onto her cheeks flushing her white skin. She couldn't help but feel giddy at this thoughtfulness and ashamed at the same time for thinking he didn't want to go to the dance with her. She quickly slid out of her clothes and opened her drawer to find her corset. She wanted to look the best she could in the little about of time she had.

Boston

Fall 1871

Tears filled her eyes. "It can't be true, Sully. It can't!"

"I…I…can't believe it."

"Do you know what that means?" The tears gushed down her face, unable to be stopped. "Do you know what we did!"

Sully looked into her eyes, seeing such fear and sadness. He just wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but he didn't know what good it would do. "Michaela, we had no way of-"

Michaela cut him off before another excuse left his lips. "Why did this happen to us?"

Colorado Springs

1866

Sully sat at Michaela's desk looking at the photo she had of her mother and father. He could see so much of Josef Quinn in her, and he only wished that he could have met him. Suddenly, he heard the creaking up the steps and he turned to see Michaela enter the front room of the clinic. His breath caught in his throat. She looked beautiful. The dress he bought fit her perfectly, hugging her curves in all the right places. Her hair delicately cascaded down her shoulders in a slight curl. She smiled brilliantly at him. "Michaela…you…you look beautiful." His words felt inadequate to describe how she looked.

She smiled brighter at him and bit her bottom lip. For the first time in her life, she didn't mind him staring at her…admiring her. She looked at the clock and then back at Sully. "Are you ready to go?"

"More than ready." He held his arm out to her.

Michaela placed her arm though his and he escorted her out of the clinic and toward the meadow. As they walked toward the church they noticed many eyes on them. Michaela stiffened in his arms, and he could tell the stares were bothering her. "You're not going to let them bother you are ya?"

"I…I just…I just don't understand why they feel the need to talk about us. What makes them so curious?" Michaela looked around as they walked onto the bridge. She smiled politely as she passed the townspeople and held tighter onto Sully's arm.

"I reckon they're just jealous," he smiled, tightening his hold on her hand.

"Jealous?" She wondered what he could possibility mean. There was no need for anyone to be jealous of her.

"Well, all those men out there are jealous, 'cause I got the most beautiful woman on my arm tonight."

Michaela's blushed deepened, as she turned to look at Sully. "Well if all the men are jealous— which I don't think they are—all the women must be jealous as well. Considering I get to dance with the most handsome man here tonight."

He smiled, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the makeshift dance floor. He then whispered in her ear, "Let's make some people jealous Dr. Quinn." He twirled her onto the dance floor and started in perfect accord with a waltz.

"I didn't know you could dance, Mr. Sully." Her grin turned up in a smile.

"I can do lots of things." His voice turned deep. He smiled, as he saw her face blush once again. "When you have the right partner, dancin' is easy."

Twirling around again, Michaela was lost in Sully's embrace and didn't notice the stares that were being given to them or the whispers. "Where's Hannah tonight?" she wondered.

"Colleen Cooper's watchin' her. Payin' her a nickel an hour."

"What time did you tell her you'd be back?" she wondered.

"Didn't give her a time." Sully smiled, as he pulled her closer. They danced like no one was watching them. And when the song ended, they continued to dance contently staring in each other's eyes.

"Songs over, love birds!" Jake shouted from the crowd that was watching the couple.

Michaela's cheeks flushed, as she looked around and noticed she and Sully were the only ones on the dance floor. Even the band was taking a break. Pulling themselves away from one another, Sully escorted her to a table. "Would ya like some punch?"

"Yes, thank you." After Sully departed, she noticed Dorothy and Grace coming over to sit with her.

"Michaela, Dr. Mike," they said in unison, as they sat down next to her.

"Hello," she smiled at the ladies.

Dorothy looked Michaela up and down. "That dress is gorgeous Michaela. Did ya bring it from Boston?"

"No," Michaela whispered. "It was a gift from Sully. He bought it for the dance."

Dorothy and Grace eyed one another. Both surprised that Sully would give her such an extravagant gift. "That was awful nice of him," Grace remarked.

Michaela smiled, shaking her head at his thoughtfulness.

"You and Sully seem real happy together." Dorothy looked into Michaela's eyes, hoping the doctor would divulge.

"Yes, we are," was all she replied.

Dorothy decided on another tactic. "Everyone was real surprised when you and Sully decided to court." Dorothy raised her eyebrow.

"We didn't even know that you two were interested in each other that way. He's been gone for so long, and well…Jackson and all…" Grace looked down.

"Jackson…" Michaela hadn't heard his name for some time.

Grace could see that she struck a chord in Michaela. "Sorry, Dr. Mike I didn't mean… I mean, I just thought-"

"No, it's alright, Grace."

As Sully was pouring the punch he noticed two men that he had never seen before standing in the shadows of the church, looking toward the tables. Deciding to see what they were up to, Sully set his and Michaela's glasses down and walked toward the opposite side of the church. Being as quiet as he could be, Sully snuck up behind them, close enough to hear their conversation.

"So, who's that woman wearin' the red dress over there?" He pointed to Michaela.

"I dunno, but I'd sure like to find out," he smirked.

"I think I'd like to find out a little more than that." He licked his lips.

"She is a looker." The man examined her body up and down. "I bet she looks even better without that dress off."

Both men laughed at their ongoing joke. But Sully bubbled with anger inside. They had no right to talk about Michaela like that. He could punch them for what they were saying about her. But he thought twice; he didn't want to cause a scene. He was just going to keep an eye on Michaela and make sure she wasn't out of his sight the entire night. He hurried and grabbed their glasses of punch and went back to the table where he left Michaela.

Glad to see Sully back at the table and to be out of the conversation with Dorothy and Grace, Michaela readily accepted her drink. Sully seated himself next to Michaela and placed his hand on hers, a motion that didn't go unnoticed by Grace or Dorothy. "I forgot t' ask ya earlier, but Hannah wanted to know if you'd like to go on a buggy ride with us to the lake tomorrow."

Michaela smiled, "Oh she did, huh?"

"Yeah, well I…ah might have mentioned something to her about it."

"Well I have a few patients to see in the afternoon, but we could make a dinner out of it." She smiled back at him, hoping he'd like the idea.

"Sounds like a plan." Sully squeezed her hand.

Dorothy and Grace watched the exchange between the couple and were surprised at just how close they seemed to be in the little time they've been courting. Never had they seen two people that seemed to be so connected to one another. Just a mere look or touch seemed to convey such a message that only they understood.

"Care for a dance, little lady?"

Sully looked up and noticed the man from behind the church standing a little too close to Michaela with his hand outstretched. He noticed his eyes look Michaela up and down and settle on her breasts. "Sorry, I believe her dance card is all full this evenin'." Sully took Michaela's hand and led her to the dance floor.

"Sully," Michaela admonished. "That was a little rude."

"I don't care. I don't like the way he was lookin' at ya." Sully swung her around, so he could get another look at the man standing at the table.

Michaela didn't understand. "How was he looking at me?" She tried to turn herself around so she could also get a look at the man.

"Just a way a man shouldn't be looking at a lady."

Michaela's eyes squinted to get a better look. "I've never seen him before," she remarked. "All he wanted was a dance. It's not polite to decline."

"Don't ya wanna dance with me?" He tried to sound hurt. He looked into Michaela's eyes, and he could tell she was trying to think of something clever to say. "You're the only person I wanna dance with tonight."

Michaela tightened her hold on Sully's shoulder. "And you're the only person that I want to dance with tonight, Mr. Sully." Michaela could feel Sully's hand bringing her in closer to him and her heart started to beat wildly. She still wasn't quite used to being so close to Sully. They still hadn't had their first official kiss yes. "Loren's quite good on his harmonica," Michaela remarked. "Beautiful Dreamer is my favorite."

"It suits ya."

Michaela and Sully continued another dance and then walked off the floor to catch their breaths. "Would ya like something t' eat? Grace brought some of her food from the café over."

"I'd like some pie," she smiled.

"Be right back," he winked.

"Don't be too long." Michaela looked back out on the dance floor and watched the couples as they twirled around and laughed, stealing kisses when they thought no one was watching. She began to wonder if Sully would kiss her tonight. She told him that she wanted to move slowly in this relationship and they'd had. But she couldn't help but remember the kiss they shared almost two years ago. Two years? Had she really known Sully that long? Her cheeks blushed at the thought of wanting to kiss him. What would Sully think if he knew of all the thoughts swirling through her head tonight?

"Care for a dance?"

Michaela looked up and noticed another man that she had never seen before. He looked nice enough. He held his hat in his hand and held his other out to her. She looked around and noticed Sully was still standing in line for her pie. She felt bad refusing but debated for a second. She figured she could dance with this man and be back before Sully came with her pie. She would be doing nothing wrong. It was a dance after all. And Sully knew that she was devoted to only him.

"Alright," she agreed, standing up and taking his hand.

Tom led her to the dance floor. Quickly turning her around, he danced in step with the music. "I don't believe that I've seen you around town before Mr…Mr…"

"Brooks, Thomas Brooks, Ma'am. And no ya haven't. My friend and I were just passin' through and saw there was a dance goin' on, so we decided to stay." Tom pulled Michaela a little closer, and his thumb started to make lazy circles in her palm. "What's yer name?"

Michaela's brow wrinkled, and she tried to put some distance between herself and the man. "Dr. Quinn…my patients call me…Dr. Mike."

"A doc, huh? Never met no lady doctor." He pulled her even closer.

"Mr. Brooks, please." She tried to wiggle out of his grasp. "I don't-"

"What? I saw you making cats eyes at me when ya were sitting over there."

"What!" She was astounded. "I don't know what you're talking about. Let me go."

"Why? I think I kinda like ya." He licked his lips and pulled her closer than he dared.

"Let me go!" Michaela yelled, pushing her hands against this chest.

Sully turned around when he heard Michaela's voice ring in his years. His eyes searched for her and found her out on the dance floor. Then he saw who she was dancing with. He started toward her just when he saw the man's hand creep up Michaela's waist and touch her breast.

Quickly Michaela gained use of her arms and slapped the man across the face. "Don't you touch me!"

"Hey!" Tom sharply grabbed Michaela's arm, causing her to wince in pain.

"Let her go!" Sully forcefully pushed the man from the dance floor, causing him to stumble backward and land on the ground.

The man was momentary stunned, before he got back to his feet and charged toward Sully at full force, knocking the wind out of him. Gaining his wits Sully flipped him over onto his back. The men continued to fight upon the dance floor.

"Sully! Sully, don't!" Michaela yelled.

Quickly, Tom threw a punch and landed square in Sully's jaw, causing him to retaliate and punch Tom in the stomach. Onlookers cheered and started taking bets on who would win.

"Stop it!" Michaela continued. "Somebody stop them before they get hurt!"

The men continued to roll on the floor. pummeling one another. Deciding to take actions into her own hands Michaela pushed her way through and tried to pry the man off of Sully. She quickly stumbled backward as the man crashed into her legs.

Instantly, she pulled herself back up and tried again, but then she felt a hand on her arm. "You're gonna get hurt." It was Hank. "Break it up, you two!" Hank forcefully pulled Tom off of Sully, and Jake held him back. "What's going on here?"

"Nothin! I was just dancin', and this savage came out of nowhere and jumped me!"

"Liar!" Sully jumped for him again.

"Hey! I'm gonna throw you both in jail for disturbin' the peace!"

"I didn't do nothing wrong!" Tom tried to shove his arm from Hank.

"Oh, I think ya did!" Hank sneered at him and looked him in the eye. "I saw what ya were doing. And I don't think the doc was enjoyin' it."

"I think she was. She's nothing but a high priced whore anyways!"

Gasps could be heard throughout the crowd, causing Michaela's face to turn red.

"You son of a-" Sully lunged for him again.

"Sully don't!" Michaela cried out.

"That's it, you're comin' with me." Hank grabbed Tom's arms even tighter and led him toward the jail. "

Sully turned to look at Michaela and saw the tears in her eyes as she quietly made her way to the church. "Let me go." Sully turned to look at Jake.

"I don't know about that." He eyed him, not sure if he should let Sully go. He knew he had a temper, and if it were him, he'd beat the living day lights out of that man for touching his woman.

"I don't care about him. I wanna go talk with Michaela."

Jake eyed him again and then let him go. "I don't wanna have to break you two up again."

Sully gave him one last look and took off toward the church. "Michaela." He tried to catch up with her. "Michaela, wait!"

Michaela stopped at Sully's voice but didn't turn around. She was afraid of what he might say to her. Suddenly, she felt his hand softly on her arm. "Hey, are ya okay?" He turned her around. "I'm sorry."

"I'm fine." She bit on her bottom lip. In all truths, she was fine, just a little disappointed that her night had to turn out like this.

"Michaela," he rubbed his hand up and down her arm, when he noticed bruising starting to form.

"Really, Sully, I'm fine. Just a little embarrassed, I guess."

"Ya got nothing to be embarrassed about. That man was rude and out of line. I should have been watchin' ya."

"You can't watch me every minute, Sully. Besides how would you know he was going to do that?"

Sully thought back to when he saw the two men behind the church talking, not wanting to bring that up, he changed the subject. "How about we go for a walk?"

Michaela smiled, "That would be…Sully!" she touched his forehead. "You're bleeding!"

"It ain't nothin," he tried to dismiss it.

"Oh, I think it is." She grabbed his hand. "Come with me to the clinic."

Summer 1871

Sully held his breath, as he ran up the steps of the homestead. Swiftly he opened the door and ran inside. "MICHAELA!" he screamed. "Where is she?" he said aloud. "God if anything-"

"Sully…" He heard his named being whined.

He turned his head toward the fireplace. And that's when his world around him began to crumble. "Michaela!" He ran to her. As he got closer, he noticed her dress saturated in crimson.

"Sully," she cried, as she fell back onto the floor.

"Michaela!" His eyes searched around her as he saw the bloody blade. "My God!"

He sank to his knees and brought her head into his lap. "Michaela…how…what…who…" He placed his hand on her bloated abdomen.

"Our baby…" she whispered, before passing out.

1866

"Michaela, I'm fine," he winced, as she place the antiseptic to his wound. "Stop fussin'."

"Hold still. You're worse than a child."

Sighing, he relented and let her take over. "I'm sorry your night was ruined. I really hoped we'd have a nice time tonight."

Placing the bandage on his head, Michaela stepped back to observe her work, then she looked at Sully. "I'm not going to let one rude man ruin my evening. Besides," she smiled, "it isn't over yet."

"Your right." Lightly he placed his hands on her hips. He didn't want to frighten her. But never had she looked more beautiful to him, and he just couldn't keep his hands to himself. With her face mere inches from his he could smell her perfume, and it drove him wild.

Michaela's eyes were focused oh his lips, and she blushed when she thought about what it would be like to taste them once again.

Sully leaned in closer and regained his senses for a minute to ask her, "would you mine if I kissed ya?"

"I'd mind if you didn't," she answered, surprised at her own boldness.

Slowly, Sully brought his lips to cover Michaela's in a sweet very gentle "first" kiss. They both held on a second before letting go, and when they did, their foreheads touched, and Sully whispered the words she spoke to him two years ago. "I love you."