Chapter 22

Beacon Hill

April 1867

After sitting for a good twenty minutes by the fire in Michaela's room Sully shifted his weight, hoping his leg would wake up. He pulled Michaela further in his arms and inhaled the scent of her hair. "Tell me about your dream weddin."

"What?" she turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"I know all women think about their weddin' day and what they would like to have, and where it'd be," he joked. "So tell me."

"Sully, really…"

"Aww…. Come on. I know ya wanna tell me," he poked her side. "Come on."

"Sully I really don't see why it matters." She tired to push herself out of his embrace feeling a bit claustrophobic.

"Tell me…" he began to tickle her.

"Sully, don't!" she laughed. "I'm not ticklish!"

"Oh I think ya are!" He wrapped his arms around her, his fingers gently kneading her sides.

"I am not ticklish!" she demanded.

"Are you sure?" he kept it up.

"Okay! Okay, I'll tell you. Just please stop!" She laughed, her face blushed with crimson. "I'll tell you!"

Turning over Sully settled himself next to Michaela, his face full of satisfaction. "I think I found a new tactic."

Rolling her eyes, she rested her head on Sully's shoulder. "Anyways…" she began, "Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to get married at St. Mary's."

"St. Marys?" Sully questioned, wondering if it was in Boston.

"Remember that big stone church next to the library, downtown?" she questioned. "Facing the common."

"Yeah, I remember," he smiled.

"Mother and father were married there. So were Rebecca and Maureen. It's so beautiful, Sully. I should take you in there before we leave."

"We'll go," he promised. He could tell that Michaela had that whimsical look in her eyes as she talked. He could tell this was all she ever wanted and it pained him to know he couldn't give it to her.

"I always wanted lots of flowers….Lilies," she whispered. "Casablanca Lilies."

"Are those the flowers your Ma has downstairs in that crystal vase? The white ones?"

"Mmm…" she shook her head.

"Did you want a big or small weddin'?"

"Big," she blushed. "I know it's terribly vain, but I always imagined it that way."

"Oh…"

Michaela could hear the tint of sadness in his voice. "But that was when I was a child Sully. Things like that don't matter now. All I want to do is be married to you. It doesn't matter if it's in a church with dozens of flowers and a hundred people. I just want to be your wife." She pulled him into her embrace. "It doesn't matter now…"

"You know I'd give ya the weddin' of your dreams if I could don't ya?"

"Sully," she held his hand. "You have given me so much already. Please don't feel guilty about this. This was a childish dream…a fantasy. I know what really matters now, and it's us. You, Hannah and I, we're going to be a family and that's all that matters."

Colorado Springs

May 1868

"Oh dear, oh dear, what is Sully going to think?" Michaela walked around her bedroom. "So soon. Oh dear…" Biting her lip, Michaela started to pick up Rose's things and put them on the shelf. Clothes, diapers, bonnets, rags, blankets. Turning to the crib she stroked her daughters back. "You're so little, sweetheart," she smiled. "But, I don't know if I can do it again….so soon."

"Things like this take time, Mother said. I should have known," Michaela rolled her eyes. "I can't even imagine what Sully's going to think. Is he ready for this?" Looking in the mirror Michaela notice the slight bags under her eyes. "Am I ready for this? Oh dear…. I should have known, we didn't even-"

"Mama!" Hannah came running into the room. "Mama!"

"Shh…" Michaela flared her arms back and forth. "I just got your sister to sleep."

Stopping in mid leap, Hannah covered her mouth. "Sorry," she whispered. "When is papa gonna' get home? I have ta' tell em somethin'."

Ushering her daughter out of the room Michaela closed the door behind her and put her arm around her daughter. "He'll be home around supper time. What do you have to tell him?"

"It's a surprise Mama!" she giggled. "I tell ya both!"

"I guess today's full of surprises…" Michaela rolled her eyes.

William Cotter and Sons

April 10th 1867

"Mother I still don't know why you insisted on going shopping today," Michaela opened the door to William Cotter and Son's Dress Shop.

"I told you, I need a gown," Elizabeth smiled inwardly. "And I think you could use a new one too."

"I don't need a new dress. Sully and I will be leaving soon and well… there is no use for fancy dresses like these in Colorado Springs." Fingering the lace on a dark royal blue gown Michaela thought back to her time spent in Boston. And for a minute she wished she could stay…just for a little longer.

"This ones nice," Elizabeth moved toward a black dress with white lace trimmed around the bottom and collar. "What do you think?"

"Yes, that's nice," she was less than enthusiastic.

"Michaela, what's wrong?" Elizabeth turned to her, hoping to put her in a better mood. "Dress shopping was one of the few things you actually liked to do with me."

"I'm sorry, mother. I just have my mind on other things today," she tried to smile.

"Look, that dress, try that one on Michaela," Elizabeth pointed to an Emerald Green dress in the display window. "It's just delicious! And it will bring out the color in your eyes."

Moving closer to the window, Michaela admired the rich green fabric. It had to be the grandest gown in the entire store. Tugging at the sleeve Michaela glanced at the price tag and almost stumbled backward. She had forgotten how expensive imported gowns could be.

"Try it on," Elizabeth whispered in her ear.

"Oh, mother no, it's too expensive."

"Nonsense," Elizabeth waved over an assistant. "Miss…"

"Mother, I can't afford this dress," she touched her hand. "Really, I don't need it."

"Well, then think of it as a gift," she smiled moving away from Michaela toward the sales lady. "My daughter would like to try on the gown in the window over here. And I would like to try on this black one, please."

"Yes, ma'am," the lady nodded.

"Mother…" Michaela sighed.

"Just humor an old woman alright. You never know what you might need a new dress for."

Boston North Station

David waved as the train pulled out of Boston North Station. He had decided to send Madeline back to Virginia as soon as possible. He couldn't get rid of the nagging sensation that Michaela was indeed back in Boston, and he couldn't search around for her if Madeline was on his tails. Making up a ruse to get Madeline to go onto Virginia without him was no easy task. He completely lied through his teeth telling her he was expecting a huge package to be dropped off at their home in the city and that it was a surprise for her and someone needed to be there to sign for it and he couldn't return to their home yet because he had a few business ends to tie up in Back Bay. She seemed skeptical at first, but she soon warmed to the idea of the surprise and her curiosity got the better of her.

Walking down the steps of the station David pulled his wool coat collar upward to block out the cool spring New England air. Figuring he should probably find something and have it mailed to Madeline he started walking down the sidewalk toward the bustling city. "I'll just have to tell her it got delayed," he thought out loud.

Getting toward the edge of town a woman stepping out of a carriage caught David's attention and he instantly recognized her. Stepping around the back of the carriage he stayed out of sight but close enough to hear the conversation.

"Are you sure you won't need a ride back home, dear?"

"No, I'll ride home with mother and Michaela. I told mother I'd help with the preparations for the dinner tonight. I'll be alright." Moving in she kissed him on the cheek.

"Oh, and Rebecca…"

"Yes," she turned around.

"Have a delightful afternoon," he smiled warmly.

"I will, oh, Michaela will be so surprised! And Sully, try and make him feel welcome this afternoon. You know where that new men's shop on Tram Street is, don't you?"

"Yes, I know where it's at," he laughed. "Now go on you don't want to be late."

Giving her husband a loving glance Rebecca turned and walked into the dress shop going directly to the back.

Pulling his hat deeper over his face David's smile grew on his face. "She's here."

William Cotter and Sons

After tying the back laces of the inset corset Michaela emerged from the dressing booth and stepped onto the carpeted pedestal. Shyly she looked at herself in the mirror and admired the way the dress fit her, it was almost as if it was made for her.

"Oh Michaela," Elizabeth gushed. "You look beautiful."

Turning to the side Michaela's eyes cast to her back and the long ribbons that started at the top of the dress and flowed past the bustle to the edges of the gown. Then turning frontward she noticed the neckline was a bit lower that she was used to and just barely covered the tops of her breast, causing her to blush. It hugged her figure nicely and she simply fell in love with it.

Elizabeth noticed her daughter making puppy eyes at herself and lightly touched her shoulder. "Package it up, ummm…"

Michaela look to her mother than to herself once more in the mirror then, she smiled and shook her head. "Yes…"

"Splendid!" Elizabeth clapped her hands together. Her plan was coming together quite nicely. "Miss," Elizabeth waved the clerk over again. "We'll take both of these gowns."

Following her daughter into the dressing booth, she began to untie the seams of Michaela's corset. Noticing the slight upturned grin on her daughters face she knew she was happy. In the past few days since she heard Sully's declaration to her daughter she had to admit she'd been seeing Sully in a new light. She still had a few qualms in the pit of her stomach about the impending marriage, but she was doing everything she could to squash them. There had only been a few times she'd had seen such light in her daughters eyes, and she would do almost anything to make it stay.

Looking over her shoulder Michaela commented, "I really liked the dress you choose, mother. Do you have an event coming up?"

"Actually," Elizabeth smiled, "I do."

Stepping out of her dress Michaela laid it across the table and reached for her own dress.

"Wait," Elizabeth touched her hand. "There's something else I want you to try on. But we need to go to the other room, so put this on." Elizabeth handed her a dressing robe.

"Mother I'm not getting another dress."

"Come," she placed the robe around her shoulders.

Shaking her head, Michaela walked through the back end of the shop and through the brocade curtains, her eyes immediately catching all the bridal gowns. "Mother this is a bridal shop."

"Mrs. Quinn!"

"Emily!" Elizabeth embraced the woman.

"And this must be your daughter, the bride to be!" She held out her hand, "It's nice to meet you."

Michaela looked between her mother and the woman. "It's nice to meet you too."

"Your private dressing room's are just over here, Mrs. Quinn."

"Mother, what's going on?"

"Well, you now have a dress for your engagement party." Elizabeth pushed back another set of curtains where she found all of her sisters trying on dresses. "Now I think it's time for you to pick out your wedding dress. Don't you think so girls?"

"Michaela!" Rebecca rushed over to her engulfing her in a hug. "Surprise!"

"W-what's all this?"

"Mother arranged it."

"Arranged what?" she still had no clue.

"If you're going to be married at St. Mary's on the first of May, I think you're going to need a wedding dress, and perhaps a few bridesmaid dresses as well," Elizabeth's face broke in a wide grin finally revealing her secret.

"What," Michaela looked around at her sisters and mother in amazement. "St. Mary's...I thought it was booked. I mean…mother…"

"I pulled a few strings, called in a couple favors. The first was the only day we could reserve the church. So that doesn't give us much time."

Michaela eye's began to well with tears, "But I thought-"

"We're going to make this a special day for you and Sully," Rebecca clasped onto her sisters' arms. "Aren't we ladies."

Maureen, Claudette and Marjorie looked up from their dresses and shook their heads. "What ever Michaela wants," Marjorie tossed her head to the side cocking a smart smile.

"Sully…" Michaela smiled.

"Oh, don't worry about him. He's out with Everett and Thomas buying new suits."

"I don't know what to say. "

"You told us that Sully brought you here so you could have your family around when you get married. And I doubt you could do it all by yourself," Rebecca laughed. "So if you don't mind having the biggest wedding this side of Boston has ever seen…"

"You all are going to be in the wedding?" Michaela's eyes grew even wider looking toward her sisters.

"Well don't look so surprised," Maureen rolled her eyes. "We are your sisters."

"Well I just mean that-"

"Alright, there will be no bickering amongst yourselves today. Besides I think we have one more surprise for Michaela, don't we?" Elizabeth pivoted on her foot turning toward a draped fitting room.

"What…"

"Well your sister's aren't the only ones going to be in your wedding. I believe two more are unaccounted for."

"Two more," she was amazed. "Who could possibly be-"

"I gettin' hots in heh!" a tiny voice whispered through the curtains.

"Hannah?" Michaela laughed.

"And…." Rebecca pulled back the curtain.

"Miriam!" Michaela squeaked rushing toward her friend. "Miriam!"

"Michaela!" Miriam held out her arms embracing her in a hug. "It's been so long!"

"Too long," she closed her eyes fighting back the tears."

Pulling back Miriam looked into Michaela's eyes and smiled. "As soon as I received the telegram from your mother I just knew I had to come. I couldn't miss the day, Dr. Michaela Quinn married!"

"Oh Miriam!" Michaela hugged her again. She couldn't believe everything her mother was doing for her. What could have possibly changed her mind about her and Sully?"

"Dr. Mike! Hannah tugged at her robe. "Lookie! Pretty!" Hannah spun around in her cream colored dress.

"Oh Hannah," Michaela knelt down to her level. "You look beautiful."

"Tanks!" she grinned. "I gots dress for ya! Ya like lots!"

"You picked out a dress for me?" she pointed to herself.

"Uh-huh!"

Rebecca giggled, "Actually we all picked out a wedding dress for you to try on."

Smiling Michaela could no longer hold back her tears. "Let's get started then."

……………………..

Stepping off the large wooden crate David walked out of the alley between the dress shop and an abandoned building. Fuming his eyes set in anger. "So she's getting married," he mumbled to himself. "And you think you're going to be happy, don't you Michaela? Well not if I have anything to say about it." Walking through town he decided he needed to come up with a plan to break up Michaela and her fiancée. "Then she'll know how it feels not to be able to be with the one you love."

Stepping off onto a side street David started toward the less desirable side of Boston. His constant ramblings caused onlookers to stare and shy away, but he didn't seem to notice. Millions of thoughts coursed through his mind. Many possibilities were open to him, but he wanted the one that would hurt the most in the end and he knew that betrayal was worse than death.

He had to come up with a plan, but he knew that first he would need to see this man that was marrying Michaela. He needed to see what he was like, how he acted, and gain on his weak spots. Suddenly the sound of an old rickety door being opened caught his attention. A woman scantily dressed walked out of an old boarding house. The first thing he noticed was her long coppery brown hair flowing about behind her and for a second he could have sworn it was Michaela. Jumping back he hid behind a large crate watching her walk further into the alley. Growing intrigued he followed her keeping out of sight. He couldn't believe how much this woman looked like Michaela from the first glance and even her side profile. He watched as she dashed across the street and into a large rundown home. Laughing to himself he smiled in his own joy. "She's a prostitute."

……………………..

Walking through the front doors of the Quinn home all the sisters rushed to the stairs to place their gowns in one of the spare bedrooms. Handing her dress to Rebecca Michaela peeked into the morning room and immediately caught eyes with Sully who was glancing out the window. Both their smiles grew when they saw one another. Rushing in Michaela threw her arms around him. "Oh, Sully!" she breathed. "Our wedding!"

"What happened?" Sully was still clueless as she. "Who changed your ma's mind?"

"I have no idea; I plan on talking to her tonight about it. But, Sully, St. Mary's we going to be married there! Oh Sully!"

Sully couldn't help but laugh at her excitement. "How was your day?"

"How was your day?" she giggled. "Thomas and Everett?" her brow perked up.

"Thomas is real nice. He likes baseball. We got on real good."

"Everett?"

"Didn't say much. I really don't think he wanted t' be there."

"I really don't think my sisters are as happy about this wedding as they say they are. I think mother has something to do about that."

"So…" Sully's brow lifted.

"Ah, so…what?"

"Did you find a dress?" he laughed.

"Umm-mmm" she shook her head.

"Can I see it?"

"No!" she was shocked. "You can not see it!"

"Well I got a new suit and you can't see that neither!"

"Oh you!" Michaela playfully swatted him on the arm. Looking into his eyes he seemed genuinely happy but she wanted to make sure. If Sully wasn't happy, the wedding didn't matter to her. She would go back to Colorado Springs in a second, if that's what he really wanted. "Sully," she moved toward the settee. "You want this wedding, don't you?"

"Of course I wanna get married t' ya!" he rubbed her arm. "Why would ya think that?"

"I mean, the wedding. I know you don't like fancy affairs. Sully if you don't want this wedding, then I don't either. We can still get married in Colorado Springs and-"

"Michaela, calm down. I want this weddin' too. And I know you want it more than anything. Look at you," he shook her arm. "I've never seen ya so happy."

Blushing she looked down. How was it that Sully knew her so well. It scared her sometimes.

Pulling her chin up, Sully looked into her eyes. "I would never take away anything that means so much t' ya. I'm happy t' see ya happy. And I want this weddin'."

"Don't just do this for me Sully."

"You're exactly who I'm doin' this for," he leaned down to kiss her. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."

"You're too good to me," she batted her eyes lashes laughing. "And I think I like it!"

Picking her up at the waist Sully began to spin her around the room. Their giggles filtered through the house causing many heads to peep into the morning room, including Marjorie. "If you could find the time out of your busy schedule mother would like some help in preparation for dinner tonight."

Setting her down Michaela straightened out her skirt, feeling a little uneasy at being caught in a moment of intimacy with Sully. "Tell her I'll be in, in a minute."

"Honestly," Marjorie rolled her eyes. "In the middle of the room…" her voice trailed off.

"Ya, better go," Sully told her. "The last thing we need is your ma gettin' upset with us. We kinda need her in our corner if ya know what I mean."

Sighing Michaela shook her head, "You're probably right. But I'm still planning on finding out what drastically changed her mind."

Back Bay

Sitting in the chair next to the fire David took one last puff on his pipe before placing it to the side. Trying to clear his head he laid back and looked toward the ceiling. The flickering embers danced off the beams creating a peaceful atmosphere. With Madeline out of the picture at least for the time being he was able to think solely on Michaela and what he could do to break up her engagement. He knew Michaela and how she trusted, how she could find good in any person. He needed to play on her weakness; he needed to crush her where it hurt the worst- the heart.

Pinching the bridge of his nose a million scenarios played in his mind, but nothing seemed plausible. "Damnit!" he spoke aloud. "Think, David! Think! If you can fake your own death, you can do this!"

Closing his eyes he let his mind wonder. Death, drugs, infidelity, broken hearts. Any one of those could easily bring her down. Suddenly like a flash of lighting in the distance, David shot out of his chair. A wicked grin permeated from his lips, "The prostitute!"