Rescuing you

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in Dr Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and the show belong to the creators not me. This is just a story for fun.

Chapter 20

Sully walked Michaela to a clearing in the woods. In front of them were tepees and shelters. Michaela looked up at Sully's profile and smiled. He was showing her another part of him she thought. Michaela looked out across the clearing again. An Indian with a bare chest and long black hair waved over at them.

Sully looked down at Michaela "That's Cloud Dancing," He tugged her hand and directed them towards Cloud Dancing.

"Brother" Cloud Dancing engulfed Sully into a warm hug.

Sully grinned back. He was excited to introduce Michaela to his mentor.

"Cloud Dancing this is my fiancé Dr Michaela Quinn,"

Michaela shook Cloud Dancing's large hand. "It's nice to meet you, you must call me Dr Mike" Michaela smiled and looked around her. It was a whole new world for her.

Cloud Dancing could she Michaela's intrigue. "Shall I show you around?"

"Oh that would be wonderful thank you," Sully took her hand again and they followed Cloud Dancing around.

Michaela spent the afternoon with Cloud Dancing and the Indians. After showing Michaela around Michaela insisted on helping out the medicine man treat some of his patients. Cloud Dancing was impressed by her caring of his people and Michaela learned a great deal about natural medicines used by Cloud Dancing. He offered to teach her more in the future.

Cloud Dancing had introduced Michaela to his wife and they soon found a keen friendship with each other. Sully was proud of Michaela and his heart soared more knowing that she had met his family.

The Mercantile

Abigail was stood on the porch of the mercantile watching Michaela and Sully walk towards the old boarding house that used to be owned by Charlotte Cooper. She watched them sit on the bench outside and move closer together when they thought no one was watching. He caught hold of her hand and was caressing the back.

A surge of jealously ran through Abigail. After she embarrassed herself in front of Sully at the Homestead she had been staying out of his way but that didn't mean that she hadn't been looking out for him or hoping that he would come for her. She had always loved Sully from the first moment she set her eyes on him but now there was the doctor from Boston!

What did she have that Abigail didn't? She watched Michaela laugh at something Sully had said and sent him a look of pure adoration.

Yes, the doctor was beautiful she was a rival for any woman in town let alone the whole territory! Abigail started to make a list of Michaela's attributes, Michaela was kind, she didn't have to take in the Cooper children but she did and she was intelligent she wouldn't have been a doctor if she wasn't Abigail summarised.

Abigail started to feel very depressed. The better woman had won Sully. Abigail leaned against the wooden beam supporting the porch roof. She continued to watch Michaela and Sully for sometime unaware that someone was watching her.

Abigail sighed and resigned to the fact that Sully was never to be hers. With that depressing thought she moved away and started to head back into the mercantile. Maybe she would go to her room and wallow in self-pity?

However when she turned she bumped into a solid wall of male chest. Arms came out to catch her before she fell over. She looked up about to tell whoever it was to watch where they were going. When she looked up she saw the most amazing set of green eyes she had ever seen. They were the colour of emeralds.

Momentarily Abigail lost her speech.

"I'm sorry Abigail. Are ya ok?" He said in a deep male voice.

"Umm...Yes I'm thank you. You really should watch where you're going Daniel!" She moved out of his embrace and brushed off her dress. Not that there was dust or lint there she just need to do something with her hands.

"Sorry again...What were ya doing?" He asked.

"Oh nothing just day dreaming I guess. What are you doing in town? I thought you left to build your mine?"

Daniel reached up and tucked an errant curl of Abigail's dark hair behind her ear like it was the most normal thing that he should be doing. "Well I've come back to see Sully and Michaela get married. I just got in,"

"Oh..." Abigail's stomach gave a little flip at them mention of Sully and Michaela's wedding. The whole town had been talking about little else.

"Would ya like to go for a walk with me?" Daniel asked with a smile.

"Shouldn't you see Sully? Anyway I have better things to do... excuse me," She pushed past him and he watched her go. Daniel watched her go. He knew the last time he was in town that Abigail had only eyes for Sully but now Sully was about to get married maybe she would turn her attention to some else?

He had always like Abigail. Yes she was sometimes childish and a bit spoiled but he still couldn't help be attracted to her. He could tell she was kind and soft hearted she just need the right man to fall in love with. With a grin and a plan formulating in his head he turned and walked towards the old boarding house where his friend and fiancé were sat.

"Hey Sully," He called out.

Sully grinned and jumped up and gave Daniel a hug. "Hey when did ya get in?"

"Just, How ya doing? You look good for a guy about to get married," He joked.

"I'm great," He patted Daniel on the back. "This here is Michaela my fiancé. Michaela this is my closest friend Daniel,"

Daniel shook Michaela's hand in welcome. "It's nice to meet you Daniel I've heard a lot about you,"

"Me too," Sully's previous description of Michaela didn't come up to muster. She was exquisite, "How ya finding living in the wilds of Colorado?" He grinned.

"It's been an adjustment," She chuckled looking up at Sully. "You must join us for dinner tonight; you can meet the children,"

"The what?!" Daniel choked. Sully laughed at the expression on his friends face.

"When Charlotte passed we took on her children," Sully explained.

"Oh...I'd love to then," he said recovering from his shock.

Suddenly the noise of a carriage was heard as two stage coaches came rolling into town. The trio turned to look. "That's a lot of luggage," Daniel commented as they moved forward.

The coaches came to a stop in the street in front of the mercantile. A crowd of people began to gather around the coaches. The door swung open and out came Josef Quinn.

"Father!" Michaela exclaimed.

"Mike there you are," The father grinned wildly looking like he had the adventure of a lifetime. He hopped down and hugged Michaela fiercely. "Oh I've missed you so much Mike, You look well," He kissed he forehead.

"Oh Father I've missed you too," She closed her eyes and hugged him tighter inhaling his unique scent.

"Sully how are you sir?" Josef reached out his hand towards Sully in a friendly greeting.

"I'm great thanks Dr Quinn...This here is my closest friend Daniel," Sully turned toward his friend.

"Nice to meet you Daniel," Josef shook his hand.

"Nice to meet ya too," Daniel smiled liking the man before him.

"Josef Quinn are you going to help me down from this contraption or are you going to leave me here all day?" Elizabeth was in the doorway of the stage coach watching the greetings before her.

"Sorry my dear," Josef quickly moved to his wife and helped her down.

"Oh Michaela...," Elizabeth's eyes warmed at seeing her youngest daughter. "I've missed you so much," She embraced her. Stepping back she looked at Michaela whilst holding her daughters hands in front of her. "You have lost weight...Have you been eating properly?" Not waiting for an answer she turned towards Sully. "Are you making sure she eats?"

"Yes Elizabeth...It's nice to see ya again," He raised his brow. Elizabeth defiantly had away with making an entrance.

"You too Mr Sully," She acknowledged. "This is your friend?"

Daniel moved forward and out reached his hand. "I'm Daniel...Nice to meet ya ma'am,"

"Did you have a nice journey mother?"

"If you call jostling on a bumpy terrain nice? Then yes," Elizabeth steered Michaela and their group towards the second stage coach which was full of trunks.

"Mother what is all of this," She gestured toward the coach.

"This is your wedding Michaela," Elizabeth beamed.

Michaela turned to catch Sully's eye. She looked at him in disbelief. "Mother what do you mean?"

Josef stepped in to smooth some feathers. He'd seen that look in Michaela's eyes often and it always ended with his wife and daughter not speaking. "Your mother wanted to bring a piece of Boston to you on your wedding day,"

"I have bought you a dress and wedding outfits for everyone," Elizabeth beamed again.

Sorry for the delay more to come very soon.