Ch 3 Relationships Lesson.
Disclaimer I do not own the characters in this story. I wish the people who did would use them and create new series.
Mother! What are you doing here Michaela with a look of total disbelief written all over her face looked at her mother? Who'd had just arrived on a stage coach after a gruelling marathon across the entire country, was tired and irritable as was her usual disposition. The privileged lady from Boston dressed in the most modern style just stood in the dirty street, slapping her fan into the palm of her hand with exasperation. Everyone forgetting to inform Dr Mike that they'd wired her mother when she became so desperately sick with influenza. Michaela she observed was NOT on her death bed at all and this fact did not please Elizabeth Quinn one bit. If she was going to traipse across the country it had to be for a reason, at the moment she could see none. Dr Mike's mother as usual not informing anyone of her intentions just turning up and expecting to be greeted warmly.
Mrs Quinn's eyes narrowed surveying the back water town of a few small shops her daughter now called home. Why look at the scruffy reception of people, who obviously were un educated and uninformed heathens. She couldn't believe it when an older man came forward and offered her help, hinting that she'd come to retrieve her daughter and take her back to Boston. Marry her off like any woman should. Who did he actually think he was speaking to, certainly not a lady from Boston, men like that did not approach a woman of her standing in society she thought horrified.
Shocked and dismayed that her mother had suddenly appeared. Dr Mike had more pressing things on her mind than entertaining a woman, who would be judgemental to say the least. Michaela had been adapting to the changes in her life quite nicely, now here in front of her was her biggest critic. *Her Mother*. She was gradually getting accustom to the idea she was no house keeper. She was acquiring skills required to survive. Here on the frontier even if slowly, at her own pace with tolerant teachers. Enjoying a freedom she'd never experienced before in her entire life until arriving here. Now this!
The town's folk still had to be brought around though many now accepted her as a person who knew a little about what she was talking about. Proving herself time and again through the epidemic. Even to the point of ending up becoming run down and succumbing to illness herself through her dedication. The town was beginning to manage the change taking little steps of accepting her first as an independent woman and secondly as a Doctor. Her mother's unexpected arrival here with her strict social ethics and ideas could destroy all that in an instant.
Aw! even Loren Bray was mellowing a little. Still upset at losing Maude although he'd forbidden his wife to have anything to do with the lady Quack. But witnessing her commitment to the town folk through the influenza epidemic he had to acknowledge she was All right. Not that he'd go to a LADY DOCTOR himself. He still held onto his old fashioned notion though about a woman's and their duties.
Michaela though of two old saying she'd heard as a child *"It starts when she sinks into his arms and ends with her arms in the sink"*and *"A woman's place is in the home"*came to mind. Reminding herself of his and the towns narrow antiquated notions.
Why she'd even saved Jake Slicker who hadn't had any ideas how to save the town. The Reverend was certainly prepared to support her a little more now. Although they'd fort her about isolating the sick in the boarded up boarding house until Sully had ripped the barriers down allowing access. Laughing at her when she had suggested the little critters could jump. She'd been proved right and they'd lost less people than some other towns around.
Now the banker had eluded her with the sudden appearance of her mother. She'd needed to see that gentle man immediately.
The children standing at her side were looking at the posh lady. Dressed like Dr Mike was when she first arrived real elegant like. Although without the addition of the mud pack she'd acquired in the meadow. Children this is my mother she began the introductions. Mother these are my children Mathew, Colleen and Brian. Nobody moved for fear of doing something wrong. A shocked expression on the children's faces thinking this is her mother!
Brian thought "She looks angry enough to be a dragon or a witch like in Dr Mikes Fairy Tale books she reads" Swallowing hard he tried to become invisible behind his new Ma's skirt. Aware of the Dragon Ladies gaze following him.
"Michaela what is the meaning of this?" her mother blustered.
Now conscious that the whole town had stopped and watching Dr Mike suggested they retire to the clinic. Mathew trying valiantly to retrieve all the piles of luggage accompanying the lady Dr Mike had identified as her mother.
Her mother swept down the street with the children trailing after her like some *Wicked Queen* in a play. Maybe *The Wicked Witch in the West* as they were out West Brian's imagination was running rampant. He loved the stories sometimes though he had trouble deciding what was real and fantasy.
A pig had escaped from a nearby farm again and was once again grazing the road near the clinic. Mrs Quinn averted her eyes and made sure her skirt would not skim any matter from the dirty street. Michaela reprimanded herself for not getting the farmers to keep their sows retained. Simply from a hygienic point of view, pigs needed to be out of the town centre. Across the road in the saloon there were rowdy voices and women leaning on the door jams scantily clad. A tall rough gentleman was leaning on the rail sniggering and asked if she'd like a drink. Mrs Quinn just gave the offender such an icy look he quickly retreated back through the swinging doors. She could make anyone cringe when she wanted and knowing Michaela knew that person only fuelled her bad humour.
They went to the Clinic once inside Michaela instructed the children go and buy some stores from Mr Bray. She did not want them to hear what ever her mother had to say.
Swinging around to face her mother she said "Yes mother?"
"What are you saying they're your children when they obviously are not!" her mother spat out. "Otherwise you've been hiding them well all these years" She continued with some venom.
"Not that it is any of your business they are the children of a dead friend I am their new Ma, I made a promise as Charlotte was dying" She replied indignantly challenging her mother.
"Ma, Ma where did you acquire such uncouth language Michaela?" Her mother demanded "You've obviously let yourself go while out here in goodness only knows were".
"I have business to attend then we will get you settled how long do you intend staying?" Cutting short their argumentative confrontation. Knowing the stage wouldn't return for a week, maybe she could hire someone to take her mother to Denver. Wishful thinking she dreamed.
Finding Mr Bancroft who did not improve her disposition any, she grit her teeth for what was to come. He as representative of the Bank of Denver considered her a bad risk as she was a woman.
"You live here in this hovel". Was her mother's acid comment seeing the home Michaela was proud of for the first time in her life?
Defending her life style she relied "Yes it is our home, welcome mother". The children were decidedly uncomfortable by now. Mathew and Brian wondering if Sully would have them at his lean-to as long as Mrs Quinn stayed. Colleen contemplated running away to Becky's. Wondering why Dr Mike's mother could be so mean? Dr Mike was a good person and she really should have been proud of her as they were. Hadn't she save Chief Black Kettle and the town not to mention her little brother when he'd run away and broken his leg?
Mrs Quinn swanned into their small but comfortable home. Her eyes sweeping the interior of the cabin with distain like a beacon light at night.
"Michaela how could you live in this shanty after what your used too?" She snapped at her daughter not understanding how Michaela could be happy here.
Michaela had come from an enormous mansion a residence having seven bedrooms, a formal dining room, formal lounge and officers and servants. The size would have been twice the size of Hank's Saloon. Michaela never imagined anyone from here in Colorado Springs witnessing its opulent facade or decor any time soon. She thought embarrassingly.
Ignoring her mother's comments Michaela with Colleen's assistance began the evening meal. Much later they were seated around the small wooden table they ate their meal in silence. Mrs Quinn had never eaten a meal from tin plates in her entire life or a meal she had watched being prepared right in front of her. Her disgust was obvious.
The boys decided to swim because of the heat. Brian deciding to try and get on the Wicked Queens good side decided to invite her too. "Ya don't know what ya missin we'll look out for snakes for ya" After she'd declined the invitation. Shrugging he thought "I tried"
Arriving home they waved some smelly cat fish in her face feeling pleased that they were giving Dr Mike's mother a great gift. Unfortunately Mrs Quinn didn't recognise the gesture. Dr Mike and her mother had just been discussing the children.
Dr Mike had just said "some women you meet and it's as if you've known them for forever other women you can know a life time and it's as if your complete strangers". When asked why she had made a promise to a woman she hardly knew.
Brian was to sleep on a stretcher near Colleen allowing the lady his bed. They placed a table cloth out of Dr Mikes *Hope Chest* over the entrance for a bit of privacy instead of the hessian or canvas that usually covered the entrance. Everyone retiring as soon as the table was tidy and things put away. Michaela shamming tiredness rather than sit and listen to her mother's opinions she'd had thrust upon all her life again. Brian was still struggling trying to decide which of the wicked Queen's she actually was either the one from Snow White or Sleeping Beauty. She couldn't be Cinderella's step mother as she was actually Dr Mike's mother. All these thoughts from his fervent imagination from the book on fairy tales Dr Mike read to him.
The next day's event turned the whole situation upside down. Robert E was badly burnt by the exploding forge. Sully had managed to prevent further burns by smothering the flames with a blanket. Robert E had dropped but not been able to roll to get the flames out quicker. Now once again the small minded town folk were reluctant to move forward with their small minded opinions. Forced by the serious situation she was required to face Michaela took him to the homestead to be nursed there.
Now having an unwanted visitor only complicated the whole situation. Suddenly Michaela realized that her rigid Boston upbringing had been vanishing since she had come to Colorado Springs. She was beginning to shed that skin that had been constricting her as a person all her life. She'd spent her entire life trying to please others and be what they wanted her to be. Now here with her true friends and the children, her life was continually changing for the better. She did not need to be pleasing her mother any more she was a grown woman and a mother herself now too. She liked the person she was becoming she'd always been compassionate, but here and now she was more content. Being able to live and achieve more, had given her a real sense of achievement.
Mrs Quinn met Sully again the next day after Robert E's accident and was shocked to look up and see him above her while attending her morning ablutions. Thinking he was spying on her. Seeing him for that first time, as a man, that was not too unpleasant to the eye. He had the most amazing eyes the colour of sapphire blue she had to admit. She swallowed hard what she was thinking for goodness sake. He was a savage and Indian. She could imagine him being introduced in some gaudy Wild West show.
"There's a creature we brought down from a cave. Deep in the mountains, far from the civilized world. A truly living God in the zenith of his man hood!" Sully the Savage Mountain Man.
Hurrying back into the cabin she chastises Michaela about having a *Savage* camped outside. Still she was unsuccessfully trying to get rid of her disturbing thoughts, in order to think. "a woman of her age and social standing no less" her thoughts continuing "There must be something in the water here". She couldn't remove the image still stuck in her head of Sully only in buckskins and bare chested throwing a tomahawk.
Until Michaela reminded her the "savages don't knock Mother".
Michaela sighed knowing it was hers and Robert E's friend Sully, but not being aware where her mother's mind had wandered. About a man in the pinnacle of his man hood! What had her daughter been up too? If just seeing him at her age had had an effect what about her daughter? What about her own thoughts, she thought with a blush scooting quickly behind the curtain taking another quick glance when he entered "Oh my!".
She watched her daughter's struggle to keep Robert E alive from his severe burns in her home and in her bed. Saw her inviting Grace into her home with a welcome to nurse Robert E. Her nursing him was tremendous. Social decorum did not exist here and now.
She'd witnessed as her daughter stitched the arm of that bar tender with the foal mouth. Though he did seem to appreciate her assistance since some other fellow was unavailable. Though annoyed that he was in the parlour to be treated. When Dr Mike said she needed to attend her patient her mother spat out "Your patients are a few desperate souls who are back woods men paying with potatoes and chickens".
The night the Dr Mick decided to do the cooking Colleen once again watched luckily she cooked this meal well.
Mathew and Brian were surprised saying "You cooked this Ma?"
"Yes. Is it alright? Ma, this is the best stew we've ever tasted." The boys answered astonished. Mrs Quinn not understanding what was going on but most taken aback at her daughters ability.
"I guess my cooking lessons are paying off though I still prefer charred stews and biscuits that bounce" she laughed nodding to Colleen her thanks and their shared joke.
*House work won't kill you...But why take the chance* came to mind and Dr Mike chuckled. She was still struggling to keep track of house work especially have a patient in the house. As well as an opinionated mother on top of that. Determined not to let onto her mother she was struggling as it may be interpreted as defeat.
Much later while watching Robert E she strolled out to the vegetable patch when Sully came through. They talked before she asked.
"You Lived here?" Mrs Quinn enquired.
"This is my homestead I built it" Sully replied. Gesturing around with his arm.
She continued "Why did you move?"
"My wife died giving birth" he replied quietly.
"Oh! And the child?" she asked.
"She went with her" he responded.
"Oh! I can't imagine the pain of losing a child. I don't know how one would ever recover". She said sadly.
"Ya don't" he said.
As Sully prepared to walk away Mrs Quinn remembered her Boston manners saying "Oh! I want to thank you for letting my daughter live here"
Deciding to open up to this woman he continued "Ya know..." he was finding this hard "maybe if we'da had a Doctor like your daughter before my wife and baby would still be alive. Comon boy" he called Wolf moving away.
Mrs Quinn struggling after checking Sully out once again. Unseemly images of Sully in her mind but this time tinged with much sadness at his loss.
She wandered into the barn later and found Colleen in a distressed state, she thought she was about to die. Suddenly realizing the young girl needed a confidant she listened and advised her on what was happening to her. Before, on her arrival she had chastised Colleen for touching the silver brush set her Grandmother had gifted her when she was young. She informed her daughter later that Colleen had gone through the change.
A couple of day's later mother and daughter were attending the washing when Dr Mike plucked the courage to ask.
"There's something I need to ask you" Dr Mike commenced.
"I'm listening" Her mother said in return.
"I need that boarding house to use as a clinic if I'm to take proper care of the people here. Since the bank won't give me a mortgage I need to pay cash." She continued.
"How much is it?" Her mother asked.
"1,500 I still have 1,000 left from my bequest" replied Dr Mike.
"Michaela a mother always wants to give her child everything she can, but I would be failing you if I encouraged you in this ridiculous scheme." answered Mrs Quinn.
Retorting the frustrated daughter said "I've never asked you for anything mother".
"Perhaps you should have you always went to your father and he gave you everything you wanted" with some sarcasm was her reply.
"What he gave me was the courage to follow my dreams. I never wanted a life of convention" her daughter said with conviction.
"You mean a life like mine?" retorted her mother.
"That's right I never did and I never will" Dr Mike reacted.
Sadly her mother mocked "It isn't any wonder I was always a wife without a husband and a mother without a daughter".
Pleading she continued "I'm begging you mother. Please help me I'll pay you back".
"That's not the point I just don't want to help you ruin your life" with a tinge of irony her mother continued.
"Sometimes I think you must really hate me *MOTHER*" Dr Mike responded bitterly.
Mrs Quinn accepting the offer to go into the town with Mr Bray they spoke about of many things. Especially the loneliness after losing a partner in particular the long lonely nights. About Loren missing his daughter and Mrs Quinn suddenly aware that Sully's wife was his daughter.
Loren reminiscing "If I could just have my daughter back I'd rejoice in her being just a stubborn as she wanted".
Robert E's condition fluctuated and Grace remained to assist nursing him. Both she and Dr Mike were extremely tired as Dr Mike took her responsibilities extremely seriously had had little sleep since Robert E arrived. Seated they spoke as Grace sensed the effect her mother was having on her friend and the possibility that she may lose her love Robert E.
Grace said "I lost my mother before I had the chance to tell her how much she meant to me. I promised that it would never happen again. Sometimes people disappoint you and you just have to let it go and love them anyway" Seeing Graces weariness she insisted that she get some rest.
Mrs Quinn rose and saw the exhaustion her daughter was suffering and urged her to go and sleep as well. Taking the chair recently vacated. Brian had been disturbed and climbed up on the older woman's lap as he did with Dr Mike when he couldn't sleep.
He asked "tell me a story".
"I don't remember any stories" she replied.
Brian insistent "Can't you make one up from inside your head?" he was still sure she was a Queen and must have a lot of stories to tell.
Gingerly she enquired "you mean once upon a time?"
"Yep" Brian said settling in a more comfortable position on her lap.
She began "Well once upon a time there was a woman who had five daughters. They all married very nice gentlemen and they made their homes close by their mother. All bar one and she was the youngest and she left home and went to live in a very, very dangerous place.
Brian recognising the story his new Ma had told him continued "and her name was Dr Mike they thought she was going to be a boy when she was born only she wasn't she was a girl. She was real pretty and real nice. After she grew up real good she came to Colorado that's where she saved my life. After my real Ma went to heaven Dr Mike got to be my Ma here on earth and she loves me just the same. She told me so". He finished with a yawn.
Mathew decided to surprise Dr Mike's mother by borrowing the hip bath from Jakes. He arranged some of the perfumes and bath soaps from her luggage. Mrs Quinn was surprised and enjoyed this first little bit of luxury that she had since arriving. Looking around before tentatively having a luxurious bath. "Just checking" she thought.
While packing she gifted Colleen the silver brush set that she had so admired when Mrs Quinn arrived, not believing she could ever own such a treasure. She sincerely thanked the children for their thoughtfulness after recognising they where good kids.
They had the entire luggage on the stage when Mrs Quinn decided to buy some travel treats. Loren enquired if she was travelling alone and she stated yes.
Mrs Quinn said "I will miss her"
"Ah well seems like parents and children spend half their lives not seeing eye to eye by the time they do find some common ground there's barely any time left to enjoy it" Loren said wishfully. Offering to show her around next time she visited.
"That's what I'm afraid of. You may call me Elizabeth". She replied with a smile.
She'd listened to and understood the stories told first by Sully, Loren and then Brian that her daughter had indeed made a difference to this isolated back water. They did deserve a Doctor here like her daughter. Looking after the children and assisting their growth was such an important responsibility. She was beginning to recognise her daughter as others saw her. Realizing that to succeed Michaela really did need a clinic that she truly was happy and at peace here in Colorado.
Recognising her beloved husband now living in their temperamental, determined daughter who was earning respect from this small town and its inhabitants.
Sully offered his hand to Mrs Quinn at the stage when she was departing. Mrs Quinn begrudgingly realised that Sully was indeed a true friend to her daughter and newly acquired grand children. Although her thoughts immediately drifted to a virile Mountain Man looking up into his magnificent eyes. Sully just smiled and left, leaving Elizabeth flustered and chastising herself once again.
"Your Father would be very proud of you". Elizabeth told her daughter from the coach widow.
"What about you mother?" Michaela asked.
Giving Michaela an envelope and saying a Doctor needs a clinic acknowledging her daughter that she was beginning to now understand.
Brian running alongside the coach yelling "Bye Mrs Quinn" she realized and offered "You can call me Grandma" smiling Brian replied "Bye Grandma" Brian yelled pleased the Wicked Queen had in fact been a good one in disguise exactly as he'd suspected as the coach picked up speed.
The end
...
Swanned: Move in a leisurely or majestic way or with a superior air. (Aussie Oxford dictionary)
"Wizard of Oz" published in 1900. Couldn't resist the character though as it fit the description.
*Respect* everyone we don't all walk the same path. Respecting even those who annoy us is beneficial. Eg. Say to yourself. I respect you for being a lousy boss. It Helps
Nursing my dying father. Three hours before he died. I managed to tell him what a rotten Dad he'd been, that kids could put up with almost anything so long as they were told sincerely that they are loved. You know what? Dad cried and said "How could I tell you when I didn't know how, my mother! never told me she loved me and he was sincere". *His Mother had taught him well*. He was 72. From that moment on I made sure I told my kids I loved them and was proud of them I still do now it's the Grand Kids turn.
Tell people you're proud of them and give praise when its due it will certainly make someone's day and with our youth that's important. Just grab that *instant* don't let it go you'll never get it back. We are the teachers of those following behind.