Warning: This chapter contains adult material. If two loving, consenting, and unmarried adults making love offends you, don't read the first part of this story.

Chapter 49

January 1871 – Colorado Springs

The sounds of town had quieted long ago, as they walked farther and farther from town and took a turn on the road that went by their future house. Michaela said nothing for a while, and she wondered why Sully thought he could surprise her with something he had already surprised her with. But, she trusted that he had something in mind, so she tightened her hold on his hand and listened to the sounds of the night.

The howl of a coyote caused Sully to instinctively wrap his arm around her and pull her close, as they continued walking.

"We are safe out here, aren't we?" she asked with an amused chuckle.

"Nobody's ever completely safe," Sully pointed out. "But we're safer out here than most any place else." Michaela smiled, and Sully kissed the crown of her head.

"Look how clear the sky is tonight," she whispered, leaning her head against his shoulder, as they walked on into the darkness. "Look, Sully." She pointed upward. "Our star." Sully exhaled slowly, glancing up at it with her. The breeze seemed to stand still for only a moment.

"It's kinda funny seein' it now. I always looked up at it without ya…for so long." Michaela nodded sadly.

"So have I, but that's just another way that we know…even when we're apart, we're still together." Sully nodded momentarily. They veered off of the road and onto a clear path that led to the site of their future home.

"Sully?" Michaela asked with a soft giggle.

"Hmm?"

"I've already been out here, remember?"

"Yep," was his only response. She narrowed her eyes.

"You aren't going to tell me, are you?"

"Nope." Michaela sighed with frustration but knew to trust him, and she did with all of her heart.

As they drew nearer to their future home, Michaela shivered, and Sully felt that tremble run through her body and into his. He pulled her closer, and she looked up into his eyes, feeling safe against his body as they walked along.

The moonlight and their star lit the path all the way up to a small shelter up ahead. Michaela strained her eyes to see, and the closer they got, the more she realized what it was. Sully had constructed a lean-to just around the site of where he would begin building the house.

"Sully?" He smiled a little, and he led her over to the lean-to. Michaela noticed layers of blankets inside, and they looked so warm that she instinctively crawled inside and wrapped one around herself. Sully smiled and crouched down in front of the fire pit. He uncovered a box of matches and started a quick fire instead of taking time to start one with his bare hands. Michaela watched him, as he stoked the fire with several smaller twigs to get it started, and he reached around to pull a few logs from a pile at the side of the lean-to.

Yawning, Michaela pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders, and when Sully backed away from the fire, he scooted underneath the lean-to with her. She smiled, opening up the large blanket and offering it to him too. Adjusting themselves underneath it, they sat wrapped up together in one blanket. Michaela smiled, as Sully pulled her into his arms, and his arms secured around her waist.

"Ya warm enough?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she whispered. "But…"

"But what?" She laughed, as his eager, ceaseless lips found her soft neck. She shrunk away for a moment, laughing joyfully at his touch.

"But…why did you bring me out here?" she asked, as the flames licked the cold air and created dancing shadows upon their skin. Michaela rested between Sully's legs, leaning against his chest. She rolled her head back to lean on his shoulder, and she looked up at him. He looked down at her, and he smiled slowly.

"'Cause, I thought we could use some time alone."

"So…this is…" He gently turned her chin up and claimed her lips with his own. When he pulled back, they smiled at one another.

"Surprise," he whispered, before she tangled her fingers in his hair and met his lips with her own, kissing him softly but deliberately. Slowly, she turned in his arms, and her body pushed up against his, as they tumbled back onto the pile of blankets.

When their lips parted, two fogs of breath intertwined, and they smiled gleefully, before joining together again. She fell into the kiss, as his arms secured around her body, rolling her to her back, the blanket surrounding them tightened, causing them to gasp for breath. But the closeness kept the cold out, and Michaela's hands were already searching for the band of Sully's buckskins, ready to free him; ready to make love with him.

"Ya warm enough?" She laughed a little, her eyes twinkling in the firelight.

"You already asked me that," she whispered, gently kissing his nose. "But, yes, I'm fine. Thank you." Sully's hands were already tugging at her skirt, and she arched her back so he could get a firm grasp on her belt, tugging it loose and easily slipping her skirt down her legs. Michaela closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his hands upon her bare flesh, as he tried desperately to free her from the confines of those restrictive clothes. But, her hand gently cupped his cheek, and she peered into those crystal, azure oceans. "We have forever, Sully."

His frustrated movements slowed considerably, and he realized she was right. He needed her, and the powerful force of passion that overtook them when they were together had finally confronted him. Their need for one another was all consuming and stronger than any need they'd felt before.

"Sorry," he said sheepishly, as he pressed his lips to her forehead.

"It's alright," she breathed, pushing the strands of hair away from his face with her delicate fingers.

"You feelin' alright?"

"Wonderful," she replied, as that familiar flush crept back into her cheeks. He never ceased to amaze her. He was always worried about her and her alone. It was a wonderful feeling to know that somebody cared so much about her. She had never known this kind of love before.

Slowly, his fingers tugged the buttons free on her blouse, and he helped her out of it, slowly crushing her camisole-covered chest to his. And, she wriggled completely free of her skirt, kicking it somewhere under another blanket, feeling the chill of winter creeping in. But, when Sully moved, the blanket covered them both again, and she helped him out of his shirt, as her hands boldly unfastened the single button on his buckskins.

Clothes were discarded left and right, and Michaela was already aching for him. The sight of him above her, his muscles rippling under the cold of the night and under the ache for her touch was almost too much.

Her hands were on his chest, but they slowly moved around to rest at his sides. And, he moved over her, protecting her body with his own, as he slowly spread her legs. Her neck arched back, and her hands moved up her own body, and her arms stretched out. His hands roamed upward, caressing every part of her, before his hands found hers, holding them above her head.

Her body was already covered in a thin coat of perspiration when he began to enter her. She moaned softly, reveling in the feel of his body loving hers. It was always different and always more pleasurable than the last time.

"Sully," she gasped, as the air that filled her lungs filled her completely. She was soaring, as he began to move within her, holding her skin against his, as their bodies rocked in the same fluid motion, cradling a fragile knowledge between them.

Her eyes opened wide, as he brought her over once, causing her entire body to stop functioning for a moment and be numb to everything except to the way his body moved with hers. She cried out, needing more of him, and when he gave her that, her nails gently dug into the flesh of his back, moving lower.

He could feel her heart racing against his, and his hands freed hers and moved to clutch the blankets beside them. Holding on grew more and more difficult with each passing moment, and as her hands continued their bold move downward, his thrusts became more urgent and more determined.

As she felt her body reacting again, she clenched her toes tightly, and her nails dug into the firm flesh of his backside, causing him to cry out her name, as he spilled kisses over her chest, trying to hold on a little longer for her. But, her body melted around his, causing him to sink within her and cry out once more into the dark of night.

In the following silence, Sully pulled the blanket tightly around them both, and their soaring heartbeats calmed together, as they listened to the sounds of the rustling trees and the footsteps of invisible beings of the past and future.

Michaela closed her eyes, pressing her hand against his glistening chest, feeling the warmth hotly contrasting with the cold of the winter night. Michaela shivered, as she looked up at him, breathless and unable to speak, as their lips met once again, kissing feverishly with the continuing need to be close to one another.

The night grew bitterly cold, but the fire grew brighter as they continued their dance, pushing and pulling and needing.

When the sound of a wolf off in the distance pierced the silence of the little camp, Sully gently pulled back, lying down and pulling her against him for a while. They lie there in the night, listening to the sounds of one another as the night passed on. They were unaware of the time that had crept by or the time that it truly was, but they were together, and that was what counted.

As the minutes were ticked away by the sparkling and crackling of the flames, Michaela grew warm against his heated body and moved away to pull her clothes together so she could slip them on. Sully could see the flush in her face, as her hair, now loose from its pins, fell down into her face and caressed the curves of her shoulders and arms.

Silently, his hand crawled up her back, and her skin tickled at his ministrations. She smiled, as she pulled on her stockings, and his hand reached around, softly caressing her breast. She peered over her shoulder at him, and she saw the satisfied smile upon his lips. She shook her head, and when she had successfully pulled on her camisole, she felt his arms pull her back again, devouring her lips in a kiss.

"Sully!" she laughed. "Sully, I need to get dressed! I'm cold."

"I'll keep ya warm," he laughed.

"You're too warm," she teased, offering him one more kiss before she pulled away, and he took full advantage of it. He was insatiable, and she knew it, but she didn't mind. The way he looked at her and kissed her and loved her…it made her feel alive, wanted, needed. The way he wanted her made her want him all the more, and she knew that to call him insatiable would be borderline hypocritical.

"Alright," he said with a sigh when she pulled back. "I'll walk ya home." She smiled a little and shook her head.

"Let's not take the shortcut tonight," she breathed, her words fogging up the air in little puffs of white. "I like being out here with you." Sully nodded his head.

"We'll have plenty of nights out here once I get the house built." He cleared his throat. "Gonna start layin' some stones for the foundation tomorrow when Johnny's at school. Figure I can finish that by the end of the week." Michaela nodded, and she sighed softly, a grin spreading across her face.

"I can't believe that in a few months we're going to be married, and we'll have our entire lives ahead of us." She pulled on her blouse, and she turned toward Sully. He smiled and reached out silently to do up the buttons. As she reached for her skirt, however, she placed her hand on her stomach, wincing a little. The sharp pain there throbbed for a moment before slowly drawing back.

"Michaela?" he asked, alarm coating his voice. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," she said, flushing slightly from embarrassment. Perhaps her irregular monthly was coming back to finish its course, though she wasn't certain how likely that was.

"You sure?" She nodded.

"I didn't hurt ya, did I?"

"No, Sully," she said, her voice a bit strained. "I'm just fine. It's nothing to worry about." Sully shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I don't like this, Michaela. Somethin' is wrong with you." She shook her head.

"Whatever it is…it's passing."

"Will ya stop bein' so stubborn? You're a doctor, Michaela. You ought to know…"

"I ought to know when everything's fine. I'm feeling much better."

"I don't think ya are better," Sully said with concern filling his eyes. "I wired for another doctor this evenin'." Michaela's eyes widened.

"You did what!"

"I hate seein' ya feelin' poorly," Sully pointed out, throwing his shirt over his head and shoulders and slipping into his buckskins. "I'm worried."

"Sully, I appreciate that you're worried—"

"Then you'll let the doctor see ya when he gets here tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Michaela shook her head and sighed heavily. "I wish you'd told me before."

"I didn't wanna keep it from ya, but I knew ya'd say no. I just want to make sure everything's alright." Michaela nodded a little, knowing he was being more sensible than she was at the moment. After all, she was a doctor, and she was the one that was supposed to know when something was wrong. She knew something was happening, but she wasn't ready yet. "Promise me you'll see him?" Michaela looked down at her hands that she folded in her lap, and finally, she nodded.

"I promise." Sully sighed gratefully and gently brushed his thumb across her cheek.

"I don't want ya to be mad. I'm just worried is all."

"I'm not angry," she said with a shake of her head. "I'm just disappointed in myself that I've worried you. I just thought I could handle it."

"Ya did, but I'd feel better if ya saw someone." She nodded her head.

"I will," she said again. "I'll see the doctor tomorrow. I'm sure everything's fine. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about." She gently took his hand and squeezed it. "Let's go home."

Tommy paced the hall outside of Carrie's room. She had become so emotional earlier that he had left to give her time to compose herself. He felt guilty for causing her so much grief after everything that she had already been through, but he knew that he needed to be there for her. He'd had dreams that she'd needed him all along his journey back to her. He couldn't leave her now. He couldn't let her hurt because of him anymore.

Inside of the room, Daniel was sitting on the edge of Carrie's bed, waiting for her to calm from her last fit of tears.

"He's ashamed of me," she whispered. "I'm ashamed of me."

"Ya don't got nothin' to be ashamed of," Daniel insisted. "You were young, and…"

"And, I shoulda known better. I shoulda…" She shook her head. Daniel swallowed hard, wishing there was more he could do or say to help her.

"Do ya blame him?" She shook her head.

"He did the best he could. He…" She shook her head. "I shouldn't have been there. I shouldn't have had to live like that."

"Did ya tell him that?" She nodded her head.

"I did. A long time ago. I hurt him when I did. He offered…he offered to send me away to school once, but I told him I needed to stay and help him. I didn't think…I wasn't sure he could do it alone." She shook her head miserably.

"Do ya wanna see him again?" She thought for a moment, and before she nodded her head yes, she took his hand.

"Thanks for bein' here," she whispered.

"Hey, no thanks needed. I'm happy to help. I like Tommy. He always tries to do what he thinks is best, even if he ain't right about it." He kissed her hand. "He does love ya." She nodded.

"I know. I know he does. He means well." A few moments passed.

"I'll bring him in." She nodded her thanks and watched him leave. A few moments later, Tommy appeared back inside of the room, closing Daniel out into the hallway.

"You feelin' better?" he asked slowly. Carrie only nodded her head, and Tommy stood with his back pressed against the door.

"You can come a little closer, ya know? I'm fine."

"I ain't so sure." She nodded her head, and she patted the seat beside her bed. He slowly moved toward her and sat down. "We never talked about it, did we?" She shook her head.

"The night he died, I just wanted to forget," she admitted. "I tried to pretend that I wasn't hurtin', and the more I did that, the more I hated myself. I sunk so…so low that it was hard to remember bein' happy. And, them cowboys…they had fun. I wanted to have fun too, so I just…I just let go of everything, and I…" She shook her head. "I didn't wanna make ya ashamed, but I didn't know what I was doin'. I just wanted to feel like I mattered, and all that did was get me in deeper."

"Carrie, I wish ya woulda told me."

"I didn't wanna disappoint ya. I knew ya were scared the night he…the night he came, but…but when he was gone, I thought that it was…it was a sign that I was bad. I was bein' punished." He shook his head.

"I was the one that was punished. I…I promised your ma I wouldn't let nothin' happen to ya. I shoulda left, Carrie. I shoulda taken ya away from there when I had the chance." Carrie only nodded.

"Ya should've, but that's the past," she whispered. "I'm done with all that, Pa. I wanna move on. I wanna…I wanna live free now." Tommy eyed her.

"What're ya sayin'?" She took a deep breath.

"I'm sayin' that I'll forgive you if you can forgive me. Let's move on." Tommy smiled a little, looking down into his hands, feeling guiltier than ever. "I'm sick of thinkin' 'bout what I done wrong. We made mistakes, Pa, and I ain't sayin' they don't matter, 'cause they do. They made us who we are. I just wanna…I wanna stop livin' in the past now." She took a deep breath, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.

"I say that's a right bright idea ya got there," he said quietly. A few moments passed in silence. "I love ya, darlin'." A smile took away her tears.

"I love you too, Pa."

January 1871 – Colorado Springs

In the morning, Rebecca made her way into the schoolhouse bright and early with Mary's hand firmly clasped in hers. Reverend Johnson was sitting behind the teacher's desk, sorting out spelling tests and essays. Rebecca smiled a little, and Mary took her seat at the front of the room where the younger students sat.

"Oh, good morning, Mrs. Buchanan," Timothy said with a smile, grateful that she had been early.

"Good morning, Reverend," Rebecca answered with a nod. "What would you like me to do today?"

"Well, I still need to finish grading these tests here, and…"

"I'll take care of that," she said with a nod.

"And, we usually start out with Mathematics in the mornin' for an hour. Then we read 'til lunch."

"I think I can handle that. What are we reading?" she wondered.

"The younger children are still learnin' their letters, but the older ones are reading Romeo and Juliet." Rebecca nodded again.

"I adore Shakespeare," she said with a faint smile, remembering acting out that masterpiece in a formal play put on by her school. She hadn't played the beautiful lead, but she had played her mother.

"So do I," Timothy said with an awestruck look upon his face. He cleared his throat, however, and he looked at Mary. "Mary is doin' exceptionally well. She's learnin' faster than any of the others." Mary looked up from her chalk and board and smiled at her mother and the Reverend.

Rebecca was about to speak again, but the door opened, and Johnny and Brian came walking in.

"Well, I best be goin'. You think you can handle things?"

"I think we'll be fine, Reverend. I'll see you at noon?" He nodded and slipped out the back door of the schoolhouse.

"Mother," Mary spoke up.

"Ah, sweetheart," Rebecca said with a smile, "I think it would be best if you referred to me as Mrs. Buchanan at school."

"But why?"

"'Cause she's your teacher at school," Johnny pointed out. Mary frowned but nodded her head. Rebecca moved over to stoop in front of her little girl's desk.

"Do I have to call you Mrs. Buchanan at recess?" Mary asked. Rebecca shook her head.

"You don't," she laughed, giving her little girl a big hug, looking forward to her day already.

February 1830 – Boston

"Stephen, it's wonderful," Elizabeth said with a breathtaking smile, as they stepped into the foyer of the large country cottage. Fresh flowers had been brought, and Stephen's father had hired out one of their maids, Fiona, to help Elizabeth around the house.

"I'm happy you like it," he said with a smile. He coughed a little, and he pulled his arms around her lovingly. She closed her eyes, reveling in the scent of his cologne and her perfume mixed together in an original aroma. "Nothing but the best for my beautiful wife." Their lips met in a young lovers' kiss, and the sound of Fiona's shoes snapping on the wooden floors pulled them apart.

"Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor," Fiona said with a smile, taking Stephen's and Elizabeth's coats.

"Thank you," Elizabeth said with a bright smile as she looked around her new, temporary home.

"Tea is on if you'd like a cup."

"I would love one. Thank you, Fiona." Fiona nodded and turned to leave the room. Elizabeth felt Stephen's strong arms wrap around her, and she giggled, as he spun her around to face him.

"How do you like married life so far, Mrs. O'Connor?"

"I'm warming up to it quickly," she said with a teasing smile, gently running her fingers over his smooth chin. "I've never been so happy before, Stephen. My mother was terribly wrong."

"You're sure you won't regret marrying me when I insist on having the most beautiful children with you and trying ever-so-hard to create them?" She laughed, as his lips passed over the sensitive flesh behind her ear.

"I think I can manage, Mr. O'Connor," she laughed, as his arms tightened around her. "In fact, I'd love to hear the pitter-patter of little feet running circles around us." Stephen beamed at his beautiful bride.

"Do you think Fiona would be terribly disappointed if you skipped tea this afternoon?" he asked, his voice low and full of promises for a blissful afternoon.

"Hmm," Elizabeth pondered, though she already knew her answer. "Perhaps…" But, before she could finish her sentence, Stephen swept her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs, as her laughter floated down through the large, empty home and disappeared into the solace of their bedroom.

January 1871 – Colorado Springs

Michaela had just come down from checking on Carrie, and she had given the wolf pups a good feeding. They were getting old enough that they would eat half of a bottle of milk before going back to sleep, and Michaela had to admit that there was no way they were getting rid of those pups now. They were too attached already.

She exhaled softly, wondering what Sully was doing. She figured he was off working on the house already, but she assumed she would be seeing from him later on, because he would want to know what the doctor had to say.

She felt tired, but she couldn't blame that on anything but the night before, and the mere thought of that caused the rouge-colored flush to fill her cheeks. She was amazed that she hadn't caught a chill out there, but so far, she felt healthy, except for the rumble in her stomach now and then. But, she was nervous about the doctor's arrival. She hadn't consulted another physician since her father, and the thought of it had her nerves on end.

Her father had been on her mind quite a bit recently. She often wondered if he would be proud for how she was handing her life. He had always told her to do what she thought was best. That's what she was doing. She was living her life the way her heart told her to, and she was about to marry the most wonderful man she ever could have met. She knew her father and Sully were fond of one another, so she only hoped that he approved of her decision to marry him.

The door to the upstairs opened, and Tommy James came out with a tired look in his eyes. He tipped his hat to the doctor.

"Afternoon, Doc," he said with a yawn. Michaela smiled.

"Good afternoon, Mr. James. How are you today?"

"Just fine, thank ya." He paused and looked around for a moment. "Say, could ya tell me where I might find a place to buy me some tobacco?" Michaela cringed at the thought, but she was polite.

"The general store just down the street carries tobacco," she pointed out.

"Thanks," he said with a tip of his hat. Before he left, he turned back to her. "When's my little girl gonna get to get outta here?"

"Well, I'm going to check her progress this evening, and if all is well, she could be up and about in the next day or so. It all depends on if she's ready to leave. I'd prefer for her to stay in town for a couple more weeks to monitor her." Tommy nodded slowly.

"I really appreciate ya takin' care of her. She ain't had many women in her life, and…and the ones she's had…well, they all left her." Michaela nodded sadly, and she watched Tommy leave and head out for the general store.

Before she could begin to do anything else, a knock came to the clinic door. Furrowing her brows, she stood and smoothed out her skirt, feeling her fingers shaking and growing cold.

When she opened the door, she was greeted by a tall, older gentleman with kind eyes behind fancy spectacles. His mouth was shadowed by a graying beard and mustache, and his lips turned up into a smile. He tipped his hat to her.

"Good afternoon, Miss. I'm Dr. William Bernard. Might you be Dr. Michaela Quinn?"