Chapter 77

March 1871 – Boston

Only a few days later, the Quinn family was reunited at the church to bid farewell to their matriarch for the last time. Claudette and Maureen had sat with the family, but Marjorie had kept her distance at the back of the church, refusing to speak with anyone after the service. As soon as the burial had taken place, she'd gone back to her own home, refusing to speak with any of her sisters.

Now, the Quinn house was abuzz during Elizabeth's wake. The youngsters of the family were entertaining themselves in the back yard, though little Mary had locked herself in her room and refused to come out. Now, as mourners socialized downstairs, Michaela, Sully, Johnny, and Rebecca all stood outside of Mary's room, waiting for her to unlock the door. The little girl had been clever enough to block the entrance that joined her room with Johnny's as well.

"Please, darling. Please come out," Rebecca urged.

"No! Not until Grandma comes back!" she exclaimed. "She's supposed to help me make a dress for Elise! I can't make one by myself!"

"I'll help you, sweetheart," Rebecca promised. "Please, just come out." Mary let out a sob from inside.

"No! I want Grandma! Leave me alone!"

"Mary?" Michaela tried. "Mary, it's Aunt Michaela." Silence followed, and Michaela sighed softly. "Sweetheart?"

"Mary, please!" Rebecca called. "We can talk about this, sweetheart."

"No! I want Grandma!" she cried. "I want Grandma! Everybody leaves! Papa left! Grandpa left! Now Grandma! I want her back!" Sully cleared his throat and patted Johnny on the shoulder.

"Why don't you try, son?" he asked. Johnny frowned and nodded. He walked quietly into his bedroom with the adults following behind him. When he tapped on Mary's door, he heard her voice reply.

"Who is it?" she sniffled.

"It's me," he said quietly. "Can I come in?" Silence followed. "C'mon, Mary. Let me come in."

"Just you?" she finally asked. Johnny looked up at Sully and nodded.

"Just me," he promised. A moment later, the door opened a bit, and Johnny slipped in, shutting the door behind him. Rebecca and Michaela glanced at one another.

"Why don't we give them some time? Johnny's very good with her," Michaela pointed out. "They've become such good friends." Rebecca nodded.

"I just want to help my little girl," Rebecca said softly. "She and Mother were so close, Michaela. I hate seeing her so sad. She's already lost her father, and now…" Michaela hugged her sister, and a tear trickled down her cheek. "I don't know how to explain it to her anymore."

"Johnny's been through this too," Sully reminded. "Don't worry. Everything's gonna be alright. Let's go downstairs for a little bit and give 'em some time." Rebecca nodded.

"I suppose that would be best." She started down the hall toward the staircase.

"We'll meet ya down there in a minute," Sully called after her. After Rebecca had started descending the stairs, Michaela turned to Sully, sadness in her eyes. "How ya holdin' up?" She nodded her head.

"I'm better now, I think…now that we're back here. I couldn't stand sitting in that church any longer. I felt…crowded. I felt like everyone was looking at me as if it was my fault." Sully frowned and gently cupped her cheek with his hand.

"It wasn't your fault. They know that. I know that. Most important…you know that." She nodded.

"I do. I know it. I'm just trying to convince myself that nobody's blaming me, but I'm not so certain that's the truth. And then I can't help but wonder if…if maybe it is a little bit my fault. Perhaps I pushed her too far." She looked down.

"Your ma…she gave ya her blessin', Michaela. That shows ya that she knew why you were doin' things the way you wanted to. I don't think she blames ya either." Michaela nodded.

"I suppose that's true." She closed her eyes for a moment, and he pulled her into his arms, hugging her close. "It's all so overwhelming. She's gone now, and…and we have so much to settle."

"We don't have to do it all today, Michaela. Take it one day at a time, right? Just a little bit each day. Ya know what Landon said. Just rest and relax." Michaela went to speak again, but he shook his head. "I know it ain't easy, but ya gotta try. Try for the baby, alright?" Michaela looked down, as he placed his hand on her belly, and she smiled, nodding a little.

"I'll try, Sully." She kissed his cheek and smiled, taking his hand. "I suppose we should be going before people wonder where we've gone." Sure enough, someone downstairs called Michaela's name, and she and Sully shared an exasperated look before heading down to join the rest of the guests.

"Ya don't have to talk about it," Johnny said gently. "But Ma and Pa said…it's ok to talk about it too." Mary looked up at him, as she cradled Elise in her arms.

"At the church, they kept saying she was gone. She can't be, Johnny! She promised to…" She broke down into tears again, clutching the doll to her chest. Johnny swallowed hard.

"When my grandma died," he began, "I wouldn't talk to nobody for two weeks. Not even my grandpa. I wanted to see grandma again, 'cause she died when I was at school. The last thing she said to me was to mind my manners and she'd see me at home for lunch. When I came home…she was gone. I didn't even know she was sick." Mary frowned.

"My grandma was never sick," she said softly. "Every time I saw her, she was always smiling and playing with me. Mother says she spoiled me, but she also said that Grandma loved me."

"That's what Grandpa said to me," Johnny said with a nod. "I lost my ma, my sisters, my grandma, and then my grandpa. If my pa hadn't come back, I don't know where I'd be. I think I would've run away to live with the Indians." Mary sniffled, wiping her nose and looking up at him.

"You think I could too?" she asked, wide eyed. Johnny thought for a moment.

"Well, if you ran away, I'd have to run away too so I could teach ya how to speak Cheyenne." Mary smiled.

"You'd teach me?" she asked.

"Sure," Johnny replied. "Cloud Dancin' taught me and Brian." Johnny stood up. "I'll teach ya some things right now." Mary stood up too, and when Johnny put his hand over his heart, she did the same. "Hesta."

"Hesta," she repeated. "What's that?"

"It means 'heart.'"

"Oh," Mary said with a nod. "Ok." Johnny pointed to her.

"Girl. He'eka'êškone."

"He'eka'êškone," she sounded out awkwardly. Johnny laughed, as she raised an eyebrow.

"Boy. Hetaneka'êškoneho." Mary's jaw dropped.

"I can't say that!"

"Sure ya can! It's easy. Say it slow. Het…aneka…'êškoneho." Mary repeated the word slowly, and when she said it right, a smile beamed over her face. "Nemehotâtse," he finally said, halting as soon as he'd said it.

"Nemehotâtse," she repeated. "What's that mean?"

"Uh…nothin'." Mary put her hands on her hips.

"Johnny! What's it mean?" she asked again. Johnny shifted nervously.

"It's somethin' Pa says to Ma when…when he tells her he loves her." Mary's cheeks blushed.

"Oh," she giggled. "Um…what's next?"

"Um…" he said quietly. "Noho."

"Noho. And what's that?"

"That's your age. Five."

"Noho," she said quietly. "Well, I'm almost six. How do you say that?"

"Maesohto," he replied.

"Maesohto," she said thoughtfully. "Ok."

"I think that's enough words for today. We'll practice 'em, and tomorrow, I'll teach ya some more." A moment later Mary gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks Johnny," she said with a smile.

"Ew!" he groaned, wiping off his face, as Mary continued to giggle. Inside though, he was happy he had cheered her up. "Gross." She stuck her tongue out at him, and he simply shook his head. "You ready to go downstairs?"

"Now?" she asked.

"Yep." Mary thought for a moment before grabbing Elise and hugging her close.

"Ok. I'm ready, Johnny."

March 1871 – Colorado Springs

Hank stepped off the train to face a ghost town. The streets were empty. Many windows were boarded up. The breeze was even missing. He couldn't help but notice that he was the only passenger getting off at this stop, and the train pulled out quickly, as if staying any longer would infect it.

His hands shook from lack of whiskey and lack of sleep. He'd spent several uncomfortable days and nights waiting for something to happen. And after all of his meaningless efforts, Liddie had finally passed away, choking to death because she hadn't been helped in time.

The doctor had assured Hank that some people can't be saved no matter how early they received treatment, but Hank couldn't help but feel that Liddie might still be alive in Doc Cassidy had done something. But he couldn't bother to dirty his hands with a whore.

There was nothing he wanted to do more than to storm into that clinic and choke the life out of that doctor, but he knew that wouldn't solve his problems. Perhaps it was that he'd just lost a woman who had seen him through many lonely nights, or maybe it was the fact that he hadn't had a drop of whiskey in days, but the thought of beating the doctor to a pulp didn't seem like the best solution, though maybe it would have relieved a little anger.

He stepped into the saloon, seeing that the place was in the shape he'd left it in before. He closed himself in and moved behind the bar, pouring himself a shot of whiskey. He drank it down, feeling that familiar sensation as it trickled down his throat and landed in his empty belly.

After a couple more shots, he heard movement from the back of the saloon and placed his shot glass upside down over the neck of the bottle. He walked back to the rooms, opening up one door at a time, seeing each girl sitting sadly on their beds. Each of them came out into the hall, where they saw that Liddie wasn't there.

"Where is she, Hank?" He shook his head, and they knew.

"Wasn't nothin' the doc in Soda Springs could do for her." The girls looked at one another sadly.

"None of us are sick, Hank. Ya don't gotta worry 'bout that. But, a few folks…well, a few folks got it, and they…they didn't make it neither. Heard some folks say that maybe Dr. Mike woulda known what to do." Hank sighed heavily and shook his head. "Ya need anything, Hank?"

"Yeah. Just need to be alone," he replied, turning and stalking off. As he stepped out of the saloon, he saw the dust rise up in the street, as a rider took off out of town. Curious, Hank rushed to the stables, saddled up his own horse, and started out in the direction the rider had gone.

Carrie groaned heavily as she stopped the horse. She was out of breath and needed a rest, so she tethered the horse to a fallen tree limb and collapsed in the grass. She couldn't take being cooped up in that house for so long. She hadn't seen Daniel in days, let alone anyone else. Staying put and isolated was making her crazy.

She took a deep breath and let the cool air fill her lungs. It was much more refreshing than the stale air she'd been breathing since she'd walked into that house and not come back out. The worry inside of her had gotten the better of her. She wanted to see her pa, but she knew the risks. She knew now that several folks had perished from the disease, and she was thankful that none of her friends had gotten sick yet.

The town had been deserted, and the train had only come today. She was certain they refused passengers fleeing the town, but she couldn't blame them. The sickness was a wicked one, but it didn't make sense that good people had to die. Why couldn't it take the wicked people instead? Why couldn't it take…

The sound of an approaching horse startled her, and she stood quickly, searching for the rider. The moment she spotted Hank, she groaned and proceeded to attempt to get up on her horse, not wanting to see him. But, before she could get one foot in the stirrup, Hank was stopping his horse right beside hers.

"What do you want?" she asked immediately.

"I was just about to ask you the same thing." Carrie cocked her head to the side.

"You're the one that followed me out here. Why?"

"I didn't know who ya were for a minute. I saw somebody leave like there was a fire or somethin', so I came to see what was goin' on."

"Well, as you can see…nothin'. Now go on back to town." Hank shook his head and dismounted his horse.

"Nothin' in town for me right now," he replied. Carrie eyed him.

"You just get back?"

"Just a few minutes ago."

"Liddie?" Hank shook his head. Carrie swallowed hard. Even though she wasn't a fan of Hank's, she couldn't stand to see him suffer like that.

"I'm sorry, Hank. I know you cared…"

"She didn't mean nothin' to me," he barked. "She brought me good money is all." She could see he was lying but decided not to press the issue.

"Maybe if Dr. Mike was here…"

"That woman couldn't have saved my girl. Nobody could."

"She wouldn't have turned her away though, Hank. Not like Doc Cassidy did. He turned away some folks that couldn't afford to pay. They didn't make it. I heard he turned her away…I'm sorry." He shook his head.

"Weren't your fault. Can't blame the man for turnin' away a whore. Maybe I'd have done the same thing." Carrie stared at him in shock.

"Ya can't mean that. Not even you could mean that, Hank."

"What if I do?"

"If you do?" she asked. "Well, if that's the way you feel, I think ya deserve to be miserable. That's what I think." She mounted up on her horse and headed back to town, leaving Hank alone again. He watched after her, seeing her disappear down the path. He knew she was right. Dr. Mike would have tried to help her. But she wasn't there. Honestly, he didn't expect she'd ever come back.

Daniel peered out of the window of the room he was staying in above the boarding house. When he saw Carrie riding back into town, his heart stopped for a moment. He shook his head and pulled on his coat, rushing down the stairs before throwing the front door open and standing out on the porch.

"Carrie!" he called. She stopped the horse just in front of the boarding house. "What are you doin'?"

"What's it look like? I just went out for a ride. I was goin' stir crazy in there."

"Ya risked getting sick just because you're bored?" Carrie sighed heavily.

"I don't have to check in with you every time I wanna do somethin', do I?" she asked. "As I recall, you don't dictate what I can and can't do." Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"What's this all about? I was just worried about you, Carrie," he pointed out. "Ya didn't have to…"

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "But I'd like to be able to do things without havin' to tell folks what I'm doin' or where I'm goin'. If ya didn't remember, I'm a grown woman." She dismounted her horse.

"Who's been hurt a lot." Turning to look at him, she froze, her eyes glaring into his.

"Maybe so," she replied, "but I'm not stupid."

"You're goin' around on your horse while this epidemic…"

"Look around, Daniel!" she exclaimed. "Nobody's out here! I ain't gonna catch it from nobody." Daniel sighed heavily.

"I'm just worried about ya. Is that so bad?" She shook her head.

"It's not. But you gotta realize that I can take care of myself. I don't need you lookin' out for me." With that, she walked off leading her horse, and Daniel started off after her.

"Maybe not, but I love you, and I ain't gonna let you get yourself sick."

"The only thing I'm gonna get sick from is you smotherin' me," she hissed. Daniel put his hands in his pockets.

"You're sayin' you don't want me checkin' up on you?"

"Not if you're gonna treat me like I'm a kid," she replied. "If you ain't gonna treat me like an adult, then you might as well turn around and go back inside." Daniel sighed with frustration. She was the most exasperating woman he knew, but he loved that about her.

"Fine. Fine. I'll stop naggin' ya," he replied. "But ya gotta promise me you ain't gonna do nothin' like this again 'til this epidemic's over."

"Why should I?" she asked. This time, he wasn't playing, and he closed his hand over hers that held the horse's tether. She turned to look into his eyes.

"'Cause I don't wanna lose you. That's why." And with that, he pulled her to him in a fervent kiss, and her icy resolve quickly began to melt away.

"For a minute there, I thought it was trouble in paradise, but now they're out there kissin'," Ruth chuckled, standing at the window. Kid Cole looked at her from the table and shook his head.

"Don't you have anything better to do than to stand there snoopin'?"

"At the moment?" she asked. "Not really." She chuckled, as she playfully turned on her heels, her long, black hair swishing over her shoulders and falling loosely down her back. She was beautiful, and he couldn't think of any woman he could love more than he loved her. Marrying her had been the first decent decision he'd ever made, and he was determined that they would love one another for the rest of their lives.

They were young, but they shared the same heart. She was just as feisty as he was, even though she'd never admit it. She loved him with all of her heart, and for the first time in his life, he loved with all of his heart too.

"Ain't you got a husband you can bother?" he teased. She turned again, putting her hands on her hips.

"Well, he's been pickin' at that guitar for the past few days. Seems he'd rather pay more attention to that thing than to me."

"Maybe he forgot."

"Forgot?" Ruth asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing the room. "Now Mr. Cole, how could he forget a lady like me?" She giggled, as his arms slipped around her waist, pulling her close.

"Maybe he just wants to see ya get all fired up," he replied, as he pulled her into his lap and brought his lips down onto hers for a playful kiss.

March 1871 – Boston

Michaela sat in her room, staring out the window over the city. She closed her eyes and shook her head. Marjorie hadn't come to the wake. She hadn't expected her to, but she was terribly upset, because this was their mother. Just because Marjorie was angry didn't mean she had to ignore her family and completely disregard her own mother's wake.

Just thinking about Marjorie's behavior upset Michaela more, so she quickly changed out of her mourning clothes and into her nightgown. She was exhausted and ready to sleep. All she wanted to do was get through the next few days, which were sure to be tense and aggravating.

They were meeting with Elizabeth's lawyers in the morning to go over the will. They'd decided to wait until after the funeral and everything to let the family grieve in peace. Little did the lawyers know that any occasion for the Quinn family was far from peaceful.

A knock came to the door, and Michaela braced herself.

"Come in," she called. She breathed a sigh of relief when Johnny came walking in with Sully right behind him. "There are my two favorite men." She grinned when Johnny looked up at Sully. Sully pat him on the shoulder.

"Just came in to say goodnight, Ma," Johnny said with a smile. Michaela's heart warmed. She was still adjusting to Johnny calling her 'ma,' and she was happy he trusted and loved her enough to call her that.

"Goodnight, Johnny," she said with a smile. "Is Mary already tucked in?"

"Yep. Aunt Rebecca put her to bed a few minutes ago."

"Alright," Michaela said with a nod. She sighed softly. "Thank you for helping Mary today. I don't know what you said to her, but you certainly cheered her up."

"She just needed a friend, Ma," Johnny said with a smile. Sully beamed with pride as he watched the woman he loved and his son. Every day, their family grew closer together.

"Well, she couldn't have picked a better one," Michaela said with a wink.

"Why don't ya go on to bed? I'll come in and check on ya in a minute," Sully promised.

"Alright, Pa." He turned back to Michaela.

"G'night."

"Good night," she said again, a smile spreading over her face. Johnny left the room, and Sully stood there, watching as Michaela's smile faded, and her shoulders slumped just slightly.

"This isn't going to get any easier," she said quietly. "Tomorrow…"

"Tomorrow's hours away," Sully pointed out, closing the space between them and kissing her softly. "Besides, there's nothin' to worry about."

"I hope you're right," she replied. She shook her head. "I'm so upset with Marjorie. I know she has every right to be upset with me for not being here, but…she…she could have at least come here to…to be with her family today. She wouldn't even sit with us at the church." Sully nodded slowly.

"Some folks have different ways of grievin'. Maybe she just needs her space, Michaela." Michaela nodded.

"Maybe." She shrugged her shoulders. "I want to help her, but I'm afraid that she won't listen to me."

"That's never stopped ya before, Michaela." He kissed her cheek. "You're a good person. Ya help people whether they want ya to or not." Michaela smiled a little and sighed softly. "I'll tell ya what."

"What?"

"Tomorrow, after everything's taken care of, we'll go somewhere…just the two of us."

"Where to?" Michaela asked, her eyes brightening.

"It's a surprise," Sully said with a grin, the wheels in his head turning, as he leaned in to kiss her again. "Ya better get some sleep. It's gonna be a big day tomorrow." She only nodded, and she leaned in for one more kiss before he slipped out of the room and down the hall. She turned and walked to her bed, pulling the covers back and crawling underneath them. Before she closed her eyes, she took a deep breath, trying to relax and let herself calm down. And as she drifted off to sleep, she hoped that tomorrow would be easier for everyone.