Chapter 94

April 14th 1871 – Colorado Springs

"Alright, alright!" Michaela exclaimed with hints of both amusement and exasperation in her voice. "I'm going!" Sully grinned, as he followed Michaela up the stairs and to her room, holding Olivia in one arm and Michaela's heavier suitcase in the other, as she carried her basket of food from Grace's. The suitcase that Sully carried was the one that contained all of the documents and the money from Boston, and since Michaela wasn't comfortable with putting her money in a bank so far away, Sully assured her he'd enlist Robert E.'s help with building a safe into the new homestead. Until then, Michaela was going to lock it up in her closet and not make mention of it to anybody else.

"This closet?" Sully asked, opening up the door. Michaela nodded, and she smiled with relief, when he stuck the case inside and shut the door, locking it with a skeleton key. He handed it to Michaela, and she put it securely in the drawer to her bedside table. "Don't worry. It's safe." Michaela nodded.

"Of course it is. I'm just…I can't wait until we're moved into the homestead, and we're all settled in. I still don't feel settled." Sully smiled, as he pulled back the covers, and Michaela got in the bed.

"It won't be long now," he assured her, leaning down to softly kiss her. Olivia fussed in his arms, and Michaela smiled at him.

"Good luck," she grinned.

"Why does everybody keep tellin' me that?" Sully wondered, furrowing his brows. "Folks keep forgettin' that I've raised babies before." Michaela nodded.

"Of course you have, Sully, but some babies are different."

"She seems like a calm baby," he pointed out.

"Of course, but look at her, Sully." Sully glanced at her, and he saw a little dribble coming from her lips. "She's getting some new teeth, it seems." Sully nodded.

"So? Abby always said it was a piece of cake to…" He saw the glimmer in Michaela's eyes and she closed her eyes. "What?"

"Nothing," she said with a sigh and a bigger smile. "Like I said…good luck, Mr. Sully." She turned onto her side, and Sully frowned at her playful but vague demeanor, and he shook his head, deciding to let her sleep. Olivia snuggled against his chest, as he carried her down the stairs and into the street.

"She's just tryin' to scare me, ain't she, Livvie?" The baby cooed in his arms, and he shook his head. "Yep. She's just pullin' my leg. We won't have any problems, will we?" With that, he started out to find Johnny.

Timothy felt dozens of pairs of eyes on him, as he, Gabby, Rebecca, and Mary walked through the meadow, seeming to look very much like a little family.

"Why is everyone staring?" Gabby asked, her green-blue eyes sparkling in the April sunshine. Timothy's grip on her hand tightened, and he suddenly felt as if he was about to let her down. Their relationship was already so fragile, and he didn't want to hurt her. He started thinking about Michaela and Sully's baby and how people had turned their backs on the good doctor because of her situation. Luckily, the child was yet to be born and wouldn't have to withstand the agony of rejection for a long, long time, but Gabby was different. She was a little girl with needs of her own, and to have more pain piled on top of the pain she already possessed seemed so unfair. But he was her father, and he had to make things right, even if that meant giving up everything.

"There are some things people can't understand, Gabby," Timothy said as they walked. Rebecca could hear every word, and she tightened her hold on Mary's hand. "Before I found out about you, I had similar thoughts…about Dr. Mike's baby."

"Because she and Sully aren't married," Gabby said matter-of-factly.

"That's right. Well, finding out about you really made me see things differently, and I'm afraid that some folks won't take kindly to the fact that their Reverend's got a child…"

"Because you and Mother weren't married." Timothy was silently thankful that his daughter could say the words easier than he could.

"Yes," he said softly. "I just want you to know that if anybody…anybody says something to you that isn't kind…"

"There was a little boy at school in Boston that the other children called a bastard. I don't know why they called him that, but they said his mother didn't know who his father was, but that wasn't true." Timothy closed his eyes for a moment before looking back down into Gabby's questioning eyes. "Is that what they'll call me?"

"I pray to God that you won't have to hear that," he said quietly. "I hope that some people will be more understanding. What happened was…a long time ago." Rebecca reached out, touching Timothy's back, and he turned to her.

"I plan to continue teaching at the schoolhouse, Timothy. When you aren't there, I'll keep an eye on the children."

"You don't have to do that," Gabby insisted. "I can take care of myself." Timothy noticed a crowd forming outside of the church, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Mary, why don't you and Gabby go play in the schoolyard?"

"I want to go with you!" Gabby insisted. Timothy stopped and knelt down to face his daughter.

"I don't think it's a good idea, Gabby. I don't want them to upset you…"

"I can handle it, Father," she said matter-of-factly, her green-blue eyes deepening in color. "I promise." Timothy put his hands on her shoulders, and he looked straight into her eyes.

"I know you can, Gabby. You've got a lot of your mother in ya, but I really think it's best if you play with Mary in the schoolyard. I'll come and get you when this is all over." Gabby looked away.

"You're ashamed of me."

"Of course not!" Timothy exclaimed. "I'd take you over there right now and proudly introduce you as my little girl, but these folks ain't like the folks in Boston." Gabby sighed heavily. "It's easier this way…for you."

"And for you?" she dared.

"Gabby dear," Rebecca said softly. The little girl turned out of her father's hands and looked at Mary's mother. "Your father cares about you very much. He just wants to talk to these people and explain the situation. He only wants to protect you."

"I don't need protecting," she insisted. Suddenly, she felt another hand grab hers, and she turned to see Mary.

"Come on. I'll show you the see-saw," she said hopefully, knowing that it was for Gabby's own good to not have to deal with that mob right now. Gabby finally surrendered and nodded her head.

"We'll be back for you girls in just a few minutes," Timothy promised. Gabby nodded again and followed Mary to the schoolyard. She looked over her shoulders for a few moments to see Timothy and Rebecca walking very close together, their heads bent low in conversation. She nudged Mary, who also looked, and when they turned back to one another, they couldn't help but smile.

"Don't worry, Gabby," Mary said quietly.

"It's so wrong…"

"What?"

"How could somebody turn their back on someone for something like this. It isn't as if my father has hurt any of them. Dr. Mike either. She hasn't done anything to hurt anybody, but they turned their backs on her, because she did something they wouldn't dream of doing." She shook her head earnestly. "It doesn't seem fair." Mary shrugged her shoulders.

"It's not. It's just how people are," she said simply, her eyes averted to the ground.

At the schoolyard, they sat solemnly on the seesaw and effortlessly moved up and down, their eyes turning to the mob and the two figures approaching it every few moments.

"Don't worry," Mary repeated. "It's not your fault."

By the time Timothy and Rebecca approached the crowd, several townsfolk had joined the growing mob, and the good Reverend suddenly wished that Sully and Michaela were there. They were on his side…at least he hoped so. Well, of course they were. But he wouldn't blame them if they turned their backs on him. He knew he was deserving of it, but he also knew Sully and Michaela were too good-spirited to ever do such a thing.

"So Reverend," Hank said, as he parted the sea of people, "who's the little girl?" Timothy glanced at Rebecca, and her kind, knowing eyes gave him the strength to do this.

"You all know I went to Boston to visit a very ill friend," he said quietly, his worried eyes staring into a sea of curious, confused ones. "This friend passed on while I was in Boston. Her name was Sylvia Thompson, and the little girl I brought with me was…is…her daughter. Gabrielle Thompson…is my daughter too." Muffled gasps and a slew of garbled reactions and shocked expressions immediately followed his confession.

Hank couldn't suppress the grin that curled at his lips, causing his entire face to shine smugly.

"The good Rev's got a bastard kid, huh? Didn't think ya had it in ya, Padre."

"Hank," Kid Cole warned from nearby.

"What? It's a free country, ain't it? Here we got the Rev tendin' to our spiritual needs, and he's off sewin' his wild oats with some fancy Boston ladies." He had a good mind to say something witty about him maybe taking up with the lady doctor, but he decided against it for now.

"I ain't seen you goin' for any spiritual care lately, Hank," Robert E. said boldly from his spot. "I've heard worse is goin' on in your saloon, ain't that right?"

"So what if it is? I ain't the one that folks go to when they need help, unless their answer's at the bottom of a whiskey bottle or if they ain't getting what they need at home," he smirked. All the while, Timothy's eyes met several disappointed looks and some compassionate, and for those, he was grateful.

"That's enough," Rebecca insisted.

"Well look at you, Mrs. Buchanan. Seems I recall when you were defendin' the doc for knockin' boots with that Injun lover. Maybe you need the spiritual healin', lady, 'cause ya seem to be developin' a pattern." Rebecca's face paled, and her eyes flashed with anger.

"I don't think it's any of your business, Mr. Lawson," she replied coldly, "and whom I support is none of your concern either."

"None of our concern?" He laughed. "You're sayin' the same things ya said about the doc. I was startin' to warm up to the idea that she was feisty and not opposed to a little sinnin', but the good Reverend? How're folks s'posed to trust him to help 'em find God if he's goin' around makin' bastard babies with God knows how many women."

"Hank," Timothy began, his voice strong but filled with a lot of defense. "What happened was a long time ago. Before I decided to choose this path, I…well, I did a lot of things I regret, but I don't regret my daughter. She's a beautiful little girl who's just lost the most important person in her life, and…she didn't ask for any of this. The only thing I can ask for is this community's forgiveness for my past and for the acceptance of my daughter into this town and into this church." Several moments passed in an uncomfortable silence that felt like hours to the Reverend. Finally, one voice spoke up from the crowd.

"What about Dr. Mike?" Grace asked. "You didn't defend her when she needed you." A few questioning glances were cast his way, and Timothy finally realized that apologizing to Michaela and Sully hadn't been enough. He had to publicly demonstrate his apologies and forgiveness.

"Yeah. She's got a point, Rev," Hank replied. "Ya find out the doc and Sully are havin' a kid, and ya pretend like you're all high and mighty, when ya know ya got yourself a kid out there."

"I didn't know about her," Timothy replied quietly. "I didn't find out she was mine until right before her mother passed." He looked out at the crowd. "You all know me. I'd never abandon a child if I knew they were mine. I brought her here, because I want her in my life, and I want to give her a good life, because after all she's been through, she deserves it." He looked at Rebecca, who gave him the go-ahead nod. "I already apologized to Michaela, Sully, and Rebecca for what I did…rather, what I didn't do after the truth was exposed. As soon as I realized I had a daughter, I knew I had a lot of apologies to make and a lot of thinking to do, and I've told Michaela and Sully that they have my blessing, and I will be marrying them in this church on May 20th. I just hope you can all find it in your hearts to still trust me, though I know I can't do anything to make up for deceiving you about my past." He cleared his throat and looked to Rebecca, remembering her own words to him. "Forgiveness and tolerance are important, and without that…I don't know how this would could prosper…could go on in peace." He wanted to say more, but feeling Rebecca's hand on his back again stopped him. He knew he didn't need to say anything else, and as he looked at his congregation huddled outside of the church, he knew his efforts hadn't been for nothing.

As the mob began to break apart, Grace and Robert E. said nothing, but they reached out and shook his hand, knowing he'd told the truth from his heart, and that was all they could ask for.

Daniel paused on the porch of the mercantile, seeing Mrs. Weatherly walk out with her purchases in tow. He knew that Carrie was alone now, but he wasn't all too certain that it was the perfect time to discuss their future together.

So when he walked in, he received a look he expected from Carrie: one full of anxiety and uncertainty. Even before he could open his mouth to speak, she put her hand up.

"I don't know if you're ready to talk about this, Daniel, but I don't…"

"I ain't here to talk about that," he said quickly, easing her stresses. He saw relief fill her face. "I came to invite ya out tonight." She raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?'

"Tonight," he said with a nod. "Meet me at the bridge."

"What for?"

"Do ya gotta ask questions?" he asked. "You're ruinin' this for me." He saw a grin play across her face, and she shook her head.

"Fine!" she laughed. "What time?"

"Nine o'clock."

"Nine? Daniel, I gotta be up early tomorrow…"

"It'll be worth it. I promise." He reached out for her hand, giving it a simple squeeze. "Please?"

"Fine," she said, shaking her head. "But ya better be tellin' me the truth. It better be worth it." He smiled, daring to bring her into his arms and willing the worries away.

"It'll be worth it. I promise." She stood on her tiptoes, smiling, as he brushed the hair from her face and pressed his lips against hers innocently. When they pulled back, he saw her leaning into him again, and he kissed her again, pulling her in closer and feeling her open up to him. But when they heard a baby cry and a clearing throat, they pulled back to see Sully standing there, trying to hide the smile on his face, as he bounced Olivia on his hip.

"Hi Sully!" Carrie said brightly, wiping the corners of her mouth, as he saw her blush.

"Carrie James blushin'?" he asked.

"Oh shut up," she replied, rolling her eyes. "Daniel was just invitin' me out tonight."

"I can see that," Sully laughed. "Just wanted to tell the both of ya congratulations. I heard the news."

"Thanks," Daniel said awkwardly, glancing at Carrie, who was threading her apron through her fingers.

"Yeah…thanks," she said softly. Sully eyed his friends, wanting desperately to ask what was going on, but he knew that it wasn't his business. So, he cleared his throat and bounced Olivia on his hip again.

"Came to pick up some supplies I ordered 'fore we left for Boston. I know things've been pretty hectic around here, but I was wonderin' if they'd come in?"

"Yeah. They're in the back," Carrie said with a quick nod. "I'll go get 'em." Sully nodded.

"Daniel, could ya hold Olivia for a second? I gotta get my money out."

"Sure," Daniel said with a smile, taking the baby into his arms. She continued to fuss. "She wasn't like this when I was watchin' her." Sully shook his head.

"Michaela says she's cuttin' another tooth," he replied. Daniel nodded, as Sully put ten dollars down on the counter, recalling the amount of his purchases. "Problem is, Abby always knew how to take care of the girls when they were teethin'. She got real protective of 'em…said that she knew what to do, and I just let her." He shook his head. "I tell ya, Daniel, I ain't gonna make that mistake with this new baby. When she gets here, I'm gonna be there through everything." Daniel pat Sully on the back.

"You're a good pa, Sully. You're a lucky man." He looked at Olivia and smiled. "A real lucky man." Carrie came out from the back with a crate, and she smiled, trying not to show her discomfort about this situation. Daniel handed the baby back to Sully, and she went willingly. "I'll carry this over to the clinic for ya," he offered.

"Thanks," Sully replied, cradling Olivia. He nodded to Carrie, and she waved goodbye, as she watched the men leave. She moved to the window, seeing Daniel making faces and talking sweetly to Olivia, and it broke her heart. How could she let him keep true to his proposal when there could be a woman out there who could give him all the children he wanted?

She felt a tear trickle down her cheek, and she quickly brushed it away, deciding not to cry about it. Tonight she would be sure.

Michaela put her mother's journal aside for the last time. She'd finished it, and she was surprised at how not surprised she had been by the end of the book. After hearing it all from her sisters, she'd been prepared, and now she felt almost cheated. She hadn't been able to read the book as if her mother was writing it to her, because she knew it really wasn't like that.

With a sigh, she made a mental note to send it in the post as soon as possible and get it out to Maureen and Claudette. She was certain she wouldn't hear a reply at all from them, but stranger things had happened.

She closed her eyes and lay back in the bed, feeling more relaxed than she had felt in days. This bed was much more comfortable than the one she'd slept in on the train for a week, so it felt nice to be back home and in the comfort of her own bed. Being in Boston had been nice for a while, but it had been surrounded by pain and hardship. It seemed that everywhere she went, she had to worry about something, and she knew that was exactly the opposite of what her mother wanted for her.

Frowning, Michaela got out of bed, tired of lying down, and she moved to her full-length mirror, placing her hand upon her belly. She felt a bout of sadness wash over her at the idea that her mother would never know her grandbaby. She'd never be able to spoil the baby and send her home at the end of the day as a little revenge for what she'd gone through bringing her girls up. No, she'd never get the pleasure of hearing 'I love you, Grandma.' The thought of that was enough to cause tears to well up in Michaela's eyes again.

"Oh, Mother," she whispered, "I wish you were here. I need you here. I know…I know it wouldn't have been easy, but we could have worked it out. You'd have been a great grandmother to this baby. I need you here now…" A knock at her door startled her from her thoughts, and she turned. "Yes?"

"Dr. Mike? It's me…it's Ruth." Michaela sighed pleasantly and smiled, striding to the door and opening it. Ruth immediately saw that she was upset. "If it's a bad time…"

"No. It's not. It's not. I was going to come see you today, actually. How are you feeling?"

"I'm feelin' alright," Ruth said quietly, "considering."

"Considering what?" Ruth smiled a little, as Michaela followed her down the stairs.

"Well, I'm here to confirm a…a pregnancy." Michaela beamed with excitement at those words.

"You're pregnant?"

"Well, I'm hopin' you'll tell me that. I'm pretty sure now, but I just wanna know everything's alright." Michaela nodded, and she locked the front door.

"Well, if you'll lie down, I can examine you."

"Right now?"

"Sure."

"But ya just got back."

"Sully won't be back for a little while. I have plenty of time," she said with a smile.

"But shouldn't you be restin'?"

"I just finished," she laughed. "Just relax, and this won't take long." Ruth nodded, trusting her friend, and she prepared for her examination.

"Pa?" Johnny wandered up to Sully, who was sitting on the back of the wagon with Olivia in his lap. "What're ya doin' with Olivia? And why's she cryin'?"

"I'm watchin' her for Grace and Robert E. And she's cuttin' teeth, so she's fussy." Johnny grimaced.

"She sure can cry!" he called, having to speak up over the loud cries. Sully chuckled while trying to keep calm with the now screaming infant bouncing on his knee. "Maybe Ma can give her somethin'."

"What?" Sully asked, straining to hear, as Olivia's wails grew louder, and people began to stare as they passed by.

"I said: 'Maybe Ma can give her somethin'!'" Johnny yelled. Sully sighed and he shook his head, continuing to bounce the baby but to no avail. He looked helplessly toward the clinic, waiting for the right time to give up and ask Michaela for help. He couldn't believe his helpful antics were absolutely not helpful at all to the baby. She simply refused to calm down, and he didn't recall Hanna or Lily being so upset during their teething stages.

"Let's give her a few more minutes, Johnny. A few more minutes." Meanwhile, Olivia's frustrations with her new-coming teeth began to heighten, and her cries became ear shattering.

"Congratulations, Ruth," Michaela said with a wide grin. Your suspicions were correct. You're pregnant!" Ruth sat up, tears in her eyes at the confirmation. She'd known it, but the look on Michaela's face told her that all was well, but she still needed to be sure.

"So everything's ok?"

"Everything appears to be fine. Your baby should be due sometime around Thanksgiving." Ruth smiled.

"I guess me and Kid Cole have a lot to be thankful for this year, don't we?" Michaela grinned and nodded.

"You certainly do. Congratulations." Ruth got up off of the table and straightened her outfit before giving her friend a hug.

"Thank you so much, Dr. Mike."

"I'll schedule you another appointment for next month, and if all goes well, we'll meet once a month for a while until your due date approaches. If you have any questions or concerns, my doctor, Dr. Bernard would be happy to…"

"You're the only doctor I need, Dr. Mike. I trust ya, and I'm thankful to have a lady doctor. Some of them men just don't understand." Michaela nodded sadly, knowing she was speaking of Dr. Cassidy. "Well, I best get home to tell Kid Cole."

"Please offer him my congratulations as well."

"I'll tell him. Thanks again, Dr. Mike." Ruth fluttered off, her girlish charm illuminating her smiling face.

Michaela stood looking out the door, and she was surprised to see Sully crossing the street with Johnny and Olivia.

"Sully!" she said with a smile. She saw the distress on his face and the squalling, squirming child in his arms and bit back a grin. "How was your adventure in babysitting?"

"I give up, Michaela. Nothin' works with this baby. Nothin'." Michaela couldn't help but laugh at his helpless expression.

"But you've seen three babies through teething."

"Like I said, Abby did most of it. I always got 'em when they weren't screamin'." Michaela grinned, and she nodded.

"I'll get her some Paregoric. That usually does the trick." She took the baby into the clinic and went to get her supplies. Sully watched the baby closely, and Johnny covered his ears, as Olivia continued to scream.

"Is this what it's gonna be like when the new baby gets here?" he asked with wide eyes.

"All babies are different, Johnny," Michaela said with a smile, even though she didn't have much experience with them. It was just common knowledge.

After administering the Paregoric, Olivia began to settle down, and she even began to smile again.

"Did somethin' happen?" Michaela and Sully both looked over to see Grace and Robert E. in the doorway. Michaela simply smiled.

"Nothing at all. I just gave her something…Paregoric. Her teeth were bothering her." Grace smiled.

"She wasn't much trouble was she?" Sully and Michaela eyed one another.

"Nope. None at all," Sully replied. Robert E. tried not to roll his eyes, but he let out a chuckle. "What?"

"I didn't say nothin'," he replied. "We'll take Olivia now. Thanks for watchin' her, and thanks to you too, Dr. Mike." Sully and Michaela waved their friends goodbye, and then they turned their attention back to one another.

"Did ya get enough rest?"

"Plenty," Michaela assured him, as he put his hand on her back.

"I was thinkin' of takin' ya out to the homestead. I wanna see everything Robert E.'s done, and I need to see what all I gotta do before the wedding."

"That sounds lovely," Michaela said with a smile, leaning in to kiss him. Johnny made a face.

"Can I go to?"

"May I go," Michaela corrected. Johnny sighed.

"May I go?"

"'Course. We'll all go. I got the wagon ready outside."

"I'll go wait," Johnny offered. When he left, Sully turned back to Michaela. He smiled, pulling her in and kissing her softly, letting his tongue softly massage her lower lip, before she granted access to him, letting him deepen the kiss. She moaned softly, as his hands slowly rubbed her back, causing her to lean further into him. When they pulled back, she opened her eyes slowly to look up into his blue orbs. She grinned and playfully bit her bottom lip.

"I wanted to do that all day," he whispered.

"We may not get the chance again today." He saw the twinkle in her eyes.

"Maybe I ought to kiss ya one more time to be safe."

"Perhaps," Michaela said with a giggle. With that, he pressed his lips against hers again, wasting no time to explore her mouth with his tongue. He could feel her soft moans reverberate through her body and into his, and the kiss deepened out of pure need. But finally, Michaela pulled away and ran her thumb across his lower lip. "Our son's waiting for us, Mr. Sully. We shouldn't keep him waiting." Sully chuckled and moved to the door, motioning for her to take the lead.

"After you," he said with a nod.

"Why thank you," she giggled. She started outside, feeling happier than she had all day, and Sully followed right behind her. Both were eager to see the progress on their new home, but they were more eager for the date that they would join as husband and wife, and it was fast approaching.