I can't believe that I already wrote another part. O.o We will see if my
roll holds. Hope it does, I am enjoying writing! :D
Disclaimer: Not mine. . .remember?
Praise and constructive criticism are still greatly appreciated! (hint hint, nudge nudge) Flames are going to be used to have a bonfire at a sand volleyball party this weekend!
~8~
Michaela woke up the next day after a slightly restless sleep. She had had a bit of trouble getting to sleep because of her unfamiliar surroundings and noises. When she woke up she was a little disoriented, but quickly remembered where she was.
She got dressed, deciding to not wear any hoops under the skirts since Charlotte and Abigail hadn't, and headed downstairs where she heard noises coming from. There was the clatter of pots and pans and the murmur of voices coming from the kitchen. She pushed the kitchen door open and saw the Cooper family along with Abigail and Sully inside; she guessed that the two male boarders were still asleep. Charlotte sent Sully to get some wood as Michaela entered the kitchen. "Good morning," Michaela called.
All heads turned toward her.
"Mornin', Dr. Mike." Charlotte smiled as she kneaded the dough under her hands.
"Michaela." Abigail was cracking eggs into a skillet.
The children also called greetings.
Michaela looked around at everyone. "Is there any way I can help?"
Charlotte looked up. "Have you ever cooked?"
Michaela bit her lip and slowly shook her head.
Abigail smiled. "Don't worry, Charlotte can teach you."
Charlotte nodded. "But how 'bout you go with Colleen to milk the cow?"
Michaela opened her mouth to say that she had never done that either.
"Don't worry, Colleen can teach you."
Colleen nodded, eager to have time to ask the doctor questions.
Michaela bit her lip hesitantly before agreeing.
Colleen picked up the bucket. "Follow me." She led Michaela out to the barn.
Colleen took out two short stools and set them down next to the cow. She took one herself and Michaela took the other. Colleen patiently taught the doctor how to milk a cow and after about 20 minutes Michaela was able to do it.
Colleen watched her. "You're doin' good."
Michaela smiled. "Thank you for teaching me."
Colleen shrugged. "You're welcome." She hesitated for a moment. "Was it hard?"
Michaela looked at her curiously as she continued to milk the cow.
"Becomin' a doctor?"
Michaela gave her a wry smile. "Yes." She sighed. "People are not very open to women doctors. I went through college and then I looked for a medical school to go to. I applied to so many places and time after time after time doors were slammed in my face. I finally found a school that would accept me. After school it was hard to find a job, most places don't want female doctors and we get stuck with what are considered the least desirable jobs. I also ended up working with my father, who is a doctor."
Colleen listened to her avidly. "Now you're gonna work here."
Michaela smiled, nodding.
"Why'd you stop workin' with your father?" Colleen looked at her curiously.
Michaela sighed, considering how to answer this. "Well Colleen, I saw that add for a doctor out here and knew that there were few doctors out here, while there are so many in Boston, and I felt this great urge to come." She paused. "I can't really fully explain it." She looked at Colleen, thoughtfully.
Colleen looked at her curiously; then noticed that the bucket was full. "Looks like we're done."
Michaela glanced at the bucket and saw that she was correct; she picked up the bucket and Colleen put the stools away. They then headed back into the boarding house.
~8~
Charlotte and Abigail led Michaela toward Bray General Mercantile where Michaela was going to post and advertisement for a permanent place to live and to practice out of.
When they reached to front of the store Charlotte turned to Abigail. "You don't have to go in."
Abigail set her jaw stubbornly. "I'll be fine Charlotte."
The older woman nodded before leading the two younger in.
Mr. Bray looked up as the three women entered the store; Michaela noticed how his and Abigail's eyes met and locked. Finally Mr. Bray scowled deeper and turned away. The women continued to the board at the back of the store that was covered with notices. Michaela looked for a clear spot to put her notice up.
"What're you doin'?" Mr. Bray demanded.
"Well, Loren," Charlotte began in a calm smooth voice, "the new doctor's just postin' a notice."
Mr. Bray glanced at Michaela before turning back to Charlotte. "There's no room." He turned back to the customer at the counter in front of him.
Abigail clenched her jaw, took the notice from Michaela and stuck it on top of one of the oldest notices. She then turned back to Mr. Bray who was watching her, his jaw set.
Michaela noticed that their expressions were identical, shockingly so.
Charlotte cleared her throat and led both of the women out of the store. "Let's head on over to Robert E.'s."
Once they were out on the street Michaela turned to Abigail. "Abigail, why –" She glanced back at the store, trying to think how to phrase her question.
"You wanna know why Mr. Bray and I're so hostile?" Abigail was scowling, but not at Michaela.
Michaela nodded. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Abigail shook her head. "Mr. Bray's my pa, but he disowned me."
Michaela looked at her shocked. "Why?!"
"Because of Sully." Charlotte's voice was weary. "Or more precisely because of Sully and Abigail's love."
Abigail clenched her teeth, in that identical look of her father's. "He wanted me to marry someone I didn't love, but I loved and wanted to marry Sully. So I went against his wishes and me and Sully eloped. He's never forgiven either of us for it and as I said he disowned me."
"What about your mother?"
Abigail's face softened and became a little pained. "Ma wanted me to be happy; she actually gave us our homestead as a weddin' gift. I know that it pains her that Pa and I're at odds."
Michaela gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry Abigail."
Abigail smiled. "It ain't your fault. But I'm afraid that your being friends with me and Sully will cause you to have more problems with my pa."
Michaela gave her a smile. "I think that it will be well worth it."
Abigail gave her a grateful smile.
"Well here we are," Charlotte announced.
They were standing in front of the blacksmith's shop; there was a black man working on a horseshoe.
"Robert E.!" Charlotte called.
The man looked up.
"We're lookin' to buy a horse."
He looked at the three women. "Who's buyin'?"
Charlotte swung her purse slightly, letting it jingle a little. "Does it matter?"
He looked the three women over once more. "The black, the appaloosa an' the brown."
"Thank you." Charlotte nodded to him.
Michaela leaned over to Charlotte. "Why do I need a horse?" She asked in a low voice.
"To get 'round to your patients and to just get 'round in general," Charlotte responded.
Charlotte and Abigail began to look over each horse, finding the faults. Finally they agreed that the Black, though older than the other two, was the best, particularly after they pried it out of Michaela that she hadn't ridden before.
Abigail held the horse's head while Charlotte helped Michaela mount from the box she had borrowed from Robert E. After a few attempts Michaela was finally sitting atop the horse. Charlotte and Abigail gave her instructions as to what to do and Michaela did her best to follow those instructions; thankfully the horse was patient with the inexperienced rider on his back.
"That's it!" Abigail encouraged.
"Loosen the reins a little," Charlotte called. "Good!"
Finally Michaela slid off the horse's back and patted his neck. "What's his name?" She looked at Robert E.
He raised his eyebrow at her. "Shadow," he finally answered; then turned back to his work.
"Thank you," Michaela said to him.
He made a sound of acknowledgement, but didn't turn.
Michaela looked back at the horse. "Well Shadow, looks like we are going to be working together."
The horse whickered.
Michaela laughed.
~8~
That afternoon Michaela and Abigail drove up in Abigail and Sully's wagon to their homestead. Michaela was driving under Abigail's instruction; at first she had trouble but slowly caught on.
When they reached their destination Michaela looked around. "It's lovely, Abigail!"
Abigail smiled as she allowed Michaela to help her down, since she was having trouble, because of her pregnancy. "Sully built it." She took a deep breath and joined Michaela in her admiration of it. "I can't wait to see our child runnin' around, playin'." She rubbed her belly.
Michaela looked over at her friend, her eyes sparkling. "Or perhaps child*ren*?"
Abigail blushed a little, nodding. "We'd love to have several children, neither of us really had big families growin' up. I had no brothers or sisters and Sully lost his brother when he was real young."
Michaela smiled at her as Abigail led her up to the house. "I can't really say that I understand fully what that is like. I am the youngest of five girls. But I do have a small idea. Most of my sisters and I didn't get along all that well, except for my eldest sister who was 15 when I was born; we were inseparable until she got married." Michaela shrugged.
Abigail looked at Michaela curiously as she opened the door and they went inside. "Why've you never gotten married?"
Michaela shrugged. "I never really received a lot of attention from men as a young woman. But I was engaged."
Abigail looked at her worriedly. "What happened?"
Michaela swallowed. "He went off to fight and died."
"Oh, Michaela." Abigail's face was pained. "I'm sorry I brought it up."
Michaela shook her head. "It's alright." She took a deep breath and straightened up, pushing aside the painful memories. "Now, let's see about that check-up."
~8~
Michaela put her things back in her medical bag. "Well you both seem healthy and strong."
Abigail gave a sigh of relief as she pulled her shirt back on. "That's good to hear." She rubbed her stomach.
Michaela watched her for a moment; the pulled her stethoscope and put it in her ear and then the other end against Abigail's stomach. She then put it in Abigail's ear.
"You hear that?" Michaela asked. "That is your baby's heart beat."
Abigail looked at her with amazement, resting her hand against her stomach.
Michaela smiled at the expecting mother's awe. "Amazing, isn't it?"
Abigail nodded.
Michaela rested her own hand against Abigail's stomach. "Even after being a doctor for five years it still awes me every time to think how we can create life, and carry it." She looked up at Abigail. "I used to wish that I was a boy. I thought that they got to do all of the interesting things. But now I would never want that. For this is something that only we women can do, carry and give birth to life. Even with all of the pain."
Abigail smiled and finally handed Michaela her stethoscope, which she packed into her bag once more and Abigail finished getting dressed. "What do you suggest Michaela?"
"Well, like I said before, take it a little easier and I would like to give you another check-up in two weeks; then after that probably every week. As you come closer to being due I want you to take it easier and easier. Alright?"
Abigail nodded.
They then headed back to the wagon to go back to town. Michaela took one last look around the homestead.
Abigail noticed the slight longing in the doctor's gaze; she felt thankful for what she had and her heart ached for Michaela. She decided to lighten the mood a little. "You know, there out here there're a lot of single men."
Michaela raised her eyebrow at her. "Really?"
Abigail nodded, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yes, 20 men to each woman."
Michaela shook her head with amusement. "And how many would sit still long enough to have a conversation about our ideas, thoughts and beliefs?"
Abigail sighed. "Well you really have high expectation, don't you?"
Michaela laughed.
~8~
Claire8: I'm glad you like it! I made the first part basically the beginning of the pilot, because it helped me get the story started. There will be things from the episodes mixed in with my own stuff through out this whole story/series to tie the two together.
Alhana-Antilles: I'm glad you like it! :D
Disclaimer: Not mine. . .remember?
Praise and constructive criticism are still greatly appreciated! (hint hint, nudge nudge) Flames are going to be used to have a bonfire at a sand volleyball party this weekend!
~8~
Michaela woke up the next day after a slightly restless sleep. She had had a bit of trouble getting to sleep because of her unfamiliar surroundings and noises. When she woke up she was a little disoriented, but quickly remembered where she was.
She got dressed, deciding to not wear any hoops under the skirts since Charlotte and Abigail hadn't, and headed downstairs where she heard noises coming from. There was the clatter of pots and pans and the murmur of voices coming from the kitchen. She pushed the kitchen door open and saw the Cooper family along with Abigail and Sully inside; she guessed that the two male boarders were still asleep. Charlotte sent Sully to get some wood as Michaela entered the kitchen. "Good morning," Michaela called.
All heads turned toward her.
"Mornin', Dr. Mike." Charlotte smiled as she kneaded the dough under her hands.
"Michaela." Abigail was cracking eggs into a skillet.
The children also called greetings.
Michaela looked around at everyone. "Is there any way I can help?"
Charlotte looked up. "Have you ever cooked?"
Michaela bit her lip and slowly shook her head.
Abigail smiled. "Don't worry, Charlotte can teach you."
Charlotte nodded. "But how 'bout you go with Colleen to milk the cow?"
Michaela opened her mouth to say that she had never done that either.
"Don't worry, Colleen can teach you."
Colleen nodded, eager to have time to ask the doctor questions.
Michaela bit her lip hesitantly before agreeing.
Colleen picked up the bucket. "Follow me." She led Michaela out to the barn.
Colleen took out two short stools and set them down next to the cow. She took one herself and Michaela took the other. Colleen patiently taught the doctor how to milk a cow and after about 20 minutes Michaela was able to do it.
Colleen watched her. "You're doin' good."
Michaela smiled. "Thank you for teaching me."
Colleen shrugged. "You're welcome." She hesitated for a moment. "Was it hard?"
Michaela looked at her curiously as she continued to milk the cow.
"Becomin' a doctor?"
Michaela gave her a wry smile. "Yes." She sighed. "People are not very open to women doctors. I went through college and then I looked for a medical school to go to. I applied to so many places and time after time after time doors were slammed in my face. I finally found a school that would accept me. After school it was hard to find a job, most places don't want female doctors and we get stuck with what are considered the least desirable jobs. I also ended up working with my father, who is a doctor."
Colleen listened to her avidly. "Now you're gonna work here."
Michaela smiled, nodding.
"Why'd you stop workin' with your father?" Colleen looked at her curiously.
Michaela sighed, considering how to answer this. "Well Colleen, I saw that add for a doctor out here and knew that there were few doctors out here, while there are so many in Boston, and I felt this great urge to come." She paused. "I can't really fully explain it." She looked at Colleen, thoughtfully.
Colleen looked at her curiously; then noticed that the bucket was full. "Looks like we're done."
Michaela glanced at the bucket and saw that she was correct; she picked up the bucket and Colleen put the stools away. They then headed back into the boarding house.
~8~
Charlotte and Abigail led Michaela toward Bray General Mercantile where Michaela was going to post and advertisement for a permanent place to live and to practice out of.
When they reached to front of the store Charlotte turned to Abigail. "You don't have to go in."
Abigail set her jaw stubbornly. "I'll be fine Charlotte."
The older woman nodded before leading the two younger in.
Mr. Bray looked up as the three women entered the store; Michaela noticed how his and Abigail's eyes met and locked. Finally Mr. Bray scowled deeper and turned away. The women continued to the board at the back of the store that was covered with notices. Michaela looked for a clear spot to put her notice up.
"What're you doin'?" Mr. Bray demanded.
"Well, Loren," Charlotte began in a calm smooth voice, "the new doctor's just postin' a notice."
Mr. Bray glanced at Michaela before turning back to Charlotte. "There's no room." He turned back to the customer at the counter in front of him.
Abigail clenched her jaw, took the notice from Michaela and stuck it on top of one of the oldest notices. She then turned back to Mr. Bray who was watching her, his jaw set.
Michaela noticed that their expressions were identical, shockingly so.
Charlotte cleared her throat and led both of the women out of the store. "Let's head on over to Robert E.'s."
Once they were out on the street Michaela turned to Abigail. "Abigail, why –" She glanced back at the store, trying to think how to phrase her question.
"You wanna know why Mr. Bray and I're so hostile?" Abigail was scowling, but not at Michaela.
Michaela nodded. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Abigail shook her head. "Mr. Bray's my pa, but he disowned me."
Michaela looked at her shocked. "Why?!"
"Because of Sully." Charlotte's voice was weary. "Or more precisely because of Sully and Abigail's love."
Abigail clenched her teeth, in that identical look of her father's. "He wanted me to marry someone I didn't love, but I loved and wanted to marry Sully. So I went against his wishes and me and Sully eloped. He's never forgiven either of us for it and as I said he disowned me."
"What about your mother?"
Abigail's face softened and became a little pained. "Ma wanted me to be happy; she actually gave us our homestead as a weddin' gift. I know that it pains her that Pa and I're at odds."
Michaela gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry Abigail."
Abigail smiled. "It ain't your fault. But I'm afraid that your being friends with me and Sully will cause you to have more problems with my pa."
Michaela gave her a smile. "I think that it will be well worth it."
Abigail gave her a grateful smile.
"Well here we are," Charlotte announced.
They were standing in front of the blacksmith's shop; there was a black man working on a horseshoe.
"Robert E.!" Charlotte called.
The man looked up.
"We're lookin' to buy a horse."
He looked at the three women. "Who's buyin'?"
Charlotte swung her purse slightly, letting it jingle a little. "Does it matter?"
He looked the three women over once more. "The black, the appaloosa an' the brown."
"Thank you." Charlotte nodded to him.
Michaela leaned over to Charlotte. "Why do I need a horse?" She asked in a low voice.
"To get 'round to your patients and to just get 'round in general," Charlotte responded.
Charlotte and Abigail began to look over each horse, finding the faults. Finally they agreed that the Black, though older than the other two, was the best, particularly after they pried it out of Michaela that she hadn't ridden before.
Abigail held the horse's head while Charlotte helped Michaela mount from the box she had borrowed from Robert E. After a few attempts Michaela was finally sitting atop the horse. Charlotte and Abigail gave her instructions as to what to do and Michaela did her best to follow those instructions; thankfully the horse was patient with the inexperienced rider on his back.
"That's it!" Abigail encouraged.
"Loosen the reins a little," Charlotte called. "Good!"
Finally Michaela slid off the horse's back and patted his neck. "What's his name?" She looked at Robert E.
He raised his eyebrow at her. "Shadow," he finally answered; then turned back to his work.
"Thank you," Michaela said to him.
He made a sound of acknowledgement, but didn't turn.
Michaela looked back at the horse. "Well Shadow, looks like we are going to be working together."
The horse whickered.
Michaela laughed.
~8~
That afternoon Michaela and Abigail drove up in Abigail and Sully's wagon to their homestead. Michaela was driving under Abigail's instruction; at first she had trouble but slowly caught on.
When they reached their destination Michaela looked around. "It's lovely, Abigail!"
Abigail smiled as she allowed Michaela to help her down, since she was having trouble, because of her pregnancy. "Sully built it." She took a deep breath and joined Michaela in her admiration of it. "I can't wait to see our child runnin' around, playin'." She rubbed her belly.
Michaela looked over at her friend, her eyes sparkling. "Or perhaps child*ren*?"
Abigail blushed a little, nodding. "We'd love to have several children, neither of us really had big families growin' up. I had no brothers or sisters and Sully lost his brother when he was real young."
Michaela smiled at her as Abigail led her up to the house. "I can't really say that I understand fully what that is like. I am the youngest of five girls. But I do have a small idea. Most of my sisters and I didn't get along all that well, except for my eldest sister who was 15 when I was born; we were inseparable until she got married." Michaela shrugged.
Abigail looked at Michaela curiously as she opened the door and they went inside. "Why've you never gotten married?"
Michaela shrugged. "I never really received a lot of attention from men as a young woman. But I was engaged."
Abigail looked at her worriedly. "What happened?"
Michaela swallowed. "He went off to fight and died."
"Oh, Michaela." Abigail's face was pained. "I'm sorry I brought it up."
Michaela shook her head. "It's alright." She took a deep breath and straightened up, pushing aside the painful memories. "Now, let's see about that check-up."
~8~
Michaela put her things back in her medical bag. "Well you both seem healthy and strong."
Abigail gave a sigh of relief as she pulled her shirt back on. "That's good to hear." She rubbed her stomach.
Michaela watched her for a moment; the pulled her stethoscope and put it in her ear and then the other end against Abigail's stomach. She then put it in Abigail's ear.
"You hear that?" Michaela asked. "That is your baby's heart beat."
Abigail looked at her with amazement, resting her hand against her stomach.
Michaela smiled at the expecting mother's awe. "Amazing, isn't it?"
Abigail nodded.
Michaela rested her own hand against Abigail's stomach. "Even after being a doctor for five years it still awes me every time to think how we can create life, and carry it." She looked up at Abigail. "I used to wish that I was a boy. I thought that they got to do all of the interesting things. But now I would never want that. For this is something that only we women can do, carry and give birth to life. Even with all of the pain."
Abigail smiled and finally handed Michaela her stethoscope, which she packed into her bag once more and Abigail finished getting dressed. "What do you suggest Michaela?"
"Well, like I said before, take it a little easier and I would like to give you another check-up in two weeks; then after that probably every week. As you come closer to being due I want you to take it easier and easier. Alright?"
Abigail nodded.
They then headed back to the wagon to go back to town. Michaela took one last look around the homestead.
Abigail noticed the slight longing in the doctor's gaze; she felt thankful for what she had and her heart ached for Michaela. She decided to lighten the mood a little. "You know, there out here there're a lot of single men."
Michaela raised her eyebrow at her. "Really?"
Abigail nodded, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yes, 20 men to each woman."
Michaela shook her head with amusement. "And how many would sit still long enough to have a conversation about our ideas, thoughts and beliefs?"
Abigail sighed. "Well you really have high expectation, don't you?"
Michaela laughed.
~8~
Claire8: I'm glad you like it! I made the first part basically the beginning of the pilot, because it helped me get the story started. There will be things from the episodes mixed in with my own stuff through out this whole story/series to tie the two together.
Alhana-Antilles: I'm glad you like it! :D