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Disclaimer: And yet again I reiterate the fact that I own not DQMW…

8

Sully was at the smithy talking to Robert E. as the blacksmith fixed a buckle on his harness for the wagon. It was about two weeks after Michaela had helped with his hands, which had healed nicely.

Robert E, set aside the new buckle he had just finished forging; Sully caught him discretely rubbing his hands.

"Your lumbago botherin' ya?" He made sure to keep his tone neutral, hoping not to offend the man he had come to consider a friend.

He shrugged. "No more 'n usual."

"Ya might ask Dr. Mike to look at it." Sully continued to keep the casual tone.

Robert E frowned. "Don't know 'bout a woman doctor."

Sully glanced up at him. "She did alright with Brian's knee, and my hands healed up with almost no scars. And she's been takin' good care of Abigail, makin' sure that she and the baby're ok."

Robert E's expression remained a frown, but had become more thoughtful. "I'll think 'bout it."

Sully nodded and accepted the new buckle. "Thanks, what do I owe ya?"

Robert E thought about it; then named his price, which Sully paid and then they both bid their good-byes.

Sully was heading down the street when he saw a very familiar form riding from the direction he was going. They pulled their horse to a stop and Sully stopped beside them grinning up at them. "Afternoon, Dr. Mike."

Michaela returned the smile. "Good afternoon, Sully. I was just coming from checking on Abigail."

"How're they doin?"

"Both are fine," she assured him.

"Abigail told me that ya let her listen to the baby's heart."

Michaela nodded. "Yes. Would you like to?"

Sully nodded.

She smiled. "Well, you can listen either in three days when I go to your home or if you both are in town before then."

He gave her a grateful and rather excited smile. "Thanks, Dr. Mike."

"You're welcome."

They were about to part ways when Sully remembered something. "Oh, by the way, Dr. Mike," she looked back at him, "ya may want to ask Robert E about his Lumbago."

Michaela raised an eyebrow. "Sully, he didn't want to sell me a horse, why would he allow me to treat him?"

"Well, I suggested that he let ya look at him; he said he'd think 'bout it. I bet ya could think of some way to convince him to let ya." He gave her a teasing smile.

Michaela rolled her eyes, but smiled at him. "Thank you, Sully. Oh, and how are your hands?"

He held one up for her. "They healed up jus' fine, hardly any scars."

She nodded. "I'm glad. Well, good afternoon, Sully."

"See ya, Dr. Mike." He waved and headed off home.

Michaela sat thinking for a moment; then urged her horse over to Robert E's where she stopped. "Good afternoon, Robert E," she greeted as she slid carefully off the horse, still not entirely sure of herself with the animal.

"Afternoon," he returned, not looking up.

"I wanted to thank you for selling me Shadow." She had decided that might be a good icebreaker.

"He's old." He still didn't look up.

"But he's sound," she pointed out.

"He's sound," he agreed.

They were in silence for a few moments while Robert E worked a piece of mettle and Michaela watched.

"That work must be hard on the joints."

The blacksmith made a noncommittal response.

"It could certainly aggravate a case of lumbago."

He just nodded.

"I understand you have a touch of it yourself."

"Yup." He gave her the first word response since the beginning of the topic.

"Would you mind if I –" She reached for his hand.

He jerked back, looking at her in horror. "I don't wants no woman doctor."

She looked at him in shock before grabbing her medical bag. "Of all the men in this town, I thought that you might understand what it's like to the judged unfairly." She spun around.

That seemed to get to him. "Wait."

She turned back to him.

He grudgingly held out his arm for her inspection.

She placed her bag back down, accepted his arm and manipulated it a bit. "Does that hurt?"

"Don't feel good," he admitted.

She nodded and then took his hand. "See this swelling." She showed him his knuckles; he nodded. "It's called arthritis." She reached into her bag and pulled out a packet, handing it to him. "This will help take down some of the swelling and relieve some of the pain."

He accepted it; then looked back up at her. "Ya can't fix it?"

She shook her head. "Not entirely, because there is no cure for it yet, but this will help."

He frowned, but nodded. "Thanks. What do I owe ya?"

She thought for a moment. The payments that she had been receiving ever since she had moved here were not what she had taken back in Boston. Abigail had been teaching her how to cook and sew in exchange for the checkups, Sully had made her a sign with her name and profession on it, which Charlotte had allowed her to hang outside the kitchen door of the boarding house, and Charlotte, had taken off some of her rent in payment for Brian's knee. She had somehow found herself easily slipping into this barter system but had no idea of what her fee really was. She thought about it and then remember something. "A hinge on my trunk is broken. If you could fix it, do you think that would make us even?"

He looked a little surprised at her offer, the fact that she wasn't requesting money outright, but he nodded. "Yea, that 'otta do it."

Michaela smiled. "Perfect. When should I bring it by?"

He shrugged. "Now if ya like."

She nodded. "I will be back in a few minutes then." She returned to Shadow and lead him over to the boardinghouse.

Robert E watched her with curiosity; then looked back down at the packet in his hand, before placing it in a pocket and getting back to work.

8

Kelly: Thank you!

Anniefan: The birth might be in the next chapter and if it isn't, maybe the chapter after that, I'm not sure yet. Heh.

Brittany4445: I'm glad you're liking all the chapters! And Sully and Michaela will become very close friends.

Thank you again for the reviews they are my greatest source of encouragement!