Well, apparently inspiration is flowing right now. I had the first few paragraphs of this already written on a document where I keep my ramblings for this story; I wasn't sure at the time where they would fit in but they worked out alright as the beginning of this part. And once I had that starting point it all just sort of poured out of me.

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It had been almost a week since Michaela had met the Cheyenne for the first time and nearly three weeks since Dorothy had turned up on the doctor's doorstep. Loren had been reluctant to take in his sister-in-law, but Maude, her relief at her sister's decision apparent, and Olive urged him until he agreed to let her stay in Abigail's old room. He had been even more wary of the three women's idea of a newspaper, thinking it a foolish waste of money, but again he was prodded into it and it actually turned out to be quite popular and appeared that it would soon be turning a profit.

Though things hadn't been completely smooth sailing.

The night after she had gone to Michaela for help Marcus showed up looking for her; she had almost agreed to go with him, but she had glanced at Michaela, remembering her words and turned him away. A few nights later, after Dorothy had gone to stay with Loren and Maude, he showed up, drunk out of his mind, and tried to break into the cabin. Michaela had pulled out a shot gun that she had found hidden away in the barn and did her best to hold him off – she did not have any ammunition but she let him see it and let him believe that she did. The next morning she had gone into town and told Charlotte, Olive and Maude what had happened, making sure that Dorothy was not there so that she wouldn't feel guilty. The three women were worried about hers and Hanna's safety, with them being alone, but the options available were limited. Charlotte offered to have Matthew stay with them, but Michaela refused to place him in such danger. The debate had ended abruptly when Marcus showed up in the store. Olive had immediately and furiously ordered him out of the store; the three women refused to answer his queries after Dorothy. Michaela told him that his wife had no intention of going back to him and that he should leave her alone. He had been close to hitting her when Loren and Jake came in, and, seeing what his brother-in-law had been about to do, the shopkeeper and barber forced the man to leave. Loren informed him that he was no longer welcome in town and that should he return he should expect to be forcibly removed. He hadn't been seen since, but those who had been present for the scene were still somewhat on edge.

Maude came in and offered to retrieve the items on Michaela's list, but the doctor refused and instead got her friend to sit down and placed Hanna into her arms, saying that she should spend some time with her granddaughter. She then moved about the shop picking out the things she needed.

"So, how're the repairs comin' on yer wagon?" Dorothy asked.

Michaela glanced over at her. "Well, Robert E replaced the axel and now he's working on the wheel. It should be ready tomorrow, he said."

"Well that's a relief. I still can't believe ya spent the night with Indians." The red haired woman sounded part scandalized, part intrigued and part excited.

The doctor gave a half smile, shaking her head. "They were very kind to Hanna and I; I'm planning on heading back out there after I get the wagon back."

Loren's head turned so quickly to look at her he nearly gave himself whiplash. "What?! Yer goin' back out there?!"

She turned to him, placing her hands on her hips. "Yes, I am. I have patients there to see." She turned moving through the store again.

He followed her. "Yer our doctor, not them Injuns'!"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "As I recall, you don't want me to be your doctor, Loren. And I am not going to deny medical care to those who need it."

The shopkeeper scowled. "Well, ya ain't takin' my granddaughter out there!"

"Not every time, no. But I will tomorrow, since I'm planning on going straight home from the reservation." She continued shopping.

"Not ever!" He chased after her. "I'm her grandfather – "

She spun on him. "When it suits you!" Her eyes flashed with temper and he leaned back slightly at the anger she radiated. "You never hold her, talk to her or come to visit her! You only call her your granddaughter to throw it in my face in order to try and get what you want!" Her free hand was clenched in a fist. "Both of her parents appointed me her guardian in their absence. I will care for her in the best way I see. And I will decide what is best for her." She grabbed her last item from the shelf; then spun on her heel and headed over to Maude.

The doctor gave the older woman a strained smile as she handed over the list of items she took to be placed on her account. Maude placed Hanna in the arms of her guardian, who situated the baby in the sling-like carrier. "I'm not sure how I feel about this," the grandmother said quietly.

Michaela reached out a hand and gripped the other woman's. "She will be safe, I promise. I will not let anything happen to her."

Maude looked into the eyes of the woman who would be the only mother her granddaughter ever knew. She had come to accept this fact and the fact that Hanna would most likely come to call Dr. Mike "Ma" and she could not begrudge her granddaughter a mother. This woman in front of her – the woman Abigail had come to love as the sister she never had – would die for the child in her arms.

The older woman smiled, reaching out and gently adjusting Michaela's shawl, which had fallen off her shoulder. "I know." Maude looked seriously into the younger woman's eyes. "You be careful as well, ya hear?"

Michaela was taken aback at the obvious care her deceased best friend's mother was showing her. She nodded. "Of course."

Maude smiled and gently squeezed the other woman's upper arm before walking her to the door of the store and watching the pair ride off. Once they were out of sight she turned to walk back inside, only to find her husband standing behind her scowling.

"Whadja go and side with her for?"

"Loren!" Dorothy said sharply from where she was standing working the hand press. She had been keeping out of the family dispute believing it was not her place to intrude, but when her brother-in-law spoke to her sister like that she was not going to remain silent.

He cast a glare at her over his shoulder before turning back to Maude. "You're my wife."

His wife just looked at him steadily in the eye and said quietly, "And she's Hanna's ma."

Loren looked as though he had been hit over the head with a bat.

Maude silently walked around him into the store and got back to work.

Dorothy watched the interaction with the slightest smile on her lips.

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I hope you enjoyed the part! I actually enjoyed writing it; it wasn't even one I had planned at all, it just wrote itself for the most part. I'll be starting on the next one soon; I actually think I know where it's going, but we'll see what the characters have to say about that. ;)