The following Sunday Kat found herself sitting in a church pew in between Dr. Mike and Mathew. She hated going to church. She had hated it long before she had come to Colorado Springs. It seemed to her that if God was out there, he shouldn't need his own building just for listening. Byron seemed to share this sentiment as he was very seldom found at church himself. When Kathryn had first came to Colorado Springs she'd been relived to learn that girls who worked for Hank weren't allowed inside the church. It made it easier for her and the young Jake Slicker to have some alone time together. After returning to town years later and becoming friends with Dr. Mike, she found herself in church more frequently than she had liked. She still didn't go to church every week like the others, preferring to stay in town and enjoy the quiet, but occasionally Brian or Colleen would persuade their friend to tag along.
This week in particular she'd been asked along by Mathew; who had suggested Dr. Mike might appreciate having her friend's support after receiving the broken dishes from her mother. Agreeing with the boy's logic Kathryn, regretfully, agreed to tag along. She honestly tried to listen to Reverend Johnson's sermon as he droned on about forgiveness and celebrating failures as a chance to grow. It was a bunch of nonsense. No one in Colorado Springs knew the first thing about forgiveness. Jake Slicker was a perfect example of that. As Kat thought of Jake she started searching the crowded church for him. After a few scans it became clear that the Barber had not come to church that morning.
"C'mon Miss Kathryn, we have to talk with Grace." Colleen had explained earlier that morning that she and her brothers were working with the rest of the town to put together a surprise party for Dr. Mike. Kat thought it was a great idea given Michaela had been feeling so down.
"I have an idea for a gift." Kathryn whispered as she and Colleen joined Emily and Grace over by Grace's wagon.
"Oh that's wonderful!" Grace agreed once she heard the idea. "I'll have Robert E start on it right away. And I've already got the menu planned." She announced proudly. Boston baked beans, Boston Chowder, and for dessert? Boston Cream Pie!"
"Are you sure that won't make her homesick?" Colleen frowned. She looked back at her adopted Ma over her shoulder.
"Nobody gets sick off my cooking." Grace insisted.
"Let's go Colleen." Kat said when she noticed Dr. Mike starting at their little group with concern. "We've kept the others waiting long enough. Let us know if you need help with anything Grace." Together the pair said their good-byes to Grace and Emily before Joining Dr. Mike, Mathew, and Brian.
"Do you two really think this is the proper place to be discussing such matters?" Michaela scolded as Kat and Colleen approached.
"What matters would that be now, Doc?" Kat asked, she and Colleen exchanged a confused look. What could Dr. Mike possibly think they were talking about?
"I know everyone's saying about me." The Dr. huffed. "That I'm an old maid."
"That's not what people are saying!" Colleen disagreed.
"Yeah!" Brian interjected trying to be helpful. "Nobody said nothing about the maid part!"
"Well, uh," Mathew said as he saw the Reverend nearing their little crowd. "You did say you'd go courtin' if someone were to ask you."
"Yes, I did." Michaela nodded stiffly. "But I don't want anyone asking me out of pity."
"Excuse me Dr. Mike," Reverend Johnson greeted her from behind. She turned and greeted him with a smile.
"Yes, Reverend?"
"I was just wondering if perhaps you would like to accompany me on a buggy ride this afternoon?"
"Oh, well, I-I promised the children a picnic this afternoon." She fumbled.
"We don't mind." Mathew shrugged.
"Miss Kathryn could take us!" Brian suggested. Kat began to think that this had been part of Mathew and Colleen's plan all along. She had seen the older Cooper boy talking with the Reverend outside of the church earlier that morning. It seemed incredibly suspicious now.
"I don't see why not." She agreed. "An' if you ain't back from your buggy ride by the time we're done I can always take them back to the clinic with me."
"Go have fun!" Colleen smiled.
"Alright then..." Michaela nodded feeling very much like her own children had set her up.
"Let's have a picnic!" Brian exclaimed excitedly. He started spreading a picnicking blanket out over the grass.
"Listen here now." Kat crossed her arms as the children continued preparing their lunch. "I don't mind helping surprise the Doc for her birthday, and I don't even mind keeping secrets for your three. But I will not help you play matchmaker."
"You think we planned to have the Reverend take Dr. Mike courtin'?" Mathew tried to sound offended.
"I think you planned this whole thing." Kathryn insisted. "Askn' me to church, whisperin' to the Reverend before the sermon..."
"We just want Dr. Mike to be happy." Colleen sighed.
"There are lots of ways to make someone happy." Kat explained. "For example that surprise party that you're thrown', she'll like that. You three need to focus on that, and stop trying to fix up your Ma with every man in town."
After their picnic, Mathew took Colleen and Brian home. During her own ride back into town, Kat realized that Dr. Mike and the Reverend were still on their buggy ride. Could it be possible Michaela was enjoying herself? Kathryn shook the thought from her mind. What a ridiculous idea. While Reverent Johnson may have been a good man, he wasn't exactly the right fit for the doctor. She needed someone with convictions and a strong sense of self. Someone like Byron Sully; who just happened to be wandering into Loren Bray's shop. So Kathryn hitched up her horse and decided to take a page out of the Cooper kid's book.
Entering the store, she pretended to peruse the candy display. This was something she did often enough so it wasn't a suspicious activity. Truth be told, you could see the whole shop from the candy display and it was a great place to do some sleuthing. Without moving her head, Kat began to search around the store for her brother. She had expected to find him off in the supply section of the store studying lengths of rope or other such things; since he usually only went to Loren's if he absolutely needed something. But Kat was surprise to see him standing in the fabric and sewing corner studying a gown Loren had displayed on a form mannequin.
"What are ya' looking at that for?" She asked as her curiosity got the best of her.
Sully looked around to see who was talking at him. Kathryn. He should have known, that girl had the subtle skills of an ox. To make matters worse, she'd just caused a scene. Now Loren and a few of the store's patrons were looking around to see what he had been looking at. He crossed his arms over his chest as she stomped over to him.
"Why you always gotta cause a scene?" He grumbled.
"Wouldn't have ta cause a scene if you weren't so secretive all the time." She shrugged. "You thinkin' 'bout buying that dress for Dr. Mike?" She guessed.
"I ain't buying no body no dress." He hissed before pushing past her and marching out the door. Although the confrontation hadn't gone quite as planned, Kat couldn't help but feel the Reverent may have some competition if trying to woo Dr. Mike.
A/N: sorry that it's been like a decade since I've updated! I've been busy with life and some other fics and such. But I'm back now, at lease for awhile. Thank you to everyone who's been kind enough to leave reviews in my absence! Please enjoy Chapter 15, I'll post again as soon as I can!