EPILOGUE

Everyone in town was gathering for the Halloween party and dance.

In the week since the 'Miranda' incident, the couple had been so busy they hadn't had time to talk about the costumes they would wear to the dance. Michaela had been busy sewing Katie's princess costume as well as working overtime at the hospital when she didn't have needy patients at the clinic. Matter of fact, she hadn't seen Sully since early this morning and when she arrived home he still wasn't there.

Helping Katie get ready, Michaela suddenly realized she hadn't decided what costume she herself would wear. However, a grin slowly came to her face and she immediately set about getting dressed before she could change her mind.

When it was time to go and Sully still hadn't made it home, Michaela helped Katie up in the wagon and they set off for town.

When they arrived, Jake helped her and Katie down and then did a double take at Michaela when he realized who she was, his mouth open in shock.

"Wow, Dr. Mike! Don't you look...ah...well...ehem...that's a nice costume," he finished lamely, realizing anything he said could be taken wrong by his very alert and very jealous wife standing next to him.

"Thank you, Jake...I think," replied Michaela, nodding a greeting to Teresa. "Have you seen Sully anywhere?"

"No, can't say I have."

"Oh, well, I'm sure he'll be along any minute," Michaela replied, beginning to get a little worried about her husband. As she turned to go toward the festivities, she noticed with amusement Teresa yanking her husband's arm and proceeding to give her husband a wifely earful.

In response to Katie's pleas, she decided that her daughter would be alright playing with her friends and watched her little girl run off with Betsy to bob for apples with the other children. Glancing around, she noticed the usual array of witches, goblins, pirates, devils, ghosts, etc., and smiled, wondering who would win the prize for best costume this year.

Wishing Sully would appear, she casually strolled to the punch table and poured herself a glass of the libation from the dipper in the huge bowl. Sniffing it first to make sure Hank hadn't spiked it yet and satisfied that he hadn't, she took a long drink.

Suddenly, the hair on the back of her neck tingled and she heard a familiar voice murmur softly next to her ear, "Well, if it ain't Miranda Webster!"

Slowly, she turned around and looked up into the rakishly handsome face of Brandon Sully.

She gasped with pleasure that he had had the same idea she did. Just another example of our uncanny connection!

Determined to enjoy their game this time, the lovers relaxed into their respective roles.

"Hello, Brandon," Michaela murmured in Miranda's sultry tone. "It's been a long time."

"Yeah, too long," Brandon responded huskily, cupping the back of her head with one hand and swooping in to give Miranda a very intimate kiss. Her breath caught as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. God I love how he kisses!

"I was surprised ta see ya here," Brandon continued as he pulled back, "Thought those clothes belonged ta that Lottie woman."

"Well, she let me keep them, in case I ever wanted to return and...tease Byron a little."

He chuckled softly, glancing around to see if anyone was paying attention to them. No one was.

He looked back down into her eyes, seeing the familiar twinkle he loved so much. Her beauty took his breath away, as usual.

Hearing the music begin, he murmured, "Care ta dance?"

"I'd love to."

She put her cup down as he took her other hand and led her to the dance floor.

Taking her in his arms, he pulled her shamefully close as they swayed to the music, his hand firmly pressing on the small of her back. It wasn't long before she could feel how 'pleased' he was to be dancing with her. Feeling naughty, perhaps the clothing she wore giving her boldness she didn't normally possess, she stretched up and whispered in his ear, "Are you pleased to see me...or are you wearing your gun in an odd position?"

He tried to swallow his outburst of laughter and spun her around to the music, "What do you think?" he asked chuckling, pulling back and looking down into her eyes as he held their waists together, never missing a step. The thought crossed her mind how much his dancing had improved over the years.

"I think...," she began, gazing up at him coquettishly, "I won't need to use those herbs on you like I had to use on your brother."

He chuckled, "Yeah, well, you know...Byron always was a little too goody goody for my taste. He was so afraid 'a Michaela's wrath, he couldn't just relax and enjoy himself with ya."

"Michaela likes that he's a goody goody – most of the time."

"That right?"

"Mmm hmm."

"And when doesn't she like him that way?"

Whispering into his ear again, she purred, "When they're alone...in their room...naked."

By now, others were starting to notice the enigmatic pair on the dance floor and began whispering among themselves regarding with whom Sully was dancing.

"Is that Michaela?"

"I don't know, but I sure hope so the way Sully's dancing with her!"

"If it ain't, Dr. Mike'll have his hide!"

"You got that right!"

"Well my goodness! If MY husband was dancing like that with another woman, I'd have HIS hide too!"

Spinning Miranda around again and then laying her back in a nicely executed dip, Brandon brought her back up and whispered, "How 'bout you and me cut out and find a place ta do a little passionate neckin'...and maybe a few other activities?"

"Well, I'm not sure," Miranda demurred. "Don't we have to watch over their little girl?"

Brandon grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Got that all taken care of – she's gonna go home with Matthew and even spend the day with 'im t'morrow."

"I see," she responded, gazing up into the magnetic blue eyes she adored as they swayed together.

"That mean yes?"

"What do you think?" she returned, flashing a saucy grin at her dashingly handsome bandit husband.

With that, he chuckled rakishly, took her by the hand, and weaved them through the dancers to find their wagon, each of them knowing they wouldn't have need of a certain word on this night of fiercely anticipated uninterrupted passion.

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And now, don't anybody DARE yell it...Baseball!

**Tip: Go back and read the seduction, chapter two, again. Now knowing it was Michaela, it should be hilarious how hard Sully fought, for nothing!

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