III
The next few weeks flew by, as the late winter brought on cold winds and heavy rains, along with its usual catarrhs. A good half of the population of Colorado Springs went to the Clinic with runny noses and sore throats. As benign as the virus was, it was nonetheless contagious, and it seemed to Michaela that she was spending every waking hour in town. Phillip was just as busy as she was, between managing the Health Resort with its growing number of guests and tending to his regular patients, leaving her on her own most of the time. Had she not been pregnant, she would not have minded the long hours rushing from one recovery room to another, bending over her patients to provide them with relief and comfort.
One late afternoon, at last, she was left with only one patient to care for, a girl whose cold had developed into bronchitis. Twelve-year-old Anna Gressinger was sitting in bed, propped up by several pillows, her face red with fever and the strain of constant coughing. As much as Michaela longed for a bath and a long night of undisturbed sleep at home, she could never leave a patient alone, especially one who was feeling so poorly.
She was gently bathing Anna's brow and cheeks with a wet cloth when Anna's mother, Mona, slipped into the room.
"How is she doin', Dr. Mike?"
"Right now, she's still coughing some phlegm, but her temperature was one hundred and one when I last checked, which is encouraging, since it's one degree less than yesterday at the same time."
"So she's gonna get better?"
"It will take some time yet, but yes, I believe she'll pull through."
"Good. Why don't you go home, Dr. Mike? You've been in that Clinic for weeks, taking care of everybody. Time you took care of yourself, especially now," Mona advised, pointing discreetly at the doctor's stomach. "I can look after my girl."
"Well… There's enough willow bark tea in here to last the night. She'll have to take a tablespoon of syrup after dinner tonight," Michaela instructed, indicating the small bottle of mixed tinctures of elecampane and thyme. "Try to keep her as comfortable as possible and… I… I'll see you both in the morning," she finally relented, her eagerness to go home at war with her worry for her young patient. She bent over Anna, stroking her hot forehead.
"Thanks, Dr. Mike," the girl managed to croak.
"Ssh, now you try to rest. Your mother is right here with you." She straightened up stiffly and went out of the room. Before closing the door, she waved goodbye and could not help but state the obvious to Mona: "Please send for me if you need anything." Mona only smiled and shooed her away.
When she stepped into her office, she almost jumped with surprise at seeing Sully leaning against the examination table.
"Ready?"
"What are you doing here?" she wondered out loud as he helped her out of her apron and into her coat.
"Saw Mona at the depot just before she came here. She told me 'bout Anna. I offered to look after the farm and help Reggie with the chores in the mornin', so she can stay here."
"That's sweet of you," she commented.
"Well.… Since you don' have no other patient in here, you can go home with me, can't ya?"
As an answer, Michaela rested her head tiredly on his shoulder.
"C'mon, there's some nice stew and a hot bath waitin' fer ya."
* * *
Michaela sighed heavily as she listened to Sully trying to reason with Katie, who had been crying for the last hour: now the little girl wanted to sleep with her parents, after spending dinner time playing with her food instead of eating it. Michaela already had got up twice to try to lull her daughter to sleep, only to hear loud sobbing anew as soon as she was settled in bed again. Finally Sully had gone to Katie's room. Both parents feared that if they indulged their daughter for that kind of whim, she would throw a tantrum every time she would not get what she wanted.
Katie's cries subsided at last, and Sully came back a minute later.
"I reckon she's gonna sleep now," he announced.
"I certainly hope so. But we can hardly blame her for being upset; lately I haven't been home much…"
"That doesn' mean ya gotta blame yerself instead."
"But I don't want Katie to resent me! What if she grows up hating me for not being here when she needs me?"
"Tell me somethin': did ya resent yer Pa 'cause he was spendin' so much time at that hospital?"
Michaela blinked away the tears that were springing from her eyes, shaking her head slowly in answer.
"No, 'cause ya knew he loved ya more than anythin'," he went on, "and 'cause ya understood he had an important job helpin' all those folks. One day, soon, Katie'll accept that too, the way the Cooper kids did… the way the new baby will have to once he's grown up." He cupped her belly tenderly, a soft, winning smile on his lips. Michaela smiled back through her drying tears.
"Sometimes I wonder what I would do if you weren't there to help me think straight."
"Maybe you woulda married William Burke, or David when he came here…"
"Or the Reverend! Can you imagine that?"
"Don't have to, I was right there when they all proposed to ya. Gives me the chills just to think 'bout it…"
"How can I thank you for keeping me from making those terrible mistakes?" She leaned toward him, pressing light, teasing kisses on his cheeks, chin, then lingering ones on his mouth.
"You're doin' a wonderful job right now," he whispered against her lips. After a few more kisses, they reclined on the bed, Michaela snuggling up to her husband as close as her belly would allow. As exhausted as she was, she was still too disturbed to sleep.
"Somethin' else on yer mind?"
Typical Sully. She struggled a moment with how to phrase her concerns, bracing herself for his predictable reaction to her comments.
"Ahem… with what happened these last few weeks, I've come to realize that soon, I will lack the time and space necessary to care properly for all my patients."
"That's gonna get worse once the baby's born, Michaela…"
"I know… But with all those new settlers, it's getting harder for Phillip and me to take care of everybody… What if we were to face another influenza outbreak? Or… or diphtheria, again? How would we manage?"
"Knowin' ya, you'd find a way. But you're right. Phillip got his own work at the resort, and for a few months…"
"… I won't be able to work," Michaela finished her husband's statement. "I've learned my lesson with Katie. I won't do the same mistakes with that one." She sighed again, looking up at the ceiling. When she did not elaborate, Sully suggested:
"Maybe it's time the town hired a new doc…"
"That's what Phillip and I thought. But it is easier said than done. First he will need a place to set up his practice…"
"I can take care of that, ya know…"
"I do, Sully, I knew you'd offer to build a new clinic." She smiled tenderly and stroked his rough cheek in appreciation. "But there's another problem: most of my patients still pay me in chicken and pies, and we make do with it, Phillip's income is secure because the Chateau guests are wealthy. How, where are we going to find a town physician who would be willing to work for very little money and a few pounds of apples and corn?"
"I'm sure you're gonna find one. Dr. Burke was doin' that… pro somethin' kinda work, wasn' he?"
"Pro bono, you mean… Yes, and he probably still does. Yet he also has a quite impressive list of well-off patients…"
"Have you thought about hirin' 'nother woman?"
"That thought did cross my mind, but then there still will be some people who won't come to town to be treated…"
"Look… how 'bout we let this matter rest for tonight, and we sleep on it? Right now you're too tired to think clearly."
"Once again, you're right," Michaela sighed. "Good night, Sully."
"'Night, Michaela… Sweet dreams, now"
Surrendering to her exhaustion and Sully's soothing caresses along her spine, she finally fell asleep.
* * *
"Another doc'?" Jake stared at her, flabbergasted, as if she had suggested they would build a machine to go to the moon. Michaela had come to see him to ask his opinion as mayor, but she immediately understood it would not be easy, and she dared not imagine his reaction had she proposed another female physician...
"Maybe we could discuss this during the next town council, this way everyone'll be able to voice their opinion. What do you think?"
Jake, looking deep in thought, did not answer right away. She waited as patiently as she could, knowing that Jake needed to realize that another physician would be the best for Colorado Springs.
"I'd never thought you'd ask that the town council looks for a new doc, what with the way ya…"
"The way I've always insisted I could do it all better than any man?" she finished for Jake, a sheepish smile teasing the corner of her mouth. "I've been discussing this issue with Phillip and my husband at length, and it hadn't been a decision easy to take for me," she admitted candidly. "And finding a competent physician who'd be willing to work in a frontier town, where half the population can't pay in cash, is going to be all the more difficult…"
She paused, unsure that she had convinced him, since she had so many reservations herself. Yet, the arrival of others physicians in Colorado Springs was something that was bound to happen one day, she had known this for quite some time, ever since Sully had brought up the subject when they were at odds because of the coming of the railroad. In fact, when Andrew first arrived from Boston, she had had a taste of what it felt like to have some "competition". As grateful as she had been for his help, it had taken some time to get used to the fact that she would no longer be the only person the sick and injured would turn to. She could only hope she would be able to work alongside the new doctor the way she did with Phillip.
"Ya think so? Andrew worked with ya 'fore he went to the Chateau. Ya both managed, and back then there weren't all these newcomers."
Seeing him warming up to the idea, she sighed inwardly with relief. Maybe it would go more smoothly than she thought.
"Let's set the next council on Friday, is that all right with ya?"
"It's perfect, Jake. Thank…" At that moment a loud bang erupted in the street, and Michaela spotted two men under the porch of the Gold Nugget, fighting wildly, fists flying everywhere.
"Gosh, that's Vernon!"
Indeed Mr. Tanner had his opponent locked in a tight grip, his features distorted with rage. Michaela followed Jake outside, and soon the barber had pulled his neighbor from the other man while Hank was trying to prevent his customer to retaliate.
"Stop Vern, stop!"
"What's goin' on here?" Daniel arrived upon the scene. "What happened?" he spat to the owner of the Gold Nugget, as if he was responsible.
Jake looked at Hank too, waiting for his friend to explain.
"I'm not sure, those two started fightin' while I was in the back, till Ginger came an' fetch me. Told me Hampton here was makin' fun of Vern… Don't know nuthin' else."
Michaela and Jake looked at each other: both knew why Hank's customer was taunting Vernon, he must have learnt that Thomas was disabled. As if on cue, the man let out another jibe:
"What did ya expect? Look at yerself, an' at yer woman, no wonder the kid looks like it belongs to a circus!"
Vernon struggled to free himself from Jake's hold, but before he could lunge at anyone, Hank, who had let the other man into the sheriff's care, had seized him by the waist. Overpowered, Vernon could only roar furiously as everyone watched the trouble-maker being led to the jail.
"Ya'd better go home now, Vern. Marg and the baby need you more than that drunk…"
"Don't tell me what t'do, ye have no idea what it's like…"
"Jake sure don't," interrupted Hank, "but I do. My son Zack's been pushed around an' made fun of, too. But my boy turned out all right…"
Michaela was amazed, yet she knew she should not be surprised by Hank's reaction. As ornery and sardonic as he could be, Hank was also soft-hearted when it came to children. He, of all people, could understand what Mr. Tanner was going through, and, she hoped, would find the words which would pacify the distress ed father, even though he knew Thomas' condition was much more serious than Zack's.
Vernon stopped fighting off the two men who, seeing him slightly calmer, let him go. A strained silence followed; Michaela sensed that Jake and Hank were just as wary as she was about doing or saying something that would further upset Vernon. He was standing in the middle of the street, fists clenched, barely holding his rage in check. Some passers-by had gathered around, and were starting to point and whisper. The overwhelmed father could not bear with being the brunt of mockery any longer. He stormed off, and ran for dear life, jostling a few people in the process. Michaela, Jake and Hank could only watch him disappear around the corner, leaving a cloud of dust behind him.
The small crowd disbanded slowly. Michaela returned inside, wishing she would find something to do, cleaning, updating files, anything to keep her mind off what had just happened. For a few weeks she had been able to forget all about the Tanners. But it seemed that they were destined to cross her path again, and she could not help but wonder if it was a mere coincidence or a warning that she shouldn't take the relative comfort and stability of her life for granted.
* * *
Michaela shifted position again, to find herself facing Sully. He was still sleeping peacefully, not disturbed in the least by her restlessness: she had got up three times in the last two hours, fluffed and punched her pillow, rolled to her right side, on her back, on her side again, only to completely roll over and end up on her left side. In the dim light provided by the dying fire she could discern a faint smile on his lips. She was torn between utmost tenderness (how sweet he looked!) and mild annoyance (how dared he sleep while she was tossing and turning?). He was indeed sleeping like a baby, with one of his hands curled next to his head. Her love for him won easily over her exasperation; she reached out and touched lightly his hand, caressed his palm and threaded fingers with him. She thought whimsically that his hand was the very image of Sully's personality: rough in appearance, yet tender, loving, caring… and sensual. Her cheeks warmed with a faint blush, prompting her to smile to herself: it still felt wonderful to be stirred by such a simple thing as holding his hand.
A light squeeze on her fingers drew her attention back to her husband. His eyes were open. She squeezed his hand back. There was no need for words, not even a kiss from him, she only moved her hand slowly into his, rubbing softly her palm and the tips of her fingers against his. She felt his pulse gradually accelerating in his wrist to match her own galloping heartbeat. Neither one was anxious to make the next move, they liked it that way too, to let desire suffuse them gently, unhurriedly…
Was it one, ten or twenty minutes later that Sully finally slithered closer and slipped his arms around her enlarged waist… she didn't care. She offered her lips to his kiss and let herself melt into his embrace, delighting in every sensation.
"It's been a while," he whispered near her ear. It had been a long time indeed… his breath on her neck was making her dizzier by the minute, and the amorous tension within her was overwhelming. Nightclothes flew across the room and….
A loud bang startled them quite violently out of their trance.
"Wha… what's that?" Sully nearly fell off the bed in shock. Michaela's body burned with frustration when he disengaged himself from her arms, rose, quite awkwardly because of his own aroused state, and started to dress. Another bang made the front door rattle, and the sound of Brian rushing downstairs followed. Within a minute, the young man had climbed up again and was knocking at his parents' door:
"Pa! Pa? Wake up, Daniel's here with Matthew an' Jake, they need your help! Pa, wake up!"
Michaela heard her husband gulp before he answered in a slightly strained voice "Be down in a minute!" He took a few deep breaths before buttoning his buckskins, then circled the bed to bend over her. "Looks like nobody wanna give us some privacy…" In answer she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him one last time, a kiss meant to be light and short, but which grew deeper and longer, charged with their unfulfilled longings. When he straightened up, she followed him, still holding onto his shoulders with all her might. The sound of muffled voices downstairs beckoned them back to reality.
"Please be careful, and…"
"Matthew an' me will look out for each other, yes, I promise… Don't wait for me tonight, we might be gone a while."
"What do you think they need you for?"
"Gonna find out… Now, be sure to rest, all right? Ask Brian and Dorothy for help."
"Don't worry about us."
"See ya."
"See you," she choked out as she released him. As he was about to close the door behind him, he winked at her cheekily and commented: "Ain't ya a sight!"
As the door clicked shut, she gasped in shock when she realized how positively lascivious she looked, sitting on her heels with the bed covers now only covering the tip of one knee. She clutched futilely the sheet to her bosom, as if there was someone in the room who could see her. Now she was left alone with her yearnings, and the hope that Sully would be back very soon.