Disclaimer: I do not the characters of Medicine rights belong to the creators of the show,The Sullivan Company,A&E. I do not want to infringe on the rights of anyone meantioned in this story.

Over the next week James tried to find out all the information he could about . Loren, being the talker he is, was full of stories about the woman doctor. James admired the doctor for her stubbornness. Especially after she first came to town. Loren never really talked about Sully and 's relationship. James assumed it was a sore subject because of his daughter's death. But Dorothy filled him in on their love story. James could only imagine a love that strong. A love that could overcome any obstacle. But he still needed more information. He knew there was a chance that Molly wasn't the good doctor, but on the chance she was he also knew he could never forgive himself if he didn't find out.
It was that thought that kept him awake in his lean-to tonight. As he looked up at the stars in the night sky his thoughts once again turned to Molly and how she was fairing. If she was the doctor she had a right to know. He knew it was hard on her not knowing her past. But he did not want to cause her unnecessary pain.
"Well you can't keep beating around the bush." he thought."Tomorrow." he said aloud to himself. His last thought before he sucomed to sleep was,"Tommorrow I try and find Sully and the kids. Try to see if it's her. Before I open a can of worms I can't close."

The next day was Saturday and James knew there was a good chance that Matthew and the kids would come into town to do their shopping. He was standing outside of the mercantile watching people walk by when he spotted Matthew and the children walking toward him.

"Good morning." Matthew said walking up the mercantile steps.

"Morning." James said nodding his head towards Matthew.

Just then Brian grabbed Matthew's hand."This is the new mountain man in town I told you about."

"James Bridges." he said as he held out his hand for Matthew to shake.

"Matthew Cooper." he said shaking his hand."My brother told me about you."

"Yes, it doesn't take much to impress children." James said laughing."Who's this beautiful young woman?" James asked looking at Colleen.

"This is my sister Colleen." Matthew said simply.

"Nice to meet you sir." Colleen said politely.

"Where you from?" asked Matthew curiously.

"Everywhere I suppose." James said."Don't have any place I really call home."

"Where ya' staying?" asked Collen joining in on the conversation.

"Out in the woods. I just came to pay a visit to Loren. We're old friends."

"Well, I would love to hear more about your travels."Colleen said , then an idea occured to her."Why don't you join us for dinner. We'd love to have the company, right Matthew?" Colleen asked.

"Sure we'd love to have ya' for dinner." Matthew said.

"Well, I'd love to come." he said smiling.

" can ride out with us then." Matthew said as he and his siblings walked into the mercantile.

"Good." James said to himself wondering if tonight he would find the answers he had been searching for.

"That was a wonderful meal, Miss Cooper."James said smiling as he drunk his coffee.

"Great job, Colleen... as usual." Sully said taking a sip of his coffee. Sully was surprised to see James here when he came for dinner. He had took his routine back up since he came home two weeks ago. He usually brought meat for the children and today was no exception. He didn't know they had become friends with James.

"Thank you,gentleman." Colleen said smiling, acting like a proper hostess.

"It's a very nice home you have here." James said taking in his suroundings.

"Thanks. Sully built it." Matthew said simply.

"Is that right?"James said surprised."You did a wonderful job."

"It's sound." Sully said looking around the homestead.

"You made it nice and homey, Colleen." James said taking in all the objects in the room.

"I can't take credit for that. Dr. Mike did the decorating." Collen said quietly looking around the room at the objects.

"Ma was the prettiest lady in town." Brian said looking at James.

"I'm sure she was." James said smiling at the little boy.

"She had long brown hair and the prettiest smile you'd ever seen." Brian said excitedly.

"Brian that's enough." Colleen scolded.

Brian jumping down from his chair walked over to a corner shelf where there sat the portrait of Michaela and the children that Daniel Watkin's took when he was traveling through town.
Taking the picture from it's rightful place he walked over to James.

"Here's a picture of ma." he said as he handed James the portrait. As James looked at the portrait his suspicions were confirmed. It was Molly staring back at him. He all of a sudden felt a chill go through his body as the color drained from his face.

"James,you okay?" Sully asked looking at the expression on his face.

"I'm fine. Just felt a little chill." he said forcing a smile to his face."Old age ya' know."

"Ya' sure?" asked Colleen worried."We could take ya' to Jake."

"I"m sure. Just a little tired." James said quickly. Then handing the picture back,he turned his attention to Brian."Your mother is very beautiful." he said.

"Yeah, she is." Brian said quietly looking at the picture.

"Well, I think I should be going." James said getting up from his seat."Thank you all again for the meal." he said heading for the door.

"You're welcome." Matthew said getting up from his seat."We should do it again sometime." opening the door for James.

"Yes, we should." he said the nodding to the children and Sully."Goodnight everyone." he said as he walked out the door.

As the children chatted and cleaned their plates Sully sat in his chair thinking about James reaction to the picture. Something strange was defiently going on. Why did he act so strange seeing Michaela's picture? It was as if James had seen a ghost or something. Sully decided to keep an eye on James and figure out what was going on.