Eli strolled back into the Saloon, having familiarized himself with the layout of the main street.
"So, what's this about a room?" He again reached into his jacket pocket for his wallet.
"Nah, don't bother with that, it's on the house. So, have any luck with your story?" Hank gestured to the Clinic across the street, as he crossed the room taking a seat at one of the tables next to the journalist.
"Nah, she brushed me off. Said she weren't interested in talkin' to me." Eli sighed, disappointed but far from ready to give up.
"Well, can't say I'm surprised. Once Michaela Quinn gets on her high horse with all her moral principles, ain't nothin' gonna convince her." Hank chuckled, wishing he could have witnessed the interaction.
"You got that right. Twenty dollars I offered her, and what'd she do, yell at me and slam the door in my face. Women, I tell ya!" Eli searched his pockets, not able to find what his was after.
"You got any decent cigars around here?" the reporter asked, Hank quickly retrieving two from behind the counter, something nagging on his mind. Taking a seat again, the men lit up, Hank leaning back in his chair deep in thought.
"So she was up and around, eh? I thought they were keeping her in bed until the doctor arrived tomorrow. Heck, I didn't even know she's was awake," Hank always felt he was the last to know things.
"What you talkin' about? She was fine, looked a bit tired, but apart from that absolutely normal. Didn't have a scratch on her, can't see why she'd have needed a doctor." Eli tilted his head, feeling like he was missing something.
"Ah, ermm, I think someone was playin' a little game with you," Hank had seen Michaela when they'd brought her in, she was covered in scratches and bruises. But he also saw an opportunity to profit from someone's deception.
"Ok, mister, I'll play your game," Eli took a five dollar coin from his pocket and waved it under Hank's noise temptingly.
"Tell me everything, and I mean, everything, and it's yours." He placed the coin delicately down on the green felt of the tabletop, quickly covering it with his hand as Hank reached out to claim it.
"Uh-uh. Show me your cards, first." Eli chuckled, taking another long puff on his cigar.
"Well, I saw Michaela when they brought her in, scratches and bruises all down her face, blood all over her hands. Bruises on her wrists and her long hair all tangled up," Hank paused, about to continue, however deciding to take the coin which was now made available to him. Hank, true to his nature, thought he could improve on that.
"I've been had, haven't I?" Eli grunted, drawing a longer puff from his cigar.
"You ain't the only one," Hank couldn't disguise the smirk spreading across his face, trying to shield it with his hand.
"Well, then who was the redhead I saw in the Clinic?" Eli questioned, angry by this stage.
"Ah, that woulda been Dorothy. She's been fussin' 'round the doc since yesterday. If you really want a story, I'd head back over there, Dorothy's just leaving," Hank had noticed Dorothy walk past a moment ago, almost wishing he could join Eli.
"I think I might have to take you up on that," Eli stood quickly, handing Hank the remainder of his cigar.
"Just be sure to ask the right questions though," Hank winked, returned to the bar.
"Such as?" Eli looked puzzled. Aware of the now familiar shrug Hank used to indicate that payment was required, Eli placed another five dollar coin into Hank's outreached palm.
"Like why she gave herself to an injun so easy. Any decent woman woulda sooner ended up dead." Hank raised a single eyebrow, the smirk reappearing when he saw the look of utter disbelief flash across Eli's face. Hank chuckled once again, running a hand through his hair as he saw the little man practically run from the Saloon in enthusiasm.
X.O.X
"There, doesn't that feel better?" Colleen smiled, delicately patting the sponge against Michaela's forehead, handing her a towel to dry the rest of her face.
"You're right," Michaela dried the water from her face, aware of the stinging the water caused as it ran over the scratches on her forehead and cheek, however the cleansing feeling overpowered any discomfort.
"Here," Colleen took the towel back and moved the bowl of water closer, reaching for Michaela's right hand gently.
Michaela's attention was focused on the lace curtain against the French doors leading out to the balcony when she felt her right hand make contact with the cool water. Her eyes squeezed closed in pain along with the quick intake of breath.
Colleen looked up immediately. "Sorry, Ma," she apologized with a frown.
Michaela felt her tense shoulders drop back down as the pain in her right hand slowly dissipated.
Colleen watched the dirt and blood leave Michaela's hand and dilute into the surrounding water.
She paused, about to bring her mother's hand out of the bowl, when she noticed the markings around Michaela's wrist from the rawhide.
Colleen then dried them and applied some salve to the abrasions on her knuckles.
No words needing to pass between them, Colleen stop and repeated the same action, just as gently soaking and drying Michaela's left hand.
Finishing, Colleen put the bowl of water back on the table and took a seat on the wooden chair next to the bed.
She remembered sitting here all too familiarly a year ago, after Brian had fallen from the tree and was in a coma.
With a cringe, Colleen glanced to her right, as if to reassure herself that it really was her mother in the bed this time.
Both remained silent, Colleen having nothing to say, and Michaela seemingly lost in her gaze out of the window.
X.O.X
This time choosing to forego announcing himself, Eli was surprised when the Clinic door had been left unlocked. Stepping into the room her quietly pushed the door closed behind him and looked around, following an open door to a corridor with a staircase at one end. Noticing the number on each of the closed doors, Eli was about to open the door marked with a '1', however was distracted by the faints sounds of voices coming from the stairs.
Pausing, he held his breath, smiling when he again heard a voice. Quickly, yet with caution, he paced to the stairs and climbing then slowly.
X.O.X
"Brian's so happy you're back, Dr Mike. He was going out of his mind with worry. He even prayed for ya. The last time I seen him pray for something was when you were sick with the Grippe, and that was over a year ago." Colleen had her left hand rested under her chin to support her head, sighing when she got no response.
"Ma?" Colleen frowned, noticing that Michaela's eyes had seemed to glaze over.
"Ma, are you all right?" Colleen reinstated, until she received a response.
Michaela jolted her head to her right, realizing it was Colleen sitting next to her.
"Are you all right? You went all quiet," Colleen asked, worried by the extreme change in Michaela's usually extraverted personality.
"Oh, it's nothing," Michaela sufficed, glancing down at her hands as if to inspect Colleen's treatment.
"It's all right, isn't it?" Colleen asked, worried she may have down the wrong thing.
"Yes," Michaela murmured, her mind again beginning to drift from the present moment.
Colleen was about to speak again, turning as she heard the door creak behind them.
"Who, who are you? How'd you get up here?" Colleen demanded, defensively rising to her feet. She turned to face the stranger.
"Eli Woods, miss." He smiled, retrieving his notebook and pencil from his pocket as he strode into the room, trying to see past the young girl.
Colleen had never seen this man before, but her gut instincts told her not to trust him. Standing protectively between her mother and the man, Colleen raised her voice, scowling.
"I think you'd better leave. You've no right to be here!" Colleen glancing over her shoulder, worried when Michaela seemed oblivious to the entire development.
"Well, I'd appreciate it if you'd just hear me out, miss. Ya see, I heard about what happened to the lady doctor, and I was wondering if I could talk to her about it? I'm a reporter with the Rocky Mountain News." Eli smiled, opening his notepad eagerly.
"I don't think it's appropriate, I'd like you to leave!" Colleen stepped towards him, her voice wavering, knowing she was powerless against the man.
"I'd really prefer to ask Dr Quinn myself. Ma'am?" Eli was able to dart around the short blond girl, approaching the side of the bed, managing his first proper scrutiny of the infamous doctor.
"Dr Quinn? Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Eli successfully ignored the protests of the young girl, taking a relaxed seat in the wooden chair, Colleen helpless to stop what was going on.
Eli waited several moments, busying himself with scribbling down a few notes detailing her visible injuries whilst he waited for a response.
"So, Dr Quinn, word arrived to Denver, regarding your abduction just under a week ago. Can you tell me of the events leading up to it?" Eli watched as the woman appeared to comprehend his words, however merely glancing across at him and returning her gaze to the quilt covering her.
"Well, Dr Quinn, you were held captive for six days, what was it like having to live with the savages?" He pressed on, noticing her blink in reaction as he concluded that sentence. Eli tried again.
"Did they hurt you?" He simplified, noticing her eyes widen slightly, however still not obtaining an audible answer.
"Will you get outa here!" Colleen noticed the nonverbal effect this was having on Michaela, she was clearly hearing the words he was saying, just not able to respond.
"Young lady, I have a responsibility to warn my readers about the danger these Indians pose to the community." He turned back to the doctor, noticing the tears forming in her eyes. Perhaps if he persisted, he would get somewhere. He'd come a long way for this, he wasn't about to be dissuaded by some young girl.
"Dr Quinn, I was led to believe that you sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of this ordeal, my readers back in Denver would like to know how you managed to survive." Eli raised his voice slightly, frustrated by Michaela's lack of cooperation. Obviously from the extent of her injuries, the bartender had been accurate in his information.
"Leave her alone!" Colleen had tolerated this long enough, she reached for the man's right arm, attempting to pull him from the chair.
"Get away from me, child!" Eli jumped to his feet, furious, pushing Colleen away violently, sending her falling to the floor. The thump she made when she hit was enough to shake Michaela from her thoughts, suddenly looking between her child and the stranger.
"Please, don't hurt her!" Michaela begged, suddenly overwhelmed with fear, gasping through tears as Colleen pulled herself back to her feet, pushing past the man to the bedside, in an attempt to comfort Michaela. With all the commotion, nobody heard the feet running up the stairs.
"It's all right, Ma, it's all right," Colleen saw the petrified look in her mother's eyes.
"Don't you think you've done enough!" Colleen screamed, Eli not moving a muscle. It had been worth it, but he'd finally gotten through to the woman.
"Well, Dr Quinn, maybe you'd feel up to talking to me, now?" He lowered his voice, all three reacting as the door flew open once again.
"What the hell is going on up here!" Matthew bellowed, having heard the raised voices from the examination room below.
"Matthew, get him outa here!" Colleen yelled, squeezing Michaela's hand as she continued sobbing.
"You heard the girl," Matthew growled, staring the man up and down.
"Now just a minute, I've every right to be here," Eli protested in confrontation.
"I asked you to leave. Now I'm gonna make you leave." Matthew reached out to grab the man by the arm and shoulder, twisting his arm painfully as he pushed him through the door. Colleen, taking several moments to realize the altercation was over, turned back to see Michaela shaking with fear, her arms held tightly around her, head buried in her chest, crying as she struggled for breath.
X.O.X
"Get the hell outa here!" Matthew roared, letting go of the man with a rough push out onto the porch. Eli was about to reply, however noticed Dorothy walking towards them along the porch.
"What's going on, Matthew?" She looked slightly concerned, glancing from the scruffy looking man back to the eldest Cooper child.
"Caught this creep upstairs, with Colleen and Ma!" He stared the man down as Eli brushed himself off and scurried away, back across the street to the Saloon. Dorothy waited until he was well and truly out of sight, before entering the Clinic, closing and locking the door behind them.
"Well from now on, we keep this locked. No telling how long that little runt is going to be lurking around. Ya know he even tried to offer me money before?" Dorothy shook her head appalled.
"Well lucky Brian and I returned when we did is all I can say. Brian? Where's?" Matthew suddenly realized the little boy wasn't in the examination room where he'd directed him to remain.
"Upstairs, I'll bet." Dorothy smiled, as the pair made their way towards the corridor.
"Dorothy, you're gonna have to, I mean, could you possibly stay with Ma for awhile, she's real upset." Matthew and Dorothy ascended the stairs.
"Of course. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left earlier. It just seemed like she and Colleen were doing fine. She seemed settled and all," Dorothy met eyes with Matthew as they heard the sound of Michaela's distraught crying from the top of the stairs.
"Well, she ain't now. I'm gonna take Colleen and Brian over to Grace's for a while, try and keep them occupied," Matthew replied as they arrived in the doorway.
"Colleen?" Matthew whispered to the young girl sitting on the edge of the bed, her chin quivering as she watched her mother weep uncontrollably. He tipped his head, indicating for her to leave the room.
Dorothy waited until the two children had started down the stairs before stepping into the room. Shaking her head, Dorothy didn't know where to start.
"Michaela?" she whispered, so as not to startle her as she crossed the room, perching gingerly on the side of the bed. She waited several moments, seeing the force with which Michaela was gripping her crossed arms with her hands, along with the redness of her tear-stained face.
"Michaela, what happened?" Dorothy spoke softly.
Although it took several minutes of coaxing, Michaela eventually stopped crying, enough to speak.
"I, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't stop it. He'd threatened to kill me if I struggled. The children, I couldn't." Michaela looked up, her eyes betraying the guilt and shame she felt.
"It's all right, Michaela. You know those children love you, they need you." Dorothy reached to take her hand, Michaela merely glancing down at the physical contact.
"After what had happened to Sully, I can still see it, Dorothy. I can see him falling from the cliff, not moving. They wouldn't let me go to him. I might have saved him."
Dorothy reached to her left sleeve, retrieving a handkerchief, and tenderly wiping the tears from Michaela's cheeks. At that moment, Dorothy considered informing Michaela of the wolf's arrival into town yesterday, the men deciding to go back out after Sully, however she thought better of it; the chances are he wouldn't have survived anyway.
"So, Sully had found you then?" Dorothy continued, trying to piece the events together.
Michaela nodded, slowly permitting the memories to return. "The third night. We traveled on foot all night, hoping to get far enough away. I couldn't walk, they'd taken my shoes away days earlier. We rested the next day and started back the following morning. We only had a few more hours left to go when we heard the war cries and gunshots, we were forced up another mountain. There was no way out. He had a knife, they were fighting. They were on the edge of the cliff, then, it happened so slowly. I heard Sully yell. I saw him falling. One Eye'd killed him," Michaela brushed her hands over her face, as if symbolically trying to erase the vision from her mind.
"One Eye? Was he?" Dorothy trailed off, realizing it was none of her business, however unable to fight the natural curiosity welling within her. Michaela simply nodded a response, before shaking her head and looking away, being reminded of the night that followed.
"He'd been watching me for days, I knew it was only a matter of time. Cloud Dancing's son tried to help me, he let me escape, but One Eye shot him and found me again. But then, after Sully had been killed, I, the children seemed more important," Michaela couldn't finish, lowering her head as she sobbed, not being able to shake the tinge of regret. Maybe if she'd struggled, fought back, maybe she could have stopped him.
"Michaela, there are more important things, and the children are one of them. Your life was also more important. As women we're taught that our virtue is more important than life itself, but that's just parents protecting us, scaring us." Dorothy watched as Michaela's face slowly crumpled again, as she noticed the bruises around her wrists.
"I didn't want it to be like that. I didn't know what to expect." Michaela shook her head, not able to look up at Dorothy.
Dorothy resisted the urge to speak, remembering the extensive bruising she'd seen over Michaela's body when they had examined her the day before.
"I'd considered that it would happen for days, I just, when it was really happening, I felt like I was being betrayed by my own body. If I resisted, he pressed the knife harder against my throat, if I didn't, I felt as if I were allowing it," Michaela felt the shame wash over her once again.
"You didn't betray yourself, Michaela. You survived. Had you not, I don't know what would have happened to the children. Brian hardly ate anything, and when you woke up, I've never seen a child so relieved. Getting you back was more important to him than the horse, his birthday, even fried chicken." Dorothy smiled, recalling the evening she'd spent with the children.
Michaela didn't reply, although hearing Dorothy's words, she felt unable to be convinced by them. Her mind was too full of the images of the previous week, feeling totally smothered by the traumatic memories, the feeling of searing pain from within her, the blood covering her hands and thighs.
Dorothy watched as Michaela dropped her head into her hands helplessly. She knew enough not to physically touch her but felt inadequate to provide any comfort.
Perhaps there wasn't any that could be given.
"It's going to be okay, Michaela. I'm your friend. Anytime you want to talk, I'll be here to listen. I'm only sorry I wasn't here before," Dorothy apologized.
"Before?" Michaela looked up, not following.
"When the reporter was here." Dorothy frowned, Michaela showed no sign of recollection.
"The man that Matthew found up here, just before?" Dorothy searched her face for any reaction.
Dorothy stood from the edge of the bed carefully. "You all right?" Dorothy gestured, indicating she meant physically.
"Sore and uncomfortable, but that's to be expected." Michaela sighed, feeling like there wasn't a joint or muscle in her body that didn't ache, looking from her grazed hands, back up to Dorothy.
"Just rest for today, the doctor'll be here tomorrow. Let's wait until Colleen returns and I'll get us some lunch." Dorothy sat down in the chair, making herself comfortable when she heard a scuffling noise outside.
"I'll just check outside, Michaela. Don't worry." Dorothy stood and walked towards the door, suspicious that that despicable man may have returned.
Arriving in the upstairs corridor, Dorothy noticed the ajar door immediately adjacent to the room Michaela was in.
Feeling the anger build up within her, she pushed the door open quickly, looking around the room.
"Who's in?" Dorothy looked around, not seeing anything out of place. Turning to leave, she again heard the sound of movement, unable to locate the source. Realizing the noise was coming from the center of the room, Dorothy cautiously lifted the quilt from the edge of the bed, bending down to be able to look under the bed.
X.O.X
Matthew and Colleen finished their pie, each in turn glancing at the other, then around the cafe.
"I don't remember the last time I've eaten a pie without Brian around. He must sure love that horse," Matthew muttered, never having been able to locate the young boy.
"I know, maybe he's gone to the schoolhouse?" Colleen suggested, puzzled by Brian's absence.
"Well, what do you say we split up, try to find him? He's been pretty confused by everything, don't think it's good that he spends too much time on his own." Matthew dropped some coins onto the table, standing up.
"Right. I'll check the schoolhouse; you check the livery?" Colleen assigned, heading off towards the meadow after receiving a nod of agreement from Matthew.
X.O.X
"Brian? What on earth are you doing up here? Your brother and sister are looking for you," Dorothy reached to help the little boy out from under the bed, noticing the tears running down his face.
"Brian? What's wrong, sweetheart?" Dorothy rubbed his back, sitting him on the edge of the bed.
"Is Sully really dead?" he whispered, wiping the tears from his face with the backs of his hands. Dorothy suddenly realized he'd be there throughout her conversation with Michaela.
"Brian, how long've you been in here?" Dorothy was tempted to scold him, however given the look on his face, he'd been punished enough.
"Since the man was here." He dropped his head, knowing it was wrong to eavesdrop. "Is it, is it really true?"
Dorothy shook her head, resting an arm around his shoulders. "Oh Brian. Well, yes, I'm afraid he may be, but we won't know until the men come back, will we?"
"It's all my fault, ain't it?" Brian whispered; his shoulders hunched.
"Don't be silly, Brian. What makes you think that?" Dorothy's jaw dropped, unable to fathom how Brian could possibly blame himself.
"Ma said she wanted to die, but she couldn't because of us," Brian replied, understanding the words he'd heard, but at a loss as to their emotional context.
"She didn't mean that Brian. It's just when scary things happen, sometimes it's easier to wish yourself dead than stand the pain." Dorothy reflected on the many nights she'd spent curled up on the floor, unable to move, as a result of one of Marcus' beatings.
"So she doesn't hate us?" He spoke timidly, afraid of the reply.
"Of course not, Brian. Don't you ever think that ya hear? Your ma loves you more than anything, and there ain't nothin' gonna change that. You just gotta give her some time to get well, all right?" Dorothy smiled weakly, inside reeling from what the little boy must have overheard.
Brian simply nodded, unconvinced.
"How about you run over to Grace's, ask her if she'd be able to bring some lunch over for the three of us?" Dorothy smiled, encouraging the boy to his feet as she followed him out of the room.
"All right," Brian scuffed his feet across the floor as he sauntered from the room.
X.O.X
"Another one?" Hank tilted the bottle of whiskey in front of Eli's face, filling up the shot glass when he nodded affirmatively.
"Think I might need to be seeing that doctor tomorrow, after all," Eli held his right arm protectively against his side.
"Didn't go too well, then? Didn't get your story?" Hank poured himself a drink, turning a chair around to sit next to Eli at the table.
"No, stupid kid damn near broke my arm. Weren't like I was causing nobody any trouble, just wanted a friendly chat." Eli polished off his fourth glass, frustrated.
"Yeah, how about I fix you up with a little company. Myra? Myra, git in here!" Hank hollered, frustrated when she didn't arrive promptly.
"What, Hank?" Myra appeared in the doorway leading through to their rooms.
"Show Mr. Woods here a little companionship, he's had a tough day," Hank motioned for Myra to cross the room to the table.
"I dunno Hank, I'm feelin' kinda tired. Didn't sleep right last night," Myra hesitated, not in the mood for entertaining.
"Enough of your squawkin', get over here!" He yelled, striding across the room, and pulling her roughly by the arm.
"There. Just take him back to your room and cheer him up a bit," Hank helped Eli to his feet, Myra reluctantly wrapping an arm around his shoulders. The three of them managed to get Eli into Myra's room, sitting him down on the edge of the bed. Hank turned to leave.
"Hank, I don't feel right about doing this, neither do the other girls, We just ain't in the mood these last few days," Myra resisted.
"I don't give a damn what mood you're in. He's a good customer, and I expect him to be well taken care of," Hank trailed off, noticing that Eli had fallen onto his side and was now snoring lightly.
"Sounds like he's comfortable enough to me." Myra delicately placed a pillow under his head, her and Hank stepping out into the corridor.
"So, what's all this trouble with you? You ain't sick again, are you?" Hank was fed up with Myra's whining recently. She was either sick, tired, or found some other excuse to shy away from business these last few days.
"Well, no. I just don't much feel like working, what with Dr Mike so sick and all, doesn't seem right us all over here acting like nothin's happened." Myra pulled her shawl around her shoulders, Hank leaning against the wooden wall.
"What you talkin' about, she's fine. Few cuts and scratches was all I saw. Don't really know what all the fuss is about." Hank folded his arms, sick of women being so delicate.
"Hank, you heard what Jake said. It just ain't right something like that happening, not to her. She's always done everything she could to try an' help the Indians." Myra looked up at Hank for a reaction.
"Somethin' like what? Any woman'd give herself away like that, deserves what she gets," Hank shrugged, missing the point entirely.
"Hank, how can you say that? It's not like she had a choice!" Myra was appalled at his casual musings.
"'Course she did. It's like you said, she was always helping the Injuns, probably been wantin' it for years. No wonder she never settled down proper, obviously the white man's not her style," Hank shifted his weight, everything seeming to make sense to him now.
"You make it sound like she slept with him willingly! He raped her, Hank! Surely you can understand that?" Myra paused, studying Hank's eyes.
"Or maybe you can't?" Myra looked at him for several moments, trying to read his face.
Hank remained quiet.
"You don't know the difference, do you?" Myra spoke very slowly, her voice quiet and evenly-paced.
"Course I do," Hank shrugged, embarrassed at the serious way she was looking at him.
"No, you don't. You never have," Myra moved down the corridor to another girls' room.
"Suzie, can you come watch out front? Hank and I need to have a chat," Myra called, the young blondw woman joining them in the corridor after a moment.
"Sure," she gestured that they were welcome to use her room, heading through the doorway into the Saloon.
"Hank, come with me, I need to talk to you," Myra gazed up at him warmly, resting a hand on his arm as he relented and entered the empty room.