X.O.X
Thursday, 13th May, 1869
One Day Later
X.O.X
Michaela opened her eyes to the bright morning sunlight which filled the window. She blinked several times as she oriented herself. She felt as if all feeling returned to her body like a wave washing over her, the events of the previous week invading her mind simultaneously as the physical pain hit her consciousness. Hearing herself exhale, Michaela looked down to see her hands resting on the patchwork quilt either side of her body, frowning as she saw the abrasions on her knuckles. Gazing past her hands, she recognized the light-colored hand-sewn patchwork quilt, lifting her head to confirm that she was in fact in a recovery room at the Clinic. Although she felt momentarily reassured by the sense of familiarly and safety that flowed over her, Michaela quickly became aware of other discomforts, and was suddenly reminded that the traumatic images filling her head were in fact reality.
Sipping a hand underneath the quilt, Michaela gingerly felt the material packing between her thighs, instantaneously recalling the blood covering her hands and realizing she hadn't made it this far on her own. The confusion of missing time only added to her panic; how had she got here? What day was it? Michaela glanced down noticing the white nightdress she was in, panic soon being coupled with mortification at the thought that someone had tended to her injuries; someone had changed her.
Michaela knew she had always been over-protective of her privacy, possibly because she'd grown up as the baby, resulting in countless hours of being fussed over and dressed by her four older sisters. Her intense degree of modesty was only strengthened as she progressed academically through college and medical school, having to fend off the unwanted attention of many male peers, to whom her scholarly accomplishments were of far less importance than her courting habits.
Michaela was aware of another memory niggling at her. She tried to concentrate. Sully. She remembered the feelings of his broad arms around her shoulders, rocking her soothingly in his arms. Michaela gasped audibly, as she relived the memory of him falling from the cliff. She heard herself call his name over and over. Brushing her hands over her face in an attempt to wipe the tears from her eyes, Michaela saw something move out of the corner of her eye.
"Ma!" Brian threw the blanket back, bounding out of the cot across the room, quickly arriving at her bedside.
"Ma! You're awake! I knew you'd wake up again. Miss Dorothy said to let you sleep, but I knew you'd wake up!" Brian couldn't contain his elation.
Michaela was momentarily startled by the sound and movement, jolting her back into the present moment.
"How you feelin'?" he asked. After the events of the previous day, he was very careful not to touch the bed.
Michaela looked away from him, down at the patchwork quilt. She tried to swallow, realizing how dry her mouth was.
"Brian, could you get me a glass of water, please?" Michaela asked, trying to determine what she was really after; the water, or the solitude.
"Sure," he smiled, quickly leaving the room. Michaela sighed as she heard the sound of his footsteps descending the stairs.
Feeling weak once again, Michaela let her head drop back down to the pillows supporting her, not realizing her eyes had closed until she felt the hand on her arm.
"Michaela?" She flinched automatically against the contact, however recognizing the feminine voice, opening her eyes to confirm its identity.
"Dorothy," she whispered.
"I sent Brian to Grace's for some breakfast. Thought you'd want some time on your own for a while." The red-haired woman pulled a chair closer to the side of the bed, sitting down.
"Thank-you." Michaela wasn't sure what was happening, she could hear her voice, but didn't feel as though she was able to concentrate on what she was saying.
"Michaela, we wired Denver for a doctor, he'll be here tomorrow. We didn't know what else to do until then," Dorothy trailed off, knowing she should be informing Michaela of her physical condition, however not convinced her friend was fully able to take in her words.
"Doctor?" Michaela heard a familiar word, although she couldn't process anything else. She hadn't realized her eyes had dropped back closed.
"Michaela, are you feeling all right?" Dorothy paused, now sure Michaela wasn't following her. Waiting several moments, she brushed her arm again, receiving no response. Shaking her head, Dorothy leaned back in the chair, deciding it was best to let her sleep.
X.O.X
Brian ran down the side of the Clinic, barely able to maintain his balance, increasing the speed of his pace with each stride. Turning and running across to the open space, he looked frantically for Miss Grace, spotting her cleaning a table.
"Miss Grace, Miss Grace!" he reached her, puffing as he continued talking.
"Ma's awake! Miss Dorothy wants you to bring her some breakfast!" Brian finally stopped long enough to regain his breath, pulling eagerly on the woman's skirt.
"Slow down there, mister. I've only got two hands." Grace finished setting the table, heading back to the stove, grabbing a tray and filling it with a plate, bowl and cup.
"I'm sorry, but Miss Dorothy told me to ask you. Come on, let's go!" he rushed her, unaware of the reality that she actually had to prepare the tray.
"Brian, I'm fixin' a tray as quick as I can here. Why don't you get me a napkin, and cutlery, all right?" She gestured to the nearby table where the utensils and linen was kept, worried the boy would be burnt jumping around the hot stove. Brian quickly grabbed the requested items, watching eagerly as Grace buttered some toast and delicately positioned it on the plate, adding some bacon. Reaching for another bowl, Grace spooned a small amount of the preserved apples into the small glass dish on the tray and filled the cup with steaming hot coffee.
"Ma said she wanted water too," Brian interjected, as if instantly calming enough to recall Michaela's words.
"Right," Grace smiled, filling a cup with water, and adding it to the contents of the tray, following behind Brian as he skipped back towards the Clinic.
X.O.X
Elijah Woods frowned, seeing the young boy rush up to the black woman, pulling on her clothing with energy. The short, red-haired man cleared his throat, leaving two bits on the table as payment for his breakfast, reached for his hat and stood from the table. Having just arrived in the small town, he was surprised as the emptiness. He'd been dropped off by the stagecoach which had been three days late, an hour earlier, and stepped into what reminded him of a ghost town. Gazing up and down the deserted street, the only other building appearing to show any signs of life was the Saloon. Pushing his hat squarely down onto his head, Elijah made his way across the street, checking his jacket pocket for a notepad and pencil with a wry smile.
X.O.X
Dorothy looked up as she heard Brian's feet hitting the wooden stairs as he ran up them, swinging on the doorframe as his skidded into the room, his face dropping when he saw Michaela's closed eyes.
"Miss Dorothy?" his shoulders fell, looking between her and his Ma.
"She went back to sleep Brian. It's for the best, you know that." Dorothy soothed, rubbing his back lovingly. Brian moved out of the way as Grace bustled into the room, setting the tray down on the table in the corner, turning to Dorothy a little confused.
"Brian said Dr Mike was awake. That you wanted a tray brought over?" Grace questioned, Dorothy ushering the young boy from the room, closing the door after he'd departed.
"She was, but she fell asleep again. I honestly don't know what else to do, Grace. I mean, it has been a day, and she hasn't had anything to eat or drink. What do you think?" Dorothy didn't feel right making all these decisions without at least another adult's opinion.
"Well, I, um wouldn't know, but I suppose food would increase her strength." Grace provided, trying to be of some support to Dorothy, who, after spending most of the night cramped in the small chair by Michaela's bedside, was looking extremely frazzled and exhausted.
"You're right. If we can just get her to eat a little, she can sleep as much as she wishes after." Dorothy nodded, stepping to the side of the bed as Grace reached for the bowl of stewed apples and the cup of water.
"Michaela, come on, wake up. Michaela?" Dorothy pleaded, tentatively brushing the Doctor's right arm. Fortunately, she stirred quickly, again taking a moment to familiarize herself with her location.
"Michaela, Grace and I are here. We want you to try and have some breakfast." Dorothy watched as Michaela struggled to interpret her words.
"Dorothy?" she whispered a weak response, managing to keep her eyes open.
"Michaela, try and sit up a little, if you can," Dorothy deliberately phrased her words as a statement, moving her arms to Dr Mike's shoulders, encouraging her to move.
Once Dorothy had very awkwardly assisted Michaela into a semi-seated position, Grace handed Dorothy the small glass bowl and cup.
"Here, Michaela, drink this." Dorothy brought the cup to Michaela's lips, nodding in encouragement as Michaela began drinking the clear liquid.
"That's it," Dorothy smiled, as she finished the water, handing the empty cup back to Grace in exchange for the glass bowl and spoon.
"It's just some preserved apples, nothing too heavy," Dorothy brought the small spoon again to Michaela's mouth, looking back at Grace as Michaela slowly devoured the bowl of fruit.
"Good. Michaela, do you feel up to some toast?" Dorothy asked, hopeful, however merely grateful her friend had consumed something.
"Maybe later?" Michaela replied.
"Fine," Dorothy paused, suddenly not knowing what to say. Turning to Grace, the red-haired woman sought assistance, however Grace diverted her glance, equally uncertain of how to proceed.
The room remained silent for several minutes as Michaela finished the fruit and glass of water.
"There, good," Dorothy smiled gently, handing the bowl back to Grace.
Exhausted, Michaela blinked her eyes as if confirming where she was.
"What day is it?" Michaela asked quietly, feeling the overwhelming fatigue crushing down upon her shoulders.
"Thursday morning, Dr Mike," Grace answered, looking immediately to Dorothy.
"Oh," Michaela simply whispered, feeling very detached from the people around her.
Without realizing it, her eyes dropped closed again. Michaela aware of the heavy ache radiating from deep within her abdomen, her aching feet, and upper body.
Slowly, she repositioned her hands either side of her hips, against the quilt. Just moving her arms hurt. Her eyes remained closed as she dropped back into a deep sleep.
X.O.X
Hank looked up as the Saloon door swung open, flipping the lid closed on his money tin cautiously, a hand going customarily to his holster.
"Sure is quiet around here." Elijah shook his head, sauntering over to the bar.
"Yeah, don't get many people wantin' a drink at nine in the mornin'" Hank raised an eyebrow, tentatively removing his hand from the handle of the gun.
"No, I meant this little town you've got here. Had some breakfast over at the cafe, only people I saw were a black woman and a little boy. You the only man in this town?" Elijah smirked, tipping his hat.
Hank chuckled, flattered by the notion, pouring them both a glass of sarsaparilla.
"Nah, not really. They've all gone out on a wild goose chase," Hank sipped his drink, curious as to who this man even was.
"Ah, I see. Chasing after?" Elijah prompted, intrigued.
"'Fraid I haven't seen you 'round these parts. Where you from?" Hank queried, looking the man up and down suspiciously.
"Sorry, I didn't introduce myself, did I. Elijah Woods, Rocky Mountain News. Got word the army'd got into some strife with the Indians, Thought I'd best come check it out. Let the rest of the world know we're putting the red man in his place." Elijah smiled, observing Hank's keen interest.
"Ah, so you're a reporter, eh? Well, the army left yesterday, called the hangings off." Hank smelt a profit to be made, generously refilling their glasses.
"I see. They got the woman back then?" Elijah had only heard that the renegade Cheyenne had kidnapped a woman, and Custer had threatened to hang the whole village unless she was returned.
"In a manner of speaking," Hank was being specifically vague, more interested in talking money. After a moment of silence, Elijah understood his motives.
"Of course, where are my manners. I suppose I should pay you for those drinks," The rise in his voice at the end of the sentence conveyed the insinuation.
"Well, yeah, ya could do," Hank pushed his hair back from his face, his face breaking out into a greedy grin. Elijah nodded, slipping the coins from his pocket, pleased when the payment met with Hank's approval.
"Hangings were all set to go ahead couple days ago, but Custer let the children talk him outa it." Hank paused, as Elijah retrieved his pencil and notepad from his front pocket.
"Kids?" Elijah scribbled the details down enthusiastically.
"The woman's," Hank cleared his throat, not wanting to give too much away too cheaply.
"So who is she, how'd they get her back?" Elijah was starting to get mildly inpatient, a hand going to his pocket in temptation. Hank grinned again, continuing to recount the events.
"Michaela's the Doc, always defended the injuns, least 'til now I guess." Hank took a sip of his drink, accepting the fifty cent piece and carrying on with his story.
"So Brian, her youngest, convinced Custer to go look for her and the men joined 'em. Army gave up Tuesday night, men brought her into town early Wednesday mornin'" Hank concluded, Elijah's expression indicating he was more than satisfied with the information.
"I see. So where is everyone now?" the reporter pressed on, turning a page in his notebook.
"Went off chasing a wolf. Long story, see, Sully went after Michaela when they first took her, disappeared." Hank saw the bewilderment in the man's eyes, immediately providing more information.
"Sully's our, erm, resident injun tamer. Well 'least he thinks he is. Spent the last few years livin' with them, dressing like 'em. Practically one of them. Anyway, he and the Doc, well, some people 'round here reckon there was somethin' goin' on, so he went out lookin' for her. The wolf he's always with came back into town yesterday carrying Sully's beads, so the men went out tryin' to find him. Ask me it's a waste of time," Hank shook his head, turning as Myra stumbled in from her bedroom.
"Hank, what's all noise down here? Some of us are tryin' to sleep." She looked between her employer and the newcomer.
"Myra, like to introduce you to a friend of mine. Mr. Elijah Woods. He's from Denver. Come to report the little trouble we've been havin'." Hank nodded to Elijah.
"Morning, miss. Sorry to disturb you. And please, call me Eli." He turned back to Hank.
"So where might I find this doctor, then? I'm sure my readers back home would love to hear about her ordeal." He slipped his hand into his pocket, handing Hank a dollar coin.
"Hank! You're makin' money off this! I can't believe you!" Myra's jaw dropped in horror when she noticed the transaction.
"Mind your own business, get back to bed. Over at the Clinic, mister, just across the street." Hank waved his arm in the general direction.
"Hank! You really are lower than a snake!" Myra turned, dashing back to her room in disgust.
"Much obliged, Sir. Also, I'll need somewhere to stay for a few days? You be able to help me with that?" Elijah slipped his notebook and pen back into his pocket, approaching the French doors.
"Of course. Consider the finest room I've got yours. Also can fix you up with some company. First one's on the house," Hank gestured to the doorway in which Myra just left from.
"Appreciate your hospitality. Mornin'." Elijah strode out into the open air once again, looking around to get his bearings. Time to get himself a story.
X.O.X
Grace moved down the stairs and through the corridor into the examination room, all three children looking up in expectation.
"How is she, Miss Grace?" Matthew stood, resting his arms behind his back awkwardly.
"Sleepin' on and off, but doin' better, I think. She had some breakfast and Miss Dorothy's helping her freshen up a bit." Grace smiled.
"So we can go see her?" Brian chirped up, looking eagerly towards the stairs.
"Just give them a few minutes, Brian. Colleen can go up and check a bit later." Matthew opened the door as Grace finished talking with Brian, quickly leaving with the empty tray.
"Let's go, Brian. We'll go over the livery, see how the horse is coming along." Matthew thought it best to give Colleen some time with Dr Mike, without Brian around.
"I don't wanna. Hank won't let me have her anyway," he sulked, kicking the leg of the exam table angrily.
"Come on, we'll see what we can do. I'll talk to Hank again," Matthew pushed Brian towards the open door.
"Aww, Matthew," Brian resisted, eventually giving in, heading outside.
X.O.X
Just as he was about to step off the Saloon porch, Eli noticed a door open, shielding his eyes from the bright morning sun, he recognized the small boy from the cafe, and decided to approach him.
"Morning there, son. Hey, didn't I see you over at the cafe earlier?" Elijah reached into his pocket, finding some mints and handing one to the child.
Brian frowned, knowing he shouldn't be taking the candy, however too angry to really care at this moment, quickly popping the sweet into his mouth.
"Yeah," he responded, looking up at the stranger.
"Who are you?" Matthew arrived quickly by Brian's side, glaring suspiciously at the man.
"Eli Woods, and you are?" He smiled, extending his hand.
"Matthew Cooper, can I help you?" Matthew reluctantly shook hands, never having seen the man in town before.
"Well, I heard, that is, I was wondering, is there a doctor around?" He ventured, looking between the two boys.
"Ma's in," Brian turned and pointed, Matthew quickly cutting him off.
"No, I'm afraid not. There's a doctor from Denver arrivin' tomorrow if you need one." Matthew cleared his throat, indicating for Brian to hush.
"Oh, I see. Thanks." Eli nodded, heading off in the other direction, glancing back over his shoulder as the two boys went on their way towards the livery. Smiling to himself, Eli turned back, ensuring the boys were well away, before approaching the door Brian had come out from, knocking loudly.
X.O.X
"Oh, Colleen," Dorothy looked up as the young girl poked her head around the door, entering the room hesitantly.
"Matthew suggested I come up. Hi Ma," Colleen smiled warmly, pleased that Dr Mike was awake and looking brighter.
"Colleen, here, you sit for a while. I'm just gonna go downstairs." Dorothy had helped Michaela into a fresh nightgown, and changed the sheets, collecting the old linen and leaving the room.
Colleen sat down next to the bed, uneasily, but relieved.
"Are you feelin' all right, is there anything I can," Colleen trailed off, as Michaela shook her head.
"Oh Ma, we were so worried," Colleen felt her eyes fill with tears, she swallowed, trying to stop herself from crying.
"I know, it'll be all right. I'm going to be fine," Michaela paused, noticing the wave of concern sweep over Colleen's face.
"Ma, you're still hurt. We did what we could, but you need a doctor," Colleen spoke very awkwardly, trying to remain unemotional.
"Dorothy told me. How bad?" Michaela sighed, looking away.
Colleen took a quick breath, knowing that she had to be strong. However difficult this was for her, she knew it was only tougher for her ma. Remembering the conversations she'd had with Michaela regarding professionalism, Colleen forced herself to remember what they'd done the day before.
"Bad. When they brought you in, Miss Dorothy and Miss Grace didn't know what to do. I remembered what you'd done when Miss Dorothy was ill. I examined you best I could, Ma. You were bleeding a lot, and there is internal damage, but there wasn't anything I could do, apart from putting in some packing and using ice compresses. We managed to get the bleeding stopped, anyway, but you'll need surgery." Colleen glanced up to see Michaela looking strangely at her.
"Ma?" she whispered, suddenly afraid she's done the wrong thing.
"You saved my life, Colleen," Michaela extended her arm, drawing the young girl into a hug. Colleen couldn't contain her tears any longer, sobbing on Michaela's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Ma. I'm so sorry," Colleen wept, wishing she could take back what had happened, the fact that she couldn't only making her feel worse.
"Sshh, I know." Michaela rubbed her back, feeling tears run down her own cheeks.
X.O.X
Dorothy entered the examination room, setting the linen down on the table, looking around for anything else which required washing. Scanning around the room, she was distracted by a knock at the door.
"In here!" she called, expecting it to be Grace or one of the children, as no-one else was in town at the moment. Looking up as the door opened, she was surprised by the stranger who entered the room, slipping his hat from his head with a smile.
"Morning, ma'am, the young lad outside said I could find the Doctor in here?" He was still trying to comprehend the idea of a lady doctor. It was not something he'd ever come across before. She must certainly be a strong and intelligent woman to have attained such a high status.
"I, I'm sorry, you're mistaken," Dorothy spoke, she wasn't sure what to say, and didn't trust his smile nor the confident gleam in his eyes.
"Well, this is the Clinic and the man in the Saloon said I'd find the lady doctor here," he smiled, noticing her awkwardness.
"Well, I, I'm afraid she's not seeing anyone for awhile. But we're having a doctor arrive tomorrow, so if you need to see someone, I suggest you come back then?" Dorothy stumbled, attempting to usher him towards the wooden door.
"Oh, I don't, no. Allow me to introduce myself. Elijah Woods, call me Eli. I just arrived from Denver, I'm with the Rocky Mountain News." He smiled that twisted, unconvincing smile once again, extending his hand. Dorothy refused, opening the door, suddenly realizing exactly why he was here.
"I think you'd better leave, Mr. Woods. I've nothing to say to you," she indicated towards the door.
"Well, give me a chance to persuade you, Doctor. From what I hear, you've had a pretty difficult few days." He pulled his wallet from his jacket pocket, removing twenty dollars in notes, offering it to her.
"No, I mean, I'm not. I mean, you'd better get out of here!" Dorothy suddenly realized what was going on. As much as she wanted to set him straight that she wasn't who he assumed she was, she didn't want to spend another moment in this man's company.
"All right, I apologize; I certainly didn't mean to cause you further distress. I just know my readers back in Denver would really enjoy hearing about the horrors of being captured and held prisoner by a Cheyenne war party." He stepped out onto the porch.
"Mr. Woods, you're wasting your time!" Dorothy spoke forcefully, slamming the door behind him. Heading back across the street to the Saloon, Eli decided to relax for a few hours, he could always return later.
X.O.X
Colleen and Michaela remained locked in each other's arms until their cheeks were stained with dried tears and their eyes red from crying. Colleen, who was perched on the edge of the bed, pulled away, feeling better.
"You sure there's nothing I can do?" she asked, squeezing Michaela's hand.
Michaela shook her head dismissively, relieved that Colleen had calmed down.
"Well, here, what about if I fix your hair up for ya, it's still all messy," Colleen rose from the bed, quickly locating a brush.
Michaela looked down, realizing just how knotted it was. She gave a small nod.
Sitting once again on the edge of the bed, Colleen gently pulled Michaela's hair over her right shoulder, picking out leaves and debris, and brushing it softly until she'd removed all the tangles.
"There. I'll just plait it, keep it out ya way," Colleen smiled, beginning the significant task of gathering the long tresses into three even bunches.
X.O.X
"She's looking good, Brian. You did the right thing." Matthew stroked the horse's nose, inspecting her healed leg.
"I know, but Hank went back on the deal. He weren't fair." Brian muttered, searching his pockets for some taffy.
"Life isn't fair sometimes, Brian," Matthew responded, remembering the conversation he'd had yesterday with his sister.
Brian remained silent, which was very out-of-character for him. He was not able to find any candy in his pockets and kicked the fence post in frustration.
"Hey, what's up with you? You've been kickin' things all day!" Matthew frowned, bending down to Brian's side.
"Nothin'," Brian refused to look at him, returning his attention superficially to the horse. He patted the mare's neck and scratched her chin, but his heart wasn't in it.
"Brian, are you worried about what happened to Dr Mike?" Matthew knew he'd have to talk to Brian eventually, but wasn't ready for it to be now.
"Nah, she's ok. It's just, everyone's making such a fuss, they won't let me see her." Brian dropped his head, feeling rejected.
"It's coz of what happened to her, Brian. Miss Dorothy's just making sure she's comfortable," Matthew spoke awkwardly, not sure how much Brian was aware of.
"But Colleen fixed her up, and the doctor's gonna operate, so why can't I sit with her? Why won't she talk to me or nothin'?" Brian had no connotation of the underlying emotional trauma his mother had endured.
Matthew looked between the horse and his little brother, wishing them to be interrupted so he didn't have to explain further. After several moments, he glanced back to Brian, who was desperate for a response.
"Brian, when they brought Dr Mike in, did you see the blood on her hands?" Matthew sighed, not sure if he should even be talking about this with his younger brother.
"Yeah, coz of the, the rape." He searched for the word Dorothy had used, proudly answering Matthew's question.
"You know about that?" Matthew raised his eyebrows, certainly not expecting that word to have come from his younger brother's mouth.
"Yeah, Miss Dorothy told me what happened yesterday. So?" Brian was getting frustrated, as if they were going around in circles.
"Well Brian, there are some things that happen in life that don't hurt us like when we cut our finger or stub our toe but they still hurt us. Like, you know when Ma died, we felt really, really sad and we cried. Now Ma dying didn't hurt us physically, but it hurt our heart, right? Because we loved her." Matthew watched as Brian seemed to follow him.
"Yeah but Ma ain't dead," he continued.
"No, she's not dead, Brian. But, well, right, you know when Ingrid and I kiss, we both like it and it's a way of showing each other that we love each other," Matthew sighed, afraid Brian was going to get angry again.
"So?" his eyebrows bunched together in confusion.
"Well, I wouldn't kiss Ingrid if she didn't want me to, or if she said 'No', would I?" Matthew continued, trying to think of an analogy that Brian could appreciate.
"No, coz it'd make her angry." Brian quickly quipped.
"Exactly. And I love her, so I don't want her to be angry. But what if someone else kissed her and she didn't want him to? How would that make her feel?" Matthew went back to stroking the horse's nose.
"Angry. Upset. Like when Miss Chambers hit me, I was really scared coz I told her not to, but she did it anyway." Brian vividly remembered receiving the canings.
"Yeah, you felt bad because she did something to you that you didn't want her to, right? And you couldn't stop it because she was stronger than you. It's the same for Dr Mike." Matthew was satisfied that Brian had sort of been able to appreciate why Michaela's injuries ran far deeper than physical harm.
"So what he did, was like kissin' her without permission?" Brian concluded, looking back up at Matthew for confirmation.
"Yeah, but worse," Matthew sighed, continuing.
"That's why, even when Doc Cassidy does the operation, even after she comes home, it won't be like it was before," Matthew rested his arms on the fence, gazing around at the view surrounding him, worried about how they were all going get through this.
"Coz she'll still be upset?" Brian climbed the fence, following Matthew's gaze.
"Yeah, but it'll be all right, Brian. We'll all help each other, as a family. It'll be all right," Matthew leaned back from the fence, deciding they'd given the women enough time alone.
"What do you say we go back, see how she's doing?" He smiled, knowing that would meet with Brian's approval.
"Sure," Brian smiled as he turned to leave.
X.O.X
"I'm just heading over to the store for a few minutes, drop off some laundry and pick up some supplies, you two be all right here?" Dorothy slipped her head around the recovery room door, smiling when she noticed Colleen finishing Michaela's hair.
"We'll be fine." Colleen smiled, securing the plait with a thin piece of rawhide.
"Anything I can get you?" Dorothy queried, tempted to advise them of the incident she had downstairs earlier, however thinking better of it; they didn't need anything more to worry about right now.
"No. Ma?" Colleen glanced across at Michaela, who merely shook her head.
"All right. I won't be long." Dorothy stepped back into the hallways, leaving the door ajar.