"It's so good to be home", Dr. Mike said as the children and Sully just stared at her, happy to have her home again.
"I'll take care of your medical equipment and supplies", Colleen said as she headed for the door.
"Yes, well I'm afraid there isn't a great deal of supplies left", Dr. Mike responded, "thank you Colleen".
"Me and Brian will take care of your horse", Matthew said as he pulled gently at the collar of Brian's shirt.
"Thank you boys", she said. She then turned to Sully, "You have quite a grin on your face, did the children behave?"
Sully smiled and looked down, "Yeah, they were great.....", he looked briefly into her eyes and then back at the floor, "Just missed ya, that's all", he said softly.
Michaela felt her heart flip in her chest and she caught her breath as she listened to Sully's words. She stepped towards him, "I missed you too". She raised her hands to touch him, but she hesitated and then lowered them to her side.
Sully saw this and, looking in her eyes, he reached and touched her face with one hand and placed the other hand around her back and pulled her close to him. She looked up into his eyes, "Sully, what is it?", she noticed the emotion in his eyes.
"Nothing..", he whispered and then he leaned closer and gently kissed her. Michaela responded as she felt the tingle that she had now come to expect and accept whenever he touched her. She reached up again and this time didn't draw back, she slid her hands up his back.
"Ahh..", Sully said as he broke their kiss and pulled back wincing.
"Sully, what is it? Are you hurt?", she slid her hands down and held his arms.
"My shoulder is hurtin'", he said, "it's nothin'".
"Let me look", she started to walk behind him.
He pulled away, "It's nothin, really".
She couldn't help smile at him, "Are you sore from doing laundry?", she said as she kissed his cheek.
"Must be that......it ain't easy", he chuckled.
The children came clamoring back into the house.
"Are you both hungry? I'll make dinner", Colleen said, eyes wide on her smiling face.
"Yes", replied Dr. Mike enthusiastically, "oh is it your turn to cook?"
They all laughed, knowing Dr. Mike did very little cooking.
"Why don't you and Sully go outside.......for a bit.....we'll take care of everything", Matthew said as he touched Dr. Mike's arm. Sully eagerly walked to the door and motioned for Michaela to follow him. She smiled, and blushed as the children watched her walk to Sully.
Outside, Sully took her hands and kissed them. She became mesmerized watching his lips move from finger to finger, she felt her breathing change and automatically she leaned and kissed his fingers. Sully then put his hands on her face and pulled them together for a kiss full of longing and passion. He had missed her so and was glad to be alive, to be with her. As he kissed her, he breathed in, devouring her, loving having her so close. At last they parted, breathless.
"Sully?", Michaela asked softly, "Did you......well...I was wondering. We've just started courting and when I had to leave........did you think of when I left for Boston?"
Sully squinted his eyes and shook his head, "Boston? No, I didn't think of that.....there was no reason to, I finally told ya how I feel", he ran his fingertips down her cheek, "Did you think of that?"
"Not really, but for a moment I thought of being separated again", she looked to the ground, "it made it feel harder to leave and be away".
Sully smiled, "Glad to hear ya say that", he put his arm around her waist and gave her a tug closer to him, "hope ya don't have to leave again".
She laid her head on his chest, "Me too", she put her arms around his waist and then lifted her hands to his shoulders.
"Ahhh...", Sully moaned.
Michaela felt his body tense up, "Sully? Something's wrong, tell me....."
"Okay....I had a little surgery while you were away", he tapped on his shoulder.
"Surgery! What on earth happened?", she gently pushed his shirt collar, but he grabbed her hand.
"It's okay, ya don't have to worry", he said calmly.
"Well I am worried! Who did this surgery?"
"Ah, Colleen and Jake", he said in a whispered tone.
"What? Where....they....are you all right?", she pulled his shirt again, this time he did not stop her. "Sully, please tell me what happened".
Sully took her hands and walked to the barn with her. He opened the door, "Come on, let's sit down and I'll tell ya". They went into the barn and Sully hopped up on a clean bail of hay and patted next to him, "Come on, sit", he said.
Michaela shook her head and climbed up next to him, "Sully I should get my bag, check you......"
He put his finger to her lips, "You can check me, but I'm all right", he smiled. "I was down near where the army's buildin' the railroad and the dog soldiers attacked...."
"Attacked?", her eyes widened.
"Yeah, I tried to stop 'em, but they were going wild shooting and throwing dynamite. They were awful close to the dynamite shack, so I ran and that's when somebody shot me....."
"Shot you?", she grabbed his hand.
"I managed to hide and stop the bleedin', but I must of blacked out cuz next thing I remember I was in a cave. The kids and the Reverend were looking after me. I'm sorry to put the children in danger, I wanted the Reverend to bring them back into town, but then we found out they put a bounty on me, called me an outlaw. I had to stay hidden, but I still needed to have the bullet out".
Michaela's eyes were flooded, "Oh Sully, you should have sent someone for me...."
He squeezed her hand, "No, the children took good care of me. I guess Jake and Hank came lookin' for me, they wanted the reward, but Colleen asked Jake to help remove the bullet. He did, and here I am".
Tears rolled down Michaela's cheeks, "Please let me look......I need to, so I know you're okay". She wiped the tears from her cheeks and reached for his shirt. As she touched the first button she looked up into his eyes and his eyes went from her hands, up her arms and finally met her gaze. He quickly looked away, but she took a deep breath and unbuttoned his shirt. She ran her fingers back up to the collar and pushed it back, exposing his shoulders. She rose up onto her knees and Sully stiffened his body at the nearness of her, his eyes not knowing where to look, his hands wanting to pull her closer.
"Dr. Mike.........", he whispered.
She sat back on her feet, "Yes?", she looked into his eyes.
He looked away, "Maybe you oughta stand up and I can turn around......", he shrugged slightly.
She bit her bottom lip realizing he was uncomfortable, "Sully are you feeling shy? Am I embarrassing you?"
"No, it's not that......"
"Then what? I'm not implying that Jake didn't do a good job......"
He stopped her by pulling her to his chest and covering her mouth with his. He inhaled deeply as he passionately kissed her.
She pushed away, "Oh, ............Sully, really".
"I missed ya", he said as he tried to kiss her again, but she put her hands up on his chest. Then the barn door opened and Dr. Mike nearly fell from the bail of hay, "Matthew? What is it?", she was embarrassed as she looked at Sully, his shirt pushed back now down to his elbows.
"Ah.....sorry.....I thought you had gone for a walk", Matthew tried not to look their way, "I'll come back later....ah supper's ready..", he turned and shut the barn door behind him.
"Sully! Cover up, how does that look! I'm out in the barn with you half...half dressed!"
Sully laughed, "That's funny! For one thing, you're a doctor! For another, Matthew knows we're in love", he jumped from the hay, pulled his shirt up, "Now you gotta button me up Doctor!"
"Sully, come back to the house, after supper, I want to see that wound!", she was blushing and brushing her skirt with her hands.
He laughed softly at the sight of her as she turned towards the door. He caught her arm, "Wait....", he pulled her to face him, "I love you", he said as he darted his eyes over her face.
She looked up at him and let out a soft sigh, "Glad to hear you say that....", she whispered seductively and turned away.
After supper, Michaela poured water over a towel and dabbed around Sully's bandaged shoulder, "I don't want to hurt you by pulling the bandage".
"You won't, I know you're gentle", he said.
"This looks good, not infected", she commented as she examined the wound, "a few inches lower though........", she ran her fingers down his shoulder.
"Hey, it's all right", Sully turned to look at her.
She nodded, picked up a clean bandage and redressed his wound. She lifted his shirt and slid it up his arms. Sully sat very still, hoping she wouldn't notice the shivers she sent through his body as she ran her hands around the collar and insured the shoulders of his shirt were in the proper place. She walked in front of him and did up the buttons. They were both aware of the other glancing into each others eyes and then looking away. When she buttoned the last button, she ran her hands up to his face, "Thank God you're all right, thank God you're still here with me", she whispered.
"I'm not leaving you", he whispered back. He stood up, pushed his hair back with his hands and watched Dr. Mike put away her supplies. "Tomorrow do you think you'll have time to go out to the reservation with me?", he asked.
"Is something going on there? Is someone ill?"
"No, but there are some injuries ...... you should take a look at", he said.
"Injuries? Sully, are these injuries like yours? Did they do this to you?", she asked pointing to his shoulder.
"No, the army did this to me and it's not the dog soldiers I want you to see. It's actually a few of the children......"
"Then let's go now", she replied as she picked up her bag.
He looked hesitant.
"We'll take the wagon.....", she said, noticing his expression, "you're not fit to ride anywhere with that shoulder".
"Matthew, we'll be back later", Dr. Mike told Matthew as Colleen and Brian looked on, "we're going to the reservation".
"Okay", Matthew said.
Sully and Michaela were silent on their way to the reservation, until Michaela suddenly slowed the horses to a stop and turned to Sully, "I...........", she sighed and faced front. Sully took her hand, "What? What is it?"
"Nothing.......I'm just glad you're all right. When I think of what I may have come home to......", she shook her head.
"Please, don't think that", he said softly. She lifted her hand to her face and sobbed. Sully moved closer, "Hey, no tears. I'm fine. I told ya, I ain't leavin' ya" he pulled her to his chest and squeezed her gently.
"Oh Sully after everything we've been through, the thought of losing you to a bullet wound, and not being here to help......I don't know what I would have done!"
"Enough. It's over and I'm okay. You're back.....and you seen for yourself that I'm fine", he kissed her cheek, "Come on, let's go to the reservation."
She wiped her tears, looked at him, nodded, and pulled the reins.
Cloud Dancing and Snowbird gave them a warm welcome at the reservation. "It is good to see you looking healthy", Cloud Dancing said looking at Sully and then Michaela and then back at Sully, "and happy".
"We're okay", Sully said, "how is everything here?"
"Come Dr. Mike I have a few small ones who are trying to be braves before their time", Snowbird took Michaela's arm. The two woman left the two men there staring at them.
"You look much better now that Dr. Mike is here", Cloud Dancing said, wide smile on his face.
Sully looked at him and smiled, "Wouldn't you be? She was upset at what happened, and I didn't even finish telling her the whole story".
"You will tell her?"
"Sure. If I don't someone else will. She just feels bad that she wasn't here".
"That is because she has a growing love for you", Cloud Dancing said.
"You can tell that huh?", Sully replied, squinting his eyes to see her.
"Most definitely. There is a sparkle in her eye, it matches the one that has been in your eye for quite some time now".
"Yes. It would be foolish to deny it", Sully looked at the ground, "I 'm glad that I let it happen".
"You are stubborn, but your heart won over, for both of you".
"Cloud Dancing?", a young squaw walked up to the two men, "Oh, I don't mean to interrupt......", she looked at Sully.
"Sully, do you know Summer Rain?", Cloud Dancing asked.
"No, ha ho", Sully said to the young woman.
"Mr. Sully, I have seen you here often, but we have never spoken. It is good to see you. What happened to your arm?", she reached and touched his shoulder.
"Oh, nothin'.....long story", Sully replied.
"Tell me, you must.....", she replied, her hand still resting on his shoulder.
"Young man, you must not do that again", Michaela said as she finished dressing the wound on the young boy. "Is that the last of them, Snowbird?"
Snowbird did not reply.
"Snowbird?", Michaela looked up and saw her friend looking off. Michaela looked and saw what Snowbird was so intently watching, Sully and a young squaw.
"Who is that?", Michaela asked.
"That is trouble. Her young brave joined the dog soldiers and she is alone now. Looks like she has eyes on another brave", Snowbird replied.
"Not just her eyes.....", Michaela responded.
Sully stepped back, "It's nothing", he looked and saw Michaela looking at him, "Excuse me", and he left the young woman with Cloud Dancing.
"I have always thought he is a handsome man", Summer Rain said. as she watched Sully walk away.
Cloud Dancing looked at her, "His heart is with another, you must not interfere", and he left her standing alone. She merely folded her arms across her chest and stared.
"Ready to go?", Sully said as he offered Dr. Mike his hand. He looked at Snowbird and Cloud Dancing, "The kids have missed her and we promised them we'd be right back".
"I do not think it is just the children who have missed her", Snowbird said, biting her upper lip and sliding her arm around Cloud Dancing's waist.
Michaela blushed and looked to the ground.
"Yup, that's right", Sully said as he put his arm around Michaela's shoulder.
They walked to the wagon, said there good bye's, and started for home. "You're so good to the Indians", Sully said.
"I never would have imagined that back when I was in Boston or in medical school. I remember on the stage here", she looked at him, "the first time..", she smiled, "I saw Indians and I felt a shiver".
"Why?", asked Sully defensively.
"Well, I had never seen Indians before. I suppose it was the excitement of it", she said. "Excitement huh? I thought that started when you got to Colorado Springs", he replied.
"Certainly", she glanced at him, "especially in Mr. Bray's store, but honestly a lot of things were exciting and frightening. Why if it hadn't been for Charlotte, well....I might have left".
"Nah, you wouldn't have. You might have thought about it, but you wouldn't have done it", he leaned toward her, "I sure wouldn'ta let ya. I did have something to do with you staying, didn't I?"
"Of course you did, other than Charlotte, you were the only one who trusted me. Remember you brought Black Kettle to the homestead?"
"I remember. I also remember standing and being so close to you.."
"I remember that too", she said softly. "Sully, you said that Jake and Hank came after you for the bounty.......what happened? Did they protect you from the army?"
"Hank? No, I turned myself in", he said.
"Turned yourself in? How's that?"
"I asked Matthew to get the army and bring 'em into town. When they got there, I volunteered to turn myself in, but the town didn't go for that. Dorothy started it, said I had been in town and they'd made a mistake".
"Oh, and the army believed her?", Michaela was surprised.
"Not until everybody else started sayin' the same thing. Even Myra spoke up, said I was at the saloon drinking and playing cards!"
"Good thing the army doesn't know you!"
"Yeah, then the army insisted they had the right man, they wanted to see if I had a bullet wound".
"How did you cover that up?"
"Dorothy again, she accused them of shooting an unarmed man in the back, and when she said she'd put it in the Gazette, well the army changed it's mind!"
"Good thinking!", she sighed, "I'm grateful to her.....to all of them. They protected you". "They did, but they only did what you woulda done if you were here!", he squeezed her hand.
The next day, Michaela arrived early at the clinic. Dorothy was knocking on the still opened clinic door. Michaela looked up from her desk to see her friend, "Dorothy! Come in, I was just going to come and see you!"
"Oh Michaela it's good to have you back", Dorothy said.
"It's good to be back. I hear I missed some excitement!", she walked to her friend, "Thank you Dorothy".
"Oh, that army! They just don't know Sully like we do!"
"No they don't. Sully says you really saved the day.......saved his life", she said.
"Michaela......", she put her hands on her friend's shoulders, "I just did the right thing, just like you always do".
Michaela nodded and turned.
"Michaela? What is it?", she walked to her friend.
"Oh Dorothy, I'm so glad I didn't lose him", she rubbed her hands together and looked at them.
Dorothy frowned, "Something wrong with your hands?"
"No", she looked up, "Sully kissed them....so tenderly...", she shrugged, "it felt nice..."
"Ah, Michaela......remember you were afraid of touchin', I told ya, it ain't nothin' to be afraid of. He loves you and he'd never hurt you. And, see, he missed ya".
"I know he wouldn't hurt me and I missed him too, but...... how do I know what to do?", she said softly as she looked into her friends eyes for answers.
"What did you do when he kissed your hands?", Dorothy's eyes were wide, she wanted Michaela to realize it happens naturally.
"I kissed his hands...it just happened, I didn't even think about it......I couldn't help it, it happened", she looked away.
"That's right. And that's the way it's supposed to be. Natural. You love each other", Dorothy smiled.
"But some things aren't appropriate Dorothy", she raised her eyebrows, "Are they?"
Dorothy chuckled, "Well that depends on what things and how you feel.....this ain't Boston after all".
Michaela raised her eyebrows, smiled and shook her head, "Oh Dorothy when Sully touches me or holds me, I........I shiver, I feel cold.......and then warm", she lowered her head.
"That's good. He probably feels the same way".
"Is that .....touching?..Is that ....good?"
"What do you think?", asked Dorothy.
"I don't know! David and I ..........well...we didn't touch...."
"I think you and David had a professional relationship Michaela, you never talked about it as being in love", Dorothy said.
"We were in love, but it was different. I feel differently about Sully", she leaned toward Dorothy, "It feels more physical with Sully, there's the attraction. I want to touch him, I love the feel of his arms, his back..... I like when he holds me, sometimes I can feel his heart beating in his chest. He has an aroma, it......it affects me ...... it's different.....I think about it sometime, you know?"
Dorothy nodded, "That's tellin' ya it's real Michaela. I'm sure he feels the same way, that's why he wants to kiss and touch. You're real attractive to him and well......that's how men are!", she giggled and put her hand to her mouth.
Michaela giggled too, "I don't know! I've never known another man like Sully! Oh Dorothy I'm glad I have you to talk to! I feel wicked sometimes!", she laughed again.
"What's so funny?", Sully asked as he came in the clinic.
Michaela and Dorothy both looked up at him, "Sully", said Michaela, startled but not wanting to show it. Sully smiled at her, "Dr. Mike", he nodded, "Dorothy....."
"Mornin' Sully. How's your shoulder?", Dorothy asked.
"Real good. If I interrupted somethin', I can leave", he pointed towards the door.
"No! You didn't interrupt anything, I was just thanking Dorothy for standing up to the army", Michaela said. "I'm glad you're here, I want to change your bandage."
"I gotta get back to the Gazette. Bye", Dorothy scooted past Sully.
Sully removed his shirt and put it on the exam table. Michaela turned around after she washed her hands, "Oh ..Sully", she was surprised to see him without his shirt and she felt herself blush, especially after her conversation with Dorothy.
He squinted his eyes and looked at her face, as she approached him, he asked, "You were talkin' about me, weren't ya?"
"I told you, we were talking about what happened with the army and of course your name came up..", she walked behind him and removed his bandage.
Sully smiled and looked to the ground, "Oh, I see".
Michaela took a deep breath, it felt so surreal to see him like this after she had just confessed how she liked being near him, touching him. She continued to care for his wound and after finishing picked up his shirt. "Here, you're all set", she smiled at him.
He pulled her arm, "Is something wrong?", he asked as he turned her to face him.
She looked up into his eyes, her lips began to tremble. Sully noticed this and ran his thumb across them, while looking deeply into her eyes, "Don't pull away from me just because I got hurt."
"Oh Sully.....it's not that........", she looked down, "Something happens to me when I'm near you........something I can't explain".
Sully smiled slightly, he was surprised to hear her express her feelings, "It's a good thing that happens, isn't it?", he whispered.
She nodded and looked up at him.
"I better go.........", he pulled his shirt on.
"Go?", she asked.
Sully nodded, "Yeah......I'll see ya.....", he kissed her quickly and to his surprise she returned the kiss and then smiled at him.
"That was nice", he said and then he walked to the door, "Thanks for changing my bandage".
"My pleasure", she smiled.