Michaela did eventually select material for her’s and Colleen’s new dresses. The two sat down and sewed after supper each evening. "Dr. Mike, what kind of games are we gonna have at the picnic?"
"I’m not really sure. The reverend formed a small committee to determine which games they would play, I’m not on that committee", Michaela said knowing in her heart she could care less about the picnic.
"I can’t wait. I bet it’ll be the best time we’ve ever had!", said Colleen as she continued to sew.
"We’ll see", said Dr. Mike.
Several days later at the clinic, Michaela was finishing a chart on a patient that had left earlier when there was a knock on the door. She walked to the door and opened it and there was Hank. "Well, those stitches ready to come out?", she asked.
"Yeah, they are making me scratch. I was gonna take out myself, but I figured you kinda like this doctoring stuff so I’d let you do it".
"How generous of you Hank", she said as she removed the bandage and examined the wound, "Looks just fine", as she gently snipped the threads, "all set".
"Thank you and, no offense, but I hope I don’t see you, at least not in here, no time soon", Hank said and walked and opened the door.
"Hank, wait", Michaela walked over to him, "did you find anything out about that man?"
"Not much. Jake sent his stuff off to some address he found on an envelope in his pocket. I think the stage took it out yesterday", Hank said shrugging his shoulders. He looked over Michaela’s shoulders, "Hey Sully".
Michaela turned around quickly to see Sully glaring at her, but he kept walking. Hank said good bye and walked across the street. Michaela shut the door and walked quickly up the street in the direction Sully had been going in. When she got to the livery she asked Robert E if Sully was there. "No, ain’t seen him today".
"If you do see him, could you ask him to come by the clinic please", she said.
Robert E chuckled, "I’d have to tie him down and drag him there...".
"What? Why would you have to do that?", she asked.
"I think Hank would have something to do with that Dr. Mike."
"Hank? What on earth does Hank have to do with Sully?"
"It ain’t Hank and Sully, it’s Hank and you", replied Robert E as he stepped closer and whispered, "Sully wouldn’t want me to say nothing, but he seems all riled up that you and Hank’s been spendin’ a lot of time together. Is that true Dr. Mike?"
Michaela sighed and shook her head, "Not socially if that’s what you mean. Do you have any idea where Sully might be?"
"Reservation I bet."
"Thanks Robert E, I’m going to saddle the horse all right?"
"I’ll do it", he said and he went to the corral.
Michaela rode out to the reservation. Is Hank the reason he had been acting so strange? How could Sully think there was anything going on with Hank? Michaela had to laugh, this can’t be, she thought. Once there, she saw Snowbird and asked her, "Is Sully here?"
Snowbird gave her a little smile, "Ah, yes he is here, he is with Cloud Dancing in the teepee. I think they are crowing."
"Crowing?", asked Michaela.
"Yes crowing, uhm, complaining about the women........", Snowbird raised her eyebrows and smiled at Michaela.
Michaela smiled, "Oh". They walked to the teepee. Snowbird spoke in Cheyenne then to Michaela, "I shouted for Cloud Dancing to come out here alone, I need to see him, when he comes out you go in and crow with Sully", she raised her hand to her mouth and giggled. Michaela looked at her in disbelief, "Oh all right...".
Cloud Dancing separated the teepee hide and as he was about to greet Michaela, Snowbird slapped her hand across his mouth, "Say nothing", she said to him and pulled him away.
Michaela took a deep breath and pulled the hide back and went into the teepee. Sully looked up, "Dr. Mike, what are you doing here? Is something wrong with the kids?"
"No, the children are fine. I’m here because I wanted to talk to you Sully. You keep avoiding me in town, so I figured this would be a good place to capture you."
"Capture me?", he couldn't help chuckle, but then he remembered he was mad with her, "I’m not avoiding you in town, you just always seem to be busy that’s all".
"Of course I’m busy Sully, I don’t plan medical emergencies! You......why do you come to see me and then leave? Where do you go? Why didn’t you stay at the clinic the other day when I was almost shot and killed, why if it hadn’t been for Hank........."
Sully interrupted, "Hank! What is Hank now? Why is he always with you? I guess you don’t need anyone around if Hank is there to protect you!!"
"Hank is not always with me or protecting me. He had a medical condition that I was treating", Michaela looked down, "Is that the reason you leave, just walk away from me so many times?"
"I don’t have to explain anything to you! You can see Hank or who ever you want, it doesn’t matter to me, just don’t expect to call on me when someone else is there. I’m not going to interfere in your life Dr. Mike", he got up and stood close to her, "and whether it’s Hank or Jake, I don’t care. You do whatever you want, don’t bother me none!!", his voice was so loud, his finger pointing between her face and his.
Michaela looked at his eyes, they seemed on fire. "Sully, please......", she said.
"No, don’t Sully me......", he stormed out of the teepee. Michaela sat on the ground and pulled her knees up to her chest. What on earth had just happened!!
"Matthew, you gotta find Sully and ask him what happened ........I don’t know if I can stand Dr. Mike like this much longer", said Colleen.
"I don’t know, maybe we shouldn’t get involved. She’s not talking about Sully, maybe her mood has nothing to do with him", replied Matthew.
"Matthew! Has Sully been here in the past few days? She usually mentions him in some way or another, I think it’s all about Sully that’s what I think and if you won’t go talk to him, then I will!"
"Oh all right, I’ll see if I can find him after I come back from Miss Olive’s", said Matthew as he grabbed his hat and went out the door. Colleen smiled and continued doing her household chores.
Later in the day, Matthew rode out to the reservation. "Ha ho", Cloud Dancing greeted Matthew. Matthew nodded and dismounted his horse. "Cloud Dancing I’m looking for Sully, have you seen him?" Cloud Dancing merely pointed in the direction on the edge of the camp. Matthew looked and saw Sully sitting under a tree. Matthew asked if Cloud Dancing would tether his horse and he walked towards Sully.
Matthew cleared his throat, "Hey Sully".
Sully looked up, "Matthew. What brings you here?"
"Well, haven’t seen you in a while and was wondering if you were okay?"
"Dr. Mike send you out here?", asked Sully.
"No, she doesn’t know I’m here", said Matthew defensively.
"You never wondered if I was okay before", said Sully looking up at Matthew.
Matthew sat down, "Okay, Dr. Mike has been so quiet and moody lately and we wondered if something happened, you know....between you and her.......or something", Matthew shrugged his shoulders.
"Nothin’ happened Matthew. Dr. Mike is an independent woman who can do whatever she wants", Sully raised his hands in front of him to illustrate his point.
"What she wants is to spend time with you..."
"You’re wrong Matthew. She always has someone around her, someone talkin’ with her, someone who’s interested.........", Sully’s voice trailed off and he looked down at the ground.
Matthew creased his forehead, "She ain’t courtin’ anybody if that’s what you mean, besides I never noticed anybody hanging around her."
"Matthew, I don’t want to talk about Dr. Mike, okay. It’s none of my business what she does", said Sully.
"It should be your business, Sully. Aren’t you her friend? You better start being a better friend cuz she really needs one", Matthew stood up, "come by the homestead, when you want to", Matthew slapped his hat between his hands and turned and left. Sully watched him walk away, thinking about what Matthew had said.
Michaela walked into the mercantile, "Hello Olive, Loren".
"Dr. Mike, how are you today?" said Olive.
"Fine, I thought I’d get Colleen a new ribbon for her hair for the picnic tomorrow".
"Good idea, how did her new dress come out?", asked Olive as she walked to the ribbons.
"Beautiful. Thank goodness she helped me with mine, she’s an excellent seamstress. My these are so pretty, which do you think Olive?"
"This one! Are you looking forward to the picnic Dr. Mike?", she asked looking into Michaela’s eyes sensing something not right.
"Well I suppose so", she bent and whispered to Olive, "Have you seen Sully?" Olive shook her head in the negative.
"Oh, well how much do I owe you for the ribbon?"
Colleen asked Dr. Mike to try on her new dress so Colleen could make any needed alterations. Michaela pulled the pretty rose and pink colored dress over her head, smiling, it always felt good to have something new. Colleen inspected the dress carefully, "It looks okay, Dr. Mike, does it feel good, not to tight or anything?"
"Colleen, it feels wonderful. You really did an outstanding job, it’s perfect" and she hugged Colleen, who smiled proudly.
"Wow Ma, you sure look pretty!", said a smiling Brian as he ran into the house.
"Brian! I asked Matthew to stay out of the house for a few minutes......", said Colleen.
"Sorry, he just ran ahead of me", said Matthew from the doorway.
"Do you like it Brian? Didn’t Colleen do a wonderful job sewing it?" asked Dr. Mike.
"Yeah, but you do a better job wearing it!", said Brian.
"You’re sweet", replied Dr. Mike while Colleen was examining the back of the dress.
"Wait till Sully sees ya Ma! You and him will be dancing all night!", said Brian, big smile still on his face.
"Maybe", Dr. Mike looked at Colleen and Matthew, who were staring back at her, "but it’s okay if we don’t because then I could dance with you Brian."
Colleen looked at Matthew, who just raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders.