The church was slightly more crowded than usual, due to the picnic and dance, thought Dr. Mike. After the service, the crowd starting selecting their spots outside to begin the picnic.
"Dr. Mike!", Olive said waving her hand.
Dr. Mike walked over to her, "What is it Olive?"
"My stomach’s acting up again, do you have any more of that tonic?"
"Back at the clinic, yes, of course I have some. I’ll go get it, you stay here and rest", Michaela said and she dashed off to the clinic.
The street was quiet and Michaela went quickly into the clinic, grabbed the tonic, and left.
"Hey Michaela, fancy new dress?", asked Hank as he walked towards her.
"Oh, yes it is, are you going to the picnic?"
"To get some food I am, but I ain’t staying. I’ll come back tonight though for awhile", he said as he started walking along side her, "What’s that? You gonna spike the lemonade?"
"No! It’s medicine for someone", she replied.
Sully came walking from behind the church and quickly scanned the crowd. He saw Matthew, Colleen, and Brian, and he walked towards them. Matthew saw Sully and then looked and saw Dr. Mike walking with Hank. "Colleen", he whispered, "we gotta do something, here comes Sully and look who’s with Dr. Mike!"
"Oh no", said Colleen, she jumped up and ran to Sully, "Hey Sully! Haven’t seen you in awhile!", she grabbed his arm and turned him around, trying to pull him in the opposite direction.
"Colleen, I was headed to where you and Matthew.......", as he turned his head to point to where Matthew and Brian were, he saw Dr. Mike walking with Hank, ".....never mind, I’m going to get some lemonade" and he stormed away. Colleen bit her lip, now what would she do?
After Dr. Mike gave Olive the tonic, she said to Matthew, "Isn’t that Sully over there?"
Matthew looked over his shoulder, "Yeah, but I wouldn’t go over there if I was you."
"Don’t worry, I have no intention of going anywhere near him!", Michaela replied.
Sully stood near Grace’s table drinking lemonade, "Hey Sully, why are you standin’ over here when I see some people who’d be glad to have you join them?", said Robert E.
"Yeah Sully", said Hank as he walked over and picked up a cup of lemonade, "what brings you outta the woods?"
Sully ignored Hank’s comment and spoke to Robert E, "I’m fine right here."
Hank leaned near Sully’s ear, "What’s the matter Sully, too much woman for ya?"
Sully put down the cup of lemonade and swung at Hank, "Hey! Hey!", yelled Robert E as he pulled Sully away from Hank.
"What’s the matter Sully, can’t take a joke?", said Hank as he wiped his lip and walked away.
"I’m leaving", said Sully as he pulled his arm out of Robert E’s clutch.
"I’m going with ya", Robert E said.
The two men walked in silence, Robert E realizing Sully had to blow off some steam. Sully walked like a stalking bull away from the meadow fuming over Hank’s comments. Finally he addressed Robert E, "You don’t have to come with me, I’m all right and I ain’t gonna bother with Hank".
"I know you won’t bother Hank, but you’re not all right. You’re gonna calm down, clean up, put on your Sunday clothes and come back with me. You’re gonna learn how to have fun and be with people", Robert E then grabbed Sully by the shoulders and stared him in the eyes, "Most of all you’re gonna spend time with a woman. A woman who wants to be with you probably as much as you wanna be with her!"
Sully stared back at Robert E. "I don’t know...........she won’t talk to me now.....".
"Oh yes she will!", Robert E beamed, "She’ll have no choice, if I have to sit the both of ya’s down myself!"
They continued on to Sully’s lean-to, where Robert E looked through the skins and furs to find Sully’s clothes, "Did you ever think a house might be a good idea?", he said scratching his head and looking around.
"Tried that before, don’t like it", replied Sully as he got his shaving equipment. He grabbed the water pail and headed to the creek, "I’ll be back after I bathe and shave".
"I’ll be here", said Robert E.
"Figured you’d say that," replied Sully, smiling.
As the sun started to set and the band began to play music for dancing, Matthew and Colleen watched how sad Dr. Mike looked. They knew that at times she was searching the crowd for Sully. She knew of the incident earlier with Hank and wanted to talk to Sully. They wished there was something they could do, but they didn’t want to anger her. They also didn’t want Hank anywhere near her, so they kept their eyes on Hank, who on the other side of the meadow talking to people.
Robert E. whistled away waiting for Sully. When he came into view, Robert E’s lips remained pursed to whistle but he was silent, "Lordy, is it really you?" Sully appeared before him in black dress pants, white shirt and black vest.
"Yes it’s me, and I ain’t wearing a tie or a jacket", he said as he put his things away, "now lets go before I change my mind".
Robert E just smiled and stretched his arm out as if pointing the way.
Sully and Robert E arrived back at the meadow to the music of the band and several couples dancing. As they approached Grace, she smiled and gave nodding approval to Sully. Robert E swept Grace into his arms and they headed off to the dance floor. Sully noticed Hank on the far side of the meadow heading back into town, probably the saloon since he was accompanied by several ladies. Sully scanned the crowd looking for Michaela.
Michaela had gotten up, folded the blanket and walked to the wagon. She stayed there a few moments, watching the crowd. It was nice to see people dancing, talking, having a nice time. She thought of Sully and wished he was here with her.
Sully saw Matthew dancing with Ingrid, Colleen and Brian were talking with Miss Olive and Mr. Bray. Suddenly he saw Michaela walking slowly towards Colleen and Brian. They all started talking and Sully walked behind the bandstand area, which was closer to where Michaela was. He stood near a pole that held one of the colorful lanterns, he would quickly look Michaela’s way and then look away. He walked around to the other side. He wasn’t sure he wanted Michaela to see him, he hadn’t thought about what he would say to her. He leaned on a pole and watched.
He watched the way she stood, so straight....the way she smiled....the way her eyes sparkled when she was talking....the way her hair flowed down her back. He admired the beautiful dress she was wearing and wondered what she would say to him if she saw the way he was dressed. Colleen and Brian started to dance with each other and as Michaela turned to watch them, Sully turned around thinking he might be in her view. He put his foot up on a bale of hay and admired the sunset, thinking about what he would say to Michaela.
As Michaela watched Colleen and Brian, she noticed Sully on the far side of the band. She walked a little closer and then decided she didn’t want to be the first to speak, he could still be angry with her and she didn’t want an argument here. She walked to the pole on the other side of the band and positioned herself so she could see Sully between several of the band members. He seemed to be staring off, far away, lost in thought.
She liked the way he was dressed.....she liked the white shirt against his tanned skin, the way he had the sleeves rolled up......the way the black vest joined the black pants, the way he looked so lean and masculine. She blushed as she found herself staring at physique. She looked away knowing she shouldn’t be looking at him in that way, but she quickly looked back unable to keep her eyes off him.
Robert E said to Grace, "Will you look at that? I think Dr. Mike is spying on Sully.....!!!"
"Well, he was spying on her a few minutes ago", Grace replied, "I thought you had noticed that!"
"No, I didn’t, you should have told me", Robert E was looking at Sully, "How are we gonna get them together?"
"We? Why do we have to do it, I think nature will do it....", said Grace as she smiled at Robert E.
The longer Sully stood there staring, the more discouraged he got that he couldn’t think of what he would say to Michaela. He chewed on a piece of straw and then flung it to the ground and started walking. He thought he would leave, think about what he wanted to say to Michaela, and see her another time when there weren’t as many people around.
Michaela looked at the ground, blushing that she was looking at Sully’s body. She straightened her dress with her hands, took a deep breath and decided to go and talk with him. As she stepped to walk to Sully, bang! She walked right into him!
They both stood stunned, staring at each other. "Oh! Dr. Mike..........hello....", Sully said stumbling over his words.
Michaela smiled, "Ah, Sully, hello, I’m sorry I didn’t see you there", she smiled and looked at him.
"Ah, I didn’t see you either.............are you.....ah....having a nice time?", asked Sully
"Yes, it’s very nice........", she said softly.
"Ah.......", he felt uncomfortable, "..ya want something to drink?", he asked.
"Yes! Wonderful", she said, glad to walk away from this awkward moment. They both walked silently to Grace’s Cafe table. Sully handed her a cup and said, "You look real pretty this evening".
"Thank you Sully. You look very handsome", she smiled and laughed a little. They both drank quickly.
"Thank you", he smiled, "ah....wanna walk a bit?" He took the cup from her hand and placed both cups on the table. He walked a few steps and was surprised that she took his arm. He gently touched her hand and smiled at her. They walked beyond where the band was, towards the trees. Finally he stopped and turned to face her.
"Dr. Mike, I'm sorry, I shouldn’t have said all those things to you at the reservation. I wish I could take it back."
Michaela looked up into his eyes, they were so blue even in darkness, and she saw the sincerity in them, "That's okay Sully, I haven’t thought of that day, only my own selfishness. I want you to care about who I’m with....and I don't want you thinking the wrong things."
"Shh....", Sully put his finger up to her lips, "I know all that....and it’s best if we forget it okay?"
She blushed, looked to the ground, shrugged her shoulders, "Well......." As she lifted her head Sully put his lips on hers. When he pulled away, she looked startled, "Sorry........I’ve been wanting to do that........", he said.
She smiled, "It was nice". She looked back at the crowd.
"I wish I could dance, it would be a good excuse to put my arms around you", he whispered and took her hand in his. She looked into his eyes and stepped closer to him, "We can pretend..", she whispered as she put her free hand on his waist.
He was pleasantly surprised and put both arms around her. They stood like that for several minutes, secure in each other’s arms, silent, no words were needed.
Back in the crowd, "Will you look at that? I told you nature would bring them together", Grace said beaming at Robert E.
"Phew, thank goodness. I thought I was gonna have to knock that Sully in the head!", said Robert E.
Sully finally broke his embrace of Michaela, "Stay here, I’ll be right back". He ran towards the crowd, "Matthew! You take care of getting Colleen and Brian home with the wagon, Dr. Mike and I are gonna walk home", as he slapped Matthew in the arm. Matthew smiled broadly at Sully and nodded. Sully gave a quick smile and wink to Robert E and then turned and ran back to Michaela. As he got closer, he stopped, looking at her and walked slowly towards her.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"Perfect", he replied and held out his hand to her. She took his hand and they started to walk.
"Sully? Have you ever been afraid of feelings you’ve had?"
He felt his pulse quicken, "What kind of feelings?"
"I just wondered if men feel.........well...afraid of their feelings, you know, unsure. Men always seem so confident, strong and I just wondered about what they might be afraid of."
He stopped and faced her, "Sure men are afraid of feelings, sometimes probably more than woman. Especially with their feelings about women. A man doesn’t want to do the wrong thing or say the wrong thing......"
"Oh....", she replied, thinking he was talking about himself.
"Men don’t want to scare women off, but somehow they have to show that they have feelings for her, care for her, want to be close to her. That’s difficult for a man to do sometimes", he stopped abruptly realizing he was saying all the thoughts he'd had in his head these past weeks.
"Can’t the woman somehow let the man know that’s it’s okay to be close, be gentle, be caring. I mean what if the woman wants to hold the man, feel his arms around her", Michaela was rubbing her arms looking up into the sky, "have that feeling of being cherished", she looked at Sully and dropped her hands when she realized what she was doing, "What if she wants.... that?"
Sully realized he was staring at her, "Ah...", he shook himself back to reality, "Well......if a woman wants that.... there must be some way she can let the man know."
"How?", asked Michaela. She stopped and looked at Sully.
Sully took a deep breath and put his hands on Michaela’s shoulders, then raised his hand and stroked her cheek, "I guess he gently touches her, makes her feel safe", he swallowed hard, "He let’s her know that he wants to be close. He looks into her eyes....", he felt as if he were in a trance. He lowered his face, thinking he wanted to kiss her, but he stopped. "I told you, some men are afraid, and some men go after what they want even if they are afraid".
"Oh.....", she said softly as she brushed her hand up against his chest and then sighed softly. He backed away and resumed walking.
When they arrived at the homestead, Sully said, "I’ll get the fireplace going for you, okay?", as he gathered wood from the wood box.
"Yes, I’ll go in and light a few lamps", she smiled and hurried into the house. He followed and put the wood in the hearth. He watched her in the dim light of the lamps she lit and he walked over to her. He tugged on her arm, she didn’t turn to him as freely as she had done on their walk. He stepped to the side and pulled her into his arms, "Sully......", she said, but was quieted by his lips on hers. His hands wove through her hair and pulled her close. She ran her hands up his chest and around his neck. "I.......I...I'm sorry", he said as he pulled away and nervously brushed his hair off his face and then rubbed his palms on his thighs. "Sully.......", she looked at him, but he turned away.
"Let me get that fire going", he said.
"It already is", she giggled softly, and pulled on his sleeve, "Sully, that was so nice...".
He couldn't move, he just nodded his head and went to the fireplace.
The fire was ablaze, in their eyes as well as in the hearth, as they sat quietly at the table. "Sully, promise me you’ll come around here and not just walk away and leave."
They heard the wagon pull up, "Michaela, I don't want to walk away........"
The door flew open and the kids rushed in, they were quiet when they saw Sully. There was uncomfortable silence for a moment, "Everybody’s home safe and sound. I’ll be going. ‘night kids.", he winked at Michaela and tilted his head to summon her near.
She smiled and walked to him. He whispered into her ear, "let’s make the kids happy".
"Good night Sully", she said loudly, "thank you for walking me home".
He smiled and pulled her into his arms, "Good night and I’ll see you tomorrow", and they kissed, she did try to push away but he held her tight and opened one eye to see the kids looking with the their mouth’s open. He pulled away and smiled at the kids and they smiled back. "Good night!"