The Boston Story

The Boston Story

Sandi's Part:

Matthew, Brian and several townspeople had gathered on the train platform at Colorado Springs as Michaela, Sully, the Coopers and Katie stepped off the train together.

Not wanting to appear immature, Brian waited impatiently until the family approached him. Then he hugged Michaela tightly, his smile lighting up his features.

"It’s good to have you home again," he said, to all of them.

Matthew shook Sully’s hand and gave Michaela a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Things haven’t been the same since you’ve been gone. Everyone’s been askin’ about ya’." Matthew picked up Katie and swung her into the air.

"And I’ve missed you most of all!" he told the child.

Colleen hugged both of her brothers, once Katie had been settled back onto her feet. "Andrew and I have some news to tell you," she said, unable to rein in her excitement.

"Maybe we could all go to Grace’s and talk?"

"I think we can all tell what your news is just by lookin' at ya, Colleen!" Matthew grinned broadly, gently patting his sister's very rounded belly. Colleen smiled, blushing slightly, as Andrew kissed her cheek.

Sully smiled. "I’ve missed Grace’s cookin’. Matter of fact, I’ve missed just about everythin’ here."

He glanced over Matthew’s shoulder to target Hank, Jake and Loren who hovered in the background, waiting to speak to them.

"I even missed you, Hank," Sully admitted, laughing.

"There was no one to fight with in Boston!"

Hank smirked at him but Jake answered.

"Well, the town hasn’t been the same without Dr. Mike. Now we can get back to normal. I was gettin’ tired of treatin’ every little scrape and cut. Got no time for it."

He nodded toward the clinic. "Matter of fact, ya’ got a patient waitin’ for you at the clinic right now, Dr. Mike. I told her you were just getting’ home today but she insisted on waitin’ for ya’."

Michaela frowned. "I’d hoped to settle in first, Jake," she said reluctantly.

"So, don’t go Ma," Brian suggested. "Mr. Slicker can take care of her for ya’."

Michaela shook her head. "No Brian. It wouldn’t be right. I’ve inconvenienced a lot of people with my trip to Boston."

She looked meaningfully at Sully and he smiled. "I’ll take care of my patient and join you at Grace’s in a few minutes."

Sully gave her a quick kiss on the lips and she moved away from the group.

Crossing the street to the clinic, Michaela noticed Dorothy inside the Gazette office and called out to her.

Dorothy looked up from her printing press and her face broke into an enthusiastic smile.

"Michaela! When did you get back?"

She moved toward the door. "Ya’ have to tell me all about your trip. Brian said ….."

"Later Dorothy," Michaela interrupted. "I have a patient right now.

Meet me at Grace’s in half an hour or so. Everyone’s gathering over there."

Dorothy nodded. "It’s wonderful to have ya’ home again, Michaela," she said, sincerely.

Michaela felt tears sting her eyes. "It’s wonderful to be home."

The first thing Michaela saw when she stepped through the door of the clinic was Wyatt Evans' pig.

She picked up the broom by the door and swatted the creature on the rump. Squealing, it ran outside.

"Darn pigs!" she said to the woman sitting on a chair beside her desk.

"Every time I go away for a while, they take over the clinic!"

She stopped explaining and stared at the woman.

There was something familiar about her, something about the dark hair pulled back from the oval face and the soft brown eyes. They stirred a vague memory inside of her.

The woman was dressed in a simple dress but she wore a hat on her head, the wide brim shadowing her features.

Michaela shook off the strange feeling and smiled.

Setting down the broom, Michaela asked, "What seems to be the problem? I’m Dr. Quinn."

The woman held her hand out toward Michaela. "Laura Beamer. Pleased to meet you.

I’ve been having some trouble sleeping at night. I was wondering if you could give me something for my nerves?"

Michaela returned the handshake.

"Not quite yet. I prefer to do a thorough examination before prescribing any kind of tonic.

Quite often insomnia is caused by other problems and a tonic isn’t necessary. Has anything been troubling you lately?

Perhaps you’ve been eating before going to bed?"

For the next few minutes, Michaela fired off questions and Laura Beamer responded in turn.

Finally, Michaela frowned and shook her head. "I can see no reason for insomnia, from what you’ve told me. Perhaps, if I examine you?"

The woman nodded. "I think that would be best."

"I’ll just step out of the room then, while you get undressed," Michaela offered. "You can slip that sheet over you when you’re ready and I’ll be right back."

Smiling and patting Laura’s hand reassuringly, Michaela stepped through the door to the upstairs rooms and closed it behind her.

Annette Laurent waited until it seemed safe then scurried toward the medicine cabinet on the side wall.

Up until a moment ago, she’d had no idea of what her plan would be. She wanted to see Michaela Quinn in her home surroundings and judge the woman for herself, now that her fancy Boston manners had been left behind.

For some reason, seeing her in this setting was very important to Annette, although she didn’t quite know why.

But she’d found her answer. The woman was every bit as mannerly and socially correct in Colorado Springs as she’d been in Boston.

And she didn’t like pigs. That said it all! She was no animal lover.

There was now no doubt in Annette’s mind. Michaela Quinn was not a good match for Byron Sully. They didn’t belong together.

She opened the medicine cabinet and scanned the contents. She’d wondered if Michaela Quinn would recognize her, even though she’d adopted a false name and changed her hairstyle.

Annette didn’t need to worry. The woman didn’t know her. She’d probably fooled her with her ordinary clothes.

Michaela was accustomed to seeing her in a maid’s uniform.

‘That figures,’ Annette thought. ‘Her type never pays any attention to servants.’

She knew it wouldn’t be so easy to fool Sully. He’d know her in an instant. Well, by then, it wouldn’t matter any more.

The clinic door opened behind her and Annette jumped and spun around. A young man stood in the doorway.

"Pardon me miss, but I was wondering if you could tell me where the telegraph office is? I have an urgent message to get out to my assistant, Mr. Watson."

He held out his hand. "The name is Alexander Graham Bell."

Annette ignored his outstretched hand. "I’m new in town. I have no idea. You’d think that someone would invent a faster way to communicate, wouldn’t you?"

The man nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. Yes indeed. Hmmm…"

Then he turned and left the clinic.

Annette reached into the cabinet and her fingers closed around a bottle of anesthetic.

She closed the cabinet door and slipped the bottle into her purse.

Julie's Part:

Sully jumped off the wagon and ran towards the loud cries, coming from the bushes.

"Ma'am are you ok?" Not recognizing Annette.

Annette turned her back away from Sully so she could hide the Anesthetic bottle and the foreign object underneath her skirt.

"I fell off my horse when it was spooked. I think I twisted my ankle, but it will be all right."

"Let me take a look at it." As Sully approached her.

"NO! NO! There is no need to fuss."

"My wife is a doctor in town. I'm heading back to town now; so let me take you there to see her."

"Well....,If it's no trouble." Hesitated Annette.

"No trouble at all. Let me help you up."

Sully turned around to locate a suitable branch for Annette to use as a crutch. Just then.

WHACK!!

Sully felt a blow to his head.

He then fell to his knees and then collapsed onto the ground.

"Oh my what have I done?" Annette cried in a panic.

"I'm sorry Sully I had to do this to you, but there wasn't any other way I could have you all to myself."

Annette then dragged Sully's unconscious body to the nearby wagon.

She settled Sully in the back then climbed up into the wagon and drove away.

"It's all right sweetheart; Papa will be here soon." Michaela was consoling their overtired child.

Michaela continued to pace the floor with a look of worry upon her face.

"Where could he be? He's been gone over two hours now. He knew Katie was getting tired."

Brian, Colleen, and Andrew entered the clinic.

"Ma, we just finished helping Grace clean up from the party."

"Thanks Colleen. You shouldn't be overdoing it in your condition."

"Ma, no need to worry yourself. The baby and I are doing just fine."

"Besides Michaela, It's my job to worry about Colleen." Andrew spoke up.

Michaela gave him a reassuring smile.

"Shouldn't Pa be back by now?" Inquired Brian.

Michaela turned to face her son. But tried not to show any concern.

"Sully must have been delayed at the homestead. I'm sure he will be here any minute now." Trying to believe her own words of encouragement.

Sensing Michaela's uneasiness, Colleen suggested. "Why don't I take Katie upstairs to one of the recovery rooms to lie down."

Michaela, not saying a word, kissed Katie; and then handed her to her sister.

"Ma would you like it if Andrew and I would ride out to the homestead to see what's holding up Pa?"

"Oh, Brian if you don't mind. It would put my mind to ease."

"It's getting late; so we'd better get going. Don't worry Michaela, we will find Sully."

"Thank you both." Michaela hugged them.

Andrew and Brian walked out the clinic towards the livery.

"Something doesn't feel right about this, Andrew."

"I agree Brian. Maybe we'd better stop and pick up Matthew on the way."

Both men climbed up on top of their horses and galloped away.

Michaela stood staring out the window, with tears in her eyes. "Please, Sully be all right."

Vicki's Part:

Andrew and Brian quickly found Matthew and the three of them rode out to the homestead.

When they arrived, they were greeted with silence. Something was not quite right.

Brian and Andrew entered the house, while Matthew checked out back. Brian rushed upstairs to look for Sully, while Andrew remained downstairs.

Nothing in the house appeared to have been disturbed, everything seemed to be in its place...Then Andrew saw a folded sheet of paper in the middle of the table.

"Brian, Matthew!" Andrew called, "I've found something. Come and look at this!"

It was a handwritten note.

Andrew read aloud,

"My dearest Michaela, I have a surprise for you. Meet me at the clinic in one hour...Sully"

Matthew took the note and looked it over. "That's not Sully's writing!" he said, alarmed.

"Who else could have written it?" Andrew asked. "I don't know, but we'd better get back there."

Matthew continued, "It's almost that time now, and who knows what's going to happen!"

Sully slowly began to stir, the combined effects of the blow to the head and the modest amount of anesthetic Annette had used to keep him under long enough to move him was finally wearing off.

"Where am I?" Sully wondered aloud as he tried to focus on his surroundings.

"Michaela?" he ventured, in a whisper.

Annette was feeling terribly proud of herself...finally things were working out for a change.

After so many years working as a maid, or worse...now she would have the life she deserved.

By now, Michaela would surely have gotten the surprise Annette had planned. And if she was really lucky, that would be all that was necessary to ensure that Sully would be truly hers.

She heard Sully call Michaela's name.

"Ah, Sully, my love...you're finally awake!"

Annette rushed to his side. "I've missed you so!"

Michaela and Colleen met Matthew, Brian and Andrew at the door of the clinic.

Katie was inside, sleeping in one of the recovery rooms.

"Are there any patients inside?" Andrew asked urgently as Brian quickly gathered Katie up and brought her outside.

"No..." Colleen answered, perplexed,

"What's wrong?"

"Did you find Sully?" Michaela asked, now really worried.

"No." Matthew replied, "But we found this,"

Matthew showed her the letter.

"Something's going to happen, and the sooner we get you out of here the better!"

Sandy's Part:

After placing Katie in the wagon, Brian ran back inside.

The figure emerged from the shadows thinking the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

As he removed the sleeping Katie from the wagon, he thought, soon it will be time to put the second part of my plan in to action.

"Oh, how I have waited for this moment.

Michaela, soon we will be together.

I was angry at you and the Town Council at first for taking my child from me....but I saw your spunk and beauty and how I have wanted you

I have my secret place all ready for when you arrive.

No one will be able to find you. Oh, the plans I have for you, Katie and I to become a family.

Spending the rest of our lives together will be enough to repay me.

It has taken a lot of patience to have kept watch over the events of you and your family,"

as Daggett was replaying the events of the last few months in his mind.

"Knowing you were from Boston, from an influential family, it was easy for me locate your family and to convince them to hire me as the family handyman.

How unfortunate that you had to come Boston because of your mother's untimely death", he thought with a smirk.

Secretly pleased with himself, it still seemed strange that no one would question the old bag's passing.

"Luckily, Annette has a place to keep Katie hidden, as well as her own plans for Sully", he thought.

"Until Michaela sees the errors of her ways, and submits to me, I know I she will cooperate as long as she knows Katie is safe."

Thinking back to working for the Quinn's, Annette recalled finding the new handyman rather frightening and even more so after Mrs. Quinn's death. When he approached her with his plan, Annette knew this was her way out especially after seeing the man of her dreams named Byron Sully.

Annette wanted to make sure everything was perfect for Sully when he came to.

After her bath, as she was applying her Skin so Soft, she was dreaming of the new life she and Sully would lead. She was startled from her daydream by a crashing sound outside.

As Robert E. and Grace were leaving the cafe, they were startled by the cry of a small child as a horse galloped past them.

They noticed the light on at the clinic and were suddenly chilled by the scream of Michaela.

Hank, Jake and Loren ran out of the saloon towards the screams of a hysterical Michaela, seeing her trip over the goat in front of her clinic.

Damn goats, where are they coming from, they thought, and what the hell is going on?

"KATIEEEEEEE!!!!", Michaela shrieked.

Brian slumped against the wagon in tears. "I'm so sorry, Ma," he cried. "I just went inside to get all of you."

Dorothy suddenly emerged, "what on earth," she cried.

As everyone congregated in front of the clinic, it pained all of them, especially Hank (since he's always had a soft spot in his heart for this incredible and beautiful woman), to see Michaela in such a state. First Sully disappears and now Katie....what was happening?

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