The Untold Story
by
Sandi99 & Jean McQuaid
Introduction:
In an attempt to be consistent with the original
airings of the Dr.
Quinn episodes, we have chosen to place this
particular story between
‘The Campaign’ and ‘Man In The Moon’. There are three
reasons for this
decision.
First and foremost is the relationship between Hank
and Myra.
Myra
tears up her contract in ‘The Campaign’ and walks out
of the saloon.
Dr. Mike offers her a room above the clinic.
In ‘Man
In The Moon’ she
goes back to the saloon to retrieve her possessions
and Hank creates a
scene.
In order to accept the events in our story, it
is necessary to
imagine that some time passed between the episode
where Myra tore up her
contract and the episode where Hank tries to prevent
her from leaving
him.
Hank blamed Michaela for putting notions into
Myra’s head. He
thought her decision to quit was Michaela’s fault.
This is, also,
important to our story.
The second reason for the placement of this tale
involves the romance
between Sully and Michaela.
By this point in the
show, Sully was very
close to proposing and their passions were in full
bloom. ‘The
Abduction’ has already happened but ‘Return
Engagement’ has not.
After
‘Abduction’, their love advanced to a new level and
their desire to be
together was stronger than it had ever been.
After
our story, Michaela
will admit her fears to Hank in ‘The Man In The Moon’
and tell him that
she’s afraid of passion and love. This is the first
time she speaks
these fears out loud, with the exception of her
tearful confession to
Dorothy in ‘Best Friends’.
The last reason, and probably the most important one,
centres around the
episode ‘Full Circle’.
Jebediah Bancroft was driven
out of town in this
episode, after he tried to hang Robert E. and stop
Grace and Robert E.
from moving into their house.
Sully threatened
Jebediah Bancroft on two
separate occasions during this episode and Michaela
openly displayed her
hatred of the man.
‘The Campaign’ took place after
‘Full Circle’.
For
consistency, we chose to imagine a few months passing
in between these
two episodes. In ‘The Untold Story’ a vengeful
Jebediah Bancroft has
returned to Colorado Springs.
It is a difficult undertaking to create a story that
occurs before
Michaela and Sully were married. We had to work out
the proper time
frame and return to a stage in their lives when their
love was fresh and
uncertain, when the sexual tension sparked between
them.
We hope you,
the reader, will be understanding and forgiving if any
mistakes have
been made. To the best of our knowledge, the events
and relationships
that unfold within ‘The Untold Story’ are written in
the proper
sequence. We hope we have maintained the consistency
of this incredible
series, Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman.
- Jean and Sandi.
The following is our idea of what might have been contained in Dorothy Jennings’ book – the book that upset the town with its true and often embarrassing accounts of people’s lives.
We have chosen to delve into one chapter and, for the purposes of this story, we have imagined an incident that might have been included within the covers of this book, if the situation had ever taken place. During the course of this story we will endeavour to use Dorothy’s words to guide us through the events.
– Jean and Sandi.
The Untold Story Chapter One - Part One
- by Sandi99
July 28th, 1868 -
The fourteenth amendment becomes part of the U. S. constitution. this guarantees equal rights to all, with the exception of the Indians.
From the first day I walked into Colorado Springs – battered, confused, terrified – this town helped me put my life back together. The folks here are strong and good-hearted. They’ve been my salvation and my inspiration.’ - Dorothy Jennings (dedication from her book ‘My Town’
Michaela’s eyes strayed from the words on the page as she gazed into the flickering fire. It had been a long time since she’d last opened this book.
Just from reading the dedication at the beginning, she was already transported back into another world.
It was a time of innocence and of inner turmoil. She’d just discovered her strong feelings for Sully but they frightened her, every bit as much as they excited her. She had no idea if he returned these feelings, even though she knew that he cared for her. Yet, at times he’d seemed aloof, detached, and she’d doubted if her love would ever be reciprocated.
So long ago. So many years. Dorothy wrote the book after Michaela’s wedding but, at the beginning, she’d talked about her friend’s past, when Michaela was still uncertain of her own feelings toward this handsome, private man.
She’d been so angry at Dorothy for revealing those fears to the rest of the world but, after so much time had passed, it hardly seemed important any more. Sully was her husband now. They had a beautiful little girl created from their shared love.
She glanced toward the stairsteps, biting her lower lip in indecision. She could go to bed and snuggle up against her husband, feel his strong arms close around her.
It was tempting but Sully had been so exhausted from his week-long surveying trip. He’d just arrived home that evening in time for supper. Then he’d fallen asleep in a chair drawn up in front of the fireplace, the same wing back chair where Michaela now curled up. After she’d put Katie to bed, she’d woken him and insisted that he go upstairs and get some sleep – without her. He’d protested weakly but she could see the weariness in his eyes. It was a simple enough task to convince him.
If the truth be known, it took every ounce of willpower to stop herself from accompanying him. They’d been apart for a week and she wanted to feel him beside her, have him touch her, kiss her. If she went upstairs now, she knew she wouldn’t be able to resist. She’d wake him up and he needed to sleep.
Sighing heavily, Michaela let the book fall open to her favourite chapter, the one she’d read and re-read so often. Pulling an afghan up around her shoulders, Michaela drifted back in time, lured into the past by Dorothy’s words. ‘My Town’, by Dorothy Jennings: Chapter Four. I didn’t see their bond right off. Considering the state I was in when I first arrived in town, it was little wonder. As I said, I’d been beaten. As I limped down the main street in the stillness of early morning, only one thought dominated my mind – escape.
After Michaela patched me up at her clinic and befriended me, I was able to finally focus on something outside of myself . When I noticed Sully again, after all those years, I was amazed at the change in his appearance. His hair was much longer, brushing his shirt collar, and he wore buckskin pants and a buckskin jacket. Yet, as I looked into his magnetic blue eyes, they filled with kindness and sympathy toward me.
This was still the Sully I remembered. He was always a man of great compassion. I discovered that he was now fighting to protect the Cheyenne, to make certain that they received fair treatment.
Today, whenever there is a problem in town and Sully is called upon to offer an opinion, folks can count on him to be fair. Mind you, Sully never offers his opinions easily. Before he met Michaela, he was a loner.
He’s still a quiet man but, with his honey brown hair and rugged good looks, Sully commands attention. He’s a man of great strength of character – the stuff that heroes are made of – strong, silent and kind. It wasn’t long before I saw the fire that smoldered between Michaela and Sully.
I’d already heard the whispers around town about them. Folks said they spent too much time together. “Somethin’s goin’ on there,” Jake often remarked, “and it’s not just talkin’ either!” I ignored the gossip. In the few days I’d known her, I’d come to judge Michaela as the most decent woman I’d ever met. When she invited Loren and I to dinner at her home, Sully was also there.
The expression in Michaela’s eyes, every time she looked at him, gave away the emotions inside her heart. When Sully returned her look with the same intensity, it took my breath away. I’d never seen such a powerful attraction between two people. I almost wondered if the gossip might be true but I soon came to understand that their love was pure and honourable.
It was, also, undeclared at that time. I think Sully tried to deny it. He’d lost his first wife in childbirth and I believe, back then, he was afraid to love again.
Michaela seemed confused and overwhelmed by her feelings, even a little frightened. All of this would change in time. Sully and Michaela were united on many issues, right from the start. They were always fighting for causes, going up against the townspeople when they felt the battle was important. This was their common bond and, I think, the force that drew them together.
The day Jebediah Bancroft arrived in Colorado Springs, the couple were destined to be, once again, pitted against their neigbours.
Jebediah was the president of a bank in Denver and, in this position, he was able to sell off bank-owned property. One particular house along main street was for sale. Before he realized the identity of the bidder, Jebediah had auctioned off the home to Robert E. and Grace. They were thrilled but Jebediah Bancroft certainly was not. Few others were either.
The good people of Colorado Springs made it known that they didn’t want Negro neighbours. The banker tried to squirm out of the deal but Michaela and Sully stood up in defense of the black couple. Jebediah Bancroft was forced to back down and Robert E. and Grace made preparations to move into their own home.
I, foolishly, believed that things would calm down once folks got used to the idea. I was wrong. Jebediah organized a ‘men’s club’. At first no one really understood the purpose of this club but the men in town were happy to join. It gave them a night out and made them feel important, I suppose.
When Jebediah Bancroft went after Robert E. and Grace and tried to scare them off, the menfolk thought it was innocent enough. They didn’t think anyone would get hurt by it. Then Robert E. was beaten up and Grace was held down by several men wearing hoods over their heads. They cut off all her beautiful hair. I would never forget when she walked into my store afterward, her head held proudly, and said simply and quietly, “I’d like to buy a hat, please.”
Frightened and intimidated, the couple went to stay at the Sully homestead. Michaela and Sully were quite outspoken in expressing their disgust for Jebediah and his followers. Their protests caused them nothing but trouble.
Jebediah burned a cross in front of the homestead. Although the men, once again, wore hoods, they were able to prove that the leader was Jebediah. The sleeve of his robe touched the burning cross, catching fire. All the men fled, but Sully and Michaela tracked Jebediah down in Hank’s saloon afterward.
Sully grabbed his arm, tugging back his sleeve and revealing the ugly burn to everyone present. I wasn’t there, of course, but Hank and Jake told me what happened. In spite of her own, personal feelings, Michaela had offered to help Jebediah and tend to his burn.
“I would never let you touch me after you’ve touched a dirty nigger!” Bancroft spat out. Michaela’s voice was low as she answered him.
“I feel very sorry for you.”
“Well, you should feel sorry for yourself,” Jebediah was quick to respond. “And you should watch your back. You still got those little ones at home.”
Michaela was half-way across the room when he said this. She spun around to confront him. “Are you threatening my children?”
“I’m just saying,” Jebediah sneered, “a lot of folks don’t take kindly to sympathizers.” I was told that Michaela took one step toward him before Sully stopped her.
Brushing her to one side, he advanced on Jebediah Bancroft until they stood facing each other squarely. “You lay a hand on them,” Sully warned, “and I’ll kill you.”
Never, in all the years they’d known him, had anyone heard Sully threaten a living soul. Jebediah made a move to turn away from him but Sully’s hand closed around the man’s jaw like a vise.
One of Jebediah’s supporters seemed intent on defending the banker but Sully’s glare stopped him cold.
“The man woulda been a fool to cross Sully right then,” Jake told me. “You wouldn’t catch me quarrelin’ with him.”
The whole town knew that Sully was a formidable opponent. I could picture him as they related the tale, his blue eyes narrowed and flashing dangerously. He released his hold on Jebediah and, without another word, left the saloon with Michaela.
“Ol’ Jebediah’s hand shook like a leaf,” Hank scoffed later, “Shoulda seen him when he tried to raise that whiskey glass to his lips. Sully scared him half ta death!”
The next thing we knew, Jebediah tried to hang Robert E. The ‘men’s club’ abducted the blacksmith and took him out in the woods, away from town. When Sully, Michaela, Matthew and Grace arrived on the scene, they found Robert E. sitting on the back of a horse with a noose around his neck. The menfolk in our town never thought this situation would get so out of hand. When they realized what Jebediah intended to do, they came to their senses and refused to have anything to do with the hanging.
Michaela shamed everyone into letting Robert E. go free. Later, Loren repeated her last sentence to me. In spite of the fact that he was involved, I think he was proud of Michaela. There was a gleam in his eyes as he recalled her words. “Dr. Mike told all of us ‘I’m asking you to look into your hearts and see if you really want to kill a man - for buying a house?’” Loren reported. “By golly she’s somethin’, she is. She don’t back down from no one.”
It was true. In spite of her petite frame, Michaela could be every bit as formidable as Sully. Most of the men dispersed, relieved to be released from the situation, but Jebediah Bancroft had no intention of giving in so easily. When he turned back toward the end of the rope, Sully broke away from the men restraining him and charged at the banker. He grabbed him and pressed the blade of his tomahawk against Jebediah’s throat. “Thought I’d make good on my promise,” he growled. He didn’t, of course.
Sully isn’t a violent man but folks said they could see the fury in his eyes. So, a few months later, when Jebediah Brancroft once again arrived in town, most people kept a watchful eye on Sully and Michaela. No one knew what to expect.
When Jebediah Bancroft’s body was found inside the barn on the Sully homestead, his throat slit, some folks said they weren’t surprised. Considering the threats Sully made against the man, he should have been the natural suspect but he wasn’t. As far as the town was concerned, there was only one murderer. That person was Michaela…
The blood seeped into the floorboards of the barn, pooling around Jebediah’s head.
Michaela stood there stunned, a pail dangling from one hand. She’d thrown back the barn door and stepped inside, intent on dipping the bucket into the grain bin and going outside once again to scatter the feed around the yard for the chickens.
The sight of the lifeless body in the middle of the floor stopped her dead in her tracks.
Recovering her senses, she approached cautiously. Jebediah Bancroft lay on his back, his eyes wide open. Terror still lurked behind their glazed depths. A gash cut a horizontal path across his windpipe but it was impossible to assess the length of the wound. The blood gushed out to paint his skin with bright crimson.
She knelt down beside him and felt along his neck for a pulse, even though she knew the action was useless. Jebediah Bancroft was dead. There was no doubt in her mind.
Sighing, she let her fingers fall away from his neck. She noticed an object lying beside him for the first time, the metal gleaming in a shaft of early morning sunlight that streamed through a crack in the barnboard walls. Reaching over Jebediah Bancroft’s body, Michaela picked it up. A scalpel!
One of her scalpels from the clinic. What on earth was it doing here? It was covered in fresh blood. She was certain that she was holding the murder weapon in her hand. But how did it get here? Who could have taken it? Her gaze returned to Jebediah’s face and she reached out to cover his eyes with her hand, closing them gently.
She was thankful that Colleen and Brian had already left for school and Matthew had risen early to ride into town on business. At least they would be spared from witnessing this grisly sight.
“What the Hell is goin’ on here?!”
Michaela jumped to her feet and spun around, startled. Three men had stepped into the barn and they advanced toward her. She recognized them instantly. They were Jebediah Bancroft’s hired hands and she swallowed back fear. Her arm still ached from her last encounter with these thugs.
Forcing courage into her voice, she answered the question.
“It’s your boss. I came in here to get something and I found him like this. I’m afraid he’s dead.”
The men moved in closer to stare down at Jebediah. One of them looked as if he might be sick and his face paled noticeably.
One of the others, a tall, heavy-set man, turned back toward Michaela. His eyes flashed with anger.
“You just happened to find him, did ya? You expect us to believe that?”
Michaela squared her shoulders.
“It’s the truth. He was here when I came in. I had nothing ….”
“Look at her hand,” the third man said, pointing. There was a smirk of victory on his fleshy face. “What’s that she’s got? Looks like a knife, don’t it?”
The tall man took a menacing step toward her. “That’s what it is, alright. Covered in blood too – Jebediah’s blood, I reckon. Guess that’s all the proof we need, right boys?”
Michaela began to back away from them. The hired hand who seemed so appalled by the sight of Jebediah recovered enough to add.
“What’re we waitin’ for? Caught her red-handed. Let’s take care of her.”
All three men lunged toward her, just as Michaela remembered the pail in her hand. She threw it at them blindly, spun around and ran. She’d almost reached the door to the barn when an arm closed around her waist.
“Not so fast, little lady!” the tall man sneered. He laughed as she struggled against him, her efforts completely ineffective. “We don’t take kindly to murderers, even if you are a woman. Pete, git that rope over there. Let’s string ‘er up!”
Michaela opened her mouth and screamed. He tried to muffle the sound with his hand and she bit down on the fleshy mound of skin beneath his thumb.
He cried out in pain and released her abruptly. Once more she made a wild dash for the door and, this time, she actually reached the yard outside before they caught up with her once more.
The man she’d bitten grabbed her, jerked her around to face him and raised his fist, slamming it into her jaw. Michaela staggered backward.
“I’ll teach ya some manners,” he snarled, raising his hand to hit her again. Through a haze of pain Michaela looked at him, as if she was watching this scene unfold from a great distance away, as if it was happening to someone else.
He often visited the homestead after the children left for school and today was no exception.
It had become a habit with Sully. He usually turned up with some excuse; the roof needed patching, a fence had to be repaired – whatever sounded plausible.
These excuses were the truth, of course. There were always repairs and chores to attend to when a man owned property. But the real reason for his visits was a certain coppery haired woman with fire in her eyes.
He’d try to arrive at the homestead before she left for the clinic in the morning. She’d offer him a cup of coffee and he’d accept with a show of reluctance, insisting that he had to ‘git to work’.
Even though they’d declared their love openly when Michaela returned from Boston, Sully didn’t want to appear too eager. He jogged down the well-worn path now, Wolf trailing behind him. He was a short distance away from the homestead when her scream split the air.
Breaking into a run, he rounded the side of the barn. The sight that greeted him caused a surge of anger to well up and instantly overwhelm him. A tall, heavy-set man held Michaela by one arm and his fist was drawn back.
Judging by the dazed look on Michaela’s face, it was evident that she’d already suffered at least one blow.
Sully never thought about his next action. He charged toward the man, ramming against him and knocking him off balance, just as the thug’s fist connected with Michaela’s face once again.
She pitched backward, her body slamming against the tree directly behind her. The back of her head made contact with the tree trunk and Sully heard a sickening thud.
There was no time to help her. The man he’d attacked regained his footing. On top of that, two other men were closing in on him from the direction of the barn. Sully spun around and with a powerful, flowing movement, he landed a kick to the tall man’s face.
His neck snapped backward with the impact and the assailant fell to the ground.
Sully planted his feet firmly and grabbed the knife from his belt, passing it from one hand to the other as he faced the two remaining attackers. They hesitated for a moment as they studied him. It was a moment too long. With a low growl, Wolf sprang at the shorter man, knocking him down.
Sully immediately moved in and kicked out at his companion, landing the same crippling blow to the man’s face that felled Michaela’s assailant.
The man crumbled to the ground and Sully stood, gulping in air, as he watched Wolf’s jaws closing around his victim’s arm. "Wolf!" Sully called out, as soon as his breath returned. Wolf retreated instantly and the man scrambled to his feet, bolting toward his horse. The animal was tied to a fence post a short distance away.
Sully watched the man ride off, his eyes narrowed. Only then, when he felt they were out of danger, did he move over to crouch down beside Michaela. She was unconscious. He cupped her chin gently and examined her jaw.
Rage boiled inside of him when he saw the first indication of a rapidly spreading bruise. One of the men on the ground moaned softly and Sully glanced in his direction. Then he gathered Michaela into his arms and lifted her into the air.
There was only one thing to do. He had to get Flash from the corral and take Michaela to Cloud Dancing. He needed to act fast, before the two men woke up and decided to take revenge. This time he wouldn’t have the advantage of a surprise attack. He looked down at Michaela as he carried her toward the barn. The emotion that washed over him as he gazed at her beautiful face left him shaken. Whatever had happened here, Michaela was in grave danger. Once she was awake, he intended to get to the bottom of it.
She struggled back to consciousness, the aromas around her invading her senses before she ever opened her eyes.
There was the familiar smell of charred wood and smoke but there were other smells as well – less familiar but comforting somehow.
They were smells associated with nature, with animal hides and damp fur, pine pitch, moss and fungus.
Michaela’s eyelids fluttered open. The face that filled her vision looked solemn and worried.
“Sully?”
“Shhh,” he cautioned, his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t try ta talk yet.”
She ignored his instructions. “Where am I?”
“I brought you ta Cloud Dancing,” he told her softly. “You’re in his village.”
She glanced around, realizing that she was in a teepee. She rubbed her hand along the soft buffalo robe beneath her.
“What happened? Why am I here?”
Sully’s expression clouded over. “Some men were hurtin’ you. You hit your head when ya fell.”
She could sense the anger inside of him, even though he kept it carefully concealed.
“Now I remember,” she murmured. He studied her and she knew that he was waiting for an explanation. She didn’t quite know where to begin.
“Jebediah Bancroft is dead,” she stated, flatly. At his look of surprise, she elaborated. “I found him in the barn when I went in there this morning. He’d been murdered. His throat was cut.”
“Murdered?” Sully repeated, stunned.
“Those men think I did it, Sully,” she whispered. “I found one of my scalpels beside his body. I think it was the murder weapon. I don’t know how it got there … or why.”
He didn’t answer. His brow was furrowed in deep lines.
“Those men said they wanted to execute me,” she continued. “If you hadn’t come along …” She shuddered and Sully squeezed her shoulder.
“I did,” he said, simply. A sudden thought struck her and Michaela’s eyes flew wide open.
“Sully! The children! What about the children? Jebediah Bancroft’s body is still in the barn. It they come home and find him ….” She tried to struggle to a sitting position.
Cloud Dancing appeared out of nowhere as Sully tried to urge her to lie down again. “You should not get up yet,” the medicine man cautioned. “You need to rest, to give yourself time to heal.”
“But what about the children?” she protested, still fighting to sit up.
“I’ll look after the children,” Sully reassured her, firmly. “They’re still at school. I’ll go back before they git home, make sure the body is taken care of before they git there.”
“But I need to be with them. I need to explain…”
“I can explain,” Sully reasoned. “I’ll tell em everythin’ they need to know, for now.” Michaela surrendered and slumped back down onto the buffalo fur.
“Someone needs to stay with them tonight.”
“I’ll look after it,” Sully insisted. His no-nonsense tone convinced her and she sighed in resignation.
“Alright, but tomorrow I’m going back to town. I need to explain what happened.” She watched as Sully and Cloud Dancing exchanged cautious glances.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Sully said gently. He looked directly into her eyes. “Those men are still out there somewhere and they think you killed their boss. It’s too dangerous right now.”
“But I didn’t kill him! I need to tell them – to tell all of them.”
“They ain’t too good at listenin’, by the sounds of things,” Sully reminded her. “Why were they so sure ya did it?”
Michaela looked away from him, unable to meet his eyes. “Because, I had the scalpel in my hand when they found me,” she said softly, “and it was covered with blood.”
For a long moment, no one said anything. She glanced back at Sully, noting the grim expression on his face.
“I think,” he finally said, “you should stay here for a while. I‘ll ask around – find out what really happened. Clear your name.”
“But I didn’t do anything!” Michaela protested again. This time Cloud Dancing answered. “I think Sully is right. You may not have done anything wrong, but it looks as if you did. The people in town might not listen to you. It is better if you stay here, until Sully can find out what really happened.”
“I won’t leave my children,” Michaela said, stubbornly.
Cloud Dancing looked at Sully once more and raised his eyebrows. Sully shook his head before addressing Michaela. “Listen to me. If you go back ta town now, they’ll arrest ya for murder. What good will ya be to the kids if you’re in jail?”
He paused to let his words sink in. “Let me ask around, find out what happened. Then ya can go back.” Michaela considered his argument, then nodded hesitantly.
He looked relieved. “Good.” He rose to his feet and looked down at her. “Right now, I’d better go tell the kids what’s goin’ on. But when I come back, Dr. Mike, I want ya to tell me everythin’ that’s happened. You ain’t been tellin’ me the whole story. I wanna hear it – right from the beginning. Ya understand?” She gave him a feeble smile.
Satisfied, Sully left the teepee. Cloud Dancing nodded in her direction before following his friend outside. They left Michaela alone. All she could do was lie there and remember, retrace the events that lead up to this moment.
The Untold Story Chapter One- Part Two
- by Jean McQuaid
For tonight let there be peace of mind, tomorrow is another day, It will come all too soon, so in your arms I want to stay. Safe from harm please hold me near, and I'll shed my tears of pain, I wish this solace would last forever, like this we could remain. We'll speak our words of comfort and of how it used to be, And of the future we will share, when once again we're free. To live and laugh and be in love, enjoy life's simple pleasures, This is all that matters right now, life's special golden treasures. So for tonight just hold me, we'll forget about our sorrow, We'll let time take us far away, til dawn brings back tomorrow. I'll put all trust and faith in you, on that I can depend, We'll be together, see it through, right to the bitter end.
-by Jean McQuaid
But what were the events that led up to this moment? What had caused these men to once again return to torment and threaten her family? Why now?
Michaela's head was still reeling from the blow that had knocked her against a tree and rendered her unconscious. She was aching all over and tried as she might, she found no comfort.
Those men were still out there and so was her family. She desperately wanted to move but her body wouldn't allow her.
She felt helpless and alone, but most of all she felt guilty. Guilty because she should be taking care of this matter herself, not Sully.
As she tried to sit up, the dizziness overcame her and when a gentle hand helped lower her back down, she found herself looking up into the smiling face of Snowbird, her friend.
Without a word, Snowbird's eyes said it all. They had a calming effect on her and she relaxed at once.
"You must rest Dr. Mike," said Snowbird in a quiet, soft voice.
"But my children...." Once again she tried to rise and was eased back down.
"Sully will take care of them. Do not worry. You are weak and must be still."
Michaela did as she was told, something that was very rare for her. Snowbird was one of the few people that could do this. They understood each other and were developing a very rare and special bond. Two very different women from two different worlds but they thought as one and Michaela valued the friendship she had found with this wonderful woman.
"I didn't kill him," Michaela's eyes filled with tears.
"I trust you my medicine woman friend. You do not have the nature of one who could do such a thing. I know that."
Snowbird's words were very reassuring but didn't relieve the aching in Michaela's heart. Maybe Snowbird would believe her but she wasn't sure about Sully. She'd been very groggy when they last spoke and she couldn't detect his feelings. Did he believe her or was he trying to spare her feelings at that moment because of her physical state.
"Thank you Snowbird but I'm not sure Sully feels the same as you do."
"I have seen the love this man has for you. Do not be so quick to judge him. He needs time. Like you, he has suffered much pain. You must trust him."
Michaela knew she was right. If she was ever going to prove her innocence, and allow Sully to help her, she would have to tell him the truth. She smiled up at Snowbird and took her hand.
"Thank you for being my friend. But Snowbird, I'm worried about getting your people involved in all of this mess. What'll happen when they find out you're hiding me here?"
Michaela's smile turned to a frown. The Indians had been through so much misery caused by the white man and now to be hiding a white fugitive, well she feared it would only cause them more trouble.
"We are a proud people and we believe in doing what is right. It is right that we should help you as you have helped us many times with your medicine."
Snowbird was the wise wife of a very wise man and like him, she spoke straight from the heart. The one thing that Michaela knew for sure from the Indians was that they meant what they said.
"But...I...." Michaela's words were hushed.
"You are a very stubborn woman like me" Snowbird smiled at her. "But you must rest now and save your strength. You will need it when Sully returns."
Michaela finally gave in to her friend's wishes and rolled over on her side to see if she could find some comfort. She felt her eyes start to close and would try to sleep, hoping that when she awoke Sully would be back with the children.
Sleep came quickly, but so too did the nightmare. Her last encounter with these men had been as traumatic as this one and she could see their faces just a plain as she had today.
She was working alone in the clinic late one night as she had done many times. Matthew had promised to get Brian and Colleen to bed early and promised them that she would be along as soon as she'd finished.
Michaela was sitting quietly at her desk filling out the last of her patient files when the clinic door burst open allowing three strange men to enter waving guns and shouting at her. They burst in with such a force, the papers on her desk scattered about the floor.
At first she didn't recognize them and jumped up quickly to try and stay out of their reach. But the familiar voices and faces were those of the men who'd once tried to hang Robert E. and were probably the same men who had, without mercy, cut off Grace's beautiful long hair.
Jebediah Bancroft's men.
But what were they doing here again? It had been a while since they'd last been seen in town and everyone had all but forgotten about them.
"Well, well. There she is, the troublemaker lady doctor. All alone are we? That's too bad. No one around to save you now my dear." Jebediah Bancroft's tone was sarcastic and sinister as he stepped inside the clinic and closed the door behind him.
"What do you want?" Michaela bravely stepped forward slowly moving closer to this man whom she held such contempt for.
"You, my dear Miss Quinn. You!" He simply replied. "You've caused me so much trouble in the past and just knowing the type of headstrong woman you are I've come to warn you that if you do anything, and I mean anything to stand in my way again Woman! I won't be responsible for what my men do to stop you!"
His threatening tone made Michaela move back. She knew what he was talking about as far as the past was concerned but wasn't sure what kind of devious conspiracy he had planned for the future.
"You lied to me Mr. Bancroft. You made me believe that the bank held the title to my clinic when all along, you did!"
She was every bit as determined as he was and stood her ground. "I found you out and had that matter taken care of but what are you doing here now?"
"Yes, that was unfortunate and you cost me a great deal of distress Miss Quinn. You may have won that round, but I won't let you get away with it again. Do I make myself clear?"
He seemed agitated but suddenly became very calm and proceeded to sit himself down in her chair, propping his feet up on the desk. With his hands clasped behind his head, he leaned back and made himself quite comfortable. "The railroad is coming to town and I intend to get rich, very, very rich Miss Quinn. Now all you have to do is to vote yes to it. But, mark my words, if you cross me on this one, I will do harm to you and your children. That is a promise I intend to keep this time!"
The glare of his eyes told her he meant every word. A chill rose up her spine as she felt she was facing the devil himself.
"I suppose you're a bleeding heart for those Indian savages as well. That's a real shame you being a well educated woman and all. One would think you'd learned your lesson after trying to side with the blacks. But I can see that you're going to be a real problem again and I just figured it's about time someone taught you a lesson or two on looking after your own kind!"
"My own kind? Who? People like you? You're not 'my own kind'. I feel sorry for you Mr. Bancroft. Sorry that someone hasn't taught you a few lessons on being a human being!"
Michaela was furious and would not let this man intimidate her ever again.
"You will do as I say doctor, besides what have you got to lose? The railroad coming to this town would benefit everyone, including you."
Michaela had heard talk of the railroad's coming but knew it would mean the takeover of much of the Indian land. She had mixed feelings about its coming, but wanted to make the decision of her own free will, not to be told how to vote by anyone, especially this ruthless monster.
"I will not be told by anyone what to do, especially by the likes of you!" She stood, arms crossed over her chest, chin held high. Jebediah unlocked his hands and stood. He started towards the door but stopped and without turning to look at her he uttered,
"You'll be sorry. I just knew you'd have to be dealt with. I'm afraid you're going to have to pay for that last remark." And with that the three men followed him out the door, closing it behind them.
Michaela stood frozen for a time and then quickly grabbed her coat off the hook and felt the urgency to get home to the children as fast as she could. She had taken the wagon into town that day and was about half way home when she was once again confronted by the same three men who'd been in her clinic earlier. This time they were alone.
They created a block in front of the wagon, forcing her to bring it to an abrupt halt. They wasted no time in going about the business of dragging her down from the seat. She tried with every ounce of strength she had to stop them but they were stronger.
Two men held her arms behind her back as the third one waved a gun around her face.
"You been warned lady. Now it's time!" was all he said as he began to untie the ribbon that held her coppery long hair at the back.
Michaela could feel her skin crawl as he moved his face ever so close to hers. She tried turning from side to side to ward off his advances but to no avail. His lips came down heavy on hers and she struggled desperately to get out of their reach.
He seemed annoyed and without warning his hand came across her face so heavy it made her eyes water. At the same time the hold on her arms tightened.
It felt at one point that her left arm was about to break and she cried out in pain. She was very frightened at this point but her inner strength would not allow her to give in to these men.
She held on to her pride and muffled a second cry as another slap burned across her other cheek. "So you're a tough little one eh? Well let's just see how tough you are," and with that she felt his fist go deep into the pit of her stomach.
"I....think that's enough Ra..." One of the men seemed to be easing his hold on her and she could tell that he wasn't enjoying this as much as the other two. "Shut up ya fool! Don't go callin' me by name!"
Michaela was winded and knew that her only chance for escape was to allow them to think they had knocked her unconscious.
Still feeling the sickening effect of the punch, she doubled over and with that the two men let their hold on her go and she fell to the ground.
They seemed to be backing off but not until one man uttered, "This is just our first warnin' lady. The next time I'll show ya what a real man does to a trouble makin' lady like you!" and with that they mounted their horses and rode off.
It was all she could do to keep very still and quiet until she was sure they were gone. Michaela didn't know how she made it home that night let alone how she even found the strength to board the wagon, but once outside the door to the homestead she fell down on the front porch and remembered nothing until the next morning when she opened her eyes and saw the worried looks of her three children.
With tenderness and love, they nursed her wounds and promised with much protest that they'd keep quiet about the incident. She knew it was the only way to keep them safe and would deal with the railroad should it become an issue. Matthew had protested the most but could see that his ma was in pain and for now it was more important to heal her wounds. He only wished that Sully had been around.
Sully realized it hadn't taken long for word to spread around town of Jebediah's death and that Dr. Mike was the prime suspect.
According to Horace, three men had come to the telegraph office requesting a wire be sent to the Sheriff in Denver. They told him the story of how they'd found Dr. Mike standing over the dead body with a bloody instrument and that she'd got away with the help of an Indian. But by the time Sully had reached town, the three men had disappeared.
Sully had picked up the kids from school and after trying to explain to them that their ma was in trouble and that they didn't need to worry, he left them in the care of Grace and Robert E. Of course they had protested but he urged them that this was the only way both they and their ma would be safe.
He promised them as he had done in the past that he'd take care of everything and they'd see her as soon as it was safe. He felt bad for them but under the circumstances, what else could he do.
He needed to get to the bottom of this and clear Dr. Mike's name. But he also needed to know that the children would be safe from the men who had hurt their ma, the thought of which still ached in his heart. But, where to begin.
With the three men gone, who would believe her story. He couldn't stand the thought of her spending days, weeks even months in jail for a crime he knew she was innocent of but he had no idea at this point how he was going to help her.
Who could he trust? After all, she was still fairly new in town and made no secret of her feelings towards this man. But neither had he for that matter. Why he should be as much a suspect as Dr. Mike was but unfortunately she was the one who'd been found in the barn with the body.
Sully had very little trust for anyone in this town and knew that some of them would be more than happy to see their lady doctor swinging from a rope.
She'd been very outspoken about many issues but if they'd only realized she was doing what she thought best for them and their families. Maybe before he spoke to anyone else in town, he should head back to see Michaela. He knew in his gut that she was holding back on him and decided that she was the first person he'd speak to.
He shivered at the thought of what kind of story she'd tell him. Didn't she trust him enough yet to tell him everything? He had to know and if this Jebediah Bancroft was at the bottom of it all, and if that was the case, maybe he was better off dead!
Feeling secure that the kids were safe he headed back to the reservation, even though Horace's words still rang in his ears, ' Sully! Do you know where Dr. Mike is? She's wanted for murder and the town's plannin' on gettin' a posse together to look for her!' He had to get back to her and keep her hidden until things settled down. Maybe the sheriff could calm them down but for now she had to stay at the reservation. It was the only place he could keep her safe.
Michaela's eyes opened suddenly. Was it just a nightmare she would awaken from or was it real? Her vision was still a little blurry but she could make out the shadow of someone kneeling over her.
"Snowbird?" she asked.
"No Michaela, it's me, Sully"
"Sully? The children?" and with that she sat up quickly, her head still hurting but she didn't falter this time.
"They're safe Michaela." His blue eyes smiled at her and she loved the way his touch was always so gentle as he took her hand in his. "They're with Grace and Robert E. I figured it was best they stay with 'em tonight."
Michaela looked relieved. "Thank you Sully....I..."
"How ya feelin?" His smile turned to concern.
"Better, but, Sully I've got to get out of here!" She tried to move but he stopped her.
"Michaela? There's somethin' I think ya oughta know."
He gently took her by the arms. "Those men wired the sheriff in Denver. Town's gettin' a posse together. They think ya did it Michaela. They think you're the murderer!"
Michaela felt sick. "But Sully I didn't do it!! I swear. Do you believe me Sully?" She was now pleading and the tears that stung in her eyes brought tears to Sully's eyes as well.
"I believe ya Michaela. I know ya couldn't have done it." Sully's eyes looked right into hers and Michaela was relieved. "But I need to know what happened. Ya gotta tell me everything, now!"
"Oh Sully. It seems so long ago but at the same time like only yesterday. I know I should have told you but I didn't want you to...well you know the way you threatened Jebediah Bancroft when he...well....I was afraid that you might be so angry that you would...Oh Sully I didn't want you to get involved. I thought I could take care of things myself."
"What did he do to ya?" Sully's voice was stern and she could tell he was angry.
"After he threatened to foreclose on my clinic I wired mother and had her hire someone who investigated Jebediah Bancroft. It seems that the clinic was never owned by the bank but by him which meant that he deceived me. Mother hired a lawyer and got all the legal matters ironed out. I thought that once he'd been exposed that he wouldn't bother us again. But he did. He came back Sully and....well, threatened the children again."
Sully's eyes grew dark with hate. The muscles in his face were tense and she reached out to him to calm him. His look on her softened ever so slightly and she could feel the muscles in his arms start to relax. "What happened?"
"Well he came to the clinic one night while I was working late. He threatened the children if I didn't vote yes to the railroad's coming to town. I told him Sully that I wouldn't be intimidated by him and that I would make up my own mind. But later on that night...."
her voice broke off as she lowered her head. Sully cupped her chin in his hand and raised her reddened eyes to his.
"What happened later on that night Michaela?" Her voice was breaking and she knew what his response would be even before she told him of the beating.
She felt ashamed while she relayed all the details to him and when she finished he took her into his strong arms while she wept. If anyone could feel anger, she could. Sully was angered but not at her. She knew that if Jebediah hadn't been killed by someone else, he might have been killed by Sully at this moment.
They sat there for hours, Sully holding her securely in his arms. She could almost feel the pain slipping away and felt his strength flow from his body to hers. After a while he held her back from him and looked into her eyes.
"I wished ya'd a told me Michaela. I should've been there for ya."
"But it was my choice Sully not to tell you. Besides you were away on a hunting trip with Cloud Dancing at the time. All the bruises had healed enough that you didn't see them when you came home. I was glad for that. But look at me now." She lowered her head once more. "I must look awful."
Sully cupped her whole face in his hands now and gently kissed her left cheek then her right. "You're still the most beautiful woman in the world ta me."
And with that she placed her head on his shoulder and felt the love they shared for one another. Michaela blushed but needed someone to lean on right now. She had always been a strong, independent woman who could stand up to any man, but this one had taken her down not once but twice and now he was dead.
"Sully?" She raised her head after regaining her composure. "Why do you suppose he came back now?"
Sully looked puzzled. "Don't know but I intend on findin'out. One thing I do know he musta' been up to some kinda no good. Man's never been nothin' but trouble. Can't say as I'm sorry he's dead."
"Sully?" Michaela shot a quick look at Sully and knew all too well that he meant what he said. Sully was not a violent man but something about this Jebediah Bancroft brought out the worst in people, even Sully.
"Sorry Michaela. But no man has the right ta lay a hand on any woman. Any man that'd do that is nothin' but a coward!"
Sully's eyes went cold. Michaela had never seen him this angry and was unsure of him. For the first time since she'd come to Colorado Springs she really felt alone. She was isolated from her children and now Sully was showing her a side of him that scared her. But she had no choice. She had to trust him, after all she was in love with this man and he believed in her. Sully sensed her fear and was sorry that he'd caused her even more anguish.
"Michaela, I'm sorry." He took her by the arms. "I don't ever wanna hurt ya, I love you." That was all he needed to say. Michaela relaxed into his arms once more. Tonight they would be together to comfort and console one another. Tomorrow would come all too soon.