| Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and to the show belong to the creators of the show, to CBS, and to A&E.
A Boston Affair Chapter One: Fantasy vs. Reality Embroidering, cooking, and childcare. Those were the studies Michaela Quinn was expected to practice in her mother’s eyes. She had never been a normal child. She had always been her father’s daughter. Her mother felt left out when Michaela would assist her father at the hospital, but Josef would tell Elizabeth that he had never been the best father to their other daughters, but with Michaela, he felt he had succeeded. When she was eighteen, Michaela went to college and graduated at the top of her class. She went on to a women’s medical school, and now that she was twenty-five, she was helping her father at the hospital nearly every day. She was a doctor in every sense of the word, but she wasn’t accepted as one by her fellow doctors. However, her father had convinced his colleagues to treat his daughter with respect, and they had grown to rely on Michaela to assist in medical procedures. The only thing Michaela was missing was someone to share her life with. Her mother had tried and failed miserably to find her daughter a suitor. Michael never had time for courting or dances. She was always busy at the hospital or with her nose in a book. “Michaela, why must you continue to play out this fantasy? That’s all it will ever be! You will never be accepted as a doctor. Not really,” Elizabeth Quinn stressed with frustration. Michaela closed her book and turned at her desk. She always became irritated with her mother when she would call her career a fantasy. “A fantasy?” she asked angrily. “Mother, my being a doctor is most certainly not a fantasy. I have a medical degree. I am a doctor. I have my name on a shingle at father’s office. I have assisted in several surgeries. I have delivered babies and sutured wounds. If this is what you call a fantasy, mother, I believe you need to learn the difference between reality and fantasy.” Michaela stood and brushed past her mother, walked out of her room, and grabbed her medical bag and a shawl. Elizabeth rushed after her daughter, picking up the skirt of her dress so she wouldn’t fall. “Where are you going?” “I’m going to the hospital. Father left me in charge of his practice and my own while he’s in Washington.” Elizabeth watched her daughter storm out. She sat down on Michaela’s bed, feeling angry and regretful at the same time. She had always given her daughter a hard time, probably because she had been the youngest. The rest of her daughters had already married and started families of their own by the time they were twenty years old. Michaela was still living at home, being urged on by her father to pursue a life of doctoring. It wasn’t normal for a woman to want to be a doctor, and Elizabeth was certain that she could never fully accept her daughter’s choice. She didn’t know how to accept it, because it simply wasn’t natural. On her way out, she ran into two of her older sisters, Rebecca and Marjorie. They were most likely coming for a visit with their mother. “Hello Michaela,” Rebecca said, hugging her sister warmly. Rebecca had always been supportive of her sister’s choice to practice medicine. “Rebecca,” Michael replied with a smile. “Going off to the hospital?” Marjorie asked, tilting her head up so her noise pointed to the sky. All of Michaela’s sisters except for Marjorie could be very stuck up. Rebecca was the oldest, so she was always the one to try to keep the peace amongst her mother and sisters. “As a matter of fact, I am.” “Honestly, Michaela, when are you going to learn that you can’t work in a man’s world?” Obviously Marjorie hadn’t been as accepting of Michaela’s career choice. “It’s only a man’s world because women like you let it be!” Michaela left the house and Marjorie looked at Rebecca. Rebecca shrugged and Marjorie stormed off in the other direction, knowing it was no use talking to Rebecca, because Rebecca always supported their youngest sister. *~* Michaela’s heels clicked down the quiet hall of the dimly lit hospital. Her medical bag rested comfortably in her hand, as a rolling pin and set of knitting needles would to a housewife. She was in her father’s wing of the hospital now. She walked into a large office. It was her office too, and she knew that one day, her father would leave his wing to her. Unfortunately, Michaela wasn’t sure how Josef Quinn’s colleagues would react to that. She was quite certain that although they put up with her for her father’s sake, they wouldn’t be so kind to her once he was gone. She sighed and looked around. There was a cot in the back of Josef’s office, and when Michaela was little, she’d ask him who it was for. He would always tell her that it was for anyone who might come along that other doctors in the hospital might not treat. Michaela never understood that until about ten years ago, when a young Negro man came to the hospital in need of medical help. The other doctors turned their backs to him, but Josef took him in and nursed him back to health. Michaela put her medical bag down on Josef’s desk. She smiled as she ran her gloved hand over the smooth and polished oak surface. She remembered sitting on that desk as a young girl, watching her father study his medical books. She and her father had been best friends since before Michaela could remember. She had always had him wrapped around her finger. The clock struck eleven ‘o clock, and Michaela wondered if she should go home considering no patients were coming to her. She could hear the nurses wheeling patients down the long corridors. She heard thunder off in the distance. Michaela sighed and walked over to the window to look out over her beautiful hometown. She looked up at the dark sky that briefly lit up with the flash of a lightening bolt. She wondered what it would be like to live somewhere besides Boston. She had always dreamed of being swept off to a far away place by a handsome stranger. Ever since she was thirteen, she would dream of being swept off into the mountains. She never told her father of her dreams. She didn’t want him to think she was behaving like a foolish girl, but she also knew he wouldn’t judge her. Josef Quinn never judged people if he could help it. He was the kindest man Michaela had ever known, and perhaps that was part of the many reasons why Michaela could never find a beau. Of course she didn’t have time for courting or parties, but any man who would even attempt to court her could not live up to her father’s morals and spirit. She knew it wasn’t healthy to look for the qualities her father had in other men, but he was the rock in her life; the one person she could trust completely. She had never met anyone else she could trust with her life. Michaela was startled out of her thoughts by the shouts of a doctor in the hallway. “Get that Indian out of my sight! I will not treat him!” Michaela quickly opened the door and looked out into the hallway. A handsome, rugged-looking man was carrying a bleeding Indian in his arms. “What’s going on here?” Michaela asked. “This man brought and Indian into the hospital. No one will treat him!” Michaela looked at the man and she motioned for him to come in. “Bring him in. I’ll see what I can do.” The other doctor scoffed and the rugged man walked passed Michaela. He nodded his appreciation to her and she followed him in, closing the door behind her. She turned on a few oil lamps as the stranger put the injured Indian down on the cot in the back. Michaela pulled out her stethoscope and checked his heart rate. The rugged man studied her for a few moments, noticing how beautiful this woman was. “You’re really a doctor?” “Yes, I am,” Michaela replied, hoping she wouldn’t get any complaints. She had to deal with men pushing her around and refusing treatment from her every day. She was relieved when neither men made any attempt to turn her away. “What happened?” “I came to Boston to speak on behalf of the Cheyenne. Cloud Dancin’ here came with me, and after I spoke, some angry rebels shot him.” Michaela looked at the wound in Cloud Dancing’s chest. She seemed a bit apprehensive. “Don’t worry. He ain’t gonna hurt ya.” “I know that,” Michaela replied. “Besides, even if he were to try, he wouldn’t succeed. He’s obviously in a lot of pain, but he’s lucky. The bullet went right through.” “So he’s gonna be alright?” the man asked hopefully. Michaela smiled uncertainly. “I believe so, but the next twelve hours could be critical. Would you wait outside while I suture him up?” “I’m stayin’.” Michaela looked at him for a moment and decided that he wouldn’t leave this man’s side. “Very well. At least let me give him something for the pain.” “No,” Cloud Dancing said, breathing heavily. Michaela looked up at the ruggedly handsome man who refused to leave his friend’s side. “He ain’t afraid of pain.” Michaela took a deep breath and proceeded to sew up Cloud Dancing’s wounds. “Name’s Sully,” the man said as she worked. Michaela nodded to let him know she heard him. “Dr. Quinn.” “I saw it on the shingle outside your door. Michaela Quinn, M.D. It’s pretty.” Michaela looked at Sully and blushed a little. “Thank you. Sully, that’s not an Indian name, is it?” She immediately regretted asking that question. It was obvious that he wasn’t an Indian, but his clothes could tell someone otherwise. “I ain’t an Indian. But they’ve been my family for years. They saved my life many times.” Dr. Mike finished suturing Cloud Dancing’s wounds after a few more minutes. “Thank you,” Cloud Dancing said when she put bandages on him. “You are a medicine woman. The first I have met.” “Rest now,” Michaela soothed. “You need your strength.” Michaela cleaned her hands off and left her patient. Sully stayed at his side for a few minutes. Michaela sat down at the partner’s desk, which she shared with her father, trying to concentrate on research, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the man who had dragged the Indian all the way to the hospital for treatment. His name was Sully, and he obviously cared a lot about this Cloud Dancing person. He had loyalty to friends, and he was a friend to those who saved his life. She knew this much about the man she just met after only a few minutes of knowing him. He intrigued her immensely. Awhile later, Sully appeared from the back room and shut the door to give Cloud Dancing a bit of peace and quiet. Michaela looked at him. He was wearing brown buckskin pants with matching moccasins. His shirt was white but needed washing. His hair was past his shoulders but very clean. He wore a beaded necklace, probably a gift from the Indians. His eyes were a greenish blue color, but when the light hit them, they were mostly blue. His skin was tanned, probably from the Western sun, if he was indeed from the West. While Michaela took in Sully’s appearance, he did the same with her. She had gorgeous light brown hair that was pulled up in a fancy up-do. She had taken her lacy white gloves off in order to help Cloud Dancing, and he could see that her hands were as fair and perfect as her face. He imagined that the rest of her body was perfect, milky, and beautiful as well. Her clothes were that of a woman from an upper class, and he saw from the shingle outside the door that she worked with Josef Quinn, probably her father. “Thank you for savin’ my friend.” “I was just doing my job.” “He’s like a brother to me.” “I believe that what happened to your friend was unfair. It was very brave of you to come all the way to Boston to speak on his tribe’s behalf.” “It was even braver of him to come with me. Not many folks like Indians.” “I’m not like many people.” Sully smiled at Michaela’s words, knowing that she was being truthful. He saw a light in her eyes that seemed to look past people’s differences and see the true person inside. “That’s pretty clear. You were the only one who took my friend in without a second thought. Thank you.” Michaela nodded. “Is it alright if I stay with my friend tonight?” “I don’t see why not. I’m going to be here all night anyway. I have a lot of work to catch up on.” “You work with your father.” “How did you know that?” “I saw it on your shingle.” “Ah,” Michaela replied with a smile. “Yes, my father encouraged me to pursue my dreams of becoming a doctor. My mother didn’t quite approve of the idea. I don’t think she ever will. Mr. Sully . . .” Sully shook his head. “It’s just Sully.” Michaela smiled slightly and nodded in compliance. “Sully. Alright, Sully, where did you say you came from?” “I didn’t, but I can tell ya now. Me and Cloud Dancin’ traveled all the way from Colorado Springs.” “That’s quite a long journey.” Sully nodded. “You must be hungry. I would invite you to my home for dinner, but everyone has probably gone to bed.” “That’s alright. I ain’t hungry.” “You’re sure?” “Mhm,” he mumbled. “I can make up a cot for you if you’d like.” “That’s alright. Don’t go troublin’ yourself.” “It’s really no trouble.” “You look like you’ve got work to do. I’ll let you get to it.” “Really . . .” Sully knew for sure that this woman wasn’t like other women. Yes, she was very feminine and delicate-looking, but she seemed to have a strong determination. She would have to have that determination considering the fact that she was working in a world where women weren’t supposed to be doctors. “You know, I’ve never met a lady doctor. The closest thing Colorado Springs has got is Widow Cooper. She’s a midwife. The barber Jake thinks he’s a doctor. He does a lot more harm than he does good though.” “You don’t have a real doctor where you come from?” Michaela furrowed her brows, wondering what it was like out in Colorado Springs where people didn’t have a doctor to help them get over a common cold. People were probably dying out there from infections and diseases that could be prevented and treated with the right medicines. “Nope, but I wouldn’t go to the town’s doctor even if I had to. They probably wouldn’t treat Indians, so I wouldn’t want them to treat me. I go to the Cheyenne for most of my healin’. Cloud Dancin’ is their medicine man.” “Oh?” Michaela glanced toward the closed door. “Yep.” He smiled at her, his eyes locking with hers. Michaela saw the way Sully looked at her, and she felt her face growing hot. She took a deep breath and felt the urge to fan herself off. “You feelin’ alright, Dr. Quinn?” “Yes. I’m alright. I should get back to my research.” “Alright. I’m gonna go get some sleep. G’night.” “Good night, Mr. Sully. I mean . . .Sully.” Sully left the room, closing the door behind himself. Michaela stared after him, even after he had shut the door, feeling even more intrigued by him than she had in the first place. He was from halfway across the country. His skin was tanned by the sun, and his clothes were tattered by the weather. He was obviously not used to the kind of life lived in Boston. He was the kind of man Michaela figured her mother had probably warned her about. Michaela couldn’t recall any warnings her mother ever had ever given her concerning men, because she was too focused on her medical degree and her patients. She wondered if she would ever find the time to court, marry, and have a family of her own, something she wanted very much, while pursuing her career as a doctor. She began to wonder if she could have her career and a family of her own at the same time. She knew several doctors that had families falling apart due to their lack of presence in the home. What if she did get married and her family fell apart because of her? With those fears now in the back of her mind, she decided to get some rest and not think about it for the rest of the night. She blew out the candles and the oil lamps and fell asleep sitting in her desk chair as she had done on several occasions in the past. *~* In the morning, Michaela woke to the sound of footsteps near her desk. Her eyes flew open, and she saw Sully trying to creep towards the door without waking her. Obviously he had failed. She stood up quickly and smoothed out the skirt of her dress. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake ya.” “That’s alright. What time is it?” “I think it’s about nine in the mornin’.” “Oh my,” Michaela whispered. She figured that her mother was worried sick, but she also knew her mother was aware of her busy schedule and late nights at the hospital. That didn’t make her any more reasonable though. “I was just goin’ out to get somethin’ for breakfast. Do you want anything?” “No. I’m alright. I do need to check on my patient.” Michaela walked into the back room to find Cloud Dancing sitting up in his cot. “Oh, you should be resting.” “I feel better. The spirits say I am well.” “The spirits?” She wasn’t used to learning about the beliefs and customs of other people, so she was curious as to what these spirits were. “The Cheyenne spirits speak to Cloud Dancin’. They guide him and give him wisdom,” Sully pointed out as if he had read Michaela’s mind. The doctor checked her patient and smiled a bit. “Your spirits seem to be correct. You’re healing remarkably well. You should be well enough to travel after another day and night of rest.” “Good,” Cloud Dancing said with a grateful smile. “I appreciate your dedication to your medicine.” “Just rest now. I’ll bring you some soup this afternoon.” “Thank you.” Michaela and Sully left the patient to rest again. After a few minutes of silence, Sully cleared his throat. “You must be hungry, Dr. Quinn.” Somehow, having Sully call her Dr. Quinn didn’t seem appropriate when she called him by what he wished her to call him. She smiled warmly. “Please, call me Michaela.” Michaela was a beautiful name, and Sully found himself saying the word over and over again in his mind. He cleared his throat, not sure of what his thoughts were doing to him. “How about Dr. Mike?” Michaela’s eyes widened a bit. “I’ve never heard that one before,” Michaela said with a laugh. “My father called me Mike as a child. He still does, actually.” Sully looked at her with a grin on his face, wanting her to explain what she meant. Michaela was happy to oblige. “He expected me to be a boy. He always tells me that my being a girl was the only thing that ever disappointed him about me. He also tells me that he got over it and is glad he never had boys, because he knows that boys are more of a handful than I could ever be.” She shook her head and laughed a little. Her laugh was beautiful, and her smile was even more so. “Is that sayin’ you’re a handful?” “Oh if you only knew me,” Michaela replied with a chuckle. “Well, Dr. Mike, how about we go get somethin’ for breakfast. A lady needs to keep up her strength. Especially a lady doctor.” “Well, alright,” Michaela replied with a smile. “I suppose it won’t hurt to leave for a little while. We must bring some soup back for your friend when we return.” Sully nodded. Michaela grabbed her medical bag and left the hospital with Sully. As soon as they arrived outside of the hospital, Michaela noticed people staring at Sully. It was obvious by his attire that he wasn’t “Boston material.” Sully noticed Michaela tense up, and he cleared his throat. “If my bein’ around you in public bothers you . . .” Michaela’s face grew red and she shook her head firmly. “Don’t be absurd!” Michaela scolded. “People in Boston just aren’t used to seeing your attire.” “Well, I ain’t plannin’ on stayin’ long anyway. As soon as Cloud Dancin’ can leave, I’m leavin’ too.” “He should be well enough to leave tomorrow, but if I’m not happy with his progress tonight, I’ll have him stay one more day.” “That’s fine. Cloud Dancin’ promised his wife he’d be home safe. I’m sure she won’t appreciate him comin’ home when he ain’t feelin’ up to travelin’.” Michaela smiled. As they walked, she found her fascination with this man growing by the second. She found herself asking many questions in her head, but not speaking them aloud. After several minutes of silence, Sully spoke up. “Is there somethin’ on your mind, Dr. Mike?” “Hmm? Oh, no. Nothing important.” “I know we just met, but you can ask me. If it ain’t nothin’ too personal, I’d be happy to tell ya.” Michaela realized she had to think of something to say and fast. “Well, could you tell me about the Cheyenne medicine?” “You really wanna know? I thought fancy doctors didn’t like to use savage medicines.” From hearing this, Michaela realized that Sully had probably tried to teach Cheyenne medicine and failed miserably in the past. “Fancy? I’m not fancy by any means.” “You’re fancier than any lady I ever seen.” Michaela blushed when Sully smiled at her. “Well, like I said before, I’m not like most people. I don’t share a lot of the same opinions that other people have. I’m open-minded and willing to learn new ideas.” Sully glanced at Michaela, studying her face for a moment. He finally nodded. “If ya really want to know, I’ll tell ya. But I think your best teacher’d be Cloud Dancin’.” Michaela nodded, shocked that she was so eager to spend her afternoon in the company of a man she had known for less than twenty-four hours. She shrugged off that feeling, and listened carefully as Sully began to tell her about the Cheyenne medicine while they strolled down the sidewalk looking for a place to have breakfast. Chapter Two: A Boston Afternoon “So he brews the willow bark?” Michaela asked with wide eyes. Sully smiled and nodded as he and Michaela sat on a picnic blanket in the common. They had had breakfast, but they had spent several hours discussing medicine. Sully didn’t know much about it, only what Cloud Dancing had told him and taught him. “Cloud Dancin’ knows a lot about the earth and what it gives us. The people in Colorado Springs don’t care what the Indians have to say. The townspeople live in fear and so do the Indians. The white men are bitter toward the Indians. Maybe it’s some kind of pride. I don’t know.” He shook his head. “Pride is a foolish man’s burden,” Michaela said softly. Sully looked at her quickly and she blushed. “What?” “I’ve said that one a lot.” He smiled at her and she felt her face grow hot again. “Many of the folks in Colorado Springs are foolish. They think that since they came in and claimed the land as their own, it don’t belong to the Cheyenne now.” “But the Indians were there first. You’d think they’d be respected.” “You’d think,” Sully replied. “Just because they were here first doesn’t mean they’re respected. They’re pushed around by the government because their way of life is different.” “That doesn’t seem fair.” “It ain’t. The Cheyenne are being pushed farther and farther away from the good huntin’ spots. Three of the children died last winter. They ain’t got enough food to get them through next winter. They need medicine that they don’t have and can’t get from the earth.” “I wish there was something I could do. It’s terrible to think that I have everything I need when they have so little.” Sully shook his head. “Don’t feel bad. It ain’t your fault.” Dr. Mike took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. “It’s about noon. Do you feel like joining my family for lunch?” Michaela mentally scolded herself for being so forward. “Lunch with your family?” Sully asked. “Well, I don’t want you to have to go back to the hospital and sit there all alone with Cloud Dancing while he rests. You need a decent meal. It’s free.” “I don’t need charity.” “That’s not what I was saying. I was just extending an invitation. Please join me?” “Will your family mind?” “It should just be my mother and myself. My sisters are all married with families of their own to take care of. They’re much too busy to come home for three meals every day.” “Well, if you don’t think your ma would mind, I’d be happy to join you.” Sully stood and he held his hand out. Michaela took his hand and he pulled her up. They linked arms, gathered up the picnic blanket, and headed off toward Michaela’s home, stopping by the hospital on the way to drop off some soup for Cloud Dancing. *~* Sully stared up at the large house that Michaela called her home. At first he thought it was part of a hotel, but Michaela informed him that it was the place she had been living since she was born. “I haven’t been spending enough time at home anymore, but I honestly don’t mind. My mother is always on my case, trying to convince me to give up being a doctor. She wants me to get married and have children.” She let out a soft sigh as the sound of horse-led carriages clattered down the street. “You don’t want that?” “Of course I do, but I want my career as well. I want to be a doctor.” “Well, it’s your decision, Dr. Mike. I don’t see why your ma should have a say in it. Sure she’s your ma, but she ain’t you. You gotta do what’s best for yourself.” Michaela smiled gratefully and nodded. “She thinks that because she gave birth to me that she can control my life. I sound so childish, but I’m so tired of her insulting my decision to become a doctor.” “Have ya told her about it?” “Many times, but she still stands firm.” “Well, maybe it’s time you told her exactly what you’re gonna do with your life.” Michaela looked at Sully. They hadn’t known each other long at all, but it was already as if he could read her. She wasn’t quite sure how she felt about that. “How can I do that when I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life? The only thing I know for sure is that I’m going to continue to practice medicine.” She paused for a few moments. “Mother is very set in her ways, and she strongly believes that a woman’s place is at home. I don’t understand how a woman like her could have a daughter who is completely different.” Michaela smiled a little. “When I was a little girl, my father would tell me that the stork dropped me off into his lap and that mother had nothing to do with the way I am.” “He lied to ya?” “Not really,” Michaela replied. “Every time mother would yell at me for not being a normal child, he would tell me that to make me feel better. I did know better, but it was nice to pretend for a little while. My father has never really lied to me.” “He sounds like a good man.” “He is,” Michaela said with a nod. “He is.” She took a deep breath and turned the doorknob to her front door. “Here we are.” Michaela took a deep breath, preparing herself for her mother’s reaction to Sully’s appearance. She knew Elizabeth wouldn’t say anything while Sully was in the room, but she knew she’d be hearing about it later. She didn’t care though, because she quite liked being in Sully’s company. She wanted to learn more about him and Colorado Springs. As soon as Michaela opened the door, the chambermaid, Martha, greeted her with a warm smile. “Welcome home, Miss . . . Dr. Quinn.” Martha was also very accepting of Michaela’s career. Harrison, the butler, greeted her with the same warm smile. “Your mother has been worried, miss,” Harrison warned. “I supposed I figured she would be,” Michaela replied with a sigh. Martha and Harrison glanced at Sully. “Please set another place at the table, Martha. Mr. Sully will be joining us for lunch.” “Very well,” Martha replied. She hurried off to do as Michaela asked. Michaela saw Sully looking around the foyer at the high ceilings and the beautiful paintings. She tugged lightly on his arm. “Come along. I’ll introduce you to my mother.” Sully followed Michaela down a long corridor until they arrived in a brightly lit dining room. Elizabeth was seated in her usual seat, sipping a cup of tea. “Mother?” Elizabeth looked up from her cup and her eyes grew wide. “Michaela!” “Sorry I didn’t come home last night, mother. I was busy with a patient at the hospital.” “And this morning?” “The same patient needed my attention, and I spent the afternoon in the company of Mr. Sully.” She looked back at Sully and gave him a nod. He stepped into sight. “Sully, this is my mother Elizabeth Quinn. Mother, this is Mr. Sully.” Sully nodded in Elizabeth’s direction. “Mrs. Quinn.” “I’ve invited Sully to have lunch with us. You don’t mind, do you?” “Apparently not,” Elizabeth replied shortly. The youngest Quinn pretended she didn’t hear that remark. “Please sit down, Mr. Sully.” Michaela sat in her usual seat across from her mother while Sully took a seat beside the doctor. After Martha brought the lunch out to serve, the three began to dine in silence. After a few minutes, Elizabeth cleared her throat. “So, Mr. Sully, where exactly are you from?” “Colorado Springs.” “Sully keeps the peace between the townspeople and the Cheyenne.” “Indians?!” “Yes, ma’am,” Sully replied with a nod. “They saved my life. I’m indebted to them.” The rest of lunch was increasingly tense for Michaela. She knew Sully felt completely out of place. She had tried to do something nice for someone, but her mother was once again stepping in and making that nearly impossible.” After lunch, Michaela walked into the foyer with Sully. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Don’t think nothin’ of it,” he replied. “She ain’t used to someone like me. I don’t expect her to be. I better be headin’ back to the hospital to visit with Cloud Dancin’.” “I’ll be along later to examine him. If I’m not happy with his progress, I’ll keep him another day or so.” Sully nodded. “Thanks Dr. Mike.” He left and Michaela started up the stairs and toward her bedroom. “Michaela, may I have a word with you?” Elizabeth asked as she walked into the foyer. Michaela took a deep breath and descended the stairs. She knew there was no way of avoiding her mother’s scrutiny or criticism. “What for, mother?” Elizabeth decided to be direct and get right to the point. “I don’t want you to see that man again.” “Excuse me?” Michaela asked, her eyes widening with surprise. “You heard me perfectly clearly, Michaela. I don’t want you to see that man again!” “Forgive me, mother, but I don’t see it is any of your business to tell me whom I spend my time with.” “I am your mother and I know what’s best for you.” “You mean what’s best for you!” “I beg your pardon?” “You obviously believe that my spending time with Sully is going to give our family a bad name.” “I believe nothing of the sort. I am only concerned about you, my dear, and you must believe that I do know what is best for your future.” “Mother! If you knew what was best for me, you would have supported me when I told you I wanted to become a doctor! You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do!” “Michaela, honestly, he’s merely a mountain man! You can’t possibly be thinking of settling down with him!” Michaela was boiling mad now. Her mother would make false accusations when she didn’t know the facts. That was just another thing that annoyed Michaela about Elizabeth. “What are you implying? If it’s any of your business, Sully and I just met yesterday. He and I have been talking about Colorado Springs and the Cheyenne. Mother, you need to stop focusing on my status as a single woman. If I do decide to court one day, I’ll do it without your input!” Michaela turned and stormed out of the house, tears welling in her eyes, wanting only to be able to talk to her father; for him to tell her that her mother was just overreacting. Of course Elizabeth was overreacting. It was her specialty. *~* Michaela rushed into her father’s office and slammed the door loudly, being beyond the point of caring whether or not that action was ladylike. Sully, who had been in the other room with Cloud Dancing, came out to see what was going on. “Dr. Mike? I didn’t expect to see ya here so soon.” “I’m sorry. I just needed to get away from mother.” “Don’t apologize. It’s your office.” “Oh it’s not my office. It’s my father’s. I’m simply his assistant.” “From what I’ve seen, you ain’t no assistant. You went to college, and you became a doctor.” “That’s a matter of opinion.” She tossed her medical bag down on the desk. “What are you talkin’ about? What happened after I left your house?” “My mother happened,” Michaela said, removing her lacy gloves and drying her eyes. “I knew it was coming, and I was trying to avoid it.” “You wanna talk about it?” “Not really. The argument was actually about you.” “Me?” Michaela nodded and took a deep breath. “She actually forbade me to ever see you again.” “Ah. Well, she don’t have to worry ‘bout that anyway. I’m leavin’ as soon as Cloud Dancin’ does,” he reminded her. Michaela looked up into Sully’s eyes and she saw something in them she had never seen in another man’s eyes before. She hadn’t had much experience with keeping the company of men, but this man was different. He had a kindness in his eyes, a softness that seemed out of place in a man of such nature. “Anyhow, I’m sorry I was the reason you and your ma fought. I probably startled her. I mean, I don’t exactly look like someone from Boston. How was she supposed to accept me like this?” “Don’t worry about it. My mother isn’t a very accepting person. Besides, I don’t think people should be judged by their appearances.” “That seems like a reason you ain’t gonna turn out like your ma. Don’t be afraid of that. I can tell that you’re scared of growin’ to be like her.” “Perhaps you’re right.” Michaela was in absolute amazement that Sully had known her fears when she hadn’t even revealed them. “I know that I’ve only known ya for about a day, but I can tell you got a good heart.” “Thank you,” Michaela whispered. “It means a lot to me to hear that from someone I don’t know.” Sully smiled a little. “I had better go check on Cloud Dancing.” Michaela headed into the other room, and Sully leaned against the wall with his arms folded over his chest, watching Michaela’s every move. She fascinated him; stirred up something inside of him that he never thought he could feel. It had been a long time since he had had this reaction to someone before. He had been with a woman, yes, but he had been young and in love. But the truth was, he had been too young to know what love really was. “Sully?” Michaela asked from the other room. Sully heard her calls and ran into the other room. “What is it?” Michaela was kneeling over a very sweaty Cloud Dancing. “He’s developed a fever.” “He was fine just a minute ago.” “I need to bring his fever down. Will you sit with him while I get my supplies?” Sully nodded and did as Michaela had asked. *~* The next few hours were critical as Michaela nursed Cloud Dancing back to health. Cloud Dancing’s fever broke, but Michaela decided she wanted to keep Cloud Dancing for another day and night. He could leave in two days. She finished washing her hands and leaned against the wall, watching Sully through the window in the door. Sully was gentle and got whatever Cloud Dancing needed. He was a loyal man, and from what she could tell, he was honest. Something about him made her feel things she never had before. It was all so new to her, but somehow she knew they were good feelings. It frightened her a bit, especially because he was leaving in two days with his friend. While Michaela went about some research at her desk, Sully sat at his best friend’s side. Cloud Dancing was feeling much better, and he was even up for talking. “You care for this medicine woman.” “What?” Sully asked. “We just met.” “That has nothing to do with it. You care for her.” “I’ve never met anyone like her,” Sully admitted. “She’s beautiful and smart. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met.” “Even Abagail?” Cloud Dancing asked. Sully looked away, feeling guilty for a few moments. “Yeah. Abagail was somethin’ special. I think Dr. Mike is too in a different way.” “You do care for her.” “Now I didn’t say that.” “You don’t have to say it with words. Your eyes tell the truth.” Cloud Dancing chuckled and Sully could help but smile. “You must be feelin’ better.” “She’s a true medicine woman. You know that.” “It don’t matter what I know. I just met her and I won’t ever see her again once we go back to Colorado Springs.” “The spirits tell me different.” “What?” “The spirits tell me you will see her often.” “That ain’t true.” “You doubt the spirits?” “No, but I doubt you heard them right. They probably told ya while you were sick.” “No,” Cloud Dancing replied. “What?” “The spirits told me you would meet a beautiful woman who would change your life while you were here in Boston. They told me you would care for her and see her often. They told me this while we were on the train.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” Sully asked, wondering why his friend had to be so mysterious sometimes. “I wanted you to be surprised,” Cloud Dancing replied. He began to laugh, and Sully shook his head. “I’ll let you get some rest.” Sully left the room and went out to sit in Josef’s office. Michaela was seated at her father’s desk with a book open before her. “You always have your nose in a book?” Michaela looked up, her eyes searching Sully’s. “Well, I can’t learn anything new if I don’t research it.” “Not everything you have to learn comes from a book.” Michaela felt herself starting to blush just as the door opened, and a middle-aged man came in carrying a suitcase and a medical bag.” “Mike! How’s my favorite girl?” Michaela looked up with wide eyes, and she smiled with happiness and relief. Sully watched her rush over to hug the man. The older man smiled and took a deep breath as Michaela pulled away from his hug. “Well, my dear, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Josef looked at Sully with non-judgmental eyes, the same eyes Sully saw in Michaela. “Certainly,” Michaela replied with a smile. “Sully, this is my father, Josef Quinn. Father, this is Mr. Sully.” Sully reached his hand out, not sure if this man would actually shake the hand of someone of his appearance. Sully was almost surprised when Josef accepted Sully’s hand and shook it. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Sully. How do you know my daughter?” “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Quinn. Your daughter here treated my friend.” “She did, did she? Oh tell me she didn’t go cutting on him?” Sully chuckled when Josef laughed. Michaela just shook her head. “No she didn’t. She took real good care of him.” “He’s an Indian. None of the other doctors would take care of him, so I had Sully bring him into your office. He’s pulling through nicely. There was a complication with a fever, but that’s broken.” “Do you mind if I examine him?” Michaela looked at Sully and nodded in approval. “Go ahead. You’ll have to get his permission first.” Josef chuckled. “You’re one of a kind, Mr. Sully. I hope my daughter has been hospitable.” “She’s a great doctor.” “You don’t have to tell me that twice. I know my little girl is a wonderful doctor. She’s going to run me out of business!” The doctor laughed and Michaela just grinned and shook her head. Josef went back to look at Cloud Dancing while Sully stayed with Michaela. “I can see it.” Michaela wrinkled her brows. “You can see what?” “I can see that you are like your father. He’s a good man just like you’re a good woman.” Michaela smiled and looked away, blushing again. The way this man could look into her soul and compliment her was completely foreign to her. She didn’t mind it, but she was starting to think that the next two days would pass by far too quickly. |