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Chapter 6: A New Family Despite the fact that Ethan Cooper was snooping around the new homestead, the Cooper children were getting acquainted with their new home. They were spending more and more time with Josef and Elizabeth while getting adjusted to having a new mother and father. It had been an easier adjustment for the children to have Josef and Elizabeth nearby. They had never had grandparents before, and it was nice to have them around. So, Michaela and Sully had invited her parents to stay at the homestead for the last few days of their stay in Colorado Springs. They had brought beds from the clinic to fill Matthew, Colleen, and Brian’s rooms, and Brian was staying with his big brother for a few nights to get used to things. Sully was planning on giving Brian his new puppy as soon as the children got back from town. Michaela was exhausted and was taking the afternoon off from the clinic because she had been up several times in the night with Brian, who had been having nightmares. When Matthew had been unable to console his brother, he’d come get Michaela and Sully. Sully had been keeping Brian’s puppy at the old homestead, and he figured that by giving him the puppy now, the boy might be more relaxed and not have bad dreams at night. Michaela couldn’t wait to see the look on Brian’s face when he got his new companion. She was worried about all of the children, because they were trying to be strong for themselves, each other, and for Dr. Mike and Sully. Michaela and Sully had told them it was all right to talk about Charlotte, and they would discuss her, but it seemed as if things weren’t being resolved. Michaela knew that it took time to recover from such a loss, and in some instances, people never really did recover from losing someone they loved so much. Michaela was sitting in a chair by the fire, reading one of her medical books. Sully had taken Josef out to the new homestead after telling him he could use some help getting the wolf pup to the new homestead. In actuality, he would have had no trouble, but he wanted to give Michaela some time alone with her mother, because they barely got time to talk lately with Charlotte’s dying and the children moving in. Plus, Ethan Cooper was still trying to get the children to trust him and trying to bribe them with gifts and tales of San Francisco. He knew for a fact that the adoption papers had been sent back to Denver, and that the new family was waiting for word on the papers being processed and accepted. Elizabeth looked up from the blanket she was knitting. She saw that Michaela’s eyes weren’t concentrating on her book, but up into a far corner of the house, or perhaps beyond the walls and into some unknown place. “Michaela?” Elizabeth asked. Michaela hadn’t seemed to hear her. Elizabeth gently reached over and took the book from her daughter’s hand. Feeling the absence of the book made Michaela realize that she had been daydreaming. She looked at her mother and took a deep breath. “What is it, mother?” “Heavens, you looked like your mind was in another world.” “It was,” Michaela admitted. “I can’t seem to concentrate lately. I’m so tired, but when I try to get my reading done, I can’t seem to focus.” “You’re tired, Michaela. Why don’t you go upstairs to rest?” “Sully and father should be back soon. The children will be coming in and they’ll want lunch.” “I’ll take care of it. You still need those cooking lessons,” Elizabeth joked. Michaela rolled her eyes and smiled at her mother. “What were you thinking about?” “Many things,” Michaela replied thoughtfully. “Sully, the children, Charlotte . . .” “There has to be something else. I can see that shine in your eyes.” Michaela smiled a little. “I’ve been thinking about children in general. Sully and I want to have a baby of our own. I know it’s early.” “It’s natural,” Elizabeth replied. “But I don’t feel right about it right now. I just inherited three beautiful, amazing children, and Charlotte is gone. I feel selfish for wanting another child when I have my best friend’s children.” “You’re not selfish, Michaela. Not by any means at all. My dear, you look like you haven’t gotten a moment of sleep. Go on upstairs and I’ll take care of the children until Sully gets home.” “I’m alright.” “Michaela, please do this for me. You need your strength.” Michaela yawned and nodded a bit. “I suppose I could lie down for a few hours. You’ll call for me if you need anything?” “Of course,” Elizabeth replied. Michaela knew that was a lie. Elizabeth and Josef had become very self-reliant during their stay in Colorado Springs. Michaela was no worried that Martha and Harrison would be out of jobs when Dr. and Mrs. Quinn returned because they would be doing everything for themselves. Michaela slowly ascended the stairs, took off her shoes, and crawled under the warm blankets and into the comfort of the wonderful bed Sully had made for her. The only thing that was missing was Sully lying with her, but she closed her eyes and made due with the quiet and slowly fell into a deep sleep, hoping that she would feel better when she woke. *~* Josef and Sully were on their way back to the homestead with Brian’s puppy. Sully knew the children would be back from town soon, and he wanted the puppy to be waiting in Matthew’s room for Brian when they returned. “Mike has been very tired lately. She should get more sleep.” “She’s been getting sleep, it’s just that Brian’s been havin’ those nightmares.” “You haven’t been keeping her up, have you?” Sully swallowed hard and his cheeks turned red, which was not something that happened often to Byron Sully. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you, son. I know you are still in that honeymoon phase.” “Michaela’s been real tired lately,” Sully replied. “I’ve been givin’ her some room. She’s been upset over Charlotte’s dyin’, and she’s been getting used to the children bein’ around.” “My daughter hasn’t lost sleep like this since she was in medical school,” Josef said with a chuckle. “But I suppose she should get used to sleepless nights. The way I figure is that you’ll be hearing the pitter patter of little feet.” “What makes ya say that?” Sully asked as they continued down the road. The wolf pup jumped on Wolf’s back and began chewing on his ear. Wolf, acting like an annoyed big brother, playfully nipped at the pup until he backed off. “Because when I look at Mike when she looks at you, I see the look in Elizabeth’s eyes when she decided she wanted to have one more child.” Sully smiled a little. “We wanna have a baby,” Sully admitted. “We just ain’t sure it’s the right time.” “You can’t really plan these things all the time, Sully. It’ll happen when nature decides it’s time.” “We ain’t really in a hurry,” Sully replied, “but we ain’t exactly not tryin’ either. We can’t wait to add to our family, but then again, we didn’t really think Charlotte was gonna pass so soon.” “But Mike knew it was going to happen sooner or later.” “I think she was startin’ to convince herself that she had more time to get to know the children and Charlotte. But now she’s just married, catchin’ up on her work at the clinic, and takin’ care of three kids. I’m tryin’ to help her so she won’t have to take it all on herself.” “That’s good,” Josef replied. He pat his son-in-law on the back and they continued on in silence toward the new homestead. *~* Myra was dusting the shelves at the clinic, the least she felt she could do considering that Michaela was letting her stay for free. She hadn’t been out of the clinic yet, because after she had woken, she had seen Hank outside the saloon, staring over at the building. She had an uneasy feeling, and she wasn’t sure if that was a bad thing. She cared a great deal for Horace, but the way Hank looked at her and spoke to her made her feel special, even though those looks and comments were coming from a man who owned a saloon and made prostitutes sign contracts. She jumped when a knock came to the door and Horace walked in. “Afternoon’ Myra.” “Hi Horace,” Myra replied with a smile. “Sorry I had to cancel our plans last night.” “That’s alright,” Myra answered calmly. She glanced out the window to see that Hank wasn’t outside of the saloon anymore. She swallowed hard, feeling guilty for thinking about Hank while Horace was standing right in front of her. “You ain’t mad?” “’Course not.” She smiled at him and took off her dusting apron. “Listen, I better get back to the office. I just wanted to come check on you and apologize for last night.” “Don’t you worry ‘bout it, Horace.” Myra gave him a smile as he left. She shut the door behind him and leaned against it. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about Hank? He wasn’t a good person, even though he had a soft side that was kind and gentle. Horace was the kind of man she was supposed to be thinking about. He was kind, gentle, and cared for her very much. It was obvious that he was willing to do anything for her, but then again, it seemed as if underneath that rough exterior, Hank might’ve been willing to do the same thing. *~* Michaela yawned and sat up in her bed. She had only been lying down for about fifteen minutes, but she couldn’t get comfortable enough to fall asleep. When she heard the wagon, she knew that it was either Sully and Josef with the wagon, or the children with Charlotte’s wagon. She hurried over to the window to see Sully, Josef, Wolf, and the pup. She hurried down the stairs where the aromas of a wonderful lunch were floating through the air. “Michaela?” Elizabeth asked. “I couldn’t sleep,” Michaela replied. Josef walked in and Michaela smiled at him. “Mike, have you been resting?” Josef asked, giving his daughter a hug. “I’ve been trying,” Michaela said with a sigh. “Where’s Sully?” “He’s out in the barn putting the horses up.” Michaela nodded, pulled on her coat, and walked out into the cold January air. The clouds above were heavy and gray, and Michaela knew that it was going to snow shortly. She walked into the barn and smiled when she saw Wolf and the pup playing together. Sully smiled when he saw his wife. “I thought you were gonna rest today.” “I wanted to come out here and greet you,” Michaela replied, walking over to Sully. Sully happily took his wife in his arms and kissed her lovingly. “You feelin’ alright?” “Yes, I’m just tired,” she assured him. “The children aren’t back yet, so your surprise hasn’t been ruined.” Sully smiled and kissed Michaela’s cheek. He picked up the wolf pup and they walked into the house. Wolf ran in ahead of them and the puppy nearly leapt out of Sully’s arms. “Oh!” Elizabeth exclaimed as Wolf ran by. Sully went upstairs to put the pup in Matthew’s room. Michaela walked over to smell the stew that Elizabeth was preparing. “This smells wonderful, mother.” “Thank you,” Elizabeth replied with a nod. The sounds of another wagon pulling up to the house caught Michaela’s attention. “The children are home,” she said with a smile. She walked out onto the porch to greet them. “Good afternoon.” “Afternoon, Dr. Mike,” Matthew said with a smile. Sully came walking down the stairs. “Lunch is almost ready. Why don’t you children go wash up?” Michaela asked. “You didn’t cook, did you?” Colleen asked cautiously. Michaela laughed and shook her head. “I did,” Elizabeth replied with a laugh. “Unfortunately I never could get Michaela to spent five minutes in the kitchen with Martha.” “Who’s Martha?” Brian asked. “She’s the maid at my old home in Boston,” Michaela replied. “Go on upstairs and wash up.” “I’m first,” Matthew said as the kids hurried up the stairs. “They seem to be doing well,” Michaela said softly. “They’re gonna be fine. It’ll just take time for all of us to get adjusted.” A minute later, Brian shouted out upstairs and came running down with the pup in his arms. “Careful, Brian!” Michaela warned. “It’s a puppy!” Brian exclaimed. “I thought you might like him to keep you company once you get to sleep in your own room.” “You mean it?! He’s mine?!” Brian asked with wide eyes. The puppy jumped out of his arms and jumped a little bit before he ran after Wolf to play. “He’s yours, Brian,” Sully replied with a smile. Brian ran over to him and Sully picked him up. “Thanks pa,” Brian whispered, hugging him tightly. Sully and Michaela exchanged glances. Sully rubbed the boy’s back and held him close. “I can call ya pa can’t I?” “That’s up to you, son.” He put Brian down and the boy looked up at him. “You’re sure my real ma wouldn’t mind me callin’ you ‘pa’ and Dr. Mike ‘ma?’” “I don’t believe she’d mind at all. But that’s up to you, Brian,” Michaela replied. “I know that she has only been gone for a few days, so you don’t have to do anything you aren’t ready for.” “But just callin’ you Dr. Mike don’t make it seem right. I want a ma and a pa. I love you both like you were my real ma and pa.” “And we love you too,” Michaela replied with tears in her eyes. “We love you, your brother, and your sister very very much.” She pulled Brian into her arms. He put an arm around her neck and held one out to Sully. Sully and Michaela both held onto Brian together. Colleen came down the stairs and saw the little scene. “What’s going on?” “I get to call them ma and pa,” Brian said with a smile. “Do you think ma minds?” Colleen looked at her new family and she shook her head. No matter how much she missed her mother, she knew that Brian needed to be able to call someone his parents, and Ethan was the only real parent they had left. She smiled. “Ma doesn’t mind, Brian,” Colleen whispered. “Dr. Mike and Sully are our ma and pa now. That won’t change, right?” “Right,” Michaela replied with a nod. They put Brian down and he picked up the puppy who had come back to his side. “Colleen, did you see what ma and pa are lettin’ me have?” “I did,” Colleen replied with a grin. “What are ya gonna name him?” Brian thought for a moment. “Pup,” he decided. “Pup?” Sully asked. “Yeah.” “But what happens when he grows into a big wolf?” Michaela wondered. “He’ll still be Pup,” Brian replied. “Can I go play outside with him?” “You can go outside after lunch,” Michaela replied. “And you’ll have to bundle up because it’s going to snow.” “I will,” Brian promised. Matthew came walking down the stairs. “What’s goin’ on?” “Matthew! This is pup! Sully . . . I mean pa brought him for me!” Matthew looked at Sully and Michaela. Michaela began to wonder what Matthew would think of his little brother calling her and Sully ma and pa. “Did he? Well, after we eat lunch, I’ll help you set up a bed for him in the barn.” “Thanks!” Brian replied. He hurried upstairs to get washed up. Matthew swallowed hard and looked at Sully and Michaela. “Matthew . . .” “No, it’s alright,” Matthew said softly. “Ma wanted it this way. She wanted us to think of you and Sully as our parents, and you have been there for us for months. You are our parents. I s’pose me, Colleen, and Brian are lucky. We’ve got a father and two mothers. It’s just that one ain’t here anymore.” “You really feel that way?” Sully asked. “’Course I do,” Matthew said quietly, his voice breaking. “I love my ma, but she wanted us to do what we felt was right. I want a ma and a pa, and that ain’t somethin’ I’ve really had for a long time. It’s good to be in a family again, you know? A family where there’s a ma and a pa and even grandparents.” Michaela touched Matthew’s face and brushed away a tear that started to fall. “We won’t ever forget our real ma, but it’s good to know that we’ve got a ma and pa here on earth, and that ain’t gonna change. I’m proud to be a part of this family, and I’m glad that our ma wanted you to look after us.” “Same here,” Colleen replied with a smile. “I can’t say I’m going to call you ma and pa, but that’s what you’re gonna be to me.” Colleen looked at Sully and smiled. “My real pa hasn’t been there for me like a pa should, and I know that you won’t leave Dr. Mike. I know we’re safe here.” “You’re right about that,” Sully replied, putting a loving arm around Michaela. “You kids don’t have to worry about anything, because you have a home here forever. That’s what your ma wanted, and that’s what we want.” Josef and Elizabeth had been observing this scene, and they looked at their family with pride, knowing that their daughter had made the right choice in coming to Colorado Springs. She now had a family, and she was happier than she had ever been. Now the only problem in the back of their minds was the one thing that wouldn’t seem to go away. Ethan Cooper. *~* Midnight was fast approaching, and the Sully homestead was quiet. Josef and Elizabeth were sleeping down the hall, and the children had finally settled and gone to sleep. Matthew fell asleep right away, Colleen had stayed up to read, and Brian couldn’t sleep because he was too busy playing with Pup, quietly of course, as to not wake Matthew. Michaela was sitting up in bed with her head resting on the intricately carved headboard. She was staring off into space, thinking about her future with her family. Michaela was going to go into town in the morning, and she knew she should sleep, but she couldn’t. She was so accustomed to staying up all night in the arms of her husband, making love until the wee hours of the morning, sleeping until noon, and making love until sundown. Now that three children were living in the house, things couldn’t happen like that anymore. Plus, Michaela had her practice and she couldn’t abandon that for pleasure, as tempting as that sounded sometimes. The door opened and Sully walked in, yawning and stretching. He shut the door and removed his shirt, hanging in on the hook on the door as usual. “Is everyone asleep?” Michaela asked. “Finally. Brian just nodded off a few minutes ago.” “He’s really attached to Pup.” “Sure is,” Sully agreed. Michaela climbed off of the bed and walked over to hang up her robe. Her nightgown floated behind her as she walked back to the bed. She climbed in and Sully climbed under the covers with her. She yawned and rested against Sully. He pulled his arms snugly around her. “What a day,” Michaela whispered. “Mhm,” Sully mumbled. “Sully?” “Yeah?” “I was just thinking.” “’Bout what?” “About our family,” Michaela replied. She shifted to sit up and face him. She held his hands in hers and laced her fingers with his. “I want us to have a baby.” “We will.” “I can’t wait to make our family grow and create a life with you. It’s something I can’t stop thinking about, and I would like nothing more than to be the mother of your child.” “You really want this right away?” “I do,” Michaela replied, her eyes lighting up. “I think I’ve known from the moment I met you, somewhere deep inside, that I wanted to be with you for the rest of my life and create a family with you. What do you think?” “I know we weren’t exactly tryin’, and I don’t think it’s really gotta happen soon, but if it happens, it happens, and I’ll be more than happy. I can’t wait to see you nursin’ our baby for the first time, holdin’ and kissin’ the baby. I can’t wait to bring him or her out to the lean to, or maybe go to Boston and tell him how his ma and pa met.” Michaela smiled as she watched the light in Sully’s eyes brighten. He smiled when he saw how happy she was, and he couldn’t wait to see that smile on her face when they found out they were expecting. “What do you say we get started on expandin’ our family right now?” Michaela pretended to think about it for a moment. “Hmm,” she pondered, tapping her finger on her lips. “C’mere,” Sully said with a chuckle, pulling Michaela close and capturing her lips with his. Michaela reached over to turn down the oil lamp, dimming the room. The only light that bathed over the two lovers was that coming from the fireplace. Michaela and Sully spent the rest of the night enthusiastically trying to help their family grow. |