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Chapter 7: Goodbyes Before anyone knew it, it was Friday and the stagecoach had pulled into town. Sully/Cooper/Quinn clan had awakened early in order to see Josef and Elizabeth off. The sun was just coming up and the dim morning was slowly becoming bright. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground, but the clouds in the sky promised a blizzard. “Grandma, I’ll miss you,” Colleen said as she and Elizabeth embraced. “Colleen, you have our address in Boston, so write me as often as possible.” “I will. I promise,” Colleen replied. Colleen went to hug Josef while Brian and Matthew said goodbye to their grandmother. Sully and Michaela had their arms around one another as they watched the children with their grandparents. Michaela found it hard to believe that the week was over. She and Sully had been married nearly two weeks now, and the time seemed to be flying by. Once the children were finished with their goodbyes, Sully went to hug Elizabeth while Michaela went to her father. “Father, I’m going to miss you.” “I’ll come visit again as soon as we hear news about a grandchild,” Josef replied with a grin. Michaela and Sully looked at each other as Michaela blushed. “Mike, don’t be embarrassed.” “Thank you for being here, father. Just having you around made everything so much easier.” “I’ll always be there for my little Mike, even if I am halfway across the country.” Mike laughed and hugged her father. She moved over to her mother while Sully went to Shake Josef’s hand. “A handshake? Son, you know me better than that.” Josef pulled his son-in-law into a big hug. When they pulled away, they shook hands. “You take care of my Mike, you hear me?” “I’ll take care of her and the kids.” “That’s good to know.” “I love her very much. I won’t ever hurt her.” “I trust you, son.” The men turned to look at Michaela and Elizabeth who were hugging. “I’m glad you were here,” Michaela whispered. “Thank you for supporting me.” “Thank you for showing me what a fool I’ve been,” Elizabeth added. She pulled away from her daughter and smiled at her. “You’re a brilliant doctor, an obviously loving wife, and I know you’re going to make a wonderful mother. I want to know as soon as you’re expecting so I can finish that blanket.” “Blaknet?” “The white blanket I’ve been knitting is for your first born.” “Oh mother,” Michaela whispered, the tears starting to flow again. “I love you.” “I love you too, Michaela.” “We’re headin’ out,” one of the stagecoach drivers called over as he fed the horses a bit of hay before the journey. “We had better get in,” Josef commented. He helped Elizabeth into the stagecoach and got in by himself. “We’ll write as soon as we get back to Boston,” Elizabeth promised. Dr. and Mrs. Quinn waved as the stagecoach drove off being pulled by the horses. Sully, Michaela, and the children all waved as the stagecoach rounded a bend and pulled out of sight. Michaela turned to Sully and he brushed a singer tear from her skin. “You alright?” “I just can’t believe they’re not going to be around anymore. I’ve grown accustomed to having them around again.” Sully kissed the side of her head and she yawned a little. “Come on. It’s early, so if you lie down at the clinic, you might get a couple more hours of sleep.” “The children,” Michaela began. She looked over to see that the children were sitting the porch of the clinic. “I’ll take the children home. Brian wants me to help him and Matthew finish Pup’s bed. “I don’t see why. Pup will end up sleeping in Brian’s bed every night,” Michaela laughed. “It’s somethin’ for us to do together. Brian likes spendin’ time with me and Matthew.” “I know. I’m happy about that,” Michaela said with a grin. They kissed briefly before a voice from behind separated them. “Good morning.” Michaela and Sully turned to see Ethan Cooper standing behind them, a smug look plastered on his face as he folded his arms across his chest. “Mr. Cooper,” Michaela responded with a nod, trying to be a civil to him as she possibly could. “I would like to spend time with my children today.” “Why?” Sully asked. Michaela nudged him, knowing that they should at least be civil because he was the biological father of the three Cooper children. “I want to talk with them. I’ll stay in town with him. I want to try to make them understand.” “That’s up to the children. Sully and I won’t force them to do anything they don’t want to do. Michaela, Sully, and Ethan walked over to the clinic. The children grew quiet, Matthew especially. “What do you say we go have a little talk?” Ethan asked. “I ain’t goin’ anywhere with you,” Matthew replied. Ethan looked at his other two children. “Colleen? Brian?” “No thanks,” Colleen replied, her eyes tearing up as she thought of how he had abandoned her, her brothers, and their mother. “Brian?” Ethan repeated. Brian looked up at Sully and Michaela. He swallowed hard and looked up at Ethan Cooper, staring him in the eyes. “I got a new ma and pa now.” Sully knelt down to look Brian straight in the eyes. “Brian, I don’t want ya to feel like just because we’re your family now, that you gotta stop seein’ your real pa.” “I don’t wanna see him!” “Are you sure?” Michaela asked. “I’m sure. He left us and he stayed away for a long time,” Brian replied. “I don’t want to go to San Francisco. You said I wouldn’t have to!” “You don’t have to go anywhere,” Sully promised, putting his hand on the young boy’s back. “You don’t ever have to go anywhere you don’t want to go.” Sully stood up and looked Ethan in the eyes now. “You heard them. Why don’t you go back to San Francisco. I think you’ve overstayed your welcome.” Ethan turned and stalked off toward the saloon, but it wasn’t over yet. *~* Later that afternoon, Brian and Matthew were at the homestead with Sully while Colleen was helping Michaela at the clinic. Emily Donovan was in for her noon two o’clock appointment. “You and the baby are both in excellent health, Emily.” “I’m glad to hear that,” Emily replied, breathing a sigh of relief. “She’s finally sleepin’ through the night, but when she does wake up, it takes forever to get her to go back to sleep.” “All babies are different.” “Well, I’m thankin’ God for this one, because my son was even more difficult that this one is.” Michaela laughed and handed Emily’s baby over to her. Emily said her goodbyes and left the clinic. “Dr. Mike, do you want me to make us something for lunch?” “Thank you, but I’m not hungry.” “You hardly ate anything at breakfast. You should try to eat somethin’.” “I’m fine, Colleen. If you’re hungry, go right ahead. I’ll eat later at dinner.” “That’s hours away,” Colleen persisted. Michaela sighed. “I’m fine, I promise,” Michaela said with a smile. Colleen frowned but walked off into the other room to use the stove to cook. Michaela sighed heavily and leaned against the wall. She felt dizzy and nauseated. She couldn’t be pregnant. It was too soon, and she and Sully had only been married for two weeks. She knew she was coming down with something, so she decided to lay down for awhile. She knew she hadn’t been sleeping much, and that was probably affecting her appetite and the way she was feeling. Myra walked out of the back room where Colleen was preparing lunch, and she saw how pale Michaela’s already ivory features had become. “Dr. Mike? Are you alright?” “Yes,” Michaela replied. “I’m just a bit tired.” “Why don’t ya go on home? You don’t have another appointment today.” “I know,” Michaela replied. “But I don’t want to leave. I feel as if I’ve been neglecting the clinic lately. You’ve been keeping track of my appointments when you have another job.” “My job is workin’ for Grace, but the café’s closed up till the spring. I’m happy to help ya out, because I know you’re just married and you’ve got Charlotte’s kids now. You need all the help you can get.” “Thank you Myra. That’s very kind of you, but I think I’ll just stay down here and do a little catching up.” “Alright,” Myra replied slowly. “I’m just gonna go outside for a breath of fresh air.” She pulled her coat on and walked outside to stand on the porch. Michaela frowned and put her hand on her stomach. She had a very unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach, and she was worried. She took something to ease the queasiness and went back to work. *~* While Matthew and Sully worked in the barn, trying to build a bed for Pup to sleep in, Brian played outside with him. “Come on, boy!” Brian called as he ran around the large yard with the little fluffy puppy following closely behind him. Brian continued to run around until he saw a man on horseback approaching. It was Cloud Dancing! “Pa! Pa!” Sully came running when he heard the boy yelling. “What is it, Brian?” Sully asked, kneeling beside his son. “It’s Cloud Dancing!” Brian exclaimed. He pointed in the Indian’s direction. Sully looked up to see his best friend riding closer at a rapid pace. As soon as Cloud Dancing stopped, he dismounted and clasped arms with his brother. “What’s goin’ on?” “White men have taken her!” “Who?” Sully asked. Cloud Dancing swallowed hard. “Snow Bird.” Sully took a deep breath and patted Cloud Dancing’s shoulder. “We’ll get her back.” Sully turned to see Matthew coming out of the barn. “Matthew, take your brother into town and tell Dr. Mike that I have to leave.” “Can’t you tell her?” “It can’t wait. Snow Bird’s been taken.” Matthew nodded. “How long will you be gone?” “Hopefully not more than a day or so.” “I’ll tell her,” Matthew replied. Sully ran into the barn and took one of the horses. He was starting out of the barn when Brian ran up. “Pa! You’re comin’ back, right?” “’Course I am, Brian.” He gave the boy a reassuring smile before he rode off after Cloud Dancing. *~* “Did he say where he was going?” Michaela asked after Matthew and Brian had explained what Sully was doing. “No,” Matthew replied. “But he said he should hopefully be back in day or so.” Michaela became concerned even more, and she wondered if perhaps she should go after Sully in case Snow Bird needed medical assistance. But then again, she knew that she needed to stay with the children and take care of the clinic. She hoped that if Snow Bird was in need of assistance, Sully and Cloud Dancing would bring her into town as soon as possible. “Thank you for letting me know,” Michaela whispered. “We’re goin’ back to the homestead. Do you want us to take ya?” Matthew asked, searching Michaela’s eyes with his own. “No, I’ll be along later.” “You’re sure?” Michaela nodded. Matthew turned slowly and put his hand on his little brother’s head. “Alright, little brother. Let’s go home.” “I’m gonna go home and get some chores done,” Colleen said with a smile as she walked out of the back room. I left some lunch back there for ya in case ya get hungry.” Michaela nodded. “Thank you.” Michaela turned and went back to keeping herself busy, but this time it wasn’t to keep her mind off of her stomachache. She was now trying to keep herself from worrying about Sully. The door opened and Dorothy walked in. She saw how worried and pale Michaela had become. “Oh dear! What’s the matter, Michaela?” Michaela looked up at her and swallowed hard. An uneasy feeling washed over her. She gripped the table just as Hank came walking in. Her eyes rolled back and she fell backward. Dorothy cried out and Hank caught Michaela in his arms. He quickly put her up on the exam table and looked at Dorothy with concern. “What do we do?” “Hand me her medical bag. She’s gotta have some smellin’ salts or somethin’.” Hank handed Dorothy the bag and she started searching through it. Before she could find anything, Michaela began to come to. Hank grabbed the pitcher of water, poured some of it into a bowl, and used a sponge to gently run it across Michaela’s beautiful face. Dorothy watched Hank and saw how gentle he was, and she was completely surprised. The door opened and Myra walked in. She had wondered what was going on when she saw Hank walk into the clinic. Now that she saw him running the sponge over Michaela’s face, her heart skipped a beat. “Hey doc? You alright?” he asked as he put the sponge away. Michaela slowly sat up and Hank and Dorothy kept a close eye on her in case she fell back again. “Yes. I think I had better get home.” “I’ll drive your wagon. You ain’t in any condition to be drivin’ out there,” Hank offered. Michaela stared at him for a moment. She couldn’t believe how considerate he was being, but she knew he was being sincere. She simply nodded and Hank helped her stand. “I’d go, but Loren’s expectin’ me to take stock at the store,” Dorothy said apprehensively. “I’ll go,” Myra offered. Hank turned and saw Myra. He swallowed hard and helped Michaela out the door. Myra helped him, and by the time he put her in the back of the wagon, she was feeling much better. She sat up, but she was still feeling very sick. Hank helped Myra up into the front of the wagon. They started off for the homestead as Michaela rested in the back of the wagon. *~* “Thanks for bringin’ her home,” Matthew said as he helped Michaela out of the back of the wagon. “I’ll drop your wagon off by the barn. Me and Myra’ll walk back to town.” Matthew nodded and helped Michaela into the house. Brian and Colleen looked very concerned, but didn’t ask questions. “Can you make it upstairs?” “I’m fine,” Michaela insisted. “You don’t look fine,” Matthew replied, taking charge as man of the house while Sully was away. “Go get into bed and get some rest.” Michaela honestly didn’t feel like arguing, so she made her way upstairs and into her bedroom. She changed into her night gown, and as she was doing so, she ran her hand over her smooth belly. Could she really be pregnant? She didn’t think the symptoms could show up so soon, but perhaps she really was expecting. She smiled a little and got under the covers at bed. Maybe she was pregnant, and if she was, she couldn’t wait to tell Sully. She closed her eyes and started to slip into a dream. After awhile, however, she sat up feeling pain in her abdomen. She sat up and climbed out of bed, finding blood on the blankets. She sighed heavily and knew that she had gotten her monthly and that she wasn’t pregnant. Now she knew why she had been feeling so ill, and that the reason she had passed out had been because she had been sleep deprived. She sighed in disappointment, but figured that it might be good to wait awhile to have a baby anyway. She only wished that Sully was there to tell her everything would be alright. She sighed, pulled the covers off of the bed to clean them, walked down the hall to the washroom to get cleaned up, and retired back to bed to sleep for the next several hours, trying to feel better about the fact that Sully wasn’t there and she was missing him already. |