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“Horace, can we stop?” Myra asked after a little while of traveling on horseback. “Is it the baby?” he asked, slowing the horse to a stop. “No. The baby’s fine. I’m just a little tired is all.” Horace hopped down off of the horse and helped Myra down. He helped her sit down on an old fallen tree. “Horace, you don’t have to be so careful with me. I’m not gonna break.” “I’m sorry, Myra. I just don’t wanna see ya get hurt.” “As long as I’m with you, Horace, I feel safe.” Horace put his arms around Myra and held her close. After a few moments, Myra spoke again. “Do you think we’ll get away with this?” “What do you mean?” “What if Hank doesn’t give up? What if we go back and he comes after you?” “Then I’ll fight him for ya.” “I don’t want ya to get hurt on account of me.” “I won’t get hurt, Myra.” “Ya can’t promise somethin’ like that, Horace. Ya know ya can’t.” Horace looked away. “As soon as we get to St. Louis, I’m gonna buy us a nice house where you can rest and wait for the baby to come. I’ll get a job at a telegraph office, and I’ll make enough money for us to live on ‘til the baby’s born.” “Then what? We’re comin’ back to Colorado Springs just as soon as the baby gets here. Horace, I just thought . . . Hank’s gonna have people lookin’ for us. What if someone recognizes us? We can’t keep runnin’ forever. Maybe . . . maybe we shouldn’t leave.” “What are you sayin’?” “I’m sayin’ that maybe we ought to go back to town and work somethin’ out with Hank.” “Myra, Hank’s not a bargainin’ kind of man . . . not when it comes to you.” “Hank does feel somethin’ for me, Horace, but I love you. You are the man I wanna marry. We can’t run from that like we’re ashamed.” “You really wanna go back into town?” Horace asked. Myra took a deep breath and finally nodded. “I wanna do what’s best for my baby. I don’t think runnin’ from the law is best. We better go back. I’ll talk to Hank. Maybe I can talk some sense into him.” “I don’t want to see you get hurt, Myra.” “I’ll be alright,” Myra promised. “Let’s go.” *~* Dr. Mike was sitting at her desk at the clinic while Colleen was upstairs replacing the bed sheets in the recovery rooms. Brian was across the street at Mr. Bray’s mercantile, most likely purchasing gumdrops or licorice, while Sully was repairing a broken hinge on the clinic door. Dr. Mike had been trying to read her medical book, but Sully had become a distraction. She couldn’t help but stare at him as he worked. Sully looked up to find Michaela watching him. She realized what she was doing and blushed. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, nearly choking. “There’s nothin’ to apologize for,” Sully replied, putting down his tools and walking over to kneel beside Dr. Mike’s desk. She smiled and leaned down to kiss him. “Either you were really concentratin’ on something, or you were daydreamin’.” “Maybe both,” Dr. Mike admitted. She stood up and walked over to gaze out the window. Sully walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist. “Do you wanna tell me what’s on your mind?” Dr. Mike sighed heavily and turned to face Sully. “I feel so guilty, Sully.” “Why’s that?” “Because you and I love each other, and we’re happy. Horace and Myra love each other too, but Hank won’t let them be happy.” “It’s not your fault. You don’t need to feel guilty for bein’ happy, Michaela. I love to see you happy. I hate to see you upset.” “I’m lucky I have you, Sully.” Sully pulled his arms more snugly around Dr. Mike. “And I’m lucky to have you.” A moment later there was a commotion outside. Dr. Mike turned in Sully’s arms. “What’s going on?” They hurried outside to see Horace and Myra riding back into town on a horse. Horace helped Myra down and they walked over to Dr. Mike. “What are you two doin’ here?” “I decided I couldn’t run away. It’s not good for the baby,” Myra answered gently. “Come on, Myra. Let me take you home,” Horace said gently. “I don’t have a home, Horace. I need to do something before I can start my life with you.” She started off toward Hank’s saloon. Horace started after her, but Sully held her back. “Let her go,” Sully whispered. “She’s got to do this, you heard her.” *~* Myra walked into Hank’s saloon while he was wiping down the bar. He always closed down for an hour in the afternoon to clean up for the evening shift. Myra knew this was the best time to talk to him, because she could talk to him one-on-one. He didn’t look up when she walked in. “Hank?” Myra asked, her voice cracking. Hank looked up quickly, nearly getting the urge to grab his gun. But when he saw Myra’s face, he took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. “I thought you ran off again.” “I did.” “Why the Hell did you come back? I have a posse out lookin’ for you.” “I know,” Myra replied with a nod. She slowly walked over. “I decided it wouldn’t do my baby any good to keep runnin’ away.” “You did the right thing.” “Did I?” she asked. “Let me see my contract.” “What for?” “I want to see it.” “You can’t read, Myra.” “You don’t know much about me then, Hank. I’ve been learnin’ from Horace. He’s good for me.” “He can’t give you what I can.” He opened up his lock box and pulled out an old, yellowed piece of paper. Myra read over it, gripped it tightly in her hands, and ripped it to shreds. “You can’t do that, Myra!” “I just did,” she replied. “I don’t want my baby to know what its pa did to me. I don’t want my baby to know that its pa made me work while I was carryin’ him.” “You don’t understand.” “I understand. I understand that now that this contract is destroyed, you’ve got no proof that I ever worked for you. I’m done. I’m goin’ to be with Horace.” “I won’t let that happen.” “You ain’t got no choice!” Myra yelled. With that, she doubled over in pain, clutching her stomach. Hank felt his heart skip a beat. He jumped over the bar and went to her side. “Myra? What’s wrong with you?” “It’s the baby! Hank! You gotta help me!” Hanks swallowed hard and picked Myra up into his arms as she started to fall unconscious. “Please don’t let our baby die.” Tears fell from her eyes as she fell limp in his arms. Tears sparkled in Hank’s eyes. He held Myra close and hurried her across the street to Dr. Mike’s clinic. *~* Hank was sitting on the bench outside the door of Dr. Mike’s clinic. Horace was pacing frantically, waiting for word on Myra and the baby. Sully was sitting on the porch, leaning against the wall beside the door, chewing on a piece of straw. Wolf was lying lazily at his master’s feet. Sully was only there because Michaela had asked him to stay. Myra had had some complications with her pregnancy, and Dr. Mike knew that someone had to keep an eye on Hank and Horace in case they started to fight again. Sully watched Horace and was amazed at how much the man had changed in just a couple of days. Sully had never seen Horace as a fighter, but he knew he was strong, because he would take beatings from Hank just to prove his love for Myra. Sully hated the fact that people had to fight to get what they wanted, but he also knew that he wouldn’t have Dr. Mike in his life if he hadn’t fought for her against the outside forces and his own inner demons. “Hank, you better hope Myra’s alright.” “I didn’t ask for this to happen,” Hank pointed out in self-defense. Sully figured he’d let them talk as long as they didn’t start yelling or move toward each other. “I care about Myra.” “You care about her alright, Hank. You care about her so much that you’re willin’ to have her arrested. You caused this.” “I didn’t know she was gonna have complications, Horace. She shredded up her contract, and I started yellin’ at her for it. Next thing I knew, she was on the ground in pain.” “Why can’t you just let her go? She’s not yours and she never was.” Hank decided it’d be best not to say anything else. He knew he couldn’t begin to express what he felt for Myra to Horace. Hank wasn’t the kind of man to express his feelings to the public. He had had a hard enough time telling his son’s mother how he felt about her. But when she died, he tried to shut his heart off to everyone around. But, Myra had been something else. He had fallen for her years ago. He knew he had been selfish in making her work for him when it was clear she didn’t want to be doing that. He always used the excuse that she couldn’t break her contract, but more than that, he had just wanted her to be around so he wouldn’t have to feel lonely. Sully continued to watch the two men, making sure they didn’t start anything. He was surprised when Hank didn’t respond to Horace’s comment. He was even more surprised when that comment seemed to send Hank off into a deep thought. “Ain’t you listenin’ to me?” Horace asked. Hank didn’t seem to hear him. Sully looked at Horace and shook his head. “Just let him be,” Sully warned. A breeze whirled past sending clouds of dust in the road swirling along. Sully watched as the rest of the town seemed to go along with their day, passing them by while time stood still on the porch of the clinic. Mr. Bray and Dorothy were counting the produce in the bins outside of the mercantile, while the faint sound of Robert E’s hammer and anvil clinked like a distant bell. Sully suspected that the reverend was inside of the church, preparing for Sunday’s service. Sully could see Jake giving one of his regulars a shave inside of the barbershop. Everything was going on normally in everyone’s lives except for Horace, Hank, and Myra at that very moment. Myra’s life was possibly hanging in the balance while two men who didn’t want to let her go argued with each other and prayed for her at the same time in their own ways. “You boys look like you could use something to eat.” Sully, Horace, and Hank looked up to see Grace carrying a picnic basket, filled to the brim with biscuits and the day’s special. “Thanks Grace, but I ate already. Horace and Hank look like they could use the food more than me,” Sully explained. “I ain’t hungry,” Horace said quietly. “Me either,” Hank replied. “Hank?” Grace asked. “I’ve never known you to pass up a free meal.” “I said I ain’t hungry,” Hank replied. Grace nodded. “Alright, but when you get hungry, you know where to find me. I’ll just give this to Robert E.” She walked off and everyone sat in silence once again. A few minutes later, the door to the clinic creaked open and Dr. Mike came out wearing her apron. It was blood-free so that was surely a good sign. Sully, Horace, and Hank all stood and stared at Michaela, waiting for news of Myra’s condition. “How is she?” Horace asked. “She’s fine, Horace. She’s asking for you.” Horace hurried into the clinic without any more questions. Hank stood there, the blood practically coming back to his previously pale face. He took a deep breath, relieved to hear that Myra was doing all right. The only thing he feared now was news of the baby. “And the baby?” Hank asked. Dr. Mike nodded. “The baby’s fine. Myra was just under a lot of stress. She needs to take it easy and rest for a few weeks until she gets her strength back.” He noticed the way Dr. Mike was looking at him. He knew she was warning him about how he was acting toward Myra and Horace. “Can I see her?” “You can wait until after Horace leaves. If she wants to see you, I’ll let you know.” Dr. Mike walked back into the clinic and shut the door behind her. Hank sat back down on the bench. Sully quietly got up and left him alone, knowing there was nothing he could do or say. Wolf yawned, stood, and walked off behind his master. *~* “Myra, honey?” Horace asked as he slipped into Myra’s recovery room. Myra was resting in bed with the covers pulled up over her. Her face looked pale and scared. “Horace,” she whispered. Horace shut the door and sat down at Myra’s bedside. She pulled a hand out from under the blanket, and Horace took it. “I’m glad you’re here.” “I’ll never leave,” he whispered. “I’ll always be here for you.” “I know,” Myra replied. She took a deep breath. “I didn’t ask Dr. Mike how the baby was. I figured you’d want to tell me.” “The baby’s fine,” she answered. “Dr. Mike says I just have to rest for a little while. I tore up that contract, so I won’t go back to work for Hank.” “If he has any heart at all, he’ll let go of you, Myra. He’ll stop makin’ things so hard on us.” “That’s just not the way Hank is, Horace. I’ve known him for a long time, and I know that no matter what, he’ll fight tooth and nail for what he wants as long as it makes him happy.” “Myra, I promise you that when you’re feelin’ up to it, we’ll have a nice church weddin’ and all of our friends will be there. We’ll raise the baby together and protect it from harm.” Myra smiled. She sat up a little, and Horace kissed her forehead. “Are you hungry?” “A little, but I would rather not eat anything right now.” She took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair. Her hand moved to rest on her belly. She smiled and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, it was because she felt Horace’s hand rest on top of hers. “You’re gonna be a good ma, Myra.” Tears began to form in her eyes, and Horace pulled his hand away slowly. “What’s wrong?” “I need to see Hank.” “What for?” “I need to talk to him.” “No, Myra. Tryin’ to talk to him was what got you in here in the first place.” “Please, Horace. I need to talk to him. I need to make him understand!” Tears were starting to fall now, and Horace stood. He nodded. “Alright, honey, I’ll go get him. But, I’ll be just outside the door.” “You’re gonna be such a good pa, Horace. And a good husband.” Horace leaned down to kiss her gently before he left the room. He headed down the stairs and into Dr. Mike’s office. “Horace?” she asked as he entered the room. “She’s askin’ for Hank.” “Would you like me to tell him?” “No. I’ll do it,” Horace replied. He left the clinic. Hank looked up at him. “How’s she doin’?” “Do you really care?” “What the Hell is the point of tryin’ to talk to you anyway?” Hank asked, standing up. He started off for the saloon. “She’s askin’ for you, Hank,” Horace called out. Hank turned around and stared at Horace for a minute. “What?” “She wants to talk to you.” *~* Hank stepped into the dimly lit room. He saw that the curtains to the balcony doors were drawn so that the sunlight wouldn’t disturb Myra as she rested. He saw that her eyes were closed, so he shut the door gently and took a seat in the chair beside her bed. “Are you sleepin’?” he asked. “No,” she answered quietly. She opened her eyes to look at him. “Dr. Mike just wants me to rest.” “I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry this happened.” “Are you?” “Of course I am, Myra. I didn’t know . . .” “I know,” Myra replied. “You don’t know how to be a father, Hank. I’m sure that some day, you’ll be a really good one, but I want my baby to have a good pa that will be there when she or he is sick. I want a husband that will love me for who I am and not for how much money I make for him.” “Will you let me talk for a minute?” Hank cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “You’re out of your contract. You don’t gotta come work for me anymore. I want you to be happy, and I know I can’t make you happy. I made this happen, Myra. I’m the reason you nearly lost the baby.” “Hank . . .” “I ain’t finished,” Hank continued. “I want the baby to have a good pa. As much as I hate to say it, I think she’ll be happy with you and whoever you choose. If it’s Horace, I ain’t gonna be happy, but I know that she’ll be safe.” “You mean it?” “I guess I do.” “You won’t mind havin’ another man raisin’ your baby?” “I’ll mind, Myra. That’s why I want to be in his or her life.” “You do?” “Yeah. The baby will live with you and . . . Horace, but I want to be in her life as her real pa. Those are the conditions. Take ‘em or leave ‘em.” Myra thought for a moment and finally let the tears flow and a smile spread over her face. “I’ll take ‘em.” |