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Chapter 8: Giving Life November proved to be quite difficult for Michaela, but she fought the aches and pains as they came her way. The ladies in town were excited that Michaela was once again having twins, and they were all buzzing about what to do for the baby shower. Myra was settling into her maternal ways during her second trimester, and she was helping Michaela and Sully more often with the boys. While she would help Grace at the café, Connor and Daniel would play with Anthony and Mary after school. Everyone was excited about the all of the new arrivals, and one arrival was on Michaela’s mind in particular. She hadn’t seen Annie in over a month, and she knew the girl was in her eighth month as well. Unfortunately, Michaela wasn’t able to travel out to May’s house to see the young girl, and Sully was too busy with the reservation and helping out around the house. Colleen was off with the young man she still hadn’t brought home for Michaela and Sully to meet. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t tried to bring him home, but he seemed to be shy. She let her parents know that he was shy, and it concerned Michaela that she’d never heard the name Charlie Lloyd before. As she was sitting at the clinic, thinking about all of these things, Kid Cole walked in carrying a young lady in his arms. Michaela recognized her immediately. Colleen followed in immediately. “Annie?” Michaela wondered. She looked at Kid Cole. “What happened?” “I found her walkin’ into town. Said her Aunt May was murdered.” “What?!” “George found me,” she cried. “He beat me bad, but I got away. He killed Aunt May.” Michaela looked at Colleen. “Sweetheart, are you free to help me?” “Yeah. Charlie didn’t meet me. He probably forgot.” “Well, could you prepare a room upstairs?” “Sure,” Colleen replied. She rushed to do as her mother asked. Michaela began to cleanse Annie’s cuts. “Kid Cole? Would you mind waiting outside?” “No ma’am. I think I’m actually gonna get a posse together and see if I can’t catch this fella.” Michaela nodded, and Kid Cole left, tipping his hat to the doctor out of respect. “Annie, will you let me examine you?” Annie nodded, but gripped her stomach, crying out in pain. Michaela helped the girl lay back on the table, and she lifted the torn skirt. She noticed blood on her inner thighs. “Oh God. Annie did he . . .?” “No,” she cried. “I started hurtin’ real bad and bleedin’. I knew I had to get help.” Michaela knew this was bad, and if she couldn’t stop the bleeding, she would very well lose Annie and her unborn child. Fluid began to leak out onto the table. “What was that?” Michaela swallowed hard. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry, but you’re amniotic sac has broken.” “What’s that mean?” Annie asked, gripping the side of the table from the pain. “It means you’re going to have to deliver your baby.” Annie cried out in horror and pain. “No! Don’t let my baby die!” “I’m going to do everything I can, Annie, but your baby is going to be very small, and there is a good chance that . . .” “No. Don’t tell me,” she cried. “Annie, I can already see the baby’s head. You’re going to have to push.” “I can’t.” Annie began to shake. “Please help my baby, Dr. Mike!” “Sweetheart, I’m trying,” Michaela replied, tears welling up in her eyes. Colleen returned to the room, and saw all of the blood. “Ma?!” “Colleen, I need you to get a bunch of small blankets. Will you do that for me?” Colleen nodded and went to do as Michaela instructed. “Dr. Mike?” Annie asked as a contraction soared through her. “What is it?” “Thank you. Thank you for helping me. Thank you for being my family. I love you.” “I love you too, sweetheart,” she whispered to the girl whom she thought of as a daughter. She saw the life drain from Annie’s face, and the girl passed out. When Colleen returned, she moved to her mother’s side. “She’s gotta wake up, ma!” “I’m afraid I’m going to have to deliver the baby by Caesarean Section. I need you to check her pulse for me.” Colleen moved over. “It’s slow but steady,” she replied softly. Michaela moved to get the instruments she needed for this emergency surgery. Fear tingled at her spine, her heart was in her throat, and she felt as if she was losing one of her own children. She closed her eyes as she prepared to make the incision. “God, please don’t take her away. She doesn’t deserve this.” Colleen moved to use the chloroform in case she woke during the procedure. Any jolt could prove fatal during this surgery. Michaela’s hands were steady, but she felt weak in the knees as she began to free the baby from its mother’s womb. It was smaller than an normal baby, but it was a few weeks early as well. The cord was nearly wrapped around its throat, but the color was very good. Michaela lifted the baby into the world and placed it on a blanket nearby. Colleen moved to tend to the baby as Michaela began to sew up her incisions and administer the chloroform at the same time. Colleen held the baby close. “Ma, she’s not breathin’,” Colleen said softly. Michalea saw as the baby began to turn a bit blue. “Hold her upside down and slap her.” Colleen didn’t look too sure of this, but Michaela knew what she was doing. She held the baby in the way she’d see Michaela do it before, and slapped it hard. The baby began to scream and squirm. Both Michaela and Colleen let out sighs of relief, but Annie’s battle wasn’t over. “Take her into the other room and clean her up, please. I’ll finish in here.” Colleen took the child into the other room. The baby girl had dark black hair, obviously from her father. Her skin was lighter than most Cheyenne babies, but most Cheyenne babies weren’t half-white. Her eyes were dark brown, and her face was shaped just like her mother’s. She had Annie’s nose and ears. She was beautiful. “Welcome to the world, little one,” she whispered. A knock came to the door, and Michaela opened it. Sully stood there with the boys in his arms. “What happened? I saw Kid Cole, Jake, Hank, Loren and Robert E. headin’ outta town.” “It’s Annie,” Colleen replied as the tears began to fall. She looked down at the baby. “George found her and killed her Aunt May. She had a girl.” “Already? It’s early.” “She looks like she’s gonna be fine. Dr. Mike’s doin’ what she can for Annie, but there was so much blood.” Colleen needed a good cry, but she had to care for the baby first and foremost. “Let me help ya,” he whispered. “You go help your ma, and I’ll take care of the baby.” “Ya don’t have to.” “Go on. Your ma’s gonna need ya in there.” Colleen swallowed hard, realized her father was right and left the room to help her mother with Annie. Sully held the little girl in his arms, and she cried loudly. “Shh. It’s alright little one.” He poured some heated water into a small bath and began to cleanse the baby. He had done this when Connor and Daniel were born, but this baby wasn’t quite as relaxed as they had been. She was scared, and Sully knew she needed to be with her ma and pa. Unfortunately, her pa was a young man promised to a young Cheyenne woman, and her mother was fighting for her life on the operating table. It seemed as if an hour had passed, and Sully was now sitting in a chair with the sleeping infant in his arms. He had wrapped her in a fresh blanket, and she’d gone right to sleep after her bath. Colleen hadn’t come out yet, but he heard footsteps nearing the door. Michaela came walking through. The tears in her eyes told Sully it wasn’t good news. “Michaela?” “I lost her, Sully.” Sully placed the sleeping child down and hurried to hold his grieving wife in his arms. “Ya did what ya could,” he whispered, rubbing her back gently and rocking her back and forth slowly. “If she’d stayed with us . . .” “If she’d stayed with us, George probably woulda killed one of us or the children. Michaela, don’t think about what coulda happened.” “No. I think I could have prevented it.” “Ya didn’t know this was gonna happen. Nobody did.” “How could a person be so cruel?!” she screamed out. “Annie was so innocent and naïve! She didn’t know. God, why would a man do such a thing?” “Nobody knows why people do the things they do.” Sully felt the urge to let his own tears fall, but he wanted to be strong for his wife. “She can’t be gone. She can’t be.” Sully held her even closer. Colleen slowly walked into the room, and her heart began to break for her mother. They’d all thought of Annie as family, and it wasn’t right what happened to her. She couldn’t think about this right now. She could deal with it. She couldn’t think about how God had taken away this precious life that hadn’t done anything to deserve the things she had gone through. She ran out of the clinic, mounted Shakespeare, and rushed off on her horse. “Sully,” Michaela whispered, having noticed what her daughter had just done, “go after her.” “I ain’t leavin’ ya.” “She’s hurting. She thought of Annie as a sister. Please go after her. I need to tend to the baby.” She brushed her tears away. “Please! I don’t want her to get hurt.” Sully nodded, kissed his wife’s tear-stained cheek, and left the clinic quickly, knowing he needed to find his daughter. Yes, she needed to grieve too, but he needed to see her and make sure she was alright before he let her do that. Michaela picked up the tiny child. She sat down in the chair where Sully had been sitting. “I’m so sorry, little one. I’m so sorry I couldn’t save her. She wanted you to be happy. She wanted to be a good mother.” Michaela’s voice broke as she rocked the child back and forth. She peered down at the sleeping child, seeing so much of Annie in her. God, she was a beautiful child. Annie had been a beautiful girl who had had an unfortunate tragedy happen to her that effected the rest of her short-lived life. “You’re safe now. Nobody’s ever gonna hurt you the way they hurt your mother. I’ll see to that.” She kissed the top of the child’s soft head and wished she could wake up from this nightmare. *~* Colleen dismounted Shakespeare after twenty minutes of riding. She couldn’t ride any longer, and she needed to splash some cold water onto her face. She walked over to the creek and bent down to scoop some water into her cupped hands. She brought it to her face and let the cool liquid was away her burning tears. She wished she could wash away the memory of every terrible thing that had happened to Annie. God, Annie was dead. How could she die? How could she die while her child was being brought into the world? She began to think of Abagail. She’d been young when Abagail gave birth to Hanna, but she could still remember the night her mother had to go with Sully for the delivery. Colleen had been playing with her doll when her mother returned with the grim news. Colleen could remember thinking that it wasn’t fair to take two people out of the world, especially when one of them was just beginning her life, and the other had been looking forward to being a mother. Then it hit her. Childbirth. It was something Michaela would be going through in just a short month or less. What if it happened to her too? What if she had to have an emergency Caesarean Section and Dr. Bernard couldn’t save her life. “No!” she cried out, pounding her fists into the river, making a very large splash. She felt two strong arms pull her up, and she turned to face her father. “Pa!” “It’s alright.” “Ma’s gonna die. She’s gonna die like Annie,” she sobbed. She fell to her knees, and Sully stood frozen, memories of Abagail and Hanna flashing through his mind. When his daughter’s sobs broke him from his memories, he knelt down beside her and took her into his arms. “She’s not gonna die, Colleen.” “How do you know?!” Colleen asked. “Abagail and Hanna, Grace’s baby, and Annie! Ma can’t die, Sully!” “I can’t tell ya what’s gonna happen or what ain’t gonna happen, but I can tell ya that your ma is the strongest lady I know. She ain’t gonna leave her family. She’s gonna fight all the way.” “Why did Annie have to die? She didn’t do nothin’ wrong!” “I know. I don’t have the answers, but I know that ya can’t be scared of life.” “Grace almost died when her baby was born, but Dr. Mike was able to help her.” “Right. And Dr. Bernard’s gonna know exactly what to do if somethin’ bad happens.” “But ma couldn’t save Annie. Why couldn’t she save her?” “Nobody knows why some people live and some people die.” “Why didn’t God let her live? Why couldn’t he let her be with the baby?” “I don’t know,” Sully whispered. “You don’t know anything!” Colleen cried. “Ya can’t tell me anything!” Sully knew she was crying out, trying to think of someone to blame for this horrible tragedy. Sully couldn’t do anything but hold her tighter and hope she’d run out of tears long enough for him to get her back to the clinic to rest. “Leave me alone.” “I don’t wanna leave ya like this.” “I’m okay. I just want some time alone. I wanna ask God why he took her.” “Colleen, I ain’t leavin’ ya, but I am gonna let ya have some time to yourself. I’ll wait for ya on the main trail.” Colleen nodded. “Thanks pa,” she whispered. After Sully had disappeared from sight, Colleen wiped her tears away, and stood slowly. She looked up, wondering why it had to be Annie? It could have easily been her and not Annie. She could only thank God for not letting it happen to her, but be angry with God for letting it happen to Annie. The wind began to pick up, and Colleen began to shiver. She realized that she hadn’t bothered to put on her coat when she left the clinic. She had been too upset, and hadn’t thought about it. Now that the wind was getting so cold that it was beginning to bite through her skirt and shirt, she knew she should be getting back on Shakespeare and joining up with Sully. “Goodbye, Annie,” she whispered. She stood and walked over to climb up onto Shakespeare. She brought the horse out onto the main trail where Sully was waiting. “I’m sorry I yelled at you, pa.” “It’s nothin’ to apologize for right now. You’re hurtin’. We all are. Annie meant a great deal to us.” Colleen nodded and swallowed hard, wishing that she could see Charlie. He was a good listener. Maybe he could listen to her troubles and help her through the pain. She needed an answer. She needed to know why life could be so cruel. *~* Michaela had cleaned Annie up and bought a dress from the mercantile to dress her in for burial, and the young girl’s body was resting upstairs. Grace would have to inform Robert E. to make a coffin so they could lay her to rest in the morning. Olive, Grace, Dorothy, Jenny, and Myra were gathered at the clinic, talking with Michalea and helping her out with the newborn child. Nobody cared right now that the child was half-Cheyenne. All they cared about was that she had no mother, and her father didn’t know she was born. Michaela wasn’t even quite certain whether or not Silent Eagle knew he had fathered the child. Everything was a mess. Anthony, Mary, Brian, Connor, and Daniel were all over with Horace at the telegraph office. He had promised to look after them, and send word that there was a murdering rapist on the loose. They didn’t have a physical description though. It was almost like searching for a needle in a haystack. “This poor child,” Jenny whispered as she rocked the little one back and forth. “Me and Clayton could take her in for awhile.” “That’s kind of you to offer, but I believe she needs to go live with her family.” “You said her pa’s getting married,” Olive said quietly. “You think his wife will accept her?” “The Cheyenne are different from us,” Michaela replied. “I’m hoping Silent Eagle will take this child, because she is a part of Annie. I know he loved her.” “This poor thing deserves a lovin’ home and two good parents,” Grace replied, stroking the child’s soft hair. “Me and Robert E. could look after her too, if need be.” “I don’t know what to do,” Michaela admitted. “I know this little girl deserves to have two parents who’ll take care of her and love her, but she also needs to know where she came from. She needs someone who can teach her about her past.” “Why don’t you and Sully take her in?” Myra asked. “I mean, Sully’s friends with the Cheyenne.” “Sully and I are going to have our hands full with the twins when they come, but if Silent Eagle can’t take her, I don’t want her going to strangers.” Jenny passed the baby to Olive for a little while. The door opened, and Sully and Colleen walked in. Michaela would have stood, but she found it difficult in her eighth month. “Colleen? Sweetheart, are you alright?” “I’ll be alright.” Sully gave Michaela a reassuring nod. Colleen looked over at the baby. That baby was the only part of Annie that would be left once the funeral took place. “Can I hold her?” she asked softly. “I want her to know she’ll always have me to look after her if she needs a friend. She’s got nobody.” Colleen took the newborn from Olive. “We need to speak with Silent Eagle.” “I went out to the reservation to talk to him. His ma said he went to see Annie at her Aunt May’s house. Guess Annie didn’t know . . . but George killed him too.” Michaela felt her heart sink. This child truly was an orphan now. “I talked to Cloud Dancin’, and he talked with Black Kettle. They can’t take any more babies into their camp. They’ve got enough food for the people they have, but the furs are scarce. A newborn would die out there this Winter.” “Oh Sully,” she whispered. “What are we going to do?” “We’ll think of somethin’.” Michaela wiped the tears away. “We’ll leave you folks be for now,” Olive said softly, patting Michaela’s shoulder. She, Dorothy, Myra, and Jenny left slowly. Grace stuck around. “I’m gonna talk to Robert E. when he gets home. If ya can’t find a place for her, we’d be happy to take her in.” “Thanks Grace. That’s mighty kind of ya.” Grace nodded and gave the baby a last look before she headed home. Colleen was rocking the girl in her arms. “We can’t let her go to an orphanage,” Colleen insisted. “We can take care of her.” “I would normally agree, Colleen,” Michaela whispered, “but we’re going to have two newborns in the house very soon.” “So just because we’re lucky enough to have a big family, and this baby’s ma and pa are dead, we can’t take her in?” “It’s not as simple as that, Colleen.” “Why can’t it be?” she wondered. Sully swallowed hard. “She needs attention that we ain’t gonna be able to give her while we’re lookin’ after you and your brothers and the new babies.” “I’ll help,” Colleen promised. “Brian will too. I know he will.” “Sweetheart,” Michaela whispered. “We can’t just let Annie’s baby go to strangers! Not even the Cheyenne can take her. It’s not fair.” “I know it isn’t fair,” Michaela whispered. “We’ll take her home today and care for her, but we can’t keep her with us forever.” As much as Michaela wished she could take this child permanently into her home, she knew that what the baby needed was a home that could focus mainly on her. Jenny had offered on behalf of herself and Clayton. They would be good parents. Grace and Robert E. were wonderful with Anthony, and they so very badly wanted a baby girl of their own. There was definitely a home for this baby amongst some of the more kind-hearted citizens of Colorado Springs, but Michaela wasn’t quite sure what would be best for her. It was strange to think that just a couple of months ago, Michaela had been concerned about which home would have been best for Annie to stay in. Now she was worrying about the exact same thing, but in this case, it was for the sake of Annie’s baby daughter. *~* Michaela rocked Annie’s daughter to sleep that evening as she sat in front of the fire in her and Sully’s bedroom. Colleen hadn’t felt hungry enough to eat supper, but she’d finally come around and had a little to eat. Michaela had talked with her and tried to assure her that they’d make a good decision on behalf of the newborn. Sully was tucking Connor and Daniel into bed as Michaela got the child to sleep. Sully had brought in one of the cradles so the baby could sleep in the room with them. The blanket Annie had made for her baby and accidentally left behind when she moved was now lying in the cradle for the un-named child. The baby had eaten out of a bottle, which Michaela had created using supplies around the house. The baby had eaten a full bottle, and was now on the verge of sleep. “Come on, sweetheart,” Michaela whispered. “Just close your eyes and have sweet dreams.” She smiled down at Annie’s daughter as Sully walked into the room. Michaela motioned for him to stay quiet, and as soon as the baby was sleeping, she placed her in the cradle and covered her with Annie’s handmade blanket. “She’s finally asleep.” “She’s had a long day.” “She almost didn’t make it, Sully.” “But thank to you, she did.” “It was Colleen that saved her. I only instructed her on what to do as I was working on Annie. Colleen is going to make a wonderful doctor someday.” “I think you’re right.” Sully held his hand out and helped his wife stand. They walked over to the bed and crawled under the covers. They turned down the oil lamps on either side of the bed, so the only light in the room was that from the fireplace. “Do you think the baby’s warm enough?” “Yeah,” Sully replied with a tired yawn. “She’ll let us know if she ain’t.” “Maybe Colleen’s right. Maybe we should take her in.” “The baby? Michaela, I know we were think’ ‘bout takin’ Annie and the baby in, but with Annie gone now, it ain’t gonna be . . .” “I know. It’s just that I don’t want the baby going someplace where she won’t be able to learn about her heritage. I know you could teach her everything. Cloud Dancing could. She could even go to spend time with her grandmother at the reservation. “Well, if she went to stay with Jenny and Clayton, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind us teachin’ her either. Same with Grace and Robert E.” “I know. I’m just trying to think of what’s best for her. Maybe we’re what’s best for her.” “Michaela, it’s been a long day. Let’s get some rest, and maybe we’ll be able to think clearer in the mornin’.” “Annie’s funeral,” Michaela sighed. “God, I don’t want to bury that poor girl. And to think that the man who did this to her is still out there.” “The posse’s goin’ out after the service tomorrow.” “I’m not sure what good it’s going to do, Sully. What if he’s long gone?” “He’s stayed around all this time. I don’t think he’s goin’ anywhere.” Michaela sighed heavily, and Sully gently rubbed her knee. “Let’s get some rest.” “I won’t be able to sleep.” “Just try for the babies’ sakes.” Michaela nodded and settled down onto the bed, listening for the cries of Annie’s daughter and thinking about how horrible this situation had turned out to be for the poor young girl. *~* After the funeral, guests arrived to give their condolences and talk for a little while. After everyone was gone, Michaela didn’t want to think about it anymore. It hurt too much, and she knew that she couldn’t block it all out, but she needed to have a little time to adjust. The Sully family had gone back into town, and Michaela was working at the clinic, keeping herself busy. Colleen was helping out, while Sully and the boys were at the mercantile getting a few last minute things for when the twins arrived. “Ma! I forgot that we got a telegram from Matthew today,” Colleen spoke up, pulling it from the pocket of her dress skirt. She handed it to her mother, and Michaela’s face brightened at the thought of her oldest son. “He and Ingrid just might make it for Christmas.” “That’s wonderful news! Does Sully know?” “No, but I can go tell him.” “Please do.” The baby started crying in the next room, and Michaela sighed with exhaustion. This baby cried more than any baby she’d ever come into contact with, but she couldn’t help but fall in love with the child from the beginning. Colleen gave Michaela a reassuring smile before leaving the clinic. The young doctor went to retrieve the child, but by the time she got into the other room, Grace was sitting there with her in her arms. The baby had stopped crying and was suckling on a bottle. “I was just comin’ over to visit ya, and I heard the baby cryin’. I thought I’d help ya out and take care of her for ya.” “Thank you Grace.” “Not a problem.” She smiled softly. “Dr. Mike? Nobody’s comin’ in. Why don’t ya go lay down for a little while, and I’ll look after the little one.” “Oh no. You don’t have to.” “I want to, Dr. Mike. I’ll take her on a walk. I’ve got to meet with someone in a half hour, but don’t worry, she’ll be safe. It’ll do her good to get some fresh air, and I’ll bundle her up real warm.” Michaela looked unsure, but weariness was coming over her. “Alright,” the doctor agreed. “I’ll be in the next room lying down.” Grace nodded, and Michaela left to go into the other room. Grace stood there for a moment before she slipped out of the clinic. She looked both ways to make sure nobody saw her leaving, and started out of town. *~* About twenty minutes later, Sully, Colleen, and Brian were walking across the street to the clinic with Connor and Daniel in tow. The posse was riding into town so quickly, that Sully had to put an arm out to stop Brian from stepping out too far. “Pa! The posse! They’re back!” “Yeah. Looks like they got somebody too.” “Get inside,” Sully told the children. “Take the twins with ya.” Colleen and Brian decided to do as their father told them, but they went to look out of the window so they didn’t miss out. Sully rushed over to the posse. Hank was just dismounting his horse. “What’s goin’ on?” “We’re about to have ourselves a hangin’! We found the guy who killed Annie Black and her Aunt. Found him with blood stained clothes near Willow Creek. Jake got off of his horse and pulled the captive off with him. His hands were tied behind his back, and his face was battered with bruises. A scream was heard from the mercantile. “No!” Colleen rushed out alone and ran to the posse. “That’s Charlie! He’s not a killer!” “You’re right,” Kid Cole replied. “He’s a killer and a rapist. Confessed to it when we found ‘im with an Indian knife.” Sully took the knife from Kid Cole’s hand. He sighed heavily. “That’s Silent Eagle’s. Or it was.” “No!” Colleen cried. “It can’t be. Charlie!” “Name’s George,” Robert E. said, shaking his head. “Oh my God,” Colleen cried. She shook her head. “No!” She took off for the clinic. “Let’s have that hangin’ now,” Hank encouraged. “No!” Kid Cole barked. “We’ll have ourselves a trial, and when the verdict comes in guilty, we’ll have a hangin’. Mr. Slicker, go wire for the nearest judge.” Jake nodded, and he started off toward the telegraph office, wishing they could get this over with now. “Hank, help me get this fella to the jail.” Hank and Kid Cole walked off with George, and Sully stood there, staring after them. Brian came running out of the mercantile with Connor and Daniel hold onto his hands. “That’s the kid I saw Colleen ridin’ with.” Brian patted his son on the back. “C’mon. Let’s get to the clinic. Your sister’s gonna need your support.” Sully picked the twins up into his arms and walked with Brian over to the clinic as many of the town’s citizens gathered at the jail, wanting answers as to why George did the things he did. |