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Chapter 9: Why? Michaela paced the floor of the clinic, waiting for Grace to return. It had been two hours! Where was she? Sully watched his wife pace, and he felt that she was worrying over nothing. Grace wouldn’t ever put that child in harms way. She probably just got delayed and was taking a bit longer than expected. Brian was upstairs reading the twins a story before their nap. Colleen was busying herself by cleaning all of the surgical instruments, though Michaela had done the same thing earlier that day. Michaela and Sully had tried to talk to Colleen, but Colleen wasn’t ready yet. The most she could tell them was that George never hurt her. Michaela was relieved that he hadn’t hurt her daughter, but she was horrified that all of this time, her daughter’s secret beau had been a cold-hearted rapist and murderer. Both Sully and Michaela were thankful that George hadn’t hurt their daughter, but they were also confused as to why he didn’t hurt her. All of that time, he had every opportunity, but he hadn’t hurt her. Did he have other plans for her? Was he going to do something even more brutal that he’d ever done before? The very thought sent chills down Michaela’s spine. The silence was getting to be too much for Sully. He needed some fresh air. He started for the door. “Where are you going?” Michaela wondered. “I need some air.” “I’ll join you.” Sully nodded and held his hand out to his wife. She took it, and he helped her with her coat. They closed the door once they were outside, and the cool November air was mildly soothing to the both of them. Michaela looked into Sully’s eyes, and she could see how much he was hurting. “Sully, talk to me.” “I was just thinkin’ about how easily that coulda been Colleen in Annie’s place. It’s been goin’ on for a few months, and he didn’t do anything. He had to have been plannin’ something.” “I’m just thankful he didn’t do anything.” Michaela shivered and pulled her coat tighter. “So am I, but I wanna know why he did it. I wanna know why he got our daughter to trust him. She rode with him so many times. What if he’d done something?” “I don’t think we’ll ever know the answers, Sully, but we can be thankful that our daughter’s safe.” “We can’t say the same for Annie.” Michaela looked away. “No we can’t.” “I feel like we should do somethin’ to make up for what happened, but nothin’ is ever gonna make up for what happened. I know that kid is gonna hang. I ain’t one for those kinda things, but what he did hit home. I thought of Annie as family, and he hurt her. He coulda hurt Colleen. They ain’t gonna get a fight from me when the verdict reads guilty and they build the gallows.” Michaela touched Sully’s shoulder. “I think he needs to pay for what he’s done,” Michaela agreed, “and if he goes to prison, who’s to say he won’t escape?” “Nobody. Ethan Cooper got out and he wasn’t half as sick as this kid.” He shook his head. “If the circumstances were different, I might not feel like this, but they are the way they are, and I hope he rots for it.” Sully walked away, and Michaela felt her heart beginning to break. She walked after him. “Where are you going now?” “I’m goin’ to the jail. I gotta find out why.” “Let me go with you.” “I gotta do this alone.” “I need to know too!” Michaela exclaimed. “Colleen is my daughter too, and this boy could have hurt her! I want to know why he pursued her all of this time! I want to know why he killed an innocent old woman, beat a young pregnant girl, and killed an innocent Cheyenne who was trying to protect the girl he loved. I want to know why he hurt Annie over and over again!” Michaela began to sob, and Sully pulled her close. Colleen walked out onto the porch, seeing her parents holding onto one another. She slowly walked over to them. “Ma? Pa?” Michaela turned in Sully’s arms to see her daughter. “If you’re goin’ over to see Charlie . . . I mean George, I wanna go too.” “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Colleen,” Michaela warned. “Why not? He didn’t hurt me physically, but he still hurt me, ya know?” “Colleen, maybe you should wait at the clinic? Grace should be comin’ back with the baby.” “No! I wanna go with you!” she shouted. A few townsfolk turned to look at the little scene. “Colleen, please!” Michaela exclaimed, her nerves wearing thin from the events of the past couple of days. “I’m going!” Colleen started for the jail, and Michaela looked at Sully. “Just for a few minutes,” Sully whispered. “It ain’t gonna do any more harm that ain’t been done already.” Sully took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly before leading her to the jail. The crowd had scattered, and Kid Cole was seated inside, writing out all of the known crimes committed by this man. When Michaela, Sully, and Colleen walked into the jail, they immediately saw George sitting up in his cell, a blank look in his eyes. “We want a few minutes,” Sully requested. “That ain’t such a good idea,” Kid Cole replied, putting down his pencil. “Just a few minutes? I don’t think that will do any harm, do you?” Kid Cole sighed and tipped his hat. “No ma’am. I’ll be outside if ya need me.” He left and closed the door. Sully walked over to stand at the bars of the cell. “Why did you do it?” “Do what?” “Why did ya hurt that girl? Why did ya hurt Annie?” George smirked a little and looked him square in the eyes. “Guess there was nothin’ better to do.” Sully wanted to reach through the bars and strangle the life out of this young man. “Why did ya kill an old woman and an Indian?” “The old woman was in my way. All Indians can die for all I care. World would be a lot better without ‘em.” “Why were you so nice to me?” Colleen spoke up. She stepped toward the cell, and Michaela reached out to her. “No, ma. I gotta do this.” She stepped closer. “Why?” George stared at Sully. “Answer her.” His gaze traveled to Colleen. “Why didn’t you hurt me? We had all that time together? Why did ya treat me so good and then go and do somethin’ so bad?” “Oh, I had plans for you, Miss Colleen. I had plans.” “You’re disgusting,” she whispered softly. She looked at Michaela and Sully. “I don’t wanna hear anything else.” She left the jail, and went to spend time with her brothers at the clinic. Michaela looked at the man behind bars. “You sicken me,” she hissed. “You repeatedly hurt a young girl just for sport, and when you came back for her, you killed two people she loved most in this world. You had plans to hurt my daughter, and you told her to her face!” “I’m an honest man, ma’am.” “Honest? What about the lies you told my daughter?” “Didn’t say I wasn’t tricky.” Michaela shook her head. “I don’t care what happens to you once that verdict is read. I just hope you pay for all of the crimes you’ve committed. I know you will. If justice prevails, you’ll pay.” She stormed out of the jail, and Sully followed behind her. Kid Cole went back to watch the prisoner. “Michaela!” Sully called, catching up to her in the middle of the street. She turned around to look into her husband’s eyes. “I’m sorry I got carried away.” “No. Never be sorry. Don’t be sorry ‘bout the words you said to him. He deserved it. He deserves everything you said.” “I . . .” She turned to see Grace and Robert E. standing on the porch of the clinic. She hurried off just as Robert took the newborn girl into his arms. “Grace? Where on earth have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I was about that baby?!” Sully rushed to catch up. “Hold on, Dr. Mike,” Grace said quickly. “I went to the reservation.” “What?!” Michaela asked. “I went to see if I could talk them into takin’ the baby in. Cloud Dancin’ explained to me why. I just needed to hear it from them. I needed to know that this little one has no place to know.” “Well?” Michaela wondered. “Well, now that I know,” Grace began, “I want to take her in.” Michaela looked at Sully. He didn’t seem to mind the thought. “Me and Grace talked about it last night,” Robert E. explained. “Anthony sure would like to have a little sister, and we’d love to have her.” “You both know she’s half-Cheyenne,” Sully said quietly. “We want her to know where she came from. We want her to know her Cheyenne family.” “We’re alright with that,” Grace replied softly. “We just think we can give this little girl a lot of love.” Michaela looked at the child and saw how comfortable she looked in Robert E.’s arms. “You’re both sure about this?” “Only if you think it’d be a good idea,” Grace replied. Sully put his arm around Michaela, and they both knew the right answer. *~* Baby Isabelle was a very lucky little girl. She had two loving parents, Robert E. and Grace, and a happy big brother. By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, she had grown into a happy, healthy one month old. She’d been given the Cheyenne name “Crying Eagle” because she had quite a healthy pair of lungs, and having “Eagle” in her name was a tribute to her young Cheyenne father. Sully had already begun teaching her of her past, and Grace, Robert E., and Anthony loved hearing the stories he had to tell. She even had a dream catcher to hang above her cradle at night. Everyone was much happier. A trial and a hanging had already been completed for George, and his body had been taken away for a private burial. The town was still deeply saddened by what had happened to Annie, but when little Isabelle was around, it made up for the pain a little. Michaela was miserable, on the other hand. She was all very well and good emotionally, but physically, she found it taxing to get out of bed in the morning or to walk down the stairs. Connor and Daniel were two very healthy and active fifteen month olds, so Sully was also tired all of the time. Luckily, through all of the horrible things that had happened lately, everyone was able to be happy because of the impending due date of Michaela’s. It was the Eve of Christmas and of Michaela and Sully’s anniversary. Matthew and Ingrid were due to arrive tomorrow morning on the first train to ever pull into Colorado Springs along with Dr. Bernard who would be visiting until Michaela gave birth. Things had changed so drastically over the last four months, but it seemed as if things were finally quieting down. Though, in a few short days, or so Michaela thought, the Sully household would be in a frenzy yet again. Hank and Myra were settling into the fact that they were going to be parents, and they were practicing yet again this Christmas Eve. The extra rooms had cots set up in them for the four Sully children that would be spending the night. They were giving their parents time together until Christmas afternoon, and then they would all meet in town to greet the train, Ingrid and Matthew, and Dr. Bernard. “Ma? Where’s my green shawl?” Colleen asked as she passed by the master bedroom. Michaela was sitting in the rocking chair by the window, thinking about everything and nothing all at the same time. “Ma?” Colleen walked into the room. Michaela looked over at her and smiled. Colleen had sure changed since what happened with George. Though she still thought about it, she had moved on. She hadn’t become reclusive and drawn away from everyone. She’d done the opposite. She was closer with her parents, more obedient, and she was even starting to spend time with boys after school, in a supervised location of course. Michaela was happy that Colleen was dwelling on the past month. Yes, they had all grieved together, but they knew there were better things coming up that they wanted to be able to celebrate in happiness. “Ma?” “Sorry sweetheart. Um, what did you ask me?” “My green shawl? Where is it?” “I believe I saw Brian run down the hall with it five minutes ago.” “Why didn’t you stop him?” Colleen asked. “You expect me to chase after your brother in my condition? Please, when you’re nine months pregnant, you’ll understand.” Colleen smiled a little. “Alright, I’ll go find him. How are you feelin’?” “I’m good.” “Ma, maybe you and pa should stay in town. It’s startin’ to snow.” “We’re fine,” Michaela replied. “The wagon is already hitched in the barn in case of an emergency, so I want you and the boys to enjoy Christmas Eve with Hank and Myra. Tomorrow afternoon, we’ll meet Matthew and Ingrid and come home to open presents.” She held her hands out. “Help me up?” Colleen helped her mother stand. “Colleen, I want you to know how proud I am of you.” “What?” “During this whole ordeal with George, and with Annie dying, you’ve kept yourself together.” “I have not,” Colleen replied, looking down. “You remember how I acted when Annie died; when I found out who Charlie really was.” “But the point is that you’ve kept a strong head on your shoulders. You’ve allowed yourself to grieve, but you haven’t let it get in the way of your life.” “Neither have you,” Colleen replied with a soft smile. “With Charlie, I thought he loved me. I thought he really cared, but he lied to me that whole time. When I found out he was the one who hurt Annie, I knew I’d been wrong about him. It wasn’t my fault. There was no way I coulda known.” Michaela nodded. “And you know that.” She sighed heavily. “Ma?” “You’re just starting to remind me of myself.” “That’s a good thing, I think,” Colleen pointed out. Michaela smiled and hugged her daughter. “Alright, I’m going to track down Brian and find out where he hid my shawl.” She left the room, and Sully walked in with a cup of steaming hot tea. “You should be restin’.” “I was getting tired of sitting down all day. It feels good to stand.” “Ready for our second anniversary?” “Mmm,” Michaela replied with a smile, taking the cup of tea and having a sip. “I can’t believe we’ll be married two years ago tomorrow, and we’ve got two children and two on the way to show for it.” Sully laughed and took his wife into his arms. “Unfortunately, it seems as if our anniversary is going to be spent right here in this room.” “What’s unfortunate about that?” he asked with a wink. “Sully!” Michaela exclaimed. “I’m not feeling very romantic right now, and I don’t see how you could be attracted to a big, fat pregnant lady.” “I think you’re gorgeous.” “’You’re not big and fat’ was what I was hoping for,” Michaela said with a chuckle. Sully smiled and kissed the nape of her neck. “Ya know I don’t think you’re fat,” he replied. “You’re beautiful.” “Well, I think making love may be out of the question. I can’t get comfortable, and I don’t want our second anniversary to be memorable in a bad, painful way.” Sully laughed. “Don’t worry. I want ya to feel good, so if you want me to just hold ya, that’s what I’ll do.” “How did I get lucky enough to have a husband as sweet as you?” Michaela wondered. Sully smiled again. Colleen came into the room again, this time wearing her green shawl. “Hank and Myra are here.” “Alright. I’ll come downstairs and see you off.” Michaela and Sully started down the stairs. The children were with Myra and Hank. The two were holding Connor and Daniel who were bundled up warmly. “We wanna thank you both for watchin’ them today. Colleen and Brian will help with the boys.” “It ain’t a problem. Myra’s got it in her head that we’re gonna have four more after this one,” Hank said with a bit of apprehension in his voice. “Looks like we better get to practicin’ with your kids.” Sully laughed. “Well, let us know if they give ya any problems.” “They’ll behave,” Michaela said with a smile. “Right?” “Right,” Colleen and Brian replied in unison. Hank and Myra helped the kids into the wagon, and about ten minutes later, Michaela and Sully were left all alone. Pup and Wolf rushed out of the cold and into the house before Michaela and Sully went back inside. Sully walked over to add a few logs to the fire. Michaela moaned as she felt a foot press into her bladder. She made a mad dash, well, as quickly as she could run in her present condition, and made it to the indoor toilet. As Michaela was relieving herself, Sully walked over to the fireplace where several stockings had been put up. There was one for himself, Michaela, Colleen, Brian, Matthew, Ingrid, Connor, Daniel, Wolf, Pup, and the two new arrivals. Those stockings, however, were labeled Baby A and Baby B. Sully smiled, thinking about how far his family had come recently. They’d grown from two to five with Charlotte’s death. Nine months later, they went from five to seven. With Annie added to the family, they had been at eight, but now that she was gone, all that remained was her memory and that baby girl whom Grace and Robert E. loved like she was their own. Soon, the Sully family would grow with two new children, and Sully couldn’t have been happier about it. He sat down in a chair in front of the fire. He closed his eyes, remembering the first time he and Michaela became one as husband and wife. She was still just as beautiful as that very day, and it seemed as if two years had only been one. Michaela returned to the living room with both hands on her back. “Better?” Sully wondered. Michaela smiled a little. “I find it hard to believe that I can still smile despite the constant pressure on my back, the frequent need to relieve myself, the swelling in my ankles, and the fact that one of our children likes to use my ribs as a drum. But I’m managing.” “Beautifully, I must add,” Sully replied. Michaela smiled again. “Flattery definitely works.” She yawned and looked at the old clock on the mantle. “Look at that, Sully. It’s eight o’clock already. In four hours, we’ll be celebrating two special occasions.” She winced a little. “Michaela? Do you wanna go lie upstairs?” “That would probably be good. The pressure’s getting more and more intense.” “Maybe I should go get Dr. Bernard in town.” “No, no. I’m sure its fine.” Sully helped her as they started up the stairs. Wolf and Pup were lying in front of the doorway, but they moved out of the way as Michaela and Sully walked through. Sully helped her into bed. “Do ya need anything?” “Nope. I just need you,” she replied. Sully crawled into the bed to lie beside her. He wrapped his arms around her, and soon, Michaela was falling asleep against his chest. *~* “Ma? Can I hold her now?” Anthony asked as he ran into the house after playing in the snow with Mary. Grace was sitting in a rocking chair with Isabelle in her arms, feeding her from a bottle she’d specially ordered at the mercantile. “As soon as you change into some dry clothes, you can,” Grace promised. Anthony rushed off to his room to change out of his soggy clothes. Robert E. walked into the room with a grin on his face. “How’s she doin’?” “Just fine,” Grace replied with a grin. “Aren’t ya, Belle?” Isabelle stopped drinking from the bottle, and Grace set it aside. “It’s your first, Christmas, little one, and you’re gonna have plenty more to come.” Robert E. settled down into a chair nearby. “Grace?” “Hmm?” “Do you ever think about her?” Grace smiled down at Isabelle. “Think about who?” “The baby,” Robert E. said quietly. “The baby we lost.” A look of sadness appeared over Grace’s face. “Why do you ask?” “’Cause I was curious.” “Why do you wanna talk about her?” “We can’t pretend like she didn’t exist, Grace. She did.” “I know that,” Grace replied quietly, placing Isabelle down into a cradle made by Robert E. “I just don’t think that this is the right time to be talkin’ about her.” “Why not?” “We’re supposed to be happy, Robert E. I can’t be happy if I’m livin’ in the past!” “But ya can’t ignore it completely.” Grace sighed heavily. “I ain’t ingorin’ it, Robert E. I think about that little girl every day. It don’t matter if I’m sleepin’ or not. She’s always on my mind. Nothin’ is ever gonna replace her. I just don’t wanna bring myself down thinkin’ about what coulda been. Now we’ve got this beautiful little girl in our lives. She ain’t ours by blood, but she is ours just as much as the baby we lost was in my heart.” “I’m sorry if I upset ya. I just needed to know.” “It’s alright,” Grace replied, wiping the tears away. “I know we can’t just stop talkin’ about her.” Isabelle squirmed in the cradle, and Robert E. smiled. “We’ll tell her about her big sister one day,” he whispered. Grace smiled, and Robert E. pulled her into his arms. “I love you, Grace.” “I love you too,” she replied with a sniffle. Anthony rushed into the room in clean, dry clothes. “Now can I hold her?” he asked eagerly. Robert E. and Grace laughed. “Sure you can,” Robert E. replied with a laugh. He scooped her up and placed her into Anthony’s arms. “There’s your little sister.” Anthony grinned widely and rocked Isabelle back and forth. “When she’s older, can I teach her stuff?” “Of course ya can,” Grace replied. “That’s what big brothers are for.” “Well, you and pa get to teach her stuff. Sully gets to teach her stuff about the Cheyenne too. What’s left?” the boy wondered. “Lots of things. Anything you wanna teach her, son,” Robert E. replied. Anthony got a thoughtful look upon his face, and he slowly walked over to stand by the window. “Look, Isabelle. See the snow comin’ down? Tomorrow mornin’, we’ll wake up and there’ll be presents under the Christmas tree.” Robert E and Grace stood together, holding one another as they watched their two children at the window. “We got somethin’ in common, Belle. We’re both adopted. This is my first Christmas with ma and pa. This is my first Christmas with a tree to decorate. I’ll teach ya how to decorate the Christmas tree when ya get older too.” Tears sprang to Grace’s eyes, and she held back the tears of joy. After losing their daughter, she hadn’t counted on ever having another child. Now here she was at Christmas time, with two beautiful children who had no other place to go. It was true. Miracles did happen. *~* The snow was blowing so fast outside that a Winter Wonderland seemed to be forming on the town of Colorado Springs. While many people were warmly tucked into their homes and beds, the Sully children weren’t anywhere near tired. “Daniel!” Hank called as a Sully twin ran around the kitchen naked. “That ain’t Daniel,” Brian replied. “That’s Connor.” “Whatever. They’re both two little monsters!” he exclaimed, catching the boy and holding him firmly so he wouldn’t get away again. Myra was carrying Daniel around. “Daniel’s bein’ good,” she replied with a smile. “What’s got Connor so rowdy then?” Hank wondered as he dragged him to the washtub. “No baff!” Connor babbled. “Tough luck, kid. Ya gotta have a bath after getting yourself messy durin’ dinner.” Colleen laughed as she helped clean the dinner table. She could hear Connor splashing about in the tub and putting up quite a fight. “You sure he’s ready for kids?” Brian asked Myra. “He’ll do fine. But, I don’t think he really believes his kids are gonna be a handful.” “Really? Hank’s kids?” Brian wondered with wide eyes. Myra laughed and shook her head. “I knew I liked havin’ you around,” she laughed. She took Daniel up the stairs and placed him in a bed. When she returned downstairs, Hank was following Connor, who was still naked, but this time he was soaked and soapy. Little wet footprints trailed from the washroom, through the kitchen, and into the living room. Connor stopped as Myra cut in front of him. “Connor Sully! Are you bein’ bad for Uncle Hank?” Connor put a finger in his mouth, grinned, and nodded. Brian laughed. “Here. I’ll get him ready for bed. He ain’t used to havin’ strangers give him baths.” “Strangers my . . .” Hank started. “Easy,” Myra scolded. Brian took his little brother by the hand and led him upstairs to dress him. Hank collapsed in a chair at the table as Colleen finished wiping it down with a wet rag. “Are they always this rowdy?” he wondered. “Mostly every night before bedtime,” Colleen answered. “Good luck. Once them new kids come along, your house might as well be a loony bin.” Colleen just grinned and shook her head. “Hank, why don’t ya go upstairs. Help Brian get Connor ready to sleep. “Connor ain’t gonna listen to me.” “Well, ya can’t go ‘round lettin’ him think he’s boss. Our kids are gonna be spoiled rotten if you let them think they can pull one over on ya.” Hank grumbled for a few moments before realizing that he didn’t want his kids to be as rowdy as he was as a boy. “I’ll be down later.” He hurried up the stairs, and Myra laughed. “He can’t wait till this little one comes along. It’s hard to believe I’ll be a ma in just three more months.” “You’ll be a good ma,” Colleen promised. “You’re good with Daniel.” “I just hope I can take the same care of my own baby.” “You’ll be able to do it. If ya ever need any help, I’m sure ma would be willin’ to help out.” “She’s got enough to worry about,” Myra laughed. “She’s gonna have her hands full, that’s for sure.” “But me and Brian are gonna help.” “That’s good. I didn’t know Charlotte very well, but she sure raised you kids up good.” “Thanks,” Colleen replied with a grin. “If my real ma was still here, I wonder what she’d think of how everything’s been goin’?” “I think she’d be proud of you for bein’ such a good daughter to your ma.” “I don’t feel like I’ve been so good,” Colleen admitted. “You’ve been there to help out, and that’s what counts. Charlotte would be proud.” “Thanks Myra,” Colleen said with a smile. She went back to helping her clean the kitchen, and hoped that one day, she could be as good of a mother as both of her mothers had been. *~* At ten o’clock, Michaela woke to a sharp pain in her lower back. It wasn’t a short pain by any means. It hurt for several seconds before slowly tapering off. She gasped, and shook Sully’s shoulder. “Sully!” He woke abruptly and sat up with alarm. Michaela hasn’t done a thing like that to wake him up in a long time. During pregnancy, that meant one of two things. She was either hungry or in labor. “Michaela? Michaela? Is it time? Is it time?!” he asked quickly. “I don’t know,” she replied softly, trying not to move too much. “But I know that was definitely a contraction.” “Alright. I’ll go out there and get the wagon ready to go. You just lay there and try to relax.” Michaela nodded quickly, and Sully pulled his coat on before heading out. Michaela sat up and slowly swung her legs over to dangle at the side of the bed. She began to rub her belly slowly, hoping that the pain wouldn’t come again very quickly. Michaela recalled the labor and delivery with the boys being rather quick, and she knew that second babies or deliveries usually went even more quickly. She stood slowly to help relieve some of the pressure on her back, and as she did so, another pain shot through her. She grimaced and began to walk around. She felt a little big better, but the tightening from the contractions was extremely painful. Wolf and Pup poked their heads into the room and stuck their tails between their legs before running off at Michaela’s screams. “Okay. It’s going to be fine. Just wait until your papa comes in to take me into town. Oh!” Another contraction came. God, they were coming too quickly! She moved back over toward the bed, and just as she was starting to sit back down, she felt something odd happen. “Sully!” she cried out, gripping the bedpost. Sully came running into the room. The look on his face told Michaela that something wasn’t right. “What?!” “There’s a blizzard out there, Michaela. The road is completely covered in snow. Can’t see more than a foot in front of me. We ain’t getting anywhere tonight.” Michaela swallowed hard and shook her head. “That’s not good, because my water just broke!” |