by Becky

Sully, Matthew, William and Sheriff Jacobs were galloping north, hoping they were on the right trail, when they spotted an abandoned wagon up ahead. As they got closer, Sully's face fell with realization.

"That's our wagon. That's the wagon," he said, clicking at his horse.

As soon as the men reached it they leaped down from their horses.

Sully cupped his hands around his mouth. "Michaela! Michaela!"

"Sully, look!" William exclaimed as he reached inside and pulled out the basket. Sully rushed to him, shocked to find the baby. She was somehow asleep, and didn't appear to be hurt in the slightest.

He lifted her out, holding her close. "Eliza. Oh, sweet girl. Sweet girl. You all right? Where's your mama, huh?"

"Dr. Mike wouldn't of left her," Matthew said resolutely as he circled the wagon looking for clues.

Sully shook his head, rubbing the baby's back. He was immensely relieved they had found the baby, but he couldn't imagine what had happened to Michaela. He feared deep down she would sooner die than leave the baby alone like this. Something was terribly, horribly wrong.

"Looks like their mighta been a struggle," Eli said as he studied the ground.

Sully and William walked over to get a look. There were several boot prints, some of them very deep as if someone had planted their feet not wanting to move. Sully thought he even saw what looked to be fingers clawing at the ground.

"Flash is gone. Maybe he has Michaela and Flash," William speculated. "He decided he couldn't use the wagon anymore for one reason or another."

The baby woke up and began to fuss. There was no telling how long she had gone without food. Sully wasn't even sure Michaela was still alive. "Matthew, ya take your baby sister back to her gran'ma."

"Sully, we may not be far behind now," Matthew said. "I don’t think the baby's been here by herself long. She wasn't even crying."

"I don’t want her with us when we find him. She could get hurt. Ya gotta take her back. Elizabeth'll give her a bottle. Matthew, I trust ya to get her home safe."

"Sully's right," William said. "The baby needs to go straight back to town."

Matthew heaved a sigh. "All right. I'll take her back."

"Let's get ya a fresh blanket to wrap her in," he said, walking to his saddle bag.

"Sully, you be careful," Matthew said. "Whoever this man is … sounds like he'll stop at nothin'."

Sully, William and Eli galloped toward the outskirts of Parker. It was an old mining town, quiet and peaceful, with a way station, post office, and general store. There was also a little schoolhouse at one end of town. And at the other end was the jail.

"It's Flash!" Sully said, pointing down the street at Michaela's horse lingering outside the bank. "Let's go."

William shielded his eyes. "All right, Sully, take it easy. If she's in there we can't go storming in there like this. That man's armed, remember?"

"We'll surround the place, draw 'em out," Eli said.

William dismounted. "Leave our horses here. We better go on foot."

"Gray, what're ya doin'?" the man behind bars blurted as Peterson burst into the little room with Michaela in tow.

"Gettin' you out, brother." He pointed the gun to Michaela's head and glared at the deputy sitting at his desk. "Where're the keys? Get 'em!"

"Now take it easy, friend," the deputy said, raising his hands in the air. "What's all this about?"

"Don't matter what it's about. Just get the keys," he growled. "You wanna see this lady die or don't ya?!"

"All right, all right, I'm gettin' 'em," the deputy said as he reached for the drawer in his desk.

"Hold it!" Peterson ordered. "I'll get the keys. Where are they?"

"Top drawer there," he said.

"Back up. Real easy like," Peterson said. "And don't try anything."

The deputy slowly moved back a few paces, keeping his hands in the air. Peterson dragged Michaela to the desk and lowered his gun for just a moment to open the drawer.

"Let her go!" Sully suddenly shouted as he thrust open the back door brandishing his tomahawk.

"Sully!" Michaela cried.

"Nobody move!" Sheriff Jacobs shouted from behind Sully.

Peterson raised his gun and shot at them, and Sully and the sheriff dived out of the way.

"No!" Michaela screamed. She tried to run to Sully, but Peterson's grip on her arm was iron.

"Don't move!" William shouted from the front door. He pointed his rifle at Peterson. "Let her go right now."

Peterson held Michaela all the closer. "I will, soon as I get my brother out."

"One more move and I'll shoot you!" William said.

"One more move from you and I'll shoot her," he said, thrusting the gun hard against Michaela's temple.

"William, no," Michaela whispered.

"Shh, be quiet," he murmured.

"William, he'll kill us both," she pleaded.

William took a step forward and Peterson immediately pointed his gun at him and shot.

Michaela screamed just as the deputy pulled out a revolver from his belt holster and shot Peterson in the chest while Eli shot him with his rifle at exactly the same time. Peterson let go of Michaela and slumped to the floor.

"Michaela!" Sully called as he rushed into the room.

"Sully, did he shoot you?" she cried, running into his arms.

"No. No he didn't," he said, stroking her hair. "I'm fine. I’m fine."

The sheriff felt Peterson's neck. "Dead."

"William," Michaela said, breaking away from Sully and rushing to his side.

William slowly sat up, clutching his side. He removed his hand to reveal some blood, but the bullet had merely grazed his skin.

"I'm all right," he murmured. "I'm all right."

Michaela hugged him tightly. "Oh, thank God."

"Are you hurt?" he asked. "Are you all right, Michaela?"

"Yes, I'm all right," she said. She got back to her feet. "Sully, the baby. The baby's out there, the baby." She shook her head desperately and burst into tears. "He was going to kill her if I didn't leave her behind. Oh, my God. Sully."

"Michaela, she's fine," he said, grabbing her arms.

"No, she's out there all alone!" she cried.

He gave her a gentle shake. "Michaela, listen to me. We found her. We found her. She's safe. She's with Matthew. She's safe."

"She's safe?" she cried.

"She's safe," he murmured, stroking her hair and giving her forehead a kiss. "Baby's safe. Eliza's safe."

"Oh, thank God," she said, nearly collapsing into his arms.

He held her tightly and rocked her. "You're both safe."

William sat on the edge of the dining room table and Michaela finished cleaning his wound.

"I'll just wrap it up for you and then you can get some rest," Michaela said. "It should heal within a few weeks."

"Here's some hot tea," Sully said as he approached him with a teacup. The baby was sleeping over his shoulder, content as ever. In fact she appeared all but unaffected by the entire ordeal.

"Thank you, son," he murmured.

Sully gently clutched his arm. "William, I owe ya a lot of thanks. For helpin' me bring Michaela and the baby back home."

William looked up and blinked a few times. "I already lost my first family. I wasn't going to lose this one."

Sully gave Eliza a gentle kiss. "Here, why don't ya hold her? Hold your granddaughter."

William put his cup aside and gathered the baby in his arms. "My goodness, I don't think your grandfather's ever held someone as tiny as you."

"It's Grandpa, sweetheart," Michaela said, tenderly stroking her hair. "It's your grandpa."

"You were never this small, Sully," William spoke up softly. "At least not that I remember. You were a robust little thing. Quite big when you were born. Your poor mother."

"Kinda small for my age as I grew up. Like Byron," he murmured.

"I'm sorry I missed those growing up years, son. I'm sorry," he replied, meeting his eyes tearfully.

Sully swallowed hard. "What did you say in your letter?" he whispered. He felt Michaela grasp his hand reassuringly.

"My letter?"

"The one ya wrote to me awhile back. About why ya left. I didn't read it."

William took a deep breath. "You're sure you want to hear this?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. I wanna give ya a chance to tell me what happened. I'm ready."

He took a deep breath. "Where to begin? America wasn't quite the place I envisioned. I thought it would be easy to build a good life here. I was very wrong."

"You sayin' Ma was pregnant?" Sully murmured.

"Yes," William replied. "That's what put me in such a panic. I thought, well, if it were just you two boys we might manage. But another? I just knew the farm could never support us all. I was beginning to think if they were going to put me in debtor's prison anyway perhaps it would be best if I disappeared altogether."

Katherine hunched over the pot of stew bubbling over the fire and slowly added a few cups of water to it. She had to add more water to their supper every day, to thin it out and make it feed three people. She had tried giving William and Will most of the portions, leaving herself with only a few bites to sustain her. William needed the strength to work the farm and Will needed it to grow properly, but within a matter of days her milk had slowed and wasn’t filling up the baby. He fussed relentlessly until she started eating again and her milk returned. She would need to nurse him as long as she could. She didn’t know what they were going to do once they had Byron to feed, too.

Byron was crying again, curled up on the middle of the bed where she had set him down so she could tend to supper.

Will took a seat beside his little brother and studied him intently. “Mama, he’s crying,” he called, to be sure she knew.

“I hear, Will,” she replied. “Watch that he doesn’t roll himself off the bed and I’ll be there in a minute.”

She added another cup of water to the stew, then wiped her hands on a towel and walked to the bed, lifting the infant into her arms and kissing him soothingly as William opened the door.

He was covered in sweat and dirt and his face was downcast. Another day toiling to salvage as much of the crops as he could. It had rained far too much that summer, and it had all but destroyed everything. The ground barely had time to dry out before another storm sprang up. They both knew it was going to be a bad year well before harvest time. William didn’t even acknowledge her or the children as he tiredly sat at their little table. It hurt her the way he was so callous, but she felt sorry for him. America was not the land that had filled their dreams. It was no better than England. In fact, she was beginning to think it was worse than England.

“I’ll have some supper,” he said quietly.

“Wash your hands and face first,” she told him. “You’re a mess.”

“Can’t you make him stop? I’ve never heard of a baby who fussed so much.”

“He’s colicky, William,” she said, desperately rubbing Byron’s back. “He can’t help it.”

He trooped over to the basin and washed up

Will tentatively approached his father, hands clasped behind him. “Mama taught me a song.”

William dabbed his face with a towel, not replying.

“Wanna hear, Pa?” the child asked eagerly.

“Not now,” William muttered.

Will eyed him disconcertedly and his lower lip trembled.

“Will, sit at the table now,” Katherine spoke up, approaching the pot of stew. “It’s time to eat.” She shifted the baby to her hip and dished up three bowlfuls of stew. Then she took a seat beside Will and tucked his napkin beneath his collar.

William picked up his fork and put it in the stew.

“We’ll thank the Lord for this food, William,” Katherine suddenly said, eyeing him sternly.

“What’s there to be thankful for?” he replied.

She swallowed hard. “We have shelter, a fire, two fine sons and something to put in our bellies, meager as it is. We’ll thank the Lord.”

Reluctantly, he dropped his fork into the bowl.

Katherine closed her eyes and bowed her head. “Bless this food we are about to receive. May it nourish and strengthen our bodies to do thy good works. Bless our family, and make this horrible rain stop. Amen.”

“Amen,” Will echoed quietly. He had stared at his father the whole time, watching as William stared forward.

William dug into his food, polishing off most of it within minutes. Katherine ate more slowly. Tending to the boys preoccupied her at meals. They ate in silence, until William put down his fork, folded his hands beneath his chin and let out a giant sigh.

“Crops are gone,” he whispered.

Katherine stopped wiping Will’s face and looked at him. Finally, she forced a cheerful smile. “There’s next year.”

“I won’t do it again, Kath. I can’t do it."

"You can take on more odd jobs in the city," she suggested. "We'll get through."

"I can't go back there, Kath. That city. I hate that city."

"William, darling, I know. But it's only for a little while. Just to get us back on our feet. That textile company, that was a nice job."

"I didn't drag you and our boys all the way across the ocean to work in some textile factory, Katherine!"

She was silent a long moment, not sure how to respond.

"I’ve got to leave,” he said at last.

“Leave?” she echoed.

“I hear there’s work out West, clearing land in Ohio, Tennessee.”

“We just got here. We’re supposed to pack up and move again?”

“No, you and the boys stay here. I’ll send you my wages.”

Katherine grew quiet, her appetite suddenly gone. William continued to eat, staring at the food.

“Don’t go, William,” she said at last.

He stood up abruptly. “I’ve got to pack. I leave at first light.”

Will stared up at him, confusion all across his face. Suddenly the baby started crying again, and Katherine busied herself calming him, bravely holding back tears of her own.

Katherine watched William pack up his saddle bag and secure it to his horse.

"I'll send word as soon as I'm settled," he remarked softly.

"William, please. Let us come with you. Let me help."

"You can't."

"William, please!" she cried.

"From what I hear of Ohio, it's no place for a woman and young children."

She grabbed his arm as he tried to saddle his horse. "William, don't leave us here. Don't leave me here. Please don't leave me here."

He pried her off and got onto his horse, gathering the reins.

"William, don't leave me!" she cried. She grabbed onto his calf and held on for dear life.

"Let go of me!" he shouted. "Let go, woman!"

She backed up in defeat. "Oh, William. Please. Please. It doesn't have to happen like this."

"I'll send you and the boys every cent, Katherine. I promise," he said. He turned his horse around and galloped out to the road.

"William!" she screamed. She fell to her knees in the dirt, sobbing as she watched him disappear into the woods.

Her oldest son watched her shyly from the doorway, still in his nightshift. He rubbed his eyes.

"Mama?" he whispered. He approached her and cupped her arm with his little hand. "Mama."

"Oh, Will," she replied, sniffling and gathering him into his arms. "Everything's all right. Shh."

"Where's Papa go to?"

"He'll be back soon. Hush now."

He kissed her flushed cheek. "Shh, it's all wight, Mama. It's all wight."

"Oh," she replied tearfully. She picked him up and held him close, rocking him.

William passed the baby to Michaela and gave her dark hair a gentle caress.

"I sent Katherine all my money like I said I would, those first few months," William said. "I found a job as a logger outside Columbus, clearing land." He sighed. "Then the company went bankrupt and I was out of work for awhile. I made barely enough at odd jobs to sustain myself. By the time I found more steady work again, a few years had passed and I'd completely lost touch with her. I felt ashamed to contact her again." He folded his arms. "I thought perhaps she must have met someone else by now. Even if she hadn't, I didn't think she would take me back after all that time. I had made such of mess of it all, I just wanted to forget and move on with my life."

Sully gently squeezed Michaela's hand. William was clearly reliving a lot of heartache as he retold his story.

William exhaled slowly. "I see now why your mother told you I was dead. Why would she have wanted to tell you that you had a father like me? It was about twelve years later, the guilt was so overwhelming I just had to find out what had happened to the three of you. So I made my way back to New York in search of you. The farm was gone, burned to the ground in a fire. I found the preacher and his wife, and they told me what happened after I left."

William nodded. "I found out about that, and then they told me about how Will had been killed falling off his horse, and then Katherine….Katherine's accident." He buried his eyes behind one hand. "Son, that was my fault, what happened. If only I had been there."

"Blamed myself for it for a lot of years," Sully murmured. "I couldn't keep her goin' after Will passed on." He voice cracked. "I wasn't enough."

"No, it couldn't possibly be your fault. You were just a child," William admonished. "Please, if you must blame someone blame me."

"It wasn't your fault either," Sully whispered. "It just happened."

"That was Katherine's choice," Michaela said tearfully. "She made the choice."

"It was her choice," Sully echoed softly as a hot tear slipped down his cheek. It was the first time he had really acknowledged and come to terms with the fact that his mother's suicide was something out of his and everyone else's control, and that she was responsible for the decision she made to end her life. There was no use trying to blame it on anyone else now. Katherine was gone and she wasn't coming back, but her legacy would live on.

"I want you to know that I tried. I tried for years to find you again," William said. "The Dunphies told me you were placed in an orphanage in the city. So the first thing I did was head straight there."

William touched his fingers to the dirty wooden plaque outside the building. Orphan Asylum for Destitute and Abandoned Boys, it read. Founded 1838. He picked up the brass knocker and tapped it firmly. A younger boy wandered up the porch dragging a toy wooden puppy by the leash.

"You wanna adopt, mister?" he asked softly. "You can adopt me."

An older boy about fifteen sauntered up the stoop chewing on the end of a stick. "Harry, leave the man alone."

"What? Maybe he wants to adopt," he replied defensively.

William gave him a small, kind smile. "I'm sorry, I can't," he murmured.

A woman in a gray uniform and cap opened the door. "Good afternoon. How may we help you?"

"Good afternoon, I'm William Sully. My wife passed away a few years ago and I was told my boy was placed in here."

"Oh, what's your son's name?"

"Byron. Byron Sully."

She wrinkled her brow. "Hmm. I don't recall any boy by that name. But come, we'll meet with the headmaster and check our records."

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you," he replied gratefully as she led him inside.

"Well, there's no Byron Sully here now," the headmaster said as he flipped through some files in a large filing cabinet.

"Could he have been transferred to another orphanage?" William asked impatiently as he stood at the desk.

"No, we don't transfer children. They may only leave if they've been formally adopted or have reached the age of majority," he replied. "How do you spell his name again?"

"B-y-r-o-n," he said. "Byron. Like the poet."

"Byron Sully, Byron Sully," he murmured as he continued to flip. "Ah, here he is!"

William stepped closer. He was surprised at how thin the file was.

"Oh, I remember now, yes," the headmaster said quietly as he returned to his desk.

"Was he adopted? Where is he?" William demanded.

The headmaster sat down and skimmed the file, flipping a few pages. He scratched the back of his neck. "Byron Sully of Dutchess County, New York. Admitted September twenty-fifth, eighteen forty-six. Caucasian boy, seventy-two pounds, no known diseases or disorders. Birth date, December ninth, eighteen thirty-five. Father, William Sully, deceased. Mother, Katherine Grayer Sully, deceased."

"Yes, that's him," William said. "That's him. What happened to him? Why isn't he here?"

He flipped another page in the file. "He was reported missing a week after he came here."

"What do you mean missing?"

"Well, it appears he ran away."

"Why? How? Why didn't you stop him?"

"Mr. Sully, orphans are an unstable lot. Runaways are quite common."

"Where would he go?"

"I have no idea. I'm sorry. Perhaps he found work somewhere in the city. Or made his way down south to Philadelphia, Baltimore. It's anyone's guess."

William stared at him in shock. He had felt so close to actually finding his son, only to be disappointed like this.

"I wish there was more I could tell you," the headmaster said, standing up. "I wish you luck in finding him."

William shook his head in disbelief, too disappointed to speak.

William opened the door and staggered out onto the porch, face downcast. The older boy was still lingering on the porch, leaning against the railing.

"Mister, you have a match?" he asked.

William glanced at him and dug into his vest pocket, coming up with a small box of matches and tossing them to him.

"Thanks," he replied, pulling out a rolled cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. "Hey, who was it you said you were lookin' for?" the boy asked.

"My son," William said.

"You said his name was Byron?"

"Yes. Byron Sully."

"Was he sort of quiet? Brown hair. Must be about twelve years old now?"

William turned to face him directly. "Did you know my son?"

"I knew a Byron Sully once, couple years back. He came here after his ma passed on. Wasn't here long though."

"Do you know why he ran away?" William replied frantically.

He shrugged. "Guess he thought he could do better on his own."

"Where'd he go? Did he say?"

"I ain't sure. I think he mentioned somethin' about the Erie Canal, had heard there might be jobs up there workin' the docks. He was gonna try an' snitch a ride on one of the barges on the Hudson. I don't know if he ever made it up there. That's the last I ever heard of him."

"What's your name, son?" William asked.

"Georgie," he replied. "Who wants to know?"

William dug around in his pocket until he found a dollar bill. "Take this. It's all I have."

"Thank you, mister. Thank you."

William clutched his shoulder. "Thank you, Georgie."

William took the first boat he could find straight up the Hudson river to Troy. Then he rented a horse and went to each lock along the canal starting at the beginning, asking everyone and anyone if they had ever seen or heard of a boy working the docks named Byron Sully.

He had stopped at three locks until he came across a canal boss who finally provided him with some glimmer of hope.

"You mean Sully? Yeah, I knew him," the worker said as he led a mule into the stables.

"Do you know where he is?" William demanded as he followed him inside.

The worker eyed him distrustfully. "Why?"

"I'm sorry. My name is William Sully. Byron is my son."

He picked up a brush and began working it through the mule's coat. "I didn't know he had family. He never mentioned you. I always thought his folks were dead."

"I'm afraid he's never met me," William said quietly. "At least, not that he would remember. But I'm desperate to find him. He's all I have left of my family."

"Well, he's not here as you can see. Sully did some work for me for about three years. Good, hard worker that boy was. Dependable. That is until he took off last month, just like everybody else."

"Took off where?"

"Where do you think? They've got gold on their minds. Gold this and gold that. Half my workers already have gone off to Californie to try their luck. He and another boy went, too. Fools is what they are."

"Did he say where in California?"

"Well, no. But don't gold diggers usually head to San Frisco?"

William swallowed hard. Byron was most likely two-thousand miles across the country at the moment. If he was going to find him now, it was going to take a lot of hard work.

"What was the other boy's name?" he asked. "I need all the information I can get my hands on."

"Daniel Simon." He chuckled to himself. "Danny boy, he was the last person I expected to get sucked into this gold business. Now, I thought that boy was smarter than that. Damn."

"Thank you for your help," William said. He put his hat back on.

"Not sure it'll do you much good," the man replied.

William rode his horse along Sutter creek. Scruffy and dirty men and even a few wives and children were looking for gold in the cool water with pans and screens and handmade wooden sluices that could sift through a large amount of dirt and rocks at a time.

It had been a hard, hot, three-month-long journey across the country. He had joined up with a small wagon train in Pennsylvania and tagged along with them all the way to central California where the gold rush was on.

He approached one of the men who was ankle deep in water swishing a pan around, and dismounted his horse. "Excuse me?"

The man whipped out a pistol and pointed it at him, standing up. "Don't come any closer, stranger. This is my claim."

William held his hands in the air. "Yes, sir. I don't want any trouble. I just wanted to ask if by chance you've come across two young boys looking for gold. One of them is my son, Byron Sully. He's thirteen."

He chuckled. "I've come across about two-hundred boys lookin' for gold about thirteen. Never heard of no Byron Sully though."

"Oh. I see. Thank you then anyway."

"You could try the claim's office, about two miles up creek."

"Claim's office?"

"Right. Everybody has to file a claim legal-like with the government. At least, we're supposed to."

"Thank you." He mounted his horse and turned him around, kicking him swiftly.

The bookkeeper sorted rapidly through a pile of slips of paper as William waited at his counter impatiently.

"No, no Sully here," the bookkeeper said.

"What about Simon?" William asked. "Try Daniel Simon."

He pushed his spectacles up on his nose. "You know, claims are confidential. I won't be able to tell you any of the details of any particular claim."

"That's all right. I just need to know if they have one."

He flipped through again. "There's a John and Elizabeth Simon. But no Daniel Simon," he said, stacking his papers.. "Now if you don't mind, mister, there's a long line behind you."

"Is there some other records office I might try?" he asked.

"Not for Sutter's creek, no," he replied. "Next customer, please!"

"Then they aren't here," he murmured with disappointment.

"Not necessarily," he replied as he took some paperwork from the man behind William and looked through it. "Claim jumpers are all over the place. Taking over abandoned claims, if they can manage to do it without getting caught. It's not impossible he's here. Somewhere." He stamped some of the papers.

William nodded and put his hat back on, exiting the office. He sighed and sat on the bench outside. Another dead end. He was beginning to feel like he was searching for a needle in a haystack. If Byron or his friend Daniel hadn't officially registered a claim, he could be looking all over northern California for them. He got up and untethered his horse. He might as well get started. He had a lot of territory to cover. He spotted a woman heading down the street carrying a basket of groceries.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he called, approaching her. "I'm looking for some boys, about thirteen and nineteen. Name of Byron Sully and Daniel Simon."

"You went all the way to California looking for him?" Michaela said in disbelief.

"I had to find him. I was determined," William said. "I had to make it right."

"You found me, that's what matters," Sully said. "Just took longer than ya counted on."

"Sully, I want you to know your mother was a wonderful woman. I never thought marrying her would inflict such tragedy upon her. Sometimes I deeply regret ever becoming involved with her." He gazed up at Sully. "But then I look at you and the wonderful man you've become, this beautiful family you have, and I know that it was all meant to be. I may have failed at everything else in my life, except for you. Katherine and I produced a fine son together who's gone on to make a difference in this world."

Tears welled in Sully's eyes and Michaela put her arm around him and held him close.

"Sully, I've often wondered if my life has been nothing but a waste. Now, finding out you exist, I know it's not."

Sully glanced at Michaela and she smiled softly at him. William extended his hand to shake but Sully stepped forward and gave him a gentle hug.

Michaela stood by silently crying as father and son finally embraced. She gave Sully's shoulder a reassuring squeeze and held their baby close. She knew Sully and William still had a long way to go before either of them would find true forgiveness and closure about their heartbreaking past, but they had finally embarked on the first step.

Michaela awoke with a start and let out a little cry. She sprung out of bed and rushed to the crib.

"Eliza?" she cried hoarsely. The covers were turned down and the baby was gone.

"Michaela?" Sully whispered as he awoke. "What's wrong?"

She spun around, immensely relieved. The baby was tucked up against his chest, fast asleep.

"I'm sorry. I was dreaming."

"Come back to bed," he said, reaching his hand out toward her.

She rejoined him at the bed and snuggled down with him, kissing the baby's head. "Did you get her out of her crib?"

He rubbed the baby's back. "Yeah. Guess I just wanted her with us tonight. That all right?"

"It's fine. I want her here, too."

He put his arm around her securely. "When I think about what coulda happened. What he coulda done."

"We're fine now. Both of us. Thanks to you and William."

"Weren't ya worried what he was capable of?" he murmured.

"Some. Mostly I was just focused on the baby. On protecting her from harm." She swallowed hard. "I'm so sorry I left her behind. I'm sorry, Sully."

He smoothed her hair. "Hey, ya did what ya had to do at the time. He was gonna kill her if ya didn't. Ya had no choice."

"Yes, you're right."

He held her all the closer. "William risked his life to get you back. I was never really sure he really cared until he put his life on the line for ya like that."

"You were both very brave."

He gave her a soft kiss. "He's goin' back to St. Louis after Brian's weddin'. William. His home's there, it's where he's always been able to find odd jobs."

"How do you feel about that?"

"I think we'll just have to make an effort to see 'im. Invite him here for Christmas, Thanksgivin'. Maybe take the kids out there next summer. Sides, the kids'll be glad to see Samantha again, too."

"I think that sounds good." She found his hand and squeezed it. "We should get some sleep. I love you."

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Love ya, too."

Michaela rapped on Brian's open door. He was packing up a crate with the last of his things. His room was nearly empty save for his bed and bookshelf. Weeks ago Sully had helped him haul over the rest of the furniture to his new homestead, including his desk where he had written countless stories and newspaper articles.

"Do you need help?" she asked.

He glanced up and lifted the crate onto his bed. "Oh, hey, Ma. I'm all right. I'm just gettin' the last of my books," he replied.

"Your room looks so bare," she said, glancing around. "I can't believe all three of you have moved away now. I thought this day would never come."

He grabbed another thick pile of textbooks from his school days. "Thanks for lettin' me take some of my furniture. It'll help."

"Certainly."

"What're you and Pa gonna do with my room now that I'm moved out?"

"I'm not sure. I think the boys want to be together. I don't think we'll put one of them in here. I think eventually we'll probably turn it into a nursery for the baby. Perhaps paint the walls. But that won't be until she's much older. I suppose for now it's just going to sit empty."

"Can't picture my room a nursery," she said with a chuckle.

"I know." She approached the bed. "How are you feeling about tomorrow? Nervous?"

"Sure, a little nervous. But mostly just happy."

"Good," she replied with a smile.

"Hey, Ma?" he spoke up quietly, pausing and resting one hand on the edge of the crate. "I owe you and pa a lot for takin' me in, raisin' me. I see now what a big job that was and I know it wasn't always easy. I don't know what woulda happened to me you hadn't told my ma you'd take me in."

"Oh, Brian. We love you. Raising you has brought us so much joy."

"Ya coulda said no, Ma. Ya coulda sent us to an orphanage. Ya didn't have to promise my ma that."

"No, it was the best promise I ever made."

"It was still a big thing you did," he said. "I know when Sully lost his folks he was on his own, didn't have nobody to take him in. I'm grateful you were here to help and that didn't happen to me."

"Oh, Brian, if your mother could see you now." She drew him into a tight hug and kissed his cheek.

"I'm gonna put an extra candle up there tomorrow, for my ma. Could you and pa and gran'pa light it with the others?" he asked.

"I think that's a lovely idea. We'd be glad to."

"Thanks, Ma." He drew back and clutched her shoulders. "I better get over to my homestead. I got things to finish up. Big day tomorrow."

"Yes, a special day," she replied, giving him one last hug.

"Get a good sleep tonight. Big day tomorrow," Michaela said as she kissed the children in the kitchen. They were in their nightshifts and their hair was damp after their baths.

"Mama, what happens if we drop the ring?" Red Eagle spoke up.

She turned back to the dishes and picked up her dishrag while Elizabeth dried. "What do you mean?"

"The ring bearers. Me and Byron. What if we drop the ring?"

"Yeah, it's a long walk up to the front," Byron added, leaning on his crutch.

"You're not going to drop the ring," she said resolutely. "I promise."

"Oh. All right," Red Eagle said, satisfied. "Night."

"Night, Gran'ma. Night, Mama," Katie said.

"Come on, kids," Sully called. "Ya need your sleep. I'll tell ya a story." He ushered the children upstairs, taking special care to make sure Byron didn't trip on his unsteady leg.

"Love you, Mama! Night!" Byron called from the top of the stairwell.

Michaela smiled. "I love you," she called. She watched her mother for a moment. She was vigorously drying a cup. "Mother, is something wrong? I thought you were happy about the wedding. You haven't said much all day."

Elizabeth put the cup aside. "Something happened while you were gone, Michaela."

"What do you mean? I thought Brian and Sarah had worked out any differences they were facing."

"I'm not talking about Brian for heaven's sake. I'm talking about your sister."

"What's Rebecca done?"

"Claudette, Michaela. Claudette. She and Preston."

Michaela picked up another plate and scrubbed it, confused. "Claudette and Preston? What about them?"

"I think you know what I'm talking about."

"No I don't, Mother. Honestly."

Elizabeth put down her towel and turned to face her. "Apparently they're ... they're quite serious now. Yes, that's right. Just like that."

"Oh," Michaela murmured, taken aback. "Oh, you mean…oh."

"Yes," Elizabeth said. "Exactly."

"Oh," Michaela murmured, fishing out some silverware from the soapy water.

"Is that all you can say?" she demanded.

"I'm not quite sure what you want me to say, Mother."

"Say you disapprove! Say this is preposterous! He's not going to marry her! You know he won't move back to Boston. Michaela, he's using her!"

"I wouldn't go that far."

"You can't be condoning this!"

"No, of course not. I think everyone should be properly married before they-they, well, that is, before they--Mother, the point is Claudette's very happy with Preston and I want to support that."

"Oh, well if she's happy it doesn't matter, does it? Get a hold of yourself, Michaela! You must talk to her. Tell her to get married!"

"Mother, I'm not going to do that." She fished in the soapy water and found the plug, setting it free.

"You have to! You must! Her reputation's going to be slaughtered if Boston society ever found out."

"So they won't find out. I'm not going to tell them, are you? Mother, I can't interfere here. She's been through so much. Charles was-"

"You don't have to tell me about Charles. I know about Charles," she retorted.

"She is a grown woman."

Elizabeth sulked. "That's what she said. You're all conspiring against me."

Michaela smiled faintly and gently squeezed her shoulder. "It's not the end of the world."

"All my daughters come out here and end up meeting someone and … well, you know what. Is there something in the water?"

Michaela rubbed her arm. "Well, we can't stop love, can we?"

She sighed. "I suppose not."

"It hasn't been such a bad thing, my falling in love out here. I would say we've given you a few grandchildren you can be quite proud of, wouldn't you?"

Her expression brightened ever so slightly. "No arguments here."

"It's getting late. I'm heading up to bed. You should get some sleep, too, Mother. You're the grandmother of the groom, remember?"

"How could I forget? Goodnight, Michaela."

Michaela gave her cheek a gentle kiss. "Goodnight."

Claudette folded a pair of frilly pantaloons and placed them in her trunk as someone knocked on her door.

"Come in," she called.

Preston opened the door with a small smile. "Good evening."

"Good evening," she said shyly.

He approached her. "Is Michaela all right? That must have been quite an ordeal."

She gathered some stockings on her bed and placed them in the trunk. "She's fine. I knew all along Sully would find her. It's lucky she didn't ruin the whole wedding, that's all I can say."

"Can you spare a minute? I'd like to talk." He approached her and held out a small box, opening it to reveal a thick gold band with three large diamonds.

Claudette gasped. "Wherever did you? Oh, it's gorgeous."

He got down on one knee and gazed up at her adoringly.

She eyed him skeptically. "Oh, no. Is that what I think it is? Preston, please don't do this."

"Please, let me speak. Claudette, I've never loved anyone like I love you. The two of us, why, I believe we're soul mates. Star-crossed lovers."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, for God's sake. This isn't Shakespeare. Let's be practical for once, please. Are you prepared to give up your hotel and your bank and move back to Boston? Well?"

He swallowed. "Well, I, I was hoping perhaps I could persuade you to move here. It's really not so bad. I'd make life as comfortable as possible."

"You know what my answer is. No."

He slowly got to his feet. "I see. You love Boston more than me."

"Preston, it's not that. It's just, it's my home. Love or not, one doesn't give up their home just like that. You forget I have children, too. Wills still lives with me. He may be grown but he still needs me. I can't just go traipsing off to Colorado and leave him behind. My whole life is there."

"Well, Will could move here, too. Mollie and Will are both welcome. I'll help you look after them."

"Of course he can't. He needs to complete his studies at the university."

"Perhaps he could enroll at-"

"Absolutely not. He cannot go to university out here. The universities out here are pathetic. He must stay at Harvard."

"Claudette, do you realize how compatible we are?" He caressed her cheek. "We're compatible in every way. The other night was just … just extraordinary. You know it was."

Her cheeks flushed. "Stop it."

"Can't you just think about this?" he pleaded.

"I have! And if you're going to play that game, then I suppose you love your businesses more than me. So there."

"Not at all!" he exclaimed.

"Good, then we're in agreement. Goodnight, Preston."

He stared at her in confusion.

"It's over," she said, suddenly choking up. "We've come to the conclusion we can't make it work. Maintaining any sort of courtship would be fruitless. It's over. We're over, Preston."

He slowly backed up and headed to the door. Then he spun around. "If you ever change your mind, I'll be waiting for you."

"I won't. Please leave," she choked, quickly grabbing a handkerchief

He swallowed hard and walked into the hall, shutting the door quietly behind him.

Michaela laid out Sully's vest and tie across the back of the chair for the morning. Then she walked to the vanity and sat down, picking up her brush.

Sully was finishing shaving in front of the mirror, carefully running the blade down his upper lip.

"I think we should get the children up around six o'clock. It's going to take awhile to get the three of them ready," Michaela remarked.

He rinsed the blade. "Sounds good."

"Sully?"

"Yeah?"

"Mother was a little upset tonight."

"About what?"

"Well, it seems Claudette and Preston have resumed their relationship."

"Oh. So? Thought she liked Preston."

"Well, she did. Until now."

He rinsed his face with some water. "She don't now? Why? What changed?"

"Preston and Claudette, apparently they … well, they, Mother says that they've…"

He eyed her for a moment, confused. "Oh, they … "

She nodded. "Yes."

He wiped down his face with a towel. "Can't say as I'm that surprised. A fool can see they love each other."

"Mother's so worried about Claudette. Preston's made it clear he doesn't want to move back to Boston. And Claudette certainly doesn't want to move here. They can't get married if neither of them is willing to budge."

He stepped toward her. "How do I look? I get everything?"

She rose to her feet and took the towel from him, wiping away the last bit of suds from beneath his earlobe. "Perfect." She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. "Mm, very smooth."

"Good," he said, kissing her back in reply. "Too bad they couldn't compromise on this somehow. Work out somethin' where they would both be happy."

"Yes, it's a shame." She stopped a moment, her face lighting up. "Wait a minute. That's it. A compromise."

"What do ya mean?"

She put the towel down. "Why does it have to be one or the other? Why couldn't they live in both places?"

"How?" he asked.

"They could live here half the year, and live in Boston the other half. They both have ample houses. That way Preston could still maintain his businesses here and Claudette would still be able to keep up with everything in Boston. Besides, Claudette's going to be coming out here summers anyway to visit Mother."

"Don't see why that couldn't work. If they're willin'." He wrinkled his brow. "Wait a minute. Not sure ya should tell them all that."

"Why not?"

"'Cause if ya do I have a feelin' Preston's gonna end up our brother-in-law."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, dear."

"I'm sure Claudette is real appreciative your ma told ya all this. And that you're tellin' me."

"I had to tell you," she said, clutching his arms. "You're my level head."

He smiled and kissed her. "Come on, Mother-of-the-groom. Time for bed."

Michaela stood on tiptoe and kissed Brian's cheek and he hugged her warmly as they gathered in the alcove of the church. The organist was playing a classical piece and all the guests were seated. She straightened his boutonniere one last time and brushed off his vest.

"See ya up there, Ma," Brian whispered.

She smiled at him as Sully hugged him and patted his back.

Then Michaela took Sully's arm and they walked down the aisle to the front of the room, William following behind them. The Reverend was waiting up front holding his cane and Bible.

Together Michaela, Sully and William lighted the row of candles up front.

"A candle for Katherine," William murmured as he pressed the flame of a candle to an unlit wick. "His grandmother."

"Charlotte," Michaela whispered as she lighted the last candle. "You'd be so proud."

Sully squeezed her shoulder and then they all took their seats on the groom's side beside Elizabeth, who was holding the baby, and in front of Rebecca and Claudette.

Next Brian filed into the church along the side followed by his best man Matthew, and then his groomsmen Kirk and his good friend from his school days Stephen Myers.

"Oh, they're all so handsome," Elizabeth remarked with a smile.

Next Sarah's maid of honor and her two bridesmaids walked in carrying bundles of bluebonnets and took their places up front on the bride's side.

Finally Katie walked slowly down the aisle, a happy grin on her face as she sprinkled white rose pedals on the ground. Red Eagle and Byron walked carefully behind her, holding the ring bearer pillow between them and watching the ring with very serious, concentrated expressions.

Michaela and Sully shared a smile and watched proudly as the children took their places beside the rest of the wedding party up front, the boys on Brian's side and Katie on Sarah's side.

Finally the organist began playing the wedding march and Sarah and her mother appeared at the end of the aisle.

The crowd gasped softly at her beautiful wedding dress and veil, and her blonde hair in long, thick ringlets. Brian folded his hands in front of him and smiled at her lovingly.

Sarah and Anna Marie walked down the aisle and then the organist wrapped up the song.

The Reverend gazed forward. "Who gives this woman to this man?"

"I do," Anna Marie said. She turned to Sarah and lifted her veil slightly to kiss her cheek.

"Thank you, Mama," Sarah whispered.

"Your daddy's watching over us today," she whispered

Sarah smiled at her softly and then took Brian's hand and joined him on the podium.

Michaela couldn't really recall what was said during the ceremony. Her eyes were filled with tears as she held Sully and William's hands and thought back to the past twelve years of Brian's life. She remembered how frightened and ill-prepared she had been when Charlotte asked her to take him in. But somehow they had muddled through and had quickly grown as close as a mother and child could be, no matter they weren't related in any way. She couldn't have asked for a better son. He had rarely been anything but helpful and obedient throughout his growing up years. He worked hard on his schoolwork, chores and the various jobs he had taken on as he grew up. And she never had to ask him to lend a hand, for he was always offering it.

She glanced at the younger children. Above all Brian was such a wonderful big brother. The children adored him and he always took care to set the best possible example for them. Whatever worries she may have had when she was pregnant with Katie about how the family she and Sully desperately wanted was going to blend with the older children she had inherited from Charlotte had long since faded. Now Charlotte's youngest was moving on, and despite a homestead that was still bustling with little children, Michaela had a feeling it was going to be awfully lonely without him.

Before she knew it the ceremony was over and the Reverend was blessing the new couple with a prayer.

"You may kiss your bride," the Reverend said with a smile.

Brian lifted Sarah's veil and gave her lips a sweet kiss.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I now present Mr. and Mrs. Brian Cooper," the Reverend said, and the couple joined hands and sauntered down the aisle as the organist began playing the recessional march and everyone clapped enthusiastically.

Sully handed Michaela a hankie. She hadn't even noticed she had been crying until then.

"You all right?" he whispered.

"I'm fine. Just happy," she replied, dabbing at her tears.

He kissed her head. "He's really on his own now."

"I'd say his ma and pa prepared him quite well," she said tearfully.

He put his arm around her. "I'd say you're right."

"I think Brian was about this tall for about three years," Matthew went on, holding his hand at waist level in demonstration. "We thought something was wrong with him. Thought he'd never grow. Fact is, when he met Sarah he was two inches shorter than her."

Brian and Sarah chuckled and the guests laughed again.

"But somehow you finally grew up," Matthew said. "And it's a good thing, too, because I don't think Sarah woulda married ya if you stayed shorter than her."

Sarah laughed and shook her head. "No, I wouldn't of," she said with a giggle.

Matthew raised his glass. "Anyway, congratulations to both of you. I wish you all the best, little brother."

"Thanks, Matthew," Brian said as he clinked his glass with his.

"Here, here," the crowd echoed as everyone clinked glasses.

"Now let's get the dancin' started!" Matthew said

The string quartet began to play a waltz and Brian led Sarah out onto the dance floor for their first dance. Soon the other guests joined them. Matthew danced with Claudette and Loren danced with Rebecca, while Dorothy and William danced rather closely.

"Wanna dance?" Sully asked, taking Michaela's hand.

"In a minute. There's someone I need to talk to first," she said wryly.

She got up and walked over to Preston's table. He was sitting by himself watching Claudette twirl around on the dance floor with Matthew and enjoying herself.

"You're not going to cut in?" she asked.

He glanced up at her a little irritated and took another bite of wedding cake.

"You know, she's leaving on this evening's train. Perhaps you should take advantage of the time you have left."

He added some whiskey to his punch from a flask and drank it all down. "Please don't rub it in, Michaela."

"Preston, forgive me for interfering, but Sully and I were talking and we think we may have the answer."

"Answer?"

"Yes. So that you and Claudette can marry."

"Short of tying her down and refusing to let her go back to Boston I don't know what you could have possibly come up with."

"I know your businesses are important to you and you've worked hard to make them thrive."

"So you want me to just give all that up? I suppose that's what you would do," he retorted. "Well, good for you."

"Well, no, I'm not saying that. But what if there were another way? A way where you could have both."

He folded his arms. "You want to help me marry your sister?" he asked skeptically.

She sat beside him. "Preston, you make her happy. And clearly she does the same for you. I want to see her happy. She deserves it."

"She does deserve it," he murmured.

"She says she can't move here and you say you can't move there."

"No, I've been over this and over this with her. I simply cannot manage my bank and hotel all the way from Boston. If this is going to happen she needs to move here."

"So why couldn't you live in both places? Spend winters in Boston and summers in Colorado when business is most brisk."

"No, that would never work," he said dismissively.

"Why?" she replied. "I happen to think it's the best of both worlds."

He thought a moment. "You think she might be receptive to that? I suppose I could get by away from Colorado in the winters when business is slow."

"You won't know unless you ask."

He folded his arms pensively. "You always were full of creative solutions."

"Sully inspired me. He suggested a compromise."

"Right. Well, thank him for me," he muttered, getting out of his seat and heading for the punch bowl.

Sully walked over and held out his hand. "Now can ya dance?"

"Yes," she said with a smile.

"What'd he think?" he asked curiously as he led her to the bustling dance floor.

"I don't know. He didn't say much. But I think we've planted a seed." She grasped his hand and shoulder and they began waltzing with the other couples.

Preston approached Elizabeth with a glass of punch. She was seated at the wedding party table watching everyone else on the dance floor.

"You're not dancing, Mrs. Quinn?" he asked.

She glanced up at him irritably. "Of course I can't dance with my hip. I'll just watch."

"Punch?" he asked, handing her the glass.

She shook her head. "No."

"Well, it was a lovely wedding, wasn't it? I must say I was very surprised," he remarked, taking a seat beside her. "I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did."

She glared at him. "You can dispense with the innocence, young man. I know full well about you and my daughter."

His mouth dropped open. "Claudette?" he blurted. "Oh."

"And if you think you're going to take advantage of her like that without marrying her you've got another thing coming! I thought you had a little more breeding than that!"

He cleared his throat. "Mrs. Quinn, to be fair I've proposed marriage to her many times. She always said she simply couldn't move here."

"So you move to Boston then!" she cried. "Do what you have to do to dignify this whole entire fiasco!" She shook her head in exasperation. "First Michaela, then Marjorie and now Claudette. I suppose I better keep my eye on Rebecca now, too!"

He held up his hand. "Mrs. Quinn, wait. I think I may have the solution. Actually, it was Michaela's idea. And Sully's, I suppose."

"Sully and Michaela? They talked to you about this?"

"A six month split. We could marry and live six months in Boston and sixth months here. I'm about to go talk to Claudette about it right this minute."

"Six month split?" she echoed pensively. "Oh."

"I think it could work. If we both compromise. But, I wanted to ask your permission first."

"My permission? For what?"

"I was always taught a proper Boston man should ask the permission of the parents before proposing to their daughter. Well?"

"Well what?" she retorted.

"Do I have it? Your permission."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, for heaven's sake. All right, yes. You have my permission. Of course you have it. Just make an honest woman of her, please."

He got up and grasped her hand, kissing it. "Thank you. Thank you!"

"Byron, no, put your tie back on," Claudette scolded as she approached the table where the boys were seated.

"Papa has his tie off," Byron protested, pointing at the dance floor where Michaela and Sully were taking part in an elaborate reel.

Red Eagle yanked off his tie. "Yeah, Papa has his tie off."

"That's your papa!" she replied with exasperation. "Here, let me help." She squatted beside them and strung the tie back around Byron's neck.

"Aw, Auntie," Byron protested.

"Don't 'aw, Auntie' me," she replied.

The boys giggled as she put their ties back on and tied them in neat bows.

"I'm glad Brian's married, aren't you, Auntie?" Red Eagle said.

"Yes, of course. They make a lovely couple."

"Everybody's in love around here. Bet there's gonna be a lot more weddings," Byron remarked. "Right, Auntie?"

"Yes, seems like it," she said, suddenly growing tearful.

"What's wrong?" Byron demanded. "Why you crying?"

"No reason," she blurted. "There you are. Go on with you now. Go get some more cake. And keep your ties on!"

The boys went off to the cake table just as Preston approached Claudette and touched her shoulder.

She spun around. "Oh, Preston." She quickly dabbed at her tears with the back of her hand.

"What's wrong?" he blurted. "What is it?"

"Nothing, it's nothing," she said, reaching for her handkerchief.

"Here, sit down," he said, guiding her to a chair. "Talk to me."

"Oh, Preston. It pains me this isn't going to work between us. Believe me. I just, I'm going to need some time to accept that. I think it's better we not communicate in the meantime. I'd appreciate it if you didn't write me or try to contact me. If you'd be so kind."

He took her hankie and dabbed at her tears. "I may just have the solution. That is, Michaela and Sully might."

"Now they're offering their take on this, too? That's typical of my little sister. And that husband of hers. Always putting in their two cents when no one asked in the first place."

"Yes, but in this case I think it might actually work."

The band finished up another lively reel and Michaela and Sully broke apart and clapped, out of breath. Then the band began playing a slow waltz. Sully drew her close gratefully.

"Good, I need a break," he said with a smile.

She gave him a soft kiss. "I can't remember the last time we danced like this together."

"Been awhile."

She gazed up at him reverently. "I love being in your arms."

"I love bein' in yours," he whispered back.

"Sully, look at that," she murmured, gazing across the dance floor.

He followed her gaze. Dorothy and William were dancing together and looking at each other tenderly. A moment passed and then William bent his head and gave her a soft kiss on her flushed lips. Dorothy smiled up at him in reply.

"He may have yet another reason to come visit us often," she said wryly.

He grinned and kissed her head. "Hey, as much as I want ya to myself, you ain't danced with the groom yet."

"Yes, you're right."

Sully spotted Brian over by the punch bowl pouring a glass for Katie. Sarah was beside him with her arms wrapped around Red Eagle.

"Brian," Sully called. "Why don't ya take a turn with your ma?"

He smiled and walked over. "You don't mind, Pa?"

He chuckled. "No, go ahead." He kissed Michaela's hand and then turned her over to him.

"Having a good time?" Michaela asked as she grasped his shoulder and hand and they began to waltz.

"Yeah, real good. You?"

"It was a wonderful wedding, Brian. It went off without a hitch."

"Thanks to you and Gran'ma and Mrs. Sheehan. You made it all come together. Thank you."

"You're welcome. We were happy to help."

"Sure was a long time in comin', me and Sarah gettin' married," he remarked.

"Not that long for your mother," she replied wryly.

"Ma, don't worry. Not much is gonna change. I won't be livin' in the homestead anymore, but that don't mean the two of us don't wanna come by and have supper, spend time with you and Pa and the kids. That is, if ya don't mind."

"Oh, Brian. We'd have the two of you over every night if you'd like. But, you're going to need your space for awhile. Don't feel like you have to come by the homestead all the time when you'd just like some privacy."

"Oh. Right," he said sheepishly. "Privacy."

"I suppose that's going to be strange at first, not having Katie and Byron and Red Eagle around to interrupt you all the time," she said with a chuckle.

"Yeah. I'm gonna miss 'em though. All of ya."

"We'll miss you," she replied, giving him a hug.

Preston walked up to them and cleared his throat. "Excuse me. Brian, could I talk to you?"

"Sure, Mr. Lodge. Somethin' wrong?" he said as he and Michaela broke apart.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you a favor. I was hoping to announce my engagement to everyone. But only if it's all right with you and your new wife."

"To my Aunt Claudette?" he blurted.

"She said yes?" Michaela asked.

"She said yes." He burst into a big smile.

"Oh, Preston, that's wonderful!" Michaela exclaimed.

"Yeah, it's great. Sure, announce it. Go ahead!" Brian said.

He shook his hand vigorously. "Thank you!" He scurried over to Claudette and grabbed her hand, drawing her to her feet. "Everyone, everyone!" he shouted. "Can I have your attention please? I have something to share with you."

The band stopped playing and all the guests grew quiet.

Preston gazed at Claudette adoringly. "I just asked for this lovely woman's hand."

"What'd she say?" Jake demanded.

He glanced out at the crowd. "Oh. Yes! She said yes!"

The crowd laughed and burst into applause.

"Yippie!" Byron shouted, clapping his hands. "Aunt Claudie's movin' here!" He raced up to her and hugged her.

"Well, not exactly, Byron," Claudette said.

"You're giving up your hotel and bank, Preston?" Jake asked in disbelief.

"No, not at all. We're going to live six months in Boston and six months here. It's really a perfect plan." He put his arm around Claudette and drew her close.

"That's love for ya," Loren grumbled to Dorothy. "Makes folks think fool ideas like that are perfect plans."

"Oh, I think it's sweet. I think it'll work," Dorothy remarked.

"Well, we'll see, won't we?" he replied pessimistically.

"Go dance," Byron urged, pushing on Preston's arm. "Dance together."

"Shall we?" Preston said, taking her hand.

"I don't know these kinds of dances," she replied scornfully.

He chuckled. "Neither do I. We'll have to do most of our dancing when we're in Boston."

She laughed and followed him to the floor.

He paused and gave her a soft kiss. "Thank you for saying yes."

"Thank you for being so persistent," she replied wryly.

Brian reached up and lifted Sarah down from the buggy. It was very late and the stars were twinkling brightly. He held her hand and led her up the porch stairs. He opened the door, then glanced at her mischievously and picked her up, cradling her in his arms.

She squealed. "Brian!"

"Gotta carry ya across the threshold. It's tradition," he said. He walked inside and kissed her, then lowered her to the floor.

"Welcome to your first home of your own, Mrs. Cooper," he murmured.

"Our home," she replied lovingly.

Sully helped Byron unbutton his starched white shirt and then slipped a nightshift over his head.

"Here, son," he whispered. "Put your arms through."

Byron was nearly half asleep, exhausted after bounding around at the wedding reception all night. He half-heartedly raised his arms and Sully guided them into the sleeves.

Michaela gave Red Eagle a hand into bed and he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

"Night-night. I love you," she whispered, stooping to kiss his forehead.

Sully led Byron to bed and helped him up.

"Papa, what're we doin' tomorrow?" Byron asked sleepily.

"Tomorrow? You already want to know about tomorrow?" Michaela asked. "Wasn't today exciting enough?"

He smiled faintly and closed his eyes, finding his stuffed puppy and clutching it to his chest.

"We'll play catch with the baseball, how's that?" Sully said. "Night."

"Night, Papa," he muttered.

Michaela kissed his cheek and smoothed his hair. "I'm so proud of you. The three of you did such a good job at the wedding today. Goodnight, sweetheart."

"Yeah," he replied, turning over on his side exhaustedly.

Sully chuckled and led Michaela out of the room. "Ring bearers need their sleep. Come on."

She smiled as they walked out and closed the door, then headed to their bedroom. Sully opened the door and guided her inside. He began unbuttoning his shirt and trousers as Michaela worked on getting off her gown.

"We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful wedding," she remarked.

"Yeah," he said. He watched her peel off her bodice and then struggle to unlace her corset. "Need some help?" he asked. He strolled over to her and untied the strings.

"Thank you," she murmured.

He ran his fingers across her shoulder and then gave it a soft kiss. She flinched slightly and reached her hand up, stilling his.

"Sully, I'm just, I'm not sure I'm ready yet."

He paused a moment, then turned her to face him. "Michaela, is it just that it hurts? Or is it somethin' else?"

"I don't know," she admitted hoarsely, glancing down.

"You can talk to me. Tell me."

She looked at the crib a moment where the baby was sleeping soundly. "It's just…I don't know, I've been feeling different since the baby was born. Like my body's not my own anymore. It's as if I'm different."

"You're beautiful," he said. He tilted her chin up so she met his eyes.

"It's not just that. Sully, you watched me give birth and all the complications that happened afterward. You still feel … well, attracted to me?"

He wrinkled his brow. "Course I do. Why wouldn't I be?"

She stepped away. "I don't know. I suppose sometimes it makes me uncomfortable, self-conscious, that you were right there for all of that."

"Course I wanted to be there. I wouldn'ta been anywhere else. I know goin' through what ya did made ya feel real out of control. But you were real brave through it. And I don't feel any different about ya."

"You're sure?" she murmured.

"Michaela, you gave me another little girl., made me a pa again You went through so much to give us another child when we never thought it was gonna happen again. That's a beautiful thing. If I feel different about ya, it's 'cause I love ya even more."

"Oh," she murmured emotively. "I love you even more, too."

"Stop thinkin' about what ya look like or anything else. There's nothin' you gotta worry about."

She smiled appreciatively and embraced him tightly. Suddenly he grabbed her and picked her up, cradling her in his arms.

"Sully! What are you doing?" she cried.

"Brian gets to carry his bride across the threshold. I wanna carry mine," he said wryly.

She giggled as he walked to the bed and laid her atop it and kissed her deeply. Eventually he dimmed the lamps and they made love slowly and tenderly in the darkness. It didn't hurt this time. It just felt beautiful and natural. Afterward she basked in their closeness and held Sully's hand tightly in hers. She thought about everything they had been through with his father, and how although it had been rocky at times, eventually the experience had only depended their relationship. The children had a grandfather now, as she had always wished they could, and William had even saved Byron's life. She thought about Preston and Claudette and how she and Sully had worked together to help two people clearly meant to be together to find a way to make it happen. And she thought about letting Brian move on and how his wedding was truly an end to his childhood in a way. She was sad about that, and yet at the same time it was so exciting to think they had a new infant less than two months old they were going to be raising together over the next several years. They had so much to look forward to with Eliza, as well as the other children. At last she fell asleep in Sully's arms, happy and completely at peace.