For personal use and select distribution only © August 1999 by S.L. Snyder

MR EDWARDS AND MRS. EDWARDS
by S. L. Snyder

Timeline: September 1873


Matthew was walking by the livery on his way to the post office, when Robert E called to him, "Matthew?"

"Hey, Robert E."

"Matthew, have ya got a minute? I need to ask you something."

"Sure." Matthew walked into the blacksmithy and sat down on a bale of hay.

"I need your help changing my name, sort of. I mean, legally, my name is Robert E and Grace's, I guess, is Grace E since we got married. But now that we’re having kids, and this is something I thought about when we adopted Anthony. I think we need to have a real name. I'd like to have the papers filed to make my name Robert E Edwards. I ain't told Grace yet. I was thinking it'd be a gift for her cuz of the baby. What do I need to do?"

"It's fairly easy. I'll get the papers drawn up, you sign them and then I'll file them in Denver. You don't need to be there, just me, and the judge'll make it official. I'll let you know how much it costs to file. Then you'll legally have the name Edwards. All we need to do for Grace is have the marriage certificate amended."

"Does she need to know before it's done?"

"No."

"Good. When it's done, I'll give the papers to her. And you let me know what I owe you for your work."

"Nothing. I couldn't charge you."

"Yes, you can. I won't let ya file the papers if I can't pay ya!"


Michaela, Dorothy, Grace and Josie were having lunch at the cafe. They were having a pleasant time, just the four of them. Sully had taken Katie and Brian to see Cloud Dancing so Michaela didn't have to worry about Katie.

"Grace," said Dorothy, "how have you been feeling?"

"Mostly okay...tired with a little over a month to go. When Robert E wakes me up in the morning, I sure don't wanna get out of bed. The baby is very active and with the cafe, helping with the menus and such at the Springs Chateau and starting the new school year for the Freedman's School, my day is so busy. I just don't think I can keep it up much longer. I've even been thinking of cutting down on the hours at the school, but I hate to do that to the children."

"I know how you feel, Grace," replied Dorothy. "I never got enough rest when I was pregnant. I had to mind the house and kids and if the meals weren't on time, Marcus would yell, and other things. Thank goodness you have a good man in Robert E."

"Yes. I don't know how I would handle all this without him."

Michaela glanced at Josie, who looked distracted. "Josie? Is something wrong?"

"No....not really....I've just been thinking about something for awhile. And.....well.....Grace, I don't want to hurt your feelings or mean anything bad about what I am going to say. I've noticed for a time now how tired you've been and I know going out to the Freedman's School is hard on you. And, well.....I talked to Timothy about this and he agreed. I'd like to take over for you at the Freedman's School, for as long as you want. Timothy doesn't really need me during the day and I am a teacher. I just thought I could help out."

"Josie, are you serious?" asked Grace. "You know it doesn't really pay anything? If the folks have extra things, they give them to me. And, well…..you're pregnant too."

"Oh, I know, Grace. I wouldn't be doing it for payment of any kind. I just love to teach. I've heard you talk about the children and they seem to have such a desire to learn. I'd really enjoy it. Besides, I'm a little less pregnant than you and unlike you, I don't do anything else."

"Josie, I'd really like it, then. I've only been teaching there because there was no one else. Although I haven't reached the point yet, someday the children will need to know more than I can teach them. I'd be thrilled to have you take over the school....permanently if you'd like."

"I'd like that very much!"

Michaela and Dorothy were smiling, pleased. "Isn't this wonderful," Dorothy said. "I will print an announcement in the Gazette."

"Please, Dorothy, make it some time after I tell the parents out in Shantytown. Okay?" asked Grace.

"Of course."


A few weeks later, Michaela and Sully were having lunch at the café with their family. It was rare that they could have lunch with all the children. Andrew spent a lot of time at the hotel clinic and now that Amanda had learned so much about helping Michaela, Colleen spent most of her time with Andrew. The time Matthew wasn't helping people out with legal issues, he was spending studying his law books for the tests he needed to take, with Teresa Slicker's help. Sully and Brian were spending a lot of time with their guide business, which had really taken off, what with referrals from Senator Selkirk.

Grace came to their table. "And how is my favorite family outside my own? And of course, my goddaughter?"

"Ant Gace, up?" Katie said.

"I can't, Katie. The baby won't let me," said Grace, pointing to her huge abdomen.

"Me see baby soon, huh?" Katie asked.

"Yes, Katie, soon," Grace replied.

That satisfied Katie and she went back to eating her lunch.

"Sit down with us. How are you feeling, Grace?" Michaela asked her.

“Big! It’s hard to believe I still have a month to go. Robert E has to help me in and out of bed. I’m relieved I have good help because I just can’t make it into the cafe early. The good thing is morning sickness went away awhile back...now it’s the opposite...I want to eat all the time!”

Sully laughed, “Sounds like Michaela in her final months!”

Grace went back to her desk, just as Horace came up with a large envelope. "Matthew, this came in the mail for you, It's marked urgent."

"Thanks, Horace." Matthew opened the envelope and glanced at the legal papers. "Excuse me, please," he said to the family. He got up and went to see Robert E at the livery. “I got some papers in the mail for you, Robert E. It’s all legal. You’re now Robert E Edwards. Here’s your name change papers and the marriage certificate with the name change.”

Robert E took the papers Matthew handed him. He opened the envelope and looked at the legal documents. He looked up at Matthew with a big smile on his face. “Thank you very much, Matthew. This is nice. Do I owe you some more money?”

“No. The $25 you paid me covers the filing fees and enough left over for me.”

"Can we go over to your family? I'd like to share this with friends when I give it to Grace."

"Sure."

They walked over to the Sullys' table. "Grace," Robert E called, could you come over here please?"

Grace came over to the table, “What do you need, Robert E?”

Robert E and Matthew smiled. “I wanted to get ya a present...somethin' special for you and the baby. And I wanted to give it to you with our friends around us. I needed Matthew’s help and he gave me this today.” Robert E handed the envelope to Grace.

Grace pulled out the papers and looked them over. She looked up smiling, with tears running down her cheeks, unable to speak. Robert E put his arms around her. Then Grace was able to say “I couldn’t ask for a better present. This is so wonderful, Robert E, Mr. Edwards!”

“Thank you, Mrs. Edwards,” Robert E replied as he kissed his wife.

Matthew smiled and said, "Robert E asked me to make Edwards his legal last name. So I filed the papers and that's what came today. Grace and Robert E are now legally Mr. and Mrs. Edwards!"

Sully shook Robert E's hand and kissed Grace on the cheek. "I'm real happy for ya both. This is great!"

"It certainly is," exclaimed Michaela.

Dorothy came walking up. "What's going on?"

Matthew explained the name to Dorothy.

"Why that's wonderful. I'm going to put the news in The Gazette. The whole town should know!"


Michaela and Sully were sitting on the front stairs after dinner. Sully had his arm around Michaela. "I feel so good for Robert E and Grace," he said. "I was talkin' to Robert E while I was waitin' for ya to close the clinic. He's so excited about havin', what he calls, a real last name."

"Grace was still beaming and crying the last I saw her about mid-afternoon. She told me it was the best present Robert E could have given her. She's thought about first names for the baby, but never thought of a last name. She was raised that only 'white folks' had last names, so not really having a last name never occurred to her. She said it made her feel really free to finally have a last name."

"Such a simple thing to make two good folks so happy," Sully said.


Since she didn't have any patients waiting and Amanda had gone over to the library to see Matthew, Michaela walked over to the cafe for some tea. She stopped by Grace's desk to see how she was feeling. Grace looked like she was in pain.

"Grace? Are you okay?"

"Ain't sure. Don't feel so good. Been having pains for awhile now. Thought they were like those pains I had about a month ago, but I'm startin' to think these are different."

"I think we'll go to the clinic. Can you walk?"

"Not sure. I'll try to stand." Grace stood up and took a few steps, then stopped. "Nope. Hurts too much, Dr. Mike."

Michaela looked over to the livery and could see Robert E. She called to him. When he turned, she gestured for him to come to them. Robert E took one look at Grace's face and came running.

"We need to take her to the clinic. She tried to walk but can't." Robert E picked Grace up and carried her to the clinic. Michaela saw Dorothy outside The Gazette, "Dorothy, Amanda's at the Library with Matthew. Please go get her."

Robert E laid Grace on the examination table. "Wait outside please, Robert E. I'll let you know as soon as I can."

As Robert E opened the door and went out, Amanda came in. Matthew sat down outside to wait with Robert E.

Michaela examined Grace, with Amanda standing by. "Well, Grace," Michaela said as she stood up, "you are in labor. This baby is ready to come into the world."

"But, Dr. Mike, it's early!" said Grace.

"It's okay, Grace. Some babies are early. It's going to be awhile though, so I want you to relax when you can. Amanda is going to help you get into a nightgown. I'm going to go talk to Robert E."

Michaela went outside and closed the door. Sully, Brian and Katie had joined Robert E and Matthew on the clinic porch. "Robert E, Grace is in labor. It's going to take some time. Matthew, can you ride out to the resort and get Andrew and Colleen?"

Matthew nodded and left for the resort.

"Is something wrong, Dr. Mike, that ya need Andrew?" a worried Robert E asked.

"Not at all. It just makes it nice to have another doctor at times like this. Please don't worry. I will take care of Grace."

Robert E nodded his thanks to Michaela. Sully put his arms around her and gave her a hug and kiss. "We'll be here with Robert E," he whispered in her ear. Michaela smiled and returned his kiss. She kissed Katie and Brian and went back into the clinic.

Andrew and Colleen arrived with Matthew. They went inside to see what they could do to help. Andrew was listening to Grace's baby when Michaela looked at him and he signaled her to come listen. Michaela listened, with Grace watching, and Michaela's eyes glistened.

"Dr. Mike, is something wrong!?"

"No...no...Grace," Michaela placed her hand on her friend's shoulder. "It's just that now we are hearing two heartbeats."

"What?" Grace asked.

"Two heartbeats, Grace. You're having twins!"

"Oh, my....oh....twins.....really?" Grace murmured.

"Yes....during your exams I only heard one heartbeat which means they were laying in such a way that their hearts were aligned. They are shifting and we can now hear both heartbeats," Michaela told her.

Just then, another contraction started.


It was well after midnight and Robert E was pacing in front of the clinic. Sully, Brian and Matthew were sitting on the bench near him for moral support, while Amanda was in Colleen and Andrew's rooms with a sleeping Katie. Robert E looked at Sully, "This is too early, Sully. The baby's not due for another 3 weeks! Something must be wrong!"

"Don't think that way, Robert E. Sayin' when a baby is gonna be born ain't an exact thing. This could be the right time. Look at Katie...she was two weeks before we thought she was suppose to come and ain't nothing wrong with her!" Sully told him.

"And ya know Ma, Andrew and Colleen will take good care of Miss Grace and the baby," said Brian.

Robert E reached out and patted Brian on the back, nodding his head.

Except for the sound of Robert E's footsteps, it was very quiet for Colorado Springs, Hank had closed the saloon at midnight and the town folks had gone home for the night. Suddenly, they heard the first sound from the clinic.... Grace was screaming. The sound visibly struck Robert E. He looked ready to go into the clinic and Sully was ready to stop him. But Robert E shook himself and went back to pacing. Each time Grace let out a scream, Robert E lost a little more energy.

Just after 5 a.m., they heard a different sound....a baby crying. Then the crying stopped. A few minutes later it started again, but somehow sounded different. Sully sat an exhausted Robert E down on the bench to wait for word from inside.


"Push again, Grace. I see the head! The head's out! The first one's coming....good....again ....here comes the baby!" Michaela said as the shoulders appear and finally the rest of the baby.

Andrew was right there to take the baby. "A boy, Grace, it's a boy!" he said. Andrew cleaned the baby's mouth and gave Grace's son a pat on the behind. The baby started crying.

While Andrew tended to the baby, Michaela started urging Grace to push again. "Here comes the other one, Grace. Push....push...." Michaela urged Grace on and within minutes the second baby was born.

Andrew had handed the boy to Colleen and was ready to take the new baby. "This one's a girl, Grace," Michaela told her as she handed the baby to Andrew.

Andrew cleaned and patted the baby and she let out a cry like her brother. Colleen put the boy in Grace's arms and joined Michaela in cleaning up. Grace glanced up at Andrew to look at her daughter.


The clinic door opened and Michaela came out, wearing a big smile. Other friends had been gathering in the last few minutes to await the birth. Robert E was still on the bench, looking as exhausted as Grace.

Robert E glanced up at Michaela with a question in his eyes. "Grace is fine, Robert E, and so are your babies!" Michaela said.

"What? Babies?!" he exclaimed.

"Yes...you have twins, Robert E. A son and a daughter."

Robert E shook his head as Sully patted him on the back. "Congratulations, Robert E," Sully said, shaking his hand.

The rest of his friends gathered around to congratulate him.

"Dr. Mike? Can I go in?" Robert E asked.

"Certainly. Just remember, Grace is exhausted and I expect she'll go to sleep soon. But go on in.

Sully stepped over to Michaela, put his arms around her and kissed her on the forehead. "Good job, my love," he whispered in her ear.

"Thank you," She said, kissing him. "Where's Katie?"

"Asleep in Colleen's room. Amanda's with her. Don't worry."

Michaela kissed him again and went back into the clinic.

Robert E was holding both the babies. The look on his face was one of pure rapture. He kept shaking his head in amazement. Although still awake, Grace was very drowsy.

"Grace?" Michaela said.

Grace looked at Michaela and smiled. "Dr. Mike, aren't they beautiful?"

"Yes, very. You need to rest now. We will take care of the babies. We are going to move you up to one of the recovery rooms. Robert E, will you please carry Grace upstairs? We'll bring the babies."

They got Grace settled into a recovery room. Andrew brought in Katie's old crib and they put the babies in it. "Robert E, we'll be downstairs if you need us. Grace should sleep for a while. Call me if you need me."

"Thanks, Dr. Mike." Robert E put his arms around Michaela and gave her a hug. Then he hugged Colleen and Andrew. "Thanks all of ya for helping my wife and my babies," he said with an emotion choked voice.


The crowd outside had dissipated for the time being. Brian, Matthew, Colleen and Andrew had gone into their living room to relax. Sully was sitting on the bench, waiting for Michaela. She sat down next to him and he put his arm around her.

"You okay?"

"Yes. Just very tired. But very happy for Grace and Robert E. The babies are beautiful and fine."

"Robert E was worried 'bout them coming early. Is that a problem?"

"Not with twins. In fact, twins usually come earlier in a pregnancy. Grace carried them longer than most women would carry twins. Andrew examined them and said they seemed fine. We'll check them a few more times over the next few days, but I don't anticipate any problems."

She put her head down on his shoulder and closed her eyes. They sat there in peace for a while.

About an hour later, Robert E called down to Michaela. "Dr. Mike, the babies are fussing and Grace is awake."

"I'm coming,"


Close to noon, with Grace rested and the babies fed, their friends came to see the new arrivals. Grace was in the largest recovery room and their friends, besides the entire Sully family, Dorothy, Cloud Dancing, Loren, Jake, Teresa, Josie, the Reverend, Hank, Daniel and Anna Marie, gathered to meet the babies. Grace was holding their son and Robert E their daughter.

"We wanted to have all our friends here," said Robert E, "so we can tell you the names of our children. Our son's name is Elijah Robert and our daughter's name is Louise Grace. I told Grace you were all outside this mornin' when they were born. We both thank ya for being here."

"Let's give thanks to the Lord," said the Reverend. The Reverend led everyone in a short prayer.

"Grace needs to rest more now," said Michaela and she ushered everyone out of the room except for Sully and Katie, who was in her father's arms.

"Anty Gace? Me see?"

"Yes, my darling. Sully, let her come over."

Sully set Katie on the floor and she hurried over to Grace and Robert E. With eyes full of wonder, she carefully traced the faces of the babies. She smiled and looked at her parents. "Two babies!" The four of adults smiled at Katie. "Anty Gace, me help with babies?"

"Yes, of course, my dear Katie."

Katie smiled and went back to her father.

"We'll leave you alone now. You both need rest. You can stay here for as long as you like. I'd like you to stay at least tonight, Grace. After I examine you and the babies tomorrow, I'll let you know if it's okay to go home."


Michaela stayed at the clinic awhile, treating some minor problems of her patients. After Andrew slept for awhile, he came into the clinic.

"Michaela, it's around two. Sully, Katie and Brian are hanging around outside. Why don't you go home? I can keep the clinic open and Colleen and I'll be here if Grace needs us."

"That sounds good. I'll go up and check on Grace before I go. Would you let Sully know?"

"Sure."


Sully brought the wagon up to the clinic, with Brian and Katie in the back, helped his exhausted wife up to the wagon seat and drove his family home. Because they were well rested, Brian kept Katie occupied outside while Sully carried Michaela up to their room.

"Ya ain't slept but a few minutes since yesterday. I want ya to lay down and sleep for awhile. I'll wake ya for dinner."

"Thank you. I am very tired."

Sully helped Michaela off with her clothes and into a nightgown. He pulled the covers over her and kissed her. "Sleep tight, love."

Michaela and Andrew checked out Grace the babies the next day and found them to be just fine. Michaela told Robert E he could take his family home if he wanted, which he did. Andrew and Michaela carried the babies and Robert E carried Grace to their house. Michaela and Andrew helped get the family settled, then left so the Edwards could start to adjust to their new life.


"Grace and Robert E took the babies home today. Oh, Sully, it's so wonderful to see them so happy, to have these children," Michaela said as they cuddled face to face, in their bed. "They were so devastated after Anthony and I wasn't sure their marriage would survive. But now…."

"Yeah…..it's nice ta see them happy this way….ta have good things to happen to such good people…."

Michaela placed her hands on his face and a kiss on his lips. "I love you so, Byron Sully. Thank you for being near during the deliveries, for being with Robert E, for caring so much."

"You're welcome. And I love you too, Michaela Quinn,' he said as he returned her kiss.

"Michaela Sully, my dear Byron……Quinn only when I'm being a doctor. I like the way Michaela Sully sounds."

"I like it, too. And I like the way ya say Byron……I like it when ya call me that……don't dislike the name anymore, when you say it…"

"Good…because I like saying it, Byron, my Byron…."

Their lips met again, Michaela's nightgown went sailing, their bodies molded into each other, and the pleasure in each other increased with their passion.


The ways of our universe has many happy surprises for us
and we will touch each other again in ways to be seen,
keeping our hearts and spirit open with smiles, gratitude
and love, will always guide our paths to joyous journeys.
----Chan Heawak


The End

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