For personal use and select distribution only © April 2001 by S.L. Snyder

ESSENCE OF LOVE
by S. L. Snyder

Timeline: February - March 1874.


It was the middle of February and it had been raining for three days. Sully, Michaela and Katie hadn’t left the homestead. Because of the mud, the wagon ride to town was very bumpy and Sully wasn’t about to let his very pregnant wife take that ride. Andrew, Colleen and Amanda were managing the two clinics quite nicely. Brian was able to ride Taffy into town to go to school, picking Sarah up on the way.

Sully, at least, had been able to go outside during the day to check on the animals in the barn, but Katie and Michaela had not left the house. He was having a hard time keeping his ladies occupied. Usually he was able to find something for Michaela, like reading, but mainly because with less than two months to go until the baby was due, she didn’t feel all that active. Katie, however, was a different matter. She was use to a lot of daily activity in town, like visiting Dorothy, Loren, Grace and Robert E, watching the twins and meeting Brian after school. At home, she played in the yard a lot with Wolf, Storm and King or walked down to the creek with her brother or father. Being cooped up in the house was not her thing.

A little after lunch, the wolves were by the fire and Michaela and Sully were in the wingback chairs. Katie was sitting on the floor between the wolves and her folks.

“Wanna go out! Pease?”

“Katie, it’s wet and cold outside,” said her mother.

“Don’t care….”

“Kates, come sit with me and I’ll tell ya a story,” urged her father.

“No story, pa, go out…..pease?” she said, looking at her father with an expression that reminded him of his wife’s when she wanted him to agree with her. He looked at Michaela in exasperation.

“Michaela? What do ya think?”

Katie switched her gaze to her mother.

Michaela looked out the window. “Well, the rain seems to have let up. Maybe if you bundle up, your father will take you for a ride. But you have to promise to behave and stay bundled in your coat and scarves.”

“Will, mama….prom’se.”

“You’ll stay by the fire and rest?” queried the worried husband.

She smiled, “Will, papa….promise.”

He laughed. “Come on, Kates, let’s get wrapped up!” Katie jumped up and ran to the coats hanging next to the door, waiting for her father. Sully leaned over and kissed Michaela. “Back soon, mama,” he whispered. Sully put Katie’s coat and scarves on her and took along a blanket, then he carried her to the barn. They rode out, with a wave to Michaela as she stood at the door, watching them ride off.

Sully headed Wind toward the woods and the creek. Katie sat in front of him, bundled in the blanket. “Go see crek, Papa?”

“We’ll go to the hill above the creek, but not real close to the creek itself. There’s gonna be a lot of water in the creek cuz of the rain.”

When they got to the hill above the creek, Sully stopped. The water, usually three to four feet below the bank, was just about to the top of the bank and the current was swift.

“Ooo…looky water! Get down?”

“No. It’s too muddy and ya can’t get near the creek?”

“Pease?”

“No, sweetie. Sides, ya’d get dirty and mama wouldn’t like that.” He felt her hunch her shoulders, a sure sign she didn’t like his answer. “Now, Katie, ya promised ma ya’d be good. If ya start to pout, we’ll turn around and go home.”

“’Kay, Papa, me be good!” And he felt her shoulders relax.

Sully smiled, glad his warning had it’s desired effect. He wasn’t quite ready to turn back either. Sully loved riding with Katie and the only thing that would make it better was if Michaela were with them. They headed off along the hilltop, watching the creek and going deeper into the woods.

“Where an’mals?”

“They’re hidin’ from the rain, sweet girl. They wanna stay warm and ain’t got blankets like you do.”

“Papa?” asked Katie, a few minutes later.

“Hmmm?”

“We get blanits keep an’mals warm?” She asked with concern in her voice.

Sully smiled. Wait til he told Michaela how concerned Katie was. “Wild animals wouldn’t use our blankets. They don’t like to come around people and the blankets smell like us.”

“But they cold….”

“That’s why they stay in hidin’, to stay warm. But ya know, Kates, some animals have fur to keep ‘em warm, like the wolves and the buffalo…they stay hidden from us cuz they don’t wanna be with people. And for those that don’t have fur, the land gives them places to hide to stay warm.”

“Sure?” she asked.

“I’m sure, Kates.”

They continued riding for awhile, then Sully turned around and headed for home. As they neared the homestead, the wind began picking up. Sully looked at the sky and saw new storm clouds moving in. They rode into the barn and Sully dismounted then lifted Katie down. She shrugged off the blanket and ran around to greet the other horses, chickens and the cow while Sully rubbed Wind down. As he picked Katie up and headed for the barn door, he heard the rain start. He opened up the door and they looked out to see the rain coming down in torrents. He grabbed the blanket and wrapped Katie up in it, even covering her head, and made a dash for the house. As he reached the top of the steps, a waiting Michaela swung the door open for her family.

After Katie’s blanket, coat and scarves were removed, she went over to stand by the chair Michaela was sitting in and told her mother all about their ride. “Mama, anmals don’t nee blanits like me. They gots to hide!”

Michaela gave Sully a puzzled look and Sully explained the comment to her.

“I’m so glad you care about animals, Katie. I’m very proud of you for thinking about them. Now, I bet papa would get you milk and cookies if you ask him nice.”

“Pease, papa?”

“Ya wanna help?”

“Yes!”

“Michaela, do you want some tea?”

“I’d love some. Thank you.”

“Anytime,” he replied as he gave her a kiss.

“’Mon, papa!” Katie exclaimed, pulling on Sully’s hand.

“Comin’, Kates.”

After her snack, Katie sat down to pet the wolves and promptly fell asleep. Sully sat down on the floor in front of Michaela, leaning back against her legs. They were content to watch their daughter and enjoy the peace and quiet.


Michaela started dinner, with Sully hovering close by. “Sully, I’m not helpless! I can do this.”

“I know. I just wanna be here if you need me.”

“You and Katie,” glancing down at their daughter, standing between them.

The door opened and Brian walked in. “Bran!” exclaimed Katie as she ran to her brother.

“Hey, Katie.” He picked her up and swung her over his head while she was screaming with delight the entire time. “Hey, ma, pa….guess what?” His folks looked at him expectantly. “Miss Josie had her baby. Andrew delivered it.”

“Are they okay?” asked the doctor.

“Ya, ma, fine. It’s a girl. Andrew said she’s a little early, but healthy and not to worry. The reverend is real excited. Once Andrew said he could, he held the baby, touching her, beamin’. Said he was memorizing her. Andrew said to tell ya nothing unusual happened.”

“When was she born?”

“About three this afternoon. Miss Josie’d been in labor since real early this morning. The reverend made it over to Colleen and Andrew’s to wake ‘em up. Andrew and Hank brought Miss Josie over from the church. Andrew said they’d keep them at the clinic at least a day and you ain’t to worry.”

Sully smiled. “That’s what Andrew says….but you know yer ma, until she sees for herself, she’ll worry.”

“Sully!”

“Only saying the truth, Michaela. Brian, did they name the baby?”

“Yeah. Heather.”


Michaela was sitting at her vanity, in her nightgown, slowly brushing her hair when Sully came into the room. “She go to sleep?”

“Not quite, but Brian came in to say goodnight and she decided she wanted him to finish reading the story to her.” Sully walked over, took the brush out of her hand and started brushing her hair.

“Katie and you had a good ride today, didn’t you?”

“”Yep. Would’a been better if you’d been there. Katie notices everything. She wanted to go down to the water and wasn’t happy when I said no. It sure was rushing and close to the top of the bank.”

“I hope it clears up soon. I’m getting tired of staying in the house all the time. I knew what Katie meant when she insisted on going out!”

“Tomorrow if it’s still raining, we can wrap ya up in blankets and let ya sit outside for awhile. But no travelling til the roads are better. Don’t want this one coming early.”

Michaela giggled, “I don’t either! Sitting outside would be nice.”

Sully put the brush down and leaned around to kiss Michaela’s cheek. He helped her stand up and walked her over to the bed. She sat down and watched her husband prepare for bed. When he finished undressing
e turned to find her still sitting there, watching. He smiled. “What’ya doin’?”
With a slight blush and smile, she said, “Enjoying my husband.”

“Okay by me. But I’d like ta enjoy my wife.” He reached out, unbuttoned her nightgown, pulled it off and pulled her up into his arms. “The baby ain’t letting us get too close.”

Michaela pulled back a little. “Oh, Sully, I’m so big. I can’t please you. I….”

“Ya please me all the time, just by being here with me,” he said as he pulled her back. He leaned down to claim her lips and she returned the kiss. He turned her around, her back against his chest, and hugged her tight. He moved her hair and kissed her neck as he placed his hands on her belly. “I love ya, my sweet
ichaela, I love every inch of ya…”
“Mmmm. I love you, too.” Slowly, his hands left her belly and moved upward. He cupped her enlarged breasts, supporting the weight of them as she signed with pleasure. His thumbs caressed her nipples. She moaned as her body reacted to his caress. “Just over a month away from having the baby and I still want you…” she whispered.

“That’s a good thing, my love. We can still enjoy each other,” he whispered back as he continued his caresses. Then he stopped, reached over, pulled the covers down and guided his wife into bed. Getting in beside her, he pulled the cover up over them as he lowered his lips to caress her nipples. She moved her hand to the back of his head, running her fingers through his hair, tightening her fingers around the strands of his hair as the waves of pleasure grew. With his lips busy, his hand started travelling back down, over her belly, to reach his goal and start caressing her. She moaned with pleasure. She felt his arousal against her leg, reaching down to grasp and begin caressing him. Now it was his turn to moan with pleasure. They each continued pleasing the other and soon their passion was spent.

With a final kiss, Michaela turned on her side and Sully spooned himself into her. She had his arm under her head and she felt his lips on her head as he moved his other hand down to lay protectively on her belly, feeling their unborn child within.


The next morning, a Saturday, they awoke to sunlight in their faces. “The rain stopped!” Michaela exclaimed. “How wonderful.”

“Musta been in answer to last night.”

Michaela looked over her shoulder and into his face. She smiled. “Last night….yes…..I enjoyed it.”

“Me, too…” They shared a kiss. “Let’s stay here a little while….don’t hear the kids…..”

“You don’t have to try very hard to convince me……I like being here with you…..’

His arms tightened around her. “I like it too.” His hand was still on her belly when the baby decided to start kicking. “Baby’s awake!”

Michaela put her hand on top of his. “I think he also likes being here….”

“He?”

“Yes. I’ve decided the baby is a boy.”

“What made ya decide that?”

“Well, I’m carrying him different than I carried Katie. I haven’t been as sick as I was with her. And, this time just feels different…..”

“It don’t matter, ya know. Boy or girl. We’ll love ‘em no matter what…”

“I know.”

A knock came at the door. “Mama! Papa! Get up, pease!”

Before they could answer, “Katie, let ma and pa sleep,” said Brian in a low voice.

“We’re awake,” Michaela said.

“It’s okay, Ma. I’ll take care of Katie. You don’t have’ta come down til your ready. I ain’t goin’ nowhere. Thought I’d stay home and help pa clean up the yard now that the storms are gone.”

“Thanks, son,” said Sully. “We’ll be down in a little while.”


Sully settled Michaela on the porch, with a few blankets in case she got cold. The sky was clear and although brisk, the sun was trying to warm up the land. She was able to watch as Sully and Brian, with help from Katie, cleaned up the yard and brought the cow and horses out into the fresh air and sunshine. After lunch, Brian took Katie for a ride to give his folks a rest from entertaining her.

Sully brought another chair out and they sat together on the porch, enjoying the weather and each other.

“Do you think I’ll be able to go into town to the clinic on Monday?”

“If this weather holds, I think so. But not all day. Ya gotta cut down on work. The kids will still help at the clinics. They do fine without ya…”

“Sully!”

“I ain’t saying they don’t need ya, but ya’ve taught them so well, they can handle what they need to. And once ya have the baby, it’s gonna be awhile before ya go back to work.”


Michaela was sitting in her rocking chair, in front of the fire Brian had made, waiting for Sully and reading a letter from her mother. Sully had gone out to see Colin and had sent word he wouldn’t be home for dinner, so Michaela, Brian and Katie had eaten stew left over from the night before. Katie had gone to church with Brian and was worn out from visiting. She had fallen asleep before the fire right after dinner and Brian had carried her up to bed. It wasn’t long after that that Brian decided to go to his room to work on a story he was writing and told his ma he’d build a fire in her bedroom fireplace.

As she read her mother’s letter, Michaela smiled, thinking of her life and how different it could have been. She heard the door open and looking up, saw her husband. “Sully, I didn’t hear you come home.”

“I was quiet. Figured the kids was asleep, mebbe you too.” He said as he closed the door and came over to kiss his wife.

“I wouldn’t be….not without you….unless you’re on a trip. How did things go with Colin?”

“Real good. He wants to expand the hotel kitchen and have some little cabins built for guests who rather stay in them instead of the hotel. He offered me the job as foreman. Said I could hire any and as much help as I needed. I mentioned Jonas and some of the other men out in Shantytown and he didn’t have a problem with it. I know Colin’ll pay an honest wage. I plan to go out tomorrow and talk to the men.”

“That’s wonderful….for you and for the men. Did Colin show you the designs?”

“Just fer the kitchen. The cabins are up to me. He said after seeing our home, he figgers I could design the cabins just fine. He just gave me a list of what he wants…like a couple with more than one bedroom, things like that. How’d your day go?” He asked as he undressed.

“Nice and quiet. Brian and Katie stayed in town for awhile after church. I read and napped and sewed baby clothes. When they got home, Brian played with Katie in the yard. Between her day in town and this afternoon with Brian, Katie was worn out and fell asleep early.”

“Brian build the fire?” Sully sat down in front of Michaela and leaned back against her legs. She placed her hand on his head.

“Yes.”

“He’s a good boy. When I came in, ya was reading and smiling. What about?”

“It’s a letter from mother,” she replied, showing him the papers.

“Any problem?”

“No….just being mother.”

“How so?”

“I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to get upset. What she says doesn’t change anything…okay?”

He laid his head back and looked up at her, “Elizabeth up to her old tricks?”

“Sort of. She thinks Brian should go to college back east, that Katie and the new baby should be raised in Boston. That I could get a job as a doctor back there, along with Andrew and Colleen. And Matthew could be a Boston lawyer. And any great-grandchildren that came along would be born in father’s hospital. She even has plans for you. She thinks the carvings you do and the things you build are wonderful and can get you a job doing those things.”

“She just don’t understand. This is our home.”

“Oh, I think she understands. But she wouldn’t be mother if she didn’t stop trying to plan the lives of her family. She’s trying to use the opera, the library, the theater, things like that to lure me back there. Even though I’ve told her we have those things in Denver, she doesn’t take them into consideration because Denver is just a bigger town in the savage country. She reminded me how much I enjoyed Boston when I was back there before we got married.”

“Ya regret not staying?”

“Not at all,” she responded as she massaged his head and shoulders. “If I had stayed, I would have missed the greatest love of my life…..you. If I had stayed and married William, I never would have been truly happy. You would have always been in my heart. And I would have lost Matthew…he would never have stayed.”

Sully got up, lifted her up from the chair and carried her to bed. “I’m sure glad ya came back,” he said as he lay her in bed and laid down next to her.

“I am too. I can’t imagine any other life.” He snuggled up against her and put his arms around her. She smiled at him. “I wouldn’t have, you know.”

“Wouldn’a what?”

“Come back….if you hadn’t come to Boston. Matthew accused me, at one point, of forgetting about Colorado Springs and why I went west. He was right…I had. I let the sights and sounds of Boston fool me into thinking I was happy there….when I hadn’t been before. And William, he was so attentive and…”

“And in love with ya….”

“Yes…well…. But then you showed up that night, at dinner, and threw my life into turmoil. When I left with William the next day, to go on rounds, I felt guilty….then I’d get mad at you for making me feel guilty. After dancing all evening, with William, at mother’s party, I started to feel guilty again, but then I justified it, telling myself you didn’t dance. You sure proved me wrong there when you took me out a few nights later.”

“Well, ya owe that to Colleen. She gave me quick dancing lessons. And the kids showed me how to use the right forks and stuff at dinner. They told me about the snails and how ya loved ‘em. Brian picked the restaurant and together they picked the opera. They took me ta buy the clothes and picked ‘em out.”

“I never knew all that. I would say they wanted us to be together. I’ll have to thank them.”

“Ya know….I thought I’d lost ya…..after William had ya give that speech. He was offerin’ a lot….a life I couldn’t give ya.”

“But you give me things he never could……and my heart was yours anyway.”

“That trip home was the longest I ever been on. Thinking the whole time I’d never see ya agin. Thinking how I told ya I loved ya and you ran off.”

Michaela smiled and hugged his arm tighter. “You said what I had wanted you to say for so long. It startled me….scared me…..when you finally did. I walked home, crying, and thought about it the entire way. By the time I got home, I had no questions left in my mind. I knew I would return to Colorado and you. Then I got mad at myself later for not telling you how I felt. And on the way home, I kept thinking, what if you had left Colorado Springs….what if I lost you. When Colleen tapped me on the back and I turned to see you, standing there, a great weight lifted.”

He laughed. “I met every stage that came in after I got back. Prayin’ it’d be the one you’d be on….and then you were. And then them few minutes fore ya came a runnin…..longest minutes I ever lived through…..up to that point anyway.”

“How did we ever make it through, with so much misunderstanding?”

“I guess cuz it was meant to be. We had to go through them times ta see how good it would be. It just makes the good times better. God, I love ya, Michaela!”

“The same as I love you, Sully.”


Monday came and the weather had improved tremendously. The road was dry and the ride to town would not be a problem. Michaela and Katie were very excited about going into town for the day. Michaela wanted to see the new baby. Sully pulled up at the clinic. Colleen and Amanda came out to greet them. “Morning. Ma, it’s good to see you. How are you feeling?” asked Colleen.

Michaela smiled. “Better now that my mean husband let me come into town instead of locking me up at home!” Sully grinned.

“I understand, Ma. These men!” Colleen replied, laughing.

“Colleen, Amanda, I’m gonna take Michaela to see Josie and Heather. Would you watch Katie?”

“You bet, Pa!” Colleen exclaimed as Amanda nodded her head. “I missed my little sister! But, after you get back, I’m going out to the resort to help Andrew.”

Amanda lifted Katie down as Sully helped Michaela.

“Mana, go see Ganpa En?”

They smiled, knowing Katie’s main reason for wanting to see Loren was that he would sneak her some candy. Amanda looked at Sully and Michaela.

“Go ahead. But not too much candy, Katherine Elizabeth!” said Michaela.

Sully and Michaela headed for the church, strolling along and waving to their friends. “It’s so good to see everyone, Sully. Not that I don’t enjoy being at home with you….”

“I know. Ya wouldn’t mind not bein’ in town if ya was able to do somethin’ else, but taking it easy ain’t your way.”

“Only because I know I can’t do anything. I would love staying home if it were my choice, but…..”

“But it ain’t and it’s gonna be that way until this lil’ one comes! Ya ain’t got much longer, sweetheart.”

“I know.”

They went behind the church to the residence and knocked. The Reverend opened the door.

“Good morning, Reverend.”

“Michaela! And is Sully with you?”

“Sure am!”

“Please…come in….Josie will be thrilled to see you.”

Michaela and Sully spent a pleasant hour admiring Heather and talking with Josie and the Reverend.


It was early afternoon and Michaela was alone in the clinic, updating a patient’s chart. Colleen had gone out to the resort to be with Andrew. Sully and Katie had gone out to Shantytown so Sully could hired some workmen for the resort changes. Amanda had gone with Matthew to the station. When there was a knock at the door, Michaela went and opened the door to find Daniel Watkins, the photographer, standing there with a woman she didn’t know.

“Daniel Watkins!”

“Dr. Mike…”

“Please come in, sit down.”

They entered the clinic. “Dr. Mike, this is my wife, Marie.”

“Dr. Mike, Daniel talks about you and your family all the time. So when we found ourselves in Denver, we decided to come here.”

“I’m so glad you did. And Daniel, how are your eyes?”

He smiled, “Trust the doctor to get right to it! Well, I can see shapes and shadows, light and dark, but not details. Marie is a painter and she also takes pictures. She has become my eyes. She describes the sights so completely that I can see what she’s talking about. And I still have my memories. Now, Dr. Mike, I want to hear about your family. Are you married?”

Michaela laughed, “Yes, I am and before you ask, yes, to Sully.”

“Thank goodness. I wasn’t sure he was gonna see you two belonged together. How long ya been married?”

“Four years. We have a three year old daughter and I am about to have another….I’m due the end of next month.”

“Congratulations! And your other children, how are they?”

“Very well. Brian will be 15 in April, with another year of school and he has a serious girlfriend. Matthew and Colleen are both married. Colleen’s husband is a doctor. The best part is they all live here.”

“Did Matthew married that pretty immigrant girl he was sweet on?”

“No….they were engaged, but Ingrid died. She was bitten by a rabid wolf. Matthew’s wife is the daughter of the manager of the hotel just outside of town.”

“I’m sorry for his loss, but glad he found happiness again.”

There was a knock at the door. “Dr. Mike? Ya busy?”

“Come in, Matthew.”

The door opened and Matthew and Amanda came in. Matthew immediately recognized Michaela’s visitor. “Mr. Watkins? Hey, it’s good to see ya.”

Daniel stuck out his hand in Matthew’s direction and Matthew shook it. “Hello, Matthew. This is my wife, Marie.”

“Mam,” he said, nodding. “And this is my wife, Amanda. Horace said there were some folks needing a ride out to the resort and they had come to the clinic. Reckon that’s you?”

“Yes, it is. Is this what you do?”

“Nah….just helping my father-in-law.”

“Matthew’s a lawyer now,” stated a proud mother.

“That’s great! Your mother was just filling us in on some of the family happenings. It’s good to meet you, Amanda. And may we congratulate you on your marriage.”

“Same to you,” Matthew replied.

“Daniel, Marie, please join us for dinner. We’ll make sure the whole family’s there. They will love to see you and you can meet the rest of our new family members.”

“We’d like that,” said Daniel.

“Dr. Mike,” Amanda said, “I’ll let Colleen know and we’ll be over early to make dinner.”

“Thank you, dear. As you can tell, my children take care of me.”


After dinner, Daniel and Marie told the family about their travels over the past years. They spent a very pleasant evening and the next day touring the area with Brian. On the following day, the Watkins’ went back to Denver to continue their journey to San Francisco.


Sully, Jonas and six other men from Shantytown started working at the resort. They started inside and began making the changes Colin requested to the kitchen. Sully figured it would take them a week to make the changes and then they could start on the cabins. The weather was decent and they were able to work everyday.

Brian took Michaela and Katie into the clinic daily and brought them home as soon as he was out of school. Michaela always had Colleen or Amanda to help her at the clinic as she increasing had difficulty standing for any length of time. But she felt useful to her patients by being there. There were no major problems, just cuts and scraps, and the aches and pains of regular patients.


Michaela and Sully were settled in bed for the night. “How’s the building going?” she asked.

“Real good. Should be done with the kitchen by tomorrow and start on the cabins. Colin decided on 10 cabins fer now….more later if the guests like ‘em.”

“How are the men doing?”

“Good. Colin’s even offered a couple of ‘em permanent jobs after we finish the cabins.”

“That’s great. And how are you doing?” She asked as she ran her hand over his chest.

“I like it….long as it’s fer someone like Colin. Wouldn’t wanna do it all the time, but now and then ain’t bad. It’s like with Preston….he didn’t pay good, was always changing the plans and the rules. Not Colin. He relies on the help he hires. I showed him the plans for the cabins….he said they looked fine and didn’t wanna make any changes.”

“That’s wonderful, Sully. You have such a talent for building beautiful places, Even though Preston kept changing things, he knew good work when he saw it. So does Colin and so do a lot of people. You might get more requests after you’re done at the resort.”

“Yeah….well….it ain’t….”

“Yes, I know, dear, it’s not what you do. But you should. The guide business and Welland Smith don’t keep you busy all the time and if you took on building and taught the Shantytown men, eventually they would do most of it and you would have given them a permanent job.”

Sully looked at her with a twinkle in his eye, “Trust you to put it that way…..that I’d be helpin’ the Shantytown men! We’ll see how it goes…..okay?”

She smiled and nodded. Sully turned on his side, pulled up Michaela’s nightgown and leaned over to kiss her stomach. Then he took her gown and worked it up and off. “Like to be with ya like this,” he whispered in her ear. And then he moved his lips to meet hers….and their love was poured into that kiss. “Hmmm….. ya lips taste good…..oh, Michaela, you’re my world.”

“As you are mine, my love.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I love our family….but without you…”

“I know. I feel the same. Oh, Sully, we have it so good right now. It scares me a little.”

“Don’t let it… We’ll be okay…we always have been. Things’ll happen, but together we can overcome anything. We’re a good team, Michaela.”

“Yes, we are.”

“And soon we’ll have a new one to care for,” he said as he rubbed her stomach. Just then, the baby moved. “See, he agrees!”

She laughed. “He always agrees with his father!”


“Horace, have you got a package for me?” Dorothy asked.

“Think so, Miss Dorothy. Must be important. Ya been asking everyday for the past week.”

“Yes. It should be my new book.”

Horace looked at her with a frown. “’Bout the town again?”

Dorothy smiled. “No, about Cloud Dancing and his people.”

Horace nodded as he handed her the package. Dorothy nodded her thanks and headed toward the clinic. She decided she wanted to be with Michaela when she opened the package. As she rounded the corner, she saw Michaela sitting out in front of the clinic, eyes closed, a smile on her face and hands on her abdomen. “Michaela?” she asked as she got close, “you okay?”

Michaela opened her eyes and looked at Dorothy. “Yes….just feeling the baby…he’s very active right now.”

“It’s not much longer now, is it?”

“No. The end of this month.”

Dorothy sat down next to Michaela. “I just got this from my publisher,” she said, holding up the package.

“Your book?”

“Yes. It’s so important and I’m nervous.”

“Why?”

“I want people to like it.”

“Those with open minds will. The others probably won’t read it. Go on….open it….”

Dorothy smiled at Michaela and then started taking off the wrapping. The book cover was a deep red and in gold letters, it said, “LORE OF THE CHEYENNE by Dorothy Jennings”.

“Dorothy, it’s beautiful.”

“Yes, they did well on it.” Dorothy thumbed through the pages, “And it looks good inside, too. The note says they’re sending me a shipment by next week. It’s already in the stores back east! And they are also mailing it to stores as far away as San Francisco and even London, England.”

“I’m so happy for you!”

Dorothy smiled. “Thank you. I’m going to ride up and show Cloud Dancing. I’ll give you a copy when they get here.”

A week later, the shipment came in and Dorothy gave a copy to Michaela and Sully. As the days passed waiting for the baby, alone in their room every night, Sully read a chapter to Michaela. They enjoyed the snuggling as he read. It was always hard to stop at the end of each chapter, but they wanted to prolong the joy of the story.


Michaela walked her patient, Mrs. Miller, to the door. “I’ve given you enough herbs to last two months. Unless you’re not feeling well, you don’t need to return until you run out of the herbs.” As Michaela opened the door, she spied Sully sitting on the bench. He nodded to Mrs. Miller and smiled at Michaela. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Wanted ta see my wife and take her ta lunch in a little while.”

“But shouldn’t you be out at the resort?” she asked as she sat down next to him.

“The men are doing so well, they don’t really need me. I talked to Colin and he agreed. Jonas is the foreman now. Colin is so impressed with them, he’s formin’ a company and hiring them. We worked out a deal. If someone needs a place built, he’ll pay me to design it. But the actual work’ll be done by his company. It’s close to what ya said about me buildin’….”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Yeah, I think so. ‘Sides, I decided with the job for Welland, the guide business and waitin’ for the baby, I got a lot to do. And Robert E’s talkin’ about walls for the café and asked me….”

Just then, a wagon came tearing around the corner with Jake at the reins and Teresa in the back. “Dr. Mike! Baby’s comin’!” he yelled as he stopped in front of the clinic. Sully ran to the rear of the wagon and took down the gate as Jake came to the back and reached for Teresa. He rushed her into the clinic to a waiting Michaela, with Sully close behind.

“Michaela, what do ya need!” Sully asked.

“Please go out and get Andrew. Jake, Amanda’s over at Matthew’s office, can you go get her?” They left to do Michaela’s bidding. “Teresa, how long have the pains been coming?”

“Since very early this morning, not close together. I told Jacob a little while ago and he insisted on coming in. I told him it would be awhile, but he was worried.”

Michaela smiled. “I understand. I’ll examine you” Michaela completed her examine. “It still will be awhile, Teresa, but you are further along than I thought from what you said.”

“I…oh….” Began Teresa when she started to have another contraction. Michaela helped her breath through the pain.

“Teresa, Andrew will have to deliver the baby. I’m afraid I’m not in any condition to.”

“I understand, Dr. Mike. Dr. Cook will be fine….. Jacob told me your husband was with you when you had Katie?”

“Yes, he was…actually, we were alone in the woods and Sully was injured. I went into labor early and it was too late to get back to town. Sully ended up delivering Katie.”

“Oh, my!”

Michaela smiled. “It was an experience.”

“Jacob has talked of being with me, but I do not want him to be here when the baby comes. I do not mind if he is with me for some time, but I told him I do not want him here then. He may ask you or Dr. Cook.”

“Then we will tell him to leave. We do what the mother wants.”

“Thank you, Dr. Mike.”

Jake returned with Amanda just as another contraction started. He hurried over to her and took her hand as Michaela coached her through the contraction. Amanda started getting everything ready for the birthing.

Soon, Sully and Andrew arrived. As Sully came in the clinic, he saw Michaela standing and noticed how tired she looked. “Michaela, you need to sit!”

“I agree, Michaela,” said Andrew. “The last thing we need is for you to go into labor too!.”

Sully carried a chair over to Teresa’s bedside and guided his wife to it. Once he had her settled, he left. As he stepped off the clinic porch, he heard “Papa!” and he turned to see Katie and Dorothy coming of the store.

Hey, Kates!”

“Where Mama?” Katie asked as her father took her into his arms.

“She’s in the clinic. She’s helping Miss Teresa have a baby.”

“Me see?”

“No, sweet girl. ‘Member how mama told ya having a baby ain’t easy?”

“Yup!”

“Well, mama has to concentrate on helpin’ Miss Teresa and if you’re there, she’ll wanna be with ya. Mama and Andrew and Amanda gotta help Miss Teresa and her baby.”

“Kay….we wait?”

“It takes along time ta have a baby. Let’s go see Miss Grace and have something to eat. Then we’ll get some food for mama and the others. Dorothy, join us?”

“Yes, thank you, I’d like that.”

Robert E joined them for lunch and discussed the café walls with Sully. Grace heard their discussion, smiling the entire time.

Time passed slowly for those in the clinic and those waiting to hear the cry of a baby. Sully and Grace made sure food was delivered to the clinic, especially for Michaela as she was used to snacking during the day. Michaela or Amanda came out every now and then to give an update. Michaela would sit for a few minutes with Sully and Katie, talking with Brian, Matthew and the others waiting. After she closed the resort clinic, Colleen came into town. When she arrived, Michaela was just coming out to see her family.

“Ma? You look tired. Want me to go help?”

“Thank you, dear, but I promised Teresa I would be there. I’m not really doing much except talking to her. Andrew and Amanda are doing the work. But you might come in and as the time nears, convince Jake to leave. Teresa doesn’t want him there when the baby arrives.”

“Sure, ma.”


Within a few hours, Jacob Carlos made his entry into the world. As he issued his first cry, Jake, standing on the clinic porch with Sully, let out a sigh of relief and then beamed as his friends congratulated him. Soon the door opened and Colleen, holding the baby, looked at Jake, “Do you want to hold your son?”

Jake, unsure of his voice, nodded his head and reached for the baby with a look of joy none of the people who knew him had ever seen before. With tears in his eyes, he hugged his son against his chest. “I’m your pa,” he whispered, “and I will love you all my life…”


Sully blew out the lamps, got into bed and put his arms around Michaela. “The café walls are just about finished and Grace is sure pleased. Says it’s beginning to look like a real eatin’ place. I told her it don’t matter what it looks like, people’ll come cuz her food’s the best. Oh, and Jake brought Teresa and the baby by.”

“I saw them at the clinic. The baby is doing so well, as is Teresa. She says Jake tries to do everything for her and she’s trying to convince him to let her do some things.”

“He sure has changed. Hard ta believe this is the Jake we known for so many years.”

“Isn’t it amazing what being a father can do to change a man?” Michaela asked, smiling mischievously at Sully.


The love that I feel when I look into your eyes, cannot be measured. It is as deep as the bottomless lake...unending and unfathomable. This love transcends our own feelings and becomes the center and essence of our relationship. With each new day our love grows stronger, but not just because we are in love, but because each day I learn another reason for loving you. You are the center of my galaxy... giving me warmth, energy and that guiding light along the path of life. The most comforting feeling is when we embrace in a loving caring hug. Your love is the inspiration that enables me to strive to be a success, whatever my goal is. This Love is Friendship, Love partners, and Soulmates, where communication is felt rather than verbalized.

By Russell Paul Dykes

The End

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