Reverend and the Lady

For personal use and select distribution only © August 1998 by S.L. Snyder

THE REVEREND AND THE LADY
by S. L. Snyder

Timeline: June 1873

The woman came down the steps of the train. She was pretty, with dark blond hair, green eyes and in her late twenties. She saw a tall man who looked like the stationmaster and she went up to him, "Excuse me, sir?"

"Yes, mam?" Horace answered.

"Could you tell me where the hotel is? And is there someone who could carry my luggage?

Just then, Horace saw Brian coming down the street. "Brian, come here, please," Horace said. Then he turned back to the woman, "Mam, we got two hotels. One is here in town, behind the saloon, and the other is the Springs Chateau and is out of town a way. And this here," he said, indicating Brian, "is Brian Cooper and I'll bet he would carry your luggage."

"Sure thing," said Brian.

"Thank you, sir," she said to Horace. She smiled at Brian and said, "I think the hotel in town would be just fine. Could you show me the way, Mr. Cooper?"

"You bet, mam. This way," said Brian, picking up her luggage and leading her toward the Gold Nugget.

Preston walked by Brian and the woman on his way to the Post Office. "Horace, who's the lady?"

Horace looked at Preston and shook his head. Even if he knew, he wouldn't tell Preston.

Brian and the woman reached the Gold Nugget. Brian called to Hank, who was standing just outside the doors, "This lady wants a hotel room. Mam, this is Hank Lawson. He owns the hotel here."

"Mr. Lawson, I'd like to rent a room." She turned to Brian and held out a quarter to him, "Here, Mr. Cooper. I hope this is sufficient."

"Mam, I can't take your money. It was my pleasure," said Brian.

"Thank you, Mr. Cooper, but I really want you to have this. Please, or I will be hurt," she said, smiling at Brian.

Brian smiled back and took the quarter, "Thank you, mam. And my name is Brian."

"Thank you, Brian. I'm Josephine Penn, please call me Josie." She put her hand out and they shook hands.

Hank picked up her luggage and led Josephine Penn into the saloon and back to the hotel.

Brian crossed the street to the clinic and knocked. Sully opened the door. "Hi, Pa," Brian said as he entered the clinic. "Hi ma, Hi Katie. Guess what! There's a pretty new lady in town. Her name is Josephine Penn and she gave me a quarter for carrying her luggage from the train to the saloon...course I tried not to take it."

"Whoa, Brian, slow down," said Sully, "sounds like ya like this lady." He looked over at Michaela and smiled.

"Well, she's nice and she's pretty....not as pretty as you though, ma."

There came a knock on the door and Brian opened it. "Miss Josie...hi...I was just telling my ma and pa about you."

Josephine smiled, "Why hello again, Brian."

"Come in and meet my folks." Josephine entered the clinic, and Brian said, "This is my ma, Dr. Michaela Quinn Sully, but people call her Dr. Mike. And this is my pa, Byron Sully, but everyone calls him Sully."

Michaela walked over to Josephine and held out her hand, "Welcome to Colorado Springs, Miss Penn."

"Please, Dr. Mike, call me Josie," Josephine said, shaking Michaela's hand. "And, Sully?" she said holding out her hand to Sully, who shook it, smiled and nodded at her. "Actually I know who you are and something about you." Michaela and Sully gave her with a quizzical look. She smiled, "I'm from Boston and your mother, Mrs. Quinn, told me about you."

Michaela smiled, "You know my mother?"

"Yes. And she sent me here. I am a teacher and what I teach is Braille. She told me about your Reverend and paid me to come here and try to teach him to read Braille. She told me about the town and all and then she said she'd understand if I turned the job down. I believe she used such words as 'a savage environment' when she was explaining things to me," explained Josephine.

Michaela looked at Sully and smiled, "I hope you give our town a chance, Josie. Mother has never been crazy about this place and still doesn't understand my desire to live here and raise my family here."

"I will.....when she offered this chance, I was very excited although I'm sure she offered the job because of the heartache I am to my family. My father is a lawyer and thinks teaching Braille is for a person, a man, from the 'middle class' as he calls it. Like your family, my family is Beacon Hill and they think I should be married and having children and being a hostess for my husband. I'm afraid I wanted more. My brother followed in father's footsteps and my younger sister, by 3 years, is married and has two children. So I am the black sheep."

Sully laughed, "Well you've come to the right place, then. Elizabeth thinks Michaela is a black sheep and I imagine that's why she sent ya here. At least she knew we'd make sure you were okay."

Michaela nodded, "I have to say, your family does sound like mine. How long do you plan to stay?"

"It depends on the Reverend, but your mother paid me up front for two months. But when I meet him, I want to talk with him awhile before I tell him about the Braille. Some blind people have a problem accepting learning Braille, especially if they are recently blinded. They tell me they don't need to learn as they will regain their sight."

There came another knock on the door and Brian opened it. It was a farmer with his son, who obviously had a broken arm. Michaela motioned them to come in.

"I reckon Brian and I will take Josie to meet the Reverend while you tend to Danny here. Why don't ya meet us at Grace's as soon as you're through here?" Sully said. Michaela nodded her agreement and they kissed goodbye.

"Reverend," Sully called as they approached the church.

The Reverend came out the door, "Sully, I'm here. How are you?"

"Just fine," Sully replied.

"Hi, Reverend."

"Hello, Brian. And what can I do for you?"

"Reverend, I'd like you to meet Miss Josephine Penn. She's from Boston and knows Michaela's family," Sully said.

The Reverend held out his hand, "Miss Penn?"

Josie took his hand, "Reverend Johnson, it's a pleasure meeting you."

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Penn. And what brings you to Colorado Springs?"

"Just travelling to see life away from Boston. Mrs. Quinn told me about her family out here and thought I would enjoy meeting them and seeing your wonderful town."

"Reverend, we are going over to Grace's for lunch, will ya join us?" asked Sully.

"That would be nice, yes, thank you."

Michaela was waiting for them, with Daniel, at Grace's. As they sat down, Michaela introduced Josephine to Grace and Daniel. Then everyone ordered lunch.

"You have a charming church, Reverend Johnson," said Josephine.

'Thank you, Miss Penn, but what makes it charming is the people of our town. Will you be joining us on Sunday?"

"Yes, I will, Reverend Johnson. I look forward to it."

Sully looked up and saw Matthew and Amanda walking toward the café. He signaled for them to come sit with the group.

"Amanda, Matthew," Brian called, "come meet Miss Penn. She's from Boston and knows Grandma!"

"Josie, I would like you to meet Amanda Reilly. Her father is the manager of the Springs Chateau. And this is Matthew Cooper, our eldest son," said Sully.

Amanda and Matthew nodded at Josephine and sat down to join them and order lunch.

"Mrs. Quinn mentioned you also have a daughter that just got married to a doctor, the nephew of Josiah Cook?"

"Yes...Colleen, she's been married close to two months now," Michaela answered. "Andrew is the doctor out at the Springs Chateau. Colleen is out there today assisting him."

It was a pleasant lunch, with everyone telling Josephine about the wonders of Colorado Springs. She watched the Reverend. Every now and then he would enter into the conversation with his little anecdotes. She noticed that he seemed very comfortable in his surroundings. Preston walked into the café and sat down near the group to order lunch. He kept glancing over at Josephine with an interested look on his face. Both Michaela and Sully noticed his interest in Josephine.

As they were finishing lunch, Dorothy and Cloud Dancing walked up and Josephine was introduced to them. "This has been an interesting first day here," she remarked. Already I have met so many interesting people, more than I would have met in Boston in one day!" (A remark Preston heard and perked his ears up at). "I think I am going to enjoy your town," she told them all. "But now, if you don't mind, I think I'll go back to my room and rest. I have been on the train since last night and I fear it's catching up to me. If you could just point me in the direction of the Gold Nugget?"

Before anyone could show her, Brian said, "I'll walk ya over there, Miss Josie."

"Why, thank you, Brian. Good bye all, I'll see you later."

Michaela and Sully were getting dinner ready while Brian and Katie were playing in the living room. Matthew had not yet come home.

"D'ya think the Reverend will let Josie teach him the Braille?" Sully asked her.

"I hope so. The Reverend has always been opened minded and I sure hope that extends to himself. I am amazed that mother paid for Josie to come out here. And did you noticed the way Preston was looking at her today at lunch?"

"Yeh, I did. I'd say he's interested."

"Maybe I should warn her?" asked Michaela.

"Honey, just cuz we feel the way we do about Preston, doesn't mean he'd treat everyone badly. I think ya ought not to say anything to her unless she asks. Okay...Michaela?"

"All right...I guess....but I will worry about it."

Sully laughed, "Naturally."

Preston knew he had seen that woman before. And hearing her say she was from Boston, well, he was positive he'd met her there. "Think, man, think!" he said to himself. The more he thought about it, the more he thought she came from his circles, like Michaela, the good Boston lineage. Course Michaela had sure married beneath her. He couldn't see what she saw in that savage, Sully. No class at all. How dare Sully quit building his house and go start an uprising on the reservation. Everyone said Sully was all white, but Preston was sure there was Indian blood in him...why he acted just like a half-breed savage! If he had been in charge of the Army, he would have shot all the Indians and hung Sully....just what Sully deserved. And that would have left Michaela a widow....without Sully around to mislead her, he was sure he'd have a chance. He'd just have to remember who that woman was!

Josephine had a good night's sleep. She felt fully recovered from the long trip. She liked Dr. Mike and Sully and their family and friends. Maybe this would be a good place to stay awhile. She had told her family she would go on to San Francisco after she was through here, as there was a job teaching Braille waiting for her....but, well, who knows?

She left the boarding house and went to the café for breakfast. "Good morning, Grace," she said.

"Good morning, Josie. You all sleep good?"

"Yes, I did, thank you. There's a touch of New Orleans in your speech...are you from there?"

"Why yes, I am. Do you know New Orleans?"

"Yes...I went to school down there. It's a wonderful city."

"Yes it is...I do miss it at times, but if I'd stayed there I'd never have met my husband," Grace turned around and pointed to Robert E at the livery. "He's the blacksmith."

"And I see your expecting?"

"Yes...our first...sort of," Grace smiled and her eyes became moist, "we had an adopted son, Anthony. He was Brian's age. When we got him he had an illness. Dr. Mike treated him, but no one knew what was wrong. He passed on to the Lord a few months ago."

"I am sorry," Josephine reached up and held Grace's hand. "I can't imagine what it would be like to lose someone you love, let alone a child. I've been very fortunate in not losing someone close, so I dread the time it will happen."

"Yes, it was hard. For awhile I wasn't sure we'd get through it, but we did and now we have this one comin'. We know Anthony is up there lookin' down and smiling."

Josephine and Grace smiled at each other, both knowing they had made a friend, then Grace went to get Josephine some breakfast.

"Hello, Miss. My name is Preston A. Lodge the Third. I'm the town's banker. May I join you?"

Josephine looked up and saw a familiar face. "Mr. Lodge, please do."

"I don't believe I've had the pleasure?" he said, waiting for her name.

"Oh but you have had, sir. My name is Josephine Penn, the sister of Jonathan Penn whom you went to school with."

"Of course! I knew I knew you! Josephine Penn of the Boston Penn's. Why your father is my father's lawyer!"

"Yes...you have the family right."

" Miss Penn, what bring you out to our backward little town?"

"Oh, the fresh air, Mr. Lodge. And to see new places."

"Did you know Michaela back in Boston?"

"Not really. Our families know each other though and Mrs. Quinn directed me to her daughter."

"Yes, poor Mrs. Quinn."

"Sir?"

"Well, you know, to have a daughter married to a half-breed....."

"Do you mean Sully?"

"Yes, didn't you know? I mean, they try to hide it, but it's very obvious. I think Sully has hypnotized Michaela....I can't see any other reason that a Boston lady from such a refined family would take up with that half-breed!"

Josephine smiled and nodded at him as Grace brought her breakfast. "Grace, I will pay for Miss Penn's meal and bring the same for me." Preston ordered.

Grace raised her eyebrows at Preston, but went to get him some food.

"You must have left the Springs Chateau early to come in here for breakfast. I sure hope they brought you in."

"I'm not staying at the Springs Chateau. I'm staying here in town at the Gold Nugget."

"That den of drunks and liars and thieves and women of ill repute?! Why Miss Penn, that place has no class at all! And the proprietor, a low life who cheats his help and his customers!" Preston said, still seething from the financial beating he took from Hank when he had to sell his interest in the Gold Nugget.

"I think it's rather quaint, Mr. Lodge. Mr. Lawson has been very polite and I felt the rates were reasonable."

"Well, I use to own the Springs Chateau and I'm sure I can get you a better room for a very low price, out there."

"Use to own?"

"Yes. I sold it because I just couldn't handle all my business affairs and give the proper time to my bank. Banking is my first priority and the hotel took too much away from the bank. However, I made a nice profit on it," Preston boasted as Grace came up behind him. What she heard caused another raise of her eyebrows, a move that Josephine caught.

"Well, thank you Mr. Lodge, but for the time being I'm happy where I am. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with Dr. Quinn to make sure I have recovered from my journey."

"May I see you later?"

"I'm sure you will, sir, since you live here and I will be visiting for awhile." She held out her hand to him, which Preston gallantly kissed.

As she turned away from Preston, she winked at Grace and then went toward the clinic.

"That lady's no dummy!" Grace thought to herself.

Michaela was just arriving at the clinic when Josephine came around the corner from the café, "Dr. Mike." she called out.

"Good morning, Josie. Are you feeling rested?"

"Yes.....very much so..... and it's been quite an amusing morning! May I come in and talk with you?"

"Certainly."

They went into the clinic. Michaela sat at her desk and Josephine in another chair across the desk. "I had breakfast this morning with your charming banker, Mr. Lodge," she said with a straight face and then burst out laughing.

"Josie...?"

"I'm sorry, Dr. Mike, but if I held it much longer I would have burst!"

"I take it you are not crazy about Mr. Lodge?" asked Michaela.

"Well, let's see......he's arrogant, pompous, self-centered, a bore....and, well, I can't think of any other adjectives right now."

Michaela smiled, "And last night I wanted to warn you about him. We saw him looking at you and I was afraid you'd be taken in by him. Sully told me to wait til you asked."

"Oh, I've known about him for years. He was a classmate of my brother's. Although Jonathan and I don't always see eye to eye, about Preston A. Lodge the Third, we did agree. Preston didn't have many friends in school. He always wanted to be the leader, wanted everything his way, but no one liked him enough to follow him. Sully must surely be on Preston's wrong side?" Josephine said.

"Why do you say that?" Michaela asked.

"Well, he called your mother, poor Mrs. Quinn because her daughter had married a half-breed. I thought it was funny. He sounded very venomous. I almost opened my mouth and said that although she'd like you living closer, she had no problem with Sully...in fact, from the way she talked, I gather she likes him a lot. But I don't think Preston would have heard me. I really think Preston has his eye on you."

Michaela smiled, "Sully has been going against Preston from the beginning almost. Preston wanted to build his hotel here in town, but he lied and hurt people's feelings. I'm on the town council, but while I was away he got them to call a council meeting and appoint him to my seat because he had told some of the council members they could be part of the hotel, with gambling included. But Sully got himself appointed instead because of a clause in the charter about family members. They voted to approve the hotel anyway, but when the council members found out Preston had lied to them about being apart of it, with Sully's help, they found out they could declare the hotel site a historic landmark and the hotel couldn't be built in there.....he had to build it out away from town. And that's only one incident."

"I'm sure the fact that Sully has you is another strike against Sully! So he did own the Springs Chateau, huh? He said he did and that he sold it for a profit because he couldn't run all his businesses."

"Oh he did, did he? That's not quite the way it..." There came a knock at the door. "Come in," Michaela said.

The door open and Dorothy started to come in, "Oh, excuse me. I didn't mean to intrude."

"No, please Mrs. Jennings, come in. Dr. Mike and I were just talking," Josephine said.

"Is something wrong, Dorothy?" Michaela asked.

"No...I just came to see how you were. And please call me Dorothy," she said to Josephine.

"You must call me Josie, all my friends do," Josephine replied.

"Come sit down, Dorothy. Josie and I were just discussing our favorite banker!" and Michaela proceeded to fill Dorothy in on their discussions. "Now Josie, as to his businesses...he does own the bank, he owns some land for his house, he did own the Springs Chateau, part of the Gold Nugget for a short time, and owned 49 percent of Dorothy's paper!"

Josephine turned to Dorothy, "Oh you poor dear!"

"That's not the worst of it! He loaned me the money for the 51 percent! And thought that gave him the right to tell me what to print. He wanted me to say bad things about the Indians, no matter that they were not true. He was furious when I printed things in support of the Indians. I don't know if anyone has told you, or if you noticed, but I am very close to the Indian you met yesterday, Cloud Dancing...and Preston was furious because he said it was ruining the paper."

"How callous of him!" Josephine exclaimed, "and close to isn't what I saw yesterday...I would have sworn you were in love...."

Michaela laughed and Dorothy blushed, "Well, yes, we are."

"Well, I can see why...he's a very charming and handsome man! So, to get back to Preston, if he owned all those things, why did he sell? I would have thought he liked the power of owning and bossing!"

Dorothy nodded at Michaela to continue. "Preston had the a lot of money, including most of the town's folks, invested in stocks."

Josephine gasped, "But the stock market...."

"Exactly," replied Michaela. "His stock broker demanded the money. The only way Preston could get any money was to sell his businesses....at a loss I might add. Dorothy?"

"He called in my loan. Said he was selling his share, which I could buy if I wanted, but he had to have the loan paid right away, or he would sell my share. Well, I thought the paper was doomed, but then my brother-in-law, Loren Bray, got a loan through his banker, loaned it to me and I was able to pay off the loan to Preston and buy his share of the paper."

"My goodness.....that man sure has caused some problems! He said some very mean things about Mr. Lawson and now I know why. Did any of the town people get their money back?" Josephine asked.

"Not yet," Michaela replied.

"How sad." Josephine paused, then "I was going to ask how he could stay here after losing all that money for these people, but I'll bet he doesn't see it as his fault....everyone else is probably at fault. Like your Sully for not letting him have the land here in town!"

"Exactly," Michaela said. "He still tries to bully people around, but it doesn't work because of all that he's done the last month or so."

The ladies looked at each other and smiled. The bond of friendship was becoming stronger.

"Well, I must go to the church and talk to the Reverend." Josephine saw Dorothy raise her eyebrows. "Dorothy, I didn't come here just on a lark. Mrs. Quinn paid me to come here to teach Braille to the Reverend. He doesn't know yet, but I am going over to tell him. I sure hope he's receptive."

"How wonderful," Dorothy said, "but I don't think you should say who paid you."

Michaela nodded, "I agree. Although he gives a lot of charity, he has a hard time accepting it."

"Well, I could tell him I'm from the Institute of the blind....there is one in New York.....and that we travel the country to teach Braille. How does that sound?"

"Very good...I think it'll work...don't you, Dorothy?"

"Yes."

The Reverend was standing just outside the church doors, breathing the fresh air, when he heard a woman say his name. He couldn't place the voice, but knew he had heard it before. "Yes?"

"We met yesterday, Reverend. I'm Josephine Penn."

"Oh yes, Miss Penn. What can I do for you?"

"Can we talk? Inside the church?"

"Of course."

The Reverend led the way inside and gestured for Josephine to sit down on one of the pews.

"Reverend Johnson, I am a teacher..."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Penn, but that post has been filled. Mrs. Slicker is our teacher."

"I'm not that kind of a teacher."

"Oh, sorry...."

"That's okay. What I teach is Braille..." Josephine paused for that to sink in.

The Reverend had been standing, but now he sat down. "Braille?"

"Yes. I have been assigned to come here and teach it to you, if you will let me. It won't cost you anything."

"I don't understand....how can such a thing be free?"

"Well, Braille is a new subject. There aren't many schools that teach it and those are in the east or in San Francisco. The Institute of the Blind in New York is responsible for my pay, which they get through donations from wealthy patrons," Josephine said, crossing her fingers and asking God for forgiveness in lying to the Reverend. "May I teach it to you? Please? I brought you some Braille books and one of them is the Bible."

Although he knew the Bible very well, he still missed reading it and Josephine was very smart to use that as a draw. "Well, I would like to be able to read the Bible.....well...I guess....well, okay."

"Thank you, Reverend! You won't regret this, I promise. Can we start tomorrow? Four hours in the morning and two in the afternoon during the week, two hours on Saturday and of course none on Sunday. Would that be okay?" she asked.

"Well, yes, as long as none of my parishioners need me."

"Of course. I'll see you at say, 9 tomorrow morning?"

"Yes...that will be fine."

Michaela and Dorothy were standing outside the Gazette as Josephine came striding back from the church, a big smile on her face.

"He said yes, didn't he?" Dorothy asked.

"Yes!" Josephine exclaimed.

The next morning Josephine arrived at the church, promptly at 9. "Good morning, Reverend."

"Good morning, Miss Penn."

"Please call me Josie."

"If you call me Timothy. Reverend sounds strange coming from my teacher," he smiled. "But I would prefer to call you, Josephine. Would that be all right?"

"Yes.. And before we start, I want you to have this." Josephine handed him a book. He knew by the shape and texture that it was a Bible. He opened it up and felt lots of little bumps. "What you are feeling is Braille. I want you to keep this with you and know that one day you will read from it as you did your worded Bible before you lost your sight."

With tears in his eyes and a smile on his face, he said "Thank you with all my heart, Josephine."

The hours of learning passed quickly for Reverend Johnson. Josephine was amazed at how fast he was picking up the Braille system. She knew she had come at a good time. It had been long enough since he lost his sight that he was hungry to learn, but not so long that he was jaded and wanted no learning.

She was well into the fourth week of teaching, when Preston stopped her on her way to the boarding house, where she had moved once Reverend Johnson had accepted her teaching offer.

"Miss Penn?"

"Mr. Lodge."

"I noticed you have been very busy. You go to the church all the time..."

For a moment Josephine thought about it and almost told him it was none of his business, but decided to tell the truth. "I teach Braille, Mr. Lodge, and I am teaching the Reverend."

"What a relief! For a moment I thought something was going on between the two of you. For a lady of a good Boston family, something like that would not be right. I want you to know that I have every intention of marrying you. It would be a proper match and I'm sure your parents could not find any fault with the match."

"Mr. Lodge!"

"It's okay, Miss Penn, I understand. Now, I would like you to have dinner with me tonight." Preston stated it instead of asking her.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I already have dinner plans with the Sullys."

"Well, we'll do it another night then," said Preston. "But I want you to know once we marry, a continuing relationship with the Sullys would not be deemed proper for the wife of the banker. Good day Miss Penn," as he tipped his hat and headed for the bank. Josephine shook her head in exasperation.

"Can you believe him?" Josephine asked Michaela and Sully, with Brian, Matthew, Colleen, Andrew and Daniel listening. She had been explaining her encounter with Preston Lodge over dinner. "The arrogance of that man! I mean, we had breakfast together and talked once and now all of a sudden he's planning our wedding! As though I could...would...marry such a person. Ooooo...I just can't believe him!"

"Josie, calm down. He's not worth getting yourself worked up over," said Michaela.

"Do you want me to talk to Preston and tell him to leave you alone?" Daniel asked.

Josephine looked at Daniel and saw the concern in his eyes, a concern that was mirrored in the eyes of this wonderful family. Brian looked down right worried. In the time she had been in Colorado Springs, he had become her buddy...taking her on trips outside of town and showing her the town. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't be ranting and raving like this. No, Daniel, but thank you anyway. I just can't believe the arrogance of that man. I hope I didn't give him any encouragement.....what if I did?"

"I'm sure you didn't, Josie," Michaela said. "Preston decides what's true and acts on that, regardless of the real truth. Let's not talk or think about Preston any more this evening. Tell us how your classes with the Reverend are going."

Josie nodded and smiled. "Once we got started, he had such a desire to learn. In a month he has learned what others I have taught took more than two months to learn. He has a ways to go, but now that he has started, whether or not I'm here to teach him, he'll continue to learn. He told me he has begun reading the Braille Bible I gave him. And he has taught me things, too. When we take breaks he tells me about things he has done and people he has met. He really is an incredible man."

"Sully?" said Michaela as she and Sully lay in their bed after everyone had gone home or gone to bed.

"Hmm?"

"Josie's in love with the Reverend."

"Yeh...I saw that. Nice, huh?"

"Reverend?"

"Yes, Dr. Mike?"

"Will you join us today for our Sunday picnic?"

"I'd like that. Thank you."

"Here we are Reverend....our picnic group consists of Sully, Brian, Colleen, Katie, Matthew, Amanda, Colin, Andrew and Josie. So please, sit down here...Josie, can you help the Reverend?" asked Michaela. As Josie helped the Reverend to sit down, Michaela joined Sully.

Sully leaned over and whispered in Michaela's ear, "What are you up to?...Wait, don't answer that....I already know."

Michaela smiled, leaned over and kissed his lips, "I love you too, my husband!"

The others heard her comment and assumed that's what Sully had whispered in her ear. Sully looked at Michaela and grinned.

"Timothy?"

"Josephine? Please come in. It's not time for class yet, is it? I thought it was about 8 am."

"No, it's not class time. I need to talk to you."

"Please, sit down then." he said and sat on the pew next to her.

"I have a confession. I lied to you and I feel bad about it. But if I hadn't lied, you might not have allowed me to teach Braille to you."

"What do you mean?"

"When I came here, it was for the purpose of teaching you Braille...that part is true. The lie was who paid me. It wasn't the Institute of the Blind. It was, well.....Elizabeth Quinn."

"Dr. Mike's mother?"

"Yes. Let me explain..." and she explained to him how she came to Colorado Springs. "Please forgive me. I did so want to teach you but was afraid you'd turn me down. She paid me for two months and the time will be up next week. I am then suppose to go to San Francisco where a teaching job waits for me. I want you to promise to keep up on the Braille....you have learned so much."

"The lie does not matter. You had good reasons for it. What does matter is I don't want you to leave."

Josephine felt her heart constrict....was it possible? "Why not, Timothy?"

"Well.....I.....I don't think I know enough Braille yet.......and, well...I..I....ahm....this is not easy....I want you to stay because....because..."

"Because why, Timothy?" Josephine said softly.

He knew he had to say it fast or he wouldn't have the courage to, "BecauseIloveyou!!!"

A second later he felt her lips on his and her arms around his neck. He put his arms around her and returned the kiss with all that was in him.

"I love you too, Timothy," she whispered. "I've been so afraid you didn't feel the same way. I have been so worried about having to leave Colorado Springs."

"You won't leave now, will you? I mean, you can't leave. I need you. I love you. I want to marry you!"

"Marry?!"

Timothy stood up and turned around, to feel his way around the pew so he could get down on his knees. He reached out for Josephine's hand and she put her hand in his. "Miss Josephine Penn, will you do the honor of giving me your hand in marriage?"

Tears of joy flowed down her cheeks, "Yes, oh yes, Timothy, I would be proud and honored to marry you."

They stood up together, arms around each other and sealed their love with a kiss. For awhile they sat in the church, holding hands, saying nothing, letting their love wash over them, happy just to be together. They forgot about class....they forgot about everything but each other. Finally they shook themselves out of their silence.

"Josephine?"

"Yes, Timothy?"

"I would like to be married soon....would you?"

"Yes, very much....the sooner the better."

"Since I can't perform the ceremony," he laughed, "I'd like to write my seminary instructor, he was my inspiration, and ask him to come and perform it. Would that be okay with you?"

"Yes, that would be nice. And I must write my family."

"Let me send a telegram to Reverend Thomas and see when he can come. Then we can tell your family and make all the plans."

"Okay."

On their way to the telegraph office they ran into Sully. "Sully," said the Reverend, "we would like to have lunch with you and Dr. Mike...is that possible?"

"Sure. I was just on my way to meet Michaela for lunch. Ya can come and join us."

"We'll be there shortly," Josephine said.

The Reverend looked at Michaela and Sully, "I have asked Josephine to marry me and she has done me the honor of saying yes."

"That's absolutely wonderful," exclaimed Michaela. Sully nodded and smiled at Josephine and Timothy.

"We have telegraphed Reverend Thomas to perform the ceremony. As soon as I hear from him, we'll set the date and make our plans," said Timothy.

"Where will you be living? At Loren's?" Michaela asked.

"We haven't really discussed it, but I thought Timothy could move into my room at the boarding house. I don't think we would want to stay with Mr. Bray...okay Timothy?" Josephine said.

"I agree. Staying with Loren would not be practical." he replied.

Michaela was getting ready to say something when Sully silenced her with a glance and a nod.

Grace came by in time to hear this last exchange and looked over with raised eyebrows. Josephine whispered something to Timothy.

"Grace, please come join us for a minute," he said.

Just as Grace was sitting down, Dorothy and Cloud Dancing came into the café and Josephine asked them to also sit at the table. Timothy told them about their wedding and they were all excited for the Reverend and Josephine.

"I guess I want the whole world to know!" Timothy exclaimed.

As Sully walked Michaela back to the clinic, she asked, "Sully, why didn't you want me asking about where they'll live?"

"Because I thought we could build them some extra rooms, connected behind the church, for a wedding present. I know Matthew, Brian, Cloud Dancing, Daniel and Robert E will help. And anyone else in town can help if they want. What do you think?"

"I think I love you! What a wonderful idea!" Michaela said as they reached the clinic. She opened the door, pulled Sully inside, closing the door, threw her arms around his neck and gave him a wonderful kiss.

"Hmmm...nice....can we lock the door?"

"Sully!" she laughed, "I have appointments!"

"Well, tonight I'll thank you for that kiss."

The next day, Josephine was on her way to the clinic when she ran into Preston.

"Miss Penn," Preston called.

"Mr. Lodge."

"It has come to my attention that you plan to marry the Reverend."

"So?"

"How can you?! After I asked you! How can you marry that weak, blind little man! He can't see and he has nothing!"

Neither of them saw Timothy Johnson standing near the clinic, with Michaela, Sully, Dorothy and Cloud Dancing.

"Mr. Lodge," Josephine said with loathing in her voice, "I happened to love him. You are the weak, blind little man! Timothy may be physically blind, but mentally and spiritually he can see farther than you could ever dream of seeing! He has an innate grace and beauty that you could not possess if you had all the money in the world. He is good and kind and has made me feel more loved than I have ever felt before. Where you are greedy and vicious, he is kind and considerate and giving. You do not possess even one of the wonderful traits that make Timothy the man I have fallen in love with....the man I want to share my life with.....the man I want as the father of my children. It is an honor and a privilege to know him and to love him and to know he loves me and wants me for his wife!"

Preston couldn't believe his ears! Another proper Boston lady preferring an ignorant wilderness type to him! Well, they'd be sorry when he was rich and owned everything and they would slave for him! He turned to march away from her, then he saw the others watching. How dare they hear what this horrible woman had said to him! He looked away from them and marched toward the bank.

Josephine was so mad she had tears in her eyes and her fists were clinched. Then she saw the others...she saw Timothy and all the anger and hate drained away. She ran across the street toward him.....he knew she was coming and held out his arms for her to rush into.

The next day the Reverend received a reply from Reverend Thomas. He would be in Colorado Springs in three weeks to perform the ceremony, which he was very excited about. As soon as he shared the telegraph with Josephine, she sent a telegram to her family in Boston.

They went to the café to sit down and start making their plans.

A few days later, Michaela and Sully saw Josie sitting in the café, by herself, looking forlorn.

"Josie? What's wrong?" Michaela asked.

"Dr. Mike, Sully," said Josie looking up at them, with tears in her eyes. "Please, join me.....I wrote to my parents and told them I was getting married to Timothy and asked them to come for the wedding. Here's their answer..."

Josephine handed the note to Michaela, who read it out loud:

Josephine:

You went to that place to teach the blind Reverend, not to marry him. I was not in favor of your going as I heard stories from Elizabeth Quinn about what a savage land it was. Your father convinced me to let you go as he felt you would see what a terrible world it is outside of Boston. I am sure this gentleman, and I use the term lightly, was not properly educated and would not be the kind of reverend we would allow in our church. I have doubts that he is a reverend at all and shall ask Elizabeth about him the next time I see her.

We will not be travelling to that place to take part in a ceremony we do not approve of. If you persist in this marriage, plan to exclude yourself from this family until you come to your senses. I speak for the entire family.

Your mother

"Josie, I am so sorry," Michaela said. "I can't believe mother would have made Colorado Springs sound like such a dreadful place."

"I doubt if she did. My mother has always seen the world her way....funny, she reminds me of Preston. Now she'd probably agree if I chose to marry him!" Josie looked at Michaela and Sully and started laughing. "I don't think I like the sound of Josephine Lodge!"

"Josie?" asked Sully.

"Yes, Sully?"

"May I have the honor of escorting you down the isle?"

"Oh, Sully," Josephine said, with a smile and tears, "I...y-yes...thank you....thank you."

Michaela looked at her husband with eyes full of love. Every day he seemed to prove what a wonderful man he was.

Just then Revered Johnson walked up. "Who's that crying? It sounds like Josephine!"

"It's okay, Timothy," Josephine said, "it's okay. My family is not coming and Sully just offered to escort me down the isle. That's why I'm crying. They are tears of joy!"

"Thank you, Sully." said Timothy. "Darling, why isn't your family coming?"

"Oh, because they are selfish and arrogant and think anything west of Boston is savage!"

"They don't approve of your choice?" he asked.

"Of course not...you aren't one of the 'fine Boston families' they approve of! But I don't care...I never met a man back there that I could even come close to loving. In the time I have been here, even without admitting my love for you, I have been happier than I ever was in Boston. Most of the people I have met here are warm and caring. They will miss out on a wonderful family out here!"

"Don't worry, Josie," said Michaela, "we will be your family."

“Thank you, Dr. Mike. And will you be my Matron of Honor?"

"Yes...I would be thrilled!"

"I will ask Loren to be my best man," Timothy said. "He has been a good friend."

"We have a wedding gift for ya, but it ain't somethin' we can hide, so I need to tell ya about it," said Sully. "Some of us have gotten together and starting tomorrow we are building some rooms onto the church for your living quarters." Josephine gasped and Timothy shook his head in wonder. "Robert E's already made the plans. We are putting on a living room, bedroom and kitchen. Between helping build or donating furniture and things, most of the town has become involved in this."

"How can we ever thank you?" Josephine said, shedding tears. "You must think I cry all the time!" she exclaimed.

"We've only seen tears in the last few days and we know they are tears of joy. I cried a lot too, when I was accepting Sully's proposal and planning our wedding!" Michaela said.

Loren agreed to be Timothy's best man, something he was secretly thrilled about. Dorothy, Grace, Colleen and Michaela helped Josephine design and make her wedding dress. With Robert E as the 'foreman', besides Sully, Daniel, Cloud Dancing, Matthew and Brian, there were a number of other townsmen who joined in to build the rooms on the church. They were able to get the rooms finished and furnished 2 days before the wedding.

Reverend Thomas arrived on the train the day before the wedding. The weather was beautiful so they planned the ceremony for the meadow and invited the entire town, even Preston although it was assumed he wouldn't come (and he didn't).

The ceremony was simple and beautiful. Sully walked Josephine down the isle and gave her away. Michaela was the matron of honor and Loren the best man.

Reverend Thomas pronounced them husband and wife, and Timothy kissed his bride. They walked back down the isle to the applause and cheers of the loving congregation. The wedding meal was delicious, as always, when made by Grace. There were many toasts to the bridal couple...toasts of love and happiness and success.

When it came time for the couple to retire, they walked to their front door for the first time and climbed the stairs. Sully had gone ahead and opened the door, as requested by Timothy. When they reached the door, Timothy swung his bride up in his arms and carried her over the threshold.....Sully had counted the steps for him, from the top of the stairs to the middle of the living room, and the Reverend carried it off as well as a sighted person.

They had been followed to their front door and as the Timothy carried Josephine into their house, their loving friends cheered.

The End

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