February 1998 © By Sarah Porter

TELEGRAPH OFFICE

Matthew walks in to the telegraph office to collect his mail. ‘Anything for me today, Horace?’ ‘This one just came in, said it was urgent’ replied Horace. Horace hands the telegram to Matthew and he reads it. ‘Anything wrong?’ inquired Horace. ‘It seems a gang of thieves have been targeting small towns and seem to be heading this way.’ ‘What are you going to do?’ ‘I don’t know, but…’ Matthew is interrupted by a commotion outside. He exits the telegraph office to find a fight outside the Saloon.

SALOON

The town is looking on including Dr. Mike and Sully. ‘What’s going on here?’ inquires Matthew. ‘This man tried to rob one of my customers’ replied Hank. ‘Would you mind coming over here so I can check your pockets?’ said Matthew talking to the stranger. ‘I don’t think that’s such a good idea’ said a second man. ‘Why’s that?’ The man flashes his gun. ‘’cos then I’ll be forced to shoot you.’ Matthew trying to keep the peace says, ‘I’m sorry but I’m going to have to confiscate that gun.’ Hank intervenes, ‘Look enough talk. I want this man arrested.’ Matthew walks towards the men but Hank beats him to it and starts to drag one of them by the arm. The man punches Hank and a fight breaks loose. Matthew goes to break it up but doesn’t notice the second man draw his gun. As Sully comes over to help, Sully spots the gun pointed in Matthew’s direction. ‘No! Matthew look out!’ screams Sully. Hearing Sully’s cry Matthew turns to see the gun bearing down at him. Realising what is about to happen, Sully runs towards Matthew and jumps on him knocking Matthew to the ground. But the gun goes off. Upon hearing the shot everyone takes cover. The robbers use this opportunity to get away. Matthew tries to get up to go after him but finds Sully still on top of him and making no effort to get up. ‘Sully? Sully?’ Matthew then sees the blood on Sully and realises he’s been shot. ‘Oh my God! Sully! Dr. Mike! Help! Sully’s been shot!’ Upon hearing Matthew’s cries, Dr. Mike rushes to Sully’s side followed by Brian holding Katie. ‘Sully! Wake up! Sully!’ she screams. Dr. Mike then realises if she is to help Sully she is going to have to start acting like the doctor and not the wife. She takes a second to regain her composure then gives out her instructions. ‘Matthew, help me get him into the clinic.’ Mike and Matthew lift Sully to take him to the clinic then Hank and Jake come over to help.

CLINIC

Mike, Matthew, Hank and Jake carry Sully on to the surgical table. ‘He’s bleeding. Matthew would you get Andrew? I may need him to help’ instructed Dr. Mike. ‘Sully is going to be alright isn’t he?’ replied Matthew. Mike gives a nod, trying to convince herself as well as Matthew. And with that Matthew leaves. ‘Brian, will you take Katie upstairs and play with her? I’ll come and get you when I’m done.’ ‘Ok’ replied Brian. ‘But you won’t let Pa die will you?’ ‘I won’t’ Brian leaves to take Katie upstairs. ‘What are you going to do?’ asked Jake. Mike examines the wound. ‘I’m gonna have to take the bullet out.’ Matthew and Andrew walk in. ‘Matthew said Sully’s been shot.’ ‘ Yes, the bullet has to come out. Would you mind assisting me?’ ‘Not at all’ replied Andrew. ‘How much blood has he lost?’ ‘Surprisingly little. I think the bullet is acting as a plug.’ ‘We’ll leave you to it. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help’ uttered Jake. Hank and Jake leave. Matthew goes to the door then turns back to look at Sully. Just then panic strikes as Sully begins to bleed profusely. Mike and Andrew work quickly to stop the bleeding but Matthew can’t watch so he runs out. After a short while Dr. Mike manages to stop the bleeding. She then continues to take the bullet out.

OUTSIDE CLINIC

Dr. Mike and Andrew come out to address the crowd as to Sully’s condition. ‘Sully made it through the operation. He lost a lot of blood though which has made him weak, but…hopefully…he’ll pull through’. Dr. Mike runs into the clinic. The realisation of what has happened is starting to sink in. she enters the recovery room where Sully is lying. She sits in the end of the bed, now crying. ‘Sully please wake up. You can’t die on me now. We’ve still so much to do together. I need someone with me to watch Brian and Katie to grow up. We all need you. I couldn’t go on without you. You have to fight, Sully. I know you can do it.’ Just then Brian and Katie come to the door. ‘Ma?’ Dr. Mike turns to look at Brian. He sees that she is crying and immediately goes over to hug her. ‘Pa’s gonna be alright, isn’t he?’ ‘I hope so’ Mike replies. ‘Don’t worry, Ma. He’ll make it.’

RECOVERY ROOM - NEXT MORNING

Brian and Katie are sleeping in makeshift beds with Dr. Mike sitting at Sully’s side, watching closely for any changes. Brian then wakes. ‘Ma? Has there been any change?’ ‘No’ reported Mike. ‘Pa probably just needs a little more time to get better.’ ‘You’re probably right. Brian, have you seen Matthew? I haven’t seen him since yesterday and I want to check he’s alright.’ ‘No I haven’t. Would you like me to find him?’ ‘If you would.’ ‘ I’ll take a look around town.’ Mike nods as Brian comes to hug his ma before leaving. Dr. Mike then goes and picks up the still sleeping Katie - thankful that she still has this part of Sully to hold on to.

OUTSIDE SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Brian is looking through the window, trying to sees if he can spot Matthew. After being unable to see Matthew he calls out. ‘Matthew! Matthew! Are you in there?’ Upon hearing Brian’s calls Mr. Bray comes to see what all the fuss is about. ‘How’s Sully?’ Loren asks. ‘He’s not woken up yet.’ ‘How’s Dr. Mike holding up?’ ‘ I don’t really know. Ma doesn’t say much. she just spends all her time sitting beside the bed holding Pa’s hand.’ ‘What about you boy, are you ok?’ ‘It doesn’t matter how I feel. I’ve got to stay strong for Ma and Katie. Have you seen Matthew?’ ‘He ran out of the clinic yesterday looking kind of upset. I haven’t seen him since. Eh, Brian…if you need to talk, just come see me, ok?’ ‘Thanks Mr. Bray. I’d better get back to the clinic now.’ ‘You let me know the second there’s any change.’ ‘I will. Bye.’

RECOVERY ROOM

Brian comes to the door then goes over and stands next to Dr. Mike sitting on the chair by Sully with Katie on her lap. ‘Any change?’ Brian inquires. ‘Err…no. did you find Matthew?’ ‘No, he wasn’t at the Sheriff’s Office. I hope he’s ok. Mr. Bray said he saw him running off upset.’ Just then Sully starts to wake. ‘Michaela?’ ‘Sully, I’m here.’ ‘Matthew…did he get hurt?’ ‘Sully don’t try and talk, just rest.’ ‘Matthew, is he alright?’ ‘Matthew’s fine. Now don’t talk. You lost a lot of blood, you need your rest.’ ‘I want to see Matthew’ demanded Sully. ‘I’ll get him if you promise to get some rest.’ Sully nods. ‘Ma, are you going to look for Matthew?’ ‘I’m going to check at the old homestead. I shouldn’t be long. Will you look after Katie for me?’ ‘Sure, Ma. Is Pa going to be alright now?’ ‘Looks like it. He’s awake which is a good sign.’ ‘Good. Would it be ok if I just sat here beside him?’ ‘I think Sully would like that very much’ Dr. Mike says as she leaves.

OLD HOMESTEAD

Dr. Mike rides up and dismounts her horse. She goes up to the house and knocks on the door. Dr. Mike calls out, ‘Matthew! Matthew!’ Upon getting no response, Mike’s inquisitive nature takes over so she looks through the window. She sees Matthew sitting on a chair in front of the fire place. She opens the door and walks up to Matthew. ‘Why didn’t you answer the door? Are you alright?’ ‘I figure you wouldn’t want to see me?’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because of what I did to Sully.’ ‘What are you talking about. You didn’t do anything.’ ‘yes I did. It was my fault he got shot.’ ‘Matthew, it was out of your control. The main thing is Sully’s gonna be alright.’ ‘You mean he’s not gonna die?’ ‘He’s going to be fine. Come on, let’s go and see him.’ ‘I don’t think that’s such a good idea. He wouldn’t want to see me.’ ‘That’s where you’re wrong. You know what the first thing he said when he woke up was?’ ‘What?’ ‘He asked if you were alright and then asked to see you. The only way I could get him to rest was if I said I would come and get you.’ ‘Really? Sully said that?’ ‘Yes. Now come on. let’s go’

RECOVERY ROOM

Brian is talking to Sully who is now awake again when Dr. Mike and Matthew walk in. ‘Look Matthew, Pa’s gonna be alright’ said Brian excitedly. ‘Brian, would you bring Katie and help me with something downstairs?’ Brian knowing that Dr. Mike is trying to get him out of the room so Matthew and Sully can talk nods in agreement, picks Katie and leaves. Matthew then goes and sits in the chair next to Sully. ‘So how are you feeling?’ ‘Ok I guess. My back’s a bit sore.’ There is then a pause as both are waiting for each other to speak first. In the end Matthew gives in. ‘Why d’ya do it?’ ‘Do what?’ ‘I know you took that bullet for me.’ ‘What do you expect me to do? I thought he was going to shoot you. I didn’t plan on getting shot. I just wanted to stop you getting hurt.’ ‘ But why? We haven’t exactly been getting on lately.’ ‘Matthew, it doesn’t matter what has gone on recently, I’ll always want to protect you. I know I don’t have the same relationship with you as I do with Brian but you’re still part of my family and I’ll do anything in my power to protect my family from harm.’ ‘Really? I always felt like a bit of an outsider, like I didn’t really belong. I mean Colleen was always close with Dr. Mike because of her doctoring and things. You and Brian are close. You’re his hero, you know. And now you and Dr. Mike have Katie.’ ‘I guess we just figured that you were a man and didn’t need us. We didn’t mean to make you feel that way’ Sully explained. ‘It doesn’t matter.’ ‘It does. It matters to me. I want you to be happy. Promise you’ll say something if you ever feel that way again.’ ‘Ok.’ Just then Brian, Katie and Dr. Mike come to the door. ‘Is it ok to come in? Someone wanted to see her pa.’ ‘Papa!’ Katie screamed excitedly. ‘Sure, bring her here.’

THE END

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