For personal use and select distribution only © by Pam Hunter June 1997  
By Pam Hunter

Horace Bing, the Colorado Springs telegraph operator, stood on the train station platform and cast his eyes over the small crowd milling around the newly arrived train from Denver. The scene was a familiar one - family members being met by anxious relatives, people seeing friends or family off to unknown destinations, bewildered strangers unsure of their bearings. He’d seen it all a hundred times before.

His eyes alighted on Preston Lodge, the banker and owner of the towns’ finest hotel, the Chateau, extending a greeting to an elegantly dressed and oddly familiar stranger who had just stepped off the train. Horace, squinting against the early morning sunlight, peered at the pair who were in earnest conversation. His brow creased in concentration - where had he seen that face before? As Preston guided the stranger towards the buggy belonging to the Chateau, Horace suddenly recalled who the ‘stranger’ was and instead of his brow clearing with the realisation, it deepened into a worried frown. What purpose would that particular person have in returning to Colorado Springs?

********************

Loren Bray stepped out of the front door of his mercantile, breathing in the crisp, fresh air. After two days of rain it was a pleasure to see the sun again, although it would be a while before it took the chill off the air.

He peered up the street towards the station and noticed that the morning train had arrived from Denver and the usual crowd had gathered around it. Emerging from the bustling backdrop and moving towards him was the Chateau’s buggy with Preston and a stranger seated on board. Probably another fancy Chateau guest, he thought with mixed feelings. As the buggy drew alongside he noted the well dressed appearance of the stranger seated next to Preston and then nodded his head at Preston’s half smile and doffing of his hat. It was only after the buggy had passed that Loren realised he knew the stranger, or thought he did. If it was who he thought it was things could get pretty interesting around Colorado Springs during the next couple of days. He glanced across at the closed door of the medical clinic and then back at the receding buggy. He must remember to mention this new arrival to Jake and Hank in the saloon this evening, see what they thought of the matter. He turned and shuffled quickly back into the dim light of the mercantile as an impatient customer loudly demanded service.

********************

Dr Michaela Quinn locked the door to her medical clinic and headed for the train station and telegraph office. Her day’s work at the clinic was almost over and she was looking forward to going home to her husband Sully and children - Brian and Katie. The strength of the afternoon sun was just beginning to wane and a cool breeze had sprung up again, blowing her long coppery hair across her face and eyes. She shivered a little, wishing that she’d draped a shawl over her light blue cotton blouse before setting out. As she walked briskly along the very familiar street, she became lost in thought planning what she would prepare for supper and then deciding to stop on the way back from the station for one of Grace’s famous apple pies.

Michaela didn’t see him until it was too late. She suddenly collided with Loren as he was hurrying back to the mercantile and she stumbled - only Loren’s quick grasp of her arm stopping her from falling completely.

"Sorry, Dr Mike …. didn’t see ya. Are you alright?" he asked anxiously.

"I’m fine Loren, I’m afraid I wasn’t looking where I was going," she apologised, brushing the dust off her dark blue skirt where it had trailed in the dust. "How are you today?" she asked.

"Oh …. oh ….. I’m just fine …. um ….. just headin’ home like you I expect," said Loren hurriedly.

Michaela looked at him in puzzlement. There was something odd about the old man’s manner. He was not quite meeting her eyes and he was shuffling his feet as if he didn’t want to stay and talk to her. "Is something wrong Loren?" she asked with concern.

"Nah, course not …… I’m just fine." He raised his head but seemed to be looking at something over her left shoulder. "Um ….. Dr Mike ……. have ya bin out to Preston’s Chateau lately? …. Um ….. uh ….. course you aint ……," he said with an ironic chuckle. "Well better go, see ya soon," he murmured and walked briskly away.

Michaela turned to watch him go. Loren *was* behaving strangely. They’d had their differences in the past but generally they got on very well and he was always ready for a gossip about various goings-on in the town. Well she would probably find out what was worrying him soon enough. She shook herself and turned once more towards the train station.

She greeted Horace as he appeared at the telegraph office window. "Any mail for me Horace?" she asked with a friendly smile.

"Oh ….. Dr Mike …… uh ……. I’ll just check," he said hastily, an involuntary frown appearing on his face. The tall angular telegraph operator looked distinctly uncomfortable and for the second time in just a few minutes she had the peculiar feeling that others knew something that she didn’t.

"Here’s ya mail Dr Mike, not much today," said Horace, handing her a small bundle of letters. Again, like Loren, he turned quickly away from her, not meeting her eyes.

"Horace …… is there something worrying you?" she asked puzzled.

"Who me?" replied Horace. "Nah, I’m just fine but I’d better git back to work or I’ll never finish today. Have a nice evenin’ Dr Mike," he said and he moved hurriedly to the mail bags at the back of the office.

"Evening," she said to his retreating back. With a troubled smile she walked reluctantly away from Horace and the station and towards Grace’s. What could be going on?

Michaela forgot all about Loren and Horace’s strange behaviour when Grace, the owner of Grace’s open air café, greeted her as she always did. They had become close friends over the years and they chatted and laughed for a little while until Michaela, realising that it was getting late, purchased the last apple pie on the shelf and returned to the clinic to finish up and head for home.

********************

Grace’s pie was a big hit at supper, both Brian and Sully asking for seconds. Even two year old Katie seemed to enjoy the apple filling if not the pastry crust. After supper, when Katie had been put to bed and Brian had gone to his room to finish his homework, Michaela finished cleaning up in the kitchen while Sully set a small fire in the living-room hearth. It was probably still a little warm for a fire but it gave the room a cosier atmosphere and both of them liked to sit before it and talk about what they’d been doing during the day.

When the fire was going strongly, Sully sat back with a sigh in the wing-back chair nearest the window and, as Michaela walked passed him to the other chair, he grasped her hand gently and pulled her down onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her slender waist. After her initial surprise, Michaela relaxed in his arms, snuggling down so that her head rested against his shoulder and her arms were wound around his neck.

"Mmmmm …… I’ve been looking forward to this all day," she whispered in his ear.

"Have you now …….. well, better make sure I don’ let you down," he murmured as his lips covered and moved over hers and his arms tightened around her.

When they finally pulled apart Michaela dropped her head back onto Sully’s shoulder with a sigh and she gently caressed his scalp and neck with her fingertips as they watched the ever-changing pictures painted by the flames in the fireplace.

"That supper was sure good, especially the pie," said Sully at last, breaking the silence.

"Mmmmm …. one of Grace’s best ….. a lot better than mine would have been," said Michaela with a smile, well aware of her lack of culinary skills.

"Oh, I dunno, yours are a lot better than they used to be, but I guess Grace’s had a *lot* more practice," said Sully, grinning and then kissing the top of her head.

Mentioning Grace suddenly reminded Michaela of her strange encounters with Loren and Horace that afternoon.

"Sully, I just remembered ………. did you go into town today?" she inquired.

"Yeah, for a little while, why?"

"Did you see Loren or Horace?"

"Nah, only Robert E - I wanted to see if my new axe was ready. What are ya gettin’ at Michaela," he asked, lifting her chin to look into her eyes.

"I had the strangest experience with both of them this afternoon. It was as if they knew something … or were hiding something from me …. and they hurried away like they were afraid to talk to me. Did Robert E say anything to you or act differently at all?"

"Nah, not at all. I didn’t stay long and he seemed just fine. Its probably your imagination Michaela. You know how some of those folks are …. maybe ya said somethin’ to upset someone without realisin’ it," he said placatingly.

Michaela looked at him, a little affronted. "What do you mean *I* might have said something. I’m not in the habit of upsetting people," she said defensively.

Sully smiled. "I know ya not," he said, chuckling and patting her knee. "But we both know it don’ take much to upset some folks….. ‘sides, you’ll soon find out tomorrow what’s got into ‘em."

"No I won’t …. its Friday tomorrow …. remember ….. I’ll be out at the reservation all day," she replied regretfully. "If Dorothy was in town she’d be able to tell us, only she’s at that newspaper convention in Denver."

"Oh well …. they’ll probably have forgotten all about whatever it is by Saturday," he said giving her a quick kiss. "Now time for bed," he said decisively, as he gently stood Michaela on her feet and they walked towards the stairs together, hand in hand.

********************

Michaela set out very early on Friday morning for the reservation as it was a long, hot ride and she knew that she had a long list of patients to see during the day.

Sully headed into town after breakfast. He wanted to see Robert E again and he’d ordered some supplies from Denver through Loren at the mercantile and he wondered whether they’d arrived yet.

After dropping Brian off at school and Katie at Grace’s he drew the wagon to a halt in front of the livery. He noticed Jake Slicker leaning against his barber’s pole ‘watching the world go by’. Jake seemed keen to attract Sully’s attention and when he knew that Sully was watching him he doffed his hat and said, "Mornin’," with a definite smirk on his face. Sully returned the greeting, sure that there was some hidden meaning to that smirk. He continued into the livery wondering what secret Jake was hiding and then decided that, knowing Jake, it probably wasn’t worth worrying about.

"Mornin’ Robert E," he said, "Got that axe ready yet?"

Robert E looked up at Sully and then just as quickly bent his head over his work again. He pointed. "Its over there on the shelf Sully, hope its what ya wanted," he said quickly, head still lowered.

Puzzled, Sully looked across at Robert E. No wide smile, no asking how the kids or Michaela were. This wasn’t like Robert E at all. Sully walked over and located the new axe. "Just right Robert E, fine work again. What do I owe ya?" he asked, trying to gain his friend’s attention.

"Same as usual. Pay me next time you’re in town," he replied and then added, "Have a nice day." He then turned his back to his friend and walked into the barn. Sully watched him go in surprise.

Sully received the same strange reception at the mercantile. Loren was polite but evasive, like he wanted to tell Sully something but couldn’t. The same could be said of Horace at the train station who pleaded a heavy workload as an excuse not to stand and talk. This was particularly odd as nobody liked to stand and chat more than Horace.

Sully was opening the door to Michaela’s clinic to drop off some medical supplies which had arrived on this morning’s train, when Hank sauntered over from the Gold Nugget. The tall rangy barkeep leaned casually on the stone wall of the clinic, his thumb tucked into his belt, a sardonic twist to the smile on his face.

"Mornin’ Sully," he drawled. "How’s Michaela this mornin’?"

Sully looked up at Hank in surprise. Hank seldom liked to make idle chat. "She’s fine Hank ….. headed out to the reservation real early, won’t be back til suppertime," he replied.

Hank took a long slow draw on the fat cigar he held in his hand and then puffed several perfectly formed smoke rings up into the fresh morning air. "Might wanna keep your eye on your pretty lady the next coupla days …. seems to me there could be some trouble comin’," he said ambiguously as he winked at Sully and then turned and ambled back the way he’d come.

Sully was so taken aback that he didn’t say a word. What could Hank mean? What did some of the townsfolk know that he and Michaela didn’t?

********************

Michaela returned from the reservation dusty, hot and tired just as the sun was setting that evening. Sully watched as she struggled to stay awake during supper. He didn’t have the heart to tell her about the strange behaviour of their friends in town or what Hank had said, but he did decide to go into town with her tomorrow when she went to the clinic. If something odd was going on, then he wanted to be on the spot rather than out here at the homestead.

********************

Saturday dawned sunny but much cooler. Rugged up in their coats, Michaela, Sully, Brian and Katie all clambered into the wagon after breakfast and headed for town. Michaela had patients between ten and two o’clock and Brian decided he’d do some errands and visiting around town and then have lunch with Sully and her at Grace’s.

After settling Katie to play in a corner of the clinic, Michaela and Sully began to sort and stack away the various medical supplies which Sully had delivered from the train station the day before. Michaela picked up a small package and examined the label. "Oh Sully," she exclaimed. "I’ve just remembered ……… a couple of these boxes are for Andrew out at the Chateau, would you mind taking them out there for me?" asked Michaela.

"Sure, I’ll find Brian and take him an’ Katie out there for the ride," answered Sully. "Shouldn’t take too long." He took the parcels from Michaela, bundled up Katie again, kissed his wife good-bye and left the clinic.

Michaela set to work, having no time to think of anything but her steady stream of patients and their worrisome medical complaints.

The wagon ride out to the Chateau was relaxed and pleasant. Brian and Katie, perched up beside Sully, played and sang and asked numerous questions which he answered as best he could, though Brian, accompanied by plenty of chuckles from Katie, was clever at coming up with some posers. The early summer sunshine had brought out the last of the wildflowers and Sully delighted in pointing them out to the children and telling stories told to him by the Cheyenne of their origin and use.

As they drew near, Sully realised that the Chateau definitely looked at its best in the morning sunshine, though he still resented its presence, the variety of customers it brought to town and its owner Preston Lodge III. He decided to pull up at the front door, deliver the medical supplies to Dr Andrew Cook and then leave as quickly as possible, hopefully before coming across Preston who, he was sure, would make some crass remark about his presence in his ‘fine establishment’.

As he looked towards the front of the building a lone rider was heading at a leisurely pace away from the Chateau towards the woods and far off mountains. On a beautiful day like today, thought Sully, he wouldn’t mind doing exactly the same thing. The rider was moving slowly at an angle away from the approaching wagon but even at this distance Sully recognised something familiar about the person’s build, colouring and posture. He was reminded of someone he would much rather forget. Then when the rider turned to look back at the Chateau and the face was spotlighted by the sun Sully knew for sure that it was who he had first thought. His breath caught and a heavy weight settled in the pit of his stomach. What did this return mean and what had brought it about?

********************

Grace, coffee pot in hand, swept her eyes over the few remaining customers in the café. The breakfast rush was at last over and the only customers left were a young couple who had arrived on the morning train and Seth and Mary Taylor who were about to head back to their homestead, their wagon laden with supplies. Both couples had almost finished their pie and coffee and Grace was sure that Molly could look after them for as long as she needed.

Ever since Robert E had told her last night about the new customer to the livery who’d been wanting to hire a horse, Grace had known that she would have to find the time this morning to go across to the clinic to talk to Michaela. Robert E hadn’t wanted her to. In fact, he’d warned her to stay out of other people’s business but she was sure that Michaela would want to know, if she didn’t know already.

She untied the strings of her apron and hung it over a chair, smoothed her hair back with her hands and turned toward the medical clinic. As she approached she mused over how she would tell Michaela the news and for the first time wondered whether Robert E might have been right about keeping quiet. She hesitated and was about to retrace her steps when the clinic door opened and Michaela and Mrs Winn stepped out onto the porch. The older lady shook Michaela’s hand and then turned to walk towards the mercantile.

Michaela was re-entering the clinic when she looked out and caught sight of her friend. "Grace, how are you on this fine sunny morning?" asked Michaela brightly.

Grace decided that this must be fate and so continued on to the clinic porch. "Mornin’ Dr Mike. I’m fine. How are Sully and the children today?" said Grace as she joined Michaela and then followed her into the clinic. "I’m not interruptin’ anythin’ am I Dr Mike? You don’ have to see to another patient?" she asked quickly, almost hopefully.

"No, I’ve got a little while before the next patient is due. Did you want to speak to me about anything in particular," inquired Michaela as she moved into the clinic and sat down at her desk.

"Well Dr Mike ……… I ……… um ………. I was talkin’ to Robert E last night. You see he had a new customer yesterday…….. I thought you might want to know who it was …….. um ….you see …… "

Grace’s stumbling explanation was suddenly interrupted by two sharp raps on the clinic door which was then thrust open to reveal Sully who had returned from the Chateau. One look at his face was enough to have Grace backing out of the door as quickly and graciously as possible.

"Um …… I’ll talk to you later Dr Mike …….. it was nothin’ really ……. have a nice day," she gabbled as she made a quick exit.

Michaela looked in astonishment from the closed door to Sully who was cradling a sleeping Katie in his arms, and back again. "Sully, what’s wrong? You’re angry about something. Was Preston his obnoxious self again?" she asked anxiously. "What did he say?"

"Well Michaela …… for once …… its nuthin’ Preston said or did …… but I …… um ……. I did find out why everyone in town’s bin actin’ so odd the last coupla days," he said ominously.

Michaela looked at him, a puzzled expression on her face. "You noticed that they were acting strangely too?"

"Yeah ……. seems there’s a new guest out at the Chateau, someone you know real well." He paused and then with a note of derision said, "David’s back."

Michaela looked at him in shock. "David Lewis?" she asked breathlessly.

"One and the same," said Sully between clenched teeth.

He watched Michaela closely as memories …… feelings ……. mixed emotions …….. flashed across her beautiful face. David Lewis had been her fiance who she’d thought had been killed in the south during the Civil War. Instead, he’d turned up in Colorado Springs seven years later and briefly come between herself and Sully at a time when they had finally made a commitment to each other and become engaged to be married. Although that was over four years ago now both would have mixed feelings about him turning up again.

"I don’t believe it Sully. What’s he doing back here and why hasn’t he let us know that he’s in town?" she asked hurriedly, her thoughts and words tumbling over each other.

"I don’ know Michaela, maybe he didn’t want us to know," he replied, trying to keep his voice even. He certainly didn’t want to let on to Michaela how even the mention of David’s name brought back memories tinged with anger and despair. For a while he’d thought he’d lost Michaela forever when David came back last time and his breath still caught when he remembered his anguish at that time.

"Why wouldn’t he want us to know?" she asked in bewilderment.

"Maybe he knows that he disrupted things once before and doesn’t want to do it agin," said Sully quietly, the thought just occurring to him. If this were true he had no reason to be worried about David’s return did he?

Michaela sat at her desk in silence for a while, lost in thought. Then she looked up into Sully’s face with a expression that said ‘please understand’. "I’d like to see him Sully ….. find out what’s he’s been doing ….. about his family in Boston …. why he came back here…….. Would you mind?" she asked quietly, almost afraid of what her husband’s reaction might be. "We could go out to the Chateau together to see him," she added.

Sully looked down at this woman he loved with his heart and soul. He could trust her, he was sure of it. But he did wonder if he could trust himself. He reluctantly nodded. "Alright, we’ll go out there together ……. but its no use goin’ out til late cos when I saw ‘im he was headed for the woods and was carryin’ a pack, gone all day I expect," he said a little stiffly.

A wide smile appeared on Michaela’s face. She rose from the desk and moved forward into her husband’s embrace. "Thank-you," she murmured and then looked up into his eyes. "I love you Byron Sully ……. more than you’ll ever know," she said as she wrapped her arms around him and their still sleeping daughter.

********************

Sully had been working furiously outside all afternoon, brushing the horses, reinforcing some fencing near the barn, chopping wood. Michaela had watched him periodically from the homestead window. She’d seen him do this before when he was worried about something. He would exhaust himself physically, working through emotions he was having difficulty controlling or understanding.

The sun was low in the sky when Michaela finally decided that she would have to do something about him. She came down the homestead steps and purposefully strode across the ground separating her and Sully. But when she neared she couldn’t think what to say, so she merely said, "Sully, isn’t it time to call it a day? I’m sure we have the best groomed horses and the most cut wood of any other homestead in the Colorado Territory. Come inside and clean up … we’ll need to set out for the Chateau soon."

Sully stopped what he was doing and peered across at her, the look on his face unreadable.

"You haven’t changed your mind have you? About going to see David? You have nothing to worry about you know," she said quietly but determinedly.

He knew he’d be letting her down if he said that he’d rather not go after all. "Nah ….. I aint changed my mind," he said resignedly as he threw down his axe and walked towards the house.

********************

Matthew Cooper mopped his brow, took a gulp of water from his canteen and frowned at the huge oak he’d been working on all afternoon. He seemed to have been sawing away forever and yet there still seemed to be a long way to go. Neither old man Hoffman or he had realised the extent of the job when he took it on. Well he’d just have to come back out here tomorrow and finish it off. He looked toward the horizon. The sun would set soon and he’d have to be heading home.

A movement some distance away caught his attention. Squinting his eyes against the setting sun he concentrated on the figure on horseback riding at an angle towards the Chateau. The nearer the rider came, the more familiar he seemed - something about his build and the way he sat a horse. Suddenly realising who it might be Matthew waited anxiously for the man’s face to come into focus and as he saw the deep brow and the patch over the left eye his stomach lurched and his breath caught. Memories of Dr Mike’s astonishment at David being alive and then the resultant tension and coldness between Sully and Dr Mike as their engagement fell apart flashed through his mind. He recalled Brian and Colleen’s confusion when Dr Mike was so unsure of herself and then Sully’s brief withdrawal from the place he held in their family. It was four years ago and yet it felt like yesterday. He wondered if Dr Mike and Sully knew that David was in town. Maybe he’d better call into the homestead after supper to see that everything was alright.

********************

Sully pulled gently on the reins and the wagon drew to a halt in front of the Chateau. His eyes roamed over the hotel facade - this was really the last place on earth he wanted to be right now. Not for a second had it occurred to Sully this morning to keep David’s presence in town to himself, but all of a sudden he thought it might have been a real good idea. He jumped down from the wagon and took Katie from Michaela before helping her down. Luckily Brian had asked to go fishing and then have supper with a friend this afternoon so they’d been able to come out here without his inevitable questions. The short trip had been a silent one, except for Katie’s garbled conversation about who knows what. Michaela reached for their fair haired daughter and resting her on her hip proceeded into the hotel, leaving a reluctant Sully in her wake.

Finding David was a lot less difficult than it might have been. They passed through the hotel entrance into the coolness of the lobby only to see David in animated conversation with Preston near the front desk. Instead of moving quickly forward, as Sully had thought she would, Michaela held back and edged closer to Sully’s side. They both stood silently observing the two men but really watching David. Apart from slightly shorter hair and a better fitting, more elegant suit, he had changed very little.

Neither could say which of the two gentlemen noticed them first and at another time they would have laughed at the reaction they received from both men. Preston’s eyebrows arched in surprise and his flash of displeasure was instantly masked by his Boston learned manners. David, on the other hand, could not hide his astonishment at seeing them standing there. His mouth dropped open, his face reddened and his hands clenched and then were determinedly placed behind his back.

"David," said Michaela quietly.

Preston’s eyes flew from David to Michaela and back again in surprise. "You know Mr Lewis then?" he asked and again the flash of displeasure became evident before the mask was drawn down once more.

"Yes Mr Lodge, David and I are old friends from Boston," replied Michaela, almost enjoying the banker’s discomfiture. "We haven’t seen him for some time though." She looked at the man standing silently and awkwardly beside Preston regarding the three of them carefully. "It’s good to see you David," she said in a low tone.

"Uh …. Michaela, Sully ……. I didn’t expect to see you here," he stuttered and then under his breath added, "In fact I didn’t expect to see you at all."

"Perhaps we should all sit down," suggested Sully calmly. "That is if your business with Mr Lodge is finished," he added dismissively, turning to the banker.

"Yes … Yes … of course. We were just chatting. I’ll be going then," Preston said derisively, nodding his head at David and Michaela and retreating to the back rooms of the hotel.

There was an awkward silence in which each adult considered the other gravely. The silence was broken by Katie who’d clearly had enough of sitting on Michaela’s hip and now wished to explore.

"Pa …… Ma ….. floor please," she called loudly, wriggling and looking from Michaela to Sully, demanding their attention.

David’s eyes flew to the little girl and a look of pain crossed his features. Michaela, who was busy placing Katie on her feet on the floor, missed it, but Sully noticed. "So David, what brings you back to Colorado Springs after all these years?" he said to ease the moment.

"Uh …… uh …… actually my work. I’m still writing pieces for the Washington Chronicle and they asked me to look into the building of the new dam and what changes its likely to bring to this area," he replied, trying to return to normality. And then added pleadingly, "Actually I tried to persuade them to have some other writer do the article … I had no intention of ever coming back here …. but they wouldn’t hear of it …. they said that since I could easily pass through the Territory on my way back to Washington from Yellowstone I could do the job more conveniently than anyone else." He paused and then said imploringly, "I thought at least staying out here - my father and Preston’s father are old acquaintances in Boston - I might be able to do what I had to do and leave without anyone being any the wiser. It seems that wasn’t to be."

"When Sully told me you were staying out here I couldn’t believe it," said Michaela.

David’s eyes flew to Sully’s face and he frowned as if trying to understand something. "Sully told you!" he exclaimed.

"Look," interjected Sully. "I think we’d all be more comfortable if you came to the homestead for supper tonight David….. give you and Michaela a chance to catch up."

It was Michaela’s turn to look at Sully in surprise, her eyes widening and her mouth dropping open momentarily before she caught herself.

"Well ….. I don’t know Sully. If I remember correctly …. the last time I came to supper at your house you tried to flatten me," replied David with a slight uneasy smile.

Sully looked a little sheepish. "Yeah, well things were different then. Would you like to come? You could follow us out there now. We’ll understand if you have other plans though."

David seemed to consider the invitation carefully and then made a decision. "I’d like that … if its not too much trouble," he said offering his hand to Sully to shake.

********************

Sully watched as Michaela and David talked animatedly across the supper table. While David’s eyes rarely left Michaela’s face, hers moved easily between David and himself, often drawing him into the conversation when he would have rather sat back. In fact she treated her ex-fiance little differently to Sully’s friend Daniel or even their son Matthew when either visited. She was obviously thoroughly enjoying catching up on news of their mutual acquaintances in Boston and what David had been doing for the past four years. He proudly told them of the publication of his first book about the plants and wildlife of the Rocky Mountains and that a number of colleges in the east were using his book in their courses. He also spoke of the free lance newspaper work he was doing, the payment for these articles allowed him to continue his work on his second book, mainly about Yellowstone. While Sully never felt entirely at ease and had to fight down those little flames of jealousy which flared up every now and then, the longer the evening went on the more certain he became that Michaela was merely re-acquainting herself with an old friend.

Just as they had finished their supper and were about to move into the living-room there was a loud knocking on the front door. Sully stood and, without giving it too much thought, handed Katie to David who took her willingly and then began to bounce her on his knee, producing excited giggles from the little girl. Consequently, when Sully opened the door, the first thing Matthew saw was Michaela sitting close by David who was holding a happy Katie. All thought of what he had been going to say flew straight out of the young man’s head.

"Matthew ….. How are you? Have you come for supper? We’ve just finished but I’m sure that I can find you something," exclaimed Michaela.

Matthew could not take his eyes off David and Katie. "Uh …… evening Dr Mike …. Sully …… um," he stuttered. "Just thought I’d drop by and see how you are …… uh …… thanks …. but I ate at Grace’s before I came out here." But his eyes remained fixed on his ma’s ex-fiance and *his* little sister.

Sully watched his son in some amusement. He wasn’t surprised at Matthew’s reaction, it *was* a rather cosy scene given what had happened the last time David had come to supper, including Matthew having to stop him from knocking David to the floor.

He put his hand on Matthew’s shoulder. "Come on Matthew, have coffee with us. We’ve just bin hearin’ what David’s bin doin’ the last four years," he said leading him to a chair in the living-room.

Matthew left about an hour later, still incredulous, but at least reassured that nothing untoward was going to happen between the folks he had come to think of as his parents and David.

********************

David and Sully sat in the wingback chairs in front of the fire in amiable silence. Michaela was checking on Katie and Brian and then would join them.

David turned to Sully. "Who told you I was in town," he asked quietly. "I knew that I’d been recognised by the reaction I received."

"Actually, none of ‘em told me. Seemed to be some sorta unspoken agreement not to. Michaela and me got some strange reactions from folks too," replied Sully.

"Nobody told you!" David exclaimed. "Then how did you find out I was here?"

"Just fate really ….. had to come out to the Chateau this mornin’ … saw you headin’ out," said Sully with a half smile, remembering his violent reaction then.

"When I was forced into coming here by the Chronicle editor I wondered whether I’d be able to stay out of your way. Thought I’d succeeded until this afternoon. Its funny no-one in town told you," he mused.

"No it aint. We had some troubles here last summer. Since then folks in town have become sorta protective of Michaela," remarked Sully as much to himself as to David.

"Seems to me that Michaela wasn’t the only one they were protecting. I had the devil’s own job hiring a horse from Robert E at the livery yesterday morning. I got the distinct impression he’d have given me a horse free of charge if I’d promised to ride out of Colorado Springs and never come back," said David with a wry smile.

"Yeah, maybe you’re right …. wonder what they’d make of the scene Matthew walked in on tonight," said Sully with a chuckle. Then a sudden thought struck him and he said, "I got an idea if you’ll be in it ….. we might rattle their cage a little ….." he grinned.

When Michaela came downstairs it was to find Sully and David talking comfortably in front of the fire. She stopped and watched for just a moment and then walked across the room towards them. Upon seeing her David began to rise from his chair.

"No, please don’t move … I’ll be fine here," said Michaela seating herself on a stool close to Sully and placing her hand into his resting on his knee.

The rest of the evening passed pleasantly enough, the conversation lively and varied. All the while Michaela sat leaning against Sully’s leg, her fingers unconsciously caressing his palm, her eyes alight with excitement and pleasure.

********************

David had been gone for a little while, the supper dishes had been washed and put away and the lamps downstairs extinguished. Michaela entered their bedroom to find Sully sitting on a rug in front of the fire, his back to the door. He didn’t turn when she entered but continued to stare pensively into the flames. She knelt behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and laying her head against his back. His hands came up to enclose and caress hers.

"Thank-you Sully," she murmured. "I know how hard today must have been for you."

There was a moment of silence before Sully said, "It weren’t so hard ….. not for me ….. or for you for that matter. But it *was* real hard on one person."

Michaela rose and came round to sit on her heels between his legs, her back to the fire. She looked at him quizzically.

"It was real hard on David," he said quietly and sincerely.

"What do you mean?"

Sully went on. "David wasn’t keepin’ away from us for our benefit, he was keepin’ away to save himself. Didn’t you notice the way he looked at you tonight …. the way he looked at Katie? …. No, today wasn’t so hard for me ……. *I’ve* got the life *he* wanted ….. an’ it pained him some to be here with us."

Michaela’s eyes welled with tears. "Sully, I never thought of it like that. When you said he was in town, all I could think was that I wanted to catch up with an old and very dear friend, find out what he was doing here. I feel selfish now."

"Nah …. we weren’t to know … and he tried to hide it …… almost succeeded too, except that he forgot himself sometimes, like when he was holdin’ Katie and playin’ with her or when he was watchin’ you sit by me in front of the fire," explained Sully. Then he added after a moment, "Ya know how we’ve talked about puttin’ yourself in the other person’s place?"

Michaela nodded.

"I did that tonight …… saw myself sittin’ and holdin’ yours and David’s baby ……………… Couldn’t believe how bad I felt," he whispered in a voice which could barely be heard.

Michaela’s hands came up to cup his face and gently caress his cheeks and mouth before kissing him tenderly, then she slowly turned to sit facing the fire with her back against Sully’s chest, her head resting on his shoulder. His arms came up to encircle her and she hugged his arms tightly to herself. They sat together thinking their own thoughts for a moment.

Then Michaela said tentatively, "Sully, remember when David was here before?"

"How could I forget," he replied with a touch of irony.

"You told me that I had to choose who was best for me, who would make me happy."

"Mmmmm."

"I made the right choice Sully, I haven’t doubted it once since …" His hands tightened around her convulsively and then she tilted her head so that her cheek rubbed against his shoulder. "No, not even last summer … if that’s what you’re thinking," she said lovingly. "When I came downstairs tonight and saw the two of you talking together, the only thing I could think was that I was so happy that the man I love more than anything could be friends with someone dear from my past. He *is* from my past Sully."

Sully tenderly grasped her shoulders and turned her so that their lips could meet again briefly, then they went back to watching the fire.

"Truth is Michaela, I like him. I liked him before I knew who he really was and I think I’da liked him after …… if I hadn’t been so afraid that he was gonna take you away from me," said Sully, gently stroking her arms.

Michaela twisted round to look into his eyes in wonder. She never ceased to marvel at how this wonderful man’s mind worked.

Sully felt compelled to explain. "Well I do! I like the way he don’ judge folks - reminds me of you like that …… he treats ‘em all the same ….. and his carin’ and writin’ about the land and wildlife out here …… he cares about lotsa the same things we do. I feel kinda sorry for him now. It was a strange feelin’ down there tonight, realisin’ what your decision to stay with *me* meant to *him*. Its me that’s bin selfish these last four years …. resentin’ him an’ all," he said contritely.

"No it wasn’t selfish Sully, it was human - and I love you for it ……" she smiled into his wonderfully familiar blue eyes. "But it does prove one thing." Sully’s eyebrows arched in a query. "That I have great taste in men," she declared with a shy but confident smile.

There was no more conversation in front of the fire after that. A different kind of fire gradually built and consumed them both, relegating all the recent tensions and events to the inner recesses of both their minds.

********************

Loren Bray leant on one elbow on the bar in the Golden Nugget, a fat cigar in one hand and a glass in the other. It wasn’t his first whisky and it probably wouldn’t be his last. Jake Slicker, the town barber and mayor, stood beside him, his back against the bar, facing the noisy, smoke-filled saloon. He too had a half-smoked cigar in one hand and a near empty glass in the other. Ever since they’d arrived, after having supper at Grace’s, they’d been leaning there, and the more they drank the more exaggerated their expressions and gestures became. Loren was now shaking his head from side to side, muttering, "You wouldn’t believe it …… You wouldn’t believe it," to anyone close enough to hear. Jake stood beside him nodding ruefully in agreement.

For some time they’d been trying to gain Hank’s attention but each time he moved towards them one of the poker players yelled out for more beer or whisky or one of his ‘girls’ needed him for something. At last the barkeep approached, a full bottle of whisky in his hand. "Alright Loren, Jake …. now whatcha goin’ on about?" he said, refilling their glasses.

"You wouldn’t believe it ….. You wouldn’t believe it …." Loren repeated yet again.

"Yeah ….. yeah …… I got that bit," snapped Hank impatiently.

So Loren began. "Well ….. ya know that David fella ….. that one that called himself Andrew somethin’-or-other when he came here a few years back?" he said conspiratorially.

"Yeah …. we all knew he was back in town, seen him ourselves last coupla days," replied Hank a little bemused.

"Well……. turned up at church this mornin’" said Loren in triumph.

Hank looked at him as if he’d gone mad. "Yeah … so what ….. lots of visitors to town go to church on Sundays …… its what they do," he scoffed and made to move off.

Jake grabbed his sleeve and said, "You aint heard the good bit yet."

Hank stopped and looked at Loren and Jake. "Well??" he prompted.

"Turned up in the Chateau buggy, you know the fancy one with the leather seats," said Loren, pausing for effect before adding, "Guess who was sittin’ up large as life beside ‘im?" His eyebrows went up theatrically and a wicked grin spread across his face.

Hank shrugged his shoulders and looked at Jake who deferred to Loren.

"Dr Mike ….. that’s who …… and not only that ….. she had Katie on her knee and Sully and Brian were perched up in back." He looked up at Hank to see what effect this dramatic disclosure had had.

Hank looked momentarily stunned and then a slow, sly grin began to appear on his face. "Go on," he urged.

"Well … David gets down from the wagon and Dr Mike hands Katie to *him* - not to Sully - and then *he* escorts her into church with Sully and Brian trailin’ behind. You could’ve knocked me over with a feather. You should’ve seen Dorothy’s face - her mouth dropped open like she was catchin’ flies."

Jake laughed at the memory. "Yeah, at least *we* knew David was in town but Dorothy’d only just got back from that convention in Denver. She didn’t have a clue."

The Loren continued. "Even after the service, he sat there with ‘em for the church picnic, chatted away with Dr Mike and Sully, played with Katie, even played baseball with Brian and Sully after." Again Loren began to shake his head back and forth. He was in full flight now. "Wouldn’t put it past Dr Mike to have invited him back here you know. And there was all of us in town keepin’ our mouths shut and worryin’ about what might happen when he turned up back here like a bad penny……. Next thing ya know they’ll all be packin’ up to go visit him and his family back east!!" he announced with exaggerated disgust.

Hank was truly amused now, but no-one was to know whether it was the story or Loren and Jake’s reaction to it.

"Always said they were strange birds - Dr Mike and Sully that is. Like I’ve said before - they deserve each other," Loren said sagely.

"Yeah … well ….. they’ll always keep us guessin," drawled Hank, again smiling slyly, as he tossed back another whisky and swaggered, bottle in hand, through the cigar smoke towards a table of gamblers way in back of the saloon.

THE END