He opened the door with a shaky hand.

"I'm home!"

"We're in the kitchen, honey," Andrew's Aunt called.

"Ok," Andrew replied. "Well, here goes nothing." Andrew thought.

"Oh I'm cooking a roast for dinner tonight, with potates and homemade bread."

"And I'm slicing some apples for your Aunt's famous Apple Pie." said Uncle Cyrus as he reached for another apple to slice.

"And may I ask what the special occasion is? Or is there no reason for all this hard work for supper." asked Andrew.

"Well Andrew. We know that you have had a hard time trying to find a good place to start you're own practice, and after all the hard work you've done trying to find a place, we decided to do something special for you." answered Aunt Rose.

"Well Aunt Rose, there is something that I need to tell you." commented Andrew as he reached into his jacket pocket pulling out the wire he received from Colorado Springs.

Before Andrew could even open his mouth, she shouted happily, "You found a position!"

Andrew broke into a broad smile.

"Yes, but it's where the position is that I want to talk to you about," he said.

"Well, where is it son?" Uncle Cyrus demanded happily. "Speak up!"

"It's in Colorado Territory, a little town called Colorado Springs."

Rose's smile faded, and Cyrus cleared his throat. "That's an awful long ways from here," he said, much more solemly.

"Yes, it is," Andrew agreed.

Rose began to stir fiercely, then her hand began to slow down little by little. It stopped. But when she turned to face Andrew, her face was smiling.

"We knew you'd be going away someday, sooner or later. I was hoping for later, but, I can't stop you."

"That's right, son," Cyrus said. "I figure you're old enough, and hopefully competent enough...I was hoping that you'd be going into business with me, but, you need to do whatever makes you happy."

Andrew smiled, trying to hide the lump in his throat.

"Thank you," he said.

"Well!" Rose said quite loudly, "what's all the fuss about! Cyrus! Andrew! Wash your hands. They're dirtier than a mud pie! And let's eat! This roast has suffered enough! I don't want to kill it again by burning it!"

"By the time we finish eating, the pie will be done." said Cyrus as he closed the oven door.

Andrew then entered the room, and everyone sat down at the table and thanked God for their food, then began eating.

Uncle Cyrus cleared his throat and then asked "So, Andrew, when are you going to be leaving?"

"They said in the wire that I am needed as soon as I can get out there. I was thinking about leaving as soon as I can get packed." answered Andrew.

"Well, why do you look so sad?" asked Aunt Rose in a concerned tone of voice.

"Oh I don't know. I guess it's because here in Boston is where I was brought up. Here is where I've lived all my life. Here is also where Mom and Dad died. I feel like if I leave, I'm going to be leaving them behind me, as if I was trying to forget them." said Andrew as he wiped a tear away from his eye before it had a chance to run down his face.

"Oh Andrew. Your parents would have been proud to see you graduate from medical school and then find a place where you can open up your own practice. By leaving here, you are not going to forget your parents." said Aunt Rose as she reached and held Andrew's hand.

After a couple hours of looking at pictures, everyone decided that it was time to go to bed. Andrew had decided that in the morning he would start packing for Colorado Springs.

"Good night Andrew" said Aunt Rose as she hugged Andrew good night.

"Good night Son" said Uncle Cyrus as he gave Andrew a side hug.

"Good night" replied Andrew. "Thank you for your support, it means a lot to me." Andrew said as he smiled at his Aunt and Uncle.

"Good morning Andrew. I made you your favorite breakfast...bacon, eggs, and toast with honey." greeted Aunt Rose.

Rose just laughed. "No you wouldn't--you're a good cook...with apple pie, that is," she joked.

Andrew just laughed. "Seriously, though. I am going to miss you!"

"Same goes for me, honey. Just know--our door will always be open. As will the door to your uncle's clinic."

"That's right, son," Cyrus said. "And if you ever need anything, you just let us know."

"Thank you, Uncle Cyrus. I love you both so much."

"Okay, enough of this! There's still plenty of time for goodbyes. These eggs, however, are running out of time--eat up!!!"

As the Cooks enjoyed their last breakfast together for some time, Michaela was dealing with the angry townsfolk in Colorado Springs.

The new doctor. Michaela was shocked. Why hadn't she been told? Dorothy simply assumed Michaela already knew...but as she was one of the only people in the town still speaking to Michaela...well, perhaps it made sense that Michaela was in the dark.

"Oh Mother!" Michaela said to herself. "I'm so sorry!" She began to write a letter to her mother. "Dear Mother, Things are not going well. I only wish I had relented and allowed you to come for the birth of our baby. Perhaps if I'd had some assistance, none of this would have happened." Tears fell from her eyes to the paper, blurring the ink that had not yet dried.

Sully came into the room after putting little Katie down for a nap. "Michaela, are you all right?" He quickly took her in his arms. "What's wrong?" Michaela looked into her husband's eyes. "Oh Sully..." was all she could say before dissolving into racking sobs in his arms.

Michaela wiped the tears from her face, and looked deep into Sully's eyes. "I was informed today that the Town's Council decided to have another doctor for Colorado Springs. They already hired a man, umm, his name is Andrew Cook, he's from Boston, he's already on his way here."

"Another doctor? Why?" asked Sully.

"Well, do you remember a couple weeks ago when....

"You mean the man who was addicted to the medicine he wanted?"

"Exactly. Apparently he went around town convincing people that I threw him into the street and wouldn't help him. He claimed that he had severe pain and I REFUSED to help him. Everyone now is thinking that since I had Katie I don't care about my patients anymore, which isn't true. So,now the Town's Council decided to hire another doctor, AND they removed me from the Town's Council too."

"You're off the Town's Council? Who'd they get to replace you?" asked Sully as he sat on the bed in disbelief.

"Can you believe that they got Hank to take my place. Of all people they chose Hank! I can't believe it."

"I can't imagine Hank on the Town's Council. So, what's going to happen now?"

"They won't let me reopen the clinic. I can't even go in and get my supplies. They took my key from me."

"Well, don't you worry. They can refuse to let you do your doctoring in town, but what about here at the homestead? We can go get your supplies and you can open your clinic here. You can use the guest room until I can build you a small building outside to use." said Sully as he walked towards his upset wife.

"Thank you Sully. You are always there for me. The only problem with me doctoring here, is if something happens in town, the new doctor will be there, and I won't get any patients."

"Don't worry Michalea, we'll think of something." assured Sully.

It was early morning as the train arrived in Colorado Springs. Andrew couldn't believe it. He had finally arrived! Out in the West! The frontier was right in front of him! The young doctor was excited, frightened, anxious all at once as he got off the train and gathered up his belongings. He found his way to the telegraph office as he had been instructed, and found Horace Bing. "Excuse me. Mr. Bing?" Andrew said, a bit more shakily than he would have liked. Horace looked at the young man who couldn't have been much older than his own nephew. "Yes? I'm Mr. Bing. Can I help you?"

"I was told you could give me directions to the town clinic." Andrew extended a hand. "I'm Dr. Andrew Cook." "Oh!!!!" Horace shook his hand vigorously. "We've been waitin' for you! Right this way!" Horace came out from behind the counter and excitedly began to lead the new doctor towards the clinic.

"I wonder who that is with Horace, Becky...have you ever seen him before?"

"No, I have no clue who that is...maybe the new doctor? It looks like they're going to the clinic. Why?"

"Just wondering. He's cute!"

"You're right," Becky answered with a giggle.

"Oh, he's probably duller than powder, anyway," Colleen told herself, and she sat down at the cafe.

Andrew looked at the outside of his new clinic with interest. He would be staying at the Colorado Springs Chateau and Health Resort until he got settled somewhere. Perhaps he could live in one of the recovery rooms until he found a place of his own.

Horace provided him with a key, and Andrew proudly unlocked the oak door. He was amazed at what he saw. Everything that he needed was there. Furniture, surgical supplies, charts, medicines. He looked curiously at some glass bottles with hand-made lables, "Wild geranium root, Willow Bark," he read aloud. What kind of a doctor had been here before? he wondered. He turned and saw that Mr. Bing was lingering in the doorway. Andrew was suddenly terrified at what to do. In Boston he knew exactly what he would have done, but, out here in this primitive little town? His luggage was still in the wagon, all except his medical bag, which he always carried with him wherever he went. Andrew made some sort of gesture, but to Horace, it looked involuntary, and he didn't budge. Andrew looked at Horace, studying his face trying to figure out what to do. Trying to keep his nerve, he dug down in his pocket and pulled out a few coins.

"Please take my things to the Colorado Springs Chateau and Health resort," Andrew said in his most dignified Boston air, pressing the coins into Horace's palm.

"And say," he added, "Where can you get something to eat around here?"

"Over at Grace's Cafe, just across the street," Horace replied.

"Shh...Becky! You're embarrassing me!"

Colleen whispered, giggling a little herself. "We'd better get going anyway!" "I think he likes you Colleen, I can tell!" Becky teased even further. "Oh no, it's you he likes!" Colleen retorted, still in a whisper. "Look how he's looking at you!" Now it was Becky's turn to blush...she met Andrew's eyes for a moment, and got the same quick, nervous glance that Colleen got moments before. Both girls were delighted, and were getting up to leave...but stopped when the Reverend rushed in. "Doctor...Cook, is it?!"

Andrew rose and nodded.

"We have an emergency! The telegraph operator...Horace Bing! He just collapsed!" Andrew turned deathly pale...he hadn't even settled in yet, and now he would have to prove himself before he was ready. "Well, um...Let's get him to the clinic! What did you say was wrong with him?" "We thought maybe you could tell us!" The Reverend said urgently. "All right...uh, let's go then!" Andrew said, a bit shakily, and followed the Reverend to where Horace had collapsed.

"Come on, Colleen." Becky said. "Your Ma is expectin' us!" "You go on ahead, I'll be along soon...I want to see how good this new doctor is...I won't be long!" Colleen was gone before Becky had a chance to protest.