First thing the next
morning, Nat and Nan were on the train headed out toward Colorado Springs.
“What do you think
the west is like, Nat?” Nan asked her husband after they were on their way.
“I don’t know. I’ve never been there,” he looked over at
her. “Guess we’ll find out in a few
days, though,” he gave her a loving smile.
“I’m glad that Dr.
Mike got the newspaper editor to allow you to work there with her. I’d hate for you not to have a job while I’m
interning.”
“Yes, I can’t wait to
write for the Colorado Springs Gazette. I’ll be working with Brian,” Nat told
his wife. “We’re in for quite an
adventure,” Nat said as he pulled her into his arms. She leaned her head against his shoulder, and they continued on
their long journey.
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * *
Four days later,
tired from their trip, they finally arrived in Colorado Springs. As the train pulled into the station, Nan
looked out the window. “Nat! Hey, Nat! Look.
There’s Dr. Mike,” she told Nat.
“Yep. Looks like she’s waiting for us.” Nat and
Nan stood up after the train stopped, and headed out the door of the train.
“Nan!” Michaela waved
them over. Nat and Nan walked over to
her, “Sully’s getting your luggage off the train,” she told them.
“Dr. Mike, it’s good
to see you again. It’s been a long
time,” Nan hugged Michaela.
“It’s been seven
years, Nan,” she looked at Nat. “You’ve
got quite a good-looking young husband, don’t you, Nan?” Michaela winked at
Nan.
“Yes, I do,” Nan
winked back. Nat blushed.
“Come here, Nat,” Nat
gave Michaela a hug. “Good to see you
again.”
“Good to see you
too.”
Sully walked over to
the group, “Got your luggage on our wagon,” Sully told them. “Why don’t we take you to the homestead and
get you settled in,” he suggested.
“You probably would
like to rest a little while after that long trip anyway,” Michaela added.
“It would be nice,”
Nan told them.
“Good. Let’s go then.”
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Wow,” Nan exclaimed
as she propped her feet up. “Feels good
to not be bumping around on a train.” Nan smiled as Nat sat down and gave her
feet a good rubdown. “That feels good,
honey. Thanks.”
“Nat, I let Dorothy
know you’re here. I’ll take you to meet
her in the morning,” Michaela told him.
“OK.”
“Katie, are you
feeling OK?” Michaela asked her 11-year-old daughter, who was sitting at the
table. Katie had started coughing.
“My throat hurts,
Ma,” Katie told her mother.
Michaela walked over
to her daughter and put her hand on her Katie’s forehead. “You’re warm. Sully, could you get my medical bag? It’s over by the door.”
Sully got up and went
over to retrieve the medical bag. “Here
you go,” he handed the bag to his wife.
“Thanks.” After a
thorough examination, Michaela discovered that Katie had come down with a
catarrh.
“Katie, you best go
up to bed. I’ll be up with some tea to
bring your fever down,” Michaela told her.
“Yes, Ma,” Katie said
and quickly obeyed. Michaela headed to the kitchen.
They all heard a
knock on the front door. “I’ll get it,”
Sully told everyone.
Sully opened the
door. “Colleen, Andrew, hi,” Sully said.
“Hi, Pa,” Colleen
greeted her father.
“Hi, Sully,” Andrew
said to his father-in-law. Andrew was
holding his three-year-old son, Charles Cook, in his arms. Holding Colleen’s hand was Charlie’s
six-year-old sister, Charlotte Cook.
Colleen was seven months along with their third child.
“Hi, Colleen,
Andrew,” Michaela came from the kitchen.
“Grandma!” An excited
Charlotte ran into her grandmother’s arms.
“Hi, Colleen,”
seven-year-old Amanda went over to help her big sister inside.
“Hi, Mandy. How’s my little sister doing?”
“Just fine, but
Katie’s sick,” Mandy told Colleen.
“Sick?” Andrew asked.
“Just a catarrh,”
Michaela told them. “She’s up in
bed. I’m on my way up to give her some
tea,” She headed upstairs with a cup of tea in her hand.
“What are you doing
here?” Sully asked them as they walked into the living room.
“To see Nan and Nat,”
Colleen told him.
“Colleen,” Nan went
over to hug her friend. “How much
longer?” Nan asked Colleen as she looked down at her oversized belly.
“Two long months,”
Colleen answered with a smile.
“Oh, good. I’ll be here when the baby comes. I’ll be interning for three months.”
“Nan, you’re the talk
of the town,” Andrew told her. “It’s
all over town that there’s a new woman doctor here.”
“Really? Is that good
or bad?”
“Good, I think,”
Andrew smiled at her. “Hey, Nat. Welcome to Colorado Springs.”
“Hi, glad to be
here,” Nat smiled at them.
“I know Brian was
looking forward to seeing you, but he had to go to Denver for a few days.”
“That’s what Sully
was saying. I can’t wait to see him
again. Apparently we’re going to be
working together.”
“Yeah, Brian writes
for the Gazette too.” Colleen said.
Michaela walked back
down the stairs. “Supper should be
ready soon. Why don’t you all join us.”
“We’d love to, Ma.”
Colleen told her mother. “As long as
you have enough food.”
“Sure we do. Stay.”
“Alright then.”
