It was three o'clock in the morning as Andrew wearily bathed the sweat from Colleen's fevered brow. She'd been in a delirium for about forty-eight hours now. Andrew wasn't far off from hallucinations himself. It had been five days since Colleen had collapsed outside the clinic, therefore making it five days since Andrew had gotten any sleep. He'd taken a few short naps, but he always found himself listening for the inhaling and exhaling of Colleen's lungs, as if afraid that if they hesitated for a second, he'd lose her. Both Matthew and Sully had tried to relieve him of his patient and make him go into at least the next recovery room to have a decent sleep. But Andrew refused to obey. He could not bring himself to leave her. She was his love, his life, his whole being. Without her, he might as well die too. He was also worried about the baby. Colleen's illness was dangerous for it. He wanted to do all he could to help keep both Colleen and the baby safe.
As Andrew pressed the cool cloth against Colleen's forehead for about the hundredth time, she began to stir slightly. Then she began to toss her head back and forth against the pillow.
"Colleen." Andrew whispered gently. "Its okay. I'm here. Everything is going to be alright."
"Andrew." She responded, turning to focus on him. Her beautiful brown eyes were wide and feverishly bright.
"Its okay, sweetheart. I'm here." He took her small hand in his and stroked back her damp hair from her hot forehead.
"Oh Andrew, it hurts so." She moaned, her face twisting in pain.
Andrew looked at her in alarm. "What hurts?" he asked.
"My stomach. Oh, it hurts so much. Andrew, make it stop. Please. Make my stomach stop hurting." Colleen pleaded desperately, clutching her teeth against the pain.
Andrew pulled back the covers and examined her stomach. Colleen whimpered in pain, eventually falling into a torturous sleep. Andrew finally sank back into his chair and put his head in his hands, exhaustion and worry flooding over him.
Dawn was just approaching when Andrew opened his eyes. The light from the lantern was casting dim shadows across Colleen's flushed face. She seemed to be having a bad dream, for she was tossing and thrashing back and forth.
"Colleen." Andrew called, gently shaking her shoulder. She moaned in reply, but her eyes didn't open. He tried again. "Colleen." This time her eyes popped open in alarm.
"Andrew!" She exclaimed wildly.
Andrew sat beside her on the bed. "I'm here, sweetheart. I'm right here."
"Oh, Andrew, the pain. Please, make the pain go away."
"What pain? Where?" Andrew asked wildly.
"My stomach. Oh, ah...." she moaned deeply and grasped her rounded belly. When she could speak, she raised her eyes to Andrew and cried, "I think its the baby!"
"The baby! What do you mean its the baby?" Andrew exclaimed.
"I think its coming." Colleen replied through clenched teeth.
"Its way too early. Its only six months along." Andrew cried, then pulled back the covers to examine his wife more closely. His heart sank to the pit of his stomach when he realized Colleen was right.
Oh, no! Please no! his whole being moaned. Please, not yet. Its not ready.
Andrew knew he had to prepare for the worst. He must be prepared for the thought that their baby may not live, or worse yet, may already be dead.
It was mid-morning when Andrew finally welcomed his little daughter into the world. She had arrived small and cute, but the poor thing was stillborn. The sunshine was flooding into the windows of the recovery room, landing softly on Colleen's sleeping form. Andrew had given her something to make her sleep. He didn't know if she was fully aware yet of what had just happened, she had been pretty exhausted by the time the little one arrived.
He leaned forward and checked her pulse and her heart, both sounded strong. Kissing her lightly on the forehead, he then turned his attention back to the small little bundle that lay peacefully on the cot behind him. He had wrapped their little girl in a small towel and laid her on the makeshift bed while he attended to Colleen. Now, he picked her up and sat down in the chair beside his wife's bed. Carefully he unwrapped the towel from the wee form.
She was so small and fragile looking, but she was all there. She had ten fingers and ten toes, two eyes, two ears, a nose and a wee mouth. Andrew's heart began to pain at the thought that his little girl would never open her eyes and look at him. That she would never hear them tell her they loved her. That she would never laugh and play or smile at them. The grief that he had been fighting off all morning finally flooded him. Clutching the small bit of humanity to him he sank down on his knees beside Colleen's bed and began to weep heartbroken tears.
"I have to check in with Miss Dorothy." Brian informed Matthew as they pulled their horses to a stop before the clinic. "I'll be in to check on Ma and Colleen in a few minutes."
"Alright." Matthew replied as he dismounted his horse. He flung the reigns of the bridle over the hitching rail and tied it securely.
"Matthew!" a voice called out.
Matthew looked up to see Loren, Jake and Hank coming from the direction of the saloon. "Morning." Matthew greeted the three men. "What can I do for you?"
"We were just wondering how Dr. Mike and Colleen were getting along." Loren replied, hooking his fingers in his vest pocket.
"Dr. Mike is feeling quite a bit better. She sat up and ate yesterday. She should be up and around in the next week Andrew figures." Matthew replied.
"How about Colleen?" Jake asked, pushing his hat back on his forehead.
Matthew's face looked a little more haggard, "She's still hanging on. She took it a lot worse then Dr. Mike. Andrew figures its because of her being pregnant and all."
"How's the baby doing?" Hank asked.
"Hard to tell. Andrew's been trying to keep a check on it, but its hard to tell. Some days he finds a heart beat, then the next there won't seem to be one, then a few hours later he'll find one again. Guess we'll just have to wait it out." Matthew replied.
"How's Andrew doing?" Jake asked.
"He's holding up. He's hardly left her side since she took sick. I think he's afraid to let her out of his sight after the scare he got before." Matthew commented
"Well if there's anything we can do to help, please let us know." Jake insisted.
"Thanks. I will." Matthew nodded before he turned and entered the clinic.
"Morning, Miss Dorothy." Brian greeted as he entered the Gazette. "How are you doing this morning."
"Morning, Brian." Miss Dorothy smiled in return. "I'm doing just great. How's your Ma and Colleen doing?"
"I'm not sure yet." Brian told her. "I haven't been by the clinic yet. I just left Matthew there and came over here to see if you need a hand with anything this morning."
"That's very thoughtful of you Brian. But there isn't anything I can think of this morning. You might as well just head over to the clinic and check on your Ma and sister." Dorothy told him.
Brian nodded, somewhat relieved. He hadn't wanted to abandon Dorothy if she needed him, but he was rather anxious to see how his family was doing.
"Thank you, Miss Dorothy." Brian stated, opening the Gazette's front door. "If you do find something for me to do, just let me know."
"I will. Thank you Brian." And with that Brian turned and left the building.
Matthew first stopped and poked his head into Dr. Mike's room. Sully was sitting on the edge of her bed, talking with her as she ate her breakfast. "Morning, Dr. Mike. Sully." Matthew greeted as he entered the room.
"Morning Matthew." Sully returned the greeting.
"How are you feeling this morning, Dr. Mike?" the young man inquired as he walked closer to his mother's bed.
"Much better, thank you." Michaela smiled. "I think I may even try getting up and moving around. I'm getting so sick of these four walls. I think I'm going to have to redecorate this room. I don't know if I could stand coming in here again otherwise."
Sully and Matthew chuckled. "Well, if you're a good girl and eat all your breakfast, then maybe Dr. Cook will let you get up and around." Sully teased.
Michaela then made a big show of eating her breakfast.
Matthew watched her for a few moments then said, "I'm going to go check on Colleen and Andrew."
"Let us know how they're doing." Dr. Mike requested between mouthfuls of food. Matthew nodded then opened the door and left.
He was in complete shock. His brain refused to actually accept what had happened. There was no way this could be true. His delusional mind argued. There is some kind of mistake. Everything is just fine. This is just some horrible dream, one that I'm going to wake up from and find everything okay. She's not dead. She's not. SHE'S NOT!!!
Andrew's exhausted and borderline delirious mind would not accept the truth that his little daughter was actually dead. He sat on the floor beside Colleen's bed, his little precious bundle pressed tightly against his chest, his knees bent up in front of his arms, as if trying to provide an extra barrier against the reality of what happened. He was rocking his body back and forth, singing softly to the little baby he and Colleen had wanted so badly.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word. Papa's going to buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird won't sing, Papa's going to buy you a diamond ring..." Andrew sang softly, his voice breaking with his grief and tears flowing down his face.
Matthew opened the door to Colleen's room, but stood frozen in the doorway as his gaze fell on Andrew, sitting on the floor, his knees up and head bent down, gently rocking back and forth and mumbling to himself. Surprise and alarm flooded over the young man as he tried to figure out why Andrew was sitting like that. Straining to understand what Andrew was saying, his eyes widened when he made out the words.
"...if that looking glass gets broke, Papa's gonna buy you a Billy goat. And if that Billy goat won't pull, Papa's going to buy you a cart and bull. And if that cart and bull turn over, Papa's going to buy you a dog named Rover. And if that dog named ......"
"Andrew?" Matthew finally interrupted.
Andrew didn't respond, he just kept on singing. So Matthew tried again. Still no reply. Finally the young man strode to his brother-in-law and grabbed him by the shoulders.
"Andrew!" He cried again. This time Andrew lifted his red eyes and tear stained face to Matthew. Fear gripped Matthew's heart. What had happened.
"Andrew!" He exclaimed, this time in great alarm. "What's wrong? Is it Colleen?"
Andrew, so caught up in his own grief, barely acknowledge the other man. He let his gaze drop back to the bundle in his arms. Matthew grabbed Andrew by the shoulders again and shook him slightly.
"Andrew!" He tried again. Andrew again looked at his brother-in-law with red, sorrow filled eyes. "What's happened?"
Andrew opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. "Is it Colleen?" Matthew pressed, his eyes wide in fear.
Andrew shook his head. He swallowed hard, then, in a shaky, emotion filled voice, replied, "Its the baby."
"The baby?" Matthew asked, his eyes widening even more.
Andrew nodded again. "Colleen lost the baby." He finally managed to explain before sobs overtook him again. Matthew, tears forming in his own eyes, reached out and hugged his distraught brother to him. He didn't know what to say, so he remained silent.
After Andrew's sobs lessened, Matthew pushed the young doctor back and asked. "When did it happen?"
Andrew sniffed then managed to reply, "About an hour ago. She went into labor and our little girl was born - stillborn." The young doctor gently unwrapped the towel he was still clutching, revealing his tiny daughter. Matthew's eyes opened wide at the sight of his niece.
"Oh, my...!" He couldn't get any further. He reached out a finger and gently touched the little child. He noticed how perfectly formed it was, even though it was only six months along. The same types of thoughts that had gone through Andrew's mind earlier, now flooded through Matthew's. The sadness and grief suddenly hit the young man, and his own eyes filled with tears.
"Matthew? Andrew?" a voice exclaimed from behind. Matthew turned to find Brian standing in the bedroom doorway. "What's wrong." Alarm was showing in every feature of his little face.
Matthew brushed a rough hand over his face, trying to wipe away all traces of tears. "Ah, Brian." his voice was husky with emotion. "Come here."
Brian obeyed, but his body moved very stiffly. Matthew reached up a hand and pulled Brian down beside him. Gently the young man coaxed Andrew to show Brian his little bundle. Brian's eyes opened wide at the sight of the little bit of humanity.
"T-The b-baby?" Brian stammered in alarm.
Matthew nodded and affirmed. "The baby."
About an hour later Matthew went across the hallway to where Michaela and Sully were sitting and talking. After Brian had arrived, the two brothers had left Andrew with the baby and gone to make the necessary arrangements for a funeral. They had asked Loren for a small packing crate to use as a coffin, for nothing that Jake would have would be small enough for their little one.
Loren had looked at them rather strangely. "A packing crate. For a coffin."
"Yeah, nothing too big. Something about this size." Matthew had demonstrated the size with his hands.
Loren's eyebrows had raised. "I don't know if I have something that small. What's it for?" Then he looked at Brian. "Did that squirrel of yours die? Why don't you just stick him in the ground like any other animal. Why the special burial?"
"Its not for my squirrel." Brian cried in grief and frustration. "I only wish it was!"
Loren looked at the young boy, who now had tears flowing down his cheeks. Matthew put his arm around his younger brother's shoulders and pulled him against him. He buried his face in Brian's hair for a moment, his own emotions getting the better of him. When he finally felt composed enough, he looked at the older man and explained.
"Its for Andrew and Colleen's baby. It was just born - stillborn. We're going to need a small box for a coffin."
Loren eyes softened. "I'm so sorry." He then searched harder behind the counter for a box, then glanced around the store. "Wait a minute." he admonished, then walked to one of the shelves and pulled down a box of cigars. When he got back to the counter where the young Cooper men stood, he dumped the cigars on the counter and handed Matthew the box.
Matthew reached into his pocket to pay for the box and the cigars, though he had no intention of taking them. But Loren waved the money away. "I said I'd help in anyway I could." he reminded them.
"Thank you." Matthew nodded and turned to leave.
Their next stop had been Miss Grace's. Matthew knew that she was quick with a needle. "Would you mind sewing up a tiny little covering?" Matthew asked the woman after he had explained the reason for the request. Grace's eyes filled with tears and her gaze fell on her own little girl who sat contentedly playing on a blanket close by. She nodded, her voice too choked to speak. "Could you have it ready by tomorrow?" She nodded again. "Thank you." Matthew reached out and squeezed the woman's hand in appreciation.
Next the two Cooper men had found the Reverend. He was sitting at the cafe enjoying a cup of coffee with Jake and Theresa Sliker. "Morning Reverend, Jake, Miss Theresa." Matthew greeted.
"Morning Matthew." the Reverend acknowledged. "Would you care to join us?"
"Thank you, but I'm afraid we can't. We were just wondering if we could get you to speak a few words at a funeral tomorrow." Matthew asked, his voice still choked.
"Oh, my God, Matthew!" Jake exclaimed, his eyes wide in fear. "Don't tell me..."
"No, Jake." Matthew interrupted. "It's not Colleen. She's still okay."
Jake's eyes widened even more. "Not Dr. Mike."
"Not Dr. Mike either." the young man assured them.
"Then who?" The Reverend asked.
"Andrew and Colleen's baby." Matthew informed them. "It was just born this morning - It was stillborn."
"Oh, my God." Jake mumbled, hanging his head in sadness. His wife began weeping beside him. Clearing his throat Jake asked. "Is there anything I- we- can do?"
"Would you mind lining this?" Matthew handed Jake the little box that they had gotten from Loren. Jake took the small box from Matthew, his eyes wide at how tiny it was. Clearing his throat again he agreed.
"How's Andrew and Colleen taking it?" the Reverend asked.
"Colleen's still unconscious, Andrew doesn't know if she fully understands yet what happened." Matthew replied. "Andrew, on the other hand, is a complete wreck. Brian and I left him sitting on the floor, rocking his little girl and singing to her."
"Do you think his mind has snapped?" Jake asked.
"I think that he is so tired and overcome with grief that he is going temporarily insane. I think if we can get him to sleep for a while, he'll become rational again. I think this was just too much for him to deal with all at once. He's hardly slept or ate in almost a week."
"Let us know if there's anything else we can do." Jake told him.
"We will." Matthew assured him.
As the two brothers walked back towards the clinic, Brian declared. "I'm going to go to the Gazette and tell Miss Dorothy about what's happened. Maybe I'll even jot down a small article for the obituaries.
"Okay." Matthew nodded. "I'm going to head up and see how things are going."
The two brothers split and headed their separate ways. When he reached the clinic, Matthew poked his head into Colleen's room, to find Andrew very much like he had left him before. So he went across the hall to Michaela's room, trying to figure out how to break the news to them.
"So, what do you think, Grandma?" Sully was asking as Matthew entered the room.
"I think it'll be nice to have a little grandchild around that we can spoil." Michaela smiled happily. "I just wish that they had waited until Colleen had finished medical school. She only has one year left."
Sully smiled slyly. "Some things you just can't prevent."
"I suppose." Michaela smiled back. "Its just that she'll find it hard for the last few months of school, what with a new baby and all."
"They'll manage." Sully replied confidently. "They're both so happy."
"That's true." Dr. Mike agreed. "And I can't wait until they move back here. I'm so glad that I kept the Chateau clinic open to Andrew and Colleen. I wasn't sure they'd be interested, but I think they'd both rather live here in Colorado Springs, then in Philadelphia."
"All their family is here, so its natural to want to live close to home." Sully said. "And it'll be nice to be able to see our grandchild grow up. You know, its funny how things change. Years ago, I never pictured being a father, let along a grandfather. And you know, I'm loving the thought of it. I've been thinking of making them a cradle for the little youngster. Do you think they'd like that?"
"Actually," Matthew broke in before Michaela could answer. Both looked at him in surprise, not having noticed him standing in the doorway until he spoke. After quickly observing his red eyes and tear stained face, Sully rose from the side of Michaela's bed in alarm.
"What is it Matthew?" He demanded. "Is it Colleen?"
Matthew shook his head then took a deep breath. "No, Colleen's still holding okay."
"Then what is it?" He pressed anxiously.
Matthew took an deep breath and after a few moments, composed himself enough to reply calmly, though with a distinct tremor in his voice, "Colleen lost the baby."
Michaela and Sully looked at each other in horror. After the initial shock wore off, Sully managed to ask, though his voice was strained. "How's Colleen taking it?"
Matthew shook his head sorrowfully. "Andrew's not sure if she's aware of it yet. She's still unconscious. But Andrew's taking it pretty hard. We all know how much they were looking forward to having that baby."
Suddenly Michaela threw back the covers. "I'm going to her."
"Are you sure your well enough to be out of bed?" Sully protested, knowing it was pointless.
"I am now. I need to see my daughter."
The distraught woman insisted. Sully mutely gave in and helped her on with her housecoat. The three of them went across the hall to Colleen's room. Andrew was still sitting on the floor of the bedroom, rocking his precious little girl and singing to her. Michaela, Sully and Matthew all exchanged worried glances.
Brian opened the door to the Gazette and found Miss Dorothy trying to work the press, which was sticking again.
"Miss Dorothy," Brian exclaimed, then scolded mildly. "You're suppose to get me to do that for you."
"I didn't want to disturb you. You have enough on your mind at the moment." Miss Dorothy replied, wiping her sticky hands on her apron. "So how is your Ma and Colleen today?"
"Ma and Colleen are fine. Unfortunately, the baby isn't." Brian replied, working at the sticking press.
"What do you mean?" Dorothy exclaimed in fear.
"Colleen lost the baby." Brian replied, managing to free the uncooperative press.
"Oh, Brian. I am so sorry. How's Colleen taking it?" the older woman asked.
"Colleen still sleeping. Andrew doesn't know if she's completely aware of what's happened. Andrew is taking it extremely hard. I've never seen him so crazy. He's sitting on the floor by Colleen's bed, rocking the baby back and forth and singing to her." Brian told her.
Dorothy's face looked fearful. "That doesn't sound like Andrew."
"Matthew figures its because he's hardly slept or ate in the last few days and that he's mind just couldn't take another traumatic experience. We hope that if we can get him to rest, then he'll be better."
"I hope you're right, Brian." Dorothy expressed. "I really hope you're right."
Matthew sighed wearily as he sat down in the chair behind Dr. Mike's desk in the main room of the clinic. Michaela and Sully were upstairs with Andrew and Colleen, mourning the loss of the baby. Matthew had had enough emotional displays for one morning. He felt physically and emotionally drained. When the three of them had gone back into Colleen's room, Andrew was still on the floor. But when they started walking towards him he suddenly bounded up and looked accusingly at them.
"I know what you're here for." He cried. "You've come to take my little girl away from me." The three of them had just looked at one another in sheer astonishment.
"Andrew," Sully had said, "we're just here because we want to see our beautiful granddaughter."
Andrew, who had back himself into a corner of the room, eyed the three of them suspiciously.
Dr. Mike stepped forward carefully. "Please, Andrew. Can I see my granddaughter?"
Andrew eyed the three of them for a moment, then slowly edged towards them. "Okay, you can look. But you have to promise you won't take her."
"I promise." Dr. Mike said, slowly creeping towards her wild son-in-law.
"Oh, Andrew. She's adorable."
Andrew smiled with pleasure. "Isn't she though? I think she's got Colleen's eyes. Look at how dark and bright they are." Dr. Mike looked at the closed eyes of her tiny granddaughter. Fear gripped her as she realized Andrew was slipping into a state of sheer madness. She glanced over at Matthew and Sully, who's faces also registered fear.
"Andrew, I think that you need to take a nap." Michaela commented. "This has been an extremely exciting day for you. Why don't you give me the baby and you lay down on the bed and sleep for a while."
Andrew looked at her and his expression changed dramatically. "I knew you just wanted to take my baby away from me." Andrew began backing away from Michaela, he edged his way around Colleen's bed to the other side. "You don't think that Colleen and I can raise her properly. Well, let me tell you something Dr. Michaela Quinn, Colleen and I are going to do just fine. And I am not going to let you meddle in our lives and ruin it. I know you say you want what's best for Colleen, but I think you just want things to go your own way. And you'll do anything to see that it does. You don't think that we can handle a baby right now, so you're going to take it away from us."
"Andrew!" Sully exclaimed, trying to get the young man's attention, but Andrew was completely oblivious to anyone else at the moment.
"Andrew, that is not true." Michaela tried to assure him. "I want to help you. You should be getting your rest so that you can help to take care of Colleen and the baby better."
"Oh, I can take care of the baby and Colleen just fine." Andrew assured her, his eyes were now wide and wild looking as he continued to back away from her.
"Andrew!" Matthew exclaimed, coming up beside Michaela.
"You stay out of this." Andrew exclaimed. "I don't want you involved in this Matthew. I don't want to have to turn on you too. You're suppose to be my friend."
"We are all your friends and your family." Matthew tried to assure the confused young man. He took a careful step towards Andrew, never taking his eyes off the doctor.
"Stay away from us." Andrew cautioned, stepping backwards into the balcony doors. As Matthew tried to approach, his eyes darted about like a trapped animals seeking escape. Slowly he reached behind his back and opened the door.
"Andrew, calm down. We just want to help you." Dr. Mike cried, she felt her whole body turning cold with fear as she watched Andrew step out onto the balcony.
"I want you all to stay away from us!" Andrew cried frantically. "The three of us are doing just fine. Isn't that right, Colleen." He looked over to his sleeping wife. "That's right, you tell them." He looked over at Colleen, nodding profusely, as if she was making some dramatically important speech. After a few moments he turned back to Michaela and Matthew and said, a smug smile on his face. "See, what did I tell you."
Just then, Jake came into the room, he held in his hand the small box that Matthew had left with him. "I have the coffin ready..." his voice faded as his eyes fell upon Andrew. To Jake, the transformation from the Andrew he knew was outstanding. The doctor's normally immaculately pressed clothes were wrinkled and untucked. His hair looked like it hadn't been brushed in months, and his normally placid and smiling face was now full of hatred and confusion. His eyes were wide and wild looking. To Jake he looked like a wild animal about to strike.
"Coffin!" Andrew exploded. "A coffin!" He turned his attention to Michaela. "So, that's what you were going to do with our daughter? Bury her alive! How could you! And you try to pass yourself off as a loving parent!"
"Andrew!" Michaela tried to reason with the delirious and grief stricken young man. "Andrew, your daughter, my granddaughter, is dead. You knew that the moment she was born. Andrew, look at her. Her eyes are closed. She's not breathing. Her tiny little heart is not beating. She's dead." Andrew had looked at his little girl as Michaela was speaking. Even though his heart didn't want to admit it, a small part of his mind managed to emerge from the thick grief that enveloped him to agree with what Michaela was saying.
"I know." Andrew finally admitted. Fierce sobs overtook him. "I know." But before Michaela and Matthew could advance towards him, the rest of Andrew's brain rebelled against them. "No, don't come any closer." He backed up a bit more. "Stay away from us!"
"Andrew, be careful!" Sully suddenly advanced. He'd been watching the threesome, afraid to interfere, but now he could tell Andrew wasn't watching were he was going.
"You stay out of this Sully. Don't try to play the hero and make everything better." Andrew cried in anger.
Sully ignored the young doctor and slowly advanced towards him. Andrew's eyes darted around the room frantically as he continued to step back.
"Andrew! Look out!" the three family members shouted in unison, but it was too late. Andrew backed into a chair that was sitting on the balcony, tripped and stumbled before falling against the balcony rail. The force of his fall was so great and the balcony rail so old that it gave way behind the young doctor, allowing him to fall heavily to the street below.
Brian had decided to stop over at Hank's saloon to let Ethan know how things were going. The Cooper brothers had agreed to allow him to stay in town as long as he made himself scarce and was content enough with just allowing them to report any information to him and not have him come skulking about the clinic. Ethan had agreed, knowing it was the only way he was going to get information about his daughter and grandbaby.
"That's all I have to report for now." Brian was saying as he and Ethan stepped out of the saloon. "I'll let you know if anything else develops."
Ethan nodded. "I appreciate it, Brian. Thank you." he clasped his young son's shoulder in gratitude.
Brian lifted his hands, "Look, just because I agreed to bring you information, doesn't mean I like you. If it wasn't for the fact that Colleen was sick, there's no way we would have let you stick around. So don't go getting all sentimental with me."
Ethan withdrew his hand. "Sorry."
Brian opened his mouth to say something more, but before he could he heard loud voice coming from the clinic. "I want you all to get away from us!" Andrew was screaming hysterically.
Brian couldn't believe his ears. This was not the normal voice of his brother-in-law. Instead it sounded like a deranged madman. The young man stood as if rooted to the veranda beneath his feet.
There was more mumbling of voices as Andrew steadily walked backwards. Suddenly Brian heard a loud cry from Sully, Dr. Mike and Matthew, "Andrew! Look out!" Then with that was a series of bangs and thumps and then a sickening crash as the balcony railing gave way beneath the weight of Andrew's fall.
"Andrew!" Several voices were heard screaming at the same time.
"I've got to get down there!" Michaela cried as she rushed towards the balcony stairs. Meanwhile, Brian had already reached his brother-in-laws side. The young doctor was unconscious, but he was still breathing and his heart was still beating.
"He's still alive, Ma." Brian told his doctor mother as she reached their side.
"Thank heavens!" Michaela sighed in relief. She carefully examined her colleague. "He has 2 broken ribs." She announced as she carefully went on the examine his legs. "And his left leg is broken. Otherwise he seems okay. Help me get him into the clinic." Matthew and Sully carefully lifted the young man up and carried him into the clinic.
Once he was on the examination table, Dr. Mike took the towel wrapped bundle and handed it to Jake. "Could you please take this and get it ready for the funeral."
"Yes, Dr. Mike." Jake nodded as he turned and left the clinic.
"What can we do, Dr. Mike?" Matthew asked.
"I'm going to have to wrap his ribs to make sure that they heal properly, and then set his leg. Could you get me some bandages from the cabinet." Matthew went to do as bidden. "Sully. Could you go upstairs and check on Colleen. I don't know if the commotion woke her up or not. She may be frantically wondering what's going on." Sully nodded and climbed the stairs to his daughter's room.
"What can I do, Ma?" Brian asked.
"Go get the third recovery room ready. Looks like were going to have another invalid for a while." Michaela replied, taking the bandages from Matthew.
"Yes, Ma." Brian went upstairs to follow her instructions.
"Is he going to be alright, Dr. Mike?" Matthew asked, deep concern written over his handsome face.
Dr. Mike nodded. "We'll bandage him up and then I'll give him something for the pain and something to make him sleep. Hopefully he'll be able to sleep his delirium off."
After they had finished bandaging Andrew's wounds Matthew carried his unconscious brother-in-law upstairs the last available recovery room. Then he had gone back downstairs and sat at Michaela's desk.
Matthew sighed again , leaned his elbows on the top of the desk and put his head in his hands. His thoughts went back in time to his own tragic losses. First his birth mother from a rattlesnake bite, than his fiancee, Ingrid, from Pup's rabid bite. And now, his unknown niece or nephew due to Colleen having caught typhoid. Life just wasn't fair. He thought bitterly.
Suddenly the clinic door flew open and in barged Preston Lodge, his face anxious and his eyes wild and searching. "Where's Andrew?" He demanded, after he focused on Matthew.
"Upstairs." Matthew replied, a confused look on his face.
Preston turned to head for the stairs, but Matthew stopped him. "What's this all about?" the young man demanded.
"This is none of your business. I need Andrew." Preston snapped as he tried to head upstairs.
"Andrew is not available at the moment." Matthew stated firmly.
"This is an emergency." Preston declared indignantly.
"What is?" Matthew pressed.
"Mrs. Lodge is having the baby." Preston replied.
"That is not an emergency." Matthew countered.
"What would you call it?" the older man retorted angrily.
"Nature."
Preston looked at him for a moment than turned to get Andrew, but Matthew retrained him. "You don't need Andrew for that. Go get Miss Dorothy or Miss Grace. They can help Mrs. Lodge deliver the baby."
"Why would I get them when there's a licensed doctor in this clinic." Preston stated pointedly.
Matthew looked at him squarely and replied, "Because, at this moment Andrew is under heavy sedation." At Preston's wide-eyed look he explained, "Colleen just lost their baby, and the grief of that, along with five nights with hardly a wink of sleep pushed Andrew too far. He couldn't take it, he went nuts. In his delusional state he tripped over a chair on the balcony and fell to the ground. Dr. Mike has bandaged him up and given him something to sleep it off. So, I don't care if the whole town was dying, Andrew is not going to be disturbed."
Preston looked about to retort, but a piteous cry from upstairs stopped him. Preston and Matthew looked at each other for a split second before Matthew shoved the older man aside and scrambled up the stairs to the room where the cry came from. When he reached Colleen's room he barely noticed Preston abruptly stop behind him. On the bed in the room, a very weak and sickly Colleen was sobbing uncontrollably in Michaela's arms. The doctor's eyes were also sending tears down her own cheeks. Matthew stood rooted to the spot, unable to comfort or retreat. Finally a hand on his shoulder pulled him away from the doorway, followed by the other hand which closed the door behind them.
Matthew and Preston turned to face Sully, who hastily and shakily explained, "She just told her about the baby."
Matthew's own eyes clouded over again, then Preston suddenly exclaimed, "Baby! Mrs. Lodge!" Then he turned on his heels and ran down the stairs.
Michaela sat and held her weeping daughter, her own eyes burning with sorrow. She hated to be the one to break the news to Colleen, but under the circumstances she couldn't avoid being the one. Gently she stroked the broken hearted girl's auburn tresses. "Everything will be alright." She said softly, trying to console the distraught girl. Colleen weakly pushed herself away from her mother's loving arms.
"I want to see her." the weeping girl announced.
"Colleen, I don't think that's a good..." Michaela tried to argue, but Colleen interrupted her.
"Ma, please. I want to see my daughter. I need to see her." the young woman looked at her mother with pleading eyes. "Please, Ma. Please."
Michaela hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
Gently she eased herself from the side of the bed and headed for the bedroom door. Out in the hallway she found Matthew and Sully, discussing events of the day.
"Sully." Michaela addressed, her voice low and tired. "Would you go over to Jake's and get the baby? Colleen wants to see her." Sully nodded his head and reached out to touch her arm.
"How's she doing?" he asked with deep concern.
"She's holding up. But its been a terrible blow for her. You know how much she was looking forward to the baby coming."
"Will she be alright, Dr. Mike?" Matthew asked, worry settling on his handsome face.
"Physically she will be fine. Mentally, I think she will cope alright as well. Its the emotional strain that I worry about." the doctor confessed to her son. "She's going to need all the love and support that we can give her. Andrew too. It's his baby too and I know he wanted just as much as Colleen did."
"I'll go get her." Sully said and turned to go retrieve his granddaughter from Jake.
Matthew stepped towards Colleen's door. "Can I see her?"
Michaela nodded, "Of course. Just don't make her talk to much. She's going to need all her strength to get through this."
Matthew nodded. "Thank you, Ma."
"I'm going to check on Andrew. Let me know if Colleen needs me." With that she turned and entered Andrew's room.
About ten o'clock that evening, Preston and Ruth Lodge welcomed their new little bundle of joy into the world. The new little boy wasn't very happy to find himself in such foreign surroundings, but soon quieted down for a much need nap.
The next morning, Colleen woke from her tortured sleep to daylight shinning in her window. Outside, rain was pouring down in buckets, causing the towns inhabitants to dash from building to building trying to find some reprieve from the continuous downpour. Inside the clinic, everything was quiet. The young woman strained to hear voices downstairs, but there were none. Where was everybody?
Suddenly Colleen heard the doorknob turn and the door slowly creak open. Turning her head slightly she saw a young woman coming into the room, carrying a tray of food. She recognized the girl from Grace's Cafe, she was one of the waitresses that now worked for the cafe owner.
The waitress smiled when she realized that the girl in the bed was awake. "Morning, Misses." She greeted pleasantly.
Colleen watched as the girl set a couple of dishes of food on the table beside the bed. "What's that?" She finally managed to ask.
"Its your breakfast, Misses." The girl replied. "Dr. Quinn asked me to bring it over for you. I have some here for Dr. Cook as well."
"Where is Ma?" the invalid asked, her voice barely a whisper.
The other girl hesitated for a moment before replying. "She's...she's with the rest of the family. They're at the...the funeral, Misses."
"Funeral?" Colleen looked at the other girl in alarm, then realization swept over her and she suddenly closed her eyes as tears squeezed out from under her long lashes. "Charlotte's funeral?" she managed to ask, opening her big brown eyes to look at the other young woman. The waitress looked at her with a clearly puzzled expression, so she reasked, "My baby daughter's funeral?" The young girl nodded slowly, her own face registering sorrow as she took in Colleen's tear streaked face. The young mother quickly turned her head away as sobs over took her.
After a few moments, the grieving girl sensed that the waitress was still standing beside her bed. Turning to look at her Colleen could tell that she was trying to figure out what to say or do to comfort the heart broken mother. Understanding the girl's discomfort and hesitation, she took a deep breath, trying to steady her quivering voice and then released the girl from the awkward situation by urging, "You should take that in to Andrew."
The young waitress nodded thankfully and turned to go. After she had left, Colleen slowly raised herself from the bed and gently swung her legs over the edge. Her body ached all over and her head began to spin because of the sudden change in position. It had been a few days since she had been upright. Grabbing the side of the table, she pulled her sick body off the bed and then, once she'd steadied her weak legs, she slowly made her was to the door and down the hall.
Across town, a good portion of the town had gathered at the cemetery to hear the funeral sermon of young Charlotte Michaela Cook. There were very few dry eyes as the group looked mournfully at the tiny casket that held the beloved child.
Sully, Michaela, Matthew, Brian and Katie stood in a huddle group, each trying to help console the other by looks and touches. Sully held Michaela in his arms as she sobbed against his shoulder, beside her stood Brian, who had his arm protectively on her shoulder. And on the other side of Sully stood Matthew with little Katie in his arms, her young eyes wide and fearful as she tried to understand what was going on. At one point she turned, tears running down her sweet innocent face, and buried her head in her older brother's shoulder, looking for protection and comfort.
Standing beside them, but a few feet away, was Ethan, head bowed, hat in hand, his eyes focused on the tiny box that held his granddaughter. He couldn't believe that this had happened. He didn't know what to do or say. It was just such a shock. He lifted his head and turned to look at the group standing beside him. He could clearly see the love and comfort that surrounded the little family and he longed to be apart of it, but he had finally realized that he had done too much damage to ever be willingly accepted back into the clan. Matthew, Brian and Colleen were no longer his children. They belonged solely to Michaela and Sully, joined there by love, understanding, caring and support. He had no right to lay claim on them, on any of them. Looking back to little casket, he grasped for the first time that the little infant in that coffin did not belong to him. She was his granddaughter biologically true, but in love, in caring, in the true family sense, she belonged to Sully and Michaela. She was their granddaughter - much loved and much anticipated.
"Farewell, my fair Charlotte." he whispered under his breath. "Sleep well." Then with a final glance towards the family beside him, he donned his hat, turned and strode out of the graveyard.
The rest of the family watched his retreating back in surprise. Then suddenly Sully commented, "I have a feeling we won't see him back here again."
Matthew nodded in agreement, "I was thinking the same thing."
By the time Colleen made it down to the Barber shop, she was worn out completely, but she was spurred on by the fact that she could see the cemetery not too far in the distance. She looked up at the sky of a moment, as if wishing it to stop pouring, before she eased herself off the boardwalk. Her bare feet squished into the cold mud that the heavy rain had made. Quickly her mind flashed back to the first day Andrew had arrived and she had helped him out of the mud. How cute his looked, flat on his back, a look of horror and embarrassment on his face. Colleen hadn't realized it until later, but that was the moment she had fallen in love with the young doctor.
Wading through the mud, the young woman made her way towards the group of townsfolk that were gathered around her infant daughter's grave.
After the Reverend had finished giving the funeral sermon, Jake quickly lowered the small box into the tiny grave and covered it over. Sully retrieved a wooden headstone that he and Matthew had fashioned the night before. Placing it at the head of his granddaughter's grave, tears began to fall from his suntanned face and his eyes quickly glanced across the graveyard to where his own baby girl lay, still and silent, beside her mother.
"It's beautiful, Sully." Michaela whispered after he had finished placing it.
The carefully carved marker was lovingly engraved with the following,
The family stood together for a few moments, waiting for the others to leave, when suddenly the townspeople seemed to stop, as if suddenly rooted to the spot. Brian turned to see what was going on, when he suddenly caught sight of what was the curiosity. "Ma, look!" he exclaimed, shock and horror in his voice and on his face. The entire clan turned to see what was wrong.
"Oh, my God!" Dr. Mike gasped under her breath.
Coming towards them, wet and trembling, dressed only in her nightgown, was Colleen. She stumbled weakly through the cemetery gate towards them, her bare feet almost blue from cold.
"Colleen!" Matthew exclaimed as she suddenly tripped over a dead branch that had fallen in the middle of the path. After shoving Katie at Brian, the young man scooped his sister up into his arms, harshly scolding, "What are you doing out here? Are you crazy? Are you trying to kill yourself?"
Colleen looked past his shoulder to the new mound of earth. "Charlotte." she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. Then she looked at Matthew and repeated, "Charlotte."
Her big brother's heart pained at the pitiful look on his sister's tired face. With a heart- wrenching glance at Dr. Mike and Sully, he turned and carried the heart-broken young mother to her infant daughter's new resting place.
Colleen stared misty eyed at the small mound from her safe place in Matthew's arms. Her mind running over hopes and dreams that had lately been dashed. "Down." Her lips managed to quiver. Matthew was about to object when Colleen turned her beautiful dark eyes to him and pleaded softly, "Please, Matthew."
Gently he lowered her to the muddy ground, still holding her arms for support. Silently the young woman's eyes took in the scene, the mound of dirt, the wet grass, the dripping trees, the sympathetic looks of the townspeople. Eventually her eyes fell on the headstone Sully and Matthew had fashioned. Upon reading the inscription, she fell upon her knees and wept sorrowfully. Matthew quickly shrugged himself out of his coat and draped it across her shoulders as he crouched down behind her. Putting his arms protectively around her he rocked her back and forth until she stopped sobbing.
After she a been quiet for a few moments, her big brother suddenly moved to lift her up again. She looked at him and shook her head. Matthew paused for a moment, while she turned back to the grave, placed a kiss on her fingers, and then touched the headstone.
"I love you, Charlotte Michaela. I'll never forget you." Then she looked at Matthew and allowed him to lift her up into his arms and carry her back to the clinic.
"I got it Ruth!" Preston slammed the door of the Lodge homestead in excitement. Ruth looked up from the baby she was holding in her arms and put her fingers to her lips.
"Look! It just arrived in today's mail!"
"Ssh!" His wife scolded, raising carefully from the rocking chair they had place in front of the fireplace.
"But Ruth..." Preston started to object, lowering his voice only slightly.
"Just a minute." She gently placed the sleeping baby in its cradle and then steered Preston back towards the front door. At his shocked expression she explained. "Lets go out on the porch where we can talk without disturbing the baby."
Once they were out on the porch with the door firmly closed behind them, Ruth turned to her husband and looked at him eagerly. "Now, what did you get? What's all the excitement about?"
Preston, his enthusiasm a little less, explained what he had received. "I got the investors for my new hotel. They sent a letter to me today saying that they think its a good location and that they will help fund the venture."
Ruth clapped her hands and then threw her arms around her husband's neck. "I knew they would! Oh, Preston, I'm so happy for you. Now you can have your own hotel again. Oh, honey, we have to celebrate! Just think, your very own hotel on your very own land! Why don't you just sit right here and I'll go get some coffee and we'll talk all about your plans."
Preston nodded and sat down on the rocking chair. His excitement was almost unbearable. He pulled out the letter and reread it again. Everything was in place, the investors, the funds and the land... suddenly Preston sat up in his chair. According to the letter, the land he had been interested in had already been purchased by someone else. A doctor by the name of Andrew Cook.
The surprised banker rose to his feet and called inside to his wife, "Ruth, there's something I have to do. I'll be back in an hour to have that coffee."
"Where do you have to go, Preston?" His wife asked, surprised at the change of plans.
"I just have to go talk to somebody about that land." He replied, hurrying towards his wagon. "It won't take long. I'll be back soon." And with that he jumped into his wagon and headed back towards town.
Back at the clinic, Dr. Andrew Cook was finally waking up from his deep sleep. He stretched slightly, feeling very stiff and sore, and tried to turn over when a vicious pain stopped him. Brining his hand up, he felt his ribs very gingerly. Lifting the covers to examine them, he was surprised to find a wide white bandage wrapped tightly around his abdomen.
What happened? His brain questioned. His mind ran through the series of events of the day before. He remembered tending to Colleen, who was still very ill with the typhoid. She had complained a couple of times about pains in her abdomen. The baby! Andrew suddenly remembered what had happened. He had been holding his tiny daughter in his arms when Michaela, Sully and Matthew had appeared. Andrew didn't understand why, but all of a sudden the trio seemed very threatening to him. He remembered getting very upset, feeling afraid that they were going to try to take the baby away from him. The last thing he could remember was tripping over something and falling against the verandah rail.
That must have been how I got this. He decided. Carefully, he lifted back the covers to check for other injuries. He found one leg set in a splint, but other than that and his ribs, he seemed in okay condition.
Gently he swung his body off the side of the bed, his broken ribs causing a sharp moan to escape his lips. He delicately maneuvered his injured body to the door, using everything he could reach to support himself.
Just as he opened the door he heard commotion on the stairs. Easing himself into the hallway he watched as Michaela, Sully, Brian and Katie appeared followed by Matthew, his weighed down with an unconscious young woman.
"Lets get those wet clothes off of her and get her back to bed." Dr. Mike directed, opening the door to Colleen's room so Matthew could carry her inside.
It took Andrew a moment to realize that the young woman that Matthew was carrying was his Colleen.
"Michaela!" Andrew cried, limping and hobbling his way towards them, "What's going on? What happened to Colleen?"
"Andrew!" Michaela exclaimed in horror as she realized who was calling her. "You shouldn't be up, get back to bed!"
But the worried husband ignored her. "What happened to Colleen?" He pressed, his voice firm, but frantic.
"She walked out to the cemetery to see the funeral. It was pouring rain and she was dressed in only her nightgown. Halfway back to the clinic she fainted in Matthew's arms." the girl's mother gently explained. The young woman's worried husband dropped his head, as if a huge burden had just been lowered onto his already heavy shoulders. When he finally lifted his head to look at his mother-in-law, there were tears in his eyes.
"Andrew," his concerned colleague began, "I don't have to tell you how much harm such a wet and cold exposure could be for her in her worn down condition." Andrew nodded, his eyes filling up again. "You and I are going to have to pull together on this one, Andrew. We're going to have to do all we can to help her get through this."
"I want to see her." Andrew announced, moving towards the room.
"Andrew," Michaela began to object. "I really think that you should rest. You'll be of more use to her if you allow yourself to heal."
"Michaela, I appreciate the advice, but if you were in my situation and it was Sully in there very sick, possibly dying, would you be content to just let yourself rest and heal?" Andrew asked pointedly, knowing already what her answer would be. Without a word, Dr. Mike helped Andrew ease himself into Colleen's room.
By this time, Matthew, Brian and Sully had Colleen dried off and tucked warmly in her bed with a couple big blankets on top of her.
"Sit here, Andrew." Brian cleared the chair by Colleen's bed and positioned it so the injured doctor could sit down without bumping his broken leg. After he was settled, Andrew turned his attention to his wife, who's face was pale and tired looking. Suddenly fear settled into his young heart as he realized how close he was to losing her as well.
Preston pulled his wagon to a halt in front of the clinic. Jumping from the seat, he quickly tied the reigns to the hitching rail out front.
"Michaela!" he greeted as he entered the clinic door.
"Preston." She nodded in return, surprised to see the man.
"Its nice to see you up and around." the man commented, good manners overcoming his impatience to get to the matter.
"Thank you." Dr. Mike acknowledged, then smiled kindly, "I understand congratulations are in order." At Preston's puzzled expression she explained, "I heard Ruth had a baby boy."
Preston sighed in relief as he nodded. He had been afraid that she had heard about the new hotel he was building. "Yes, a healthy boy."
"What did you name him?" the doctor inquired curiously.
"Preston A. Lodge IV." the father replied proudly. Michaela nodded, not terribly surprised.
"Listen, Michaela. I need to see Andrew right away." Preston finally announced, tiring of beating around the bush.
"Well, I'm sorry, Andrew is not available at the moment." Dr. Mike told him firmly.
"I only need to speak with him for a few minutes. It's very important." the banker pressed even firmer.
The doctor looked at him, a frown on her beautiful face. "I really don't think..."
"Please, Michaela. Just for a couple of minutes."
After hesitating for a few moments, the doctor finally sighed and nodded. "He's in the recovery room with Colleen. First door on your right."
"Thank you, Michaela." Preston smiled delightedly.
"You have no more than five minutes, then I'm going to make you leave." Dr. Quinn warned him firmly. "Andrew needs his rest." The man nodded and climbed the stairs to the recovery rooms.
Andrew looked up in surprise when he saw Preston open the door of Colleen's room. "What are you doing here, Preston?" He inquired.
"Andrew, I have a business proposition I want to discuss with you." the man exclaimed, quietly closing the door behind him. He softly walked across the room to Andrew and sat down on the cot behind him. The young doctor adjusted himself in his seat so he could face the other man. Preston took a good look at Andrew and exclaimed, "Goodness sakes, what did you do to yourself? You look horrible."
The young man smiled slightly to himself, but only asked, "What is your proposition?"
Preston looked seriously into the doctor's face and explained, "I have managed to secure some investors for my new hotel that I am going to build."
Andrew, with a look of surprise, commented, "You're going to build another hotel in Colorado Springs? Don't you think that two are enough? This isn't a big town, Preston."
"There is only one hotel in town, that sleaze hole across the street is not a hotel, no matter how classy Hank tries to make it." Preston declared, a bit upset that Andrew would dare compare the Spring Chateau and Health Resort to the Gold Nugget. "Besides, the hotel that I'm planning on building is in a more rustic setting. It overlooks the Colorado Rockies."
"So you want to capitalize on the National Park that Sully's trying to establish." Andrew remarked.
"Why not? Every hotel needs an attraction of some sort. The Spring Chateau has the hot springs, the new Rockies Retreat and Spa will have the Colorado Rockies as its attraction." Preston informed him.
"And where do you plan on placing this hotel?" Andrew asked, suddenly suspicious.
"The location I was hoping to purchase had a beautiful view of the Colorado Rockies and the gorgeous valley below. It even has a waterfall that empties into a lake just off the corner of the property. This spot offers everything that a hotel guest could want - scenery, nature, plus all the modern amenities that money can buy. And what I want from you..."
"...What you want from me, is my land." Andrew interrupted, looking the business man directly in the eye. "Well, I'm sorry, Preston, but forget it. That land is not for sale."
"I'll pay you twice what you paid for it." the banker offered, meeting Andrew's direct look.
Andrew's mouth dropped in shock. Preston nodded his head to confirm what he promised. When the shock wore off the young doctor managed to shake his head. "No, Preston. Its not for sale. Colleen and I picked that land out together. We have plans to build a homestead on it and settle here after she finishes medical school."
Preston glanced over at the sleeping form on the bed. He thought to himself for a moment, then looked at Andrew, coolness in his voice. "Andrew, wake up and face reality. Colleen is not going to get any better. Look at her, she is slowly slipping away with every breath she takes. Do you really want to hang on to land that you've made plans for with her? Do you really want to keep something that will be a continual reminder of what you had after she's gone. Sell it to me now, then you won't be burdened with it later."
Andrew looked at the man in complete horror. Standing up as best and as quickly as he could, the young doctor, who had never thrown anybody out before in his life, ordered Preston to leave immediately.
"If that's the way you want to be about it, fine. I tried to be nice about this, but I'm going to get that land, one way or another." Preston warned before he turned on his heels and left.
After the heartless banker left, Andrew slowly sank into the chair he had just vacated and looked at his wife's sleeping form. The young woman looked so pale and fragile against the sheets. Gingerly, the young doctor reached over and took her small hand in his.
"Colleen, can you hear me?" His voice quivered with emotion. "Colleen, sweetheart, I need you to do me a favor. I need you to fight. Please, honey, you have to get better, I need you to get better. Don't worry, we'll be able to have more children. We'll have a whole parcel of them. We'll have to build such a large homestead just to be able to house them all. As soon as you're better, we'll draw up some plans together and then maybe we can hire Sully to build it for us. And if he's too busy, then we'll hire somebody else to construct it. That way we'll be close by to visit with your family, our family. No matter what happens, we still have them. Michaela, Sully and Katie, Matthew and Brian they all love you very much and want to see you get better. So please, my darling, please fight for all of us. We all need you to get well again."
The young man paused, watching his wife's face for any signs that she heard him. Lightly he squeezed her hand. "Come on, Sweetheart. Wake up. Please. Squeeze my hand if you can hear me." Andrew watched the small hand he was clutching. After a few agonizing moments, he felt an extremely light pressure on his fingers. With a delighted glint in his eyes, he looked at his wife's sleeping face, an encouraged smile on his face.
It was close to a month before Colleen was well enough to make the long trip back to Philadelphia. By then she had moved from the clinic to the homestead and was able to do things for herself again. Once Andrew felt she was strong enough to travel he made arrangements for them to head back east.
The night before they were scheduled to leave, Michaela tried to persuade the couple to stay. She didn't want to lose her daughter back to the big city just yet.
But Colleen comforted her with the assurance that they would be back in the spring. "Besides," the young woman added, "I've already missed a month of classes. If I don't get back soon, I'll never catch up."
"Why don't you wait and start next semester? After you've had the chance to recuperate a little bit more." her anxious mother suggested.
"Because then I definitely wouldn't be graduating with my class. At least by going back now I have the chance to graduate in June with everyone else. Especially since I won't be taking December off anymore." the beautiful girl's dark eyes began to cloud over as she thought about her stillborn daughter. A few moments later she shook her head and brought her thoughts back to the present. "Its time we head back. Andrew's wounds are healing nicely and he should really be getting back to his patients. I think the best thing for us to do is to get our lives back into a steady routine." Looking at her mother's concerned look, Colleen reached over and grasped the other woman's hand. "Don't worry, Ma. We'll be just fine."
Michaela nodded and reached over to hug her girl to her. "We'll miss you." She whispered into her beloved daughter's auburn tresses.
"I'll miss you too, Ma." the girl confessed affectionately.
The Cooks were scheduled to leave on the 12:30 train. The entire family arrived early so that they could all enjoy one final lunch together at the cafe. The air was joyful and light and everyone looked well and happy, despite the trying time that they had just been through.
Just before the train was due to arrive, Colleen excused herself from her family group and made her way towards the town's small cemetery. As she walked through the open gate her mind began recalling all the funerals she had attended in the past. First there had been her mother, her beloved mother, who had died of a rattlesnake bite. This strong, loving woman was the only parent she really had, her only family, along with her brothers. Then, after her death, Colleen, Matthew and Brian had become part of a bigger family, one with a mother and a father as well as a grandmother and numerous aunts and cousins. They had gained so much, even though they had lost a lot as well.
Then a few years later, when the diphtheria epidemic had hit the town, Colleen's beloved bestfriend, Becky had died, and then her Aunt Marjorie. Her world seemed to be falling apart and now a fresh mound of dirt marked where her latest kin was buried.
Standing at the foot of the new grave, the young mother stared teary-eyed at the headstone that Sully and Matthew had fashioned. Her mind thought of all the hopes and dreams that she and Andrew had had and which were now buried under the ground below.
"Well, we'll just have to get some new dreams." Colleen told herself, lifting her chin in determination. "Life will go on!"
A pair of strong arms enfolded her and a sympathetic voice asked in her ear, "The train is about to arrive, are you ready to go?"
The young girl nodded, too overcome with emotion to speak. Andrew squeezed her to him one more time before releasing her. Holding out his hand he took hers in his. "Ready?"
His sad wife turned to follow him out of the cemetery, but then hesitated and turned back towards the little grave, removing a flower from her hat.
"Sleep well, my darling." She sniffed as she placed the small blossom in front of the headstone. "I will always love you."
After dabbing at the tears with her handkerchief, she turned and joined Andrew.
"Let us know when you arrive in Philadelphia." Sully said as he shook Andrew's hand good-bye.
"We will." the young doctor promised.
After exchanging hugs and loving farewells, the young couple boarded the train. Sully put his arms around his wife and watched as Colleen and Andrew settled in front of them on the train. The entire family waved as the train began pulling out of the station and headed towards Denver.
As the train traveled along the tracks, Andrew and Colleen settled back into their seats. "How are you feeling?" the young doctor asked his wife as he reached over and squeezed her hand.
"I'm okay." Colleen replied, turning her head to face her husband. "I can't deny that I don't feel sad, I don't know if I'll totally get over what's happened, but I'm resolved not to sink into despair. Afterall, who knows what the future will bring."
He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." Colleen touched her young husbands cheek tenderly. She smiled as he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss, despite the passengers around them.
The young man sighed in relief as his wife leaned back against him. He kissed the top of her auburn head, and then settled back himself. His whole body relaxed as he realized that no matter what the future held, they would be alright.