Colleen was very eager to get home after having been away for a whole month. With the stress and worry of exams she hadn't had the chance to go home recently. She missed everybody dreadfully, especially Andrew. She'd found it very hard to stay at school and not jump on the train for at least a weekend visit home. She would have given almost anything to do that. Almost anything except her Medical degree. So, she plugged away at school, counting the days until she could be home again.
When the train pulled into Colorado Springs station, Colleen glanced eagerly out the window to see who was waiting to meet her. She didn't see any of her family members or Andrew. Had they forgotten?
With a disappointed sigh Colleen started making her way down the aisle of the train to the door. Just as she reached the platform she heard someone call her name. Looking down the station platform she saw Andrew hurrying toward her. A smile lit up her face as he reached her.
"I was beginning to wonder if everyone forgot I was coming home," Colleen scolded mildly.
"How could I possibly forget." Andrew assured her with a smile. "I've been dying for this moment since I got your telegram." Colleen smiled as Andrew held out his arms to give her a hug. Colleen went into them and sighed happily as she felt him press kisses into her hair. "I've missed you dreadfully." Andrew whispered into her auburn tresses.
Colleen lifted her head to look at him. She lifted her hand and touched his cheek and whispered back, "I've missed you too." Andrew leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Come on." Andrew invited. "I'm suppose to bring you over to the Cafe for lunch. Everyone's waiting for you there."
"What about my trunk?" Colleen asked.
"We'll come back for it later." Andrew told her. "I'll go ask Horace to hold it for you." He gave her hand a quick squeeze then went to the telegraph office to make the request.
He came back a few moments later and said, "Shall we go?" Colleen accepted the arm that Andrew had offered her and they made their way towards the cafe.
"So, how's Mrs. Cook doing these days?" Dr. Mike asked as she took a drink of tea.
"She's doing fine. She's helping to organize a fund-raiser for an orphanage that's going up across town this year." Edward replied. "She's also doing volunteer work with the local hospital. She's trying to keep herself busy."
"Why didn't she come with you to Colorado Springs?" Dr. Mike asked.
"The fund-raiser is this weekend and my conference in Denver is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. So I decided to visit Andrew while I was so close. I thought I'd spend some time catching up on his latest doings." Then. Mr. Cook smiled, a little mischievously. "And I understand that my son's latest 'doings' is the courting of a young lady from these parts."
Everyone around the table smiled at each other. "Yes, that's right." Sully replied happily. "They've been courting for a couple of months now."
"And we couldn't be happier." Dr. Mike added. "They make such a nice couple."
"Well, I'm very eager to meet Colleen." Edward Cook admitted. "I've heard nothing but praises of her, but then I've been getting most of my information from Andrew, so that's no wonder." The group laughed just as Andrew and Colleen made an appearance.
"Colleen!" Brian jumped up excitedly and gave his sister a big hug.
"Brian!" Colleen greeted just as excited. "Oh, I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." Everyone took their turn greeting Colleen, complete with hugs and kisses all round. After the excitement died down Andrew drew her attention to the stranger sitting beside Matthew.
"Colleen, there's somebody I'd like you to meet." Andrew said, drawing her a little closer to him. "Colleen this is my father, Edward Cook. Father, I'd like you to meet someone very special to me, Colleen Cooper."
"I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Cooper." Edward rose and extended his hand.
Colleen accepted his hand and, with a bright smile and rosy cheeks, replied. "I'm very pleased to meet you too, Mr. Cook. Andrew's told me alot about you."
"And I about you." Mr. Cook smiled, then added. "And none of it has been exaggerated I can assure you."
Colleen blushed deeper at the compliment as Edward gave her hand a final squeeze. Andrew pulled two chairs up to the table and helped Colleen sit before claiming the one beside her.
After they ordered their lunch Edward Cook turned to Colleen and teased, "So, how did you ever end up with the likes of my son?"
Colleen flushed and smiled good-naturedly. "I don't know, just lucky I guess." She looked at Andrew with such love in her eyes that Andrew's father, who caught the look, thought her a very beautiful and charming young woman and warmed to her immediately. Andrew smiled at her and reached over impulsively to squeeze her hand.
"Shall we order?" he asked. Colleen smiled and nodded. Andrew and Colleen placed their order with one of Grace's waitresses and settle in for a nice long visit.
"So, how are your studies going Colleen?" Michaela asked as she tried to keep Katie from tipping her tea cup.
"Good, but tiring." Colleen sighed as she sipped on her lemonade. "These last four weeks have been nothing but study, study, study! I'm glad its over with for another semester. I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing break."
"Well, you worked hard, you deserve one." Matthew assured her.
"Did you get anytime for relaxation in the last month?" Sully asked, dipping a piece of bread in the gravy on his plate.
Colleen thought for a moment then shook her head. "The last time I did anything recreational was that weekend in late April that Andrew came to Denver to visit and we went to the theater and then the party that was held at the college the next evening."
"No wonder you long for relaxation." Michaela commented.
Colleen smiled as the waitress put her plate of food in front of her.
"So, Miss Cooper." Edward Cook began. "How do you like studying medicine?"
Colleen's eyes began to sparkle and she replied excitedly. "I love it. Studying ...and practicing...medicine is my second greatest love."
Edward's eyes sparkled as he pressed. "And what is your 'Greatest Love'?"
Colleen blushed as she put a piece of meat in her mouth. Glancing sideways at Andrew she slyly replied, "Colorado Springs."
Everyone around the table laughed as Andrew gave her a mock insulted look, causing Colleen to giggle. The giggle then turned into hiccoughs, which caused her to giggle even more. Eventually everyone at the table was laughing hysterically.
"Stop...hic...laughing...hic" Colleen tried to say between giggles and hiccoughs. "Its...hic...not...hic...funny!"
"Here, drink this." Andrew handed her a glass of water. Colleen obeyed, emptying the glass of its contents. "Any better?"
Colleen nodded after a few moments. "I think so...hic!"
"Miss Cooper, when was the last time you saw a white horse?" Edward Cook suddenly asked.
"Pardon me...hic?" Colleen asked in surprise.
"When was the last time you saw a white horse?" Edward repeated the question.
Colleen thought for a few moments. "I don't know. A few months ago. Probably the last time I was home."
"That's good, that's very good." He nodded his head.
"Why?" She asked, still puzzled.
"Oh, no particular reason." He smiled, then asked. "How are the hiccoughs?"
Colleen paused for a moment than smiled. "They're gone!" She breathed deeply and looked at Andrew's father gratefully. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"How did you do that?" Andrew asked, puzzled.
"Its a little trick I learned from your uncle." Edward explained. "If you get the person who has the hiccoughs to think of something else, then usually they'll go away."
"Interesting." Andrew said, smiling at Colleen.
"Well, as much as I hate to break up this wonderful lunch, I'm afraid I have to get back to the clinic," Dr. Mike commented with a sigh, rising with Katie in her arms. Then she looked at Brian and said, "And you, my dear boy, had better get back to school before Miss Theresa starts classes."
"Yes, Ma." Brian rose with a sigh and walked over to Colleen. "I'm glad your back," he remarked as he gave her a big hug. Colleen reached up and hugged him back.
"I'm glad I'm back too." She smiled at him lovingly, then gently prodded, "You better get going."
Brian nodded and replied, "See you all later." Then he ran in the direction of the school house.
Edward Cook smiled as he watched him go. "He's a fine young man. You both must be very proud. You must be proud of all your family."
"Yes we are." Michaela smiled and deep love and pride reflected in her face. Sully's smile mirrored the same feelings. Then Michaela added, "Well, I'm sorry to have to leave, but I have some work to do at the clinic. It was nice to see you again, Mr. Cook."
"Likewise, Dr. Quinn." Edward smiled.
"Oh, I meant to ask you if you'd like to join us out at the homestead for supper. I believe Andrew is coming and we'd be pleased to have you join us too." Michaela invited warmly.
"Well, if its not too much of an inconvenience, I'd love to." He smiled gratefully.
"Great." Dr. Mike smiled back. "Then I'll see you later."
A few minutes after Michaela left, Sully rose to leave.
"Well, I have to get back to the homestead. The Senator sent me a bunch of legal papers to fill out so they can put the request through for the National Park," he explained.
"Do you need any help, Sully?" Matthew offered.
"Well, I won't turn down any help that's cheerfully offered." Sully smiled at the young man who then rose and donned his hat. Then, looking to Colleen and Andrew, he said, "See you back at the homestead."
"Bye Pa. Bye Matthew." Colleen smiled.
"So, what were your plans for the afternoon, Colleen?" Andrew asked after Sully and Matthew had left.
"I don't know." Colleen smiled and shrugged her shoulders, "I haven't really thought about it."
"Well, I have a few patients to see this afternoon." Andrew commented, "Would you like to join me at the clinic?"
Colleen's eyes began to sparkle. "I'd love to."
"How about you, Father?" Andrew looked at the older man. "Did you have anything you wanted to do?"
"I thought I might just take a nice soak in those hot springs I've heard so much about." He smiled. "But first I think I'm going to go see Dr. Quinn at her clinic."
"What for?" Andrew asked in surprise. "Is everything alright..." He looked anxiously from his father to Colleen and then back again. A few fearful thoughts running through his head.
Edward laughed, "Nothing serious. Mrs. Quinn heard I was coming to Colorado Springs. That woman seems to know everything about anything. Anyway, she asked me to deliver a few messages for Dr. Quinn. I forgot about it until after she'd left the table."
"Do you want us to wait for you?" Andrew asked but his father shook his head.
"No you go on ahead to the hotel. I'll find a way back later. The man from the train station told me yesterday that there's a wagon that goes out to the hotel every few hours. I'll just make sure to catch it."
"Are you sure?" Andrew insisted.
"Positive." his father assured him.
"Alright then, we'll see you back at the hotel then."
A little bit later Edward Cook knocked on the door of the medical clinic and was greeted by Dr. Mike.
"Mr. Cook," she smiled in surprise. "Please, come in." After she closed the door behind him she added, "I hope there's nothing wrong."
"No, nothing wrong. I just have a couple letters for you from your family." He produced a couple envelops out of his pocket. "Your mother heard that I was coming out here and insisted that I brings these out to you."
Michaela smiled somewhat sheepishly as she took the offered envelops. "That sounds like my mother. I hope she didn't bother you too much."
"No, no bother at all. I was happy to do it." Edward smiled kindly. After a moments pause he continued. "I also wanted to talk to you about my son."
"Oh?" Michaela looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I've heard Andrew's story of things, but I wanted your observations." He fingered his hat then continued to explain.. "Not being close to my son here in Colorado Springs, I just wanted your opinion of how things are going with him. He seems to value your opinion very much."
Michaela smiled kindly and offered him a seat. "I think Andrew is a very fine young man and a very good doctor. As I told you earlier, he's helped me on numerous occasions. He even saved my life once."
"He did? How?" Edward asked in surprise.
Michaela explained about the man that had shot her because he had a vendetta against doctors and how if it hadn't been for Andrew's quick action and skillful hand, she would have bled to death. Edward smiled proudly at this.
"I've really enjoyed having him as a colleague these last two years. I know I can always count on him." Michaela stated, then flushed as she continued. "I must admit, it took me a little while to adjust to having him here. I found it hard at first when some of my patients kept going to him instead of me, even though I'd been treating them for years.
"I guess some of that prejudice against female doctors was still buried deep down. But eventually they started coming back to me. That's when Andrew decided to accept the position at Preston's hotel. By then I had gotten so use to having him around that I was very sorry to lose him, but we still help each other out. When there was an epidemic of diphtheria in town, Andrew gave up his position at the hotel so he could help me out."
"Why did he have to give up his position at the hotel?" Edward asked curiously.
"Because Preston Lodge doesn't understand that there are people more important in this world then his hotel guests who come to Andrew with the most ridiculous ailments. When Andrew said he was going to help me with the epidemic Preston gave him an ultimatum, either the clinic or help me, he couldn't have both. Andrew quit then and there and came to down to help me."
"But he's still at the hotel?" Edward pointed out confusedly.
"Well, after Preston came down ill and Andrew cured him, suddenly Andrew had a contract with Preston that said he worked for him. Its funny how the contract didn't come into things when he fired Andrew," Michaela mused with a smile.
"So, medical things aside, what's your opinion of Andrew?" Edward asked, looking at her face.
"Well, I think he is a very caring, trustworthy and loyal person." Michaela began slowly. "He's gotten better at standing up for himself I've noticed. He doesn't let people intimidate him into doing things like he use to."
"What do you mean?" Edward asked, his brow furrowing.
"Well, Preston use to intimidate Andrew into doing his bidding, even if Andrew didn't agree with it. For example, when Preston tried to prevent Andrew from helping me at the clinic, he gave in to Preston's threat of losing his job. But now, he doesn't go in for such intimidation."
"Well, that's good." Edward nodded in approval.
"And he even stands up for others he cares about." Michaela smiled, almost mischievously.
"Like how?"
"Well, a few months ago. There was a young man who came from Denver to pay his respects to Colleen. It was kind of funny, once Andrew realized what this young man's intentions were, to see the two of them start vying for her attention."
"But I got the impression from Andrew, that they've loved each other for a long time." Edward commented.
"They have. In fact, I believe that Colleen has had a crush on Andrew ever since she first met him, and I think Andrew wasn't too much longer developing an attraction to her. But I guess he was just very shy about telling her his true feelings, even though everyone around them could see they were in love with each other. But they seemed to be unsure of each others true affections themselves."
"I see."
"Anyway, when Patrick Collins showed up and was trying to win Colleen's affections, Andrew tried to counter each move Mr. Collins made."
"How did he do that?"
"Well, Mr. Collins took Colleen on a picnic, so then Andrew took Colleen on a picnic, things like that." Michaela explained. "But then Mr. Collins ended up showing that he was not a gentleman and Colleen wanted nothing to do with him. "She went out to the hotel where he was staying and asked him not to call on her anymore. He wasn't being very cooperative, so she turned to leave and he grabbed her by the arms and told her not to dare walk away from him like that.
"Then Andrew, who had been watching what was going on, came up behind him and told him to leave her alone. When Mr. Collins told him to stay out of it, Andrew grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him away from Colleen. Mr. Collins then threw a punch that caught Andrew square in the mouth. Then Andrew countered with a few good licks of his own."
"Andrew? My Andrew?" Edward smiled in pleasure mingled with disbelief. Michaela nodded. "Boy, he must really love her."
Michaela smiled, "Well according to the report Colleen gave me afterwards, it was just a few minutes later that he finally told her his true feelings for her. And that she admitted to him that she felt the same way."
"But, what if this Collins fellow hadn't turned out to be a bad sort?" Edward asked, his brow knit in thought, "Would she still have asked him not to call?"
"She'd already tried before then." Michaela nodded. "After Andrew took her on the picnic, she came back, fully convinced of her affections for Andrew, and ready to tell Patrick Collins not to see her anymore."
"And how do you and Sully feel about that ?" Edward asked her. "Truthfully."
"Well, truthfully, we couldn't be happier." Michaela replied. "We all love Andrew very much. He is a wonderful young man and we couldn't want anyone better for our daughter. And they are so happy together."
"I noticed that." Edward smiled. "They do seem to connect well don't they?"
"That they do." Michaela smiled.
Andrew and Colleen, completely oblivious of the discussion about them that was now taking place, enjoyed the buggy ride back to the hotel.
"It seems like years since I've been back." Colleen sighed delightedly as her big brown eyes took in the delightful scenery around her.
"I'll say it has." Andrew agreed, reaching his hand over to rub the small one that was linked through his arm. "I've missed you so much."
Colleen turned and looked into Andrew's eyes and smiled lovingly.
"You know who I was thinking of the other day." Andrew asked, squeezing her hand again.
"No, who." Colleen questioned curiously.
"Patrick Collins." Andrew replied.
"Patrick Collins!" Colleen exclaimed in surprise. "Why would you ever think about him. I'm trying to forget him."
"Actually, I consider myself completely indebted to Patrick Collins." Andrew confessed, glancing at Colleen.
The puzzled look on her face deepened as she exclaimed, "Why?"
Andrew smiled and explained, "Because if he hadn't have come to town and started trying to court you, then I probably would have taken a lot longer to confess my feelings for you. Just the thought that someone else might steal your heart first prompted me into action."
"But, I had already told Patrick to leave me alone, that I didn't want to see him again." Colleen pointed out.
"That's true." Andrew nodded, "but who knows about the next time. I'm sure there's been a few young fellows eager to pay you closer attention. I couldn't risk losing you to another fellow who was bolder at expressing his feelings. You might as well have ripped my heart out of my chest if that had happened."
Colleen smiled at him and reached up with her other hand to gently touch his face. Andrew caught the hand and pressed it to his lips.
"I love you, Colleen Cooper." he whispered.
"I love you, too, Andrew Cook." she whispered back. Andrew leaned in and kissed her on the lips.
"I must admit," Colleen began, picking up the tail end of the last conversation after they had pulled back from the kiss, "that Patrick Collins did turn my head for a little while. But it was mostly because he had me so confused. I knew I had very strong feelings for you, and I missed you dreadfully when I was at school.
"Then, Patrick came and was showing me so much attention, not that I started feeling anything for him really. He just had me all jumbled up. But then after you took me on that picnic, everything was clear. It was as if I had been in a fog and couldn't see anything around me, but then we had that wonderful picnic and the fog cleared and then all I could see was you. After that I knew what I wanted, I wanted you."
Andrew smiled at her lovingly, then he exclaimed, as if suddenly remembering. "I have something for you." He fished into his pocket and pulled out the box. He handed it to her. "Open it."
Colleen smiled as she opened the box. Inside, nestled against the green velvet box, was a beautiful silver locket and chain. "Oh, Andrew. It's beautiful!" She exclaimed in delight.
"Look inside." He prompted. Colleen opened the locket. On the inside were two pictures, one of her family and one of Andrew. "Now you can take us with you wherever you go."
Colleen looked at him with tears in his eyes. "It's wonderful, Andrew. Thank you."
Andrew smiled back at her, "You're welcome."