Meanwhile, the train stopped in Colorado Springs. As all the passengers got off the train, one of them stopped to look around. She took a deep breath and headed toward the town.
Hank happened to be standing out in front of the saloon, smoking his cigar. But as the woman walked passed him, he dropped it and gasped.
"Emma!"
"Hank! um..Gilda is coming for a few weeks, one to finish her tour in Denver, and she thought she'd take vacation here, seein' as there's the Chateau and all."
"It's fixing to change hands," Hank replied. "But what are you doin' here?"
"I came early. Do you know where Dr. Mike is?"
"You mean Matthew," Hank said sourly, "and yes. He's in Boston. His grandma has somethin' wrong with her head, so they tell me. Wired yesterday that she was gonna have an operation. So they won't be back for another month at least."
Emma's face fell. "Well..um... thank you Hank," she fumbled.
She then turned away and walked over to the telegraph office. Horace was there, but he seemed to be very upset.
"Um...excuse me, can I send a telegram?" Emma asked.
"Yes..why Emma! You're back...but why?" Horace asked.
"Oh, I have my reasons." She gave him a small smile. Horace grabbed a pencil and a piece of paper.
"Okay...here goes....it's for Matthew. I want it to say:
Matthew,
Visiting Colorado Springs for while stop
am not going anywhere for now stop
would like to know how you are doing stop
Regards,
Emma
"Well, I'll just send it now!"
Back in Boston, Dr. Burke was cleaning his hands.
"Now that it's over, we shall have to monitor her carefully."
Dr. Mike wiped away a tear. "I'm so glad this operation is over. I've never been more frightened in my life. I can't wait to tell Sully and everyone else that she is fine!"
"Fine job Michaela," Andrew commented. He walked over to the door and went out. Everyone seemed to be in their own worlds, until he loudly cleared his throat.
"Well, how did it go Andrew?" Colleen asked.
"It was successful." Everyone gasped and began hugging each other.
"Can we see her?" Sully asked.
Andrew shook his head.
"She's still not awake yet and she needs her rest. But by tomorrow she should be all right for everyone to visit," Andrew said.
At that moment, Michaela and the others came out of the room. She went directly to Sully and hugged him.
"I'm glad its over," she whispered in his ear.
"So am I. Come on everyone, lets go home and get some rest." Everyone agreed and set out to go back to the Quinns' house.
Many minutes later, everyone except Dr. Burke and Cyrus Cook were at the house. This day had been a stressful day. They all settled in the dining room.
The maids came in, serving everyone tea and lemonade. Everything was perfect. Just then, a maid came in, holding a few letters.
"These just came ma'am. They're telegrams," the maid told Rebecca. She took them and looked over them.
"Two are for you Michaela, and one is for Matthew," Rebecca announced. The two of them accepted them and opened them.
"Why, its from Dorothy....and Grace and Robert E.!" Michaela exclaimed.
"Who'd ya get a telegram from Matthew?" Brian asked.
Matthew quickly read over his, then turned pale.
"I...er...excuse me...I need to go rest now." Matthew quickly left the room and went upstairs. His heart was racing. Emma was back.
Michaela leaned on Sully, while reading the telegrams.
"Hmm..seems like Grace is very tired, yet she and Robert E. are so excited about their baby. Dorothy sends her greetings and hopes that Mother is well. Oh, it seems like Myra is back in town! Well, I wonder why."
"Probably to have Samantha spend time with Horace," Sully suggested.
"Maybe." Michaela let out a huge yawn. "Oh, excuse me. I think I shall turn in now. Brian, I think you should too. You look as if you're almost going to collapse!"
"Okay Ma. Come on Katie." Brian picked up the sleeping Katie.
"Night Ma," Colleen said. "Night Sully, Brian, and you Katie." Andrew and Colleen both got up from their seats.
"Good night everyone," Andrew said. He and Colleen headed upstairs, kissing and whispering incoherent words to each other. Eventually, the feeling of passion got to both of them and Andrew picked up Colleen and carried her into their room.
Within the next half-hour, another telegram arrived for Matthew, this time from Horace.
It read:
Matthew STOP
need legal advice for custody STOP
urgent STOP
Horace
Matthew quickly cabled his reply. When the answer came, he ran to the parlor where Dr. Mike was talking with Andrew about Mrs. Quinn's condition.
"Myra's engaged and wants the full custody of Samantha," he said upon entering.
Michaela's head snapped up.
"What?"
"Myra's fiancé doesn't want Horace to have any custody of Samantha. Horace wants my advice on what he should do."
"Why...I-I can't believe it!" Michaela said, stunned.
"The problem is, I can't do much from Boston," Matthew continued
.
"What do you mean?" Michaela ask, a little bit confused.
"I want to go back to Colorado Springs and help him. And.." He stopped then and looked at Michaela.
"What is it?"
"Emma's come back for a visit while Gilda St. Clair is in town. I-I want to see her.." he said, blushing slightly.
Colleen waited in the bedroom for Andrew to return. She understood her mother's concern about Grandma, in fact, she was very concerned herself..she only wished Andrew hadn't gone to discuss her case...just yet.
"Oh well..." she thought, "I suppose I should be glad my husband and my mother get along so well...not at all like Grandma and Sully..."
Just then, Colleen heard a knock at her door...
"Andrew?" Colleen answered, startled out of her reverie.
"No, sorry..." said the voice on the other side of the door...
"Come in, Matthew."
"Can I talk to you a minute, Colleen?"
"Of course. What's on your mind? Could it have anything to do with that telegram you got earlier by any chance," Colleen asked, hoping to get an explanation for Matthew's strange reaction to the telegram earlier.
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm confused about. The telegram was from Emma. She was wondering how I was doing. Apparently she's back in Colorado Springs to stay for a little while. She didn't say how long, though. The thing is, I really want to see her. I still love her. But I just don't want to get hurt again. I honestly don't think I could handle that again."
"I think you should go see her. Grandma will understand. I really liked her. You two were perfect for each other! Either way, just know that I'll always be here for you. Just like you have been for me. If you ever need to talk, I'm here."
"Thank you, Colleen. I'll send you a letter or a telegram soon. Okay?"
"You better," she said.
Andrew went up to the bedroom. He could hear Colleen and Matthew talking. Not wanting to interrupt, he went back to the parlor and sat down. The next thing he knew, Colleen was shaking him.
"Andrew, wake up!" she said, "It's after midnight! Aren't you ever coming to bed?"
Andrew opened his eyes...he hadn't realized he'd fallen asleep..."I thought you and Matthew needed to talk, so I waited." he said, yawning.
"Well, yes," Colleen smiled, "but now I think we need to talk."
"I'm listening." Andrew replied.
"Matthew's going back to Colorado Springs, soon, so I think, as soon as Grandma's better, we should think about going back to Philadelphia. School is starting soon, and you haven't started looking for a place to open your practice...."
"Well, there's something I've been meaning to tell you about that, Colleen..." Andrew said.
"One of my uncle's colleagues in Philadelphia needs another doctor to help out in his practice. My uncle has already recommended me for the position...I could start as soon as we arrive..."
"But Andrew, I thought you wanted to start your own practice." Colleen said, concerned.
"And I still do, Colleen. But I need to be working as soon as possible. This is a great opportunity, Colleen..."
Colleen looked at her husband. "All right, then it's settled, as soon as Grandma is really out of danger, we go back to Philadelphia. Now, let's go to bed!"
Morning came quickly in Colorado Springs. It seemed it came too fast to Grace. She had spent the whole night fighting against nausea and headaches.
"Grace, you should stay in bed today," Robert E. said.
"No no no. I have customers that'll want to eat breakfast soon. I need to be there," Grace argued.
"No. You are much too tired to be doing work like that." Robert E. got on his jacket and walked toward the door.
"I'll go see if I can find Cloud Dancin' to give you something for your pains. Now stay in bed!"
Robert E. walked out to the street and crossed over to Loren's store. At the same moment, Teresa was buying a few items.
"Mornin' Loren, Teresa," Robert E. greeted them.
"Good Morning," Teresa said back. "How is Grace?"
"She's not feelin' well. She's just plumb tired. I'm gonna go find Cloud Dancin' and see if he can help her," Robert E. said.
"I think I shall go visit her again," Teresa said.
"Send her my greetin's," Loren said gruffly.
"Sure..." Robert E. gave Loren a puzzled look.
Gretta walked down the hall slowly. She wasn't feeling very well. She was so tired.
'I'll think I'll take a nap after breakfast,' she thought. 'And then I'll be out of the way'.'
She met her mother coming up from the dining room.
Anna greeted her daughter warmly, and then began in an excited voice(of course, in another language also),
"Gretta! You will not believe the offer I have just had from Rebecca!"
"Rebecca?"
"Dr. Mike's sister. She says that as soon as her mother is well, she will travel like she's always planned, and, of course she's only known me a short while, but she wants me to be her traveling companion!"
"Her traveling.." Gretta began in amazement. "But Mama! What about our plans, and, what will I do?"
"I was just getting to that!" Her mother said, getting even more excited. "Dr. Mike went to the hospital last night, after Andrew suddenly thought of something that has to do with Mrs. Quinn, and Rebecca says that Matthew is going back home in about a week. Well, Dr. Mike has decided to send Katie and Brian home with him, because she doesn't know when she'll get back to Colorado Springs, that's where they live, and she would be needing someone to watch after Katie. She was wondering if you would go."
Gretta was dumb-founded. "Me?" was all she could say.
"Yes!" her mother practically shouted. "It is a good experience for you to learn more culture and customs of this country! And," her mother gave her a sly look, "for you to find a husband!"
"Mama, now really." Gretta gave her mother a frown. "Be realistic! Who would want to fall in love with an immigrant?"
Her mother gave her a look. "Gretta, things can happen!! Open your eyes. Haven't you noticed Matthew? He had the look of love in his eyes!"
"Mama!" Gretta sighed. "Please. I would like to sleep now." Gretta then laid down on the bed and closed her eyes while her mother jabbered on in their language.
Meanwhile, Matthew held the telegram from Emma in his hands and stared at, trying to sort out his emotions.
A day or two later, Loren stood sweeping out
his store. He saw Preston walking nervously out towards the train station. The senator arrived today.
"Who you off to get?" Loren teased him lightly.
Preston just looked at him and kept walking.
Just then Dorothy came up to the store with a copy of the Gazette in her hand.
"Here Loren," She said. She handed him the paper.
"I hope this ad is up to snuff?"
Loren looked down at his shoes.
"Ah Dorothy. I'm sorry about what I said about you and Cloud Dancin'. It's your life, you should be able to do what you want with it."
Dorothy smiled . "Thank you Loren," she said gently. "Oh, and I've got the loan payment right here! Things have been slowin' down at the Gazette, and I've been havin' to dig into my savin's. I don't know what I'll do if things don't start goin' better."
Loren started to say something, but Jake walked up to buy some lumber just then. He had
cleared up the brush around the land, and he was starting on the house that day.
"Hey Loren, did my lumber come in today? Oh, excuse me Dorothy." said Jake as he interrupted.
"Oh hi Jake. That's no problem. I was fixing to leave." Dorothy answered.
As Dorothy walked out into the street Loren watched her leave.
"Hey Loren, what about my lumber?" Jake asked the second time.
"Oh! Yeah, your lumber. It came in today. I hope you brought your wagon, you ordered a lot of wood." Loren answered the anxious Jake.
Jake loaded all of his lumber up in his wagon and drove off. He saw Cloud Dancing walking into the Gazette as he drove out of town.
At the depot, Preston waited nervously as the train pulled to a stop. Passengers flooded the platform, but the senator and his son were nowhere to be found. He waited until no one else came off the train, and then, in frustration, went to the telegraph office. Horace was busy receiving a telegram when he got there, so he had to wait.
"Sorry Preston," Horace said finally. "Just was receiving a telegram from Matthew. He's comin' back as soon as possible. Says his Grandma's havin' some trouble, but she's stable now. He should be here in a couple of weeks. Well, what can I do for you?"
"I was expecting the senator and his son on the 11:00 train. But as you can see, the train is here, but the senator isn't anywhere to be found."
"OH! I forgot. This telegram just come for ya!" Horace handed him a piece of paper. "Senator says he's sorry, but got detained with business, and he'll be here in two weeks."
"Two weeks!" Preston exclaimed. Then he turned around and left.
Back in Boston, Michaela was watching her mother intently. She would have felt better if the brain surgeon had been able to make it, but she trusted Dr. Burke and Andrew, and Dr. Cook had proved himself to be a good doctor.
Mrs. Quinn was stable, and would live, but she wasn't healing quite as well as the doctors would have liked her to. First of all, she was completely distraught over the fact that her head was shaved, and refused to talk of nothing else when she felt like talking.
"I cannot believe it," she complained tiredly. "I must have Iris go out and order a new wig."
"Mother, really," Michaela said, equally as tired. "We saved your life by performing that operation! I should think you'd be grateful."
"And I should think that after such a trying operation, you should leave me in peace. I want to rest now, Michaela. Really, leave me alone."
Michaela only sighed and left the room.
At the other end of the house, Gretta and Colleen were packing Gretta's trunk. While they did this, Colleen told her new friend about Colorado Springs.
"It's only a small town. We haven't had the railroad very long at all. But it's growing, and I'm sure you'll love it, just like Ma and Andrew did."
"Tenk." Gretta replied. "I am a little bit nervous about leaving my mother. My father died in a train wreck about two months ago, along vith.."
She stopped. "Vell, um...she is all the family that I have left."
"Don't worry," Colleen soothed. "Everything's gonna work out."
"Oh Jake! You told me that you wouldn't go into debt to build our house!" Teresa said as Jake pulled up.
"Oh I didn't. Even if I did, anything to please you." Jake answered.
"Jake, I'm so happy about you building our new home. It's a dream come true." Teresa said smiling.
"Hey, why don't I go ahead and start building a little, then we can to town. We can go to Grace's and have dinner. Then we can stop by Loren's a pick out a window out of the catalog for the front door." Jake said smiling back at his wife.
"Oh Jake, it's much too soon to get the window."
"No it's not. Dr. Mike and Sully got theirs soon after Sully started building." Jake replied.
"Oh Jake!" Teresa sighed, "There is no need to rush just because Dr. Mike and Sully did!"
"I'm not!" Jake replied, " I just want you to be happy." "Really?" Teresa said, smiling again.
"Really. Now you be ready to pick out the finest window in the catalog when I get done today!" Jake kissed his wife and left to get started on the house.
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