Authors Note: The italic quotes are not my own words and have been borrowed from the script “Where the Heart Is: Part Two. They are not the property of the author, but of CBS Entertainment Productions & The Sullivan Company.
© 2005-2006
Dearest Michaela,
I have enjoyed my time spent with you at the hospital, even though the circumstances were not the best. You are a wonderful doctor and very pleasant to work along side. I only hope that I may see you again soon? Please don't let our dinner celebration be the last.
Yours
William
Michaela let her eyes glide over the handwritten note once more before laying it down on the desk. She didn't know what to feel around William, he made her feel so good at times and yet others she wasn't sure of anything at all.
Her mother would certainly approve of this relationship there was no mistaking that. She didn’t miss at times the smiles her mother would give in their direction or the looks of love at seeing her daughter happy.
Michaela picked up the letter again, this time folding it and placing it inside the pages of a nearby book. She didn’t want to think of any answers right now, as dinner would soon be ready and she couldn’t be late.
Michaela left the comforts of the room she had been staying in, closing the door behind her. As she made her way down the stairs, her skirt fell in soft folds behind her creating a swishing sound with each step. Half way down the bell rung and Harrison made his way quietly to the door.
Michaela watched as the door opened and William entered the home still wearing his top hat and long dark coat. She blushed for a moment at how handsome he looked right then, but quickly tried to forget the thoughts she just had. This was her mother’s wish, not hers and she had to do what was best for her right?
William thanked the butler for taking care of his coat and hat, before looking up the stairs to see a vision of beauty coming down. His breathe caught in his throat at the mere sight of her; she was so beautiful that it was almost hard for him not to go running towards her.
Michaela had chosen the moment William looked at her to gaze down at the stairs below as she walked slowly down. She had a feeling deep in her gut that he was going to ask about the note and it was something she didn’t want to bring up.
“Good evening, Mike. Is something wrong?” William asked when Michaela reached the bottom of the stairs.
She looked up at him for a moment before speaking, “Good evening William. Everything’s fine,” Michaela replied trying to hide the fact that everything wasn’t fine.
William didn’t seem to pick up on anything strange as his frown turned to a bright smile as he offered her his arm.
Michaela hesitated a moment before taking it as she let him lead her to the table for dinner. Her sisters and their families would be there too and Michaela could just imagine some of the chatter to be had with William sitting next to her.
William led Michaela to her seat just to the right of her mother where he let go of her and pulled out her chair.
Michaela sat down wishing that some people weren’t staring at her, mainly her mother who had just walked in the room.
“Good evening, William so nice of you to join us for dinner. Please have a seat.” Elizabeth said with a smile and a happy heart. She was thrilled to see her daughter in the company of such a fine young man. It pleased her to no end.
“Thank you, Mrs. Quinn,” William replied before seating himself in the chair next to Michaela.
Moments later as the food was served the idle chatter began and everyone seemed to fix their eyes elsewhere much to Michaela’s relief.
Michaela began to relax more over the course of the evening as the meal was served. She enjoyed the conversation and delighted in the children’s smiles and laughter.
Elizabeth looked over at her youngest daughter and smiled before leaning in, “I’m glad to see you are doing so well.” She was more than happy with the company sitting next to Michaela and hoped there might be more there.
Michaela looked up, smiling a little more out of being nice as she still wasn’t sure of her feelings for William. “Th---“ Michaela started to reply but the voice of Harrison caught her off guard. Who did he want to announce?
Sully had knocked on enough doors and now that Michaela was near he didn’t want to wait another moment just to be announced.
Michaela’s eyes were fixed on the doorway as Sully appeared in her gaze with Harrison close behind. Her heart caught in her throat, unable to speak anything but “Sully,” as his bedroll and pack dropped to the floor. She couldn’t believe he was here, in Boston of all places. Thankfully her mother came to the rescue, inviting Sully to join them for dinner as she didn’t think her heart was going to stop pounding.
Michaela then found herself telling everyone about Sully as they had long since grown quiet. She talked about Colorado a place she began to miss a little. Yet she was enjoying herself here in Boston, but something was missing.
Sully continued to eat his meal, famished from his long journey. His heart was overjoyed to be with Michaela again, yet he wasn’t too fond of finding a well dressed man next to her. He hoped he wasn’t too late.
Michaela told of Sully being a miner and a friend to the Cheyenne Indians along with saving her life on more than one occasion. Her words spoke of a man whose presence was sending her heart pounding in emotions she couldn’t put to words. She talked until Fiona came to clear away the plates and all retired for the evening.
****
Michaela looked at Sully for a moment before turning her head away. She was scared at the moment for the feelings she was having for Sully. “I’ll have Harrison lay a fire for you”
Sully’s gaze bore into Michaela, wondering what on earth had gotten into her. He waited a moment before taking hold of her arm “What’s wrong with you?”
“What do you mean?” Michaela asked meekly as she turned back to face Sully, trying not to show how much she was affected by his touch. Deep inside there was a spark threatening to burn into a roaring fire.
“I mean I can make a fire. So can you, as I remember.” Sully continued on, as he tried to figure out why Michaela was acting so strange towards him. “Aren’t you glad to see me?” She had been gone so long and he missed her terribly. He’d come all this way just to see her again and now the thanks he got was not what he had expected. The woman he knew in Colorado seemed to have changed.
“Of course I am…I…I’m just surprised to see you here. That’s all.” Michaela replied, trying to hide the real reason for her surprise.
“You were gone so long, I…I got worried somethin’ mighta happened to you.”
Michaela looked down at the floor for a moment, before looking back up at Sully. “Thank you.” She replied knowing full well what the real reason was for his arrival and one that she was very reluctant to acknowledge.
“You’re welcome,” Sully answered in a soft whisper that began to poke at the spark inside of her.
Michaela looked around for a moment searching for words to say that wouldn’t betray her feelings. “If you need anything, just ring.” She looked deep into Sully’s eyes for just one moment before opening the door and closing it behind her.
Sully leaned up against the closed door looking around the room. It was frankly more finery that he was used to. The bed with its four posters, a fire place complete with a grate, window curtains, a carpet and other furnishings adorned the room.
Sully was a bit surprised of himself for leaving the comfort of Colorado Springs behind for the city life where he felt out of place. Boston’s proper society hadn’t taken well to his appearance, backing away as if he had some strange disease they might catch. But the love he felt for Michaela had kept him going, as he walked for what seemed like hours just to find the right house on Beacon Hill.
Sully had walked up many a hill and knocked on a several doors before he found the right one. “Is this the Quinn residence,” he’d asked the well dressed man at the door of the fifth house he’d tried.
“Yes, and may I inquire as to what business you have here?” Harrison asked politely, as Sully took advantage of the open door and let himself inside.
Harrison had tried to stop him from going any further insisting that he was to be announced, but once the dinner party spotted him it was too late for anything. Tired and famished Sully dropped his things on the floor as the children greeted him with smiles.
Sully’s eyes had landed on Michaela moments later as he was eating his meal. He noticed the gentlemen sitting next to her and the chemistry between them, wanting very much to remove him from the scene altogether. The meal hadn’t been an easy one with Michaela awkwardness and the proper Boston man sitting next to her.
Now that he was in a finely furnished room, Sully felt jealous and uncomfortable at the same time. How could that man steal away from him the one thing that mattered most in his life? He wasn’t blind to feelings between a man and woman, and these he saw were ones he didn’t like at all.
Sully moved away from the door minutes later retrieved his bedroll, untied the strings that bound it and laid it out on the floor in front of the fire. The room was still cool and Sully looked into the fireplace to see if there was anything left with which he could start a fire. All that remained were bits of ash and pieces of wood, nothing substantial to use.
Reluctantly, Sully rose up from the floor and over to the cord Michaela had pointed out earlier. He hated to pull it to submit to someone else’s service when he knew full well he could do these things himself. Yet no matter how frustrated and angry he could get, there was no way out.
Sully gave the string a pull, and within minutes there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Sully called out, hoping the door would open. Nothing happened, but another knock a few seconds later.
Sully didn’t care much for this as he found himself answering a door which could have been opened by who was on the other side.
“You rang sir?” Harrison greeted Sully with an obvious question once the door was opened for him.
Sully’s pride was hurt a little as he submitted to Boston ways for a moment to ask that a fire be started for him. Harrison willingly came into the room after that to prepare the fireplace, before he disappeared to fetch some wood.
Sully sunk down on the floor when the butler left and was still there when he returned with wood and matches to start the fire.
“Will there be anything else sir?” Harrison asked before he took his leave.
“No,” Sully replied and left it at that as Harrison let himself out of the room and closed the door behind him. He then laid down fully on his bedroll, staring at the flames in the fire, hoping to fall asleep to the sounds of a cackling fire.
****
Michaela
closed the door behind her and walked down the carpeted hallway to the room she
had been staying in. Her feelings for Sully were beginning to overwhelm her
with their power. She hadn’t known in such a short time that Sully would travel
all the way to
Boston
for reasons she dared not admit.
Seeing him appear at dinner had sent all the butterflies in her stomach flying
every which way. It had taken so much for her to compose herself without asking
him why he would come to Boston.
She’d seen the look in William’s eyes when Sully had arrived, noting quickly the two didn’t have much care for the other.
William seemed to have claimed Michaela as his own the moment he thanked Sully for saving her life on more than one occasion. His simple handshake had spoken volumes, Sully was jealous as was William. They both wanted her that was clear.
Michaela had even willed herself up the stairs to the room Sully was in, her heart thudding with each step. By the time she’d let herself inside the room it was beginning to thud even harder against her chest. Her feelings for Sully that she had kept pent up, were starting to surface.
Their conversation had been awkward as she fought her feelings for the handsome mountain man. Her cheeks threatened to blush red and her body tingled in new places each time she met his gaze.
She couldn’t believe he was here, here in Boston and in her home. Why had he come, she wondered to herself? A part of her knew deep down what it was, but was too afraid to even admit to such a thing.
Michaela opened the door to her room, shut it behind her and leaned up against it for support. Her eyes closed as she remembered the way Sully had looked at her, the feeling of his breath on her face. She couldn’t believe what was happening to her, feelings so powerful they were scaring her.
Michaela pulled herself away from the door a minute later and headed over to the water basin. The least she could do was splash some water on her face and hope the fire under her cheeks would die out.
She lifted the pitcher and watched the water filling the basin with its clear liquid.
Michaela then set it back down, reached for a nearby cloth, and put that into the water to soak. A moment later she lifted the cloth out, rung it out once, before placing it onto her warm cheeks.
Michaela looked up into the mirror; her cheeks now wet were still pink with color as the water hadn’t done much to cool them down. She set down the rag on the edge of the basin before helping herself out of her dress. With each hook separating from the eye, Michaela began to feel as if Sully was undressing her.
She couldn’t mistake the look of love in his eyes when she’d been in his room and even now the fire inside her heart was threatening to burn.
Michaela turned from the mirror and continued to free herself of the proper attire she had worn that evening. Her nightgown lay on the bed awaiting her to pick it up and slip it over her unclothed body.
Martha had no doubt left that out for her and turned down the covers of her bed.
Michaela removed herself of the last of her restrictive clothing, picked up the nightgown and let it slip over her. Her body felt the chill of the room the moment she was naked, and sent a shiver down her spine. A moment later she crawled into bed hoping sleep would over take her soon, but instead she found herself thinking of Sully and her fear to let her true feelings be known.
****
Sully was unable to sleep, even as the familiar sounds of a fire crackled and burned in his ears. He lay awake for awhile, staring off in the room at the dancing shadows cast by the fire behind him.
There was only one woman he wanted to be with in this world and now he was having a hard time voicing his feelings for Michaela.
She was beautiful, strong, independent, so much so that she’d captured his heart from the moment their eyes locked in Bray’s store. How could he tell her, the simple words: I love you?
Sully rolled over on his bedroll, staring up at the ceiling of the room as the fire reached its peak. He thought it would be easy to fall asleep after such a long journey, but the more he thought of Michaela the harder it was for him to find that peacefulness.
The floor wasn’t as comfortable as the ground; at least there he could find some comfort. He wasn’t too fond of the carpet, finding it a bit soft.
After minutes of trying to get comfortable, Sully rose from the floor, went to the door, opened it and stepped into the hallway.
Sully stopped by the room he thought to be Michaela’s, tracing his fingers on the outside of the door. “Sleep well my love,” he whispered before walking back to his room and shutting himself inside.