For personal use and select distribution only © May 2003 by S.L. Snyder

WAITING
by S. L. Snyder

Timeline: August 1875.


Matthew left his office and headed up to the station to see if he had any mail. It was a beautiful day and his family was fine so things were great with him. “Hey, Horace,” he called as he climbed the steps to the office. “Have ya got any mail for me?”

“Sure do, Matthew. Quite a pile here,” he replied as he turned a number of envelopes over to Matthew.

Matthew thumbed through the pile and pulled one out. He opened it and glanced over what it said. “Horace, this one is from the lawyer I been writin’ to in Denver about kids needin’ homes.”

“The one me and Bridget asked ya to get a hold of?”

“Yep.”

“Has he got somethin’ good ta say?”

Matthew smiled, “Yep. Where’s Bridget?”

“She and Samantha went to the store awhile ago.”

“Why don’t we wait for them…or I can go get ‘em. I rather explain things just once.”

Horace glanced toward the store. “Here they come.” Horace came out of the office, hurried to the edge of the steps and gestured to his family to hurry. They ran up to him. “Matthew’s got news for us.” He guided his family over to a bench and they sat down.

“This letter is from John Powell, the lawyer in Denver. You have a decision to make. They have a brother and sister who got to the orphanage a few days ago. Their folks died and before the mother passed, she asked that they keep the kids together. It’s a boy of three and a girl that’s just one. John says it’s real hard to find a family to take two kids at once….”

Bridget glanced at Horace and they both made the decision immediately. “We will, Matthew,” said Bridget.

“You mean I’d get a brother and sister?” Sam asked.

“Sure, honey,” said Horace. “Is that okay?”

Sam smiled. “Oh, yes, daddy!”

“When can we get ‘em, Matthew?” Horace asked.

Matthew glanced at the letter. “Looks like any time. I can send a telegram to John today and once I get an answer we can plan to go after that.”

“Let’s send it right away,” Horace answered, getting up and heading for the office with Matthew.

Samantha turned to Bridget. “Mother, can I go with you and daddy to get my brother and sister?”

“I don’t see why not…we’ll ask daddy tonight.”


Sully came down the steps from his office and paused outside the bank. He glanced around at the bustling town. He could see Matthew up at the station talking to the Bings. Loren was next door at the store, sweeping. He could see Dorothy down at her office putting out some of the newspapers. And way down at the church, the reverend and his family were sitting in the sun. He thought about how Colorado Springs had grown since he first came to town. He never wanted to see it get as big as Denver, but some good people had come to town in the last few years to start businesses and some to take up farming. And his family was doing good. Colleen would become a full doctor in less than a year. And Matthew’s practice was very busy. Brian would soon graduate from high school and was already talking about college. Katie and Benje was growing up nicely. And soon Michaela would have their newest baby. He smiled at the thought of his pregnant wife. What a woman…what a mother…and what a wife she was. How she had changed from that shy Boston doctor. And how his life was changed in that first day, seeing her fall in the mud… somehow knowing his life would never be the same.

He headed over to the hospital to get Michaela for lunch. She was so big and so beautiful. He never got tired looking at her. He had heard other men say that sometimes their wife might not look as beautiful to them as when they met. But she was always beautiful, more than when they met. Even when she was upset with him…the few times they argued…she was always beautiful.

Just this morning he had woken up to find her already up, sitting in the rocking chair, only her robe on and parted to bare her mound of baby. She was gently caressing her abdomen and softly humming to the baby. He watched her for a few minutes, reveling in the sight. He had then gotten up and knelt down in from of her, leaning over to kiss the mound. When he looked up into her face, he saw the smile that always thrilled his heart. He reached up and caressed her face and saw her swelling breasts peeking out through the slightly opened robe. He spread the robe apart so that he could gaze at the pregnant body he loved so much. He saw the pinkish tinge spring up…after all these years she still reacted to the baring of her body. He leaned into kiss the tip of each breast and then up to join his lips with hers.

He realized he had reached the hospital and shook his head at his daydreaming. He entered the hospital to find her sitting in the big, soft chair that had been placed for her behind the waiting room desk. There were a few people in the waiting room, but no one at the desk. She was listening to Amanda talking about Charlotte. “Well, here are two beautiful ladies.” Michaela smiled at him while Amanda greeted her father-in-law with a kiss on the cheek. “And how is my beautiful granddaughter?”

“Oh, Papa Sully, she’s so wonderful. She’s always in a good mood. The only problem I have is that she’s a daddy’s girl!” Amanda exclaimed, laughing. “She hears her father’s voice and I no longer satisfy her.”

“Except, of course, when she’s hungry,” Michaela chimed in.

Amanda blushed. “Yes, then she is mama’s girl.”

Sully chuckled. “Hey pregnant lady, are ya ready for lunch?”

“Am I ever!”

Amanda giggled as her father-in-law shook his head and frowned at her mother-in-law. “I guess the question should be when ain’t ya ready to eat!”

Michaela laughed. “And the answer would be never…at least not until your child decides it’s time to come into the world.”

“Oh, now it’s ‘my child’….I guess that means it’s my fault!” He exclaimed in mock anger as Amanda smiled at the exchange between them.

“Well, of course. It’s always the man’s fault, isn’t that so, Amanda?”

Amanda smiled. “I’m smart enough not to answer that!” Sully and Michaela laughed as he helped her from her chair and gave her a kiss. “Have a good lunch,” she said as she turned to head back to check on the few patients in the other rooms.

They headed for the café, pausing at the bottom of the hospital steps. Sully looked around to make sure they were alone. He looked into her eyes. “I was daydreamin’ on the way over here.”

“About what?”

“This mornin’, in our room.” She smiled and blushed at the memory. “Such a beautiful, pregnant body. I like looking at it bare. So luscious…”

“Luscious?” She said, smiling at her husband’s use of a word she didn’t think she’d ever heard him use before.

“Yeah…I know them words…just ain’t got a lot of cause to use ‘em…’cept when I think of you…” He said as they began walking again.

“Oh I know you know a lot of ‘them words’, but I am just not use to you saying them.”

They came out on the main street and so he whispered in her ear, “Ya mean things like what magnificent breasts?”

She giggled as she blushed. “Yes….now that’s enough…”

He smiled as he looked in her eyes, “Ain’t never enough…but I’ll stop for now.”

They slowly traversed the street and as they reached the Gazette, Dorothy came out on the porch. “Well, hello, you two. Going for lunch?”

“Yes, we are. My wife seems to be hungry.”

“Well, that ain’t nothing new.”

“Dorothy!” Michaela exclaimed. Dorothy smiled lovingly at her friend while Sully gave off a low chuckle. “I thought at least you would sympathize with me and not my boorish husband!” She said, giggling.

“Oh, I sympathize, but facts is facts!” She exclaimed and turned back to the doorway where her grandchildren were waiting for her.

They headed into the café and chose a table away from the other occupants. After they gave their order to one of Grace’s helpers, they turned to each other. “Lord, but you’re beautiful and ya just keep gettin’ better. I sure love ya.”

“And I love you, my darling Byron. I don’t believe any woman on earth has a better husband. You’re so good to me, so loving…”

“Ain’t hard ta love ya. Ya feelin’ okay…I mean the baby…”

“Yes. I am tired though. I wake up everyday now thinking maybe this is the day. Colleen, Andrew and I figured the end of summer, so that’s this month. Probably the end of the month…a few weeks away. But I sure wish the baby would come early!”

Sully kissed the hand he was holding. “I know, sweetheart. But it ain’t all that far away and then we’ll have another little one ta love. Six kids and one granddaughter….ain’t bad for a prim and proper Boston doctor.”

She looked at her husband with a frown on her face and a twinkle in her eye. “You know, Mr. Sully, I am a long way away from being a prim and proper Boston doctor!”

“Oh, I don’t know. I can still make ya blush…wanna see?”

“NO!”

He roared with laughter.

“And what’s going on here?” asked Grace.

“Just testing my wife’s patience. She’s getting’ a little on edge now that it’s almost time fer the baby.”

“Really,” replied Grace with a smile, “you should be a little nicer, Sully.”

“Yes, sir, you should!” said Michaela with a giggle.

“Hey, that’s two against one. Where’s Robert E? He’s be on my side.”

“Uh uh…no he won’t…not if he knows what’s good fer him,” said Grace.

“Okay…okay…I give up,” he said as he leaned over to kiss Michaela’s cheek while Grace and Michaela shared a smile.


Amanda, Charlotte, Michaela and Sully were waiting for the train. Matthew had gone to Denver two days before with the Bings to help them pick up the children they were adopting. They were due to return on the afternoon train.

“It’s funny, Mother, only two days and I miss Matthew so much.”
Michaela took her hand. “I know, dear. Same is true for me. When Sully goes away overnight, I miss him so much.” She glanced over at his smiling face. “But don’t tell Sully that. I like him to think I can get by without him.”

Amanda giggled. “I won’t say a word!”

Clara came over, carrying her month old son, Jack. “Just wanted to let you know the train is on time. Should be hearing it any time now.”

Sully reached up for Jack. He smiled at the baby and kissed his forehead. “Yer gonna have another cousin soon…one to grow up with…I bet you two become good friends.”

The ladies smiled at Sully and Jack. “My turn now,” said Michaela, reaching for the baby. They sat and cooed over the sleeping baby for a few minutes and then they heard the train. Clara took her son and headed back for the office, calling for Albert, the young man they had hired to take care of the baggage and help the passengers.

Amanda stood up with anticipation as she saw the train come around the corner. As the train came to a stop, Matthew was the first one off and gathered his wife and daughter into his arms. He kissed his wife as his parents patted him on the back. They turned to the train to see Albert helping Bridget down the steps and in her arms, the little boy. Right behind came Horace carrying the little girl and holding on to Samantha’s hand. Albert quickly helped Samantha down. Seeing the people, the little boy turned his head to hide on Bridget’s shoulder. The little girl looked around with curiosity as Horace set her down next to Samantha. She quickly took Samantha’s hand.

“Hello, folks,” said Horace. “We’d like you to meet our new kids, Issac and Lisette. They bin tossed about a bit the last few months, so we wanta take ‘em right to home and get ‘em settled in.”

“Of course, Horace, Bridget. We just wanted to greet you and welcome them to Colorado Springs,” said Michaela. “Maybe once you feel they have settled in, we could have a little welcome party at Grace’s. I know a lot of your friends would like to meet them.”

“That would be fine, Michaela. And thanks for thinking of us,” replied Bridget.

Horace gathered his family and they headed for their rooms behind the office, with their friends watching them with smiles.

Michaela turned to Matthew. “I assume everything went well?”

“Yeah, it did. The kids took to Samantha right away. By the end of a few hours they seemed comfortable with Bridget and Horace. They had only been in the orphanage about a week, but before that they had been in a small town outside Denver where their folks died. No one in the town could keep both of them and that’s what the mother wanted, so the next time someone went to Denver they brought the kids in. Their folks died about four months ago. Story was the father was drunk and made the mother ride in the wagon he’d just bought. The two kids were left at home. He drove fast and careless, overturning the wagon. He got killed right away. She lived about a day.”

“How very sad. Thankfully the children were not with them. I’m sure they will have a good home with Bridget, Horace and Samantha,” said Michaela.

“Yeah…I think so too. Bridget’s eyes lit up when she saw them for the first time. And how are you feeling, ma?”

“Ready to have this baby!”

Matthew smiled. “I think I heard that a few times before, between you and Amanda. Well, I think I wanna take my family home. I figure any work can wait another day. I’d like to be with the family the rest of today. Sure miss ‘em when I’m away.”

Sully chuckled. “Ain’t surprised, Matthew. It sure don’t take long ta get ta where ya don’t wanna be away from ‘em.”

“Yep. Didn’t think being a family man was as great as it is. Course it helps ta have a wife like Amanda!” Amanda smiled as her husband gave her a quick hug.


Sully came into the bedroom after putting Benje and Katie to bed. Michaela was already in bed, waiting for him. “Are they asleep?”

“Sure are. They always go fast when they bin playing in the yard with the wolves. Brian said good night. He’s tired too after playing with them. He looked real tired.”

Michaela smiled. “That’s nice, the children in bed and safe. And Colleen will be home tomorrow. Then I’ll be the happiest. All my children in one town, my husband by my side…I can’t ask for anything better than that.”

Sully crawled into bed and pulled her to him. “Me neither.” He kissed her forehead as they lay there, content in each others arms. Sully felt Michaela squirm. “What’s wrong?”

“My stomach itches. It always has when the time is near.”

“Here, let me rub some of Cloud Dancin’s salve on you.”

Sully helped her sit up and he pulled off her nightgown. As he went to get the salve, she lay back down and pulled the sheet up. He returned and smiled. “What?’

“Ain’t gonna be able to rub this on through the sheet.”

She blushed and looked down at the sheet. “I know, but….”

He laughed, pulling back the sheet to bare her pregnant body. His gaze went from one end to the other and the blushing grew more intense. “You are so beautiful. It’s just amazin’ how yer as beautiful when yer carryin’ our babies as when ya ain’t. Ain’t never gonna get tired of looking at you, especially without clothes.”

She grinned as her gaze wandered over his body. “I don’t get tired of looking at you, either.” She whispered.

“I know and I like it. And at least you don’t sneak a look any more. After we were first married, you acted like you didn’t want me to know you was lookin’.” He said as he sat down on the bed next to her.

“I know. It was hard at first to know you knew I was looking. Mother had always indicated we should never look at a man’s naked body.”

“But you saw men when you was doctorin’..”

“Yes, but that was different. Lookin’ at a sick man and the man you are sharing your life with is totally different. I don’t know how else to explain it.”

“It’s okay. I think I know. I hear men talk how they wanna see a woman, any woman, with no clothes, but I don’t feel that way. The only woman I wanna see with no clothes is you…just you…and you I like looking at all the time, without or without clothes. ”

He leaned over and kissed her lips. Then he started rubbing the salve on her abdomen. Softly, gently. He watched his hands glide over her. All of a sudden the baby kicked. He chuckled and glanced up at her face to see the smile he loved so. He laid his hands back on her abdomen and again the baby kicked. He left his hands there to feel as the baby continued to be active. He heard her giggle and looked at her again.

“The baby knows papa is rubbing mama’s stomach. And the baby knows mama likes…no loves it.”

“That’s good cuz papa likes doin’ it.”

He finished rubbing her abdomen and rubbed his hands off on a towel, then lay down besides her. He turned the lamp down and turned on his side, looking into her face. He trailed his fingers across her breasts, marveling at their fullness. He leaned down to claim her lips and they shared a kiss full of tenderness and passion. Then he lay down on his back and pulled her close to him.

“I love you so much, Sully.”

“I love you, too, my life, my love.”


Horace, Bridget and Samantha threw a party, at the café, for the new family members after they had been in Colorado Springs for a week. They made sure it was on a Friday night so that Colleen was home from Denver. And they made sure Grace would join the festivities rather than serving them. They opened the party to any one who wanted to come. Their friends came to share in their joy at having the children. Issac and Lisette had adjusted quickly to life as members of the Bing family. Samantha was visibly thrilled with her new brother and sister. She stood near them, introducing them to everyone. Horace and Bridget watched on in pleasure, happy with their family.

Michaela was satisfied to sit at a corner of the table where she could watch everyone. Sully sat next to her, holding her hand, making sure she was okay. She looked up at him and smiled. “You okay?”

“Yes. I’m just tired.”

“Do ya wanna go home?”

“Oh, not yet. I am enjoying the party. I was thinking that I would like the baby to decide to come tonight. We could go to the hospital instead of home.”

“Ya think that might happen?”

“Not really. I don’t think the baby’s ready to come out. I think it’s going to be a few more days at least. But I am just tired of waiting. I feel like that’s all I do lately…wait. I can’t go anywhere by myself…” she chuckled. “I feel like one of the younger children…like Katie…we don’t let them go places alone. They must be frustrated with that sometimes. Frustration….I know it well…”

He smiled and kissed her cheek. “Patience, my love. Somethin’ you ain’t ever been much good at. Ya got this far and it ain’t much longer. Then we’ll have another little one ta love.”

She smiled back at him. “I know. But not being able to walk from the hospital to the café without someone thinking they need to go with me…if not one of the nurses or doctors, then someone in the waiting room. It’s like someone is always waiting to see if I am going to go somewhere.” She giggled. “If I thought about it, I might think you had set it up that way.” He didn’t reply, but his smile gave her an answer. She looked at him with wide eyes. Then she whispered in his ear. “Byron Sully, you did do that didn’t you?”

“Why Dr. Mike, how could you accuse your husband of that?” He replied, a twinkle in her eye.

“I should have guessed!”

“I do love ya, Miss Michaela…”

“And I love you…”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they leaned their heads against each other. They watched the partygoers and smiled at their children and granddaughter.


Dorothy glanced up the street to see her daughter coming. “Aimee, Jeremiah” she called, looking back toward the Gazette office, “Your mother’s here.”

The children came running out and down the street to throw their arms around their mother. Bernadette hugged and kissed her children. Then, taking their hands, she went to greet her mother. After they hugged, they went into the Gazette.

“Mother, the children look wonderful. What have you been feeding them?”

Dorothy laughed. “It’s not the food, my dear, it’s the out of doors fun they bin havin’. Robert E taught them to ride horses. Sully and Brian take them on little hikes. We’ve taken them up to the cabins at Palmer Creek and stayed overnight. And they’ve been swimming and wading in the creek. They’ve had a lot of fun. And they’ve been a help at the Gazette to Brian and me. And Sarah’s been helping them do a little reading.”

Bernadette smiled at her children. “It sounds like you’ve been enjoying visiting your grandmother.”

They both nodded with enthusiasm. “Grandma’s lots o’ fun. And we got lots of friends here!” exclaimed Jeremiah.

After dinner, the children went to bed, giving Dorothy and Bernadette some time alone. After awhile, Bernadette took a deep breath and addressed her mother. “Mother, I know this is a lot to ask, but could you keep the children until next summer? I’m having trouble getting a good job and don’t know that I can make enough to support the children. I am getting a divorce…he’s living with another woman and says he isn’t going to give me anything. He says he never wanted the children and doesn’t plan to help me. I know I’m going to have to find a different place to live and it won’t be as nice. But I want to try and make enough to give the children a decent place.”

“Of course you can leave them with me. I adore them and we have done quite well together. You could move here, Bernadette. It’s not as big as St Louis, but it’s a good place and always growing. We could build more rooms on the Gazette….”

Bernadette smiled. “Thank you, mother. That may be what I will do, but I’d like to try to find a way to live in St Louis.”

“Alright, but understand you are always welcome here. I support you in what ever you decide.”

Bernadette hugged Dorothy. “You always did, Mother. Thank-you. I would like to stay a few days before going back. I will do my best to explain what’s happening to the children. I’ve thought about this a lot because I know it will be very rough without them.”

Dorothy smiled. Bernadette was the best of her children. “You’ve turned into a very good woman, dear. Your husband is a fool. Some men get like this, where they don’t want to take care of their families, they want to feel young again….but in the end, they are the losers.”

“Thank you, Mother. By the way, I heard from Tom.”

Dorothy gave a start. “Tom? Your brother?”

“Yes. He wrote to me.”

“Goodness…I haven’t heard from him, about him, for years. I think I wrote you about the things he did here. He hurt my friends…he….”

“I know, mother. I never told you, but when he left here he came to St Louis. I didn’t know what had happened here. He stole some money from us and disappeared the same day I got your letter.”

Dorothy shook her head, saddened at the thought of her son. “Did he say if he’s okay?”

“He said he is, but he’s always lied so I don’t know how true that is. He’s living in Florida. He said he’s working, but doesn’t say at what. He didn’t really say much else. I haven’t decided if I’m going to write back. I’m afraid he’s just trying to see if I will and that he’d show up in St Louis.”

“I know, dear, I know.”


The next day was Sunday and Bernadette went to church with the family. Dorothy introduced her daughter to her friends. They joined Michaela, Sully and their family for lunch. As Bernadette went off with Brian, Sarah and the children, Dorothy told Michaela and Sully what was happening.

“If we can help ya, Dorothy, all ya gotta do is say so.”

“I know, Sully. I know I can count on my friends. I feel so bad for Bernadette. But I think she’s strong enough to get through this. And she knows I support her in whatever she decides ta do.”

Michaela took Dorothy’s hand. “She has a great role model.”

Dorothy smiled. “Thank you. I’m going to tell her about Cloud Dancing tonight. I hope she understands.”

“I trust that she will.”

“And, Michaela, I should tell you she heard from my son, Tom.”

Michaela looked at Dorothy and shook her head. “It’s been a long time since I thought of him.”

“Funny thing, but me too. I told Cloud Dancing about him a while back, but I think I put him in a corner of my mind…so ashamed for what he did.”

“What he did ain’t your fault, Dorothy.”

“I know, Sully, but he is my son. But I think I realized he was like Marcus. Hopefully the only one of my children to take after their father.”

“And where is he?” Michaela asked.

“He wrote from Florida. But Bernadette hasn’t answered him and I don’t know if she will. She doesn’t trust him.”

“She’s smart like you,” said Sully.

Dorothy smiled and seconds later Aimee came running up to her grandmother. “Grandma, mama didn’t know about Grandpa!”

Bernadette, Brian, Sarah, Katie and Jeremiah came walking up. She smiled at Dorothy. “I understand congratulations are in order, mother.” An apprehensive Dorothy looked up at her daughter,

“Hey, let’s go get some desert from Miss Grace,” said Brian, glancing at his mother. Michaela smiled and nodded to her smart son as Brian and Sarah took the children away.

“Bernadette…I meant to tell you…I….”

“Mother, it’s okay, I understand. I would like to meet him.” She said as she sat down next to Dorothy.

“You understand that he’s…well, he…”

“I know, mother. Brian told me and after I thought for a few minutes, I knew it was okay. I think I knew something was different as you have changed…for the better. You look better and sound better. And Brian raved about him. And the children couldn’t stop talking about him. I know how terrible father was to you… you deserve to be happy.”

Dorothy hugged her daughter, with tears in her eyes. “We can go up this afternoon to see him, if you want. I usually go up on Sunday.”

“I would love to! Let’s go get the children.”

Dorothy looked at Michaela and Sully, smiling. She could see how happy they were for her. She got up and went with Bernadette to find Jeremiah and Aimee.

Michaela leant against Sully. “I’m so happy for Dorothy. Things are working out for her.”

“Yep. It’s about time.” Michaela looked up at her husband. “And I like the time right now. Just you ‘n me watching the world…waitin’ for a bigger family.”

Michaela smiled and snuggled closer.


NOCTURNE

Love is mindless.
Give it directions and off it goes.
Provide it with purpose and lose it.
Excuse it for being only love and expect a confrontation.
Remind it of its duties and it will stay in bed asleep.
But let us pretend it's a bit more balanced, just for the sake of pretending.
Suppose it's a rose forever opening.
A wise little child that won't grow old.
How do you keep its center from darkening?
Always lean it toward the light.
Give it the afternoon off when you can, but never a rest in the middle night.

-Rod McKuen

The End

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