The Hazel Eyed Monster

This is set after Halloween. I know that Dr Quinn is a beautiful woman and that having the whole countryside proposing to her seems quite natural but I never understood why the female population of Colarado wasn't lining up behind Sully (I know I would have been.) How would Dr Quinn react to a little competition?

Michaela looked out across the valley, marveling at the view from up on her roof. The sun was half way over the horizon and the golden sun and piercing blue sky seemed to meld together. The gently undulating slope of the hills and valleys around Sully's homestead looked as if though they had been carved by hand. She could have spent hours just staring at the beautiful scenery around her.

She heard someone call her name impatiently as if though they had been calling for some time. Michaela looked up to see Sully staring down at her with an expression of bemusement on his face.

"Sorry Sully, I was just admiring the view"

Sully looked out over the landscape and smiled.

"It sure is pretty"

"It's amazing how you can live in a place and then when you get the opportunity to see it from a different point of view, it's like going somewhere you have never been before."

"The Cheyenne have a saying about going to the top of the mountain to see what is at the bottom"

"Is that something like the phrase about judging a book by its cover?"

"Maybe, now are you going to hand me those nails that I was calling for. If you are going to spend the day sightseeing, I might get Brian or Matthew to stay up here and help me instead."

"Absolutely not. When you said that you wanted to fix this place up, make it roomier and to do some improvements I said that I would help you and I will."

She reached into the bucket of nails that balanced on the end of the roof where she was standing on the highest rung of the ladder and carefully held them out to Sully.

Sully stepped gingerly across the roof and took the nails from her hand, his fingers grazing along the palm of her hand as he did. Michaela climbed carefully down the ladder to grab some more shingles which she carried under her arm as she scrambled back up the ladder, ready to be a good helper.

Sully smiled at her enthusiasm "You know if you really want to help you could go and get my canteen of water. I am getting pretty parched up here."

"Well you could have told me that when I was on the ground five minutes ago, but I'll fetch it for you right away."

She found his canteen by his tool belt and filled it at the water barrel. She slung the canteen around her neck and steadily made her way up the ladder but what she saw at the top nearly made her lose her grip on the wooden rungs. Sully was standing in the middle of the roof, unbuttoning his shirt and slowly removing it.

Michaela literally had to remind herself to breathe. She knew it was wrong to stare but she could not physically remove her eyes from the scene in front of her. As a doctor she was more than familiar with all forms of physiology and while she admired the human body as a marvel of God's creation, she had never been so moved by the sight of bare skin.

Sully was beautiful!

Michaela admired the way that the sun seemed to gleam off his golden shiny arms and the way that his muscles rippled across his chest as he reached for his hammer. She could feel her cheeks flush while at the same time a shiver ran down her spine. Without even realizing it, Michaela reached down and took a large swig of the canteen but it did nothing to ease the heat that she felt. Sully bent over to retrieve the last of the nails, and she could not retain a gasp from her lips when she observed him from behind with his buckskin pants fitted so snugly.

Sully turned at the sound she made and she hurriedly twisted around again staring out on the valley.

"Are you still daydreaming?"

"No, I was just admiring the view. It seems I can hardly get enough of it."

Sully gazed at the hills trying to see what was capturing her attention but could see no change from earlier in the day. He noted her flushed cheeks and the slight smile on her face and figured that she was finding the house fixing more strenuous than she had perhaps anticipated.

"So can I have some water?"

"Oh sorry, here let me get it for you."

She reached up and gave him the water conscious of the fact that his mouth was covering the same place that her own mouth had been minutes earlier. The thought did nothing to cool her down and Sully noting her discomfort held the water out for her.

Michaela shook her head, "No, I'm fine really."

"Well I'm just about done here, come and have a look to see how I've reinforced the roof for winter. I can just about guarantee that we will all stay dry and warm this year." Sully hesitated and then realizing what he had said, "I mean you and the kids."

She hadn't even noticed his slip of the tongue and felt vaguely disappointed that he felt the need to correct it..

"It is a relief to think that we will be ready for the cold and snow. It's hard to imagine on a beautiful day like today that the weather will soon start to change."

"It's a little ways off yet but it's better to be prepared."

"What do you do in the winter? Do you have a place to stay when the weather is really bad?"

"In the winter I get wet and cold but I have a couple of places I can go and usually I am welcome at the Cheyenne camp."

"Well you are always welcome here if you need shelter."

Sully smiled at her in surprise "Really?"

"Sure, I imagine Matthew would be happy to share the barn with you."

They laughed together as Sully gathered up his tools and then shimmied down the ladder, holding the end of it so that Michaela could make her way down safely. Sully knew that she was quite capable of climbing down but he did not object to the sight of her legs and hips swaying as they made their unsteady way down. His hands spanned her waist as he swung her from the final rung onto the ground. If his hands lingered longer than necessary at her waist she found she had neither the inclination nor the opportunity to object as his hands slid away and he walked over to the water barrel.

Sully dipped his hands into the icy water as he splashed it over his face and body. Michaela froze and watched transfixed as droplets of water trailed down his bare chest. He shook out his hair and water flew around, even splashing Michaela.

Sully realized that she was watching him and that the look on her face mirrored the expression that he so often had on his own face when he watched her, one of total admiration.

It was the first time that he could recall that he had noticed that she looked at him in that way and he could not have wiped the large grin off his face if he had tried. She actually did see him as a man in the same way that he saw her very much as a woman.

He looked up at her, eager to catch her eye to reassure her that what she was feeling was just fine. Michaela slowly dragged her eyes up his midriff towards his face and felt her cheeks flame again as she realized that she had been caught staring. Sully was staring at her with a gentle and yet encouraging smile on his face.

She hurriedly looked at the ground too ashamed to look him in the face when she felt her hands being tugged at and pulled in a pair of warm, brown and calloused hands.

"Look at me Dr Mike"

She reluctantly faced him startled as always by the intensity and spark of his compelling blue eyes.

"I'm sorry" she mumbled.

"What are ya sorry bout."

"That I was looking at you."

"Why are ya sorry about that?"

"Because it's not right for a lady to stare at a man like that. It's not proper."

"I don't mind, in fact I like it that you look at me."

"Sully!"

"What?"

"You are being deliberately obtuse. You've caught me gawking at you like a school girl and you seem to think that is fine."

"I just think it is natural for men and woman to look at each other. I look at you all the time."

"But that's different."

"Why?"

"My mother used to complain all the time that whenever a pretty woman would walk down the street my Father used to turn his head to watch. Men seem to be easily distracted by that kind of thing."

"And women aren't?"

"Well, not the women that I know."

"Perhaps you should talk to some other women instead. I think men and women have liked to watch each other from the beginning of time. Maybe it's just that men are more obvious about it."

"All I know is that in Boston a woman would never dream of staring at a man." She glanced again self consciously at his chest. "Especially one in a state of undress."

"I guess women in Boston wouldn't see a man in a state of undress too often." He grinned at her.

"No, I guess not. Anyway it must be well past lunch. If you want to finish cleaning up, I will go and get something for you to eat.

She pulled her hands out of his where they had been firmly held during their conversation and made her way into the cabin.

Sully sighed, disappointed that he had not seemed to convince her that what was happening between them, this slow dance of attraction was something to be savoured, not brushed under the carpet. He felt he had been quite clear about his feelings as he had explained to her before the town portrait. He cared about her a lot but he wasn't ready to formalize that. He just wanted to enjoy this time of getting to know each other.

Even the fact that he had been willing to make the changes to what had been his home with Abigail, he felt must speak volumes about how he was putting the past behind and moving onto the future. He grabbed his shirt and pulled it on before joining Michaela for lunch.

That night at supper as Sully took his accustomed seat with the family, he realized himself how he had gotten used to this. Eating and spending time with these people had become second nature to him. He didn't even get invited for supper anymore but there was always a place set for him. The children chattered away with occasional comments from Sully and Michaela.

"I had a look at the roof Sully. It looks good and sturdy." Matthew complimented his mentor.

"Well I did have a good helper." Sully replied smiling at Michaela.

"So what are you going to do tomorrow? I could stay home from school and help you Sully."

"No Brian, it's more important that you get to school. Besides you don't want to do your Ma out of a job. We have a very busy day ahead of us."

"I'm not sure I want to know what we are going to be doing." Michaela laughed pretending to rub her back.

"Well we finished the roof today but now we need to work on those partitions to make some rooms and then we need to re chink the walls. It's a pretty messy job but when we are done these walls will keep out all the rain and snow and cold winds."

"I can't wait to have my own space away from certain brothers." Colleen smiled at the thought of finally having some privacy.

"But what if I get lonely on my own?" Brian pouted.

"I'll only be on the other side of the wall." Colleen reminded him.

"How about we put a window in the wall so I can still see you?"

"Then what would be the point of having a wall?"

"My point exactly," Everyone laughed and Michaela stood up to start clearing the dishes. Sully took that as his usual cue to depart and reached to strap on his tool belt that lay on the sideboard.

Brian and Colleen started the dishes and Matthew disappeared out to the barn.

Sully watched Michaela wondering if he would get the chance to kiss her goodnight as he had been doing recently. He only ever kissed her quickly on the cheek as he was leaving but it was a habit that he was keen to continue. To his surprise he saw Michaela grab her shawl,

"I'll see you out Sully." She followed him to the door.

Outside in the crisp night air below the orchestra of stars they discussed the following day.

"I was serious about it being messy Dr Mike. You better get out some old stuff to wear."

"I'm sure I will find something appropriate." She looked at him expectantly and he took his cue from her, kissing her goodnight on the cheek.

"Sully, about what we talked about earlier. I just wanted to say that you were right. I was admiring you."

"I know." He stroked her face gently. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She watched him walking out into the night and went back inside, closing the door.

The family were gathered around the breakfast table when Sully arrived the next day. At Michaela's invitation he joined them in their meal but it was clear by the way the he gulped down his food that he was eager to begin.

Colleen and Brian got ready for school and then piled in the wagon with Matthew driving. The homestead went from being a picture of noise and bustle to silence and calm. Michaela slowly sipped her cup of tea and watched as Sully walked around the cabin, measuring the walls and feeling the wood.

"I'll get started outside with mixing the chinking and you come out and join me with you are ready."

"Sully, I meant to ask you. What exactly is chinking? I mean I know I agreed to help you but it would probably be beneficial to know exactly what I am letting myself in for."

"Chinking is like the filling that we put between the boards to keep the warm in and the cold out. It's made like a kind of plaster and once it dries it is weather proof. The only problem is that we have to put it on wet and that is where the mess happens."

An hour later, Michaela found out that Sully had not been exaggerating as she wiped her dripping hands once again on the front of the old patched skirt she had found. Sully had patiently shown her how to smooth on the paste but where the mixture stayed put for Sully it seemed to just run away from her fingers.

She wiped her hand across her face and then attempted again to seal up the small crack in the boards which was where Sully found her, frustrated in her attempts to keep up with him. He reached from behind her encircling her in his arms as he reached over her arms and placed his hands on top of hers.

"Like this Dr Mike. You have to work quickly so that the plaster sets as you touch it." He laced his fingers with hers as together they worked along the wall. Michaela could feel his breath along the back of her neck and that his cheek was only inches from her own.

They continued in that position for some time, neither one inclined to move, and eventually they developed a natural rhythm. They reached the end of the wall and finally Michaela shifted so that she was facing him. She smiled at him much in the same way that she had the night before, inviting him to closer proximity.

She closed her eyes and waited to feel Sully's lips on hers. His breath was on her cheek and a shadow fell over her face as he moved closer but instead of kissing her all she heard was the roar of his laughter.

Her eyes flew opened, puzzled by what could have happened. Sully was still only inches from her face but he was laughing so hard that tears were coming out of his eyes.

Mortified she spun away, stalking off inside the cabin and slamming the door behind her.

She could hear Sully running after her calling her name but there was no way she could face him.

He pounded on the door, "Dr Mike, let me in. I didn't mean to laugh."

"Go away Sully."

"Look, I can explain."

"I don't want to hear it."

"Please, just look in the mirror."

"No, now will you please leave."

Michaela waited until she heard his footsteps slowly trailing away and then threw herself on her bed. She felt totally humiliated. Her mother had been right when she had cautioned her daughters to be cautious of physical affection. The worst part though was she had believed that Sully wanted to be near her.

When she had experienced the dreams or ghostly visions or whatever they had been about Abigail, one of the things that she had asserted was that Sully loved her. Alright, he still hadn't actually said the words but it went unspoken between them, as if though it was just lying under the surface of everything they said and did.

Clearly she had been sorely mistaken. She lifted her tear stained cheeks from off her quilt and looked puzzled at what she saw. There were white streaks and crumbs, scattered where her face had lain.

She stared at them for a minute, trying to work out what they were. She reached up and touched her face, surprised at the grainy feel under her fingers. She got up and walked over to her dresser where she picked up the mirror that her mother had given Colleen.

Her face was distinctly marked with white lines running down both her cheeks and across her forehead. Obviously she had wiped her hands across her face more often than she had realized. She could not contain the giggle that erupted from her mouth at the sight that she made.

Realizing her mistake she rushed to the door and flung it open but Sully was nowhere to be seen. She let her fingers trail through the chinking mix in the bucket by the door and was just considering that she ought go and find Sully when he appeared around the other side of the cabin.

"Dr Mike, I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself."

Michaela closed her fingers around a handful of the plaster and walked slowly towards Sully.

"No apology necessary. I do look quite distinctive."

"I had no idea that you had been wiping it on your face."

"I guess it is pretty funny."

"Do you want me to help you clean if off."

Michaela was standing right in front of him now.

"No, that's alright. You don't need to help me. In fact I suspect that you will be too busy cleaning up yourself." And with that she reached up and smeared the handful of plaster across his face.

Sully stood motionless for a minute as if trying to take in what she had done. Then a huge grin broke out over his face as he raced towards the bucket.

"No, don't you dare Sully." She squealed and raced off towards the barn with Sully in tow.

She tried to shut the barn door but he was too strong and in the end she gave up and raced towards the hay loft. He grabbed her legs as she tried to climb away, pulling her down on top of him as they collapsed on a soft pile of hay. He flipped her over so that she was lying underneath him and reached into the bucket by his hand and brought his fingers over to her face, the plaster dripping.

"Now, hold still while I finish the job that you started."

She squirmed and wriggled beneath him, breathless from laughter as his hand inched closer to her face. Michaela looked up into his sparkling blue eyes and suddenly things did not seem so funny anymore. She was conscious of his body melded to hers and that the arms and chest that she had so admired the day before were inches away from her own fingers.

Sully sensed the change in her mood too and abruptly halted. This time he did not even smile as he leaned down and brushed her lips with his own. He was so gentle that she thought at first that it had just been his breath that she had felt. But there was no doubt about the second kiss. His mouth was warm and soft and Michaela was surprised that the pounding of her heart did not frighten him away as his mouth moved over hers. Sully moved off her slightly so that his hands had room to caress her shoulders and arms as he deepened the kiss.

Then, just when Michaela felt she could take no more, he eased himself up onto his knees and gently pulled her up. He reached out to tuck a stray hair that had escaped her braid, kissed her once again softly on the nose and brushing the hay off her back as they stood he escorted her outside into the sunlight. As they ambled out of the barn, Michaela reached and plucked a strand of hay that had become entangled in his shaggy locks and they smiled at each other in total complicity.

Sully looked at the half completed house and the empty bucket in his hands.

"I think I have to go and mix some more chinking plaster. Do you want to have a rest while you wait?"

"I think I might take the opportunity to clean up." She laughed ruefully at her own appearance and smirked at Sully.

Sully leapt on his horse and rode off and Michaela watched him go, not at all ashamed to enjoy the sight.

Some time had passed and Michaela has not made much progress in righting her appearance. She had been too busy dwelling on what had happened in the barn. The kisses had pleased her, excited her and yet when she had felt things were happening too fast he had sensed that and pulled back.

She drew her knees up under her skirt and smiled in the knowledge that Sully was someone she could totally trust, maybe even love. It was the one thing that everyone seemed to agree on. That Sully would never lie to her or hurt her. She leaned back and anxiously awaited his return, eager to share with him her feelings.

The sound of hoof beats mirrored the clamoring in her chest and she jumped up eager to see Sully.

But to her surprise it was a carriage that made its way towards the homestead. Even from a distance Michaela could see that it was shiny and new and looked very expensive. She cupped her hands above her eyes to try and make out the driver more clearly. Finally the carriage pulled up in front of the homestead and the driver emerged cautiously and carefully from the buggy.

It was a woman. She was dressed in an immaculate white lawn dress which belied the fact that she had been driving on the dusty roads. The dress was a type that Michaela had only seen in catalogues and featured one of the new fangled bustles that she had heard so much about from her Mother.

The woman looked around the scene with detached interest and Michaela took the opportunity to study her carefully. She appeared to be in her mid twenties with shiny blonde hair and blue eyes. There was no doubt that anyone would have described her as a very attractive young lady. Upon her golden curls was perched a sweet little hat adorned with what appeared to be fruit, which on closer inspection proved to be artificial.

Michaela was a great believer in not judging books by their covers. It was a motto that she was raising her children on. However there was something about this woman that she instantly disliked. Maybe it was the fact that she was so young and pretty but if she was to be honest, it was a lot more to do with her behaviour, wandering around as if though she had the right to be there.

Finally the woman noticed Michaela and after eyeing her up and down, pasted a sweet smile on her lips.

"Hello there." Michaela noted the Eastern accent.

"Can I help you?' Michaela inquired. After all, she had been brought up with manners.

"No, I don't think you can unless of course you can tell me the whereabouts of Byron."

"Bryon?"

"Yes, Mr. Byron Sully. This is his home isn't it?"

"Sully…. I mean Mr. Sully is not here right now. Would you like to wait?

"Do you think he will be long?"

"I'm not sure."

The woman narrowed her eyes at Michaela "I am sorry. How abominably rude of me not to introduce myself? I am Marina Anderson and you are Byron's help perhaps? Although I would find it hard to believe that he would have a housekeeper."

Conscious of her disheveled appearance, Michaela felt nonetheless that it was time to set this woman straight.

"I am Dr Quinn. I am the physician here in Colarado Springs."

"Are you here on a house call? Is Byron ill?"

"No as a matter of fact I live here. This is my home now."

Michaela noted the touch of steel in Marina's voice. "And does Byron live here also?"

Michaela was forced to tell the truth.

"No, my family and I are his tenants."

She could see Marina visibly relax. "Well in that case I would love a nice cup of tea. I haven't had a decent drink in days." Without waiting for an invitation Marina swept into the house leaving Michaela confused and upset. Who was this woman? And how on earth did she know Sully well enough to call him Byron.

There was nothing for it but to give this woman some tea and find out the answers.

Sully galloped back to the house with the mixture slung over his saddle. He could not have wiped the grin off his face if he had tried. He had often seen Michaela show her playful side with the children but to see her tease and romp with him had only made the ache he had in his heart for her, intensify.

As for the kiss…. It had been the hardest thing in the world to break it off but he knew that he needed to respect her and to go very slow. It did not take a genius to work out that her experience of men was very limited.

He was surprised to see a buggy tied up to the rail as he pulled into the yard. The horse was a thoroughbred and the entire livery must have cost someone a pretty penny. Who on earth would be visiting Michaela in that get up.

Sully's heart quickened at the thought that perhaps her mother had returned unexpectedly and it was with some reluctance that he pushed on the door, dreading the sight that could put a damper on all that had happened that day.

As the door creaked opened he saw Michaela, still dirty but sitting at the table sipping at her tea but it was the sight opposite her that made his jaw drop.

"Marina…. What on earth are you doing here?"