"Well, ya can stay home with me and I could take care of ya. I think ya should take a day off. You are working yourself too hard," Sully told her as he knelt down beside her and stroked her hair.
"I wish I could, but who would watch Katie? and the Clinic?" Michaela thought outloud. She wished she could stay home, but it was easier said then done.
"Well I gotta go into town today, I can ask Grace and Robert E. ta look after Kates and Jake I'm sure could handle the clinic if something would come up. Then it could be just you and me. We could go up to the waterfall and have a picnic. What do ya think?"Sully stared into Michaela's eyes.
"Sounds wonderful. I wouldn't mind spending a day with my husband. I love you Sully, Thank you so much!" Michaela said before kissing Sully.
"Alright, you get some rest and I'll be back in a couple of hours. That should be enough time for you to sleep and get ready." Sully kissed her and again and walked out of the room. Michaela shut her eyes and was sleeping in a matter of minutes.
Michaela was tired. This late in the morning? The last time Sully remembers his wife sleeping in was right before finding out that she was pregnant with Katie. Maybe.. "no," he thought. If she was pregnant Michaela would've told Sully or seen a doctor, and Michaela had done neither of those things. Whatever it was, he knew that a day off from work would do her some good.
"Well Kates, we gotta take ya to your godparents. Mama has to get better so she can take care of ya!" Sully told his daughter as he placed a kiss on her little head. Katie giggled back.
"Papa! Mama!" Katie exclaimed.
"Yeah Kates, Papa is takin care of Mama," Sully smiled at her as he placed her in the wagon and then jumped up into the wagon. He put Katie on his lap and they were off to town.
A couple of hours later Sully came home with a picnic basket loaded in the back of the wagon. He was getting out of the wagon when the door to the homestead opened.
"Well, good morning! Are ya ready to go?" Sully asked as he approached Michaela.
"More than ready," Michaela answered while being led to the wagon. Sully helped her up into the wagon and then jumped up into the seat. He jerked the reigns and they were off.
"Michaela, would ya like some more chicken?" Sully asked his wife who was laying with her head in his lap.
"No thank you, I'm so full. It's so beautiful out here Sully, thank you for bringing me out here." She smiled up at him.
"I knew you would enjoy it. Now how about that swim? " Sully said with a smirk on his face.
"I would love to,"Michaela replied. Sully helped her up and the quickly walked over to the waterfall's edge. They stripped down to their undergarments. Sully in his buckskin pants and Michaela to her camisole.
Sully went in first and held out his hand for Michaela for her to come and join him. She smiled lovingly at him, accepted his hand and plopped into the water. Sully hugged his wife close as she shook from the sudden temperature change. She was cold, but with Sully by her she was warming up quickly. They swam around for a little while in silence before Michaela spoke up.
"Thank you again for bringing me out here. I needed to get away"
"I know ya did. You seemed so tired lately, I wanted to take your mind off of everything. I don't want ya getting sick." Sully swam over to her.
"You always think of the right thing to do. I love that quality in you,"Michaela cupped Sully's cheeks in her hands.
"I'm just thinking of what is best for the woman I love," Sully replied as he pulled his head forward to kiss his wife.
"Hmm.. I especially love THAT quality in you," She joked.
"Maybe I should bring ya out here more often, then you would see what other qualities I have!" Sully grinned.
"Hmm.. that sounds tempting, but it was hard enough to get out here the first time!" She said seriously.
"It don't mean we can preplan and do this more often," Sully reassured her.
"You're right, but.." Michaela started. She knew this was the moment to tell Sully. She had to tell him. She was so nervous. What would he say? Would he be surprised? Michaela's heart started to pound.
"What is it Michaela? What's wrong? Ya can tell me." Sully asked concerned as he pulled Michaela closer to him.
"Oh nothing's wrong, Sully. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy coming out here more. It's just so hard because with the clinic Brian and Katie..." She started but Sully interrupted her.
"Don't worry about that right now. We have so much time to plan somethin out!" Sully started.
"Sully! Let me finish, " Michaela said with love in her voice. She wanted to finish what she was going to say because the longer it took her to say, the more nervous she became. "What I was going to say is that with Katie and Brian and.." she started to finish her statement she took Sully's hand and placed it on her flat abdomen. "It will be hard to get away for a while."
Sully's face was blank. He was confused at what Michaela said. And why did she take his hand? He looked into her eyes which were twinkling with love. Her face was lit up with a full size grin.
"Michaela are you saying..." Sully stammered with his words. His suspicion finally coming to life. He was so surprised and happy that he was speechless.
She shook her head up and down very fast. Her grin was growing wider and wider. "Yes Sully. It's true! We're going to have a baby! Can you believe it?" She exclaimed with tears in her eyes.
CONTINUED