Portrait of the Heart

The characters of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman are owned by The Sullivan Company, A&E, and CBS. Hopefully, they don't mind if I borrow them for a short time. I promise they will be returned in good condition and will always be treated with love and respect while in my care!

CHAPTER 1

Daniel Watkins boarded the Denver-bound stagecoach on a sunny Thursday morning, and as the swaying carriage pulled from the front of Bray's Mercantile, many of the good citizens of Colorado Springs gathered to wave him a fond farewell. His days spent photographing the panoramic scenery of the Colorado Rockies for the railroad would be amongst the most satisfactory times of his life. Even more rewarding was his unique photograph of the whole town, as well as pictures of the Cheyenne dog solders and the individual portraits he had taken of Colorado Springs' residents.

Included in his portfolio was the likeness of the most exquisite woman he had ever seen…ever photographed. Dr. Michaela Quinn. Not only was she beautiful, she was intelligent, caring, and a dedicated physician. If he were only twenty-five years younger and in good health, he would have vied for her affections. Unfortunately, she was so focused on gaining the attention of a certain mountain man, Watkins feared he would sadly have been the loser. Byron Sully was an enigma. He came and went as he pleased. He lived in a lean-to in the woods. And most surprising, he was reluctant to make any type of commitment to Dr. Quinn or her children. Watkins had even called him out over his hesitance while they were on an expedition to photograph some of the Rocky Mountains' splendor. Sully, acting as his guide, appeared taken aback by his rebuke.

"It's just that if a lady like Dr. Quinn ever looked at me the way she looks at you, I would fall down on one knee and promise myself to her forever," Watkins had chided him.

Sully's arm was placed on the top of the Semmendinger camera.* He dropped his chin against the piano-wood carriage box and uttered, "We'd better get started down before it gets too dark."

Having voiced his profound statement, Watkins approached the camera and said, "Let's get this last shot," and missed the pensive look on his face as Sully turned away from the camera and from the photographer's astute observation.

Nevertheless, he knew the rugged mountain man's fondness for the beautiful doctor was more than he cared to admit…either to himself or to her.

As the stagecoach hastened away from the small Colorado town, the perceptive photographer, lost in thought, pondered the future of the beautiful young doctor and her reluctant suitor. Sometimes love needed a gentle nudge, and after all, he had a portrait of the heart…of Sully's heart. He had a portrait of Michaela Quinn.

He could use that…

Sully sat on the buffalo robe in his lean-to and reflected back on the last two weeks of Daniel Watkins' visit. Although he had enjoyed their treks into the verdant countryside to photograph the wondrous Colorado landscape, Watkins had a way of making him feel exposed, almost vulnerable. He felt like his thoughts were on display…like a picture that showed every detail of the subject's countenance. Plus, Watkins seemed to enjoy a harmless dalliance with Dr. Mike that rankled him even more than he cared to admit. Why should I care if Watkins flirted with her? Didn't she realize they were startin' to build somethin' together? Maybe she preferred the company of an older man. What about the children? The more Sully pondered these questions, the more he realized there were no easy answers. Besides, he just wasn't ready, and the differences between him and Dr. Mike seemed too hard to overcome.

It had been a busy afternoon at the clinic, and Dr. Mike had not had a moment to catch her breath. She had seen Mr. Watkins off that morning and then unlocked the clinic door to begin another day of caring for the local citizenry. Finally, her four o'clock patient, a woman who needed stitches for a cut, had departed so she could sit down and update her patient files.

Perhaps Sully would come by the clinic. She had not seen him since early morning when, after bidding Mr. Watkins farewell, he had ridden his Cheyenne pony out of town. Their conversation from the previous day was still puzzling and distressing. He had said they were too different and he wasn't ready. Wasn't ready for what? In Boston, after such a kiss as they had exchanged on her birthday, the families would have expected an engagement announcement. What was he thinking? Did he think her too forward? Perhaps he was the type of man that liked to trifle with a lady's affections. No! That couldn't be the reason. For all his rough edges, he was a gentleman and had been nothing but considerate toward her and the children. So, what was the real reason for their conversation on the bridge yesterday? The more she thought about what had been said, the more thankful she was she had not revealed her own feelings of affection. It would have been highly inappropriate, not to say embarrassing, had she done so.

The children, especially Brian, had been disappointed in Sully's refusal to be in the portrait with them. He had said it was because he wasn't family. Family? He was the closest they had to a pa, and the children loved him dearly. Surely, he didn't feel that way. Perhaps the thought of taking on three orphans was more than he could bear? Did he think taking on someone like her was an even worse prospect? Dr. Mike had lots of questions, few answers, and as her workday ended there was still no sign of him.

She gathered up her papers and filed them away before donning her lightweight shawl and blowing out the oil lamp on her desk. Finally, with the clinic left in an orderly fashion, she headed out to mount up on Bear for the lonely ride to the homestead. If only Sully would join them for dinner…

The table that evening was, unfortunately, set only for four…

The stagecoach had rumbled into Denver, and as Daniel Watkins oversaw the transfer of his brocade valise and leather portfolio to the St. Louis-bound stagecoach, he was already making plans. Those plans, well, they included a certain doctor and her mountain man…

After all, the couple had bestowed upon him two invaluable gifts: First, a way to temporarily slow his declining health and second, their assistance in repairing his camera which, saved him from having to wait on a replacement to arrive from the manufacturer all the way back East in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Because of those two, he had the opportunity to finish his geological survey for the railroad and photograph the natural beauty of the Wild West for his personal purposes. Otherwise, he would have returned to New York empty-handed, something Daniel Watkins was loath to do.

It might take him several months, but he had a plan…a plan that would show his appreciation for their many kindnesses and in the end, he hoped, unite their hearts as one…

*More information about the actual Semmendinger camera used in "Portraits," including a film clip from DQMW, can be found by typing Semmendinger-Camera into your search window and clicking on the official home page.