Title: "A Matter of Life and Death"
Author: Beth S

Usual Disclaimer applies as follows : Catherine Marshall's beautiful story of 
Christy is owned by the LeSound Family. We are in no way seekin to profit or 
credit form her story. We are continuing the story of Christy for our own 
amusement. Any addition to the story line and characters were invented by the 
writers.

Summary: This story takes place straight after Fairlight Dies of Typhoid.  I 
always wanted to know more about what happened here so here goes my first 
attempt at Fan Fiction.  Note, this follows directly from the book. 


I did not hear Dr MacNeill enter the cabin. Gently, he took me by the arm, 
got me to my feet. He spoke, but I could not hear what he said. Then he and 
Mr Holcombe picked up Fairlight and carried her to the bed.


I watched in shocked disbelief as Doctor MacNeill carried out a thorough 
examination on the silent form of my beloved friend.  From my place by  the 
fire where Dr MacNeill had lead me,  the children caught my attention. One by 
one they had crept up beside the Doctor with hope and relief on their faces. 
It occurred to me that in the innocence of childhood their trusting souls 
believed that Dr MacNeill was going to make their mother better. Only Clara 
and John who I suspected were beginning to understand the reality of the 
situation watched the Doctors intently as if hanging onto the flimsy hope 
that this man who knew much more than them could do something to reverse 
death.  And all the time there was silence,  a deafening silence, that's 
blackness permeated the cabin. It was as if the shadow of the sun that 
Fairlight was always so superstitious of had taken her with it, taking away 
any light that this sparse dingy cabin had. I felt frozen and detached.

At last when Dr MacNeill had finished examining her, slowly, almost tenderly, 
he pulled the quilt over the beautiful face. His eyes sought mine. "She's had 
it for a good ten days. When it's not caught and the patient keeps going, 
death can come in the second week."

' "It"? Pneumonia?"
He hesitated, as if reluctant to answer me. "Typhoid, Christy. It's typhoid." 

With the words Typhoid ringing in my ear I could barely decipher the doctor 
saying my name. His voice was thick with emotion. I could sense that with 
great effort he was trying to maintain his professional control. He softly 
pressed my arm and drew me close to him stooping his large frame to whisper 
in a low tone, "Christy lass, I hate to ask you now. I know that you are in 
shock, but I need you to help me explain to the children what has happened to 
their mother". 

Of the course, the children, a calm control took over me as I saw the task at 
hand. I met the doctor's eyes; I could see his soul was suffering the same 
agony as mine. I silently nodded my consent. With his arm gently around my 
shoulder he guided me to where the group of children huddled. They watched us 
fear and bewilderment etched in their faces. Clara who knew the truth in her 
heart had gathered her younger sisters in her arms tears caused down her face 
as she valiantly made an effort to be brave. It was as she already knew how 
it would be, taking the heavy role of motherhood onto her girlish frame. I 
moved towards her and put my arm gently around her I could feel her  tremble 
as  silent sobs racked through her body. Dr MacNeill had taken John into his 
care. The Least-un still remained in an exhausted sleep beside the fire that 
had recently built by Mr Holcombe.  

Then in the gentle simple way I had heard him use when he spoke with his 
people he told the children their mother was dead.  Those next few moments 
have remained with me all my life. Even now I find it hard to put into words 
the heartbreak of comforting those motherless children. 

The house was soon a stir with neighbors and friends. The women of the cove 
had descended upon the house. It always amazed me how news spread like 
wildfire, in these mountains quicker than any telephone system we brought to 
them. I later found out that several of the men had already set off to find 
Jeb.Though their heart was in the right place their attempts at offering help 
and condole scenes were in the form of uncontrolled grief . The result of 
which was a hysterical din. I watched helplessly as the children obviously 
distressed by the display of emotion shrank into the background.

  A new and imminent dilemma was now apparent. I could hear the Doctor 
remonstrating at the mountain people to leave the cabin emphasizing in  
somewhat harsh tones the dangers and risks of spread of Typhoid.  He was 
short and irritable and I could see the beginnings of uncontrolled anger in 
his voice. I knew that he was struggling with all his might to hold in his 
feelings. I tried to pull myself together enough to offer him some support. 
At that moment Miss Alice appeared in the doorway. Relief flooded through my 
body.  In her calm composed way Miss Alice began to bring a quiet order to 
the ranting chaos. I could hear her organizing for  sterilizing, sending 
women home with task of washing and cooking. The children still cowering in 
the corner were to become her first priority. She has sensed Neil's emotional 
edge, and was remonstrating with him to leave the scene and to go 
home.squashing his objections. Yes she knew the procedure of sterilizing and 
decreasing the spread of typhoid, of courses she new all about preparing the 
body of the typhoid victim. Yes she could manage the children. Then she hit 
upon using me as a reason to get the doctor to leave the scene.


It was arranged that the Doctor would take me home to the mission on Charlie. 
That way he could make sure all the precautions would be taken to decrease 
the risk of me contracting tyhoid as now I was at risk. In my shocked state 
this meant little to me, but it obviously was of concern for the doctor. With 
reassurance that I would be no longer required to help, I wearily accepted 
the offer without protest. We rode in silence each lost in our own grief. I 
rode behind him initially resting lightly on the muscular frame of his back, 
my arms resting lightly around his waist. As weariness seeped through my body 
the reality of what had taken place began to hit me, I fought silent tears. I 
could no longer hold back the flow, vi olent sobs began to run through me. 
Neil using one hand to grip the rein used the other  to search for my hand 
that was lightly gripping his waist. Then took it gently in his, sqeezing it 
and cradling it in his lap.He said very little but I drew such strength from 
him. I leaned heavily against him. As my sobs eased to a whimper I dozed 
being gently lolled asleep by the lazy saunter of Charlie and feeling 
comforted by his master who still gently held my hand.  It was in this way 
that  I was aroused sometime later, we were at the mission.

After we had arrived back, Doctor MacNeill  spoke with Ida about the Typhoid 
situation. He discussed with her the necessary precautions that needed to be 
taken because of my exposure to the disease. Dr MacNeill also had to go 
through the same process, so Ida kindly offered to assist. Dr McNeill, who is 
his state exhaustion saw the practical side of this, thanked her for her 
thoughtfulness.

Later, with my skin burning and tingling from the harsh solution that my skin 
had been scrubbed with I made my way down stairs warmly dressed in my 
nightgown and robe. To my surprise I was not alone. Dr MacNeill sat on the 
divan   staring into the fire. He was turning his pipe over and over in his 
hand his fingers writhrring around it. He stopped and took a silver flask out 
of the inside pocket of his coat and took a swig of what I presumed was 
moonshine. I stepped backwards, in order to retreat up the stairs, being 
aware  of  how inappropriate it would seem seeing me dressed in such a 
manner, not to mention catching him in the act of drinking illegal liquor.

It was too late he had heard my step. He looked at me  guiltily as he tucked 
the flask away deep within his jacket. He faced me squarely and in a 
defensive tone stated,  "Purely medicinal purpose Miss Huddleston I assure 
you, not even your God would deny a man a drink after what we have witnessed 
this evening."

I was angry at his attack, it took me by surprise after he had comforted me 
so gently such a short time ago. "You are mistaken Doctor, if you really 
think God cares how much moonshine you drank. After tonight I am not sure if 
I want to call him mine. How can a loving personal God allow her to die, 
allow those children to be motherless." I spat back at him.

Then quieter more to myself I whispered, "  Why Fairlight , Why?, I begin to 
see you were right when you questioned me about my beliefs so many months 
ago." I was crying again, but this time angry hot tears. 

Doctor MacNeill had arisen from where he had been sitting and came towards 
me. He looked at me softly, almost tenderly. I found myself  encircled in his 
embrace. I did not feel the need to pull away instead I buried my head in his 
chest and allowed myself to be comforted.

"No Christy, I was not right that day. Faith in God is important. Your Faith 
will be the most important thing to you over these next dark days.  Do not 
give in to despair lass you are in deep grief. Doubt Him. Throw angry insults 
at him but do not give up on him. Take it from an old infidel such as me the 
road back to a cast aside faith is a hard one.' He gently kissed my forehead

I pulled away from him and looked deep into his eyes, for the first time my 
attention was off myself. He must have been hurting so bad. Jeb and Fairlight 
were some of his dearest friends , they had grown up together. He more than 
anyone knew the devastation of losing a loved one."

 I tentatively reached for his hand and held it while trying to think of 
something reasurring to say to him, " You could not have helped her Neil, she 
didn't let anyone know she was sick. She hid it from her kids until today. 
Even if you had  got there earlier you have already said so yourself she was 
too far-gone."

He looked at me, surprise showing in his face at hearing me use his Christian 
name for the first time. "I know that in my head, but I feel like I have let 
her down, Let my people down. It's back again and keeps returning . It killed 
my wife and boy  you know." 

I nodded. 

Still holding his hand I   pressed it firmly and continued 'It is not your 
fault . You are a wonderful doctor. Over these months I have seen how much 
you have done for and sacrificed for these people. You are a good man Doctor 
McNeill but you are still only one man."

I could tell what I had said had touched him deeply and it was taking all of 
his strength to maintain his control. He had pulled his hand away and was 
looking uncomfortably around the room as if to find a way of escape. I 
suspected I had said too much  knowing how uncomfortable these mountain men 
were in showing their feelings.  I didn't want him to leave like this so I 
changed my tact

"Neil, won't you please stay just a little bit longer, Ida has gone to bed 
and I don't want to alone just now. We don't have to talk about this anymore 
if it makes you uncomfortable. I know how you love to tell a good story. Why 
don't you tell me a bit about what it was like growing up in these mountains. 
I once tried to image what you would have been like as a boy. What a 
nightmare you would have been to teach."

 Again he looked at me, it reminded me of the way he had watched me at Ruby 
Mae's wedding. I found myself blushing.

Now the Doctor was back in control and with a mischievous grin said;

"Now that's an offer that I can't refuse. And yes I would have been a handful 
to teach, but nothing you couldn't handle Miss Huddleston" he quipped 
enjoying my obvious embarrassment. Again I  blushed but had to smile.

By this time he had seated himself again by the fire and was patting the 
space beside him encouragingly. Despite my not so appropriate attire I took 
the space offered. We sat for a short time in companionable silence while he 
prepared his pipe. Then taking some deep inhalations he settled back and 
began to talk. In his melodic brogue he told stories as naturally as he 
danced. They were lively, witty and melancholic all at once.They rolled of 
his tongue one after another  piecing together the missing parts of this 
man's life. I was beginning to understand who this man was, his depth and 
brilliance his humanness. Fairlight and Jeb featured in many of them. By 
telling his story and my obvious enthrallment a healing balm was working on 
his troubled spirit. 

And that's the last thing I remember about that day that changed my life, the 
fire warming me physically, but his presence soothing my spirit. For sometime 
after an hour of his tales I had fallen into a deep dreamless sleep. I awoke 
at dawn in a cocoon of blanets on the divan.