Discaimer: The characters of Christy are owned by the Marshall/Lesourd L.L.C. This is strictly a story for giggles and grins. Disclaimer parallel: My husband made me do this...but i have not let him read this version. ************** Title: Heartstrings Author: Dawn R. Mrror-Fic heartstrings..parts:ALL "What are ya thinkin about lookin in that see glass? Ya know what I be seeing don’t ya?" Yes, I thought, in the 20 years we had been married he always said the same thing..."go ahead dear tell me what you see." "I see," he said clearing his throat, "the most be-utiful gal women in this here parts! I see the one that pulls at this its bitty string right here under my heart." "Ya mean the one that is connected to me? Right here?" coming over to me he grasped my hands in his and said.."Yes darling the very one!" "But what was ya really thinking there? Your eyes had that far away look that ya get when your aching fer home. Is it Amanda Maes going off with her feller? Is it your pa passing away last fall. Or maybe your ma’s passing all them years ago? Tell me, please." His eyes pleaded with me to reveal myself. Willing me to open up and share my hurt. In the 20 some years we had lived together in wedded bliss his penetrating eyes had never failed to unleash my soul. "It wasn’t anything so heavy dear. Just thinking about you, and the day we met. And remembering the look on your face, when we..hurmph bumped." "Bumped, right surely that weren’t no BUMP. More like a oh I don’t know the fancy term. Reckon col-li-sion is more right. Why if my recollection serves you came a barreling down that hill a fit to be tied. And wham bam..." "Now, it wasn’t no such thing. Why I was, simply put, I was, leisurely rolling about down the hill. Besides your the one that left the jug out. When I think of that look. There I was lying at the bottom of that hill and out you came in all your thunder. My but what a fine cut of a man you made. With your hair sleeked back just so on the sides. Your very finest threads on..but oh that bow tie just would not cooperate." "Still won’t. Not for my clumsy hands. Even then I needed your touch. Fine cut, though. I would be beholden if you’d stick to the facts though. As I recollect my tails were hanging down. There was lye soap stuck to my chin , why I even had a few nicks from the razor. But you, my oh my. There you was a citified gal back in these old hills with the pertiest blue dress I had ever seen. Those puffy sleeves made me weak in the knees! I remember the sweet smell of your perfume it tickled my nose like no wildflower had ever done. I remember the trees were all waving you in with a gentle breeze. The first signs of fall were already showing." "Yes I remember it well. When I landed it was atop a fresh pile of maple leaves. You used the yellow leaves to cover my scratches. I had never seen that done before. I remember wondering if it was some sort of mountain trait. Though I had only been in the cove a week I had heard enough about the healing power of plants to not doubt anything. Isn’t it funny that you only grabbed the leaves because you were worried that the blood would upset me." Looking into my beloved’s eyes I could again see that care and concern etched across him. "Oh you have always worried so over me. Such a protective eagle you are. I always think of the verse in the Bible that says.."they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles ." You were so patient with me. Always waiting. Always wanting to know if their was anything you could do. I don’t know that I’ll ever understand what it is that you see in me. How you a strong mountain man that endured so muc! ! h pain and suffering would chose me to be a part of your life. I know what folks have tried to convince me of. And you yourself have imparted. But even still after you became a Christian and had set apart your life. How you could ever think of me a dowdy old school marm as anything desirable." "Now you just hush up Emma Lynn. Why I started praying for you the day I asked Jesus to save me. And that day you took a tumble down that there hill. Well I just knowed I t was Gods answer. Why from the moment my rough work worn hands reached down and touched the edge of your itty bitty fingers I knew we was destined. But I wasn’t so sure that you would be seeing it my way. Why I do recall thinking that you were an angel come to take me to heaven. how was I a gruff man who half the cove still feared, ever going to convince you that I was worthy. I can still recall lifting you up in my arms and carrying you through the clearing. The birds were singing there sweet songs and the gentle breeze was carrying down the tinted leaves making a right pretty little path to step on. I felt like Jesus walking through Jerusalem. I was just awaiting for some branch to fall down and strike me there." As I sat there searching for words to utter to this man who held onto my heartstrings this ! ! man that I was willing to sacrifice all comfort and security for, suddenly it all became clear. "Dearest when I look at you through this mirror all the years fly away. What I see staring back at me is the man that has brought me all the joy I could handle on earth, all the peace that a human package could supply. You are that fine figure of a mountain man that can lift me up to the highest heights. That jolly man who can help me laugh away my despair. You are that shine on the edges of this piece of glass. You are in a word a Gift. And no matter the look to the world there is nothing I would trade it for!" "Well Mrs. Taylor you are the apple of this Ol’’ birds eye!" The End!