Title: Matter of the Heart Author: Melissa Chapter 1 Disclaimer: The Christy story belongs to the Marshall/LeSourd clan, i ain't trying to make no money off'n this here story. So don't sue me. I ain't got nuttin. ************************************************************ Christy looked from one to the other. She felt the butterflies in her stomach start to return. This is crazy, she told herself. I'm not in high school anymore, why do I feel this way??? She looked at David, his white shirt and dark black pants neatly pressed as if he were ready for a Sunday service. Then she looked at Neil, his eyes, what was in them, Shock, hurt, fear, or pain? She couldn't tell. Neil's hair was messy as usual, but there was something about him that she couldn't quite pinpoint. The ground beneath her seemed to sway. "Excuse me, " She managed to say as she ran to her room in the mission house. Why had she done that? She hadn't run to her room in awhile, for several months at least. With a sigh she threw herself on her one pillow and began to cry. I feel so stupid, I'm crying like a lovesick teenager! As what sometimes happens when lovesick maidens cry, Christy fell asleep. In her sleep she had a very unusual dream. Several young men were on a stage, jumping around and singing. She saw a name on a banner, Brother's Keeper. Brother's Keeper, isn't that what God wanted Cain to be? One of the group's songs came to her loud and clear: The Heart of the Matter Is the Matter of the Heart. To save a world that's dying Is the only place to start. We can sway one's opinion, Turn their point of view. But only 'till the heart is changed Can the old become the new. Christy woke up very confused and feeling the need to talk with a trusted, dear friend. I don't feel to good either she told herself, as she got up, the room seemed to pitch and sway also. ************************************************************ Part 2 Meanwhile, outside.... Neil chuckled. "Well, Reverend, that's strike two." "She didn't say NO" "She didn't say YES either. If you ask my opinion I'd say Miss Huddleston looked a bit green when you showed her the ring." "Make jokes if you want Doctor MacNeill, I'm going in their to talk with her." Neill silently followed David into the mission house. In the air was a strange odor, Neil recognized it. "Grantland, pull up the quarantine flag. Someone is seriously ill." Alice Henderson walked in the room. "Neil, what did I hear thee say about a quarantine flag?" "Do you smell that, Alice." "Yes, now I do." "That is the smell of typhoid." "Typhoid!!!" "Calm down, Reverend, it may just be the smell of Ruby Mae's burnt possum, no need to panic until we find out for sure." A strange yet familiar sound filled the air. Miss Alice ran up the stairs to the source. David and Neil heard her say: "Let it all out, you'll be alright in a minute, lie down dear." Then they heard a very familiar voice. "Miss Alice? I'm not feeling too well." *********************************************************************************************************************** Summary: Christy is feeling abit under the weather, and ("offstage") has what my physiology book coined: "an alteration in intestinal motility"-in other words she vomited. (BTW, I've always wondered, is there a polite way to say "vomit"???) *********************************************************** Chapter 3 Christy, now laying down with a cool cloth on her forehead, waited for Miss Alice to return. I feel so guilty, I'm such a burder to Miss Alice now, the children are still out there and they need a teacher, I hope this is just a 24 hour bug. She remembered getting various colds and fevers and ear infections as a child, but it had been nearly a year since she was last sick. It can't be too bad, she told herself, I'll just take a nap and everything will be fine. Her mouth still had that wonderful taste of vomit and something else she couldn't identify. I'll go downstairs for a glass of water, she told herself. The moment Christy began to shakily descend the stairs she was greeted with an all too familiar male voice. "Christy Rudd Huddleston!!!" She turned to face a very upset Doctor MacNeill. ************************************************************ Chapter 4 Summary:Christy is feeling a bit under the weather. ************************************************************ "Hello Doctor, I feel fine now." "Christy…." "I assure you, it was probably just something I ate. The children need me." "Christy….." "I don't have time to argue with you, Doctor." "For cryin' out loud, woman, you're not letting me get a word in edgewise." Christy started to protest, but Doctor MacNeill held up a hand. "Let me finish, Christy, you may be sicker than you realize and until we know for sure, you are exiled to your room." Christy glowered. "Doctor, I have 67 pupils out there who don't have a teacher, they NEED me." "I'll substitute teach for you." "I can't ask you do to that, what if you need to attend to a patient." David walked into the room. "Feeling better, Christy? Would you allow me to escort you to the schoolhouse?" "Grantland, I'd like to speak to you for a moment in private." Neil and David walked outside. Neil took several deep breaths and tried to explain calmly. "It's as simple as this, Reverend. If Christy teaches we will have a typhoid epidemic on our hands. We need a substitute teacher. " "I'll teach, gladly." "Actually, Reverend, I thought it best if I taught the children. My rendition of the story of 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' was well received." "When I teach, Doctor, the children appear to greatly improving their math and bible skills. I'm already teaching John Spencer Trigonometry. "Trigonometry, eh? Let's make a bet, Reverend. I will teach for 1 week and you will teach the next, whomever the children like better will teach until Christy is well enough to do so." "You have a deal, doctor." ************************************************************ Chapter 5 Christy, meanwhile, sent Ruby Mae to get Miss Alice. She knew she could trust the older woman’s council. Lying down on the bed, she closed her eyes and remembered her strange dream. “The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.” I suppose that means that the important thing is what’s in my heart. “To save a world that’s dying is the only place to start.” What did that mean? She skipped it. “We can sway one’s opinion, turn their point of view” Dr. MacNeill was not a Christian, did that mean she needed to point him down the path so he too could become one? “But only until the heart is changed can the old become the new.” “Lord, Christy prayed, I’m not sure what this dream means, or if it even has any meaning. But if you have some purpose for giving me this dream, will you show me your purpose?” She heard a knock at the door. “Come in, Miss Alice.” “How is thee feeling?” “If you’re asking if I’m going to vomit again then the answer is no. I’m feeling a little bit better.” “Christy, were where thee last week.” “At the Coburns. Lety was sick and I helped Bessie tend to her mother.” “How was Lety sick?” “She looked feverish, her tongue was brown though. Don’t feverish tongues get white? Kyle was trying to get some moonshine down her throat. I sent him outside to fetch two pails of water and told Bessie to rub her mother’s head with a cold cloth.” All throughout Christy’s description of the Coburns Miss Alice listened intently. She didn’t wish to alarm Christy, but Alice knew the mission would have to be quarantined if it was typhoid that Christy had caught………………………. Chapter 6 Summary, Christy is sick, David and Neil have a bet. ************************************************************ Neil walked into the school room. He was 30 minutes early, but he needed to prepare for his classes. He looked at the walls, new yet already showing spots of tobacco stains. Neil fiddled with his own pipe, but did not light it. The children would be arriving soon. He had already told them the story of Bonny Prince Charlie, what else could he tell them. He smiled. He knew exactly what story to tell the children. After the story, they would go on a walk and play highlander games. Not like baseball, that "All-American sport" was invented by wimps. The lack of Neil's expertise in that sport reinforced his opinion. Then what was that new sport? Basketball, that was it. It was even wimpier than baseball. All the "official" courts were INDOORS. Only 5 men could play at a time. You dribbled a wee ball and ran to a 10 foot high pole with a wee basket. It will never catch on. He assured himself. "Doc MacNeill, Scalawag's done gone to become a girl." "How so, Creed." "Well, last night I heard Scalawag squalering somethin' awful. I went outside to check on 'im and there he was. Just a-curled up with 6 young'uns. What is we doin' today, Doc? Where's Miz Christy?" "We are going to hear a story, go on a walk and play some highland games." "And Latin?" "And Latin." "Miz Christy taught me a mighty fine Latin phrase. 'E Pluribus Unum.' Ye know what hit means, Doc?" "Yes, 'One Made From Many'" The other children were entering the classroom. Neil clapped his hands for attention. "All right, children. Time for me to tell you a story." Judging by the grins of the youngsters, Neil had a feeling that this story was going to be a hit. ************************************************************ Part 7 ************************************************************ Summary: Neil is teaching school. Christy is sick and talking with Miss Alice. Note: The passages were taken from the New International Version (NIV) ************************************************************ David paced the bunkhouse anxiously, he glanced at his watch and noted that it was five after two. Pushing some theology books aside on his bed, he flopped down on it with a sigh. Something hard hit him on the back of his head. Reaching an arm back to find the offending object, he saw the bible that Ida had given him before he left for seminary. Opening it, he felt an inner impulse to look at several scriptures. The first passage was Romans 12:9-16. "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep you spriitual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in afflicion, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who morun. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be wiling to associate with people of low position." "Could it be?" David thought to himself. Could my belief in my supposed 'superiority' over these people actually be hindering God's plan for myself and them." The second was 1 Corinthians 13 1-13. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. IF I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily anger, it keeps no record of wrongs. Lvoe does nto delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, the will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a chil! ! d. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." This was a bit more shocking to the preacher as he realized that the 'love' he had felt for Christy was lust. He had given her an ultimatum. Marry me now or I'll never ask you again. "Dear Lord, forgive me for the way I have treated Christy. I was wrong, I should have loved her with the love you showed us, but I was a fool, and I neglected your command." David knew that he must ask Christy's forgiveness as well, but something inside held him bag to read one more passage. Finally, he turned to 1 Timothy 4 12-16 & 5 1-2 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your live and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat youger men as brothers, old women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with abosolute purity." David bowed his head in shame. What kind of a preacher was he? Was he even meant for the minstry? After the way he had treated the people of Cutter Gap, after the way he had treated Christy, why would anyone want him to preach? He gently set his theology books beside his cot, and placed the black bible on top, pieces of black ribbon marking the passages that had had such an effect on him. Sleep claimed the young minister, and he drifted off to dreamland. People making out in the back of automobiles, sleeping together in subway tunnels, even on technicolor movie screens he saw lust. He saw many people watching, condoning these things. He saw others jeering and critisizing those who cried out for a spiritual revival, for a revolution of sexual purity. He saw men standing in courts, defending the rights of teenage rapists, and widespread use of profanity. He saw homosexuality and the lust that accompanied it becoming accepted.... "NOOOOOO!!!" He screamed. "DEAR LORD, MAY IT NEVER BE!!!!" He calmed down and prayed, or should things come to pass that way, allow your plan bring good of that evil, call people to take a stand for you, for purity..." A calm began to come over the young minister, as he began to truly realize the grace, the love and the awesomeness of God. ************************************************************ Chapter 8 Synopsis: Christy is ill, David has a divine revelation, Neil is teaching the school. ************************************************************ Christy sighed and leaned back on her comfortable white pillow. Her room had been stripped while she had napped, and she had no idea who had done the deed. She would discuss it with Neil the moment he came in her room to examine her. Even though David was not one who liked to visit the sick and invalid, he still found time to do little things for her, fluff pillows, pick daisies, He even wrote out some verses of encouragement on little cards as long as her index finger. She wondered how Neil was coping with her students, it tore her heart to pieces that she was ordered: "In bed, do not get up, ring this bell if you need anything." Christy felt a slight pang of guilt, she knew that everyone was busy now. Ruby Mae was married to Will Beck, their marriage had been a surprise, given the fact that most people in the cove had expected Rob Allen and Ruby Mae to 'get hitched'. David was usually very busy, between calling on the residents of Cutter Gap, repairing and maintaing the mission buildings, caring for the horses, preparing sermons. He actually read one of his sermons to her yesterday. Her heart felt like it had been given weeks and was ready to fly. He had asked her to read it again herself and critique it. and Neil...Neil was, as ever, a great mystery to Christy. She had seen in his eyes over and over that he obviously had special feelings for her, she had yet to hear him admit them to her, however. But David, he had safed his salary of twenty-five dollars a month for several months now, and he had bought her a BEAUTIFUL ring. Any other girl would have leapt into his arms, kissed him, and told him 'yes'. But Christy's feelings had been put in turmoil. The Heart of the Matter Is the Matter of the Heart To save a world that's dying Is the only place to start. We can sway one's opinion, Turn their point of view. But only 'till the heart is changed Can the old become the new. Why did those strange song lyrics keep repeating over and over and over again in her mind? She sighed, rang the bell and called Miss Alice. ************************************************************ Chapter 9 ************************************ "Wuz the story, Doc? wuz the story?" "Sit in your seats, children, and I'll tell you." They sat, but were wiggling with excitement. "Once upon a time..." "Doc, we heard all them fairy tales, we don't need ya to tell us one." "What makes you think this is a 'fairy tale', Creed?" "THey always begin that way, and they always end with a man and woman kissin' Vow and declare, I ain't ever a-gonna do THAT!" Neil was amused. "A man lay in his bed, dreaming a beautiful dream. This man dreamed of a future wife, brown haired, eyes that shone like stars..." "Doc shure is sweet-on Miz Christy." Ruby Mae whispered to Zady Spencer. Neil ignored that. "They had three children, 2 girls and a boy." "Doc...I gotta go, ken I go Doc?" "All right, Sam Houston. I'll wait on the story till you return." Sam Houston was back in 3 minutes. With Neil's keen observation, he noticed...raccoon fur...on the boy's shirt. He frowned, he was pretty sure that Christy had prohibited Creed from bringing Scalawag to school. Wait...she had...she had come over to his cabin, upset that Creed and the other children would occasionally sneak their pets in their desks or near the school. "So, one day, when the young man was at school he saw the prettiest girl in the world, and..." "He threw a spitball at her." Creed supplied. "I'uns don't like girls, and no feller in their right mind would." "What about your mother? Don't ya like her?" "Waa-al, she's a...um...a..Mama, thets it. A mama. Mama's ain't, weren't, and cain't never be girls. Hits an unspoken rule, Doc." Creed looked so serious at his explaination that it was all Neil could do not to chuckle. "Lets finish the story now. He swapped howdies with the girl. THey fell in love and were married. But the man was not happy. He had to be away from home frequently, and his wife could not accept that. So one night, he came home to find her gone...forever. She never returned." Lulu Spencer thought that she saw the slightest of tears form in Doc MacNeill's eyes, but then they hardened. "And nothing can change it. She will never return." He added, as if to convince himself." That's the story. That's all of the story I can tell you now, anyway, perhaps I'll finish it later." "Doc, thet were one sad story." Zady said. "Ken we go out now, Doc, ya promised to take us on a nat-ure walk." Little Burl carefully ennunciated "nature." "All right, let's go on that walk." ************************************************************ Matter of the Heart by Melissa Ch. 10 I make no money off this. Do not sue me. I have nothing. I give every spare dime to the Illinois gas prices. For those of you who are fans of Neil's accent, I will not attempt to write it at this time. Sound it in your own heads. ****************************** "Doc? Why are you starin' at them birds? Them's jest plain 'ol songbirds is all." "Because, Sam Houston, they're singing in harmony...." The doctor got lost in reflection as he remembered his dear parents, whose own marriage, while it had it's rough parts, was often a harmonious song sung only through the love and support that a husband and wife should give eachother. "My hound-dog Whirlwind ken sing better 'n that. Anyway look at 'em fool head birds just flying in circles around another. They gonna fight?" "No, its a courtship dance. The boy bird is trying to win the heart of the girl bird. Then they'll marry." "Someone oughta tell that thar boy bird that mush is only fer wimmin and addlepated sissies." "I thought that way when I was your age." "Ya did? How come you's sweet on Miz Christy then. She's nice and all, but I don't want her to marry." "Why not, Sam Houston." The boy looked at him with solemn eyes. "She'll leave us, Doc." *************************************** "Miss Alice, I keep having the strangest dream. There were men...about late 20s early 30s maybe, and they were jumping around on a stage, singing the most peculiar song. "The Heart of the Matter, is the Matter of the Heart, to save a world that's dying is the only place to start, we can sway one's opinion, turn their point of view, but only 'till the heart is changed can the old become the new" Miss Alice looked at the feverish teacher, then called for Ruby Mae. "Get warm blankets, and bring them to me. We have to keep her warm." "But Miss Alice, feel her forehead, she's a-burnin'." "All the more reason to keep her covered. She feels like she's burning, but if we uncover her, she'll take a chill. Christy, I took the liberty of having Ruby Mae make some soup. It should be edible. I supervised." "Miss Alice, I don't understand the song." Thee must not worry about thy dreams. Thee must rest. We will talk when thee is better." Miss Alice walked downstairs and ladeled out chicken soup into a small bowl. She came upstairs to deal with a superstitious Ruby Mae shouting: "Lord, have mercy, forgive Miz Christy's sins...don't let the Devil make her sick like this.." "Ruby Mae, calm down child. It is not the wrath of God which has made Miss Huddleston ill." "But my Mama says...." "Ruby Mae, I want you begin boiling hot water, we will help Miss Huddleston bathe later." Miss Alice shook her head, while the red-headed teenager had prayed with good intentions, her theology was a bit off. She knew that Christy needed quiet and peace to recover. She walked over to the bed. "Open your mouth, Miss Huddleston." "I've never understood, Miss Alice," the teacher said between gulps of soup "how you can loathe soup and yet enjoy forcing others to eat it." "It's one of the benefits of being Alice Henderson." "I wish I could think of benefits to being Christy Huddleston. It seems that whenever I try to do something, it always backfires on me." "If the Lord had made us all perfect, Christy, we would have no need to reach out to eachother for help, and especially no need for His help. You have done much good, child. You are not unlike a toddler who, after helping his mother plant seeds in a garden, digs the seeds back up to check their progress. Be patient, Christy." ******************************* Chapter 11 A weary Alice walked down the stairs, Christy was sleeping, at least as long as Miss Alice could prevent Ruby Mae to apply any of the local superstitious "cures". Thankfully, Rob Allen had asked Ruby Mae to go for a walk, which Alice interpreted as God's permission for the missionary to rest without worry. As she descended the staircase, Miss Alice caught a powerfully built, masculine shape out of the corner of her eye. She whirled to her left to address it. But by the time she peered over to catch a glimpse of the figure, it had vanished. Alice began to wonder if it was her imagination. "Good afternoon, Alice." Miss Alice jumped. She spun to her right to scold the figure who was obviously enjoying his practical joke. "Neil MacNeill, thee gets too much enjoyment out of startling me." "Actually, I dismissed the school early so I could check on Christy. How is she doing?" "As long as you can keep Ruby Mae out of the room, better. But her symptoms suggest typhoid at an early stage." "My prognosis exactly. If I were to hazard a guess, I would believe that her susceptability to the disease, besides her age and gender, would be to undue stress that she has been put under." "Undue stress" was obviously directed to David, who had just walked in from his bunkhouse. "Say what you like, Doctor. I know I have been wrong in the way I have treated you, and Miss Alice, and the people, and especially Christy." The doctor was, for once in his life, speechless. "Thee has done some soul searching, David?" "Yes, Miss Alice, and I want to apologize to you. I have made this mission, a place where the people of Cutter Gap should learn to know God, into a house of Courtship. I have put my desires first, and therefore I have betrayed your trust. I have sinned against God and you. Could you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Doctor MacNeill muttered something about sitting down to try to figure out what head injury the preacher must have suffered. "No head injury, Doctor," David smiled. "I've just experienced the unconditional love of God. I understand, Doctor, that in these hills apologizing is seen as a weakness, but I want to apologize with you. I have not taken time to get to know you as a friend. I have not tried to respect you for who you are, but tried to make you fit my mold. You are not David Grantland. You are Doctor MacNeill. Doctor, I have sinned against God and you. Will you forgive me?" Alice and David looked at the doctor expectantly. ******************************** Chapter 12 coming soon!