Title: New Awakenings Author: Heather Disclaimer: The beautiful words of Christy are owned by the LeSourd family. I am in no way seeking profit from this story. Chapter 1 Summary: The story begins the day after Neil's prayer and confession. It was that feeling that you always get when the sun is shining in your window but you still don't want to get up. I opened my eyes and pulled the covers up to my chin. There was a gentle rap at the door and then I remembered. I really hoped this wasn't Neil. I felt kind of shy even though Neil didn't know that I had heard his prayer. The sound of another knock brought be out of my dream. The door slowly opened and Neil stuck his head in. "I was going to check up on you." He stood there pulling on the ends of his hair. I had never known him to not have anything to say before. This was something new. "How are you feeling," Neil asked. I kept the covers up to my chin and snuggled down even farther under the covers. "I'm felling much better." "Well I guess I better go. I have to check up on some of my other patients," said Neil. I knew I had to say something. "Neil?" "Yes?" "Thank you." I said. Neil just kept his head down and nodded. As he walked out the door I said, "I know you didn't leave my side the whole time I was sick. Thank you." He turned around and gave me that look that I never can understand. Right then we heard Miss Alice yell up the stairs. "Neil, thee must come down here this instant." Neil gave me one quick look and bolted down the stairs. I wished I had the strength to get up to see what the commotion was. Just then I heard a gunshot. The first thing I thought was, "What happened to Neil?" Chapter 2 Summary of Chapter 1: Neil checks up on Christy. There is a commotion down stairs and Christy hears a gunshot. She wonders what happened to Neil. "I have to get downstairs." I said outloud. I pushed the covers back from me and swung my feet to the floor. I felt a little weak but to my surprise I could stand fairly well. By the time I made it to the door I wasn't so sure I had made a wise choice. If I had to crawl down those stairs I would. I stopped at the top of the stairs to listen to what was happening. Everything was quiet. I quietly made my way down the stairs and the sight I saw made my stomach churn. Standing in the doorway was a dirty man I had never seen before. He was holding a gun aimed at Neil who was laying on the floor with blood running down his arm. Neil said, "Please don't do this." And then I heard the gun cock. In that very instant I knew what I had to do. With all the strength I had I ran and collapsed in front of Neil. I waited for the gunshot with my eyes tightly shut. It seemed like forever and then I heard it. But I never felt anything. I looked up and saw Miss Alice with her gun. Miss Alice said, "I am a Christian woman but I will not tolerate someone breaking in and shooting people. How dare you come to a God fearing place and harm His servants. You are only bringing harm to yourself because God see's you." At this the man dropped his gun and fell next to it. "All I wanted was some food. I ain't got no work and my youngin's are sick and hongry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Miss Alice looked at him with so much compassion. "The mission is here to help. Why did thee not ask for it?" All the man could say was, "I cain't be beholdin." I raised up and looked at the man. He was no longer the filthy, mean man I had seen at first, but a man whose dirty face had been washed clean by tears of repentance. "God sent us here to help others and isn't that what we are all supposed to do? He told us to love one another and help them, just as He loves us." I said. "He cain't love me." The man said, still crying. I felt Neil sitting up behind me. "Yes He can." Neil said. "I was just like you not too long ago. I didn't think I needed God. I only needed myself. But the real reason was that I didn't believe that He would love me. But a vary strong young lady showed me differently. I looked up at Neil and all I saw was eyes brimming with tears of love. I finally knew what that look was. Since Neil hadn't said anything about his prayer once I had woken up I thought it might have been a dream, but now I knew it was real. "Would thee like God's forgiveness?" Miss Alice asked. All the man could do was nod his head. "All thee must do is ask Him." Miss Alice knealt beside the man. "Dear Father, this young man has come to You with many troubles. We just ask You to take them away and make him new." "Oh God, please come into my bad sinful heart and make me a good person." The man said, crying. Miss Alice stood up and pulled the man to his feet and said, "I believe He already has. If thee will come with me into the kitchen then we can get thee some food for thee and thy family." "Neil, I will get thy bag and we shall see to thy arm." "I'm fine Alice, I'm more worried about Christy." Neil said with a worried look at me. "Really Neil, I am fine besides you can't do anything with your arm like that. You can check me after we fix that arm of yours." "We?" Neil asked. "Yes we, Doctor. Don't you think I've been in the Cove long enough to be able to stand a little bit of blood?" I answered back. "Well, I see you are feeling a little better." Neil laughed. "I do have the best doctor around, don't I?" I smiled. "That you do, Lass. That you do. Can I ask you one question?" Neil looked serious now. "Sure," I said. I knew what was coming but I didn't know if I had the courage to answer him. "Why did you put yourself in front of me like that?" Neil asked. "I...umm...wasn't sure if you were ready to die. I know where I will go if I die but I didn't know for sure where you would go and I knew you still needed that chance to decide." I kept my eyes on the floor. "You weren't sure?" Neil asked softly. "Well I heard your prayer but you didn't say anything about it after I woke up so I was beginning to think it was just a dream." I said in barely a whisper. "Oh, Christy." Neil came over to me, picked me up and gave me a hug. He sat down on the sofa and looked at me. "I love you so much, Christy." He gently touched my cheek. I put my hand over his on my cheek and said, "I love you too, Neil." It took him one second to close the gap between us and I felt his lips on mine. The fierceness yet softness of his kiss sent shivers up my spine. He pulled away leaving me breathless. "We should get you back upstairs," Neil said. He stood up with me in his arms and kissed me once more. Just then David ran through the door. "I was coming in from El Pano........." David stopped dead in his tracks. "What is going on?" He asked, glaring at Neil and I. "David, I have to tell you something." I said, not knowing exactly how to tell him. Chapter 3 Author: Heather Feedback would really be appreciated! I hope you are enjoying this story as much as I am writing it. Disclaimer: The beautiful words of Christy, written by Catherine Marshall, are owned by the LeSourd family. I am in no way seeking profit for this fanfic. The continuation of Christy is for the author's and readers' benefit only. Any additional characters were invented by the author. Summary of Chapter 2: A mountain man becomes a Christian with the help of Miss Alice, Christy, and Neil. David comes in from El Pano and catches Neil and Christy kissing. David just stood there staring at me. "I thought you could do better than this, Christy! Look at him. He's an old hillbilly mountain man." David fumed. I did just what David said. I looked at Neil and smiled at him then back at David. "I am looking at Neil and I don't see anything in him that you said. David, Neil is not that much older than you. And as for him being a hillbilly, what exactly is your definition of a "hillbilly". It is certainly not Neil, he's a Doctor! Yes, he is a mountain man and I am proud that he is. That makes me love Neil and the mountains even more because he is a part of them." I had not looked away from Neil the whole time I was talking. It was as if I were only talking to him and no one else. Neil just smiled back at me. I ran my finger across the smile lines on his face and mouthed "I love you!" A disgusted grunt from David brought me back to the present problem. David's face was so hardened it frightened me. "Well, I hope you will be happy!" David said and turned mechanically out the door. "Oh, Neil! Why can't David be happy for us?" I asked as Neil settled me in my bed once we were upstairs. "Christy, you will just have to give him time. If had to give you up I would be angry too." Neil said with a smile as he pinched my nose. "Neil, your arm! We need to get it bandaged." I said with concern. "Well, Doctor Huddleston, as me being the more experienced doctor I believe you need to rest and I think Alice and I can manage just fine." Neil said with a laugh. "I know but I would feel better if I could help you." I said shyly. "I would too, but you really need your rest. I will come check on after I get fixed up." Neil bent down and gave me a soft kiss. I responded with more ferver than I thought I had in me. Neil pulled back and laughed. "I guess you aren't as weak as I thought." I smiled shyly and kissed the end of his nose. "I'm much stronger than you think Neil." "I have no doubt about that, Lass." Neil laughed and then was gone. As I laid there I tried to sleep but I kept thinking about David. I knew I would have to mend things. With that troubling thought I slipped off into a fitful sleep. Chapter 4 Author: Heather Hi everyone! I decided I would go ahead and finish my fanfic! Although I'm trying to catch a few snipits of time here and there, I can't guarantee how often I can post chapters. I will try not to keep everyone hanging though! I hope you enjoy it! Feedback would REALLY be appreciated!!! Disclaimer: The beautiful words of Christy, written by Catherine Marshall, are owned by the LeSourd family. I am in no way seeking profit from this story. It is just a continuation of the original story written for my benefit. David paced his bunkhouse floor for most of the night. "How could this happen? You were supposed to win her heart! Why didn't God give me what I asked for? I really have no purpose for living now!" All of these thoughts flowed constantly through David's mind and with all his knowledge he couldn't seem to come up with any answers. Suddenly there was a knock at his door. David strode to the door fearing who might be on the other side at this time of night. "Miss Alice? Is something wrong?" David said as he opened the door. "No, David. There is not anything wrong with us in the mission but I do believe there is something wrong with thee." Miss Alice looked at David with one of those Quaker looks. "How did you know?" David seemed very perplexed. "I knew about Neil and Christy long before anyone even realized it so I watched thee to see thy response. It is very evident that thou art hurt." "Yes I am, and it's my right to be angry." David fumed. "David, how can thee lead a congregation when thy heart is not right? Have thee thought about why it did not work out the way you might have wanted it? God has a reason for everything he does and we must not question His will for our lives. I want thee to reflect on your time here and what God has taught you. If you then know beyond a doubt that you have been wronged, then you can be angry. But I believe that you will find out that you can not be angry with anyone but yourself." Miss Alice was clearly not holding back and she could tell by the look in David's eyes, he knew she was exactly right. "Miss Alice would you pray for me?" David asked with pleading eyes. "I have already been praying for thee, David. As Miss Alice gently closed the door behind her she saw David kneeling by his bed side to pray. Early the next morning David rose with a lightened heart. He felt so much better after his talk with Miss Alice and spending the rest of the night in prayer and meditation. He decided he must talk to Neil and Christy together. As David headed for the mission house he saw Neil's horse already tethered to the post. He looked up to Christy's window and saw Neil and Christy sitting hand in hand on the balcony talking. And for the first time in a long while he was not even jealous at seeing them together. He knew this would be a good day. Chapter 5 coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!