Title: "Tall Enough To Be My Woman" a Neil/Ida love story!
Author: peachmyst peach

Disclaimer:  The beautiful story and words of Christy by Catherine
Marshall are owned by the LeSourd family.  This is just for
entertainment.

Author's note:  This is just a short fanfiction, things the way
I'd like them to happen.  Enjoy!  Part 14 of "Christy's Toothache"
will be posted in the next few days.

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"TALL ENOUGH TO BE MY WOMAN"   A NEIL/IDA LOVE STORY

Doctor Neil MacNeill strolled toward the mission.  He carried
a bunch of wildflowers in his left hand.  He saw Reverend David
Grantland sitting on the porch, drinking a cup of coffee.

"Morning, David." Neil said.

"Go away, Doc.  Christy's in Asheville visiting her parents and
Dr. Hart.  She'll be back in a week. Something about having her
mother's heirloom wedding dress fitted.  It's too late for flowers,
Doc, remember?"  said David. "Christy is going to be Addison's
Christmas bride.  And then Addison becomes the cove's very first
dentist."

"Oh, that's right."  remembered Neil.  "If Christy and Addison
ever have a baby boy, will they name him Addanotherson?" joked
Neil.

"And if they have a daughter, will she be named Addagirl?" laughed
David.

Neil chortled.

"Very funny, Reverend.  Christy chose Addison over us and he's a
good man.  When he came to Cutter Gap and I saw them together, I
knew it was right.  We both lost out on Christy.  Heartbreaking,
isn't it?" laughed the doctor.

"Not for me.  I like that library lady over in El Pano, name is
Sherry.  She makes me laugh."  answered David, smiling at
the doctor.

"David, these flowers are for Miss Ida.  She knows that the way
to a man's heart is through his stomach. If I had married Christy,
I'd had starved.  She is a rotten cook." said Neil.

"So, it's courtin' season for my sister.  Tell me, doc, are your
intentions honorable?" asked David.

"Entirely, I intend to marry your sister as soon as she will have
me.  We'll be brothers-in-law, Reverend!" replied Neil.

The two men laughed loudly.

Ida peeked out the mission door.

"What's all this laughing I hear?"  she asked gaily.

Neil handed her the flowers.

"Did you save some coffee for me, lass?" he asked Miss Grantland.

Ida brought the flowers to her nose.  She inhaled their scent.

"Why Doctor MacNeill, what a surprise!  Come on in, I made your
favorite breakfast. I was hoping you'd be hungry this morning."
said Ida.

Neil and Ida walked into the mission house. Ida pointed to his
place at the table.  Neil sat down.

Ida went into the kitchen.  She returned with a stack of pancakes.
She put them on the table in front of Neil.  She poured him a
cup of steaming hot coffee.  Then she turned to go back to the
kitchen.

"Don't leave, Ida.  Sit with me for awhile." begged Neil.

Ida sat down across from Neil.  He examined her face and smiled
at her.

"Ida, your eyes are the color of coffee without milk.  I never
noticed before." cajoled Neil. "Suddenly I prefer deep, dark
lovely eyes."

Ida smiled at the doctor.

"Why Doctor MacNeill, you flatter me." said Ida shyly.

"Well, Ida, my stomach is telling me that nothing compares to the
beauty of this tall, fluffy stack of pancakes, except the tall,
fluffy woman who cooked them for me."  opined Neil.

"Oh, Doctor!" said Ida.  "I hoped you would enjoy them."

Neil finished the stack of pancakes.  He finished his coffee.
Then he took a deep breath.

"Miss Ida, I think it's time for us to do some courtin'... see if
we can get married soon."  offered Neil.

Ida smiled at the doctor.

"I would love that, Doctor MacNeill." returned Ida.

"Could you find it in your heart to call me Neil?"  asked the doctor.

"Neil...Neil, would you like another cup of coffee?" asked Ida.

Neil walked around the table.  He took Ida's hand and pulled her
up so that they stood face to face.

"I'd rather dance around the room and stare into your coffee without
milk colored eyes, Miss Ida."  Neil said gallantly.

Neil hummed a Scottish folksong as he took Miss Ida into his burly
arms to dance around the room.  Ida was tall enough to look
right into Neil's eyes.  Neil thought to himself, this is my woman!


THE END
nd the room.  Ida was tall enough to look
right into Neil's eyes.  Neil thought to himself, this is my woman!


THE END