DISCLAIMER: Catherine Marshall's beautiful story of Christy is owned by the LeSourd family. I am in no way seeking profit or credit for her story. I am continuing the story of Christy for my own amusement only. Any additions in story line and characters were invented by the writer. Title: The Dance of Love Author: Cristina The whims of Mother nature seemed to emulate the often tumultuous course of love on this particular Valentine's Day in Cutter Gap. The beaming midday sun was in sharp contrast to the dour and stormy gray sky that had hung over the Smokey Mountains for most of the morning. Christy felt rejuvenated as she looked up and soaked in the rays of the radiant sun above her and glanced at the vibrant colors of the mountains all around her. The light and carefree trot of Christy's horse perfectly matched her mood, as she rode back home. Although she had ridden this path many times, a feeling of exhilaration would still over take her as she soaked in the majesty of her mountains. These mountains and their people, who had called to that young girl so long ago, had filled her life with happiness, beyond her wildest dreams. Christy loved these mountains and these people to the very core of her soul and couldn't imagine a more contented life. Christy then nudged the trotting horse into a faster gallop when she spied one of the sources of her contentment looming in the distance. The break in the weather had been too tempting for Neil not to indulge in some fly-fishing. The sight of Neil in his fishing cap and waders brought a broad smile to Christy's face. Some of the most meaningful encounters that she ever had with her husband throughout the years that they had known each other had been when Neil was fly-fishing. Christy gently led her horse to the front of the cabin and tethered him to the post. She then went up onto the porch to greet Amelia and Iris who were deeply engrossed in a game. Upon seeing Christy, Amelia and Iris ran to embrace her. " Iris just taught me a brand new game. Do you want to play too mommy?" Amelia inquired as she looked up at her mother. Maybe later sweetheart, right now I think that I might do some fishing with daddy." "OK mommy, I'll show you and daddy how to play later." "Sounds good to me", replied Christy as Amelia and Iris went back to their game. Christy then picked up the spare fishing rod leaning against the wall of the cabin and went to where Neil was. Resting her pole on the ground by the river's edge, Christy made her presence known by slowly reaching out her hand and gently brushing an unruly lock of hair away from his face. Upon feeling her touch, Neil's eyes immediately met hers and a loving smile came across his face. Over the years this familiar gesture had become so endearing to him, that he felt his heart beat faster and a warmth over take his entire being, each time he felt her touch. "Do you realize in the over eight years that I've known you that hair has never once stayed put?" Chisty said with a chuckle. "Aye but if it stayed put its dance with you would be over and it would be a pity. For what a lovely dance it is." "You and your dancing metaphors, so is this another case of the dance is more important than the frying pan," laughed Christy. "But of course. Surely you will concede Mrs. MacNeil that in all the journeys that we take throughout the course of our lives, the destination is merely the sum of the paths that led to it. Therefore how we got there is just as important as, if not more important than where we wound up." Christy's wrinkled up nose and the confused look in her eyes showed Neil that she wasn't conceding anything. Neil then put down his fishing pole and took her in his arms. Twirling her around he then said, "Let me put it this way then, would our marriage be nearly as wonderful if we hadn't danced as friends first. Oh my love I wanted to take you in my arms, since the first day we met. But I wanted so much more for us than stolen kisses in the moonlight. I wanted to get to know everything about you. What you think and feel. What your dreams are. And I wanted you to really know me too. My hasty and failed marriage to Margaret had taught me the valuable lesson that the friendship dance is a necessary prelude to that journey down that isle. With each encounter with you I felt a real understanding and trust grow between us. You supported my dreams and believed in me like no one ever had before. That stormy night in my lab when you asked why I couldn't have as much faith in myself as you had in me, you touched my heart more than you could ever know. With each passing day our friendship became so very precious to me, especially when I saw that you trusted me with your deepest thoughts and concerns as much as I trusted you. I know I'm not an easy man to get to know Christy, especially back then when my soul was in such a tortured state. But you never gave up on me, even when I'd given up on myself. You became the best friend that I'd ever had and gradually as our connection deepened you became so much more to me. I knew that I wanted to share my life with you and support you in your dreams, which had become as important as my own." "I love that idealistic fire in you Christy and your commitment to the people in the cove. I knew you would do great things here and be an instrument for wondrous change. So many times when we spoke I challenged you because although I admire Alice as much as you do, I didn't want to just hear her words coming out of your mouth. I wanted to hear you. That day outside the schoolhouse when I asked you what you believe I really wanted to know what you believed. I must also confess lass; your quick mind made a delightful dance partner in our verbal sparing. So you see Christy the dance that led us here was ever so much more important than the resulting frying pan. Because the flame of love underneath was kindled and maintained by the friendship dance that preceded it." As Neil spoke these words, Christy's entire face was aglow with appreciation for her husband. She adored this sensitive and contemplative side of him. Beneath that muscular and commanding exterior lay such a gentle and caring soul. The way Neil's thoughtful words mingled with that Scottish consonance of his was truly poetic. Except that Neil's words were more than flowery prose. They spoke of a man who truly understood and appreciated that true marital love is built on the highest level of friendship between a husband and wife. Looking up at the love emanating from his hazel eyes, Christy regarded her husband lovingly and said, "very well, my beloved husband and dearest friend I concede your point and may I say that I couldn't imagine a more skillful partner to dance with." With these words Christy gave Neil a quick wink and a knowing smile and then in a soft voice said "I love you so much Neil." Neil responded in kind and said "I luv you more and more with the passing of each day Christy MacNeil. Happy Valentine's Day my beloved." Pulling her closer to him Neil and Christy skillfully moved their feet in unison along the river's edge and delighted in their marital waltz. The depths of their dance of love kept the spirit of Valentine's Day with them always. The End!