Disclaimer:  The story of Christy belongs to the
Marshall-LeSourd family.   This fiction is written for my
own personal enjoyment.  This story uses themes from the
book, the CBS series and the PAX movies.

Title:  The Hat and the Shirt Author: Mary K.

Chapter One


    William and Julia Huddleston had made plans to visit
some very dear friends who had moved to Washington D.C.
Gilbert and Lucy Davis had invited them to come numerous
times, and since William was feeling so much better
after his stroke, they decided to go.  It was William who
suggested they detour through El Pano to visit Christy
for the weekend and then continue on their journey.

    Christy was thrilled at the news.  The Cove was in
bloom and never looked more beautiful.  The azaleas,
rhododendrun and dogwood were gorgeous.  She hoped  her
mother and father would finally feel the enchantment of
these mountains, now cloaked in their floral splendor.
Her school children picked up on her excitement.

   "Teacher, you look like you know a secret and can't
   wait to tell it," said Creed Allen.

   "It's not a secret, Creed.  My parents are coming for
   a quick visit.  They'll be here Friday afternoon."

   "Why don't we plan a big howdy for 'em,"  said Sam
   Houston.

   "Are they walkin' here?" asked Mountie.

   "No, Mountie.  Reverand Grantland will meet them at
the train station in El Pano.  Mr. Spencer has given us
permission to use his wagon."

   "Well then," said Creed, "we'll put on our Sunday
   go-to-meetin' clothes and meet them at the swing bridge
   on Flat Branch."

   "Your Momma's like a queen," said Ruby Mae.  "We can
   pick her some right pretty flowers."

   "Put a ribbon 'round them too," said Zady.

  "That 'il be right purty," said Lulu.

   Christy tried to settle the class down.  Neil would
be coming soon to give them a science lesson on cells.
He was bringing his microscope and slides to show the
class examples of different kinds of cells.  It would be
a fascinating lesson as usual.

   "Good afternoon, Miss Huddleston, how are you today?" he
   asked her with a smile.

   "Fine, doctor," she replied.  "How are you?"

   "Couldn't be better.  After all, I'm visiting
my favorite school teacher and the best children in
Tennessee."  The children giggled, and Christy tried not
to blush.  Neil picked up on the aura of excitement that
was still present in the room.  "Is there something going
on that I don't know about?" he asked.

   "Shoot, Doc MacNeill,"  said Creed.  "Teacher's parents
   are comin' for a visit on Friday."

   Neil turned to Christy.  "For how long?"

   "Just the weekend.  They're on their way to Washington
   to visit some very dear friends."

   "It will be nice to see them again," said Neil.

   Christy smiled and nodded.  Neil began to set up for
his lesson, and started to teach the class.  Soon it was
all over.  Christy dismissed the children.

   "You were wonderful, as usual, Neil."

   "I'm glad you think so, Christy."  His eyes twinkled.
They were beginning to  ease back into their soft bantering
of each other.  Their comfortablness with each other had
been shattered by Margaret's return last fall.

   "Will you join us for dinner on Friday night?"
   she asked.

   "I'd be delighted, Lass," he said.  "Now I have to check
   on Aunt Hattie.  I need to chop some firewood for her."

  "Thank you, Neil.  The children enjoy your lessons, and
  so do I.  Please give my regards to Miss Hattie."


   "It's my pleasure, Christy," he said warmly.  He left
the schoolroom to go to Charlie.  Little Burl and  Sam
Houston were by the horse.  "What's new boys?"

   "We're gonna have a great big howdy for Miz Christy's
   Momma and Daddy," sasid Little Burl.

   "Really?" asked Neil.

   "Sure 'nuf, Doc," said Sam Houston.  "We're gonna  meet
them by the bridge at Flat Branch when Preacher brings
them from El Pano."

   "Sounds like you'll have a good time," said Neil,
   silently thinking that he's be there coincidentally.

   Christy's mother had sent her three extremely feminine,
frivolous gifts for Easter.  A hat that was totally out
of place in Cutter Gap, a beautifully delicate organdy
shirtwaist, and a robin's egg blue colored gaberdine skirt.
The hat was made of straw, with a ribbon that matched the
color of her skirt and a wreath of silk flowers that were
quite lovely.  Friday was a picture perfect day.  There
were no clouds, the sun was shining and Christy wanted to
look beautiful.  It took her an hour to iron and starch
the shirtwaist in the morning.  She took extra special
care with her hair, and she wore her new, blue skirt.
She dabbed her rose scented perfume on her pulse points.

   When the time came to leave to meet her parents at the
bridge, she put on the hat from her mother.  She looked
absolutely beautiful.  Mountie said she looked like
a princess.  Most of her students silently agreed.
The children were all excited.  The girls had made a
bouquet of flowers and it was tied with a colorful ribbon
which Christy had provided.  She had been pre-occupied
during the day, and never noticed that Scalawag had been
in her class.  Creed tucked the racoon into his shirt.
Along the route, they sang songs, and told some jokes.

   They reached the bridge and stopped to wait for the
wagon.  The bridge was made of wooden planks.  There were
no side walls to the bridge, which was about ten feet wide.
It was Spring, and the water was fast, due to the melting
snow in the upper reaches of the mountains.

   Neil arrived on Charlie and dismounted.  "Good
afternoon," he said.  Christy smiled at him.  "You look
quite fetching, Lass," he said softly.  Christy blushed.

   They heard the sound of the wagon approaching.
The children surged on to the bridge.  Mountie was near the
edge, and asked Christy a question.  Christy moved closer
to Mountie to hear what she had to say.  Creed and Scalawag
stood behind Mountie.  In almost slow motion, Scalawag
leaped from Creed's shirt and jumped on to Christy's hat.
The momentum threw her off balance.  The hat and racoon
slipped off her head, but she fell into the swift current,
screaming.  She could not swim.

End of Chapter One

Chapter 2



    David cried out "Christy!" but he was on the other side
of the bridge. Her parents were horrified. Neil jumped on
Charlie and gave chase.

"Dear God, keep her safe." He didn't realize he was praying
aloud. Neil knew the river well. He rode Charlie as fast
as he could to a point where the water narrowed. He also
knew that Christy would be battered by the rock strewn
water. He was ahead of her, and managed to reach the
narrows before her. She tried to keep her mouth closed,
but fear of drowning made her want to scream for help. She
was afraid. The water was so cold! Neil waded into the
water, praying to God for strength. Just before he caught
Christy, she hit a large boulder. He scooped her in his
strong arms and waded to the bank. He saw that she was
bloodied,bruised and battered.

Gently laying her on the mossy bank, he tried to assess
her injuries. Her ribs were bruised, she had some bleeding
at her right temple. Her left knee was scraped and the
palms of both her hands bore injuries from the rocks in
the river.

"Lass," he crooned softly to her, "are you in a lot
of pain?"

She could see the fear and worry in his eyes. Was it only
a doctor's concern for his patient? "No," she rasped. "I
think I swallowed half of the river, though." She tried
to laugh. "Oh, it hurts, Neil. My sides hurt so! I was
so afraid."

"You've bruised your ribs. I don't feel any broken
bones. Do you think you can sit up?"

He had been leaning over her quite closely. She felt
a strange heat course throughout her body. As he leaned
away to allow her to sit up, she became aware that her new
shirtwaist was now totally transparent from the water! She
gasped, and crossed her arms in front of her, in spite
of the pain in her right shoulder. She went white with
the effort, but her cheeks held their telltale blush of
embarrassment. How he loved her for that! His beautiful
lady, always the lady. Margaret would never have let it
bother her. Hiding a bare hint of a smile at Christy's
worry, Neil went to Charlie and pulled an extra shirt
from his saddlebag. He opened the first two buttons and
gently slipped it over her head. "It's blue, but not the
same color as your skirt."

"Don't make me laugh, Neil MacNeill!" She carefully slipped
her hands into the sleeves. Neil helped her to stand,
then he knelt down to make sure her legs and ankles were
not injured. "Oh what a mess I am! I must look terrible,"
she said tearfully.  Her close ordeal was finally hitting
her. She started to shake and shiver.

Neil looked at her and held her gently in his arms. "You've
never looked more beautiful to me than you do right
now, Lass."  He would have kissed her, but he could hear
the faint sound of voices coming towards them. He knew
that he must not endanger her position or her sense of
propriety. He carefully picked her up and gently placed
her on to Charlie's back.

She leaned against his chest, and felt safe and secure,
surrounded by his strong arms. She was exhausted. "We'll
get back to the Mission, so that Alice and I can treat
your injuries," he said.

That brief, special moment was over. Christy was sorry to
see it go. She felt empty. 'Oh Margaret, you have inflicted
so much pain on us,' she thought.

Charlie kept a slower pace to keep from hurting his
precious load. Some of the older children met them on the
path, all talking at once about their teacher. "I need
to get back to the Mission, children," Neil said. When
they reached the bridge, the Huddleston's were anxiously
waiting, worry etched on their faces. David paled at
Christy's stillness. "I need to get her home to the
Mission," Neil told them. "At this point, I do not think
any of her injuries are life threatening, but she needs
medical attention. Follow as quickly as you can."

Christy opened her eyes and tried to smile at her parents
and David to reassure them that she would be fine. Then
she saw the remnants of the hat on the plank bridge. After
Scalawag finished with it, David must have driven over
it. It was the sorriest sight she had ever seen. God only
knows what her mother paid for it! More than the Allen's
or Spencer's annual income, she imagined. What price
vanity! She clutched Neil's hand as she steeled herself
not to laugh at the hat. Neil followed her line of sight
and saw what was left of the hat. He saw the edges of a
smile on her face. One day they would laugh, but not today.
He turned Charlie toward the path to the Mission. Rob Allen
ran on ahead to alert Miss Alice and his Aunt Fairlight
as to what occurred on the bridge. They would have things
ready when Doc arrived with Miz Christy.

"Just another mile or so, Christy. Hang on, Lass,"
Neil whispered to her. He was afraid she might have
a concussion.


End of Chapter Two

Chapter 3

They had prepared the guest room off the kitchen as a sick
room. Neil carried Christy to the bed. Alice and Fairlight
stood by, waiting for instructions.

"Do you feel nauseous, Christy?"

"No."

"Do you have a headache?"

"I have aches all over. My knee is throbbing." She
coughed. "It hurts to cough, it hurts to laugh. Everything
hurts, Neil."

He looked into her eyes. Her pupils looked normal. She
had a small, bleeding scrape on her right temple, it
wouldn't leave a scar. Her ribs were very badly bruised
and her right shoulder was bruised and swollen. Her knee
was sprained, not broken.

"Christy, over the course of the next few days, you'll
be amazed how your bruises will change color. You'll see
shades of black and blue, purple and yellow that you've
never seen before. You'll have a beautiful shiner around
your right eye.  Christy nodded slowly. "You need to
rest, Lass."

Neil left the room, while Alice and Fairlight undressed
her. Alice, as per Neil's instructions, wrapped her
ribs with bandages, and placed her right arm in a
sling. Fairlight braided her hair. When Neil came back,
he carried a clean shirt, which they helped her put on,
to use instead of a robe.

It was three days since the accident. David had
ended school a few days early, for the Spring planting
break. Christy would not have to worry about her lesson
plans. Christy insisted that her parents continue on their
trip. Neil reassured them that she was not at death's
door. Christy had to rest, sleep, and begin a regimen
of physical therapy. Her parents bid her good-bye and
left. David would take them to El Pano.

Creed Allen was very upset that he caused Teacher to be
hurt. Bob and Mary had yelled at him when they heard about
the accident. Burl told them that Teacher's new bonnet
had been ruined by Scalawag. Creed was told that he had
to apologize to Miss Christy, and help out with chores at
the Mission to pay off the cost of the hat. Creed waited
until Doc MacNeill told him it was all right to visit Miss
Christy. She was sitting up in bed when Creed knocked on
the door. "Come in Creed."

Creed could not believe his eyes when he saw his teacher's
face. Without thinking, he blurted, "Miss Christy, that's
the best shiner I ever did see!" Christy giggled.

"Do you think so, Creed?"

"Yes ma'am. It's a good one." Then he remembered the
purpose of his visit. "Miss Christy, I'm awful sorry about
your hat.  I reckon Scalawag never did see a hat as fine
as that one. I'm sorry it got ruined."

"I thought we had a deal about bringing Scalawag to
school, Creed."

"We did, ma'am. But I figured that Scalawag would want to
be part of the howdy for your Mama and Daddy."

"I accept your apology, Creed. If you ever bring him to
school, you have to tell me. No more surprises. Do we have
a deal?"

"Yes, ma'am!" He scooted out the door.

Alice and Fairlight took care of her physical needs. Her
ribs were still bandaged, but her arm was now out of
the sling.  She continued to use Neil's shirts as a
cover-up. They were roomy and much more comfortable than
her robe. David volunteered the use of his shirts, but
Neil had a much broader build, especially in the shoulder
area. Secretly, she felt it was like having a hug in Neil's
arms. She felt safe and secure, and deep within her being,
loved. It was the unspoken dream of her heart. She was
surrounded by his scent, and loved it.

Back in El Pano, David bid the Huddleston's
good-bye. "She's in good hands," he told them.

"It's the only reason we've decided to continue our trip,"
said William. "We'll call every day to monitor the progress
of our little Miss."

When he returned to the wagon, there was a passenger seated
on the wagon bench. "Good afternoon, Reverand. Will you
kindly give me a ride?"

"Yes," David said.

In the meantime,Christy finished a small bowl of
applesauce. She was not allowed to eat solid foods yet. She
was bored, and hated not being able to get around the
Mission on her own.

Neil came in to check on her. "How's my favorite patient
today?"

"I'm so hungry, Neil, even Ruby Mae's possum surprise
sounds appetizing!" They laughed together. Her sketchbook
was on the coverlet.

"May I take a look?"

"Yes, Neil."

It was a new book, there were only a few sketches. One
was of her father dozing in the chair as he kept a vigil
at her side.  Another was of her mother pensively looking
out the window, her hand touching her chin and throat, with
worry etched on her face. The third sketch was priceless,
absolutely priceless. Neil burst out laughing. It was a
drawing of the remnants of the hat on the bridge. Christy
had captured it perfectly, like a photograph. Even through
her horrific pain, her beautiful eyes registered the
picture, to be rendered at a different time. He squeezed
her hand.

"Is there something I can do for you, Christy?"

"Neil, would you please read to me?"

"I'd love to, Lass. Anything special?"

"You choose, Neil."

He walked into the Mission parlor and scanned the
bookcase. He selected a volume and returned to her
bedside. As he began to read, a smile of joy filled her
beautiful, bruised face. He'd chosen to read the sonnets of
Shakespeare. As she listened to his voice, she closed her
eyes. His voice could bellow like the Selkie of his story
to Becky O'Teale, but today it was as soft and gentle as
a breeze caressing her cheek. He was finishing the lines
of her favorite sonnet, Number 29, transporting her to a
special, secret place in her dreams.

"...for thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings That
then I scorn to change my state with kings.".....

...... when a voice called from the doorway, "Is reading
poetry to patients a new procedure, Mac?" Dischord entered
the room. Margaret was back!


END OF CHAPTER 3

Disclaimer: The story of Christy belongs to the
Marshall-LeSourd family. This fiction is written for my
own personal enjoyment. This story uses themes from the
book, the CBS series and the PAX movies.

Title: The Hat and the Shirt Chapter 4

Summary: Christy's parents are coming for a brief
visit. Christy falls off the bridge while waiting for
their arrival. Neil rescues Christy from the river. As
Christy recovers from her accident, Margaret returns.
.............................

Christy squeezed Neil's hand. She could feel the
tension coil in his body. Margaret gave Christy a cursory
glance. "You look like a Tea House girl who didn't satisfy
a customer!" Alice entered the room just as she voiced
her insult to Christy.


Neil stood up so fast, his chair fell backward to the
floor. "Get out!" said Neil, with menace in his voice.

Alice strong-armed Margaret and led her out the door. She
was angry, but she could feel how emaciated Margaret had
become.  She realized that her daughter had come home to
die. Neil righted the chair, and sat down again by Christy.


"She needs you, Neil," Christy said softly. "Go to her."

"But, Lass."

"I'll be here, Neil. I am not going anywhere."

"I won't have Margaret hurting you."

"She can't hurt me, Neil. Her words don't hurt me. Neil,
I know love. She threw it away. I won't make that mistake."

Neil's eyes widened. Was he that transparent?

She pushed the tendrils of hair away from his eyes. "She
needs you now. She's dying, and she's finally accepted
it. She has no other place to go. You are a compassionate
man, Neil, and a wonderful doctor. She is out of your hands
now. She's in God's hands, whether she likes it or not."

Christy's words dispelled his anger. His fingers caressed
her unbruised cheek. "Lass."

"I know. I love you too."

Tears welled up in his eyes.

"I'll keep your secret forever, my stubborn, tough-skinned,
Highland doctor. You're really an old softie at heart."

"Promise?"

"I promise, Neil. Now go."


Neil divided his time between patients. As Christy
recovered, Margaret's condition worsened. Daniel Scott and
Dr. Davis covered for Neil as needed. Thankfully, there
were no major illnesses during this time. Margaret was
wracked with fits of coughing, her diseased lungs played
out. She made her peace with Alice and Neil. She allowed
David to pray for her. When Christy was well enough to
climb the stairs, she visited Margaret.

"I hated you for loving him," said Margaret.

"I know you did."

"I hated living here."

"I love it here."

"Why?"

"It's so beautiful. I love the mountains. I love the sense
of peace I feel every morning as I watch the sun rise over
the mountains."

"It's dirty, and evil and violent." Margaret said.

"So are cities," replied Christy. "Polite society ignores
the unpleasant aspects, but they are still there. You
cannot hide from them. There are always poor, uneducated
people. You have to make the decision to do something
about the problem. You have to have faith."

"I'm dying."

"Yes," said Christy, "you are.  Margaret do you have any
faith at all? You'll be at peace, free of pain, and feel
joy. We have to believe that there is a special place for
us with God when we die."

"I loved Mac."

"I know you do, Margaret. That is why you came back."

"He hates me."

"No, you hurt him deeply. You hurt his pride and made him
feel like a failure. But he loved you, Margaret."

"He loves you now."

"I hope so."

"You'll grow to hate it here."

"Perhaps, but I hope not. I love Neil too much. I won't
hurt him the way you did, Margaret."

"He forgave me."

"Yes, I know."

"Love him, Christy. Don't hurt him the way I did. I was
selfish, I wanted more. I wanted the good life. I never
knew poverty, or want. I had everything. Neil was a rogue,
and I was rebellious. We all pay for our sins, one way or
the other."  She started to cough. Christy called for Miss
Alice. "Promise me you'll love him forever."

"I promise, Margaret," Christy replied softly.

Alice came in to be with her daughter. Neil came by a
few hours later, after performing minor surgery on Kyle
Coburn.  Margaret's condition had worsened. She asked for
Christy. Christy limped up the stairs. David followed her.

Margaret looked at them standing by her bedside. She
started to pray. "The Lord is my Shepherd...." As they all
finished praying the Psalm, Neil realized that Margaret
had died.

David conducted a very moving funeral service, welcoming
a lost sheep back into the fold. Burial took place in
the cemetary.  The ladies of the sewing circle proveded
the repast at the Mission. David realized that there was
no impediment to keep Christy from marrying Neil. He
had watched as their relationship grew while Christy
recovered. There had been no impropriety.  It was obvious
they cared deeply for one another. He knew that while
Christy loved him, it was not the same love she had for
Neil. He prayed for the strength to accept this and to be
able to let her go.

THE END