The Making of A Doctor By Linda R.

DISCLAIMER: Catherine Marshall's beautiful story of Christy
is owned by the Marshall-LeSourd Family, L.L.C. We are
in no way seeking profit or credit for her story. We are
continuing the story of Christy for our own amusement only.



Chapter 1

Neil was busily stacking wood on the flagstone hearth
when his grandfather strode into the cabin, bringing the
evening damp and chill with him.  He hunched his shoulders
and finished his task before turning to the older man, a
smile splitting is face, waiting impatiently to greet his
beloved grandfather.

"Aggie, lass, how was yer day?  You're looking as lovely
and fine as always."

"Off with ya now George, ya kin my day was same as always."
Despite the dismissive words, a twinkle gleamed from his
wife of some forty years' eyes.   It was a variation of
the same greeting they had exchanged every one of their
married years together.  One that brought comfort not
only to them, but the young boy waiting eagerly for his
grandfather's attention.

They'd taken the young lad in to live with them when their
son and his wife had been killed in a flood two years
prior.  While getting on in age, they had never regretted
the decision.  Neil was a bright, strapping lad, if a
bit full of himself at times, but what young lad wasn't?
Their only regret was that their son couldn't see what a
fine young boy he was becoming.

Turning sparkling eyes upon his grandson, George asked,
"And you my laddie, how was yer day?  Did ya help yer
grandmother as I instructed and get the wood chopped?"

"Yes grandfather, I did as ya asked.  I was jist stackin
'em here right straight like fer ya."

"That's a good lad.  I'm a thinkin this is deserving of a
small reward, what do ya think Aggie?"  Both the boy and
his grandmother knew exactly what he had in mind and Neil
waited breathlessly for his grandmother's response.

"Oh aye, that I do."

Hardly able to contain himself, Neil waited for the signal
from his grandfather to get the stool so he could reach
the tin on the shelf.   At the nod of the graying head, the
boy was off like a shot, propping the stool up against the
roughhewn wall to keep his balance.  Dirty fingers eagerly
searched out the tin he was too short to see.  As it came
within his grasp, he quickly snatched it up, jumped off
the stool and raced back to the table, placing the worn
tin in front of his grandfather.    Carefully the old man
popped the lid with knarled fingers bent and crooked with
pain and age.  Reaching inside, he pulled out a single
piece of the coveted licorice candy.

Knowing better than to grab the candy, Neil waited
anxiously for his grandfather to hand it over, swiping
his hands across the worn legs of his pants and extending
one hand tentatively.   The candy no more than touched
his skin before he had it stuck in his mouth, a moan of
pleasure escaping him.  "Thank you grandfather."

"Sit down here lad, I have something ta say to ya."
Obediently the young boy sank to the dirt floor before
his grandfather.

"A wee bit ago, yer Grandmother and I received mail from
some kin back in Scotland.  It seems some fine doctors are
a looking for a spot to do a bit o' huntin  over here.
When they heard about the Cove, they decided this ta be
the site for them.  They'll be stayin over ta El Pano at
the boardin house, but doing their huntin here."

George and Aggie MacNeill had left Scotland the first
year they had been wed and settled in the Cove a year
after that.  Although that had been forty years ago,
they'd lost neither their lovely brogue nor contact with
the family they had left behind.  Once or twice a year, a
missive would reach them from across the great sea with
news of their homeland.  This was a first, though, to
actually have acquaintances from home visit the Cove.
It truly must be something special, young Neil thought.

"As these are guests of sort my young lad, they will need
someone to show them aboot the Cove.  Do ya think yer up
to the task?"

Eyes wide, Neil nodded eagerly, unable to talk around the
forgotten piece of licorice sticking out of his mouth.
What an honor his grandfather bestowed upon him!  He was
fair to bursting with pride at the thought.

Noting his grandson's excitement, a small grin tugged
at the corner of his wrinkled mouth.  George and Aggie
exchanged a knowing look, pleased that their young 'un
was eager to help out and take such pride in this task.

"If ye finished that piece o' candy Neil, tis time for ya
to be getting yerself washed up and into bed with ya."

Scurrying to his feet, Neil did as his grandmother bade
him, hurriedly splashing water over his face and hands,
folding his clothes at the end of his pallet for the next
day, and shimmied into the rough cotton shirt that had once
been his father's.  Taking a moment to sniff the sleeve as
was his custom, memories of his father washed over him at
the scent that was now only a remembrance stole over him.

With a hasty goodnight for his grandparents who were deep
in conversation, young Neil scrambled into his pallet at
the foot of his grandparent's bed.  Pulling the threadbare
blanket over his shoulders, he curled on his side to
face the fire, listening to the soft buhr of the older
couple's voices, their words indistinct over the crackle of
the fire.  Although it had been almost two years since his
parents' deaths and he missed them terribly.  Yet knowing
his grandparents were near brought him security and peace.
It wasn't long before he drifted off to sleep.

*************

"Did not.  Yer fibbin Neil MacNeill!" yelled Tom MacHone.
Bob Allen nodded his shaggy head in agreement.  The three
boys were straddling an old log that crossed the small
creek behind the Allen cabin, trying to see who could
keep their feet under them the longest.  Tom's outburst
had rocked the log, causing the boys to jerk and sway to
keep their precarious perch.

"Am so.  Yer jist wishn it twer you!"  Neil hollered back.

"What makes ya so all fired important like that ya tink
yer the one to showed them fellers 'round the Cove?"
Tom asked.

"They'd be friends like to my granddaddy's relations
back yonder in Scotland.  That thar gives me ta right."
Deep down, Neil was still shocked but so honored over
such a privilege.  However, he didn't like the fact that
his friends weren't having any of it and giving him such
a hard time.

"Listen here.  Ifn its alright wit the docs, I'll see ifn
you kin come with us one day."  There, he thought, that
should make them happy.

Both boys looked sharply at Neil, not sure if he was
pulling the wool over their eyes or if he was being true.
At his solemn expression, they figured he must be playing
straight.

"Alright then.  Ya do that.  We'll be awatin fer ya to
tell us when, mind ya."  Bob finally spoke.  He wasn't
big on talking, more a boy of action, but when something
was important to him, he would speak his piece.

"When are these fellers comin?" asked Tom.

"My granddaddy, he's waitin on a tel-o-gram.  He sid it
were ta onliest way to get ward ta us out heer."

Reluctant as they were to believe Neil, everyone in
the Cove knew how important telegrams were and no one,
not even Tom's older brother Bogg, would joke on such
a matter.  Darned if Neil didn't have all of the luck.
It just wasn't fair.

"Hmph, whered ya tink yer gonna git them fancy pants men to
for this huntin stuff?"  asked Tom.  He gave the log a good
shake just to see if he could make the other boy lose his
balance.  "Yeah," chimed in Bob, "where are....." before he
could complete his question, Bob's feet slipped right out
from under him, landing backside first on the log before
rolling off backwards into the creek headfirst.

The other two boys watched as Bob scrambled and splashed
in the water like one of those bear cubs they liked to
follow trying to get a fish.  "I, uh, I, I caint swim." The
boy gasped.  Both Tom and Neil tried to tell the boy to
just stand up, but Bob being Bob was


so busy being scared, he wasn't paying them any mind.
Finally, they hopped down in the creek on either side of
their friend and hauled him to his feet by his collar.
After a minute or two of spitting and sputtering, Bob
finally realized he was on his feet and safe.

"Tom, see what ya git me into.  Why'd ya hafta go and shake
the durned log?"  Tom and Neil only looked at each other
and shook their heads.  Bob had a way of getting himself
into a mess without any help from another living soul.

About that time, Fairlight and Opal Allen came skipping by
the creek.  "Why Bob Allen, whaddya gone and git yerself
into now?"  Fairlight asked.

The boy stood red faced and dripping wet while his friends
took a couple of steps back out of the creek and out of his
range for trouble.  Mumbling something about no account
friends, he ignored the girls and took off towards home,
leaving a muddy trail behind him, pausing periodically
to hike up drawers that seemed wont to slip to the ground
rather than stay about his hips.

"Neil was jist atellin us 'bout some fancy doctors that
are a commin ta Cutter Gap.  Guessn they'd a wantin ta do
some huntin here."  Tom told them.

"Really, fer true?"  Opal asked.  Neil felt somewhat
mollified.  At least it didn't appear he was going to have
to answer a hundred questions for the girls to believe him.
Then again, Fairlight and Opal had always been friendly
toward him even when the other kids had not.   For whatever
reasons, the Allens hadn't held it against him as other
folks had that his ma and pa had been fixin to leave the
Cove permanent like when they were killed in that flood.
They'd just accepted him for who he was, George and Aggie's
grandson and let it go at that.  Bob was generally pretty
obliging as well, as long as the other boys weren't around
to give him grief over it.

"Fer true."  Neil answered her.  "And I gits ta take 'em
round, shows them where ta go." Neil said, chest puffed
out with importance.

Opal tugged on Fairlight's ragged sleeve, "Supposin mama
would let usn go wit Neil?"

Neil frowned at this.  It was one thing to invite the boys
along, it was important to him to make them think good
of him.  But girls, that was something else all together.
Ick, no way.  He thought fast.

"Listen, this here is manfolk stuff.  Girls caint be a
traipsing along.  You'd jist scared away the critters
they'd be a huntin."

Opal didn't look none too happy with his remarks, but
Fairlight only stared at him as if she could see deep
inside him.  She was a year or two younger than him, but
she always



did seem older.  Tom stood next to him, his gaze shuffling
between the girls and Neil, waiting to see if Fairlight
would put the boy in his place.  He was disappointed when
Fairlight, without taking her eyes off of Neil, said to
Opal, "Neil's right Opal.  Wouldn't be fittin for us ta
foller them menfolk.  Mama's like to have them over fer
some vittles whilst theys here.  We kin see 'em then."
And with that she moved on.  Opal, placated, hopping along
beside her big sister, peppering her with questions.

"Wells, I best be gittin on home now too."  Tom said.
"Pa'll be right displeased ifn I don't git my chores done
afore he gets back."  Eyes narrowing on Neil, he added,
"And I'll be awaitin ta find out when wes ta showed them
fancy docs round."

Glad that Tom seemed to truly believe him, Neil nodded
eagerly, "Sure Tom.  Jist as soon as we git word, I'll be
atellin ya."

Chapter 2

Neil stood beside his grandfather at the train station,
hopping from one foot to the other, too nervous and excited
to stand still.  Watching him from the corner of his eye,
the older man couldn't find it in him to admonish the boy
to hold still.   This was a big thing for a lad of barely
ten; he couldn't expect him to act like a man full growed.
He did, however, place a calming hand on the boy' thin
shoulder, steadying the restless movement for the time
being.

In the distance, a train whistle blew, signaling the
arrival of their important guests.  Aggie and George
had decided it would be best for he and Neil to meet the
doctors at the train and get them settled in the boarding
house in El Pano.    She would stay behind and meet the
doctors the next day.

After seeing to their guests, George and Neil were to
pick up the supplies they needed to feed the three men
their midday and evening meals over the next five days.
Money had come with the final notice from his cousin Robert
stating the doctors insisted on payment for provisions
or they wouldn't come.  It had been more than enough to
cover their needs, but he also knew his wife would want
to try and fix some of their homeland dishes to make the
doctors feel welcome.  Supplies for those had had to be
special ordered and were now awaiting their pick up at
the mercantile.

Only one other man stood waiting on the platform for
passengers from the train to debark as it rolled to a
stop in front of them.  Neil craned his neck this way
and that, eager to catch his first glimpse of the men
he was to become a guide to over the next several days.
It was the banter tossed about with a wonderful brogue just
like his grandfather's that first captured his attention.
In the next instant, a red head popped out of the door in
front of him.  Startled, Neil took a step back, bumping
into his grandfather's solid body, gaining comfort from
the older man's presence.



Both man and boy watched with growing amazement as the
man hopped to the platform and reached back to receive
bag after bag, not to mention two huge steamer trunks,
from someone unseen within until a mountain of luggage
surrounded him.

"That'd be the last o' it Garrett."  A deep voice rumbled
from within.

"Fine then, get yerselves out here then so we can be
properly introduced to our hosts."  The big man named
Garrett turned to George and Neil, extending a large hand
to the elder MacNeill.  "Hello!  Ya must be George MacNeill
then!" he boomed.

Reaching around the boy, George clasped his hand in the
other man's for a hearty shake.  "Aye, and this is me
grandson, Neil.  He'll be yer guide in the Cove while
yer here."

Twinkling green eyes turned to the lad standing still as
a statue, eyes huge in his pale face.  "Well Neil laddie,
are ya up to the job of showing us aboot?"  Unable to
speak as he stood in awe in front of this huge man, Neil
could only solemnly nod his ascent.  Chuckling, the big man
said, "'Tis a good thing yer doing for us laddie.  And I'd
be Dr. Garrett Campbell."  With a nod of introduction to
George, Dr. Campbell clamped a big hand on Neil's shoulder,
pulling the boy firmly forward, "And these fine dandies
are my cohorts, Doctors MacDougal and Sinclair."

Two distinguished looking men stepped lightly from the
train, less formidable in stature than Dr. Campbell, but
impressive in their own right.  Lively eyes looked about
them, taking in the tiny station with the tree-lined
mountains rising through the mists behind.

"Aidan, I do believe we've never left Scotland. Look,
we're back in the Highlands. Do ye not agree?"

Neil and George, a knowing looking on the elder's weathered
face, watched as the three newcomers did a slow perusal
of the lush mountains and surrounding land.  It was true,
this area of the Appalachia looked a good deal like the
Highlands of Scotland.  It was one of the reasons why
Aggie and George had decided to settle here.

"Oh aye, tis true."  Dr. Sinclair agreed, seeming to
breathe in the very essence of the mountain air as he
inhaled deeply.  "Garrett, ya did a foin job of locating
a good huntin spot."

With a wink at Neil and a pat on his shoulder, he replied.
"Of course, ya shouldna have doubted me.  And see here,
Robert has secured us a foin guide as well.  This here is
Neil MacNeill and his grandfather, George."

Neil could scarcely believe the man had introduced him
before his grandfather.  He stood a little straighter,
feeling important, an unusual occurrence in his young life.
Hiding a



smile as he watched his grandson puff up like a young
male quail strutting himself, George let  the lad keep
the men's attention.  After all, it was he that would be
their guide.  It was good that he felt he was worthy of
the task in the doctors' eyes.

The two doctors bestowed smiles upon the young lad, each
shaking his small hand in turn.  "Tis a pleasure to make
yer acquaintance to be sure, young Neil" Samuel MacDougal
said heartily.  "And you too Mr. MacNeill.  We're pleased
you've invited us here."

"To be sure."  Pipped in Aidan.  "But I'm afraid we'va
brought quite a bit o'luggage with us, as you kin see.
Garrett there canna be without his medical books and
equipment, even when we're a travelin half way 'cross
the world!"

Neil had silently wondered if perhaps the doctors had
planned on moving here with all of the luggage mounded up
on the platform.

"Looks like ye be in need of a wagon jist ta git ta the
boardin hoose." George commented, his brogue a bit more
pronounced in the presence of his countrymen.

"Aye, I believe ye are right." Agreed Dr. Campbell.
"Neil, would ya be willin ta watch this lot fer us while
we see ta some transport?"  At the young boy's eager nod,
all three doctors chuckled, knowing they'd only to ask and
their requests would be done by this lad.  It was going
to be a fine trip indeed.


"And the luggage, grandmother, ya notta believed yer eyes."
Aggie and George exchanged a private smile as their
grandson jabbered on.  He hadn't stopped talking since his
foot hit the dirt floor upon returning, something uncommon
for a lad who normally kept his tongue.

"Ya donna say, Neil.  What do ya kin it was for?"
Grandmother asked.

"Dr. MacDougal said it twer Dr. Campbell's medical
books and such.  Cain't be goin nowheres without 'em."
Neil's eyes still held awe at the sight he'd witnessed with
all of the baggage and thoughts of what they might contain.

"And do ya have yer thought's laid oot fer
tamoora?" grandfather's deep voice cut into his thoughts.
He had wanted to bring Tom and Bob along the very first
day, but grandfather had been firm in not allowing them
along until the second day.  "Ya need ta make sure these
men are knownin whats aboot this Cove first.  They doona
need ta be pestered by some young 'uns a jawin the day
away."  He had told Neil.

Nodding his head, the boy replied, "Aye, I do.  I'll take
'em up the mountain on the other side of the ridge.
Showed 'em the line up through the pass I'm a thinkin."
Although it

wasn't said as a question, there was a hesitancy in the
boy's voice, seeking approval from the man he adored
sitting next him.

"Sounds a good ta me, you Aggie?"  A dried and cracked
hand reached over to smooth the lock of curls that
forever fell across the lad's forehead away from his face.
Such a fine lad was her grandson, her heart full as she
gazed down upon the eager face that even now was changing
into one of a young man.  With a soft pat to the thick
mane upon his head, Aggie's blue eyes twinkled into his.
"Aye, tis a foin plan, I say."

Pleased with the approval of both his grandparents, Neil
sat beaming between them, scarcely able to eat.  He was
sure he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight and had told Bob
as much when they'd stopped by the Allen cabin on their
way home.  Bob had been disappointed about the delay
in meeting the doctors, but it was quickly turned into
excitement when his pa had told Ault he was not invited
and had to stay at home.  Usually Ault got all of the
good adventures.  Now it was his turn.

Not waiting to be told, Neil quickly cleared the table,
scrapping the few leftovers from their simple meal onto
one plate and carting it outside to dump in the weeds.
He even washed his face, if you call a quick splash of a
few drops of water that landed more squarely on the dirt
floor than his face a wash, and readied his pants and shirt
for the day ahead.  Like most of the boys in the Cove, he
went barefoot almost year around, his soles hardened and
callused to the point only extreme weather such as ice
or snow could penetrate the thick skin to the sensitive
nerves beneath.   It was a phenomenon the doctors were to
comment on repeatedly over the next few days.

Scurrying into his bed, not bothering with a cover, Neil
barely said a few words of prayer before nodding off
to sleep.  His worries of not sleeping swept away as the
arms of slumber lulled him away.

Chapter 3

The next afternoon found the elder MacNeill's toiling away
in the garden out back while waiting for their grandson and
his important guests to return.  The last of the vegetables
needed to be harvested before a freezing frost descended
upon the mountains.

That morning George had taken what they could spare of the
carrots and turnips to El Pano to sell when he had brought
Neil to meet the doctors for their first day of hunting.
A dark and heavy mist had clung to the mountains, dampening
their hair and clothes so it looked like they had just
gotten out of the creek when they arrived in front of the
livery at the agreed upon time.  Not unaccustomed to such
weather, the doctors merely added a coat to their attire
of wool pants, leather boots and flannel shirts to combat
the damp and chill, surprised when both boy and man had
declared they were fine as they were.



With a light heart, George watched as his grandson solemnly
led the men back out of town, explaining what he planned
for the day.  It was good to see the boy so interested in
his task and he was doing a fine job of it.

The three doctors were equally impressed with their
young guide, not realizing he was yet just a boy given
his height.  With light quips and friendly questions,
they soon learned the boy was orphaned and lived with
his grandparents now.  That he was barely eleven, and yet
displayed the quickness and agility of a boy years older.
He was surefooted and knowledgeable about his home,
his mountains, leading them on paths that appeared to
go nowhere, only to find themselves next to a bubbling
spring gazing upon the glorious colors of autumn or a in
a mountain meadow full of golden grass.

Neil reminded them of the mountain sheep of the Highlands,
hopping nimbly along the rocks and up the mountain slopes,
ever sure footed despite his lack, or maybe due to his lack
of, footwear.  Wanting to impress the men, he took them to
a place he said was special, his mother's favorite spot.
Carefully making his way along a thin trail, the boy
explained that from this rock, you could see the valleys
on both sides of the ridge and beyond.  On a good day,
you might even spot the steam from a train coming over a
distant mountain.

He carefully climbed onto the flat rock, hopping agilely
across the crack to the next flat surface, turning with an
eager look to be sure the doctors were following.  Spying
the difficulties Dr. Campbell seemed to have getting his
large frame upon the first rock, Neil rushed to assist him.
Tugging on the big man's uplifted hand, Neil was suddenly
sent sprawling backwards as Dr. Campbell's friends gave
a push from beneath.  Unable to stop his tumble, the boy
felt himself slide into the crevice behind him, scraping
his cheek on a jagged edge along the way.

"Laddie!" he heard the rumbled shout of the huge Scotsman.
"Laddie, are ye alright?  Sam, Aidan, get up her quick
and help me."  Without waiting to see if the others
needed assistance alighting, Garrett Campbell rushed
over to the gap from which pale fingers and toes wiggled
as if in greeting.  Seeing a pair of startled blue eyes
staring back at him, a huge sigh of relief escaped him in
a billowing wave.  At least the lad was conscious.

A scuffle of boots and a trickle of pebbles announced the
arrival of the other doctors.  "Garrett, why are ya standin
thar man?  Is the lad hurt?"  Samuel imperatively asked.

"Neil lad," Garrett leaned back over, "Kin ya har me?"

"Aye sir." Came the muffled reply.

"Are ya hurt laddie?" Samual asked, impatient with the
delay his friend seemed bent upon creating.

"No sir, I don't reckon.  I's jist stuck but good."

All three men stood up, Aidan and Samuel having leapt
effortlessly across the crevice for a better perspective,
trying to figure out what to do.  Despite his concern,
Garrett couldn't hold back a chuckle at the sight that
beheld them.  The boy looked like a wishbone wedged
in between the rocks, bent in half with arms and legs
pointing up in the air.  There was no way the lad would
find purchase from that angle.

Smothering his mirth at the dark look from Aidan, Garrett
said, "Don't fret laddie, we'll get ya outta thar."
The three doctors counseled with one another trying to
determine the best course of action. They were fearful
if they tried to grab him by his arms and legs they
might cause further damage should the boy have suffered
a broken bone and did not realize it.  But how would they
get him out?

Neil, listening intently to their discussion, realized
he was in trouble.  These men might have lived near
some mountains, but for sure they were no mountain men!
Carefully he wriggled his body to see how tightly he
was wedged.  It appeared he could move a bit forward, but
definitely not up.  His backside slid across a rock that
seemed to move with him.  Trying again he slid a little
deeper into the hole, his fingers and toes disappearing
from sight, unbeknownst to the arguing men above.

Holding still, Neil took a moment to calm his racing heart.
What would Grandfather do if he were here?  Gazing upward,
he spied a ragged limb of a spruce tree above him.  An idea
came to him as if his grandfather was there, whispering
into his ear.  The limb appeared sturdy enough, maybe he
could get the doctors to use it to help lift him out.

He tried to shout as best he could with his face plastered
against his knees to get their attention, but to no avail.
He could here the deep voices above escalating as their
discussion became heated.  Finally, tipping his head back
as far as he dared without knocking himself unconscious,
Neil drew as deep of a breath as he could and let out a
piercing whistle that split the air, startling the arguing
men into silence.

Soon Neil saw three faces cautiously look into the hole at
him, uncertain if he or some wild animal would face them.
Grinning now, he said, "If'n yer of a mind, I reckon I
knows a way ta git me unstuck like."  Incredulity bloomed
across Samuel and Aidan's countenances, thinking this
backwoods boy could surely not presume to think he would
know more than men that were college educated.  Garrett,
however, seemed to ponder the boy's words, giving them
thoughtful consideration.

Nudging the other two, Garrett said, "Let's hear what
the laddie has ta say.  Go on noow Neil, what tis it
yar thinkin?"

"Well, there is a loose stone done setting right aneath me.
Don't think its gonna go nowheres, just wiggles a bit.
I reckon if yas used that thar branch yonder, yous could
push me right up from down under."

The men looked perplexed, not sure they followed what the
boy was trying to tell them.   Seeing their confusion,
Neil tried again.  "Looks up atta tree yonder."

Aidan, following the path the boy's eyes took with his own
gaze, saw the size and shape of the branch and it slowly
dawned on him what the boy had in mind.  "Garrett, Samuel,
help me get that limb doon."

The three men quickly ripped the branch down, pulling it
across the boulder towards the crevice.  Scratching his
head, Samuel said, "And how da ye think were agoin ta git
this under the lad?"

"Sir, there is a rock beneath me.  Ifn I hold my breath,
you mightn be ables ta get the branch under me and help
push me up."

Smiling at the boy's quick mind, Garrett set to carefully
wedging the sturdy limb into the crevice beneath the boy,
minding Neil's head and shoulders that blocked his view
to what lay beneath.  A startled yelp from Neil halted
his slow movements.

"What ails ye lad?  Be ya hurt?" Samuel anxiously asked.

"Ah, no, ain't that." Came the muffled reply.  "But ifn
Doc Campbell keeps a going like he is, my britches will
done come offn me!"

Garrett, red faced, hastily removed the limb as quickly as
he dared while his two companions hooted with laughter.
"Garrett, ya claim to be a surgeon man an ye canna even
get a solid log placed proper."  More snickers ensued as
the big man deftly worked the branch under the boy, this
time keeping from snagging his trousers.

"Neil, is it square beneath ya noow?" Doctor Campbell
inquired.  Seeing the boy's nod, he said, "Well noobw, when
Samuel here counts ta three, I'm gooin ta push on the limb
and raise ye a wee bit, just to test this oot.  Are ya with
me lad?"   Neil wiggled his fingers in acknowledgement and
Samuel gave the count.  Upon reaching three, Garrett and
Aidan put their weight onto the branch, feeling it give.

Holding steady, Aidan motioned to Samuel to check
Neil's progress.  After verifying the lad had indeed
been notched up a wee bit and seemed not the worse for
wear, Aidan signaled for them to continue while he leaned
over the crack to let Neil know what they were doing.
Slowly, carefully they eased him up until his arms were
clear of the crevice and they were able to pull him the
rest of the way out.

By unspoken agreement, Aidan and Samuel stepped back
and allowed Garrett to examine the boy who squirmed in
discomfiture at the attention, knowing there was nothing
more wrong with him than a scraped cheek and abused
pride. The three men exchanged puzzled glances as they
heard him mumble something about his being like Bob Allen.
Worried that they might be in for some mishaps the next day
when this Bob Allen was to accompany them, they were not
sure if their quick agreement to allowing Neil's friends
to come along was a good idea.

After determining that Neil was just fine, Garrett patted
the boy's leg, a twinkle back in his eye, he claimed,
"Well noow, I dina think we were goona get ye outta that
hoole laddie.  Twas some quick thinkin on yer part that
saved the day."

Despite his embarrassment, the boy couldn't help by be
pleased by the older man's words.  He even managed to keep
from flinching as the man took a rough cloth and dabbed
at the cut along his cheekbone.  Knowing if he could
get to the creek, a quick wash and a crush of the leaves
Fairlight had shown him on his wound would fix him good.
Slipping beneath the doctor's hand, Neil scrambled to his
feet. "I'm jist fine.  I reckon ifn I can git usn to the
creek, I kin take care of it ok."

Intrigued by the boy's words, the three doctors followed
him off of the rock, not even noticing the amazing
vistas and valleys that stretched below them from their
vantage spot.   As sure footed as ever, Neil wound his way
downward until at last they were beside the cool creek.
Three pairs of eyes intently watched as he grabbed a few
leaves from a nearby bush, crushed them in his palms and
then mixed with water from the creek to make a kind of a
paste to which he applied to the gash.

"What is it yer puttin on ya thar lad?" asked Samuel.

"Cain't rightly say.  Fairlight knowed about them.
She teached me what to do."

"And what does it do fer the wound?" Samuel persisted.

"Why its tooked away the sting, stops the bledin." Neil
replied.

Aidan looked skeptical, but both Samuel and Garrett were
inspecting the bush from which the leaves came.  Picking a
few and stuffing them into their pockets to dissect and
evaluate later, Neil thought they looked like Jeb Spencer
did when he found a honeycomb, fascinated and excited.

Determining it was time to head on back to the MacNeill
cabin, the group made its way up the bank, Neil in the lead
and the others following behind.  By the time they reached
the small clearing in front of the cabin, the poultice on
Neil's cheek had dried to a hard crust looking more like
a piece of bark stuck to his cheek.

"Neil MacNeill, what did ye do?" his grandmother rushed
forward to see what was on her grandson's cheek.

George, slowly straightening his stiff back from where
he was bent over a row of carrots, turned to see what had
gotten his wife in a dither.  Neil's face was a bright red
and he attempted to duck his grandmother's seeking fingers.

"Tis my fault, I fear." Garrett spoke up.  "The lad
was trying ta help me atop a rock, a pulling for all he
was worth, not kin to Aidan and Samuel pushing from ta
oother side.  Lad went a floying and got himself stuck
but good in a hole.  Caught an edge with his cheek is all.
He's a strapping lad, not ta worry."

"Ah, I see ya fixed up one of those pastes Fairlight taught
ye aboot.  Good lad.  Lets goo inta the cabin and we'll
see aboot getting it oof."

"Excuse me ma'am." Interrupted Sameul.  "This paste, these
leaves, do ya kin aboot them?"

"No lad, I fear I doona kin much on the healing ways.
But the Allen wimminfolk, they do."

"Allen, would they be relations ta Bob Allen, friend of
young Neil here?" inquired Garrett?

"Aye.  I'm sure they'd be honored ta have ye fer a visit
whilst yer here." Aggie replied.  "George can speak to
Ada when he meets up wit Bob in the morning."

"Oh, that would be grand, it would.  Thank ye
mooch." Dr. Campbell said.  "And Neil, we'll meet you at
the livery in the morning, same time as taday?"

"Yes sir, me and the boys will be thar, to be sure."

Smiling and with a last wave to the MacNeills, the doctors
took their leave.

Chapter 4

George decided it would be best to give a bit of
instruction to the lads before he let them loose on the
unsuspecting doctors.  Not that they were bad boys, but
just prone to mischief when you had more than one of them
with another.  And that Bob Allen, he was likely as not to
get himself in some kind of a spot before the day was out.
Better to try and prevent as much damage while he could.

"Bob and Tom, now ye listen good.  Neil here is in charge
for the day.  He decides what paths to take and when
to stop, as long as ta doctors doona say different."
Looking directly into each boy's eyes to be sure they
understood him, George had to stifle a grin as he noticed
Bob was already having a time in keeping his trousers
about his generous middle, not really listening to what
was being said.  It could be a long day, he thought.
He hoped the doctors were up for it.

"Neil, no lording over the lads here, understand?  They
are yer friends, not yer servants.  Treat them a such."
Next to him, Neil felt Tom give him a slight nudge, but
not so much as a twitch on his face betrayed that he had
felt it.  Tom would see soon enough that the doctors
trusted him, that they left him to guide them and not
question his every move, he didn't need to boast about it.

"Aye Grandfather, I aint gonna do that."  Neil replied.

Satisfied that his grandson at least would behave himself,
George sent them on their way.  A huge grin spit his face
as Bob, tripping repeatedly over the dragging pant legs,
hobbled and stumbled after the other two who were wasting
no time in getting on their way.  It would be interesting
to hear how the day went when they returned.


"I tell ya, that lad must have a multitude of angels
watching oover him." Declared Aidan, his companions nodding
in agreement.

The hunting party, minus Tom and Bob, had returned to the
MacNeill cabin around dusk, the three doctors laughing
uproariously as they recounted the day with each other.
Neil had looked torn, clearly agreeing with the hilarity of
the day, but equally indignant on his friend's behalf that
these outsiders should poke fun of him.  George, knowing
that the tales of the day would be entertaining, had
interjected quickly for the men to come inside and fill
he and Aggie in on the day.

Once the men had appeased the sharp pangs of hunger on the
fresh quail they'd caught the day before, they began to
recount the day to the older couple.  Apparently it had
started out well enough, but the theatrics started about
the time they hit the creek.  Samuel, Aidan and Tom were
upstream, flushing out some deer they had been tracking.
Garrett, Neil and Bob were waiting downstream for the prey,
hiding in the weeds along the bank.  Bob, having spied
a rabbit, had slunk after it and had been so startled by
the deer crashing through the woods and across the creek,
he'd landed face first into the muddy shallows, coating
himself with the smelly goo.

The doctors had firmly refused to go on until Bob had
rinsed himself as best he could in the clear water
of the creek.  The boy had tried to come clean, but a
lingering odor had clung to him for the rest of the day.
No one had been willing to follow behind him, caught in
the downdraft of the sulphurous odor that Bob had exuded,
causing a constant shuffle amongst the others to keep
ahead of the boy.  On the other hand, it was less likely
that any of the critters they were hunting were likely to
smell them coming either, so they didn't complain overmuch
of the stink.

Unfortunately for poor Bob, those sagging trousers had
taken on the added weight of water and gook, making it
near impossible for him to hold them up.  Not wishing
to embarrass himself further by drawing attention to
this fact, he'd quietly slipped to into the woods to
find himself a vine to use to tie around his waist.
Not paying attention to anything but finding the right
vine for the job, he'd been caught unawares by a mountain
lion, practically tripping over the great cat before the
low buzz of its growl had penetrated his single-minded
concentration.  With a startled yelp, he let go of the
pants he'd been clutching to his waist, turned and raced
out of the woods, running right out of his drawers in
his panic.

It was the deafening screams that the others heard first,
causing them to think Bob was being eaten alive by some
beast.  They hurriedly backtracked along the narrow path,
calling out to him so they might be able to assist him.
Just as Samuel and Aidan, who were in the lead, came around
a bend, out ran the lad, now clad only in skivvies and
a shirt, crying hysterically about some gigantic monster
following him, plowing into the two doctors and knocking
them from their feet.

Garrett, Tom and Neil, skidded to a halt near the pile up
of bodies, eyes wide as they took in the sight before them.
It was Garrett, his booming laughter filling the air and
bouncing off of the mountains like a bullet ricocheting in
the woods, that broke their stunned silence.  There they
were, the two strapping doctors, madly trying to remove the
squirming and wriggling body of Bob Allen, which was now
sprawled over the two of them, as he continued to scream
wildly about his life coming to an end.  It appeared
they couldn't decide if the racket to their ears or if
the wildly landed punches and kicks to their unprotected
bodies was worse as they would alternate between trying to
cover their abused ears to trying to protecting vulnerable
body parts.

"Garrett, ya fool, doona jist stand thar man, git this
booy ...ooofffff" Adian's request was cut off as a flailing
elbow hit him square in the stomach.

Wiping tears from his eyes, Garrett moved to help his
friends.  Still chuckling, he grabbed the scruff of Bob's
shirt and the seat of his skivvies and with a great heave,
pulled him from the men.  Just before he could set the
lad on the ground, a loud ripping sound could be heard
as threadbare fabric gave under the weight of the boy.
As Bob landed with a thud in the dirt, Garrett stood with
a look of astonishment on his broad face, clutching a
piece of shirt in one huge hand and a piece of the lad's
skivvies in the other.

Having regained their breath with the removal of the lad,
Drs. Sinclair and MacDougal lay on the ground, now the ones
shouting out great bellows of laughter.  Tom and Neil were
torn between amusement and embarrassment for their friend
whose backside now lay partially exposed from the dark
underwear like a half moon hanging in the summer night sky,
and stood indecisively a few feet away, not sure what they
should do.  Garrett, seeing the red climbing up the back
of the boy's neck as he felt the cool air on his backside,
hastened to cover him with a spare shirt from his own pack.

"There lad, yer covered noow.  Canna ye stand up noow and
put this shirt on proper like and tell us what happened?."
Garrett said quietly as he gave a warning scowl to his
two companions who quickly worked to bring their mirth
under control.

By the time Bob gained his feet, his two friends were
busily piling up the forgotten hunting equipment,
carefully avoiding eye contact with their humiliated
friend.  Dr. Campbell had turned to give a helping hand to
the other doctors, brushing the dirt away a little more
forcefully than they felt necessary, but one look at his
face had them holding their tongues in comment for fear
they would all burst into laughter once again.

Samuel was the first to compose himself enough to look
after the lad who seemed destined for trouble.  "There noow
lad, are ye alright?  Are ye hurt in any way?"

Head lowered, Bob mumbled something the man couldn't
make out.  So, he asked again.

"Lad, tell us, are ye hurt?  What happened to yer
trousers?"

Neil, who had sidled up next to Dr. MacDougal and Bob,
caught Bob's second mumbled reply and interpreted for the
doctor who was shaking his head in frustration.

"He says twer a huge mountain cat a huntin and chasin
'im. Scared him clean through sos he lost his hold on his
drawers as he rant fer his life."

Although Samuel's mouth twitched, he successfully kept
his amusement in check as the boy before him squirmed
in discomfiture.  Calling over his shoulder to Garrett
and Aidan, he said,  "Lads, why doona ya go and look fer
the lad's trousers while I make sure he's ok?"

Nodding their ascent rather than speaking it lest they
broke once more into laughter, the two took off into the
woods, their lilting laughter floating back on the breeze
to those in the clearing.  Tom and Neil, looking a bit
worried about a mountain cat being in the area, eyed the
woods where the doctors had disappeared.  Knowing Bob's
screams had mostly likely frightened off the animal, they
were still concerned that these mountain men might not
show the right amount of caution and find themselves in
a spot they had no knowledge of how to deal with.

Seeing the boys' concern, Samuel tried to reassure them.
"Twill be alright laddies.  They are grown men and
knoow hoow to care fer themselves."  The boys nodded
their agreement, but their expressions said they weren't
convinced.

Samuel had just finished his inspection of Bob, helping him
to roll up the sleeves of Garrett's large shirt, when they
all heard a crashing and cursing coming from the woods.

Aidan and Garrett burst from the trees, their breath's
puffing in huge gasps as they shouted to the others to
gather their things and get moving.   Indeed, there was
a huge cat in the woods and they were not wont to stick
around and see it again.  The three boys looked at each
other, snickering as they watched the huge men scrambling
in fear to get as far down the mountain as quickly as
they could.  Their pace never slacking, they'd made it
back to the Allen cabin in record time.

Sitting now around the table, their bellies full, they
could laugh at themselves for their foolishness.  They all
agreed they should have taken young Bob's ramblings
more seriously.  Indeed, young Neil had cautioned them
their first day about such creatures and to take care
when wandering through the mountains.  George, puffing
on a pipe in his chair, gave his grandson a quick wink.
It was amusing to them both that these high faluttin
doctors found themselves reduced to cowardice in the face
of the great mountain lion when they held themselves above
such nonsense before today.

One good thing, they all concurred, was the offer to share
a meal with the Allen's two nights hence.  Zeke and Ada
were right glad that these fine men had kept their young'un
from harm if not mischief, and wanted to show their thanks
in the best way they knew how.  Realizing that these folks
would most likely have some knowledge of the local remedies
they'd seen Neil and his grandma use over the last three
days, they were only too eager to accept the invitation.

"Mrs. MacNeill, twas a foin meal again ye've prepared.
We thank ye kindly.  Now we must be on our way."
Garrett announced.  "Young Neil, we'll meet you at the
edge of the ridge in the morning as we planned."

"Yessir, sure 'nough will be thar." Neil responded.

Chapter 5

The next several days passed in a rush for Neil and
all too soon it was time for the doctors to leave.
Garrett, Samuel and Aidan all proclaimed the trip a huge
success, not to any small degree to their young guide.
Beaming with pride, Neil basked in their praise and was
humbled when they formally asked not only his grandparents,
but himself directly, if he would consent to being their
guide in the years to come as it was their intent to make
this a regular expedition.  All of the MacNeills were only
too happy to agree to this arrangement.

So, over the next two falls, the pattern was set.
George and Neil would meet their guests at the train depot
where they would still watch in amazement as the mounds
of luggage their doctor friends brought, seemingly to
grow in numbers with each passing year, would pile upon
the platform.  The doctors, two of who had now married,
would comment on how big Neil was becoming.  Indeed, he
now fairly towered over his grandmother and would soon be
taller than George, who seemed to stoop more each passing
year, as if the weight of aging was pushing him down.
Although George didn't venture too far from the cabin
these days, having Neil come to town when necessary, he
still insisted on making this trip to meet the doctors.

Neil looked forward all year to when the doctors would
come, bringing news and stories of his grandparent's
homeland.  To him, it was as if Scotland was a magical
place and he dreamed of one day going there.  During the
year, he worked hard at the lessons his grandmother gave
him, doing the chores he had always done, as well as taking
on more and more of his grandparent's work, their aging
bodies not able to sustain the burdens of even some of
the most basic chores these days.  He spent time with his
friends when he could, but it seemed that opportunities
to fish and hunt and share a tale or two were becoming
scarcer and scarcer.  But he always knew his grandparents
would allow him the time with the doctors, that he needed
that time away.

It was the winter after Garrett, Samuel and Aidan's third
trip to the Cove that the harsh life of living in the
mountains took its price on the MacNeill's once again.
Neil, now a strapping young man of nearly fourteen was
almost constantly hungry.  Winter was a particularly meager
time for food and his belly was constantly growling.
He never complained and refused any sharing of his
grandparent's own portions of a meal, knowing they needed
the vittles to keep their strength.

It was, however, too much of a temptation one day
after having not only cleared a path in two foot snow
drifts to the barn and split wood for the fire after
surprise snow storm took them by surprise, not to dip
into his grandfather's beloved licorice.  He'd taken
his grandparents over to the Teague's for a visit the
day before.  Upon seeing the snow coming down in such a
fury, Aunt Polly had urged them to weather out the storm
with her.  Worried about the animals in the barn, George
had sent Neil back to the cabin alone, realizing neither
he nor Aggie could possibly make the trip themselves.

 It had been almost a full day since he'd had his last
 true meal at Aunt Polly's.  The dried heal of bread
 he'd scrounged up this morning for breakfast had long
 since been used up, leaving a gaping hole of hunger in
 his belly.  He'd been sitting on his pallet before the
 fire, trying to doze and ignore the hunger pangs, when
 his eyes fell upon the old tin.  He tried to ignore
 it, but his gaze was drawn back to it again and again.
 Finally, he could stand it no longer.  Before he could
 stop himself, he'd grabbed the tin from the shelf, no
 longer needing a stool to reach the coveted candy, and
 ripped open the lid, spilling the sweets across the table.

Eager fingers clamped around the two sticks closest to
him, shoving them into his mouth.  Unable to slow down and
savor the treat as was his custom, he chomped them up and
practically swallowed them whole as he reached for more,
trying desperately to appease the growling beast within his
belly.  Before he quite realized it, all of the licorice
had been consumed, leaving the forgotten tin empty on it
side on the table.  Chagrined by his actions, knowing he
could not make it right, Neil slowly snapped the lid on the
tin and left it on the table and crawled onto his pallet.

George and Aggie found the lad rolling in misery on
the floor upon their return early the next morning.
Aggie immediately went to his side, trying to determine
what was ailing the boy.

"Neil lad, what's wrong with ya?"  she asked him.
Neil could only moan and hold his stomach.

George, spying the candy tin on the table reached over
and pried the lid off.  Knowing the tin had been full, he
understood what pained the lad so since it was now empty.
So much sugar in a belly not used to being full let alone
having sweets was bound to put a body into misery.

"Aggie, I do believe the lad broot this on himself.  Take a
look, noot a one left in the tin heer."  Shaking his head
at the lad's lack of will power, he turned and went out of
the cabin, unwilling to show his own feelings of guilt for
not being able to provide his grandson with enough to eat.

Neil heard the words and doubled up, the pain even more
intense as guilt wracked him.  Never before had his beloved
grandfather talked in such a way about him.  He'd let the
person that meant the most to him down.

"There, there Neil, twill be alright.  Tis noot yer fault,
truly, and your grandfather knoos it.  There wasn't any
food left in the cabin, I knoow.  What were ya ta do to
feed that hunger within ya? " Aggie tried to soothe her
grandson.  She'd heard his stomach grumbling on a number
of occasions, as she knew George had.  She also knew that
it was George's own guilty feelings that had his tongue
saying things he didn't mean, not really.

Slowly, Aggie got to her feet, knees and joints creaking
loudly in the quiet cabin.  "I'll just brew ye some special
tea lad.  That'll ease the pain some.  Then ye'll be able
to rest easy.  Things will be better when ye've slept
a spell."

But things hadn't gotten better.  While Neil slept, his
grandfather decided to bring in some of the logs Neil had
chopped the day before.  He might not be able to speak his
apologies aloud, but his actions indicated his need to make
atonement.  On the way to the hearth, George's foot caught
in a chair, causing him to fall and hit his head upon the
flagstone, the resounding crack so loud it awoke Neil.
There were no doctors in the Cove and although Neil had
raced off to get Ada Allen to help, his grandfather had
never awoken and slipped quietly away two days later.

It was an angry Neil that now walked the trails and paths
of the woods when he wasn't doing his chores, frequently
slipping out in the night, unable to sleep.  Guilt washed
over him every time he thought of how his grandfather had
died.  So much so he was unable to deal with it and fought
it with anger.  Anger with the Cove for being so remote.
Anger with God for allowing not only his parents to be
taken from him, but his grandfather as well.  Anger with
the closed minded people of Cutter Gap that they hadn't
accepted the Scottish doctor's offer of assistance to have
a young medical student come and stay in the Cove, someone
who might have been able to save his grandfather's life
had he been there. So remote and angry had Neil become
that even Tom and Bob no longer came by to see him.

Aggie had tried talking to Neil, but he was a stubborn
Scotsman, just like his grandfather, and would not listen
to reason.  She could see him withdrawing more and more
as the months wore on and she was desperate to help him
but was not sure how.  She could only hope that when the
doctors came for what she was sure to be their last hunting
visit, they could talk some sense into the lad.

Chapter 6

It was the eve before Garrett, Samuel and Aidan were to
arrive and Neil could feel the old excitement stirring
within him.  His somber, angry mood had lightened and he'd
even given his grandmother a smile at dinner.  It was
hard to hold on to such dark thoughts and feelings when
the most treasured time of his life was about to descend
upon him once again.  A small pang of guilt at feeling
such happiness when his grandfather was no longer there to
enjoy it tried to surface, but Neil ruthlessly pushed it
aside, determined to keep this time for himself.  He, too,
was worried that this might be their last trip over.

So on a bitterly cold morning, Neil made the long trek
into El Pano as the old mare they still had was not up to
any long trips, let alone one with a rider.  His cheeks,
nose and ears, bright red like holly berries from the
cold, as he stood on the platform in the same spot he'd
stood with his grandfather the last three years, waiting
for the sound of the whistle.  It wasn't long before he
heard it piercing the clear air, a cloud of steam rising
above the closest mountains, signaling the train's arrival.

Much to Neil's surprise, the normal ritual of unloading
luggage first was bypassed this frigid morning.  Instead,
as one, the doctors descended the metal stairs, groaning
in protest under their weight, to greet Neil.

"Ah laddie, tis sooorry we were to hear of yer
grandfather's passing."  Garrett came forward, enveloping
Neil in a bear hug, pounding him heartily on the back as
men were wont to do.  Neil felt a prickling behind his
eyes and his nose as emotions washed over him.  Fearful of
showing weakness in front of the men he so admired, he
chose to stay within Garrett's embrace until he felt
he wouldn't blubber like a toddler in front of them.
Sensing the lad's need for a moment, Garrett held him
close, feeling the boy's pain as if it were his own.
Indeed, he'd come to think of young Neil as a son.

As he stepped back, Neil turned to Samuel and Aidan.
Solemn faced, they too extended their condolences.
Understanding the lad was feeling a bit raw by it all,
they contained themselves with a handshake and a pat on
his shoulder.

"Alright then men, lets see to the luggage, shall
we?" Garrett asked.  This time, Neil stood side by side
with Garrett and helped pile the mounds of luggage onto
the platform.  It made him feel good, accepted, to be
assisting them even in this small ritual.  For the first
time in a very long time, Neil felt like he belonged.


As was their custom, Neil agreed to meet the doctors
that first morning at the livery.  Fearful that the muddy
paths after a slight thaw might delay him, Neil had left
the cabin earlier than normal.  He arrived at the livery
ahead of schedule, only to find the doctors already there,
talking amongst themselves as they checked over their gear.
He hadn't intended to eavesdrop, but upon hearing their
conversation, he couldn't bring himself to reveal his
presence right off.

"Tis a shame it is.  If we'd been able to send oover young
Duncan as we had discussed to doctor in the Cove, George
might still be alive today!" Aidan exclaimed.

"Aye, but ye knoow hoow proud these folks are and hoow wary
they be of an ootsider.  We cooldna jist force a man on
'em noow coold we?" was Garrett's reply.

"Och no, they'd 'ave never 'ave accepted him.  But what
aboot if we took someone from the Cove and helped them
get educated, becoome a doctor?"

Neil peeked around the door, careful not to lean on the
old wood and give away his presence. Garrett and Aidan
stood looking at Samuel with thoughtful expressions upon
their faces.  They hadn't thought of bringing the education
to a member of Cutter Gap, only to bring a doctor to it.

"Samuel, I think ya may 'ave stumbled ontoo something thar
man!" Garrett said, his voice rising with excitement as
the idea took seed and blossomed in his own mind.

"Oh aye, ye've ootdone yerself man." Aidan agreed.
"But who do ya think is smart enough to take on this kind
of an education let aloone willing to leave the Cove for
a spell?"

The three doctors became silent as they pondered this
new idea.  Each knew that it wouldn't be easy to convince
a family to let a child go beyond the secure boarders of
these mountains, let alone finding a lad with a quick
enough mind and determination to last through medical
training.  Unbeknownst to them, they'd dangled a carrot
before one young lad, an opportunity to escape the Cove
and its confining existence, while living in that magical
place he always wanted to see, Scotland.  It would just
be a matter of how to convince the doctors that he was
their boy.


Aidan eyed young Neil speculatively as for the third time
that day, he'd taken the doctors to some plant in the
woods, describing its wonders for treating a cough, or
infection or an unsettled mind.  Not only that, but the
lad, while having always shared legends and stories of the
Cove, was seemingly bent upon tales that shared a wealth
of local knowledge on the healing ways.  In the evenings,
after his chores were done and the men sat appreciatively
having a coffee or a smoke by the fire after a fine meal
his grandmother still insisted on making for them, Neil
would ask his grandmother for more lessons. They knew the
lad could read and write, no small accomplishment for a
mountain family, but he apparently had a need to show them
just how accomplished he was at both. A swift look at his
fellow doctors assured him they had noted Neil's behavior
as well.

"Neil lad, tis a smart one ye are for sure," Garrett
proclaimed, "but why are ya wandering soo far froom the
trail time and again to shoow us these plants instead of
tracking the deer?"  The older man thought he knew the
answer to this, but wanted Neil to say it in his own words.
They'd all had a suspicion the lad had overheard their
conversation that first day.

Neil could feel heat rising to his cheeks, but he boldly
looked the man steady in the eyes.  "Because sir, I reckon
I wanna be a fancy doc likin y'all."  Neil turned to
encompass Samuel and Aidan in his gaze as he said this.
Now that he'd said it out loud and the doctors hadn't
laughed openly at him, it was as if the floodgates had
been opened the words came tumbling out.

"I NEED to.  I cain't stayed heres no more.  I caint.
Grandfather died 'cause folks here jist won't 'llow noones
different in.  My own kin tried to get out, to make it
better, they knowed hows it was.  I want to too.  Yous can
teached me how to doctor.  I's quick at the larning,
jist ask Grandmother.  I's strong, can do chores and work
'sides schooling.  Please, take me wit ya!  Please!"

His impassioned plea went right to the hearts of the men
that had become so fond of the boy.  None of them knew
quite what to say to the lad as they hadn't even thought of
Neil as a candidate for Samuel's plan.  How could they when
he was Aggie MacNeill's only living relative?  They could
not take him away from her, leave her alone in her aging
years.  But hearing the anguish, the need in Neil's voice,
how could they not take into account his own needs?

Clasping a hand on Neil's shoulder, Garrett said softly,
"Och, laddie, 'tis a hard place ya be in right noow,
isn't it?"  At the kind words, Neil felt tears well into
his eyes.  Not since his grandfather's death had he felt
this kind of kinship.  Fearful of losing control completely
should he speak, Neil could only nod his agreement.

"Let Aidan, Samuel and I think on this a bit, laddie.
We canna make ya any promises, mind, but let us think on
it." Garrett told him.

Satisfied he'd let his desire be known to these men
and they hadn't scoffed at the idea, Neil said no more.
He turned and walked back to the trail, returning to his
role as guide, much to the doctors' pleasure and pride.
It was a fruitful afternoon of hunting they had, returning
with not only a deer, but one of those elusive wild turkeys
that was so hard to hunt in the mountains.

Chapter 7

Upon their return to the cabin, Aggie MacNeill could
see something important had happened on the hunt today.
Maybe it was time for that chat with these grand men
from her homeland.  So, after setting Neil to cleaning
to the deer and turkey out back, she bade the three men
into the cabin.  Neil had turned a questioning eye to
them all, but knew better than to say a word.  It was
torturous standing out there wondering what was being said.
For now that he'd had time to reflect upon his request,
he was feeling guilty for he'd not once considered his
grandmother in his grand scheming.

Neil was nearly done with the deer when the cabin door
opened and the three men came out, wishing a good evening
to Aggie.  They called out a farewell to Neil and without
further explanation, took off for town.  Frustrated, Neil
watched them go, torn between the desire to run after them
and demand they tell him what had been said and fear of
hearing he wouldn't be going anywhere.

His grandmother spoke not a word of her discussion to Neil
when he finally let himself into the cabin.  The knot in
his stomach, now the size of man's fist, wouldn't allow
him to eat much of the meal before him.  Not wishing to
see disappointment in his grandmother's eyes, he kept his
gaze glued to his plate.  He missed the soft look of love
tinged with a bit of sadness that crossed the old woman's
wrinkly face.  Her weathered hand hovered over his head,
a need to smooth those curly locks as she had when he was
a boy fierce within her.  But before she could give in to
the temptation, she turned away, not wanting to further
burden the lad she was so proud of with more feelings than
he was already overwhelmed by.


"Neil, lad, come in ta the cabin noow, we have soome things
to discuss with ya."  Samuel told him from the doorway.
Neil had been sitting against a tree out front, whittling
away at a piece of wood into nothingness as his mind had
wandered about.  It had been two days since his friends and
grandmother had had their talk, no one breathing so much as
a word to him as to what had been discussed.  Hunting had
been put on hold, although the doctors had remained in El
Pano, sometimes making a trip to the MacNeill's altogether
or occasionally alone.

Not wanting to seem too eager, but unable to still his
excitement, Neil quickly scrambled to his feet.  About to
drop his whittling where he stood, an instinct buried deep
within had him turning at the last moment to embed the
knife deep within the tree.  A look of approval gleamed
within Samuel's eyes as he watched Neil from the doorway.
For despite Neil's impatience to learn what had been going
on the last few days, the lad had taken the time to ensure
the knife was properly taken care of or at least out of
harms way.  Those kinds of instincts would serve him well
for what he was about to face.

"Niel," Aggie called him to her, pointing to the stool
next to her, "have a seat lad."  Standing before the fire
were Aidan and Garrett, the stance and size of the later
resembled a huge bear standing on its hind legs and seemed
to take up the entire cabin.  A bit nervous now at the
serious expressions on their faces, Neil slid onto the
seat, nervously wiping his hands on his worn pants.

"Son, I understand ye've a mind to leave the Cove." Aggie
began.  At Neil's stricken look, she hastened to go on.
"Not that ye were thinkin aboot leaving me here, lad, but
to become a foin doctor like these good men."  Her gaze
encompassed the men now standing around them at the table.
"Neil lad, I knoow ye've not been happy these many moonths
past.  Yer grandfather's passing after already having lost
yer folks was a hard thing to bear, more for ye than twas
fer me.  I'd been lookin for a way to help ya, but didna
knoow hooow.

"Then the doctors here, they tell me what you said to them.
Hoows ye want to learn the healing ways, noot of mountain
people, but with them.  Is this true lad?"

Not wishing to hurt his grandmother's feelings but knowing
his answer was somehow crucial to the outcome of this
conversation, Neil spoke quietly, "Aye."

"Tell me true lad that ye want to goo to learn the medicine
these men knoow.  Noot just to run from Cutter Gap."

This time Neil paused, for he knew at the time he'd
made his impassioned plea to his friends, it was because
he had wanted out of these remote mountains, to escape
the confines of the narrow minded ways of these people.
But over the last two days, he'd come to realize that it
was more than that.  He'd felt so helpless as he'd watched
his grandfather slip away from them.  He'd made a vow that
he wouldn't ever let himself feel that way again if he
had the power to change it.  And learning the doctoring
ways, there in lay the power.

"No, tisn't why."  Neil spoke quietly, conviction ringing
in his very lack of forcefulness.  "I's needs to learn
them ways sos I can help."

The air in the cabin seemed to relax as the men let out
tense filled breaths.  They too had been worried the lad
had been looking for an escape.  His calm statement had
convinced them that he truly had a desire to learn, to
become a doctor.

"But," Neil continued, "cain't goes off and leaves ya
by yer lone Grandmother.  I'd a rather staid heres than
leaves ya."

Aggie's breath caught in her throat and she couldn't
prevent a tear from escaping, making a silvery trickle
down her cheek.  Ah, George, he would be so proud if he
were here now.  She'd known Neil would feel this way,
but it still did her old heart good to hear the words
spoken aloud.  She sensed the pride in the men behind
Neil as well, that he was securing their faith in him as
nothing else could have.

When she got her breath back, Aggie said.  "There noow
lad, no need to fret so.  Tis already taken care oof.
I've spooken with the Spencers and with the Allens.
Young Jeb will be helping me oot during tha day and Zeke
will send one of the boys by each evening.  It twill
be foin.  Ye can go and noot worry aboot me."

Disbelief spread across the young boy's face, not daring
to trust his ears.  He whipped his head around, seeing
the grins of the men behind him, their heads nodding in
agreement, he felt the truth of it sink in.  Turning back
to his grandmother, seeing the love shinning from her eyes,
the smile gently teasing her mouth, he knew it to be true.

With a great whoop, Neil jumped up, cracking Aidan in the
chin with his head, knocking him backward onto the floor.
Despite the ringing in his head, Aidan couldn't help but
join in Garrett and Samuel's laughter at the exuberance
the lad was showing.  Even Aggie had to chuckle as she
watched Neil dance around the cabin, stopping to assist
Aidan to his feet.

"Well lad," Garrett boomed, "if ya shoow as mooch
enthusiasm for yer studies as ya do noow, yer gonna make
a foin medical student, ya are."

Neil stopped, a foolish grin spread across his face at the
words of his friend.  "Och, aye, that I will." he said in
a fine imitation of the brogue he'd heard his whole life.

The men burst into laughter.  Oh yes indeed, it was
going to be an adventure to be sure, educating young
Neil MacNeill.  But not one of them had a doubt, it was
going to be worth every moment.

Chapter 8

It had been gloomy, the skies threatening snow, the day
Neil left Cutter Gap.  He'd said his good-byes to Aggie,
her assurances ringing in his ears that she would be
fine, not to worry, as he'd made his way to El Pano.
Despite the way news flew about the Cove, none of his
friends had come to see him off, not that he'd really
expected him too.  He knew that folks felt he was being
just like his parents, thinking he was too good for them
and the Cove.  Still, it had hurt that even Bob and Tom
hadn't come to bid him farewell.

Determination burned within him.  He knew he wasn't the
smartest boy in Cutter Gap, nor had the doctors seriously
considered him a candidate for medical training until he'd
begged them to take him.  He was still not comfortable
in leaving his grandmother alone, beholden to neighbors
for help.  She had given up a great deal by allowing him
to leave. Fear of letting his friends and grandmother down
for the faith they'd bestowed upon him was the corner stone
of his resolve to succeed.   But it was the thought of the
folks in the Cove, their closed minded ways that burned
the fire hottest within him.  He would succeed, become
a great doctor, and he would show these people what the
MacNeill's were about!

The doctors, sensing his unsettled mood, had done their
best to entertain Neil with stories of their medical school
days on the train ride to New York.  But it was the changes
in landscape, the scenes of the towns and then cities that
captured Neil's attention.  Wide-eyed, he greedily sucked
in all the sights and sounds he could through the train
window, peppering the others with questions in his quest
to know more.

When they'd taken him to the harbor in New York, Neil had
been struck silent at the sight of the ship he would be
sailing on.  Amazement clear on his young face, he'd asked
them incredulously, "This be whats gits us 'cross the water
to Scotland?"  Indulgent smiles spread across three faces,
enjoying seeing things they'd taken for granted through
innocent eyes.

"Aye Neil.  And when we get oot to sea, ye shall see the
great sails unfurl and billow in the wind!"  Aidan had
exclaimed, pointing upwards to the great masts and crows
nest.  Aidan's passion second only to medicine was boats,
ships, anything that could float on water.  His excitement
was almost tangible as he stood there, ready to launch
into speech about the venerable ship they were about to
board, wanting to share his knowledge with the young lad
as both Garrett and Samuel had grown tired of his "drivel"
as they called it.  A new ear to bend would make the long
voyage much more tolerable.

Neil, craning his head back to take it all in, felt himself
falling backwards.  His arms windmilling as he tried to
defy the force of gravity.  Neil let out a screech as
he felt the dock fall out from beneath him and he found
himself falling into space.  His mouth, opened in a scream,
was soon filled with briny water as the dark cold waters
of the Atlantic swallowed him.  Swimming in the creek back
home was entirely different from a dunking in the great
Atlantic Ocean and the shock of it sent Neil into a panic.
His arms and legs flailed wildly, splashing more salty
water in his mouth, choking him.

It took a minute for Samuel's shouts to penetrate his
panic.  "Neil, lad, grab the ladder.  Neil!  Neil, GRAB THE
LADDER!"  Aidan stripped off his great coat, ready to dive
into the frigid waters to help the boy, when Neil finally
regained his senses.  His thrashing ceased, blinking
hard to clear the water from his stinging eyes, he spied
the ladder before him.  Paddling the short distance, he
managed to grab the wooden ladder rung before he succeeded
in drowning himself.

Shivering in reaction, he couldn't seem to let go of the
ladder to ascend to the dock and the doctors anxiously
watching him from their safe purchase. Hands frozen as they
fisted around the rough and jagged rungs wouldn't release
and he could only look helplessly up at his friends.
Peering up at the pale faces now turning red as blood
rushed to their cheeks, he was reminded of that first year
they'd come to the Cove when he'd gotten himself stuck
in a crevice. A giggle escaped him as the same look of
worry and concern was stamped across their countenances,
releasing his frozen body, allowing him to awkwardly climb
the ladder as his chilled body was stiff and uncoordinated.

Aidan wrapped the boy in his overcoat as Neil found himself
under inspection by Garrett. As with that time he'd been
stuck in the hole, he knew he wasn't hurt.  He was simply
chilled and having a bit of a reaction to the fright he'd
received.  Shivering from head to toe, teeth chattering so
loudly he could barely make out what the men were saying,
Neil couldn't squeeze a word out to reassure them, let
alone give any kind of signal.  His body had a life of its
own now and he was helpless to put the older men's minds
at ease.

"Laddie, are ya alright?  Did ya hit yoor head on the dock?
Are ya hurt?"  Garrett boomed at him.  It was then that
Neil noticed the shaking of the big man's hands like leaves
blowing in the wind.  Feeling badly for giving the man who
had been so good to him such a fright, he was finally able
to shake his head.

"Nnnooo.  I'mmmmmmm fffffiiiinnnneeee."  Another huge
shiver overtook Neil, preventing him from speaking for
a moment.  "Garrett, fine.  Cold."  The big man sagged in
relief, his shaggy head bowed, chin touching his chest, as
he allowed his own nerves to settle.  Aidan and Samuel,
realizing that the lad had nothing more than a scare and
a cold dunking, chuckled their own relief.

"Oh laddie, tis an eye we moost keep oon ya it twould
appear.  Ya be reminding us oof yoor friend Bob Allen
noow." Samual teased him.  "Think we shoold tie him to the
bunk men, keep him oot of trooble?"  he winked at Aidan
and Garret.

Scowling now, Neil stood up straight, throwing off the
coat.  "No.  Ya knowed I's not needin no keeper likes
some young 'un."  Embarrassment and insecurity at not
knowing quite how to act in these new surroundings had him
defending himself with more force than what the situation
warranted.  But that stubborn Scottish blood that ran so
strong within the boy would not allow him to show his fear
or confusion and he marched with more confidence than he
was feeling for the gangplank, not waiting to see if the
doctors were following.

"Well noow, I'm thinking the laddie there is gooin ta doo
jist foin, what say yoo Samuel?"  Garrett inquired, a look
of pride on his face as he watched Neil slog his way to
the deck of the ship.

A smile tugging the corners of his mouth, Samuel said,
"Och aye, that he will.  His stubbornness second only to
yoors my friend."

With a shout of laughter, Aidan swung an arm around each
man and they followed their young friend onto the ship,
each making note to keep an eye on the lad during their
voyage, none eager to fish the boy out of the ocean on
the open seas.


It turned out their concerns were unfounded, at least
for the first portion of the voyage.  Neil, not used to
anything but solid mountain ground beneath his feet, felt
as if the ocean were going to swallow him up as the ship
rode the swell of the waves, bobbing like one of those
paper boats they used to float down the creek.  The first
several days, while confined to his bunk, Neil had been
an ugly shade of green that lessened only slightly when
he'd relieve himself of what little food the doctors were
able to get down him.  When he wasn't too busy trying to
control the rolls of his stomach, he was cursing that,
much to his disgust, these fancy doctors had no magic cure
for seasickness.

They were into their third week at sea when Neil, who'd had
enough of the confines of his cabin, managed to stumble
aboard deck, surprising his friends who were sure he was
going to be bunk bound the entire voyage.

"Why' tis Neil, arose from the grave it twould
appear." Teased Samuel.  Despite his jesting, he peered
keenly at the pale faced lad, anxious that he might be
over taxing his weakend body.

Neil managed a weak smile in return as he worked to get
his balance, tightly clutching the rail to keep himself
upright.

Although he was white as a sheet, at least he'd lost that
ghastly green hue, thought Garrett.  He begun to worry
that they boy would go into dehydration.  It had barely
rained since they'd set sail so there was precious little
fresh water aboard for him to get down Neil's throat.
If he'd continued on with the illness, there would have
been no liquids to give the lad.

"Laddie, yoo sure yer ready to be aboot?" he asked him.

"Och, stoop yer fussing like soome moother hens pecking
away the lad.  Obviously if he can make it oot of the
cabin, he's dooing moore than a wee bit better." Aidan
admonished the other two.  "Come lad, let's set ya
doown oover here.  Get ya some fresh air and soome sun.
That'll do ya moore good than that dark and gloomy cabin."

Aidan's strong arm kept Neil from collapsing as he made
is way over to a coil of heavy rope.  Sighing in relief
and pleasure at being outside, he tilted his head back,
absorbing the warmth of the sun, his blond curls flying
in the wind, a smile of pleasure blooming on his face.
This felt almost as good as sitting up on his mamma's rock,
lazing in the sun on an early spring day, absorbing the
heat of the sun and rock while the cool breezes brushed
over him.

Satisfied the lad was indeed on the mend, Garrett and
Samuel took of to look for some food while Aidan settled
in with the boy, ready to share his passion and knowledge
of  sailing.  He'd been so eager to bend Neil's ear when
they'd boarded that his disappointment had been keen when
the lad had become ill.  It had been all Samuel and Garrett
could to do to keep the man from whiling away the hours
in their cabin with Neil, blathering on about the boats.
Neil needed rest, not someone constantly yammering his
fool head off.

The remainder of the voyage passed relatively uneventful.
Neil eventually found his sea legs and could frequently
be found prowling the decks, asking numerous questions of
the crew and passengers alike, always careful to avoid
any spots even remotely likely to cause him injury or
mayhem.  Since many aboard were Scottish, their brogue
was predominately heard all over the ship.  Much to the
older men's amusement, they watched as the lad worked to
lose his mountain dialect and perfect their own.   By the
time they reached Edinburgh, barely a twang could be noted
in the young man's speech.

Chapter 9

It was gratifying to the three men to watch Neil's face as
they pulled into Edinburgh harbor. Eyes wide, head twisting
to see all he could, there was no doubt of his eagerness
to see his new home.  The lad had gone still as stone when
his gaze alighted on the great castle rising majestically
on the distant crag, overlooking the city.  Never in his
young life had he seen anything so grand, so old.

"Tis an amazing sight, is it noot Neil?"  Garrett had
whispered in his ear.  "You'll have plenty o' time to
explore it while yer here."

"Aye, ye reckon I kin go rights in?"  Neil asked, his
mountain speech slipping through as his concentration
centered on the great sight before him.

"Och yea, that and mooch moore lad. That and mooch moore."



Over the next two years, Neil explored all there was to
see of his new home while he attended grammar school.
He'd settled into life there with an ease that surprised
even Garrett, with whom he was living until he enrolled at
the University.  When he wasn't at school or helping Mary,
Garrett's wife, with the children, he was off exploring
the city.

Although the "new city" was not left off his itinerary of
things to inspect, it was the "old city" that drew him
back over and over.  The writer's house just off of the
Royal Mile learning about Burns and Stevenson, St. Giles
Cathedral, Holyroodhouse Palace, but it was Edinburgh
Castle and Arthur's Seat that Neil made countless trips
to, steeping himself in the history of his ancestry.
The castle was not always easy to get into, being used as
a military center and prison, but having made friends with
one of the infantrymen posted there, he was soon gaining
passage to the castle, careful to keep to himself in his
explorations lest he be booted out.

But what filled his soul with peace were the hikes up
St. Arthur's seat.  This crag, at the base of the Royal
mile, overlooking both castle, palace and indeed, all of
Edinburgh, rose high up into the air, allowing Neil to
see for miles around him, reminding him of the ridges
of the mountains of home.  His favorite time to go was
in the early hours of the morning, watching the sunrise.
He'd even made the climb a few times in the snow, so great
was his need for the solace it brought after hearing of
his grandmother's death.

By the time Neil was ready to enter the University and
begin his medical training, he was more of a Scotsman
than even some of the natives.  So thick and distinct his
brogue and knowledge of the rich and deep history of his
grandparent's homeland, one was hard pressed to know he'd
spent most of his years on a remote mountain in America.
He'd also become quite skilled at the Highland games,
Samuel's passion.  Neil found that participating in these
unusual sports gave release to his physical needs like
hiking and working back home had done.  He was not a lad
used to sitting around.  Much to Samuel's delight, the
boy was a fierce competitor and had proved himself on more
than one occasion as a valiant teammate.

It was with great anticipation that Neil started his
studies at the University.  Aidan, who taught at the
medical school, had given Neil a tour of the campus and
settled him into his dormitory.  Accommodations here
were far more sparse than what he had been used to at
the Campbell's, but still much more than what he'd had in
Cutter Gap.  While his wealthy and privileged classmates
around him moaned and complained, Neil felt at home and
had no problems settling in.

The first year was relatively easy for Neil.  Not that
he didn't have to pour hours over his studies, sometimes
long after his classmates had retired for the evening or
taken themselves off for a bit of fun.  Despite having
been gone from the Cove for almost five years, the fire to
succeed still burned strong within, keeping him on track
and focused almost constantly.  Aidan and Samuel, who were
closest to the University, would spend free time assisting
him with his studies.  In turn, Neil spent time watching
their children, telling them the tales he'd learned as
a young lad from his grandparents, often times finding
similarities in the tales he'd learned since coming to
Scotland.

It was his second year into medical training that Neil felt
his resolve waiver. It was during this time that practical
training, the laboratory and research classes began.
By now Neil had earned a reputation amongst students and
teachers alike for having an attitude.  His remoteness,
the distancing of himself from most of his fellow medical
students and all but Aidan of the staff members had most
seeing him as a bit of a snob.

To be sure, some of this was due to his all consuming
need to be the best doctor he could be.  But in truth,
much of it had to do with attitudes and backgrounds of
those associated with the University.  The students came
from money.  Lots of it.  He wasn't used to moneyed folks
and it wasn't that it impressed him, but neither did he
know how to fit in with them.  As for the faculty, they
were either envious of Dr. Sinclair's association with
the dedicated lad from America or they were put off by
Neil's never ending questioning of their medical practices,
techniques and all around knowledge.

Dr. Brown, professor of anatomy, seemed the most piqued
by Neil MacNiell's seeming incessant poking at anything
he didn't see as logical.  Not to mention being tired
of hearing Aidan Sinclair always go on about the young
man at faculty meetings.  He'd been eager to start the
new term, feeling certain he could truly test the young
upstart Neil's mettle during laboratories.

Neil, confident that he could see through his second year
with the same hard work and dedication he'd held to during
his first, had been in no way prepared for the hands on
instruction the laboratories would give him.  He'd heard
stories of what the classes were like. The dissection
of human bodies, the analysis of blood, infectious body
fluids, even human organs hadn't dissuaded him from
the class.  After all, he'd lived in the mountains, seen
nature's harsh realities, seen gashes and wounds in humans,
even aided in the birthing of a calf or two.  He was sure
he could pass Dr. Brown's class without incident.

The first full day of class found Neil and his classmates
in Dr. Brown's laboratory mid-afternoon.  The room was
stuffy and the air close as the late August sun beat down
upon the windows.  Sweat beaded on their foreheads and lips
as the heat enveloped them in its warm embrace.  The young
men chatted amongst themselves for a bit, sharing their
adventures during break until Dr. Brown made his entrance.

"Laddies, remoove yer coots and ties and secure the coover
oon yoor chairs oover yer shirts and trousers.  Dissection
can be a wee bit messy depending hoow fresh our specimen
is and we donna want yoor garments ruined the first day."

Once the young men had done as he'd asked, Dr.Brown
beckoned all ten of them to circle around the table at the
front of the room.  A body lay beneath a sheet, pale bony
feet sticking out one end, a tuft of black hair poking out
at all angles from the other.  For some of them, this was
their first encounter with a dead body.  A few showed their
trepidation by hanging back a step or two, but Neil and
the rest boldly took their place right next to the table.

 As the good doctor proceeded with his instruction,
 he removed the covering from the lower extremities,
 exposing a grossly enlarged left leg.  As he slowly
 made an incision on the leg, puss and fluid spurted
 from the opening landing on the protective coverings of
 some, faces of others.  Pale faced, Neil stoically stood
 there, surreptitiously swiping the slimy goo from his own
 cheek as he fiercely concentrated on what the professor
 was saying.

"This poor man, he apparently suffered from the goot.
See hoow his legs are swoollen, almoost dooble in size of
what they shoold.  Note hoow the infection has eaten away
at the flesh and moosle, turning the soft tissue black
with its poison."  The doctor pulled open the incision,
exposing blackened, rotted flesh.

Neil valiantly followed along, as did three other young men
of stronger constitution than those now gagging or retching
into receptacles at the back of the laboratory.  And a
good job he'd been doing of it until the foulest stench
he'd ever smelled, even worse than the dead critters that
he'd sometimes stumbled across in the mountains, suddenly
assailed him as the professor stretched open the incision
for a better look at what he was describing.

All at once Neil felt his face turn flush and then cold
and clamy, blackness swam at the edges of his sight, his
stomach rolling in protest of what his eyes and nose were
signaling his brain.  Swaying on his feet, he fought the
weakness pulling at his knees, threatening their collapse
like a tent in a strong wind.  The final insult to his
already overrun senses was when the professor had turned
to Neil, dirty scalpel in hand, and calmly placed the
instrument in his sweat soaked hands.  Just the feel of
the infectious fluids on his palms was enough to send him
over the edge and into blackness.

It had been little consolation to Neil that the other
three lads had also either fainted or stumbled gagging
from the examining table.  Dr. Brown hadn't cared either.
He was more interested in this young lad from America that
Aidan MacDougal had endlessly gone on about's reaction.
But Neil was not about to let a weak stomach get in the
way of success.  So, the very next lab, Neil was front and
center, ruthlessly clamping down on his roiling stomach,
refusing to let his body's vulnerability overtake him.

"Noow that we've examined the area of the boody that
moost likely took this unlucky fellow's life, we moost
take a look at the other major organs to see what effect
the goot may have had oon them.  Who woold like ta take
a try at the next incision?"

Although Dr. Brown had asked the question of the entire
class, his piercing blue eyes never left Neil's face.
Holding the older man's look with steady eyes, Neil took
up the unspoken challenge.

"I would sir." He said in a quiet, confident voice.

With a quirked eyebrow, the professor handed over
the scalpel.  Neil calmly took it in his own hand,
centering it over the dead man's chest, waiting for the
next instruction.  Dr. Brown proceeded with his lesson,
telling Neil exactly where to cut and how to spread
the ribs apart to access the organs inside the chest.
Although Neil paused a time or two to take a steadying
breath, he never faltered that day.  One or two of the
other students managed to stick with him, but the other's
once again succumbed to their weak stomach's and had fled
the table before they embarrassed themselves a second day
in a row.

That day Neil earned the respect of Dr. Brown.  It was
clear Aidan's high praises of the young man were not
unfounded and the lad had a determination and stubbornness
that would do any Scotsman proud.  Although many of Neil's
classmates, now envious of his ability to separate his
mind from his body and concentrate on the task at hand,
still shunned him, he had managed earn the admiration of
a few, allowing the beginnings of new friendships.


Chapter 10

It wasn't until the week after his graduation from the
University, when Garrett, Samuel and Aidan had gifted
him with a surprise trip up into the Highlands, that Neil
truly realized how much he missed his home in the mountains
of Tennesseee.  Staring upon the majestic Highlands, now
green and lush, waterfalls dancing wildly down the craggy
rocks throughout the glens they traveled, a homesickness
like nothing he'd ever felt before came over him.  He now
understood what had drawn his grandparents to Cutter Gap
and the great Smokey Mountains, for here lay the evidence
of how much those mountains across the ocean reminded them
of their homeland.

It had been one of Neil's proudest moments when he'd met
his clansmen in Glencoe.  They'd made him welcome with
food and a hot fire, much like the mountain folk in the
Cove would have, quietly showing their appreciation rather
than boisterously proclaiming it aloud.  They'd asked
dozens of questions about what life in America was like,
letting him know he was still considered a foreigner
despite his having fully taken on not only the Scottish
dialect, but their customs as well.  They'd asked details
of his grandfather's death, serving as a reminder to Neil
why he'd chosen to become a doctor all those years ago.

Neil's pensive mood had not gone unnoticed by his friends
on their return journey.  Although sad to lose the young
man from their daily lives, they were proud that he
appeared to hear the calling he had been trained for, to
doctor the families of the Cove where he'd been raised.

"Neil, there seems to be a heavy burden on your mind lad.
'Tis is it soomething we can help you with?"  Samuel asked.
Although Neil was now taller than both Samuel and Aidan,
his broad shoulders and chest pushing at the seams of
his linen shirt, all of them still saw him as a lad.
He'd been so much a part of their lives, they each felt
a father's pride in his accomplishments here in Scotland
and those they knew were to come in America.

"Och Samuel, Aidan, Garrett.  "Tis truly many o' gift ye've
blessed me with these many years.  A foin education, a home
to live in, work to make mooney, friendship.  Who could
ask for more?  Truly, I love this place as if I'd lived
here my life whole.  But."

Garrett raised one bushy eyebrow in inquiry, waiting for
Neil to continue.

"But I feel a need to return to Cutter Gap.  You've given
me the learning I needed to help thoose people there as
they couldna do when me grandfather died.  It's time I went
back, to put to use all knowledge this foin education has
given me."

Looking reluctantly at each man in turn, Neil went on.
"Ye knoow, I was but a wee lad when me own da was taken
from me.  My grandfather meant the world to me, but ye
three."  He paused a moment, "Ye three have been moore da
like ta me then a boy has the right to ask.  Its hard fer
me to goo, but goo I must."

Touched beyond words, the Scotsmen looked at the young man
before them with love and pride shining through the tears
in their eyes.  No finer tribute could the lad have made to
them, meant more to them, than the words he'd just spoken.

"Aye laddie, and ye be a son to us all, even if ye not be
of oour blood."  Garrett said gruffly.  "No father could
be prouder.  Indeed, it is with great happiness, and a
touch o' sadness, we return you to your mountain home
across the sea."

Now, Neil thought not a little uneasily, he would need
to find his place in Cutter Gap.  He was not sure what
was more daunting.  The prospect of working through the
suspicious nature of the folks in the Cove so that he
could truly put his skills to use or if the possibility of
another bout of sea sickness without the doctors there to
care for him.  Neither really mattered for his mind was
made up, home he would go.


Neil had been home nearly two months now, spending most
of his time cleaning up and fixing the MacNeill cabin,
occasionally enjoying some time fishing in the creek
behind it.  He'd also made a few visiting trips around
the Cove, knowing the people would not be coming to him.
It had been harder than he thought, most people not even
answering their doors when he'd come calling.  It was
frustrating not to be able to put his training to use, but
he knew there was no way he could force it on these people.

The Spencers had been the most welcoming.  Fairlight had
married Jeb two years ago, having had a son just over
a year later, John, and another one was on the way.
They'd had him over to supper a time or two, and Fairlight
had been willing to discuss some of the ways Neil had
learned for birthing.  Jeb had been content to smoke his
pipe and listen, content as only a man secure in his place
can be.  They'd also been the ones to fill him in on news
of the Cove.

Bob Allen had gotten married to Mary Jasper and lived in
the Allen cabin near the mud hole.  Bird's Eye Taylor had
been a courting Opal Allen, but it looked like Tom McHone
had won her heart.  Neil's eyes had widened at this since
he still remembered Opal as the pesky younger sister that
he, Bob and Tom and teased unmercifully when they were
younger.  A. Polly Teague was still in her cabin high up
on the ridge, now alone as her children had all grown and
moved out.  A new missionary, a Miss Alice Henderson, and
her daughter were now over at the new mission Dr. Ferrand
was building.

Neil had enjoyed hearing the goings on of the Cove and
went to speak with as many of the people as he could,
conspicuously avoiding the mission.  He had no time for
God, he was a man of science, and no woman was going to
tell him how to lead his life. The children drew him over
and over again.  It was a delight to see new fresh faces
in Cutter Gap and Neil understood that earning their trust
first might be the key to winning over the adults.

Neil, once again the guest at the Spencers for a meal, sat
on the porch with Jeb in peaceable slinlence, listening to
Fairlight talk softly to little John inside the cabin. His
mind circled around and around on how to gain the trust
and respect of those in the Cove, never settling long
on one idea before it jumped on to the next.  It was
wearing thin on his nerves, this needless mistrust, but
he was helpless to do anything more than he already was.
So caught up in his own thoughts, it took him a moment to
realize Jeb had spoken to him.

"Neil."  When Jeb realized he had the other man's
attention, he went on.  "I's been meaning ta asks ya, whys
it so that yer talkin different nows you been off to that
land called Scotland?"

A bit taken aback by the question, Neil wasn't quite sure
how to answer that.  He knew the fiercely proud people of
the Cove wouldn't take kindly to his rubbing their faces
in the fact that he'd left Cutter Gap in the first place.
He'd even worked hard to avoid the subject, knowing his
brogue was reminder enough.  Talking to folks wasn't going
to win their trust, action would, or so he'd thought.
That Jeb would openly question him on it was surprising
if not downright shocking.

"Honestly, Jeb, I doona even nootice it myself.  I imagine
I learned it to fit in.  But being aroond it for so long,
I guess it just became right for me to speak with a brogue,
like my grandparents did.  Doos it bother ya?"

Jeb continued rocking slowly as he pondered that one.
He never could understand why a body would want to leave
this mountain.  It held everything a person could want;
beauty, peace, a means to live, family.  But he wasn't so
backwards he didn't know that not everyone held with the
same ideas, even folks loyal to the Cove.  It had been more
a curiosity to him rather than an irritant that he'd asked.

"Reckon I's jist trying to figures it out is all.
Ye talked jist liken us when we's young'uns.  Jist seemd
a might strange ye'd come back a soundin different.
No bother."

Both men lapsed into companionable silence, each
turning over in their minds what the other had said.
A slight breeze blew over them, cooling the humid air to a
comfortable temperature.  The night insects tuning up for
their nightly concert could be heard over the croaking of
frogs and the hoot of a nearby owl.  Neil was content to
just sit a while, but knew he had a bit of hike back to the
cabin and needed to be on his way.  He was contemplating
his departure when a rush of feet had both men rising to
their feet.

Ozias Holt came racing down the ridge, his chest heaving
as he tried to get a breath.  "Jeb, be Fairlight about?"
he weezed out.

"She is Ozias.  What's paining ya so?" Jeb responded.

"Its Rebecca.  She caint breath.  I'm scart she's not
gonna make through the night."  Ozias replied.

"Ozias, is Rebecca coughing with it at all?  Is she running
a fever?" Neil interrupted.

Ozias turned a jaundiced eye to the doctor.  "Now Niel, I
knowed ya went and got all trained like to doctorin ways,
but we do jist fine with Fairlight.  No offense, but wes
jist better ofn with our own ways of doin things."

Frustration ate away at Neil, his hands closing in
tight fists as he stood there.  Fairlight came out with
a basket of onions having overheard the conversation.
With a look of apology to Neil, she hurried after Ozias,
telling Jeb not to wait up for her and to look after John.
As they crested the mountain, Jeb heard Neil let out his
pent-up breath.

"You knowed it weren't gonna be easy Neil.  These folks,
theys used to Fairlight and Opal tending them nows that
their granny's gone.  Don't goes getting yerself all
tied up overn it.  Times what yer needing ta give 'em.
Asides, Fairlight, she'd send fer ya ifn she thought you
was needed."

Neil knew the man was right.  It didn't make it any easier
to accept.  He was a stubborn Scotsman and not about to
give up.  Neither would he fail Garrett, Aidan and Samuel
to whom he'd given his pledge to serve the people of
this community.  To be honest, down deep, he had to admire
the loyalty and the respect these folks showed Fairlight
and Opal and their healing ways.  He knew they did a lot
to help their family and friends when they were ailing,
he just felt he could do more.  What was getting to him
the most was the eye disease he had seen not only in the
elderly, but the young children as well.  He suspected
it was trachoma, but obviously hadn't been allowed close
enough to anyone who had it to make a detailed examination.
It was heartbreaking to watch them lose their eyesight
to the disease and he was anxious to research it further.
Garrett had sent him home with some of his own laboratory
equipment and Neil knew, given the opportunity, he could
put it to good use.

Oh yes, he could feel his resolve strengthening, overcoming
his frustration.  Indeed, he would find a way to get these
people to entrust him with their care.  If he could prove
himself to the obstinate Dr. Brown, he most certainly
could do it with these people!

Chapter 11

Neil stood knee deep in the cold creek, fly rod in hand,
engrossed in his fishing as the late fall afternoon
sun peeked through the turning leaves.  He'd spent the
morning calling on the Timmons and the Holcombes, and
progress of sorts had been made.  The Timmons, always a
family who stuck to themselves, had at least come out and
chatted a few moments with him.  But he'd been downright
flabbergasted when John Holcombe had confided he'd had a
bit of the scourge and had asked Neil what he should do.
Neil suspected his patient had talked to him more because
he was a man, not wanting to talk a woman about such
issues, than it had to do with his being a doctor.

When he'd finished his visit, he'd gone into El Pano
to pick up some supplies he'd ordered from Nashville.
Camphor, iodine, ether, fresh linens for bandages were
waiting for him at the livery according to Ben Pentland.
Ben had offered to bring them over on his next run, but
Neil hadn't wanted to wait that long, anxious to get
himself set up as quickly as possible, even if he didn't
have any patients currently.

Running later than he'd anticipated after the unexpected,
but welcome, diversion at the Holcombes, it was already
mid-afternoon by the time Neil made his way back on foot
to his cabin.  Not wishing to delay his return any longer,
he'd cut over a ridge that took him over Taylor land.
He knew Taylors were still running shine according to the
Spencers, some things stayed more constant than others in
the Cove, and he had no wish to run into Bird's Eye. He
kept a sharp eye out as he made his way through the woods
as quickly as he could.

Neil had to choke off a scream when right before him a
body rose out of the brush, a shot gun barrel pointed
straight at his chest.  His heart beating frantically, it
took him but a moment to realize he hadn't been successful
in avoiding Bird's Eye after all.  As calmly has he could,
he dropped his pack to the ground and raised his hands a
bit, letting the other man know he meant no harm.

"Whater doin down this way Doc?"  the word doc being
exaggerated in a sarcastic voice, letting Neil know his
status held no importance with the man as he eyed him with
a piercing look.

"I'm just on my way back hoome, taking the short cut from
El Pano to my cabin."

"Well yer on my land now and I's don't want ya on it. Now
git." Had been Bird's Eye's response as he'd waived his
gun at him.

Neil, now feeling a bit more in control, arched a shaggy
brow in mock arrogance, knowing if he showed any weakness
to the other man, he was in for more trouble than he was
looking for.  "And what do ya have against me man that
I canna use this path to see me hoome?  I want noothing
from ya, just wish to get to my own place."

Bird's Eye's face twisted up in a scowl, "Nona yer biness.
Jist git yer things and git afore I change my mind and
put some shot in ya."

It was then Neil noticed the angry red scratch on the
back of the man's hand, puffy and oozing as if infected.
"What'd ya do to you're hand Bird's Eye?  It looks to be
infected and should be cleaned."

"Don't ya be makin no never mind 'bout me.  Jist a git."

Knowing the man wouldn't relinquish control of his shot gun
long enough for Neil to inspect the wound, he simply said,
"Listen, I've some iodine here in my pack.  Let me leave
you a bottle.  Wash out the woond and pour some of this
on it.  It shoold help take care of the infection."

Under Bird's Eye's suspicious gaze, Neil had opened up
the pack at his feet and extracted the small glass bottle,
leaving it on a log near by.  He slung the pack over his
shoulder once again and started on his way, not daring
to look back and see what the other man's reaction was.
He thought he did hear a harumph and mumbling about some
people jist not knowing how to leave well 'nough alone,
acting like some of them durned wimmin, always a meddling.

Thinking back on it now, it seemed that maybe he'd
made another small success.  Not that winning Bird's Eye
Taylor over would have any impact on the rest of the Cove.
He was meaner than a snake and aside from Opal Allen, he
didn't know of a sole in the Cove that spoke to the man.

Just as he made another cast into the calm clear waters,
Neil heard the crack of a twig breaking behind him.
He reeled in his line and turned toward the bank, slowly
walking out of the cold water, not wishing to scare off
whomever was hiding in the foliage.  After a moment,
he saw a blond head pop up.  Huge brown eyes peered at
him from a dirty face, warily watching his every move.
Recognizing Ault Allen's boy, Jacob, he calmly put away
his gear, waiting for the boy to make the first move.


"Doc." He whispered, as if fearful someone might overhear
him.

"Yes Jacob.  Is there soomething I can do for you?"
Neil spoke quietly as well.

"I aint supposed to be here.  Pa'd skin me fer sure ifn'
he knew.  But Fairlight, she'd done said you'd  be the
onliest one who might be ables ta help."

Neil tensed, sensing something important was going on here.
Something that would require his knowledge and skills
as a doctor.  Not wanting to alarm the boy further, he
continued to put away his gear and wipe off his hands.
"And what doos Fairlight think I can help with lad?"

Easing out from his hiding place, Jacob came to stand in
front of Neil, his face solemn, his brown eyes serious.
"It's Bob.  He's done got hisself caught in the grinding
stones at the mill. The mens all thar, wantin ta lift
the stone oft, but Fairlight's akeepin 'em from doing it.
Says Bob'll bled to death ifn they remove it now."

Neil, understanding the urgency of the situation now,
raced back to his cabin to grab his medical supplies,
calling over to the boy as he went.  "Jacob, grab my gear,
put it on the porch while I get my things."  As he threw
items he thought he would need into his bag, he cursed
the fact that he had not yet found himself a good horse.
He'd been too busy getting his supplies that he hadn't
the funds nor the time to look for a mount.  Now precious
time would be wasted while he raced after the young Allen
instead of riding to the scene.


There was quite a crowd gathered at the mill by the time
Neil and Jacob ran up, both out of breath from the long
run they'd made.  Bob lay on the floor, his leg caught
between the two huge, heavy stones used to grind the
grain, blood seeping out of an apparent wound, staining
the pale stones crimson.  In front of him stood Fairlight
and another woman Neil hadn't met, but from her mode of
dress, he surmised to be the Quaker missionary, blocking
the men from gaining access to Bob.

Fairlight flicked a quick look at Neil and said.
"Ault, Mary, Neil's here now.  Let him take a look.
I knowed Bob's gonna bled something fierce ifn' y'all
lift that stone.  Neil kin what needs be done when ya do."
Ault didn't look like he was going listen to anything Neil
might say and Mary stood there looking scared and unsure
of what to do.

Bob moaned then, his head rolling side to side as he
desperately clutched his thigh, trying to stem the pain.
It was clear the man was losing the battle, close to losing
consciousness as the pain became unbearable.

"Mr Allen, thee knows what Mrs. Spencer says is true. Thee
can see thy brother is already bleeding.  'Tis only the
pressure of the stones that are keeping it from pouring
from him.  If the doctor can help, let him.  It could mean
thy brother's life."

A bit surprised at support from this source, Neil eyed
the woman a bit more closely.  She held his gaze, almost
daring him to say different.  Shrugging, he turned to Ault
and Mary.


"Tis true, what Fairlight and this woman" he briefly
glanced at the Quaker standing next to Fairlight.
"Alice Henderson" she filled in.  "Miss Henderson say.
Bob's artery has been crushed.  If you lift the stoone
without proper care and apply pressure, he coold bleed to
death in minutes.  We must suture the artery while pressure
is still applied to prevent that from happening."

Desperate to have them believe him, Neil focused on Mary.
"Mary.  Please.  I knoow I've been away from the Cove,
but I didn't leave to abandon my friends.  I went to get
the knowledge, the training, to deal with situations just
like this.  Please, I knoow hoow to save Bob and his leg.
Let me do it."

Mary wavered for a minute, watching Neil, fighting between
what she knew and understood and what he was offering her.
It was the conviction in his voice, his stance, his very
being that decided her.  Tears streaming down her face,
she turned to Ault, putting a small hand on his beefy arm.
"Ault, lets Neil try.  I caint lose Bob now. We're gonna
be havin us a baby.  I need my man alive, in one piece."

Ault stared at Mary for a moment and then looked at the
others gathered around.  He knew Fairlight would never
forgive him if he didn't allow Neil a chance.  Obviously
she didn't feel she could handle this herself and he sure
knew he couldn't.

With a snort, he shrugged off Mary's hand.  "Fine.
I'll not be no part of this.  Ifn anything 'appens ta
Bob, itd been on yer head MacNeill."  Ault growled as he
stormed out.

Neil heaved a huge sigh and bent to work on Bob, calling
out orders as he went.  A table was cleared and Opal
spread a blanket across it.  Alice Henderson took Neil's
bag and laid out his utensils, asking Jeb Spencer to get a
fresh pan of water for her.  Neil had Tom McHone and John
Holcombe hold Bob down as he secured a tourniquet around
his thigh.  Once that was in place, he had the other men
wedge a long piece of wood between the stones, giving
enough leverage for the two men holding on to Bob to pull
him out and lift him to the table.

Once the injured man was on the table, much to Neil's
surprise, Alice took the ether and a cloth and placed it
over the man's face, easing him into unconsciousness while
Neil feverishly worked to remove the tattered pieces of
his trouser from the wound.  He was relieved to see that
the bone itself had not been crushed, but rather the soft
issue, muscles and veins had taken the brunt of the injury.
As he had suspected, the artery had ruptured, requiring
suturing.  He turned to thread his needle to do just
that only to find it already prepped and waiting for him.
He lifted a questioning eye to Miss Henderson who simply
waited for his next instruction.

They had worked well together from that moment on.
Alice Henderson had been an amazing assistant, clearly
knowledgeable about medicine and surgical proceedings,
never once backing down. Not even when he'd repeatedly
had her clear the wound of blood so he could see what
he was doing.   It was exacting work to ensure that the
artery and leg both could be saved, but Neil made sure he
put to use every bit of medical training he'd received to
make certain he did just that.

When he'd finished, Neil turned to Fairlight and Mary
who hovered in the doorway.  "I've doone what I can.
There is no guarantee that he still won't loose his leg
or have problems because of the injury, but I'm reasonably
certain he will experience neither.  Mary, you moost keep
him quiet and off of that leg until I say ootherwise and
make sure the bandages are kept clean.  I'll coome by in
the morning and check on him."

Mary nodded and allowed Fairlight to take her over to
the cabin where the men had carried Bob when Neil was
finished.  Neil and Alice followed them out of the mill
into the twilight.  "Tis some amazing work thy did back
there doctor.  Twould appear thy talents will be put to
good use here."

Neil turned a disbelieving look to the older woman next
to him.  "And what makes you an expert on my skills or
what this Cove needs?"

"Doctor MacNeill, I may not be formally trained in
medicine, but mission work does go beyond spreading the
word of God.  Many are the times that I've assisted in
aiding those in need of medical services.  Do not doubt
that I understood that was no easy feat thy accomplished in
there.  Neither should thy doubt that this will go a long
way in putting trust in the hearts of thy neighbors. I've
been here long enough to understand its not easy winning
the trust of these people."  With that, Alice Henderson
took her leave.

Neil watched her go, wondering how a Quaker woman had made
it to these remote mountains.  He leaned back, stretching
out the kinks in his back.  As he straightened, Uncle
Bogg, now the Cove squire and unofficial leader, separated
himself from the others, making his way to Neil at an
unhurried pace.

"Looks like yer schooling stuck Doc.  Was some fine work
yas done in thar for Bob Allen.  Spectin folks seed that
fer themselves.  Ummhmm."  Tipping his hat, Bogg wandered
off into the dark.

Neil sagged back against a tree, his legs quivering in
reaction.  His tired mind tried to make sense of what
just happened.  As Bogg's words sunk in, a slow smile
spread across his whiskered face.  Looking up into the
star studded sky, he felt his grandparent's presence, as if
they were standing there, celebrating the moment with him.
No doubt, this was only the beginning, that there would be
more battles ahead.  But for the first time since coming
home, he truly felt the love and trust his grandparents and
friends had placed in him had been fulfilled in his work.
With a humble and full heart, Neil packed up his things
and made his way home.