All these characters belong to the LeSourd family and I
have absolutely no intentions of infringement.  I simply am a fan writing a
story based on Catherine Marshall's beautiful book, Christy.

Title: Ardent Confession 
Author: Lyn

Setting: Neil just returned, with Alice, from the hospital where Margaret is 
recovering.  Alice suggested Neil go see "Miss Huddleston" and he finds her 
in the garden at her house in Asheville. (Excerpts from "Changing Lives" 
parts 19 & 20)  {I'm 15, so gimme a break.  (= } 
Disclaimer: The normal, what everyone knows and no one cares about.


        She was beautiful, standing in the moonlight. It danced off her brown 
hair. The breeze gently blew locks in her face. Neil saw her profile, half 
shadowed by the light of the quarter moon. She held a shawl tightly and was 
standing, just looking. Such intense focus was something she admired about 
him, Christy had once briefly said before blushing in that charming way of 
hers. He could return the flattery now. 

"Christy?" 

Christy turned to Neil as he took a step forward. 
"Hello, Doctor," Christy said, a little smile gracing her lips. He advanced 
towards her at a moderate pace, taking his time. 

"How long will it be before you stop calling me that altogether?" teased the 
doctor, making her blush. She had no idea what he meant by that and was not 
sure she wanted to ask. "It is a beautiful night," he commented offhandedly, 
coming to her side. 

"They have been lately," Christy agreed, turning back to where her gaze had 
been set before. She looked back up at the doctor after only a second. "How 
is Margaret?" 

"Doing quite well," Neil said. "Thanks to a few select people." Christy 
looked away. "She looks happier than I have ever seen her." 

"Good," Christy said. And she meant it. 

Neil took a moment to appreciatively study her profile. She had delicate 
features, feminine and small. Her hands, resting on the dusty stone railing, 
were almost childlike. Neil marveled how such a beautiful woman could have 
such a charming childishness about her sometimes. She was a confusing woman 
and it was the first time the doctor ever allowed himself to admit he was 
confused by her. To admit so would be to admit she was his equal. By 
consciously admitting she was his equal would be to have to acknowledge she 
was not a child. Christy had grown from a big girl into a youthful woman 
since she came to Cutter Gap. 

Neil cleared his throat but no sound came, no relief graced his clogged 
throat. He studied her skin, which appeared to be soft. Neil closed his eyes 
for a moment, letting the breeze run over his body, like she was. Christy 
knew he was still there but did not know the extent of his thoughts. 

"Margaret said something to me," Neil said, finding his voice again. He was 
talking around the ache in his throat before he cleared it. Christy turned to 
him and her blue eyes shocked him. He wondered if she would ever stop having 
that effect on him. "Something I did not know." 

"What was that?" Christy asked, determinedly shoving away the disappointment 
that overcame her at the lit up look on his face at the mention of Margaret. 

"You went to El Pano," Neil said. "You convinced her to come back. And you 
went to see her in the hospital. You got her to think of God. To think of 
Christianity and life and love. And the beautiful things in this world." 

Christy was surprised and moved by the hidden passion in his tone as he spoke 
of this. "I'm sorry for meddling," Christy said. 

"You're sorry?" Neil repeated. He had not expected that. "Nothing to be sorry 
for, Christy." He had been calling her that more lately and it warmed her 
heart to hear her name fall from his mouth. He took a step closer, subtly 
beginning to close the short distance between them. 

"Isn't that being hypocritical?" Christy asked, finding that challenging him 
was an easy way to ignore his close presence. 

"Hypocritical?" Neil repeated again. "What do you mean by that?" 

"If I remember correctly, Doctor, you always told me that you believed 
meddling to be a horrible fault, yet you now tell me there is nothing to 
apologize for over it," Christy said, making the doctor grateful for the dim 
lighting. He could not remember the last time he had felt his cheeks burning 
from a blush made to be restrained to the age of adolescence. Here he was, in 
his thirties, and flushing at what a woman said. "And I believe you also said 
once that hypocrisy was a damnable sin." 

"I have been caught," Neil teased. "It wasn't meddling," he said, his voice 
serious once again. "You showed her God's love." 

"I was the straw which made the haystack tumble, Doctor, and it was not my 
own doing," Christy replied, truly believing in what she said. She had always 
felt like she was reciting someone else, as the doctor had so calmly pointed 
out once. But now she was on her own two feet and she knew it. Christy had a 
feeling the doctor knew that, as well. 

He did. 

"What will you be doing next school year?" MacNeill queried, suddenly 
changing the subject. Christy gripped her shawl, wondering what he wanted to 
know. It was obvious that he had consciously changed the topic of discussion. 
"Will you be returning to Cutter Gap, Miss Huddleston?" he specified. 

Christy had been wondering that, as well. But then she felt Peace sweep over 
her, remembering she was not alone. "Wild horses could not drag me away, 
Doctor," she told him quietly, watching for his reaction. 

"You have done a lot for Margaret and me, Christy," Neil said, relief 
flooding his heart upon hearing her decision. He had simply wanted, or 
needed, to know whether she would be staying. 

"Will she be returning to Cutter Gap when you do?" Christy asked him. 

Neil looked at her and suddenly realized it. She did not know. All this time, 
she had thought... Neil found little to no humor in the situation but 
suddenly began laughing. His laughter was more to relieve the pressure of the 
situation rather than laughing at her for there was nothing funny about the 
hurt look on her face. She became indignant and stiff. 

"I don't see the humor, Doctor," she informed him tightly. 

"Forgive me," Neil said, stepping closer. "I was not laughing at you. I don't 
see humor either, Miss Huddleston. Will you allow me to explain?" 

"Explain?" 

"Yes." 

Christy looked up at him, the moon briefly catching its reflection in his 
eyes. She was all too aware of how close he was, standing over her with a 
kind look in his eyes. It was such a small adjective to describe the 
expression in his tranquil eyes. They were deep, a window to his thoughts 
perhaps. She found herself answering but not purposely allowing herself that 
indulgence. "Explain what?" she dared to ask. 

"What do you think I was doing at the court house, Christy?" Neil inquired, 
feeling her hand lightly brush against his. He wanted to touch those hands, 
to hold them in his own. 

Christy's brow furrowed in obvious confusion. "I didn't.... I didn't really 
think about it." 

"Why Asheville, Christy?" Neil continued. He caught a finger on her hand, 
their skin burning pleasantly from their minute physical connection. 

The befuddled teacher did not know what to say. Her mind groped uselessly for 
words but none came. She could not spar with him that night, and could not 
try to figure him out. "I don't know what you mean, Neil." 

"The doctors here are good," said the doctor. "But Margaret and I were 
married here on our way from Philadelphia to Cutter Gap." Her eyes showed no 
comprehension. "We are doing well as friends, Margaret and I. As physician 
and patient. But never as husband and wife. When your father found me at 
court, I had just attained a divorce." 

This shocked her. She had had no idea! Christy looked up at him still, trying 
to break into his mind and thoughts. She could not, which was certainly not 
unusual. "Why?" she asked him. "Why divorce?" 

"You know why," Neil said. Reconsidering, he added, "Or perhaps not 
everything." 

Christy was frustrated by his evasive answers. She just wanted to know what 
he meant. "I cannot take hints now, Neil." 

The doctor's heart began to pound, as it so often did when around Christy. 
Releasing her finger, he reached both hands to lightly cup her soft cheeks. 
Gazing deep in her eyes, he leaned down. Pausing a moment, he waited for her 
objection. Seeing none, Neil finished his 'journey' and touched a feathery 
kiss upon her lips. Their first. Their first of countless. 

It was brief but it sent a thrill jolting through her body. Her heart beat 
against her chest, threatening to explode. She felt her hands turn weak, her 
face tingling. And she was happy. Incredibly happy. Joyous. Like her 
students. Christy could not tear her eyes from Neil's whenever she felt that 
she could open them. A simple kiss and he had paralyzed her senses. 

"We share God, Christy," Neil whispered, leaning in close. "We share a unique 
love for the Cove. Perhaps, eventually, I can convince you that medicine 
isn't all gore, too, so we could share that." Christy let out a little, 
nervous breath. It resembled a laugh, somewhat, and Neil's smile was 
momentary on his lips. "You have my heart, Christy. You have since I first 
met you, no matter what I did or said or wanted to make myself believe. I 
might not even have fully recognized it." Neil monitored her reaction. "But I 
do now. I don't expect you to answer tonight. But know this, lass." He 
lowered his voice even more. "I love you," he breathed. 

The smiles were in their eyes. 

The End!