Author's Note: Yet another story that starts from the series finale..... It is a most charming cliffhanger and I absolutely love it. So I have made a humble attempt at trying to capture Catherine Marshall's wonderful characters and the amazing love surrounding them. I appreciate any and all comments or suggestions, negative or positive. Oh, yes, of course. 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: Changing Lives Author: Lyn Changing Lives There she stood. Christy Huddleston in all her confused glory. What a beautiful sight she was to behold! Her big blue eyes stared up into the dark eyes of the gentle preacher. He was not as confident as the mountain people thought him to be and this was revealed to Christy through his eyes. David Grantland was scared. Scared to lose her. The thought pained her and stabbed her heart. Oh, what to do! She did not know quite how to respond to this. The sparkling diamond caught the sun and, therefore, caught her eye. She gazed down at it in disbelief, completely flattered. David did love her. Of that she was certain. The ring he must have spent forever working towards on the mission's meager salary just helped enunciate that love he professed so meekly to her now. But there was something about his proposal that was out of the place. Was it the confident look in his eyes? The feeling Christy had when he handed her the ring was of jubilation, terror, and compassion all at once. "Christy?" David voiced. He sounded almost frightened. No, he could not be overconfident in her answer, she thought. The confused schoolteacher looked up at the man she held dear. He had been her Knight in Shining Armor, as she thought the day she told the truth surrounding Bessie Coburn's dreadful lie. Then she remembered. The man behind them. Christy turned and saw Neil. What was he doing here? Margaret. The name echoed in her mind like a bad memory. She was a bad memory. A bad memory that had suddenly popped its way back into their lives. His eyes spoke the words Christy longed to hear fall softly on her ears. The curly hair, the wooing accent..... and so many more traits. But more than his outward charm was his heart and soul. She trusted him explicitly with all she had. She cared for him. He was her confidant. She loved him. Fairlight had helped her see that. So why must Christy love Dr. Neil MacNeill, a married man? Why was it in God's plan her heart break into a million pieces as it was now? He was begging her. Of what she was not sure. His wife. The words took the place of Margaret's name and haunted her thoughts. Why must he have made such a mistake as a youth? Christy was being tortured. It was impossible to think under such stress. Christy turned to David. His eyes showed his expectancy. Better make this short and sweet as it can be, Christy Huddleston, thought the young woman. "I...." Christy stuttered. David stepped forward and covered the distance between them. He enclosed her small ivory hands in both of his and squeezed them until he drew her alluring eyes to his once more. Neil thought of how he met this "bonnie lass." He had all but told her to run back to Asheville and stay out of his life. His eyes and aggressive manner told her. He had been startled by the feelings she stirred in him. Feelings long-ago buried after his parents died. No, his wife, (what a mockery that was!) never stirred anything near those feelings. Christy had continued pursuing a relationship with him. He had pushed her off, infuriated her, made her come close to tears, made her laugh, made her happy..... everything. He had only pushed her off in an effort to keep her sweetly prying hands away from the armor around his heart. He had fallen in love by the time Margaret came. It hurt him more than he could imagine he might lose her now. And to Grantland, of all people! Neil began their relationship telling her to leave, practically. He wanted to begin the new one begging her to stay with him. He could never ask her to be with him while Margaret remained his wife. He respected her too much. She respected herself too much. He felt a love this deep surely must be felt by her, too. Why the hesitancy, lass? Neil asked her in his thoughts, daring to hope he was the reason for her hesitant answer. "Christy, I love you," David repeated. She bowed her head, willing her mind to not interfere with her heart. Oh, the pressure of this entire situation! Why had she been so blind as to the full reasons of why Neil and David were rivals? What was wrong with her? "I know," she whispered. "It's that simple," David added. Christy met his eyes. She remembered her talk with Fairlight. David had come up as more of an infatuation by the end of the talk, more of a dalliance. Neil. He was sturdy. He was dependent. He was kind. He was her confidant. He was.... He was married. And he was her love. What a blunder she had made! Christy felt to be a fool. Despite herself, her mind had something to say about the confusing 'thoughts' of her heart. Logic told her David was the one to marry. First, he was not already married. (Always important.) Second, he did love her. The ring was an added testimony to that. And he believed in God. However far he might have to go on his walk with God before truly understanding Him, he still accepted Him as his Savior and loved Him. Christy always thought Neil did. But he did not want to admit to himself or to her or David or Alice. "No," she whispered. "What?" David croaked. Christy realized she had uttered it aloud. She had been thinking about Neil. She knew the wise thing would be to put him aside. He was married. Her heart screamed at her to love Neil openly as she so wanted to do. Her mind asked her, quite loud as well, if she was insane. Neil was a married man. Married. The newest word to echo through her overworking mind. "I mean," Christy faltered. "I can't.... I can't think." She gathered strength from somewhere deep within. She looked at David evenly. His eyes show how startled he was at the prospect of her not marrying him as he had planned. "I have to think, David," she said. "Please. Understand. I need time to think." David felt relieved she had not yet said 'no' and nodded willingly. Neil watched in horror. Christy, his beloved Christy, was considering marrying another man. That, in itself, was horrible. Neil wanted to have an open relationship of love with her. Does she love Grantland? he wondered. But, more than the relationship of love, his love meant sacrifice. Which meant he wanted her to be happy above everything. Marriage to David would not make her happy. The children made her happy. Neil knew he made her happy. But David was a fleeting romance. Insignificant in its entirety. They would both come to resent each other. David would resent her for dreaming of another when she married him and Christy would resent him for taking her from the Cove. David planned to leave. They all knew that well. He had not the tolerance for the people. But he wanted to take Christy with him. David bowed his head to kiss her but she put her fingers to his lips. Neil knew he could not stand to see more and turned his horse jerkily. He saw David leaning in so close to the amazing sapphire eyes Neil, himself, drowned in several times. Neil yearned to lose himself in her eyes. He heard his name shouted but continued. He could not stand to see those eyes now. It hurt too much. Christy watched him go. Her heart began to physically ache. She had not even realized she yelled his name after him until she felt David's hands enfold her shoulders. "Let him go," David coaxed. "He's married. He can't offer you anything." Christy looked up at the young preacher. Oh, how little he knew. She knew her decision. Without Neil there she could think more clearly. Her hands trembled as she placed the box in David's hands. She drew his fingers around it and held them there with her own small hands. "David, I am so sorry," she whispered. "You have no idea." David stared at her in shock. "You're not saying no," he willed her. "I have to," Christy said softly. "It won't work, David. Oh, dear David. I'm sorry." Her heartfelt sympathy only irritated David. He snatched his hands from hers, not noticing the hurt look in her eyes as he hurried from her grasp. "Fine," David mumbled angrily. He strengthened his voice. "Then go after a married man and let all logic slip through your fingers. I won't ask you again." "I won't marry for logic," Christy said, her eyes reflecting her pain. David watched and saw the pain he caused her. He did not care at the moment. His own pain consumed his thoughts. "And I won't go after him. He has his life, I, mine.... you, yours. David, I only pray you'll forgive me for turning you down and remain my friend. I don't know what I would've done without you." David stared into her eyes and mentally admonished himself for letting himself lose sight of all reality for that moment as he drowned helplessly in her pools of blue. He turned his back to her and left the heartbroken schoolteacher standing in the yard, her hands emptied of the bedazzling jewel, her heart emptied of a true love lost. Christy looked up at David's retreating back. Her mind kicked in. She could not let this opportunity slide. On impulse, Christy ran forward a step and called, "David!",,,,, Part Two Christy stared at the diamond ring. Her students had just abandoned the schoolhouse, leaving the young teacher to her own thoughts. She was disturbed. She had no idea what to do. It had been two days since David's proposal. This was certainly not substantial time to decide whether she would spend the rest of her life with this man! She so wanted to love David in a romantic way. But she did not. And that was a reality she had to face. She loved him as a Christian, as a dear friend, as a person, as a Knight in Shining Armor. But she would be happy with him, wouldn't she? Christy found herself doubting even that. David was always so nice and charming. But she felt he was talking down to her sometimes, as one would a child. That made her bristle in her seat. But he was just protecting her, wasn't he? Christy sighed inwardly. Silence enveloped the schoolhouse which had been bustling with activity moments before. As long as she was with the children there was little to no time for her to think about David. And Neil. The thought of the doctor made her look at the ring more skeptically. She had told David she was reconsidering when she ran after him. It had made David exuberant and completely thrilled. All David wanted was her. That was all. It was so simple what David wanted. Christy had no doubt in her mind she would have said 'yes' to David in an instant had she not met Neil. But she had met him. She had fallen in love with him. The thought which should have brought her great joy sorrowed her. Her heart could not deny her feelings of love for the doctor. It was impossible. Oh, how could she deal with this? A hand lightly touched her shoulder and she nearly jumped out of her chair. A low chuckle was heard and she recognized the masculine voice quickly. She would know the Scottish brogue anywhere. He even wore the accent in his laugh. "Are ye allright?" asked the doctor. Christy looked up at him and he could not hide the amusement with her from creeping into his intense eyes. She tensed at his laughing at her, so she felt, and he noticed. "I did na mean to make ye uncomfortable," the doctor apologized. Christy shook her head and stuffed away the ring. "Forget it." "Grantland's ring?" Neil asked. She heard how quiet his voice was and looked at him. She could practically see the veil drop over his hazel eyes. Christy nodded, ignoring the odd behavior. "Yes," she said simply. "But you didn't come to see a ring. What can I do for you?" "Actually, I wanted t' speak with ye," Neil admitted. Christy braced herself, anxious to not get into a conversation she felt was not going to make her very comfortable. "OK," she agreed reluctantly. "And I need t' stock the mission so can ye come with me?" Christy dared to meet his eyes again. Oh, she wanted to talk to him! She wanted to confide in him, feel as comfortable as she use to. But it was not going to come. Not easily. Christy remembered, turning warm as she did, when he held her in his arms what seemed like an eternity ago. Yet it seemed like yesterday at the same time. So much had happened. She could not decide if the time was moving quickly or slowly. Both. How did that happen? "And off ye go again." Christy blushed as she realized Neil was teasing her about her tendency to go off into her own world full of thoughts. Neil grinned at her to see the beautiful light pink creep on her soft cheeks. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "Nay," Neil objected. "Don't apologize. I think I'm use to it." This made Christy flush further. Why must I act like such an blundering fool around him? she wondered. The answer was obvious and she almost blushed deeper. But being around Neil so often, she had begun to learn how to disguise her emotions. But he still usually saw straight through it. He probably always did but just did not always voice what he noticed for her sake. "Well, that's wonderful to know," Christy said sarcastically. But she was slightly amused and her twitching lips proved to that. She was nervous about being alone with him but rose anyway. "I should get down to the mission anyway." "Great," Neil replied. Christy left the schoolhouse, closing and locking the doors behind them. Her palms were embarassingly sweating as she fumbled with the keys to lock the double doors. She drew a quiet breath from deep within and drew strength from the same Source she had the day before. It was hard to concentrate while Neil stood so close! Christy mentally chastised herself for letting him affect her so, and a married man, too! She forced herself to ignore his presence momentarily and concentrated on not looking like a complete fool. She locked the doors then turned to Neil with more bravery than she really felt. "OK," Christy said quietly, agreeing to go. Neil slapped himself inwardly for all but staring at her. He ripped his eyes away from hers. He saw something unfathomable in them. Neil was disappointed his own thoughts were screaming at him since his overworked mind was preventing him from analyzing Christy's mind as he usually did. He could always read in her eyes what she was thinking but his wildly fleeting mind kept him from his normal observations of her. She was an amazingly perplex young woman, yet so simple. How could Christy be both at the same time? She was somehow. They began walking in silence and Christy wondered at this. He had said he wanted to talk to her. So why not talk? They were halfway down the incline from the schoolhouse/church to the mission house when she finally decided to say something about it. "You know, Neil," Christy said, taking on a comfortable teasing tone that was not like her usual self. Usually, she was so serious. The stress of the past few days, since Margaret's second appearance, had caused a slight change in the teacher's demeanor. She wanted to run and hide and took on a more offensive position than she usually did. Her slight sarcasm was revealed through her voice. "If someone says they want to talk then it generally includes words are said." Neil glanced at her in surprise but she was avoiding his gaze. It was so unlike her to start a conversation as he did. Perhaps he was influencing and he was not certain that was a good thing. "Aye, that it does," Neil agreed. She heard amusement in his voice with her for her statement and it annoyed her. She was feeling especially irritable since David's proposal. She knew she loved Neil. She knew she could never have Neil. That only added to her irritation with him for seeming to not take her seriously but more as an amusing way to pass time. She wanted to be the one winning an argument with him. He would usally end up agreeing with her, to an extent, after a while. But she could hardly remember a time when a 'discussion' with him ended with her not fuming and wanting to shake sense into him. He infuriated her. Christy stiffened at hearing his tone. "For once, could you take me seriously?" she tossed back. Again, Neil was surprised with her slight hostility. He was use to them blasting each other but never had she started it purposely. Christy always began being patient and kind but this time was different. "I always take you seriously." "What did you want to say?" Christy asked almost impatiently, not commenting on his statement. Neil looked at her and took in a breath. "About two days ago...." Part Three Neil monitored her reaction closely out of the corner of his eyes. He saw her tense. Dr.MacNeill was unsure if that was a good or bad sign as to whether he should continue speaking or not. "What about it?" Christy asked tersely. It was then Neil knew for certain she was not going to give him an easy time. She rarely did. But this was no exception. And Christy was going to an extreme this time. "I wanted to explain aboot-" Neil began. "Christy, good, I'm glad I found you," David said, approaching from their side on Prince, the majestic, jet black stallion. Neil reminded himself not to curse at the interruption. Grantland never had been a man he liked. This interruption when Neil was about to explain himself to Christy fueled that annoyance with the reverend. In Neil's opinion, and he had quite a few, David needed to learn more how to live life how he preached it should be lived before telling others. Neil felt David's hormones kicked in too much from being so young, when it came to Christy especially, and it peeved the doctor to no extent. Christy was not a pretty face to have hanging on a man's arm and dutifully follow him around wherever and whenever he said. Neil thought this was how David looked at the teacher. Neil respected Christy too much to even consider she would ever go along with that and he did want to warn her about how Grantland probably looked at her. "David, hi," Christy said hesitantly. This is awkward! she thought. "Doctor," David acknowledged slightly coldly once he realized who Christy's companion was. Neil only nodded. This was not someone he wanted to see. David wanted to keep Christy as far away from Neil as he could and the doctor knew this. He hated it. "What is it, David?" Christy asked quietly. She was torn between wanting to hear what the doctor had to say and fleeing the situation entirely. This was the first time in months Christy felt she needed a vacation. A *serious* vacation. "Ruby Mae's upset," David replied, ignoring the doctor thoroughly now. "She's wailing for you and Alice has had no luck with her. She said she's got to talk to you." Ruby Mae had followed Christy around like a loyal dog since the teacher's arrival and had often requested to talk only to her. But never had she been seriously upset as David now implied she was. Christy was relieved and agitated at the same time she would not hear what the doctor had to say. Not now, anyway. "I'm sorry," Christy said to the doctor. "I should go." Without waiting for a response, she quickened her pace to walk ahead of them. Neil turned to David. "I was talking t' her, yoo know," Neil said, his voice tinted with his veiled annoyance. "I saw that," David replied. "I've already told you to let her go. You're only ruining her life." Neil raised his eyebrows in interest. "I heard ye the first time ye said so. But I don't obey yoo and I'm allowed t' talk to who I want. Besides, who's to say I'm ruining her life? She's a mind of her own and can decide these things, which she does." David was annoyed with MacNeill's cool response. "If you really cared about her you would stop confusing her." "First, she's a big lass," Neil said sarcastically. "She doesna need either of us, or anyone, looking after she should t' think nor what t' do. And, second, if yoo really cared aboot her then ye wouldna put her in a position like ye did two days ago." David had already wondered about that and hated the doctor saw it, too. So, because he knew the doctor was right, he became defensive. "You should mind your own business, MacNeill. And I don't believe ruining Christy's life is part of your business." "I pity yoo, David," Neil said, surprising the preacher. "That yoo don na possess the wisdom Christy does to noot judge other people. She knows she canna tell people what to do and what noot to do. Maybe ye should learn the same lesson." Neil continued down the hill, leading Charlie, his horse. He disappeared into the mission house, leaving a mortified David Grantland behind. David jammed his hat back on his head in irritation. He knew MacNeill was right and it even angered him. David always wondered if he cramped Christy. She was such a free-spirited young woman. But she had never really complained except the one time she set him straight. And David felt he had stopped. The doctor, apparently, agreed with the reverend he was being too pushy. David had often wondered if Christy's reason for such hesitancy went beyond the doctor to the public proposal. He had thought she would say 'yes', jump in his arms, and, perhaps, kiss him. But she had been torn. She had not known whether she wanted to love a married man from a distance or marry a man she felt compassion for. David knew the children being on the steps watching added to her pressure and helped keep her eyes open. She knew David wanted to leave Cutter Gap. He knew he wanted to leave Cutter Gap. But she had grown deep roots in the Cove, something David could not explain rationally to himself. He had even prayed to know why she fit in so well, why they all loved her, welcomed her, and embraced her. Maybe it was just her natural charm. Whatever it was, it was a factor in her decision. Maybe David should tell her he was not going to leave. Would it be worth staying in Cutter Gap to marry her? Of course it would. Christy was amazing. The most incredible woman he had ever met was worth anything. David turned Prince sharply to the barn determinedly, much to the horse's grief. David mentally apologized to him and pat his neck. He seemed to be hurting everyone he cared for lately. Christy had gone inside to find Ruby Mae weeping and wailing, just as David insinuated. Christy rushed forward and Alice relinquished the responsibility of the teenager more than willingly to the young teacher. "What happened?" Christy asked worriedly as she embraced Ruby Mae. Ruby Mae wailed louder and Christy tried to hush the girl, looking at Miss Alice with great concern. Alice Henderson shook her head. "Thee must not think Ruby Mae will not get over it," Alice said. "And neither must thee, Ruby Mae," Miss Alice said pointedly. Ruby Mae sniffed and still sobbed. "Rob Allen does not wish to keep company with thee anymore, Ruby Mae, and thee must accept his wishes." Ruby Mae began blubbering once again. Christy pitied the poor girl, who was a hopeless romantic. She had boasted about Rob Allen so often. She loved him.... in her own, special, way. But Ruby Mae truly was upset by Rob Allen's declaration and the crying testified to that point. "Thank you for taking care of her, Miss Alice," Christy said cordially. She knew what it was like to not be with the one you felt so strongly for. She knew too well. Miss Alice's look showed her immense gratitude for Christy taking over and the younger woman had to agree Christy had the harder job. Miss Alice all but fled the room. Christy soothed the girl until she finally calmed. Ruby Mae's once bright red curls were yet to be free of the brown hair color she had used to try to win Rob Allen back with. Rob Allen was still mooning over a picture he had from the girls at a speak-easy in El Pano. It hurt Christy Ruby Mae had to lost him this way. Rob Allen was a fool and the teacher honestly told the girl, who practically idolized her, so. Ruby Mae sniffed again and stopped crying. "Ye really think he be a fool fer lettin' me go, Miz Christy?" Christy knew she had to be very careful with her words. Even the slightest mishap and Ruby Mae would be off sobbing again. Christy smoothed back the girl's untamed curls. "Of course I do," she replied honestly. "And he had no right to do it to you. Especially not this way." Christy added strong conviction to her voice to show Ruby Mae she was sure of herself and her opinion, which she was. She just knew Rob Allen wanted someone he could settle down with quicker. Ruby Mae was still such a child inside. But he did love her, too, in his own way. Maybe they were really in love but Christy could not know. She only could dissect their relationship with what she was shown. "Oh, thankee, Miz Christy!" Ruby Mae cried with animated appreciation. "I be mech obleeged ta ye!" "It's my pleasure, Ruby Mae," Christy said with a gentle smile. "Now go on upstairs and wash your face until your pretty green eyes are no longer red." There was teasing seriousness in her voice she hoped soothed the girl. It apparently did for Ruby Mae fairly skipped out of the room. Christy let out a small sigh and rose from her knees. The doctor entered the room. "Let me know if ye be needin' some medicine for the headache I'm sure she gave ye." Christy's lips twitched with a hint of a smile. "Well, how kind of you." Her slight sarcasm again caught him slightly off-guard. "I see we're still not up to being quite civil yet." "I'm sorry," Christy immediately apologized. A sigh was evident in her voice and the doctor assumed it to be with either him or David. Or them both. "I've been a little stressed lately. I didn't mean to take it out on you." "No apology necessary," Neil said. "I know ye have been under stress." "What were you saying before?" Christy asked, daring to inquire about his previous statements. "Oh, nothing," Neil said quickly. Christy's eyes showed her curiosity. "Forget it. Maybe we'll finish another time. I should go. I have to see the Spencers." Christy was astounded that she was so reluctant to let the matter drop. She had been so uneasy about discussing it before. Why the sudden change of heart? she wondered to herself. "Oh, well, OK," Christy reluctantly released him. The doctor felt something of relief and it surprised him he felt he would have explained himself to her had she ordered him to tell her. But Christy had always had an odd effect on him. Neil nodded. "I'll see yoo later." Christy matched his nod. "Yeah, sure," she agreed quietly. Part Four Christy watched Neil leave, regretting having not demanded he not draw away from her as he had. But she knew he was upset, too. She did not have the heart to push him. Neither, she meekly admitted, did she have the bravery. Christy turned away from the window and sighed inwardly. She moved to her office and sat at her desk. She caught herself staring out another window at the beautiful, nearly summer day. It was common for her to drift off places in her active imagination. Neil's previous statement about her going off into her own world proved how publicly known it was. But she had never had such a hard time before controlling her thoughts, nor when she drifted off. Christy glanced down at the sketchpad laying on the wooden desk, staring up at her. She laughed at herself inwardly for thinking a pad of paper was staring at her. But the truth was she was so stressed she would probably think water was staring at her. These ridiculous thoughts caused her to blush girlishly and she buried her face behind her hand, resting her chin on her hand as an excuse. No one was there. But she had found Neil watching her so many times before that it was almost instinct now to cover her face when her cheeks warmed. "Christy?" came a familiar, gently masculine voice. "Can I come in?" The said turned to her door. Her cheeks, lightly tinted with crimson just minutes ago, were their normal tone again, much to Christy's relief. "David, of course," she permitted hastily. David came in. He was again pleasantly startled by the beauty of such a woman as Christy against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains. The two beauties put together threatened to steal his breath. David paced himself and calmed his heartbeat before taking another step. Why must she have such an effect on him? David wanted to be a suave, refined *man* around her and not a schoolboyish young man struck by Cupid. But, still, her just sitting in the chair at her desk was a menace to his composure. Stop it, Grantland, the young parson chided himself in his thoughts. "I, um... I wanted to talk to you," David said. Christy became wary of what was coming next considering what happened with the doctor when he led off that way. "About my proposal." Christy knew it. She just had known it was about that day. Why else would be look so nervous? Of course she had known. She decided to take the defensive with David, still touchy about it. She had been very moody lately, everyone had noticed. "David, I told you I needed time," Christy told him not too gently. "I'm not asking you for an answer now, Christy," David said in a gentle tone, not reprimanding her, or even trying to, for her tone. He knew what a strain his proposal and the doctor's inopportune timing had put on her. Christy visibly relaxed. "Oh," she said softly. David took that as the apology she meant it to be. He accepted it. "I just wanted to give you food for thought," David said. He saw her start, beginning to protest and put up a hand as he knelt next to her chair. "I'm not saying anything against anyone for any reason in any way," David assured her vehemently. She, once again, relaxed. "All right," she agreed. "I've been thinking a lot about you and Cutter Gap," David said. "You always have loved this place so much. I mean, you gave up your family, your friends, the only thing you ever knew as your life to teach these children. Everything that was familiar to you, you left for this place. And you've stayed here because this is where you call home. And you know how much I feel the need to get out of here. I don't have your patience, compassion, or tolerance. All I have is the Bible, and I'm not so sure about my faith at the moment. Which is wrong, I know, but it's still how I feel. But you're worth anything, Christy." Christy was anxious to know what David was getting at. "What are you saying?" she prompted. "If you tell me you will marry me, I promise to you I won't leave Cutter Gap, or even mention it, until you're ready," David said. There. The fateful words had finally come out. He saw a welcome change in her face instantly from his news. "I love you too much to let a simple community you want to stay in that I don't come between us. It just wouldn't be fair." "Oh, David," Christy whispered. "Do you mean it?" David nodded. He was pleased with her reaction. "I wouldn't lie to you, Christy. I mean every word. *Every* word," he emphasized. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Dr.MacNeill left the mission house a troubled man, a troubled man indeed. Christy's doe-like eyes had tickled at the armor around his heart and implored him silently to tell her what was going on. Neil had found it hard to leave her behind, almost impossible in fact. Especially with that hormonal, immature reverend living with her. Neil had always hated Christy living with Grantland, or, more accurately, Grantland living with Christy. There was a difference to Neil. The doctor imagined her eyes and barely ducked a branch in time to prevent it from knocking him out of his saddle. He grumbled to himself in irritation. Neil was well aware of what Christy did to him, this close encounter with a branch only serving as evidence. He wanted to either embrace it wholeheartedly or run from it, like a coward, but this in-between, neutral position was killing him. He had to do something. But he did not know what. Hopefully, Christy would turn David down. Neil wanted her happy, he really wanted her happy, but he did not want her married to a man he knew would make her unhappy eventually. Neil audibly sighed in annoyance with himself for accidentally thinking these thoughts for the literal hundredth time in the past two days. Neil thought of his wife. The thought of her being his wife still made him angry to this day. Margaret. She was selfishly spoiled and had no desire to do any good with her life like Christy did. Neil determinedly attempted at pushing the vibrant teacher from Asheville out of his mind. But a space as big as the one a certain, barely twenty year old young woman filled was hard to refill with other thoughts. "Pull yourself together, man!" The sound of his own voice speaking the words aloud startled him. Neil had not even realized he spoke until he heard his voice break the silence. Neil grumbled, vexed with himself for allowing a woman to enter his mind and, yes, his heart like Christy Rudd Huddleston had. He had never intended to get close to her. It had just happened. He loved her. It was that simple.... that bewildering. Neil stuffed down her memory best he could. That's what he needed to make her. A memory. As Margaret was. But even the memories one thought to be long buried could come back with startling clarity. Neil had learned his lesson before. He also learned such a memory as Christy was hard to push away. Especially when she lived but a few miles away. The good doctor concentrated on Margaret. She was in need of health help whether she admitted it or not. She may have looked like she was doing well when dancing at The Tea Place but not now. The stress of returning to Cutter Gap proudly marked her face, caustically defying her firm denial of problems. Neil wryly laughed at himself for thinking something like wrinkles on Margaret's face as being alive and mocking him and her. The stress was starting to get to him, too. Margaret's stress was lowering her immune system's ability to defend her thin body against the horrible tuberculosis. Her once beautiful face was covered in make-up while she tried to refuse existence to her fatigue and illness. Neil knew what he had to do. Part Five ONE WEEK LATER Christy sighed for a countless time. She was incensed. She was confused. She was hurt. And she was sitting in a classroom full of children who all would notice her inner turmoil if she let it show even slightly. They were each working on their separate projects for the recitation. Christy could hardly believe her first year of teaching was nearly over. The events of the past year would surely change her life, she already knew that. If not by the way of something so permanent as marriage, she was changed as a person for good. These children, all these people, had changed her. David was in a far brighter light for promising her Cutter Gap as 'home' as long as she wanted. It meant so much to her. These people had so readily embraced her and it was mutual. Christy did not want to leave them anytime soon. If at all. She had mentioned to David she might never want to ever leave. David returned instantly he did not want to leave her so he would stay in the Cove for her. It warmed Christy's heart he cared about her so much. Christy looked over her raptly attentive pupils as they diligently, eagerly even, worked on their projects. How dear they were to her! She wondered if she could ever leave the children of this place. They were so very previous individually, yes, that, too. But they, as a whole, were incredibly charming. She wondered if she could feel completed without them. They seemed to fill a void in her left from years of doing meaningless socials with equally meaningless goals being allowed out in the open. Dr.MacNeill helped fill that vacuum. Dr.MacNeill. Neil. The name rung in her head. He was gone. With Margaret. She did not know where they had gone. No one did. They had just left one day without telling anyone but Jeb Spencer where they were going. And Jeb would not let anyone know where they went, just that they were OK. Christy supposed it was better that way. Without having Neil around as a constant distraction she would be able to think more logically about whether to accept David's wonderful proposal or not. Logic. Ah, the next word to bounce through her mind. She wanted to forget logic. It always seemed to ruin the best of times. But Christy could not help but think logically. First, that was how she was and who she was. Second,it was how one should approach something so lasting and important as a marriage proposal. She knew this was David's last proposal. Christy did not want David to forget about courting her. Whether that came from the purely feminine side of her which wanted male attention and was flattered by it or it was for her love for him was uncertain. It was what she had to decide. Christy forced herself with great difficulty to focus on the tasks at hand. She had sixty plus students to tend to. The job had never been easy but it had always been fairly natural for her to aggressively tackle the job and accomplish it with all the heart she possessed. "Creed Allen!" Christy exclaimed. She had just caught sight of him about to do one of his favorite activities. Shooting spitwads at children. She found the act particularly repulsive since her grammar school had been coed. Boys had fired spitwads at her, and several other girls, just for being short and female. It annoyed her. But she had been shifted into a stuffy, all-girls school when she was eight and the problem ceased, though Christy occasionally got the temptation to fire spitballs at certain particularly snobbish girls. She found it hard to keep from committing this act. Creed Allen pretended to hide what they all knew he had been about to do had 'Teacher' not caught him. He tried his humor to get him off the hook. "Shorely ye ain't gonna fault ma fer jest wantin' ta toss a li'l spitball, Miz Christy." There was a lively, mischievous twinkle in Creed Allen's eyes. He was daring her with those large eyes to be angry at him. Christy found him the hardest to remain strict and serious with her in class. She would often laugh at his antics after school but always needed to keep a straight face in the classroom to maintain order. "Creed, come up here, please," Christy said calmly. She found they would cooperate with her better when she spoke to them like equals and asked them to do something as opposed to scaring them into doing it an order. Creed moved up the aisle meekly. He thought it was funny and Christy pointed out this to him, if indeed it could be counted as a fault. Creed grinned up at her as he handed her the 'weapon' he had so many times used against her when her back was turned. She knew it was Creed. Everyone knew it was Creed. But she had to keep an example set for the children. Christy could not punish him for something she had not truly seen with her own eyes. Christy could not find it in her heart to punish him much anyway. He was so cute and charming. And he knew it. "Cain't blame me fer findin' hit funny, kin ya, Teacher?" Creed challenged. Christy was unsure how to respond to that. She did not lie. Creed knew that. He dared her to tell him she thought he was not funny. Christy could not do that and he knew it well. She had to remain firm, though. "Creed, you know you're not allowed to shoot spitballs," Christy said, avoiding his question. "Why, Teacher, when you's think 'bout it, I won't," Creed said innocently. "I only was a-aimin' this here thang at 'em. I won't really shootin' at no one." He extracted a muffled giggle from every classmate as he had hoped. It was always a battle with this boy. He humored Christy and exasperated her, usually at the same moment. "I won't get into a debate with you, Creed," Christy said, a tint of a smile on her lips. Tell me you weren't going to shoot this spitball and I'll let you sit back down." Creed faltered. Creed took pride in telling the truth. He had agreed with 'Miz Christy' it took a stronger man to tell truth, despite the consequences, than to lie. She knew this and felt slightly guilty for preying on that knowledge. But she had to discipline him for what he had planned to do, had almost done, in deliberate disobedience to the rules she had set so firmly for the past year. "I won't gonna hurt nobody," Creed Allen defended himself, knowing his battle was lost. "Thank you for telling me the truth," Christy said. 'Because we're so close to finishing out the year, I won't be so harsh with you. But you still must write, twenty times, you will not shoot spitballs. And you already know that. But if this happens again this year I won't be so lenient. And I won't accept it next year, either." "Yer comin' back next year?" Creed asked excitedly. "Christy smiled. "Why, of course I am, Creed," She said. "I wouldn't be able to stay away." "Oh, that be right nice," Creed enthused. Christy grinned and lightly smacked his face affectionately. "You're not getting out of your sentences, Creed." She pointed to the board and Creed grinned at her as he realized she had easily seen through his act. But the generally harmless troublemaker really was glad to know his teacher would be back the next year. Truth be known, the young Allen boy, as all the children, loved this teacher dearly. Christy was a wonderful person and they were delighted she was teaching them. Each of them had something to say, or whisper, about her promise to return the next year. Christy dismissed them an hour later. They all asked her if she really was returning and Christy smiled, promising each and everyone she would come back. She *would* come back. Of that she was certain. Part Six ONE MORE WEEK LATER Mountie timidly approached her teacher's desk. It sat atop a dais, almost forbidding children to go near it. But the kind teacher sitting in the chair made Mountie O'Teale forget the intimidation the extra height of the desk gave off. "Miz Christy" had never discouraged anyone from approaching her, nor her desk. She condoned them coming to her whenever they wanted to. And for anything. Mountie climbed up the two short steps noiselessly. She was use to not making a sound since she rarely wanted anyone to notice her. Poor little Mountie had not known that absolute silence would draw excessive attention to her. Attention she did not want. Mountie now worked towards being a normal child. Mountie studied the far away look in "Teacher's" blue eyes and wished she could do something, anything, to cheer her. All the students knew their teacher was fairly unhappy with how things were going. It did not take a brain surgeon to see this. They did not know how much they really comforted Christy. Mountie dared to touch the softness of her teacher's clothes. Mountie turned shy, even more so, when the pair of sad eyes belonging to the older female turned to the little girl. Christy softly smiled to see Mountie's uncertainty. "Hello, Mountie," Christy greeted gently. "What can I do for you today?" The nearly completely nonverbal O'Teale looked exceedingly encouraged with Miss Huddleston's response. "Sad?" Christy's twitched with a smile she was yet to manage that day. It was a more sad day than the others. The recitation was the next day. The doctor had promised to be present but he was not even back from wherever he had gone with Margaret. Christy needed to accept Neil was married and he did not live his life around her. But, still, he had never broken his word to her yet. And Christy felt strongly he owed her an explanation. She could only wish, and pray, that Neil would show up. Margaret was probably deterring him. "Oh, not so much anymore, Mountie," Christy replied, touched with the girl's obvious concern for her teacher. "Thank you." Mountie shook her head. "God," she mumbled. "Thank God." Christy knew the little girl was right. How was it Mountie could be so right and Christy could be so wrong? She remembered what she had first thought when she came to the Smoky Mountains. That she had been there to teach, to reach out to those in need. But now she realized, and she had long ago, that she was there to learn far more than she was to teach. Christy taught hygiene, academics, spirituality, and morality the best she could but the children, everyone there, taught her so much more than she felt she taught them. She thought it was a wonderful switch. "You're right, Mountie," Christy said with a smile. Mountie smiled shyly. She was not exposed to such blunt praise very often. And to get this rare praise from such a well-loved public figure made her feel shy and want to shrink inside herself again. Mountie was a bashful girl and not good with attention. Mountie delicately shifted the spotlight away from herself and left the teacher alone. Christy watched the young girl go. She knew she had made such an impact on little Mountie O'Teale's life. Christy had helped her come out of her shell and be more open. There was a long way to go still but they were almost there. Christy praised God He had given her the guidance to help Mountie so much. Christy then proceeded to ponder on how Christ reached His Word to her through the children. Just listening to two simple words from shy little Mountie's mouth, "Thank God," had provoked her to want to pick up her Bible. Christy left the schoolhouse. She felt the strongest urge to seek warmth and refuge in the kind words from God. *~*~*~*~*~*~* The recitation went beautifully. As expected, the MacNeills did not show. Christy was disappointed but did not dwell on his first broken promise. Could she really blame him for not coming? After all, he was with his wife and had left with her. Christy denied the pang of hurt that jabbed at her when she acknowledged Neil had a wife. A wife. Mountie O'Teale, sweet Mountie, stared over the crowd of parents and families while she opened the ceremonies. Her large eyes scanned the crowd. It took a gentle prod of encouragement from Teacher to get her to say the words of welcome to the audience. The schoolhouse burst into applause for the girl they all thought was a mute. Christy lightly hugged the girl, both excited, and Mountie found this kind of awareness of her presence was all right, and even fun! Christy smiled over the schoolhouse. It was about to burst with all the people! Never had she expected such a turnout. The school had gone through so many troubles, and Christy personally had, too, to reach this day. It was finally here! Now she could show off the students she was so proud of. Creed Allen had a time showing off his raccoon. Scalawag seemed to understand he was the center of attention and puffed up with pride, much like his human owner. Christy had to hide a smile with her hand at how humorously similar the boy and his pet were. She glanced at David to see him watching her, having the same problem himself. It only made her feminine grin harder to stifle and Christy had to turn from David to not laugh. She had no desire to offend Creed, especially not now. There was little incident that day to interrupt the children. Both the reverend and the teacher were glad of that. Cutter Gap usually had a way of disrupting important events like Lundy Taylor use to interrupt class. They regretted the Taylors were a no-show. It would always annoy Christy she had lost him as a student. Lundy needed to know he was cared about. But it was impossible with Bird's-Eye treating him so meanly. Not to mention the fact Lundy had run away due to terror from his father. Christy Huddleston decided it would do no one any good if she continued to linger on the things that lacked. She was not looking enough at what she had right before her eyes. She smiled as Mountie covered her mouth and objected to a giggle she felt bubbling inside her. Mountie was very happy, Christy could tell. The thought of the melancholy girl she had met transformed into this giggling child before her now made the somewhat gloomy educator smile. There was a short recess where the parents and children could talk. Christy could hardly talk to Miss Alice and David before the students came to her, wanting her to tell their parents something, anything, about them. Christy commended them all. They had all truly been a pleasure to teach. Christy said as much in her address to the school and parents as a final word after all the recitations. She thanked the parents for allowing their children to come, hoping they would be able to come next year. She thanked the children for being wonderful and working so hard. Christy dismissed the class for the summer but it was her turn to be flattered. The children and parents did not leave. They presented her with kind words of their own and gifts of thanks. She had had no idea they were planning this. The soft smile on Miss Alice's face gave away her secret, that she had known. Christy was delighted and flattered. She wished her family could have been there to see the change in the children and in Christy herself. With the school let out, Christy talked to parents and promised teachings to several woman Fairlight had talked to about reading. But one train of thought stood out in her mind. Asheville. Parents. George, her brother. Christy felt foolishly immature for wanting these things for a little while. She wanted the comfort of her strict mother, the coddling from her father, the bantering from George which never failed to cheer her. Christy knew where she wanted to spend the next few weeks. Part Seven A troubled face gazed out a hotel room window. He was discouraged. There was little hope for his patient. There was someone he needed to contact. Miss Alice Henderson. His mother-in-law. His patient's mother. Neil was quite perturbed. Margaret was doing very poorly. Simple acts, such as eating her own meal, had become strenuous, draining her of what little strength she possessed. While Neil might not love her as a wife, and he probably never really had, he still cared for her. She *was* his wife, after all. They had had an honest, good talk since deciding to give up the marriage. Margaret had realized Neil could not honestly love her after all she had done to him. And he knew she was aware the young woman at the mission whom Alice had all but adopted as her second daughter did not help things, either. While Neil was contemplating what to do with himself, Margaret was laying in her hospital bed. It was the last place she wanted to be. But it was where she needed to be. Margaret began to feel a need to live. She wanted to start over. If perhaps not with Mac, for she was not starting over with Mac, then she wanted to start over her life. Margaret had always possessed a beautiful voice, one which could stop a man in his tracks. She wanted to put that voice towards more than drunk men wanting to grab at her. Margaret's feelings of lowliness had kept her sarcastic front up for the past twenty years. First, she was the 'bastard child' and then she was the singing showgirl. No, the singing *married* showgirl. How many times she had broken her vow of faithfulness to Mac! It made her ashamed to think about. And Mac had been faithful. Even when he thought that she was dead. Even when.... Margaret turned on her side in emotional pain and realized her mistake as she began coughing up vulgar blood in body shattering gasps. A nurse rushed in but Margaret pushed her away. The nurse left after several harsh words from the sick woman and Margaret lay back again. She finished her thought. Mac had remained faithful even when he fell in love with Christy. To realize her husband was in love with another woman not only hurt Margaret's heart but injured her pride. She had always been a desirable woman. But Mac, her own husband, did not want her. He was pining away for an innocent teacher who loved the mountains and its people as much as he did. Margaret realized her own selfishness, her lack of wanting to love what Mac did, had caused the marriage to fail, among other things. It was the first time she had acknowledged her selfishness and it hurt her. Margaret felt that she was dying. She did not feel the life. She did not know for sure she was going to die but her gut feeling was death was of hovering over her hungrily. Margaret thought about the irony of where she was. She might die in the same city she had married Mac. And, ironically, this was the city where Christy Huddleston was born and raised. Margaret had to wonder if there was more reason Mac had taken her to this city than what he said. After their talks, he wanted to talk to the judge who gave them a marriage license since the judge still resided and practiced in Asheville. Mac also had said, in Cutter Gap, there were excellent doctors in Asheville. But Margaret suspected Miss Huddleston might be coming to see her family for at least a portion of the summer. Mac surely must suspect the same thing! But he was faithful. Would he really set up an 'accidental' meeting with the teacher? Truth be known, Neil had already thought about it. While he was sitting in his hotel room, poring over medical journals, the thought had suddenly occurred to him he sat just a few blocks from Christy's old house. He knew where it was since he had taken a walk to clear his head and had seen it. It was a beautiful, large house. Neil wondered what ever made her leave it to go to 'God forsaken' mountains to teach poverty stricken schoolchildren with little to no education before her. Her warm heart of gold. Neil shoved his hands further in his pockets in irritation with himself for thinking of her as he walked along the fancy walks. He had altered his appearance to fit in more. He got a haircut, bought suits.... all he did when he went to school in Scotland and served out his internship and residency in Pennsylvania. Dr.MacNeill heard the shrill whistle of a monstrous train in a distance as he mounted the steps of the station platform. He ignored it. All he was going to do was send out a telegram to Alice telling her to come. Neil rebuked himself for wishing Christy might come on that train. Or perhaps Alice would bring her for support. He knew how close the two were. Stop it! he mentally chastised. Neil took his place in a fairly short line of people waiting to send out telegrams. He knew he had to be vague and brief in the telegram. Alice would get concerned enough as it was. He did not need to bother her with the repulsive details, not even in person. The doctor took in a deep breath and tried to run his hands through his normally long unruly curls. It was shorter now and it annoyed him. He realized he squeezed the tips of his hair when he was especially irritated, upset, or pondering something. Neil became determined to let it grow back out from the trimming he had received. Neil glanced around the station in boredom. Would the line move already? The crowd was not very large waiting for the train. It approached and heaved a sigh as Neil's hazel eyes fell upon a man and a woman he would know anywhere. William and Julia Huddleston. A young man around sixteen stood with them impatiently. What were they doing at the station? They were talking together excitedly until William said something that stopped them. Neil was afraid this might happen. He hoped William nor Julia spotted him. His previous experiences with Christy's mother had not been pleasant. He did not mind, of course. He dealt with unpleasant people constantly. And she had given in after all, even specially acknowledging him for what he had done for her husband. Neil felt pride rush through his blood as he saw William Huddleston standing without the cane. The young man held the cane, gripping it like a baseball bat. Must be George, Neil mused thoughtfully. A young man who was completely infatuated with baseball. Christy had commented on it while David was attempting at teaching the finer points of the game which was rapidly stealing the attention, and money, of the nation. Neil saw little point in hitting a "wee ball with a stick" as he so eloquently described it with a hint of repulsion months before. Then it hit him. Christy was probably on that train. Surely not! But what if she really was? It would make sense as to why the family was all waiting so anxiously around the platform. Neil watched the three from a safe distance. He stood in line at the telegraph post and watched the train as porters rushed to unload baggage. He glanced over the passengers and his breath caught. There was Christy. She was dressed more formally than she did in Cutter Gap but, come to think of it, so was Neil. Where's the bounce, lass? Neil asked her tenderly in his thoughts. She no longer seemed to be walking more on air than on the ground like the rest of the mortals. Christy never had been a normal person. But the despondent look on her face and firmly grounded step made her seem more human. Neil stared in shock and dread, mixed in with an embarrassing amount of joy and pleasure, as Christy's family greeted her. George, or so he assumed him to be George, rushed forward and fairly pulled her off the train. He swung her around once and Neil knew that was her cue to laugh with that beautiful, musical voice. But she only slightly smiled and said something quietly to him. The young man passed her to Julia Huddleston. Christy hugged her. Her stance became more rigid at seeing her mother. Neil was well aware of how much Julia pressured manners and most emphatically had lectured her only daughter about her posture. Christy had complained about it sometimes to him. He thought her posture was fine. The stiffness of her back looked uncomfortable and unnatural and he pitied her. William Huddleston looked upon his daughter with such love and affection it made Neil wish he still had his parents. Christy forced a smile at whatever he said to her and she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. There was none of that joy she had had before. Where had it gone? Why was she so sad? Surely something had not happened in Cutter Gap while he was gone! Neil hoped not. Then again, only Jeb knew where they were so he could not be reached. And Jeb only knew Asheville. He did not know the hotel or anything. Neil thought about approaching them until someone lightly poked him. "Hey, it's your turn," said a robust man in gaudy dress behind him. His collar was choking his neck, therefore, flushing his face. Neil wondered if the man knew how ridiculous the entire get-up looked. Neil let his annoyance with the man slide as he attempted to hide himself from the reuniting Huddleston family. Neil wandered how he was going to avoid them. Well, it's a big city, Neil thought to himself. I'll do just fine. Neil told himself he was not patronizing himself. With that settled, he sent the telegram to Alice. Part Eight William Huddleston was not pleased with the worn, defeated look on Christy's face. She was his 'little miss' and a wonderful young woman. To see her once sparkling eyes reflect such pain angered and hurt him. She looked like Life had already beaten her into the ground at the ripe age of twenty years old. William watched her as she unenthusiastically gazed at the familiar scenery of Asheville flowing by without the energy she once so abundantly possessed. She still possessed it, he was certain. But something had sunk her deep into depression. She had withheld her feelings while in Cutter Gap, he could tell. William was confident in getting his daughter to talk to him. Christy knew her younger brother of seventeen was trying to cheer her but the laughter and smiles just would not come. Now that she was away from Cutter Gap she felt so out of place, so alone. There was no Neil, no David, no Miss Alice, no Fairlight, no Ruby Mae. There was no one she was really familiar with to turn to. How could her family seem so foreign? It was almost like stepping into an alien family. George looked at his older sister. He had always admired her for her sweetness, kind heart, and tenacity. He admired the latter still, despite its capability of not only getting under his skin but in his blood when Christy fought for something she believed in. It was either a wonderful thing or a horrible thing. Usually it was a good thing when none of them had the commitment nor desire to fight themselves. Like one Thanksgiving she wanted to donate to the poor. Her mother denied her the money so Christy went out and worked a job so she could help the less fortunate people eat wealthier on Thanksgiving. George had often wondered what he would be like if he had her compassion, her love, her trust, and her vision. He would certainly not be the lightly sarcastic young man, living only for baseball and girls. Christy was not concentrating on George, her father, or her mother. While she might be happy to be home all she wanted to do was set things back the way they use to be in Cutter Gap. That was what she focused her energy on. Maybe it's time to redirect my energies, Christy mused. Christy felt little relief at being at the home where she grew up. It seemed to put in her mind how much she was going to miss Cutter Gap for the three weeks she would be in Asheville. Her room only served as a reminder to her room at the mission house. Christy felt homesick. And she was where she called 'home' for nineteen years. It took five minutes in her parents' house to know where her heart and home were. Cutter Gap. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "She's here, isn't she?" Neil looked at Margaret. He had just stepped inside Margaret's hospital room and she already knew. "Christy, the teacher," Margaret expanded when he did not answer. "Miss Huddleston." "And a good day to yoo, too, Margaret," Neil said sarcastically. Margaret loved how her name rolled off his tongue but put the thought aside as she looked away. "I didna mean to sound rude," Neil said with a more gentle tone. Margaret turned back to him. "So is she here?" Neil took that as she accepted his apology. Neil was a different man. He felt a change in his heart for the past several months. He wondered what the change was but welcomed the peace without an explanation. "Aye," he said softly. "She arrived on the train a few minutes ago." "Does she know you're here?" Margaret asked tensely. She hated that teacher being in Asheville. Margaret wanted Mac's undivided attention for once. It was medicine the first few years. Now it was another woman he had already fallen for. She doggedly fought off the feelings of low worth. Margaret knew Mac thought her dead when he pursued a friendship, or perhaps more, with Christy Huddleston. He had been extremely charitable to his 'wife', all things considered. Margaret figured it must be a certain young woman influencing him. Mac shook his head, his boyishly curled locks scattering about his forehead. "Nay," he replied. "I didna show maself." Margaret relaxed some at this news. Did it mean he did not want Miss Huddleston to know they were in Asheville? She had to wonder. But she already knew there was no chance of winning back his heart, if she had ever really held it in the first place. "I've a meeting with tha judge tomoorrow," Neil informed her, his brogue interfering with perfect English. Margaret had always loved his accent and inwardly sighed with disappointment he looked on her as little more than a patient he was familiar with. "Good," Margaret said quietly. *~*~*~*~*~*~* Christy pushed her food around on her plate. She had attempted at hiding her glum feelings since she arrived that afternoon but failed miserably, and she knew it. Her father had seen straight through her. As had her brother and mother. But it was her father she was most concerned about. He was still weak. She did not want him to worry about her. Looking at William Huddleston, Christy was reminded of the main reason she had had to get away from Cutter Gap for a while. Dr.MacNeill. He had rescued her father from a life of invalidism. She was forever indebted to the doctor for what he did for him. She wondered where he was and how he was doing. "Girlie?" Christy looked up, startled. Her father was looking at her with affection and worry. "Yes, Daddy?" Christy asked calmly, letting out a small breath after he broke her reverie. "You haven't touched a bite on your plate," he said, concerned. "Is everything all right?" asked Mother worriedly. Christy nodded and made herself eat a bite to prove it to them. Perhaps to herself as well. "I'm fine," Christy said. She did not sound very persuasive, even to her own ears. George, of course, was too busy to notice too much about his sister. He was a sensitive young man when he needed to be, though. "George, why don't you take Christy to see John MacMaster?" suggested William Huddleston, hoping to get his daughter's mind off whatever was troubling her. He guessed it had something to do with Cutter Gap. She had said she needed to get away for a while but had been very vague. "Now?" George asked. "Of course not," replied William. "I meant tomorrow morning. So she can get out of the house and reacquaint herself with your friends again." "A splendid idea," Julia agreed. She did not understand her husband's motive behind releasing their daughter but thought of her own. John MacMaster was an eligible young man a few years older than Christy. It would be good for her to socialize again. "He would love to see you again, Christy, especially in his present state." Christy had an idea about her mother's motive but not her father's. He had always been against setting Christy up with young men. Did he, perhaps, agree with Mrs.Huddleston? She hoped not. This was the worst time in the world to try setting her up. "What present state?" Christy inquired, somewhat curious. She had known John for years. "Broke his leg," George said unceremoniously. "He was running to home plate and slid in. He was intercepted and let's just say it did *not* feel good." Christy was slightly amused with George's insensitive tone. He did not care in the least how much it hurt to have one's leg broken. "Is he OK?" Christy asked, still not capable of a smile. "Sure," George replied like she was stupid for asking. "George," William admonished quietly, also humored by his son. George understood he should care more but could not find it in him when John MacMaster had been stealing every bit of attention he could for a broken leg. He hated pity solicitors. "We'll go to the hospital first thing tomorrow morning then," George agreed. "I have a short case tomorrow," said William Huddleston. "We'll go to the courthouse tomorrow after I pick you up from the hospital. I know George will talk your ear off so I will tell him now *not to*." William directed the last two words pointedly at his son, who put up his hands in either surrender or defense, it was unclear. "Then we'll get some lunch at your favorite cafe and catch up." Fun, Christy thought. The hospital and courthouse. Well, lunch with her father sounded nice enough. But he would probably want to know what was bothering her. Christy did not want to tell them. How could she tell him she was in love with a married man? She could not. Christy thought she had inwardly sighed until her own breath escaped her lungs and her ears heard it. Her family looked at her oddly. She forced a flimsy smile and continued pushing her food around. Part Nine David Grantland was mentally rambling to himself. He missed Christy already. And she had been gone one day! How could he tolerate another three weeks of this? He kicked the ground like a little boy and sighed. He wished Christy had given him an answer before she left. But he had asked her repeatedly if she had an answer, only to be pushed off. She was peeved he asked so often, it was obvious. David had decided to not press his luck any more than he had. Gazing at the sun set over the mountain range, he became thoughtful. Maybe he would go see her. Not immediately, of course. Just give her a little time to herself so she would receive him better. David did not know too much about her qualms, her preferences, but he did know she was not partial to surprise visitors after she had so firmly left them behind. She looked forward to seeing her parents, especially her father. He was certain Mr.Huddleston, William, knew of David's interest in his daughter. He hoped it would be acceptable he show up sometime. Satisfied he would see her sooner than in three weeks, David moved at a more brisk pace to the mission house. Ruby Mae was cooking. David's patience with the girl was running thin. She could "talk water uphill." He had hardly believed she could be *this* talkative until he found Christy was not there to intercept the nearly pointless chatter. "And I said, I said to 'im, he ain't a-worthy-a me," Ruby Mae was saying to Alice as David walked in. "Rob Allen ain't gonna be able to be swoonin' over no showgal then jest cum back ta me, 'swhat I told 'im." Miss Alice's expression showed her surprise and how startled she was at how Ruby Mae implied she had been firm, maybe even cruel. "Ruby Mae, does thou not think thee might have been maybe just a little harsh on Rob Allen?" asked Miss Alice. "I do not approve of what he did to thee but thee must remember to keep thy temper in focus." "Hain't takin' 'im back," Ruby Mae muttered resignedly. "Good afternoon, ladies," David greeted cautiously. "Reverend, good afternoon," Miss Alice greeted as Ruby Mae fairly shouted her greeting. Miss Alice calmed her before turning back to the handsome reverend. She had always been concerned such a beautiful young woman as Christy and an appealing young man as David being together in the mission house would force them to being a couple. Miss Alice was certain Christy was more reluctant to be in a serious relationship than David and the parson was pushing her. Maybe a little too much. "I trust thy walk was fulfilling and has settled thy soul." David nodded. "It was, Miss Alice, thank you," David said, truly grateful for the older woman's sensitivity. "I'm just a little lonely." "Thee misses Miss Huddleston?" Miss Alice made it sound like she was guessing but already knew he was moping because of the teacher's absence. He nodded again. "Asheville is six hours away," David said. "But I still feel like she's across the country." "Perhaps, Mr. Grantland, God does not wish for thee to be with Miss Huddleston at this time," Miss Alice said. She saw a plan brewing in his dark, deep eyes and felt she should subtly correct him. "Miss Huddleston would not have left here, and thee, so abruptly had she not needed time to herself. Maybe thee should take advantage of her absence to get together your own thoughts, Reverend." "Preacher, be ye and Miz Christy gettin' hitched?" Ruby Mae interrupted, not the least bit shy. "Ruby Mae!" Alice Henderson admonished quickly. "Such things are none of thy business. Nor anyone but Miss Huddleston's and Reverend Grantland's." Ruby Mae looked let down. "I jest been wonderin'. Them others, they been pressurin' me ta ask ye, Preacher, if-n yer gonna be marryin' Miz Christy after that thar public 'prosal." David inwardly moaned but a breath fled his lips. He had hoped stories and rumors would not fly around the Cove but should have known they would. Perhaps he had known. They loved butting into other people's business. But, then again, David did that every Sunday when he preached. "She hasn't answered me yet, Ruby Mae," David answered simply. Ruby Mae nodded her slowly, obviously in thought. "I tell ye this. I'm sayin' I won't never turn down an offer if-n one like that one ye gave her, Preacher," Ruby Mae complimented. The young reverend with mixed emotions slightly smiled in appreciation. "Thanks, Ruby Mae." David became more determined than ever to go see her. Christy could not possibly turn him down, could she? Two weeks. That was it. Two weeks and he would go see her in Asheville. "Yo-o-o-o-o-o-onited States Ma-a-ail!" David wondered if Ben Pentland planned to tell everyone in the Cove the mission was receiving mail. But he found the nosey man somewhat amusing and did not bother him about his characteristic call. Miss Alice, apparently, did not share in his sentiment. The three left at the mission went out to see him. "Mr.Pentland, must thee shout and holler as thee does?" asked Alice. Ben Pentland scratched his head, a somehow even dumber look on his face. He had never had the looks of an intelligent man, though he could light up a room with his rumors and great stories. His scholastic history left much, much to be desired. "Gots some mail fer yas," Ben Pentland said. "Don't never mean ta 'noy ya none, Miz Alice." Seeing the injured look on his face, Miss Alice apologized. "I did not mean to insult thee, Mr. Pentland," she assured him quickly. His face lit up again and Alice wondered if she would rather he be more quiet rather than be so happy and talkative. "Wal, thankee, Miz Alice," Ben Pentland said energetically. "Gots a letter fer Miz Christy here and a telegram fer ye, Miz Alice." "I shall take Miss Huddleston's letter," Alice said when David reached for it. She knew the preacher would be tempted to read it and decided to make him flee the temptation by denying him the object of desire. "Thanks to thee, Mr. Pentland." The mailman bowed cordially and set away from the mission house, whistling "Sourwood Mountain." It was probably the first time he had forgotten to hint at sticking around to know what the news was. "What is it, Miss Alice?" David asked. Miss Alice was reading the telegram over. Her face had paled and she held her hand to her forehead, attempting to push away the dizziness. "Reverend Grantland?" she whispered. David was immediately concerned while Ruby Mae's face contorted with her animated worry. "Miss Alice?" "Reverend, I would greatly appreciate it if thee would tend to Ruby Mae," Miss Alice said. "I must leave at once." "What's wrong?" David asked. "Is it Christy?" Miss Alice then noticed Neil posted he was in Asheville with Margaret. Had Neil and Christy run into each other yet? "No, it is not," Alice said. "It is Margaret. She is sick. I must go." Part Ten Neil gazed at a medical journal as he sat by Margaret's bedside. She was sleeping fitfully. Neil saw the words but they all ran together and looked like gibberish. He had not been able to concentrate since he saw Christy at the train station. He had been distracted enough without knowing SHE was just a few blocks away. Then Neil heard her. Christy! He could not hear her words but he heard her shortly say something. Neil jumped and turned around to face the open door. He saw her. She had the most tightlipped smile on her face. Her voice, when she spoke, was patronizing. Neil had never seen her more false than she was now. Christy obviously wanted to get out of there. Neil noticed the young man from the train station was with her. He was sure it was George now. Another young man, older than Christy, was talking rapidly to her. She wore the most artificial smile on her face as he obviously was trying to impress her. She was inattentive and looked like she was about to flee. So this was what she had complained about. False words, fronts, deception. He could see how sad she was. He wondered about what. He wanted to comfort her but knew it would be a mistake to let her know that he was in the city. She would know eventually, though, since Alice was coming. Alice would probably contact Christy. Neil realized if Christy glanced over her shoulder even a little she would see him and Margaret. He could not have that. He crept to the door and shut it hastily. Christy turned as she spotted movement and the door shut abruptly in her face. She gasped as she thought she caught sight of Margaret. Surely not! Christy was about to look at the chart next to the door when George grabbed her arm and pulled her down the hall. Her mind was racing. Not Margaret! That would mean Neil, too! But he would surely let her know he was going to be there, wouldn't he? Christy already knew that answer was negative. It had been a quick glance. Maybe it was not Margaret. Maybe it was. Was it? Christy was perturbed as her father picked her up at the hospital. He had a short day in court and she would not have to wait with him long. She remembered sitting in the courtroom when a particular case fascinated her as a girl and had the same feeling of anxiety. Christy could not help but wonder if that was due to thinking she saw Margaret or going to the courthouse again. She had a feeling the former was the probable culprit. "You look even more preoccupied than you did last night." Christy turned to her father, startled. They were walking up the courthouse steps together. "Do I?" William nodded and said a short greeting to a colleague he was familiar with. Christy offered a small smile of recognition to the man. "But, right now, I have to prosecute this case," William said. "I'll only be an hour or so. It's just a meeting with Judge Thayer. Coming inside?" Christy nodded. "It's been a while since I've seen you fight." William Huddleston grinned. "I was hoping you would say that," he informed her. Turning more serious, he said, "I wish I could talk to you. You really have me worried, little miss." Christy shook her head, putting off his concern. "Don't worry about me, Daddy." "Is there a particular reason you left Cutter Gap?" asked William wisely. "I know you love it there. And it's always had the capabilities of comforting you when nothing else could. And the children, too." "I just needed to come here for a little while," Christy replied. Anxious about his continued, growing concern, she tried a Creed Allen tactic to get the subject off herself. Humor. "Can't a girl come home and see her family?" Christy demanded playfully. "But when it's the girl who all but ran away from home, Christy, I get surprised when she flees home to take a vacation," William replied knowingly. "Part of it is David, Daddy, so you won't worry," she finally admitted. "He proposed again and I can't think when he's right with me." "I doubt he'll give up on you anytime in the near future," William Huddleston said thoughtfully. "He really should give you more space than he does." "He promises to stay in Cutter Gap until I'm ready to go," Christy said, feeling the need to defend her suitor. "And he wasn't willing to do that for me before." "I won't argue with you about his affections," William said. "You would be a great lawyer, by the way." Christy managed a slight smile. Ever since he found she had a strong spirit, he had been coaxing her to go into law. "All I'm saying is he might not be so different from the young men here. He's from the same society as you, Christy, and our society says that woman are pretty faces on an arm." "David's not like that," she replied hastily. But David had shown those signs a few times. But he had been born and raised that way. Surely he could not be expected to put off every single influence from Boston. "I won't argue what I don't know," William said. "Especially not with you," he added affectionately. "I'm just saying to be careful." "I am, Daddy," Christy replied quietly. "Good," William replied. A light tone crept into his voice. "I don't want to see my favorite daughter ruin the rest of her life because she refused to see the truth." Christy decided to not comment on the rest of his statement and concentrated on the lighter part. "I'm your only daughter," she replied. "That would make you my favorite, now wouldn't it?" William bantered. "That would also make me your least favorite." William laughed and opened the door for her leading to the courtroom. "I told you I won't argue with you." Christy managed something more of a smile as she took her seat in the back of the courtroom. She was happy to be with her father again. She knew he missed her a lot and she missed him, too. But Christy felt more homesick here than she did in Cutter Gap. She knew home and she knew she was going back. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Neil went into the hall from the judge's chambers. People pushed and shoved around him, hustling and bustling to get to other places. He did not blame them for not wanting to stay in a courthouse. The situation which brought one there was rarely, if ever, pleasant. The doctor stared at the piece of paper in his hands. It was final. The judge made it so. Neil leaned back against the railing and stared at the paper in awe as the people walked in front of him. Most of them were lawyers, he was sure. Lawyers and clients. Maybe a grieving family here and there. But all he could think about was the paper in his hands. He felt slightly selfish for it but, nevertheless, it was how he felt. "Dr.MacNeill?" The doctor looked up and dreaded the face he saw. William Huddleston. Of course. Christy's father was a lawyer. Neil shoved the paper in his pocket rather quickly as his mind scrambled to find a way to cordially make his exit. Christy was not with William at least. "William, hullo," replied Neil hesitantly. "What are you doing in Asheville?" the lawyer asked, pleased to be seeing his daughter's friend and the special physician who gave him his life back. "Just some business t' attend t'," Neil replied vaguely. "Christy didn't mention you were in Asheville," William continued, unaware of the doctor's anxiety. The last thing Neil wanted was a confrontation in the courthouse with the 'spunky' young woman. "No, no, I didna tell her," said Neil. "All right, Daddy, I've been on errands with you and George all day and I'm...." Christy approached the two and her voice trailed off when she saw the doctor standing with her father. "Neil!" she said in surprise. She immediately corrected herself. "Doctor-Doctor MacNeill... what are-what are you doing here?" The look on her face was priceless. She was completely shocked. She had no idea what to think and it was obvious by the expression her eyes showed. "I, um...." Neil found it hard to talk to her with that look in her eyes and admonished himself, putting on a more businesslike tone. "Margaret's been doing worse. I thought t' bring her here since I know good doctors here." "You must stay with us," William said while his daughter recovered from her shock. Christy then knew the woman in the hospital had been Margaret and, more than likely, the one to shut the door had been Neil. "Christy?" Christy snapped her eyes to her father. She realized she had been staring at the doctor in her initial shock. "Hmm? Yes, yes, of course, Neil, you should stay with us," Christy agreed as her senses returned. Neil's mind again searched eagerly for an excuse, any excuse. The truth was he wanted to stay with them. But he did not think it would be such a good idea for Margaret's health. How could Neil say that? Then they would want to know how it would affect Margaret. Neil would feel obligated to tell the truth. That he could not do. He could not tell them it would upset Margaret that he was staying with the woman he loved with all his heart; Christy Huddleston. "I don na want t' impose," Neil attempted. "Impose?" repeated William incredulously. "There's no imposing. You're Christy's friend and you've done so much for me. I welcome the opportunity to pay you back more." Neil was trapped and he knew it. He would tell Margaret. He would have no choice. But would she be OK with it? Neil hoped so. He already was comforted just by being near Christy. She had that odd effect on him. "Thank yoo," Neil said, glad and disappointed he could not talk his way out of it. He could see Christy was upset he had not told her he was in Asheville, and that he left without saying anything. Neil suddenly realized he missed the recitation day. He felt guilty about that but what was he going to do? What could he have done? Christy was furious and hurt. Why was he all of sudden so distant from her? It hurt her. As the threesome left the courthouse, Christy drew from God's compassion and love and prayed for Margaret to get better. Part Eleven Julia Huddleston had been keeping an eye out for her daughter to return. A telegram had arrived earlier from Cutter Gap. While Julia had been tempted to keep it to herself she knew she could not. She wanted to protect her daughter but she knew it to be up to Christy whether she could handle a note from her new home. Julia rushed down the walk to her husband and daughter. "Christy, I was waiting for you to get home," Julia said. "This telegram arrived for you. >From Cutter Gap. I thought it might be important." Julia suddenly noticed the handsome young doctor with them. "Dr.MacNeill! What a pleasant surprise." Christy felt some of the mild ecstasy her mother showed at the backwoods doctor's presence was false. But she ignored it for the time being. Julia was just surprised, as Christy had been. "A pleasure, Mrs. Huddleston," said the doctor politely. "Christy and I ran into him at the courthouse," William explained. George, who had been playing baseball after visiting John MacMaster, came down the street then. "He'll be here for a while and we invited him to stay with us." "Yes, of course you must," Julia said hastily. Regardless of her personal feelings about his background and where he practiced, Neil had still saved her husband's life. She owed him so much more than a stay at her house. "George! Come here." George quickened his step and Neil felt slight satisfaction at having guessed the adolescent's identity correctly. "George, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine," Christy said, realizing the introductions should be up to her. "This is Dr.MacNeill. Doctor, this is my brother, George." George shook Neil's hand willingly. He had heard wonderful things about this man from William. Dr.MacNeill was praised for being a good friend to Christy and saving William. "A pleasure, George," said the doctor. "Pleasure's mine," George said enthusiastically. "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for my father. I'm glad to finally have a chance to meet you." Neil was uncertain how to respond to such a warm greeting. And especially since Christy was so reluctant to offer him any assistance. William, sensing the awkwardness of the moment, relieved them all by suggesting, "Why don't we go inside?" "Who's the telegram from?" Julia asked Christy as the other three gathered Neil's little luggage. Christy suddenly remembered the telegram in her hand. "Oh, I completely forgot it." Neil felt a sense of dread as he heard her open it. He knew it was probably from Alice. He also knew Christy would be shocked, hurt, confused, and angry. "It's from Miss Alice," Christy said curiously. Neil's heart lodged in his throat but he quickly calmed himself. There was a pause as Christy read the short telegram. Neil started to walk down the walk, eager to get away while she collected herself. Unfortunately for Neil, Christy was a strong young woman and practically ran to his side. Flinging all sentimental, caring feelings for him to the wind, Christy stared up at him. "You told Alice you were here?" she accused. "And you couldn't tell me? You just disappeared without any explanation?" "I didn't know if I would be seein' you," Neil replied simply. His coolly composed manner got on her nerves. Neil took a step forward and Christy stepped right in front of him to stop him. "You missed the graduation," she said. "You promised you'd be there." Christy winced inwardly as she realized she mentioned the recitation. She had promised herself that she would not hold it against him and that it was OK with her. But she knew, now, it was not. "Did you think Alice would not contact me? That she, too, would deceive me like you did?" "I never deceived you," Neil argued. "Should I be more accurate?" she asked, her voice tinted with an uncharacteristic amount of sarcasm and anger. "You didn't lie to me. You just left without a word and broke your promise and then didn't give a thought to whether it would hurt me if Alice told me you stayed here but weren't going to talk to me." "You don't know what my thoughts were," Neil said quietly, his eyes ablaze with an unfathomable emotion. "I guess I never have," Christy agreed. "But look at it this way, Neil. Either you didn't care enough to think about how you'd affect me or you thought about it and decided you didn't care if I was hurt. Which one is right?" "I'm not going to defend myself to you," Neil replied firmly. "I don't need to. Just leave it be, Miss Huddleston, and I'll thank you for your hospitality." Christy gazed at him. She realized her thoughts were completely selfish. His wife was, once again, approaching death. All Christy could think about was her own pitiful grievances and what was wrong with her life. And she had just assumed Neil would constantly be thinking about her. But he wasn't. He shouldn't. Her thoughts were jumbled as they had been the day of the proposal. Christy was unsure what to do with herself. She decided to slip back into her normal profile, her honest profile. "I'm sorry for being self-centered, Doctor, excuse me," she said quietly. Neil watched her hurry down the walk away from him and hardened his gaze while his heart softened. He was worried about her. She was so subdued. First, she had revealed anger that was odd for her. Then she returned to the shell of a vibrant woman she once was, immediately apologizing for being selfish. Christy never apologized so quickly. The walking away from him part was normal, though. At least they had not lost that part. His thoughts as confused as hers, Neil continued down the path to the house where Christy had disappeared. William, Julia, and George had seen they were having a conflict but the two kept their voices quiet. Words were not distinguished. William exchanged a look with Julia and they both understood a fraction of what was going on with their daughter. It had something to do with the doctor. That was fairly obvious. A telegram from Miss Alice would not send their daughter into an abnormal fit of annoyance and anger. They had seen the look in her eyes as she stared, unbelieving, at the doctor. Christy brushed past Neil and George on the stairs as she went quickly down. George grabbed her arm as Neil stepped to the side, knowing Christy was upset with him. "Whoa, where are you going?" George inquired. "To pick up Miss Alice," Christy said, thoroughly ignoring Neil. She hated avoiding his gaze but felt the need to. "Can you get another room ready? I'll be back in an hour or so." "Wait and I'll go with you," George suggested. "No, that's OK," Christy said, already going down the stairs again. George started to protest as she vanished around the corner but Neil put a light hand on his shoulder. George looked up at him. "She won't be changing her mind," Neil said. "You must know that by now. And she needs to be alone, I believe." George looked into the calm hazel eyes of the doctor. The youngest Huddleston offspring realized Dr.MacNeill knew what he was talking about. George nodded slowly and continued up the stairs. "Your room is right up here," the young man said. Meanwhile, Christy stalked down the street to the station. She was annoyed. Neil had told Alice and could not even tell Christy that he was leaving. What an immature, stupid, stubborn Scot! Christy mentally ranted. She remembered saying basically the same words to his face and wondered what made her so willing to apologize earlier. She knew she was wrong for being so concerned with herself. She just could rarely ever apologize so quickly and humbly for her wrongdoings. With troubled thoughts, Christy resolved within herself to completely stay out of Neil and Alice's way unless they asked for her. Christy would be a comfort but nothing more. She would forget herself and let them deal with this, no thoughts about Christy Rudd Huddleston. Part Twelve Alice Henderson was terrified for her daughter's life. Neil's brief words by wire had frightened her. She had already lost Margaret once. Then a thought came to her, momentarily making Alice doubt herself. She suddenly realized she had never really *had* Margaret. Margaret had always been lost. The rebellious, illegitimate child wanted nothing to do with God or anything else her victimized mother cared about. Alice wondered fearfully if Margaret even knew she was a beloved, cherished daughter. Alice was glad Christy would be there. Christy had always been a source of strength, a daughter she had never had. Alice was aware Neil drew strength and comfort from the teacher, too, though he would not admit it. Asheville was the perfect place for Alice to begin grieving the loss of a daughter she lost years ago. Christy was faithfully waiting for her. Alice detected annoyance on the young woman's face. Then there was a maddening calm and serenity on her face after Christy shortly squeezed her eyes shut. Alice hoped the girl had been praying about whatever had been troubling her. Alice was aware Neil had not told Christy where he was going. That was probably Christy's trouble. Alice was welcomed into the teacher's arms instead of the opposite. It felt nice to be the one comforted and not the comforter to the Quaker missionary woman. Alice had a feeling they both needed that embrace. "Dr.MacNeill is already at the house," Christy said after a short greeting. Alice noticed the woman still struggled. With what was still to be decided. She was more withdrawn. Distant. Christy did not freely express what was bothering her as she always had before. "We met up at the courthouse right before I received your telegram." "I hope I have not put thee out," Alice said quickly. "I did not mean to impose upon thee or thy family." "Nonsense," Christy said. "You're always welcome, Miss Alice." She turned to the older woman and Alice could see a reflection of the intense, deep feelings Christy was hiding. "I wanted to let you know, Miss Alice, that I'm really sorry about Margaret being so ill. And I'll be here for you if you want me, or need me." Alice nodded thoughtfully. Christy was sincere. Alice just wondered how hard it was for Christy to say what she did. "Thanks to thee, Miss Huddleston," Alice said gently. A veil dropped over the pretty, shapely face of the Huddleston daughter at hearing Alice's words. The blue eyes held no emotion to be dissected and analyzed. She left no room for Alice to probe through her mind. Seeing this change in Christy startled Alice. It was so unlike Christy to struggle so much with something. There was something about her that had changed. Miss Henderson was unsure if it was a good thing. She was showing the uncaring, unfeeling Christy. Maybe it was just Christy altering to where she stayed. Alice planned to speak with her about it later. Christy said very little on the way to the house. She was cordial and perfectly polite but was certainly not the warm young woman of Cutter Gap. Alice wondered what had happened to her. Neil saw Christy and Alice arrive and dreaded going down to see Christy again. He knew she was still angry with him. But he also knew he had to see Alice. So Neil MacNeill went downstairs. "Hi.... Alice," Neil said hesitantly. Christy glanced up and saw him. Taking one of Alice's valises, she brushed past the doctor without meeting his eyes. Neil and Alice watched her go for a moment. The doctor anxiously turned the attention back to the Quaker woman standing before him. "Margaret will be glad you came," Neil said. "I think she knows I wired you." Alice wondered about Neil's statement. The last time Alice had seen her daughter she had been disowning her. The memory still made Alice's eyes jerk. Margaret had strode down the aisle casually, bumped her mother's shoulder, and continued down the moonlit path, singing. Did it really make so little difference to Margaret she was disowned? Alice shook her head slightly to clear her mind. Alice was willing to return to her daughter's side and ask for a real relationship to exist between them. "I should like to see her," Alice said quietly. Neil nodded as he carried her things. They were able to leave moments later. Alice did not want to rest but to go straight to her daughter. Christy was, apparently, determinedly avoiding Neil. It pained him he upset her but could not dwell on it. "She's not doing well, Alice," Neil said quietly as they walked to the hospital. Alice's shoulders slightly slumped at hearing this news. "Really?" she asked in an almost whisper. "Maybe you can help her," Neil suggested. "I know what happened last time you saw her, Alice, but things have changed. I'm not quite sure what it is but she seems like a different woman." Alice looked at him with hope in her eyes. "Will thee be working things out with Margaret?" Neil glanced at her. "No..... no, Alice, we aren't," Neil said slowly. "In fact, it was the courthouse where I ran into Christy and William." He paused. "I attained a divorce." "A divorce!" Alice cried, startled. "Why?" "Margaret and I are getting along," Neil began to explain. "I don't want to lose that. We're getting along as friends, as doctor and patient. But we can't get along as husband and wife. We never have. With this sickness, she and I agreed, on one of our talks, it would be easier on everyone if we finally got the divorce." Alice was quiet. This new piece of news surprised her but it should not have. The divorce was long in coming. As a Christian, a Quaker, she did not believe in divorce, of course. She figured that, in this case, it was best but that did not mean she had to agree it was correct Biblically. Then again, neither of them were people of God. "I see," Alice said quietly. "I know you're against divorce, Alice," the doctor added. "I'm sorry. But it's best this way." Alice paused a moment as he opened the door to the hospital for her. She stepped through and waited for Neil. "I know," she admitted. Part Thirteen Alice Henderson cautiously stepped into her daughter's hospital room. Young, vivacious Margaret was laying on the bed. The only sign of life was the rise and fall of her chest. She was so thin, it frightened the sickly woman's mother. A masculine hand fell on Alice's shoulder. "She's resting," Neil said quietly. "She's OK for now." Alice's heart shook within her breast, convulsing with the horror of seeing her daughter in such a sickly state. With all the make-up and get up of her showgirl facade she had not looked so sick. But it was different now. Margaret looked like a dying woman. "She can't die," Alice whispered. "I'm going to do all I can to save her," Neil said, his voice hardly louder. "The doctors here will help, too. But she needs you, Alice. Whether she can, or will, tell you or not. She needs you. She needs to know you love her still." "Of course I do," Alice whispered hoarsely. "Of course I do." Neil pat her shoulder before severing physical contact. But Alice still felt the light impression of his strong hand on her shoulder. "Tell her when she awakes," Neil said. "She can talk to you. She's a strong woman, Alice, and she can pull out of this." He paused for a moment. A war went on in his head. Did he really want to say what he was about to? "Pray for her, Alice." The missionary's head snapped over to him. Neil grew gruff, realizing his ex- wife's mother was going to get an impression the good doctor was not sure he could confirm. "It can't hurt." Alice studied him as he moved away. She always knew Neil was struggling with his faith. His mother had been a strong Christian, teaching it to her son before she died. Her death had cinched his skepticism and doubt in God that science had already sown. Was he starting to believe again? ~*~*~*~*~*~*~* George moved his pawn. "You know, you really should consider-" Christy looked up at her younger brother. He lost his nerve. "I really should consider what?" she asked curiously. "Moving your knight instead of your queen," he finished lamely. Christy sighed. "George, if you're going to give me a false finish to your sentence at least make it a good one." George grinned. "You always did know when I was fibbing." "I call it lying," William Huddleston said from the doorway as he entered. It lifted his soul to see his two children in the same house again, playing and arguing like they used to. Christy could be so maternal towards George sometimes. Christy was quiet and subdued. George hated to see his sister like that. She always had been a lively, voracious young woman. He remembered playing with her as a little boy and how she had pushed him on the swing. He wanted that cheerful adolescent back. He wanted his real sister back. William met his son's eyes. The big blue eyes told his father that his son was trying with all his might to cheer up the schoolteacher. But she would not be cheered. "Why don't we go out tonight?" Julia suggested, suddenly appearing in the doorway to the parlor. "A play opened up last week. We could go see it." "Yeah, Art saw it," George said of his friend. "He liked it." "I'm not much in the mood," Christy said. "You go on." "Can I have a minute with Christy?" William asked. George and Julia understood the implications. They scurried to leave the room. "Daddy, whatever it is, I don't feel like seeing it," Christy said with boredom in her voice. "How long are you going to mope?" Christy looked up at her father in surprise. "Excuse me?" "You've been moping around here since you arrived," William said. "We expected you to be happy like at Thanksgiving. But all you're doing is moping around here, refusing any recreation. And if you do go, like to the court house or the hospital, then you're cold." "I told you what my problem is," Christy snapped. Her voice was tinted with more frost than she wanted. She was not angry at her father. He was a dear. She was not angry at anyone except herself. Snapping at her father only made her feel worse. "You didn't tell me everything," William replied, not to be intimidated by his daughter's bite. He was used to her fiery temper when she was a younger girl but he thought she had gotten over it. When he thought about it, he knew she had. Something had greatly upset her. "Why won't you tell us what's wrong?" William asked. "What makes you assume there is?" Christy tossed back. "I told you it's David. Why do you have to push me like this?" He saw his daughter breaking down. He hated to hurt her and reacher out for her. Christy could not accept sympathy. It was pity in her mind. She pushed his arms away, completely out of character for herself. "I don't want your pity!" she said harshly. She was so blinded by her own pain she did not notice the hurt look on her father's face. "I don't want anyone's pity. Just let me be!" Christy brushed past him and rushed up to her room. She was oblivious to the doctor and Alice standing outside the parlor door, returning from the hospital. Neil watched Christy rush past him and Alice, surprised at how very upset she was. Was she really that upset he had not told her he was coming to Asheville? Don't flatter yourself, MacNeill, Neil chastised himself mentally. The lawyer father came out and spotted Neil and Alice, unlike his daughter had a moment before. Alice, forever the peacemaker and always the one who knew what to say, spoke first. "Mr. Huddleston, is thy daughter all right?" she asked in her quaint Quaker speech. William Huddleston fought with himself. His daughter trusted both Alice and Neil explicitly. She was a wonderful judge of character. He could trust them, couldn't he? "I don't know," William admitted. "She won't talk to me. She's always talked to me. But she's alienated herself from the rest of the family since she got here and I don't understand it." William was slightly rambling in his minor panic. "Perhaps Miss Huddleston is just tired," Alice suggested, certain there was more to it than just fatigue. "I doubt it," William replied dubiously. William never meant to let the small sigh escape his lips but he had no real choice in the matter. Neil and Alice watched in concern. "How's Margaret?" The two could see William shifting the attention away from himself, as Christy liked to do when she felt uncomfortable. So they decided to play along without orally agreeing to it. They knew William needed to think it out alone now and would not push him. "She is resting peacefully," Alice said optimistically. Neil decided that Alice's discretion and optimism was best for now, especially when the Huddlestons had their own domestic troubles. "We talked some today." "Good, good," William replied. "If you'll excuse me, I should talk to Christy. Supper should be in a half hour." He hurriedly left them before they could argue his departure, not that they would. Alice and Neil exchanged a glance before returning on their path up to their rooms. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Supper was a silent affair. George tried to lighten the conversation but the older adults had other things on their mind. Alice's thoughts were, understandably, completely consumed by her fatally ill daughter. Tuberculosis was a sickness there was no turning back from. Margaret had not taken care of herself. Not ever. It was finally catching up to her, despite her defiance. Neil was thinking of both Margaret and Christy. Christy was ignoring absolutely everyone, which saddened and concerned Neil. Usually, she was such a vivacious young woman, full of life and ready to make the world a better place. She seemed so defeated. This demeanor was a haunting similarity to Margaret. Neil hated that there was any similarity between the two, especially such a dark one. Their equal spirits were similar, despite how they had put such spirit to use. Their spirits were running on the same track again. They seemed so worn by life. And Christy had hardly reached twenty years old! Fate, or William Huddleston's gut instinct, had placed Christy directly across from Neil at the supper table. Christy disliked this. It gave her no privacy. She always seemed to feel his eyes, whether he was carefully scrutinizing her or not. Christy felt he was thinking about her odd behavior, her immature behavior. Christy did not want to act so stupidly but her intuition went out the window when her emotions got to her. Christy had always been an emotional girl. Now she was an emotional young woman. It was the first time she truly despised being able to feel her emotions so vividly. William and Julia watched the chemistry between Neil and Christy, though they never said anything to each other nor made eye contact but for a fleeting second. William knew his daughter better than Julia and knew something was between them. The tangible friction between them was noticeable. "This is wonderful, Julia," William said, breaking the icy silence that had engulfed them. Julia smiled slightly as the other echoed it, feeling a little compelled to. "Thank you, but it was mostly Hanna's doing," Julia replied honestly, speaking of their part-time maid. The silence resumed. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Christy lay in bed that night, thinking. It was hard to sleep. There were too many life changing events happening in her life. She was afraid that if she went to sleep she would miss something, though the others were probably all asleep. Christy finally decided sleep was avoiding her for a reason and dragged herself out of bed, feeling woozy from her severe inner conflict. Her mind was her worst enemy at this point. Christy sat lightly on her window seat and gazed at the bright quarter moon thoughtfully. This was not how she had planned to spend her time in Asheville. Not at all. Christy was considering going back to Cutter Gap. But she knew immediately that it was impossible. Not only would Neil and Alice feel uncomfortable in a home where they hardly knew the owners but it would be incredibly rude. For a fleeting moment, Christy did not care in the least about being rude. A childish, wrong thought entered her mind. She wanted to leave Neil to his problems to take care of herself. Perhaps Christy needed to take care of herself. In fact, she did need to take care of herself. But the way Christy took care of herself was to take care of others. And while Neil might not accept her help, if she could even offer it to him, Alice still needed a crutch. Neil was stuck in his own turmoil to be any help to his mother-in-law, Christy knew. Alice was the main thing keeping Christy in Asheville. Christy rededicated herself to her previous commitment. She would help Alice, and perhaps Neil, and forget herself. "Stick to it this time, Christy," whispered the troubled young woman. "Stick to it." Part Fifteen Early the next morning, Christy sneaked away to her baby sister's grave. It was hard to stare at that marker, knowing her sweet little sister was underneath the ground. Christy knelt to the ground and gently laid eleven daisies on the base of the marker. Her sister would be eleven this year. Christy stared at the stone then ran her fingers over the engraved message. Her sister had been a wonderful little girl. She would have been an equally wonderful young woman. "Rest in peace, sweetie," Christy whispered. Amelia Christine Huddleston. She had been named partially after Christy since young Christy had taken an immediate liking to the newborn. So they decided against Amelia Esther, for Julia's mother, and decided on Christine. The sun was peeking over the tall buildings of Asheville. Christy could literally hear the city waking up. She rose from her knees and stood, gazing down at the marker. Coming back was always hard because she could remember the day she buried her sister. The light was tumbling over building after building so Christy quickly made her way back to the house before she was missed. There was so much for her to deal with. She felt overwhelmed. The pressure of the entire situation was stressing her out. But Christy decided to bear it out, to not worry about herself but to take care of others. She was best at that. Christy fitted the key into the back door and almost silently unlocked it. She opened it, only hearing a small protest from the hinges. She would have to get George to grease them. She stepped inside and stood close to the door as she just as carefully closed it. Christy stepped away then turned around, only to see Neil watching with interest. "Late night rendezvous?" Christy looked at him before brushing past. "Hysterical." Neil turned to watch her leave before he said, "You know, I was thinking about taking a walk." Christy turned to him. His voice was annoyingly calm and his eyes showed no emotion. The doctor was simply looking at her. Christy sighed. "Should this interest me?" "I guess you're not taking hints today," MacNeill mused. "I was wondering if you wanted to join me." Christy looked at him dubiously. Did she really want to go out alone with the doctor? She knew her hidden feelings. Christy knew that it would be a risk to her and she might make a fool of herself. But she had little choice in whether she agreed or not. She found herself agreeing after she changed. Christy went upstairs and wondered how she had not had any control over what she said. Dr. MacNeill tended to confuse her so she could hardly know her own name. She hoped she was not making a nasty mistake. Christy went back downstairs and pulled a shawl around her shoulders as she went. She had woken George to tell him that she was going out with the doctor and not to worry. He waved her away, rolled his back to her, and went back to sleep. Christy had backed out of his room and then went downstairs. They walked in complete silence. Neil had said for her to pick a direction so they started uptown. They had no destination. They were just walking. They did not even say anything. It went back and forth between being a comfortable silence and an uncomfortable silence. Neil kept his hands shoved deep in his pockets and Christy clung to her shawl. They were conscious movements, at least on Christy's part she knew, to keep her body completely away from his. "I, um...." Neil began. She was surprised he was at a loss for words and they stopped on the sidewalk, turning to each other. Christy looked up at him as a train blew its way into the city. The whistle drowned out any other sound so he did not say anything. It was a lucky break for Neil. He had no idea what he would say to her, anyway. He just knew he had to attempt to explain. Lying did not bother him at this point. Neil had to keep her from wondering, that was all he knew. He could tell she was seriously distracted and had to take one subject off her mind. "I know you couldn't tell from the silence but I actually wanted to talk to you," Neil said when the train had puffed to a stop. Christy's eyebrows raised. "Out of the house." Christy removed a hand from her upper arm as she griped the shawl and glanced around briefly before returning her eyes to his. "Well, this is about as out of the house as we're going to get in Asheville." "We have an unfinished conversation," Neil reminded her. "Which I want to finish." "Which one?" Christy asked. "The last real one we had," Neil said. "Or tried to." "Ah," Christy said, pretending she just realized what conversation he meant. "That one." It was taking all her willpower to remain unemotional on the surface. Underneath, she was being tortured. "Yeah, I wanted to explain why I went," Neil said, preparing himself to lie. "There's no need," Christy lied. "No, I do," Neil said. "I was worried about you. You just left my cabin and I was concerned." That was the best excuse Neil had come up with while they were walking together in silence. It should be acceptable. Christy nodded slowly. "OK," she said. She had a feeling that he was not being entirely truthful but she did not want to flatter herself. Besides, Neil was already married. Neil thought she accepted it too easily. But so long as she did not question further, he was all right with it. He could not tell her that he had run after her because Margaret had told him, in desperation, that she was going to marry David. Neil had been furious when he found out she lied but he should not have been surprised. Neil wondered whether she had made up her mind yet or not. He hoped for her happiness but he also hoped she would not make a mistake and choose a man she did not love. Even if she did not love Neil. "Now you want to tell me why you were out there?" Neil asked, trapping her in a corner. "Do I need permission?" Christy asked with light sarcasm, dodging the question. Neil watched her silently for several moments. Christy barely had the power to hold up under his intense eyes. "What?" she asked. Neil studied her eyes. He was drowning in them like he used to. Like he had wanted to that afternoon in the school yard. The dawning sun danced off her hair and sparkled in her eyes. Neil had to look away before he was caught staring and gawking. "How's Margaret?" Christy asked, referring to her earlier determination in order to be able to ask that question. Margaret was one of her least favorite people but Christy had to remain impartial and be a friend to Neil MacNeill and Alice Henderson. "Living and breathing," was all Neil said. She was doing horribly, in truth. She was getting weaker every day. Some days, she would do better. But Neil could see the strength draining out of her. It made him feel bad, wondering what might have happened if they really had loved each other, if they really had tried at their marriage. Neil would like to think their marriage would last. The marriage had been of sweet rebellion. But it rapidly had turned into bitter rebellion. Margaret began resenting him, Neil realized that she had only thought of him as a mate, not a husband. The marriage became impossible after that. "I didn't ask that," Christy said quietly. They stood awkwardly for a moment, staring at each other. It seemed like hardly any time at all but a few minutes had passed. "She's not doing well, is she?" Christy inquired softly. Neil bit the inside of his cheek for a second. He looked down at her. "No," he admitted. "I'm sorry," Christy added, her tone quiet. That Neil would admit it meant that it was very true. Margaret could not possibly be doing well. Neil tended to look to the more optimistic side of medicine and relate it to people. Christy found herself genuinely wishing that Margaret would recover fully. It would break Miss Alice's heart. To lose her daughter again by death. Margaret had put everyone through so much. Still, Christy hoped she lived. She did not want Alice and Neil to go through more. "We should go back," Neil said, turning to walk back. Christy stayed where she was, holding the shawl around her body. Neil had taken a few steps before turning back to her. She was watching him. "Coming?" Neil asked, half sarcastic. Christy looked evenly at him briefly before walking to his side. They had taken two steps when they heard Christy's name. They turned around to see David jogging across the street. Her brow furrowed, simultaneous with Neil's. What was David doing here? Part Sixteen Reverend David Grantland had never intended on coming to Asheville so quickly. But he missed Christy. And, truth be known, David was uncertain how much longer he could stand Ruby Mae's chatter. Ruby Mae was staying with Bessie Coburn so David did not worry about her. He simply worried about what Christy would say when she saw him in Asheville. David looked around the train station. It was developed beautifully and it reminded David of home. Boston. The thought made him wish for the finery of his home town again. Cutter Gap simply did not satisfy him. Maybe he could deal with Christy about staying in Cutter Gap if she said yes. Christy would want to make him happy, wouldn't she? He stepped to the edge, trying to find the postage desk. The clerk would be able to tell him where the Huddlestons lived. David glanced across the wide, bustling road then snapped his gaze back. Who else but Christy? David grimaced as he saw the doctor. They were standing awfully close to each other, he thought. They were, apparently, talking pretty deeply. David wondered why they chose the street. He also wondered what Dr. MacNeill was doing there. Was this where MacNeill and Margaret disappeared earlier? David stepped down the staircase, weaving between people. He saw MacNeill take two steps then look back at Christy. She paused as David continued working his way through the crowd then started walking, going to the doctor's side. David feared he would lose them if he did not catch their attention somehow. "Christy!" David called. They both turned and David saw the shock written all over their faces. He wondered if he was doing the right thing. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Christy saw David and sucked in a breath, irritated. She had come to Cutter Gap to escape the doctor, David, Miss Alice, and Margaret. To escape the pressure the mission and the Cove brought. Yet, here they all were, and all going to be in her house, too. It was worse than in Cutter Gap. Again, Christy considered leaving for the Cove without a word. Again, she decided against it. "David, what are you doing here?" Christy asked when he reached them. Neil noticed the slight aggrivation in her voice. He guessed things were not going all that well in their relationship. "I came to see you, of course," David said. He turned to the doctor. "I didn't know you were here." "Would it have kept you away?" Neil returned. "Who's watching Ruby Mae?" Christy asked, not about to let them get into another 'discussion.' She remembered well when they spent hours and hours at simply arm wrestling, which she found hysterical to this day. Right now, though, the rivalry was not the least bit funny. "She's with Bessie Coburn," Grantland said. Christy looked at David, a little angry he would come after her. She thought she had made it clear she wanted some time to herself. To think. Apparently, David was not getting that message. "Where's your things?" Christy asked, resigned to be hospitable. "At the station," David said. "Where's the nearest hotel?" David did not want to assume anything. "No, you're staying with us," Christy said. She turned to Neil. "Coming?" she asked quietly. "Go ahead," MacNeill declined. "I should get to the hospital and check on Margaret." Christy nodded and farewelled him. Christy turned to David and they began walking back across the street. She led him to where he needed to collect his luggage. "David, what are you really doing here?" Christy asked after they brought his two bags to the street. They could get a taxi. David saw one waiting and pointed. They began the walk. "I came to see you, Christy, exactly what I said," Grantland replied. Christy found it hard to believe. "I came here because I needed to think, David," she told him. "Now Dr. MacNeill's here, Margaret's here, Miss Alice is here, and you are. I might as well have stayed in Cutter Gap." She had not meant to say all that but her pent up frustrations with the situation got the better of her. David looked at her. "Christy, if you want me to go, then just say so." Of course she wanted him to go. Christy wanted to be alone, for the time being. She needed to be. Miss Alice was the only one who would be someone Christy would like to be around. Miss Alice was Neil's mother-in-law, which was the only thing that made Christy feel insecure bearing her soul to her. But it was not in Christy's nature to tell someone to turn around and go home, even when she was so disorientated and stressed. "No, stay, of course," Christy said. There was a trace of a sigh of resolution in her voice. "We have plenty of room." "Miss Alice is here?" David asked after Christy had given her parents' address to the cabbie. Christy and David slightly jerked simultaneously as the driver snapped the reins at his horses. They were a fine pair of Morgans, so Christy thought. She was terrified of them but she liked how they looked. Christy nodded, answering David's question. "Dr. MacNeill wired for her," she said. "Mrs. MacNeill isn't doing very well." Christy forced the words 'Mrs. MacNeill' out of her mouth. It was hard to admit to the doctor still being married. Christy shoved those thoughts quickly out of her mind. Foolish girl, the teacher mentally rebuked. "I'm sorry," David said. "Miss Alice has been having such a hard time," Christy said. "She's gone to the hospital with Dr. MacNeill but I don't think she sees her." 'Her' was easier to say than 'Mrs. MacNeill.' "How have you been doing?" Miss Huddleston turned to him. His voice was so quiet. Christy could tell something deeper was implied in his question. She only wished she had an answer. Christy decided to dodge the question, wanting only that she could put aside all this stress and just think. Pray. She needed to pray. A lot. "I'm not the one with a wife or daughter in the hospital," Christy said, keeping to her decision to avoid the implied question. David knew she was not going to answer. He felt that *was* her answer. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ David was readily welcomed. Alice had a slightly disapproving look on her kind face but it disappeared as quickly as it showed. Christy looked tired, Miss Alice, noticed, and went after her when Christy retreated to the garden. "Miss Huddleston." Christy turned around at hearing her mentor's voice. She managed an obscure smile. "Hello, Miss Alice," Christy greeted warmly. "It's a beautiful evening, isn't it?" "How has thee been?" Miss Alice queried, getting straight to the point. Her tone was so quiet, so caring. Warmth spread through the younger woman at feeling so cared about in that one instant. "I have been so occupied with Margaret, I have not asked about thee." "I'm OK," Christy said quietly, a faint smile in her deep blue eyes. "I have no excuse to have been so wrapped up in myself. I'm sorry I haven't been there for you." Miss Alice shook her head. "God is there for me," Alice said. "As is Neil. I do not need thee to abandon whatever made thee escape to thy home. That is what thee needs to concentrate on, Miss Huddleston. I believe that thee needs to speak with God, get some direction in thy life." Christy looked at Alice in awe. The older woman always seemed to know exactly what to say, even if she did not know everything. Alice smiled tenderly, catching the look in Christy's eyes. Alice cherished the