######################################################################
DISCLAIMER:  Catharine Marshall's beautiful story of Christy is owned by
the LeSourd Family.  The writer is in no way seeking profit or credit for 
her story.  The writer is continuing the story of Christy for amusement only.  
Any additions in story and character  were invented by the writer.
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Title: Indigo & Violet
Author:  Kelly O
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SUMMARY:  This is meant to occur just after "Second Sight" and before "The Road Home."


Part I

        Dr. MacNeill had been feeling guilty for the past two weeks.  He 
could not shake the image of Christy's eyes bent with despair because of what 
he had said to her.  The image of her hurt face followed him everywhere he 
went. As he rode along Black Hawk River, he did not notice the burning orange 
sugar maples or the deeper red oaks, he thought about nothing but Christy.  
He played their conversation over and over in his head.  He had yelled at her 
for encouraging the mountain people to sell their land to Nathan Stone.  She 
knew better than that.  These people needed their land, their family, and 
their friends.  He was right, he told himself.  Christy was from the city; 
she did not understand.   After he crossed the river, Charlie broke into a 
lope down Turkey Trot Creek, but Neil pulled him to a halt when he noticed 
the bald spot that spread over English Mountain just at Fair Ridge.  The 
Timmons trees were already disappearing.  The logging had begun, and the 
sight made him feel tired.   

He had not spoken to Christy since the day of their argument on his front 
porch.  And everyday since he had tried to justify his harshness toward her, 
but the guilt remained like a rock in his stomach.  And as the days past, he 
softened.  All he could remember was the damage that his words had caused.  
Christy had only been trying to help.  Why did he always hurt her like that?  
  

Charlie knew the way home so well that Neil dropped the reins onto the 
horse's neck and let him walk without guidance.  Neil sighed.  He had 
exhausted himself replaying their argument, but still he could not shake 
Christy's face from his mind.  He knew that he had blown up at her partly 
because of the pain that Margaret had caused him.  Christy did not deserve 
that anger.  

        Neil had spent the last few days in Lyleton.  Claudia, the McFadden's 
nine-year-old girl, had pneumonia.  Because of her severe asthma, he had 
stayed several extra days to make sure that she didn't have any other 
complications and to see that she got the rest that she needed. 

        "Dr. MacNeill," Claudia had said, speaking into his stethoscope.  
"You look sad."  

        "I do?"  He asked and removed the stethoscope from his ears.  He 
smiled at her sensitivity.

        "Yes, you do."  She said in a no nonsense tone.  The same tone that 
her mother used.   She was a thin and frail girl with deep-set, dark eyes.  

        "You have observant eyes, Claudia--like a doctor."  He said and 
pinched her nose.  "You have made a correct diagnosis.  I am sad." 

        She grinned at his compliment and then said.  "Why are you sad?"

        "I think I may have hurt someone's feelings."

        "Who?"  She asked.

        "A very good friend of mine."

        "Then you should tell your friend that you're sorry.  You will feel 
better after you do."

        When Neil remembered Claudia's words, he smiled to himself.  She was 
right.  He picked up the reins that lay on Charlie's neck.  "Sorry lad," he 
said, leaning down toward Charlie's ear.  "But we have one more stop before 
we go home." And with that, he steered Charlie, not in the direction of his 
cabin, but toward the mission.

        The crisp fall air had numbed Dr. MacNeill's cheeks, and when he 
broke out from under the shade of the trees into the meadow just in front of 
the mission, he lifted his face into the pale afternoon sun.  He felt better 
already.  He was glad that he had decided to come.

        "Good afternoon Neil,"  Alice said as he neared the mission house.  
Alice stood with her feet apart, pumping water into a wooden bucket.  She 
stopped and shaded her eyes to look at him.

        "Hello, Alice."  He dismounted and tied Charlie to a rail.

        "Is Christy about?"  He asked.

        "No," She said with a surprised tone.  "I thought that you knew.  
Christy went to Asheville.  She left two days ago."

        "Asheville?  Is her family well?"

        "Oh, yes," Alice said.

        "Asheville--" Anxiety settled into his stomach as he considered the 
word.  "Why is she in Asheville?"

        "She has not been herself the past couple of weeks."  Alice said.  
"She blames herself for the logging and for the Timmons leaving the cove.   
She has hardly slept or eaten.  When I confronted her, she told me that she 
fears more people will sell their land if she does not do something to stop 
it. She said that she would never forgive herself if that happened, so she 
went to Asheville to talk to Nathan Stone Senior."

        Neil felt responsible, and a physical ache filled his chest.  "She's 
always carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders."

        "It seems to me that thee is the one who put it there."  Alice said.  
Her saucy reply stung Neil bitterly, but he knew that he deserved it. 

        "I've been over in Lyleton the past few days; I came today to 
apologize to Christy."

        "How is Claudia McFadden?"  Alice asked.

"She is much better," Neil said absently.  The thought of Christy in 
Asheville devoured him.  He felt worse than he had before he had come.  Why 
had he not apologized sooner?  Why had he treated her so badly?  He was a 
blundering fool.  He admonished himself. 

        "Thee is welcome to stay for dinner."  Alice interrupted his thoughts.

        "No, thank you Alice."  He did not even remember to say good bye.  He 
mounted Charlie and rode toward his cabin.   His words had hurt her worse 
than he had realized.  Neil felt terrible.  Images haunted him all the way to 
his cabin. He remembered how he had behaved at Nathan Stone's party.  He had 
been drinking.  He told Christy rather than asked her for a dance.  Then he 
picked a fight with Nathan Stone.  What must she think of him?  His mind 
moved farther back, and he remembered blaming her for the scarlet fever 
outbreak.  He had also blamed her when little Burl had gone missing.  Who 
knows how many other times he had hurt her?  "What a damned fool you are Neil 
MacNeill."  He said out loud.  When he finally reached his cabin, his stomach 
was thoroughly raw with guilt and worry.  His mind was so preoccupied that he 
forgot to tie Charlie.  He walked inside and sat down at his table.  The 
table where Christy had once chopped vegetable to make stew for him.  His 
hands rested at the very spot where she had stood.  He could not relax.  
"That woman is going to drive me mad!"  He said and pushed himself up from 
the table.  He packed a bag, wrote out a note for Dan Scott, and mounted 
Charlie again, all within a half-hour.

        "Change of plans, old boy."  He said to Charlie and patted the 
horse's shiny neck.  "There's just nothing left for me to do now but go to 
Asheville." 


Part II

        "Why Christy Huddleston, you are a sight for sore eyes.  Welcome, my 
dear."  The elder Nathan Stone said with his arms out stretched in greeting.  
He took her hand and kissed it, warmly.  His hair had grown even more silver 
since she had last seen him.  "My son told me that you were more lovely than 
before.  I did not think that was possible, but I see now that he is right."  
He wore a three-piece, grey suit; his watch chain hung from the vest pocket.  
He looked at her over a pair of wire rimmed spectacles that rested at the end 
of his nose. He was impeccably groomed, which was a stark contrast to the 
mountain people.

        "I do not know about that."  Christy said with a blush.  "Mr. Stone, 
you are so kind to meet me on such short notice."  She smiled.  Though Mr. 
Stone was officially retired, he still had an office.  It was here that he 
had agreed to meet with her.

        "Have a seat," he said and motioned to big leather chair that sat 
opposite his desk.  After Christy had sat down, he sat behind the desk and 
asked.  "What can I do for you Miss Huddleston?"

        "Well, I expect that your son has already mentioned that we had a 
difference of opinion?"

        "Yes, he did mention that."

        "I wanted to talk to you about the logging in Cutter Gap.  I came 
here to tell you my side of things, well, the mountain people's side really." 
 Christy smiled.  "You see, Mr. Stone, that land is one of the most important 
things to the mountain people.  It's all they have.  It is what they value 
more than anything else.  Without it, they are lost.  The land is part of who 
they are.  If they lose it, then they lose themselves.  It is part of their 
soul."  Her vision blurred because of the tears that were in her eyes.  She 
could not help but remember the day that the Timmons left Cutter Gap.  
Jeffery had cried when she hugged him goodbye.  A vivid picture of Fair 
Ridge, naked and used, made it harder to hold back her tears. She had 
destroyed Fairlight's special place.  And Tom and Opal had almost left.   She 
was responsible. And Neil, his words clung to her and would not let go.  
"That man and his kind will destroy this cove and you brought him here!"  She 
remembered even the tone and inflections that he had used.  It hurt so much 
to know that he was disappointed in her.   But he was right; it was her 
fault.  

        Mr. Stone stood up, walked around his desk, and handed Christy a 
handkerchief.  He did not say anything to her, but looked at her with his 
kind eyes, waiting for her to finish.

"I did not really understand just how important the land was until Neil 
pointed it out to me, and he's right.  The land is as much a part of them as 
their fingers and toes.  I know it now because it has become a part of me 
too." 

"Neil?  Is that Dr. MacNeill that you wrote about in your letters?"

"Yes, Dr. MacNeill."   Christy paused and looked at Mr. Stone sincerely.  "It 
is my fault that your son came to the cove in the first place, Mr. Stone.  So 
it is also my fault that the cove land is being destroyed.  I accept that 
responsibility, but now I must do something to stop it.  Please, Mr. Stone, I 
beg you.  Talk to your son about this.  I love those people.  I can't bare 
the thought that I have had a hand in hurting them."

        Mr. Stone took her hand in his.  "My dear girl," he said.  "You are 
an incredible woman.  How can I resist such a heartfelt plea?"  He squeezed 
her hand, tenderly.  "Now, stop your tears, for I can not stand to see you 
crying.  I will talk to my son." 

"Oh, Mr. Stone, thank you so much."  She sniffled.

"On one condition."  He said and held his index finger up for emphasis. 

        "Anything you say."  She said earnestly.

        He chuckled at her seriousness.  "We are having a ball tomorrow night 
at our home.  If you will attend and grant me at least one dance, then I will 
do everything in my power to persuade that boy of mine to do his logging 
elsewhere."  He smiled.

        "It would be my pleasure Mr. Stone."  She rose to her feet.  He took 
her hand and kissed it again.

        "Until tomorrow then?"  He asked. 

"Until tomorrow."  She returned his smile and then departed.


***********


Neil knocked on the door and then straightened his buckskin vest.  The door 
opened, revealing a mature, silver-haired man.

        "Can I help you?"  The man asked.

        To which Neil replied.  "Yes, I was told that I might find Christy 
Huddleston here." 

        "Oh, I am terribly sorry, sir, you just missed her.  She left about 
ten or fifteen minutes ago."

        Neil combed his fingers through his hair and sighed.  "Damn."  He 
said.  The older man watched him with interest.

        "You must be Dr. MacNeill.  I am Nathan Stone."  Mr. Stone extended 
his hand to Neil in a gesture of friendship.  

        Neil shook Mr. Stone's hand, but looked at him with a furrowed brow.  
"How did you know my name?"

        "Well sir, I have two accounts of you.  My son says that you are tall 
with wild reddish curls and that you sport a temper.   Miss Huddleston has 
described you as an intense, passionate, and skilled doctor with a thick 
Scottish accent.  I would say, from what very little I have seen, that they 
have done a fair job of describing you."  He chuckled warmly.  "And the 
buckskin vest is a dead give away that you are not from Asheville, my good 
man."  

Neil looked down at his vest and grinned.  "No, I suppose I am not in the 
latest fashion."  

Nathan backed out of the doorway, making room for Neil to pass.  "Please come 
in, Dr. MacNeill."  Neil entered the office.   "Have a seat."

"I suppose you are here to talk to me about the logging too.  But do not 
worry, Christy already explained everything, and I assure you, Dr. MacNeill, 
that I will do everything possible to persuade my son to find another place 
to log.  I can not resist the tears of someone like Christy Huddleston.  Who 
could?"

"She was crying?"  Neil scooted to the edge of the chair.  

"Yes, poor girl.  It seems she blames herself for the whole thing."  

Neil couldn't have felt worse.  He would rather have been horse whipped.  

"Are you all right, Dr. MacNeill?"

"Yes, it's just that I came to Asheville to apologize to Christy.  You see, I 
am the reason she feels responsible for everything. We had a fight, and I, 
well, I lost my temper and blamed her for the whole thing."  Neil lowered his 
head and looked down at his boots.

"You love her don't you?"  The old man said this so bluntly that Neil looked 
up at him with a cocked and puzzled expression.

"No, well, we are friends, but--"

"I hope that you do not take offense to my saying this.  I do not know you at 
all, so I may be totally out of line, but I am going to say it anyway.  If 
you do not love her, why did you travel all this way just to apologize to 
her?  I should imagine that if you were just friends, as you claim, than you 
would have waited till she returned to Cutter Gap to apologize."  The old 
gentleman examined Neil's face.  Then he pulled his pocket watch from his 
vest and noted the time.  

Neil was lost in thought.  He pressed his fingers to his temples.  Did he 
love Christy?  Of course he cared about her, but did he love her?

"Yes, well, I will tell you one thing," Mr. Stone said, disturbing Neil's 
thoughts.  "If I were your age and unattached, I sure would not let Christy 
Huddleston get away."  The old man had a clever, knowing grin on his lips.  
"Okay, I must go now."  He said and rose from his chair.  "My wife has left a 
long list of errands for me to run today.  But before I go, I want to extend 
an invitation to you, Dr. MacNeill.  We are having a ball at our home 
tomorrow night."  Mr. Stone handed Neil a card.  "That is our address there." 
 Mr. Stone pointed at the address printed on the card.  "I happen to know 
that a certain young lady will be there.  I should imagine that she would 
like it very much if an intense, passionate, and skilled young doctor were to 
attend."  The old man winked at Neil.

Part III

Christy had intended to wear one of her old dresses to the ball, but Julia 
Huddleston would not allow that for a moment.   When Christy mentioned that 
she was going to the Stone Ball, Julia Huddleston immediately had visions of 
her daughter meeting a handsome Asheville gentleman who Christy would fall in 
love with and move home to marry.  This sent Mrs. Huddleston into a tizzy, 
and she rushed Christy all over town to try on every dress in every store in 
Asheville.  They scuttled from the tailor shop to the dress shop to the shoe 
shop and then to another dress shop.  Julia was frantic, animated, and 
completely in her element.

"Mother?  This is ridiculous.  It is only a party."

"Nonsense, Christy, this is an important ball.  It's the biggest one of the 
year.  What luck that you came home just in time for it."  

Christy laughed inwardly at her mother's attentions.  She sometimes missed 
all the pampering and comforts that Asheville offered; and so, after the 
fifth dress shop, Christy gave in to her mother's smile and let herself enjoy 
the day.

"What about that pink one that we saw in the first shop?"  Julia said as they 
walked down the sidewalk.

"Well, yes, it was pretty?"

"Let's try just one more store, Christy."  She said.  "If we do not find 
something there, then we will go back and get the pink one."

As they entered the store, a lady met them.  "Can I help you?"

"Yes, my daughter is going to the Stone Ball tomorrow," She announced with a 
pride that embarrassed Christy.  "She is looking for a dress."

The young woman looked at Christy for several minutes.  "I have the perfect 
thing for you.  Wait here."  She disappeared to the back of the store.  Julia 
looked over the perfume counter.  She sprayed several samples in the air and 
sniffed each one.  "Oh, Christy, you must smell this one." She said.  "It's 
so fresh--like springtime."  The young woman returned with a dress folded 
over her arm.  "It's silk."  She said.  "And it's from Paris, but it was hand 
dyed in India."  She held it out for Christy to see.  "Isn't the color 
unusual." The dress was a deep, yet still vibrant, violet. She smiled and 
handed Christy the dress.

Christy tried it on in the dressing room.  It fit perfectly.  It had an 
empire waste and sleeves that covered her forearms but not her shoulders

"Oh Christy, you look beautiful."  Her mother said when she came out of the 
dressing room.  "You will have to wear my pearls."

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

 Christy arrived at the Stone's house in her father's carriage.  She wore her 
hair up in a tight twist.  The French style house was gigantic and stood on a 
hill.  She walked along the stone path, which led to the front door.  Large 
candles, perched on tall stakes, lit the path.  Their yellow light flickered 
against the deep blue evening and gave an inviting milieu.   Inside, Mrs. 
Stone had decorated the house very formal.  Tapestries hung on the walls.  
Huge oriental rugs covered the entry floor.  The people that arrived were all 
dressed elaborately.  Girls and woman huddled together in the large entry and 
chattered among themselves. Giggles erupted from them every now and then.  
Christy felt like an outsider.  

She stepped onto the white marble floor of the ballroom.  How strange it 
seemed when she compared it to the dirt floors of the cove cabins.  The 
ballroom was also immense.  It was a rectangular room with four pairs of 
French doors along the far wall.  The doors opened onto a veranda.  A 
sparkling chandelier hung from the center of the room, and thick, scented 
candles encircled the orchestra.  The room smelled faintly of lilac.  

There were so many people.  She bumped into Martha and Ginny, two of her old 
friends from school.

"Christy, oh my, you look beautiful."  Martha said.  "We had your mother over 
for tea the other day.  She said that you are teaching school at some back 
woods mission.  Is that true?  From your mother's description, it sounds 
terrible."

"How do you stand it Christy?"  Ginny asked with seriousness.

"I love it," was Christy's reply.  

And the two girls looked at each other.  "Don't you miss all the stores and 
being able to go to shows?" Ginny asked.  

"The mountain people sing the prettiest songs you have ever heard, and the 
mountains are far more satisfying than any store."

Christy  ran into other girls that she had known.  They all asked the same 
questions, and Christy provided the same answers.

After a time of mingling, Christy hid herself behind the punch bowl and 
started to wish that she had not come.  She felt like everyone stared at her. 
 She did not belong with these people anymore.  As she sipped punch from an 
etched crystal cup, the elder Nathan Stone approached her.  

"Miss Huddleston, you look stunning."  He had his hand over his chest.  "You 
are simply the prettiest girl in the room."

"Oh, Mr. Stone, you are too kind to me."

"My wife is busy being hostess, so will you honor me with the first dance?"

"Of course!"  She said and set her cup down on the table and took his hand.  
"That is what I came for."  She said.  The old gentleman laughed heartily.  
He escorted her to the center of the room, then nodded to the orchestra, and 
they began to play.  The old man had a gentle way, and they danced slowly but 
smoothly across the floor.  At first they were the only dancers in the room, 
but soon others followed.  And then the whole room moved as a ballet.

As soon as the song had ended, Christy felt a tap on her shoulder.  She 
turned to find Neil MacNeill standing before her.  He bowed, graciously.  
"May I have the honor of the next dance, Miss Huddleston?"  He asked.  If she 
had not heard his thick brogue she would have sworn that she were dreaming.  
The shock of seeing him left her speechless.  She stood staring at him with 
her mouth agape.  He was completely out of context.   He wore a delicious 
black tuxedo, with a very formal ivory bow tie.  He also wore ivory dancing 
gloves, and his hair had been flawlessly groomed with every hair in its 
proper place. 

Neil had noticed her the minute she had stepped into the room. Everyone else 
had noticed her too.  He had over heard some of the men discussing her as she 
stepped onto the ballroom floor.  "She's beautiful,"  "Who is she?" They all 
followed her with their eyes, as did Neil.  They spoke of her as if she were 
a mystery.  "She's the one that went to teach in Tennessee," one of them 
whispered.  Neil had not been able to hold back his smile when he heard this. 
 A warm feeling of pride cast over him.  How incredible and courageous she 
was to leave all of this to come to Cutter Gap.  What a different world she 
had come from and left behind.  A new appreciation for her sacrifice filled 
his heart. And as the two of them stood in the middle of the room, he waited 
for her answer.  He savored every detail--the rich violet dress, her graceful 
neck.  He even noticed the few stray hairs that lay against her bare 
shoulders.   She was even more beautiful than he had ever imagined.

And her eyes.  He saw Christy's eyes clearer than ever before.  They were 
more beautiful than any he had ever known.  And in that moment, Neil knew 
that it was not their physical color or shape that made them so enchanting.  
Their beauty was far more profound.   Her eyes were the most sublime and 
intense shade of indigo, and it was Christy's unselfish heart and gentle soul 
that made them so.  

"Neil, what on earth are you doing here?" She finally said.  She could not 
control her silly grin.  She was so glad to see him.  He was the perfect 
remedy for her malaise, and she could not remember a time when he looked so 
handsome.  

"I came to apologize, Miss Huddleston."  He moved closer to her and 
whispered,  "I'm so sorry I hurt you, Christy."  He said this so gently and 
with such sincerity that tears came to her eyes.  Neil noticed them 
immediately and touched her cheek gently.  Even through the glove, Christy 
could feel the warmth of his hand.  Nothing more was said between them, for 
they understood each other, as always, without words.  "Dance with me?"  He 
asked again.

"Oh, yes, I would love to."  She curtsied.

He held her securely and steady in his strong arms.  And in his arms, Christy 
could feel his intensity--perhaps it was his spirit that she felt.  She had 
never really considered herself a great dancer, but with Neil's steady lead, 
dancing was effortless.  The steps were natural--they flowed like the river.  
He lifted her with ease, and they whirled and waltzed all over the room, 
laughing and twirling and sometimes serious but always aware of each other's 
nearness.  One song blended into another.  And to Christy and Neil, there 
seemed to be no one else in the room. They did not notice that people 
surrounded them and had stopped dancing completely just to watch them.  

Neil's curls had broken free and bloomed about his face, giving him that wild 
appearance that Christy loved.   Neil knew that with every dip or swing, he 
was rewarded with a little giggle, and Christy knew that with every giggle, 
Neil gave her his half grin that made her dizzy.

Round and round, their hearts raced; they beat together in time with the 
music.  Neil swung Christy out and then drew her back to him.  Her indigo 
eyes captivated him.

Then a slow and haunting melody began.  Only one violinist played, and 
Christy noticed a tinge of recognition fall over Neil's face.  "This is an 
old Scottish song," he said.  "I've not heard it since I left.  I think I was 
on the Isle of Sky when last I head it.  It's called 'Will You Go?"  He 
smiled and gathered Christy even nearer.  She was warm and fragile against 
his chest.  He leaned even closer, so close that his lips almost brushed her 
forehead.  He sang the words softly to her.


"And if you love me
we'll never part
And instead of gold
You can have my heart
You can have my heart
with right good will
You're a bonnie lassie
And I love you still

And will you go, lass, and leave me now?
Will you go, lass, and leave me now?
Will you forsake your own love true?
And go with a lad that you never knew?"

The music continued, but Christy had stopped dancing.  Neil's closeness had 
overwhelmed her.  She backed away from him and pressed her fingers to her 
reddened cheeks.  Yet, she could not tear her eyes from him.   The depth of 
their stare made Christy feel lightheaded.  She was hot and cold at the same 
time.  When she finally broke her gaze, she noticed that people stood smiling 
and watching them.  She almost melted with embarrassment.  She felt airy and 
dream-like.  The backs of her legs tingled.  She looked back at Neil.  He 
stared at her with a look of concern.  "Christy?"  He reached out and gripped 
her elbow to steady her, for she seemed tottery.

"I'm sorry," she said.  "I guess I am not used to dancing so much.  I am 
going outside for some air."  With out taking in Neil's reaction, she turned 
and walked out the French doors.  The cold air that rushed over her bare 
shoulders brought refreshing strength back to her.  Silver candelabras lit 
the veranda and steps, which led down into the garden.  Once in the garden, 
however, the darkness enveloped her.


Part IV

"Christy!"  She heard Neil call behind her.  It was a deep moon-less night; 
crisply cold, she could see only her white breath before her.  She was still 
overburdened with a flustered merriment.   She continued a few feet down the 
path until she stood atop another set of steps.  They led down to a pond.  
She heard Neil's foot falls on the steps behind her, so she turned around to 
look for him. She did not want to face him after the awkward moment that had 
just occurred in the ballroom; but, in such darkness, she felt safe.

One of the Stone's servants ran across the yard, carrying bottles of 
Champagne in his arms.   He was frantic to get to the kitchen, for he was 
late with the bottles, and he feared Mrs. Stone would be angry.  Being so 
focused on his task, he had not seen Christy, standing on the path in the 
darkness.  He crashed right into her, knocking her down the steps that were 
behind her.   The bottles rolls down after her and busted and sprayed as they 
hit the rock steps.

It had been too dark to see what had happened, but Neil had heard the 
collision and the crash of bottles.  "Christy?"  He called with alarm.  He 
rushed forward and found Christy lying at the bottom of the steps.  A man 
stooped over her.  He could only see their silhouettes.  He ran down three 
steps at a time and squatted beside her, He was unable to knell because of 
all the broken glass. 

"I didn't see her," the servant said.  "I ran right into her. Oh God, please 
let her be okay."  The man's voice shook with penitence.

"Christy can you hear me?" Neil asked.  

She did not answer.  He was afraid to move her, without assessing her 
injuries first.  Chilled champagne had soaked her completely.  Neil took his 
jacket off and tucked it around her.  

"Will you bring back a lantern or some candles?"  Neil asked the man without 
taking his eyes off of Christy.  The man did not answer; he only jumped to 
his feet and ran back up the steps.  Neil began probing in the darkness for 
broken bones.  

He did not seem to find anything broken, so he spoke again.  "Wake up, lass." 
 He said to her.  She still did not respond.  The man had already returned 
carrying a lantern and candelabra.  He set them down beside Christy.  In the 
soft yellow light, Neil examined her more closely.  Her shoulders were 
scraped raw, and her chin was bleeding.  He turned her head and noticed a 
bleeding contusion just below her hairline on the right side of her forehead. 
 Using his thumb, he pulled back her eyelids and checked her pupils.  There 
was not enough light to see properly, but he was sure that she had a 
concussion.

"We need to get her inside," He said.

  Christy opened her eyes slowly.  In the wavering candlelight, she found Dr. 
MacNeill's serious face hovering over her.  She had to squint her eyes to see 
him, for everything was slightly blurry.  "Dr. MacNeill what are you doing 
here?"  She asked and started to sit up.  When she did, the back of her head 
began a throbbing ache that made her lie back down.

"Easy, Christy, don't try to sit up, lass."  Neil said.  

The chilling night air and her wet skin made her shiver. "It's cold."  She 
said sluggishly.   She could hear herself talking, but she did not feel 
coherent.   

 "I'm going to carry you inside."  Neil said.

It took a minute for his words to register with her, She fought hard to 
understand, but the throbbing all around her head hindered her.  She 
remembered the ball and then remembered all of the elegantly dressed people.  
Suddenly, she did not want to be carried.  "I can walk."  She tried hard to 
sit up, but the rush of pain caused her to feel sick and almost black out 
again.  "Christy, easy."  He said and supported her in his arms.  "You are 
not walking, and I will have no arguments!"  And for once she did not feel 
like arguing.  She felt Neil's arms around her.  He lifted her gently off the 
ground.  Her head rested against his chest.

She was limp in his arms.  And because she did not put up any more of protest 
to his carrying her, Neil worried.

He carried her up the stairs; Christy closed her eyes.  Each thud of Neil's 
steps jostled her and made her head feel as if someone were compressing it in 
a vice.  The pain increased so much that as they entered the house, she felt 
herself slipping into blackness again.

"What happened?"  She heard Nathan Stone ask as if he were far away.  She 
recognized him without opening her eyes.

"She fell down some stairs in the garden.  Do you have a room I can take her 
to?"  Neil asked.

"Yes, of course, follow me."

"I knew I should have lit the lamps out in the garden!"  Mr. Stone reproached 
himself.

Neil lay her carefully down upon a large canopy bed.

"Is she okay?"  Mr. Stone asked with concern.

"She has a concussion.  We just have to wait and see.  I do not have my bag 
with me," Neil said.  "I need someone to go and get it.  Here is my hotel 
key."  He took the key from the pocket of his jacket that still covered 
Christy and handed it to Mr. Stone.  "Also, do you have any dry clothes that 
we can put on her?"

"Yes, I will bring Eilsa, our housekeeper, she can find some clothes and help 
you dress her, doctor.  I will send my son for your bag."  Mr. Stone hurried 
from the room.

"Christy?  Can you hear me lass?"    He pulled the goose down comforter 
around her.  And then sat on the bed beside her.  He leaned close to her and 
stroked her hair out of her face.  "Christy?"

Part V

The trees were all gone.  Christy walked all over Cutter Gap, but there was 
no one there.  All the cabins were deserted, and the cove was treeless and 
barren.  Everyone had sold their land and moved to the lowlands.  No one 
remained.  The mission was deserted.  She could not find Miss Alice anywhere. 
 It was all her fault.  She heard Neil's words again.  "That man and his kind 
will destroy this cove and you brought him here!"  Was she one of his kind?  
Was she the one destroying the cove?  

Christy sat up in bed, breathless.  A wall of pain that started at her 
forehead and spread met her.

"Sh sh sh, lass. " Neil said.  Christy saw his blurry form before her.  She 
squinted, and his image grew clearer.  He was sitting beside her on the bed, 
holding her hand.

"Lie back down now," he said so softly that she scarcely heard him.  

"All the trees are gone, Neil.  They logged them all."

"It was only a dream, Christy.  Sh sh, now.  You mustn't try to talk, just 
rest." He eased her back down upon the bed.   Christy pressed her hand to her 
forehead.  She rubbed her eyes.  She saw Neil clearly now.  His starched 
white shirt was unbuttoned at the neck.  His square jaw tightened as she 
looked at him.  She noticed all the fine lines about his eyes. 

        Christy shook off the dream and looked around her.  She noticed the 
canopy bed and the deep red plaid comforter.  "Where are we?"  She asked.

        "We are at the Stone's house.  You took a good tumble down some steps 
outside and have a concussion.  Do you remember?" 

        Slowly, everything started to come back to her.  She remembered the 
ball and dancing with Neil.  "Yes, I remember."  She told him.  "You look 
tired Neil.  Are you all right?"

        "Nonsense, I'm not tired.  I was only worried about you."

Her mind shifted back to the trees.  She thought of Fair Ridge.

        "Neil, do you remember when you said that Nathan Stone and his kind 
would destroy the cove?"

        "Yes."  He said.

        "I'm afraid, Neil.  I think it's me. I'm the one destroying the cove. 
  I am, after all, one of his kind."  She pressed her hand against her head 
to relieve the throbbing pain.  "I mean, maybe I'm doing more harm than good 
in Cutter Gap.  Maybe it's me and not Nathan Stone that is the trouble."  
Tears slid down her temples.

        "No Christy.  You are wrong.  You have done so much.  I have never 
witnessed anything like it.  You give more of yourself than anyone I know.  I 
have never met someone who thinks of others before thinking of themselves. 
Like just a moment ago, when you asked about me and you are the one lying in 
bed with the headache."  He leaned closer to her.  "You have given those 
children love and the gift of education.  You have done so much, you can't 
possibly know how much.  I'm so sorry I was so hard on you.  I never meant to 
hurt you like that."

        He paused.  "Now I want you to get some more rest and stop worrying 
about the trees.  Nathan Stone Jr. brought my saddlebags from the hotel.  He 
told me that they would be doing no more logging in the cove.  In fact, his 
father is paying to have some trees replanted."  Neil chuckled.  "I guess 
young Nathan Stone had no idea who he was up against; he should have known 
better than to pick a fight with Christy Huddleston."

Christy smiled at him.  

        "Okay, that is enough of all that.  I want you to get some more rest. 
 And no more bad dreams or worrying about trees, okay?"  His face was sternly 
serious--all doctor.

        "Yes Doctor, anything you say."  She said this slightly sarcastically 
and smiled.

        "That's more like it." He said and then returned her smile.


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

        After Christy had said goodbye at least twenty time, and hugged and 
kissed her parents and George at least three times each, they boarded the 
train for El Pano.  Christy was still sore from her fall, but she was much 
improved.  Neil had insisted on staying the three days until she could 
travel.  He wanted to escort her home.  

        "Oh, I have missed Cutter Gap."  She said once they were seated.  
"Haven't you?"

        "Immensely."  Neil chuckled.

        "Except Ruby Mae's cooking?"  Christy laughed, and Neil noticed her 
shining indigo eyes looking back at him.

        Christy fell asleep soon after the train had begun its journey.  
Despite her brave front, Neil knew that she was still not totally recovered 
from the accident.  Her head rested against his shoulder.  He smiled at her 
serene expression.  He put his arm around her and drew her against his chest. 
 Without waking, she instinctively snuggled closer to him.  He kissed her 
forehead gently.  Yes, he thought to himself, he did love Christy Huddleston, 
and he knew that someday he would have to tell her that.

THE END