When Love Takes You In
Bernie (girlthomi@hotmail.com)
Part One
DISCLAIMER: All rights to "Christy", in all media
form, are owned by the Marshall-LeSourd Family, LLC.
This rendition is written solely for my amusement.
**I HAVE READ AND REREAD EACH OF YOUR 
STORIES WITH GREAT INTEREST. I PRESENT 
TO YOU MY OWN FOR YOU TO ENJOY. TYPICAL
FOR FIRST FANFICTIONS, MINE TAKES PLACE 
AFTER THE LAST EPISODE OF THE TELEVISION SERIES**
Part One
Christy blinked her eyes at the sight before her. The simple
engagement ring proffered by David begged to be placed 
on her finger. For a time she thought she had a clear definition 
of love. The way he offered it, it must have been true. The 
minister’s pleading eyes bore into her own when at last she 
looked at him. David pressed for a response she was certain 
she couldn't give. The answer to Fairlight's last question remained 
fresh in her mind: Neil. It was time to face the sobering truth. 
"No,” she replied bravely, her lips quivering from the tears that 
threatened to spill out. “I’m sorry, David, but I can’t."
"No? What do you mean ‘no'?"
"I mean, ‘no', David. I don't want to make a scene.” Christy 
was mindful of the children that lingered for her answer; and of
Doctor MacNeill, who sat stoically on his horse.
"Why, Christy? Is it because you're in love with him?" He
stole a glance at the wayward doctor. He turned back to the woman 
whose fists were poised to strike him, instead remained fixed at 
her sides. Reaching for her hands, he thrust the small velvet box in
them. "I'm sorry, Christy. Please, don't turn me away."
The box thumped to the ground when she pulled her hands out 
of David's grasp; she called the children to escort them inside the 
schoolhouse. Glowering, David bent to pick it up and 
brush it off. He heard the grind of leather as Doctor 
MacNeill turned his horse to casually ride away.
…
Charlie's slow gait through the woods allowed Neil enough
time to gather his thoughts before he faced Margaret again.
The longer the delay the better t'would be, he thought.
His blue eyes constantly scanned the area around him.
In the depths of them were a blur of thoughts and
questions. Neil didn't understand for what reason Christy
came to his cabin and abruptly left when she saw he and
Margaret together at the tree, but the end result of his trek 
brought him grim satisfaction.
David was absolute about his purpose to have
Christy. Neil saw through the charade of religion and 
go-by-the-book act: the words that David spoke during 
their riverside chat confirmed the reverend's depth of character. 
David Grantland was a young man yet to experience the ways 
of the world. If he loved Christy there was no reason to be 
defensive about such matters. And if he didn't understand the 
answer to his life-altering question perhaps he never would. 
As for Christy, though she was still a girl, she was wiser than 
David would ever be. The short year evolved her girlish wit 
to a well-informed, perceptive woman that was sensitive to 
ll around her. She adapted to the harsh mountain life readily. 
Her confidence in faith and love projected to each of the 
children and their families, reciprocated in turn by the slow 
acceptance of the mountain people of her. She had sense, 
and everything she did she did from her heart.
Ah, lass, what I wouldn't give to change the circumstance, he thought.
…
Margaret pulled the curtain back to see Neil ride into
the yard. At the sight of him regret pumped through
her veins. She tucked the curtain back to its place,
and scanned the dank cabin that had once been her home.
The beginning of their marriage was a happy time: dreams
of years and children filled her pondering mind long ago.
She once imagined a son chasing his sister through the
small space, their happy laughter piercing the empty walls.
Never would there be the children of she and Neil's union;
never would his home be a happy one that they shared.
Where had she gone wrong? Where did time stop and her
selfish longings begin? She dried the tears from her
sallow face that fell involuntarily.
She thought of Christy. A twinge of envy pricked her
consciousness. That girl was everything Margaret wanted
to be. She saw clearly why Neil could fall in love with
someone like Christy, and why her own mother took to
her as well. Margaret had no right to hate the young
girl of a woman. She was innocent, clear of all guilt
and reasoning for reaching out to Neil the way she did.
And Neil, he gravitated to her, as did the children and
people of Cutter Gap. Margaret had none of that ability.
Only spite and disgust coursed through her, and now she
regretted it. 
Margaret didn't move from her chair when the door opened
and Neil walked in. He noted the carpetbag by the door,
unpacked. She felt the air thicken as his piercing gaze
settled on her thin frame. It was a cruel reminder of all
that had been lost, and that he considered her no more than
a stranger. Yes, she had time to think about that, too.
To remember what she left behind, to recall the damage
that was beyond forgiveness and repair.
"I see ye decided ta stay," Neil observed. "I canna offer
ye no more than the use of my cabin. Ye're free to come
and go as ye like."
"Thank you," she returned softly. She expected Neil to
be more animated. This was as close to tender he would
ever be, she figured, or maybe he reckoned he couldn't
get rid of her so easily. "Mac," she wasn't sure if she
should the ask the question that lodged on her tongue,
"does she make you happy?"
"What are ye talking about, woman?"
"Christy." Margaret pressed the fingers of her right
hand into the palm of her left. She glanced up pensively,
"does she make you happy?"
Her eyes reflected the honesty of her question. Raking his
fingers through his hair, he slumped down into the chair
closest to the hearth. He wasn't certain how to answer
her, nor was he sure he wanted to.
"Mac," Margaret went to the hearth to sit by him.
"I'll admit, I've been hard on her. But what I've seen,
she's a kind, generous woman who wants the best for those
she cares deeply for. She's everything Mother would have
wanted for a daughter, and she's everything you would have
wanted for a wife."
Neil's eyes riveted to Margaret's. He didn't want to
believe what he heard. No, this couldn't be ye talking,
he thought.
"It's true that without her the cove would be a different
place," he told her. He wasn't about to admit the depth
of his feeling for the schoolteacher. "Ask any of the
children, or their parents, for that matter, and they
would tell ye the same."
"I told her she was like ‘Pollyanna'," Margaret reflected.
"I can't ask any more of you than you've already offered.
I'll put more wood on the fire. Before I turn in-just where,
exactly, can I rest my weary bones?"
Neil averted his eyes to the upstairs bedroom. "Up there,
if ye like. I'll tend to the fire."
Margaret left him without another word. Retrieving her
carpetbag she advanced up the stairs for the night.
The heaviness of her misfortune weighed heavily on her. 
Somehow she had to find a way to right the
wrongs written upon the slate of her consciousness.
Neil detected the melancholy demeanor in Margaret.
Could it be that the hard-shelled woman softened enough to
feel remorse? Could Christy have said or done something
to cause her to change her direction? He spotted the
MacNeill's family Bible open on the kitchen table. He
gathered a few more logs for the fire, puzzled by the
mystery.
…
The end of yet another beautiful autumn day came just as
the sun dipped behind the shadowy mountains. Christy sat
on a rocker, quietly reflecting over the day's events
while hues of magenta and lavender touched the sky.
The heaviness in her heart lingered, and she was hardly
sure of herself.
She assumed the wrong things about David when she saw
him at the teahouse. The disappointment quelled when
he told her of the ring he bought. She was thrilled at
the prospect of being proposed to, but when the moment
came-after she scrambled to Neil's cabin, no doubt-the
joy diminished. She toyed with the hem of her shawl,
oblivious to the Quaker who leaned against the railing
before her. At last Christy's eyes lifted to the
mountains, to be met by the soft gaze of her mentor.
"I would have an opportunity with thee, Miss Huddleston,
if thou would care to join me at the gazebo, far from 
meddling ears." In silence the two walked the short
distance. Miss Alice reached for the schoolteacher's hand,
recalling the times when she held her own daughter's hand
the same way. Christy lowered herself to the seat.
…
David followed the pair quietly to the gazebo undetected.
He knew better than to eavesdrop on other conversations, 
but for the sake of his future, he decided he needed to.
…
Christy's resolve faltered. At the sound of Alice's
words she wanted nothing more than to open her heart.
She remained silent, certain that the facts might cause
more damage than necessary. She lowered her eyes to the
wood floor.
Alice lifted Christy's face to meet her own. "There was a
time thee bore such a strong a resemblance to my daughter
that I resented you," she began gently. "I was angry
because Doctor MacNeill noticed the similarities, and it
seemed he had forgotten about Margaret. It's hard not to
miss the affection in a man's eyes, or the closeness of two
people who are working together for a common purpose. 
Now, I can't see anything more natural, and I know it’s Margaret
I should be angry with because of her selfishness."
Christy dried a stray tear. "I suppose you know about
the ring David bought."
"Yes, and thy answer as well."
"I never meant to hurt him, Miss Alice. I'm-I'm not
sure I'm ready to marry David ."
"I know as well as thee does the reason for refusing him."
"I-I want to do the right thing, Miss Alice. I don't want
to be a disappointment to you."
"A disappointment? Christy, why would thee think thou
would be a disappointment to me? Because of the depth
of your feelings for Doctor MacNeill?" Alice enveloped
Christy in a warm embrace. "Thou art a comfort to me,
Miss Huddleston, even now as my heart breaks again for 
my only daughter. Seek faith, dear Christy, God will see to
it that you do what is right."
…
David stalked to the bunkhouse. Quietly he shut the
door behind him. He sat at the head of the bed where he
clasped a pillow to muffle the sobs. Rejection was not
an easy thing to bear.
…
The next morning, Margaret left the cove unobserved to 
El Plano to board the first train to Ashville. Three weeks 
later Ben Pentland arrived at the MacNeill cabin with a 
large envelope in his hand. Hoping for information about 
the contents, he lingered about the porch until Neil politely 
shooed him away. Closing the door to the world outside, 
he ripped the packet open. Inside were divorce papers,
sent by an attorney on behalf of Margaret. All that it needed 
was his signature. 
...
When Love Takes You In
Bernie (girlthomi@hotmail.com)
Part Two
DISCLAIMER: All rights to "Christy", in all media
form, are owned by the Marshall-LeSourd Family, LLC.
This rendition is written solely for my amusement.
Christy embraced the morning with a deep sigh. There 
was never anything more invigorating than fresh mountain 
air, nor the way the rays of dawn touched the mountain peaks.
She glanced back at the unmade bed. Every night for the last 
few weeks was spent in a fitful sleep, driving her to the porch 
to seek the guidance that was slow to come. She was in love 
with a married man—there was nothing more shameful to her 
than that. David saved no pain to remind her of it.
Eventually she dressed herself and made her bead, then headed 
downstairs for breakfast. As tempting as it smelled, she could not 
bring herself to eat anything but a simple piece of toast, followed 
by a cup of coffee. 
“Tis somethin’ wrong, Miz Christy?” Ruby Mae finally asked.
It was a question Alice wanted to ask. 
“I’m fine, Ruby Mae, thank you,” Christy replied. She 
mutely stacked her dishes and rose to carry them to the
kitchen when David strolled in for breakfast. Without another
word she diverted to the schoolhouse.
…
“So what does thee plan to do now?” Alice asked her now 
former son-in-law as she refilled the coffee mugs that sat on the table. 
“Sign them and send them back, of course,” he said with a long sigh. 
“If thy decision was already made, then why did you come here?”
“To let ye know.”
Alice sat at her place at the table, studying the doctor through 
the eyes of an knowledgeable woman. There was more than 
what he was saying; but, with Neil MacNeill, as with the rest
of the highlanders, it wasn’t unusual. She stretched her hand 
to clasp his. He lifted his eyes from the dark brew he stared into.
“She knows she lost thee by reasons we both know of. I am
sure she is also aware of thy feelings for Miss Huddleston.”
Neil lowered his eyes again to the coffee. He did not like the 
sudden change that the conversation took.
“How did ye know?”
“We women have what thou may call a ‘sixth sense’. As I told 
Christy not too long ago, it is hard not to notice the affection
in a man’s eyes.”
Neil fidgeted in his chair. Did he not come secretly looking for direction? 
“And Christy?”
Alice smiled knowingly, lifting the cup to her lips to drink. The
pleading look and the furrowed brow went unanswered a moment 
longer. She set the cup down again, deliberating her reply.
“To be honest with thee, she’s in love with you. But Neil, she’s
had a difficult time coming to terms with herself. David has been 
no help either. He’s been quoting the ten commandments ever since 
that day out in the school yard. ‘Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s 
mate’ has been the favorite.”
“That Grantland,” Neil groaned. He threw his forehead against 
the open palm of his left hand. “It doesn’t surprise me.”
That afternoon Neil returned to the mission again after completing 
his rounds, and as school let out for the day. It wasn’t Alice he 
sought, rather Christy, who by now sat alone inside the school 
either grading papers or sanitizing the building. Either way he 
decided he had to see her to tell her of his news.
Indeed he found her at her desk. Her thin frame was almost 
slumped over the surface of the desk; one glance over her body
told of exhaustion. Blue eyes lifted from the pages she read to 
the door where his silhouetted frame stood. She neither smiled 
or greeted him with her spirited fashion. 
“I know you’re going to lecture me about taking better care 
of myself, Neil.”
“No, lass, although I should. Something happened and
I thought ye should know about it.” Neil lowered himself to 
a front desk. He casually folded his arms across his chest.
“What is it?”
“Margaret filed for divorce.”
…
Their conversation floated through her mind. Christy nodded 
her reply whenever Ruby Mae or someone prompted her for 
an answer; her untouched plate did not got unnoticed by neither 
David nor Miss Alice. Thankfully no one was around to hear 
what it was Doctor MacNeill told her. Given the circumstances 
it was a private manner until something could be unveiled. Divorce 
simply was not an acceptable way to end a marriage, and Neil was 
sensitive to this matter. However, he readily signed the papers. 
“It’s MacNeill, isn’t it?” David jeered. He set his fork gently
on his plate, looking directly at Christy.
“You’re never going to let this go, are you?” Her eyes were 
wide with anger, brimming with tears.
“I simply want to know you would refuse me, an eligible man 
who happens to be a man of God, and one who loves you—I’ll 
repeat the last part again, one who loves you—to go after a 
married heathen like Neil MacNeill.” 
Christy threw her fork down and promptly exited to the porch.
Inside, she heard Alice loudly rebuke the minister for his egotism.
Ruby Mae, no doubt would be lurking for answers later. Moments
later the door opened and slammed shut, jolting Christy’s attention
to David. He paused long enough to study her _expression, then 
stalked to the bunkhouse.
She slumped to a rocker to cry.
…
Christy beckoned the caller into her bedroom when she heard
the knock at the door. Miss Alice gently closed the door 
behind her. She smiled when her mentor joined her on the 
edge of the bed, where she sat reading Psalm 120.
“That’s a fine scripture,” Miss Alice began. She draped a 
shoulder around the young woman’s shoulder. Christy leaned 
into the comfort, grateful to know that she had someone that 
held no grudges against her. “Thee should consider some time
away with your parents.”
A light smile touched Christy’s mouth. It seemed that Alice 
read her mind.