Title:  Ripples of Light by Teresa M.

Neil expertly cast the fly watching the ripple effect as
it hit the water.  The sunlight danced across the ripples,
as they got wider and wider, bringing light to all areas
of the river.  Even the rocks couldn't stop the spreading
effect of light.  It had been that way with Christy the
moment she stepped into his life.  No matter how hard he
had tried to fight it, or push her away, he couldn't ignore
the light that she brought into all areas of his life.

Three years had passed since she had arrived in the Cove,
and in that time, despite his resistance, she had given him
hope and joy, and most importantly showed him the way back
to his Savior.  It had been one month since they had taken
their vows, and Neil was still amazed that this incredible
woman loved him so much that she wanted him in her life.
Standing there on the edge of the river, he praised God
and thanked Him again for the gift of his bride and the
peace that he now had in his life.

Hearing the rustle of leaves, Neil turned in the hopes of
seeing his Christy returning from school.   He had hoped
to have enough rainbow trout caught and cleaned by now,
so that they could enjoy the dinner preparation together.

Neil pulled the line in, and glanced down in the river.
"Well, you're lucky" he chuckled.  "You've got a bit more
time to get away.  I'll be back after I see my beautiful
lass."

 "Howdy Doc!"  Neil spun around at the sound of the young
 lad's voice, with a look of surprise on his face.

 "Sam Houston!  What are you doing here?  Aren't
 you're supposed to be on your way home from school?
 Did something happen?"  Neil knelt down to the boy's
 level,  "Is someone hurt?"

 "Naw, Doc.   I'm here on account of Miz Christy, er-
 Mrs. MacNeill tellin' me ‘bout some new arrowheads ya
 found down by the river bend.  She said ya might even
 help me hunt fer em."  Sam Houston said expectantly.

Neil stood up.  "Oh she did, did she?  Would you happen
to know if Mrs. MacNeill was on her way home, Sam Houston?"

"I reckon she'll be home soon enough Doc.  She had Creed
Allen scrubbin' just about everything, seein' as how he
put the biggest, juiciest worms he could find in all the
girls desks.  You should'a heard all the screamin' Doc.
Them gals are all sissies!"  Shrugging his shoulders,
Sam Houston continued,  "I don't know why Teacher was all
upset, Creed didn't put any in her desk."

"I see."  Neil held back a hint of a smile  "That was a
wise decision for Creed."

"Aw shucks Doc, Creed wouldn't do anything like that to
Miz, Mrs. MacNeill.  He really likes her.  I reckon she's
the best teacher this here Cove's ever had!"

Neil's heart was full of pride at the thought of the effect
that his wife had had on the children.  He knew that she
had made a huge difference in their lives.  Gathering his
fishing rod and flies, he and Sam Houston headed down to
the treasured spot in search of arrowheads.

"How many fish did you catch Doc?"

 "Only one so far Sam Houston."

 "One?  Doc MacNeill, ya ain't livin' alone anymore.
 Ya gotta provide enough to feed yer wife too!  Good thing
 I come along.  After we find them arrowheads, then I can
 help you catch more fish."

 Chuckling, Neil said, "That's very thoughtful of you
 Sam Houston."

 After awhile Neil and the young lad had uncovered 4
 new arrowheads, and the two of them started fishing.
 "These are mighty fine arrowheads Doc, thanks fer helpin
 me find em."

 "You're welcome son.  You must have close to 20 by now,
 isn't that right?  What will you be doing with that
 collection Sam Houston?"

 "I just like lookin' at em now.  Ma gave me this here old
 sack to keep ‘em in.  Let's see... I have 18, plus these
 4..."  Sam Houston squinted his eyes shut and thought.
 "That makes 22 arrowheads!  Misses MacNeill says some of
 ‘em could be over 150 years old!  I'm aimin' to have me
 the finest collection around."   Sam Houston shook his
 head proudly.

 "You've got a good start lad."

 "I can remember where I got each one too.   Found this ‘un
 over on Pebble Mountain, this ‘un I dug up at the fork of
 Coldsprings Branch, and these two when we was huntin fer
 a turkey near the Pinnacles."   Sam Houston dug around
 in the sack and gently pulled out a small tan piece.
 "Now this one right here is my most special of all."

 "And why is that Sam Houston?"

 The lad handed it to the doc,  "Well, I found this ‘un
 behind the schoolhouse on the very first day that Miz
 Christy come to teach us.  See how the light shines
 off the tip?"  he pointed to it as Neil turned it over
 in his hands.  "Kinda reminds me of Teacher's smile,
 all bright and happy.  Makes me feel all warm inside."
 Neil looked at his small friend with a soft look in his
 eyes, and noticed the faint blush creeping up his cheeks.

 Sam Houston's eyes widened,  "Ya ain't gonna tell anyone,
 are ya Doc?   If Creed Allen finds out, he'll be teasin'
 me forever!"

 "Don't worry son," Neil smiled.  "Your secret's safe
 with me."

 Sam Houston sat for a while watching Neil gut and clean
 the trout.   Together they had caught 10 fish.  "Hey Doc?
 You and Miz Christy been married awhile now, right?"

 Pausing, Neil looked up from the fish and glanced at the
 boy, "Yes, that's right."

 "Well, I've been wonderin'.  Don't ya think it's ‘bout
 time you two have yourselves a little baby?"

 "I...uh" the doctor looked down and thought for a moment.
 That had been his prayer ever since Christy had agreed to
 become his wife.  "Well Sam Houston, I'm sure that God
 will bless us with a wee one in His own time.  Why do
 you ask?"

 "Ya see, Miz Christy... we have so much fun with her even
 though she gives us a heap o' larnin'.  And well...You're
 ‘bout the best doc around.  I figgered any babe would be
 real lucky to have you and Teacher fer their ma and pa."

 "That's very kind of you Sam Houston."

 Embarrassed again, the boy grabbed his sack and got
 to his feet.  "Wahl, I best be gettin' on home Doc.
 Ma can cook up these 4 fish fer dinner.   Thanks again
 fer the arrowheads."

 "Your welcome son.  Thank you for helping me catch
 our dinner.  But now, Mrs. MacNeill and I can't eat
 6 fish tonight.   Neil took 3 fish out of his pail.
 "I'd be obliged if you would take these home too.  If you
 hadn't come along I would have never moved to this part
 of the river, and how would that have looked to only have
 one trout for my wife.    The fish were really biting
 over here.  You're a smart young man.  I'm beholden to
 you Sam Houston."

 "Thanks Doc.  When I say my prayers tonight, I'll ask God
 if he can hurry up with that baby fer you and Teacher."
 Then he turned and scrambled up the riverbank to find
 Christy coming out of the cabin.

 "Hello Sam Houston.  Did you find those arrowheads?"
 Christy smiled to see that the lad had a line full of
 fish too.

 "Yes ma'am.  Doc helped me.  I got myself 4 more
 arrowheads and 7 fish.  I can't wait to show Ma!"
 With that, the boy ran down the path.

 Christy wandered down towards the river and stopped to
 observe her husband, as he gathered the fishing rods,
 and the bucket.  He stood quietly for a minute looking
 out at the water.  Christy loved the look of peace on
 his face and the way the sunlight shone on his hair.
 From the moment she saw him on her first day in the cove,
 he had challenged her and intrigued her.   She loved his
 dedication to his people, his strength, his compassion,
 and the gentle way he had with the children.  He had
 brought so much joy and light into her life.   They had
 been married for four weeks and she was still in awe that
 he had wanted her by his side as his wife.  Tears came
 to her eyes as she thanked her precious Lord for the
 gift of this man, and future they had in front of them.
 Neil turned with a smile and gathered her into his arms.