disclaimer:  I am seeking bo profit, only entertainment


Title: Shady Grove 
 Author: Frances H.



Shady Grove...the long awaited sequel to Beholdin'

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




chapter 1  August



        Margaret awoke to the laughter of children ringing through out the mission 
yard.  She rolled over in bed in a fog of drowsiness, trying to figure out 
where she was.  The mission house.  Oh yes, it was the first day of school.  
She vaguely remembered Christy mentioning it.  Margaret never paid much 
attention to anything that went on in the Cove.  She swung her feet to the 
floor and sat up in bed.  "I suppose I ought to go milk a cow or feed 
chickens or something," Margaret said to herself, sarcastically.  "and to 
think I used to think chickens came from the butchers."  She dressed slowly, 
hoping to do chores after school had started.  "Those kids are either 
staring at me or wanting me to play some ridiculous game.  At least now they 
have school to go to.  More than they had when I first came here."

The children's voices died away and Margaret knew it was safe to slip 
downstairs.  She was ravenously hungry, the baby was not taking its time to 
grow.  She laughed bitterly as she patted her already protruding stomach.  
"At least it's not cumbersome yet."  After finding some leftover breakfast 
Margaret wandered outside, the day was hot and breezy.  Absently she threw 
some grain to the chickens, just for something to do.  Her mind drifted to 
the day after she returned a few weeks ago.



***flashback***



        Margaret hopped off of Prince when she reached the MacNeill cabin.  It was 
just after dawn.  She raced up the stairs to the door and burst in.  "Neil!  
Neil, I know you're here."

        "What do you want?"  came the faint reply from the laboratory.  A moment 
later a bleary eyed Neil meandered into the living room.  "I said, what do 
you want?"

        "Christy said you were gone, I knew she was just telling tales."

        "I am leaving, but I have to pack a few things, don't you think?"

        "Where are you going?"

        "None of you're business."

        "It is  my business, I'm your wife."

        "You demonstrated more than once that you have no interest in my life.  Why 
should I include you now?"  Neil demanded.

        "You    have done the same, Neil MacNeill.  I come home and you want nothing 
to do with me!"

        "I tried to help you when you came back the first time, I sent you money 
when you were sick!  What else am I to do, Margaret, what do you expect?"

        "I expect you to love me!"

        "How can I do that when you never tell me where you are, and you come home 
carrying another man's child!"  Neil's voice had risen to a shout.  
"Margaret, don't you see?"  Neil fell silent, staring at her, she stood so 
alone in the room, biting her lip nervously.  "You expect me to be here when 
you need me, but you were not there when I needed you.  I'm leaving now, and 
you can stay here in Cutter Gap and know how it feels to be left behind, 
waiting."

        "When did you ever need me, Mac?  Was is all those days and nights I spent 
alone in this cabin?"

        "Contrary to what you think, I did love you.  When you disappeared I 
searched and searched for you.  I wanted to die. I feared that you would 
never know that I cared, really cared for you.  I lived without hope, 
until..."

        "Until she came, right?  Until Christy Huddelston came with her God, 
bringing light and hope to all around her, especially you."  Margaret 
leveled her gaze at him.  "Go then, leave me, leave Christy, leave your 
people and never come back, Neil MacNeill.  I don't want you."  Margaret 
wheeled around and left the cabin. Neil finished packing and left also.



***End Flashback***



        Margaret shuddered at the memory.  Ever since then she had held everyone at 
arms-length, especially Mother.  "I want to get  out of here, I want to go 
home, but where is home?"  Her lip quivered and she wiped her sleeve across 
her eye, but before she could cry anymore she noticed that she had let all 
the chickens out.  Margaret scrambled to get them back inside the coop, but 
it was a task beyond her.  She sat down on the porch steps, hot and 
exhausted.   She heard  children running down the hill and she looked up to 
see about about ten kids working to get the chickens back in the coop.  
Quickly, their job was done and they scurried off.  Sam Houston stopped to 
tip his hat at her and then joined the rest of the children in the school 
house.  Margaret was amazed, she stared silently after her helpers.  She 
patted her protruding stomach absently, a pain began to grow fiercely in her 
heart, she could not escape it.  "It's all my fault," she muttered.  
Margaret was overwhelmed.  "I'm a terrible person.  What do I have to offer 
a child?  I should have never come back.  Then Neil could have been happy, 
and Christy."  Margaret struggled to her feet, she felt sick.  All of the 
filth and deceit she'd been living in drowned her at once.  "I've run away 
from my mistakes at every turn.  How can I begin to go back?"  She tried 
cross the mission yard to the water pump, but collapsed in a heap before she 
reached it.



She awoke to the sound of quiet singing.



Shady Grove, my little love,

Shady Grove my dear.

Shady Grove my little love,

I'm going to leave you here.



        The song wrapped her in a a cool comfort.  She opened her eyes to behold 
Molly Taylor siting by her bed.  She had gone from singing the old folk song 
to humming it.  Margaret beheld the serene picture before her.  Molly was 
rocking and humming softly with Iris nestled in her lap. sleeping soundly.  
A cool breeze blew in from outside.  Margaret closed her eyes and let her 
mind drift.  There she was again, years before, alone, waiting for Mac as 
always.  She had not seen him for days.  She wandered down to the river side 
and watched the river flow by.  Tears crawled down her face, worried as she 
was, and angry.  Then he was there, beside her.  He was humming, and then 
singing:



Shady Grove, my little love,

Shady Grove my dear.

Shady Grove my little love,

I'm going to leave you here.



Margaret let her mind dwell on that moment.  She wanted to sing it back to 
him.  To tell him not to worry her so, that she loved him.  She was, in her 
mind.  But Margaret remembered that she had not.  She had pushed him away.  
Told him where to go.  She had left him alone, by the river.  After that he 
never seemed to have left the river.





Chapter 2 September



          Christy's light laughter drifted through the trees of the mountain trail. 
  She and Fairlight walked hand in hand on their way to the Scott's cabin.  
"This is so exciting, Fairlight!  Won't it be wonderful to have a new baby 
in the Cove!"

        "I reckon there's enough babies here to go 'round, but babies are right 
nice.  Sometimes, I think on having another myself."  Christy looked at 
Fairlight with a confused face.

        "Fairlight, you aren't...?!"  Fairlight went into gales of laughter.

        "No, no, jest pullin' yer leg, sort of.  One never can know what to expect 
in these mountains.  This being the first coloured baby born here is like 
that too.  Who would have thought, a coloured family in Cutter Gap."  
Fairlight sighed and looked at the trees around her.  "I suppose that life 
isn't going to go on the same as ever now.  The outside world changin' so 
much, it's a wonder."  Christy and Fairlight resumed their short trek to the 
Scott cabin on the edge of mission property.  Cecile Scott was in her last 
weeks of pregnancy and not able to get around much.  Dan had to be away much 
on medical calls, since Neil had left the Cove two months ago.  Christy and 
Fairlight had offered to help Cecile through the last, arduous, weeks of 
pregnancy.  Presently, they arrived at the cabin.  It was perched atop a 
small hill.  Dan had cleared out the trees around the cabin where a pristine 
garden could be seen.  She grew flowers everywhere, plus the necessary  
fruits  and vegetables.  That summer the cove people had enjoyed many juicy 
watermelons from the Scott's garden.  The small cabin overlooked the river.  
The same river that ran by the MacNeill cabin miles up stream.  There was 
also a chicken coop, with chickens hatched from the mission's own chickens.  
A rabbit hutch also could be seen under some dogwood trees.  Neil's bunnies 
resided in there.  Sam Houston often came to the Scott's to feed the 
rabbits, as he had done at Neil's.  Of all the children, Sam Houston missed 
Neil the most.  Dan served as an acceptable replacement though, to hunt for 
arrowheads with.  And the Doc never had a pretty wife who fed him sweets and 
listened to him as long as he would talk.

        Christy called out from the yard as they neared the cabin.  The door opened 
to reveal the worried face of Cecile.  Christy wondered what was wrong.  
They entered the cabin and Cecile motioned for them to sit down.

  "Thank you both for coming to help me.  Dan really appreciats having 
someone with me now, he says he's afraid something might happen to me, but I 
think that he's just worried that I won't have his dinner ready when he gets 
home."  Cecile laughed nervously, looking uncomfortable.

        "Miz Cecile, is somethin' botherin' ya?" Fairlight queried.

        "Daniel received a letter yesterday..."  Christy's heart skipped a beat.  
Perhaps Neil had written to him!  "...he's been accepted to medical school, 
finally.  Full scholarship.  He's so relieved."

        "That's wonderful!"  Christy exclaimed.  "Finally, his dream can come 
true."  A moment later, as Cecile looked into her eyes, Christy realized the 
gravity of the situation.  "I guess...that means....you two, er, three, are 
leaving."

        "Yes, as soon as the baby is old enough to travel.  Dan has to get to 
school before the winter term that starts after Christmas."  Christy and 
Fairlight sat in silence for a few minutes, then Cecile went on.  "It will 
be hard to leave, in some ways.  This is our first home together.  I love it 
so much, despite the hard work.  And the mission has been so kind to us, and 
the children.  But, Daniel is never home now.  He's not even a real doctor 
and he does just as much as Neil ever did.  When he is here, he's poring 
over Neil's medical books and journals to get to the bottom of his latest 
case."  Christy barely heard most of this, she was still grappling with the 
issue of there being no doctor in the Cove.  Surely Alice could find 
someone, but if she couldn't!  Then what Cecile was saying struck bottom:  
She was frustrated with Dan for not being there enough.  She had not 
realized what kind of life she was asking or when she married him.  Just 
like Neil and Margaret.

        "Cecile, it's all right.  You and Dan should leave, that is what Dan came 
here for.  The stress of practicing medicine here can be incredible.  You 
understand what happened to Neil and Margaret.  Medical school will be busy, 
but I expect that you may find it easier to deal with that life here."

        "Thank you, Christy, I appreciate that you sympathize.  I was worried that 
I was just being selfish.  The people here do need Dan.  It's amazing how 
quickly they accepted him after Neil left, before they barely tolerated 
him."

        "Very rarely does necessity overcome these people's stubborn ways, but Dan 
was fortunate, and so were they.  I guess they feel that they are not 
breaking principle so much if they are paying him.  It's a better situation 
than trying to get them to take charity."  Christy was glad that she was 
finally able to understand these people, ever since Opal died.

        "Shall we get on to the chores?"  Fairlight asked.  "Christy and I will 
start on the washin', Miz Cecile.  You jest rest your feet.  Believe me, 
rest is important before you have a baby."  Cecile smiled and told them what 
needed to be washed.  Later in the day Christy was mending clothes, while 
Cecile finished off some of the baby clothes she had made.  Fairlight hummed 
a tune while she made the Scott's dinner.  Dan walked in abruptly and smiled 
at the peaceful domestic scene before him.

        "Hello ladies. Mrs. Spencer, that smells delicious."

        "Thank you, Mr. Scott, I expect to see you and Miz Scott at our singin' 
come two weeks, along with your new least 'un."

        "Yes mam, we wouldn't miss a Spencer singing for anything."

        "We aim to get one last singin' in before the cooler weather blows in.  
It's near October now."  Christy spoke up next:

        "Dan, Cecile told us how you have been accepted to medical school.  I hope 
you know that we are very happy for you.  There will be no hard feelings 
about your departure.  We'll manage as always."

        "Well, thank you, Miss Christy.  It will be hard leaving.  This place grows 
on you after a while.  You were right, about the sacrifices becoming a joy.  
Thank you."

        "Christy, let me show you the seeds I have collected from the mountain 
flowers.  Now I can take Cutter Gap where ever I go!"  Cecile struggled to 
her feet and brought forth a leather pouch.  "See, columbine, aster, 
mountain laurel.  So many others too."

        As the sky dimmed David came to walk Christy and Fairlight home.  Dan told 
him the news.  David was enthusiastic, but worried.  A doctor would be 
difficult to find.  As they walked home in silence Christy wished she knew 
where Neil was so she could remind him where home was, just as he had once 
reminded her.

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




Chapter 3 October



        Christy stood on the hill again, watching him leave.  Finding her voice, 
she cried out.  "Neil, don't go!  We need you!"  Neil did not seem to hear.  
Christy picked up her skirts and ran as fast as she could.  She was beside 
his horse, she caught Charlie's head and stopped him.  Neil stared into her 
eyes piercingly.  "Neil, if you leave, we won't have anybody.  Neil, talk to 
me!"  He did not.  Christy grabbed his sleeve and tugged, then pulled hard.  
Neil sat, mounted his horse, still staring into her very core with his eyes. 
  "Neil, you won't be here!  It will all happen and you won't be here!"

          Christy woke up abruptly, breathing hard.  It was early morning, but she 
felt as though she hadn¹t slept.  "Neil," she whispered, "please come back 
to us."  Christy drifted off to sleep again.



          That same day Christy and David walked together to the Scott's cabin to 
accompany them to the last Spencer singin' for the year.  "Mr Pentland 
brought a letter from Ida just before we left.  She and Clarence hope to 
visit Boston this Christmas with my little nephew, Guy.  Ida seems to have 
softened up since having the baby.  She says Guy is walking and talking now. 
  This Christmas will be mother's first chance to meet Clarence and her 
grandson.  I wouldn't miss it for the world!  Mr. Pentland seemed in a hurry 
to get to the Allen's today though.  He didn't tell me one bit of the usual 
gossip.  I can't say that I was disappointed though.  He just handed me the 
letter and muttered something about New York and hurried on to the off on 
his mule."

         "New York!?  Maybe Rob's being offered another scholership!  He's been 
writing up a storm ever since he finished at the mission school, I've read 
his work, it's very good.  If only he could get away fom the mill.  It ties 
those Allen children down."

         "It also keeps them alive, Christy.  The Allens are better off than most 
of the folks around here.  Without it Rob couldn't afford the paper and 
pencils he uses."

         "I know, but I want so much for these kids.  These mountains trap them."

         "And sets them free.  These people know what matters most.  You might say 
that you were set free when you came here, I certainly know that you 
wouldn't go back to city life."  Christy smiled to herself.  David had 
changed.  He wasn't the unsettled youth of before, he had matured, he was 
finally understanding these people, sometimes better than she.

        "You're right, David.  Sometimes I forget what a blessing it is to be 
here."  Soon after, they reached the Scott's cabin.  The gently arriving 
autumn had just begun to show in the mountains. The trees were a blend of 
green, gold and red.  Christy thought it more beautiful than any sight she 
had seen in Asheville.  Dan and Cecile came out to meet them in the yard.  
Cecil hugged her baby girl, Geneva (after Dan's father's first wife), 
closely to her while Dan carried a steaming pie.

        "Good afternoon Christy, Reverand, thank you for walking us to the 
Spencer's."  Dan smiled broadly.  Christy had watched the change in him 
since he had been accepted to medical school.  He had gone into his tasks in 
the Cove with added fervor and interest.  Their time here was short, though. 
  In just two weeks they would be leaving to spend some time at home, in 
Freedom, Kentucky, before going on to Baltimore for school.

        "How is Margaret?"  Cecile asked.

        "She hasn't had anymore dizzy spells or discomfort, has she?" Dan chimed 
in.

        "Margaret is as comfortable as anyone who is nearly six months pregnant.  
Her moods have been 'changeable as a summer's day'...as any one of the 
children would put it.  One minute she's pleasant, the next she's sour.  
Sometimes I find her crying."  Christy explained all this while they walked 
toward the Spencer's.  "I know that one can be quite emotional while 
pregnant, but I sense that something has compounded it."

********

Two hours later found the Cove gathered together singing 'Sourwood 
Mountain.'  The children especially loved this song, so the air was filled 
with their off-key voices.  It was music to Christy's ears though.  She 
loved to hear them sing, and she loved to sing her self.  Being a terrible 
singer usually quelled the impule to break out into song while doing chores 
or bathing.  The gathering was interuppted when Bob Allen bounded into the 
yard with the biggest grin Christy had ever seen on his face!  For one 
horrifying moment she feared he was drunk on moonshine.  Mr. Allen waved a 
paper in the air and announced:

        "Mah boy!  He's a writer-man.  He sold writin' to a cityfied magazine in 
New york City!"  At first there was a hushed silence.  Then everyone began 
to talk at once.  Christy pressed through the crowd to get to Bob.

        "Mr. Allen, this is wonderful!  Can I see the letter?"  Bob handed Christy 
the short letter and she read with mounting joy the contents.  
"........loved your story....very insightful....true to life....would love 
to see more of your work....please accept payment of fifty dollars..."  
Christy smiled to herself.  David had been reading the letter over Christy¹s 
shoulder.

        "Well, Christy, seems as if I was wrong.  Maybe a man can support a family 
with pen and paper."  Christy turned an embraced her friend.

        "I knew he could do it!  It just took patience."

*********

        The next morning Rob himself came to see Christy.  She was writing a letter 
to her paernts in the school house when he walked in.

        "Miz Christy, I came to thank ya.  You've done so much to for me."

        "Rob, you've done much for me.  Your determination to be a writer and your 
success will help the school and the people of the Cove."

        "Ma'am, if you had let me give up a long time ago, like I wanted to, I 
wouldn't be here today.  I don't know if I ever will be succesful in 
writing, but at least I know I can try.  Mah Paw, he's right proud of me, 
and I don't want to let him down.  That money will mean a lot for the 
family.  I owe it to you."

        "Thank you, Rob."  As he left for home, Christy smiled to herself.  "Neil 
MacNeill, if only you could see this."

**********



        Weeks later, in a crowded train station, Neil MacNeill was skimming through 
the latest issue of a  magazine while waiting for his train to arrive.  He 
turned to a page with a brilliant illustration of  the Appalachians.  He 
read the short story with interest, then looked to see who the author was.  
"Rob Allen of Cutter Gap, Tenn."  That's what the byline said.  Neil 
chuckled to himself.

        "Miss Huddelston, you've outdone yourself again."


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

Chapter 4 November



        Alice Henderson jogged on Goldie into the mission yard.  The daylight was 
fading fast, an icy wind swept by her.  She noticed Christy emerging from 
the darkened mission house to meet her.  "Christy, how good it is to see 
thee.  I trust everything has gone well in my absence?"  Christy walked 
across the mission yard to the barn where Alice was untacking her horse.

        "I saw Dan, Cecile, and little Geneva off to Kentucky a week ago.  It has 
been lonely with out them.  The children already miss Cecile.  Molly has 
been nursing Iris' cold.  Other than that, it has been a very uneventful few 
weeks."

        "That is good.  Don't worry, Miss Huddeslton, God will watch over us.  We 
will do fine without a doctor for a while.  How is Margaret?"

        "She is fine, restless, but fine."  Miss Alice finished grooming Goldie and 
put her in her stall.  Christy wrapped her shawl closer around herself and 
together they walked to the mission house.  A very large Margaret appeared 
in the doorway.

        "Come in before you catch your death.  Mother, I've got dinner ready.  Ruby 
Mae is no where to be seen, I suppose it has something to do with that Will 
Beck boy she¹s always chattering about."

        "Miss Huddelston," began Miss Alice in a mock serious voice, "you failed to 
inform me of this new event.  Ruby Mae and Will Beck?"  Christy grinned 
sheepishly, and laughed.

        "The Sunday after you left Ruby Mae went walking with him after church.  
Ever since then she can't keep her mouth shut about him.  Actually, I'm a 
bit apprehensive, she does spend and excessive amount of time with him."

        At that moment Ruby Mae exploded into the mission house.  "Lord 'a mercy, 
Miss Christy, I ran all the way from the river!  It's gettin' colder out 
there than a plucked chicken!  You all ain't never going to believe what I 
have to tell you, why, I didn't rightly believe it myself till I saw he was 
plumb serious.

        "Ruby Mae, please calm yourself and tell us what the news is."  Miss Alice 
spoke sternly to the flustered Ruby Mae.

        "It's Will Beck, now I knows you all have noticed that he's been in fine 
courtin' moods of late, and he has got his on place now since his momma died 
last spring, he's a workin' man, Miss Christy.  He told me today he aimed to 
have me as his woman before spring.  I just about flipped head over heels, 
but then I says to myself, I want to see the world like Miss Christy.  If I 
get married I won't never be able to see the cityfied folks, not with a 
passel of young 'uns to care for.  But then he says to me that he loved my 
red hair and freckles and he'd gladly eat possum surprise or the rest of his 
days if'n his babes had red hair and freckles too.  Now, I don't know that 
my young'uns would like that very much, Lordy, I always cursed the day the 
Lord set my head afire with this red hair.  But, if any man can stand my 
cookin' I say he's a catch to be proud of, so I said alright."

        The whole room stood silent.  David had walked in during the speech and 
caught the meaning.  Ruby Mae looked deeply satisfied with herself and began 
to serve herself dinner.   "Ruby Mae, you mean to tell me you're engaged to 
Will Beck?"  Christy demanded.

        "Yes ma'am." Ruby Mae replied. Miss Alice smoothed her dress.

        "Why don't we all eat dinner.  We can discuss this later."  Alice said, as 
she began to serve herself Margaret's chicken casserole.  Margaret lingered 
behind everyone, then nervously sat down to eat.

        "Margaret, how has your day been?"  Miss Alice asked.

        "Oh, fine.  I spent most of the day writing letters."

        "Writing letters to whom?"  Miss Alice inquired.

        "Just friends, Mother.  I did have a life while I lived in Atlanta."  
Margaret¹s reply was bitter, defensive.  Miss Alice just sat in silence.  
Christy could see that she was struggling inwardly.

        "I see."  Was all that could safely escape Alice's lips.

        "Mother, I'm not under arrest here.  Is this my prison?  Just because you 
don't approve of my friends doesn't mean that I can't have them.  If I 
wasn't so hungry I'd get up and leave the table!"  Margaret set to eating, 
even her anger couldn't overcome the needs of the child she was carrying.  A 
snicker escaped Ruby Mae's lips but she was quickly sobered by stern looks 
from everyone at the table.  The rest of the meal was eaten in silence.

        After the awkward meal Christy beckoned for Ruby Mae to come sit with her 
by the fire.  "Ruby Mae, are you serious about getting married.  You and 
Will have only been courting for a short while."

        "Miss Christy, it's been ages to us, and I'm fully nineteen years now, and 
Will twenty.  There's nothing to stop s from gettin' hitched."

        "Ruby Mae, what about your dreams of going to the city?"

        "I ain't cityfied enough to make it there.  Ma 'am,  I don't rightly know 
if I'd ever get to go to the city, and Will Beck has made it plain that he 
wants me.  I cain't turn down him for somethin' I may not ever get a chance 
at.  it's not so bad out here, I've lived here all my life and never had a 
complaint.  Now, I'm growed enough not to burden the mission no longer, so I 
hope that the preacher can hitch us as soon as there's a chance."

        "How is Will going to support you?"

        "His Paw's land in the best and flattest in the Cove, and Will knows a heap 
about farmin'.  He even has a bit of money his father gave him 'afore he 
died.  Miss Christy, you said yourself that Will was one of the brightest 
boys in school, and you said that I was right growed up since I first came 
to the mission.  It's crowded around here too.  Things will be easier with 
one less mouth to feed."

        "Ruby Mae, I want Will to come and talk with David before anything is 
final.  That is all I ask."  Ruby Mae ran off in a flurry of excitement.  
Miss Alice came and sat with Christy a moment later.  she could see that 
Christy was overcome.

        "Miss Alice, did I do the right thing?"

        "I believe so, Christy.  There is nothing that would persuade her 
otherwise.  She raised some good points too.  I believe that David will have 
more insight once Will comes and see him."

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

        Meanwhile, Margaret is up in her room, writing letters.   A glimmer of hope 
sparkled in her eyes.  Weariness overcame her soon, and after stamping and 
adressing the last letter she sank gratefully into bed and drifted off to 
sleep.

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

Chapter 5: December



        Christy was awakened by a small form crawling into the bed with her.  She 
drowsily smiled and cuddled up to Iris.  "What are you doing up so early, 
Iris?"

        "I's cold in my bed."  Was Iris' pathetic reply.  Christy made a note to 
write her parents for some wool blankets for Iris, and new winter clothes.  
So far, the winter had been mild.  But, a few days ago it had started 
snowing and had barely stopped since.  Christy arose and dressed Iris and 
herself.  When she alighted downstairs she found Miss Alice sipping coffee 
by a newly built fire.

        "Good morning!  I didn't expect you up so early, Christy."

        "The cold drove us from our beds, I'm glad you built a fire."  A moment 
later Molly and Margaret joined them.  Iris was fast asleep in Christy's 
arms by now, so Molly went to prepare some breakfast.

        "I remember these kinds of mornings."  Margaret began, "They weren't so bad 
in Neil's cabin.  It was so much smaller and he ceilings much lower, they 
trapped heat better."  Margaret paused and wrapped herself tighter in her 
blanket.  "I was the one who always built the fire.  If Neil happened to be 
home, he was sleeping.  He never ceased working back then."  Christy stared 
out the window, so as not to betray herself.  When Margaret talked about 
Neil it always made Christy upset.

        The class at school was small that day.  The snow and cold had kept most 
children at home.  Christy gathered the remaining students around the stove 
and gave them their lessons.  In the early afternoon she saw Margaret 
trudging through the snow by herself. Christy wondered where she was going, 
but Creed instantly grabbed her attention with his hijinks.  "Creed, please 
don't tie Della Mae's braids together!"  A moment later when Creed had 
settled down Christy heard a tapping and scratching coming from the far end 
of the room.  She got up, leaving the children by the stove and headed 
towards Creed's desk.  Lifting the cover, she discovered not one, but two 
raccoons inside.  "Creed, I thought we agreed, no more coons in class!"  
Creed's only response was to shrug his shoulders.  Christy just groaned in 
exasperation.

        Meanwhile, David was chopping wood in the mission yard.  A medium height 
stocky young man sauntered in the inherent mountain man way near to David.  
David grinned and shook his hand.  "Will!  Its been awhile.  Thanks for 
coming out to speak with me."  Will's boyish features broke into a wide 
grin.

        "Sorry I ain't been around much.  But mah farm needs tenden to if 'n I'm 
goin' to make a livin' off of it.  There's been a heap of work."

        "I can imagine.  I sent word to you to talk about Ruby Mae.  I understand 
you two are engaged."  Will¹s features broke into a bashful grin.  David was 
reminded about why he'd always liked Will, and his parents before him.  
There seemed to be a definite sensitive streak that ran through the family.  
Yet, it was a family that knew the meaning of hard work.

        "Wa'll, preacher, see, I never thought a lot 'bout Ruby Mae until last May. 
  I'd seen that girl every blessed day at school, but she charmed me out of 
my wits at that sing'in.  Thing is, I never got the guts up to talk to her 
that day.  I went home vowing to make myself worthy of that woman.  Then I 
courted her.  She's what I want, and I know I can provide for her."  Will 
looked David squarely in the eye.  He sincerely meant every word.  "I want 
to take her home in March, at the first sign of fine weather."  David 
grinned and slapped him on the back.

        "Then you've got my blessing, Will Beck.  I'd be more than delighted to 
perform the ceremony!"  To seal it all, they shook hands on it.

        Margaret trekked up the hill past the school house clutching the precious 
letters.  How fortunate, she thought, that Mr. Pentland was able to deliver 
them on such a wintry day.  She chuckled to herself.  She remembered the 
first time she heard his booming voice echo across the cove.  Margaret 
stopped for a moment, leaning against a tree.  She didn't know why she was 
reluctant to read the letters in the mission house.  Something in her wanted 
to find some place where no one would find her.  Pressing on, she awkwardly 
climbed a rocky slope.  Finally, she found a sheltered area.  One side was 
surrounded by boulders, the other side by trees.  She grinned and looked at 
her letters again.  The first she opened was from a John Kent, a wealthy and 
well know man in Atlanta.  She read the letter:



        Dear Margaret,



        Upon hearing of your pregnancy with a child you claim as mine, I was quite 
suspicious.  The doctor you gave me the name of collaborated your story and 
I am forced to give you the enclosed amount of money.  I hope it is 
substantial enough to get you on you feet and keep your confidence on this 
matter.  If need ever arises contact me privately and I will do my best to 
assist you or my child.



                                                                John Kent





        Margaret opened the sealed envelope enclosed in the letter.  she gasped at 
the amount.  A wide grin broke across her face.  "My freedom."  She 
whispered.  She fumbled with the letter, replacing its contents, then she 
turned her attention to the other letter he received.  It read:



        Dear Margaret,



                I am terribly alarmed to hear of your recent unfortunate circumstances.  I 
am sorry to have lost touch with you so easily, but times have been busy!  
As to you inquiry about possible employment:

I am happy to say that I can certainly hope to offer you a suitable position 
on the staff of the magazine.  I have not forgotten the scrapes you got me 
out of!  How about something overseas?  Sound interesting?  Come over to 
Atlanta as soon as possible and we can make arrangements.



                                                                your comrade,

                                                                Emily Bonds





        Margaret nearly fainted.  She knew she could count on old friends!  Elated, 
she stuffed the letters into her coat pocket and headed back to the mission. 
  Christy had just finished school and was meandering down the hill when 
Margaret hurried past her.  She burst into the mission house and Alice rose 
from her seat.  "Are you all right, Margaret?  You are flushed."

        "Just out for a brisk walk, mother.  I've been so bored, cooped up in this 
house."  Christy walked in and laid down her books.  Margaret kept talking.  
"At Neil's I used to walk in the forest all day, especially in the winter.  
He would be gone for weeks, and I would set off, hoping to find something 
other than the walls to talk to."  Margaret hurried upstairs and shut her 
door.

        "That was abrupt."  Christy commented.  She picked up Iris, who was tugging 
at her skirt.  "Hey there!  How was you day?"   Iris giggled as Christy 
tickled her chin.  She turned to talk to Molly.  "Did you and Iris have a 
good day, Molly?"

        "Oh yes, there wasn't much to do though. I got plenty of knitting done.  
Finished a sweater for her and started one for me." Christy was amazed by 
Molly's knitting skill.  None of the other mountain women knitted.

        "You should teach some of the women to knit at the next sewing circle, 
Molly.  Skill like that could make keeping their children warm easier."  
Then an idea dawned on Christy.  "Molly, could you teach a knitting class in 
school?  I could provide the yarn and needles, it would be perfect for the 
girls!"

        "Miss Huddelston, how do you expect to be able to afford all of this yarn 
and these knitting needles?"  Miss Alice asked, on eyebrow cocked.

        "You'll see, Miss Alice, something will surely come up."  Indeed something 
did come up.  Christy found a letter from her mother on the desk in her 
room.  It read:



        Dearest Christy,



                Last Sunday was our missions conference here at church.  A large missions 
offering was taken.  The pastor thought we should give the Cutter Gap 
mission a share.  He requests that you use it in an effort to teach the 
mountain people skills to assist them in their daily lives.  He's heard of 
tribal groups in Africa being taught farming and animal husbandry, so he 
would like to use a similar approach in the missions the church supports.

He says that he would like to hear the results of your efforts and hopes to 
be able to more frequently give money to you mission.

        I'm sorry that I can¹t write a proper letter right now.  I'm pressed for 
time.  I'll be sure to send a nice fat one soon!



                                                                love dearly,

                                                                Mom



        Christy smiled broadly at the check she held in her hand.  "Just the thing 
to get us started!"  Elated, she bounded down the stairs to

show Miss Alice.





Chapter 6 Christmas



        Christy stepped through the front door of her in Asheville.  Letting Iris 
down, she took a deep breath of the familiar scents of home.  Momentarily 
her father came up the step, lugging her trunk.  "Oh Daddy, let me help you 
with that!  You shouldn't be lifting something so heavy."  Christy took a 
handle and together they lifted it into the house.  Christy shut the door 
just as another blast of icy winter wind battered the house.  "Mother!"  
Christy called.

        "We're in here, darling.  Iris already found me."  Christy trotted down the 
hallway to the sitting room, where a blazing fire was awaiting them.  Julia 
stood up and took her daughter into her arms.  "Christy, you look so worn 
down.  Is everything all right?"

        "It has been a difficult semester.  So much happened.  I'm so relieved to 
be home for a while."

        "Well, from the infrequent letters we received from you, I assumed that 
something must have been bothering you.  Tell me about it, won't you?"

        "I will, Mother.  First I'd like to get Iris and I something to eat, and 
then I will put Iris to bed.  We would have come on an earlier train, but my 
decision to come home was so sudden, and you know how holiday traveling can 
be."

Finally, with Iris drifting off to slumber, Christy crept downstairs in her 
nightgown and robe.  Her mother was seated alone by the fire.  "Where's 
daddy?"

        "He went to bed.  He has a busy day tomorrow, working out a case.  Now, 
come sit close to me and tell me what¹s on your mind."  Christy gratefully 
took her mother¹s outstretched hand and curled up next to her on the 
davenport.

There, Christy explained everything.  Meeting Margaret on the train, 
discovering her pregnancy, and having to watch Neil leave.  Then Dan left.  
She described the constant struggle to keep up with neighbor's illnesses.  
Praying everyday that no serious sickness or injury would happen.  She 
described Ruby Mae¹s engagement, and Margaret's odd behavior.

        "Mom, I have found myself buried under stress.  Suffocated.  And I don't 
know why!  Even Iris has been a cause of worry to me.  I want to escape.  
I've been so homesick.  I wish I was a little girl again and the world was 
simple."  Julia stoked Christy's hair and held her close in silence.  
Christy felt her mother¹s embrace start to heal her wounds.  She sighed and 
closed her eyes.

        "Christy, all this is so much for you to bear.  I am so sorry that you have 
to carry such a heavy burden.  There is a way I can make your load a bit 
lighter."  Christy lifted her head from her mother's shoulder.

        "What?"

        "Let your father and I adopt Iris.  She needs a real family, she needs a 
mother and a father.  She will be safer here and have a more structured 
life.  When she is older, we will let her come to Cutter Gap, to see where 
she came from.  I think it's best that she have a family now, Christy.  You 
will have a sister again."  Christy's eyes filled with tears.  In her heart 
she knew her mother was right.  She nodded, mutely.  Julia smiled and took 
her hand.  "Your father and I have spoke very often on the subject.  We 
agreed that we would ask you again the next time you visited home."

        "Thank-you, mother.  I see it now.  The most important thing is for Iris to 
have a mother and father."

        The Christmas holidays swirled by.  Christy let go of her burdens for a few 
weeks and let herself once again be a daughter and a sister.  The adoption 
was final a few days after Christmas and Iris was officially named Iris 
Mchone Huddelston.  Christy was glad that Iris would carry the Mchone name 
with her, to remind her where she came from.  When Christy packed her trunk 
to go back to Cutter Gap, she packed only her things.  She kissed her 
parents and Iris good-bye and boarded the train.  "Alone again,"  Christy 
thought to herself.  "I feel just like I did when I left Asheville for the 
first time."  Suddenly a bout of homesickness overwhelmed her and she 
quickly turned in her seat to catch the last glimpses of her home and family 
as the train pulled away from the station.  She had the wild idea to stop 
the train and go back. Mixed feelings about going back to Cutter Gap, which 
had become so strange to her, bombarded her thoughts.  As the trained picked 
up speed toward it's lonely destination, an icy rain began to fall from the 
dull gray sky.



Chapter 7 January



        Christy's return to the Cove was much heralded by the children.  The moment 
Christy saw them waiting for her arrival in the mission yard she took heart. 
  There was hope!  She clambered down from Mr. Pentland's wagon and rushed 
to embrace them.  "Thank you for coming to see me!  I have missed all of 
you."

        "We've missed you a powerful lot too, Miss Christy, but where's Iris?"   
Little Burl asked.

        "She stayed in Asheville with my parents.  They've adopted her."

        "Does that mean we won't be seeing her no more, teacher?"  Mountie 
ventured.

        "Well, it means that she has a real mother and father and a real home.  
When she gets older, she'll come and visit."  The children seemed satisfied 
with this answer and after helping her take packages into the mission house 
they ran off to play games.

        "Seems like Christmas all over again, Christy."  David¹s laugh rumbled 
through the kitchen.

        "David!  I didn't expect to see you here!  Why aren't you in Boston?"

        "I came back early.  Ida and Clarence had to go back west sooner than they 
expected."

        "How was it, meeting your nephew?"

        "It made me feel old, but lucky.  Anyway, I made some contacts at churches 
in Boston, and maybe we'll have some new funds coming in here.  The house 
and school need a lot of work."  David looked worriedly around.  "This place 
will fall apart if I don't do something about it soon."

        "Where is Molly?  I want to talk to her."

        "She's gone."

        "Gone?"

        "After she heard that Iris wouldn't be coming back, she said she aimed to 
go back to her old homestead.  I think she was glad to go. It has been 
crowded around here."

        "It's getting much less crowded all of the sudden.  Is Miss Alice here?"

        "Yes, she and Margaret are out walking.  What's in the packages?"

        "Supplies my parents sent.  And some small luxuries.  Sugar, coffee, 
spices, other things like that."  At that moment Alice and Margaret walked 
in.

        "Miss Huddeston, you've returned."  Margaret turned stony eyes on Christy.  
Miss Alice approached to embrace her.

        "Welcome home, Christy.  We did not know what to do without you."

        "Yes, all those kids were positively bored, made so much noise I hardly had 
a moments peace."  Margaret's words were icy.  Christy was startled by the 
change in her.  She has quickly regained her hard exterior.  Miss Alice 
flinched at Margaret's words, but ignored them for the most part.  Margaret 
was very heavy now, with the baby due next month.  Christy decided that it 
was the strain of pregnancy that made her so caustic.

        That evening Christy sat at the hearth, warming feet up as she struggled 
with some knitting.  Miss Alice came over and sat with her, watching her.  
"I'm not much of a knitter, but maybe I can start to teach the girls 
something."

        "You are doing fine, Christy.  My mother taught me to knit.  Though I never 
loved the skill, I can see how it would benefit our neighbors."

        "You can knit!  I'm so relieved to hear that.  I thought I would be alone 
on this.  I bought some knitting instruction books and I plan to start 
teaching them this week."

        "What about the boys, what craft will they be taught?"  Christy thought for 
a moment.

        "I'll talk to David about a carpentry class.  There's really nothing that I 
can personally teach them.  If any of them want to learn to knit, I'd be 
happy to teach them!"

Miss Alice smiled and settled deeper into her chair, savoring the warmth of 
the fire.

        A loud banging resonated through the house.  Startled, Christy dropped her 
knitting.  Miss Alice rose quickly to answer the urgent rapping on the door. 
  It was Mr. Holcombe.  "Miss Alice, you have to come quick, Sam Houston was 
traipsing in the woods and got caught up in some barb wire, he bleeding 
mighty bad, got some deep cuts.  Christy ran to get Miss Alice's medical bag 
and soon the three of them were riding out to the Holcombe's.  When they 
reached the cabin, Christy could see dim lights through he tiny windows.  
Sam Houston's mother, Lizzie, met them at the door.  She was a quiet woman.  
Though obviously concerned, Christy was relieved to see that she wasn't 
going to panic like Mary Allen.

        "He's all quiet like," said Lizzie, "I'm afeared for him, Miss Alice."  
Alice quickly made her way to Sam Houston.  He lay wrapped in bandages 
soaked with blood.  Christy's stomach churned at the sight, but she 
redoubled her efforts and helped Miss Alice take the bandages off to clean 
the wounds.  Sam Houston was only barely conscious.

        "Sam Houston here, got all the way home like this. I'm mighty proud of 
him."  Mr. Holcombe said.

        "He might have taken a fall also, Mr. Holcombe.  I'm afraid he may have a 
concussion."  Miss Alice said, as she checked Sam Houston's vital signs.  
Christy worked to clean and disinfect the cuts, a lot of dirt had been 
ground in the injuries, signs that he had taken some kind of fall.  Miss 
Alice worked for most of the night, suturing cuts.  Christy was with Sam 
Houston in the morning, when he awoke again.

        "Miss Christy, I found the best arrowheads." He said weakly.  "I wish Doc 
MacNeill was here."  Christy smiled sadly, she always thought the bond 
between Neil and Sam Houston  peculiar.  It was a bond mostly forged on 
patches of arrowheads Sam Houston would find.

        "I wish he was here too, Sam Houston."  Though for a different reason.  
Miss Alice had made it clear that Sam Houston was not out of danger, and 
that she did not have the expertise to ensure his recovery.  Tetanus was 
just one danger of infection.  Christy prayed silently  that no 
complications would occur.  The day passed slowly, and Miss Alice came to 
relieve Christy that evening.  "He's been drifting in and out of 
consciousness all day, Miss Alice.  I don't understand why."

        "He's had severe head trauma, but  I don't understand how he managed to get 
himself home."  Christy and Miss Alice kept watch for a week.  Sam Houston 
did not seem to be making a recovery.  He was becoming more and more 
feverish.  Miss Alice was constantly at the Holcombe's keeping watch.  One 
night Christy rode up to the cabin bring Miss Alice some food and keep her 
company for the night.  Mr. Holcombe stuck his head out the door and called 
to her.

        "Miss Christy!  Something's wrong with Sam Houston!  He's shankin' up a 
storm." She hurried to Miss Alice's side.  Seeing Sam Houston made Christy¹s 
stomach do flips.  Images of Miss Alice convulsing from tetanus floated 
across her mind.  Miss Alice confirmed her fears.

        "It's tetanus, Christy. I need you do ride to Neil's cabin and get the 
anti-serum.  Go quickly."  Christy rushed out into the bitter cold weather 
and climbed up on Prince.  She urged him as fast as she would dare to Neil's 
cabin in the increasing darkness.

        The door creaked open into the pitch black room.  The cold seemed more 
intense inside.  Christy shivered beneath her woolen coat and hoped 
desperately she could find the lamp.  There was no time to waste, but still, 
Christy felt her feet glued to the floor.  She peered into the ominous dark, 
wishing that Neil was there to help her.  Inching her way across the floor, 
hands outstretched, groping for obstacles.  There was no lightning to guide 
her through the cabin this time.  There!  She felt a lamp.  Luckily, a box 
of matches sat next to it. She struck one and lit the lamp.  There wasn't 
much oil left.  The lamp dimly lit the room.  It was the first time she had 
been in it since before Neil left.  It bore all the signs of a hasty 
departure.  She crossed the room to the locked door.  She pulled the key 
from her pocket.  Miss Alice had given it to her. Neil had given it to Dan 
at his departure, and he to Miss Alice, so that she would be the only one 
with access to the medical supplies.  The door swung heavily open, groaning 
as it turned on its hinges.  Christy fumbled among the hundreds of bottles, 
finding the anti-serum just where it had been before.  Tucking the bottle in 
her pocket, she tuned and froze.  Footsteps...she heard heavy footsteps 
across the wooden floor.  Christy's heart pounded in her chest.  Just at 
that moment the lamp ran out of oil and the room was cast into complete 
darkness.



Chapter 8





   Miss Alice anxiously hovered over Sam Houston.  Worry lines creased her 
face, for Sam Houston and for Christy.  "Mr. Holcombe, Christy has been gone 
far too long.  Could you please go with a lamp and see if you can find her?  
She may still be at Neil's cabin."  Miss Alice's calm exterior did not 
betray the foreboding feeling she had.

        "Yes'm, I'll go directly."  Mr. Holcombe disappeared into the night riding 
Goldie, Alice's horse.

     The footsteps were staggered, the person was obviously unbalanced.  
Christy's terror mounted as the footsteps neared the laboratory.  Christy 
ducked under a table behind her, crouching low to the ground.  The door was 
thrust open, hitting the wall behind it with such force that the medicine 
bottles shook and rattled.  A deep, slurred voice spoke out.  "All right, 
girlie, I know yer here."  She could hear the man groping around the room, 
searching for her.  From the sound of his rustlings Christy guessed he was 
on the far side of the room.  Creeping out from under the table, Christy 
crawled across the floor, hoping that she could make it out.  She bumped 
into a table leg and a bottle, precariously perched, fell and broke on the 
floor.  Before Christy could think she felt herself roughly drawn up by the 
arm.  "Which one of them mission wimmin are ye?  Huh?"  Christy was silent.  
His breath wreaked the foul stench of moonshine and tobacco.  Christy 
squirmed under his grip, but he held her tighter.  Even in the pitch black 
Christy knew that the man was much taller than her and much bigger.  With 
his free hand the man struck a match and held the flame close to Christy's 
face.  "Ah, yer the pretty one, ain't ya?  Now, tell me what yer name is or 
ye ain't gonna be so pretty anymore."

        'Christy.  Now let me go!"  Christy squirmed even harder, enraged at being 
detained.  "A boy's life depends on it!"  The flame flickered and went out.

        "Naw girlie, I ain't letting ye go, see, I've got a score to settle with 
you mission folk.  Ye took my woman, and ye ran me off my home, hiding from 
the law. Now where is she?"  The man bellowed.

        "Where's who?"  Christy yelled back, furious beyond sanity.

        "Molly Taylor."  Christy's heart stopped.

        "Smith Kidman." Christy whispered.

        "Ye got me, I'm him.  Now you better be tellin me where she is or else that 
sick little boy ain't gonna get his medicine."  Terror squelched the last 
bit of fury left in Christy.  He had killed Bird's-Eye Taylor and Tom 
Mchone.  What would he do with her?  What would he do if he knew where Molly 
was?

        "I don't know, Mr. Kidman.  She didn't stay with us."  Christy tried to 
sound confident.

        "Liar!"  he roared.  Christy shrieked at the sudden outburst, tears leaping 
to her eyes.  Smith dragged her out of the laboratory and out of the house, 
into the bitter cold.

        Bright moonlight lit up the yard and Christy could finally see Mr. Kidman.  
He was tall and broad, bigger than Neil.  He had matted brown hair and a 
shaggy mustache.  He looked at her sternly for a moment, then dragged her to 
the riverside.  The river was rushing fast, the edge of it was lined with 
ice.  "Looks cold, doesn't it?"  Christy didn't answer, just looked at him, 
not believing what she was hearing.  He shook her violently, holding her 
over the water.  "Tell me where she is.  Now."  Christy heard a gun cock.

        "Step away from her, Mister."

        "Mister Holcombe!"  Christy cried.  Smith didn't let go.  Christy squirmed 
in his grip, panic overtaking her.  "Let me go, I have to go now!"  Slowly 
Smith unhanded her.  Christy dashed to John Holcombe's side, breathing hard.

        "Don't think this is over, woman."  Smith raised himself to his full 
height.  "I ain't forgettin yer foolery."  Without thinking Christy ran off 
and leapt onto prince, not even waiting for Mr. Holcombe.  Urging Prince 
full out, she made for the Holcombe cabin, in the distance she heard a 
gunshot. Reaching the cabin, Christy  pulled Prince to a halt and dismounted 
hurriedly.  Tears streamed down her face.  Miss Alice appeared at the 
doorway, relief all over her face.

        "Did you get it?"  she asked, not noticing the tears on Christy's face in 
the dark.  With a shaking hand Christy gave Miss Alice the medicine.  In no 
time at all, she had administered it to Sam Houston.

        "You made it just in time, Christy.  I don't know how much longer the 
medicine would have been effective.  He's not safe yet, though."  Alice 
stroked his hot forehead.

        "Miss Alice, Smith Kidman is in the Cove.  He caught me in Neil's cabin."  
Christy's voice was strangled by her sobs.  Miss Alice looked at Christy in 
the lamplight for the first time.

        "Christy!  Did he hurt thee?"  Christy shook her head furiously.  Miss 
Alice placed a hand on Christy's cheek.  Christy backed away and dashed out 
of the cabin.  She had never felt this kind of fear.  She remembered the 
dreams she had of being chased and never being able to escape her pursuer.  
In the cold night air she tried to contain herself, though every fiber of 
her being wanted to scream out.  Instantly Miss Alice was at her side, 
holding her.

        "What happened Christy?"  Alice turned Christy around to look at her full 
in the face.  "Christy?"

        "He threatened me, threatened to drown me.  I was so scared.  Mr. Holcombe 
came with his gun and Smith let me go.  When I was riding away I heard a 
gunshot."  Alice drew her close.

        "It's all right Christy.  He's not going to hurt anyone anymore. I'm sure 
Mr. Holcombe took care of that."

        That night was spent on a straw mattress on the floor of the cabin.  
Christy tossed and turned all night.  Then she had the dream again.  The one 
about Neil.  He was standing by his horse, just as he had been the last time 
she had seen him.  In a daze Christy begged him for help.  But he would not 
respond.  He would not respond.  Christy woke up with a start.  Smith 
Kidman's words echoed in her head.  "Don't think this is over, woman."

        David was standing over her.  Christy heard a woman crying.  A headache 
tore at her head as she tried to understand.

        "David?  David, what's going on?"

        "Christy, Miss Alice told me what happened last night.  But Mr. Holcombe 
had not returned this morning.  I went to Doc MacNeill's cabin."  Christy 
stared at him.  She knew what he was going to say next.  "Christy, Mr. 
Holcombe is dead. He was shot in the chest."


Chapter 9



        Before Christy had come to Cutter Gap she had never known violence.  She 
had never had to fear its entrance into her life.  Since coming to these 
mountains she had only had to face true fear once, when she had been held 
hostage and believed David to be dead.  At least that incident had ended 
well.  But now someone was dead.  He was dead and Christy felt more fear 
than she had ever known.  She kept this fear to herself, for it was selfish 
fear.  Everyday she scolded herself for only fearing for her life and not 
Molly's or anyone else that may run into Smith Kidman.  But then, in quiet 
moments, she would relive the nightmare. His painful grip on her arm.  The 
stench of his breath.  The bitter cold night air and the icy rushing river.  
Christy wanted to run.  She wanted to go home to Asheville.  There it was 
warm and safe.  Her father would always protect her.

        The days following John Holcombe's death were long and painful.  Christy 
spent most of the time in her room.  School had been canceled for at least 
the week.   David hoped that the federal Marshall could capture Smith before 
they would allow school to resume.  The man was now responsible for three 
deaths.  Molly was taken to Lyleton for protection. When weeks passed and 
nothing had happened Miss Alice decided that it would be best if the mission 
went on with life as normal.  School resumed.  Every morning Christy awoke 
wondering when Smith was going to show up next.  She didn't have to wait 
long.

        Christy was up late working on schoolwork.  It  did not have to be done 
this night, but Christy was reluctant to sleep.  Miss Alice was in 
Cateleechie and David had not yet returned from El Pano with the new 
supplies.  She wondered what had detained him.  The door opened downstairs.  
Christy froze, fear gripping her heart.  Laughing at her self she tried to 
return to her work. "It must be David, that's all.  Don¹t worry."  she 
thought to herself.  She got up and padded softly down the hall in her bare 
feet.  She was still fully dressed otherwise.  The floor creaked under her. 
As she passed Margaret's room the door opened.

        "What are you doing up at this hour?" hissed Margaret.  She wrapped a 
blanket tightly around her.

        "I couldn¹t sleep, I think David has just gotten home.  I was going down to 
meet him."

        "That you talkin' up thar Molly?"  A slurred and drunken voice called from 
the bottom of the steps.  "You don't be playin' any games and come down."  
He was obviously delirious.  Panicked, Christy shoved Margaret into her room 
and closed the door behind them.

        "Who is that?"  Margaret demanded, loudly.

        "Shhh!  It's Smith Kidman, the man who killed Tom and Bird's-Eye.  Margaret 
read the fear in Christy's face.   Heavy footsteps tromped up the stairs.  
Smith was humming loudly and drunkenly to himself.  The door to Margaret's 
room burst open.  In the dim light Christy could barely see his face, but 
she could smell his presence.

        "Which one of you is Molly?  Huh?"  He reached for both of them.  Christy 
screamed and tried to fight him off.  Margaret was to stunned to resist.  "I 
got you two.  Now, I aim to take one if you with me as soon as I know which 
of you is my wife."

        "Molly is not your wife!"  Christy heard the words and barely realized that 
they came from her mouth.  With a flick of his arm he sent her tumbling 
across the room.  Through a haze she heard him talking to Margaret.

        "Alright Molly."  He gripped Margaret's arms painfully.  He pulled her 
close then jerked her to arm's length.  "Who's baby are you carrying?  Is it 
Bird's-Eye's?  I should of known."  Margaret tried to talk but he shook her 
to violently.  "You been cheatin' on me, woman, and your gonna pay!"  
Christy struggled to her feet and lunged herself at Smith, but he threw her 
down again and this time she was knocked cold.

        She had a splitting headache.  She could not recall how she came to be on 
the hardwood floor.  Pulling herself to her knees, Christy rubbed her head.  
Then, like a nightmare she remembered.  "Margaret!"  She cried and took off 
running out of the room.  In the hallway she stumbled and fell.  "Margaret!" 
she called as she tried to stand back up.  The room was spinning violently.  
Grasping the banister she made her way downstairs.

She cast her eyes around her, searching.  Then she saw her.  A cry escaped 
her lips.  "Margaret!"  groping through the darkness she reaching the lumped 
form strewn on the floor.  Margaret was battered and bleeding.

        "The baby," she whispered.  "The baby, Christy, I don't want my baby to 
die!"  Christy tried to calm her.

        "Everything will be fine, Margaret.  You're just hurt."

        "No," she whispered.  "Find Neil.  He can save the baby!"  Christy's heart 
skipped a beat.  Why was she speaking of Neil?

        "Margaret.  Neil left, remember?"  A look of confusion crossed Margaret's 
face.

        "When you see him, tell him to come down by the river.  I want to tell him 
something."  And almost playful smile lit up Margaret's face.

        "What hurts Margaret?  Did he hit your stomach?"  Christy put her hand over 
the baby, hoping to discern movement.  In a moment of relief she perceived a 
kick.  "It's all right, Margaret.  The baby's fine.  Just rest while I go 
get your mother's medical bag."

Christy raced to Miss Alice's room, where she found a large bag of 
instruments and medical supplies.  Bringing it back next to Margaret she lit 
a lamp and set it on the floor beside them.  "Margaret?"  Margaret opened 
her eyes.

        "Tell him I'm sorry, Christy.  I'm sorry for what he has to find out about 
me.  I was going to write Neil.  To try to explain.  He sounded so lonely."  
  Margaret's voice trailed off and Christy realized in desperation what was 
happening.

        "Margaret!  Don't do this.  Your baby!  You have to fight!"  But it was too 
late.  Christy put her ear to Margaret's chest, but there was no heartbeat.  
Christy cried and beat the floor in desperation.  Through a haze of tears 
she heard a voice call her name.  she stood up to meet whoever it was, but 
the room was spinning and she was engulfed in darkness.

        Christy woke up witht he sun.  Next to her bed sat a very concerned David 
Grantland.  "Christy!  I was afraid you would never wake up."  He took her 
hand in his.  Christy tried to raise her head, but was bombarded by 
diziness.  "Lie back, Christy.  You took quite a blow to your head.  Miss 
Alice is supposed to be back today.  I hope nothing held her up."

        "Margaret?"

        "She¹s gone, Christy.  She was gone before I arrived."

        "I know.  I saw her die.  And her baby."

        "Go to sleep, everything will work out."




Shady Grove Chapter 10



        A week later Christy was finally feeling herself again.  A
numbness had 
carried her through the funeral and the questions and the sympathies.
She 
had barely heard Miss Alice's cries of anguish and David's
reassurances.  
She spent her time in bed, not even bothering to call her parents.
They 
would want to know that she had been injured and that Margaret was
dead.  
But none of that had mattered to her, until now.  The numbness had
worn off 
and the sting was back.  Christy felt she was to blame for Margaret's
death, 
despite David¹s assurances to the contrary.  It was she who had
driven 
Margaret away from the Cove two years ago, it was she who had
foolishly led 
a drunk Smith Kidman to assume Margaret was Molly.  Christy
constantly 
dwelled on these thoughts as she did her chores day in and day out.
David 
had decided that school shouldn¹t go on until Smith Kidman was
captured once 
and for all.  He never left the mission house, his gun was always at
his 
side, especially at night.  Miss Alice was a ghost.  She spent most
of her 
time in her room, emerging for a silent meal or for church.  Christy
worried 
about her.  She worried that Miss Alice blamed her, and that she
would never 
really recover from Margaret's death.

        As weeks past, Christy began to see that her fears were
unfounded.  Miss 
Alice was recovering.  She smiled once, then again, her face was soon
a 
wreath of smiles very often.  Alice turned her attention to Christy,
who did 
not appear to be healing.  "Christy, dearest, I am not sure why thee
is in 
so much pain, but we must remember that in the end, Margaret was
doing the 
right thing.  She was finally facing up to herself.  She was facing
her 
fears and confronting her situation.  I am proud of her, as I am of
you."

        A few days later Christy brought herself to go into
Margaret's room.  She 
had not been in there since the night she died.  The only furniture
in it 
was a bed, a dresser, a rocking chair, and a small crib waiting for a
baby.  
Christy went to the dresser.  In its cracked mirror she could see
herself.  
She had lost weight, her face was too thin.  It reminded her of the
night 
before she came to the Cove.  She had been sitting at her dressing
table 
brushing her hair.  She had studied her face then, as she did now.
She had 
thought it too thin, her eyes too big for her face.  She had wondered
if 
Miss Alice would think her too young to teach school.  But the
subsequent 
four years had brought change.  She had become more sure of herself.
She 
had become a good teacher and had learned to love the Cove.  She had
grown 
up.  But now, looking in this cracked mirror she saw only a shadow of
that 
person.  She saw a coward who cared only for herself.  "All these
years of 
sacrifice to find out I¹ve only been doing this for myself!"  Christy
thought.  At that moment she wanted to run, to run back to her safe
place of 
self-pity.  It hurt to know the truth.  Looking herself in the eye
she said: 
  "There is nothing to do but to go on.  Hopefully I will learn to
live for 
others."

        She looked around the dresser top.  Her fingers found the
wooden knobs to 
the top drawer and she opened it.  The first thing she saw was a pile
of 
letters.  The return address on the first one caught her eye.  Neil 
MacNeill.  Her heart pounded in her chest.  He had written Margaret?
Before 
she could think she had picked up the pile of letters and sat on the
bed.



Dear Margaret,



        In these past months I have done a lot of thinking. I would
like to come 
back.  The truth is, the Cove is my home, and I am lost here in the
city.  I 
will come and take care of you, and provide for your child.  I can't
forget 
that I'm a married man.  Please reply right away.



Neil

February 4, 1916



Christy read the note over an over again.  He could hear him saying
it.  'I 
can't forget that I'm a married man."  These words bothered Christy,
but she 
didn't know why.  She had hoped over and over again that he would
come home, 
and now...in her lap was a letter stating that he would.  Margaret's
words 
echoed in her head:

        "Tell him I'm sorry, Christy.  I'm sorry for what he has to
find out about 
me."  She wondered why she had said this.  She shuffled through the
other 
letters.  One was quite thick.  Christy opened it to reveal a good
deal of 
money.

        "John Kent,"  she mumbled to herself, "I know that name.
Daddy has had 
dealings with him in Knoxville.  He never liked Kent, said he was 
underhanded.  Imagine!  He's the father of Margaret's child!"  She
picked up 
the next letter from an Emily Bonds:





        Dear Margaret,



                I am terribly alarmed to hear of your recent
unfortunate circumstances.  I 
am sorry to have lost touch with you so easily, but times have been
busy!  
As to you inquiry about possible employment:  I am happy to say that
I can 
certainly hope to offer you a suitable position on the staff of the 
magazine.  I have not forgotten the scrapes you got me out of!  How
about 
something overseas?  Sound interesting?  Come over to Atlanta as soon
as 
possible and we can make arrangements.



                                                                your
comrade,

                                                                Emily
Bonds



A feeling of shock washed over Christy.  Margaret was not going to
stay!  
She was going to leave again!  What would she have done with her
baby?  
Would she have abandoned it?  Christy was confused.  What would Miss
Alice 
think.  She was so proud of Margaret finally getting her life
together and 
yet here was the proof that she was going to run away again.  Christy
bundled up the letters anf tucked them into her pocket.  She was
determined 
that Miss Alice should never know these things about Margaret.  She
had 
suffered enough.



Chapter 11

        That night Christy  had a dream.  She saw Neil by the school house.  He 
looked at her and she at him.  In an instant she was by his side.  He was 
walking away.  Christy grabbed his arm and pulled, but it did no good.  She 
tried to speak, but her words were caught in her throat.  The dream seemed 
to last forever. She was helpless!  She watched him disappear into the dark 
forest and then she woke up.  The dream bothered Christy all morning.  She 
paced the mission floor, wondering what to make of it.  David walked in the 
parlor.  "Christy, I have to go up to the Spencer's for a while.  Do you 
think you'll be all right here?  I hate to leave you alone."
        "Go David, it's been a month since the attack, I'm sure I'll be fine."  
David nodded to her and strode out to the barn to saddle Prince.  He hadn't 
been gone but half an hour when a solemn Mr.  Pentland lightly rapped on the 
mission door.  "Mr.  Pentland, what's the matter?"  asked Christy when she 
had opened it.
        "I got a letter here...for Miss Alice's daughter.  I thought it best to 
deliver it in this manner, seein' as she's dead and all."  Christy accepted 
the letter and watched as Mr. Pentland rode of on his mule.  Then she turned 
her attention to the letter.  It was from Neil!  Before she could even 
consider, Christy had opened the letter and stood reading it.

Dear Margaret,

        I hope that all is well.  I had at least expected a short reply.  I am 
transferring to Knoxville to continue my eye research.  If you want to have 
any correspondence with me you can use the address on the envelope.

                Neil MacNeill

        Christy's heart leapt.  So close!  He was so close.  She took the letter in 
her hand and hurried to her room.  She sat down to write a letter, then 
stopped short, something didn't seem right.  She looked at Neil's letter 
again.  There was no return address.  He had forgotten to write it!  Christy 
realized that the only way to find him was to go to Knoxville and search the 
hospitals. Barely stopping to think she decided to go right then.  She 
packed her valise and hastily jotted down a not and left it on the kitchen 
table.  Miss Alice had been gone to Cateleechie and David wouldn’t be home 
for hours.  She knew she would get a stern talking to from David...but she 
had to see Neil.  She had to bring him home!  She didn’t want to lose Neil, 
like she had in her dream.
        Hours and hours later she found herself on a train pulling out of the El 
Pano station bound for Knoxville.  Christy looked out the window to see a 
light rain begin to shower her mountains as the winter evening fell on 
Cutter Gap.  An odd feeling swept over her, then vanished as she renewed her 
resolve to find Neil as quickly as possible.
        Back at the mission house Ruby Mae had come home to find the house empty.  
The kitchen was a mess and she hastily started to clear away dishes, 
thinking of how delighted preacher and teacher would be to come home to a 
clean house.  Without looking she picked up the note Christy had written and 
threw it into the stove where it burned.




Chapter 12

        The rain pelted down as Christy lay in her hotel bed.  She had not gotten 
to Knoxville until late that night and she had immediately made her way to 
find a place to stay.  She listened to the sound of the driving rain and 
tried to get to sleep.  She wondered what had possessed her to leave so 
suddenly!  David would be so angry!  Not to mention Neil if he found out how 
she had left the Cove.  "First thing in the morning I'll call the mission 
house to make sure they know I'm all right."  Christy said to herself.  She 
turned over and drifted off to sleep.
        The next morning she awoke with renewed fervor to find Neil.  With haste 
she made her way to the hotel’s telephone and spent an agonizingly long hour 
trying to reach the Cutter Gap mission.  She remembered the five hours it 
took to reach Asheville from Cutter Gap and was thankful when this call 
didn’t take so long.  Ruby Mae answered the phone.
        "Ruby Mae!  Ruby Mae can you hear me!"
        "Miss Christy, where are you.  David searched most all night for you!"
        "I'm in Knoxville, didn't you get my note?"
        "Note?!  No we didn't find a note."
        "Well, I'm safe in Knoxville, tell David that I came to get Dr. MacNeill!  
I'll be home in the next day or so!"
        Christy hung up the phone grateful that she had called.  She hurried out 
into the muddied streets after she had gotten the names and addresses of the 
hospitals in town.  There were three major hospitals and only one that did 
eye research.  She spent the day slopping through the mud to get all the way 
across the city to this one hospital.  Finally, she entered the lobby to the 
eye research department.  Breathlessly she asked a nurse if a Dr. Neil 
MacNeill conducted research there.  She smiled at Christy.  "Yes of course.  
He just arrived earlier this week.  If you'll just have a seat over there 
I'll go tell him he has a visitor."
        As Christy sat she watched the nurse walking down the hall.  She felt numb 
all over.  How was she supposed to talk to him?  What should she say?  How 
can she tell him that his wife is dead?  Christy heard muffled voices from a 
nearby room.  "A visitor?  Who?"  Christy's heart skipped a beat.  It was 
Neil's voice!
        "A very tired and muddy young lady.  She looks as if she crossed the whole 
city on foot after you."  Soon after the nurse's reply a sandy haired head 
popped out of the doorway and peered into to the lobby.  Christy stood up as 
Neil stepped out of the laboratory.  He seemed to have thinned out.  His 
curly hair was cropped shorter than before, closer to his head.  With his 
white research coat on he looked like he had been born and raised in the 
city.  Christy could find no words, and apparently, neither could Neil 
because he just stood there staring at her.  Finally he seemed to muster up 
the courage to speak.
        "Christy?"  Christy nodded faintly and Neil crossed the space between them. 
  "Christy, what are you doing here?"  Still, Christy could not speak.  She 
felt that tears were about to well up in her eyes and she did her best to 
hold them back.  Neil was not fooled.  He propelled her back to her seat.  
"Tell me why you've come.  Please."
        "I...I came to find you, to bring you home.  Neil, Margaret died a month 
ago.  That is why she didn't answer your letter.  I was going to answer your 
recent letter, but you did not write your return address.  So I came here to 
find you."  Neil looked at her long and hard.  He did not seem to have 
comprehended what she had said.  "Neil?"
        "Margaret?  What happened to Margaret?"
        "Smith Kidman beat her to death in a drunken rage.  He believed she was 
Molly Taylor.  I was there when she died.  She said to tell you that she was 
sorry."  The tears that Christy had held back spilled over now.  "Neil, it 
has been so hard!  She was so close to  having the baby.  Miss Alice was 
heartbroken."  Neil took the hand that she had raised to brush of a tear.  
"It would mean so much if you came home now.  The people of the cove need 
you.  I need you."  She couldn’t believe that she had actually spoken the 
last words out loud.  Neil didn't seem the least surprised that she had said 
it.
        "I know.  Don't worry, Christy, I'll come today."
        That evening saw them boarding a train to the El Pano station.  Christy was 
exhausted and spent the whole train trip asleep with her head leaned against 
the window.  Neil watched her from the opposite seat.  The few events she 
had described to him about the events in the Cove disturbed him.  He had a 
feeling that she hadn’t told him everything.
        El Pano station had only one lamp burning in the window.  Neil gently awoke 
Christy and she drowsily made her way off the train into the darkness.  Neil 
unloaded his trunk and her valise and went to make arrangements to rent a 
horse.  Soon he and Christy were mounted up on a large black horse, Christy 
in front.
        "Neil, what about your trunk?"
        "I've made arrangements to have Ben Pentland deliver it in his wagon along 
with Charlie.  Then he'll bring the rental horse back to town."
        "Charlie?"
        "A farmer has been keeping him for me while I was away.  Christy, I know 
you are tired, but I want to know everything that has happened, please."  
Christy sighed heavily.
        "After you left  Ruby Mae was engaged to Will Beck, Rob Allen got a short 
story published and I received money to use in education.  Miss Alice and I 
were going to teach knitting to the girls and David was going to teach 
cabinet making.  But all those plans have disappeared in the face of all 
that has happened.  Margaret was always difficult...and life got harder at 
the mission.  I went home for Christmas.  My parents wanted to adopt Iris, 
so I let them.  It's a wonderful opportunity for her, to be able to live in 
the city with two real parents.  It's more than I could give her.  When 
Molly heard that Iris would not be returning she decided that she would move 
on to Lyleton.  It was a good thing she did.  Not long after Sam Houston had 
an accident.  He got caught up in barbed wire and was all cut up.  Miss 
Alice and I did our best, but he developed tetanus and we didn't have any 
anti-serum.  I was sent to your cabin to get it.  While I was there Smith 
Kidman showed up.  He threatened me and was about to drown me when John 
Holcombe showed up with his rifle and I got away.  Sam Houston got his 
medicine and survived, but Mr. Holcombe was shot in the back and killed."  
Christy stopped there and stayed silent for several minutes.  Neil tried to 
comprehend what she had just told him.  "Not long after, David and Miss 
Alice were gone one night.  David didn't mean not to be there...he wasn't 
able to get home until late.  Margaret and I were the only ones there when 
Smith came in.  He found us hiding in Margaret's room.  He was drunk and 
called Molly his wife, I told him that Molly wasn't his wife and he assumed 
that Margaret was Molly.  He found she was pregnant and blamed it on 
Bird's-Eye.  I tried to help her but he threw me to the ground.  I was 
unconscious while he..."  Christy let out a sob, retelling the story for the 
first time was opening up a well of untapped emotions.
        "It's all right, Christy, it's all right now."  Neil soothed her.
        "No, it's not all right.  Smith is still out there, free to come and 
terrorize us again.  There were so many times that I wanted you to be there. 
  I was so angry at you.  But when I found your letter and knew I could find 
you, and when I saw you in the hospital, I couldn't be angry."  Christy fell 
silent, leaning again Neil's coat.   "It's my fault that she died, that her 
baby died.  If I hadn’t have opened my big mouth he wouldn't have hurt her 
like that."  In a moment Neil realized that Christy had been alone and 
frightened for so long.  He had hardly considered that she needed him as 
much as he needed her.  She had come all the way to Knoxville not to bring 
back a doctor, but her best friend.  Overwhelmed, Neil held her closer to 
him as they climbed the dark mountain trails on the horse.
        "I'm here now, Christy, and I'll not leave you again."  Christy sighed and 
leaned against him and drifted into a light sleep.



Shady Grove Chapter 13

        The dark trail winded to follow the riverbank.  The river was swollen and 
torrential  because of the rains. The banks were trimmed with ice, 
remainders of the winter.  The river's noise drowned out all other thought.  
Neil let their horse guide  he and Christy along the muddied trail, not 
trusting his own eyes in the dark.  The moon was blocked by the tree tops.  
Suddenly, the horse stopped abruptly and held his head high.  He snorted 
loudly, the breath from his nostrils rising in a thick fog.  Neil urged him 
on but he shivered all over and refused.  Neil could feel his nervousness 
through the saddle.  "Come on boy, let's get on." He firmly pressed his legs 
into the horse’s side.  Agitated, the horse sidestepped to avoid going 
forward.  Neil sat very still, staring into the dark.  Christy awoke.
        "Neil, why are we stopped?"  She whispered.  Neil did not answer.  Suddenly 
a hand reached out of the darkness and took hold or the horse's reigns.  
Neil shouted as the horse, in panic, reared and fled.  Christy felt herself 
falling fast.  She hit the ground hard, slamming her temple on a rock.  For 
a moment she was senseless.  She heard muttering and cursing.  A man knelt 
over her, breathing heavily.  The breath had the stench of moonshine.
        "Lucky me.  Now I have ye.  And yer man."  Christy felt the edge of a steel 
blade being traced along her jawbone.  She tried to hold on to reality.  The 
pain in her head was stabbing her, pinning her to the ground.  She felt 
immobile, as if in a nightmare. Both she and Smith Kidman heard a muffled 
groan coming from a few feet away.  Christy saw a glint of moonlight fall 
into Smith's eye, revealing his dark intention.  He crept to Neil's prone 
figure and raised his knife high.  Disregarding the pain Christy found the 
strength to leap to her feet.  Her head swam as she flung herself at Smith.  
Kneeling with his hand raised had put Smith off balance and a swift blow 
from Christy sent them both tumbling to the edge of the steep riverbank.  
Christy struggled wildly with the man.
        "Neil!"  She cried. The pain in her temple was overcoming her.  With one 
last effort she threw her weight at Smith's legs and sent them both over the 
edge of the riverbank.  They plunged into the icy water.  Underneath was the 
lonely sound of the roaring water.  She was pulled to the bottom and spewed 
out to the surface.  Christy felt the icy current rush into her, choking 
her.  She was going to drown!  Her head throbbed and she bobbed helplessly 
above and below the surface.  Then a hand caught her hand.  She saw Neil 
leaning far out over the river, hanging onto a tree at the bank.  He had 
caught her!  The last thing she felt was being pulled against the rushing 
current.
        "Neil!"  The word jerked him to his senses.  The sound of a man's scream of 
rage and the splash of water echoed above the roaring river.  He jumped to 
his feet, straining to find Christy.  A hand in the water caught his eye.  
Without a thought he jumped down the bank and anchored himself to a tree.  
Reaching out he caught the bobbing hand firmly.  Christy's head surfaced and 
in the pale moonlight their eyes met for an instant.  With all his might he 
strained against the river's current to pull her in, but the river was too 
strong.  Christy's hand was slipping.  Her head was below the water.  Fear 
of losing her overwhelmed common sense and he let go of the anchoring tree 
and waded into the freezing water.  Barely able to stand he pulled Christy's 
body to him.  He strained to lift her out of the water and stay upright at 
once.  Her heavy woolen skirts fought his effort.  He stumbled, then, in a 
surge of adrenaline, pulled her from the water and slogged to the muddy 
banks.  He slipped on the riverbank and covered himself in cold mud.  
Finally reaching the trail he laid Christy on the ground.  Holding her wrist 
he tried to discern a pulse.  After what seemed like hours he felt it.  
Bending down he listened for breath.  Yes.  She was barely alive.  He 
searched around quickly.  The horse was gone.
A cold wind rushed past and Neil shivered as he lifted Christy into his arms 
and bore her toward the mission.
        Alice Henderson had just returned from her monthly trip to Cateleechie.  
She had been riding most of the night.  As she stepped into the mission 
house only the dying embers of a fire greeted her.  She lit a lamp and hung 
her saddlebags across the back of a chair.  She wouldn't bother stoking the 
fire to warm up.  She looked forward to slipping in-between the cold white 
sheets and warming up the bed.   Rest.  Real rest after spending nights 
sleeping on wooden floorboards with only thin quilts to cushion her.  She 
had often told herself that she was accustomed to sleeping on cold hard 
floors but her aching body called her a liar.  Heavy footsteps pulled her 
from her thoughts as she turned to meet whoever was there.  The door swung 
open.  In shock she beheld Neil MacNeill, muddy from head to foot and 
sopping wet  cradling an even more soaked Christy in his arms.  Her skirts 
bundled around her  but her face was nearly blue.  Neil was shivering with 
cold and his eyes were like fire as he met Alice's horrified gaze.
        "Dear God!"  She exclaimed.


Chapter 14


        All Christy could hear was the water around her.  It roared past and 
through her and over and around her.  She was alone.  The water washed over 
her.  She began to remember.  She remembered everything.  The train ride to 
Cutter Gap when she was only nineteen.  The shock of seeing the children for 
the first time.  They had no shoes!  It was too cold to be barefoot!  She 
remembered everything.  She remembered Aunt Polly Teague talking to David.  
She remembered Little Burl when he was on the operating table.  She 
remembered the night Margaret had died.  The feel of her father gripping her 
hand for the first time after his stroke.  Then she remembered how only a 
few day ago she had seen herself in the mirror.  She had thought she was a 
coward.  But not now. She had not been a coward.  She had sacrificed her 
life for Neil's.  Neil wouldn't like that at all.  He doesn't know how much 
he's worth.  The children would need her.  "Now I can rest."  She thought.  
Her heart was tired.  There had been to much pain and loss.  If only she 
could find rest and shelter.  Then she saw light.  A door had opened.  
Blinding shafts of light streamed out of it.  Christy squinted her eyes.  A 
hand reached out toward her.  Christy reached up to it.  She took hold of it 
and instantaneously she was in the light.  Enveloped, encircled by the 
light.  It went through her and around her and past her.  She opened her 
eyes.
        Miss Alice was there.  She was smiling down at her.  A fire crackled 
nearby.  The light was in Miss Alice's eyes.  Her hand was in her own hand.  
"Christy, I knew you would come back to me."  Her voice was warm.
        "I was in the water.  Neil took my hand."  Christy murmured.
        "Yes, and he carried you all the way to the mission house.   He's in the 
kitchen right now, eating."  Christy struggled to sit up.  Miss Alice gently 
pushed her back down onto the couch.  "Rest now, Christy, rest.  It’s over." 
  Christy closed her eyes.  It was over.
        Dawn broke over the Cove.  Neil came and lifted Christy and carried her to 
her own bed.  She was warm now.  Warm and safe.  Neil held her bundled in 
his arms for a moment.   She lay sleeping, nestled in her mother's quilt 
made form her dresses.  He remembered when he had heard her tell Zady about 
it.  "Each piece reminds me of a time she wore it."  Christy’s eyelids 
fluttered open.  She wondered at his expression.  So intense.  She reached 
up to his face and touched it.  Her hand moved over his cheek, his brow and 
his eyes.  "I almost lost you."  She whispered weakly.  "He was going to 
kill you."
        "Is that what happened?"  Neil replied quietly.  He laid her gently on her 
bed and covered her in blankets.  Then he pulled a chair next to her.  
Taking her hand he asked her, "If you can remember, tell me what happened."
        "I fell off the horse.  Smith was over me.  He had a knife.  He was going 
to kill me.  But he decided to kill you first."  Christy's head hurt, she 
winced at the pain.  "I pushed him into the river.  Then I felt your hand.  
You lifted me out."  Neil sighed deeply.
        "Thank you, Christy."  His voice was full of emotion.  "I thought I had 
lost you.  You were so cold and pale.  If Alice hadn't been here I don't 
think you would have lived.  I was half frozen myself"
        "I saw her light, Neil.  She wanted me to come back."  Christy winced again 
as a sharp pain ripped through her temple.  Neil's hand covered her cheek.
        "You've got a bad bruise there.  We want to keep a close watch on you until 
I'm certain that you will be fine."  Christy closed her eyes again.  "Rest 
now, Christy."
        Neil descended the staircase to sit with an exhausted Alice Henderson.  
Alice could see that Neil was battling his emotions.  She sat and sipped her 
tea and waited for him to speak.  "It was Smith Kidman. He's dead now I'm 
sure.  There's no way he could have escaped the river."  Neil paused here 
for a long time.  "She saved my life, Alice.  He was going to kill me.  She 
nearly died saving my life."  Neil put his face in his hands.
        "You saved her life as well.  She loves you, Neil."  Neil looked up at her 
sharply.  "Don't look that way at me.  I know why you left the Cove and I 
know how you feel about Christy.  And I know for certain that Christy didn't 
go off to Knoxville half cocked for just a doctor.  She could have waited 
for David to return home before she left.  But she didn't.  She loves you, 
Neil."
        "I left because I loved her." Neil confessed, more to himself than Alice.  
"And I came back because I love her."  Miss Alice placed her hand on his.
        "Neil, Christy loved Margaret.  She was terribly hurt when she died.  I’m 
not sure why she loved her so much, Margaret was never very friendly. Maybe 
it was because she loved you.  She needed you and Margaret was the closest 
she could get to you."  Neil didn't understand what Alice was trying to tell 
  him.
        "What are you saying?"
        "I'm saying that perhaps you are the key to mending Christy's heart.  For 
so long I was unable to reach her.  Especially after Margaret died.  Finding 
that you were near put new life into her heart.  Don't be afraid to love her 
Neil.  Your love will heal her."  Miss Alice slowly stood up.  "I am going 
to retire to bed for a few hours.  Sit with Christy and I will come and 
relieve you mid-morning.  Then you can get much needed sleep too."  Neil 
nodded.  He was grateful that Alice was leaving the room because he didn't 
know how much longer he could hold back his tears.


Chapter 15

        Neil sat for a long time after Alice had gone to bed.  The reality of her 
words was sinking.  He had always known that he loved Christy and had 
thought that she at least found in him a close friend, if not more.  But 
hearing Miss Alice declare that Christy loved him was different.  It made 
his life different.  He remembered the terrifying moment when he held her 
hand in the river.  He had felt his grip slipping.  Covering his face with 
his hands he vowed not to ever leave her again.   He had been a fool when he 
left Cutter Gap that stormy day.  He had left she that was most precious to 
him in the name of love.  In reality he did it because he was a coward.  "I 
will not be a coward any longer."  He muttered to himself.  He soon found 
himself by Christy’s bedside, hoping she would wake up so that he could ask 
her forgiveness.
        Miss Alice peered into Christy’s room,  a curious Ruby Mae behind her.
"Cain't I see Miss Christy?  I just gotta know if she's all right fer 
myself."
        "She is, Ruby Mae.  I am reluctant to let you in because you will startle 
Doctor MacNeill.  He seems to have fallen asleep."
        "Oh Miss Alice, I'll be as quiet as a mouse, you'll see!"
        "Ruby Mae, please see to your chores and help Mrs. Spencer with lunch."  
Ruby Mae reluctantly plodded down the stairs.  Alice pushed the door open 
slowly, in an attempt to be stealthy, but the creaking hinges betrayed her.  
Neil startled awake.
        "I was trying not to wake you.  I'm sorry."  Miss Alice said.
        "No, I shouldn't have dosed off.  Now I have a devil of a crick in my neck. 
  I don’t recommend sleeping in a straight backed chair."
        "Fairlight has set some soup on the stove and made fresh bread this 
morning.  She will come and sit with Christy while we eat.  Has she 
awakened?"  Miss Alice passed her hand over Christy’s forehead.  "She seems 
well enough."
        Neil, still rubbing his sore neck replied: "She hasn't stirred at all.  I 
believe she'll be okay.  She just needs plenty of bed rest.  That bruise 
isn't any encouragement though."  He lightly touched the purple and blue 
bruise covering her temple and cheek.  Fairlight walked softly into the 
room.  Alice spoke to her:
        "Thank you Fairlight for sitting with Christy.  I know what a busy day you 
must have."
        "It's  a pleasure to do a good turn for somebody, Miss Alice, especially a 
friend.  Now you and Neil get downstairs and eat your stew before it gets 
cold."  When she had finally seen them out the door she crept softly to 
Christy's bedside.  Sitting in the chair she took Christy's hand.  Softly, 
she spoke:  "Christy, I had another dream. It was about you.  I dreamed 
about light.  It was a wonderful light that saw everything I was and made me 
whole.  The light will make you whole again.  When my two babes died...they 
took parts of me with them.  It was the light that made me whole again.  The 
light promises that you will be whole again."  Fairlight fell silent.  She 
looked for some sign of change on the young woman's face.  "You don’t have 
to be afraid any longer, Christy.  Already things are better.  Neil is here 
and he's worried for you.  The children miss you.  The crisis is over. It is 
safe now."  Fairlight emphasized the word safe, feeling instinctively that 
it was the key to Christy’s heart.
***********************
        "It is safe now."  The words echoed in Christy's spirit.  A new feeling 
washed over her heart.  Christy heard the words of her friend.  She 
understood the light now.  The light had been in her and had known her.  It 
had drawn her to life again.  Yet she had slipped back because she was 
afraid.  Deep fear had filled her in the past months.  Fear of attack and 
the inability to fight back.  Smith had threatened her life and the lives of 
those she loved.  She had felt so alone, so naked.  It was a new kind of 
loneliness.  She had lost her faith in God.  But God had not lost faith in 
Christy.  The light was God.  The light wanted to give her back what she had 
lost...what Smith Kidman had so mercilessly taken from her.  God wanted to 
give back her faith, and her security. Christy would wait no longer, her 
heart called:
"I need the light!"  The light came.



Chapter 16

        Christy opened her eyes to a room lit only by moonlight.  She stared out 
into the darkness trying to get her bearings.  She turned her head slightly 
and a searing pain gripped her.  All at once she was dizzy and nauseous.  A 
hand gripped her hand and slowly the pain ebbed away.  The hand gently 
touched her cheek.  "Christy?"  All Christy could manage was a weak nod.  
"Lie still, I am here with you."  She relaxed and let the bed support her.  
She heard a door open.  Another figure swept into the room.  It was Miss 
Alice.
        "How is she?"  She asked in hushed whispers.
        "She just woke up.  I think she's a bit disoriented."  A cool hand touched 
Christy's forehead.
         "She is running a fever."  Alice observed.
        "Probably from the dunking she had in the freezing river."  Neil took 
Christy's hand again.   "Christy?  Can you speak?"  Mustering all her energy 
Christy spoke a few words.
        "Neil, my...head."
        "You hit it pretty badly.  Just lie still and rest.  Alice and I will take 
care of everything."  Miss Alice drew the warm quilt around Christy and 
stroked her forehead.  The cool touch soothed Christy back to peaceful 
slumber.
        Hours later Christy woke again.  Neil was speaking to her.  She stared into 
the darkness, unable to move.  Her head throbbed.  "Christy, are you awake?  
Squeeze my hand if you can hear me."  Christy gripped his hand as much as 
she could.  It comforted her to know that he was with her in this 
impenetrable darkness.  "Christy, I want you to know that I'm sorry.  I want 
you to forgive me.  I should never have left the Cove.  I love you Christy 
and I never will leave you again."  She felt his hand on her cheek again.  A 
gray sunrise had swept across the sky.
        "Neil,"  she whispered, "I love you, and I forgive you.  I love you."  Neil 
bent down and lightly kissed her forehead.  Then he began to sing to her 
softly,

Shady Grove, my little love,

Shady Grove my dear.

Shady Grove my little love,

I'm going to leave you here.

        The song wrapped her in comfort.  Strength seemed to flow to her out of 
nowhere.  Christy reached her hand up to lightly touch his unruly curls.  
She softy sang to him:

Shady Grove, my little love,

Shady Grove my dear.

Shady Grove my little love,

I'm going to leave you here.



        That morning the sun came up in a blaze of glory.

The End