******
Disclaimer:  This story is written for entertainment only.  The characters of Christy belong to
the LeSourd Family.  I am in no way seeking profit from the continuation of the story.  Any
characters that are invented for the purpose of this Fanfic are from the author’s
imagination. 

***********
Title: Train of Thought
Author: Kerry
******

Part one

"David, you really don't have to go with me to Asheville. I am perfectly capable of riding a
train alone," Christy said for the fourth time this morning. Seated on the bench at the train
station with a carpet bag in her lap, Christy really didn't understand why she was constantly
being treated like a child by David. It was obvious that he thought so little of her as an
adult, that he didn't trust her to travel on the same rail lines that brought her to Cutter Gap
in the first place.

"Christy," David said with a sigh. He felt as if he were disputing with a five year old, even
though that is far from the way Christy was acting. He continued, "There have been two train
heists in the last year. How would I feel if I allowed you to be put in danger? And without a
proper escort? A lady like yourself could be taken advantage of on such a lengthy ride. I'm
going with you to Asheville and that's final!"
Disclaimer: Please don't sue me. I am poor. The wonderful tale of "Christy" is owned by the
LeSourd family. I received no money for this story. I only write to fulfill my dreams and fly
on the wings of words.

This was going to be one LONG train ride, Christy thought. 

*********** 

The train arrived on time, much to Christy's chagrin. Had the train been off schedule, Christy
would have insisted that David return to the mission and prepare his sermon for Sunday's
service.

David boarded the train first, handing the conductor two tickets and scooping up Christy's
suitcases before she could protest. Christy boarded next holding securely to her heirloom
carpet bag. 

She found her cabin and settled in. The day long train ride would surely warrant a nap and
Christy did not feel like having a sore neck from sleeping against the window. 

With a flop, she flung herself onto the sturdy train "bed" and cherished the silence that being
alone brought. Traveling to Asheville with a chaperone was certainly not what she had planned
when she had made the train reservations last week. 

Upon receiving word, via the "U-oooo-Nited sates Mail," from her Aunt Tabitha that a surprise
birthday party was being thrown for Mother, Christy had given the children a week's vacation
from school. Telling Miss Alice about the party was a simple task compared to telling the
reverend that she would be gone for a week. David had been as stubborn as ever and announced it
would be un-Christian of him to allow Christy to travel such a dangerous route without proper
supervision. 

Miss Alice had interjected a lecture to David regarding his treatment of Christy. It seemed
that it was obvious to more than one person in the cove that David treated Christy with very
little respect as an adult. Christy had smiled when Alice reached one point in her speech.
Drifting into a daydream, Christy recalled the lecture with extreme clarity. 

"David, Christy is as much an adult as thee or I. Stop treating her as if she were one of her
students. Even they have seen how thee treats her, and each time, they loose respect for their
teacher. If the leader of their parish cannot treat their teacher as an adult, how are they
supposed to respect her?" David spun on his heel and tried to walk away from words that rang
all too true to him. He stopped in mid stride as Miss Alice continued in a commanding tone,
"David Grantland! Walking away from my words will not make them any less true. Thee has treated
Christy like a school-girl since her arrival. In my opinion, it is not she who is immature, but
thee. It is thee, Reverend, who needs to grow up and be chaperoned!"

The fact that Alice had said what Christy had been dying to say for months, was refreshing. A
load had been taken off her chest when words full of truth and honesty had been finally been
spoken. Even if Christy hadn't been the one to say them, it was relieving that they had finally
been said. A knock on her cabin door brought Christy out of her reverie.

"Who is it?" Christy asked, standing to straighten her tousled hair and wrinkled skirt. The
movement of a train sure can make a mess of your appearance, she thought with a slight giggle.

"Christy, its David, I'd like to talk with you. Would you open the door please?" David said
with some uncertainty. Was this the right time to talk about this? Christy opened her cabin
door and stepped into the hall to speak with David. having a gentleman in her cabin
unsupervised would not be approved of in all places. Certainly not Asheville.

"Yes?" Christy said with clear annoyance. David was become quite a hassle and truly a bother. 

"I want to ask you if what Alice said was true. Do I really treat you as a child?" David asked.

"David, would you have felt the need to escort Miss Alice on the train to Asheville? I don't
think you would, because you see her as an adult. You would have offered to take Zady Spencer
or Ruby Mae, but not Ida or FairLight. You treat them as equals, but...," Christy stopped her
speech once she saw the dejected look on David's face, "Oh, David, I'm sorry."

"No, that's really how you feel. I'll get off at the next stop and head back to the cove,"
David said. He turned and headed for the dining car. 

"Oh, Lord, what did I just do?" Christy said with a sigh. 

As she turned to head back into her cabin, the train gave a mighty lurch and sent Christy
through the air landing on a tray full of china serving pieces. The weight of her petite frame
caused the china to crack and splinter into her body. She blacked out from the pain and didn't
hear the intense roar that soared through the air. The dinning car had just erupted in flames
and the lead car had derailed causing all the other cars to jumble into a humongous pile and a
chain reaction of fires spread quickly.

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

Part two

"Hell-ooooo, Mission House," came a call from the road. The steady clip-clop of hooves
accompanied the voice to the ears of a woman stepping from the door of the mission house. Her
sturdy frame would be considered large in Asheville, but in the cove, it was considered
healthy. Not every woman was lucky enough to have two square meals a day, even in most of them
contained possum.

"Why, Mr. Pentland, No mail today?" Miss Alice said with concern in her voice. In was unlike
Ben Pentland to make such a long trek from El Pano with no mail to deliver. Besides that, he
was riding on the back of his mule, something he had never done in front of anyone before.

"Miss Henderson, somethin' awful's happened. There's been a train wreck at the El Pano station.
The doc there sent me to get Doc MacNeilll and ya and Dan Scott. The main train went over some
chain young un's had put on the track and it slipped and derailed. There's a fire in the coal
car and the dinning car's ablaze. People are trapped inside and screamin' to get out," Ben
Pentland said with a rush of words that was uncommon for his normally shy disposition. By the
time He was finished his speech, Alice was inside the mission house grabbing her hat along with
a saddle bag already full of antiseptic, bandages, and other items needed in emergencies such
as this. Throwing her wool shall over her shoulders to keep the early fall chill out, Alice
headed for the barn, pausing only to glare at Ben Pentland who sat dumbly on his mule waiting
further instructions.

"Mr. Pentland. Do not just sit there; go get Dan Scott. I will get Dr. MacNeill on my way. Make
haste, Mr. Pentland, there is surely no time to loose," Alice said with more self-confidence
than she felt. In her heart she knew that it was the same train that Christy and David had
taken that earlier that morning. As she continued to the barn, Alice said a silent prayer to
God asking for the safety and health of those aboard the train. She didn't hesitate a second
prayer especially for Christy and David.

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

Part three

Alice and Neil rode quicker than either of them had ever before. Each knew that many lives
would be lost by the time they arrived at the accident site. Alice prayed silently that neither
Christy nor David would be lost to such a tragedy. On the ride, there was hardly a word spoken
due to the fast pace set by Neil and his stallion.

Alice slowed her horse to a trot and then to a halt by the river bank. A thirsty horse would do
no good on the five mile remaining ride to the El Pano Station. Mr. Pentland hadn't even said
how far the train had gotten from the station before the accident, so Alice didn't know when
the next opportunity to water her horse would be.

"Neil, there is something thee should know about the train," Alice said after the horses had
been watered for a sufficient time. She knew that as soon as Neil found out that Christy was on
that train, there would be no stopping him on his way to the accident. She continued deciding
to be straight forward about the situation, "Christy and David were on the train. They were
bound for Asheville."

Neil's head shot up looking straight at Alice, his eyes burning a now firey green. "What? Why
didn't you tell me sooner woman?" Neil spat. He yanked mightily on the reins and gave his horse
a swift kick on the flanks, cantering wildly across the river bank and into the woods toward El
Pano. Alice sighed knowingly and gently guided her mount into a canter following the wild-eyed
doctor to the train wreck. 

****

Ben Pentland and Dan Scott surveyed the wreck before them. Three doctors, a nurse, and many
helping hands might be able to save most everyone. With a sigh, Ben took both horses to be
watered and fed at the local livery and returned to see what he could do to help.

Dan rolled up his sleeves and reached into his medical satchel. "Mr. Pentland, please get me as
much fresh clean water as you can find. Start a small, contained fire and boil as mush water as
you can to purify it. Then carefully start pulling people out of the wreckage. Can you do
that?" Dan Scott had noticed the color white Ben had turned at the first sight of blood. Wary
of a fainting "nurse," Dan made sure that Ben could handle the work began.

"Yes, Doc. I can do it," Ben Pentland said.

"Good. Get to work, Mr. Pentland," Dan said. He smiled to himself as he walked toward the
remains of the train. That was one of the first times he had been called "doc" by any member of
the cove. A day to remember, certainly. And if he didn't get to work soon, there would be many
other reasons to remember this day as well. 

Neil and Alice rode up just as Ben and Dan were pulling the fifth person out of the wreckage.
Fearful of unseen injuries, Ben and Dan gently laid the unconscious woman on the grass near the
mailhouse.

It seemed that the train had barley pulled from the station when the accident had occurred. The
train track had been lain in to form a turn-around at the end of the line. Apparently the train
had made it through the turn-around without any trouble but by the time it had built up steam
and was moving at top speed, the wheels had run over the chains and the engine had derailed
causing the force of the others cars to build up. The impact caused some cars to derail while
others smashed into the car in front of them continuing the ferocious chain-reaction. The end
result was a large mass of flame-engulfed metal that held many, many people trapped inside is
death-grip.

"My God!" Neil exclaimed without even realizing what he had said. Alice however heard his words
and was taken aback. In her soul she knew that someday God would work his way with Neil
MacNeill, but never had she thought she'd be around to see it. Neil's eyes seamed to pop from
their sockets as he surveyed the damaged train. "Alice, take the horses to the livery. I've got
to help Dan and Ben and the others."

The "others" that Neil was speaking of were the many survivors of the wreck. Some were well
enough to pull people from the train while others only had enough strength to console a crying
child or tend to light wounds. Alice removed both saddle bags from the horses and grabbed
Neil's medical bag as well. She then handed the horses off to one of the people standing nearby
and rolled up her sleeves and set to work.

Soon all the healing she could do was finished and she stepped back to allow the more highly
trained doctors to work their miracles. She looked to the train and saw Neil digging violently
through a pile of rubble that had cooled in the evening air. 

"Neil, what IS thee doing? There are people out there who need a doctor's hands. There are many
well enough to pull people from the train," Alice said as she tried in vain to remove the
doctor from his task.

"Christy. Ah must find Christy," Neil said loud enough for only Alice to hear. All his energy
was being put into moving the heavy pieces of metal from the pile. He stopped only to catch his
breath. As he did, the rubble beneath him shifted of its own accord. Both Neil and Alice moving
like lightening to uncover the person trapped below. 

A low moan emitted from the pile and Neil removed the last chunk of charred metal to reveal....

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

Part four

.....David Grantland with a large gash running up the side of his face. 

Alice drew in a breath and sighed both relief and disappointment. Having found David was
something to be thankful for but the fact that Christy was still missing was of no consolation
to the very worried Alice Henderson.

Neil hoisted the shoulders of David and Alice picked up his feet. Together they gently moved
him to the field that was being used as a makeshift hospital.

Luckily, the train had not been completely full. The field had about 25 people who had wounds
that would need stitches or cauterization but the other 25 were either yet to be found amongst
the tangled metal or well enough to help out.

"Dan!" Neil shouted, getting the attention of the young doctor who was helping a woman sip
water out of a ladle. Quickly Dan was at Neil's side awaiting instructions from his mentor,
"Take care of the gash on the reverend's face and check for any other wounds. Tend to it all
and make sure there isn't a scratch untreated," Neil said. He quickly headed back to the train
only to stop short in his tracks.

Down the tracks about 25 yards was a sturdy man with a frail body in his arms. Her entire dress
front was covered in blood and her dress was almost completely gone from fire damage. Her legs
hung loosely from the tattered remains of the fabric and dangled over the man's arm as he
carried her to the field and lay her on the damp ground.

Neil saw the blood and instinctively headed toward the woman. Despite his deep, deep concern
for Christy, this woman's life was obviously in perilous danger. The side of Neil that was a
doctor propelled his feet toward the injured woman but the side of Neil that was a lover tugged
on his heart, pleading to return to the train. As he approached the woman on the ground, he
turned and called for Alice to bring his medical bag and some clean water and bandages.
Returning his attention to the woman on the ground, Neil knelt down and examined her chest
wounds.

It seemed that her shirt had been pierced my small pieces of glass. Only once her shirt was
removed and her camisole had been partially unlaced, did Neil know what had caused such immense
bleeding. Hundreds of tiny pieces of china had been imbedded into the woman's skin. 

Neil's fingers began to tremble as he looked at the woman's blouse's buttons more closely. He
was sure he had seen buttons like that before, but where? No. It couldn't be. So engrossed in
the woman's health was Neil that he didn't even notice her face. Slowly he forced his eyes from
the buttons and to the face of the victim.

"Christy." Neil whispered. His hands froze and couldn't move. The obvious peril that Christy
was in forced Neil's mind to race. What if he lost her? What if she died? What if....? No. He
had to stop and think clearly or else he'd be of no use to anyone. Especially Christy. His head
snapped up and his eyes roamed the field for the cove's "nurse." His eyes found her sturdy
frame helping the reverend in sitting up. A small part of Neil was relieved in the reverend's
health, but a larger part was concerned with Christy's well being. He called out to her,
"Alice! Alice, bring me mah bag. Hurry!" Neil's mind worked quicker than his hands and he knew
every tiny piece of glass would have to be removed from her petite body. He also knew that such
an operation could not be properly performed in a field. His cabin's extra room was often used
for patients' surgeries and it could be sterilized far better than an open field.

Alice Henderson ran over to Neil with both his saddle bag and medical bag in hand. She knew
that something horrific must have happened for him to use such a commanding tone with her.
Never in her dreams would Alice have imagined all the blood on the ground belonged to her
precious Christy. When she was close enough to identify the body as the young school teacher's
Alice gave a cry of pain.

"Oh, Heavenly Father!" She cried out with her free hand quickly going to cover her mouth less
any sobs escape her lips. She handed the doctor his bags and dropped to her knees to the side
of Christy. She bowed her head and prayed a prayer of safety for the young school teacher. 

"Alice. Please...if yu'r goin' ta pray...tell God not ta take her frum me...us...just yet,"
Neil said. He quickly averted his eyes from Alice's surprised face, "What ahr ya starin' at,
woman? Don't just sit there. Hand me all the bandages ya've got. Ben Pentland! Find me a wagon
an' quilts. Ah've got ta get this un back to my cabin. She needs surgery."

The doctor and Miss Alice worked on Christy for a quarter of an hour before each felt she was
padded well enough to travel the long way to the gap. "Doc MacNeill? I think that I can handle
it from here if you want to be headin' home now. I know that Miss Christy's gonna need some
extra special care," came the voice of Dan Scott who had come over to help load the still
unconscious Christy into the wagon. 

"Thank you, Dan. Ah'll take Revrand Grantland home now, tu. If ya think he's well enough ta
travel, that is," Neil said as he tucked the quilt around Christy's legs and rose to place his
medical bag and saddle bag in the back of the wagon. 

"Yes, Doc, I think he'll be all right. He's got a mild concussion and a few bruises but nothing
that a week's bed rest won't cure," Dan quietly bent down to Christy's feet preparing to lift
her on to wagon bed. 

Neil had assembled a team of strong men to lift Christy gently into the wagon. It was true that
she didn't weigh much, but any jostling or harsh movements could cause her wounds to start
bleeding all over again and all the bandages in the world might not make up for blood loss
then.

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

Part five

The men carefully hoisted Christy's body onto the wagon bed. Neil positioned himself at
Christy's head so that his lap would provide a pillow during the ride. The quilts that covered
Christy were tucked around her again so that not a whisper of the cold night air would touch
her small body. 

Neil and Christy had been placed to one side of the wagon so there was room for David to lie
down in. His concussion almost promised dizziness, so riding up front was out of the question.
The last thing Alice or Neil needed was David falling off the wagon and into the river!

It had already been agreed that Alice would drive the wagon to Neil's cabin and help in
unloading Christy. Then, she would take the wagon to the mission and put David to bed for the
week. If there was still enough light to travel safely by, Alice would return to the accident
and continue caring for the injured. Ben Pentland would bring Neil and Alice's horses back the
their respective barns in the morning.

Alice called out a wish of God's blessings, and Neil silently repeated them as the wagon
lurched forward heading for home. With a wave from both Alice and David, they headed home.

***********

The "ambulance" pulled up in front of the doctor's cabin and Neil quickly, but smoothly, hopped
out and scooped Christy up. He used his foot to nudge the cabin door open. Swiftly Neil walked
to the small room on the side of the house. In times such as these, it was transformed from a
guest's quarters to a hospital room. Carefully, as if handling a fine piece of rare porcelain,
Neil deposited Christy on the bed who's clean covers had been turned down by the doctor before
he left the house. Being prepared for such an emergency was a constant task for the back-woods
doctor.

Alice had urged the horses on once Neil had made is safely into the cabin. David, who had
fallen asleep on the long journey back to the cove, would be fine with the few stitches Dan
Scott had administered in the field. The wagon jostled David out of his slumber and he awoke
with a start. "Christy?" he asked no one in particular. 

Suddenly a wave of nausea and dizziness washed of the young preacher and he passed out.

Alice Henderson heard the thud that David's head hitting the wagon bed caused and she turned
around with a small grin on her face. Seeing his unconscious form, caused her to laugh
outright. She wondered what David would have done if he had been awake enough to see all the
blood that lay on the wagon bed. Never the less the blood that was dripping from his own
forehead. 

Sometimes men with weak stomachs made Alice giggle. No wonder God made the women have the
children. Being pregnant tested many of the strongest women's wills. A man who couldn't handle
a little nausea or dizziness surely wouldn't even make it through the first three months of
pregnancy!

Part six

In the small room off to the side of the cabin's main structure lay a young woman on a bed.
Over her, a broad-shouldered man stooped working his fingers as fast as they would go. 

"plink-plink," the steady sound of small pieces of china being dropped into a metal bowl could
be heard from the doorway of the room. In that doorway, a woman with long golden hair that had
been pulled into a loose bun on the top of her head, stood watching the procedure. The woman's
hands were folded before her, and her mind was both concentrating on the operation before her
and the prayers that ran through her mind.

Seconds ran into minutes and minutes into hours. Finally the man stood straight and wiped his
hands on a nearby towel. He looked at the woman and allowed a soft smile to cross his lips.

"It's in God's hands now, Fairlight. All we can do is pray...- and make sure her wounds don't
get infected," the doctor said, adding the last part as an afterthought.

He had toiled over Christy's many lacerations for nearly two hours. His hands ached and were
red from the tight grip they had held on the instruments. His vision was blurred from the long
focus they had maintained in a poorly light room. 

Neil felt none of it. His heart ached at the obvious pain Christy must be in. He had tended to
her external wounds as best he could, but internal wounds were another story. He hadn't been
the one to pull her from the wreckage, so he didn't know how she had been positioned amongst
the twisted metal. For all he knew she could have had many pounds of metal atop her, causing
massive internal injuries.

"Fairlight, if ya wouldna mind, run tu the mission house an call Christy's parent's in
Asheville. Tell em there's been a train accident an Christy's hurt," Neil said. It took all his
strength and control to keep his voice steady.

"Neil, is she goona be all right?" Fairlight asked. It was true that she had faith in the
doctor and in the Lord, but that didn't make her concern lessen any.

"I won't know fer a few days, Fairlight. Keep thinkin' good thoughts and your prayers wouldna
hurt. Go tu the mission house and make that call. The sooner Christy's parents know, the sooner
they can get here," Neil said. He crossed the length of the room in two long strides and
escorted Fairlight to the door. On the way across the cabin's main room, he grabbed a piece of
paper. Taking Fairlight's hand in his own, he slipped the paper into her palm.

"Here's the address a Christy's family. Tell the operator tu connect yu tu this number in
Asheville. Tell the mission that Christy's duin' well, but I won't allow visitors fer another
week. After that, t'will be family only. Alice an ya might slip in an see her now and again
when she's better. The fewer people in here, the less chance a infection. Go, Fairlight. The
sooner her parents get the call, the sooner they can be here with Christy."

With a slight nudge from Neil's hand at her back, she was off, disappearing into the woods like
a brown rabbit frightened by a sudden noise. Silent and sure footed, she made her way toward
the mission house, treading through the forest that had been her home all her life, Fairlight
feared nothing in the woods. She knew her way like she knew every freckle on her children's
faces and she knew that God was walking along her side.

Seeing her disappear amongst the trees, Neil turned and headed back into his home. Neil walked
toward the fire place and threw a log onto the dying embers. Despite the warm temperatures
outside, the cabin had drafty areas that often allowed the cool breezes the wind their way
inside. 

He rested his forearms along the fireplace's mantle and his head against his arms. Breathing a
deep sigh, Neil began to think. God. Maybe God doesn't hate me. Maybe he took Margaret from me
so that I could properly love Christy when the time was right. 

"ARRRGH!" smacking his hand so hard against the mantle that the hurricane lamp rattled and
almost toppled to the floor, Neil let out a suppressed, yet mighty, groan of frustration. How
was he supposed to heal Christy's body when he wasn't even sure of all the damage that had been
done to it? How was he supposed to comfort her when she found all the scars done to her
precious body. How was he supposed to heal her soul with faith when he wasn't sure of his own
faith? How was he going to tell her that he had had to remove a crushed ovary and she might not
be able to have children?

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

Part seven

His one hand rested on the table next to the old book that spread before him. Pages were
yellowed with age and the words had begun to blur under his tired gaze. Lack of nutrition over
the last 12 hours was beginning to catch up with the rugged mountain man and his hands,
normally steady, shook from low blood sugar.

Slowly, as if absorbing every word on the page, yet searching for answers that remained
unfound, he turned the page. His hands trembling, this time not from lack of nutrition, but
from a ghostly visitor that lay buried in book's spine. Here, where the pages had been
separated for approximately 23 years lay a small piece of metal. The pages had conformed
themselves, over time, around the small ring that had been so carefully entrusted in the book
many years ago.

*(flashback) He sat with his shoulders against the headboard of the bed. His mother had all the
pillows. It seemed that when she remained sitting up her coughs lessened and didn't rack her
body nearly as much. Her breathing had become more shallow by the day and Neil had found it
more and more difficult to spend time with his mother because he knew deep in his young heart
that her end was near. He kneeled by his bed every night and prayed that God wouldn't take
someone he loved from him. It was in vain, it appeared to the young lad of 14; all his prayers
going unheard.

Pneumonia had set in quickly after only a short time in the cold rain a week earlier. Had she
known that bringing the freshly cleaned pelts in from the wet rocks by the river would cause
her demise, this young woman would surely have remained indoors Unfortunately for her family,
what began as a tickle in the throat had developed into lungs so filled with fluid that
breathing was ever increasingly difficult. 

She was a simple woman. Frills are too much trouble to work around, she had said quite often.
She did love her jewelry, though. Not having much money in the back-woods cove, whatever
precious stones she owned had come from Scotland with her mother or from her insightful
spelunking son. A small garnet graced her third finger, left hand, and signified her union with
Neil's father. On her other hand, a vibrant green emerald surrounded by a swirling metal design
sat daintily on her smallest finger signifying the clan from which she came. Around her neck
hung a dainty celtic cross which had the most brilliant opal ever found imbedded in the center.

She pulled at her finger and removed the family ring that had stayed with her since she was 16.
It was her time to leave this world and go onto the next and she knew it. Placing the ring in
the center of her heirloom Bible next to her two favorite passages, Maura MacNeill closed the
book and entrusted the word of her Lord with its contents.

"Neilly," she said using the name that he allowed only her to use, "You must promise me that
when you find your true love, you must give her this ring. Don't give it to just anyone,
Neilly, it must be the woman who makes your heart sing the song that started at the beginning
of time. You are too young now to know what I mean, but," coughs racked her body and she
couldn't go on without a drink of water to lubricate her parched throat, "one day you will find
the right woman and you will understand. My momma passed this ring to me from her momma and her
momma from her. You give it to your wife and she'll give it to your daughter. Promise me,
Neilly, that you won't loose faith in yourself or God. Promise me that you'll keep my family's
last legend going with this ring." 

Maura drew in a very shaky breath and placed the thick leather Bible in the hands of her only
son. He looked at her with tears welling in his eyes and crushed the book to his chest, only
nodding his agreement and promise. She took the necklace from her neck and placed it in the
palm of his hand and gently folded his fingers closed around it. She snuggled deep down amongst
all the hand-made quilts that she had toiled hours on end over. Once she was settled, snugly in
a comfortable position, Neil moved quickly to rest his head on his mother's chest. The weak
sound of her heart could be heard under his head and it comforted him with every beat. 

The rise and fall of Maura's chest was shallow and lulling to Neil. His eyelids seemed to get
heavier and heavier as him mother softly hummed a lullaby to him. She stroked his hair until
she no longer had the strength to move her hand. She crooned soft notes to him until her energy
was wasted on breathing. 

And One last time her chest rose and fell under Neil's head. One last time she breathed in and
one last time, she let out a breath. She let out her last breath with a smile on her face for
her soul had felt none of the pain her body felt during the last seconds of life. And in that
last breath, she exhaled her spirit into the great continuance of life that surrounds us all to
this day. 

Softly, Neil cried as his mother died holding him. As she died humming his favorite lullaby to
his youthful ears, Neil cried for the times that they had together and the ones they would not.
He cried softly for the grandchildren she would never see and the places that he would never
take her. He cried for the woman who would never know her as a mother-in-law and the many hours
of Scottish stories that she would never share with the Cove's next generation. In that moment
when his mother's chest fell and did not rise back up, Neil asked a question that he would echo
many times in the future. 

"Why, God? Why?" (end flashback)*

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

Part eight

Neil picked up the ring that had not moved from the Bible since his mother's death. He twirled
the delicate, petite object in his large fingers and allowed a tear to roll down his cheek. His
mother's death was still a vivid moment in time. 

Neil's mother had not known that her ring would be discovered at the same time her son needed
salvation, but that was the way it had come about by God's hand. Her ring hand been
strategically left on her two favorite Bible passages that happened to be across from each
other. The bible had come from a monastery many generations ago in Scotland and had been passed
down through many daughters and daughters-in-law. The passage that is mother had read to him
many times over when he was a young boy, caught Neil's eye. As if she were standing over him
and reading it to him, he heard her melodic voice read: 

"BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THIS: 
WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US." 

His heart sank as he recalled his promise to his mother. He had promised not to let himself
loose faith and he had lost much more than that. He had lost a wife, a child, and most of all,
his soul. 

His roaming eyes looked to the top of the page and, again, as if his mother were reading it
herself, he heard: ROMANS 5:8.

Neil's massive fingers spun he delicate ring in his fingers as he recalled the last promise he
ever made to his mother. He would give this reason the woman who mad his heart sing. He might
have walked away, or so he thought, from God, but he would not let his mother's last wish go
unanswered. And he would find God in the process.

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

Part nine

David sat up much too quickly and the room spun at his sudden movements. Above him towered
Uncle Bogg chewing steadily on a large, obviously juicy, piece of chaw. It filled his cheek so
that Uncle Bogg looked as if he had been punched by a sizable fist.

"You move slow, now Reverend. That thar knot on your head be the size of a spring pun'kin and
movin'll just make it set ta swellin' agin. Lay back, now and rest. Miss Alice'll be home by
noon-meal tomorrow and ye'll be 'wakened by then, I reckon." Uncle Bogg said with the authority
that Miss Alice had placed in him, shown clearly evident in his voice.

David, not feeling much like a rebel, rested his head back down on the soft, down pillow and
slept for the next 3 days. He wasn't even aware that Fairlight came with news of Christy's
health and had placed a phone call to Asheville without any assistance from either Ruby Mae or
Uncle Bogg. 

It should be said now that Ruby Mae was not at the mission was because she had taken a liking
to a member of the Cove's newest family, Hild O'Hurlahee. Hild, had moved with his family from
Michigan. The reason they came to the cove had not yet been disclosed to the prying neighbors,
but Ruby Mae and Hild's liking for each other had not gone unnoticed by most anyone with two
good eyes and a stable head on their shoulders. On this particular day, they had taken a walk
down by one of Ruby Mae's favorite spots, the springs. The water bubbled from the ground as
clear and cool as if God himself had poured it from a pitcher! However, it wasn't the pool of
water around the spring that the two teens were gazing into, rather the "deep pools of a true
love's eyes," as Hild had so eloquently put it.

At least someone in the cove was having a good day and was ignorant of the destructive wreck of
careening metal that had injured town of the Cove's most influential people.

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

Part ten

Neil knelt by Christy's bed his head bowed and hands folded before him. He did not pray a
formal prayer, as he had always thought that a relationship with God should not be a stiff and
formal one, but rather one of mutual understanding. Prayer, in Neil's opinion, should be like a
conversation with a friend, not a plea at an angry captor or master.

"Father, Ah know Ah have not been th' best a your creatures. Ah know Ah have let ya down an
strayed from the path ya have chosen fer me. Ah know tha' yur hand has guided me over many a
rough spot in mah life an Ah have turned the other way so not ta see yer strong hand lifting me
over trouble," Neil took a deep breath and began to do something he thought he'd never do after
the death of his mother. He asked for God's help in a medical matter. "God, please do not take
Christy from me just yet. Ah don't know if it is in yer plan fer us ta be together, but, Lord,
the want fer it is in mah heart. Lord, this young lass has so much more tu du here in this
cove. Please don't take her from us just yet. We need her. Lord, I love this beautiful lass you
brought to us. I need her!" Neil's head slowly sunk to his crossed arms and rested on the downy
mattress of Christy's bed. Sobs racked his body and tears rolled down his cheeks. He cried at
the release of pent up prayer and the loss of his mother. He cried at the loss of his child and
the loss of his faith. And he cried for the life of his beloved. His Christy.

After a long time of crying and silent prayer, Neil felt a touch to the top of his head. Softly
and unsure, a hand softly stroked the Doctor's tussled red hair. Slowly, he lifted his head and
with tear-streaked cheeks, looked up to the face of a sleepy Christy Huddleston.

"Why, Neil, I do believe this is quite a moment. One to be put down in the Cove's records,
quite possibly. You prayed?" Christy said in a voice that hardly compared to a butterfly's
whisper, "and you love me?"

"Yes, I luv ya lass." Neil said, himself whispering as if he feared Christy would break under
the strength of his words. 

"Well, then, Doctor, I suppose its about time I tell you," Christy said with a look of
disappointment on her face. Neil braced himself for the let down of his life as Christy
continued, "I love you, too."

The smile that radiated from Neil's face couldn't compare to the jovial laugh that began in his
belly and was now escaping his lips. "Yer a scamp, Christy Rudd Huddleston. That ya are," with
those words said, Neil leaded over to the still pasty-white complexioned Christy and placed a
gentle kiss on her forehead. "Let me check yer pulse ta make sure everything's in workin'
order, lass." 

Neil pulled himself into "doctor" mode and began to examine the woman he loved. Her pulse was
normal, and her breathing was regular. Neil gingerly changed the dressings on all but one of
her wounds. The lower abdomen would keep until Alice returned. After professing his love to
Christy, he did not think it appropriate to venture to her lower recesses even if it was as a
doctor.

Her spirits seemed well and her health returning at a remarkable, miraculous speed. Miraculous
indeed for God had worked His hand over the Doctor's cabin that day. Not only had he pulled a
stray sheep back into his flock, but he had almost completely healed an injured woman in an
amount of time that was practically unheard of. However, in this cove, Christy's "miraculous
healing" would be heard of again and again and again.

Part eleven

Christy's face was as red as Thanksgiving persimmons and her shoulders shook. Her belly hurt
and her eyes were wet. The young teacher's hands held her stomach as her laughter rang through
the small cabin.

"....An' then Neil, saz to me, he saz 'Fairlight, ya done cooked up a fine mud pie, but what I
wanted were a quail!"

"WHA' IN SAM-HILL IS GOIN' ON IN HERE?" Neil MacNeill strode through the sick-room door to a
bright pink Christy with a smile on her face radiant enough to light a darkened cave. Neil
looked from Christy, who was holding her hand over her mouth trying to conceal her obvious
laughter, to Fairlight, who was giggling at the ruckus her "Neil-the-early-years" story had
caused.

Neil's stern glanced only wavered for a brief moment as his eyes rested on Christy. He
continued with his scolding in the same tone that Christy would have used on her pupils,
"Fairlight," he said, wagging his blood-covered finger at the blonde woman, "Ah asked yu tu
keep my patient company while Ah cleaned a rabbit for dinner. Ah come in here and find yu two
laughin' so hard that Christy's stitches are liable to pop," he paused. His face softened as
Christy let loose one of her stifled giggles. "Oh, Fairlight, if yu make Christy's this happy
every time you come to visit, then Ah think you'll have tu come over more often. Now, what
story were ya tellin' her to make her laugh so? Hmm?"

Neil's alluring smile broke over his face and he sat down next to Christy on the bed gently
helping her to sit up after cleaning his formerly bloody hands in the wash basin next to the
window. 

He listened and laughed along with the two women as Fairlight retold the story of one of Neil
and Fairlight's first meeting so many years ago. This time, though, Christy leaned against
Neil's broad frame as she laughed instead of leaning her sore back against the bed's hard
headboard.

That after noon Fairlight left just as Neil began to cook a wonderfully aromatic rabbit stew.
The broth would be full of revitalizing nutrients that would bring Christy's health back as
soon as possible. Christy had no obvious internal injuries that would affect her stomach, so
Neil decided that some tender rabbit meat and soft vegetables would do her no harm.

"Christy-lass, Ah have somethin' tu tell yu about yer surgeries..." Neil said as her brought a
bowl full of stew to Christy's bed-side. How exactly would he tell her about the metal that
landed on her during the accident, crushing her ovary?

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

Part twelve

David once again woke from a deep slumber but this time there was no one in the mission house
but him. It had been a day since the accident and He silently prayed for Christy's recovery. He
MUST tell her how he felt about her before she could... well, before any more time had past.

Uncle Bogg had taken leave of the mission to bring provisions to the men and women still
working at the accident. Miss Alice's one day leave had turned into a two day event. Food, and
a change of clothes were surely in need by now so Uncle Bogg and Aunt Hattie were traveling
beyond the mountain's walls and helping those in need.

David, worried greatly about Christy, sat up and changed his clothes. He washed as much as he
could in his dizzy state. And went downstairs and ate a quick but hearty lunch. As soon as he
finished, for he would need all the nutrition he could get when he confronted the doctor, he
saddled Prince and rode of at a leisurely walk to the doctor's cabin.

He thought as he rode away from the mission, "There's no rush. That bast*rd will still be there
with my woman tomorrow," with that thought rushing through his head, a demonic grin crossed
David's face.

The pain throbbed in his head and caused thoughts that would not normally have been thought to
ebb through his mind. Words that he had been told were the "devil's words" washed through his
mind and overpowered his good sense and reasoning. 

Every now and again, a same thought would edge into his head, but the pain that washed from his
concussion pushed it away. And David never realized he had the rude thought to begin with.

He acted as if he were still a small boy and his worst enemy had stolen his favorite plaything.
That boy was out for revenge and craved the taste of payback as a vampire craves the taste of
blood.

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

Part thirteen

Christy looked up at the handsome doctor with a worried look on her face. She trusted him with
her life, but the tone of voice with which he spoke made her worry not for herself but for the
doctor.

"Neil, whatever it is, you can tell me," Christy said hoping to reassure the doctor.

"Well, lass, when ya were in the train wreck, some metal fell on ya an pinned ya to the corner
of a servin' cart. That's why ya have all those little cuts. Ya were thrown onta a cart a China
plates an' the china broke and cut inta ya. Ah had to take them all out one by one. There were
thousands a little pieces...." Neil shook his head trying to rid himself of the memories of
Christy's surgeries, "The corner of the cart ya landed on crushed yer abdomen an... mashed yer
ovary beyond repair. Ah had ta remove it, lass or the internal bleedin' would have killed ya,"
Neil concluded he speech and knelt next to Christy's bed as he did. Soft tears fell down his
cheeks as he held onto her warm hand trying to reassure her of his love, despite her
misfortune.

"Neil, what does this mean?" Christy asked without shedding a tear. Her face reflected wisdom
beyond her years and it seemed she had been prepared for such an announcement long ago.

"It means, beautiful, that ya may not be able to have children. The other ovary still works,
but now yer chances of gettin' pregnant are reduced by half. ...Christy, Ah-," Neil was cut off
by Christy's strong, unwavering voice.

"I suppose that if God doesn't think I'm fit to have children, this is one way of going about
it," Christy sniffled a little. Her mind was racing. The most prevalent thing in her mind was
the presence of God in her life. If it was his will, then that was that and the only thing she
could to was to pray even though Christy knew the chances of her regenerating an ovary were
slim to none, even by the power of prayer. The only thing that came close to equaling the love
she had for God was the love she had for Neil. He had admitted his love to her even though he
knew that she might never make him a father or be a good wife by providing children. Yet, he
had said he loved her. Christy thought for a moment on this fact and she was almost sure that
David would not have acted the same way. Mind you, she was not comparing the tow, just thinking
how different her life would be if she had accepted David's proposal so long ago. The one thing
Christy wanted more than anything right now was to be outside amongst all of God's creatures
with her love's arms around her. "Neil, will you take me outside please?"

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

Part fourteen

Despite his intuition as a doctor, Neil scooped Christy into his strong, muscular arms and
carried her onto the porch. He stood with her in his arms in the infamous "Superman" position.
A thought of a porch swing flashed through his head and he decided that Christy would enjoy a
place to sit and swing on cool autumn days. Maybe rock a small child to sleep in the fresh
evening air? Christy's head moved on his shoulder, pulling him gently from his reverie.

"Christy, lass, Ah don't think God think yu'd be a poor mother. How cud ya say that? Ah've seen
how ya luv the school children an' they're not even yer own. Yu've got more'en enough motherly
luv to go around. Besides, luv, ya may still have children. It just might no' be as easy as it
is fer other women," Neil said as he moved to sit on the front steps and rested Christy in his
lap, cradling her like a young babe.

"Oh, Neil, I just want to cry. I want to cry for the loss of children I haven't ever seen. But
I know that's foolish. God may bless us with children after all. It's in his hands," Christy
said with a sigh. She snuggle in Neil's lap as a stray breeze slipped up the hand-made quilts
that covered her.

He paused to look at her as his he felt his ears may have deceived him. "What did ya say,
lass?"

Christy looked up into his hazel eyes and repeated her words carefully, "I said, God may bless
us with children after all. It's in his hands. Why?"

"Us? Our Children? Us have...children?" He looked at her as if she were speaking a foreign
tongue.

"Why, Neil, I... I mean, you do want to marry, don't you? I... I don't mean to be presumptuous,
but... I love you. And you said you love me, so I just thought that..." Christy turned her head
and looked away. She didn't think that a confession of love would lead to anything BUT
marriage. Maybe Neil had a different idea.

"Christy, lass, Ya want ta marry me? A dried up back-woods doctor? And you want to have my
children? Oh lass, this is the happiest day of my life!" With that exclamation, the good doctor
rose to his feet and spun around with Christy in his arms. He was laughing so hard that Christy
could feel his belly shake. His smile was so large that Christy thought it would touch his
ears. Her hands reached up and encircled his neck, less she should slip from his grasp and
tumble to the ground. His laughter was so strong it became contagious and soon she was laughing
right along with him. 

Children or no, they would be together forever. Linked by their heart-strings and eternal love.
Each knew this and reveled in the fact that nothing, even tragedy would overcome the love they
felt for one another.

Viewing this whole display of passion, was a very delirious David Grantland who's horse had
been halted on the hill next the cabin. His face, once placid, became suddenly angry and
painful to look at.

With a powerful kick to the horse's flanks, he charged down the hillside headlong for the good
doctor and the fair teacher.

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

Part fifteen

Jeb Spencer and "his woman," Fairlight, walked through the woods and down the incline toward
the Doctor's cabin. Fairlight and Jeb hummed an old song they both new by heart. It was Swedish
song called "cutchie coo" that spoke of a woman who's man had left her alone and she pinned
away for the time that they spent together. It's lovely tune had both the mountaineers walking
both in step with each other and in step with the beat. 

They were on their way to visit Christy. The children had placed letters to their teacher,
written on their slates, in a hand-woven basket that Fairlight carried. In it, she was also
taking a jar of persimmon jam to fill Christy's stomach with "vitals." Jeb carried his shotgun
under his arm. After all, it was bear season and one could never be too safe when walking in
these woods. The trail to Doc MacNeill's was well worn by both time and bare-feet. Many people
had walked this trail in search of healing and relief. Fairlight and Jeb and taken this day
from work to bring a little bit of healing and relief to their precious teacher. It might not
be the type of calling she would have received in Asheville, but it was full of love.

Jeb and Fairlight walked into the clearing hand in hand. Everything seemed to move in
slow-motion as they viewed the scene before them.

Neil swung Christy around in his arms treating her like a delicate piece of crystal. David rode
down the hillside at full gallop on his mighty stead, Prince. His eyes blazed with pain and
hatred. All his seminary schooling went unheeded as he forgot to "Love everyone." In his mind,
there was no room for love. His heart was overflowing with jealousy and rejection. He leapt
from the black stead and planted his feet firmly on the ground with a wild sneer across his
face. 

"NEIL!!!!!--" Fairlight screamed as David's hands shot up to encircle the good Doctor's neck.
Neil was too engrossed in Christy's deep eyes to hear any of the ruckus that the wild preacher
was causing right behind him. Jeb's arm raised and his well-trained eye took aim for the
preacher. 

Neil glanced up at the scream's owner. He saw her panicked face and turned slowly around to
face his attacker. A look of fear came across his face. He tried to use his strong, muscular,
body to shield his precious Christy. David's hand formed a fist as he brought it back behind
his ear. With all the energy he could muster, he slammed his fragile hand into the doctor's
jaw. Neil staggered backwards and toppled to the ground with Christy only slightly jostled. The
force of the punch wouldn't have normally even fazed him, but with Christy in his arms, Neil
was thrown off balance.

Fairlight dropped her basket to the damp ground. Her skirts lifted, she ran and arrived at
Neil's side just as a shot rang out.

David recoiled letting loose a heart wrenching scream of pain. He fell to the ground clutching
his arm.

Part sixteen

Fairlight helped Christy stand, much to Neil's discomfort, and guided her to the front steps of
the doctor's cabin. Christy sat wearily on the stoop and recovered her senses that had been
knocked from her by David's hand. Her mind was a muddle of thoughts. Everything running
together and blurring.

Neil rushed to David's side and ripped the preacher's sleeve clean up to the shoulder where
blood had seeped through the fabric and was pooling on the ground.

A wound about the size of a quarter seeped blood from David's arm. Jeb Spencer's bullet had
grazed David's arm as intended. Jeb had no intention of killing the preacher because he knew
full well what it felt like to have his heart aching for a woman. (But that, is another story
altogether!)

"Doctor, you'd best leave Christy to the real men of this cove," David said between gasps of
air.

"Wuld those real men be men like yu, reverend? Men who have no respect fer a woman's feelings?
This is neither the time nor the place, reverend, for us tu be havin' this conversation," Neil
said with the authoritative tone that he always used with cantankerous patients. 

With the help of Jeb Spencer, Neil moved David into the cabin and set him down at the kitchen
table in his heirloom chair. 

David looked around the cabin and curled his nose at the thought of any woman living here of
her own free will. Although Neil had clean the cabin up considerable since Christy's accident
(for no justifiable reason other than health) David's rage filled vision saw nothing but a
small cabin that would lead to a poverty stricken family. 

"Ah have tu dress yer wound, reverend, set still," Neil said as he washed and applied salve to
the grazed arm. He wrapped a clean bandage around David's shoulder and then moved his fingers
to the good-sized bump on David's scalp. "Reverend, Ah thought I told ya three days bed-rest.
Why are ya up already? Ah know from the size a the bump on yer head tha' ya can't be THAT thick
skulled!" Neil said with a chuckle. 

A small chuckle escaped Christy's lips as Fairlight helped her to the bed that stood off-center
of the room. She sat down and Fairlight helped her arrange her nightshirt and the quilts on
Neil's bed so that she was soon propped up against the headboard with pillows supporting her
and covered from arm-pits to toes in Neil's heirloom quilts. 

With David's needs attended to, Neil rushed to Christy and delivered a glass of cool river
water which slowly passed over her parched lips. Tears glistened in her eyes and Neil wondered
exactly what kind of pain she was in. He knew that taking her outside so soon could have been
unhealthy, but never had he dreamed that such commotion would ensue.

"What's wrong, lass? Where does it hurt?" Neil asked with more concern for his patient than he
ever thought possible. If Christy was hurting, then so was he. Right now, his heart ached for
his beloved who sat on his bed with unshed tears in her eyes. She was in pain and he wanted to
fix it.

"You can't fix it, Neil. It just hurts," Christy mumbled. He reached out to her and pulled her
close so that she cried into his chest, wetting his shirt with her tears.

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

Part seventeen

"Never would I have thought that my selfishness would hurt two people I care so much about. I
should have never said such harsh words to you, David," Christy said looking up at his blue
eyes. "What if I had never had a chance to apologize? And you, Neil, why have I hurt you all
this time? All the fighting and the gap we've both put between us. It isn't worth living like
that." Christy's last words were muffled as her personal doctor's strong arms pulled her closer
to him. 

He held her gently, but with the passion that only a future lover could possess. He murmured
soft, crooning words into her hair. And kissed her forehead when she turned and looked up into
his eyes. "Oh, lass, tell me how tu make ya al-righ'. Tell me an' Ah'll du it," Neil spoke
words that came from the heart. 

"Oh, Neil,..."Christy said. She didn't know what to do. David had known for a long time about
Christy's feelings, or lack there of, for him. She just didn't feel the way about him that she
felt about Neil. With Neil, it was a burning rage that, for years, Christy had confused with
hatred when in fact, it had been love. The same passion that made her infuriated with the
rugged back-woods doctor's pious comments also made her love him. 

None of that existed with David. The feeling of respect and friendship she held for the
reverend had often been misinterpreted for something more. And Christy's lack of "brass," as
her father would have said, kept her from chastising the childish David when he stole quick
kisses like a schoolboy. 

"David, you and I need to talk," Christy said, wiping her eyes dry, as she leaned back from
Neil's strong frame. As much as she loved having Neil to lean on, Christy knew that this was
something she needed to do for not only herself, but many members of the cove. "Neil, if you
wouldn't mind, I need to speak to David in private. Maybe Jeb and Fairlight could walk to the
mission and get me some clean clothes for when I'm well enough to return?" She hinted politely
asking everyone to wait outside for a few moments. With a nod from Neil, everyone but the
reverend was ushered out from the cabin and to the front porch.

Fairlight scooted to the lawn to retrieve her basket of "goodies" and give that to Neil.
Presently, she and Jeb were off through the woods, strolling and silently praying for Christy's
well being; both physically and emotionally. This would be a trying time for many members of
the cove, and with the help of God, they would all survive.

Back in the cabin, David perched on one of Neil's chairs and glared at Christy.

"Is this really what you've become Christy?" He asked, looking at her with scorn and pity.

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

Part eighteen

"What is it you see me becoming, David?" Christy asked with both curiosity and annoyance in her
voice.

"A back-woods wife. You aren't cut out for it, Christy. You need to be pampered and treated as
the true lady you are. You shouldn't be here in this cove surrounded by poverty and death. Its
not what you were born into. I can take you away from here and give you the kind of social
standing you deserve. That doctor can't do that, Christy. His heart is in the cove and I don't
think he'd leave this place for anything. Not even you." David said with conviction.

Christy sighed and glanced out the door. Neil paced back and forth across the green grass and
dug holes into the round with his gaze. His whole body posture made Christy's lips tug into a
smile. He reminded her so much of the many men who anxiously waited for their expectant wives
to bring a child into the world. He was worried for her and he wanted to hold her hand through
the ordeal, but he knew that Christy had to do this for herself. So much like an expectant
father, yet so unlike her own father.

"David, I've already told you that I don't...I'm sorry, but I don't love you that way. It
wouldn't be right to form a life with you when my heart's not in it. Would you be happy living
with any woman who's heart belongs to another man?" Christy took a deep breathe and again
glanced out the front door. In her mind, a quick flash of her life without Neil came into
focus. It scared her. She continued, "I can't say I'm sorry, David, because I'm not. I'm not
sorry I came to the cove. Nor am I sorry I met you. I'm not sorry I gave up my "high-falutin"
life in Asheville to come to this wonderful place and I'm certainly not sorry that I turned
down you marriage proposal. David, If I had agreed to marring you, it would have been a
mistake. I do love you, David, its just not the kind of love that Neil and I have. I'm not
sorry I got on that train yesterday morning, either. If I hadn't, then I might not have found
that great love. David, when we spoke on the train yesterday, I told you that you treated me
like a child, which you do, by the way. But I know that you could never love me as an equal."
Christy said with conviction. Her voice remained low and soft throughout. She spoke from her
heart and did not deny anything that was said, for it was all true, and she knew it.

A heavy silence filled the air and David hung his head, staring at the floor. The silence was
broken only after minutes had elapsed and David's mind came to a startling revelation. 

"I do, treat you that way, don't I? Oh, God, what have I done to you? To us? Christy I'm so
sorry. Can you Forgive me? Please?" David's eyes filled with tears and his voice wavered with
emotion as he realized all of it was true. Not just what Christy had said, but what everyone
had said, including what his conscience had been saying and what God had been whispering in his
ear.

The stolen kisses and the star-gazing. Everything had been a result of his own over-active
hormones that he hadn't been able to control. 

"David, can you forgive me for leading you on? I've been lying to myself all along thinking
that it was you that I love. It wasn't fair to you or to me. And it certainly wasn't fair to
Neil or anyone else in this cove that was caught in between the four of us," Christy said. A
great weight had been lifted off her shoulders when she told David what was in her heart. 

"Christy, how about we forgive each other for the games we've been playing? This isn't one
person's fault, but the fault of us both. Maybe God's been trying to smack us in the face with
each other's love. Who knows but God himself?" David said with a shrug. He rose from the chair
and leaned over to hug Christy gently.

Christy flinched under the slight squeeze from David. The hug sent nice warm shivers through
her now that she knew their friendship would be in tact no matter what, but her lacerations
that ran up and down her back and the deep, fresh, wound that trailed across her abdomen hurt
like the devil.

David sensed her pain-filled wince and a worried look came across his face. "Christy, what's
wrong?"

"I...."

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

Part nineteen

As Fairlight and Jeb made their way through the forest and came to the Mission path, they spoke
of trivial matters, both keeping their words from reflecting the what they both were thinking.

Each one had a different perspective in the matter, of course. When someone tries to turn your
life upside down, its rather hard to not allow your life to drift back; especially at times
like these. The situation that Jeb and Fairlight had been in was so similar to the one that
Christy and Neil were in that it was uncanny. That had been one of the reasons that Fairlight
had been at Christy's side all these days. She knew something like this would happen with
David's childish immaturity rising to the surface. 

It had been a long time since they had both thought of him. A very long time indeed. 

Fairlight knew that no matter how infrequently she thought of Mark, and what he had done, the
story of them would never die. Fairlight's brother, Kilt, had written it all down in her
journal. Someday when Fairlight's children were old enough to read it, she would tell them the
story of John's father and how Jeb stepped in to raise the infant as his own.

Such parallels between the situation that Christy and Neil were in and Fairlight's own were
astounding. It was as if God was re-running the whole episode to be able to catch it again.

Silently they walked hand in hand through the woods to the mighty Mission house. Each lost in
their own thoughts, but each one thinking the same thing.

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

Part twenty

"Christy, whatever it is, you can tell me," David, implored. A worried look came across his
face.

Christy took a deep breath and said cautiously, "I had some very deep lacerations and Neil had
to perform surgery to remove some shards of glass. And, well, some damage had been done to my
internal organs and Neil had to remove some of them. David, its nothing serious, really. Neil
says I'll be out of here before the end of next week, baring infection, and I can go back to
school as soon as break is over. I'll be fine, really I will," Christy said noting the
detection of disbelief that creased David's face. 

"What kind of internal damage, Christy?" David asked pulling back and folding his arms across
his chest.

"David, its really not important. I'm fine now and-" Christy said with more mettle than she
truly felt.

"Christy, tell me. I want to know." David said, not realizing that he had just overstepped his
bounds as a friend.

"David, I don't really think it is any of your business, but my left ovary was crushed beyond
repair and Neil had to remove it," Christy said, clearly annoyed that David, yet again,
wouldn't take "no" for an answer. 

Suddenly, David's face became full of one emotion; pity. "Oh, Christy, I'm so sorry. Does this
mean you won't have children of your own? I'm so sorry. Have you told anyone else? Well, of
course you wouldn't. I mean why would you want everyone to know of your condition. Oh, my poor
Christy," David crooned his voice full of sorrow. Upon hearing of her "condition," David had
knelt down next to the bed and began patting Christy's hand as if she were dying.

Christy snatched her hand from David's and gave him a look that would snap the dead from their
slumber.

"David, this is not the end of the world. Neil has helped me to see that. Being partially
infertile is not a death sentence. It will just make life more fulfilling. Please don't think
of me differently now that you know. And I really don't care who knows, David. I don't find
this at all shameful." Christy said, amazed at David's insensitive reaction.

At that moment, Neil had had enough pacing and stormed into the cabin with a severe look on his
face.

Part twenty-one

"Reverend,..." Neil said with hesitancy. Half of him was scared that he would lose control and
punch this pretty-boy's face in, while the other half was afraid that he had lost Christy to
David (as if she were a prize to be won). 

He continued, "May Ah speak with yu outside please? We'll be right back, Love. Why don't yu
rest right now. Would ya like tu go back to the guest room?" But by this time, Christy had
fallen asleep. Neil's simple presence in the room gave Christy's mind the ease it needed to
relax into slumber. Her normally square shoulders were slumped against the down pillows and her
eyes were closed in a faint and demure manner. 

A faint smile lit across the face of the doctor, softening his now stressed face into one that
was overflowing with simple and pure love.

Neil guided David out of the cabin and down to the river where they stood facing the water,
each lost in their own thoughts. Neil thought of the love he had for Christy and how it was
unequaled by anything he'd ever known. David thought of how unfulfilling Christy's life would
be without children. Deep in a part of his soul, he resented the doctor for taking away
Christy's ability to have children. Yet in his heart of hearts, he knew that if the ovary
hadn't been removed Christy surely would have died.

Neil let out a sigh and began his speech by saying something he never thought he would,
"David," Neil said, for the first time addressing the reverend by his first name, "Christy's no
longer in any danger as long as no infections set in. She'll be able tu return tu the mission
in a few days once her wounds begin tu heal. After that Ah'll be by tu remove her stitches and
bring fresh dressings fer her wounds. In abou' a week, she'll be well enough tu return tu
school, although she proba'ly will ha' some trouble getting around, due tu stiffness caused by
her wounds. There should be no lasting injuries, other than some scars and a severally strained
muscle in her abdomen."

"Doctor, do you really think that not being able to have children is to a serious injury with
lasting effects? How could you even think that Christy's life would be productive without the
ability to have children? She would be absolutely devast-" David said being interrupted by a
gruff voice from the doctor.

"Reverend, Don't yu dare assume that yu kno' what's good fer Christy or what she wants from
life. Yu don't have any idea. Christy knows that she MIGHT be able tu have children. Its all a
matter of timing an nature. Christy and Ah both have faith tha' God will see us through this.
Christy can still lead a very productive life while missing an ovary, and Ah dun't know why you
seem tu think differently. It certainly won't make her less feminine or capable as a teacher.
I'm sorry you feel otherwise, Reverend, because yu'll be missin' the company of a great woman.
Now, if you'll excuse me, Ah've got a patient to atten' tu." Neil said as strode from the river
bank and away from the silent reverend.

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

Part twenty-two

As the days passed, the cove was abuzz of activity with preparations being made for winter,
with only one minor exceptions; David. His days were spent in solitude. He would go hunting or
trapping, under the pretense of the mission's pantry being low. Alice, providing him with a
knowing smile, silently rearranged the already overflowing pantry to accommodate whatever meat
the troubled David would bring in each night.

Christy and Neil, on the other hand, spent almost everyday working on Christy's atrophied
muscles. At first, it was just patterns repeated over an over while Christy lay in bed, but by
the fourth day, Christy was up and slowly moving around the cabin. 

****

The sound of the river lulled him to sleep every night after checking on Christy and every
morning, the sounds of the river woke him up at daybreak. However, this particular morning, it
was not the sound of the river's wildlife that woke him up, but rather the smell of bacon and
eggs cooking in the kitchen that had Neil drowsily rolling out of bed. His unshaven face and
muddled-more-than-usual hair brought about a slight grin to the chef's face as she caught his
head popping out from the door jam. 

"Good to see you awake, Doctor, I thought that I might have to awaken you with a kiss," Christy
said with a grin as she turned a piece of bacon in the pan.

"Well, then, Miss Huddleston, let me get back intu bed. A kiss from you is incentive enough for
me tu sleep in." Neil said with a quirky grin. He walked behind Christy and gently hugged her
middle as she carefully cooked the splattering bacon.

"There's much to do today, Neil, you'd best shower and wash before breakfast." Christy said,
unwrapping herself from his appealing hug. Neil scurried off to his bedroom and washed and
shaved quicker than he'd ever done before. And in the blink of an eye he was back at Christy's
side helping her make breakfast and prepare a picnic basket for lunch. 

Christy's heart was filled with joy even though her body still ached from pain in some areas.
This is how it should be, she thought, waking up every morning to the smiling face of the one
you love most. Children or no, this is where I need to be. Here, with the man who's so lovingly
captured my heart and healed my wounds. She stopped in mid stride and turned to Neil. Her hands
reached out to encircle the Doctor's surprised face. She pulled him towards her and softly
brushed her lips to his. Then pulled away and began to set the table. She softly hummed as she
worked.

"Christy....?" Neil said more confused than she'd ever heard him before, "What was that fer? Yu
feelin' all right, lass?"

Christy turned from the table and said, "Oh, Neil, I feel better than I ever have before. My
heart is singing and my mind is spinning from sheer delight. Don't you see? This is how
everyone's supposed to be. Happiness was made for everyone and I've just come into my own. This
is where I'm supposed to be. This is where my soul's been all along. Here with you." By the
completely shocked look on his face, Christy knew she had to continue so she tried to clarify
her babbling in to more sensible words; which was quite impossible, since we all know that love
is a purely insensible thing, "Don't you see? I want to wake up with you near me every morning
and I want to cook for you every day-" Christy said, being cut off my a kiss planted firmly on
her lips.

"Christy, love, if yu want tu cook fer me everyday, then Ah hope yur cooking is much improved
since the last time yu cooked fer me. If Ah recall correctly, blackened chicken is not one of
mah favorite meals," Neil said and began to chuckle at Christy's shocked face. 

"Well, Doctor, if that's how you feel then I'm sure you can do all the cooking and that will
leave one less chore for me to do," Christy said with a hint of humor in her voice. She ducked
under Neil's strong arms and made her way to the stove as quickly as her sore muscles would
allow. 

"Christy, yu won't be doin' much work as mah wife. Cooking is something that we can share, just
like we cin share cleaning an' caring fer the animals. It'll be a lot of work on this place
with my medical duties and yer teaching everyday. Then we've got church on Sundays an' Saturday
will really be our only day tu clean an' spend time with each other." Neil said as he finished
setting the table and filled three glasses with water. He went into his and retrieved a bundle
of herbs that Swannie O'Teale had sent over as payment for care, earlier in the month. The
herbs had been drying in the lab all month and were now ready to be used. Neil carefully ground
some of the fine seed in his mortar and pumice and add the fresh powder to Christy's extra
glass of water. He dusted off his hands and helped her bring the toast, eggs, and bacon to the
table.

As he held her chair for her to ease herself into, Neil thought of how differently his life
might have been if Margaret had never left the cove. Silently, Neil said a prayer of thanks to
Margaret for giving her blessing to Neil before she passed on. It did make this whole
"Courtship" process much easier.

Neil sat down at the table across from Christy, keeping a respectable distance, as they were
unsupervised and rumors did not need to be flying around right before school started up again
for the winter session. He leaned across the table and took Christy's hand and in a slightly
unsure voice, said grace over the food which they were about to receive. 

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

Part twenty-three

"Cutter Gap Mission House, Alice Henderson speaking," Miss Alice said practically shouting in
to the telephone, not realizing that loud voices were often unnecessary. "Why, Mrs. Huddleston,
its so good to hear your voice. WHAT? Oh, yes, Christy is doing just fine now. Doctor MacNeill
expects a full recovery quite soon.....Yes, yes, we were expecting you by now," Alice said
desperately trying to hear Julia's voice over top of Ruby Mae's seemingly endless round of
questions. A frown replaced her normally friendly face and anger seemed to seep into her eyes. 

"What's that? Oh, yes, I understand completely. I'm sure Christy will understand, as well....
Hmm? Yes, I will surely give her the message. Will we be expecting you for Thanksgiving this
year? Well, I surely hope your Lady's League will *not* host their annual ball at such a hectic
time.....Yes, your duties as refreshment advisor truly are of great importance...Oh, yes, I
understand...Yes, I think she will, too. I'll give her your love, and have her ring you as soon
as she's able to. Yes, thank you for the call....You too, Mrs. Huddleston, Good day."

Alice hung up the phone with more force than she ever thought she would outwardly show. The
loud bang got Ruby Mae's attention and the young girl realized that this was NOT the time to be
asking questions about a phone call.

"Ruby Mae, take that bread out of the oven when its done," Alice spat out, clearly disturbed by
the phone call, and as an after thought to the order she said in a much more gentle tone,
"please."

Grabbing her hat and riding gloves, Alice headed for the barn to saddle up her mount, leaving a
very startled Ruby Mae staring through the window pane.

****

Christy and Neil sat on the quilt eating chicken sandwiches that had been made earlier that
morning. After lunch, Christy would be heading back to the mission to resume her normal
activities as teacher. The two lovers wanted to spend some time together before being separated
by proprieties and daily duties.

Neil had taken some time off from his medical rounds, leaving Dan Scott to do most of it. After
all, Neil needed the time with Christy and Dan needed the chickens, side-meat, and milk that
was used for payment. It was a fair trade, and Dan didn't mind the experience it gave him,
either. But as soon as Christy returned to the mission, Neil thought it irresponsible to ignore
his duties any longer and Christy would have to become part of his daily rounds anyway.

Christy set her plate of chicken and mashed potatoes down on the quilt. She pushed her shoes,
which had been removed earlier in the picnic, aside and sighed deeply. Suddenly he raised her
hands over her head and fell backwards, causing Neil to rush to her side.

"Lass, yu alrigh'?" Neil said, straddling Christy's prone figure, deep set lines of concern,
crossing his face.

Christy's hands shot up from the grass and wrapped around Neil's neck. A bright, child-like
smile soon graced her face and she shifted her body weight and rolled them down the slight
embankment that they were situated upon. Down the hillside the rolled until Neil rebalanced
them and rolled off of Christy. She sat giggling in the crook of his arm until he caught his
breath and gave her a very stern look.

"What?" Christy asked, giving her voice its most innocent tone. She gazed up at Neil until his
severe look was overthrown by a smile and his belly began to shake uncontrollably with
laughter. He reached his arm over to Christy's hair and plucked a stray dandelion out from her
disheveled mop. The white fluffy flower was soon caught in a breeze and the small petals blew
all over the field, carrying their seed to another area; procreating and making plenty.

Christy's laughter soon subsided and she sighed deeply once again. Neil's laughter soon
dwindled to a mere chuckle occasionally and he allowed his eyes to close and he reveled in the
feelings that Christy brought to him.

"Neil, do you ever want to leave the cove?" Christy said, asking something that had been
haunting her thoughts for days. 

"No." Neil stated simply. He took a deep breath and continued, carefully choosing his words,
"This is mah home, lass, no matter how far Ah go, Ah'll always belong here. With yu," a
hesitant pause, "and our family. Why do yu ask? Do yu want tu leave?"

"No. I know I was raised in Asheville's high society, but it never felt right. I never
understood why things were....well, why they just WERE. The débutante's balls, the Lady's
Leagues, all that. I just never under stood. Here, the propriety's aren't the same, the "Do's"
and "don'ts" are still there, but there the socialization isn't so mandatory. I don't think I
could go back to the way things were, Neil. I don't think I could fit into the conformities
again. Not after being here, in this wonderful place that God has given us. I couldn't leave
here. I hoped you wouldn't want to either. And our family; I hope they love it here just as
much," Christy sighed and cuddled closer to Neil. 

The two had discussed children casually. They had come to a conclusion: if God would give them
children, then they would have children. If not, then they would live life to the fullest, and
accept it as a fact of life. Christy, in all honesty, had been slightly pensive about marriage
since finding out she was possibly barren. Her mother had once told her that it was a woman's
duty to keep her husband satisfied. If she didn't the man was likely to leave home and go
elsewhere for his needs. At the time, Christy did not understand what exactly her mother was
saying, but now, it all made sense to her. If Christy was unable to provide Neil with certain
things, one of which happened to be children, she feared he would go elsewhere. One of her
greatest fears was the Tea House that had been known to draw even the most chaste and faithful
of husbands into its clutches. Her fears had been squelched, however, by Neil stating that
since he realized his love for Christy, the thought of sharing any part of his life, including
that particular aspect, completely disgusted him. His face had spoken more volumes than his
words when he hugged her and admitted his intentions.

Christy sighed once again. The peace that washed over her when she was in Neil's arms was
astounding. She glanced up to the sky and noticed the rain clouds that were accumulating. Their
dark color contrasted sharply with the baby-blue sky.

"Neil, We should head back home. There's a storm coming." Christy said. She wiggled her way out
of Neil's arms and headed over to pack up the remains of the picnic lunch. Neil slowly rose to
help and soon the task was completed and Christy and Neil rode of into the gloomy skyline
heading for the good Doctor's cabin.

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

Part twenty-four

Alice's hands deftly finished grooming her horse and began cleaning her tack. A low roll of
thunder caught her attention and she hurried her task along. She did not want to be caught in
the rain and she certainly did not need a very fearful Ruby Mae freaking out over thunder and
lightening.

Alice placed the mare's tack into its rightful box and proceeded to the mission house. She was
caught by only a few falling rain drops as she ran to the mission. Ruby Mae had, surprisingly,
done as she had been asked and removed the fresh bread from the oven. It lay, on a cooling
rack, on the counter, half covered with a towel.

Ruby Mae, could be heard slowly plinking out a hair raising tune on the piano in the parlor.
Dinner, possum of some sort, was sending somewhat unpleasant smells through the kitchen. Alice,
worried over David, whom she hadn't heard from recently, headed outside to his bunkhouse.

Alice's knock caused the door to the bunkhouse to swing wide open. David's room was immaculate.
The bed clothes had been turned up and the bed had been made with great care. David's
footlocker stood open and it had been emptied of its contents. The pictures that had graced the
walls were now gone and David's bureau top had been cleaned of its burden. 

A small flash of white movement caught the corner of Alice's vision and she turned to see a
piece of paper flutter along the bedclothes. Her feet carried her to the bed as Alice's mind
wandered through many possibilities. She read, with astonishment, the words that lay on the
paper. Penned in David's own neat script, he said: 

To whomever finds this-

Know that I am well and safe. Due to recent happenings in my life, I feel that I am no longer
able to properly lead a parish. Here or anywhere else. Because of this, I have returned to
seminary to study under my mentor until I sort things through. Do not fear for the church, I
will wire for a new pastor as soon as I reach El Pano and I'll have Ben Pentland return Prince.
I can not in, good faith, continue to lead a congregation right now. There are too many things
in my life I must sort through. I pray that I am accepted back in Cutter Gap when the time
comes, but until then, I leave the church in Alice's capable hands. 

If there is an emergency, contact the Holy Mother Seminary in Boston. They will be able to
reach me.

Gob Bless you all,
David Grantland 

The paper fell from Alice's hands and fluttered to the floor. "Dear God." Alice said in a
whisper. Christy was getting married, if they could find a preacher, and David had left the
cove. Surely Cutter Gap was in for some very serious changes.

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

Part twenty-five

The rain gushed onto the Cove as if God Himself was emptying a bucket of water upon the homes
of the cove. Rain leaked through the roofs of homes, making loud "plink" noises as the water
drops fell into old clay and metal pots.

Fairlight Spencer sat on the front stoop to her home and listened to Zady read from the
family's bible. Fairlight was able to read most anything nowadays, but today her mind was not
on the scripture that her daughter was reading. In her mind's eye, Fairlight was surrounded by
water and her children were desperately trying to stay atop the roof of the church. Least'un
held with all his might to the steeple as the water lapped at his heels, rising higher with
every minute. And, thorough it all, there was no reverend in sight. The children kept calling
for their pastor, but David was not to be seen.

Fairlight suddenly chuckled to herself. Usually, these dreams ended up as prophecies, but,
despite her feeling of foreboding, she truly doubted that the cove would flood so high that
refuge would be sought on top of the church's bell tower. Such an over-active imagination she
had. Despite her laughter, Tom was doing his best to ease her worries. As soon as dinner had
been caught, Tom had begun to build a tree-house for the children, if the waters got too high.
Silly as it may sound, Fairlight's fears had been somewhat lessened by this small act. At least
her children would be safe, high above the ground in a house built by their father. 

Her mind wandered far and wide, sometimes giving glimpses of the future and sometimes sending
memories of the past scurrying through her mind. Yet, it all ended up the same way. It all
ended with a "happily ever after," no matter what happened. Deaths, births, floods, tornadoes,
cave-ins, rabid animals, and all the other tests that God and Mother Nature threw at the people
of the cove, somehow, some way, love always came out on top.

Part twenty-six

Christy and Neil rode fearlessly through the storm heading straight for the mission house at
full speed. 

The rain poured down in sheets limiting Neil's vision. Charlie knew the land well, and Neil
gave the stallion free rain. 

The doctor's strong arms tightened around Christy's waist. His hands carefully avoided the
bruised spot on her side that had once been a large gash from which blood spurted freely. But
due to good great medicinal practices, clean air, great food, and enchanting company, that same
deep gash that had once squirted blood was now only a memory. The only reminders were a faint
scar and a small purple spot on to surface of her skin.

The two sweethearts rose through the downpour at a stead canter until Christy's keen hearing
picked up an unusual sound emanating from the woods ahead. Her body went stiff and her eyes
darted from side to side as she searched in the torrent of water for the sound's origin.

"NEIL!!!-" Christy screamed "STOP!!!"

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

Part twenty-seven

The young woman rode her horse through the great mud hole's shallower banks, navigating the
slippery turf as if it were child's play. Her posture was smooth yet straight, as if she were a
dancer who had studied all her life to create shoulders so even that not a drop of water would
spill off of them. The deep green split-skirt and crisp white blouse complimented her light
auburn-red hair so well that the outfit looked as if it were specially made to compliment her
unique features. Her sparkling green eyes were stunning and accented nicely by the rosy blush
that graced her cheeks. Her gloved hands held the reigns as if they were unnecessary. Just by
watching this woman it was quite visible that her legs did most of the directing when riding a
horse. 

Seating herself comfortably in her leather-cushioned seat, the young woman aimed her mount
straight down the mountain-side and toward Cutter Gap.

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

Neil jerked Charlie's reins and pulled the agile stallion to a stop while Christy slipped from
his grasp sliding off the saddle and landing softly on the muddied ground. 

With a sigh, Neil tossed Charlie's reins over a nearby tree limb and headed off after his
beloved.

Christy stepped carefully through the underbrush as the sound got closer and louder. She moved
aside a large leafy branch and stepped forward.

In front of her stood a horse who's withers would come roughly to Christy's chest. The animal
was coated completely in mud. The pitiful noise that came from his opened mouth would have
softened even the hardest of hearts. The pathetic looking creature was stuck in mud and the
more it squirmed trying to get free, the more the mud held on to its prey. The sickening sound
of mud sucking on flesh made Christy's stomach turn and her heart ache for the poor horse. 

Brown. All of the animal was brown. Brown mud from pole to hoof. But the most stunned, yet
saddening brown, was the chocolate brown of its eyes. Those eyes pulled at Christy's heart
strings and begged her to help.

She took one step forward and fell quickly to her backside landing with a resounding *splat* in
the mud. As she struggled to get up, Christy slipped again this time landing on her knees. 

****

"Jeb," Fairlight called to her husband. The rain poured down, but it didn't faze the bee-keeper
who was still outside hollowing a log for a canoe. "Jeb!"

"Yeah?" Jeb hollered to the house as he approached. The rain hitting the tin roof made such a
loud racket that even though they were three feet apart, they could barely make out each
other's words.

"Something's wrong with Neil and Christy. They was headin' to the mission today and I's just
felt something amiss. It ain't right Jeb. We gots to go help them," Fairlight said to her man
as he went inside to get his other hat. He grabbed Fairlight's wool shawl from the peg, too.
Wool kept water out and that would be surely needed on this day. "And, Jeb, bring rope. Lotsa
rope. For some reason, we're gonna need it."

The couple headed off into the woods following yet another of Fairlight's "feelings." It was
certain that one day these hunches of hers would save their lives.

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

Part twenty-eight

A chuckle started to build in Neil as he came upon the piteous scene. A mud-covered pony and a
mud-covered Christy were both struggling to free themselves from the slippery grasp of the
small mud-hole.

"You find something amusing, Doctor?" Christy said as she finally stood. She placed both of her
muddied hands on her hips and faced the doctor with the best poker-face she could muster. 

"Not at all, Miss Huddleston, not at all!" Neil said. He headed, careful not to slip and fall,
to the horse, grabbing Christy by the hand, along the way. The poor, frightened, animal tried
to shy away from them as they approached, but the mud held fast to its prey.

Neil tried to calm the animal by petting it, but the young horse turned and nipped at the good
doctor, causing a tear in his blue shirt. 

"Blasted varmint," Neil cried. Stepping back away from the horse. As he did, his foot slipped
in the mud and he fell to his back-side landing with a resounding plop and sending mud
streaming up and around and over.

Mud landed on Christy. Mud landed on the young horse's back. And mud landed on the relatively
clean Jeb and Fairlight that had just come upon the scene as the good doctor landed on his
rump.

Neil took one look at Christy, who had mud dripping from her hair, from her face, and from her
fingers. Her shirt was plastered to her skin by the wet muck. Her skirts clung to her legs and
rode up, showing much more than the accepted amount of bare skin. Neil's face broke into a
grin. Christy's muddy hand suddenly went up to cover her mouth and behind him, Neil heard a
gasp and a deep chuckle.

He turned to see one of his most dear friends wiping mud off her jumper.

"Fairlight! Jeb!"

Christy's hand fell away to her stomach and she began to giggle. She giggled so loudly that it
became infectious. Soon Fairlight was laughing. All of a sudden Jeb's face went from a sly grin
to an all out smile with his jovial laughter ringing from his mouth. Neil was soon infected.
The laughter-bug had bitten him and he could no longer pretend that the hilarity of the
situation was not at all affecting him. Jeb waded over to the shaking-with-good-cheer doctor
and offered a hand-up. 

Once up, Neil took one step over toward Christy to make sure her bandages were not coated in
mud, but an out stretched hand made him stop in his tracks. With a nod from Christy, letting
him know that she was fine, Neil turned his attention to the newest arrivals on the scene.

"Jeb, Fairlight..."

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

Part twenty-nine

Christy interrupted Neil's word's with a dash toward the young horse and a muffled cry. The
animal, weak from struggling. The horse's ribcage was quite visible through the soft fur.
"Neil...," Christy cried through her muddied hand. The young horse's strength was all but gone.
Its knees began to buckle under the strain of the fight. Mud or villain, this foe was a great
challenge.

It soon turned out that the mud-villain was not a worthy opponent when fighting the mighty Jeb
and the good-doctor. The two forest-hardened mountain men, soon had wedged the soft hand-made
rope underneath the frightened horse and had thrown the ends of the rope over two nearby tree
limbs. The primitive, but reliable, pulley and lever system worked like a charm and the animal
was soon set on its feet on solid ground with the aid of the strong women's maneuvering
abilities.

Jeb and Neil re-coiled the rope and helped the weak animal maintain some balance as the four
good friends trouped toward the mission house, accompanied by a large red-roan named Charlie
and a pathetically slender excuse for a horse who had yet to be named.

Sometime within the last hour, the pouring, drenching rain had slowed to a dull drizzle and
then down to nothing more than a slight mist. In all the excitement, not one person even
noticed the clouds that were soon leaving the sky. 

****

The buck-skin mare stealthily picked her way up the hillside, cautiously avoiding the loosely
packed ground and instead, placing her hooves on the firmer and more compact ground. 

The lush green ferns and thick pine trees spread endlessly, it seemed. The young woman's legs
were tired. Her head swam and her hands ached from their awkward position around the reins. 

The sure-footed mare soon seemed to add a little spring into her step and her feet surged
forward. This quick and unexpected action, as the mare was just as weary as her owner, shocked
the woman back to attention. 

Up ahead, the thick pines and oaks parted slightly to reveal a beautiful clearing of land. A
small lake with a weathered gazebo. Beyond that stood a three story house with a wrap around
porch and a clothes line draped with linens. To the left, stood a new-looking church, out of
which came a body with flaming red hair. The distance was to great for the woman to tell if
this carrot top belonged to a male or female, but the mere presence of another human was quite
reassuring. 

Despite her agitated nerves, the woman clucked her tongue against her teeth and her trusty
steed set off toward the large building at a steady gate. The woman, trusting in fate, yet
unsure of her future.

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

Part thirty

Alice Henderson had begun cleaning the remaining furniture in David's old bunkhouse. Of course,
the new preacher would be more than welcome in the mission house, but for some reason, she
thought they'd be more comfortable here, away from all the comings and goings of the mission.

Giving an approving glance to the cabin as a whole, Alice wiped her hands on her apron and
gathered her supplies and headed off toward the mission house. >From the clearing, came peals
of laughter and out from the trees trooped four very muddy individuals and two dirty horses.
Alice recognized the deep Scottish brogue as the larger of the two men sang in a deep, rich
voice.

   O, my luve is like a red, red rose,
      That's newly sprung in June.
   O, my luve is like the melodie,
      That's sweetly play'd in tune.

   As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
      So deep in luve am I,
   And I will luve thee still, my dear, 
      Till a' the seas gang dry.

   Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
      And the rocks melt wi' the sun!
   And I will luve thee still, my dear,
      While the sands o life shall run.

   And fare thee weel, my only luve!
      And fare thee weel, a while!
   And I will come again, my luve,
      Tho it were ten thousand mile!

****

The deep falsetto voice echoed across the valley and made its way to the young woman's ears.
The Scottish accent and the traditional song rang clear in her head as if her father himself
were singing to her as she sat perched clearly on his knee. 

"Wee babe" he had called her. And her brother had been "rough one." They had been their
father's simple joys. But the back woods was not the best place to raise children and her
mother made that clear everyday. She was a girl and thus weaker and less likely to survive.
Tears stung her eyes as she remembered the day she was told she had to leave.

As if it was yesterday, the scene flashed through her mind's eye. The pain, the tears, the hugs
and kisses and the promises that as soon as she was old enough, she could return. But it was
not to be. Her mother's death and her father's turn toward liquor and then his demise ensured
her stay in Scotland. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she remembered the last time she
saw her brother. She slid out of the saddle and dropped wearily to her feet, her knees almost
giving out from under her. Her horse, thankful for the rest, made its way over toward the lake
as its owner hiked up her skirts and sprinted toward the singing quartet with only one
reassuring look as to confirm the man's identity.

****

"Miss Huddleston- are you.... I don't.....Oh my," was all that Alice could muster as she made
her way, concerned, toward the muddled and filthy singers. As soon as she was close enough to
the four to see that they weren't hurt, a large smile crept across her face. Suddenly something
quite uncharacteristic happened, she laughed. Peals of laughter escaped the woman's mouth. 

"Something you find amusing, Miss Alice?" Christy asked her arm slung around Neil's waist, as
the walked toward the mission house, hip to hip. Jeb and Fairlight's position was the same,
each pulling behind them a quite filthy horse, although the amount of mud that was caked onto
the horse that Christy led quite exceeded the amount that covered Charlie, who was being led by
Jeb.

"No... Nothing at all, Miss Huddleston. Nothing at all..." Alice said as laughter once again
escaped from her mouth.

Suddenly Neil stopped and Christy could feel his body tense. She looked up to see the concern
in his face and then followed his line of sight directly to a beautiful young woman who was
running full-speed toward the quartet.

"Mother?" Neil whispered to himself. The woman's long, wavy auburn hair held red highlights
that gleamed in the sun. Her figure, hardly fashionable, was unique with her rounded chest and
broad ribcage (that obviously no corset would contain), and the boxy waist and muscular hips.
The woman was the spitting image of a young Maura MacNeill.

Neil shook his head to rid himself of the painful thoughts of his mother. Mother was dead, so
this couldn't be her. Was it...? It couldn't be. She was dead, wasn't she?

Part thirty-one

"Neil?" came the woman's voice across the grassland.

Hearing her voice, clenched it for the good doctor. It was her.

"Shannon? Shannon!" Neil said as he dropped Christy's hand and took off running towards the
beautiful woman.

The woman's hat flew off her head in a very picturesque way as she ran towards the tall burly
man and leapt into his arms. 

"O' Shannon...Shannon...Shannon..." Neil kept repeating the name like a mantra over and over
again as he held fast to the woman in his arms and swung her around in circles. She clung to
him, like a life-line; holding her arms around his neck.

He put her down and held her at arms length and asked, "Is it really yu?" With tears in her
eyes, the young woman nodded. 

With the simple tactfulness that always surrounded her, Miss Alice cleared her throat in such a
way as to remind the two red-heads of the stunned presence of the remaining four.

"Oh my....Oh, yes...umm..." Neil stumbled over his words as he carefully led the young woman
toward his friends.

"Shannon, these are mah friends Alice Henderson, Fairlight Spencer an' her husband Jeb, an'
this...this, Shannon, is mah fiancee Christy Huddleston," Neil stated with a flourish of his
hand as he gently introduced each of his friends. 

"Fiancee? Neil...why...I'm shocked!" Shannon said with a smile gracing her rosy lips.

"Whut's so shockin', Shannon? That Ah'm engaged? Or does it surprise yu that anyone could fall
in luv with me?" Neil said as he again hugged the fire-haired beauty who stood next to him. It
was almost as if he needed to reassure himself that she was indeed there and not some mirage.

Miss Alice stepped forward and opened her arms to the young woman. "My dear, clearly thee
brings joy to our Dr. MacNeill. Does thee have a place to stay while in Cutter Gap, because the
mission house's doors are always open."

"Thank you, but I'd like to stay in the cabin with Neil...if you don't mind, Neil."

"Mind? Why would Ah mind? It's as much yer home as it is mine. Where are yer bags?" Neil ran
over to the buckskin mare, like a giddy school boy and grabbed the carpet bag that was strapped
to the rear of the saddle and unhooked the medical bag that hung from the special hook on the
front of the aged English saddle.

Christy and Fairlight exchanged a quick glance. The though of Neil sharing his cabin with such
a beautiful young woman was foremost on their minds. And the ever knowing Alice Henderson
didn't miss this glance, either. She took yet another step toward the young red-head and
offered an unsolicited opinion.

"I know it isn't my business what thine relationship with Neil is, but it is hardly appropriate
for an young woman, such as thineself, to be sharing quarters with a bachelor, such as Neil.
The people in the cove will not approve of this, Miss Shannon." Alice said, as tactfully as she
could.

"Its just Shannon, Miss Alice," Shannon said between giggles, just as Neil walked up beside
her, "And I don't think you have anything to fear regarding my relationship with Neil."

"Alice, did Ah hear yu properly? Do yu think that Shannon an' Ah require a chaperone?" Neil
said, with a wide grin crossing his face.

Now it was Jeb's turn to add his two cents to this discussion. "Doc, it wouldn't be fittin' for
a lady like Shannon here to stay at yer place, without the two of ya being married or nothin'.
I know Miz Christy just spent a week er so at yer cabin, but that was fer docterin'. 'T'ain't
right and the other folk won't care fer it none, neither," Jeb said.

Neil's belly shook with his laughter and Shannon hid her spreading smile with her hand as
giggles escaped her mouth. 

"Did ya hear that, little sister? These folk think we need a chaperone." Neil said as his
giggles controlled his body so much, he had to sit down, muddy clothes and all.

"SISTER?" Alice, Christy, Fairlight, and Jeb all said at once. With that, Christy passed out.

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

Part thirty-two

It took a great deal of Miss Alice's smelling salts to revive Christy from her state of shock.
And after a bit of prying done by Neil, Christy admitted to having felt quite dizzy, as well as
extremely tired, all the way back to the mission house.

"Lass, why did'na yu tell me yu were ailin'? Ah wuld have carried ya." Neil said somewhat
perturbed. After all, this was more than a doctor-patient discussion, this was a future-husband
& future-wife conversation and if two intendeds weren't able to communicate, then the marriage
was surely not going to succeed. "Christy, Margaret never told me when she was feelin' ill and
that's why Ah couldn't treat her tuberculosis. If she had told me sooner, ah would have been
able ta... ta give her more time here in the Cove. Ah don't think Ah could stand loosing
another wife, Christy. You've got ta be more honest with me...please." Neil said, kneeling down
next to the bed in Christy's mission house room.

"Neil, we both know that I'm not Margaret. And after finding that horse in the mud, and the
long walk back here, I think I just over exerted myself," Christy suddenly bolted upright in
bed, "Oh, Neil, how is that little horse doing? Is it going to be ok? You did look at it didn't
you?"

Neil chuckled, despite himself. Now this was the Christy that he loved so dearly. Despite her
quite obvious ill health, Christy was still concerned for an animal upon which she had never
laid eyes. 

"No, Lass, Ah did not look at yer precious horse. You are ma top priority. But, I have a
trained professional veterinarian looking at your wee horse, right now." 

A faint knock upon Christy's door startled both of them out of their own little world. 

"Come in," Christy said. The door was swung open by a perky Ruby Mae followed by Shannon
MacNeill who was wiping her hands of the thick lye soap residue that remained despite several
rinses. The puzzled look that had clouded Christy's delicate features was suddenly replaced
with one of comprehension. "Shannon, you're a veterinarian?" Christy asked, stunned.

"Aye. I am at that. Oh my... It seems that my Scottish brogue sneaks in here and there. And I
thought I had lost my vernacular in Massachusetts," With a chuckle and a wave of her freshly
dried hands, Shannon seemed to toss that topic away, "Miss Christy, your foal is doing just
fine. But, she's going to need some special care the next few days; it seems that she hasn't
eaten in a good long while. Her bones would have started to deteriorate in the next day or so
had we not gotten some milk into her stomach." Shannon said, strolling around Christy's room as
she spoke. Christy's warm smile made Shannon feel right at home, even though she was, indeed,
quite out of place.

"Milk?" Neil said questioningly. He rose from his bed-side position to stand in front of his
sister at the French doors, effectively blocking her view of the Great Smokies with his broad
shoulders.

"Yes, Milk!" Shannon said defensively, "Why, dear brother are you questioning my doctoring
skills? She's about two years old, but warm goat's milk is the best thing for a foal in her
condition."

Christy's lips turned upward at the two red-heads that stood across the room, bickering like
small school children; as well she should know. 

Ruby Mae, all this time, had perched herself on the foot of Christy's bed watching this
new-comer with wide-eyed excitement. A new-comer was always guaranteed to bring excitement.

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

Part thirty-three

*Two months later* 

Dear Alice, 

I trust that my letter will find you, and the other members of the Cove, in good health. 

Boston is well, as is mother. Ida and Clarence have moved back to care for mother in her last
years. They now have a baby girl of their own, named Kristine, and have also adopted an infant
from an orphanage. Ida refuses to admit that Kristine is named after Christy, but I truly
believe that despite her adamant words otherwise, Ida was greatly affected by Christy's
presence in the Cove and looks up to her as a strong (albeit foolish) woman. For the record,
she was the one who called Christy foolish, not I. 

I must apologize for leaving the Cove so rapidly. It seemed that my life there was in shambles
and I had to leave before I could cause any more damage. 

My relationship with Christy was deteriorating due to my own stupidity and lack of Faith. The
congregation members had more faith in their underage schoolteacher than they did in an
educated seminary graduate. I'm well aware of the bitterness behind those words, Alice, so
don't admonish me to greatly. I have asked God to help me to get past the feelings of
resentment I have toward Christy and one day soon, I will be able to look at my congregation
without any anger. 

My relationship with God was precariously close to falling apart during my last few days in the
Cove. All the feelings, good and bad, that I'd experienced during my years in Cutter Gap caused
me to falter and stray toward liquor. If you have yet to hear of this experience, ask Christy
about it; she'll fill you in on all the details. 

I know that there is no better place to find God than somewhere where your heart soars. My
heart soars when I see the shining faces of the children in school and the sunset behind the
mountains, yet finding God and having a rational conversation with Him was not something that
could be done in Cutter Gap. More and more, I'm finding that talking to God is more of a
challenge with street cars and bagel sellers in the street, than it is with Creed Allen talking
away at my side. 

I feel that someday soon I will be able to return to the mission that I love so dearly and the
people of the Cove of whom I've grown so fond. Enclosed is a letter that I ask you to read
during the Christmas day service. I know that the attendants seem to dwindle in the colder days
of the year, but we both know how word travels through the mountains, and I'm sure that my
sermon will reach more people than I can imagine. 

Alice, I understand if you need to fill my position. I will bear no ill will if you hire
someone else on a permanent basis. Please send me word if the position does become filled. I
would like to know not to return if there is no position available to me...And Alice, please
send me word if there are any dire situations in Cutter Gap that I should be aware of. 

If anyone asks about my whereabouts, please feel free to distribute my address to them. I would
love to hear from Christy and Fairlight and the Children. If it won't be too much trouble,
Alice, please give Neil my address, as well. There are some urgent matters that I need to
discuss with him. 

In Christ,
David.

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

Part thirty-four

*One Month Later *

*Christmas Eve*

The snow stood three inches deep on the ground surrounding the Cutter Gap Church and people
dwindled in, wrapped in whatever over-clothes they could find.

Alice Henderson had spread the word that Rev. Grantland had sent a special sermon to be read on
this special day. People from the farthest reaches of the cove had heard of the Rev's untimely
departure and now their interest was piqued as to what that fleeing preacher had to say.

The church was packed. Some of the more refined gentlemen stood against the wall, so that the
women-folk could have the seats. Extra coal had been thrown into the scuttle bucket, although
it seems that body heat alone would heat the building, due to the sheer mass that had gathered
at the church.

Christy had awoken early to ensure her and Shannon a good seat at the service, but upon
arriving at the steepled building, the only seat available was one, in the very last row,
relinquished to her by Zady Spencer who now stood against the wall with two of her sisters.
Fairlight, with Lulu on her lap, scooted over in her seat to allow room for Shannon to sit and
with only enough room for Christy to wedge her petite hips against Shannon's own and the side
rail!

Yet prim and proper they sat. Christy, Shannon, Fairlight and Lulu, and Opal and Iris. They sat
waiting for the commotion to die down and waiting to hear the word of their god preached on the
anniversary of his birth. Alice cleared her throat as she stood at the pulpit. Preaching Sunday
sermon was not her favorite past time, yet it had to be done this year, and she was the one to
do it.

The people slowly noticed her presence at the front of the building and the noise settled down
to a quiet murmur and Alice began.

"Friends, it does my heart good to see so many people gathered to rejoice in the birth of
Christ. I am not fooled by your presence, however, and I do realize that many of you are not
here to celebrate on this special day, but rather to try to learn why Rev. Grantland was forced
to leave to cove in such a hurry. But I have faith that sometime during the sermon today, you
will all be touched by His hand in one way or another, and your journey for knowledge,
religious or gossip filled, will not be in vain," Alice took a deep breath. Mending the ill,
and preaching to people one on one was more her style, not speaking to a packed church
regarding the validity of one man's escape from a society's confines. With a deep breath and a
silent plea for help sent to the heavens, Alice continued. 

"I do not have a sermon prepared for today's service," some comments could be heard emitting
from stunned congregation members, "BUT, the I did recently receive a letter from our Rev
Grantland and he enclosed a sermon that he would like for me to read to you on this day," Alice
pulled a piece of folded paper from the seems of her well-worn bible and opened it. She donned
her reading glasses, cleared her throat, and began:

"My dear friends. I must apologize for leaving in such a hurry those many weeks ago. I received
news of my mother having become severely stricken with illness days before I left the cove.
Prior to that, some personal problems had me grasping for God. I felt very inadequate as your
pastor. If I wasn't sure of God's will, how was I supposed to be able to preach to you about
it? So I struggled for days trying to understand what was to happen with my life and I suddenly
came to the conclusion that I needed a break from my duties as your preacher." 

A man, tall and tanned from working in the sun on many hot summer days silently strode up the
church steps. He entered the church without making a sound, but Christy turned to see who had
placed his rough-skinned hand on her shoulder. Neil MacNeill stood over her. One hand on
Christy's shoulder and one on Shannon's. It had taken some doing, but obviously both women,
plus some mysterious words from Alice, had finally convinced Neil MacNeill to come to a Sunday
service.

Alice looked up from her reading, having sensed a new spirit in the room. A small smile spread
across her lips as Neil nodded a greeting to his new-found friend. Alice, without missing a
beat, looked down at her papers, once more and began to read David's words.

"It was the hardest decision I have made in a long time. I love you all so much and I am
missing the smiling faces of the children and the precious friendships I have had with some of
the Cove members. I even miss my occasional and infamous arguments of theology with the Cove's
very own doctor," Neil looked up in surprise and Christy turned to give him a smirk, as if she,
all along, had known that both men enjoyed their fighting. "I have faith in the Lord despite
the recent changes in my life, and I know that if you all have faith, you will be provided for
and peace will remain supreme. If you recall John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this,
than to lay down one's life for one's friends," and that is how I feel, my friends. I could
have no greater privilege than to die for each and every one of you. "The fear of God and the
respect that you all hold for Him come hand in hand, something that I did not realize until I
returned to Boston and spoke with my mentor. He does not fear God, but he does respect Him;
which causes a grave imbalance in their relationship. 

"Many of you are uneducated. Many of you think that a war in the name of God is justified. Many
of you think that coming to Church on Sunday makes you free of sin, even though you go home and
Monday through Saturday you shoot your neighbors, you covet, you kill, you steal, you become
gluttonous on what you have and you lust after what you do not. Repenting will only get you so
far. You must know God first hand and then ask his forgiveness, as I have. You see, friends, I
am not free of sin. I coveted my neighbor's intended. I intended to harm a friend and I
resorted to liquor to receive courage instead of turning to God for courage. And by running
from my problems, I have made them worse before I will make them better.

"Yes, I sinned. But I asked for forgiveness and guidance and I have learned who God is. I know
now that to have known love is to have seen the face of God. And I know that by searching my
soul and finding emptiness, it was time to accept God fully into my spirit. And I have done so.
But I am still imperfect; I am still going to make mistakes and I will grow as a Christian by
learning from the mistakes that I have made and will make. I hope you all can forgive me for my
trespasses and help me to find my place in the Cove once more upon my return.

"My troubles and the fighting and quarrels that plague the Cove *must* stop on this day. For
this day, we are rejoicing in the birth of our savior; Christ. Today, of all days, you must
love your neighbor and feel the arms of your god surrounding you. Never fear, for all is right
with the world on Christmas Day, and the finger's of God will stroke Cutter Gap into peace once
more." 

Alice closed her bible, the papers still inside. A lone tear trickled down the usually composed
woman's cheek as she thought of the Cove's beloved pastor and his troubles. She quickly brushed
the tear away with her hand and removed her glasses. She made her long awaited announcement
"And now, we have a special treat for you all today. Miss Huddleston's school children have
gotten together to perform their own version of the Christmas story," Christy's surprised face
was confirmation enough that she had had no part in this performance.

Sam Huston, obviously the narrator of this charade, stepped up to the podium, barely reaching
over the top and opened Alice's bible to the correct page. Least'un, playing the baby Jesus,
Zady who was Mary, Rob Allen who played Joseph, all performed spectacularly. Creed Allen was
the angel Gabriel and Ruby Mae, Clara, and Bessie Coburn, the three wise "men." 

Little did the children, or anyone else in the church know that outside, in the snowy winter
weather, stood a tall, slender, dark-haired man, wishing desperately to come inside to the home
he once knew.

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

Part thirty-five

David stood in the kitchen of the mission house making himself a cup of coffee. He was chilled
to the bone, both physically and emotionally. In the mere two months that he had been away Sam
Huston had grown at least four inches and Least'un was getting almost too big to sit on his
mother's lap.

David stood facing the window, waiting for the pot of coffee to boil and watching as the Sunday
service let out. Normally people would gather and picnic before heading to their homes, but it
was just too cold today and everyone scurried home as quickly as they could.

CRASH. Ruby Mae dropped the platter of greens that she had held in her hands.

Christy, Shannon, Neil, and Alice broke into a run after hearing a shattering sound emanating
from the kitchen of the mission house.

"Preacher! Preacher Preacher Preacher Preacher," Ruby Mae yelled as she ran to David and threw
her arms around his neck and hung on for all she was worth. David's arms wrapped tightly around
the slim girl and he swung her gently in a hug. He had missed Ruby Mae more than he had
thought...and while he would never admit it, he even missed her possum surprise. "Oh preacher
its so good ta have ya back in the Cove. You know Miss Alice can' get the men folk as fired up
about the bible and god's word as you can...but don't be telling her I said that," Ruby Mae
continued once David had set her down.

Christy and Shannon, despite the many layers of skirts that they were wearing both reached the
cabin before Neil and, the somewhat plump, Miss Alice.

The two younger women popped their head inside the door and got one look of the babbling Ruby
Mae and the beaming David.

"David!?!" Christy and Shannon said at the same time once. Christy and Shannon turned to each
other, "You know David?"

Part thirty-six

Shannon, Christy, Neil, Alice and David all sat around the fireplace in the "drawing room" of
the mission house with hot cups of coffee in their hands. The bubbly Ruby Mae had been sent out
to groom all the horses in the barn, a task which usually kept her busy for hours since she
discovered that talking to the horses relaxed them and they didn't interrupt or talk back!

"Shannon, would you mind telling me what you're doing in the Cove? This is no land fit for a
lady," David said to the red-head who was sitting to one side of Neil, Christy to the other.

"David, I could ask you the same question. After all, you're no mountain man, yourself,"
Shannon said, her fiery temper sneaking into her conversation. She did NOT like to be
patronized and coddled just because she was female. She had made it from Scotland to Boston on
her own and damned if she was going to have people treating her differently just because she
had a uterus. "But to answer your question, David, I've come back to take care of my brother
during his old-age," Shannon nudged Neil with an elbow to show that she was joking, "But it
seems that Neil has already enlisted Christy to fill that position."

Christy blushed and leaned closer to Neil, resting her head on his shoulder. David tried to
absorb this new information and seemed to be stuck on one particular subject, "Your brother?
Neil?!?!?!? Neil MacNeill is YOUR brother?" David stood up and refilled his now empty coffee
cup, "Well that explains a lot," he murmured. 

Shannon and Neil both looked at each other after hearing David's words, "Excuse me?" they said
at the same time.

"What exactly do you mean by that, David," Shannon said, standing up and crossing her hands on
he chest in a very defensive manner.

"Shannon, well, you never told me that you had a brother named Neil. And Neil, you never told
me you had a sister named Shannon," David chuckled to himself and continued, "These last few
years I've been longing for the woman I left back in Boston and fighting an atheist doctor, no
offense Neil, when all I had to do was invite Shannon to visit in the cove and I would have
reunited some long-lost relatives, helped the Doctor find God, had a lovely veterinarian by my
side for a few weeks, and made peace with a former enemy. How dumb was I?" David said his
laughter becoming louder and louder until his whole body shook and he had to sit down. "Don't
you all see, its all quite ironic."

Neil and Christy allowed themselves a chuckle until Neil broke the jovial scene with his deep
voice, "Ironic as it is, David, I still don't see how you know my sister?"

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

Part thirty-seven

"Oh Neil, its quite simple, really," Shannon began, "When I was a medical student in Boston, we
were sent out on house-calls with practicing veterinarians. One of the calls that I went on was
to David's mother's house. Apparently the cook had been sneaking the dog pieces of undercooked
meat and little Contessa was suffering from food poisoning and worms-" Shannon was interrupted
by a laughing Neil.

"Wait a minute. Yu'r tellin' me that David had a dog named Contessa?" Neil started to laugh and
Alice and Christy had to politely hide their chuckles behind a polite hand.

David slunk down in his chair, trying to disappear into the hard wooden back, "It was mother's
dog, not mine," he said somewhat defensively but mostly embarrassed.

"Are you two quite finished because I'd like to finish my story, if'in you don't mind," Shannon
said, looking at the two boys who were play-fighting like school boys. "Good. Now as I was
saying, David was there watching the de-worming procedure and lecturing me about how women
shouldn't be permitted into medical professions because of all the risk factors. All the while
I was teaching him a lesson or two about how red-headed Scottish women have fiery tempers and
are not to be reckoned with," Shannon looked over at David with a sheepish grin, recalling
their first of many friendly arguments, "After that first meeting, David and I took an instant
liking to each other and he courted me through out medical school and up until about three
years ago. If this is the place that hired you, David, ad took you away from me and
Boston...well, there could be worse places, I suppose. And there are surely people far worse
than those you've had to live with," Shannon said with an air of finality.

Miss Alice sensed the regret that flowed through both David and Shannon and she tried to ease
their pain as much as she could with the only thing on hand; food, "Is anyone ready for some
food? Don't worry, David, I'll cook, not Ruby Mae."

"Actually, Miss Alice, I'm not hungry just yet. It is only 5 o'clock even though the dark sky
makes it look later. Neil, are you up for a walk? Maybe that will spur my appetite," Christy
said. She, too, had noticed the tension that had filled the room when Shannon had mentioned
being separated from Neil. 

Neil stood up and stretched his cramped muscles, "Whatever yu want, lass. Ta the moon and back,
if that's what yu wish," he said to Christy. He then turned to Shannon and laid a brotherly
kiss on her cheek, "Ah'll be see'n yu at the dinner table, little sister."

And with that, Alice headed for the kitchen, Christy an Neil headed for a nice romantic walk
around the lake in the moon light, and Shannon and David sitting in the parlor just staring
awkwardly at each other.



Summary: Christmas morning part 1 (part 2 to be posted tomorrow--I promise!)

***********
Part 38 
***********
        "Miz Christy! Miz Christy! Its Christmas mornin’! Wake up!" Ruby Mae said as she
bounced on the edge of Christy’s bed. The very groggy Christy sat up and yawned then nodded to
Ruby Mae, shooing her out the door so she could get dressed in peace for once.
        
            It had been a long night for Christy and Neil. They had spent most of it in the
barn loft wrapping presents for David, Alice, Ruby Mae, and the school children that had been
sent by many people in Asheville including the Christy’s family. Christy’s mother had felt
somewhat guilty about not venturing to the Cove upon hearing of Christy’s accident and had
arranged for new shoes to be sent to the cove; one pair for each of the children as well as
arranging for new text books, slates and chalk to be sent to the mission house.

        Christy and Neil’s stint as Santa’s helpers lasted long into the night and the early
morning making the exhausted Neil fall asleep in the hayloft. Christy quietly finished her gift
wrapping, packed up the supplies and presents and headed back to the main house after throwing
a saddle blanket or two over Neil’s slumbering form.

        And so, on that lovely, albeit cold, White Christmas morn, Christy walked down the
stairs to find a still sleepy Neil sitting in front of the fire place, sipping coffee and
playing chess with David.

        Upon seeing Christy enter the room the red head turned and said, "They won’t let me
play," Shannon playfully pouted from the arm chair. She rose and poured Christy a cup of warm
coffee, crossing the room to hand it to Christy.

        Christy smiled her thanks and crossed to sit behind Neil on the hearth. She placed a
hand gracefully on Neil’s arm, "Is that true, gentlemen? Are you boys afraid of being beaten at
a ‘man’s game’ by a woman? No…that would never happen, now would it?" She said in a playful
tone as she watched Neil’s brow crease from concentration. She reached over Neil’s shoulder
picking up his bishop and moving it three spaces across the board, "Check mate; three moves,"
Christy said smugly as she patted Neil’s arm. A smiling Shannon and she left the stunned
fellows to watch their exit.
***********


***********
              They all sat around the Christmas tree waiting for David to distribute the
presents. Neil sat on the window-bench next to Christy. Shannon and David had taken up spots on
the floor like giddy children, accompanied by Ruby Mae. Miss Alice sat primly on one of the
Quaker-style chairs that were scattered throughout the mission.

        David reached under the tree and pulled out a large box labeled for Christy. Then came
a large square box for Ruby Mae. He then reached and pulled out one for Miss Alice, which had
been wrapped in fine store-bought paper. Next came a present for Shannon and one for Neil as
well as another finely-wrapped one addressed to himself.

        Christy began to unwrap her package, aware of its weight. She tossed a glance at Neil,
wondering if this was from him. The honestly perplexed look on his face was proof enough that
his large object was not of his doing. Upon reaching the insides of the box, Christy gave a
squeal of delight! It was a brand new hand-crafted riding saddle. She looked up to find David
beaming at her.

        "Now you won’t have to borrow the one from the mission anymore, Christy. Now you have
your very own," David said as he smiled from her joy.

        "Oh thank you, David, its beautiful. It must have cost you a fortune…how did you ever-"
Christ said until she was cut off by David.

        "I hired Tom and Jeb to make it for me. I supplied the leather and they supplied the
skill. All in all, the deal worked out quite well I would say," David said smuggly. "Go on,
Ruby Mae, open yours next. That one isn’t from me and I’m dying to know what you got wrapped up
so nicely," David said, turning to the young girl.

        "Oh, preacher, I don’t reckon it’d be right to rip this purdy paper. Ain’t it present
enough ta have somethin’ wrapped so citified…" Ruby Mae mused, in awe of the green wrapping
that surrounded her box. Never the less, she carefully opened it, making sure not to tear even
a corner of the paper. "Oh my!," She squealed as she lifted a new skirt and blouse from the
box.

        Christy smiled and said, "Those are from me, and my mother and father in Asheville,
Ruby Mae. We had them made just for you for Christmas because you’re not a little girl anymore.
A few more years and some man will come along and marry you. We wanted you to have something
special and more grow-up."

        "Oh, Miz Christy, that was right kind of ya’all. I think I’ll write a thank ya note ta
yer maw and paw if’n you’d help me with the spelling and all…" Ruby Mae said as she fingered
the woolen skirt and the cotton blouse, treating them as if they were a precious jewel….and to
her, they were.

        Next Neil opened his gift from David and Shannon, a new hand-made medical bag filled
with new medicinal powders and tonics. Shannon has sent to Scotland for some of the more rare
herbs and medicines and the rest she had brought with her from Boston. The thoughtfulness of
the gift left Neil speechless for the first time since Shannon’s arrival.

        "David, for my gift you’ll have to go to the church after we’re finished here," Neil
said with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. The entire room seemed to know what the present was
and Ruby Mae seemed to be biting her tongue to keep the secret a secret even longer. David just
nodded in acknowledgment and reached under the tree for more gifts.

        Shannon spoke up this time, "Miss Alice, why don’t you go next?" 

        Alice carefully unwrapped her package, giving Ruby Mae the paper. "Oh My!" She said,
mimicking Ruby Mae’s earlier exclamation. She held up the contents of the box to reveal a new
brown riding out fit: split skirt, jacket and all. A new hat and some new hat-pins sat wrapped
in tissue paper at the bottom of the large box.

        Christy and Neil sat smiling, watching their friend and secondary "mother" glow over
her new clothes. "The suits from Mother, Father, Neil and I. The hat’s from David, and Ruby Mae
has been doing some extra work around here to earn money for those hat pins for you. We hope it
all fits and you like it," Christy said after ticking off each person and their respective gift
on her fingers. She looked up to see Alice’s eyes brimming over with tears and speechless from
joy.

        David’s name headed the top of the next box to be pulled out from the tree. He opened
it to find brand new Clerical shirts and a new preacher’s robe to be worn instead of just his
usual suit-coat. And yet another person was left speechless in the room. Christy, Neil, and
Alice all smiled, glad that their gifts to David were appreciated.

        Christy reached under the tree and retrieved two packages. One was larger and heavier,
which she handed to Neil. Then she looked at Shannon and motioned for the woman to open the
gift that was sitting unopened in her lap.

        Neil opened his to find a brand new and more modern stethoscope, and a new shinny,
microscope for his lab work from Christy

        Shannon received a book on veterinary medicine and a new stethoscope from Christy and
David respectively.

        "Thank you’s" and hugs were passed around the room making everyone happy to be here on
this Christmas day. 

*****

Summary: Findout what David got for Christmas from Neil (with alittle help from Christy) and
listen in as David and Shannon have another one of their now infamous talks....

***********
     After a fine meal of ham and vegetable prepared by Miss Alice, Christy and Ruby Mae, the
two adult couples decided to take a leisurely stroll outside in the ankle-deep snow.

   Shannon, David, Neil and Christy all walked over to the church so that David could see what
he had received from Neil.

   At the very front of the Church stood a freshly-made pulpit. Neil’s handiwork shone right
through. The new Pulpit could serve as a podium for Christy’s classes as well as a "preacher’s
stand" for David. The top of the pulpit had a carved dent the exact size of David’s bible and
into the front of the lectern was carved in a picture, obviously done by Christy, of Jesus
healing the lepers. 

   David’s eyes shone over with tears as he just stood there feeling the soft grain of the
wood.

   Once he had controlled his emotions he thanked Christy and Neil for the wonderful gift and
the two couples headed their separate ways with David and Shannon heading toward the river and
Neil and Christy heading toward the lake’s gazebo.

****

   David and Shannon took a nice long walk down toward the river to view its majestic beauty as
it was frozen solid and covered with snow.

   They strolled, arm in arm, along the snow covered path in a comfortable silence.
"So, Shannon," David said awkwardly, "Is anyone courting you these days?"
Shannon sighed. Deep down she had hoped that he would ask her this but she was still afraid of
being abandoned like last time. In a soft voice she said, "No, David. No one’s courted me since
you left three years ago. I’m still single and in a few more months I’ll turn officially into
an old maid." 

   "All the men in Boston must be blind and stupid not to have asked for your hand," David said
sincerely. They had reached the river by now and the two stood side by side over looking the
beauty of the ice.

   "David, men asked. Many men wanted to court me but I had no desire to court them. They could
never make me feel complete inside," Shannon’s voice dropped to a whisper, "Like you do, David.
Its always been you."

        "Shannon, I’ve made many mistakes. I won’t deny that. The biggest mistake I ever made
was coming here, to Cutter Gap, without you as my wife. I tried to fill the void your absence
created by bringing my sister out here with me. Ida cooked and cleaned but she couldn’t make me
smile like you can. When Ida got married, I pressured Christy toward marriage, thinking that
having a wife would make me forget about you," David turned to face Shannon, "It didn’t work,
Shannon. No matter what I tried I couldn’t get you out of my head. There hasn’t been a day
where I haven’t wondered how my life would be different if I had stayed with you in Boston or
if I had asked you to come with me here, to the Cove."

        Shannon turned to David, his hand in hers, "I would have come, you know. I would have
followed you here," She said softly but sincerely.

        "I know you would have," David said, "But I never would have asked you. You belonged in
Boston finishing your education."

        Shannon asked softly and somewhat hesitantly, "Where do I belong now, David?"

        "You belong where God and your heart lead you, Shannon. No where else," David replied
softly.

        "My heart lead me to my brother, David, and maybe God has lead me back to you," Shannon
said, looking deep into his eyes.

        "Maybe so, Shannon, maybe so," David said as he leaned forward to place a delicate kiss
on Shannon’s forehead.
****


ha ha ha ha.....can you stand the suspense? And what does Neil have for Christy as a Christmas
gift? Find out next time....

Same Christy time....
Same manaical author....

Dunanananananananananananana...CHRISTY!



****
        Neil and Christy walked arm in arm through the snow heading toward the gazebo. 

        "So, Doctor," Christy said still giggling for a joke Neil had told her seconds before,
"Do you want a spring wedding or a fall wedding?" 

        "Ah dunna care, lass, as long as yer the bride," Neil said, bringing Christy’s hand up
to his lips. He kissed her left hand delicately until a thought struck him and he dropped her
hand as if it was on fire.

        "Oh, Christy, Ah almost forgot yer Christmas present," Neil said as he scooped Christy
up in his arms and carried her to the railing of the gazebo upon which he set her.

        "Neil, get me down from here," Christy said in that firm but playful manner that she
had with him.

        "Not yet, lass," Neil said as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a blue
velvet box. He opened the box causing Christy to gasp at the beautifully cut  tear shaped ruby
that lay in a gold band.

        Neil, bent on one knee, said in a most sincere tone, "Miss. Christy Rudd Huddleston,
will yu marry me?"

        Christy put one hand on her hip and the other on one of the gazebo’s supports in mock
concentration, "Well, I don’t know, Doctor. This is all so sudden and of course, you’ll have to
ask my father for my hand in marria-" Christy was cut off by two powerful arms encircling her
waist. She was being held by the waist, her arms around Neil’s head spinning and spinning and
spinning until he became dizzy and his legs finally collapsed under him, pulling her down into
the snow with him. 

        She screamed playfully as she fell towards Neil, knowing full well that he would catch
her.

        "Yes, you silly man, I’ll marry you," Christy said as she leaned in for a quick kiss
from her fiancè.
***********
Part 39
***********
The virgin white snow had long-since melted and the children had once again returned to school,
fawning over their beloved teacher who received each one of them with a warm smile and words of
love.

Letters had been written home by both Christy and David, announcing the pending nuptials that
would soon occur in the Cove. In response, letters of congratulations were received from
respective parental figures.

Not a day went by that Alice Henderson didn’t have a smile on her face. Her son-in-law was
remarrying and had ended his battle with God. Her "daughter," Christy was getting married to
the man she had always loved. Shannon had found happiness and peace here in the cove with David
and the Cove’s people. And David had returned to the Cove where he had always belonged but
never felt loved until now.
It was a time of happiness and love for every member of the cove as even Ruby Mae had found a
beau with Hild O’Hurlahee, the young man with whom she had picniced so long ago.

The melted snow brought babbling brooks and a rise in river water that ran chillingly over
Christy’s feet when she went wading to clear her thoughts from the muddle of wedding plans that
were haunting her. 

As expected, Julia Huddleston was requesting Christy’s wedding to be in Asheville with all the
elite members of society and the prestigious minister who had over seen Christy’s baptism. But
Christy’s heart was here in the cove and her wedding would be too as she had adamantly
explained to her mother in a recent letter. It had also been stated that the wedding would not
be postponed in occurrence of a overlap in schedule between Julia’s Lady’s league and the
wedding date. Christy knew in her heart that if her mother and father weren’t there for the
wedding, Miss Alice would give Christy away without any questions asked.

There were times when Christy would sit on the comfortable cluster of rocks that she and
Fairlight had found one day and allow her feet to be bathed in the fresh river water. Christy
would just stare up at the bright blue sky and picture the faces of children in her mind and
wonder if she would ever have children of her own. When she came to Cutter Gap all those years
ago she wasn’t looking for love or for a fiancee but rather a place to help. But Christy had
been blessed and was given both the gift of love and the gift of being needed. Children or no,
she knew that every new day she spent here in the Cove was a precious gift from heaven waiting
to be unwrapped each morning and tucked away safely in her heart each night.

****

"No, Neil, I’m not going to give into her demands just because she’s my mother!" Christy said
as she argued with Neil about the wedding and Julia’s demands for about the fifth time that
week. "I’m 21 years old and its about time she realized that I’m a grown woman on the verge of
spinster-hood and she should treat me like the adult that I am. And Just because she wants the
wedding here or there and wants to invite whomever she wants to does NOT mean that she can!"
Christy said after pacing back and forth in front of her desk at the school.  Neil had come to
teach a biology lesson to the students because Christy had asked him to since she was not very
adept at biology and because during recess and lunch they could talk and plan about the wedding
more.

"But-" Neil started to say as Christy paced in front of him again.

"No, Neil! That’s all there is to it! She may be my mother but she is no longer the boss of
me…" Christy said sounding like an 8 year old who had just been told she could go out to play. 

"Christy-" Neil started before being cut off again by the ever pacing Christy.

"I *do* love her, Neil, and I’m quite aware she’s my mother because she reminds me every time
she writes or calls and you remind me every time we go through this same conversation.

"Listen to me, doctor, the wedding will be here. In the Cove. Under the Willow trees down by
the river on a clear spring day with lots of flowers in bloom and in my hair and a nice breeze
to keep us all comfortable in the hot sun. Not, I repeat not, in some stuffy old church where
there are two windows the size of rice boxes and an old pastor who can’t even count the number
of children he’s baptized never mind knowing me from Eve!" Christy said as she plopped down in
her chair and picked up her pen ring to grade a composition.

Neil sighed a heavy sigh. It was either that or laugh at how well-rehearsed these tiffs were
becoming. It was the fifth time, by his calculations that they had had this same argument using
the same words and doing the same things over and over again. It was becoming mundane and
comical to him, but it was no laughing matter to Christy who felt torn between her loyalty to
the cove and her love of the people therein and the idea of being the good daughter that
everyone expected her to be.

Neil waked over and kissed Christy on the forehead before walking to the board and drawing the
human body for the biology lesson that would commence after recess.

***********
Part 40
***********
        "I don’t know. Isn’t it cut too low in the front," the young woman asked, running her
hands across the white silky fabric that draped over her body. 

        "It looks beautiful, and you’re going to make him pass out at the end of the isle," the
other woman said helping with the buttons that ran up the back of the white gown.

        "You think? What if I get up there and my knees give out," The first woman asked,
pinning two small clusters of baby’s breath behind the combs that upswept her hair.

        A slight rapping came from the door that lead to the hall way. "Shannon? Christy? Can
we come in?" Neil’s thickly brogued voice called from the hall.

        "Come in," Christy said around the button hook that was in her teeth as she was
squatting down in her organdy dress, buttoning all the buttons on Shannon’s white calf-high
shoes.

        "Shannon, yu look beautiful," Neil said as he kissed his sister on the cheek. Christy
cleared her throat and looked up at Neil somewhat expectantly as she continued to button
shoe-buttons. "And of course, Christy, yu look more beautiful than the first time I ever met
you," Neil said with a smile on his lips as he leaned down to kiss Christy on the cheek. 

        "Smooth talking, Doctor," Christy said sarcastically as she finished one boot and went
to the other as Neil took over buttoning Shannon’s dress.

        "Ms. MacNeil, thee looks like a vision from the hand of God himself," Miss Alice said
from the doorway her hands held to her mouth in that familiar position.

        "Thank you Miss Alice," Shannon said trying to turn to smile at the older woman only to
have "HOLD STILL" Shouted at her by both Neil and Christy who were buttoning buttons with all
their might and speed.

        Shannon and Alice chuckled at the two exasperated buttoners while the buttoners scowled
at the bride’s figetyness.
****

"I now pronounce you man and wife!" the "brought-in" preacher declared amongst the hoots and
hollers of the cove’s people as flower petals were scattered all over the newly weds and the
music began to play.

        Neil offered his arm to Christy as they, the best-man and Maid of Honor, made their way
to an open section of field and began to dance to the folk music.

        "You know in a few weeks that’ll be us," Neil said as he spun Christy in a wide arc.

        "Not weeks, Neil. Days," Christy said as she looked up at him with a loving and excited
gaze.

        "14 days and two weeks are the same thing, love," Neil said as he promenaded Christy
through the line of clapping folk in an early version of "the Stroll."

        "To me, 14 days is too long, Neil. And saying two weeks makes it seem even longer,"
Christy said as Jeb Spencer pulled her from Neil and began to swing her around as Neil was
twirled away by Fairlight.

        "That’s it for you two. The last look until the wedding," Fairlight said to Neil as she
danced with him around the hillside, making sure to keep the two fiances a safe distance from
one another.

        Neil just groaned in frustration and rolled his eyes.
************ 
Part 41

The next 13 days were excruciating for both Neil and Christy and everyone who had anything to
do with the two was forced to ensure that one did not see the other as it was a strict mountain
custom.

        Christy’s white dress from Asheville arrived four days after David and Shannon’s
wedding. Seeing as how Mrs. Huddleston was being less than supportive about the wedding,
Christy had called her brother, George, and asked him to forward her entire hope chest as well
as the extra clothes she had left in Asheville to her as his wedding gift to herself and Neil.
The young man had happily complied and wired his sister with the surprise of his own pending
attendance at her wedding. Assuming everything went according to schedule, he would arrive just
two days before the festivities, sans parental units.

        "Its a real shame, Chris, that mother’s being so thick sculled about this whole thing.
I think that if you want to get married in the Cove then it should be OK with them…at least
you’re getting married, which is one less thing for them to complain about," George had said
over the phone.

        "What do you mean by that?" Christy had replied although she knew full well what he had
meant.

        "Chris, you know that as soon as you moved to the cove, mother decided you would never
be married and you were just a lost cause! I even heard dad joking one day about having another
baby just so that mother would be able to have a "citified" wedding," George replied with a
snicker, "I’m sure you can imagine what mother’s reaction to that was. Let’s just say that the
idea of having another baby at her age did not appeal to her one bit and dad was sleeping in
the parlor for a week after!" 

        "George, do you think daddy would come without mother?" Christy asked. 

        "I don’t know. Maybe if you wired him a telegram asking him in that sweet way of
yours," George said with a slight hint of sarcasm.

        "You mean how I demand something and hold my breath until I get it? Or were you
referring to how I should remind him that I am his only daughter and the opportunity to give me
away will only occur once," Christy asked.

        "Either way, Chris, you’re bound to get what you want on this topic," George said with
a laugh, "I’ve got to go, Chris, I hear mother and dad on the terrace…I’ll talk to dad in
private and then ring you back sometime tonight, ok? Around eight or so, after mother’s in bed
or reading in the library. Bye" George said in a hushed tone as he hung up the phone.

        Mr. Huddleston had not, however, returned Christy’s phone call and neither had George
like he had promised. Either something was drastically wrong and prevented either of the two to
sue the phone, or Julia Huddleston had switched into her overbearing-mother mode and was
monopolizing the time of  both the Huddleston men preventing them from even having access to
the phone. Christy felt confident that the latter had in fact occurred and both her father and
George were being drug around Asheville by their ears, protesting all the way.
****

"Oh, Christy, its beautiful," Fairlight cried as Christy pulled the dress out of her hope
chest. 

              The white silk skirt would flow nicely over Christy’s petite figure and provide
the fluff around her ankles that made the flare in the dress so elegant.  The style was so
versatile that it could be wore either with or without petticoats or a hoop-skirt. 

        "Soft as a cloud is, I imagine," Fairlight whispered as she fingered the soft material
between her callused hands.

        The a-line dress would flatter Christy’s small hips and modest bust line and would not
require a tight corset as many dresses would. Christy’s "farm wife" corset that had simple
whale boning instead of steel would suffice in keeping her unmentionable body parts where they
were supposed to be. The bust-line of the dress was cut modestly in a curving v-line trimmed
with hand crocheted, fine lace.

        "It is pretty, isn’t it? I remember working for years on this when I was younger,"
Christy sighed as she held the dress up to her in front of her mirror. "I don’t remember doing
much other than socializing and working on my hope chest. Mother said it wasn’t lady like for
me to be doing other things, but all I wanted to do was run around and play in the flower
garden and get dirty," Christy said with a chuckle.
        
              "You made this?" Fairlight asked in disbelief as she unbuttoned the back of
Christy’s dress so that Alterations could be made to the wedding dress.

        "I *do* know how to sew, Fairlight," Christy said with a smile. "I may have been born
in the city, but I worked my fingers to the nub for five years working on this chest, and most
of that time was spent on this dress! There’s pillow shams, blankets and sheets. My
grandmother’s quilt and my mother’s bassinet sheets. The veil from mother’s wedding is in
there, though its yellowed from age and I’m afraid that I’ll have to use the one that I
crocheted instead. Baby clothes and blankets and my Christening gown are all there, though I’m
still not sure if they’ll get much use. Daddy and I drafted a pattern for my own quilt design
when I was about 7, he used it as a visual aid for my geometry homework and I kept it to make
when I got married," Christy said as she stepped out of her cornflower blue dress and shucked
her underskirts before stepping into the gown she had sewn so many years ago.

        "It fits! Christy you made this when you were just a gal child and it fits ya!"
Fairlight exclaimed as she buttoned the buttons up the back and found about 2 inches worth of
extra fabric in the seams and about three inches worth of hem that needed to be taken up. 

        "I suppose I thought I would grow more than I actually did!" Christy said with a giggle
as Fairlight pulled out Christy’s sewing kit and began to pin-off the sections of fabric that
would have to be taken in and where dart could be taken to accentuate Christy’s slim waist.

        "Stop figitin’, Christy. Are you goona wear yer underskirts with it?" Fairlight asked
around the pins that were being held in her mouth.

        "Maybe…I’ll have to wait and see what the weather’s like. I surely don’t want to be
sweating on my wedding day and with the way the dress is cut, I don’t think anyone would know
if I left them off. Do you?" Christy asked examining the skirt’s natural flare.

        "Doubt it…Neil’ll find out tho," Fairlight said with a giggle.

        "Fairlight!" Christy reprimanded with an embarrassed giggle as a red blush crept over
her face.

        "What? Everyone who’s ever gotten hitched goes through the same thing, girl. Ain’t
nothin’ to be emarrased about," Fairlight replied as she poked Christy’s calf with a pin. "Now
would ya stop figitin? You move again and I’m goona poke you!"



**********
Part 42
**********
A quiet rap on Christy’s door awoke her from her sound sleep on that Thursday morning.
 
"Come in," Christy called as she sat up and reached for her wrap that sat on the foot of her
bed. Surely only Ruby Mae or Miss Alice would be brazen enough to rouse her so early. Why, for
heavens sake, it was 4:30!

"Morning, sleepyhead. Resting well before the big day?" A soft voice called through the door as
it creaked open to reveal a tall, lanky young man not older than 19 with brown hair and big
blue eyes.

"George!" Christy said as she ran to hug her brother, her wrap half closed. She wrapped her
arms around his neck and hugged him with all her might before pulling away. "Its so good to see
you!" Christy said.

"You look all of the part, Chris. Blushing bride to be and everything, even at 4:30 in the
morning," George replied as he disentangled himself from Christy’s embrace to push her back and
get a good look at her.

"Oh, George," Christy said waving his compliment off with her hand as she turned to her small
dressing table and picked up the veil she and Fairlight had been crocheting furiously for the
past week. "What do you think?" She said as she placed the round delicate lace on her head and
turned to look at him with a large smile on her head.
"Its not really you, Chris," He said honestly as he walked across her room to her armoire. He
opened the large doors and pulled out a large white hat that Christy had obviously never worn.
"Here…wear this instead, Chris. Sew the veil to the ribbon band and cover your stitches with
some flowers and you’ll look divine!" George said s he crossed to Christy and placed the hat on
her head after she removed the veil. He picked up the veil and held it to the hat’s band and
showed Christy in the mirror what she would look like.

"Its beautiful, George…thank you," Christy said. He had always had better taste in fashion than
she had. While with his boyhood buddies George would pretend to be macho, when he was around
Christy he was all mush.

****
        "Class, this is my brother, Mr. George Huddleston. He’s come all the way from Asheville
to be at my wedding on Saturday, so please don’t let him think I lied in my letters when I
bragged about what good students you all are and how well behaved you are," Christy said with a
smile as she looked at her precious students and marveled at how they’d all grown and evolved
since her first year teaching.

        George sat in the back row of desks with the eldest boys and tried to participate in
class as they did even though he was well beyond their remedial Geometry. He made it his goal
to become friends with the students so that they wouldn’t feel intimedated by him just because
he was "city folk."

        To Christy’s delight, all the students were well behaved and polite. They even
refrained from playing rough-housing games during recess because, in their eyes, having someone
injured would not boast well for Christy’s teaching abilities and the last thing any of them
wanted was for their beloved teacher to be sent away.

        "Miss Christy,?" Ruby Mae said approaching Christy’s desk toward the end of the school
day.

        "Yes?" Christy asked, smiling at the young girl.

        "We’ve all got something fer yer weddin’ to Doc MacNeil," She said with a small smile.
"I know it ain’t much, but we scrapped together what we could and preacher senta way for it fer
us," Ruby Mae said as Rob Allen brought a package up from the back of the room.

        The brown-paper wrapped package looked to be about the size of a book and Christy’s
faintest idea as to what it was, would no doubt be blown away by what the gift was in
actuallity.

        "Ruby Mae, why don’t we wait to open this until Doctor MacNeil’s here, too?" Christy
asked, trying to be diplomatic without offending her students, "In fact, since you’re all
invited to the wedding, why don’t you bring it to us there?" She asked with a large smile.

        "We’re invited, Miss Christy? All of us?" Creed spoke up from his spot with a large
smile on his face.

        "Of course!" Christy said. Why hadn’t she thought of asking them all sooner? *Because
you’ve been quite busy battling your mother and sewing hems* She thought. "You’re all invited
to the wedding on Saturday at the Willow grove," She said with a flourish of her hands to make
the proclamation official to the students.

        Cheers and whoops and hollers could be heard as the children celebrated in their own
way. The older boys went outside to jump around from happiness at being invited to an "adult"
affair, leading everyone to think class had been dismissed.

        Christy knew that calling them all back in would be a futile effort and she was,
frankly, too happy to ruin their fun anyway. With a wave at the other children as the scurried
home, Christy called "No school tomorrow! And class dismissed" after their fleeting forms.

With a sigh, Christy sat dwon in her chair and smiled at George across the room. "I guess I
just have to wait, now," Christy said to him.

"Don't worry, Chris. You're wedding will be here faster than you'd like!" George teased before
picking up one of the children's recess balls and playing catch with Christy in the field until
dusk.

***********
Part 43
***********
Christy sat in front of her dressing mirror in Miss Alice’s dressing gown, with her remaining
belongings in front of her. The rest of her things having already been driven to Neil’s by
Uncle Bogg and Jeb, she was now left with her wedding dress, shoes, hat, boquet and small train
case which held her hairbrush and boot hook.
With a sigh, she reached behind her and pulled her hair up with one hand. She sighed again as
she let the hair flop back down with a dejectedlook on her face.
"You know, Christy, I used to braid your hair when you were a little girl," came a deep voice
from the doorway. 
"Daddy?" Christy said in shock as she turned and saw her father leaning against the door frame.
Christy shot out of her chair like a rocket and ran to her father, embracing her while tears
flowed down her face. "Oh, Daddy, I’m so glad you came." She said softly while hugging him.
"We’ll have none of that crying," William Huddleston said to Christy, handing her a
handkerchief, "The bride can’t have puff eyes, now can she?" He asked with a smile.
        "Daddy, I’m so glad you’re here," Christy said honestly as she smiled and dried her
eyes.
        "Well, I couldn’t miss my own daughter’s wedding, could I?" he asked with a smile as he
walked over to Christy’s bed and sat down on the edge while she returned to her dressing chair.
"George talked to me and I decided that my place was right here giving you away, not hanging on
your mother’s arm at one of her socials."
        Christy’s face fell visibly as she realized that her mother valued a social over
Christy’s wedding day. Christy turned to the mirror and started to play with her hair again,
trying to find a suitable style. "Daddy, will you braid my hair like you used to?" Christy
asked softly.
        "Sure thing, little miss," William said as she stood behind Christy and braided her
hair simply, letting it flow and hang down her back in a simple weaving. When he was done, he
finished it off with some leather strapping and helped Christy tuck the braid up into a bun
high atop her head. When the bun was in place, Christy wove some baby’s breath into the slots
her braid made and used the two pearl hairpins that were Miss Alice’s wedding present to hold
her curly tendrils in place.
        "How does it look, Daddy," Christy asked, turning in her seat to face her father who
stood behind her.
        "Like a breath of heaven right here, Christy," William said as he looked at his
daughter and realized that she was now a grown woman ready to be wed.
        Christy stood and hugged her father tightly. "She didn’t come, did she, Daddy?" Christy
asked while embracing her father.
        "No, dear, I’m sorry, she didn’t." 
        "I didn’t think she would. I know she doesn’t approve of Neil or the cove or anything
else I do, but I was hoping at least she could acknowledge that I am an adult and I do know
what’s best for me."
        "She loves you, Christy. She thinks that by her not being here, then you won’t marry
Neil. She’s wrong to not be here for you and I told her so. But she’s doing what she thinks is
right and I can’t change her mind. She’s as stubborn as you are, Christy," William said with a
small smile.
        "I know, Daddy. And I love her, too, but I just hoped…" Christy said with a sigh.
        "Well, you’ve got me and you’re just going to have to work with what you have,
Christy," William Huddleston said, trying to lighten the moment.
        "I think half is better than none, Daddy," Christy said as someone rapped lightly on
half-open the door to her room.
        "Come in," She called to Fairlight, who’s head was peeking in.
        "You ready to get dressed, Chrsity?" The blonde asked.
        "As I’ll ever be, I suppose. Fairlight, you remember my father, don’t you?" Christy
said, making the proper re-introductions.
        "I’ll leave you two ladies to get dressed," William Huddleston said as he left the room
and shut the door, heading down the hall to change into his best suit for the wedding.
****
"There!" Fairlight said, cracking her knuckles after buttoning all the small buttons up the
back of Christy’s dress. "Don’t you look like a vision," She said to Christy, now clad in all
white.
"Fairlight, you look lovely," Christy said as she turned to her friend who stood in a peach
organdy dress with slight puffed sleeves. "I’m so glad George brought it along for you when I
told him you were my maid of honor!" 
"I just hope the reverend don’t throw me out of the service for dressing like a loose woman,"
Fairlight teased as she handed Christy her hat. "Hurry up, Miss Christy, Neil might get tired
of waiting and marry someone else!" Fairlight teased some more as she took Christy’s hand in
hers with the train case in the other hand, and pulled her out of the room and down the hall to
be married.
**********
Part 44
***********
        Wild Orchids, lilies, daffodils and morning glory were strung in long chains from the
branches of the willow grove. Hanging down like crepe paper streamers and blowing lightly in
the spring breeze, the wild flowers’s aroma cast and heavenly scent wafting over the Cove’s
residents. 
        Hattie Macabe’s rich  voice floated on the same breeze that ruffled the flower petals. 
         With a simple step-pause tempo, Fairlight made her way down the isle, escorted by Jeb,
Neil’s best man. In her peach dress, Fairlight looked ever bit the matron of honor and Jeb’s
sincere smile indicated that he was quite pleased with the way his wife cleaned up. 
        Ruby Mae, Dying for a reason to get fancied up, had asked Chrsity if she could walk
behind and keep the train from getting wrinkled, and of course, Christy had agreed if for not
reason other than to get the young girl to quite her incessant pleading for only a few moments.
        And so, as if every step was directed by God himself, the wedding precession made its
way down the willow grove with Christy’s hand resting lightly on her father’s arm and a smile
resting upon her lips.
        Not an impulsive catcall or stray breath could be heard from the assembled masses that
stood amongst the shady trees as Christy and her father made their appearance from behind the
rock formation. 
        Neil’s breath caught in his throat as he watched his bride walk up the isle. His gaze
never wavered and he watched her take every step, every movement with love-filled eyes.
        David cast a loving look at Shannon as Christy took her slow steps up to the front of
the make-shift church. 
        Christy and her father stopped at in front of Neil. Mr. Huddleston shook Neil’s hand
and kissed Christy lightly on the cheek before turning and sitting in the chair next to Alice
on the "brides" side, (Which, in all actuality was comprised of cove members from both sides of
the soon to be family).
        "We are gathered here today in the sight of these witnesses and the sight of God to
join these two people in holy matrimony." David began, letting his words fly on the wind and be
carried over the mountains and to yon valleys, spreading news of the much anticipated nuptials
far and wide.
****
"Strike up that fiddle, boy, and lets get this shin dig a’goin!" One of the men called over his
shoulder to Jeb as the man started tooting on his jug.
"Well, Mrs. MacNeil, I guess you aren’t my little miss anymore are you?" William Huddleston
said to Christy as she began to show him some steps to the traditional mountain folkdances. 
        "Oh, Daddy, I’ll always be your little miss. Even when I’m old and grey!" Christ
replied as she watched Neil cut in and spin her away.
"Well, wife ‘a’ mine, how does it feel to be married?" Neil asked as he took placed his left
hand against Christy’s and allowed her to keep her right hand free to hoist her dress with. 
"I don’t know if I’m supposed to feel different, Neil," Christy replied honestly, "I do like
that I can hold your hand in public and kiss you without having the other members of the cove
look at me like I’m some brazed hussy shipped in from the Boston’s convention of loose women!" 
"Christy, Ah don’t think Ah’ve ever heard you say such things!" Neil said teasingly.
"I know, Neil. Its because I used to be trying to catch you. And now that I’ve got you, you’ll
find out more things about me that you didn’t know," Christy teased back. 
"Oh really?" Neil asked, enjoying this little game. "Such as?"
"I don’t know…I do have two freckles that no one other than my mother has seen," Christy said
in a whisper, her head leaning forward against Neil’s chest muffling her voice in
embarrassment.
Neil threw his head back and let out a belly laugh that turned heads. Christy swatted at him
playfully as the fast paced music stopped at the mountain band took a breather.
"You take care of my little girl, you hear?" William Huddleston said to Neil, as he
breathlessly approached the newlyweds with an equally out of breath Alice Henderson not far
behind.
"Ah will, sir," Neil said, shaking his father-in-law’s hand.
"I’m sorry Julia wasn’t here to see it, but she has obviously has her priority’s out of sorts,"
William said, trying to apoligize for something of which he had no control.
"It wasn’t your fault, Daddy," Christy said. "If I had given in then she’d be here running
everything like it was a charity event; not my wedding. And if I didn’t stand firm on this,
daddy, she would still see me as a little girl without a mind of her own! This is my home now,
and she needs to understand that," Christy explained.
"You’re right, little miss. I know you are. We just have to convince your mother of it!"
William said as George walked up and smiled at Christy. 
        "So, Chris, you going to introduce me to some of the pretty young ladies around here or
what?" He asked, not seeing Neil’s eyebrow twitch at the nickname "Chris."
"George, You’re a big boy, too, you are perfectly capable of introducing yourself to whomever
you wish. Besides, being a citified male, you do have a certain stigma. My introducing you may
not increase your chances with the ladies very much," Christy said with a chuckle.
"You’re citified," George said. 
"An’ you’re married, tu!" Neil added with a chuckle.
Christy rolled her eyes and looked to Miss Alice who ware a bemused expression. "Men!" Christy
said before heading over to the punch bowl.
Miss Alice chuckled and followed her.
"Is thee happy, Christy?" The older woman asked.
"Very much so, Miss Alice," Christy replied with a smile. "Are you happy?"
"My son in law is married to the woman I consider to be my daughter and both are quite content
with their lot. I am very happy." 
"Good, Miss Alice. You deserve a bit of happiness in this world," Christy said with a smile.
"As does everyone else, Mrs MacNeil," Miss Alice replied wisely.
Christy smiled as the band began to play and George tried to coax the ever-shy Zady Spencer out
onto the field to dance.
Neil stood behind Christy, his hands on her shoulders, watching the dancing and festivities
before joining in it themselves. 
"God’s in heaven and all’s right with the world," Christy said to her husband as they danced
along the lush spring green grass, celebrating in their love.






Part 45 coming soon! Same Christy time! Same Christy Channel!