Disclaimer: The characters in this story were created by Catherine Marshall in her novel, Christy, the copyright of which is owned by the LeSourd Family. This story has been written for entertainment purposes only. Title: "Worth Fighting For" (Conclusion to "The Road Home" episode of Christy) Author: Debbie H. Part 1 A bell rang loudly, and a chorus of children's voices cheered. "School's out!" "Hooray!" "Summertime!" The youngsters shouted as they crowded toward the schoolhouse doors. A small, hollow-eyed boy was the only one to stop by his teacher's desk on the way out. "I'm going to miss you, Miss Huddleston. You're my favorite teacher I ever had." "I'll miss you, too, Henry," Christy said as she hugged the sandy-haired boy. "Now you be a good boy. And be sure to come visit me next year." "Don't worry, I will!" he cried happily as he skipped from the room. Christy smiled as she watched him leave, enjoying the quiet of an empty schoolroom. "How blessed I am!" Christy thought. "Oh, the letter!" she exclaimed, reaching into one of the drawers of her desk. Slowly, she held the pale blue stationary to her nose, closing her eyes and remembering the sweet smell of lilac. A letter from Miss Alice...... Christy opened the letter, excited to hear about the happenings in Cutter Gap. The contents of the letter would forever change the course of Christy's life...... "Dear Christy, I hope this letter finds you well. I'm sure that you are anxiously counting down the days until summer vacation! Unfortunately, things are not going so well here. The typhoid fever has hit the Cove early this year, and it has hit us hard. I suppose the mild winter is to blame. Burl Allen is the latest case, but there are so many! Three deaths so far, and it's only May! Louise and Stephen have been working around the clock, as has Neil, of course. There just aren't enough hands to go around. Sorry to be so brief, but I must head over the Allens'. Ruby Mae is concerned that little Burt may be getting sick. Please keep us in your prayers. May God's peace be with you, Miss Alice" Typhoid fever in Cutter Gap! Christy bowed her head. Suddenly she raised it, a determined look on her face. "I *will* keep you in my prayers, Miss Alice, but I want to do something else, as well." With that, she grabbed her pocketbook and hurried from the school. ********* Part 2 "Father, I'm home!" Christy called as she entered the foyer of her childhood home. William Huddleston stiffly stood to greet his daughter. "Free for the summer, girlie?" "Well, yes and no." she replied seriously. The elderly gentleman was surprised by his daughter's grim expression. "What's wrong, Christy? Usually the last day of school is a cause for great celebration." Christy pulled the blue envelope from her pocketbook and handed it to her father. He quickly scanned the letter, a worried furrow in his brow. When he had finished, he set the letter on the tiny antique table near the doorway and hugged Christy. "I have to go," she sobbed. "School is out, and I just can't spend the summer idly while my friends in the Cove battle for their very lives." She looked up into her father's grey eyes. "Will you be all right if I go help out for a few weeks? I'm sure Miss Elaine can look in on you, and I'll make a chicken casserole before I go." Gently William brushed the tears from the cheeks of his "girlie", who was no longer a little girl, but a grown woman. "Don't worry about me. I'm not as helpless as your mother always made me out to be. If you feel called to go to Cutter Gap, I certainly won't stand in your way. Just promise me that you'll be careful; and don't get so wrapped up taking care of everyone else that you forget to take care of yourself." ****** The ringing of the telephone at the mission house made Louise Simpson jump. She was sitting at the kitchen table in an exhausted stupor, too hungry to go to bed, but too tired to fix something to eat. Moving as quickly as her tired limbs would allow, she moved to the phone. "Cutter Gap Mission," she said wearily into the mouthpiece. "Hello? To whom am I speaking please?" the pleasant voice of a young woman came through the line. "This is Louise, the schoolteacher. May I help you?" "Yes, Louise, this is Christy Huddleston. I taught at the school several years ago." Louise's face lit up, the tiredness gone. "Miss Christy! I've heard so much about you! You can't imagine what a time I've had trying to fill your shoes! I'm pleased to finally have a chance to talk with you!" Christy was surprised and flattered by the young woman's praise. Unsure of how to respond, she asked about the epidemic. "It's been just awful, Miss Christy," Louise confided. "I have never been so tired in all my born days. Miss Alice says this is one of the worst ones yet." "Well that's why I'm calling. It sounds like you all could use some help. I nursed a few cases of the fever myself when I was in the Cove, so I'd like to come up and lend a hand. Will you let Miss Alice know that I'll be arriving day after tomorrow on the three o'clock train?" "I can't tell you what that would mean to us!" Louise sighed with relief. "I'll be sure to tell Miss Alice..... and I'm looking forward to meeting you in person." ****** A flood of memories crowded Christy's brain as she took her seat on the train. It was a rainy day, very much like the one when she last boarded a train for her current destination. Some of the memories made her smile - Little Burl coming to "swap howdies," Ruby Mae and her incessant chattering - but other memories were bittersweet. Suddenly Christy is standing in front of the schoolhouse, holding a diamond ring in her hand, torn by the decision she has to make....... "I never was good at thinking under pressure," Christy muttered to herself, remembering that day. She stood for several moments, David waiting for her answer with baited breath, hoping for the affirmative; Neil sitting astride his horse, willing her to say no; and the children, just watching it all unfold like a scene in a play. Panicked, Christy snapped the jewelry box shut and handed it to David. "We'll talk about this later," she said and almost ran into the schoolroom, her ears burning. "All right, children, time for our geography lesson." Of course, David was waiting for her on the schoolhouse steps when classes were adjourned, but before he had a chance to open his mouth, Ben Pentland arrived with a letter. "Looks like a telegram from home, Miss Christy," Ben said helpfully, secretly hoping that she would open the envelope right then. "Thank you, Ben," Christy said absently taking it from him. "A telegraph....." she said, thinking aloud. "Must be something rather urgent." She turned to David, relieved at finding an excuse from talking with him. "I'd better find out what it means. Will you excuse me, gentlemen?" She turned and ran into the mission house. ****** Summary: Christy arrives in Cutter Gap ****** Part 3 A shrill whistle signaling the El Pano stop shattered Christy's reverie. She gathered up her luggage and exited the train, the only passenger getting off at the tiny El Pano station. As she descended the steps, a handsome young man with sandy-blonde hair approached her. "Miss Huddleston?" he asked hopefully. Christy nodded. "Miss Huddleston, I'm Stephen Kelley, the minister at the mission. Miss Alice sent me to pick you up. Here, let me take your bags." The two of them walked to the mission's Harvester wagon, which was hitched up to Jeb Spencer's mules. "I'm pleased to meet you, Reverend. Miss Alice speaks very highly of you in her letters." Stephen smiled, pleased with the praise. "So tell me about the fever, Reverend. How many cases are there? Who's sick?" The preacher let out a long sigh. Eighteen cases so far, in the Cove alone. Ruby Mae and Rob's little boy, Burt, has it. He's a tough little guy, but at age two, he's so vulnerable. Miss Alice has been nursing him practically around the clock. Little Burl's fever has broken, so we're hoping that the worst is over for him. "Then there's a new family in the Cove, the Peters'. Both the mother and the middle child have fallen sick. I'm really praying for those folks. They've had a tough time lately. They came from the West Virginia coal mines where the father and oldest boy worked, barely scraping out a living. The boy was lost in a cave-in. Her son's death was almost too much for Martha Peters. She wasn't about to lose her husband or another one of her boys to the mines, so they packed up and moved to Cutter Gap. They've got a farm not too far from Doc MacNeill's place." "Oh, how tragic," Christy commented empathetically. "I hope they are able to make a clean start here." The two rode in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. "So how long have you been working at the mission, Reverend?" Christy asked. "Well," he said, "as you probably know, Reverend Grantland stayed on for about a year after you left. Then, evidently, he had an opportunity for some mission work overseas." He wrinkled his brow, thinking. "China, I think it was." "Yes, I had heard he was going over there. Miss Alice writes from time to time and tries to keep me abreast of the goings on." "Anyway," Stephen continued, "I was pastoring my first congregation at a small church near Albany, New York when Miss Alice called and offered me the job." "And how did you know Miss Alice?" Christy's curiosity forced her to interject. "I didn't know her. That's the funny part. It seems that she called one of my old professors to see if he might know of someone. Dr. Garrett knew that I was of Scottish descent, and thought I might be interested. Boy, was he right! I jumped at the chance to help some of my people and maybe gain some insight into my own heritage as well." The minister hesitated, trying to decide whether or not to ask the question that was preying on his mind. Tentatively he started. "Miss Huddleston, if it's not too rude of me to ask, what was it that caused you to leave Cutter Gap?" ****** Summary: Arrival at the Mission House Part 4 Christy's eyes got a faraway look as she remembered that day almost five years ago. Trying with difficulty to keep her voice from cracking, she told the story of how her mother had come down with pneumonia. "Serious, but probably not life threatening," her father had said in his telegram. Christy was glad that she had left for Asheville the next day. By the time she arrived home, her mother had taken a turn for the worst. After fighting the illness for several days, Julia Huddleston passed away. There were so many arrangements to be made, and Christy's poor father needed her to take care of him. With regret, Christy phoned Miss Alice and tendered her resignation. ****** Dusk was falling when the wagon finally pulled into the mission yard. A not-so-young Alice Henderson rushed out to greet her old friend. After a warm hug and a few tears, Miss Alice introduced Louise Simpson, the "new" schoolteacher. Louise's features were plain, but her eyes had a sparkle that made Christy like her instantly. Only a couple of years younger that Christy, Louise could feel the chemistry between them. "What a thrill to finally meet you, Miss Christy!" Louise exclaimed with feeling. "When this epidemic is over, I hope you'll stay and visit for a while. I have so many questions to ask you!" Christy smiled and opened her mouth to reply, when she saw a movement out of the corner of her eye. A large, dark haired woman slowly came down the mission house steps. Christy almost didn't recognize her at first, but when she did, she couldn't believe her eyes. ****** Summary: You'll have to read it to find out what happens! Part 5 A very pregnant Margaret McNeill was welcoming Christy with open arms. Taken aback, Christy shook her head in surprise, then hugged her. Softly, so that no one but Christy heard her, Margaret whispered, "You were right. He *is* worth fighting for." The two of them looked at each other, laughing through their tears. "Welcome home, Christy," Margaret said with feeling. Although Christy was pleased by Margaret's friendliness, she was shocked by it. The two of them had been polar opposites when Christy lived in Cutter Gap, and they had had more than one disagreement. The new Margaret was definitely a change for the better, Christy decided. "Margaret's been staying with us the last few weeks," said Miss Alice. "Since we're never sure when Neill will turn up...." "And I'll bet your due date is coming soon," Christy finished. Margaret beamed. "As a matter of fact, it's a month from today. Who would have ever imagined that I, miserable Margaret MacNeill, could ever find such peace and joy......." Christy answered sincerely, "I always knew you could, Margaret. You only had to believe it yourself." ****** The typhoid situation in the Cove did not allow Christy much time for reminiscing. Almost immediately, she was plunged into nursing the sick. There was always someone to visit, some soup to deliver, bedclothes to disinfect. One evening just a few days after Christy's arrival, Miss Alice, Louise, Margaret and Christy were sitting around the dinner table, too weary to start the next round of chores. The sound of hoofbeats came from the yard, and moments later a familiar form from long ago entered the room. "I'm beat!" Neil MacNeill stated as he strode into kitchen. He stopped in mid-stride when he noticed the chestnut haired woman seated at the table. "Christy Huddleston!" he exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?" Christy opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She wasn't prepared to face the doctor. Sure, she had imagined seeing him again, had even planned what she would say; but now he was standing right in front of her, and she couldn't even think. "Christy has come to lend us a hand, Neil," Miss Alice said, coming to Christy's rescue. Finally Christy found her voice. "Nice to see you again, Doctor," she said squeezing his hands. She was happy to see her old friend, but clearly their relationship would be different now. After all, Dr. MacNeill was a husband and soon-to-be father. ****** Summary: Miss Alice tells Christy what happened in Cutter Gap after her departure Part 6 It was a beautiful spring day, but Christy and Alice were too weary to enjoy it. They were making the hour-long journey to Raven Gap, to care for an entire family stricken by typhoid. Christy was on the verge of exhaustion, but she couldn't resist to the urge to accompany her mentor. "The Cove was utter chaos after you left, Christy," Miss Alice told her as they followed the winding trail along Lonesome Pine Ridge. "David was so confused, he was preaching mathematics in church and teaching First Thessalonians in school. He started out to visit the McHones' and ended up at the Spencers'," Alice chuckled. "The poor boy didn't know what he was doing. It took a solid month for him to get his bearings. But when he finally did, I think he realized that you had done the right thing. Neither one of you was ready for marriage." "I can't tell you how right you are, Miss Alice," agreed Christy. "I'm very content with my life now, but sometimes I wonder what it would have been like....." "That is something thee can never know, dear. Do you miss him?" the elderly woman asked gently. "Not really," Christy admitted. "So much was happening at home that I didn't have time to miss him. And by the time I did, I realized that I really didn't miss him at all. Isn't that terrible?" "That tells me that thee were right to postpone your decision. A husband should be the man that you absolutely cannot live without." Christy wondered if she would ever meet that man. She was twenty-four now..... "And David was not the only man affected by your departure." Miss Alice's words cut through Christy's thoughts. "Neil can hide his emotions from most people, but I'd known him for too long. He was torn between the new feelings he had for you and his sense of honor and obligation toward Margaret. He rode off into the woods for a few days, no one knows exactly where. Must have done some soul searching, though, because when he returned, he had a look of determination. Margaret and he had made a promise to each other, and it was time for him to keep it." Miss Alice sighed. "It was far from easy, especially in the beginning. But over time, they stopped looking for each other's faults and began rediscovering the qualities that caused them to fall in love so long ago." "I'm so glad, Miss Alice, really I am." Christy stated with feeling. "I'll never forget one afternoon," the missionary recalled. "I was on my way to Lufty Branch when I spotted Margaret and Neil picnicking in a meadow. He was feeding her raspberries, and they were laughing. I had waited so long to hear Margaret laugh again. They looked so in love. It was then I realized that my angry, rebellious little girl was finally allowing her poor heart to heal. I had witnessed an honest-to-goodness miracle." Christy dabbed her eyes and sniffled. "You've always said that all things work for the good of those who follow Him, but sometimes it's so hard to trust Him. I never could have dreamed how everything would work out so perfectly, Miss Alice. It seemed like such a tangled web of misery that day......" Miss Alice smiled fondly at her young protege. "I believe we all learned a lesson in faith, Christy." They reached the summit to find a splendid view of Deer Valley, with wildflowers in full bloom. ****** Part 7 Christy was enjoying her trek through the Cove with Reverend Kelley. He always had an interesting bit of trivia or a thought provoking comment. And that dazzling smile! A girl could forget who she was when he flashed his big grin. "Christy Huddleston!" she chided herself, "I thought you were much to practical a girl to think such thoughts." The two of them were on their way to see the Peters family. Christy had been in Cutter Gap for five days now, and still had not met them. Knowing that there would be many chores left undone while Mrs. Peters was ill, Christy wanted to offer her housekeeping services, and the pastor volunteered to show her the way. She had to admit that she had an ulterior motive, however - her curiosity was eating her alive. "A new family in the Cove! Wonder what they're like," she mused. "You'll really like them," Stephen commented. "They moved here just after Louise had finished the Spring school term, so the children haven't made too many friends yet. And you know how suspicious the Cove folks are of outlanders. They're getting settled in though, and I think most folks realize there's nothing to fear from this family." "How many children are there, and how old are they?" asked Christy. "Well, the oldest was a boy named George. He's the one who died in the mining accident. Then there's Micah, he's oh, I'd say about ten; and Dorothy, seven. She's got typhoid, too, along with her mother. The youngest is James, he's three and cute as a button! He's going to be a little wildcat, though, I can tell. When they first moved here, he wandered off. Found a cave and went exploring. The whole Cove was out looking for him, and most folks didn't even know what he looked like!" Christy laughed, "I'm sure Louise is looking forward to the day that he's old enough to start school." Stephen chuckled. He enjoyed spending time with Cutter Gap's first school teacher. "She's so down-to-earth," he thought, "but she knows how to laugh, too. And laughter is one of life's biggest blessings." He spotted the Peters cabin across the river and pointed it out to Christy. "Hallloooooo! Halloooooo! Anyone home?" His deep voice surprised Christy. He was generally so soft-spoken. She didn't realize he had such "wind." The door to the newly-constructed cabin opened, and a sturdy-looking man in his late thirties came out. He put his hand to his forehead and squinted. "That you, Preacher?" he called. Stephen and Christy quickly crossed the narrow bridge to the Peters' farm. "Pete, I'd like you to meet Christy Huddleston. She used to teach here in the Cove a few years back. Miss Huddleston, meet the newest resident of Cutter Gap, Pete Peters." Pete had the face of an old man, but the eyes of a teenager. The years working in the mines had taken their toll on him, but they couldn't take away the mischief that Christy detected lurking behind his worn exterior. "Howdy do, ma'am," he said smiling, tiny crinkles appearing in the corners of his eyes. "Pleased to have you over. Y'all come on in and set a spell." "Thank you Mr. Peters," Christy replied. "Miss Alice sent over some cornbread and stew." She handed him the pot she was holding. "How is your wife feeling?" "A bit on the go-down today. Doc says t' keep feedin' her soup and such, but she won't have nothin' to do with it." "Well, Miss Alice's stew may change her mind. The reverend and I almost stopped and ate it ourselves on the way over." Christy walked over to the bed, tucked away in a corner of the room, where Martha Peters was sleeping restlessly. "Mr. Peters, would you please boil up some water and bring me some rags?" ****** Part 8 The mission house residents had come up with an efficient routine during the typhoid crisis. Revered Kelley traveled the Cove, doing odd jobs and offering prayers and comfort to the families struck by the fever. Miss Alice and Dr. MacNeill were ceaselessly making rounds, tending to the sick. Margaret, who had to stay away from the patients lest she contract the disease herself, became the mission's chef. After three weeks of making pot after pot of soup, Margaret had come up with several creative new soup recipes. "I didn't know it was possible to have five variations of pea soup!" Christy joked. "Well, I figured everyone had to be as tired of eating it as I was of making it," came Margaret's quick reply. "You wouldn't believe what I can do with chicken casserole," she giggled.. "When Neil and I first got married, it was the only thing I knew how to fix - chicken with rice, chicken with cheddar cheese, chicken with broccoli, chicken with peas, chicken with....." "We get the idea, Margaret," Louise interrupted, laughing. "Come on, Christy, we'd better deliver this soup before it gets cold." ****** Christy was putting together a care package for Ruby Mae Allen, whose little boy was starting to recover, while Margaret was concocting yet another batch of soup. "I'll be glad when this is all over," Christy commented wearily. When Margaret didn't respond, Christy looked up from her project to see Margaret doubled over in front of the stove. "Margaret?" "Ugh!" Margaret uttered through clenched teeth. "It's too early." Christy jumped to her feet. "The baby?" she asked in alarm. "I think so," Margaret said, clutching her swollen belly. "I've been feeling some minor pains for about an hour, but I kept hoping they'd go away......... Ugh!..... It's too early!" "Calm down, Margaret. Everything is going to be all right." Christy said with more confidence than she felt. She gently took the pregnant woman's arm and led her to the sofa in the parlor. "Why don't you lie down and rest for a while? How far apart are the contractions?" "I don't know. Maybe five minutes." "You just rest, and we'll see if they don't go away." Half an hour later, the labor pains were increasing in frequency and intensity. "It looks like you'll be a mother soon," Christy commented as she wiped Margaret's brow with a cool cloth. She looked anxiously at the door. "I hope Louise or Stephen comes soon. I think it's time to send for the doctor....... I mean, your husband." The sweating figure on the sofa squeezed Christy's hand tightly as another contraction hit. Finally, Stephen returned from one of his errands of mercy. He hardly set foot in the mission when Christy called to him from the parlor. She met him in the doorway. "It's Margaret," she said grimly. "Looks like she's going into labor a little early. We need Dr. MacNeill...... now." "Don't worry, I'll track him down," Stephen patted her shoulder. "Is there anything I can do for you before I go? You know, boil water, get clean sheets......" He was halfway joking, but Christy didn't notice. "No, we're all right, just hurry!" she said, pushing him out the door. With that the minister raced to his horse and headed west, toward Bob Allen's mill. "Someone at the mill always knows where the Doc is," he told himself as he spurred the young mare on. ****** Summary: Dr. MacNeill and Miss Alice making their rounds Part 9 Miss Alice wiped Martha Peters' feverish brow as Dr. MacNeill checked her ever slowing pulse. Pete sat in a trance, not believing the scene in front of him. Dear Martha, his childhood sweetheart and mother of his children, was slipping away from him, and there was nothing anyone could do. Dorothy hugged her daddy tightly, understanding more than a little girl should. The toddler, James, did not know what was happening, but he could sense that something wasn't right. Mama was always sleeping, and Daddy didn't laugh and play with him anymore. He crawled up onto his father's lap, seeking to erase the strange unease he felt. The room was silent except for the loud ticking of the grandfather clock that Martha's parents had brought over from the Old Country. The silence was maddening. Miss Alice noticed Pete's distress, and she walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. "She's not in pain, Pete. Would you like me to pray with you?" The miner raised his head and looked up at Miss Alice. Those eyes, usually full of fun and laughter, were now pools of misery. "I'd be obliged," he choked. Alice took his and Dorothy's hands and bowed her head. She was quiet for a moment, composing in her heart the farewell prayer for her new friend. In the short time Alice had known her new neighbor, she had grown to love her. "Dear Father," she began. "You are the great Creator, the giver of life. We thank you for sharing the life of Martha Peters with us. We know that she holds a special place in your heart. As a loving Father, we know that you will watch over her, and give her eternal peace. Please be with her family now Lord, comfort them, heal them. Help them to know that You will always be with them, even in life's darkest hour." Neil could hear Dorothy sniffling. "Give Pete the strength and the patience to persevere, and to raise Micah, and Dorothy and James to be the men and women You would have them be. Most of all, give them Thy peace, which passes all understanding." As Alice finished the prayer, Neil felt the last beat of Martha's pulse. He looked at her face and was amazed by the sight. He could almost see her spirit moving on to its final home. Never had he felt such peace. Then her body was lifeless, the empty shell of the spirit who had lived there moments ago. The doctor had witnessed many deaths in the Cove, more than he cared to admit, but never had he experienced one like the passing of Martha Peters. ****** After offering what little comfort they could, Neil and Alice left the Peters' to their grief. The two didn't speak as they headed back toward the mission house. Alice could see that Martha's passing had made an impression on the doctor. She had noticed how his arrogant, self-sufficient attitude had ever-so-gradually softened over the last few years. The Master was knocking at door to the good doctor's heart. Would he answer it? "There was something about her, Alice," observed Neil pensively. He opened his mouth to say more, but the desperate cries of Creed Allen stopped him. "Doc, Miss Alice!" Creed shouted, waving his arms. He ran to the pair and breathlessly told them that Little Burl was in trouble. ****** Utter chaos met the doctor and his aide at the Allens'. Mary Allen, Burl's mother had a reputation around the Cove for panicking in a crisis. "Little Burl, Little Burl!" she wailed incessantly. Quickly, the doctor assessed the situation. Although most typhoid patients die from the fever itself, some also lose their life when the inflamed lining of the intestine is torn by solid foods passing through it. He had warned the Allens to keep Burl on a liquid diet several more days, but Burl was a growing teenage boy. The smell of his mother's freshly baked corn bread had been more than he could stand. "Looks like a torn intestinal wall," he said to Alice. "Get ready to operate. We'll have to move fast." He opened his bag and began pulling out instruments. "Mary, start some water boiling. And Creed, I'll need some material for bandages." ****** Stephen didn't have to look far to find Dr. MacNeill. As he approached the Allen's mill, he could see the doctor and Miss Alice's horses tethered near the cabin. No one noticed when he entered. The inside of the cabin looked like an emergency ward. Burl was stretched out unconscious on the kitchen table while Dr. MacNeill frantically worked on the gaping incision in his abdomen. Mary could be heard wailing outside. Creed stood in the corner, his eyes open wide. That was his baby brother over there! Stephen hesitated. The doctor was clearly in a crisis. Should Stephen interrupt him with the news of his wife's labor, or would the distraction cost Burl his life? He decided to wait, and while he waited, he prayed. He prayed for Burl, for the doctor, for Margaret, for Christy. Dr. MacNeill set down the scalpel and rolled his head on his shoulders, trying to relieve some tension. At last, the moment came when Stephen thought he could speak. "Doc....." he started. "Hate to bother you, but I've just come from the mission." Neil looked at him quizically. "And?" "It appears that Margaret's gone into labor." Neil's face was a study - a mixture of joy and concern. "It's too early," he muttered under his breath. He looked out the window of the cabin, lost in thought. "I'm sorry," he said decisively, anguish written clearly on his face. "I've got to finish Burl's surgery. If I don't, he'll die." Miss Alice volunteered to go back to the mission. "No," was the doctor's reply. I need you here. This is a tricky operation, and I'll need all the help I can get." "Don't worry, Stephen," Miss Alice added, noting the look of horror on the young pastor's face. "Plenty of babies have been born without a doctor present. How long has she been in labor?" "Couple of hours, I guess." "We'll get there as soon as we can," she promised. "If it's only been two hours, we may be able to get back in time. In case we don't though, here are some things to remember...." ****** Summary: the birth of Baby MacNeill And now, the exciting continuation - Part 10: Back at the mission house, Christy was getting worried. Stephen had been gone for quite a while now, and still there was no sign of him, Dr. MacNeill or Miss Alice. Christy fervently wished for someone - *anyone* - to show up. It was looking like the school teacher was going to become a midwife. "AAAAAHHHH!" Margaret shouted. The contractions were coming one on top of the other. "It's going to be all right, Margaret," Christy said. In her mind, she tried to remember anything she could about delivering babies, which, unfortunately was very little. In Asheville, women went to the hospital, where trained doctors and nurses took care of everything. Her friends who were mothers just went into the hospital pregnant and came out with a shiny new baby. Even during the time Christy lived in Cutter Gap, only two babies had been born, and Miss Alice had taken care of those. What was she going to do? "I need You, Lord!" Christy whispered desperately. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, Stephen's face appeared before her. "Is there anything I can do for you before I go? You know, boil water, get clean sheets......" "Thank *You*, God!" Christy cried. Then to Margaret, she said, "I'll be right back. Have to gather up some supplies." She grabbed a candlestick from the nearby table and put it in the pregnant woman's hand. "Just squeeze this when the pain comes." Margaret nodded distantly. She was sweating profusely and her eyes looked out of focus. ****** Stephen headed for the mission house at full gallop. His horse seemed to sense that this was an emergency, and sped along the trails as if on wings. The reverend didn't even stop to tether the animal, but leapt from its back and up the mission house steps. Christy looked up at him, but her relief turned to dismay when she saw that he was alone. "Where's Dr. MacNeill?" she asked, her voice rising with the panic inside her. "He and Miss Alice are at the Allen's - they had to operate on Little Burl. They'll get here as soon as they can." Stephen saw Christy's lip quiver. Her eyes filled up with tears, but not a single drop fell. "But Miss Alice told me what to do," he added as consolation. "First, we have to....." ****** The scene that met Louise's eyes when she returned to the mission from delivering soup to the Spencers was unbelievable. Christy Huddleston, the well-to-do volunteer schoolteacher was delivering Margaret's baby, and Reverend Kelley was lying on the floor unconscious. "What happened?" Louise asked in utter amazement. Christy looked up at her briefly. "Margaret went into labor. Stephen found Dr. MacNeill and Miss Alice, but they couldn't come. Miss Alice told him what to do. He came, told me, then at the first sight of blood, passed out. Come here. I need your help." With Louise's encouragement, Margaret continued her efforts. Finally, Christy shouted, "I can see the head!" Minutes later, she was holding a tiny baby boy in her arms. For a moment, she was awestruck by the miracle of birth. Then she noticed the bloody mucous all over the infant - and her dress. "Yuck! Louise, wipe him off. Make sure he doesn't have any of that disgusting stuff in his mouth. He needs to breath." As she handed the baby to Louise, she saw a rope-like cord still connecting the boy to his mother. "I think we're supposed to tie a knot in the umbilical cord and cut it, but how in the world....." At that moment, Dr. MacNeill rushed into the room. He deftly knotted the cord, pulled a scalpel from his bag and severed the cord. He gave the tiny baby a solid whack on the bottom, causing him to let out a gusty holler. With the immediate crisis over, the new father looked in wonder at his newborn son. Miss Alice stood unnoticed in the doorway, tears glistening in her tired eyes. She had never seen such a soft expression on her son-in-law's face. "Yes," she thought to herself, "his heart is healing every day. Continue to prepare his heart, Father, for the day when You knock and he welcomes You home." Neil looked over at his mother-in-law. "Come see your grandson," he said, a proud grin spreading from ear-to-ear. He handed the baby to Alice, and knelt by his wife, stroking her wet and matted hair. Stephen sat up. "What happened?" he asked, scratching his head in confusion. Louise and Christy looked at each other and giggled. They each took one of the preacher's hands and pulled him to his feet. Then the three of them let the new family have their privacy. ****** Conversation at the dinner table was very lively that night. "And what, exactly, were you doing on the floor, Reverend?" the new father asked innocently, a twinkle in his amber eyes. "Well, I....... I was........ I was......." desperately he looked at Christy for help, but she just chuckled. "Yes?" Neil prodded expectantly. He wasn't going to let the city preacher off easily. Stephen shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Well, you see, it's like this......." He looked around the table, hoping someone would rescue him from this embarrassment, but even Miss Alice sat silently, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Louise was hiding behind her napkin; Neil's eyes were burning a hole through him with that steady gaze; and Christy.......... Christy's head was bowed; her eyes were closed; her face was red as an apple, and her shoulders were shaking. Finally, she could hold her laughter no longer. A tremendous belly laugh burst from deep inside her, as the tears streamed down her face. The laughter was contagious, and even Stephen found himself holding his stomach and laughing until it hurt. "You must have forgotten to say your prayers, Reverend," Miss Alice stated with a chuckle. "What makes you say that?" Stephen asked with a wrinkled in his brow. Miss Alice recited, "Isaiah 40:31 - For those who wait upon the Lord shall find their strength renewed. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk," the elderly woman's voice quivered slightly, "and not grow.....faint!" Upon hearing the word "faint," the entire table burst out with renewed peals of laughter. Stephen stood up, attempting to look stern. "I did my job. I told Christy everything Miss Alice told me, then I allowed her the...... the..... the privilege of delivering the baby and taking all the praise and glory." "Never knowing you'd be ridiculed half to death!" Christy cried. "I fear for the mother of your children, my good man," said the doctor, slapping him heartily on the back. The minister's face, which had finally returned to its normal color, flamed bright red again. "It might be best for me to get married before I start siring children, Doctor." He looked at Christy from the corner of his eye. This was SOOO embarrassing! Could she ever see him as anything but a fool after this? ****** Part Eleven Later in the evening, Neil went up to check on his exhausted wife and brand new son. The other mission house residents sat in the parlor. Louise was picking out a tune, using the two-finger method, on the Lyon and Healy piano. Christy thought it was "Mary Had a Little Lamb," but she couldn't be sure. Anyway, who was she to criticize? She was so musically inept that Ida Grantland wouldn't even let her play the piano when she lived here five years ago. Stephen sat in the wingback chair, pretending to read a book on the life of St. Francis of Assisi. In truth, he was studying Christy, trying to discern what feelings, if any, she might have for him. Christy was too tired to do anything but sit, and maybe visit. She asked Miss Alice how much longer the typhoid epidemic might last. "Neil and I were discussing that this afternoon. It should be about over. No new cases in five days. Maybe Martha Peters was the last death. Hopefully, the fever has run its course, and now we just have to deal with the side effects - like Little Burl." Christy sat up in her chair. "That's right! You two operated on him. What happened?" The old missionary proceeded to tell Christy what a devastating effect anything other than a liquid diet can having on a recovering typhoid patient. "Burl should be just fine, though," she added. "And one good thing may come of all this........ the other members of the Cove may stick to their diets!" Neil came down the stairs with his son in his arms. "The baby was so small when I held him," Christy thought, "but he looks downright tiny in Dr. MacNeill's big arms." The huge man who could roar like a lion, and act like a bear, was tamed by a four-and-a-half-pound bundle of joy. She watched with a wistful smile as the new father cooed and made silly faces at the infant. The look did not go unnoticed by Stephen or Alice. The young man thought (hoped, actually) that the wistful look was Christy longing for that day when she would be a mother. Alice had more insight, however, and knew a lot more about the old relationship between her son-in-law and the former teacher. Neil was oblivious to all of this. He was completely and utterly amazed at the tiny creature that he held in his arms. A feeling of love, not only for this baby, but more importantly for the woman who bore him, coursed through his veins. What a journey he and Margaret had traveled! For the thousandth time, he marveled at the "fairytale" turn his life had taken. Sure, they had struggled, especially at first! He chuckled as he recalled that first afternoon. He returned from his trek in the woods, determined to try again at marriage with Margaret,........ if she was still there. He doubted that she would be. After all, she had poured her heart out to him, made herself vulnerable - something Margaret never did. And what did he do? He went racing after a girl fourteen years his junior - a society girl with her whole life in front of her, not to mention a certain preacher wrapped around her little finger. That retreat in the woods cleared his head. He was a married man. He had made a vow, and if Margaret wanted a second, or third, or even fourth chance, he was obligated to give it to her. Much to his surprise, his wife was waiting for him. They had a frank discussion, and agreed to attempt to work out their problems. The first thing Margaret did after that was to carry her bag into the bedroom - *his* bedroom - and put all of her belongings in the top drawer of the bureau - *his* top drawer of *his* bureau! He swallowed his angry words. Then he noticed the pile of his clothes that Margaret had dumped out on the bed. The doctor's angry words turned to laughter as he held up a pair of his undershorts, "And where were you planning to store these?" Neil learned a powerful secret that day. Forgiveness and a sense of humor are two critical ingredients for a successful marriage. It was a secret that they both used many times as they traveled the rocky road of life together. ****** At first, Margaret thought that her tiredness was caused by a lack of sleep. She could not believe how much attention a baby required. How could something that only knows how to eat, sleep and poop demand constant attention? Even with her mother, Christy and Louise to help out, the job was still overwhelming. On the morning of the third day, Neil looked at her with concern. Propped up on one elbow, his wild hair tousled from a night of interrupted sleep, he asked her with a crooked grin, "How are you feeling, dear?" "Exhausted," she sighed, "but happy." Margaret slipped out of the bed and walked over to the wash pan. The cool water on her face felt so good! "It was terribly hot last night," she thought to herself. Neil rolled across the bed to get up. He noticed that the sheet was soaked with sweat. ****** Subject: Worth Fighting For Revision Resent-Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 01:08:00 +0800 Resent-From: christy@gospel.iinet.net.au Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 12:11:03 -0500 From: DEBBIE HARRIS To: christy@gospel.iinet.net.au Hey everyone! I left out an important sentence in yesterday's post. (Don't want Christy to sound like she's coveting her neighbor's husband!) Disclaimer: The characters in this story were created by Catherine Marshall in her novel, Christy, the copyright of which is owned by the LeSourd Family. This story has been written for entertainment purposes only. Part Eleven Later in the evening, Neil went up to check on his exhausted wife and brand new son. The other mission house residents sat in the parlor. Louise was picking out a tune, using the two-finger method, on the Lyon and Healy piano. Christy thought it was "Mary Had a Little Lamb," but she couldn't be sure. Anyway, who was she to criticize? She was so musically inept that Ida Grantland wouldn't even let her play the piano when she lived here five years ago. Stephen sat in the wingback chair, pretending to read a book on the life of St. Francis of Assisi. In truth, he was studying Christy, trying to discern what feelings, if any, she might have for him. Christy was too tired to do anything but sit, and maybe visit. She asked Miss Alice how much longer the typhoid epidemic might last. "Neil and I were discussing that this afternoon. It should be about over. No new cases in five days. Maybe Martha Peters was the last death. Hopefully, the fever has run its course, and now we just have to deal with the side effects - like Little Burl." Christy sat up in her chair. "That's right! You two operated on him. What happened?" The old missionary proceeded to tell Christy what a devastating effect anything other than a liquid diet can having on a recovering typhoid patient. "Burl should be just fine, though," she added. "And one good thing may come of all this........ the other members of the Cove may stick to their diets!" Neil came down the stairs with his son in his arms. "The baby was so small when I held him," Christy thought, "but he looks downright tiny in Dr. MacNeill's big arms." The huge man who could roar like a lion, and act like a bear, was tamed by a four-and-a-half-pound bundle of joy. She watched with a wistful smile as the new father cooed and made silly faces at the infant. The look did not go unnoticed by Stephen or Alice. The young man thought (hoped, actually) that the wistful look was Christy longing for that day when she would be a mother. Alice had more insight, however, and knew a lot more about the old relationship between her son-in-law and the former teacher. That look was an I-wonder-what-might-have-been look. Neil was oblivious to all of this. He was completely and utterly amazed at the tiny creature that he held in his arms. A feeling of love, not only for this baby, but more importantly for the woman who bore him, coursed through his veins. What a journey he and Margaret had traveled! For the thousandth time, he marveled at the "fairytale" turn his life had taken. Sure, they had struggled, especially at first! He chuckled as he recalled that first afternoon. He returned from his trek in the woods, determined to try again at marriage with Margaret,........ if she was still there. He doubted that she would be. After all, she had poured her heart out to him, made herself vulnerable - something Margaret never did. And what did he do? He went racing after a girl fourteen years his junior - a society girl with her whole life in front of her, not to mention a certain preacher wrapped around her little finger. That retreat in the woods cleared his head. He was a married man. He had made a vow, and if Margaret wanted a second, or third, or even fourth chance, he was obligated to give it to her. Much to his surprise, his wife was waiting for him. They had a frank discussion, and agreed to attempt to work out their problems. The first thing Margaret did after that was to carry her bag into the bedroom - *his* bedroom - and put all of her belongings in the top drawer of the bureau - *his* top drawer of *his* bureau! He swallowed his angry words. Then he noticed the pile of his clothes that Margaret had dumped out on the bed. The doctor's angry words turned to laughter as he held up a pair of his undershorts, "And where were you planning to store these?" Neil learned a powerful secret that day. Forgiveness and a sense of humor are two critical ingredients for a successful marriage. It was a secret that they both used many times as they traveled the rocky road of life together. ****** At first, Margaret thought that her tiredness was caused by a lack of sleep. She could not believe how much attention a baby required. How could something that only knows how to eat, sleep and poop demand constant attention? Even with her mother, Christy and Louise to help out, the job was still overwhelming. On the morning of the third day, Neil looked at her with concern. Propped up on one elbow, his wild hair tousled from a night of interrupted sleep, he asked her with a crooked grin, "How are you feeling, dear?" "Exhausted," she sighed, "but happy." Margaret slipped out of the bed and walked over to the wash pan. The cool water on her face felt so good! "It was terribly hot last night," she thought to herself. Neil rolled across the bed to get up. He noticed that the sheet was soaked with sweat. ****** Summary: Miss Alice has an "opportunity" with Christy; Neil shares some news. Part Twelve At the breakfast table, Louise and Christy were having an in-depth discussion about the best method for teaching multiple grades in a one-room schoolhouse, when the children and their parents insist on separating the boys from the girls. Louise had been fighting that battle her entire tenure, and had not come up with a satisfactory solution. "If there were some way to take advantage of the separation......." mused Christy. "How could we do that?" Louise was baffled, but she could see the wheels turning in her friend's head. Christy chewed her piece of bacon slowly. "Well," she said swallowing, "maybe you could have some special classes - you know, like cooking or sewing for the girls and carpentry or farming for the boys." Alice and Stephen had been listening to the conversation with interest. With a smile, Alice spoke up softly. "If I may have an opportunity with thee, Christy." "Of course, Miss Alice." "I have an offer for you. I've cleared it with Dr. Ferrand, but was waiting for the right time to talk with you about it." "What?!" Louise interjected before she could stop herself. Embarrassed, she clapped a hand over her mouth. "Excuse me," she added meekly. Miss Alice gave her a warm smile. "Well, what is it, Miss Alice?" asked Christy, an edge of curiosity and hope in her voice. She hadn't realized how much she missed the Cove, and maybe....... And Stephen, well, he had an interest in hearing about this offer, too. He had been trying for days to figure out a way to keep this intriguing young woman in Cutter Gap. The people around the table leaned forward in anticipation as Miss Alice gathered her thoughts. Sometimes her Quaker silences could be maddening! "Louise has been doing such a fine job teaching the children, and the Cutter Gap mission has established itself. I think it's time to start educating the adults, as well. As I recall, Christy, you had envisioned an adult program when you were here before, but with trying to build a children's program, we simply didn't have the time or the resources." "Things have changed. An anonymous donor has entrusted Dr. Ferrand with a substantial sum of money, with the express demand that it be used in Cutter Gap. We now have the resources, and Miss Huddleston, if you have the time, I'd like to hire you as our new adult program teacher." "Oh, Miss Alice......" Christy was speechless. "The adults already know you and like you. They trust you, and we all know how long it takes to earn the mountain man's trust. You'd be perfect for the job. So...... are you interested?" Christy opened her mouth to reply, but Neil's heavy steps were heard coming down the stairs. The look on his face was one of agony. "Neil?" Alice stood up; the pleasant expression on her face had been wiped away and replaced by one of concern. "The epidemic isn't over yet," he said softly. ****** Dr. MacNeill and Miss Alice had misjudged the unpredictable disease. Typhoid fever decided to attack one more victim. Margaret lay upstairs, tossing and turning, sweating profusely. She longed to hold her new baby, but she wasn't even allowed to see him....... Thirsty, she was so thirsty! Whenever she moaned for more water, Neil was there, ready and waiting with a tall glass of the precious liquid. Neil....... a cornerstone in her life. He had always been there for her, even when she tried, as hard as she could, to push him away. She tried to open her mouth, to tell him that she loved him, but the effort was too much. Her brain was running in slow motion, and her tongue and lips wouldn't do as they were told. All she could utter was the single syllable "Mac.""He knows....... he knows," she consoled herself sluggishly. ****** For four days, the fever raged. The doctor refused to leave Margaret's side. He felt somehow responsible. Moving her to the mission house during the epidemic had seemed to be such a wise choice. But with all the coming and going of the mission residents to various patients about the Cove........ had someone unknowingly carried the dreaded disease back with them? How long had she been exposed to the disease? Thinking back, he remembered how tired she looked lately, but he had written it off to being eight months pregnant and standing in front of a hot stove all day. Now, too late, he recognize the early symptoms of the dreaded fever. In typical Neil fashion, he beat himself up internally while he sat at his dear wife's side. ****** Summary: The Peters' cope with their loss, Margaret's delirium Part Thirteen The Cove began the slow process of recovery from the fever. Patients wasted away on their liquid diets, their bodies clamoring for solid food. Little Burl, who had succumbed to the urge, was recuperating nicely from his operation. Families who had lost loved ones began to settle into a new routine, feeling the emptiness from a missing mother or child. The Peters family was definitely struggling. Martha Peters had been a spiritual force for her husband and children. She was one of those rare individuals who could remain calm in any situation, completely trusting her Heavenly Father to take care of everything. But now she was gone, and although Pete had faith, he had not quite attained the level of trust his wife had. The strain of caring for Dorothy, his seven-year-old daughter who was recovering from the fever, coupled with the frustration of trying to be both father and mother to his three children was wearing Pete to the bone. One afternoon, he was on his third attempted batch of lye soap. The mixture in the big pot was boiling, but Pete could tell it wasn't right. Two piles an unusable, greasy mixture had already been dumped out in the yard. "We're never gonna have soap ag'in!" he muttered dumping another worthless batch out of the pot. "Martha, I jest cain't figger out how to do this. Dadgumit! What are we gonna do?!" He sat down in defeat on a nearby rock. He wiped the sweat from his brow. "Oh, Martha!" he uttered in dismay. Micah approached his father tentatively. "Paw?" Pete looked up at his son, but his mind was far away. "Paw, I seen Mama make soap lots of times. You got to keep mixin' the fat an' the lye an' the water ‘til ye git the right mix. Kin I holp ye?" The man put a hand on his son's shoulder. "You're a good boy, Micah. You jest show me how she used to do it." He heard the boy's stomach rumble loudly. Not a single member of the Peters family had taken a bath in over a week....... and they hadn't eaten much either. "Why don't you make up the soap, an' I'll go rassle up some vittles." Pete stood up and noticed a movement in the trees down the hill. It was Louise Simpson, the schoolteacher heading their way. He took off his rusty old hat and waved it in the air. "Hallooo! Hallooo there, Teacher!" He walked toward the young woman. "Hello, Mr. Peters," Louise said brightly. "How are you today, Micah?" she asked the ten-year-old. "Fair t' middlin', ma'am," Micah answered shyly. "Come on in the house and set, Miss Lo-weez," invited Pete politely. "Why, thank you. I brought you a roast and some vegetables from the mission. Thought you all might like it." The trio walked silently up the hill to the cabin. It took several moments for Louise's eyes to adjust to the dimly lit room. Dirty dishes were piled in the wash tub, and clutter was strewn about everywhere. She noticed Micah's pants had large holes in the knees. And what was that smell? Pete saw her wrinkle her nose, ever so slightly. "Aim to put a hand to clean up a bit. Havin' a heap a trouble makin' the soap, though," he commented sheepishly. "Why don't I give you a hand then?" "Wal, that jest wouldn't be fittin'!" Pete replied in surprise. "Why not? I'm an expert. Before I came here, I cleaned house for several families in Charleston." The smell of roast drew little James from his hiding place behind the table. When Louise asked him if he was hungry, he nodded his head solemnly; his big, brown eyes reminded the teacher of a stray puppy. She quickly served up three plates and warmed some broth for Dorothy. As the Peters' ate, she scrubbed the dishes and swept the floor. Pete leaned back in his chair, contentedly patting his full belly. He realized that, for the first time since Martha's death, he wasn't feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Maybe God hadn't forgotten about him, after all. ****** Because Dr. MacNeill and Alice wanted to stay close by the mission house, Christy, Stephen and Louise handled as many of the medical calls as their relative inexperience would allow. Fortunately, no major crises had occurred so far. The women at the mission took turns caring for the newborn infant, and Fairlight Spencer helped when she could. The mission's cow became an important part of the baby's care, since she was the only one who could provide milk. Dr. MacNeill refused to leave Margaret's side. He dozed occasionally in the chair by her bed, but he spent most of his time caring for her and speaking to her softly, willing her to fight the disease. Her delirious utterances highlighted for Neil the amazing transformation his wife had experienced. One moment her face would be pale and craven, deep circles under her eyes, as she talked to one of her Tea House co-workers using crude and foul language that would make a sailor blush. Seconds later, she would be the perfect image of tranquility, as she spoke lovingly to her husband in her dreams. He listened to her rambling because it gave him new insight into the woman who was his wife. "I want what you have, Mother," Margaret said clearly. Neil sat up in his chair. For a moment, he thought she had awoken, but it was only the delirium again. "Mother, I want that peace, that ‘peace that surpasses all understanding.' I'm tired - tired of running, tired of being angry, tired of blaming everyone else...... A prayer? What prayer?............ Yes, Mother, I am ready to become a new creature.......... Yes, I'm ready......... Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that I am a sinner....... and I ask You to forgive me for my sins......... Please come into my heart......... to save me and take control of my life.......... Thank you for being my Savior and Lord.......... Amen." Margaret's voice fell silent. Neil had never seen a typhoid patient look radiant, but Margaret did as she relived the day that forever changed her life. It gave the doctor something to contemplate as he sat by Margaret's side. ****** Summary: Read it and see! Part Fourteen After six days, Margaret's fever still had not broken. She awoke, calling for her mother. Neil leaned over her. "What is it, Maggie?" he asked, stroking her hair. "I need to speak to Mother alone,.......... Mac, please." The doctor left the room to fetch Alice. Moments later, she was sitting beside Margaret. "Mother?" "I'm here, dear." "Mother, I'm so tired. I don't know......... how long I can........." Alice spoke soothingly to her daughter. "Shhhhh, you need your rest." "Mother, I have to tell you.......... Neil, please look after Neil............. He's been so good to me......... Better than I ever deserved......... and so have you, Mother.........." The sick woman clutched Alice's arm. "Please......... take care of him, Mother...... promise me." "I promise; but Margaret, dear, why don't you take care of him yourself? You can do it! I know you can," the elderly woman's voice cracked. "I need you, Margaret." "I'll try," came the weak reply. ****** As Margaret slipped into a coma, it became evident that, barring a miracle, she was not going to recover. Christy went upstairs to talk with the woman she had grown to love. "Margaret, I don't know if you can hear me, but I've got to tell you this. Margaret? Keep fighting, Margaret. You can do it, I know you can! Remember that day at the Tea House? I told you that Dr. MacNeill was worth fighting for? Well he still is Margaret! He still is. And now you've got a son...... a stubborn, red-headed son. He's worth fighting for, too. There are two men who need you, Margaret. And they both love you very, very much. Fight for them. Please! I'm begging you, fight Margaret!" Tears streamed down Christy's face. She had never prayed for a miracle harder in her life. "If Margaret dies, it may be more that Neil can bear," Christy said to herself. "Don't do that to him now, God, please!" Christy didn't see the weary doctor standing in the doorway. ****** Christy was trying without success to quiet the baby. She had already fed him, changed his diaper, rocked him, and hummed him a lullaby, but nothing had worked. He was tense and agitated this morning, and she couldn't figure out why. She heard Neil's slow, heavy footsteps on the stairs. They stopped, and Christy turned to look at him. The doctor had stopped halfway down, then turned and tightly gripped the banister, his head bowed in defeat. "She's.......... gone," he choked. Alice, who had been sitting in the parlor, rushed over to him and helped him down the stairs. They hugged each other tightly, each trying to cling to that life that had connected them. But Margaret was gone. Christy watched as Alice led the usually confident and sometimes arrogant doctor into the parlor. He was anything but confident now. Dr. MacNeill looked beaten down. Christy wondered if he would ever rise again from this powerful blow. She softly closed the parlor door to give the grieving husband and mother some privacy. The baby was still crying, but softly now. "It's almost as though he could feel his mother's passing," Christy mused. She kissed him softly on the forehead. "Don't you worry, little one. You lost your mama, but we're going to take care of you. You're going to have a dozen mamas. You'll be the most loved little boy in the Cove." ****** Almost everyone from Cutter Gap stood by the Charter Oak, to pay their last respects to Margaret Henderson MacNeill. She had earned a special place in the hearts of these mountain people. It took them a while for them to realize that she was not a ghost or a demon, but a flesh-and-blood woman who needed a second chance. She took her husband's people into her heart and made them her own people. "And in closing, Miss Alice has asked that we sing Margaret's favorite hymn," Stephen announced in his deep "preachin'" voice. "Miss Hattie, if you'd get us started, please." I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear, falling on my ear The Son of God discloses. And He walks with me, and He talks with me And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, No other has ever known. ("In the Garden" from Sacred Selections for the Church, copyright 1912.) ****** Miss Alice decided that Neil needed some time alone. She offered to keep the baby for a few days. The doctor was in such pain, that he had almost forgotten he had a son. In a daze, he mounted his horse and headed home - that empty cabin on the hill. When he was out of earshot from the mission house, Neil was finally able to voice his agony. "Why are You doing this to me?" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "Why did she have to die? She was finally happy! For the first time in her miserable life, she was happy!" His words were full of disgust and despair. He muttered softly, "And I was happy, too." He rode on in silence as a jumble of question chased themselves around in his head. He had seen the miraculous change in Margaret's attitude, and realized that somehow, God had played a hand in it. But if God was so loving, so compassionate, why did he let her die? She would never see her son grow up, become a man. Is that any way to treat a faithful servant? "Not in my book!" The sound of his own voice surprised him. Or maybe this was God's way of getting even with him. "Are You punishing me for ignoring You? Huh? Is that it?" He looked toward heaven, shaking his fist. By the time the doctor reached his cabin, he was exhausted and confused. Slowly he climbed the steps to the porch. It felt like he was climbing a mountain. He opened the door, and his steps echoed in the lifeless room. The stillness was deafening. He collapsed in the nearest chair, and sat there in a stupor. He awoke early the next morning, stiff and uncomfortable. The doctor had fallen asleep in the wooden straight-back chair his grandfather had made. For a moment, he didn't know where he was. Then, he remembered it all. He was home, home because Margaret was dead. Dead! Margaret was dead! He couldn't bear the thought. The grieving man walked over to a drawer in his bedroom and remove a key. He used the key to enter his laboratory; only now he didn't think of it as his laboratory, he thought of it as the nursery. A corner of the room had been set aside, awaiting the arrival of a new MacNeill. A tiny bassinet sat in the corner. A quilt, patched together with pink and blue scraps was folded neatly over the side. The doctor walked over to a trunk and carefully opened it. Baby clothes were piled inside. The deeper he dug into the trunk, the older the memories he found there. There were the notes that he had scribbled to her. Knowing that his call as medicine man in Cutter Gap would not allow him to be with her all the time, he had tried hard to make her feel special, even when he had to leave. "Maggie - gone to the Spencers. Evidently Jeb's hound dogs got into the bees. When I get home, will you do your latest dance number for me? I'll hurry back as quick as I can." Neil chuckled as he read the note. Having an ex-dancing girl for a wife had its advantages! His face turned somber as he realized that he would never again hold her close to him, or smell the lavender fragrance in her hair. He continued to rummage through the trunk. Margaret had kept a corset from her dancing days as a reminder of the "old self" that she had cast off. Beneath that was an old photograph. A young couple wearing huge grins posed for the camera holding up their left hands to display their new wedding bands. "How naive we were," Neil thought. Margaret really had not changed much on the outside in all those years. She still had that mischievous twinkle in her eye, but the rebellion hiding just underneath it had disappeared. "I've put on a pound or two since those days," the stocky man observed. He walked over to the mirror and realized that his shocking red hair was slowly lightening, and in some places even turning grey! "You're becoming an old man, MacNeill," he said to the face in the mirror. There was a light rap at the door. Neil quickly put the articles back in the trunk and locked the door to the room. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Christy Huddleston holding a large basket. ****** Part 15 Summary: Christy helps Neil grieve Part Fifteen "I hope you don't mind my coming, Doctor. I thought you might be in need of a home cooked meal." Christy smiled, "and don't worry - my cooking *has* improved since the last time I lived in Cutter Gap!" Neil stepped aside to let Christy enter the cabin. "You were a fine cook, even then........, for those who enjoy blackened chicken," he said with a snicker. Christy walked over to the kitchen, opening drawers and cupboard doors. "Aha! Just as I suspected. Not a crumb of food in this cabin. I'm glad I brought a few things with me." She began unpacking the basket. "Now you sit down right there and rest. I know you haven't had a good night's sleep in a long time. Close your eyes, and when you open them, I'll have dinner ready." The doctor, who had been feeling like a lost child, was glad to have someone telling him what to do. He sat down in a more comfortable chair this time, and closed his eyes obediently. A melancholy smile spread across his face. "He *is* a beautiful boy, isn't he?" Christy put on her best Cutter Gap accent. "Shorely, doc! Why he be the spittin' image of his Paw!" Hearing the educated city girl speak like a native made Neil open his eyes and laugh. Seeing an opportunity to bring up a subject that had been bothering her, Christy stated bluntly, "Seriously, doctor, that boy needs a name! He's almost two weeks old now, and no one knows what to call him. I know you've had a lot on your mind, but......" "I never even thought about it," Neil said pensively. "Did you and Margaret talk about any names?" she asked gently. The doctor bowed his head and shook it slowly. "Not really. We thought we had more time...... Oh, Margaret!" He put his head in his hands. Christy could tell by his heavy breathing that he was fighting tears. "We had finally worked things out. We were happy, truly happy....... Why? *Why* does it have to be this way?" Christy set down the knife she was using to slice tomatoes and walked over to him. She sat down on the arm of his chair and put her arm around his shoulders to comfort him. Unable to hold back the grief welling up inside, Neil laid his head on her shoulder and sobbed. Christy rocked him gently, murmuring encouraging words. Finally he fell asleep, still clinging to Christy. She carefully laid the doctor's hand on his knee and returned to cooking dinner. A short while later, the enticing aroma of rabbit stew roused the doctor from his slumber. He stood up feeling refreshed. A bear-sized stretch and a yawn made him feel even better. "If you don't watch out a raven might fly in," Christy scolded. "‘Scuse me, ma'am. I shoulda covered my mouth," came the quick reply. The big man walked over to the stove. "Something sure smells good." He tried to stick a finger in the pot, just for a taste, but Christy playfully slapped it away with a wooden spoon. "Why don't you go sit down at the table?" "Yes, ma'am," he said rubbing his hand where Christy slapped it. "You will join me, won't you, Christy?" ****** The two dined in silence on rabbit stew and fresh-baked cornbread, both of them comfortable with the quiet. With a mouth full of cornbread, the doctor spoke up. "I've been thinking about what you said..... about a name for my son. Got any ideas?" "Well," Christy said, pondering, "can you think of any men who have had a significant impact on your life?" The new father chewed his cornbread thoughtfully. "Kinnigan.... I think the man who has had the greatest impact on my life is an old professor of mine, Andrew Kinnigan. He knew that I had a special interest in eye disease. When I graduated from medical school, he encouraged me to continue my studies, you know, specialize. He even set up an interview with some doctors at Will's Eye Hospital, and paid a few expenses for me. I took the job and was trained by some of the finest researchers in the world. And up until the day he died, he continued to provide financial support to my practice here in Cutter Gap." "Sounds like someone you'd want your boy to be like one day." "He was a great man..........." The doctor looked Christy in the eye. "So how does Andrew sound to you?" ****** As the doctor walked Christy back to the mission house, dusk was falling in the Cove. The evening air was chilly, and the sounds of nocturnal animals made Christy nervous. She knew that Dr. MacNeill wouldn't let anything happen to her, but she was anxious to get back to the mission house, just the same. An owl screeched in a nearby tree, and the young woman jumped. "It's just an owl, Christy. He won't hurt you." The doctor looked at her protectively, like a big brother. "Besides, even if he tried, I wouldn't let him." For several minutes Neil struggled for the words to tell Christy how he felt. It had taken him a long time to get comfortable sharing his feelings with Margaret, but now she was gone. Should he tell Christy? Would she, could she ever understand? He cleared his throat. "Christy?" "What is it?" "These last two weeks.......... they've been......... well, pretty rough. You, you and Alice, were always there. Never demanding anything, just always willing to help, to just.......... just be there. I thought losing Margaret was tough the first time, but, well, losing her now has......." Neil paused, trying to stop the quivering in his voice, "nearly broken my heart. Thanks for.... being there." In the semi-darkness, he couldn't see her features, but he could hear her sniffling quietly. "I didn't mean to make you cry." "I'm so sorry, Neil. Anyone could see how happy you were together. And the baby......." she shook her head sorrowfully. "It hurts me to see you in pain. I wish there was something I could do to make the hurt go away. But all I can do is be here for you. That's all. I wish there was more....... but that's all." "Christy, it means more to me than you'll ever know." ****** Summary: Folks in the Cove recover from the epidemic Part Sixteen Christy made a dramatic and triumphant entry into the mission house parlor that evening. "Andrew!" she announced proudly. "What *are* you talking about, Christy?" The reverend looked up from his book inquisitively. "The baby, Stephen," she answered as if he should have known. "Dr. MacNeill has finally named the baby." "I was wondering about that," Louise said, "but didn't think it was my place to comment. I'm so glad he finally has a name. Andrew? Is that what you said?" "Well done, child." Miss Alice praised. "Andrew MacNeill......." She let the sounds roll over her tongue. "I like it. And Neil, how is he?" "He's all right, I think....... broken-hearted, of course. He's going to need lots of encouragement and support. And what about you, Miss Alice?" The missionary sighed. "I miss her terribly. But I know she's home with her heavenly Father. And one day we'll meet again." Alice was silent for a moment. "But let's get on with living, shall we?" she said brightly. "You never answered my question, Christy." "Your question?" "When I asked you to come back to Cutter Gap to stay." Stephen pretended to keep reading, but his attention was focused on Christy. "So much has happened. I haven't had much of a chance to think about it, Miss Alice. I would love to move back, but I've got to think about my father. I've been gone a month already......" Louise decided to state the obvious. "Well, why don't you just phone him and ask him?" ****** A few days later, Louise and Christy were walking to the Peters'. They had several large cakes of soap from Opal McHone, two jars of honey from the Spencers, and warm wishes from the mission house. "So tell me what your father said," Louise prodded. "He said that Mother's been gone almost five years now and it's time for me to live my life. He said he can take care of himself. I don't know, though. Of course that's what he's going to say. He couldn't say ‘I'm a cranky old man and I need you to come home and cook and clean for me,' now could he?" "He's your *father*, Christy. He wants what's best for you, I'm sure. If my father were still alive, he'd want me to be happy, doing what I love to do. I have no doubt that your father feels that way." "I'll have to admit," Christy conceded, "it sure is a challenging offer." The two women, one dark-haired and rather striking, the other blonde and plain, approached the Peters' cabin. "Hello! Mr. Peters?" Louise called out. Pete appeared from behind the cabin with a pickaxe in his hand. "Howdy, ladies. What'n'all can I do fer you today?" "Opal McHone sent this," Louise said, handing him the soap. "And Jeb and Fairlight sent you this," added Christy, showing him the jars of golden honey. "And if you've got some ground corn, we'll make some nice, hot cornbread to go with it." Louise offered. "We'd have made some at the mission, but we're plumb out." "You all are right nice folks, Miss Lo-weez, Miss Christy. Come on in t' house." Pete set down the pickaxe and busied himself with fixing a broken rocking chair while the two women cooked and cleaned. Dorothy, now fully recovered, helped them stir the gritty batter. The pain of losing Martha had lessened to a constant, dull ache in Pete's chest. He was settling in to a new routine, and feeling like maybe, just maybe, life was still worth living. The children were pitching in with the chores. The ladies from the mission, especially Miss Louise, were helping when they could, and teaching the children how to do the tasks that Martha had once done. A loud knock on the door shattered the tranquil, domestic scene. "Peters, you home?" The deep voice of Neil MacNeill came through the door. "Come on in, doc," Pete called from his seat on the floor. "James, run get the door for the doc." "Thought you might be up for some fishing." He stopped abruptly upon seeing the two women. "Sorry, I didn't realize you had company. Afternoon, ladies." "Hello, doctor. We're just baking up a couple pans of cornbread," Christy explained. Louise chimed in, "Ought to be done in just a few minutes." "And they brought some o' Jeb's honey, too. You hongry, doc?" "I'm always hungry when it comes to cornbread and honey," Neil said with a grin. He sat down on one of the kitchen chairs and scooped James up onto his lap. ****** The afternoon passed by quickly, and soon it was time for the two teachers to return home. "That was a right pleasant afternoon. Been a while since I jest set and visited - what, with Martha and Dorothy sick." "You know," Christy said, struck by an idea, "a lot of folks haven't had a chance to catch their breath and visit. We ought to have a party. Some kind of a....... a celebration." "Yes, to celebrate life......... The lives that were spared, *and* the ones that were not," Louise added. "I think the Cove could use a bonafide play-party," the doctor said. The others gathered around him as he said in a conspiratorial tone, "Why don't we......" ****** The first ever "End of the Fever" Celebration at the Cutter Gap mission house was a roaring success. Folks from all over the Cove, who were tired from catching up on chores and who were weary from grief, gathered together to lift each other's spirits. As always, Jeb Spencer had his fiddle tuned and ready. His son John, now married to Bessie and toting two small children pulled his trusty harmonica from his pocket. Bird's-Eye Taylor pulled out a jug. Christy whispered to Miss Alice, "But I thought Bird's-Eye gave up moonshine." "We'll have none of that today, Bird's-Eye," Stephen warned the mountain man. "You ‘uns know I give that up long time ago," Bird's-Eye replied, laughing as he tipped over the empty jug. "This here is my instru-ment. Never larned to play the fiddle or nothin', but I can shore enough play the jug!" He finished the sentence, then sat down on a nearby rock and began blowing into the jug. To the amazement of many, he proceeded to play an entire verse of "Sourwood Mountain" without missing a single note. Reverend Kelley, looking sheepish, held out a hand to Bird's-Eye. "Sorry I misjudged you. No hard feelings?" "Nay," the mountain man said shaking Stephen's hand. Louise took the Peters children and introduced them to the other boys and girls. She started up a game of "ring-around-the-rosey." Dr. MacNeill and Pete Peters stood on the mission house steps, surveying the festivities they had orchestrated. "That Miss Lo-weez, she's somethin' else, ain't she, doc? Been comin' t' the house twice a week since Martha passed on. Keepin' the place spit shined, makin' the young ‘uns feel a little less lonely....." "And what about you? Does she make you feel a little less lonely, too?" Pete considered his friend's question. "Wal, I guess in a little sister kind ‘o way, she does." Neil looked across the meadow to where Christy was holding baby Andrew and talking with Ruby Mae Allen and her little boy. "Well said, my friend," he said slapping his neighbor on the back, "a little sister kind ‘o way." ****** Part Seventeen After the party, Neil decided that it was finally time for his son to come home with him. After all, he *was* a month old now. And if a doctor couldn't figure out how to take care of a baby, who could? He mounted his horse, and Alice handed her grandson up to his father. "Don't forget his rattle," Christy said handing the doctor the toy. "Or his bottle," Louise added. "Do you have enough diapers?" "Oh and milk, did you get some milk?" "We'll come by to check on you day after tomorrow." "If you need anything, just send one of the Peters' over." Neil laughed at the two women. "You two are quite a pair! You'd think I had never taken care of a baby before. I'm a *doctor*, ladies. I *know* about babies!" Louise and Christy were only slightly embarrassed. "We're just going to miss him. That's all," Christy said rather defensively. "It's going to be so quiet....." "Don't worry," the doctor consoled her jokingly. "When he starts making too much noise, I'll send him back." ****** Late that night, Pete Peters woke up to a strange sound. Ever so faintly, he could hear the wailing of a baby. He sat up in bed, trying to figure out what time it was. The night was pitch dark. He laid back down and tried to sleep, but the distant wailing continued. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Pete got out of bed and put on his trousers and boots. "Fine doctor he is," the ex-miner muttered under his breath. "Cain't even stop a baby from squallin' in the middle o' the night." He walked out of his cabin and a went about two hundred yards west. As he walked, the crying got louder. Soon he could hear that the cries were mixed with the doctor's impatient voice. "Need some help, doc?" The crying was so loud that Neil didn't hear Pete knock. ****** The mission staff spent the day after the celebration planning the next school term. Although it would not begin for a couple of months, they decided that planning ahead would allow them more time to arrange for the books and supplies they wanted. It was so exciting to actually have enough funding to order brand new books! Ever curious Louise had spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out who the anonymous donor might be. As she pondered the matter for the hundredth time that day, Stephen exclaimed in exasperation, "Louise, anonymous means they don't want anyone to know. And if *you* figure it out, it won't stay a secret for long. So please, just leave it alone!" "Now, now, folks, let's get back to our planning." Miss Alice was often the mediator in the Louise/Stephen debates. Louise's inquisitiveness was a constant annoyance to the pastor, who felt that "other folks' bizness is other folks' bizness - and not mine!" as the highlanders would say. Christy commented, "I think it would be a good idea to let some of the older girls come to the women's class every now and then. Maybe teach them about nutrition before they learn all those bad habits from their mothers." Everyone around the table looked at the door in surprise as the tall figure standing in the doorway cleared his throat. Neil MacNeill was a sorry sight. The deep, dark circles under his eyes let everyone know that he had not slept well. His shoulder and chest were spotted with spit-up stains, and it didn't take long to realize that he had not done a very good job securing Andrew's diaper. The odor was unmistakable. Christy stood up immediately. "Poor thing!" she cooed, taking the baby from his father. "It really wasn't *that* bad," Neil stated matter-of-factly. "I wasn't talking about you," Christy retorted. "Interesting way to fold a diaper, doctor," she added drily. "I thought doctors were supposed to know how to do these things." The physician cleared his throat. "Well I....." "Yes?" Stephen couldn't resist the urge to poke fun at the man who had teased him when he passed out during Andrew's delivery. Now it was the doctor's turn to look at Alice for help. Once again, Alice kept her Quaker silence. "All right!" Neil conceded, knowing that there was no way for him to win this battle. "So maybe I just deliver 'em. Guess didn't give you ladies enough credit. This parenthood stuff is a lot harder than I thought." "What?" Christy exclaimed in mock surprise. "The great Dr. Neil MacNeill has admitted to being *wrong*?" She gave her friend a big smile, then said, "here let me show you...." ****** The next several months passed quickly in Cutter Gap. The school term began for both the children and their parents. The biggest problem Christy faced in the adult program was attendance. Because the grown-ups were responsible for maintaining the household and putting food on the table, most only made sporadic appearances. This made planning very difficult, but the clever schoolmarm found a unique solution. One day each week, all of the women would meet in one of their own homes. Christy would meet with the woman beforehand and determine what lessons could be covered that day while they helped that woman with her chores. The expression "Many hands make light work," proved to be a true statement. However, another famous cliche also turned out to be accurate. On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, classes were being held at the Spencer cabin. Christy preferred holding the cooking classes here because Fairlight always kept her home spotless. No one had to worry about picking up filthy germs in this house! The women were experimenting with ways to make blueberry pie. "You got to add more salt," Swannie O'Teale told Fairlight firmly. "I done put in three dashes already." Swannie grabbed the box of salt. Fairlight wouldn't give it up. "Ladies, please!" Christy shouted to no avail. The tug of war continued until Fairlight lost her grip. Swannie went sailing backwards, spraying salt all over the room before landing in a heap on the floor. For a moment, the women looked at each other in stunned silence. "Wal, I guess air cookin' lesson is gonna turn into a cleanin' lesson, right, Miz Christy?" Opal McHone's comment eased the tension, and soon they were laughing until every last one of them had tears streaming down her face. Ruby Mae had to add her commentary. "What's that they say - too many cooks spoil the broth?" ****** Stephen's men's classes were a huge success. The pastor had spent many years working in his father's carpentry shop growing up, and he had a store of knowledge to share. Attendance was not a big issue in these classes, because most of the time was spent with the men working on individual projects and Stephen advising. Doctor MacNeill would sometimes drop by on his way to the mission house. He was still having to pick up milk for Andrew every few days. He usually planned his visits around two particular times of the day. One was during Stephen's carpentry class. The doctor had always been fascinated with woodworking. The other was dinner time. He very much enjoyed the comradery of the mission people. And he enjoyed the companionship of one in particular - his "little sister." ****** Summary: Christy and Dr. MacNeill have a deep conversation Part Eighteen Late one afternoon, Christy was grading papers in the mission house parlor. Louise had come down with the flu, and Christy had been teaching the children while she was recuperating. Dr. MacNeill descended the steps from the second floor with Andrew in his arms. "Afternoon, Christy." The teacher looked up from the paper she was grading. "Why, hello, doctor. How is Louise?" "I've just checked on her, and she seems to be improving. Now we've just got to get rid of that head cold." "Staying for dinner tonight?" Christy asked. "It's my turn to cook." "I was planning on it, but if you're cooking......." he smiled before she could think of a clever comeback. "You know I'm teasing. What are you having? Anything Andrew would like?" "As a matter of fact, we're all having mashed peas and applesauce," replied Christy smartly. "Yes, Andrew would like that, but as for the rest of us........... something with a little more substance, maybe?" Christy stood up. "Let's go see what our choices are." Christy took Andrew from the doctor's arms, bouncing him and tickling him on her way to the kitchen. She set him down on the kitchen floor and gave him a large pot and a wooden spoon. It only took an instant for the toddler to figure out what to do. In moments he was happily muttering gibberish and banging the pot with the spoon. "Well, now," Christy said, looking about the kitchen. "We've got this chicken Uncle Bogg sent over. I've been roasting it, but maybe there's something else we can do with it......" "Christy....." Neil interrupted. "What? Not in the mood for chicken today?" "No, chicken's fine," he said distractedly. "I want to ask you something. I've been doing some thinking lately......" "And?" prodded the woman. "Well," he was struggling to find the words. "I've noticed the way you and Alice, and even Margaret........" "How we what, Neil?" Christy was getting impatient with all of his stammering. It was so unlike him to have difficulty expressing an idea. "How you're always calm, even in the midst of a crisis. You seem to have this....... this....... objectivity." He ran his fingers through his hair. "No, that's not the word, exactly because you definitely care........" Christy looked at him quizzically as Andrew beat on the pot noisily. He let out a long sigh. "This isn't coming out right. What I'm trying to say is....... it seems like you are....... are....... connected to something bigger, something greater than yourselves. And I don't have that...... I don't have that, and I think............ I think maybe I want it." A joyful smile spread across Christy's face. "That connection...... it's called faith. And whether you realize it or not, you *do* want it. A spiritual relationship with God is the most rewarding thing there is. When you seek Him and strive to please Him, He won't let you down. Through all life's trials and crises, He's there." She paused for a moment. "Why just look at Andrew. He's a prime example." Neil was puzzled. "What do you mean?" "Honestly, now, do you really think I could have delivered that baby if God hadn't been helping? You know that my stomach has no tolerance for medical emergencies....... But I was willing to let God work through me, and he did. It's all a matter of giving up your own selfish desires and working to please Him." "Easier said than done." "But God is good to his faithful servant. Take Miss Alice, for instance - a faithful servant if there ever was one. She toiled ceaselessly for the mountain people, never losing hope that Margaret would return to her. Now God's timing may be different from ours, but Margaret *did* come home, and what a blessing she was, to many people here." Neil reflected on what Christy had just said. Most mothers would have chased their daughters across the country, but Alice had kept her eyes focused on God's work, and He had provided. It was certainly an eye-opening way to see things. Christy's words broke into his thoughts. "Once, shortly after I arrived in Cutter Gap the first time, I was feeling completely under qualified and, well, discouraged. Miss Alice told me something that I will always remember. ‘One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ.' She told me to keep my eyes on the prize, and God would take care of the rest." She smiled a knowing smile at the doctor, who was listening, but having trouble truly comprehending what she was saying. "And He *has* taken care of the rest. Look at what a blessed life I lead! I'm doing something I love to do, and helping people at the same time. I'm surrounded by some of the dearest friends a body could ever have. And I get to live here, in the Smokey Mountains.... where else could one feel God's presence more acutely?" ****** The doctor seemed preoccupied at the dinner table that evening. The lively conversation swirled about him. Usually, he had plenty of banter to toss about, but not tonight. Christy knew why he was so pensive, and perceptive Alice had her suspicions. Stephen thought that his behavior seemed a bit odd, but he had learned long ago to leave the doctor alone. He'd speak up when he was ready. And Louise never stopped talking long enough to notice. After dinner, while Christy and Louise were cleaning up and Stephen was playing with Andrew, Neil sought out Miss Alice on the front porch. "Got a minute?" he asked her. "I've got all the time you need, Neil." "Alice, I've been talking with Christy, and I think I'm ready to........" he couldn't exactly say what he was ready to do, so he tried a different approach. "You remember that prayer you helped Margaret pray?" ****** Summary: Andrew enlightens his father Part Nineteen During the years that followed, a new sight became common in Cutter Gap. It was the silhouette of a large man with unruly hair, riding through the mountains with a bundle wrapped up tightly in his coat, and later, a small boy . Being a single parent, Dr. MacNeill didn't have much choice but to take Andrew with him on his rounds. The mothers and daughters of the Cove were happy to tend the "young‘un" while his father took care of their kin. He was a bright, attentive little boy, but when he was upset, he could be an ornery thing. Consensus was that he was a lot like his father. As Andrew grew, he watched his father work. Even at age five, he showed a surprising aptitude for medicine. When the father and son went to treat a cut or gunshot wound, the youngster pulled the clean, white bandages from the doctor's bag. When someone was ill, he knew to fetch the thermometer. The little boy wasn't just perceptive about medicine, either. On the long ride home from Ruby Mae and Rob Allen's cabin one day, Andrew made an observation. "Miz Christy's nice, ain't she, Pa?" Neil MacNeill looked at his son in surprise, wondering where this conversation was heading. "Yes, son, she is nice." "She makes me feel good inside." "What do you mean, Andrew?" "Like I'm a good boy. Like I'm special." Neil could see the thoughts forming in his young son's head. "She makes you feel that way, too, don't she Pa?" "Why do you say that?" "Well, ‘cause you're always smilin' when she's around." Funny how a five year old boy can see something that his father is too blind to notice. "All these years......." he said to himself, "all these years, I thought of Christy as my little sister. But she's more than just a little sister; she's my best friend. She's the one I tell my deepest thoughts to. She's the only one who knows my hopes and fears. She's the one who's always there when I need her. And she always *has* been there, right in front of my eyes....." Neil was amazed with the revelation. How did he miss it? "Pa?" "What, Andrew?" Neil asked distantly. "So does she make you feel that way too?" The doctor brought his thoughts back to his son. He smiled fondly at his little protege. "Yes,...... yes, she does, Andrew." The father tousled his hair. "You're a smart boy, you know that?" "Yep," replied the little boy with the confidence that only a five-year-old can have. Neil turned the horse around and spurred the animal into a trot. "Where ya goin'?" Andrew asked, falling back into his father's chest. "To the mission house, of course." "The mission house? To see Miz Christy?" ****** Summary: What do you think is going to happen? Part Twenty "Miss Alice has aged rather quickly the last couple of years," Christy thought to herself as she sat on the porch with her mentor, enjoying the summer evening. Her once-dark hair was now completely grey. The faint "smile wrinkles" that she had when Christy first came to Cutter Gap, what, ten years ago, had deepened and multiplied. "Just like the message she's been teaching here." "What are you thinking about, child?" Miss Alice asked fondly. This young woman had become as precious to her as a daughter. "Oh, about what an effect you've had on the people here. Like Bird's-Eye Taylor.... who would have ever thought that he'd take Stephen's place as Cutter Gap's pastor?" "We're a team, here, Christy. And don't forget, we are just the vessels. It's our Heavenly Father who performs the miracles....... And what about those whom you've affected?" The familiar sight of Dr. MacNeill and Andrew appeared in the mission yard. "Speaking of which....." The doctor hurriedly dismounted his horse and lifted Andrew down. There was an urgency about his actions. "Alice, could you take care of Andrew for a few minutes? I have to talk to Christy." The elderly woman took her grandson by the hand and went inside. "What is it, Neil? Is something wrong?" Christy asked with concern. "No, nothing, except that I'm an idiot. My five-year-old son just pointed something out to me." "What? What is it?" Christy was completely and utterly confused. "I just realized something, Christy. Something I should have seen years ago. Come on, let's take a walk." =20 Miss Alice watched them through the window as they disappeared into the darkness, a knowing smile on her lips. ****** They walked for a few moments in silence. Neil was trying to organize his thoughts, and Christy was trying to figure out what was happening.=20 Neil certainly was acting strange! She'd known him a long time. She considered him one of her very best friends........ no, her best friend, and she had never see him act like this. "What is going on, Neil?" "Just wait a minute. I need to tell you something, and I need to do it right." He took a deep breath. "Christy, we've know each other a long time." He looked over at her, fidgeting with that curly strand of hair on the back of his neck, and she nodded. "Why is he so nervous?" Christy asked herself. "And I consider you a very special friend." Again Christy nodded her assent. "You've always been there when I needed you. You even came back from Asheville during the epidemic..... and I can't tell you what your presence meant to me when Margaret........ and then, how you took care of Andrew..... treated him like your own son......." Then Neil stopped walking and turned to face Christy. Her face looked beautiful in the moonlight. When he looked into her eyes, his knees felt weak. Here he was - a forty-three year old man, sweating like a schoolboy. "Ever since Margaret died, I told myself that you were like my little sister...... someone for me to look out for......... someone to talk to......... I told myself that those feelings I had for you....... a long time ago......... had been........ hadn't been real ...... that you were nothing more than a good friend." Christy eyes opened wide with understanding. The doctor put his hands on her shoulders. "You know me, Christy, better than I know myself. So you have to know that I love you. And I don't love you like a brother....... I *love* you, Christy.... I truly, completely love you." As Neil was speaking to her, Christy realized that her feelings for this man ran much deeper than she had realized. She could have spoken those very words right back to him. She hugged him tightly, listening to the pounding of his heart. The love of her life stepped back and looked into her eyes, which were glistening with tears. "Christy?" "I love you, too, Neil," Christy whispered, unable to believe what was happening. The big doctor with his wild, greying hair bent his head toward her.=20 "I've waited ten years for this moment," he told her hoarsely. Slowly, he pulled her to him, lowering his face to hers. Tentatively, his lips touched hers. An electricity unlike anything Christy had ever felt raced from her lips and through her veins. This......, this man was the man she absolutely could not live without. Suddenly, Christy *knew* what Miss Alice meant when she had told her that years ago. This was the man who would be her husband. Christy had waited a lifetime for him, and he had been right before her eyes these last five years. "I don't want to spend another moment without you, Christy," Neil breathed into her ear. "I want you to be my wife." He looked down at her intensely. "Christy, will you marry me?" A flood of emotions swept over the woman in the doctor's arms - happiness, overwhelming love, sheer wonder. She raised up on her toes, and gave him her reply - a heartfelt kiss, to which he responded in kind. God's timing may be different than ours, but He is good to his faithful servant. THE END!!!