disclaimer: this is only for entertainment, I am not seeking profit. title: Beholdin' Author: Frances H. ********************************************************* Summary: This takes place a year and a half after David¹s proposal. Christy and David are not married. David is preparing to leave the mission. Dan Scott and Cecile are married and Cecile is teaching at the school. Margaret ran off again two years before and has not been heard from. ********************************************************* Christy and David sat out on the porch on this pleasant spring evening. "I wish you weren't going David," Christy said, "What will we do without you? And what will you do without us?" Christy smiled at this last thought. "We've had such times here, we've overcome so much! Why do you want to leave?" She turned in her chair to look straight at him. "Well, I'm afraid, Christy, afraid of growing old here, of never finding a wife, of being stuck here. I love this place, but not like you love it. It's not in my blood." As he said these words he was unsure himself whether he should leave or not. "Maybe you're right Christy...I don't know..." Frustrated, he walked off to his bunkhouse. Christy rocked back and forth in her rocking chair. She thought how she often felt the same way. She had always wanted children. She wanted a husband. Where was she going to find one here? Her mother asked her that in many of her letters. Underneath it all, Christy knew that she could never tear herself away from this place. She loved this place and these people. At one time things had been so confusing...she thought back to the day David had proposed to her for the second time: (flashback!!) She stood there between the two men in her life. Why is Neil here? Surely he does not love her. Christy looked at David and softly answered him. "No, David, I can't be your wife." She promptly handed back the ring and ushered the children back into the school. She did not wish to be so abrupt, but her heart had decided and she had to end it. Neil left, and David went to the mission house. He never spoke of marriage again, neither did he ever mention his proposal to her again. That same night as they were all around the table Neil stormed into the house. "Is she here? Is Margaret here?" He demanded. Miss Alice looked at him, shocked. "Margaret? She came back?" Neil immediately gathered that they had neither seen nor heard from Margaret. "She was at my cabin today, I had to leave, and when I returned she was gone." Christy's stomach knotted. A wave of guilt swept over her. This was her fault, she should have never gone to the cabin earlier. She had driven Margaret away again. Alice immediately got up and went to get her horse. David and Neil followed. Christy was left alone while they searched, left alone with her shame and guilt. She had no business wanting to tell Neil how she felt, and now she had alienated Margaret. With a sick stomach, she did the dishes. All night she waited, but no one returned. As dawn broke over the mountains she saw a single rider returning. It was Neil. She sat on the porch steps as he approached. He dismounted and sat next to her. "We can't find her anywhere. She must have left on a train. My guess is that she went to Atlanta after the other tea house girls. Alice and David have gone to El Pano to check the train passenger manifests." Neil sighed deeply, he t! urned and looked at Christy. She looked terrible. His faced showed his concern, he knew what she was thinking. "Christy, this isn't your fault. She wouldn't have stayed." "Oh Neil, it is my fault. I encouraged her to come back, and then I crushed her by coming to your cabin to....to see you." "To see me about what?" "I was going to tell you...that...that..." Tears welled in her eyes and she looked at him. No words came to her. He stared into those deep blue eyes and she knew that he understood. Neil sighed and looked away, touseling his hair. "Christy, you must understand Margaret, it was not your fault. She never wanted anything but to use me. She used me to rebel and get away from her mother, she fooled me into thinking she was dead to make herself happy. Then when she returned she only used me for money and now she has no where else to turn. She just wanted to use me for a place to die." "Oh Neil. I do believe there's more to Margaret than that," Christy responded, softly. "When I went to see her at El Pano she had a locket with yours and Miss Alice's pictures in it. She wants a home. She wants to be cared about." At the thought of what she had stolen from Margaret Christy chocked up again. She got up and retreated to her room. Neil didn't say anything. (End flashback) Margaret had never come back, at least not yet. No one knew whether she was dead or alive. Eventually, Christy had forgiven herself, at least she had accepted what she had done. After a time, life in Cutter Gap resumed with its usual events. The last year and a half had flown by so quickly. With David's departure eminent, things would change again. ************ ****summary: It is one and a half years since David's second proposal. They did not marry. David is preparing to leave the mission. Margaret disappeared the day of David's proposal and has not been heard from. Dan Scott and Cecile are married. Chapter 2 It was after midnight that David found himself still awake in his bunkhouse. At first, he had been so sure of his decision to leave Cutter Gap. The closer the event came, the more he questioned. He sat with a lantern writing a letter. Dear Ida, I hope and pray that all is going well in the orange business! How is Clarence? I will be expecting a visit from you and your little tyke next Christmas. Mother is so excited to be a grandmother. Well, she complains so much that I am sure that she is glad for it. All is about the same as before. I assume you received my previous letter about my leaving the mission. Ida, I'm really confused. My heart is playing tricks on me. I thought I had made the right decision. I want to stay here but, it seemed as if there is no reason for me to stay. In my three years here nothing has changed. Maybe mother was right. She wanted me to take a big city offer. But Ida, we grew up in a big city church and I never felt close to God there! Well, here, sometimes, I get a glimpse of Him. I find Him in the long tasks of building and repairing. I find him in the voices and faces of the cove people at a singing. I see Him in the children while they play. I see him in the gloriou! s mountains. But I also see the hardship and that is a pain I cannot soothe. At least in a big city I would not have that to deal with. Members would be wealthy, clean, civilized, and the poor we helped would be willing to take our handouts. Yes, it would be the easy way out. There is also the matter of a wife. I'm nearly thirty. It is time I married and there are no prospects for me here. After Christy turned me down last, I put the prospect of our relationship away forever. Just like I told her I would. We have a great friendship, but, I need a wife. Well, this is what I am struggling with. I just needed to talk it out. It will work out, somehow. We are all praying for you. Write back soon. Love, David David put the letter away. He didn't think he would even send it. Writing his frustration out seemed the best way to deal with things. He paced the room, unable to sleep. What was he doing here? How could he help these people? He had ben here so long, yet nothing had changed. David cried out to God in desperation. "I don't want to lead an empty life in a big city church! But I don't want to lead a lonely life where I do no good!" Chapter 3 The mountain springs were unlike anything Christy had ever known. Spring was beautiful in Asheville, but not this wild natural beauty that crept into every corner of the mountains. On one such afternoon Christy was walking home from the Spencer's. She had visited with them and the Scott's. Daniel and Cecile were expecting their first child. Christy meandered on the trail lost in thoughts of her home in Ashville. In a few weeks school would be out and she was going home for a month. A well deserved month. She had not been home in a long time and even then it was only a short visit. She sighed and breathed the fragrant air. She loved the sound the trees made as they swayed in the wind. She enjoyed the cool canopy they made. As she walked along she stared straight up. The sun shot shafts of golden light through the trees and illuminated the new green leaves. She looked ahead just in time to stop herself from running into a tree, but the surprise caught her off bala! nce and she found herself on the ground the next moment. "Steady there Miss Hudddleston. It seems as if you've had your head in the clouds." Christy stood up and turned to face Neil, who was chuckling at her from atop his horse. It seemed as if he had seen the whole thing. Neil dismounted from Charlie and led him as he walked with Christy. "If we're headed the same direction, mind if I join you?" "Not at all, doctor. In fact I was hoping to see you today." "Oh really, Christy. And why is that?" Neil answered, grinning broadly. "Neil, is everything a joke to you? I just wanted to talk to you about the clinic. What day are you planning to come next week?" "Thursday would be best. I'm going to bring Dan to help me. We are going to inoculate every child and do basic physical examinations. I also want to examine eyesight and check for trachoma." "I am glad that we can finally do this. It will be a great help to you...." A gunshot rang out in the forest. "Neil..." "Probably just someone possum hunting. Don't worry." Neil smiled at her and beckoned her to go on. As she chatted on with him she couldn't forget the sound of the gunshot and how it irked her. Chapter 4 Christy had known what it was like to lose someone close to her. She had lost her baby sister and had nearly lost her father to a stroke. But as she sat beside Opal Mchone, she knew that she didn't understand the kind of loss Opal was experiencing. She was silent, as silent as when she found out that it was she who had killed her baby. This time though, it wasn't guilt that created her silence. It was grief, and worry. Life was so hard in these mountains, a woman left alone with a family had nothing. "Neil, is she going to be alright?" Christy asked as they left the cabin. Neil stopped and turned to her. With one hand running through his hair and the other on Christy¹s shoulder he looked her square in he eye. "I don't think so, I said that I didn't see her surviving the loss of another child when Toot was anemic last year, but losing her husband is far worse. She may die." "No! Neil, what of her children? She has to be stronger! She was just learning to read, it can't end like this!" Tears stung Christy's eyes and she felt lightheaded. Neil put his arm around her to support her and comfort. "Christy, I don't know for sure, just be there for her." Christy nodded silently, looking straight ahead. As they rode to the mission on Charlie, Christy thought on the last few days. That shot she and Neil had heard was not someone possum hunting. Tom had been shot, and killed. He wasn¹t found until the next morning. Everyone blamed Birds-Eye for he was no where to be found. Christy cringed to herself, she knew there must be more to the story. Someone had to know why Tom had been killed so long after his involvement in the moonshining. Neil's diagnosis seemed correct. Opal's condition grew worse. Christy spent every spare moment with her, caring for her and Iris, who was two years old now. The boys tried to help their mother, but they too were burdened by the grief of losing their father. Christy prayed, but it seemed to no avail. Granny Barkley came by and said that the Mchone cabin had the feel of death on it. This time Christy could not argue with her. Chapter 5 Christ shot her head up from the table at the Mchone's. She was groggy and her arm was asleep from laying her head on it. Someone had called her name but as she looked around the dark cabin everyone was asleep. It must be past midnight, she thought. "Christy..." Christy looked in the doorway and made out a shadow looming there. "David?" Christy whispered. "What are you doing here David?" "I came to bring you something to eat. I know you did not eat much for dinner at the mission." David walked in and took another seat at the table and handed her a bundle of bread and cheese and cookies that Ruby Mae had made. "I couldn¹t sleep. I have so much on my mind, so I came here to see if you needed anything." Christy sat up straight and ate greatfully. "Christy, this whole incident proves that I'm no good here. I've done nothing but fight against moonshine and feuding, yet here we are, mourning Tom's death of it." "David,² Christy whispered with conviction, ³I know it seems like you've been here a long time, but to these people it hasn't been long enough to win their trust totally. We still have a lot to learn about the highlanders. I cannot think that you'd be happier in the city." "You're right, I wouldn't be any happier, but at least I'd have a chance at a wife and actually impacting people's lives now!" "You must trust God for a wife, and God has put you here for a reason. Many people in the Bible did not live to see the fulfilment of their work, but their work is what has counted most." "So God expects me to work like a dog for my whole life and die alone and unfulfilled!" David nearly rose his voice here but remembered the sleeping people around them. "No, David, I think you will see many results, I was just trying to make a point." "I¹m sorry, I didn't mean that. I'll stay until this situation with the Mchones is all taken care of. Maybe God will intervene before it's over. Good night, Christy." David wearily got up and left the cabin, leaving Christy there for the rest of the night. Chapter 6 The day was glorious. The warm summer sun shone down on the gathering. A wonderful day to say farewell. Christy had postponed her visit home due to Opal's sickness, which had lasted longer than any had expected. Now they were gathered to bury her. Most of the cove was there. Opal was to be buried next to Tom and her baby that had died nearly three years ago. The boys, Isaac, Vincent, and Toot were to be split up among the Spencers and Allens. Little Iris was in Christy's care since Christy was her godmother. David preached an eloquent grave side service. No one but the mission knew that it may be his last in the Cove. Then Hattie, sitting in a chair Dan brought for her, sang while playing her dulcimer. Down in the valley, valley so low Hang your head over, hear the wind blow. Hear the wind blow, love, hear the wind blow; Hang your head over, hear the wind blow. Christy looked about her while the song was played. Mourning people stood up straighter and red eyes gleamed with...hope? She remembered the first time she had heard this song played. She was at Hattie's cabin with Mr. Harland. As she had been looking out the window and contemplating Margaret's return and Neil's reaction the words and melody had sunk deep inside of her. But she never could understand the song as often as she had thought on it. One time she heard Jeb Spencer play this song to his children. They all sat around him as he sang it with gleaming eyes, almost as if he were telling them a sacred secret. Christy's eyes scanned the grave side and settled on Fairlight. A rushing wind swept through the crowd and seemed to deliver the answer to Christy. She breathed deep of the wind that brought her the revelation. The song is these people! In a place where hardship and death is so near it taught them that life would go on. The knowledge that the struggle ! was not over, that sadness would come again brought strength. It comforted them when things didn¹t make sense and helped them face the coming days. But it is not a song of mourning, it is a love song. Christy stepped back and watched the demonstrations of the mourners, and then was caught up in another rushing wind. She sang the song softly to herself. Chapter 7 Christy stepped off the train in Ashville, holding little Iris on her hip. She peered over the congested crowd for a glimpse of her parents. Iris clung to Christy in awe and fright. The small girl had never seen or heard such sights! The train whistle roared and Christy hurried down the platform. Then she saw them! "Christy!" Her mother called her, frantically waving above the bustling crowd. A wave of unspeakable comfort and relief poured over her as she spied her parents. Christy pushed through and finally reached them. "Oh Daddy, Mother! I'm so glad to see you!" Christy embraced her parents as best she could while holding Iris and without another word they hurried to gather her trunk and load it into the carriage, for the Huddleston family had no use for those noisy cars! When they were on the quieter streets of Asheville, heading toward home, they finally spoke. "This must be Iris. Are you legally her mother now, Christy?" Mrs. Huddleston cradled the exhausted child as they drove. "Well, there is no legal record of her birth. I am her godmother by an understanding only." Christy gazed at the familiar, yet strange, streets of her home town. She was thinking of the day after Opal's death. (flashback!!) Christy and Miss Alice had finished laying Opal out...a disagreeable job. Christy was exhausted and collapsed into a chair at the mission house. Fairlight had all the Mchone children that day. "Christy I know thee is exhausted, but we must talk about Iris. You stand as her godmother." Christy straightened in her chair and looked into Alice's eyes. "Thee must decide whether you wish to uphold your word." Christy stared. She had never thought of this. She had nearly forgotten her promise. Opal's words came back to her "I'd be beholdin' if you'd stand as her godmother." She never thought that she would be called upon to fulfill that. "Of course, Miss Alice, I will care for Iris." Christy answered, meekly. Suddenly the strain of the last weeks was too much for her to withstand any longer. She stood up shakily and, with tears threatening to spill over, nodded weakly at Alice Henderson and went to her room. Once there, Christy pulled off her shoes and stockings, climbed into bed, and slept. She was awakened by a hand on her cheek and a thick brogue softly talking to her. "Christy lass, wake up." She opened her eyes to see Neil leaning over her from a chair beside the bed. He looked worried and she realized that it was night. She had lay down to sleep around nine o'clock that morning. "Neil, I am so tired." she said drowsily. "I can tell, you've had Alice worried sick all day. I'm concerned also. You are physically exhausted, and I'll bet emotionally exhausted as well." Christy smiled at his concern, then the events of the last weeks spilled on her. Her face immediately changed. "What's wrong, Christy?" Neil asked as he took her hand. "I don't know. This is all so much to deal with. And now there's Iris. Neil, I love Iris! But how can I be a mother to her. I couldn't save her life before, what if something else happens!" Neil looked at her. "Christy, I want you to go home for a while. Take that month that you were planning before Opal's sickness. The Mchone boys are well taken care of and you can bring Iris with you. Everything will be fine, you need the rest to recover." Christy nearly cried with relief at his words. All burdens were lifted off of her. Neil had her sit up as he did a quick examination of her. "Get to Asheville as soon after Opal's funeral as possible. I don't want you further tiring yourself and getting sick. Doctor's orders. Now, come downstairs and get something to eat before you go back to sleep." (end flashback!!!) Christy was brought back to the present to the sound of her mother's chattering about what was to be done about Iris. "We must go down to the court house and get her some official papers. She must be taken to the doctor for an examination. I have a room all fixed up for her. Your father and I got out your old crib and I have everything little Iris needs! Even some of your old toys and clothes. Christy, you needn't worry about a thing. I'll take care of everything, you just rest." Christy smiled at her mother, she always knew what was best. Chapter 8 Miss Alice rode into the mission yard on Goldie. She quickened her pace when she saw the crowd of mountain men with their guns milling around the mission yard. David say her from the porch steps and bounded across the yard. "David, what is going on? Why are you still here? I thought you were leaving on this afternoon's train." "Bob Allen was hunting and his dog sniffed out a body in the underbrush." David explained. "A body?" "The men think it's Bird's-Eye Taylor." David told her, seriously. "Bob Allen has gone for the Doc and Isaac was sent to find Uncle Bogg since he is the county squire." Before Alice could comment Neil and Bob rode in on Charlie. Neil's eyes cut to Alice. "Good, you can come with us." he said abruptly. When David had mounted Prince the four of them set off. Alice had never smelled anything so sickly before. She didn't understand how Neil could stand it. She watched him bent over the fiercely decaying body of Bird's-Eye Taylor. He straightened up and looked at her and David. "Gunshot wound to the chest. I estimate that it happened about the time that Tom was shot. Since Tom was shot less than a mile from here I'd say they are connected." Neil backed away from the body, grateful that his examination was complete. "It would be best to bury the body here. I don't want to risk the spread of disease by moving him." "I guess Ault, Rob, Creed and I will dig the grave." Spoke up Mr. Allen. David's head shot up. Putting an enemy's body to rest was not characteristic of feuding clans. Bob Allen noticed his surprise, "Preacher, you been preaching so hard that feuding is wrong and I've been jawing on it. I 'spect this is the least I can do." Neil looked at David and nodded. Chapter 9 Late that afternoon Neil Alice and David watched uncle Bogg leave the mission with Bob Allen and his boys. They had come by to tell that they had finished burying Bird's-Eye and Uncle Bogg had left with them. "What will thee do now?" Alice inquired. "I'll stay here until this is cleared up." David replied, resolutely. Miss Alice smiled inwardly, she sensed that David was grateful for a reason to stay. Ruby Mae brought out some dinner and they all began to eat. The memory of Bird's-Eye's corpse didn't enhance their apatite though. "Christy is supposed to be back next week, isn't she?" Neil asked. "I had a phone call from her. Since it is summer, and she has not been home in quite some time, she would like to stay longer in Asheville. I told her that would be fine." Miss Alice noted that Neil looked disappointed. He ate the rest of the meal in silent thought. Two days later Alice was sewing on the porch, enjoying the first peace she has had since the body was found. A shock had rang through the Cove. Everyone had thought it was Bird's-Eye who had shot Tom, now that was in doubt. Tensions were high as speculation ran wild. Alice tried to think of something else when her thoughts were interuppted by a woman's voice: "Be this the mission house and you Alice henderson?" Alice stood up, confused. "Yes, this is the mission house and I am Alice Henderson. Who, may I ask, are you?" "I'm Molly Taylor, Bird's-Eye Taylor's wife." Chapter 10 Christy hurried down the front hall to the door at the sound of the doorbell. She flung it open, annoyed, expecting another caller. After she had been home for a while old friends, relatives, and gossipy old church members had been visiting non-stop. To her surprise, a delivery boy handed her a bouquet of flowers and a card. She thanked him and shut the door. In the parlor, standing by the window with the morning light streaming in, she examined the flowers. Columbine, purple aster, mountain laurel, bee balm and others she couldn't name, all wildflowers that she knew from her mountains! Christy buried her nose into the fragrant flowers, forgetting for a moment to even wonder who sent them. For an instant she was home...in her mountains, and she was never leaving again. Christy wondered why she had even considered staying in Asheville. That thought yanked her from her reverie. Yes, she had had many thoughts of never returning to Cutter Gap. Uncertainty seized her and she weakly sat down on the sofa. She had been offered a teaching position, her mother had had something to do with it, Christy knew. There was also Iris. The bright, sunny child would have a better life here. But, deep in Christy¹s heart she knew that Iris was a mountain child through and through and needed them as much as Christy did. Christy remembered the card she held in her hand. Opening it up she read: Oh ro soon shall I see them; Oh he ro see them oh see them. Oh ro soon shall I see them the mist covered mountains of home. There shall I visit the place of my birth And they'll give me a welcome the warmest on earth All so loving and kind full of music and mirth, In the sweet sounding language of home. There shall I gaze on the mountains again, On the fields and the woods and the burns and the glens, Away 'mong the corries beyond human ken In the haunts of the deer I will roam Hail to the mountains with summits of blue, To the glens with their meadows of sunshine and dew. To the women and men ever constant and true, Ever ready to welcome one home. Dear Christy, Please come home to us soon. Neil Christy could hardly believe her eyes. Could it be, that her mountains needed her too? Tears blurred her vision. Chapter 11 Miss Alice was so taken aback that she sat back down abruptly. “Molly...Taylor?” She looked at the woman. She was young...not more than thirty-five. Bird’s-Eye had been older...but not much. Molly was middle height, slender, with long, thick, brown hair that hung down her back. She was beautiful. This is not who Miss Alice envisioned Lundy’s mother to look like. Molly stepped forward. “I came to clear the air. I just got the news of my man last night. I come to tell the truth.” Miss Alice regained her composure. “Of course, come and sit with me.” As Molly sat in the rocker next to her, Alice watched her. Her movements were graceful, her eyes were blue...and, oh, how they shone! “Bird’s-Eye was stuck upon Opal Mchone, once.” Molly began in her sing-song voice. “Yes, I had heard that.” commented Alice. “Well, one spring Bird’s-Eye...he wasn’t Bird’s-Eye then, he was Josiah Taylor. Josiah went away with his father. When he come back in June Opal declared she loved her Tom and they were to be married. Josiah was hurt and ran to his uncle’s in Low Gap. That is where he met me. He was a hurtin’ and I soothed his pain.” Molly stopped there and looked over the mountains, wistfully. “We would used to sit out in a field and I would sing him songs. He’d tell me stories...said he heard them, from a man called Bogg. One day he told me why he was so far from home.” *FLASHBACK* The warm July air floated around Josiah and Molly as they sat together on a grassy slope. The smoky ranges of mountains spread out before them. Josiah looked at Molly, her eyes were soaking in the beauty before her. He couldn’t imagine a diamond that sparkled as much as her eyes did. “Molly I got to tell you why I came here this summer.” Josiah said quietly. Molly looked over at him intently. She studied his brown face and hair. His eyes were a beautiful blue, and so gentle. She nodded at him when their eyes locked. “See, I had a girl back in Cutter Gap. She was to be my woman. Her eyes is the color of a spring day’s sky. I went off to huntin’ with mah pa in March and when I came back I saw her again. She looked at me all sad like, her eyes didn’t shine to me like before. She said that she had her heart set on Tom Mchone and there was no place for me in her life. So I runned off here.” Josiah sat silent, Molly knew from his silence that he had loved Opal. *END FLASHBACK* “He told me later that he was going to get Tom Mchone. I told him if he loved Opal so much then feuding with Tom would hurt her. I guess he took sense at that and he never talked of her or Tom again.” Molly’s face grew dark and foreboding and she looked Miss Alice in the eye. “I never knew then how cruel he could be. He was too hurt to be mean then. When he took to me I agreed and we was married at the end of that very summer. Josiah became a different person after we wuz married. He took to drinkin’ moonshine with the other fellows...and he earned his name of Bird’s-Eye in that first year of our marriage. I became pregnant soon...and Lundy was born when I was but sixteen.” Miss Alice now understood why this woman was so young. It did not surprise her though, young marriages were common. Molly went on, “I suppose I did the only thing I could. See, Josiah took a real likin’ to his boy. He was right proud to have a male heir and planned all the things he was going to teach him. I was glad, seemed as if he might settle down and take to fatherin’ more then moonshine. Lundy was young yit’ though and I had my fair share of work to do. When I was eighteen I gave birth to our second child. It was another boy, Jonathan. Bird’s Eye was thrilled. So was I, now my Jo would stay close to home for his boys.” Molly then broke down weeping right there in front of Miss Alice. Alice was shocked. This self-assured, graceful woman was falling apart in front of a stranger! Alice put her hand on Molly’s back. “Thee does not have to go on...” “Yes, yes I must. The truth must be known. Don’t want no one to be blamed for what they didn’t do.” Molly wiped her eyes and went on. “I took sick after Jonathan was born. I couldn’t nurse him. I did my best, but twern’t no good. He died, and Bird’s-Eye blamed me. He beat me constantly, he called me addlepated. What was I to do? My heart broke. My gentle Josiah Taylor was gone and moonshine had created Bird’s-Eye Taylor. So I run off, to save my own life. I came back after a spell, but he was gone. I got word that he had gone back to Cutter Gap with Lundy. I cried for my baby boy, but went on.” Molly stopped there. Alice wondered whether she would go on. “Would thee like something to drink?” Molly nodded and Alice retrieved some water. Molly talked on. “It was two years ago that Lundy returned to Low Gap. He knew he had a great-uncle there, but he didn’t know about me. I knew him on the spot. He looks just like my father. He stayed with me for a time, then went to the flatlands to get a mill job. Haven’t heard from him since. Well, to get to the story at hand, not a year back, another mountain man, Smith Kidman aimed to court me. I told him that I was a married woman and wanted no part of him. He is hard-headed though, he would never quit. He’s a moonshiner through and though. He didn’t care that I was married, long as Bird’s-Eye kept away. But I held my ground. He left me alone for a spell. One fine day, Bird’s-Eye came back to me. I hardly knew him, but when he spoke to me I saw my Josiah Taylor.” *FLASHBACK* Molly Taylor walked across the cabin yard carrying two buckets of water. Setting down the buckets she wiped her brow and glanced behind her to the creek. She turned and picked up the buckets to go on . She glanced behind her again and gave a small cry, spilling the water. She stood, half turned, frozen. A man, dirty, hairy, with a gun on his arm stood there as if he had stood there all his life. “Molly,” he said. Molly’s features softened when she heard the familiar voice. “Jo,” she said in a low voice. She straightened up and faced him. “Molly, I come back to ye.” Molly could hardly believe her ears. She studied his face long and hard. He wondered how he had forgotten her sparkling eyes. Directly, she held out her hand and he took it to shake. “ I say I can forgive ya’ and welcome you home.” *END FLASHBACK* Alice sat, dumbfounded by the story. This was not the Bird’s-Eye she knew, how could Molly forgive him so readily? “Well, when Smith heard that Bird’s -Eye was back around he got boilin’ mad. He came to our house and threatened Bird’s-Eye. The next day Bird’s-Eye run off again, said he was going to come back soon, and that was the last I saw of him. I never saw Smith again either until last night. He came in to my cabin drunk. He was trying to get me to be his woman again. I said I was already married and he said that he’d taken care of that. He said he’d shot my Bird’s-Eye weeks back, he also said he’d killed another man the same night. A man that had helped Bird’s-Eye hide from him that night. He said that Bird’s-Eye got what he deserved and it was thought that he had shot this man. He told me I had to be his woman now. Quick as a wink I lit out of there and came here to see you. I had heard many tales of your mission and supposed that you could do something.” Molly fell silent, looking at her feet. Miss Alice was equally silent, but from shock. Tom Mchone had been killed helping Bird’s-Eye Taylor, the man who had at one time threatened his own life. Chapter 12 Christy stood at the top step of the staircase in her Ashville home. She smoothed her dress and took a deep breath. below she could here her mother talking to father and cooing to Iris as she served breakfast. Christy took another breath. “This is it Christy, you have to tell them this morning.” she whispered to herself. Slowly she descended the stairs. Hearing the bottom step creak under Christy’s step, Julia Huddelston called out. “Christy, honey, come here. Your Father and I have something we want to speak with you about.” Christy turned the corner into the kitchen. “Of course Mother, but first, I have to tell you something.” Julia looked at her curiously and sat down to listen. Still standing, Christy looked at her parents. “I’m going back to Cutter Gap, very soon. I know how you hoped I would stay, but I think you both know that those mountains are my home now.” Julia sighed and looked at William. He began to speak. “Yes, Christy, we thought you would want to return. So, we’ve been considering something. Your mother and I would like to adopt Iris as our own daughter, officially.” Christy’s breath caught in her throat and she looked at Iris, who was grinning up at her with her shining green eyes. “I...don’t know what to say.” Christy stammered as she sat down. Julia took her hand from across the table. “Honey, we just want what’s best for Iris, and you. Here she would get a proper up-bringing and you can’t possibly think of trying to care for her in that mission house and teach school!” Julia stood up and scooped Iris from her chair and snuggled her. William looked at his daughter. “It’s your choice, Christy, but she has become like my own. She reminds me of you when you were small. So sun-shiny and rosy.” Christy was bewildered, uncertainty clouded her mind. Suddenly Opal’s words rang through her thoughts: “I’d be beholdin’ if you’d stand as her godmother.” Christy remembered her own thoughts of Iris being a mountain child. She stood up, her mind made up. “No, I’ll take her with me.” She spoke very softly. “She belongs there, she belongs in Cutter Gap.” Julia put Iris down abruptly and took Christy into her arms. “Yes dear, I knew that was how you would answer.” Julia held Christy at arms length. “Don’t worry, we’ll send anything you need.” She stopped and looked over Christy. “My, you’re all grown up now. I love you, Christy.” “I love you too, Mother.” With that decided they all sat down to breakfast, planning while they ate. Chapter 13 The mission house bustled with activity on this Tuesday evening. David, Neil, and Uncle Bogg were discussing what was to be done about Smith Kidman. “Tomorrow I’ll ride to Lyleton and report this to an officer there. They will send some men out to find him, I’m sure.” David said. “I don’t rightly know, preacher. Seems as if them law-men have little interest in what goes on out here.” Uncle Bogg answered. “David’s right though. The law must be told immediately.” Neil turned to Molly Taylor, who was sitting, not far away. “Are you going to stay here? It would be wise to stay until he has been apprehended. You may be in danger.” Alice stepped out of the kitchen. “She has agreed to stay, Neil.” Miss Alice jumped as the phone rang. Startled, she hurried to the phone. Smoothing her dress while she picked up the receiver she about yelled into the phone, “Cutter Gap mission! Christy? How delighted I am to hear from you. Yes...yes....of course. Saturday afternoon, with Iris. I see. There is so much to tell you, Christy, but it will have to wait. Yes, Neil is here. Yes, I’ll tell him. Good-bye, Christy.” Alice hung up the receiver and motioned to Neil who was already looking at her curiously, having heard his name. He got up and went to the hall with Alice. “That was Christy, as thee knows. She wanted me to tell you thank-you for her. She said to tell you that she is coming home. Neil smiled and chucked to himself. Alice looked at him wonderingly. “Thank you Alice.” Neil walked back to the men. It was clear to see that he was preoccupied the rest of the night though. After Neil and Bogg left Molly crept to the table where David was sitting by himself. “Preacher, I got to tell you somethin’” David looked at her in the dim lamp light. “Bird’s-Eye and I talked quite a spell while he was home with me the last time. He said he done what he done because of you. He said after his run in with the dark man he come to see that he wasn’t as strong as he thought. He got to thinkin’ ‘bout how you and the mission has been to him, and what moonshine had done to him and me and him and Lundy. He said he always were a sinner, but now he wanted to mend some things. He said that once Opal told him that he was a good fixer and he aimed to start his fixin’ with his marriage. Preacher, it was you who told him what was right and wrong. Without that he woulda never come home.” David was dumbfounded. Molly left and crept up to bed. David walked o his bunkhouse. Lighting a lamp, he got out a sheet of paper and began to write. Dear Ida, Today I found my reason to stay in Cutter Gap. Christy was right. I just had to wait. I did make a difference in someone’s life, and he died for it. Now I am bound to these people by blood. I can’t leave, not now, and probably not ever. David stopped writing and looked at it. Crumpling the paper he threw in across the room. He blew out his lamp and flung himself onto his bed. In the murky darkness a sob escaped his lips and he buried his face into his pillow. He had found what he had been looking for, yet it tasted bitter. Chapter 14 Christy boarded the early morning train to El Pano holding a sleeping Iris in her arms. She was the first to board her car and she took a window seat quickly. Cradling Iris in her arms she closed her eyes and dozed while the other passengers boarded. When the train jolted to motion Christy opened her eyes and gasped sharply. There, sitting in the seat facing her was Margaret MacNeill herself. For an instant after Christy saw her Margaret held a tender look in her eyes. She had been watching Christy and Iris asleep. Margaret wiped the tender look off her face and returned Christy’s gaze with a stony, cold gaze of her own. “Margaret...” Christy whispered. “Yes, yes, it’s me, back from the dead again.” said Margaret sarcastically. “I just, didn’t expect to see you. Are you going to El Pano also?” Margaret shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Yes I am.” She answered. Christy fell silent for a long while. Half an hour later Margaret broke into Christy’s thoughts. “If you don’t mind my asking, is that your daughter?” Christy looked confused for a second then answered. “Well, yes...sort of. I am her guardian.” Margaret laughed easily. “I figured she was to old to be David and yours. Are you raising her with David?” Margaret asked in a strangely hopeful tone. Christy answered her with a rather flustered look. “David? No...David and I?” “Your not married to him?” Margaret asked. “No, we never married.” Margaret’s face fell for an instant then she regained her composure. “I’m sorry. I just assumed that...I guess it does not matter now.” Christy decided to try to salvage the awkward conversation. “This is Iris. She was a child abandoned at the mission two years ago. The Mchones adopted her, but both Tom and Opal died recently. I am her godmother, so I will care for her.” Iris, now awake flashed her lovely green eyes and smiled to Margaret. Christy noted that Iris resembled Margaret. They both had shining green eyes and raven black, curly hair. Conversation fell silent for a few uncomfortable moments. Suddenly Margaret spoke in a bitter one. “To tell the truth, Miss Huddelston, I never intended to return to Cutter Gap. I never wanted to give Neil the satisfaction of knowing whether I was dead or alive.” “I don’t understand. What are you saying?” Asked Christy who’s stomach was churning over the thought of where this was heading. Margaret snorted at her. “Don’t act so innocent, Christy. I know how Neil feels about you and how you feel about him. Especially after that last incident by the river. Christy, I was that close to getting my husband back...but you ripped him away.” Christy’s stomach knotted. “So I decided to leave, to never let Neil know whether I was dead or alive, so that he would never be able to act on his feelings toward you.” “Then why have you come back now?” Margaret looked out the window for a moment, then looked Christy in the eye. “I have no choice. I’m pregnant.” Christy was speechless. A far away feeling took hold of her. A feeling of loss that she couldn’t explain. *This will break Neil* Christy thought to herself. “Don’t look so lost Christy, let me explain. After I left here a year and a half ago I went to Atlanta to catch up with the teahouse girls. I couldn’t do it. I was lucky enough to find a factory job in Atlanta, but it wasn’t enough. I had a lot of debts that demanded payment. So, I turned to prostitution on the side. I finally paid my debts...but I found out a few months ago that I was pregnant. I worked at the factory until I began to show, then quit to avoid discovery and shame. I have no money and no home, you see. I have to go back to Neil...to Mother.” Margaret fell silent, visibly struggling with herself. Christy wondered why she had told her all this. “Until now I had harbored a secret wish that you and David had married. Then maybe Neil would take me back. You see, I never meant to fall so far, but there was nothing else to do.” Christy leaned over and took Margaret’s hand. “Don’t worry Margaret....” before Christy could say another word Margaret yanked her hand from Christy’s. “I don’t want your pity. I want Neil back, but you have made that impossible.” Christy leaned back and closed her eyes. This could not be true. The life she had rebuilt over the past year and a half had just fallen to pieces in a matter of minutes. She looked up and saw that Margaret was staring at her. “I’m sorry, Margaret.” Christy said softly. Nothing more was said the entire trip. When the train pulled to a stop Christy was relieved to see David waiting for her on the platform. “Margaret, will you ride to the mission with us?” Margaret nodded and began to exit the train. David saw Margaret first and his face was quite a study. Margaret walked over to him. “Reverend.” she said. “Why, hello, Mrs. MacNeill.” When David saw Christy come off the train he visibly relaxed. Christy walked over and joined them. “David, Margaret happened to be on the same train as I and I told her we would giver her a ride to the mission.” “Of course we will. It’s so good to see you Christy.” David reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’ll go get your trunks, if you’ll excuse me ladies.” Margaret was silent during the whole wagon ride to the mission. David caught Christy up on everything that had happened. “I’ve ridden to Lyleton and they said they’d send some men soon...but I fear for Mrs. Taylor if they don’t catch him soon.” “I can’t believe this David...Molly Taylor?” “She’s actually a very wonderful lady, kind and gentle. She loves children.” This gave Christy an idea, but she decided to keep it to herself until she knew Molly Taylor. “Miss Alice is at the mission, as well as Neil I think. He said he would be there if he could.” Normally Christy would welcome this news, but her stomach churned at it. It would be one thing for Margaret to see Miss Alice, but both Miss Alice and Neil at the same time was trouble for sure. When they approached the mission house Christy inwardly cringed as she saw Neil’s horse tied up outside the large house. “Well, Miss Huddleston, seems as if Mac made it out for your homecoming. Won’t he be surprised to find you aren’t the only one coming home?” Christy didn’t respond to Margaret’s sarcastic remark. David pulled the horse to a stop in front of the mission and an excited Miss Alice flew out of the door. Before she got very far though, she stopped and clutched her stomach. “Margaret...Margaret...?” “Yes, Mother, Christy and I already went through this before. I’m back...this time for good.” At that moment Christy noticed Neil’s large frame in the doorway. “For good?” he asked, more to himself than Margaret. Margaret noticed him then also. David started un-loading Margaret and Christy’s trunks from the wagon while Christy went to help Miss Alice into the house. Margaret followed them. Neil watched her sweep past him, he was obviously dazed. Molly came into the living room with glasses of water. “Christy, let me introduce thee to Molly Taylor. I suppose David has filled you in on what has happened here lately.” “Yes, of course, how do you do, Mrs. Taylor?” Asked Christy as she held out her hand to her. She was shocked by the striking appearance of this woman. “ ‘Bout like common, I expect.” Molly replied. Christy thought she more sung the words than said them. Christy unpinned her hat and put it down on the table. She caught Neil’s eye accidentally. He was still standing in the doorway. He looked faraway, defeated...and very tired. Margaret noticed that Neil and Christy were looking at each other. “Neil, don’t you suppose it’s about time for us to get back home?” Margaret asked him. For a moment Neil relented and began to move toward his horse. Then Christy saw a rush of fire in him, he turned around and looked Margaret square in the eye. “What makes you think that you are coming with me? You have made it clear that you are not home here.” Margaret looked haughtily at Neil. “I am your wife and I have to come home with you.” “And why do you have to come home with me, Margaret?” “Because, I’m pregnant.” Margaret replied, simply, as if that was all the explanation that was needed. Neil snapped inside. Christy had never seen him like this. He looked at her for long, hard moment, and then stomped out of the house. He took Charlie’s reigns and began to stalk away, but did not mount. Christy stared at Margaret. How could she tell him like that. Margaret’s face did not reveal stony the indifference of before. It was a pained face...the face of someone who had gotten what they wanted, then found out that they didn’t really want it. Christy bolted out the door after Neil. By now Neil was past the school house, still walking. Christy ran hard and fast to him. She called him, but he didn’t answer. Finally she reached him, breathless. She grabbed his arm and made him stop and turn to face her. “Don’t do this Neil, come back.” Her hand shook as she placed it on his chest as if to bar the way. Neil looked at her for a long moment. “I can’t, I have to leave, Christy.” “Why? When will you come back?” “I can’t handle this, Christy, I must go, I’ll not be coming back.” Christy stared at him. Not coming back? Neil ran his hands through his curly hair and looked at her intently. “Neil, please don’t go. I can’t...” Christy stopped short, afraid of what she would say. “Yes you can, Christy. It’s I that can’t. I loved you long before I knew Margaret was alive. I couldn’t just erase that when she came back!” Neil’s brogue grew thicker as his emotion elevated. “I cannae stay here, not with her...not without you....” Neil put his large right hand across Christy’s cheek, his left rested on her shoulder. Christy grasped the hand on her face with her own. “Neil...” she whispered. She hadn’t realized how much he meant to her. Over the past year and a half she had buried her feelings and built a friendship with him, but now she knew again that she loved him. “She needs you, Neil.” She said, barely audible. “I know, but she will always push me away, she always has.” Neil planted a soft kiss on her forehead. “Good-bye, Christy.” His voice was choked. He mounted Charlie and rode off. Watching him go, Christy finally found her voice, “Good-bye Neil...” she whispered. She watched him until he disappeared in the woods and long after she couldn’t see him. Thunder clapped, she didn’t notice. Rain started to fall and she ignored it. David found her like this, standing alone in the rain, soaking wet. Just before he reached her she dropped to her knees. The thunder clapped harder and the rain drove on. David took her arm to pulled her to her feet. “Christy, Miss Alice is worried, come on, let’s get you inside.” Christy only stared into the woods. David followed her gaze. “Christy, what are you looking at?” “He’s gone, David. He’s not coming back.” She broke her gaze with the woods and looked into David’s eyes. He embraced her knowingly and stood a moment more in the rain. Gently, he led her back to the mission house. Chapter 15 David led the soaking, dripping young woman up the stairs. Margaret was posed on the top. She had a cruel, cold look on her face. Christy saw right through it. Margaret wanted to know if Neil was coming for her...she wanted him to, only she didn’t know it. “Where’s Neil?” “He’s gone, Margaret.” Christy would never forget the look of heartbreak on Margaret’s face. Her face clouded and her eyes filled. With a trembling voice Christy approached her. “Don’t push us away, Margaret.” “Don’t worry, Christy, he’ll be back.” Margaret swept past them and down the stairs to talk to her mother. Christy went to her room and changed. Emerging she caught up a bright cheery, chubby Iris into her arms. Iris grinned and giggled, oblivious to the trouble around her. Margaret found her mother in the kitchen, preparing a meal. “Mother, I came to explain...” Alice did not know what to do, last she saw Margaret she disowned her. She was still angry with her, but now her heart was torn. “Mother, please look at me, I didn’t want to come. I had no choice, please don’t ignore me. I’ll try not to “bludgeon” you life any more than I can help.” These last words were said bitterly, vengeful. Alice could be silent no more. “I thought I could disown you, forget about you forever. But it is not possible. I gave you this life, and you will be my daughter, no matter what was said before.” Alice looked up form her work at Margaret. “Are you really staying this time?” “Where else do I have to go? There’s nothing for me out there.” Margaret explained to Alice all how she came to be in Cutter Gap again. “Margaret, this will be long and hard, do you have the strength?” “I have no choice...I had hoped that Mac could make this easier...Christy says he’s gone.” “Neil is, well, he is not strong enough for this task. But you may lean on me, my daughter.” Margaret nodded. She scolded herself inwardly for letting her guard down so often, but here she was, in her mother’s arms again, and it felt so good! Chapter 16 Sunday afternoon a federal Marshall rode into the mission yard, after dismounting he stode to the door and knocked. Christy answered hurriedly. “Hello, have you come to speak to Mr. Grantland?” “Yes mam, please.” Christy led him into the living room and went to find David. She knocked on his bunkhouse door and he opened it. “David, the federal Marshall is here from Lyleton.” David looked surprised. “Wow, I didn’t expect such a response!” David and Mr. Barnes, the Federal Marshall talked for quite some time. Then Molly was called in to tell everything she knew. “It may be difficult to track down this man, on the other hand, he may not even be hiding. In the meantime, Mrs. Taylor, stay here where you are safe. We’ll let you know how our search goes. We are not about to let a murderer stay loose in these mountains. Good day to you.” Weeks past, and no word came. One afternoon Christ went to Miss Alice. “Can I speak with you?” “Of course, Christy, thee is always welcome.” said Alice as she set aside her writing. “I’ve been thinking about Iris, and school starting very soon, do you think it would be wise to hire Molly to take care of her. With school, and papers to grade, activities to plan and lessons to prepare, I won’t have to time myself. Molly seems to have a way with children, especially Iris. I could pay her from my own earnings.” “Of course, Christy. That is an inspired idea, ask her at once.” Christy did, and Molly accepted the job. She had come to love the serene child tremendously. One fine summer day Christy took Molly to the Spencer’s. Fairlight welcomed them from the steps. Christy wished Molly and Fairlight to be friends, they were so alike. Christy let Iris run about the cabin while she talked to Toot and Vincent. It seemed to her that things had worked out in one way, in another, nothing was right. The End, To be continued in Shady Grove...