MY, WHAT BIG MUSCLES YOU HAVE, DOCTOR!

"My Doc" 

Part one 

Spring had descended on the Cove in a series of changes. As expected, the trees had begun to shoot out green
leaves, and from the ground the most beautiful wildflowers that the Cove had ever seen were flowering. The
mission house saw some much needed changes, such as a new whitewash and clothes line, thanks to the efforts of
David Grantland. Even the schoolhouse had seen changes: Christy Huddleston's parents had sent her a Christmas
gift of a new bookcase and books for the children. This bookcase was soon becoming the favorite place for the
chidren, all of them "hankerin' for a tale". So, Christy established the "Bookcase Hour" in which she would read a
story selected by the children for an hour or so. 

But the most notable change to the Cove came with arrival of David Grantland's two cousins from Philadelphia,
Rosalind and Lorelei Weaver. David's aunt has implored that the minister take the two girls for the spring to
"teach them some sense and instill some values" into them. David had questioned what the two teenage girls would
learn in the backwoods of Cutter Gap, which his Aunt Nora promptly replied, "Survival skills." So, David relented,
and in the first week of April the two Weaver girls arrived at the El Pano train station where their cousin stood
waiting. ****** 

"Aw Miz Christy, I'm so anxious bout the comin' of the Preacher's cozins! I bet they're fine city folks that will be
dressed in silks and with their hair all on top of their heads. Do ya think they're already bethrothed? Why, I'd love
to see an actual citified engagment ring! Do ya suppose that they will help me to pamper myself up and look like
them? I wonder. . ," Ruby Mae chattered on as Christy hurried about the kitchen desperately trying to fix things
up. Rose Campbell stood over the stove, attempting to make soup and mix the ingredients for her apple pie at the
same time. 

"Ruby Mae!" Christy interrupted the girl's stream of questions. "I'm sure that Lorelei and Rosalind are just
normal girls from the city, a lot like how I was when I came from Asheville. And I'm sure that they're both not
engaged; they are only fifteen and sixteen." 

"Well Christy, there are some girls that get engaged at that age. And don't forget that here in the mountains, most
women are birthing babies by that time. Good morning Ruby Maie, Miss Campbell," Alice Henderson said as she
walked into the chaotic scene in the kitchen. Even though her surroundings were frenzied, Miss Alice remained a
calm and solid presence, and sensing this Christy felt a little stressed. Miss Alice always had a way of making
Christy feel more secure and safe. 

"Here Miss Huddleston, let me help you," she said as she took a nearby rag and began to clean the table. "Ruby
Mae, would you please collect some wildflowers? I'm sure that the Misses Weavers would enjoy some of them in
their room. They are so lovely this year." 

Ruby Mae hurried out with her new mission, barely able to keep the excitement of the new arrivals within her.
Christy smiled as she saw the girl dancing about collecting flowers from the yard. No matter how chattery she was,
Ruby Mae was one of Christy's favorite children. She always felt like she was seeing the world from the innocent
view of a child when Ruby Mae was talking. 

"There! The soup is ready! Now, all I have to do is get this pie ready for the oven," Rose said in triumph as she
placed the lid on the soup pot. "It's amazing how the arrival of guests is enough to throw this place into complete
havoc!" but she laughed at the statement, and when she looked down at her dress and hands, she laughed even
more seeing how covered she was in flour. "It will be nice to meet David's cousins, though. They sound like
delightful girls." 

"Yes, they do. Rosalind being a concert pianist and Lorelei the belle of every ball! I'm amazed that Philadelphia is
allowing them to leave!" Christy said with a smile. "Do you think it's just exaggeration, or was David being honest
when he was describing them last week?" 

Miss Alice looked up from her scrubbing. "Well, we shall certainly know in an hour or so shan't we? For now, all we
can do is thank God for allowing us to be able to host David's family, and hopefully, as Mrs. Weaver said
incorporate some values into their ninny heads'!" and with that the women all laughed and set to the task of
perfecting the mission house. ***** 

"David, is there a piano in the mission?" Rosalind asked, looking up from her lace-gloved hands. 

"Yes Roz, there is. And you can play it through all the hours of the day if you want to. Well, except for the time
when you're in school with Miss Huddleston, of course," David said. He was anxious for their journey to end. The
entire ride had been mostly silent, with the two girls petulant and cross at having to be "dragged into the middle of
nowhere," as Lorelei put it. It was strange for David to see his normally vivacious and happy cousins so bothered. 

"David, why do we have to go to that wretched little mountain school? And how can you expect some girl who's
barely older than us to teach us anything?" Lorelei complained, stomping her foot on the floorboard of the wagon. 

"Lori! Miss Huddleston is an extremely intelligent and capable lady who has seen a lot more of life's hardships
than either of you could ever imagine. She's very knowledgable and an excellent teacher. Perhaps you two should
just resign yourself to the fact that you're going to be in Cutter Gap for three months, and there's nothing you can
do about it. You might as well enjoy your time here!" David exclaimed. 

"You're just in love with Miss Huddleston, that's why you think she's so wonderful," Lori muttered as she tried to
step on a wandering ant. 

"No foolish! David's in love with that other girl, Rose. Remember, he wrote mama about it last month," Roz
retorted. Her little sister often forgot important things like other people's buisness. 

At that David's patience grew thin. "Alright you two! If you have nothing polite to say, I'd prefer we return to the
silence. At least that way, you're only making yourselves unhappy!" And with that, the wagon returned to the same
sullen silence that David now found a sort of comfort in. ***** 

Rose felt her temper rising again, but this time she withstood the urge to reach for the heaviest object in proximity.
Instead, she forced her most wooden smile and chose to ignore the rude comment Lori had made about Rose's
apple pie. If the blasted girl want a la mode, she could go out and feach the cow and create her own ice cream! 

". . .and in Philadelphia, our baker always gets the crust this certain shade of brown. Of course, living out in the
backwoods here, I wouldn't expect you to really have the resources to create much. But this isn't too shabby. I
think Mama told me that her poor relations had a recipe similar to this," Lori continued. 

That was it. Rose could not have her hard work insulted any more. She had slaved over the entire meal for hours,
and this ungrateful little. . . Then a glance from Miss Alice soothed her spirit suddently, like a breath of cool air.
Patience, the look said, patience is what our Lord wants us to have. Let us follow His example. 

"Really? Is that so? My recipe was handed down from my mother's mother. She was a duchess in England, but I
know they're not exactly known for their recipes for apple pie. I've always considered the English to be more
knowledgable on the berry than the apple," Rose explained, angain flashing her wooden smile, but this time with a
hint of laughter in them. 

"A duchess! Well, that's another matter! I once met a duchess, but she lived in Scotland. Still, I think. . ," and the
drone of Lori's social knowledge went on. Indeed, Rose thought, she probably had been the belle of every ball.
Only girls like that were able to leave so much space in their brains for the empty information of social rank and
gossip. 

Rose had been completely disenchanted when David's cousins arrived. She had hoped to make a good impression
on them, perhaps because deep in her heart she wished to make them her cousins too one day. But Rosaline (Roz,
David said to call her) had immeadiately rushed up to her room to unpack, and Lorilei (Lori, David also explained)
had proceeded to pick apart Rose's outfit and date each part of it. According to Lori, the most fashionable thing
that Rose had on was her apron, which Lori supposed "never really goes out of style, if you're going for that
fishwife look." From there, the evening had only gone downhill. 

Christy had taken an interest in Roz and had left Lori momentarily in Rose's care. Since the evening meal had just
finished, Rose suggested that Lori help her to clear the table and clean the kitchen. 

"But, what about my silk and taffetta travelling dress? It couldn't handle a stain from this!" Lori protested, that
whining tone again etnering her voice. Rose was begining to doubt if it ever left. 

"Lori, right now you're under my supervision. Remeber, your mama sent you and Roz here so that you might learn
some discipline and knowledge. Well, consider this your first lesson. In order to keep your dress clean, you'll have
to be careful. Oh, and wear and apron, it does wonders for your clothing!" Rose chuckled, tossing Christy's apron
at Lori. 

The girl grimaced and opened her mouth to prtoest, but Rose handed her a stack of plates to wash, and the
discussion was ended. 

After an hour together, Rose was finding Lori's company a little less perturbing. It was interesting to hear some of
her social tales, and Lori seemed genuinely interested in the tales of London she told about her childhood. 

"Speaking of Scottish. . .have you heard of Allistar MacBane? He's the new star of the Philadelphia stage. Right
now, he's playing Hamlet, and he's divine! Why every girl in Philadelphia is practically swooning over him. And Roz
and I actually got to meet him! He was so beautiful!" Lori gushed at the memory. 

Rose smiled remembering her childhood crushes. She had fallen for her math teacher when she was thirteen, and
she had been crushed when she'd discovered that he was already married with a baby on the way. "What does he
look like?" 

Lori jumped up and said, "Wait, I have a photo in my suitcase, let me get it!" and the girl bounded up the stairs, to
return just a few moments later. She handed it to Rose with the cooment, "Notice how big his muscles are! That's
what I find so attractive. I love a man with big musicles!" and she sighed and delicately fell into the nearby chair. 

Well, Rose thought, she has that motion down pat. Rose turned over the picture and was amazed to see herself
staring at the mirror image of her father's close friend, Doctor Neil MacNeil! 

Part Two 

by barbara;)