DISCLAIMER:
The story and characters of Christy are the property
of the LeSourd family. This work of fan fiction is for
personal amusement only, and no infringement of their
rights is intended. The writers seek no profit or
credit from this story.  Any additions of story line
and characters were invented by the writers.

Title: Travelers and Travails
Authors:
By: Susie, Regina, Miranda, Lisa Renee, Lisa3, 
Kelly O, Greer, Cynthia, Charlotte, Annie
== == == == == == == == == == == 

Neil MacNeill felt the weariness of the past few days
in all his bones and muscles. When he occasionally
lifted his eyes to the budding trees around him, and
breathed in the scents of springtime, he felt a little
refreshed, but as his horse wound through the woods,
he only wanted to be home.

What had started out as a routine visit to Raven Gap
had ended in the kind of mad scramble to patch
bleeding bodies that Neil dreaded. His early calls had
included a young mother with her colicky baby, a
farmer whose arm had been broken when he was kicked by
his mule, and a boy with mouth sores so severe he'd
been unable to eat. Rheumatism, dysentery, poison ivy,
warts, fever, dislocations and burns were all maladies
he was prepared to treat. But late on his third night
there, the doctor had been wakened to tend to two
young men who'd shot each other as they argued over a
hunting dog. One of them, recently married, had lost
three fingers from his right hand. The other was shot
in the hip, and was probably crippled for life.
Neither was yet eighteen. The second boy had lost so
much blood, Neil felt lucky to have saved his life
after three hours of surgery and nearly twenty-four
hours of constant attendance.

Neil was disgusted with this kind of emergency, and
not because it had cost him two nights of sleep. When
called upon to treat diseases or accidents, he
believed he could prepare himself and fight back with
the best medicines available. But when injury was
caused by hatred, the frustration and anger he felt
made his other successes seem hollow. Neil knew how
important a mountain man's pride was, but he couldn't
forgive the blind conceit that led to feuding. 

Now as his horse came over a low hill, Neil recognized
a pair of blossoming dogwood trees, and realized that
he'd entered the Cove. His eyes brightened. Although
he was still well over an hour from his house, he
inhaled the warm spring air in relief, feeling that
he'd reached home ground. He hardly needed to direct
his horse now - Charlie could find his own way home.

He knew Bob Allen's land was somewhere off to his
right. Ten minutes would bring him past the cabin and
gristmill. But he continued toward his own home,
noting familiar trees, now budding in the beautiful
bright green of springtime, streams that were swelling
from recent rains, and even boulders. Did Christy know
Cutter Gap this well yet? She'd been back and forth
from the mission property to most of the homes, but
how well would she know her way around the farthest
edges of the Cove? She loved these mountains -- had
she ever seen them from this viewpoint?

Neil was riding along a ridge when he caught a
movement out of the side of his eye. His head turned
quickly, and he recognized Alice Henderson moving
slowly beside a creek on a path that would intercept
his own. She hadn't noticed him yet. She seemed intent
on something she held against the horse's neck --
finally he saw that she was reading. He descended to
the stream and patiently waited for her to arrive,
allowing Charlie to drink. She looked up shortly
before reaching him, and closed the small book.

"Good afternoon, Doctor MacNeill," she greeted him as
she reigned in her horse.

"Alice."  He nodded.

"Meeting all the way out here, and judging from the
condition of your clothes," she said with an amused
smile, "I'd say thee has been in Raven Gap for several
days." 

Neil looked down curiously at his wrinkled coat and
shirt and his mud-speckled boots. They seemed all
right to him. He raised his head. "Yes, I heard you
were in Cataleechie." He looked at his clothes again,
and straightened his coat a little self-consciously.
"How was your visit?"

"The school is doing well enough, considering they are
without a full-time teacher such as Miss Huddleston.
Of course, there are fewer families, and you know how
widely scattered they are. Some children leave their
homes for weeks at a time to attend classes when I
come." She'd been turning the small book over in her
hands, and now tucked it into her pocket. "I fear I
have not been able to provide them with much of an
education.

Neil frowned slightly.  "You know that's not true.
Those children would have no teacher at all but for
you. Don't you remember I go to Cataleechie, too?" He
began to turn toward home again, but he paused as he
looked more carefully at Alice.

"You don't look well, Alice. You're too pale. What's
wrong?"

Alice responded with a wry, tight smile. "I would have
been surprised if thee had not noticed. It's nothing
serious." She nudged her horse along, and Neil
followed, waiting expectantly for the rest of her
answer. "Unfortunately, something I ate disagreed with
me - quite violently." 

The doctor's horse had come alongside Alice's. "Food
poisoning?" he asked, scanning her closely. She nodded
in reply. "Did you have nausea? Diarrhea? Cramps?
Dehydration?" He peppered her with questions. "You
shouldn't be traveling. How long did the symptoms
last? Do you know what caused it?"

"Yes to all the symptoms," she answered with patience,
"but none was severe. I became ill five days ago, and
felt recovered enough yesterday to travel. I waited
one more day to be sure, as you see." Alice turned
toward him, her face expressionless. "I believe it was
an improperly cooked possum that made me ill."

"Possum!" Neil nearly laughed out loud, but stopped
himself as he saw Alice's serious look. He couldn't
resist a grin. "Well, Ruby Mae can at least say that
she's not poisoned anyone yet with her possum
recipes."

Alice finally smiled a little. "That is something to
be thankful for, although I do not intend to mention
this incident to her." She turned once more to the
trail before them.

"Fine," the doctor agreed, "but I'm coming back with
you to see that the mission's medicine cabinet has
what you need to settle your digestive tract." He
spoke decisively. "I'll talk to Christy or Fairlight
about a special diet and rest for you over the next
few days."

"Thank you, Neil, but that won't be necessary," she
said. He didn't answer, but Alice saw from his stern
glance that she had no choice in the matter. "Very
well, then." She shrugged, and they rode in silence
for a while.

"I've been away nearly a month, Neil."  She finally
broke the silence. "What is the news here at home?"

Neil leaned on the pommel of his saddle. "Ault's son,
Rafe, is going to marry Addy Martin from Lufty Branch.
Do you know her?"

"I believe I know her parents - Jaster and Daisy?" The
doctor nodded. "The Martins keep very much to
themselves," Alice said, "but I've visited them now
and then. They are good hardworking people." 

"Yes," Neil agreed. He thought a moment, and added,
"The school's closed for spring plowing and planting.
I think the mission folk are hoping it'll be open
again soon." Alice's eyebrows arched in a silent
question. "I stopped there on my way out to Raven Gap,
to drop off some things for the medicine cabinet." He
rubbed his neck and grimaced as he continued. "David
was grooming his horse, and he warned me to stay clear
of the house. The women were in the middle of a huge
argument - we could hear them from the barnyard."

Alice's eyes were round with surprise. "Indeed. And
what was the argument about?"

The doctor shrugged. "I took the Reverend's advice and
left my supplies with him. I felt sorry for the man.
He said Christy, Fairlight, and Ruby Mae had been
going at each other since the school holiday started.
I hope you're not walking into a hornet's nest,
Alice."

"Indeed," she repeated. "This should be most
interesting. And challenging." They exchanged a glance
as their horses walked steadily along. Alice's eye was
attracted to a gleam at Neil's waist. His coat had
shifted to reveal a hunting knife in a leather sheath.

Neil followed her glance, and reached to his belt to
draw out the knife. He smiled a little sheepishly. The
handle was dark wood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl,
which glinted in the sunlight as brightly as the thin
blade. "I received this as payment from Andy Robb
after I stitched up his son, Zack." His face darkened.
 "The fool boy got into a shooting fight over a
hunting dog. He lost three fingers, and very nearly
killed the other fellow."

Alice's eyes were fastened on the polished metal as
Neil rotated it in his hand. "I'm sorry to hear about
the boys, but that knife is an unusual payment,
Doctor." She chuckled. "I cannot imagine thee lancing
a boil with such an instrument!"

"It's extremely sharp, actually," he said, "although
this handle wouldn't look quite so impressive after I
sterilize it in boiling water a few times. You're
right, though - it is unusual. It doesn't seem
appropriate for slicing bread or cleaning fish." Neil
smiled as he carefully replaced it in the leather
holder. "I'm sure it will come in handy."

The two weary travelers were relieved when the bell
tower of the church house came into view.
Unfortunately, the peace of the scene was broken as
soon as they neared the house. They heard female
voices raised in anger, and saw Ruby Mae storm out the
door and down into the yard.

"Why's it ME that has ta 'pologize!" the girl shouted
over her shoulder as she stalked toward the corral.
"Why's it ALWAYS my fault? It's more'n a body kin
bear, to be wrong every single day of yer life!"

The door flew open once more to reveal Fairlight, with
her hands on her hips. "Ruby Mae Morrison, you git
yerself back in this house!" She immediately noticed
the two riders, and her mouth opened in surprise.
Before she could move or say anything, a very agitated
Christy appeared behind her, holding two pieces of a
broken plate in her hands.

== == == == == 

Chapter 2


"Great grandmother's china plate," Christy murmured, a
mixture of despair and frustration boiling just under
the surface. 

Fairlight looked at the young teacher, who held two
halves of a broken plate in her hands. "Oh no. It
ain't."

"Yes, I'm afraid it is. Mother gave it to me just
before I came here. She wanted me to have something
nice that would remind me of home." Christy sighed
heavily. 

"What in tarnation happened?" Fairlight asked.  

"It was in my trunk and Ruby Mae must have been
looking in there for something, without asking first,"
she said, her voice emphasizing the last word. "I
don't know how many times I have told her that if she
wants to borrow something all she has to do is ask.
I'd be more than happy to share if she'd just ask."
Her voice was soft, almost a whisper as if she was
talking to herself, but the pain and disappointment in
her voice was clear. 

Ruby Mae had stormed into the yard. Standing defiantly
with her hands on her hips, she glared at the two
women on the porch. As angry as she was, she was just
as hurt.

Miss Alice dismounted and walked over to the young
girl. Placing her hand on the redhead's shoulder, she
asked, "Ruby Mae, is something troubling thee?"

Turning to face Miss Alice, she had a stream of tears
running down both cheeks and her hands were tightly
balled into a fist. "Miz Alice, why's it ALWAYS my
fault? It's more'n a body kin bear, t' be wrong every
single day of yer life!" she said, repeating her
earlier comments. Now, however, the anger was gone out
of her voice and she seemed genuinely confused and
hurt.

Miss Alice started to respond but instead wrapped her
arms around Ruby Mae and gave her a comforting hug. 

****

Neil was still atop his horse, and the situation
unfolding around him was an utter mystery. Christy and
Fairlight stood huddled on the mission porch, and Miss
Alice held a sobbing Ruby Mae in her arms. David was
busily repairing the garden fence, staring intently as
if he were conducting major surgery instead of a minor
repair.

Neil drew his horse alongside the fence and motioned
toward the mission and yard. "What on earth is that
all about?" 

"The same thing as before you left." David stopped to
wipe his brow with his forearm. "I've never seen a
bunch of women get so worked up about a book before in
my life."

"A book?" 

"Yes," David replied in disgust. "Christy thought that
they would enjoy reading aloud 'Sense and Sensibility'
by Jane Austen now that the spring planting holiday is
here. She said that she never got a chance to read it
before, something about parties and teas and dress
fittings." David rolled his eyes. 

"Sounds like a wonderful idea to me," Neil said. 

"Sure, until they started arguing about the plot." 

Neil chuckled. "So that is what this feuding is all
about?"

"You don't know the half of it."  Pausing, David
straightened his back and looked at the three sullen
women. Leaning closer to the doctor he said, "They
disagree mostly on the characters."

Neil furrowed his brow in confusion and looked over
his shoulder at the women. "I don't quite understand,
Grantland. You're saying that all of this is over the
characters in a book? My Lord, man, we men don't fight
with such passion."

"I know. I thought the same thing myself the first
afternoon, but they are taking this quite seriously."

Leaning even closer, David's voice took on a falsetto
tone as he attempted an imitation of Christy's voice.
"Colonel Brandon is so gentle and kind. Marianne is
wrong if she thinks that he's too old and gloomy. He
obviously loves her. He's always stopping by to check
on Marianne, but he's too much of a gentleman to force
his affections on her." 

Neil stifled a laugh, knowing that it would only bring
attention to them and make matters worse. 

"Oh, no Miz Christy," David this time imitated Ruby
Mae. "Willoughby is so romantic. He's just like that
Romeo feller you was tellin' us about. He's
good-lookin' and charmin'. I bet he's the kind who'd
write poetry for a gal an' everythin'!" 

"But it isn't like Christy to get upset just because
someone doesn't agree with her," Neil said, realizing
the foolishness of those words the minute they left
his lips. 

Thankfully, David didn't seem to notice. "The problem
started when Ruby Mae got upset because Fairlight
agreed with Christy." Shrugging his shoulders, David
continued, "Who knows what's gotten into that girl!"

Neil nodded. "Thanks for filling me in, Grantland." He
turned and started down the path toward his cabin.
Pausing, he asked casually, "How do you feel? About
the characters I mean."

David leaned heavily against the fence. "I'm not sure.
I've only heard what they read aloud, but it seems
that Willoughby is the logical choice for Marianne.
He's a charming, refined gentleman and destined to
inherit a sizeable estate. He seems like the perfect
choice for a lovely, vivacious girl like her."

Neil rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I see." He lightly
tapped his heels into his horse's flank and headed
down the path.

He had only ridden several yards when David called,
"So, what do you think Doc? Have you read the book?"

"Indeed, I have. Personally, I think Willoughby is a
selfish cad. Remember Reverend Grantland, the obvious
choice doesn't always mean it's the right one." With
that, he rode off, waving at Christy and Fairlight on
the porch.

****

On the other side of the yard, Ruby Mae's sobbing had
stopped and she was beginning to wipe the tears from
her face. "Come, child," Miss Alice said, "let's walk.
Thee can tell me what is troubling thee."

The two crossed the small footbridge and started
toward the schoolhouse. "Well, ya see Miz Alice, it
all started with this here book Miz Christy was
readin' to us. It's a right pretty story an' all." She
started to blush, her freckled cheeks becoming red.
"It got me ta thinkin' `bout Rob Allen. I've been
sweet on him for a while now..."

"Really?" 

"Yes'm.  This Willoughby feller, in the book, well he
reminds me of Rob Allen. He's smart an' handsome an'
he treats Marianne like a real lady, not like some
little girl." Tears started to flow again down her
cheeks, but she quickly brushed them away. 

"It jus' made me so mad when Miz Christy and Miz
Spencer said that he was no good, that he was jus'
pretendin' to like Marianne. Well, it made me mad, it
did, 'cause I started thinkin' that maybe I'll end up
like Marianne's older sister, Elinor. She's an ole
maid in the book an' now that Rob Allen's done gone
an' started hanging 'round Lizette Holcombe, he don't
pay me no mind a'tall!" The last words rushed out,
amid tears and uncontrolled sobs.

Alice again hugged her tightly until she stopped
crying. Taking out a handkerchief, she wiped away the
young girl's tears. "Of course I understand why thee
is upset, but what happened earlier with Miss
Huddleston and Mrs. Spencer?"

"Well, I wanted ta borrow some o' Miz Christy's
clothes." She smiled. "They're so purty an' I thought
that Rob Allen might notice me then." 

"Indeed. But did thee ask Miss Huddleston first?"

"No, ma'am." The young girl bowed her head in
embarrassment.

Alice looked at her sternly. "Ruby Mae, thee knows
that it is not right to take other people's things
without permission."

"Yes'm. I know. But I didn't mean to hurt nothin'.
Honest. It was a plain ole accident that Miz Christy's
china plate got broke."

Alice shook her head solemnly and glanced back at
Christy, still standing on the porch with Fairlight.


== == == == == == == == == == == 
Chapter 3

"Did thee think of apologizing to Miss Huddleston?"
Miss Alice asked pointedly.

"Shorely not! A gal kin only 'pologize when she knows
what she's 'pologizin' fer!" Ruby Mae paused and
reached to wipe away a stray tear. "I ain't done
nuthin' wrong. Miz Christy jest don't understand."

"Thee is entitled to thy own opinion." Miss Alice
said.  She stooped to seize a fallen leaf from the
ground.

"But-"

Miss Alice pulled herself to her full height, looking
straight into the teenager's teary eyes. "If thee is
entitled to thy opinion, why is thy teacher not
entitled to hers?"

Eyes wide in hurt and anger, Ruby Mae fled across the
yard and disappeared in the thick brush of the woods.

****

Birds fluttered in the trees as Neil rode the familiar
path homeward. He hummed his Aunt Hattie's song about
the wild mountain laurel and was thankful for the
refreshingly cool air of the mountains. All seemed
peaceful in the cove here, away from all the feuding
and needless bloodshed. 

Neil could hear the river now. The river meant home,
and home meant his warm, welcoming bed. 

The doctor stifled a yawn. Suddenly, from the corner
of his eye Neil saw a figure dart between two trees.
He didn't stop but pulled the reins of his horse a
little. 

He saw it again! A figure darted to another tree, much
nearer this time. Neil couldn't tell what it was - or
who it was, but he was sure of one thing. It was
following him.

Carefully withdrawing the handsome knife from his
belt, he reined in his horse. In a loud voice he
called, "Who's there? I'm a doctor!" 

When no one answered, he called out again, "I'm not
going to hurt you. Just come out."

This time, a shadow appeared before him, and a careful
voice said softly, "Sir, I'd just like to know where I
am." 

The voice wasn't familiar, but he put away the knife.
The shadowy figure moved a little nearer. Neil watched
closely as he moved forward.

Suddenly, the clouds and treetops parted and the sun
shone down straight on the tan, hungry face of a young
boy. Brown hair the color of hickory nuts fell in a
short thin mass over the boy's head. It obviously
hadn't been combed in days, and, Neil thought to
himself, the boy didn't appear to have bathed in a
much longer time than that. 

The boy wasn't nearly his height, but his lanky frame
reminded Neil of John Spencer or Rob Allen.

"May I ask your name?" A weary smile was as much as
Neil could manage, but the boy seemed not to notice.

"Please, sir. I just want to know where I am." 

Neil ran his hand through his hair while tightly
grasping his horse's reins with his free hand.  The
fatigued horse gave a whinny and pawed the ground.

Trained eyes looked over the boy. Cautiously, he said,
"You need to eat, lad. And take a strong bath. But
first you have to tell me your name."

The dark eyes of the boy revealed nothing, but he hung
his head. "My name is Frederick.  Johnson. I don't
want to take anything from you sir, I just want to
know where I am..." His meek voice trailed off. 

"You're in Cutter Gap. The nearest town is about seven
miles from here. Come with me. We can talk when we get
back home."

Neil dismounted and the boy followed him.  The two
walked in silence until they came to Neil's cabin.

The boy had been hungrier than Neil had thought; he
devoured everything Neil set before him. Tired as he
was, Neil knew where he had to take the boy.

****

Bang!  Bang!  Someone was pounding on the door. 
Darkness was closing in on Cutter Gap when Christy
reached the front door of the mission house.

In front of her stood Dr. MacNeill and a boy she
didn't recognize.  Neil seemed exhausted; he could
barely hold his head up. "Miss Huddleston, this is
Frederick Johnson. Do you mind if we come in?"

"Of course, Doctor." Christy noticed her friend's
haggard appearance and the boy's hung head and
straight face. When he lifted his head at the mention
of his name, Christy saw no flicker of emotion in his
dark eyes. Though the doctor's enigmatic gaze had
often baffled her, the sad eyes of this young man
touched her heart.

The two followed her into the small parlor, where she
offered each of them a seat before taking a Victorian
highback chair for herself.

"Hello, Frederick. I'm Christy Huddleston." She smiled
at him kindly. 

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." The boy nodded his head.

"How old are you, Fredrick?" Christy noticed the
doctor nodding off to sleep and offered him a room
upstairs. After slight hesitation he declined, adding
that he was fine where he was. Christy couldn't help
but wonder if the doctor was afraid to leave her alone
with the strange boy.

"Sixteen."

"Where are you from?"

"Knoxville."

"How did you get here?"

"I walked..." 

Christy wanted to ask why he would walk from Knoxville
to Cutter Gap, but tried to think of a better way to
phrase her question.

"I ran away." The boy looked up, startling Christy
from her thoughts.

"Why?"

"My daddy was a drunk. Beat my mama. I couldn't stand
to see her defending him no more, so I took off to
find Asheville. Gonna get me a job for myself."

"You can't walk to Asheville! That's a good train
ride's distance from here. It's much too far to walk,
especially for a young boy!"

"Miss..." The boy's voice trailed off as a loud snore
came from across the room. Christy and Fredrick in
unison turned toward the sleeping doctor. As the
initial shock wore off, they turned back to each other
and began to laugh together.

"Well!" Christy said. "Someone was sure tired!"

The boy's quiet demeanor had vanished. The cuckoo
clock suddenly exploded with noise.  CUCKOO! Nine more
times it sounded.

"Ten o'clock! My goodness! It got late so fast!"
Christy cried. Then remembering her guests, she added,
"We had better be finding you two a place to sleep." 

== == == == == == == == == == ==


Chapter 4

"Good morning, Christy."  Neil's voice rang out as
Christy descended the stairs into the parlor.  He sat
on the couch, a cup of steaming coffee in his left
hand.  Beside him was a neatly folded blanket topped
with a pillow.  Christy stifled a yawn.  "Sleep well,
did you?" he asked with a smile. 

"Maybe I should have taken the couch." Christy plopped
into the overstuffed chair across from him.  "I spent
the night in Ruby Mae's room.  After I told her about
Frederick, I didn't think she'd ever go to sleep--"

"Ruby Mae's room?"  Neil was plainly puzzled.

"I let Frederick sleep in my room." The look on Dr.
MacNeill's face made her feel the need to explain
further.  "It was only for one night.  He obviously
needed the rest, you said so yourself."

"I said-- oh, never mind.  What do you plan to do when
he awakens?"

"Fix him a good breakfast and a hot bath."  

Neil leaned forward and took a sip of coffee.  His
eyes met hers over the rim of the cup. "And then?"

Christy took a deep breath.  She had thought about
this very issue all night and knew what had to be
done.  However, she'd been unable to discuss her idea
with either David or Miss Alice, both of whom had been
asleep when Fredrick arrived.  "I want him to stay
here at the mission.  For a while at least," she added
hastily.

"Just like that?"  

It was Christy's turn to look curious.  "What do you
mean?"

Dr. MacNeill set his cup on the table, stood and
crossed to the mantle.  Christy's eyes followed him. 
"What do you really know about this boy?" 

There was a time when Christy would have withered
under his challenge.  But a year in Cutter Gap had
imbued her with confidence.  "I know he's hungry,
tired, desperate.  He's a long way from home, he has
no family to turn to--"

"In other words, you know what he's told you."

"Well, yes." Then somewhat defiantly she asked, "Why
shouldn't I believe him, Doctor?"  Christy knew Neil
would sense her testiness in her use of his title.  

"I didn't say you shouldn't believe him--"

She would not back down.  "Doctor, this mission was
established to help people and this boy clearly needs
our help.  If you didn't agree, why did you bring him
here in the first place?"

Neil seemed momentarily taken aback, and Christy
wondered if she'd finally gotten the best of him in an
argument.  But he recovered quickly.  "How do you
intend to help this boy you hardly even know?" 

"What boy?"  David had silently entered the parlor
through the kitchen.  He looked from Christy to Neil,
obviously surprised to see Dr. MacNeill at such an
early hour.

"I was trying to explain to Miss Huddleston the need
to exercise caution when accepting the word of a
stranger."  The doctor picked up his coffee cup and
stalked toward the kitchen as Christy briefly outlined
the events of the previous evening to David.

"So you see, David, Frederick has nowhere to go.  We
can't let him walk all the way to Asheville -- it's
over a hundred miles across these mountains.  He'll
never make it.  He needs to stay here until he can get
some rest and decent food and decide what he wants to
do."  

"Doctor." David confronted Neil as he returned to the
parlor holding a steaming cup.  "Is there some reason
you think we should fear this boy?  He's not ill, is
he?"

"He doesn't appear to be, though I only looked him
over quickly last night.  I'll examine him more
thoroughly when he awakens."

"Then I don't see the problem." 

"What makes you think he wants your help?" Neil asked.
 "He made it quite clear last night that he wants to
be on his way."

"He's sixteen, Doctor," David replied with a touch of
anger.  "How can he know what he wants?"

"Oh, Reverend." Neil's voice dripped with sarcasm and
frustration.  "Surely I need not remind you that most
mountain children that age have children of their
own."

"I think what David is trying to say, Doctor," Christy
said, "is that this boy is lost, literally and
spiritually.  Hope and opportunity are what this
mission provides.  We can't force Frederick to accept
our help, but we can certainly offer---"

"Miz Christy!  Miz Christy!"  Ruby Mae flew down the
steps, her robe fluttering in her self-made breeze and
her red hair tumbling from its pins. 

"Ruby Mae, keep your voice down," David said.  "You'll
wake our guest."

"But he's already awake.  I saw him!"  Ruby Mae's eyes
opened wide, her gaze fixated on the top of the
staircase. 

"I'd best go up and have a look at him."  Neil reached
for his saddlebags.

Ruby Mae turned to Christy.  "Ya didn't tell me he was
so - so--oh, Miz Christy, I ain't never seen no boy
look like that."

Neil only shook his head and headed upstairs. 

"Don't you have chores to do?" David asked. 

"Oh, I kin do 'em later.  I wanna stay right here 'n
wait for--"

"Ruby Mae," David said sternly.

"Yessir."  Shoulders drooping, she headed for the
front door.  

"Ruby Mae?" Christy's voice held a hint of amusement. 
"Don't you want to change out of your bedclothes?"  

Ruby Mae looked down at her attire in despair. 
"Lordy, Miz Christy, yer right."  She threw her arms
across her chest.  "Reckon I would've died if he'd
seen me like this.  I don't know what I would've done
fer sure.  A lady cain't be runnin' about--"

Christy was now laughing aloud and even David fought
unsuccessfully to repress a smile as Ruby Mae
chattered her way up the steps to her bedroom. 
Trailed by David, Christy headed for the kitchen,
where she collected pots and dishes for the morning
meal.  "If Frederick does stay, we'll have to do
something about the sleeping arrangements.  I know I
can't stand another night with Ruby Mae." 

"I suppose he could bunk with me for a few days. But
you're right, we'll have to find a more permanent
solution."

****

A short time later, the aroma of bread, eggs and
sausage filled the main level of the mission house. 
Ruby Mae had dressed in record time and sprinted down
the steps to hear more about the new houseguest. 
However, she was banished outdoors to feed the
livestock and had already used almost every possible
excuse to return to the kitchen.  

"Ruby Mae, if you don't finish your chores, you won't
be able to join all of us for breakfast," Christy
said, clearly emphasizing the word "all."  

The girl's glum expression suddenly brightened.  "Oh,
yes, Miz Christy.  I'll git right to it.  Don't be
startin' without me."  She fled the house, talking as
she went.  "I'll be done real quick.  Only got the
chickens--"

Christy stirred the crackling sausage in one fry pan
and cornmeal in another while David set the table. 
"Maybe I can convince Frederick to come to school with
me today," she called over her shoulder.  "It might be
good for him to meet the other children."

"I have the feeling that Ruby Mae will insist on it,"
David said with a knowing smile.  "I still can't
believe the boy walked all the way from Knoxville--" 
He paused at the sound of footfalls and voices.  

Frederick entered the kitchen followed closely by Dr.
MacNeill.  The boy's eyes lit up on seeing Christy. 
"Good mornin', Miz Christy.  I want ta thank ya fer
lettin' me sleep in yer room last night--"  At the
sight of the minister, the boys eyes narrowed and his
voice trailed off.

Christy gave him a warm smile.  "Frederick, this is
David Grantland, the preacher here at the mission."

Frederick rubbed his hand along his pant leg before
offering it to David.  "Pleased ta meet ya.  I thank
ya fer lettin' me stay the night."  He looked around
apprehensively.  "But I bes be on my way."

"Frederick, you must stay for breakfast," Christy
insisted.  "It's almost ready."

"Oh no ma'am, I couldn't impose.  I'm already beholden
to ya."

"It's no trouble at all.  I'm sure you could use a hot
meal."

"I think that's an excellent idea," David added. 
"Don't you agree, Doctor?"

"I do indeed.  Why don't you go wash up."

The boy seemed to realize the decision had been made
for him.  "All right, I reckon I kin stay fer a spell.
 But then I gotta be on my way." 

Out of the corner of her eye, Christy noticed Ruby Mae
hovering outside.  "Ruby Mae," she called loudly.  As
if on cue, the girl ran into the kitchen, freezing in
her tracks at the sight of the lanky boy.  "Ruby Mae,
this is Frederick Johnson.  He'll be joining us for
breakfast.  Would you show him where he can wash his
hands."

Ruby Mae stood speechless, beaming at the stranger. 

"How'd ya do," Frederick said as she continued to
stare.

"Ruby Mae," David prodded.

The sound of his voice appeared to penetrate her daze.
 "Oh, how d'ya do?  I mean, jes fine.  I mean, I'se
pleased to meet you.  Uh, lemme show ya where ta wash
up.  It's jes outside."  She enthusiastically grabbed
for the boy's arm and led him out the door.  With a
slightly pained glance at the adults, he allowed
himself to be half-dragged from the room.

"So, Doctor, how is he?" David asked when Frederick
had gone.

Neil tossed his saddlebags onto the nearest chair and
leaned against the wall.  "Malnourished and a bit
anemic as well."  The doctor seemed preoccupied with
his thoughts.  "Nothing too serious." 

"Well, that's a relief," David said.

Neil appeared not to hear him as he slowly rubbed his
chin, a troubled expression on his face.

Christy noticed the doctor's hesitation.  "Is there
something else?" 

For a moment, Neil looked between them, as if trying
to reach a decision.  When he responded, his voice was
solemn.  "The boy's mother may not be the only one who
took a beating."

No one spoke.  Finally, David broke the silence.  "Did
you ask him about it?  What did he say?"

"He denies it."

"And you don't believe him?"

"Scars and bruises don't lie."

"All the more reason to keep him here," Christy said
quietly.  

"We need to discuss this with Alice," David said.
"Where is she, by the way?"

"I don't know," Christy answered. "She's usually up
long before the rest of us.  Maybe she went out."

"I didn't hear anyone this morning," Neil said.  "But
I know she wasn't feeling well yesterday."

"Well, if you men think you can handle the food for a
minute, I'll check on her."

"So, have you changed your mind about Frederick?"
David asked when she had departed.

"If you're asking whether I believe his story -- well,
I can't deny something has happened to the boy.  But I
still think you're begging for trouble if you allow--"

"Neil!  David!"  Christy's voice sounded through the
mission.  "Come quick!"

== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 5

"Neil!" Christy met the men on the stairs, panic
making her voice wobble as her worried blue eyes met
the doctor's. "It's Miss Alice. She's vomiting over
the balcony railing and looks as white as a ghost!" 

The three charged into the bedroom to find Alice still
retching over the balcony. Neil, dropping his
saddlebags on the floor, reached her first. He placed
a steady arm around her shoulders that were shaking
with fatigue.

Christy had a damp cloth and a glass of water ready
when the older woman slowly straightened up. After
gently wiping her face, Christy tipped the glass to
Miss Alice's lips, and waited as she swished the water
around her mouth and spat it out.  Neil and David then
flanked the ill woman and guided her back to her bed. 

"Alice, how long have you been vomiting?" Neil asked
in his professional tone as he washed his hands in the
basin on top of the dresser. 

"Oh, I was up a couple times during the night." Alice
gave her son-in-law a knowing look. "This is not the
remnants of food poisoning." 

Neil retrieved his stethoscope from his saddlebags,
had Alice breathe in and out a few times and took her
pulse. He finished quickly and effectively before
answering.  "You're correct in that assumption, Alice.
But I'll need to examine you further to make a proper
diagnosis." He looked pointedly at David. 

Christy interpreted the doctor's look and walked over
to the young man, who had been silently praying for
his mentor. "David, Doctor MacNeill has to examine
Miss Alice . . . Oh, my goodness!" Her eyes grew wide.
"David, breakfast is still on the stove!" 

Even as she spoke, the smell of burnt food wafted up
the stairs of the mission. Christy made a move to go,
"Ruby Mae and Frederick must still be outside, or else
they would have . . ." 

"Christy," Neil interrupted before she could leave the
room, "I'd like you to stay." 

"I'll tend to breakfast, Christy. Doctor MacNeill
needs you here." He bent down and spoke softly. "I'm
sure Alice would be comforted by your presence." 

Christy walked back to the bed and took Alice's hand
in her own. 

As David shut the door behind him, Neil pulled back
the bedclothes. "Alice, I need to know if this hurts
or is tender in any way." 

Christy watched as Neil began his examination. 
Starting at the lower abdomen, he gently probed,
keeping a watchful eye on his patient's face. His
hands moved to the upper abdomen, and at his slightest
touch, Alice winced in pain. She shivered as Neil
pulled up the covers. 

"Christy, would you shut the balcony doors, please?"
he asked.

Alice gave him a leveling look. "Tell me, Neil. Do not
hide the truth from me." 

Neil sighed. "Alice, I'm certain you have an ulcer." 

Her eyes widened somewhat, but she said nothing,
allowing him to continue. 

"I don't think it's advanced, though I spotted a bit
of blood when you vomited. Have you had any other
bouts of vomiting lately, other than the food
poisoning?" 

Christy was now back at the bedside, once again
squeezing Alice's hand in support. Miss Alice sent her
a grateful look.

"In the past couple months, I have been ill probably
half a dozen times. I thought nothing of it, as my
meals often come by unreliable sources while I'm on
the road." 

Neil's expression made clear that she should have
mentioned those times to him, but he held his tongue,
not wanting to berate his patient. "Did you notice any
blood those other times?" 

"No, this was the first case." Alice looked completely
worn out from lack of sleep. 

Christy patted her arm. "You just stay in bed. I'll
see to things around the mission." 

"That's a good idea," Neil said. "I recommend complete
bed rest for a few days and a change in your diet. You
know the drill. Christy, I'll fill you in on what she
can and cannot eat. Meanwhile . . ." 

Suddenly, Neil was interrupted by a scream that could
only have come from Ruby Mae. All heads turned towards
the double doors, and Neil and Christy rushed onto the
landing. 

The scene that met their eyes sent chills down
Christy's spine. Ruby Mae and Frederick were at the
back of the mission near the brush. On the ground was
a timber rattlesnake, its black bands and tail stark
against its pale brown body.  The snake was coiled and
ready to strike. 

The scene moved as if in slow motion. David had rushed
out of the mission at the girl's scream, carrying a
still smoking frying pan. Ruby Mae turned,
transferring her petrified gaze from the snake to
David. 

Christy watched, frozen in horror as the next sequence
of events seem to unfold all at once. As the snake
lunged at the girl's bare ankles, Frederick stepped in
front of her. David threw down the skillet and lunged
for Ruby Mae. The force of his tackle knocked her to
the ground a few feet away, where he quickly shielded
her with his body. 

A scream lodged in Christy's throat as the snake sunk
its fangs into Frederick's leg.  Neil whipped out his
newly acquired knife and, without a moment's
hesitation, threw it with accuracy and precision,
stabbing the rattler just as it released the boy. 

"Alice, you stay put!" Neil yelled as he and Christy
ran down the back staircase towards the three prone
bodies. Neil ran straight to Frederick, who was
grimacing with pain and holding his right calf. 

"Ruby Mae! David!" Christy yelled, as she neared the
two. 

David slowly pulled himself off the young girl, who
rose to her feet, white faced and terrified.

"Is either one of you bitten?" Christy asked. 

David shook his head, then placed his hand on the
girl's trembling arm. "Ruby Mae, you're not bitten,
are you?" 

Ruby Mae was starring transfixed at the dead snake,
but found her voice. "No, Preacher. I reckon you done
grabbed me out of the way jest in time." 

Christy was gently patting her student's shoulder when
Neil's voice brought her head around. 

"Ruby Mae, I need my saddle bags up in Alice's room. 
Right away." His tone was serious and preoccupied, all
his attention was focused on Frederick.  

He loosely tied his handkerchief around the boy's leg.
Already the puncture wound was swollen and red, blood
oozing down the boy's leg. "Sit still, lad. I know it
hurts, but the more you move around, the more the
venom spreads through out your body." Frederick
stopped squirming immediately, but Neil could tell the
boy was fighting the burning pain. 

A moment later, Ruby Mae came running back with the
saddlebags, quickly placing them next to the doctor. 

Neil almost grabbed them out of her hands then
addressed David. "Reverend, I need a pan of boiling
water here. Quickly now." 

As David did as he was instructed, Christy turned
towards Ruby Mae, who looked as though she had
regained her composure and was ready to ask a hundred
questions. Just as her mouth opened, Christy spoke. 
"Ruby Mae, would you go keep Miss Alice company? She's
ill, and I'm afraid she might get out of bed to find
out what is happening. That would not do her any good.
Can you do that?" 

"Yes'm, Miz Christy! I'll make sure she stays tucked
up jest as snug as a newborn possum!" 

But as the girl turned to go inside the mission,
Christy stopped her. "Ruby Mae?" The teenager turned,
perched on the first stair. "I'm glad you're all
right." A smile lit up Ruby Mae's face. "Now go. Miss
Alice is waiting."
 
Christy turned back toward Dr. MacNeill, her smile
dying as she watched the doctor put his mouth to the
bite area, suck out the venom, then spit. Next, he
instructed David to kneel on the ground at Frederick's
side. "Keep him from thrashing about," he said, before
giving Frederick his attention once again. "Now, lad,
I'm going to have to cut away the skin around the bite
area. Are you up for it?" 

The boy nodded, his eyes standing out in his pale face
fearfully, but he spoke with nary a tremor in his
voice. "I reckon you know what's best." Already the
boy was shivering, yet perspiration stood out on his
brow. 

"You're a brave lad." Neil looked up at Christy. "Miss
Huddleston, could you assist me, please. I need you to
hold these and be ready to pass them to me." 

Christy looked down at what Neil held in his hands: a
syringe and a scalpel. 


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 6

It seemed as if Christy's entire body was shaking save
for her hands, which felt oddly detached from the rest
of her body. Looking down at them as if seeking
reassurance that they were still attached, she saw the
syringe and scalpel, which Neil had placed there
seconds before. 

Dousing his hands liberally in water, Neil looked
grimly at the boy. "I'll not lie to you lad, this is
going to hurt." 

Frederick nodded, tears and sweat streaking white
stripes down his dirty face. He looked down at his
swollen leg and gulped. "Can't hurt more'n it does." 

"Ready?" Neil glanced at David. 

Pinning Frederick's arms to his side, David nodded. 

"The scalpel please Miss Huddleston." Neil spoke in a
brusque professional tone. 

But her eyes were fixed on the small droplets of blood
seeping from Frederick's wound, her mind frozen in
terror at the prospect of what was to come. 

"Christy," Neil said softly. 

Christy looked up slowly into the Doctor's intense
eyes. No words were exchanged between them, but as
Christy was enveloped in the doctor's gaze, she drew
strength and felt a peaceful calm steal through her
body, similar to when she had assisted with Little
Burl's surgery. Wordlessly she handed him the scalpel.


Frederick flinched as the cool blade of the scalpel
pierced his skin, but remained stoically silent and
still as Neil deftly cut away the skin around the
wound, creating a large hole to release the venom. 

Handing Christy the scalpel he quickly inserted the
syringe into the leg. "For tetanus," he said, drawing
the needle out. Washing the wound with water and
ammonia, he lightly dressed the grossly swollen leg.
Sitting back on his heels he rinsed his bloodstained
hands. 

"That's all that can be done. We'll move him into the
mission now," he said in a strained voice. "Oh, and
Reverend." He cocked his head in David's direction.
"If I was a praying man, I'd be offering them up about
now." 

****

Settling Frederick in the nearest bed, Neil sent
Christy for water, and pulled a chair up to the boy's
bedside. "It'll be all right," he said softly,
brushing the boy's sweat soaked hair out of his eyes.
Frederick's features were pinched and drawn, eyes
staring unfocused out of his pale skull. 

"Frederick! Frederick... lad, stay with us!" Neil
gripped the boy's hands fiercely in his own. 

Frederick started, his eyes focusing on Neil as he
groaned slightly and clung to Neil's hands. 

"I know it hurts, here's some water now." Neil tried
unsuccessfully to free one of his hands from
Frederick's grip. Clearing his throat, he said, "Miss
Huddleston if you wouldn't mind..." 

But Christy was already lifting the glass to
Frederick's lips. 

Choking slightly as water dribbled down his chin,
Frederick gasped, "Doc... I don't... know as I can
hardly stand the... pain."

"It'll pass lad, just lie still.  I'll tell you the
story of Bonnie Prince Charlie." 

"Prince who?" gasped Frederick, still in pain but
clearly interested. 

Neil smiled gently and taking a deep breath gave
himself up to a passionate re-telling of Prince
Charlie's exploits. As his Scottish brogue swirled
about the room, his audience grew still and silent
with anticipation. Frederick gazed at him, eyes filled
with excitement and pain nearly forgotten as the
doctor's voice transported his imagination to the
highlands of Scotland where the bitter defeat of
Prince Charlie and the slaughter of his Jacobite army
at the battle of Culloden had forced the Bonnie Prince
into exile.

Christy drew up a chair on the other side of the bed,
equally captivated by the doctor's carefully chosen
words. Even David, leaning against the door, was drawn
in by the story. Stopping outside the doorway Ruby Mae
peered in at Frederick with wide frightened eyes, her
fear quickly forgotten as the doctor's lyrical voice
drew her into the room. 

"I've got to change the dressing on your wound now,
Frederick," Neil said. 

Christy looked up in surprise but, realizing that the
story had come to an end, left the room to fetch a
basin of water. Glancing outside at the sun, she was
surprised to see that several hours had passed. 

"I think he'll live," Neil said in a low voice,
suddenly appearing at her side. Leaning against the
kitchen table as Christy began to boil some water, he
ran his fingers through his curly disheveled hair.
"Once someone has been bitten by a snake, there's not
a lot to be done, medically that is. It all depends on
how deadly the snake is and how much venom is in the
bite. Frederick's still alive. If it was a systemic
bite... more venom, deadly -- well he wouldn't have
made it this long." 

Christy nodded thoughtfully. "Thank God." 

Neil blinked but said nothing for a moment, "There's
still danger. I gave him a tetanus shot, but the wound
could become infected, gangrene could set in..." His
voice trailed off, the unspoken possibilities hanging
as thick on the air.

Suddenly Ruby Mae burst into the kitchen, "Doc, tell
me truly now--" 

Neil clasped Ruby Mae on the shoulder to respond
before she caught her breath. "I think he'll be all
right Ruby Mae."

"Praise the Lord!" Ruby Mae flung her arms around the
doctor's neck in excitement. 

Neil cleared his throat and patted her on the head as
he tried to untangle himself from the girl's iron
grip.

Christy quickly relieved him by folding Ruby Mae into
an embrace, struggling to hide a smile as she caught
sight of the doctor's red-tinged face. 

"The water's boiling Miss Huddleston," the doctor
said, smiling slightly at Ruby Mae's enthusiastic
exclamations.

Gently Christy released Ruby Mae, and armed with
boiling water, followed Neil out of the kitchen. 

After cleaning and dressing the wound, Neil urged
Frederick to try to sleep.

"If he's out of danger Doctor, you should get some
rest," David said from the doorway. "I'll sit with him
and wake you up in a few hours to change the dressings
again." 

Neil looked at him in surprise, ready to protest, but
saw the sincerity in David's eyes and shrugged. 

"I'll make you something to eat before you go to
sleep, Doctor," Christy said. "Why don't you help me,
Ruby Mae?"

Returning to the kitchen, Neil sat down at the table
while Christy prepared the food. Ruby Mae set the
table, chattering all the while about Frederick's
injury.  Suddenly, she stopped in mid-sentence. 

Christy looked up in surprise. "Ruby Mae what is it?" 

"If it weren't for Frederick steppin' in front o' me,
I reckon as that thar rattler would have bit me.  Why
he be jest like that thar Willoughby, from the book. 
I reckon that Mr. Willoughby would have done jest such
a thing fer Marianne." She sighed melodramatically. 

Christy and Neil struggled unsuccessfully to suppress
large grins, but Ruby Mae was oblivious to them both.
"Yessiree, he be the spittin' image of Willoughby." 

****

Christy slept later than usual the next morning,
having sat up with Frederick late into the night.
Dressing quickly she walked down the hall towards
Frederick's room.  As she pushed open the door, her
view of Frederick was temporarily obstructed by Neil
MacNeill's back. 

He turned, revealing Frederick's bare white leg
covered in what looked like bruises, stretched out on
the bed. Puzzled, she took a step closer and gasped.
Neil grasped  her firmly around the shoulders and
ushered her out of the room, shutting the door behind
him.  He leaned against it and looked at her with
stricken eyes. "Gangrene." His voice was barely
audible.


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 7


Christy stared at Neil for a moment, unable to speak.
Just a few short hours ago, it had seemed that
Frederick's complete recovery was merely a matter of
time. She knew that Neil had mentioned the possibility
of infection, but she simply had not allowed herself
to think of that happening.  As the reality of the
situation began to set in, Christy looked again at her
friend. Surely it wasn't as bad as it sounded?

"What will happen now, Neil? Exactly how serious is
this?" 

"It's very serious, Christy. If I'm to have any hope
of saving that boy's life, I'll have to amputate. Even
then, there is no certainty he'll survive. There's a
high risk of infection, complications..." His voice
trailed off. 

Although she was fairly sure of the answer, Christy
took a deep breath before asking the next question. 
"And if you don't amputate?"

"The boy will be dead within the week." Neil closed
his eyes and slumped against the door. 

Never before had Christy seen Neil look so utterly
defeated, and it frightened her. His face was pale and
there were dark circles under his eyes. It almost
seemed as if he'd aged overnight. Christy knew that
Neil MacNeill was a caring and capable doctor, but
Frederick's injuries had affected him badly and she
couldn't quite understand why.

"What am I going to tell him, Christy?"  Neil looked
despairingly at her. "How do I tell a sixteen year old
boy that his reward for saving a young girl from a
snake bite is to lose his leg? How do I tell him
that?"

Christy put her hand on Neil's shoulder. "You're very
fond of Frederick, aren't you?"

"Yes." Neil's admission was scarcely more than a
whisper.

"Why?"

"That boy has been through so much already, Christy.
Those scars and bruises show he's been beaten; he
walked all the way from Knoxville, and likely as not
saved Ruby Mae's life by stepping in front of her when
he did. And he's a brave lad too. Many grown men would
have yelled and writhed in agony when I cut around the
wound, but not him."

Christy nodded her agreement.

"Why has this happened, Christy? A few days ago, I was
sewing those two foolish lads in Raven Gap back
together. They were injured through their own
stupidity. But all Frederick did was to protect Ruby
Mae and he might pay with his life. Why does this
happen, Christy? Is this your compassionate God? Is
this more of His handiwork?"

Christy tried to think of the right words to soothe
Neil's troubled spirit. He was obviously fond of
Frederick, almost in a paternal way. Perhaps the
courage of the young boy had impressed him or maybe
the events of the past few days had finally taken
their toll. Neil certainly looked more tired than
she'd ever seen him. 

"Neil," she began. "I know that you are upset and that
this seems so unfair. I agree. To think that Frederick
is not going to be able to walk or run normally and
that his life will totally change from one act of
bravery doesn't seem fair. But there must be a reason
for it, Neil. There has to be. And whatever that
reason is, Frederick is going to need your skill as a
surgeon more than ever. You can save his life Neil.
And you will. I believe in you so much." 

Neil looked down at her and Christy was shocked to see
tears in his eyes. 

****

The sunlight shining through the window finally woke
Frederick later that morning. At first, he didn't
remember where he was. As he tried to sit up to look
out of the window, a white-hot flash of pain shot up
his leg. Frederick gasped and grabbed the edge of the
bed to stop himself from fainting. He gingerly lowered
himself back down on the pillow, beads of sweat
forming on his forehead. 

The events of the past few days came rushing back to
him: his arrival in Cutter Gap, his meeting with Dr.
MacNeill, his new friends at the mission and finally
the pain of the rattlesnake bite and its treatment.
Frederick looked down at his leg. What was going to
happen to him?

The door opened a crack and Ruby Mae poked her head
in. "Oh, yer awake at last!" she began.  "How're ya
feeling? The Doc and Miz Christy said I wasn't to
disturb you, but I wanted to see if you was all right.
I reckon you right near saved my life yesterday. I was
just so scared, seein' that big ol' snake aimin' fer
my ankles and all. Anyways, I wanted to thank you and
to say I think yer just about the bravest boy I's ever
known." 

Frederick stared at her. His head was swimming from
the pain and it was taking all his concentration to
focus on what was being said.

"Ruby Mae," whispered Frederick, "can you go get Doc
MacNeill, please?"

The young girl smiled. "Course I will! I'll go find
him right now. I'll be back real fast!"

The door closed and Frederick shut his eyes. He had to
ask the doctor what was happening. The pain this
morning seemed even worse than yesterday.

****

"Doc MacNeill!"  Ruby Mae raced into the kitchen,
where Neil was having coffee with Christy and David.
"Frederick's awake and he's askin' fer ya."

 Neil looked solemnly at the other two before standing
up. "Thank you Ruby Mae."

"Do you want me to come too?" asked Christy.

"No thank you, Christy.  I can tell him myself." With
a heavy sigh, he headed for Frederick's room.

"Well lad, how are you feeling this morning?" 

"Not too good, Doc. My leg feels like it's on fire.
What's wrong with it? Did somethin' go wrong? Didn't
ya git all the poison out?"

Neil took a deep breath. "It's not that exactly. The
problem was with the wound itself. It's become
infected and..." Neil stopped, unable to continue.

"Doc." Frederick leaned forward to grab Neil's sleeve.
"Ya gotta tell me the truth, whatever it is. I kin
take it, just tell me."

"Frederick, gangrene has set in.  It's very serious.
If I don't amputate, you will die." 

Frederick's eyes widened. "Amputate?" he whispered.
"Do you mean cuttin' my leg clean off?"

"Aye, that's what I mean."

"NO!" 

"It's your only chance, lad."

Tears were streaking down Frederick's face. He wiped
them away angrily. "I don't care, Doc! How kin I do
things with only one leg? I'm going to Asheville to
get me a job. No one'll give a job to a cripple! I'm
sixteen, Doc! I want to find me a wife one day, and
settle down on a place of our own. Who'd want me with
just one leg? No! I won't let ya do it!" 

"Frederick, didn't you hear what I said? Without an
amputation, you will die."

"Way I sees it, my life won't be worth livin' anyway.
I'm not changin' my mind, Doc. Please leave me alone."
 Frederick turned his face to the wall.

Neil looked at him with despair then stood and quietly
and left the room, shutting the door with a soft
click.  A few minutes later, he once again found
himself in the dining room.  By now, Ruby Mae had
learned about the gangrene and its terrible
consequences.

"Oh Miz Christy! Preacher! Doc! That cain't happen, it
just cain't!"  Ruby Mae was distraught. "It's all my
fault! Frederick was savin' me!  It's not fair!" 

Christy pulled the sobbing girl into her arms.  "Ruby
Mae, it's not your fault. I'm sure that Frederick will
change his mind when he gets a chance to think about
it."

Ruby Mae sniffed and wiped her eyes.  "Oh, I surely
hope so, Miz Christy.  He's a hero, after all. Just
like Mr. Willoughby in the book was. I reckon
Willoughby--"

"Confound it, Ruby Mae!" Neil pushed back the chair
and turned to face her. "For your information,
Willoughby was a cad who left Marianne for another
woman who had more money. Colonel Brandon, on the
other hand, rode all night to fetch Marianne's mother
when she lay desperately ill and looked after her as
she recovered.  Don't liken Frederick to that selfish
Willoughby - if you must compare the lad to an Austen
hero, at least pick the right one!"

Neil strode from the room, leaving a dumbfounded Ruby
Mae and an equally astonished Christy and David behind
him.

****

Neil walked down the hallway to Alice's room.

"Alice," he said. "You should be resting."

"I am finding it rather difficult to do so," answered
the older woman.  "It seems to me that there is a lot
of unrest in the house this morning.  Will thee tell
me what has been going on?"  

He told her of Frederick and of the heartbreaking
decision he would have to make.

"Am I to understand that Frederick's leg must be
amputated or the boy will die?" 

"Yes, Alice, that's correct. He refuses, says that his
life will be over anyway."

"Can thee not understand why he feels that way?"

"I know that he doesn't want to lose his leg. But I
will not stand by and watch him die without doing
something to save him."

"That is what makes thee a fine doctor, Neil. Thee has
true compassion for thy patients. More so than thee
has for thyself, it seems."

"What do you mean?" Neil looked at her warily.

"It seems to me that thee is blaming thyself for some
reason. Thee could not have prevented this from
happening, Neil."

Neil sat down on the chair next to the bed, looking to
the floor.  "What do I do, Alice?"

"Perhaps I should talk to the boy."

"You will do no such thing. You're ill yourself."

"Ah yes. The ulcer that thee tells me I have.  Will it
require surgery?"

"Possibly." 

Alice adjusted her pillows slightly before continuing.
 "Is it possible that my illness was the result of
food poisoning after all?"

"It's highly unlikely, Alice. You said so yourself."

"I am aware of what I said, Doctor. But is it
possible?"

"I suppose it is possible.  Bed rest and a change of
diet will give us some indication."

"And if it is an ulcer, thee said it was not
advanced?"

"No, not yet."

"Well then," Alice said, "one operation being
performed at the mission is more than enough for the
time being. Thee must concentrate on Frederick. I will
be fine."

Neil looked at her with new respect.  "Alice, how can
you be so sure that everything will work out as you
want it to?"

The older woman looked at him intently.  "I can't be
sure, Neil. All I can do is ask for help and pray for
the Lord's guidance. It seems to me, Neil, that thee
is in need of some help and guidance of thy own. Why
not try asking for it?"

Neil stood up, looking from Alice's face, down the
hallway towards the room where Frederick lay. "I don't
know, Alice," he said, so quietly that Alice could
hardly hear. "I just don't know."


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 8


Sunlight streamed through the windows. It seemed
ironic that the sun could continue to shine as though
nothing had happened in the previous days. Frederick
had welcomed the dark of night like a friend, and now
the brightness had come to take its place. The
brilliance of day would not allow him to hide what the
night so easily had engulfed. 

He refused to let his eyes wander down to the lump
beneath his sheet that was his leg. In the night it
had been so easy to believe that everything that had
happened was only a dream. Now the pain reminded him
that nothing was ever going to be as he'd planned. He
had looked at his leg in the night and the first thing
that came to mind was his mother. 

His leg looked a lot like her face did after a beating
from his father. It was purple and swollen. It almost
looked like it did not belong on his body. He could
not understand why this had happened to him. He'd left
his home in Knoxville because of the beatings and the
pressure of defending his mother.  Now he would never
be able to do all that he had planned. 

Frederick's mind wandered back to the trips he and his
parents used to take into town on Saturday mornings.
The trips did not happen often because his father was
usually drunk, but occasionally he was sober enough to
demand that they all go. On one of those trips,
Frederick had caught something out of the corner of
his eye. 

There was an old man in the alleyway between the bank
and the barbershop, leaning against the wall. He wore
a tattered Confederate uniform, so full of years that
it no longer resembled the once proud uniform it had
been but for the patch on the sleeve and the brass
buttons.  Where the man's right leg should have been,
there was nothing. He held a cup and begged for money.
 Frederick had averted his eyes when the man looked at
him. But it was too late.  For a brief instant, his
eyes met those of the beggar, who seemed to be
transmitting a silent message. Whatever the message
was, Frederick was not interested and he turned toward
his mother. 

Now he was going to be like that beggar. His plans
were ruined. No one would marry him. How could he farm
or work at a store? His future was that of the relic
he had seen wearing that uniform and leaning on the
wall, waiting to die. 

Frederick could not help himself. The tears began to
stream down his face like twin rivers. He remembered
reading somewhere that God collects tears and puts
them in a jar. He thought it ironic that his jar used
to be empty and now it was headed toward full. 

A soft knock came at the door. 

"Frederick, I brought you some breakfast. May I come
in?" 

The voice belonged to Miss Huddleston. Frederick had
no desire to eat. To eat now would connect him to a
world that he no longer felt a part of, a world that
would go on and on without him and without his leg. He
ignored the voice, hoping it would go away. 

"Frederick, I know you're awake. Please say
something." Christy had heard him crying but knew
better than to say so.  "Frederick, I'm coming in."
She carefully balanced the tray as she opened the
door. 

Frederick hurriedly wiped the tears from his face and
straightened the rumpled blankets. "I don't want any,"
he said, despite the rumbling in his stomach at the
sight of the oatmeal, eggs and milk on the tray. 

"I do wish you'd eat, but I really came here to talk
about what Doctor MacNeill told you. It is really the
only way. He has to..." Christy could not bring
herself to say 'amputate.'  She began again.  "He has
to perform the surgery to make you well. Doctor
MacNeill is a fine doctor. You can trust him."

Frederick choked down the lump in his throat. "I can't
let him take off my leg. Why did this have to happen
to me? I just wanted a better life than sittin' around
watchin' my daddy beat my momma. Maybe God is
punishin' me for leavin' home." 

When she didn't speak, he took a deep breath and
continued. 

"I had plans, Miss Christy. I hope you don't mind me
callin' you that instead of Miss Huddleston. I wanted
a wife and a job and young'uns, lots of 'em, so I can
right the mistakes my Daddy made with me. But no
woman's gonna want me. I can't even dance. No woman is
gonna marry a man that can't dance. I ain't never seen
a one legged fellow with a wife. I can't even farm.
I'm gonna be stuck in a corner somewheres, being taken
care of.  People are gonna call me Ol' Peg Leg when
they see me comin'." The tears started to roll down
his face. 

Christy took a deep breath, then began to speak.
"Frederick, you will not be a beggar. You will always
have friends at this mission. God was not trying to
punish you. God does not punish like that. He has
mercy and compassion. I don't understand why this
happened, but I do know that your future is in God's
hands. Please, you won't have a future unless you let
Doctor MacNeill help you. He's a skilled doctor. He'll
do his very best for you." 

Frederick continued to cry. "Miss Christy, I don't
want to lose my leg. I'll never be whole again. Don't
you understand?" 

"Frederick, let me tell you a story. I had a little
sister named Amelia. I loved her so much that I would
tell everyone that she was my baby. I did everything I
could for her. I changed her, fed her, rocked her to
sleep. She caught scarlet fever and died when she was
very young. I don't understand why God took her from
me. But, it wasn't a punishment.  If there had been
anything I could do for her, it would have been a gift
from Him.  And, there is something that can be done
for you. Neil MacNeill is your gift from God and you
have to take the help that he is offering. Without it,
you will surely die. Please, let him help you." 

Frederick closed his eyes against the truth that was
becoming cemented in his mind after every word that
the teacher said. He knew he did not have a choice. He
opened his eyes and weakly nodded his head. 

****

Miss Alice leaned against the pillows. Sometimes,
being an early riser was no benefit to a body. So far,
she had talked the ear of God off in prayer, read
Esther and memorized Psalm 63. Convalescence was not a
thing that the old Quaker took to well. 

A loud knock at the door interrupted her thought and
Ruby Mae bounded into the room holding a tray. "Miss
Alice, how are ya this mornin'? I brought you
breakfast. Doctor's orders that it's so plain, though
-- just oatmeal and water.  Mrs. Spencer made it." 

Miss Alice had to stifle a smile at that. She knew
that there was probably possum cooking somewhere in
the house and whispered a silent thank you to God that
she would not have to eat it. Normally, Ruby Mae's
boisterous personality was a little much for her to
bear, but on this day it was a welcome sight. 

Miss Alice knew that if she got out of bed again there
would be no place to hide from the ire of Dr. MacNeill
and Christy, so she gestured toward the chair next to
the bed and Ruby Mae sat down. 

"Oh, Miss Alice, it is all my fault that boy is goin'
to lose a leg. If I hadn't been in the way, he would
be alright." 

"Does thee think thee is so powerful, Ruby Mae?
Throughout the history of time, the Almighty has had
trouble with snakes. You were there, to be sure, but
it was not your doing. Sometimes things happen with no
one to blame."

"Oh, but Miss Alice, he was so brave, rushin' to
protect me, and now he's gonna lose a leg, if Doc
MacNeill's right. Why did this have to happen to my
Willoughby?" 

Miss Alice was not sure what this Willoughby person
had to do with anything, but she did know that Ruby
Mae was in need of comfort. "The situation that we
have, Ruby Mae, can only be changed by the power of
prayer and the hands of a skilled doctor. You are not
to blame, child.  Instead of tormenting yourself so,
use thy energy in prayer."

Ruby Mae nodded her head in agreement and knelt by the
bed as Miss Alice began to pray. 

****

Christy ran as fast as she could from the mission to
the doctor's cabin. She knew that she should have
waited until David saddled up the horse, but she
didn't want to hear what he might say. She knew he
would think it foolish of her to go up to the doctor's
cabin when he was coming later that day to check on
his patients. She couldn't wait. She couldn't take the
chance that Frederick might change his mind. 

She rushed up the steps of the cabin and pounded on
the door. It opened almost immediately.  The doctor
looked better than he had for several days.  He'd
changed his clothes and managed to bathe, although he
hadn't shaved. His eyes still looked tired, and
Christy could tell that the troubles at the mission
weighed heavily on his heart. Over his shoulder,
Christy could see open books open on the table and
knew, even without seeing what he'd been reading, that
he was doing research on how to help his patients. 

"Frederick said he would have the surgery," she said
breathlessly. 

"Come in while I get my bags." 

Christy stepped inside the door and walked toward one
of the open books. She saw that she had been right--he
was reading about ulcers. 

Almost as quickly as he'd disappeared, Neil returned
with his bag. He hurried her out the door and looked
quickly around for her horse.  

"Christy, how did you get here?" 

"I ran. I wanted to get here as soon as possible." 

Neil said nothing as he guided her toward his horse.
He helped her up and then hoisted himself into the
saddle. 

The Cove was beautiful in springtime. The trees and
flowers had come alive and seemed to be guiding them
toward their destination. But the riders were too
preoccupied to notice. 

Christy did not see the mountain laurel or wild roses.
Her mind, which had been concentrating on the medical
emergencies at the mission, was now preoccupied with a
much more immediate thought. Neil was right behind her
on the horse with his arms coming forward to reach the
reins. It almost felt as though he were hugging her.
She was being held safely by his arms, and she
believed in her heart, that as safe as she felt on
that horse, that was as safe as his skill could make
the ailing at the mission. She silently prayed that
God would use this man to heal Miss Alice and
Frederick. 

The trip was short and they arrived at the mission
quickly. Neil helped Christy off the horse and they
ran up the steps of the mission house.  Ruby Mae was
on her way down the stairs.


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 9


Ruby Mae's face lit up when she saw the doctor and
Christy coming in the front door. 

"Mornin', Doc!"  She felt much better after praying
with Miss Alice. "Ye'll surely be glad to know that
Miz Alice--" 

Christy let out a cry as Ruby Mae, in her excited
haste, tripped and rolled down the last thirteen
steps, tray and all. Neil and Christy were immediately
on their knees beside the heap of girl and broken
dishes. 

"Ruby Mae, are you all right?" Christy asked. 

The girl lifted her head and pushed back her wild hair
from her face, which was red with mortification. "I
reckon I'm awright," she said softly as she began
picking up shards of porcelain and glass. 

"Did you hit your head? Does anything hurt?" Dr.
MacNeill asked, taking Ruby Mae's face in his hands,
searching her eyes for signs of a concussion, feeling
beneath her fiery curls for bumps. 

"No sir, Doc." Ruby Mae shook her head. "Didn't hit
nor hurt nothin."  She was still embarrassed. 

"Don't worry about it, Ruby Mae," the doctor said,
patting her as he stood. "Now, what were you saying
about Miss Alice?" 

Ruby Mae perked up. "She done eat mosta her breakfast,
an' she looked to be feelin' a mite better'n
yesterday." Her blue eyes widened. "But Lordamercy,
she's right tetchious!" 

Neil and Christy exchanged amused glances.

"I'll check on her," Neil said, then climbed the
stairs. 

Christy helped Ruby Mae clean up the mess from her
tumble. Carefully, the two picked up the pieces of
bowl and cup. There was oatmeal on the floorboards,
and they'd cleaned as much as they could when Ruby Mae
spoke. 

"Miz Christy, seems as though every time I turn
'round, I'm breaking or burning something or makin' a
fool outta myself. Why'm I always doin' such
twitter-witted things as rollin' down the stairs?
Other girls surely ain't so clumsy as me." 

Christy opened her mouth to reply, but the high,
grating ring of the telephone pierced the quiet of the
mission house. She rose and quickly went into the hall
to answer it. 

"Cutter Gap mission." She spoke loudly into the
mouthpiece. 

"Miss Huddleston?" came a man's deep voice from the
other end. Without waiting for Christy to respond, the
caller contineud, "This is Jacob Ferrand. I've been in
El Pano for over an hour now. Is no one coming to meet
me?" 

"El Pano? Meet you?" Christy repeated.

"I just arrived for my visit to the mission." 

"Visit?"  

"I wrote to Alice over a month ago, before she left
for Cataleechie, to inform her that I would be coming
to assess how things are in Cutter Gap. She wrote back
to say that someone would be at the train station to
meet me." 

"Miss Alice never mentioned it," Christy said,
noticing that Dr. Ferrand did not sound incredibly
agitated as he often did when inconvenienced. "She
must have forgotten in her preparation for her trip to
Cataleechie. And she's been ill since--" 

"Ill?" Dr. Ferrand's voice rose in alarm. 

"She has an ulcer.  Doctor MacNeill thinks he might
have to operate. But he's got his hands full right now
with an amputation." 

Now it was Dr. Ferrand's turn to be confused.
"Amputation?" 

Christy quickly related the story of Frederick. 

"Dear God," he murmured. "Well, it seems that my visit
falls at just the right time. Apparently the Lord has
more work for me than simply making assessments." He
paused momentarily. "Miss Huddleston, should I find
another way to the mission? It sounds like all hands
are needed right now." 

Christy turned around as the front door opened and
David came in.  

"No, Doctor Ferrand," Christy said. "David can come
get you." 

"Doctor Ferrand's coming?" he asked, striding over to
Christy. 

Christy covered the mouthpiece with her hand and
answered in a low voice. "He's in El Pano right now. 
Miss Alice forgot to tell us he was coming." 

"Tell him I'm on my way," David said, heading out the
door. 

Christy relayed the message to Dr. Ferrand, then hung
up and ran upstairs. 

Dr. MacNeill was still with Miss Alice, who looked
groggy.  The doctor was setting an empty glass on the
bedside table, talking about her ulcer and treatment
options. Christy stood silently in the doorway,
unnoticed by both occupants of the room. She listened
to Neil's discourse, all incomprehensible medical
terms.  

"Yes, Doctor, I see," Alice said periodically. 

Christy wondered how Miss Alice could keep up with the
doctor; then she saw a playful grin on Neil's lips as
he spouted his medical knowledge, and realized that
her mentor was not hearing a word, and Neil knew it. 

"Did you drug her?" Christy asked. 

"No," said Miss Alice, in a moment of alertness. "He
did not." 

Neil turned his head to Christy and grinned. "I gave
her a little something for the pain." 

"Is she hurting a great deal?" 

"I am here, Miss Huddleston. Thee does not have to
talk about me as if I were not." Alice spoke with
attempted authority, but her words were slurred, and
her eyes did not focus on Christy. "But yes, I am in a
little pain." 

"More than a little," Neil said low enough that only
Christy could hear. 

"Doctor Ferrand just telephoned from El Pano." 

"Oh. I forgot all about him; he's coming today," Alice
said absently, sitting up in bed.  

Neil gently pushed her back against the pillows. The
drug was obviously taking affect, for the usually
uncooperative invalid did not resist his restraining
arm.

Suddenly, Alice's face changed, and her voice grew
high with concern. "Has he been in El Pano long? How
will he get here?" She tried to free herself from
Neil's grasp. 

"David's gone with the wagon to bring Doctor Ferrand
to the mission," Christy assured her. "Don't worry."
She stroked the woman's hand, and Alice settled into a
lackadaisical calm. 

"When did Ferrand arrive?" Neil asked. 

"About an hour ago."

"I imagine he didn't exude cordiality when you talked
to him." 

"Actually, he didn't sound too irritated, at least not
after I told him about Miss Alice and Frederick." 

"I am always out of commission when Jacob comes,"
Alice commented to no one in particular. 

"Don't worry about that," Christy said. "Just rest." 

"Speaking of Frederick..." All levity was gone from
the doctor's countenance and voice as he spoke to
Alice. "He told Christy he'd let me amputate."  

"Oh," Miss Alice murmured. "When -- will you --
operate?" Her words trailed off, and she closed her
eyes. 

Neil stared at the floor. He looked tired, defeated.
"The sooner the -- better." He heaved a great sigh and
ran a hand through his hair. Better? Was taking a
boy's leg better? There were two alternatives to
treating gangrene: bad and worse. And just because
there was a less bad alternative, Neil certainly did
not think it better. At that moment, he wished with
all his heart he was not a doctor.   

"I'll operate today."  The word fell from his tongue
like the ominous rumble of thunder. Christy shuddered.


Dr. MacNeill glanced at Alice and saw that the drug
had at last overpowered her.  She was sound asleep. He
stood, picked up his bag, and slowly walked out the
door. 

Christy followed him from the room, softly shutting
the door behind her. 

"You're -- you're really going to -- to do it--" she
gulped.  "Today?" 

Neil nodded slowly. "Christy, I--" he hesitated and
gazed down at her. She was so sweet, so innocent, full
of life and hope. "I need you today, Christy." 

Big blue eyes stared at him quizzically.  Christy
obviously did not grasp what he had just said.  He
took her small, soft hands in his. 

"I hate to put you through this, lass; I don't want
you to see--" Neil struggled to control his emotions.
The day's task and his desire to shelter the young
woman before him filled him with dread. "I wish I
didn't have to ask this of you, but there's no one
else..." 

"You need me to help with the operation." Christy's
voice was low as realization dawned within her. 

Neil gripped Christy's hands tighter. "Are you -- can
you do it?" 

Christy's stomach lurched as she thought about what
Neil was asking her to do. How could she do it? She
had barely withstood Little Burl's surgery. This was a
hundred times worse. Neil was not going to drain an
infected wound or stitch up an incision; he was going
to cut off a young man's leg. Christy's vivid
imagination led her along a gruesome path. Scalpel.
Forceps. Flesh. Muscle. Saw. Bone. She grimaced. 
Maybe when Dr. Ferrand arrived he could help...

Then she looked up into Neil's pleading eyes, and she
saw not a doctor in search of a nurse, but a man faced
with a hellish duty, a man who desperately needed her
-- her support, her encouragement, her strength --
everything she could give him.  

"Yes, Neil," she finally said, gripping his hand.
"Yes, I can do it." 

****

Hand-in-hand, Dr. MacNeill and Christy entered
Frederick's room. The boy was staring out the window,
but it was obvious he was not seeing the breathtaking
mountain landscape. His eyes mirrored a dark, shadowy,
realm, a world no one else could see. 

"Frederick," Neil said, going over to the bed and
sitting down on the edge. "Miss Huddleston tell me
you've decided to let me--" 

"Cut off my leg," Frederick finished, his voice
monotone, eyes fixed straight ahead. 

With a bit of apprehension, the doctor spoke again. "I
think it would be best, lad, if I operate today."
Frederick's brows knit as he processed this
information, but he said nothing. Neil continued, "I
know it's sudden, but with gangrene..." 

"Go ahead," Frederick said. "I'm not going to be any
more ready to lose my leg later than I am now." 

Christy helplessly watched the scene playing out
before her. Frederick had built a sturdy wall around
himself in such a short time she was amazed. But this
was a boy accustomed to pain and masking his feelings.
 

Neil, on the other hand, was struggling tremendously
with all of this. Christy knew that part of him was
blaming God -- the unfeeling, merciless god Neil
thought Him to be. She knew Neil felt that he was
depriving a young man of all his hopes and dreams by
being the one to perform the surgery.   

"Frederick," said Christy, taking charge of the
situation. She sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Frederick, look at me." 

Frederick could not refuse her gentle demand. He
looked up, meeting her gaze. 

"You mustn't try to hide your feelings. It won't help
you any to keep everything bottled up inside of you
with all you have to face." Her eyes were pleading.
"Tell us what's on your mind; you can trust
us---Doctor MacNeill and me." 

Immediately, Frederick burst into tears. It was not
just a few drops trickling down his sallow cheeks; his
entire body was wracked with wrenching sobs from deep
within. 

"I'm scared," he managed to say. "I'm so scared --
never been so scared in my life." 

"It's all right, lad," Neil said, laying a reassuring
hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's all right." 

"I know you're worried about what's going to happen to
you after--" Christy began. 

Frederick shook his head. "No, Miss Christy, I'm not
scared of that any more." He managed a small smile.
"How could I be after what you said? You make the
worst things in the world look not so bad. You said
just what my mama would've said. You even talked about
God like she talked -- I mean talks -- about Him." His
voice dropped to a low, melancholy pitch. "I'm just
scared of how it's going to hurt." 

"I'll not lie to you," Neil said, "it will hurt. You
won't feel anything during the surgery -- you'll be
asleep -- but after you wake up, it'll hurt like the
devil, and you're welcome to cry and yell and scream
all you like, if that makes you feel any better. But I
promise you, after a while, it will feel much better
than it does now." 

"Well, yeah."  Frederick's mouth turned into a wry
grin. "There won't be anything there to hurt." A
chuckle escaped his lips, and the doctor tousled his
hair. 

Almost as quickly as the smile had come, however,
Frederick's dark eyes grew distant and brooding. 

"Doctor, sir--" he said timidly. "Could I die?" 

"We've told you that without the operation--" 

"No," said Frederick. "I mean, could I die even if you
do the surgery?" 

Neil nodded, his face set in grim lines. "Yes, you
could. There's always that possibility, in any kind of
surgery. Things don't always go as planned..." 

"But you don't need to worry about dying, Frederick,"
Christy said. "I've seen Doctor MacNeill save more
lives than I can count. He is a good doctor, not in
the habit of losing his patients." She smoothed the
bedclothes and cast Neil a sidelong glance. "And old
habits die hard." 

Ah, but I have lost patients, Neil thought, then
quickly shoved aside the notion. He felt as if his
soul were smiling. Christy had such faith in him and
his skill. It took all his restraint not to sweep the
young woman into his arms. 

Frederick's voice pulled Neil back to the present, and
once again the boy was grave.  "Miss Christy, could I
write a letter to my mama -- just in case I die? I'd
hate for her never to hear of me again." 

"Yes, Frederick, you may write her." Christy quickly
went to her room to find pen and paper. 

Minutes later, when Frederick had finished his letter
and handed it to Christy in a sealed and addressed
envelope, he said, "Miss Christy, you've got to
promise me something. This is the address of my home.
Send it only if I die. But you've got to swear you
won't write or anything if I come out all right.  If
you did, my daddy'd track me down and make me go back.
And I can't go back -- not even for mama." 

****

Frederick lay in his room, which was now stripped of
all furniture but the hard table on which he lay and
another table, which held Dr. MacNeill's surgical
instruments. The boy watched intently as the doctor
and Miss Christy carefully sterilized the gleaming
tools. There were so many, and some with cruel-looking
points. These were going to cut into his leg.

Dr. MacNeill's voice broke the death-like silence.
"We're almost ready, Frederick. Are you?" 

Frederick nodded. He had grown remarkably calm --
eerily calm -- about the surgery. In fact, he wasn't
even thinking about the operation. But wriggling a
little on the uncomfortable table, Frederick had a
fluttery feeling in his stomach.  

His mothers eyes, black as the blackest midnight,
gazed down at him as she held him in her lap.  

"Freddie boy," she said, slightly trilling her r's in
that curious accent of hers. "Freddie, don't ever tell
a falsehood--" She laughed her musical laugh, and her
golden hoop earrings jangled. "At least not to someone
who has helped you. Really, I would prefer you not
tell a falsehood to anyone. But especially not to one
who has been good to you. You may think that a
falsehood will protect you, but in the end, it's
better to have told the truth at the beginning." With
mock-sternness, she said, "Promise me that, my little
Freddie." 

Frederick had promised, and ever since he was a very
little boy, he had kept that promise. He would never
break a promise to his mother. So why was he thinking
of this now? He had not told a lie to anyone. Yet the
the more he thought about how safe he felt at the
mission and how nice Miss Christy and Dr. MacNeill
were, the feeling in his stomach as he recalled his
mother's words would not go away.  

"My Freddie boy, I want also for you to remember that
half-truths are just as bad as falsehoods. They're
both the devil's talk. Don't be a devil, my Freddie
boy." 

Christy had noticed his anxious squirming. His eyes
were shifty, darting about the room. She squeezed
Frederick's hand, stroked his hair away from his face,
and kissed his forehead. 

Miss Christy was so nice and gentle. Her soft hands
were like his mothers, only his mother was
dark-complected... 

Dr. MacNeill handed Christy a white cloth.  

"Frederick, Miss Christy's going to hold this cloth
over your mouth and nose. I just want you to relax and
take deep breaths." 

As Christy moved to do as the doctor instructed,
Frederick suddenly jerked upright, breathing rapidly. 


"Miss Christy, I told you a falsehood!" 

Christy just stared at the boy, as did Neil. 

"Miss Christy, I wrote that letter for you to send to
my mama if I died. Well, that's kind of a habit of
mine. I always write letters to mama, only I never
send them. Don't know why I told you to send that one,
only I wanted to... I thought..." Frederick's voice
rose to a frantic pitch. "It was a falsehood, Miss
Christy -- I don't have a mama!" 


== == == == == == == == == == ==
Chapter 10

"It's okay Freddie." Christy took him in her arms and
hugged him. His feverish ear lay against her cheek.
She rocked him back and forth like a baby that would
not fall asleep. "It's going to be okay, Freddie." 

Frederick closed his eyes and rested his chin on
Christy's shoulder. "My mama is dead," he finally
said, still in Christy's arms. "She's been dead about
a year now." He kept his eyes closed, but the tears
still managed to flow from beneath his dark lashes and
bathe his cheeks. 

Christy pulled away to look at him. Bright sunlight
poured in through the window, lighting Frederick's
dispirited face. His eyes were a deep brown, like rich
soil. She wanted so much to take his pain away. The
poor boy had suffered so much. The bright sunlight
seemed such a sharp contrast to the events that were
taking place. 

"Freddie, your mother is watching over you right now.
She has probably already read your letter -- it's your
way of talking to her. I understand that." She took a
strip of cloth that had been intended as a bandage and
wiped away his tears. "Your mother is not going to let
anything happen to you." Christy pushed his bangs from
his face and smiled at him.

Frederick's square chin quivered slightly. He looked
at Neil and then back at Christy.  "Miss Christy," he
said. "If I should die. I would like for you to have
my letter." Fredrick lay back down on the table. "And
in my bag, you'll find a set of water colors, some
pencils, and a sketch book. They were my mama's. She
liked to sketch. I would like for you to have those
too." He smiled a sad smile with his lips tucked in.
He sat up again with great effort.

Christy watched as he ran his fingers over his long
leg, studying every contour. He wiggled his toes --
even though it obviously pained him to do so. Then he
looked up at Neil. "I'm ready now, Doctor MacNeill. I
am ready." Then he lay back down. 

Neil took a deep breath and poured more ether into the
white cloth, then handed it to Christy. 

She accepted it knowingly and without words. "Okay
Freddie. I'm going to hold this over your nose and
mouth. You just breathe normally. I want you to
remember that Neil and I are here with you, and God is
here with you."  She pressed the cloth to his face.
When Frederick had lost consciousness, Christy's hands
began to shake. The task that lay ahead terrified her.


"Please God, please give me the strength to make it
through this surgery," she said to herself. 

****

"Okay Miss Huddleston, this is it. The instruments are
ready. You should probably wash your hands one more
time in that basin." 

Christy scrubbed her hands the way he'd taught her
when Little Burl had surgery. 

"That's fine," he said. "Now, I need you to stand here
beside me." Neil stood over Frederick's right leg. His
back was to the window. 

Christy walked over and stood at Neil's right side. A
white bowl of sterilized instruments lay in front of
her. She swallowed hard when she noticed the huge saw.
"I'm ready, Doctor." 

Neil took Frederick's leg in his hands and held it
high in the air. "We have to elevate the leg for
several minutes to drain the blood," he explained. He
looked at his watch to track the time. 

Even for the short time he'd known him, Neil had grown
to care about Frederick. He admired the boy's bravery.
Frederick had saved Ruby Mae's life, and the thought
of taking his leg made Neil physically ill.  But there
was no choice in the matter now; it had to be done.
Poor Christy, he could not begin to think what this
would do to her. But he could not think about that
now. He had to focus. He had to separate emotion from
his work. He needed every ounce of strength and skill
that he owned to save Frederick's life.

He looked at his watch again; the time was up. He
rested Frederick's foot against his chest to hold it
up while he tied a tourniquet just above the boy's
thigh. "The gangrene is in his calf. We have to cut
high enough -- into the healthy tissue -- so that we
get all the gangrene." Then he placed the leg back on
the table. 

Neil looked at Christy. He searched her eyes for the
strength that he hoped she had. The strength that he
knew she'd need to make it through the surgery. Her
eyes were steady and unblinking -- in them, he found
the strength that he'd hoped for. He took one more
deep breath and then held out his hand. "Scalpel." 
His voice was deep and serious. 

He carefully made the first incision on one side of
the boy's leg. "Clamp." He called. He placed the clamp
to hold back the rectangular flap of skin that he had
created. He proceeded to make the same incision on the
other side of Frederick's leg. "Clamp." Christy had
the instruments in his hand before he could finish the
word. 

Neil's hands moved deliberately and steadily. Blood in
massive amounts covered him and the sheet beneath
Frederick's leg. He quickly tied the femoral artery,
and then tied the vein to stop the bleeding.
"Retractor." Neil carefully separated the muscles from
the bone and divided them with circular cuts. "We're
lucky," he said. "We cut high enough. All this tissue
is healthy -- no gangrene." 

****

The flaps of skin were clamped back as if they were
some kind of peeling. Looking at the exposed spongy
tissue and dark muscle mass inside made Christy's face
feel hot. She could see the white bone beneath. She
worried about the blood loss. She continued to take
even, deep breaths, which sustained her. But nothing
had prepared her for what happened next. 

"Saw," Neil called out. He looked at her as she handed
him the instrument. She knew her eyes were red and
worried. 

He gripped the instrument in his hand and turned back
to Frederick. Then he began to saw through the bone. 

The sound. The sound was more than Christy could bear.
It was a grating, teeth-grinding hiss. She watched
Neil's arm move back and forth, back and forth. The
blood, her hot face, the brilliant sunlight, and the
sound consumed her. She said silent prayers, over and
over. When Neil finished sawing, she was surprised to
find that she was still standing. Neil had streaks and
dribbles of sweat all over his face; even his neck and
arms glistened with it. Christy took a towel and
dabbed it against Neil's forehead, cheeks, and chin. 

He handed her the bloody saw. "You're doing fine, Miss
Huddleston. Very well." He said this with confidence,
but she was sure he could see the effect the surgery
had on her.  Yet she still clutched the strength that
she had found earlier. 

Christy looked down at Frederick's leg. It lay there
on the table, completely unattached now. An entity all
its own, no longer part of the bleeding boy. The toes
were still pink and full of life. Blood covered the
knee. Neil picked the leg up from the table, and for
the first time Christy felt faint. With her hands on
the table, she supported her weight. Heat crawled over
her skin in waves, but she steadied herself. Her
fingers tingled. She watched Neil wrap the leg in a
sheet and lay it aside. 

Back at the table, Neil rounded off the bone. He
collected the threaded needle from Christy's shaking
hands and sutured the muscles together over and around
the end of the bone. He unclamped the flaps of skin,
pulled them around the end of the bone, and stitched
them closed with neat, small stitches. Christy
marveled at Neil's skill and concentration. His gentle
hands worked miracles. She helped him apply the
bandages. 

"We have to splint the leg and then we're finished,"
he said.  He glanced at her again and she knew he was
trying to decide if she appeared steady enough to make
it through to the end.  She tried to look brave.  Neil
splinted the leg quickly and then washed his hands in
the water basin. 

Christy hadn't moved from her position. She stood
fixed and staring. She felt Neil's hand grip her elbow
and pull her away from the table. 

"It's over, lass, why don't you come sit down for a
minute."  He guided her to a chair that had been
pushed against the wall. 

She sat down, and Neil knelt beside her. "You did
wonderfully, Christy, I'm proud of you. Thank you for
your help." He squeezed her arm tenderly. 

Christy nodded distantly; then her brow creased, and
she looked at Neil. "Will he be okay?" 

"He's not out of danger. He's lost a lot of blood, and
we'll have to watch for infection, but he should make
it." 

She sighed heavily. 

****

David and Dr. Ferrand had driven along the French
Broad River and over the first big incline toward
Cutter Gap.  Dr. Ferrand bombarded David with
questions. He asked about Miss Alice's condition and
the boy, Frederick. Where had Frederick come from? How
did he get to Cutter Gap? How had Alice developed an
ulcer? With every question that David answered,
Ferrand responded with another question. 

David had always been slightly nervous around Ferrand,
and the constant questions compromised David's
concentration. At the mud hole, he failed to notice
that the mud extended beyond its normal reach. The
spring rains had been heavy. He didn't steer the wagon
wide enough, and the wheels on Dr. Ferrand's side sank
deep into the goopy mud. 

"We don't have time for this, Grantland! Doctor
MacNeill needs my help right now, especially if Alice
is ill." 

"I know, I know. I didn't run into the mud on purpose,
you know." David frowned. "You drive." He handed the
reins to Dr. Ferrand. "I'll get out and push." 

David hopped down from the wagon and slopped through
the mud to the back of the wagon. "Okay, when I push,
you press the horses forward." 

David pushed with all his might. The wheels splashed
mud into his face and hair and covered his white shirt
as the wagon lurched forward out of the mud hole. When
David looked down, he saw that his boots were immersed
in the thick, sucking mud. He untucked his shirt and
wiped his face with the clean shirttail.  When he
opened his eyes, he noticed that people came out from
the trees and surrounded them. Where had they come
from? Who were they? They were certainly not from the
cove. David didn't recognize any of them. 

"David?" Dr. Ferrand asked with apprehension. 

The people wore odd clothing -- some of the men had
earrings. One tall man with dark brown hair approached
them.


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 11


Neil paced through the dining room, stopping
frequently to stare out the window at the strange
collection of people and animals milling about the
mission yard.  His eyes saw them, but his mind
rebelled at what David Grantland and Dr. Ferrand were
saying.  He turned to face the two men and Christy,
all sitting at the table.

"Gypsies!" he exploded.  "What in blazes are gypsies
doing in Cutter Gap!"

David, with dried mud caked on his clothes, face and
hands, looked just as stunned.  "They say they're
passing through on their way further south, looking
for county fairs, carnivals, or any place where they
can find work."  He anticipated the doctor's next
question.  "They're blacksmiths, metal workers, horse
traders."

Dr. Ferrand sharply corrected him.  "Tinkers and
vagabonds, you mean.  And maybe thieves.  That man
Reny, who calls himself their king, says they were in
Boston last fall, and have traveled through the
country since then.  Can you imagine such a life!"

"If they think there's money to be made here, they're
fools," said Neil.  "What do they want in Cutter Gap?"

"I don't know," answered Dr. Ferrand, "and I don't
trust them."

David seemed nettled by the older man's harshness, but
kept his voice even.  "Reny said they just want to
camp here for a while until they move further south. 
They're willing to barter.  He offered to do any kind
of work for us at the mission."

"No, that wasn't what he said," said Dr. Ferrand.  

As Dr. Ferrand and David disagreed over the gypsy's
words, Neil glanced at Christy, who'd been silent
through the whole conversation.  She was staring
blankly at the doorway, oblivious to the heated
discussion around her.  He immediately guessed that
she was reliving the recent surgery.

He seated himself at her side and covered her hands as
they lay clasped on the table.  "Christy?  Are you
feeling ill?"

She snapped out of her reverie and smiled weakly at
him.  "I was thinking about Freddie."

The sound of her voice silenced the argument between
the two ministers.  Dr. Ferrand asked in a more
restrained tone, "You did the amputation, Doctor?" 
Neil nodded his head slightly.  "How far had the
gangrene spread?"

Neil kept one hand protectively over Christy's, and
rested the other on the back of her chair.  "I removed
the right leg just above the knee.  The lad will be in
danger for several days, but he has a good chance to
recover, thanks to Miss Huddleston's help."  Neil's
eyes returned to her face, wishing he could promise
her that Frederick would be all right.

"And how is Alice?"

"She has a bleeding ulcer, and must be kept in bed for
at least another week.  She seems to be mending, but
she hasn't been very cooperative."

Ruby Mae, who'd been following the discussion from the
safety of the stairway, chimed in with, "No sir, that
she hasn't!  But she was real good to me this mornin'
when I was afeared about Frederick, an' she prayed
with me.  Made me feel a whole lot easier in my mind."

Dr. Ferrand glanced at the girl severely at first, but
relaxed into a grudging smile by the end of her words.
 "Well, it sounds as though Alice Henderson is feeling
like herself."

Neil's eye was caught by the flash of a gold earring
outside.  "Are you seriously considering letting
them--" he jerked his thumb toward the yard "--stay
here?"

"I don't see how we could get rid of them if we wanted
to, Doctor MacNeill.  I counted twenty-one men, women
and children, and there may be more.  They claim to be
peaceful.  I can only hope they really are."

"Can you image what will happen when Ault Allen gets a
look at them?  Or Bird's Eye?  The news has probably
spread through the whole Cove by now.  You've got a
powder keg on your hands, man."  Neil rose abruptly. 
"I'm going to check on Frederick."

Christy reached out and caught his sleeve.  "I'd like
to come, too."

Neil's frown disappeared instantly.  "Yes, of course."
 He stood aside for Christy, and ushered her to the
stairs with a gentle hand on her back.

When Dr. MacNeill and Christy were gone, Dr. Ferrand
stalked to the window and glared out.  "Well, David,"
he said as he hooked his thumbs in his vest pockets,
"we'd better deal with this gypsy king.  We're going
to have to watch them very closely."  He turned at the
door and saw that the young preacher hadn't stirred
from his seat yet.  "Are you coming?" 

David set his two hands on the table, took a deep
breath, and looked up at his director.  "Dr. Ferrand,"
he said, "we ought to invite Reny inside, and give him
something cool to drink.  It's not courteous to keep
him standing outside in the yard."  When Dr. Ferrand
didn't respond, David continued.  "And we haven't
offered them the use of our pump, or the pond water
for their animals.  I'm just as shocked by all this as
everyone else, sir.  We certainly should be cautious. 
But it's not right to treat them badly because we find
them odd."

Dr. Ferrand stared at David with an irritated
expression.  Finally he sighed heavily and rubbed his
beard. "You're right, of course.  I'm sorry, David. 
It's simply unbelievable that gypsies should find
their way here.  Cutter Gap, of all places!  I'll ask
Reny to come in.  Ruby Mae," he added, looking up at
the stairway, "will you prepare something for us and
Mr. Reny to drink?"

"Yessir, I'll git it ready, but I cain't stay in the
room with no gypsy.  Ever'body know gypsies kidnap
folks!"

****

Christy stood at the doctor's shoulder as he examined
the bandaged stump.  She found it hard to believe that
this promising young man no longer had a right leg. 
Everything had happened so quickly!  How long ago was
it that Neil had pounded on the door and introduced a
sad and tired runaway?

The doctor leaned back and looked up at Christy. 
"There doesn't seem to be excessive bleeding, but it's
hard to tell how he'll progress.  He'll have to be
watched carefully, Miss Huddleston.  It'll be a long
time before he can begin to approach a normal life
again.  He's going to need you."

She nodded somberly, still gazing at Frederick's
unconscious form.  "Doctor MacNeill," she began, and
then turned her eyes fully on him.  "I was so
frightened while you were -- during the operation. 
But now -- now I see that what's coming will be even
harder for Freddie."  

"Yes, it will."

"I feel so helpless.  How will I be able to help him? 
Just a few days ago I was making plans to re-open
school, but now with poor Freddie like this, and Miss
Alice sick, and with those people here..."  Christy
stretched out her hand to fondle the boy's hair. "I
feel so helpless."

"Christy," Neil said softly.  She didn't answer, but
continued to stroke Frederick's head.  Neil rose and
stood beside her.  "I've come to care for the lad,
too.  I don't know if he'll be all right -- but I do
know that meeting you was the best thing that could
have happened to him."  

She finally looked up, and was surprised at the
earnest admiration she saw in his eyes.

****

"Psst!  Over here, Zady!"  Ruby Mae called in a
whisper that was loud enough to be heard across the
yard.  Zady Spencer and her sister Clara glanced
cautiously at the gypsies, and then dashed from the
Mission house to the school.  They joined Ruby Mae and
the crowd of children inside the schoolroom, peeking
out at the camp in the meadow below.

"Did they see ya?" asked Creed Allen.  "If ya look 'em
in the eye, they kin make ya do whatever they says. 
An' if ya drink their gypsy brew, they'll turn ya into
a goat!"

Zady glanced out at the colorful jumble of people,
animals, tents and wagons.  "How kin that be?  They're
talkin' to Doctor Ferrand and the Preacher right now,
ain't they?"  She looked at Creed skeptically.  "They
cain't make Doctor Ferrand do their will, nor turn
nobody into a goat!"

Sam Houston tapped her on the arm.  "Doctor Ferrand
didn't want 'em to stay, but here they are -- for
three whole days now."  He and Creed nodded solemnly. 
"They put a spell on 'im, for sure."

"That ain't so, Sam Houston," said Ruby Mae.  "They
cain't put no spell on a man of God, don't ya know?"

"Look!"  The argument was interrupted by the sight of
Bob Allen with his rifle in hand, and his son Rob,
leading their horse toward the gypsies.  The children
crowded around the doorway, still afraid to be seen,
but bursting with curiosity.

Creed moaned. "They got my Daddy and Rob!"  He put his
arm about Little Burl as their father talked to two of
the men.  They children stared agape as the men calmly
patted the horse's neck, examined one of its hoofs and
then led it to another part of their camp, still
talking to Mr. Allen and Rob.

So enthralled were they that no one noticed David
Grantland approaching.  "What are you children doing?"
 They all jumped and shrieked at his voice.

"Oh Lordy, Preacher!" gasped Ruby Mae, "we nearly died
of fright!  You cain't be sneakin' up on a body like
that!"

Little Burl's worried voice caught David's attention. 
"Preacher?  Did them gypsies put a spell on my Daddy
and Rob?"

David knelt beside the boy.  "Of course not, Burl! 
Your father and brother are perfectly fine.  One of
the gypsy men has set up a forge, and your father
brought your horse for a new shoe."  He looked around
sternly at the group of children.  "It's not right for
you to be spying on these people.  Why don't you all
get on home now."  The children cautiously slipped out
the side door in pairs, holding hands and avoiding the
gypsy camp as they left.

****

That evening, Dr. MacNeill sat beside Alice's bed,
reporting on the gypsies and the mountain folk.  "At
least they're not terrified now," he said.  "Parents
thought their children would be kidnapped, or that
animals and property would disappear.  I didn't think
it was possible, but Reverend Grantland's done a good
job of keeping the peace."

Alice smiled confidently.  "The Lord gives strength
and grace when we need it most.  I only wish I was
able to be of assistance to him and Miss Huddleston."

The doctor's eyes flashed.  "You're not to get out of
this bed until I say so, Alice.  You know you're not
well enough, and a relapse would only make it harder
on Christy."

"You needn't worry, Doctor.  Between you and Jacob, I
wouldn't get a foot outside the door.  But I know
Christy's hardly rested these past days, tending to
Frederick and myself.  How is your young patient?"

Neil stood and placed the chair against the wall. 
"He's in great pain, even with the morphine.  He's
been very brave -- the lad hasn't complained, but he
needs constant care."  He sighed.  "Christy will run
herself ragged, but I can't let anyone else in his
room until the danger of infection's past."

Alice looked at him steadily.  "She has cared for
others selflessly.  It's time for her to be served."

The doctor thought for a moment, nodded, and then
stepped out into the hall.  As he quietly closed her
door behind him, he noticed Christy leaning wearily
against the doorpost of Frederick's room.  His heart
went out to her.

Christy pressed her fingers against the bridge of her
nose, as though trying to smooth away the ache. 
"Christy."  Her eyes flew open at the doctor's low
voice.  She stood straight as he approached, asking
softly, "Going in or coming out?"

She smiled wryly.  "It's becoming hard to remember,
Doctor."  He saw her color rising as he stood close
and studied her face intently.  "I'm -- I'm going to
read to him for a while," she said, flustered by his
steady, compassionate gaze.

As Christy reached for the doorknob, Neil caught her
hand.  "Wait a minute."  He cautiously opened the door
a few inches to allow them both to peek in.  Frederick
was asleep.  He pulled the door closed again,
whispering, "Come with me now, Christy.  I need you
downstairs."  

"Well, I--"

"We'll both come back later and sit with him, I
promise."  Keeping a firm grip on her hand, he led her
downstairs.

They stepped out onto the porch, and Neil guided
Christy to the rocking chair.  "Wait here for me." 
She looked at him questioningly, but he only smiled
mysteriously.  "I won't be long," he said, and then
disappeared into the kitchen.

The sun had just disappeared behind the mountains, and
the warmth of the day still lingered.  Christy gazed
out toward the pond, where many of the gypsies had
gathered.  She could hear the sounds of musical
instruments, as though they were tuning them up. 
Christy hadn't paid any attention to them in the three
days since they arrived.   She realized that she'd
hardly stepped outside the house.  The sight of their
dark-haired children running and playing in the tall
grass brought a smile to her lips.

Christy took deep breaths, and finally felt her
muscles begin to relax.  She looked up with a
surprised smile as Neil reappeared, carrying a tray
with two steaming cups and a plate of Fairlight's
shortbread.  "Is this what you needed my help for,
Doctor?" 

Neil set the tray down on the table beside her, and
then drew up a chair close to hers.  He grinned as he
handed her a cup of coffee.  "I need you to keep up
your strength, Miss Huddleston, and to get enough
rest, and to enjoy this beautiful sunset with me." 
They both turned to gaze at the glowing sky.

The gypsies began to sing.  Neil and Christy found
their spirits lifted as the strange, lovely mixture of
mournful and exuberant sounds reached their ears.

They listened to one song after another, content to be
silent, absorbing the peaceful calm of the evening. 
Once in a while she turned to look at him, finding his
eyes already on her.  She didn't blush now, but
returned his warm smile steadily.

As the dusk was deepening, they noticed an old woman
approaching from the camp in the meadow.  She stopped
a few yards from the porch and called out politely,
"Good evening to you, Miss.  Good evening, sir."  When
they had returned the greeting, she pointed at Neil. 
"Are you the doctor?"  Neil nodded.  "I've been
wanting to talk to you, sir."


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 12


Neil and Christy eyed the older woman curiously. 
Dressed in a blue blouse and skirt, with a necklace of
gold coins hung around her neck, she held herself
proudly, her age not evident in her erect stature. 
Unflinchingly she returned Neil's intense gaze,
obviously accustomed to such close scrutiny.  After a
few silent moments, she spoke again.

"They tell me that there is sickness inside your
Mission.  A boy?  He is not well, they say.  You had
to remove his leg, no?  Is he better?"  Her voice was
deep and punctuated with an accent that Neil nor
Christy recognized.  

Christy shivered unconsciously at the frank assessment
the gypsy woman made of Freddie's condition.  She had
tried to push the memory of the operation out of her
mind, but the dreadful sawing echoed in her head,
drowning out all other thoughts.  Freddie was alone in
the world.  His mother was dead, he'd left his home
and an abusive father, and now he'd lost his leg. 
Sometimes the cruelty of life in the mountains was
more than she thought she could bear.  Without
thinking, she tightly gripped the arm of the chair,
her knuckles growing white with the pressure.

Neil glanced over at Christy and placed a comforting
hand on her shoulder, resting it there for a moment
before turning and addressing the gypsy woman.

"Yes, I had to amputate, but I'm hopeful he'll improve
now that there's no remaining gangrene."

Christy wondered if his words were intended to
reassure her as much as the gypsy.  Neil knew that
she'd grown fond of the young runaway.  As with Little
Burl, Christy had overcome her fears to help a child,
but once the operation was complete, all bravery
vanished and she crumpled like a discarded rag doll,
bearing the gravity of the situation as much as any
worried parent.

The woman did not seem satisfied with his response and
approached the porch, mounting the stairs until she
stood directly before Neil and Christy.  Her eyes
intense and filled with purpose she responded, "I'm
certain that you have done the best you know how, but
I'd like to see if I may be of some help."

Neil recoiled at her blunt, self-confident remark. 

She noticed the color rise in his cheeks, smiled
softly and backed up several paces until she was
leaning against the porch railing.

"I'm sorry, sir.  I did not mean to offend you.  We
Roma believe that prikaza, illness you call it, is
unnatural.  Perhaps I am too late to help save the
boy's leg, but you are still concerned about him,
yes?"

Christy could see that, despite the gypsy's soothing
words, Neil was becoming angry. He rose and was about
speak when Christy stopped him.

"Neil," she said, her voice weak from exhaustion,
"please.  You said that you've done everything you
could for Freddie and that we have to wait to make
sure that there's no infection.  I've tried to be
strong, but I'm worried.  He's been through so much." 
Her voice faded as large tears welled in her eyes. 
"Please, Neil, let's hear what she has to say.  What
can it hurt," she pleaded, ignoring the salty torrent
now streaking her face.

Neil shook his head sadly.  "I'm sorry," he said,
again taking his seat.  "What exactly do you have in
mind?"

"There are herbs, sastarimaskodrabar we call them in
Romani, that have medicinal properties, as well as
supernatural ones," the gypsy said.  

Growing up in the Cove, Neil knew all about mountain
remedies and herbal concoctions.  Yet while they had
their place in healing, their primary value, Neil
believed, was psychological -- a placebo effect. 
Nevertheless, he would have known of any possible
preventative for infection.  There was none that he
felt would prove effective.  They all had moderate
success in treating minor infections, but a systemic
one such as gangrene was beyond the scope of Granny
Barclay's herbal knowledge.

The woman smiled, as if sensing Neil's skepticism. 
"There is a special blood-cleansing tea, we Roma use. 
I have the things I would need in the wagon and if you
would allow me to treat the boy, perhaps it might
help, sir."

Christy's blue eyes searched Neil's face, waiting for
his answer.  She knew that Neil would not easily
relinquish Freddie to the care of some stranger, and a
gypsy woman at that!

He glanced at Christy, who was quietly wringing her
hands.  He shrugged his shoulders and responded
tiredly, "Ok, I can't fight both of you.  What do you
suggest, Mrs.--"  He paused as he realized neither he
nor Christy even knew this woman's name.

"Nadia," she answered with a smile.  "Just Nadia will
be fine."  

Neil offered her his hand, "I'm Neil MacNeill, and
this is Miss Christy Huddleston, the mission's
teacher.  The young boy only recently came to the
Mission and was bitten by a timber rattlesnake."  

****

As they followed the woman down the stairs and into
the yard toward the wagons and makeshift camp, Nadia
told Neil about the tea she would prepare.  

"Artichoke leaves," he responded in surprise.  "Where
in the blazes do you find artichoke leaves?"

"We dry them whenever we can find them and take them
with us." She offered no more information.

Neil remembered that David had mentioned that the
gypsies were in Boston last fall.  Perhaps they found
them there.

They continued to discuss herbal remedies as she
prepared the tea, grinding up a bit of dandelion root
and mixing it with the artichoke leaves.  Placing it
in a pot, she added boiling water on top of it and let
it steep.  

As the gypsy worked, Neil glanced around at the group.
 Friendly smiles greeted him and Christy, and pairs of
dark eyes occasionally peered at them from behind the
wagons as the gypsy children watched from afar. 

The tea finished, the three trekked up the mission
stairs, past a bewildered Ruby Mae.  She clutched a
hand to her lips and pressed herself tighter against
the mission walls hoping that she could make herself
invisible.  Despite the preacher's insistence that the
gypsies did not kidnap children and commit other
fiendish acts, Ruby Mae was obviously not convinced.  

"Miz Christy," Ruby Mae whispered, clutching Christy's
skirts as she followed Dr. MacNeill and Nadia up the
stairs toward Frederick's room.  "Wha's that gypsy
lady gonna do to him?" 

Nadia quickly spun around on her heels and glared at
the startled redhead.  "We are not gypsies," she said
indignantly, "we are Roma!  If this young boy did not
need my help, I would tell you our story.  How our
king ruled in India until the Islamic armies hunted us
down and destroyed our country.  Since then we have
traveled the world, always outcast, always hunted by
the Gazho, people who don't understand our ways.  I
would tell you these things -- but later.  Now the boy
needs me."  She turned and continued up the stairs.

Neil glanced at Christy and they both suppressed a
nervous laugh, surprised to see someone leave Ruby Mae
speechless. They quickly followed the gypsy up the
stairs and showed her to Frederick's room.

****

Christy gently shook him awake, "Freddie, there is a
woman here who wants to give you a tea to help you
feel better.  Can you try to sit up to drink?"

The boy nodded wearily as they helped to prop him up
on the pillows and moved aside. As Nadia drew closer,
she whispered all the while in a melodious language,
the same one Christy had heard earlier as the Roma
sang in the yard at dusk.  For a moment, Christy
thought she recognized a flicker in Freddie's eyes, an
acknowledgement perhaps of something that seemed
familiar.  But it quickly vanished, replaced by a
wince of pain as he reached instinctively for his
right leg, which was now no longer there.

A short while later Christy leaned heavily on the
porch railing, staring out into the blackness.  She
leaned her head against the cool logs holding up the
mission's second story and sighed deeply.  Thankfully
Miss Alice appeared to be on the mend.  Perhaps now
with Dr. MacNeill's skillful surgery and Nadia's
mysterious herbal tea, Frederick would also recover. 
She pressed her fingertips against her closed eyes and
rubbed them lightly, hoping to ease the throbbing.  

"I'm afraid nothing with help that but a good night's
rest," said a deep voice behind her.

She turned and smiled weakly. "You're right, Doctor. 
Maybe I should get some rest.  I just want to thank
Nadia for her help first, then I promise I'll go to
sleep."

As she started down the stairs, her knees suddenly
gave way.  In a moment, Neil was at her side,
supporting her weight by wrapping his arm around her
waist.  She blushed furiously, embarrassed at her own
clumsiness and his closeness.

"I'm fine, Doctor, really.  I just caught my heel on a
vine," she said, glancing down at the honeysuckle that
had crept across the tread.

"In any event," Neil said, "I'm not letting you out of
my sight until I have you safely back inside the
Mission and in your room.  I'm not trusting you to
stay away from Freddie's bedside.  You need to take
care of yourself, Christy.  I can't handle another
patient at the moment," he said, his voice concerned
and gentle.

Wandering through the camp, they found Nadia seated
before a small fire.   She motioned for them to join
her on the log she had placed in front of it.  

"Thank you so much for helping Freddie," Christy
began, "You've been here at the Mission for several
days and I hadn't even come outside to welcome you
all."

Nadia smiled, "You were worried about the boy and your
friend, Miss Alice."  

Christy looked at her in amazement.  "How did you know
her name?  We haven't even told you about her or that
she's been sick," she said, her exhaustion momentarily
forgotten.  

Neil let out a big "humph and answered, "She overheard
David or Ruby Mae talking about her.  There is no
other possible explanation." 

Nadia turned and merely smiled at him.  "You do no see
because you fear your heart."  She turned to Christy. 
"There is a thin mist between this world and the one
beyond, but unless you are open to see it and hear it,
it does not exist."  Returning her gaze to Neil, she
said, "If I am wrong, you need not fear, no?"

Past Nadia's probing look, Neil could see Christy's
eager expression and was anxious to prove Nadia wrong,
at least in fortune telling.  

He nodded his consent, and she reached for the
doctor's hand, turning it over so that his palm faced
upward.  Tracing her finger over his palm, she began
slowly, "You have healed many people."

"I'm a doctor."  He gave Christy an I-told-you-so
expression.  

But Nadia was undaunted. "But there were many you
could not heal.  A woman with dark hair and green
eyes, she hurt you, no?"  Neil grew silent, running
his fingers of his other hand through his tousled
hair.  "There was a storm and the river?"

Neil snatched his hand away as if she had burned him
with a coal from the fire and stood up quickly,
interrupting her before she could continue.  "That's
enough!  I thank you for your help with Freddie, but I
will ask you to keep your fortunes to yourself."  He
stormed off back toward the Mission where he had left
Charlie.

Christy remained next to Nadia on the log, confused by
the exchange she had just witnessed.  She wanted to go
after Neil to ask him what was wrong, but she knew
that he was better left alone.  He preferred it that
way, and she didn't intrude.  Her blue eyes searched
Nadia's dark brown ones for answers, but she found
none.  

"Don't fret, child." Nadia patted Christy gently on
the shoulder.  "He will be fine.  He was hurt, but his
heart is healing, although he fights it."

Christy looked at her, confused by her words and by
what she had told Dr. MacNeill.  "I don't understand."


"You will, child.  You will.  He knows that you hold
the key."

"The key?"

"Yes, you have helped him heal.  He is a doctor, but
what was broken in him cannot be cured alone."  Nadia
smiled softly and stood up, brushing the ash from her
skirt.  "You will understand in time, child, and so
will he."  With that, she excused herself with a nod
and disappeared into a nearby wagon.


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 13


"I need your help, Miss Huddleston.  I can't do this
without you."  Christy and Doctor MacNeill were in the
operating room.  Frederick's frail body lay deathly
still under their hands.

"Scalpel."  Christy turned to get the sharp blade. 
Then, a moment later, "Saw."

The sound was horrible, grating... 

The bone showed now, and the saw cut deeper and
deeper...

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

Suddenly, Frederick's eyes shot open.  His arms began
to flail wildly.  "Miss Christy!" he was screaming her
name in anguish, "Stop, Miss Christy!  Don't take my
leg!"

"Neil!" Christy cried.  "Stop, Neil!  Stop!"

Frederick's screams grew louder and more frantic, but
Doctor MacNeill continued to saw. Christy grabbed
desperately at the doctor's hands, but when he turned
around...

Her own face stared back.

Christy's own blood-curdling scream woke her.  Sweat
ran in torrents down her face and over her body.  Her
hair was plastered to her face, and she breathed in
and out quickly, her heart pumping uncontrollably in
her chest.  She tried to gather her thoughts.  She
could hear rapidly approaching footsteps nearing her
door.  Light flooded her room as the door crashed
open.  Christy could see the form of a bewildered Ruby
Mae, followed by Dr. Ferrand.

"What is this all about?" Dr. Ferrand barked angrily. 
He did not sound happy about having been awakened.

Ruby Mae, eyes wide and red hair wildly reaching in
every direction, hurried to sit on the edge of her
teacher's bed. "Lawsa mercy, Miz Christy! Folks coulda
heered you clear 'cross the Cove!"

Christy smoothed her hair back a bit, and rubbed the
back of her hand across her wet face.  After taking a
deep breath, though her voice shook, she said, "I'm
sorry for waking you both.  I had a--" she swallowed
hard before continuing, "--a bad dream.  It was
nothing--"

Dr. Ferrand looked surprised and annoyed.  "Nothing? 
Young lady, you woke the house with your screaming."

Christy started to protest, but she was worn and
defeated.  "I'm really--"

"I know you're sorry Miss Huddleston, but I firmly
believe that there's more to this than you're letting
on.  Now, it is too late tonight for discussion so
I'll let Ruby Mae stay with you."  When Christy opened
her mouth to speak, he quickly silenced her with,
"That's enough.  You will do as I say so that we can
all go back to bed!  Good Night!" With that, Dr.
Ferrand disappeared as quickly as he had come.

"Well, Miz Christy, I reckon you better scoot over." 
Christy moved to make room in her bed for Ruby Mae.
Though often annoyed by the younger girl's constant
chatter, Christy was thankful for her company tonight.

****

The sun shone a cheerful good morning to the residents
of Cutter Gap and their guests, though few were
feeling very cheerful. Upon arriving at the mission,
Neil found Christy cooking breakfast.  He paused a
moment in the kitchen doorway before calling a hearty,
"Well, good morning, Miss Huddleston!"

Neil strode into the room and seated himself at the
table, feeling refreshed. Christy jumped, and turned
without a smile. "Good morning, Doctor.  There are
people still sleeping." 

"I don't think a little noise in the kitchen will wake
them, Christy," he teased with a smile.

"Don't be too sure, Doctor," she mumbled before
turning back to work.  CRACK!  Christy dumped an egg
into the black iron frying pan.  It sizzled violently
and popped loudly, splattering hot grease onto her
hands.  She didn't seem to notice.  Although the other
occupant of her bed had slept rather comfortably,
Christy had not been able to return to sleep after her
horrific nightmare.

Ruby Mae suddenly flew in through the door. "Mornin'
Miz Christy!" She turned to address the doctor. 
"Mornin' Doc! You here ta look in on Freddie?  Cause
if'n you are, he's awake."

"Ruby Mae."  Dr. MacNeill sounded stern as he stood,
"Haven't Miss Huddleston and I told you not to disturb
Frederick?"

"Yessir, but he weren't sleepin', and he said he
wanted some visitin'."

Dr. MacNeill shook his head in exasperation before
leaving the room to check on Frederick.

As soon as the doctor was out of earshot, Christy
turned to Ruby Mae, wiping her hands on her white
cotton apron.  "Don't tell Doctor MacNeill about last
night.  He has too much else on his mind.  I don't
want to add a silly nightmare." 

Ruby Mae only nodded.

****

Clean bandages lay on a bedside table in perfect reach
of Dr. MacNeill.  Frederick was tired, but his pain
seemed less than the days before.  However, it was
still more than any man should bear, especially a boy
such as Freddie, Neil thought.

"I didn't want to get Ruby Mae in trouble.  I did ask
her to visit me."  The boy looked sad.

"Ruby Mae told us.  She's welcome to visit when you
ask her, but I do not want her wearing you out."

"Doc..." Frederick's voice was barely audible.  Neil
moved closer.  "I heard somethin' last night.  I'm
wonderin' if you might know what it was?"

"What did it sound like?"

"It was like someone screaming... someone real close."

Neil paused.  "I don't know, but I'll find out."
Freddie smiled in gratitude.

When he'd finished with his young patient, Neil headed
back to the kitchen.  He wondered if Christy had heard
the screams Frederick claimed to hear.  It could be a
bad sign if he was hearing screams while asleep or in
a state of delirium. 

Fresh scents of bacon wafted through the house,
drawing its occupants to its source.  Christy's
parents had sent her a side of bacon, which she was
generously sharing with the mission residents.

"Christy," Neil began as he entered the kitchen, "that
bacon smells--"  He stopped mid-sentence, surprised to
see Ruby Mae cooking the prized bacon.

"Howdy, Doc.  Did Freddie tell ya 'bout askin' me ta
visit him this mornin'?"

"Aye.  He did."  Neil looked around.  "Where is Miss
Huddleston?"

Ruby Mae stopped what she was doing and looked
thoughtful for a moment.  "I don't rightly know, but I
think she went to see Miz Spencer."

About this time, Jacob Ferrand joined the breakfast
assembly.  Neil's sharp eyes quickly noticed the same
obvious weariness in the older man that he'd seen in
Christy this morning.

"Is that bacon I smell?" asked Ferrand.

"Christy's family sent it to her," Neil replied.

"Where is Miss Huddleston?" 

"Ruby Mae thinks she went to Fairlight Spencer's.  She
was up early this morning."

Dr. Ferrand looked slightly surprised.  "After her
outburst last night, I would have thought she would
want some sleep this morning."

"Outburst?" 

Ruby Mae quickly interrupted their discussion.  "Who's
ready for bacon?  My!  This looks like one mighty fine
breakfast!  Too bad Miz Alice cain't eat none of it."

"How is Alice?"  Neil asked, forgetting about the
previous topic.

"As well as could be expected."  Both men pulled back
their chairs, scraping them loudly against the wooden
floor.

After the girl had set the food on the table, she
seated herself.  "Miz Christy done ate."

There was a loud creek of the floorboards and the
three turned toward the tall lanky figure of David,
who hurried through the kitchen door.  

"I'm heading down to the Holts' to help put up a
fence.  Christy's bacon looks delicious."  David
bustled around the kitchen, putting together a quick
lunch basket and grabbing a handful of bacon.  Without
a wave or a goodbye, David slipped out the door and
the room was silent again.

"What outburst were you talking about earlier?"  Neil
asked before raising a heaping fork of eggs to his
mouth.  Ferrand gave him a menacing look, and Neil
quickly lowered his hand.

Jacob and Ruby Mae bowed their heads.  "Dear Father in
Heaven, we come before you this day and ask you to
give us strength to do what is right and just.  We ask
for faith and love.  Please bless us one and all and
forgive us our many sins.  Thank you for our food and
many other blessings.  In Christ's Holy name, Amen."  

"Amen," echoed Ruby Mae.  They both raised their heads
and began to eat.

"What outburst were you talking about earlier?"  Neil
repeated.

Ruby Mae's eyes grew wide, but before she could say
anything, Dr. Ferrand spoke.  "Christy woke up
screaming during the night.  Apparently she had a
rather frightening nightmare.  The girl was drenched
in perspiration and looked as if she'd seen a ghost."

"What did you do for her?" Neil's voice was filled
with concern.

"Do?  There was nothing to be done.  Ruby Mae stayed
with her the rest of the night."

"That must have been the noise Freddie heard last
night."

The group was silent for a long while.

"Has anyone offered the gypsies any food?"  Jacob
finished his bacon and helped himself to another
biscuit.

"No!"  Ruby Mae looked frightened.

"Good.  Do not offer them any.  I want them to be gone
as soon as possible.  I don't like the thought of
gypsies being on mission property."  

"I don't like it either, but I must admit -- the tea
that gypsy woman made for Freddie eased his pain. 
Compared to the past few days, the lad seems to be
doing well.  Neil stood up, pushing back his chair. 
"And I think it's about time for his breakfast."

****

The day was beautiful.  The sun smiled down on the
cove as if God Himself was smiling.  But though the
sun was warm, a light breeze shuffled through the
trees and across the grass right up to Christy's cold
arms.  She unconsciously pulled her shawl nearer.

"But it was me, Fairlight.  It was as if I had been
the one taking Freddie's leg."  She stopped to look
Fairlight straight in the eyes.  "I don't blame Doctor
MacNeill at all.  He saved Freddie's life, but I ... I
somehow wonder if there was something more I could
have done."

"Miz Christy, I don't think there was nothin' you
coulda' done more ta help that young'un.  You did all
you could and Neil did all he could.  Blamin'
yourselves ain't gonna help Freddie and it ain't gonna
help you."  Fairlight's clear blue eyes were full of
truth.  "God will take care of Freddie and you and
Neil.  You done your part, now let Him do His."

Christy was silent.  Fairlight had hit the nail on the
head.  She really didn't know what to say. "Thank you,
Fairlight."  Christy smiled for the first time in a
long time.

****

Neil was on the Mission porch as Christy walked up. 
He looked up, pleasantly surprised to see her.

"Christy!"  Doctor MacNeill gently set down his
medical bag as she joined him.  "It will be safe here.
 I want you to take a walk with me."  When he noticed
Christy's worried expression, he quickly added, "The
lad is fine."

Christy's midnight blue dress swayed slightly in the
breeze.  She smiled as Neil repeatedly pushed a lock
of unruly red hair from his eyes.

"You should let me cut your hair a bit."  

Neil didn't answer, but kept walking.  They walked
onto the bridge overlooking a tiny stream, and Neil
stopped, turning to look at his companion.  "Christy,"
he started gently, "Doctor Ferrand told me you had a
bad dream last night."

"It was just a dream, Neil.  It's nothing to worry
about.  He should never have mentioned it."  Christy
shook her head slightly, while carefully studying her
shoes.

The doctor leaned over the rail, carefully choosing
his next words.


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Subject: 
             Fanfic: Travelers and Travails, Ch 14
  Resent-Date: 
             Sat, 11 Dec 1999 00:06:32 +0800
 Resent-From: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
        Date: 
             Fri, 10 Dec 1999 08:06:20 -0800 (PST)
        From: 
             "Ann E." <siriaes@yahoo.com>
    Reply-To: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
          To: 
             ChristyList <christy@gospel.iinet.net.au>




== == == == == == == == == == == 
Travelers and Travails, Chapter 14
By: Annie, Charlotte, Cynthia, Greer, Lisa3, Miranda,
Susie, Regina, Lisa Renee, KellyO
== == == == == == == == == == ==


"Your dream, was it about Frederick's surgery?" 

Christy continued to stare at the ground. Neil gently
took her chin in his hand and lifted her face until he
could search her eyes. "Tell me, Christy." 

Their eyes locked and she knew that once again the
doctor had read her mind. For a moment, she was
tempted to tell him everything -- the horror of that
afternoon, the nightmares that prevented sleep, her
decision to entrust her fears to God. But she could
not. She jerked her head from his grasp and started
toward the mission. "I said it was nothing!" 

"Damn!" Although he spoke softly, the vehemence in
Neil's voice stopped Christy in her tracks. He leaned
over the rail, staring across the water. "I should
never have asked you to assist me. What have I done?" 

Christy heard the guilt in his voice. She reached out
her hand and felt him flinch at her touch. This time
it was he who pulled away.  

"I was an irresponsible fool. I should have waited for
Ferrand." Neil turned toward her, his eyes dull with
remorse. "I'm sorry, Christy, sorry for putting you
through that. I only wish I could erase those moments
from your mind." His eyes returned to the stream,
where a soft breeze created ripples in the water.  

Christy joined him at the rail; they stood inches
apart, not touching. She watched as the wind caught an
errant piece of Neil's hair, blowing it skyward then
again dropping it onto his forehead. "How do you do
it?" Christy's voice was quiet, questioning. "How do
you deal with so much suffering?"  

For a moment, Neil didn't answer as he clasped his
hands over the rail and stared at the result. "I don't
know."  He sighed. Just when Christy thought he would
say no more, he continued. "My medical training, I
suppose. And the belief in what I'm doing."

Christy remained silent. She wanted to say something,
anything, to ease his burden but dared not interrupt.
"It's tempting to ignore the misery.  But to do so is
to fail as a physician." Suddenly, he seemed to notice
Christy beside him. "Your reaction was perfectly
normal, Christy." His tone was soft and understanding.
"Don't you see? No sane person could experience what
you did and not be tormented." 

"Neil, you did what was necessary, what was best for
Frederick. It was my decision to assist you." Her
voice was strong. "Now, Frederick's future -- and mine
-- are in God's hands. Trust Him as I do." 

"Christy, promise you'll tell me if those dreams
continue." 

Christy gave him the slightest nod in response. 

"In the meantime, I think it best if you discontinue
your nursing duties." Christy started to protest, but
he raised a hand to cut her off. "Others can care for
him. Ferrand is here and Alice will be up any day now.
You've already done far more than anyone had a right
to expect." 

Christy did not know if she was furious or relieved.
But one look at Dr. MacNeill's granite face told her
that any argument would be wasted.

**** 

Weeks passed and the mission returned to a sense of
normalcy, if anything about the situation could be
called normal. Dr. Ferrand departed, but the gypsies
remained in the Cove. One morning Alice had appeared
for breakfast, declaring herself healthy. Neil had
acquiesced, though he continued to monitor her
condition carefully. 

Christy threw herself into teaching and prayed often
for Frederick, Dr. MacNeill, and for herself. She knew
she would never forget Frederick's surgery, but the
vividness of the memories had begun to fade and the
nightmares had stopped. True to his word, Neil refused
to allow her more than social visits with the injured
boy. She sat with him daily before or after school,
reading, drawing, talking -- anything to distract him
from the incessant pain. One afternoon, she looked
away from her book and saw tears streaming from his
eyes.  

"It hurts so badly," he cried, reaching for the leg
that was no longer there.  Christy's heart ached for
him.  

"It's called phantom pain," Dr. MacNeill explained to
her the next morning. "But it's very real to him. You
see, his mind still thinks the leg is there." 

Christy's voice betrayed her concern. "Will it ever
stop?" 

Neil nodded. "In time." 

David too, was a frequent visitor. One evening he
stopped by shortly after the doctor had gone.
Frederick lay on the bed, exhausted from the bandage
change. "Preacher, I don't understand," he gasped. 

"What don't you understand?" His tone was
compassionate.  

"Why God done this to me. I gone to church -- well,
most of the time. I says my prayers. An' I try to keep
the Ten Co-- ya know, not lying an' stealin'." 

"The Ten Commandments," David finished softly. He
studied the boy before him -- the boy who a month ago
had walked nearly 100 miles and now could not climb
out of bed. "This is not a punishment. It's nothing
you've done or failed to do."  

"Then why?" 

"Frederick, we don't always understand why things
happen, especially bad things. God may be testing us,
like he tested Job. Do you remember that story?" The
boy nodded. "Or it may be part of God's plan. It may
be difficult at times. But if you believe in God, you
must believe that in the end, He will reward us more
than we could possibly imagine." 

"D'ya really think somethin' good'll come of this?"
Frederick's voice reflected his disbelief as he
pointed to his missing leg. 

"It already has. Ruby Mae is alive because of you. I
know she's very grateful -- we all are."  

For the first time that afternoon, a brief smile
crossed Frederick's face, quickly replaced by a frown.
"But no gal's gonna take to a man who cain't walk."

David's voice was filled with hope. "Frederick,
someday you'll meet a young woman who loves you for
who you are. It won't matter whether you have one leg
or two or none at all."  

"D'ya really think so?" 

"I really do. Maybe sooner than you think." 

****

Neil finally decided Frederick's stump had healed
sufficiently to begin therapy. One morning, the doctor
brought along a set of crutches and showed Frederick
how to raise himself from the bed. The boy eagerly
swung his good leg onto the floor, using his arms to
support his body weight as he turned his torso on the
bed. The task was more difficult than he expected and
he grimaced with pain. Neil handed him one of the
crutches. "Now, take this with your left hand and--" 

"I know, I know." Frederick snatched first one then
the other wooden implement from the doctor's hand. 

"Let me help you." 

"No, I wanna do it," the boy said through clenched
teeth as he carefully pulled himself up. He was nearly
a foot off the bed when his arms buckled and the
crutches wobbled. He reached for them, subconsciously
expecting his missing leg to provide balance. Instead
he stumbled, the crutches slipped from his grasp, and
he found himself falling. Neil immediately caught him
and lowered him onto the bed. Frederick's face
reflected his shame and embarrassment.  

"That's good for the first time."  Neil retrieved the
crutches from the floor. "Let's try again." 

Frederick looked at the crutches with loathing,
gritted his teeth and nodded. His second attempt met
with the same results, as did his third and fourth.  

Neil replaced the crutches against the wall. "That's
fine for today. We'll try again tomorrow."  

"No! I kin do it. Lemme try. Jes one more time." 

Neil shook his head. "That's enough for today," he
repeated firmly yet gently, arms crossed over his
chest. "Your arm muscles are weak from so much time in
bed. And your mind doesn't yet realize that your body
has changed." He searched Frederick's face for
understanding. "You will walk again, I promise you.
But it will require hard work and patience." 

Therapy was slow, arduous, and incredibly painful.
Every session left the boy spent and exhausted. Within
a week, he was able to stand on his own and was
overjoyed at his progress. However, when his efforts
to walk met with complete failure, he quickly became
disillusioned and withdrawn. 

**** 

"I don't see how no man kin walk wid jes one leg,"
Creed Allen said, lobbing a baseball toward Sam
Houston, who caught it and tossed it back. 

"Ain't fer sure either. Reckon he'll hop like a
rabbit?" Recess was nearly over and the children
milled aimlessly outside the school. Christy remained
in the classroom, occasionally poking her head outside
to monitor their play. 

"Wonder what his leg looks like 'neath all them
bandages?" Isaak McHone asked. 

"Ain't no one seen it 'cept the Doc an' Miz Alice,"
Creed informed him.  

"Miz Christy seen it," Zady Spencer corrected him.  

"An' she nearly fainted dead away." Creed thrust his
hand over his heart and dramatized a mock faint.  

"Miz Christy wouldn't do that." Isaak defended his
teacher. "'Sides, I'll bet it was real bloody an'
all." The children stopped tossing the ball as they
debated the surgery, their teacher's involvement, and
Frederick's prospects for recovery. 

Lundy Taylor approached the group. "Ah, he's a
cripple. Ain't never gonna walk." That assertion,
accompanied by a sinister laugh, momentarily silenced
all discussion. 

"You're wrong, Lundy." Ruby Mae's tone matched her
flaming red hair. The other children stared at the
young woman who dared challenge the bully. "Doc
MacNeill says Frederick's gonna walk. He's gonna have
a wooden leg so's ya won't even notice." 

"Yeah, a peg leg!" Again Lundy laughed uproariously at
his own joke. "An' a patch fer an' eye an' a hook fer
an arm." Lundy closed one eye, held out his arm
stiffly, and stumbled toward Ruby Mae with an
exaggerated limp. "Where's my woman?" he asked in a
mock menacing tone. Several children cackled with
laughter while others chanted "peg leg, peg leg."  

Ruby Mae looked on with despair. "You're wrong, all of
you. He will walk." Receiving no support, she turned
away, tears in her eyes.  

"What's going on?" Christy's stern voice interrupted
the antics, immediately silencing her students, who
stared intently at the blades of grass at their feet.
"Were you making fun of Frederick?" She regarded her
pupils with disgust. "That boy lost his leg saving
Ruby Mae's life." Her voice was harsh. "You should be
ashamed." 

As the children filed back into the schoolroom,
Christy sensed something amiss. She looked around.
Ruby Mae was gone.

**** 

Ruby Mae fled the schoolyard, running as fast as her
legs would carry her, the taunts of her classmates
echoing in her head with every step. She ran,
oblivious to leaves that brushed her face and branches
that scratched her skin. Only when she could run no
further did she stop, doubled over with exertion and
panting to catch her breath. Before her lay the river,
gently cascading over rocks.  

"What troubles you, my dear?" 

Ruby Mae jumped in shock, nearly falling into the
water. Behind her stood a woman she recognized as the
gypsy who had brought tea to Frederick. "Oh, I'm sorry
to be troublin' ya.  I didn't' see ya. I mean if I'd
knowed this was where you was, if you was here, I'da
never come. No ma'am." She edged along the riverbank.
"I'll be goin' now. Won't bother' ya no more." 

The woman reached out a hand. "Don't be frightened, my
girl. I won't harm you. My name is Nadia."  

The girl stood her ground. "Ruby Mae Morrison." 

"You're troubled. Let me help you." The older woman's
voice was soothing and, despite her fear, Ruby Mae
felt herself strangely drawn to this gypsy.  

"How can you help me?" she asked with a mixture of
hope and fear. 

"Gaze into the river.  What do you see?" 

Ruby Mae did as commanded and saw only water. She
turned back toward the gypsy, a puzzled expression on
her face. 

"Let your mind relax. Gaze deeper. Deeper. Concentrate
only on the water." The voice was mesmerizing, and
Ruby Mae tried her best to comply. Her own reflection
was replaced by Frederick's haunting eyes staring up
at her. 

"You see the one who troubles you, no?" Ruby Mae could
only nod numbly at the disembodied voice. "Look
deeper, deeper into the water. There you will find
your answers." 

Squirrels scampered among the trees and the sounds of
birds and insects filled the air. Water splashed onto
rocks. But Ruby Mae focused only on the small patch of
river beneath her, desperately seeking the answers the
gypsy had promised.  

"Ruby Mae."  

Startled out of her reverie, she turned, expecting to
see Nadia. Instead, behind her stood... 


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 15


... Fairlight Spencer. 

Ruby Mae's eyes darted around the sparsely wooded
area. The gypsy woman had vanished.

"Ruby Mae, what's the matter, child? And jest what are
ya doin' out of school?" Fairlight placed one hand on
her hip, the other grasping her apron, bulging with
persimmons. 

Ruby Mae's expression was one of confusion as she
continued to scan the woods. "Waal, I was jest
a-talkin' to one of them gypsies. Calls herself Nadia.
She was jest standing right where you is now. Didn't
ya see her?"

Fairlight shook her head, noticing the smeared
tear-stained tracks on the girl's face. "I didn't see
no one here, Ruby Mae." 

Ruby Mae walked around Fairlight as she spoke. "But
she was jest here! Firstly, I was a-scared, but she
had a real nice way of talkin'. She told me to look in
the river." The girl's solemn expression was almost
comical. "And I'd see what was troubling me. Told me
to look real deep. And I seen Frederick's face
a-starin' up at me!"

Ruby Mae looked worried now, the lines of her forehead
standing out as she raised her eyes to Fairlight.
"Nadia ... that gypsy woman, she knew what was
troubling me. Oh, lordy, Miz Spencer! Do ya think them
gypsies can read a gal's mind? They must be magical,
'cause I heared that thar tea Nadia gave to Frederick
is making him feel heaps better! Teacher said so!"

Fairlight laid a calming hand on Ruby Mae's shoulder.
"Now listen here, Ruby Mae Morrison. I think yer jest
upset about that young boy. Anybody with a heart would
feel beholden. But it ain't yer fault, ya hear. It was
that boy's choice to do what he did. Jest as it's your
choice on what you make of things as they are. Ain't
no sense using up yer time worrying when ya can do
things to help."

Ruby Mae soaked up the words of wisdom like Zady
Spencer soaked up mathematics.  She wiped her face
with her sleeve, a spark of her old self back in her
eyes.

"Oh, yes'm! You can be sure I'll do my part in helpin'
Frederick! And I'll help Miz Christy at school. And
Miz Alice, you know, Doc says she still be needin'
looking after. And I always help Preacher with
Prince..."

"And pray," interrupted Fairlight. "You can never pray
to the Lord enough." Fairlight saw that the girl was
going into another round of high speed chatter. "You
best be gittin' on back to school. Miz Christy will be
worried."

Ruby Mae lifted her chin. "You're right. I won't be
worrying Miz Christy any more, neither." She started
to march away, when she turned round and raced back to
where Fairlight stood watching. She flung herself at
the woman in a quick hug. "I'm beholden to ya, Miz
Spencer!" And off she ran in the direction of the
mission.

Fairlight smiled to herself as she watched the wind
blown fiery red hair go out of sight at full speed.
But her smile faded as the melody of the gypsy music
reached her ears. Involuntarily, as if in a trance,
she started down the path leading to the mission,
stopping after only a few steps. As the lonely strands
of a violin wafted through the air, a chill came over
her. Fairlight looked around, sensing another's
presence, but could see no one save the woodland
animals. She slowly turned around and started for
home, still clutching the apron full of persimmons,
her head held high, her step quick.

As Fairlight disappeared down the trail, a lone figure
stepped out from behind a tree. Nadia watched for a
moment, her knowing eyes gleaming with anticipation
for the time when she would meet the other woman who
also knew things ... knew before they happened. Yes,
thought Nadia, our time will come.


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Subject: 
             Fanfic: Travelers and Travails, Ch 16
  Resent-Date: 
             Thu, 16 Dec 1999 05:22:18 +0800
 Resent-From: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
        Date: 
             Wed, 15 Dec 1999 13:22:01 -0800 (PST)
        From: 
             "Ann E." <siriaes@yahoo.com>
    Reply-To: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
          To: 
             ChristyList <christy@gospel.iinet.net.au>




== == == == == == == == == == == 
Travelers and Travails, Chapter 16
By: KellyO, Regina, Lisa Renee, Susie,  Miranda,
Greer, Lisa3, Cynthia, Charlotte, Annie
== == == == == == == == == == ==


More than a week passed, and Ruby Mae's strange
encounter with Nadia was quickly forgotten. The
gypsies had decided to leave Cutter Gap.  Their
leader, Reny, had approached David one afternoon and
suggested a social gathering for the entire Cove as a
way for the gypsies to show their gratitude for the
mission's kindness. David spread the word around the
Cove and most families, despite initial reluctance,
agreed to attend.

Christy embraced the idea and decided that all of the
children, both her own students and the gypsies, would
make decorations for the celebration. She organized
them into teams and sent them to find into the fields
to find various items to use in the project. 

"You're doing this for him aren't you?" asked Neil one
day as Christy left Frederick's sick room.  Inside,
Ruby Mae chatted with two of the young gypsy children
assigned to cut out paper letters for a large
celebration sign. 

Closing the door behind her Christy wrinkled her
forehead at him. 

"The celebration," said Neil, waving his arms wide.
"You're doing it for Frederick." 

"I'm doing it for all of the children, Neil.  This is
a wonderful opportunity..." 

"To cheer Frederick," Neil finished. 

Christy folded her arms across her chest, exasperated
that that this man could so easily see through her. 
"And is that such a terrible thing?" 

Neil rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  "No. I'm worried
about the boy too.  His leg shows no sign of infection
... but the mind is another thing Christy. He thinks
he's useless, that he has no life, no future and it's
eating him up inside. I can't heal that."  Neil ran
his fingers through his hair in frustration.   "Maybe
this will help, maybe it won't. The Lord works in
mysterious ways Miss Huddleston."

"What?" Christy glanced at him sharply to see if she
had heard him right. 

"Isn't that what your Bible says?" Neil grinned at
her.  "Don't look so surprised.  I'm an educated man,
and I'd hardly be a man of science if I didn't make an
informed decision about what I agree and disagree
with." He smiled before opening the door to
Frederick's room. "Who'd like a butterscotch?" 

Christy shook her head in frustration and headed
towards the kitchen. 

"Christy," called Neil, popping his head out of
Frederick's room for an instant.  "I think it's a good
idea," he said, his voice filled with warmth and
kindness. "Good-bye Miss Huddleston!" 

"Good-bye Miz Christy!" echoed the voices of three
children, and Christy smiled sadly.  The silence of
the voice that she longed to hear most was the loudest
of all. 

****

As the day of the social gathering approached,
excitement at the mission house grew to a fever pitch.
Miss Alice and Fairlight were baking almost non-stop,
and Ruby Mae was chattering a mile a minute as she
worked. 

The day before the celebration, light rain began to
fall at dusk and the mission's occupants went to bed
early only to be awakened in the middle of the night
by a terrific crash, accompanied by an ear-shattering
scream. 

Ruby Mae rushed into Christy's room still screaming
and Christy, rubbing the sleep from her eyes hugged
the young girl, murmuring that it was only lightening
striking somewhere close. 

Miss Alice, clad in her white cotton nightgown, was
right behind Ruby Mae. Hand to her throat, she
struggled to regain her breath and stuttered
incoherently.  However, all eyes turned to the doorway
as an exhausted but terrified Frederick hobbled toward
them.

"What's wrong with Ruby Mae?" the boy asked, his face
white as a sheet.  "I heard her screaming..." His
voice dropped off as he noticed the three faces
staring at him in disbelief. 

"Freddie ... you're walking!" exclaimed Christy. 

Miss Alice lifted her fingers to her lips in a silent
prayer of thanks. 

Ruby Mae squealed loudly and clapped her hands
together.  "Laws yes. Didn't I tell ye Freddie.
Yessiree! Didn't I jest say that you'd walk again!" 

Frederick looked down at his leg, at his crutches, and
then back at the three women grinning widely at him.
"I... I... I didn't even think. I just heard Ruby Mae
screamin' and I..." he stuttered.  He stopped, a large
smile covering his face. 

"We know."  Miss Alice finally regained her power of
speech.  "And thank the Lord," she said, glancing
heavenward. Frederick started to speak, but Miss Alice
grasped him firmly by the shoulder.  "Thee must not
use up all of thy strength. Tomorrow is a big day and
we all need our rest."  She started to escort him back
down the hall.

They were scarcely out of earshot when Ruby Mae
exclaimed, "Why Miz Christy. Frederick was a-comin to
my rescue."  She sighed dreamily, nearly swooning into
Christy's arms. 

Christy stifled a laugh and said in as stern a voice
as she could muster, "Ruby Mae, you heard what Miss
Alice said. Now get to bed.  Scoot!" 

Ruby Mae again sighed as she glided out of the room.

Christy smiled to herself and drifted off to sleep,
only to be awakened in what seemed like a few minutes.

"Miz Christy!" shouted a high-pitched voice. 

Christy rolled over mumbling, "Ruby Mae I told you to
go to bed." 

"Miz Christy, it be mornin' and you won't scarcely
believe what happened!" 

Now Christy was wide awake. "What?" 

"Git dressed Miz Christy, it surely is a sight!"  Ruby
Mae scampered out of Christy's room a split second
later.  Hastily Christy dressed and stumbled down the
stairs. 

She headed toward a small crowd that had gathered a
short distance away. Gasping slightly, she gazed in
awe at the sight of an enormous oak tree lying on its
side, obviously the recipient of nature's fury the
previous night. It had apparently been struck by
lightening, and its long roots lay half submerged in
the gaping hole that it had once occupied. 

"It surely is a bad omen Miz Christy," Fairlight said,
catching Christy by the elbow. 

"What?" 

"Why Miz Christy! That be the Charter Oak! It's the
oldest tree in the Cove.  It's where Uncle Bogg holds
all his important business," Fairlight said in an
awestruck voice.  Christy was about to ask what sort
of business Uncle Bogg conducted there, but Fairlight
continued, "It's a bad omen Miz Christy... the worst!
Something bad is a-comin to the Cove, I kin feel it!" 

Christy felt the flesh on her arms rise and she
shivered slightly. In the corner of her eye she caught
sight of the gypsy woman Nadia peering through the
crowd.  The old woman was eyeing Fairlight, nodding
her head.

Suddenly David's voice rang out over the crowd, "It
was just the storm!  Please, let's not let it spoil
such a wonderful day," he said, gesturing toward the
sky. "There's food and music ... please."  Grumbling,
the crowd slowly dispersed and headed towards the long
tables already laden with food. 

As the day progressed, the gypsies provided music and
entertainment, Aunt Hattie led the group in several
songs, and John Spencer delighted everyone with his
harmonica. 

The festivities were in full swing when Neil MacNeill
appeared.  He dismounted and tied up his horse to
shouts of "Howdy Doc!"  His eyes scanned the faces,
and lighting on Christy, he made his way through the
crowd until he arrived at her side. 

"Good afternoon Miss Huddleston," he said, his eyes
twinkling.  "Sorry I'm late but I was out last night
on a medical call and decided to catch a few hours of
sleep this morning." 

"Nothing serious I hope." Christy's brow furrowed in
concern. 

"Oh no.  I'm glad I didn't sleep the whole day away. 
This celebration of yours looks like a success.
Frederick's having a nice time," he said, cocking his
head at the animated young man. Christy smiled and was
about to relate the events of the previous night when
Neil held out his hand and said in a charming voice,
"I wonder if I might have the pleasure of this dance,
Miss Huddleston?" 

Christy felt her breath catch in her throat and was
about to place her hand in Neil's when a loud blast of
gunfire interrupted the festivities. 

"Blast that Bird's Eye."  Neil scanned the crowd for
the grizzled mountain man's face. 

Christy pushed her way through the crowd toward the
source of the noise. Glimpsing an opening, she darted
towards it and came face to face with a tall,
dark-haired, unshaven and unkempt stranger mounted on
a horse.  He held a large smoking rifle in his hands
and glared at Christy with blood-shot eyes.  When he'd
dismounted, he seemed to tower over Christy and she
stepped back, bumping into Neil, who placed a
steadying hand on her shoulder. 

"Can we help you?" he asked in a restrained voice. 

"I come fer my boy," rasped the stranger. "I heard he
was here.  I come to fetch my boy Frederick!" 


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Subject: 
             Fanfic: Travelers and Travails, Ch 17
  Resent-Date: 
             Sat, 18 Dec 1999 04:28:33 +0800
 Resent-From: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
        Date: 
             Fri, 17 Dec 1999 12:28:27 -0800 (PST)
        From: 
             "Ann E." <siriaes@yahoo.com>
    Reply-To: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
          To: 
             ChristyList <christy@gospel.iinet.net.au>




== == == == == == == == == == == 
Travelers and Travails, Chapter 17
By: Susie, Regina, Miranda, Lisa Renee, Lisa3, KellyO,
Greer, Cynthia, Charlotte, Annie
== == == == == == == == == == ==


A hush fell over the crowd, the festivities forgotten
as everyone stared at the stranger. Instinctively,
Ruby Mae stood in front of Frederick. Following her
lead, the other children crowded around, blocking the
boy from view. 

"I come fer my boy," the man repeated. "Whar's my boy?
Whar's Frederick?" He leaned forward and grabbed
Christy's arm. "Are you hidin' my boy?" he hissed.
Christy recoiled from the stench of alcohol on his
breath. 

"Suppose you let the lady go," Neil said in a
dangerously low voice, "and then you can tell us
exactly who you are and why you have come here. "

The stranger seemed ready to push past Neil, but
appeared to change his mind when he saw the look on
the doctor's face. He backed off slightly, as Jeb
Spencer and David came to stand beside Neil. 

"Reckon the Doc asked you a question," said the
mountain man. "Just who are you?"

"Why have you disturbed our gathering?" David asked. 

The man took a step toward them once more, swaying
slightly as he did so. "Name's Adam Johnson. I come
fer my boy and I don't aim on leaving without him. "
His eyes scanned the crowd. 

"What makes you think your boy is here?" Neil asked. 

"Ungrateful wretch ran away weeks back. Figured he'd
come back when he got hungry enough, but he didn't. So
I started out after him. Asked folks along the way.
Didn't take me long to find out he was here. Now he's
goin' to come home and work fer his keep. I'll teach
him to run away from his Pa. " Suddenly he began to
yell, his eyes darting around the crowd. "You
listenin' to me, boy? Yer comin' home with me NOW!"

Finding her voice at last, Christy began to speak.
"Mr. Johnson, I'm Christy Huddleston. I teach school
here in Cutter Gap. We need to talk to you about your
son. Why don't you--"

"Ain't got no interest in talkin'. You'd best be
findin' my boy and we'll be on our way." He advanced
towards Christy once more. 

"Pa! You leave Miss Christy alone!"

>From behind the children, Frederick moved forward.
Using his crutches confidently, he maneuvered his way
clear of the crowd and faced his father. Adam
Johnson's jaw dropped at the sight of his son, as he
stared at the place where Frederick's leg had been. 

"It was an accident, Pa." Frederick answered his
father's unasked question. "I'm doin' just fine now.
And I'm not coming home. "

Adam Johnson's eyes narrowed. "Ain't you just?"

"No. Besides, what use would I be to you now? Look at
me. I cain't do the work of a man anymore. I'm no good
to nobody. " Frederick's face blushed scarlet. He
didn't want to believe what he as saying. He didn't
want to think that he was going to be a burden to
anyone. But he had to say something to make his father
go away. 

"That ain't true, Frederick! Yer the bravest boy I
know. You done saved my life!" Ruby Mae rushed over to
the boy, laying a hand on his shoulder. 

Adam sneered. "Seems as if yer girlfriend thar just
give me an idea. " 

Ruby Mae stared at him. What had she done?

"What are you talking about, Pa?"

"Looks like folks are goin' to pity you now. When we
head back to the city, I reckon people would hand over
money to help a poor starving cripple. "

Frederick stared at him in horror. "Beg for you?
Never!"

"You be careful, boy. I'm your Pa. You'll answer to
me. " With that, he strode towards his son. 

All this time, the residents of Cutter Gap had stood
transfixed. Neil, Jeb and the others would have
tackled Johnson immediately, were it not for the rifle
that he still carried and the danger that it posed for
the women and children. But things were getting
desperate. 

Christy looked imploringly at Neil.   "Help him," she
said. "You have to do something, Neil. Please!"

Yet it wasn't Neil who stopped Adam Johnson in his
tracks a moment later. It was a simply dressed old
woman, a necklace of gold coins around her neck, who
moved to intercept Johnson's path. "I knew we would
meet again. " Nadia gazed at the man towering above
her, who recoiled in shock at the sight of her. 

"You! What're you doin' here?"

"That is none of your concern. But you are going to
leave that boy alone. "

For a moment, it seemed as if Adam Johnson was going
to hit Nadia, but as he continued to stare at her, the
look of anger in his eyes was replaced by fear.
Abruptly he turned and stumbled towards his horse. 

"They cain't protect you forever, boy," he yelled,
clambering into his saddle. "Yer goin' to come back
with me if you know what's good fer you. "

With a final menacing glare at Nadia, Christy and the
others, he rode away. 

Everyone looked around, stunned. Frederick was
shaking, Ruby Mae was crying and Christy moved to
comfort them both. Suddenly, the gypsy people began to
sing quietly, as if breaking the spell of fear and
disbelief that had bound them all. Everyone began to
talk and gradually the gathering continued, although
it was not the great celebration that Christy had
planned. As the afternoon wore on, the people of
Cutter Gap returned to their homes. That night, a
sense of unease hung over the mission. 

****

Moonlight streamed through Frederick's window,
illuminating the young man writing earnestly at the
table before him. Tears streaked down his face, as he
lovingly placed a note, a set of water color pastels,
some pencils and a sketch book on the bed. Then,
gathering up his bag, he moved carefully through the
mission house, so as not to wake anyone with the noise
of the crutches upon the floorboards. Reaching the
door at last, he took one final look around before
opening the door and disappearing into the night. 

**** 

"How are thee feeling this morning, Christy?"

Christy looked up from her cup of coffee and smiled
wearily. "I'm fine, Miss Alice. Just tired. And you?"

"I am well, thank thee for asking. Have you spoken to
Frederick yet this morning?"

"No. I thought I should let him sleep as long as
possible."

"A wise decision. He needs his rest after the events
of yesterday."

The sound of footsteps outside interrupted the
conversation. Moments later, Neil MacNell poked his
head around the door.  "Good morning ladies. How are
we this morning?"

"Good morning, Doctor. Miss Huddleston and I are fine,
thank thee."

"I am glad to hear it. I will admit to not sleeping
very well myself. How is Freddie, Christy?"

"I don't know. I was just going to check on him."

"Well, why don't you do that while I check on our
other patient here." 

Neil grinned wickedly as Alice Henderson protested
immediately, declaring herself fit and healthy and in
no need of a medical examination. Christy suppressed a
giggle and went to check on her young friend. 

Once she had left the room, Alice turned to Neil.  "I
was impressed by thy restraint yesterday, Doctor. 
There was a time when thee would not have acted so
rationally when faced with the likes of Adam Johnson."

Neil snorted impatiently. "Well, I doubt that my
restraint did much good, Alice. You saw what--"

A strangled cry came from upstairs. Alarmed, Neil
rushed to Frederick's room, finding Christy sitting on
the empty bed, clutching a note in her hand. 

"Christy? What is it? What has happened?" He took the
note from her trembling hand and began to read. 

"Dear Miss Christy,

I can't stay here no more. It's too dangerous for you
and Ruby Mae and the others. You don't know my Pa like
I do. He don't never give up. I don't want no one to
get hurt on account of me, especially not you, Miss
Christy. You remind me of how my Mama used to be -
pretty and kind and loving. I won't never forget you,
but I just can't stay. God bless you. 

Love from Freddie"

Neil stopped reading and moved to Christy, who was
sobbing quietly. "Oh Christy, don't cry.  He can't
have gone far. I'll find him for you."

"No, Neil, you don't understand!" Christy's voice rose
in despair. "Look! He left his water colors and the
pencils and his mother's sketchbook."

Neil looked at her blankly. 

"Don't you remember?" Christy was distraught now.
"Before the operation, he said to me that if he died,
he wanted me to have those things. And now he's left
them behind. Neil, Freddie's life is in danger! He
thinks he's going to die!" 


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Subject: 
             Fanfic: Travelers and Travails, Ch 18
  Resent-Date: 
             Tue, 21 Dec 1999 03:56:53 +0800
 Resent-From: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
        Date: 
             Mon, 20 Dec 1999 11:56:47 -0800 (PST)
        From: 
             "Ann E." <siriaes@yahoo.com>
    Reply-To: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
          To: 
             ChristyList <christy@gospel.iinet.net.au>




== == == == == == == == == == == 
Travelers and Travails, Chapter 18
By: Regina, Kelly O, Charlotte, Miranda, Lisa Renee,
Lisa3, Annie, Greer, Susie, Cynthia
== == == == == == == == == == ==


Frederick used every swear word he had ever heard his
father say.  When he had used them all once, he
started over again. Moving on the crutches was
difficult. It required concentration -- concentration
that was being blocked by Frederick's overwhelming
fear that he would be found by his father. 

His upper arms were still not strong enough to carry
him quickly.  Frederick was taking full advantage of
his head start, traveling in a direction that he was
sure that his father would choose last. He had stood
outside the mission house and surveyed the
surroundings. 

He chose the path that looked to be the most difficult
to travel.  His father would never expect him to go
that way. 

Frederick could only take about ten steps at a time
before he had to stop and rest. The awkward dance
between the arms that held the crutches and the foot
that hit the ground drained him. He longed to be able
to run as far away from Cutter Gap as he could, but he
knew that his stumbling along would have to be enough.


****

Frederick had been moving for about half an hour. His
arms were exhausted from holding up his body, and he
had long since stopped cursing.  It took too much
energy to come up with new things to say.  His tongue
had come out of his mouth, and he had to muster more
concentration with every step.  The panic was slowly
rising in him as he came face to face with the
knowledge that it would only be a matter of time
before his father found him.

He heard something in the distance. It sounded like a
voice.  He was not sure if it was his father, but he
knew that he'd have to move fast. His steps grew
quicker, even as they became clumsier. He knew that
panicking would only get him worn out and discovered
sooner, so he took a deep breath and looked around. 

Up ahead, about twenty yards away, was a thick patch
of bushes. He could hide there. It wasn't the best
hiding place, but it would have to do. 

As he began to move toward the bushes, something
caught his eye. It was the dark entrance to a small
cave that was hidden by the wild bushes. He raised his
eyes in silent thanks to the Almighty and entered the
cave. 

Once inside, Frederick struggled to sit down on the
ground.  He gently placed his crutches against the
wall. Then he leaned against the cave and slid down,
using the wall's firmness to guide him to a sitting
position. 

He'd never felt so alone before. The people that he
had met in Cutter Gap had become his friends. The
doctor who treated him had become like a father - a
good father. All of that had changed with the arrival
of Adam Johnson. 

He knew his father would never rest until he had found
him, just as Adam would do anything for a drink. Once,
Adam had sold the silver spoon that Frederick had
eaten from as a child to a saloon as payment of a
liquor tab. That spoon had allowed his father one more
quart of the whiskey he used to justify everything
that had ever happened to him. 

There was no reason to doubt that Adam would find him,
drag him back to Knoxville and make him a beggar as he
planned. 

Frederick let the tears flow down his cheeks, without
really noticing. Slowly, he reached into his pocket
and pulled out a gold chain.  Fastened to it was a
Celtic cross. It had been given to him by his mother
when he was thirteen. He'd only been able to keep it
because his father had never known of its existence. 

After a beating that left him bloody and bruised, his
mother had given it to him.

"This cross belonged to my Mama and her Mama before
that. I'm giving it to you so that you will know, no
matter what happens to me, that I love you. You
mustn't let your father see it or he won't let you
keep it.  But hold it close to your heart and remember
me. You're never alone. I am always with you." 

Frederick ran the necklace over and over again through
his hands. He wished his mother were with him right
now.

His mind raced through the past month. He recalled all
of the conversations that he had with Miss Christy,
Dr. MacNeill and the preacher. The preacher's words
floated up to his memory. 

"It may be difficult at times. But if you believe in
God, you must believe in the end, He will reward us
more than we can possibly imagine." 

Frederick clutched the cross tightly in his hands,
lifted his eyes to heaven, and softly, began to pray.

****

Adam Johnson had crept back to the mission property to
find his son, but left as soon as he realized that
Frederick was gone. He knew his son would come running
back to him once he heard his voice. He knew Frederick
was afraid of him, and despite his insistence that he
wouldn't return to Knoxville, all it would take was a
few well placed words. 

"Boy! You better come out of wherever you're hidin',
or that last beatin' is gonna feel like a ticklin',"
he shouted through the Cove. 

****

As soon as they discovered Frederick had gone, Neil,
Christy, Miss Alice and David began to move. 

Alice ran straight to her horse and had begun to climb
into the saddle when she heard Neil behind her. 

"Alice, I forbid you to go. You have been ill and it
is dangerous." 

"Neil, I have no choice. This is my mission. I will
not stand idly by and watch that  boy we've worked so
hard to save destroy himself." 

Alice Henderson finished mounting her horse and set
off toward the mountains.

****

"Ruby Mae, get some of that food on table and put it
in my bag." 

There was no doubt that Christy was in no mood for an
argument, so Ruby Mae quickly complied. 

Out of the corner of his eye, while saddling his own
horse, David saw Ruby Mae scrambling for supplies.
That could only mean one thing -- Christy thought she
was going. 

He strode toward her.  "Christy, can I have a word
with you?" 

She spun around to face him. 

"You are not going. I will not take you. Frederick's
father is still out there.  He's an armed man,
Christy, used to getting his own way. There's nothing
that you can do for Freddie. I need to know that you
are safe, here at the mission." 

"David, I am going." 

The preacher rolled his eyes toward heaven and started
to speak again. Before the words could come out of his
mouth, the Scottish brogue of Dr. MacNeill commanded
their attention. 

"You're not going, Christy." A rod of iron ran through
his words.  "You have school today.  Stay here and
calm the children. I will not have you traipsing all
over the mountain while that armed fool is out there."
He practically spat out the last sentence. 

Christy seemed to realize that there was no way to get
around the stubborn doctor MacNeill.  "Fine, then. I
will see to the children. Please be careful." She
looked first to David and then to Neil. 

Both men mounted their horses and rode off after Alice
Henderson.


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 19

An ominous cloud settled over the Cutter Gap mission
as soon as Miss Alice, David, and Dr. MacNeill
galloped away in search of Frederick, and it only
seemed to grow darker and more menacing as the day
crept by. The threesome had set out just after nine in
the morning.  Now, as evening approached, Christy
found her fear mounting. 

She busied herself in the kitchen, preparing dinner
for the search party and Frederick when they returned.
It would be soon, she told herself again and again.
They would be back soon, safe and sound. 

Christy was stacking freshly made sandwiches on a
serving plate when she heard the pounding of hoof
beats. Immediately, she ran out the side door, to see
David riding up with Alice behind him on Prince. Miss
Alice's horse, Goldie, was tethered behind.

"It's her ulcer," David explained, sliding down from
Prince's back, then reaching up to help a weary,
strained-looking Alice.  "She started feeling some
pain this afternoon, but she didn't tell us until she
nearly fell off of Goldie's back. Doctor MacNeill made
me bring her back -- he would have brought her
himself, but Frederick's still out there, and he might
need a doctor.  Can you take care of her?" 

Christy helped David support the ill woman. "I'll try,
David, but I don't know what to--"

"You won't have to do much," David said. "Doctor
MacNeill sent a sedative -- just put her to bed so she
can sleep." 

After David and Christy had settled Miss Alice in bed,
David went outside and took Goldie to the barn. He
found two lanterns, which he hooked to Prince's
saddlebags, then ran inside the mission house to fill
the empty canteens with water. 

As David was heading out the door, Christy came down
the stairs. 

"David," she called after him. "Wait, let me give you
some sandwiches." 

He followed her into the kitchen and watched as she
wrapped the sandwiches in cheesecloth and put them in
a sack, along with six or seven apples.  

Christy handed him the bag of food. "Miss Alice will
be asleep for hours, and it's just you and Doctor
MacNeill now -- please, can I go with you? I can get
Fairlight to stay with Miss Alice, and I'd be all
right -- I'd be a help to you." 

David sighed in frustration. "Christy, why is it when
Doctor MacNeill tells you 'no', you don't argue with
him, but when I say it, you haggle me to death trying
to get your way?" 

Christy's mouth fell open. "David, I--" 

But David was already out the door. "I don't have time
for this," he said over his shoulder.

Christy stood in the doorway, watching helplessly as
David rode back out into the golden horizon. She
didn't even notice that she was not alone. 

"You are deeply troubled about the boy." 

Christy gave a little jump as she turned to look at
the speaker. "Nadia! You startled me." She placed her
hand over her pounding heart. "Yes, Nadia, I am
troubled about Frederick." 

Though she was a tiny, frail-looking old woman, Nadia
had a commanding presence. The gypsy tilted her head
so that she looked deeply into Christy's eyes. "You do
not like it that you cannot be helping the men to look
for the boy." 

"You're right." Christy shook her head a little in
amazement, letting her gaze wander back to the wooded
foothills beyond the mission yard. "I care so much
about Freddie. And even before he lost his leg--"

"You have wanted to protect the boy." Nadia finished
Christy's sentence.  

Christy barely had time to utter a "yes" before Nadia
continued. 

"You have a mothering way with you. All of the
children that you see, you take them all under your
wing." Nadia gave Christy a penetrating stare. "And so
does that red-headed doctor. Both of you need little
children of your own." 

Feeling the color rise to her cheeks, Christy quickly
turned the conversation back to its original path. "It
scares me not to know where Freddie is." 

Again, Nadia's eyes probed Christy's. "I think that
you do." 

Christy's brows knit in confusion.  "What?  I don't
under--" 

"You know where that boy has gone. It is up to you to
solve the riddle."

Christy opened her mouth to question the old gypsy,
but no words escaped her lips. Nadia had gone.

****

The mission yard was abuzz as the gypsies kept up
their nightly routine of preparing a communal supper. 
Men and women came in and out of the wagons, their
arms laden with bread and fruit and pots and pans,
which they carried to the cooking fires between the
colorful tents. 

Christy wandered through the encampment, her ears
filled with bits and pieces of conversations in the
peculiar gypsy language.  Though she could not
understand what they were saying, she was sure that
some of the gypsies were giving orders and others
asking questions. She knew that some were joking and
some telling tall tales.  How very like a Cove
working, she thought, especially with all the children
running and playing in the midst of everything. 

The laughter and high-pitched voices of the children
kept the gypsy camp from seeming so completely exotic
and foreign.  There was a cluster of about eight or
nine of the younger children in the middle of the
camp, playing jump rope with their leader, Reny.
Christy watched, smiling, as the children giggled and
chanted while the gypsy king jumped to their rhyme.
But as Christy heard what the children were chanting,
her heart skipped a beat. 

Reny, Reny, so says Eben
Skip that rope and look to heaven. 
Climb a hill to make him taller, 
If he falls, he'll give a holler. 
If he stays upon his toes, 
He'll stay dry, won't break his nose. 
Take a half-turn to the right, 
Finds himself in blackest night. 

"You know where that boy is," Nadia muttered, limping
by Christy, with a gnarled walking stick in hand. 

"The cave," Christy said to herself, sudden
understanding washing over her. "The cave!"

Without another thought, Christy ran to the barn to
saddle Theo.

****

It was a breathless Fairlight Spencer who rushed into
the mission yard just before sunset. She stood panting
in the middle of the yard, one hand still atop her
bonnet. She knew that she was too late. Christy was
not there. 

Exhausted from running all the way from her cabin,
Fairlight went to the water pump and drank greedily,
not caring that her dress was being soaked. The cool
water not only quenched her thirst, it helped to calm
the frenzy that had come over her -- the frenzy which
had led her to run to the mission in search of
Christy. 

After Fairlight had drunk to her contentment, she
straightened up and wiped the corners of her mouth
with her apron. Her eyes widened as the tiny old gypsy
woman, Nadia, approached her. 

"Evenin', ma'am," Fairlight said, trying to mask her
fear with politeness. Though Fairlight had never
spoken with Nadia, she had seen her several times, and
each time, she had felt something strange grasping at
her heart.  "I thought y'all gypsies was a-headin'
outa the Cove." 

Nadia smiled, her hideous, gap-toothed grin making her
face look like the mouth of a cave. "You are so ready
for the Romany to leave?" 

Fairlight flushed. "Didn't mean no rudeness. I's jest
wonderin' if sompthin' went wrong to keep ye from
goin'." 

Nadia's mouth closed, and her wrinkled face was set in
firm lines as she scrutinized Fairlight. "You possess
what they call the Second Sight, yes?"  Without
waiting for Fairlight to answer, or even noting the
shocked, frightened expression on the mountain woman's
face, Nadia continued.  "You are a sister -- you know
things before they happen, do you not?" 

Something about Nadia's knowledge calmed Fairlight's
apprehension. This gypsy woman understood.  "Aye," she
said. "Sometimes, I do know thangs afore they're
happenin'." 

"Well, then," said Nadia, clucking her tongue, "why do
not you--" she jabbed her finger in Fairlight's
direction, "tell me--" she indicated herself, "why it
is the Romany do not keep their plans and leave this
mountain place." 

Fairlight stared into Nadia's black eyes for a moment,
then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "'Caus'
-- 'caus' y'all cain't be leavin' without yer boy." 

Again, Nadia smiled her unsightly smile. 

"Yer his granny, ain't ye?" 

Nadia nodded. "My daughter's child, lost to the Romany
many years ago." She waved her hand. "But that is
another tale." Turning to Fairlight, she said, "You
see well that which is not known." 

Blue eyes sweeping the mountains, Fairlight said, "I
don't rightly now how I knowed that." She regarded
Nadia. "I jest knowed it." 

"It was shown to you."  Nadia looked into Fairlight's
eyes. "And you did see it. But you also saw another --
something which caused you to run here." 

Fairlight shuddered. 

"You see the trouble coming," Nadia said in a very low
voice. 

With a nod, Fairlight said, blinking back tears, "Aye,
I see trouble for Miz Christy." Suddenly, the panic
she had felt earlier returned, and she gripped Nadia's
rough twisted hands. "We gotta be doin' sompthin'! We
cain't be lettin' nothin' happen to Miz Christy!" 

Nadia remained expressionless, seemingly unaffected by
Fairlight's abrupt outburst. "If you can see, sister,
always you must remember that nothing that you see --
nothing -- can you change."  


== == == == == == == == == == ==
Chapter 20

The wind had grown strong, and the gray clouds that
had been mounting all day, thickened as dusk fell upon
the cove. Lightning brightened the sky, and Christy
pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders.  Theo
slowly climbed up the hill from the cemetery.

Christy automatically repeated the words of the rhyme.
"Climb a hill and make her taller."

When she arrived at the waterfall, rain started to
fall.  Heavy, large drops pelted her skin. In moments,
she was soaked.  "If she stays upon her toes, she'll
stay dry, won't break her nose."

The creek was much higher than normal due to spring
rains.  It came up to Theo's flanks.  The stones that
served as a footbridge lay deep beneath the water. 
Christy crossed the creek and then dismounted at the
cave entrance.  The thunder and lightning struck
together, and the tree trunks wavered in the wind. 
Theo twisted nervously.

"Oh, Theo.  I'm sorry to leave you out here in this
rain."  She tethered Theo to a tree branch and stroked
the mule's slick neck.  She unhitched her lantern from
the saddle and entered the cave.  Once out of the wind
and rain, she lit the lantern and continued deeper
into the dripping cavern.

"Freddie," she called.  All she heard was her own
voice echoing back to her.  Maybe she was wrong to
come all the way out to the cave.  After all, she did
not know for sure that Freddie was there.  "Freddie?" 
She called again.

"Miss Christy?"  A meek voice called from deep within.
"Go back Miss Christy.  Go--"

"Freddie!  Freddie?"  Christy hastened her step.  The
lantern light jittered upon the stone walls with every
jolt.  When she stood at the edge of the red pool in
the large hollow, she lifted her lantern to look for
the boy.  "Freddie?"

And then she saw them. Freddie lay tucked and moaning
on the cave floor.  A dim torch lay barely burning
beside him, and Adam Johnson stood tall in front of
his son.  He supported the rifle in his arms and
pointed the barrel directly at Christy.  "Welcome,
Miss Christy," he said.

****

"But we can't just do nothing!"  Fairlight said.  "We
have to help her.  Do you know where she is?"

"I do not know.  But perhaps together, we can find
her."  Nadia gripped Fairlight's hands in hers.  The
minute they clutched hands, the skies opened and
poured rain down in sheets.  Nadia closed her eyes and
lifted her face to the sky.  Fairlight did the same. 
They stood silently, letting the rain saturate them. 
Fairlight had never forced her visions to come.  They
had always been handed to her in dreams.  They came
when they wanted to come.  She had had no control over
them.

"Relax," Nadia said.  "Clear your mind of everything. 
Let the vision seep in by itself like the rain seeps
through your clothes.  Do not force it, just open
yourself to it and let it come."

Fairlight took a deep breath and attempted to clear
her mind.  All that she could see was the darkness
behind her eyelids.  But then, suddenly, beneath the
darkness, she saw stone walls and dripping water.  She
dropped Nadia's hands.

"The cave."  They both said in unison.  Fairlight
opened her eyes just as lightning lit up the sky.  In
that brief flash, she found Nadia's penetrating eyes
starring back at her.

Then Nadia groaned in pain and doubled over.

"Are ya all right?" Fairlight asked, placing her hand
on the older woman's back.

"The boy is with her.  He has the cross. I'm feeling
what he feels.  He has my daughter's cross in his
hand. He's in pain!"

As she said this, Neil and David rode into the mission
yard.  Both men were exhausted.  Their horses snorted
at the rain.  They dismounted.  David's legs were
bowed from the long day's ride.  As they started for
the barn, David noticed, in the fading light, that
Fairlight and Nadia were standing in the rain.  

Neil also saw the two women and quickened his pace
toward them.  "What are you doing out here in this
storm, Fairlight?"

She turned to Neil quickly.  "Thank God you two're
here.  It's Christy.  I had another vision.  She's in
trouble, Neil.  I saw it.  I think she's gone to the
cave." 

Neil and David stood motionless, letting Fairlight's
words wash over them.

"Damn!"  Neil shouted.  "I should have known better!" 

Neither of the men spoke.  They both mounted their
horses again and galloped through the storm toward the
cave.

****

"Mr. Johnson, what can you possibly hope to gain by
all this?"  Christy asked.  The steadiness of her
voice surprised her.

"I'll thank you to leave us alone; this is my boy, and
no one is going to tell me what to do with him."

Christy's looked back and forth between Frederick and
Mr. Johnson.  The man had his finger on the trigger,
ready to pull.  His eyes were wild and unblinking. 
She had no idea what to say next.  Rainwater dripped
from her chin.

Frederick picked up the torch that dwindled beside
him. When he did, the flame revived.  He stretched
forward, with effort, and lit his father's shirt on
fire.  The tall man became engulfed with flames before
he knew what had happened.  Chilling screams of pain
escaped his lungs.  He dropped the rifle, flailed
about, and then jumped into the red pool. 

Christy ran to Frederick's side.  She collected his
crutches, then helped him up and steadied him.  She
knew that there was no way to carry him.

"Come on Freddie, we have to hurry. Can you make it?" 

"I can make it," he said with conviction.

Christy clutched the lantern in one hand and held her
other out to brace the wobbling boy.  Together, they
hobbled out of the cave.  Christy feared that Mr.
Johnson was right behind them -- perhaps with his gun.
Her heart raced so fast that she could feel it in her
throat.  Outside, they were met by the fury of the
storm.  Theo was gone.  Christy examined the tree
where she had left the mule.  The branch to which Theo
had been tied was snapped.

Christy looked around for her mule, but it was too
dark to see. They would have to make it back to the
mission on foot.

Frederick stood wearily, leaning all his weight on his
crutches.  Christy watched helplessly as one of his
crutches slipped out from under him.  The boy tumbled
down the slope and disappeared from the lantern's
light.  Christy heard a splash and knew that he'd
fallen into the creek.

She scrambled down, half sliding in the mud, after
him. "Freddie!  Freddie!"  The creek rushed swollen
and quick because of the rain.  How would he swim? 
She panicked.  She ran down the bank calling for him.

"Help!" he gurgled. 

She ran after him.  "Grab onto a log." She wished for
Neil; she wished for David.  But no one was there. 
How was she going to get Freddie out of the creek? 
She tripped over stumps and rocks trying to keep up
with him.  She had long since dropped the lantern, and
could only see him when the lightning flared in the
sky.  

Frederick bobbed to the surface and back under water
again.

There was no way to rescue him from the bank, so
Christy dove into the water after him.  She swam with
all of her might to the middle of the creek.  The
current pulled strong, but she managed to find
Freddie.  

He latched onto her and in a frenzy, pulled her under,
using her to clamber to the surface for air.  Christy
fought against him and rolled over and over again
beneath the water. The bubbles fizzled all around her
until she was not sure which way was up.  Still in his
grip, Christy wrestled.  She could not hold her breath
any more.  She lost control and breathed water into
her lungs as if it were air.  She kept thinking to
herself that it couldn't be her time to die.

In the depths of her being, she found a strength that
she did not know that she had, and somehow, she burst
to the surface.  She coughed up water and struggled to
breathe.

Freddie was still caught in the current and floated
limply beside her.  She grabbed him by the shirt
collar and swam hard against the flow of water toward
the bank.  Just as they went under a tree branch, she
grabbed hold.  This brought them to a dead halt.  The
velocity of the water rushing past them pulled hard. 
The tree limb bent in an arc, but it didn't break. 
The strength of the water strained Christy's arm at
the shoulder. It took all of her strength just to hold
on. She didn't have the power to pull them out of the
water and onto the bank.

Her hands began to ache under the strain of her grip. 
She didn't know how long she could keep holding on to
the branch.  "Help!"  Her voice was hardly audible. 
She coughed up more water.  The rain fell in torrents.
"Help!"  She screamed louder.

Freddie had not moved or spoken, but his head remained
above water.  Christy still clasped him by the collar.
"Oh God, God help me please.  Please!"  She could feel
her grip on the tree loosening.  She took a deep
breath and yelled.  "Please help me!"

She was answered only by a loud crash of thunder.


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 21

"Christy!  Freddie!"  David kept his head and
shoulders hunched as he followed Dr. MacNeill through
the low passageways of the cave.  Their torches cast a
flickering light only a few feet ahead of them,
revealing an uneven, treacherous path.  David marveled
at the doctor's sure, quick pace; his own eyes were
locked on the rough ground before him, and he had to
move cautiously.

When David fell behind, Dr. MacNeill looked back. 
"Keep up with me!"  David returned his irate glare,
but said nothing.  This was no time for them to argue.

They approached a division in the tunnel.  MacNeill
gestured to the right.  "This way?"  David nodded in
agreement.  When Christy and the children had been
caught in here, he was sure it had been down that same
passage.

In the moment they paused, they heard a sound from the
right-hand tunnel. It was a pebble bouncing down a
rocky incline and finally clattering onto the bottom. 
The men exchanged a glance and hastened toward the
source.  "Christy!  Freddie!"

There was a sharp turn in the passage.  David felt
cooler air and heard the echoing of their steps in a
large open cavern.  MacNeill stopped short.

David saw that the ceiling extended far above them,
and the edge of the path to their right dropped off
into darkness.  They were standing on a ledge in a
large underground room.  He was surprised that the
cavern was quite illuminated, and in an instant
realized why.

Adam Johnson stood not more than twenty feet away,
holding a torch and a rifle.  "Damn you!"  He swiftly
dropped the torch, raised his gun, and pulled the
trigger.

"No!" yelled David, knowing it was too late.  The
barrel was aimed directly at the doctor's chest, but
there was no explosion, no impact of a bullet.  The
gun had misfired.  David's heart had stopped, but now
pounded at a racing speed.

Johnson cursed and turned the rifle in his hands.  He
swung it like a club as Dr. MacNeill lunged at him. 
The doctor ducked under the stock of the gun, catching
Johnson by the waist and forcing him back to the rough
cave wall.

"What have you done to Christy!"  MacNeill slammed the
flailing man against the rocks once more.

David dropped his torch and rushed forward just in
time to catch the rifle as Johnson was about to crash
it down onto the doctor.  David yanked, and tumbled
backward when the gun slipped from Johnson's grip. 
Panic clutched at David's throat.  Where was the edge
of the path?  How far down was the bottom?  He
scrambled to the wall.

With an angry shout, Johnson pushed back against the
doctor, forcing him toward the drop-off.  MacNeill's
feet began to skid on the loose pebbles at the edge.

"Doctor!"  David jumped forward to grab him, but was
blocked by Johnson, who shoved with all his might. 
Now only the doctor's head and arms were visible,
hanging onto the ledge as he clutched at David.

Johnson's yell changed from rage to terror as his own
foot slipped; his momentum carried him over Dr.
MacNeill and into the darkness.  Both men disappeared
into the cavern.

David heard sickening thuds as they hit bottom. 
"Doctor MacNeill!"  He snatched up a torch and held it
out into the gaping emptiness.  The floor seemed to be
about fifteen feet below him.  He could see someone
moving slowly.

****

The water was pushing, pushing, pushing against
Christy.  Her fists had a death-grip on the branch and
on Freddie, but her arms and shoulders were burning
with the exertion of holding against the powerful
current.  She felt herself sinking lower into the
foaming water.

Dear God, she prayed, what shall I do?  Christy
swiveled her head to look downstream, but saw only
boulders and whitewater until darkness hid everything.
 She couldn't hold on much longer, but how was she to
keep both herself and the unconscious boy above the
surface if they were once again carried by the
merciless torrent?

She turned her head at a sound from upstream.  Was
that a human voice?  The crests of water blocked her
view.  Christy called, "Help!" again, but her cry was
swallowed by the noise of the river.  She saw nothing.

There it was again!  A man's voice shouted, though
Christy couldn't understand the words.  Her heart
leapt, and her arms tightened with renewed strength.

"Miss Huddleston!"  She finally saw the man, but
didn't recognize him at first.  He wasn't speeding
with the current as she and Freddie had, but was
approaching them slowly.  Christy stared at him in
confusion.

Now he was only a few feet away, with water swirling
around him in violent eddies.  He first grasped
Freddie, and then pulled Christy close.

"Reny?"  Christy's hands seemed frozen, so tight was
her grip, but when she felt his strong arm on her
waist, she released the branch and clutched at the
gypsy king's neck.

"I've got you, Miss.  I've got the boy."  Reny twisted
to look behind him.  Christy followed his glance, and
in the darkness could just make out the forms of four
others on the far bank.

Finally she realized that Reny had a rope around him. 
The men pulled steadily, and as soon as Christy, Reny
and Freddie were close to the shore, they splashed in
to pull them up onto the bank.

They gypsies immediately turned their attention to the
unconscious young man.  Christy could only shiver and
watch as they turned him, pressing on his chest and
back until he coughed up a frightening amount of
water.  He didn't wake up.

"We have to get him to Doctor MacNeill," Christy said,
and immediately was racked by a coughing fit.  Water
came up and she spat it out.  When the spell passed,
she was exhausted, unable to speak or move.  Her limbs
trembled from tiredness.

Reny was at her side, lifting her in his arms.  "He's
breathing, Miss Huddleston.  We'll get both of you
home."

Christy recognized the blacksmith and two other men
from the gypsy camp, as well as a young teen-aged boy.
 The blacksmith held Freddie as though he were a small
child.  They set out at a brisk pace.

Christy's mind was churning with questions and worry,
but she could only utter, "How did --" before another
spasm of coughing stopped her.  She weakly leaned her
head against Reny's neck as he wound through the woods
behind the two men with lanterns.

"Easy, Miss Huddleston.  Just rest yourself.  You want
to know how we found you."  Christy nodded.  "Well! 
Joe here saw you leave the camp in a hurry this
evening, and he followed you."  The boy turned to grin
shyly at Christy.  "He saw you go into the cave, and
he ran back for help.  His father, Fedor the
blacksmith, thought we'd need the rope in there." 
Reny smiled first at Christy and then at the powerful
man who held Freddie.  "You were half right, Fedor!"

Christy was still in a daze of confusion.  "But how
did you find us?"  Her voice was raspy, but she spoke
without coughing this time.

"Don't strain yourself, Miss."  Reny shifted her
slightly in his arms.  "It was Joe who spotted the
boy's crutch and your lantern near the river.  We saw
where you must have slid down the bank and into the
water, and we ran downstream until we saw you."

Though the rain had stopped and the night was mild,
Christy still shivered.  She felt herself drifting off
to sleep, and fought to stay awake.  She had to see
that Freddie made it back to Dr. MacNeill.

****

Christy's eyes opened, and in an instant all the fear
of last night returned.  She remembered falling into
Fairlight's arms at the door of the Mission house, but
everything afterward was vague.  Had Neil spoken to
her, or was that a dream?  What happened to Freddie?

The sky was just brightening with the dawn as she
stiffly rose and dressed.  Her head ached and all her
muscles were sore, forcing her to move slowly. 
Christy listened at Freddie's door for a moment before
entering.  She hadn't realized she was holding her
breath, but when she saw Freddie lying asleep on the
bed, with Dr. MacNeill sitting beside him in the
narrow room, she expelled the air in a sharp sigh of
relief.

"Christy," the doctor whispered.  His face was all
concern as he swiftly rose to meet her, scraping the
chair backward on the bare floor in his haste.  With
one hand he cradled her neck and jaw, and with the
other he gently grasped her arm.  "How do you feel?"

Perhaps it was the unmasked worry in the doctor's
eyes, or his affectionate touch on her cheek, or the
sight of Freddie, looking thin and pale, or
thankfulness that he was alive, or the release of all
the accumulated strain of yesterday's frantic events
-- whatever the reason, Christy felt tears pooling in
her eyes, and she began to cry softly.

She was embarrassed, and covered her face, leaning her
shoulder on Neil's chest.  She felt his hand on her
back, and heard his soothing voice as he led her to
the seat.  In another minute she was able to look up
at him; she even smiled a little as he fumbled through
his pockets in search of a handkerchief.  He finally
offered it to her, and perched on the edge of the bed
as she wiped her eyes and nose.

"I'm sorry," she began, but he shook his head.

"Don't be.  You're exhausted and worried about the
lad."  They both gazed at Freddie for a moment.  "Reny
told me how they rescued you," the doctor continued,
"and how you saved Freddie."  He leaned forward and
grasped both of Christy's hands.  He was trembling
slightly.  She felt as though it was she who was
comforting him.

"God sent them.  He helped them find us.  I know it." 
She expected to see the usual cynicism in his face,
but he was still watching her earnestly.  He released
her and sat back, but didn't contest her words in any
way.

"How's Freddie?" she asked.  The deathly still form of
the young man frightened her.

"He hasn't regained consciousness yet, though his
breathing is regular, and his lungs seem to be free
from water."  The doctor retrieved his saddlebags from
the floor, stood, and reached for Christy's hand. 
"Time will tell."

"Can I stay with him for a while?"

"Not now.  I need to examine you, Christy.  Reny told
me you were coughing last night, and your voice is
hoarse.  Did you inhale water?"

She groaned involuntarily as she stood; even rising
from the chair was a strain.  The doctor held her arm
firmly.  "A little," she replied as he led her slowly
into the hall, "but I think it all came up as soon as
I came to the surface again."

Christy noticed that Dr. MacNeill walked unevenly. 
Was he limping?  How did he get those scratches on his
face?  He paused inside the doorway of her room, still
supporting her.  The look of fear and concern was in
his eyes again.

"Christy, when we couldn't find you or Freddie, I was
out of my mind with worry.  Why did you go alone?"  To
her relief, he didn't sound angry; her tears were
still too near the surface to bear any harsh words. 
"If the gypsies hadn't followed you..."  He gripped
both of her arms gently and gazed at her.  Christy
studied his face; why did he look guilty?  After a
moment he guided her to the chair.

They were both silent as the doctor examined her. 
Finally, when he was convinced that her lungs were
clear, and when he had given her medicine mixed in
water to drink, he stood before her.  "Tell me
everything, Christy."

She hardly knew how to begin.  "I can't explain it --
I just knew that Freddie would hide in the cave.  But
his father had caught him."  Christy gasped.  "Neil! 
Mr. Johnson was in the cave!  We ran away from him,
but he's got a gun, and he'll come after Freddie
again!"

"Christy."  He crouched at her side.  She clasped her
fingers nervously as she waited for him to continue. 
"Adam Johnson's dead."

Her mouth dropped open.  "Dead!  How did it happen?" 
She and Freddie had left him floundering in the red
pool.  "Did he drown?"  She reached for Dr. MacNeill's
hand, keeping her eyes fixed on his.

"No, he fell off a ledge in the caverns and landed on
his neck."

Christy's mind raced.  How did Neil know this?  He
must have found Mr. Johnson.  Now she recalled the
doctor's limp and the scrape on his jaw, and noticed
cuts on his hands.  "You fought with him!  He hurt
you.  What happened?"

He looked away, obviously trying to spare her further
fright.  "Please, Doctor."

"All right."  He sighed deeply and rose to his full
height again.  "David and I met him in the cave.  He
attacked us, and Johnson and I both fell.  I managed
to land more or less on my feet, but he broke his
back."

Christy stared in horror.  Freddie's father was dead. 
Neil might have been killed!  "What about David?"

"He's fine.  He's not hurt."

She was silent for some time, trying to comprehend the
awful news.  Too many disasters had struck at once. 
She looked up with a start when the doctor touched her
shoulder.

His voice was firm.  "Christy, you should lie down
again.  Try to get some more sleep."

"No, there's school today."  The medicine had begun to
work.  Her headache was gone, and the other pains had
receded.  She felt hungry.

"Not for you," he said.  "David will teach, or else
he'll send the children home."  Dr. MacNeill's face
was stern, and Christy knew that no amount of
stubbornness or persuasion would move him.  However,
sleep was impossible now.  

She stood without his help this time, and looked at
him hopefully.  "How about breakfast?"


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 22

Neil nodded and followed her down the stairs.

"Do you think that Freddie will be all right?" Christy
asked as they neared the landing.  She glanced over her
shoulder to see Neil's reaction.  He was a doctor and
very skilled at guarding his true professional opinions,
particularly with those who were concerned for his
patient.  However, Christy knew that if she looked into
his blue eyes she'd see the truth.  Neil could not lie to
her about Freddie.

Just then, her foot slipped off the stair treads and she
started to fall backwards.  She flailed wildly to try to
break her fall, but two strong arms caught her.  More
embarrassed than hurt, she glanced up right into Dr.
MacNeill's rugged face.

"Easy there.  Are you all right?"

Christy blushed furiously and stammered, "I'm fine.  I
guess I'm just more tired than I thought."

The doctor quickly helped her to her feet and they
continued down the stairs, his hand cradling her left
elbow.  David was already seated at the table.  Dr.
MacNeill pulled out a chair for her and stood for a
moment with his hand resting on her shoulder before
taking his own seat.  Christy glanced nervously at David
for any hint of jealousy, but she saw none.

David bowed his head, "Thank you Lord for this food and
for your blessings.  We ask that you look after young
Frederick and return him to good health. In your name we
pray, Amen."

****

After breakfast, Christy followed David onto the porch. 
"David, I want to go to school today, to teach the
children.  I need them and they need me.  Things have
been so crazy around here lately with Freddie and now his
father..."

"Absolutely not!  Neither Doctor MacNeill nor I will
stand for it.  You've been through too much.  You need to
rest.  You nearly drowned, Christy."  David grasped her
by the shoulders and stared down at her as if she might
disappear.

"But David..."

"No buts!  I'm going to take care of school today and
tomorrow if necessary.  You need your rest.  Doctor's
orders."

Christy chuckled.  "I thought you didn't believe that
Doctor MacNeill was a proper doctor.  Didn't you say that
if he were any kind of doctor at all he would have taken
a prestigious job in the city instead of coming back here
to the Cove?"

"I'm sorry I said that," David said and looked away.

"David Grantland, what on earth has gotten into you? 
It's like you and Neil MacNeill are over your little
sparring match of late."  Christy smiled coyly.

"I never thought I'd say this, Christy, much less to you,
but I admire Doctor MacNeill."

Christy wrinkled her forehead.  "What did you just say?"

David turned on his heel and looked at the young
schoolteacher.  "He didn't tell you, did he?"

"Tell me about Mr. Johnson and how he attacked you in the
cave?  He said that you both fought him.  Doctor MacNeill
and Mr. Johnson fell and that's how Freddie's father..."
her voice broke as she thought of Adam Johnson breaking
his back in the fall.  She clutched onto the railing for
support and closed her eyes tightly.

David touched her arm lightly.  "Christy, there's more." 
He directed her to a rocker and sat down next to her. 
"You're right.  We did fight with Johnson.  He was
waiting for us in the cave."  Christy glanced over at
David, whose eyes grew more distant as he continued the
tale.  "There was a sharp turn in the passage.  I could
feel the air grow cooler and we heard footsteps in the
open cavern in front of us.  As we rounded the corner, we
saw a bright light and thought that you were there with
Freddie."

"Go on, David.  What happened?"

"Adam Johnson was in front of us.  We barely had time to
react when we saw that he had a rifle.  He cursed us and
aimed his gun directly at Doctor MacNeill's chest.  He
was less than twenty feet away, Christy.  Point blank
range!  I yelled, but it was too late.  I felt sick.  I
couldn't believe that I was about to watch Mr. Johnson
kill MacNeill right in front of me."

David glanced at Christy as if afraid of what might
happen if he continued the story.  "The gun misfired,
Christy.  I barely had time to react because Johnson
swung the gun like a club and charged at Doctor MacNeill.
 I was able to get it away from him before he hit the
doctor, but they struggled and fell off the path into the
dark.  I tried to see over the edge but it was too dark."

By now, Christy's eyes were filled with tears.  "David,
you both could have been killed," she whispered.

Just then Ruby Mae burst out of the mission door and ran
by them.  "Ain't you comin' ta school today, Preacher?" 
David leaned down to give Christy's shoulders a gentle
squeeze and followed the redhead up the slope toward the
schoolhouse.

About half way up the hill, David stopped and turned
around.  Christy still sat on the porch, her head
burrowed in her hands.  David sighed deeply.  "Grantland,
I hope you know what you're doing," he said to himself
and continued toward the sound of the young voices on the
hilltop in front of him.


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Subject: 
             Fanfic: Travelers and Travails, Ch 23
 Resent-Date: 
             Sat, 1 Jan 2000 00:46:40 +0800
 Resent-From: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
        Date: 
             Fri, 31 Dec 1999 08:46:31 -0800 (PST)
        From: 
             "Ann E." <siriaes@yahoo.com>
    Reply-To: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
          To: 
             ChristyList <christy@gospel.iinet.net.au>




== == == == == == == == == == == 
Travelers and Travails, Chapter 23
By: Charlotte, Greer, Regina, KellyO, Annie, Cynthia,
Miranda, Lisa3, Lisa Renee, Susie
== == == == == == == == == == ==


"When you have four divided by two, that's like taking
four rocks," David drew a line down the chalk board, "and
putting them evenly in two groups."  Two large white dots
were etched onto each side of the white line. "Do you
understand?"

David looked over the classroom for any sign of
consciousness.  Wraight Holt was asleep and had been for
hours. Creed Allen and his friend, Zacharias Holt, were
whispering mischievously while glancing at some of the
girls across the room.  Ruby Mae and Bessie Coburn
weren't bothering to whisper, but talked right out loud
to one another, laughing occasionally.  Rob Allen was
writing poetry, John Spencer was humming a new song, and
Little Burl Allen was playing with a piece of string that
was stuck to his desk.

If David had been Miss Christy, he'd have known that
Wraight had been awake all night helping his pa with
chores. He would have quickly separated Creed and Zach,
and giggled with Ruby Mae and Bessie at recess about some
new additions to their hope chests. Christy would have
admired Rob's work between classes, because she would
have known about his fondness of Ruby Mae. She would have
listened to John Spencer's song after class, knowing he
was nervous about playing it as a farewell for the
gypsies, and Miss Christy would have given the children
something to do so that they wouldn't resort to playing
with the string that stuck to their desks.

But David knew none of this.  He could only sigh and
continue with his lesson.

****

Christy and Dr. MacNeill sat in the kitchen, quietly
sipping steaming hot coffee when the door burst open with
a thud.  Startled, Christy's coffee spilled onto her
shaking hand and cascaded over the table.

"Doc MacNeill, you gotta come quick! George Spencer an'
John McPherson done started a full feud! Three men was
shot 'sides them.  Best bring Miz Alice.  You kin smell
the feudin' blood once ya get close near those parts."

The messenger looked to be about thirteen and was full of
fire. He offered to lead the doctor back, but Neil
politely declined and hurried to find his bag and jacket.

The boy was gone as suddenly as he had come. Christy kept
her slightly burned hand dipped in the cool water of the
wash-basin until the scorching pain had eased a little,
then ran to get a few of her own belongings.

Christy passed Alice's room and saw Dr. MacNeill checking
his patient.  She continued down the steps and toward the
barn to saddle Theo.  She worked with a silent urgency
that pulled her to complete her task. She anticipated the
argument to come, but knew that there was no winner or
loser in this dispute.

Christy was leading Theo beside Dr. MacNeill's horse when
he rushed out of the mission house, taking the steps
three at a time.

The doctor stopped in front of her.  "You're not going."

"I am going, you need help."  The breeze was refreshing,
and it gently swooshed her heavy skirts around her
ankles.

"You're not a nurse and I won't have you tiring yourself
out."

Her blue eyes flashed fire at him.  "You can't go by
yourself.  You're tired, hungry, and you need a nurse. 
Don't argue with me about that because I know Miss Alice
isn't well enough to travel.  I'm the only choice you
have, so you may as well accept it."  Christy pulled
herself up onto Theo.

Dr. MacNeill sighed.  "Fine then.  But you'll not ride
that mule.  It's too slow and neither of you knows the
way, especially in the dark."

Christy began to protest, but kept quiet as Dr. MacNeill
helped her down from the mule.  A group of gypsy children
played nearby, and Dr. MacNeill called them over as he
removed Christy's saddlebags and lapped them over his
own.  "If you put Miss Huddleston's mule back into the
barn, I'm sure that Mr. Grantland can find some shortcake
for you." The children laughed and headed toward the barn
with Theo in tow as the doctor mounted his steed.

The doctor's eyes gleamed as he pulled Christy up behind
him. "It is going to be a long ride, Christy, so you may
as well get comfortable."

****

After a half an hour of silence, Christy began to wonder
if Dr. MacNeill was asleep. "Neil," she whispered gently,
"Neil, are you all right?"

A quiet answer came back, "Yes, Christy, I'm fine."

The doctor sounded tired. Christy asked timidly after a
pause, "Is George Spencer related to Jeb?"

"Yes, but a long way back.  Jeb's great-grandfather had
two brothers.  They were only a year apart in age. They
both fell in love with Jeb's great-grandmother's sister. 
The youngest had ambition and was supposed to be a very
handsome man, but she fell in love with the older and
married him.  The younger brother killed the older
brother.  The youngest then forced the woman to marry him
and they had one son.  That was George's grandfather. 
George's great-grandmother cursed the family and the
story is that the youngest son will always die in a
feud."

Christy was shocked. This was such a horrible, sad story.
"That really happened?"

"Yes. Jeb tells it sometimes. So far, every youngest son
has been killed in a feud. There's no reason not to
believe that her curse is real."  Dr. MacNeill twisted
around in the saddle so that he could look Christy in the
face.

She looked away.  These people were so unforgiving.

He turned back to the front. "We'll be at the creek soon.
 We can stop there and rest."

A few minutes later, he slowed the horse and dismounted,
then helped Christy slide onto the ground.  She found a
mossy seat on a large rock.

Neil stood silently while the horse drank.

"He was thirsty." Christy remarked with a slight laugh. 
Neil smiled as he tied the reins to a strong tree.  He
returned with a thin bag that held an assortment of
biscuits, cheese, jerky, and shortcake as well as two
bottles of milk wrapped in soft cloth.

"Let's eat." Neil helped himself to a biscuit and some
jerky.

Christy put on a stern schoolteacher's voice. "Doctor
MacNeill, we must pray first."

She clasped hands with him and bowed her head.  "Lord,
thank you for our food and many other blessings. Please
guide Doctor MacNeill's hands, and please give me
strength to be of help. Lead us safely there and back and
take care of everyone at the mission. In Christ's Name,
Amen."

Christy tried to pull her hands back, but the doctor kept
one of them.  She winced, not from pain, but because she
knew what was coming.

"Christy, is this where you spilled your coffee this
morning?"  He gently lifted her hand toward his face.

"Yes, but it doesn't hurt.  Don't worry, it's just a
little red, Doctor." Christy pulled her hand away and
hurriedly grabbed a piece of cheese.

"Well, you should put some aloe on it, nonetheless." He
scanned the surrounding foliage.  

"No use crying over spilled coffee." Christy grinned at
her weak joke.

Dr. MacNeill managed a small smile and tore off a bit of
an aloe plant as they cleaned up their small meal. "Rub
this on the red places. It will make your hand feel
better."  He started to gather up his things.  "We need
to hurry. There are people bleeding to death and we're
sitting at a picnic."

After repacking their food, the two again mounted the
horse for a long ride. This time Neil insisted that
Christy ride in front of him so that she could rest.

Christy's dark hair that had been neatly tucked into a
braided bun now hung out in every direction. "I will not
sleep, Doctor. You need sleep more than I do."

But the doctor was not to be argued with. Christy sat in
front of him and they were soon on the trail at a faster
pace than before.

Dr. MacNeill finally broke the awkward silence.  "It'll
be about six hours before we stop again, Christy."

There was no answer.

"Christy?"

Christy's light, steady breathing made the doctor laugh
out loud. She leaned against him now, dead weight in his
arms. 


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 24

The night was pitch black when Neil and Christy
approached the mission on horseback. Rain had fallen
steadily throughout their journey; they'd been forced to
stop often to rest Charlie, and Christy was soaked. 

She was also exhausted. The past twenty-four hours were a
blur. She had sterilized instruments, given ether, taken
temperatures, and passed out medicine. But no matter how
much she'd insisted, Neil refused to let her help with
the actual surgery. Once she'd dispensed the anesthetic
and laid out his equipment, he banished her from the
room. She knew Neil had not forgotten how Freddie's
surgery had affected her. It seemed like such a long time
ago.

"Down you go." Neil's voice broke into her thoughts.
Peering through the darkness, Christy was almost
surprised to see the mission looming over them. She
allowed him to ease her onto the ground and grunted as
she took her first step. Two days of riding had left her
muscles stiff and sore. She lifted her skirt and gingerly
climbed the porch steps. 

Neil's hand was on her shoulder. "Christy, I want you to
change into dry clothes and go directly to bed. It's been
a long two days." 

Christy attempted a weak smile. "No longer than for you.
Besides, I need to talk to Miss Alice, and see if
Freddie--"

"Christy!"  David ran toward them from the direction of
his bunkhouse and bounded up the steps.  He turned to
Neil. "Doctor, thank goodness you're back."

"What's happened?" 

Christy was equally worried. "Is it Freddie?" 

David addressed the doctor. "Alice is ill, vomiting
blood. I've tried to make her comfortable, but--"

Neil pushed open the front door. "I'll go up and see
her." 

"No, wait." David grabbed the doctor's arm. "You'd better
hear this first." Though they stood under the porch roof,
water poured through the slats. David glanced skyward.
"Let's get out of this rain." 

The three stood in the mission parlor, their clothes
dripping onto the floorboards.  "The gypsies left the
Cove early this morning.  Didn't say why -- just packed
up their things. Freddie went with them."  David looked
apologetically at Neil and Christy.  "He was terribly
upset about leaving without being able to thank you. I
promised to do it for him."

Neil's face reflected his impatience, and Christy knew he
was anxious to check on Alice. "Your point, Reverend? I
assume there is one."

"Yes, doctor.  A few hours after the gypsies left, we
discovered Ruby Mae missing.  We looked everywhere.  To
make a long story short," he looked pointedly at Neil,
"she took off after Freddie, and Alice was determined to
find her."

Neil and Christy both started to speak, but David
silenced them.  "I tried to stop her, told her I'd go,
but she insisted.  It was all I could do to ride with
her."

"How long did she last?" Neil asked in a tired voice that
suggested he knew the answer. 

"Not long.  She was in terrible pain, probably had been
from the start.  We only got back a few hours ago."  He
glanced helplessly at the doctor.  "I gave her the
medicine you left, but it hasn't helped much."

"What about Ruby Mae?" Christy asked. 

David looked defeated. "I don't know." 

"David!"

"I couldn't let Alice ride back alone.  By the time we
got to the mission, the horses were exhausted and Alice
was too sick to leave by herself.  I'm sorry, Christy." 

"You did the right thing," Neil said.

"Now that you're here, I'll saddle Prince and go after
Ruby Mae."

"Reverend."  Neil's voice stopped David at the door. 
"I'd not go out on a night like this. You'll not be able
to find a thing.  Besides, I may need your help."

****

"Does thee not look a sight." Alice gave Neil a tired
smile as he entered the room.

Her attempt at levity did not fool him. He could see in
the tightness of Alice's face that she was ill and in
pain. Once again he felt the frustration of too many
patients spread over too many miles. 

"Do not fret, Neil. David has taken good care of me." 

He pulled up a chair beside the bed.  "Alice, what were
you doing chasing after--" One look at her contrite
expression and he broke off his lecture.  "Never mind,
we'll discuss it later."  He reached for her wrist. 
"Tell me exactly what happened."

"First, tell me about thy visit to Lyleton. Has the
feuding resumed?"

"First, I'll examine you."  Alice could be stubborn, but
he could be equally so.  He felt her forehead with the
back of his hand and found it warm to the touch.  "How
many times have you vomited in the past day?"

"Neil, thee is being cruel.  Thee knows I was in Lyleton
only last month and delivered Maggie Spencer's child."

"How many times?" 

Alice did not meet his eyes.  "Two or three." 

"More than that, I'll wager.  Open."  He slid a
thermometer into her mouth.

"Neil!"  Alice's voice was garbled.  "What happened in
Lyleton?" 

Neil hid a grin as he stood up from the bed and crossed
to the dresser, where he began to lather his hands.  "It
was a mess, I'll grant you, but not as serious as it
might have been."  He glanced over his shoulder as he
dipped his hands in fresh water.  "It started with George
Spencer defending his niece's honor and in no time old
passions took over.  George got the worst of it. Bullet
shattered his femur and he'll be lucky not to lose the
leg."

Returning to the bed, he removed the thermometer and held
it to the light.  "How long have you had fever?"

"Yesterday, I think. Who else was injured?" 

"Lie back now."  Inwardly, he had to smile at their
little game.  Alice desperately wanted information on his
recent journey and he needed her cooperation during his
examination.  It was a fair trade.  He rearranged the
bedclothes.  "John took a bullet to the face but the
wound was superficial."  He gently pressed on her
abdomen, starting where he knew there was no pain and
steadily working his way toward the affected area. 
"George's son James was shot in the belly. Don't know
how--" 

"Oh!"  Alice nearly came off the bed.

Neil paused to let her collect herself then resumed his
examination and explanation.  Alice writhed under his
relentless probing.  "I don't know how the bullet missed
his vital organs.  Joe's boys had flesh wounds, bloody
but not serious."  He pulled the covers back over her.

"How bad is it?" 

"Your ulcer is bleeding again." 

"Will thee operate?" 

"It's risky, Alice, you know that.  But you've had
several bouts of hemorrhaging and I'm worried about
perforation."  Neil pulled his stethoscope from his bags
and listened to her heart and lungs.  It was his way of
letting Alice reflect on what he'd just told her.

She did not speak until he had finished.  "When will thee
do the surgery?"

"In the morning.  It can wait and I need the sleep."  He
gave her a weary smile.  "You'd not want me to operate
now.  I'll get Grantland to assist."

"I can assist you," Christy said softly from the doorway.
 "Then David can search for Ruby Mae."

Neil turned at the sound of her voice.  He hadn't heard
her enter the room.  "Ruby Mae will have to wait," he
said sharply.

"She's been out there alone for hours." 

"Don't you think I know that?  But there's no guarantee
he'll find her and I need him here."

"Neil, I can do it.  Please." 

"No, Christy.  I've told you that you'll not be assisting
me in surgery."

Alice's gaze shifted between them.  "Neil, is something
wrong?  Did something happen in Lyleton?"

"Nothing happened," he snapped.  "Now roll onto your
side." 

"There's no need for that," Alice said, eyeing the
hypodermic that he was preparing.

"It will ease the pain and help you sleep.  I want you
well rested for surgery."  After giving Alice the
injection, he tucked the covers around her and prepared
to leave.

Christy stopped him at the door. "Can I stay a while?"

He gave her a terse nod and left the room.

**** 

Ruby Mae had stopped running hours ago.  When daylight
faded, she'd slowed to a walk.  Now in the rainy,
moonless night she staggered from tree to tree,
desperately searching for some light, some sign of
civilization in the murky blackness that surrounded her.

She was tired.  She was hungry.  She was scratched and
bloodied.  But most of all, she was terrified.  She was
alone in the woods with only the vaguest notion where she
was and no clue how to find her way forward or back.  All
around her were sounds, noises that had kept her company
during the day but now sent her heart racing.

When she could walk no further, she slowly eased herself
down the trunk of a large pine until she was seated atop
the needles at its base.  Water dripped onto her head and
the bottom of her dress was quickly soaked.  She started
to cry.

She had set out this afternoon determined to find
Freddie.  She couldn't let him leave without knowing when
she'd see him again.  When he had kissed her goodbye, her
world had stopped.  His lips had been strong, hard,
pressed tightly against hers.  She'd never been kissed
like that, on the mouth.  It was the most exciting,
passionate thing that had ever happened to her.  Long
after he'd gone, the salty taste of his kiss tingled her
tongue.

Freddie had explained why he had to go with the gypsies
-- they'd take him to Asheville where he could find work.
 He'd said something about coming back once he was
settled. But it was all a haze: words, promises, and that
exhilarating kiss.  Then the gypsies were gone and so was
Freddie.

She had no idea what had caused her to drop the cucumber
she was chopping and flee across the mountains, other
than an overpowering urge to see Freddie once more.  Only
when the weather turned bad and twilight began to creep
across the Cove did she realize no one knew where she'd
gone.

She considered turning back.  With their head start and
riding on horseback and wagons, the gypsies would be
miles ahead of her.  But they had to rest their horses
and she knew these woods better than they did.  Or so
she'd thought.  Now she was lost, alone, with no
possibility of help.

Ruby Mae took a deep breath as the tears flowed.  She
pulled her coat more tightly around her -- she was
becoming chilled in the damp weather.  If only Miss
Christy were here, she always knew what to do.  Ruby Mae
tried to think clearly and logically like Miss Christy. 
She should find shelter from the rain but she hadn't seen
a cabin for miles and was too cold and tired to travel
further tonight.  What she needed most was rest.  She
gathered a pile of leaves and formed a small pillow,
curled herself into a ball at the base of the tree,
closed her eyes, and tried to sleep.

****

Christy arose at daybreak, dressed quickly, and hurried
down the stairs.  She was surprised to find Neil already
in the kitchen laying out his surgical instruments.  The
table had been cleared and steam rose from several large
pots on the stove.

"Good morning Christy. You're up early." 

She was not in the mood for pleasantries. "Neil, please
let me help you."

"We finished that discussion last night."

"You're not operating on just anyone. It's Miss Alice."

"Which is precisely why you shouldn't assist me."

"I know that I fell apart after Freddie's surgery and
that I don't have Miss Alice's strong stomach. But if
you'd give me another chance, I promise I won't
disappoint you again."

In one movement, Neil set down the instrument he was
holding and came around the table. She felt his strong
hands on her arms and the intensity of his eyes boring
into hers.

"Is that what you think? That you disappoint me?" 

"I thought that--" 

"Christy, you never disappoint me.  Not in Lyleton, not
with Freddie.  Never.  Do you understand that?" 

His arms gripped her shoulders.  She looked up into his
face and saw concern mixed with something she couldn't
quite identify.

"You're so strong, so determined, I sometimes forget that
you came here to teach children, not to be my nurse." 
She felt his grip relax.  "I don't want to destroy that,
Christy.  I don't want to destroy you.  I have no right
to demand that you assist me, not when I know what it
does to you."

"You haven't demanded anything.  It's always been my
decision.  Respect me enough to let me decide what I can
do."

Neil continued to hold her, searching her eyes.  Only
when David entered the room, did he release her arms and
take a quick step backwards.

David appeared not to notice their closeness as he took
in the surgical preparations.  "I'm ready, Doctor."  

Christy noted that neither his voice nor his demeanor
demonstrated eagerness for his upcoming task.

"Thank you, but I won't be needing your services. 
Christy will assist with Alice's surgery." 

David flicked his eyes toward her, then back to the
doctor.  "You're sure?" 

"Yes." 

David seemed relieved.  "Then I'll start looking for Ruby
Mae.  I've a pretty good idea where the gypsies were
headed, and the girl can't have gone far."  He looked at
Christy. "I'll find her.  Don't worry." 

As he turned to leave, the doctor's voice called him
back. "Reverend.  If Ruby Mae didn't find shelter, if she
was out all night in this weather..."  He reached into
his bag and brought out a brown glass bottle.  "When you
find her, give her this. It's brandy."

Christy noted Neil had said "when" David found Ruby Mae. 
She was sure the doctor had chosen his words carefully,
his way of supporting the minister.  But David only
nodded.

"Take the first aid kit and plenty of blankets.  Keep her
warm and get her back here as quickly as possible.  I'll
be waiting."

David started to leave, then turned back toward Neil. 
"Take care of Alice.  If anything--" 

"I will." 


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 25

Within the hour, Neil and Christy had Miss Alice prepared
for surgery.  She lay on the soft linen of an old bed
sheet that Neil had spread over the kitchen table.  Steel
instruments were spread out on another pristine white
sheet, which shrouded a plank and two saw horses.  Three
large pots on the stove were filled with steaming water.

Christy had already scoured her hands and was ready to
administer the ether to Miss Alice.  A touch on her arm
brought her gaze to the woman's face.

"Christy, is there any word from David?  Ruby Mae..."

"Miss Alice, don't worry.  David will find her.  You just
concentrate on a quick recovery."  Christy noted the
worry in Miss Alice's glazed eyes.  She glanced over her
shoulder at Neil, who was scrubbing his hands and arms at
the sink.  She caught his eye and he sent her an
encouraging wink and nodded his head, indicating it was
time to administer the ether.  

She pasted a smile on her face and turned her attention
back to Miss Alice.  As she talked, she poured a small
amount of the sickly, sweet aromatic liquid onto a
handkerchief.  "Now, Miss Alice, just breath normally." 
As the older woman complied, Christy gently placed the
cloth over Alice's nose and mouth, speaking softly. 
"Just clear your mind of all worries.  God is with you,
Miss Alice, just as He's with Ruby Mae and David and
Doctor MacNeill.  And when you wake up, I'll be here
beside you."  Alice's eyes slowly closed, opened, and
then closed again, her eyelashes lightly resting on her
cheeks.  Christy had seen what Miss Alice had wanted to
convey, the trust and gratitude in her eyes before they
closed the second time.  She sent up a quick, silent
prayer for this dear woman she loved.

"Don't worry, Christy.  She'll be fine."  Neil stood just
behind her right shoulder.  As always, he'd read her
mind.  He paused, regarding her closely and intently. 
"Are you ready?"

I can do this, she thought, I can!  Taking a couple deep
breaths, then letting them puff out audibly, Christy
replied calmly, "Yes, Doctor, I'm ready."  

Neil gazed at her for a few seconds more.  When her eyes
didn't waver from his, he nodded his head.  "Then let's
begin."

****

As soon as Neil decided to let Christy assist in the
surgery, he determined that in order to keep her mind off
the operation, he'd turn the tables on her.  He would
become the teacher.

Neil quickly sterilized the area around Alice's scar from
her puncture wound the year before.  "When at all
possible, Christy, I like to reopen old wounds to
minimize scarring."  As he took the scalpel from
Christy's slightly quivering hand, he began his lesson.

"You see, Alice's ulcer bleeds only in small amounts yet
the bleeding recurs.  The danger is that the ulcer will
perforate through the intestinal wall.  The procedure I'm
about to do is called gastro-enterostomy.  I realize it
sounds daunting, but the death rate is almost
non-existent these days.  I've performed many surgeries
just like this one and I've yet to lose a patient."

Christy met his comment with only a small trace of worry
in her expression.  "I'm very relieved to hear that,
Doctor.  I've never doubted your medical abilities."  Her
voice only wavered once as the scalpel drew a thin line
of blood down Miss Alice's abdomen.

Neil proceeded with his lesson.  "This is actually a
perfect example of this procedure.  All I need to do is
bypass the affected areas of the stomach where the ulcer
is located.  See, right there.  Anastomosis, it's called.
 In doing so, I will suture part of the jejunum onto the
stomach."

Neil kept a close watch on Miss Alice, ready to order
Christy to administer more either at the slightest sign
that consciousness was returning.  Once Christy started
asking questions, Neil knew her mind was detached from
the actual graphic scene of the surgery itself and
focused on understanding what he was saying.  The
operation swiftly came to a close.

The late morning sun streamed through the windows, adding
additional light to the room.  Christy gently dabbed a
cloth on Neil's forehead, her eyes meeting his for a
split second.  He gazed at her with admiration for what
they had accomplished together.

"That bowl, please Miss Huddleston.  Hold it just there. 
Now's the time to ensure that all gauze and swabs are
removed and counted.  The careless doctor loses patients
from overlooking items that are not meant to be left
inside a body."

Christy counted the swabs and gauze strips as Neil placed
them in the bowl.  "I can see that you'd have to be very
careful to remove those.  I shudder to think what would
happen if anything were left inside."

"If undetected, infection would set in."  As he spoke,
Neil continued to remove strips of cloth from the wound.

"Now, I'll replace the viscera..." His voice trailed off
as he completed the task.  "All that's left is to close
the incision.  The needle please, Miss Huddleston." 
Christy handed him the curved needle, which the doctor
had threaded hours earlier.  "There'll be no food by
mouth for the first forty-eight hours.  Vomiting usually
occurs until nourishment by mouth is allowed three days
after the surgery.  But liquids only, Christy, for the
first week.  Gradually we can get Alice on soft solids,
working our way towards a regular diet.  Gradual is the
key word here."

"I'll certainly follow your instructions to the letter,
Doctor."

As Neil dressed the wound, he noted the lines of
weariness on his assistant's face.  But there remained
the task of moving Alice to David's bunkhouse, where she
would remain for the duration of her recovery.  "Christy,
I know you're tired.  But we've got to move Alice.  Are
you up to it?"

Christy lifted her chin.  "Of course I am, Doctor.  How
shall we do it?"

A gleam of respect sparkled in the doctor's eyes as he
answered.  "Lets get these instruments cleared up, then
we can use the board to move her."

Quickly they cleared off the plank and in no time had
carefully moved the Quaker woman onto the board and
through the breezeway, into David's bunkhouse.  The
transition went smoothly, with only a few stops for
Christy to rest.  Soon Alice was resting comfortably, her
breathing regular.

Neil left Christy with his patient while he tidied up the
kitchen, washed his instruments, and repacked his
saddlebags.  He noticed the sagging of Christy's
shoulders and guilt washed over him.  But warring with
his guilt was the fact that Christy had performed as well
as any schooled nurse.  She'd learned so much in the time
that she had been in the Cove, and nursing was near the
top of the list.  He knew that Freddie's surgery would
always stay with her, even with Alice's fresh in her
mind.  The severity of the lad's operation, the cutting
off of a limb, was a horrific experience.  But the way
Christy had held up through the mess with Adam Johnson,
the near-drowning, and again during Alice's surgery, only
increased his respect for her.

His hands gripped the table edges as he struggled for
control.  His heart swelled and the emotion he felt for
Christy threatened to overcome him.  This feeling was not
new.  But he had thought, foolishly, that this emotion
had been at its fullest.  What a stupid man he was.  The
most recent moments proved that what he had previously
felt for Christy had only been the starting point.

Just then, the soft sound of weeping brought his head
around; with a few strides, he was standing behind
Christy.  He thrust a handkerchief into her trembling
hands before gently placing his hands on her shoulders. 
He then began to massage the tight knot between them.

"It's all right to let it out, Christy," Neil softly
whispered.  "You don't always have to be the strong one,
you know.  I'm here..."  Before he could finish, Christy
turned around and looked up at him.  Again, his heart
swelled.  He read the fatigue, the helplessness and
worries in her expressive blue eyes and he reacted out of
pure instinct.  He slipped his arms around her waist and
drew her to him, offering comfort within the shelter of
his embrace.

Christy hesitated only a split second, then let her body
go limp.  She could no longer hold back the tears.  Her
arms locked tightly around Neil's neck as she wept
freely.  "I know Miss Alice is going to be all right. 
And Freddie is safe with the gypsies.  But Ruby Mae is
still out there..."

"Go ahead.  Let it go."  Neil held her for as long as she
needed, his hand absently rubbing her back in a soothing
motion.

After a few minutes, Christy drew back a bit, but not far
enough to break their embrace.  She didn't look shy or
embarrassed, as she usually did when they shared a close
moment.  Instead, she almost looked content.  He expected
an apology for her loss of control, but her words indeed
surprised him.

"Thank you, Neil," was softly spoken, her red-rimmed eyes
crinkling with her small smile.

Neil reached up, cupping her cheek with his callused yet
gentle hand.  "Christy, you are one of the strongest
people I know.  But don't ever think you can't or
shouldn't let your guard down with me.  I've been
watching you."

Christy's eyes opened with surprise and she would have
spoken, but Neil continued.

"You've proven over and over to the entire Cove what a
fine teacher you are to these children.  But I've noticed
how familiar you've become in assisting me.  Christy, you
have a wonderful bedside manner, and your nursing skills
have improved tenfold.  But I know all too well that the
weight of what I do takes its toll.  You have to release
the emotion that is held inside."

"Like you do at the river."

Neil nodded, "Yes.  That's my outlet.  And I've been
known to talk to a certain schoolteacher on occasion." 
His attempt at humor worked and a full smile spread
across her face.  "Mind you, when you're riled up, you've
no trouble expressing your feelings."  Christy chuckled
with him, then he sobered.  "And I wouldn't change that
about you, Christy.  But having you trust me enough to
share your troubles with me is the greatest gift of
friendship that I know.  I'm here for you.  Anytime."

Christy just looked at him, still locked in the loose
embrace.  Her voice was low when she finally spoke.  "God
has truly blessed me with your friendship, Neil.  I
cherish it.  Thank you for being my friend.  You have
taught me so much!  But you also let me be me.  And I
want to thank you for that."

Neil's eyes were dark, but the spark of humor was there. 
"I wouldn't dare try to change you, Miss Huddleston."  

Christy smiled, shaking her head.  She was going to
speak, but Neil placed a finger over her mouth, stopping
her words.  "Let me rephrase that.  I wouldn't want to
change you, Christy."

"I wouldn't change you either, Doctor.  And if the river
is ever too far to reach, I'm here for you, too."

The breezeway was filled with a strange, new tension. 
Neither one wanted to end the moment, yet knew they
should.  The matter was taken out of their hands when
they heard a rustling of bedclothes coming from David's
room.  Neil dropped his hand.  Their heads turned to see
a pale, yet very wide awake Miss Alice regarding them
closely.


== == == == == == == == == == ==
Chapter 26

Swiftly, yet reluctantly, Christy and Neil stepped away
from each other.  Miss Alice raised her eyebrow but said
nothing.  Blushing deeply, Christy wondered how much of
the conversation Miss Alice had heard.  She felt cold and
drained as the charged intimacy of minutes ago was
rapidly replaced by Neil's stark and distant
professionalism as he began to assess Miss Alice's
condition.  Christy turned to leave Neil alone with his
patient but was stopped by Miss Alice's voice.

"Miss Huddleston..."

Christy turned.

"Doctor MacNeill tells me thee did a fine job as his
assistant. Thank you, Christy," she said, lapsing out of
her Quaker tongue. Christy nodded and crossed the room to
embrace her.

"Has Ruby Mae been found yet?" asked Alice in a tightly
controlled voice.

"Don't worry about that now," the doctor answered
smoothly.  "Grantland is looking for her and is bound to
be back soon.  Get some rest." 

"But Ruby Mae..."

"Trust the preacher, he'll find her," Neil said.

"And trust the Lord," said Miss Alice, her eyes suddenly
bright. 

Neil shrugged but did not protest.  He ushered Christy
out of the room and gently closed the door behind him.

"Neil, you have to stay here and look after Miss Alice,
but I can ride with David.  I can help him find Ruby
Mae." Christy altered her path towards the barn.

Neil blocked her way.  "No.  It'll be dark in a few
hours.  Neither of us would have much of a chance finding
them.  Best to wait until morning.  I'd ride after them
myself, but..."  His brows furrowed.  "If they're not
back by morning we'll form up a search party."

Nodding, Christy turned on her heels, struggling to fight
back the tears that threatened to engulf her again.

"Christy," Neil said, catching her by the shoulders,
"there's nothing more we can do. You've got to know
that."

"I know."  Christy sighed heavily then broke free of his
hands and stumbled toward the mission.

The slow, rhythmic sound of hoof-beats reverberated
throughout the mission yard.  Christy and Dr. MacNeill
looked in the direction of the sound and silently waited.
 She began to shake uncontrollably; visions of David
returning with a body bag slung over his saddle flooded
her thoughts.  Neil slid an arm around her shoulders,
whispering soothing words as the rider came into view. 
Christy sighed with relief as David, astride Prince, came
into view.  The next moment she was frantically running
towards him, searching for signs that he was not alone,
that he'd been successful in finding the young girl that
had become so dear to her.  Wearily, David slid off his
horse and winced as his feet touched the ground.

Dr. MacNeill was instantly at his side.  "What happened?"

"Prince spooked and threw me off, I landed on my ankle,"
he said, wincing slightly as Neil examined him.  "I would
have gone on but Prince threw a shoe, I shouldn't have
ridden him, but I had no choice.  I didn't see any signs
of Ruby Mae or the gypsies.  It's like they've
disappeared," he said.  Then, noticing Christy for the
first time, he stuttered. "That is, I mean, I'm sure
they're fine."

"It's a bad sprain," Neil said.  "We'll help you into the
mission."  Slinging David's arm over his shoulder, Neil
slowly moved towards the mission.  Suddenly he stumbled
and dropped to one knee, propelling David forward.  David
yelped in pain as his injured ankle hit the ground. 
Christy rushed to Neil's side.

"Neil!" 

He shook his head and looked at her with eyes that were
wild and afraid for an instant.

"I'm fine," he said angrily, struggling to his feet.  "I
just felt dizzy for a minute."

"Neil, you're exhausted!  When was the last time that you
got a full night's sleep, real sleep... or a decent
meal?" 

Neil shrugged and looked away from her piercing gaze. 
"Before Lyleton and the feuding probably."

"That was over two days ago."

Neil nodded his head slowly.  "But Alice--"

"Will be all right.  You said so yourself.  We'll take
turns sitting with her."

"I'll sit with her first, just as soon as we get the
Reverend into the mission," Neil said in his most
professional tone in a vain attempt to regain control of
the situation.

Christy blocked his path. "You go into the mission. 
Fairlight will sit with Miss Alice and I'll help David. 
Then I'll cook you a good meal and you can go to bed. 
We'll wake you if Miss Alice gets worse."

Neil glared at her for a moment but allowed his gaze to
soften.

Christy allowed David to lean on her as they walked
haltingly toward the mission. 


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Subject: 
             Fanfic: Travelers and Travails, Ch 27
 Resent-Date: 
             Tue, 11 Jan 2000 04:22:18 +0800
 Resent-From: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
        Date: 
             Mon, 10 Jan 2000 12:22:12 -0800 (PST)
        From: 
             "Ann E." <siriaes@yahoo.com>
    Reply-To: 
             christy@gospel.iinet.net.au
          To: 
             ChristyList <christy@gospel.iinet.net.au>




== == == == == == == == == == == 
Travelers and Travails, Chapter 27
By: Annie, Charlotte, Cynthia, Greer, KellyO, Lisa3, Lisa
Renee, Miranda, Regina, Susie
== == == == == == == == == == ==


Ruby Mae's eyelids flickered as she gradually awoke. She
opened her eyes, instantly confused. She struggled to
remember where she was and what had happened to her. Why
wasn't she in her bed at the mission and where was that
strange singing coming from?

"Ruby Mae! You're awake!"

The sound of a familiar voice made the young girl turn
her head. As she did so, she looked at her new
surroundings. She was lying on a mattress of springy
bracken, covered with brightly covered quilts and
cushions. The mattress lay directly on the floor and
there was a canvas roof above her. Ruby Mae realized that
she was lying in the back of a covered wagon. A young man
watched anxiously from the corner, sliding awkwardly over
to sit next to her. 

Freddie took Ruby Mae's hand in his hand and smiled.
"Seems like I'm makin' a habit outta rescuing you," he
said softly.

Ruby Mae stared at him. "Freddie, where am I? How did I
get here? And why are you here? I thought I'd never find
you. I wanted to--"

She stopped abruptly as Freddie put his finger over her
lips. "Sssssh," he said. "I'll explain it all to ya, so
long as you hush up long enough to listen!" 

Ruby Mae blushed and smiled shyly. She might not know
what had happened to her since she had left the mission
in search of Freddie, but she certainly hadn't forgotten
how she felt about him. She reached up and brushed his
finger away. 

"I'll be quiet," she said. "Promise."

Freddie grinned. "Good.  First off, you're in Grandma
Nadia's wagon. We found you lying out in the open, late
last night. You were so cold and wouldn't wake up. So
Reny picked you up and put you in here. Grandma Nadia and
I have been taking care of you."

"Thank you, Freddie," whispered Ruby Mae.

"Why'd ya do it, Ruby Mae?" Freddie's voice rose with
emotion. "Why'd ya come after me like that? If we hadn't
found you when we did, ya could've died."

Ruby Mae hesitated. What should she say? But as she gazed
into Freddie's eyes, she realized that the truth was the
only answer.

"I, I had ta see ya again, Freddie," she began. "No one
ever cared so much about me. You lost your leg because of
me and you came to check on me that night at the mission
when the Charter Oak got hit by lightnin'. I never
figured I was worth anythin' much, but you made me feel
special. And then, when ya kissed me...  Well, I ain't
never felt like that afore. I couldn't bear the thought
of not seein' ya for so long, so's I decided to follow
ya. But in the end you had to save me again. Guess I must
be a real disappointment." Her eyes filled up with tears
and she looked away.

Freddie grabbed her hand. "You ain't no such thing, Ruby
Mae," he said. "I knew ya was special from the day I met
ya at the Mission. I would've told ya right then and
there, but you was talkin' so much, I couldn't get a word
in! 'Sides, you don't think I'd stand in the way of a
snake for jist anyone, do ya?"

Ruby Mae smiled again as he continued. "After the
accident, you was real kind to me and then you stood up
to my Pa when he came. No one ever did that before. They
were too scared of what my Pa'd do to 'em. But you
weren't. So that makes you every bit as brave as me."

Ruby Mae shook her head. "I had practice standin' up to
my own Pa a while back, is all. He wasn't goin' to let me
go to school or help out at the mission." Her voice
dropped to a whisper. " And once or twice he hit me."

Freddie squeezed her hand in empathy. "Like I said, Ruby
Mae, you're one brave gal. And I'm glad I kissed ya."

"Then why was ya goin' away and leavin' me behind?" She
hadn't meant to ask the question, but there was no taking
it back.

"You know why. I want to get me a job in Asheville. I
have to make a life for myself first, before I can share
it with anyone else." He leant forward and planted a kiss
on Ruby Mae's cheek. 

"Miz Nadia and Mr. Reny and the others... are they yer
kin folk now?"

"Kinda. I don't rightly recall Grandma Nadia, but she's
been lookin' out for me all my life." 

Ruby Mae thought for a moment. "Preacher told us once
that your clan is who you choose to care for."

Freddie nodded in agreement. "He's right. The Roma people
chose to care for me, just like the mission folk take
care of you. They're our clans, even if we didn't spend
our child years with them." He hesitated before adding,
"And maybe, in the future, your clan and mine might join
together. But not yet. I've got to go to Asheville and
you've got to go back."

"I know. But I ain't sorry I came."

Freddie smiled at her. "Me neither."

The canvas flap of the wagon opened and Nadia looked in.
"I see you are better, child," she said.

"Yes'm" stammered Ruby Mae. "Thank you for takin' care of
me."

Nadia handed her some artichoke tea. "For you to drink,"
she said. "Then you must rest. In the morning, we return
you to your clan."

Ruby Mae's eyes widened. "How'd ya know what we was
talkin' about, Miz Nadia?"

"Your heart is not hard to read, child," answered the old
woman. "Come on ve's tacha," she said to Freddie," you
must rest also. We have long journeys ahead of us." She
helped Freddie out of the wagon.

"Good night Ruby Mae," he said.

"Good night Freddie. Kin I ask ya one more question?"

Freddie chuckled. Easily, he swung himself on his
crutches to stand close to the canvas door. "What?"

"What was it that Miz Nadia called ya just then?"

"It is the Roma word for beloved."

Ruby Mae sighed. "Ohhhhh, that's just beautiful."

"Reckon ya could handle it bein' said to you one day?"

Ruby Mae's eyes shone as she answered, "Reckon I could.
Good night, Freddie."

"Good night."

****

At dawn the next morning, Ruby Mae rode with Nadia on top
of the wagon, while Freddie, exhausted from the events of
the past few days, slept inside. Reny and the others
followed in their wagons, the children frequently running
along beside, laughing and talking. It was a colorful
procession. 

Ruby Mae was still in awe of Nadia and was
uncharacteristically quiet as they rode along. Finally,
Nadia spoke. "Do you remember our meeting by the river,
child?"

Ruby Mae swallowed before answering. "Yes'm. You told me
to look in the water and I'd see the face of the one I
was troubled about."

"I also told you you'd find the answers you were seeking.
Did you?"

"Cain't rightly say fer sure. I hope so."

Nadia smiled. "You and Freddie share the need for
belonging. It was no accident that your paths crossed."

"Miz Nadia, what happened to Freddie's mama? If yer his
granny, how come ya ain't hardly seen him his whole life?
And how did you know how to find him? I just don't
understand."

The old woman looked at her. "It is right that you should
know," she said softly. She settled herself and began her
tale.

"Freddie's mama was my daughter, Tasha. She was a
beautiful girl, with long flowing hair and eyes that
sparkled like the sunlight that dances on the river. She
had a musical laugh and a warming smile, so that all who
saw her fell in love with her. As she grew, she was not
content with the Romany ways and wanted to live a
different life. We traveled often, making our living from
our skills. 

"One day, a man came to have his horse shod. His name was
Adam Johnson and he was tall and handsome to look at. My
Tasha was sitting outside this wagon, sketching, when
their eyes met. I had seen that he would come and knew
that it would be a dark day. He was handsome of face, but
dark of spirit."

"But how?" interrupted Ruby Mae. "How did you know he was
bad? And why didn't you go somewhere else, so's they
wouldn't meet?"

Nadia sighed deeply. "I can see what will happen, but I
cannot change the destiny of what will be. I knew that my
Tasha's life would change from the moment she saw Adam
Johnson. She thought she was in love with him and came to
tell me that she wanted to marry him. He was a lalleri,
one who didn't speak or understand the Romany ways. He
disliked me, because he knew I could see him for what he
was.

"The night before Tasha left with him to be married, I
gave her a gold cross and told her to hold it close to
her heart. I reminded her she would never be alone and
that I would always be with her. The next morning she
left and I didn't see her again."

"Never?" Ruby Mae was intrigued by Nadia's sad story and
somehow the old woman didn't seem scary anymore.

"Adam didn't trust us Romany and refused to allow Tasha
to stay near her people. He called me a chovihani -- a
witch -- and took Tasha to Knoxville, where Freddie was
born. But I could sense trouble for my girl and for
Freddie, so we Romany always traveled, keeping them in
our hearts until our paths were fated to cross again."

"And that was here? In Cutter Gap?"

"Yes. It was not fated for me to help Tasha, but I could
look after her boy."

"Miz Nadia? Do you think that Freddie and I was... meant
to mean somethin' special to each other?"

Nadia took Ruby Mae's hand and turned it over, stroking
the young girl's palm. "The threads of your lives have
been woven together already. No matter what the future
holds, child, you and he will always be what we Romany
call te' sorthene - friends bonded by the heart."

Ruby Mae beamed at her. "Preacher was surely right, Miz
Nadia. Your clan truly is the people you choose to care
for."

****

It was nearing late afternoon as Christy carried a tea
tray to the room where Neil slept. She knocked softly
before entering. Neil had been exhausted after Alice's
surgery and was at last catching up on some much needed
rest. Christy looked down at the man asleep on the bed
and marveled at how relaxed and peaceful he looked. He
breathed steadily and deeply, a smile playing on his
lips. 

The familiar curl of hair strayed over one eye and
Christy couldn't resist the urge to reach out and brush
it away. As she did, Neil stirred and instinctively
reached up to catch her hand. A thrill went through her.
For an instant they sat in silence, smiling at each other
in perfect contentment. But there were questions to be
asked and things to discuss, and all too soon the moment
was over.

"What time is it, Christy?" Neil stretched lazily,
stifling a yawn.

"Around five."

"In the morning? What are you doing up so early?"

Christy giggled. "It's five in the evening, Doctor
MacNeill."

"What!" Neil sprang up off the bed. "Why in the blazes
did you let me sleep this long? Alice will need tending
to and the preacher--"

"Is doing just fine. David's been hobbling around the
mission house all day. And Miss Alice is sleeping
soundly. Fairlight, David, and I have all been sitting
with her."

"But I should have been helping."

"Nonsense. Neil, you were exhausted. You've been working
non-stop for more days than I can remember. You needed a
rest."

Neil grinned at her. "Is it your newly acquired medical
training that tells you this, Doctor Huddleston?"

Christy's eyes twinkled back at him. "Perhaps," she
answered softly.

Neil started to speak, when a shout came from the
kitchen.

"Christy!" called David. "It's Nadia and the gypsies!
They're back and Freddie and Ruby Mae are with them!"


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 28


Outside the mission house, the sounds of people and
animals filled the air. But louder than any other noise
came the voice of Ruby Mae wailing. Her cries caught the
attention of Christy, who ran outside as fast as she
could.

"Ruby Mae!  I'm so glad you're back.  We were worried
about you.  You shouldn't have run off like that. You had
us scared half to death."

"I'm sorry Miss Christy, but I just had to see Freddie
before he left.  The gypsies are leavin', you know, but I
just had to be with him one last time.  He's just so
wonderful -- the way his eyes light up, and he's so
funny..."

Miss Christy cut Ruby Mae off before her tales of
Freddie's virtues could continue.  "I'm just glad you're
home."

Christy glanced toward the gypsies who had brought the
girl home.  Reny and Nadia were there, and Freddie as
well, his eyes shining.  "You all must stay a while
longer so we can properly thank you for rescuing Ruby
Mae.  I know Doctor MacNeill would love to say goodbye to
Freddie."

Reny's voice came loud and firm. "Freddie can speak to
the Doctor if he wishes. As for the rest of us, our
thanks are with you and the Reverend for letting us stay
in your Cove.  We Romany do not often receive the best
treatment, but we have been honored by your mission."

Freddie came forward carefully on his crutches toward
Miss Christy.  As he neared her shoulder, he whispered in
a small voice, "How do I say goodbye to the only real
father I've ever known?"

****

Neil waited on the porch of the mission house, still
groggy from his long slumber.  The sight of the gypsies
filled him with joy, because he knew Freddie would be
with people who loved him and could protect him in the
future.  At the same time, he felt regret.  He'd come to
think of Freddie as a son, and letting go would be
difficult.

Neil spoke first.  "Freddie, I know you'll be just fine. 
Be sure not to put too much pressure on yourself in your
recovery.  Things may be difficult, but with your family
behind you, you will thrive."

"Is that all you have to say to me, Doctor? Advice for
how to live with one leg?"

"No, son, that is not all I have to say.  You'll not be
forgotten."

Freddie's eyes misted as he realized that in that brief
statement Dr. MacNeill had said more than if he had
spoken all the words in the world.


== == == == == == == == == == ==
 
Chapter 29


Fairlight Spencer, her hands normally so deft and quick
in their work, moved slowly, absently, as she shelled
peas.

"'Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate.
She was born to discover the falsehood of her own
opinions, and to counteract by her conduct her most
favourite maxims. She was born to overcome an affection
formed so late in life as at seventeen, and with no
sentiment superior to strong esteem and lively
friendship, voluntarily gave her hand to another -- and
that other, a man who had suffered no less than herself
under the even of a former attachment, whom, two years
before, she had considered too old to be married, and who
still sought the constitutional safeguard of a flannel
waistcoat!

"'But so it was. Instead of falling a sacrifice to an
irresistible passion, as once she had fondly flattered
herself with expecting, instead of remaining even forever
with her mother and finding her only pleasures in
retirement and study, as afterwards in her more calm and
sober judgment she had determined on, she found herself
at nineteen submitting to new attachments, entering on
new duties, placed in a new home, a wife, the mistress of
a family, and the patroness of a village.'"

"Lordy, no!" cried Ruby Mae, her face clouded with utter
distress. "Ye mean Marianne married that ole Colonel
feller?!"

Christy looked up from her leather-bound book, determined
not to allow her lips to turn in the smile she felt
forming. She caught Miss Alice's eye, however, and their
amused twinkle caused Christy to grin in spite of
herself.

"Yes, Ruby Mae, Marianne did marry Colonel Brandon,"
Christy told her student. "Why are you surprised?"

"Well," said Ruby Mae, her face red with indignation,
"Marianne was so broken-hearted 'bout Willoughby, an' she
vowed she'd live with her Ma her whole life an' do
nothin' but read books. She was still sweet on
Willoughby, an' she always would be, that's why she
couldn't never marry no one else. But now hit's sayin'
that she marries the Colonel anyway!" Ruby Mae snapped a
pea pod with all her might. "Jest ain't mortally right,
that's what!"

"Hesh your mouth, Ruby Mae Morrison," said Fairlight
softly, a far-away look in her light eyes. "Go on, Miz
Christy," she urged. "Hit's been so long betwixt readin'
times on accounta all the fuss an' trouble of the last
weeks. I've been itchin' wors'n poison ivy to hear how
this hear book turns out!"

Christy smiled and resumed reading.

"'Colonel Brandon was now as happy as all those who best
loved him believed he deserved to be...'"

"Law!" cried Fairlight, catching her bowl of peas before
it slid off her lap. "Hit's 'bout time that poor feller
gits some happiness! Lord knows he deserves heaps o' good
fer all the good he's done!"

"I most certainly agree, Mrs. Spencer," said Miss Alice,
smiling as she sipped tea from a delicate china cup.

Ruby Mae vehemently snapped another pea pod in two.

"Listen," said Christy, squirming with eagerness. "This
is my favorite part!"

"'And that Marianne found her own happiness in forming
his was equally the persuasion and delight of each
observing friend.'"

The three women sighed in unison, while Ruby Mae scowled.

"Yep," Fairlight said. "That's when ye know you've got
true love -- when you're happy cause ye kin make someone
else happy. That's the way it is with Jeb'n me."

Ruby Mae stared dejectedly at her bowl of peas, but she
perked up as her teacher continued reading. Christy
managed only a few paragraphs when Ruby Mae again
interrupted.

"I knew hit!" cried Ruby Mae, passionate tears welling up
in her eyes. "Willoughby shorely did love Marianne! Why,
his heart was truly broke -- he never got over Marianne!"

"Don't form conclusions too quickly, Ruby Mae," came a
deep voice.

The women looked up as Dr. MacNeill came around the
corner of the mission house. He nodded his greeting, then
made his way up the porch steps. "Remember, this is
'Sense and Sensibility'. Sensibility tells the reader to
pity Mr. Willoughby for his loss of Marianne, but sense
says to wait and then judge, for the reader remembers
Willoughby's character in the rest of the book."

"Why, Doctor," said Miss Alice, smiling broadly. "Thee
has the tone and air of a professor of literature."

Dr. MacNeill grinned, then turned to Christy. "Continue,
Miss Huddleston, and Jane Austen shall prove my point."

Christy chuckled softly as she obeyed her friend.

"'But that he was forever inconsolable, that he fled from
society, or contracted an habitual gloom of temper, or
died of a broken heart--'" 

Christy glanced up at Ruby Mae, to gauge the girl's
reaction. The redhead sat up on her heels, poised
hopefully in loyalty to her hero.

Through laughter, Christy read, "'--must not be depended
on; for he did neither.'" 

"But he loves her!" Tears spilled from Ruby Mae's eyes.
"Hit shorely ain't sayin' that he weren't sad 'til his
dying day! Shorely hit ain't!"

"'He lived to exert, and frequently to enjoy himself.'"

"In other words," said Dr. MacNeill, "Mr. Willoughby did
not let his longing for Marianne take away from his
pleasure. He was quite happy with his friends, riding
horses, hunting--" A sarcastic grin was on the doctor's
face  "--and even his wife."

Miss Alice shook her head, and Fairlight laughed out
loud.

"Yes, poor Willoughby," Dr. MacNeill continued. "He truly
loved Marianne."

"But-- but--" Ruby Mae was almost reduced to sobs.

Christy shot a disapproving look at the doctor and placed
a reassuring hand on the shoulder of the girl who sat at
her feet. Compassion welled up inside of her at the sight
of Ruby Mae's distress. Having an idea criticized by Dr.
MacNeill -- whether in jest or not -- was not easy, and
Christy knew that well.

"Listen to the next paragraph, Ruby Mae." She read
quickly. "Willoughby is not so bad as Doctor MacNeill is
making him out to be."

Ruby Mae had stopped crying, and her tear-stained face
glowed as Christy continued the story. "Why, Miz
Christy," the girl murmured breathlessly the moment
Christy paused. "That shorely is the most chivalrous
thing I ever did hear! Hit's saying that fer the rest o'
his days, Willoughby didn't think there was no woman as
perty as Miz Marianne, ain't it?"

"Yes, Ruby Mae."

Dr. MacNeill chuckled and walked over to where Miss Alice
reclined in a wicker rocker. "He's a selfish cad -- an
arrogant, foppish drawing-room dandy."

Laughing, Fairlight stood up and brushed off her apron.
"I'd best be gettin' supper on."

"If the good Doctor allows it, I will be in to help thee,
Mrs. Spencer," Miss Alice called after Fairlight.

As he set down his saddlebags, Dr. MacNeill's eyes swept
the missionary. "You appear to be doing very well, Alice.
Do you feel as well as you look?"

Alice smiled and placed her cup and saucer on the porch
rail. "I am feeling better every day, Neil, thanks to God
and thy skill."

"Are you in any pain, any discomfort at all?" 

"No pain," the Quaker woman replied. "Only a little sore
around the incision."

Dr. MacNeill did not immediately reply, but felt Alice's
forehead and took her pulse. "Soreness is to be
expected," he said, at last. "I'll examine you more
closely later, but as far as I can tell, you're healing
quickly -- I'm very pleased."

Alice smiled, but the doctor suddenly became serious and
waved a precautionary finger at her. "Nevertheless, you
don't have my permission to be about the kitchen, Alice,
or anywhere else in the mission but reclining on a
comfortable chair or sofa. It's only been a week since
your surgery, and I won't have you setting back your
progress the least bit."

Alice's smile faded, but she nodded in compliance.
"Whatever you say, Neil." She turned to Ruby Mae. "Thee
should run along and help Mrs. Spencer, Ruby Mae."

The teenager did not reply, but sat on the porch steps,
her chin propped on her hands, her grey-blue eyes clouded
with thought.

"Ruby Mae..." Alice repeated.

She received no response, save a small sigh of pleasure.

Christy grinned broadly for a moment, then suppressed the
smile. "Ruby Mae," she said loudly.

Ruby Mae turned around slowly. "Yes'm?" Her voice was low
and heavy and dreamy.

Christy cut her eyes at Dr. MacNeill, who was quiet but
obviously amused. "I was just wondering, Ruby Mae...
Whatever could have had you so deep in your thoughts?"

Ruby Mae sighed and turned back to face the mountains.
"Oh, Miz Christy, I jest cain't help thinkin' how much
Willoughby is like my Freddie..."

The three adults exchanged brief looks of slight
exasperation. Alice pursed her lips together for a
moment, closing her eyes as she collected her thoughts.

"Ruby Mae Morrison," she said, her features granite. "Is
thee so very fickle?"

"Beg yer pardon, ma'am?" 

One of Miss Alice's eyebrows arched slightly. She took a
sip of tea, then said, "It does not seem like it was too
long ago that it was Rob Allen who reminded thee of
Willoughby."

Ruby Mae's mouth gaped open, and in her eyes was such a
mixture of recollection and astonishment and horror, that
for a moment, Christy thought the girl might scream or
cry. However, Ruby Mae did neither.

"Well-- well-- " Ruby Mae stammered, rising to her feet.
"I don't -- I cain't--" The girl wrung her freckled hands
till they turned red. "Hit's jest--"

"'Sense and Sensibility' is a fine piece of literature,"
said Miss Alice, picking up the leather-bound volume from
where Christy had laid it, "and there are many people in
life who are comparable to the characters in the story,
that is true."

Ruby Mae's expression suddenly hardened with indignation.
"I know what you're gonna say." Her eyes were resolute,
and every tremor of anxiety and confusion was gone from
her voice. "You're gonna say that it's bad o' me to say
Freddie or Rob Allen or anybody's like Willoughby, caus'n
ye don't like him. But Miss Alice--"

"I was not about to say any such thing," Miss Alice
replied. 

Ruby Mae fell silent.

Miss Alice took another sip of tea. A few strands of hair
that had come loose from her bun danced in the gentle
breeze.

"It does not matter to me whether or not thee compares
young men to Willoughby or to Colonel Brandon or to
Edward."

Again, Ruby Mae's mouth fell open. 

"In fact, child," Miss Alice continued, "I see it as a
great sign of maturity and Christian love to be able to
see good in all people -- characters in this case."

Christy reached over and pressed Ruby Mae's hand, smiling
at the girl. "That's right, Ruby Mae. I have noticed many
times what an accepting person you are. Your hands and
your heart are always open to those who need a friend."

Ruby Mae beamed.

"I have noticed that quality in thee, also," said Miss
Alice with a smile. She began to thumb through the copy
of "Sense and Sensibility". 

"I hope that romance is not the only part of the novel
that thee paid attention to. Jane Austen also spent a
great deal of time trying to tell her readers that it is
wise to be prudent, to think before acting and to use
good sense. Faithfulness and brotherly love, true
friendship, selflessness, honesty... These are all themes
in the book."

Slowly, Ruby Mae nodded her head. "Reckon I didn't think
too much 'bout them things while Miz Christy was readin'
the story." She looked up and searched Miss Alice's face.
"But I do remember now... I can think what -- an' who yer
talkin' 'bout that did them things." She took a deep
breath, then continued, slowly, a grin beginning to form
on her face. "I guess I also reckon I know what yer
tryin' to say --really, this time I do. There's folks all
over this here Cove that'r jest like the folks in that
book, ain't there."

Miss Alice smiled. "Yes, Ruby Mae, there are." She
gripped the arms of her rocking chair and pushed herself
to stand. Dr. MacNeill said nothing, only took her arm
and supported her as she slowly walked to the porch rail.
Alice's eyes wandered to the cloud-swirled heavens as she
leaned against the rail.

"Everywhere in Cutter Gap, there are Edwards and Elinors,
Mariannes, Colonel Brandons, Willoughbys." She laughed.
"There are even Mrs. Jennings and Sir Johns and Fannys
and Lucy Steeles."

Turning back to face an attentive Ruby Mae, the Quaker
woman continued. "Whenever thee encounters people, Ruby
Mae, remember what happened in 'Sense and Sensibility.' 
Remember who succeeded and who failed, who ended in
misery and who in happiness. Yes, it's only a story, I
also believe that we are all characters, and our lives
are stories. Learn from the other characters in the other
stories, child."

"Now who sounds like the professor of literature?" Neil
teased.

Alice gave a small smile. "And Ruby Mae, I believe that
thee already has learned -- and grown, too."

Ruby Mae's smile stretched from ear to ear.

"I believe that I shall retire to my room for a short nap
before supper," Alice announced. "Ruby Mae, would thee
walk with me, then run along and help Mrs. Spencer?"

"Yes ma'am," replied the girl solemnly, taking Miss
Alice's arm.

When the two ladies had disappeared into the mission
house, Christy picked up her book and lovingly fingered
the cover. "I was going to put this back in my room, but
I think that it will have more use in the schoolhouse.
Maybe more than just Ruby Mae can learn from it."

Neil grinned and followed her down the steps. With his
long, easy strides, he quickly caught up with her. "You
know," he said, as he reached her side, "Alice is right
about being able to see those characters all over the
Cove."

Christy inclined her head and regarded her friend
curiously.

"Fairlight's an Elinor," Neil continued. "And Bessie
Coburn -- she's a Lucy Steele."

"Do you think so?" Christy asked, laughing a little.

"I do." Neil took a quick step so that he was in front of
Christy. He stopped walking and gazed down at her. "And
you're a Marianne. Or at least now you're a Marianne
who's learned to live with both sense and sensibility. A
fine woman before, yet even more impressive after
circumstance..."

Christy gave a trembly giggle and walked around Neil
towards the schoolhouse. "Well," she said, brushing a
loose strand of hair away from her face, "I must admit I
see a Colonel Brandon in you -- riding all night to bring
a healing touch..."

A rich laugh rose up from within Neil. "So we're Marianne
and Colonel Brandon, eh?"

Christy did not look at him. Her cheeks were hot, and a
fluttery feeling was in her stomach.

"You know," Neil went on, "they ended up--"

"Hey, Christy! Doc!"

Christy and Neil whirled around. David grinned and waved
at the two as he jogged into the yard on Prince.

"Afternoon, Reverend," Neil said warmly, walking away
from Christy and over to David. "How's that ankle of
yours?" 

Neil's attention diverted, the still-blushing Christy
gathered up her skirts and ran into the schoolhouse.


== == == == == == == == == == ==

Chapter 30


Both men watched Christy until she disappeared through
the schoolhouse door. As soon as she was out of sight,
Neil turned his eyes back to David, whose gaze remained
fixed on the schoolhouse. He smiled and chuckled to
himself. 

"What was that you were saying, MacNeill?" David asked
absently and then turned his attention to the doctor; he
caught the last second of Neil's shrewd expression and
grinned at him in response. 

Neil laughed pleasantly.

Still atop his horse, it was David who spoke again. "I
was just thinking that I should have asked the gypsies to
repair the schoolhouse steps; but since they fixed the
roof, I'll have plenty of time to work on the steps." 

Neil's expression remained amused, and David's smile
broadened.

"Well, if you need any help, let me know," Neil said.

"I think I can handle it on my own." 

"I wouldn't be so sure about that if I were you." Neil
chuckled again. "Now, how is that ankle of yours?" His
tone turned professional.

"Oh, it's doing fine. It's still a little bruised in
places, but the swelling is gone."

"The bruising is normal, and I'm pleased to hear that the
swelling has gone down. It will still be weak and
susceptible to re-injury for awhile, so it's best if you
keep it wrapped as I showed you. "

"Will do," David said as he stepped down from Prince. 

"I've been meaning to tell you, Grantland, that you did a
nice job integrating the gypsies with the people of the
cove. That took some doing, I know."

David smiled. "Why thank you, Doctor." He surveyed the
field where the gypsies had been camped for so long. "You
know, it's strange, but I think I'm going to miss the
gypsies. I liked hearing their music in the evening and
watching their children ramble about, and Ruby Mae's not
the only one that will miss Freddie. He was a great boy."

"Yes, he sure is." Neil looked out over the meadow in the
direction that the gypsies had taken. He wondered where
they were now. He thought of Freddie. Never before had
Neil had a boy look to him as a father figure; he found
it unexpectedly satisfying. Of course he was a friend to
all the children in the cove, but Freddie was different.

"A boy with that much courage will get on fine in this
world," David said.

"Yes, yes, I think you're right," Neil said, but his mind
was no longer fully engaged in the conversation.

**** 

Ruby Mae could hardly contain herself. She felt buoyant
after Miss Alice's compliments, and as she helped
Fairlight cook dinner, she danced and flitted about the
kitchen with excitement.

"They'll see Mrs. Spencer," she said. "I've grown and
ain't just a young'un no more. I'm gonna show 'em by
doing everything better -- the cooking, my schoolwork,
the laundry. Why, they'll--" Ruby Mae cut herself short.
In all her dancing about, she accidentally dropped an egg
on the floor. It cracked and the yellow yolk oozed
between the boards. Ruby Mae stood like stone.

Fairlight stopped, and with rag in hand, quickly wiped up
the mess. "I won't tell no one if you won't," she said
with a smile. Ruby Mae covered her mouth and giggled.

The two women heard a knock at the door and looked up to
see Rob Allen in the open doorway. 

"Howdy, Rob." Fairlight spoke first. "If you're looking
for John, he's tending the bees with Jeb."

"Thank you Mrs. Spencer, but I come to see Ruby Mae."

"Oh, I see," Fairlight said with a grin. 

Ruby Mae smiled coyly at Rob and then turned to
Fairlight. "Would it be all right if I went outside for a
bit?"

"You go on, Ruby Mae, I kin get along just fine here."

Ruby Mae stepped outside with Rob. They sat down on the
front porch together.

"I'm shore glad you're all right, Ruby Mae. We was
worried about ya," Rob said.

"You were?" 

"Well... yeah." Rob looked at Ruby Mae intently. "We
thought something bad might have happened."

Ruby Mae tilted her head. "That's the most beautiful
sunset I think I ever beheld."

"There's something different about you Ruby Mae; I don't
know quite what it is, but there's something."

Ruby Mae smiled, and at that moment, she decided that
maybe Colonel Brandon wasn't bad after all.

**** 

Christy reorganized her bookshelves so that they were in
alphabetical order by author. She had given the children
permission to borrow books, but it meant that she
continually had to re-organize. She lovingly shelved
"Sense and Sensibility" under the "A's." When she
finished with the remainder of the titles, she scanned
her finger down the top row until she came to Brontė.
With a smile, she pulled "Jane Eyre" from the shelf. Ruby
Mae was bound to enjoy it.

Christy tucked the book under her arm, turned out her
lamp, and headed out the door. The evening was so mild
that she felt content and cheerful as she walked toward
the mission house. She stopped at the base of the hill to
admire the sunset and take in the mountain air. In the
distance, silhouetted against the blue, she noticed a
lone figure standing at the pond. Even at that distance,
she knew it was Neil. She walked around the blackberry
bushes and headed toward him.

Neil skipped a rock across the still blue water's
surface. Christy sensed his melancholy mood and set her
determination to win her friend over to cheerfulness. 

"Are you staying for supper?" she asked from a distance.

"No, I was about to head home."

Christy walked around the pond's edge until she stood
next to him. She watched him skip more rocks, counting
the number of skips each time. "Are you all right, Neil?"
she finally asked.

"Yes, fine. Why do you ask?"

"You miss Freddie, don't you?" 

Neil jerked back, allowing one of his rocks to fall to
the ground at his feet. "Yes."

"I miss him too." 

Both were silent for a minute. Christy continued to watch
the sunset in the reflection on the pond's surface.

"I like children," Neil said. "But I never really thought
of myself as a father before, or at least not until
Freddie."

"You'd make a good father, Neil," Christy said smiling.

"You think so?"

"Oh yes."

"But it's not in the cards for me, I'm afraid."

"Never say never, Doctor. I'm sure I never do anymore. I
mean, when I was in Asheville, I certainly never dreamed
that I would someday be assisting with surgeries," she
said and laughed playfully.

Neil laughed too, and Christy was thrilled that his
somber mood seemed to be losing its grasp. "Come on
inside and join us for supper, Neil. Fairlight's cooking
chicken pies. I'd love to have you with us."

Neil smiled. "I think I will. Eating beans and reading a
medical journal is no comparison to Fairlight's chicken
pie and good company."


== == == == == == == == == == ==


Chapter 31 (FINAL)


"Teacher?" Creed Allen's hand waved impatiently.
"Teacher?"

"What is it, Creed?" Christy paused as she wrote at the
blackboard and glanced over her shoulder at the boy.

"D'ya reckon them gypsies'll ever come back?"

"Creed, we're in the middle of the arithmetic lesson.
Unless your question's about multiplying fractions, it
will have to wait until later."

His hand remained high. "But Teacher, I found this in the
field where the gypsies was camped out." He dug into his
pocket to produce a leather pouch with a bright red
drawstring. "Can I keep it, d'ya think?" The pouch
dangled tantalizingly, attracting the attention of the
whole class. Whispers flew around the room.

Christy shook her head. The children would never
concentrate on fractions until she dealt with Creed's
discovery. Although their initial reaction to the gypsies
had been fear and rampant superstition, curiosity soon
overcame suspicion, and the children gradually accepted
the presence of the strangers in Cutter Gap. Many were
sad to see them go, and now everything that reminded them
of the gypsies was immediately fascinating.

"There's some kinda leaves in it," Creed said, opening
the pouch and sniffing the contents. "Smells all
spicy-like."

She held out her hand. "Let me see." The smell of the
dried leaves was familiar. She closed her eyes, and the
memory returned. It was the tea that Nadia had given to
Freddie.

In the weeks since the gypsies left, Christy had often
thought of and prayed for the young man. There'd been no
news, though she didn't expect to hear anything very
soon. Freddie would insist on proving his mettle before
writing to his friends at the mission.

"Do you know what would be nice, Creed?" she asked,
slowly pulling the drawstring. Creed returned her smile,
tilting his head and opening his eyes wide with
curiosity. The other children hushed to hear her
suggestion.

Christy returned the pouch to the boy. "Why don't we keep
it here in the classroom, to remind us of the gypsies."

"And Frederick, too," added Ruby Mae with a bright smile.

"Frederick, too," Christy said. "They made a big
difference to all of us, didn't they?"

Sam Houston raised his hand. "That gypsy king saved you
and Frederick from drownin' in the river, Miz Christy."

"And Frederick saved Ruby Mae from the rattlesnake,"
chimed in Zady Spencer. Several girls looked wistfully at
Ruby Mae, and Christy thought she heard a sigh.

Other children eagerly offered their experiences.

"They learnt me to weave real fine baskets outta bark
strips."

"I memorized me a whole lotta their songs. Can we sing
them sometime, Miz Christy?"

"I seen that blacksmith feller makin' horse shoes."

Finally Christy raised her hand to quiet the class. Their
outpouring had sparked an idea. "Would you all like to do
a project about the gypsies? We could make a collection
of pictures and stories and crafts." Many heads nodded
energetically. "All right, then. We'll start work on it
tomorrow. Meanwhile, we have to get back to our
arithmetic."

There were a few muffled groans. Christy was tempted for
a moment to start on the new project immediately. With an
effort, she turned back to the blackboard.

****

It was nearly a quarter to five when Christy rose from
her desk and slung her book satchel over her shoulder.
She could hardly believe the afternoon had slipped by so
quickly. After she dismissed the children, Christy had
begun rearranging her lesson plans for the next few days
to include time to work on the promised gypsy project.
Her mind bubbled with ideas, which she wrote down in a
notebook. She set about taking an inventory of supplies
in the schoolhouse and listing all the items she would
have to find at the mission house or in the woods.
Finally, she took a few minutes to write a letter to her
family. It had been a long time since she'd written, and
she doubted she'd find the peace and quiet to do so with
Ruby Mae chirping at the mission.

Christy made a final tour of the room, straightening the
rows of desks and benches, and picking up bits of string,
twigs and leaves from the floor. She then marched out of
the schoolhouse, satisfied with her day's work. Outside,
her eyes turned to the horizon to drink in the mountains,
bathed in lazy afternoon sun. She noticed Neil MacNeill
riding toward her on Charlie, and immediately broke into
a smile. He'd agreed to eat supper at the mission --
again.

The schoolteacher was about to call out to him when her
attention was diverted by a bellowing, "HALLO! U-NITED
STATES MA-IL!"

"Ah, Ben Pentland," Neil called, swinging down from
Charlie as the horse jogged into the yard. "Lucky I met
you here -- I've got a letter for you to deliver." He
reached into the pocket of his coat and took out a
slightly crumpled envelope.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Pentland," said Christy, walking
over to the men. "I have a letter for you, too."

The mailman absently took the letter from Christy, while
he examined the address on the doctor's letter.

"Land sakes, Doc -- hit's addressed to Baltimore,
Mary-land!" Ben Pentland said, grinning.

Christy arched her brow in curiosity as she watched Neil
stiffen suddenly. He tugged at the hairs on the back of
his neck.

Neil cleared his throat. "One of my old professors is in
Baltimore. We used to correspond frequently, but lately
I've not had time to write. So, last night I finally had
the chance..."

Ben Pentland chomped on his tobacco. "Waal, Doc, this
letter shore is thick t' be fer an ole perfesser. Seems a
heap more like a love-letter. Shore ya ain't got a
sweetheart in Mary-land?" He guffawed and winked at
Christy.

Neil laughed -- slightly affectedly, Christy noted. 

"I assure you, Ben, I've got no sweethearts -- in
Baltimore or anywhere else." Neil squatted down beside
Charlie and began to examine the horse's shoe.

Still laughing to himself, Ben Pentland said, "Waal,
cain't keep the U-nited States mail no longer. Thar's a
heap more letters to deliver -- one to Miz Henderson, an'
two fer the Allens." He tipped his tattered, greasy hat.
"Afternoon, Miz Christy."

"Good-bye, Mr. Pentland," Christy replied with a wave. 

She watched the mailman ride across the yard, dismount,
and enter the mission house. When she turned back to
Neil, he was still on the ground, using his pocketknife
to dig a clod of dirt out of Charlie's shoe.

"Well, who needs an old lady neighborhood gossip with Ben
Pentland around?" Christy joked.

Neil made no reply, nor did he look at Christy as he
stood and adjusted Charlie's saddle.

Christy was a little nettled by his mood, but she made
another attempt at conversation. "Did you have a busy day
today?"

"My usual rounds and a couple cases of croup," Neil
answered, glancing her way for a second.

"Creed Allen gave me an idea today," Christy said.
"Tomorrow we're going to begin a gypsy project." She told
Neil all about the plans she'd made. "I think it will be
a good learning experience for the children -- sort of a
living history or geography lesson," she concluded.

Neil was still intent on his horse.

"Neil?" Christy folded her arms across her chest. "Neil,
are you all right?"

"Hmm?" the Doctor quickly looked up at Christy as if
noticing her for the first time. "Oh, I'm fine. Am I
still invited to dinner?"

"Of course," Christy said slowly. 

The two walked toward the mission, Charlie trailing
behind. A heavy silence hung between them. It had been a
long time since lapses in conversation had been awkward.
Christy tried earnestly for something to say, but the
only thought she had was that for every one of Neil's
strides, she took two steps. 

Finally, when they reached the footbridge, Christy
stopped.

"Neil, what's on your mind?"

The doctor stopped too, but did not turn around.

"Does it have anything to do with that letter to your
professor in Baltimore?" Christy persisted.

"Maybe."

Christy stared at Neil's broad back. "I'm not trying to
interfere, Neil. It's just that lately we've, well, we've
been very open with each other, and..."

Neil's shoulders sagged as he let out a sigh.

"That's just it, Christy," he said, turning to face the
young woman. "We have been very open with one another.
We've seen each other at our most vulnerable. We've
confided, we've comforted, we've worked together..."

Christy took a deep breath as Neil's eyes held hers. 

"I admire you very much, Christy," said Neil. His tone
was soft and sincere.

"I admire you, too." Christy was unable to keep from
smiling.

He took a step toward the school teacher, his face
serious. "I want to continue what we've been, Christy. I
want to know you more. But I'm afraid... I don't want..."
He looked away and ran his fingers through his hair.

Christy kept her gaze on Neil's rugged face.

"It's just that we were thrown together so much under
incredibly stressful situations," Neil said quickly,
gripping the rails of the bridge. "I want to be..."

Christy touched his arm. "Sure about what we feel, about
what we are?"

He nodded. 

"You want it to be something real, not just
circumstantial."

Neil inclined his head to look at Christy. "Yes."

Smiling out at the mountains, she said, "Well, only time
can tell, Neil." She looked up at her friend. "I think we
have plenty of time."

She was delighted to see the lines on Neil's face relax.
He broke into a gentle, yet brilliant grin. "Yes,
Christy, we have plenty of time."

****

Neil stretched his back muscles and shifted slightly in
the saddle. He let Charlie proceed at a walk. How long
had it been since his last visit to Raven Gap? His life
was often hectic, but the series of emergencies at the
mission had disrupted all semblance of order in his
visits to the areas around Cutter Gap. It was time to
catch up on his many duties.

A voice broke in on his thoughts. "Good morning, Doctor."

Neil hadn't noticed Alice approaching from his left. She
turned her horse to follow the same path. Her bedroll,
full saddlebags, and rifle indicated that she was bound
on a long trip. She'd been very cooperative during her
recovery from surgery, and had followed his orders with
only a little grumbling. He knew how eager she was to
catch up on her own visiting schedule, and he'd finally
given her permission to travel.

"You're looking well, Alice. Are you off to Cataleechie,
then?"

She smiled briefly. "Yes. It's been far too long since my
last visit. In fact, I believe you and I met not far from
here as I was returning. How much has happened since
then! Wasn't that the very day you met Frederick?"

He nodded and met her eye briefly. He missed Freddie more
than he cared to say.

"What a remarkable young man," Alice said. "In spite of
his troubles, he gained a great deal from his stay in
Cutter Gap."

"Christy poured herself into helping the lad, right from
the start."

"As thee did, Doctor. I know how much he came to mean to
thee." Neil peeked sideways at her as she continued.
"What thee gave him will stay with him and support him
for his whole life. Thee gave him love."

He didn't know how to respond, so he simply stared at his
horse's ears as they rode side by side.

"Don't be embarrassed, Neil." He had the distinct
impression Alice was holding back a laugh, though she
spoke evenly. "That was exactly what Frederick needed
most. Perhaps he filled a need for thee as well."

He hadn't thought of it that way, but it was true. "I do
miss him. I hope he writes to tell us how he's getting
along."

It was some time before either spoke again. They stopped
at a stream to allow the horses to drink, and Alice noted
that they must part ways.

Neil raised his finger and winked. "Be careful what you
eat, Alice. I recall it was possum that started your
stomach problems."

She chuckled and replied, "I promise not to repeat that!
And I recall you had a very elegant knife on your belt."

"Oh, yes." Neil cleared his throat. "So I did."

Alice looked more closely at him, then smiled curiously.
The woman was too observant. "Neil? What is the secret?
Did thee loose the knife?"

"No. I, ah, I gave it to Freddie."

She was clearly pleased. As she spurred her horse across
the creek she called over her shoulder, "Well done, Neil.
Well done indeed. God keep thee!"

Neil watched her for a moment, and then with a smile on
his face he turned Charlie back onto the trail toward
Raven Gap.

*******
THE END
*******