Disclaimer: the beautiful story of Christy, the enriching words of

Catherine Marshall, are owned by the LeSourd family. This fanfiction

is for entertainment purposes.

CHRISTY'S TOOTHACHE

Author's note: Poor me, I read the book before I saw the television

series, which I happened to find on PAX. And I was so shocked to

see the return of the formerly dead Margaret! What a travesty! I

was absolutely flummoxed, as the good doctor would say, by this

development. But I love the series and I really love the fanfiction.

This story begins at the end of the very last episode, when Christy

stands teary-eyed between the doctor and the reverend.

Part One

Christy looked at David. Then she turned to Neil.

"Go back to your wife, Doctor!" Christy insisted. "Please, Neil,

go back to Margaret. Forgive her. Take her back into your heart."

Neil stared at Christy.

"Christy... I know that you can't have me," he moaned, "and I don't

want you to have David, either."

"Just go, Neil." Christy sputtered.

Neil did not say another word. He turned and left, his horse galloping away

from Christy.

David took a deep breath. Maybe I have finally won, he thought to

himself. Will Christy marry me now that she cannot have Neil? Christy

walked toward him. David could hardly wait to hear her

decision. An eternity later, David and Christy faced each other.

Christy looked up at the reverend.

"David..." she said hesitantly.

"Christy, I love you." insisted David, looking down into her eyes.

"David, I need some time to think." whispered Christy, as she

rubbed her jaw.

"Christy, what's wrong? Are you in pain?" worried David.

"I have a toothache, David, don't worry so much," returned Christy.

"David, I need some time and I must go to a dentist. There isn't a

dentist for miles around, and I am most comfortable with my family

dentist. So, in a few days I am leaving for Asheville. I will see

my family, and my dentist, and my friends. Then I will return and

tell you my answer." Christy took a deep breath and looked at

David, then she continued.

"Will you give me some time and space?" Christy asked. "You are

asking me for a lifetime... I am taking a few weeks to decide."

Christy wondered why she was so hesitant to accept David's proposal.

David pulled Christy close. He stroked her arms and back. Christy

closed her eyes. She loved being in David's arms and she loved

kissing him. They kissed tenderly.

"I will do anything for you, Christy. I love you. My love will

keep." said David, when the kissing ended.

The next day, Christy prepared to leave for Asheville. She would

have to say "goodbye for now" to Miss Alice. The two women stood

in front of the mission, their faces somber.

"I will miss thee, Miss Huddleston." admitted Miss Alice. She looked

fondly at Christy. "But I must share thee with thy family," she

added. "Please do not forget that thy Cutter Gap family loves you,

and please return safely to us." she said.

Christy brushed tears from her huge, round, bluer than the sky eyes.

"I am leaving my home here to return to my home." Christy said,

and as she pronounced it, she realized it was true. She rubbed her

jaw.

"Take care of thy toothache!" exclaimed Miss Alice. "I see that

thee has been rubbing thy jaw. Perhaps it is thy wisdom teeth."

"Perhaps." answered Christy. "I plan to see the dentist when I arrived in

Asheville. Kindly old Dr. Myers has taken care of my

teeth since I was a little girl."

The two women walked back to the mission, where Christy finished

packing for her trip.