Christy turned back to David; the confusion was overwhelming. She handed him back the ring box, great sadness in her eyes. "David I'm sorry, I can't do this right now." She turned one last time and gazed longingly into Neil's eyes as she walked back to Prince, took the reins and lead him to the barn in silence, tears streaming down.
David was dumbfounded and crestfallen. "This is your fault," he uttered to Neil, before stuffing the ring box in his pocket and turning back to the children on the schoolhouse steps. Neil was perplexed, but relieved, ignoring David. He turned Charlie to leave, figuring it was best to give Christy some space. David dismissed the children for the day. He needed to get away for a while and ponder what had just happened.
Amidst all the other usual ongoing drama of the cove... over the next several days, Christy's emotions were in turmoil, but she carried on as best she could. She secretly wondered why Neil had chased after her, despite the scene she had witnessed at his cabin.
David was sullen, and spoke to her only when necessary. He did his best to be gone from the mission as often as possible. He didn't bring up the subject of marriage again; it appeared that that door had closed, Christy considered with relief. Confiding in Fairlight had been a somewhat reassuring; she told Christy that love would find a way. After only a couple of days, word began to spread that Margaret had become very ill.
On a particularly warm Spring afternoon, Christy decided to go for a walk alone to think. A ways down the path, she heard a horse and rider approach, and with a sharp intake of breath, she realized that it was Neil.
"There you are; I was just on my way to find you," he said as he pulled Charlie to a halt.
"You were looking for me? Why?" Christy asked, the surprise evident in her voice.
"Margaret is very ill, and there isn't much time left for her. Pneumonia has set in, and her lungs are too weak and damaged to fight it. She wants to speak with you," he said matter of factly. His tone softening, he held out a hand as he said, "Will you ride back with me?" Christy hesitantly agreed, and Neil reached down to deftly lift her up behind him. The absence of an engagement ring on her finger was not lost upon him.
They rode in silence for a few minutes, before Neil spoke. "Christy, would you tell me, what brought you to my cabin the other day?"
Christy could feel crimson rising to her cheeks, and she was glad that she was behind Neil and he couldn't see her. She hesitated a moment, then answered, "It's not important anymore."
Neil knew there was more to this. "I can see that you're hurting, you know that you can confide in me."
"That was before..."Christy was going to say "Margaret," but she stopped herself short. She felt Neil shoulders drop slightly. Once again, she had the strong urge to confide in him. She forged ahead. "I came to tell you... That I wasn't going to accept David's proposal. I've finally realized that I don't love him - not like that."
Neil put a hand over hers and gave them a gentle squeeze. "It's good that you've made your decision," he said, glad that she had decided to tell him. Christy wasn't ready to divulge to him the rest, but Neil intuitively knew there was more. He decided not to push her right now though.
"Now I have a question for you - why did you follow me back to the schoolhouse?" She queried.
"It wasn't like you to tear off like that. I immediately realized that what you saw was the cause... I wanted to make sure you were okay," he said quietly. Both fell back into silence, reliving that fateful day.
Before there was a chance to discuss it further, they arrived at their destination. The sound of coughing was coming from the cabin. Christy slid off of Charlie's back and quickly headed for the porch steps while Neil went to put Charlie up in the barn. She paused just inside the doorway at the sight before her. On a cot near the fireplace she saw a very weak and pale Margaret lying there, a shadow of the tea house dancer she had encountered just over a week ago. She beckoned Christy over, "You can come over here."
"Margaret, Neil said you wanted to speak to me,". Christy said quietly, as she approached.
"I don't have much time left. I - I just wanted to thank you for coming to speak to me the other day, for what you said... and... to ask for forgiveness for the way I have treated you," her voice rasped out.
"Of course I forgive you Margaret," she said as she knelt down next to the frail woman, "I'm glad you came back to make your peace."
Neil entered the room, surveying the scene as he walked over to the two. Margaret, looking at the two in front of her, with some effort continued to speak. "I have to tell you both something." She paused as weariness began to set in. "It's plain to see, you two are in love; you belong together. I truly mean that..." Another bout of coughing followed.
Neil and Christy were astonished at her words. Certainly, this was the last thing Christy had expected. "Margaret -" she started, but the ailing woman cut her off.
"Please - go get Mother. I need her," She pleaded, exhausted from talking. Her condition seemed to be worsening by the minute.
Christy looked to Neil. They turned and walked together back towards the door. "I'll go," she said, not missing the thoughtful look from him.
"You can take Charlie, he's still saddled in the barn," he said. I trust you will be fine with that; you seem to have become quite accomplished with Prince."
"Yes, that's no problem; I'll send him back with Ms. Alice." She lingered, captivated by his intent gaze. The look in his eyes stirred her soul... Finally she turned to go.
Alice left for to the cabin immediately upon Christy's return. she was able to spend a few precious hours with her daughter, making amends. At dusk Margaret passed away.
The funeral was 2 days later. Alice and Neil were greatly healed by the reconciliation that they both had experienced with her before Margaret died. Alice, as a mother, was grieving, but Neil moved on quickly; Christy was aware that he already mourned her death years ago.
One day the following week, Christy stayed later after school grading papers. It was hard for her to concentrate; her mind kept drifting back to Neil... And Margaret's last words to them. Absorbed in her thoughts, she looked up as she heard the sound of heavy footfalls on the schoolhouse steps. Neil appeared in the doorway. "I thought I'd stop by and say hello, I was just over restocking the mission," he said.
"Neil, it's so good to see you!" Christy exclaimed, rising from her desk and walking around to greet him. "How are you doing?" She asked concernedly.
"I'm fine Christy - really, just looking forward to getting on with life," he said. "As for you, I see you are keeping rather busy."
"Yes, well, with school coming to an end for spring planting, I do have a lot of end-of-term catching up to do," she explained. "I've been thinking about you..."
"Well, I'll admit that I like the sound of that," Neil said with a grin as he stepped closer, "And truth be told, you've been on my mind as well."
"Oh?" Christy said, as a blush crept up her cheeks.
A long pause ensued. "you know, I must tell you that this whole ordeal has had me reconsidering faith - your kind of faith, not what these mountain folk believe. I couldn't fathom the situation when Margaret showed up at my cabin again, begging me to take her back... And everything else... It brought me to my knees, quite literally," he told her, as his gaze warmly held hers.
Christy was overjoyed at Neil's words. Her eyes sparkling, she exclaimed how glad she was to hear this, stepping over and placing a caring hand on his arm. Neil drew her into a warm embrace, holding her for several moments. Christy's heart skipped a beat as she wrapped her arms more tightly about his neck. finally, he held her back at arm's length, but still keeping his hands on her waist. With a teasing tone he said, " I'll tell you now, though, you had better not expect me in church every Sunday. That just isn't who I am."
Smiling, she replied, "I'm just happy for this Neil, I would never push you. "
Changing the subject, Neil said, "I've also been deeply considering what Margaret said to us before she passed."
Christy looked soulfully into his eyes, and in almost a whisper she responded, "I have been too."
Taking a deep breath, Neil continued, "It's time I told you this, now that I am finally free to do so... The truth of it is, Christy, that I've cared for you for a very long time, far before Margaret ever even first returned. I can't wait any longer to say it... I am in love with you."
Christy's clear blue eyes misted with tears of joy. "Looking back, I see that I have had feelings for you for just as long, but I was too blind and confused to recognize it. The reason I came to your cabin that day - it was to tell you that I love you. I knew then that I couldn't marry David, when my heart was with you."
Neil drew her close again and kissed her tenderly. Christy melted into him. She had been dreaming of his touch for so long. Sighing, she said, "Oh Neil, how I have longed for this moment."
"As have I, Christy," he responded, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand.
Worry suddenly creeping into her voice, she said, "But what will others think, us being together so soon after Margaret's death? You know they've blown things out of proportion before..."
Neil pondered a moment. "You know, though I was glad of her making amends before she died, there was nothing left between Margaret and I. People will just have to get used to it; I don't think it will come as much of a surprise to anyone, do you?"
Shaking her head, Christy reached up and pushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead. Neil leaned down and kissed her again. She responded willingly, touching her hand on the back of his neck, drawing them closer. "I must say, this has to be the happiest day I can remember. You mean so much to me, Christy." They strolled outside towards the pond, loosing track of time as they enjoyed each other's company. Finally, as evening fell, Neil needed to get going. "I will see you soon," he said as he brushed one more gentle kiss across her lips.
"I very much look forward to that," Christy said, her eyes sparkling.
They parted, and Neil turned back when he reached Charlie. he told her again, "l love you, Christy Huddleston..."
She responded, joy written all over her face, "And I love you, Neil MacNeil."