A/N: This is my first Christy fanfic. Based more on the television show than the book. This is after the episode when Christy was kidnapped with Sam Houston by Jarvis Tatum and when David was shot. Christy has accepted David's proposal and the wedding is set for spring. As you can tell this is a Christy/David pairing. The one I thought they should have developed better. All characters belong to Chatherine Marshall and family. I'm only borrowing them for a time.

A Cold Mountain Night

Chapter One: Sleepless in Cutter Gap

Christy Rudd Huddleston couldn't sleep. An hour ago she had added another log to her fire but she was still cold. Nothing she did was helping to warm her. She had the two quilts her mother had sent from the city on her bed along with the one that Mrs. Fairlight Spencer had made for her. Christy wore a pair of her woolen socks with a pair of David's thick socks that she "borrowed" from the clothes line eariler that week. She was wearing her mittens on her hands as well. But she was still so very cold.

Christy got out of bed and paced the floor of her room. Even though her fingers were frozen she pulled the mitten from her left hand. On the fourth finger of her left hand was a very small diamond ring, the best that David could afford on the salary he made as the minister of the Cutter Gap mission. It was more than Christy could have hoped for because it was given to her with more love and devotion than any of the large stones her friends in Asheville had been given by their fiances.

It had taken Christy a long time to realize that it was really David that she loved. There had been so many things that David had done for her to prove that he loved her. When her father got sick he was right there to offer her comfort. He looked for her when she took the children of her school to the cave to prove it wasn't haunted. And he still came after her after he had been shot by Jarvis Tatum. It was when she thought David was dead that she knew she loved him. It hurt her so much to know that she would never get a chance to tell him how she truly felt. But then she heard his voice and she was so overcome with emotion that she could barely contain it. As soon as she was out she ran to him and he held her tightly, swearing never to lose her again.

The full moon was shining brightly on the blanket of snow causing it to glow. She looked out to the soft glow of light was coming from David's bunkhouse. Christy wondered why he would want to freeze out in that shack instead of sleeping in the mission house. Overcome with wanting to see and be with David if only for a moment she wrapped herself tight in Fairlight's quilt and slipped on her shoes. She snuck out of the mission house and walked quickly down to David's bunkhouse.

The full moon shone bright on the snow covered ground. Luckily for Christy she was able to follow David's footprints in the snow as not to make tracks of her own. She quietly pushed open the door and stifled a laugh as she looked in on David. He had fallen asleep reading. His Bible was resting on his chest. Christy carefully removed his Bible and carefully set it on the bedside table. A bit of his hair had fallen into his eyes. She reached out and brushed it away. David stirred and blinked awake.

"Christy? Is something wrong?" David asked, sitting up.

"No, nothing's wrong. I couldn't sleep. I needed to see you," she said softly.

David got out of his bed and took her in his arms. Before Christy always thought that David was too tall for her, but now in his arms she fit perfectly. In that moment she didn't want to leave, move or even breathe. She could hear his heart beating. She shivered slightly sending a tremor through herself into David. He leaned down and kissed her softly.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I know David. I am so happy," Christy whispered back.

They stood holding onto each other for a long time. Christy was content to stay there forever but she knew she couldn't. Ruby Mae was bound to get up earlier than everyone and notice she was gone. Miss Alice could also be up looking for her. She sighed softly and pulled away from David. He groaned in protest.

"No stay," he whispered.

"I can't," Christy said, plainly. "Someone is bound to notice I'm gone sooner or later."

"I understand. I can't let you ruin your reputation with the people of the cove. I'll walk you back to the house."

"I don't want to go back," Christy said softly. "It's so cold in the house."

"You can't stay here Christy. As much as I would love for you to, you just can't."

Christy sighed and turned away from David. He stood behind her wrapping her in his strong arms. He leaned down and whispered into her ear.

"It's only five more months until April. Then we'll never be apart."

Christy giggled softly as David's breath tickeled her neck. He kissed her softly on the cheek. He kissed down her neck turning her to face him. This time she, not he, intiated the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding David close to her. His arms slipped around her lifting Christy into his arms, just the way he had when she first came to the mission. Desire and longing had overtaken them both and in the cold quiet night in the backwoods of forgotten Tennesse, David Grantland and Christy Huddleston gave in.

David carried her to his bed, lying her down on the soft mattress. He laid over her, noses touching. Christy ran her hands up David's strong chest. Reaching the top she began to open each button of his shirt. She eased it off of his shoulders and slid it down his arms. Christy gave David a soft smile just as he began to loosen the strings of her nightgown.

It was a strange yet glorious feeling having David on top of her like he was. Christy was both terrified and electrified at the same time. She had never felt more loved and at peace than she did in the moment that she and David came together. Nothing in Christy's life had prepared her for how she felt in that moment. All she could think was how much she loved David.

"I love you," she whispered into David's neck. She curled into his side and finally found the sleep that had been evading her all night. When she awoke the next morning Christy couldn't remember where she was. She blinked awake and found herself on David's chest his arms around her tightly. He noticed that she was awake and leaned over to kiss her softly.

"Good morning," he whispered.

"Good morning," Christy replied. "I should get back to the house before someone realizes I'm gone."

"Don't worry," David said. "I got up while you were still asleep. I brought you a change of clothes. If anyone asks, you went for an early walk."

They both got up and David helped Christy dress. There was no awkwardness that usually accompanies the morning after. There was an ease about them, as if they had been together many times before. Before Christy left to go back to the main house, he wrapped her back in Fairlight's quilt. He walked her to his door and kissed her softly.

"I'll see you at the school," he said, opening the door for her. "And Christy?"

"Yes David?" Christy said, looking back at his kind, gentle face.

"I love you. Come again tonight?"

"I'll try. I love you, David."

Christy walked around the house a few times, to clear her head. In fact she needed to speak to Miss Alice. Not about what had happened, but about her lessons for the next week. As long as she was careful, she could easily not give away what had transpired between David and she the night before. Not that Christy was ashamed of what happened. Just the opposite. She was bursting to tell someone about what had happened. With luck, Fairlight would stay when she brought her children to school.

As Christy was walking into the main house Miss Alice was walking out.

"Good morning, Miss Alice!" Christy said, cheerfully. "It is such a beautiful morning!"

"Indeed it is Miss Huddleston. I noticed thee wasn't in thy bed this morning," Miss Alice said.

"I woke up early and went for a walk to get prepared for the day. It was so beautiful this morning that I wanted to take it all in."

Miss Alice looked at Christy as if she knew the truth. Christy smiled politely as she passed by Miss Alice. She found herself in the kitchen with Ruby Mae. Some of the things that Miss Ida had taught Ruby Mae about cooking seemed to have stuck. She could finally make eggs without getting the shells in them and without burning them. For that everyone in the mission was thankful.

"You sure were up early this mornin' Miz Christy. You had to of been up before Preacher. He sure was actin' funny this mornin'. Whistlin' and talkin' to hisself. He must be in a right good mood today," Ruby Mae was saying. "He did go up to your room though Miz Christy. Not sure what he was looking for, but he must a found it."

"Be sure you finish your chores before coming to school Ruby Mae," Christy said, trying to hide her smile. David whistling and talking! He's going to give us away faster than anything if he keeps that up.

"What do you think Miz Christy that's got Preacher all giddy?" Ruby Mae asked, pulling Christy from her thoughts of David.

"I guess it's just one day closer to when he and I will be getting married," Christy answered, sipping on a cup of coffee.

"Yep, that must be it, Miz Christy. Ain't nothin' giddier than a man who's getting married."

Christy had to laugh at that. Just as she laughed, the object of her desire walked into the kitchen. He smiled at Ruby Mae and came to sit next to Christy. She slipped her hand under the table to grasp his. After last night she wanted nothing more than to close to him all the time. It was a feeling she loved and never wanted to lose. David caressed her hand softly as he held it. Soon the clock in the main room chimed and it was time for Christy to be getting over to the school. Most of the children would be arriving soon. She reluctantly released herself from David's grasp and went up to her room to retrieve her books and papers. As she came out of her room David caught her by her hand and pulled her to him. They shared a quick kiss, before he offered his arm to walk to the school.

All day, at every instance that David and Christy could steal away they did. They were together so much in those days after that some could say that Preacher and Miz Christy were as good as the same person. A few days after Christy and David had made love, Christy and Fairlight Spencer were having their reading lessons.

"Fairlight, I need to tell you something," Christy said, when the quiet got to her. "I need to tell someone or I'm going to burst."

"What is it Miz Christy?" Fairlight replied. "I been noticin' that you and Precher have been actin' rather strange of late. Did somthin' happen?"

"Yes Fairlight. Something wonderful happened." Christy began to unfold the night she and David made love. Fairlight listened and took in everything. She understood Christy's fears of people finding out and what they would say.

"Miz Christy, you love Preacher right?"

"Yes, very much. Why do you ask?"

"No reason. I'm just sayin' that if you love Preacher and are going to marry him then you and he have done nothin' wrong."

"Thank you Fairlight. You always know what to say."

A few weeks went by and David and Christy managed to be together at least twice a week. Most of the time it was Christy who was sneaking out to see David. Or other times they would just sit by the fair, wrapped in each others arms. Christy had never felt more at peace. She and David were happy. Until one week something was bothering Christy. For some reason whatever she ate came right back up. At first Chirsty thought it was just Ruby Mae's cooking that was doing her in. Then Fairlight came back to the mission while Jeb was away and she soon discovered that it wasn't the food but something wrong with her. As much as she didn't want to see Dr. MacNeill she was going to have to.

Doc never did approve of Christy agreeing to marry David. He was mighty jealous, although he would never admit it. She told Fairlight that she was going to go see Doc to get checked up. she didn't think it was anything serious but after taking the fever last year, she was taking no chances with her health. Telling David where she was going and the reason for it, Christy set off for Doc's cabin, for the first time in weeks. For a reason she couldn't understand, Christy was nervous.