AN: Finally go tthis one to post. It was ready Friday but apparently the site was not. This is perhaps the darkest chapter yet aside from the first chapter. It is also very long. Hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 7

Miss Alice returned from her retreat on a chilly, gray day in early November. I saw her ride past the schoolhouse during my geography lesson. I wanted to go and talk with her; to build up her courage to deal with Margaret but I had to finish teaching first.

"Teacher what da ye reckon Arie-zona means? Shore is a funny name." Sam Houston's question brought my mind back to the geography lesson.

"It means 'arid land' in Spanish. The same language from which El Pano gets its name."

"What does ar-id mean?"

"Extremely dry, like a desert."

"Desert. I thought that was sumptin that ye ate after ye had supper. Ye know like pie an all." Sam Huston was quite comical today. Perhaps I should have done a vocabulary lesson first.

"That's called dessert. Dessert is spelled with two s; desert is spelled with only one. Try to remember that you like more than one dessert to make sure your spelling the right word."

"Teacher, what's a desert like?" Little Burl had taken over asking the questions now.

"I've never seen one before but I'll try to explain the best I can. I've only seen a few photographs in a magazine before of a desert. For one thing it is very dry."

"Like when it don't rain here for days and days?" Some one chimed in toward the back of the class.

"Like when it doesn't rain." I corrected and went on with my explanation. "No it would be drier than that because it only rains a few days a year. There are no trees or grass in many deserts. There's lots of sand and rocks and it is very hot. A desert is very different than Cutter Gap, where everything is green and cool."

"Reckon 'twould be sumptin to see sometime. When I'm grown, I'd like to see this Arizona land fer myself." Isaac McHone announced. He of all my students was the one that had a case of what was called around here as 'wanderlust'. In his young face, I got a glimpse of a young adventurer seeking more and more exotic locations. I smiled and hoped that one-day, when I was older, that I could say that I knew him when he was young.

Eventually, I did complete my geography lesson and a vocabulary lesson as well. Introducing the students to the Western states had sparked interest and since some of those states had landforms and climates not known to them, I had to do a vocabulary lesson.

As I packed up my things to leave the now empty schoolroom, a light rain began to patter on the roof. I stood on the porch of the schoolhouse and gazed out into the mists gathering in the meadow below. I suppose some might find a dreary day depressing, but occasionally I found solace in the gray mystery of a rainy day. I found myself entranced by the movement of the fog banks more than once since I arrived in Cutter Gap. With a gentle and calm spirit, I went to find Miss Alice.

I found Miss Alice alone in her room. She regarded me silently and I could read the sadness in her brown eyes. Without asking I knew she had found no answers for her and Margaret's situation. What could I say to make the sadness and pain go away? Stumbling for words, I tried the best I could.

"Miss Alice, Margaret needs you now and it doesn't matter what you've said and done in the past."

"Christy, it does matter what I've done to her. I am the one who helped make her into what she is today."

"Not entirely. She believes she is unworthy of love and compassion because of her birth. That is not your fault."

"But Christy it is my fault. I abandoned her for six years. I left my parents to raise her when she was only six months old. I became a missionary to hide myself from my problems. If it wasn't for Joseph Scott, I don't think I would have ever returned to Pennsylvania. I missed Margaret's formative years, so the damage had already been done and it was too late to fix the problems. I let those problems go, thinking that she would grow out of her selfish phase and she would grow more caring. By the time she was sixteen, she had run off to Philadelphia and joined a group of bohemians. They challenged her beliefs and she challenged theirs. They gave her more freedom than I could and accepted her as she was. I could not bear to see my own daughter act so godless and shameful, but still I tried to reach her. I followed her and Neil to Cutter Gap after they married. I saw need here and found a purpose. She could not or would not find a purpose. Neil was not enough for her; he lived his life by too many rules, which was a direct conflict of those bohemian ideals. She had though him to be a rebellious spirit too. In religion yes he was rebellious, but he is dutiful and caring. I suppose he thought she was caring and capable of love. She hated the isolation here and I was blind to it. What have I done to my own flesh and blood? I disowned her, Christy." Miss Alice's brown eyes pooled with tears and my heart ached. I was beginning to feel myself pulled down by the seemingly hopeless nature of this situation. Words and actions once said and done were hard things for many to forget, but they are not impossible to forgive.

"I've talked with Margaret some while you were away."

"Thee has?" Miss Alice sounded hopeful.

"Yes. She wants to have some relationship with you. She knows she can't relive the past. You know as well as I do, that God accepts us the way we are, the good and the bad, it doesn't matter to him. He loves us anyway. Shouldn't we extend that acceptance to everyone we meet? You have shown me that, show it to your daughter. God made mothers and daughter not see eye to eye all the time, but love is still there. Let Margaret know that. Don't hide from her. Move on from the past and start anew with her before it's too late."

"Thank thee, Christy for thy courage."

I nodded to Miss Alice and left her room to return to mine. I said a silent prayer that the rift between mother and daughter could be mended. I hoped that I had gotten through to both of them enough to thaw the ice around their hearts.

Later that week, the rain moved off and we were graced with a cloudless and brilliant November day. Just in time for the working at Dan Scott's. Miss Alice and Margaret seemed to be getting along well, though I did not know what they said to each other and I didn't want to pry. I had been busy with Fairlight making pies to take to the working on Thursday and Friday. David seemed to be in an odd mood. Sometimes he was positively brooding and other times he was fine, flashing his handsome smile now and then. Margaret had to be wrong about David. Surely he would not do anything to harm me. He wasn't still jealous of Neil, no, he couldn't be. He was probably just a little sore that I wasn't going to marry him, that's all. It would take awhile to get over that I supposed.

"Margaret, I'm sorry you can't join us for the working. You'll miss all of Jeb's wonderful songs. You could even teach us some."

"I doubt my songs from my tea house day would be appropriate."

"You'd be surprised. Some of the ballads can be quite bawdy."

"Well, you'll just have to sing some for me."

I looked at Margaret in horror. "I can't sing very well. I must warn you."

"According to Ruby Mae, your voice at least does not incite howls from old hound dogs." Margaret laughed huskily.

"Ruby Mae's been telling tales again."

"That girl is positively delightful at times. Don't worry about me; I'll be fine on my own. Mac says it's too cool out for me to be out long. Have a dance with him for me, will you?"

"I'll try, but dancing usually leads to an argument with us."

"Mac always picks his fights at the wrong moments. Some things never change. You'd best hurry or you'll be late."

I grabbed my coat from the hook by the door and said a goodbye to Margaret. David had already left, but if I hurried I could catch up to Miss Alice.

We were the first to arrive at the cabin site. I wonder how many would show up to the working. Most residents of the Cove did not hold Dan Scott in high regard. I hoped that after the scarlet epidemic and his cabin burning, things would change. Change was a slow thing in the Cove. I was just beginning to feel like a member of the community here and I had been here for over a year going on two.

David helped us set up tables for food and started a large fire for us. He and Dan began selecting trees that would do for the cabin. Slowly and to my surprise, people began to arrive. First the Spencers and the McHones and then the Allens, Holts, Coburns, Becks, Holcombes, and Teagues arrived at the cabin site. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a figure moving reluctantly at the edge of the yard. As the person stepped out of the shadows, I felt my eyes widened in surprise. Bird's Eye Taylor! Of all the people not to be there, he would have been the first on the list. Behind him I saw Neil leading his Aunt Hattie to a bench by the fire. I wondered if he was the reason for Bird's Eye being here. I would ask him later.

Since it was late in the season for a working and Dan Scott did not need much land cleared of brush, the wildfire that Creed Allen had accidentally set had taken care of that, raising the cabin and a small barn were all that was necessary. The men organized themselves into several groups: those that would cut down the selected trees, those that would move them and notch the logs to fit together, and a final group to help heft the logs into place. Neil and David were in the last group of men along with Dan Scott. I was glad to see Neil and David together; perhaps working side by side would put an end to their unspoken rivalry. I went to the group of women and children that had gathered by the fire to help prepare the noon meal. We would start a stew with ingredients that each family had brought. Once it was started, we would sew and talk until it was time to eat. Then, after all the work was done, was my favorite part of the day, the singing and celebrating after a hard day of work.

By the noon meal, Dan's cabin was nearly finished except for the roof. The women and I had the tables ready to serve the men first. I handed David a bowl of stew and he barely said a word. I looked at his eyes and they held that menacing look like storm clouds on a summer day. I shivered at the look he gave me.

"What's wrong with Grantland now?"

Neil's voice shocked me to attention. "I don't know. He's been acting strangely since last week. Since…" I stopped myself from bringing up his kiss. Neil nodded his understanding.

"He hasn't said more than two words the whole day to either Dan or I."

"Hey Doc! How's about movin' on soes the rest of us kin eat?" Someone was shouting from the end of the line to us. I lowered my eyes, embarrassed.

I didn't get to talk to Neil until after the working was finished. Jeb and some others were tuning up for some music. It was nearly 3 o' clock, so there would be just enough time for a few songs before sunset. As late as it was, some families, even if they left now, would have to finish their walk home by torchlight.

"Hold on thar now Jeb. Afore we gets carried away with singin' an all, I gots sumptin ta say ta ye Mr. Scott." Uncle Bogg had taken off his hat and was squashing it nervously in his hands. "I know we haven't been so nice ta ye an all. Ye did a really fine job findin' and takin' care of Creed Allen during the scarlet fever and we'd like ta thank ye fer it. Bob bring that thar mule here."

Bob Allen led a mule forward. Behind it was a sled, piled up with what was commonly referred to as 'house plunder'. Dan moved forward to accept this gift.

"Tain't much, I know, but its more'n' most married couples start off with 'round here."

"Thank you all so much. It means a lot to me."

"Come on now. Help the man get his stuff inside afore the sun sinks."

As men moved forward to help move in the table and chairs, Jeb began to fiddle. More joined in on dulcimer, banjo, accordion, and harmonica after the house plunder had been moved in. I walked over to Neil.

"Someone requested that I dance with you."

Neil removed his pipe from his lips, his eyebrow cocked in a questioning manner. "But it isn't proper for the ladies to do the asking."

I flushed slightly. "I figured that every time you asked me to dance, it hasn't ended very well. Besides, Margaret wanted me to dance with you."

"Of course I'll dance with you. I was planning on asking."

The first dance was a lively reel, which left me breathless. I wouldn't have guessed that Neil was such an accomplished dancer. I wished that day down by the river had turned out better. Jeb's fingers relaxed into a slower tune. Somewhere Aunt Hattie started singing the words to the song softly as others joined in. Neil was singing softly in my ear as well. Apparently his aunt wasn't the only one in the MacNeill clan blessed with the gift of music.

Down in the valley, valley so low

Hang your head over, hear the wind blow

Hear the wind blow, dear, hear the wind blow;

Hang your head over, hear the wind blow.

Roses love sunshine, violets love dew,

Angels in Heaven know I love you,

Know I love you, dear, know I love you,

Angels in Heaven know I love you.

I leaned my head to nearly touch Neil's shoulder and closed my eyes. The worry of the past weeks seemed to slip from my shoulders. I could almost forget everything in his strong arms. The song ended much too soon. Neil was whispering in my ear.

"We ought to stop dancing, Starlight. I'm likely to forget again that you are not mine."

We parted reluctantly and found other partners to dance with. Neil was spinning Fairlight around in another fast paced dance and Tom McHone was guiding me into the group of dancers. Opal must have been busy tending to Iris. I declined a second dance to grab a drink of cool water. The sun was sinking low now, filling the ridges and valleys with warm golden light. I was about to turn back to the crowd, when someone grabbed my arm roughly. I whirled around to meet David's glowering face. A sick feeling twisted my insides like I had never felt before.

"You filthy whore! Out there flaunting and flirting with a married man! He's gone and ruined you too. Just like Margaret. How long do you think it will be until you are driven mad or he discards you like ashes from a fire? No man will want you, ever. I should be the one who ends it for you. Should have married me while you had the chance."

Suddenly he drew me to him, my back at his chest and arms gripping me tightly around the neck and waist. I was too terrified to even scream. I felt something cold and hard pressing into the soft flesh of the hollow of my neck. The sharp point of it was biting into my skin; I knew it was a knife. I heard the music stop as we neared the crowd and a stunned gasp followed. Neil was standing near Miss Alice and both turned with a look of horror spread over their faces. Neil rushed forward as did several other men.

"Stay back! I'm going to kill her! She is a sinner and needs to be punished! She is an adulteress and a fornicator! Her blood will make her pure!"

The knife blade pushed further into my neck. From the warm trickle I could feel running down my neck and gathering on my collar, I knew I was bleeding now. David only had to push slightly harder and my life would be over. I was shaking now, uncontrollably so. Even with Jarvis Tatum, I hadn't been this terrified. He had been a stranger to me. But David was supposed to have loved me. How could love turn to hate so quickly? I looked to Neil and saw his face frozen in terror and confusion. He had to save me. The crowd around us was still silent and in shock. Though violence was nothing new in this part of the world, a so-called man of God committing violence was quite foreign. A slow click of a gun being cocked filled the air.

"Ye oughter let her go, ifn ye want ta live. I kin pull this here trigger faster'n ye can blink an eye." Bird's Eye Taylor had his trusty rifle trained on David.

"Go right ahead, Bird's Eye. Kill me and I'll kill her on my way out."

David and Bird's Eye continued to stare each other down in the dimming light. From the corner of my eye, I saw a slight movement. Where had Neil gone? The moments dragged on for eons it seemed. Some of the other men on the fringes of the crowd had moved away as well. David had not noticed. I felt a glimmer of hope and said a silent prayer that things would end well.

A sudden movement came from behind David. He shifted his hand enough that the knife no longer stuck me in the neck. With his attention on who ever was behind him, I launched myself forward and fell to the ground. Miss Alice and Fairlight rushed to me. I saw that Neil now had David's knife welding hand in his and was squeezing it mercilessly in effort to get the knife to release. Bird's Eye still had his gun trained on David's struggling figure. The knife dropped with a dull thud to the ground and Uncle Bogg rushed up to David as Neil forced David's hands behind his back. Uncle Bogg grabbed a thick rope from Dan Scott and tied David's hands firmly behind his back.

"He'll be goin' to Lyleton in the mornin'." Uncle Bogg stated firmly. There was a unanimous agreement from the crowed.

"Until then we can keep him in my barn." Dan offered.

"I kin keep watch over him 'til Uncle Bogg can get him to Lyleton." Bird's Eye had finally lowered the rifle. "Then we ride as a group thar tomorry." Again, that was agreed to unanimously.

Neil was at my side immediately after David was secured. He examined the wound on my neck and suddenly thing started to go black.