The Revelation ~ Ingle's Cove

I leaned on Tom McHone's shoulder as we descended the mountain from Ingles Cove. My ankle hurt when I walked on it, but I wasn't about to have Neil and David fight over me again. Tom was a great help to me. I knew in my heart that Tom understood what was going on and that he recognized why I couldn't leave either man carry me. So he was doing his best to help me instead. Everyone in the group was silent. The only thing that could be heard was the wetness of the underbrush as the four of us trudged along toward the mission.

As we reached the mission I saw people streaming out the front door. Dozens of people who had sought refuge here during the devastating storm last night. I wondered how many would be back tonight because they no longer had homes to go back to? How many accounts of devastation would we hear about by the end of the day?

I peered over my left shoulder and saw David following behind me. His head bowed sadly, looking dejected. I walked a bit farther and peered over my right shoulder to see Neil walking behind me, confused and forlorn, but with a new sparkle in his eyes. I had made my decision now I had to find a way to let go of the man I was not to marry and to announce to the man that I was to marry, that I would accept his proposal if he were to ask me.

Neil had told me that he loved me and he had come here to ask me to marry him, but I didn't give him a chance to speak last night. I was afraid of what he might say! I had accepted David's proposal, that meant that I had made a commitment to him, how was I to change my mind now? It would break his heart! How could I do that? But if I didn't tell him the truth I would break Neil's heart! I couldn't win this tug of war. But I couldn't play the game anymore either! There was just too much at stake here! My happiness, yes, but more than that the love and lives of two incredible men! I knew what I had to do, but that didn't make the task any easier for me to accomplish!

While David lived here at the mission it would be much easier to find him alone and I could tell him the truth. On the other hand, Neil lived miles away and he had no idea that I had changed my mind since my tirade yesterday! What was I going to do?

There was no more time for thoughts now; we had arrived at the mission house.

Sam Houston came running up to Dr. MacNeill with tears streaming down his face. Neil swung the boy up into his arms. "What's wrong?" Neil asked.

"We ain't' got no place to live no more Doc! Our cabin's done washed clean away! Where we gonna live now Doc?" Sam Houston howled.

"I'll talk things over with your pa. Maybe you can stay at my place until we can get a cabin built for your family again. How does that sound to you?" Neil inquired.

"That'd be right nice ah yah Doc! I'd like that just fine! And remember our promise, no more foolishness anymore! Right Doc?" Sam Houston announced.

"Right Sam Houston!" Neil smiled at the boy in his arms.

I didn't realize that things for everyone else in the cove had gone from bad to worse! I prayed that the Spencer's hadn't suffered any more loss!! I had been so ill last night that I hadn't thought to pray for everyone.

Once we were inside I saw all of the people who were still here! Oh this storm had been so much more than I had ever imagined. The hunting shack in Ingle's Cove had felt so snug and secure, especially when I was ill!! I felt ashamed for being safe and warm when so many calamities were going on just over the next mountain! How could I think now that *my* problems had any weight to them whatsoever in comparison to these poor suffering individuals and families that were strewn throughout the mission house!?!

Neil came up to me and placed his hands on my shoulders, "Christy, I'm going to carry you up to your room. You need a lot of rest to recover fully from that fever last night. I won't allow you to get involved down here before you have a relapse! You don't want to be sick while you're putting the finishing touches on your wedding. You've got a lot of planning left and only a short time to do it. I want you to get well soon." Then he picked me up and carried me up the stairs to my room. There were mats and blankets, quilts and pillows in every area of the mission including my room.

Neil set me down at the side of the bed, I was more tired than I realized. He asked me for my coat, but I was so exhausted I couldn't remove it myself. So Neil helped me. He also removed my boots and tucked me into bed, and then he hung up my coat and checked once more to be sure the fever was gone. Then he said, "Good-bye Christy. I hope you and David have a happy life together." I was so tired I couldn't respond. I forced my eyes open, but by the time I did he was gone…

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