The Revelation ~ Condition of the Cove

Neil was to cover the area North of the mission to Raven Mountain, west to Lyleton, South along the Black Hawk River then down along Crumb Hollow West to the Cutter Gap then back North to the mission property again.

He discovered that The Bob Allen's no longer had a home to call their own. The mill was in good condition at least, but they would have to rebuild their cabin. Any possessions that they had inside were gone.

"Bob, I'll be back to help you rebuild after I've finished my rounds. I'd love to help you now, but there may be someone out there that needs me right now." Neil offered.

"I understand Doc. You've been there for me a for, I can't stand in the way of yah helping someone else out either." Bob said. "We'll get by Doc. We always have."

"I know you have Bob. I just wish there was more I could do!" Neil said.

Will Beck's horse had been washed out from under him during the flooding. Some men had helped him home, but his leg was badly mangled. Neil wasn't sure if he could save it. He set it the best that he could and prayed that God would do the rest. He promised Will that he would be back to check in on him in a few days.

The McHone's hadn't fared as well. Their cabin had been surround by Turkey Trot Creek on three sides. So when the floodwaters came it washed away just about everything. Tom and Opal were mighty grateful that the boys and baby Iris were all safe and sound. They were going to be staying at the mission house until they could rebuild.

"Tom, I'll do what I can to help you rebuild. Maybe if you offer to help Bob Allen rebuild then he'll come and help you to rebuild as well? I'll help you both out as much as I possibly can!"

Bird's-Eye Taylor's place didn't look too bad. But he wasn't looking for any help from anyone. He told Neil about what had happened to Miss Henderson the night of the storm. Neil hadn't heard that before. Even Alice hadn't mentioned it to him. If he had known that a tree had fallen on Alice he certainly would have examined her for any problems while he was at the mission!

The Matthew Coburn Family was doing nicely; they had built their cabin up on the mountain. Although Matthew had been lost in the storm he had found his way back shortly after the rains ceased.

No one was home at the Morrison cabin. When they returned they wouldn't find much left. Just about everything had been washed away! Ruby Mae was not going be happy. She may not have lived here much anymore, but this was still her home, until now.

The list could go on and on! But the stories were all about the same. Some people were lucky to escape with their lives; others weren't that lucky. Some had a roof over their heads yet, while others didn't have that luxury anymore. Neil knew how little these people had before and now they had nothing!! He was doing his best to keep his faith in a good God, but it would help tremendously if he had, had someone who was strong in faith to stand beside him and help him along, someone to be a good example to him!

When he arrived back at the mission for a rest he offered to cover the rest of the cove south of the mission. Since that was the direction of his cabin he could swing by his place and see how it was doing. Although the Holcombe's were staying there while they rebuilt and they said everything was still in place. Neil wanted to see for himself. Even though he didn't plan to live there much longer.

Alice saw Neil ride up and went out to greet him. "Well, how is everything in your section Neil?"

"Rough Alice! I'll have to go back and help Bob Allen and Tom McHone rebuild! I don't know if Bob and Mary will be willing to come back here and stay, but they can't all stay in the mill! Is it alright if I extend an offer to them to stay here until they've rebuilt?"

"Of course Neil! That's what this mission is for!" Alice answered. "Have thee noticed any unusual cases that might warrant our closer attention? We need to remain watchful for some time to try to stave off any epidemics!"

"I know Alice, and no I haven't seen any." Neil offered. "Have you heard anything from Dr. Davis or Dr. Wade yet?"

"No we haven't Neil." Alice stated. "Let us hope that in this case, 'no news is good news'!!

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I started by picking up around the mission, I swept, helped make meals, helped with the never-ending chore of laundry for the first few days. I was regaining strength rapidly. On the fourth day I went to visit the Spencer's.

"Jeb! I'm so glad to see that all of you are all right! Your cabin looks sound also!"

"Thank-you Miz Christy. The bees didn't fare to well, but I guess that's not so bad compared to other folks in the cove. Bees is the least of my worries after everything else that's happened. I've gotta help Tom and Opal rebuild and Bob Allen has tah rebuild! There are plenty of family members that need my help after this here storm! John and me, we've gotta heap a work tah do for others." Jeb stated.

"I know. That's why I've come. I want to help! Where do you think I should start?" I asked.

"I think yah could help at Tom and Opal's best. What with them havin the baby and all. Plus Opal ain't been well since her least'un was born." Jeb commented.

"Thank-you Jeb! I'll ride over there immediately."

I mounted Buttons and headed for the McHone's place.

As I rounded the last ridge I stopped Buttons and placed my hand over my mouth as the tears began to flow. The total desolation that I saw before me was more than I could bear! I had to compose myself before I went farther. Viewing the ruins of the McHone property was overwhelming. They had lost everything! Thank the Lord that they had all been safe at the mission when this occurred!

I rode down the ridge to where I could see Opal sitting and resting. She looked exhausted!

"Mornin' Miz Christy!" Opal called.

"Good morning Opal!" I started. "What can I do to help you? Just give me a job and I'll do it!"

"Well, right now all we can do is to pick through what's left and clear the area for the new cabin. That's what we been doin for days!"

"I'll help with that if you want me to!?" I asked.

"Miz Christy! A citified lady like you cain't be a gittin her hands dirty a diggin in no mud!!" Opal said.

"Opal! I'm here to help! Why can't you accept my help?" I cried.

"I don't want you a gittin your store bought clothes dirty because a us!"

At that I reached down and grabbed two handfuls of mud and spread it all over my skirt, and shirtwaist! "There Opal, now I'm not dirty because of you! I'm dirty because I want to be! Now where do I start working?"

Opal laughed uneasily. "Well, Miz Christy I reckon yah can pick up that thar shovel and start tah diggin. We been diggin kinda slow just incase thar's something under that mud worth ahkeepin. Thar hain't been much. We found a few pans and dishes, but not much a anything else."

So I picked up the shovel and started to dig. The day had started out cool, but the sun was starting to heat things up considerably. I rolled up my sleeves a little, still trying to remain modest. I didn't find anything worth keeping but I was helping to make room for the new cabin. It would be wonderful when Tom and Opal would have a place to stay once again.

Jeb and John stopped by to see how things were progressing. They told us that Bob and Mary Allen had their land cleared and were asking if everyone could help them starting tomorrow to build their cabin, then they would help everyone else as they were needed to build. Tom, Opal, Uncle Bogg and the other men that were helping all said that they would be there bright and early tomorrow. I said I would be there as well if they thought there was anything that I could do. Jeb said they could use all the help they could get. David was there helping right now also as was Dr. Ferrand.

When I finished at the McHone's for the day I could hardly wait to return to the mission and take a nice hot bath. I had to speak to David today, some how. If it was the last thing I did. I couldn't leave him going on thinking that everything was still the same between us, when it definitely was not. I knew even before Neil's return that I shouldn't marry David, but something inside of me wanted so badly to be married that I just couldn't allow myself to back out. Now I had seen the error of my ways and I had discovered where my heart truly belonged and it was not with David, but with Neil.

I unsaddled Buttons and I fed her, I did all of my chores in the barn, then I headed for the house. Before I climbed the stairs I spoke to Ruby Mae and asked her to get a bath ready for me. I removed my muddy boots and placed them by the back door, I was going to need them again tomorrow. I padded up the stairs and got ready for my bath, when Ruby Mae announced that my bath was ready I could have done cartwheels I was so happy! A nice hot bath was just what this tired body needed to rejuvenate itself for the unpleasant task that lie ahead of me . . .

After Dinner David went out to his bunkhouse. I stayed back at the mission for a while to compose myself and to think of exactly how I wanted to approach this. How do you go up to someone and deliberately break his heart? I just couldn't fathom this! But I also knew inside of me that this marriage was not meant to be. Neil's name was written on my heart and I could not spend the rest of my life with the wrong man. It wouldn't be fair to me, it wouldn't be fair to David and it wouldn't be fair to Neil. I knew what I had to do and I had to just place one foot in front of the other until I was at David's bunkhouse. Then trust that the Lord would give me the words to say once I got there.

I left the mission house. I did as I told myself I would; I put one foot in front of the other and headed for David's bunkhouse. He was standing on the porch looking out at the sunset.

"David?" I said softly.

"How can anyone live here and still not believe in God?" David said. I knew he was speaking of Neil, but he didn't know of the prayer that Neil had said at my bedside just a few days ago. "What's scary is the things we take for granted." He paused as he looked down at the ground. "I've lost you haven't I?"

"I'm so sorry David." I said with tears in my eyes.

"Well, I don't know that I ever really had you." David said sadly.

"I've been so unfair to you . . .To me . . .To everyone." I wanted to say Neil, but I didn't want to hurt him any more than was necessary. I started to cry softly.

"All I wanted was for you to love me." David smiled sweetly at me. "You opened my heart in a way that I thought was never possible and I will always love you for that Christy Huddleston."

I cried softly.

Then I slowly removed David's ring and handed it back to him. He looked down at it. I felt awful for him. I hated to break his heart like this. Then I gave him a friendly hug as I cried softly. I didn't know any other way to let him know how very sorry I was for breaking his heart. Yet I didn't want to make him think that I was sorry for the decision that I had finally made.

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With that objectionable task behind me I returned to my room. I cried a while longer, but then I began to wonder how on earth I was ever going to accomplish the next step . . .that of telling Neil that I was in love with him. That I wanted more than anything to be his wife!

But first there was so much work that needed to be done in the cove!

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