Chapter 7

"Christy, please, I need to talk to you." It was Neil. Christy couldn't face him, and wanted nothing more than to run away from him, but he had her horse. Christy turned so that she was squarely facing him and said as calmly and firmly as she could,

"Doctor MacNeill, please give me my horse."

"And just where did you get this fine horse?"

"I bought her in Asheville," she said reaching for the reins.

Neil pulled them further from her, momentarily laughing to himself at the look of disgust on her face. He then turned serious at the situation before him. "Is that where you've been. I expect that you have come back only to gather your things."

"No, not at all. I came back because . . . because these people need me, and I them. . . ." she said, her voice trailing off. Under her breath, she muttered, "However, it looks as if I've been long since for­gotten." Neil heard this, and half his heart leapt while the other half fell. Would she leave again?

"Christy, I had just taken Miss Loving on a picnic and she kissed me. I was stunned. Why are you so concerned about this? Why did you run away?" he blurted out.

So it had been Keri Loving she had seen him with. "Neil, please, what you do is your own business. I do not wish to know."

Neil plunged on, ripping the tender subject open, "Why? Why did you run away? Why?" he almost shouted, grabbing her shoulders. He had to know. Christy looked away,

"I was just startled to see you in another woman's arms only a week after Margaret had left. I hadn't expected it, that's all."

"I was over Margaret many years ago. This Cove knows that," he said softly. Then he realized what he had said. He had been refer­ring to Christy, not Keri.

"So you—" she stopped what she was saying and lunged for her horse's reins. She had been going to say, "So you admit it."

Christy couldn't talk to him at all. She knew that if she even looked at him, he would see straight into her heart and know everything.

"No, Christy, don't. Tell me why. I'm am just as stubborn as you; I won't leave without an answer. Why. Why did you leave that day when Margaret and I were by the river?"

"I was . . . startled. I had not known Margaret was back. Please, I need to get back to the mission." Neil wasn't satisfied, but then again, he never was.

"Doctor MacNeill, give me my horse," she said with fire in her eyes. With equal fire in his eyes, he said softly, "I considered you my friend, Christy, but why do you resort to lying?" Then he mounted Charlie and left.

"I could say the same of you, Neil MacNeill!" she shouted after him with all the strength and ire she could muster. He merely looked back and smiled. "Neil!" she yelled once more. Oh, how he could make her angry! Her mother must have been wrong. She did not love that man, not at all!

Christy mounted Bonnie and with a sharp kick, headed back to the mission. She knew Keri would be there, so she put Bonnie in the barn, next to a gorgeous red horse that Christy had not seen before.

Though Christy was quite hungry, she could not go to the mis­sion house for dinner and face everyone. Instead, she stayed with Bonnie. When Christy was sure everyone was asleep, she snuck into parlor and made her bed beside the fire. Christy knew she would have a lot of explaining to do the next morning, but she was too tired, and sad, to care.

The next morning, Keri was in Christy's room, gathering her things, for she knew that Christy would want her room back.

"Miss Loving, isn't it?" Christy asked with forced politeness as she entered her room. Christy had gone upstairs to retrieve the hair ribbons from her bag that she had bought for Ruby Mae in Asheville.

When Christy saw Keri gathering her things she tried to say with conviction, "Please, I want you to stay. I don't mind staying in one of the guest rooms."

"Miss Huddleston? How . . . uh . . . nice to meet you," Keri said nervously.

"Yes, you too. Breakfast will be ready in a bit," Christy turned around and was ready to leave when Keri said,

"Please, don't go. I need to apologize to you. Let me start at the beginning, please?"

"All right, I'm listening," Christy said as she turned back around.

"Well, I have been traveling through these parts for months. I was looking for a place to buy so I could raise horses here. My horse, Charlie, lost a shoe, and I came upon Dr. MacNeill's place. He put Charlie's shoe back on, but Charlie was lame, so he took me to the mission. For the past few days, he has been taking me on tours of Cutter Gap.

"Yesterday, Dr. MacNeill offered to show me some of the more beautiful spots; the beauty amidst this troubled place." Together, Keri and Christy smiled, for they had both found the beauty and splendor of the Cove. "I guess I became infatuated with him. I don't know what came over me. The soft gaze of his eyes, his compassionate tone, it was just too much. I . . . I'm sorry," Keri said with misty eyes.

Christy smiled, remembering. She sat down next to Keri on the bed. "I know what it's like to feel like that for someone. David Grantland. Whenever he was near me, his gaze, his kisses, I could not think at all. He proposed to me. At the time, I knew I was not ready, so I waited. I thought what was between us might have been love, and I did indeed almost marry him. In time, it may have become love, but now I know that if it were meant to be, I would not have hesi­tated."

"Why did you?"

"I was confused. About life, about love, about many things."

Sensing Christy was deeply troubled about this, Keri changed the subject by saying, "I really hope that we can be friends. I am going to Asheville to talk to a Mr. Stephen A. Branson about selling some land he owns in Low Gap, as soon as Charlie is healed. Maybe I can stay here, for good. I love this place. I have never felt so at ease," she said with a sigh.

"Miss Loving, I am sorry for being so spiteful to you, I should have been more understanding. The heart is . . . an erratical thing."

"Yes, it is. Please, call me Keri."

"All right, Keri, and you can call me Christy."

"By the way, Christy, you own a very fine horse," Keri smiled.

"Thank you." They shook hands and went down to breakfast. Once down there, Christy approached Ruby Mae. "Ruby Mae, I have something for you. . . ."

Neil MacNeill, after eating a cold breakfast, paced about the house. What should he do? Christy would never talk to him again. How he had valued their friendship. He had been able to tell her things that had been locked away in his spirit for a long time. "Arrrggg!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. Neil was on the verge of going crazy and turning to moonshine; he knew it. A walk always calmed him, so he rushed out of the cabin.

He followed the path that led up to the peaceful heights. He was lost in thought as he walked. Did Christy care for him? Would she leave? What about the Reverend Grantland? Neil smiled. Since when did he let any woman see into his soul like Christy had?

Neil was so busy with his thoughts he did not see the crevice that he was approaching. It was much like the one Little Burl had fallen into months ago. In fact, it may have been the same one. But, before Neil could back away from the large crack, he found himself slipping and sliding down the sides of the wall. "Help!" he cried in distress. Neil had grabbed onto what seemed to be the only graspable thing on the crevice walls. It was a very thin tree root, which looked like it might not hold much longer.

Neil looked slowly around and felt for a foothold. Nothing. What was he going to do? He evaluated everything around him, to see if there was just one thing he might be able to use to pull himself up. There was nothing. Neil looked down at the leafy floor hundreds of feet below him. He might be able to land on his feet if he let go, but all was wet and slick from the morning dew, including the walls, and the tree root. He was slipping.

There seemed to be nothing he could do except let go, but then a voice, plain as day, rang out in his head. "God loves you, Neil, so very much." It was his mother's voice. His dear mother. He remembered her reading to him every night from her worn bible before he went to bed. "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Trust in God, Neil. He is always there for you."

Then he heard Christy's fiery voice, "With God all things are possible, Neil MacNeill! Everything!" Was all really possible with God? Neil certainly believed it was his skill, not God's power, that helped him perform operations. Yet not his skill, or anyone else's, would get him off this wretched cliff.

His hands were slipping quickly. Neil shouted, "Please, God! Help me! Help this stubborn fool! Please. I cannot get myself out of this situation without someone else's help, your help. Please, help me." Neil felt a warm glow start at his toes, and the next thing he knew, he was out of the crevice, and about four feet away from the edge! He got up, slowly so that he wouldn't fall over from the shock, and walked as close to the edge of the crevice as he dared. He looked down, examin­ing every crack, every indention in the walls. There was absolutely no way that he could have crawled up the walls!

For the next hour, Neil examined every spot around the crevice, from above and below. His scientific mind could not grasp the fact that there was no logical explanation as to how he had been saved. He re­membered the stories from the bible about Jesus' miracles. Neil did not believe in miracles, only things that had explanations. He had to talk to someone. But the one person who could help him with the questions swirling around in his head was no longer speaking to him.

After breakfast, Christy went up to her room to unpack her valise. Keri wasn't there; she was already at the school. Christy had been amazed at how much she knew about higher science, Earth Science, and was grateful for the schooling that she could to provide the older students, especially Zady Spencer.

During breakfast, Keri and Christy had shakily retained a conver­sation. Everyone could feel the tension, and tried their best to break it.

Miss Alice seemed very joyful, as did David. David seemed glad to be home, and not teaching the children. He had said to her once, "They know I'm not as good as you Christy, and they take advantage of that." However, Christy hadn't had the chance to talk to Miss Alice yet, for she had left for her cabin as soon as breakfast was finished.

Christy smiled and pulled out all of her clothes and then the sack that contained the remaining gifts she had bought in Asheville. Suddenly, Christy realized that she hadn't gotten Neil anything. What did it matter, the way she had treated him, she wouldn't be surprised if he never talked to her again.

At the bottom of her satchel, Christy found two thick books. One was titled, "Beethoven's Simplest and Greatest." The other was "Pieces are Fun: Piano Technique and Teaching Guide." A pink piece of paper fell out from one of them. It read:

Dearest Daughter Christy,

I know that deep in you somewhere, you have a musi­cal talent. I remember when you took piano lessons how much you enjoyed them. I don't know why you stopped, but I hope you will enjoy these.

Your mother

"Oh, Mother!" Christy exclaimed, laughing. She was quite glad that her mother had gotten the books. Christy gathered all of her gifts and descended the stairs. She was met by Fairlight, who was cleaning up.

"Fairlight, whatever are you doing here? I didn't see you here at breakfast."

"I done just got here. Since Miss Alice is goin' to see her daughter, she said you'd be needin' some help around here, so I came."

"What does Jeb think of this, Fairlight?"

"Jeb ain't none too happy, but I aim to work here for ya, and I'm gonna do it," she said with determination.

"Thank you so much, Fairlight. Do you know where Miss Alice is?"

"She's at her cabin, gettin' ready to leave."

"All right, I had best talk to her. I haven't been able to talk to her since I got back."

"Aye, I'm glad your back, Christy. I shorely did miss ye."

"I missed you, too, Fairlight. Oh! I saw something in Ashe­ville I thought you would enjoy." Christy pulled out the novel, ti­tled "A Mountain of Joys, a Mountain of Mist."

"Oh, Christy, I canna accept this," Fairlight said, in awe of the book.

"Please, Fairlight. If you would like, this could be your weeks pay, instead of the money and food you usually get."

"Really? I'll certainly enjoy this. Thank ye, from the bottom of my heart."

"You're welcome, Fairlight." Christy left Fairlight thumbing through the pages of the new novel and headed to Miss Alice's cabin. Christy hadn't even knocked when Miss Alice opened the door and said,

"Christy! Please, come in." Christy entered Miss Alice's lovely cabin and sat down. "I am so glad thou art back, Christy. As you probably know, I will be going to Margaret in Knoxville. I was to have left yesterday, but considering the circumstances, I am going to leave today." Christy smiled slightly.

"Yes, I know. David told me, and Margaret and I met on the train. She told me that she was going to ask you to accompany her. She also told me about her and Neil."

"Christy, I am forever grateful for what thee did for Margaret. I'm so, so overjoyed that you convinced me to give Margaret one more chance."

"I'm glad I could help. Before I left, I went to see her. I told her that I was sorry and that I forgave her for the hurt she caused. Then I left."

"I thank you, Christy," Miss Alice said with tears in her eyes. After a long pause, Christy said,

"I'm sorry I did not come to dinner last night, but I couldn't."

"Why did thee not, Christy? We missed you, and were about to go looking for thee, but David said we should not worry. Is that correct?" Miss Alice asked as she packed.

"Yes, Miss Alice. I'm sorry if I worried you. I stayed in the barn until everyone was asleep, then snuck into the parlor and slept by the fire," Christy said guiltily.

"Oh, child. I was not mad at thee. Why did thee stay in the barn? Is everything all right?"

"I just couldn't face everyone. I needed some time to myself. Has Keri . . . said anything about yesterday?"

"No," she paused, "Christy, there is something wrong. Please, tell me."

"Oh, Miss Alice, when I rode off from the school yesterday, I stopped by the river. I heard voices, and I saw Doctor MacNeill's horse tethered to a tree. Since there was more than one voice, and since Prince was there also, I thought something might be wrong, so I walked on."Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw Miss Alice," Christy said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I saw Keri and Doctor MacNeill kissing. I felt like I had been kicked. I ran away, but Neil found me, and we had a fight. I have never felt so awful in my life, Miss Alice. I went home to clear my mind, and I did. I intended to stay. God told me that I needed to come back here and straighten things out, but now everything is worse."

"Christy, has thee talked to Keri? I assure you that she feels awful also. She would not eat anything, and retreated to her room im­mediately after supper."

"Yes, I have talked to her. She told me everything. She feels bad, I can tell, but what about Neil? I don't see why he would want to talk to me again."

"Christy, he will listen. I know he will," Alice said with a meaningful smile. "The two of thee share a great friendship, maybe more."

"Thank you, Miss Alice. Please give Margaret my regards."

"I will indeed." Miss Alice had finished packing, and she started towards her horse.

"Miss Alice? How long will you be gone?'

"I don't know, Christy. I need to be with Margaret, until she fully recovers, or until. . . ." Miss Alice looked down. "It may be awhile, Christy, but David and Miss Loving will be here. Everything will be all right."

"I know, but. . . ." Christy knew and respected that fact that Miss Alice had to be with her daughter, but Christy had always relied on Miss Alice to help her through times of confusion, and sadness. This was one of those times.

"But what child?"

"I will miss you. To talk to, to confide in."

"Miss Huddleston, thee will never be short of someone to talk to. God is always there. He understands. Always."

"I know, but—"

"Thee means human companionship. You have many good friends here." Miss Alice finished readying her horse and was leading the mare towards the path.

"Yes, but—" Christy said, following.

"Christy, listen with thine heart. You are in my prayers. Good­-bye."

Christy sighed. Sometimes Miss Alice left her with the strang­est words, even angering words. What did they mean? "Good-bye, Miss Alice." Miss Alice looked back, waved, and cantered off.

Bird's-Eye quickly made his way to Dan Scott's cabin. Over the few days since Dan had offered his forgiveness, Bird's-Eye had been thinking about the colored man. Though Bird's-Eye would never let anyone know it, he was grateful for the rabbit that Dan had given him. Despite the fact that Bird's-Eye still regarded Dan as a no-good black outsider, he knew a mountain man always paid his debts. So, Bird's-Eye was going to help Dan out.

"Mr. Scott?" he called out in a burly voice. Dan, who was sawing away at a tree, looked up with a start.

"Yes, Mr. Taylor?"

"Waal, since you brung me that rabbit, even if hit was off my own property, I thought I'd repay ya," Bird's-Eye said abruptly. Dan was shocked.

"Well . . . Mr. Taylor, if you'd like, you could help me cut the logs up." Without a protest, Bird's-Eye walked over to where Dan was standing with a two-person saw and started to help him. They worked as a team, and for once, Bird's-Eye didn't think of Dan as anything but an ordinary man.