"Christy! What in the world are you doing?" Julia Huddleston exclaimed.
"Mother, I can explain," Christy said as calmly as she could. She held up her hand, preventing Julia from saying any more. There was quite a bit of snow all around her, and huge snowdrifts were everywhere. It was quite cold, and Christy almost ran back into the cabin, but she knew she had to explain things to her mother.
"Jeb, Neil, and I were in the wagon going to El Pano to pick you up and I dozed off. I was awakened by cold and snow. Neil insisted I get somewhere warm, so we stopped at this cabin. Jeb offered to go ahead and fetch you. Neil stayed here with me to make sure that I did not get sick from the cold. Mother, if I hadn't gotten shelter, I would have gotten very sick."
Julia took a long, deep breath. "Very, well. I believe you. Now, why don't you say hello to the others in the wagon."
Christy blushed at her impoliteness. "Hello, Daddy, George, Lance? What are you doing here?"
Lance Livingston laughed and jumped out of the wagon to hug Christy. "I came here to visit you, of course. And," he said, motioning to the other passenger in the wagon, "this is my good friend, Hannah LeBorn."
Christy turned her eyes to the beautiful young woman in the wagon.
"Hello, Miss LeBorn. My name is Christy Huddleston."
Hannah smiled. "Lance has told me much about you. And please, call me Hannah."
Christy smiled. "Lance, Hannah, this is Dr. Neil MacNeill, the physician of the Cove," she said, motioning to Neil, who stood behind her, feeling a bit out of place. "Neil, meet Lance Livingston."
Neil nodded, but a bit warily. Who in the world was this Lance Livingston? And what did he mean to Christy?
"Christy, honey, don't you think we should be going?" Julia hurried her daughter along.
"Oh, yes, of course. Just let me go tend to the fire." She walked back into the cabin. Neil excused himself and followed her.
"Who in the world is this Lance?" Neil demanded as they extinguished the fire.
Christy grimaced. What must Neil think? "He is a friend from Asheville, nothing more. He helped me get Bonnie, by way."
"Is that so?" Neil asked a bit angrily. Based upon what he'd just seen, Neil wondered what was between Lance and Christy, or what had been there a long time ago.
Christy leaned over and kissed him. "Neil, he knows how I feel about you. I will love you and you only forever. Come, let's get back to the mission."
"Jeb, it's pretty late. Did it take you quite a while driving through the snow?" Neil asked once they were all in the wagon.
"Like you wouldn't believe, Doc. Took me three hours to get to El Pano, three to git back here. Once 'gin, Mr., Mrs. Huddleston, I'm real sorry 'bout being late."
"Nonsense, Mr. Spencer. It's not your fault. I appreciate all the trouble you went through to get us back to the mission," William said.
Neil turned from his conversation and focused his eyes on Christy, Hannah, Lance and George. Lance's blond, blond hair and blue eyes made him quite good-looking. Once again, Neil felt a twinge of jealousy.
But, it was Hannah that caught his attention. She looked exactly like Christy! Of course, the setting sun cast eerie shadows all about, but there was no mistaking the resemblance.
Christy had been somewhat like Margaret, but Hannah and Christy could pass as identical twins if need be. Same stature, same thick brown-blond hair, same air of dignity and refinement. They also had the same big, beautiful eyes, even though Christy's were blue and Hannah's were hazel. Neil could also see in Hannah the same kind, gentle, giving spirit that Christy had.
"Hannah," Christy was saying, "where are you from?"
"I'm from Delaware," Hannah replied with a smile.
"Where I'm studying right now," Lance added.
"Studying to be what, Mr. Livingston?" Neil asked, joining their conversation.
"A minister," was Lance's reply.
Neil nodded his satisfaction. After getting to know David better, Neil had gained more respect for all ministers.
Quite sometime later, the snow-covered mission clearing came into their moonlit view. All were captivated by the sight.
As the drove up to the mission house, a very worried Miss Alice rushed out.
"Oh, I am so glad all of you are fine! Did the snow delay you?"
Neil explained what happened as he helped Christy out of the wagon. Everyone else also got out quickly, and the men began unloading the luggage. No one wanted to stay out in the cold weather, so introductions waited until everyone had a cup of tea around the fire.
David, who had also decided to stay in Cutter Gap for Christmas, was knocked speechless when he first saw Hannah. For fear of dropping his tea, David handed the drink to Christy before extending his hand to Hannah.
"My name is Grantland, David. I mean, David Grantland. I am the minister here."
Hannah smiled a sweetly. "My name is Hannah LeBorn."
Christy grinned. They both seemed quite taken by each other. This would be an interesting Christmas.
Then, another meeting, rather reunion, occurred. Ruby Mae, who had been sternly told by Miss Alice to finish the dishes, finally finished her duty and crept into the parlor. George let out a yelp when he saw her.
"Ruby Mae? Is that you?"
"George? You came!" They ran into each other's embrace.
Christy glanced at the guests, including her parents. Almost all of them looked a bit shocked at the "mountain-way" of greeting before them. Miss Alice, Neil, and David, however, hid smiles behind their hands.
Ruby Mae thought nothing of her actions, and George seemed to have thrown all caution to the wind. Christy smiled, but wondered, What about Rob Allen? Ruby Mae had once liked him quite well, but the previous month, had been avoiding him.
After a hearty supper from Ruby Mae, everyone turned in.
Christy walked with Neil out to his horse. "Will I see you tomorrow? For breakfast perhaps?"
"No, I'm afraid not, lass. I have some work that I have to do at my cabin."
"Anything I can help you with?"
Neil winked. "Not this time."
Christy grinned. "Oh, really. And what 'work' do you have to tend to?"
"For me to know and you to find out." Neil chanted as he tightened the cinch.
"All right, then. Will I see you tomorrow night?"
"You can count on it." Neil brought Christy's hand to his lips. "Good night, Miss Huddleston."
Christy blushed and smiled. Surely, she thought, the night sky conceals my face.
But, Neil knew her too well. He chuckled and mounted Charlie. "Good night." Then he was enveloped by the dark.
Christy suddenly became aware of the freezing air. Listening to Neil ride away, she pulled her coat tighter and ran back into the mission.
Early afternoon, the next day, Christy offered to take Hannah and Lance on a tour of the mission. There was really nothing to tour, but a walk sounded like a nice idea.
Just as they were heading out, David appeared from the parlor, where he had been helping Miss Alice straighten a few things.
"Christy? Mind if I join you?"
Christy smiled a knowing smile. "No, not at all."
"Just let me get my coat."
As they walked to the gazebo and now frozen pond, Christy told them all about Cutter Gap and her students. David told them of the telephone he had put up and how excited the whole Cove had been when it was finished.
At the gazebo, Christy was reminded of when David first proposed to her. She looked at David, who was gazing intently out over the water. Christy hoped he would one day find someone who returned his love.
Then again, she thought with a smile, maybe that day is now.
She nudged Lance. "Say, Lance, would you like to look at our horses?"
Lance grinned. "I would love to. David, Hannah, we'll be right back."
David nodded and turned nervously to Hannah. "So, Hannah, what brings you to Cutter Gap?"
Hannah tore her eyes from the snowcapped mountains and met David's questioning gaze.
"I felt as if I was being suffocated by college. I needed to get away, and Lance said he was coming here, with the Huddlestons. They offered to take me with them."
"You and Lance are quite good friends?" David asked.
Hannah nodded. "We met in Dover, where Lance is attending seminary school and where I am going to college."
David's heart sank. He had been taken by Hannah the moment he'd first seen her, and had soon discovered that she was just as beautiful inside as she was outwardly.
"Do the two of you have any plans?" David asked, trying to be casual.
Hannah looked up at him quizzically and chuckled. "Did you think. . . . No, I don't see Lance in that way. He has been a good friend, my confidant in difficult times. He helped me to put my trust in God, and I will always be grateful to him for that. But, I think the Lord has another special person in mind for him."
David smiled. "I'm sure He does. Now, didn't you say that you were going to college. . . ."
Down in the barn, Christy was introducing Lance to the horses.
". . . and here is Bonita, whom I have renamed Bonnie, Christy announced proudly. "How does she look?"
Lance walked observantly around the mare. "She looks good. Do you ride her everyday?"
"No, but almost," Christy replied, running her fingers through the mare's steel gray mane.
Lance nodded. "She has quite a bit more muscle tone than when I last saw her."
Christy smiled. "The horses have it quite good here, but they sure earn their keep."
"I can see that. Now, who are the others?"
"Well," Christy said as they walked towards the back of the barn, "the brown one—"
"Chestnut," Lance corrected as he focused his eyes on the horse Christy was pointing to.
Christy smiled. "The chestnut one is Miss Alice's. Her name is Goldie. Miss Alice rides her everywhere."
Lance smiled as the horse looked at him with deep, soulful eyes. "What a sweet mare. How old is she?"
"Oh . . . Let's see. I . . . I really don't know," Christy struggled for an answer.
Lance stepped back and looked at the horse from a distance. Then, he examined her more closely. Grabbing the chance to teach Christy something about horses, Lance pointed at Goldie's face and asked,
"Christy, see the slight hollows above her eyes?"
Christy looked closely and nodded, running her fingers over the slight dips above Goldie's eyes.
"After horses reach past the age of about ten or eleven, those hollows will start to get deeper. Look at this horse over here—"
"Prince," Christy offered.
"Right, look at Prince. You can see that he has no hollows above his eyes. Is he about seven?"
Christy nodded; she knew that for a fact.
"Then Goldie is probably about thirteen or fourteen."
Christy smiled. "That is remarkable, Lance. Are there other ways to tell the age of a horse?"
"Oh, yes, many ways. But, I wouldn't want to bore you."
Laughing, Christy said, "I'm sure you wouldn't bore me, we'd just be here all day!"
"You're probably right! Well, should we head back to the gazebo and see how Hannah and David are doing?" Lance asked with a grin.
"We probably should. The jollification is in just a few hours!"
As they left the warmth of the barn and stepped out onto the snow-covered ground, Christy thought of someone that Lance would enjoy meeting.
"Lance, there is someone you'll have to meet tonight," Christy said as they were walking back to the gazebo.
"Really? Who?
"Keri Loving and Lindsey Ramsey. They came from Colorado and are going to start a horse farm in Low Gap, which is about ten miles from here. They are going to start the construction of their buildings in the spring."
"Interesting. Do they have any horses?"
"Oh, yes! I believe their names were Sassy, Charlie, and Dream."
Lance was intrigued by these women, and their horses. "What do the horses look like?"
Christy wrinkled her brow in concentration. "Well, Charlie was a beautiful red-orange color, Sassy was a chestnut, and Dream was a gorgeous cream."
Lance smiled. Christy didn't know what he was really asking for. He tried again, "I mean, how were they built? Did they look like Bonnie, fine boned and small? Or were they tall like Prince?"
"Hmmm. . . . They were all quite tall, but Charlie and Sassy seemed to be a lot bigger, as far as muscling went. Does that make sense? I don't really know what I'm talking about."
Lance nodded; he was getting a good mental picture of these horses now. "Quarter Horses," he murmured to himself.
"What?" Christy asked.
"Oh, I was just thinking that Sassy and Charlie might be a breed of horse called the Quarter Horse." At Christy's puzzled expression, Lance quickly explained.
"The Quarter Horse is a smart, fast horse from out West. They are bred to be good with cattle, and to run in races."
"Why are they called Quarter Horses?"
"Well, a Quarter Horse can run a quarter mile faster than any other horse in the world."
Christy's eyes widened. "They must be really fast."
Lance nodded, and turned his attention back to Miss Loving and Miss Ramsey's horses. "What about their third horse, Dream?"
Christy smiled as she remembered the pastel colored horse. "There was something about her. . . . She seemed to move a bit differently than the others and she looked to be a bit rougher around the edges than the others. Charlie and Sassy seemed, well, more refined I guess."
Lance was intrigued even more so. What breed of horse was stocky, moved differently, and tall? He couldn't wait to meet these horses, as well as their women owners.
Hours later, after getting ready, Christy found herself in Ruby Mae's room, helping the girl with her hair.
"There we go, Ruby Mae. How is that?"
Ruby Mae twirled in front of her mirror, fingering the red curls that framed her face. "Oh, Miss Christy! It's wonderful! I'm beholdin' to you for giving me this dress."
Christy smiled. She had given Ruby Mae the dress George had seemed to like so much at Thanksgiving. "It's my pleasure. Now, do you know your lines for the play?"
As they walked down the stairs, Ruby Mae recited some of her lines to Christy.
"That's good, Ruby Mae. You are going to make a fine Mary."
"Oh, thank ye, Teacher!"
At the bottom of the stairs, Christy found Neil and George waiting. The others had already headed to the church.
George could not take his eyes off Ruby Mae. Ever since meeting her in November, George could not stop thinking about her. He had never felt this way before.
"Ruby Mae, you look—you look very beautiful tonight," he stammered.
"As do you," Neil whispered with a wink as he offered Christy his arm.
The night air was crisp and quite cold, but not cold enough to keep people away from the Christmas service, or the jollification. Despite the snow on the ground, the skies were clear and the stars and moon shone brilliantly. It was a beautiful night.
Suddenly, a very unexpected face appeared in front of Neil and Christy.
"Dan! Whatever are you doing here?" Christy exclaimed.
Ruby Mae was just about to say something, also, but Christy said first,
"Ruby Mae, why don't you and George go on ahead to the church. Neil, Dan, and I will be there in a minute." It was a command more than a question.
Dropping his voice, Neil asked, "Is everything all right Dan?"
Dan Scott smiled broadly. "Everything is just fine, Dr. MacNeill. I aim to attend this church service tonight."
Christy swallowed back her tears and gave Dan a hug. "Dan, I am so happy you came."
"Me too, Miss Christy. Would the two of you mind walking into the church with me?" he asked nervously.
"Of course, Dan. It'd be our pleasure," Neil said. Soon, they were climbing the steps of the schoolhouse/church.
Dan felt as if his heart was going to leap out of his chest. The past couple of months had gone quite well for him. There had been no further threats from Bird's-Eye, and Dan had even managed to become quite a good friend to the Spencers and McHones.
They were at the top of the steps. Everyone became silent as Neil, Christy, and Dan strode into the church. No one said a word as Neil and Dan went to sit down by Jeb and Christy sat down beside Hannah. David smiled reassuringly at Dan as he stepped up to the pulpit.
The whole church and its congregation were bathed in a luminous glow that came from the many lanterns and candles that David had painstakingly set up.
As David began reading the Christmas story, Christy found herself easily transported back to that wonderful time. Christy never tired of hearing about Jesus' birth.
All too soon, Christy had to bring herself back to reality. It was time for the play. She gathered all her students in a corner and then sent them into their places.
The entire play went wonderfully, and everyone oohed and awed over Mountie, who was the angel. She wore a white satin dress that Miss Alice had lovingly constructed earlier.
Every child knew just what to do and when to do it, even though the three wise men, Creed, Sam Houston, and Little Burl, ended up tripping over themselves and onto the children who were dressed as animals.
As the final prayer was said, dry eyes turned to a rainbow sparkle of tears.
"Thank you, God. Thank you so much for the birth of Jesus, thank you for sending Him here to save us," Christy whispered.
She glanced back toward the doors, dabbing her eyes, and was surprised to see the figure of a man in the moonlight who looked suspiciously like Bird's-Eye. But, it seemed as soon as Christy had blinked, he was gone. She looked across the aisle, and Dan caught her eye. Had he seen the man, too?
While everyone was filing out of the building, Christy hung behind and talked to Hannah, whom she hadn't had a chance to talk to yet. Christy tried to start the conversation with,
"Hannah, that is such a beautiful dress. Wherever did you get it?"
Hannah shyly fingered her cream-colored satin shirtwaist and her rosewater-colored skirt. "I made them."
"You mean you designed this? And sewed it?" Christy was surprised. The shirtwaist had intricate rose embroideries on it and the skirt was so finely constructed that Christy thought it had definitely been store-boughten.
"Yes, I did. I am studying to design ladies clothes in college," Hannah smiled.
"To sell?" Christy had never given thought to the fact that the dresses she wore were actually designed by someone else.
"Oh, yes! When I'm finished with my studies, I hope to submit my designs to many stores."
Christy smiled. "Hannah, that sounds wonderful. You are obviously very, very good at your profession."
"Thank you, Christy."
Hannah and Christy turned at the sound of footsteps, and music, coming from outside and down the schoolhouse aisle. Both Neil and David approached the women, bowed low, and asked,
"May I have this dance?"
Christy and Hannah exchanged devious glances. They both curtsied, and then Christy took David's arm, and Hannah took Neil's. Laughing, they all began to dance. The couples soon switched, and Christy was back with Neil.
"'Tis a beautiful night, lass," Neil murmured.
"I know," Christy replied, gazing up at the stars.
"I wasn't talking about the stars."
As they twirled around, Christy caught glimpses of her family and friends engaged in their activities. Lindsey, Ruby Mae, and George were all talking and eating something enticing, Dan was showing his beautiful carved animals to children, William and Julia were talking to Jeb and Fairlight, Miss Alice was overseeing the whole thing with joy, and Keri and Lance, who were also dancing, were obviously talking horses…
". . . plan to use Charlie to refine the mountain breed, without loosing their surefootedness and survival strength," Keri was saying.
"Sounds very interesting. Is Charlie a Quarter Horse?"
Keri shook her head. "No, just half."
"I see. What about your cousin, Lindsey?"
"We have planned that she will be doing most of the work in the training area, while I will be dealing with the breeding. Of course, everything will probably pretty much be shared between us."
"Christy told me you had purchased a cream horse by the name of Dream. Tell me about her," Lance probed for more information.
"Oh! Dream, or Pastel Climax, is a Tennessee Walker mare! I plan to use her as one of my foundation mares for the breed."
"So, you are breeding a line of Walkers, along with a line of mountain bred horses?"
"Yes."
"I would love to see Dream one day."
"I would like that, too," Keri smiled.
Christy smiled. Dancing under the stars with her love was the one and only place that she wanted to be. She sighed. All too soon, the song was over.
"Christy, will you come take a walk with me?" Neil asked.
"I'd be delighted," Christy answered. Arm in arm, they headed to the small bridge near the mission. The moon made everything hauntingly beautiful. She smiled. "The moon brings back so many memories."
"Aye, I know what you mean." He smiled broadly. "And, what memories does the moon bring back to you?"
Christy returned his smile. "The moon will forever remind me of our chance meeting at the river when Bessie saw us. I was completely mesmerized by the moon, and you."
"Oh, lass, I'll never forget how I felt that night, when I was with you. And how you were able to read me so well, when I was thinking of Margaret. You looked like an angel that night."
For a few minutes, neither said a word. Then, Neil took a deep breath and turned to face Christy squarely.
"Lass, I cannot live another day without you constantly with me, to be there for me," he pulled out a small box from his pants pocket and opened it in front of his love, "as my wife." Christy put her hand over her chest with emotion. "Christy Rudd Huddleston, will you marry me?"
Christy threw her arms around her beloved. "Yes! Yes, Neil," she breathed. Gently, Christy took the box and gazed at the endless beauty inside. The emerald and moonstones that formed a diamond had been worn to a soft sheen, reflecting lifetimes of loves and great losses.
"It belonged to my grandmother. My grandfather sent for it all the way from Denmark."
"Oh, Neil. It is beautiful. Thank you, so much," Christy said as she put the ring on her finger. It was strangely ironic that the ring David had once given her was also an emerald.
"Come on, let's go tell everyone."
No one noticed that Neil and Christy had left, and their happy return also went unnoticed. They both climbed the steps of the schoolhouse, and Neil announced in a big voice,
"Everyone, Christy and I have an announcement to make."
All became quite. Neil and Christy smiled at each other.
"I have proposed to her, and she has accepted! We are going to be married!"
Hoops and hollers like a person would not believe filled the air. "It's about time!" Many of them shouted.
Neil once again bowed low and asked, "May I have the honor of this dance?"
"Of course," Christy smiled.
"You're not going to go off dancing with Grantland, are you?" Neil teased.
"I think David is quite busy at the moment," Christy motioned across the other dancers where David and Hannah were quietly talking.
"Aye, I think you're right."
"Doc, what would ye like ta hear? This dance is fer you and Miss Christy."
Neil looked at Christy with a gentle expression. "'Beautiful Dreamer.' Know that one Jeb?"
"Shore do. Here goes," and the strains of "Beautiful Dreamer" on the dulcimer drifted through the air.
All too soon, everyone began to leave. Christy pulled Fairlight aside before she, Jeb, and their children left.
"Fairlight? Will you come to the mission house with me real quick?"
"Of course, Christy. What you be needin'?" Fairlight asked.
"I want to show you something." Christy pulled her friend into the mission house and up to her room. Once up there, Christy pulled a brown package from under her bed. "Fairlight, this is for you. Merry Christmas."
"Oh, Christy, I canna be takin' this," Fairlight stared in awe at the package.
"Fairlight, you have done so much for me. You showed me the ways of the Cove, and who I really loved. Fairlight, if it wasn't for you, I might be unhappily married to David right now. I'm greatly beholding to you for that. Please, open it."
Fairlight gently took the package and untied the strings. Then she pulled out the beautiful gray dress that Christy had purchased in Asheville. "Christy, this is the most beautiful thing I ever did see. A real, store-bought dress…"
"You deserve it, Fairlight. But, I have one favor to ask of you," Christy smiled.
Fairlight looked up from the shimmery dress that she was holding to her chest. "Oh, anythang!"
"Would you be my maid of honor at my wedding? Would you wear this dress?"
Fairlight laughed with delight. "I'd jest love to! And, don't worry, I'll make sure you have the best shivaree ever," she winked.
"Shivaree? What is that, Fairlight? Is it some kind of party?" Christy had never heard of a shivaree.
Fairlight was shocked that Christy did not know this. She took her friend by the hand and they sat on the bed. "Here, Mama will explain. . . ."
Hours later, after saying good-bye to Fairlight, and Neil, Christy lay in bed trying to sleep. But, she was just too wound up. Christy blushed at thought of Fairlight's explanation of the shivaree custom. The very idea. . . .
Then Christy turned her thoughts to the future. Mrs. Neil MacNeill. Christy wanted to become that more than anything in the world. It was an exhilarating and frightening thought. Christy's favorite daydream then entered her mind: red-haired children playing lions and tigers in front of the fire with their father, Neil MacNeill. Finally, Christy fell into dreamland. . . .
Christy was dreaming of her wedding day. It was summertime, and the birds were singing. Christy was in her room, getting ready. Her mother was with her, fixing her hair. Julia held up a mirror so Christy could see her hair. Part of her hair was in an S-type bun, the rest of it was down and waving.
Christy never had had such a vivid dream. Her wedding dress was so real she could feel it swishing about her. It was a simple satin gown with a medium length train. Though the wedding dress in Christy's other dream had been lavender, indicating relation to Margaret's dress, this one was white, with small, purple flowers sewn on the chest and veil. It was a true wedding gown, and it was stunning.
Then, it was time. Christy walked down the aisle with her father, meeting and passing many familiar faces. Keri, Lindsey, Lance and Hannah were there, as well as some of Christy's other friends from her past life of Asheville.
Her Cove friends were there, too: Opal, Tom, John and Elizabeth Holocome, Bob and Mary Allen. Then, there was Miss Alice. She was dressed in her Quaker attire, looking proudly at the young woman she had come to call a daughter. The children were there as well, giggling and smiling at their beautiful teacher.
William then handed his daughter to Neil. Christy smiled lovingly at Neil, who was wearing his grandfather's kilt. He looked quite handsome. The beautiful silver piece that fastened the sash ends together on his shoulder gleamed in the sunlight as they stood at the gazebo and stepped up to take their vows.
Fairlight stood to the side, in the beautiful gray dress, and Jeb was across from her, in his Sunday best. Tom and Opal also stood facing each other, as did two other people, whom Christy did not recognize at the moment. Little Mountie, dressed in her white satin dress, held a small basket that had, moments ago, been filled with an array of mountain flower petals.
David smiled joyfully at the couple and began the ceremony. After the traditional vows were exchanged, Neil and Christy placed their wedding bands on each other's fingers, and Aunt Hattie began to sing a beautiful song, but Christy did not know what the lyrics were. Then, Neil kissed his bride, and Christy could hear very well the hoops and hollers of the men!
The couple strode down the aisle as husband and wife, and Christy was sure the sun was the brightest it had ever been. They had their pictures taken, and Neil even went so far as to have his beloved horse in a picture.
Then, Neil and Christy were dragged to a table piled with wedding presents. Many gifts were very practical, such as sheets, towels, and quilts. The most beautiful quilt, however, was a quilt of Fairlight's. After spreading it out, Christy could see that Fairlight had tried to recreate Christy's view of the mountains from her mission bedroom. That way, no matter wherever Christy went, she would always be able to look at her mountains.
Other gifts were a bit unpractical, but too beautiful not to appreciate. One such thing was a beautiful lace tablecloth. While it would look nice on the table in their cabin, Christy could just see Neil using it in an operation! Another gift was a large crystal statue of two horses, their necks intertwined and reaching towards the heavens. It was from Keri and Lindsey. It was almost too beautiful to be in Cutter Gap.
But, perhaps the grandest present was from Christy's parents. It was an upright piano and bench, which was filled to the brim with books. It looked as if it was made of cherry wood, polished to a beautiful sheen. Aside from the mission's grand piano, Christy had never seen anything more beautiful. It was then that she woke up.
It was freezing, and Christy curled up in her covers, reflecting on the dream she had just envisioned. Christy wanted her real wedding to be like her dream, so she grabbed a tablet and began to write everything down. After a while, she put the tablet down and bowed her head in prayer.
"Dear God, I thank you for this day, and this wonderful love that you have given Neil and myself. Thank you for the gift of my wedding dream, too. Thank you for guiding us under your wing, to that day when we will become intertwined as one. In your name, Amen."
Christy then shivered out of bed and dressed. Before heading down for breakfast, she momentarily lost herself in her own special view of the mountains. God had written Christy's name forever into the land, where generations would admire and remember her life, her spirit, and her faith.