Title: They Will Know Us By Our Kin
Author: Heather-Lass
Summary: The naturalist Heather O'Toole is here, and she's not what anybody expected. But they still welcome her openly, especially her mother and grandfather. Things are developing between her and David but they've hit a bit of rough patch.
Disclaimer: All the Christy characters are property of the Marshell/LeSourd (did I get that right?) estate, etc, etc, etc. The naturalist character is of my own creation but with some real life folk singer. Heather Alexander. Because she rocks. So yeah.
Author's Note: Before school starts? Ha! Yeah right! I'll be lucky if I finish it before the end of the year!
Chapter 9: Misunderstandings and Mistakes
Heather got up early to talk to David before he started his rounds visiting the families of the cove. She was really nervous about talking to him, but she knew it had to be done. She really did miss talking to him.
David saw her as he came out of his bunkhouse with his saddlebag. He was about to just walk past her silently but something about the look on her face made him pause. She looked sad, almost vulnerable.
"Dav…" "Heath…" They both spoke at the same time.
"You first," Heather cast her eyes to the ground.
"No you, you spoke first." David remained stubborn but tried to show that he was willing to listen.
"David…I'm sorry. I've been so mean to you and for such stupid reasons, that didn't really exist. And then to compound the matter, I refused to tell you why. I hurt the one who truly understood me, and I want to beg deeply for your forgiveness."
"Well…" David's expression softened. "I do forgive you. And since I am such an incompetent male, will you tell me what I did to invoke such wrath?"
"Oh," Heather blushed. "It was after the cave, and you ran to hug Christy. I jumped to conclusions and saw something behind the gesture when there wasn't. I got jealous over nothing. And then when you were trying to treat me like a gentleman treats a lady, I brushed you off because I saw it as an insult to my independent nature. I was thinking of hurting you as you hurt me, and I never stopped to think of what I was doing or why."
David sighed and looked at her in consternation, "are you telling me you were mad at me for thinking I did something for a reason, when I didn't?"
The fiery redhead nodded. "You have every right to be mad at me and treat me as I treated you; I just hope you can find it in your heart to have us start over as friends."
"Heather, I don't want to start over, I…" David nearly shouted, now getting very confused at trying to understand women.
"Oh," Heather said softly, her eyes filling with tears. "If only I hadn't been so stupid. I…" her tears ran over and she ran off towards the mission house.
"No, Heather! Wait!" David called after her in a panic. He looked at his pocket watch, eight o'clock. He had to leave now if he wanted to get to all the families he wanted to today. "Why couldn't have she waited until tomorrow? I'll be here all day fixing the school roof. Why today?" He looked back at the mission house but the windows and door were shut tight. He bit back the curse words on his lip, not fitting for a preacher, but so apropos at the moment. Shaking his head, he went into the barn to saddle Prince, vowing silently to speak to Heather the moment he got back.
Later at breakfast…
"He what?" Christy gasped at Heather. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Heather's eyes threatened to spill over again. "Our friendship is over, there is no hope. Oh, why can't I control my temper?" Snatching up the nearest napkin, she burst into tears.
"Well, there's nothing to be done now, he's gone for the day on his rounds." Christy hugged Heather to her. "Why don't I talk to him when he gets back? Knowing David, whatever he said probably came out wrong. And knowing you, he was interrupted in the middle of a sentence."
"I did…but I didn't want to hear what else he had to say after that. And I don't think it will help." Heather's voice was muffled through the sobs.
"No harming in trying."
"I think, I'll take Flora and Fauna and some gear and make a trip to God's Fist for a few days. It's nice weather ahead." Heather's head came up, cheeks streaked but no longer flowing with tears.
"Are you sure?" Christy looked at her quizzically.
"Maybe you can talk David around. I don't know. I just know I need to get away and think and pray for a while."
"Alright, if you think that's best. I won't stop you. But I wish you'd wait until David comes back tonight."
"No, I'd rather leave before that."
"Well, alright…school's going to start soon, will you dry your tears and come with? The children will make you feel better, I'm sure. You can leave after school and still have plenty of daylight to make it to God's Fist on horseback."
"Yes, I can do that." Heather stood up. "I promised Mountie I'd help her find some creeping vine today for her plant book."
"Come on then! Time's awasten'!"
After school, Heather saddled up her horses and waved goodbye to Christy, Ruby and the other children. They had all been told that Heather was going to look for a rare lily that grew a few mountains over and that she would be gone for part of the next school week.
"Don't worry, I am coming back. With lots of plants to hopefully show you as well!"
"Stay safe Heather!" Ruby called. She suspected that the lily wasn't the only reason Heather was leaving but didn't pry. Ruby knew she was a gossip and didn't want everyone to know about what was going on in her life while she was gone. That was fine with Ruby as long as she got all the details when Heather came back.
Heather started down the road and started whistling a cheery tune:
"The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say."
(AN: Stolen from Tolkien of course! Not written when this takes place, I know but such a good travel tune!)
As she got further and further from the mission, her heart grew lighter, although she knew she could not forget the day's events altogether. Her heart was saddened at what David said but she could not forget what Christy had said. Could she have taken what he said to be something that it wasn't? She wasn't sure but she prayed that to be the case. David made her feel awake and alive, full of feeling for a person in a way that she hadn't felt in a very long time. She didn't want to lose that over some misunderstandings and badly placed jealousy and tempers. Perhaps Christy could sit down with David and I, she mused, and get the whole thing settled out.
Flora whinnied, startling her out over her revere. "Alright, we'll take a break. It's getting towards meal time anyways. She slowly made her way down into a gully toward a small creek. Dismounting, she unbuckled her gear and put her two horses on their lines. They would be able to eat and get water, but wouldn't wander off without considerable noise and effort that would alert Heather before they succeeded. She started a fire and got a coffee pot going. That's when she noticed that her horses were staring at her with as disgusted expressions as horses can make.
"Oh for Pete's sake, what? The clover's not good enough?"
Flora and Fauna ignored this comment, and plucked and chewed at the greens. They then walked over to the stream, sniffed and went back to the grass.
"Alright, so it's the water." Heather walked over and knelt by the streambed, scooped up a handful and sniffed the water. Almost immediately she dropped the handful and backed up from the stream.
"Mash. There must be a still nearby. What a 'fine' way to ruin a perfectly good water source." Click.
"And that's why we's a wantin' to know yer bizness here." A voice said behind her. "Turn around slowly."
Hands in the air, she did slowly. Two men with scraggly beards and well-made clothes, probably bought with still profits, stood behind her. They both held Winchester rifles.
"Now, seein' we all on bein' open and you known what we're doin' here, how about you go and tellin' what you're doin' here?" The taller man asked. Heather thought he looked familiar but couldn't place him. The Morrisons had never socialized much among the Cove families.
"I'm on a trip to God's Fist, I just stopped to rest my horses for a bit, and found that this water smells of mash. I don't know where your still is or who runs it or anything. Honest."
"Well, that may be. I ain't never seen you before. You a lowlander?"
"I'm from Cutter Gap." Which was true, in both that she was born there and living there."
"And what business does a man like you have at God's Fist?" Heather prayed a prayer of thanks, whatever they might threaten her with; it would be a lot better if they thought she was a man.
"Gatherin' plants and the like, the missus wants some special berries for some pies for me daughter's weddin' in a couple weeks." Heather mentally crossed her fingers and hoped they would buy it.
"Well, I don't know. Bob?" The taller one deferred to the shorter man, who at second glance looked to be the senior of the two.
"Guess we'll take 'em to the Boss, Billy. Noone passes through Tait land without the Boss's say-so. It's up to him."
"Alright." Billy turned back to Heather. "I gotta take you to the Boss. He'll let ya know. Iffen he don't like ya goin' through, he'll probably jes let ya go around. You ain't gonna trouble us, are ya?"
"Naw, me da does stillin' on the side back at home with me older brother Pat. I don't like them Feds anymore than you do." Heather was now praying to God that he wouldn't strike her down for telling lies to save her skin.
"Kay. Bob here will take ya, but we gotta blindfold ya, so's you can't find it on your own. I'll guard your stuff, it'll be safe."
"That's fine." Heather was also very thankful she left the flower presses and other questionable 'berry-picking' gear at her wagon.
A bandana was given to Heather for her to wind around her face and she was lead to wherever the "Boss" was. She could tell she was being led uphill and along the stream bank. After awhile they turned and went up a steeper hill. She was led up some steps.
"Wait here." Bob went inside and Heather could hear them conversing, but couldn't tell what was said. Finally, an agreement was said to have been reached. Bob came back outside and lead her in. "You can take off yer bandana now."
Heather did so and beheld a snug cabin with a shelf of books and a kitchen and fireplace. A table and chairs sat by the kitchen and a cracked open door in the corner showed another room with bunkbeds.
"Well, what's your business?"
Heather turned towards the fireplace and beheld an older man sitting in a faded armchair by the fire. His graying hair betrayed flecks of red and he smoked a pipe.
"Pa?" Heather gasped in shock.
End of Chapter 9
Next Up: Chapter 10: Confessions – Heather talks with her dad. Christy talks with David.
Author's Note: Haha! Nice cliffie! Okay…maybe more chapters left than I thought, I shall try to write but I have so much homework! Maybe I can squeeze a few out during Christmas break. Is anyone still reading this?
