Disclaimer: I don't own Christy.
Part 6
May 1912 - Cutter Gap Mission
Almost a month had passed since the Titanic sank, and Rachel had learned about her uncle's death. The relief and sorrow was combined since her uncle pushed her away in her mind and her fiance and best mate were alive.
"Rachel, do you know anymore?" Miss Christy asked.
"No. The only thing I do know is that William 's here," Rachel remarked when she saw her fiance come toward her, waving his hat in the air, with her best mate following close behind.
"Rachel!" William called once he and his fiancee shared a hug and tears that streamed down her face.
"I was so worried about you both," Rachel replied after their embrace had finally broken.
"We're here, Rachel. I'm so sorry about your uncle," James remarked.
"Rachel Henderson, thee should introduce us to thy guests," Miss Alice pointed out when she joined the group as a proper chaperone.
"Forgive me, Aunt Alice. This is my fiance William Murdoch and my best mate James Moody," Rachel exclaimed.
"Welcome, friends," Miss Alice remarked with an extended hand.
"Thank you, Miss Henderson. Ye have a mighty fine country here," Will replied when he took in the beauty that the mountains and valley's Cutter Gap gave.
"You're welcome. Please come and rest," Miss Alice replied before Rachel led her fiance, and James towards the mission house.
"You seem so content here, Rachel," Will noted after a few moments of rest on the porch.
"I am."
"What do you want to do with your life, lassie?" Will asked.
"I want you and the mission work," Rachel replied with tears staining her face.
"Why are you crying?" Will asked. He gave Rachel his handkerchief.
"Because I can't have both," Rachel said as she dabbed her eyes.
"I know that. We all have choices me must make, Rachel. Now it's time for you to make yours," Will replied.
"I understand."
"If you're coming back with me, I leave in two days with Mr. Moody," Will remarked with a sigh.
"Or you leave here without me," Rachel said without looking at Will.
"Aye. And that could ruin you if you and I don't wed. I won't press a lawsuit against you lass. Wagging tongues is all I need to say," Will told Rachel before he turned in for the night.
"Aunt Alice," Rachel said when she saw her aunt near the door frame.
"I know Rachel. Thee has a choice, and I would advise to you marry. You know of my own mistakes and your cousin Margaret. The choices that thee makes will affect the rest of your days," Miss Alice said before she turned in for the night.
"Goodnight, Auntie," Rachel said. Gazing up at the moon, she knew it would be a life-altering choice. The consequences were very real, especially with the life lesson Alice knew and learned after Margaret was born.
"Miz Rachel?" Ruby May asked.
"Yes," Rachel replied.
"Are you leaving us?" the young teen asked as she joined her teacher on the porch.
"Most likely," Rachel said. She rubbed her arms when the evening breeze picked up.
"We'll miss you if you do decide to go away," Ruby May said.
"I'll miss all of you too. Now, please, Ruby May, finish your chores and go to bed," Rachel requested before Ruby May left her teacher to ponder of the choices she had to make.
The following day...
"Christy, might I have a word with you?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, of course," Christy replied, looking up from her work of grading papers.
"What am I going to do?" Rachel questioned after the tears began to fall.
"Do you love him?" Christy asked.
"Yes."
"There's your answer," Christy replied.
"I'll never see Aunt Alice or Neil or any of you again," Rachel stated when
she saw the students playing in the yard in front of the mission school.
"You may never see us again as you've already said. But the point is you've made a difference, and that's what you wanted to do," Christy reassured her fellow missionary.
"You're right," Rachel replied, and she looked up to see her fiance coming
towards the school house.
"I'll let you two talk," Christy muttered under her breath before she went back to grading papers.
"Rachel," Will said as he took her hands in his.
"Yes. Will, my answer is yes," Rachel informed Will, who at that very second sported a huge grin on his face.
"I promise we can come back. I promise," Will told Rachel, who knew she'd made the right choice to come and teach in Cutter Gap.