Chapter Five
My first thoughts the next morning were of a painful throbbing on my face. Why won't it stop? Sounds and images from the previous day came rushing back to me. Opal and Fairlight squeezing my hands. Neil talking about Knoxville. The crack. Opal's crumpled body. Tom's desperation. Neil telling me there was no more to be done. Did he call me "love"? Rushing down to the creek. Bloody hands washing mine. The feeling of a cocoon.
"Christy?" Miss Alice peered through the doorway to find me standing by my view. "We must leave soon."
Tom asked that Alice and I prepare the body. I was glad for her company. The last time I prepared a body was for Opal's daughter, and I had been by myself. I needed Miss Alice's strength. It had been a relief to find her waiting for us at the Mission last night. David had stayed with Tom, so I rode back with Neil, too weak to argue. When Neil and I approached her expression quickly turned from one of joy to one of horror. I thought of how my face must look. Neil helped me down and carried me inside.
"Neil—what happened?"
"Accident at the Spencer's working. Tree fell. Alice—Opal was injured. There was nothing to be done."
I couldn't see her face, but I knew what it must be. The people of the Mission had be trying for years to put an end to the Cove feuding, but it was Opal who made the first big step by clearing Bird Eye's name.
"Alice—Christy is in a state of shock. I think she should come to a bit more by the morning, but keep an eye on her." They had walked into the kitchen, but I could still hear their voices.
"Fairlight's taking it the worst. I've given some laudanum to Jeb, but I fear it will get worse before it gets better. There's one more thing. Tom asked that you and Christy do the funeral preparations."
"Can she handle that right now?"
"I think so. She and Opal were close. I think it would be do more damage if she distanced herself. Oh God, Alice—" I heard a muffled sob. Of course, I thought. I've been so inconsiderate. He and Opal were friends all their lives. This must be so painful for him.
"Neil…what is it?"
"That cut on Christy's face. That was from the tree. Do you know how close I was…we were to losing her? She was right next to Opal only seconds before. I almost lost her." More muffled sobs.
"Neil, I know that thee care for Miss Huddleston, but remember thy place with her. She has been through enough."
There must have been more words, but they drifted into the background as I faded into a dream. I awoke the next morning in my bed. As I stood admiring and fearing my view, I knew it was time to go. I dug through my trunk and found a nice, simple dress. If I could, I would have given Opal my best dress, so she could be buried like the queen she was. I knew Tom would never accept it. After grabbing a few more things, I hurried outside and began the long journey with Alice.
We rode in silence. My face had begun to hurt more, and I knew I looked ridiculous. Because of the location of the cut, I had a bandage covering half my face. It reminded me of what my Grandfather used to do for a tooth ache. He would tie up a block of ice in his handkerchief and bandaged that to his face. It took so much bandage to hold up the weight of the ice, that barely any of his face was left showing. This memory must have kept me occupied for awhile, because before I knew it we were at the McHone's cabin. My hands began to tremble again. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I dismounted and went in. I saw David by the stove, trying to cook breakfast for the grieving family.
"David, I'll take over here. Why don't thee and the family wait outside while we prepare everything." He eagerly accepted Alice's offer.
"Fairlight," I was unsure of how to say this. She looked frozen—catatonic, that's what Neil called it. Nevertheless, her eyes met mine. I felt some hope and pressed on. "Would you help me?" I was immediately met by shocked expressions and Jeb's concerned face. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Alice smile.
"I would like that Miz Christy. I need to be doin' somethin' fer Opal, and I reckon she'd want me here too."
Some relief appeared on Jeb's face as everyone else exited the cabin. We worked slowly. Fairlight's measured attention to every detail touched me. When we finished, all three of us stood over her, gazing down like the three Magi. In death, she resembled a Highland princess. It was hard to tear ourselves away, and even harder to imagine that by the end of the day she would be returned to the earth. It was one thing to see her lying on the table, looking as though she were asleep; at least we could see her. She was still in front of us, and we could pretend she would wake up at any moment. That would not be true in a few hours. In a few hours, most of the Cove would be arriving to the Mission for the funeral. I knew that Ruby Mae and my other female students were cooking their hearts out, preparing for the large crowd.
We took one last look at our dearly beloved and emerged from the cabin.
"Tom, she is ready." Alice's words carried volumes. Tom didn't say anything, but nodded and went inside. I began to untie Buttons when Fairlight approached me.
"Thank ye Miz Christy." I couldn't respond. Thank me for what? Fortunately, she continued without noticing my confusion. "I have a favor to ask of yeh."
Favors were no small matter in the Cove. To ask for one meant that you considered yourself in debt to that person—something most people were unwilling to do, except with the closest of friends and family, and even then, only in moments of extreme need.
"Of course, Fairlight, anything."
"Can yeh say a few words today? Tom was gonna ask Preacher, but I know she'd prefer them comin' from you." She looked almost embarrassed by the request. I couldn't say no. I knew I couldn't. But nonetheless my heart was screaming its refusal the whole time.
Yet again, I went against my heart. "I would be honored, Fairlight." She looked relieved. With a whispered thank you, she turned and left. As I mounted Buttons, I could see Miss Alice's look questioning me.
"How could I say no?" I stated simply, and began to ride home.