CHAPTER EIGHT

DR. MACNEILL'S HAND dropped away from my cheek as he rose and faced David with admirable poise. "Reverend."

David's face was a study – I couldn't tell whether astonishment or anger had the greatest hold on him, but before he could say anything, the Doctor collected his bag and strode past him out the door. He paused just over the threshold to look back at me. "I ought to be heading out now, Miss Huddleston. Alice will be up very soon," he glanced over at David, "to settle you in for the night. Your headache shouldn't last too much longer. I'll come check on you tomorrow – maybe we can finish our discussion."

"Of course." My cheeks heated under the combination of David's stare and Dr. MacNeill's steady gaze. " I'll see you tomorrow then. Oh, and if you come across Mr. Taylor, kindly thank him for me."

"I will. Goodnight, Christy." The Doctor nodded politely to the stone-faced David and went downstairs. I could hear him talking to Miss Alice, and then the front door shut. It was with great difficulty that I resisted the urge to call out for him to come back. I sighed.

David had not yet moved from his position in the doorway, but that slight sound seemed to pull him back. His expression suddenly cleared. "Glad to see him go, huh?" He crossed the room to peer out the window, as if to reassure himself that the Doctor had really left.

There was nothing I could say to that.

After a moment of uneasy silence, David came back toward me, and all at once his eyes narrowed on my face. "You've been crying! Did he say something to upset you?" His lips tightened, and a muscle began pulsing against his jaw. "Has he been making improper advances? I knew it! I'll tell Alice right away – he'll never set foot in this mission again if..."

"No," I cried. "No, David! Dr. MacNeill has been a perfect gentleman; he's never said or done anything to alarm me. Please don't worry. We were just discussing some things that brought back...painful memories. I cry at the drop of a hat these days."

His scowl only deepened. Miss Alice's light tap on the door was a welcome interruption. She stepped inside to the tense stillness in my room, and her clear grey eyes briefly studied my face before taking in the scene.

David immediately turned toward her. "Alice, I think..."

Afraid of what he might say, I blurted, "I'm tired, Miss Alice. Will you help me get ready for bed?"

Miss Alice looked from me to David and back. "Of course, my dear. We will see you at breakfast tomorrow, David." She waved one slender, elegant hand in a gesture of final dismissal.

"Alice, I..."

"Goodnight, David," she said, with a note of gentle insistence. "Miss Huddleston is weary, and she requires some sleep."

David left reluctantly, and Miss Alice helped me change and settle back into bed. Perching on the end of the mattress, she thoughtfully fingered the small golden cross at her throat; at first she remained silent, and I had just begun to doze when she finally spoke. "Fear and anxiety often manifest themselves in anger, Miss Huddleston."

I blinked sleepily at her as the meaning of her words sunk in. "Could you hear us?"

"Not clearly, but I know Dr. MacNeill...and I know that only a very thorough reproof could summon forth tears from thee. Neil is a patient man, Christy, but when his patience is exhausted, the result is explosive." She chuckled. "David and I have both been on the receiving end of that fine Scottish temper. He was most displeased with us for not preventing you from going to the Spencers' in the first place."

"I'm sorry, Miss Alice," I said miserably. "I didn't mean to get you involved too."

"I am not afraid of Dr. MacNeill, Christy," she replied, sounding amused. "Surely you have learned enough of him now to understand? If anything, my dear, I believe you unnerved him more than he upset you."

"Do you think so?"

She laughed her soft, musical laugh. "You would not ask me that had you seen his face when he came downstairs. It was a sight to behold, indeed – I had never seen him so flustered."

"Maybe, but he's always so sure of himself, so full of confidence."

"Or the appearance of confidence," she replied.

I wanted to ask what she meant by that, but she rose from the bed and blew out the oil lamp on the bureau. "We will talk in the morning, Christy. Would you like a little aspirin powder to ease your headache? Neil left some with me to give you." She brought over a cup of murky liquid, and I drank down the bitter mixture with a grimace.

She smiled at my expression but said nothing more. After opening the window to let in a breeze, she kissed my forehead and went out into the hall, closing the door behind her and leaving me to a fitful and sleepless night.

I WENT DIRECTLY downstairs the next morning, feeling perfectly fit if a little tired. My headache was gone, and I was relieved that I hadn't seriously jeopardized my health with yesterday's escapade. I could admit now to the justice of Miss Alice's and Dr. MacNeill's displeasure – I had been awfully reckless. Sometimes I didn't think I would ever learn.

The kitchen and parlor were both empty, and I peered out the front window to see Miss Ida hanging up the laundry on the line. Throwing on a shawl, I went outside to join her. My boots crunched in the wet grass, and she twisted around to frown at me. "And just what do you think you're doing?"

"Chores," I said, coming over to pick up a soggy bed sheet and a handful of clothespins.

"Oh, no you're not," she retorted, snatching the linens right out of my hands. "You march right back upstairs to bed – the Doctor specifically ordered you to keep to the house today."

I grabbed the sheet back. "Well, he's not here right now and I'm not going back to bed! You've had no one to help you clean or cook since Ruby Mae left, and you shouldn't have to do it all by yourself. I'm better now, so I might as well make myself useful. Hanging up a few clothes won't hurt me."

For just an instant her severe features softened, but soon the customary scowl fell back into place. "Alright then, but don't you complain to me if the Doctor skins your hide for ignoring his instructions again."

We set to work in silence, but that was the way Miss Ida liked things. She was such a strange creature, so sour and unfriendly, but I thought that perhaps she did actually like me, in her own way. It was hard to tell. I knew she disapproved of her brother's attentions to me.

That thought quickly led to other musings on David's strange behavior last night. I was still embarrassed to think that Dr. MacNeill and I had been caught in such an indiscreet position, and I wondered whether David had managed to tell Miss Alice about it. I hoped he hadn't. I wasn't sure what Miss Alice would say to that – after all, the Doctor had been her son-in-law.

And David...I sighed to think of it. I wasn't ready to deal with him.

"Are you going to stare at that pillowcase or hang it?" Miss Ida said sharply, breaking the spell of quiet.

I hastily pinned up the cloth and dug back into the laundry basket. Perhaps I just needed some time, a little time away from everything to pray and seek out the answers to all my questions. Again I felt that strong desire to go back to Asheville. Christmas Day was a mere three weeks away; I could spend the holiday with my parents and return to the Cove after the New Year to open the school for the next semester. Surely that would give me enough time to sort everything out.

I ran the idea past Miss Alice at lunchtime. She nodded throughout my speech, almost as if she had been expecting it, and when I finished, waiting breathlessly for her approval, she only said, "Do what you feel led to do, Christy. We will be waiting when you come back."

David, who had hardly said a word through the entire meal, startled all of us with his sudden outburst. "I don't think it's a good idea at all."

"Why?" I demanded, angered by his commanding tone. He had been dour and moody all day, and I was sick of it. "I promised my parents I would come, and now seems as good a time as any. School is out for the remainder of the year, and I would be back in plenty of time to organize my lesson plans. I'm sure that Dr. MacNeill will give me permission to go."

David's face darkened at the mention of the Doctor's name. "I wouldn't be so sure he will. You know how he is."

Miss Alice cleared her throat. "We will discuss these details later. I will speak with Neil, Miss Huddleston, and see when you can leave. The train ride to Asheville is not so very far, so I don't imagine that you will have to wait long."

"But —"

"Oh, for heaven's sake," Miss Ida said unexpectedly, "she's a grown woman, David. Let her go home if she wants."

There was an awkward pause; David looked taken aback by his sister's chastisement – Ida was generally his most avid supporter. "Well, it looks like I'm overruled." He forced a smile and got up. "Excuse me. I have work to finish."

With that, he left. Miss Ida seemed rather chagrined, but to my amazement, she didn't make a single remark as we silently cleaned up the dishes. As soon as the last plate was put in the cupboard, she retired to her room.

Miss Alice, who had been wiping up the tabletop, paused as I came in with the basin of dishwater. She cocked her head slightly to the side, listening. "Neil is here. I will talk to him about your trip right away, Christy."

It took a few seconds more for me to even hear the faint click of horse hooves. Sure enough, it was Dr. MacNeill and Charlie who appeared moments later at the gate, and once more I was in awe of Miss Alice's abilities.

"Will you kindly go empty that basin and bring back a fresh pail of water?" she asked, going over to hang the towel to dry near the fire. "I think we could all do with some tea."

Even though I wanted to stay and argue my case myself, I did as she asked. The water-pump in the mission yard was a new one, but it still took quite a bit of effort for someone as small as me to push the heavy iron handle far enough to get a good flow of water. I kept turning back to stare at the mission house in between pumps, wishing I could hear what they were saying now. I didn't think Dr. MacNeill was the sort of man to hold a grudge, but I hoped he wouldn't let my recent actions influence his decision.

The pail was soon full, and I lugged it over to the kitchen, pouring it in the kettle so quickly that some of it sloshed onto the floor. I mopped that up impatiently and rushed back to the parlor, where I found Miss Alice alone, reading her Bible.

"He left?"

She glanced at me, slipping her reading spectacles off. "Just a minute ago. He's given his permission for you to leave whenever you choose, so long as your headache doesn't return within the next few days."

My joy at this news was overshadowed by the fact that he had not stayed to tell me himself. I thought we had made peace with each other last night, but perhaps he was still angry with me.

"Neil was on his way to see Uncle Bogg," Miss Alice said calmly, returning her attention to the Word, "and he could only stay long enough to ask how you were and talk briefly about your travel plans."

"Oh." I wondered if my feelings were always so transparent. "I hope Uncle Bogg is well?"

"Just a stomach complaint, it seems, but Neil thought he ought to check up on him all the same." She paused and closed her book, holding my gaze intently. "Serious problems can often be concealed under innocent symptoms, Miss Huddleston."

A/N: Christy, Christy...she's always so clueless. Good thing Miss Alice is there to straighten her out. (And sorry, no fistfight between Neil and David.) :D

On a different note, I'm really enjoying the fanfics, Christyfiction; and a brand new one has been started on the List. It looks pretty intriguing.

Thank you again to everyone for your lovely comments -- I won't be able to post for awhile, since I won't have computer access for a week. I can only hope I'll survive that long without the Internet. ; ) I'll try to get a new chapter in as soon as I get back. Thanks!