Disclaimer: All rights belong to the Marshall-LeSourd family.

"The fascination of shooting as a sport depends almost wholly upon whether you are one the right or wrong end of the gun."

Then, a squealing pig and the click of a rifle as it was cocked shattered the silence."

I wasn't sure at that moment which frightened me more: being wounded by a bullet or being barreled over by a frantic pig. Luckily, thanks to Neil's quick thinking, I didn't have to face either option.

Several things happened simultaneously, and it's hard to recall which happened first. However, it's safe to say that neither Neil nor myself would be here had he not shoved us both into a nearby tree.

A shot rang out. The pig squealed once more. Then, all was silent once more. Pale with fright and eyes wide with worry, Neil pulled back enough glance down at me.

"Are you injured?"

"I'm fine."My voice was bitter and I roughly shoved him off me. My sudden anger stemmed from both the scare we'd had just moments ago, and the ache of rejection that had embedded itself in my heart.

He nodded tersely and walked a few paces away to investigate the now dead pig.

"Ya best be backin' off my hog if ya aim ta live."

Neil crossed to greet the mountain man who was emerging from the woods.

"Nathan! We were just on our way to see you."

The rugged man was unfamiliar. He looked like nearly every other man I'd ever encountered in the Cove, patched overalls, mussed hair, and a face worn by the hardships of the land. His name however niggled at the back of my mind, urging me to recall where I'd heard it before.

"Wal Doc! It's been nigh on two months since we seen ya last. Wat brings ya this way?"

"I thought I'd bring an old friend to visit Swannie and the children."

Neil beckoned me over and I came forward hesitantly. If we were going to visit Swannie, then this had to be Nathan O' Teale. But the last I'd heard he was a drunkard who came home only to beat his family.

"How do you do Mr. O' Teale?"

Nathan wiped his hand on his overalls and then extended it to me. "Fair ta middlin' Miz Christy. Been a while since ya been here ain't it?"

I shook his hand. "It has Mr. O' Teale. It has."

"Wal, let me get ma hog and then we can be on our way."

I grimaced as he heaved the hog over one shoulder, the blood smearing onto his shirt.

Neil laughed at my expression. "Ah, Christy..." I met his gaze and was surprised at the tenderness I found there.

"Wal, are ya comin' or not?"

Still chuckling to himself, he gathered the reins of the horse in one hand and then followed Nathan down the path.

I trailed along behind them, musing on Neil's ever changing emotions. I knew he loved me. He'd all but admitted it earlier. However, I was at a loss as to how to convince him of the sincerity of my feelings. It seemed like an impossible task. However, if there was thing I was sure of, it was my conviction that we were meant to be together. Separate, we would never be completely happy.

"Miss Huddleston, do you intend on getting yourself lost?"

Neil's words startled me and I looked up sharply. Hastening my steps, I caught up to him.

"Actually Doctor, I know where I'm going."

"Really now? Then by all means, lead the way."

Less than ten minutes later, we entered the clearing upon which the O' Teale cabin sat. My jaw nearly dropped at the drastic changes that had occurred since my last visit.

Gone were the animal skins from the roof. Gone were the piles of slop from the yard. With their absence, the cabin and yard were clean and stench free. Freshly laundered clothes fluttered on the line and Swannie stood on the porch, broom in hand.

"Miz Huddleston?"

The robust woman hurried down the stairs to greet me. "Wal, look at ya! This here cove ain't been the same without ya."

"Thank you, Swannie. I've missed all of you too. "

Wilbur, the O' Teale child who had once been kept in a corner of the cabin on a bed of straw, played happily in the yard with a bowl and wooden spoon.

"Come in wit' ya. Nathan, get ta skinn' that hog. I'll fry up some of it for supper."

Nathan grunted in response and head off behind the cabin. Neil tethered the horse to a nearby tree and then met me at the foot of the stairs.

"Neil, this is amazing. How did you ever...?" I trailed off and glanced about my surroundings once more. "All of the changes…"

"I didn't, lass. This is all your doing."

"My doing?"

"Aye. Right before you left Nathan should up at my cabin, drunk beyond anything I've ever seen and looking like living death. I nursed him back to health. It took weeks, but at the end he said he was ready to change. And he did."

Swannie emerged from the house. "Git on up here. I gots tea on the stove."

With a gentle push, Neil led me up the stairs.

"I don't understand, Neil. How did I have anything to do with this?"

"After he was well, he went to visit with Swannie. She took him back on the condition that they reestablished their home. With help from the children, they implemented all of your teachings about sanitation. Both of them are even learning to read."

"That's incredible."

"It was. It is. And it was all you, lass. I just wanted you to see the effect you had on the cove. You accomplished something in two years that I've been struggling to do for a lifetime." Again that look of tenderness crossed his face, and I fought the sudden urge to hug him. He cleared his throat and glanced towards the door.

"We better get up there."

I nodded and led the way into the cabin.

Dusk had fallen hours before when we emerged, bellies full of freshly roasted pork, and hearts full with a shared love the mountain people.

"Thank you for showing me this." I squeezed his hand gratefully.

"You're welcome."

"Neil, I…" He halted me with a finger softly placed upon my list.

"Not tonight. We both need to think about us. And I can't do it with a clear head with you standing before me, beautiful and eyes sparkling in the moonlight." He caressed my cheek tenderly, a gesture so caring and loving that it brought tears to my eyes.

He was right of course. I knew what I wanted my future to hold. The question was would those dreams include him?

A/N: There really isn't a good enough apology out there for the ridiculous amount of time it's taken to upload another chapter. And I can't promise another in the near future. However, I sincerely hope you enjoy this one. What do you think of our lovers? To be or not to be?