Disclaimer: I don't own anything the rights to Christy belong solely to the Marshall-Lesourd Family I am just borrowing them for awhile for my own amusement.

A/N Ok so here is the next installment of the story thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read, alert, favorite and review it I love you guys. and thanks again to hippogriff-tamer for being my beta

"Alice, there is something I need to tell you," Neil said quietly.

"Oh, and what would that be?"

He regarded the woman before him and said just as quietly as before, "I gave my life to the Lord."

She wasn't sure she had heard him correctly but knew she had. She wanted to sing to the Lord in thanks but knew that now was not the appropriate time to do so. "Neil!!!" she exclaimed.

He was going to say more but they heard Christy calling their names. They both turned to see her coming towards them at a dead run. "Alice. Neil. Margarete would like to speak with you now." With those words they all returned to the cabin and to the dying woman inside.

Christy stood once again by the door as Neil and Alice went to kneel beside Margarete. She had not yet had the opportunity to promise Margarete that she would try and do as she asked. She had finally admitted to herself that she did indeed love Neil.

"Christy," she heard Margarete call her name and walked over to the dying woman.

Kneeling, she took her hand in hers and said, "I'm here."

"Christy, you never did answer my question earlier." Margarete tried to smile but the effort was too much for her.

Christy knew what she needed to say and gripping her hand spoke softly too her, "I promise Margarete. You have my word I will do as you ask."

"Mother." Christy moved to allow Miss Alice in to speak to her daughter. "Mother, I want you to know you don't have to worry about me any more; I have found Him." Then turning to face her husband said, "Neil."
He came closer to her and she pulled him closer and whispered softly into his ear, "Neil, love her, make her happy," then she released him.

He gently lowered her back down and Margarete let out a small shuttering breath and became still, a small smile gracing her lips.

"She's gone." was all Neil could say. He was still surprised by Margarete's turn in demeanor. He would never have foreseen her change of heart towards Christy and his relationship and yet she had. The more he thought on it, the more he came to realize that he was now a free man. He was free to wed the woman he loved; free to tell her how he felt; free to love her openly.

Alice broke into tears and Christy held her as she cried. She whispered words of comfort to her mentor and friend all while rocking her as one would a child. Alice finally quieted sometime later and thanked Christy for being there for her.

"Miss Huddleston, what exactly did thy promise to do for Margarete?" she asked quietly.

"I..." she wasn't sure how to voice it with Neil in the room. The choice was taken from her when Neil too wanted to know what she had promised to do for Margarete. "I...that is..." she stammered and sent a fervent pray to the Lord for help. She took a deep breath and tried again, praying she wouldn't loose her nerve before she was finished, "Margarete, made me promise to love you Neil, the way she never did. She knew I loved you and she wanted us to be together and to be happy." She then turned towards Alice, "She wanted you to know Miss Alice, that she had given herself to the Lord." She stopped and looked at the two people who had come to mean so much to her in the past year. The looks on their faces were almost identical; both wore looks of shock. Christy couldn't bear to be in the room anymore and fled the cabin before either of them could stop her.