Disclaimer: I don't own the right's to Christy the only thing I own is my crazy imagination that came up with this story.
A/N ok I want to thank those of you who have reviewed this story and put it either on story alert or have favorite'd it you guys rock!!. I want to thank hippogriff-tamer for beta-ing this for me.
The next several months were joyous ones for both Neil and Christy. Having received her parent's permission to court their daughter, they had spent almost every possible waking moment together. Neither of them were all that surprised by the Cove's happiness at seeing them finally together. Some had even gone as so far as to congratulate them early on their impending marriage, which had Christy blushing to the tips of her toes. There were times that they had to be parted for a few weeks but when they reunited the love they shared could hardly be contained.
It was on one such occasion that Neil decided that the time was right to ask her the all important question. He prepared a picnic basket with the help of Fairlight Spencer and rode to the mission.
Christy was standing in the schoolhouse, cleaning it out for the following days' Sunday service when she heard the sound of a rider approaching. She walked to the wide double doors and looked out, trying to see who it was. When she finally saw who it was she picked up her skirts and ran to greet him.
"Neil, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company today?" she asked sweetly, when he dismounted from Charlie.
"Can't I visit my beloved, without being questioned as to what my intentions are?" he returned, a broad smile crossing his rugged face.
"Of course you may. I just thought you would be gone today so I wasn't expecting you. You said you had to go to Low Gap today," she reminded him, allowing him to embrace her in his strong arms.
Smiling, he leaned down and kissed her tenderly, wishing with everything that he could kiss her the way he really wanted to kiss her. When he finally pulled back he found that she was having trouble catching her breath. "So Miss Huddleston, will you do me the honor of accompanying me on a picnic this afternoon?" he finally asked, the smile growing broader as he looked down into her bright blue eyes.
Christy looked up into his gleaming hazel eyes and instantly got lost in the color. She loved looking into his eyes. If what they said was true and the eyes were indeed the windows to the soul then what she found there certainly held her captive. She snapped out of her daydream she was having and just looked at him-she had only heard the last two words he had spoken.
"I'm sorry Neil, what did you ask me?" she asked, embarrassed at being caught not listening to him.
He laughed and asked again, "I asked if you would do me the honor of accompanying me on a picnic this afternoon?" he repeated, laughter still evident in his eyes as he looked at her.
She reached up and cupped his face gently in her hand, angling her head to kiss him, before answering in a low voice. "I would be honored to join you, only I need to get this room ready for tomorrow, then I can. Would you mind helping me real quick so we can get it done faster?"
He could deny her nothing, especially when she looked at him like she was looking at him now like he was the only man on earth. He nodded and together they finished up the task. Christy told him that she was going to go quickly change before they headed off to where he planned to have their picnic.
Later, after she had changed and they were off, he thought about the other thing that he had yet to tell her. Though he had an idea that she knew, he still needed to let her know. He realized that she knew he was attending services at the church on Sundays, but he had never told her that he had accepted God back into his life. He wondered silently if maybe David or Alice had already told her but dismissed the thought when he remembered that he had told them that he wanted to be the one to tell her.
When they rode up to his cabin she looked over at him in confusion. "Neil?"
"I thought this was a perfect spot for our picnic, seeing as how we both love the river so much," he explained, while helping her dismount from Prince.
She grinned up at him once her feet were safely on the ground. She wondered if he had chosen the spot for another reason as well. It was by this very river they had confessed their love to each other four months before; she still had a hard time believing it though she thanked God daily for bringing her to these mountains; for he had not only brought her here to teach but had brought her to her soul-mate.
She took his proffered arm and together they walked to the rivers edge, where he had spread a blanket out and had the picnic basket waiting there for them. After they were seated and started eating the meal that had been prepared for them, Neil spoke in a nervous voice, though he tried to hide it. "Christy, there is something I need to tell you."
She looked at him when she heard the trepidation in his voice, wondering what would make him feel so nervous as he tried to find the words he wanted to use. He knew that he could tell her anything. "Neil, what is it?" she finally allowed herself to ask, her own nerves beginning to take over.
He heard the concern lacing her voice and realized that he was needlessly worrying her. "Its not anything bad lass, I just wanted you to know that I have allowed God back into my life. That is why I have been in church every Sunday. David and Alice already know. I asked them not to tell you," he said hurriedly, seeing her shocked face.
Her face suddenly broke into the most beautiful smile he had ever beheld from her and he had seen many of her smiles but this one surpassed them all. "NEIL!!!!" she yelled in excitement, before launching herself into his arms, where she proceeded to place small loving kisses all over his face.
He laughed at her enthusiasm and held her close before he pulling out of her embrace and kneeling in-front of her took both of her hands in his. Clearing his throat, he began in a solemn voice, though trying to hide the twinkle that lit his heart and eyes. "Christy Rudd Huddleston, I love you. I have loved you from the moment you stepped in the Cove and I will love you till the day we both close our eyes for the last time. Will you do me the honor of becoming my helpmate, my wife, and the mother of my children?"
A/N I know I am leaving you hanging again HAHAHA . You will just have to come back to see what her answer will be.