Christy smiled as she stood on the porch steps watching the few children that were still coming to school, play at recess. She glanced down the hill to see Margaret riding up. Christy waved as Margaret tied up the horse and walked toward her. She stopped on her way and picked up little LouLou Spencer who had started school this year. Margaret laughed at something the little girl said, throwing her head back and letting her laugh drift through the air. Christy admired her beauty. Margaret smiled brilliantly, then touched her finger to the LouLou's button nose before putting her down. LouLou walked hand in hand with Margaret toward the school and Margaret looked around at the other children, with a look that Christy could swear was deep longing.

"Mrs. MacNeill!" Toot said, running toward Margaret. "Look what I found!"

Margaret knelt in front of the small boy, peaking into the little boys' hands. "What is it?"

"A little bunny. His leg is broken!"

Toot sounded like he was about to cry.

"Well, let me see him…" Margaret said softly, scratching the frightened rabbit's ears. "I don't know much about doctoring, Toot, but if you go find him a nice box and make him comfortable, I promise to take him home to Doctor MacNeill and have him take a look at the little thing."

Toot nodded and ran off toward the mission house and Fairlight, who was hanging up laundry. Margaret watched him for a minute before walking toward Christy, who had sat down on the steps.

"Hello, Christy."

"I didn't know you were coming to see us today," Christy smiled as Margaret sat beside her.

"Neil sent me over with the supplies Mother said the mission house was in need of. They're in my saddle bag. He thought I might want something to do today," She laughed softly.

"Well, we greatly appreciate the extra trip," Christy informed her.

"It was a good reason to come and stop to see the children."

"Oh, speaking of the children, come see the beautiful artwork they are working on for decorating at Thanksgiving," Christy said excitedly, pushing herself up to her feet.

Margaret followed her inside the school to see artwork hanging on a makeshift clothesline, the paint drying slowly. Margaret took her time looking over each one, commenting on and admiring the colors.

"Where did you get paint?" Margaret wondered.

"When Miss Alice and I went to Freedom, Kentucky, Dan's fiancé showed me how to make paints out of berries and leaves, using them for pigment."

"How clever! I never would have thought of such a thing."

Christy nodded. "It was wonderful to share ideas with a teacher who is in a similar financial predicament with her school."

"Here! Mrs. MacNeill!" Toot's voice sounded as he bounded into the schoolhouse. "Here's the bunny rabbit!"

Margaret smiled and reached gently for the box that the rabbit now rested safely inside of. "Thank you for making him comfortable, Toot. I'm sure Dr. MacNeill will have him hopping around in no time."

"Why can't you do anything? Don't ya know how to do doctorin' too?"

"No," Margaret said simply. "I don't."

"Well, ya should. So you can do stuff when he ain't here. If somebody gets sick who gonna help when Doc and Dan ain't around?"

Margaret grew silent, patting the boy on the shoulder. Christy could tell that Margaret was deep in thought, and she dismissed Toot.

"Margaret? Are you alright?" Christy asked.

"Yes, I just had a thought…"

Christy waited to see if she would indulge her further.

"Maybe he's right. It wouldn't hurt for me to learn simple medical procedures. I could act as a nurse to help both of them, and if Neil and Dan are away, Mother will have someone else here to help her."

Christy smiled brightly. "I think that is a wonderful idea! It would be so helpful! You could even learn some basic midwifery."

Margaret nodded, her face lighting up. "And it would help fill my spare time more."

Christy was growing more excited by the moment. "Oh, you must ask Neil!"

"I will. I'll ask him tonight," Margaret smiled. "It would be so wonderful to work alongside him."

Margaret watched as Neil sat at the table working on the rabbit's leg. He was concentrating deeply, but Margaret was so excited about her idea, that she couldn't wait to ask him about the idea that had occurred to her earlier in the day.

"Neil?"

"Hmm?" He mumbled, not looking up.

"Christy and I had a thought today…"

"That entire sentence scares me," He chuckled softly.

"Neil, be serious," Margaret scolded with a small smile. "I was thinking that maybe you could teach me a few things about nursing."

"Why?" He asked softly.

"So that I can help out with whatever you need and take care of the minor things that come up if you are gone."

"That's why Dan is here."

"Yes, but there are plenty of times when you are both gone, as well as Mother. I was thinking that if I knew some basics, I could help out until one of you could arrive."

"No."

Margaret frowned. "Why not?"

"No, I'm not going to teach you anything about medicine."

"Why in the world not, Neil? It makes practical sense."

"No, what it does is put you at risk of doing something that you would regret. There is no way I could possible teach you enough 'basics' for you to know what to do in a real situation."

"I am perfectly capable."

He scoffed, still keeping his eyes on the fuzzy patient in front of him.

"Neil! I want you to take that back. You know I am capable of learning."

"Yes, I know. But I don't want to put you in that situation. You have no idea what kind of stress it is to have someone's life depending on you. When we fail to save them…Margaret, I am not putting you into that situation. Not to mention the fact that we are trying for a baby and putting you around medicine and high stress is not a good idea."

Margaret's frown deepened. "Neil, that is the most ridiculous excuse I have ever heard."

"That may be, but it's my reasoning, and I'm standing by it."

"Well, then I'll ask Dan."

He looked up at her for the first time, slowly putting the rabbit back in the box and standing to his full height. "Margaret, I am warning you now, that if you go against me you will regret it."

"Are you threatening me? Are we back to that again?"

"No. I am simply telling you that defying me will not be a wise decision. I have come quite far in controlling my temper, but don't tempt me."

Margaret stepped closer to him, their faces mere inches apart. "You know what I think? I think you're afraid of sharing all of yourself with me because you are still afraid I'm going to leave. You had your medicine to turn to before, but if I taint that part of your life too, there will be no escape."

He fell silent, staring at her with fire in his eyes.

"Ah, so I'm right," She whispered, ice on the tip of her tongue, biting at him as her breath blew across his lips. "I know you too well, Mac. Don't try to hide your true feelings from me. I see straight through you."

"Margaret…"

"No, Neil. Keep your darling medicine. I don't really want it anyway. It definitely can't save every life, can it?"

His heart nearly shattered with the reference to their lost baby. They had taken so many steps forward, and now another giant step back. Darkness was threatening to spread over their home once again.

She stepped back suddenly, glaring at him, and then turned, fleeing up the stairs. The bedroom door slammed with a resonating thud, the cabin shaking from the impact.