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Neil barely got a chance to digest her words and react before David, Dan and Jeb were approaching them.
"I'm really sorry we couldn't save it, Doc," Jeb started, his hat in his hands.
Neil turned to them, his arm around Margaret's waist. "We tried, Jeb. I appreciate your help."
"I know how hard this is," Dan said, looking around. "Not long ago I was looking at my own pile of ashes."
David patted Dan on the shoulder. "We'll help rebuild your cabin just as we did Dan's."
Neil smiled faintly. "That means a lot to me. Thank you."
"All of this is replaceable," Margaret added. "We'll start over again. This seems to be a year of new beginnings anyway."
Neil looked at her, pulling her closer. "We're going to be fine."
"You're going to stay at the mission, of course," David told them. "We have enough spare rooms."
"What about Christy's parents?" Margaret asked. "Aren't they arriving soon?"
"Yes. The mission will definitely be full, but that's exactly what it's meant for. Christy and Alice will be thrilled to have you both there."
"If anyone needs me," Neil turned to Jeb and Dan. "I'll be at the mission until further notice."
"Is there anything else you need?" Jeb asked.
"Not tonight. Go on home," Neil shook both of their hands. "And thank you again."
Jeb and Dan headed off together and then Neil, Margaret and David made sure there was nothing else still burning before heading off in the fading sunlight to the mission. They were silent as their horses plodded over the fallen leaves, Margaret riding securely in front of Neil. Butterflies filled her stomach.
"This will be the closest and longest proximity that Mother and I have had in a very long time," Margaret spoke at last. "I want to warn you that it might not always be pleasant, but I will try."
David turned to them from where he rode in front on the path. "This may be good for your relationship with her, Margaret."
"Or it could be horrible."
"Well, in any case, Christy will be glad to have your company. They've been working hard to prepare for the wedding, and she will be grateful to have an extra pair of hands. And I'll be glad to have you around, Doc. You can help me keep an eye on Christy and convince her not to overextend herself."
Neil remained silent and Margaret placed her hand over his thigh, trying to bring him some source of comfort for his aching heart. She regretted springing her suspicions of being pregnant on him when she had, but she had been overwhelmed and unable to hold it back. She was unsure if she was expecting or not, but had a feeling that she was and knew that Neil would want to confirm as soon as they were alone again. For now, she had no idea what her husband was thinking.
Alice and Christy met them on the porch steps when they arrived at the mission house, just as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. The schoolyard had been cleaned up except for the long tables which would need to be taken down the next day. Christy was the first down the steps, and David immediately got down from Prince's back and took her in his arms.
"It's all gone," Neil announced gravely as he got down and then raised his arms to lift Margaret down from the saddle. "We lost everything."
"Oh, Neil…" Christy gasped. "Margaret… I'm so sorry."
"We'll rebuild," Margaret assured her, forcing a smile.
Alice took her daughter in her arms. "We will all help in any way that we can. Until then, thee will be staying here, right?"
"We don't have much of a choice," Neil told her, and then softened his tone. "I'm sorry, Alice. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful."
"I know," Alice touched her son-in-law's arm. "Thee has suffered a great loss."
"You're chilled to the bone," Christy told David, reaching for his hands. "Come inside."
They all moved indoors. Alice went to help Ruby Mae begin heating water for the men to bathe in. Neil and David stood by the fire, Neil staring into the flames. Both of them were exhausted, but far too filthy to sit on the furniture. Christy took Margaret upstairs and showed her to the bedroom she and Neil would occupy.
"You are sharing a bedroom, correct?" Christy asked as soon as they were in the bedroom. "I don't want to assume anything."
"Of course," Margaret nodded. "We have been since the beginning."
Christy nodded, looking down. "I'm never really sure how to discuss such matters now. I'm unmarried, but obviously I'm not what anyone could call pure. This baby proves that."
Margaret turned to her with sympathy. "I had not thought about that, Christy. We are two very different people when it comes to sex and all of that. It was never important to me, so I didn't think of it. I am sorry. It must be difficult."
Christy giggled softly. "My mother never allowed us to even utter the word. If it must be uttered at all it was 'sect.'"
Margaret smiled. "I've always been too bluntly honest about those things. I'm sure Mother or Neil has told you that I referred to myself as a 'bastard child.'"
"Yes. David and I have both decided that our child will not know the circumstances of its birth. We do not see a point in disclosing that information because both of us are going to be present. David will be the only father he or she will ever know."
"That is probably wise. Mother had to explain to me in some way why I did not have a father. Your child will be fortunate."
"And very loved," Christy added, her hand running over the wooden post of the bed, a content smile on her rosy face. "I'll go to my room and find some clothing items that you can wear. I'm not wearing most of my clothes right now. I've had to sew new ones with Fairlight's help."
"Thank you," Margaret smiled at her.
Neil and Alice came in soon after. He was carrying one of the metal bathtubs, and Alice had two pails of steaming water. After the water was poured in the tub, Alice gave her daughter a kiss on top of her head and left the room.
"Christy is coming right back with some clothing items for me," Margaret told him. "You might want to wait before stripping down."
Neil couldn't help but chuckle as he sat in the chair in the corner and started removing his boots. "Yes, that might be a good idea."
A knock came and Margaret opened the door for Christy to come in. She had several clothing items which she placed on the bed.
"David sent some things for you too, Neil. I know you aren't exactly the same size, but it's the best we can do right now. We'll have to sort through some of the clothing bins downstairs tomorrow for more things."
"Thank you, Christy," Neil said, as Christy and Margaret placed the items on the bed.
"Not a problem. I'm so sorry for all of this. I wish there was more we could do," She looked at both of them with tears in her eyes. "You both are some of my dearest friends and I hate to see you in hardship."
"We will get through it, Christy," Neil assured her, reaching out and placing a hand on her arm. "Do not worry so much. It isn't any good for anyone, especially you."
She nodded and then hugged Margaret. "Sleep well."
"Goodnight," Margaret told her and then the door closed.
Neil silently undressed and lowered himself into the tub. He reached for the bar of soap and began scrubbing himself down as Margaret undressed. When she was in the warm, flannel nightgown that Christy had loaned her, she sat down on the bed. Neither of them had spoken.
"Mac...are you alright?" Margaret asked.
He looked at her, nodding softly, and then shaking his head. "No."
She was surprised when his shoulders started to shake and tears began to fall. She moved quickly to him, kneeling beside the tub and wrapping her arms around his neck. She pressed her lips to the side of his head and he leaned into her.
"Neil, darling…" She soothed. "Shh…"
He slowly calmed down. "I'm sorry."
She shook her head, releasing her hold on him.
"That cabin meant a lot more to me than it probably should have."
"You were born in that cabin, Neil. We lived there together…there were so many memories. I know that losing that place hurts. I feel it too."
"It's not just the cabin. How in the world am I supposed to provide for you without even having a roof to put over our heads."
"We're going to be fine here until the spring when we can rebuild."
"That's not the same thing. That means relying on someone else to care for us. I can't do that."
"Neil, I know it's not the same, but it's not as if we have any other options. And it doesn't matter to me where we are, or if we have absolutely nothing. We're together and that's what matters."
He sighed heavily, running a wet hand through his dripping hair.
"We vowed to love each other through this, and I will love you through it, Neil MacNeill. And I'm not going to think any less of you because we need help from someone else. I know that you're doing your best. Do you understand?"
He nodded.
"Neil…look at me."
He slowly met her gaze and she placed a hand on the side of his face. "I love you."
"And I love you," He whispered, pressing his lips to hers.
"Get out of that water before you get cold," She told him, standing and going to the bed. She slipped between the covers and waited for him to join her.
When he did, he slipped an arm around her middle. "Margaret…"
"Hmmm?" She asked through her sleepy state.
"What you said earlier…at the cabin…about a baby…"
She turned to him, fully alert again. "Yes."
"Are you certain?"
"No. I need you to confirm it."
"I will first thing tomorrow," Neil told her. "If you are…then I want you to know that I'm extremely happy, despite our current circumstances. And if not, then we'll keep trying, with or without a home."
"My home is wherever you are," She assured him.
David found Christy sitting in the rocking chair in front of the fire when he returned from his bath. She had her hands resting protectively across her belly and she rocked gently back and forth. She seemed to be deep in thought, and he approached her slowly so he wouldn't scare her. He knelt in front of her, placing his hands over hers and she raised tear-filled eyes to meet his.
"What is it, Love?" He asked. "Why the tears?"
"I don't understand why bad things keep happening to them," Christy told him. "And I guess I'm just angry right now."
"I don't have any answers for why things like this happen…" David replied. "But I know that God promises to work everything out for the good of those who love Him. Neil has a new love for God growing in his heart."
"But why risk it? Why put his fragile faith in danger? Couldn't God have stopped it so that Neil's faith could grow more before something bad happened?"
David smiled softly. "Maybe this is exactly what needed to happen to strengthen Neil's faith and to capture Margaret's heart as well. They're going to have to rely on Him to get through this. This may be exactly what they need."
Christy sighed. "It just seems so cruel to me. I still don't understand why God allowed me to be raped. I'm giving my entire life for His purpose. Why did he let that happen? Why does he allow so much pain to fill my heart?"
"I don't know, Christy."
"I still wake up with nightmares every night. I try to convince everyone that I am fine, but I'm not, David. I'm still afraid of being alone. I'm still heartbroken about all of it. And sometimes…sometimes I don't even want this baby because of where it came from."
David's face filled with pain and concern. "Christy, why have you not told me any of this?"
She pushed herself up, forcing him away. "Because I didn't want you to worry…and because I'm ashamed of feeling that way."
He watched as she crossed the room to the window. Her hands pressed into her lower back and she let out a slow breath of air. He stood and went to her, pulling her close.
"It's my favorite job to worry about you and take care of you, Christy. You are my entire world, and I love you. Please don't push me away or keep anything from me. I want to share my whole life with you, and I want all of yours too."
She leaned her head against his chest.
"I know this is hard on you. You have to endure far more than a person should be asked to endure. But you are doing it with grace and faith and I admire you so much for it. I know you are tired and feel weak at times, but that's why I am here with you; to love and support you. I will never leave you or let you go through anything alone. When you need me by your side that is where I will be, for the rest of my days. I love you, Christy, every part of you."
She leaned her head back to look at him, tears pouring down her face. He smiled at her softly, kissing her tears away.
"The best day of my life was the day you fell into my arms in the pouring rain. I've spent every day since ready and willing to catch you again. Let me, Christy. Let me pick you up when you fall."
"Can you hold me now?" She whispered.
"Absolutely," He nodded, moving with her to the loveseat and pulling her onto his lap. She laid her head in the crook of his neck, her hand on his chest, and his arms wrapped around her. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"This isn't very proper," She admitted at last.
"It feels fine to me," He said. "Stop worrying about the rest of the world and just focus on us."
She did, drifting off to sleep in the arms of her beloved.
As they all sat at breakfast on Saturday morning, Christy was shaking with apprehension. Her parents were set to arrive on the train that morning and would call as soon as they did, and on top of the fear of their reaction to her pregnancy, she was beginning to worry about whether or not they would make it safely through the snow that had fallen the night before. When she tried to butter her biscuit, her hands were shaking so badly that David reached out and took over for her.
"Christy, have you eaten lately?" Neil asked, watching her.
"Last night," She said.
"You hardly ate anything at dinner," David reminded her. "Your stomach was bothering you, remember?"
She nodded.
"You likely have a case of low blood sugar. You should eat more before you pass out on us," Neil told her.
"I…"She shook her head. "I can't. I don't think I would be able to keep it down."
Margaret spoke up next. "Maybe you can drink some tea. It will help ease your stomach. I know it helps a great deal with morning sickness. It helps me…or it did, I mean."
Neil looked over at her, smiling softly at her and resting his hand over hers. They shared a look that Christy was sure she would have fun prodding into if she could focus on it.
"Ruby Mae, can you brew some more tea for Christy please?" David asked.
Ruby Mae nodded and disappeared into the kitchen just as the phone rang. Christy jumped a foot and David stood quickly, Christy rising and rushing to his side. She clung to his arm as he stepped into the hallway and answered the phone.
"Cutter Gap Mission, this is David Grantland," He answered, and then smiled. "Hello, Sir… Yes, we are all here at the mission and Christy is very anxious to see you."
He grinned down at her as he said it, and after receiving a glare from her, leaned over and pressed his lips to the top of her head to melt her anger away.
"Would you like Doctor MacNeill and I to come meet you?... Well, I just thought that the snow might be a hindrance…alright, yes sir. We will see you in a few hours."
He hung up the phone and Christy leaned back against the wall, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"They're going to get stuck in the snow somewhere."
"He insisted that they would be fine. I promise that if they aren't here in a few hours, Neil and I will go search for them."
Christy sighed.
"Christy, look at me," David put his hands on her arms. "No matter what happens or how they react, we're going to be fine. I promise. Everything is going to turn out just as it should."
His words calmed her for a short time, but as the time ticked by and they all moved to the parlor, she became increasingly anxious. David was sitting at the desk working on his sermons, Neil was filling out medical supply orders, and Margaret was knitting something in the rocking chair by the fire. Christy attempted to work on her lesson plans for the following week, but she couldn't focus. She soon took to pacing and looking out the window.
"Christy, you are making all of this addition very difficult," Neil scolded softly. "I keep counting how many times you are walking back and forth instead of the number of bandages I am ordering."
"I'm sorry," She sighed, pausing by David's chair.
David reached up and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her onto his lap. "You need to relax. God has this all planned out."
"Mother is going to kill me," Christy sighed, burying her face in David's chest.
"At first she is going to panic, but once everything is explained, they will accept it. We have everything under control and the only thing they can do is go along with it."
"Or pack my bags and force me onto the next train."
"They're not taking you anywhere," Neil spoke up. "You're too close to your due date for traveling. You're almost seven months along."
"You will have to fight with them on that, Neil, I can promise you that."
"And I'll win, too," Neil said, looking back to the figures in front of him.
"Mothers tend to over react," Margaret agreed. "I can only imagine how mine would respond to such a situation."
"I'm mostly worried about what will happen when they discover that it was Mr. Stone who did it. Father has business interests with him and has already scolded me for being rude to him and cutting off ties with him when he was here. They just have no idea as to why I did."
"Business ties will never outweigh your family ties, Christy. They love you more than you can imagine," David assured her. "Everything will be fine."
"Promise?" She asked softly, feeling like a small child in that moment of need. She looked up at him, searching his face intently for assurances.
"I promise," He whispered, pressing his lips to her nose.
She yawned then, attempting to stifle it with her hand. He chuckled softly.
"Did you sleep last night?" He asked.
"Not much. I sleep much better when you're around."
"Do you think you could sleep now if you tried?"
"Maybe…"
"Then go to sleep. I'll wake you up if they get here before you're awake."
She nodded, resting her head in the crook of his neck. Slowly she drifted off in the comfort of his arms. When she was asleep, Neil stood and made his way over to them. He felt her cheek for a fever.
"What's wrong?" David asked in alarm.
"I'm concerned about her. It sounds as though she isn't sleeping or eating as she should and she doesn't quite seem herself."
"I know that she's just extremely nervous about her parent's arriving," David said.
"That may be it, but I want to keep an eye on her to be sure. I don't want her getting too weak or too excited about anything. It could cause complications or early labor. We need to try to keep her environment as calm as possible for the next few months," Neil told him.
David nodded.
"I could take over classes until Christmas," Margaret suggested.
Neil turned to her with an equal amount of concern. "I'm not sure that is a good idea either. Your health…"
"My health is perfectly fine," She told him. "I'll offer it to Christy tonight, but I know she won't think it's necessary."
"Well, we'll just have to convince her," Neil said. "If we tell her that the baby is at risk, maybe she'll listen."
Alice came into the room then.
"Hello, Mother," Margaret greeted her.
"Hello, darling," Alice smiled at her. "Neil, did thee finish placing those orders?"
"Yes, they are right here," Neil picked up the stack of papers.
"Wonderful. Ruby Mae and I just finished inventory of the other mission supplies. Dan will take the orders to the station when he leaves tomorrow to go home for Christmas."
"Thank you, Alice," Neil nodded.
Alice noticed Christy asleep on David's lap. "Is Christy all right?"
Neil proceeded to tell Alice of his concerns over Christy.
"Once all of this excitement with Christy's parents has passed, these concerns will ease," Alice assured all of them.
"It's getting to that point that worries me. Her mother is not exactly an easy person to deal with."
"No, but Christy's health will be Julia's main concern as well."
Barely half an hour later, Ruby Mae came in from the chicken coop loudly announcing that she could see the Huddleston's coming over the ridge. David eased Christy awake and she frowned from being awoken.
"Your parents are here, Christy," David told her, helping her to her feet.
She swayed slightly and David held tightly to her arm to keep her standing.
"Are you alright?"
"Fine," She told him. "Do I look alright?"
"Lovely as always," He told her, tucking a stray piece of hair back into her bun. "Everything is going to be fine."
She held his hand tightly as they all went to the door to greet her parents. Alice and Ruby Mae were the first to greet Julia and William when they walked in the door, and then Neil introduced them to Margaret. David and Christy stood in the back.
"Where's my girlie?" William asked, his soft eyes eagerly seeking her out.
"I'm here, Daddy," She said, her voice shaking as she stepped in front of David and he placed his hands on her shoulders in support.
William and Julia's jaws dropped as their eyes drifted over their daughter.
"Oh my God," Julia breathed out, her hand going to her lips in a gasp.
"Christina Rudd Huddleston," William's voice was harsh and stern.
"Let me explain," Christy begged. "It's not what you think, I promise."
"Well I have no idea how in the world you plan to explain this one," Julia scolded. "Unmarried and in the family way. Christy… I am so ashamed of you."
"No, Mother, please," Christy's voice shook and tears sprang forward.
"David, I want to see you outside," William demanded.
"Mr. and Mrs. Huddleston, please calm down and allow Christy to explain," Alice stepped forward.
"There is not an explanation that will ever be suitable enough," William cut her off. "Christy, go pack your things immediately."
"William," Neil stepped forward, "Christy is too far along to be traveling."
"I must ask that you mind your own business, Doctor," William told him. "David, outside please…"
"David don't," Christy clung to his arm.
"It's all right. We'll get this all straightened out," He told her, pressing his lips to her forehead and then stepping out onto the porch.
"Christy, go pack your things at once."
"No," Christy argued. "I will not."
"Do not make me drag you up there, young lady."
"Let's go, Christy," Margaret stepped toward her and wrapped an arm around her waist to lead her up the stairs.
Sobs wracked Christy's body as they disappeared up the stairs. Neil stepped outside to find David receiving the lecture of a lifetime, and by the looks of his bloodied nose, he had already been at the receiving end of a punch.
"The thought that you would dare to touch my daughter after promising me to respect and love her is the most repulsive thought I've ever had. I trusted you with her, David. I left her in your care and you have disrespected me in the worst possible way."
"Sir, you have misunderstood. I love your daughter with my whole heart," David told him, touching his lip with a grimace.
"And this is how you prove it? By impregnating her?"
"I didn't, Sir. I have not touched her in any inappropriate way. I do not intend to until our wedding night."
"Then how in the world do you explain that baby?" William demanded, his face red with anger.
"It's not my baby, Sir," David said.
"Oh, and whose is it then?" William asked sarcastically.
"Maybe I can explain," Neil said, alerting them of his presence.
William turned on him faster than he expected. "You?"
"Yes, I believe I can provide some clarity if we all just calm down."
"I am shocked that you did not call to tell me of Christy's pregnancy, Doctor," William said. "You promised to call me if anything came up that I needed to know of."
"I am inclined to respect the wishes of Christy who is my very dear friend and also my patient. It was not my place."
"I refuse to believe that that child is anyone but yours, David. You are marrying her and from what I have seen, are very comfortable with her. All signs point to you, and I am so very disappointed in you both. I will take her and Julia home at once and she will not return."
"William, please…" David begged. "You must hear me out…"
"It's Mr. Huddleston to you, and I will do nothing of the sort. You have disrespected me and my family in every possible way and nothing you say will undo that damage," William barked, turning on his heel to go back inside. They could hear him yelling up the stairs from outside. "Christy! Hurry down here and let's go."
David sighed and stood. "Neil, we have to do something. We can't let them take her."
"They won't," Neil told him. "Let me see that nose."
Neil tilted David's head back, inspecting him.
"It doesn't appear to be broken."
"It doesn't matter," David grumbled, standing and moving inside.
He dared to step past William and Julia and up the stairs. He had just reached the landing when Christy opened her bedroom door and came out. Her face was drenched with tears and she fell into his arms when she saw him, Margaret standing in the bedroom door behind him.
"Shh…" David soothed. "Everything is going to be fine."
"David, don't let this happen," Christy begged. "I can't do this."
"You're not going anywhere. I'm not going to let them take you."
"Christy, let's go," William called from the bottom of the stairs.
"David, please," Christy cried.
He took her face in his hands, holding it back so he could look at her. "I love you. I always have and always will. I'm not going to let them take you away from me. You're going to stay with me."
"Christina!" William shouted.
She was crying harder than she had in a long time, and that combined with her lack of food and sleep sent her world spinning. She leaned heavily into him and he held her tightly. She felt her knees giving out and David scooped her up in his arms as she passed out.
"Neil!" David called in panic.
Neil took the stairs two at a time as David carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed. Margaret immediately prepared a cool cloth in the wash basin in Christy's room and placed it on Christy's forehead. Neil took her pulse.
"Margaret, can you bring me my bag please?" Neil asked.
She left the room just as William and Julia entered with Alice.
"This is exactly what I was afraid of happening," Neil grumbled.
"What's wrong with her?" Julia asked.
"Your eventful arrival caused too much stress on her and the baby," Neil snapped, not bothering to hide his disgust with their reaction.
"Well, surely you didn't expect us to be happy about this baby," Julia retorted.
David's head sprung up then and he stood. "No, but I did expect you to hold some respect for Christy and to trust her. Christy and I have done absolutely nothing wrong, but you have. You have wounded her more than you can possibly understand. Christy was raped by Mr. Stone when he was here. She was showing him around the Cove when he drug her into a cave and raped her. I love your daughter and have promised to love her for the rest of my life, as well as this baby. I am going to marry her in a few weeks and I am going to raise this baby as my own. That is the truth, and it's time you heard it loud and clear. Of all the people in this Cove who have accused us of premarital relations, we expected at least you to believe us. Apparently we were wrong. I am now going to ask you both to go downstairs and we will let you know how she is."
David returned to Christy's side as Julia began to sob.
"I'm sorry, David…" William said softly.
When he received no response, they turned and left. Margaret returned with Neil's medical bag and Alice followed Julia and William downstairs to help further clarify what was going on with their daughter.
"Well done, Grantland," Neil said, his hand patting David on the shoulder. "I couldn't have done it better myself."
David released a breath of air. "I shouldn't have spoken to them that way."
"Oh, I think God will understand," Margaret told him.
"How is she?" David asked, watching as Neil listened to Christy's heartbeat and then the baby's heartbeat.
"I think she will be fine. The baby doesn't seem to be in distress, but we'll have to keep an eye on her. I want to let her sleep for a while. She'll stay calm that way."
David nodded. "I'll stay with her."
Neil closed his bag and then he and Margaret left the room. David turned back to Christy when they were alone.
"Christy…if you only knew what I would do for you," David whispered. "Nothing will ever tear us apart. I promise you, Christy. I promise."
I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review!