River Deep, Mountain High
Standard disclaimers apply to this piece of Christy fan fiction.
This story continues where the TV series left off. Any similarities to other works of Christy fan fiction are purely coincidental.
Note: Sorry for not including a warning in previous chapters about the slightly gruesome nature of the plot. Those poor Allens certainly have had their share of surgeries! This chapter is quite long, so I figured it merited a separate update. More to come soon – I have a pretty good outline already for most of the remaining storyline.
Chapter 21
Mary awoke only briefly, and she was extremely groggy and sore, the surgery only recently completed. Neil explained to her only briefly about the ovarian cyst, not getting into the details of the hysterectomy and its consequences. He checked her for signs of fever and reassured her that the surgery was a success and that she would be fine. Knowing that Mary was in a great deal of pain and needed much rest, Neil mixed some powered laudanum in a glass of water and gave it to her to drink. Combined with the lingering affects of the ether, Mary fell asleep in minutes. Bob remained by her side.
Neil and Christy stayed at the Allen cabin throughout the night, keeping Mary under close observation. Though fighting her growing fatigue, Christy eventually began to doze lightly in a nearby chair, while Neil maintained a vigilant watch over his patient. Mary appeared to have come through the operation remarkably well, but Neil knew that surgery always posed a serious risk, and these first few hours were critical.
The faint mellow glow of sunlight began to creep out from behind the mountains, and Neil decided to wake Christy so he could take her back to the Mission. Christy was roused from her nap when she felt a gentle tugging at her shoulder, and she lazily opened her eyes and raised her head up from its resting spot on her propped arm. She glanced up at Doctor MacNeill, feeling disoriented until she realized that she was in the Allen cabin and remembered the events of the previous day.
Concerned that something was wrong, Christy's eyes darkened as she glanced at the still form of Mary Allen. "Is she alright?" she asked, returning her gaze to him.
"Everything is fine," Neil assured her. "Mary is still sleeping soundly. I expect she will sleep for several more hours."
Relieved, Christy closed her eyes for a long moment and sighed audibly. When she opened them once more, she saw that Doctor MacNeill was grinning at her slightly, as if he were laughing at her. She wondered what he could find so humorous at a time like this. Her brow furrowed in irritation and confusion.
"It's your face," he began to explain, sensing her annoyance, "you have a perfect handprint on your cheek."
Christy looked down at the hand that had been serving as a pillow for the last hour or so. Her expression softened as she massaged her wrist, now aware of the stiffness at being locked in a bent position for so long to support the weight of her head.
"We've been here all night, Christy," Neil said to her, resuming his more serious tone. "I think it's time to take you back to the Mission."
Christy nodded, knowing how truly exhausted she was, even after the short respite. Instinctively, she looked over to Mary, who was still lying prone on the kitchen table. The constant rise and fall of her chest under the quilts flooded Christy with relief. She saw Bob still sitting with her, holding her hand.
"Will she be alright?" Christy turned to Neil and asked, her voice low.
Neil nodded. "I think so. I'll come back after I ride with you back to the Mission to keep an eye on Mary. I'll check the incisions, and then we'll try to move her back into the bed so she'll be more comfortable. We'll have to be careful not to re-open the sutures in the process. She'll have to stay there for quite some time until she can build back the strength in her abdominal muscles."
Neil grabbed his coat and then helped Christy into hers. The two went outside. It was almost dawn now, the pale pink and orange light beginning to glow on the eastern horizon. His eyes adjusting to the light, Neil clearly saw the weariness on Christy's face.
"I think you'd better ride with me, Christy," Neil said. "You're too tired to ride by yourself on that big mustang."
"I'm perfectly capable of handling Prince, Neil," Christy protested with as much strength as she could muster given her fatigue. "He doesn't scare me anymore, and I've grown quite accustomed to riding him."
Chuckling inwardly at her stubbornness, Neil replied, attempting to soothe her pride. "I am not questioning your skills as a horsewoman, Miss Huddleston. But you are in no condition to ride all the way back to the Mission. No," he said firmly, "you'll ride on Charlie with me. Rob Allen or myself can bring Prince back later today or tomorrow."
Sighing reluctantly, Christy realized that Neil was probably right, though she'd never let him know that. She grabbed onto the saddle horn and placed her left foot in the stirrup and let Neil help her onto Charlie's back. To Christy's surprise, Neil hoisted himself up behind her in one sweeping motion.
Sensing the question that sat on the tip of Christy's tongue, Neil silenced her. "I don't want you falling off the back. I've got enough patients to take care of without adding you to the list."
"Whatever you say, Doctor," Christy said, biting back any attempt at dispute.
"This is not at all like you, Christy. You're not usually so willing to comply with my wishes," Neil responded, his Scottish brogue gently teasing. "Where is that fire and spirit I usually see in your eyes?"
"Burned out with exhaustion," Christy shot back with a wry smile. "But don't worry, Doctor, it'll be back in full force after a little rest."
Neil let out a hearty laugh, his own weariness temporarily melted away. He certainly loved that spitfire and fierce independence in a woman. "Ah then, I shall look forward to it, Miss Huddleston!"
With that, he spurred Charlie onward with a quick jab from the heels of his boots, and they began to gallop away towards the Mission.
Christy was jostled back and forth in the saddle as Charlie flew across the mountain. Though exhausted, she tried to keep her back straight in the saddle as they rode in silence, conscious of Neil's presence behind her. Her spine ached so from standing for hours during the surgery, and soon, Christy felt her body succumb and release the tension that had built up in her muscles and joints when she began to relax against Neil's firm chest. He was all man, Christy realized. She sighed and let herself be lulled to sleep by the constant, rhythmic motion, feeling strangely content and secure in the warm solidness of Neil MacNeill.
Neil's arms reached around Christy as he grasped the reins, guiding Charlie in the pale misty morning. He felt the warmth of her body leaning against him, her head resting quietly just under his chin. He knew that she was asleep from the limpness of her form. He inhaled the chilly mountain air deeply, drinking in the rose scent of her soft brown hair. Neil noticed the same sweet perfume that surrounded her when he sat with Christy after she had been hurt by a falling beam when the schoolhouse was set on fire, shortly following her arrival to Cutter Gap. He had looked down at her still figure in the bed. She looked like a China doll, so peaceful and quiet. At the time he didn't know what it was that drew his lips down to her forehead in a gentle kiss.
Now he knew. Neil MacNeill knew without a shadow of a doubt that he loved Christy Huddleston. He could not understand how he let himself deny it for as long as he had, even before Margaret's sudden reappearance. Neil glanced down at Christy leaning against him. He could see the curve of her nose and the delicate swell of her cheeks. Yes, he realized, he loved her then and he loved her now.
But what was he to do now that he acknowledged his true feelings? Neil wondered to himself. He had little to offer her. His failed marriage with Margaret left him doubting whether he could be a proper husband. And what about God? Neil knew that despite his love for Christy, his beliefs could not so easily be changed. Loving Christy did not suddenly turn his views on religion and the nature of God to the opposite end of the spectrum. While he admitted to the possible existence of God, some starter-force in the universe, he could not bring himself to see God and the world the way Christy did. The world was still a dark and cruel place to him, and its inhabitants were capable of committing such evil acts against one another. Although he believed in the power of love, Neil could not reconcile the notion of a caring God who actively intervened in man's life with the death and devastation that constantly surrounded him.
Neil bent his head down again to glance at Christy. He sighed. Faith in God was so important to Christy, and he knew that his lack of it would forever be a barrier between them, hindering the development of any deeper, more meaningful relationship.
The sight of the Mission house cresting over the rise forced Neil to temporarily banish those thoughts back to the deep recesses of his mind. He pulled Charlie to a halt by the front porch, the sudden jolt jarring Christy out of her contented slumber. Neil slid off the back of the horse and then held out his arms to help Christy out of the saddle. She swung her leg around and grabbed onto Neil's shoulders, his strong arms lifting her off the tall animal with ease.
Their eyes locked onto each other's as they stood there in silence, both knowing and understanding the tremendous toll that the day had taken without a word passing between them. Christy fought the overwhelming urge to bury her face in his strong, masculine chest and cry from both the physical and mental fatigue.
Neil let go of Christy's waist only to brush a loose strand of her hair from her face. Her bun was in a complete state of disarray, but Neil felt his heart skip a beat thinking how lovely and radiant she looked bathed in the soft golden beams of the new day. He imagined what it would be like to see her face beside his first thing every morning. The thought stirred familiar feelings deep within him that he had struggled to extinguish.
"You should go inside and get some rest, Christy. Doctor's orders," Neil added with a teasing smile.
Christy returned the smile and let out a tired laugh. "There will be no arguments from me this time, Doctor. I'll just bid you goodnight…" Shaking her head, she corrected herself. "Or good morning, I suppose, is more accurate."
The two bodies separated as Neil placed his foot in the stirrups and began to mount Charlie. Christy turned and started to walk up the stairs of the front porch but then spun around again to ask Neil something. Almost at the same moment, Neil called back out to her.
"I'll come by again tomorrow after you've had a chance to rest and take you back to the Allens," he offered. "You can pick up your horse, and I'm sure Mary would enjoy the visit as well. She may likely be a bit depressed when she learns she can have no more children."
Christy marveled to herself at his keen perception. How did he know she was about to ask him the same thing? "Thank you, Neil. I'd like that. You should make sure you get some sleep, too," she added with a light admonishment. "You've been awake even longer than I."
Neil threw his head back in laughter at the sight she presented, one hand on her hip and the other pointing a waving finger at him. His mass of sandy curls was tossed about his head riotously, and the soft pastel sunlight shone around him like a halo. "Of course, Doctor Huddleston."
Turning his horse toward the direction of the Allen cabin, Neil added, "Sweet dreams, Christy." And with one final wave, he was off.
Christy watched Neil ride away from the Mission, blinking away the burning sensation of sleep deprivation. With a tired sigh, she opened the front door and disappeared inside, unaware of the tall lanky form watching from the shadows of the breezeway between the main house and the kitchen.
***
TO BE CONTINUED
Author's Note: Yay! Neil has finally admitted to himself that he loves Christy. Although I write in third person, I find most of the description focuses on Christy and her thoughts, but I figured I needed to take a few paragraphs and get into Neil's brain a bit to advance the plot of their growing relationship.
Also, thanks to everyone who provided feedback! It is greatly appreciated since this is my first work of Christy fan fiction.