Tatters and Tears by V.Wolf Title: Tatters and Tears Author (including e-mail address): V. Wolf (SorceressV@hotmail.com) Part/Chapter: One and only Summary: Some enchanted evening, you will meet a doctor. This takes place at any various time, but Margaret is not alive. Disclaimer: Catherine Marshall's beautiful story of Christy is owned by the Marshall-LeSourd Family, L.L.C. We are in no way seeking profit or credit for her story. We are continuing the story of Christy for our own amusement only. Tatters and Tears by V. Wolf Blindly, never seeing me at all, he strode down the hall and went out, slamming the front door. I ran to the mission door and flung it open. Dr. MacNeill was already halfway to the schoolhouse. “Ruby Mae!” I heard him call gruffly as he mounted the stairs. Curious with what the doctor wanted with the effervescent young woman, I wiped my hands on my apron. Through the window the cool breeze tossed my hair and sent away a small cloud of flour into the air as it lifted from my apron. This was my third attempt at making bread and I’d decided if I didn’t at least master one loaf I would just stick to oats in the morning. “Ruby Mae” I heard the good doctor bellow as he reached the top of the schoolhouse steps. The anger I heard in his voice made me pause, holding the mission door. “Miz Christy!” I heard a rough voice say. “Miz Christy, over here!” I turned and saw a dusty Ruby Mae peek from behind the edge of the house. I walked towards her, letting go of the mission door. Its sagging springs no longer aided its closure, and instead the strong breeze slapped it shut. The clap of wood on wood echoed loudly. I heard a rustling in the grass and saw Ruby Mae run away. Doctor MacNeill emerged from the schoolhouse. ‘Ruby Mae!” he hollered again. He resolutely marched back towards the mission house. I gasped as I realized the state he would soon see me in – as today was, hopefully, baking day I’d donned my oldest dress and stained, fraying apron. Clean but torn, my clothing was definitely not suitable for meeting guests – or even friends. I threw open the door and dashed back into the kitchen. A moment later I heard the mission door slam again. “Christy? Is that you?” Doctor MacNeill’s voice held his checked anger. I vainly searched for something to hide my state of disrepair. I decided instead to sit down at the table and put the pan of beans that needed shelling in my lap as cover. As soon as I had attained my seat Doctor MacNeill bounded into the room. “Blast it!” He exclaimed as he entered the room. I let out an involuntary gasp as I saw him up close and not merely from the back as I had when he’d passed me in the kitchen moments earlier. On a good day, Neil was a little bit disheveled, but normally it was just rumpled clothes, unruly hair and a need for a shave. This time, however, he looked as wild as Creed or Little Burl after recess. His hair was everywhere and there were dark circles under his eyes. The Doctor had grown a full beard, apparently while he had been in Lufty Branch the last week helping a family with a premature baby. However, his large red flannel shirt was torn nearly to shreds. I felt a blush start along my cheeks as I realized most of his strong chest was exposed. However, I paled when I realized there were dark splotches near his chest. “Are you bleeding?” I shrieked and jumped up, depositing the bucket of beans on the floor. Treading over a good number of them I rushed to the doctor. I placed my hands on his chest next to the patches searching for wounds. Then I noticed the doctor smelled of alcohol. “What?” He barked. “No – no, I’m not bleeding.” He said in a softer tone, looking down at me warmly. “But,” he continued, “I do have a bit of a problem.” I hurriedly started collecting the unspoiled beans into a pan so as to prevent more losses to dinner. I paused as I placed the pail on the chair and looked up at Neil from my kneeling position. He regarded me with an unreadable look in his eyes. “What’s your problem then?” I asked as I retrieved another few beans from under the chair. “Is it perhaps aggravated by your present state of sobriety?” The doctor’s expression changed to a frown. “No, it’s this,” he said harshly, holding up a bundle which he then dropped onto the table I had been kneading on with a thud. I had barely opened my mouth to protest when a huge plume of flour came flying towards me, covering my face and even landing on my tongue. Surprised, I flailed out my arms and heard the pan of beans hit the floor once again. “What the – ?” I heard the doctor exclaim. “Oh – oh, no, Christy, I’m sorry!” I coughed a few times and tried to wipe the flour from my face with my already flour-saturated apron. The doctor guided me to the chair then knelt in front of me and tried to wipe my face with a torn handkerchief. Utterly frustrated with the day’s events a tear welled up in my eye. Before I could calm myself I felt it slip out and roll down my cheek. “Oh, lass, what is it, what’s wrong? Is it the mess? I’ll help you clean it up!” I heard the doctor say. My heart skipped a beat when I felt, not the handkerchief, but his fingers gently brush the tear off my jaw. I looked down into his earnest eyes and saw the concern there. “All I wanted to do today was make bread. I’ve never made it before without something going wrong. The first time I burned it, the second time I didn’t let it rise long enough, and this time, well…” I paused, looking mournfully at the table where Dr. MacNeill had deposited his heavy load, “it’s been killed in the making,” I sighed. The doctor relaxed. “Is that all?” “Well that and the fact that you and I have mashed all the beans intended for tonight’s dinner.” “Oh,” he said, casting his eyes to the multitude of crushed beans. “And wrecked the kitchen.” I added. “Oh.” “Not to mention you terrifying me with your mad howling for Ruby Mae.” I added angrily, quickly rising and accidentally sprinkling some flour into Doctor MacNeill’s hair. “What on earth is going on, anyway?” “Humph!” was his only reply as he rose. “I’m sorry I was in such a rage when I first came in, you see, Ruby Mae apparently left me some food at the cabin thinking I’d be back before I was.” He gestured to the bundle on my ruined third attempt at bread. “That.” “How did you know it was Ruby Mae?” I asked. Leaning forward, I took a sniff. “Oh, that’s Possum Surprise…or at least it was,” I said, wrinkling my nose. The doctor smiled grimly. “And while it was thoughtful of her, someone else managed to beat me to this, er, lovely entrée.” “That’s not such a bad thing, Doctor.” I said ruefully. “No, it’s not,” Doctor MacNeill chuckled, then sobered. “Unless the diner happens to be a fox.” “A fox!” I exclaimed. “Yes, I think it gnawed its way in through some weak floorboards under the porch. It was still there when I returned with Jeb this afternoon… who happened to have his hounds…” “Oh, no!” I gasped. “Apparently my shirts are great nesting material. Anyhow, Spruce and Pointer tramped right through the house looking for that fox – which they did eventually chase out. It took both of us to wrestle the dogs out of my cabin. However, in the process they broke some bottles in my saddlebags.” “Well that would explain why you smell the way you do.” I replied, wrinkling my nose again. The Doctor chuckled again. “Indeed, I’ll bathe soon – ” “— Is your lab alright, can you replace what you lost?” I interrupted. “It’s fine. Luckily I only lost a few items,” he replied. “So are you here to exact revenge on Ruby Mae?” I asked hesitantly, unwilling to expose my reckless but well-intentioned student to the doctor’s anger. Doctor MacNeill exhaled slowly. “No – I just want to tell her what happened and ask if perhaps she could help me clean up a bit. The bottles can be replaced and I can mix up some more of the medicine I lost.” “Good – I know she didn’t mean for that to happen.” I said, relieved. Doctor MacNeill still looked a bit troubled. “What is it?” I asked gently. He looked into my eyes. “Well, I don’t know if I should tell you…” He trailed off. “Is it bad?” I said, concerned. “Well…there was another thing the fox tried to use as bedding. Um, er,” he hesitated, and then reached into his pocket. He looked at me steadily. “I don’t know a lot about dresses,” he said. My eyebrows shot up at this strange utterance, “Except I know when a woman looks beautiful in them.” I felt a blush creep across my cheeks and had reason to be thankful I was covered in flour. “I heard you tell Miss Alice you needed new trim for that dark blue dress you look so wonderful in…” Doctor MacNeill broke off again and I felt my blush deepen. He reached for my hand, and placed in it a small bundle of fabric. I touched the soft woven fabric – it was magnificently crafted and dyed a deep cerulean blue. “Why, Doctor, it’s so – ” “Short,” he interjected. “It’s so short because it’s been chewed. I just wanted to get you something you’d like, and it’s in tatters.” He said sadly. I beamed at him. “Dr. MacNeill –” “Neil, please,” he said softly. “Neil,” I whispered back. “Neil, this is so thoughtful! I love it!” “I’m sorry it’s ruined,” he groaned, “this isn’t how I wanted to give it to you at all.” This time I took his hand. “Neil, don’t be upset.” I unrolled the trim a bit. True, there was no longer enough to trim a dress with, but another purpose came to mind. “Oh, Neil, this will be perfect for my hair! These will be the most beautiful hair ribbons in the cove!” I said excitedly. His hand still in mine, tightened. “Christy –you make everything so right again. Thank you, lass.” I looked up a Neil with a smile. Suddenly, we became aware of the other’s proximity. My heart began to beat strangely. Slowly, Neil reached for my other hand. He stepped a bit closer as his eyes searched mine. I closed my eyes as he leaned in closer. I could smell his natural, wonderful rough soapy smell through that of the medicine. I smiled just as Neil’s lips touched mine, his hands held mine tightly. Only a moment later we separated, and I looked into his eyes. I felt his arms slide around me and I entangled my fingers in his hair as we kissed more deeply this time. It seemed he held me up as my knees began to tremble. Pulling away, I saw that Neil’s shirt was no longer covered in dark spots, but also a layer of flour – as were his lips. I blushed; this one would surely show through any amount of flour. “I – I think I should go tidy up, Neil. Miss Alice will be back soon, and dinner is so behind and I’ve lost all the beans….” I stuttered not knowing what to say. Neil glowed at me, gently acknowledging my need for distance. “I’ll go track down Ruby Mae – don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.” He raised my hand to his lips, kissed it, then released it and slowly moved out of the kitchen. “Oh, and Neil – ” I started. He stuck his head back into the kitchen. “Would you come to dinner tonight? There won’t be any bread, but I promise, no possum either.” Neil let out a ringing laugh. “Christy, my love, I’d even eat possum tonight just to see you again.” And with that he strode down the hall for a second time that day. * * * * That night I wore the dark blue dress at dinner and wove the new ribbons through my hair – once I managed to wash out the flour, that is. Ruby Mae’s normal chatter wasn’t dulled even though she cleaned up Neil’s cabin then helped with dinner. Neil had cleaned up as well, discovering the clothes he had managed to put away in his drawers after the last round of washing had escaped unharmed. He had even brought over some vegetables he had been given towards payment of his treatment of the premature baby. As we sat at the table and David said grace, I noticed Neil bowed his head. Sadly, I added my own prayer that Neil would someday bow his head out of reverence and not just respect for those that did believe. The meal, though without bread, was good. Neil related the story of his cabin’s disarray in a considerably more straightforward manner than the story had been rendered to me. The sound of laughter around a dinner table warmed me as I again realized how much the Cove and its people meant to me. Seeming as though he sensed this I felt Neil’s eyes upon me, and I had to look away as I felt myself blush. David suddenly spoke up, “You know, MacNeill, maybe this was just God’s way of hinting that you should be tidier, and repair the porch.” He said jokingly. Neil smiled. “While perhaps you are right about being tidy, as far as I know, that’s not in the Ten Commandments.” Glancing at me, David seemed to harden slightly. “With all due respect, Doctor, I’m not so sure you could name all Ten Commandments.” “David, don’t…” I started. Neil held up his hand, and proceeded to name all Ten Commandments. The table grew silent. Neil smiled, “Reverend, I can read you know.” “But your specialty seems to lie more with medical journals than spiritual works.” David replied. Neil smiled again. “Normally, you would be right. However, let’s just say I’ve decided to broaden my horizons.” My breath caught in my throat. “Neil, are you saying that…” I trailed off, trying not to make the hope too evident in my voice. “That I’m Christian? Probably.” He said. I felt the tears stinging the corners of my eyes. He let out a sigh. “This seems a bit, well, public and awkward,” he said, “but yes, I’ve giving it a lot of thought. You see, I may have been in Lufty Branch trying to save a premature infant, but on the third day, after barely any sleep and success, the little tyke was still clinging on, when by all accounts he should have died. When I tried again to ease his breathing, through my exhaustion I heard myself say, ‘all that’s left is prayer.’ So, I told the family they should pray, and before I knew it, Sue Ella – that’s the boy’s mother – had pulled me to my knees by the baby and was praying. Such a simple prayer, just over and over, ‘let my baby boy live, please God, let my baby boy live,’ yet so heartfelt.” “I guess I’d always thought prayer had to be so stiff and formal,” He continued slowly. “Well, the little guy’s breathing eased that night, and about four days later I felt he was out of danger. Sue Ella lent me her Bible – she can’t read it anyhow – and,” Neil cleared his voice sharply, “she said the least she could do for the doctor that helped save her son was help him figure out who he was really working for. So I spent the day reading in the woods. It’s not much,” Neil said with a sigh, “But…” “It’s a beginning,” I finished, tears running down my cheeks. Miss Alice dabbed her eyes as well. “Well, I do declare, Neil, thou art full of surprises. Praise God for touching you so.” She stood. “I think this deserves some special treatment.” Miss Alice went to the kitchen and rummaged in the panty. She pulled out a dusty jar. “These are special quince preserves,” she said, “Which will go lovely with – ” “But Miss Alice, we don’t have any bread.” I said sadly. “We don’t?” She said. I shook my head slowly. “Yessir we do!” Ruby Mae shouted. “I mixed some up while I was a Doc’s and he made me bring a loaf back!” “I didn’t know we’d be, ah, celebrating, though.” Neil said shyly. Ruby Mae leapt up from the table and came back with a round loaf in her hand and a bread knife. Fresh bread with quince preserves was dessert that evening. David and Alice must have noticed the change in Neil and I, especially when he asked me to take a walk with him after dessert. David abruptly excused himself from the table, saying he had to attend to Prince. The walk was a pleasant one, as Neil and I basked in our new feelings, as we finally acknowledged that we cared deeply for one another…something I found out later from Fairlight the entire cove had come to accept long ago! Neil was my heart’s companion – tatters and all – and love could mend anything!