Disclaimer:  The story of Christy belongs to the
Marshall-LeSourd Family.  This fiction is written for my
own personal enjoyment.  This story uses themes from the
book and series.

Title:  Only a Matter of Time    Chapter One
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


On a glorious morning in late autumn, Neil went to see
his aunt.  "Good morning, Aunt Hattie."

"Good morning, Neil.  This is a nice surprise."

"I've come to spend the day with you."

"That is wonderful, Neil.  I've a hankering for company.
Any news from Cutter Gap?"

"Yes.  I've plenty to tell you."

"Oh good.  I'm always pleased to hear news of the Cove.
With the weather getting colder, none of the Grannies
come traipsing by.  They be fair weather friends, Neil.
They come by in the spring and the summer."  Her laughter
was melodious.  "Let's have a cup of tea.  I baked an
apple pie yesterday."

"That sounds delicious, Aunt Hattie.  I've brought you
some vegetables for your root cellar; turnips, carrots,
squash, onions and a braid of garlic to boot."

"Thank you my dear, you are too kind."

"I love you, Aunt Hattie."

"I know you do, Neil.  I am blessed to have such a
wonderful nephew."  Neil made his aunt tea, and they sat
around her table and ate pie.

"It's delicious, as usual."

"I think I used too much nutmeg.  I got distracted and
lost count when I was grating it."

"It's perfect."

"You'd say that if it tasted like spoiled possum."

"I wouldn't let you eat spoiled possum.  You might get
sick."  They laughed together.  "Well on to the news.
I had to operate on Bob Allen a few weeks ago."

"What happened?"

"He got hit on the head when a tree fell on him."

"Was it a serious injury?"

"Yes, very serious.  He could have died."

"What did you do, Neil?"

"I performed a risky operation called a trephine on Bob.
I had to drill a hole in his skull to relieve the pressure
caused by the swelling of his brain.  I am happy to say
that Bob survived the operation and is well on the road
to recovery."

"That is very good news, Neil.  Praise the Lord."

"Bob was injured on his way to El Pano.  He was supposed
to meet the new school teacher for the Mission.  Apparently
Doctor Ferrand had hired one for the Fall school term."

"Really?  What is she like?"

"Barely older than some of her students."

Hattie's interest was piqued at his tone.  "Where is
she from?"

"Asheville.  Another city girl, come to do good in the
mountains for the poor people."

"Does she look down on them as if she is superior?"

Neil hesitated slightly.  "No, she doesn't."

His voice had changed.  Now Hattie was really interested.
"Can you describe her to me, Neil?"

"She's fairly tiny, has light brown hair and blue eyes.
I expect she'll blow over in a strong wind.  I doubt she'll
last six months."

"How you do go on.  Now you know very well that I will
never see her, so to speak, so please let us do this again.
You are an observant man, Neil MacNeill.  Please describe
her to me, so that if I meet her, I will know what she
looks like in my mind."

"Very well.  She is petite.  Barely reaches my breast bone.
She has a penchant for wearing shoes with high heels to
make her look taller.  Her hair is a light brown, but
there are streaks of sunlight throughout it.  No matter
how she tries to keep her hair neat as a pin, there are
strands that stick out here and there.  Her eyes are blue."

"There are many shades of blue, Neil."

"Indeed there are, Aunt Hattie.  Hers are the deep azure
blue of a cloudless sky reflected in the clear water of
a still pond or lake.  Glorious blue."  Hattie smiled.
As he described her, his voice had softened.  He hadn't
realized it of course.  Perhaps his heart was thawing just
a little.  Under his breath he said, "She smells of roses."

Hattie knew that he did not realize that he had spoken
his innermost thoughts aloud.  "Do the children like her?"

He was startled out of his reverie, and glad that she could
not see his confusion.  "They seem to adore her for the
most part.  She has managed to irritate Bird's-Eye Taylor."

"Good for her.  You ought to warn her thorugh.  He can be
a nasty man."

"I should let them learn their lesson when they meddle
with the Cove."

"You don't really mean that.  They are doing God's work."

"They are sticking their noses where they don't belong.
There will be trouble, Aunt Hattie.  Mark my words."

"If there is trouble, Neil, you'll be there to make
things right."

"Why should I have to do it?"

"Because you came back for your people, Neil.  Many men
would have turned their backs on us.  You came home
to serve.  You scoff at religion.  Science is your god.
Neil, don't you see, God created science.  Don't answer,
just think about what I have said.  Try to educate the
new teacher.  She will need your guidance, and perhaps
your protection.  She is young, you say, which means she
is probably afraid or lonely, and she will get homesick
for her family.  Try to be kind, Neil."

"I am not a babysitter," he spluttered.

"No you are not.  I did mot mean to imply that."
She smiled a luminous smile.  "Perhaps she needs someone
stronger than that.  Is she a romantic soul?"

"I don't know."

"Perhaps you should find out."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"Aunt Hattie..."

"Neil, do I have enough firewood?"


"I'll need to chop some for you."

"We'll have venison stew for dinner.  Would you like that?"

"I'd love that, Aunt Hattie.  By the way, you are very
good at changing the subject."

"I've had a lot of practice."

"I'm sure you have."  Neil left the table and went outside.
He picked up an axe and looked at the edge.  It needed
honing before he could use it.

Inside her cabin, Hattie washed the dishes, singing
softly to herself.  Neil was falling in love again,
but had not realized it yet.  Thank you Dear Lord,  she
prayed, for letting him to allow love back into his heart.
Perhaps it would only be a matter of time before he made
the discovery.

As he cut firewood for his aunt, Neil thought about Christy
Huddleston.  He could not figure out the young woman
at all.  She was beautiful in her own way.  Margaret had
been beautiful and every bone in her body had been selfish.
Margaret was dead, buried with their son on Persimmon Hill.
With each blow of the axe Neil tried to find fault with
Christy.  She was stubborn, and impetuous, but those were
not really faults.  The children were singing her praises.
She had visited every family who had a student in school.
Perhaps she was special.  Perhaps she understood the magic
of the Cove.  One thing was certain, the Preacher had his
eye on her.  She was too young to recognize the signs.
Neil attacked the next few logs.  He wasn't blind.
Grantland desired her.  Well he'd be damned if he'd
let some citified minister from Boston steal her heart.
He attacked another log.

Inside the cabin, Hattie could hear the loudness of every
strike of the axe.  She smiled.  Perhaps in time love would
thaw her nephew's heart.  It was all she could hope and
pray for.  After all, he had sacrificed so much.  He came
home after his education and residency to repay a debt to
those doctors who had sponsored his education.  Margaret
had thought he was a rebel.  She did not understand his
deep sense of obligation.  He became a doctor to help
his people.  Margaret never accepted the friendship of
the women of Cutter Gap.  She was a snob.  She felt she
was better than the people of the Cove.  When her mother
came to minister to the Cove, she rebelled.  Fate had
intervened.  Typhoid took Margaret from them and Neil's
newborn baby son.  Such heartache.  Hattie understood
heartache.  Her faith helped her face the pain of the loss
of her family.  Neil buried himself in his work.

It was silent outside.  Neil had stopped chopping firewood.
She could hear him neatly stacking the firewood.  She move
a pail of water closer to the fire on the hearth to
warm it.  Neil would want to wash up after he'd completed
the sweaty task.

He came inside for some soap and a washcloth. "The water
is warming on the hearth, Neil."

"Why thank you, Aunt Hattie.  There is a wee nip in the
air."  He took the bucket outside and wet the wash cloth.
He unbuttoned his shirt, and then he slipped out of the
top half of his long johns.  He proceeded to wash his face
and neck, his arms, his chest, and as much of his back
as he could reach.  It felt good to wash away the sweat.
He felt refreshed.

Christy loved walking in the Cove.  She could hear
the sound of an axe in the distance.  Someone was
chopping wood.  The sound was echoing off of the hills.
Eventually she came to a rise above a holler.  There was
no sign of activity at the small cabin below her.  Just as
she was about to call out if anybody was home, Doctor
MacNeill appeared carrying a bucket.  He unbuttoned his
shirt, and then he unbuttoned the front of his undershirt,
and slipped it off.  She could see the steam rise from
his body in the cool mountian air.  She had never seen
a man's naked chest before.  He turned away and wet a
washcloth and washed his face.  Muscles rippled across
his back.  She turned away and walked down the rise.
The cool breeze feathered her face, and cooled her
blushing cheeks.  She had no right to watch a man perform
his ablutions.  She wondered who lived in the tiny cabin.
She would investigate another day.  Neil MacNeill was a
very confusing man.  One thing she knew for certain, she
would never forget the image she had just witnessed.

Neil finished washing up.  He turned to toss the water
into the remnants of Hattie's garden.  For a brief
second, he thought that he caught the scent of roses.
'Your're going daft man," he said aloud, as he scanned
the surrounding area.

 Entering the cabin, he put the bucket away.  Hattie was
 peeling vegetables for the stew.  "Neil, you never did
 tell me the new teacher's name."

"It's Miss Huddleston, Aunt Hattie."

"What's her front name?"

"Christy."

"That's a right fine name.  Christy."  She smiled.
Neil had said her name with a softness in his voice that
she hadn't heard in a very long time.  Her nephew was
intrigued by this young woman, and that filled Hattie
McCabe's heart with hope.

End of Chapter One

Disclaimer:  The story of Christy belongs to the
Marshall-LeSourd Family.  This fiction is written for my
own personal enjoyment.  This story uses themes from the
book and the series.

Title:  "Only a Matter of Time"   Chapter Two
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Cat got your tongue, Miss Huddleston?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You're a quiet one."

"Only when I have nothing to say."

"Are you angry with me?"

"No, Doctor MacNeill, why would you think that?"

"You've little to say."

"I have nothing to add to the conversation."

"Women always have something to say."

"Really?"

"In my experience, yes."

"Well in this case you are wrong, Doctor.  I have
absolutely nothing to say to you."

"This is a first."

She glared at him.  "Excuse me please, I have work to do."
She walked away, head held high, her back ramrod straight.

Jeb and Tom observed the exchange.  "Oh, he's got it bad,"
said Jeb.  "Fairlight is right."

"Do I have the right word Jeb?  Terminal?"

"Yep, Tom.  That's the word Doc used for Zeb six months
'afore he died.  Terminal.  No chance."

"Whoee, I got to tell Opal.  Doc MacNeill doesn't have
a clue."

"Nothin' worse than havin' a good looking woman ignore you.
He wrote her off as a sissified gal who wouldn't last
six months.  He's been alone for way too long."

"Yep, I agree Jeb.  His wife and baby have been dead
for years.  About time he woke up.  Too bad he's ready to
rut and she ain't in heat."

"Watch your mouth Tom.  Too many children about."

"They can sense it, Jeb."

"I know.  We just have to be patient Tom. It's like
hunting.  Or fishing."

"Yeah."

"He's hooked."

"Like a trout."

"She don't know much about fishin'."

"Not a bit."

"She's a quick study, Tom."

"Don't know when to set the hook."

"Oh Tom, she's done set the hook, even if by accident or
pure dumb luck.  She just doesn't know how to reel him
in yet.  He's hooked for sure.  Look at how he watches her.
His eyes  follow her everywhere.  He hates it when she
talks to the Preacher.  Yep, Tom.  He's got it bad."
The men laughed.  John Holcombe and Bob Allen joined them.
"How are you feelin' Bob?"

"Right as rain, Jeb."

"What's so funny?" asked John.

"We're watching Doc.  He's got it bad for Miss Christy,"
replied Jeb.

"And he's fighting it the whole long way," said Tom.

"He don't stand a chance," said Bob.

"I agree," said John.  "He sure likes them city gals."

Bogg McHone joined them.  "What's goin' on?"

"Well Uncle Bogg, we're watchin' Doc moon over Miss
Christy," said Tom.

Bogg observed Doc, and then looked over to where Christy
was standing with a group of children.   After a few
seconds Bogg said, "He don't stand a chance."

All of the men laughed.  Neil heard them and looked over.
He started to walk over to them.  "Make up a story,
Uncle Bogg.  Real quick.  Here comes Doc," said Jeb.

"What's so funny?" asked Neil.

"I was jest tellin' 'em about something stupid I did while
I was huntin' with my Pa," said Bogg.

"What was that?" asked Neil.

"Well, we was sittin' in the cold waiting for the ducks
to fly in over the water.  Nothin' was happenin'.  I was
bored, too young to understand patience.  I was cold
and hungry.  I wanted to eat breakfast.  I stood up just
a few seconds before a flock came in to view and range.
I yelled HEY DUCK, and they veered off.  My Pa boxed my
ears for being so stupid.  Never did see another duck
that mornin'.   My Pa was sure angry with me."

Neil smiled.  Jeb patted Bogg on the shoulder and winked
at him.  "Great story, Uncle Bogg.  Thanks."

"My pleasure, Jeb."

Neil stood with Jeb and Tom as the other men walked away.
Neil's focus was once again on Christy."

"She sure is a pretty little gal, ain't she," said Jeb,
testing the waters.

"Yes," said Neil without thinking.  'Damn,' he thought,
seconds later.  He'd let his guard down.

"She's been real kind to Fairlight.  She's teaching her
how to read.  Did you know that, Doc?"

"No Jeb, I didn't know that."

"Yup, said she was obliged to Fairlight, and if there
was anything she could do for her, all Fairlight had to
do was ask.  So she asked Miss Christy to teach her how
to read.  She's doin' real well and she's as happy as a
sow rollin' in mud, cause she can help the younguns with
their studies."

Neil nodded.  Since he wasn't sure what to say, he took
out his pipe and filled it with tobacco and lit it.
Jeb smiled at Tom, while the men enjoyed the quiet.
There was nothing more pleasing to married men than to
see a single man caught in the cross hairs of the shotgun
sight in the courting ritual.

'Yup,' thought Tom as he watched Doc MacNeil, ' he's got
it real bad.  Only a matter of time.'

There was a fine sense of being neighborly and feelings of
camraderie when  the community held a working.  Opal and
Fairlight watched their menfolk and Neil.  Doc's eyes were
riveted on Christy.  She was oblivious to his attention.

"Why Tom and Jeb are havin' a field day with Doc MacNeill,
Opal."  Look at their eyes just brimmin' with laughter."

"He's blind as a bat and don't see it, Fairlight.  He's too
caught up with watching Miz Christy."

"So's the Preacher."

Opal turned her gaze to David Grantland.  "Fairlight, a
storm's 'a brewin'."

"They'll be like two strong bucks with their antlers all
tangled up pushin' and shovin' each other, grunting and
groaning from the strain.  Should be a right interesting
sight to see."

Christy started to pick up a long bench to bring it
over to the table.  Neil saw what she was doing, excused
himself from Tom and Jeb, and quickly walked over to her.
David also saw what she was trying to do, but he was
trapped because Uncle Bogg was telling  him a story.
He had a helpless look on his face as he watched Neil
approach Christy.

"Let me get that for you, Miss Huddleston."

"Thank you, Doctor, but I can manage.  It is not that
heavy."

"I'm sure it's not, but nevertheless, I'll carry it for
you."  He picked it up with ease like it was a feather,
and placed it up on his shoulder.  "Now where were you
going to carry it?"

The two sisters watched and giggled.  "He's all puffed up
like a grouse or a turkey," said Opal.

"Over by the table," said Christy.  She smiled at him.
It dazzeled him.  He smiled back.  It bowled her over.
She had never really seen him smile like that before.
She stood there like a deer caught in torch light.

"After you," he said finally.

"Of course," she replied.  Her hand went to her neck.
She touched her cross.  It was a nervous gesture which he
found endearing.  It made him smile.  They began to walk
to the table.  David scowled.

 Fairlight looked at Opal.  "Looks like rutting season
 to me."

"If she smiles at him like that one more time, he's
a goner."

"Opal, he's a goner already.  I seen it in a dream.
She don't see it yet.  Doesn't know the power she has over
them yet."

"I imagine them two men will be butting heads soon enough."

"We're in for some show."

"So what do you think of the working so far, Christy?"

She was pleased that he had dropped the formal address.
"It is wonderful to see so many people working together for
a common purpose, Neil.  Why can't it always be like this?"

"Privacy issues, I suppose."

"Privacy?  Privacy does not exist here.  Why everyone
knows everyone else's business."

He laughed.  "You are correct.  Let me adjust that
statement to some semblance of privacy.  Is that better?"

"I suppose so.  I never would have thought that a barn
could be built in a day."

"The men can be very organized when they choose to be,
Christy.  Every man knows how to do the job."

"You wield a mean hammer, Neil."

He smiled, extremely pleased with her statement.
"I thought you'd be watching the Preacher."

"I can watch him hammer every day.  There is always
something to build or repair at the Mission.  You're the
exception."

"Exception or exceptional?"

"Looking for a compliment?"

"Not me."

She smiled.  He was struck dumb.

"He's got it bad, Tom."

"Should we rescue him?"

"No, let's watch him squirm."

"Preacher's madder than a wet hornets nest."

"Bogg must be spinnin' some yarn.  He loves a captive
audience."  They both laughed.

Fairlight looked at Opal.  "Just take a looksee at our
menfolk.  They sure are enjoying this."

"Should we interrupt Doc and Miz Christy?"

"Nah, let him twitch a bit longer.  He don't realize he's
been struck by lightning.  He'll be sizzlin' real soon.
I sure am enjoying this myself, Opal.  Why it's even
better than ice cream."  The two sisters laughed as they
continured to put food out for their menfolk.

"I'd better get back to help the ladies, Neil."

"Christy?"

"Yes?"

"Save a piece of Fairlight's sweet potato pie for me,
please?"

"As you wish, Neil, since you asked so nicely."
She smiled.

He was lost.  Like a fish out of water.  Fairlight watched
him with delight.  It was only a matter of time until he
realized he loved Miss Christy.


End of Chapter Two

Disclaimer:  The story of Christy belongs to the
Marshall-LeSourd Family.  This fiction is written for my
own personal enjoyment.  This story uses themes from the
book and the series.

Title:  "Only a Matter of Time"  Chapter Three
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Old Mudhole was a dicey place to navigate during
certain times of the year.  Spring could be especially
bad with the melt and run off from the mountain peaks.
Like her students, Christy had suffered from cabin fever
during the winter.  She was thrilled when classes resumed.
The children were eager to learn and she was happy to
teach them.

As the weeks progressed, the sun warmed the mountains.
Soon the ridges and hollers were a mass of color with
plants and wild flowers in bloom.  One day in the late
Spring the weather was glorious and sunny.  There was not
a cloud in the sky.  Everyone had a touch of Spring Fever,
including Christy.

"Teacher, can we take one of them nature walks you been
talking about all the time?" asked Sam Houston.  "It be
a right fine day for one, I reckon."

"That sounds like a fine idea to me, Sam Houston.  We'll go
right after our lunch break."  The children cheered.

After they'd eaten, they walked down the hill into the
meadow and followed the path into the line of trees.
It was a beautiful afternoon.  Christy was pleased with
the decision for the impromptu walk.  As they traversed
the path, the children pointed out wild flower names.
She marveled at their knowledge.  Hearing names like
toothwart, dutchman's britches, bloodroot, bellwort,
trillium, violets and wild geranium.  It made her smile.
She turned to the group and asked them if they knew
that violets could be candied and then used to decorate
birthday cakes.  She began walking backwards as she
continued to talk.

"What's a birthday cake, Teacher?" asked Mountie.

Christy was speechless for a minute, realizing that these
children had never celebrated their birthdays the way
she had in Asheville.  "It's a special cake, Mountie.
Some people have them on their birthdays."

"Teacher," said Creed Allen.

"Creed, please do not interrupt me when I am talking.
Now Mountie as I was saying....."

"But Teacher!"

"Creed, please!"

"Okay, but I tried."

With that Christy stumbled backward and landed in the
squishy-squashy, squooshy, ooey, gooey Mud Hole.  It was
almost two feet deep and she was sitting in the middle of
the rut.  Her hands were at her sides, covered in cold,
wet, thick, unpleasant mud.  Mud was splattered in her hair
and on her face.  She could not touch anything because her
hands were filthy.  Her nose began to itch. The children
were  shocked and speechless.  No one moved or said a word.
Creed Allen shrugged his shoulders and bore a look that
said I TRIED TO WARN YOU, TEACHER.

She could not stand up to save her life.  Never had she
been in a more embarrassing position.  She was in just
far enough that the children could not reach her without
stepping into the mud, which she would not allow.

Then she heard a pleasant male voice, singing a highland
ballad as he approached the children.  "It's Doc MacNeill,"
said Sam Houston excitedly.  "He can help you Teacher."
Her humiliation was complete.  She hung her head, and
began to laugh.  It was actually closer to hysterical
crying, but the children did not know that.  The tension
was broken and the children began to giggle and relax.

When Neil saw Christy in the mud his heart went out to her.
He climbed off Charlie and  walked over to the group.
"Good afternoon, children."

"Hidy Doc."

"Howdy Doc"

"Miss Huddleston."

"Doctor MacNeill," she said quietly.

"Allow me to assist you."

"Thank you," she said in a dignified whisper.

"Accidents happen, children, even to grown-ups.  I would
imagine that school is over for the day.  Rob, Ruby Mae,
run up to the Mission and have Miss Ida prepare a bath
for Miss Christy.  She needs to be cleaned of this mud."
The children dispersed, although some turned around to
see how he would rescue her.

He walked into the mud, bent down and scooped her up.
The sound was like a swoosh and a squish as the mud slowly
released its hold on her.  "Neil you're getting covered
in mud."

"I didn't want you to be the only one dressed in mud.
People pay dearly for  mud baths at spas in Europe, you
know.  I would venture to say you really don't need one,
since you are beautiful enough.  She looked at him to see
if he was laughing at her.  She realized he was serious,
so she smiled at his  compliment.  His fate was sealed
at that moment, and so was hers, but she did not realize
it then.  Even covered in mud, she was so beautiful to him.
"Christy, we'll be taking a slight detour.  The water will
be very cold, but we need to get the bulk of this mud off
of you."  She understood what he was saying, and dreaded
what was ahead.  She could hear the waterfall before it
came into view.  "Do you trust me, Christy?"

"Yes."

He waded into the pool of water at the base.  There was
a small offshoot of water cascading down like a shower.
He walked into it and they were both drenched by the water.
The mud was partially removed from her clothes.  Her face
and hands were cleaned by the cascade.  She was shivering
by the time they reached Charlie.  He took off her jacket
and wrapped her in his extra flannel shirt from his
saddle bag.  He took the blanket from behind the saddle
and wrapped her in it.  He then picked her up and placed
her on Charlie.  He got up behind her and galloped back
to the Mission.

Miss Ida and Alice were waiting for them.  Ruby Mae
had regaled them of Miz Christy's fall in the deep mud.
Neil always carried a change of clothing.  His boots were
wet and would need to dry by the fire.  He stuffed them
with old newspaper to keep them from shrinking.

When Christy was bathed and dressed, Neil laced a
cup of tea with some moonshine and made her drink it.
She turned her nose up at the taste, but she drank it.
The tea warmed her insides and the 'shine brought a rosy
blush to her cheeks.

Fairlight stopped by to see how Christy was feeling.
The children had told her what happened.  They were
all sitting in the parlor when she arrived.  Neil was
sitting in a chair.  His boots were drying by the fire.
He had a wool blanket around his shoulders covering his
union suit.  He was wearing dry pants and wool socks.
His extra shirt was wet, since he had wrapped Christy
in it.  Fairlight noticed that he could not take his eyes
off Christy.  Fairlight thought she looked as clean and
bright as a penny.

"Mrs. Spencer, what a pleasant surprise to see thee," said
Miss Alice.

"I just wanted to make sure that Miss Christy is all right.
The children are worried."

"I'm fine.  Thank you Fairlight.  You can assure the
children that I will see them tomorrow in class.  Creed
tried to warn me, but I scolded him for interrupting me.
This will teach me not to walk backwards in the Cove,"
she said smiling.

Everyone laughed.  "I brought a pie," said Fairlight.

"For medicinal purposes only, Fairlight?" Neil asked.
The laughter continued.

She stared at him dead on with a look he had known and
loved all of his life.  "Doc, you know there are SOME
things that have no cure."  She grinned at Christy and then
looked at him again.  She smiled with that special look.

'She knows,' Neil thought, 'and my fate is sealed.'
He looked at his beloved Christy, who was oblivious to
the exchange.

'I knew it.  I just knew he loved her,' thought Fairlight.
"I'd best be getting back."

"Thank you Fairlight."

"You're most kindly welcome, Miss Christy."  She'd stop
by Opal's on the way home to tell her that Doc finally
realized that he loved Miss Christy.  "After all," she said
aloud as she walked to her sister's place, "it was only
a matter of time.  Bless you Miss Christy, for letting
him love again.  We'll help you open your eyes, so that
you'll see  how much you love him already.  It's only a
matter of time before Cutter Gap sees another wedding."

End of Chapter Three

Disclaimer:  The story of Christy belongs to the
Marshall-LeSourd Family.  This fiction is written for my
own personal enjoyment.  This story uses themes from the
book and the CBS series.

Title:  "Only a Matter of Time"  Chapter Four
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A few weeks later,
another working was taking place near the Holcombe's.
In the late afternoon, a heated discussion broke out
between David and Neil.  "She's mine, MacNeill, and you
can't have her."

"I'm sure she would be very happy to hear you speak of
her like she is a possession of yours.  I'm a widower,
Grantland.  My wife and son buried on Persimmon Hill."

"She loves me, MacNeill."

"So you keep saying.  I've yet to hear it from her lips.
I think that you are hallucinating, Grantland.  You would
like to believe that she worships the ground you walk on."

"You think that the world revolves around you.
It doesn't."

"Only a fool would make a statement like that, Preacher.
I guess now we know for sure what I have suspected for a
very long time."

"What is going on?" asked Christy, drawn by the shouting,
realizing that these two men were arguing about her.
"We have to stop this right now, Fairlight."

"Now Miss Christy, we can't.  This is a man thing."

"What do you mean?"

"They are like two bucks going at each other."

"Why are they doing this?"

"They both love you, honey," said Fairlight, with kindness
and compassion in her eyes.  Christy gasped.  "It ain't
so bad havin' two men fight over you."

"What brought this on?"


"Someone laced the lemonade with moonshine as a prank.
All the men have been affected.  They've been drinkin' it
all afternoon.  It's a good thing they built the bridge
before they started sipping."

"Fairlight, this is not amusing."

"Miss Christy, two men who love you, have let their
guard down, and are telling each other why they love you.
Listen to what they are saying.  Right now all the men
are vulnerable.  All the women are listening.  Men rarely
show their emotions and let us know how they truly feel
about us."

Christy watched Neil and David.  She felt as if she were
watching lawn tennis.  She hated lawn tennis.  David was
professing how much Christy loved him because he was a
man of the cloth.  He was pontificating about his family
ancestry.  Neil had done a lesson for the children on
their Scottish ancestors.  He had instilled a burning fire
of pride in all of the children.  David on the other hand
seemed to be telling Neil that his lineage was far nobler
than a Scottish clan from Barra.

What was David trying to do, she wondered.  Neil was
a doctor, a healer, who had sacrificed a lucrative
career in a modern hospital to come home and fulfill an
obligation to be a doctor to his people.  Christy felt as
if the blinders had finally been removed from  her eyes.
As David shouted veiled insults at Neil, Neil countered
with simple facts about country living.  Neil was rooted to
these mountains, David was not.  Christy finally understood
her fascination with Neil.  The mountains had her falling
under their spell.  Her heart belonged to Neil forever.

"Fairlight, I don't want them to them to physically injure
themselves.  I have to put a stop to this.  Will you
help me?"

"I will help thee, Christy.  Does thee have a plan?" said
a voice from behind her.

"Yes, Miss Alice.  I need two buckets filled with water
from the creek."

"That is an excellent plan."

After the buckets were filled, the two women stood
at the outside edge of the verbal shooting match.
"I will take David, thee can take Neil.  On the count
of three....One...Two...Three," and the contents of the
buckets met the intended targets.  Both men turned to
face their attackers.  Alice and Christy stood firm, their
arms folded, as they glared at the two men.  The silence
was deafening.  Neil saw the humor of the situation.
His eyes twinkled at Christy.

"Miss Huddleston, let me commend you.  Your aim is much
improved.  He dried his face on his sleeve."

"Thank you, Doctor MacNeill, for the compliment."

"Ladies, if you will excuse me, I will take my leave
of you."  He nodded to them and to Fairlight.  He looked
at David.  "Reverend."  Neil walked towards Charlie and
the two headed back to his cabin.  When he was a safe
distance away, Neil roared with gusto, as he pictured
Christy standing there with her empty bucket.  She was
a classic.  But more importantly, she was his woman.
He knew it the minute he'd turned after being soaked.
She could not hide the glimmer of joy in her eyes, those
glorious blue eyes.  His heart swelled with love.  Now was
the time to make the telephone call to William Huddleston.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Why do you stare at
me, Neil?

"Whatever do you mean?"

"I feel your eyes are watching me all the time."

"Miss Huddleston, I have better things to do than to watch
your every movement."

"You don't have to sound so insulting, Doctor MacNeill!
It just seems that every time I look up and see you,
you seem to be watching me.  If I am wrong, I apologize.
I just find your actions unnerving."

"Why?"

"I am not used to being stared at."

"I find that hard to believe."

"I beg your pardon?"

"You are so lovely.  I fail to see that any red blooded
male would not look at you."

"I beg your pardon!"

"I am not insulting you, silly Lass.  I am complimenting
you.  Don't you understand?  When you walk into a room
men stare at you because you are so beautiful."

"I am not.  I am too short."

"Christy, stature has nothing to do with it.  You have a
beautiful face, a lively spirit, and a heart full of love
and compassion.  You are a beautiful human being, and I
love you for being so."

"You love me?"

"I guess I let the cat out of the bag."

"I need to sit down."

"Do you feel faint?"

"No, I am just surprised at your declaration.  Why do you
love me, Neil?"

"What do you mean?"

"My question is simple enough.  Why do you love me?
What makes me so special to garner your attention?"

"You want me to tell you why I love you?"

"Yes please.  I am curious."

"I love you because you have twenty-eight freckles on your
nose and face if you stay out in the sun without wearing
a hat."

"You are joking."

"I never lie.  I am a doctor and a scientist.  I am
analytical."

"You expect me to believe that you spent the time to count
my freckles?"

"Only the ones on your face on a particularly sunny day,
when you were not wearing a hat."

"What day was that?"

"I would have to re-read my journal."

"What journal?"

"Christy, I keep a detailed medical journal for every day.
Annual records are extremely important."

"You pay attention to my freckles?"

"If for some reason they attract my attention, and I do
believe on that particular day they did, then I do."

"You can recollect that you remember when you counted my
freckles, but you cannot tell me the day until you refer
to your journal?"  She smiled at him.  "You are pulling
my leg, Neil, and you know it.  You can remember the day
perfectly.  I can see it in you eyes.  Are you trying to
fool me or spare me?  Please be honest."

"Spare you."

"When?"

"The day you fell into the mud.  I will never forget that
day as long as I live."

"Neither will I."

"You sat there in that mud with such dignity and poise.
I knew that you were embarrassed  when the children
called out that I was approaching the group.  You had
to be so uncomfortable and yet you were so beautiful
to me.  I loved you then.  That was when I knew my fate
was sealed.  I would love you for the rest of my life.
I could only hope and pray that you would return my love
one day.  I counted your freckles as I held you in my arms.
I thought that you had twenty-five, but three were covered
by mud spatters."

She kissed him.  "I do love you so."

"I know."  He smiled and kissed her again.  "I've spoken
with your father."

"I know."

"You do?"

"Yes, I got Mother's letter yesterday.  She mentioned that
you had telephoned Father.  That was all she said, so I
had my suspicions."

"Do you have any objections, Lass?"

"No, no objections."

"I am relieved to hear it, Christy."  She smiled and he
was lost in the beauty of it.  "Our life together will me
an interesting one, full of surprises I hope."

"I am counting on that, Neil."

"I suppose we should begin planning a wedding."

"You missed a step, I think."

"I did?"

"Yes."

"A minor detail, I'm afraid.  I think that you may have
forgotten to propose to me."

"Oh."  He looked embarrassed.  "Christy, I love you to
distraction, Lass.  Cutter Gap isn't Asheville.  I can
promise to love you and cherish you all the days of
my life.  Christy, will you marry me?"

She looked at him intently.  "Please sit next to me,
Neil."  He did as she requested.  "Neil, I love you with
every fiber of my being.  I will accept your proposal.
I want to be your wife and mother to our children."
She grinned. "Yes, Neil.  Yes.  Yes.  Yes."

"I just love a woman who knows her own mind."

"I am glad to hear that, Neil MacNeill, for I am
opinionated."

"As well I know it."

"You don't mind."

"I've told you before, Lass, I like spirit and fire in
a woman."

"I hope you don't get too scorched."

"I'll rise like a phoenix then, from the ashes."

"Neil do you have any idea what you are getting yourself
into with me?"

"I am going to marry my Bonnie Lass, Christy."

"Till death do us part," she said.

"Till death do us part," he said.

Then they kissed, and sealed their future together.

 The End