While Miss Alice and her daughter retired the moment they arrived, David and I remained up. I wanted to talk to him. It was obvious he had matured years since I last saw him that afternoon in my bedroom. I wanted to ask David about that.
David and I sat on the tall staircase leading to the porch and listened as Margaret shifted around upstairs. She was getting ready for bed, I guessed. She had the room next to mine so she would not have to go far if she needed someone. And Alice's cabin was too small for Margaret. I was certain they also realized their relationship was too fragile for them to be pushed on each other at all hours like it had been before.
Everything settled down shortly. It was a crisp early September night. I slapped at a bug, the noise of my palm against my skin breaking the quiet. I had eaten bread and cheese as a replacement for dinner. Ruby Mae was still with Bessie Coburn but would be returning tomorrow. So this was our most peaceful time so far until she came back. I had missed her so much. It seemed like a lifetime ago I had left. So much had changed.
"You look tired, Christy," Reverend Grantland said. His voice was the same that he had with some of the children. It was a tender, friendly tone. I had always wanted to hear him use that tone with me. And now I finally heard it. There were no strings attached to that tone. He was concerned and caring and fitting easily into the role of my friend and reverend.
"I am," I admitted, knowing it would be useless to try and deny it. "My sleep has been lacking."
"Margaret seems wonderful," David commented.
I smiled and turned to him. "The work of God in her life and in her heart."
"And how does she physically feel?" inquired David.
"Dr. MacNeill and Dr. Johannsen both think the best thing for her is the fresh mountain air," I said. "But they would not disclose much more. But she seems much better. Tired but not as she was before. She has a will to live. It's miraculous, David."
"It certainly is," he agreed thoughtfully.
"You seem content, David," I added, warranting his gaze on me. "So different."
"I am," Grantland said. I settled in to listen.
David had returned to Cutter Gap alone and hurt. His despondent state held him back for the first two days, he said. But he became angry and yelled at God. Guilt and remorse had overcome him and he had begged for forgiveness. "Warmth spread through me," David said. "Like a cool fire. It was the most inspiring feeling. I couldn't even begin to describe it. I felt my pride break loose and I let myself go. Right then and there on the mountain, I let everything out."
Experiencing every emotion possible, David had wept, yelled, prayed, pondered, and cried out to God in his pain and loneliness. He had been overwhelmed by the feeling of love that enveloped him as he had wept. It took days of meditation and prayer and weeping before David came to grips with his life. His mother had chosen it for him. She had not chosen his life in faith but she had chosen the correct one. He had realized this as he felt God's love flow through him.
"I left that mountain, having not eaten in two days but not the least bit hungry," David said as he wrapped up his storytelling. Words were insufficient but he had attempted to capture the power of his epiphanies. But I was awed just the same. "I went to the O'Teales'." I looked at him in surprise and he nodded. "Yes, I know. I have no idea what led me there, either. But I went. And I spent the day repairing the house and cleaning. God worked through me, Christy. The house looks normal. The leaks are fixed and it will be much warmer this winter. And those children. Let me tell you about them, my friend."
That was what we were. Friends. And good friends, I could tell we were going to be. As we talked through the evening until one in the morning, I eagerly anticipated the day when I would be able to hug David and kiss his cheek without a thought of reproach. I felt it would be soon.
"Miz Christy!"
The shriek came from the kitchen as soon as I stepped in. Before I knew what happened, the young girl of fifteen with wildly unruly red hair pummeled into me. I was knocked back a step as Miss Alice and David tried to reprimand her. But I laughed, stopping all attempts at rebukes. I hugged the girl without regard to propriety. Oh, it was wonderful to be back!
"Miz Christy, we shorely missed ye," Ruby Mae began. "Ain't nothing t' do 'round here 'thout ye. I was just plumb goin' crazy! I mean, me and Bessie got lots t' do but--" She took in a gasp of breath as she realized something. "Lordy, Miz Christy, I gots a buncha things t' tell ye."
"Ruby Mae, child, perhaps Miss Christy can hear thee later," Miss Alice suggested, requiring a smile from me. "Thee has much to do today, don't you, child?"
"Yes," I agreed. "But you can help Miss Margaret and I, won't you?" I asked, turning my gaze back to the energetic redhead. The wild curls flew crazily as she nodded briskly.
"Yessum, Miz Christy, yessum, I holp ye," Ruby Mae said. "And I won't int'rrupt none, neither. I just be quiet as a mouse. Won't say nothin'."
Of course, Ruby Mae went on for quite some time about how she was going to say nothing. I exchanged an amused glance with the three other older ones. It was an endearing habit of Ruby Mae's to chatter constantly about how quiet she would be. Though after a few months it became somewhat less endearing. This morning, I would be able to be endeared to someone by just about anything.
Dan Scott walked in and was greeted warmly. In everything, I had forgotten about Dr. MacNeill's medical student. He was out of my mind but not out of my heart. While we had all been in Asheville, the Cove had all formed together to get his cabin built.
And now I was finding he was marrying! Cecile would be here in a few weeks. Dan would go marry her in their community with all their friends and they would part after a week, he informed us. The new teacher for Kentucky was delayed by a lengthy family crisis so Cecile would be sticking around until she could come.
Oddly enough, I found that Cecile did not want to teach. Not yet. She did not want to infuriate the people of the Cove by being married and being a teacher. I remembered that tradition did not allow a married woman to work. Dan said he had tried to persuade her not to, and I confirmed that I would like to have her work with me and Margaret. Just imagine what great attention the students could get with three teachers! But she did want to until they were more used to her, and her more used to them. It made sense but I still regretted it.
Margaret and I headed to the schoolhouse, Ruby Mae turning down the invitation reluctantly to go off with Rob Allen. I smiled. "Rob Allen and Ruby Mae have reconciled," I said. "And I'm glad. They're a happy pair."
"Ruby Mae seems happy, with or without Rob Allen," noted Margaret.
I laughed and nodded. "She is," I said.
"She was the same the last time when I stayed at the mission," Margaret said, looking around the schoolroom in absolute awe. "This is a beautiful school."
"You have never seen it?" I asked in surprise. I thought she had at least seen it.
Margaret shook her head. "Not when I have been looking. And not when it's set up for school."
"We have a lot more setting up to do," I warned her.
Margaret Henderson turned to me and revealed a smile. I could tell she was fatigued but not about to admit to anything. "Then let's get busy."
For hours, all day in actuality, I worked with Margaret. Side-by-side, once competitors and nemesis's, we turned it back into the schoolroom with decorations and such. It took half the time as usual and then we began on the lesson planning. That also took half the time. Margaret suggested I take the little children for their lessons and the older children since I had more education than her. She would work with the middle aged children, answering questions for all the students -- etcetera.
"Just anything," Margaret said.
Whatever her job was, I was overjoyed to have Margaret working with me. Not only was she a friend but she was efficient and eager. I could hardly wait for school to start.