William Huddleston was not pleased with the worn, defeated look on Christy's face. She was his 'little miss' and a wonderful young woman. To see her once sparkling eyes reflect such pain angered and hurt him. She looked like Life had already beaten her into the ground at the ripe age of twenty years old.
William watched her as she unenthusiastically gazed at the familiar scenery of Asheville flowing by without the energy she once so abundantly possessed. She still possessed it, he was certain. But something had sunk her deep into depression. She had withheld her feelings while in Cutter Gap, he could tell. William was confident in getting his daughter to talk to him.
Christy knew her younger brother of seventeen was trying to cheer her but the laughter and smiles just would not come. Now that she was away from Cutter Gap she felt so out of place, so alone. There was no Neil, no David, no Miss Alice, no Fairlight, no Ruby Mae. There was no one she was really familiar with to turn to. How could her family seem so foreign? It was almost like stepping into an alien family.
George looked at his older sister. He had always admired her for her sweetness, kind heart, and tenacity. He admired the latter still, despite its capability of not only getting under his skin but in his blood when Christy fought for something she believed in. It was either a wonderful thing or a horrible thing. Usually it was a good thing when none of them had the commitment nor desire to fight themselves. Like one Thanksgiving she wanted to donate to the poor. Her mother denied her the money so Christy went out and worked a job so she could help the less fortunate people eat wealthier on Thanksgiving. George had often wondered what he would be like if he had her compassion, her love, her trust, and her vision. He would certainly not be the lightly sarcastic young man, living only for baseball and girls.
Christy was not concentrating on George, her father, or her mother. While she might be happy to be home all she wanted to do was set things back the way they use to be in Cutter Gap. That was what she focused her energy on.
Maybe it's time to redirect my energies, Christy mused.
Christy felt little relief at being at the home where she grew up. It seemed to put in her mind how much she was going to miss Cutter Gap for the three weeks she would be in Asheville. Her room only served as a reminder to her room at the mission house. Christy felt homesick. And she was where she called 'home' for nineteen years. It took five minutes in her parents' house to know where her heart and home were.
Cutter Gap.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"She's here, isn't she?"
Neil looked at Margaret. He had just stepped inside Margaret's hospital room and she already knew.
"Christy, the teacher," Margaret expanded when he did not answer. "Miss Huddleston."
"And a good day to yoo, too, Margaret," Neil said sarcastically. Margaret loved how her name rolled off his tongue but put the thought aside as she looked away. "I didna mean to sound rude," Neil said with a more gentle tone.
Margaret turned back to him. "So is she here?"
Neil took that as she accepted his apology. Neil was a different man. He felt a change in his heart for the past several months. He wondered what the change was but welcomed the peace without an explanation. "Aye," he said softly. "She arrived on the train a few minutes ago."
"Does she know you're here?" Margaret asked tensely. She hated that teacher being in Asheville. Margaret wanted Mac's undivided attention for once. It was medicine the first few years. Now it was another woman he had already fallen for. She doggedly fought off the feelings of low worth. Margaret knew Mac thought her dead when he pursued a friendship, or perhaps more, with Christy Huddleston. He had been extremely charitable to his 'wife', all things considered. Margaret figured it must be a certain young woman influencing him.
Mac shook his head, his boyishly curled locks scattering about his forehead. "Nay," he replied. "I didna show maself."
Margaret relaxed some at this news. Did it mean he did not want Miss Huddleston to know they were in Asheville? She had to wonder. But she already knew there was no chance of winning back his heart, if she had ever really held it in the first place.
"I've a meeting with tha judge tomoorrow," Neil informed her, his brogue interfering with perfect English. Margaret had always loved his accent and inwardly sighed with disappointment he looked on her as little more than a patient he was familiar with.
"Good," Margaret said quietly.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Christy pushed her food around on her plate. She had attempted at hiding her glum feelings since she arrived that afternoon but failed miserably, and she knew it. Her father had seen straight through her. As had her brother and mother. But it was her father she was most concerned about. He was still weak. She did not want him to worry about her.
Looking at William Huddleston, Christy was reminded of the main reason she had had to get away from Cutter Gap for a while. Dr.MacNeill. He had rescued her father from a life of invalidism. She was forever indebted to the doctor for what he did for him. She wondered where he was and how he was doing.
"Girlie?"
Christy looked up, startled. Her father was looking at her with affection and worry. "Yes, Daddy?" Christy asked calmly, letting out a small breath after he broke her reverie.
"You haven't touched a bite on your plate," he said, concerned.
"Is everything all right?" asked Mother worriedly.
Christy nodded and made herself eat a bite to prove it to them. Perhaps to herself as well. "I'm fine," Christy said. She did not sound very persuasive, even to her own ears. George, of course, was too busy to notice too much about his sister. He was a sensitive young man when he needed to be but only then.
"George, why don't you take Christy to see John MacMaster?" suggested William Huddleston, hoping to get his daughter's mind off whatever was troubling her. He guessed it had something to do with Cutter Gap. She had said she needed to get away for a while but had been very vague.
"Now?" George asked.
"Of course not," replied William. "I meant tomorrow morning. So she can get out of the house and reacquaint herself with your friends again."
"A splendid idea," Julia agreed. She did not understand her husband's motive behind releasing their daughter but thought of her own. John MacMaster was an eligible young man a few years older than Christy. It would be good for her to socialize again. "He would love to see you again, Christy, especially in his present state."
Christy had an idea about her mother's motive but not her father's. He had always been against setting Christy up with young men. Did he, perhaps, agree with Mrs.Huddleston? She hoped not. This was the worst time in the world to try setting her up. "What present state?" Christy inquired, somewhat curious. She had known John for years.
"Broke his leg," George said unceremoniously. "He was running to home plate and slid in. He was intercepted and let's just say it did *not* feel good."
Christy was slightly amused with George's insensitive tone. He did not care in the least how much it hurt to have one's leg broken. "Is he OK?" Christy asked, still not capable of a smile.
"Sure," George replied like she was stupid for asking.
"George," William admonished quietly, also humored by his son.
George understood he should care more but could not find it in him when John MacMaster had been stealing every bit of attention he could for a broken leg. He hated pity solicitors.
"We'll go to the hospital first thing tomorrow morning then," George agreed.
"I have a short case tomorrow," said William Huddleston. "We'll go to the courthouse tomorrow after I pick you up from the hospital. I know George will talk your ear off so I will tell him now *not to*." William directed the last two words pointedly at his son, who put up his hands in either surrender or defense, it was unclear. "Then we'll get some lunch at your favorite cafe and catch up."
Fun, Christy thought. The hospital and courthouse. Well, lunch with her father sounded nice enough. But he would probably want to know what was bothering her. Christy did not want to tell them. How could she tell him she was in love with a married man? She could not. Christy thought she had inwardly sighed until her own breath escaped her lungs and her ears heard it. Her family looked at her oddly. She forced a flimsy smile and continued pushing her food around.