Midnight Rescue / The Proposal / Christy's Choice (16 page)

“And for Ida, a new dress. Goodness knows you need one.”

“Oh, Mother! It's beautiful,” Ida exclaimed. “It's all shiny and blue with little stripes and bows and such,” Ruby Mae whispered to Christy.

Mrs. Grantland placed a hand on Christy's shoulder. “And for you and Ruby Mae, I brought these lovely hats.”

“For me?” Ruby Mae screeched. Christy felt the table jiggle as Ruby Mae leapt out of her chair. “You ain't havin' fun with me, are you, Mrs. Grantland?”

Mrs. Grantland laughed. “Of course not. Here. Try it on. And here's yours, Miss Huddleston.”

“Please, call me Christy.” Christy accepted the hat. She could feel the straw edges. Around the brim were what felt like little silk roses.

“They're all a-covered with these pretend flowers, Miz Christy,” Ruby Mae cried with excitement. “Sort of a pinkish color, like the sun when it's just comin' up.” She paused. “Miz Grantland, I don't know if this would be rightly proper, considerin' that you're a preacher's mama and all, but would it be all right if I gave you a hug to say thank you kindly?”

“That's all right, dear—” Mrs. Grantland began, but David interrupted.

“Sure, Ruby Mae,” he said. “Go on and give Mother a hug. Sort of an official welcome to Cutter Gap.”

Christy heard footsteps, a rustle of skirts, then a slight
ugh
as Ruby Mae squeezed Mrs. Grantland.

“Miz Christy, ain't you goin' to try yours on?” Ruby Mae asked.

Carefully Christy placed the hat on her head. “I wish you could see how purty it looks!” Ruby Mae said.

Christy pulled off the hat and set it on the floor. “Thank you, Mrs. Grantland. That was very thoughtful of you.”

“I hope it . . . I mean, if I'd known about your injury, perhaps I might have brought something more appropriate.”

“Just because she's blind don't mean Miz Christy can't wear purty things,” Ruby Mae pointed out.

“Of course not,” Mrs. Grantland said, her voice softening a little, “I only meant . . .”

She paused, rummaging around in her trunk. “Anyway, last, but not least—for David, a new suit. From Whitman's in Richmond. Remember that tailor your father always used? I do hope you haven't lost so much weight you can't wear it.”

“It's wonderful, Mother,” David said. “Very impressive. And there are fine seamstresses here in the Cove who can alter it if need be. Thank you.”

“It seems a little silly,” Mrs. Grantland said with a sigh. “You could wear overalls to give your sermon and who would notice? That suit would be much better suited to a ministry back home.”

David was silent. Miss Ida cleared her throat. “Well, now that the gift-giving is over, I suppose we should get down to work, Christy,” Miss Alice said at last. “That is, if you're feeling up to it. David and I want to go over your lesson plans. We're going to need to divide up the teaching work load. I expect we'll have to cut back quite a bit on school. Perhaps we'll shorten the school days so we can keep up with our other duties.”

Christy let the words sink in.
Divide up the teaching work load
. Giving up her teaching duties felt like giving away part of herself. She felt a decision brewing, like a bubble in a pond slowly rising to the surface.

“You know, Mother was a teacher for many years,” David said. Christy could almost
hear
the smile on his face. “Perhaps she wouldn't mind helping out a bit.”

“David!” Mrs. Grantland objected. “I simply couldn't. I haven't set foot in a classroom in years. And those were
civilized
children— well-bred, with manners.”

“What do you think about it, Christy?” David asked.

“In my experience,” Christy said thoughtfully, “children are children, no matter where you go.”

“I wouldn't hear of it,” Mrs. Grantland said. “Sorry, David. You'll just have to recruit someone else. After all, you'll need to find a permanent replacement, anyway.”

The room fell silent. The only sound was the clink of silverware as Ruby Mae finished her pie.

“I have an announcement to make,” Christy said. Even as she slowly stood, she wasn't quite sure what she was going to say. But she felt something in her heart, urging her to speak.

“There won't be any need for a new teacher,” Christy finally said. “Or for Miss Alice and David to divide up my teaching duties. I am going to continue teaching, as I always have. And I don't want any argument from anyone about this.”

“Yahoo!” Ruby Mae cried.

“And there's one other thing,” Christy added as the words rushed out. “David and I will be staying here in Cutter Gap permanently. As man and wife.”

First, Christy heard gasps.

Then she heard a sigh.

Then she heard a very loud thud.

“What was that?” she asked.

“Miz Grantland,” Ruby Mae replied. “She done took the news a little hard. She's plumb fainted straight away!”

Nine

H
ow's your mother?” Christy asked David a few minutes later.

“Miss Alice is tending to her on the couch. You'll have to forgive Mother. I told you she takes things
very
seriously.” David sat down at the dining-room table with Christy. She could hear Ruby Mae and Miss Ida in the kitchen, talking in shocked whispers.

“Apparently I've caused quite a sensation,” Christy said.

“You certainly have where I'm concerned.

I'm not going to ask you why you made this decision,” David said. “I'm only going to tell you how very glad you've made me.”

“I'll tell you, anyway,” Christy replied with a smile. “It was your sermon today. Listening to you, I realized that even if I have lost my sight forever, I can still be a teacher or a wife. I don't have to give up on my dreams. There are many ways to see. You're right about that. And now I'm going to prove it.”

David fell silent for a moment. “So I'm a sort of experiment? Is that it?”

“No, no, not at all!” Christy cried. “It's just that today, listening to your beautiful words, I realized how deep my feelings really are for you, David. You're a strong and kind and gentle man, a good man.” She smiled shyly. “And of course, you've got an awfully cute smile.”

With trembling hands, David cupped Christy's face and gently kissed her.

“Oh. Oh, my. Excuse me—” It was Miss Ida, sounding very embarrassed.

“It's all right, Ida,” David said. “Come on in. I am allowed to kiss my fiancée, aren't I?”

“Miss Ida,” Christy said, “I'm so glad that we're going to practically be sisters.”

“Welcome to the Grantland family,” Miss Ida said stiffly, and then Christy heard her march off.

“Don't worry,” David said. “She'll warm up to the idea.”

“But she knows me,” Christy said. “If Miss Ida's that set against it, how will I ever win over your mother?”

“With your incredible charm,” David teased.

“Don't hold your breath,” Christy said.

“Why did you suggest she take my place teaching, anyway? Wasn't it obvious what she'd say?”

“Wishful thinking. I suppose I was hoping that if she got to know the students, she'd see why we love it here so.”

“It's hard to imagine her having the patience to teach.”

“Actually, she was quite good at it. But after my father died, she just sort of closed herself off. I know it's hard to believe, but she used to be much more . . . tolerant.” David sighed. “I'd better go check on her. Want to come?”

“You think she can handle the strain?”

David took Christy's hand. They settled in the living room on two chairs across from the couch. “How are you feeling, Mother?” David asked.

“She'll be back to normal in no time,” Miss Alice said.

“I'll be fine, with the grace of God,” Mrs. Grantland said in a quavery voice. “No thanks to you two.”

“I'm glad you're feeling better,” Christy said.

“Miss Huddleston, my dear,” said Mrs. Grantland. “Come here.”

David helped Christy over to the couch, where Mrs. Grantland took her hand. “My dear girl, you must understand,” she said. “I have nothing against you personally. I'm sure you're a fine girl. And I'm sure you'll go far in this world, even with your . . . your problem. But David is my only son. And I have such high hopes for him. Plans, great plans. He belongs in the right place, with the right people.”

“You mean with Delia?” Christy asked with a smile.

Mrs. Grantland pulled away her hand. “As a matter of fact, I've always been very fond of Delia Manning. So refined and well-bred.

And such a beauty! But that's not all I meant.

I meant David doesn't belong here. Nor Ida.

Nor you and Miss Alice, I'll wager. You're all decent folk. This is no place for your kind.”

Someone knocked on the front door. “Come on in,” David called. He lowered his voice. “We can only pray that it's decent folk.”

The door flew open. Evening air, scented with spring flowers, cooled the room.

“Creed!” David exclaimed. “And Zach! What brings you two here?”

“We got some bad news, Preacher.”

“Try to top what I just heard,” Mrs. Grantland muttered.

“We done swum all afternoon over to the pond,” Zach said. “Fished up the rowboat finally. It's right muddy but I 'spect it'll float again.”

“I thought you said it was bad news,” David said. “That's great.”

“The bad news is we poked around every last inch o' that pond. We found two bullets, a belt buckle, and a moonshine jug. But there just ain't no sign o' that diamond ring anywheres.”

“Diamond ring?” Mrs. Grantland repeated. “What diamond ring might that be? Who in this awful place owns a diamond ring?”

“The preacher did, ma'am,” Creed answered. “He was sweetheartin' Miz Christy with it when he done dunked hisself and Miz Christy too and they—”

“Thank you for that very helpful information, Creed,” David interrupted quickly. “Now, you boys need to be heading on home before it gets dark—”

“Sweetheartin'?” Mrs. Grantland repeated slowly. Christy felt her leap off the couch. “Great-great-grandmother Grantland's wedding ring? You
lost
her ring?”

“He didn't exactly lose it on purpose,” Zach offered. “The way I hear tell, it was Miz Christy who was a-holdin' it—”

“You! YOU lost it?”

“Well, it was an accident, really—” Christy began, but she was interrupted by another loud thud.

The room went still.

“It seems,” David informed Christy, “that Mother's fainted yet again.”

“Is she dead?” Creed whispered.

“No, Creed,” Christy replied with a sigh. “Just dead set against me.”

“You think I'm completely crazy, don't you?” Christy asked Miss Alice the next morning as they walked up the steps to the school. Christy wanted to get there well before the students started arriving.

“What are you referring to?” Miss Alice said as she held open the door. “Your return to the classroom? Or your engagement to David?”

“Either. Both,” Christy said, laughing.

They stepped inside. Instantly Christy felt the warm reassuring feeling she always had when she was here.
This is where you belong
, the room seemed to say.
This is home.

Christy let go of Miss Alice's arm and began making her way toward her desk. In her mind she tried to picture the arrangement of desks and benches. The blackboard would be just over to the right. Zach's desk was just a foot or two away, and over there was the bench where Ruby Mae and Bessie Coburn and Lizette Holcombe always sat.

Slowly she navigated her way through the maze of obstacles. “See how easy it is?” she asked. “I know this room like the back of my hand.”

“You do indeed. But I think you're going to have to realize something, Christy. It's not a sin to ask for help.”

“I don't need any help,” Christy said firmly. She bumped into a long desk and realized she'd reached her destination. Lovingly she ran her fingers over the rough wood, with its carved initials and gouges.

“Everyone needs help sometimes.”

Christy put her hands on her hips. “You're the one who said I could teach again.”

“And I still think so. But I think you're going to have to do it differently.”

“I am going to be the same teacher I always was, Miss Alice.” Christy settled into her chair. “Any less would be cheating the children.”

Miss Alice was quiet for a moment. “Well, I am here, if you need me. We all are.”

“Thank you,” Christy said. “Really.”

“Are you sure you don't want someone to stay with you today? I've got a patient to tend to, but perhaps—”

“No. I want to do this myself. All by myself.”

Christy heard Miss Alice walk toward the door. Suddenly she felt very alone. “Miss Alice?” she called. “What do you think about David and me getting married?”

“I think,” Miss Alice said gently, “that only you can know what's in your heart, Christy. But when we make a commitment, a big commitment, it's important to be sure we're doing it for the right reasons.”

The right reasons? What does she mean by that?
Christy wondered.

“Why, hello there, Neil,” Miss Alice said suddenly.

Christy heard the sound of boots on the wooden steps.

“You're making a mistake, Christy,” the doctor said darkly.

“Word certainly travels fast in these parts,” Miss Alice commented. “I'll leave you two to talk.”

“A mistake?” Christy repeated as the doctor approached her desk. “You mean about teaching?”

“About teaching and a whole lot more,” the doctor barked. “You're trying to prove that nothing's changed. And you're making a mistake that could ruin the rest of your life.”