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A Missing Piece

By Bethany

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Disclaimer:  The story of Christy is owned the Marshall-LeSourd Family.  I am in no way seeking profit or credit for her story. This fiction is written for our own amusement only. This story uses themes from the book, CBS series and the PAX movies.

 

This story takes place after “Second Sight” and before “The Road Home” in the CBS series.

 

January 2, 1913

“Right…there.”  Neil said as he placed Mountie’s two fingers on Little Burl’s wrist.  “You feel that?”  Mountie shook her head enthusiastically.

 

Neil looked up and Christy and smiled.  Last week she had asked him to come teach the children another science lesson, and he had spent the last few days coming up with one.

 

“That’s his pulse.  That’s how we feel to see if his heart’s still beating or not.”  Neil explained to the little girl. 

 

“Why don’t ya just feel his thar chest?  Tha’s where his heart is, ya know Doc.”  Creed asked loudly from the back of the room.

 

Neil started to answer his question, but Christy shot him a look. 

 

“Creed, you know we don’t call out in this classroom.  If you have a question, please raise your hand, and either Dr. MacNeill or I will call on you.”

 

“Yessum.”  He raised his hand.

 

“That’s better Creed, thank you.  Now, what was your question for Dr. MacNeill?”

 

“I’s asked him why don’t he feel his heartbeat through his chest?  His heart ain’t in his wrist after all.”

 

“Well, Creed, you can feel a person’s pulse better if you feel it in their wrists.”  “You see this vein here, boys and girls?”  He stood up and pointed to the blue vein running up the middle of his wrist.  “This vein is connected right to your heart.  And your fingertips are very sensitive, so they can pick up even the faintest beat better than your whole hand can.  That’s why we try to listen to someone’s heart through their wrist.”

 

Creed shook his head, still looking confused, but he decided to let it go.  He set about putting together the puzzle of the human body that Neil had brought with him. 

 

“Now, who wants to see what nasty things grow on your tongue?!” Neil asked a few minutes later.  He had just finished covering the windows with old pieces of paper to make the microscope slides easier to see.  Forty little hands shot up, some from the same person.  Creed, nearly knocking the puzzle aside, threw both hands up in the air and waved them frantically.

 

Neil chuckled to himself.  “All right Creed, come on up.”  When Creed had scrambled up to the front of the room, Neil instructed him to stick out his tongue.  Neil took a tiny piece of flattened wood and scraped some of the cells from his tongue, put it on a piece of glass, and then put the slide under the microscope.  “Come on up children, let’s see what lives in Creed’s mouth!”

 

One by one the children gasped and shrieked at the sight of Creed’s “coodies”.  As soon as all the children had finished looking and returned to their seats, Neil was about to ask who else wanted to see the cells on their tongues when he heard a tiny gasp in the back of the room.

 

He saw Christy standing in the back of the room peering behind a piece of paper taped over the window on the door.  Before she could say a word, he dashed to her side.

 

“What’s wrong Lass?”

 

She turned to him to find his eyes filled with concern.

 

She laughed slightly.  “Oh, no, Neil, I’m ok.  I just looked out the window…  and LOOK boys and girls!”  She ripped the paper away from the window, revealing huge snowflakes falling rapidly from the sky.  With all the windows covered up, none of them had noticed the approaching clouds.  “I guess I should let you go home before it gets too bad.  What do you think?  Do you mind getting out of school a few hours early?” Christy asked knowing full well the answer.

 

Everyone shook their head vehemently to a chorus of “No’ums” and “reckon we could handle that’s.”

 

She smiled.  “Well then, I guess I will see you on Monday then, if the snow isn’t too deep.  If the snow comes up past your thighs, I don’t want you coming to school, all right?”  She didn’t want them to lose most of their energy trudging to school only to have to do it again at the end of the day.  School might have to be canceled for a few days, but she was sure they all could use the break.

 

“Have a good weekend boys and girls, and I’ll see you in a few days!”  Christy shouted as the children clamored out of the school.  Creed lingered behind for a few moments watching Christy as she helped Neil clean up his supplies and then dashed outside with everyone else.  Christy was about to put the microscope back in Neil’s bag when she heard someone cry out outside.

 

Christy rushed to the schoolhouse steps to see Creed sprawled on the ground. 

 

“Creed!  Are you all right?”

 

“Oh, yessum, right as rain.  I just slipped on the wet step is all,” he said, as he stood up and brushed himself off.  “Wait up Rob!  Goodbye Miz Christy.”  He turned and tried to walk away, only to find his ankle give way beneath him.  He sat on the ground and looked up at Christy pitifully.  “Guess I ain’t so good.”

 

Christy motioned for Rob, who was standing a few yards away, to come back.  “Rob, would you tell your parents that Creed is going to stay at the Mission with us?  He hurt his ankle, and since Dr. MacNeill is here already, we might as well just let Creed stay here until he’s better.  Could you do that for me?”

 

“Surely Miz Christy.  But I could take Creed home on ma back, ya know.  It won’t be no problem.” 

 

“Thank you Rob, but I’d feel better knowing Dr. MacNeill had looked at Creed’s ankle.  Thank you just the same though.”

 

Rob nodded and then crouched down to Creed’s level.  “You be good now.  I don’t want Miz Christy tellin me any trouble you got in while yer here.  Ya hear me?”

 

“Why, I ain’t a troublemaker!” Creed protested.  Rob ruffled his brother’s hair and stood up.

 

“You take care Miz Christy.  And good luck with this one.”  He gestured to Creed, as Creed stuck out his tongue.

 

Rob laughed and dashed off, pulling his coat up over his head to shield himself from the snow as he ran. 

 

“Well Creed, looks like you’re going to be staying with us for a few days.”  She hoped Miss Alice wouldn’t mind her not asking permission, but she figured under these circumstances it was OK.

 

Christy called for Neil, who had been inside packing up his things.  He came out and picked young Creed up.  She explained the situation to him, and asked if he could look Creed over at the Mission.  He shook his head.  “But let’s get you inside first.”

 

By now Christy and Creed were both rather wet.  The snow was coming down hard and fast, with big fat snowflakes coating just about every inch of their heads and shoulders by now.  Neil carried Creed back into the school and set up down on one of the desks so he could finish packing up his supplies.  Christy doused the fire, and gathered her materials.  When they were ready to go, Neil scooped Creed into his arms again.  Christy doubted that Creed liked being carried around, but was willing to admit that he wasn’t going to be walking anywhere anytime soon.

 

Soon they made it down the mission.  Christy opened the door, and Neil deposited Creed in the living room.  “Let’s get a fire started, shall we?”

 

Christy brushed off the lingering snow that hadn’t already melted into her clothes.  “Want me to get your bag, Dr. MacNeill?”

 

He glanced up at her.  “No, that’s alright.  I can get them.  You go get changed before you catch pneumonia and I have TWO patients on my hands!”

 

She excused herself and hurried up to her bedroom.  She slipped into a dry blouse and skirt, and tried smoothed her hair in the mirror.  It was still dripping wet, so she took it down to dry.  She had nothing for Creed to wear.  She would have to ask David later to lend her something for him.

 

Draping her wet clothes over her arm, she made her way downstairs to find Neil kneeling in front of Creed examining his ankle.  He had already started the fire, so she laid her wet clothes on the bricks in front of the fireplace to dry.

 

“Well, Creed, you’re lucky.  It’s not broken, and it doesn’t even look swollen.  I guess the cold helped…” he said quizzingly.  “But you should still stay off it for a few days.”  Neil glanced at Christy as she laid out her clothes.  Even though she looked a bit disheveled, she still looked beautiful.

 

Christy was stoking the fire when the door banged open.

 

David pounded in the front door stomping his boots off as he entered. 

 

“Well, that was quite an entrance David!”  She smiled at him as he walked in.  He smiled back at her, but it froze on his face when he saw Neil in the living room. 

 

“Hello Doctor.  I didn’t expect to see you here.”  Christy could tell he wasn’t glad Neil was there.

 

“Well, Creed here took a fall down the steps, so I’m checking him out before I head on home.”

 

“You’d better hurry, the snow’s already up to my ankles.  Walking over here from my bunkhouse was no picnic.”  He held the door open with his hand.  Christy looked, and the snow was indeed already a few inches deep.

 

“Yes, Neil, maybe you should get going.  I wouldn’t want you to get caught in this if it gets worse.”

 

Neil stood up and stretched his arms above his head, emphasizing his powerful chest.  Christy blushed a little in spite of herself.  “You’re right,” he said, “who knows how long this is going to last.  Creed should be all right, just make sure he stays off his ankle as much as he can.”  He waggled his finger at the young boy.  “You hear that?  No running around the Mission.  You are to keep your ankle up!”  He poked Creed’s side making Creed twist and laugh. 

 

“Hey Doc, knock it off!  I might not be able ta chase ya now, but I can kit ya later!”

 

Neil laughed.  He said his goodbyes and headed out the door.

 

Christy smiled at David.  “Would you mind staying here tonight David?  I don’t want Creed to be here with just me, so would you mind spending the night?”  The last thing she needed was more rumors flying about her, true or not.

 

“Not at all, but just to make things safer, I’ll go get Alice too.  That way, we’ll all be here, and no one will be able to able to say a thing,” he answered, as if he could read her mind.

 

She walked over to him and patted his hand.  “Thank you David.”

 

“Sure, anything for you,” and playfully socked her cheek.  “All right, back into this storm!”  He threw his scarf back over his shoulder in an overly dramatic fashion.  Creed laughed.

 

“Be safe!”

 

“I will, I will.  But if I’m not back in 20 minutes…!”  He winked and stomped out of the house before finishing his sentence. 

 

Christy shook her head at his antics.  She walked in to the living room to check on Creed.  But no sooner had she turned her back to the door than she heard it bang open again.

 

In filed David…and Neil…and Miss Alice!

 

Christy blinked.  This was quite a surprise!

 

“I’m good, aren’t I?  Look how fast I got her!”  David said in a loud voice.

 

Christy put her hands on her hips.  “I don’t believe a word out of your mouth David Grantland.  Now, what’s really going on?”

 

Neil closed the door and stepped around David.  “Well, the snow was coming down really hard, and I was having a hard time seeing my hand in front of my face, even just walking out to the barn.  I knew I couldn’t make it all the way home in this weather, so I decided just to see if I could spend the night here tonight.  But I thought I should get Alice first, and bring her back to the house.  You’d need the extra set of hands with this one loose in your mission.”  He glanced at Creed.  “But she was already on her way down to the Mission as I was making my way to her cabin.  Then we ran into Grantland, who was doing his best to brave the elements to get her, so we all just turned around and headed for the Mission.  It looks like we’re going to have a full house tonight!”

 

Christy crossed the room to them.  “We certainly are.  But here, let me get you guys out of those coats, or you’re going to be frozen.  Oh shucks, David.  We don’t have anything for Creed to wear.  I was going to ask you to bring something from your cabin, but I guess we can’t get them now.”  She looked at Creed.  “Would you mind wearing something from the Mission barrels just for today?  You don’t have to keep them, and I’m sure your mother would understand in this situation.”  She knew the Cove hated taking charity.

 

Creed looked from Christy to Neil.  “She’s right Creed.  Don’t you worry.  You’ll just wear them until yours are dry.  Sound good?”  Creed nodded.

 

“Good, well, then let’s get you out of those wet clothes!  David, could you?” 

 

David smiled Christy’s request, that she chose him over the Doctor.  “Of course.  Come on, let’s get you changed.”  He scooped the boy up and carried him to the Mission barrels.  After picking out which things he wanted to wear, the two went upstairs.

 

“I guess I better clean this up.”  She motioned to the small puddles of water covering the floor.  “I fear we’ve brought half of the snow in with us!”  

 

By the time David and Creed came back downstairs, Christy, Neil, and Alice had sopped up the water.  The floor was still wet, but they had gotten what they could.

 

“Well,” Christy said, “looks like we’re stuck here for a while.  What do you say we all play a game to pass the time until the storm is over?”

 

David put Creed down on a chair.  “I actually wanted to work on my sermon.  I hadn’t gotten a chance to work on it in the past few days because I was in Lufty Branch, but I guess this is as good a time as any.  And look at it this way, with me out of the way, you’ll have even teams.”

 

 “Well, David, thee is welcome to join us whenever thee needs a break from thy sermon.  Now!” Miss Alice clapped her hands together, “what would you like to play Creed?”

 

“See’un as I can’t git up and run around, we could play charades.  My momma learned me how last week!”

 

“That’s a wonderful idea Creed!”  Neil said.

 

The next few minutes were spent writing down different items and putting them in a bowl.  One by one they chose a slip of paper and acted out what was written on it.  Soon all four were laughing loudly and frantically acting out everything from animals to Uncle Bogg. 

 

David listened from the other room, and soon decided to give up writing his sermon and join them.  But as he was about to enter the other room, he saw Neil look over at Christy.  There was no denying the feelings in his eyes.  Fortunately, Christy was too busy trying to figure out what Miss Alice was acting out to notice. 

 

“A RACCOON!!”

 

“Wonderful Christy!  Thee is a mighty guesser!  How did you get a raccoon from this?” She mimicked her previous movements.

 

Christy laughed, and just then saw David standing in the doorway.

 

“Oh, David!   I’m sorry!  We were being too loud, weren’t we?”

 

David forced a smile.  “Of course not!  I just thought I would come spend time with some of my favorite people.”  He walked over to where Christy was sitting and put his arm over her shoulder possessively.

 

“Yes, well…” she stammered, “why don’t you join our game?  Although I don’t know how good YOU would be at it!”  She said nervously joked and stood up.  “My turn!”

 

Charades continued for another hour or so until their growling stomachs distracted them. 

 

“I hadn’t realized it was so late!  I’ll make supper for us.  How do mashed potatoes, spinach, and chicken sound?  I think we have enough for everyone.”  Christy stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

 

“Sounds wonderful Christy.  Does thee need any help?”

 

“No, I think I’m good, thank you.  And I’ll try not to burn this one.”  She said over her shoulder.  Miss Alice and David both failed to notice the wink exchanged between Neil and Christy, but Creed didn’t.

 

“Dinner was delicious Christy.  How about us men clean up since you cooked?”  Neil offered as he scooped her plate off the table.

 

“I’m not going to argue with that, but are you sure you actually know how to wash dishes?  I’ve been to your cabin, and there’s always been a pile in your sink!”

 

“Har har.  Creed, you’re excused since I want you to stay off your ankle.  But David, you’re not.  Let’s go.”

 

The rest of the evening was over quickly.  It was still snowing outside, and none of them had any way to know when it would end.  It was decided that Neil and David were to sleep downstairs with Creed, and Miss Alice and Christy would sleep upstairs.  After handing out blankets and pillows, everyone settled in for the night after a resounding chorus of “goodnights.”

 

The next morning dawned gloriously over the mountains.  Christy awoke suddenly and looked out her window and was surprised to see that it was still nearly dark outside.  She guessed maybe she wasn’t as tired as she had thought the night before.  Sliding on her slippers and wrapping a robe around her, she made her way silently downstairs.  As she padded passed the kitchen, she peeked in the living room to see who else was awake; everyone appeared to be asleep.

 

She turned back to the kitchen, and decided to make herself some coffee.  She usually didn’t make coffee, but since this was a special occasion, she didn’t Miss Alice would mind sparing the beans. 

 

“I hope you’re making enough for everyone.” 

 

She clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle herself and whirled around.  “Neil MacNeill!” she whispered fiercly.  “You nearly scared me to death, shame on you!”   She splashed him with some of the water she was making coffee with.  “What are you doing up so early?”

 

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

 

“I’m not sure, I just woke up suddenly.  I was surprised that it’s barely sunrise.  Something must have woken me up.”

 

“Same thing with me.  I jerked awake.  I almost feel like maybe I was kicked.”

 

“Maybe Creed was having a bad dream and accidentally kicked you.  You were sleeping close to each other, after all.”

 

“Maybe.  So!  Looks like we’re the only ones awake…”

 

“Yes…”  They stared at each other for a minute.  What was it that Christy was reading in his eyes?  She smiled and shrugged, in spite of herself.  “Since the early bird catches the worm, how about I make us some breakfast?  I could cook up something, I’m sure.”

 

Neil tilted his head at her slightly and squinted his eyes.  “Yes, but am I sure I will want to eat it?”

 

Christy laughed.  “Well, aren’t we the jokester this morning?  Are you saying you’re not hungry?”

 

“No no, I am.  I was only kidding.”  He smiled at her.

 

Soon Christy was frying up a few eggs and toasting some bread on the stove.  The made pleasant conversation while she cooked, and then they sat down to eat.

 

The continued talking until they heard a noise behind them.  Miss Alice had awoken and was coming downstairs.  Christy looked out the window.  Why, it was bright out!  How long had they been talking??

 

“Good morning Miss Alice,” Christy whispered, “I hope we didn’t wake you.”

 

“Of course not.  I’m surprised I slept this late actually.”

 

“Yes, what sleepyheads we all were” came David’s booming voice.

 

They all shushed him.  “Young Creed is still sleeping David.  Please lower thy voice.”

 

“Oops, sorry.  So, what’s the damage outside?  How many feet are we looking at?”

 

Everyone looked at him quizzically.  “The snow!  How much snow do we have?”  He threw open the door.  An icy blast hit them as their eyes adjusted to the brightness.  “There must be a good two and a half feet out there!”  He walked over to Creed and picked him up.  “How would you like to spend the next few days here with us?” he asked as he carried the youngster over to see the snow.

 

“Oh boy, that’d be right fine Preacher!  Thank ya!”

 

“Well, don’t thank me Creed, thank Mother Nature.  No one’s going anywhere with this much snow on the ground!”

 

He set the boy down.  Creed took a few tentative steps.  “How is your ankle Creed?” Christy asked with concern.

 

“Oh, it be fine Teacher.  It don’t hurt much.”

 

“That may be Creed, but I still want you to stay off it.  We can make you comfortable in the living room, but that’s where you’ll stay for now.  By the time you can leave this Mission, your ankle should be healed enough for you to be able to walk more normally on it.”  He faked a sigh.  “So, I guess that means you get to boss us around for a little while, huh Creed?  You should enjoy it while you can!”

 

Creed laughed.  “Yes’sir!”

 

The rest of the morning was uneventful.  After more breakfast, the men cleaned up once again, and Christy went upstairs to get dressed.  She put on a wool skirt and a heavy blouse she didn’t much like, but at least it was warm.  She did take extra special care of her hair this morning, brushing the long curls that fell in waves down her back and then pinning them up against her head.  After a quick final check in the mirror, she headed out of her room and nearly knocked into Creed.

 

“Oh, Creed!  I’m sorry!  But, what is this??  I thought Dr. MacNeill told you to stay off your ankle until it was healed!

 

“Yes’sum, he did, but um, Miss Alice asked if you could go check on the horses.  Ya know.  Makin sure that they’uns got enough ta eat.”

 

What a funny request from Alice.  “Sure Creed, I’ll be down in a minute.  But you better not let Dr. MacNeill see you up!  He’s likely to tie you to your chair!”

 

“Oh, don’t you worry.  There’s no way he could see me...”

 

Puzzled, Christy went about putting on her coat, and wrapping her favorite blue scarf around her neck.  She had always loved it because her father told her it brought out her eyes.  Hurrying downstairs, she wondered where everyone went.  Creed and David were the only ones around.

 

“What happened to everyone?”

 

“Miss Alice done gone back up to her cabin to get somethin. And the Doctor…”  he shrugged.  “I reckon he’s out there somewhere too.”

 

“Well boys, if Miss Alice comes back before I’m done tending the horses, tell her I’ll be in as soon as I can.”

 

David looked at her questionly.  “I don’t think it’s such a good idea that you go out in this snow.  You’re likely to get lost out there!  They can wait.”

 

“No, David, I’ll be all right.  And besides, Miss Alice asked me to look in on the horses.  She must have had a reason.”

 

“I’ll have to have a talk with her…sending you out in this weather for no reason.”

 

“I’ll be fine.   Really.  I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself!”  She smiled.

 

“So does that mean you don’t need someone looking out for you and protecting you?”  He came over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

 

“Yes.  No.  What?”  She shook her head and laughed slightly.  “I’ll be fine.  You worry too much!”  she said as she headed out the door.

 

As Christy walked towards the barn, she noticed a path in the snow, as if someone had already walked it.  Maybe that’s why David thinks my tending the horses is pointless: because he’s already done it.  She considered turning back, but decided just in case to check on Theo, Prince, and Charlie in the barn.  It took all her strength to pull open the mighty barn doors, but she managed to pry them open. 

 

Inside, she was shocked to find something other than horses in the barn.

 

“Dr. MacNeill, what are you doing here?”

 

“Creed told me you asked me to come check on the horses…what are you doing here?”

 

“Creed told me Miss Alice asked me to come check on the horses!”

 

“I suspect someone isn’t telling the truth…and I have a sneaking suspicion it’s our little hurt friend in there,” Christy answered.  What was Creed trying to accomplish with this, she wondered.  It was not as if she and Dr. MacNeill were anything more than friends.

 

They stood looking at each other like they had earlier that morning. 

 

Slowly, Neil raised his hand and brushed a snowy piece of hair out of the beautiful teacher’s face.  His fingers lightly brushed her cheek as they did so, and he hesitated.  He took a tiny step towards her, closing the gap between them ever more slightly. 

 

Christy’s breath caught in her throat.  She found herself frozen, not knowing how to react…not knowing how she should react.  He was a married man…but oh!

 

“Well,” Neil said, breaking the silence, “you’ll be happy to know that the horses are fine.  And maybe we should go see just what that boy is up to.”  They stayed where they were for a few more second, neither able to tear themselves away from the others’ eyes.

 

Christy took a deep breath, finally.  “Lead the way, Doctor!”  She started to follow him out of the barn, but stayed behind him.

 

“You know, you don’t have to walk behind me.  I don’t mind being seen with you.” 

 

“Oh you don’t, do you?”  She laughed softly and socked him lightly in the arm.  “Well, not only am I using your footprints to step in, but you block the wind!  So, you do serve a pur…”  Before she could finish her sentence, she heard a thud and saw Neil stagger back.

 

“Why, you little…!” Neil shouted out cheerfully.

 

Christy looked from behind Neil to see Creed forming another snowball in his hands, but before he could throw it, Neil chucked one at Creed which hit him squarely in the chest.

 

“Hey, no fair picking on an invalid!” Creed yelped as he tossed his snowball at them.

 

Soon, all three were involved in a crazy snowball fight, although Creed only remained on the Mission porch, hopping around on one foot.  Christy and Neil began chasing each other, hurling snowballs at each other.  They were soon out of breath and Christy had tears of laughter streaming down her face.  She couldn’t remember a day when she had had this much fun! 

 

Just then, David opened the door.  All three stopped their game as he stood in the doorway.  “I thought Creed wasn’t allowed on his ankle Doctor, yet he’s allowed to have a snowball fight?  That hardly seems healthy.”

 

“Oh Grantland, give me a break.  He’s been standing in the same spot the whole time.  He was already out here when we got back, what did you want me to do?”

 

“I just thought you would have a little more common sense, that’s all.  You said yourself he shouldn’t be on his ankle.”

 

“Come on David, lighten up.  Look, technically he’s staying off his ankle.  I haven’t seen him put his foot down once!” Christy chimed in.  “And it’s the first snowfall of the winter!”

 

David sighed slightly and started to go back inside.

 

“Oh David…”

 

He turned back around.  THWACK!

 

Crouching down and gathering snow to make another snowball, Christy expected him to try to hit her back. Instead, he just stood there.  “I have a sermon to write Christy, maybe later,” he said as he brushed the snow off and walked back inside.

 

The three looked at each other.  “Who put a porcupine on his seat this mornin?”  Creed asked.

 

How uncharacteristic of David, she thought.  She would ask him later if she had offended him.

 

“Well, David was right about one thing, mister.  We need to get you off that ankle if you want it to get better anytime soon!”

 

The snowy trio headed into the house and dry off.  David was indeed sitting at the kitchen table working on his sermon, and didn’t even look up when they came in.  Neil carried Creed into the living room and set him down, and then added more wood to the fire.

 

“What were you doing out there?  I thought I told you to rest your ankle!”

 

“I’m sorry Doc, I just couldn’t help maself.  You were sittin ducks!  And you didn’t say nothing about keeping off the other ankle!”

 

“Alright young man, I’ll forgive ya this time.  But no more!  You stay off your ankle!”  He stood up and nearly bumped into Christy carrying two steaming hot cups. 

 

“Here.  My mother sent me this hot chocolate a while ago, but I never used it.  I thought, what better time to use it than now?  We’re snowed in, and we’re not going anywhere.  And I have some of my favorite people here to share it with.”  She smiled, and handed them each a cup.

 

“Ya mean that Miz Christy?”

 

“Of course I do.  But if you’ll excuse me for a minute.” 

 

She walked back into the kitchen, picked up another cup and set it beside David.  “I hope I didn’t do anything to offend you today David.  I didn’t mean to.  We were joking around.”

 

“I’m just tired, that’s all.  I didn’t mean to sound so harsh.”

 

“It’s all right David.”  She put her hand on his arm.  She did care so much for him; he was such a good friend.  He looked up at her and patted her hand.

 

“Thanks.”

 

They became awkwardly silent.  “Well, I better go make sure Doctor MacNeill doesn’t go too hard on Creed for walking around.

 

“Of course.”

 

Christy headed back into the living room to find Neil looking over Creed’s ankle, thinking over David’s comment.  What did he mean “of course?”.  She stopped in the doorway and leaned on the frame.  “What did I tell you Creed?  Dr. MacNeill is going to have to tie you to that chair to keep you from walking around!”

 

“I’lls be good now!”

 

Christy rolled her eyes.  “Where is Miss Alice, anyway?  It’s near lunchtime, and she still isn’t back yet.”

 

“She probably is packing up a few things in case she wants to ride out to Lowe Gap for the families there.  I’m sure she’s fine.  She’ll probably be back soon.”

 

Neil stood up.  “You’re lucky you didn’t hurt your ankle more by walking around young man.”  He started to bring his bag back into the kitchen when Creed stopped him.

 

“Doc, look!  You and Miz Christy!  Look what yer standin under!”

 

They both looked up, and sure enough, there above the doorway hung a spring of mistletoe.  Only…Christy didn’t remember that being there before.  And it was past Christmastime. 

 

“Well, don’t ya have ta kiss her now Doc?  Ain’t that the tradition? Ya can’t break tradition!”

 

“He’s right you know,” Neil said.

 

“I suppose he is.”   Christy hesistated, again unsure of what to do.  She looked up at Neil questioningly, but he only shrugged.  Sighing, she stood on her tiptoes and leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek.  “There you go Creed.  Satisfied now?”  .

 

Creed nodded his head vigorously, a little too vigorously if you asked Christy. 

 

She shook her head as if to clear up her confusion.  “What do you say we make lunch, hmm?”  she asked, changing the subject.

 

Just then, Miss Alice clomped back into the Mission.  “Oh, Miss Alice, just in time for lunch.”

 

“Thank thee dear, but I can handle this meal.  You go rest.  I saw the snowball fight out of my window.  Thee must be tired.”

 

Christy blushed a little, but went to into the living room to check on Creed.

 

He had busied himself with the wooden animals Christy had brought down that Dan had given her, so she set about cleaning up the living room.  The day certainly turned out strangely.  She couldn’t figure out what it was, but something was amiss.

 

The rest of the afternoon went by quickly.  That night, David, Alice, and Christy settled in the living room, but set about doing their own thing.  Miss Alice was knitting, David was still working on his sermon, and Christy sat by the window.  As she looked out over the blankets of white,she began wondering when Creed was going to be able to make it home.  The snow was melting, but only very slowly.  His family must miss him.  Although it is Creed, maybe his family’s enjoying the break from the little rascal.  I know I would if I had to raise him.  What a handful!

 

What a handful…  Christy had been resting her head on her arms as she sat by the window, but at that thought, it snapped up.

 

Creed!  Of course!  How could she not have seen it before?  Creed was the one who sent them to the barn, and except for David, Creed was the only one in the house when the mistletoe suddenly appeared.  And Neil HAD said he was kicked awake.  She couldn’t believe how dumb she had been!

 

The little bugger has been planning this whole thing!  She didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry.

 

She got up and walked into the kitchen where Creed was working on puzzle with Neil.

 

“Neil, could you excuse me for a minute?  I need to ask Creed something.”

 

“Sure Christy…  everything ok?”

 

“Oh yes, I just check something over with him.”

 

“Sure.”  Neil got up and glanced at Creed.  “He’s all yours.”

 

Christy sat down in the seat Neil had just vacated.  “Now, Creed, I want you to tell me the truth.  Have you been trying to get Dr. MacNeill and I together?”

 

Creed looked shocked .  “No’um!  I’d never do that!”

 

Christy squinted her eyes at him.  He seemed to be telling the truth, but she had been fooled by his antics before.  All of a sudden, the corners of his mouth began to turn up.  Creed tried to look down at his puzzle, but it was too late.

 

“Creed Allen!  Shame on you!”

 

But he still maintained his innocence.  “I didn’t do nothin, honest!”

 

“You swear to me?”

 

Creed couldn’t swear to her, and she knew it.  He was trapped.

 

“Well…  well ya see….”  He couldn’t think of a way out of this one.  “Alls I kin say is this.”  He motioned for Christy to lean closer to him.  “It wasn’t just my idea…  I had some help.”

 

At that, he bolted up from the table and sprinted up the stairs.

 

Now it was Christy’s turn to look shocked.  His ankle must be feeling better.  Unless he never hurt it at all!  Christy didn’t know what to think.  Creed had set the whole thing up, including hurting his ankle.  This whole thing was a set-up!

 

And who could have helped him?  Her mind ran over the possibilities.  Rob, Sam Houston, maybe… Neil… Neil?!  No, couldn’t be.  Neil wouldn’t have gone to such lengths, would he?  Nah…he wouldn’t have, I’m sure of it.  It must have been one of the other school children, of course.  They’re always playing pranks on each other, this is just one they’re playing on me.  Of course it wasn’t Neil, that’s a silly idea.  

 

Or is it?