Bridge to Cutter Gap / Silent Superstitions / The Angry Intruder by Catherine Marshall Read Free Book Online Page A

share of those.”
    Fairlight shrugged. “I was just goin’ to say that if you ever need an extra pair of hands over to the school, I’d be mighty proud to help. That’s a heap of young’uns for one gal. Maybe I could clean up the school after class?”
    The words were spoken with a gentle dignity, as if a gift were being bestowed on Christy. Here was a mountain woman with a husband and five children to care for, living in such poverty that if she had any shoes, she was saving them to be worn somewhere special. Yet she was offering to help Christy, a girl she’d just met.
    Even as Christy started to answer, she realized something else. This woman was not just volunteering to do some cleaning for her—she was also holding out the gift of her friendship. For the first time since leaving home, Christy sensed the possibility of connecting with people here, of not feeling quite so completely alone.
    â€œFairlight, that’s a very kind offer,” Christy said. “And I’ll accept it, on one condition. I’m a long way from home, you know, and it would be nice to feel like I had a new friend here in the mountains. And maybe there’ll be something I can do for you, too.”
    The pioneer face was suddenly all smiles. “That you could, Miz Christy!” she exclaimed. Suddenly she went shy again, her voice sinking almost to a whisper. “I can’t read nor write. Would . . . would you learn me how? I’d like that!”
    Her voice was filled with such eagerness that at that moment Christy wanted to teach this woman to read more than anything she’d ever wanted to do before.
    â€œI’d love to do that, Fairlight. As soon as I get settled in at the mission. It’s a promise.”
    â€œFor sure and certain, that’s wonderful to hear,” Fairlight cried, her face full of hope. And immediately Christy felt encouraged about her decision to come to Cutter Gap.
    A few minutes later, a voice spoke from the shadows. “You must be real tired,” Mr. Pentland said kindly. “Why don’t I take you on out to the mission? It’s not far now—”
    â€œBut what about Mr. Allen? How is he? Is he—”
    â€œStill livin’ and breathin’,” Mr. Pentland said. “Doc says he found the blood clots all right and Bob has a fightin’ chance now. If the bleedin’ in his head don’t start up again.”
    â€œOh, I’m glad, so glad,” Christy said with relief.
    Mr. Pentland reached for her suitcase. “Before you go, Doc said he wanted to see you.”
    â€œMe?” Christy asked.
    She stepped back into the dark cabin. The doctor was sitting by Bob Allen’s side, studying him seriously. He didn’t even notice Christy until she said, “Doctor? You wanted to see me?”
    He looked up wearily, rubbed his eyes, then gave a smile. “There she is. The Cove’s answer to Florence Nightingale. I wanted to thank you for your help.”
    â€œI didn’t do much,” Christy said, gazing at the motionless patient. “And to tell you the truth, my knees nearly gave out there at the end. I couldn’t wait to get outside.”
    He gave a laugh, a deep, warm sound that filled the small cabin. “You should have seen me, my first surgery. Couldn’t eat for two days afterward. And in any case, I knew you’d be fine.”
    â€œYou did? How could you? I didn’t even know.”
    He shrugged, then ran a hand through his messy curls. “The kind of girl who walks to the Cove in the middle of a January snowstorm has more courage than many.” He looked her up and down. “You’ll be needing it, too.”
    Christy frowned. “Why does everyone keep warning me like that?”
    â€œYou’ll see, soon enough,” the doctor said. He grinned. “For starters, you’ll have some characters there at the mission to deal