Midnight Rescue / The Proposal / Christy's Choice by Catherine Marshall Read Free Book Online Page A

me feel like we haven’t seen the last of the trouble over moonshine.
    Christy set her pen down on the bedside stand. The light from her kerosene lamp flickered. Writing down her thoughts wasn’t making her feel any better.
    Maybe she should take a walk. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to check on the doctor. His fever had been higher tonight. That wasn’t unusual, Miss Alice had said. But she wanted to keep a close eye on him. She’d refused his many demands to let him go back to his own cabin.
    Christy put on her robe and slippers and stepped into the hallway, carrying her lamp. She walked down to the doctor’s room. The door was ajar. She peered in. His eyes were closed. Asleep, he almost looked sweet and boyish—nothing like the stubborn, annoying man he could be when wide awake.
    She tiptoed inside and set the lamp on the dresser. The doctor’s forehead was bathed in sweat. She wondered if his fever had gone up. Quietly, she soaked a cloth in the basin of water near his bed.
    As she reached over to place the cloth on his forehead, he opened his eyes. “I was having this wonderful dream,” he murmured. “This beautiful angel tiptoed into my room to take care of me. Now I see it wasn’t a dream.”
    Christy smiled. “You’re still running a fever. Perhaps you’re delirious. Is there anything I can get you?”
    â€œMy own bed to sleep in.”
    â€œSorry. Miss Alice says you’re stuck here for a while longer.” Christy retrieved the lamp, then hesitated near the door. “Neil?” she asked softly. “Do you really think David made a mistake, giving that sermon today?”
    â€œFrom the way you described it to me, yes, I do,” the doctor answered gravely.
    â€œWell, I think you’re wrong.”
    â€œWhy did you ask me, then?”
    Christy sighed. There was no point in having this conversation. “Goodnight, Doctor.”
    â€œChristy?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œDon’t let Ruby Mae help with breakfast tomorrow, promise?”
    Back in the hallway, Christy noticed that Ruby Mae’s door was open. She peeked inside. The bed was empty.
    Where could that girl be, in the middle of the night? Grabbing a midnight snack, perhaps? There were still a few pieces of Miss Alice’s birthday cake left. No doubt Ruby Mae had taken it upon herself to finish them off.
    Christy headed downstairs. The kitchen was empty. So was the parlor. Strange. Where on earth could Ruby Mae have gone, unless . . . Christy smiled. Of course.
    She put the lamp aside and stepped outside. It was still very cold at night. The mountains took their sweet time warming up to spring, Fairlight Spencer liked to say.
    Christy walked across the wet lawn quickly, shivering in her thin robe. Miss Alice’s cabin was dark. David’s bunkhouse wasn’t visible from here. Christy wondered if he were having trouble sleeping, too. He’d seemed as surprised as she’d been by the hot rage and the icy silence that had greeted his sermon.
    The little shed that housed Prince, Miss Alice’s horse, Goldie, and the mission’s crippled mule, Old Theo, was just past the schoolhouse. Christy was almost there when she heard an odd shuffling noise. It seemed to be coming from the crawl space under the schoolhouse.
    She paused, listening. Nothing. Probably just the hogs who lived under there. It had taken her a while to get used to the notion of teaching in a one-room schoolhouse with hogs as downstairs neighbors. Once they had even gotten loose in her classroom, causing quite a commotion.
    When she reached the shed, Christy swung open the wooden door. It let out a tired creak.
    â€œWho’s there?” came a frightened voice.
    â€œDon’t worry, Ruby Mae, it’s just me, Miss Christy.”
    Ruby was sitting in Prince’s stall. He was lying down in the sweet-smelling hay. A patch of moonlight, coming from the only window, streaked