behind the other. Some were snow-covered. Others showed patches of emerald or deep green, and then the blues began. On the smoky blue of the far summits, fluffy white clouds rested like wisps of cotton.
She counted the mountain ranges. Eleven of them, rising up and up toward the vault of the sky.
Only yesterday at the Spencer cabin, watching a man undergo surgery because of her, Christy had wondered if accepting this teaching job had been a dreadful mistake. Now, staring at this peaceful view, she was not quite so sure what to think. Had Mr. Allen survived the night? She still did not know. But meanwhile, in the face of tragedy, these mountains were whispering a different message to her. A message that seemed to say, Stay . This is your view. This will be your source of peace and strength.
Someone knocked on her door. It was Miss Ida. For the first time, Christy got a good look at her. She was a plain woman with thin, graying hair. It was drawn into a tight bun, so meager that her scalp showed through in several places. Her nose was too large for her narrow face. Already Christy could tell she was a nervous person. When she smiled, it seemed to be an afterthought, as if her brain had ordered, âNow, smile,â but her feelings hadnât joined in.
âYou slept well, I hope?â Miss Ida asked.
âJust fine.â
âIâve cleaned up your clothes. Theyâre downstairs, drying.â
âThank you so much,â Christy said gratefully. âOh, Miss Ida, tell meâIâve got to know. Mr. Allen, how is he? Is heââ She couldnât quite say it.
âAlive? Oh, yes. Dr. MacNeill spent the night there. Miss Alice Henderson, too. She went right to the Spencersâ soon as she heard about the operation. Sheâs catching a wink of sleep now.â
âThen Mr. Allenâs out of danger?â
âNot yet, I take it, or the doctor wouldnât still be there. Now about breakfastâeverybody else has eaten. When you get changed, come on down to the dining room. Iâll see you get something.â
Christy wondered who âeverybodyâ was. How many lived in this house?
âMiss Alice would like to see you today,â Miss Ida said. She crossed the room to the window and pointed. âSee that smoke? Thatâs her cabin. Just there, beyond the trees.â
After Miss Ida left, Christy dressed quickly and rushed downstairs. She felt as if she hadnât eaten in days. The dining room turned out to be a simple square room at the back of the house. A round, golden oak table sat in the center.
Miss Ida provided a wonderful breakfastâ hot oatmeal followed by buckwheat cakes and maple syrup. âDavidâs at the Low Gap School near here,â Miss Ida said as she watched Christy eat. âHe said to tell you he was sorry not to be here when you woke up.â
âIâm sorry I overslept. Does Mr. Grantland teach at that school?â
âOh no, that school is closed. There were some old school desks there. They said we could use them. Supplies, youâll soon see, are always a problem here.â She pointed out the window to an unfinished building about a thousand yards away. It was rectangular, with a half-finished belltower. âDavid can build anything he sets his hand to,â she said proudly. âHeâs working on the steeple now.â
âThen will that be the church as well as the school?â
âThatâs right,â Miss Ida said, with a tone in her voice that made Christy uncomfortable. âWe havenât the lumber and funds here to put up two buildings when one would do. This will be used for school on weekdays, and church on Sundays.â
âTheyâve never had a school here before?â
Miss Ida watched, curling her lip just slightly as Christy helped herself to a second round of buckwheat cakes. âYouâve quite an appetite, havenât you?â she said. âBut you
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