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

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, “Now, smile,” but her feelings hadn’t joined in.
    â€œYou slept well, I hope?” Miss Ida asked.
    â€œJust fine.”
    â€œI’ve cleaned up your clothes. They’re downstairs, drying.”
    â€œThank you so much,” Christy said gratefully. “Oh, Miss Ida, tell me—I’ve got to know. Mr. Allen, how is he? Is he—” She couldn’t quite say it.
    â€œAlive? Oh, yes. Dr. MacNeill spent the night there. Miss Alice Henderson, too. She went right to the Spencers’ soon as she heard about the operation. She’s catching a wink of sleep now.”
    â€œThen Mr. Allen’s out of danger?”
    â€œNot yet, I take it, or the doctor wouldn’t still be there. Now about breakfast—everybody else has eaten. When you get changed, come on down to the dining room. I’ll see you get something.”
    Christy wondered who “everybody” was. How many lived in this house?
    â€œMiss Alice would like to see you today,” Miss Ida said. She crossed the room to the window and pointed. “See that smoke? That’s her cabin. Just there, beyond the trees.”
    After Miss Ida left, Christy dressed quickly and rushed downstairs. She felt as if she hadn’t 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 breakfast— hot oatmeal followed by buckwheat cakes and maple syrup. “David’s at the Low Gap School near here,” Miss Ida said as she watched Christy eat. “He said to tell you he was sorry not to be here when you woke up.”
    â€œI’m sorry I overslept. Does Mr. Grantland teach at that school?”
    â€œOh no, that school is closed. There were some old school desks there. They said we could use them. Supplies, you’ll soon see, are always a problem here.” She pointed out the window to an unfinished building about a thousand yards away. It was rectangular, with a half-finished belltower. “David can build anything he sets his hand to,” she said proudly. “He’s working on the steeple now.”
    â€œThen will that be the church as well as the school?”
    â€œThat’s right,” Miss Ida said, with a tone in her voice that made Christy uncomfortable. “We haven’t 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€œThey’ve never had a school here before?”
    Miss Ida watched, curling her lip just slightly as Christy helped herself to a second round of buckwheat cakes. “You’ve quite an appetite, haven’t you?” she said. “But you