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

who’d insisted on coming downstairs to join them for dinner, was still running a fever. Miss Alice was gathering up supplies. She was on her way to help a woman in Big Gap deliver a baby. And Miss Ida was annoyed that no one was eating the meal she’d prepared.
    â€œI wonder how long those jugs have been down there,” Christy continued.
    â€œThey may have put them there long ago,” David suggested, “thinking it would be the last place anyone would look. Or it could have been a defiant gesture—an answer, if you can call it that, to my sermon last Sunday.”
    â€œCome to think of it, I did hear noises out by the school late last night,” Christy said.
    â€œYou were outside last night?” David asked in surprise.
    Christy glanced over at Ruby Mae. “Oh, just for a few minutes. A little walk, to clear my head.”
    David looked over at the doctor. “I suppose, with this latest development, you’re dying to say I told you so?”
    Doctor MacNeill shifted positions in his chair. He’d barely touched his food. “No, David,” he said after a moment of reflection. “I’m not about to gloat. What would be the point?”
    â€œSince when do you keep your opinions to yourself?” David demanded.
    The doctor sighed heavily. “I will tell you this. I am worried about this situation. It was one thing to preach a sermon about moonshine. It was quite another to dump out jug after jug. That was someone’s property, like it or not—”
    â€œProperty!” David cried. “That was illegal liquor, on my property!” He paused. “On our property, I should say.”
    â€œThat’s not the point,” the doctor said. “The point is that you’ve just added fuel to a very dangerous fire. I’m worried that whoever put that moonshine there will try to retaliate now.”
    â€œRetaliate?” Miss Ida echoed. “Against whom?” “Against the mission. Against David, or maybe Christy. After all, the children witnessed them dumping the moonshine together.”
    David looked at Christy and frowned. “ I’m the one who did the dumping and gave the sermon. Why would they act against Christy?”
    â€œBecause she represents the mission, too,” the doctor answered. “In a way, she has more contact with these people than you do. You see them every Sunday for an hour, if you’re lucky. She’s the one teaching the children of these moonshiners, every single day.”
    The doctor winced as he tried to reach for a glass of water. Ruby Mae moved it closer for him. “Thanks, Ruby Mae. Say, you’ve been awfully quiet this evening.”
    Ruby Mae stared at her plate, her lower lip jutting.
    â€œShe’s pouting,” Christy explained.
    â€œAnd why is that?” asked Doctor MacNeill.
    â€œThey won’t let me take care of Prince anymore and he’s just gonna plain starve out there without me!” Ruby Mae cried.
    â€œRuby Mae,” David said gently, “I fed Prince an hour ago. He ate like . . . well, like a horse. Trust me. He is not going to starve.”
    â€œWithout me, he’s a-goin’ to starve for love!” Ruby Mae cried.
    Christy smiled at the doctor. “Tell us, Doctor. Have you ever come across such a medical condition?”
    â€œStarving for love. Hmmm. Hmmm.” The doctor tapped his finger on his chin. “There have been documented cases, although they usually appear in the human male.” He grinned at Christy. “Now, in a mammal the size of a horse, I would think it would take, oh, a good two months or so for any symptoms to develop.”
    â€œTwo months,” Christy repeated, winking at the doctor. “That’s plenty of time for you to get your schoolwork and chores back on track, Ruby Mae.”
    â€œWhat does he know?” Ruby Mae said. “He ain’t no horse doctor.”
    â€œBy the way, have