The Princess Club / Family Secrets / Mountain Madness by Catherine Marshall Page B

Mae. Gold can do strange things to people.”
    Ruby Mae started to argue, but the look on the doctor’s face made her fall silent. She’d never seen that look before, not on the doc. Doc MacNeill wasn’t afraid of anything.
    And yet, right now, if she didn’t know better, she’d have sworn he looked awfully worried. Maybe even scared.

Twelve
    G rady Halliday,” Christy said, “I’d like you to meet my dear friend, Fairlight Spencer, and her husband, Jeb.”
    â€œPleased to make your acquaintance.” Mr. Halliday shook hands with the Spencers. “Lovely morning for a church service. If a little on the hot side.”
    â€œI think you’ll enjoy David’s sermon,” Christy said. “Church here in Cutter Gap isn’t quite like anything you’ve ever seen before.”
    Mr. Halliday smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”
    Christy surveyed the area outside the church. Knots of people stood here and there, chatting. Children and dogs chased each other in crazy circles. A group of men hovered near the entrance, chewing tobacco. Still, she couldn’t help but notice there were a lot of faces missing.
    â€œThis is an unusually small turnout,” Christy commented. “I wonder why?”
    â€œPerhaps the fine weather is proving too tempting,” Mr. Halliday suggested. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his brow.
    â€œSomething’s temptin’ them, all right,” Fairlight said. Her lovely eyes sparkled. “But I’m guessin’ it’s not the weather.”
    â€œWe passed Ozias Holt and Nathan O’Teale on the way here,” Jeb said. “Both of ’em with shovels and picks. Said they didn’t have time to look for the Lord.” He shook his head. “Lookin’ for gold instead.”
    â€œThis gold discovery certainly seems to have had an effect on the community,” Mr. Halliday said.
    Fairlight sighed. “It’s startin’ to seem like a blessin’ and a curse. Poor Clara ain’t slept the last two nights, since Lundy Taylor went after the girls up by the creek. At first, I had such hopes about the gold . . . fixin’ up the cabin, maybe. Or savin’ for the children’s schoolin’. But if it means my little Clara has to live in fear . . .”
    â€œIf I get my hands on Lundy, I’ll show him a thing or two about fear,” Jeb said gruffly, his hands clenched in anger.
    Christy gazed at him sadly. It was only natural for Jeb to want to protect his children. Still, he was usually such a gentle man. It hurt to see him so angry.
    â€œI think Neil did a pretty good job of scaring Lundy Taylor, Jeb,” she said, trying to sound reassuring. But she could see from his worried expression that he wasn’t convinced.
    They headed into the church. Even though the simple building served as Christy’s schoolroom all week, it always felt fresh to her on Sunday. Maybe it was the hushed anticipation in the room. Maybe it was seeing David, dressed in his Sunday best—a dark suit, white shirt, and black tie. Maybe it was seeing the scrubbed faces and combed hair of her students, who were generally on their best behavior.
    But Christy knew it was more than just those obvious things. The real reason the room felt changed was the feeling of joy and hope that filled the dusty, rough room like summer sunshine.
    Today, though, as she settled into a pew with her friends, something was missing. The usual happy mood had been replaced by something much darker. People were grumbling, whispering, and pointing. Much of the attention seemed to focus on Ruby Mae, Bessie, and Clara, who were sitting together in a front pew.
    A few rows behind them sat Kyle and Lety Coburn, Bessie’s parents. Next to the Coburns sat Duggin Morrison, Ruby Mae’s stepfather, and his wife. Christy was surprised to see Duggin. He didn’t come to church much. She