She could just make out the glimmer of a knife, poised high over the open piano. "No!" she cried, and as the knife came down, she grabbed for the intruder’s arm with all her might. Headstrong and independent, Christy is determined to change the lives of the children in Cutter Gap. Apparently, Christy has angered someone enough to cause a string of mysterious pranks. Miss Alice warns Christy to be careful as the pranks become more threatening. What will Christy do when one of her own students turns against her? Based on Catherine Marshall's novel Christy—a New York Times bestseller—the Christy® of Cutter Gap series contains expanded adventures filled with romance, intrigue, and excitement. Catherine Marshall, New York Times best-selling author of thirty books, is best known for her novel Christy . Based on the life of her mother, a teacher of mountain children in poverty-stricken Tennessee, Christy captured the hearts of millions and became apopular CBS television series. As her mother reminisced around the kitchen table at Evergreen Farm, Catherine probed for details and insights into the rugged lives of these Appalachian highlanders.A beloved inspirational writer and speaker, Catherine's enduring career spanned four decades and six continents, and reached over 30 million readers. The Angry Intruder By Catherine Marshall Gilead Publishing Copyright © 1995 Marshall-LeSourd, LLC All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-68370-161-3 CHAPTER 1 "Special delivery from the U-nited States Postal Service for Miss Christy Rudd Huddleston!" Ben Pentland, the mailman, waved from the doorway of the one-room schoolhouse where Christy taught. Her students — all sixty-seven of them — whispered excitedly. The arrival of the mail was always a big event in this remote section of the Great Smoky Mountains. "Thank you, Mr. Pentland," Christy called. "Why don't you just leave it by the door?" "Well, Miz Christy, I don't mean to be ornery —" Mr. Pentland stroked his whiskered chin — "but I reckon that's not such a good idea." "As you can see, we're in the middle of an arithmetic lesson, Mr. Pentland," Christy explained. She pointed to the blackboard, where fifteen-year-old John Spencer was carefully adding a long column of numbers. "I'm sorry to interrupt your learnin'," Mr. Pentland said, shifting his mail bag from one shoulder to the other, "but this is what you might call a mighty big special delivery." The students murmured excitedly. "Go on and get it, why don't you, Teacher?" urged Ruby Mae Morrison, a red-haired thirteen-year-old who was the school's biggest gossip. "We have more important matters to attend to, Ruby Mae," Christy said in a professional tone. But the truth was she couldn't help wondering what Mr. Pentland had brought. Could it be a package from her parents, back in North Carolina? In her letters home, she had urged them to help her locate much-needed supplies for the mission school. Christy's mother had promised to talk to the women's group at their church about gathering clothing and shoes for the poor mountain children. Christy had even written several companies about the mission's desperate need for supplies, requesting donations of mattresses, soap, food, window shades, and cleaning supplies. She'd contacted the Bell Telephone Company, asking them to donate wires and equipment for a telephone, since nobody in the area owned one. And although she knew they probably wouldn't answer, she'd even written the Lyon & Healy Company in the hope of obtaining a piano for the mission. Although weeks had passed, none of the companies had responded. Perhaps, Christy thought excitedly, this delivery today is the first answer to my letters! "I have to admit I'm curious about the delivery, Mr. Pentland," Christy said, "but it would be wrong to interrupt John in the middle of his arithmetic work." John was a gifted student who was especially strong in mathematics. Even before the school had opened, he'd managed to do all the problems in a worn, old geometry textbook by himself. "Miz Christy," John said, "I could hold off on my figurin', if'n you want to see about the special delivery." "No, John," Christy replied, "you go ahead and add that last column. By the way, you've done a great job so far. I'm proud of you." She turned to Mr. Pentland. "I'll deal with the mail during the noon recess, Mr. Pentland." "Truth to tell," Mr. Pentland said, his deep-set eyes gleaming, "I'm not rightly sure the mail will wait that long." "Is it a big package?" Christy asked. Mr. Pentland nodded slowly. "Biggest I ever did deliver." "Where is it now?" "Over to the back side of the school." "I wonder if it's from one of the businesses I wrote," Christy said. "Looks like a donation for the mission, near as I can figure." "It's not a mattress, is it?" "No'm." Mr. Pentland grinned. "Although like as not you could sit on it, if'n it were willin'." "I don't understand —" "Come on, Teacher," cried Creed Allen, a freckled nine