Why the cliffhanger?

I am not familiar with the history of this fine series. Why did the series ended on a cliffhanger? Was a second season planned but did not push through or was producers/directors/writers intention to end it that way? In my opinion, all that was lacking was maybe 2 extra minutes for Christy to choose and a wedding scene.

As it is, I have to buy the inferior pseudo-remake (Return to Cutter Gap, Change of Seasons, A New beginning) just to tie up the loose ends.

Still a very fine drama and every one was perfectly cast... unlike the said pseudo-remake where everyone except the returning characters seems to have been miscasted.