Beyond These Hills (22 page)

Granny stirred in her chair and looked at Simon. “Don't forgit 'bout my farm. If'n you sell your land, remember you got mine to sell too. I want that money going in on wherever you live.”

Simon shook his head. “I know you gave Anna and me the deed to your property years ago, but we've always thought of it as yours. Any money that comes from the sale of that farm will be yours.”

A sad smile pulled at her mouth, and her gaze drifted to those gathered around the table. “Then if it's mine, I want it a-goin' to build a place for all of you to live.”

“A place for all of
us
to live, Granny,” Simon corrected.

Anna reached over and covered Granny's hand with hers. “Of course you'll be with us wherever we go.”

Granny's chin trembled as she stared into Anna's eyes. “You been more like a daughter to me than my own flesh and blood ever was, Anna,” Granny said. She looked at Simon. “And you been the son I never had.” Her gaze drifted to Matthew, Rani, and Laurel. “And you been my grandchildren. I love you all as much as if I'd given birth to this family, but I won't be a-goin' with you when you leave the Cove.”

Everyone sat in shocked silence for a moment before Anna gave a nervous laugh. “Oh, Granny. Don't say that. Where one of us goes, we all go.”

Granny shook her head. “Not this time, darling. I'll be stayin' behind.”

Rani frowned and glanced at Matthew as if he could make Granny understand the situation they found themselves in. When he shrugged, she sighed and faced Granny. “Think about what you're saying. You can't stay behind alone. You have to come with us.”

“No, child, I don't. I'm ninety-one years old. I've lived all my life
in this here valley, and I cain't see myself livin' nowhere else. I been a-talkin' to the Lord about this, and I've asked Him to take me on home with Him. There ain't no use in my tryin' to go nowhere else. My husband and daughter are both buried up there in the church cemetery, and I want to rest beside them in this part of the earth I love.”

Simon got up and walked over to Granny's chair. He bent over her and put his arm around her shoulders. “Now, Granny, none of us know what God has planned for us. He may want you to keep on being the head of this family in the outside world. But I promise you if I'm still living when you pass away, I'll bring you back to the church cemetery.”

She reached up and patted Simon's cheek. “You've always been a sweet boy, Simon, and I love you. But I don't think I'll be a-leavin' here.”

Anna threw her arms around Granny and hugged her. “I can't stand to hear you talk like that, Granny.”

Granny reached up and stroked Anna's hair. “Don't cry, darlin'. Things are a-gonna work out for all of us. When the time comes, remember you and Simon are to have the money for my land.”

“We'll remember,” Simon said.

Granny sighed and straightened in her chair. “Good. Now if I'm really the head of this fam'ly like Simon says, I'll tell you what I think. Matthew's got the right notion. I say build the house and shop over at Gatlinburg and move over there where you can all be together. Just don't forget to keep an eye on things in the Cove.”

Simon shrugged and looked at Matthew. “Then I guess it's settled. Let's get on with plans to move to Gatlinburg.”

“Okay, Simon. We'll head over next week to see about purchasing the property and getting a builder. Maybe we'll be ready to move by spring.”

He glanced around the table at the faces of the people he loved. Simon had his arm around Anna, who wiped at the tears rolling
down her cheeks. Laurel, who had remained quiet throughout the meeting, bit her trembling lip and looked like she was about to cry. Rani, his rock since the day he'd first seen her at the mountain laurel plant near his old cabin, returned his gaze without wavering. She had the look of a woman who could take on whatever the world threw at her and survive. He loved her more each day than he had the one before, and he couldn't imagine his life without her. He had no idea what lay ahead for his family, but he knew Rani would be by his side, encouraging and supporting him every step of the way.

A week later, Laurel sat on the front porch at her grandparents' home and stared at the mountains in the distance. She wiped the perspiration from her forehead and wondered how much cooler it was in those hills than in the valley this afternoon. She'd always enjoyed sitting on her grandparents' front porch and watching the mists swirl about the mountains, but today the haze appeared thicker than usual.

This had to be the hottest day of the summer. From the looks of things, that might change soon. The heat combined with the heavy vapor from the mountains had produced a thunderhead in the distance. They were in for a storm soon. Then the temperature would drop. She hadn't much more than finished the thought when the first breeze of the afternoon rustled the leaves on the trees.

“You gonna hold onto that there bean all day or are you gonna snap it?” Granny's voice cut into her thoughts, and she jumped.

She stared down at the green bean she held and then at Granny, whose wide grin made Laurel's face burn. She broke the bean into several pieces and dropped it into the pan in her lap. “I guess I was daydreaming.”

“Seems like you been doin' that a lot lately. Land's sakes, girl, all
afternoon you been quieter than a possum tryin' to fool folks into thinkin' he's dead. Is somethin' worryin' you?”

Laurel sighed and shook her head. Truth be told she had been a little at loose ends lately, but it was nothing a relief from the heat wouldn't fix. She picked up another green bean and snapped it. “I've had a lot on my mind lately. You know, with Charlie gone and all. I guess I got distracted from breaking these green beans for Nana.” She glanced around. “Which reminds me, where did Willie go?”

“He's spent most of the afternoon out at the barn, but he's in the kitchen with Anna right now.”

“Oh, good. I promised Mama I'd keep an eye on him while she and Poppa were gone to Gatlinburg. I don't know what Mama would do if something happened to him. She's grieving over Charlie enough, but then we all are.” She sighed and picked up another bean.

Granny planted her cane on the porch beside her rocker and rested her hand on top of it. She regarded Laurel with a steady stare. “We're all upset over Charlie takin' off. He should've had more sense than to worry his family like he's done. But I git the feelin' that there's somethin' else worryin' you. Want to tell ole Granny what it is?”

Laurel smiled and shook her head. “What else would I have to be worried about?”

“Oh, I don't know. Maybe a certain young man we ain't seen much of lately. How long has it been since Andrew come around?”

Laurel's face burned, and she busied herself with snapping another bean. “Oh, I don't know. A few weeks, I think.”

“You
think
?”

The tone of Granny's voice told Laurel her nonchalant attitude hadn't fooled her. Laurel's hands stilled, and she sat back in her chair. “I haven't seen Andrew since he came to church when Jimmy was here. That was nearly three weeks ago.”

“Did somethin' happen?”

Laurel blinked back the tears that filled her eyes at the thought
of her last conversation with Andrew. “We decided it would be better if we didn't pursue a friendship.” Laurel glanced at Granny, who sat silent. “At least that's what he said.”

Granny's eyebrows arched. “And you didn't agree?”

“Well, yes, I did agree. That's the reason Andrew said we didn't need to see each other anymore. He knew I didn't want it.”

Granny nodded. “Then I guess ev'rything worked out all right 'cause that's what you wanted too.” Granny's eyes narrowed. “Is that what you wanted, Laurel?”

“Yes…yes, of course it is.” She licked her lips. “At least I thought it was.”

“You
thought
it was? What do you think now?”

Laurel set the pan of beans she'd been snapping aside, scooted onto the floor at Granny's feet, and laid her head in Granny's lap. A tear trickled from her eye. “I don't know, Granny. I've never been so confused in my life. We're about to lose our home. Our family's talking about building a pottery studio and a house outside of Gatlinburg. A part of me wants to blame Andrew because I'm going to have to leave the Cove.”

Granny stroked her hair. “What does the other part of you say?”

Laurel swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut. “The other part of me wants to see him so badly I can't stand it. I liked being with him.” She sat up and stared up at Granny. “He kissed me once, and I thought my heart would beat right out of my chest.”

Granny laughed. “I reckon I remember that feelin'. Nothin' like it in the world. Sounds to me like you got your feelin's for Andrew all mixed up in your head. What you gonna do 'bout it?”

“Nothing. I think it's best to let it alone.”

“But why? If you like the boy and he likes you, what's keepin' you from each other?”

“I don't know if I can ever forget that he helped put my family out of the Cove.”

Granny frowned. “I thought we done had this conversation once
'bout showin' respect to the government. I guess I'll have to remind you.”

“No. I remember, but it's hard to do.”

Granny reached for Laurel's hand and stroked it. “None of us is happy 'bout what's a-comin'. We're all gonna be moved out of our valley, but we cain't change things. We got to trust the Lord to take care of us no matter where we go. I don't know what the Lord has planned for you. Maybe there's some nice young man outside this valley somewhere just a-waitin' for you to come along. Then maybe God sent Andrew here so you would have a strong man to lean on when you leave.”

“It's hard to know what to do, Granny.”

“It always is, child. All we can do is follow what we think God wants us to do.” She put her fingers under Laurel's chin and tilted her face up. “But don't be afraid to have a little faith. Don't turn your back on something that could be wonderful just because you're scared. Trust God to take care of you.”

Laurel smiled. “I will, Granny. But I think it's too late with Andrew. He sounded determined that he wouldn't be seeing me anymore.”

“Then you ask God to show you what He wants from you, and things will turn out fine.” She smiled. “Now why don't you take them green beans in the kitchen to your grandmother? She wanted to cook them for supper.”

Laurel pushed to her feet. “All right. Then I think I'll go out to the barn and see how much Molly's puppies have grown. I won't be gone long.”

Granny waved her hand in dismissal. “Take all the time you want. I'm a-gonna sit here and watch the storm roll in. Tell Anna I'm not ready to come inside yet.”

“I'll tell her, Granny. And thanks for the talk. You always make me feel better.” Laurel turned to leave but a gasp from Granny made her whirl around. Granny's mouth was drawn down at the corner
and her hands clutched the arms of her chair. “Granny!” she cried. “Are you all right?”

Granny's face relaxed and her mouth pulled into a slight smile. “I'm fine, darlin'. Just had a pain. I've had a headache all day.”

Laurel set the pan of beans down and placed her hands on Granny's forehead. “Do you have a fever?”

“No, child, I ain't got no fever.” She waved a hand in Laurel's direction. “I have pains all the time. I reckon it ain't unusual for somebody ninety-one years old to have a few aches. Now take those beans to your grandmother so she can cook 'em.”

Laurel tilted her head to one side and stared down at Granny. “Are you sure nothing's wrong?”

“I'm fine. Now scat and let me have some peace and quiet. I want to soak up my mountains for a while.”

Laurel laughed and picked up the pan. “All right, then, if you're sure. I'll tell Nana to check on you in a little while.”

As Laurel entered the house, she thought about the things Granny had said about her and Andrew. She didn't see how she and Andrew could ever have a serious relationship. There were too many obstacles in their way, but perhaps they could be friends.