Mountain Homecoming (16 page)

He walked past the spot where they'd buried his father but didn't look down. He kept walking to the back as Granny had said. His gaze swept the gravestones, but he didn't see her.

Then he heard a sound—a woman crying. He spotted her lying across a grave. Her fingers scratched at the earth, and her body shook with deep sobs. He eased up, knelt beside her, and touched her shoulder.

She bolted into a sitting position and scooted backwards. Her eyes, red from crying, reminded him of a frightened animal. He bent closer. “Rani, are you all right?”

“M—Matthew, wh—what are you doing here?” A hiccup escaped her mouth.

“I noticed you'd left and wanted to make sure you were all right.” He glanced at the tombstone. “Is this your little brother's grave?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

He eased into a sitting position facing her. “I lost my little brother too. I know how much it hurts.”

Her chin trembled, and she took a deep breath. “But your brother died from getting sick. It was my fault Willie died.”

He drew back in surprise. “What?”

Another tear rolled down her cheek, and she wiped at it. The dirt on her hands mixed with the tears left dark smudges on her face.

“Willie always followed me everywhere I went, even when I climbed the big tree in the field behind our house. He'd beg me to let him climb, but I always told him he was too little. He'd get mad and tell me someday he'd show me he was big enough. Then he'd run back to the house.”

Matthew smiled. “That sounds like the way brothers and sisters argue. But that doesn't mean they don't love each other.”

“I know. I loved Willie so much, and he loved me too. Then one day when I was nine years old, Mama was busy canning peas from our garden. She asked me to watch Willie while she worked. I got angry because I wanted to go over to Josie's and play, so I treated Willie awful. I told him to leave me alone, that I didn't want to watch him, and I ran off and hid from him.”

Sorrow lined her face, and he wished he could say or do something to ease her pain. He swallowed hard. “Then what happened?”

“Sometime later I got really scared when I couldn't find him. So I ran and got Mama. We found him lying under the big tree I climbed all the time. I guess he decided he'd show me he was big enough, but he fell and broke his neck.” Her last words were lost in her sobs.

Matthew grasped her by the shoulders and pulled her to him. She pressed her face against his chest and moaned as she cried out her grief. He pressed his lips to the top of her head and kissed the dark hair that had intrigued him from the moment he first saw her. He tightened his embrace and whispered in her ear. “Let it all out, Rani. I'm here with you.”

He didn't know how long he held her. All he wanted was to comfort her, and he would stay with her as long as needed. After a few minutes, she calmed, but she kept her face pressed against him.

Finally she pulled away, sat up straight, and wiped at the tears again. “I must look a mess.”

He touched her face to help wipe away the muddy streaks, but his fingers lingered a moment before he trailed them down in a light caress. “No, you don't. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.”

Her dark eyes stared into his, and his heart pounded. “Am I?”

He grasped her hand and laced their fingers together. “I thought so the first minute I saw you at the mountain laurel bush.”

Her chin quivered. “Prettier than Becky Ledbetter?”

He smiled. “I don't remember what Becky looked like. All I could think about was finding you.”

Her hand trembled in his. “Thank you for coming to look for me. It…it means a lot to me.”

“I'm glad.” He glanced back at the tombstone. “But you can't blame yourself for Willie's death. You were a child at the time, and it was an accident.”

“That's what everybody tells me. I can't quit thinking that if I'd watched him like Mama asked, he'd still be alive.”

He squeezed her hand tighter. “Don't say that. I can't stand to see you hurting like this.”

She stared into his eyes, and his pulse raced. She leaned closer to him, so close he could feel her breath on his face. “What's happening with us, Matthew?”

“I don't know,” he whispered.

“I feel like there's something between us. Is it just me, or do you feel it too?”

His head told him to tell her he felt nothing, but he couldn't. He swallowed hard. “I feel it too.” He slid his hands up her arms and pulled her nearer until she was so close their lips almost touched. “But you're so young, Rani. You need friends nearer your age—like George.”

“I don't want George,” she said.

He started to pull her closer, but he stopped when the angry tone of a man's voice shattered the air. “So you don't want me, huh? Is he the reason you snuck off from me?”

Rani gazed over his shoulder, her eyes wide. Matthew turned and stared into George's face. Red splotches covered his cheeks, and rage filled his eyes.

Matthew pulled Rani to her feet and stepped in front of her to shield her from George's anger. “Rani didn't run off from you. She wanted to visit her brother's grave. I found her here.”

George glared at them, and a fleck of spittle escaped the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, it looked like the two of you found each other all right. I guess I know now why you ain't got no time for me anymore, Rani. If you wanted somebody dif'rent, why didn't you try to do better than Luke Jackson's son?”

Matthew's hands curled into fists, and his body stiffened. “I don't take that kind of talk from any man.” He took a step toward George, but Rani's hand on his arm restrained him.

She stepped in front of Matthew. “I'm sorry you're angry, George, but I told you I only felt friendship for you. I know tomorrow when you get over being angry you'll be sorry for your…your hateful words.”

He shook his head. “You're wrong 'bout that, Rani. I ain't the only one thinkin' Luke Jackson's son don't have no place in the Cove. I reckon you'll come to your senses in time, but don't expect me to be waitin' for you.”

George whirled and stomped across the cemetery. When he had disappeared from sight, Matthew groaned and raked his hand through his hair. “I'm sorry, Rani.”

Her eyebrows arched. “For what?”

“For making George so angry with you. I didn't mean to ruin your friendship.”

She didn't say anything for a moment. Then she reached for his hand and covered it with both of hers. “I've seen George's temper before. He'll sulk for a few days because he didn't get his way, then we'll be friends again. But that's all there's ever going to be between us.”

“But you heard what he said. There are people in the Cove who never will forget the things my father did. I would do anything before I would let you or your family be hurt because of that.”

She reached up and pressed one of her fingers against his lips. “Don't talk like that. You have to show everyone that you're not like him. You're not like your father. I know you can do that.”

He almost gasped aloud at the thought that Rani believed in him. He hadn't felt trust from anyone in years, and it thrilled him that he saw it in her eyes. “Rani, I'll try, but sometimes I believe I'm just like him.”

“I know you're not. And so do Mama and Poppa and Granny. We'll pray that you come to know it too.”

“Thank you.” He gave a slight nod, but in his heart he doubted he would ever reach that conclusion.

As he stared into Rani's face, he knew George was right about two things. He had come between her and George, and he was glad. There was something that thrilled him and scared him at the same time happening between him and Rani. Was that how love began? If so, he needed to tread lightly because George had been right about something else—Rani deserved somebody a lot better than Luke Jackson's son.

T
hree days after Granny's birthday Rani woke up early. She shivered in the predawn chill of her room and pulled the covers up to her chin. With Matthew leaving early every morning and getting back late, she'd barely seen him since Sunday. As she huddled under the quilt, she tried to remember everything she and Matthew had said to each other that day at the cemetery.

Had he really meant it when he said he'd thought her the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen? He'd certainly been on her mind ever since that day at the mountain laurel bush when she'd opened her eyes in the middle of the prayer…

She bolted upright in the bed and clamped her hand over her mouth. The prayer. He'd heard her! But he didn't understand the words. In fact she couldn't even be sure she'd pronounced them correctly. She hadn't uttered those words in years until that day when she'd felt a need to speak to God in the language of the people who'd lived in the Cove long before her. But she knew the intent of the prayer. And so did God.

Suddenly restless, she jumped out of bed and hurried to the window. As she did every morning, she pulled the curtain back, closed her eyes, and gave thanks to God for the dawning of a new day. When she opened her eyes, she sucked in her breath. The sight of the sun coming up over the mountains always thrilled her, but today she felt happier than she had in a long time. She wrapped her arms around her waist and leaned against the window frame. There was no need to wonder what caused this new joy in her heart, but it still amazed her. Although she hadn't admitted it at first, it had been there since the moment she whirled to see Matthew at the mountain laurel bush.

Poppa had said many times how he knew the minute he saw her mother she was the woman he'd been waiting for. She'd never believed it could happen to her. Until now. Maybe it had happened to her just like it did Poppa.

She tiptoed to the door and listened for sounds of anyone stirring in the kitchen, but she heard nothing. The door creaked as she opened it, and the sound echoed in the quiet house. Easing the door open wider, she stared into the hall. The door to Granny's room was closed, but Matthew's stood open. He must have gotten up early and left for his farm.

She dressed quickly and pulled a light shawl from the peg next to the door. As quietly as she could, she slipped from the house and into the backyard. She breathed in the crisp morning air that was laced with the sweet smell of honeysuckle. A horse whinnied from the direction of the barn. She held her breath as Matthew stepped into the barnyard and led his horse toward her.

When he stopped in front of her, she wondered if he could hear her heart beating. His horse pawed at the ground, and Matthew tightened his grip on the reins he held. “What are you doing up so early?”

“It just seemed like a good morning to get a head start on the day. I haven't seen much of you the last few days. Have you been avoiding me?”

His long eyelashes blinked, and he smiled. “No. I have a lot to do at the farm, and I've been trying to get an early start.”

Rani pulled her shawl tighter and tilted her head to one side. “I'm glad I got to see you before you left today.”

He stuck a finger under the brim of his hat and pushed it back on his head. “Did you want to tell me something?”

“I haven't talked to you since Sunday, and I wanted to thank you for the things you said. About Willie's death not being my fault.”

“I hope you'll come to believe it wasn't.”

She sighed. “Maybe in time, but I'm also sorry about the things George said. He was angry, and he was wrong about folks in the Cove being sorry you're back.”

He shook his head. “I doubt if he is, but I'm glad you think so.” He glanced up at the sun that had climbed higher in the sky. “I need to go. I have a lot to do today.”

She held out a hand to stop him. “I know you do, but would it interrupt your work too much if I came over there today? I need to check some things.”

He regarded her with a skeptical expression. “What kind of things? I have a feeling you know a lot more about my place than I do.”

Her face warmed, and she glanced at the ground. “I need to make sure I've gotten an accurate count of the number of bricks you need for your fireplace and chimney. I want to get started right away.”

“Are you sure you want to make those bricks? It sounds like a big job to me.”

“It's going to take some time to make all of them. That's why I want to get started as soon as possible. The base of the chimney is still there, but I'm not sure how many of those bricks will need to be replaced. And with the chimney starting at ground level and going up the side of the house, it's going to take more bricks than most of the ones in the Cove.”

“Will Simon come with you?”

She shook her head. “I doubt it. I heard him say last night he had some visits to make today.”

“What time do you think you'll be there?”

Rani hesitated before answering. The prospect of being alone with Matthew tempted her to suggest the idea that had formed in her mind the minute he walked out of the barn, but she didn't know how he would accept the notion. She took a deep breath. “How about if I come about noon and bring some food for us? Do you think you'd have time to sit down and eat with me?”