Mountain Homecoming (21 page)

She jumped up from her chair and hurried to help her mother and aunt. She didn't think about Uncle Charles's words again until she was in bed later that night. Had he detected something between her and Matthew? If so, he was more observant than her parents. Granny said she couldn't understand why they couldn't see it, but neither had asked her about it.

She smiled and slipped under the covers. For now, the fewer people who knew how she felt the better for her, but she had promised Granny she would tell her parents when Stephen left. She wanted to keep the secret tucked away in her heart for now. Maybe Matthew would declare his intentions, as Granny said, before long. Then they would tell her family together.

Sighing in happiness, she closed her eyes and said a prayer of thanks to God for bringing her brother and uncle home. Tonight had been one of the best nights she'd had in a long time, and she was glad Matthew had been there to share it with her.

With breakfast over, Matthew stepped out the back door of the cabin and stared at the dark clouds hanging over the mountains. Even the threat of rain couldn't dampen his spirits this morning. He was still thinking about the good time the family had enjoyed the night before with Stephen and Doc. The laughter and the love he'd seen around the supper table made him wish that he could really be a part of the Martin family, not just a guest in their home.

He shook the thought from his head and walked toward the barn. He would have liked to linger at the breakfast table longer and listen to the stories Doc and Granny were telling about their early days in the Cove, but he needed to be on his way.

He'd almost reached the barnyard when a wagon rattled into the front yard, and a woman's voice rose in a scream. “Anna! Anna! I need help!”

Matthew turned and ran back to the cabin and around the side to the front yard. The front door flew open, and Simon and Anna ran onto the porch at the moment he rounded the corner of the house. He stopped in surprise at the sight in front of him.

Laura Ferguson pulled back on the reins of the team pulling a farm wagon and set the brake with her foot. He shook his head in disbelief that a petite woman like Laura had been able to hook the horses to the wagon, much less drive them here. But mountain women were used to filling in where they were needed. And from the fear on her face, he knew she was in great need today.

Anna and Simon ran down the steps. “Laura, what's wrong?”

She wrapped the reins around the brake and scrambled over the seat into the back of the wagon. “It's Pete. He's hurt bad. Help me, please.”

Matthew ran to the back of the wagon, released the tail gate, and peered into the bed of the wagon where Pete lay unconscious. His stomach roiled at the pool of blood that surrounded Pete's body. Anna was already climbing in, and he and Simon gave her a boost.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Pete was outside a-cuttin' wood this morning when he made a mislick with the axe. It came down and cut his leg real bad. I didn't know what to do, but I brought him here to you and Granny 'cause it's closer than Doc Harrison's house. Kin you help him?”

Anna raised the blood-soaked cloth that covered Pete's leg. She bit down on her lip and replaced the cloth, then reached out and grasped Laura's shoulder. “You did right, Laura. He might have bled to death before you could have driven all the way to Dr. Harrison's house. Besides, Uncle Charles is here, and he'll help us.”

Laura glanced toward the house and breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank the Lord for Doc a-bein' here. I reckon I done the right thing.”

Matthew glanced toward the house and saw Doc and Rani step onto the porch. “It's Pete Ferguson. He has a bad axe wound.”

Doc pursed his lips and turned to go back inside. “Bring him in the kitchen, Simon, and I'll get my bag.”

Anna motioned for Matthew and Simon. “Pick him up, but be careful of his leg.”

Stephen ran down the steps and joined them as they pulled Pete's limp body from the back of the wagon. The three of them carried him up the steps and into the kitchen where Granny waited with the table ready for them to lay him down.

When Pete was settled, Stephen turned to his mother. “Can I stay and assist? This is my first time to see an injury like this, and I want to help out.”

She and Simon exchanged quick smiles. “I hope you make out better than I did the first time I had to help Granny with a similar case. But Matthew, why don't you go on to your farm? I know you've got a lot to do today.”

He shook his head. “I'll wait to see how Pete makes it.”

Granny poured some hot water from the kettle into a pan. “Then go on out on the front porch and help Rani settle Laura down. We don't need her bustin' in here while we're working.”

He nodded. “All right, Granny. Call me if you need me.”

He cast one last glance at Pete before he turned and hurried back to the porch. Laura was seated there, and Rani knelt in front of her and held her hands. “Mrs. Ferguson,” she was saying, “would you like something to eat or drink while we're waiting? We have some coffee left from breakfast.”

Laura shook her head. “Thank you kindly, Rani, but my stomach is just tied up in knots right now. I heared Pete a-screamin' for me, and I nearly fainted when I seen what had happened.” She cast a worried glance in the direction of the front door. “He's gonna be all right, ain't he? I don't know what I'd do if'n anything happened to him. He's all I got now.”

Rani patted Laura's hand. “Now, now. Don't talk like that. You have a wonderful family. There's Ted and Lucy and George. They love you so much and you know they'd do anything for you.”

Laura's eyes filled with fresh tears. “Lucy and Ted done moved out of the Cove. I won't hardly ever see them again. And only the Lord knows where George is.”

Matthew and Rani exchanged surprised glances. “What do you mean?” Rani asked.

Tears trickled down her cheeks. “George ain't been home much lately. He's taken up with a bad crowd, and he came home drunk a few times. The last time it happened Pete told him not to come back 'til he was ready to settle down and act like a man.”

“Oh, Mrs. Ferguson, I'm so sorry.”

The woman wiped at her eyes. “Pete's been real upset about it, and he's a-blamin' me for a lot of it. Says I was always too easy and always made excuses for George 'cause he was my baby.” She leaned forward and gazed into Rani's eyes. “But you know he's a good boy, Rani.”

Rani nodded. “Maybe he's just lost his way right now. But I know you raised him right, and he'll come around in time.”

A sob escaped Laura's mouth. “If'n he don't get killed first. The last time he come home drunk Pete found bottles of moonshine in his saddle bags. He said it was for a feller over to Wear's Valley. Pete asked him if he was a-workin' at somebody's still, and they had a terrible argument. George said what if he was making moonshine, it paid better than scratching out a living in the dirt. That's when Pete told him to leave, and we ain't seen him since.”

Rani's face paled, and she swallowed. “I'm so sorry, Mrs. Ferguson.”

Her lips trembled. “I'm so a-feared the sheriff's gonna ride up one day and tell us he raided a moonshine still and George is in jail for making illegal liquor. Or worse yet, that he was shot and killed trying to get away from the law. I don't know what I'll do if that happens.”

Rani cast a helpless glance in Matthew's direction. “You can't think like that.”

Laura nodded, and then clamped her hands over her eyes. “That's what Pete says, but I cain't help it, and now Pete's hurt real bad.” She took a deep breath. “Oh, Lord, please don't let him die,” she wailed.

Matthew eased down into the chair next to Laura. “That's what we're all praying right now. But he couldn't have a better team working on him than Doc and Granny, and Anna. I think God led you to bring Pete here today because He knew this is where he'd get good care. I know they'll do everything they can for him.”

Laura lowered her hands to her lap, and a brief smile flickered on her face. “That's right nice of you, Matthew. I seen you at church a few times, but I ain't talked to you since you come home. Are you glad to be back?”

“I am.”

Rani grasped Laura's hand and leaned closer to her. “And we're all going to sit here and pray until Mama comes out and tells us how Mr. Ferguson is.”

Laura looked from one to the other. “Thank you for bein' so good to me today. I guess we just have to leave this all up to the Lord.”

Rani nodded, leaned back, and closed her eyes. Her lips moved, but Matthew couldn't make out the words she prayed. He wondered how Laura's words about George had affected her. He'd tried to tell her George's choices weren't her fault, but he didn't think she had accepted that yet.

After a moment he closed his eyes and offered his own prayer for Pete Ferguson's well-being. As always he ended with the words he'd prayed every day since childhood.
Don't let me be like my father. Make me a better man
.

Matthew opened his eyes a few minutes later and smiled at the steady gaze Rani directed at him. Laura still sat with her eyes closed, and neither he nor Rani spoke. They didn't have to. She stared at him with an intensity like he'd never experienced. And in her gaze he recognized what he'd been missing in his life. Rani loved him, and the thought almost took his breath away. He hoped she could see the same in his eyes.

He smiled, and she nodded. Their silent communication confirmed what he'd known was taking place in their lives. Now he just had to figure out what they were going to do about it.

Laura opened her eyes and sat up straight. “How long has it been since they carried Pete inside?”

With the moment shattered, Matthew turned his attention back to Laura. “They haven't had time to finish yet. We'll just have to be patient.”

An hour later, Matthew didn't know how much more patient he could be. He had paced up and down the porch for the last fifteen minutes and paused at the door from time to time to listen for sounds from inside the house. So far he hadn't been able to make out anything.

He walked to the opposite end of the porch from where Rani and Laura sat and had just turned to walk back when Doc stepped out of the house. All three of them hurried to him before he could take a second step.

Laura clutched at Doc's arm. “How is he?”

Doc smiled and patted her hand. “He's doing fine, Laura. The cut wasn't nearly as bad as the blood made it look. We were able to stop the bleeding and sew up the wound. He's going to have to stay off his feet for a few weeks, but I think he'll be back to normal before you know it.”

Laura's body sagged, and Matthew slipped an arm around her waist to steady her. “Thank You, Lord, thank You for sparing Pete's life.”

“I don't want to move Pete today,” Doc continued. “We've got him settled in the bed in Stephen's room. You can go in and see him, and you can stay in there with him tonight. If he does all right by tomorrow, we'll help you get him home. I'll be leaving for Maryville in a few days, but Anna will continue to come each day and check on him.”

Laura wiped at the tears on her face and smiled. “I reckon there ain't nowhere on earth folks would be so good as they are in the Cove. The Lord sure blessed me to put me among such friends.” Her brow wrinkled into a frown. “I reckon as soon as I see Pete I need to go home and tend to our livestock. Then I'll come back.”

Matthew shook his head. “I'll do that for you, Mrs. Ferguson. In fact, while Pete's laid up I'll come by in the mornings and afternoons to take care of your animals. And I can chop wood for you and, well, do anything else you need.”

Laura turned her head and stared at him. “That's real kind of you, Matthew. Your ma had a good heart, and I reckon she'd be real proud of you for offerin' to help me. You must be a lot like her.”

Matthew couldn't speak as Laura followed Doc into the house. When they'd disappeared inside, he turned back to Rani. A slight smile pulled at her lips. He swallowed hard. “Did you hear what she said, Rani? She said I was a lot like my mother.”