Mountain Homecoming (31 page)

Her eyes grew wide, and her breath caught in her throat. Even though she had voiced the words, it surprised her that he agreed. “S-so you think I don't have any talent for working with clay?”

He shook his head, dropped his arms to his side, and straightened. “I didn't say that. I said you may never be any good at it.”

She frowned. “But…I don't understand what you mean.”

He walked over to her, and she almost flinched at the disappointment she saw in his eyes. “I was impressed the first time I saw one of your pieces at your uncle's house. But you've been here for a month now, and I've begun to wonder if you have what it takes to be a successful artist.”

His words stung like a slap in the face. She had worked so hard to impress David, but she had failed as she always did. “I've always doubted I had the talent for it. It just hurts a little to know you agree with me.”

He frowned and shook his head. “I don't agree that you lack the talent. You are very gifted, Rani, but you may never be successful because you don't believe in yourself. Why would you doubt yourself when you are so blessed? Do you really believe perfection is the mark of a true artist? If you do, then you're wrong. Nothing is perfect in this life. Not me, not you, and not one of the pieces either of us will ever make. We all have our imperfections, but we learn to adapt.”

“I know that.”

He frowned. “You don't act like you do. I've watched you try over and over. You've destroyed pieces that were on their way to being beautiful works of art. I think for some reason you have it in your head that you're not worthy of the gift God has given you, and you intend to show Him. Why is that?”

Rani lifted her chin and glared at him. “You're wrong, David.”

“Am I?” He tilted his head to the side and stared at her. “You're the daughter of a minister. I'm sure you know the parable Jesus told about the man who entrusted his servants with an amount of money. To one he gave five, to another two, and to another one. The first and second man went to work and increased their fortune. The third one hid his money and did nothing with it. When the master returned, he was angry with the third man. He took his money and gave it away.”

“I know that story. I've heard it dozens of times.”

“But have you ever thought about what it means, Rani? God has given each of us some special gift, and we're accountable to Him for how we use it. He's given you the ability to make beautiful pottery that could bring joy to people all over the country. Instead of working to improve that gift, you complain and feel sorry for yourself. Nothing in this life comes easy, Rani. If you want to learn from me, I'll teach you. But you have to work hard, and you have to quit acting like a spoiled schoolgirl.”

Willie's face flashed into her mind, and she blinked back tears. She remembered how he had watched her dig her first fire pit and helped her gather the wood for it. Had her guilt over his death caused her to doubt the gift God had given her?

Rani's lips trembled, and she turned away from David. She wiped at the tears in her eyes and took a deep breath before she turned back to him. “You're right, David. My family has always encouraged me to push myself more, but I've been afraid to do it.”

He frowned. “But I don't understand why. You have ability like few I've ever seen. If you would just trust yourself and open yourself up to the gift God wants you to share with others, you would find great pleasure in your work.”

“I've always found pleasure in it, but I've told myself it was something I do for myself and my family. Someone told me once that he thought people would pay to buy my pieces, but I didn't believe him. Do you think they would?”

“I know they would. In fact if you'd agree, I'd like to include some of your pieces in my exhibit in Knoxville next spring.”

She gasped and shook her head in surprise. “You'd really take some of my work with you?”

“I would. I think it would be a great addition to the show. We've got eight months until then, and that's enough time to do something really extraordinary. And you and your uncle can accompany me to Knoxville for the exhibit. Would you like to do that?”

“Go to Knoxville? Oh, I would love that.” Before she realized what she was doing, Rani threw her arms around David's neck and hugged him. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.” She pulled back and stared up into his eyes. “You're a good man, David, and you've been so kind to me. I want to learn everything you can teach me. Will you help me?”

“I will.” The muscle in his jaw twitched, and his gaze traveled over her face. “I only want you to be honest with yourself and with me.” He paused a moment and stared into her eyes. “Rani, why did you really come to Maryville?”

She started to say that she had only come to visit her uncle, but he had asked her to be honest with him. She took a deep breath. “I came to get over a man.”

“Is he the one who encouraged you with your pottery?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

His arms encircled her and drew her closer. “I'd like to help you forget him.”

The desire to kiss her sparkled in his eyes, and Rani knew she only needed to give the slightest encouragement. Instead she laid her cheek against his chest, closed her eyes, and wished it were Matthew holding her instead.

“Maybe you can,” she whispered. “Maybe you can.”

To some people it might seem like little more than a room with log walls, but to Matthew it meant home. He stood in the middle of his one-room cabin and let his gaze drift over the rough wooden walls. Since he'd moved in a few weeks ago, he'd worked on finishing the inside walls and making sure the cabin was ready for the coming winter, but there was still a lot of work to do. At least he had a roof over his head. He hoped one day he'd be able to do something to help out the men who'd given their time to build his home.

He walked over to the fireplace and lifted the lid on the black pot that hung over the glowing embers. His stomach growled at the smell that drifted up. Maybe by next year he'd be able to afford a wood stove and wouldn't have to cook over an open fire any more.

A knock sounded at the door, and he replaced the lid before heading across the floor. When he opened the door, he smiled at the sight of Simon, Anna, and Noah standing outside.

“Come in. It's good to have visitors.”

Anna held up a basket. “And we've come bearing gifts. Granny sent an apple pie, and I've baked you two loaves of bread.”

“I can't think of anything I'd rather have than some of your and Granny's cooking.”

They stepped into the cabin and he closed the door behind them. Anna looked around for somewhere to set the basket and frowned. “Don't you have a table?”

He chuckled and ambled over to stand beside her. “Not yet. And no chairs either. I guess we'll all have to stand, or sit on the floor.”

Noah plopped down on the floor and grinned up at Matthew. “Suits me fine.”

Matthew squatted beside the boy and chucked him under the chin. “How've you been, Noah? I thought you'd come help build my cabin, but you didn't.”

Noah frowned and glanced at Simon. “I wanted to come, but he said it was too dang'rous a place for a boy to be.”

Matthew laughed and stood. “Then you'll have to come visit me now that it's finished. Maybe you can help me make some chairs.”

Noah's eyebrows arched. “You gonna whittle 'em?”

Simon reached down and ruffled the boy's hair. “No, he won't whittle them, but we'll come back to help.” He turned to Matthew. “And that reminds me, John and I are coming over next week to help you pick your corn. It looks like it's ready to be harvested.”

“Thanks, Simon. I just have that one field I planted for grain for my livestock. Next year I hope to have more land cleared and a bigger crop. I was lucky I could get that one field in before it got too hot.”

“And I'm coming too,” Noah said. “I'll bring Scout. He follows me ev'rywhere I go.”

Matthew placed his hand on his heart and staggered backward. “Oh, no, you've taken Scout's loyalty away from me. What am I going to do?”

Noah jumped up. “I didn't mean to, Matthew. I'll tell him to like you ag'in.”

Matthew laughed. “I'm teasing you, Noah. I'm glad Scout's got somebody to play with. Since Rani and I are both gone, I guess he's mighty glad you came to live with the Martins.”

“I reckon I'm right glad too. I miss my ma, but I sure don't miss seein' my pa.” He sighed. “I just wish Miss Rani would come home. Sunday school ain't the same without her.”

Before Matthew could reply, Anna took Noah by the hand. “I've got some plates and forks in my basket. Why don't you and I try to find something to cut Granny's pie with? I know you were begging her for a piece before we left home.”

Noah's grin revealed the gap where his two front teeth had been days ago. “I'd like that.”

Matthew watched Anna and Noah settle on the floor in front of the fireplace before he turned back to Simon. “I guess the rest of you are missing Rani as much as Noah is.”

Simon sighed. “It's just not the same with her gone. I'm like Noah. I sure wish she'd come home.”

Matthew stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Have you heard anything from her since she left?”

“We had a letter yesterday. She says she's enjoying being with Doc, and she's working with a potter there in Maryville.”

“Is he the one Doc was telling us about when he was here in July?”

“I think so. His name's David Brann, and he has a studio there. She's learning how to use a potter's wheel, and she's really enjoying working with all the glazes he uses. She's all excited because he's doing a showing of his work in Knoxville next spring, and he's going to include some of her pieces.”

Matthew smiled. “Rani's pottery in a show. That's wonderful. Maybe working with this man was just what she needed to help her believe she has a gift.”

“Hey, you two,” Anna called out, “what are you talking about over there? Come and join Noah and me for a piece of pie!”

Matthew glanced in the direction of her voice and smiled. She had spread a cloth on the floor in front of the fireplace, and she and Noah had sat down on the floor. Simon chuckled and nudged Matthew in their direction. “It looks like we're having a picnic in front of your fireplace.”

“It sure does.”

Simon walked over to them, dropped down beside Anna, and accepted a plate that held a piece of pie. Sitting here with Simon and Anna reminded Matthew of the day he and Rani had eaten under the oak tree and he had shared his dream with her.

Now she was pursuing her dream somewhere else. From what Simon said, she must be enjoying her new life. There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't wish things could have been different for them. But wishing didn't make it happen, and he was glad she was moving on. He had no idea how he would do that.

A pounding at the door jerked Matthew from a sound sleep. He bolted into a sitting position on the pallet he'd made in front of the fireplace and listened for another knock. Had Simon and Anna returned? No, they'd left hours ago. He strained to hear another knock, but none came.