Angel of the Cove (12 page)

“I know that part. He told me. But why didn't he go back to school?”

“We had lots of sick folks in the Cove, and me and Doc Prentiss were pert near worn out from takin' care of everybody. Simon stayed on to help. By the time the worst had passed, it was too late for him to finish the school year. He thought he'd go back in the fall, but he didn't.”

“Why not?”

“'Cause the church here didn't have no preacher, and the folks asked Simon to stay on 'til they found somebody. He's been the preacher ever since.”

“And the church members still haven't found a replacement after three years?”

Granny nodded. “That's right. I reckon as time passed folks decided they wanted Simon for the preacher and didn't bother lookin' nowhere else for one.”

Anna sank back in her chair and thought about what Granny had told her. She wondered how Simon felt about what had happened to him. “Granny, does Simon regret not getting to finish school?”

A sad smile pulled at Granny's mouth. “I 'spect that's somethin' you'll have to ask him yourself. He won't give me a straight answer 'bout it, but maybe he'll tell you.”

Anna shook her head and directed her attention back to the peas in her lap. “I doubt that. Like I said, it's really not my business. I shouldn't have asked.”

Before Granny could say anything, a voice called from the front yard. “Anybody home?”

Granny glanced in the direction of the sound, and a broad smiled deepened the creases on her face. “It's Simon. That boy sure is a-comin' round here a lot.”

Anna busied herself shelling the peas as Simon walked around the house. She hoped her face didn't give away the fact they'd been discussing him a few moments before.

Simon stopped beside Granny's chair and held out a string of fish. “Here you are. I been over to Abram's Creek and thought you might like to have these.”

Granny's eyes widened. “Rainbow trout! You shore do know how to make yourself welcome. We'll have 'em for dinner. I 'spect you ain't got no plans, so you can eat with us too.”

He laughed. “Thanks, Granny. I'll clean these for you.”

She motioned to the house. “There's a pan on the table inside you can put 'em in when you git through. Then I got another job for you.”

“What's that?”

“Me and Anna been a-peelin' more of them June apples, and we got a big bucketful. I need you to climb up on the roof and spread 'em out to dry for me.”

Simon nodded. “Just as soon as I get the fish cleaned.” He glanced at Anna. “Afternoon, Anna. How did you make it with the Ferguson children?”

She looked up and smiled. “Fine, Simon. At least I survived.”

He whistled a tune as he turned and headed to the house. Granny watched him go. “That boy shore do seem happy lately. Wonder what's gotten into 'im?”

Anna picked up a handful of peas. “I'm sure I don't know.”

Granny chuckled and resumed shelling. By the time they'd completed their task, Simon had the fish ready. Granny stood up and started scooping the pea hulls from the ground and dumping them in a basket. “Anna, you take them fish and the peas inside. I'm gonna toss these hulls in the field past the chicken coop. I'll be back in just a minute.”

Anna took the fish from Simon and grinned. “I'll take these inside then come back to help you. I want to make sure you do it right.”

His mouth curled into a smile, and he cocked an eyebrow. “I tell you what. If you have any doubts about my ability to do the job, maybe you should be the one to climb to the roof. I'll hand the bucket of apples up to you.”

She sniffed and straightened her shoulders. “No thanks. I'll just watch.”

“Then the least you can do is hold the ladder for me while I climb up.”

“Oh, I don't know. Maybe I'll remove it while you're on the roof and strand you up there.” She grinned and backed away.

He wagged a finger at her. “You have a wicked streak in you, Anna Prentiss.”

She turned toward the house and looked over her shoulder. “Just wait until you get to know me better. Remember, I grew up with an older brother.”

His laughter followed her as she stepped into the house. There was
something about Simon that made her feel good when she was with him. It was so easy to laugh and joke with him. She'd never felt that way with any other man she'd known, not even Paul, who had practically grown up at their house. Even though he'd been her friend, she had known she could never fall in love with the serious-natured young man. When she fell in love, it would be someone who made her laugh and someone she respected because he was good and kind and made her happy. Somebody like Simon.

Her eyes widened at the thought, and her face grew warm. She set the pan of peas on the kitchen table and pressed her palms to her hot cheeks. The pulse in her neck pounded. What was the matter with her? She couldn't think about falling in love. Nothing was going to distract her from Bellevue.

She rushed to the water bucket by the back door, scooped some water in the dipper, and drank it down. After a few moments her pulse slowed and her face grew cooler. She licked her lips, tugged at the waist of her dress, and smoothed a stray lock of hair into place before she walked toward the back door.

Just as she reentered the backyard, Simon emerged from the smokehouse with a ladder that looked as if it had seen better days. He propped it against the side of the house. “I think this'll hold me.”

Anna stopped beside the rickety ladder and let her gaze wander over it. It looked as if it hadn't been used in years. Concerned about its sturdiness, she wrapped her fingers around one of the rungs and pressed on it. “I don't know, Simon. It looks like some of the wood is rotten. Maybe you shouldn't use this.”

He chuckled, put his foot on the first rung, and shifted his weight onto it. He bounced on the step several times before he nodded. “This will be fine. Don't worry.”

Anna studied the ladder once more. “I think you should find something else to use.”

Simon sighed and shook his head. “I'm telling you it's okay.”

She looked up at the roof and frowned. “But that's a long way up.”

Simon shook his head and laughed. “It's not as bad as it looks from the ground. Granny's roof has the lowest pitch of any cabin around
here, and I'm only going to the edge. I won't be more than eight feet off the ground. I've climbed trees higher than that. Quit acting like a mother hen.”

“Well, if you're sure, but be careful.”

He put both feet on the first rung and inched up to the next. When he got to the third one, he smiled down at her. “It's all right. If you'll hand me the bucket of apples, I'll go on up.”

She did as he asked and watched as he reached the roof and climbed out onto it. “Those wooden shingles look slick, Simon. Be careful.”

He peered at her over the edge. “I've done this a hundred times, Anna. I'm not going to fall.”

Just as the words slid from his mouth his foot caught on a piece of loose roofing and he lurched sideways. Simon struggled to regain his footing, but he only succeeded in knocking the ladder away from the roof.

Anna jumped out of the way as the ladder fell away and crashed down at her feet. A few of the rungs had broken in half. Apples showered down on her head, and she threw her arms over her head to protect herself from the falling bucket. When it hit the ground, she looked up in fear. Simon, his fingers grasping the edge of the roof, dangled over the side of the house.

A scream tore from Anna's throat. “Hang on, Simon!”

She grabbed the ladder and tried to push it upright. But before she could scoot it underneath him, Simon lost his grip on the roof and plummeted downward. He hit the hard-packed dirt with a thud.

Anna rushed to where he lay and dropped to her knees. “Granny!” she screamed.

He lay unmoving on his back, his eyes closed. As Anna stared down into Simon's pale face, fear swept through her. What if Simon was dead? Or what if he had suffered injuries that would affect him for the rest of his life? She took a deep breath and placed her hand on his chest. He coughed, and his chest rose.

“Can you hear me, Simon?” He didn't move, and she glanced over her shoulder. Where was Granny? Had she not heard her call for help? She took a deep breath and yelled again. “Granny, I need you!”

Anna pressed her fingers to the pulse in his wrist and breathed a sigh of relief at the throbbing beat. Even after she was convinced that his pulse was steady, she didn't let go but covered his hand with her free one.

His eyelids fluttered open, and his eyes glazed as he stared up into the sky. He gasped a deep breath and shook his head as if to clear it.

Anna leaned closer to him and squeezed his hand. “Simon, are you all right?”

He stared up at her. “I-I think so.” He lay still for a moment. Then a slow smile curled his lips, and his dark eyes stared up at her. “I do believe, Miss Prentiss, you are trying to hold hands with me.”

Anna's mouth gaped open, and she stared down at their intertwined fingers before she squeezed his hand and laughed with relief. “Of all the impertinent remarks! And to think I was worried you'd killed yourself.”

At that moment Granny hurried around the side of the smokehouse and charged across the yard toward them. The rooster and hen who'd been pecking at the ground squawked and scuttled out of her path. “I was way out yonder in the field when I heared all the ruckus. I came as fast as these legs would take me. What in tarnation's happened?”

“Simon fell off the roof.”

Granny ran to him and dropped to her knees. Simon struggled to sit up, but she pushed him back down. “Be still, boy. I gotta see if you broke any bones.”

For several moments her hands pressed and probed, her sharp eyes looking for signs of pain on Simon's face. Finally she sat back on her heels and smiled. “I reckon you ain't broke nothin'. How you feel?”

Simon inched into a sitting position and rubbed his head. “Like I just fell off a roof.”

Anna struggled to control the grin that tugged at her mouth, but Granny convulsed in laughter. Granny shook her finger in his face. “Boy, you gotta be more careful.”

“It just knocked the breath out of me. I'll be okay.”

With a hand on either elbow Granny and Anna helped Simon to
his feet. He stood between them for a few moments, his body swaying back and forth.

“Here, boy,” Granny said, putting his arm around her shoulder. “Lean on me and Anna. We'll git you inside.”

He looped his other arm across Anna's shoulders and together they limped their way into the house. When they got inside they sat him in a chair at the kitchen table. His face turned crimson at their stares. “Now don't fuss over me. Just let me sit here for a few minutes.”

Anna slid into the chair next to him. “You're lucky you didn't kill yourself. I thought you were either dead or crippled.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “Are you sure you didn't move that ladder and make me fall?”

Her eyes grew wide. “What?”

His lips twitched, and he glanced at Granny. “Well, you did threaten me. I'm just wonderin' if I need to watch out for you from now on.”

Her face grew warm. “Of all the…”

He gazed up at Granny. “You'd better sleep with one eye open, Granny. This woman can't be trusted.”

Anna took a deep breath, leaned over, and arched an eyebrow. “I know what you're trying to do, Mr. Martin, and it won't work.”

He scooted his chair backward. “And just what is that, Miss Prentiss?”

“Ever since I came here you've taken a lot of pleasure in teasing me. You like to see me get flustered, but it's not going to happen today.”

“And why's that?”

The memory of the fear she'd felt when she knelt over Simon sent a chill up her spine, and she swallowed hard. “Because I was so scared when you fell.” She tried to blink back the tears flooding her eyes, but she couldn't. “I was afraid you'd been killed. I'm so glad you weren't hurt.”

Simon's Adam's apple bobbed, and he nodded. “That means a lot to me, Anna.”

Granny put her arm around Anna's shoulders and smiled. “Well, we've all been blessed today. Simon's not hurt, and I'm blessed to have
you two here. It's been a long time since my cabin had this much life in it.” She hugged Anna closer. “I shore am glad you come to the Cove, darlin'.”

Simon's eyes softened. “Me too. I think you're just what we've needed around here.”

Anna looked into his eyes, and for a moment she forgot New York and the letter she had to earn from Granny before the summer ended. All she wanted was to enjoy being with this man whose smile made her heart race.

G
ranny's buggy bounced along the road that wound through the Cove, but Anna ignored the bumps and concentrated on the warm Sunday morning sunshine. The crisp mountain air filled her lungs as she breathed in the scent of honeysuckle and pine that drifted on the breeze. She turned her face up to the sun and closed her eyes. A sense of peace rippled through her body at the beauty of God's handiwork.