Angel of the Cove (14 page)

They stepped a little closer. The taller of the two smiled. “That shore was purty. I liked hearing you play.”

“Thank you. My name is Anna. Who are you?”

The girl who had spoken inched a little closer. “My name's Myrtice, and this here is my sister Hope. We like to sing, but there ain't been nobody to play for us lately.”

Anna motioned to the girls. “Would you like to see how the organ works?”

The girls smiled and crowded next to her. Myrtice pointed to the pedals. “What's them for?”

“You have to pump these to force air inside so it'll make a sound. See? Like this.”

She began to play again, and Myrtice's mouth fell open in a gap-toothed grin. “Look at that, Hope. Reckon we could ever learn to do that?”

Hope shook her head. “Don't think so, sister. But it shore does sound good.”

“Whatcha doin'?” A new voice sounded behind them.

Anna glanced around at two freckle-faced boys who'd just joined the group. Hope turned to the newcomer. “Miss Anna's showing us how she plays.”

One of the boys moved closer. “Show me.”

Within minutes all the children in the church were crowding around the organ and singing as Anna played. At the end of each song, another child would yell for them to do one more.

After several minutes Anna glanced over her shoulder. Except for the children, the church was empty. She closed the hymnal and smiled. “Oh, it's time to go home. I don't want your parents to be upset because I've kept you so long.”

Hope shook her head. “Naw, they won't care. They be outside visitin'.”

Anna stood up from the bench. “Well, we'd better join them. I'll see you next Sunday, and then we'll sing some more.”

When they stepped onto the porch the children clustered around her. Myrtice pulled on her dress. “You promise we can sing agin, Miss Anna?”

She leaned down and tugged one of the girl's braids playfully. “I promise, Myrtice.” She straightened and glanced around at all the children. “I enjoyed getting to know all of you. I hope I'll see you again next Sunday.”

With a whoop the children rushed down the church steps and scattered across the yard. Anna hesitated at the top of the steps and gazed at the adults standing in groups across the yard. Simon and Granny were standing beside her buggy.

Anna eased down the steps and glanced around at the congregation scattered across the church grounds. Several groups of men appeared deep in discussion and didn't seem to notice her exit the church. At the foot of the steps, two women stared at her for a moment before they turned and walked away.

She swallowed back her disappointment that no one had come forward to speak to her when she noticed John and Martha standing at the other side of the steps. A frown wrinkled Martha's forehead. “Sadie, Louise,” Martha called out. “Don't go.”

The two women stopped and turned to face Martha. “What is it?” the older lady asked.

Martha motioned Anna to join them. “I want you to meet Anna. She's new to our valley and don't know everybody yet.”

Anna stepped down from the porch and flashed a smile of gratitude at Martha before she turned to the two women who eased up beside her. She held out her hand. “I'm Anna Prentiss. I'm spending the summer with Granny Lawson, and I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you. I've never been anywhere as beautiful as your valley, and I received a great blessing from your church service today.”

The older woman studied her as if she was trying to decide if there was a hint of untruth in Anna's words. After a moment she held out her hand. “I'm Sadie Carter. I enjoyed havin' the organ to sing with today. You did a right good job.”

Anna smiled. “Thank you, Mrs. Carter. I consider that a great compliment.”

The other woman, who appeared to be in her twenties, held out her hand. “And I's Louise Adams.”

“I'm so glad to meet you, Mrs. Adams. I hope to see both of you again soon.”

Mrs. Carter nodded. “We 'spect we'll see you at church next Sunday.” She turned and headed toward a buggy parked at the side of the yard.

A shy smile pulled at Louise's face. “Goodbye, Miss Anna. It was nice meetin' you.”

Anna watched the two women hurry away before she turned back to Martha. “Thank you for introducing me.”

Martha grabbed her hands and smiled. “I know it's gonna be hard gettin' to know everybody, but you will. In the meantime you got Simon and Granny and me and John to help you. I want to git to know you better while you're here.”

Anna smiled and squeezed the woman's hand. “I want that too, Martha. I think we'll be great friends. Maybe we'll see each other soon.”

Martha looked at her husband, and he winked at her. They glanced toward Granny's buggy where Simon stood talking to her. “I 'spect we'll be a-seein' you. Sooner than you think.”

They walked toward their wagon, and Anna hurried to where Granny waited beside the buggy. “Go on and climb in,” Granny said. “I'll jest check on Jim 'fore we head home.”

Simon hustled to take the reins from her. “Let me do that, Granny.”

She waved him away with a flutter of her hands. “Nonsense. You talk to Anna. This ole horse and I won't be half a minute.”

Simon turned to her, and Anna's breath caught in her throat. His gaze drifted over her face. “So what did you think of our church?”

“I enjoyed the service very much, Simon. Your message was one I'll think about for a long time.”

His face flushed, and he cleared his throat. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“I liked your brother and sister-in-law too. They're a lovely couple.”

He smiled. “I'm glad. They mean a lot to me.”

He reached for her hand and helped her into the buggy, his fingers holding hers a bit longer than necessary. When she was settled in the seat, he leaned against the side of the buggy and stared up at her. “You made quite an impression on the folks here today, Anna.”

Her eyes grew wide and she shook her head. “How can you say that? Hardly anyone even spoke to me—except the children, I suppose.”

Simon propped his foot on the buggy step and leaned closer. “The Cove people appear reserved, and you have to prove yourself to them before they will accept you. I could see how they appreciated you playing the organ for them to sing, and then there was something more.”

Puzzled, she looked at him. “What?”

“It was how you treated their children. I saw it in the way you tamed the Ferguson children, and I saw it in the faces of the mothers who stood at the back of the church and watched their children singing with you after services. You were patient and kind, and everybody appreciated that. I think you've won the hearts of the Cove people.”

“But I don't understand. What am I to do when no one speaks to me or seems to want to talk to me?”

“Just remember, they're as afraid of not being accepted by you as you are of them. Don't be afraid to make the first move toward friendship, and they'll respond.”

In that moment Anna realized she had entered the church expecting the people to distrust her, and that's what she had seen. She had misjudged them just as she had misjudged Ted and Lucy at first. From now on, she decided, she would make every effort to get to know the people who inhabited this beautiful valley.

She glanced at Simon, and her faced warmed as it so often seemed to do when Simon was around. “I've liked everyone I've met. I hope I can become a part of this community while I'm here.”

His gaze flitted across her face before he glanced back at the church. “Well, I guess I'd better close the church up. I'll see you later.”

Granny stepped back to the side of the buggy, and Simon helped her climb in before he turned and walked back toward the church. Anna studied his retreating figure and thought of how handsome he'd looked standing in the pulpit earlier. She'd only known Simon for a few weeks, but for some reason she felt as if she'd known him all her life. There was kindness in his heart and concern for everyone he met.

Anna suddenly realized Granny was talking, and she pulled her attention back to the present. “I'm sorry—What did you say?”

“I said I need to git home and git dinner ready. Simon and John and Martha are a-comin' to eat with us.”

“I'm glad you invited them. It'll give me a chance to get to know Martha better.”

Anna closed her eyes and thought about Simon's words today and the voices of the people as they sang. Her fears about fitting into life in the Cove dissolved as she recalled the friendly manner of John and Martha and Simon's reassuring words. She might still be considered an outsider by some in the Cove, but something she didn't understand was drawing her to the people and their way of life here. She smiled as she realized the thought made her happy.

S
unday dinner at Granny's house proved to be very different from the meals Anna's family had shared together. Her parents had insisted that Sunday was a time for reflection about the blessings God had provided the week before, and conversation at the dinner table was discouraged. Not so around Granny's kitchen table.

Simon and John talked and laughed throughout the meal. She didn't think she'd ever seen two brothers who were closer, and it made Anna wish she'd had the same kind of relationship with her brother. Now too much had passed between them, and it was too late to forget the angry words that had been spoken, or the heartbreak they'd produced.

She glanced at Granny, who was shaking with laughter over something Simon had just said. Contentment welled up in her. It had been a long time since she felt such peace. Coming to Cades Cove had been one of the best decisions she'd ever made.

Anna swallowed her last bite of the apple pie Granny had baked before leaving for church and sighed contentedly. Across the table Simon grinned. “I hope you like your pie, Anna. I almost lost my life trying to provide you with the apples.”

Anna laid her fork on her plate and laughed. “I'm sure Granny will think of you every time she bakes an apple pie from now on.”

Martha giggled and wagged a finger at her brother-in-law. “It's a good thing you weren't killed. Granny might never have wanted to bake an apple pie again.”

A little shiver raced up Anna's spine at the memory of how scared she'd been that day. She clasped her hands in her lap. “Simon tried to make out like it was nothing more than falling down and skinning his knee. But when he was lying on the ground, I thought he was dead. I don't think I'll ever forget how he looked.”

Simon smiled. “I do have to say your face was rather pale.”

“I'm just glad it ended well.” She picked up the bowl of potatoes and spooned some into her plate. “Even if I have finished, I need another bite of these potatoes. They're the best I've ever eaten. What did you put in them, Granny?”

Granny chuckled and glanced at the others seated at the table. “Think we need to let Anna in on our mountain secret?”

John and Simon put their forks down and leaned forward, frowns pulling at their brows. Simon propped his elbows on the table and tented his fingers. “I don't know, Granny. You think we can trust Anna to guard the secret of the hills?”

Anna sat back in her chair and sighed. “Martha, I believe Simon takes great delight in teasing me. If I encourage him, he'll only tease me more about the big secret of the hills. If John's as bad as his brother, I don't know how you stand being around these two all the time.”

Martha laughed. “It can git mighty rough at times, but I guess I'm used to it.” She put her fork down and pushed her plate away. “But don't pay no mind to them, Anna. I'll tell you what the secret is. It's ramps.”

“What's ramps?”

“Kinda like an onion,” Granny said. “Better get used to the taste, Anna. We use 'em in ev'rything in the hills—taters, eggs, seasonin' for peas and beans. We like our ramps.”

Martha twisted to face Anna. “I wish you was gonna be here next spring. You could go with us to the ramp patch.” She directed a scowl at John. “Maybe you won't make me sit out and miss all the fun like you did this year.”

Anna looked from Martha to Granny. “What happens at the ramp patch?”

Across the table Simon laughed. “It's a big day for us. All the families go to the place in the Cove where our little delicacy grows. We take
a shovel and a flour sack, and we dig ramps to put in our root cellars. After we've dug all we can use, the women put out all the food they've brought, and we eat 'til we're about to bust.”

Anna winked at Martha before she faced Simon. “Considering the way you eat every time you come to Granny's, I can't imagine you getting enough to make you bust.”

Martha laughed and grasped Anna's arm. “Good for you, Anna. Don't let him git away with nothing.” She glanced down at the last bite of pie on her plate. “Granny, that was good, but I'm full. You make the best apple pie of anybody in the Cove.”