Authors: Sandra Robbins
As the horse came to a stop, a young man hopped out of the buggy in front of them. “Morning, Granny. Beautiful day, ain't it?”
Granny nodded. “That it is, William.”
William reached for Granny's reins. “Let me git this for you.”
Granny smiled. “That's right kind of you, William.” She leaned over and whispered to Anna. “That there's Sadie Carter's son William. You remember meeting Sadie at church?”
“Yes.”
William walked back to the side of the buggy and extended his hand. “Let me help you down, Granny.” When Granny stood beside him, he smiled up at Anna. “And now you, Miss Anna.”
Anna clasped his outstretched hand and jumped to the ground. “Thank you so much, Mr. Carter.”
His face flushed. “You know my name?”
Anna tilted her head to one side. “I've seen you with your mother at church. She was one of the first ladies to introduce herself to me.”
A big smile curled his lips. “That's right nice to hear, Miss Anna.” He reached for the basket in the back of the buggy. “Let me carry this for you.”
Granny's eyebrows arched. “You see? Guess I was right.”
William's forehead wrinkled. “Huh?”
Anna pasted a smile on her face and tilted her head to stare up at William. “Granny said I would meet a lot of nice people today. I'm glad you were the first.”
“So am I, Miss Anna. Maybe we can eat together.”
“I would like that very much, Mr. Carter.”
Granny shook her head and chuckled. She turned to walk toward the tables where the women were setting the food but stopped. “William, did you think to bring your silver dollars?”
William patted his pants pocket. “Have 'em right here.”
“Silver dollars? What for?” Anna turned a questioning glance to Granny.
Granny waved her hands in dismissal and chuckled. “Oh, it's one of them man things. It's kind 'uv a Fourth of July tradition.”
“Yeah, we wouldn't want to miss that.” A shy grin wrinkled William's mouth. “Maybe you'll cheer for me.”
“I would be honored, Mr. Carter.”
They didn't speak again until William had set the basket beside one of the tables underneath the trees next to the church. He tipped his hat and backed away. “I'll see you later, Miss Anna.”
“Thank you for your help.”
Anna tried to concentrate on following William's departure, but all she wanted was to find Simon in the crowd. After a moment, she spied Martha waving at her from the end of the table.
Anna hurried over. “With your time so near, I didn't know if you'd be here.”
Martha reached out and hugged her. “Wouldn't have missed it. Good to see you, Anna.”
Anna drew back and mentally calculated how much longer Martha had before the baby would arrive. “How're you doing?”
Martha, a grimace on her face, placed her hand in the small of her back. “It won't be much longer. I cain't hardly wait, Anna.”
“Maybe I'll still be here to help you through it.”
“That would be a great comfort to me.” She glanced behind her and grabbed Anna by the hand. “But come say hello to the other women.”
Sadie Carter and several other women stepped away from the table and hurried toward her. “Anna, we's glad you come today.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Carter. It's good to see you.”
“I seen William a-totin' your basket.”
The women facing her exchanged glances before they smiled at Anna. Her face warmed, and she looked around for Granny. She had stepped to the other end of the table and didn't notice the exchange.
Anna's face warmed. “Uh, yes, he did. He's very courteousâ¦which I'm sure is a tribute to his mother.”
Sadie cast a pleased smile at all her friends. “Thank you kindly, Miss Anna. Now we'd better get this here food ready.”
She and the other women turned back to the table. Anna glanced at Martha, who was grinning. “You sure got a way with words, Anna.”
Anna shook her head and frowned. “I meant it. William seemed very nice.”
“Oh, he is. Fact is, there's lots of girls in the Cove got their eyes on him. You best not make any of them mad.”
“Quit teasing, Martha.”
“I'm just sayin'â¦Oh, look who just turned up.”
Anna turned in the direction Martha stared. A woman with a small child in her arms and the young boy who had come to Granny's cabin on her second day in the Cove walked toward the assembled group. Her brown hair was pulled back in a tight bun at the back of her neck, and her tanned skin told of long hours of working in the sun. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and the dress she wore appeared frayed.
She stopped a few feet away from the table, but Martha drew Anna toward the woman. “Anna, I don't think you've met Naomi Jackson. Naomi, this is Anna Prentiss. She's livin' at Granny's and helpin' her out this summer.”
“Hello, Naomi. I'm so glad to meet you. And Matthewâwe've already met.” She smiled at the boy and stuck out her hand to Naomi.
Naomi stared at Anna's hand for a moment before she grasped it. “You the one helped Granny with my man Luke when he got hurt.” Naomi's smile revealed several rotten teeth.
Anna struggled to keep her face from revealing the revulsion she felt at the mention of his name. “I wasn't much help to Granny that night, I'm afraid. I hope I've improved since then.”
“I thank you for it.”
“There's no need to thank me. I really didn't do anything.” She shifted her attention to the child Naomi held and reached out to stroke his blond hair. “And you have another little boy. What's his name?”
“We call 'im Eli.”
“Oh, that's a beautiful name.” She bent down and looked in the child's face. “And you're a handsome little fellow too, Eli.”
Naomi turned to Matthew, who had been standing silently by her side. “Why don't you go on and play with the other boys? I'll git along all right.”
He glanced at a group of boys who were running races in the field beside the church. “You sure you can handle Eli by yourself?”
She prodded his shoulder with her hand. “Go on now.”
He glanced at the boys but hesitated. Anna gestured toward the group. “Go on, Matthew. I'll help your mother with Eli. It's the Fourth of July, and you need to have a good time.” A smile flitted across his face before he turned and ran across the field toward the boys. Anna wondered what kind of life Naomi and her sons must endure with Luke. “You have two mighty fine sons, Naomi. I was quite taken with Matthew the morning he came to Granny's house.”
Naomi smiled again. “I heared some of the women say you was nice. I reckon they was right.”
Anna laughed. “I think that would probably depend on who you ask.” She glanced back at the table and took Naomi by the arm. “But what are you doing standing over here? Let's get up here so we can help with the food.”
She drew Naomi along with her as she and Martha walked back to the table where Granny stood slicing the tomatoes she'd brought. “Granny, look who's here!”
Granny looked up and smiled, then stepped away from her tomatoes, wiped her hands on her dress, and enveloped Naomi and her child in a warm embrace. “You're a sight for sore eyes, Naomi. It's shore good to see you here today. And you brought that sweet Eli with you! One of the easiest babies I ever delivered.”
Anna laughed. “I don't suppose there's a baby in the Cove Granny didn't deliver.”
Naomi nodded. “Reckon not.”
Warm laughter rippled across the grounds. Anna let her gaze wander over the groups of men lounging under the trees. She tried to concentrate on talking with Martha and Naomi instead of looking for Simon, but she couldn't help casting her eyes about for a glimpse of him.
Then she saw him. He stood at the end of the table, a tall young woman by his side. Anna's heart plummeted to the pit of her stomach as the girl raked her long brown hair back from her eyes and smiled up at Simon. He smiled at her, then turned when Mrs. Carter said something to him.
He nodded and faced the people gathered around the table. “May I have your attention everyone?” He waited as the laughter and eager chatter died down and all eyes turned to him. “The ladies tell me we're ready to eat. Before we do, I'm gonna voice our thanks for this food and God's blessings on us.” The crowd stilled as everyone bowed their heads. “Our Father,” prayed Simon, “we come to You on this day thanking You for the blessings You've given us. Today we celebrate the birth of our nation, and we thank You for this great land. We thank You for placing us here in the mountains You made and in the land You provided for us. Now we gather to eat, and we give thanks for the abundance of our harvests and the food You provided. And we pray for guidance to serve You in all areas of our lives. Amen.”
Amens echoed from the crowd. Simon opened his eyes and stared straight at Anna. For a moment they stood still, as if daring the other to break the contact. She smiled and raised her hand to wave, but the young woman beside him touched his arm and he glanced away.
Martha's mouth pulled down into a frown, and she shot a quick look in Anna's direction. Shaking off the rebuff, Anna turned to Naomi and reached out to pat Eli's head.
Simon picked up a plate and progressed through the food line. When he moved close to Anna, she took a deep breath and prepared to speak to him. But the young woman, still at his side, stepped between them and pointed to a dish on the table.
“Simon, would you like to have some of these here fried green tomatoes I fixed?”
“Why thank you, Linda Mae. They look real good.”
Anna forced a smile to her face and reached for Eli. “Let me hold him while you fix your plate, Naomi.”
Naomi smiled and handed her child to Anna. “That shore is nice of you, Anna.”
Anna glanced back at Simon and the young woman as they headed away from the table. Her throat constricted, and she hugged Naomi's son tighter. “Thank you for being so kind to me, Naomi.”
Naomi walked to the table, leaving Anna alone with the child. Martha touched her arm. “That's nice of you to hold Eli so's Naomi can eat. Most of the women don't have much to do with her.”
Anna turned to Martha in surprise. “Why not?”
“Her husband drinks a lot, and she has a right hard time livin' with 'im. She works right hard.” Martha snorted. “More than Luke does.”
Anna heard what Martha was saying, but she was unable to take her eyes off Simon. “Martha, who's that girl Simon's sitting with?”
Martha gave a little grunt of disgust. “That's Linda Mae Simmons. She's had her eye on Simon for quite a spell now. For a while I thought she'd given up on him and set her sights on William Carter, but I guess I was wrong.”
Anna's chest tightened, and she laid her cheek against Eli's soft hair. “She's very pretty,” she whispered.
“Excuse me, Miss Anna.”
Anna and Martha turned at the deep voice. William Carter, holding a plate loaded with food, stood on the other side of the table. He shifted from foot to foot.
“Yes, William?”
“I wondered if I might have the pleasure of your company whilst we're eating?”
Anna glanced down at Eli. “I'm sorry, Mr. Carter. I told Mrs. Jackson I'd hold her son.”
Martha reached over and pulled Eli from Anna's arms. “No need
to miss out on gettin' to know William better. I'll hold Eli. You go fix your plate and eat with him.”
Anna started to refuse, but at that moment she caught a glimpse of Simon and Linda Mae sitting together. Anger boiled up inside her and she clenched her fists. She took a deep breath and smiled at William.
“All right. Let me get my plate and I'll join youâ¦on one condition.”
“What's that?”
“If you'll call me Anna and allow me to call you William. Is that all right with you?”
He smiled. “I'll wait right here for you, Anna.”
She mouthed a thank-you to Martha and strode toward the table. If Simon Martin had decided that their friendship was over, there was nothing she could do about it. From now on she wouldn't think about him again. She would concentrate on helping Granny and getting to know the people in the Cove. Then when September came, she would be off to New York and away from Simon forever.
Before she left, though, she was going to show him she wasn't sitting around worrying over him and their lost friendship. William Carter appeared to be a likeable young man, and he wanted her company.
She finished filling her plate, walked back to where William waited, and tilted her head to one side. “I hope you've picked out a quiet spot for us to sit, William. I can hardly wait to get to know you better.”
His face flushed and his Adam's apple bobbed. He nodded toward a tree near the creek bank. “How 'bout right over yonder?”