Angel of the Cove (24 page)

She glanced past William to where Simon sat with Linda Mae. Her heart lurched, but she lifted her chin and smiled at William. “That's a wonderful spot.” She fought the urge to look at Simon again. Instead, she trudged after William toward the tree by the creek.

W
hat was I thinking?
Simon asked himself. He should never have stopped for supper at the Simmons' farm. Now he had Linda Mae thinking he was interested in her and he didn't know how to get out of the situation. In the past when he'd had a problem Granny had been the one he'd go to, but not anymore—not with the root of his problem living under Granny's roof.

Linda Mae's relentless chatter drummed in his ears. He'd never intended to spend the picnic visiting with her. But when he saw Anna approaching the picnic area with William Carter holding her basket, he decided he would show her how two could play that game.

While Linda Mae talked, he kept glancing to where Anna and William sat together. From time to time she would laugh, and he thought she'd never looked more beautiful. If he had any sense, he could be the one sitting with her. Then he remembered her words the day they raced through the clover, and his heart shriveled. He jumped to his feet and brushed off his pants.

“It's been good talking to you, Linda Mae. I think I'll go on over and get ready to pitch silver dollars.”

She looked up at him, her lips curling in a coy smile. “Would you help me up, Simon?”

“Sure, give me your hand.”

He grabbed her arm and pulled her up. She wobbled on her feet and swayed towards him. “I saw how good you was at pitchin' silver dollars last Fourth of July. I think I'll jest go on over and watch.”

He glanced around and saw the men all assembling. He didn't want to miss the beginning of the game. “Well, I need to hurry.”

She looped her arm through his and pulled him closer to her side. “I'm right with you, Simon.”

The men who'd gathered for the contest laughed and punched each other in the ribs as he and Linda Mae walked toward them. Simon felt a warmth slowly spread from the base of his neck to the top of his head. What had he gotten himself into?

Anna set her plate on the table and turned to Granny and Martha, who were busy stacking dirty dishes. “Let me help.”

Granny shook her head. “No need for that. Me and Martha got this under control. We thought you was still busy talkin' to William.”

“No, he went over to pitch silver dollars. He wants me…” Her throat constricted at the sight of Simon with Linda Mae hanging onto his arm and walking toward the assembled men where the contest was to take place. “Well, of all the…”

Granny glanced in the direction she stared. A gasp escaped her lips, and she frowned. “What's got into that boy? I'm gonna have to have me a talk with him.”

Anger flared on Martha's face and she banged a pan down on the table. “I 'spect I'll git to him first, Granny.”

Anna grabbed Martha's arm. “No, it's all right. Simon can be friends with whomever he wants.”

Martha frowned. “But he ain't actin' like hisself.”

Anna picked up her plate and stacked it on top of the others. “Why don't we go over and watch the silver dollar games?”

Martha glared in Simon's direction once more before she glanced back at Anna. “Are you sure you all right? If'n you want me to, I'll take him down a peg or two.”

“Really it's all right.” Anna took Martha's hand and pulled her forward. “Let's go. We're going to miss the game.”

They made their way slowly across the picnic grove to the area where everyone was gathering. Anna came to a stop next to Linda Mae and watched as Simon, a penknife in his hand, knelt on the ground. He scratched away the dirt with the knife until he had a shallow hole. He laid down a silver dollar, and the coin fit perfectly in the bottom of it.

When he'd finished, he stood, faced in the opposite direction, and counted as he stepped away from the hole. He halted, looked over his shoulder, and addressed the gathered men. “Think that's about twenty-one feet?”

“That's good,” William called out.

Simon dropped to his knees again and dug another hole, the same size as the first one. When he completed the task, he rose and headed back.

“All right, Ed, you partner with me, and we'll show William and Charlie here how to pitch silver dollars.”

John, who'd just joined the group, stopped next to Martha and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Come on, Simon. Show these fellers how the Martin boys can pitch.”

Simon grinned and nodded toward his brother.

“You ain't pitched against me yet.” William glanced over his shoulder and smiled at Anna before he took his place next to Simon. Charlie and Ed walked to the far hole and faced Simon and William.

From behind, Granny bent over and spoke into Anna's ear. “The partners pitch from opp'site holes.”

“I wondered about that.” Out of the corner of her eye, Anna studied the girl beside her, then leaned closer. “You're Linda Mae Simmons, aren't you? I'm Anna Prentiss. I don't think we've met.”

Linda Mae twisted from the waist and settled a contemptuous glare on Anna. In all her life, Anna had never encountered such open hostility, and her breath caught in her throat. “I know who you be. I seen you at church playin' the organ.” Linda Mae muttered something under her breath before she turned back to gaze at Simon.

Anna inched back to stand next to Granny. “What are the rules for this game?”

Granny studied the men for a moment before she replied. “It looks like Simon's gonna pitch his three silver dollars first. Then William pitches. They see who came closer to the hole to get a point 'fore the ones at the other end take a turn. The first team to score twenty-one points wins the match. I'll tell you more after the first pitch.”

Simon drew his arm back and threw his first dollar. It landed to the left of the hole. The next two landed even closer.

John gave another whoop. “Good job, brother.”

Granny pointed to their positions and spoke slowly. “Now you see them two closest to the hole. Simon's a-hopin' William don't do better.”

Anna pursed her lips and frowned. “I see. So if William throws one that lands closer, his will score, and Simon's will be disqualified.”

“That's right.”

“Let's see you beat that, William.” John's voice echoed across the crowd.

Anna cast a quick glance in John's direction, cupped her hands around her mouth, and called out, “Come on, William. Put that dollar in the hole.”

Simon whirled, a shocked expression on his face, and stared at Anna in disbelief. Beside him, William nodded in Anna's direction.

Martha elbowed Anna in the ribs. “Good girl.” She straightened her shoulders and yelled out, “You heared her, William. Let's see you do it.”

John's mouth dropped open as he gaped at his wife. “Martha, William's pitching against Simon.”

She smiled. “I know.”

William faced the hole, concentrated on his target, and swung his arm backward, then forward. The coin sailed through the air and landed inside the hole with its surface resting against the side. He pitched the next one, and it settled to the right of the hole. The last one rolled outside the six-inch scoring circle.

The crowd cheered, and Anna turned a questioning look to Granny. “What's the score?”

She pointed to the holes in the distance. “The one what landed inside is called a leaner, and it scores three points. So, it's three for William and zero for Simon.”

“Good job, William,” she yelled.

As the game progressed the crowd became livelier. Some cheered for Simon's team, while others shouted encouragement to William. Dollar after dollar flew through the suspense-filled air as the minutes ticked by.

With the game tied sixteen points each, Simon jingled his three silver dollars in his hand and prepared for his next turn. With great precision he lobbed the first two through the air and watched them land next to the hole. Slowly he drew the third one back and pitched it forward. The dollar landed flat in the hole. Cheers rose from the crowd.

Simon's lips curled into a smile, and he patted William on the back. “That's five points and the game unless you can do better.”

“You can do it, William!” Anna screamed and jumped up and down.

“Show Simon what you can do,” Martha called out.

John looked at both of them like they'd lost their minds. “I don't know what's come over you two.”

William didn't look around. He stepped to the line and concentrated on his throw. The first one landed to the left and the second to the right of the hole.

A low groan rumbled through the crowd.

He took a deep breath, drew back, and gently lobbed the third silver dollar forward. The arcing coin swished through the air and plopped in the hole on top of Simon's dollar.

William's arm shot into the air in a victory wave, and he turned to Simon. “Hey, Preacher, I believe my holer cancels out yours, and the five points are mine. I think that's the game.”

Applause exploded from the crowd. The men rushed forward to congratulate William. Anna glanced around at Granny. “That was very exciting.”

She grinned. “You acted like it was.”

At that moment Simon turned toward her, and her heart lurched at the anger in his eyes. William held out his hand and Simon dropped the coins in it. He mumbled his congratulations to William before he turned and walked away.

Martha stepped up beside her and grasped her hands. “Oh, Anna, I don't know when I've ever had so much fun.”

“Me too, Martha, but I think I've really upset Simon.” Her voice trembled as she spoke.

Martha laughed as she took her husband's arm. “Don't fret over him. The way he's acted for the last few weeks, I's glad to see 'im git his comeuppance.”

Remorse filled Anna at how she must have embarrassed Simon in front of everyone. She should have controlled her emotions better, but Simon had made her so angry with his attention to Linda Mae. She watched him go, but a voice inside begged him to come back.

“Miss Anna.” A voice behind her interrupted her thoughts. Anna turned to see Naomi staring at her. “It's 'bout time for me and my young'uns to be a-goin'. It was real nice a-meetin' you.”

Her anger at Simon dissolved as she gazed at the woman. She couldn't have been more than twenty-five, but the weariness in her eyes made her look twice that. Anna reached out and grasped Naomi's hand. “I'm so glad I got to meet you and Eli today. You've got two fine sons, Naomi, and that's a great credit to the kind of mother you are.”

Love for her sons sparkled in her eyes. “That's right kind of you to say so. I hope we get to meet agin.”

“Me too.”

Matthew, a somber expression on his face, appeared beside his mother. “Ma, we best be a-gittin' on. It's a long walk home, and Pa may be back from over to Wear's Valley.”

A brief flicker of fear flashed across Naomi's face, but she extinguished it and smiled at her son. “I reckon you're right, Matthew. It be a long walk home.”

Concern washed over Anna. If Luke had gone to Wear's Valley, that meant he would probably be drunk when he arrived home. She put her arms around Naomi and hugged her. “If you ever need me, Naomi, send Matthew.”

Naomi's body trembled underneath the embrace. “I will, and thank you, Anna.”

When Anna released her, she turned to Matthew and brushed at
the tears in her eyes. “You take good care of your mother, Matthew. And come for me if you need me.”

He nodded. “I will, Miss Anna.”

“Take care of yourselves.”

They turned and walked back toward the tables, where the women were busy gathering up their dishes and leftover food. They had almost reached them when the sound of a wagon rumbling along the road caused everyone to turn in surprise.