Angel of the Cove (36 page)

“Fine.” He headed around the side of the house, and Anna ran back inside.

Ten minutes later Anna and Granny waited on the front porch while Simon drove the buggy around the house. Anna ran to the buggy, shoved the basket Granny had packed for the day in the back, and helped Granny climb in beside Simon.

He smiled at the two of them. “Ready?”

Granny nodded. “Let's git a-goin'. Those fish are a-waitin' to git caught.”

With a laugh he slapped the reins across the horse's back and they headed toward Abram's Creek.

“I wondered if you were ever going to take us to the creek,” Anna said.

Simon turned to her, a smile on his face. “I hate to tell you this, Miss Prentiss, but I do have other congregation members I have to take care of. I can't drop everything the minute you get a whim about wanting to do something like go fishing.”

Anna jabbed her elbow into his rib cage. “Don't you start teasing me today. It's too beautiful, and I intend to enjoy every minute of it.”

She leaned back against the seat, closed her eyes, and listened for the sounds of the Cove—the clip-clop of the horse, the birds, and the breeze ruffling the tree leaves. How she loved it here. But how much more she loved the sound of the two people on either side of her chatting back and forth.

“You think we gonna have a hard winter, Simon?” Granny asked.

“Don't know, Granny. I did hear Andrew Long say the shucks on his corn were a lot thicker than last year. Could mean some cold days in store for us.”

Granny chuckled. “That Andrew always says that. But I cut a persimmon seed open t'other day.”

“You did?” Simon asked. “What did it look like?”

“Jest like a little shovel.”

“Then sounds like we may be in for a worse winter than last year.”

Anna smiled to herself as she listened to the twang of the mountain speech. It was becoming more familiar to her every day, and she had even begun to follow some of the patterns herself.

Anna opened her eyes and sat up straight as Simon guided the horse off the main road onto a dirt path that ran past a farmhouse. She had never been to this part of the Cove before. She pointed to the house. “Who lives there?”

Simon gripped the reins a little tighter as the horse made the turn. “That's the old John Oliver place. He was the first settler in the Cove. Some of his descendants live there now.”

Granny nodded. “We goin' on past here to where Mills Creek and Abram's Creek come together. It's a right good place to fish.”

They rode for a few more minutes until Simon pulled the horse to
a stop. He hopped out, tied the horse to a tree, and reached back to help Granny and Anna out. “This is as close as we can get in the buggy. We'll have to walk the rest of the way.”

Anna jumped to the ground and looked around. The longer she stayed in Cades Cove the more she was struck by the scenery. The trees formed a towering canopy above them. “The Cove must be the most beautiful place on God's earth,” she said.

Simon stood beside her, his gaze taking in the landscape. “Yes, it is. This area is even more lovely in May and June when the rhododendron are in full bloom. We're a little late for it this year, but maybe I can bring you back here sometime to see it.”

Her face warmed as she reached for Granny's basket in the buggy. “Maybe.”

She and Simon followed Granny as she headed through the thick growth toward the water's edge. Granny forged ahead, clearing the way for Anna and Simon. In a few minutes they emerged onto the bank of the clearest stream Anna thought she'd ever seen.

Granny motioned to them. “Jest set those things down here, and you two go git to fishin'. I'll get a fire goin' so's we can cook them fish.”

Simon handed Anna one of the poles he'd brought and pointed to the water. “Come on, Anna. Let's see who can catch the most.”

Granny raised her eyebrows and stared at Simon heading toward the water. “Enjoy your day, Anna. Simon's been real excited to bring you here.”

Anna laughed. “I know. He acts like it's a real special place.”

Granny frowned at her. “It is to him.”

A tingle rippled through her at the look in Granny's eyes. “What do you mean?”

At the water's edge, Simon turned and yelled. “Anna, are you comin'?”

Without waiting for an answer from Granny, she smiled and ran toward where he waited.

Three hours later Simon set his plate aside and pulled his watch from his pocket. The afternoon sun was beginning to make its way across the sky, bringing an end to the day's fishing trip. He didn't know when he'd ever enjoyed anything so much. Standing beside Anna and hearing her squeal as she pulled fish from the creek had thrilled him more than he could have imagined.

And the meal. He didn't remember ever eating as much as he had today. The mountain air and the fish fresh from the stream had combined to increase his appetite. Anna and Granny had teased him as he ate, but he knew it had all been in fun. They seemed to have enjoyed the day as much as he had.

With a shove he pushed himself up from the ground. “I think I ate too much.”

Anna widened her eyes and looked at Granny. “Granny, what do you think?”

Granny chuckled and stood up. “I reckon I ain't never cooked so much since the last time I went to that corn shuckin' over to Andrew Long's place. 'Course that day I only cooked for twenty men. That ain't nothing when it comes to tryin' to feed Simon.”

He laughed and reached out to hug Granny. “And you love cooking for me, don't you?”

Her eyes softened. “I shore do, preacher boy.”

Anna stood up and picked up the plates scattered about. “Granny, I'll take these down to the creek and wash them off.”

Granny grabbed at the dishes. “You'll do no such thang. Simon's gonna show you the rocks up the creek a ways. It's jest a short walk up the trail.” She waved her hands to shoo them off. “Now git goin' so's we can git home before dark.”

He motioned for Anna. “Follow me.”

They walked a short distance up the creek bank until they came to a spot where the limestone formations branched out into the water. The trail climbed at this point across the rocks, and Anna viewed the path with uncertainty.

Simon reached his hand out toward Anna. “Come on. There's a great view of the creek from up here.”

Anna hesitated. “It's too steep. I don't think I can make it.”

He continued to hold his hand out to her. “I'll pull you up, but be careful. The moss on the rocks makes it slippery.”

She grabbed his hand, and he gripped her fingers. With careful steps he guided her to the top of the outcropping until they stood looking down to the water eight feet below. He released her as she looked around, her eyes wide.

“It feels like we're alone in the world, doesn't it?”

He stared at her, unable to make himself look away. “I wanted to bring you here to see this, Anna.” She tilted her head and looked into his eyes. He swallowed. “I told you about my parents the day you were at John and Martha's, how my grandfather didn't want my mother to stay in the Cove. She wanted to stay, but she hated to defy her father. My father brought her here to see Abram's Creek. He thought if she fell in love with the beauty of the Cove, she'd never leave him.”

Anna let her gaze drift over the rocks and the tumbling water below them. “It worked because you and John are still here.”

“Yes, we're still here.”

She turned to him. “Thank you for bringing me to see a place so special to your parents. I think this is my favorite place in the Cove too. I'll never forget it.”

He'd failed again. He thought maybe the magic that Abram's Creek had worked on his mother would also work on Anna, but it hadn't. His chest tightened at the thought that he probably would never be here with her again. He had nothing left to convince her to stay.

“We'd better go,” he said.

She nodded and turned to leave. Without warning her foot slipped on the wet rock and she lurched forward. He grabbed her and jerked her back before she toppled over the edge to the creek below.

He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her shaking body. His heart pounded in his chest and he tightened the embrace. Her cheek lay next to his mouth, and he whispered in her ear. “You scared me.”

Her shaking arms went up to encircle his neck. “Thank you, Simon. I would have gone over if you hadn't caught me.”

He pulled back from her and gazed down into her face. She returned his stare with unblinking eyes. Suddenly he didn't care if she was leaving or not. This was the woman he loved, and he wanted her to return his love.

“Anna, I've tried to just be your friend, but I don't think I can.”

Her lips trembled. “Simon…”

He tightened his arms around her. “Anna, you belong here in Cades Cove with me. I can't believe God brought you here without there being a purpose in it.”

Tears stood in her eyes. “Simon…”

He clenched his teeth. “You don't want to go to New York, and you know it. You're committed to something you decided when you were a child. Well, you're a woman now. You can make your own decisions, Anna.”

She closed her eyes and a tear trickled out of the side. Then she took a deep breath and stared up at him. Her arms tightened around his neck.

His eyes went to her mouth, and his lips descended toward hers. She lifted her head, welcoming his kiss. But just before their lips met, he hesitated and pulled back. A frown creased his forehead.

“Did you hear that?”

She stared up at him. “What?”

“I thought I heard someone.”

They stood still for a moment, still wrapped in each other's arms. “I don't hear anything,” Anna said.

He stared back at the way they had come. “There it goes again. It sounds like Granny.”

Anna stiffened and released him. “Granny? Oh, Simon, what if something's happened to her? We have to go back right away.”

He grabbed her hand and began to descend the rocky ledge. “Be careful. Hold onto me until we get down.”

Once they reached the level trail below the rocks, they ran along the creek until they arrived at the spot where they'd fished and eaten earlier. Granny sat on the bank, her hands rubbing her ankle.

Anna dropped down beside her. “Granny, what happened?”

Granny looked up at them, her face flushed. “I guess I's jest gittin' old. I never seen that big rock 'til I stepped on it. My foot turned, and I reckon I got me a bad sprain.”

Anna ran her hands over the injury. “Are you sure it's not broken?”

“Naw, it ain't broke, but I guess I cain't walk. Think you two can he'p this old lady back to the buggy?”

Simon dropped to his knees beside Granny. “Now you just take it easy for a few minutes. Anna and I will gather up everything and I'll put it in the buggy. Then we'll get you. I expect you need to get home and in bed.”

Anna looked up at him. “Simon, do you think you need to go for Uncle Charles?”

Granny sat up straight. “Land's sakes, no. I treated worse than this for years, and I 'spect I can take care of my own ankle without botherin' Doc. Now you two get everything loaded, and I'll jest set here 'til you do.”

Simon and Anna ran back and forth to the buggy until everything was loaded. As Simon laid the fishing poles in the back his hand brushed against Anna's. They both stood still as if frozen in place. His thoughts returned to how close he'd come earlier to kissing her. He wondered if she was thinking about it. At the time she had pulled him closer, but now he wondered if she regretted what had almost happened between them.

She swallowed, glanced down at the ground, and turned to run back to Granny. He stood there a moment, remembering how she'd looked up at him on the ledge. He knew she loved him. What was he going to have to do to make her admit it?