Angel of the Cove (43 page)

A
nna rushed from the house and stopped at the bottom of the steps. Uncle Charles and Robert stood by the buggy, waiting. Her uncle walked toward her and wrapped his arms around her. He glanced over his shoulder at Robert. “I need to tell Anna goodbye. I'll just be a minute.”

He steered her to the side of the house and faced her. “What did Simon say?”

“He told me about your visit this morning. He says you helped him see that he's doing God's will right here in the Cove. And he wanted to make sure I was doing God's will in leaving.”

“Are you?”

“I want to go to New York,” she said simply.

Her uncle frowned. “Life isn't always about what we want, Anna. God has plans for us that are so much better than the ones we think up for ourselves. Once I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I'd be a doctor at Vanderbilt in Nashville, but God led me here to the mountain people I love. I've been at peace with that because it was God's will.”

“But didn't you have any regrets?”

He shook his head. “No, because when I first entered medical school, I promised God I would go where He could use me most. I know He brought me here.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “And God also blessed me with a wonderful family. You and
your brother are very special to me. You're like the children I never had. That's why I have to be sure you're following God's will in going to New York.”

She stood wrapped in her uncle's arms, her mind whirling. “But wasn't it God who gave me this dream in the first place?”

He held her at arm's length and smiled at her. “Your dream to be a nurse? Sure He did. I just want to make sure you're going to be a nurse in the right place. Does God want you at Bellevue, or does He want you working out of a cabin in the Tennessee mountains? That's what you have to decide.”

“How can I know for sure?”

“Well, I suppose we should look at both options open to you. If you go to New York, you'll live in a big city, become a great nurse, and help a lot of people. If you stay in Cades Cove you'll have a hard life, but the people here will love you for helping them. And then there's a young man who's surrendered his will to God and wants you to do the same. I know you love him, Anna. Together you could do great things in the Cove.”

“How?”

Her uncle cupped his hand around her cheek. “There's a verse from the Bible I think holds the answer. Ezekiel was trying to unite his people, and he said, ‘I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.' Those words hold true for us too.”

“But what does it mean?”

He smiled. “It means that God wants to take away your stubborn heart that is intent on doing your own will and replace it with one that's tender and responsive to His will. Have you considered the fact God may have sent you to Cades Cove so He could unite your and Simon's hearts into one that shares a singleness of purpose—to serve the people here? There's only one way to find out, Anna. Put aside what you want. Let God give you the blessings He has waiting for you.”

Anna closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. A prayer tumbled from her lips. “Oh, God, I've been so selfish and determined
to get my own way that I've hurt many people around me. Take away my stubbornness. I want to follow Your will. Just let me know what it is.”

Her uncle put his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned her head against his chest. The answer came to her, and it was as if she had known all along what she should do. She had been so intent on winning her battle of wills with Robert she had ignored what God was telling her. She raised her head and took a step away from her uncle, then whirled and hurried back to where Robert stood at the buggy.

He smiled as she came toward him. “Are you ready?”

She bit her lip and stared into the face of her brother. “You were right,” she said.

A perplexed look flickered across his face. “Right about what?”

“I wasn't ready to go to New York, and you knew it. I'm sorry I behaved so badly about it. I should have known you were still looking out for your little sister. Please forgive me for doubting you and being angry with you.”

He swallowed. “Of course I forgive you, Anna.” He ducked his head, and for a moment it seemed that he was struggling to speak. “But there's something you must forgive me for. I should never have said you were spoiled and Poppa gave you everything you wanted. I spoke those words in anger.”

“I realize that now.”

“You're my little sister. I love you, and I only wanted the best for you.”

She nodded. “I know that too. You knew what was best for me when I didn't. New York isn't for me. God used you to send me to Cades Cove, and I know this is where I belong.”

He frowned and glanced at the cabin. “You want to stay here instead of coming with me? This place is so…How will I explain this to Mother?”

“Tell her I fell in love with the mountains and I fell in love with a preacher.”

He grinned. “Is it the fellow who arrived a little while ago?”

“It is, and I want you to meet him. Will you stay tonight so the two of you can get to know each other?”

“There's nothing I'd like better, little sister.”

A crunching sound of wheels turning on hard ground reached his ears, and Simon realized the buggy was pulling away from the house. She was gone, and with her went all the hopes and dreams he'd harbored since the day he walked around Granny's house and saw her jump from her uncle's buggy.

With a sigh he straightened his shoulders and shook his head. Getting over Anna wasn't going to be easy, but in time the heartache might start to fade a little. He didn't look forward to a future without her, but he knew God would be with him. All he had to do was remember God was in control, and he could make it through anything.

Behind him the door opened. Footsteps approached, and a hand touched his arm. “Would you help me bring my trunk back inside?”

His body froze at the sound of the quiet drawl he'd come to love. His eyes closed, and he wondered if he were dreaming. Slowly he turned, unable to believe the miracle of Anna standing before him. She smiled at him, and his mouth gaped open.

“Anna,” he whispered. “I thought you'd left me.”

She tilted her head, her hand caressing his cheek. “I couldn't leave, Simon. I love you too much.”

Still unable to believe, he glanced past her. “But what happened?”

She smiled. “Uncle Charles made me see that God wanted me to surrender my will to Him too. I have done that, Simon, and I know God wants me to stay here and work with the people in the Cove. And I think God wants us to unite our hearts as one and serve Him with a singleness of purpose. What do you think about that?”

Simon's eyes grew wide. “I think that's a better plan than either of us could have dreamed up.” He stared at her, still not believing what was happening. “But I heard the buggy leave. I thought you were gone.”

“Uncle Charles left to make some visits, but he's coming back. Robert's taking care of the horse, then he'll come inside. He and Uncle Charles are going to stay tonight. I just wish my mother could be here to see how happy I am.” She stepped closer and slid her hand to the back of his neck. “I'm ready to begin my life with you, Simon. Right here in the Cove.”

His arms went around her, and he crushed her to him. “I love you, Anna Prentiss, and I'm not ever letting you go again.” He drew back from her and stared down into her eyes. “Don't ever leave me. I'm not whole unless you're with me.”

She smiled. “Neither am I. I promise I'll never leave.”

He stared at her for a moment before his lips came down on hers. They clung together, lost in the wonder of the commitment they'd made to each other.

Simon finally pulled away. He grinned, then dropped to one knee in front of her, wrapped her hand in his, and gazed up at her. “Anna Prentiss, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He hesitated. “Or do I need to ask your brother's permission first?”

Her face lit up, and laughter pealed from her lips. She dropped to her knees beside him and threw her arms around him. “I think he already knows. Simon Martin, I would be honored to be your wife.”

He grabbed her arms and pulled her up as he rose. “Do you remember the first day you came here? We sat in front of this fireplace after supper.”

She nodded. “You cut your finger that afternoon, and I bandaged it.”

His hand dipped into his pocket and pulled out her handkerchief. “With this,” he said. “I thought you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen, and I didn't even know you yet.”

She smiled. “You were covered with dust the first time I saw you, but I couldn't forget about your eyes. They seemed to see right into my heart. I was so upset that night I cried because I didn't understand my attraction to you.”

He laughed. “I guess God was letting us know then that He'd brought us together.”

Footsteps stomped across the floor and stopped. Granny stood in the door from the kitchen, her hands on her hips. “I saw Robert puttin' his horse in my barn. What in tarnation's goin' on?”

They turned to face her. Simon held Anna's hand in his. “Granny, Anna has agreed to marry me. You're the first to know.”

She stared at them for a moment before a big smile crossed her face. “Well, it's 'bout time. I done wore my knees out a-prayin' fer you two. I reckon I knowed that first day Anna got here the Lord had done sent the one I'd been askin' for.”

Anna ran to her and hugged her. “Thank you, Granny. I shouldn't have waited so long.”

Granny face beamed. “Don't matter none now. You finally listened to the Lord. That's all that's important.” She looked past Anna and Simon. “Say, where's Doc? He already left?”

Anna nodded. “He had patients to see. He'll be back later, and Robert's staying too. Do you mind all the extra mouths for supper?”

“There's always room at my table for one more.” Granny grinned and looked from one to the other. “A weddin'. Well, I cain't wait. I 'spect this gonna be the biggest shindig we ever seen in the Cove. When we gonna have it?”

Anna and Simon looked at each other and laughed. “We haven't even talked about that yet!” Simon said. “But the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned.”

Granny frowned and walked toward the door. “Was that a wagon pullin' up?” She pulled the door open and called out. “Hello there, Joshua. Light a spell and come on in.”

Anna and Simon followed Granny onto the front porch and watched Joshua Whitson climb from his wagon. He rushed across the yard and stopped at the bottom of the steps. He pulled his hat off and stared up at Granny, fear on his face.

“Granny, you and Miss Anna gotta come right away. Nellie done started havin' pains, and I reckon it ain't gonna be long 'fore the baby gets here.”

Granny turned back to the house. “Let me get my things, Joshua.”

As Granny reentered the house, Anna stepped down beside Joshua.
“Granny and I will do everything to make sure your wife and child get through this safely. And remember, we haven't lost a father yet.”

Anna followed Granny into the house and Simon watched her go. “Want me to come sit with you while you wait, Joshua?”

“I reckon I'd like that, Simon.”

Granny and Anna rushed back out the door. Granny headed to the wagon, but Anna stopped beside Simon. “I'm sorry to run off like this. Can you tell Robert where we've gone?”

“Sure. I'll bring him with me to Joshua's farm. He can see what your life is going to be like.” He shook his head and smiled. “I guess this is going to be the story of our life. You take care of the mothers, and I'll distract the fathers. I think we're going to make a good team.”

Anna's eyes beamed. “I think so too.”