Mountain Homecoming (15 page)

Although she didn't feel as if she could eat anything, Rani put a piece of ham, some corn bread, and a spoonful of peas on her plate. Before she could decide where to settle, a familiar voice beside her interrupted her thoughts.

“Hello, Rani. I ain't had a chance to talk to you today. How about us settin' under that tree over yonder and eatin' together?”

Rani turned to face the man beside her. George. She started to excuse herself, but the hopeful look on his face made her feel guilty. She glanced at Matthew once more in hopes he'd look her way, but he didn't.

She forced a smile to her face. “I'd like that, George.”

Matthew's mind had been in turmoil ever since he'd entered the church earlier today. Besides his fears about how the people who'd known his father would accept him, he'd worried about what Anna had said last night about introducing him to some young women. He didn't want that, but he didn't want to hurt Anna either.

“What you thinkin' 'bout, Matthew?” Granny's voice startled him.

He shook his head and chuckled. “Just about coming home, I guess. And about how good your birthday party's turned out. I haven't eaten this much in years.” He set his plate on the ground beside him.

Granny put her fork in her plate and leaned forward in the chair where she'd sat since they came out of the church. “I guess you was a-feared of seeing folks today who knew your pa.”

He shook his head in amazement. “Granny, how do you know exactly what's on my mind? It was that way when I was a boy too.”

She laughed. “I guess I'm just an old woman who pays attention to what's a-goin' on around me.”

He reached for her plate and set it on top of his. “Well, I'd better be careful when I'm near you. You might not like reading some of my thoughts.”

She swatted at his arm. “I don't have no fear 'bout that. But I thought ev'rybody acted real friendly to you.”

“They did. A few people didn't remember me, but most did. Do you think I was wrong to worry about folks holding a grudge against me because of my pa?”

Granny's eyes clouded. “It's hard to know how folks are gonna think, but there ain't no need to go a-worryin' about things like that. Most of the Cove folks know you ain't like your daddy.” She leaned over and patted his arm. “Fact is, you more like your mother than anybody. She was a sweet woman, and I thought a lot of her.”

His eyes misted, and he blinked. “She loved you, Granny.”

Granny straightened in her chair and smoothed her dress over her lap. “But it's too purty a day to be a-talkin' 'bout such sad things. Why don't you take our plates back over to Lavinia before she has a conniption? That woman shore do like for things to run on schedule.”

He grinned. “I'll be back in a minute.”

As he rose, he glanced around for Rani. He hadn't seen her since she'd finished serving. His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach when he spied her and George together some distance from the group. He gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the plates when she laughed at something George was saying.

The thought of their fingers touching in church returned, and he wondered if she'd been offended. He hoped not.

“Matthew?” Granny said.

He pulled his attention back to her. “Yes, Granny.”

She pointed toward the table. “The plates. Remember you supposed to be a-takin' 'em back.”

He nodded. “Sorry, Granny. I'm on my way.”

He hurried to the table and handed the plates to Mrs. Davis. As he turned back to Granny, he swallowed back the panic rising in his throat. Anna, her arm around the waist of a young woman, stood beside Granny. The moment he'd dreaded had arrived. He cast another glance in Rani's direction, but she still seemed intent on what George was saying.

Anna waved to him. “Matthew, come here. I want you to meet somebody.”

“Coming, Anna.” He forced himself to smile and trudged back to stand beside her.

A slight smile pulled at Granny's lips, but Anna beamed as he came to a stop. She nudged the girl a little closer to him. “Matthew, this is Becky Ledbetter. You may remember her father, Howard Ledbetter. Their farm is on the west end of the Cove.”

Matthew nodded. “I do remember.” He smiled at the young woman. “It's nice to meet you, Becky. I spoke to your pa earlier. He remembered me too.”

The young woman smiled and ducked her head. “It's right nice a-meetin' you, Matthew. Welcome back to the Cove.”

“Thanks.”

Matthew's mind went blank, and he suddenly felt tongue-tied. He shot Anna a pleading look to fill the awkward silence. Becky glanced from Anna to him and shifted her weight from one foot to another for a moment before she wiggled from Anna's grasp and backed away. “I better be goin' now. I think my ma needs me to help her git our basket to the buggy.” She glanced down at Granny. “Happy birthday, Granny. I had a fun time.”

Granny nodded. “Me too, Becky. Tell your ma I shore did like that strawberry cake she baked.”

“I'll tell her.” Becky turned and hurried away.

A pleased expression on her face, Anna turned to Matthew. “Well?”

He arched his eyebrows. “What?”

“How did you like her?”

Perspiration popped out on Matthew's forehead, and he tugged at the collar of his shirt. “I liked her fine, Anna. I'm sure she's a nice young woman.”

Anna sighed and glanced at Granny. “He didn't like her, did he?” She narrowed her eyes and let her gaze drift over the people scattered across the grounds. Her eyes widened, and she snapped her fingers. “I know. Charity Hopkins. I need to find her. I'll be right back.”

“Anna, please don't…” But before he could finish his sentence, Anna had already left in search of the girl.

Ever since they'd sat down under the tree, George had droned on and on about what he'd done on the farm for the last three days. Rani tried to appear interested, but she felt as if she'd been right there with him from sunup until sundown every day. When he finally paused for breath, she spoke. “It sounds like you've been busy.”

“I have been, but I've been thinking 'bout you too. I hope you did the same for me.”

“I have,” she said. “In fact just this morning I was wondering if your family had heard anything from Ted and Josie since they moved.”

“That ain't what I meant, Rani, and you know it,” he snarled. “I don't know why all of a sudden you done started actin' like some stranger who don't have time for me.”

“George, please…”

His eyes narrowed, and he held up his hand to stop her. “Don't say nothin' else right now.” He glanced back toward the tables. Lavinia was motioning for everyone to bring their plates back. He reached over, took her plate, and stood. “I'm gonna take these back, then I'm a-comin' back to have a real important talk with you. It's time you started takin' me serious.”

The anger on his face alarmed Rani, and she jumped to her feet as he strode away. She looked around for her mother and caught sight of her standing next to Matthew, her arm around Becky Ledbetter's waist.

Her mother had carried through on her promise. Rani's eyes filled with tears when Matthew said something to Becky. The smile on Becky's face probably meant she already had her sights set on snaring Matthew. And who could blame him for being interested in Becky? After all, she was known as the prettiest girl in the Cove. But Rani didn't think she could stand it if Matthew thought so too. She didn't want to watch them laughing and talking together, and she didn't want to have the conversation George had just mentioned. All she wanted was to get away and be alone for a while.

Before George could turn and come back, she ran around the church and into the cemetery in the field next to it. She raced to the far side as fast as she could and stopped at the place she'd come many times in the past few years. She dropped to her knees beside the small headstone and balled her fists. For a moment all she could do was stare at the name etched into the stone. William Prentiss Martin.

She crossed her arms, hugged her body, and toppled forward. She landed face-down on the grave. Her fingers dug into the hard earth, and she sobbed.

Matthew didn't want to meet any more young women, but he didn't know how to tell Anna. He pulled his attention away from her retreating figure and cast a glance in the direction of Rani and George, but they no longer sat where they had a few minutes before. He searched the crowd, but they were nowhere to be seen. He glanced at Granny, and a smile curled her lips.

“You ain't interested in meetin' no girls, are you?” she said.

He started to deny Granny's accusation, but he couldn't meet her steady gaze. He looked down at his feet and shook his head. “No.”

Granny straightened in her chair. “Well, in case you're interested in where Rani went, I saw her run around behind the church when George took their plates back to the table. I 'spect he's a-lookin' for her right now, but you might find her first if you'd go to the back of the cemetery.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but the glint in Granny's eyes told him she'd already guessed his secret. “You've done it again, Granny. You can tell what I'm thinking. How did you know?”

Granny sniffed. “I may be a-gittin' old, but I ain't blind. I seen how you and Rani look at each other. I guess Simon and Anna ain't seen it yet, but they will. It's hard to hide something like that.”

Matthew shook his head. “Granny, I would never do anything to hurt Simon or Anna.”

“I know that, boy. But you ain't a-hurtin' nobody but yourself when you pretend. I been a-prayin' for you all these years you been gone, and I've prayed for Rani since the day she came into the world. I reckon I'll be prayin' now that God will show both of you what He has planned for you.” She reached out and grabbed his hand. “But remember, Matthew, His plans aren't always what we want.”

“I know that, Granny.” His heart felt like it would burst. He bent down and kissed Granny on the cheek. “I've missed you and your wisdom all these years.”

He turned and strode around the church. As he entered the cemetery, he remembered the last time he'd been on this ground—the day of his father's funeral. It had rained that day, and he had stood by his mother and supported her in her grief, but he couldn't cry. Not for the man who had made their lives so miserable.