Mountain Homecoming

by Sandra Robbins

  His mind reeled from the news, and he shook his head. “David Brann? Is that the potter she’s been working with?”

  “Yes. It seems he’s gonna buy into a business up in New York. It’s a kiln works, and he and another feller are gonna experiment with dif’rent glazes to use on pottery. Rani says they think they’ll soon have a line of pottery that they’ll sell all over the world.”

  She was going to leave the Cove for good. He couldn’t believe it. “New York?” His voice cracked on the question. “That’s a long way from here.”

  “I know. But she says it’s a great opportunity for them to work together on this new line.”

  Matthew stared into the fire and nodded. “I knew she had a gift for creating beautiful works of art. I’m glad she’s found someone who can help her develop it. It sounds like she’s going to have a wonderful life. I’m happy for her.”

  Granny reached out and touched his arm. “What about you, Matthew? How’s your life these days?”

  He pushed to his feet and propped his arm on the mantel and his foot on the hearth. He closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m doing all right, Granny. I miss Rani, but I’ve finally gotten some peace about my past. Simon has been a big help to me. I spend a lot of time at night studying the Bible, and I know God’s going to take care of me.”

  The same concern for him he’d seen as a child flickered in her eyes. “And you think you can accept Rani marrying somebody else?”

  He took a deep breath and faced Granny. “I guess I don’t have a choice. If she’s fallen in love with another man, I don’t have anybody but myself to blame. I know I hurt her, and I’m sorry about that. Maybe I’ll have the chance to apologize and wish her well when she’s home. Her happiness is more important to me than mine.”

  A sad smile pulled at Granny’s lips. “That’s the way love is, Matthew. You want the best for the other person.”

  “I suppose so, Granny, because I really do love her. I let my past get in the way of having a future with Rani. Now it looks like hers doesn’t include me.” He walked over and squeezed Granny’s shoulder. “But I’ll be okay. Now, I’d better be getting on home. Tell Simon and Anna I’ll see them later.”

  He pulled his coat back on and headed for the door. It was time to move on.

  Chapter 19

  Rani had hardly been able to catch her breath since they rode into Cades Cove. She didn’t know if it was because she was wedged between David and Stephen in the back seat of the buggy or if it was because she was home again.

  All around her the Cove was coming back to life after another hard winter. Her favorite time of year had arrived again, and she realized for the first time how much she had missed the familiar places they passed on their way home. She wanted to urge the horse to move faster, but her father appeared content to let the mare amble along. Perhaps Poppa was enjoying his conversation with Uncle Charles too much to notice how eager she was to get home.

  She grasped her brother’s hand and squeezed. “I’m so glad you could come home from school early. I don’t think I could have stood it if you had missed my wedding.”

  He returned the pressure on her hand and smiled. “My professors were very understanding when I told them I had to be home for my twin sister’s wedding.”

  David leaned around Rani to address Stephen. “When do you plan to go back to Nashville?” David asked.

  Stephen darted a look at their father’s back before he responded. “I don’t have to be back until August, so I thought I’d stay at home until then.”

  Their father cast a startled look over his shoulder. “You’re staying home this summer?”

  Stephen nodded. “I thought I’d give you and Uncle John a hand on the farm for a few months. That is, if you don’t mind.”

  Her father’s face broke into a big smile. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in months. Your mother will be thrilled too. With our only daughter moving off to New York, it’ll be good to have at least one of you home.” He chuckled. “Of course, Noah thinks he runs the place now. So you may have some competition for your mother’s attention.”

  Rani reached up and patted her father’s shoulder. “I’m so glad you and Mama took Noah. Have you heard anything from his father?”

  “No. The sheriff thinks he and George are still in North Carolina. I don’t doubt it because Matthew hasn’t had any trouble since last fall.”

  A silence covered the inside of the buggy, and Simon glanced over his shoulder at Rani. Remorse filled his eyes.

  She frowned. “What kind of trouble did he have?”

  Her father turned around and concentrated on the road. “Oh, just some threatening notes that were left, and his cornfield was burned one night.”

  Rani’s heart pounded, and she clasped her hands in her lap. “Was he hurt?”

  “No, nothing like that. Anyway, everything’s fine now.”

  Rani settled back in her seat and glanced at David, but it appeared as if he hadn’t heard the exchange. His attention appeared riveted on the mountains in the distance. “I’ve never been to this part of the Smokies before. I understand why you love this place so much, Rani.” He pointed toward the mountainside. “What’s the name of those flowers I see in the distance?”

  Rani swallowed. “That’s mountain laurel,” she whispered.

  “I really like that shade of pink. Maybe we can copy it for some of our pottery.”

  “That would be nice,” she said.

  She stared straight ahead and tried to concentrate on her upcoming wedding. In two days she would be Mrs. David Brann, and she would be on her way to New York. She didn’t need to worry about nighttime fires at Matthew’s farm or the mountain laurel bush where they’d met.

  The buggy trundled forward, and she held her breath. They were approaching Matthew’s cabin, and her father had finally urged the horse to move faster. Maybe he wanted to spare her the sight of what she had hoped would be her home.

  As they rolled by, she turned her head and stared at the cabin set back among the trees. The yard wasn’t overgrown as it had been a year ago. A tulip poplar shaded the neat house, but it was the chimney that sucked the breath from her. Tears filled her eyes, and she turned her head away so David wouldn’t see.

  Stephen leaned closer. “Did you see your bricks?”

  She clamped her lips together, nodded, and grasped the front of her skirt in her hands. She could not think about what had happened a year ago. The present was all that mattered, and she was about to be married.

  Matthew had kept a watch all morning for Simon’s buggy. Granny had told him this was the day Rani was coming home, and all he wanted was one glimpse of her. He’d paced the cabin floor for hours and listened. Every time a horse approached, he’d inched the door open to peer outside.

  He was about to give up hope when he heard what sounded like a buggy approaching. He hurried to the door and cracked it enough to see outside without being seen.

  Simon’s buggy came into view, and he waited for that one glimpse he wanted. Then he saw her. She sat in the back seat between Stephen and a man he’d never seen. She wore a blue dress and a matching hat that was pinned on top of her head.

  He’d told himself he could be satisfied to see her once. That’s all he wanted. But when the buggy had disappeared from view, he knew it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. He wanted to see her every morning when he woke and every time he walked into his cabin.

  He groaned and slammed the door. She was about to be married. He had no right to think this way. She belonged to another man now.

  He fell to his knees. “Oh, God,” he cried, “tell me what to do.”

  Rani swallowed the last bite of her blackberry cobbler and glanced around at her family gathered around the supper table. It had been nearly a year since they had all been together. The last time, though, Matthew had been with them. Now David had taken his place.

  David had made a good impression on her family the minute he arrived, and she was glad. After
all, she’d known few men with the qualities he possessed, and he was dedicated to making her happy. He’d brought small gifts for Mama and Granny and had captured Noah’s undying devotion when he presented him with a set of tin soldiers. Noah had been so engrossed in playing that Mama almost hadn’t been able to drag him away for supper.

  Now with everyone through eating, Rani pushed to her feet and began to help clear away the dishes. She leaned over and kissed her father’s cheek as she took his plate. “Thanks for catching me up on all the gossip in the Cove. I hope David wasn’t too bored, though.”

  David grinned and shook his head. “On the contrary, I find it quite interesting to hear all of you talk about life here. I hope Rani is going to like it where we’re going to live. It’s very different from her life here.”

  She smiled. “I’m sure I’ll adjust in no time. After all, I won’t be alone. You’ll be there with me.”

  David turned toward her father and cleared his throat. “I wanted to tell you, sir, that I’m very sorry I couldn’t come to you and ask for Rani’s hand in marriage in person. It just wasn’t possible. We were too far away, and I needed to give my friend a reply about the kiln works purchase. But I assure you and Mrs. Martin I will always take care of her and cherish her.”

  Rani put her hand on his shoulder and smiled. “Mama and Poppa know what a wonderful man you are, David. And even if I hadn’t told them, Uncle Charles would have.”

  “That’s right,” Uncle Charles said. “I know David’s going to take good care of Rani.”

  Her mother placed the dirty dishes in the dry sink and walked back to the table. “I can’t believe we’re having a wedding the day after tomorrow! Rani, you and I need to go to the church tomorrow to make sure everything is in order. I think we’re going to have a big crowd come to see you get married.”

  Rani’s eyes grew wide. “That’s wonderful. I’ve missed the people from church. I can hardly wait to see all of them.”

  Her father leaned back in his chair and hooked his fingers in his belt loops. “Yep, I think everybody in the church is coming.”

  Noah who’d been concentrating on shoveling blackberry cobbler in his mouth shook his head and wiped blackberry juice from the corner of his mouth. “I don’t think ev’rybody’s coming.”

  Granny reached over and dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. “Now what makes you think that, child?”

  “’Cause I asked Mr. Matthew if he was coming, and he said he didn’t think so.”

  Rani stared in stunned silence at Noah. He tilted his head to one side and closed one eye. “What’s the matter, Miss Rani?”

  “N-nothing, Noah. Finish your pie.”

  She turned and hurried to the dry sink. Behind her, she heard her mother’s voice. “Noah, I think it’s time you were getting ready for bed.”

  “Bed?” he whined. “It’s not even dark outside yet.”

  “Then when it gets dark, you’ll be ready. Come with me.”

  She turned and watched her mother pull Noah down the hallway toward the bedrooms. After a moment her father spoke. “Well, why don’t the rest of us go in the front room for a while?”

  The chairs scraped on the floor as they rose. Then she felt David standing behind her. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Hurry and join us. I’d like to spend some time alone with you tonight.”

  A wobbly smile pulled at her lips. “I won’t be long.”

  As soon as the men and Granny had left the kitchen, her mother touched her arm. Rani turned to stare at her. “I’m sorry about what Noah said. He didn’t realize he was saying anything wrong.”

  Rani smiled and covered her mother’s hand with hers. “It’s all right. I knew it might be awkward at times while I was home, but I’m fine. I didn’t really think Matthew would come to the wedding. In fact, I doubt if I’ll see him at all.”

  “I doubt it too,” her mother said.

  Rani plunged her hands into the hot dishwater and began to scrub the plates her mother placed in the pan. After a few minutes of silence she took a deep breath. “How is Matthew?”

  Her mother dried the plate she held and placed it in the cupboard before she responded. “He’s doing well, Rani. He’s finally faced up to his past, and he seems happy. He isn’t the man you knew a year ago.”

  Rani reached for a cloth and dried her dripping hands. “What do you mean?”

  Her mother led her to the table, and they sat down. She reached across and clasped Rani’s hand. “Your father has had the opportunity to guide him in Bible study this winter. I know he has told him about the years after his mother died, but Simon hasn’t revealed anything to me. Whatever happened, Matthew seems to have peace about it now. He’s mentioned several times that he would like to see you to ask you to forgive him. Granny said he was very upset when Noah told him you were getting married.”

  “Why would he be upset? He rejected me as if I meant nothing to him.”

  Her mother’s eyes grew wide. “All your life I’ve told you to follow God’s will in your life. Did you ever think when Matthew turned his back on you it might have been because God had something better for you?”

  She nodded. “I’ve thought about it, and I know David is a wonderful man. I’m thankful God brought him into my life. We’re going to be happy in our work and in our marriage. He loves me so much.”

  “And what about you? Not once in the letters you’ve written home have you talked about loving David. It’s always about his feelings for you. He’s a good man, Rani, and deserves to be loved for who he is. You’ll only end up making him miserable if you don’t share his love.”

  Rani pushed to her feet. “You’re wrong, Mama. I do love David. Who wouldn’t? Any woman would be lucky to have him, but he wants me.”

  “And who do you want?” Her mother’s stony gaze made her heart thud.

  Her lips trembled, and she threw the towel she still held to the table. “I want to marry David. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find him and spend some time with him.”

  David glanced up and smiled as she walked into the front room. “There you are.”

  She took his hand and pulled him to his feet. “Come sit on the porch with me. I want you to see what our mountains look like at night.”

  He nodded to Simon and Granny. “If you two will excuse me, I’ll go outside with Rani for a bit of air.”

  They stepped out the door and stopped at the edge of the porch. David put his arm around her waist and drew her closer. She leaned against him and listened for the night sounds in the Cove. Neither spoke for a few minutes.

  “My family likes you very much,” she finally said.

  “Good. I like them too. They’re the kind of people you meet and feel like you’ve known for years. I’m glad they’re going to be my family too.”

  “I think you won them over with the gifts you brought. Noah especially,” she chuckled

  He tightened his arm around her. “Rani, who is Matthew?”

  She stiffened. “Why do you ask?”

  “You’ve never told me the name of the man you were in love with. Then tonight when Noah said Matthew wasn’t coming to the wedding, I figured that must be him. Is it?”

  “Yes,” Rani said, letting out a deep breathe. “Yes, it’s Matthew.”

  David turned her to face him. “Do I have anything to worry about?”

  She swallowed. “Why would you have anything to worry about?”

  “Don’t answer my question with one of your own. Maybe coming back here to get married wasn’t such a good idea. You can’t seem to talk about him to me.”

  Rani wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. “I’m sorry. It’s just that he’s part of my past. You’re my present and my future. We’re going to be married the day after tomorrow.”

  He kissed the top of her head and then held her at arm’s length. “If you have any doubts, please let me know.”

  She smiled. “If I have any, I will. Now quit talking like a silly f
ool and kiss me.”

  He lowered his lips toward her, but before he could kiss her a loud barking interrupted them. Scout charged onto the porch and jumped on Rani. He bounced, yelped, and licked her like he’d gone mad.

  Laughing, she dropped to her knees and clamped her arms around the dog’s trembling body. “Where have you been, boy? Off chasing rabbits again? I missed you when I got home today.”

  David bent over and reached out to pat Scout’s head. A growl ripped from the dog’s throat. Scout’s lips curled back from his bared teeth, and he snapped at David’s outstretched hand.

  Rani grabbed the dog and pulled him backward. “No, Scout! Bad dog!”

  David straightened and raised his eyebrows. “Did I do something wrong?”

  Still holding Scout, she stood and shook her head. “No. He’s very protective of me. He’ll warm up to you before long.”

  David held out his hand once more, and the dog tried to lunge at him. David backed away. “Maybe I’d better leave you with your dog for tonight.”

  Rani tightened her hold on the wiggling dog. “I’ll calm him down and then come inside.”

  David stared at Scout once more before he backed away. “I think I’ll get ready for bed. I’m going hunting with Stephen early in the morning, and I need to get some sleep. We should be back before noon.” He grinned. “Talk to your dog while I’m gone and tell him I’m really a nice person.”

  “I will.”

  David opened the door and entered the house. As soon as he disappeared, Scout whined and licked her face. She laughed, put him down on the porch, and propped her hands on her hips. He cocked his head to one side and sat back on his haunches. “What am I going to do with you? You’ve always scared off all my suitors.”

  As soon as the words were out of her mouth, the truth hit her. She dropped down in the chair where she’d sat so many nights in the past. Scout settled on the floor beside her, and she reached down to pet him. “All of them except one.”