Angel of the Cove

by Sandra Robbins

  John laughed, shook his head, and walked off toward the barn. Simon glanced down at his pants. Dust from the cornfield covered his legs. He bent over and brushed his trousers. No time to wash up, though.

  He strode toward the house and entered the front door. Stopping inside the sitting room he listened for voices. He didn’t hear anything but the growl of his stomach. Martha was baking one of her pies again, and he headed toward the kitchen.

  At the door he stopped. Anna stood looking out the back toward the barn. She didn’t move, and he enjoyed a moment of being able to study her without her knowing it. He wished he could step behind her and wrap his arms around her, but his better judgment told him that wouldn’t be wise.

  He leaned against the side of the door. “What are you looking at?”

  Anna whirled around, her hand going to her throat. “Simon, you scared me half to death.”

  Her cheeks had a rosy tint, and he wondered if it was the result of embarrassment or the heat from the oven. He chuckled and walked into the kitchen. “I hope I didn’t make you so angry that you won’t let me have any of that pie.”

  With downcast eyes she moved toward the table. “Granny and Martha are in the bedroom, but I’m sure Martha wouldn’t mind you having a piece.”

  The forced words sounded strange to him. He cocked his head to one side and studied her as she approached the table. Her glance darted around the room but passed over him as if he weren’t there. She pulled a plate from the shelf, set it on the table, and backed away, her hands clasped behind her back. “Help yourself.”

  Something was wrong and he had no idea what it was. He’d followed John all day, helping him with his chores in hopes of seeing her, and now she acted like he was a stranger she was inviting to eat his fill.

  “What’s the matter, Anna?”

  She turned back toward the shelf and grabbed three more plates. “Nothing. I guess you just caught me daydreaming.”

  He touched her arm as she set the dishes on the table. “And what could you be thinking about on such a lovely day? My niece or nephew who’s going to make an appearance before long?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  He put his finger under her chin and tilted her face up. “What’s the matter? You can tell me anything.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes, and she wiped at them. “I was thinking about how much I love living here and how sorry I’ll be when I have to leave.”

  Simon fought the urge to yell out the relief that coursed through him. The Cove had affected her, and she was having second thoughts. If she was willing to admit it, then maybe there was hope she was also thinking about him in a different light—as more than just a friend. Swallowing, he smiled and nodded. “I understand. If anyone stays here long, they never forget it.”

  She smiled at him and glanced around the kitchen. “I like being in the house where you grew up, Simon. What was it like here?”

  He’d never talked about his parents much to anyone, but he wanted Anna to understand them. “My father worked hard to make a livin’ here, and my mother worked right beside him. John and I had a wonderful childhood. We worked in the fields with them, but there was always time to go fishin’ or huntin’. Most of our social activities involved our church friends and our neighbors. Seems like there was always a get-together at somebody’s cabin. Nothing fancy, just neighbors being friendly.”

  She nodded. “And it’s still the same. Just like when Cecil’s barn burned and when Naomi had to leave, everybody pitched in and helped. And then there was the Fourth of July picnic.”

  Simon cleared his throat and arched his eyebrows. “I’d prefer it if we didn’t talk about that day. It brings back painful memories.”

  She reached out and swatted his arm. “You’re teasing again. We’re way past that incident.”

  His eyes narrowed, and he stared at her. He was far past their argument, and he wished he could tell her how far. Her comments, however, had raised new hope in his heart. “Yes, we are.”

  She stared at him a moment before she glanced down at the table again. “I don’t know what’s keeping Granny. Martha wanted us to have some pie.”

  Afraid he might reach out and pull her toward him, Simon shoved his hands into his pocket. “They’ll be out in a minute. But while we’re waiting, come outside with me.”

  “Why?”

  “You were asking about my family. I want to show you something very special to me.”

  Anna followed Simon into the yard and toward two maple trees in the field at the right of the house.

  “Over there,” he said.

  Something stuck up from the ground beneath the trees, and Anna squinted to see what it was. Her breath caught in her throat as she drew nearer. Two tombstones rested beneath the trees.

  Simon stopped and knelt at the foot of one of the graves. “This is where we buried our parents. Ma always loved these trees because John and I used to climb them when we were little boys. She always said she wanted to be buried under them. Said she wanted their leaves to decorate her grave in the fall.”

  Anna knelt next to Simon and studied the stones. “What a beautiful thought.”

  He nodded. “It was a hard winter in the Cove, and they both took sick and died when the influenza epidemic hit. Granny did everything she could, but nothing helped.”

  Anna glanced up at the overhanging trees and smiled. The name Simon stood out on the trunk of one and John on the other. “When did you and John carve your names there?”

  Simon chuckled. “We were little. Maybe eight and ten. Ma always touched those places on the trees when she was out here. She came here a lot to read her Bible and be by herself.”

  Anna sank down on the ground. “Tell me about her, Simon.”

  He settled beside her. “My father grew up in the Cove, but my mother came here with her father. He was a teacher at a college and wanted to learn more about the Cherokee who sold the Cove land to the first settlers. My father fell in love with her that summer and didn’t want her to leave. Her father, of course, thought she was throwing her life away, but she was determined. She stayed and never left my father’s side until the day she died.”

  “What a beautiful story, Simon. They must have loved each other very much.”

  He nodded. “They did. They were alike in so many ways and yet different too. Pa didn’t see any reason for me to go away to school, but Ma was determined I would. She said she chose to give up her chance at an education, but she wasn’t going to make her son give up his dreams. And I guess I have part of both of them in me. I inherited my love of learning from Ma and my commitment to the traditions of the Cove from Pa.”

  Anna reached over and covered his hand with hers. “Thank you for showing me your parents’ graves, Simon. I’m sorry I never got to meet them, but I feel like I know them because I see them in you.”

  He stared at her for a moment before he leaned closer, his gaze riveted to her face. “Anna, I want you to know…”

  Before he could finish his sentence, Granny’s voice called from the direction of the house. “Anna, where are you?”

  Anna jumped to her feet. “Granny may need me. I have to go.”

  Simon rose and stood beside her. “I’ll walk back with you.”

  Anna smiled. “Thank you for bringing me here, Simon. I’m glad you told me about your parents.”

  And without speaking, without touching, they walked back toward the house.

  “Granny, what’s the matter?” Granny hadn’t spoken since they left Martha’s house, and the silence hung heavy in the buggy.

  Granny didn’t take her eyes off the horse. “I’m a mite worried ’bout Martha.”

  “Why?”

  Granny shook her head. “The baby hasn’t settled in the birth canal yet.”

  The thought of anything happening to Simon’s sister-in-law or her baby made Anna’s stomach roil. “But I thought you said sometimes the baby may not settle until right at the end.”

  Granny nodded
. “That’s right. But with Martha I don’t know for sure when this here baby is a-comin’. I’m afeared it might be any time, and I’d jest feel better if’n that young’un would get ready.”

  Anna looped her arm through Granny’s and laid her head on her shoulder. “You worry too much. But then that’s what makes you the best granny woman in the mountains.”

  Granny reached up and patted her head. “Don’t go a-butterin’ me up. You know lots of the women been askin’ me if’n you was goin’ to be ’round when their time comes next winter.”

  Anna laughed. “Did you tell them I’m leaving in September?”

  Granny glanced down at her. “No, ’cause I keep a-hopin’ you won’t go. I seen you and Simon out there where his folks is buried. I reckon a man don’t take a woman to his folks’ graves unless he’s right smitten with ’er.”

  Anna laughed. “Oh, Granny, you don’t miss anything. He said he wanted me to know more about his family, and he told me how his mother gave up her chance at an education to stay in the Cove with the man she loved.”

  “You think Simon might been a-tryin’ to tell you somethin’?”

  Anna’s eyes widened. “Like what?”

  “Well, child, if’n you cain’t fig’er that one out, you ain’t as smart as I thought you was.” Granny popped the reins across the horse’s back. “Git up there, Jim. Git us on home.”

  Chapter 21

  Anna sat on the edge of her bed and let her mind wander as she pulled the brush through her hair. Her friendship with Simon had changed in the weeks since the Fourth of July. They had finally been able to return to the easy relationship they’d had when she first came, and it felt good. She felt happier than she had since she’d come to the Cove.

  But it was already the first week in August. In three short weeks she would leave the Cove and everyone she’d come to know. The thought of not seeing Simon again brought tears to her eyes.

  From her bedroom window she could see the mountains her soul had connected with in the two months since she’d lived in the Cove. Granny said there was no way to describe the colors God painted across the Cove when fall arrived. She wouldn’t be here to see it, though. She’d be in New York studying at Bellevue Hospital.

  Anna sighed and turned away from the window. There was nothing to be done about it now. She pulled the brush through her hair one more time and stepped into the kitchen.

  “Is this dress all right to wear today?”

  Granny glanced up from the pot she was stirring. “Anna, we goin’ fishin’ at the creek. Ain’t gonna see nobody. Jest be sure you wear somethin’ you don’t mind gettin’ caught on the thornbushes ’long the way.”

  Anna laughed. “Then I think this is the right one.” She glanced toward the front room. “Simon’s not here yet?”

  Granny chuckled. “No, he ain’t, but he’ll be on purty soon. That boy’s gotten to be reg’lar as clockwork ’round here agin. I ain’t seen him so happy in a long time.”

  Anna smoothed the front of her dress. “It is good to have the old Simon back.”

  Granny turned back to the pot. “He don’t seem like the old Simon to me. That boy’s changed a lot since you came along.”

  The nicker of a horse sounded from the front yard. “That must be him. I’ll go tell him to hitch the horse to the buggy.”

  Granny looked up and smiled. “You do that, child. I’ll jest be here in the kitchen.”

  Anna ran through the house and out the front door. Simon, who was tying his horse to the tree, glanced over at her and waved. “Morning, Anna. Ready for the big fishing trip?”

  She ran outside and stopped beside him. “Oh, Simon, I’m so excited! I haven’t been fishing in so long. I can hardly wait to see what’s in the mountain streams around here.”

  He glanced up at the sun. “Are you and Granny ready? We’d better get going. It’s a good distance to Abram’s Creek.”

  Anna nodded. “Granny’s stirring something on the stove, but I think she’s about through with that. Why don’t you hitch her horse up, and we’ll be ready when you’re done.”

  “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.”