Mountain Homecoming (14 page)

W
ith the sun beaming down and a slight breeze blowing down from the mountains, Rani decided it was a perfect morning to take her Sunday school class outside for their lesson. Now with the Bible story of Daniel in the lions' den completed and questions answered, the young children in her group sat on the church steps and munched the cookies she'd brought.

As they ate, she silently counted the heads to make sure no one had slipped away. It wasn't unusual for one of the boys to decide he'd rather stay outside than go back in for the church services. Today they all seemed content. The teacake cookies she'd made probably were the reason.

The sound of an approaching horse caught her attention, and she glanced around. Matthew rode into the church yard, dismounted, and tied his horse to a tree at the edge of the grounds. Today he wore dark pants and a white shirt, not his usual work clothes, and she thought him more handsome than ever. She couldn't take her eyes off him as he ambled toward her.

Several of the children looked up and hesitated before shoving the next bite in their mouths, but most hardly gave him a glance. He stopped beside her and smiled. “It seems you have everything under control.”

“For the moment. But you should have been here about fifteen minutes ago. I decided I'd better get the cookies out early.”

Matthew's dark eyes sparkled. “I'd get quiet for one of your cookies too.”

“Would you like to have one?”

She held up the basket with a few cookies still inside, but he grinned and patted his stomach. “No, I'm still full from that breakfast your mother cooked, and I sure don't want to ruin my appetite for Granny's big dinner.”

“I'll take his if'n he don't want it.”

Rani held out the basket toward the young boy who'd gobbled his cookie up before most of the children had taken their first bite. “All right, Noah. Have another one.”

Several other children jumped up and rammed their hands into the basket before Rani could set it down. Matthew stared down into the now-empty basket and laughed. “I guess I missed my chance to have one of your cookies. Maybe I'll get one next time.”

Her heartbeat quickened at the teasing glint in his eyes, and she smiled. “Maybe so.”

The door of the church opened at that moment, and her father peered out. His face broke into a smile when he spied Matthew. “So you got back from feeding the animals over at your place. How was everything there this morning?”

“Fine.”

“Good.” Simon directed his attention back to Rani. “It's almost time to start. You need to get the children back inside.”

She clapped her hands, and the children grew still. “It's time to go inside.” A groan arose from the group, and she saw Matthew cover his mouth with his hand. She propped her hands on her hips and frowned. “None of that. Now swallow your last bite of cookie, and go inside and find your folks.”

With a whoop the children jumped up and ran into the church. Noah stopped before entering and looked back at her. “Miss Rani, will you bring some more of them cookies next time?”

She smiled. “I will, but I have a secret just for you.”

His eyes grew wide, and he hopped back down the steps to where she stood. “What is it?” he whispered.

She leaned forward and stared into his face. “I brought an extra batch of cookies for you to take home today. When you and your ma get ready to leave, let me know, and I'll get them for you.”

His mouth gaped open, and he shook his head in disbelief. “Honest, Miss Rani? You brought some just for me?”

“Just for you, Noah. But don't tell the other children. I don't have any for them.”

He threw his arms around Rani and hugged her before he charged up the steps and into the church. When the door closed behind him, Matthew touched her arm. “That was mighty nice of you, Rani. You sure made him happy.”

She didn't know if her skin warmed from his touch or for her concern over Noah. The child had been on her mind a lot lately, and she prayed for him and his mother every day. “Noah has a hard time. His father doesn't stay home much, and his mother struggles. I wish I could have brought them more food, but his mother's too proud to accept it. But she won't turn down anything I bake if I say it's for Noah.”

He exhaled and withdrew his hand. “Sounds like Noah and his mother have a lot in common with my family.”

“I've never thought about it before, but I suppose they do.” She glanced back at the church door. “We'd better get inside before Poppa comes looking for us.”

Matthew laughed and swept his arm toward the door. “Then let's go. I'll follow you inside.”

Matthew stopped inside the door of the church and stared at the people already seated. Before he could take a step down the aisle, John Martin, Simon's brother, jumped up from his seat and headed toward him.

He grabbed Matthew's hand and pumped it up and down. “Simon told me you was gonna be here today. We sure are glad to have you back home, Matthew. I'll be over in a few days to see how I can help you out gettin' your farm up and running again.” He motioned to a man sitting in the back row. “Hey, Joshua, do you remember Matthew Jackson?”

The man rose and extended his hand. “It's been a long time. He may not remember me. I'm Joshua Whitson.”

Matthew nodded. “I do remember you. My mother often spoke of your wife.”

“Yeah, your ma was a good woman. We missed her after she moved away. Let me know if you need any help at your farm,” he said as he headed back to his seat.

“We'll talk later,” John said, and walked back to the pew where his wife Martha sat. She smiled and waved at Matthew before she scooted down to make room for her husband.

Matthew glanced down at Rani, who'd been silent during the exchange. A satisfied expression covered her face, and she leaned forward. “Now you see that folks are going to be friendly with you.”

He was about to agree until he looked past her to where George Ferguson sat beside his father. George glared at him before he leaned over and whispered something to his father. Pete darted a glance at Matthew before he frowned and looked away.

The old feeling of being the outsider washed over him, and he almost turned and left the church. Then he took a deep breath and forced a smile to his face. “At least some people seem glad to see me.”

When they entered the church, Rani's mother was already at the pump organ. Her father bent over her as they discussed the songs the congregation would sing today. The sight of them together always filled Rani with happiness, but today she held her head a little higher—Matthew walked down the aisle behind her.

She stopped at the pew near the front where Granny sat and dropped down next to her. Matthew followed, and before she realized it, she sat wedged between Granny and Matthew. He was so close their shoulders touched.

Her father strode to the pulpit. “Everybody, get a hymnal and turn to one of our favorites, number fifteen.”

The congregation rose as her mother began to play the opening chords of
Old Time Religion
. Rani grabbed a hymnal, opened it to the page, and held it up so Matthew could see it. He spread his fingers across the back of the book, his fingers brushing hers. Her hand tingled. She knew she should pull it away, but instead she inched her fingers closer until they rested next to his.

He didn't look up, but his fingers lifted and slowly descended to settle atop hers. The movement sucked the breath from her, and she almost gasped aloud. One gentle touch was all she felt before his fingers relaxed and moved away. Had the caress been accidental or intentional? The stony look on his face betrayed nothing. In confusion, she let go of the hymnal and dropped her hand to her side.

Rani had no understanding of the words she sang or those spoken by her father in his sermon. All she could think about for the next hour was how she had felt when Matthew's hand touched hers.

When the last song was sung and the benediction complete, Matthew stepped into the aisle and waited for her to follow before he moved back to Granny and helped her to her feet. She patted his arm and smiled, “How did it feel to be back in your home church today?”

“It felt mighty good, Granny. Now I'm ready to enjoy your birthday shindig.”

Rani felt a hand tugging at her arm, and she turned to see Lavinia Davis beside her. “Come on, Rani,” she said. “I need you out to where we're gonna spread dinner. There's lots to do, and I have a job for you.”

“I'll be right there, Mrs. Davis.” She glanced back at Matthew, but he appeared to be occupied with assisting Granny.

Her mother hurried over from the organ and grabbed Rani by the arm. “Come on, Rani. Lavinia needs us. Matthew can help Granny outside.”

Matthew glanced up at the sound of Anna's voice and nodded. “You two go on. I'll bring the birthday girl.”

He didn't look at Rani, and her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. She'd been foolish to read too much into what had happened earlier. She whirled and followed her mother from the church.

Outside women carried large baskets of food toward the tables that had been set up under the trees. Rani and her mother joined them, and before long platters and bowls filled with the Cove's bounty lined the tables. Out of the corner of her eye, Rani caught sight of Matthew easing Granny into a chair one of the men brought for her, and then her father called out for everyone to be quiet.

Simon stood next to Granny's chair and laid his hand on her shoulder. “We've come together today to honor one of the most beloved women in our community. Matilda Lawson, better known to all of us as Granny, was born in this valley seventy years ago yesterday. Her mother taught her how to be a midwife as her mother had done before her. I'd like for you to raise your hand if Granny delivered you into this world.”

All around, hands shot into the air. Rani held hers up. So did Matthew and her father.

“I thought so,” Simon continued. “Granny has been more than a midwife to us, though. She's been a doctor when we didn't have one, a mother when ours was gone, and a spiritual advisor in our lives when we needed her. Because of her, I've been the pastor at this church for going on twenty-five years, and it's because of her that I have my wonderful wife and family.”

Her father choked up, raised his hand to his mouth, and coughed. “Before we eat, I want to say a prayer of thanks for this woman who has meant so much to us.” The gathered friends bowed their heads. “Father, You know all that Granny has meant to the people of Cades Cove. I thank You for her, for the healing hands You gave her, for the dedication to Your work she's taken with her into every home where she was needed, and for the influence she's had on all our lives. I pray You will continue to bless her and give her many more years with the people who love her. Amen.”

Amens rang out across the group as they raised their heads. Then one after another they came forward to hug her or to shake her hand. Most of them whispered to her, and Granny's eyes glistened with tears. After they spoke with her, they stepped to the tables and piled their plates with food.

By the time Rani finished serving, most of the crowd had scattered across the churchyard in small groups. Matthew sat on the ground next to Granny, his full plate on his lap. Granny balanced her plate on her legs and laughed from time to time at something Matthew had said.