Beyond These Hills (14 page)

Relief shone on Andrew's face. “I would really appreciate that.”

Simon held up a hand and cocked his head to one side. “I will tell you as well as my friends that this will be an orderly meeting. There will be no arguing, no name-calling, and no guns. Anyone can say what's on their mind as long as it's done in a peaceful manner.”

“I would agree to that.” He stuck out his hand. “I don't know how to thank you.”

Her grandfather grasped his hand. “You do understand I will
not support you at this meeting, but I will see to it that you get your chance to address everybody.”

“I understand, and I still thank you.”

The rocking chair creaked, and Granny scooted to the edge of the seat. “Now that we have that settled, how 'bout somebody a-helpin' an old woman back in the house? I 'spect I'd like to take a little nap before I help Anna cook supper.”

Nana bit down on her lip, but it didn't stop the smile from escaping as she and Grandpa helped Granny to her feet. “Don't sleep too long. You know I can't cook without you sitting at the table giving me instructions.”

A little groan rippled from Granny's mouth as she stood. “You make me sound like a smart aleck, missy. Don't you forget who taught you how to cook.”

“How can I? You never quit reminding me.” Both of them burst out laughing, and Nana gave Granny a quick hug. “And you were the best teacher any girl could ever have.”

Seeing them together and the easy manner in which they joked with each other touched Laurel's heart. She was glad Andrew had gotten to see the love her family had for each other. Maybe it would help him understand how they needed to stay together in this valley where their roots went back for generations. The thought of facing the unknown in the world outside the mountains that sheltered their valley filled her with more fear than she'd ever known in her life.

As her grandparents moved toward the door with Granny, she glanced at the sky and was startled to see that the sun had begun to sink into the west. “Oh, I didn't realize how late it was getting. I need to get home.”

Before she could take a step, Andrew was at her side. “How far do you live from here?”

“About a mile and a half.”

“Did you walk here this afternoon?”

She laughed. “Of course I did. I've always walked everywhere I went in the Cove.”

Andrew glanced past her to her grandfather who had now reached the front door. “Simon, I'd like to ask your permission to take Laurel home in my car.”

All three stopped and looked back over their shoulders. Laurel's grandparents exchanged quick glances. “Well, Andrew, I don't…” Simon began.

Andrew took a step nearer them. “I promise I'll take her right home and deliver her to her front door safely. It's the least I can do after ruining her dress.”

Granny sighed and elbowed Simon in the ribs. “Oh, go on, Simon. The boy just wants to make amends for ruinin' Laurel's dress. Besides, it's gettin' late, and Matthew will be worried. I wouldn't doubt them meetin' him on the road on his way over to see what's keepin' her.”

Anna gave a slight nod of her head, and Simon exhaled. “All right. But no stopping along the way. Take her straight home and nowhere else. Understand?”

“Yes, sir. I understand. You can trust me.” He turned back to Laurel. “Are you ready to go?”

She nodded and hoped he couldn't see the excitement in her eyes. When she'd left home earlier, she wouldn't have dreamed she'd be returning in Andrew's car. She dashed over to her grandfather and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Then she kissed Nana and turned to Granny. “Thank you, Granny,” she whispered in her ear before she kissed her cheek.

Granny winked at her before the three of them disappeared inside the house. With her heart pounding in her chest, Laurel turned back to Andrew. “I'm ready to go.”

He smiled, made a sweeping bow toward the car, and extended his arm toward her. “Your ride awaits, madam. May I escort you down the steps?”

She laughed and looped her arm through his. Together they descended the stairs and walked to the car. When they were settled inside, she swiveled in her seat to face him. “This is a very nice car. Is it new?”

He nodded and cranked the engine. “My father bought it for me right before I left home.” He wrapped his fingers around the steering wheel and stared at them for a moment before he looked back at her. “You're the first person to ride in it with me.”

The pulse in her neck felt as if it would burst through her skin. She clasped her hands in her lap and directed a shaky smile at him. “I'm glad.”

“So am I,” he whispered before he eased out on the clutch and drove into the road.

Chapter 7

T
he trip to Laurel's home was over far too quickly for Andrew's liking. They'd spoken little on their way here. He could hardly speak because his chest squeezed so tight every time he glanced at her that he could barely breathe. He doubted she felt the same way, but a little smile had pulled at her lips the entire way here.

He pulled off the road where she directed and drove past a small log cabin with a sign that identified this place as the home of Mountain Laurel Pottery. He chuckled and pointed to the cabin. “So that's your mother's studio.”

“Yes. My father built this cabin when he moved back to the Cove, and this is where they lived after they married. In fact I was born in that cabin.” She pointed to a large house that sat perhaps five hundred feet down the road from the cabin. “That's where we live now. Poppa built it when I was about five. Our lodge is to the left of our house and nearer to the creek at the back of the farm.”

He studied the large white house as he drove toward it. This was no cabin. It was a large, two-story white house that one might see in neighborhoods in any American city. He pulled to a stop in front of the house. “So this is where the Jackson family lives.”

“Yes, this is our home.”

The emphasis she put on the word
home
wasn't lost on him. He
realized she wanted him to know how important this place was to her. “It's beautiful. I can see why you love it.” He turned in his seat to face her. “I've really been unhappy about how we parted on Sunday. I'm glad I stopped by your grandparents' home today.”

“I am too.”

“When I left you at the store in Gatlinburg, I realized I hadn't asked your last name, but I remembered the name of your mother's studio. I asked the clerk at the hotel if he knew where it was, but he didn't.”

Her eyebrows arched. “You did?”

He nodded. “I felt sure I could find you again, but I didn't expect it to be at church the next day.”

She tilted her head to one side. “Why did you want to find me?”

“I don't know. I just knew I had to.”

She swallowed. “I'm glad you did.”

He wanted to reach out and caress her braid, but he willed his fingers to be still. “I'd like to see you again, Laurel. Do you think your folks would object if I came over after supper one night to visit?”

“I don't think so. They seemed to like you fine last Sunday.”

“They were being nice to me because I was a stranger in the Cove. This is different. They may not want me to come again if they think I'm interested in their daughter.”

“A-are you interested in me?”

“Yes. I am.” The words came out in a rush. “I definitely am.”

“Then I'd say the decision is up to me, not my parents, whether you can come again or not. After all, I'm eighteen years old, and this is 1935. Things have changed in the world. I don't need my parents' permission to make friends with someone.”

“Laurel, I would never dishonor you by asking you to go behind your parents' backs on anything. I'll only come back if your father gives me his permission. Do you think he's here so I could speak to him?”

She smiled. “He's here and now's your chance. I see him coming around the side of the house.”

Andrew jumped out of the car and ran around to open Laurel's door. She laughed and stepped out beside him just as her father stopped, facing them. His eyes held a questioning look.

“Laurel, I was just about to start over to Simon's to see what was keeping you.”

“Grandpa and Nana were a little late getting back, and Andrew offered to drive me home.”

Andrew swallowed and glanced at her before speaking. “I asked Simon's permission to bring her home, Matthew, and he said I could.”

“I see.” Her father's gaze drifted down to her dress, and he frowned. “What happened to your dress?”

Laurel slid her hand down the purple stain and chuckled. “I spilled the grape juice Mama sent to Granny.”

Andrew took a half step closer to her father. “It was my fault. I startled Laurel, and she dropped the pitcher. But we got the kitchen cleaned up.”

Her father's eyebrows arched. “Did you now?” He glanced at Laurel. “Anything else happen while you were gone?”

“No.” Then her eyes lit up. “Oh, yes. Grandpa is going to arrange a meeting of all the residents so Andrew can talk to them and explain the government's point of view.”

Her father's eyebrows arched. “Oh, he is?”

Andrew nodded. “Yes, and I really appreciate it. I hope you'll come to the meeting.”

“I'll be there. If anybody's going to talk about taking my farm, you can depend on me being there.”

“Good. I'm glad to hear that.” He took a deep breath and glanced back at Laurel before he spoke again. “Matthew, there's something else I'd like to ask.”

“What's that?”

Andrew straightened his shoulders. “I wanted to ask your permission to come back and visit with Laurel. I really do like your daughter, and I want to get to know her better. If we were in a town like Knoxville or Asheville, I'd ask her out to supper and take her to a movie, but I can't do that here. So I would like to come to your home and spend some time getting to know her.”

Her father's brow wrinkled, and he pushed the straw hat he wore back on his head. “Andrew, you seem like a nice young man, but you and Laurel come from two different worlds. She's lived an isolated life here in the Cove and doesn't know much about the ways of people outside these mountains. I'm not sure being friends with you would be in her best interests.”

“I understand how you feel,” Andrew said. “But please know I respect your daughter, and I would never do anything to hurt her. I just want to get to know her better.”

Andrew's legs trembled from the stare Matthew directed at him. After a moment he turned to his daughter. “How do you feel, Laurel? Do you want this?”

She nodded. “Yes, Poppa. I do.”

Her father sighed and shook his head. “Then very well, but be careful. I'd hate to see either one of you hurt.”

Andrew stuck out his hand. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.”

Laurel smiled at her father. “Thank you, Poppa.”

He gave a snort of disgust. “Don't go thanking me for something that may be the worst decision I ever made.” He glanced at the house. “Now I'll go on in and see if your mama needs any help with supper. You say your goodbyes to Andrew and then come on in.”

Neither Andrew nor Laurel spoke until he had entered the house. Then Andrew wiped his sleeve across his forehead. “Well, that didn't go too badly. Can I come back to see you tomorrow night?”

She nodded. “I'd like that.”

He walked back and opened the driver's side door of the car. Before he got in, he hesitated and stared at her over the roof of the car. His gaze raked the braid that hung over her shoulder. His Adam's
apple twitched, and another bead of perspiration trickled down the side of his face.

“I really am sorry about your dress, Laurel.”

He smiled, climbed into the car, and slowly drove away from the house. He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw her still standing where he'd left her. His stomach clenched when she reached up and stroked her braid. That sight would probably keep him awake tonight—that and the anticipation of seeing her again tomorrow.

He didn't understand these strange feelings Laurel evoked in him, but he did know one thing for sure. Something important had happened in his life the day he saw Laurel standing behind that pickup truck in Gatlinburg.