Beyond These Hills (10 page)

He wanted Laurel to understand he wasn't some monster who had descended on the Cove to trick everyone into leaving. For some reason he felt drawn to her, and he wanted to know her better. But from the way she'd acted since finding out why he was really in the Cove, he didn't know if she would want to be his friend or not.

In an effort to put the troubling thought out of his mind, he shook his head and followed Simon, Matthew, and Granny into the kitchen. Maybe she would talk to him during dinner. He certainly hoped so.

Chapter 5

L
aurel fidgeted in her chair and tried to avoid the probing stare that Andrew seemed to direct at her every few minutes. She should never have sat across from him, but by the time she'd had a chance to find an empty chair at the table it was the only spot left. Throughout the meal she'd tried to steer most of her conversation to Noah and her father, but she couldn't help glancing at Andrew from time to time. With dessert almost over, she'd be able to escape his brooding eyes soon.

Ever since she'd encountered him yesterday in front of Mr. Bryan's store she hadn't been able to get him out of her mind. But she would never have dreamed he would show up at their church this morning. Now he sat at her grandparents' table having a meal with the people she loved most in the world, and they all seemed to be enjoying his company—especially Granny. She had kept him entertained during the meal with stories about her early days in the Cove and how she'd prayed God would send her a helper. Then Anna had arrived, and they'd been family ever since.

Granny might be enjoying his company, but Laurel couldn't help feeling she'd been betrayed. Why hadn't he told her when he first arrived at church his real reason for being in the Cove? The answer to that question seemed obvious to her. Since he'd been quick to tell her
grandparents who he worked for, he must consider her just a simple mountain girl who had no business meddling in matters better left to the heads of the family.

If he thought that, he could think again. The question of whether or not they would sell their land affected her because it meant the loss of the only home she'd ever known. Just the thought of having to leave the Cove frightened her, and she glared at Andrew. He glanced at her at that moment, and he cocked one eyebrow. As his gaze drifted over her face, her pulse raced. Her fingers shook, and the fork she held slipped from her fingers and clattered against the plate.

All conversation at the table stopped momentarily, and her cheeks warmed. She jerked her hands to her lap and clasped them together as she stared down at her plate.

“Laurel, are you all right?” her mother asked.

She took a deep breath and directed a wobbly smile at her mother as she pushed to her feet. “My fork slipped out of my grasp.” She picked up her plate and glanced around. “Can I take anybody else's plate?”

“I'm through, Laurel.” Andrew's deep voice rumbled from across the table.

Her grandmother pushed to her feet and began to gather up the plates of those sitting near her. “Simon, take the men in the front room while Rani and Laurel help me clean up the kitchen. Then we'll join you.”

From his seat at the head of the table her grandfather stood slowly. “All right. Matthew and I'll help Granny back to the front room.”

He started around the table toward Granny, but she frowned and waved her hands at him. “No need for that, Simon. I think I'll take a nap. Andrew and Laurel can help me to my bedroom. Then I think Laurel ought to show Andrew around the farm.”

Laurel gasped and stared at Granny, who returned her startled
expression with a sweet smile. “B-but I need to help clean up the kitchen.”

Granny chuckled and shook her head. “Your mama and grandmama can do that just fine without you. Besides, it's a beautiful day and I'll just bet you done brought that there camera with you to take some pi'tures. Am I right?”

“Y-yes, Granny, but…”

“Andrew's new to these here mountains. Show him around. He might be able to see something you need to photograph that you missed.”

Laurel looked toward her mother, but she and Nana were already pouring water from the kettle into the dishpan. Her father and grandfather exchanged quick glances before they turned and headed for the front room.

She turned to Noah, her last hope. “Why don't you…”

Noah was already shaking his head. He pushed his chair back and pulled his lanky legs out from underneath the table. He glanced across the table at Andrew. “I wish I had time to take you on a tour of the farm, Andrew, but I'm going to have to head back to Pigeon Forge before long, and I promised Charlie and Willie I'd take them for a ride in my car before I leave.”

Laurel tilted her head to one side and pulled her lips into a pout. “Please don't leave so early. I've hardly gotten to see you this week.”

Noah laughed, put his finger under her chin, and tilted her face up. “I know you'd like to wrap me around your little finger like you did when you were a little girl, but that sad face won't work anymore. Geraldine is at her folks' house, and I'm right eager to see her.” He glanced across the table at Andrew. “We're expecting our first baby in a few months, and we didn't think she needed to travel right now. She sure did want to come, though. She loves the Cove almost as much as I do.”

“After seeing how beautiful it is here, I can understand that. And
congratulations on the baby, Noah.” Andrew smiled, but it didn't blot out the hurt look in his eyes. Laurel's heart gave a lurch. She hadn't fooled him one bit. He knew she didn't want to spend time with him.

She straightened her shoulders and stared into his eyes. “It looks like the task of showing you the farm where my mother grew up has fallen to me, Andrew. I hope you're not too disappointed.”

He gave a slight shake of his head. “On the contrary, I couldn't be more pleased.”

A slight tremor ran up her arm at the intensity of the look he directed at her. Taking a deep breath, she walked around the table until she stood opposite Granny. “If you'll grasp her arm, I'll take the other. We should be able to get her to her feet.”

“Land's sakes,” Granny grumbled. “You'd think a body couldn't get herself out of a chair. I'll have you know, young lady, that I been a-takin' care of myself for a lot of years, and I can still do it.”

Laurel laughed and gave Granny a quick hug. “I know you can, Granny. It's just that we love you so much we want to help you all we can.”

Granny waved her hand in dismissal. “Now there you go a-tryin' to butter me up like you been doin' ev'rybody in this family all your life. Just help me to my bed, then you two young people get outside and enjoy this purty day God done give us.”

A few minutes later, with Granny safely settled in her bed, Laurel and Andrew stepped out the cabin's front door. Laurel walked over to the wooden railing of the porch, wrapped her fingers around the top, and leaned against it. Andrew stood next to her with his hands in his pockets.

Laurel gazed at the mountains that ringed their valley and winced. Ever since she could remember she'd thanked God every day for letting her live in such a beautiful place. Now most days she prayed God would keep her family here. Her fingers tightened around the railing.

“Why didn't you tell me you worked for the government?” She didn't look at him, but she heard his sharp intake of breath.

“I didn't mean to mislead you, Laurel. I was so shocked when I saw you at the church, I couldn't think straight. When you asked me what I was doing there, the first thing that popped out of my mouth was that I was on my to the CCC camp. That's true. I realize now I should have told you more at the time, but it seemed I was inside being introduced to everybody before I knew what was happening. Then to find out you're Matthew Jackson's daughter was too much for me to take in.”

She jerked her head around and glared at him. “But you had no problem telling my grandfather.”

“Because he and your grandmother invited me to dinner. I didn't want to come under false pretenses. I wouldn't do that to your family.” He covered her hand with his and swallowed. “Please don't be angry with me, Laurel. Ever since I met you yesterday, I've been kicking myself because I didn't get your last name. I was going to find Mountain Laurel Pottery so I could find out more about you. Then there you were at the church, and I was stunned.”

She told herself she should pull her hand away, but that wasn't what she wanted. She stared at him without moving. “You wanted to find me? Why?”

“I don't really know why. It's just that in the few minutes we spent together you touched me in some way. Maybe it's because I'm away from home and I want to make friends so I won't be lonely. I'd really like to be your friend, Laurel. What do you say?”

Her breath hitched in her throat, and she shook her head. “How can we be friends? You're here to take away everything my family has worked for and the only life we know.”

His hand tightened on hers. “I'm only the messenger, Laurel. Your father and grandfather are intelligent men. They know they're only prolonging the inevitable. Sooner or later the government is going to get all the land in the Cove.”

She clenched her teeth and jerked her hand away from his. “You're wrong if you believe that, Andrew. If you've come here thinking we're just some simple mountain folks you can smooth talk and get us to sign our X on a bill of sale, then you need to check with your superiors. I'm sure they can tell you not to underestimate the Martins and the Jacksons.”

“I know that, Laurel. I have the highest respect for your family. I would never do anything to hurt any of you.”

She tossed her head, and her braid thumped against her chest. “Does that include me, Andrew?”

A hissed breath escaped his lips. “Especially you, Laurel. I told you I want to be friends with you.”

She narrowed her eyes and studied him for a moment before she shook her head. “I don't think that's going to be possible, Andrew. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to look at Molly's puppies. Alone. I think it would be a good idea for you to let Grandpa show you around the farm later. While you're looking, you can be calculating how much money it's going to take to steal the home he and Nana have lived in for forty years.”

He reached out a hand to her, but she backed away. “Please, Laurel, I don't want you to think that badly of me.”

Her chin trembled, and she struggled to blink back the tears filling her eyes. “I'm afraid I already do.”

She brushed past him and ran down the steps. All she wanted was to get away from those eyes that made her heart leap in her chest and the hand that had sent tingles up her arm when he touched hers.

She had met Andrew less than twenty-four hours ago, but it seemed like he was someone she'd known all her life. Her lips might spout the words that she didn't want to be friends, but her heart knew the truth—she wanted it more than she'd ever wanted anything in her life.

“Laurel, please come back.” His voice called out to her as she ran
toward the barn. She pressed her hands to her ears and didn't look back.

It didn't matter that she wanted to run back so badly that her heart was pounding like a drum in her chest. She would not be friends with a man who wanted to destroy the only way of life she'd ever known.

Later that afternoon Andrew stopped his car at the entrance to the Cades Cove CCC camp. His right hand lightly gripped the steering wheel and his elbow rested on the open window as he gazed at the U-shaped camp nestled on the hillside in the distance.

Even from this far away he could tell this camp followed the standard that had been set for all CCC camps across the country to contain twenty-four wooden buildings. He could pick out the one that housed the headquarters because it was larger and had a flagpole in front. The others would be the administrative buildings and enrollee and officers' barracks as well as the mess hall, hospital, garage, and schoolhouse. Each one sported a cleared space in front for assemblies and sports activities.

There was little movement around the camp this afternoon. Not surprising, being it was Sunday. The men would be out tomorrow when the sun came up and would disperse across the Cove in forty- to fifty-man work crews, tackling projects intended to provide future tourists with a better wilderness experience.