Beyond These Hills (43 page)

He shook his head. “No, I won't get married until I'm settled in a job that will support us.”

She swallowed. “What do you want to do? Go back to Virginia and look for a job?”

He shook his head and smiled. “I don't have to. When Superintendent Eakin was here, he offered me a new job.”

Her pulse raced, and her eyes grew wide. “Here? In the mountains?”

He nodded. “How would you like to be married to the Assistant Chief Park Ranger?”

“Really?” she cried. “Where will we live?”

He put his arm around her waist and scooted her closer to him. “In Gatlinburg.” His eyes danced with excitement. “I didn't know how I would ever be able to leave here, and now I won't have to. We'll be in Gatlinburg with your folks. What do you think about that?”

“Oh, Andrew,” she squealed, “it's too good to be true! When do you start the new job?”

“He wants me to take over right away. He's contacting the office in Washington, and I'll start as soon as I'm recovered.” A look of dismay crossed his face, and he frowned. “We're talking about getting married, and I haven't even asked your father yet. What if he doesn't agree? He may not want me for a son-in-law.”

Laurel threw back her head and laughed. “Don't be silly. Of course he'll agree. All he's ever wanted is for me to be happy. And I am.”

“Well, if you think so, then when do you want to get married?”

She thought for a moment. “My folks will be moving to the new house in Gatlinburg in the spring. With Poppa sick I really need to be home so I can help Mama get ready to move. If we get married then, we can all move at the same time. How does that sound to you?”

He exhaled a long breath. “That sounds wonderful to me.”

She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “A spring wedding at the church in the Cove. It's what I've always wanted.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Then it's settled. That is, if your father agrees. I still don't know how he's going to feel about this.”

She laughed. “Don't worry. He's liked you since the day you came to the Cove.” A sudden thought made her pull back and stare at him. “But what about your father, Andrew? How do you think he'll take this news?”

Sorrow flickered in his eyes, and he shook his head. “I don't know. I'll write and tell him. He probably won't answer, but I'll write him every week. And when it's time for the wedding, I'll invite him. I want to keep in contact with him, but it's up to him if he wants to do the same.”

She cupped his chin with her hand. “I'll pray he does.”

He slipped his hand to the back of her head and drew her down until their lips almost touched. “The day I saw you on the street in Gatlinburg I would never have believed how much you would change my life. I'll always be indebted to your family for showing me what it means to be a member of a family who loves each other and who depends on God to lead them. I want to be a husband and father like Simon and Matthew. I promise you I'll try, Laurel, and I'll always love you.”

“I'll always love you too, Andrew.”

He pressed his lips to hers, and she said a silent prayer thanking God for sending this man into her life and prayed she would be worthy of his love.

Chapter 21

June 1, 1936

A
ndrew didn't think he'd ever seen a more beautiful day. The mountain peaks might be shrouded in their hazy fog, but the spring sunshine found its way to the valley below. He'd waited months for this day, and it had finally arrived. Soon he would exit the room where he waited and walk to the front of the church with Simon. Together they would watch Laurel enter on the arm of her father and join him for her grandfather to speak the words that would bind them together for the rest of their lives.

The door to the room opened, and he glanced around to see Jimmy Ferguson entering. He grinned and closed the door behind him. “I didn't mean to be gone so long, but I got to talking to some of the folks coming in. Finally I had to tell them I was neglecting my duties as best man and needed to see how you were holding up. I'm glad to see you didn't lose your nerve and run off while I've been gone.”

Andrew ran his finger between his neck and shirt collar and frowned. “I didn't expect to be this nervous. How long is it now until we start?”

Jimmy laughed and slapped him on the back. “You got a few more minutes of single life left.”

Andrew grinned and nodded at the man who had become his best friend over the last eight months. “Jimmy, I want to thank you for standing up with me today. There isn't anybody I'd rather have beside me when I marry Laurel.”

Jimmy's smile dissolved into a somber expression. “And I want to thank you for asking me and for gettin' me a job with the Park Service. I'm glad I could stay in Gatlinburg when my folks moved to Oak Ridge.”

Andrew shook his head. “No need to thank me. You earned that job by helping with the fire at Thunderhead.”

Jimmy stared at him for a moment and then chuckled. “Who would've thought we'd end up friends? We sure got off on the wrong foot when we first met. I'm sorry about that. I guess it took a fire to show me your good qualities. I've always been protective of Laurel, and I know you're going to make her a good husband.”

“Thanks, Jimmy. I'm sure if I mess up you'll be right there to tell me.”

He laughed. “You got that right, buddy.”

The door opened again and Simon walked into the room. He glanced from Andrew to Jimmy and smiled. “It's almost time. Are you ready?”

Perspiration trickled from Andrew's forehead, and he wiped at it. “How many people are out there?”

Simon shook his head. “Not many, I'm afraid. Jimmy's folks are here, and some of the men from the Park Service.” He grinned at Jimmy. “And there's a pretty redheaded young woman from Gatlinburg. Am I going to be performing another wedding soon?'

Jimmy's face turned crimson and he glanced down at his feet. “You never can tell.”

Andrew hesitated before he asked the question that had been rolling around in his head all day. “Is my father here?”

Sorrow flickered in Simon's eyes, and he placed his hand on
Andrew's shoulder. “I'm sorry, but he's not.” Then a smile pulled at his lips. “But Nate Hopkins walked in right before I came in here.”

Andrew pushed the hope that his father would come from his mind and smiled at the memory of the first time he encountered Nate. “Did he bring his shotgun with him?”

Simon laughed. “No. I was over at his place a few days ago, and he told me he'd come to think a lot of you. That's why he finally signed the papers to sell his farm. He's leaving for Maryville next week.”

Andrew turned back to the window and stared at the mountains once more. He'd come to this valley a year ago to do a job. The boy he'd been then had come with the expectation that he could work wonders where others had failed. He would be the one who would convince the stubborn mountain people to accept the fact that their lives were about to change. Instead he was the one whose life had changed.

Soon there would be no one living in this remote valley. Nature would reclaim land that had once been rich farmland, and names of those who had resided here would be forgotten in time. But he knew as long as he lived he would always be thankful to God for bringing him to a place where he had learned what it meant to live and love in the security of God's love.

Laurel stepped from her father's truck and glanced around at the vehicles parked in the churchyard. She recognized Ted and Josie's truck and the car her grandfather had finally broken down and bought two months ago, but there were several she'd never seen before. They probably belonged to some of Andrew's friends from Gatlinburg.

Her father came around the truck, glanced down at the bouquet of mountain laurel blooms she held, and smiled at her. “Are you ready, darling? I imagine that boy's waiting to see if you're really going to show up.”

She laughed and gave him a playful punch on the arm. “Oh, Poppa, I'm so glad Mama and Willie came with Grandpa and Nana today. I enjoyed my last few minutes as a single woman just being with you.”

Moisture flooded his eyes, and he sniffed. “I'm glad too. I can't believe my little girl's getting married. But I really like Andrew. He's a good man, and he's going to make you a good husband.”

“He is.” She looked around the yard and sighed. “I had hoped Andrew's father would come today. Andrew's written him every week since the fire, but he hasn't heard from him. He invited him to the wedding. I've been praying he'd come, but it doesn't look like he's here.”

Her father took her hand in his big, work-roughened one and smiled. “Keep praying. Maybe he'll come around.”

“Maybe so.” She took a deep breath and slipped her hand through the crook of her father's arm. “I'm ready if you are.”

They were about to mount the steps to the porch when the sound of an approaching automobile caught their attention. Superintendent Eakin drove his car to a stop a few feet away from them and stopped. He climbed out and smiled. “I was afraid I was going to be late. I had something come up and didn't get away as soon as I expected.”

Laurel shook her head. “No, you're just in time. Go on in.”

The passenger door of the car opened, and Laurel glanced at the man who got out and stared at her over the roof of the car. “Do you mind if I come to your wedding, Laurel?”

Her mouth dropped open and she tightened her grip on her bouquet. “Mr. Brady?” she gasped. “Is it really you?”

He walked around the car and stopped in front of her. “I know the last time we met I said some unkind things to you. I hope someday
you'll be able to forgive me. Andrew's letters have made me do a lot of soul searching, and I realize I don't want to lose the only son I have left. I asked Ross if I could come with him because I want to be here today. But I'll understand if you'd rather I not attend.”

Her eyes grew wide. “Of course I want you here. I've prayed for weeks that you would come.”

He cleared his throat and frowned. “Why would you want me here after the way I talked to you?”

She reached out and took his hand. “Because I love Andrew, and I want us to be a family. I hope you can come to accept me not only as Andrew's wife, but as your daughter.”

He stared at her for a moment before he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I don't think that's going to be hard to do.” He straightened and stuck out his hand to her father. “I assume you're Mr. Jackson, Laurel's father. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Her father shook his hand. “We're glad you're here. Go on in and take a seat. I know Andrew is going to be happy to see you.”

As Mr. Brady and Superintendent Eakin disappeared into the church, Laurel turned to her father and smiled. “I can't wait to see Andrew's face. Let's go.”

Her father leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Be happy, darling. I love you.”

“I love you too, Poppa.”

They climbed the steps to the church she'd attended all her life and stopped at the door. After today there would be no more services in this place. This door would no longer welcome those who wanted to worship. But the spirit of love and selflessness the church had demonstrated in their lives would illuminate her for as long as she lived. She closed her eyes and said a prayer of thanks to God for allowing her to be a child of the Cove. Then she walked in the church toward the man who waited at the front for her to join him.