Beyond These Hills (20 page)

“That sounds like a good idea, but what does it have to do with us?”

“I think we ought to buy a piece of land along that road and set up Mountain Laurel Pottery there. We can build the shop for you to work in and sell your pottery and we can have a house behind it for us to live in. If the Community grows—and John thinks someday that road will be filled with businesses—we'll have the opportunity to reach more buyers than we'd ever have working here in the Cove.”

She tilted her head. “I don't know. I do well with the pieces I sell at Mr. Bryan's store.”

He cocked an eyebrow and shook his head. “You have a few shelves over there. Out there on that loop road you could have a whole shop for your pottery and large workrooms to use. It won't be like living here in Cades Cove, but we'll all be together. And that's the important thing.”

“It sounds like it would be perfect for me, but what about you? What would you do?” She reached up and stroked his cheek, and he closed his eyes at her touch.

Covering her hand with his, he pulled her fingers to his lips and kissed each one. “I'd help you in the shop, and I could still guide groups on trips through the mountains. Think about this, Rani. It may be the best place for us to go. We could build the house big enough for Simon, Anna, and Granny to live with us.”

She laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled closer. “I never thought we'd be having this conversation. I suppose if it comes to our leaving here, living in an arts and crafts community would be the best place for us. We could still have an income. And like you said, we'd be together.”

“I have to go to Gatlinburg to see our lawyer this week. I'll check into the land that's available for sale out there. Then we can talk about it more.”

“Have you talked to Papa about this?”

“No, but I will. He knows the end is near in the Cove. This may be the best solution for all of us.”

“All right, Matthew. You know I'll support whatever you decide.” She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of soap on his jaw. The familiar smell made her feel safe. “I love you, Matthew.”

“I love you too, Rani. I promise I'll take care of you.”

Andrew had intended to get to church early today in hopes of seeing Laurel before services began, but oversleeping had put an end to that plan. His mood grew darker when he walked into the church and spotted Laurel seated between her father and Jimmy. Scowling, he slid into the pew behind the Jackson family.

Matthew glanced over his shoulder as Andrew took his seat. “Good morning, Andrew.”

He nodded in answer. “Matthew.” Then he gritted his teeth as Jimmy turned to face him.

Jimmy's grin grew bigger as he took in the angry expression on Andrew's face. “Hello, city boy. I hear you made it to the top of Gregory's Bald without falling off the mountain. Congratulations.”

Andrew arched his eyebrows. “Thanks, Ferguson. I hope you weren't disappointed.”

“No, just surprised. I didn't think you could make that climb.”

Laurel shot a warning glance at Jimmy and then to Andrew. “Hush, you two. Remember where you are.”

Jimmy's eyes grew wide and he held up his hand in front of his mouth. “Oops, I'm sorry, darlin'. My mama taught me better than to act like that in church.” His face drew into a sympathetic frown. “But maybe I'd better leave Andrew alone. He don't look too good. What's the matter, Brady? Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?”

Laurel's lips twitched and she elbowed Jimmy in the ribs. “Jimmy, I'm warning you.”

He glanced back at Andrew and winked. “Oh, don't pay no attention to me, Laurel. I just wanted to see if I could get a rise out of old Andrew. And I think I did.” He reached over and chucked Laurel under the chin. “But this sweet young thing is right. I shouldn't be carrying on this way in church.”

A giggle rattled in Laurel's throat and she swatted at Jimmy's hand. “Jimmy, you are a rascal. Now settle down.”

“I'm settling.” Jimmy folded his hands in his lap and turned to
face the front just as Simon emerged from a door at the side of the pulpit.

Andrew seethed with such anger that he couldn't concentrate on Simon's sermon. He kept his eyes on Jimmy and Laurel throughout the service. They stood too close when they shared a hymnal. Jimmy's shoulder kept brushing hers when they stood to pray. And he glanced at her way too many times while Simon was preaching. By the time the service was coming to an end, Andrew was about to explode. If the benediction didn't come soon, he was afraid he would pull Jimmy over the seat and punch him in the face.

The congregation sang the last verse of the closing hymn and Simon stepped down from the pulpit. His gaze drifted over the congregation, and an uneasy feeling ran through Andrew. Simon cleared his throat. “I want to remind all of you there will be an informational meeting here at the church Wednesday night at seven o'clock. Mr. Andrew Brady, a representative of the Park Service, will speak to us about the purchase of our land by the government.” Andrew's heart lurched at the silence that met Simon's statement. No one stirred. After a moment he continued. “This is an important meeting. I hope you will all be here. Please pass the word on to your neighbors who don't attend this church. We all need to hear what Mr. Brady has to say. Now let us be dismissed.”

Andrew bowed his head, but he didn't hear a word of the closing prayer. He was too busy wondering if he would be able to get safely back up the aisle without being attacked by a church member. When the prayer was over, Andrew opened his eyes and met Jimmy's hostile glare.

“I wish I could come to that meeting, but I won't be able to leave the camp.” His mouth hardened into a straight line. “I guess it don't make no matter, though. My family's done lost all their land in the Cove.”

Andrew started to respond, but he glanced at Laurel first. The anger that was evident on Jimmy's face flickered in her eyes. His
shoulders sagged like the breath had left his body. The truth of his situation in the Cove hit him with the force of a lightning strike.

No matter how much he wanted it otherwise, he was the enemy. None of the people in the Cove could understand how much he wished they weren't facing what was ahead for them. Not even Laurel, the one person whose friendship he longed for more than any other.

But it was more than her friendship he wanted. He wanted her to look at him with laughter in her eyes like she had looked at Jimmy today. He wanted her to feel his pain at what his job demanded. And he wanted her to put her arms around him and tell him she would stand by his side.

Even as he began to see clearly the truth about his relationship with the residents of the Cove, another truth hit him. One that made him sadder than anything he'd ever known. The reason he wanted those things from Laurel was because he was in love with her. He'd never believed love could explode into one's life in a moment, but that's exactly what had happened the day he saw her standing at the back of a truck in Gatlinburg.

Love was supposed to bring happiness to your life, but he doubted if his would. There were too many obstacles in the path between him and Laurel. The Jackson and Martin families might not realize it yet, but their days in Cades Cove were numbered. And when they left, he would be one of those they'd hold responsible. No way would Laurel ever love a man who had cost her family so much.

He glanced back at Jimmy, who was still glaring at him. “I'm really sorry for your family's loss, Jimmy. I wish it could have been different.” He took a deep breath and nodded to Laurel. “Good day, Laurel.”

With that he turned and strode up the aisle and out the door. He was almost to his car when he heard her calling. “Andrew, Andrew, wait.”

He paused at the car door and turned to face her. She walked
toward him and his heart pounded. The blue dress with white polka dots hit her midway between her ankles and her knees and it swished about her legs from the sway of her hips. The braid was gone today, and her hair was tied at the back of her neck with a white ribbon. She'd never looked more beautiful.

“What do you want, Laurel?”

A small frown pulled at her eyebrows, and she held out a Bible. “Poppa wanted me to give you this. He said he'd marked a few passages for you to read.”

He reached for the Bible and his fingers brushed against hers. “Tell him thank you for me. I'll keep an open mind while I read it.”

A questioning look flashed across her face, and she tilted her head. “Is something wrong, Andrew?”

“No. Why?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I don't know. You seem like you're upset about something. I hope you didn't take exception to anything Jimmy said. He was just kidding you.”

“No, I understand about Jimmy.”

A tiny smile pulled at her lips. “Good. Well, Mama told me to ask you if you'd like to come home with us for dinner. Jimmy's mother went over to stay with Granny today so Nana could come to church—Granny was feeling poorly today. After Poppa takes us home, he's going to drive over to bring them to our house too.”

“Where's Jimmy going?”

“He's going home with us. He'll have to go back to camp this afternoon.”

Andrew shook his head. “Tell your mother I appreciate the invitation, but I can't come today.”

She studied his face for a moment. “It's not because Jimmy is going to be there, is it?”

“I don't mind telling you I don't want to spend the afternoon trading insults with Jimmy, but that's not the main reason.”

She frowned. “Then what is the reason?”

“It doesn't matter.”

She stepped closer. “It may not matter to you, but it does to me. You're refusing an invitation to my home. Why?”

He raked his hand through his hair and gritted his teeth. “You know as well as I do, Laurel. Since the day I saw you, I've been tied up in knots. I think about you all the time, and I want to be with you more than anything I've ever wanted before. But I know it's not going to work.”

“Andrew, I…”

He held up a hand. “You don't have to say anything. I sensed yesterday on the hike that you have reservations about a relationship between us, and I understand. You and your family are about to lose everything you've worked for, and I'm here to help take it away. Then there's my father and all the problems I have in my life. I think we've got too much working against us to pursue our friendship any further.”

Her chin trembled. “It seems like you've thought about this quite a bit.”

“I have, and if you're honest, you would probably say you have too. Jimmy and Lucy are complications as well. Your family has expectations for you and my father has them for me. I forget all about that when I see you and Jimmy together and you're laughing and joking. I want that with you, but I know it's not going to happen.”

Tears filled her eyes. “But…”

“I have no idea how you feel about me, but I admit I'm attracted to you.” Laurel started to say something, but he held up his hand to silence her. “I'm sure I'll get over it in time, and until then I think it's better for us to stay away from each other.”

The only reaction he received from her was a blink of her eyes. She stared at him for a moment and then spoke. “Is that what you want?”

“Yes.” He wished he could recall the word before it was out of his mouth, but he couldn't.

She nodded. “I think you're right. Maybe if things were different…but they're not.”

“No, they aren't.”

She raised her chin and straightened her shoulders before she took a step back. “Goodbye, Andrew.”

He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her they could overcome anything if they just worked at it. Instead he jerked the car door open. “Tell your father thanks for the Bible.”

Before she could answer, he cranked the engine and roared out of the churchyard. He glanced in the rearview mirror and could see her watching as he drove away. He set his mouth in a grim line and looked away.

He'd done the right thing. There was no way a relationship with Laurel was going to work out. When the last of the Cove residents decided to sell he would be on his way back to Washington, and he had no idea where Laurel would go. It was better to nip their friendship in the bud. It might be harder later. He knew he was right, but that knowledge didn't make him happy.