Beyond These Hills (31 page)

“But will he recover?” Laurel asked.

“At this point I don't know. He needs to stay here for a few days so we can keep an eye on him. If he continues to be pain free, we'll let him go home. But even if that happens, his activities are going to be restricted.”

Her mother swallowed and tightened her grip on Laurel's hand. “What do you mean?”

Dr. Pearson looked around the group. “He will need to cut down on heavy lifting and hard work. And he needs to stay as free from worry as he can. When I was talking with him after the pain subsided, he told me how concerned he's been over having to sell your farm and move from Cades Cove. You as his family are going to have to take a lot of responsibility off his shoulders.”

Rani nodded. “We can do that. You said he'll need to stay a few days. Did you mean here at the clinic?”

“Yes. We'll keep an eye on him and monitor his progress. Maybe you and your children could stay at the hotel next door. That way you'd be close at all times.”

Laurel's mother nodded. “We'll check on that later. Right now I'd like to see him.”

“Of course. You can all go in now. Try not to talk about anything that will upset him, though.”

“We won't.” Her mother took a deep breath and glanced at her then at Willie. “I want you to be brave. Don't cry. Talk to him as if he'll be up and around in a few days.”

They followed Dr. Pearson as he opened the door to the room. Laurel was about to step through the doorway when she realized Andrew wasn't behind her. She turned and stared at him. “Aren't you coming?”

He shook his head. “This is a time for your family to be together. Tell him I hope he feels better soon.”

“I will.” She smiled before she followed her mother and Willie into the room, but she felt the smile fading when she caught the first glimpse of her father.

He lay on a narrow bed, his eyes closed and one hand across his chest. The gray pallor of his face sent a chill up her spine, and she bit down on her tongue to keep from crying out. Her mother dropped down on her knees beside the bed and covered his hand with hers.

“Matthew, it's Rani. Can you hear me?” He didn't move, and after a minute she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and began to dab at his forehead. “The doctor says you're going to be fine. So you just rest and get better. Laurel and Willie are here with me, and we'll take care of everything. No need for you to think of anything except getting well so we can all go home.”

Laurel stared down at her father's still body, and her heart thudded. Why didn't he wake up? Or at least open one eye so he could see them. She and Willie dropped to their knees next to their mother. Laurel fought back tears as she stroked her father's hand. “We love you, Poppa.”

A slight frown crossed his face, and he flinched. Her mother's head jerked up, and she shot a worried glance at Dr. Pearson. “What's the matter?”

“He's probably having some discomfort. It's not unusual.”

Her father's eyes opened, and he blinked. Slowly he turned his head and looked into her mother's face. He swallowed, and a raspy whisper drifted from his mouth. “Rani?”

She covered his hand with hers. “Yes, Matthew. I'm here. So are Laurel and Willie.”

His eyes clouded, and a frown pulled at his brow. “Where's Charlie?”

Her mother's body jerked at his question, and she pressed her lips together as tears flooded her eyes. Laurel put her arm around her mother's shoulders and leaned closer to her father. “Charlie's not here right now, but I am, Poppa. And so is Willie.”

She nudged Willie with her elbow. He looked up at her, a scared expression on his face, and she nodded. Willie swallowed and scooted closer to the bed. “Hi, Poppa.”

Her father raised his hand and motioned for Willie to move closer. He wedged himself in front of Laurel and leaned closer to his father. Laurel tightened her arm around her mother's shoulders as her father raised his hand and patted Willie on the head. “A good boy. Always been. But too young.” He frowned and turned his head. “Rani?”

“Yes, Matthew. I'm here.”

His gaze moved over her mother's face. “Promise me…”

“What? Promise you what?”

“Willie. Don't want it to be for him like it was for me. Too young to be the head of the family.”

Tears began to stream down her mother's face. “You're going to be the head of this family for a long time. You'll teach Willie to be a man.”

The corner of his lip curled up, and he patted Willie again. “Love you, son.” He closed his eyes, then they shot open. “Laurel?”

She jumped at the sound of her name. “Yes, Poppa?” She leaned around Willie and smiled at him.

His eyes softened, and he smiled. “So beautiful. Just like your mama. Be happy, darling. Don't marry unless he loves you like I've loved your mama.”

“I won't, Poppa. I'll let you help me decide who I should marry.”

Dr. Pearson stepped up behind them and touched her mother's shoulder. “I think that's enough talking for now. He needs to rest. You can see him later.”

Her mother nodded, leaned over, and kissed her father on the cheek. “You get some rest now. I'll be back in a little while. I love you.”

He closed his eyes and nodded. “Love you, Rani. Love all of you.”

Laurel waited until her mother backed away before she kissed his forehead. “I love you, Poppa. I'll be back later.”

He nodded but didn't open his eyes. Willie patted his hand, turned, and ran out of the room. When Laurel and her mother entered the waiting room, Willie stood staring out the window. He didn't turn around as Andrew rose to face them.

“How is he?” Andrew asked.

“I'm not sure,” her mother replied. “I'm afraid we're in for some hard times ahead.” She sank down into one of the chairs. “We need to make some plans about what we're going to do.”

Laurel glanced at her mother in surprise. “What do you mean? I thought we were going to stay at the hotel.”

Her mother shook her head. “I'm not leaving this building as long as your father is here. But we only intended to be in Gatlinburg for the day. There are things to be done at home. The cows need to be milked and the chickens put up for the night. And we need some extra clothes for a few days.”

Andrew stepped closer to her mother. “Mrs. Jackson, I'd be happy to drive out to Cades Cove and take care of everything at your home. I admit I've never milked cows, but maybe Willie could go along and show me how.”

Willie's eyes lit up. “I sure could teach you, Andrew. I reckon I been milking cows since I was old enough to tote a bucket of milk.”

Laurel smiled and mouthed a silent thank-you to Andrew for making her brother feel so important. Her mother, however, shook her head. “You must have other work to do here in Gatlinburg. I don't want to cause you any trouble. Besides, you and Willie wouldn't know which clothes to bring for Laurel and me.”

Laurel watched the smile disappear from Willie's face at their mother's words. “Then I'll drive Willie and me home. We'll come back tomorrow.”

“Land's sakes, no,” her mother cried. “It's a long drive out there, and I'd be worried out of my mind with you two driving alone.”

“Mama, you know I can drive. Please…”

Andrew held up his hand. “We could argue about this all day. So let me suggest this. I'll drive Laurel and Willie home. Willie and I will take care of the chores while Laurel gets some clothes for all of you. I'll then take them to Simon and Anna's house. I think they need to be with family tonight. And then I'll pick them up in the morning and bring them back to Gatlinburg. How's that?”

Her mother regarded him with a somber expression for a moment. “Are you sure it won't take you away from your work?”

“No, ma'am. I still have a few days' work to do at headquarters with Superintendent Eakin, and I can be back here in the morning for that. It's no problem. And I want to help you any way I can.”

A weary smile creased her mouth, and she nodded. “All right, Andrew. I appreciate you doing this for us. And I'm glad I'll be able to get word to Mama and Poppa about Matthew. They've both thought of him as a son since he was nine years old. I expect this is going to hit them mighty hard, especially after losing Granny.”

He pulled his watch from his pocket and stared at it. “I need to go back to the office and let them know I'll be staying out at the CCC camp tonight, and I'll tell the hotel staff to send some supper over for you, Mrs. Jackson.”

“Thank you, Andrew.”

He slipped his watch back in his pocket and nodded. “Laurel, I'll
take care of those things and drive back over here in about twenty minutes. I'll see you then.”

He was out the door before Laurel could respond. She walked to the window and watched as he walked toward the footpath that led to the hotel. Her mother's arm circled her waist, and she turned toward her.

“The more I'm around Andrew, the more I like him.”

Laurel smiled and turned back to stare after Andrew. “Did you notice how his voice sounded a lot like Poppa's when he stopped all the bickering about who should go back to the Cove? There was something about him that sounded like he was in charge of the situation.”

A sob tore from her mother's throat, and she covered her face with her hands. “Oh, Laurel, what am I going to do?”

Laurel whirled and wrapped her arms around her mother. “Mama, we're going to get through this fine. Poppa will rest for a few days, and then we'll take him home. We'll be back to normal in no time.”

She glanced across the room to where Willie sat, his face buried in his hands and his shoulders shaking. From the doorway Dr. Pearson gazed from one to another. After a moment he closed the door.

The click of the latch made her shiver. A battle between life and death was being waged behind that door, and she felt helpless. Her father had always been the rock of their family. He was the one who'd offered comfort for childhood injuries and the one to sit beside her bed when she'd been ill with high fevers. He'd also been the one who'd always listened when she had problems. What would she do without him?

She hugged her mother closer and stared past her to the door that stood between them and her father. All she could do was pray that God would see fit to heal her father and not let their time together end in that room.

Rani's head dipped down to her chest, and she jerked upright. She sat still for a moment to see if her quick movement had disturbed Matthew. When he didn't say anything, she reached over and straightened the quilt that covered him in an attempt to ward off the night's temperature drop.

His hand stuck out from underneath the cover and she rubbed his fingers before she pulled the quilt over him. She rose from her chair, put her hands in the small of her back, and stretched. What time could it be? It seemed like an eternity since she'd settled in the chair the clinic's nurse had brought for her.

She walked over to the window, pulled back the thin curtains, and stared out into the night. The full moon glowed like a beacon in the night sky and reminded her of evenings spent with Granny on the front porch as they tried to find the brightest star God had sent their way that night. When they found it, they would each name the blessings God had given them, and Granny would end their night with a prayer of thanks for all the blessings that came from His hand.

As a child, she'd recounted blessings such as a new dress her mother had made her or a toy her father had brought back from a trip to Gatlinburg. Later, when Matthew had returned to the Cove, it had been about God sending him into her life and the blessing of his love.

Tonight she stood alone staring at the stars. Granny was gone and her husband lay close to death. A sob caught in her throat. How could she live without him?

She tiptoed back to his bed and dropped down on her knees. The rough plank floor scraped at her shins, but she remained still. She bent over and pressed her forehead against the edge of the bed as she began to silently pray.
God, I come to You as a broken woman tonight. I have never been as afraid as I am right now. I love this man so much, and I don't want to lose him. You have brought him through so much in his life. You were with him in all the dark years following his father's death, and You kept him safe so he could return to the place and
the people he loved. I want him to live so he can see Willie grow up and Laurel get married and Charlie come back home. But even as I pray for what I want, I know Matthew would tell me to pray for Your will in this matter. So, Father, be with me as I surrender my will to You. I know I can face his loss if You walk beside me. Thank You for the time we've had together. Be with our family in this trying time. Amen
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