Saving Laurel Springs (15 page)

“It's cool.” Taylor chimed in. “The mist from it sprays you when you get near it and sometimes you can see rainbows in the mist.” He turned to Rhea. “Have you ever seen it?”

She smiled. “No. I haven't ever been out West or to California.”

“No kidding?” Taylor took off his waist pack to take his small water bottle out. “You'll have to come with us sometime when we go. You can fly in our jet with us. There are lots of cool things to see in California.”

Leaning over to skim his hand in the cold water, Taylor asked, “Can I wade in the water, Dad? Please? I'll take my shoes and socks off and be real careful not to fall in.” He pointed. “I can wade over in that part by the bank where it's shallow.”

Carter nodded, and Taylor let out a whoop. He soon had his shoes and socks off and had climbed over several rocks to shinny down to the shallow pool by the bank.

“It doesn't take a lot to make a kid happy, does it?” Carter glanced over to Rhea and smiled.

“No. Those are wonderful carefree years.” She took off her own boots and socks and stuck her feet into the cold water. “But wading is fun at any age.”

Agreeing, Carter pulled off his own boots to drop his feet in the stream, too.

CHAPTER 13

R
hea watched Carter wince as he stuck his feet into the chill mountain water. She gave him a cocky smile. “Did you forget how cold the water is here after being in sunny California?”

He flipped a handful of water at her in retaliation.

Risking trouble, she splashed water back at him defiantly. Battle flashing in his eyes, he started to kick another swath of water her way, but then paused, eyeing Taylor thoughtfully. “We'd better not get anything started with Taylor around.” He sighed. “It would be just the excuse he needs to dunk himself in the stream.”

She rolled her eyes. “Ah. The responsibilities of fatherhood.”

Carter didn't respond at first, watching his son digging in the shallow edge of the stream. Then she saw a smile touch the edge of his mouth. “Taylor has been the greatest joy of my life, Rhea.” His voice dropped to a husky tone, and Rhea felt her heart turn over at the love in his tone.

As if on cue, Taylor, with a joyous face of discovery, held up a shiny red salamander. “Look Dad! It's a red lizard!”

“That's a salamander, buddy.”

Taylor looked doubtful. “Is it, Rhea?”

She smiled at the boy. “Yes, it is. It looks like a lizard, but it's a Sonnini, a black-chinned red salamander. This is the ‘Salamander Capital of the World,' here in the Smokies. At least thirty species live in these mountains.”

Taylor turned the wiggling salamander over curiously. “Way cool. He does have a black chin. And black spots, too.”

He studied the creature on his hand and then let it go, gently dipping it back into the water.

Rhea was impressed. “He has a kind heart, your boy,” she said to Carter.

“Yeah, I can't figure out how he turned out so good.” He grinned at her. “He didn't get that sweetness from me.”

“From his mother?” She asked the question tentatively.

Carter frowned. “I doubt it.” He got up to jump the rocks to get closer to the waterfall.

Taylor splashed over to join him, and Rhea watched the two of them talk and interact. The love and affection between them was evident, and it touched her in some deep place to see their two dark heads bent over in intense concentration studying a mayfly on top of the water.

If they had married, Taylor might be her child. The thought hurt.

After enjoying the falls, the trio hiked back down the trail to the Cosby Campground. As they retrieved their cookout supplies from Carter's car and sought out a picnic table and grill, they heard singing coming from the pavilion.

Taylor pointed. “Look. Some people are singing over there.”

Rhea walked closer to see around the trees and smiled. “You're right. Let's drive the car closer to the pavilion and maybe we can listen to their music while we cook our hot dogs.”

Carter reloaded the items they'd gotten out and drove the car nearer the covered picnic area. Taylor bounced out of the car as soon as it stopped.

“Taylor, this is the Gabes Mountain Band.” Rhea started introductions as they drew closer and greeted the band. “They play bluegrass and gospel music. They sing at our church at Laurel Springs and at many festivals and events around the Appalachian area. They've been traveling a lot lately, but we're glad to see them home again.”

Carter smiled and stepped in. “Some of these folks are relatives of ours, Taylor. The older man there with the cowboy hat on is Jim Reagan, my mother's father and your maternal great-grandfather on the Reagan side of the family.”

Taylor's eyes grew wide as Jim walked over to shake his hand. “Hi, Mr. Reagan. What should I call you since you're one of my grandfathers?”

Jim laughed. “How about Pop Reagan? That's what my other grandkids call me.”

“Okay.” Taylor nodded, studying the shiny banjo around Jim's neck with interest.

Carter continued the introductions. “Ellie Reagan Butler here is Pop Reagan's daughter and my mother and your grandmother Mary Jane's sister.”

“You're the nurse,” Taylor said. “You came to take care of my daddy when he got hurt.”

“I did.” Ellie leaned across the dulcimer on her lap to give Taylor a buss on the cheek. “And you were a good help to me.”

“I'm Rice Butler, Ellie's husband,” a salt-and-pepper-haired man said, nodding at Taylor while he picked a few random notes on his mandolin. “The girl there is our daughter, Teresa. She's not formally in the band, but she sings a little with us from time to time.”

Teresa, with her curly, jet-black hair the color of Carter's, smiled at Taylor with fondness. “I've been wanting to meet you,” she said. “And I'm thrilled to see you again, Carter.” She threw her arms around Carter and hugged him fiercely. “You've been gone way too long.”

Rhea watched Taylor's eyes shift to the last band member, an older gentleman with a short, snowy white beard, strumming out a soft melody on his guitar. “I'm Clyde Dorsey,” he said. “Leroy, here, playing the big double bass, is my son.” He gestured toward a tall young man with glasses, his rusty-red hair tied behind his neck with a leather string.

Introductions over, Carter asked, “Have you guys eaten supper?”

Ellie shook her head. “No, but we're going to pick-and-sing a little longer and then go get a bite up the road. It was such a nice evening, we decided to practice out-of-doors instead of in the church.”

Carter grinned. “Well, if you'll pick-and-sing and entertain me while I fire up the grill, you guys can eat with us. I've got two packages of hot dogs in the cooler, a big tub of homemade slaw, a couple of cans of chili to heat, plenty of buns, two bags of chips, and all the makins for s'mores after.”

Ellie grinned, looking around at the group. “Hard to beat that offer. Tell you what. You start cooking and we'll get to practicing and work ourselves up an appetite.”

A few minutes later, Rice started the group into a lively rendition of “Over in the Glory Land.” Taylor perched on a rock by the pavilion to watch the group with fascination, while Carter and Rhea walked back to the car to unload the picnic supplies.

“Did you really bring enough food for six more people?” Rhea hissed at him as he opened the trunk. “If not, I'll run up the road to the market while you start the charcoal.”

He flashed her a wide smile. “You really think I'd let you drive this vintage car?” Carter patted the car fondly. “Not a chance. I don't think you've ever driven anything but that old bug of yours, some farm trucks, and the assembly tram.”

Her anger flared at his remarks, and her jaw set.

He leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I'm only teasing, darlin'. Don't get your dander up.”

She jerked away, hoping no one had seen. “Don't do that!”

“Why not?” He loaded her arms with picnic supplies and a large basket.

“Because everyone knows I'm dating Marshall.” She shifted the items in her arms to distribute the weight. “It might make people talk to see you pecking me on the cheek like that.”

He chuckled. “No telling what they'd think if they'd seen some of the other times.”

Rhea frowned at him. “Be nice.” She peeked into the bags to check on the food Carter had brought.

He shook his head. “Don't worry about the food. I ran by the market this morning and Estelle packed everything for me. You know how she is. She insisted on doubling everything I asked for.”

Rhea laughed. “Well, that explains why you have so much. Estelle thinks everyone needs an army of food for any occasion.”

“Anyway, there should be plenty.” He hoisted a big cooler from the trunk and balanced a bag of charcoal on the top. “I'll start the charcoal, if you'll fix up the table and get all the stuff out.”

“I'll be glad to.” She skipped down the path with her arms full, enjoying the wonderful music filling the campground.

The day and the evening were practically perfect. Rhea, Carter, and Taylor enjoyed the music of the Gabes Mountain Band for several hours after dinner, too, eventually singing along to old favorite tunes.

Pop Reagan put down his banjo as twilight began to fall and delighted Taylor with a little old-time clogging. Teresa joined in and then taught Taylor a few steps. Getting into the spirit of the evening, Leroy and Teresa and Carter and Rhea paired off to show Taylor a sample of square dancing to “Turkey in the Straw” in a four square while Rice did the calling. Rhea hadn't square-danced in ages, and it felt wonderful to swing through the familiar steps and patterns again.

After they loaded the picnic remains and said good-byes, Taylor fell asleep in the car almost immediately.

“The day wore him out, didn't it?” Rhea glanced fondly over her shoulder at the child curled up on the backseat.

“Yeah, he had a big time.” His eyes caught hers briefly. “Thank you for coming.”

“I had a good time, too. Thank you for asking me.”

It was the truth, and there seemed no point in denying it.

She saw Carter's smile in the gathering darkness.

“We're getting along better now, aren't we, Rhea?”

Rhea met his eyes as he paused at a stop sign. “We got along well today.”

He chuckled. “You won't give more than an inch, will you?”

“I've learned to be cautious with you, Carter.”

They drove in silence, enjoying the cool of the evening until they rumbled into the covered bridge. Carter slowed the convertible to a crawl and then stopped in the darkness.

“A penny for your thoughts, Rhea Dean.” His voice sounded soft and husky in the darkness, with only the sounds of the stream tumbling under the floor of the bridge.

“If I had a penny, I'd put it through the crack and make a wish.” She had no intention of telling him her thoughts or how her heartbeat had escalated as they entered the dark of the old bridge.

He fumbled in his pocket, found a penny, and put it in her hand. “Remember our old game? If you can lean over the side of the car and get the penny to go between the cracks on the first try, you get your wish. Think your aim is still good?”

She saw his grin even in the darkness. “We'll see,” she said, leaning over the side of the car. The penny dropped neatly through a large space between two boards, splatting into the water below.

“What did you wish?” he asked as she turned back around to face him with a smug grin.

“Maybe I wished Marshall Sutton would propose.”

He grabbed her arm, almost hurting her. “Don't tease me.”

“Ouch.” Rhea complained, pulling his hand off her arm. “And how do you know Marshall Sutton hasn't already proposed?”

“I don't. Has he?” His voice was low and dangerous.

“Actually, he has.”

“And you said?” He drew out the words.

She tossed her head. “I wasn't ready to give an answer yet.”

“The answer is no.” Carter pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely, his hands wrapping her tight against him so she wouldn't pull away. As if she could, with past memories swirling in the darkness of all the times they'd kissed here before.

Their emotions climbed as their kisses grew sweeter, but Rhea put a finger to Carter's lips as he moaned in pleasure. “Shhhh. We'll wake your son and have more explaining to do than either of us are ready to offer to him.”

He drew back with obvious reluctance, heaving a long sigh before he put the car back into gear and started to drive out of the bridge. “We're not finished with this, Rhea Dean.”

She wisely made no reply.

They drove around the lake to Rhea's house, saying little, letting their feelings cool down.

As Rhea started to get out of the car, Carter's hand snaked over to grab hers. “You wanna leave your window open tonight?” His voice was teasing in the dark.

“No.” She snatched her hand back. “I'm tired. We've had a big day. And I want this day to end on a good note, not with a fight and quarrel later.”

He laughed softly. “It wasn't fighting and quarreling I had in mind.” He caught her hand again. “I loved being with you today. I loved watching you laugh and lie back on that rock in the sun. I loved seeing you across the table from me, smiling and talking over a meal, entertaining everyone with your warmth and congeniality. And I loved seeing how tender and kind you were to my son.”

Rhea's heart caught in her throat.

His white smile flashed in the darkness. “Do you know what Taylor said about you?”

“What?” She felt wary asking.

“He said his mother was beautiful . . . but that you were pretty
and
sexy.”

Rhea gasped. “You made that up!”

“I didn't.” He laughed. “He's right, you know.”

“That I'm not beautiful like his mother?”

Carter blew out a breath in annoyance. “How did you miss the best part of what I said?” He paused. “Get this straight. There is no comparison between you and Judith Benton Layman, Rhea. And you should never set yourself beside her in your mind and see yourself wanting in any way.”

She crossed her arms. “Hmmmph. Comparing us is like comparing Elly May Clampett of
The Beverly Hillbillies
with Sophia Loren.”

Carter laughed, annoying her. “Now, there's a picture. But certainly not an accurate one. However, even if it were, I like Elly May better than Sophia.”

He reached out to snatch her hand again as she uncrossed her arms to reach for the door handle. “Never think you're not beautiful, gifted, and exciting, Rhea Dean. No one compares to you. No one.”