Mountain Homecoming

by Sandra Robbins

  She closed her eyes and prayed for Bertha Campbell, praying that her mother would be able to help her. And she prayed that nothing would happen at the Campbell cabin to awaken Matthew’s dark memories.

  When they pulled off the road and onto the trail leading to the Campbell cabin, Matthew’s hands tightened on the reins. It had been twenty years since he’d come down this path, but he remembered it as if it were yesterday.

  He still recalled how his shoes and pants were wet from running through the dew that sparkled on the grass that morning, but he didn’t mind. He only had one thought in his head. Find his father, who had left home three days ago to go hunting for some game to feed the family. Now with all the food gone and his mother nearly exhausted from tending his sick brother, Matthew had slipped away to come to the home of Ben and Virgie Campbell, Wade’s parents.

  They had been cordial, but they didn’t know if his father was off with Wade or not. Mrs. Campbell had even offered him a biscuit and a cup of milk, but he had refused. He didn’t have time to eat when his mother and Eli were hungry. He had run most of the way home and had arrived just as the sheriff rode his horse into their yard.

  Matthew heard his mother’s scream at the sight of his father’s body draped over the back of another horse the sheriff led, but he couldn’t move. He stood still and stared at the man who had caused their family so much pain. His mother wouldn’t receive any more beatings from his father, and relief had coursed through Matthew’s body. But then he’d looked at his mother, and he’d regretted his thoughts.

  In a few minutes time, her appearance had changed. Grief had carved hollowed-out lines in her face, and she looked like an old woman. Her wail split the air, and she fell to her knees, her hands lifted toward heaven as she cried out her agony to God. He’d never been able to rid himself of that picture. It had been seared in his mind. Every time he thought of his mother, he remembered how she’d looked the day the sheriff brought his father’s body home.

  Then resilience born of the hard life she’d endured took control. She pushed to her feet and pulled her apron up to wipe away her tears. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders, and her features melted into the impassive look she would bear until her death five years later. She turned to him, and in that mountain twang he loved she said, “Son, I reckon you better be a-goin’ for Miss Anna and Granny.”

  And that journey had now brought him to the one he was making today. Back to the place he’d come twenty years ago looking for his missing father, because today another young boy had come in search of help for his mother.

  Matthew pulled the horse to a stop at the front of the cabin and climbed down. Anna and Rani were out of the buggy and rushing through the front door before he could walk around to help them down.

  He tied the horse to a tree at the side of the yard and turned back toward the cabin. Noah stood facing the door on the front porch. His arms dangled at his sides, and his small fingers flexed. Matthew stepped up next to him and touched his shoulder. “Noah, do you want me to take you inside?”

  The boy stared up at him, and his eyes filled with tears. “I’m a-feared to go in. My ma is mighty sick. What if she dies?”

  Matthew started to assure him that his mother was going to be all right, but he thought better of it. He had no idea how sick Noah’s mother was, and the last thing he wanted was to offer him false hope. He put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Let’s not think like that right now. Miss Anna will let us know something before long. In the meantime, how about if we sit down here on the steps and get better acquainted.”

  Noah nodded and took a seat on the top step. He tilted his head to one side and squinted up at Matthew. “I seen you in church.”

  Matthew dropped down beside the boy, stretched his legs out, and crossed his right foot over the left. “I remember that. You’re the boy who ate my cookie. My name’s Matthew Jackson. I used to live in the Cove, but I moved away. Now I’ve come back.”

  “Do you know my pa?”

  “Yeah, I know him, and I knew your grandparents. Your grandpa was a mighty fine man.”

  Noah shrugged. “I don’t remember him. I kinda have a picture in my head of my granny, but I’m not sure.” They sat in silence for a moment before Noah spoke again. “I sure wish Miss Anna would come let me know about my ma.”

  “She will. Give her time.”

  The words were barely out of his mouth before the door opened, and Anna stepped onto the porch. Noah jumped to his feet and ran to stand in front of her. “How’s my ma, Miss Anna?”

  Anna knelt down and placed her hand on Noah’s shoulder. She smiled and stared into his eyes. “Your mother is very sick, Noah. But she is so proud of you because you came to get me. She told me you are the best son any mother could ever have.”

  Noah frowned and stared past Anna to the door. “When can I go in and see her?”

  “She’s resting now and doesn’t need to be disturbed. But I need to ask you some questions about your mother’s illness. So I want you to think real hard before you answer. Do you understand?”

  Noah nodded. “Yes’m.”

  Anna smiled. “You told me your mother got sick about the time your father left three days ago. Do you remember if she said anything before that about not feeling well?”

  He twisted his mouth to one side and thought for a moment before he answered. “I came inside the other day, and she was bent over and a-holdin’ her stomach. When I asked her what was wrong, she said she had a pain. My pa come home that night, and I heard her tell him she’d been hurtin’ for a few days and needed to go see Dr. Harrison. Pa told her he was tired of her complainin’ and layin’ around all the time and he didn’t have money to pay no doctor.”

  Anna’s lips pulled into a straight line. “Do you remember what day that was?”

  “It was the day we got the big rain that afternoon.”

  Anna smiled. “Thank you, Noah. That helps me a lot. Now I need you to do something else to help your mother.”

  His eyes grew large in his small face. “Tell me what you want, Miss Anna, and I’ll do it.”

  She stood, placed her hands on his shoulders, and turned him to face Matthew. “We need to get Dr. Harrison for your mother, and Matthew doesn’t know where he lives. It’s way on the other side of the Cove. I want you to go with Matthew and show him where Dr. Harrison lives so he can come help her. Can you do that?”

  Noah nodded. “Yes’m. I reckon I know where he lives. It won’t take us long.”

  He turned, dashed down the steps, and headed to the buggy. Matthew stepped closer to Anna. “How bad is it?”

  She bit down on her lip and shook her head. “Very bad. Tell Dr. Harrison to hurry. If Noah’s right about his mother being sick the day of the big rain, then she’s been ill for over a week. If Bertha has appendicitis like I suspect, it may have already abscessed and burst.”

  Matthew glanced at the boy seated in the buggy and then back to Anna. “Is there anything you can do for her?”

  “No, I’m not qualified to operate. And I’m afraid that’s all that will save her life at this point. Get Dr. Harrison back here as quickly as you can.”

  “I will.” He jumped down the steps and ran to untie the horse.

  Within minutes the buggy was bouncing over the ruts left in the road from the winter storms. Noah didn’t speak but stared straight ahead as if he were willing the horse to go faster. When the turn-off to Dr. Harrison’s home finally came into sight, Noah pointed to his right. “The doctor’s house is down this here path.”

  Matthew turned the horse into the narrow lane leading to a cabin at the end. Noah was out of the buggy and onto the porch before he had pulled the buggy to a complete stop. Matthew tied the reins to a hitching post in front of the house and bounded up the steps. Noah doubled up his fist and pounded on the door.

  The door opened, and a young woman holding a baby in her arms stood before them. “May I help you?” The baby gurgled, and she bounced him in her a
rms.

  Matthew removed his hat. “Morning, ma’am. I’m Matthew Jackson. I’m sorry we had to come banging on your door so early.”

  The woman smiled. “That’s not unusual, Mr. Jackson. I’m Lettie Harrison. How can I help you?”

  “Anna Martin sent us for Dr. Harrison.” He glanced down at Noah and grasped his shoulder. “This is Noah Campbell, and his mother is very sick. Miss Anna says she needs a doctor right away.”

  A frown creased her forehead. “Oh, I’m sorry. My husband isn’t here right now. He left yesterday to go over to Gatlinburg.”

  “Do you know what time he’ll be back?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not sure, but he should be home sometime this afternoon.” She stepped back and motioned for them to come inside. “You’re welcome to wait if you’d like.”

  Noah looked up. Big tears filled his eyes.

  Matthew put his hand on the boy’s shoulder and smiled. “Noah, I’d better get on back and let Anna know the doctor’s coming later. But you can stay here and bring him to your cabin when he gets back.”

  Noah’s lips trembled, and he shook his head. “I ’spect I need to git on back home too. My ma might need me to do something for her.”

  Matthew nodded. “I understand.” He turned to Mrs. Harrison. “When your husband returns, please tell him to come to Wade Campbell’s cabin. Anna says it’s urgent.”

  Mrs. Harrison bent over and looked into Noah’s face. “I will send my husband the minute he gets home. And I’ll pray that Anna will be able to help your mother in the meantime.”

  Noah clamped his lips together and took a deep breath. “Thank you kindly, ma’am. We’ll be a-lookin’ for the doctor.”

  Noah turned and ran down the steps to the buggy. Matthew watched him climb in before he leaned closer and whispered. “Tell your husband Anna thinks it’s appendicitis, and she believes it may have already abscessed.”

  She gasped and hugged her baby tighter. “Then I know I’ll be praying for her. And tell Anna I’m praying for her too.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.” Matthew shoved the hat back on his head and hurried to join Noah in the buggy.

  As they raced over the road on the way back to the cabin, Matthew studied Noah out of the corner of his eye. Just as he had done on the trip to the doctor’s house, he remained silent and stared ahead.

  Matthew could only guess what was going through the boy’s head, but he knew the anguish he was in. He too, had felt helpless the day his mother had died during the influenza outbreak in Pigeon Forge. The disease had already claimed his brother, and he held onto his mother’s hand as if he could pump his own life into her. In the end it hadn’t done any good, though. She had left him, and he had been alone ever since.

  From the moment Noah arrived at Anna’s wanting help for his mother, Matthew had seen the love Noah had for her. Just like he’d had for his mother. If Bertha Campbell died, he wondered what would happen to Noah. From what little he knew about Wade Campbell now, he didn’t seem too different from his own father.

  Noah hadn’t mentioned his father other than to say he’d been gone for days and hadn’t returned with food for them. There had been no concern for his safety or where he might be. He had acted as if his father’s absence was normal.

  Matthew couldn’t stand to think about what Noah’s life would be like if he didn’t have his mother to care for him. He snapped the reins to urge the horse on and breathed a silent prayer that the doctor would arrive in time to save Bertha Campbell’s life.

  Chapter 12

  Rani hadn’t been able to sit still ever since Matthew and Noah left to get the doctor. She had no idea how much time had passed because there was no clock in the Campbell cabin, but she thought it must have been well over an hour. Since it took about half an hour to reach Dr. Harrison’s home from here, they should be back any minute.

  Her mother hadn’t needed her in the room with Mrs. Campbell, and she was glad. It wasn’t that she didn’t feel sorry for the sick woman, but she felt so inadequate when it came to helping someone who was ill. As she had often told Granny, she wasn’t as smart as Mama and never would be. All she knew how to do in situations like this was to follow her mother’s instructions.

  She sighed and hurried to the window for what must have been the tenth time in the last few minutes. She pulled the curtain back and stared down the road in hopes of seeing their buggy come into view, but the road was as deserted as it had been earlier.

  Rani turned and stared at the closed door to the room where her mother tended Mrs. Campbell. What was going on inside? She eased to the door and placed her ear against it, but she could hear nothing. Pushing it open just enough to peer inside, she peeped around the door and into the room. Her mother sat in a chair beside the bed. Bertha lay motionless on the bed’s cornhusk mattress.

  “Mama,” she whispered, “do you need anything?”

  Her mother rose, placed a hand on Bertha’s forehead for a moment, and then tiptoed to the door. She glanced over her shoulder at her patient before she answered. “Bertha appears to have gone into a coma. I haven’t been able to rouse her for the last thirty minutes or so.”

  Rani gazed over her mother’s shoulder at the still figure. “Was she able to take any of the willowbark tea?”

  “Yes. Thank you for making it. I thought it might bring her fever down some and give her some relief from the pain, but it didn’t.” Her mother bit her lip and shook her head. “She was really suffering when we first got here. And now with her so unresponsive, well… I’m very concerned. I wish the doctor would get here. She needs more than I can give her.”

  Rani jerked her head around at the sound of a horse coming to a stop outside. She grabbed her mother’s hands and squeezed them. “They’re back.”

  “Thank heaven,” her mother said as she hurried back into Bertha’s room. “Send Dr. Harrison in the minute he comes inside.”

  Rani ran to the door, jerked it open, and stepped onto the front porch. The smile on her face faded at the sight of Matthew and Noah climbing from the buggy. She glanced around in hopes the doctor had followed them, but the road was empty.

  Noah jumped out of the buggy and lunged up the steps. “How’s my ma?”

  Rani looked past him to Matthew, who was tying the horse to the tree. From the look on his face, she knew he didn’t bring good news. She glanced down at Noah and took him by the hand. “She’s sleeping now.”

  “Can I see her?”

  “Not just yet.” She waited as Matthew climbed the steps. He stopped at the edge of the porch and shook his head. “What’s the matter? Where is Dr. Harrison?”

  Matthew glanced down at Noah. “Dr. Harrison had gone to Gatlinburg. His wife said she would send him as soon as he gets home this afternoon.”

  Rani sucked in her breath and nodded. “I see. I’d better go tell Mama.”

  She hurried back into the house, cracked the door to Bertha’s room open, and motioned for her mother. A worried expression crossed Anna’s face. “Where’s the doctor?”

  Rani shook her head. “He wasn’t home. His wife will send him as soon as he gets back.”

  Her mother’s eyes grew wide, and she reached behind her to close the door to the bedroom. She glanced at Matthew. “Did she have any idea how long it would be?”

  Matthew shrugged his shoulders helplessly. “She said he was supposed to be back this afternoon.”

  Anna started to say something but paused when she looked down at Noah. She seemed to be deep in thought for a moment before she stepped around Rani and went to the boy. “Noah, your mother is in a deep sleep right now, but I know she would want to see you. Would you like to go into her room?”

  Noah swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes’m, Miss Anna. I reckon I would.”

  She smiled. “Then why don’t you go sit by her bed for a few minutes while I talk to Matthew and Rani?”

  Her mother took Noah by the hand, led him into the room, and motioned for him to sit in the chair bes
ide the bed. When he was settled, she came back into the front room and closed the door. “Bertha’s condition has worsened in the last hour. Her breathing rate has gotten faster, and her skin is clammy and pale. She complained of chest pains before she lapsed into a coma. I think she’s in shock at this point. We need to pray that the doctor will get here soon and will be able to do something to help her.”

  A loud cry split the air, and Anna whirled to open the door. They rushed into the room to find Noah standing by his mother’s bed. Tears ran down his face. “Miss Anna,” he wailed, “something’s wrong. There’s a funny sound coming out of my ma’s throat.”

  Rani grabbed Noah’s hand and pulled him away from the bed as her mother bent over Bertha. “Noah, come with me into the other room.”

  “No!” He screamed and struggled to pull away from her.

  Matthew’s arms circled the wriggling child and lifted him up. “Do as Rani says, Noah. Let Miss Anna take care of your mother.”

  Noah’s body went limp, and he sagged against Matthew. Rani followed them into the other room and closed the door behind her. Matthew dropped down into a chair at the kitchen table and cradled the boy in his lap. She went to them and knelt in front of them.

  “Noah,” she said, “do you remember how we talked in Sunday school about God being with you when things happen that make you sad?”

  His big blue eyes stared into hers. A tear slid down his check, and he nodded. “Is God here now?”

  Rani nodded. “He is, and He’s so sorry your mama is sick. But He wants you to be a brave boy because that’s what your mama would want. Can you do that for her?”

  “I…I’ll try.” He laid his head against Matthew’s chest and pressed his lips together.