Beyond These Hills

by Sandra Robbins

  Andrew’s face burned with embarrassment, and he balled his hands into fists to keep Mr. Eakin from seeing how they shook. After a moment he cleared his throat. “I understand how you could be concerned about me. You’re right. I’m young. I graduated from Virginia Military Institute a year ago and went to work with the National Park Service. And you’re also right in thinking my father pushed for me to get this assignment. He did.” Andrew swallowed before he continued. “He thinks if I can convince the Cove people to sell when others couldn’t, it will give me the experience I need to convince voters to elect me when I run for public office. That’s what he wants.”

  “I see.” Mr. Eakin sighed and glanced down at the tabletop. His fingers curled into his palms. Disappointment flashed across his face.

  Andrew leaned closer. “But that’s not what I want. You’re wrong if you judge me on my age and my father’s influence. From the minute I heard about this assignment, I wanted it with all my heart. I’ve come to the Smokies prepared to do whatever I have to do to be successful. I know I’ll make mistakes from time to time. If I do, I won’t make excuses or hide behind my father’s influence. But the fact is, I didn’t come here to fail.”

  A slight smile pulled at Mr. Eakin’s mouth. “And how can you be certain you won’t?”

  Andrew took a deep breath. “I may have grown up in an affluent home, but please don’t judge me on that alone. I graduated from VMI. If you know anything about the school, then you know life there is tough. The deprivations students endure are designed to instill pride, discipline, and confidence. I’ve come here with the belief that I can succeed where others haven’t, and I don’t intend to fail. My father’s actions tend to focus on pleasing voters. That’s not my reason for coming here.”

  “Why did you want this job, Andrew?”

  He took a deep breath and stared at Mr. Eakin. “My parents brought me to the Smokies on vacation when I was a boy. My brother and I loved the mountain streams and the scenery. But one day while we were here, my father took us out to one of the Little River Lumber camps. I have never forgotten how barren those hillsides looked stripped of their timber. When I heard about the park, I knew I wanted to be part of preserving this beautiful wilderness. If we don’t it’s going to vanish, and future generations won’t get the chance to see what I did.”

  Superintendent Eakin stared at him without speaking for what seemed like an eternity before he extended his hand. “You haven’t completely convinced me yet, but I hope you’ll be successful.”

  His words disappointed Andrew. But who could blame him? The only thing the people working for the Park Service knew about him was that he was the son of a congressman who’d pushed for his son to have this assignment.

  Andrew squared his shoulders and grasped Superintendent Eakin’s hand. “I’ll work hard, sir. Before I leave here, I hope you’ll be able to call me a member of the team with more conviction in your voice.”

  A look of surprise flashed on the man’s face, but before he could reply a waiter appeared with a pot of coffee. They remained silent as he poured the steaming liquid in their cups. When he walked away, Mr. Eakin picked up a small pitcher and poured some cream in his cup. As he stirred, he glanced up. “I hope so too, Andrew.” He stared into his coffee cup a moment before he continued. “Have you thought about how you’ll approach the people still living in the Cove?”

  “I want to get to know them first. I know this is difficult for them. They don’t want to give up their homes. Some of those families have lived on the same land for generations.”

  Mr. Eakin sighed. “And they’re good people. Two of the leaders in the community are some of the finest men you’ll ever meet. Simon Martin’s family goes back for generations. He’s still preaching at the church where he started in 1891. His wife is a legendary midwife in the Cove, and his son-in-law, Matthew Jackson, owns a lodge that attracts tourists from all over the country. Salt of the earth, as my mother used to say, but they can’t win against the United States government. They know that, but they can’t bring themselves to give up.”

  “How do you suggest I approach them, sir?”

  “Go to see them. Get to know them, and try to help them understand it’s only a matter of time before the courts are going to force them to move. They’re law-abiding folks, so they’ll be civil to you even if they disagree with you. My friendship with them has taught me a lot about how to treat other people. But the end for them is coming, and they’re going to need friends on the other side of this situation when it does. Help them to accept the inevitable, Andrew.” His eyes lit up with a sudden thought. “Since you’re going to the Cove tomorrow, why don’t you head out there early and stop at Simon’s church for their service?”

  Go to church? That wasn’t how he usually spent his Sunday mornings, but it would give him the opportunity to meet the Martins and the Jacksons. “Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll do everything I can to help ease the remaining families through the transition.”

  Superintendent Eakin smiled. “Good. That’s all any of us can do.”

  They finished their dessert and coffee in silence, and thirty minutes later Andrew was back in his room and ready to crawl in bed. He lay down, put his hands behind his head, and stared up at the ceiling.

  It had been an interesting but troubling day. His father’s influence might have opened doors to get him this job, but now he was on his own. He had to find a way to convince the remaining holdouts they were fighting a losing battle. In Washington he’d convinced himself he’d finish this job in no time, but now that he was here, he wasn’t so sure.

  From what he was learning the people in the Cove saw the government as an enemy who wanted to destroy their way of life, and he was the messenger who had to convince them their way of life was over. Doubt flooded his mind. Maybe Superintendent Eakin was right. Maybe he was too young to take on such an important job. He shook the thought from his head and tried to concentrate on the people of the Cove.

  Martin and Jackson. The names repeated over and over in his mind. They must have a deep love for their land if they were willing to fight in the courts to stay on it. He couldn’t blame them.

  Tomorrow he’d go to their church and introduce himself to them. He was sure after they got to know him they would come to see their fight was futile. After all, he’d been one of the star debaters at VMI, and a few mountain farmers shouldn’t be difficult opponents for him. With any luck he’d have all the Cove land bought up and be on his way back to Washington by the end of the summer. That was the last thought that ran through his head just before he nodded off to sleep.

  Chapter 3

  When Laurel was a little girl, Sunday mornings had been her favorite time of the week. Now they served as a reminder that nearly all of her friends were gone from the Cove. No longer could she look forward to talking to Celia Butler or Mary Ann Long at church. Their families had moved months ago. With the congregation decreasing every week, she wondered how many people would even be at Sunday services this morning.

  Her father and mother had been quiet ever since they left home. Laurel wondered if they were still thinking about his visit to the lawyer yesterday. Even Willie had behaved himself today. Maybe that was because their seventeen-year-old brother, Charlie, was keeping him company in the back of the truck.

  “I hope Mama doesn’t go to a lot of trouble cooking dinner for us today. She hasn’t been feeling well lately. I tried to get them to come to our house instead, but she wouldn’t hear of it,” Rani was saying.

  Laurel’s mother’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. Her grandmother was sick? She tried to twist in her seat to face her mother, but with the two of them wedged into the front seat of the truck with her father she only succeeded in bumping shoulders.

  “What’s the matter with Nana?” she asked.

  Her mother’s eyebrows arched. “She says it’s nothing, but I think she’s wearing herself out taking care of Granny. Granny needs help getting out of bed by herself, and
she needs somebody to hold onto when she walks. Mama lifts and pulls on her all the time. I’ve tried to tell her she needs to take care of herself, but she is determined Granny isn’t going to want for anything.”

  “Can you blame her?” Laurel’s father said. “Granny is a second mother to Anna and Simon both.”

  Her mother sighed. “I know. I guess it’s hard for me to believe my parents are in their sixties and Granny is going to turn ninety-one next week.” Her mother laughed. “But maybe I’m just thinking about how old I’m getting.”

  Her father grinned, leaned over, and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Well, you’re the best looking forty-year-old I’ve ever seen.” He winked in Laurel’s direction. “You know she was just a child when I married her.”

  A flush covered her mother’s face as she swatted at her father’s arm. “I was not. Now behave yourself. What will your daughter think?”

  He shrugged. “I can’t see that I’m any different than I have been all her life.” He darted another glance at Laurel. “I just hope when she gets married, Laurel finds a man who loves her like I love her mother.”

  Laurel smiled and nodded. “I do too. But I don’t think I’ll have to worry about getting married. There aren’t any boys my age left in the Cove. And I sure don’t want to marry Nate Hopkins.”

  Her parents both laughed at the mention of the eighty-year-old widower who lived on the far side of the Cove from them. He’d made no secret of the fact that the government would have to pick him up and carry him out of the Cove if they wanted his land, and he let everybody know he kept his shotgun close by just in case they tried.

  Her mother shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s a good match. But there is somebody I haven’t heard you mention lately. You know Josie is coming for a visit next week. She hasn’t seen Jimmy since he signed up with the CCC camp. I’m sure he’ll be at our house a lot too while she’s here.”

  Laurel’s eyes widened and she wagged a finger at her mother. “Josie may have been your best friend all your life, but you two need to quit trying to get Jimmy and me together. I love him like a brother, and he thinks of me as a sister too.”

  Her mother arched an eyebrow. “I don’t know about that. Josie says his letters are just full of talk about how he’s enjoyed seeing you since he’s been at the CCC camp in the Cove.”

  “I’ve enjoyed having Jimmy visit with us when he could get away from the camp, but she’s wrong if she thinks there’s anything between us. I hope the two of you won’t try to promote anything while she’s here. Concentrate on having a good time with your best friend.”

  “Oh, I expect we’ll have a great time,” her mother said. “I haven’t seen Josie in a year. Since she started managing that hotel in Tremont, she’s been so busy she can’t get away. She probably couldn’t have come next week if it weren’t for her parents living with them now. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are going to take over for a few days so she can visit us. They think she needs the rest.”

  Laurel’s father exhaled. “I sure did hate to see Cecil and Pearl sell out and move away, but I know they’re a big help to Josie. From what you tell me Ted’s job with the Little River Lumber Company keeps him busy.”

  “Yeah, he’s worked his way up into a good position with them.” Her mother chuckled. “I remember how angry I was with him when he left the Cove to work for them. I thought he was being disloyal to his friends by working for a company that was clear-cutting their way across the Smokies.”

  Her father sighed. “We don’t have to worry about that anymore. One good thing about the park being established is that they’ve bought up the lumber companies’ land, and there won’t be any logging in these hills ever again. They’re about to close down and leave, but our time here is short too.”

  Laurel leaned forward and glanced past her mother to her father. “I wish every conversation we have didn’t come back to the same thing—that we have to move away. I don’t want to leave this valley. This is all I’ve ever known.”

  Her father’s mouth quirked in a sad smile. “We all feel the same way, darling. Your mother can continue her pottery business anywhere, but I have no idea what I can do outside these hills. There’s no way I can re-create the farm I have in the Cove, and with the country suffering with the depression, there aren’t any jobs to be had. But I worry about Simon more. I’m afraid leaving his home will be too much for him to bear.”

  Laurel clasped her hands in her lap and stared out the truck window. The mountains looked so beautiful today. The thick mists drifted over the peaks, and the sun sparkled on the green slopes. There couldn’t be a more beautiful place in the world.

  “Mama,” she whispered, “the clouds on the mountains remind me of our special Bible verse. You know, the one from Psalms that Grandpa taught you when you were a little girl.”

  Her mother reached over and covered Laurel’s clutched fist with her hand. “ ‘He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke,’ ” she said. “He put us here to see the beauty of His creation, Laurel. No matter where we go, we’ll always carry this beauty in our hearts.”

  “I know.” Laurel squeezed her mother’s hand.

  No one spoke again until they pulled into the yard of the church. Grandpa’s buggy and two trucks sat parked at the side of the building. It looked like the crowd would be smaller today than she’d thought.

  “I don’t see the truck that the CCC camp boys ride in when they come to church. I guess Jimmy won’t be here today,” Laurel said.

  Her mother nodded. “I was hoping he could go to Mama’s for dinner with us. She always enjoys his company so much.”

  Her father pulled the truck to a stop, and Laurel stepped out. Willie jumped from the back and took off running toward the church, but Charlie waited beside her as their parents joined them. Her mother reached up and tried to smooth Charlie’s cowlick into place, but it popped back up.

  He frowned and recoiled from her. “Mama, don’t do that. I’m not a baby anymore.”

  She smiled and straightened the collar of his shirt. “It pleases me to take care of you, son.”

  Charlie scowled at her, and glanced over his shoulder. “Mama, not so loud. What if somebody hears you?”

  Their father cocked an eyebrow at Charlie. “Don’t sass your mother, young man.” He took a deep breath and let his gaze drift over all of them. “Now, everyone, let’s go inside.”

  As they walked toward the front door, Charlie trailed behind Laurel and their parents. She glanced back once at her brother. Something akin to anger shadowed his dark eyes, and the surly expression on his face told her he was in one of his defiant moods. She didn’t understand his frequent shifts in attitude, and she knew it worried her parents.

  She turned her attention back to her mother just as she glanced up at her father, flashed him a smile, and slipped her hand through the crook of his arm. The look that passed between them made her forget her concern for Charlie. She’d seen that same look in her grandparents’ eyes, and it made her wish for something she doubted she would ever have.

  Someday she wanted a man to look at her with love lighting his face. She wanted to love and be loved so fiercely that she could hardly breathe unless he was with her. Was it too much to hope for? Somewhere there had to be a man God had chosen especially for her.

  But how would he find her? There were no prospects at the present time, and she had no intention of marrying Jimmy Ferguson just because their mothers wanted it. If God did have someone for her, she sure wished He’d hurry up and let her know about it.

  Andrew pulled his car to a stop between two trucks that sat in the yard of the church. A sign in front of the building identified Simon Martin as the pastor, so he had to be in the right place. From the looks of the few wagons and buggies also in the yard he knew there couldn’t be many people in attendance today.

  He sat still for a moment as he tried to decide what to do. His father had no time for church, and Andrew hadn’t felt comfo
rtable when he’d attended chapel services at school. But he wasn’t here to find God. He was here on another mission—to get to know the families he had to persuade to sell their land. The sooner that was done, the sooner the Park Service could finish up their work.

  He stepped from his car and walked around the church to the front steps. He listened, hoping for some sound from inside. If he heard singing, he could tell himself services had already started. That would be a good excuse to put off meeting the Martins and Jacksons. No sound reached his ears.

  Andrew put his foot on the first step but hesitated. A chill rippled up his spine, and his skin prickled. For the first time fear at what lay before him surged through his body. Others had tried to reason with these mountain people and had failed. What made him think he was any different?

  He took a step backward and whirled to leave but his legs threatened to collapse at the sight of the young woman facing him. His chest tightened, and he gasped. The sun sparkled on the black hair that hung down her chest in the long braid he’d thought about ever since yesterday. Her dark eyes were wide with surprise, and her mouth gaped open as if she couldn’t believe what she saw.

  “Andrew?”

  “Laurel.” His tongue felt paralyzed. No other words came to mind.

  She frowned and tilted her head to one side. “What are you doing here?”

  He pulled his hat off and held it in front of him with both hands. “I…I c-came to church.”

  She shook her head. “No, I mean what brings you to our church. Are you visiting someone in the Cove?”

  He searched his mind for a reply, but his heart was thumping so hard he couldn’t think straight. “I’m on my way to the CCC camp.”