She looped her arm through his and smiled. “I would be glad to.” When they got to the door, he started to open the screen, but she stopped him. “Do you have plans for Saturday?”
“No. Why?”
“Poppa has a group of tourists coming to the lodge for the weekend. He’s taking them on a hike up to Gregory’s Bald. I’m planning on going with them to take some pictures. Would you like to go with us? It’ll give you a chance to see one of the most beautiful spots in the Cove.”
“I’d love to go. What time should I be here?”
“Come about eight and wear comfortable shoes. It’s a long walk up there.”
“I’ll see you then.” She followed him onto the porch and watched as he walked to his car. Before he got in, he looked back at her and smiled. “I enjoyed being with you, Laurel.”
“I enjoyed it too.”
She stood on the porch until the car’s taillights had disappeared into the night. Then she closed her eyes and let the sounds of the Cove seep into her. An owl’s hoot drifted on the night, and in the distance a dog barked. Frogs croaked down at the pond near the barn. The sounds in a city couldn’t be nearly as relaxing and peaceful as what she’d known all her life. How could she live somewhere else amid strangers with a different kind of life from hers?
She didn’t think she could do it, but the reality remained that before long that was exactly what would happen.
Chapter 9
Andrew had never seen a day more perfect for a hike. The warm sun penetrated the hazy mists of the mountain peaks this morning to provide one of the most breathtaking sights he’d ever encountered. Every day he spent in the Smokies brought a new love for his surroundings and a fascination for the wonders of nature. The temperature hadn’t reached its high yet, and he wore a jacket. No doubt it would wind up in his backpack as the day wore on.
He leaned against the side of Matthew’s truck and waited for him and Laurel to bring the last of the hiking gear from the house. The screen door banged open, and Laurel emerged on the front porch. A camera dangled from a strap around her neck and six canteens hung from her shoulders. She smiled as she came down the steps.
He rushed to help her, and she slid three canteens down her arm. “Where do you want to put these?” he asked.
“We’ll put them in the back of the truck for now. Poppa’s coming with the lunches. Then we’ll drive down to the lodge and pick up the guests.”
As she dropped the remaining three canteens in the truck, the screen door opened again. Andrew glanced up to see a tall young man standing on the porch. His short blond hair and his lean body reminded Andrew of the men he saw every day at the CCC camp. Whistling a tune, the young man hopped down the steps, jogged over to Laurel, and draped an arm around her shoulders.
Andrew’s eyes narrowed. The man’s relaxed attitude toward Laurel infuriated Andrew. What did this guy mean by touching her in such a friendly way? He glowered at him, but the man didn’t acknowledge his presence. “I wish you weren’t going on this hike, Laurel,” he said. “I don’t get to see you much and then when I come to visit, you run off.”
As if Laurel sensed Andrew’s discomfort, she wiggled out of the man’s grasp and swatted at his arm. “Quit trying to make me feel guilty, Jimmy. You had a chance to come with us, and you chose not to.”
“Only because I hiked up there last weekend with some fellows from the camp, and I didn’t want to make that climb again. I thought you and I would have some time today to be together.”
“We will. At supper tonight. In the meantime you can spend the day entertaining our mothers.”
He arched his eyebrows and groaned. “Oh, when those two get together I run and hide. They’re like two jaybirds trying to see who can chatter the loudest.”
Laurel laughed and turned to Andrew. “I suppose you’ve guessed that this is my friend Jimmy Ferguson. His mother arrived from Tremont yesterday morning, and Jimmy got here last night from the CCC camp.” She pointed to Andrew. “Jimmy, this is Andrew Brady. He’s staying at the camp while he’s in the Cove.”
So this man with the smug grin on his face was the one Laurel’s mother had mentioned, her special friend. He would like to wipe that cocky grin off Jimmy’s face to let him know that Laurel was off-limits to him.
Jimmy stuck out his hand. “I’ve seen you in the mess hall at the camp, but you’re usually with the officers. It’s good to meet you, Andrew. I understand you’re here to finish stealing the land from the folks in the Cove.”
The grin hadn’t disappeared from Jimmy’s face, but the tone of his words grated on Andrew’s nerves. He crooked his mouth in what he hoped was a nonchalant smile, grasped Jimmy’s hand, and squeezed as tight as he could. “Steal? I thought I was here to help them get the most for their land they could.”
The pressure from Jimmy’s grip increased. “I reckon I ain’t heard of anybody gettin’ what their land’s worth. You must have been talkin’ to the wrong people.”
Andrew struggled to keep from wincing and forced his hand to respond. “Oh? And who are the right people I should talk to?”
Jimmy’s mouth hardened. “My grandparents would be a good start. My pa’s folks sold out, and there’s not a trace left that they ever lived there. The money they got for their land wasn’t near enough to pay them for all the work and sweat they put into that place. Then my ma’s folks are another story. They didn’t get much for their farm, but they put what they got in the bank. Next thing they know, the bank’s failed and all the money is gone. Now they’re living with my ma at the hotel she runs in Tremont.”
Andrew’s knuckles were turning white. It felt as if the bones in his fingers would crack any moment. “I’m sorry to hear that. In case you haven’t heard, we’re in a depression, and banks everywhere are failing. Perhaps your grandfather should have chosen a better place to put his money.”
Tension crackled in the air, and they stepped closer until they stood toe-to-toe. Jimmy gritted his teeth. “Are you saying my grandpa’s not smart enough to handle his own affairs?”
“No, I’m saying…”
Laurel grabbed their interlocked hands and shook them. “Jimmy, Andrew, quit acting like two little boys engaged in a war of wills.”
Andrew glanced at her and loosened his grip. Jimmy let go of Andrew’s hand and frowned. He raked his hand through his hair and let out a long breath. “I’m sorry, Laurel. I guess I got carried away. I just get so mad when I think about what the government has done to the folks I love. Now they’re going to do it to your family too.”
She propped her hands on her hips and glared from one to the other. “We live with the threat every day, Jimmy, but none of what’s happened here is Andrew’s fault. He was young when all this started, and he doesn’t know what we’ve lived with for the past few years.” Before Andrew could feel relief at her defense of him, she turned on him and glared. “And Andrew, you shouldn’t be so quick to pass judgment on Jimmy’s grandfather. He thought the bank was stable, but he was wrong.”
Andrew let his arm dangle to his side, and he flexed his fingers. He dropped his gaze to the ground and dug his toe in the dirt. “I’m sorry for losing my temper, Laurel.” He looked back up at Jimmy. “And I didn’t mean to sound like I was judging your grandfather. I’m really sorry that happened to him.”
Jimmy exhaled and took a step back from Andrew. “I am too. It seems he’s always had a tough way to go in life, but there’s not a better man anywhere. My other grandfather had one of the best farms in the Cove. I had this dream that someday I’d come back and help him farm it. Now he and my grandmother are living in a little house that’s rammed right up to their neighbor. It’s a far cry from the open spaces they’ve always known. It’s about to kill them.”
Andrew’s anger at Jimmy vanished, and his heart pricked at the thought of what his family had suffered. “I’m really sorry for what your family has faced. I wish I could change things, but it’s gone too far now. The park is a reality, and everybody
who’s left in the Cove is going to have to come to grips with that.” He glanced at Laurel. “Even your family.”
She lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes. “We know that, Andrew. But we don’t have to do it today. Now, why don’t we forget this silly wrestling contest the two of you had and try to enjoy this beautiful day? I’m looking forward to the hike, and I don’t want anything to ruin it.”
“Neither do I,” Andrew said.
Jimmy rammed his hands in his pockets, tilted his head to one side, and looked at Andrew. “Have you done much hiking in the mountains?”
“Not much. Why?”
A wicked gleam flashed in Jimmy’s eye, and he smiled. “I just wondered. Better take it easy, city boy. That climb’s been known to lay a lot of folks low. I’d just hate to see it happen to you.”
Andrew returned Jimmy’s somber stare. “I just bet you would. But thanks for the warning anyway.”
The screen door slammed and Matthew stepped onto the porch. The box he carried contained the lunches Rani had made for the hikers and two more canteens dangled from his shoulders. Jimmy dashed back up the steps to him. “You need any help, Matthew?”
He nodded. “I left the first aid kit in the kitchen. I’d appreciate it if you’d get it for me.”
“Anything to help out.” He glanced at Andrew over his shoulder before he disappeared into the house.
Matthew stopped beside the truck and set the box in the back. “I think we’re about ready to go. When Jimmy gets back with the first aid kit we’ll drive down and get the guests at the lodge. There are five going on the hike, so they can ride in the back of the truck to the trail. You two can ride up front with me. I hope you’re ready for a long hike, Andrew.”
“I am. Thanks for letting me come along today, Matthew. I’m looking forward to it.”
“It’s something you won’t ever forget. You two go on and get in the truck.”
Andrew followed Laurel to the front of the truck, opened the door, and stepped back for her to get in. Before she stepped on the running board, she looked up at him and smiled. “Don’t worry about the climb. Jimmy was getting his last jab at you, and Poppa just wanted to make you feel comfortable about the climb. It’s really not as bad as they’re making it seem. We always take our time with the guests. You’ll make it fine.”
He smiled at her. “Thanks, Laurel. I’m glad you invited me.” He leaned forward and spoke softly. “And just between the two of us, I’m glad Jimmy isn’t coming along. I couldn’t stand it if I had to share your attention with him today.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she dropped her gaze before she climbed in the truck. He inhaled a breath of fresh mountain air and hopped in beside her. It was a beautiful day, and he intended to enjoy every minute of it with the woman next to him.
The group of hikers stood beside the truck that her father had parked at the entrance to the Gregory’s Bald Trail. As he did every time he guided their guests up the mountain, Poppa was acquainting them with what to expect today. Laurel let her gaze drift over the three people from Knoxville—a man, his wife, and teenage son—and the two brothers from the Asheville area. The Morris brothers had hiked several mountain trails with them before, but this was the first time for the family from Knoxville. It was also Andrew’s first time. It would be interesting to see how he fared today on the climb.
Her father’s voice drifted to her ears, and she directed her attention back to him. “I thought I would give you some information about this mountain before we start out. A bald is a type of mountain whose peak is covered with wild grass instead of trees like the other peaks in the range. It occurs naturally and stands out in the midst of other forested peaks. Gregory’s Bald is named after one of the early settlers in the Cove, Russell Gregory. During the last century the farmers in the Cove sent their cattle up this mountain to graze in the spring and summer when the fields were needed for planting. The summit has an elevation of just under five thousand feet, and we’re going to climb three thousand of those feet today for five and a half miles from where we’re standing now. Do you have any questions before we start?”
The woman from Knoxville raised her hand. “How long will it take us to reach the summit?”
Her father slid the hat he wore back on his head. “I’m not going to push you. If I was with an experienced group, I’d say about two hours, but today I expect to make it in about three and a half hours. I have rest stops scheduled, but if you need one before I call it, let me know. This is your trip, and I want you to enjoy it.”
The woman nodded. “Thanks.”
Her father glanced around. “Each of you has a canteen, and you’re carrying your lunch in your backpack. We’ll eat at the summit, which is covered at this time of year with blooming flame azaleas. You’ll think it’s the most beautiful dining room you’ve ever had. Any more questions? If not, I’ll take the lead. My daughter will bring up the rear. Let us know if you need anything.”
He stepped onto the trail, and the hikers fell into step behind him. Laurel smiled at Andrew. “Are you ready?”
He nodded. “I can’t wait. Let’s go.”
An hour later they stopped for the first rest period. After checking with their guests to see if there were any problems, Laurel dropped down to sit next to Andrew on a large rock that jutted out from the ground.
“Are you making it okay?” she asked.
He took a drink from his canteen and nodded. “I’m fine. The climb hasn’t been too hard, and the changing scenery along the trail is gorgeous. Sometimes there are trees all around, and then the trail cuts through wild grass that’s almost knee-high. And the colors of the azaleas are amazing.”
“Wait until you see them at the summit. You’ve never seen anything like it.”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead he took another drink of water and swallowed. “I had a brother who died. My parents brought us to the Smokies when we were children. I’ve always remembered how beautiful it was, but my memories haven’t done these mountains justice. Every day I see something else that makes me realize what a treasure this mountain range is, and I want to see it protected and preserved for future generations.”
“I want that too, Andrew.”
A pained look crossed his face. “But that comes with a price, Laurel. And your family and others like Jimmy’s grandparents have to pay a big part of that price by leaving the only homes you’ve ever known. I truly am sorry about that.”
She blinked back tears. “I am too.”
He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “Please don’t hate me because of that.”
“I don’t.”
“Can you accept me for who I am and not as an agent of the department that wants to take your home away from your family?”
“I try not to blame you for what we’re facing, but sometimes it’s hard to do.” They stared at each other for a moment before she pulled free and sighed. “I think Poppa is ready to move on. We’d better join the group.”
He didn’t speak as they fell into line with the other hikers and continued their climb up the mountain. As the trail grew steeper, Laurel tried to concentrate on each step, but her thoughts kept returning to Andrew and her conflicting emotions.
No other man had ever excited her like Andrew did. Just one glance from him had the power to make her knees grow weak and her heart flutter like the wings of a butterfly about to take flight. From the minute he carried those crates into Mr. Bryan’s store she had been helpless to resist his smile.
On the other hand, she’d never felt such a need to distance herself from anyone as she did with him. He might not have started the exodus from the Cove, but he had come to make sure it was completed. For that reason alone she couldn’t let her emotions get the better of her good judgment. He might not be her enemy, but he had allied himself with them. Besides, he would be going back to Virginia when his work was completed, and she had no idea where her family would be then.
Maybe Mama was right. She
needed to find someone like Jimmy who shared her background and family values. Andrew certainly didn’t possess either of those characteristics, and yet she couldn’t forget the thrill of their brief kiss. Her warring emotions were keeping her awake at night, and she didn’t know which one to embrace.
When they stopped for a second rest an hour later, she kept her distance from Andrew. Instead she sat next to the woman from Knoxville and listened to her talk about her older son, who was a student at the University of Tennessee.
Laurel tried to listen, but she couldn’t help glancing at Andrew from time to time. He’d stretched out beside the path and had his eyes closed. When her father called out it was time to go, Andrew fell into step beside him as they pushed for the summit. She wondered if Andrew, too, had concerns about their friendship.
She shook her head to rid it of her troubling thoughts. Today wasn’t the time to think about this. They had guests to entertain, and if her family was forced to leave the Cove, she might never have another opportunity to photograph the blooming azaleas on Gregory’s Bald.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to focus on the steep trail in front of her.
Only a few more steps and he’d be at the summit. Andrew pushed his aching body up the last incline and emerged into a large, grassy meadow that stretched across the top of the mountain. White, red, yellow, coral, and pink azalea bushes dotted the area in the biggest burst of color he’d ever seen. For a moment all he could do was stand still and breathe in the cool mountain air and absorb the vibrant landscape. He’d made it to the top, a feat he’d wondered earlier today if he would be able to accomplish.
Matthew walked to the middle of the meadow and stared toward the horizon. Andrew stumbled to a stop beside him and sucked in his breath at the sight of the rolling mountain range that seemed to go on forever.
“I’ve never seen anything as beautiful in my life.”
Beyond These Hills Page 12