A Love to Treasure

by Irene Brand

  Instead of answering, Marie opened the door and went into the house, with Viola’s sarcastic laughter following her. Throughout the school year, Viola had seemed to make a point of irritating her by commenting about the relationship she enjoyed with Daniel. Lena insisted to Marie that Viola was jealous of her. According to Lena, the relationship was a figment of Viola’s imagination. Daniel had never been serious in his attention to Viola; Viola was the pursuer and Daniel, being a gentleman, didn’t rebuff her completely. Marie admitted that could be true, but she also realized that Lena, as could be expected, could find little fault in her grandson. Although her sojourn in Cades Cove had been extremely rewarding, there were times when Marie wished she’d never heard of the place.

  She sat on the side of the bed, wondering if she should agree to teach at Cades Cove the following school year. The thing that bothered her most was the possibility that her attitude had turned Daniel even farther from God. If she saw him more often, perhaps she could set the right example before him, thus encouraging him toward a better way of life.

  But she couldn’t spend more time with him if the gossip was correct. John Simpkins had returned to his home in Raleigh now, so no doubt Viola would resume her pursuit of Daniel. At least Marie was glad that she wouldn’t be in Cades Cove to observe what went on between Viola and Daniel. The talk around town about Daniel and Viola was humiliating to Marie. Could she even contemplate having anything to do with a man who had a woman staying at his house overnight? Wouldn’t being seen with him tarnish her reputation?

  But somehow she had a suspicion that the gossip wasn’t all there was to the story. Why hadn’t she let Daniel explain? Maybe she was condemning an innocent man. Oh, she would be glad to leave the Cove.

  It would take only a couple of days to get the schoolhouse in order for the next fall session to start, and then after the wedding she could go home to her mother, who would understand her predicament. Her mother would be disappointed that she didn’t want to continue teaching in Cades Cove the following year, but she decided to submit her resignation to the school trustees, although she hated to let them down. At least it was gratifying to know that her teaching performance had been good enough that they wanted her to return for the next school year.

  After Viola left, Lena knocked lightly on Marie’s door, and although Marie didn’t want to talk, she wouldn’t offend this woman who’d been so kind to her.

  “Come in,” she said.

  Lena sat on the bed beside her and put her arm around Marie’s shoulders. “My grandson is the light of my life,” she said, “but he isn’t perfect.”

  “None of us are, for that matter,” Marie said between sobs. “He’s really angry with me now.”

  “Not with you,” Lena said. “He’s angry at himself because he’s fallen in love with you, and he’s too proud to admit that he needs anyone except himself.”

  Lena’s belief that Daniel loved her brought a bit of peace to her troubled soul, but she was still convinced that her coming to the Cove had been a mistake.

  “I’m sorry I ever heard of Cades Cove. Why didn’t I listen to my father and stay at home until I found somebody to marry, settle down and have a houseful of grandchildren for him to spoil?”

  Lena laughed softly and kissed her on the forehead.

  “Because that isn’t your nature. Don’t get mad at me for laughing at you, but you should know yourself well enough to realize that you’re an adventuress. Consider what you’ve told me about your background. Your parents could have stayed in England and served the Lord there in their ministry to the unsaved in London. But, no, despite the fact that your mother was heavy with child, they set sail for the New World. After you were born, Vance Bolden would have paid your mother’s fare back to England, but instead she cast her lot with a caravan of people leaving the comfort of Charleston to come by wagon train to Canaan. You and Earl were bound to inherit some of the same characteristics your parents possessed. I’m sure your mother could explain it better to you than I can. Did she object at all when you wanted to go to college and prepare to teach school?”

  Grinning, Marie admitted, “No. She’s a wise woman. She listened to Father quarreling about it for a few days, before she very calmly explained to him that times were changing—that women weren’t necessarily destined to be only mothers and housewives in this day and age. Mother is a very clever person, and before long, I think Father thought it was his idea for me to go to college.”

  “Or perhaps he’s as wise as your mother, and just let her think she was getting her way,” Lena commented.

  “That might be true, but they are both wonderful parents. That’s why they didn’t argue much when I discussed my teaching plans with them.”

  “There’s one more thing I want to say to you tonight,” Lena said, changing the subject. “Since Daniel is so stubborn he won’t tell you himself, I want you to know that the night Viola went to his home and refused to leave, Daniel spent the night in the bunkhouse with his hired men. Viola was determined to snare Daniel one way or another, but after that episode, she finally gave up, realizing that he would have nothing more to do with her. Her jibes today were simply to make you jealous. She’s had her eye on Daniel for a very long time, so I’m sure her pride is hurt more than anything. Do you feel better now?” Lena asked.

  Sniffing, Marie said, “Thanks for telling me. I didn’t mean to act like a baby and have a big crying fit.”

  Lena kissed her on the forehead. “Think nothing of it. Everybody needs to cry once in a while.”

  “The worst part is, though, I’ve misjudged him. In my eyes he was guilty until proven innocent. But why didn’t he tell me the truth?”

  “Would you have listened?” Lena asked softly.

  “No,” Marie admitted. “Actually, I didn’t give him the chance to explain. I just believed the gossip. I owe him a big apology.”

  * * *

  It was customary to have a picnic as a treat for the children during the last week of school. Wanting to make the children enjoy the last few days of school, and also make it memorable for them, as usual, Marie had gone to Lizzie and Lena for advice. They had proposed a picnic for Friday—the last day of school.

  Lena thought the children would enjoy a hike to a log cabin a few miles from the schoolhouse, where she had taken her students on outings when she was teaching. Lizzie and Lena would accompany the group to help keep the children together and safe. Daniel was going to join them later.

  On Friday morning, the sun was shining when they left the schoolhouse, and Marie commented on the good weather.

  Shaking her head, Lizzie said, “I ain’t so sure about that. We have to cross a mountain stream to get there, and most of the time that creek don’t have much water, but I’ve seen it flood more than once. This time of year the weather is so unpredictable, and we could have a heavy downpour, so keep your eyes on the sky.”

  “Well, I’m glad you and Lena are going along and Daniel will join us later. I wouldn’t know what to do if it did storm.”

  It was completely clear when they left the schoolhouse. The sun was shining brightly, a few fluffy clouds swirled across the blue sky and the temperature was about seventy degrees. All of the pupils had permits from their parents indicating that it was all right for their children to participate in the picnic. Lena and Marie had provided most of the food, but every child brought something to share. Even if it was no more than an apple or two, Marie accepted each contribution with pleasure.

  Over the school year the older children had studied the various trees in the forest. As they walked, she asked the students to identify the different trees, and she was gratified that most of them could recognize the oaks, sycamores, maples, pines, cedars and willows. She occasionally had to caution the children to stay on the path and to walk single file. She didn’t want any child to get lost, and with Lizzie walking in fr
ont and Marie bringing up the rear, they kept the children from straying off of the paths.

  Everyone was ready to rest and eat lunch when they reached their destination—the ancient log cabin that was reported to have been the first cabin built in that area. Lizzie said no one knew how long ago the cabin had been built, but it looked older than any of the buildings in the Cove. Although Marie was weary from the walk, when they reached their destination, the students still had enough energy to play hide-and-seek among the trees and a few run-down outbuildings.

  After they’d played several games and eaten their lunch, Marie and Lizzie decided it was time for the surprise she’d planned for them. Two people, dressed in garments of a century earlier, came out of one of the outbuildings. The children stared in surprise, and if Marie hadn’t known they were coming, she would never have recognized Daniel as the man who represented John Oliver, the first permanent European settler in Cades Cove. Lena represented his wife, Lucretia Frazier. They were dressed in leather garments, like those that would have been appropriate for early settlers.

  Smiling at the visitors, Marie said to the children, “Let me introduce you to John Oliver and his wife, Lucretia Frazier Oliver, who were the first settlers to settle in the Cove. Mr. Oliver, could you tell us about your first years in the Cove?”

  Marie had seen Daniel in the role of businessman, grandson, neighbor and farmer, but none surpassed his acting role as the first settler to come to the Cove.

  “We were poor folks,” he said in the dialect of an early-century settler, “and we migrated to the Cove from the eastern seaboard. And I’m tellin’ you, good people, that we’d have starved if it hadn’t been for the kindness and generosity of the Cherokees. When we got to this country, all we had were a few tools and some seeds. We were totin’ one youngun and had another on the way. We didn’t get here in time to plant a crop, and we were a hundred miles from home, but the local natives took us in and helped us through the winter.”

  He continued talking about the good relationship between the Cherokee and the pioneers, ending with, “So, those of us who live here today count the Cherokee as our brothers.”

  So impressed was Marie by the speaking skill of Daniel that she went to him at once after the presentation was over. “Oh, thank you so much! That’s the perfect ending for our school year.”

  Daniel put his arm around her shoulders and bent toward her. Marie’s eyes widened, for she thought he intended to kiss her in front of the whole group. But the children were crowding around them, and Marie turned quickly to Lena and Lizzie and thanked them for their help, as well.

  So engrossed had the children and adults been in the program and the good food that an approaching storm was the farthest thing from their minds. Suddenly a clap of thunder rolled across the treetops, and an approaching west wind found its way through the valley. Daniel jumped to his feet, horrified that he’d been so engrossed with Marie that he’d actually allowed this storm to creep up on them.

  “Granny!” he shouted at the top of his voice, and Lena stepped out of the cabin. “Trouble!”

  “Oh, my!” she cried when she noticed the approaching storm.

  “Get all of these kids inside the cabin,” Daniel shouted. “It’s going to be crowded, but with the wind, the lightning and the rain, it’s too dangerous for them to be outside.”

  Marie rushed to where a half dozen or more children were playing ball, and shouted, “Get inside the cabin right now!”

  In a matter of five minutes, all of the students were accounted for, and Daniel stood in the front doorway. Lena guarded the back door to be sure none of the children sneaked out to play in the rain. There were only two small windows in the cabin, and with the near darkness outside, it wasn’t a pleasant place to be.

  Some time passed with the children talking excitedly about the storm, the summer vacation, the program they had just watched and various other topics of interest to them. Because this was a school function, Marie felt responsible for the welfare of everyone, and she prayed silently for God to give her the right words to encourage her pupils.

  “One important fact that we all need to remember in times like these,” she said, “is...who’s in control of the storm? I’m your teacher, so am I the one to protect you?”

  “No, ma’am,” one of the older students volunteered. “God is. We learned that in Sunday School.”

  “That’s right,” Marie agreed, “so there isn’t any reason for us to be afraid. God is all-powerful. Can you remember anything about floods in the Bible? If you know the answer, just go ahead and speak up without raising your hand as we do at the schoolhouse. It’s too dark inside here for me to see.”

  “Noah sure learned about storms,” one boy volunteered. “That was a long, long time ago, though. The people got so mean that God couldn’t put up with ’em anymore and he wiped ’em out.”

  “And not only people, either,” a fifth grader said. “Everything was destroyed.”

  “I sure hope we don’t have that kind of flood today,” another student said. “My Mom is making a chocolate cake for my birthday, and I don’t want to miss that.”

  Marie was sure that she heard a muffled laugh from the corner where Daniel was standing. “Well, I wouldn’t worry about missing your supper, buddy,” he said, “the rain is stopping and we’ll have sunlight before long.”

  Lena was standing next to Marie, and she whispered, “But we still might not get home for supper. These mountain streams can quickly flood and cover the trails.”

  Once the sun started shining, Daniel suggested that they leave right away.

  “The hardest storm was on the mountain, and the high water won’t get here for an hour, but it’s time we headed for home. Pack up, everybody, and we’ll hit the trail.”

  They hadn’t gone very far when they encountered a surge of water in their pathway. The older children thought it was a wonderful sight to see, but the small students were scared.

  One started crying, and he said, “I want my mama.”

  Marie looked at Daniel, and he said, “Don’t cry, Buddy, you’ll be with your mama tonight.” Shouting, he said, “Everybody pick up your belongings and follow me. We’re going to climb one little mountain and come down on the other side.”

  Although it took an extra hour to climb inclines to avoid the floodwater, with Daniel’s guidance, Marie’s encouragement and Lena and Lizzie keeping the smaller children from wading into deep water, the journey back to Cades Cove was made safely.

  Chapter 8

  When next morning Marie arrived at the schoolhouse, she was both happy and sad that the school year had ended. She stabled her horse as usual, but when she started to leave the small barn, she sensed that someone was behind her. She turned quickly and screamed. A heavy hand covered her mouth and a cloth was tied over her eyes. A gag was placed over her mouth and tied behind her head. She sensed that there were two men attacking her, but they were silent. At first she’d thought that Daniel might be doing this as a joke, but she suddenly had a strong sniff of body odor, as well as the scent of tobacco, and she knew Daniel wasn’t her attacker.

  “Who are you? Why are you doing this?” she cried against her gag.

  “Lady, if you’ll do what we tell you, you ain’t gonna be hurt. How much do you think your pa will pay to get your safe return?”

  Another man snickered.

  “And what about Daniel Watson? I hear tell that he’s sweet on her. I tell you, buddy, this girl is a regular gold mine walking around on two feet. How long do you think it will take for them to cough up maybe twenty thousand dollars?”

  “We’ll nail one of these notices on the schoolhouse door, and put two or three others on trees in the Cove. The word will spread in a hurry.”

  Oh, God, she prayed silently, what’s going on? She was lifted gently into a saddle, and she was sure sh
e was being placed on her own horse. She sensed that one of the men rode beside her, leading Scout. Another horse followed behind.

  “Lady, you won’t get hurt, as long as you behave yourself,” one of the men said again, gruffly, and she tried to determine if she’d ever heard his voice before. “How much money do you think you’re worth to your old man? We’re going to ask for ten thousand. You think he’ll come up with that much money? And maybe old lady Turner might give us a little something in the meantime just to be sure we treat you right till Daddy gets here with the real money. And maybe we can get some of that gold Daniel Watson inherited.”

  Since she still had the gag around her mouth, Marie couldn’t answer very well, and she was glad of it. What, after all, could she say? If it took every cent of their money, she had no doubt that her parents would use it to buy her freedom. And Daniel? She didn’t know him well enough to make a guess as to what he might do. However, in spite of their last quarrel, which still hadn’t been resolved between them, she had a feeling that Daniel would do everything he could to help her. What troubled her most was the fact that it would be several days before her parents would even learn that she’d been abducted! In the meantime, what would happen to her?

  When the horses started moving, it seemed to Marie that they’d turned northwest, which would take them toward the mountains, but her sense of direction wasn’t always accurate. No doubt there would be hundreds of hiding places around the Cove where she could be taken. She was scared, dreading what might happen to her, but still holding on to the faith she’d known since childhood that God was in control of her life. Always before, when she’d been faced with problems she didn’t know how to solve, she’d gone to the Bible, prayed for guidance and read Scripture that encouraged her. Well, that was impossible now.

  She couldn’t access the Bible at the schoolhouse now, nor could she read the one in her bedroom at the Turner home. Fortunately she had memorized special passages of Scripture, and many of those came to her mind now.