Angel of the Cove

by Sandra Robbins

  The horse trotted into the yard, and he jumped down just as Doc Prentiss came out the door with Anna’s trunk on his shoulder. He looked up and nodded to Simon.

  “Glad to see you, Simon. Come over here and meet Anna’s brother.”

  Simon dismounted and tied his horse to the tree. The young man with the horse smiled as he approached. Simon could see the resemblance to Anna. He stuck out his hand. “I’m Simon Martin. I came to see Anna before she left.”

  The young man shook his hand. “Ah. Good. I’m Robert Prentiss, her brother.”

  Doc Prentiss settled the trunk in the buggy. “Simon’s the preacher here in the Cove.”

  Robert’s face broke into a big smile. “Oh, the preacher.” He nodded toward the house. “Anna’s inside getting the rest of her things. Just go on in and see her.”

  Simon swallowed and glanced at Doc Prentiss. “I think I’ll do that.”

  He forced himself not to bolt up the steps as he approached the front porch. He had to be calm and composed when he talked with Anna. He walked through the open door and stopped at the sight before him. Granny stood with her back to the fireplace, Anna tight in her arms. Tears streaked Granny’s face, and Anna’s shoulders shook. Granny glanced over Anna’s shoulder and saw him first. She gently pushed Anna away.

  “There’s somebody else here to tell you goodbye.”

  Anna turned, her eyes growing wide at the sight of him. She pressed her hand to her mouth. “Wh-why d-did you c-come?”

  He stepped forward and glanced at Granny. She cleared her throat. “If’n you two will excuse me, I got somethin’ to take care of in the kitchen.”

  He waited until she was gone before he stepped closer and spoke. “Anna, I had to come. There’s something I have to tell you before you leave.”

  She shook her head. “No. There’s nothing else to say.”

  He touched her arm and stopped her. “I have to tell you what has happened to me this morning. It’s very important. Please hear me out.”

  She gazed up into his eyes, and he thought his heart would burst from the love he felt for her. She nodded, and he began.

  “Your uncle came to my house this morning.”

  “My uncle?”

  “Yes.” He spoke slowly as he related the events of the morning, but he became more excited when he came to the part of how God had spoken to him. He ended by telling her of the peace that now filled his soul. “I owe your uncle a great debt for helping me see how I needed to let God direct my life instead of trying to do it myself.”

  Anna had not moved since he began speaking. After a moment she took a deep breath. “I’m happy for you, Simon. I know God is going to use you to do great things wherever He takes you.”

  “I think so too. But I wanted to tell you this because I want to make sure you’re following what is God’s will for you. Have you prayed about this, Anna? Or have you based your decision to go to New York on a childhood dream? If you can tell me this is God’s will, I can be happy for you. I’ll miss you, but I can let you go.”

  Tears trickled down her cheeks. “Simon, I…”

  He took her by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. “I love you with all my heart, Anna. And there’s nothing more I want for you than to know that you’re right where God wants you to be.”

  She gazed up at him, and without warning she leaned close and pressed her lips to his. Before he could react, she pulled away and whispered, “I love you, Simon.”

  With that she ran for the door and out of his life. He’d never hurt so. He turned toward the fireplace and leaned forward. His hand clutched the mantel and his forehead rested on his fingers. “God, help me!” he cried. “I can’t bear this alone.”

  Even as he said it, he knew he wasn’t alone. The days ahead would be difficult, but God would be walking beside him every step he took.

  Chapter 26

  Anna rushed from the house and stopped at the bottom of the steps. Uncle Charles and Robert stood by the buggy, waiting. Her uncle walked toward her and wrapped his arms around her. He glanced over his shoulder at Robert. “I need to tell Anna goodbye. I’ll just be a minute.”

  He steered her to the side of the house and faced her. “What did Simon say?”

  “He told me about your visit this morning. He says you helped him see that he’s doing God’s will right here in the Cove. And he wanted to make sure I was doing God’s will in leaving.”

  “Are you?”

  “I want to go to New York,” she said simply.

  Her uncle frowned. “Life isn’t always about what we want, Anna. God has plans for us that are so much better than the ones we think up for ourselves. Once I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I’d be a doctor at Vanderbilt in Nashville, but God led me here to the mountain people I love. I’ve been at peace with that because it was God’s will.”

  “But didn’t you have any regrets?”

  He shook his head. “No, because when I first entered medical school, I promised God I would go where He could use me most. I know He brought me here.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “And God also blessed me with a wonderful family. You and your brother are very special to me. You’re like the children I never had. That’s why I have to be sure you’re following God’s will in going to New York.”

  She stood wrapped in her uncle’s arms, her mind whirling. “But wasn’t it God who gave me this dream in the first place?”

  He held her at arm’s length and smiled at her. “Your dream to be a nurse? Sure He did. I just want to make sure you’re going to be a nurse in the right place. Does God want you at Bellevue, or does He want you working out of a cabin in the Tennessee mountains? That’s what you have to decide.”

  “How can I know for sure?”

  “Well, I suppose we should look at both options open to you. If you go to New York, you’ll live in a big city, become a great nurse, and help a lot of people. If you stay in Cades Cove you’ll have a hard life, but the people here will love you for helping them. And then there’s a young man who’s surrendered his will to God and wants you to do the same. I know you love him, Anna. Together you could do great things in the Cove.”

  “How?”

  Her uncle cupped his hand around her cheek. “There’s a verse from the Bible I think holds the answer. Ezekiel was trying to unite his people, and he said, ‘I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.’ Those words hold true for us too.”

  “But what does it mean?”

  He smiled. “It means that God wants to take away your stubborn heart that is intent on doing your own will and replace it with one that’s tender and responsive to His will. Have you considered the fact God may have sent you to Cades Cove so He could unite your and Simon’s hearts into one that shares a singleness of purpose—to serve the people here? There’s only one way to find out, Anna. Put aside what you want. Let God give you the blessings He has waiting for you.”

  Anna closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. A prayer tumbled from her lips. “Oh, God, I’ve been so selfish and determined to get my own way that I’ve hurt many people around me. Take away my stubbornness. I want to follow Your will. Just let me know what it is.”

  Her uncle put his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned her head against his chest. The answer came to her, and it was as if she had known all along what she should do. She had been so intent on winning her battle of wills with Robert she had ignored what God was telling her. She raised her head and took a step away from her uncle, then whirled and hurried back to where Robert stood at the buggy.

  He smiled as she came toward him. “Are you ready?”

  She bit her lip and stared into the face of her brother. “You were right,” she said.

  A perplexed look flickered across his face. “Right about what?”

  “I wasn’t ready to go to New York, and you knew it. I’m sorry I behaved s
o badly about it. I should have known you were still looking out for your little sister. Please forgive me for doubting you and being angry with you.”

  He swallowed. “Of course I forgive you, Anna.” He ducked his head, and for a moment it seemed that he was struggling to speak. “But there’s something you must forgive me for. I should never have said you were spoiled and Poppa gave you everything you wanted. I spoke those words in anger.”

  “I realize that now.”

  “You’re my little sister. I love you, and I only wanted the best for you.”

  She nodded. “I know that too. You knew what was best for me when I didn’t. New York isn’t for me. God used you to send me to Cades Cove, and I know this is where I belong.”

  He frowned and glanced at the cabin. “You want to stay here instead of coming with me? This place is so…How will I explain this to Mother?”

  “Tell her I fell in love with the mountains and I fell in love with a preacher.”

  He grinned. “Is it the fellow who arrived a little while ago?”

  “It is, and I want you to meet him. Will you stay tonight so the two of you can get to know each other?”

  “There’s nothing I’d like better, little sister.”

  A crunching sound of wheels turning on hard ground reached his ears, and Simon realized the buggy was pulling away from the house. She was gone, and with her went all the hopes and dreams he’d harbored since the day he walked around Granny’s house and saw her jump from her uncle’s buggy.

  With a sigh he straightened his shoulders and shook his head. Getting over Anna wasn’t going to be easy, but in time the heartache might start to fade a little. He didn’t look forward to a future without her, but he knew God would be with him. All he had to do was remember God was in control, and he could make it through anything.

  Behind him the door opened. Footsteps approached, and a hand touched his arm. “Would you help me bring my trunk back inside?”

  His body froze at the sound of the quiet drawl he’d come to love. His eyes closed, and he wondered if he were dreaming. Slowly he turned, unable to believe the miracle of Anna standing before him. She smiled at him, and his mouth gaped open.

  “Anna,” he whispered. “I thought you’d left me.”

  She tilted her head, her hand caressing his cheek. “I couldn’t leave, Simon. I love you too much.”

  Still unable to believe, he glanced past her. “But what happened?”

  She smiled. “Uncle Charles made me see that God wanted me to surrender my will to Him too. I have done that, Simon, and I know God wants me to stay here and work with the people in the Cove. And I think God wants us to unite our hearts as one and serve Him with a singleness of purpose. What do you think about that?”

  Simon’s eyes grew wide. “I think that’s a better plan than either of us could have dreamed up.” He stared at her, still not believing what was happening. “But I heard the buggy leave. I thought you were gone.”

  “Uncle Charles left to make some visits, but he’s coming back. Robert’s taking care of the horse, then he’ll come inside. He and Uncle Charles are going to stay tonight. I just wish my mother could be here to see how happy I am.” She stepped closer and slid her hand to the back of his neck. “I’m ready to begin my life with you, Simon. Right here in the Cove.”

  His arms went around her, and he crushed her to him. “I love you, Anna Prentiss, and I’m not ever letting you go again.” He drew back from her and stared down into her eyes. “Don’t ever leave me. I’m not whole unless you’re with me.”

  She smiled. “Neither am I. I promise I’ll never leave.”

  He stared at her for a moment before his lips came down on hers. They clung together, lost in the wonder of the commitment they’d made to each other.

  Simon finally pulled away. He grinned, then dropped to one knee in front of her, wrapped her hand in his, and gazed up at her. “Anna Prentiss, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He hesitated. “Or do I need to ask your brother’s permission first?”

  Her face lit up, and laughter pealed from her lips. She dropped to her knees beside him and threw her arms around him. “I think he already knows. Simon Martin, I would be honored to be your wife.”

  He grabbed her arms and pulled her up as he rose. “Do you remember the first day you came here? We sat in front of this fireplace after supper.”

  She nodded. “You cut your finger that afternoon, and I bandaged it.”

  His hand dipped into his pocket and pulled out her handkerchief. “With this,” he said. “I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and I didn’t even know you yet.”

  She smiled. “You were covered with dust the first time I saw you, but I couldn’t forget about your eyes. They seemed to see right into my heart. I was so upset that night I cried because I didn’t understand my attraction to you.”

  He laughed. “I guess God was letting us know then that He’d brought us together.”

  Footsteps stomped across the floor and stopped. Granny stood in the door from the kitchen, her hands on her hips. “I saw Robert puttin’ his horse in my barn. What in tarnation’s goin’ on?”

  They turned to face her. Simon held Anna’s hand in his. “Granny, Anna has agreed to marry me. You’re the first to know.”

  She stared at them for a moment before a big smile crossed her face. “Well, it’s ’bout time. I done wore my knees out a-prayin’ fer you two. I reckon I knowed that first day Anna got here the Lord had done sent the one I’d been askin’ for.”

  Anna ran to her and hugged her. “Thank you, Granny. I shouldn’t have waited so long.”

  Granny face beamed. “Don’t matter none now. You finally listened to the Lord. That’s all that’s important.” She looked past Anna and Simon. “Say, where’s Doc? He already left?”

  Anna nodded. “He had patients to see. He’ll be back later, and Robert’s staying too. Do you mind all the extra mouths for supper?”

  “There’s always room at my table for one more.” Granny grinned and looked from one to the other. “A weddin’. Well, I cain’t wait. I ’spect this gonna be the biggest shindig we ever seen in the Cove. When we gonna have it?”

  Anna and Simon looked at each other and laughed. “We haven’t even talked about that yet!” Simon said. “But the sooner the better as far as I’m concerned.”

  Granny frowned and walked toward the door. “Was that a wagon pullin’ up?” She pulled the door open and called out. “Hello there, Joshua. Light a spell and come on in.”

  Anna and Simon followed Granny onto the front porch and watched Joshua Whitson climb from his wagon. He rushed across the yard and stopped at the bottom of the steps. He pulled his hat off and stared up at Granny, fear on his face.

  “Granny, you and Miss Anna gotta come right away. Nellie done started havin’ pains, and I reckon it ain’t gonna be long ’fore the baby gets here.”

  Granny turned back to the house. “Let me get my things, Joshua.”

  As Granny reentered the house, Anna stepped down beside Joshua. “Granny and I will do everything to make sure your wife and child get through this safely. And remember, we haven’t lost a father yet.”

  Anna followed Granny into the house and Simon watched her go. “Want me to come sit with you while you wait, Joshua?”

  “I reckon I’d like that, Simon.”

  Granny and Anna rushed back out the door. Granny headed to the wagon, but Anna stopped beside Simon. “I’m sorry to run off like this. Can you tell Robert where we’ve gone?”

  “Sure. I’ll bring him with me to Joshua’s farm. He can see what your life is going to be like.” He shook his head and smiled. “I guess this is going to be the story of our life. You take care of the mothers, and I’ll distract the fathers. I think we’re going to make a good team.”

  Anna’s eyes beamed. “I think so too.”

  Anna could hardly believe a month had passed since she’d accepted Simon’s proposal. The day she’d been
waiting for had finally arrived. In a few hours she would be Simon’s wife, and they would begin their life together. For the first time newlyweds would live in the honeymoon cabin Simon’s father had built. Simon had worked hard for the last few weeks getting it ready, and she could hardly wait to see what improvements he’d made.

  She twisted her body to get a better view of herself in the mirror Robert had brought her for a wedding present. The long white dress Martha made for her flowed to the floor and fanned out in a long train behind her. The veil her mother wore the day she married her father was waiting to be placed on her head.

  A knock sounded on the door and her mother’s voice called out. “Anna, may I come in?”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  Her mother opened the door and stepped into the room. She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed at the tears that pooled in her eyes. “Oh, darling, you’re beautiful. I wish your father could see you today.”

  Anna grasped her mother’s hand. “I do too. I think he’d be happy for me.”

  “He would. And he would have loved Simon. He’s going to make you very happy.”

  The thought of Simon waiting when she arrived at the church sent a thrill through her. “Oh, Mama, I think I knew the minute I saw him, but it took me a long time to realize it.”

  “Sometimes we don’t notice the blessings that are right in front of us.” She cupped her daughter’s cheek and smiled. “Come on now. We have to leave for the church or you’re going to be late for your own wedding.”

  Anna picked up the veil. “Mama, will you put this on for me?”

  Her mother took the delicate lace in her hands and positioned it on Anna’s head, then stepped back to survey the effect. “Perfect. Ready to go?”

  Anna let her gaze rove over the room she’d lived in for the past few months. She’d miss Granny, but she was ready to begin her life with Simon. She closed her eyes and sighed with happiness.

  “Let’s go.”