Mountain Homecoming (24 page)

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.

R
ani 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 beside 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.

Rani glanced up at Matthew and detected a hint of tears in his eyes. He blinked, looked down at Noah, and swallowed hard. Rani rose and slipped into the chair across the table from them. They sat without talking for what seemed an eternity before the door to the bedroom opened.

Her mother eased out of the room and closed the door behind her. The look on her face told them she didn't bring good news. She walked to the table, and her eyes softened as she looked down at Noah.

She bent down and placed her hand on Noah's shoulder. “Noah, I'm so sorry, but your mother has passed away.”

The boy's lips trembled, and tears filled his eyes. “Has she gone to be with Jesus?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes. Do you want to see how peaceful she is now?”

He didn't answer but slipped out of Matthew's lap and placed his hand in Anna's. Together they stepped into the bedroom. Rani stood at the door and watched Noah approach the still figure on the bed. He stared down at his mother for a moment then bent and kissed her forehead. He turned to leave, then broke into a run, dashing through the house and out the front door.

Rani and Matthew ran onto the porch, but he had disappeared. “Noah, come back!” Rani cried out as she started down the steps.

She'd reached the bottom step when Matthew caught up with her and grabbed her arm. “Let him go, Rani. He needs some time alone. I'll go look for him in a few minutes.”

Rani nodded and stepped back onto the porch. She looked over her shoulder for Matthew, but he wasn't behind her. He had walked to the corner of the house and stood looking toward the mountains in the distance. She started to go to him but hesitated.

As she stared at his straight back and broad shoulders, she knew Noah wasn't the only one needing some time alone. Matthew wanted it too. Perhaps Bertha's death had stirred memories too painful to be shared. Later he might need her, but not now.

Matthew had no idea where to begin looking for Noah. He could have secret hiding places anywhere in the thick tangle of vegetation that covered the fields around the cabin. It pained Matthew to look at those overgrown fields that once had produced some of the best hay crops in the Cove. An apple orchard Matthew remembered from his childhood had vanished from the field behind the cabin as if it had never been. Gone also was the open-sided shed that had sheltered Mr. Ben Campbell's beehives. Once they'd been said to yield the sweetest honey in the Cove.

Matthew shook his head in disgust. Wade hadn't been any better at taking care of the land his father had passed to him than he had been at providing for his family.

He pulled his hat off and wiped his shirt sleeve across his forehead. The day had warmed up, and Noah might be anywhere. He tried to think where he would have gone to be alone when he was a boy. Somewhere that would conceal his whereabouts but would allow him to keep an eye on what was happening around him.

Of course.

The hay loft.

The ramshackle barn behind the cabin would be the ideal hiding place. Matthew didn't glance up at the opening of the loft above the barn door as he ambled across the hardened earth of the former barnyard. A feeling that he was being watched from above reminded him of the times he'd kept an eye on his drunken father while the man staggered around yelling for him to come out of his hiding place.

Matthew stepped into the barn and closed the door behind him. He glanced around in the dim interior. The absence of any animal sounds or smells and the deserted stalls confirmed the notion that Wade no longer kept livestock in the building. Near the other end of the aisle he could see a ladder that led to the hay loft. A rickety bench sat beside it, and he sauntered toward it and eased down. The bench creaked and swayed, but it held his weight.

Matthew sat still for a moment and listened for a sound from above. A floorboard creaked, and he smiled to himself. A piece of wood lay on the ground. He picked it up and hummed a tune as he pulled out his pocket knife and began to whittle.

After a few minutes, he heard a rustling sound from above. “Hey there, Noah,” he said. “I wondered where you'd gone off to.” He waited for a reply but none came. “Miss Anna didn't need me right now, so I thought I'd come out here and sit awhile. I like to pass the time by whittling sometimes. Come on down, and I'll let you take a few swipes with my knife.”