Angel of the Cove Read Free Page B

not the purtiest little thing I’ve ever seen.”
    â€œTh-thank you.” The hat perched on Anna’s head threatened to fall off, and she pried one arm loose to catch it before it toppled to the ground.
    Granny Lawson took a step back and held her at arm’s length. “Doc Prentiss, you shore was right. She’s a-gonna fit right in around here.”
    Uncle Charles put his arm around Anna’s shoulders and smiled down at her. “I think you’re right, Granny.”
    â€œOh, thank you,” Anna gasped. She grabbed the brim of the hat and pulled it back into place. “Thank you, Mrs. Lawson. I’m so happy…”
    â€œMiz Lawson?” Granny’s eyes crinkled at the corners from the grin on her face. “Darlin’, don’t nobody around here know whoMiz Lawson is. I’m Granny to ev’rybody in these here parts, and I’m Granny to you too.”
    Anna felt a smile curling her lips. “All right, Granny. And I’m Anna.”
    Uncle Charles stepped to the back of the buggy and reached for her trunk. “We stayed over at Mrs. Johnson’s inn at Pigeon Forge last night. We would have been here earlier, but we didn’t get as early a start this morning as I’d hoped.”
    â€œAnd how was Miz Johnson?” Granny’s eyes sparkled. “I hope she didn’t scare Anna off from comin’ here.”
    Her uncle chuckled and hoisted the trunk to his shoulder. “It would take more than Mrs. Johnson’s warnings about the strange folks in the Cove to change Anna’s mind.” He inclined his head toward the trunk. “I’ll take this inside. Where do you want it, Granny?”
    She waved her hand toward the house. “Put it in the back room off the kitchen. That’s where Anna’s gonna be sleepin’.” Granny turned and glanced over her shoulder. “Simon, git that there valise and take it inside for Doc Prentiss, but come on over here ’fore you do and meet Anna.”
    For the first time Anna noticed the young man standing behind Granny. Dust covered his pants and shirt, and he clutched a misshapen hat in his hands. His dark eyes peered at her from underneath long lashes and his dark hair tumbled over his forehead. Her face warmed at his intense stare.
    He took a hesitant step forward and stopped in front of her. “Good evening, Miss Prentiss. Welcome to Cades Cove. I know you’re gonna like living and working with Granny.” He turned to Granny, his white teeth appearing behind his smile. “She was just telling me how glad she was to have a helper.”
    â€œThank you, Mr.…”
    â€œMartin. Simon Martin.”
    She smiled at him. “Thank you for taking my valise inside, Mr. Martin.”
    â€œBrother Martin,” Granny corrected. “Simon’s our preacher.”
    Anna felt her eyes widen. “You seem so young to be a preacher. And you already have a church?”
    Simon laughed, his eyes twinkling. “Yes, but that may be because I grew up in the Cove.”
    â€œHe don’t like to brag, Anna, but he’s a real good preacher. And he watches out for the folks in his congregation.” Granny’s eyes softened, and a smile pulled at her lips. “Don’t know what I’d do without him.”
    Simon reached for the valise and grinned at Granny. “She’s one of my biggest supporters, Miss Prentiss, and I have to say I love it.”
    Granny grabbed Anna’s arm and steered her toward the front porch. Inside the house Anna stopped and let her gaze rove over the interior. The sparsely furnished room—perhaps a sitting room?—was a far cry from her mother’s parlor at home. Two rockers faced a stone fireplace, and several straight-backed chairs sat to the side of the hearth. But it was the long table against one wall that drew her attention. Dried herbs hung above it on a rope stretched across the wall, and