Mountain Homecoming Read Online Free Page A

can’t grieve the rest of your life over what happened in the past. You gotta look to the future and what God has planned for you.”
    â€œI try to do that, but I can’t forget. It was my fault.”
    A sad look flickered in Granny’s eyes, and they stared at each other lost in their own thoughts of the past. “I’ve told you over and over it warn’t your fault. What’s it gonna take to convince you?”
    Rani blinked back tears. “I don’t know,” she murmured.
    Granny exhaled a long breath. “I know life can be hard sometimes. I got my own regrets ’bout things I wish I’d done different. But I cain’t stand to see you a-punishin’ yourself for somethin’ you couldn’t help.” She pointed toward the mountains in the distance. “You need to think about all that God’s already done for you. Look around and see His work, Rani. He blessed you by puttin’ you in the purtiest place on earth.”
    The sight of the smoky mists hanging over the mountains sent a thrill through her. “I know that, and I love the Cove. I don’t think I could ever live anywhere else.”
    Granny smiled and grasped Rani’s hand. “I never seen anybody in all my years that loves this here valley like you do. I know sometimes your ma and pa get outdone with you ’cause you a-rantin’ about the logging companies, but I just see that as a sign that you got a deep love for this here place. Maybe God’s got some plan for you right here.”
    Rani stared at the hills in the distance for a moment and let Granny’s words soak into her mind. With a sigh, she turned back to Granny. “But what could it be?”
    Granny shrugged. “I don’t know, child. That’s just a notion I got in my head. You the one gonna have to figure that out.”
    Rani pushed to her feet and brushed off her dress. “Well, until I do, I wish I could come up with a way to keep Little River out of the Cove.” She frowned at the sudden thought of the stranger she’d encountered earlier today. “That reminds me. I stopped by the old Jackson place to pick some mountain laurel on my way home and ran into another Little River employee. I told him our timber wasn’t for sale.”
    Granny’s forehead wrinkled, and her eyebrows drew down across her nose. “Child, you gotta be careful ’bout who you go a-talkin’ to. You’ve grown into a right purty woman, and you never can tell how strangers are gonna react. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.”
    The man’s image flashed in her mind, and her skin warmed at the way he had looked at her. At the time she had told herself that he was a Little River employee who only wanted to curry favor with a mountain girl who might help him in his search for timber. Now that she thought about it, she wasn’t so sure. He’d been courteous even when she hadn’t been.
    It didn’t matter. She would probably never see the handsome man again, and a part of her was sorry about that. She glanced up at Granny who appeared to be waiting for a reply about her concern for Rani’s safety. She patted Granny’s hand and smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. Besides, I had Scout with me today, and the man appeared harmless. He tried to tell me he worked for the railroad, but it’s all the same to me. I watched to see if he followed me, but he didn’t.”
    Granny shook her head. “Just the same, I don’t like you talkin’ to strangers. It ain’t safe.” She glanced around the yard. “By the way, where is that dog of yours?”
    Rani laughed. “He took off after a rabbit a ways back. Don’t worry. He’ll turn up for his supper.”
    The rattle of a buggy pulling off the road in front of the house caught Rani’s attention. Ever since she was a child she’d thrilled to the