Mountain Homecoming Read Online Free Page B

familiar sound of her parents returning home from one of their medical or spiritual missions to those in Cove. “Mama and Poppa are home.”
    Her parents’ laughter could be heard as her father pulled the buggy to a stop on the path that ran beside the cabin to the barn. Poppa reached over and straightened Mama’s bonnet and whispered something in her ear. Her mother laughed and swatted at his hand, but there was no anger on her face, only love.
    Rani’s gaze drifted over the two, and her heart swelled. Poppa’s dark features offered a sharp contrast to Mama’s blonde hair sparkling in the afternoon sunlight. Together they made a tireless team that served the needs of their friends and neighbors. As she watched them, she knew if God never gave her anything else in her life, He had blessed her beyond measure by allowing her to have such wonderful parents.
    Her mother climbed to the ground and glanced back up at her father. Rani waited for the look that would pass between the two, and she wasn’t disappointed. She had watched the silent messages their eyes had conveyed for years, and it still made her heart beat a little faster each time she saw it. The Look, as she secretly called it, summed up the love they had for each other, and it was still as strong after twenty years of marriage as it had been when they first knew each other.
    That’s what she wanted when she fell in love and married, a man whose love for her could be seen in his face every day. She couldn’t settle for anything less than what her parents had. No, she wouldn’t settle for anything less.
    Her mother reached back into the buggy for the black leather bag with brass trim that she took whenever she was attending a patient, then turned to face Rani and Granny. “What are you two doing out here?” she asked.
    Her father straightened in the seat and inhaled a big breath before he grinned at Granny. “I do declare I think I smell apple pie. I’ll take Anna off more often if it means you’ll cook supper while we’re gone.”
    Granny chuckled and pushed to her feet. “Hush your mouth, preacher boy. You know I done taught Anna to cook all your fav’rite foods. I ’spect she’s ’bout the best cook in these here parts now.”
    Her mother laughed. “I may be able to cook a decent supper, but I’ll never be able to touch your pies, Granny.”
    â€œI’d better take care of the horse,” her father said. “The sooner that gets done, the sooner we can eat!” He winked at Rani, snapped the reins across the horse’s back, and headed toward the barn.
    Rani ran to her mother and reached for the bag. “Do you want me to put this up for you, Mama?”
    Her mother reached up and smoothed Rani’s hair back from her face before she handed her the bag. “Thank you, darling. How was it over at Josie’s?”
    â€œIt was hard. Josie asked me to come visit her, but I doubt if I will.”
    Her mother stared at her for a moment. “Don’t worry. I know you feel alone now, but you won’t always be. God has a plan for you. He’s going to fill your life with wonderful things that you can’t imagine right now.”
    Leaning on her cane, Granny hobbled over to them. “That’s what I’ve been a-tellin’ Rani. She just has to be patient and pray.” She stopped and leaned both hands on her cane. “Rani, did I ever tell you that I prayed for three years for God to send a woman to the Cove for Simon before Anna came?”
    Rani laughed and rolled her eyes. “About a hundred times, Granny.”
    Granny’s eyebrows arched. “Well, my point is, you cain’t rush God. He moves in His own time.”
    â€œI’ll remember that,” Rani said.
    Her mother started to respond but stopped and frowned. “Did you hear that? It sounded like someone knocking at the front of the