Beyond These Hills by Sandra Robbins Page B

much in his life, but he’d heard the story of Judas in chapel at school. He remembered how Judas, one of Jesus’s disciples, had betrayed Him for money. The similarity to his situation didn’t go unnoticed. The thought of his true purpose—to gain the land of the very people who had welcomed him and asked him to sit with them in church—troubled him. Would they equate him to Judas when they found out his reason for being in the Cove?
    The longer the sermon lasted the more Andrew squirmed in his seat. The air became stuffy and perspiration ran down his face. He put his finger inside the collar of his shirt and pulled it away from his neck where it kept sticking to the skin. It seemed strange that no one else in the church appeared to be suffering from the heat like he was. He wished the preacher would quit so he could get out of there.
    After what seemed an eternity the congregation was dismissed. His hope of escaping to the aisle and exiting the church was delayed, however, when he found himself trapped in the pew between Laurel and her mother. He felt a tug on his sleeve, and he looked around at Laurel.
    â€œI want you to meet my grandmother,” she said.
    The pastor’s wife stood in the pew in front of them. She smiled, and he was struck by the sincere friendliness that sparkled in her blueeyes. “Hello, Mr. Brady. I’m Anna Martin. We’re so glad you came to our church today.”
    At that moment her husband joined her and stuck out his hand. “Let me echo my wife’s words. I hope you’ll come again, Andrew.”
    Out of the corner of his eye, Andrew saw that Mrs. Jackson had moved out into the aisle. On the other side Laurel was turned away talking to an older woman. He inched toward the end of the pew in hopes of escaping, but the Martins stepped around the end of their pew and blocked his exit.
    â€œI’ll make a point to return to your church. I enjoyed the service.”
    Mrs. Martin smiled. “I know you enjoyed the hymns. I could hear you singing even over the music from the organ. I love to hear a man sing with such spirit. It made me happy to be in the Lord’s house today.”
    He hesitated before responding. No one had ever complimented his singing before. In fact most of his friends at school had made fun of his off-key voice every time he tried to sing. But he sensed that Mrs. Martin had indeed meant what she said, and it made him smile.
    â€œThank you, Mrs. Martin. I’m glad you noticed how much I enjoyed singing with the congregation. Maybe it was the way you played the hymns. How long have you played the organ at this church?”
    Her husband put his arm around her waist, and she patted his hand. “I began playing when I first came to this valley in 1894, and I’ve played ever since.”
    Andrew glanced back at Laurel, but she was still in deep conversation with the woman. “I suppose I should be going now.” He held out his hand. “It was good meeting you. You have a wonderful family.”
    Reverend Martin grasped his hand. “No need for you to rush off. We’re having our daughter’s family for dinner today, and we’d like for you to join us.”
    Andrew shook his head. “Oh, I couldn’t do that. I’ll come some other time when you’ve invited me.”
    Mrs. Martin laughed. “But we’ve invited you today. I always cook enough extra for special guests. Besides, we want you to come. You need to meet Granny, our ninety-one-year-old second mother. When someone new enters her valley, she thinks she has to question them and find out everything about them.”
    Andrew’s shoulders slumped, and he shook his head. “Reverend Martin, Mrs. Martin, the truth is you may not want to have me in your home when you find out why I’m really in the Cove.”
    Reverend Martin frowned and glanced at his wife. “But I thought Laurel said you were joining the CCC