Read Online Beyond These Hills by Sandra Robbins - Free Book Online

camp.”
    Andrew swallowed the bile in his throat. He really liked these people and he didn’t want them to hate him. He especially didn’t want Laurel to hate him, but they probably would after he revealed his real purpose to them. He took a deep breath.
    â€œLaurel misunderstood me. I told her I was on my way to the CCC camp. That’s true because I’m going to stay there while I’m in Cades Cove. But the truth is that I work for the National Park Service in Washington. I’m on special assignment here.”
    The pastor’s eyes darkened, and he frowned. “What kind of special assignment?”
    â€œI’m here to convince the holdouts in the Cove to end their court cases and sell their land to the government so the park can be completed. Your family was one of the first I intended to see.”
    Neither of them spoke for a moment, and then Reverend Martin nodded. “Was that your reason for coming to church here today?”
    Andrew found it difficult to meet the preacher’s steady gaze. “Yes, sir. I only wanted to get to know you. I didn’t realize I’d already had my first introduction with Laurel yesterday. She’s a very nice young woman. I’d like to get to know her and all of you much better, but I’ll understand if you don’t want that. No matter what my reasonsfor coming today were, though, I really enjoyed the service. Now I’d better leave, but I will be by your house to talk to you about selling.”
    Reverend Martin shook his head. “No need to do that. You can talk to Matthew and me after dinner today. No time like the present to get started.”
    Andrew’s mouth gaped open. “You mean you still want me to come?”
    Mrs. Martin laughed. “Of course we do. Just because we stand on different sides of an issue doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. I have lots of food cooked, and I know for a fact that government employees get hungry just like anybody else. We’d be honored to have you share a meal with us.”
    Moisture flooded Andrew’s eyes, and he blinked. He cleared his throat and nodded. “No, it’s I who would be honored to come to your home.” He grasped both their stretched-out hands. “Thank you for being so kind to me.”
    They squeezed his hands and smiled. Laurel turned at that moment, and a small frown furrowed her brow as she stared at the three of them. “What’s going on?”
    Andrew released them, and Mrs. Martin waved her hand in dismissal. “Nothing. We invited Andrew to come for dinner. We’re going on home, but tell your father to make sure Andrew finds his way there.”
    â€œI’ll tell him.” She watched her grandparents exit the church before she turned back to him. A big smile lit her face. “Who would have thought yesterday when we met we’d be having Sunday dinner together? If you’re ready to go, I’ll show you which truck you need to follow.”
    â€œOkay.”
    He stepped back to allow her to precede him up the aisle. As she brushed past him, he closed his eyes for a moment as a tingle of pleasure raced up his arm. Taking a deep breath, he followed her up the aisle.
    What was it about this young woman that made her seem so different from every other one he’d ever met? He couldn’t dismiss the attraction he felt to her, but it sure wasn’t going to lead anywhere. Something told him that Laurel wouldn’t be as understanding of his mission as her grandparents were, and that made him sadder than anything ever had before.

Chapter 4
    M atthew had just reached his truck in the churchyard when he heard Simon call out to him. Simon and Anna walked toward him, her two hands grasping her husband’s arm in support. Matthew’s heart constricted at the stoop of Simon’s shoulders and the shuffle of his feet. The man he loved like a father looked fragile today. He’d talked to Simon