The Sound of Rain Page 24

  Larkin frowned as she pinched a wilted stem between her fingers. She’d been fussing with this poor plant all week and it was getting worse. She couldn’t think what she was doing wrong. Not to mention the poor camellia outside.

  She shrugged. “Oh well. Mother said that thing was taking over out here anyway. Maybe it’s time to let it go.”

  Patty’s attention had already turned back to bridesmaids’ gowns and bouquets. Larkin did her best to take an interest.

  Chapter

  32

  Judd combed his hair, trying a dab of pomade one of the men at work recommended. It wasn’t something he’d ever thought to put in his hair before, but he wanted to fit into Larkin’s world, and those fellows he’d seen down at the Pavilion last summer had fancy hair.

  He climbed in his truck and considered whether or not he ought to trade it in for a sedan. The truck was more practical, but maybe Larkin would be more comfortable in a four-door something or other.

  He pushed the thought aside and drove through the streets that were getting busier as the weather grew warmer. Most of the evidence of the hurricane had been removed or repaired, yet there were still signs of it here and there. A gap where a business once stood. A house still being worked on. A view to the ocean that was inexplicably different. Healing took time, even for a town.

  It would be summer again soon, but first Judd had to get through the anniversary of Joe’s death. He gripped the steering wheel tighter. Thank goodness he had Larkin’s love to see him through. He hadn’t mentioned to her that the date was coming up, but he would tonight and he felt certain she’d understand the confusing mix of emotions percolating through him.

  Larkin was quiet as he handed her up into the truck. He suggested they go see a drive-in movie, and she nodded like she wasn’t quite paying attention. He parked, settled the speaker on his open window, and offered to go get some popcorn. Larkin nodded and smoothed her skirt over her knees, staring out the windshield, but somehow Judd got the feeling she didn’t really see the screen up ahead.

  Returning, Judd handed the popcorn to Larkin and settled a soda with two straws on the seat between them. He sat and rubbed his leg where he could still feel scars beneath the fabric of his slacks.

  “Almost the anniversary of the day I busted this leg,” he said.

  Larkin turned, looking interested for the first time all evening. “You mean when the mine caved in?”

  “That’d be the day,” Judd said. He ate a piece of popcorn, quiet settling in the cab like dust on a still afternoon.

  Larkin gasped. “Which means it’s been almost a year since Joe died.”

  Judd felt his eyes prickle. “Yup. It’s been weighing on me lately. I feel kind of, I don’t know, guilty that my life’s turned out so good and his is . . . gone. It’s almost like I’ve taken on what should have been his.”

  Larkin touched his hand where he held the soda bottle. “From what you’ve told me, he’d be awfully glad to know you’re doing well.” She smiled and swiped at her eye with her other hand. “Got a good job, got a girl.” Her voice softened. “Getting married.”

  Judd wanted to wash the lump in his throat down with soda, but no way was he going to pull away from Larkin’s touch. “Joe always did like a party—even the kind where folks ended up married at the end.” He tilted his head back and blinked his eyes. “He would have been my best man.”

  Larkin slid across the seat, scooping up the soda and setting it on the passenger-side floorboard. She snuggled under Judd’s arm. “I’m glad you told me. I’m glad we’ll get through this anniversary together.” She tilted her face toward his. “And I’m even more glad you’re still alive.”

  Judd felt something break loose in his chest. He’d tolerated being alive for the past year. Tolerated breathing and eating and working because he didn’t know what else to do. Went to sleep each night and woke each morning because it was what his body demanded. But gazing down into Larkin’s blue eyes swimming with unshed tears, he felt, for the first time in a long time, glad just to be alive.

  “Me too,” he whispered and then kissed those soft, pink lips.

  Larkin told herself she could do this. She could get married and stay in South Carolina and do volunteer work and learn to play bridge at the country club and live the life she’d once thought she wanted more than anything. She could do it for Judd.

  Who would have thought a lanky fellow from the mountains of West Virginia would be the reason she held on to her life as a socialite rather than giving it all up to do mission work in Appalachia? The irony was not lost on her.

  Never mind that, except in those moments when she was alone with Judd, she thought her old life might suffocate her. She promised herself it would be different once they were married. Surely they would have children and then she’d be too busy for anything else. That brought a smile, but Larkin barely trusted herself anymore.

  She resumed fitting items into a pasteboard box to send off to Logan, Kentucky, where Ben would share it with Granny Jane and Maude and Kyle and anyone else who needed socks, coffee, tea, a new Bible, or chocolate. Larkin smiled. Actually, the chocolate was for Granny and Kyle to share. She’d explain that in the letter to Ben.

  Her brother had already promised he’d come home for her wedding, but Larkin wished he could bring everyone else from Logan with him, too. It astonished her how quickly she’d become attached in the short time she was there. Granny would love sleeping in the guest bedroom, not to mention experiencing indoor plumbing. But she supposed that wasn’t to be. Sighing, she went to the desk to begin writing her letter.

  Judd was worried about Larkin. She just didn’t sparkle the way he’d gotten used to. He remembered the first time he’d seen her, glowing like she not only absorbed the sunshine but internalized it and sent it back out into the world. Lately she seemed cloudy. Judd was on his way to church and Sunday dinner with the Heywards and he meant to get a few minutes alone with Larkin to ask her if she was sure she wanted to marry him. He hoped it wasn’t cold feet, but he thought he’d better ask.

  During church, Judd only half listened to the songs and found it difficult to focus on the sermon. Then Pastor Brearley said something that hit Judd right between the eyes. Or rather, he read it. “‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.’”

  The shadow of death. Judd had felt that shadow there in the mine and maybe it had been the shadow of Joe’s death hanging over him ever since. But now that he’d asked Larkin to marry him, his world was getting ever brighter. He glanced at Larkin, gazing at the pastor with an expression that told him her mind was elsewhere. It was as if she’d taken on the shadow he’d been carrying around.

  As soon as they stepped out into the April sunshine after the service, Judd grasped Larkin’s arm. “Let’s walk back to your house. Pretty day for a stroll.”

  She nodded and smiled, but it didn’t light her eyes. “Just let me tell Mother.”

  In a moment, she was back by his side, linking her arm through his and strolling along the sidewalk in her pale-green dress with the dark green ribbon accentuating her waist. A waist Judd thought might be even smaller than it was a month before.

  “Been thinking about home lately.”

  Her eyes lit briefly, then dimmed again. “Because of Joe.”

  “No. Well, some. But mostly I’ve been thinking about home because of you.”

  Larkin looked a question at him.

  “I’ve never seen you as happy as you were helping those folks back in Kentucky.” Laughing softly, he added, “Maybe not even when I asked you to marry me.”

  “Oh, Judd. Marrying you is what I want more than anything, but I can’t deny I have the strangest longing to go back to Logan. I don’t understand it and I trust it will pass, but that place felt like . . . home to me.”

  Judd laid a hand over hers where it rested in the crook of his arm. “Might be I know something abo
ut wanting what you can’t have. And maybe I haven’t wanted to go back to the mountains because that’s where Joe’s supposed to be.” He squinted up, watching a sea gull swoop and circle before heading on out to sea. “But maybe there’s room to build something new back there. Maybe even in a town where Joe never set foot but with people he’d like almost as good as his own family.” He glanced down at Larkin, who had the most hopeful expression on her face. “People like Ben and Kyle and Granny Jane.”

  Larkin squealed and threw her arms around Judd’s neck. “Are you saying we can live in Logan?”

  “I’m saying it might be worth a shot. Might be good for both of us.”

  She laughed so loud that people driving by turned their heads. “When can we go?”

  “Now, hold on there.” Judd wrapped his arms around her and eased her back down on solid ground. “First, we’d better get married and I’d better save every penny your father’s paying me so we’ll have a little something to live on. There’s timbering in that part of the country, but I doubt it pays what it does here.” He chuckled and eased Larkin away so they could resume walking and not create more of a spectacle than they already had. “Plus, your family may not be too happy with this turn of events.”

  Larkin flipped her ponytail and practically skipped along beside him. “They’ll be fine, I just know it.” She gasped and turned to look Judd in the face. “I could go back there now, spend a month or two finding us a place to live, and Ben could ask around about jobs.”

  Judd wished he could put the brakes on this train, but since he was the one who started it down the tracks, he guessed he’d have to ride along. “We can talk about that, sure.” He glanced down at his soon-to-be bride, wondering if giving up the running of a timber company was a smart thing to do. But then he saw that Larkin’s light was back on and sunshine shot from her fingertips. He smiled and supposed whatever trouble they were about to walk into would be worth it.

  Larkin bought a bus ticket for the following week before she told her parents, or even Judd, exactly when she planned to leave. She thought she’d need the assurance of an escape route to steel herself.

  On Sunday, she sat down to breakfast with her parents. Mother stared out the window as Daddy read the paper. Larkin scooped some eggs and sausage on her plate and cleared her throat.

  “So Judd and I agreed that I’d make a trip back to Kentucky this week to check on Ben and some of the folks back there.” She focused on buttering a slice of toast as her father’s paper slowly lowered.

  “I don’t see as that’s necessary,” he said. “I’ll have a word with Judd.”

  Larkin felt panic stir in her belly. “We’ve already decided, and I have my ticket.” She tried to think how to reassure her parents but couldn’t come up with anything short of lying, which she was maybe doing a little bit already.

  Now the paper was completely down, Daddy crumpling it. “You’ll stay here and help your mother prepare for this wedding.”

  Larkin sipped her coffee. “The wedding is well in hand. Mother doesn’t need me. I need to see that Kyle’s doing his exercises and help Granny Jane get her garden ready.”

  Her father’s face turned red and he stood. “Of all the ridiculous . . . I will have that word with Judd and you won’t be going anywhere.” He pointed a finger at her but spoke to her mother. “Augusta, if she leaves the state, I will hold you personally responsible.” Then he stalked from the room.

  Larkin exhaled and slumped back in her chair. She looked into her mother’s sad eyes. “I need to go.”

  Mother leaned forward and took her hand. “Your father has already seen one child defy him, and now you’re headed down the same path. I’m not saying he’s right, but he’s surely struggling. Give him a little time. Try to understand what he’s feeling.”

  Larkin squeezed her mother’s hand. “If he’s feeling frustrated, then I know exactly what he’s feeling.”

  Judd whistled as he sharpened a chainsaw. The sun was shining, Larkin was happy again, and he’d soon be married. Things might not be working out exactly the way he’d planned, but they were mighty fine nonetheless.

  “Markley.”

  Judd jerked his head up at the brusque voice calling his name. Mr. Heyward—George, he reminded himself—was striding toward him. This was odd. He’d seen the boss on a jobsite only once before.

  “Yes, sir.” He opted not to use his boss’s first name based on the thunderclouds in his face.

  “What’s this nonsense about Larkin going back to Kentucky?”

  Judd tensed. “She’s been so unhappy—I’m sure you’ve noticed—and going back is what she wants more than anything.”

  Mr. Heyward looked as though he might be about to have another fit like he did in the country store. He breathed in deeply and held the air a moment. Then he exhaled and spoke softly. “The only reason I agreed to let you court my daughter was to keep her here. If you can’t manage that, you’re of no use to me.”

  Judd felt like he’d been struck. “I don’t understand.”

  “Keep her in South Carolina or I’ll find someone else she can marry. You understand that?” Mr. Heyward turned and walked away.

  Judd hitched his pant leg and sat on the tailgate of the truck where he was working. He watched his employer climb in his car and drive away. This clinched it. George Heyward only wanted him as a son-in-law so he could hold on to the company by way of Larkin. And if he and Larkin went to Kentucky, Mr. Heyward would be right back where he started with the future leadership of his business in limbo.

  The problem was, Judd had come to care what happened to Waccamaw Timber Company. Larkin might be anxious to go back to the mountains—and Judd had no doubt she’d go regardless of what her father wanted—but Judd was only considering it to please her. He looked around the jobsite at the men muscling timber into place. He breathed in the scent of cut pine and listened to the hum of machinery. He’d come to enjoy his work and was pretty good at it. Mr. Heyward had given him more opportunities than he ever had when he worked the mines. He’d managed to take his brother’s dream and turn it into a solid future. But back in the mountains . . . it was sure to be rough going. He’d have to scratch out a living above ground or reconcile himself to mining. He hopped down off the tailgate and went back to work. He found himself hoping this trip back to Kentucky would help Larkin get her need to do good up there out of her system once and for all. Folks hadn’t exactly welcomed Larkin’s meddling with open arms, so maybe if things didn’t go so good . . . well, it surely would simplify things.

  Chapter

  33

  Judd and Floyd sat in dining room chairs in front of the boardinghouse. Judd seemed to have way too much time to think and not near enough clarity about what to do. When he tried to talk to Larkin about her father’s stance, she said it didn’t matter a bit. Then she got on a bus and left for Kentucky. That was a week ago, and Judd still felt torn between his love for Larkin and his loyalty to Mr. Heyward. Judd whittled a stick, aimlessly sending shavings into the dry grass while Floyd smoked and told stories about working tobacco. Judd thought it sounded just about as bad as mining coal.

  A pickup truck rounded the corner, and Hank pulled to a stop in the street. He climbed out and walked toward Judd, head down, feet dragging. Something deep inside Judd seized up.

  “Judd, Mr. Heyward sent me over here.” Judd swallowed hard. Might be he was fired. He wondered if George Heyward had enough pull to ban Judd from the state of South Carolina.

  Hank continued. “They just got a phone call from Ben up there in Kentucky.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and took a deep breath. “Larkin’s gone missing.”

  Judd found himself on his feet, almost nose to nose with Hank without remembering standing up. “What do you mean, ‘missing’?”

  Hank rubbed the back of his neck. “Apparently, she and some boy went off on a picnic or some such, and they have yet to come home.”

  Kyle. Judd would bet his last dollar it was Kyle sh
e’d taken on a picnic. And here he was back in South Carolina hoping things would go badly for her. He set his mouth in a grim line. Guess he’d gotten his wish.

  “Sounds like most of Logan is out looking for them. Mr. Heyward thought you’d want to know.”

  Judd squinted at the sky. It was after lunch on a lazy Sunday afternoon. If he started now, he could be in Logan before midnight. He debated leaving with just his wallet and the clothes on his back, but decided to take five minutes to throw a duffel together.

  “If you want, you can tell the Heywards I’m on my way up there.” He took a step toward the door. “I won’t be in to work tomorrow. If Mr. Heyward doesn’t like that, he can find another man to fix his equipment. Might be he’s going to anyway.”

  Hank nodded, then reached out and grasped Judd’s forearm in a firm but gentle grip. “I have a feeling if anyone can find those two, it’s you. George Heyward’s a fool at times, but I expect he had a fair idea what you’d do when you heard the news.”

  Judd pulled up at Ben’s living quarters behind the church just after midnight. Late as it was, the whole place was lit up and people milled around. He could see Maude through the window, carrying plates of food to men who looked dirty and tired. Judd watched, hope welling, as though he might spy Larkin helping and discover it had all been a mistake. But her figure didn’t appear and he went on inside.

  Ben spotted him immediately. “I had a feeling you’d show up.”

  “Any word?” Judd felt his brow furrow and mouth tighten, but he couldn’t smile for all of Solomon’s gold.

  Ben shook his head. “Afraid not. Saturday was so nice, Larkin decided to take Kyle for a picnic lunch. They were supposed to follow Kettle Run till they found a pretty spot, then come on back in plenty of time for Larkin to help with supper. We started looking for them around five when there’d been no sign of them.” He blew out a breath and shook his head. “We’ve been looking ever since.”