The Librarian of Boone's Hollow - Kim Vogel Sawyer Page 0,109
won’t take materials directly from me. But I could still have a hand in what they receive if I make the scrapbooks.” She looked up and shrugged, a grin quivering at the corners of her rosy lips. “If the boss assigns me to scrapbook duty, I guess I’ll become the scrapbook gal instead of a book gal.”
“Consider yourself assigned.” He stood, took the scrapbook, and set it on top of the closest crate. Then he grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet. “But for now, since you’re willing to help, let’s unload these crates, catalog the titles, and fill the shelves. Monday’s gonna sneak up, and we need to be ready for it.”
Addie
A LITTLE SHIVER of delight rattled down Addie’s spine. “We,” he’d said, as if they were partners. Most likely he meant nothing by it, but the word rolled in the back of her mind while they emptied the crates and categorized the books into neat stacks on the floor. Addie suggested recording the titles, authors, and classifications of the books as they removed them, but Emmett said he’d find it simpler to record them from their alphabetized positions on the shelves. Such a smart idea. She told him so, and his smile of appreciation warmed her from the inside out.
His mother, accompanied by Dusty, knocked on the door at suppertime. Surprise registered on her face when she spotted Addie, but then she chuckled and patted the side of the large woven basket she carried on her arm. “Sure am glad I brung extra. Reckon the Good Lord knew how many mouths needed fed. Didn’t reckon Emmett was comin’ to the house for supper or goin’ to the evenin’ service, considerin’ what all needs doin’ here. I won’t pester you none about the service. I think the Lord’ll understand. But you do need to eat an’ keep up your strength. That goes for you, too, Miss Addie.”
Addie might have felt embarrassed or as if she were in the way with anyone else, but Damaris Tharp had such a sweet spirit she put Addie at ease. The table was still cluttered with damaged books, so they sat on the floor, stacks of books standing silent sentinel around them. Emmett offered a short word of grace, and they ate the cheese sandwiches, pickles, and brownies.
Dusty took the last brownie from the basket, and Addie nudged him with her elbow. “I’m glad your tummy’s all better. I figured you’d stay away from sweet stuff for days after that licorice gave you such a stomachache.”
Damaris’s merry laughter rang. “Oh, law, ain’t nothin’ gonna keep Dusty away from sweets. I tell him he better be careful in a rain shower ’cause sugar melts.”
Dusty grinned around a huge bite. “I’m fine. Paw is, too. Said them seltzer tablets did the trick.”
Damaris gathered up the plates and wadded napkins and stacked them in her basket, chuckling. “I think he was doin’ better even before you brung those tablets to him, ’cause he was spry enough to go traipsin’ in the woods a bit. ’Course, bein’ out in the trees, huntin’ squirrels or castin’ a line for trout, always has done Emil good.” Her face puckered. “The money from his coal-minin’ job has sure blessed this family, but I worry sometimes about what it does to his soul. Bein’ underground so much…wouldn’t that wear on a person?”
Emmett wiped his mouth with his muslin napkin and tossed it into the basket. “I wouldn’t worry too much about him, Maw. When he took me to Mine Thirty-One to look around, he told me he appreciates the fresh air and the sun more now than he did before because of his time in the tunnels. Seemed to me being a miner makes the world look brighter to him.”
A smile broke over the woman’s face. “Well, now, that is a good thing. Not only that he feels it, but that he told you about it. It sure tickled him to share that part o’ himself with you, Emmett. He seemed to walk a little prouder them days, bein’ able to teach his boy.” She stood and scooped up the basket by its twisted handle. “Come along now, Dusty, an’ we’ll let these two get back to work.”
Addie walked Damaris and Dusty to the door, then turned to Emmett. “Your mother is wonderful. She—”
He was sitting on the floor, blue eyes seemingly locked on one of the shelves, his forehead scrunched.