The Librarian of Boone's Hollow - Kim Vogel Sawyer Page 0,129
maw shouldn’t be forgotten.”
Tears welled up in Bettina’s eyes. Nanny Fay put her arm around the young woman’s shoulders and smiled at her. Bettina nodded. “I’d like that, Addie. Thank you. An’…” She gulped, chin quivering. “Thanks for showin’ me grace.”
December 1936
Boone’s Hollow
Addie
ADDIE HELD THE LIT MATCH to the last candle. The wick caught, the flame flared, and a tiny flicker danced at the end of the wick. The scent of bayberry filled the library—a festive aroma. She blew out the match, then paused for a moment, smiling at the row of candles set off by fresh-cut boughs of holly on the front windowsill. Such a perfect touch, considering the season.
She turned and caught Bettina on her knees in front of the decorated Christmas tree, rearranging the wrapped packages. Again. Stifling a laugh, she dropped the extinguished match in a little bowl next to the lit lamp, crossed to the tree, and crouched next to the packhorse librarian. “When I was a little girl, my mother told me every time I messed with the gifts under the tree, one of them would fly up the chimney and go to someone else’s house.”
Bettina shot her a crinkle-nosed grin. “Since there ain’t no chimney in the lib’ary, I’m not too worried about that.” She sighed and sat back on her heels, looking at the presents. “Miz West had cocoa an’ cookies for people at Christmastime last year, an’ quite a few folks come by. With folks knowin’ their youngsters’ll get their very own book to carry home, we’ll likely see every family from Boone’s Hollow an’ Tuckett’s Pass come through here tonight. I been countin’, an’ I’m afraid there won’t be enough.”
Addie’s heart swelled. Bettina’s concern showed how much the girl’s compassion had grown in the past months of living with Nanny Fay. She gave Bettina a one-armed hug. “Emmett carefully calculated how many we’d need, and the church ladies from Georgetown made sure they sent a few more books than he requested.” They’d even graciously wrapped the books and tagged them with an appropriate age range before shipping the crate to Lynch. Mother had become invested in what she continued to call Addie’s ministry, and Addie couldn’t be more grateful. “Don’t worry. We should be all right.”
Bettina sent a furtive glance over her shoulder, as if ascertaining they were alone, then leaned in close to Addie. “I wanna tell you somethin’.”
She spoke in such a soft whisper that Addie had to strain to hear. The two of them had shared many secrets, but Bettina’s solemn expression made Addie suspect this one would be more serious than previous ones. Addie whispered, too. “What is it?”
“You know how the week after I moved out, my pap got took in for havin’ that still up the mountain?”
Addie nodded and curled her hand around Bettina’s wrist. The whole town had jabbered for days after Burke Webber’s arrest. He might’ve been let off with a warning if he hadn’t aimed a rifle at one of the officers and threatened to blow the man’s brains to kingdom come.
“Well, he ain’t gonna be back. Least not for years. So my folks’ cabin is sittin’ empty.”
Sadness flooded Addie’s middle. “Are you moving back to your cabin?” She would miss her late-night chats with her friend.
Bettina shook her head. “Nuh-uh. But I’m gonna see if Emmett wants to live in it.” She puckered her face as if she’d tasted a sour pickle. “If he’s fixin’ to take a bride, he ain’t gonna wanna share that itty-bitty space here in the lib’ary. He’s gonna need a real house.”
Addie drew back. “A…a bride?” Funny how much the thought of Emmett marrying bothered her. She bit her inner lip for a moment, gathering courage. “Who’s he marrying?”
Bettina huffed a little disbelieving laugh. “You, silly.”
Addie gasped, a little squeak accompanying the intake of breath. “Me?”
“Well, sure. Who else would he marry up with ’cept you?”
Addie shook her head. Over their months of working together, she and Emmett had discovered an ease of cooperation fostered by respect, appreciation, and common values. Her feelings for him had grown beyond mere friendship into something deeper, but given his determination to avoid personal relationships in the workplace, Addie had kept her feelings a secret.
She sighed. “Emmett told me he can’t get involved with an employee. You’re mistaken, Bettina.”
Bettina’s expression turned sly. “I reckon when a feller’s in love, he finds ways around such silly rules. An’ before you ask how I know he’s in love with