The Librarian of Boone's Hollow - Kim Vogel Sawyer Page 0,54
to see her beyond the barrier of trees. “Well, then…” She hurried out the door and around the corner, hoping the morning air would cool the heat of embarrassment burning her cheeks.
Bettina
BY THE TIME Bettina left her cabin, she’d already put in two hours of work. She grumbled as she led Mule over the footbridge across Boone’s Creek and to the path leading to the Blevins’ place. If she cut through the trees between the Ashcroft and Landrum cabins, the shortcut would take her straight to the main road and would be easy walking to the library. But she’d likely run across Glory, and Glory’d want to jabber the whole way to work. Bettina needed some quiet to shake off the irksome feelings resting heavy on her toward Pap for booting her out of her own house to take in some city gal they didn’t even know. She’d take the back path instead. The back path…her peaceful place.
When Maw was alive, she and Bettina took this path a lot. Maw liked walking in the shade under the trees. She spied out birds or baby bunnies or butterflies. She said this path by the woods was tranquil—a highfalutin word that meant calm. Maw favored the calm. Said the Good Lord Almighty Hisself built the woods, with its big trees that sang lullabies and flowers that showed off their colors and bushes that made homes for wiggly-nosed bunnies and toads and such. Bettina didn’t care all that much about trees and toads, but she loved that Maw took her along to her place of calm.
Maw could name just about every growing thing, from Sweet William to lupine and Cumberland spurge. She never said where she learned ’em, but she sure knew ’em. Maw particularly liked the yellow toadflax. When she spotted one in full bloom, she’d stop and pinch one of the blossoms, making it bite the air like a little dragon. And she’d laugh and laugh. She made up a story once about the snapping flowers, but it was too long ago, and Bettina couldn’t recall it no more. But she recollected walking this path, coming out of the trees at the main road, and then heading on to Lynch for shopping at the company store. Bettina missed those days. Missed her maw.
She kicked at a clump of wild grass at the edge of the narrow path. Why’d Maw have to up and die? Pap’d hollered when Maw was alive. Hollered a lot. But he’d never once raised a hand to Bettina when Maw was there. Nowadays, though, seemed like she couldn’t even make it through a full week without him whopping her for something. With warm weather coming on, she wanted to wear blouses with short sleeves, but she couldn’t if she had marks on her arms. Folks’d point and whisper. She hated when folks pointed and whispered.
Nope, Pap hadn’t swung at her when Maw was with them. Having Maw there sure made a difference. Maybe having that new girl living in the house would— She came to a stop, and Mule bumped her with his nose. She yanked the reins and shot the animal a glare. “Be careful. Can’t you see I’m needin’ to think?”
Mule snorted and tried to pull free, but she held tight. She’d been plain mad about moving to the barn, giving up her room. Her pretty calendar looked silly nailed to one of the stall posts. And if the chickens pooped on the blankets she’d spread out in the straw for sleeping on, she’d cook ’em up in a stewpot no matter if it meant no more fresh eggs. But if that new book gal was living in the house, Pap would have to behave himself. He wouldn’t be taking swings at Bettina no more.
She laughed and danced a little jig. Mule snorted, but she grabbed him by his prickly jaw and planted a kiss on his nose. “I was lookin’ at it all backward, Mule. Her livin’ in the house—it’s gonna be a good thing after all. She’ll keep Pap calm, an’ he won’t be pickin’ at me. An’ livin’ in the barn’ll make it easier for me to come an’ go without him knowin’. Me an’ Emmett’ll be able to see each other every night if we want. Yessir, Pap says I’m the dumb one, but who’s the dummy now?”
Still grinning big, she hurried Mule down the path and through the break in the trees. Glory’s and Alba’s horses were already