hands still trembled. Addie’s heart went out to her. She’d worked for Miss West for a year already. Finding her lying on the floor must have frightened her badly.
She moved close and touched Bettina’s arm. “I’m sorry you received such a shock this morning.”
Bettina jerked away from her. “I’m fine.”
Addie laughed softly and folded her arms. “I wouldn’t be fine if I’d come in and found someone lying on the floor. I would’ve screamed, too.”
“That was Glory, not me. She’s such a fraidy-cat.” Bettina shifted her attention to Alba’s horse. “Only thing worries me is if we’ll be able to go out today. We don’t deliver an’ pick up books, I might not get paid, an’ I need the money comin’ in.”
Addie suspected Bettina’s brave front was only that—a front. But she wouldn’t shame the girl by calling her on it. She imitated Bettina’s ministrations and rubbed Russet’s nose. The horse snuffled her neck, and Addie smiled. “Are you saving up for something special?”
A huge smile burst over Bettina’s face. “I sure am. My weddin’.”
“Oh? You’re engaged?”
“Mm-hmm.” She nodded big, pressing her cheek to Glory’s horse’s jaw. “Me an’ my beau, we’re in the courtin’ stage, but won’t be long now an’ we’ll set us a date.”
Addie wasn’t surprised. A lot of girls married young. According to the records the orphanage had given Mother and Daddy, her birth mother was only seventeen years old when Addie was born. Bettina was probably seventeen or eighteen, a marriageable age. But she didn’t wear a ring or other piece of jewelry. Did girls in the hills receive some symbol of betrothal? Maybe Bettina had one but didn’t wear it on her rides.
“That’s wonderful. What’s your beau’s name?”
Bettina’s smile turned cunning. “Why, Addie, you already know. It’s Emmett.”
Addie drew back. “Emmett? You mean Emmett Tharp?”
“Mm-hmm. We go way back, him an’ me.”
“But—”
Glory and Alba appeared, bare feet pounding. The horses milled, and Addie automatically ran her hand down Russet’s nose. Glory held up a large yellowware bowl. “We got the stuff Doc wanted. Well, sorta. Belcher’s didn’t have no copper bowls, so I got this instead.”
Alba patted the folded towel draped over her arm. “Least he had good cotton towels. This’uns big enough for Miss West to wrap herself up in if she wants to.” Alba looked from Addie to Bettina. Her fine, pale brows pulled low. “What’sa matter with you two? You’re all red faced an’ twitchy.”
Addie hadn’t realized the shock of Bettina’s announcement showed. She forced a smile. “We’re fine. Just worried about Miss West is all.”
Bettina’s lips formed a wry grin. “Yeah. Worried about Miz West. That’s all.” She nuzzled her mule’s cheek.
“Girls?” The doctor beckoned them from the stoop. “C’mon in here. Miss West needs to talk to you.”
Bettina
“COMIN’, DOC.” BETTINA DARTED TOWARD the library building. She sent a sly glance over her shoulder. Yessir, she’d got the new book gal’s attention. That oughta keep her from getting all chummy with Emmett. Finding out they’d been at that college together kinda shook Bettina’s confidence, but see how it’d worked out? She’d just keep the two of them apart, and she’d have Emmett all to herself.
Miz West sat at the table in her usual spot. She held her handkerchief in her fist and her fist against her chest, like she was fixing to take a vow. Bettina took the other chair, and Alba, Glory, and Addie crowded close, too.
Doc Faulkner went down on one knee beside Miz West’s chair, almost like a man asking a woman to marry up. Bettina couldn’t wait for Emmett to kneel in front of her that way. Her heart fluttered, and she released a soft, airy giggle.
“The bowl from Belcher’s won’t hold heat like a copper one would,” the doctor said to Miz West, talking as if the girls weren’t even in the room, “so you’ll have to keep water boilin’ an’ ready to go. But do like I told you—lean over the steamy water with the towel makin’ a tent for you an’ the bowl, and breathe in that steam at least ten minutes every hour for the rest o’ the day.”
“Yes, Doctor, I will, as soon as I’ve finished speaking to the girls. Thank you.”
He stood and picked up his bag off the table. “I’m right next door if you need me.”
Bettina leaned sideways on the chair and watched the doctor leave. He didn’t so much as pause and look back. When he’d come to their house to see to Maw’s