The Librarian of Boone's Hollow - Kim Vogel Sawyer Page 0,78

ruffled nightcap covering her snow-white hair. Addie glanced at the mantel clock and grimaced. “Oh, my goodness. Nine o’clock already? You want to turn in, don’t you?”

“I do.” The soft smile Addie had come to expect curved her pink lips. “Got lots of gardenin’ to finish, an’ my woodpile’s gettin’ low. I’m gonna need my strength for the morrow.” She glanced at the pages. “You writin’ a book?”

Addie grinned. How wonderful that Nanny Fay loved books. The older woman took three breaks a day for the sole purpose of reading. She was currently reading Twain’s Adventures of Tom Sawyer. When Addie told her there was a book all about Tom’s friend Huck, her face had lit up and she declared she had to read it, too. Addie hadn’t seen it at the library, but she had a copy in her personal collection. If Mother and Daddy sent her books, she would make sure Nanny Fay got to read about Huckleberry Finn’s adventures before anybody else in Boone’s Hollow.

“Not right now. Only a letter to my folks.”

“Well, now, I reckon they’re right eager to hear from you.” She took a little sip from her cup. “If you don’t mind stayin’ up by your own self, I’ll trust you to put out the lamp when you’re done, an’ I’ll go on off to bed.”

Addie glanced at her letter. If she kept writing, she would need to add a third page, which would probably require another stamp. She should bring the missive to a close. “I won’t be much longer, but please don’t let me keep you up. I’m glad to put out the lamp.” Would she have ever thought she’d become so comfortable lighting and extinguishing coal oil lamps? At first she’d been nervous, certain she’d start a fire, but after only a week of using the lamps in place of electric lights in both the library and Nanny Fay’s cabin, the primitive lighting didn’t worry her at all.

“All right, then. You sleep well.” Nanny Fay turned toward her bedroom door but paused. “Do the lib’ary girls go out on Saturdays?”

Addie shook her head. “Only Monday through Friday, but Miss West leaves for Louisville tomorrow around noon, so the other girls and I are meeting her at the library midmorning for a little send-off.” Would Miss West tell them the name of the next director? She hoped they wouldn’t be left handling things on their own for too long. Bettina, Glory, and Alba didn’t seem terribly concerned about the record-keeping part of the program, but Miss West had been adamant that the WPA council needed to know to whom the books were going.

Nanny Fay pursed her lips. “Mm-hmm…I’m gonna miss that lady. Would you tell her so when you see her tomorrow?”

“Why don’t you come with me? She would appreciate being able to give you a proper farewell.”

The old woman’s smile turned sad. “Aw, honey, this send-off’s for you lib’ary girls. I wouldn’t belong there.”

Addie understood what Nanny Fay meant. The other girls wouldn’t welcome the herb lady’s presence. She tried to smile, but her lips refused to cooperate. “I’ll give her your message.”

“Thank you, Adelaide. G’night now.”

Addie bit the end of the pen and watched Nanny Fay cross the wide-planked floor to her bedroom. She closed the door behind her, and still Addie gazed in that direction. She hadn’t intended to share anything of a negative nature with her parents. They were far away, and they’d only needlessly worry. But the prodding she’d experienced concerning the books now attacked for another reason.

She bent over the page.

Mother and Daddy, I know you both pray for me every day. Would you also pray for the kind lady who has taken me in? She’s old, and she has no family and not even any friends. She has a very lonely existence. Please pray that God would

Addie paused, pen frozen in place. Would what? Give peace? Comfort? Despite Nanny Fay’s solitary existence, she seemed content. She held no grudges against the people who spoke unkindly of her or ignored her. As odd as it seemed, given the woman’s simple surroundings, hardscrabble life, and ostracism, she didn’t really seem to need a thing.

All at once, Addie knew what to write.

soften the hearts of those in the community so they might reach out to her and learn from her. She really is a remarkable woman.

With love forever and always,

Your Adeladybug

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ADDIE ARRIVED AT the library a little past nine on