The Librarian of Boone's Hollow - Kim Vogel Sawyer Page 0,80
best? “Um…what if I share someone else’s box? I’m lodging with Nanny Fay Tuckett. Does she have a box?”
The man slid backward as if someone had grabbed his suspenders and dragged him. “I’d heard the new book gal had taken a room with that ol’ herb lady, but I didn’t believe it. So, it’s true?”
“They just don’t know no better.” Nanny Fay’s voice in Addie’s ear stifled the sharp comment forming on her tongue. She nodded. “Yes, it is. She’s given me the use of a very nice room and is treating me as if I were family. So…” She smiled. “Am I able to share a box with her?”
He snorted something unintelligible under his breath and returned to the counter. “If that’s what you wanna do, fine. You can take it up with her on how to divide the cost.”
“Thank you.”
He glued her stamp to the envelope and dropped it in a wooden tray at the opposite end of the counter from the cubbies, all without looking at her. Then he returned to his chair. As he did, Miss West hung up.
She scurried to Addie and linked arms with her. “Now that my train transport is verified, let’s go to the library.” Tears brightened her eyes. “My, it’s going to be harder for me to say goodbye than I realized.” She urged Addie toward the door.
“One moment, please.” Addie half turned toward the counter. “Mr. Landrum?” She waited for him to acknowledge her and maintained her smile in the face of his frown. “I wondered…are you on the library’s book route?”
He shook his head.
“Well, then, I’d be happy to add your name to the list. You and your family would have reading material delivered to your house every week.” She whisked a grin at Miss West. “Books offer such enjoyment, and you can learn new skills, such as woodworking, or explore subjects from mathematics to outer space. Would you like to receive books, completely free of charge, on a weekly basis?”
A flicker of interest showed behind the lenses of his spectacles. “Who’d be bringin’ them books to me?”
Addie shrugged. “One of the four book girls—Bettina Webber is one, and then there’s Glory Ashcroft and Alba Gilkey.” She inwardly commended herself for remembering their names. “And me, of course.”
“I’d like to know about takin’ care o’ critters. Or maybe growin’ flowers. My wife would like that.” A scowl marred his brow. “If it’s one o’ them others bringin’ the books, then you can put down my name.”
Although his deliberate rebuff stung a bit, Addie offered a nod. “Yes, sir. Animal care or gardening. I’ll write it down. Good day, now.”
Miss West ushered Addie across the street, lips pressed into a firm line. As soon as they reached the library, she threw her arms around Addie and hugged her tight. “I’m so proud of you! You refused to be cowed by him, you gained his interest, and you did it all with a kind spirit.” She pulled loose and sighed. “You followed the biblical admonition ‘Do good to them that hate you.’ ”
Addie swallowed. “Do you really think the people of Boone’s Hollow hate me?”
Miss West hugged her again. “No. No, I don’t.” She kept hold of Addie’s upper arms and gazed fervently into her face. “But even if you begin to believe they do, if you continue to treat them as you did Mr. Landrum, you’ll win them over in time.” She sighed. “I only wish I could be here to see it happen.”
Emmett
LORD, AM I MAKING A MISTAKE?
On the other side of the curtain, Miss West and the book delivery girls chatted and laughed and occasionally sniffled. Thank goodness he hadn’t been invited to the farewell party. Girls…What did he know about working with girls?
Emmett arranged his shaving gear on top of the dinged-up waterfall bureau. He laid his razor next to his comb and recalled the Christmas he’d received it. Paw had grinned and winked, saying, “Reckon you’re growin’ into a man if you’ve got enough chin whiskers to carve off every mornin’.” Emmett’s chest had swelled with pride, being called a man by his father.
Paw hadn’t said one word to him over breakfast this morning. Hadn’t even looked at him. Pretty much the way he’d acted the day Emmett announced he’d be using his college scholarship and working for a degree. The past week, going to the mine every morning with Paw, eating lunch with him, coming home together, and talking at the dinner table had