The Librarian of Boone's Hollow - Kim Vogel Sawyer Page 0,97

a real light hold on her elbow. “I appreciate the cookies. It was real nice of you to remember I liked them and bring some over.” He ushered her to the door. “I’m sure I’ll enjoy them if they came from your maw’s recipe. But right now, I have to work. I’ll see you Sunday, all right?”

She perked up. “Sunday?”

“At church.”

Oh. He didn’t mean nothing special.

“Good night, Bettina.”

He left her on the stoop. She curled her bare toes over the edge of the rock and scowled across the gray-shrouded street. She wished she didn’t know what he was gonna do with Addie tomorrow. She’d never get to sleep with all this mad rolling around inside her. She stacked her fists and pressed them to her mouth to hold back all the words she wanted to yell.

She wanted Addie out of Boone’s Holler. She’d never met a more stubborn girl. Folks had done exactly what Bettina expected after she told them how Addie had took up with Nanny Fay. She figured two days of getting shooed away from folks’ yards and Addie would turn tail and run for home, but nope. Ten days she’d took books and headed on the routes. Ten days she’d carried every book back. She must be dumber’n a rock if she thought them folks would change their minds about her.

Bettina hopped off the stoop and started for home, dragging her heels. Addie was s’posed to meet Emmett at one o’clock to leave for Lynch. That give Bettina—she scrunched her face, thinking hard—around seventeen hours to figure out how to muddle their plans. She doubted she could keep Kermit Gilliam from renting Emmett a wagon. That feller was so money hungry he’d rent out one of his sons if somebody offered him a nickel. She doubted she could keep Emmett from going. He took to his job as library director like a duckling took to water. If there was a shipment waiting for him, he’d go get it. She might be able to keep Addie from meeting up with Emmett, though. Or, if nothing else, keep him from taking her to Lynch all by himself.

The corners of her lips tugged, wanting to smile. She changed direction and broke into a trot.

Addie

FELICITY’S LETTERS WERE FULL OF sass and drama, and Addie heard her roommate’s voice in her head while she read, which made her smile. And made her lonesome. She’d hoped to find friends here in Boone’s Hollow, but so far none of the young people had taken much of a shine to her. Emmett was polite, but she really wanted a friend like Felicity. Someone to laugh, talk, and share secrets with.

She glanced across the sitting room at Nanny Fay, who sat in her rocking chair reading Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper by lamplight. At least she could call the old woman a friend. Every evening over supper they enjoyed long conversations. They had much in common—a sad early childhood, a love for reading, and a desire to please Jesus with the way they treated others.

Nanny Fay was a better friend to Addie than Addie was in return, though. Addie leaned heavily on Nanny Fay for support. The woman always had an encouraging word when she felt discouraged, advice when she was unsure, and a hug and a prayer when she was sad. On whom had Nanny Fay leaned since her husband died? Her loneliness must have been overwhelming at times, yet she remained content and cheerful. The way Mother was even now, without her home and fine belongings. Addie sent a slow look around the cabin. Although holding a simple beauty, these were primitive surroundings. She missed running water and electric lights, but she was learning to be content where she was. Perhaps she wasn’t as different from Mother and Nanny Fay as she’d thought.

Nanny Fay sighed and set her book aside. “This story is good, but it can’t top the one about Tom Sawyer. Oh, but that boy was a scamp! He worked harder tryin’ to get others to do his chores than if he’d just done ’em hisself. I reckon there’s a lesson in there.”

Addie nodded. She’d thought the same thing when Mother read her the story years ago.

Nanny Fay yawned, a little squeak emerging, then sent a sheepish grin in Addie’s direction. “Almost wish I hadn’t come upon them blueberry bushes this mornin’ when I went huntin’ mushrooms. I plumb wore myself out pickin’ the bushes clean. Tomorrow’ll get