A Strand of Hope by Amanda Tero

Author:Amanda Tero
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Historical YA Fiction, Appalachian mountains, Character-building teen story, Clean reads for young adults, horseback packhorse librarian
Publisher: Amanda Tero
Published: 2020-07-28T00:00:00+00:00

13

Lena was at the library well before the sun had thought about peeking over the mountaintops and gracing Willow Hollow with its beams. She was here even before Widow Burman would be up and about—unless that wretched woman never slept.

Her fingers fumbled with the keys. What did it matter? She’d just as soon not have a job if Mom was going to take control of the funds. The door opened, and Lena stepped inside. They’d had a new book shipment in yesterday, and she had gone through them eagerly, leaving enough for Lillian and Edna to bring on their routes as well.

She saddled Kirby and attached the saddle pack. She’d feel sorry for the horse except that Kirby seemed almost more eager to get on the trail than she did. She mounted and settled into the saddle before urging Kirby forward. She didn’t even have to direct him out of town now. He had learned his route. They took the path southward. Franklin Creek reflected the moonlight up ahead. Kirby splashed across the shallow creek and stepped back onto dry land. Here the path became rockier and began its steep ascent. Lena leaned forward as Kirby tread upward. The sun was now beginning to change the shade of the sky above them. Birds began their wake-up calls.

Lena pulled back on the reins as they neared the crossway. Today’s route was straight ahead—Monday’s route to the left, and Friday’s route to the right. She looked at the three different trails. Though the mountain morning was peaceful, the argument with Mom last night roared in her mind.

She pulled on the reins and directed Kirby to the left. Mr. Armstrong might not appreciate her deviating from her route, but he wouldn’t have to know. She balanced as Kirby went down one slope then up another.

The plans she had made these past weeks while riding the trails fluttered through her mind only to be torn away and burned up by Mom’s greed. She had spent the rest of the evening away. Lena tried not to blame the Higgins, but she knew better than to hope that Mom thought about the grocery bill rather than her insatiable thirst for their corn liquor.

Dawn touched the sky as Lena neared the first cabin. The boisterous woman—whom Lena learned was called Melba Foster—was waking her children up. Some scent filtered through from her cabin, but Lena couldn’t discern what mix of berries it was. She dismounted and took Kirby’s reins. It was too early for anyone to be out of their cabins, and that suited Lena just fine.

She stopped in front of Homer and Nora’s cabin. The door was shut. She wanted to knock on the door, but just as much didn’t want to bother them.

Why was she here?

She glanced around. No one was nearby. No one needed to know she was here. She led Kirby down the trail and tied him to a nearby tree and dug in the saddle pack. The folks up here wouldn’t be ready for new books after only two days.

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