The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Author:Kim Vogel Sawyer [Vogel Sawyer, Kim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2020-09-15T00:00:00+00:00


Bettina

BETTINA SLEPT IN THE BARN Monday night, even though she moved all her things back into her room after supper. Pap was madder’n a wet hen about losing the boarding money from the new book gal, and she felt safer with some distance between them.

Come morning, he was still grumbling and blaming her for scaring off Addie, but she kept quiet and fixed him his favorite breakfast. So she didn’t get swung at. No new bruises to worry about. A few more days, and the old ones would be faded enough she could wear a short-sleeved blouse. It was June already. People would start thinking she was wrong in the head if she kept wearing winter shirts. She might faint dead away from sweating, too. The sun wasn’t even full up, but already the air was heavy and hot.

Pap left for the wagon, and she enjoyed a peaceful hour alone in the house before she saddled Mule, grabbed his reins, and took the short path across the creek and between the Ashcroft and Landrum cabins to the main street. Across the way, at the other end of the street, the new book gal came out of the trees behind the post office. All at once, Bettina’s stomach went tight and trembly. She heard Emmett’s voice in her head. “Addie Cowherd?”

He’d sounded surprised and happy at the same time. Tired and sore as he’d been, him finding that much pleasure in seeing someone sent up all kinds of warnings in Bettina’s mind. She tugged Mule behind a stand of trees and peeked out at Addie Cowherd. At her dress—a dress again! And shoes. Flat ones today, kind of like ballet slippers. She walked with her head high and shoulders straight, like she knowed she was somebody special. The girl was smart, Bettina’d already figured that, but her knowing the lines Emmett said from the Anna Carryin’-nina book rubbed it in. Bettina needed to get rid of this girl.

Addie disappeared inside the livery, and Bettina pulled Mule from their hiding spot. “C’mon, let’s go.” She hurried the animal past the livery and Belcher’s. She’d almost reached the library when somebody called her name. She looked back. Glory was coming, leading her horse and scowling like she’d ate a rotten egg. Bettina stopped and waited for her to catch up.

Glory ambled up alongside Bettina. “Saw you pass my window. How come you didn’t wait an’ walk with me?”

“Sorry. Guess I wasn’t thinkin’.”

Addie came out of the livery. She led one of Gilliam’s horses, a filly named Russet for its shiny red-brown coat. Bettina’d always admired that horse. She’d asked Pap about renting her for her routes, but Pap said Mule was good enough. Now Addie’d be riding her. That tight feeling grabbed hold of her gut again.

Glory pointed. “Lookee there. Guess Addie’s found herself a horse, so she’ll be takin’ books now.”

“Uh-huh.”

“That’s good for us.” Glory ran her fingers through Posey’s white mane. “Don’t see how she’s gonna sit in the saddle, though, with a dress on.



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