Elizabeth gazed about the small and then turned back to Abigail, who stood at the open door.
"I don't understand," she said. "You always planned to expand the café into this room."
"I know," Abigail sighed. "But not right now. I think we can find a place for these things somewhere else and use it for the lending library for the present time." She stepped into the room and looked around. "What do you think?" Elizabeth was delightfully aghast as she gazed about the dusty room. It was right on Main Street next to the café. There was a window by the door for light and a smaller one in the back. It was small but it would do. It would more than…do. It was a perfect start.
"If you think it will work, Frank is ready to organize some people from church to build shelves and maybe a couple of benches….." she stopped as Elizabeth threw her arms around her in a hug.
"It's perfect!" Elizabeth squealed happily. Abigail smiled broadly as Elizabeth stepped back and began searching the room again. She clasped her hands by her chin and sighed happily.
"I can get some of the children over here after school to clean, wash the windows and….." she turned back to the woman in the doorway. "Thank you, Abigail."
"Well, you've got the books and your room and shelves on the way," Abigail replied. "As I see it your biggest hurdle is just ahead." Elizabeth's brow furrowed in thought.
"Mrs. McCormick?" Abigail offered. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and sighed. She wasn't about to tackle that hurdle until she was ready.
And that wouldn't be for another week. The room was cleaned, walls painted, windows washed and empty shelves lined the walls and jutted out into the room. Frank and Jack had moved the crates of books from her house and they were stacked in the middle. There was a small table and chair by the back window and a larger one by the window at the front door. Faith had even found an unused card catalog box at the infirmary. It was right on the table with a stack of new cards Lee had donated. And Rosemary had been busy folding card sleeves that were ready to be glued in the back of each book.
All of the activity in the little room had certainly piqued the curiosity of Hope Valley residents. Children had gone home from school with news of the new lending library. Some of them even brought their own books to be added to the shelves. Everyone was excited to see the new lending library taking shape. Everyone except one.
Elizabeth was unlocking the door of the library after school one day with her arm full of books she had culled from the shelves at the school. She looked up and cringed a bit as she saw her stomping her way down the boardwalk toward her. A frown creased the older woman's tanned face and she stopped in front of Elizabeth.
"I know what you are doing here," she scowled. Elizabeth shrugged as she opened the door and went inside. Mrs. McCormick followed her.
"I didn't know what else to do with all the books Aunt Agatha has been sending," Elizabeth said as she put the books she was carrying on the table. "Not everything was appropriate for my students. This way everyone can use them." She watched the woman out of the corner of her eyes as she pulled off the loosened top of a crate and pretended to be studying the titles inside. Mrs. McCormick glared as she looked around at the shelves and crates. She reached out and ran a finger down the edge of the empty catalog box and tapped the stack of cards. She studied the inkwell and ready pens. Elizabeth smiled softly and then briskly started lining books on a shelf.
"What are you doing?" Mrs. McCormick snarled. "Put them back. Those books need cards. They need to be organized before you put them on shelves. Don't you know anything?" Elizabeth stepped back and turned to face her proponent. Mrs. McCormick studied her warily and then held up a finger.
"I told you I am not going back to dusting shelves of books," she warned. Elizabeth grinned brightly
"I've thought about that," she replied. "I'll be sending a responsible student every week to dust and clean. They'll be available to do anything else that needs to be done." Mrs. McCormick still regarded her suspiciously.
"And Katie Yost has volunteered to help catalog books," Elizabeth continued. "She has beautiful hand writing." The older woman snorted and shook her head.
"Better her than that other friend of yours," she spit. "Can't stop talking for a single second. Always going on and on about very dang thing." Elizabeth suppressed a smile and turned away quickly. Rosemary.
"Mrs. Colter has spent hours folding the card sleeves for the back of the books," Elizabeth offered. "She has been a tremendous help." The older woman muttered something under her breath and Elizabeth stifled another laugh.
"Best put those books on the table," Mrs. McCormick directed. "I can get started." She circled the table and eased herself carefully into the waiting chair. Elizabeth turned with an armload of books and saw the softening expression on the older woman's face as she ran her hands carefully of the smooth arms of the worn chair. She pulled open the drawer and found the folded sleeves and a small pot of glue. Mrs. McCormick glanced up and the frown returned as she saw Elizabeth watching her.
"Right here," she ordered and Elizabeth stacked the books in front of her. "Go on now. Leave me be. And close that door behind you." Elizabeth nodded quickly and complied. Abigail was waiting just outside the door where she'd been listening. The two woman laughed softly as they glanced back and then headed toward the café entrance.
"She certainly knows Rosemary, doesn't she?" Elizabeth asked. Abigail nodded happily, her eyes crinkling with delight.
"I'll bring her some soup later," Abigail said. "Something tells me she'll be putting in a long first night." Elizabeth nodded in agreement and then smiled again. Hope Valley's Free Lending Library was on its way.