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Back The Land Beneath Us
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Endorsements
  3. Books by Sarah Sundin
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Presidential Radio Broadcast
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. Epilogue
  58. Acknowledgments
  59. Discussion Questions
  60. About the Author
  61. Back Ads
  62. Back Cover

For such a young and tiny thing, she had strength at her core. She was going to be all right.

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9

CAMP FORREST HOSPITAL
SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1943

Rita Sue Bellamy set her hands on her well-padded hips and gave Leah a mock glare. “You don’t even need me anymore, sugar.”

From her bedside chair, Leah smiled up at the Red Cross volunteer and closed The Valley of Decision. “Books are wonderful, but you’re even better company.”

Rita Sue chuckled and sat on the bed. “You’ve stolen my chair as well.”

“I have, and I’m going on walks around the hospital grounds.” Leah set the book on the nightstand beside another box of candy from Clay. “How are the children?”

“Enjoying their summer vacation. Luella and Sally make about a dozen mud pies a day—and throw them at Joey.”

Leah laughed. “They sound delightful.”

“Would you like to meet them?”

“Oh yes.” The only thing Leah missed about the orphanage was the little children.

Rita Sue smoothed the skirt of her button-front Red Cross dress. “Mercer and I would love to have you over for dinner after church when you’re discharged.”

“I’d love that.” With Rita Sue, Leah didn’t feel odd, despite the age difference.

Darlene was a good friend and had visited Leah in the hospital several times, but Darlene didn’t truly understand Leah. And Leah didn’t truly understand Darlene.

“Excuse me?” Myra Mayhew stood at the foot of the bed.

“Oh! Good afternoon, Miss Mayhew.” Leah pushed to standing.

“No, no.” The librarian waved her hand. “Please sit.”

Leah eased back down.

Rita Sue stood. “I’ll come back later, sugar.”

“Thank you.” Leah smiled at her, then at Miss Mayhew. The librarian wore a smart silver-gray suit and a matching little hat, and Leah stroked her blue pajama trousers as if she could transform them into her sage green suit.

“I’m glad to see you looking so well,” Miss Mayhew said.

“I feel much better, thank you. I can’t wait to return to work. I’m sure you must be busy.”

“I am.” She sighed. “The Army sent two soldiers to help, but they’re—well, one is practically illiterate.”

“Oh my.”

“Do you know . . .” Her brow wrinkled. “Do you know when you can return to work?”

The librarian seemed more concerned with staffing than with Leah’s welfare, but then she’d only known Leah for a short time. Still, it pricked her heart.

Leah worked up a smile. “Dr. Reeves expects to discharge me from the hospital next week, and I should be able to return to work the following week. But he won’t make any promises until he’s sure I’m strong enough.”

“Oh yes.” A smile lit up Miss Mayhew’s pretty face. “You must regain your strength.”

“Thank you.”