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Back The Land Beneath Us Save as PDF
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

But Leah knew his history, she understood, and she had the baffling ability to forgive the unforgivable—abandonment, rape, attempted murder. She’d suffered more than he had, but she didn’t live in bitterness and resentment.

I do.

Clay groaned and attacked the waves. Resentment was a sign that his forgiveness stopped at the surface. Somehow he had to let it penetrate his soul.

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TULLAHOMA, TENNESSEE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1943

Carrying only four books, Leah held open the door to the Tullahoma Public Library for Rita Sue and her box of books. “I wish I could carry more.”

Rita Sue leaned close, her hazel eyes sharp. “You’re in your first trimester. No heavy loads.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Leah followed Rita Sue inside.

She’d visited before on several occasions. The library was the smallest Leah had ever seen, but its rich perfume offered Leah some hope in her search for her sisters.

A tall, large-boned woman approached wearing a tan suit. Hair like polished pewter wreathed her angular face, and a warm smile bestowed the beauty denied her by nature. “Good morning, Mrs. Bellamy. And . . . we haven’t met, young lady, but I’ve seen you in the stacks.”

Rita Sue headed toward a side room. “Mrs. Sheridan, may I introduce Mrs. Clay Paxton. She’s a librarian at Camp Forrest. Mrs. Paxton, Mrs. Sheridan is our town librarian.”

“Oh, you’re Myra’s new girl. She was so excited. I haven’t talked to her since you arrived.”

Leah’s smile wavered. Mrs. Sheridan had missed the gossip. “I’m thankful for my job.”

Rita Sue set down her box among stacks of books and boxes. “As a librarian, Mrs. Paxton might be able to help with your biggest problem.”

Mrs. Sheridan clapped her hands together. “The Victory Book Campaign.”

“So many books.” Leah set hers down on a long table.

“They’ve been piling up since May.” Mrs. Sheridan swept her hand around the crowded room. “That’s when the Army and Navy announced they’d no longer accept VBC books.”

Leah frowned. “Why don’t they want them?”

“A third of the books are unsuitable. Folks donate books like this.” Mrs. Sheridan held up a battered book with only one cover.

“Or this encyclopedia set.” Rita Sue set her hand on a stack.

“Some sweet lady thought our servicemen would want to read the Bobbsey Twins, bless her heart.” Mrs. Sheridan cocked one eyebrow. “Also, hardbacks are heavy—expensive to ship and burdensome for our boys to carry in battle.”

Leah remembered an article she’d read in the newspaper. “That’s why they’re publishing the Armed Services Editions.”

“Yes. Titles our servicemen want to read, in thin paperbacks designed to fit in a back pocket.”

Leah brushed her hand over The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore. “What will you do with these?”