Chapter Four
After finishing the supper dishes, Myrtle decided to take Belle’s advice to make sure there was no resentment for the way she’d handled things and brought her friends along with her.
She sat down across from Aaron with a cup of tea in front of her. She stared at the tea, mixing it with a spoon though it didn’t need it. “Are you still upset with me over bringing my friends without warning you?”
He looked at her for a moment. “I forgave you for that.”
“Are you certain?” she asked. “I think it’s time we made our marriage a real one, and I don’t want to do that with you harboring resentment.”
He covered her hand with his. “Don’t worry about that.” He leaned back in his chair. “What did you decide about working with the other ladies?” he asked.
“I’m going to bake,” she said. “Belle and Maggie have given me all of their extra loaf pans, and I’m even going to bake a loaf of bread per day for the other ladies.”
“Sounds like exactly what you wanted to do. I think that’s great.”
“I’m pleased with the decision.” She bit her lip. “Would you have a problem with me buying another stove? I know they’re dreadfully expensive, but if I had two, I could get a lot more done. And I was told Katie would let me get it on credit, and then pay it back with my portion of the profits.”
He sighed. “I can’t afford another stove. I already spent too much when I purchased that second mule on the trip here. You would have to earn the money to pay Mrs. Johnson back. Are you certain you can do that?”
Myrtle took a deep breath before nodding. “I can do that.” She felt a little uncertain, knowing she would need to make every dime to pay for the stove, and it would be expensive.
“Then I don’t mind if you add another stove.”
“I eventually want to have a bakery. A separate building where I can bake bread and treats and even soup and serve it to customers who sit at the tables there. It’s a dream, and I know it will take a long time, but it’s what I’m thinking about for the future.”
“It really will take a while, and I think you should see how you do first.”
Myrtle nodded. She’d hoped he’d tell her to just do it, but she could see he was too cautious for that. “I agree,” she said finally.
“Does you being the baker mean I get extra treats?”
She laughed. “You’ll definitely be my taste-tester.”
“I like the sound of that,” Aaron said.
“I thought you might. Do you have a favorite dessert I can make for you? And everyone else in town of course.”
Aaron thought for a moment. “I have two favorites that are tied in my mind. The first is berry cobbler. Blueberry, cranberry, whatever berry. I love it. The second is an Eskimo fry bread with jam. Have you ever had fry bread?”
Myrtle shook her head. “I haven’t.” She thought about asking around for a receipt for the fry bread he was talking about. Surely someone knew. She’d ask Katie first. “But if I can find a receipt, I’ll make it for you.”
“I’d like that,” he said with a smile.
“And if I can find some berries, I’ll make sure you get cobbler.”
“Maybe one of the others made some preserves you could use, or even dried fruit may work. I don’t know. Do any of the others dry fruit?”
“I don’t know. But if not, I could combine that with my baking. That may be something I want to focus on.”
“Talk to your friends tomorrow. I’m certain one of them will be able to help.” He stood and stretched. “I’m going to get ready for bed. I’m still exhausted from our trip.”
Myrtle nodded. “I am too. I’ll wash up the few dishes I have, and then I’ll head to bed as well.”
The only dishes to wash were her teacup and spoon, so she washed those quickly and then changed into her nightgown while he was outside for a moment.
There were a lot of things on her mind that night as they settled into bed, and he pulled her close. He kissed her goodnight but didn’t try to do more than that.
Myrtle couldn’t decide if she was happy or disappointed. She was ready to make their marriage a real one, but she was also nervous about what that would entail. She would let him decide when it was time for them to consummate the marriage.
Snuggling close to Aaron’s warm body, she quickly fell asleep, dreaming of a bustling bakery.
*****
Myrtle was up well before the sun—and Aaron—the following morning.
She needed to start baking bread if she was going to make enough for herself, her friends, and the store.
After setting the dough aside to rise, she mixed up a simple cake she’d made dozens of times.
She didn’t know if it would be new for the men in town, or if it was something they’d had before.
She baked six of the cakes while the bread rose, and once the first few loaves of bread were in the oven, she fixed a simple breakfast of pancakes. She wished she had some bacon to go with them, but that would have to wait...probably until Sally’s pigs were ready.
After breakfast, she kissed Aaron goodbye and put enough bread for her friends into a basket, planning to deliver all the loaves, but she stopped after the basket was full. She only knew where Maggie lived. How could she deliver to all of them?
She decided to take the bread to Maggie’s and hoped her friends would know to pick it up there. She would certainly tell anyone she saw what she’d done and ask them to spread the word.
The baby was crying when Myrtle arrived at Maggie’s. “Is she all right?” Myrtle asked.
“She’s just fussy. She wants to be held all the time, and I don’t feel like I can do that.”
Myrtle nodded. “You don’t want her spoiled because you need to work on things other than holding her.”
“Exactly,” Maggie said, looking down. “It breaks my heart to hear her crying like that, but I cannot hold her all the time.”
“I understand the conundrum,” Myrtle said. “Why don’t I hold her for a moment, and maybe I can get her to sleep?”
Maggie nodded. “That would be fine. She’s got a clean diaper, and she just ate. She should be sleeping.”
Myrtle took the baby and walked with her, jiggling her up and down, and within a few minutes, the child was asleep.
Maggie gaped at her. “How did you do that?”
Myrtle smiled. “I have younger brothers and sisters, and I was always helping my ma with them. Most babies respond well to being held close and walking and bouncing a little as you walk.”
“Well, I’m definitely impressed,” Maggie said. “I need you to teach me.”
Myrtle put the baby into the cradle off in a corner of the small cabin. “I need to get bread to the store.”
“Everyone is meeting here for lunch if you’d like to join us.”
“I’d love that!” Myrtle said. “I’ll get my store delivery done, and then come back.” She paused for a moment. “I’m thinking of asking Katie if she’ll let me buy a second stove on credit, but I feel guilty even asking.”
“Don’t feel guilty,” Maggie said. “Katie is not afraid to say no when she needs to.”
“All right. I’ll probably think about it for a few days before I ask.”
“Afraid to bite off more than you can chew?”
Myrtle nodded. “Exactly. I could really use a second oven, but I don’t like owing someone money.”
“Understandable. Do what you feel is right, but don’t be afraid to talk to Katie. She makes money off everything we take her to sell.”
“Thanks for the advice,” Myrtle said. “I’m going to deliver bread now. I made twenty loaves for the store.”
Maggie smiled. “So you made twenty-eight loaves of bread this morning? How do your hands and shoulders feel?”
“Like I made a ridiculous amount of bread this morning. I’ll get used to it!”
“You will,” Maggie said.
Myrtle was still thinking about whether she should talk to Katie about a second stove as she gathered half the bread she’d baked for the store into a basket.
It would take her two trips. She was certainly going to be able to keep fit with all the walking she’d be doing.
Aaron had explained that the cold winters made it difficult to keep horses, and most people walked everywhere, or used the river.
It wasn’t going to be an easy life. But it would be a good one. She was determined.
She decided not to ask Katie about a second stove just yet. Perhaps she would later, but she didn’t want to start her new venture in debt. Katie was thrilled with the amount of bread Myrtle took her. “There won’t be as many disappointed lumbermen as I have most days,” the older woman said.
“Good. If I can make a few lives easier, I’ll be very happy.”
“Are you the only one who will be baking for now?”
Myrtle nodded. “I have blueberry pies at home to bring as well. I couldn’t carry it all at once.”
Katie frowned. “You need a wagon. Best you talk to your husband about that, and maybe he’ll make one this weekend.”
“I agree. That would help me a lot.”
“I could order one, but it would take away from your profits, and I’m under the impression you don’t want to lose even a dime.” Katie grinned. “All of you girls have obviously been supporting yourselves.”
“We have. For a long time.”
“I worked as a laundress before I married Mr. Johnson. I was reluctant to give up the work after having some independence. Mr. Johnson insisted. He pastored a church in Seattle before we decided to move here. He intended to start a church here, and run the store, but there just weren’t enough people for a church.
” Katie chuckled. “If you girls keep coming, we’ll need two churches! ”
“I’m glad we can worship with you, even if there isn’t a real church. Soon, there may need to be.”
“Soon,” Katie agreed. “I think my husband is looking forward to preaching again and not just teaching a Bible study.”
“It sounds like it was what he was trained to do.” Myrtle made a mental file of the information Kati was giving her to relay to her friends. She didn’t know if the others knew about Mr. Johnson’s background. She picked up her basket. “I’ll be back within the hour with pies.”
Mrs. Johnson nodded as Myrtle hurried away.
It took Myrtle two trips to get all the pies to the store.
As she finished dropping off the last of the pies, she sighed.
“I think I need to make sure Aaron builds me a wagon or cart.” Already, she was envisioning what it would need to look like.
She wanted one where she could exchange wheels for runners, transforming her wagon into a sled for winter deliveries.
And it would need shelves...she would draw up exactly what she wanted when she arrived home.
She didn’t know what Aaron’s building skills were like, but surely there was someone in the Yeti area who would know how to build what she needed.
With a wave to Katie, Myrtle hurried home. She drew what she was looking for in a wagon as soon as she’d started the rabbit stew she’d planned for supper. She wondered if perhaps someone should raise rabbits for their meat. She was partial to a rabbit stew.
Agnes stopped by late that afternoon. She inhaled deeply. “Something smells wonderful!”
Myrtle smiled. “That would be the rabbit stew I’m making for supper. Does anyone raise rabbits?”
Agnes frowned. “I’m not sure if that’s even been considered, but rabbits are good meat. I’ll talk to Belle about it when I see her.” She looked at the drawing Myrtle had made. “We missed you at lunchtime.”
“I wasn’t thinking about how hard it would be for me to make several trips to the store. I had to go back three times with my baked goods. I’m going to ask Aaron if he can build me a wagon this weekend. I have ideas!”
Agnes laughed. “My ideas never stop! I’m constantly thinking of things that would help what we do. And now tomorrow, when you do make it to lunch because I’m going to help you carry everything to the store, we’re going to talk about the possibility of raising rabbits for meat.”
“Do you think anyone will want to take it on?” Myrtle asked. “I would be so happy to have rabbits, but I don’t think I can do that along with the baking.”
Agnes pursed her lips as she thought about it. “What about Lula? She’s hunted before, so I’m certain she doesn’t have trouble with butchering animals. Do you think she could do it?”
Myrtle smiled, nodding. “I think she’s the perfect person to do it. She’s talked to me quite a bit about how much she loved hunting, and she loves rabbit stew as much as I do. I was planning to take her as much of the stew as I have left. I’m not sure where she lives, though.”
“She goes to Belle’s first thing every morning to go hunting with her. Take it to Belle’s and she’ll make certain Lula gets it.”
“Great idea! I’m excited at the idea of someone raising rabbits. Lula loves to garden as well...”
“Then maybe Lula gardens and raises rabbits. We can certainly talk to her about it.”
Agnes glanced at the stew pot. “Is your stew ready? I’d love a small taste. I’ve never smelled anything so good!”
Myrtle hurried over and spooned out a bowl of the stew for her friend.
“Oh, that’s too much!” Agnes said. “Dump at least half of that back. I still have to cook supper for Jasper.”
Myrtle did as she was told. “I guess you need to eat what you cook with him. You wouldn’t want him to think you’re poisoning him!”
Agnes laughed, looking startled by the comment. “I forget about your strange sense of humor sometimes.”
Myrtle shrugged. “I need to learn to keep my ideas in my head and out of my mouth.”
Agnes sat and ate the stew Myrtle had made. “I definitely need the receipt for this. It’s the most delicious stew I’ve eaten. I hope you do end up with a bakery and serve soup as well. I would eat there every day.”
Myrtle laughed softly. “Maybe someday I’ll be able to make that happen.”