Chapter Six
Josie decided the following morning to talk Myrtle into cooking lessons. She was certain one of the other friends there could help her, but she wanted to learn from the best—and that was Myrtle.
After finishing her morning chores, Josie walked to Myrtle’s cabin, shivering a bit in the morning chill. Myrtle was already working on the daily baking. “What are you making this morning?” Josie asked.
“Bread is in the oven,” Myrtle replied. “I’m going to make meat pies and pies. Katie finally got in the small pie pans I ordered. Then I don’t have to sell the pie by the slice, and I can sell a full small pie for the same price. It will save on mess.”
“That’s a great idea! What flavor today?”
“Today is blueberry. I love blueberry. My mouth is watering, and I haven’t even finished the pie crusts.” Myrtle grinned at Josie.
“I need to ask you for something. I’ll do something you need in return of course. Mend clothes, knit socks or hats...”
“Stop beating around the bush. What do you need?”
Josie sighed. “Cooking lessons.”
Myrtle stopped working on the pie crust she was making. “If I teach you to cook, will you be my partner in the bakery? You could make the soups, or just serve customers and do the dishes. It’s just that Aaron doesn’t think I can go into business on my own, and he’s insisting I find a partner.”
Josie tilted her head to one side, thinking about it. “Are you sure you want me? You know I’m helpless in the kitchen.”
“That’s perfect though!” Myrtle said. “I really want to be able to do all the cooking and baking myself. You could clean after me, which I know is something you love to do. Oh, Josie, please say yes!”
“Of course, I’ll say yes. I was starting to think about taking in men’s laundry, but I really didn’t want to. Nothing else is grabbing my attention, but I do love to clean.”
Myrtle squealed and hugged her friend, sending up a small cloud of flour. “Oops!”
Josie laughed. “Let me clean this up.”
“After I take my baked goods to the store in the afternoons, I’ll teach you to cook. That’s when I make supper anyway, and you could learn a new meal every day.”
“I have a cookbook, but it has fancy meals like beef wellington. I just want to make meals my husband will like.”
“I don’t know how to cook any fancy meals, I’m afraid. I just know how to cook things I like, and I love to experiment with baking and make new things.” Myrtle grinned. “I’m so excited! I’ll tell Aaron I have a partner tonight!”
“Well, what can I do to help now?” Josie asked.
“Dishes? And I’m behind on laundry because of all the time I’m spending baking.”
“I’ll bring in some water from the well.”
That afternoon, Myrtle taught Josie to make a rich rabbit stew. “I love your stew!” Josie said as she took the first bite. She’d followed along and made the same stew following every step Myrtle made. It was a good thing Myrtle had two stoves. “It’s good!”
“Of course it is. You have the ability to cook, but no one ever taught you. In six months, you’ll be as good as me.” Myrtle said with a smile.
Josie felt proud as she carried the stew home later that afternoon.
She couldn’t wait for Jack to try it. She’d made a meal that she considered good.
Not that Jack had ever complained about her cooking.
The one time she’d burnt a meal so badly they couldn’t eat it, he’d pulled out jerky and hardtack and hadn’t said a word.
She put the pot on her stove and quickly started a fire in it. She knew Jack would be home any minute. She quickly set the table and put on a pot of coffee. He always preferred coffee with his supper, and she loved it too.
She had two small blueberry pies for their supper. Myrtle had made them while she hung the clothes on the line. It felt a bit odd cleaning her friend’s house, but she was so happy with the cooking lessons, it didn’t even matter.
When Jack opened the door a few minutes later, he inhaled deeply. “Something smells delicious.”
“Myrtle taught me to make her rabbit stew today. I sure hope someone decides to raise rabbits. You’re going to love this!”
“Why don’t you raise rabbits?” Jack asked, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her.
“I wouldn’t be able to butcher them. I’d name them all and fall in love with them, and then I’d have to kill them. It’s best if I leave the rabbit raising to someone else.”
“That makes sense,” Jack said.
“Besides, I’ve decided what I want to do to contribute.”
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow as he waited for her revelation.
“I’m going to work with Myrtle in her bakery. I’ll serve tables and do the cleaning, and she’ll make delicious meals.”
“You won’t mind doing all the cleaning? That sounds like a lot of work.”
Josie shook her head, smiling up at him. “That’s why this will work. I really prefer cleaning to cooking and baking. I know how it will turn out when I’m done. But cooking...I never know when I’m going to mess something up.”
“Well, then, it sounds like you have your future planned out.”
“I hope you’re hungry. This is the best thing I’ve ever cooked because I followed along behind Myrtle and did everything she did.”
“I don’t have a problem with your cooking,” Jack said.
“I do. I need to do better for you.” Josie grinned. “Wash your hands, and we’ll eat. You’ll see what I mean.”
He did as she said and met her at the table. She served two large bowls of the stew, cut up bread and gave them each a slice, and poured their coffee. When she finally sat down, he took her hand in his as he prayed, thanking God for bringing her into his life.
When he took his first bite of stew, his eyes widened. “This is really good! You made this?”
Josie nodded. “And Myrtle wrote down the receipt for me, so I can make it anytime we have rabbit.”
“I would happily eat this every day for the rest of my life.”
She laughed. “Me too! I’ve had it before, but making it myself makes me feel so accomplished.
Myrtle told me that I have the ability to cook, but no one ever taught me, and she’s right.
My ma wanted to teach me, but she was afraid of what would happen if it didn’t turn out.
My stepfather would have lost his mind.”
Jack smiled a bit. For once, she’d spoken about her stepfather and his abuse without acting afraid. Finally. “I smell something else,” he said, changing the subject instead of forcing her to dwell on the past.
“Blueberry pie. Myrtle bought a bunch of little pie plates, so we each will get our own. The pie is easier for her to sell that way.”
“Is she glad you’ll be working with her?” he asked.
“Myrtle? Oh, yes. When I agreed to do it, she all but danced around her cabin.” Josie laughed. “She’s already got what she wants for the bakery in mind, but Aaron wouldn’t let her get the land or anything until she had a partner. Now she has one.”
“Aaron is working in the sawmill for me again tomorrow. I don’t mind working out in the cold, but he’s really happier inside.
Works for everyone.” Jack shrugged. “I gave him money for bringing you back, but I feel like, since we surprised him with it, we should all trade places to work with him as well. He thinks he came out on the best side of the deal, but honestly, I think I did too.”
“Good!” Josie stood and brought two small pies back to the table. “I love Myrtle’s pies. I think once she’s done teaching me to cook, she’ll need to teach me to bake!”
“I wouldn’t complain about that even a little bit,” he said. “I love the idea of getting more baked goods, though Myrtle keeps us supplied.”
“She does desserts for all of us. Every other night. If I could learn to bake, we’d have dessert every night!”
“Do you have a sweet tooth?” he asked, taking a bite of the pie.
“All of my teeth are sweet,” Josie replied. “I could live on just sweets, though I know it wouldn’t be healthy.”
“No, it wouldn’t, but it would taste good!”
“Sometimes taste is all that matters,” she said with a grin.
After the kitchen was cleaned, she sat down at the table with him to do her knitting, and he read the portion of the Bible they would study that weekend.
She felt like she was being lazy if she sat down and read herself, but if he did it for her.
..well, it was probably still lazy, but at least she was getting the information she needed.
All day, she’d daydreamed about what it felt like in his arms the night before, so when it was time for bed, she went to him readily, excited to feel him inside her again. Being with Jack was special.
*****
Josie learned another meal the following day, but Myrtle also taught her how to make her sugar cookies, which could be used on their own, or with frosting, or as a crust for cobbler.
Josie felt like she was learning quickly, now that she’d opened herself up to the fact that it wasn’t that she couldn’t cook.
It was that no one had ever taught her. They were very different things.
She’d also finished another scarf and hat, and she happily took them to the store when Myrtle took her baked goods. They were going to the store with fewer and fewer baked goods daily.
“I sure hope you get that bakery of yours open in spring,” Katie told Myrtle. “But remember, part of your lease will still be bringing me dessert every day.”
Myrtle smiled. “We can actually start discussing the lease now. Josie has agreed to partner with me on the bakery.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Katie said. “I’m excited for there to be another business in our little town.”
“Yeti is growing,” Josie said with a smile. “I hope it doesn’t grow so big it won’t be recognizable.”
“I don’t think it will. Most women don’t care to be this remote,” Katie said with a shrug.
“I suppose not,” Josie said. “I wouldn’t mind a few more women finding their way here, though.”
“None of us would,” Katie said.
As they walked back toward Myrtle’s house, Josie asked, “Are you going to need more stoves for the bakery?”
Myrtle nodded. “I will move one of my stoves there, and probably get two more. It will make things easier for both of us.”
“And you’ll need dishes,” Josie said. “So many things.”
“I will. And a cash register would probably be easier than just a money box, but I’ll worry about that when we get closer to time to open.
I’ve drawn up plans, and I’ll have you look at them this afternoon and tell me if you think they’ll work.
I’m thinking about having four tables for people to eat at, plus the bakery shelves. ”
“That sounds smart. Do you think three stoves is enough?”
“I’m not certain. If I have to, I can do some of the baking at home, but I’d rather not.
If it seems like I’ll need another, I’ll talk to Katie and order another.
It would be good if we could make meat pies for the men to take home as well, but I’m not sure that’s possible with the other things we’ll do.
” Myrtle grinned at Josie. “I can’t wait! ”
“I’m excited. I told Jack, and he’s happy about it. Honestly, he was just hoping I’d find something I wanted to do.”
“He sounds like a good man. I haven’t really had a chance to talk to him much.”
“We should have you over for supper one night. Perhaps after a good day of learning to cook!”
Myrtle laughed. “Or you could host, and I could bring supper.”
“I’ll make supper, and you bring dessert,” Josie countered. “I think we should all be playing cards on Saturday nights or doing something together anyway. I know the cabins are small, but they’re big enough for us to have three other couples over, maybe.”
“Belle told me that Everett is planning to add on two bedrooms to their cabin come spring. We’ll talk her into hosting!”
Josie smiled. “But we should start now! I don’t think any of us would mind being a bit cramped.”
“It’s really a good idea,” Myrtle agreed.
“Saturday night,” Josie said. “Just you, Aaron, Jack, and me. I’ll make your rabbit stew, and you can make dessert.”
Myrtle nodded. “That sounds like fun!”
“We’ll play cards. I know Jack has a deck.”
“I brought a deck of cards and my cribbage board from home. We could all play cribbage!”
“I love cribbage! It’s fun with two people or four, so we should play that. If the men don’t know how to play, we’ll teach them.”
“Oh, good! Saturday night. Around six?” Myrtle asked.
“Perfect. I’ll have supper ready and waiting.” Josie rubbed her mittened hands together. “I can’t believe I’m this excited to have friends over, but I am. You’re going to love Jack. He’s a really good man.”
“It sounds like it. I think you were afraid of him at first.”
“I was. I’m not now. I’ve never seen him really angry, though, and that may change.”
“I don’t think it will. I’m so glad you found a man who makes you comfortable.”
“Me too. I was very worried on the way here.” Josie shook her head. “I really can’t believe I had the guts to get on that train. I almost turned tail a dozen times on the way here.”
“That’s a big part of the reason I wanted to travel together. I thought you would be able to be brave if we were together.”
Josie sighed. “You’re right. I probably wouldn’t have come without you. I know it’s silly, but...”
“It’s not silly at all. My family life was very different from yours.” Myrtle shook her head. “I’m surprised you were ever able to let a man touch you with the way your stepfather was.”
“He only hit me a few times, though.”
“That doesn’t matter. You saw how he treated your mother.”
“I did. I’ve learned not to compare Jack with him. It helps me.”
“Aaron is so excited to have so much time in the sawmill right now,” Myrtle said, changing the subject. “He’s thankful for all the men who are paying him back by trading shifts. He said he’s gotten the best end of the deal he didn’t know he was making.”
Josie laughed. “He probably has.”