Chapter Seven
Myrtle and Aaron were right on time Saturday evening, and Josie had supper on the table waiting for them. “Thanks for coming!” Josie said, excited to have a Saturday night of fun.
“I brought cobbler,” Myrtle replied. “I hope mixed berry is all right.”
“It sounds delicious,” Jack said, shaking hands with Aaron. “You getting soft working at the sawmill so much?”
Aaron nodded. “I don’t remember how to be out in the cold anymore.”
While they ate, the men talked about work, and Josie found out a man they worked with had been badly injured when the axe head had flown off and embedded into his foot.
“Are there usually a lot of injuries at work?” Josie asked, worried for Jack.
Aaron shrugged. “There are a few every year. We should all be checking our axes daily, and Steven wasn’t very good about it. The accident is his own fault.”
“But that doesn’t make it any less devastating, does it?” Myrtle asked.
Jack shook his head. “He’ll probably have to go back and live with someone who can take care of him for a while. Where’s he from?” he asked Aaron.
“I think he said North Carolina. His folks are still alive, so I’m sure he’ll move back in with them.”
“At least he has somewhere to go,” Josie said softly. In Steven’s position, she’d have nowhere to go. She couldn’t watch her mother deal with her stepfather’s “punishments” ever again.
“True,” Jack said, reaching over and squeezing Josie’s hand. He seemed to understand what she was thinking, and it made Josie feel at ease.
After supper, Josie and Myrtle did the dishes together while the men talked, and then Myrtle pulled out her cribbage board and deck of cards. “Do you men know how to play cribbage?”
Aaron nodded, but Jack shook his head, so Aaron quickly explained the game.
Josie looked at Myrtle. “Men against women?” she asked.
Myrtle nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. Then we’ll know how Aaron did teaching Jack.”
Aaron shook his head. “I did great.”
They moved chairs so that the women sat opposite one another as did the men. Aaron dealt first, explaining about the crib.
Josie and Myrtle had played cribbage with Ella and Lula on the ship from Seattle to Ketchikan, so they were used to playing together. It didn’t take them long to go all the way around the board, while the men floundered less than three quarters of the way.
“Again,” Jack said. “I think I understand better now.”
They played three games before Jack finally yawned. “If we’re going to get up for Bible study, we should probably stop here. Well, we should stop now that we’ve beaten you as well. No chance for you two to get revenge!”
Aaron laughed. “I’m sure they’ll win again next time.”
“You should come to our house next week,” Myrtle said. “I’ll make supper, and we’ll let Josie bring dessert. It will be a good lesson for her.”
Josie made a face. “You have too much faith in my abilities,” she said to Myrtle.
“No,” Myrtle replied, “you don’t have enough faith.”
Jack watched the two friends interact. Myrtle was obviously good for Josie.
After Myrtle and Aaron had left for the night, Jack looked at Josie. “How long have you and Myrtle been friends?”
“Years,” Josie replied. “We both started at the hotel as dishwashers around the same time. I was afraid of my own shadow. She was a calming influence... I couldn’t ask for a better friend.”
“I’m glad you know that you can work together already. I was a little worried about that.”
“We’ll be fine. I can’t think of anyone else in the world I’d want to start a business with.”
*****
After Bible study the following day, Belle invited Josie and Jack over for Sunday dinner with her family. “I made a hearty venison stew. I haven’t met your husband yet, and I thought it would be nice to have you over.”
Josie looked at Jack, who nodded.
“We’d love to,” Josie said. “Can I bring anything?”
Belle shook her head. “Just your appetites.”
They walked with Belle and her family to her home.
Once there, Belle bade them sit down while she served their meal, and Everett held their son.
“How old is he now?” Josie asked, looking at the baby.
She had a great deal of experience with small children because her stepfather had always demanded her mother’s full attention when he was home. That left her with the babies.
“Eight months,” Everett said, smiling down at the boy with pride.
“He’s a beautiful child,” Jack said. He glanced over at Josie, wondering if she wanted children. They’d talked about children in letters, but not in person yet.
“He’s hungry,” Everett replied. “He loves stew. We take out the meat so he doesn’t choke, but we keep the liquid and mash up the potatoes and carrots. He eats every bite.”
“Well, he seems like a good boy.”
Belle hurried over with a bowl for everyone, including the baby. She took the boy from his father, and popped a bite of the mashed carrot into his mouth.
Everett shook his head. “It will be good when he learns to wait to eat until after we say grace.”
Josie smiled. “I think his mother needs to learn not to feed him before grace.”
As they all laughed, Everett lowered his gaze and prayed for their meal. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this food and everything you provide for us on a daily basis. Thank you for bringing friends into our home to share our meal with. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.”
Belle had baked biscuits to go with the stew, and Josie broke off a piece, popping it into her mouth. “These are wonderful! They may even be better than Myrtle’s. I need the receipt if you don’t mind.”
Belle smiled and nodded. “I don’t mind at all. Are you starting to bake?”
Josie sighed. “I’m trying. Myrtle is working with me.”
“Then you’ll be an expert in no time,” Belle said.
“Myrtle’s cobbler with the cookie crust...” Everett began. “I have no words.”
Jack nodded emphatically. “We had her and Aaron over for supper and cards last night, and she brought her cobbler. I finished mine and ate half of Josie’s when she wasn’t looking!”
Josie glared at Jack. “I didn’t think I ate it that fast!”
Jack winked at Josie and she shook her head. “No manners...”
“You like me anyway,” Jack said.
Josie sighed. “What do you do with a husband like Jack?” she asked Belle.
Belle laughed. “You put up with him. What else can you do?”
Josie thoroughly enjoyed the meal. “I’m so glad you had us over. Give me another few weeks to learn to cook, and we’ll return the favor.”
Jack shook his head. “Your rabbit stew last night was delicious. You’re ready for houseguests.”
Josie blushed. “It was Myrtle’s receipt.”
“But you cooked it,” Jack said.
“All right. How would you like to come over next Sunday after Bible study?” Josie asked.
Belle nodded, smiling. “We’d love to.”
“I look forward to it then.”
“As do I,” Jack said.
“I’ll help you with the dishes,” Josie said to Belle as she got to her feet.
Belle passed the baby back to Everett. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”
When it was time to go, Josie thanked Belle profusely for the invitation and the meal. “It was delicious.”
“I do love a good venison stew,” Jack added.
They put on their coats and walked toward the door. “Remember, you’re coming to our place on Sunday,” Jack said.
As they walked home, Josie said, “I hope they don’t expect a great culinary masterpiece. I’m nervous. Cooking for Myrtle is one thing, but entirely another to cook for Belle and your boss!”
“They’ll love every bite,” Jack said, putting his arm around Josie’s shoulders as they walked.
Josie sighed. “What am I going to do with you, Jack?”
“Just keep feeding me, and we’ll both be happy.”
Josie grinned. He’d been happy with her before she could cook. She really had married a good man. “I need to spend tomorrow morning darning your socks,” she said. “I did the wash on Friday, and one has the entire heel completely out of it.”
“See what a good wife you are? You want me to have warm feet!”
She laughed, shaking her head. She hadn’t expected to marry a man who was so easy to talk to, and who actually appreciated what she did for him. She had no idea why she’d been so fortunate, but she certainly wasn’t complaining.
When they reached their cabin, Jack took her hand and led her inside, leaning down to kiss her. “I wanted to do that the whole time we were eating.”
“I’m glad you were able to restrain yourself. I’m not certain how I feel about public displays of affection.”
“As long as you don’t mind private displays of affection, I can keep my hands to myself in public.” He tugged her toward the bed. “In fact, I think I need my hands on you now...”
Josie stared at him for a moment. “But it’s light out!”
“Better to see my wife!”
*****
True to her word, Josie took her mending to Myrtle’s the following day. Jack needed new socks. Perhaps she’d make him some for Christmas. For now, she would mend the ones he had.
Myrtle barely looked up from her baking when Josie came in. She was carefully pinching the edges of small pie crusts. “I need to get faster,” Myrtle said.
“I think you’re already really fast.”
Myrtle shook her head. “Not fast enough.” She stood straight and flexed her back. “Oh, you’re mending!”
Josie nodded. “Jack is hard on socks.”
“So is Aaron. Could I beg you to...”
“You don’t have to beg! I’m getting free cooking lessons.”
Myrtle quickly washed her hands and walked to Josie with a basket of socks. “Thank you!”
“It gives me something to do while you bake,” Josie said, truly not minding. She would rather darn socks than cook any day.
“Do you like my layout for the bakery?” Myrtle asked. She’d sent her design home with Josie on Friday afternoon, and though they’d seen each other since, they hadn’t been alone to talk shop.
“I do. I think it will work well. I doubt if we’ll be able to fill more than four tables at once. Unless you plan to be open weekends.” Josie’s eyes widened. “You don’t plan to be open weekends, do you?”
Myrtle shook her head. “No, I don’t. I promised Aaron the bakery wouldn’t take me away from him more than I already am.”
“Oh, good. I’m not sure how Jack would like that.”
“It was good to see the two of you together. You’ve told me everything is going well, but I had to see it for myself. He looks at you like he cares a great deal.”
Josie wrinkled her nose. “He likes having a wife to cook for him and warm his bed.” As soon as she mentioned bed, she covered her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
Myrtle laughed. “Aaron likes having me to warm his bed too. Don’t worry about it. We’re both married women.”
“We are. It seems so strange!”
“It does. Do you remember telling me that you’d never marry? That men were evil?”
Josie laughed. “I said a lot of things I shouldn’t have when we first met.”
“I’m sure we both did. I wanted to have my own shop before I even thought about a husband. And now look. I’m married before I get my bakery!”
“Very true... I remember you telling me that you were going to forge a life of your own, and you’d never live under the thumb of any man.”
Myrtle laughed. “Well, I don’t exactly live under Aaron’s thumb, but I do listen to him when he wants me to do something.”
“You would have said that was unacceptable when we first met!” Josie said, shaking her head. “Look at us now. I think we’ve both grown up in many ways.”
“We have.” Myrtle stopped working on the crusts for a moment to watch Josie darn socks. “You’re so fast, and your stitches are elegant. When I darn a sock, it looks like half of it is gone.”
“So, you teach me to cook and bake, and I teach you to darn socks...”
“I think the arrangement we have now is better!” Myrtle said.
Josie frowned. “What arrangement is that?”
“I teach you to cook and bake, and you darn the socks for me!”
“I would do anything for you, I think.”
“Let’s keep it that way!”
At lunch that day, all of the women brought their sewing or knitting. Everyone except Myrtle, of course.
“How do you have time to bake so much and still have time to do all the other chores?” Lula asked Myrtle.
“Well...I get Josie to do my other chores for me!” Myrtle grinned as if she were proud of herself.
Josie shook her head. “She’s teaching me to cook and bake. So, while she bakes in the mornings, I help her with her chores.”
Lula shook her head. “I should have known.”
“Why’s that?” Ella asked.
“Because Myrtle has always had a bit of a sneaky side. Don’t you think?”
When the other women all agreed with Lula, Josie shook her head. “She gives as good as she takes.”
“But she gets to do her favorite chore! And not the others,” Lula said.
“I would much rather darn socks than cook or bake. Before I agreed to be Myrtle’s partner in the bakery, I was thinking of taking in laundry, because I enjoy cleaning.”
“Come see my house!” Ella said. “Don’t forget your scrub brush!”
Josie laughed. “You always did hate when you had to clean the rooms of the guests.”
“I did,” Ella agreed. “Do you blame me?”
“What have you decided you want to do then?” Josie asked.
“I’m going to raise rabbits. I don’t think I can butcher them myself, but Lula said she’d do it.” Ella shrugged. “I get to play with bunnies!”
Lula smiled. “I’m going to help Belle with the hunting. And I will butcher rabbits.”
“Are you only raising rabbits, Ella?” Maggie asked.
“No, I’m going to plant a large garden and take some of the burden off Sally.”
“That sounds much more equitable,” Maggie said. “And when you have babies, just drop them here.”
“Wait...” Josie said. “If Ella is gardening and Lula is hunting, who’s going to forage?”
Maggie tilted her head to one side. “I was thinking you would, Josie, but you can’t if you’re working in the bakery. We’ll have to figure that out.”
Belle shrugged. “Perhaps Lula and I can hunt in the mornings and forage in the afternoons. I did most things for myself before Maggie arrived.”
“We’ll figure it all out,” Josie said. “I’m sure there will be more ladies arriving this spring.”
“Very true,” Belle said. “Everything will come out in the wash.”