“I have a tea ready for you,” said Raven as Janette came into the kitchen. “Take a seat and rest your legs.”
“Thanks, it’s going to be another big day of cooking.”
Raven nodded her head as she sat down on the kitchen chair opposite Janette. Silence settled between them as they were both lost in their own thoughts and concerns.
The phone rang.
The sound broke through her thoughts causing Raven to jump. Tea sloshed over the edge of her cup. “Dammit.”
“I’ll get it.” Janette got up from sitting at the table with a groan and went to answer the phone set on a small table in the hallway.
Raven reached over for a tea towel and wiped the spilled tea. Her head pounded, and she rubbed her temples trying to get her thoughts to settle.Was this what her future would be like on the farm?The loneliness returned with a force, and she struggled to ignore it.
“That was Anne. The fire is a bit of a beast, and the women from the CWA are getting some food together for those fighting the fire.” Her voice was thick with worry as she came back into the kitchen.
“CWA?”
“Country Women’s Association.” Janette opened the fridge door and began taking out food—cold cuts of meat, lettuce, and tomato.
Raven wondered if Janette was sugar-coating things for her. “That sounds bad.”
“I’m sure they will get it under control before dark. What we need to do is to make some sandwiches, but I’m out of bread.”
“I’ll go into town. Tell me what you need me to get,” Raven said. At least the trip into Keith would help her feel like she was actually doing something to help.
“I’ll write out a list for you.”
List in hand, Raven drove carefully into Keith. Every time she glanced in the rearview mirror, she could see a glimpse of the smoke from the fire. It was weird carrying on like this, knowing that at least Brumbie had lost his home and some of his stock, and now with the flare-up, there could be more loss.
Raven focused on driving as she turned down the main street of Keith. It was early, eight o’clock, but the supermarket was open. She went straight there and worked systematically through the list Janette had written for her. It felt like she was buying enough food to feed an army.
Loading the car with the bags of food, she looked up the street. She still hadn’t gotten Ben a gift. Now wasn’t really the time, but since the shops were opening and Janette told her to be back by ten, she thought a little retail distraction might help get her mind off of how Ben was doing.
I’ll hurry. Considering she had no idea what to get him, she wasn’t sure this quick shop would result in a gift. If she didn’t look now, she wasn’t sure she’d get a gift for him before Christmas. Since this was their first Christmas together, she wanted to have something meaningful to give him.
Better I get this gift now.
Raven started walking along the main street, trying to decide which store might yield the perfect Christmas gift for Ben. Not only didn’t she have a lot of time to indulge in gift shopping, there wasn’t much choice here in Keith in terms of shops.
There was a Mitre Ten hardware store behind her, but she had no idea what tools he might need on the farm.
The JK Jewelers’ store sign ahead caught her attention. He wasn’t the sort of man who wore jewelry. She’d even noticed that the men didn’t wear their wedding rings, and when she asked, she was told it was for safety. There were a few stories of men getting the rings caught in machinery and losing a finger at best or part of their arm at worst.
Her heart squeezed a little with disappointment. She’d always imagined her man would wear their wedding ring. But then again, things were different and hadn’t gone to plan by falling in love with a farmer. She’d rather he was alive than risk his life wearing a wedding ring. She surprised herself with such thoughts. With all the doubt whirling in her mind, here she was thinking that they were going to get married. She wished it would put away the feeling of loneliness from living on the farm, but it didn’t.
Raven walked past the bank. Ben had told her they were lucky to have one in town since many of the big banks were pulling out of the smaller towns. Though Keith was considered one of the bigger country townships around here, which meant they had a bank, a school, and even a library. But no hospital.
There was the local pharmacy, which also had a section for gifts. Raven kept walking, thinking that there had to be a better option.
“How are you, Raven? That’s not good about that fire,” said Mrs. Peterson as she approached her. She pushed a walker. She used to be Ben’s primary school teacher, and one person she’d met a few times when in town with Ben. She liked that she tried not to remember just her but also speak with her.
“No, I hope they get it out soon.” Ben had told her how she was one of the few teachers who had stayed in the area when they came here to teach, only because she’d married a local farmer.
“I’m sure they will. I need to get up to the CWA. We’re making some sandwiches for those at the fire.” Mrs. Peterson continued on, pushing her walker to keep her steady on her feet.
“I’m helping Janette get some ready, too.”
Mrs. Peterson nodded. “That sounds like Janette. I’ll see you later.”
