“Moose is good meat.If you happen to see any kill it, and we can put some away for the colder months.”He looked at her for a moment with his spoon paused halfway between his mouth and his bowl.“I usually take off a week in mid-September to do some serious hunting to get meat stored up for winter, but if you can do some, I might be able to work through those days.After seeing you, James is talking about getting himself a mail-order bride.”
“It would be nice if there were other young couples around...”She thought longingly about the couples she’d seen around Beckham, and how they’d done so many things together.She had what she wanted—a husband and a home—but she would love to have other young women around.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if others in the area wanted to get themselves mail-order brides.Truly.There are so many men here and there just aren’t enough women.There are native women, of course, but they’re wary of white men.”
“I don’t blame them...They have a right to live as they always have.”
After supper, she washed the dishes and put them away.“I washed the sheets and blankets today.I can’t wait to climb between the sheets.”
He chuckled.“Are you still as tired from that trip as I am?”
“I am.I feel like I’m being silly, but I’m exhausted.”She shook her head.“Of course, I didn’t let that make me sit around all day.”
“I can see that.Looks like you did all the laundry and scrubbed the cabin from top to bottom.”
“I’m not quite done with the cabin yet, but I did a lot.I bought some fabric for curtains and a tablecloth.I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.I’m not sure I see a need for those things, but if you do, then we should have them.”
“I think I’m going to need an early night again tonight.I hope that won’t bother you.”
Everett shook his head.“Not at all.But...there’s something we should talk about.”
She sat down across from him.“What’s that?Should I be nervous?”
He chuckled.“I don’t think so.We’ve been married a few weeks now...and we’re finally settled into our home.I’m not saying it has to happen tonight, but I sure would like to consummate our marriage soon.”
“Is that so?”she asked, her eyes filled with mischief.
“It is.Don’t you think it’s time?”
“I’ve been willing all along.I expected it to happen long before we reached Yeti.”
“I don’t think either of us have the energy to give it our best tonight.Why don’t we say Saturday night?I don’t work Sundays, so we have all night.”
She raised an eyebrow.“Is it going to take us that long?”
“It might...”
She chuckled.“Saturday night is fine.I’m glad to know when...I’ve wondered.”
“I really thought we should get to know one another first.I know that’s old fashioned, but...”He paused looking at her.“Is this your first time?”
She nodded.“Yes, it is.While other girls had beaus, I had younger siblings to feed, and then I had to work twelve- or fourteen-hour days.There’s never been time for a courtship.”
“That was my impression, but I wanted to be certain.”
Belle looked at Everett then, wondering.“What would you have said if it hadn’t been my first time?”
“Well, you’re already here, so it’s not like I could send you back!”He shook his head.“After getting to know you, I would have accepted it.It would have surprised me, but you’d still be my wife at the end of the day.”He stood, rubbing the back of his neck.“I thought it would feel restful dealing with paperwork after that long journey, but it just made my neck hurt.”
“Sit down.Maybe I can help.”When he was seated, she put her hands on his neck and found the knot.She dug her thumbs in, trying to ease his pain.
Finally, she felt the knot disappear, and she removed her hands.“Better?”she asked.
“How did you know to do that?”he asked, surprised she’d taken care of his pain so quickly.
“I worked with some of the other maids to ease their pain from being hunched over washboards or standing at a sink peeling potatoes all day.When I first worked at the hotel, there was an older woman who helped me that way, and then she showed me how to help the others.It became my job.Then I taught one of the younger women before I left.”
