“And the trees are definitely part of the beauty.”
As they walked away, he led her to a large clearing.“I don’t know why this spot never grew trees, but it’s a good place for strawberries.”
She looked around, seeing some.“I wish I’d brought along a pail for the berries.”
“If Mrs.Johnson doesn’t bring you here tomorrow, I’ll bring you back next Sunday.Then you can pick all the berries you want.These aren’t quite ripe anyway.”
By the time they reached the cabin, she needed to start supper.While he sat at the table with a block of wood, carefully coaxing something only he could see from it, she filled the air of the cabin with the delicious smells of ham and navy beans.She was happy they had a variety of beans to cook with.Maybe she had to use them for meals more than she would like, but at least there were enough they didn’t feel like they were eating the same meal every day.
When she placed the meal in front of him, he inhaled appreciatively.“I could make the same meals you do, but mine were never half as good.You must have some magic in your fingers.”
She laughed, shaking her head.“I’ve just learned to use spices, and I brought some with me.”
“I wouldn’t even know what to put into something...”
“And that’s why my cooking is magic, and yours isn’t.”
*****
BELLE WAS UP EARLYthe following morning, surprised the sun had beaten her awake, until she remembered how early the sun rose in the summers there.She fixed breakfast, leaving Everett’s covered on the stove for when he woke, milked the cow, and gathered eggs.She was at the store at precisely six, ready for her day berry picking.She had two pails with her, and she intended to use the egg basket after she had given the eggs to Katie.
Katie had her hair tied back in a kerchief, and Belle laughed upon seeing her, because for the first time since she’d come to Alaska, her hair was also in a kerchief.
Katie grinned, understanding Belle’s amusement.“I’ve heard that great minds think alike...”
“Apparently so!”Belle placed the eggs on the store counter, and Katie quickly took them from the basket and added the amount to Belle’s credit balance.
“I thought we’d start with strawberries, and we’ll see what we can find in the way of wild celery and Eskimo potatoes.We should find some ripe berries, but many won’t be ripe for another week or two.”
“I appreciate you taking me with you,” Belle said, following Katie out the door.
Katie and Belle walked for a while before Katie pointed to a clearing.“Berries are usually ripe there first.It gets more sun than other areas.”
Belle looked around, smiling as she saw that some of the fruit was bright red and ready to be harvested.“Aren’t you going to get any strawberries?”Belle asked as she started to fill her pail.
“Strawberries make me break out in hives.I’ll let you pick them.”
Belle stopped what she was doing.“Will it hurt you if I bring strawberry preserves for you to sell?”
“Not if you wash the jars.And truthfully, I’ll have you put them on the shelves for me, and I won’t touch them ever.The men will set them on the counter and take them with them.It’s the worst for me when I eat them, but even touching them can cause a reaction.”
“Then I will be careful not to ever touch you after touching the berries.”
“Thank you for being so considerate,” Katie said.
Belle filled her pail with berries, and then they moved onto the other forage that Katie was more interested in.“Should I leave the wild celery and Eskimo potatoes for you?”
Katie laughed.“This is just the first area.I don’t think we could pick it all if we tried.”
“Thank you for sharing with me.”
Belle didn’t return to the cabin until well past noon.She stayed out a little longer than Katie, wanting to get as much as she could into her cellar.Perhaps she couldn’t start a kitchen garden this late in the year, but she could certainly fill her cellar anyway.
As she put the strange-looking potatoes into a basket in the cellar, she looked around, pleased with all she’d accomplished since arriving a week before.She had a pail full of strawberries that she would make jam and strawberry shortcake from, and she had a feeling the jam would sell well.Katie certainly seemed to think so.
She was a little sad that Katie couldn’t have strawberries because she’d planned to make extra as a gift for Katie and Mr.Johnson.That wouldn’t be happening now.
After putting everything away, she went to the store to buy canning supplies.Katie had mentioned having what she needed in stock, and it would be good to have everything so she could start preserving as soon as she was ready.She even had a thought to boil the potatoes with some of the celery, and can the mixture.It would make good soup for the winter.
