The walk to the store was a short one, and Maggie was surprised that there were five or six men in the store, obviously waiting for Belle to arrive.They opened the door wide and immediately started asking what Belle had baked.
“Did you make those snickerdoodles I like?”one man asked.
“Any pies in there?”another asked.
“I just want to get one of those loaves of bread!”
Maggie shook her head.Belle was right.They could use another woman baking every day.
Walking to the front of the store, Belle set the egg basket down, and an older plump woman lifted the towel covering the eggs.She counted.“There are fewer than usual today!”
“I shared with Maggie and James.They finally made it to town last night.”Belle nodded toward Maggie.“This is my friend, Maggie.Maggie, this is Katie Johnson, my first Alaskan friend.”
“It’s good to meet you, Maggie.If you bake, think about making some extra for the store.You can see the men standing around waiting to see what I put out to sell.”Katie sighed.“You can wait another minute or two!”she said to a man who looked like he was going to snatch the basket Maggie held.
“I’m happy to meet you as well, Mrs.Johnson.Belle has told me all about you.”
“Call me Katie.”Katie took the basket from Maggie.“Looks like you got your wish, Isaiah.Snickerdoodles.”She took the loaves of bread and cookies from the basket.“I’ll put this on your account,” she said to Belle.
“Thank you.”Belle went to a shelf.“I’m running low on flour again.I guess that’s what happens when you bake for the whole town.”
“I guess so,” Katie said, grinning.
Maggie nodded.“I think I’ll be baking as well.I was worried I’d be competing with Belle, but...”
“Oh, you won’t.Trust me!”Katie said.“Half the men who come in here don’t get to buy any of Belle’s treats.They go home sad and disappointed.”
“Well, we don’t want that!If I bake five loaves of bread per day, and maybe a pie or two, would that be too much?”Maggie asked.
Katie laughed.“You could bake three times that and not make too much.”
“I suppose I need to buy some flour and sugar and...well, I probably need a little of everything.”
Katie pursed her lips.“Since you’ll be baking for the store, why don’t I open credit for you?I’ll do as I do with Belle and let you take what you need, and when your food sells, I’ll take off what you owe.Does that make sense?”
“That would suit me perfectly.I sew.Would there be any point in making items for the store?”
“As long as you make things in men’s sizes, I’m sure I’ll be able to sell them.Flannel shirts are what most men around here wear.Belle’s making socks and mittens.I’d much rather buy from the two of you because then I don’t have to pay the crazy shipping costs, and I can sell for less.”
“I’ll get right on it then.Belle is going to show me where to forage today.”
“But only because Katie showed me where to forage when I first arrived,” Belle responded.
“You girls have fun.And remember, I’ll take anything extra you have.I could use it for the store.”
“I’d love some more of your lingonberry jam,” one of the men who had been listening said.
“I’ll do my best!”Belle responded.
As they left the store, Maggie whispered, “There’s no way we can make enough to keep all the men happy, is there?”
“Not unless we stop taking care of our homes and cooking for our husbands,” Belle replied.
“Well, then I think they’ll have to be satisfied with whatever we can manage.”
“Trust me.They will.”
As they walked, Belle talked about where to find different foods.“This being my first year here, I don’t think we would have eaten anything but tinned foods if Katie hadn’t taught me to forage.”
