Chapter Six
On Saturday, Maggieand James spent the day outside.James chopped wood for their fireplace for the winter while Maggie gathered the wood and carried as much back to the cabin as she could.She made trip after trip, not minding the hard work at all because she was spending time with James as she did it.
Just before going home, James found a rabbit in one of the snares he’d set, and Maggie was thrilled to have fresh meat for supper.
While she cooked, James sat at the table whittling, something she hadn’t seen him do before.“What are you making?”she asked.
He shrugged.“The wood hasn’t told me yet, but it will.It always does.”
“Have you always whittled?”she asked, having noticed small woodland creatures all over the house, some just stuffed in a chest and not displayed.She hoped to make a shelf for the creatures as a Christmas gift.
“It was something I learned from Mr.Carver, the farmer who took me in.He was very patient in teaching me how to make just about anything.”
“He sounds like he was a good man.”
“He was.”James looked back down at the wood, obviously not wanting to talk about the Carvers any longer.
“What is your favorite meal?”she asked, hoping she could make him something he loved sometime soon.He didn’t seem fussy, but she wanted to do something special for him.
He shrugged.“Fried chicken is a particular favorite of mine.My ma made it all the time before she died.”
Maggie immediately wondered if she could talk Belle into trading a chicken for something.She had no idea what, though, so she’d have to wait and see.“Dessert?”she asked.
He thought about that one.“I really like the strawberry shortcakes that Belle made this summer.All the men fought over them.”
“That sounds delicious.I’ll make certain to get her receipt.”
“There was even a fight in the store one day.Everett was angry that all of his men were at the store waiting for Belle to deliver the sweets, and they were supposed to be at the lumberyard.He said something to her in public, and she was embarrassed.One of the men decided she’d divorce him over it, and he let her know that he wouldn’t mind marrying a woman who’d been divorced.Everett was not happy.”
“I’m sure he wasn’t.Is that why you don’t want me to sell stew at the lumberyard?”
“That’s part of it, but mostly, I want you to trust me to provide for us.”
Maggie turned from the food she was making.“I do trust you!I don’t want to be a burden, and if I can help, I feel like I should.”
He stayed silent in answer to that, continuing his whittling.He thought maybe this would be a rabbit, but he simply wasn’t sure yet.
After supper, he mentioned they would be going to the church service at the Johnsons the following day.“I’m glad there will be a way to worship with others here.I worried there would be no church.”
“Well, there isn’t exactly a church.No one preaches, but Mr.Johnson goes over some Bible verses with us every week.We all read it in advance, and then we discuss it.It’s not what most people think of when they talk about church, but it works for us.”He hid a yawn.“This has been a tough week.I think I’m heading to bed early tonight.”
“I’ll join you!”she said enthusiastically.
“I will not complain a bit about that.”
*****
BELLE AND EVERETT HADthem over for lunch after the Sunday service.The men talked about the hunting they still needed to do before it became too cold to do much.
Belle smiled.“I plan on hunting this week.”
James looked at Maggie.“You sure you don’t want to hunt?I have a bow and arrow you’d be welcome to use.”
“I don’t think so.I don’t mind helping Belle with the animal after it’s been shot, but I don’t want to shoot them myself.”She pursed her lips.“And why use a bow and arrow and not a rifle?”
“Ammunition is very expensive here,” Everett said.“I almost always use a bow and arrow, and even Belle usually does, unless she’s going for large game.She’s a good hunter.”
“Belle’s good at everything,” Maggie said.“It’s one of the things I most admire about her.”
