“I hope you’re right.I’m worried about whether or not I’ll be a good mother,” Belle said.
“I can’t believe you’re nervous about that.You raised your younger brothers and sisters.”
“I did.But...I never felt like I was good at taking care of them.They didn’t respect me as they did my father.”
That confused Maggie because she knew Belle’s father hadn’t been respectable at all.“I’m sure it was because you were their sister.”
“Perhaps,” Belle said, getting to her feet.She began clearing the table, so Maggie jumped up to help.
“Thank you for inviting us for another meal.Maybe next Sunday, the two of you will join us at our place.”Maggie wanted to repay her friend’s kindness.
“We’d love to!”Belle responded.
Maggie wasn’t certain what she’d cook.Perhaps she would need to have Belle teach her to hunt that week after all.She couldn’t serve hardtack and jerky, and she wasn’t about to feed them only baked goods.
She was lost in thought as she washed the dishes.She’d have to talk to James about meat.He would know better than she did.
To her surprise, James and Everett put on their coats.“We’re going to see if we can get a deer or two,” James said.“Everett is going to let us use part of their cold house.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!”Belle had already told Maggie they could use it, but she knew James would want to hear it from Everett.
After the men had left, Maggie said, “I hope you know how much I appreciate all you’ve done to help us out.”
“Oh, I plan to force you to help me once the baby comes.We’ll always help one another.”Belle finished washing the plate in her hands.“I received a letter from Sally yesterday.”
“Sally?From the hotel?”
Belle nodded.“She wants to know if there are any other men in the area who need wives.”
“I have an odd feeling there are...”
“Oh, there definitely are.I’ve had Everett post Elizabeth’s address at the mill.I’ll write to her and tell her to talk to Elizabeth.You and she got along well, didn’t you?”
“We did.I wasn’t as close to her as I am to you, but we worked well together and occasionally talked outside of work.”Maggie tilted her head to one side.“Do you have someone in mind for her?”
“Not at all.I will let her take her chances with a groom.That’s what I did.”
“But you made sure I married James...”
“I needed you to be married to Everett’s best friend.It only makes sense.”
“Are you still planning on hunting most of the week?”Maggie asked.
“That depends on whether the men come home with anything or not.We may be working on cutting up the meat all day tomorrow.Well, all afternoon.We know the morning will be spent baking.I’m going to bake snickerdoodles tomorrow.Do you know what you’ll make?”
“I was thinking I’d use the lingonberry jam we just made and make jelly rolls.They’ve always been a favorite of mine.”
“Perfect.Then the men get a choice between fruity and cinnamony...I don’t think that’s a word, but I think it should be.Don’t you?”
“Shakespeare made up his own words all the time.I think we should be able to as well.”
“I think so.Cinnamony is now a word.”Maggie looked at Belle.“Do you think we could make a shelf before Christmas?Maybe you could get the lumber from Everett and ask him not to tell James?I’m happy to pay for it.”
“I’m sure we could.Why?”
“James whittles the most beautiful little animals.I want a shelf for him to display them.I’ve found them all over the house.In drawers, under the bed, and in a trunk.They need to be displayed!”
“I want to see one!”
