Chapter Five
The following day,after letting her friends know she was going into business with them, Agnes went to the store to purchase a book on raising goats, a fact about which she knew little.The book had to be ordered, but that was fine with Agnes.She could get started on the salmon while she waited.
After spending a bit of time with Mrs.Johnson, she ordered a male goat and four nanny goats.The goat farmer nearby would sell her grown goats, and then she would need to learn about breeding them and raising the kids.
She had lunch with her friends at Belle’s cabin, a place chosen because it was easier for everyone to go to Belle as she had the baby.
“Why don’t you come and spend the afternoon with me?”Sally asked.“I plan to bring in my nets and start salmon smoking as well as take down the ones I’ve already smoked.I’ll show you how to do it, so after your smokehouse is built, and we get your nets set up tomorrow, you’ll know how to proceed.Of course, I’m always available if you have questions, but I haven’t been doing it long, so I may not have answers for you.”
“I’d love to!”Agnes replied.She enjoyed the company of Belle and Maggie, but Sally was her closest friend in the group, and she’d rather spend some time chatting with only her.
While they ate, the women talked business.Belle explained exactly how profits would be split between them.“Everett is going to donate the lumber for your barn,” she said.“This weekend we’ll set up the smokehouse and your nets, and the following weekend, the men will build your barn.”
“Oh, that’s so generous!”Agnes was surprised.
Belle shook her head.“No, you’re doing this for all of us, and Everett does have a logging operation at his disposal.It’s the least we could do.”
“He did the same for my pigs,” Sally said.“It’s just the way we’ve been doing things.”
“I’m excited to be a part of everything,” Agnes said.“Are there jobs if some of the others come?”
Belle laughed.“I could add twelve more women, and there would still be more work to do.I like the idea of us coming together as a community.And I know the men in town are thrilled to have us here, providing for the entire area.I’d really like to have someone dedicated to drying fruits and making jam.Someone who only bakes bread.Someone who only bakes sweets.The possibilities are endless.”
“And another farm!”Sally said.“As much as I love growing things, I’m afraid I simply can’t keep up with all that I want to accomplish.”
“And someone could raise dogs,” Maggie said.“They’re used frequently here in the winter to pull sleds.”
“Dogs pulling sleds?”Agnes asked.“That’s something I’d love to see!”
“Believe it or not, we could have someone raising kittens as well.They could control the mouse population,” Maggie smiled.“I’d love to raise kittens.”
“Maybe we’ll have one of our friends bring a couple of cats for you!”Agnes said.She was so excited to be included in her friends’ enterprise, it was hard to contain herself.
“Not a bad idea,” Belle said, pursing her lips.“And that’s an animal you have room for, Maggie.”
“I’ll write and see if anyone would be willing.Even if we only started with a couple of toms and a few queens, it would be enough to get a population started.The mice really are out of control here,” Sally said.
“Sounds like there really is enough work for anyone who wants to do it,” Agnes said.“Though, I’m not sure if everyone would want to work after coming here.Some may want to keep house and stay close to home.”
“Very true,” Belle said.“Oh, that reminds me.We could also have someone clean houses for the lumberjacks.They could come home to a cooked meal and a clean home, laundry folded neatly.I don’t know if any of the men would be willing to pay for that service, but I have a feeling they’d take anything they could get.”
“What if someone did a meal service for the men?”Agnes asked.“Any man who chooses could pay for as many meals as he wanted, and they would be waiting for him when he arrived home.I think a lot of men would do that, wouldn’t they?”
“Most would,” Maggie said.“I know James would have loved a service like that.”
“We’ll think on that one,” Belle said.“I think if someone wanted to do that, she could join us and share her profits in exchange for free ingredients, or perhaps just pay us for the ingredients.We’ll make a plan for it and see if someone is interested.”
Sally pushed away from the table.“I’m afraid I need to get to my salmon.Would you like help with the dishes first, Belle?”
Belle shook her head.“Maggie isn’t up to foraging today, so she’s going to stay with the baby while I hunt.She offered to do the dishes, and I’m happy to allow her the honor.”
They all laughed.Maggie simply shook her head.“The honor of doing dishes.Remember how we all used to hate them at the hotel?”
Agnes groaned.“At the hotel, I’d be doing dishes for hours on end.This is a simple ten-minute clean up.Could I bring water in for you, Maggie?”
“I already have some boiling on the stove.If you spot any forage, pick it for me,” Maggie said, slowly getting to her feet.“This baby is weighing heavy on me today.I don’t think it will be much longer.Katie said she is certain I’ll deliver within a week or two.”
“Just be careful,” Agnes said.“Don’t overdo it.”
