Chapter Ten
On Monday, Agnes decidedshe was going to learn to make goat cheese.She’d read the section in the homesteaders book multiple times, and she was certain she was ready.
All of her friends had enough milk to last them, so it was time to branch out.The process was slow, and painstaking, but in the end, it was worth it.She tried a bite when it was cooled, but it didn’t taste like much.She would need to age it.
When she met up with the other ladies for lunch on Tuesday, she told them about the cheese.“It’s very mild.I would go so far as to say too mild.But I’ll age it, and it should be better.Would any of you like to try a bit?To see what it would taste like before aging?”
All of the women agreed, and Agnes cut the small chunk of cheese she’d brought for the others to try.To her surprise, Sally loved it just as it was.“I’ve never really liked goat cheese.I think it has too strong of a flavor.If you’re willing, I’d like to have it like this when you make it.Not aged.”
“Of course!I’ll take some to you later.”Agnes looked at Belle and Maggie.
“I need it aged,” Maggie said.“I agree that it’s too mild.”
Belle smiled.“I’m on the fence.I like it this way, but I know I like it aged as well.Perhaps you divide it evenly between our four households, and we each eat it when we’d like.”
“That’s a very good idea,” Agnes said, nodding.“I’ll divide it up this afternoon.”
“Should we just put it in the cold house?”Belle asked.
“I think if you want to age it there, you should,” Sally said.“But I’d prefer to take mine now to be used soon.”
“I’ll divide it, and you decide where it goes then,” Agnes said.“And Jasper said my cold house will be ready this weekend.The hay is dry and stored in the barn, and we have enough for winter.I feel like we’re getting close to being ready for snow.”
“I’m not!”Sally said.“I have so many more potatoes to harvest.They’re not quite ready yet.”
“Remember to let us know if you need help,” Belle reminded her.
“I will,” Sally said.“I think I can manage on my own.”
“How are Herbert and the girls doing?”Agnes asked.
“They’re doing great.I’ll be putting Herbert in with his harem in January, and we should have piglets in April.I want the girls to have two litters per year, so that will be about right.”
Belle rubbed her hands together.“Bacon.Lovely, wonderful bacon!”
They all laughed.It felt at times as if they were holding their breaths, waiting for bacon,
As they finished eating, Agnes stood.“I need to deal with my fish.Let me know when I’m on baby duty.I feel like I’ve been shirking my share.”
Belle shook her head.“We’ll all take turns again in the fall, which is the best season for hunting.You keep smoking salmon and bringing us milk and cheese.I wish we could make butter work, but after you told us how much harder it is to get enough cream to make butter, I know we’ll be better off with cheese.”
“Perhaps Katie will start selling butter in the store,” Maggie said.
“Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”Agnes asked.“I do miss butter.”
Sally stood as well.“I’ll walk with you, Agnes, and I’ll get my share of the cheese, so you don’t need to deliver it.”
“Thank you,” Agnes said as she waved goodbye to Belle and Maggie.As soon as they were out of earshot of their friends, Agnes frowned.“I worry about Maggie.She looks almost sickly.”
“A lot of women do as they get close to their time,” Sally said.“Katie says she’s healthy.”
“And Katie delivers babies?”
Sally shrugged.“She delivered Belle’s and will deliver Maggie’s.There aren’t a lot of choices.The closest doctor is all the way in Skagway.”
“We certainly need someone closer than that,” Agnes agreed.
“How do you like married life?”Sally asked.
