Chapter Four
Agnes brought smokedsalmon for their suppers that night.Josie stared at it for a moment, trying to remember if there was a receipt for cooked salmon in her new book.
Myrtle pulled Josie aside from the others and quietly explained how to warm the salmon in a pan with a bit of lard, flaking it into smaller pieces that would be easier to eat.“Fry some potatoes with it, and you’ll have a good meal.”
“High heat?”Josie asked.
“No, you want to do it over a low heat.It won’t be good if you fry it with high heat.”
Josie nodded.“I’ll do my best.”
“At least if it doesn’t work, you’ll have bread,” Myrtle said with a wink.“But really, it should be easy.”
“Thank you!I feel like I’m never going to be a good cook.”
“You’ll get there.Your mother never taught you, but you’re a smart woman.Cooking will come easily.”
“I hope so!”Josie said as she started for her own cabin.
She was a few steps down the trail when she turned back, realizing she’d forgotten to talk to Belle about deer hide for the mukluks.She quickly explained what she needed to do.
“Come home with me.I have some cured hide that will be perfect.If your husband likes his mukluks, I may beg you to make some for Everett,” Belle said.
“You wouldn’t need to beg.You’re providing food for my husband and me.I’ll happily do anything I can to pay you back.”
Belle smiled.“You may end up making them for all of our husbands.We’ll see how these turn out.”
“Jack seemed a little shocked that I was willing to try, but I’ve always enjoyed craft projects.This will be a special one.”
“It certainly will!”Belle replied.
When they got to Belle’s cabin, she put her little boy onto the floor, and he immediately started crawling away.Josie smiled down at him.Oh, how she wanted a baby of her own, but she was afraid of how Jack would react if she had a girl.All men wanted sons, didn’t they?
Josie took the cured hide and tucked it under one arm.In her basket, she had the salmon for supper as well as her share of the forage of the day.And a jar of jam.She had no idea what kind of jam, but it would go on toast in the morning.“Thank you so much!”
“You’re very welcome!”Belle said.“If there’s anything else you need, just let me know.”
Josie hurried toward the cabin she shared with Jack, wanting to make certain supper was ready when he arrived home.Maybe if she kept the house spotless and had supper ready every night when he came home from work, he would forgive her if she had a girl.Maybe.
She immediately rekindled the fire when she arrived home, putting a cast iron skillet in the middle of it to warm the way Myrtle had told her.She carefully flaked the salmon and added potatoes to the skillet to cook as well.Then she carefully sliced and added one of the onions she’d found that afternoon.
She stood over the stove while their meal cooked, afraid to walk away lest it burn.
Jack walked in just as she finished the meal, and she served their plates while he washed his hands.“That smells delicious.Didn’t you tell me you don’t know how to cook?”
“I’m asking for advice on how to cook what I’m given for meals.My friend Myrtle is a genius, and she always knows what to do.”Josie poured each of them a cup of coffee before joining him at the table.“I hope you like salmon.It seems there’s a great deal of it waiting for us this winter.”
Jack chuckled.“It’s actually one of my favorite foods.”
“Well, good.Then we won’t go hungry this winter.I don’t think I’ve ever had it, but I’m excited to try.”She bowed her head as he prayed.“I hope I cooked it right.”
He cut into the salmon with the side of his fork and popped it into his mouth.He chewed slowly, and for a moment, Josie was afraid she’d done something to mess it up, but he nodded.“It’s good!A little less salt next time, and it will be perfect.”
For a moment, it felt as if her heart stopped.If there was too much salt, would he get angry with her?He seemed to be enjoying the meal, but men were temperamental, as she knew very well.
Josie took a bite of her own fish, and she had to agree with him.It was a bit too salty, but it was still good.Very good.She’d made two suppers in a row and hadn’t burned a thing.
“We have a great deal of potatoes coming as well.Do you like fried potatoes?”she asked, hoping it would help him forget about the salt.
