“How far away are our closest neighbors?”she asked, hoping she wouldn’t be the only woman in their area.
“I live on the edge of a tiny town.There’s a small store that carries essentials like flour and seeds.Mr.and Mrs.Johnson own it.Their daughter lives in Washington now, and Mrs.Johnson is looking forward to another woman in town.Most of the others are men who work for the lumber mill and a few prospectors, determined to find gold in the river that runs through town.I sure hope you and Mrs.Johnson get along well because there aren’t any other women around.”Everett stood up from the ground and walked to the bags he’d had his mule carry.He looked through two of them before finding what he was looking for.“This is your wedding present.”He carried something wrapped in brown paper to her, and she untied the string that held it together.
Inside, she found a pair of boots.They were made of soft leather and lined with fur with laces up the side.The laces would make them fit most women easily.“Thank you.I didn’t have a good pair of boots.”
“The Alaska Native people call them mukluks.They’ll keep your feet warm all through the winter.”He looked at her face, trying to determine if she was pleased with the gift.
“I love them,” Belle said softly.“They look like they will be warm and comfortable.”
“I’m a practical man, Belle.I won’t bring you flowers or anything that is made to just look pretty.But I promise you now, that I will make sure all your needs are taken care of.For the rest of your life.”
To Belle, his words were more important than their wedding vows.He wasn’t just repeating something.He was telling her what he would do.“And I promise to keep your home and cook you the best meals I can with what’s around.And I promise to give you as many children as I can.”
He sank back down beside her, and put an arm around her, kissing her softly.“Those are the promises we can keep.”
She smiled.“I don’t know how to bring this up, but...”
“I don’t expect to consummate the marriage tonight if that’s what you’re going to ask.I think we should have at least a couple of days to get to know one another.We’ll let things progress naturally.”
She blinked.“Are you certain?”
He nodded.“Yes, I’m certain.I’d decided that before I ever met you.Of course, when I decided on it, I didn’t realize you’d be pretty.I was a little worried we’d have to put a bag over your head to consummate.”
She giggled.“Well, I think I’m happy to know you don’t want to put a bag over my head now!”
He chuckled.“You’re lovely.I wasn’t expecting a woman who looked half as good as you do.”
“I wasn’t expecting an appealing man, either.I wasn’t really sure what to expect.I mean, I’ve heard of mail-order brides, of course, but I never thought I’d be one.Or meet a man who sent for one.”
“Well, I think it’s going to work out between us.It will if you can cook that is.I need someone who will make more than the beans I know how to make.”
She laughed.“I often helped out in the kitchen of the hotel.I’m not the best cook in the world, but I can make more than beans.”Belle got to her feet.“I’ll get the dishes washed out.I’m surprised at how tired I am.”
“Travel is the most tiring thing I’ve ever done.And then I make you walk and walk...and it’s not stopping for a good long while.”
“How long before we reach Yeti?”she asked.
“We’ll walk around ten days depending on weather and how quickly we walk.Then we’ll buy a boat at Lake Bennett.From there we’ll travel by water for another two weeks or so.Then two days on foot to Yeti.It’s not a short journey, but when you see where we’ll live, you’ll know it was all worth it.”
“If I need to travel extensively, I think I’m happy to do it here.The wilderness is so beautiful.”She walked to the river and squatted beside it, washing the bowls and spoons they had used.She would boil water when they stopped for lunch the following day and give them a good scrubbing, but this would have to do for now.She was too tired to do more.
When she got back to camp, Everett gave her a blanket to roll up in.“I can see you’re too tired to keep talking.We’ll sleep now.If you hear or see an animal during the night, call out to me.I’ll take care of it.Thankfully, this is a route that’s being traveled often by prospectors, so most of the wildlife has scattered.”
“I will let you know.Do you have a gun to use?”
He nodded.“I sleep with one under my blanket.I’m always ready to use it.”
She walked to him and stood on tiptoe, kissing him.“Goodnight, husband.”
“Goodnight, wife.”
She wrapped the blanket around her completely before lying down on a flat piece of ground.He settled close beside her, and she found herself comforted by his presence.She was surprised as she noted it, but she quickly fell asleep.All seemed right with the world.
*****
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, they started slower than she’d expected.By the time Belle woke, Everett had already started a fire and was boiling water.
As soon as she’d disappeared into the forest to relieve herself, Belle was back, making breakfast for them.There weren’t a lot of options in the food he’d brought, but there was bacon, and she was able to find what she needed to make pancakes, though she would have preferred to make them using eggs.
