Chapter Four
After finishing thesupper dishes, Myrtle decided to take Belle’s advice to make sure there was no resentment for the way she’d handled things and brought her friends along with her.
She sat down across from Aaron with a cup of tea in front of her.She stared at the tea, mixing it with a spoon though it didn’t need it.“Are you still upset with me over bringing my friends without warning you?”
He looked at her for a moment.“I forgave you for that.”
“Are you certain?”she asked.“I think it’s time we made our marriage a real one, and I don’t want to do that with you harboring resentment.”
He covered her hand with his.“Don’t worry about that.”He leaned back in his chair.“What did you decide about working with the other ladies?”he asked.
“I’m going to bake,” she said.“Belle and Maggie have given me all of their extra loaf pans, and I’m even going to bake a loaf of bread per day for the other ladies.”
“Sounds like exactly what you wanted to do.I think that’s great.”
“I’m pleased with the decision.”She bit her lip.“Would you have a problem with me buying another stove?I know they’re dreadfully expensive, but if I had two, I could get a lot more done.And I was told Katie would let me get it on credit, and then pay it back with my portion of the profits.”
He sighed.“I can’t afford another stove.I already spent too much when I purchased that second mule on the trip here.You would have to earn the money to pay Mrs.Johnson back.Are you certain you can do that?”
Myrtle took a deep breath before nodding.“I can do that.”She felt a little uncertain, knowing she would need to make every dime to pay for the stove, and it would be expensive.
“Then I don’t mind if you add another stove.”
“I eventually want to have a bakery.A separate building where I can bake bread and treats and even soup and serve it to customers who sit at the tables there.It’s a dream, and I know it will take a long time, but it’s what I’m thinking about for the future.”
“It really will take a while, and I think you should see how you do first.”
Myrtle nodded.She’d hoped he’d tell her to just do it, but she could see he was too cautious for that.“I agree,” she said finally.
“Does you being the baker mean I get extra treats?”
She laughed.“You’ll definitely be my taste-tester.”
“I like the sound of that,” Aaron said.
“I thought you might.Do you have a favorite dessert I can make for you?And everyone else in town of course.”
Aaron thought for a moment.“I have two favorites that are tied in my mind.The first is berry cobbler.Blueberry, cranberry, whatever berry.I love it.The second is an Eskimo fry bread with jam.Have you ever had fry bread?”
Myrtle shook her head.“I haven’t.”She thought about asking around for a receipt for the fry bread he was talking about.Surely someone knew.She’d ask Katie first.“But if I can find a receipt, I’ll make it for you.”
“I’d like that,” he said with a smile.
“And if I can find some berries, I’ll make sure you get cobbler.”
“Maybe one of the others made some preserves you could use, or even dried fruit may work.I don’t know.Do any of the others dry fruit?”
“I don’t know.But if not, I could combine that with my baking.That may be something I want to focus on.”
“Talk to your friends tomorrow.I’m certain one of them will be able to help.”He stood and stretched.“I’m going to get ready for bed.I’m still exhausted from our trip.”
Myrtle nodded.“I am too.I’ll wash up the few dishes I have, and then I’ll head to bed as well.”
The only dishes to wash were her teacup and spoon, so she washed those quickly and then changed into her nightgown while he was outside for a moment.
There were a lot of things on her mind that night as they settled into bed, and he pulled her close.He kissed her goodnight but didn’t try to do more than that.
Myrtle couldn’t decide if she was happy or disappointed.She was ready to make their marriage a real one, but she was also nervous about what that would entail.She would let him decide when it was time for them to consummate the marriage.
