“Good.If I can make a few lives easier, I’ll be very happy.”
“Are you the only one who will be baking for now?”
Myrtle nodded.“I have blueberry pies at home to bring as well.I couldn’t carry it all at once.”
Katie frowned.“You need a wagon.Best you talk to your husband about that, and maybe he’ll make one this weekend.”
“I agree.That would help me a lot.”
“I could order one, but it would take away from your profits, and I’m under the impression you don’t want to lose even a dime.”Katie grinned.“All of you girls have obviously been supporting yourselves.”
“We have.For a long time.”
“I worked as a laundress before I married Mr.Johnson.I was reluctant to give up the work after having some independence.Mr.Johnson insisted.He pastored a church in Seattle before we decided to move here.He intended to start a church here, and run the store, but there just weren’t enough people for a church.”Katie chuckled.“If you girls keep coming, we’ll need two churches!”
“I’m glad we can worship with you, even if there isn’t a real church.Soon, there may need to be.”
“Soon,” Katie agreed.“I think my husband is looking forward to preaching again and not just teaching a Bible study.”
“It sounds like it was what he was trained to do.”Myrtle made a mental file of the information Kati was giving her to relay to her friends.She didn’t know if the others knew about Mr.Johnson’s background.She picked up her basket.“I’ll be back within the hour with pies.”
Mrs.Johnson nodded as Myrtle hurried away.
It took Myrtle two trips to get all the pies to the store.As she finished dropping off the last of the pies, she sighed.“I think I need to make sure Aaron builds me a wagon or cart.”Already, she was envisioning what it would need to look like.She wanted one where she could exchange wheels for runners, transforming her wagon into a sled for winter deliveries.And it would need shelves...she would draw up exactly what she wanted when she arrived home.She didn’t know what Aaron’s building skills were like, but surely there was someone in the Yeti area who would know how to build what she needed.
With a wave to Katie, Myrtle hurried home.She drew what she was looking for in a wagon as soon as she’d started the rabbit stew she’d planned for supper.She wondered if perhaps someone should raise rabbits for their meat.She was partial to a rabbit stew.
Agnes stopped by late that afternoon.She inhaled deeply.“Something smells wonderful!”
Myrtle smiled.“That would be the rabbit stew I’m making for supper.Does anyone raise rabbits?”
Agnes frowned.“I’m not sure if that’s even been considered, but rabbits are good meat.I’ll talk to Belle about it when I see her.”She looked at the drawing Myrtle had made.“We missed you at lunchtime.”
“I wasn’t thinking about how hard it would be for me to make several trips to the store.I had to go back three times with my baked goods.I’m going to ask Aaron if he can build me a wagon this weekend.I have ideas!”
Agnes laughed.“My ideas never stop!I’m constantly thinking of things that would help what we do.And now tomorrow, when you do make it to lunch because I’m going to help you carry everything to the store, we’re going to talk about the possibility of raising rabbits for meat.”
“Do you think anyone will want to take it on?”Myrtle asked.“I would be so happy to have rabbits, but I don’t think I can do that along with the baking.”
Agnes pursed her lips as she thought about it.“What about Lula?She’s hunted before, so I’m certain she doesn’t have trouble with butchering animals.Do you think she could do it?”
Myrtle smiled, nodding.“I think she’s the perfect person to do it.She’s talked to me quite a bit about how much she loved hunting, and she loves rabbit stew as much as I do.I was planning to take her as much of the stew as I have left.I’m not sure where she lives, though.”
“She goes to Belle’s first thing every morning to go hunting with her.Take it to Belle’s and she’ll make certain Lula gets it.”
“Great idea!I’m excited at the idea of someone raising rabbits.Lula loves to garden as well...”
“Then maybe Lula gardens and raises rabbits.We can certainly talk to her about it.”
Agnes glanced at the stew pot.“Is your stew ready?I’d love a small taste.I’ve never smelled anything so good!”
Myrtle hurried over and spooned out a bowl of the stew for her friend.
“Oh, that’s too much!”Agnes said.“Dump at least half of that back.I still have to cook supper for Jasper.”
Myrtle did as she was told.“I guess you need to eat what you cook with him.You wouldn’t want him to think you’re poisoning him!”
Agnes laughed, looking startled by the comment.“I forget about your strange sense of humor sometimes.”
Myrtle shrugged.“I need to learn to keep my ideas in my head and out of my mouth.”
Agnes sat and ate the stew Myrtle had made.“I definitely need the receipt for this.It’s the most delicious stew I’ve eaten.I hope you do end up with a bakery and serve soup as well.I would eat there every day.”
Myrtle laughed softly.“Maybe someday I’ll be able to make that happen.”
