Lulu, Josephine, and Ella exchanged glances.“We’ll talk about it, and I’m sure one of us will do it,” Josie said.
Myrtle smiled.“Thank you!”Myrtle went to the door and carried in the pot with her stew in it.She tucked all the bread into a pillowcase to carry it easily, and in her other hand she’d carried the pot by the handle, the lid tightly on it.“I warmed it up just before I left, so it should still be hot enough to eat.”
“I made a pot of Belle’s duck and dumplings, so we can all have some of each, or choose which one we want,” Maggie said.
As they all ate together, Belle told a story from hunting with Lula the previous day that had them all laughing.“I’m really hoping to get a bear within the next couple of weeks.I think that would give us enough meat for the entire winter.Or three more elks.”She poked the air with the spoon she was using to eat the rabbit stew.“I love the idea of one of us raising rabbits, though.It wouldn’t put quite as much stress on us hunting next year.”
“But someone would need to butcher the rabbits.I know I couldn’t do it,” Maggie said.
Myrtle took a deep breath.“I’m not certain whether I could either.As much as I love to eat rabbits, I don’t think I could kill one.”
Belle shrugged.“I have no problem butchering the meat for my family’s meals.None at all.”
“I don’t either,” Lula said.“It’s not my favorite thing to do, but I can.”
“I guess it doesn’t matter who raises them, as long as Lula or I butcher them,” Belle said.
Maggie shook her head.“I’ll stick with foraging.I couldn’t eat a bunny I’d named Lola or Bugs or Daffy.”
“You could always name them all stew!”Lula suggested with a grin.
After they were all finished laughing, they talked about having pens built for the rabbits.“We’ll need to decide who is keeping them before we do that,” Belle said.“And unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of time before winter sets in.”
They discussed it for a few more minutes before Myrtle changed the subject.“Who wants desserts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday?And who wants them on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday?I want to make a regular schedule, so that I can keep track of which families like which dessert best.”
“I’m flexible,” Belle said.“I can make my own dessert if I need one on a day you’re not providing it.”
Josie shook her head.“Look at us.Women who only served others thinking about what day we need dessert.We’ve come a long way.”
“We really have,” Maggie said.“Thousands of miles to be back together.”She shook her head.“Thanks, Belle for being courageous enough to blaze the trail for the rest of us to follow.”
After lunch, Agnes followed Myrtle home, and the two of them gathered what they needed to make their delivery to the store.“I really appreciate you helping me,” Myrtle said as they started their walk.It would still take two trips, but the company and the help meant a lot to her.
“It gives me a chance to catch up with you.How’s married life so far?”
Myrtle wanted to tell her friend that she and Aaron hadn’t yet consummated their marriage, but she felt the subject was far too delicate.“I think it’s going well,” Myrtle said.“Aaron is a good man, and after he got over the initial shock of me bringing three of my friends, he’s been nothing but kind.He’s going to try to get some old wheels to build me the wagon this weekend.”
“The one you showed me?”Agnes asked.
Myrtle nodded.“He said he understands how important it will be for me to have it, so he’ll do it if at all possible.”
“We probably need to work on rabbit traps this weekend as well.I talked to Jasper about it last night, and he said he could easily make a simple trap that wouldn’t damage the rabbits.As soon as we figure out who will be keeping them, we can start trapping them.”
“That makes sense.Hopefully someone will claim the task soon.”
As they went into the store with twenty loaves of bread, Katie smiled.“Oh, I was hoping you’d be here soon!Do you think you’ll make deliveries around this time every day?”she asked.
Myrtle nodded.“I do think so.It gives me all morning to bake, and then I can have lunch with my friends, and hopefully have help delivering after.I made two dozen small cakes today.We’ll be bringing those.For now, this is twenty loaves of bread.Do you think that’s enough?”
“I don’t know if youcouldmake enough!”Katie said.“I sell out every day.”
“That’s crazy!”Myrtle said.“I’ll see if I can do a few more tomorrow.I plan to deliver to you Monday through Saturday, but I’ll be taking the Sabbath off.”
“That sounds very reasonable,” Katie said.“I’ll happily sell what you bring me.”
“Thank you.This would be much harder without you helping us.”
*****
