That weekend, Aaronmade the wagon to her specifications.He worked all day Saturday and after church on Sunday, but when it was done, it was perfect.There were compartments for pies and cakes, and a large area for bread.She couldn’t wait to take it for its inaugural run on Monday.
“Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!”she squealed as she looked at all of the different areas.She threw herself into his arms and kissed him.
Aaron laughed.“I hope it works out well.”
“It will!It’s the next best thing to my own bakery.”She ran her hand along the wooden side.“Will it be hard to switch from wheels to runners?”
“It’s not for me.If it seems hard to you, I’ll do it for you before work when it needs to be changed.”He turned the wagon on its side, showing her how the wheels detached.“Then you just slide the runners in here.See?”
She nodded and put them in herself.“It’s not hard at all!”
“I hope it helps you as much as you think it will.”
“I hope so too!”She kissed him again.“You’re the most wonderful husband in the whole wide world!”
He seemed embarrassed by her flattery.“I’m glad you think so.”
“Trust me.I do!”She looked behind her.“Supper’s ready if you’re hungry.”
“I am,” he said eagerly.He had come to look forward to meals.She was an excellent cook.“What are we having?”
“I made a duck pot pie.I’ve never cooked with duck before, so I hope it’s good.Belle said it was mallard.”
“I’m sure it will be wonderful.I haven’t eaten anything you made that I didn’t love.”
“Josie said she’ll have whitefish for us by tomorrow afternoon.I told her it was your favorite,” Myrtle said as she set the table.
“I can’t believe you remembered that.”
“Of course, I did!I try to pay attention when you tell me anything...especially about your food tastes.I want you to be happy.”
Aaron smiled at her.“You make me happy.And not just with your cooking,” he told her.
She served them each a portion of the pot pie.“You’re easy to please then, aren’t you?”
After supper that night, she did the dishes while he put the wheels back on her wagon, so it would be ready to go the following morning.“I’ve heard lots of men talking about your baking the past few days.”
“Oh, I’m so glad!I was worried I wouldn’t be able to hold a candle to Belle and Maggie.Belle always intimidated me a little, because it seems she’s so good at everything.”
“You don’t seem the type to be intimidated easily,” he said.
“I’m not!Belle is just really good at everything.Do you know her at all?”
“Just what I’ve seen of her at our service on Sundays, and she tends to talk to the other women, not the men.”
“But there weren’t always many women...”
“At first, she only really talked to Mrs.Johnson.And then the other women started to arrive.It feels like a real town now that there are ladies here.”
She laughed.“I never dreamed there was a place that was only populated by men.Alaska is as unusual as it is beautiful.”
He took her hand and pulled her to him.“I’m just glad that you’re here with me.It gets lonely during the long, cold nights of winter.”
Her heart beat faster as she was closer to him.“I’m glad to be here...with you.”
He lowered his head and kissed her slowly, as if testing the waters to see if she was ready for more.When she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back, he had his answer.He picked her up and carried her to their bed.
Myrtle returned kiss for kiss and touch for touch.Clothes were thrown in every direction, and when he finally joined their bodies, she knew she was right where she belonged.In bed with her husband.
After, they lay together, the covers somewhere out of reach.“We’re going to get cold eventually,” she said absently.
“But I know how to warm us both up...”
