Chapter Six
The following afternoon, after her lunch with her friends, Myrtle walked toward town, ready to deliver her wares to Katie.She was surprised when there were two men in her path.
“We missed getting bread and dessert yesterday.Mrs.Johnson was sold out by the time we got there,” the taller man said.“Can we buy directly from you?”
Myrtle thought about it for a moment, unsure what to do.Finally, she nodded.“Yes, of course.”She named a price for the bread.“I’m not sure about the jelly rolls.I don’t know what Mrs.Johnson would charge.”
“I’ll give you a dollar for one,” the man said.
Myrtle’s eyes widened.In Massachusetts, a jelly roll would only be a quarter or less.“That sounds fair.”
The man grinned and pressed the money into her hand before choosing a loaf of bread and a jelly roll.The second man had the money in his hand and did the same.He’d never spoken, but he was obviously as eager for the baked goods as his friend.
The men ate the jelly rolls before they were out of sight, and after watching them stroll away in bemusement, Myrtle resumed her walk to the store.
She was surprised to see the store completely full of men.Instead of engaging one of them in conversation, she walked straight to Katie and showed her what she’d brought.She didn’t even have time to unload the wagon.Men would give Katie money, and they would choose bread and jelly rolls.Most of the rolls were consumed right there before the men hurried out the door to get back to work.
Within minutes, everything Myrtle had baked disappeared, and Katie laughed at Myrtle’s bemused expression.“You’ll get used to it.Do you have anything left?”
Myrtle looked into the wagon.“One loaf of bread and some crumbs.”
“I’ll take the bread for my own supper, but you may keep the crumbs,” Katie said, a grin on her face.
“Some men stopped me on the way here, saying they didn’t get anything yesterday.”
“I’m not surprised at all.I told them you would be coming in early afternoon.”
“Did I make a mistake selling to them before coming here?”
Katie laughed.“The only mistake is for me.I don’t get my share, but I didn’t sell anything, so I don’t deserve a share.You may want to double up on that bread order.Have you thought about buying a second stove?”
“I have.I just don’t have the money yet.I’ll get there.”
“It would help us both if you bought one on credit, and you would pay it off much faster than you could earn a new one.”Katie shrugged.“The credit is available, as I know you’ll bring me baked goods to pay it off.”
Myrtle bit her lip.“I’ve thought and thought about it.I hate going into debt...”
“It’s a business expense.You’ve heard you can’t make money without spending money?”
Myrtle had never been impulsive where shopping was concerned.But she knew Katie was right.“All right.Let’s do it.”
“I ordered one yesterday.It’ll be here in a few weeks.”
“You were that sure of me?”
Katie nodded, her eyes filled with mirth.“I was.You’re determined to make money for your family, and this is how you want to do it.I just wish you could build a bakery.That would make things easier for you.”
“I wish I could too.Maybe in a few years.”Myrtle sighed.“Did you order the same stove I already have?”
“I did.It’s a good one.I know because I ordered it for you a couple of months ago.Aaron was so excited to have a gift waiting for you when you arrived.”
“He was?”Myrtle smiled.Her husband was one in a million.
Katie nodded.“All of the men who have sent for wives have done something special for them before they got here.They’re ready to give up the long, lonely Alaska nights and have someone beside them.”
As Myrtle walked home, she thought about what Katie had said.It had been very sweet of Aaron to buy her a stove...and here she was getting another.She hoped she could keep up with the demand for baked goods in Yeti.
When she got home, she spotted fresh fish on the table, already cleaned and ready to cook.She smiled to herself.It must be the whitefish Aaron had told her he loved.
