Chapter Eight
Even as she workedto build her baking business, it was always in the back of Myrtle’s mind that she’d done something wrong by bringing her friends.At the time, it had seemed logical.Only one man would need to miss work to make the journey to Skagway and back.But in retrospect, she knew she should have gotten Aaron’s permission before doing something like that.
She’d been in Yeti for four weeks when her stove was delivered.Mr.Johnson brought it himself, and he took care of setting it up.It was the same as the one she’d been using, so it was going to be easy to double her production.At least she hoped it would.Soon she’d be baking forty loaves of bread per day, as well as double the number of sweet treats.
She wasn’t certain if she wanted to make two different types of treats per day so people would have a choice to make, or if she would stick to making one thing, but just make more of it.
She decided she’d ask the other ladies when she went to lunch.
Mr.Johnson made quick work of getting her second oven ready to use, so she was on time for lunch.The others were still trickling in when she announced she had another oven.“Do you think I should make two types of treats per day now, or just make more of the one kind?”
Belle shrugged.“I think you’ll make the men happy whichever way you decide.”She looked around.“Would you ladies like to have a selection?”
Agnes wrinkled her nose.“I think I’d like choices if it were me.Perhaps a cookie and a cake?Or a cookie and a pie?Or a cookie and muffins?”She laughed.“I think I’m hungry for cookies!”
“It sure sounds like it,” Myrtle responded, a grin on her face.
The women were split on what they would do, so she decided to ask her little market of men who grew bigger every day.They would give her their opinions on how many things to make per day and what those things should be.
So, after lunch, Myrtle set off for town with her wagon pulling behind her.She’d had to switch from wheels to the runners, but it wasn’t so terribly cold she felt the need to stay indoors.The snow was picturesque in the beautiful valley where Yeti was located.
There were at least ten men waiting for her that day, and when she stopped, she said, “No one is allowed to buy anything today unless they answer my survey.”
One of her regulars who never missed a day nodded.“What’s the survey?”
“I got a second stove today.Would you like me to just double up on the dessert I make every day, or would you like me to make two so there would be choices?”
The man who had asked about the survey shrugged.“I want your sugar cookies with the icing every day.I don’t care what else you do.”
Myrtle grinned and nodded.“Noted.”
He took his usual loaf of bread and bought the cookies he’d just requested from her, grinning.“I could eat these things every day.”
“I will try my best to make them often,” she said.
Each man told her his preference as he purchased the food he wanted from her.When all was said and done, it seemed like they didn’t care if they had choices, as long as there were sweets.So, she would ask Katie and Aaron, and whatever they told her, she would agree to.
When she got to the store, she handed off her baked goods to Katie.“Now that the new stove is ready to go, I’m trying to decide if I should make two different treats in the same amount I already do, or if I should just double the amount I make?”
Katie pursed her lips, thinking about it.“You’ll double the bread regardless, right?”
Myrtle nodded.“Absolutely.”
“Then I think I would stick to one treat per day.The men are all happy to buy whatever you make.Perhaps you could take special orders.Whoever got their requests in first, you would make what they ask for.”
“I could.I think a lot of the men will feel slighted, though.”She reached into the wagon to remove the cookies.“I did sugar cookies with icing today.”
“Oh, the men love those.I’ll have no trouble selling them at all.”
“Is there anything they’ve said they don’t like?”
Katie shook her head.“No, not at all.They just get all excited if there are treats left when they get here.”
“The line of men on my way here is getting bigger.”
“That’s fine.You have a right to sell directly to the men!Just try to have some left for us to sell.”Katie smiled.“I really think you should try to open a bakery in the spring.I know that’s a lot to think about, but you are so consistent with the quality of your baking.And if you made a soup every day as well...well, I don’t think my store would sell much, but that would be all right.”
Myrtle smiled.“I’m glad you don’t mind.”She handed the last of the cookies to Katie.“What do I still owe on the stove?”
