Chapter Three
After yet another mealof hardtack and jerky the following morning, Myrtle was off to the store in town.She’d spent some time cleaning and planned to do their laundry later in the day.Aaron was already off to work.
When she entered the store, she found not only Belle, but Maggie, Sally, and Agnes waiting there, Belle and Maggie with their babies in tow.
Myrtle embraced her friends.“It’s so good to see all of you.”
Agnes had the biggest smile of them all.“I heard something about a surprise?”
Myrtle had told the friends she’d journeyed with to meet her at the store a little after ten.“You’ll see,” she said mysteriously.“I have some shopping I need to do.There is absolutely no food in our cabin.”
“Oh, I’m sure there’s hardtack and beef jerky,” Maggie said, sighing.“I don’t know how those men can eat so much of it.The thought of it makes me gag now.”
“Guess what I had for breakfast,” Myrtle said, shaking her head.She looked around the store and found some sugar, flour, and other essentials she’d need for her everyday cooking.She’d wait until she was somewhere more private with the others before she brought up the idea of a bakery.
She set her purchases on the counter, and the woman there smiled.“I’m going to put this on credit for you.If you join the others in bringing goodies for me to sell, I’ll just start deducting what you make from your total,” the woman said.“I’m Katie Johnson, by the way.You must call me Katie as the others do.”
“All right, Katie,” Myrtle said.“I’m Myrtle Banks—I mean Fielding.”It was the first time Myrtle had said her new name aloud, and it felt strange to her.
She returned to the other women from Beckham just in time for Lula, Josie, and Ella to arrive.Agnes squealed when she saw them all, and hurried to hug them.
Belle smiled at Myrtle.“This is your surprise?”
Myrtle nodded.“They all traveled with me.”
“I think it’s time for one of our business meetings.We’ll go to Maggie’s.She has the littlest baby, and I’m sure Trudie will need a nap,” Belle said before going to greet the newcomers.
After the other women did a bit of shopping, they all headed toward Maggie’s cabin.Once there, they settled in, two of them sitting on the bed.“I’m sorry I don’t have more chairs!”
Lula shook her head.“Don’t worry about Ella and me.We’re just happy to be sitting after the walk from the river.”
Maggie smiled.“I remember that walk, and I agree completely.”
As usual, Belle took the lead.“So I’m sure all of you know that we’ve been working together to provide for our families, but also to provide much needed services for the community.I hunt.Maggie forages.Sally gardens and raises pigs.Agnes fishes and raises goats.”
The others nodded.“Where do you need us?”Myrtle asked.
“There are so many things that need to be done to prepare for winter,” Maggie said.“We have been working all summer to prepare.There’s so much that can’t be done in winter or even in late fall here.Fall seems to only last a week or two, and then we’re plunged into winter.It will start freezing any time, and then many of the things we do will become harder.”
“What do we still need for winter?”Josie asked.“We’ll do whatever it takes.”
Belle smiled.“Do any of you have experience hunting?Either with a rifle or bow and arrow?”
“I’ve hunted,” Lula said.“I’ve used both a rifle and a bow.”
“Then you’ll be joining me at least for the next few weeks,” Belle said.“I’d like to bring in a few more moose and even a bear if we can manage it.”
Lula nodded.“I’ll help in any way I can.”
“All my crops are in for the year, but I’ve been doing some foraging.There’s still good forage for a little longer, and Maggie needs to rest a little while longer now that the baby is here.”
“I’ll help with that,” Josie said.
“Most of the salmon are gone for the year,” Agnes said.“But this is the peak season for whitefish.I’m working on fishing as many as I can, drying some, and smoking others.Then we’ll have more food options for the winter.”
“I’ll help with that,” Ella said.“My father was a fisherman, and I’m well-acquainted with different techniques.”
Belle looked at Myrtle.“That just leaves you.Who do you want to join?”
