She laughed.“I’ll make you one for your lunch at work on Monday.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea!Smoked salmon, fried potatoes, and a gingerbread cake.I could eat that for every meal.”
“We’ll have smoked salmon coming out of our ears in another week!”
“So glad to hear it!”
*****
The Sunday church servicewas very different than anything Agnes had ever experienced.She learned a lot, as they delved into the scriptures in a way she had never seen a pastor do.There was a lively discussion led by Mr.Johnson, and they all sang hymns.It felt much more casual than church had felt back home.It was good to be surrounded by other believers again.
To her surprise, Katie asked her and Jasper to stay for the noon meal.“I want a chance to get to know you better,” Katie said.“I know the other ladies, but I would like some time with you without the others.It’s easier to get to know someone that way.”
Agnes looked at Jasper, and at his nod, she smiled and agreed.“We’d love to stay.There was something I wanted to speak to you about anyway.”She followed Katie back behind the store to her kitchen.“How may I help you?”
Katie smiled.“I made a roast.I’ll get it out of the oven and serve it.If you’d like, you can set the table.”
“I’d love to.”Agnes spotted the dishes on the counter, where Katie had set them.When she walked into the dining room, the two men were talking about the salmon she would fish for and smoke.
“Smoked salmon would be a good thing for us to sell.If there’s extra, don’t forget the store,” Mr.Johnson said.
“We won’t,” Jasper replied, leaning back from the table so Agnes could set the dishes down.
She hurried back to the kitchen, preferring to speak to Katie when they were alone.“I made a gingerbread cake for our lunch yesterday.The men all praised it and suggested I sell it here at the store.How do you think that would go?”
Katie smiled.“Wonderfully!And when your goats come in, we can serve it with whipped cream.”
“Oh, that does sound tasty,” Agnes replied.“I won’t promise to do it more than once.I need to see if there’s any time left after I get the fishing part of my day over.”
“We’ll sell your smoked salmon as well!And if you ever pull in too much to smoke, we’ll sell it fresh.I do enjoy salmon, and Mr.Johnson isn’t up for fishing like he used to be.”
Agnes decided then and there that she would bring fresh salmon to the store as a gift for the Johnsons, so she could thank Katie properly for having them over for lunch.“I won’t forget.I suppose you know how the ladies set up our little enterprise?”
Katie laughed.“I do!And I love it!We’re going to need to expand the store if you all keep going with it.Oh, it’s so nice to have other women in town!”
“I don’t know how you were here so long without other women.I’d be in a lunatic asylum,” Agnes said.She was glad Belle had gone first.
“My daughter didn’t marry until about five years ago.Until then, there were two of us.”
“Still, you spent four years as the only woman in town?You are a strong woman.”
After the meal, as they were walking home, Jasper asked, “Did you have a good time with Katie?”
“Oh, yes.She’s a dear.I’m glad we had some time to get to know one another,” Agnes responded.
“Shall we check your salmon nets when we get home?”
“Why did it not occur to me that we would already have some!Yes!And you can help me with the first haul.”
“Oh can I?Can I really?”Jasper’s grin told her he was teasing her.
“Of course you can.I’ll allow it.”
He chuckled.“Is everything set up how you want it?Do you know how you’re going to clean them?”
Agnes nodded.“Sally taught me a lot on Friday.I think I can make it work now that you men have done your part.But the first few days, I may need a little help.”
“I will definitely help today.If you find it’s too much for you, I’ll help you some after work.”
