“No, but it was easier while we were together,” Maggie replied.
“Tom is checking with a friend of his to see if he wants a bride.Maybe we can get Agnes here soon.I would love to see her,” Sally said, getting to her feet.“I don’t feel like I can take any more time for lunch.I need to talk to Katie about ordering the piglets and then finish planting my radishes.”
“You go on.We’ll clean up after ourselves.Let us know if you want help tomorrow!”Belle said.
“I think I’ll be fine doing it myself.As long as Tom is building the fence.I hate making him work in the evenings, but we really don’t want the deer to eat everything before we can harvest.”
Belle and Maggie exchanged a look.“We’ll get our men here tonight to help, and we’ll provide supper,” Maggie said.“And I’m sure the men won’t mind helping to build a barn for your pigs.”
“You are the best two friends a woman could ask for!”Sally leaned down and pressed a kiss to each of their cheeks, and then one on little Bertie’s forehead.“I’ll be back.”
Sally hurried to the store and told Katie she wanted to order the piglets, and she gave very specific instructions about what she was looking for.“I can’t stay and chat,” she said, after everything was ordered.“I’m planting today, and I’d like to finish up a good portion of the work before Tom gets home.”
Katie nodded.“I understand.I’ll get the piglets here as soon as I can.There’s a man who raises pigs about ten miles from here.He brings in meat every couple of weeks.It’ll be nice to have someone local raising pigs.”
When Sally arrived home, she was surprised to find the ladies still there.Not only were the dishes done, but they’d swept and mopped her floor, and laundry was hanging on the line.“I wasn’t expecting you to do all this!”
“The whole purpose of working together as we are is to make all of our lives easier.For the next couple of days, we’ll help you as much as possible to make your planting easier.And we’ll do the same at harvest time.We’ll ask you to do for us when we need it.There’s a couple of weeks in June where the mallards are molting, and Belle is going to want to spend as much time hunting as possible.We’re all benefited by this relationship,” Maggie explained.“Now, are you sure you don’t need help with the planting?”
“I really don’t think so,” Sally said.“I’m enjoying myself.Unless one of you has a time limit on something that needs to be done.”
Maggie and Belle both shook their heads.“Not at all,” Maggie said.
“Then I’ll finish it myself.I like it done a certain way, and I don’t want to force you to do it all my way.”
Maggie laughed.“I understand.”
Belle put the baby back in his basket.“I’ll cook supper.We’ll all meet back here as soon as the men are home from work.”
“Sounds good to me!”Sally returned to her planting as the other women walked away.They were building their lives now, and it felt good to do it together.Many hands made light work.
All of the seeds she’d planned to plant that day were in the ground before Tom arrived home.When he walked in the door, he frowned.“No supper?”
She explained what the ladies had done for her, and what was planned for that evening.“The men are going to help you build the fence around the field.”
Tom blinked a few times.“I never would have even thought to ask.”
“I didn’t ask.The ladies volunteered.I’ll return the favor later in the week by watching the baby while Belle hunts and Maggie forages.I never imagined we’d all be working so closely together.”
“Well, I won’t complain about receiving help with the fence.Digging holes for the fence posts and building the fence itself is not an easy task.”
“I’ll help any way I can,” Sally promised.
There was one quick knock on the door, and Belle carried in the baby while Everett carried in a large pot.“Supper won’t be fancy, but it will be filling,” Belle said, setting the baby’s basket on a chair.“Looks like you haven’t had a chance to wash up yet.Why don’t you do that while I set the table?Maggie and James will be along shortly.”
Sally did as she was told, and Tom was right beside her, washing his arms up to his elbows.“After the first couple of weeks things will be easier,” he promised Sally.
Maggie knocked as the last utensil was set on the table.It was again a cursory knock then she opened the door.“I hope you don’t mind us walking right in,” Maggie said.“We wouldn’t do it if we weren’t expected.”
“It’s fine,” Sally responded.“I have nothing to hide.”
Tom frowned.“Just make sure to only do it when you’re expected.We’re newlyweds...”
“Absolutely,” Maggie said.
They all sat and ate the venison roast and potatoes Belle had made for their supper.While they ate, Tom explained the tasks he was planning to accomplish that evening.“We really should have done the fence before Sally planted, but I don’t think I could have stopped her.”
Sally smiled.“I do enjoy gardening.”
