“They’re nine weeks old.We can breed them at six months.When they are four months, we’ll want to separate them.That’s why I had you build the fence through the middle of their pen.They’ll breed too early if they’re all left in one area.”
“So, we can breed them in October?”he asked.
“We can.A female can have two litters per year.They are pregnant for almost four months.We have to decide if we want them giving birth in January.It may be easier if we wait and have them give birth in April.Then they would be able to breed again in July and their second round of litters would be October.”
“That sounds reasonable.It would probably be best to wait until January then.That way the babies would have a little time before the truly cold weather sets in.”
“My thoughts exactly.”Giving Herbert one last head pat, she turned to go back to the cabin.“I got all the planting I had planned for today done.Belle and Maggie came for lunch, and Maggie dropped off some rhubarb.I baked one more pie to share with them after lunch tomorrow.They both think they hate rhubarb, and I intend to show them they don’t.”She paused for a moment.“Now that you’ve tasted rhubarb, do you think you’d like rhubarb sauce?It’s a lot like applesauce, but rhubarb instead.”
“I think I’d love it.That pie was wonderful.In fact, I’m going to have another slice before bed.”
“I will too then.If I’m going to have to wash dishes anyway, I may as well wash more.”She bit her lip.“I’m considering making a couple of pies for the store.What do you think?Would the men like them?”
He laughed.“I think they would make the men very happy.You haven’t attempted to bake anything for sale yet, have you?”he asked.
“No, not yet.This will be my first time.”Sally laughed.“To tell you the truth, I’m a little nervous about it.I know they love Belle and Maggie’s baking, but I worry mine won’t be as good.”
“It’ll be fine.”Tom put his arm around her as they stopped right outside the door.“I would be in line to buy one after that first taste.I want rhubarb pie every night.”
“Me too!I’ll make them as often as I can,” she promised.“Unfortunately, I need to focus on planting this week.But the rhubarb will keep coming in.I’ll do what I can.”
“I think the system you worked out with Maggie and Belle is working well.Don’t you?”
Sally nodded.“Yes, I really do.And I think it was sweet of Everett to insist on giving us the wood for the pig pen.”
“I agree.We made a much better pen than what I would have been able to do with logs.”
“I think we should put in a cold house before fall as well.We’ll be able to store more meat that way, and if we don’t do it this year, we’ll need to do it next for the pigs.”
He sighed.“It’s probably smarter to do it this year.Next year, we’re going to be knee deep in piglets.”
She giggled.“I love playing with them when they’re first born.I’ve even bottle-fed one or two that the mother rejected.”
“I didn’t know sows could reject their piglets.”
“It’s rare, but it does happen.The ones I saw were weak piglets that couldn’t latch onto the mother’s teat.Then Pa would give me the piglet and a bottle, and I’d feed it cow’s milk until it was eight weeks and old enough to wean.”
“Sounds like it was a lot of work.”
“Everything worth having is worth hard work,” Sally said.“The piglets will be work, but the bacon will taste better than any you’ve ever had because you’ll know what they’ve eaten and how they were cared for.”
They walked inside, and she served them each a slice of pie and put water on the stove to boil for washing the dishes.
“If I was asked to eat this every day, it wouldn’t be too often.”
She shook her head.“I’d take that as a compliment, but you were happy with hardtack and jerky every day...”
He laughed.“I prefer this.I promise.”
