“Oh, I know that!”Sally didn’t want him to think she was feeble-minded.
“Then why did you ask?”
“I was just trying to get you to speak,” she said.“I like your voice.”
He shook his head at her, pausing to tie her carpet bags to the saddle of the mule he found tied to a tree.
“What’s his name?”she asked.
Tom seemed confused by her question.“Whose name?”
“The mule’s of course!”
“To my knowledge he doesn’t have a name.I rented him from a man at Lake Bennett.”
“Well, he needs a name.Why don’t we call him Elmer?”
Tom shook his head.“You may call him whatever you would like.”
“Elmer it is then.You like that name, don’t you, Elmer?”she asked, petting the animal’s nose.“Thank you for carrying my bags for me.My arms would look strange by the time we reached the beautiful cabin in the woods where I’ll make my home with Thomas.”
Tom frowned.“What makes you think the cabin is beautiful?”In truth, he and two of his friends had built the cabin in one weekend.It was no frills, other than the window he’d added in the kitchen.
“It’s in the woods, so of course it’s beautiful,” Sally responded.
“Have you been drinking alcohol?”he asked, studying her, but not slowing his walk.
“Alcohol?Of course not.I’ve seen too many men do stupid things while deep into their cups.I have no desire to be anything like them.”
“I see,” he responded, though he seemed doubtful.
“I promise.I have had tea and crackers to eat today, as the journey unsettled my stomach.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.Are you better now?”he asked.
“I feel ever so much better,” she replied.“The tossing of the ship simply didn’t agree with me.Now that we’re on solid ground, I feel much better.”
“That’s good,” he replied, and then was silent.
Sally thought about what topic she could introduce that he’d enjoy discussing with her, but he didn’t seem to be in the mood to have a conversation, so she remained silent, simply saying the things she would say to him inside her head, and not forcing them on him.
This path is steep, she would say.
It’s very steep,he would respond.Is it too steep for you?Should we slow down a bit?
Oh, no.I’m just fine.I like walking and hiking.I always went for walks on my days off work.I wanted to have Sundays off, but the hotel was too busy for me to be off on Sundays, so I had Wednesdays off.I was able to do mid-week shopping and errands.
Then he would smile at her and tell her that she would now not have to work outside the home.She would be able to cook, clean, and do all the other things wives did.
It was a pleasant conversation, and she was glad they’d had it.It didn’t matter it had only occurred in her mind.
When it was finally time to stop for the night, he pulled out some jerky and hardtack.“Oh, I don’t mind cooking!”she offered.
He shook his head.“We can’t waste energy on cooking.I want to be home as soon as possible so I don’t lose too many days’ wages.”
“I could work when we arrive.Is there a hotel or any place like that?I’ve been a waitress, cook’s assistant and maid.I’m certain I’ll be able to find work there.”
Tom looked at Sally as if she’d grown horns.All over her body.“The town I live near is very small.There is no work for a woman.”
“I could chop trees!”she said.“I did that after my father died, so my mother and I would have wood for our fires.”
He shook his head.“I don’t believe that will be necessary.”
“All right.”Sally wasn’t certain what she could do to earn money once they got to Yeti, but she’d find something.She had to contribute.
