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“I didn’t realize. I should have helped with all this,” Paige lamented, feeling unworthy as she gazed at the bounty and considered what it must have taken to prepare.
“Dinnae fash. Ye’ll have plenty of opportunity,” he soothed. “I’ve already bartered for our meals today, so ’tis taken care of. ’Twill give ye time tae look around and ask about Austin.”
“Thank you. I’m anxious to do just that. But what did you barter with?” He hadn’t taken anything from his backpack. “Tell me you didn’t give up the knife—dirk—your friend gave you?” She pressed, horrified he might have given up something so precious to him, just to feed her.
“Nae. Only my time,” he grinned. “I’m goin’ tae help Finn put up a bigger windbreak in his lean-tae. He’s already hewn the logs, but there’s more tae be done tae prepare ’em before we can put ’em up. So, I’ll give my labor tae him, and he’ll sharpen extra tools for folks in trade for their labor growing and preparing the food for us.” He shrugged and looked around the village. “ ’Tis a fair system and seems tae work well enough.”
“I suppose,” she thought, wondering what would happen if someone was hurt or became ill and couldn’t work. Hopefully there were some contingencies built in.
“Hello.” The woman in the prairie bonnet said with a big smile. “I’m Elsie Weaver. My family and I are fairly new here too. So, like us, I imagine you’ll have some questions. This,” she held her hands out to indicate the village and their surroundings, “is a lot to take in.” She glanced back at the man and two girls Paige had seen her with earlier. “We’ve had some difficulties getting used to, well,everything. Especially the girls.” She glanced at Taran and back at Paige. “So, if I can help with anything, please allow me.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind,” Paige said. “I’m Paige Williams and this is Taran Fleming.”
“Pleased tae meet ye,” he nodded.
“From Scotland, I assume, from your accent and clothing,” she smiled, indicating his tartan. “And… American?” she asked Paige. “At least I didn’t detect an accent much different than mine. We’re from Missouri. We were traveling west when we got caught in a terrible storm and suddenly…we were here,” she finished. “It was a shock, of course, just as it must be for the two of you. But there’s such wonderful diversity here. Which, admittedly, can be a challenge at times. Oh, the people are very kind, don’t fret about that, you’ll come to love them like we have. But sometimes different customs, language barriers and even a few long-held superstitions can be a challenge. But most everyone is patient and understanding with one another. So, don’t fret, you’ll fit in just fine.”
“Mama?” The older of the two daughters—somewhere around ten, Paige guessed—came to stand by her mother, half-hiding in her skirt. “Papa said we need to let these folks eat before the food gets cold.”
“Goodness,” Elsie gushed. “I’m sorry, I can be a talker. Grab your bowls or plates or whatever and come eat. We’ll get better acquainted, later.”
She began to turn away when Paige touched her arm. “Is it possible to speak with you after lunch, or do you need to go back out to the field? I saw you and your family there this morning,” she explained. “I have some rather urgent questions if it’s not too much to ask. Perhaps I could help you out there, and then we could talk?”
“I do have work to finish,” Elsie said. “But just give me a minute to help my girls get their lunch, and then Albert—that’s my husband—can eat with them while you and I talk and eat. I’ll meet you over there by that pile of stones. It will give us a place to sit and a little privacy while we chat.”
She pointed to a small pile of similar sized rocks beside a mostly stick and brush hut. “That’s our place, at least until Albert can collect enough stones and logs to build us a proper home.”
Paige nodded, her attention on the pile of broken boards and metal pieces behind it.
Elsie sighed. “As you can see, our wagon didn’t make the ‘journey’ very well.”
Noting the haunted look in Elsie’s eyes, Paige wasn’t sure what to say.
“That storm came out of nowhere,” Elsie continued, “a full-blown Devil’s tantrum. The horses broke away and all we could do was huddle inside the wagon and pray.”
She sighed and straightened, fighting for a smile. “When it was finally over and we crawled out of what was left of the wagon, we were here. Well, not right here, but out in the valley. These kind folks took us in and brought us inside the fields for safety. So, we all use the salvaged pieces and parts of the wagon wherever they’re needed. Most everyone landed here with a little something in tow and they share what they can.”
Elsie indicated the different structures around the village. “You can pretty much tell who’s been here the longest by the type of home they have. Obviously, it takes a long time to gather enough material and put in the labor to build something permanent. But we all do our best to help each other.”
She patted Paige’s hand, offering a cheerful smile. “So don’t you worry. We’ll help you get something put together, too. Better fetch your plates and come eat. Oh! And when you’re finished, take a little extra for your dinner tonight, and a bit more for breakfast. They only do one big community meal a day. We all make do on our own for the other meals. But since you’re not really set up for cooking just yet,” she glanced toward their tiny tent, “a ready-to-eat cold supper is a workable option.”
After she left, Paige turned to Taran. “You’ll join us? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to exclude you. I just didn’t want to miss an opportunity to ask about Austin.”
“Nae. ’Tis a good idea, lass. And I’ll try speakin’ wi’ some o’ the men. I’ll ask Finn tae introduce me and mayhap I can learn something about yer brother, as well. But first, I’m going to go grab the wee foldin’ plates from our backpacks.” He gestured to the people lined up to eat who each had their own bowl, plate, or slab of something to put their food on. Most had been carved from wood.
“We seem to have a talented woodworker in our midst,” she noted, turning toward their tent. “I’ll come with you, grab our water bottles, and fill them at the well.”
* * *
Paige moanedand stabbed another piece of meat with her fork. “I didn’t know venison could be this delicious,” she said to Elsie. “Everything tastes amazing. I guess I’m used to bland supermarket vegetables.”
“Supermarket?” Elsie repeated, clearly confused.
“Oh!” Paige turned to her. “I’m sorry. I forgot you and I come from different time periods. What year did youleaveyours?”
“Eighteen-fifty-three. And it was moretaken, than left. We were headed to Oregon like half the rest of the country’s population.” Elsie’s pretty mouth quirked to one side. “At least it seemed like they were all on the trail with us.”
“And you’ve been here for how long?” Paige queried, stabbing the perfect combination bite of sweet onion and tomato.
