Page 10 of Mail Order Mittens (Brides of Alaska #2 | Brides of Beckham #68)

B efore church the following morning, James looked in the drawer where he kept his money, planning to donate a small amount to the Johnsons to thank them for use of their home every week. He tried to donate at least once a month.

To his surprise, there was a great deal more money in the drawer than he’d had previously. He kept close track of his funds.

He walked up behind Maggie, who was cooking their breakfast. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

Maggie frowned, shaking her head. “Not that I can think of.” She looked at him curiously.

“There’s something you don’t know about me, Maggie. I always know to the penny how much money I have.”

Maggie turned back around, not wanting to face him for this discussion. “Is that so?”

“Why is there more money? I know you’ve had to buy groceries. There should be less money, not more.”

She flipped the pancakes before responding.

“I’ve worked for years. I’ve always had an income.

I’ve saved every penny I could from that income.

I’ve always feared having nowhere to live and nothing to eat.

” She sighed. “I can’t stop working because if I do, something will surely happen.

I feel safe working and making money. I think I would be afraid if I stopped.

I have nothing I need from that money, so it made sense to me to give it to you. ”

“You don’t think I can support you, do you?”

Maggie flipped the pancakes onto two plates.

“I know you can support me. I don’t know if I can give up the fear that if I quit working, I’ll be out on the street.

On one hand, I know better. I know you won’t let anything happen to me.

On the other hand, the very idea of not making an income, and being able to support myself if something happened to you, frightens me more than I can admit. ”

“Then keep your money! We don’t need it!”

“But I need to contribute. Don’t you see?”

“No, I don’t see!” He took his plate from her and carried it to the table. “I don’t understand why you can’t do this one thing that I ask of you. Stop working or keep your money. I don’t need it!”

Maggie set her plate on the table and moved to the seat across from him, not meeting his gaze. “Can’t we use it to save money so you can buy back into the lumber operation? Every time you’ve talked about it, I can tell it’s what you want.”

“But it’s not. I think it would be nice, but I don’t know that Everett would be willing to sell half back to me. He likes running things on his own. The idea of carving for a living makes me much happier.”

“So, you can carve, and I can cook for the men. Then you don’t have to worry about how quickly you’ll be paid.”

“No, Maggie. I can’t take your money.”

“Is the money you make your money or our money?” she asked.

“It’s ours, but the money you make is yours. I’m finished discussing this.”

“You are a mule-headed man!”

“And you’re the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met in my life!”

The rest of their meal passed in silence. Afterward, she cleaned up and dressed for church. Before they left, James put money on the table. “I want that to be gone the next time I look at the table.”

She didn’t respond and simply stared straight ahead. They walked to the store and went inside together, and they even sat together for the service, but neither would look at the other, both of them so angry.

Maggie had almost forgotten she’d invited Belle and Everett to join them for lunch. Thankfully, she’d made the stew and baked the bread the previous evening, and she was ready to heat it up and serve it in the bread.

Throughout the meal, Everett and Belle tried to make conversation. Afterward, Belle stayed inside to help Maggie with the dishes while both men took their bows and arrows to do a bit of hunting.

As soon as the men were gone, Belle turned to Maggie. “What is going on? And why is there so much money in the middle of the table?”

Maggie sighed. “My husband is an ignorant fool!”

“All men are.” Belle put her hand on Maggie’s arm. “From the beginning.”

Maggie explained that James had a problem with her earning money because he felt it meant she didn’t have confidence in him to earn a living for them. Belle already knew Maggie’s perspective because they’d known each other for years.

“Yesterday, when Katie gave me cash because my credit at the store was getting so high, I put the money into the drawer where James keeps it. I was hoping he wouldn’t notice and would use whatever was there for what he needed.

When he realized how much more money was there this morning, he shouted at me.

We argued, and he finally dropped the money in the middle of the table and told me to put it away before he saw it again. I’m not touching it.”

Belle shook her head. “So put it away. Save it for the children. Save it for a rainy day. Why does he have to take it?”

“Because he has to understand that I can contribute! We could have a nicer house. We could do many things with the money I make. I don’t know why he can’t see that!”

“And I don’t know why you can’t understand that his pride won’t let him take money from his wife. I understand that you want to earn money. Really, I do. But why does he need to take that money and use it when you can save it?”

Maggie folded her arms over her chest stubbornly. “Why won’t he?”

“You’re not going to win this argument, Mags. He is too prideful to take it. Put it away. It’s that simple. If you won’t put it away, I will take it and set it aside for you.”

“That might be best,” Maggie said. “Put it somewhere, and when we need money, I’ll come to you. Then we won’t fight about it.”

*****

J AMES STOMPED THROUGH the snow as he and Everett moved toward the clearing they had found was best for hunting in the winter.

“Why are you and Maggie fighting?” Everett asked.

“Who says we are?” James responded, kicking at a snow drift.

“It’s obvious to anyone who knows you.”

“Ever since she got here, she’s been baking for the men in town.

I’ve told her we don’t need the money. I’ve told her that I want to support her.

I’ve told her not to even think about giving me the money.

” James shook his head. “She sneaked it into the drawer where I keep my money. She didn’t think I’d notice.

I’m not stupid. Of course I noticed. Why can’t she do this one little thing I ask? ”

Everett frowned. “You know Maggie was raised in an orphanage and expected to leave when she turned sixteen, right?”

“Yes, she’s told me all about it. What does that have to do with anything?”

“Did it ever occur to you that she’s frightened of what will happen to her if she doesn’t have any money? She’s already been in that position. You have to understand her point of view.”

“But she’s not in that position now. So, she can stop trying to earn money and be content as my wife with the money I earn.”

Everett shook his head. “You’re being a stubborn fool.

If she works until you start having children, you’ll be better off.

Why not accept that and be grateful she’s so willing to work?

It doesn’t bother me at all that Belle works.

I’ve heard both her and Maggie say that they don’t feel like they work because they have freedom to do what they want. ”

“She should be willing to obey me as her husband.”

Everett laughed. “I’ve never known a woman who truly obeyed her husband. Women have thoughts. They should be able to express them and do what they think is best.”

James sighed. “You don’t understand at all.”

*****

M AGGIE TOOK THE MONEY off the table and wrapped a piece of paper around it, noting the amount on the paper. “Here. Just take it. Save it for me when I decide to leave the pig-headed—”

“Maggie! You need to respect your husband.”

“I’m trying!”

Maggie made a pot of tea and served the thumbprint cookies she’d made the night before with them.

“I like them with the lingonberry jam. They are usually made with raspberry jam, but I truly don’t think it matters.

” Her words were forced. She was trying not to let her bad mood and fight with James affect her friendship with Belle.

“They’re delicious. I need—”

Maggie got up and took a piece of paper off the counter, giving it to her friend. “The receipt?”

“Exactly! How did you guess?” Belle read over the paper and nodded. “They’re not difficult at all.”

“No, they’re not. But I think the men will enjoy them. And even if they don’t, I’m glad I made them because I was hungry for them.”

“I’m making them in the morning.” Maggie took a sip of her tea. “Do you give Katie the price of what you’re selling, or does she choose?”

“She chooses. She has a better idea what things should sell for here.”

The door opened then, and James and Everett came inside. James immediately looked at the table and saw that the money was gone, and he looked relieved.

“We got a doe, but we’ve already taken care of it,” Everett said. “And I cut tiny pieces for the stew meat.”

“Thank you for that!” Belle said. “We should be getting home. I haven’t even thought about what to make for supper.”

Everett helped Belle on with her coat. “See you at work tomorrow,” he said to James. “Thanks for the meal, Maggie. It was delicious.”

After they were gone, Maggie stood up and cleared the table from the tea and cookies. She washed out the teapot and waited for James to say something about the money being gone, but when he didn’t, she decided she could be the one to make peace, even though he was the stubborn one.

“Belle told me I’m being stubborn about the money, and I need to stop it,” she said softly.

James grunted. “Everett called me a fool. Said I should understand your past and why you feel as you do.” He swallowed hard. “I am sorry I was so rude to you about it. It touched a sore spot in me.”

“And in me. I need to feel like I’m going to be all right financially. That’s the crux of the matter. But I also need to respect your wishes and not try to force you to take money I’ve earned.” She turned to him and met his eyes. “I am sorry.”

James opened his arms to her, and she flew into them. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have acted like a pigheaded fool. Money is a touchy subject with me as well. It’s just different.”

“All is forgiven?” she asked, nestling into his arms.

“All is forgiven. I love you, and I never want us to fight that way again.”

“I don’t want to fight either.” She looked up at him, feeling safe for the first time since that morning. “I love you too, James. With everything inside me.”

“Glad to hear it. And you didn’t even call me stubborn when you said it. I think things are looking up for us.”

Maggie giggled. “I know they are.”