Page 5 of Mail Order Mittens (Brides of Alaska #2 | Brides of Beckham #68)

A fter the deer was cut into meal-sized pieces and Belle had a stew on the stove, Maggie went home to bathe and wait for James to let him know they were eating with the Thompsons.

When James came in, he frowned at the stove. “You’re not cooking?” He’d expected her to have supper on the table for him.

“Belle and I spent the day foraging and hunting. We’re using potatoes that I found and the deer she shot, and we’re having a venison stew for supper. Belle cooked and invited us over.”

He sighed. “I do want some time alone with my bride from time to time.”

Maggie bit her lip. “I thought you’d want to go. I can make something for us.”

“No, you’ve already agreed. But I want us to have time together this evening after supper. So as soon as the dishes are done, we’ll head back here.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t do what you wanted.”

“I should have told you. We’ll get used to each other’s likes and dislikes. We’re home now, and it’s very different from traveling. We’ll have to settle into a routine that will make us both happy.”

Maggie nodded. “I met Mrs. Johnson today. I was surprised at how pushy the men were about what they want Belle to make next. I’m looking forward to contributing to our income by doing some baking of my own.” She told him what she and Belle had discussed about taking stew to the men during the day.

“Absolutely not. I don’t want the men ogling my wife.” James sighed. “When Everett scolded Belle in public, the men all fought over who would marry her when she divorced him. It was crazy. I don’t think we need to go through that.”

“I had no idea!”

“You should ask her about it. I’m sure she would tell you.” He washed his hands and face. “Well, I suppose we should go to supper.”

Maggie put on her coat and the mittens he’d given her. “I love these mittens. Where did you get them?”

“I traded for them with one of the Eskimos at Lake Bennett. They are always willing to make a trade.”

“What did you trade for them?” she asked.

“I took some pelts with me. I try to always take something if I know I’m going to be in the vicinity.”

“That sounds smart.” She wondered if he’d hunted for the pelts. “The little building Everett built for keeping food cold during the winter...Do you think you could build one?”

He shook his head. “There’s not enough room on the property.”

She sighed. “Belle said we could share hers if you said that. But it makes it a little harder.”

“It’ll be fine,” he said. “I have a feeling you and Belle will be spending a great deal of time together anyway.”

“Yes, we probably will. We did at the hotel as well. We tried to work the same parties so there would be a smiling face that we knew.”

“How long did the two of you work together?” he asked.

“Four years. The work was hard, and the days were long. I do have a little money saved up though. I’ll make sure to give it to you when we get home.”

“No, that’s your money. I’ll provide for us.”

The man was stubborn. “I’d like to contribute.”

“No, thank you.”

“So, if I earn money baking or sewing, you won’t let me use it for us?” Maggie wondered what was wrong with him.

“If you earn money, it will be yours to do with as you please.” James wanted to tell her that a man provided for his family, and the woman stayed home with the children, but he wasn’t sure how she’d react. That was all right, though. She’d come around to his way of thinking soon enough.

They’d reached the Thompsons’ cabin, and he rapped on the door. Everett opened it immediately. “Welcome!”

“I hope you don’t mind us coming for supper two nights in a row. The ladies decided, and I didn’t know until I got home,” James said.

“I’m always happy when you come to supper,” Everett responded.

Maggie wanted to pull Belle away from the men and talk to her about the small disagreement she and James had just had, but the house was too small. Belle’s cabin was almost as small as the one she was sharing with James. It didn’t matter, though. She’d talk to her tomorrow.

“Supper’s ready,” Belle said.

“I’ll set the table,” Maggie replied, falling into working with Belle as if they’d been doing it for years...because they had.

After supper, Maggie helped with the dishes, wiping them and putting them away while Belle washed them. As soon as they were finished, James insisted they go home. “I’m still tired from the trip. I wish my boss was nicer and let me have the day off.”

Everett laughed. “He’s a mean one, isn’t he?”

James nodded. “Very mean. I’m not sure how Belle puts up with him.”

“Belle loves him, and love covers a multitude of sins,” Belle said, walking them to the door.

Maggie smiled. “I’ll be over tomorrow morning, after I finish my baking.”

“I look forward to it!” Belle said. “There are only a few more days of foraging this year. I’ll forage tomorrow as well. I’ll go back to hunting after we’ve harvested all we can.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Maggie said.

She and James walked home in silence, the only sound their footsteps on the frosted ground.

As soon as the door closed behind them, James removed his coat and invited her to sit at the table with him. “I know Belle is always trying to earn extra money, but I don’t expect that from you.”

Maggie frowned. “But I enjoy the work. I can either make enough jam for us for six years, or I can make enough for us to have some and the men at the mine to have some to purchase.”

“You’re not going to see things my way, are you?”

“Probably not.”

He frowned. “I thought I was getting a sweet, obedient wife.”

“I don’t know what gave you that idea. Perhaps you want to trade me in for another bride?” She had no idea where the courage to say such a thing came from, but the words were tumbling out of her mouth before she had a chance to stifle them.

He gave her a stern look. “But I like you!”

“Then my need to make money won’t bother you too much because it’s part of me.”

“What am I going to do with you?”

She put her arms around him and pressed her lips to his, initiating a kiss for the first time. “Kiss me?” she asked.

“Oh, I will not argue with that idea.” He pulled her closer, his hands roaming over her back and making her jump when he cupped her bottom.

She put all her focus into the kiss, wanting to be closer to him. When he unbuttoned the back of her dress, she didn’t protest. Instead, she moved her hands to the buttons on his flannel shirt. She made quick work of them and pushed the garment off his shoulders.

When her dress was pooled at her feet, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to their bed, placing her there and following her down.

His lips never left hers as his hands explored her body, touching her in places she didn’t even dare touch herself. He covered her body with his, pressing between her legs.

She gasped and moved with him, pleased that they were finally making love. She wanted a baby after all, and she knew this was how it happened.

What surprised Maggie about it all was that the more he moved, the better it felt. She knew she must be a wanton woman, but she liked this. She liked it a lot!

When he finished, he slumped beside her and moved his arm up over his forehead. She moved to him, resting her head on his shoulder. “That was...fun. We should do it often,” she said, surprising herself.

He grinned but said nothing. He was keeping this wife. No matter how stubborn she was.

*****

B ELLE AND MAGGIE SPENT the rest of the week foraging.

They would each do some baking as soon as their husbands left for the day, but then they would meet at Belle’s house at ten in the morning.

From there, they would go to the store to give Katie what they’d made that morning, and order any supplies they needed before going to a clearing—a different one each day—and find whatever they could.

By the end of the week, the berries still on the vine were not good to eat, so they spent Friday afternoon making jam together at Belle’s.

“What are we going to do with two hundred jars of lingonberry jam?” Maggie asked.

“We’ll each keep twenty-four jars, so we can have two per month. Then we’ll sell the other one hundred fifty-two jars to the store. Katie will have them all sold by the end of the day, and we can order what we want with the money we made.”

Maggie laughed. “I like making money this way. It’s so much better than cleaning rooms or serving at the hotel.”

“I do too. I think Everett is a bit confused as to why I keep doing it, but I’ve always earned a wage. Why would I stop now?”

“So, what will we do tomorrow?” Maggie asked.

“The men are off work tomorrow. I’m not sure what you and James will do, but Everett and I plan on butchering some of the chickens.”

“Then you can make chicken and dumplings and not always duck and dumplings.”

Belle laughed. “My thoughts exactly. Though, I think I’ve started liking duck and dumplings more than I ever liked chicken and dumplings.

” Belle put several of the jars into a basket.

“Let’s walk back to the store with some of the jam.

It’ll make the men happier this weekend, and then Everett will be happier come Monday. ”

“And James will too! What a brilliant plan.” Maggie followed suit and filled a basket with jam jars. “It’s going to take a lot of trips to the store this way.”

“I have a little wagon Everett made for me. We can pull that full of jam on Monday. For now, I just want the men to have a little taste of what’s to come.”

Maggie felt light on her feet as they walked to the store. The men would be home in another hour or two, but for now, she was spending time with her friend doing whatever they wanted. And earning money for doing it!

When they arrived at the store, Katie was alone. She got to her feet when she saw them. “Oh, what have you brought me?” she asked.

“Lingonberry jam,” Belle responded. “We have lots and lots more, and we’ll bring it Monday, but this will keep you going for the weekend.”

Katie looked into the baskets and quickly removed three jars from each.

“Bernard is partial to lingonberry jam. These jars are for us, and then I’ll sneak some more when you bring more.

” She opened her cash box and handed them each some coins.

“There. I’ll put the amount for the other jars on your accounts. ”

Maggie bit her lip. “I’ve noticed James’s shirts are worn. Would you have some flannel for me to make him some new shirts?”

“I do!” Katie led them to the three colors of flannel she had on hand. “Most of the men buy their shirts, but I keep flannel around for any project I feel like doing.”

Maggie chose two colors and had the fabric cut. She returned the coins to Katie. “If that’s not enough...”

“It’s more than enough!” Katie told her. “And now when the men get off work, I’ll have some jam to sell. Oh, I’m excited!”

“You’re free to use my sewing machine if you want,” Belle told Maggie. “I don’t know how quickly you want it done, but I do know James’s birthday is in early October.”

“I didn’t know!” Maggie said, a bit shocked with herself. “What kind of woman doesn’t know her own husband’s birthday?”

“One who just barely met and married him,” Belle responded.

“I will be using your machine then,” Maggie said. “James will have two new shirts for his birthday.”

“I’m making him some mittens,” Belle said.

Katie shook her head at the two of them. “You are just what this town needed. Both of you.”

Maggie laughed. “I’m learning from Belle.”

“If you decide you like making shirts, let me know. I know the men around here would love to buy them.”

Maggie nodded. “I do enjoy sewing. I will let you know when I do.”

Maggie and Belle headed back to Belle’s house. “I don’t know what I’ll make for supper,” Maggie said, frowning.

“Take some of the venison. You helped with it, so part of it belongs to you.”

“Are you certain?”

“I am. And now that the forage has dried up, I’ll be doing more hunting, and I hope you’ll be helping me again. It was so much easier with two of us to share the burden.”

“Did I really help that much?”

“Yes!” Belle told her. “I couldn’t have done it all on my own.”

“Will you only hunt deer?” Maggie asked.

“I’ll hunt just about anything. I save the bullets for the deer, but I can do some bow hunting for rabbits and smaller game. I draw my line at bears though. I have no desire to kill and skin a bear.”

“It would be a lot of meat though...”

“So are deer.”

When they reached Belle’s house, Maggie chose some of the venison for her supper before heading home. She wasn’t certain what she wanted to do with it, but she was thinking about a roast with some of the Eskimo potatoes. She was surprised at how much she enjoyed them.

As soon as she was home, she hid the flannel under her nightgowns. She was quite certain James would never look there.

Then she set about cooking supper. Soon, James would be home, and they would have two whole days together. She was surprised at how very excited she was by the prospect.

Being married was a great deal more enjoyable than she’d imagined.

The matron who had run their orphanage had made marital relations sound like the most horrible thing imaginable.

Maggie thought for a moment about how funny it would be to write the matron a letter, telling her how much she enjoyed being with her husband, but she knew the matron wouldn’t find the letter funny at all. Some people had no sense of humor...