“No,” Susan said. “Not yet. We were going to stop at the mercantile and see if they had some. But I can provide the flour and such if you need.”
“For today, we’ll just use mine. And you can take a couple loaves home. Then one of these days when you get the hang of it, you’ll have to bring me a loaf to try.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Susan said, smiling up at the other woman. She was a few years older than Susan and in the house she could hear the sounds of some young children. “How many kids do you have?”
Bessy looked at her then as she saw Susan looking at the children she clarified. “Kids? You mean children? I’ve got five. Oldest is ten. He’s out with his father working the sheep. Youngest is just starting to walk.”
Susan nodded, not sure what to say about that. It was obvious the woman was busy and had her hands full, but she didn’t need that pointed out. “They are quite lovely children,” is what she finally settled on.
“Thank you. They are quite the help as well. Most times. You’ll find out I’m sure.”
Susan nodded again wondering if she was really willing to have children in such primitive conditions. No hospital for hundreds if not thousands of miles, and those that were established even in the big cities weren’t really all that much better. Maybe there was a midwife or something. She pushed the thought out of her head, though knew she couldn’t bury it too far.
“Let’s get washed up and get the things we need. Before we start, have you had any practice doing bread?”
Susan shook her head. “Not even a little. So pretend I’m a baby and go slow please.”
Bessy smiled. “It’s not that hard. Before long, you’ll be doing it with your eyes closed and just by feel.”
“One can hope,” Susan said.
Bessy decided to make her do it all, only stepping in on a few parts to double check the feel of the dough and instruct her on whether to add more flour or to knead it a bit longer.
“Lots of the results depends on how long you let it sit and whether you’ve got the cook stove to the right temperature. Your stove have a spot like this?” She pointed out a small door next to the place she’d built her fire.
“I don’t think so. It’s a bit smaller.”
“Maybe what we ought to do, is finish this bread here, then you and I can go see what yours will take. If you’ve got an older model, it’s still possible to bake bread, but just a little differently.”
“You can only fit two loaves in at a time,” Susan said as she watched Bessy set the bread in.
“Yes. Usually I make the dough for one batch, then as it’s baking, I make a second batch. I bake bread every other day at least.”
“Doesn’t your house get unbearably hot?” Susan asked, noticing the open window no longer gave any relief.
“Some days. Most times I just get the bread going and while it’s cooking, I head outside under the tree to do the washing.”
“Right,” Susan said, staring to realize exactly how much work it really took to live in a time with no modern conveniences. She wondered briefly if she would need a lesson in that chore as well. But she’d seen a scrub board and a large barrel that would most likely be her wash basin at Michael’s house. She’d at least need to be told how much soap to use. Oh, she would miss her laundromat. Never again would she complain about the need to get quarters.
Hours later, she was covered in flour and sweat and sticky fingerprints from the toddler that had latched onto her, but incredibly happy and pleased with what she’d learned.
She took home two loaves of bread, already wishing she had butter to put on top. It was a good thing she’d be getting a cow so she could churn her own butter. The bread had needed flour, eggs, yeast, sugar, salt, and butter. All things she could manage if she could just remember the amounts. She would need to find a piece of paper to jot it down on. Bessy had promised her a sourdough start and Susan hoped she’d be able to figure out how to keep it alive.
When she entered her little home, she placed the bread on the counter and covered it with a piece of cloth. She found the oil lamp and lit it then did her best to come up with a meal to go with the bread. She figured if she used a third or fourth of the loaf tonight, there would be enough to have something for the next couple of days. There was still some bacon and she’d seen a can of vegetables as well as some small potatoes and onions she figured she could fry.
By the time she finished, it wasn’t horrible, but she knew she wouldn’t win any prizes for best meal. At least it was for sure edible and Susan couldn’t wait for Michael to arrive home.
CHAPTER SIX
Michael was practically dragging by the time he left the shop and headed toward home. He hoped Susan would have managed to make a meal, though he doubted it, given the lack of cooking skills she had. For the first time, he wondered if maybe he should have specified that he preferred a woman who knew how to cook.
Of course, he had learned on the go and had managed just fine. It might take a while, but he was sure she could get it. She seemed willing and eager to learn.
He just hoped it was something she could pick up on quickly.
When he reached his front door, he could tell the house felt different. Lived in, and that made him happy. No more coming home to a dark and lonely place. He opened the door and the smell of food hit him.
She’d done it.
Susan turned around at the sound of him entering and the smile that reached her eyes made him forget for a moment he was hungry. What he really wanted was to kiss her. He closed the door and took a step forward. She set down the pan she’d been holding and walked toward him.
It still surprised him that he was actually married. When Susan reached him, she put her arms around his waist and tucked her head against his chest. “Welcome home, Michael.”
He hugged her back, then when she looked up at him, he gave her the kiss he’d wished for, but this time she didn’t let it last nearly long enough.
“I made dinner. I hope it turned out all right. I’m not sure if it’s still warm since I wasn’t sure what time you’d get back. Bessy taught me how to make some bread, and tomorrow she’ll come over and help me figure out the best way to use my stove. She said I don’t really need a pan if I don’t want to use one. I can just make it like French bread. Or I guess it’s really more just sour dough bread in its own little plop pile.”
Susan bit her lip as he tilted his head to the side while trying to keep up with what she was saying.
“Never mind. Just come sit down. Let’s eat and see if I managed to not make a mess of things.”
“Smells good,” Michael said as he turned toward the table. She had taken the small stool and allowed him to sit in the only chair that had a back, and Michael decided he’d need to figure out a way to get more furniture. That would be a good activity to work on in the winter months. He wouldn’t be at his blacksmith shop as many hours a day in the winter. Most of his time would be spent inside his little cabin with his lovely wife. The thought of that brought him more happiness. The two sat down, and Michael offered a prayer of thanks then turned his attention to his plate.
Susan watched him as he lifted his fork and took a bite of the food. He smiled with surprise. The flavors were familiar but the way she’d mixed it all was something new. He nodded and took another bite.
“It’s good.”
Susan sighed and took a bite herself. She watched him throughout the meal and he wondered if he needed to give her more praise or talk to her, but decided he’d just eat and wait until she spoke.
But as the warm food and the warm room and the lack of sleep the night before combined with all his extra work at the shop caught up to him, he felt his arms grow heavy and his eyes struggled to stay open.
“Looks like you’ve had quite the day,” Susan said. “Maybe you should get some sleep.”
Michael wanted to protest. To claim that he could stay up and help her clean up dinner, but he realized she had already cleared away the plates and
was taking his hand to lead him to the bed.
“You sleep on this tonight. I’ll take the floor.”
“Not a chance,” Michael said waking up enough to argue.
“But you need your rest. I’d hate for you to be so tired you ended up injuring yourself.”
“No worry on that. The floor will be fine. Last night was just new. I’ll sleep like a rock tonight and there won’t be a problem.”
Susan frowned and for just a moment he thought maybe he could suggest they share the bed. Completely just for sleeping, but he knew that if he actually felt her presence next to him through the night, there would be even less of a chance of a good night’s rest.
He picked up his blanket and lay it out on the floor then turned toward the door. “I’ll be right back after I check on the animals.”
“I did that before you got home. Unless you want to double check.”
Michael shook his head. “Thank you. Sleep well, Susan.” He moved to the floor and lay down, fully dressed apart from his boots.
She watched him for a moment as if she meant to say something, but instead just whispered, “Sleep well, Michael.”
He closed his eyes, hoping to drift off to sleep immediately since he’d been so close to that while sitting at the table, but as his wife moved around the room, tidying up the last of the meal and preparing herself for bed, he was hyper aware of every sound she made.
When she climbed into the bed nearby, he listened to all the little sounds of her making herself comfortable. Michael couldn’t wait for her one week request to be over. Maybe, if he was lucky they could revisit that conversation.
***
Susan woke the next morning and rolled onto her side, noting once again she was alone. Disappointment washed over her at the fact he hadn’t stayed to say goodbye. And though she didn’t really know what time it was, she knew she had slept late again. She wondered if she’d get used to waking up early when he did, or if she’d even hear him. As far as she could tell, there weren’t any roosters nearby crowing to wake her up.
She’d always been a night owl and being in the past was no different, though there weren’t lights and electronics to occupy her. As she thought about it, she realized she hadn’t missed her phone lately. The first week she’d spent in New York had been rough, but there had been enough familiarity in the older buildings that she had been pretty occupied. Now, everything was so different than what she’d grown up knowing that she could easily forget the phone and laptop and things she’d loved.
What she really missed the most was indoor plumbing and hot water from a tap. There wasn’t even an option for a shower right now, but she figured somewhere it had to have been invented and before long, they could get some plumbing set up.
She looked around the little house she found herself coming to love but knew she would want to do something different. If she stayed here and raised a family with Michael, she couldn’t imagine trying to get them all to fit inside. And the town needed something more.
There was a church that doubled as a school as far as she could tell. The school kids had been taught most recently by a girl of about fourteen and Susan was curious to know how the people of Birch Creek would feel if she offered up her services like Michael had suggested.
But they would need another building for a school. And there had to be something she could do to help build up the town of Birch Creek. Maybe they could look into building a larger place, not really a hotel but a boarding house or something.
From all the books she’d read about the westward expansion, there was a really big need to bring women out west. So many men had come to settle it, and start farms. Or even come to find their fortune in gold or silver only to have that hope dashed and then work their way back to the rocky mountain area. The number of able bodied men far outnumbered strong and capable women, and if she was going to really stay here and make a difference in the past, having a boarding house where women could come and have a chance to court the men here instead of just agreeing to marry someone sight unseen could help the situation immensely.
Though if all women could be as lucky in finding a husband like she had, then she thought signing on to be a mail order bride really wasn’t all that bad.
Not that she knew for sure. She’d only been married to Michael for two days now, and they had only spent a few waking hours getting to know each other.
Of course, Susan felt like things had so much potential. There was mutual respect and appreciation and even if he wasn’t some big rich land owner in need of the gentle guidance of a woman, Susan didn’t think she’d need some kind of romance novel relationship. She could take things slow and easy with a hardworking man that was liked and respected by the people in his community.
Then again, Susan wouldn’t be at all disappointed in a little more romance. Darn man and his total respect and restraint. She’d have to see what she could do to revise her earlier request. Susan laughed at herself, freely admitting she was a fickle female that couldn’t make up her mind.
She made herself a quick breakfast and noticed there was some bread missing, so at least Michael had eaten something this morning. She’d have to make sure to take him something for lunch. Mostly so she could see him, but then afterward they could go over to the mercantile and she could see what was there that she might need. She’d been impressed at the kindness of the townsfolk and wanted to see if there might be something she could do to help repay them.
She’d be sure to talk to Michael again about the possibility of helping in the school. And when she learned more about how everything worked, she’d see what it would take to build a boarding house.
The town was small, but she knew it would continue to grow, especially since it had such friendly people and a nice area. Settlers had been coming west for years and would continue to move out here in search of a chance at their own farm and ranches. Lots more space than what the crowded cities back east had to offer.
A knock on her door brought Susan out of her own thoughts and she put the cloth down that she’d been using to dry the pan she’d cooked with. She moved over to it, wondering who might be there when she heard Bessy’s familiar voice.
“You home, Susan?”
“Of course, Bessy. Please come on in.”
“You’ve done a great job making this look nice. I like what you’ve done.” Bessy nodded her approval as she bounced her baby on her hip after walking into the little house and giving it a look. “Won’t hold many kids though.”
Susan chuckled. “You know, I had that same thought. Not that I’ll need much more room too soon.”
Bessy gave her a smile and moved over to the stove without response. “This looks like you’ve got some room to make bread. Might only have one pan at a time, but you can do it for sure. And with just the two of you eating, you could easily just get to the routine of making a new batch every day. One at a time.”
“That’s good to know.”
“So I heard that Bert Smith has a cow that he’s traded you. Michael talked to Andrew about keeping her in with ours for a bit. I can show you how to milk and then teach you how to make butter.”
“That is so kind of you. I know Michael wants to build a shed and pen for her soon, but having her close by would be great. I was thinking as I came home with your bread that having some fresh butter would be lovely.”
“So we can go bring her over today if you’d like. It’s not that far a walk over to the Smith’s. And I’m sure the cow will be easy enough for the two of us to lead back.”
“Thank you again,” Susan said. “I don’t know what I’d do without your help. Is everyone here as friendly as you all have been?”
“Most folk are really great. Some get a bit high on themselves at times, but we all look out for each other. Makes living out here safer. Far as I can remember, it’s always been this way, but I heard when they first settled the area, there had been some pretty big misunderstandings. Almost like to lead to war between the different folk wh
o wanted to claim the valley. But that’s all been history since before I was born.”
“Glad I came when I did then. Fifty years too early and that would have been tough.”
Bessy giggled. “You weren’t even born then. How could you have come sooner?”
Susan smiled. “Exactly.” Of course she could never tell Bessy about her real trip here. No one would believe her. Sometimes it was a little difficult to believe herself.
They quickly set out to go get the cow and take it to Bessy’s house. By lunch time, Bessy had shown Susan how to milk the cow, where to store the fresh milk while waiting for the cream to settle on the top and then showed her how to churn the cream into butter from the milk she’d gotten from her own cows earlier that morning before coming to visit.
“Is there anything you can’t do?” Susan asked Bessy as the woman tucked her sleeping babe on the bed for a nap and studied the bread she’d set Susan to mixing for another round of practice.
“Oh, a fair many things. But I do try.”
“You, my dear Bessy, are the reason the American West was civilized. I’m in awe to be acquainted with you.”
“That’s just sweet.” Bessy’s cheeks pinked right up and Susan smiled warmly at her new friend.
“I’m one hundred percent serious. You are an amazing woman and I hope to someday grow up to be just like you.”
“You make me happy,” Bessy said. “I’m sure glad Michael got sick of being lonesome and sent for you. I think we need more women out here.”
“I was thinking the same thing this morning, just before you arrived,” Susan said. “Now tell me if you think this is crazy, and if it is crazy, help me figure out how to make it not crazy. But I wanted to know what it might take to get a building set up where we could house women who might be interested in coming out west to make a better life for themselves.”
Bessy tilted her head to the side but didn’t stop Susan from explaining. “While I was in New York, there aren’t a lot of options for single women. And most of them seemed pretty miserable. The factory work isn’t the best and doesn’t pay well, but there isn’t anything else they can do if they don’t have the prospect of marriage.”
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