“Here we go. Why don’t I carry these back for you?”
“That would be fine. And maybe you could stay for a cup of coffee. I think Mrs. Sam would be taking bread pudding out of the oven right about now. Penny, shame you can’t just close up the store and come too. We never get a chance to really visit.”
“Monday at Solbergs’—I promise we’ll sit together and catch up.”
“I don’t know if I can get away then or not.”
“Yes you can. We need every needle we can get. Besides, Mrs. Sam said you should go out more. She can handle things just fine.”
“That’s what concerns me.” Bridget picked up her basket that now had ginger and several other packets of spices in it. “You better watch out, or I’ll steal this young woman right away from you.”
Penny smiled and patted her mother-in-law’s arm. “Oh, did you get your mail?”
“Henry came for it earlier. I forgot to tell him to get sugar.”
Ellie walked with Bridget out the door and waited while she negotiated the three steps down to the street.
“So you’re going to marry that grandson of mine, are you?”
“Just as soon as we are able.” Ellie matched her stride to the slower one.
“I thought you’d be married by now.”
“Haakan asked us to wait until after harvest.”
“Now why did he do that?”
“We don’t really know. He just felt it would be better, especially when the house didn’t come when it was supposed to.”
“Well, I just hope you don’t find someone else in the meantime, like Anji did. Near broke Thorliff ’s heart, she did. Be a shame for the same to happen to Andrew.”
“You needn’t worry about that. There’s never been anyone but Andrew for me.” Ellie could feel her cheeks pinking up. Even when he does something to—Leave that thought alone, she ordered herself. She should have put her hat on. She paused when Bridget stopped walking.
“Are you all right?”
“Ja, just got to get my breath a little.”
“Is it too hot for you?”
“Nei.” Bridget straightened her shoulders. “I forget sometimes.”
“Forget what?”
“That I am an old woman and sometimes I have to slow down. Uff da.” She leaned a little more heavily on her cane. “What it comes to when you need a stick to hold you up . . .” She shook her head slowly, as if pondering what she’d said. “I know I should be grateful, but . . .” She glanced over at Ellie. “I am grateful.”
“I think we all forget to be grateful at times. I know I do.”
“My mor always told us to count our blessings.” Bridget patted Ellie’s hand. “You are one of mine. You will make Andrew a good wife.”
“I pray so.”
“Come, we will have our coffee on the back porch, where the breeze cools me in the shade. I am like a lizard. I love the sunshine, but when it gets too hot, I hide in the shade.”
Ellie made sure they didn’t walk too fast the rest of the way, watching the old woman with sideways glances so she wouldn’t be caught eyeing her. Bestemor had aged a lot in the two years Ellie had been gone.
When she got back to the store, Penny was busy with a customer, so she went back to the house to begin making supper. Since Hjelmer wouldn’t be home, she decided to cut bread, put cheese in the middle of two slices, and fry the bread in butter. Both she and the children loved fried cheese sandwiches, and they could eat outside, where the breeze would be cool. Penny didn’t much care what she fixed as long as there was plenty for everyone.
“What shall we take to the picnic?” Penny asked later as they finished the chocolate pudding Ellie had made to go with the sand- wiches. She flinched when the mound under her apron bounced. “Easy, baby, your ma needs a bit of rest.”
Ellie watched the apron move again. Penny was so nonchalant about being pregnant. One of these days I might have enough courage to ask her some questions. “I could bake a cake.”
“That’s a start.We have some potatoes in stock, so we could make potato salad. I’ll sure be glad when the garden comes in.”
“Not long until the peas will be ready.” Ellie waved the fan she’d brought out, since the evening breeze had yet to make itself known. A mosquito whined in her ear, so she waited until it sat on her arm, then smashed it. “Do you think mosquitoes like some people better than others?”
Penny leaned against the back of the other rocker with her eyes closed. “Yes, they love me but don’t bother Hjelmer at all.”
“Did I hear someone taking my name in vain?” A deep voice brought the children running from the swing.
“Pa? Can you push me?” Linnea asked.
“I will if your ma will pour me some of that red stuff I see around your mouth.” He swept his daughter up in his arms. “What do you say?”
“I’ll get it.” Ellie stood and stretched her shoulders before heading into the house. She filled the pitcher and broke off a couple chips of ice from the icebox, one of the latest conveniences that Penny had seen in a catalog and ordered. One thing for sure, Penny and Hjelmer always had the latest contraptions. A small pump with a handle sat on their kitchen sink, and when you pumped it, water came out just like out at the well. No more hauling water. Another pipe drained from under the sink and out to a bucket behind the house. They used that water for the garden and flowers. Hjelmer said many homes in the bigger cities had running water and even a toilet that flushed. No more outhouses.
“Mange takk,” he said when she handed him a full glass. “Andrew said to tell you he won’t be coming by this evening.”
That’s no surprise. Ellie shook her head to clear that thought from her mind. Ellie Wold, that is not a very Christian or loving thought.What is the matter with you?
“They are nailing the last shakes on the barn roof. Said he’d finish by moonlight or lantern if he had to. Good thing, because it looks like it could rain tonight.” He drank half the glass without taking a breath. “Did anything interesting come in the freight or the mail?”
Penny shook her head without opening her eyes. “Some newspapers came for you.”
“Ah, good. Bismarck and Grand Forks?”
“And some from Minneapolis.”
“Pa, you said you’d swing us.”
“You’re right. I got my drink, didn’t I?” He stood with a groan. “Keeping up with those young Bjorklunds is making me an old man.”
“We can bathe the children in the tub of water I left out in the sun,” Ellie said softly in case Penny had dozed off.
Penny nodded.
After the rest of the household was in bed and the potatoes cooked for the salad, Ellie took out her tablet and added to the letter she’d started to her mother. She told her of Bridget’s comment about missing her.
I could hardly talk, it made me so homesick for you. I hardly ever see Andrew now that haying is in full swing. I know he uses every minute to finish the barn. The cellar is dug out, but the house still waits in all its packaging. Astrid kidnapped me yesterday, and we surprised the men while they were putting the first of the hay into Andrew’s barn. He was so excited. He took me up into the haymow to see all the ropes and pulleys. The swallows have already built nests under the barn eaves, even though they’re not finished with the roof.
She went on to describe what her days were like and then closed.
I’ll write more tomorrow. We’re all going to the river to fish and picnic. Ingeborg is feeling better.
Good night,
Ellie
While she undressed she thought of the corduroy dress goods that arrived today. Rachel would love a jumper out of the deep blue. Penny had said she could use the sewing machine any time she wanted. Any time she had time, that is.
After church the next day they returned home to change clothes, and Hjelmer hitched up the team to take them and all the food “out to the farm,” as he called it. Half of Blessing seemed to be there. The boys already had a baseball d
iamond laid out, and the men had the tables set up and a fire going to make the coffee.
“Come on, Ellie,” Astrid called. “Let’s go see if we can catch more fish than the boys. Pa says there is a prize for whoever gets the most fish.”
Ellie looked around for Andrew.
Astrid rolled her eyes. “He took the buggy in to get Bestemor and Henry.”
“Oh.” They must have just missed each other. “Where are Sophie and Grace?”
“They don’t like to go fishing.”
Ellie shrugged. “I don’t either.” She glanced down at her outfit. “I didn’t dress to go fishing.”
Astrid snorted and took her cork with a hook imbedded in it and string wrapped around it from her pocket. “Guess I’ll have to go alone, then.”
“Do you have another cork?” Ingeborg asked.
“Ma, you want to go fishing?”
“Anytime. What are we using for bait?”
“I dug some worms.”
“Good girl. Ellie, tell Kaaren where I am, would you please?”
“Of course.”
“She’d come fishing if Andrew asked her.”
Ellie could tell that Astrid was a bit miffed with her. But even if Andrew asked her to put a worm on a hook, she’d tell him no. Besides, the mosquitoes would eat her alive. So instead she went over to the tables and helped spread the tablecloths, setting the pans and dishcloth-covered dishes in the center. That breeze they’d wanted the night before had delayed until today.
“Come sit with us, Ellie,” Sophie called as she and Grace spread a blanket out under a cottonwood tree.
“Coming.” Ellie made her way over and sat down, tucking her skirt carefully about her legs.
“Guess what?” Sophie whispered.
“What?”
“I got another letter from Hamre.” She pulled it from her pocket and waved it in the air.
“You’ve been writing to him?”
“Once. He wrote to me last winter, so I answered. That’s polite, don’t you think?”
“I guess. Is he still fishing?”
“Ja, out of Seattle. That’s in Washington State.”
“Sophie likes the boys, you know.” Grace smiled as she both spoke and signed. In spite of not being able to hear, she had worked hard on learning to talk and read lips. While she spoke more slowly than the others, her smile was always so gentle that no one minded waiting for her.
“I figured that out.” Ellie smiled back at Grace.
“Well, why not?” Sophie leaned forward. “If you weren’t so fixated on Andrew, you’d see we have some fine-looking young men around here.”
“Andrew is the finest.”
“Oh, Ellie, you need to play a little.”
Ellie saw the buggy coming down the track with Andrew driving his bestemor and Henry. Her heart picked up its beat. “I don’t think so.” Her middle warmed as the buggy neared. This afternoon she would finally have some time to spend with Andrew. Perhaps they would go for a walk. Perhaps he would kiss her again. Now her neck grew warm too. She watched him help the older folks from the buggy, and then he stared right at her, his smile widening. That special smile he saved for her. As he wound his way through those gathered, she heard Sophie snicker. But she didn’t care one whit. Her Andrew stood head and shoulders above all the other men, at least in her eyes.
“You’re pie-eyed,” Sophie whispered.
“So?” If they’d been alone she would have leaped up and run into his arms. How much longer before they could have the wedding? Would these feelings last forever, or would it be different once they were married?
WILL WE EVER get time to be alone? Andrew looked at Ellie.
Even sitting next to her was not enough. He leaned back so his left arm, rigid now like the other to hold him up, felt the warmth from her back. Now that was better. She slumped slightly instead of sitting straight, so her back touched his arm. Heat leaped between them.
“Would you like some dessert?”
“No thank you. I’m full.”
“Hey, Andrew, come play on my team.” Trygve waved at him.
“I thought you were going fishing.”
“Ah, they aren’t biting now. Baseball is better.”
“That means Astrid got more fish than you did.”
“Tante Ingeborg helped her. That’s not fair.”
“Well, if we are going to have a fish fry for supper, someone better catch more fish. Come on, Ellie, we’ll show them how.” He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “That way we can be alone for a while.”
“But I told Astrid I don’t like fishing.” Why can’t we just go for a walk and talk?
“You don’t have to fish. You can sit on a log and look beautiful. The fish will jump right out of the river just to see you.”
Ellie shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Andrew Bjorklund, you say the silliest things.”
“That’s not silly.” He drew back and wrapped his arms around his bent knees. “You are the most beautiful woman around.”
“Shh. You’re embarrassing me.” She could feel the heat all the way to her ears and climbing higher.
Andrew heaved a sigh. “Look, do you want to come fishing or not?”
“Not really.”
“You used to.”
“I know, but”—she gestured to the dress she was wearing—“I’m not dressed to go fishing. And besides, that was a long time ago.”
Andrew stood in one smooth motion, pulled her to her feet, and hung on to her hand. “Come on. We’re going fishing.”
Ellie heard snickers, which she knew were from Astrid and Trygve. “Andrew, stop!” He didn’t even look back at her. Whatever had happened to her easygoing Andrew? Here he was acting like a caveman, hauling her down to the river. She caught her foot under a root and stumbled. “Andrew Bjorklund. Ouch.” She tried jerking her hand out of his, but at least she got him to stop.
“What?” The glare he gave her when he turned around made her clamp her teeth.
She bent over and wriggled her foot. “You were hurrying me so fast, I stumbled on a root.” She put her weight on her foot. “Ow. Now look what you’ve done.” All I need is something sprained or broken so I can’t work in the store or my garden.
“What I’ve done! All I wanted was to be alone with you, and I thought you wanted the same.” He was near to shouting, and the harsh words kept on coming. “Here we get the chance, and you don’t even want to come, and—” He raised his hands and let them drop to his sides. “What’s the matter with you?”
Ellie almost apologized, but the look on his face steeled her backbone. “With me?” She raised her chin and narrowed her eyes. “Right now, Mr. Bjorklund, I want to be anywhere rather than with you. My foot hurts, thanks to you, and I am going back to the others.”
“Whatever you want. If you should just happen to change your mind, I’ll be down at the river catching enough fish for supper. All Bjorklund women are good at fishing.” He spun away, stomping the brush as if killing snakes.
“Well, since I am not a Bjorklund . . . yet, I’ll go visit with your grandmother or someone,” she yelled after him. No matter that her foot burned and ached, she turned and flounced up the path, pushing aside branches like they were the enemy. “And if you are going to act like this,” she muttered, “I’m very glad I’m not married to you yet.” She turned to say one more thing to Andrew, but this time she didn’t yell. “And you bought the wrong house too.”
She followed the cheering to the ball field, all the while in her mind calling Andrew every name she could think of. She’d as soon have shouted them to the trees. He’d looked more like that boy of years ago, the one who’d pounded Toby Valders into the dirt, his ragereddened face a mask of fury. What had happened to the gentle man she’d grown into love with?
Sophie and Grace were sitting on a blanket under a tree with the other women, while the men and boys who’d divided into two teams took turns trying to whack the ball into the cow pasture. So far
they hadn’t gotten very far, but for all the shouting and cheering anything was possible.
“I thought you were going fishing.” Sophie patted a place beside her.
Ellie sat down and rubbed her foot through her shoe. “He dragged me over a root, and when I said ouch, he got all angry and yelled at me.”
“I do hope you yelled back.”
“Sophie!” Grace sounded shocked.
“Well, Andrew needs to be taken down a peg or two. He’s still angry at Onkel Haakan and is taking it out on all of us. He yelled at me when that crazy cow tried to kick the bucket over this morning.”
“Andrew yelled at you?” Ellie could feel her eyes widen. Andrew never yelled at anyone, except for Toby Valders. And that not for a long time, or at least not that she knew. But he yelled at me.
“He’s been grumpy lately.” Sophie shook her head. “Really grumpy.”
“He’s been worried about the barn and the house,” Ellie muttered into her bent knees.
“There now, you go sticking up for him. You’ve always thought he was Mr. Perfect, but if you’d been here the last month, you’d have seen what I’m talking about.”
Ellie looked at Grace, who was studying the buckles on her shoes. She tapped Grace on the shoulder. “Is that true?”
“What?” She failed to meet Ellie’s gaze.
“Oh, you know what we’re talking about.” Sophie poked her sister. “You just don’t want to hear anything bad about anybody, let alone your beloved Andrew.”
Grace’s eyes darkened. “You are talking too fast. Please sign.” Her fingers flashed faster than her words.
A Promise for Ellie Page 16