Mail Order Mama (Brides of Beckham Book 2) (7 page)

Abbie made a face.  “She put salt and pepper and sugar on it, too.  It was disgusting.”  She leaned forward on the seat so she could talk to her new mama easier.  “I put sugar and cinnamon on mine, and when it came out of the oven I put on just a little bit of butter.  It was delicious.”

“Mine looked better!” Georgie protested.

“But you had to throw it away.  You couldn’t even eat it!”

“I didn’t want to eat it.”

“Then why did you take a bite of it before you put it in the slop pail for the hogs?”

Georgie humphed.  “I was curious, that’s all.”  She suddenly spotted her favorite picnic spot.  “That’s where I like to go on picnics, Mama!  Right over there by the pond.”

Emily looked at the pond.  “That does look like a nice place for a picnic.  We need to make sure we take one soon before it’s too cold.”  She’d only been on a couple of picnics.  Her mother had always worked six days per week and did household chores on the seventh, so she only got to go when a friend invited her. 

“Tomorrow?” Georgie asked.

“How about Sunday after church?” Emily suggested.  She’d never driven a buggy before, and she didn’t want to try without Benjamin there to help her the first few times.  Besides, she liked the idea of having the whole family there when they went on their first picnic together.

“Oh, could we, Papa?” Georgie pleaded.

Benjamin smiled over at Emily, pleased she’d made the suggestion.  “Well, if your mama wants to fix us a picnic lunch, then I’ll be happy to eat it.”

Georgie clapped her hands happily.  “I can’t wait.  What will you fix for the picnic, Mama?”

“Hmm…” Emily acted as if she were considering the most important question she’d ever been asked.  “I think I’ll make some bacon sandwiches.”

“But…you said you wouldn’t do that when you wrote to us.  You promised.”  Georgie sounded close to tears.

Emily laughed softly as she turned and smiled at her younger daughter.  “I did promise.  I was only joking.  What do you girls like to eat on picnics?”  She wanted to cook things they were familiar with eating, of course, and introduce new things as well. 

“Mama…I mean our first mama used to just take bread and some cheese and cookies and lemonade.  Could we do that for our picnic, Mama?” Abbie asked.

“Of course, we can.  We can take anything you girls want to take.”  She thought about it for a moment.  “We can do some potato salad as well.  Do you girls like potato salad?”

When there was no immediate response, Benjamin said, “I don’t think they’ve ever had it.  I know I haven’t.”

“Really?  I’ll make some.  We’ll see if you like some of the dishes I’m used to making.”  She looked at Benjamin.  “Do you think Birgitta will teach me how to cook Norwegian foods?  I really would like to learn so I can make you the things you enjoy.”

He shrugged, wondering why she hadn’t asked his
mor
.  “I’m sure she won’t mind.  She’s a good cook.  Not as good as
Mor,
but she’s good.  It might be easier for her to teach you with how much closer she is, though.”  He eyed her speculatively.  He really didn’t care if he ate Norwegian foods or not.  He was just happy to not be eating his own cooking anymore.

“Well, once I’ve settled in, I’ll ask her to teach me.  I do know how to cook a great number of things, so hopefully I can keep everyone happy until I’ve had a chance for lessons.”  She was suddenly worried about her cooking, which was odd.  It was the one area in her life where she felt like she was truly accomplished.

Abbie leaned forward again.  “I don’t care what you cook, Mama.  I’m just glad you’re here with us.”

“I am, too, Abbie.”  She squeezed the little girl’s hand which was resting on the back of her seat. 

Benjamin stopped the buggy in front of the house before helping Emily down.  “I’m going to put the horses in their stalls and go straight to the store.  Will you bring me lunch today?”

“Of course, I will.  I may come down to do some shopping as well.  I’d like to see the store.”  She took the girls by the hand and led them to the house not nearly as upset as she’d been.  The girls did wonders for her mood, and she was looking forward to her first full day with them.

Benjamin watched them go wondering again what had bothered her.  He was glad she was happy again, though.  It meant a lot to him that she wanted to see the store.  He’d worked hard to make it what it was, and he wanted to be able to show it off to his wife.  It was part of her life too, now.

Chapter Six

Once she and the girls were inside, Emily led them to the kitchen.  “I know you girls want to do some fun things today, and we will, but first I need to get an inventory of exactly what we have in the kitchen so I can see what I need to get from the store.  I want to be able to cook more than bacon sandwiches.”  She smiled at Abbie.  “Do you know how to write?”

Abbie shook her head.  “Mama was just starting to teach me when she got the fever.”

“I’m sorry she died.”  Emily hated the sadness she heard in the girls’ voices every time they mentioned their mother.  She knew the sadness would eventually fade as they grew older, but for now, their mother’s death was still fresh on their minds.

“We loved her a lot, but we’re really glad you came to live with us,” Abbie said. 

The look on Abbie’s face was sad, but hopeful as well.  Georgie was off in her room re-making her bed and tidying up. 

“I’m glad I came here too.  I get two little girls and a wonderful new husband.” Emily thought about the best way to do things.  “Would you run and get me a piece of paper and a pencil please?  I need to make a list of what we’ll need.”

She opened the pantry door to see what she had to work with.  There was a bin of rice, another of beans, a tiny amount of flour, and a bit of sugar.  She sighed.  She couldn’t do anything at all with this.  She was so glad the store was right downstairs.  Abbie brought her the pencil and paper and she quickly started noting what she’d need.  She couldn’t make anything without more supplies.  Even the beans would need some salt to make them taste decent and there was no salt to be found.  She’d need to bake bread, and figure out what to make for a meal.  She’d used the last of the bacon and eggs for breakfast.

By the time Georgie came down from cleaning her room, Emily had a list she could work with.  She turned to the girls.  “Do you want to go to the store with me?  Or do you want to wait here?”  She had to go immediately if she was going to be able to cook something for lunch.

Abbie stood up.  “I want to go.”

“Good.”  Emily smiled at her.  “Come on, Georgie.”  If Abbie went, then Georgie had to go.  Abbie was only six, but she could watch after her sister.  Georgie was just too boisterous to be left on her own for even a few minutes.

Georgie followed along behind, chattering away about the fun things she wanted to do. 

Abbie led the way through the house and down into the backroom of the store.  “Papa likes for us to come in the back way and not use the street,” Abbie explained as they walked.

Emily wasn’t sure that would hold true now the girls wouldn’t be going there on their own, but she followed along.  As they rounded the corner from the back, she saw Benjamin carefully counting out change.  “Come again, Mrs. Miller.”

Emily waited until Mrs. Miller turned to leave the store before saying, “We didn’t have enough food to do the cooking with, so I came to get some.  I hope that’s okay.”  She looked around the store in awe.  She’d expected a small country store, but this was big enough to rival any she’d seen back home.

The shelves were lined with canned goods.  Barrels stood in the middle of the store with beans, rice, flour, sugar, salt and many other staples.  There were several different fabrics to choose from.  Some had pretty patterns and some were simple, serviceable fabrics.  Everything about the store impressed Emily.  She was proud of what her husband had accomplished here.

“Of course.  What do you need?”

She handed him her list which included a lot of staples as well as some meats.  “I’m not sure exactly what you have here, so I just made a list of the things we need most.”

Mrs. Miller turned around and looked.  “Oh, is this your new bride, Mr. Johnson?  I’d heard she finally arrived.”  Mrs. Miller looked to be in her late thirties.  She was short and plump with laughing green eyes and brown hair. 

Emily smiled at her and took her offered hand.  “You must not be related to Benjamin.”

Mrs. Miller laughed and shook her head.  “His family only makes up about half the town.  There are others of us here.”  She held up her shopping basket.  “I need to hurry home and get started on lunch for my family.  It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Johnson.  I’m sure I’ll see you at church on Sunday.”

Emily watched bemusedly as Mrs. Miller turned and rushed from the store.  She turned back to Benjamin who was filling up a crate with the things on her list. 

The girls rushed over.  “May we each have a piece of candy, Mama?  Papa said we had to ask you.”  Georgie was, as usual, the one asking for them both, and Emily’s heart went out to Abbie.  She understood how hard it was to be so painfully shy.  Emily noted the line of jars on the counter with different types of penny candy.  Each jar held a treasure of candy for anyone with a sweet tooth.

“Just one each would be fine.  I don’t want you to spoil your lunch.” 

Benjamin added a bolt of cloth to everything else she’d asked for.  It was a shade of sky blue that would match her eyes perfectly, and she loved it, but she was certain it was too costly.  She knew instinctively he’d put it there for her to make herself a dress with. “Oh, that’s so pretty, Benjamin, but something more serviceable would be better for me.”  She loved the color and the pattern, but she knew the cost would be dear.

He shook his head.  “This is for you.  My wedding gift.”  He looked her up and down, noting her old faded dress.  “It will be beautiful on you.”

“Thank you.”  She couldn’t argue with him.  It was his money, and he had to be proud of how his wife looked.  If he wanted her to wear the blue, then she would wear the blue.

He lifted the box, and realized then how heavy it was.  “How about you take just what you need for today with you, and I’ll bring the rest home when I close up?”

She made a face.  “I’m stronger than I look.  You keep underestimating me.”  She lifted the box, which was heavy, but certainly not too heavy for her to manage.  “I’ll be down with your lunch just as soon as I get it cooked.  It may be a little late.”  She would do her absolute best to get it ready in time, though.  She didn’t want to interfere with his regular schedule. 

Once they were back upstairs, she put the things he’d given her away, noting the meat she’d asked for wasn’t there. There was just a small portion of salt pork. “Where does your papa get meat?” she asked.

Abbie shrugged.  “From the butcher.  They trade.”

“I didn’t see a butcher shop.”  Of course, that didn’t mean anything.  The butcher could be outside of town, or he could simply be working from his home, where everyone would know to go with or without a sign.

“He’s next door.  He doesn’t have a sign up.  Papa keeps telling him he needs to get one so he can get more business.” 

“I see.  Well, since we don’t have meat other than the salt pork, I’m just going to make beans and rice for lunch.  Is that okay with you girls?”  She hoped they enjoyed simple meals like beans from time to time. 

Abbie nodded, and Georgie said, “Yes, Mama.  I’m not picky unless I have to eat bacon all the time.”

Emily found a big pot and filled it half full of beans and added water from the pump.  “I would rather soak them longer, but this will work.”  She set them on the work table and turned to the girls.  “We need to leave those to soak for an hour, and then I’ll boil them.  Do you want to help me bake some bread while we wait?”

She spent the next hour working happily with the girls showing them just what ingredients to add to make the bread and how to knead it once it was mixed.  Georgie wanted to make her own little pan again, so Emily agreed while she exchanged a look with Abbie.  “Would you like to make your own as well, Abbie?”

Abbie nodded.  “I want to make cinnamon bread like I did at
Farmor
’s.  It was delicious.”

“I think that’s a great idea.  As soon as the dough is done rising, we’ll make the bread.”  She thought about the other things she needed to do to get caught up.  As much as Benjamin’s mother angered her, she was thankful the woman had kept them caught up on the major housework.  She glanced at the clock on the wall.  They still had thirty minutes before she needed to start boiling the beans. “We need to cut the salt pork for the beans.  Do you girls know how to use a knife?”

She went to the work table and selected a knife for herself and two smaller, duller knives for the girls.  Abbie’s eyes widened.  “Mama never let me use a sharp knife.”

Emily wondered if she was doing the right thing, but she thought if she watched over them, the girls would do fine.  “Well I’ll show you how to do it, and you have to promise to be very careful.  Okay?”

The girls stared at her with wide eyes.  “I promise,” Abbie said.

“I will be careful,” Georgie told her.

She gave them each a small dull knife and stood one on either side of her at the work table.  Georgie had to stand on a chair, but Abbie was tall enough to reach on her own.  She gave them each a small slab of the meat and showed them the correct way to hold their knives to cut it.  She demonstrated the size she wanted for the beans and they all stood cutting together.  She did three fourths of the amount on her own, but the girls did some.  When they were finished, she put it all in a small pile. 

“Now we need to drain the beans and rinse them, and then we’ll add water.”  The girls watched as she showed them step by step how to boil the beans.  Then she started a pot of rice to go with them.  “There.  Lunch will be delicious.”  She walked to the table and checked on the bread, punched it down, and covered it again with a kitchen towel.  She washed and dried her hands.  “We have the ingredients for sugar cookies or a yellow cake.  Which would you girls rather make today?”

Georgie started squealing jumping up and down.  “Cake!”

Emily looked at Abbie.  “Would cake be okay with you, too?”

Abbie looked at her sister and sighed.  “Cake is fine.”

Emily tilted her head to the side.  “Do you prefer cookies?”  Abbie didn’t seem pleased at the idea of cake, and Emily wondered if she ever got to choose what she wanted.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, let’s let your little sister choose this time, but next time you get to choose.  Would that be fair?”

Abbie nodded a smile on her face.  It was obvious that because Georgie was more boisterous, Abbie was used to giving in to her wants and needs instead of standing up for what she wanted.

“We’ll bake the cake after lunch.  We have about forty minutes before then, but I don’t want to leave the kitchen with the pot boiling, because it might boil over.  Would you each bring me all of your socks here?  I know that’s a silly thing to ask, but I want to make sure they don’t need to be mended.  We’ll go through all your clothes today, and see what needs to be mended and what new clothes you need.”  Georgie made a face but ran up the stairs to obey.  Abbie walked along slower, but she seemed to like the idea.

They each came back with four pairs of socks.  Emily had never owned more than two pair in her life, so she was surprised they had so many.  It showed her just how wealthy her new family was.  She went through each sock and found Abbie had one pair that needed to be mended while Georgie needed every sock she owned mended.  It made sense with the difference in the girls, though.  George was certain to not be as careful with her things as Abbie was.

Emily had brought a small sewing kit with her and put it in the parlor where she was sure she’d be using it.  She looked down at Abbie.  “Would you run to the parlor and fetch my sewing kit?  I put it on the table between the chairs.”

Before Abbie could even respond, Georgie had run out of the room to do it.  Abbie’s face fell.  Emily hugged the child with one arm, and said very softly, so Georgie wouldn’t hear, “Abbie, you and I are a lot alike.  We’re both quiet and shy.  I know it seems like Georgie does everything first and always gets her way, but I’m not always going to let that happen.  I’m here to watch out for both of you.”

Abbie had a tear in her eye as she hugged Emily.  “Thank you for being my mama.”

She sat down with the girls and pushed the bread dough out of the way, showing them each how to carefully mend their own socks, before getting up to check lunch.  By the time she’d done four of Georgie’s socks, Georgie had done one and Abbie had done both of hers, it was time for lunch.  “We’ll put this aside for now.  I’m going to take your papa his lunch.  Do you want to come with me, or do you want to eat without me?”

Abbie stood up.  “We’ll come with you.” 

Georgie rubbed her stomach.  “But I’m hungry!”

Emily looked at Georgie.  “There’s no one to stay with you since Abbie wants to come with me.”  After putting a large bowl of rice and beans on a tray for Benjamin, she held her hand out for Georgie.  “Let’s go.”

They took the same path they’d taken before down the stairs and in through the back room.  Once they were there, she stopped.  “Should I take the food into the front, or just let your papa know it’s here so he can eat between customers?”

“Take it to him, Mama.  His customers know he eats while he works.  They don’t mind.”  Abbie led the way, so Emily followed. 

She took the tray and set it on the counter behind Benjamin while he talked to a young woman in the store.  Two older men sat in the corner playing checkers.  One of the older men called out, “Is this your new wife, Benjamin?  She’s a tiny little thing!”