by Ali Spooner
“Don’t forget we are supposed to go into town for clam chowder tonight,” Marissa said.
“I am looking forward to it,” Nat said. “I think I have worked up an appetite this morning,” she said with a grin.
“There should be some leftover bacon and biscuits if you would like a light meal. I can cook you some eggs too,” Marissa said.
“You have my mouth watering.”
“Scrambled or fried?” Marissa asked.
“Fried, so I can dip my biscuits,” Nat said.
“Then we will take a bath to be fresh when we go into town,” Marissa said.
“You don’t like the smell of the wild on me?” Nat teased.
“It is not as appealing as your fresh and clean smell after a bath,” Marissa said.
“I guess I better go light the fire on the wash pot then,” Nat said.
“There is already cold water in the tub, so at least we won’t have to carry more in,” Marissa said. “Three eggs for you and two for Gyp?” she asked.
“That should be plenty,” Nat said. She moved off the porch and took several pieces of dry wood and used dry grass to stoke the fire and watched as flames began to lick up the side of the wash pot.
Nat scooped up a handful of snow and formed it in a snow ball and took aim on an unsuspecting Gyp. She hurled the mass at Gyp and struck her in the hind quarter. Gyp let out a sharp yelp of surprise and turned to look at Nat. Nat laughed as she shouted at Gyp. “Caught you sleeping, didn’t I?”
Nat was still chuckling and shaking her head as she started for the porch. Gyp ran up behind her and caught Nat by the ankle, causing her to trip and lose her balance, falling none too gracefully on her butt in the cold snow. Gyp looked at Nat and made a dash for the house. Nat saw her run toward the house and roared with laughter.
Marissa turned just as Nat entered the house, still wiping snow from her backside. “What are you two up to?”
“Just playing,” Nat said.
“Gyp ran into the house like her feet were on fire,” Marissa said.
“She ran in for protection,” Nat said with a chuckle.
“Were you picking on her?” Marissa asked.
“I was, but she got the better of me,” Nat said.
“Good girl, Gyp,” Marissa praised.
“Hey, don’t encourage her,” Nat said.
Marissa placed Nat’s eggs on her plate and then cooked two for Gyp. Then she joined them at the table and ate a biscuit and some bacon as she watched Gyp devour the meal. “This cold weather is good for her appetite.”
“Was there something wrong with it before?” Nat asked.
“Maybe she has just gotten used to my cooking,” Marissa teased.
“Well, it is better than what we eat in the woods,” Nat admitted.
“Maybe I need to fatten you both up some this winter then.”
“Gyp maybe, but I need to be able to fit in my clothes,” Nat said.
“Not to worry, after all my good food, you haven’t gained an ounce.”
“That could be because you work it off of me,” Nat said with a mischievous grin.
Marissa blushed at Nat’s suggestion. “I think I will start carrying some water in,” she said, as she left the table.
Nat finished her meal and took a bucket to assist Marissa in carrying water to fill the tub.
“Undress and let me have those clothes to drop in the wash pot,” Marissa instructed.
“Yes ma’am,” Nat said as she began to remove her clothing.
Marissa took the clothes and said, “Get started on your bath and I will join you shortly.”
Nat climbed into the bath tub and began by washing her hair. It had grown well beyond her shoulders and Nat considered asking Marissa to cut it shorter for her as she bathed her body. When Marissa walked into the room carrying fresh clothes for Nat and began to undress, Nat forgot all about the length of her hair.
When they had bathed and dressed, Nat suggested they walk into town and stop by the store to purchase a pound of coffee.
“We still have coffee,” Marissa said.
“It is not for us,” Nat said. “We should take it and maybe some sugar as a gift for the meal we are about to eat.”
“Good idea.”
“You know it is a shame, but I don’t even know the woman’s name,” Nat said.
“It is Maggie Lightfoot,” Marissa said.
“That is a nice strong name,” Nat said.
“She has been living there at the edge of town ever since I can remember.”
“Besides her stitchery, what other services does she provide to maintain her sustenance?”
“She gets quite a bit of business from the trappers, but she also does some baking and canning of vegetables she grows for the hotel,” Marissa said.
“So let’s add a pound of flour also,” Nat said.
“You really have a soft spot for this woman, don’t you?” Marissa said.
“She charged me a fifth of the price she should have for those breeches,” Nat said. “I would have had to pay much more for them anywhere else.”
“Toss in a couple of spools of thread too then,” Marissa said. “She collects scraps of fabric from old clothing and makes some of the warmest down quilts in the area.”
“Any more and we will probably hurt her feelings,” Nat said.
“We will stop there then,” Marissa said, as she finished dressing.
Nat pulled on her boots then reached for her range coat, sliding her arms through the warm coat. She handed Marissa the coat she had bought for her and then wrapped a warm scarf around her neck. “Stay warm,” she said as she opened the door and they were met by a light snowfall.
They made their purchases at the store and walked the short distance to Maggie’s house. Nat knocked lightly on the door and they waited.
Maggie opened the door and smiled as the three of them entered. Gyp shook the flakes from her coat and made a bee line for the fireplace.
“Welcome my friends, let me take your coats,” Maggie said.
Maggie placed their coats on hooks behind the door to dry while they visited. She looked at the package in Nat’s hands.
“We brought a few small gifts,” Nat said as she handed the package to Maggie.
Maggie took the package and placed it on the table to open it up. She smiled when she saw the coffee, sugar, flour and thread. “Thank you,” she said for her gifts.
“Thank you, for the dinner invitation,” Nat said.
“You made that possible, by bringing back the clams,” Maggie said. “Are you hungry?”
Nat looked at Marissa. “I am always hungry,” she said with a sheepish grin.
“You work very hard, so you work up a good appetite,” Maggie said. “That is very good for you.” She took her coffee pot and poured water and some of the ground coffee into it and placed it on the fire. “We will have coffee with dessert,” she said with a smile. “Have a seat and I will bring the meal.”
“Is there anything I can help with?” Marissa said.
“You can fill four bowls with the chowder while I get the fry bread,” Maggie said.
Marissa filled three of the bowls to the rim and the fourth she left some room. She took the water pitcher and poured a small amount of water in it to cool the chowder.
Maggie had torn up a piece of the fry bread. “Here, drop this in there as well to help it cool.”
Marissa took the bread and dropped it into the steamy soup and used a spoon to stir the mixture as Gyp sat and watched, licking her lips in anticipation.
“Better wait a few minutes yet,” Nat said, as she took a seat at the table.
Nat looked at the creamy chowder and it smelled wonderful.
“It is very hot, so be careful you don’t burn your mouth,” Maggie said.
Nat lifted a spoonful and blew softly on it to help it cool. When she placed the mixture in her mouth she moaned with appreciation. “This is very tasty,” she said.
“I ho
pe you like it,” Maggie said with a smile. “I used the clams that you brought back, and added diced potatoes and some corn.”
“This is really good,” Marissa said.
Maggie dunked a piece of the bread into her chowder and took a bite of it after tasting a spoonful of the chowder.
Nat ate heartily of two bowls and three slices of the fry bread.
“Save room for some apple pie,” Maggie said.
Nat placed her spoon in the bowl and grinned at Maggie. “I forgot you mentioned dessert, but that chowder was so delicious.”
“I am glad you enjoyed it,” Maggie said.
“I will definitely be bringing back more clams the next time I go to the ocean,” Nat said.
“They are a great deal of work for such small portions of meat, but the meat is very rich and will give you energy,” Maggie said.
“Nat used your instructions for cooking the shrimp last night and they were very tasty too,” Marissa said.
“I had the last of mine for lunch today,” Maggie said. “They were a very pleasant surprise.”
“I still can’t get over the bounty of ocean life trapped in the rock pools,” Nat said remembering how simple it was to catch the shrimp.
“Maybe I could join you on your next trip and help harvest some of them,” Maggie said. “Did you see large brown colored shelled creatures with long feelers and claws for hands?” Maggie asked.
“Yes, there were many, but I had no idea what they were,” Nat said.
“Those are called lobsters,” Maggie said. “It is a very sweet, tender meat, that when boiled and dipped in melted butter, is like tasting heaven.”
“That description makes me want to ride out and get some now,” Nat said.
“They have more than likely taken to deeper, warmer waters for the winter, but they will be plentiful again in the spring.” She smiled at Nat. “We could probably sell all that we can carry back alive to the hotel.”
“I think the owner would jump at that opportunity,” Marissa said, “but I will be sure to ask just the same.”
“You have a mule don’t you?” Maggie said.
“A very stubborn one,” Nat said.
“I have a small wagon out back and for a small price we could buy a couple of those large pickle barrels and bring back quite a haul,” Maggie said.
“I will check on the barrels tomorrow,” Nat said. “When the winter breaks, we will go to the ocean and bring back what we can.”
“I will look forward to that,” Maggie said.
Maggie got up then and served pie and coffee. After they finished dessert, she sent them home with two large jars of the chowder.
As they stepped out onto the small porch, Nat noticed the very small pile of chopped wood Maggie had and made a mental note. The snow had begun to fall again in earnest as she took Marissa’s hand and they rushed home.
That was the first of the many snows that would besiege them that winter. By the end of the first month, the drifts had accumulated to over three feet. Nat and Gyp would walk into town with Marissa on the days she had to work and Nat frequently found herself spending her days with Smithy, assisting him in evaluating the late season furs that trappers brought in as they took refuge from the bitter winter storms. She enjoyed spending time with the big man and in some ways she reminded him of Nathan with his gentle ways. He was ferocious when it came to trading, but always treated his customers generously and professionally.
During that winter, he taught Nat a great deal of knowledge of what furs and products sold best in the market. As he had explained to her when she first returned to town, any bear products sold for excellent money, but mounted heads were also a big market item.
While he was not encouraging her to hunt for bear, he did say he could move any bear item she was to bring in next year. “Buck heads and ram’s heads are also much sought after items,” he had told her after one customer had left the store. “The man that just left is the owner of the saloon and livery and will buy any decent mounted piece to hang in the saloon. He loves to spin wild tales of his hunting adventures to inflate his sense of masculinity,” Smithy said with a chuckle. “To be honest, I don’t know if the man would even know how to load a weapon.”
“What do you know about whales?” Nat asked.
“They are huge creatures that the Inuit hunt as their main source of food and heating oil,” Smithy said. “Why do you ask?”
“When I went to the ocean a few weeks back, I found the remains of what I believe to be one of those creatures in a cave.”
“If you journey back there,” Smithy said, “bring back some of those rib bones.” He smiled at Nat. “I bet some of these Green Horns would buy them, they seem to buy anything wild.”
“I do hope to go back that way, once this weather breaks,” Nat said. “I saw a huge buck on my way home that I plan to go get,” she said.
Smithy chuckled. “You are always on the hunt aren’t you?”
“I guess I am,” Nat said with a grin.
“Have you decided on what you will do this spring?” Smithy asked.
“No, not yet,” Nat said.
“You will have a job here if you want it,” Smithy said.
“Thanks Smithy, I am not sure what I will do,” Nat said.
“I know you will make the right decision when the time comes,” he said.
Nat left his store to meet Marissa for the walk home.
Every few weeks Nat would wake early and hitch Quincy to a small sling and bring in a pile of chopped wood for Maggie’s porch and be home by the time Marissa had breakfast on the table. Nat never saw Maggie during her deliveries, but Maggie would be there, behind the curtains watching Nat as she stacked the wood close to the door.
One morning when it was time for Nat to make a delivery, she found a package with her name on it wrapped in string. She stacked the wood and picked up the package before she started home. She cared for Quincy and walked into the kitchen as Marissa was placing biscuits on the table.
“What do you have there?” Marissa asked.
“A gift from Maggie apparently,” Nat said. “I found it sitting on the porch this morning when I dropped off the wood.”
“Open it,” Marissa urged.
Nat untied the string and peeled back the paper. Maggie had sewn a quilt, the most beautiful she had ever seen.
“That is beautiful,” Marissa said, as Nat lifted the quilt and opened it to reveal the bold pattern Maggie had sewn for her. “We will need that on the bed if the temperature keeps dropping like it has,” Marissa said
“Have you been getting cold during the night?” Nat asked.
“A little, yes,” Marissa said.
“I have the remedy for that,” Nat said. “Take this and place it on the bed and I will be right back.”
