Page 11 of A Joyful Ring
Before Gunder could agree, Lars disappeared out the door.
Frank waved a hand around his store. “Browse all you like. If you have any questions, please let me know.”
“Thank you, Frank.” Gunder walked over to the display of gloves.
“The gloves in the center section are good quality, and not nearly as expensive as some.”
Gunder nodded his gratitude. “Thank you for that information.” He tried on three pairs of gloves. The first pair was expensive, but they rubbed on his thumb. The second pair was cheap, but he could tell they wouldn’t last long. The third pair was from the section Frank recommended. Gunder smoothed the leather over his hands, pleased with the fit and the affordable price.
Since the gloves were less than he’d expected to pay, he decided he could afford a few necessities. If he was going to be back in town in a few days with a load from the mine, he’d soon be able to afford to purchase more of what he needed.
For today, Gunder chose the gloves, a bar of soap, and a tablet of paper. He had a pencil in his pack he could use for writing letters.
He could use a new razor and thought about waiting to purchase it, but concluded he didn’t want to attend the festivities tomorrow with a scraggly growth on his face. He and Charlie had taken turns giving each other haircuts one evening due solely to the fact that the shorter the hair, the less heat it held against their scalps. He wasn’t sure which one of them looked worse when they were finished, but at least his hair wasn’t curling over his collar anymore.
Gunder chose an inexpensive razor and added it to his small pile of purchases. He saw a dozen things he’d like to buy, and a dozen more he wished he could purchase and send to his family. Maybe someday he’d be able to afford luxuries, like a box of candy for his sisters to share, or a bottle of fancy lotion for his mother.
He knew a letter letting them know he’d arrived and was well would be more than enough of a gift for now.
Despite his intentions to spend as little money as possible, jars of colorful candy caught his eye at the counter. Partial to peppermints, he thought how good one would taste on the way back to Lovely.
He decided he could spare a penny for a few pieces of candy.
When Frank returned from the stockroom, wiping his hands on the half-apron he wore, he nodded toward Gunder’s selections. “I see you found a few things.”
“I did. The gloves were at the top of my list.”
“Glad you found a pair you like. This brand is the best, in my opinion.” Frank began to ring up his purchases.
“May I get a penny’s worth of peppermints?” Gunder asked before Frank finished.
“Of course.” Frank lifted a scoop and filled a paper sack with twice as much candy as Gunder was expecting. The peppermints would last him for weeks.
When Frank gave him the total, Gunder handed over the coins, already having added up the total in his head. He hated to part with any of his money, but hopefully he’d soon be earning more than he’d expected.
A jingle of harness carried in the open windows. Frank looked out, then walked toward the stockroom. “Lars is right on time. If you want to help load, come on back here.”
Gunder followed Frank through his stockroom to a wide door at the back. Frank pushed it open, and Gunder could see Lars had stopped the wagon on the other side of the landing outside the door. It would make it a simple matter to load.
In just minutes, the mine purchases were secured in the back of the wagon.
“Thanks again, Frank. Have a great holiday,” Lars said, climbing onto the bench seat.
Frank waved at them as Gunder took a seat beside Lars. “I will,” Frank said. “You two do the same. It was good to meet you, Gunder.”
“It was nice to meet you as well, Frank. See you around.”
Lars remained quiet as he drove the wagon out of town, as though he was lost deep in his thoughts. Once the noises of Baker City were behind them, though, he held the lines out toward Gunder. “Want to take over?”
“Sure,” Gunder said, and quickly pulled on his new gloves before he accepted the lines.
Lars released a long breath and leaned back in the seat.
They were a mile from Lovely, with the sun beating down on them, when Gunder motioned to the sack of candy he’d set on the seat between them. “I bought some peppermints if you want one.”
“Thank you, Gunder.” Lars took out two, handing one to Gunder and popping the other in his mouth.
They traveled in silence for a while longer before Lars gave him a long glance. “You have a sweetheart back in Pittsburgh?”
