Page 13 of A Joyful Ring
“Because you’d likely boil them to death, or stuff them between a stack of pancakes.” For a moment, the scrappy little cook looked like he debated taking a swing at Lars. “Just for that, I won’t bother making you a lunch the next time you head into Baker City.”
“Now, don’t get your feathers ruffled.” Larstook a small pouch from his pocket and handed it to Jed.
Jed opened it, stuffed a wad of tobacco in his mouth, and nodded approvingly at Lars. “You’ve been redeemed.”
Lars chuckled and swung up on the wagon. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Jed.”
“Reckon you will,” the cook said.
Gunder scrambled into the wagon before Lars snapped the lines, and the mules moved forward.
It was late by the time they had the mules settled for the night. Lars carried the crate of cherries, while Gunder held his crate of apricots.
“The church service starts at half past ten, and the picnic will be at noon.”
“I’ll be there. Thank you for today, Lars.”
“I’m glad to know you, son. Get some rest. Tomorrow should be an eventful day. Oh, and you might as well plan to have supper with me and Risa tomorrow evening.”
“I’d like that, sir. Good night.”
“Night,” Lars said, then walked off into the growing darkness.
Gunder turned to head to his tent, but Jed waved a white towel at him from the cookshack, so he returned to the building.
“Come on in for your supper, lad. No sense going hungry.” Jed opened the door, and Gunder followed him inside and into the kitchen.
Jed chatted like a magpie while Gunder ate a plate of ham and beans with cornbread. It was filling if not flavorful, and he was grateful for the food.
“Whatcha doing with them apricots?” Jed asked when Gunder picked up the box to leave after he’d cleaned his plate.
“Taking them to the picnic tomorrow. It isn’t like I can cook something to share.”
“Well, that’s right nice of you. I look forward to tasting one then.”
Gunder picked an apricot off the top of the box and handed it to the cook. “Enjoy it,” he said, then went out the back door, making his way to his tent. He tossed his pack on the cot to use for a pillow, but tonight he had no intention of sleeping fully dressed.
After a quick trip to the river with his new bar of soap, he felt clean enough to sleep. He’d spend some time doing a proper job of scrubbing tomorrow and put that new razor to use.
As his eyes drifted shut, Gunder considered what he could take as a gift to Lars and his little girl for inviting him to join them for supper.
Chapter Three
“You did what?” Risa Hoffman glowered at her father as she set the plate holding his supper in front of him with more force than necessary.
“Now, Risa, don’t go getting your apron strings in a knot,” Lars said in a placating tone that only served to stoke her ire. “I just invited one of the boys for supper tomorrow. Even if all we eat is leftovers from the picnic, it will be just fine.”
“Did you roast your noggin out there today, Papa? You know good and well there isn’t ever anything leftover at a community picnic or potluck because the hungry men in this town practically lick every plate clean.”
Risa felt like stamping her feet for emphasis, but knew her father would only laugh at her temper, something he claimed she’d inherited from her mother. At least she hadn’t inherited his proclivityfor taking in strays. She couldn’t even begin to count the number of times her father had invited homesick young miners for supper. Due to never knowing if he’d bring an extra for the evening meal, she’d gotten in the habit of cooking a little more than they could eat. It gave him something to eat for breakfast other than Jed’s pancakes that were so heavy and dry they could have been used to plug the hole she’d spent an hour fixing in her chicken coop.
Annoyed with her father, Risa could only assume the miner he’d invited would eat too much, stay too late, and spend the whole time gaping at her like he hadn’t set eyes on a woman for months.
“Before you work yourself into a full fury, Girlie, I think you’ll like this fellow. He just arrived in town yesterday. If Mr. Goodwin keeps him on, he’ll be working as a freighter. From what I observed today, Gunder Birke possesses fine manners, and he tends to think before he speaks, which is a rarity among most folks.” Lars shoveled in a forkful of the fried potatoes Risa had fixed for their meal.
She’d cooked the potatoes and fried bacon to go with them before she recalled her father was going to be late this evening. If she’d remembered, she wouldn’t have heated up the shack they called home to cook a meal.
With furious strokes, Risa scrubbed the dishes she’d dirtied to bake dessert for tomorrow’s picnic. Thanks to her job with Mrs. Baldwin, she and her father were able to eat better than many while still saving money to build a home on the acreage they’d already paid for.
