Pearl by Hildie McQueen

Author:Hildie McQueen [McQueen, Hildie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-11-06T06:00:00+00:00

The next day, while chopping vegetables, Pearl kept watch out the window. The surroundings were so very different from anything she’d ever known. In the distance snowcapped mountains provided a beautiful backdrop for fields and cusps of trees. The wind blew the few leaves that had managed to cling off spindly branches making her glad not to be outside to feel the frigid breeze.

Horses pranced in the corrals, not seeming to mind the cold while cows huddled together for warmth. A horse pulled on a cart piled with bales of hay and both Luke and Butch, hauled the bundles off one at a time distancing them apart. At noticing, the cows meandered to feed.

For supper, Pearl was making chicken stew and biscuits. She’d found that the pantry was well stocked and there were plenty of choices for what to cook.

Carefully measuring and combining flower, eggs and salt into a bowl, Pearl once again looked out. The boy, Charley, had yet to appear.

Within moments, she became lost in the kneading of dough, her hands digging into the familiar territory of mixing ingredients.

The aroma of the stew mixing with the dough made her feel instantly at ease. Once the dough was done, she added the chopped carrots and potatoes for the stew, which didn’t take long to complete.

Unsure of what time the men expected to eat, she considered when to cook the biscuits. Deciding to give the stew a bit more time to cook and the dough to rest, she then walked around the house.

Although it was pretty tidy, there were plenty of dirty clothes to collect. With an armful, Pearl carried them to the back room. On one side wall there was a washing station with two large tin tubs, a washboard and hand cranked wringer. Next to the tubs was a bucket of what she assumed was liquid soap. It was impressive that Luke’s house was so well organized, which made her wonder if perhaps his mother had something to do with it.

She’d have to ask Luke to put up a line for the clothes to dry. Pearl placed the dirty clothing into one of the tubs and went back to the front.

Moments later just as she pulled the biscuits from the oven, the men walked in. The men looked eagerly toward the table.

“Sure does smell good Misses Jameson,” Butch said. It was the first time she’d been called that name and it caught Pearl by surprise. She nodded toward the table. “Food’s ready. Go on and sit down.”

The men ate with gusto, proclaiming her biscuits and stew to be the best they’d ever had. Pearl had to admit it felt good that they enjoyed her cooking. At the same time, it was odd to feed two strangers, one of who was her new husband.

Just then the front door burst open and a freckled faced little boy rushed in, bringing with him cold air and exuberance.

“I’m home,” he announced then stopped in his tracks to stare at her. His mouth fell open as he studied her with open curiosity.

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