Rikka by Joan Soggie

Author:Joan Soggie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: strong female character, overcoming adversity, true story western homestead canadian prairie, struggling immigrant scandinavian family saga, from denmark to saskatchewan, love survives jealousy tragedy, pioneer homesteader courageous woman life journey, norwegian lutheran traditions powerful faith
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.

Chapter 15

Teulon, 1903

Rikka thought she had never seen Aksel look happier. Thin face ruddy with exertion, he leaned on his axe and flexed his ropy arms. He motioned with his head to the growing pile of firewood that Asbjorne was stacking and grinned at her. She loved watching her boys. They worked as a team, they always had, perfectly attuned to each other. Like a duet played by master musicians. She returned his smile, nodded her approval, and turned back to her own chores.

Neither Aksel nor Asbjorne had “filled out”, as her mother would have put it, but no doubt their lanky adolescent frames had grown stronger week by week. Aksel seemed taller, Asbjorne moved with greater confidence. They will be fine men, Rikka thought. A memory of her brother at that age flashed through her mind. Although it was 25 years since Kristian and Arnold had drowned, the thought of that day still made the breath catch in her throat.

But no time for looking back. Each new day brought new challenges and every night they fell into bed bone-weary but satisfied. The fine dry fall weather lifted their spirits. The robust cheerfulness of their neighbours encouraged them. Despite their inauspicious beginning in Canada, the visible success of other pioneer farms gave them hope that all would be well for them, too. Already their rough little cabin felt like home, Rikka thought, and the children seemed to be settling in. The girls had each found their niche, Marie taking charge of the baby while Hjordis and Ruth managed the younger siblings – Kris, Torolf and Gunhild – like a miniature work crew. They gathered sticks for kindling, carried water for the house or little pails of mud from the creek for Ingeborg, who covered her glossy braids with a scarf, mixed the mud with ash as Lars had shown her, and set herself to the task of chinking. Mentz was immensely proud of her. Rikka felt only baffled and amazed. What was going on with Ingeborg?

Rikka could no longer see in Ingeborg the pleasing child, the dainty girl, the obedient and dependable eldest daughter. Where had this new Ingeborg sprung from? The Canadian Ingeborg revealed a will of steel beneath her placid demeanor. She calmly set herself to jobs that in Norway would have been done by workmen and she firmly declined the mothering role now adopted by Ruth and Hjordis. Mentz smiled fondly and cheered her on. Rikka was reminded that Mentz had once shown the same dangerous indulgence to Marianne.

In a rare moment alone with him, she remarked, “Ingeborg needs to spend more time helping me prepare food for winter, instead of trying to learn men’s work. It is hardly decent. And my two hands are not enough for all that needs to be done.”

Mentz replied with a mirthless laugh. “Yes, I agree, we all have more work than our two hands can do. We both miss the men and women who used to share our work and our household.

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