Trailing the Hunter: A Novel of Misconception, Truth, and Love by Heidi Eljarbo

Author:Heidi Eljarbo [Eljarbo, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

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THE NEXT MORNING, Clara stood and stared at the bare shelves in the kitchen cabinets. Food would not last long now with so many mouths to feed. With the amount of provisions she needed, she thought it best to ask the grocer for help and would gladly pay an extra coin for assistance in bringing the wares home.

Had she owned a farm or been a fisherman’s wife, Clara would have dried meat and fish herself, would have taken her grain to the mill and grown her own produce in a garden behind the house. But she could not afford the hours spent on producing and preparing foodstuff, and neither did she have enough knowledge. Although she knew she needed to learn, now was not the time. For the moment, she had the means, and she had to spend the few hours of every day concentrating on her work and purpose in Berg.

Many of the children were hungry, and Clara did not have the heart to send them home with empty stomachs.

As she walked to the village to meet with the grocer, she crossed Market Street, and one of the ladies from the luncheon at Ivershall came strolling toward her.

Clara nodded. “Good day. I saw you at the meeting at Ivershall last week. How are you today?”

The woman stopped and looked at Clara. “My husband won’t let me speak with you. He claims you filled our heads with nonsense the other day.” Then she lifted her chin and continued down the street.

Clara stood frozen for a moment. Her mouth had fallen open, and she snapped it shut. Had the luncheon been a complete waste of time? Was Else the only guest who had listened with an understanding heart?

The doorbell jingled cheerfully as Clara entered the grocer’s shop. The room reeked of dried cod. The smell came from the corner of the room where three men sat on crates, bragging about hunting adventures while chewing the jerked fish. Clara wrinkled her nose. Not her favorite food. Boiled cod was much tastier. She walked over to the counter. A woman was trying on coifs while a little boy pulled on her skirts, nagging her to go home.

The grocer, clean-shaven but with bushy eyebrows, bowed and placed his palms on the counter. “What can we help you with today?”

“I need several things. I’m afraid the load of supplies will be too heavy for me to carry home and wondered if you could have it brought to my home on the north road?”

“Of course. My boy will take care of it and bring the wares to your cottage.”

She pulled a small notebook out of her pocket and began to read off her list. “I need two dozen eggs, lentils, and a bag of flour, salted herring, dried cod, and smoked pork.”

The grocer seemed more than pleased. “You need this much today, Miss Dahl?” He scratched his head. “I hope these supplies are in the store. If not, we will bring them by later.” He went to the back room and shortly after returned and placed the provisions on the counter.

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