Sarah: Bride of Minnesota (American Mail-Order Bride 32) (8 page)

"Around one is when we usually meet."

Sarah thought about the house, thinking about the chairs in the kitchen. If she pulled them into the parlor, there would be plenty of seating for everyone. "That sounds nice. Will everyone bring a treat again?"

"Of course. You need to supply drinks."

Sarah knew she'd do a sweet snack as well, simply because she enjoyed baking. Her mother had taught her that a good hostess always had a snack available for her guests.

She had never been to a quilting bee before, because she'd always been working when the women of the congregation held them. She was glad she was able to participate this time. It was amazing to her how quickly the women were able to piece their blocks together.

By the time she left, she felt like she'd learned a lot. She glanced at the clock on the wall, her eyes wide. "Oh, I'm going to have to hurry if I'm going to get dinner on before Karl gets home," she said right before they left, uncertain if she was talking to Bella or Mrs. Norman.

Mrs. Norman smiled. "He loves to have breakfast for dinner. You could do that quickly and easily."

Sarah smiled, relieved. "That's what I'll do then." She waved to the others as she wound her scarf around her face to ward off the cold wind.

When she got home, she quickly made pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon, feeling terrible that she didn't have a better dinner ready for Karl. She should have planned it out better, she realized. Next time she would.

Karl didn't complain about his breakfast for dinner. Instead, he seemed excited by it. "I don't know why breakfast foods taste so much better to me at dinner time."

She laughed. "I don't either, but I'm glad they do." She told him about the quilting bee. "In just three and a half hours, we were able to put together a nice quilt for the family. Everyone will come here to make socks for the bachelors in the congregation on Wednesday," she said before popping a piece of bacon into her mouth.

He frowned. "Is that why we had breakfast for dinner?" he asked. "Because you were busy out with your new friends?" He didn't mind she'd spent time with her friends, but had she forgotten him completely?

"I was doing church work, Karl. I thought you'd be pleased with that."

He nodded slowly. "I'm glad you have a heart for church work, just don't forget me in the process." He looked around at the clean kitchen.

"You're my first priority." She was sad that he wasn't pleased with all the work she was doing outside the home. She'd thought he would be.

When they sat together that evening, she made sure she left her mending in her sewing basket, so she could give him her full attention. She hated having idle hands, but she would rather be idle than upset her husband. He seemed to want her undivided attention a great deal of the time. It was odd for her, because she was used to always being busy.

She told him about the different women she'd met at the quilting bee. "I think I'm going to enjoy being involved. I'm so used to working that it seems odd to me to sit at home now."

"But you're not just sitting at home," he protested. "You're cleaning and sewing and cooking and doing so many things."

Sarah bit her lip, wishing she knew how to make him understand. "As soon as I finished school, my mother died, so I went to work. I've been working fifty hours per week for years. I don't know any other way."

"I hate that you had to work so hard. Now you can rest."

"But I don't know
how
!"

He stared at her in disbelief. "Of course you do."

"Could you take time off work, months of it, and not get bored? I had weeks after the factory burned while I was waiting for you to reply to my letter. My friends and I made clothing for orphans, we volunteered to take care of friends' children. There were so many things we did to keep busy, and we still felt like we needed more to do. Now, I come here, and you don't want me doing anything but cooking and cleaning. I can do all the cooking and cleaning that needs to be done in just a couple of hours per day. Then what do I do?"

"My mother never had any complaints."

She shook her head. "I'm sure your mother was a lovely woman. She had two sons to raise as well as the housework and the cleaning. Do you know if she ever worked before she married?"

"No, I don't think she did."

"That would be part of the difference. And having children makes things different as well. I won't be able to be as active with the relief society once we start having babies. I can be now, though. If you don't mind, that is."

Karl looked into her pretty blue eyes. "Is it that important to you?"

"It is."

He sighed. "Do it then. But make sure you keep up everything around the house as well."

Sarah smiled, throwing her arms around him and hugging him. "Thank you."

He took advantage of the moment to kiss her quickly. "You're welcome." He really wished she could be content taking care of him, but since she obviously couldn't, he wouldn't begrudge her the time taking care of others.

"You're a good man, Karl Schneider."

"I'm glad you can see that. Sometimes I don't feel like I'm as good to you as I should be."

She shook her head. "Have I mentioned yet that I'm glad I found your advertisement and not someone else's? I wouldn't have done well with a man who didn't put God first."

He smiled. "I'm sure you noticed that the first line of my advertisement was asking for a Christian woman. Appearance didn't matter to me at all. Only that she was godly."

"I did notice that. That's why I wrote to you."

She rested her head against his shoulder, content for the moment. She would keep up around the house, but she could do her volunteer work as well. Sarah was happy.

Sarah woke up with a plan in mind for the following day. She badly wanted to show Karl that she would be able to keep up with as much volunteer work as she wanted to do, and still keep up with the cooking and housework.

As soon as he'd left for work, she put her plan into action. She quickly did the breakfast dishes, and then made the dough for two loaves of bread. While the dough was rising, she went to the basement and did all the laundry, hanging it on a line in the basement. It was getting to be much too cold to hang clothes on the line outside.

When she'd finished, she went back to the kitchen to punch down the bread before mixing up cookie dough and a cake batter. She made the cookies for the relief society meeting and the cake for Karl.

Before she was ready to sit down to her simple lunch, she had two loaves of bread, a cake, and four dozen cookies cooling.

After doing the dishes from lunch and all of the baking, she hurried into her room to sew curtains for the rest of the downstairs windows, knowing he wouldn't care about the upstairs. She also made two small pillows for the couch in the parlor with leftover fabric, because she knew they would look nice.

Then she cut out two pairs of pants for Karl, sewing them quickly. As soon as they were done, she set them on his bed. She said a quick prayer of thanks that she was as fast at sewing as she was from her years of experience in the factory.

She started a pork roast with potatoes and carrots for dinner before going into the parlor and starting the socks he'd asked her for. They would take longer than just one afternoon, but she could finish the first pair Wednesday morning before the other ladies came over.

When Karl got home from work, he found her in the kitchen humming as she made gravy for dinner. The table was set, and he saw cookies spread out everywhere. When he reached for one, she stopped him. "I made those for the relief society meeting. I made a cake for our dessert tonight."

Karl frowned. "Just one cookie?"

Sarah sighed. "Just one."

He ate the cookie and sat at the table, waiting for her to bring his dinner.

"I made you two pair of pants today. They're on your bed for you to try on. I made one of the socks for the first pair that I'm knitting you. I just have to do the other. I also did all the laundry and finished making curtains for the whole first floor of the house."

He blinked a few times. "All today?"

Sarah nodded. "I'm used to hard work, Karl."

As they ate dinner, he told her about his meeting with his brother the previous day. "Jakob seems to be falling in love with his new wife," he observed.

"That's wonderful. I'm sure you're thrilled to see him happy."

"Yes, of course. It's just strange. He fell in love with Erna shortly after we came to Wisconsin, so it doesn't feel right that he would love someone else. He said the boys seem to like her, though."

"Good. I'm happy for all of them."

After dinner, Karl tried on his new pants. "They're perfect," he said, walking into the kitchen to show her.

She nodded. "They fit you just right. Good. Now go take them off so they won't get dirty."

Karl laughed. "How quickly do you think I can dirty my clothes?"

"I have no idea." She had seen the state of his clothes when she arrived though, and she really didn't want to think about it.

As soon as the dishes were washed, she joined him in the parlor. Her fingers itched to pick up her knitting, but she didn't allow herself. She needed to follow his wishes and give him her full attention in the evenings. "How did work go today?"

He shrugged. "It was a regular day. I hate this time of year, because there's always someone who is sick, and they miss work, so I end up doing my job and the jobs of others as well."

"I'm sorry you have to work so hard. Could you hire a few more men to even things out?"

He shook his head. "There aren't any more men in the area who want the job. I've hired everyone I can possibly hire."

"Really? It seems as if there's always someone who needs work. I guess here there are more jobs than there are men to do them."

"Yes, there are. Minnesota is a good place to live." He talked to her of the wonder of there being so much work. His father had told him stories of Germany and how there hadn't been enough work for the people who lived there.

Sarah loved watching him when he talked. He had what she considered a typical German look. His eyes would light up when he talked about anything that excited him, which Sarah enjoyed watching a great deal. Her Karl was a man with a passionate nature. He got enthusiastic about so many topics. She didn't know why she hadn't seen it before.

"Oh, I almost forgot," he said, standing up and putting his hand in his pocket. "I found this today, and it made me think of you." He handed her a small stone.

Sarah turned the stone over and over in her hand, trying to understand. "Why?"

"Because it's the exact same shade of blue as your eyes."

She felt a slow smile spread across her face. Maybe her Karl had the makings of a romantic man after all. "Thank you."

He sat down again, his arm going around her. "You like it?"

Sarah nodded. "I like that you thought of me while you were out, and that you wanted to get me something to match my eyes." She hadn't even realized the man knew what color her eyes were, so she was quite happy that he had paid enough attention to match the exact shade.

"I think of you all day every day," he said emphatically. "I'm glad you took all those trains to come here and marry me."

Sarah smiled. "So am I."

*****

Sarah was more nervous than ever when she woke the next day. She hurried as she dressed, rushing into the kitchen to fix breakfast.

Karl looked up from the table. "Good morning."

"You're up early! What are you
—
" She broke off as she noticed the cookies she'd baked the day before were missing. "Did you eat all the cookies?"

He shook his head. "There's one left." He indicated the table in front of him.

"One? I told you those were for the relief society meeting today! Why would you eat all the cookies? There was a cake for you."

He shrugged. "I couldn't sleep, and they were there. I didn't want to dirty a plate and a fork, so I just had the cookies instead. Is that a problem?"

Sarah closed her eyes for a moment, forcing down her anger. She could always bake more cookies before the other ladies arrived. "No, of course not. It's fine." She turned to him. "Are you hungry?"

He shook his head. "No, and I have a bit of a tummy ache."

She wanted to growl at him, but she held her tongue. "That's what happens when you eat four dozen cookies." He would get no sympathy from her. "How long have you been up?"

He shrugged. "Just an hour or two."

She sighed. "Let me make you some scrambled eggs. They should calm your stomach."

"I couldn't eat another bite."

"Toast?"

He nodded. "Toast with butter might work."

She hurriedly sliced off a couple pieces of bread and put them in the oven, before starting her own breakfast of bacon and eggs. When everything was finished, she sat down with him. "I'll have to go to the store this morning to get more ingredients for cookies. Do you have a favorite kind you'd like me to bake for you?"

He shook his head. "The mere thought of cookies is turning my stomach."

With great effort, she held her tongue. "All right. Is there anything in particular you'd enjoy for dinner?"

He shook his head, taking a small bite of the toast and a sip of coffee. "I really don't want to think about eating right now."

"I'll figure it out then."

"I'm sorry I ate all your cookies," he said. And he was now that his stomach hurt.

"It's all right. I know you didn't do it just to make my day harder."

He didn't say anything, because in a way, he had. He wanted to show her she couldn't keep up and still do everything she wanted with the ladies of the church. It simply wasn't possible. Of course, now he regretted his childish way of proving it to her.

As soon as he left, Sarah did the dishes as quickly as she could and bundled up to hurry to the store. She had everything delivered, taking the opportunity to pick out a couple of other colors of yarn for socks for him. She wanted to make him red socks, because she liked the idea of him having special Christmas socks.

She sat at the kitchen table and knitted while she waited for each pan of cookies to finish baking. Making a first impression was very important to her.

She had just finished getting dinner on the stove when she heard a knock at the door. She rushed over to see who it could be and opened the door wide to Mrs. Norman and a woman who looked very old and frail.

Sarah wondered if it was later than she realized, but a glance at the clock on the mantle told her it was only just past noon. "Come in!"

Mrs. Norman smiled at her. "I'm sorry we're early. I wanted to see if you needed help getting anything ready, but it looks as if you have things firmly in hand."

"I think I do," Sarah said with a smile. "I've gotten dinner started, made a snack, beverages will be ready in a moment." Her eyes met Mrs. Norman's. "Have I forgotten anything?"

"I don't think so. Everything looks perfect." Mrs. Norman indicated her friend. "This is Nancy Billings. She moved into town a few weeks ago to take care of her ailing daughter."

"And how is your daughter doing?" Sarah asked with concern, wondering if she could pray for her.

Mrs. Billings shook her head sadly. "She didn't make it."

"I'm so sorry to hear that!"

Mrs. Billings frowned. "I am too. I'm too old to be caring for a teenage boy."

"Of course you are!" Sarah led her to the sofa. "Please sit down. May I get you something to drink? A snack?"

Mrs. Billings shook her head, looking down at her hands desolately. Mrs. Norman sat close beside her, her hand covering her friend's. "The whole community will help if you need it." Her eyes met Sarah's. "I'd like a cup of tea if you don't mind."

"Oh, not at all. Let me hurry and get it for you." Sarah rushed from the room and got a cup of tea for Mrs. Norman and a glass of lemonade for herself. She was thankful she'd worked so hard that morning to have everything ready before they arrived so she could now sit and visit.

"How old is your grandson?" Sarah asked Mrs. Billings.

"He's thirteen. Simon's a good boy, but I just don't know how I'm going to properly care for him." Mrs. Billings turned her hands over. "He lost both of his parents when he was small, so my daughter, his grandmother, was raising him. She became ill and died last week, so I'm the only person he has left."

Sarah's heart went out to her. "Is your health good?" she asked softly, feeling there was something that was being left out of the conversation.

The older woman shook her head. "Not at all. My heart is going to give out at any time, but I don't want poor Simon to be raised in an orphanage."

Sarah shook her head. "I'm sure that won't happen."

"I'm sure it will," Mrs. Billings said sadly. "When my daughter died I went all over town hoping to find someone who could take him in, but no one would."

Sarah bit her lip for a moment, knowing she was doing the wrong thing, but she did it anyway. "If something happens to you, and there's no one else, Karl and I will take him in."

Mrs. Billings gawked at her. "You've never even met the boy. You can't say that."

Sarah shrugged. "No, I've never met him, but I know what it is to be orphaned young with nowhere to go. So does my husband. We'll take him." She would tell Karl what she'd agreed to as soon as he got home, and she prayed he wouldn't be angry with her. She would do whatever she could for the boy.

Mrs. Norman smiled at Sarah and nodded, as if she'd known that would be Sarah's answer. Sarah only hoped her husband wouldn't want to have her head when he heard what she'd said.

There was a knock at the door, and the small work-party began, with Sarah hovering and getting drinks and snacks for everyone.

Amelia looked around the parlor and nodded, her face excited. "I don't think it matters how big our meetings get if you're willing to always host them here, Sarah."

Sarah nodded, knowing she was probably agreeing out of turn. In less than an hour she agreed to take on a teenage boy to raise and open her home three days a week. Surely Karl would do his best to understand before he strangled her.

They were able to make six pairs of socks that afternoon as the sound of laughter mixed with the clickety-clack of a dozen knitting needles. As everyone left, Sarah looked around at the house, realizing that all of the ladies had taken the time to pick up after themselves. She only had to wash the few dishes they'd used, and the house would look normal
—
well, after she got the chairs back into the kitchen that was. Surely three times a week having the ladies there wouldn't interrupt their routine too much.

She was putting dinner on the table when Karl came in. "Are you feeling better?" she asked, going to him and kissing his cheek.

He nodded. "How was your day?"

"Busy! I finished your socks."

"Oh, good." He seemed surprised, as if he hadn't thought she could do it and keep up with all the other things she had going. "Did anything exciting happen?"

Sarah bit her lip, sitting down to explain about Mrs. Billings and her promise. "I couldn't let the woman keep fretting over what would happen to the boy if she died."

Karl shook his head. "I wish you'd asked me first."

Sarah frowned, wringing her hands together. "What would you have said?"

He sighed. "I'd probably have agreed, but I would have liked to at least be consulted about it!"

"I understand. Please forgive me."

He closed his eyes, annoyed, but not angry. "I know why you did it." He was sitting at the table, and he caught her at her waist, pulling her to him. "I just want us to have some time alone together." He cupped her cheek with his hand and pulled her down for a sweet kiss. "I feel like you're jumping into life here with both feet and without a look forward. For a little while, I want to be the most important thing in your life."