A Promise for Ellie (22 page)

Ellie enjoyed listening to Andrew’s grandmother talk. While she spoke English, her Norwegian accent was so pronounced that one had to listen carefully.

Bridget looked over her spectacles to Ellie. “It is most surely good to have you back here where you belong. I never did see the need for Olaf to move his family away like he did.” She raised a hand when Penny started to say something. “I know. I’ve heard all the reasons, and I know he is doing real good in Grafton, but still . . .” She shook her head. “Couldn’t love that Goodie more if she was my own.”

Ellie smiled. She would soon be related to this woman, and the thought made her want to hug Bridget. “How’s the boardinghouse doing?”

“Fair to middlin’. Keeps a roof over our heads and us out of mischief.”

Ellie smiled wider. Bridget had been saying the same thing for years. As if she would ever get into mischief. “I’ll go measure out the sugar.” She headed for the storeroom, where hundred weights of beans, flour, rice, and sugar were lined up, ready to weigh out. She set a paper bag on the scale and opened one of the sugar sacks. Using the scoop hanging on a nail on the wall, she filled the bag to exactly ten pounds, wrapped it in string, and did the same for the brown sugar.

“Here we go. Why don’t I carry these back for you?”

“That would be fine. And maybe you could stay for a cup of coffee. I think Mrs. Sam would be taking bread pudding out of the oven right about now. Penny, shame you can’t just close up the store and come too. We never get a chance to really visit.”

“Monday at Solbergs’—I promise we’ll sit together and catch up.”

“I don’t know if I can get away then or not.”

“Yes you can. We need every needle we can get. Besides, Mrs. Sam said you should go out more. She can handle things just fine.”

“That’s what concerns me.” Bridget picked up her basket that now had ginger and several other packets of spices in it. “You better watch out, or I’ll steal this young woman right away from you.”

Penny smiled and patted her mother-in-law’s arm. “Oh, did you get your mail?”

“Henry came for it earlier. I forgot to tell him to get sugar.”

Ellie walked with Bridget out the door and waited while she negotiated the three steps down to the street.

“So you’re going to marry that grandson of mine, are you?”

“Just as soon as we are able.” Ellie matched her stride to the slower one.

“I thought you’d be married by now.”

“Haakan asked us to wait until after harvest.”

“Now why did he do that?”

“We don’t really know. He just felt it would be better, especially when the house didn’t come when it was supposed to.”

“Well, I just hope you don’t find someone else in the meantime, like Anji did. Near broke Thorliff ’s heart, she did. Be a shame for the same to happen to Andrew.”

“You needn’t worry about that. There’s never been anyone but Andrew for me.” Ellie could feel her cheeks pinking up.
Even when
he does something to—Leave that thought alone,
she ordered herself. She should have put her hat on. She paused when Bridget stopped walking.

“Are you all right?”

“Ja, just got to get my breath a little.”

“Is it too hot for you?”

“Nei.” Bridget straightened her shoulders. “I forget sometimes.”

“Forget what?”

“That I am an old woman and sometimes I have to slow down. Uff da.” She leaned a little more heavily on her cane. “What it comes to when you need a stick to hold you up . . .” She shook her head slowly, as if pondering what she’d said. “I know I should be grateful, but . . .” She glanced over at Ellie. “I
am
grateful.”

“I think we all forget to be grateful at times. I know I do.”

“My mor always told us to count our blessings.” Bridget patted Ellie’s hand. “You are one of mine. You will make Andrew a good wife.”

“I pray so.”

“Come, we will have our coffee on the back porch, where the breeze cools me in the shade. I am like a lizard. I love the sunshine, but when it gets too hot, I hide in the shade.”

Ellie made sure they didn’t walk too fast the rest of the way, watching the old woman with sideways glances so she wouldn’t be caught eyeing her. Bestemor had aged a lot in the two years Ellie had been gone.

When she got back to the store, Penny was busy with a customer, so she went back to the house to begin making supper. Since Hjelmer wouldn’t be home, she decided to cut bread, put cheese in the middle of two slices, and fry the bread in butter. Both she and the children loved fried cheese sandwiches, and they could eat outside, where the breeze would be cool. Penny didn’t much care what she fixed as long as there was plenty for everyone.

“What shall we take to the picnic?” Penny asked later as they finished the chocolate pudding Ellie had made to go with the sand- wiches. She flinched when the mound under her apron bounced. “Easy, baby, your ma needs a bit of rest.”

Ellie watched the apron move again. Penny was so nonchalant about being pregnant.
One of these days I might have enough courage to
ask her some questions
. “I could bake a cake.”

“That’s a start.We have some potatoes in stock, so we could make potato salad. I’ll sure be glad when the garden comes in.”

“Not long until the peas will be ready.” Ellie waved the fan she’d brought out, since the evening breeze had yet to make itself known. A mosquito whined in her ear, so she waited until it sat on her arm, then smashed it. “Do you think mosquitoes like some people better than others?”

Penny leaned against the back of the other rocker with her eyes closed. “Yes, they love me but don’t bother Hjelmer at all.”

“Did I hear someone taking my name in vain?” A deep voice brought the children running from the swing.

“Pa? Can you push me?” Linnea asked.

“I will if your ma will pour me some of that red stuff I see around your mouth.” He swept his daughter up in his arms. “What do you say?”

“I’ll get it.” Ellie stood and stretched her shoulders before heading into the house. She filled the pitcher and broke off a couple chips of ice from the icebox, one of the latest conveniences that Penny had seen in a catalog and ordered. One thing for sure, Penny and Hjelmer always had the latest contraptions. A small pump with a handle sat on their kitchen sink, and when you pumped it, water came out just like out at the well. No more hauling water. Another pipe drained from under the sink and out to a bucket behind the house. They used that water for the garden and flowers. Hjelmer said many homes in the bigger cities had running water and even a toilet that flushed. No more outhouses.

“Mange takk,” he said when she handed him a full glass. “Andrew said to tell you he won’t be coming by this evening.”

That’s no surprise
. Ellie shook her head to clear that thought from her mind.
Ellie Wold, that is not a very Christian or loving thought.
What is the matter with you?

“They are nailing the last shakes on the barn roof. Said he’d finish by moonlight or lantern if he had to. Good thing, because it looks like it could rain tonight.” He drank half the glass without taking a breath. “Did anything interesting come in the freight or the mail?”

Penny shook her head without opening her eyes. “Some newspapers came for you.”

“Ah, good. Bismarck and Grand Forks?”

“And some from Minneapolis.”

“Pa, you said you’d swing us.”

“You’re right. I got my drink, didn’t I?” He stood with a groan. “Keeping up with those young Bjorklunds is making me an old man.”

“We can bathe the children in the tub of water I left out in the sun,” Ellie said softly in case Penny had dozed off.

Penny nodded.

After the rest of the household was in bed and the potatoes cooked for the salad, Ellie took out her tablet and added to the letter she’d started to her mother. She told her of Bridget’s comment about missing her.

I could hardly talk, it made me so homesick for you. I hardly ever see Andrew now that haying is in full swing. I know he uses every minute to finish the barn. The cellar is dug out, but the house still waits in all its packaging. Astrid kidnapped me yesterday, and we surprised the men while they were putting the first of the hay into Andrew’s barn. He was so excited. He took me up into the haymow to see all the ropes and pulleys. The swallows have already built nests under the barn eaves, even though they’re not finished with the roof.

She went on to describe what her days were like and then closed.

I’ll write more tomorrow. We’re all going to the river to fish and picnic. Ingeborg is feeling better.

Good night,
Ellie

While she undressed she thought of the corduroy dress goods that arrived today. Rachel would love a jumper out of the deep blue. Penny had said she could use the sewing machine any time she wanted. Any time she had time, that is.

After church the next day they returned home to change clothes, and Hjelmer hitched up the team to take them and all the food “out to the farm,” as he called it. Half of Blessing seemed to be there. The boys already had a baseball diamond laid out, and the men had the tables set up and a fire going to make the coffee.

“Come on, Ellie,” Astrid called. “Let’s go see if we can catch more fish than the boys. Pa says there is a prize for whoever gets the most fish.”

Ellie looked around for Andrew.

Astrid rolled her eyes. “He took the buggy in to get Bestemor and Henry.”

“Oh.” They must have just missed each other. “Where are Sophie and Grace?”

“They don’t like to go fishing.”

Ellie shrugged. “I don’t either.” She glanced down at her outfit. “I didn’t dress to go fishing.”

Astrid snorted and took her cork with a hook imbedded in it and string wrapped around it from her pocket. “Guess I’ll have to go alone, then.”

“Do you have another cork?” Ingeborg asked.

“Ma, you want to go fishing?”

“Anytime. What are we using for bait?”

“I dug some worms.”

“Good girl. Ellie, tell Kaaren where I am, would you please?”

“Of course.”

“She’d come fishing if Andrew asked her.”

Ellie could tell that Astrid was a bit miffed with her. But even if Andrew asked her to put a worm on a hook, she’d tell him no. Besides, the mosquitoes would eat her alive. So instead she went over to the tables and helped spread the tablecloths, setting the pans and dishcloth-covered dishes in the center. That breeze they’d wanted the night before had delayed until today.

“Come sit with us, Ellie,” Sophie called as she and Grace spread a blanket out under a cottonwood tree.

“Coming.” Ellie made her way over and sat down, tucking her skirt carefully about her legs.

“Guess what?” Sophie whispered.

“What?”

“I got another letter from Hamre.” She pulled it from her pocket and waved it in the air.

“You’ve been writing to him?”

“Once. He wrote to me last winter, so I answered. That’s polite, don’t you think?”

“I guess. Is he still fishing?”

“Ja, out of Seattle. That’s in Washington State.”

“Sophie likes the boys, you know.” Grace smiled as she both spoke and signed. In spite of not being able to hear, she had worked hard on learning to talk and read lips. While she spoke more slowly than the others, her smile was always so gentle that no one minded waiting for her.

“I figured that out.” Ellie smiled back at Grace.

“Well, why not?” Sophie leaned forward. “If you weren’t so fixated on Andrew, you’d see we have some fine-looking young men around here.”

“Andrew is the finest.”

“Oh, Ellie, you need to play a little.”

Ellie saw the buggy coming down the track with Andrew driving his bestemor and Henry. Her heart picked up its beat. “I don’t think so.” Her middle warmed as the buggy neared. This afternoon she would finally have some time to spend with Andrew. Perhaps they would go for a walk. Perhaps he would kiss her again. Now her neck grew warm too. She watched him help the older folks from the buggy, and then he stared right at her, his smile widening. That special smile he saved for her. As he wound his way through those gathered, she heard Sophie snicker. But she didn’t care one whit. Her Andrew stood head and shoulders above all the other men, at least in her eyes.

“You’re pie-eyed,” Sophie whispered.

“So?” If they’d been alone she would have leaped up and run into his arms. How much longer before they could have the wedding? Would these feelings last forever, or would it be different once they were married?

W
ILL WE EVER
get time to be alone?
Andrew looked at Ellie.

Even sitting next to her was not enough. He leaned back so his left arm, rigid now like the other to hold him up, felt the warmth from her back. Now that was better. She slumped slightly instead of sitting straight, so her back touched his arm. Heat leaped between them.

“Would you like some dessert?”

“No thank you. I’m full.”

“Hey, Andrew, come play on my team.” Trygve waved at him.

“I thought you were going fishing.”

“Ah, they aren’t biting now. Baseball is better.”

“That means Astrid got more fish than you did.”