than cooking and dishes. Spending a day just getting to know her new family sounded like heaven to her.
After the lunch dishes were done, they all changed into their everyday clothes and went outside. George headed west from the farm, not following any particular road, just ambling along. He pointed out different types of plants and trees for the children. At one point they stopped and looked at the nest a robin was building on the low branches of a tree. “They always say a robin is the first sign of spring. Awfully early for spring to really be here, but I’m not complaining,” he told them.
Millie was amazed at what a good father George was. She hadn’t thought he was a bad father, but he’d been so busy with farming and with the state the house had been in, it was hard to picture the man she knew taking the time to point out all the things in nature he was pointing out. She felt her heart flutter a bit at the idea of him doing those things with a child of theirs.
“When will you be able to plant?” Millie asked.
“I’ll probably hold out another week, just to make sure there isn’t another frost, but then Michael and I will plant.”
“When should I put in my vegetable garden?” She had no idea about the growing season in Minnesota or about what things would grow there. She needed to follow his lead on things like that.
He shrugged. “As soon as I get the planting done, I’ll plow your plot for you. Probably in another few weeks.”
They walked along in silence for a while, the children playing as they walked. Millie frowned as she saw how short the girls’ dresses were again. She wished she could make them new ones now.
Grace got sleepy and started to whine, so George hefted her into his arms. She put her head on his shoulder and fell asleep with her thumb in her mouth.
“We should probably turn back,” George suggested after an hour or so.
Millie nodded, hating the idea of their fun day ending, but she knew she still needed to fix dinner. On the way back, George pointed off into the distance. “That’s where Bess and her husband, John, live.”
Millie looked over at the small lean-to on the property. There was no dirt path or road or anything, but she could picture bringing the children and having a picnic with her new friend between the two houses. It wasn’t a long walk, and if each of them met in the middle, it would be even shorter. That would be something fun to do with the children during the summer months.
“Thanks for showing me where she lives. I think it would be fun to have picnics between the two properties.”
George nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. The children would enjoy it.”
Millie smiled over at George. He wasn’t as gruff or hard as he’d first seemed. Yes, he liked things to be a certain way, but he was never unkind or cruel to her. Maybe eventually, they’d be able to live together as a real husband and wife.
When they arrived back at the house, Millie peeled potatoes and fried them up. She did the same with the salt pork, carefully washing the extra salt off, and seasoning them sparingly. She fried them in some water she could use to make gravy.
While she cooked, George sat with the children, talking about the morning’s sermon and adding to it, going over the points for the children to make certain they’d grasped it all. Then he told them the story of Job, and all the trials that had befallen him. It was obvious from the way the children listened this was a regular Sunday occurrence in their home.
She made gravy with the salt pork, carefully mixing flour with water and adding it to the water at the bottom of the pan. Once she was done, she shrugged, hoping it would turn out okay.
Patience set the table for her, and she served the family. She served the some of the bread along with fresh butter. Everyone ate their share, and there was enough left over for lunch the following day. She smiled to herself. She was getting good at this cooking
After the lunch dishes were done, they all changed into their everyday clothes and went outside. George headed west from the farm, not following any particular road, just ambling along. He pointed out different types of plants and trees for the children. At one point they stopped and looked at the nest a robin was building on the low branches of a tree. “They always say a robin is the first sign of spring. Awfully early for spring to really be here, but I’m not complaining,” he told them.
Millie was amazed at what a good father George was. She hadn’t thought he was a bad father, but he’d been so busy with farming and with the state the house had been in, it was hard to picture the man she knew taking the time to point out all the things in nature he was pointing out. She felt her heart flutter a bit at the idea of him doing those things with a child of theirs.
“When will you be able to plant?” Millie asked.
“I’ll probably hold out another week, just to make sure there isn’t another frost, but then Michael and I will plant.”
“When should I put in my vegetable garden?” She had no idea about the growing season in Minnesota or about what things would grow there. She needed to follow his lead on things like that.
He shrugged. “As soon as I get the planting done, I’ll plow your plot for you. Probably in another few weeks.”
They walked along in silence for a while, the children playing as they walked. Millie frowned as she saw how short the girls’ dresses were again. She wished she could make them new ones now.
Grace got sleepy and started to whine, so George hefted her into his arms. She put her head on his shoulder and fell asleep with her thumb in her mouth.
“We should probably turn back,” George suggested after an hour or so.
Millie nodded, hating the idea of their fun day ending, but she knew she still needed to fix dinner. On the way back, George pointed off into the distance. “That’s where Bess and her husband, John, live.”
Millie looked over at the small lean-to on the property. There was no dirt path or road or anything, but she could picture bringing the children and having a picnic with her new friend between the two houses. It wasn’t a long walk, and if each of them met in the middle, it would be even shorter. That would be something fun to do with the children during the summer months.
“Thanks for showing me where she lives. I think it would be fun to have picnics between the two properties.”
George nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. The children would enjoy it.”
Millie smiled over at George. He wasn’t as gruff or hard as he’d first seemed. Yes, he liked things to be a certain way, but he was never unkind or cruel to her. Maybe eventually, they’d be able to live together as a real husband and wife.
When they arrived back at the house, Millie peeled potatoes and fried them up. She did the same with the salt pork, carefully washing the extra salt off, and seasoning them sparingly. She fried them in some water she could use to make gravy.
While she cooked, George sat with the children, talking about the morning’s sermon and adding to it, going over the points for the children to make certain they’d grasped it all. Then he told them the story of Job, and all the trials that had befallen him. It was obvious from the way the children listened this was a regular Sunday occurrence in their home.
She made gravy with the salt pork, carefully mixing flour with water and adding it to the water at the bottom of the pan. Once she was done, she shrugged, hoping it would turn out okay.
Patience set the table for her, and she served the family. She served the some of the bread along with fresh butter. Everyone ate their share, and there was enough left over for lunch the following day. She smiled to herself. She was getting good at this cooking
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