Chapter Seven
Millie carefully followed the instructions for sugar cookies the next morning while George was in the field with the boys. She kept smiling to herself, feeling that she and George had a real breakthrough in their relationship the night before.
Patience helped mix the dough, while Grace ate small pieces of it, giggling the whole time. By the time the cookies were finished, Grace’s face and bib were covered with dough. Millie laughed as she took a cloth and wiped off her face and hands.
Millie thought Patience was looking forward to having a guest as much as she was. Patience told her Martha had never wanted anyone to come over and visit. The only time she’d ever seen outsiders before her mother died was when they went to town for church.
Millie knew she was as different from Martha as night and day. She liked to have other people around, although not too many at once. Once the lunch dishes were done, Millie brought the fresh milk up from the cellar and set it on the table. She put out a plate of the cookies and some small plates for serving.
Both of the little ones were down for a nap, so she sat at the table working on the dress for Patience while she waited for Bess to arrive. She’d given Patience two pieces to sew together, showing her how to take the small stitches necessary for a pretty garment.
Millie had the door standing open as they worked. There was no sound of an approaching horse, just suddenly a head popping in the door. “Hello?”
Millie jumped up. “Come in! We’ve been expecting you.” She indicated the chair at the head of the table. “Have a seat. I hope you don’t mind if I keep sewing while we chat. I’m trying to get new dresses made for the girls before Sunday morning.”
“Oh! New spring dresses. That’s a beautiful pattern,” she said pointing to the fabric. It was a pale pink with small flowers of different colors woven in. Millie had fallen in love with it as soon as she saw it. She’d cut into it first, so she wouldn’t be tempted to keep it for herself. The girls needed new dresses more than she did.
“They do look like good spring and summer dresses, don’t they?” She smiled down at the dress taking shape in her hands. She would be proud of her girls wearing these to church on Sundays. They were going to be beautiful. “Would you like some milk and cookies? I baked the cookies fresh this morning.”
“I’d love some.” Bess’s eyes lit up as she responded. She was such a sweet, friendly girl that Millie found herself drawn to her more and more.
“Are you from around here, or did you move here after you married?” Millie asked her. She poured them milk and served cookies, making sure to include Patience by serving her some as well.
Patience set down the pieces of dress she was working on basting together and picked up a cookie, taking a tiny bite off of one side. All her attention was focused on Bess and Millie and the conversation they were having.
Bess sighed. “I grew up here. I met John at church, and we courted for a while. I’ve lived in this same little town my whole life.”
Millie smiled. “I think it’s a beautiful little town. Where I lived, in Boston, it was dirty. No one really seemed to care about anyone else. The crowds in the city were terrible. I’m so glad to be here where it’s so fresh and clean all the time.”
Bess tilted her head to the side as if considering her new friend’s words. “I never thought of it that way. I guess it would be fun to see a place like that, but I don’t know if I’d want to live there.” She took a bite of the cookie. “Was it fun being a mail order bride? I don’t think I could agree to marry someone sight unseen like that. I’d be too scared.”
“I was fortunate. I ended up with a good man who treats me well and four wonderful children.” She paused taking a sip of the milk in front of her. “I don’t think I’d have done it if I hadn’t had to, though. I was raised in an orphanage and they require you to leave when you turn eighteen. I really didn’t have a choice.”
Bess’s eyes widened. “Do you know of any other girls who will forced to leave soon?”
“I do! My closest friend there, Charlotte, will be eighteen in a few months. I need to write her, but I haven’t sat down without work to do for long enough to write anyone.”
Bess looked at her speculatively. “John’s younger brother comes to my house for dinner every night. He’s twenty-two, but there really aren’t any eligible girls. We should fix them up. He can’t afford to pay a broker, but he could pay for her fare out here and give her a small clothing allowance.”
Millie smiled. “That’s a fabulous idea! I’ll write to her as soon as I get a chance.”
They spent the afternoon chatting, munching on cookies, and Millie kept sewing as fast as she could make her needle go. She wanted to finish the dresses up as fast as she could. As she sat and talked with her new friend, she realized that she much preferred the life she was living to the one she’d daydreamed about on the way to Minnesota. The only thing missing for her was the love of her husband. Hopefully that would come in time.
After a couple of hours, Bess stood. “I need to get home to put supper on the table. John gets cranky when he comes in from the fields and his meal isn’t waiting for him.” She paused for a moment with a grin. “So does his brother James.”
Millie’s eyes widened. “So does George! I’ve only done it once, but it wasn’t pretty.”
Bess laughed. “It won’t be the last time. Sometimes I get so carried away with what I’m doing, I just plain forget about dinner.”
“That’s how it happened with me, too. I guess I’m not the worst wife alive.”
Bess shook her head, her brown eyes sparkling. “No more than I am. We’ll get better with time, I’m sure.”
Millie stood and walked with Bess to the edge of the clearing, hugging her tightly. “Thank you for coming over. Please drop by anytime.”
Bess smiled. “You’ll get sick of me soon. I promise!” She pointed in the direction of her house. “You can’t see it from here, but I live about a mile that way. You and the children are welcome to visit anytime.”
Millie smiled. “If I ever get caught up on all my chores, I’ll do that.”
She went back into the house and fixed dinner for her family, grateful she’d come out here to live with a good man and was making some new friends. God was surely watching out for her.
As soon as she thought those words, she was surprised. She’d never before thought about God being a person who was actively interested in her life. To her, he’d always been some far off, distant figure who didn’t care about her one way or the other. Maybe that was why George didn’t think she was a Christian. Maybe Christians thought of God as an active force in their lives as she was beginning to do.
She contemplated God and her growing relationship with him as she cooked and all through dinner. She’d never had an active prayer life, but now found herself thinking maybe she needed a more solid relationship with her Father. Should she ask George about it? Or should her relationship with Him be a private thing just between them?
For now, she decided to keep it to herself. She would continue to pray when she felt the urge, and maybe she’d develop the kind of Father/daughter relationship with God that she’d seen so many others enjoy. She saw clearly now that simply going to church did not make her a Christian.
After the dishes were done, and the children in bed, she sat down with the almost finished dress she was making for Patience. She bowed her head for George’s prayer for their Bible study, and this time she silently added a few words of her own. “Father, help me to make this information my own. Help me to be a good Christian wife, and to understand what you require of your people. I want to worship you the right way.”
When she raised her head, she saw George looking at her speculatively. She smiled and nodded toward the Bible, ready to listen to God’s words for her.
When he was finished reading the chapter, George closed the Bibl
e and took her hand in his once again. “You’re becoming a better wife and mother every day, Millie. I’m really proud of how far you’ve come in such a short time.”
Millie blushed at his praise. “Thank you. I’m doing my very best.”
“I’ll never ask you for anything more than that.”