Chapter
17
The train arrives at ten thirty. You go pick them up.” Einar threw the orders over his shoulder at Signe as he headed out the door.
Signe turned to Knute and Leif. “You boys better hurry, then, since I will need the horse.” He could have mentioned this earlier, she muttered inside. She caught Rune’s look of caution and nodded.
The boys grabbed their dinner pails and ran out the door. “Tante Nilda and Onkel Ivar are coming!” Leif shouted, and both boys cheered.
Signe took the cup of coffee Gerd handed her.
Gerd waved a hand. “Sit down, and we will have breakfast.”
Rune set his coffee cup in the steaming dishpan. “Bjorn and I will be dynamiting a few more stumps. Days like today, we sure could use another team of horses.”
“Einar says the same thing.” Gerd crossed to the stove and pulled the big pan forward.
“Bjorn!” Signe stopped her son as he was following his far out the door. “Do you have your ear protection?”
He grinned and waved his fur earmuffs. “Ja, Mor. I have these, and lots of cotton in my pocket to wad into my ears. Takk.”
“Good.” Signe waved him out the door. “I so wish he wasn’t helping with the dynamiting. Not just because of the danger. His ears.”
Gerd broke eggs into the pan. “That first day of blasting, when Rune sent him home, he said his ears started getting better as soon as he was in the quiet. And his hearing was almost completely returned by bedtime. I agree that it would be best if he got nowhere near the noise, but by plugging his ears with cotton and then covering them with those heavy earmuffs, he seems to be getting along all right.”
“But in the long term. What about twenty years from now? Will his hearing be forever affected?”
“No one knows. Only God knows.”
Signe’s thoughts shifted. Gerd had just expressed trust in God, at least to an extent. That was good news!
Her thoughts shifted again. “Rune mentioned getting another team. And if we have our own farm, we’ll have to buy stock. Perhaps I should mention that to Mrs. Benson. Where does one buy livestock around here?”
Gerd shrugged. “Most people raise up their own. We should have bred our mare, but Rosie is too old now.” She slid the scrambled eggs onto Signe’s plate. “Pick up a newspaper at the store. Might be an ad there. Einar mentioned Red Lake one time, someone up there breeding heavy horses. Good thing Garborg down the road has a bull and a boar.”
Kirstin waved both arms from her seat in the rocker. She’d already figured out that she could make it rock by moving forward and back, which made her chortle. Signe had tied a string from arm to arm of the chair and hung some spoons from it to entertain her. Drool running down her chin, Kirstin slapped the spoons together to make noise.
“I will feed her just before I leave. Is the train usually on time?”
Gerd shrugged. “No idea. I never paid attention. But when the wind is just right, you can hear the whistle.”
With bread rising, ham and beans simmering in the oven, and Kirstin fed and put down for her nap, Signe gathered her list. The sound of a stump exploding was so common now that they could almost ignore it.
Rune harnessed Rosie and drove her and the cart up to the back porch. He helped his wife up to the seat and smiled at her. “Tonight we celebrate.”
Signe grinned back. “I’m so excited I can hardly sit still. So many things to do, and all needing doing right now.”
“Don’t forget the paper. Reading some news will be good for a change.”
“Knowing Nilda, she will bring all kinds of news.”
It was all she could do not to flick the reins and make Rosie pick up the pace from a slow jog to a fast trot. Swallows were dipping mud out of a puddle left from the last rain. Soon all the barns would have swallow nests under the eaves. A killdeer called and ran down the road, dragging one wing to draw them away from her nest in the grass.
Signe sucked in a deep breath of spring and felt joy flood clear to her fingertips. Their first spring in Minnesota, and they were to celebrate it with family arriving. Knute had reminded her that only ten days remained of the school year. The shades of green around her could only be dreamed up by God, some so bright they hurt her winter eyes. She inhaled again and closed her eyes to try to identify all the scents that made up spring. Overturned earth, green things growing, something blooming sweet, someone cleaning out their barn or spreading manure on a field, and pine trees emitting their own perfume.
She stopped Rosie by the railing at the store and climbed down. She could hear children laughing and calling, so it must be recess time at the school. Shouted commands drifted from the stacks of logs being loaded onto flat rail cars to be hauled to the lumber mills up around Red Lake and beyond.
“Good morning,” Mrs. Benson called as soon as Signe opened the door. “Isn’t this a perfect spring day? Do you have time for a cup of coffee?”
Signe returned the greeting and the smile. “I have some things to get, including a newspaper and information, and when the train comes, our family will be here.”
“That is so exciting. Come, let’s have coffee on the back porch. I’ve been thinking of putting rocking chairs on the front porch. Make people take some time to enjoy the world around them.” She checked the clock. “Half an hour until the train gets here. Enough time for coffee and to catch up. How is that sweet baby girl of yours doing?”
Signe followed her through the storeroom and out back, where a big maple tree was still leafing out. The swing that Leif had so enjoyed still hung from the lower branch.
“You sit there, and I’ll bring the coffee out.” Mrs. Benson pointed to the chairs by a round table dappled by sun through the branches.
Signe sat with her eyes closed, experiencing spring with her other senses. Between tending Kirstin, planting the garden, keeping the house, and feeding ravenously hungry men, she never had time to just sit like this and—and what? Experience.
“Shade trees sure make a difference around a house, don’t they?” Signe smiled as her hostess brought out the serving tray. “I promised Gerd I would plant several around her house. She asked for a birch, just like I am going to plant by my house.” She eyed the plate of cookies and wrapped her hands around a coffee cup. “This must be close to what heaven is like.”
“I think so too. Good thing you came by to remind me to stop and let the sun drive away the cold of winter. Sometimes it seems to settle deep into my bones and makes it hard to get warm.” Mrs. Benson sat down and pushed the plate closer to Signe. “I just baked these this morning, and I’m so glad you came to enjoy them with me. My grandma’s ginger cookies.”
Signe dunked her crisp cookie in her coffee and closed her eyes, the better to appreciate the flavors. “This is so good.”
“I wish we could get together more often like this. Women need to spend time with each other. I sure hope you and Gerd will come to our Ladies Aid group. It will help you get to know some of the others.”
That reminded Signe. “We can’t thank Mr. Benson enough for bringing the others out to help dig our cellar. Rune was so grateful for the progress they made.”
“That’s what neighbors do for each other. He had me rub liniment on his back that night.” Mrs. Benson laughed. “He said you have a right nice place to put your house. Shame you don’t have a lake on that property. Did Knute get to go fishing with the reverend and his boys?”
“One time. He sure loves to hunt and fish. His snares keep us in rabbit.” Signe reached for another cookie. “Do you know anyone who has a team of horses for sale?”
Mrs. Benson shook her head. “Not off hand. The mister would know more than I. We’ll ask him. You might check that board by the door. Sometimes people post notes there when they have a need or something to sell. I saw one for a litter of puppies.”
“Really? The boys would love to have a dog.”
“No mice dare invade our house, but neither one of them is much interested in being a barn cat. I take them down to hunt, and they show up on the back porch after a while. I think one of them is going to have kittens.”
After a few more quiet moments, Mrs. Benson set down her coffee cup. “How about I fill your order while you go to the platform and pick up your family? I’m looking forward to meeting them.”
“I will.” Signe stood and stretched. “Takk for the coffee.”
“I’ll send some cookies home for those boys of yours, if you don’t mind.”
“Mind?” Signe’s eyebrows arched. “They will be delighted.”
Waving good-bye, she backed the horse and cart away from the store and drove over to the station south of the loading area for logs. The train whistle sounded far down the tracks, and Rosie flicked her ears.
Signe could not bear to sit still, so she climbed down and stroked Rosie’s neck and ears while she waited. When the train whistled again, Rosie laid back her ears and snorted.
“Easy, you’ve been here before,” Signe soothed. “That monster is not going to come after you.”
Perhaps she should have tied the horse to the hitching rail nearby, but comforting her kept Signe’s hands busy. Another blast of the whistle, and Rosie tried backing up. Ears flat against her head, she reared enough to get both front feet in the air, but Signe gripped an ear and grasped the lines just below the bit. She kept up a singsong voice, saying soothing nonsense syllables.
Steam blew out the screeching wheels, and the monster finally halted. Rosie shook her head, snorted, stamped one more time, and settled down with a puff of breath, now that the train no longer personally threatened her.
Signe watched the three passenger cars and finally saw the conductor help a young woman down the steps. When she reached the platform, she turned to thank him. A young man followed right behind her, handing the conductor two carpetbags as he stepped down.
Signe waved and called their names, not daring to leave Rosie in case something frightened her again.
“Signe!” Sun glinted off the gold streaks in Nilda’s crown of hair as she lifted her skirts and dashed across the wide boards of the platform to throw her arms around Signe.
Rosie tossed her head and pulled away again.
“Oh, I scared the horse. Sorry.” Nilda hugged Signe again, and then, keeping one arm around Signe’s waist, held out her other hand for Rosie to sniff. “What a good horse you are.” She heaved a sigh. “I am so grateful to be here. Oh, Signe, I didn’t think we would ever make it. This train ride from Blackduck seemed as long as the one from Duluth.”
Ivar set their carpetbags down and grinned at Signe. “We made it. We finally made it.” He looked around. “I hope we can fit our trunks and crate into that little cart.” He returned her hug and looked down the train to the baggage car, where dollies of boxes, crates, and trunks were being unloaded. “We better get down there to load before the train leaves. It doesn’t stop long.”
Since several others had gotten off the train too, the baggage was still unloading.
“They must have supplies for others around here too,” Ivar said, eyeing the large pile of crates being offloaded from the train.
“Probably for the store,” Signe said. “There’s a mail pouch, oh, and a bundle of newspapers.”
Mr. Benson drove up with a wagon, and the railway men started moving boxes and crates to that. “You want some help, Mrs. Carlson?” he called.
“Takk.” She started to lead Rosie to that end of the platform, but Ivar took over.
“We’ll toss those bags on top last,” he said.
“I have supplies to pick up at the store too,” Signe told him. “The three of us on the seat will be tight.”
“Who cares?” Nilda said. “Oh, Signe, this has been such a long year since you and Rune left. I have missed you dreadfully.”
Signe nodded. “I learned that homesickness is not a joke. I cried too many tears to count, I missed you all so much. Things are good now, but one of these days I will tell you what was really going on here. I could not bear to write it all in my letters. I never have liked whiners.” The two women locked arms and followed the horse and cart.
“Tante Gerd is taking care of the baby?” Nilda asked.
“Ja. As far as she’s concerned, the sun rises and sets on Kirstin. She is like the jewel to all of us. Leif especially loves to make her giggle. No one can keep a straight face when she gets going.” Other than Einar, but Signe did not mention him. No sense dimming a perfect day.
“You want me to drive?” Ivar asked after helping them up to the seat.
“If you want. If we give Rosie her head, she will take us home. The boys ride her to school every morning.” Signe smiled around the tears forming in her eyes. “I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to have you here. Family from home, my best friend, let alone sister-in-law.”
Nilda winked. “Don’t forget Ivar. I had to chase all the girls away from him on the ship. That baby face of his caught lots of attention.”
Ivar rolled his eyes, but in spite of himself, red crept up his neck. He shook his head. “Not that my older sister would exaggerate or any such thing.”
Nilda shivered. “The voyage over was so bad, everyone was puking their guts out and wondering if they were going to die from seasickness.”
Ivar nodded in agreement. “One old man and a baby did die. They buried them at sea after the storm let up. That was so sad.”
At the store, Signe introduced Nilda and Ivar to Mrs. Benson, who invited them for coffee. “I made fresh ginger cookies this morning. In fact, I am sending some home for the boys. Your nephews are becoming fine young men.”
“Takk, but I think we will get on home,” Signe said.
“I understand.” Mrs. Benson handed up several bags. “Tell Gerd that is the last of the yarn for a while. Your newspaper and some mail are here too.” She patted Nilda’s knee. “I will be out to see you soon.” To Signe, she asked, “Do you have any butter or eggs to send with the boys? I don’t know what we will do when school is out. They have been our errand runners.”
“I’ll check our stores at home,” Signe said. “Let me know when Ladies Aid meets. Perhaps we can break away for a while. Especially after the garden is planted. But at least we will see you in church.”
“True, I am always grateful the store closes on Sundays.” Mrs. Benson stepped back. “So glad to meet you, Miss Carlson. Mister too.” She waved as Ivar turned the horse and cart toward home. Rosie picked up her hooves immediately in spite of the load she was hauling.
Signe and Nilda chattered away, exchanging family news.
“Do you know many of these neighbors?” Ivar asked when there was a slight lull.
Signe shook her head. “You have to understand something. Onkel Einar drove away all the neighbors, ordered them all off his land some time ago. He is a stubborn man, and all he can really think about is cutting down the big trees so he can clear the land for farming. Selling the logs is the income for the farm.”
“What happens when it is all logged off?”
“Who knows?” She decided not to go into the conflict they’d had with him regarding paying off the tickets and earning wages. Maybe he had learned some lessons in how to treat people.
“Rune mentioned in one letter that Einar seems to have it in for you,” Nilda said.
“Ja, he blames me for everything. I’m hoping he is at least polite with you. He knows now that when Rune takes a stand, he will do what he says he will do. Einar figured all the boys would be home working, but Rune told him no, our boys would be in school. Bjorn was old enough to make a choice, and he would rather work out in the woods than anything.” Signe took a breath. “Ah, so much has happened here this year. I am so grateful that Gerd has gotten much of her health back. She was bedbound when we got here, but now she is able to help with the cooking and the wash, and she has knitting needles in her hands all the time unless she is taking care of Kirstin. I think our baby gets all the love that Gerd did not know she had to give.”
“How wonderful.”
“She saved my life and Kirstin’s too, not that she would ever admit that.” Signe nodded and patted Nilda’s hands. “Enough about us, what has been going on at home?”
“We had enough food to eat this winter, but mostly because we live on a farm. Last year was the first year I did not go up to the seter but worked for other people around town to bring in some money. Mor keeps slamming that loom and is able to sell some of her rugs.” Nilda glanced over her shoulder. “Wait until you see all we brought. Good thing you are building a new house. From the sounds of Gerd’s house, there isn’t room there for everything.”
Ivar tightened the lines as Rosie picked up her pace. “Sorry, girl, you don’t need to work up a sweat like that.”
“Ja, the boys get home a lot faster in the afternoon than they get to school in the morning.”
“I cannot believe how big this country is.” Ivar shook his head. “Those days on the Great Lakes, and then from Duluth to here. I looked on a map, and Minnesota is kind of right in the middle of Amerika. I did not realize North Dakota was so far away.”
Nilda nodded. “Ivar really wants to go to Blessing to find work there with Tante Ingeborg.”
Ivar added, “But we are here now, and here we will be for at least a year until we pay off Nilda’s debt to Onkel Einar.”
“We all managed to buy Ivar’s ticket, so he is not beholden to Onkel Einar,” Nilda explained.
Signe nodded. “Good for you. But there is plenty of work for you here, and I know Onkel Einar is looking forward to another hand in the woods. The more trees he ships, the better.”
And I will make sure he pays you a decent wage. She wondered who she could ask about what the going rate was for lumberjacks. She knew Einar and Ivar had already come to terms, but that didn’t mean Einar wouldn’t try to back out in some way if Ivar upset him.
One moment she was so thrilled Nilda and Ivar were here, the next she dreaded what could be ahead. But at least she and her family would be in a house of their own before the end of summer.
If all went well.