Chapter
26

Why—you—here?” Einar glared at Rune. “Get—in—woods.”

“Your speech is much better today.” Rune stood by the bed. “Would you like to sit in the chair?”

“Nei!” Einar pointed toward the woods with a trembling hand.

“I warned you that if you can’t be polite to those who are trying to help you get better, I will stay here at the house. I will go out in the woods when I can trust you to be decent here. If you would cooperate with them, you might be out in the woods sooner.”

Signe and Nilda listened from the doorway. Signe shook her head. “Won’t happen. I don’t think he can be polite.”

Rune nodded. “I’m afraid I agree with you. But he wants those trees down mighty bad. So, Onkel Einar, one way to get stronger again is to get up and sit in this chair for a while.”

Einar glared knives at Rune, but slowly he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up, panting. Rune held out his hand to help, but Einar batted it away. He clamped a hand on the arm of the chair.

Signe retrieved Gerd’s cane from the pantry and brought it to Einar. “This might make it easier.” The look she received for her efforts might have withered a weaker woman, but she met him eye to eye. “To help you get stronger, faster.”

He eyed the chair, the cane, and Rune, then grabbed the cane with one hand and the chair with the other and heaved himself to his feet. He stood swaying, steadied, and then turned enough to sit in the chair.

Signe felt like clapping.

“Do you promise to be polite? If you will, I will return at dinnertime. If there is a problem, Leif will come for me, and I will stay here.” Rune waited. “I know you are a man of your word. If you agree, I know you will do it.”

Einar nodded.

“Then I will see you at dinnertime.”

In the kitchen, Rune beckoned the three women to come out on the porch. “I’m concerned about him having that cane if he goes berserk again. He could really hurt someone with it, so be careful.”

“Takk.” Gerd shook her head. “I should be the one taking care of him.”

“Why?”

“I married him.”

Rune squeezed her shoulder. “Gerd, we are your family, and we will take care of each other as we need to. You took care of Signe and Kirstin, remember?”

“Ja, but . . .”

“Leif can run fast if need be. Keep that in mind.” He looked at Signe and Nilda, who both nodded. He nodded in return and headed down the steps to join the others in the woods.

Nilda stood agape. “I have never in my life heard my brother string so many words, and such wise words, together at one time. I wish Mor could see and hear this. She would be so proud of him. Not that she would let anyone know, but I have watched her eyes gleam, and I know what she is thinking.”

Signe felt her eyes get moist. “Talking like this makes me miss her even more. Ivar says that one day he will send them tickets, but I know your far will never come to Amerika. He is adamant, and I don’t remember in all the years of knowing him that he ever changed his mind, once he locked on something.”

“I know.” Nilda heaved a sigh. “I do not want to be like that. Nor like Onkel Einar.”

Gerd carried Kirstin on her hip now, since she was getting so big and so busy. “Yesterday she found a beetle on the floor and scooted her quilt over to pick it up.”

“And it went directly into her mouth?” Signe said, shaking her head.

“I got it before she did.” Gerd jiggled the baby up and down to make her giggle. “I need to sew her some shifts for the hot weather.”

“And a sunbonnet so she can come out in the garden with us?”

“Ja, I even have a pattern and some of that gingham left. Perhaps I can do that this afternoon. Right now we need to put the boiler on the stove and wash diapers.” Gerd handed Kirstin to her mor. “I better check on Einar, see if he is ready to go back to bed. Remember when you had to drag me out of bed?” She glanced at Nilda. “This Signe, she can be mighty tough when she chooses to be. She decided I was going to get back on my feet, and that was that.”

“But she better stay out of reach of that bear in there. No matter how tough she is, he is bigger and stronger.” Nilda fetched the broiler from its nail on the wall and set it in the sink. Pumping water to fill it, she looked out the window. “I want to be out in that garden before it gets too hot.”

“I will do the diapers,” Signe said, “you go out in the garden, and Gerd, you go sew for our baby girl.”

Gerd went to check on Einar. “He is back in bed and sleeping.”

At least he’s quiet, Signe thought as she rinsed out the diapers and stirred them into the hot soapy water. A cake might be good for dinner—no, gingerbread. She found herself humming as she stirred the ingredients together. Gingerbread was Rune’s favorite. They had plenty of cream to whip for topping.

“Two trees,” Knute announced when the men came through the door at dinnertime. “What smells so good?” He spied the pan on the table. “Of course, gingerbread.”

The kitchen went from quiet and peaceful to laughter and ruckus. Bjorn picked up his baby sister and set her on his shoulders. She clamped her fingers in his hair, making him flinch.

“You be careful with her. Knute, don’t let her fall backward.” The three of them paraded around the table, a baby chortle making everyone laugh.

Rune went to Einar immediately, and Signe followed in case he needed help.

“All right,” Rune said, “let’s get you back up again, and you might enjoy sitting at the window. See the outside.”

Einar rumbled and grumbled, but he did as instructed. “Quiet,” he whispered as he stood. “Tell them quiet.”

Rune nodded. “The noise makes the pain worse?”

“Ja.” Together the three of them walked to the window, and Rune moved the chair into place. Once Einar was seated, Rune and Signe left to settle the others down.

“Oh, sorry.” The boys quieted immediately. Signe took her daughter and tied her into the rocking chair. The gingerbread disappeared nearly as quickly as she put it on their plates and spooned whipped cream on top.

“Now that was fine.” Rune patted his belly. “Leif, how are your babies doing?”

“All still alive. Daisy is going to have hers next. She is starting to nest.”

“We need more farrowing stalls at this rate. We could turn the horse stalls into pig pens for now. Take some of that scrap lumber and nail boards across the ends. Ivar, how good are you with building something like that?”

“Had to at home at times. I can measure and cut boards and pound nails.”

“So can we,” Bjorn offered. “And sharpen saw blades. Onkel Einar usually does that.”

“We better do that tonight rather than working on the cellar. Let me get Einar back to bed, and we’ll return to the woods.”

Rune stood up, and Signe did the same. “I’ll help you.”

“Let me take that tray,” Rune said as he entered the bedroom and bent over Einar, “and we’ll get you back to bed. You want to try walking around the room first?”

“Nei. So tired.”

“A little more each day will get you stronger again. If you were out in the woods with us, we could do three, four trees a day—easy. Those boys are getting better and better with the axes and saws.” Rune waited for Einar to stand, handing him the cane to walk with. “We’ll do this again when I get home.”

Seeing that Einar was calm and Rune had everything under control, Signe went out to the porch. She rinsed and wrung out the diapers, then hung them on the line to flap in the breeze.

She looked up to see a hawk circling against the blue. “Don’t you even think of stealing our chickens.” Just that morning one of the brooding hens came off her nest with a flock of eight chicks, so Signe and Leif had moved them to another small, fenced pen with a nesting box. Three other hens were setting. They were having babies all over the place, much to Leif’s delight. Since Knute had gone to help in the woods, all the responsibility for the farm animals had shifted to Leif and the women.

Signe watched the hawk fly away before heading back into the house.

That evening, Nilda helped Leif milk the cows so that when the others trooped in from the woods, all of the farm chores were done. They had just finished supper when they heard a horse and wagon coming down the lane.

Nilda was doing the dishes and Signe was changing Kirstin as Rune and Knute stepped out on the back porch. Nilda heard Rune’s strong voice say, “Welcome, come on in. Good to see you. Hey, Ivar, Nilda, come on out here. There are some folks who will be right glad to see you.”

What?

Nilda went outside, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. “Who . . . ?” She stopped in her tracks at the sight of Petter hopping down from the wagon. “Why, Mr. Thorvaldson. I am delighted to see you. Ivar, come here!” The two men shook hands, and Nilda motioned them to the benches and chairs against the house. “Sit down, sit down, I’ll bring the coffee right out.” Back inside, she whispered to Signe, “Remember that young man from the ship that we told you about? He is here! Came out with his uncle from the lumberyard.”

Signe smiled. “It’s a shame we ate all the gingerbread. You could take out a plate of cookies, though.”

“Does my hair look all right?” Nilda tucked a stray strand back where it belonged before pulling the coffeepot forward and dishing up the cookies. “He said he would come find us, but I didn’t really think he would.” She stopped. “I’m dithering, aren’t I?”

Signe’s smile had turned knowing. “A bit, but that’s all right.”

Signe lit the lamp and set it where Gerd was sewing on the machine. As Nilda picked up the tray to serve the coffee, Signe was scooping up her daughter, who already wore the sleepy look that said she was not long for the day. Often Signe took Kirstin out to the rocking chair on the porch, and they enjoyed the evening breeze. Would she come out here with the others? Signe turned toward the stairs. Apparently not.

As Nilda carried out the tray, the man who had been introduced as Mr. Hechstrom was saying, “How about we drive out to look at your place before it gets dark?”

“Fine by me. These young people can visit while we’re gone.” Rune climbed up on the wagon seat with the lumber man and motioned to the lane past the barn that led toward the clearing near the woods. Their trap rattled away down the rough lane.

“So how is your job going with your uncle?” Ivar asked Petter.

“He is teaching me the ways of running a lumberyard, filling orders, waiting on customers, that kind of thing. I would rather be out in the woods, but he needs the help, and Tante Soren treats me like one of her sons. They had three boys, but one died a few years ago. One works for the railroad, and the other is married and lives in Minneapolis. They did not want to work in the lumberyard. But Onkel said business slows down in the winter, and if I want to go be a lumberjack, fine, just so I come back in the spring.”

Ivar asked, “Did you do much lumbering in Norway?”

“Nei. The lumberyard runs its own mill, and I work on that. But out in the woods? That’s where I’d rather be. I want to learn how to do it all well.”

Nilda asked, “Have you heard from home?” Do you have any news from Norway?

“Ja, my brother and sister both want to come, so I am saving for their tickets. They are too.”

Nilda smiled. “Sounds like us last year.”

Signe came outside without the baby. Kirstin must have fallen asleep. And since Onkel Einar was not yelling, he was probably asleep as well. Signe asked their guest, “Are you taking English classes?”

“Nei, but I’m picking up a lot from work. I hear there is going to be a house-raising as soon as you are ready. Do you mind if I come help? We are closed on Sundays.”

Nilda grinned. “You think we would turn down a pair of willing hands?’

“You never know. I mean, I’ve heard rumors.” Petter looked away.

“About Onkel Einar. Ja, we know.” Nilda shrugged. “But right now he is laid up from an accident.” Ivar snorted, but she ignored him. “It will be better when we can move to the new house.”

Petter and Ivar chatted on, but Nilda found herself thinking surprising thoughts. A strong young lad who wanted to learn lumbering, and Onkel Einar’s woodlot, and . . .

They heard the jingle of harness and hooves clopping before Mr. Hechstrom stopped his horse by the house.

“You want to come in for coffee?” Rune asked as he climbed off the trap.

“I better get on home. You’ve got the copy of the contract, so we’ll start hauling the lumber out so as to be ready when you are.” Mr. Hechstrom called, “Come along, Petter, we need to get on home.”

Petter climbed nimbly up over a wheel and into the seat. “I’ll see you again soon.”

Nilda had the feeling he was speaking more to her than to Ivar, but Ivar answered, “Perhaps you can stay for dinner or supper when you deliver the lumber. Meet the rest of the family.”

“Perhaps.” Petter settled into the trap beside his uncle, and the two of them waved as they trotted down the lane.

“What a nice surprise.” Nilda watched the trap disappear into the evening.

“Maybe he would want to work here in the winter?” Ivar asked.

“You think Onkel Einar would pay a real crew what they are worth?” Nilda asked. “Real crews expect to be properly paid, not to give away their labor because of family ties.”

Ivar looked at her in the dim light from the doorway. “You never know what will happen between now and then. You just never know.”