Forever Yours (Nebraska Series Book 9) Read online

  Dave hadn’t thought of what he did that way before. He mostly thought of it in terms of how much money he made compared to Richard. Most people were impressed with how much a person earned. He had assumed Isaac felt the same way. But perhaps he didn’t.

  “Your uncle and I are different people,” Dave finally said. “He loves to make houses and buildings. I love to work on the farm. When it all comes down to it, I suppose the main thing is we both enjoy what we’re doing.”

  “I want to be like you when I grow up,” Isaac replied. “It’s too bad no one will interview you in a newspaper or magazine.”

  Surprised, Dave stared at his son. He’d spent all this time thinking that all of the praise Isaac had been giving Richard meant that he respected Richard more than him, but such hadn’t been the case. While Isaac was proud of Richard and impressed to know someone who’d been featured in major publications, Dave had never once lost his place in his son’s life.

  Dave wasn’t prone to tearing up. Mary did that. But he had to blink a couple of tears away before Isaac saw them. He didn’t, however, stop himself from reaching out to Isaac and hugging him.

  “Oh gross,” Isaac said, though he didn’t fight him. “Hugging is something mothers do.”

  Dave laughed. “Yeah, well, a father can do it once in a while. He just doesn’t do it as much.” He let go of Isaac and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Is that better?”

  Isaac rolled his eyes but grinned. “I don’t care if my hair gets messy.”

  “You will when you get older. So, what are you going to do today?”

  “I’m going to milk the cow with Ma. But first, I wanted to let Jasper out. Then I’ll see what comes up.”

  “Sounds like a good plan.”

  Isaac bounded down the porch steps, and Dave watched, smiling as the boy opened the fence to a very excited dog who was more than happy to play with him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Maureen, this is silly,” Mary said later that day as the woman sat across from her in the kitchen.

  “I know, but would it be wrong to humor an older woman?” Maureen asked, setting her cup of coffee on the table and shooting Mary a pleading look. “I’ve worked very hard on my apple pie recipe. I know you won’t give me the secret to how you can make yours so wonderful. I only want to know if people can tell the difference if they eat mine.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with your apple pie.”

  “While that’s true, yours is better. If I can get close to what you do, I’ll be very happy.”

  Mary let out a sympathetic sigh and shook her head. “What if your apple pie isn’t similar to mine? Are you going to want to go through this again?”

  “No. I promise this is the only time I’ll ask you to bring your pie into the shop. I won’t ever ask you to do this again.” Then with her hand in the air in a pledge, she added, “Regardless of the results.”

  Mary stared at Maureen for a long moment and decided Maureen was telling her the truth. “Alright. I’ll bring an apple pie with me next time I go to town.”

  Maureen grinned. “Thank you!”

  “I hope you won’t be upset if your pie isn’t like mine.”

  “I will be, but there won’t be anything to help that. I’ll just have to manage with the results.” She patted Mary’s hand. “You’ve always been such a thoughtful person. I appreciate that about you. It’s why I never get too upset when you keep winning cooking contests. To be honest, I’m a little bit relieved you’re too busy out here with your family to do much of them anymore. The more children you have, the better things are for me.”

  Mary chuckled. “Then you’ll be delighted to know I’m expecting again.”

  “I am delighted! And not just because it means you’ll be even busier but also because I know you love children. You’re a fine mother.”

  Touched by the sincerity in the woman’s words, Mary thanked her.

  Maureen took a drink of her coffee, and the two spent a half hour talking before she headed on home.

  Dave glanced at Mary as she waved to Maureen who was already down the path leading off the property. “Do I want to know why she came over?”

  Mary turned her attention to him and grinned. “She wants me to make one of my apple pies and take it to her store so she can compare her apple pie with mine.”

  “Why does she want that?”

  “She wants to see if she can get a recipe that’s like mine.”

  “She’s not still trying to buy your recipe, is she?”

  “No. She’s given up on that. I’ll never reveal my recipe to anyone but Rachel and any other daughters we have.” Noting his relief, she added, “I’ve learned how to say no and stick to it. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “I just don’t like it when people take advantage of you.”

  “I know you don’t. Maureen isn’t like that. She might joke around from time to time, but she respects my wishes.” She glanced at the yard where Isaac and Rachel were playing with Jasper. The poor dog was going to get worn out before the day was over. He was no longer a puppy who had boundless energy. But there was no denying he was having fun. If he could talk to her, she was sure he’d tell her he was just fine with the children exhausting him.

  “Adam’s not due up from his nap for another twenty minutes,” Mary said. “Would you like some company for a while?”

  Dave nodded. “I was hoping you’d offer.”

  She gave him a warm smile and rubbed his shoulder. “I’ll return with some lemonade.” Then she slipped back into the house.

  ***

  “Are you sure you feel like going to a luncheon at Richard’s home?” Mary asked Dave two weeks later as he put a tie on in their bedroom. “We can always tell your family that someone got sick.”

  Dave turned from the mirror so he could look at her. “I don’t mind going. The children are looking forward to seeing their cousins. Besides, the harvest will be in a couple of days, and there won’t be time to relax until it’s over.”

  Mary almost didn’t say anything. Dave hadn’t brought up the topic of Isaac and Richard since she had returned from town after Isaac had gotten his special pen.

  But Mary thought she had to say something because Sally had told her that copies of the magazine were at Richard’s home. Amanda had already given Sally a copy, and from what Sally said, there were enough copies for everyone else in the family.

  “Sally said that the magazine came in the other day,” Mary began, “and there are plenty of copies for everyone. I have a feeling Isaac will want one.”

  “I know, and I’m fine with that. Isaac and I worked things out.” He grimaced as he adjusted his tie. “I wish I could say the same for this tie.”

  “Let me help.” When he turned to her, she straightened it out for him. “I don’t know why you have such a hard time with this thing. It’s a straightforward piece of clothing.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Sure, it is.”

  She giggled and kissed his cheek. “There. All done.” She went to Rachel’s room and saw that her daughter was putting on her shoes. “Are you excited about today?”

  Rachel nodded. “I get to wear my prettiest dress.”

  “You like that, don’t you?” Mary asked.

  “I feel like a princess,” she replied. “It’s fun to dress up.”

  Mary overheard Dave mutter something about hating to wear his tight dress shoes and hid the urge to chuckle. Not everyone would agree with her about dressing up. From his bedroom, Isaac called out for Mary to help him with his tie. She shook her head in amusement. Perhaps Dave and Isaac were more alike than she’d realized.

  “Go downstairs when you’re done with those shoes,” Mary said.

  Since Rachel promised she would, Mary went to Isaac’s bedroom. A happy Adam was bouncing on Isaac’s bed.

  “When is he going to have a big boy bed?” Isaac asked. “He thinks my bed is his.”

  “He’ll be getting a bed after the harvest. Your pa will use s
ome of the money he gets from the crops for the material to make a bunk bed.”

  “What’s a bunk bed?”

  “It’s two beds where one is on top of the other,” she replied as she fixed his tie for him. “Your grandparents have a couple of them.”

  “That’s what that bed is called?”

  She nodded and finished his tie. She handed him a comb. “Yes, that’s what it’s called. It’s time for you and Adam to have one. You’ll be on the top bunk, and Adam will be on the bottom.”

  Isaac smiled. “Good. I always have to sleep on the bottom when Greg stays over at Grandpa and Grandma’s.”

  He had just finished combing his hair when Dave came into the room. “Rachel’s already downstairs, so I’m going to get the wagon ready. It’s nice that we can finally go to town as a family again.”

  “It is nice.” Mary picked Adam up. “I’ll change his diaper and then be down there.”

  Isaac scrunched up his nose and set the comb down. “I’m going with Pa.”

  Not surprised, Mary chuckled as the boy followed Dave out of the room.

  By the time she was downstairs, Dave had pulled the wagon to the front of the barn. She peered out the window and saw that both Isaac and Rachel were helping him, or at least, they were trying to help him. Isaac, being older, was doing a better job of it than Rachel was, but Dave was patient as Rachel did her part.

  She set Adam down in the parlor. “You wait here. I’ll be right back.”

  She glanced at the clock in the kitchen and saw they were on time. Good. She had promised Maureen she’d bring over an apple pie while in town today, and Dave promised her they’d go to Maureen and Connie’s store before going to Richard’s. “If we go to Richard’s first, that pie won’t make it to the store,” Dave had added.

  He was probably right. It seemed that Tom and Joel were especially bad about fighting for a slice or two of her pies. All she needed was for them to jump across a table to get a slice. It was far better to deliver the pie to the store first and then go to Richard’s.

  The trip to town was a nice one, and Rachel, wanting to do something important, held the pie with the kind of care one might give a fine piece of china. Mary suspected the girl had a natural mothering instinct about her. She would make a good older sister to the baby. She’d still been young when Adam was born, so she hadn’t been able to do much to help Mary. This time would be different, though, since she would be six.

  When they went into Maureen and Connie’s store, the two women looked at them with wide eyes. “I don’t believe we’ve ever seen you all dressed up,” Maureen said.

  “We haven’t,” Connie replied. “It’s not Sunday, so you can’t be going to church. What’s the special occasion?”

  “We’re celebrating the fact that Richard is featured in a prominent magazine,” Mary said as she set the pie on the counter.

  “Is the magazine out already?” Connie asked.

  “Richard got some copies,” Mary replied.

  “Imagine being featured in a magazine,” Connie told Maureen.

  “It’s really because of you two that he even got in it,” Mary said. “You thought it would be a good idea for the newspaper to write about his business.”

  Connie and Maureen glanced at each other, and then Maureen nodded. “I suppose we did do that.” She winked at Mary. “That just goes to show that women can have some influence.”

  “I also hear that Amanda’s mentioned in the article this time,” Mary said. “Richard wasn’t very happy the newspaper reporter left out her contribution to the business.”

  Maureen’s smile widened. “That article is going to be even more inspiring than the one in the newspaper. Just think of it. When people read about Amanda’s contribution, they’ll have a higher respect for any woman who decides to run a business.” She turned her attention back to the others. “We’ve had a couple of men tell us this store won’t last, but we’re determined to prove them wrong.”

  “I have no doubt you’ll do just that,” Mary replied.

  The door opened, and Sally came in with Rick, Greg, and Laura, who were also in their Sunday clothes.

  “I thought that was David and Mary’s wagon,” Sally told Rick. Her gaze went to Dave and Mary. “We decided to walk to Richard and Amanda’s. It’s bound to get crowded with everyone that needs to come into town. The last thing their coachman needs to do is figure out where to put our buggy.” She bypassed Dave and Mary and went to the pie that Maureen was holding. “That looks a lot like Mary’s pie.”

  “How can you tell that?” Maureen asked.

  “It’s got the cute little x markings in the crust that Mary always makes,” Sally said. Then she glanced at Mary. “Don’t tell me you gave her your recipe when you wouldn’t give it to me.”

  Mary shook her head. “No, I didn’t give her the recipe. I’m letting people compare it to hers.”

  “I want to know if I can come close to her recipe,” Maureen said. “Want to be the first to take the test?”

  Sally’s eyes lit up in interest. “Sure!” Then she paused and asked, “What’s the test?”

  “I made an apple pie, and I’m going to let people sample my pie and Mary’s to see if they can tell the difference,” Maureen replied.

  “It sounds like fun! How many people are doing this?” Sally looked at the others in the store.

  “We can get apple pie any time we want,” Dave said.

  “In that case, the rest of us will be happy to be part of this test,” Rick said as he and an eager Greg and Laura joined him on his way to the counter.

  “I’m going to cut the pies up into small pieces,” Maureen told them. “But you can’t watch. I don’t want to skew the results.”

  Sally, Rick, and their children turned their backs to Maureen while she got the samples ready.

  “This is so exciting,” Sally said. “I wonder if the judges in cooking contests feel this way. I’ve only been a contestant. I’ve never been the one picking out which item is best.” She glanced at Rick and her children. “Isn’t this exciting?”

  “I just want something to eat,” Greg replied.

  Sally offered Dave and Mary an apologetic smile. “I didn’t want him to spoil his appetite, so I haven’t let him eat anything since breakfast.”

  “Even though I’m starving,” Greg added.

  “I don’t see how you can be starving after everything you ate,” Sally said. “You had five waffles, three eggs, six pieces of bacon, and two pieces of sausage. Laura and I could hardly keep up with your appetite.”

  “Well, I am hungry,” Greg replied. “My stomach’s been rumbling for the past hour.”

  “He’s a growing boy,” Rick told her. “That’s how it is for boys who are growing into young men.”

  “I’m surprised you’ve forgotten that since you used to complain that Tom, Joel, and I were going to eat all of the food in the house if Ma didn’t limit how much food went on our plates,” Dave reminded her.

  “I don’t remember you and your brothers eating as much as Greg does,” Sally said.

  “That’s because it was so traumatic for you that you chose to forget it,” Rick teased her. “I remember how glad you were to marry me just so you could get away from your brothers.”

  “That wasn’t the only reason I wanted to marry you,” Sally said. “Though I will admit it was a good one.”

  Dave glanced at Mary and rolled his eyes.

  Mary bit down on her tongue so she wouldn’t giggle.

  “I have everything ready,” Maureen called out. “You can turn around.”

  Sally and the others did, and Mary peered around them to see that Maureen had everything lined up in two neat rows. Mary doubted anyone could tell the difference between her pie and Maureen’s just by looking at the small pieces.

  Mary watched as they ate each sample. Greg managed to sneak in two samples without Sally noticing. Rick caught him, however, and shook his head to indicate he shouldn’t do that again. Greg p
ointed to his stomach. Rick gave a shrug to let him know there was nothing Greg could do but wait for the luncheon at Richard and Amanda’s.

  “Well, what you do think?” Maureen asked when they were all done. “Do they taste the same?”

  “They’re both really good, but I like this one better.” Rick pointed to the spot where one of the samples had been.

  After the others chimed in with their opinion, Maureen sighed. “I supposed there’s nothing to be done about it,” she told Connie. “I’ll never come close to the kind of pie Mary can make.” She looked at Mary. “I know you won’t sell the recipe, but if you ever want to bring in some pies for us to sell, we’d be happy to give you a percentage of the profits.”

  Since Mary couldn’t help but feel a little sympathy for Maureen, she said, “I’ll bring in a couple from time to time.”

  “Can we go now?” Greg asked his mother.

  Sally pulled the pocket watch from Rick’s pocket and checked it. “We better go, or we’ll be late.” She waved at Maureen and Connie. “Mary and I will come by to see you soon!”

  Mary nodded her agreement and then followed the others out of the store.

  “I could have told Maureen she was wasting her time,” Dave told Mary as they went to their wagon. “No one will ever make food taste better than you do.”

  “She was a good sport about losing,” Mary replied. “But I think she enjoys the challenge of trying, so I don’t think she’s done competing with me.”

  “Probably not, though she’ll never win.” He winked and then helped her, Isaac, Rachel, and Adam into the wagon while Rick and Sally walked with their children to Richard and Amanda’s.

  Epilogue

  (Ten Years Later)

  November 1894

  The harvest had been successful that year. This was the first time Mary hadn’t been able to participate in helping the women during the harvest since she had been so close to giving birth to Eli. All of the women insisted she stay home and get as much rest as possible because, being mothers themselves, they knew that once Eli was born, Mary wasn’t going to get much sleep at night.