Chronicles Of The Maca Collection

Chapter 35

“There it tis.” MacDonald pointed to the two story house on the prairie. The springhouse and barn were also completed. A wide smile split his face. “We shall stop and look before going into Schmidt"s Corner for our supplies.”

They had arrived back in Arles on August 20, 1858 after a six-week honeymoon of visits, shopping, and traveling. Their first stop had been at the lumberyard in Arles to settle for any work done beyond what he had paid for. Elias Clifford, the owner, explained they had hit a snag and could not bring in anymore doors or lumber for the upstairs until September. Influenza across the nation had slowed deliveries. MacDonald decided to wait until then before ordering any more work. He and Clifford did not get along, but business was business in this land. He wanted to ascertain what work still needed to be done. Clifford was in a foul mood as the lumber and other materials should have been freighted in at the first of the month. Influenza had struck some of the townspeople here. The heavy, early rains were making the situation worse.

MacDonald had recalculated his funds and decided that more fencing around the barn and a place in the barn for the milk cow Anna wanted was more important than buying doors for unfinished bedrooms upstairs. Anna needed the milk cow for her baking, butter, buttermilk, and clabbered milk.

“What if we have children? We will need it then.”

“My love…” and he stopped when he saw her lips tightening. Anna won. He had purchased a milk cow in Arles. Delivery of the fencing was set for seven days in the future and the cow for a week later.

As they topped the rise to the Rearing Bear ranch the sight of their white two-story home, washhouse, springhouse, their own barn, and corral around the east side of the barn brought smiles to their faces. They tied the team to the porch rail, and MacDonald used the skeleton key to unlock the door. Hand-in-hand they wandered through the downstairs.

“Oh, look, the cabinets. They are perfect.” Anna was beaming. “I cannot wait to put my dishes up there. And look, look, Zeb, the stove has a reservoir for keeping water warm.” She was twirling around, almost dancing when MacDonald pulled her in close.

“This makes me wish we had the bed made now. Are ye sure the floor will nay serve?”

“It will not.” But in her happiness she smiled at him. “We must make Schmidt"s Corner before nightfall, and then bring all our things from their storeroom here.”

“Ye, my love, are a slave driver.”

A quick check showed that it was the upstairs that still needed the doors. Everything was framed and the rooms of the downstairs walls were plastered. All the windows had been installed. He would need to talk with Rolfe about bringing in more funds.

The trip into Schmidt"s Corner took three hours. They had expected Martin to come running as he always did, but he must have been doing chores. MacDonald pulled the horses up behind the store, and Anna stepped down from the buggy.

“Ye are supposed to let me help ye.”

“Ach, when do I need help getting out of a buggy at my brother"s house?” She ran up the steps and knocked at the door.

“Kasper, Gerde, we are back.”

A smiling Kasper opened the door as she was speaking. “We heard you pull up.” He waved at MacDonald.

“Please put the horses in my stable. Herr Rolfe is not well.”

Anna"s eyes widened. “What happened?”

“The freighters came through. One of them had influenza. He"s buried in the graveyard. Jesse was down for a month, but is back on his feet. Then Herr Rolfe came down with it. He is recovering, but Frau Rolfe is exhausted as Olga has it now.”

“What about the two boys?”

“So far they have shown no symptoms, but who knows. I"ve tried to help, but Gerde"s afraid that Hans will come down with it. She has been sending food over since Olga became ill. I just returned.”

Gerde voice came from behind him.

“Come in, come in. There should be enough for all.”

“I"d better Mr. MacDonald tell.” Anna would use English whenever her sister-in-law showed off her better command of the language.

They heard his footsteps behind them.

“I heard enough of the conversation that I shall see Friend Rolfe for a minute. Dinna worry, I twill nay go in, but I thought we had a deal with Mr. Chisholm for cattle delivery this fall. I shall be back as soon as I put the horses up. After we eat, I twill load up what we have stored here, pay ye for the merchandise shipped in, and then we twill return to our ranch and nay bother ye.”

Anna turned to him. “Does that mean du are soon leaving, Herr MacDonald?”

“I could nay bear to tell ye, but it twill bring in the money we need for winter supplies and furnishings. The U.S. government doesn"t pay that much for beeves for their reservation, but the money tis guaranteed.”

Anna mentally counted the weeks. No, it is too early to be sure, she thought.

MacDonald appeared for supper in less than thirty minutes.

“Friend Rolfe tis well on the mend. Young James tis now coming down with the sniffles, but Mrs. Rolfe gave us her blessing. She wants a new rug for the living room.” He ladled gravy over his mashed potatoes.

“This can be bad, Herr MacDonald. Remember the papers in St. Louis and New Orleans all spoke about this disease.” Anna had worried that they might catch it, but so far neither exhibited any symptoms.

He smiled at her. “I"m sure this tis isolated enough here. Jesse has recovered too. That means people can fight it off.”

Gerde shook her head. “It hit three men already. One died, Jesse almost did, and I heard the Phillips both are feeling poorly.”

“How did you find that out?” Kasper was puzzled.

“When Consuela was in here buying flour and sugar for Mr. Owens. It seems Mr. Phillips was over at Jesse"s and complaining about his wife not being able to do much.”

“Herman and I twill nay leave for another week. That should be enough time to see if anyone else succumbs.”