Forever Home by Ali Spooner – The Bee Charmer Book 2

Chapter 1

Prologue

In the Pacific Northwest, fur trapper Nat St. Croix has lost her love of spending months alone trapping along the Canadian border. The death of her father, Nathan, helped her decide to find a more permanent home. When Nat meets a young widow, Marissa Mason, they begin a life together in a cabin that Nat had built for them on the shore. When James, Marissa’s legally declared deceased husband, returns to claim her, Marissa’s new life and freedom become jeopardized. A sharp-witted and clever mayor discovers that James’ desertion of duties, and his defrauding the government by not returning to service after a minor injury, could land him in jail. When faced with the option of imprisonment, James begrudgingly accepts the opportunity to leave town forever. Nat would have preferred to carve him up and feed him to the predators in the bay but was satisfied when James tucked his tail between his legs and left town.

Nat couldn’t be sure James would be smart enough to move on with his new life, but she was sure his claim on Marissa was null and void. She promised him that if he ever crossed their paths again, he would feel the edge of her sharpest knife.

Nat struck an agreement with Jacob at the general store and Randall at the hotel for them to purchase the seafood, jerky, and other items Nat could deliver to keep a steady income. Nat would still have plenty of opportunities to hunt and run a small trapline while Marissa and Maggie, their Native American companion, ran the homestead.

 

Chapter One

Spring had arrived and with it a plethora of chores as the women began their busiest season. Nat would begin harvesting her traps for beaver pelts and keep their smokehouses filled with meat while her lover Marissa, and their friend Maggie, tended the garden and made fresh goods to take to town to barter. With the threat of Marissa’s husband extinguished, life at the shore slowly returned to normal.

Winter was still months away, but as time allowed, Nat would cut trees to add to the woodpiles. With the addition of the indoor cookstove, wood was even more critical to their way of life, and someone was always splitting short logs to feed the fire. The addition of the cookstove had been a housewarming gift from Smithy and Tom. Not only did it speed up cooking their meals, but it made it easier for Marissa and Maggie to make jelly from the berries they harvested.

The ocean water was still too cold for the tidal pools to fill with the seafood they harvested and took to town to supply the growing need of the hotel. The town’s population was also rapidly increasing, adding to the demand for fresh seafood. Nat hunted to fill the smokehouses with meat for the jerky that had become so popular in town, while the others tended the newly planted garden.

Nat had filled the last of her jars with golden honey and was taking them back to the cabin as a flock of geese flew overhead on their way to the lake. She smiled, thinking that the migrating animals were returning north, which meant the bison would soon be heading her way.

Maggie was sitting on the back porch when she arrived. She was shelling a fresh batch of clams that she would fry for their supper. Nat sat the crate of honey down and wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead.

“How do you feel about sleeping on the ground for a few days?”

Maggie looked up from her task. “I think I could tolerate that. What do you have in mind?”

“I thought we could take Quincy and the wagon south for a few days. I’d like to clear a path for Rusty and the larger wagon before we go down to begin hunting. We can use the trees we cut for firewood on our hunting trips, and maybe even build a small shelter to keep us out of the weather.”

“That sounds like a good idea. When would you want to leave?”

“Soon. Our chores here have slowed, and the garden doesn’t need much tending yet, so it would be a good time to go.”

Marissa had walked out to the porch as they were planning. “Where are you going?”

“I’d like to go ahead and blaze a trail to prepare for our hunting trips,” Nat said. “The smokehouse is full, and the traps set, so I thought it would be good timing. Maggie has agreed to go with me this trip.”

“I can keep things going here,” Marissa said. She hated sleeping on the cold ground, even with Nat pressed close against her. “You don’t mind me staying behind, do you?”

“Not at all. I know sleeping under the stars is not a pleasant thing for you, but the work we do now will make the hunting trips much easier.”

“I will pack some jerky and fresh ham biscuits if you plan to leave tomorrow.”

Nat looked at Maggie, and she nodded her head. “That sounds good. I’ll get some gear packed into the wagon, and we can head out at first light.”

Marissa spotted the crate full of honey. “I’ll make another batch of biscuits that you can take with you with some honey. I know you could use the energy it gives you.”

“I’ll cook up a few jars of chowder that we can take if you’ll dig another bucket,” Maggie said. “I’m sure you can hunt something for fresh meat.”

“That I can,” Nat said as she bent down to pick up an empty bucket and the clam rake.

“Would you like some company?” Marissa asked.

“I’d love some,” Nat said as she reached for her hand. “We’ll be back soon.”

“Take your time,” Maggie said with a chuckle.

 

†

 

Nat held Marissa’s hand as they walked down to the shore. The small footprints from Maggie’s previous trip had all but washed away. Nat released her hand to start to rake for the clams.

“I can get these if you want to take a break to enjoy the morning,” she said.

“That’s a sweet thing to say, but I enjoy working with you. You rake, and I’ll pick the clams.”

“Get us some juicy ones,” Nat teased.

It didn’t take them long to fill the bucket. Nat looked over at the pools, evident with the tide out. “I wonder if there’s anything in the pools yet.”

“Go ahead and look,” Marissa said. “I know you are eager to begin harvesting again.”

Nat removed her boots and socks and waded into the shallow water. “It’s still plenty cold,” she said as she walked quickly to the first pool and then to the next. There were a few small fish, but no sign of the shrimp or lobsters yet. Her mouth watered at the thought of lobsters. The succulent meat had quickly become her favorite, and she would once more eat her fill when it was available. She turned back toward the shore and waded back to Marissa. “Still too early. There’s a few small fish, but nothing else.”

“I’ll check while you are gone. I know you are eager for the lobsters to return.”

“I’m more than ready for some of that sweet meat.”

“I’ll walk down to the other pools, too, and check them.”

“Just be sure to take Maggie’s pistol with you if you venture that far.”

“I will,” she answered.

“Do you want me to leave Gyp with you?”

“No, she would be miserable the whole time you’re gone. I’ll be just fine.”

“I wouldn’t leave you if I thought any different,” Nat said with a smile. “With Maggie’s help, the work will go a lot faster.”

“Just don’t be gone too long. You know I’ll miss y’all.”

“We’ll miss you too,” Nat said as she picked up the bucket and handed the rake to Marissa. Nat took her hand, and they walked up the hill.

 

†

 

Nat left the bucket of clams with Marissa and walked to the barn to pack her supplies. She loaded hay and feed for the horses along with her cookware, axes, and hatchets in the wagon. She also put a small box filled with nails and a pair of hammers to use to build a shelter. Tom and Smithy would be surprised when they joined them for a hunt if they had already prepared a camp. As an afterthought, she added a small jar of molasses to add to Quincy’s feed.

When she walked back into the cabin, Marissa and Maggie were busy in the kitchen. Maggie was cooking the chowder to take with them while Marissa was preparing fresh biscuits for their trip. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I think we’ve got things covered. We’ll start on supper soon, so you can relax on the porch until we’re ready,” Marissa said.

“I think that’s our clue to get out of the kitchen,” she said to Gyp and Luna. “Let’s go.”

Nat took the whalebone she was carving and walked to the front porch. She sat in her chair as the dogs dozed in the sun. Maggie had suggested they make Tom a new knife for all of his help last fall. Nat continued carving the whalebone they would use for a handle. When she had started cutting the dense bone, she had no clue what would emerge under her knife, until the shape of a whale came to life. How fitting, she thought. The design also made a comfortable handle for a large hand. She continued to carve until she was called inside for supper and then wrapped the piece in a soft cloth. Nat would take it with her on the trip and finish it at night while they sat around the fire. She wanted to give it to Tom when he arrived in a few weeks to deliver supplies, and hopefully return to town with a supply of goods to trade.

 

†

 

Maggie cleaned up from supper while Marissa finished packing the supplies for their trip. “I’ve got jelly and honey for your biscuits, a small bag of flour if you need to cook more, and a large bag of jerky. I’ll bag up the biscuits for you in the morning.”

“Thanks for getting us ready,” Nat said. “I’ve got the rest of the supplies in the wagon.” Nat took a new box of shells for her rifle and tucked them in the crate.

“If you don’t need me for anything, I think I’ll go enjoy my bed for one last night,” Maggie teased.

“We won’t be far behind you,” Nat said. “Rest well.”

“You, too.”

Nat laid firewood in the fireplace and the cookstove, then turned to Marissa. “Are we ready?”

“I think we are,” Marissa smiled and followed her to the bedroom.

Marissa had taken Nat’s favorite pair of buckskins and a heavy work shirt out for the trip. “I know you’ll probably shed this during the day, but it’s still cool at night,” she explained when Nat smiled at her.

“Thanks for thinking of everything,” Nat said as she slipped out of her clothes. “These are due for a washing,” she added as she dropped them in the corner.

“You noticed, too, huh?” Marissa teased. “I’ll wash them while you’re gone.”

Marissa blew out the lantern, then joined her in the comfortable bed, and snuggled in close. “I’m going to miss this,” she said.

“We’ll be back in no time,” Nat said as she wrapped her arm around her lover.

“You better hurry home to me,” Marissa teased.

“Always,” Nat said, and kissed her softly.