As soon as Marion and Thomas arrived, Thomas took a horse and went to find Doug, while Trudie taught Marion how to make a pie crust. “Pie crusts are the hardest things to make, in my opinion,” Trudie said.
She showed Marion how to roll out the crust, and then Marion did the bulk of the work. “You’ll show me how to make a cherry pie tomorrow?” she asked. “Your pie was the best thing at the potluck Sunday. The crust just melted in my mouth, and had a buttery taste.”
“That’s how it’s supposed to be. And yes, I’ll show you. This is the same crust, but we’re making this into a savory pie, and that one was sweet. I like to add chicken, peas, and carrots, in a white sauce. They all cook together, and we add them to the crust. Then we bake. It’s pretty basic.”
As they worked together, Trudie thought about asking her friend what she did when Thomas got quiet, but she really didn’t think she wanted to share her marital troubles. Not just yet. Perhaps the troubles were in her mind like Doug seemed to be telling her.
After the chicken pot pie was in the oven, Trudie whipped up an easy cake recipe, showing her friend exactly what to do. “This is a coffee cake, usually meant for mornings, but I think it’s a great dessert as well. I know Doug will be pleased to have a dessert of any kind.”
As usual, Trudie baked without a recipe, and Marion watched. “You’ll write it down for me?”
“Of course. I never mind writing anything down, but I’ve done so much cooking, I just don’t need a lot of recipes anymore.”
When the men came in, Trudie removed the chicken pot pie and put the coffee cake into the oven. She always preferred to serve coffee cakes hot.
As they sat down, Thomas smiled at Trudie. “I need to thank you for all the help you’ve been giving Marion. Even when you’re not around, she cooks decent meals now. She hasn’t burnt even one thing since the two of you started working together. And my house is spotless now. I cannot believe the difference you’ve made.”
Trudie smiled. “It was my pleasure. It’s fun to teach other people things like that. I’ve been cooking all my life, and she never had to. You can’t expect someone to do something they’ve never learned.”
“I see that now.”
Doug said a quick prayer, and they ate together, the conversation kept up mostly by Marion and Trudie. “What else do you want Marion to be able to cook? I’m happy to show her anything, but I don’t think she needs more than another week of instruction.”
“Stew,” Thomas said quickly. “I’ve always loved a good venison stew.”
“Oh, sure. I can do that. I’ll take my rifle out and get some meat, and then we’ll cook it together. I’ll even show her how to butcher her own deer.” Trudie shrugged, not minding at all.
Thomas looked at Doug with wide eyes. “Your wife hunts?”
“My wife has hidden skills that even I haven’t seen yet. She told me a story about shooting apples off her brothers’ heads with a slingshot.”
Marion looked at Trudie and laughed. “I’ve been sitting here admiring your womanly skills and wishing I was as domestic as you are, and here you can shoot your own deer?”
Trudie shrugged. “It’s all part of being a farm girl. I did whatever I was told at any given time. That’s why I can climb a tree.”
Marion looked at Thomas. “You should have seen her yesterday. There was a cherry tree, and I was looking at it, trying to figure out how we were going to get cherries without a ladder, and the next thing I knew, she was perched on a branch plucking cherries like she did it every day.”
Thomas looked at Trudie. “Did your mother mind that you were such a tomboy?”
“I’m not sure my mother even noticed. Well, she noticed when I was shooting apples off my brothers’ heads and took my slingshot away, but for the most part, my brothers and sisters and I ran wild. We liked it that way, and it was easier for her. She didn’t have to chase us so much.”
Thomas looked at Doug. “Do you mind?”
“Mind? Why would I mind? I have a wife who’s good at absolutely everything. It sounds like a dream come true. I just won’t ever go shooting with her, because then I won’t be able to tell her I can outshoot her any longer.”
Thomas seemed to be stunned, but he said nothing else.
Marion smiled at Trudie. “I think she’s wonderful. I love that she can teach me so many things.”
“I’m glad Mrs. Goldman introduced us. I needed a good friend here who would make me stop missing my sisters.”
“Are your sisters all as good at everything as you are?” Marion asked.
“No. Some are good at some things and some at others. My sister Elizabeth is a businesswoman. My sister Susan is a rancher’s wife in Texas. My sister Mary married the boy next door, and she is having babies and being a farm wife. We’re all different.”
Doug ate his last bite of the chicken pot pie, and he smiled. “She’s the best cook around, and that’s the only thing that matters to me.”
Thomas nodded. “I suppose you should be very happy to have found this one to be your wife.”
Marion stayed and helped do the dishes, while the men sat at the table and talked. Doug was whittling, and Trudie listened to the conversation the men had. “Doesn’t your wife make you uncomfortable?” Thomas asked.
“Why would she?”
“Because she’s so...well, manly.”
“Manly? Have you seen my wife? She’s one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met. She cooks and bakes foods that melt in your mouth, they taste so good. How could I ever complain
