“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 pointed 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.
Though Eli had been born just a few days ago, she’d gotten so restless staying at home that she’d insisted Dave take her and Eli along for the dance and potluck at Tom’s property. Dave agreed only on the condition that she spend the evening sitting. “Let others wait on you for a change,” he’d added.
This was the first year since Isaac was born that he wasn’t going to join them. He was working in town these days, and he was married to Emily, who was expecting their first child. He had plans to save up money over the next couple of years so he could buy his own farm. Mary hadn’t realized his dream since childhood was to be like Dave until he’d confided in her that he respected Dave more than anyone else. She had no doubt that Isaac would be as good of a father as Dave was because Dave had been a good role model.
It was a bittersweet experience to know her firstborn son was on his own. She was proud of Isaac, of course, but she couldn’t help but think that she’d once held him in her arms, just as she was holding Eli now. The time had passed so fast. And yet, it didn’t seem like it’d been all that long ago when she first held Isaac. Sometimes it only seemed like she’d married Dave yesterday. Her life in Nebraska had proven to be so much better than she’d ever dreamed possible.
She blinked back the tears from her eyes in case someone saw her and thought something was wrong. She’d cried quite a bit over the past year ever since Isaac
