Page 50 of The Preacher's Bride

Caleb gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll watch the children later so you can go over and visit.”

Mia nodded her thanks.

Then, Caleb turned to Mrs. Jenkins. “I’ll stop by to check on her, too.” As the town preacher, Mia was sure he was often called upon in times of need.

Mrs. Jenkins took another bite. “I’ll tell her you’re both coming. I’m sure she’ll appreciate that.”

“I feel bad for not going over to visit until now.” Mia sighed, leaving her pancakes untouched. “I’m sure Ella has her hands full and can use all the help she can get.”

“One thing about this community is that we all pull together and help one another in times of need.” Mrs. Jenkins finished her last bite of pancake and took a sip of her coffee.

“Would you like more?” Mia asked, already reaching for the pancakes.

Mrs. Jenkins patted her plump belly. “Oh, heavens no! But that was delicious!” Then, she turned to the children. “If you keep this up, you’ll be able to open your own restaurant and give Harrison Curry some competition!”

Mia chuckled. “Well, before you start naming our restaurant, I think we have enough on our plate for now.”

“Oh!” Shane said. “That would be fun!”

“But next year, you’re going to start school,” Caleb interjected. “So, I think that might be a bit more important.”

“School? Yuk!” Shane grimaced as he took another bite of his pancake.

Mrs. Jenkins laughed. “How do you know? I hear that Madison Nash is doing wonders with the school.” Then she turned to Mia and added, “She’s the town schoolteacher.”

“Whiskey River has just one teacher?” Mia asked, surprised.

The elder woman nodded. “Here in the country, we’re lucky to have her. There are some towns that don’t even have one. They have to go miles to get an education or be schooled at home by their mothers.”

“Then, we’re lucky indeed.” Mia finished off the last of her pancake.

Caleb had cleaned his plate and dabbed his lips with a napkin. “Mia, thank you. That was delicious.” He slid the chair back and rose to his feet. “I hate to leave good company, but the farm waits for no man. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

“We have everything under control,” Mrs. Jenkins added as she started collecting the dishes. “Don’t worry.”

After they finished, Mia cleaned up the children and they scampered off to play in their bedroom.

“If you need me, let me know,” Mia yelled after them. She and Mrs. Jenkins gathered the dishes but set them aside when she remembered the chicken in the sink.

Mia pinched a leg in her fingers and lifted it, but then set it back down. “I have no idea where to even begin.”

Mrs. Jenkins laughed. “Come on. I’ll show you what to do with it.”

They spent the morning pulling feathers from the chicken, and then she washed it well. When the chicken was clean and feather free, Mrs. Jenkins showed her how to cut it up, and then taught her the fine points of frying it.

Mia really enjoyed having the camaraderie with the elder woman. But after the chicken was frying in the pan, Mrs. Jenkins announced, “Well, I really must go see Ella.”

“Please give her my best and tell her I’ll be by to see her soon,” Mia said as she turned a piece of chicken over in the pan. “Please tell her that I’m sorry that I haven’t been by yet.”

Mrs. Jenkins smiled. “Well, you haven’t even been here but a few days.” She gave her a motherly pat on the arm. “But I’ll tell her you’ll be by to visit soon.”

Mia nodded. “Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins.”

“Oh! I almost forgot,” she said, slipping into her coat. “I’ll leave my recipe book here. You can look through them and copy down whatever you want.”

Mia’s eyebrows lifted in concern. “Are you sure you won’t need them?”

Mrs. Jenkins smiled. “Not right now. You can give them back to me when you’re finished.”

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