Page 340 of Conveniently Wed
“Are you sure, ma’am? I don’t want to leave Bob in charge for too long.” Nik glanced nervously toward the pasture where his dog kept watch over the sheep.
“It will just take a moment to make sandwiches.” Aundy motioned to the lamb. “Why don’t you wash up and I’ll bring the food out here. We can eat on the porch and keep an eye on Butter.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Nik smiled then headed around to the pump on the side of the house.
Aundy returned carrying a tray laden with sandwiches, glasses of milk, and cookies. She asked a blessing on the food then she and Nik talked while they ate.
She asked his thoughts on the hands who wanted to work for her. Nik said he liked them and they always worked hard for Mr. O’Connell. They were used to working around the sheep, so they could help as needed.
Appreciative of his honesty, Aundy was grateful the men would arrive that evening. Her hands were doing more than their share as it was and she knew she needed to hire someone to cook for them. She didn’t want to be tied to the kitchen and it was going to be impossible to learn to manage the farm if she was the one who prepared two big meals a day for the men.
Since her other advertisement was for farm hands, she decided to place an ad for a cook in the newspaper. She hoped someone would respond to it. If not, she was going to have to resign herself to cooking for hands.
“Thank you for the meal, Mrs. Erickson.” Nik helped himself to one more cookie and gulped down the last of his milk. He carried the tray inside the house then followed her outside. Nik picked up Butter and took him back to the flock for the afternoon.
Aundy waved at Nik as he whistled his way back to the sheep. She counted her blessings over his arrival. Although he’d spent the last four years without any parental guidance, he was a sweet boy with a positive outlook on life. It was hard not to smile when you heard his happy whistle floating out on the breeze.
After washing the lunch dishes, Aundy changed into a riding skirt and shirtwaist with a light jacket. She took down her hair and braided it then tied a ribbon on the end. She pulled on her boots and ran out the kitchen door to the barn, carrying a basket of cookies.
Quickly saddling Bell, she headed toward the road and waved at George as he worked on a fence near pasture across from the house. In no time, she turned up the lane to Nash’s Folly, rode past the house, and dismounted.
Aundy walked Bell to the barn. One of the hands greeted her and took the horse’s reins, encouraging her to go on to the house. She raised her hand to knock on the kitchen door but it swung open and Nora greeted her with a cheery smile.
“How is the shepherdess?” Nora teased, pulling her inside with a hug.
“Fine.” Aundy set her basket on the table and removed her jacket, leaving it on a peg by the back door. “How’s Mr. Hong?”
“Much better.” Nora peeked into the basket and took out a cookie. “He insists we call him Li, or at the very least Hong, but no mister.”
“Oh. That’s interesting.” Aundy glanced around Nora’s tidy kitchen. The smells of a roast cooking filled the air with a rich, beefy scent. Belatedly, she realized she should have put something in the oven for supper.
“What’s that look for?” Nora asked, catching the frown that passed across Aundy’s face.
“I need to hire a cook for the men. They’ve been taking turns, but they are so busy I’ve started cooking two meals for them. I can’t learn what I need to about farming and cook for them all, too. I don’t know what to do.”
“Why don’t you put another advertisement in the newspaper and leave a notice at the post office?” Nora asked, walking with Aundy toward the bedroom where Li Hong stayed.
“I can, but it didn’t work very well the last time.”
“I know, honey, but maybe someone new is in town who’d like to cook for you, or maybe someone’s situation has changed and they need a job,” Nora said as they sauntered down the hall. Li sat up in bed, looking much improved, when they stepped into the room. Although his eye was still swollen and bruised, he had it open a slit.
“Hello, Mr. Hong.” Aundy stood at the foot of the bed. “I wanted to see how you’re doing today.”
“Better.” Li nodded his head at Aundy. “Call me Li.”
“Okay, Li, but only if you call me Aundy.”
The man grinned and tried to say her name, which sounded like Audee.
Aundy smiled at him encouragingly.
“You need cook?” Li asked, having heard most of the conversation between the two women on their way to his room. He understood far more English than he could verbalize.
“Yes, I do need a cook. Do you know one?” Aundy cast a hopeful gaze his direction.
“Me.”
“You? Oh, well, I…”
