After cooking dinner, Rebecca left Caleb to wash the dishes. With some relief, she prepared to fetch the box of bees from the Kings’ farm.
She felt relief, because while she was cooking dinner, she was fielding Caleb’s curious questions. First, he had asked about the swarm, which led to more questions about how Jacob had reacted to the beekeeping activities, which in turn had segued into how she felt about Jacob.
“He seems to know what he’s doing on the farm, don’t you think?” Caleb asked. He sat at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee at his elbow, in a familiar pose.
“He seems to know what he wants to do, ja,” she replied, chopping broccoli. “He has some sort of vision about this place, the whole permaculture thing.”
“I’m still not quite clear what it means or how it differs from regular farming,” Caleb admitted. “But whatever it is, he likes having the bees here. He’s been talking about them more and more.”
“I suppose that’s why he wanted to see how to hive a swarm, then.” Rebecca tossed the broccoli with a bit of oil and some spices, and spread the vegetables on a pan to roast them. “I guess he’s thinking about keeping some of his own hives if I leave and go to work somewhere else.” She slid the pan into the oven.
“I’m trying to convince him you’re too valuable to let go.” Caleb stroked his beard, something he did when he was thoughtful or troubled. “Maybe the bees are the answer. Does he know they’re all yours, including all the hive equipment? Does he know that if you move away, the bees go with you?”
“I don’t know.” Rebecca began chopping some chicken. “But if he finds himself that interested in beekeeping, nothing’s preventing him from starting his own hives. There’s an Englisch beekeeper in town that might be willing to act as his mentor.”
“What about you?” inquired Caleb. “If he wanted to start beekeeping, could you act as his mentor?”
She tamped down a sigh. “This is all theoretical, Caleb. I don’t know whether I’m staying or leaving, I don’t know if Jacob knows the bees belong to me and I don’t know if he’s truly interested in getting bees or not.”
“Are you two getting along better?”
“I’ve promised myself not to lose my temper in his presence, if that’s what you’re asking.” She smiled at him.
“He’s a handsome fellow, don’t you think?”
Her smile widened at the blatant question. “What does that have to do with bees?”
“Nothing. Just pointing out the obvious.”
“Caleb, I hope you’re not inclined toward matchmaking. You know how I feel about that.”
“Ja sure, but Jacob isn’t like the man you say your mamm matched you with, is he?”
“Nein, nothing like. But that doesn’t mean I’m looking to be courted, either.” She kept her voice firm. “These things can’t be pushed, Caleb.”
Rebecca didn’t know whether to be amused or irritated by the older man’s persistence. He seemed to think that just because she and Jacob were being forced into each other’s presence on various projects, it would inevitably lead to some sort of romantic spark. She wasn’t quite sure how else to quell that notion except with bluntness.
Caleb gave an exaggerated sigh. “I suppose I’m at an age where I understand why your mamm was interested in matchmaking. I look upon you as a granddaughter, Rebecca, and I worry about your future.”
“I look upon you as a grossdaddi, Caleb.” Rebecca kept her voice gentle, but she once again questioned why, if the older man was so concerned about her future, he would leave the farm to a great-nephew instead. But it was still a question she did not feel comfortable asking. It smacked too much of greed and avarice to imply she was more deserving of the property than Jacob.
The man in question came into the house right then, through the outside kitchen door. She quailed for a moment, hoping he hadn’t overheard any of the previous conversation.
He washed his hands and talked cheerfully about how the swarm would be transferred from the box to the hive, while Rebecca looked at him with a narrow gaze.
She had avoided seeing Jacob as anything more than an impediment since his arrival, but now she tried to see him through the eyes of a disinterested stranger.
Caleb was right—Jacob was handsome in a conventional sort of way. His hair was curly, his eyes had laugh lines at the corners and he had the lean, wiry look of a farmer. He definitely ticked many boxes of what she found attractive in a man.
But she just couldn’t overlook his role in what might, ultimately, result in her leaving the farm for another position. This whole situation wasn’t Jacob’s fault, but it made little difference in her resentment.
However, she kept to her decision to at least be pleasant. She didn’t want to disrupt the warm friendship she had with Caleb, despite his decision to favor Jacob over her.
At the conclusion of dinner, she rose and said to Jacob, “Let’s leave for the Kings’ place in about half an hour. It will be close to dusk by the time we get there.”
“Ja gut,” he replied.
Half an hour later, she climbed into the buggy seat while Jacob finished lighting the oil lanterns to hang at either side of the vehicle. She tucked a quart of honey on the seat next to her as a thank-you gift to the Kings. Jacob climbed in next to her, took the reins and directed the horse out of the courtyard by the barn and onto the road.
“Where will the bees stay tonight?” he asked.
“Probably just on my porch,” she replied. “I intend to take them out to the bee yard even before sunrise.”
When the buggy drew up to the Kings’ house, Ephraim and his family spilled out to greet them. They seemed eager to witness the next step in the swarm wrangling.
“It won’t be as dramatic as earlier today,” Rebecca warned the patriarch with a smile. “All I’m doing is wrapping the box in the sheet, then putting the net bag over everything. But here, this is for you.” She handed him the honey.
“Danke!” Ephraim took the jar with a smile and handed it to his wife. “Your honey is some of the best!” He paused a moment and said wistfully, “I wish we had bees here on the farm, for pollination if nothing else.”
“Nothing prevents you from getting some,” said Rebecca.
“Except I don’t want to be a beekeeper. I just like having them around.” Ephraim gave her a lopsided grin. “Does that make sense?”
“Ja, oddly it does.”
Jacob interrupted. “Do we need to suit up again?”
Rebecca suspected he was a bit nervous about the idea of handling the bees without protection, even during a time they were unlikely to cause problems. “Ja sure,” she replied.
They spent a few minutes dressing themselves in the coveralls and veils, and then—once again watched by the King family from the porch—approached the box on the ground. She carried a large mesh bag. The white sheet looked bright in the gloom, with the box sitting in the middle of it.
Rebecca peered around the cardboard box. “Looks like everyone’s settled in,” she said with satisfaction. “Catching a swarm isn’t always this easy. Here, grab that corner of the sheet and help me tuck things in.”
With Jacob’s assistance, she tied the sheet around the box, then lifted the whole package into the large mesh bag Jacob held open. She tied off the end of the bag, and together they gently carried it to the buggy and laid it in the back seat. “That will keep any stray bees from escaping,” she said, unzipping her veil.
“That was certainly easier than I thought it would be,” Jacob replied, pulling off his gloves and climbing into the buggy seat.
Rebecca thanked the Kings once more, then joined him in the buggy.
“Ja, it’s not that complicated to catch a swarm, especially when they were so low to the ground.” From behind, a subdued humming could be heard. To Rebecca, it was a comforting sound. “Assuming this swarm takes to the new hive, this now makes fifty-five hives on the farm,” she mused.
“Having this many hives is such an asset,” Jacob replied, starting the horse down the darkened road. “It makes the farm so much more productive.”
“Ja, it does. I’ve had people ask me to put hives on their farms as well. Up until now, I hadn’t really thought about doing that, but maybe it’s something I should consider.” It occurred to her that, if she was required to leave Caleb’s farm, then scattering her hives among many different locations might be a better strategy than trying to find somewhere else she could set up a bee yard with all the hives in the same spot.
“This could be a full-time job rather than a part-time one,” remarked Jacob.
To Rebecca, the casual statement seemed to have more sinister overtones. Was it a veiled reminder that her days on Caleb’s farm were numbered?
“Ja,” she replied warily. She made a mental note to follow up with this morning’s conversation with Eva Hostetler. And perhaps she should put out the word about settling hives on other people’s farms sooner rather than later. “Working the bees full-time might be gut insurance for the future.”
She was aware of Jacob glancing sharply at her, but he said nothing. The rest of the drive home was conducted in silence.
All night long, Jacob thought about bees. He even dreamed about them—a dream in which he was attired in a bee suit and working alongside Rebecca as they maintained the colonies.
He woke up early, because he wanted to see how she transferred the swarm to the hive. He smiled to himself. Had he been bitten by the beekeeping bug, as Rebecca had warned?
The morning dew was thick upon the grass as he quietly let himself out of the house through the kitchen door, the bee suit over his arm. Jacob sniffed the air. He liked it here in Montana. Without the heavy blanket of humidity he was used to in Ohio, the air seemed fresher somehow. Birds twittered in the trees. A flash of pure blue caught his eye, a bird Caleb said was the mountain bluebird. The eastern horizon was bright but the sun had not yet risen.
He saw Rebecca step outside her cabin. She hadn’t noticed him as she bent to examine the mesh bag holding the box of bees, and he took a moment to admire her trim figure. She had an air of dignity and efficiency about her that he admired. Whatever the future held for her, he was certain she would do very well.
“Guder mariye,” he called quietly.
She jerked upright. “Gracious, you startled me! Guder mariye. You’re up early.”
“You said you wanted to move the swarm into the hive before sunrise. I want to see how you do it. You’re right about being bitten by the beekeeping bug,” he added. “I find myself eager to learn more about them.”
She chuckled. “I warned you.”
“Ja. Now what can I do to help? Should I carry the bag?”
“Ja, bitte. However, I recommend suiting up before we move them.”
They spent a few minutes pulling on the coveralls, adjusting the straps and zipping the veils into place. Jacob was pleased he was becoming more efficient with donning the complicated suit.
“Ready?” he asked her.
“Ja, ready.” She picked up a small bottle and followed as he carefully hoisted the mesh bag containing the sheet-wrapped box.
The sun was just peeking over the eastern horizon when they stopped at the hive in the bee yard. Jacob saw very little activity from the bees at this early hour.
“It’s because the temperature is too cool,” explained Rebecca when he asked her about it. “Bees really don’t become active until the air temperature is about fifty-five degrees. It’s about fifty degrees right now, but it will warm up quickly when the sun is fully up.”
He carefully lowered the bag with the box to the ground as Rebecca lifted off the lid to the empty hive box, then removed all the frames.
“These are the ones I painted with sugar water.” She indicated two of the frames. “I’ll put those in the middle. Meanwhile, let’s get these girls in the hive. I’m sure they’re tired of being in the box.”
He helped remove the mesh bag, then untied the sheet surrounding the box.
“Lay the sheet flat on the ground,” directed Rebecca. “That way any stray bees that get outside the box and caught in the sheet will be able to get to the hive.”
She opened the flaps to the box, and Jacob peered inside at the seething mass of insects, buzzing and crawling around, but mostly clustered at the bottom. He was glad to be wearing a bee suit. “How do you transfer them to the hive box?”
“First, I’m going to put a few drops of lemongrass oil in the hive box,” she said, lifting the small plastic bottle with a flip cap she had been carrying. “It resembles a pheromone, which the scout bees use to guide the swarm to their new home.” She dabbed the oil around the hive entrance as well as inside the hive, then capped the bottle and slipped it into a pocket. “Now, let me handle this next part myself, but watch what I do.”
Jacob respectfully stood back as Rebecca lifted the box, sharply tapped one corner on the ground to knock the majority of bees to one side, then lifted the box and simply dumped the swarm into the empty hive. She stood back and rested the nearly empty box back on the ground.
“That’s it?” he asked, amazed.
“Ja, that’s it.” He could see her smile through the veil. “The queen is somewhere in that mass of worker bees, and as long as she’s there, the swarm is likely to stay in the hive. All the rest of the bees left in the box will get themselves oriented within a couple hours and find their way to the hive. Now, let’s fit these frames in among the bees. I like to go slow and gentle so I don’t squash anyone in the process.”
He followed her example as she carefully slid the frames into the hive, moving them slowly so the bees had time to get out of the way.
“I have a gut feeling about this,” she said at one point. “I can never be sure, of course, but I’m fairly confident this swarm will stay in the hive.”
“Has a swarm ever left after you put them into a hive?”
“Ja sure. It happened twice last year. You can’t force bees to stay when they want to go. That’s why I try to do everything possible to make their new home as inviting as I can.”
Once the frames were in place, Rebecca hunted on the ground until she found a small stick. “I’ll put the cover on the hive, but prop it up just a bit with this stick,” she explained. “It will help any stray bees find their way. I’ll remove the stick tomorrow. The box and the sheet will stay here throughout the day, and I’ll pick them up tonight.”
When the hive cover was in place, Jacob stood back with Rebecca and watched as bees buzzed around the new hive. She unzipped her veil and let it hang down the back of her bee suit, and he followed suit. The other hives, he noticed, were becoming more active as well, since the sun was now shining on them.
He glanced around the bee yard. “I have a lot to learn if I’m going to take these over,” he murmured almost to himself.
Rebecca shot him a sharp look. “What do you mean?”
“I mean...” He trailed off for a moment, groping for a diplomatic way to phrase it.
“You mean if I leave this job?” Rebecca seemed to pluck his thought out of the air. She shook her head. “The bees are mine. They’ll go with me.”
Jacob nearly staggered back. “I thought they were Caleb’s.”
“Nein.” Her eyes were cold. “I’m the one who purchased the equipment and the first colonies. All the hives are mine. These bees aren’t just any bees. These are bees I’ve spent the last five years breeding specifically to be resistant to varroa mites. If I go, they come with me.” She spun on her heel and stalked off toward the barn.
Jacob stared after her. He wanted the bees. They were an integral part of the plans he had for the farm. So...if the bees were hers, it looked like he was stuck with her.
For the time being.
He peeled himself out of the bee suit and carried it over one arm as he headed back to the house. He knew Rebecca was in the barn doing the morning chores, and didn’t feel like trespassing on her temper at the moment. Instead, he entered the house through the outside kitchen door and found Caleb cracking eggs into a bowl. “Guder mariye.”
“Guder mariye,” the older man replied. He had a cheery look on his face. “I saw you and Rebecca in the bee yard. Were you hiving the swarm?”
“Ja. She says she’s confident they’ll stay.”
“That’s gut,” he said as he began beating the eggs vigorously with a fork. “It’s nice to see you and Rebecca working so well together.”
Jacob grunted but didn’t want to burst the older man’s bubble. He was sure Caleb knew whom the bees belonged to, but didn’t feel like delving into the possibility of Rebecca departing along with all the hives.
Instead, he replied neutrally, “Ja, she knows a lot. I’m interested in how the hives work. I’ll have to learn as much as I can from her.”
“Well, there’s time.” Caleb poured the beaten eggs into a pan. “I’m glad you two seem to have set aside your differences.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Jacob hung the bee suit on a hook near the door. “She’s still prickly and takes offense easily. Honestly, Uncle Caleb, I think she doesn’t want me here at all.”
“That may be.” Caleb seemed undisturbed by the thought. “But you’re both mature adults. You’ll find ways to work with each other. Meanwhile, I’ve been giving more thought to staying in Montana and living here in a daadi haus. I admit the idea has some appeal.”
“Just say the word and I’ll start building one.” As pleased as he was at the prospect of Caleb staying in Montana, his mind kept returning to Rebecca.
He realized his position had shifted in a subtle way. A few minutes ago, he was the boss. He was the one who stood poised to inherit the farm. Rebecca had no negotiating power beyond her years of loyalty to Caleb.
But now she had a bargaining chip in her favor: she owned the bees and the hives. It was a powerful weapon, and one she clearly hadn’t hesitated to wield.
So for the moment it seemed he had two choices: either he could learn everything possible about bees and try to start his own hives right away...or he could put up with Rebecca’s attitude and prickly feelings, and do what he could not to chase her away.
With a feeling of gloom, he knew what he had to do.