Jed emptied his bag into a large bowl on the table. He had picked two quarts of blueberries, which brought a squeal of delight from Lizzie. “I also found a bunch of blackberries. They are really early. Blackberries usually don’t get ripe until later in August. We will need to take some buckets to pick them, though. They would be ruined if I put them in the bag. Some of the blueberries got squashed as it is.”
Lizzie was excited. “Let’s take a lunch with us and both go picking tomorrow! I would love to have some blackberries, too.”
“Okay. I had hoped to shoot another buck today, but I didn’t see any. All I found were does, and it’s still too early for them. Their fawns would probably make it alone, but I don’t want to leave an orphan that can’t survive.
“I did see tracks of a moose, though. From the size of the tracks, it probably weighs nine hundred pounds or so. Don’t really think I want to try dragging one of them home. Anyway, that’s how I found the berries.”
Lizzie dipped her hand into the bowl of blueberries and popped half a dozen into her mouth. She savored the flavor and sweetness. Their sugar had run out over a month ago, except for a very small amount she had saved, and the sweet blueberry taste was welcome. Jed smiled at her delight, but he had been eating berries as he picked them, so his sweet tooth was somewhat satiated. Lizzie was so easy to please. He thought how lucky he was to be stuck there with her, if he had to be stuck with anyone. He quickly quashed those feelings. This was not the time or place to start getting mushy about a girl.
“I found a bee tree today, too. I think there is a smoke pot and bellows around here somewhere. If I can find them, we’ll get some honey.”
“Aren’t you afraid of being stung?”
“If I smoke them right, we shouldn’t. I’ve watched Dad do it a couple of times, though I’ve not tried it myself. Be nice to have something to sweeten things with. Let’s get some berries tomorrow, and we’ll see about the honey later.”
“Thanks for bringing me the berries. I’ve been craving something sweet. I found a recipe I hope you like. I thought something different would be good.”
“Sounds good. What is it?”
“It’s a fish chowder. I found some wild rice in that little cove south of us, and I used it in the chowder. I’ve got to admit I was a bad girl, though. I took the canoe down there by myself to harvest the rice.”
Jed started to get angry, and his face flushed.
“I was careful, Jed. I’ve learned how to handle the canoe, and I wore the life jacket. The water isn’t cold like it was when I fell in before. I didn’t go out into the lake but stayed right by the shore.”
“It’s still dangerous. What would I do if you drowned? Did you think about that?”
“Sure, but what about when you go out in the woods all by yourself? What if something happens to you? Don’t you think I worry about that sometimes?”
“I’ve been doing this since I was a little kid, though. You don’t know what you are doing out there.”
“Well, thank you! I’ve been paying attention to what you’ve taught me, and I’ve learned how to handle the canoe, plus I read how to harvest the wild rice in a couple of the books here. I think I can take care of myself sometimes. Do you think I want to just stay in the cabin all the time and eat the same old things over and over when there are other things out there if I’ll just go get them? Do you think I’m just a helpless baby?” Lizzie jumped up from the table and ran back to her area and closed the curtain behind her. She only wished she had a door she could slam.
Jed watched her stomp away and then shook his head, puzzled, before walking out the door to work on treating his latest hide.