Bless your beautiful hide
Oregon Territory 1850
The horse wines and comes to an abrupt halt at his steerage Haymitch jumps from the old cart wagon taking the reins with him to tie to the store post. Haymitch didn't go to town often and for good reason, he hated it, the women with their idol gossip and the manners which everyone engaged was nothing a backwoodsman was used to. But just about once a year he would grit his teeth and make his way in town to the General Store to stock up his cabin. Cause lord knows Haymitch Abernathy needs his ales, without who would keep him company… the cows? Nope the life of a backwoodsman was a lonely one which is exactly what brought Haymitch into town in May; He was getting himself a wife.
Why it was just this past winter that Haymitch found himself loathsome and not even his liquor would drown the aching for a woman. He was tired of terrible gritty food no home cooking, not to mention the house was a pig sty absolutely filthy the floors had accumulated just about an entire inch worth of dirt from him and the others. So he planned come spring he was coming into town to pick himself up a wife to toe home for his own. Confidence wasn't the reason for his brashness it was the fact that he lived so far from town he couldn't court a lady. So he had to be determined that he was not coming home empty handed not to mention if the other men found him coming home without a girl he would surely look a fool. He was the oldest of all the other men whom he resided with so he needed to lead by example.
"Just a little over ten pounds" an older women stated to Haymitch about the hides he was bringing in to trade for.
"Well how much you think it worth this year?"
"Six dollars a pound" she said eyeing him.
"Well ill trade you for a new plow, three cups of lard, barrel of molasses, 25 pounds of chewing tobacco, and you wouldn't have a wife under the counter there would you, I'm looking for a wife."
The older gentlemen smocking a pipe chuckled at Haymitch "Any special brand?" the man said sarcastically.
"Well yes, I'd like best a widowed woman aint afraid to work. There's about seven of us me and six other backwoodsmen. And the place is like a pig sty and the food taste worst. So I made up my mind the next time I come into town to trade id find me a wife."
Haymitch stated with confidence.
"Well that's a fine thing I must say, thinking you can trade for a wife like she was a bag of meal."
"Oh know mam, I wouldn't say that"
"Well let me tell you; none of are gals are going of to bear country with you. To cook and wash and slave over seven slumicky backwoodsmen" She said angrily to Haymitch giving him a pointed look. She walked off flustered handing the conversation over to her husband chewing his pipe.
"there's about ten men for every woman out here; you wanna wife you better go back east and get one." Said the older man.
"You mean there's no unmarried females in this town?" And just as it slipped his mouth the store bell rang and in waltzed four beautiful girls.
They were all greeting the older women as Mrs. Bigsby whom they all knew very well. Smiling and laughing with the older woman whom they were clearly fond of. "were having a quilting bee" one of the girls said excitedly to Mrs. Bigsby.
"Well what about one of these?" Haymitch told the man.
"Now just you wait one second"
"Married?"
"There spoken for."
"Whoa just spoken for?... You had me scared there."
"I tell you there promised"
"Well a lady can change her mind cant she?" Haymitch then stood up and walked over the four ladies whom had overheard Haymitch's conversation with Mr. Bigsby.
"Go on girls pay him no mind; Fred go get this man's things packed in the wagon so he can be on his way" said Mrs. Bigsby looking a little nervous and flustered.
"Oh I'm in no hurry."
"Your wasting your time you won't find a girl in this town to marry you"
Haymitch crossed his arms "now when I set my mind to something it get done, whether its plowing twenty acres in a day or dropping a tree within an inch of what I want it. Im here today to get me a wife, I don't plan on going home empty handed." He says eyeing each girl over noticing there slightly smiling faces and pink cheeks.
"Now you're all pretty fresh and young and I'll keep yawl in mind. But I aint decided until I look them all over." Haymitch then left with one last look at their shocked and stunned pretty faces as he walked out the store whistling.
Haymitch walked on humming a tune to himself smiling while checking out each lady that passed him on the road.
One by one….
Blonde but to Broad
Pretty face but stocky….. but nice ass he thought to himself
There had to be one around here his own taste.
Haymitch settled on walking in on old Sae's for a warm meal. But before entering he saw a woman chopping wood outside. But just before Haymitch could stop her she was called into Sae's shop. He huffed and proceeded to walk in to the front.
A very old shop with men scattered round the room waiting to get there servings and just as he sat down out popped a beautiful slender women but not too slender with blue eyes. The same woman he saw chopping wood outside only two seconds ago. He was gawking to say the least and he turned to see the others doing just the same. She had a pointy little face and carried a large vat of stew.
"Come on Effie im starving"
"Im coming" she smiled and started pouring the stew into each man's dish as they held theirs up for a serving. And did it smell good he hadn't had warm homemade cooking in…..he couldn't even recall the last time when.
"Effie when you gonna marry me?" a man smiled to her.
"Tom what would your wife say" she laughed and chortled back.
"It's wonderful seeing you back again Frank" Effie smiled at another man.
"I couldn't miss your cooking for the world Effie" Frank looked at her smiling like a fool. Haymitch just rolled his eyes at his obvious affection for the woman. She was obviously a great price for the men in this town and something told Haymitch that it wasn't just the stew that brought the men to Saes. Haymitch coughed loudly bringing her attention. He gave her a big grin and winked at Effie who then spilled some stew in a man's lap missing his bowl. The man yelped and Effie jumped back and dropped her gaze to where she spilt stew on the man.
"Oh my gosh Bill I am so sorry let me help" Eyes wide she ran and grabbed a wet nap for him looking embarrassed as ever with a rose red blush.
"Its aright Effie no harm done" the man winced out. Haymitch chuckled to himself making Effie stare at him again.
He then locked eyes with her again.
"Smells good enough to eat"
"Taste good too so they tell me" she said raising an eyebrow waiting for him to take a bite.
"Can I get a bread patty?"
"My stew can stand on its own two feet" she said confidently.
So Haymitch picked up his fork and took a bite of her cooking.
"Good?" she asked.
"Good" he confirmed.
After he finished eating up the fine meal he got up and proceeded to walk outside and wait. Wait for her to get off of work and leave so he could ask his question. But what was he gonna say to her? He thought of all the small talk he could think of, he was not use to talking to a lady especially one he was determined to marry.
After about two hours of working up his nerve he saw her leave the store front. Haymitch proceeded to nonchalantly follow her from a distance. Yes, he probably looked like a stalker but he needed her alone so he could ask her.
She walked a half a mile to an old house which he presumed was her humble abode, then watched her walk right back out to do what appeared to be chores he presumed. Another reason she was perfect she was obviously a hard working women to get off work come home and then attend to her farm duties. Effie took a seat on a bucket and milked the old cow and then squeaked when she saw Haymitch approaching her.
"Can I help you?"
"Why yes I think you can miss" he smiled at her keeping on a cool demeanor that he worked himself up for.
Effie's brows furrowed in confusion.
"You see the names Haymitch Abernathy" Haymitch coughs stands straight and gives a bough.
Effie stares then politely smiles but waits for him to continue.
"I came from up the mountain I got a farm up there"
"Have you?"
"A good farm with a house on it, there's timberland, High waisted meadows, sheep, cows, fifty acres of wheat. The only thing it aint got is a woman. How bought it?"
Effie is frozen in place as the words continue to tumble from his mouth.
"How bought what?"
"Well I just told you, how bought marrying me?"
Effie quickly grabbed the cows utters with wide eyes and started milking as fast as she could in shock.
"Oh I know its short notice…back east we would have met up on a Sunday at church, six months later I would have asked if I could walk you home next two three years later I would have sat on your front porch with you every Sunday night. Then I would have asked your father if I could marry you. But here there's not time, I gotta be home tonight to tend to my stalk. It will be another five months before I come down again to get my grain. You gonna keep me waiting all that five months, just for your pride?"
Effie weighed his offer of marriage. It was extremely sudden but she was 26 and didn't want to continue to be a burden upon her parents. She was very stubborn and never went courting, with the work loud she had to tend to she didn't have time. But she had to admit his offer was enticing; a house of her own to care for and look after was something she had dreamed of having
her entire life. Her stubbornness had kept her away from boys along with chores but she did like this Haymitch fellow. She thought him rather very handsome and manly broad but with loose shaggy blonde hair.
And so she made up her mind, she would not let slide what might be the best offer she's been given for her future. She would marry this fellow and follow her parent's wishes for her to marry. But one thing was for sure; it was going to be a big big day.
"Well I'd have to finish my chores." She said and with that he smiled wide at her.
"I knew it the minute I set eyes on you that you were the gal for me. I'll go get cleaned up a bit and round up a preacher." And off he went.