Chapter 3
Adam called Mary to come down for supper. Eventually she appeared having kept them all waiting for at least ten minutes. Adam's face betrayed his impatience at Mary's lateness and quickly led her to the table.
Then the trouble started. Ben offered thanks for the food they were about to eat and started filling the soup bowls and handing them to Hoss to pass on round the table.
"This delicious soup is one of Hop Sing's highlights."
"I can't believe that you call this swill delicious," she said, wiping her hand across her mouth. "Fish soup? Whoever thought of making a soup from fish. Some randy Frenchman I'm sure! It's repulsive!"
There was a deafening silence as the others stopped eating their soup, with spoons in the air, halfway to mouths and all eyes raised to look at Mary. Mary threw her spoon down into the bowl of soup and crossed her arms.
"I hope there is something else on the menu?"
They were all too stunned to say anything, and continued to eat their soup. When the soup course was finished, Hop Sing came out from the kitchen and cleared the dishes away, and came back with tureens filled with potatoes and vegetables and went once more back to the kitchen and returned with a large plate covered in roast beef slices and a jug of gravy.
"Eat now before it get cold." Hop Sing ordered, then made his way back to the kitchen.
"Who was that?" Mary asked, laughing.
"That was Hop Sing our cook and housekeeper." Ben said, smiling and trying to keep a hold of his temper. "What's so funny?"
"Just proves you're like everyone else; you use cheap labour to do your bidding."
Adam felt his temper flair and admonished her for what she just said, as he was the one who had brought her here. "Hop Sing has been with us for many years and is deemed to be as one of the family and our friend. Now I suggest we all calm down and continue to eat this wonderful meal Hop Sing has prepared for us."
With that said, all the men plunged into the tureens and filled their plates. Adam offered the meat plate to Mary, who just took one piece, and told her to help herself to the potato and vegetables. This she did. Mary took up her knife and fork and immediately dropped the knife back down on the table, using only her fork. This did not go unnoticed by Adam. Lifting the slice of meat onto the fork, Mary took a bite and chewed for all she was worth. Mary tried to mask her obvious distaste but could not keep quiet.
"Is this the best ya have t'offer." She said disapprovingly. "I've tasted better than this. This meat is tough. Perhaps the potato is better" She placed some in her mouth and spat it out immediately back onto her plate. "Obviously not."
Ben, Joe and Hoss all stared open-mouthed at her behaviour, but Adam looked at Mary suspiciously, but all were too polite to say anything. Until….. "I'm sorry the food is not to your liking Mary" Adam said controlling his temper. "This is all there is. Therefore you can eat it or go without."
"I'll go without t'anks" she answered, and stood up, knocking her chair over saying, "I'll go up to me room then," and stormed up the stairs, slamming the bedroom door behind her.
"Well, shy or no, I know what she needs." Hoss intimated.
"Maybe so" Adam agreed. "But there's something wrong here."
"Oh. What do you think it is, Adam" Joe asked.
"I've no idea, it's just a feeling I have. Sorry, Pa, for causing this unpleasantness."
"Good grief, Adam, it's not your fault." Ben said, consolingly. "But she will have to mend her ways if she is to stay with us for any length of time. Now let's finish our supper in peace, shall we. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. I think we'll all need an early night."