Free The Mirror by Marlys Millhiser Page B

teeth. "Tez a proper stew." Surprise in sharp blue eyes surrounded by crinkles.
    Corbin agreed and Shay felt better. She'd have to find out what all was in that herb jar and take the knowledge back with her. On nights when Rachael was working under a deadline or was just too involved in her writing, Shay cooked the family's dinner. And very soon she'd be cooking Marek's.
    "They flowers be some pretty. Tez nice to come from working and have a good supper on me table. 'Ee worked hard but the 'oeing din't 'ave to be done all in a day." Thora K.'s thumb hooked in the direction of the garden. "Just a mite ever' morning to keep ahead of they weeds. 'Ow about some bread with this 'andsome supper?"
    "Bread!" Shay's fork dropped to clang against the plate. She registered now the cloth-covered humps on the shelf in the corner.
    "Do'ee sit still. I'll get it."
    Corbin stared at her. "You didn't forget the bread?"
    "Ahhh! Me whole week's bread . . . edden even baked." Thora K. slapped a pan on the table. "Did 'ee even poke it down, you?" Part of the sticky dough hung in tendrils over the edge, the rest a porous drying mass at the bottom. It resembled a sponge after an attack by a maddened shark.
    Shay's experience with baking bread was to thaw a loaf from the freezer, let it rise and put it in the oven. Hurry that mirror, John McCabe.
    Thora K. was still muttering about the bread when she sat on the porch after the dishes were done and bathwater carried in and heated. Shay could hear her as she washed Brandy's battered body in a round metal tub from the loft. When she finished she joined Thora K. on the porch so Corbin could bathe in privacy and in the same water. His mother explained with a sniff that she did not approve of exposing the "whole skin" at once (it was bad for the humors) and she would sponge from the dish-pan later.
    Thora K. also disapproved when Corbin, washed and in clean clothes, announced he was off to town. "They kiddleywinks and King Alcohol" would be the death of him. Corbin replied that any miner worth his salt spent Saturday night in the saloon. His bored tone suggested this argument recurred weekly.
    Shay wondered what women did for fun on Saturday nights. But once in bed she fell into the deep sleep of the exhausted.
    "Edden' fitty to work so 'ard on the Sabbath," Thora K. grumbled when Corbin finished reading aloud from the Bible. "Acourse it can't be 'elped. 'Ave to wash tomorrow and with the whole week's bread ruined--that's henough kneadin', you. Put it in the pan." She was teaching Shay to make bread.
    Corbin looked sleepy but content. Did Nederland have ladies like Marie from Boulder? He sure isn't getting any at home.
    Do the freighters work on Sunday? Perhaps the McCabes would send the mirror up on Monday. Wash on Monday . . . how? Take the clothes down to the creek and heat them on a rock? Shay slammed her knuckles into a fresh glob of dough. Why don't prostitutes ever get pregnant?
    "'Ow yer ma could a raised 'ee to such an age and not taught 'ee to make bread . . . and 'ee din't clean the lamp."
    And there he sits with the Bible on his lap, all innocence.
    "And last night there were water all over the floor. 'Ee 'ave to empty the pan under the hicebox."
    Big callused hands, rumpled hair, curious glances at me when he thinks I don't see. He was very aware of her, whatever he'd been up to the night before. It's Brandy he sees, Shay. And her hair was falling down again.
    "Might as well show 'ee how to make pasties if us 'ave ter heat up the 'ouse anyway."
    More flour, lard and salt. More trips to the cave. Corbin left to chop wood. Thora K. rolled out pastry dough on the table and cut it around an overturned plate to make circles. Shay sliced meat and vegetables.
    "And that's another thing. The stew were tasty fer supper but food that takes a long fire be better left to winter days when us need ter heat the 'ouse. Then we'll get up some coal to cook with. In 'ot weather short fires be more comfortable