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Rowan’s sigh lengthened out into a thick sort of silence, a sort of bone tired weariness that more words would not dispel. Iris shook off the urge to say ‘There, there…’ and pat the lass’ hand saying how surely things would get better soon. Obviously they hadn’t so far; they seemed to have gotten worse. Rowan looked so worn out and to be truthful the kitchen looked so….well, jumbled up.
‘Penny!’ Iris’ voice cut through the momentary torpor that crept through the room. ‘Make us a nice pot of tea, please,’ she ordered, pointing toward the pile of tea pots and lids on a nearby counter. ‘Rowan, fetch the honey to the table here. And some cups.’
While the two bustled about, Iris found a bread knife and cut some thick slices from the brown bread loaf which looked to be at least a day old. She toasted them quickly over the kitchen fire and spread them generously with butter and some jam she’d found in a pot nearly hidden by a pile of rumpled dish towels. She piled the toast on a platter and motioned the two to have a seat at the table.
‘And you, too,’ she called to the dark haired young woman who’d just come into the room. It was Prim, wondering where Rowan had gotten to.
Over cups of sweet, hot tea and toast with jam, the four women held counsel – a makeshift sort of plan was formed. Rowan and Penny would do the taking orders, the serving, and the clearing up for now. Prim would stay in the kitchen with Iris and they’d get some sort of meal going.
Iris took down one of the aprons hanging beside the stove and tied it securely about her waist. She poked her nose in the large pantry and rummaged about for a bit. ‘Here,’ she said, tossing two large onions to Prim. ‘Chop these up and throw them in one of the kettles.’ She poked around a bit more, uncovering the remains of a ham not yet gone bad. ‘This’ll do, too. Ooh, and here’s a nice little sack of butter beans.’ Iris smiled at the thought. ‘Ham and beans…that’s always good for keeping your sides from flapping together.’
Soon there was a savory smell drifting through the kitchen – ham, beans, onions augmented by fresh herbs Prim had fetched from the garden. Prim stirred the large kettle in a contented way while Iris threw together flour and shortening and leavening and was now rolling out the dough for biscuits.
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