When Breaks the Dawn (Canadian West) Read Online Free PDF Page B

returned to my kitchen and took a few moments to pray that the rain would stop.
    Ian came back, a large ledger in his hand. The Indians had been told to wait for the sound of the crude gong before lining up for more supplies. Those of the previous night had been given out at no charge, with deep thankfulness that God had seen us through. Now the books would need to be kept. Each man in the village had his winter’s catch of furs, and the tally would be kept on account until the day that McLain could take in the furs to settle the accounts. First he would need to construct his new trading post.
    As soon as Ian pounded on the drum with the hammer, the line began to form. Though it had not stopped raining, it had slowed down considerably. I thanked God for that.
    Today there was happy chatter among the women who stood in the line. They could finally believe that the supplies were really here, enough for each day’s need rather than just a fleeting dream of relief.
    As Wynn distributed supplies to them, one by one, Mr. McLain busily entered the items to each one’s account. Now the women were given a choice of purchase. Yesterday they all had been allotted the same items to prepare a meal.
    It was getting dark before the last of the line was waited on. Wynn closed the window and turned to Ian.
    “Is this going to work?” he asked him.
    “Perfect,” exulted Ian. “I’m glad you thought of the shelf. Nimmie will be settled by tomorrow, and she will be able to take your place. We know you can’t spend all of your time dishing out store supplies.”
    “I’m glad to help until you are settled a bit, but I do need to get back on the trail again. There are a number of people I should check on as quickly as possible.”
    “We understand,” Ian assured him. “Nimmie and I should be quite able to handle this from now on.”
    “But how about the building of the new store?” asked Wynn.
    Ian pondered. It was true. He was going to be more than busy. His building skills and direction were needed on the project. Even though there were a number of men who would be happy to work for Ian, they could not proceed without supervision. Ian would need to be available every part of every day.
    “We’ll have to work out something,” Ian was saying when I broke in hesitantly from the doorway. “I’ll help Nimmie if you’ll just show me what you want done.”
    Both of the men swung to look at me.
    Wynn broke the silence. “There you are,” he said to Ian with a grin.
    Mr. McLain looked relieved. “You mean that?” he asked me.
    “Of course. I’d be glad to.”
    “How about keeping the ledger?”
    “The ledger?”
    “Recording what is given to each family. Nimmie will tell you what to write.”
    “That would be fine,” I stammered out. “I’m sure—sure I could handle that.”
    “I’m sure you could, too,” said McLain confidently. “Then Nimmie could work with the people. It would be a bit easier for her, some of the people not knowing much English and you not understanding much of their language yet.”
    I liked his reasoning. Nimmie could wait on the customers and I could work along with her and keep the accounts. I was going to have her around after all!
    In the meantime I hoped that the building project would go quickly. I was thankful for the supplies for the people. I would also be thankful to reclaim my home. I looked around at the stacked-up supplies. Our house looked so much better than it had just that morning, though Wynn’s small office was not free for his use, and many things were still piled along the walls in our living quarters. Yes, I hoped with all of my heart that the building of the new trading post would go well.

SIX
    Routine
    Early the next morning the clouds began to break up and the heavy rain that had fallen during the night gradually diminished to a drizzle. I began to be hopeful that the rain might actually stop.
    By midafternoon the sun was actually peeping out from among the clouds now