Hattie Big Sky

On the train, Hattie writes to Charlie about her fears of homesteading life. Another man in the train car man says that foolish people like her come to Montana and think that they can make a life for themselves. Hattie leaves the train in a fluster, thinking about what the man said. As she gets off the train, she thinks about how lonely she is and that she wishes she knew someone in Vida.

At the train station, Hattie meets Perilee. Perilee introduces Hattie to her husband, Karl, who greets her in German. Perilee introduces her to her children: Chase, who is eight; Mattie, who is six; and Fern, the baby. Mattie shows her rag doll to Hattie and says that her name is Mulie. Chase tells Hattie that he has been feeding Violet and Plug for her, Uncle Chester’s cow and horse. Perilee tells Hattie that they will stay in town that night and then head to their farms the next day. Hattie goes to see Mr. Ebgard, who oversees the properties. At Mr. Ebgard’s office, Mr. Ebgard tells Hattie that to keep the farm, she must cultivate 40 acres and set up 480 rods of fence around it. Mr. Ebgard explains that proving a claim takes three years, but since that time frame started when Uncle Chester purchased the claim, then she only has 10 months to finish. Mr. Ebgard tells her to head to Hanson’s Cash Grocery to get supplies. As Hattie leaves, a man walks in, and Mr. Ebgard introduces the man to Hattie as one of her neighbors, Rooster Jim.

At Hanson’s Cash Grocery, Mr. Hanson gathers supplies for Hattie. Perilee comes into the store and asks Mr. Hanson for coffee; however, Mr. Hanson says he cannot sell it to her because Karl is German. Later, Hattie treats the Muellers to dinner at the hotel to thank them for picking her up. She does not want to owe a debt to anyone in Vida.

The next morning, the Muellers and Hattie load up the wagon and head to their homes. Hattie notices that Karl is quiet, and Perilee explains that he feels nervous speaking English in front of someone he does not know. Perilee tells Hattie that the children are hers from another marriage but that she is going to have Karl’s child in a few months. As they pull up to Chester’s house, Hattie realizes in dismay that the house is more like a shed than anything else. Chase fetches water for Hattie, and Perilee says that they must go before it gets too dark. Hattie offers Perilee a bag of coffee to thank her, and Perilee hugs her.

After they leave, Hattie feels like crying, but she hears a voice in her head telling her to light a fire. As she gets the fire going, Hattie’s cat, Mr. Whiskers, catches a mouse. When she wakes up in the morning, she jumps out of bed to get the fire going again. She walks outside to get a bucket of water. She starts pumping, but her hand freezes to the pump handle. Suddenly, Chase appears on a horse and tells her that she should keep a mitten out by the pump in the winter. Then, he runs inside, gets warm water, and pours it over her hand, which detaches it from the pump. Hattie and Chase go inside, and Hattie tells him that she will make him food. Chase tells Hattie to be careful milking Violet because she is cranky. He says that they have Violet’s calf, Fawn, who Chester gave them as a present.

Hattie writes to Uncle Holt about the daily chores that she must do, such as milking Violet. Afterward, she writes a letter to Charlie, encouraging him to keep up his spirits. Later, Rooster Jim visits and says that he had a deal with Chester that they would play chess together in exchange for Rooster Jim taking his mail to Vida. Hattie takes him up on this deal and gives him her letters. Hattie goes to the barn to care for Plug and Violet. Plug is a kind horse, but Violet uses every chance she can get to hit Hattie with her tail. Afterward, Hattie lets them loose in the field. Suddenly, Mr. Whiskers yowls, and Hattie notices a wolf stalking Violet. Hattie makes noise to scare the wolf away, but it does not pay attention to her, and Violet does not see the wolf. The wolf leaps onto the back of Violet, and Violet runs. The wolf grabs Violet’s tail and Hattie picks up a rock and throws it at the wolf, hitting it hard enough that it rips Violet’s tail off. When Hattie finds Violet, she cares for the wound, although she finds it funny that Violet will not be able to swat her with her tail anymore. Hattie decides to take Plug to Perilee’s house to see if she has ointment for Violet.

At Perilee’s house, Perilee gives her advice for caring for Violet’s wound. She says that Karl would know more but that he is not there. Hattie asks why he is working in this weather, but Perilee explains that he is registering in Vida as an “alien enemy.” Perilee explains that Karl was born in Germany, so Montana is forcing him to register. Hattie says that there must be a reason for the registration, or they would not make them do it. Perilee does not seem convinced and says that Traft Martin and the Council of Defense will make them pay one way or another.