“Zinaida Nikitishna, there are barely any mushrooms left!”
“So what? Maybe there are still some hidden somewhere! Come on, get ready, we’ll be quick!”
Tanya had just returned from the garden, her legs dragging from exhaustion.
She had no desire to go out into the damp autumn cold.
But she didn’t have the strength to argue with her mother-in-law either — she knew she’d end up getting a full lecture anyway: how ungrateful she was, how any other woman would’ve kicked her out long ago, but she, Zinaida, was “being kind.”
Tanya had lived under the same roof as Zinaida Nikitishna for three years, and with her husband Andrey — only two.
And even then, he hadn’t been much of a husband. They had met when Tanya, fresh out of the orphanage, had no idea what to do with her life. And then Andrey appeared:
“Be my wife! Let’s go to the village, I have a big house!”
The house *was* big — so big it took half a day just to clean it.
Only, it didn’t belong to him, but to his mother. The very woman who seemed to hate the whole world, Tanya especially.
Andrey didn’t die or disappear — he simply left with another woman for who knows where.
And Tanya was left with nothing. Not a wife, not a relative, just some kind of strange half-slave.
At first, she cried into her pillow from hurt and shame. Young, not unattractive, and life had turned out so wrong.
Then the tears stopped — there was no time. Zinaida Nikitishna kept her so busy she didn’t even have time to think.
Noticing how hardworking Tanya was, her mother-in-law expanded the farm: added two greenhouses, got a second cow, a couple of piglets… Why give up free labor?
She went to the market every other day, selling all the produce.
Tanya had no idea that part of the money was being sent to Andrey and his new partner.
When she found out — it hurt. So she’d been working herself to the bone for *their* comfort?
The neighbors pitied Tanya:
“Leave that old hag already! Playing farmer’s wife! Have she and Andrey ever worked a day in their lives before this?”
“And now — the farm, all the work…”
Tanya smiled sadly. It was unbearably hard. But to drop everything and leave? To where? The streets?
One neighbor, Stepanovna, even spat angrily:
“What do you mean ‘the streets’?! Just look at everything you’re handling!
You know how to work — any job would take you! Stay here and you’ll die under a cow!”
Tanya knew in her mind that the neighbors were right. But how could she leave an old woman all alone?
After all, they’d lived together for so many years…
She only sighed in response. But when she heard that Zinaida wanted to *expand the potato field*, she seriously began to wonder: maybe she really *would* die here like a dog.
Tanya dressed first and stepped out onto the porch. A nasty, fine drizzle was falling from the sky.
“Tanyush, hello! Where are you off to?”
She sighed.
“Zinaida Nikitishna is sending me out for mushrooms…”
The neighbor laughed, then looked surprised:
“Seriously?! What mushrooms now? Only toadstools are left!”
Zinaida Nikitishna herself stepped out onto the porch.
“That’s none of your business! We’re not like you — we always find something!”
Stepanovna spat in disgust:
“Zina, born a fool, stayed a fool! Always putting on airs, acting like you’re something special.
Everyone knows who you really are!”
She left, and Zinaida Nikitishna hissed bitterly:
“What are we standing here like two idiots for?! Let’s go! It’ll be dark soon!”
Deep down, she already regretted coming out, but she couldn’t stand seeing Tanya just sitting idle.
When Andrey brought her, he said straight out: “Here, Mom, use her! Free labor!”
At first, Zinaida observed her. Then she realized — tough girl.
And when her son started preparing to leave — she didn’t stop him: let him go see the world!
Now *she* had someone to rely on.
They reached the edge of the forest, when suddenly Zinaida remembered:
“Oh no! I left dough rising at home! You go on ahead, I’ll run back.
Check that ravine — yesterday Vaska brought back a whole sack of honey mushrooms from there!”
Tanya replied uncertainly:
“I’ve never been that way! I don’t know this forest… And it’s far!”
“What, did you think mushrooms grow in your backyard?!
You’ll manage! Know other spots? Then go there! What’s the problem?”
Zinaida turned sharply and walked back quickly.
Tanya took a step after her, but suddenly realized: being at home was worse than in this damp forest.
Clenching her teeth, she headed into the darkness among the trees.
She reached the ravine just as night fully fell. She needed to head back, but how — without mushrooms?
But then she saw a real treasure — honey mushrooms growing everywhere! She quickly began cutting them, choosing the densest clusters.
Then she spotted a second stump, a third…
She only came to her senses when the basket was full to the brim, and dusk had thickened around her.
Tanya looked around. She had no idea which direction to go now.
She ran one way — no ravine. Another — just more identical trees.
Panic set in. Night, unfamiliar forest, not a single landmark. She could barely breathe from fear.
“Help…”
Tanya’s eyes flew open. She must’ve dozed off on the wet grass under the oak. A dream?
“Help…”
No, the voice was real, nearby! And it was a *child’s* voice! What was a child doing in the forest at night?!
She jumped up and headed toward the voice, pushing through prickly bushes.
The mushroom basket was left behind — it didn’t matter anymore, Zinaida could skin her for all she cared.
The voice was getting closer.
“Hey! Where are you? Can you hear me?”
A pause. Then again:
“Who are you? Baba Yaga? Come to eat me?”
“No, I’m Tanya. I’m lost too.”
Finally, she saw a little girl sitting on a tall stump, about a meter and a half high.
“Wow! You climbed up high!”
The girl sniffled.
“There… there were frogs…”
She looked at Tanya with hope:
“Will you save me?”
Tanya tried to speak with confidence:
“Of course! That’s exactly why I came. But let’s wait for morning — it’s easy to fall or get hurt at night.”
In the moonlight, Tanya saw the girl’s face swollen from crying. The most important thing now was to calm her.
“You’re not going to leave me?”
“No, I’m not going anywhere. We’ll settle in somehow.”
In the dark, Tanya gathered sticks by touch, piling them into a nest.
The rain had stopped, but the ground was still damp. She sat on the makeshift bed and held out her arms:
“Come here.”
“What about the frogs?”
“They’ve long gone to sleep!”
The girl carefully slid down from the stump and curled up in Tanya’s lap.
Tanya wrapped her in her sweater. Slowly, the little one stopped trembling.
“What’s your name?”
“Masha…”
“So what brings you here, Mashenka — to eat the bear’s porridge and sleep in his bed?”
The girl giggled softly.
“No… I just wanted to scare my dad… and got lost.”
“Why did you want to scare him?”
“He didn’t let me go swimming in the river!”
“Swimming? But it’s autumn, it’s cold!”
“I wouldn’t have gone swimming! But why does *he* get to say no?!”
Masha’s voice got quieter and quieter, drowsy. Her eyes started closing.
Tanya smiled gently. Just a little longer — five hours or so — and she could think about everything else later.
She must’ve dozed off herself: when she opened her eyes, it was already light.
Masha was still peacefully sleeping in her lap, and sunlight was breaking through the leaves.
“Wake up, sleepyhead! We need to find your dad!”
Masha stretched and yawned.
“Why find him? He works here as a ranger!”
Tanya froze. She had seen that man in the village a few times and caught herself blushing every time.
He was so handsome. And his eyes… But they had never exchanged a word, and she didn’t even know his name.
Now it made sense — he had a daughter. So he must have a wife too. Of course he would.
They stood up and looked around.
“Let’s go toward the sunrise. That should be the direction of your village.”
Masha squinted mischievously:
“How do you know which village is mine?”
Tanya laughed:
“The frogs told me!”
Masha burst out laughing.
“Let’s go faster! My tummy is hungry!”
Tanya sighed. If only everything was that simple…
Judging by the sun, it seemed they were heading the right way, but who really knew\…
After a couple of hours, they heard dogs barking. Masha, completely worn out, perked up and shouted:
“Laska! Joy!”
Two large dogs burst from the bushes.
Tanya froze in surprise, while the girl rushed to them, kissing their faces.
The dogs, nearly as big as the child, wagged their tails joyfully, trying to lick their little mistress.
“They’re ours! That means Daddy’s nearby!”
A long whistle rang out, and the dogs barked in response.
One stayed with Masha, while the other ran back into the forest to return with his master.
“Daddy!”
Masha threw her arms around her father’s neck. He picked her up and spun her around in his embrace.
“Mashka, you scared me so much!”
“I was scared too… I won’t do it again! Tanya saved me!”
Tanya smirked. “Saved…” She had gotten lost too.
Suddenly, exhaustion overwhelmed her — her legs gave way, and she sat down on the nearest mound.
The tension of the past few hours began to fade.
“Here, drink this,” the man offered her a bottle. “Then we’ll go.”
Tanya took a few sips of the sweet berry drink and obediently stood up.
They walked for about an hour. The father carried Masha the whole way. The dogs ran a little ahead, occasionally glancing back.
When the village appeared, Tanya realized — this wasn’t her village, but the one where the gamekeeper lived.
It was still almost six kilometers to Nikitishna’s house.
She groaned quietly in distress.
The gamekeeper smiled, as if reading her thoughts:
“You’ll rest, have a bite — and I’ll drive you. I’ve got a motorcycle.”
Tanya smiled gratefully, but she couldn’t remember the man’s name.
As if hearing her thoughts again, he said:
“My name is Yura. And you’re Tanya. Masha told me.”
The house stood on the edge of the village, closer to the forest. Tanya realized the man had searched for his daughter alone — meaning there was no panic in the village.
She could actually rest for a bit. Nikitishna wouldn’t find out in time.
The house turned out to be large, cozy, and neat.
Inside, everything was perfectly clean, and the furniture was comfortable and welcoming.
“Make yourselves at home! I’ll feed you now!”
Masha nodded enthusiastically:
“I’ll eat everything!”
Yura laughed:
“Everything — that’s three crumbs, like a chick!”
Tanya ate the hot borscht and felt a strange warmth inside. Someone was taking care of her.
They passed her the bread. Poured her the second course. She didn’t need to eat quickly because work was waiting.
She could just… eat. But soon she’d have to go back home.
To that place she’d long wanted to call hell.
She fought off sleep, but Yura noticed and pointed to the soft couch:
“Lie down already, why torture yourself? An hour’s nap won’t hurt.”
And really, what could happen? The grass might grow a little taller?
At that moment, Tanya realized: she couldn’t bear it anymore!
As soon as she got back, she’d pack her things and leave. Let no one wait for her. She’d figure something out.
She woke up in the evening.
“Oh! Why didn’t you wake me?!”
Yura looked at her with a kind, thoughtful expression:
“I didn’t want to. You were smiling in your sleep…”
“And Masha?”
“She’s been asleep for a while. Deep into her tenth dream.”
Tanya sighed:
“Nikitishna will kill me… for the basket…”
Yura looked at her in surprise, then quietly asked:
“So for almost dying in the forest — she won’t kill you, but for the basket — she will?”
Tanya was stunned. She didn’t know what to say. And suddenly she understood: he saw everything!
With that one question, she had told her whole life story.
Yuri shook his head:
“How can you value yourself so little?”
“You’re right… I’ve already decided. I’ll go back, pack my things, and move to the city.”
“And do you have anyone there?”
“No one. And nothing. I’ll figure it out. I’ll find work.”
Yura paused, gathering his thoughts.
“Stay. I’d be happy to see you — in any way. But if you decide to leave, I’ll help you get settled.”
Tanya looked at him and suddenly felt like she was sinking into something warm and safe.
“Well, you’re back at last?! You should be punished!”
Zinaida Nikitishna waved her off. She had no strength left to scold — she had spent the whole day chasing after the livestock.
“There’s nothing to punish me for, but you… You left an old relative without help!”
“What kind of relative are you to her?! If she’s smart, she’ll never come back to you!”
“What are you saying?! She should be grateful to me for the rest of her life!”
“Oh, shut up! I’m not Tanya, I won’t play along! You ruined the girl’s whole life!”
Hey, and who’s this?
The gamekeeper’s motorcycle stopped at the gate. Tanya got off, greeted briefly, and confidently headed for the house.
Zinaida hesitated for a second, then shrieked:
“Where have you been, you hussy?! You’re a married woman! And where’s the basket?!”
Stepanovna just threw up her hands.
Tanya came out of the house a few minutes later with a bag.
“Goodbye!”
“Where are you going?! Where, I’m asking?! The livestock still needs feeding!”
Tanya turned around:
“I’m done… I don’t want to ‘offend’ you anymore! Or else your ‘kindness’ will break my back!”
Nikitishna was stunned by such boldness, and Stepanovna burst into laughter:
“Well, Zinka, how’s that for a star moment!”
That evening, Yura told Tanya his story. His wife died after giving birth — the doctors couldn’t save her.
Two years ago, he moved to the wilderness with his daughter, far from the past.
He arranged for Tanya to start work at a farm in the neighboring village in a week, and until then, she was to rest.
Six months later, they had a loud, joyful country wedding.
