Ravenna made her way home as the sun dipped lower in the sky. She sang as she walked, and the slowly setting sun threw hues of orange and pink across the horizon. The young woman was hoping Peter Jones would forget about her, or perhaps try to find a woman to court in Graenwood. Peter had been relentless in his attempts with her, and she had tried time and time again to politely yet firmly tell him she was not interested. How many times could she reject him before he would leave her alone? She tried to push the man out of her mind, continuing to sing.
Ravenna thought about her future. Her grandmother wanted her to marry and have children, so she could continue to teach the next generation the family trade of healing. Ravenna was not sure she wanted children, and instead was interested in teaching those who wanted to learn how to heal. Perhaps Teresa's children would want to learn one day. Or any other villager from Canden. Having children seemed like an enormous responsibility, and one that Ravenna was not sure she wanted to commit to. But the Hawthornes had always followed the same path; they learned the family trade, they got married, had children, and passed the trade on to their children.
Before long, the Hawthorne cottage appeared on the horizon, and Ravenna sighed from relief. The walk had been a long one, and she was ready to return home to rest. She entered the door of the infirmary that doubled as her home, and greeted her grandmother. "Good evening, Grandmother, I purchased some things at the market for a stew for dinner!"
Anne was not in the vicinity; she must be in the infirmary room with their current patient. Ravenna went to work, preparing their dinner from the ingredients purchased at the market with the coins the villagers had given her. Ravenna's family was never wealthy, instead finding wealth in helping the Canden villagers when they were sick. They were healers, and the patients they treated often gave what they could as a gesture of gratitude toward the healers. The potters of Canden would supply jars and containers for medicines as their thanks for aiding their family. The blacksmith of Canden made sure that their equipment was repaired for free whenever Anne and Ravenna needed repairs. Teresa, Ravenna's friend and textile saleswoman, always made sure that the infirmary had plenty of linens and bandages, as Teresa knew she could count on the healers with her growing family. Ravenna did not find material wealth important, preferring the respect and care she got from the Canden people to be much more valuable than any gold could be.
Anne emerged from the infirmary room. "How was your trip to the market, dear?" asked the older woman. Anne's face looked weary, as if she had been working all day. Ravenna brought her grandmother a glass of water, and encouraged her to sit for a moment.
"I bought some things for dinner, which are on the stove now. Mr Jones approached me again, asking for my acceptance to a dinner invitation. I did decline, Grandmother, we have work to do tomorrow, and I cannot possibly entertain the idea of accepting such a proposal from that kind of man!" Ravenna recounted the afternoon's encounter with Peter Jones, and shared her thoughts with Anne about her reluctance to court someone she was near certain had beaten his previous wife to death.
"Such things are just rumors, dear", said Anne. "Mr Jones is a wealthy man, and would be well suited for marriage. You do want to have children to carry on the family business, do you not?"
Ravenna paused. She had never mentioned her hesitancy toward having her own children to Anne. She loved Teresa's little son, Thomas, but to have children, she would have to marry. To marry, she would need to find a man she would like. And Canden men would never want to come second to her job as a healer.
"I'm...I am not sure, Grandmother. I had only put consideration into my work here. I had never considered who would take over after myself." This was a half-truth, but she was not ready to tell her grandmother she had not decided about children for herself.
"You would do well to entertain some of these men's proposals, dear. One does not stay young and beautiful forever", Anne told her granddaughter as she placed her hands on the younger girl's shoulders. "But for today, we can enjoy having just our family. Your dinner smells delicious, and any man would be lucky to have you as a wife."
The older woman retreated into the infirmary room to check on their patient, and dropped the subject of marriage.
Ravenna prepared an herbal tea for their patient, Elijah. He was the son of the blacksmith, and had been with the healer family for three days after an accident at the forge. Elijah was a boy of about fifteen, and had been badly burned, requiring poultices and bandages. Anne was happy to take the blacksmith's son into her home, as she was better able to take care of him this way. The young man was mending well, and Anne enjoyed having him in her home. He reminded Anne of her own son, and he was a gracious young man. Elijah was happy to sit and listen to Anne's stories, and Anne was grateful for the company.