It was a three day journey to the Jackforks Valley, hopefully we will arrive before the first fall of snow, if not, then we will arrive BEFORE the first blizzard.
But either way, the journey was a bit awkward. Marianne was a bit of a tempered lady who was always wary of males, Hael always tries to bring up a conversation, Jonathan keeps a silent cold but soft demeanor, and while I myself tried to keep the peace, there are times where the awkwardness becomes to heavy and feel a huge amount of pressure in my shoulders.
'So, Miss Baker!' Hael tries to make a conversation with me. 'Do you plan to live off by yourself?' Hael asked.
'Yes.' I answered shortly but with courtesy. 'Do you find it inappropriate perhaps?' I asked.
Hael shrugged. 'Not really. But a lot of seniors might, so you might want to live with another girl or find a male companion to live with so they don't bother you.' He warned me. 'I mean, you also need to be grateful that your parents weren't those type of people. Judge Sapphirefield is one of them and you can absolutely see how much does he bothers his own son.' Hael nudged in Jonathan's direction.
Jonathan just rolled his eyes and looked away in annoyance.
'Hahahaha.' Hael laughs. 'Although, I also want to ask, do you plan on making your own farm or anything of the sort?' He asked.
'I was actually thinking of making my own little store in a city. But first I think I need more than 50,000 gold coins and such.' I answered.
'Yeah, you are most definetely right. Believe it or not is easier to make a little shop in towns outside of cities, create a small business, then, bring that business along with its reputation to the city of choice.' Hael explained. 'But of course, that business' reputation must be not bad, not good, but excellent, otherwise you might be able to move to the city as a citizen but not be able to make a store inside it.' He added.
I nodded understanding. 'Thank Hael, I'll make a note of it.' I said taking my diary, ink and pen out.
'You might want to take your notes when we stop near the nearest body of water so we can rest.' Jonathan stopped me from opening the ink jar. 'Otherwise you will must surely paint yourself and even us with the ink.' He advised me.
I nodded and put my thing inside my bag. Afterwards, we spent the rest of the walk in silence until we found a lake a few meters from us.
.
.
.
After making camp at the lake. . .
'Ah. . .'
I frowned trying to sleep.
'A-Ah. . .'
I opened one eye and turned to see everywhere. Where is that noise coming from? I asked myself.
'N-. . . Ngh~!' The noise sounded more like a voice.
I went to look at the boys side and saw that they were missing. In a panic, I went to Marianne and touched her hand and moved her a little.
'W-What—' Marianne was about to speak but I stopped her.
'Sh.' I shushed her. 'The boys are gone.' I pointed to their empty places.
Marianne's eyes widened and quickly pushed me away as she sat up. 'What do we do?!' She asked whispering in fear.
'There's a noise coming from the other side of the cart.' I told her and the pointed to the horses who were taken out of the cart and then tided to a tree. 'Get close to them while I go check.'
Marianne nodded and quickly sat up to her feet and immediately walked silently toward the horses.
I myself got close to the cart and with my quick pace feet, I made no sound as I approached the voices.
'A-Ah~. . . Hmm. . .' The voice sounded almost like Hael's at this point.
Raising my eyebrows in surprise giving myself a. . . Mental image of what was probably happening, along with a smile appearing in my face, I put my hand on my mouth and for some moments I kept hearing.
'Uff. . . Ow, yes~.' Hael's voice whispered while signing.
'Be quiet.' Jonathan's voice was heard by my ears sounding more deep and deep in thought. 'This. . Is what you get. . . For convincing me, to agree to. . . My father's request.' Jon growled as the sudden sound of. . . Soft "clapping" was sounding off.
'Ahh~~. . .' Hael's voice now moaned a bit louder.
At this point I was trying to hold a snicker coming from my mouth. Oh! Ooooooh!!! No wonder I felt like Jonathan was not exactly a lady's man! He was indeed gay! I quickly walked away from them and the cart and I went to Marianne with the horses.
Marianne looked at me confused as she saw me with a huge smile and almost dying of wanting to laugh. 'What did you hear?' She asked a bit dumbfounded.
I nudged her to come to me, and when she did, I told her a mild version of what I heard behind the cart.
'. . . Eh?' Marianne's eyebrows raised themselves in surprise. 'PFFF!!' She wanted to laugh but I shut her up with my hand.
'Look, we can laugh at them in the morning, but now, we have to go back to sleep.' I took her hand and walked her back to our side of the camp. 'Who knows if they'll finish soon or later.' I old her as I gave her her blanket and we both lied down on the floor.
'Aaaaaaah~~~!!' We both heard Hael's voice moaning out of relief and pleasure.
Both Marianne and I had to hold on to a laugh and had to pretend we were asleep as we heard them come back to their side of the tent.
As soon as I heard them lie down, I closed my eyes went to dream land once more.
.
.
.
In the morning. . .
Both me and Marianne woke up before the boys to make breakfast.
I took some of the chicken eggs, as well as a bit of pancake dough that I was able to save up from last time, and last but not least, I milked a goat to make the dough a bit loose and took out 2 pans.
But before that. . .
'Ey, Marianne.' I whispered to her who was taking out se+ome cutlery and plates.
'Yeah?' She asked turning to look at me.
'Want to have a bit of fun?' I asked her pointing briefly at the pair of gays while raising my eyebrows up and down.
Marianne smiled mischievously and nodded getting closer to me. 'What do we do?' She asked.
'Let's do this. . .' I whispered the plan to her. 'How's that?' I asked raising an eyebrow.
'Oh hohoho, I'm in!' Marianne exclaimed in low voice excitedly.
'Let's go then.' I said and we quickly got up to our feet and sneakily went to the boys side.
I took a small branch, and with it, I started to poke Hael's nose.
Hael just smiled, probably thinking that it was Jonathan.
Then, Marianne used her own thin branch to touch both Jonathan's and Hael's free hands. These hands searched for the thing that touched them and quickly found each other.
The pair got the "need" to feel close so they stated to shift quickly to each other. Jonathan, started to hug Hael and Hael hugged Jonathan back.
Marianne and I saw this a good job well done and we quickly went to the other side of the little camp to start the bonfire and breakfast.
.
.
.
When the sun came up. . .
The smell of pancakes woke the guys up.
'Hmm!' Marianne tasted the pancakes. 'This is really good! Especially with jam!' She exclaimed trying to wake the guys up while looking at them smirking.
I snorted a bit and then looked at them. 'Hey, you two! Boys! Lovebirds! Jonny boy and Hazel Hael! Come and get breakfast!' I called to them.
'Coming!' Hael said as he started to sat up. He stretched for a bit when he suddenly frown. 'Wait, what did you, called us?'
'Eh, Jonny boy and hazel Hael?' I raised an eyebrow at him.
'N-No I mean. . .' He touched his nose collecting his thoughts. 'The thing before that?' He stood up while being followed by Jonathan.
'You two?' I asked smirking knowing full well which answer he was looking for.
'Eh, the thing in the middle?' Hael asked again while his face was becoming a bit red.
Marianne and I looked at each other, got close together and said to the boys' faces, 'Lovebirds~🎶.' We sang it as right then and there, Jon and Hael's faces became full ripe tomatoes.
The pair of lovebirds looked at each other briefly. 'Oh oh.' Then the pair of ripe tomatoes became pale as ghosts.
'So guys. . . Tell me.' I sat up, crossed my eyes and looked at them smirking. 'Who tops?' I asked.
They all looked at me weirdly.
I laughed a bit. 'Who's dominant then?' I corrected my question.
Marianne lost it and cackled.
The ripe tomatoes came back and Jonathan smirked malevously while giving his "friend" a lustful side-eye. Hael by his end, quickly tried to hide his face with his coat, knowing full well that he's most definetely NOT de dominant in the relationship.
I also lost it and cracked up.
Everyone just started laughing, of course, after a bit I had to save the pancake from burning and also received an apology from the gay couple for not being more discreet.
Everything was forgiven and we decided to have a good breakfast.
.
.
.
The next day. . .
After yesterday morning, the gay couple became more intimate with each other since Marianne and I did not mind their relationship.
I also decided to make them sit on the other side of the cart with the animals just so they could bond and maybe kiss each other.
But of course, sometimes they would start getting not only handsy with each other but also going, "further," if you know what I mean. Therefore, I made my gaydar be full aware of when things might get too much.
The last thing I wanted was for the chickens, roosters, pigs and goats to get traumatized.
.
.
.
.
The next day. . .
We went out of pancake batter, therefore from here on, we had to rely on goat milk, eggs and. . . Unless we find a wild boar or a deer for dinner, we'll have to kill a pig to roast.
But I don't want to kill one my pigs just yet! It took me way too much time to get them from my mother and stepfather just to kill one of them!!
'Em, Amelia, what are you doing?' Marianne asked.
'Making a small trap.' I said doing such thing. I was lightly ticking some small wood ticks with each other while putting them in a type of "4" symbol-like support and they were support a huge chin I of wood by a bare minimum. 'I just thought of it. Maybe we can trap a rabbit of a squirrel.' I smiled to her a bit embarrassed. Actually, I once saw it on TikTok, but here there's nothing of the sort so I might as well just "make things up" in order not to raise suspicion.
'I see. . .' Marianne stared at it for a bit. 'How do we know if it'll work.' She asked.
'Oh, well, see this little rope here?' I pointed to the little rope that is tied up around the big wood. 'If you follow the little rope you can see that at the other end of it, it goes up and down of a branch of the tree beside this, trap and, there a small bell attached on the end of it.' I pointed to everything while guiding her to it. 'If an animal falls for it, the wood will fall on top of the animal and it will rag the other aside of the rope along with the bell which will make sound to let us know that dinner has been caught.' I smiled with little but sufficient confidence.
Marianne nodded not so convince. 'But, can't we just, you know, try a pig of yours?' She asked drooling at the thought of eating my pigs.
'I did not just went through hell and back to get my inheritance just to start eating it by the three days of just receiving it.' I declared firmly with a cold stare.
Marianne shivered. 'Okay.' She pouted.
'Now, let me just put the bait.' I told while grabbing something out of my pockets. 'The bait encourages animals to go for it, so I might have a bigger chance of getting something.' I said taking out some nuts I found over here and over there, along with a small knife and an apple.
I put the nuts in a small a group and I cut juicy pieces of the apple to attract the food. 'There we go, now let's go. If we don't get something from the boys or this trap, then we can kill a pig, but until then please wait it out.'
'Deal!' Marianne and I went back to the back to wait for the boys.
.
.
.
After an hour . . .
The boys caught a huge hare and a squirrel, but that was it.
'Well, at least we can make something out of them.' Marianne shrugged it off quite happy,
I nodded in agreement.
'Yeah, sorry girls, there are not many animals around here.' Hael apologized putting the rabbit on the cart with Jonathan putting the hare along side of the rabbit. 'We even tried to get a bird, but they were always even faster and quicker as well as being able to fly off.' Hael shrugged.
'I'm just happy that I don't have to eat one of my pigs so soon.' I smiled while singing of relief.
*RING RING RING* The sound of a bell went off on us and made us jump.
'What was that?' Jonathan took out his sword.
'Easy there.' Hael put a hand on Jon's shoulder. 'For all we know it could a person, or —'
'Dinner!!' I exclaimed running off to see my trap.
'Yeah, wait—what?!' Hael asked behind me.
'Amelia made a trap for animals and seems like it caught something!' Marianne briefly explained as she ran behind me.
'Really?!' The boys looked at each other briefly and ran off behind us.
. . . . .
The chunk of wood, had literally trapped . . . A black bear.
*Groooowwwwl* And the bear was still alive.
I looked at Marianne with a side smile. 'I told you so!' I jumped happily.
Marianne looked at Hael who looked at Jon who looked at me as if I was crazy. 'We still need to kill it.' Jon recalled.
'Yeah, but in the end I caught something even bigger than a hare and a rabbit.' I smiled proudly.
Marianne snorted. The gay couple rolled their eyes but accepted defeat.
Jonathan took out his sword and kill the bear. 'Hopefully, the bear meat tastes just as good as the hare and rabbits'.' He commented while looking at me.
'I think I can make something out of it.' I promised while feeling a bit sad for the black bear.
.
.
.
The next day . . .
We finally found ourselves at the Jackforks Valley.
There were walls all around the town like a fortress. As we approached to the gate, a soldier came up to us calmly but with seriousness in both voice and tone. 'Present youselves.' He ordered.
'Jonathan Sapphirefield.'
'Hael Bridgeford.'
'Amelia Cora Baker.'
'Marianne Robinson.'
The soldier raised his eyebrows at the voice of Marianne. 'Marianne? Hi!' The soldier smiled and waved at her.
'Hi Jack! How have things being in here?' Marianne asked.
'Meh, it's pretty bad socially,' the soldier shook his head murmuring a bit annoyed, 'but economically getting better.' He then nodded approvingly.
'Well, better that than nothing, right?' Marianne asked.
The soldier nodded smiling but then he turned to look at the rest of us becoming serious. 'Do you have any papers?' He asked extending his hand.
One would get offended but again, it made sense, those who didn't live or didn't get known by the soldiers or town, had to present papers of both approval and to prove they were the real deal. Marianne might get a free pass due to have had been living here since childhood.
Jonathan took out some paper from his bag and gave it to Jack the soldier. Jack the soldier read them while briefly checking out each one of us and then he nodded in approval while returning the papers to Jonathan. 'You may pass.' He said as he turned to see a guard that was up in the fortress looking down on us and gave that soldier a hand sign.
The soldier on the lookout nodded and gave a hand sign to most likely other soldiers who were inside the fortress. After a few seconds, the gates started to open up and Jonathan gave aus nod to tell me I could make the horses go inside.
I slapped the reins softly and the horses moved towards the gate and as we did, we finally reached our destination.
.
.
.
A few minutes later. . .
Jack the soldier accompanied us while making small talk with Marianne who soon reunited with her mother.
Then, Jack the soldier accompanied the boys and I to what would my temporal new home while I wait for the winter to pass.
It was. . . Not the best, but not the worst either.
The house was decent, not beautiful, but it was made to suppress the cold and had a chimney both in the living room and in the bedroom. On the back yard, it also had a big enough fence for almost all my animals and even a small barn for the horses.
'Remember, Lady Baker, that you are renting this place, it does not belong to you, you do not have any proper legalization towards the home or its acres.' The soldier reminded me.
I nodded smiling. 'Not worries, I understand. Can I ask, where do I put or who do I give the monthly payments?' I asked him.
'Usually, the landlord comes by the same day of the next month to collect the monthly rent, but if he doesn't appear by noon, I suggest go to the mail office so they send it for you and make it before the end of the day.' The soldier explained it to me. 'If the landlord doesn't show up today to give his information, then give the name of the landlord to the mail desk and they will help write the according address so you can send it without problems.' He added.
I bowed cortsely. 'Thank you very much for your help.' I thanked him.
The soldier bowed too. 'Not a problem.'
I took out some money from my pouch and gave it to him. 'Here, some tip for your kindness.'
He took the money and I saw his eyebrows raise up. 'A-Are you sure?'
I nodded. 'Don't worry, I recently receive my father's inheritance so I won't starve by giving a small generous tip.' I calmed him down.
He nodded understanding while looking around and putting his tip in his pocket. 'I do recommend not giving that much money next time.' He advised while lowering his voice to me. 'This town becomes hell when it comes to greedy old people asking for money but never returning it.' He warned me about it.
I nodded understanding. 'Don't worry, I'll be more careful.'
The soldier nodded then looked at the pair of boys being a bit too close. 'They, seem to be close "friends." No?' He asked.
I stifled a laugh. 'Oh believe me, I know all about it.' I had to shut myself up from laughing with Jack almost trying not to laugh too.
'Amelia!' Marianne called for me from the cart. 'Where do I guide the sheep?!' She asked me.
'Just let them roam inside the fence, as well as for the goats and pigs!' Told her. 'I will go and put the horses in the barn!' I told her.
'Okay!' She gave me a thumbs up and then guided the sheep and goats inside the fence.
I said goodbye to Jack and went to the horses. But before that. 'Hey! You two!' I called for them. 'Come and help me with one a horse and find a place for the pigs!!'
'Okay!' They both did just that. Jonathan helped with the other horse and Hael guided the pigs to a small fence inside of the barn.
'Okay, that's done.' I cleaned the sweat from my forehead. 'Let's see how's Marianne.' I said walking outside of the barn.
'It's okay.' Marianne said appearing before me. 'I recommend that you find or create a warm place for the animals. Not just for the sheep and goats, but also for the chickens.'
'Don't worry, I have it contemplated. I was just more worried for the horses and pigs since they don't grow that much fur or feathers like the other animals.' I explained my reasoning.
Marianne nodded understating. 'Understandable. But I recommend making a temporal small barns for the animals with the permission of the landlord.' She said to me. 'Also, if you need an expert's hand then go to the carpenter wood shop.' She pointed to a medium size household that was close and up to a small hill with a lot of trees behind. 'He's the expert in making those types of things. And he often does trades, such as clothes, food or even favors. Money is also a choice but it will depend on how you both bargain.'
I hugged her. 'Thank you, Marianne.' I thanked her.
Marianne hugged me back. 'So, that means I can work for you?' She asked me.
I stopped the hug and looked at her confused. 'Didn't you just received a job offer here?' I asked.
'Yes I did, but as soon I had a small talk with my mother, turns out that the person had given the job to someone else because I took "too long" to come back.' She explained a bit sad looking down at the floor.
I smiled. 'Well, I will need help in preparing wool and goat cheese.' I said giving the indirectly. 'You did said that you mom has a berry orchard, right?' I asked.
Marianne nodded. 'Yes why?' She asked.
'Let her know that I want a couple of her berries, doesn't matter which, but they need to be at least decently fresh.' I told her.
Marianne nodded.
'In exchange, you can help me make some pastries, wool and cheese to sell and then we divide the money, how does that sound?' I asked extending my hand.
Marianne almost broke down crying while striking my hand excitedly. 'Thank you so much!' She hugged me again.
'Hahahahaha!' I laughed. 'Now run along, your mother must be waiting.' I reminded her.
'Oh, that's right!' Marianne left running. 'I'll bring the things tomorrow, see you in the morning!' She exclaimed running to her house.
I waved goodbye to her and looked in her direction for a little before the wind got a bit colder and forced myself to go inside the house.
I hugged her back. I felt like she could have been the child I never had back in my old life. Thankfully, maybe, I can have that family sometime in the future.
.
.
.
At night. . .
'Okay you two, listen up!' I said sternly while holding a stick as if I was a teacher. 'I understand, respect and approve of your relationship, but, you must ALSO respect the rules of my new house while you stay here! Do I have an understatement?' I asked.
The both nodded while sitting down in the floor.
'Good.' I nodded in approval. 'Rule number 1: if you are going to kiss, do it privately, especially when I have visits. I don't a problem with kissing , but that's not the same for others and if you are keeping this a secret from your father and uncle you need to be mindful of who is present before you.' I explained my reasoning.
They nodded.
'Rule number 2: Getting yourselves in trouble means getting yourselves OUT of trouble. I will not get myself in trouble even though and have my life at stake just to get you out of trouble, understood?' I gave them the second rule and asked for objections.
They nodded accepting the rule.
'Rule number 3: If you are going to do the "deed," make sure you do it quietly.' I ordered. 'If I was able to hear from a few meters behind the cart, just imagine how loud Hael will be with you in the living room and I upstairs.' I explained my reasoning. 'I do not know how sound proof is this place, therefore I'm asking you to be quiet.' I added.
The nodded vigorously at the third rule. They seem excited to have their space to do their "things" as they want.
'Alright, in that case, come and help find a place to put the chickens.' I asked them. 'The place doesn't have a chicken coop, therefore I need to make space for them.' I explained.
They nodded and stood up and followed me to search in the house a place for the chickens.
. . . .
The basement had to do. It was not as cold as the outside will become, it had a wall separation from one side to another that could be used to put my other things while letting the chickens live on the other side of the basement.
The only thing that it was needed was a door.
'Let's put a wood barrier for now.' Jonathan suggested. 'As long as the place looks and feel like a chicken coop, the chickens and roosters should re-adapt and start laying eggs again.'
Hael and I nodded in agreement. It was the best choice for now.
'Well, let's go for the chickens then.' I said going upstairs and for the cart.
.
.
.
20 minutes later. . .
Note to myself: NEVER GO OUT AT NIGHT UNLESS IT IS A HUGE EMERGENCY!!
It was FREEZING!!!
And we had to give the other animals their food before going back inside!!
But thankfully, no animal is dying of cold and they all cooped up together to keep the heat while we decided to get them inside.
Thankfully, the sheep had already grown fleece in them, so they will survive for the first few nights without a house. I was unsure for the goats, but, I could see the goats and sheep teaming up against the cold and sleeping together for a better night of sleep.
Signing of relief, I went inside gave the chickens their share of corn seeds and prepared a light dinner made of oatmeal and goat milk for the three of us and went to sleep.
Or at least, I went to sleep. The not so heterosexual couple didn't thought twice before banging each other will full might.
Thankfully, I was just too tired to even pay attention to their sexual intercourse, so I basically passed out after a few minutes.