After a few days, I was able to make a few traps like the one's that caught the bear, but then I thought about other types of traps that were more discreet even for human eyes. Unfortunately, I didn't have the materials to do them, therefore, I took both horses of mine out of the atable, prepared with snacks for them and goods to trade for at the market (including a few test pastries that were approved by Marianne and her mother). And lunch in case I came back to the house late.
Since the wood shop was the place most closed by, I decided to go there first. I thanked myself for taking the horses for a while, it was less work to carry for myself and they also needed to take a walk.
As I approached the wood shop, I saw an elder man working in some sort of wood furniture and and two young men doing some chores. On was chopping firewood, while the other was sanding what it seemed like an old furniture.
'Em, excuse me?' I called out for them.
They all turned to me and were probably confused by seeing a young lady with two horses and quickly dropped doing what they were doing and came walking towards my horses.
'Ehehe, sorry for interrupting your work, but, I was hoping to make a deal or a trade with you guys if that's okay.' I scratched my nape briefly then I started to get off my horse.
'O-Of course, my lady.' The older man said nicely enough and quickly nudge with his elbow towards one of the young men. 'Go help her down.' He ordered him.
The first young man approached and grabbed me from my waist. 'Please excuse me.' He said as he carried me briefly and put me in the ground.
'Oh, thank you!' I said. 'I have a lot of things to do today, so I'll quickly explained what I would like you guys to do and make an arrangement, would that be okay?' I asked while looking at the three of them.
The pair of young men looked at the older man who he nodded. 'Why yes, my lady. If the work is not much, then I think we can make it work.' He agreed.
'Thank you so much!' I applauded twice happily. 'Oh I almost forgot, my name is Amelia Cora Baker, I just moved here from, Shapphire Valley.' I presented myself with a small bow.
'My name is Oliver Holt, lady Baker, and these are my sons, Grover Holt,' He touched briefly his youngest son's shoulder as he walked towards his older son and me, 'and Oaken Holt.' The older men touched his first son's shoulder briefly. 'If we are going straight to business, what do you might want us to do?' He asked.
I took out my diary in the process and smiled at him. 'Before that, I want you to see if there's any problem with the prototype I created.' I requested.
The older man nodded and nudge me inside his workshop with his hands behind his back and I walked beside him.
Inside his workshop there tons of wood work, some barely started, some already finished, and some in the middle of getting worked on.
On an empty desk I opened my diary to the specific diagraphs that I created. 'You see, a neighbour just told me that there might be pests and depredadors such as foxes and coyotes that can harm my livestock, therefore, I would like to see if you can create some traps I designed.' I asked letting home take a look at the traps.
He took a look and inspected each drawing with a deep look on his face. 'Come of this can be made out of wood, but there's going to need metal wire to make the stretch.' He told me. 'And the biggest type of trap and you designed needs rope, which I do not have nor create.' He shrugged.
'Oh don't worry about it. The wire and rope trap can be dealt with afterwards.' I assured him. 'The first thing for me is the smaller traps for mouses and rats that can eat my livestocks' food, so, can you still make some which they don't need either of those?' I asked.
The older man immediately nodded. 'It will take a few days, but as you also wrote the size of them, therefore they might be easier to get done.' He reckoned such possibility.
'Whether you need to make them smaller or larger, don't worry, but, I would prefer for the traps to be able to trap a mouse or two at least.' I pleaded.
The older man nodded. 'Sure, that can be done.' He agreed.
'Oh, thank you so much.' I thanked him as I ripped the paper with the traps' designs and gave it to him. 'And before I forget, can I ask you to make a barn?' I asked. 'It doesn't have to be done so soon, I can wait until the next month or even a bit later, it's just so I need to have a place where my livestock can sleep without dying of cold.' I explained.
'That's going to depend on how big is the livestock in groups and types of it though.' The old man clarified thinking about it for a bit. 'Do you have a drawing of how you might want it?'
'Well, yes, but unlike the traps I don't have the exact sizes for it.' I admitted turning the page and showed him drawings of what I wanted both outside and inside. 'What do you think?' I asked.
'Hmmm.' The senior man thought about it for a second. 'It looks simple and with good instructions, but we must take the size measure first. Do you mind if one or my two boys go and take the measures of your livestock later this week?' He asked.
I shook my head. 'I don't mind at all, the more accurate the information for you to do your work correctly, the better.' I concluded with a smile.
The senior man smiled. 'In that case, consider it done.'
'Oh! But first, I want to know with what or how much would I expect to pay?' I asked taking out a small bottle of ink and a pen from my purse. 'The sooner we can come to an agreement, the better.' I concluded to him.
'Well, everything depends.' The senior man crossed his arms going straight to business. 'How many traps do you want to ask for a start?' He asked.
'About 20 or 25 to be honest.' I answered.
'Well, since it's going to take time for me to get the right grip of these things, I might have to charge you with 12 copper each trap.' The man answered with honesty.
"25 x 12 = 50 + 250 = 300 copper." I wrote in diary. 'Understood. In that case we will have to talk about the price for the bigger traps and the new barn once we have the sizes and material accordingly, does that sound good?.' I suggested extending my hand to him.
The man smiled and nodded stretching my hand with softness. 'You have a deal my lady.'
'Thank you.' I thanked him as I put my things in my bag and went to my horses. 'I'll leave you and your sons to work, and thank you again!' I said riding my horses down the hill.
The family waved goodbye to me briefly and went back to work.
I just focused ahead towards the mainstreet since I needed to go to see that "home-breaker lady."
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At the east area of Main street. . .
It was not hard to find the lady's shop when you start to get close.
There was wool work hanged outside of the house as samples. Once I reached my destination, I get off my horse and tied both horses to the fence surrounding the house.
I get to the door and knock on it. *Toc toc toc*
I heard some rustling inside and a beautiful lady of triangle figure, white skin and white hair along with blue bell eyes opened the door. 'Why hello, fellow lady.' The lady bowed me a greeting. 'Are you here for seomthing?'
She might as well be an embodiment of Snow White but with white and longer hair! I had to force myself of closing my mouth and regain my thoughts. 'Em, well yes. If I may come in, we can discuss things more clearly.' I suggested.
The lady before gave me space to enter and I did. What I saw was a whole collection go tools for wool and cotton, either to make thread, yarn, and every clothes.
She then closed the door and guided me to the kitchen table.
'Would you like some tea?' She asked.
'Oh, no thank you. It'll be really quick, for I have other matters to attend to.' I told her politely.
The lady nodded and came to me and we sat down at her small dinning table. 'Is there any specific job you might need?' She asked.
'Well, I have a few questions first, we'll start with your name is that okay?' I asked.
'Oh, absolutely.' The lady nodded. 'My name is Elizabeth Isabella Dawson.' She presented herself. 'I'm 20 years old and I'm a wool and cotton craft maker.'
'A beautiful name.' I told her with kindness. 'My name is Amelia Cora Baker, I just moved here from Sapphire Valley and I'm trying to get back on my feet with the animals that my father left for me.' I confided in her. 'Now for a small interview, do you experience getting fleece from the sheep?' I asked her as I opened my diary, my ink and my pen.
Elizabeth nodded. 'Why yes, my father was a shepherd and I have my own tools for it.' She responded sure of herself.
'Good, good.' I nodded as I wrote some things in my book. 'What type of crafts are you able to do with the right amount of wool and how much do you charge?' I asked.
'Well, depending on the clothes and garments of the clothes you'll be asking me to.' Elizabeth answered. 'A single sheep can give about one to three kilos of fleece, which can make about 1,000 to 3,000 grams of wool. A 100 grams of wool make about 200 to 250 meters of yarn. Therefore, 1,000 grams can make about 200,000 to 250,000 meters of yarn.' She explained. 'To make an example of what I could make of it, let's start with a coat. A coat is of about 400 grams of yarn, therefore, I would about. . .' She made some silent calculations. '800 meters of yarn for coats by minimum.'
I raised my eyebrows in surprise and happiness. My sheep will not only help me make money but to also survive the winter! It's jackpot!! I exclaimed inside my head nodding to every word that she says. 'Are you familiar with other types of material crafting?' I asked. 'Maybe for ropes and such?' I asked.
'Yes and no.' Elizabeth answered thinking about it. 'I am capable of making crafts such as ropes, but I don't have materials for it, and to look for them is practically impossible due to the cold weather.' She explained.
I signed a bit heavily when hearing about it. It seems like the rope traps are gonna have to wait a LONG while for it. I thought of it but then kept my head at the task ahead. 'In that case keep that thought of ropes for the next spring because we are going to need them, but for now, I want you to work for me for a few days.' I acknowledge.
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in surprised. 'Really?' She asked excited.
'Yes, you see, I have 12 sheep who need a, "haircut," to put it bluntly, but because I have never had to taken care of sheep, I was hoping to find someone who can charge a decent amount for getting my sheep their "haircut."' I explained it to her.
Elizabeth smiled widely. 'I'll be glad to do this task for you miss Baker!' She voiced confident.
'Wonderful!' I applauded happily. 'Let's start with getting the fleece out tomorrow morning, how much does it takes you to get the fleece?' I asked her.
Elizabeth thought about it for a bit. 'Well, usually takes me around an hour and a half to do each sheep, but because it's winter, I should cut less so the sheep won't die of cold, therefore, I calculate around 45 minutes each sheep.' She answered.
I went back into my book making some calculations.
"1 hour is equal to 15 coppers. 15 coppers x 0.45 minutes = 6.75 coppers.
12 sheep x 6.75 copper = 81 copper for all sheep."
Checking if I'm right: 12 sheep x 0.45 minutes/each = 5.4 hours.
15 copper x 5.4 hours = 81 for all hours."
I nodded understanding. 'In that case, we have ourselves a deal.' I stretched her hand. 'I'm in a bit of a hurry since it will snow soon, so, it you could start either today or, tomorrow, that would be great.' I requested.
'Of course!' She nodded enthusiastically. 'I can go this afternoon if you let me, I just need to gather my tools.' She explained standing up from her chair.
'In that case I'll come back for you to ride my other horse back to my house, I have to do some business in the west of mainstreet, so I'll be back for you.' I stood up along side her. 'Take your time, but I would really hope you are ready by when I come back.'
Elizabeth nodded enthusiastically. 'I promise to be ready lady Baker!' She showed me the door and we waved each other goodbye. 'See you soon!' She exclaimed.
'See ya!' I promised as I rode away in my horses to the market area.
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In the market area. . .
There were a lot of discounts. I had to restrain myself from buying everything on sale. Even though I had an inheritance of 50,000 gold coins, my goal is to keep the money hidden until I start investing on businesses an creating new one.
Taking the 50,000 gold coin out, I still had about 2, 503, 003.70 silver and copper worth. Those silver and copper I would still use and only reserve the gold for a true emergency.
'Hello young lady!' A male farmer with his wife waved at me. 'New in town?'
'Why yes. I just came here about 2 days and a half ago.' I answered honestly. 'I was hoping to either buy or trade some things of my goods with others, maybe we can make an arrangement?' I asked.
The couple nodded happily. 'Of course my lady, c'mon in.' He pointed to his stand full of veggies and fruit goods. 'Sorry if it isn't as much as one would hope for, but because winter is coming soon, we have to prepare ourselves first.' The farmer apologized.
'Oh don't worry, I'm also preparing myself for the winter.' I agreed with them. 'Do you have any potatoes, onions or maybe cucumbers?' I asked.
'Why yes!' The farmer pointed to three bags, one full of each veggie. 'We have more potatoes than other things because, well, potatoes are not exactly the favorite of the town.' He admitted.
'Oh don't worry, I actually adore potatoes.' I admitted. 'How much for 2 potatoe bags?' I asked.
'Well, a kilo of potatoes is 5 copper, and a bag is of 6 kilos, therefore, two bags would be. . .' The farmer started to make some equations in his head.
Me on the other hand, I was already taking out the money from my pouch. '60 coppers.' I said out loud and gave him the coins in his hands already extended.
The farmer and his wife were impressed. 'Wow, that was quick.' He commented.
'Well I had to take care of my expenses since I was 14, therefore I know a bit of almost everything.' I admitted in Amelia's behalf.
The couple looked at me with sympathy.
But then I noticed that my horses were still full of my own goods. Therefore, I had to at least get rid of some things before loading on them.
Either that or. . . I thought to myself looking for something to use. Oh! I noticed a big wooden wheeled cart being sold by another farmer. 'Em, could you please hold on to my horses for a bit?' I asked the farmer and his wife before me giving them the reins. 'I'll be right back!' I promised running off to talk to the farmer.
'Excuse me sir!' I went to the farmer that was selling the cart. 'How much for the cart?' I asked a bit out of breath.
He farmer looked at me and smiled. 'Why hello young lady, this big wooden cart, while a bit old is still decent enough to be used to carry things, therefore, I could sell it to you around 300 copper. No more, no less.' He said with pride and joy.
In that case I think I could bargain. I thought to myself. I shouldn't pay much because otherwise I will attract unwanted attention eventually and I already had enough of that. I sighed to myself. 'Well. . . Em. . . Are ya willing to sell it to me for. . . 150 copper?' I asked.
The farmer frowned a bit. 'The price is too low, I'm sorry. . .' The farmer thought about it. 'Maybe, if you add a bit of some goods that I don't have, I could consider it?' He suggested.
'Well, that depends, what is it that you don't have?' I asked with curiosity.
'Well, I'm a wheat and tree farmer.' He said. 'That should give you an idea.' He said shrugging his shoulders smiling ackwardly.
I blinked. 'Well, I have, 2 dozens of chicken eggs, 10 jars of goat milk and 2 kilos of goat cheese, and a few pastries.' I told him.
The farmer looked at me in surprise. 'Give me 5 jars of goat milk and I'll accept you the 150 coppers.' He declared.
I smiled not convinced. 'How about I add up the money to 200 copper and reduce the jars to two?' I suggested.
The farmer thought about it and nodded. 'It's a deal.' He extended his hand.
I stretched it and immediately took out my pouch and gave him the money. 'I'll be right back with my horse that carries the goat milk.' I told him running off to the couple that was holding my horses.
. . . .
After a few minutes, I tied up the reins of my horse Jam while the couple brought the bags of potatoes and placed them in my new wooden wheeled cart. Then I took out the two (big) jars of goat milk and gave them to the other farmer.
'By the way sir.' I called to the what farmer who looked at me from the goat milk in his hands. 'I'm willing to give you another jar of goat milk if you give me a minimum of five kilos of flour.' I offered.
The farmer immediately nodded and quickly put his jars safely in what it seemed to be his new wooden cart and from his market stand to a whole bag of wheat. 'Here it is!' The farmer put it safely in my wooden cart and looked at me.
I did what I promised and gave him another jar of goat milk.
He took it happily.
I myself started walking around the market street looking for other People to trade for.
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At noon. . .
I spend about 615 copper and traded everything except for a few last pastries and a dozen eggs. In exchange, I got the wooden cart, 2 sacks of potatoes, a sack of flour, 2 kilos of yeast, 4 bars of butter, 2 full sacks of different veggies, 5 kilos of charcoal and a pair of working booths made of rabbit skin.
All and all, it wasn't a bad day.
But! I most not forget to pick Elizabeth up.
As I came to her house, she was already waiting with her big coat on her and a huge bag of clothes.
'Miss Baker, over here!' Elizabeth started jumping up and down to call my already caught up attention.
'Hahaha! I already see you Ms. Dawson!' I told her halting the horses. 'Hope onto my other horse, don't worry he doesn't bite.' I assured her. 'Oh! And you can put your things in my new wooden cart! But be careful, it took me a HUGE amount of copper and two jars of goat milk!' I warned her.
Elizabeth nodded and quickly her things on the cart very carefully. She then got close to the horse but suddenly stopped. 'Em, Ms. Baker?' She asked for me turning to see me.
'Yes?' I turned to see her.
'How do you ride a horse?' She asked flushing herself in more red than before.
Oh boy. I signed as I get off the horse and helped her.
This was going to be a LONG ride.
*Growl~~~* My stomach made the hungry sounds.
'Oh boy.' I said to myself.
'Hehehe.' Elizabeth giggled with her mouth covered with her hand.
*GrOwL~~~* Elizabeth's stomach made the hungry sounds this time.
I raised an eyebrow smirking at her. 'I have a huge lunch in my other horse. Want some?' I offered.
Elizabeth was a full ripe tomatoes at this moment but nodded while not being able to look at me at the moment.
I helped her get comfortable on Jam and I went to Peanut and from a pouch beside the pastries pouch, I took out two sandwiches made of simple buns, goat cheese, and a bit of bear meat sliced like ham.
I then brought out from the pastry pouch, 4 oatmeal cookies. Then, I went to Elizabeth and offered a sandwich and 2 cookies. 'Here, hope you are good eating goat cheese with bear meat.' I gave her the sanwhich and oatmeal cookies.
Elizabeth took them with pleasure. 'Don't worry Ms. Baker, I'm good with anything.' She started to eat them very carefully as I hop on Peanut and ride him while tagging on Jam's reins with me.
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At home. . .
We got to my little farm and quickly quirked Elizabeth to the sheep. 'Here they are.' I pointed to them.
Elizabeth looked worried. 'Don't you have a barn for them and your goats?' She asked.
'Unfortunately, this was not originally my house, I'm actually renting it for the winter.' I answered her. 'The Landlord said that he has never received a farmer, much less a farmer with a good amount of livestock, so he didn't anticipated this.' I explained it to her. 'By don't worry, I'm using my savings to get them a decent barn to pass the winter.' I promised her.
Elizabeth sighted a bit relieved for my explanation. 'In that case I'll get to work, but I highly recommend for you to make the barn by the end of November, it is when the winter truly starts.' She advised.
I nodded. 'I have it contemplated, don't worry.' I promised her. 'Worst case escenario, I'll have to let the sheep live in the living room and the goats sleep in the kitchen.' I joked with her (kinda).
Elizabeth laugh. 'Well, I'll get to work.' She took her bag of tools and sliced in within the fence and went towards the sheep that were in a whole group.
'If you need a break or ask a question, come see me at the house!' I exclaimed to her.
She raised her hand without stopping to let me know she heard me.
While She gave a trim to my sheep, I rode my horses up to the front door of my house and started to bring my stuff home. As soon as I brought the charcoal inside, I started to put it in the kitchen furnace, the living room chimney and my room's mini hearth.
After that, I brought the rest of the stuff inside and then rode the horses back inside of the barn. And, as if the world was actually giving me a lucky star, I foun that the space between the barn and the house was enough for the wooden cart and took the opportunity to put there before hand.
Then, I went inside and started to prepare a rich dinner with some veggies, potatoes and the last bit of bear meat that I had. I also got myself to use the flour, yeast, leftover eggs and butter to make what I remembered in a video as a "cloud cake."
I like to make the cake sweet, but I didn't have any sugar or sweeterner, nor I saw any of it in the market.
'I just have to deal with what I have.' I sighed as I out the strays of cloud cake batter inside the oven. 'While I wait for these, let's feed the livestock.' I told myself getting out of the kitchen while checking the stew pot for the last time before going to the basement.
. . . .
'Okay girls, here you go.' I told them as I gave them their feast and started to clean down here. There was a lot, and I mean A LOT, of chicken "disgraces." But I also collected the eggs that they laid in their nest. 'Phew! Finally done!' I got out of there and was lucky to close the door before one of them even tried to run past me. 'Now, for the pigs.' I went upstairs immediately.
I re-entered the kitchen, checked the pot and oven, and saw that the cakes were ready. I quickly took them out and put a cloth on them. Then, I took a small bag full of vegetable peel and brought them to the pigs who ate heartily. 'Bon appetite boys!' I declared leaving the barn and going back to the house.
When I saw my goats and sheep. . . It struck me. 'Oh no.' I quickly checked to my other side of the basement to se if there food for the rest of them. I gasped shocked. 'I forgot to get alfalfa!!' I went quickly upstairs, took another bag full of veggie peels and took out a dozen eggs on my basket to come with me.
I took Peanut out, since he finished eating, tied him up to the cart and rode to Elizabeth. 'Miss Dawson!' I called out to her. 'Miss Dawson!!'
Elizabeth turned to see me worried and ran to me while leaving her tool at a safe distance from the sheep. 'I'm here, what's happening?!'
'Can I ask you to continue the labour while I go to the market again?!' I asked her distressed. 'I accidentally forgot to buy alfalfa for the sheep and have to back now!' I exclaimed frustrated with myself.
Elizabeth sighed of relief. 'Oh don't worry! Come and go as any times as you need!' She said asures me.
I sighed relieved too. 'Thank you, can I also ask you the favor of feeding my goats?' I asked while giving her the bag of veggie peels. 'This should keep them full until tomorrow.' I hoped.
'Don't worry, I will cover for you.' Elizabeth nodded very understanding. 'Good luck!'
'Thanks!' I ran to Peanut and quickly rode him to the market once more.
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An hour afterward. . .
Fortunately, I was able to bargain 4 sacks of 5 kilos of alfalfa for 250 copper.
By the time I got back, the goats were already fed and Elizabeth was still on some of the sheep. Before checking on her, I went to check the bear meat stew and it looked good.
I took a bowl of meat stew and brought it to Elizabeth. 'Miss Dawson!! Come and take a break!!' I called out to her.
Elizabeth packed everything in her tool bag and walked toward me. 'Thank you so much.' She took out her work gloves and took the meat bowl and was practically devouring it. 'I had finished 4 sheep, there's still 8 to go.' She notified me.
I nodded and patted her shoulder. 'Don't worry, you don't have to finish everything today. 4 sheep is already good enough for today. How about you pack your things and I bring you back home so we can talk about the weight and amount of the wool before calling it a day?' I suggested.
Elizabeth thought about it. 'Hmm.' She gulped down a spoonful of her food. 'I would like to finish at least one more sheep.' She requested.
I nodded understanding. 'In that case, let me help you carry all that wool to the wooden cart while you finish the 5th sheep.' I offered and she nodded almost heading back to her job. 'Finish the meal though.' I advised her.
Elizabeth blushed a bit and then continued eating.
For a "home-breaker" Elizabeth was more of a naive girl than a seductress. What happened for her to gain such reputation?