2nd Half Post

Elias easily dismounted, seemingly not noticing Julies silence. He once again turned his attention to the ever blushing Megan. “Megan, I was hopeful beyond reason to see you here this morning. I would be most pleased if you would consent to a mid-morning walk with me. I am bound for the Sanders’ to deliver a parcel on behalf of my father. Please, say you’ll come with me.”

Megan’s smile grew as Elias continued to speak, and Juliet could only look on in horror. Megan looked as if she were about to accept his offer. Surely Megan was only responding out of kindness, or out of some misplaced need to try and befriend every town member. Megan must know that this silver-tongued serpent, this miserable wretch, could have nothing but inane and empty words to bore her with. Julie’s mouth flew open of its own accord.
“Oh, Elias, surely you must be joking,” Julies disbelief was evident, and she found that she had a confused Elias now looking at her, as well as a shocked Megan.

Julie found herself flustered by the two different reactions. An awkward silence settled as Julie looked from Megan to Elias, trying to organize her thoughts. She was furious at Elias for acting the fool, she was embarrassed that she had upset Megan. The result was that Julie was unable to get her mind to think of a proper response. Megan's shock was gone now and hurt had taken its place. Julie knew that she had spoken poorly and was about to say so when Elias spoke.

“Joking?” His face a mask of confusion. “Juliet, I would never take the attention of Megan lightly. I think perhaps the company you have been keeping of late has skewed your perception. The Petersens and Andersons are very respectable families, but I think that perhaps the dramatics of Ms. Susannah and young Nathaniel are taking a toll on you.” Elias turned his attention back to Megan and smiled overlargely. “Some people are quite capable of sincere conversation, free of juvenile antics.”

Megan turned her hurt expression from Julie and her gaze steadied on Elias, and softened.

The anger inside Julie rekindled. How dare he insult my friends, my judgment, and try to flatter Megan with his obnoxious horse-toothed smile! “Sir, I would thank you to leave my friends be. All of them.”

Elias wasn't listening, he was proffering his arm to Megan, and she was accepting! Julie could not believe the scene unfolding in front of her. “Megan, please don't tell me that you honestly-” but Julie let her words trail off. Megan turned her back and walked away with Elias, arm in arm. Julie could her the nasal voice of Elias growing fainter as the two made their way to the thoroughfare and out of sight. Julie felt like she was going to be sick for the second time that morning as she said to no one in particular, “What just happened?”

*************************************************************

Nathan could see only too well what was going on, and as much as he wanted to cheer up Julie, he knew that there were some things that needed to be resolved alone, also when Julie was mad she sometimes threatened to have him put in the stocks. Both very good reasons to be off into town.

Despite his numerous and disastrous apprenticeships, and his apparent lack of “stomach” control, Nathan was essentially well liked in town, and he offered a good morning and friendly wave as he meandered his way around town. People seemed to be more gossipy than normal. Everyone was talking in small groups. Not too unusual since it is a holiday, but they were whispering and looking very solemn. Not the lively chatter and friendly faces he expected. As Nathan approached the bakery, he nearly collided with Tobias Miller.

The upset farmer didn't even seem to notice, but Nathan heard the grumblings of the man as he stomped past, “Fool governor doesn't want to do anything about it, well I will...”

That did not sound good. Tobias was not strictly speaking what anyone would call intelligent. Nathan spared a quick moment to peer into the shop to see the back of his father, the constable and no doubt the Governor as well.

Nathan was quite sure that if his father were to see him alone at this time of day, he would be ordered home to help his mother with whatever tasks his brothers hadn't done before they slunk away. Nathan backed away quietly and decided to find the eldest Miller boy, Obediah, who recently started working for the Blacksmith. Obediah was large for his age, well-broad for his age anyway. Obediah was short but had large flat hands and a large flat face. There was a decidedly 2 dimensional look to him. Nathan had not as yet been apprenticed to the Smith, and no one suggested it. After what happened with the candlestick maker, no one really wanted to see what Nathan was capable of with fire and hot metal at his disposal.

Nathan approached Obediah casually and obviously, trying not to appear too purposeful. Obediah was a hard book to read, but they had a cordial enough relationship. Obediah was a little older, not quite a year.

“Morning Obediah,” Nathan waved as he caught the mans eye. Obediah nodded but said nothing. “What are you working on?”, Nathan tried to ease into the conversation unobtrusively, but Obediah responded only with a flat stare. Gracious, what is wrong with everyone today? “I apologize if I have come at a bad time, I did not mean to interrupt your work,” Nathan made to give a slight bob and depart but Obediah shook his head and finally spoke.

“Sorry, it's not you. This morning the Smith decided that things are in shambles out here. So I have been put on cleaning duty,” Obediah sounded tired and Nathan noticed his eyes were dull, well duller, anyway.

“Ah, I understand. I don't mean to pry, but are you well? You don't look yourself?”, Nathan really did commiserate with Obediah. He too had been put on cleaning duty numerous times by parents and masters just so that he would be out of the way.

Obediah shrugged. Nathan continued, “how is your family?” Obediah shrugged again. Feeling a little frustrated, Nathan frowned. So much for subtlety, “I saw your father in town, he looked upset.” Obediah was still for a moment then nodded.

“My father went to speak to the Governor,” Obediah looked around cautiously before proceeding, “I know you are friends with one of them, but you need to know something. There is something strange going on in West Cross. Those Irish are acting very odd. They are doing unnatural things, my dad says its the black magic. They are nothing short of witches my father says. I never met any witch, but I don't know. It doesn't feel right. Folks are getting upset and nervous. I can't sleep, I keep thinking about what is going on out there,” Obediah stopped speaking and looked at Nathan.

Nathan didn't know what to say to that. He felt chills go up his spine, and shivered. Obediah solemnly nooded as if he knew exactly what Nathan was thinking, but Nathan didn't even know what he was thinking. “I guess I know what everyone in town was talking about now,” Nathan ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

Obediah had gone back to working, but he paused to look over at Nathan and said, “I'm surprised you didn't know-what with your father being Constable.”

It was Nathan's turn to shrug. “Thanks for filling me in. I guess I should get going, lot to get ready for tonight,” Nathan waved again and Obediah nodded as he continued his chore, not bothering to look up.

*************************************************************

Half Post

As Elias came up from his bow, he gave an exaggerated wink to Megan. “Ahh, such a delight to behold in the morning, or at any hour I’m sure, oh and Juliet, do give my apologies to your brother, I fear that he must have given up on me this morning. For when I reached the stables his horse was already gone. I waited several minutes to see if I could see him, but alas-” and Elias held his hands before him in helpless surrender.

Julie crossed her arms and clenched her jaw as she regarded the fool Elias. How dare he behave this way toward her friend. Susie was one thing, she fell in and out of love several times a week. Megan was different, she was not as accustomed to how Elias embellished and fawned over the fairer sex. Julie was unable to safely respond, so she quietly and angrily kept her mouth shut.

Elias easily dismounted, seemingly not noticing Julies silence, once again turned his attention to the ever blushing Megan. “Megan, I was hopeful beyond reason to see you here this morning. I would be most pleased if you would consent to a midmorning walk with me. I am bound for the Sanders’ to deliver a parcel on behalf of my father. Please, say you’ll come with me.”

Megan’s smile grew as Elias continued to speak, and Julie could only look on in horror. Megan looked as if she were about to accept his offer. Surely Megan was only responding out of kindness, or out of some misplaced need to try and befriend every town member. Megan must know that this silver-tongued serpent, this miserable wretch, could have nothing but inane and empty words to bore her with. Julie’s mouth flew open of its own accord.
“Oh, Elias, surely you must be joking,” Julies disbelief was evident, and she found that she had a confused Elias now looking at her, as well as a shocked Megan.

Harvest Eve part 4

Megan had come into town with a few cousins just after sunrise to help set up tables for the Harvest Eve Dinner. This was Megan’s second year participating, and she was hoping that it would be even better than last year. The townspeople were just starting to welcome her rather large, and often loud Irish family. This year, the Governor himself had come out to speak to Megan’s grandfather and personally invite the clan out. Megan smiled as she adjusted the cloth covering on the table. It had helped that the Governors eldest daughter had threatened to make the Eve a wreck unless he did. Julie and Megan had become fast friends, and Julies support had been crucial in breaking down the towns conservative prejudice against the boisterous farmers.

Megans smile broadened as she recognized the three figures approaching from across the town green. Julie and Susie were particularly tight lipped this morning, and were avoiding each others gaze. Nathan didn’t look particularly happy, but he waved as the group approached and then walked right out of his shoe as the buckle popped off.

Shaking her head, Megan turned to Julie, “What’s got your tongue tied this morning? Still got your morning ‘fuss’ about?”

“No,” Julie looked less sullen but still sounded annoyed. “We were playing our little game when our Preacher happened across us.”

“We nothing, it was you two-,” Nathan was cut off by Julies heated retort.
“Well, it was your fault he caught up to us at all, you trying to fix your wretched shoe.”

Megan coughed into her hand, trying not to laugh at her friends misfortune. “Oh? How did it go?”

Susie looked up now, “As well as can be expected, considering Julie was in the middle of insulting his daughters, collectively.”

Megan couldn’t take much more, her eye were starting to tear and she was biting her tongue to keep her face straight. She did not attend their church, but she was well aware of the Parshall family. The Preacher was indeed an imposing figure, and that was when he wasn’t upset. She did not ever want to find herself on the receiving end of one of his admonishments.

“That is…bad luck. I’m sorry your morning was…so,” but Megan couldn’t contain it any longer. She dropped onto the bench and couldn’t help but laugh as she relived the encounter in her mind.

The other three looked on, determined to be offended by their friends lack of support, but Megans laugh was too infectious. They soon found themselves sitting on the bench and sheepishly admitting it would be fine story to pass on when they were older. As Megan regained her composure, she reached into her apron pocket and produced a bundle wrapped inside a handkerchief.

“Heard from the Sanders about your little "spell" the other day, Grams said to give you this, and the next time you feel woozy you take a pinch and quick stick it under your tongue,” Megan unwrapped what appeared to be a mass of leaves, dirt, and twine.

“You heard? And your whole family knows?!,” Nathan groaned and went face down onto the table.

“Bah, its nothing. My Uncle Seamus worked for a shepherd back in Ireland, but he could never stomach the sight of a birthing, or a killing when a wolf would get ahold on one of them. Grams set him up with her Herb Pinch and set him right as rain. Course the pinch didn’t stop him from falling asleep on the job, so they pitched him anyway,” Megan shrugged and stood up to finish her chore.

Nathan eyed the mass of questionable herbs and tentatively poked it with his finger and slowly brought his finger up to his mouth and tasted it, “Bleh! What is in this? It tastes awful!”
Megan only shrugged and walked to the next table with her arms full of linen. Nathan grimaced as he picked up the ball and brought it up to his nose. “That’s so odd, it actually smells good, kind of reminds me of honeysuckle.” Nathan inhaled again.

“Really? Let me see…,” Susie reached out for it and Nathan obligingly passed it along.

“Its fairly faint, try scratching it a little to get it going,” Nathan suggested.

Susie obediently picked at a small spot on the bundle and inhaled deeply. Nathan looked on in delight as a wicked gleam came into his eye.

Julie called out, “Susie, wait!” But it was too late.

Susie dropped the bundle and screamed, “Aaugh! Nathan! I am going to kill you!” Susies eyes went blood red and her nose started running, as she furiously staggered to her feet and lunged across the table at Nathan. Nathan was too busy laughing at his triumph to run, so he sat there, trying to dodge or swat away the worst of Susies blows.

“How did you smell that without it getting you?!” Susie demanded as she sat down again and attempted to stem the flow of liquids from her eyes and nose.

Julie rolled her eyes before kicked Nathan under the table adn handing Susie a hankie, “he held his finger so close to his nose that it only looked like he was smelling it.”

Nathan rubbed his shin and scowled at Julie now, “oww, its not my fault she keeps falling for the same tricks. You’d think she’d learn by now.”

“This is tiresome, I came to help Megan. You two can continue your childish games if you wish, but I am leaving,” and with that Julie rose to join Megan.

“I’ve got to go clean up now before Elias sees me looking so disheveled. Nathan, I’m warning you, if you pull any stunts once I get my new Eve gown on, and you’ll walk with a limp for the rest of your life, which may not be very long!” Susie dabbed her eyes and with one last threatening gesture in Nathans direction, walked back towards her home.

Megan became a little red as Susie walked away, Julie noticing the flush thought that she was trying to stifle another laugh from the Nathan and Susies antics. But when Megan saw that Julie was looking at her, the blush deepened and Megan looked away. Julie raised an eyebrow and knew there was something else going on.

“Megan, what is it? I can see you’re trying to hide something, you’re red all over,” Julie whispered at Megan.

Megan refused to acknowledge anything was amiss. “I’m fine, it’s just I feel a little warm. I think I need a drink. Are you thirsty? I’m thirsty. Lets go find some water. It is unseasonably warm I think today.” Megan began to nervously look around.

“Megan! What is wrong with you? You are acting very peculiar,” Julie grabbed Megans hand and tried to pull her back to the table, but she was no match for the farmer girls mix of strength and adrenalin and was instead dragged nearly off her feet.

Nathan watched confusedly from his table and decided not for the first time that he really ought to make some male friends. Girls are far too much work to be of any practical good. Just as he was thinking this, he noticed Elias riding pompously by, waving like an idiot to everyone he came across. Maybe girls aren’t so bad. Megan had seen Elias too. She stopped dragging Julie and turned her back to him and immediately started fussing with her hair and adjusting her skirt. Oh no, Nathan had seen this before, and this was not a good sign. The butchers daughter Wendy often did the same thing, so did Susie. In fact, half the female population of New Havenbrookshire found Elias quite handsome, even if he was a liar, and putrid, and a hypocrite. The worst part was, Julie had also realized why Megan had come to such an abrupt stop, as Elias stopped his horse to give Megan an especially low bow.

Harvest Eve part 3

Linda sat in the corner on her small stool, churning. It felt like she had done more churning these last few days than she had in the last 4 months combined. Not that churning was her least favorite activity, it left ones mind free to wander. So Linda let her imagination take flight. The rhythmic sounds of the churn became distant, the heavy numbness in her arms seemed to disappear. She should have known it was too good to last.
“Haven’t you finished that yet?” Thad’s sleepy voice carried from the back. Most people are quite unintelligible when they try to yawn and speak simultaneously. Linda imagined that Thad must have had to learn to overcome that obstacle early in life, for she had rarely seen him do otherwise.

With a sigh of exasperation, Linda paused in her churning and looked inside.

Thad came out from the back and stretched in the doorway, let out a massive yawn and said, “No helping yourself either, I’m watching you.”

Linda stopped and rolled her eyes and looked over at Thad, who was presently attempting to shove an entire small loaf of bread into his mouth. Linda had heard stories of hugely fantastic snakes that swallow entire animals whole, and decided that these stories must be true. Linda sighed again, she did that a lot lately she noticed. She turned back to the churning and thought about large snakes.

The sounds of shuffling steps and deep male voices outside the door became audible. Linda looked up with a smile in her eyes as she watched Thads face. Thad looked up in alarm, his mouth too full of bread to even chew properly and dashed through doorway leading to the back amid sounds of coughing and sputtering.

“I won’t hear another word about it, leave it be Tobias!” Gov. Davis brought his hulking frame through the doorway with his hands pulling his hat down over his ears, trying to dissuade Tobias Miller from pursuing whatever subject the honorable governor was intent on avoiding.

Linda slowed her churning so that she could hear more properly and dropped her head and appeared to gaze forlornly at the floor immediately in front of her. Linda was small for her age, of little consequence, and a constant fixture in the bakery. No one ever noticed her and fewer knew her name, but Linda knew every one of theirs, and a fair sight more.

“But Governor Davis, surely something can be-”Tobias was interrupted by the intercession of Constable Andersons imposing figure.

“I’m sure you will understand that the Governor has had a very busy morning and cannot afford anymore time today, perhaps it would be best to continue this discussion after this evenings events,” the constables words were diplomatic, but there was no mistaking his meaning. Tobias, became very red, very fast. He made a quick bob in place in Gov. Davis direction and Linda could see his jaw was clenched, and then he left with one last frustrated glare over his shoulder.

The Governor peered out from under his hat, and collapsed rather comically in his usual high backed (and suitably reinforced) seat that was reserved for his invariable, daily appearance. Constable Anderson seated himself opposite on the low bench and scanned the room in a hawkish manner. His gaze pausing momentarily on the slow little orphan girl churning butter, and then quickly back to Gov. Davis.

Thad was there (a little red in the cheeks) with a pitcher of water and deposited this mornings baked offerings on the small table to the Governors left, and with exaggerated delicacy, placed the rather-large-to-be-a-butter-dish butter dish on the table to his right.

The Governors troubles were suddenly lost, as the delighted man took his first well-buttered bite and sank into his chair, eyes glazed with contentment. It had been a long morning. What with his eggs being overcooked, Council meeting running long, and that odd Higby boy hanging about in the stable could talk the ears off a mule. Governor Davis didn’t want to use his brain for the next 20 minutes at least.

“Sir, we really need to decide before tomorrow what course of action we will take,” Constable Anderson said flatly.

Gov Davis’ contented glaze focused into a stern glare. “Good sir, kindly remember that we will decide what to do when we are ready. This is a somewhat delicate matter. I simply cannot trot over to those farmers and ask them if they are sacrificing animals and digging up dead people! Tobias is overwrought. He is just frustrated that the immigrant farms are doing as well as they are, and he is behaving like some fool Yorkie.”

“Of course Governor, I only meant that if Tobias isn’t appeased soon, things could become rather…tense along West Cross. The immigrants haven’t caused any trouble yet and they tend to keep to themselves, but Tobias isn’t the only one to have mentioned some of their more peculiar traditions,” Constable Anderson relaxed a little in his seat and held his hands out in front of him apologetically as he spoke.

Linda had stopped churning and as another customer walked in the Constable and Governor stopped their conversation. The Governor finished his bread and left with a nod towards Thad, who in mid conversation with the customer bowed politely. Linda wondered what could be going on in West Cross to make the Governor and Tobias so upset.

Harvest Eve part 2

The recovered trio made their way out the back door, thus avoiding the stables and its current visitor. The Governors home was not far from town, but it was a modest distance to provide some privacy and a rather picturesque view of the rest of New Havenbrookshire.

“Well I think its very unfair to call you un-apprenticeable, I mean it’s hardly a proper word in the first place. Secondly, they can’t just pronounce something like that after only a few, innocent accidents that could have happened to anyone really,” (which at this point in time included setting fire to the cobblers bench, exploding a barrel of wax at the Hansens, setting loose several pigs that were not quite ready to be slaughtered, and now several bouts with nausea at various times with the Higby’s.) Julie continued, “you have just not found the role you are destined to play in this vast world of infinite possibilities..”

“Destined role?” queries Susie.

“Infinite possibilities?”, Nathan takes over, “Julie, I appreciate your sympathies, but what did we talk about the other day? I know how you love to wax poetic, but even for you that is pretty -”

“Oh both of you lower your eyebrows. You’re looking at me as if you just smelled something foul. I may be embellishing a little, what harm is that? What fun is it to live in reality all the time?”

Susie looked at Julie, “You would have to live in reality some of the time before you could live in it all the time Juliette Margarite Davis.”

Julies stopped walking and took a step closer to Susie and retorted with a half smile, “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, Susannah Horse-face Peterson. ”

Nathan took advantage of the pause in progress to adjust his left shoe buckle, it was forever coming loose. The developing scene was not anything new. It was a game they often played. Being the children of well to do families, they often felt a certain rebellious nature within them. Not wanting to truly disappoint their parents, they took private opportunities to “express” themselves and their frustrations. The game would continue, escalating insults until one of the participants became unwilling to continue. There truly was no winner in this game.

“Horse-faced am I? I wonder if in that fantasy world of yours you realize that one must bathe more often than annually, or are you merely ignorant of your odorous stench that is worse than a three-legged stag in summer!”, concluded Susie.

Nathan looked up from his shoe, obviously impressed, “Well played.”

Julie had to admit it was well played indeed. She disliked losing though, and decided that if she pushed Susie hard now, that she would back down first. Julie crossed her arms, “Well you would be the one to know about three-legged stags in summer. However, I must know; which of the Parshall sisters did you persuade to show you how to get that stick so-

“Ahem”, the deep voice resounded.

Julies face lost all color and she felt her stomach do the most incredible flip. Turning slightly, she realized she was arms length from the beaming, and somewhat oblivious face of Camilla Parshall. Worse yet, the towering Preacher, Camilla’s father.

“You were wondering about my stitch? What about it?”, Camilla held her needlepoint out for inspection to the flabbergasted Julie.

“Th-They, that is the stitches, I was remarking are so neat and close together. You must work very hard indeed”, was all Julie could get out.

“Yes. It is amazing the detailed work in needle point one can accomplish if one dedicates ones self. Wouldn‘t you agree Father?”, Camilla Parshall was looking into her Preacher Fathers face with what can only be called devotion while clutching her latest masterpiece of thread and linen.

“Daughter, with God all things are possible. Hard work and selflessness call the blessings of the Most High down on our endeavors. Is it not so Sister Petersen?”, the huge man pivoted toward Susie without taking his eyes off Julie to show that he was quite aware of all present.

“Yes, sir”, came Susie’s quite response.

“Nathaniel, I have heard from Dr. Higby that certain…circumstances have required a change in schedule for you. If you are agreeable, I shall be pleased to see you come to my home tomorrow after breakfast. I have taken the liberty of speaking to your father, and he seems most enthusiastic about the idea,” the head of the Parshall family turned his head slowly as he spoke and smiled. Not a friendly sort of smile, but the sort of condescending smile that let you know the giver thought that recipient somewhat slow.

“Well since my father is so enthusiastic, how could I refuse such a courteous invitation”, Nathan returned the smile and spoke through clenched teeth.

“Excellent. The Hall has finished meeting, I’m sure the rest of the members will be along shortly, we however must hurry home and help Mother at the church. In fact, maybe you three would be so good as to help us clear the yard before the Sabbath, we seem to have had some problems with sticks, and other litter that could be removed. So good of you to give of your time so freely. Remember my young friends, that the works of man are no secret to the eyes of Heaven. Good day,” and with that the pair of pious Parshalls proceeded proudly past the heathens.

Nathan was the first to speak, “We need to leave, right now.”

“Wait a moment…” Susie had her head bowed and was whispering fervently.

Julie was still flabbergasted. She silently resolved to never play that ridiculous game again. It was one thing to be caught doing wrong, or to have your preacher stare you down from the pulpit, it was entirely another thing to be caught mid-sentence by your preacher as you are insulting his daughters. “I think I may be sick.”

“No time for that, we’ve wasted enough of the morning. Let’s go find Megan. She was in town earlier with her family. She should be nearly done by now,” Nathan was eyeing the path from the Governors house nervously. He was not anxious to meet with any of the other Hall members at the moment.

Harvest Eve part 1

Julie pulled her quilt over her head, trying in desperation to deflect the onslaught of noise from the floor below. Julie detested mornings. The only thing she disliked more than mornings, was in fact morning people. With the greatest reluctance and a sigh that would make the bravest chamber maid think twice before entering, Julie flung the covers off her bed and sat up. She glowered out the window at the sun, and if the sun could’ve seen Julie, it may indeed have thought twice about rising that morning. Julie groggily made her way to the night stand and with continued looks of disgust, began to wash her face.

“I cannot wait until tonight! I am going to dance until my legs give out!”, with that pronouncement, Amy who had previously been waltzing around the drawing room (to her guests bemusement), allowed herself to fall ever so gracefully into the laps of her giggling cohorts sitting on the floor. Amy had reached the magical age of 12, and was therefore blessed with all the special qualities young women of that age look forward to, namely a new found appreciation for the opposite sex, flirty giggle, and a piercing banshee wail of desperation that heralds the end of the world, or just a bad day.

“Amelia, must you entertain so noisily? If you cannot contain yourselves, you’d best take your games outdoors. The committee has far too much to do without your gaggle of girls giggling on so,” came the commanding, albeit alliterative, call from out the hall. Governor Davis’ wife was well known for her kind heart, fair mind, and swift kick. She had the unique ability to make one feel instantly at ease with a smile and a look. That same look has been known on occasion to change alarmingly fast so as to make one fear intensely for their well being.

Amy recognizing the tone of warning speciously agreed and called back, “of course mother, were just saying what a wonderful morning for a walk-”

“Wonderful? I should think not.” Julie paused in her descent long enough to share a look of disdain for the younger women on the floor. “Breakfast may be the only redeeming virtue for the unholy hour at which I find myself presently, to which I can only thank you dear sister.”

Amy arose from the floor matching Julie glare for glare. “Don’t mind Juliette girls, she’s always vexed first thing in the morning. If I had to look at that face first thing in the morning, I might feel similarly,” Amy smirked as she and the rest of the girls made their exit.

Julie stepped into the kitchen, buzzing with activity. To be fair, Amy only comprised part of the sounds that awoke her earlier than normal. Julies dark cloud could not last, for it was the activities in the kitchen that would make up for any inconvenience. It was Harvest Eve. And the celebration tonight was intended to get everyone in good spirits for the upcoming busy time. Harvest had already begun to be sure, but with winter speedily approaching, many projects would have to be completed. This would be the last chance for socializing and fun for many.

Mrs. Davis stepped smartly in front of Julie, ending her reverie, “Juliette, be quick and get yourself out of the way, quietly mind you. The Council is meeting in the Hall. You’d think that these men would have better things to do the morning of Harvest Eve then to hang about getting in the way, oh and your friends arrived with their fathers, they are in the library.”

Juliette could not repress a wicked grin as she spoke her question, “Is Dr. Higby here?”

Mrs. Davis was busily supervising the women and did not see the grin, or the gleam in her daughters eye, “Yes dear, it’s a full Hall.” As Mrs. Davis spoke these words, the recognition of what her daughter was really asking became apparent. As she turned to face Julie, she was gone. “Oh dear...”

While Julie freely admitted that she did not care for mornings, she was really quite agreeable under normal circumstances. Normal circumstances however, excluded anything that had to do with Dr. Higby’s eldest son Elias.

“My Elias is quite the social creature”, his mother Deborah is rather fond of saying. “But I have long known that my Elias should do many a great thing. How could he not? With his wit and charm. I am most fortunate indeed to have such a son.” Elias was under the impression that he should follow in his fathers footsteps and become a doctor. The only person that it was not apparent to that he would not was Elias, and of course Mrs. Higby. As Elias had taken to following his father everywhere, by asking her mother about Dr. Higby, she was in reality ascertaining the whereabouts of her prey.

Julie quickened her pace as she approached the door to the library. She paused with her ear to the door and listened, and could indeed hear the muffled tones of Elias carrying endlessly on. Schooling her features to the picture of serenity, she opened the door.

“I tried to tell father, you just cannot trust those traders. They are simply…”at the sight of Julie entering Elias had swooped down into one of the most ridiculous bows Julie had seen. “Ah, Juliette, I hope this morning finds you well?”

“Quite well, thank you.” Julie quickly scanned the room. Nathan, to whom Elias was addressing his comments, was somewhat cornered, and so was feigning interest in the shelving behind him, not meeting Elias’ gaze. Susie on the other hand was sitting quite literally on the edge of her seat, adoration painted on her face as she gazed at Elias. “I was sent to tell you that Robert is waiting for you in the stables.”

“Oh well, I must not keep him waiting then. I hope I shall see you tonight? Of course I shall, where else would you, the Governors daughter be on Harvest Eve. At any rate, I regret I must leave you so abruptly. And Nathaniel, a delicate stomach is nothing to cause shame. Remember, not all are blessed with the fortitude and personal strength required for the noble healers art. I must have inherited mine from father. You know he was quite young when first he began to practice. A little older than I am now. Oh I don’t know that I will begin too soon. There is so much to learn and experience. Mother and I were discussing this just the other day, you see-”

Julie politely coughs and inclines her head ever so slightly as to point to the open door awaiting Elias’ departure.

“But I forget myself. Farewell all,” and with a final bow Elias exits the room, and Julie shuts the door and rolls her eyes.

Susie turns in her seat and looks accusingly at Julie, “I thought Robert wasn’t coming back from his tour until later today?”

Julie merely winks. “My dear Susie, I know that for some reason, you find yourself smitten with the regrettable Elias, but you must reconcile yourself to the fact that he is utterly and totally without merit,” Julie crosses the room and joins her friend on the sofa.

“That and he’s never looked twice at you,” came the reply from Nathan as he peered out the window, watching as Elias made his way across the lawn to the stables.

Blushing at the last comment, Susie retorts, “you don’t know Elias like I do, I have seen a kindness you have never seen. And at least he isn’t some delicate flower, and doesn’t sick up all the time like some I know, Nathan-ill.”

Nathan too reddens, and opens his mouth when Julie intervenes, “What? Surely not again Nathan. I thought things were going so well?”

“They were! My lessons with Dr. Higby, -sigh- and Elias were progressing. Two days ago Dr. Higby received a summons out to the Sanders farm, there had been some kind of accident. Elias’ Latin is horrible so he had to stay and practice, but the Dr. said he would need some assistance and asked me to go with him.”

Julie nods sympathetically, “Well that sounds promising indeed, what happened?”

Nathan pales a little and sways momentarily, and Julie arises at once guiding him to her empty seat. Meanwhile Susie attempts to “tuck and roll” out of danger, managing to leap quite proficiently but stepping on her own dress hem with the end result of a less than a successful escape. It was however quite a marvelous belly flop.

“Susie I’m not going to be sick. It’s only, I don’t know that I have ever seen so much blood, it was too much-really I’m fine Julie, you needn’t worry. Anyway Tom Sanders, you know the older boy, he had cut himself awfully. His father had him down and had stopped the bleeding, but when they removed the towel to show the wound to the Doctor…I’m afraid I…I..”

“Managed to simultaneously vomit and faint dead away on the spot,” says Susie from her prone position on the floor. “If we are done here I should like to go into town now.”

Nathan looks abashed and Julie shakes her head as Susie attempts to gather herself up with slightly more decorum than used to disembark from the sofa.

As Julie walks over to help Susie, “Well, at the least we shall have a very eventful day I think.”

By Way of Introduction...

The town of New Havenbrookshire is quite remarkable. Having been originally settled by Captain Ezra Keeley shortly after Jamestown, it faired little better. Most of the original inhabitants left, but the Keeleys remained behind and struggled with the land. When Puritan settlers arrived several years later, they joined in the effort and continued to expand the town under the direction of Josiah Keeley, Ezra’s son. Captain Ezra planned the city as a great round wheel, with the church being in the center and two major highways running north to south and east to west. This highway is very well kept and is a source of pride to the town, known to locals as Ezra’s Cross.

If you travel to the end of North Cross, there is a rather lonely and steep hill known as Keeley’s Climb. It is on this wooded hill that Mother Keeley, great granddaughter of Ezra Keeley still lives. As the eldest woman in New Havenbrookshire she is the head of the Womens Committee, but as she rarely leaves her home, she has little to do with the goings on in town.

East Cross runs straight to a covered bridge, and nothing else of consequence. One must ride 2 days through dense forest to reach the next closest town of importance* (see notes on Yorkington Park for clarification).

South Cross will lead you passed a flat, fertile patch that is now the home to the Petersen’s Orchard. Slightly passed the Petersen’s is the Governors home. Governor Davis is a well liked man of great means. Descended quite distantly from French royalty, his family married into a family of lower British nobility. Governor Davis was quite glad at the chance to leave England, and his somewhat dysfunctional family. Gov. Davis is described as being overly fond of butter.

Along West Cross, we find the modest farms of the area. Stout and resilient families, the majority of which are Irish immigrants that settled fairly recently. The town is leery of these new comers, especially since they are not of their faith. The Irish immigrants have won some influential advocates in town due to their hard work and good nature.

Another point of interest near town: Crescent Lake. It lies west, slightly north. The run off is used by the farms in their fields. A small river, or large stream travels some miles where it stops and the land becomes quite marshy. Around this area, three families have established what they call a town, and what everyone in New Havenbrookshire calls a disgrace.

Yorkington Park is the result of severe inbreeding and laziness. Samuel York, James Washington, and Jacques St. Thomas were part of the second wave of colonists in New Havenbrookshire, but did not care for the Keeleys, and indeed the Keeleys did not care for them. The result was that these men took their families and set out on their own, however due to their own infighting and lack of knowledge, they did not get very far, 13 miles to be precise. Occasionally the Yorkingtons will wander into town causing a scene in an attempt to show they are just as good as those snobbish New Havenbrookshire-ites.