Chapter 23
Hired Help
1643 - Dunnedin, Vanders
It was March and Starrling’s ability to move about to perform daily tasks was diminishing in direct proportion to her growing girth. In addition to the growth, the child was quite active, dancing and doing a jig at all hours of the day and night. She began to be a bit concerned about how she would be able to continue her business and knew full well that there were others with similar goods just waiting to take her place the first day she would not appear on her delivery rounds.
One afternoon rested beneath the oak tree near her cottage and noticed someone coming down the lane on foot. As near as she could determine, it was a young man, golden red hair… perhaps very young, dressed in worn clothing and shoeless. As he came closer, her suspicions were confirmed. When he was within just a few feet of her, she spoke up to him.
“Merry meet, young man,” she greeted him cheerily. “Where ye be heading?”
He slowed his pace a bit, coming to a full stop after several steps.
“Pleased I am to meet your acquaintance, fair mistress. I am away to Dunnedin, perhaps to find work,” he spoke surely but very quietly, a blush rising on his neck.
She looked him up and down, not in an unpleasant manner. “But ye be only a boy, how d’ye think to find work?”
He straightened up and held his chin out firmly. “I will find work, mark my words. I have a full sixteen years.”
She snorted in laughter. “Perhaps sixteen in yer dreams, lad… but willing I am to bet ye only have truly seen 12 waking years.”
His shoulders slumped and she knew she hit her mark, but it did not please her to see such a wounded look upon his face. “Lad, I am most certain ye are fit to work hard. Would ye be willing t’work for just a mere room, board and a few extra spending coins to help a lady with farm work and deliveries?” She’d listened to her intuitions and knew she would find this boy to be trustworthy and hardworking if given a fair chance.
“Fer…. fer …. you, mistress?
Still sitting, she put her hands on her hips in a most indignant manner. “Aye, and what of’t?” Although her tone was firm, a smile played at her lips.
Recovering his manners quickly, he stammered apologies if perhaps he’d offended the lady in any manner. “Nay, I only wondered… what work is’t that ye wish me to do?”
“First and foremost, help me up from this blasted position… I do not know why I sit on the ground knowing I am unable to get up again,” she extended her hands and he hefted her up fairly easily considering her added weight.
Once again upon her feet, she smiled into his eyes, “Aye, strong ye are fer twelve….ye will do fine.” Again the faint blush rose from his neck to face.
“What be yer name, lad” she further inquired.
“Ye may call me as ye wish, for the name I left behind, I left also with that life that I shall never return to.”
Feeling a wave of both pity and understanding, she smiled and took him by the hand as a mother would, leading him to the cottage and then showing him the barn where he would sleep, explaining all the while how she needed help tending the animals, and creating and delivering her wares.
“I will provide ye with as many blankets as ye may need, but ye will have to build yer own pallet,” she spoke apologetically and looked straight into his blue eyes. “But know ye that I will help as much as possible.”
A smile and a nod was his only response to her, but enough it was. She turned on her heel and sped off to gather items for his small sleeping area. Arms laden with blankets, soap, a towel of sorts, and a handful of dried herbs, she returned to find him already at work forming a sleeping pallet. As he wove hay into a quickly constructed frame, she stood over him and sprinkled the herbs about the hay, speaking quiet words of blessing. He quickly sat back on his heels and looked at her, wonder in his eyes.
“What be that, mistress?”
“A blessing and a plea to the goddesses that ye have protection, health and happiness whilst dwelling here.” Starrling smiled warmly at the boy, relaxing him instantly. “I will never harm ye.” She reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead, for in his eyes she saw great pain in his past, and very little love. It was this simple gesture that won his affection and loyalty; he would work hard and protect this lady with all he had.
Chapter 24
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