Chapter 47

When I walked out of the house, the yard was thankfully empty. 

Moments ago, Felix had rushed through his morning ablutions, his breakfast, had lied about me still sleeping, and took Lucas and Joseph—Ethan already gone—away to water the field.

He said something like: "Let's do it like ol' times!" Not suspecting anything, his brothers accepted once they made sure Felix went to 'wake me up' to eat. 

While I munched on the usual pancake, this time filled with beans – as Felix cooked too much of those – I pondered on how to face the matter of Joseph. To ask first, or to keep waiting.

Maybe it was all a misunderstanding. I did remember that despite leaving with the woman, he did not look happy. Or was that just my imagination?

And, that was the problem. I had no idea what the truth was as my mind could have made up what he must have been feeling to appease my inner turmoil.

Probably the best option was to wait. Either for him to explain what needed to be explained, or for more concrete evidence to appear. 

Once I decided what to do for the time being, I focused on my own job: to sew the tassels to the bed cover and pillow cases. The moment I took out the things from the bag, I had to pause in disbelief.

That Mrs. Letaxe was too terrible!

It was fine if she wanted to save a few coins by bargaining the tassels sewing. However, to gift a bed cover, sheets and pillow cases with such an ugly pattern… 

Was that a horse? 

If Mrs. Soxanne's daughter did not burn down this set, I could only bow down to the woman's aesthetics. Though, thinking about that veil, maybe this set would become one of her favorites. There were really all kinds of people around.

My eyes were opened! 

Anyway, as I sew the tassels, my mind started working and pondering.

If I had my own sheets, I would embroider something very simple and tasteful; like garlands running along the edges, half wreaths of flowers on each corner, or very little flowers over the whole thing.

Nothing so cumbersome and… striking like the horse in the sheets I was working on.

My hands paused sewing. 

I actually had new sheets I could embroider! The brothers bought new soft yellow, soft pink and light blue ones. 

I never intended to hog all the sheets, so I had only accepted the thick sheets – Ethan did force the two on me – and one thin or normal – as they call it – one.

The thick sheets were pink and yellow, while the thin one was pink, leaving the brothers with another yellow one and the light blue one.

That last one was given to Felix. 

Either way, I had three sheets I could embroider! 

As I thought up the embroidery pattern I could do, someone called out from the front door.

I looked up and saw a couple of middle-aged women standing there, scanning the yard and whispering to themselves. The fence and door were not that tall, so people could easily look from outside.

I had not minded before as nobody had come to visit, but now, I felt uncomfortable. 

Anyone could see what we did inside! 

And I had once had a hot encounter with Lucas on this same yard, where I also was flirted by Joseph! 

There was no way that fence was staying that low!

"Yes? May I help you?" I asked the women who were enraptured by what they were seeing in the yard. Was there something so out of place? It was swept by Joseph earlier, no leaves or little branches on sight. 

The women finally focused on me. They were the ones who first called out to me, so their surprised faces were confusing.

Then, with remarkable daring, they unlocked the door and entered, as if they were entering their own house. I had no words to express my mood at the moment.

Were village people so… straightforward? 

"Hiya! We were passin' by and thought of greetin' the Edris brothers."

One of the women greeted amiably enough – if one disregarded the invasion – while the other kept eyeing everything around. Was she looking for something?

"Who would've thought we'd find a woman in their house." 

I had no idea what was happening, what their aim was, but there was no need to be impolite to them. "If you are looking for them, they are at the field." 

"Ah, so there they're..." The woman nodded.

However, instead of moving towards the field to do as she had claimed, she sat at the table with all the confidence of the world.

"You sew, too?! My sister here's good at sewing! Maybe she can help ya." She pulled the other woman to sit. I felt my eye jump when she started messing with the pillow cases with all the intent of sewing. 

I restrained myself and calmly put my hand on hers. "These are for my job. When I sew the tassels for my sheets I will call you… to help."

I cared not if I offended them, but I took away everything near them so they would not touch.

"So, is there anything I can help you with?" If not, then you can go. I really wanted to say that, but managed to swallow the words 

The woman who had remained silent and had been checking out the yard spoke up. "What kinda flowers are those?" She pointed to the flower beds. 

"No idea. Joseph and Lucas picked them up in the mountains. If you want to know, you could ask them." I did not want to suspect them, but their behavior was weird. So, I once again gave them the chance to go. 

Yet, they could not catch the hint. "Talkin' about the brothers..." The first woman interjected. "Some say they saw ya bein' carried by the tall one." Right. So, that was why they came. 

"Sorry, ma'am, to my short height all four are tall. Can you be more specific?" I kindly asked. The second woman seemed to be the one with the shortest temperament as she immediately exploded by my continuous vagueness. 

"The one with the dirty beard!" She yelled. 

There was a moment of silence that I was not willing to fill up, and just stared at them. The first woman looked ready to throttle the second woman for her gaffe. And the second woman looked so unrepentant of her comment that it made me very angry.

I mean, I had wanted to be patient and polite because I did not want to give myself and the brothers a bad reputation. 

But, it was impossible with them.

I understand all they wanted was some gossip from a reliable source. Who does not like to gossip a bit? However! One cannot be this rude and smothering and patronizing!

"As long as people have mouths and tongues, they will speak. I will not answer any of your questions. There is the door, I am very sure you know what to do." I coldly told them.

The first woman at least had the decency to grab the other one and drag her out. The second one though! She had the nerve to roughly pull one of the lavender stalks and rush out. I was shocked. This woman…

Was she really going to be this villainous to steal a plant out of spite? 

I took a deep breath to calm my emotions and tried to recapitulate what just happened.

The most important information I got out of all this disastrous encounter was that people in the village were already talking about the brothers and I. And, these people did not seem to have a modicum of respect for us.

They could openly come and ask about our situation. Something like: 'Someone says you are with the brothers, I am not sure if this is true'. 

Like that, I could easily imply the person did not follow any gossip just because, and respected others' lifestyle. 

But no!

The two came like thieves – and one really was – trying to pry or force information, even imposing themselves on me!

After this disastrous meeting, the least I expected these coming days was for more people to come, and for more gossips to travel around the village. 

When lunch time came, the three brothers returned. I told them what happened with those women, not leaving a single detail out. By the end of my recounting, they were obviously upset with the situation. 

"The worst that can happen's to receive a scoldin' from the Chief." Joseph huffed.

He glared at the flower bed that was abused by that woman. He looked ready to throttle her to death for ruining his hard work, yet I focused on one important matter.

"Why would you be scolded?" I curiously asked him. 

"Well, we hafta report everythin' to him: a birth, a marriage, a death." He explained. 

"Have you?" I kept questioning.

"What?" Not only Joseph was confused at my question, even Felix and Lucas looked the same. 

For some reason my stomach churned in anger. "Nothing. I want to continue sewing. Take away the plates, please." They did so, still confused at the abrupt change. I did not feel like expounding on the matter.

Furthermore, I did have to finish sewing. I needed the money to buy fabric to sew more clothes for myself. 

And, if I was in a good mood the following day, then I would also buy fabric for the brothers.