The weeks passed quickly, with market days being busy as warm weather brought people from all over. The smell of her mother's pies permeated the house, and rarely were there any left to bring home at the end of a day. Her father's carvings were also selling and, though money was tight, they had enough to live on.
Rossiath kept busy doing chores and helping her mother at the market. Inevitably, the first person at the stall was Gillis buying one of her mother's strawberry pies while they chatted about the progress he was making. In the course of these quick conversations, he'd casually ask her opinion about little things, and it soon became routine for her to spend several minutes of her morning debating with him the trivialities of color and window locations. And if he seemed disappointed that she turned him down each time he offered to share the pie with her, she didn't seem to notice.
On this morning, Rossiath was heading up to the market to buy flour for her mother when she decided to make a detour to the property to see for herself. As she approached, she was surprised to see the house gone, despite Gillis having told her it was coming down, and neat stacks of stone and lumber waiting to be used to build a new one. She leaned over the fence, seeing where workers had marked off spaces for the new house and the mill that Gillis planned, trying to imagine in her head what it would all look like finished.
A man cleared his throat behind her, causing her to jump. “Oh, 'morning Mr. Cale,” she said, noticing his sour expression, “How are you this day?”
“Better, if nosy young women weren't hangin' 'bout th' place,” he muttered. “If yer lookin' fer me nephew, he ain't here right now. Gone down t' Bree t' get more supplies.” He tapped his foot against the ground, clearly indicating he wished her gone as well.
“Oh, well … no,” Rossiath stuttered, shaking her head. “I wasn't here to see Gillis, I was just … well it's been so long since the owner died and he's told me about his plans … I thought I'd come see for myself.” She blew out a quick breath, watching Cale's scowl deepen.
“Fool way t' spend his inheritance, if ye ask me. Boy'd be better off findin' a house down in Bree an' livin' comfortable off what's left of it.” Cale shook his head, “Though no one bothers t' ask me, jus' go harin' off and do as they damn well please.” Giving Rossiath a disparaging look, he turned and headed into the yard, waving her off as he closed the gate behind him. “Now be'gone wit' ye, standin' 'round like a beggar lookin' fer coppers. I ain't got time t' be jawin' wit' th' likes o' ye.”
Rossiath's mouth opened and shut quickly. “Likes of me?” she whispered to herself, her face a mask of confusion and insult. “Well and a good day to you too,” she said to herself, turning to continue her trip.
By the time Rossiath had arrived, she'd walked off most of her annoyance in the warmth of the morning sun. “Rose,” she heard someone call out as she approached, and turned to see an older woman make her way across the table.
“Mrs. Talleine,” she said, accepting the woman's hug. “How have things been today?”
“Oh,” Talleine replied, straightening a display of spices nearby. “It's been steady as always, but not likely to be busy til later. Your ma send you?” she asked, looking down at the market bag in Rossiath's hand.
“Yes. if you would, Mother needs a bag of flour.” Rossiath said and followed the woman as she stepped around the table to a barrel.
As she measured out the flour into a sack, Talleine darted a glance at the young woman. “That Molyneux fellow's been here a few times. Maliennde's gotten quite friendly wit' him. Even had him over for supper recently,” she said, speaking of her daughter as she tied the bag up with a length of cord. Setting it the table, she continued, “Thinking about throwing a little dinner soon, invite some neighbors. Tell your ma, I would love to have you all there.”
“Of course,” Rossiath replied with a nod, though a small furrow developed between her eyebrows. As she pulled out her bag of coins, a group of younger girls ran past, one of them bumping into Rossiath and causing her to stumble forward. She shook her head as she turned to look at them. “Careful now Bonnie,” she said, grinning. “Any harder and I'd have been part of the table.”
“Sorry Rose,” the girl giggled with a mischievous grin. “We're were jus' hopin' Mrs. Talleine would have some o' those seed-cakes she makes.”
“Of course I do. 4 copper each,” the woman replied, pointing at the far end of the table.
The girls let out a collective sigh. “But we only have 2 copper,” Bonnie replied, looking at Talleine hopefully.
“It's 4 copper and you know it. Now off with you little ...”
“Wait.” Rossiath said, counting out the coins for the flour, plus 8 copper more. “For the flour and two seed-cakes,” she said, the girls cheering with delight.
“Really Rose, you spoil those girls,” Talleine said, shaking her head as she walked over to the seed-cakes.
“Thank you Rose!” Bonnie said, giving her a big hug, before following her friends to the promised treats.
“It's only a little thing,” Rossiath called back as she put the flour into her market bag. “I'll see you tomorrow at market.”
“Send my greetings to your ma, and remember to tell her about the party!” Talleine called back as Rossiath left.
