Standing in the middle of an open field she looked up into the fair blue sky and soft white clouds. The wind breathed against her skin gently, sweeping a thick tossle of hair over her eyes like playful hands disguising a surprise. She was humming softly to herself and could hear the muted breathing of the horses surrounding her. She could not help smiling to herself at their gentle nature.
"Malon!", shouted a voice from across her way, "Quit your daydreaming, and continue on with your work. Earn your keep."
It was the voice of Mr. Ingo, the ranch owner. Once a regular worker he had taken over the Lon Lon Ranch after papa had died, claiming its deed had been left in his name. She turned to face him nodding her head at his tall stout figure. He was a miserable man with a thick dark mustache and a balding head, his portly figure constantly clad in overalls.
"Aye", she replied turning away toward the exit of the fenced pasture. Walking into the horse stable she gathered a dented tin bucket filled with chicken feed, and tossed it in the animals' direction upon leaving. The large white birds ran up to her instantly and greedily began to peck at the ground for food.
Across from the stable was her own home, a small two story house with only one bedroom she use to share with her father. It belonged to Mr. Ingo now who promptly emptied the room of all her childhood memories selling them for propaganda which advertised the ranch's new management. Her new dwelling was a small storage house located at the back end of the ranch with few furnishings, and two dairy cows for company. It was not the warm fireplace heated room she had once occupied with her father, but it was private and as far away from Mr. Ingo as she could afford.
The hungry Cuckoos continued to eat the feed as she emptied the rest onto the ground, leaving the tin bucket next to the stable and moving past the enclosed pasture again. Mr. Ingo was standing vainly in front of the pasture, as though just his presence was enough to tame the new mares he had recently splurged on.
Walking to her former home she considered the bland redecorating Ingo had performed on her home. The upstairs bedroom no longer contained two separate beds made for a family, her bright woven bed cover was gone, everything was less homey and more dull. She scooped up soiled laundry and linens among the room and made up the bed. She would have to visit the market soon, to purchase food to prepare for dinner.
Bundling the linens in her arms she left the home again to wash the materials. Scrubbing the textile upon a wash board she could feel the drops of soapy water splashing up from the wash bucket and stinging her eyes. And then, warms drops preceded from another direction, dripping down from her eyes and falling into the water below; tears. She felt alone in this world, Papa had gone to a better place and left her in an empty one that only reminded her of his memories.
Mr. Ingo was not cruel, but whatever heart he had must have been gray because he only ever looked out for himself. She threw the last piece of laundry into the wash basin and angrily brushed it aside stomping out into the open air again. She moved out toward the fenced pasture, where Ingo still stood, arms crossed with a overzealous smile on his face."I'm going to the market for tonight's dinner", she said while fixing a saddle upon one of the horses. Ingo didn't even turn his head in acknowledgement.
She soared out of the pasture probably a little too ostentatiously, and made her way into the open field with pleasure. The sun was still present in the sky, a small pleasure allotted on summer evenings. Racing toward the large citadel some miles away she decided to push her limits and whisk her horse steadily in order to quicken her pace. "Oiseau, faster!", she yelled just for the fun of it, moving closer to the castle bridge.
She was getting nearer now, and horses were not allowed beyond these walls without exclusive permission, and so she gradually lead the mare to a subsided trot and then halt. The horse snorted as Malon dismounted, as if disappointed that the amusement had ended so promptly. She softly stroked its nose and made her way upon the castle draw bridge and into town.