A/N Sorry for the very short chapter. I am new to all this. I will try to make them longer in the future. I also decided that I would use less italics. I don't know if this was a problem for anyone, but I found it harder to write.
It's morning, most likely a beautiful one from what is visible out the window. According to Raguna I have been asleep almost a week. I suppose it is well into spring now, perhaps they will let me help out with the farm work. He has been so kind to me, it is the least I could do.
"Good morning Raguna." my cheerful hello sounded so different to me. I hardly recognize my voice. I suppose I haven't really talked to anyone. I suppose there are people looking for me somewhere. But where?
"Good morning miss. Hmm. We must find a name for you. Mist helped me find my name. perhaps she can help you find a name? Even if if it just for the time being."
"What a good idea. Do you know where she is? I didn't see her in the house this morning. I didn't see you either. Did you sleep in the barn or something?"
"That's right, you don't know about the other cottages. Mist got me a mountain cottage for our fiftieth wedding aniversary. We have a small beach house, but we only use it in the summer. Last night Mist and I went to the inn with some friends so we stayed in our village place. I came back early to tend the fields. I'll take you there after I have finished my chores."
"So many houses? Why do you have so many? Are you rich?"
"Of course not. When we came the village plot was included with the farm. the old owner, one of my good friend's grandson if i recall correctly, was tired of farming and lived in the village. Eventually the mayor grew tired of Jack. He told him to get out of town to let a real farmer work the land. He was probably about your age when he left two years back. Shortly after, I received and urgent call to come here because of some suspicious things happening."
"Strange things? And what about the other houses? Can I help with your chores?"
"So many questions. I will tell you about the strange things later. The beach house was a gift from some friends in my old village. And if you want to, you can go gather eggs in the chicken house."
While walking to the chicken coop, I thought a lot about what he said. I suppose he is right, I do ask too many questions. I should probably shut up and gather the eggs like he told me. Besides, after he finishes his chores, he will take me to town to talk to Mist. I wonder how old he really is, considering he looks twenty years old to me. He wears old fashioned clothes, and wields his tools like an experienced farmer, but he still seems out of place. He looks more like he should be holding a sword and riding a white horse than plowing fields and riding on an old brown horse that has seen better days.
Inside the chicken coop, I can't help but smile. The hens are so friendly. They let me pick them up, and their feathers feel like heaven. I quickly place some food in the feeders for the four small hens. After gathering four eggs, I notice an incubator sitting in the corner. I hurry outside and ask him.
"Raguna, will these eggs hatch if I put them in the incubator?"
"I've never tried it, but I think they might. You can try, but don't cry to me if you count your chickens before they hatch." His eyes twinkled when he said this, sparking something deep inside me, something I didn't know.
I was sitting on a bench near a creek. A small woodshed was nearby. In the background were several small buildings. Suddenly, I heard a voice whispering in my ear.
"Hey there Tinkerbell. I'm gl--" I swiftly turned my head at the sound. In an instant my lips were pressed against the lips of the man. I immediately turned back to my work. I was drawing a picture. In it was a face. I blushed and looked into my lap.
"Wow Tink, I had no idea you felt that way about me. I don't know what to say. Umm, I need some time to myself." With that he turned and left me. I sat in silence for a moment, then gathered my pencils--
I was still holding the chicken egg. I swiftly crossed to the other end of the chicken coop and placed it in the incubator. I grabbed the rest of the eggs and turned to leave. Raguna suddenly appeared in the doorway. I handed him the eggs and started to walk out the door but he stopped me.
"I heard you talking in here and wondered if there was somebody in my chicken coop. The valley has been having trouble with thieves. I wanted to make sure there was nobody here. If there was, they must be gone now."
"Everything is fine. I just was talking to the hens. They seem lonely." I hoped he wouldn't see straight through my lie.
"Alright. But you ought to at least call the hens by their names. I didn't call any of them Tinkerbell."
Phew. I think he bought it. He probably thinks I'm just a little lonely myself. Or maybe that I can't read. Either way, I am safe for the moment.
"Why don't you go clean up a bit inside and we can go into the village?"
"Of course" I hurried inside and took a shower, putting on some clean clothes that I found in one of the spare rooms. After putting on the white tee shirt and blue overalls, I went back outside to find Raguna.