"Wow, I can't help but stare …"
"Well, you can stop poking her with that stick."
"You're not helping, Kaelin!"
"Can't help it, besides, it's not everyday you see a wild-looking scrawny woman on the shore in this boring place."
"Shhh! Be quiet!--someone's coming…"
An older looking farmer heard their noise over his plow and broke through the forest to see the subject of the matter.
"Girls! Stop bickering! Now, what seems to be the problem."
The elderly man stooped over the young girls' shoulder and down at the bank of the river. What he saw truly astounded him and he fell back a step. A skinny sick-looking woman, seemingly dead, laid hunched over soaking wetwith anashen appearance.
Studying the matter, the farmer decided on a course of action.
"Kaelin, go fetch me a large cloth."
"Oh, okay" a disappointed tone was obvious. She had wanted to stay and see the action.
"But, what about me…?" Piped the other girl, wanting to feel just as important.
"Yes, go with her. Tell my wife that I'll be going into town first thing and therefore won't be needing lunch."
"Right." They spoke in unison.
The girls rushed off towards the farmer's cottage to gather his supplies and to deliver the news. As they left, the farmer noticed something silver around the girl's neck. The way it caught the ray of the morning sun sent greedy shivers down the old man's body. He bent over and unfastened the chain from her neck. Evaluating the trinket in his palm, he estimated its value with its marketable weight. Satisfied with it, the farmer began to look closer at his new treasure. At the end of the chain hung a locket-pendant embellished with tiny engravings and swirls. His eyes suddenly bulged from their sockets as his greed steadily rose. He fingered the ornamentation, admiring the craftsmanship and the potential value of such a find. And then—he found its hinged clasp.
"I wonder…" he spoke softly--fingertips dancing over the clasp as his thumbs began to part the two pieces of formed metal when—
"Hey!" Both girls came bounding through the trees towards the water. "We got what you wanted sir!"
The old farmer became nervous and stopped all movements. Suppose the girls saw the locket and told of its whereabouts…or perhaps they would claim ownership or blame him for stealing. Suddenly his guilty conscious stepped in. Should he turn it in? Do the right thing?
No.
He shook his head. He couldn't stomach such a loss.
The farmer swiftly pocketed his find and turned to meet the girls with a smile. They were buzzing with excitement as they handed over the cloth.
"We were telling everyone about the pretty girl we found by the water!"
"The whole village must be talking about it!"
The old farmer looked at them as he began wrapping the girl in the cloth.
"Oh really? Well, that's nice I suppose."
He drew a breath of relief. Good he thought. I got away with it--They didn't see it…
Carefully, he picked up the lifeless body and carried it to his market-wagon.
He hitched up the horse as the girls looked on, all giggles and smiles.
"Well girls, I'm off to take care of business. Tell my wife I'll be home for supper. Buh-bye!"
He climbed in and flicked his horse to movement. Thus, the old farmer made his journey into town with the stolen locket's secrets still unopened.