Castiel wasn't sure why, but he felt compelled to return to the farm later that night after he had healed everyone in the square. Of course, Catherine was expecting him, so showing up would be the polite thing to do. But there was something else. Something he had seen in her eyes that he wanted so badly to see again. Was this . . . attraction? Oh what a strange new development that would be.
Not bothering to walk, he once again appeared in the tiny house. Margret was standing by the oven and grabbed onto the table for support, startled. "Oi! Mister Healer-you'd better stop doing that! You're gonna scare someone to death!"
Catherine-who was standing on the other side of the room, simply looked impressed. "How do you do it then? Appear like that?"
Castiel thought about what he should say. He could tell them the truth, that was the solution that came naturally. But then again, would they even believe him? Probably-this was early civilization after all. Not too long ago human beings had believed that one river held more power than anything else in the world. They had so much to learn . . . "I am an Angel of the Lord. I was sent to heal your sick and rebuild your species."
Margret's eyes widened. She believed him instantly; as expected. Catherine however . . . "Prove it."
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"Prove it," she repeated. "What, you think I'm gonna blindly trust that you're a bloody angel?"
Cas was confused. ". . . Yes. But I suppose if it's needed, I could prove it to you." He walked over to the stove and snapped his fingers. A flame roared to life. "Does that prove it enough for you?"
Catherine thought a moment. "Well . . . You can apparently heal people of the plague, and you just appeared inside my house so . . . Yes, I think that'll do it."
"An angel in our house," Margret said, astounded. "And look at me sitting here in my work clothes . . . I got a church dress upstairs if you'd prefer Mr. Castie-"
"That won't be necessary," he told her. "Your clothing does not matter to me."
"Angels eat stew?" Catherine asked. She turned her back to him and walked over towards the door.
"What?"
"Do angels eat stew?" she repeated as she draped her cloak over herself. "I'm going to make stew for dinner, unless you can't eat that. Just gotta go get some carrots from out back."
Castiel had, in truth, never tried 'stew'. He had never really eaten much food at all; being an angel he didn't need to. But it's not like it would kill him. "Yes, stew is fine. I . . . I love stew."
Catherine grinned-though Cas was unsure why- and stepped out into the dark.
"Will you stay?" Margret asked.
He turned to where she was, having temporarily forgotten her presence.
"Will you stay with us?" she asked again.
"So long as I am welcomed and needed," Castiel replied.
She smiled. "Good . . . Catherine would love if you stayed, I know she would. But there will be some conditions . . . She'll make you pull your weight-mark my words."
"Where are your parents?" Castiel asked, ignoring her previous statements. If they needed his help with work he would gladly oblige.
"They died last year," Margret said sadly. "Just Cat and I now. Our father had a small dowry set aside for her . . . She used it to pay for feed until we got the farm back up on its feet. She takes care of us, she does. People in town call her a man and look away when she walks by, but they'll still purchase our vegetables-Cat says it's because they know our soil's better than anywhere else in the world."
Castiel picked up two things from that explanation 1) Margret talked a lot and 2) Catherine was independent. You didn't see very many independent women in that time . . .
The door swung open and Catherine reentered the house. "Put some water on, would you Margret? And you, angel-man. Be a dear and start cutting."
She threw him the bundle of carrots she had brought in with her and gestured to the knife laying on the table.
"Mmm . . ." Castiel never thought human food could be so delicious. "This is amazing . . . What's it called again?"
Margret giggled. "It's Stew!"
"I like this," Castiel told them.
"I'll have to make it more often then," Catherine said.
"You are a brilliant cook," he told her. She blushed slightly and thanked him quietly. He liked that . . . When she was quiet.
"You'll be sleeping my bed upstairs," Catherine told him. "While you're here I'll move in with Maggie. Tomorrow morning I'll wake you up early so you can help with the feeding, then you can go into town and heal some people. That alright?"
"Yes," Castiel replied. He wasn't quite sure what she meant by 'feeding' but it didn't sound like it could be too hard. "But there is no need for you to give up your bed, Catherine. I do not sleep."
"You don't sleep," Margret said. "Why not?"
"It isn't needed," he told her. "I would be happy to start this 'feeding' business while you two are resting, if you'd like."
Catherine snorted. "Animals have already been fed for today. You'll have to wait for us anyway, doubt you'd know what to do being an angel and such. No you just keep yourself busy a few hours, then. Do whatever it is that . . . angels do, I suppose."
Castiel did as instructed. He waited all night for Margret and Catherine to finish sleeping and teach him to feed the animals. While they slept, he sat outside on the roof; guarding their house. He wasn't sure what from, but that's all he could really think to do anyway. Robbers and thieves were always a possibility.
"Castiel!" he heard Catherine yell from inside. "Oi! Angel-man! Where'd you go?!"
He appeared back in the kitchen; same place as before. Once again Margret jumped. "I was on the roof."
"What for?" Margret asked.
"I was keeping watch," he replied. "Will you teach me to feed the animals now?"
Catherine nodded. "Yes, but first, breakfast." She tossed him a small piece of bread. "Make it last; probably all you'll get 'til supper."
He shook his head and held it back out to her. "I do not need to eat; please save what little you have for yourselves."
Margret shook her head as she pulled her hair back into her bandanna. "Doesn't sleep, doesn't eat . . . Next thing he'll be saying is that he doesn't need to breathe!"
"Actually I-"
Catherine slapped her hand over his mouth. "That's enough out of you, angel-man. C'mon, I'll show you how to feed the chickens. That'll be your job from now on."
When they got outside, Castiel followed Catherine around the back of the house to a little fenced off area attached to a chicken coop. She filled his hands with seed from the bag that was propped up against the coop and then took some for herself. "You've got to make sure they all get some, so sprinkle it out to them like this."
She demonstrated the proper way to throw seed at the birds. Castiel nodded and mimicked her actions.
"Good!" she praised. "Now, come watch how to get the eggs."
She ducked inside the coop and gestured for Cas to follow. "You've got to be careful not to break them. And once you've got them you put them in that basket there."
She pointed. Cas nodded, took the basket and walked over to one of the nests. Very carefully, he picked up one of the eggs and placed it in the basket.
"Just like that," she told him. "Now, I'm going to go take care of the horses (we've got two to help us with the plowing), Maggie's got the cows. Once you've finished with that, bring the basket back to the house and place it on the table. Then you can go into town like I said. And no using your angel-powers to get the job done; hard work is good for the soul, that's what my dad used to say."
"Yes, ma'am," Castiel agreed. "And what of the goats?"
"I take them after the horses," Catherine told him. "Then, Maggie and I go out and bring in any harvest we might have; though it is a bit early in the year. But you don't need to worry about that, all I ask is that you take care of the chickens."
Castiel could have helped out more-he knew he could have. But Catherine wasn't asking him to, almost like she didn't want him to, so he didn't press the matter.
Twenty minutes later, he had finished collecting the eggs and was walking back up to the house when he heard a shriek. It was coming from the horse stables. Breaking his promise not to use his powers, Cas sent the egg basket to the house and flew to the stables.
Catherine was laying in a heap on the ground in one of the stalls. The horse inside was bucking around like crazy. Castiel sent it telepathic thoughts to calm it down. Once it was still, he entered the stall and crouched down next to Catherine. "Are you alright?"
Her eyes blinked open and she nodded, though she was holding the side of her head like it hurt. "Crazy old horse . . . Sorry about that."
"It's not a problem. Would you like me to fix your head?"
"No thank you," she told him. "I don't like to depend on other people to help me unless I'm dying if that's alright with you." She pulled herself to her feet without any assistance. "Now, go make the world a healthier place and be home in time for supper."
Castiel nodded and disappeared. Catherine was sure she'd never get used to that.
As the months went on, that daily routine first experienced continued. Of course, there were other little details here and there. Like when Margret slipped and fell in the mud, and Catherine laughed so Margret pulled her down as well, and then Castiel after and the three of them sat and laughed for a while. Or when Catherine taught Castiel how to ride the horse to do the plowing and he nearly rode into the side of the chicken coop. Or when Margret cried because one of the older cows was attacked by a wolf in the middle of the night and died. Or when Castiel learned to help Catherine with the cooking. Or when the three of them celebrated Christmas together and Catherine and Margret gave him a new shirt to wear. Or all the times they went to Church together. Or the way he noticed Catherine starring at him when she thought no one was looking. Or just maybe the way Castiel found himself doing the same to her. Or the way Margret smiled at the two of them like she knew a secret they didn't. All these things seemed like mundane details at the time . . . But truthfully they all played a key part in what would happen. Castiel would fall-because he would become too human.
"Oi angel-man!" Catherine said that night at supper. "Know what I just realized?"
Castiel shrugged.
"You've been with us a whole year now," Catherine replied. "I'd say that's means for celebration, wouldn't you?"
Margret's eyes lit up. "Oh you're right, Cat! It has been a year, hasn't it? We should do something, the three of us . . . Oh I know! Tomorrow, after our morning chores, we can all go into town! Doesn't that sound nice? We can look in shop windows and I can use the money I've been saving to get gifts. Our Christmas was kind of small this year . . . We could have another!"
"Oh come off it," Catherine told her. "We're not even supposed to give each other presents in the first place-we're family! Gift giving is for landlords and tenants and business partners and . . . the King!"
Margret giggled. "Oh come on . . . You know Mother and Father always liked to give us things. Said it was reward for us being so faithful even in the hard times we faced. Well, times have been pretty hard lately, why can't we spoil ourselves a little?"
Castiel took another bite of his dinner. "I agree with Margret . . . You girls have been so kind to me, you deserve something nice. Tomorrow we will go out and I'll buy you each a gift to show my thanks."
Catherine laughed. "With what money?"
"Everyone in town owes me a favor," Castiel told her. "I think I'll be able to pull something together."
The next day when they entered the town, Castiel was surprised to see no one lined up at his normal spot, waiting to be healed. He pushed the thought aside though; he had to find gifts for Margret and Catherine.
"We're going to go look at dresses," Margret told him. "Mines too small now . . . We might buy some fabric-wouldn't want to bore you, Castiel."
He nodded. "Alright. I'll meet you back here in an hour then." Perfect, now he'd have time to look for something . . .
Finding Margret a gift was easy. He found it as he was walking by a group of stands. A young woman stood behind a table, where there was jewelry displayed. The one he chose was a black cord with a green stone on the end. Maggie would like that, he knew it. Catherine though . . . She wasn't really the type for jewelry. Finding her a gift was going to be difficult.
He considered a book but he wasn't even actually sure that Catherine could read. He could always teach her, of course. And he knew how much she would like it . . . Not a boring book filled with facts, but a fun book. A story book. Yes, Catherine would absolutely love that! He found one that seemed to be interesting enough-a story filled with magic and make-believe would work well. He made a deal with the shop keeper to heal his sick son the next day and took the book without pay, as he had done with the necklace. He figured nearly and hour had passed so he made his way back to the dress shop.
Catherine and Margret were already waiting outside. Catherine had a bundle of cloth in her arms.
"Castiel!" Margret called. "I'm going to sew Cat and I each a new dress when we get home. Isn't that wonderful?"
He nodded. "Very good indeed, Maggie. Oh, and I got you something."
He pulled the necklace out of his pocket and held it out to her. Her eyes lit up as she examined it. "Castiel! It's amazing . . . How did you afford it?"
"I healed the jeweler's husband last spring, apparently. She was more than happy to give it to me for you. I hope you like it."
"I love it!" she said. She swung her arms around his neck, then pulled back quickly not wanting to cause a scene. "Thank you so much! I wish I had something left over to get you a gift but I spent all my money on the cloth . . ."
"It's fine," he told her. "You owe me nothing." He turned to Catherine. "I got you something as well."
"Oh really?" she asked. "What is it then?"
He pulled the book out from behind his back where he had been hiding it. "It's a story book. I wasn't sure if you can read . . . But I'll be happy to teach you if you wish."
Catherine smiled broadly. "A book! I loves books . . . Haven't read one in ages, things have been so crazy lately. My mother taught me to read when I was little. Thank you, Castiel!"
Without warning, Catherine pressed her lips quickly to his and pulled back before anyone around could notice.
His face turned bright red and he stammered when he spoke. "Y-you're welcome, Cat."
"Now then," she said, lacing her fingers through his on one and Margret's with the other. "Let's get out of here quickly . . . I hate being inside the town. The walls make me nervous. I'm much happier out on our farm thank you."
"Wait!" a voice called from behind them. "Stop where you are!"
The three of them turned around to face a short little man wearing colorful and clean clothing.
"Can we help you?" Castiel asked.
"Catherine and Margret Greene, correct?"
The two of them nodded.
"Is it true that the two of you have been living on your father's land since his death on your own?" the man asked. He must work for the king . . . Some kind of property tax collector. Catherine gulped. Women weren't supposed to have their own land . . . It just wasn't something that happened. But it wasn't like she hadn't been paying the taxes for their property or sending in the required amount of their harvest.
"No," Castiel answered. "I live with them."
The man's eyes widened. "Are you suggesting that an unmarried man live under the same roof as two unmarried wom-"
"No," Castiel interrupted. "It's not like that. They supply me with housing so long as I help them with work on the farm and continue to heal people in town everyday. I am Castiel; the Healer."
"Man witch!" the man cried. "Just a man witch if you ask me!"
"Bugger off!" a shop keeper yelled. "Castiel saved my son's life; you leave him alone!"
"Yeah!" another voice called. "He's our savior you lousy dog!"
More voices shouted out defended Cas, and Catherine took the distraction as a blessing and used it to sneak away; her sister and Castiel close behind.
When they reached the farm again, the three of them erupted into fits of laughed. Castiel had never laughed so hard in his life; and he was old. Things on heaven always seemed so much more . . . Serious. It was nice to live with Cat and Maggie and just feel . . . free. Feel human.
When Catherine caught her breath again, she grabbed Cas by his collar and pulled him down into another kiss. It was so improper Castiel almost stopped her . . . Almost.
"Finally!" Margret shouted. "I've been waiting a year for that!"