Chapter 7 - The River
The sky was a dusky gold, strewed with the setting sun's warming rays as the day retreated into night. Combined with the rhythmic trickle of the river and the silent hush of the valley the evening was peaceful, despite the day's misadventures.
The three girls were sat on the bridge just east of the little village. They were all silent, stewing their individual thoughts.
On the side nearest the village was Celia. Heavy bags hung on her greying face and she looked as frail as an old spinster. She sat with her legs crossed, picking absent mindedly at the skin around her nails as she thought about her argument with Vesta and the things she missed back at the farm. Marlin had finally dropped off her stuff and managed a few feeble steps before he had to be carried to the doctors. Surprisingly, he was very light.
On the other side nearing Vesta's farm was Muffy. Her immaculate legs hung over the side of the bridge, shoes and socks long forgotten. She rested her head in her arms, gazing out over the water and thing about Jack. And Gustafa. And Grant. Grant merely because she figured it would save everyone from his tedious moaning and may even favour his snotty daughter. Her face was tear stricken and her eyes were red and puffy - she had had a 'omg what have i done?' moment and had been hypersensitive all day.
In the middle was Claire, battered by a hard day's work rejoining the two halves of her farm. Her farm! She still got a rush when she thought about it. It was torturous work though, her hands were blistered from the tools and she was blue in the face. There were still a million things left to do and her mind refused to allow her to forget them.
It was, of course, when all the girls looked frankly their worst, that Skye made an appearance. He strolled through the fast disappearing sunset, hands shoved in his pocked he turned over the necklace once again. It was a silver locket, heart shaped and of the finest craftsmanship. Lumina had fine taste in jewellery, so Skye often 'dropped by' to pick up a few pieces. He smiled confidently, safe in the knowledge that only he knew it was full of his sperm.
He happened upon the trio on his way to the windmills further east of the valley. He would have continued as carelessly as his evening stroll except he had tried to rob two of them and the third was the love of his life. Claire! How beautiful she is! He felt fluttery at the mere mention.
"h-h-h-hi, Claire!!" He finally spewed out, rather shakily.
The distraction wasn't welcome, but Claire felt obliged not to brush him off. She had flirted with all the boys until they were madly in love with her, simply so she could leave them to slowly boil in their deep affection whilst she ran off with another one. She enjoyed her lobsters well cooked.
"Hey Skye" She smiled briefly, remembering the tedious late nights she had had to endure to 'cook' him. She knew of his thievery and considered it the most pathetic of all crimes. More a child stealing a denied sweet than, say, nurder. Still, she held u the conversation.
"I-I'm glad I found you because - " Sky's voice speeded up into a babble "I wanted to give you something! Err..." He ransacked his pockets until he finally gripped the locket in his clammy hands. "Here! For you!"
Claire looked over the locket in his outstretched hand, slightly bemused. She hadn't expected to make a profit from her flirting! "Err... thankyou Sky. I appriciate it." She felt she should put it on, but preferred to slip it into the pocket of her jeans.
Skye smiled Score! He gloated in his head. The other two girls scanned his face, confused. Noticing this he turned on them and flashed them his best smile. "Don't spoil those pretty faces with jealously, ladies, there's plenty of me to go around!" He winked, using his favourite lines. "Gotta Jet!" He ran off without chase - no-one could be bothered to go all angry mob on him.
"It's getting late, we should go home." Celia warned, staring back into the night. It was getting warmer, Summer was on its way fast.
Claire turned back towards the river and made an agreeing noise.
"One thing though," Muffy was staring into the river with more interest than the other two liked "I would really like to cool off in the river..."
"Are you suggesting skinny dipping?" Claire asked incredulously.
"Eww, no! I can just fetch our swimming costumes!" Celia squinted into the river thinking of all the potential danger they could get in.
"She said it, not me!" Muffy bickered, sourly swinging her legs onto the bridge and retrieving her shoes. "I was just thinking out loud. It is getting warmer, after all"
Celia considered the icy rapids below. "I do need a wash" She found herself admitting.
They looked into the water below and found themselves considering the idea.
