Fall 11th

It would be an outright lie if anyone said that Claire wasn't working hard. As the air temperature began to cool and the valley's foliage gradually turned colors, Claire could now bend down and tend to the crops without any more pain in her back and her legs. Their giant plastic watering can no longer felt like a massive boulder, and she could carry it with one hand and only limited burning in her arm.

Still, she had gotten off to a slow start this morning. Somehow she couldn't remember a single one of her dreams lately, and so it was as if she hadn't slept at all. Fortunately, she was still turning over in bed while Jill was up before dawn making soft noises -- probably preparing a light breakfast before disappearing off to who-knows-where.

Jill had been up to something lately. Just this morning, Claire was snuggling comfortably with the quilt pressed against her lips. She caught a glimpse of deep, rich black sky when Jill cracked the door open. Claire could only see her friend tightening her ponytail before setting off in a burst of energy. Nothing to worry about, she'd figured. Jill was ten times more the big girl who could take care of herself, and each time she returned home with nothing to report, Claire inferred that the dusty spots on her clothes simply meant other laborious chores. Whatever floated her boat.

It was about 9:25 a.m., and even after watering many plots of soon-to-be eggplants, yams, and carrots, she was still stretching out her fatigue after entering the double-doors to the barn. Immediately she spotted a bale of hay and yearned to sit on it for awhile, but knew that Snowy and Momoko must be hungry.

Claire smiled at the sheep and the cow, proud of how she had come to connect with animals other than normal house pets. All summer she had tended to Snowy, shearing for the first few times in fear of hurting her, but tending to her gingerly, avoiding letting the sheep get overheated at all possible costs. Snowy seemed grateful, and seemed to want thorough petting and hand-feeding sessions after barely even a week. Momoko was brand-new, dusty brown with a wide face that resembled a generous-sized round cookie that Mother used to bake as a special treat.

"Any day now she should feel more relaxed and willing to give milk," Jill said each morning, patting Momoko's large rump. But Claire respected Momoko's large, expressive watery eyes. Cows, she thought, tended to have a motherly look, but on the first few days Momoko looked to Claire and Jill like a child wanting comfort from its parents.

"Not today, huh?" Claire glanced up at Momoko after having cared for and fed the animals, taking away the rather expensive milker at the sight of the cow's pleading eyes. "Don't worry. You still have your beautiful coat for me to look at. No need to speak -- your eyes say it all. Whenever you're ready, big girl. … Hey, Snowy. Are you jealous? You want me to pet you again?"

The doors to the barn were shut, yet Claire lifted her head a bit to check whether or not she really did hear voices. Watching the hard-packed dirt floor, shadows and the shapes of feet and pants' legs slithered in through the narrow gap. Claire could only assume the "engine" of this train of people was Jill, judging by the slenderness of the shadow. A pair of boots followed behind her, followed by thick shapes that were strong as tree trunks.

"You work well for a novice in the early morning," came a thick, deep, rich male voice. It was a baritone that Claire had never heard before, and it made her shiver.

"See? In time it'll be addicting. We'll be happy even if you come join us every day," added a mature womanly voice. The strange man and woman chuckled together.

"I can't wait to show everything I've found," Jill replied, evident that she spoke in pure wonder.

"You'll find that the right quantity of that stuff can make you a pretty penny, too," the man said.

Claire timidly opened the double doors and only her blond head emerged. Jill was holding a brown burlap sack that looked like a recycled bag for potatoes, something heavy weighing it down at the bottom. Next to her was a smiling older lady with a ponytail made of goldenrod-colored waves. She wore nerdy but professional-looking glasses, baggy shorts and a plain top, her body meaty but carved at the same time. When she smiled, her eyes narrowed in a cute fashion and a pink color tinted her smooth face. To their far left was a man of rather short stature, also bulky, with gray-black hair thicker than an animal's proud mane, also in glasses. He seemed also sophisticated and scholarly, wearing a khaki-colored leather vest over a crisp white shirt, a jagged fang-looking necklace adorning his upper chest. Something about his complexion also seemed gray and dusty. Claire wondered if this man was unaccustomed to a good night's sleep. Something important obviously kept him busy.

Jill cleared her throat. "Hey, Claire. This is Flora, and that's Carter. They practically own that excavation site, and their tent's roomier than it looks. They're loaded with the most high-tech camping gear! I was just over there checking it out, and the next thing you know, I dug up a whole bunch of cool stuff!"

"N-nice to meet you," Claire muttered, nodding to each of them as she wiped animal hair on her overalls, stepping out of the barn. "Oh, uh… I took care of the crops and animals for you."

Jill pulled her over with a firm tug and lay her strong arm around Claire's shoulders. "That's really cool of you, Claire. Thanks. I'll take care of the shipping for you."

"My Claire's such a sweetheart," Jill commented, teasing the short blonde with a light punch to the shoulder. Claire still wasn't quite used to that. Flora giggled and Carter grunted.

Claire pulled a red bandanna out of her pocket and patted her face and neck, searching for something to say as Jill took a moment's leave. She really did have a late start in the day. Jill finished something and came back with guests, and Takakura had already left his house. And normally Takakura would peer out the window and wave at everybody.

"Can I make you guys some sandwiches? You must be hungry and tired after all that work."

"Oh, we're used to it." Flora waved her hand and gave her a great smile. Carter nodded politely and tucked one hand into his pocket, casual and classy at the same time. Claire was so impressed that Jill had made friends with such higher-up people. It only seemed fitting that Jill would hang out with friends that shared the same energetic drive and work ethic.

"We have all we need back at the site," Carter spoke in his grumbling voice. "We do appreciate the offer, though."

"Are you two… uh…." Claire stammered and blushed, unable to stop herself before catching sight of their bare ring fingers. Flora's hands seemed callused like Jill's, but still feminine. Carter had large, paw-like man hands. It was a mystery how a little team of two people could work that hard and accomplish much.

"Married? Naw," Flora said with a light laugh, looking down at the grass.

"I guess I work her to death and don't give her the time for a personal life," Carter said with a humble smile. "I'm the guilty one."

"Oh, stop," Flora gushed, laying her hand on Carter's chest. "You know there's nothing more I like than our work. In fact, maybe you should get a girlfriend! Hehehe!"

Carter mumbled something incomprehensible. Claire raised her eyebrows in amusement.

"Hey." Jill came up behind her and slapped Claire on the shoulder. "We're gonna walk around for a little bit just to take a break, and then after that I'm going on a brief run with Wally. Is that okay? Can you hold down the fort for me? You can go off and hang out if you want."

"Sure, no problem."

"Nice meeting you," Flora and Carter said in unison. Claire waved and returned their words of kindness. The prospective couple were already halfway down the path that led into town when Jill stopped, pivoted, and approached Claire once more.

"I found something," she seemed to suddenly remember. "I'm going to let you have it."

"Is it aspirin?"

"You goof." Jill reached into the burlap sack and fumbled, eyes brightening when she found what she was searching for. Something purple and shining snaked and coiled over Jill's hand when she pulled it out, and after a quick rub-down, enough dust and dirt fell to reveal a long necklace.

Claire examined it in her own hands, feeling its surprising weight and turning it in the light to observe its shimmer. Too bad her fingernails were stumps now; she wanted to tap on it -- surely this was made of something much more valuable than just heavy glass beads.

"A necklace? Wow! That was in the mine?"

"Yeah." Jill looked at her shoes sheepishly. "Okay, so maybe it's dirty and all, but I figured it would cheer you up. It's something you don't normally come by here."

"Thanks," Claire said slowly. "That's really neat. You don't want to sell it off? It could have belonged to someone important a long time ago."

"I want you to have it," Jill repeated awkwardly. "You don't like it?"

"I'm not saying that. It's a perfect surprise. I mean, I like it. I really do. I guess that, you know, the fact that it's jewelry. I look like a dirty farmer all day."

"Nah, you can wear it. It'll look great on you. Anyway, I gotta go. See you when I get home for dinner!"

If there was to be any dinner. Claire remembered that they really needed to get cracking on a better means of dining. They'd been eating sandwiches straight for such a long time, she couldn't even taste them anymore.

She went to the water spicket attached to the side of the farmhouse and gently rinsed her gift, shining all the brighter when the sun hit the water. How pretty! This would have to be saved for… her purple overalls. Claire lamented that she hadn't anything nicer to wear this with. It definitely wasn't suited for everyday wear.

"Why would Jill give this to me?" she wondered out loud, holding it up to her chest and then laying it on her forearm, taking note of how elegant it looked against her skin. She stared at it hard, imagining that it actually came from Marlin, delivered by Jill. With this fantasy in mind, she hugged the necklace close and rode out the overwhelming wave of blushing heat and fluttering in her heart.