It all suddenly seemed overwhelming. A new person in a small town who everyone would want to know was a little daunting, and that wasn't even counting the secret freakin' magical mission she was on to save the town without them knowing. The urge to catch Finn and cuddle him close, to remember fairies were real, that she could see them and was really someone who was actually, kinda, a little, somewhat special struck her. Auburn eyes darted around to find Finn, but he was flitting too far ahead, a glittering little ball darting low over grass and bouncing through the leaden, warm air.
"Evelyn?" Toby interrupted gently. She jerked and looked up, blinking slightly too wide eyes. "Don't worry. Just be yourself. Most of us around here are the race of Joseph, that I can promise," he assured her with a kind smile. Evelyn couldn't help but feel the knots in her shoulders loosen.
"Was it so obvious I was freaking out?" Evelyn asked with a slightly tremulous smile.
"Only a little. Look, we're here," Toby announced, raising a hand to signal at the bright yellow-clad young woman walking up from the barn at the bottom of the slope spread out in front of them. The girl waved back enthusiastically and began to hurry her pace towards them. As soon as Evelyn caught sight of the pretty, smiling face beneath a pixie cut of fawn brown hair and big, glowing, brown eyes, her hands came up to clasp together in front of her and her own eyes sparkled. Somehow the heavy yellow smock of a dress and heavier thick brown boots looked dainty and feminine on the girl's stocky, yet petite frame.
"That's Renee, isn't it? Oh, she's adorable," Evelyn gushed quietly. "We're gonna friend so hard," she vowed. Toby had to stifle a snort behind his fist, shoulders shaking slightly under his baggy coat.
"Good afternoon! Hiya, Toby! You're Evelyn, right? My papa told me all about you," Renee introduced, just as gushing and excited as Evelyn. The auburn-haired newcomer stepped up eagerly, nodding rapidly. The nerves that had assaulted her just moments before had evaporated within seconds of hearing Renee talking so kindly and cheerfully.
"Yup! That's me! I love your home! It's so big and beautiful! The barn, I mean! And the windmill, that thing is huge, I saw it from the road. And your dress is super cute. How do you look so refreshing and clean after spending all morning with animals!? I'm a mess and I just planted a handful of potatoes!" Evelyn expelled all on one breath, her mouth in a face-splitting grin.
"Ask about the Goddess Spring! Why are you talking about clothes, Evie? The Spring! The Spring!" Finn cried aloud as he spun around their heads. It took considerable willpower not to swat at him.
"You're so funny," Renee giggled. "I was worried you'd be so much older than me, and with Anissa gone, I'd be so lonely. But you must be the same age as me and a total cutie."
"Me?! No, you are! Toby's right. We're going to be great friends, aren't we?" Evelyn exclaimed. Renee reached out and grasped Evelyn's hands.
"Yes, I'll show you all around Flute Fields and help you with anything you need. I've lived on a ranch my whole life, so I'll be your first line of defense! Count on me," Renee declared happily. Evelyn squeezed Renee's hands back gently.
"That's such a relief, really. I've been reading so many books I've gotten headaches from it. You're welcome to Serenity anytime you want. I'll even make you breakfast once I have food in my fridge," Evelyn promised with a wry tilt of her head and mouth. Renee giggled again.
"How about I bring the breakfast and you tell me all about college? I've never gone and I've never left Castanet. I'd love to hear your stories."
"That I can do," Evelyn agreed. They stood smiling happily at each other before Toby cleared his throat. They both jumped and squeaked in shock.
"I don't suppose we're too late for lunch? Evelyn has a long walk if she's gonna eat at Ocarina," Toby led on pointedly, sending Evelyn a sly wink at Renee's horrified gasp.
"Walk all the way back to Harmonica on an empty stomach? So late in the afternoon? You'll come eat with us, Evelyn. I know what you're after, Toby, and yes you can come, too," Renee tutted at him, her pretty pink mouth all smiles despite her wagging finger. "I caught a couple very nice brown trout yesterday and Mama will make up some of that risotto you like so much to go with it, I know she will once she sees you," Renee told them, shuffling them up the steps as she chattered gaily.
"I couldn't possibly–" Evelyn tried even as Toby took her pack and Renee shut the door behind them.
"You could possibly and you will possibly. Papa's been waiting and waiting for you all morning. He's got a surprise he's just itching to give you. Mama! Papa! Company's come!" Renee called out.
"If it's that layabout Toby, he ain't company!" a woman's voice called back.
"Oh, it's much better company than just boring old me," Toby said back, voice pitched just enough to be heard. Renee tsked, swatting his arm, and took all the things he held to put away.
Evelyn took stock of the store they'd entered then as Toby laughed quietly next to her. There were shelves along the walls and a huge display island in the center, all piled with dairy and egg products. One shelf had wickedly sharp and shining wool shears next to brushes and curry combs and hoof picks (all things she'd seen in her For Dummies books). Bags and bags of poultry feed, and even a towering stack of hay, were heaped in every empty floor space. Though, somehow… it all seemed a little… bare. Across the room, on the other side of the display island of eggs and milk bottles, stood the counter and register. The door behind the register swung open and a short, downright chubby and curvy woman, with her fair, wispy hair pulled back into a tight bun and her round, cheery face looking curious bustled out. She stopped dead, looked at the three young people in the doorway, and her already cheery face became joyful.
"Why it's the Miss Rancher Girl!" she exclaimed. Renee and Evelyn laughed, though Toby looked a bit confused at the title.
"It is," Evelyn agreed. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Horn, though I feel like we already have thanks to your husband."
"He is a chatterbox, my Cain. But it's all right by me, you're always welcome here and you're to call me Hanna. Think of Horn Ranch as a second home, young lady. I won't have a girl like you, all alone and cute as a button, feeling lonely, no siree. You come and drink tea with me whenever you need a cuppa," Hanna ordered, eyes as bright and brown as her daughter's meeting Evelyn's square on. Evelyn ducked her head, scratching the back of her head almost shyly.
"Thank you, I'd like that, uh, Hanna," Evelyn admitted quietly.
"And you! You lazy fishbrain, what are you doing back in my ranch? Hm? Here to eat up the last of my famous goat cheese, are you? Haven't you got your own stove and hands?" Hanna demanded, rounding on Toby and wagging her finger, very like Renee. Toby's head ducked as well, even as his mouth curled up the side.
"You know I can't stay away from your cooking for long, ma'am. Nothing I cook tastes half as good," he confessed, looking meek and mischievous at once. Hanna snorted once.
"I'd almost believe it if I didn't know any better. You're all skin an' bones an' brown skin, all you Fishers always are. Goddess knows your uncle can't do more than fry a fish on a stick and call it dinner. Next time you bring Paolo, you hear me? That boy's still growing and he needs milk, fresh milk. You take him some tonight," Hanna said, bustling towards the kitchen. Evelyn had the feeling Hanna bustled everywhere. She giggled behind her hand and nudged at Toby's arm. He merely winked once more and shrugged.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Come on to the kitchen. Papa will be in soon. I'll make us some tea. You do like tea, right? I might have a few strawberries left, if you'd like some strawberry milk. It's my favorite," Renee offered kindly.
"Dear, if there are strawberries left, I'll give up my last pitcher of milk to the stray cats. You've eaten them all days ago," Hanna retorted without even looking over her shoulder as she dug around the fridge. Renee blushed, eyes darting at Toby.
"Mama," Renee hissed, rushing towards across the kitchen.
"I'd be fine with tea. I like tea," Evelyn assured them.
"Here, sit next to me. You don't want to get trapped between Cain and Hanna. You'll gain ten pounds between the two of them feeding you," Toby whispered, hand on Evelyn's shoulder as he pulled out a chair. Evelyn snickered.
"I wouldn't mind so much. I'll be sweating it all out just hoeing and running everywhere. I like my extra chub. I won't even look like me by summer at this rate," Evelyn complained good-naturedly as she sank into the chair with a happy sigh.
"A girl that appreciates what the Goddess gave her. Now that's refreshing. My Renee is like that, but so many of these fancy newfangled diets and purges make a woman's head spin thinking she's gotta look like every model in the magazines. I thought all city girls liked size zero pants and juice cleanses," Hanna questioned, nose wrinkling in disapproval.
"If anyone makes me live on juice alone, I'd pour it over their heads. I love food! I like chewing my food, too, not drinking it," Evelyn declared stoutly.
"I would try a diet, maybe, but I really don't like vegetables as much as I should," Renee admitted with a laugh. "I couldn't live a whole day without eggs or milk!"
"I should think not! You live on a ranch, sweetheart," boomed an all too familiar voice.
"Papa!" Renee announced unnecessarily. He clomped his way around the table, kissing his wife's cheek soundly and ruffling Renee's hair, making her laugh, before swinging into a chair.
"So it's Miss Rancher Girl and our boy, Toby," Cain said, grinning wide and leaning his elbows on the table's surface.
"It's nice to see you again so soon, Mr. Cain," Evelyn greeted.
"I'm really not a boy, Cain. I'm twenty-six," Toby said dryly.
"Twenty-six!?" Evelyn cried out in shock. "You barely look twenty-three! Shouldn't being out on the ocean all day make you look older!? Like a sea captain?"
Everyone laughed at her shock and blurted out query. Evelyn blushed bright red and sunk a little lower in her seat. Finn settled on top of her hair, miffed on her behalf. His tiny hands patted her head encouragingly.
"I thought it was a good question, Evie," the fairy told her. Evelyn groaned under her breath. Finn thinking it was a good question just showed how bad it was.
"I wear a hat," Toby replied teasingly. Evelyn's mouth twitched up at the tone.
"It's that Fisher blood, sweetheart. They all got good genes, the lot of them," Hanna explained somehow resigned and impressed at once. Toby tipped his head at her graciously, that teasing curl still on his lips.
"You don't look very old yourself, Miss Rancher Girl," Renee perked up, voice still filled with laughter. "You ever gonna tell us your age? You told Papa your birthday, but not the important bit."
Evelyn shrugged a little. "Just barely twenty-one. My birthday is the right around the Winter Solstice, actually. It usually lands right on the last day of autumn. I was supposed to graduate this May from university, but I found the rancher ad online just around my finals. So, here I am."
"You… you dropped out of university? Why? You only had a semester left!" Renee exclaimed in dismay and shock.
Evelyn blushed and stared down at her plate. She couldn't really explain Finn, or his request for her help, or even why she decided to do it, really. She really had dropped out, dropped out of college, her life, her friends, her everything for a fairy and a farm that was falling apart and that she owed 5000 auree on! While there was a jittery sense of anxiety and panic just under her skin whenever she though too hard about it, she couldn't help but feel like it was the right thing. Silence rang for a moment.
"Renee!" Hanna finally hissed. Renee gasped and jumped slightly, hand covering her mouth.
"What's a semester?" Finn whispered in her ear. Evelyn chuckled behind her hand, and then looked up.
"It seemed like the right thing to do, I suppose," Evelyn echoed her internal monologue as she met Renee's eyes. The other young woman blushed, brown eyes dropping.
"I'm sorry, that was a really rude question," Renee mumbled, rocking side to side slightly.
"It's all right. I sorta shocked everyone I knew. It does seem a little… reckless to take off with only one semester left. But sometimes you have to do what feels right, even if it's scary, or looks crazy," Evelyn said with a bright grin, head tilted to the side and one shoulder cocked a little high. It happened to be the shoulder Finn rested on, bringing him up closer to discreetly rub her cheek to his stocking-capped head. The Horns all smiled back, their easygoing natures understanding what it meant to go with life's flow and make the best of it. Toby's eyes had widened once more, their bright green fixed on Evelyn's cheerful smile, his shocked look falling into something more impressed. Evelyn barely caught the look out the side of her eye, but she ignored it, and the slight blush on her cheeks, with aplomb.
"I suppose it's time to get this meal on the table?" Hanna announced, setting a heaping dish of cheesy, delicious looking risotto in the middle. Renee came up behind her and set down another dish of beautifully cooked fish fillets. The smell of it had Evelyn's stomach growling loud enough for everyone to hear. They were laughing again as they dug in.
…
"I'm so glad you invited me with you to Horn Ranch for lunch. It was awesome!" Evelyn confessed to Toby more than hour later. Her belly was stuffed full and she was waving to Renee from the top of the hill, half-turned as the two of them walked back towards the bridge. Cain was already leading a small calf out of the barn, which had Evelyn's heart palpitating wildly with excited glee. She could still see those sweet brown eyes in that black and white face in her mind's eye. A baby calf all her own and for free.
"My pleasure, though it's more the Horns' doing than mine," Toby replied simply.
"You didn't have to walk with me, or spend time persuading me to go right when we did. I lay on the blame on you for my new friends. Though, the lunch was definitely more on Renee and Hanna. I'm so stuffed. All I have at home are some instant noodle cups I brought from my dorm! What a lucky break," Evelyn cheered, fist pumping.
"That doesn't sound very filling… I enjoyed those as a child, but my mother always made me eat a 'real meal' with it," Toby said slowly, his fair brows contracting in a light frown.
"Psh, it's fine. I lived on those things for weeks during the poorest parts of the semester. It's the college student diet, Tobes," Evelyn joked, flapping her hand in his direction.
"Tobes?" he repeated, deadpanned and one eyebrow rising.
"Just trying it out," Evelyn laughed. She glanced at the nearby sign, squinting slightly to make out the words. She'd need a new prescription soon at this rate. "This is my turn here. Um, you?" she asked a little awkwardly. Toby gave her a small smile.
"It's late enough, I'll be heading back to Harmonica. The Fishery closes early and I like to help my uncle close the shop," Toby told her.
"Oh! Maybe I'll see you tomorrow?" She looked to the side, frowning. "The Mayor wanted me to come by the town, but I don't think I'll have time today once I get home with my new seeds."
"Don't forget, you have a calf to get to know, too," Toby reminded her. Her lips curved into a bright, wide smile.
"Of course I won't forget. I can't believe he gave that to me for free. And Ms. Hanna gave me a sickle to help with weeding. Everyone's been so kind to me today. You, too," Evelyn said with a baffled look on her still smiling face.
"You're an easy girl to be kind to. You never take a gift for granted. It's funny to see how flustered a city girl like you gets when we homely little town folk do you a good turn," Toby teased with a chuckle. Evelyn blushed and looked away.
"You better get walkin', Fisher, I hear it's a long walk back," she retorted smartly, nose lifting in the air. Toby only laughed harder before turning away.
"See you 'round, Rancher Girl."
"It's Ms. Rancher Woman to you, buddy!" Evelyn called back. She was jogging towards Marimba Farm, smiling to herself as the sound of his laughter faded away in the stagnant spring air.
…
Evelyn jogged up to Marimba Farm, a smile still lingering on her lips and a skip in her step. Finn was buzzing away beside her, anxious about his Harvest Goddess but content from his large lunch in turns. She hummed and nodded to his ramblings, but was too busy mentally thinking about how to describe Renee and Toby to Cristina later that night on Skype to really pay attention. Sweat slid down her temple and her legs felt a little shaky from the jogging and walking and farming all morning. Not to mention she was still weary from her long bus ride to get to Castanet in the first place. She swiped the back of her gloved hand over her forehead, pausing a moment in the clearing she'd found herself in. To her immediate left was a small white house, the flowers growing alongside weeds and the grass a little too high around the bottom of the picket fence. Inside, she could see a person with messy, carroty orange hair with their back to the window looking as though they might be cooking. In front of her, however, was a much larger building with a giant pumpkin on its sign. The building was a faded, soothing pink and the roof a bright blue. It was shabby, but homey. The grass around the shop was well-trimmed with zero weeds to be seen. Pots hung along the porch filled with flowers and herbs, and to the far right she could see the wide-open fields filled with tall green stalks.
"I wonder what's growing out there…" she murmured as she held up her hands for Finn to land on.
"I dunno. But I feel… something. There's something out there, it makes my wings all shivery," Finn whispered in awe and confusion.
Evelyn blinked in surprise. "Is it the Goddess Spring?"
"Nooo, it doesn't feel quite like that. The Goddess definitely isn't that way, but something is. I felt Mother much stronger at the farm."
"At Serenity?" Evelyn gasped with wide eyes. Finn nodded. "We better hurry up here and take a better look at our home once we do. Deal?"
"Yes! Definitely!" Finn agreed happily.
Evelyn swung into Marimba Farm, deep breath to brace herself, wide grin ready to make a good impression.
…Only to find an older, cranky-looking, blond man yelling at a short, spiky-blond-haired kid about showing respect or something. She hurriedly stepped out of the way as the boy raced out the door, slamming it behind himself so hard the windows on each side rattled. The man huffed impatiently and stomped out of the main room. In the main room, with its box shelves full of puny produce and withered flowers, there was only a shell-shocked Evelyn, Finn, and an older brunette woman sighing and shaking her head.
"Oh! Oh my! You aren't– oh my, I'm sorry you saw that!" the woman exclaimed, her drooping weary eyes wide with shock and shame.
"Oh, it's… all right?" Evelyn hesitantly tried to reassure her. "I wasn't here very long, just for a second, really. Didn't hear a thing."
The woman huffed, a tiny smile playing on her mouth, before she shook it away. "Well, I'm Ruth. I run this rundown little shop. You just saw my husband and my son having one of their usual spats. My son's an idealist, always thinking we aren't doing enough, but my husband is a realist. Both of us know that wishing and magic seeds won't make the soil better 'round here. Only the Goddess can make that miracle happen," Ruth explained simply and briskly. She walked back over to the counter to grab a list from under it. "And you are?"
"Evelyn. Just Evelyn. It's nice to meet you, Ms. Ruth," Evelyn greeted, as upbeat and cheerful as possible as she held up her hand to shake. Ruth's grip was rather tight, but brief.
"The new rancher in Clarinet district? That ol' house had been empty since Gray left years ago. Taylor, my son you just saw, he was only a baby when Gray left," Ruth reminisced slowly, one hand cupping the opposite elbow and that hand cupping her cheek.
"Well, yup, that's me. My house now, I guess. I got most the field tilled and I'm hoping to plant some seeds before dinner," Evelyn said pointedly. Ruth blinked.
"Oh, yes, of course. Here is a list of what we have available. Not much these days, but enough to make a living off of if you can get it to grow in this tired soil," Ruth told her, handing the sheet over. It took only a few moments to pick out what Evelyn could afford and hand over the auree needed. Ruth bagged up the seeds, tying them off deftly.
"Thank you, Ms. Ruth. I'll be seeing you an awful lot, I bet," Evelyn said as she tucked the bags away.
"Maybe. If you last longer than Gray did. No one will blame you if you give up," Ruth replied blandly. Evelyn's smile became tight as Finn huffed angrily. "My husband is Craig, and my son is Taylor. I have a daughter just about your age, but she left just a few days ago. Off on a mission to find seeds to 'revitalize' the soil. Now my son's bound and determined to follow her," Ruth 'tsk'ed and shook her head. "Good luck, Rancher."
"Evelyn! Call me Evelyn!" she called in forced cheer, backing out of the shop and bounding out the door seconds later. "They're kinda downers over here…" Evelyn whispered under her breath to Finn.
"Kinda? They're a LOT downers! Fighting and sighing and talkin' about giving up! No way!" Finn exclaimed, offended and furious in his flailing way. Evelyn giggled and rolled her eyes.
"Heya! You're the new girl! Evelyn, right?" piped up a young, high-pitched voice. Evelyn and Finn both shrieked and jumped in shock. Well, Finn sort of pinwheeled through the air and bumped into the side of Evelyn's head, not jumped, but semantics.
"Who– wha–"
"It's me! I'm Taylor! I listened in on you and Mom talking," the blond boy from earlier explained shamelessly as he bounced to her from the porch swing he'd been lying on.
"Oh! Yes, Evelyn. That's me. Nice to meet you, Taylor," Evelyn introduced, extending her hand. The other hand pressed against her still pounding heart as she laughed the scare off.
"Nice ta meetcha!" Taylor agreed with a wide, gap-toothed grin and a wild, too tight handshake. His eyes lingered on the brightness of Finn's light-bubble, but fell away too quickly to have truly seen him. Evelyn had to hide her disappointment at the fact that a boy so young and eager had already lost his sense of magic. "Well, I'm off! I'll see you whenever I get back!"
"Wait, what?!" Evelyn yelped as he pulled a bulging knapsack out of nowhere and swung it up onto his shoulder.
"I'm gonna go find my sister and help her find seeds to bring back home. I'm not gonna laze around home waiting for nothing," he frowned towards the building as he said it. Then he grinned again and turned to hop down the steps.
"Wait! Tell your mother at least!"
"You can!" he called over his shoulder, laughing. Evelyn and Finn's jaws dropped.
"Aw, hel–llo Vietnam," Evelyn stammered.
…
Hours later, Evelyn gripped her dirty glove between her teeth and tugged it off. The next glove came off before she dipped them into the cool water of her well and splashed it over her sweaty face and neck. Her seeds from Marimba had all been planted and the sun was already falling below the mountain line.
"We didn't find the Goddess Spring," Finn muttered sulkily from where he sat on the brim of the well. Evelyn huffed and slurped up a handful of water. She was too tired and hungry to feel guilty. Lunch seemed another lifetime ago. Especially after the epic raging yelling fest she'd been witness to after informing Ruth and Craig of their son's plan. Craig had taken off to find his son, but it had been a while before they'd stopped screaming. Evelyn had no idea if the sullen, bitter-sounding man had caught up.
"We didn't have time. I have to blend in and make sure it's believable that I'm just a farmer, Finn. I can't just run around and do nothing. I'll be kicked out and starving in no time," Evelyn explained as she stuffed the empty seed bags and farm tools into her rucksack.
"Food is important, I guess," Finn conceded with a sigh.
"It is. How about we go into town and find Hamilton, yeah? I bet he has a pretty good idea where the Spring could be. We can spend my last bit of auree on a nice dinner, too," Evelyn suggested. Finn perked up.
"Yeah!?"
"Yup. Come on, hop on," Evelyn prompted, patting her shoulder. Finn did just that.
Harmonica Town wasn't quite as far as Flute Fields. Even better, there was a small stretch of beach on the way where she found a few sea urchins and pretty pink shells washed up on the shore. She tucked them away, hoping she'd get a bit of auree for them overnight. The very first shops were Passamezzo Photography and Town Hall. That was thankfully easy, Evelyn thought in relief as she shoved her way into Town Hall. The same fussy dumpling of a man from that morning was behind the counter. He perked up and waved wildly from behind his desk before puffing his way towards her.
"You made it! I thought maybe you wouldn't! It's so late now," Hamilton scolded pleasantly. Evelyn rubbed the back of her head, suddenly all too aware of her dirty, sweaty appearance.
"I went to Flute Fields and spent the rest of the day working on my own field. Sorry if I kept you waiting," Evelyn mumbled. Hamilton 'psh'ed and shook his head.
"It's not too late. Not quite dinner time, you know. Why don't you run around town and meet everyone? I'll meet you at Ocarina and buy you a nice dinner as a welcome to Castanet," Hamilton suggested cheerfully.
"You don't– I couldn't ask you to–"
"You're not asking, I'm insisting. You go get to know your new neighbors and I'll tidy up here. See you at 8:00 at Ocarina Inn," Hamilton ordered kindly, then pushed her out the door. Evelyn and Finn stood blinking on his stoop.
"He didn't give you much of a chance to talk at all, did he?"
"Nope, not really. Let's hurry up and meet everyone. Maybe I can get some info during dinner," Evelyn sighed. She ran her gloves over her hair, making sure it was all in place, then grimaced when she remembered how dirty they were. With a weary sigh and shrug, she jogged over to the photo place.
She'd managed to find Simon in the Photography easily– and gotten a free beat up old camera out of it– Choral Clinic, Ocarina Inn, and Brass Bar. She even found the Fishery and the Lighthouse. She mumbled the names under her breath as she neared the next building, Sonata Tailoring. "Simon, Irene, Colleen… uh… uh, what's his name? John? Josh? James? Jake! Lola. No, no, Yolanda. And Maya. Can't forget a girl like that. Ozzie, Paolo… Toby," she smiled softly at her friend's name. His disappointed little frown at her having to turn down his invitation to eat dinner together had been too sweet. Paolo's disappointment had been even more endearing and cute, forcing a promise out of her to return soon. "Hayden and Kathy!" she finished triumphantly. She blushed thinking of Kathy. She'd never seen a woman pull off such a revealing outfit, but still seem fresh-faced and natural at the same time. Envious was definitely the fitting word here.
A cute little bell chimed as the door to the tailor's swung open.
"Oh!" gasped a sweet, quiet voice.
"A customer? This late?" another voice, louder and brisk, added in.
An old woman, short and round-faced, hopped off what seemed to be a stool behind the counter on the far side of the room. The cute pink bandanna made her cheerful face brighter and rounder, and her glasses glinted in the bright light. Nearby, a younger woman, perhaps Evelyn's age, maybe even younger, sat in a small chair with a lap covered in yarn; the knitting needles were still in the yarn in her hands. The knitting girl had long, thick, blue hair in two fluffy braids with bangs cut straight across her forehead. Her big eyes were dark blueberry blue. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes widened when Evelyn met her gaze before dropping to her clunky brown boots.
"Um, not exactly?" Evelyn volunteered a moment later. "The Mayor wanted me to meet everyone, just say hi."
"Oh, well, that's not a problem at all. We aren't quite open for business, but new friends we always make time for. We don't have much stock either…" the older woman fussed, pressing her knuckles to her lips.
"I don't have much money yet, either! But friends are free, I hope," Evelyn laughed. The woman laughed, too, and the younger woman giggled so quietly Evelyn almost didn't hear it. "I'm Evelyn, the new rancher."
"Oh, yes. I heard about you. Hamilton hasn't shut up about you since you answered the ad. No one thought anything would come of it, really. Quite a surprise you were, and he just couldn't stop being uppity about it, that man," the woman prattled on, shaking her head and smiling. "I'm Shelly. This is my granddaughter, Candace. My other girl is still at school, studying Business. She plans on coming back this summer with a degree to boot. What a girl that Luna is." Shelly was glowing with pride as she spoke, but Evelyn's eyes darted to Candace. The girl was staring down at her still hands, face shadowed by her pretty periwinkle blue hair.
"I can't wait to meet her. For now, it's nice to meet you both," Evelyn said diplomatically. She held out her hand for Shelly to shake, then thrust the same hand into Candace's line of sight. The blue-haired woman started and threw her head up to meet Evelyn's bright gaze. "Nice to meet you, Candace."
"Oh, yes! It's my p-pleasure to m-meet you, too," Candace whispered softly. Her tiny pale hand wrapped around Evelyn's glove without hesitation, and the new rancher smiled happily.
"We'll be great friends in no time," Evelyn vowed decidedly. Candace blushed, but her lips trembled into a smile.
"I'm not v-very interesting, but I'd love to be f-friends," she replied.
"Have you met the whole town, then, Evelyn?" Shelly asked, looking very satisfied with Evelyn's gentle, but firm way of including Candace.
"I think I just have two left. Perry, up at the church, and a man named Chase? Maya kept mentioning him, and Yolanda said he was her protégé?"
Candace's smile slipped as she folded her knitting to put away.
"I don't think she likes him as much as Maya did," Finn whispered loudly in Evelyn's ear. Evelyn nodded minutely.
"Well, if Chase wasn't at the Inn or the Bar," Shelly waited suggestively, continuing at Evelyn's headshake, "then he's probably up sulking by the Church, too. Came all this way to make a big deal of himself, only to sulk and mope about all day."
"Gra'mama, he wasn't expecting not to be able to train with Ms. Yolanda," Candace admonished quietly. Shelly sniffed, totally unimpressed.
"It's not our town's fault the fire don't burn so hot as it used to. He don't need to take out his poor temper on everyone else, selfish, rude boy," Shelly tutted. She turned back to Evelyn. "Perhaps a new face will give him better perspective. You seemed like a bright, eager girl. Show him how to be as happy and fresh as you, yes?" Shelly demanded, patting Evelyn's cheek and smiling.
"Yes, ma'am," Evelyn agreed, a little confused. Shelly nodded, satisfied. "I better get going. I'm getting pretty hungry after running around all day. I'll see you again soon." She grinned wide at Candace, who smiled a tiny smile in return. Evelyn waved and was jogging out the door.
"Ugh, almost done! Why does the Church have to be so far away," Finn whined from atop Evelyn's head. She rolled her eyes, smirking.
"You get a free ride, little guy, I actually have to do the walking," Evelyn retorted mercilessly. "Just two more people and we're free to go eat our hearts out. Finally." Evelyn groaned out the last word even as her stomach grumbled.
They made it to the Church Grounds, of course; a big open area surrounded by old-fashioned iron lampposts already lit up for the evening. Trees loomed around the Grounds, casting deeper, darker shadows over the ground where the last orange rays of the sunset couldn't reach. There were a few benches built into the walls, with walls reaching up over where the sitters' heads would be in an awning like structure. A large white dog wandered the little plaza, barking once in greeted and coming over to sniff. In the far corner, she could see a small black cat cleaning itself. She patted the friendly dog absently even as she squealed quietly.
"Oh! A kitty! There was a pretty white one by the lighthouse, but look at that gorgeous witch's familiar. I've always wanted a pretty black cat like that one," Evelyn gushed happily. As she stepped towards the cat, dinner and villagers forgotten, another voice scoffed wordlessly. She jumped in shock and spun around towards the noise.
A man about her age was leaning against the low wall that separated the Grounds from a cliff. He looked very cute, with messy carroty orange hair that gleamed almost blond in the lamplight– that also looked familiar. His features were pointed and fine… and rather pretty– big violet-ish eyes, pointed nose, cupid's bow pink lips, fair perfect-looking skin. She suddenly felt grungy and so very dirty in comparison. She couldn't stop the blush making its way up her cheeks under his judgmental gaze.
"Evelyn, right? Toby found me at Ocarina Inn a while ago and told me you finally arrived. Told me to be nice and not scare you off, actually," the pretty man teased, his bright white smile flashing and causing Evelyn's blush to deepen. Perhaps it was his mention of Toby and his looking out for her that had her heart beating a little faster, and not that slow smile. It was difficult to tell.
"Y-yes. Evelyn. I– uh, Toby is a nice guy, friend, person. First person I met here. Other than Cain and the Mayor, of course, but first friend, I guess we're already friends. Yes, I'm Evelyn, the rancher, you're… Chase? Or Perry?" Evelyn stammered and babbled stupidly. Chase's perfectly arched eyebrow arched further up and made Evelyn feel two inches high.
"I don't know about the pastors where you come from, but most don't wear aprons outside of their kitchen," Chase mocked, gesturing towards his dark purple one.
"Most people don't wear aprons outside their kitchens," Evelyn blurted, getting more annoyed than embarrassed. Chase blinked, a little astonished. "They also tend to introduce themselves properly when asked. No reason to be a di–dillhole," Evelyn stuttered over the last bit, wincing as her retort lost its heat to her floundering not to cuss. Damn it. She spun on her heel before the too-pretty-for-his-own-good man could laugh in her face. "I have dinner to get to. I'll see you around." She stomped towards the Church without looking back. In the hushed sanctuary of the Church, Evelyn exhaled roughly. Then gasped aloud. "Oh! I forgot to meet the kitty!"
"Excuse me?" a startled young man's voice replied. A frazzled young man, barely older than Evelyn, stumbled out from a back room wearing a distinctly clerical outfit.
"Perry, right?" Evelyn greeted with a bright smile. He just looked more confused and wide-eyed, and she laughed outright. "I'm the new rancher on a mission to meet everyone before dinner." The instant clearing of his expression had her stepping forward with hand raised.
"It's nice to meet you, Miss. I don't want you to be late for dinner, so I won't keep you long," the young, frazzled, but gentle-voiced pastor conceded.
"Sounds good to me!" Finn exclaimed beside her. Evelyn only grinned widely as she shook hands with Perry.
A/N: Hey everyone! I'm trying to replace-edit these older chapters, sorry that y'all got stuck with all these shitty typos and lack of pagebreaks. Whenever I saw mistakes on AO3, it was REALLY easy to just edit them right there. Especially since I could do it on my phone, too. has the worse fucking editing system ever. Unless I'm utterly blind and haven't seen it, but the only way to edit a chapter that I know of is to replace the entire damn thing. So here I am. Replacing chapters with the latest updates from ao3. EDIT: 2/9/2018
