Chapter Three

Pelican Town

Jane woke to the crow of the rooster. She pulled her pillow over her head.

I don't even have a rooster.

She sat up, looking out the window, it was still dark. She looked at her watch at 6:30 am. Disgusting.

She slid from her bed and walked to her suitcase rummaging through her clothes. None of these are good for farming, what was I thinking? She thought looking at the splayed out leggings. Too thin.

Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed a wood chest, walking to it she opened it. Clothes were bundled inside, mostly winter attire coats and hats and mittens, but there was one pair of overalls. She put her leggings on first then the denim overalls. They were too big, but they would stay up.

She cuffed the bottoms over her boots and walked to the mirror, combing her hair into a braid.

Well I guess it's time to get started.

Two hours later she had cleared a small space for a garden. Staking the small stones off to the side and breaking the larger one with a pickaxe she found in the house.

She had also spent some time gathering wood for the fire, it was spring so staying warm wasn't a concern for a while but she remembered the winters being cold and the land would be covered in snow and ice.

Glancing at her watch again it read 8:30am.

I suppose I should go into town, I could use some more seeds anyways. Fifteen parsnip seeds isn't going to cut it.

Not even bothering to wash her hands Jane walked into town.

The walk did not take too long and soon she was standing outside the local store.

"Hello there." The man behind the counter said. "Welcome to my store. My name is Pierre. You must be Ms. Jane, If you're looking for seeds my shop is the place to go, I will also buy produce from you for a good price." Pierre said from behind the counter.

"Actually that's why I'm here, what have you got in stock?" She asked.

Cauliflower, she went with cauliflower seeds, four bags in tow she stepped back into the town square.

BANG!

She walked right into a wall, well actually a person, a tall person. The bags of cauliflower dropped to the ground.

"Oh, excuse me." The man said, adjusting his glasses back onto his face.

Jane looked up at him. He towered over her, standing at about six three she guessed, his green jacket tailor to fit his height nicely.

"I'm so sorry!" She stuttered, face flushing.

"Here let me help you." He said, gathering the bags, "You must be the new farmer." He smiled, the two of them rose to their feet. "Harvey." He said, holding out a hand in greeting.

Jane looked to the hand then the bags in her arms.

"Oh right." He laughed, his mustache bounding on his face.

"Jane." She said, again looking at the bags in her arms.

"Jane, you came." A woman's voice shouted, Robin. "What do you think of the town? It's quaint but that's why we love it. Oh, I haven't introduced you to my daughter, Maru." She motioned to the young women beside her.

"Nice to meet you," the young woman said with a smile. Her eyes grew wide as she noticed the bags in Jane's arms "is that Cauliflower seed?" She sighed. Eyes closed,"I love cauliflower!"

Jane smiled and turned to thank Mr. Harvey but he was gone.

"Everything alright?" Robin asked, noticing Jane's confusion.

"Yes," She shook her head. " I have a lot of work ahead of me today that's all."

"Well I could come and help." Maru offered, "I don't mind, i always loved the dewdrop anyways."

"I would love that, thank you."

Robin bid them farewell as Maru and Jane went back to the farm. They spent the rest of the day moving rocks and branches and tilling the ground for the cauliflower seeds.

Sweat dripping from both their brows they sat on the porch.

"So what do you do on a normal day?" Jane asked, sipping at a cup of coffee.

"Well on Tuesday and Thursday I work in the clinic. With Dr. Harris, it's honestly kind of boring, not a lot of things going on in a small town if you know what I mean." Maru said. "Sometimes I help dad in his lab, but usually I don't do much."

"Well you're welcome here anytime." Jane glanced at her watch again. 5:30. "It's getting late, want me to walk you home?" She asked.

" Actually I was going to go to the Stardrop, our local saloon. I'm meeting some friends there."

Jane nodded looking at her pathetic garden.

One day, this farm will make you proud. She thought.

"Jane?" Maru called again. "You should come with me." She said, jumping to her feet. "It will be fun! Penny would love to meet you. Come on." She grabbed Jane's arm and yanked her to her feet. Her muscles ached but she laughed.

"I can't go dressed like this, look at me I'm covered in dirt." she gestured at her overalls now stained brown form the day's work.

"Pish posh, you're a farmer now, no one will care." Maru said

So she went to the Saloon.