This chapter turned out very long, so hang in there please! It's not the
most exciting chapter in the world but it sets the plot for later chapters.
I'll eventually get to thank my reviewers personally in my a/n, I promise!
I'm getting this up before I see ROTK again with my friend (who I made her watch the TTT for the first time yesterday). She's so funny, she can't remember the FOTR, I had to explain TTT for her and who everyone was, but at the end she was yelping, 'Who's 'she'? Where is Gollum taking them!?" And she thought LOTR looked dumb *tsk tsk*... (I always seem to get my friends hooked on this LOL!)
Chapter 3: Lending a Hand
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"Wake up, Miss Rosie. It's a new morning and there's news of your father."
May leaned over Rosie on the bed and Rosie mumbled in her waking sleep. She opened her eyes to the sun in the window and sprang up from her pillow.
"My Pa? Is--Is he well?" Rosie asked urgently and May nodded.
"My Da has more information on the matter. He's back from your house and he'll take you home when you're ready." May said and Rosie jumped out of bed and walked to the kitchen with May.
The Gaffer, Bell, Sam, and Marigold were seated at the dining table. Hamfast put down his cup and smiled at Rosie and Bell jumped up to get breakfast ready for Rosie.
"Glad to see you up, Rosie. You father is quite alright," Hamfast said and Rosie took an empty seat next to him.
"Oh, he is? I was worried all night about you getting there safely and my poor papa...has he broken anything?" Rosie asked very fast and Hamfast took a drink from the last of his tea.
"Yes, and I'm afraid that's the only damage to him. He's twisted his ankle and broke his left leg. It was a nasty fall, but let us say that we're fortunate that's all that happened to him." He said and he lifted up from his chair with his plate.
"Let us also say we're fortunate you found us, Rosie. Tom and Nick found a doctor to help your father, but it was hours after the Gaffer arrived. He helped your mother tend your pa until the doctor came, and Hamfast says your mother was awfully worried about you," Bell commented and handed her a plate of breakfast. "Eat up fast; Hamfast will take you home soon."
After she had eaten her breakfast of eggs and pork, she thanked Mrs. Gamgee and looked down at her nightdress of May's. Mrs. Gamgee came up with her clothes from yesterday, clean and folded, and said with a smile, "I'm one step ahead of you, Rosie."
The snow on the ground from the night before was melted and new snow had fallen lightly over the early hours. Hamfast prepared the carriage for Rosie's short ride home and Bell and Sam packed the carriage with goods. When the pony was ready and the wagon was packed, the Gaffer helped Rosie into her seat and climbed in for herself. Sam added a bundle of firewood and pies Bell had made for them and the Gaffer called him in, "You can come with us, Sam. Every spare set of hands is needed now that Mr. Cotton is unable to stand."
Sam climbed in and with a snap of the reins, their pony clopped down the trail to Bywater. Rosie looked at the snow-topped trees and asked, "Because of my father's accident, does that mean he cannot work?"
"'Fraid so, Rosie. Your father won't be able to stand on his legs for a while, about six weeks the doctor figured the leg would heal. And if he is able to stand, he shouldn't be out, bent back and hands farming, until he's fully recovered, I'd say. I had a talk with him and he said he'd find someone to take his place when he needs serious work done. But now that's he's bed-ridden, you and your brothers will be on your feet, there's no doubt about that," The Gaffer said and Rosie frowned of the thought of strenuous work for the next two months.
Her house came into view and when the carriage stopped, she jumped out and ran to her mother, who was waiting for them on the road. Lily kissed her cheeks and stroked her hair, "Don't you leave me in such a worry, Rosie. I nearly fell over when I lost you and the Gaffer came from your doing. Bless you, child!" She said and she came over to the cart.
"Did Bell pack all of this in here for me? My wonder, that woman! I'll need to thank all of you for your help somehow if it takes me a lifetime!" Lily said and they started to empty out the cart of goods and supplies and food.
Afterwards, Rosie couldn't help herself and she ran inside the house and up the stairs to her father's bed. She found him napping, with his leg and ankle wrapped thickly and his head propped on a pillow. Tom and the doctor were speaking quietly to each other and grinned when Rosie came in. She kissed her papa's head and hugged Tom tightly, "I'm so glad he's well," She whispered and held back her tears.
She left the room, promising she would be back up when he awoke, and came downstairs. Lily was storing her cabinets with Bell's food and she blessed Bell under her breath. Hamfast looked outside the window at the shed.
"Did you manage to get that fixed yet?" Hamfast asked and Lily shook her head.
"No, I didn't want to risk one of my boys breaking their legs on the roof and I haven't found a handyman yet." She cleared a space on her shelf and filled it with jars of spiced peaches and tart jams and continued, "Now, Hamfast, don't you go up there and try---," Lily demanded sternly but the Gaffer was out the door with Sam following behind.
They found the ladder and with Sam holding it down on the bottom, the Gaffer brushed off the snow from the tiles on the roof and started in on it. Lily pulled the curtains back on the window and muttered, "I will never forgive myself if he ends up breakin' his legs. It's the last thing anyone needs...," Lily said and she shook her head at their stubbornness.
After patching up as much as he could on the roof, the Gaffer climbed down as he had a better idea. He brought the ladder inside the shed, which was covered in wet, melting snow, and finished the job from the inside. The snow stopped leaking through and the Gaffer climbed down the ladder with a satisfied smile, "Well, I can now say I've fixed a roof! I never thought I had the hands for such work other than gardening!"
Throughout the day, Lily's sons and the Gaffer and Sam helped around the house. They shoveled as much of the snow out of the shed as they could and cleaned and fixed anything else Mr. Cotton needed done. Farmer Cotton finally woke up after luncheons and they visited for a long time.
The day was almost spend and Hamfast knew he had to get home before dark and, more importantly, before supper. Lily came out to their cart before they left and kissed their cheeks, "Bless you two. You don't know how thankful I am for your help. It'll be hard on us for a while, but you made it so much easier for us today. I'd have you over everyday, if I could! The boys and Rosie will have to stay home inside now with their Pa this winter, which I know will disappoint their little hearts, but what's done is done." She sighed and pat their pony's back before they left.
"We'll be over again to see how he's doing. Goodbye, Mrs. Cotton," The Gaffer said and he grabbed the reins. Sam looked towards the Cotton's home and thought about the Cotton boys and Rosie stuck inside with their poor father. He knew that he would be disappointed if he had to be locked inside and working while children played in the snow, and Sam put his hand on his dad's.
"Excuse, Dad, but Mrs. Lily Cotton, ma'am? I could come over to help every other day or so...I mean, I don't have much to do with my gardening this time of year and I'd hate to think of all the work you'll have to do during Yuletide. Of course, if it's all right with you, Mrs. Cotton," Sam said politely and the Gaffer thought of his idea.
"It wouldn't be a problem with me, Lily. Hamson, Halfred, and Daisy are going to be staying for most of the holiday, so we can manage with our work. If he promises to be home by a respectful hour, then yes, I'll let him come over," Hamfast said and Lily clapped her hands together.
"Oh, it's so thoughtful of you, Sam! I'd love to have you over, but only for a little while; I wouldn't want you to be working harder than you should." She said and beamed at them, "You are a marvel."
"I'll be over tomorrow morning, Mrs. Cotton," Sam said and they waved goodbye as Lily watched them go down the road. Slowly the sun dropped lower to the horizon and finally the lit windows of their smial reached their eyes. The Gaffer stopped the carriage and unhitched it from their pony. Sam helped his father and when they reached the door to their home, his dad put an arm around him and said, "That was very high-minded of you, Sam. Very high-minded indeed."
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Sam came over bright and early the next morning, right after his mother smothered him with kisses ("Oh, Sam, I'll miss you, my boy! Be home by dinner!" "Mama, it's only for a little while. I'll be back before dark."), and Lily was the only one up.
She had started breakfast for the day and at first she fed him what she had got done, although he had his first breakfast before he came over. Nibs trudged down the stairs groggily and waved slightly to Sam at the table.
"Ma, Papa's up. I redid his bandages already," He said and he grabbed a glass of milk Mrs. Cotton had ready.
She took a glance at her pot and skillets on the fire and once up the stairs. "I could finish breakfast for you while you help Mr. Cotton upstairs, ma'am. I know a thing or two about cooking as it is," Sam offered and with a quick hug to Sam, Lily ran up the stairs to her husband. He flipped the meats on the pans and finished toasting the bread. He found butter left on the butter dish and set up the table. Nibs joined in and right after the eggs were done, Jolly came down and looked out the window. "Looks like it's going to be a wonderful day again!" He said and he grabbed a cup of milk, "Hullo, Sam! What are you doing here so early?"
"Pardon me, Jolly, but I'll be here every once in a while until Mr. Cotton gets better." Sam said and Jolly eagerly served himself breakfast, "Splendid! When Nick, Nibs and I play with our snow forts, you can be on my team!"
"I'm sorry, Jolly, but I'm afraid I'm only here to lend a hand with the work," He said and he took a look outside at the shed. He remembered how he and his father got most of the snow out, but because of the wind that blew through when the roof broke through, the inside had been a complete mess. He decided to finish the job himself today and he took his coat he left on the chair. "If your mother asks where I am, I'm in the shed." He said and he walked out the door.
The sun was high above the sky that day and a chill breeze blew at his face. He stopped for a moment to look at the frosted trees and glittering icicles hanging from the shed's rooftop. He found the keys where Farmer Cotton told them yesterday where he hid them and unlocked the gate. The floor was still slushy from the melted snow and he picked up the tools and things that they missed the day before. He opened the large built-in cabinets and boxes on the floor and realized the snow had seeped through. He hauled out wet bags of sugar and saved the dry sugar on top in another bag.
Mrs. Cotton came down the stairs after she spent time with her husband and found all her children at the table eating. She smiled, baffled that Sam had finished breakfast, and Tom pulled up a chair for his ma.
"Thank'ee for breakfast, Ma." Tom said and he helped himself to another sausage patty.
"Your meal would have burned on the stove if it wasn't for Sam," Mrs. Cotton said and Rosie looked up from her plate.
"Sam is here?" She asked and Jolly pointed outside, "He's out in the shed. Is he really going to be working here until Pa gets better?"
"Yes, and just because he was kind enough to spend his time helping us, doesn't mean I'll have all of you puttin' up your feet. Sam shouldn't be working harder than any of you, so I expect you to still work hard around the house." Lily said sternly.
"Yes, Ma," They said with full mouths and they reached for seconds.
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I'm getting this up before I see ROTK again with my friend (who I made her watch the TTT for the first time yesterday). She's so funny, she can't remember the FOTR, I had to explain TTT for her and who everyone was, but at the end she was yelping, 'Who's 'she'? Where is Gollum taking them!?" And she thought LOTR looked dumb *tsk tsk*... (I always seem to get my friends hooked on this LOL!)
Chapter 3: Lending a Hand
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ·· ··· ··÷¦÷·· ·· ··· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
"Wake up, Miss Rosie. It's a new morning and there's news of your father."
May leaned over Rosie on the bed and Rosie mumbled in her waking sleep. She opened her eyes to the sun in the window and sprang up from her pillow.
"My Pa? Is--Is he well?" Rosie asked urgently and May nodded.
"My Da has more information on the matter. He's back from your house and he'll take you home when you're ready." May said and Rosie jumped out of bed and walked to the kitchen with May.
The Gaffer, Bell, Sam, and Marigold were seated at the dining table. Hamfast put down his cup and smiled at Rosie and Bell jumped up to get breakfast ready for Rosie.
"Glad to see you up, Rosie. You father is quite alright," Hamfast said and Rosie took an empty seat next to him.
"Oh, he is? I was worried all night about you getting there safely and my poor papa...has he broken anything?" Rosie asked very fast and Hamfast took a drink from the last of his tea.
"Yes, and I'm afraid that's the only damage to him. He's twisted his ankle and broke his left leg. It was a nasty fall, but let us say that we're fortunate that's all that happened to him." He said and he lifted up from his chair with his plate.
"Let us also say we're fortunate you found us, Rosie. Tom and Nick found a doctor to help your father, but it was hours after the Gaffer arrived. He helped your mother tend your pa until the doctor came, and Hamfast says your mother was awfully worried about you," Bell commented and handed her a plate of breakfast. "Eat up fast; Hamfast will take you home soon."
After she had eaten her breakfast of eggs and pork, she thanked Mrs. Gamgee and looked down at her nightdress of May's. Mrs. Gamgee came up with her clothes from yesterday, clean and folded, and said with a smile, "I'm one step ahead of you, Rosie."
The snow on the ground from the night before was melted and new snow had fallen lightly over the early hours. Hamfast prepared the carriage for Rosie's short ride home and Bell and Sam packed the carriage with goods. When the pony was ready and the wagon was packed, the Gaffer helped Rosie into her seat and climbed in for herself. Sam added a bundle of firewood and pies Bell had made for them and the Gaffer called him in, "You can come with us, Sam. Every spare set of hands is needed now that Mr. Cotton is unable to stand."
Sam climbed in and with a snap of the reins, their pony clopped down the trail to Bywater. Rosie looked at the snow-topped trees and asked, "Because of my father's accident, does that mean he cannot work?"
"'Fraid so, Rosie. Your father won't be able to stand on his legs for a while, about six weeks the doctor figured the leg would heal. And if he is able to stand, he shouldn't be out, bent back and hands farming, until he's fully recovered, I'd say. I had a talk with him and he said he'd find someone to take his place when he needs serious work done. But now that's he's bed-ridden, you and your brothers will be on your feet, there's no doubt about that," The Gaffer said and Rosie frowned of the thought of strenuous work for the next two months.
Her house came into view and when the carriage stopped, she jumped out and ran to her mother, who was waiting for them on the road. Lily kissed her cheeks and stroked her hair, "Don't you leave me in such a worry, Rosie. I nearly fell over when I lost you and the Gaffer came from your doing. Bless you, child!" She said and she came over to the cart.
"Did Bell pack all of this in here for me? My wonder, that woman! I'll need to thank all of you for your help somehow if it takes me a lifetime!" Lily said and they started to empty out the cart of goods and supplies and food.
Afterwards, Rosie couldn't help herself and she ran inside the house and up the stairs to her father's bed. She found him napping, with his leg and ankle wrapped thickly and his head propped on a pillow. Tom and the doctor were speaking quietly to each other and grinned when Rosie came in. She kissed her papa's head and hugged Tom tightly, "I'm so glad he's well," She whispered and held back her tears.
She left the room, promising she would be back up when he awoke, and came downstairs. Lily was storing her cabinets with Bell's food and she blessed Bell under her breath. Hamfast looked outside the window at the shed.
"Did you manage to get that fixed yet?" Hamfast asked and Lily shook her head.
"No, I didn't want to risk one of my boys breaking their legs on the roof and I haven't found a handyman yet." She cleared a space on her shelf and filled it with jars of spiced peaches and tart jams and continued, "Now, Hamfast, don't you go up there and try---," Lily demanded sternly but the Gaffer was out the door with Sam following behind.
They found the ladder and with Sam holding it down on the bottom, the Gaffer brushed off the snow from the tiles on the roof and started in on it. Lily pulled the curtains back on the window and muttered, "I will never forgive myself if he ends up breakin' his legs. It's the last thing anyone needs...," Lily said and she shook her head at their stubbornness.
After patching up as much as he could on the roof, the Gaffer climbed down as he had a better idea. He brought the ladder inside the shed, which was covered in wet, melting snow, and finished the job from the inside. The snow stopped leaking through and the Gaffer climbed down the ladder with a satisfied smile, "Well, I can now say I've fixed a roof! I never thought I had the hands for such work other than gardening!"
Throughout the day, Lily's sons and the Gaffer and Sam helped around the house. They shoveled as much of the snow out of the shed as they could and cleaned and fixed anything else Mr. Cotton needed done. Farmer Cotton finally woke up after luncheons and they visited for a long time.
The day was almost spend and Hamfast knew he had to get home before dark and, more importantly, before supper. Lily came out to their cart before they left and kissed their cheeks, "Bless you two. You don't know how thankful I am for your help. It'll be hard on us for a while, but you made it so much easier for us today. I'd have you over everyday, if I could! The boys and Rosie will have to stay home inside now with their Pa this winter, which I know will disappoint their little hearts, but what's done is done." She sighed and pat their pony's back before they left.
"We'll be over again to see how he's doing. Goodbye, Mrs. Cotton," The Gaffer said and he grabbed the reins. Sam looked towards the Cotton's home and thought about the Cotton boys and Rosie stuck inside with their poor father. He knew that he would be disappointed if he had to be locked inside and working while children played in the snow, and Sam put his hand on his dad's.
"Excuse, Dad, but Mrs. Lily Cotton, ma'am? I could come over to help every other day or so...I mean, I don't have much to do with my gardening this time of year and I'd hate to think of all the work you'll have to do during Yuletide. Of course, if it's all right with you, Mrs. Cotton," Sam said politely and the Gaffer thought of his idea.
"It wouldn't be a problem with me, Lily. Hamson, Halfred, and Daisy are going to be staying for most of the holiday, so we can manage with our work. If he promises to be home by a respectful hour, then yes, I'll let him come over," Hamfast said and Lily clapped her hands together.
"Oh, it's so thoughtful of you, Sam! I'd love to have you over, but only for a little while; I wouldn't want you to be working harder than you should." She said and beamed at them, "You are a marvel."
"I'll be over tomorrow morning, Mrs. Cotton," Sam said and they waved goodbye as Lily watched them go down the road. Slowly the sun dropped lower to the horizon and finally the lit windows of their smial reached their eyes. The Gaffer stopped the carriage and unhitched it from their pony. Sam helped his father and when they reached the door to their home, his dad put an arm around him and said, "That was very high-minded of you, Sam. Very high-minded indeed."
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Sam came over bright and early the next morning, right after his mother smothered him with kisses ("Oh, Sam, I'll miss you, my boy! Be home by dinner!" "Mama, it's only for a little while. I'll be back before dark."), and Lily was the only one up.
She had started breakfast for the day and at first she fed him what she had got done, although he had his first breakfast before he came over. Nibs trudged down the stairs groggily and waved slightly to Sam at the table.
"Ma, Papa's up. I redid his bandages already," He said and he grabbed a glass of milk Mrs. Cotton had ready.
She took a glance at her pot and skillets on the fire and once up the stairs. "I could finish breakfast for you while you help Mr. Cotton upstairs, ma'am. I know a thing or two about cooking as it is," Sam offered and with a quick hug to Sam, Lily ran up the stairs to her husband. He flipped the meats on the pans and finished toasting the bread. He found butter left on the butter dish and set up the table. Nibs joined in and right after the eggs were done, Jolly came down and looked out the window. "Looks like it's going to be a wonderful day again!" He said and he grabbed a cup of milk, "Hullo, Sam! What are you doing here so early?"
"Pardon me, Jolly, but I'll be here every once in a while until Mr. Cotton gets better." Sam said and Jolly eagerly served himself breakfast, "Splendid! When Nick, Nibs and I play with our snow forts, you can be on my team!"
"I'm sorry, Jolly, but I'm afraid I'm only here to lend a hand with the work," He said and he took a look outside at the shed. He remembered how he and his father got most of the snow out, but because of the wind that blew through when the roof broke through, the inside had been a complete mess. He decided to finish the job himself today and he took his coat he left on the chair. "If your mother asks where I am, I'm in the shed." He said and he walked out the door.
The sun was high above the sky that day and a chill breeze blew at his face. He stopped for a moment to look at the frosted trees and glittering icicles hanging from the shed's rooftop. He found the keys where Farmer Cotton told them yesterday where he hid them and unlocked the gate. The floor was still slushy from the melted snow and he picked up the tools and things that they missed the day before. He opened the large built-in cabinets and boxes on the floor and realized the snow had seeped through. He hauled out wet bags of sugar and saved the dry sugar on top in another bag.
Mrs. Cotton came down the stairs after she spent time with her husband and found all her children at the table eating. She smiled, baffled that Sam had finished breakfast, and Tom pulled up a chair for his ma.
"Thank'ee for breakfast, Ma." Tom said and he helped himself to another sausage patty.
"Your meal would have burned on the stove if it wasn't for Sam," Mrs. Cotton said and Rosie looked up from her plate.
"Sam is here?" She asked and Jolly pointed outside, "He's out in the shed. Is he really going to be working here until Pa gets better?"
"Yes, and just because he was kind enough to spend his time helping us, doesn't mean I'll have all of you puttin' up your feet. Sam shouldn't be working harder than any of you, so I expect you to still work hard around the house." Lily said sternly.
"Yes, Ma," They said with full mouths and they reached for seconds.
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