1
The children playing in the little playground were laughing in the sunshine as they ran about playing a game of tag, one of them on a swing set clearly over the game already. A black van rolled past and the child on the swing noticed, even as the other didn't and he slipped from the swing to run after it gleefully, catching up to it as it pulled up outside the local Inn.
The man who exited the vehicle was large, lithe and seemed to move like a dancer. His clothing was dark and the overcoat seemed a thick woollen combination with deep pockets and a high collar he could pop to hide behind like a sleuth in a Who-dun-it movie. his limbs swung gently as he turned to see the child and smile, reach into his pocket and remove a small wooden creature that was clearly hand carved. The child held out his hand with wide eyes, accepting the little bird and then hug it to his chest before offering a bag of sweets from his own pocket.
The man solemnly chose one and popped it in his mouth, winking as the child grinned and took off back to the safety of the swings, the bird already hidden in his pocket with the sweets where it would join the other creatures along his bedroom windowsill that night.
Protectors of meek little sweetlings, to look out that window so it might scare off the bad things.
The man watched until the child was safely across the road like it was busy, even though not a single vehicle had come along the street. He then opened the back of the van and removed a large hand woven basket full of vegetables with something wrapped in muslin cloth sitting on top.
He moved to the front doors of the Inn, moving so swiftly it was as if the basket did not weigh a thing and he entered to walk around the reception area to the kitchen entrance at the side. He placed the basket on the counter and removed the parcel from the top to place gently beside it, looking around with growing annoyance as he made a soft chuffing noise in the back of his throat.
He then left to head back to the reception area. With a single elongated finger, he slid the visitor log around to look at it and note the reservations made for the next coming weeks and frown. Outsiders. Visitors coming to town in need of lodgings. Five rooms needed, one of them a family one. No wonder she was not there, he knew where she would be now.
He seemed to wraith up the stairs like a spectre, heading along the hallway to hesitate and then make deliberate loud footfalls. Suddenly he had footsteps and we realize that he had not made any before. A woman pooped out of a bedroom to look at him and exclaim "Oh dear god. You startled me. Oh darling, I forgot to leave your basket out. I am sooo sorry."
As she spoke another younger woman emerged from the bathroom with a soap dispenser in her hand with a comment dying on her lips, her eye widening as she stared at the tall handsome man in his dark clothing. Without a single word she slid back into the bathroom and shut the door. Then an audible click as the lock was employed.
"Don't mind her. You still scare the dickens out of her" the woman laughed "Come on sweetie."
He turned to follow her down and she entered a cool room, emerging with a basket that matched the one the man had just delivered only this one was full of preserves and some bags of sweets. A couple of large chocolate cakes and even a block of chocolate. The last item removed to slide into his jacket pocket with a soft hum.
"It's a new flavour. Coffee bean. I immediately thought of you" she smiled, patting the bag of coffee beans nestled in the basket, then she explained "Oh sweetie. We have guests coming. After the drought… a large group all at once. I forgot … I should have left a note on the notice board for you, how silly of me."
You need more food Heather Belle?" he finally spoke and his voice was not American like hers but instead it was softly lit like… Scottish? No. Something else, soft and melodic.
"Can I be ever so rude and ask for a second delivery? I know you hate coming in twice in one week but I am so excited and … we need the custom so much" she smiled and he nodded his consent as he listened to the list, not writing a single item down as she listed her needs, merely repeating it back word for word to her once she was done.
He then bowed slightly and wandered off with his basket, leaving her to pull the cloth parcel over and open gingerly, then gasp with delight at the large venison roast staring back at her. It would have lasted her for a couple of days on her own with off cuts to fry as well, now it would feed the visitors for one of the meals. The extra cuts she would have used for a casserole not being removed now.
She was not worried.
He would bring steaks and such, some rabbits as well. Rabbit strew is just a good as venison stew and she knew he would likely have some wild hog or something too. He always knew what she needed, and always provided like a good man.
And he was. A very good man.
She has known him her entire life and knew him to be the good man he was. Her windowsill full of little carved animals testament to that.
Her protector.