Author's Note: I am sorry I took so long to update. I was concentrating on my other fanfic. Anyway, on with the story.
Chapter II: The Guide
Gem and Taylor passed a large building with an equally large connecting vineyard. "This is AJA Winery. Uncle Cliff Landers works here now after Mr. Duke Grape gave him the winery. He also had it written in his last will and testament. They say Mr. Grape was like a father to Uncle Cliff and Cliff was like a son to Mr. and Mrs. Grape. They moved to the city after that to live near their daughter, Aja" Gem explained.
"I see. So Cain will inherit this winery when he is old enough?"
"I suppose so. Either that or his sister Allie will. I doubt she will take it though." Gem said. She smiled as she remembered the fresh grapes which she and her mother had helped pick last fall. Last year produced such an abundance of grapes.
Taylor could not help feeling strangely comfortable when he was with Gem. His thoughts wandered elsewhere as memories flooded his mind…memories about the past girls in his life.
"Shall…Shall we move on?" Gem's shy voice broke through his thoughts.
"…Yes, please." His lips curled into a faint smile. He hoped she did not think him strange. Her confidence seemed to have returned a bit as she smiled back.
They visited the old library, which was now slightly rundown on the outside as small green vines slithered down from the cracks on the wall and the paint was peeling down in curls in some areas. "I know it looks slightly old but it is still a good library. Mama said that Aunt Mary…" Gem fell silent.
"Is something wrong?" Taylor asked. A look of concern was etched on his face.
"Aunt Mary was one of Mama's closest friends before...she passed away with her husband, Uncle Alex."
"…I am so sorry."
"I liked Aunt Mary a lot. She was one of the nicest women I knew. Her parents, Granduncle Basil and grandaunt Anna still live next door to the library. And if you look over there…" Gem pointed to the small house which now stood at the end of the street where tall trees had once been standing before.
"That is Mary Ann Lance's, Uncle Alex and Aunt Mary's daughter's, house. Her grandparents thought it best that she live here since she had no other relatives in the city."
Gem turned to face Taylor. She pointed to the house behind him. "That's Uncle Tim and Aunt Elli Whitman's house. They used to live on the second floor of the clinic next to the supermarket, but since some years ago, they made the second floor into a small extension of the clinic, adding a few more beds and medical equipment in it. Their daughter, Theresa, lives there with them. Aunt Elli's grandma, great grandaunt Ellen, passed away a few years ago."
"The house next to their house is the mayor's house. Mayor Thomas Mayor has lived there since the villagers could remember. His son, Mr. Harris, who used to be the town's policeman, got married to Aja. They have been living in the city since."
Gem led Taylor pass the two houses she mentioned. They stopped in front of a large building with an orange-tiled roof. Gem looked at him. "This is the supermarket. Aunt Karen works…"
"Excuse me, Gem, but do you mean Karen Lorren? The wife of Matthew Lorren?"
Gem nodded. "Aunt Karen is my real aunt. She is my mother's cousin's wife. She works here at the supermarket and her parents, Granduncle Jeff and Grandaunt Sasha, still live in here. The next two buildings after that are the clinic, which I have already told you about, and the church. Pastor Clark lives there. He came to the village after the old pastor, Pastor Carter, was made a bishop."
The two of them then took the road leading back to the inn. Gem led Taylor back to Rose square before heading to the road south of the square.
From there, the two passed a large ranch. The words on wooden sign hanging from two poles read Yodel Ranch. An attractive dark-haired young man in his twenties stood outside, a brush in his hand. He was brushing the coat of a black stallion, his back was to them. "Hello Stu." The young man turned around and his mouth curved into a genuine smile.
"Hello Gem. How are you?"
"I am fine. Oh, Taylor, this is Stuart Chambers, part-owner of Yodel Ranch. Stu, this is Taylor Petersen."
"Nice to meet you." Stu extended his free hand.
Taylor took it. "Nice to meet you too." They shook hands firmly.
"Stu, where is May?"
"She is inside, taking care of little Ken."
"Oh, may I visit Ken later?" Gem smiled sweetly, she felt giddy at the thought of cute little baby Ken.
Stu gave her a smile. "Of course, Gem."
"Thank you, Stu. We should be going now."
"Okay. See you later then."
"It was nice meeting you." Taylor said. The two young men shook hands again.
"See you later, Stu." Gem said as she and Taylor walked on. They stopped in front of a cozy house across from Yodel Ranch.
"This…" Gem began. "…is Uncle Paul Marcon's house. He lives here with his wife Aunt Vanessa and their son, Paul Marcon Junior." Taylor acknowledged Paul Marcon Senior, the name of one of the most brilliant painters who once lived in Evergreen city before he moved to Mineral Town at his wife's cajoling, partly.
His interest in art, Taylor knew, had grown because of the beautiful landscape paintings he had seen in books of the works of the famous painter. But there was one portrait among all that interested him, it was the portrait of a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair who was wearing a sapphire blue gown that emphasized her stunning blue eyes. The portrait was known as The Heart's Lady. Taylor was fascinated by that portrait the most.
"Taylor?" Gem soft voice broke through his thoughts once more.
Taylor looked at her. She reminded of him the woman in the portrait. "Yes, Gem?"
"Could we move on?" She asked.
He nodded. "Of course."
The two walked towards the house beside the Marcon's house. Gem stopped in front of the door and turned to face Taylor. "This is my house, the Silvercraft household. I live here with my family." Taylor noted that the house was a cozy two-story building like most of the houses they had passed except this one was white compared to the usual tan shade of the others. The roof was made of blue tiles and the windows had blue shutters.
"Over there…" Gem pointed to the neighboring house, a shop. "That is the blacksmith shop where Papa and Adam, my older brother, work. The small shop next door…" She pointed to the shop closer to her house. "…is "Fortune Gems". You have probably heard of it since you know my father."
Taylor looked up at the sign hanging outside the shop. It was a large sapphire and just below it hung a silver sign. Fortune Gems was embossed on it in gold letters. His thoughts wandered to a certain emerald ring he had seen in Evergreen city, an exquisite ring that was made and bought from that very shop. A light tap on his shoulder brought him back.
"Taylor, are…are you okay?" Gem's shyness seemed to have returned.
"Oh, I am so sorry Gem. You must think I am strange by now." Taylor rubbed the nape of his neck sheepishly as he flushed in embarrassment.
"Oh…No, I do not think so." His gray eyes looked at her. She looked away from him shyly.
"Oh, which reminds me, the two farms across from here are the Poultry Farm and Meadow Farm, respectively." She pointed them out. "Uncle Rick Cane lives at the Poultry Farm with his wife, Aunt Flora, and their daughter, Lily. Grandaunt Lillia, Uncle Rick's mother, lives with them too. The road on the right side of the Poultry Farm…" She pointed out the road. "…leads to Meadow Farm, where Uncle Matt works and lives with Auntie Karen and Marc, my cousin. Oh, and the road to the left leads to a cabin in the woods behind the Poultry Farm. The cabin is where Gotz, the woodcutter, lives." She turned to face him again after she indicated which road to take.
"Well, I think I have shown you around, at least most of the town. There are rarely any visitors this time of the year but when summer approaches, that is when they come here for one reason or another."
"Thank you for showing me around, Gem." Taylor said, his voice was sincere.
"You are welcome, Taylor." Gem smiled.
"Gem!" Gem turned around and so did Taylor. A young man who looked just like Gem was leaning on the door frame of her house.
"Adam, what is it?" Gem seemed just a little bothered by her older twin brother's presence.
"It is time for your piano practice." Adam answered.
"Already?" She turned to face Taylor. "I have to go, Taylor. It was nice to meet you." She smiled before she went inside, passing her brother without acknowledging him.
Adam and Taylor looked at each other. The orange-blonde haired young man had an expressionless face, Taylor noted. Adam closed the door behind him.
Gem is very beautiful and nice but her brother is kind of…protective?, Taylor thought before he headed for the inn.