I know I haven't gotten any reviews, and I dearly hope you will, but I believe in this story, and I hold you enjoy. Once again, please, pretty please, R&R!thanks
Sunlight filtered through the glass paned window and gleamed of the silver bowl on the center of the table, which was filled with porridge. Five people sat around the table, quiet and reserved, but not unsatisfied. Natslia gently poked the warm mush with her spoon and looked up from her lap.
"Thank you, Mrs. Nully, Mr. Nully, for letting me stay here tonight. I am very grateful, and I'm sure my brother is too. I wanted to give him a break from my intruding.." Mrs. Nully smiled warmly and replied,
"Whenever, m'dear. It was nothing. The least it could do for a old family friend. And I am very sure your brother was glad for a night with his lady friend," she waggled her eyes brows, earning laughs around the table. "So sad, though, that your parents- I'm sorry, you must still be grieving." Mrs. Nully looked down, subdued. Henry reached beneath the table and held Natslia's hand. A small girl with wild hair in two tails asked,
"How did they die?"
"Caity!" Mrs. Nully admonished. Mr. Nully laid a hand on his daughters arm and murmured,
"Caity, you mustn't ask such things so soon-"
"It's all right, Mr. Nully," Natslia said. "Caity, my parents house was just above the mines-"
"But that's where poor people live!" Caity exclaimed. Natslia paused, then nodded. Henry looked down, glowering.
"Yes, I suppose it is. Those mines are old, and -" Natslia felt tears burning in the back of her throat. "The ground caved in, with the house. They were inside-"
"It's okay, Natslia. I'm here for you," Henry whispered in her ear.
"Oh, the poor dear," Mrs. Nully cried, mopping her tears with a kerchief. Natslia gave a watery smile. A breeze rattled the gentle windows, and the group continue eating in silence.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxzxxx
"Henry, pop over to the mill and fetch me some flour, we seem to have run out," Mrs. Nully hollered to her son. Henry popped his head inside the door,
"Mother, how am I to pay for it? Taxes were due just a day ago."
"Oh, I don't know! Help out for the morning and come back with that flour!" Henry nodded and set out.
The dirt road winded down the cliff, to where the river had carved through the rocks, and now powered the old millers business. The hot sun warmed his back as he strolled, his hands in his pockets, humming a cheery tune. He bright light hurt his sensitive blue eyes but he cared not for today was a beautiful day, and nothing could spoil it.
He passed small cabins, where small dogs yapped and chickens cooed, and stragglers hefted large picks on their shoulders and scampered off to the mines. Henry coughed as some dust kicked up and lodged in his throat.
Around the next bend, the mill came into sight, loud and rustic as usual. Henry noticed something odd. A notice pinned to tree. He strode up to it and read the bold black print.
"Recruiting for the army?" He muttered to himself. He unpinned it and stuffed it in his pocket, walking to the open door of the mill. The burly miller, his red hair sticking everywhere, a sack of flour on his shoulder, proclaimed,
"Ho! If it isn't Henry! What canna get yah today, my lad?" Henry clasped his hands together.
"My mother was wondering if we could get a small sack of flour in exchange for some help around the mill," he said meekly. The miller let out a cacophonous laugh.
"Here yah go, laddie." He handed the flour to him, and he sagged under the weight. "No work for you today, go enjoy yourself in this nice weather. But you might wanna think about strengthen'n up those scrawny muscles of yours." He guffawed and patted Henry on the back. Henry fumbled around to pull the notice from his pocket.
"Can you tell me about this?" He asked, gently letting down the four and handing the massive man the paper.
"Oh! So you've found a notice, have yah? They say the army is going after a priceless treasure that would make a rich man of us all. Might do yah some good, join'n fer a time to get your sweet ol' mother some money for my good ol' flour!" He handed the paper back to the boy. "Of yah pop, then. But get back to that old bird before she blows a gasket!"
Henry stumbled home with the heavy flour, and though of the millers words. 'A priceless treasure that would make a rich man of us all.' He smiled. Enough to let me wed Natslia.