Hi! Welcome to Chapter 2! I hate to say it, but things are going to be a little bit slow. If you've read Corruption (the book/update/story thing you should probably read before you too far into this one), then you'd know I mentioned something about updating in the summer. Well... turns out, I don't have that much work so far and I got bored, so I updated early!
Please enjoy and please R & R!
Alice slammed the hammer down for the last time that morning. She reached up and wiped the sweat from her forehead as she finished placing the final board on the make shift shelter for Old William's garden. "All done," she called down to the elderly man.
"Good job lass," he returned. "Why don't you come down now and help me load the wagon?" She started down the ladder.
"Are you going to London again?" Old William frequently took his small crops to the big city not too far from here to sell them for a little extra in his pocket.
"Not today. I'm just going into town this time." Alice smiled and stepped off the ladder. She hooked it over her shoulder.
"Mind dropping me off at Martha's in that case?"
"After all ya done for me lass? Not at all." She leaned the ladder against the side of his house. "If you'd like, you could even join me in going to town. Lunch'll be on me."
"Don't worry about it," she smiled. "I'll head to town with you but Martha has lunch made already. She's probably has enough for the both of us." He laughed.
"That sounds like Martha. Alright, I'll take you up on the offer then. Next time though, lunch is on me!" Together, they packed the back of his wagon with the vegetables that he had managed to grow inside his house during the winter months. They set off down the road, Old William chatting lightly with her the whole time. Walking had taken Alice about ten minutes to reach his home but in the wagon, it took less than five to return. Martha was not surprised when he followed Alice into the house. She rolled her eyes but gave him a plate of ham and potatoes as well. The meal was light and fun. Something in Alice's heart panged; this light airy feeling was something she apparently was not used to. It always made her feel sad to find these empty feelings because they were part of a life she couldn't remember. Lunch finished as the wind began to pick up a bit, signaling the return of the frequent rain.
"You two had best head off," Martha commented at the sink. "I'm not liking the looks of those clouds too much. You might have to ask Stan if you can set up shop in his place again William."
Old William chortled and waved a hand. "Stan won't mind a bit. Come on lass. I'm going to need your help getting the stuff in before the rains come." Alice nodded and stood from the table.
"Thanks for the meal Martha. I'll see you later!"
"Alright dear. Be careful!" Alice waved at her before following Old William out to his wagon. They set off yet again down the worn dirt road towards the little village to the south of the bed and breakfast. She knew it had a name. Did she remember the name? Never. Time, she figured, would eventually teach it to her since it didn't look like she was going to ever leave. Alice had taken note that since she arrived at Martha's bed and breakfast, her memory was faulty at best; for the first three months she could barely remember Martha's name, where she was, or what she was doing. It had even been a struggle to learn Old William's name at one point too. She swung her legs as the wagon bounced over a couple of rocks in the road. She hummed a little bit. She starred back at the road they'd just left; the storm clouds were almost upon them.