Last time: Jayne learned how she got to Durasteel Springs and that she arrived with another woman.

Now: Jayne helps Lara and Taner around the house.

Chapter 4- House Chores

The next day was pleasantly warmer, but the light breeze made it chilly when clouds passed over the sun, blocking it out at random points. Lara thankfully had the day off which allowed her to spend time at home with Taner. But it also allowed for some much needed chores to get done to prepare for the coming winter. Lara was in the kitchen at the moment cleaning the counters while outside in the morning sun, her son tended to the gardens. Jayne was meticulously cleaning the stove, trying to get it sparkling clean as she worked on every little spot, every little spill that had accumulated and been wiped away, but had built up over the years despite how careful Taner and Lara had been.

Lara glanced over at her as she cleaned up the counters next to the sink that accumulated water spots and spills. She chuckled at her. "You scrub any harder and the paint might wear off," she teased.

"They're really stubborn." Jayne said as she kept scrubbing at one particular spot of some kind of fossilized sauce. "Just like Sasha." She said under her breath, then stopped, trying to think what that meant. She didn't know who Sasha was as she furrowed her brow, trying desperately to remember.

"Sasha?" Lara asked, confused. She stopped cleaning and looked at Jayne. "Who's Sasha? Is that someone you know?"

"I don't know." Jayne said, still trying to remember as that tenuous grasp on her past slipped away like she was trying to take hold of smoke.

"Well it sounds like she is someone you know who you know is stubborn from the sounds of it," Lara observed. "Sounds like my husband," she added under her breath with a light chuckle. "I'm sure this Sasha is someone who might be looking for you or someone close. And you will remember her soon."

"I hope so." Jayne said, her brow furrowed. She took a step back, rubbing her lower back as she stood up from where she had been intently scrubbing at the stove.

Lara frowned slightly but pushed it aside as she looked at the stove. "Looks great. Why don't you sit down for a moment? Have some water," she suggested. "Or are you still good to keep going?"

"I'm okay." She said as the ache in her back subsided a little. "Maybe I'll go outside and be in the sun for a little while?" She suggested. "If you don't need me in here for a few minutes?"

"Nah, the next thing I need to do in here is mop. So you are more than welcome to go enjoy the sun," Lara said as she finished up with the counters.

"Thank you." Jayne said, setting her rag down as she headed for the door, grabbing the jacket she was borrowing as she stepped out onto the porch.

Taner, who was kneeling down in the garden and tending to a grouping of veggies that looked to be a in a bush that was a bit overgrown, looked up when she came out. He smiled at her. "Hey Jayne. How's it going in there?" He asked her as he rocked back onto his heels.

"Good." She said, enjoying the sun shining down on her, and taking a deep breath of the somewhat crisp mountain air. Mountains rose up behind the trees to her left, and they were surrounded by beautiful trees, some of which were changing color, others staying a deep shade of green. "Just came out to take a small break. This is beautiful." She said, admiring the gorgeous setting.

"Yeah it is," Taner said, looking around at the view. "My parents got lucky with this spot. It's always so beautiful out here, even in winter when the snow could pile as high as the door. But in a couple weeks it will cool down a lot and then it won't be quite as nice outside, temperature wise." He told her. He looked back. "Do you remember what your home is like?" He asked carefully.

Jayne thought for a moment, concentrating. "No." She said after a moment. "But there's something that feels familiar about the mountains, the trees and the idea of snow." She continued. "I don't know if that's just wishful thinking and me wanting to remember something, though." She said.

"Maybe a bit of both?" Taner guessed. "I'm sorry about your memory and everything. This whole situation must be difficult."

Jayne shook her head. "It's just more frustrating than anything. Like constantly having that feeling like you're trying to think of the right word in a sentence but you can't figure out what it is. I feel like if I knew something of who I was I might miss it, but it's just so blank I don't have any feelings about it either way." She looked out across to the forest she had emerged from, to the fence post where she had collapsed. "Thank you for saving me the other night." She said, looking back at him. "That must have been very startling to see me just come running out of the woods like that."

"Yeah it was. I actually thought you were a deer at first, because they like to try and break into our gardens to eat our food from time to time," Taner said looking at the fence. "But it really freaked me out, because I wasn't sure if you were dead or not. I'm just glad you're okay." He looked back at her. "And I promised my Mom that I would help take care of you. So if you need anything let me know."

"Thank you Taner." She said. "Your mom is lucky to have you with her." She observed, "what level of school are you in? Are you studying anything interesting when you're not on break?" She asked.

Taner blushed slightly at the compliment. "Thanks. And no problem." He then answered her next question as he turned his attention back to the veggies. "I'm in my last year of secondary school then I'm off to a university or college after that. And I plan to study either agriculture, engineering or mechanics, or maybe art? I haven't decided yet."

"A wide net of possibilities." Jayne said smiling, "I'm sure you will do well in whatever you try. Where would you study?" She asked.

"Most likely at the university here on Qirabel," Taner said, uncertain. "They have most of the classes and courses I could take that would allow me to be around here to help Mom and the town during and after I'm done with school. The art school I've been eyeing is on Naboo, but it's way too expensive for us to afford."

"Is that what you would really want to do, though?" Jayne asked. "I'm sure you would be good at the other programs, but art seems a little different than the other three." She observed tentatively.

"I'm not sure," he admitted as he sat back again and set the gardening tool aside. "I want to be here to help Mom around the house so she's not alone. But I've loved drawing since I was a kid. I always draw when I can, but not a lot as of late. And I would love to pursue it and Mom thinks I should, but I still feel bad leaving her here by herself."

"Perhaps things will work out. Naboo is a beautiful planet, maybe your mom might enjoy it as a chance to visit?" She suggested.

"Maybe, but this town is her home and she loves everyone here. It would be hard for her to leave them behind," Taner said, looking away. He then looked back at her. "How do you know Naboo is beautiful? Do you remember going there or something?" He asked, curiously.

"I…" She started, not sure. "I don't know." She said. "I just seem to recall a bit about it. I wonder if I have been there?" She said, curiously.

"You could look up photos on the holonet and see if anything rings a bell," Taner suggested with a shrug.

"Maybe I'll do that later." Jayne said, nodding a little excitedly. "Is there anything I can do to help you out here?" She asked, enjoying the sunshine.

"Um." Taner looked around at the garden, thinking of what she could do to help. "Most of this requires being down on your hands and knees, working in the dirt. I don't know if you'd feel up to that. But um…" He trailed off as his eyes scanned around. He then stopped when he noticed something. "I know what you can do. It should be easy enough and won't require very much crawling around in the dirt," He said, standing up and dusting off his pant legs. "Follow me." He said as he started to walk towards their large shed on the side of the house.

She followed him as they walked through the extensive garden. "Did you plant all this?" She asked.

"This season I did," Taner said as they walked. "Last season, my Mom, Dad and I worked on it together. But since she has taken longer shifts at work, she doesn't have as much time."

Jayne frowned. "You lost your father?" She asked quietly.

Taner slowed in his tracks and looked away. "Yeah. I did. A year ago, last summer. He was killed in the mines," he said sorrowfully.

"I'm so sorry." Jayne said, taking his hand out of reflex, trying to exude an air of comforting thoughts for him. "If he was father to someone as kind as you and married to someone like Lara, he must have been someone very special." She said.

He didn't know why, but he squeezed her hand gently, grateful for the comfort. "He was. The mine shaft collapsed one day during an earthquake and he managed to get everyone else out. But he risked his life to save everyone. Mom hasn't been the same since."

As he squeezed her hand she could swear she felt some sort of… sense of his emotions, the depth of sorrow, the worry for his mom, the swirl of emotions going through the young man's mind. She squeezed his hand back, trying to quiet the storm with warm thoughts before she gently pulled her hand back.

Taner looked at her. "Thanks," he said, feeling and sounding a bit better.

She nodded, "I…" She started. "I don't know what to say, and I'm sure you've heard it all anyway. But I'm sure he would be proud of you."

"I'd like to think so," Taner said as he bashfully rubbed at his neck. "Come on, I still need to show you what I was going to have you do." He said starting to walk again.

"Sure." She said as she followed.

Taner led her around the side of the house where a small flower garden came into view. All the flowers in the garden were at full bloom. The majority of them were roses.

"This is my Mom's rose garden," Taner said, gesturing to it. "She still tends to it every now and then, but hasn't done so as much this year. But all the fruits, veggies, and even these flowers we sell in the local markets and even the festivals like one that's happening in about a week. So we need to clip the flowers and put them into a basket so we can sell them." He walked over and grabbed a large basket and a pair of hand clippers. "Here, you can use these."

"Okay." Jayne said, looking at the beautiful roses. "How do you usually trim them for selling? And do you do anything about the thorns?" She asked, looking at the flowers and feeling bad for beheading them. The phrasing of that thought caused her to furrow her brow for a split second at such a strange way of thinking about it.

"Just cut them about this far down the stem," Taner said, showing her how to do with one of them. "If they are not fully bloomed like this one, don't worry about it. Just leave it for now. Only get the ones that are ready. As for the thorns, we'll handle those later, but you might want these just in case." He pulled out a pair of gloves that looked like they would fit his hands fine, but not hers.

"Okay." Jayne said, nodding as she put the far oversized gloves on. She decided to keep her right hand free to handle the clippers. She smiled at the task, working in a beautiful rose garden with a comically oversized glove, under the bright sun surrounded by mountains and forests. "I'll make sure they're well taken care of." She promised.

"I'm sure they are in good hands," Taner said, smiling at her. "Here, it might be easier if you sit for this task." He walked over to the shed nearby and grabbed a small stool. "You can use this." He said setting it down next to the garden. "I'll be just around the corner if you need anything."

"Thanks." She said beaming at him as she settled onto the stool and leaned forward as much as she could to start cutting the most beautiful roses she could find so others could enjoy their splendor.

REVIEW!