As You Wish
Yvette clutched the silver pieces tightly in her hand as she watched the last of her families belongings being loaded into the carriage and the new owners climb inside, grabbing the reigns of the horses in their hands, and pulled away, leaving her orphaned and struggling to survive at the you age of 16.
For a year she had managed to make it, selling the fruits and vegetables she had farmed on the family land to their surrounding neighbors, but with no help on the farm, and what money she had made going to taxes, she was unable to continue with the everyday chores that farming required and was forced to sell the farm along with all her families belongings.
With what clothes she wore on her back, and the horse her father had given her as a small child that she had refused to sell, she slipped the coins into the front pocket of her dress, and mounted Beauty, heading off to the edge of town in search of a job, and hopefully a roof to cover her head.
The small town of Brodrick buzzed with the activity of the high society, as her mother always referred to them, shopping and spending enormous amounts of money on things Yvette had always thought was nonsense. Her family never went into town much, only when they ran low on items needed for the farm and fabric to make their clothing, so she wasn't familiar with guiding herself around the small area, or where to even begin to look for a job. Her experiences were limited to what she could do , but she was a fast learner and willing to take any job that was offered to her without hesitation.
Sliding down from the handmade saddle that rested on Beauty's back, she gathered the long straps of the reigns in her hand, and pulled the black mare along behind her, glancing from one shop to another as she walked the center of the dirt road looking for any indication that one of them was in need of help.
A log cabin sitting at the end of the strip caught her eyes, and she led the horse to the closest post, tying him tightly, and gathered the material of her dress just below her waist in her hands to shorten the length to keep from dragging it along the dirt as she made her way onto the small porch. The smell of fresh baked breads and pies floated through the door as she pulled it open to step inside, and the faint dinging of a bell brought the attention of the young man behind the counter to her, bringing a smile to her face as he gave her a slight nod.
He could tell by the faded material of her dress and the drabness of her brown hair and plane face, that she wasn't from the upper class of town that most of the folks who shopped there were from, but despite all of that, she still held a beauty about her that brought a smile to his face.
"Evening ma'am. There something I could interest you in today? A freshly baked pie........or perhaps some of our famous preserves that we make and jar ourselves?"
She shook her head, glancing over to the woman who watched her from across the small store picking up a loaf of hot bread an older gentleman had just brought out, and stepped closer to the counter, letting the door slam just a little to loud as she released it, blushing with embarrassment.
"I was wondering if you might possibly need some help around your bakery? I'm not good with working a counter, but I am an excellent cook, and can clean like no other you've ever seen."
Her voice was low, and he had had a hard time hearing the words that stumbled from her mouth, but he had quickly picked up on the embarrassment of the young girl as the woman who was dressed in the finest of material and decorated nicely with jewelry, continued to watch her with a look of disapproval. He held his finger up, indicating for her to give him a moment, and turned to the woman, walking a short distance down the counter to offer her a smile.
"Mrs. Dunstin, your pies are boxed and ready to go. Is there anything else I can help you with today?"
Laying the bread back to the counter from which she had picked it up, she shook her head and pulled some coins from her small beaded purse, offering it to the young man, before gathering up her pies.
"This is all I will be needing for today Lance. Next week I am having a dinner for the king and queen, and I will be turning in a fairly large order before this week is out. Please let your father know so that he will be prepared for my order."
"Will do ma'am."
With a nod, he placed the last of the pies on top of the stack she held in her hands, and stepped back down the counter, ready to give the young girl his full attention as the small bell jingled, indicating that the older woman was at last gone.
"Now....you were inquiring about a job?" He asked, folding his hands together in front of him on the counter as he glanced around the bakery thinking of something he could do to help her out.
"Yes sir."
She mumbled, looking from him to the assortment of baked goods that sat around the shelves and wooden tables that were placed around the room, to see what his eyes were searching out.
"Tell you what....report back here at sunrise tomorrow morning and I shall have a job for you."
She smiled, extending her hand to thank him, and curtsied, pulling her hand from his, excitement growing in her as she walked to the door, stopping to look back in his direction.
"Um....sir?"
He smiled at the warmness of her brown eyes and moved from behind the counter to inch his way toward her.
"Lance....the name is Lance. And you are?"
"Yvette." She whispered, feeling the warm blush creep into her cheeks as she averted her eyes to the wooden floor, till her shyness allowed her to look up at him one more time.
"I have but a few silver pieces in my pocket Lance. Do you know of a place I may be able to rest my head till I can find myself a good home?"
Folding his arms across his muscled chest, he rubbed at his chin in thought for a moment, and grinned with a nod of his head, pulling the white apron over his head.
"That I most certainly do. Give me just a moment."
She strolled through the store admiring the way each pastry and bread had been presented amongst the shelves and tables, and took in a long deep breath of the mouth watering aroma that filled her senses. Her stomach let out a loud growl, reminding her she had not eaten a thing all day, and she laughed, placing her hand on her stomach as if to quiet the noise.
"Come with me. I have a delivery to make, then I shall take you just outside of town where a dear friend of the family resides. His home is not too large, but he is always overjoyed for company and he would be more than happy to help out a friend in need."
She watched Lance as he appeared from the back of the store talking quickly as he moved about, picking up pies, breads, and other goodies randomly, placing them in boxes and tying yarn around them delicately to secure them.
"Our journey will not be too long, but just in case, you may nibble on a couple of these as we ride."
She took the two muffins he offered her, giving him a smile of thanks, and took a small bite of one of them, as the annoying rumbling in her stomach sounded once again, and followed him out to the front where Beauty was still tied, drinking from a water trough.
"Yours?"
She nodded with pride, loosening the straps that kept him in place, and ran her fingers through the long black mane as she offer the horse a bite of the muffin.
"My father gave her to me as a small child. She is all I have left of my family."
Placing the packages safely in the carriage, Lance nodded and took the reigns of the horse from Yvette's hand, tying them to the back of the carriage.
"You shall be much more comfortable riding with me. Besides, I shall enjoy your conversation on our journey."
With his hand held out, he helped her into the hight carriage and climbed aboard next to her, gathering the reigns in his hands and glanced her direction, checking to make sure she was ready to go. Her smile gave him the go ahead, and with the lift of the reigns and call to them booming from his deep voice, the two horses took their steps leading them to a forever remembered friendship.
@2004HarmonyProduction.
December 2004
