You find a farmhouse close to the road, which appears pleasant enough. You knock on the door and wait for a few minutes. You hear the sound of feet approaching from the inside, and hushed voices. The door opens a crack and you see a pair of frightened brown eyes peer out at you. After a moment, the door opens farther, and a middle aged female gnome stands before you.
"Sorry, just checking to see who was at the door," she says. "You can't be too careful these days. Can I help you?" A small child appears behind her, hanging onto her legs shyly.
"I was wondering if I could have lodging for the night," you reply.
"Well," she answers, looking you up and down carefully. "It wouldn't be right to make you go back out there this close to dark. I guess maybe you could stay. Are you handy at fixing things?"
"What kind of things?" you ask.
"Well, since my husband died there are quite a few things that need done around here. I do what I can but I just don't have time for it all. If you'd stay for a while and help with some of them, I'd sure appreciate it. The roof needs rethatching, more than anything else, and I could use some help cutting up firewood."
"I can't stay for very long," you reply.
you offer to thatch the roof and cut some wood, which will take a couple of days