@Ercassie
Lauryl,
Logan and
Liana Woods, with
Maggy Winters,
Autumn and
Wesley Rose, and
Gilbert and
Rosemary Roebuck
Along the road from Combe to Bree
“Ugh!” Autumn squealed. “Gramma! Gilbert just put snow down my back!” She complained, squirming in the back of the wagon that Logan was driving.
Lauryl was seated in the middle between Logan and Liana with Rosemary held in her lap. She turned around and gave the boy a stern look. “Gilbert Roebuck, you better behave yourself. Now apologize to your cousin.” She ordered him.
Six-year-old Gilbert tried not to giggle at the squirming that Autumn was doing, and tried to look more serious when his grandmother got involved. He turned to Autumn. “Sorry Autumn. I won’t do it again.” He said with a heavy sigh.
The apology earned a ‘hmph’ from ten-year-old Autumn, who did not consider it very genuine.
“That’s better. We will be in town soon, and I expect you all to be on your best behavior.” Lauryl said, with a look at all of the kids but resting her gaze particularly upon mischievous little Gilbert.
Wesley sat quietly in his place, looking innocent and sweet. Lauryl had no idea whether he had been involved in the snow incident but he usually wasn’t involved in mischief unless his cousin dragged him into it. She turned back around and tucked the blanket in closer around little Rosemary, who snuggled closer in her lap.
“We could drop them all off right here and make them walk the rest of the way to town.” Logan suggested teasingly, acting like he was actually going to reign in the horse.
“No! I don’t wanna walk, my shoes are breaking.” Autumn spoke up quickly. “Don’t make us walk, uncle Logan!” She pleaded. “And Maggy’s shoes are worse.” She added, defending her best friend. “They got holes in them, her feet would freeze.”
“I could walk if I had to...” Maggy spoke up quietly,embarrassed, and having done so plenty of times before. “I’d rather not though.” She added with a giggle.
Autumn’s family was funny and she liked them, but she hoped her daddy would be coming back soon. He had been gone entirely too long, and while she was glad for Autumn’s family trying to help her get by until he returned, she just wanted him to be home.
Liana giggled softly at the kids’ reaction to Logan’s idle threat. She was sat with a basketful of yarn in her lap, on the other side of her mother from Logan. “I suppose we can give them a second chance.” She looked back at the young boys and girls in the back of the wagon. “You’ll all be good, won’t you?” She asked them, and was answered hastily by them all,
“Yes!”
Satisfied, Liana looked across their mother at her brother. “I think we can continue the ride into town, now.” She told him, playing along with his teasing.
“Good, now all hands and feet are to be kept inside the wagon at all times.” Logan announced. “We will be arriving approximately... soon.” He said, as he had no idea how many minutes it would actually take. The snow and ice on the road was making it a bit hard for the wagon to move, and the horse could have been better off with another horse to help pull the load.
Bree, mid-morning
The wagon rolled into the town to find not that many folks seemed to be out and about. Still, the places of business would be open. The wool shop would, for sure, once they arrived. Logan stopped the wagon near the cobbler shop. “I could drive you on to the shop if you like, Momma.” He offered.
“No, thank you Logan. I’ll be fine. The walk will do me some good, I’m sure, and besides, I’d like to visit with Prue first.” Lauryl smiled and patted her only son’s cheek. He was always so thoughtful.. she couldn’t imagine what she’d do if she were to lose him. “I imagine she hasn’t got out as often as she might like to, it’s been so cold.” She added.
“Alright.” He hopped down and then held up a hand to help the ladies down, beginning with his mother, who set Rosemary aside into Liana’s care. Once his mother was safely on the road, he took the basket of yarn from Liana and passed it to their mother. “I’ll walk you to the shop when you’re ready, if you like. It’s rather icy out.” He told her.
“I’ll be alright, but thank you, dear.” Lauryl smiled and wrapped her cloak better around herself, taking the basket under one arm. She looked at the kids again. “You all be on your best behavior now, remember.” She reminded them, before setting off toward the steps leading up to the cobbler’s living quarters to visit with Mrs Dogwood, bringing a basketful of yarns she thought the other woman may want to have the first chance to buy.
After watching for a moment as his mother departed, Logan turned to help Liana down from the wagon, then passed Rosemary down to her. By this time, the other kids had scrambled down from the wagon, needing no help. “Alright, let’s go.” He grabbed the basket with woolen things that they thought Mr Dogwood may want to use in his shoemaking business, and then the troop of kids headed for the cobbler shop.
Sole Mates Shoeshop
Logan hurried to arrive at the door first and, as he had been taught to be gentlemanly, opened the door for his sister and the kids. He hoped, perhaps, the two young boys would observe and learn how to act. Still, they were rather young so maybe he was expecting too much from them at this age. He didn’t really remember what he was like when he was six or seven years old.
“Thank you Logan.” Liana smiled at her brother as she went inside with her littlest niece wrapped in her cloak, held against her side. She glanced back to make sure the other kids were following, then went to speak to Mossy to see about shoes for the whole group.
Autumn and Maggy were following Liana, but then Gilbert hurried in ahead of them, nearly knocking the two girls down as he pushed his way past them, nearly knocking the protesting girls down, while Wesley stood quietly back behind the girls, waiting for the doorway to clear.
“Gilbert Roebuck!” Logan spoke sharply, his tone catching the little boy in his tracks. “Ladies first. Get back here and apologize.” He reminded him.
“Oops,” Gilbert came back just long enough to say, “Sorry!” to the girls before running back inside to get out of the cold, and have a thorough look around the shop.
“Don’t run...” Sighing, Logan shook his head and made sure the door closed after they were all inside. He tried to keep an eye on all the kids, knowing Liana was doing the same. The two were pretty used to this sort of thing, having had a few years’ experience tending sheep. Though, even the most troublesome sheep weren’t anywhere near as likely to run off and cause mischief as Gilbert...
“Hello Mr Dogwood,” Liana greeted the cobbler, holding onto Rosemary’s hand. That was one child who wasn’t going to get into trouble, she would make sure of that. “I apologize if we might overwhelm you, coming in all at once, but we are all in need of new shoes.” She explained with a smile. “Do you have the time to help us?”
“We also have some wool and things Momma said you might be interested in, perhaps arranging a trade of sorts?” Logan added, setting the basket of said woolen things down so the cobbler could see what they had brought. “And how are you today, sir?” He asked, remembering his manners.