Oh no. You're all too aware of what this means. If your mother can't work her shift at Uncle Ben's inn then it means you'll have to. This means hours of sweeping the floor, carrying food and drinks around for the loud merchants and travellers who pass through the town. Recently the annoying travellers have started to pinch your backside too, or accidentally brush their hand over your chest. It wouldn't be so bad except most of the travellers are fat, red faced merchants who couldn't be any more boring if they tried.
Fine. If you must work Sorrow's shift in Ben's Inn and be groped by fat men then you'll go for a swim first. If you take the east route around Dead Man's Hill then you'll be able to pause by the stream there. Besides, Ben can manage his inn with one of his staff missing for a little while longer.
At least the walk down the eastern road wasn't so bad. It's warm and there aren't many clouds in the sky, although you suspect it might rain heavily come the afternoon. There's no one else about on the road either, it's still too early for the fat merchants and their heavy wagons of poor quality trade goods to be out and about. You did pause for a little while to watch one of farmer Padorc's sons bundle some hay together; he's a handsome young man who was working without a shirt on. He didn't see you though, which was how you planned since you didn't feel like talking.
It takes little over half an hour to reach the gently bubbling brook that runs down the east side of Dead Man's Hill. You take off your shoes and dip a toe in the water. Good, it is warm enough. A quick swim will help you face the rest of the day. You strip off your heavy linen dress, your only dress and wiggle out of your under garments too. If only Ben would pay a decent wage, you need new clothes. You step naked into the little stream and wade out to the middle where it is deep enough to swim. The water feels so good and clean around your legs, waist and then stomach. In no time at all you're up to your breasts in water, the sun shines overhead and the countryside is nice and quiet.
Wait.
It's too quiet.
There should be bird song. There should be the occasional rustle from the bushes that flank the stream. |