A Haven From the Storm

Chapter 10: Tangles and Knots

---

I was talking with the woman in my dreams much like the first night I had encountered her. We were no longer in total darkness, however. Our surroundings were indistinct, but I could see the rocky face of a hill and a waterfall. She was just a blur of green behind the waterfall, masked by the rushing waters.

"You are at cross purposes, Jack. There is one who is unsuitable for you. There is another who pines for you."

"I know. What can I do?"

"You can't accomplish what you came for if you're not at peace with the one closest to you."

"But how?"

Then I woke up in the hot springs. It was eight in the morning, the sun already high. My body was rested and energized from the springs. My spirits were nowhere near as ready for the day. It was the sound of approaching girls chattering away that had woken me up.

"I wonder where he is; he's always there working in the fields when we pass."

"I think he's picking some more flowers for me! He's such a romantic!"

It was Ann and Popuri coming up to where I was. I didn't feel in a mood to see anyone that morning - especially Popuri - but there was apparently no avoiding it. They were both standing by the pond when I came out of the dressing room."

"They both turned around and Ann greeted me, "Good morning, Jack! We were wondering where you were."

"Good morning, Ann, Popuri. Hope you're both well."

Popuri chimed in. "We're just great, Jack. Ann and I come up here every morning if the weather's good. Except Sundays - I go to church then."

Ann smiled. "Yes, the mountain air is so wonderful. It wakes you up, and then you're ready for a good day of work.

"You and Popuri are not the only ones going to the festival. Guess who asked me to go? Cliff!"

"That's great, Ann. I think you two will make a beautiful couple."

"Just as beautiful as us, right Jack?"

Ann laughed. "I'm sure we all will! Also, Doctor and Elli are coming. Rick and Karen always go together. That just leaves Mary alone. Well, she never seems to mind that." Her eyes micheviously twinkled as she walked towards the pond. "I'm sure you two have so much to talk about, so if you'll excuse me, I'll just go sit at the pond's edge." She winked at us. I cringed.

Popuri started in briskly. "No flowers for me this morning? Ah, but the day is young!"

"Not so young, actually. I'm already two hours behind on my chores. Don't mean to rush, but I really do have to get back to the farm."

Popuri pouted. "You men are always working too hard. Rick is like that. You should slow down and enjoy life. Well, you'll see me later, right?"

"I'll try to. Have a good one."

"I'll be waiting for you! Bye-bye!"

I ran down the steps and towards the farm, thinking I had gotten off easily. I was sure that it was just borrowed time, however.

Wowser ran up to me as I entered the farm, and I scooped him up.

"Hey, guy, were you worried about me? I almost got caught by the pink hair, but I got away just for you!"

Wowser was clearly happy for me. I put him down and went to the fields. Sure enough, two more patches of turnips were ready for harvest. They looked as good as yesterday's. Pulling them out of the ground and moving them to the shipping bin gave me time to think about Popuri.

I was aggravated at her, getting me into this mess. I was running through all the things I didn't like about her in my mind, and then I stopped and looked at the state I was getting into.

It wasn't totally her fault - I could have spoken up sooner and made some kind of excuse. I could easily start to hate her, and I really didn't want to do that. She was just a lonely girl with endless troubles at home, no wonder she acts flakey - it's to her credit that she's not much worse. She already saw me as sympathetic from our first meeting, and just misread my intentions towards her. The flowers, I grimaced, were a bad mistake of mine!

Thinking thusly while harvesting turnips carried me up to ten o'clock. My thoughts were interrupted by a shout of "Hi Jack, it's me again!" It was Popuri calling from the mountainside gate. Her hair was gently blowing in the morning breeze and her face showed a simple friendliness that was somehow appealing. Behind her the trail was bordered with spring flowers, winding up into the lush green hills. The very picture of a fresh young farm girl! Why shouldn't I be friendly to her? Surely I could keep it at just that.

I called back: "Hello, Popuri, I'll be right there." Wowser ran alongside me as I walked. I picked him up as I got to her and said: "Meet my good friend Wowser!"

"Hi Wowser, aren't you a cute doggie." She cooed as she petted him, to his evident pleasure.

"I like most animals. I guess it's because I grew up playing with chickens. Gee, you've been working hard already; you're already dirty and sweaty. But not as bad as Rick gets when he's all covered in chicken mess. Yuck!"

She giggled at the thought, and then noticed a weed I had cut and absentmindedly carried with me.

"For me? That's a pretty plant - look at those dainty blue flowers. Thank you so much!" She took it from my hand.

She's easy to please, anyways.

"You like those? The fields are covered with them, you can have as many as you want."

"Oh, this is enough for one day. I don't want to fill up the house with just one type of flower, that looks boring! I just wanted to drop by and see how you're doing. I have to get home also and do the housework.

"Rick manages the farm and Ma sells things. I guess Pa trusts Rick a lot, because he didn't teach me anything about the farm."

"It's good of you helping your mother out. How is she today? Oh, and you don't have to go the long way around home. You can cut through the farm anytime you like. I trust you not to trample the crops!"

"Thanks, think I will." We walked together towards the other gate. "Ma's not too bad today. I'd like to think it was the vegetables you brought her.

"I appreciate you coming with me to the festival, Jack. I've never gone there with a man before. It's a nice way to celebrate twenty-one! How old are you?"

"Twenty-three."

"Mmm...just the right age difference. Well, I have to get home now. We'll meet again before the festival, right?"

"Don't see why not. You take care of yourself. Back to work for me."

I watched her leave the farm and head toward her house. Well, Jack old man, that wasn't painful at all, was it? She can be nice after all - and she sure is a looker! I was grinning as I turned back to my work.

Watering the remaining plants and clearing two more patches of field junk took me past noon. I didn't feel tired as I usually did - sleeping in the springs all night really helped raise my energy. However, remembering my dreams of the figure behind the waterfall, I thought it didn't help my mind too much.

Zack left the money for yesterday's harvest in the mailbox. Together with the proceeds from the forage and change from the last three days, I had over 2500G. Not too bad for a week's work - a few more days and I can get that larger knapsack. That would enable me to harvest more and get more forage in the same amount of time! This evening, I really had to start planning out how to develop this place in a more orderly manner.

Without the noontime hour in the springs, I was finished earlier than usual. I resolved to take advantage of the slack time by seeing Pastor Carter. I headed out of the farm towards town.

---

As usual, Duke was in his vineyards working - looked like he was grafting some vines. I called out my usual "Good afternoon, Duke." He looked up at me, then came to his fence and said: "Come here, Jack, I want to talk to you."

An interesting change! I went up to him and responded: "Sure, what can I do for you?"

"I hear that you're going to the Goddess Festival with Popuri. Don't know how you pulled that off. She's an attractive girl. Very naïve and innocent, too.

"What I want to tell you is that you'd better not take advantage of her. You bring any shame on her, the whole village is going to come after your hide! And I'll be leading them, city boy!"

So, he wanted to get a rise out of me. That kind of thing I could deal with. I flashed my best smile and answered him.

"That's good to hear, Duke, it really is."

His eyes went wide with surprise. I went on.

"You know, one thing I really like about this village is the solidarity that you people show. You look out for each other here. It's something I haven't seen in a long time and it's good to see. You go ahead and watch me; that's fine, you have to do it. But you needn't worry; I respect Popuri and intend to be the perfect gentleman towards her. Good day!"

Duke was too confounded to respond as I walked away. What did it say in Scripture about repaying enmity with friendship, thus heaping burning coals on the heads of said enemies? Duke, your head is on fire!

---

Coming up to the library, I thought of Mary. Was she really as depressed about Popuri and I as Karen had said. Had I really led her on into thinking there was more between us than friendship? I didn't want her hurt and I didn't want to lose that friendship. I just had to go talk to her and try to clear things up.

I entered the library. Gray was in front of Mary's desk, and Mary was saying in an expressionless voice:

"...so, I'll come to the Inn just before ten, then we can go to Rose Square together."

"I'll be ready, Mary! Thank you so much for saying yes. We'll have a great time, I'm sure of it!"

"The festival is always nice, Gray. I'm sure this year will be, also. I'll see you later."

"Yes, good afternoon, Mary."

Gray passed me on his way out.

"Good afternoon, Jack! It's a wonderful day, isn't it!"

"You say so, Gray. Good afternoon."

He was whistling to himself as he left.

Mary was staring at the papers on her desk with a blank expression. She looked up as I walked up to her, but her face didn't change.

"Good afternoon, Mary, how are you?"

"Good afternoon, Jack. Is there some book you came to read?"

"No, really I came here to see you and..."

"In that case, I think I'll close up early and go home. I'm really tired today."

I pulled a bamboo shoot from my backpack. "Well, take this home with you. It may give you a little energy."

Her expression didn't change. "Jack, I can't take those from you anymore. You need all the money you can get for your farm. Keep it and sell it, please."

"Mary, I..."

"I must close now, Jack. Good bye."

"Very well. Good afternoon."

I left the library knowing that Mary was not happy with me at all. She was going to the festival with Gray, but she didn't seem happy about that, either. It was impossible to tell if our friendship could be repaired.

---

I needed to talk with someone sympathetic. Karen wanted nothing to do with me. Ah, but there was Cliff! Yes, a guy-to-guy talk about woman problems was just the thing. I turned off towards the Inn and entered.

Doug was behind the bar as usual. I went up to him.

"Afternoon, Doug, how's it going?"

"Not too bad, Jack. Hear you're starting to bring in some crops. Good to know some money will be coming into the village. Get you anything?"

"Thanks, no. Money's still tight. I intend to try out your kitchen once things are better. Ah, you know where Cliff is?"

"He's upstairs, having a late lunch. Go on up if you like."

"Thanks, have a good one."

Doug went back to polishing the bar and I headed up the stairs. When I got to the guestroom door, I could hear Cliff and Ann talking. I stopped to listen.

"Gee Ann, this lunch is even better than yesterday. Just like I used to have at home."

"Thanks. I cooked that one myself - have to get in practice for the Cooking Festival, you know."

"It's just the cooking practice, right? Nothing more?"

"Oh! What 'more' could there be?"

"I don't know, I just get these thoughts sometimes. You seem to like doing little things for me. Well, thanks for everything - the lunch I mean!"

"You're welcome, I'm sure. I've got to get back to work now!"

Ann came out of the room. She was blushing bright red.

"Hello Ann, are you all right?"

"Why shouldn't I be, Jack? What makes you think something's wrong? I was just bringing lunch to Cliff! That's all, really!"

She ran past me and down the stairs. I went into the room. Cliff was grinning as he ate.

"Hey, hobo, eating high on the hog these days."

"You bet, farmer-boy, gotta love this country cooking. And those country girls!"

"You know, you embarrassed the heck out of that poor girl! She came out red as a tomato."

"Some tomato, too!" He winked. "I'm going to that Goddess Festival with her, you know. Should be a grand old time. I love these small town festivals. Did I ever tell you about the time..."

He launched into an amusing and thoroughly naughty tale about his adventures at a shrimp festival down south with a girl named Anita.

"... and the kicker is that it didn't cost me a G! She paid for everything!"

"You're a lady-killer all right, Cliff. But you'd better not try anything like that here, Doug's likely to come after you with a meat cleaver. And it's not so easy to make a fast getaway from this place!"

"Speaking of lady-killers, I hear you're going with that Popuri. Man, talk about your classic farmer's daughter! She is a babe and no two ways about it!"

"Yes, but..."

"Why, she's got a balcony you could do Shakespeare from!"

"Cliff!"

"Well excuse me, Doctor Mather! I didn't realize you were such a prude."

"I'm not, but it's not like that at all. That's what I came to talk about."

"Then what is it like? Come on, you can tell old uncle Cliff."

I told him about yesterday's events with Popuri, Lillia and Rick. I threw in the troubles with Mary also. When I was finished, Cliff reared back in his seat and laughed.

"Cliff! It's not funny!"

"Oh yes it is. Jack, you were Shanghaied and Lillia and Rick were the press gang! I'd have paid good money to see that!

"So let's get this straight - you're going with the lady, a real looker, that you don't like and the one you do like, that mousy bookworm, is ticked off about it. And you don't want to tell either of them how you really feel because you're afraid of making enemies. Have I got it right?"

"Mary's not mousy! She's a woman of rare quality. And I don't dislike Popuri - she's just too immature for my taste, that's all. Come on, Cliff, looks aren't everything! It's all fine and well for you not to care about what people think, you're going to be on the boat out of here soon. I'm stuck here!"

"No you aren't. You can catch the same boat, you know."

"And go where?"

"The road, man! Join me and see the country, have adventures! What a team we'd make! You're too good a guy to get all knotted up in these small town personality tangles. You've lived too serious a life. You're still young, enjoy it while you can."

I shook my head. "That may be right for you, but not for me. These people are counting on me. I don't know why it's me, but that's the way it is. I'd just be running away and I can't do that."

"You're throwing your youth away for a bunch of strangers. Nice ones, but still strangers." He shrugged. "Well, people are as they are. I just hate to see a nice guy like you get all fouled up like this. This 'woman of rare quality' bit - sounds like you want Mary as more than 'just a friend.'"

That stopped me. I wasn't looking for romance. But had it come looking for me?

"Cliff, I just don't know. I don't know what I want - other than a quiet life."

"You better figure out what you want, then. You're the kind of guy who can't stand uncertainty in your life, all right. It's eating you up. Anything I can do for you, you got it."

"I appreciate that. Well, I've still got a lot to do and you've got that lunch made special for you to finish. You and Ann seem quite the ticket. How could you think of just going off and never seeing her again?"

He shrugged. "I've done it before and I'll do it again. It's part of the price of being a wanderer. See you later, Jack."

I headed down the stairs, waved at Doug and Ann and left, heading towards Rose Square. That was less helpful than I'd hoped for. Cliff didn't seem to take women too seriously - well, he'd likely been involved with dozens of them. He could have them! Two were more than I could handle.

---

I saw Anna, Manna and Sasha talking at their place in the square. Sasha and Manna smiled when they saw me, but Anna's look could have frozen the sun. Best not to go there. I waved and said "Hello, ladies" as I ran towards the church.

I hadn't looked carefully at the church when I was there for grandpa's funeral. It was a small stone building, blending in well with the forested hills just behind. There was a very small wood hut behind it - a storage room perhaps? But why was there weird music and singing coming from it? If that's choir practice, I'd have to come to service just to see the source of those sounds!

I entered the church and almost gasped at the serenity that almost grasped and hugged me as soon as I stepped inside. I looked around to see why the place affected me so. There was no obvious reason; it looked much like other churches. Plain wooden pews, stained glass windows in abstract patterns casting a blue and violet glow, many candles burning all around. But the place had a *presence* to it whose source I couldn't identify.

I looked up to the altar to see Pastor Carter standing there, reading a Bible and making some notes. He looked up and saw me, closed his Bible and came down to greet me.

"Jack, it's good to see you again, under not so sorrowful circumstances as last time. How are you doing? How are you finding life here?"

"Not too bad, Pastor. I appreciate the way you handled the service. I may have forgotten to thank you then, I was pretty stunned by it all."

"Of course you were, no need to apologize. You're bearing up well, then? Good! So, is there anything I can do for you today?"

"I've come to get acquainted, really. So many people have said I should, but it's hard to make the time, getting started on the farm."

"That's wonderful, glad you could get away. The church has a basement. That's where I sleep, you know." He laughed. "Just kidding. Actually, it's where I receive parishioners - and contemplate in solitude. It's more informal and comfortable than here. Would you like to follow me?"

The basement was not a dank and dark one. Some windows cleverly set just above ground level cast plenty of light. The pastor had his office here - a writing desk, bookshelf, typewriter, all the usual. His claim that he was joking about sleeping here may not have been accurate, seeing the simple cot up against the wall.

We sat down face to face, with a small writing table to one side.

"Jack, I must start off my asking if you are a Christian."

"Yes, I am. I'm from a mixed marriage - father was Protestant, mother was Catholic. They compromised by us alternating between church and Mass. They left the choice of which to go with to us. My sister became Catholic, I followed my father."

"That's well-rounded experience. I've learned many things from our Catholic brethren. Their devotionals are wonderful. I'm especially fond of the Rosary."

"As am I; it's wonderful for easing troubles and centering the mind."

"In that case, may I suggest we do several decades together?" He handed me a string of beads.

I took the beads and nodded. He led off.

"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son; our Lord..."

Actually, we did all five decades of the Sorrowful Mysteries. The afternoon was fading when we finished.

"Jack, perhaps you understand why I chose the Sorrowful Mysteries. You've had much trouble in your life the last week. A loss in your family; a change of life against your will. I sense other sorrows in you also. You can't ignore them and try drowning them in work. They will fester inside you and distort your personality. You must offer them up to be reworked and put into their proper place. Perhaps there are things you would like to tell me?"

There sure were! I went through the problem of Popuri and Mary in great detail.

"Yes, matters of the heart offer so much difficulty to young people." He smiled a little. "Being still young myself, I have a little bit of personal knowledge there!

"I know both young ladies. Popuri is a regular churchgoer; if she misses a Sunday, I know that Lillia is in an unusually bad way and she's stayed home to help. She's simple and has a good heart. Her...ah...more challenging traits seem to come from the troubles her family is having now. That and the way Michael spoiled her a little too much as a child. I believe that she's just lonely and wanting respectful attention. The type of attention Rick gives her doesn't help at all!

"Mary...we talk frequently. She has an imaginative mind and enjoys trying out some of her literary fancies on me. I try to turn her in a more edifying direction. The intellectual exercise is stimulating for the both of us! I just wish she'd close up the library on Sunday morning and come to church. Who goes in there on Sunday mornings anyways! Ah, while we're on the subject, service is eleven sharp every Sunday morning. I hope to see you here then!

"Ummm...we were talking about...Mary! At first, you'd think all her ideas about life come from books. Actually, her parents have a wonderful marriage and she loves and admires them both greatly. Something just like that is what she really wants. Curious that such a complex woman could have such a straightforward desire, but that's how it is.

"Now, you must keep in mind that both these women are in their early twenties. In this village, that means they're thinking hard about marriage and starting a new family - whether or not they're aware they're thinking about it! With such women, thinking you can have merely a nice airy friendship is...well, unrealistic. You have to keep that in mind while thinking this through."

"So, you're not going to tell me what I should do. I'm not really surprised."

"You shouldn't be. How could I tell you who to marry - or not, as the case may be? Don't look so shocked, Jack. That is the question here, whether or not you realize it."

I laughed bitterly. "Well, if that's the question, the answer is simple; I should marry neither. Even if I wanted to, how could I take on a wife as a poor, struggling dirt farmer?"

"I doubt you'll be poor or struggling for that much longer. Then you may find the question impinging itself on your mind. You should prepare for it early on. Well, you've got a lot to digest here. I'll let you do so for a while.

"One thing more. When making your decisions, you should not worry so much about making enemies here. You seem to think that if you make one misstep, the villagers will form a mob and run you out of town. People may get annoyed - intensely annoyed even - at you, but it passes if you are helpful and friendly overall. I can assure you, a lot of people here want very badly to see you succeed. So once you know a course of action is right, stick with it. Be nice, but firm. You know about the niceness, work more on the firmness."

"Thank you very much for taking your time with my rather mundane problems. It's not what I was told to come here for at all. Between Doctor trying to enlist me as some kind of counselor and Basil insinuating my farm has supernatural fertility, my women problems must seem trivial!"

Carter looked surprised. "They were talking to you like that? What could they be thinking? That's taking things too far too quickly; you're hardly started here. Anyways, you would hardly be effective with such matters as long as you're perturbed emotionally. You have to work on that before anything else."

"Pastor, there's more to this village than appears on the surface, right?"

"Jack, that's true of everything. When you're ready, the surfaces unfold."

We both stood up, preparing to leave.

"You can talk to me anytime, I'm always here to help. Don't forget, Sunday service is at eleven - I expect to see you there!"

"I'll give it my best try. Good afternoon."

An interesting pastor indeed! Neither he nor Cliff had solved my problems, but how could I really expect them to. Some might say that they were helping by just letting me vent. But I didn't need to open up about these troubles; I needed to get rid of them! Well, I was tired of thinking about it - Jack, old man, let's think about turnips for a while. I headed out of the church and towards the General Store.

---

I was uneasy about entering the General Store. I really didn't want to encounter Karen after yesterday, but there was no avoiding it. I needed the seeds.

I opened the door and went in. Jeff was behind the counter, and Karen was sorting through a shipping box. She raised her head and looked at me, but said nothing. Jeff greeted me as usual.

I went to the seed table and picked up nine packages of turnip seeds. I intended to plant three patches a day. I went up to the counter to pay.

"Hey, Jack, you're turning into a big spender!"

I grinned back. "I can afford it now, crops coming in. Hope to take that backpack away next week."

"Looking forwards to it also. Have a good afternoon."

Karen said to Jeff "Dad, I'll be back in a bit" and followed me out the door.

"Jack, we should talk again. Don't worry, I'm not going to take your head off - unless you provoke me. Let's go to the same place."

We again stood behind the mailbox as Karen folded her arms and started. "All right, Jack, I've calmed down now. You wanted to tell me your side of the story. Go ahead."

I went through the details of yesterday's visit to Lillia and Popuri, going into great detail. "...so I was out the door before I could think of what to say. I don't know how all that sounds to you, but that's the way it was."

Karen looked deep in thought, then remarked, "That fits all right. OK Jack, I believe you."

"I'm relieved. What changed your mood?"

"I was talking to Rick this morning. We talk every morning - right here, in fact. It's been part of our routine for years. Too many years, actually.

"He started in right away about Popuri and you and how happy he was that her sister was interested in a 'decent man' for a change. I was getting pretty steamed up all over again when he said, 'Funny, though. I never actually heard Jack invite her to the festival. He was looking at her costume and the next thing I remember, she was jumping up and down shouting that she was going with Jack. I asked Mom and she doesn't remember how it started either.'

"Then I asked him how the house was holding up under the weight of all the flowers you brought Popuri. He laughed and said the nice little bouquet you brought made a good table centerpiece.

"All that fits with your story, OK. I suppose that you caught Popuri in one of her 'little princess' moods. 'Who else could he be bringing flowers to? Why else did he come but to ask me to the festival?'" Karen shrugged. "She gets like that sometimes."

"I thought you said she was nice and sweet."

Karen looked annoyed. "Well, she is! It's sometimes she just gets a little self-centered and thoughtless. It's not meanness, just immaturity. She's wonderful with her mother, looking after her and doing the housework without complaining. I'm sure you saw that."

I had to allow that I had.

"But, Jack, why didn't you say that you hadn't decided about going to the festival or some other excuse that wouldn't have hurt her feelings? You guys are supposed to be good at that!"

"I guess I missed that lesson in guy school. I'm actually not very experienced with women."

"It shows. Well, you are in a fine fix. You're Popuri's squeeze now. Do you like it?"

"Gad, no! I mean I don't dislike the girl or anything. In fact I feel sorry for her, she's having such a rough time at home. But she's really not for me."

"I think I already said that. So you're in quite a jam. You can't tell her now that it was all just a little mistake. I can't read what she really feels for you yet. Maybe she's just thrilled with the new guy everyone's talking about paying attention to her. Maybe it's something deeper. If you just broke it off, she might take it very badly. Then you'd have three people hating you, and a lot of the villagers thinking you're a rat. I don't think you want that."

"That's why I can't see my way out of this."

"Yes, you're in that Libran mode of 'all things to all people.' It doesn't always work; look at my father.

"Well, if you don't get out of it, and don't learn how to say 'no' at the right time, you might very well end up having to marry the girl."

"Karen!"

She looked thoughtful. "I wonder if your children will have pink hair also?"

I shuddered. "Don't even joke about a thing like that!"

"Poor Jack! I shouldn't tease you - but you've got some of it coming. Clearly, what has to happen is for Popuri to dump you. Then, not only will her family not hate you for breaking her heart, you might get some sympathy as the jilted suitor."

"And how do I bring about this happy event?"

"I don't know. It's going to take some thought. You'd better be thinking about it real hard. And you should just resign yourself to being her devoted admirer at the festival. No way out of that."

"I suppose. Karen, you don't hate me, do you?"

"No, I don't hate you. I did yesterday when I thought you were a rat, but not now. I'm not very impressed with your judgment, however."

"Neither am I."

"Let old Auntie Karen think about this. There's something I can try - don't know if it'll work, but it'll only cost a stamp."

"What's that?"

"I'd rather not tell you now. Just trust me. But one thing I said yesterday still holds. You've got to fix all the problems here. You've got another one - Mary."

"Yes. That I regret more than anything. I just hadn't realized she felt for me that way."

"You've got to learn more about women. You may think you're just being nice and friendly, but there's no telling how she's going to take things. I can't read Mary right now either. I saw her at noon. She wouldn't talk about you at all."

"I just saw her at the library. She didn't look happy to see me and said as little as possible. She's all closed off to me now. She's going to the festival with Gray, too."

Her sharp toned sarcasm returned. "Great, another ill-suited match! Jack, you're going to have to figure out what you want with her."

"I just want things like they were before yesterday!"

"Yes, well even if you get disentangled from Popuri, I'm not sure you can have that. You really hurt her bad, even if you didn't intend to. She may not ever again want to have anything to do with you.

"And if you do manage to get back on her good side...well, she'll likely be as fond of you as before, only more so. Then her heart will really be in your hands and you'd damn well better take good care of her! This time was just thoughtlessness and stupidity on your part, the next time you'll have no excuse at all, and you'll pay!"

She took a deep breath. "Sorry, Jack, I guess I'm not totally calm yet. She's been a very dear friend to me for a long time and it tears me up to see this."

"I've got to get back to the store now. You've got turnips to plant." She smiled. "I'm not angry with you anymore. I want all three of my friends happy. You come talk to me anytime you need to, OK?"

I returned her smile. "OK. It's good to hear that. I appreciate your help - and your friendship."

One problem had been solved, anyways. We parted friends once again.

---

Heading back to the farm I saw a crumpled piece of paper being moved along the path by the breeze. Litter didn't belong there, so I picked it up. It was a page from a notebook, in Mary's writing. I smoothed it out and read:

Some of the words were smudged with drops of...water? I folded the paper and put it in my backpack.

---

Back at the farm, I decided to take my mind off these troubles by working out the future of Erewhon. I sat down at the table and wrote out my estimated income for the month, day by day. I noted some of the capital improvements I needed and their cost. Too much going out, not enough coming in. I had to take the improvements one by one, using each to increase my income to pay for the next. I'll have to put them in order, and I'll have to know what I'm going to cultivate in summer. So I got down some of my ancestors' journals and starting writing out their weather observations and crop yields for recent summers.

Blessedly, I lost myself in the work - lost track of time, also. I noticed it was already ten. I headed up the hot spring hill, cut up a few stumps, hauling the lumber and some forage back to the farm. That got me good and tired, so I headed back to the hot springs, had an hour of relaxation there, then headed back to the farm and so to bed.