In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

in the master bedroom, but you will need to bring more mattresses for the children."

"Thank you," Jeanne said gratefully. "I brought some household things, but Gran thought it would be easier to buy linens and things here. The children will need clothing, and I want to get a few hens and a Drake. Back home I had an egg supply business, and I'd like to start one here."

Marie's eyebrows rose. "We can pick out clothing for the children downstairs in the store. I have some ready-made items I think will fit them. After dinner, we will go down and see."

"What kind of crops do we have on the farm?" Samuel asked.

"There is a good-sized kitchen garden, and a nut, some vines that grow fruit for wines and fruit orchard," Larry said. "There is room also for a few cows and goats, and a grass field that can be harvested for feed. I know of a neighbor who would sell you livestock. I saw that you brought tricorns with you, but they don't look like they've spent much time on a plow."

Samuel nodded. "They haven't. Those are mostly for riding. Do you know where I can pick up some good animals trained for the plow?"

"I'll ask around," Larry said. "Silverston might have a couple he would sell you."

"What type of farming equipment do I need?"

Larry smiled. "Well it is a working farm, so it does have a plow and a few other tools. In the past, Giselle was having us pay a man to work it for her. Seasonal labor mostly, but I think I can find you a field hand to get you started."

When Jeanne and Marie took the children downstairs after dinner, Marie took Jeanne aside. "I know I kind of sprung Chloe on you," the older woman admitted, "but I would consider it a huge favor if you take her out of town for a while."

"I'll be glad of the help," Jeanne said slowly, "But I want to know why she needs to leave town."

"You may have noticed Chloe is a pretty girl. She has been helping in the store, and she attracts men like bugs to syrup. She isn't ready to settle down yet, and sometimes the man is hard to shake off and too powerful to scare away. I think he might decide to try to take her by force if she doesn't go willingly."

"Would he follow her out to our farm?"

"I don't think so. Someone else will attract his attention soon. He will forget about her if she disappears for a while."

"Alright, she can stay with us."

They left for the farm early the next morning. They were met at the wagon by a thin, goose-necked man in worn work clothes.

"I'm Marlow Kramer," he told Samuel. "Larry allowed as you might be needing a hand for a few days."

Samuel nodded. "I do. Are you interested in more permanent employment?"

"Yes, I am. Are you hiring?"

Samuel nodded. "I'm going to need a permanent worker. If you work out, I pay wages in addition to room and board. Climb up."

The children sat on either side of Samuel on the wide wagon seat, and Martin took his place beside them. Jeanne and Chloe had elected to ride. Jeanne mounted Samuels showy red and black tricorn who danced impatiently at the delay. The other three animals were tied to the back of the wagon. Chloe showed up on an unremarkable looking gruella striped tricorn and threw a duffel bag into the back of the wagon.

Chloe's mount might have looked nondescript, but Jeanne's experienced eye noted the animal's excellent conformation.

"That's a well-bred animal," she told the girl.

Chloe looked startled and eyed her with some respect. "Yes, he is. Most people just notice the color and pass him over. I was lucky to pick him up as a colt."

Jeanne smiled. "My older sister breeds and races tricorns, so I learned what makes a good animal."

The farm lay a few miles outside of the city along a well traveled road. As they moved away from the shore, the sand changed into a dark, clay-like earth ideal for growing crops.

"Do they use the soil to make pottery here?" Jeanne asked.

"Yes, Ma'am," Martin answered. "There is a pottery just outside town. The family makes all sorts of things, dishes, vases, even statutes and stuff, and I hear they make good money selling it. Some of the ships take it to other coastal cities and sell it for them."

The farmhouse was a large, well appointed stone structure, with a wide, wrap-around porch and big windows to let the cooling breezes from the sea blow through. A separate structure showed a second, smaller house for a farm hand's family. Jeanne was pleased to note the presence of a bird cote, a small dairy barn and stables for the tricorns. At the rear of the houses, a covered shed held racks of bluestones, separated to make sure they didn't develop any pockets of moisture to cause a fire. A large steam generator was located nearby. As they came up the long drive from the road, Samuel had been listening to Martin talk about the crop of nut and fruit trees about ready for harvest.

"Butternut Farm dries its own crop and some from the smaller farms," Martin said. "Last year I was hired to work in the drying sheds."

"Who does the harvesting?" Jeanne asked.

"The Travelers will be coming through soon," Chloe told her.

"Who are the Travelers?"

"The Travelers are families who make a living moving from area to area helping with the harvests. They live in big wooden wagons. It's kind of a celebration when they come because they hold races, play music and have games for the children."

At the house, they unloaded the things Jeanne would need to set up housekeeping. Afterwards, Samuel and Martin drove the wagon to the barn to unhitch the team. Jeanne, Chloe and the children spent the rest of the day sorting out living quarters and inspecting the cupboards to see what else they might