Part 65
The next morning, the air was incredibly fresh and clean, washed pure by the gentle rain that had fallen throughout the night.
Mist rose slowly from the valley floor, drifting through the tall pine trees like ethereal ribbons of soft, silver silk.
I walked out onto the veranda with a basket of grain, calling out to the flock of white chickens that lived near the orchard.
They came running toward me with eager clucks, and I smiled as I scattered the grain across the damp, rich earth.
It was a simple, ordinary task, yet it brought me a profound sense of happiness that I never tired of experiencing.
Alexander joined me a few minutes later, holding two steaming mugs of herbal tea, the fragrance of mint lifting into the cool air.
He handed one to me, his fingers brushing against mine, a simple contact that still sent a warm spark through my veins.
"The river has risen slightly from the rain, but the banks are holding perfectly," Alexander noted, looking out over the property.
"Thomas is preparing the carriage; he needs to travel into the town square to collect our monthly supply order from the merchants."
"I should go with him," I suggested, taking a sip of the warm tea. "I want to select some new wool yarn for the winter blankets."
Alexander nodded, his eyes filled with a beautiful mix of love and amusement as he looked down at my simple request.
"Then go, my love, and take your time; the town is completely safe, and our name is known only for our generosity there."
It was true; in the local town, we were not known as fugitives or as individuals with a complicated, dangerous history.
May you like
We were simply known as the family from the great estate on the hill, people who paid fairly and helped those in need.
I handed the empty basket to Alexander, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading inside to prepare for the journey.
