flatly.
“Where?” Richard asked.
“If everyone here is too cowardly to take us, then we’ll go to the general store and get what we need and leave.”
Richard glanced back to the two trappers who were now pantomiming shivering in the cold and freezing to death.
“Let’s go,” William said, his words much harsher than before.
The two of them hurried through town to the general store, asking once for directions after turning down a road that nearly led them out of Cherry Brook. They entered the store and found a man sitting upon a stool behind a counter, reading a well-worn book.
He looked up as the door rang the bell and greeted them.
“Welcome folks, what can I do for you?”
William walked in briskly, determined to conclude his business and leave as soon as possible.
“We are going into the mountains, and we will need supplies,” he said.
The man pouted his lower lip and took his silver-rimmed spectacles down to wipe the lenses.
“How long is your trip?” he asked. The clerk put his glasses back on and eyed William carefully. “I have heavier coats for sale too,” he added.
William nodded. “Yes, we’ll each take two coats, a fresh pair of boots, gloves, hats, and we’ll need food and a tent as well.”
“Do you have horses?” the clerk asked.
William nodded. “We have two.”
“Well, if you are planning on staying out there, you’ll need blankets for the horses as well. Have you any weapons or tools?”
William hesitated at that question. He thought of his rapier hidden within a long cylinder hanging on the side of his saddle, and the pair of daggers he had concealed on his person.
“No, no weapons,” he replied.
“Well, you’ll need something out there.”
“Where are you going?” a soft voice called from around an aisle of goods.
William turned his head to see a reddish-brown haired woman come into view. She wore a well-tailored, red dress with a floral pattern along the bottom of the skirt that climbed up her left side, hugging her curves until it ended in a purple blossom of silk on her left shoulder. William knew instantly that she was not a native of Cherry Brook.
“Just out for a camping trip,” William said. “We are going north along the foothills and then back,” he lied.
“Poor season for such an excursion,” she said. “Have you a guide?”
William nodded. Better to be friendly with them rather than cut off their line of questions, to do otherwise might raise more suspicions.
“We spoke with Orin, do you know him?”
“Orin is an excellent choice,” the woman said with an approving nod. “If he is going with you, then you will have a wonderful time.”
“Still,” the clerk began, “I am surprised he would agree to go out so late in the year. However, I am not one to judge. Here,” the clerk set a piece of paper on the counter. “Make a mark next to each item you want. If you want more than one of something, then be sure to denote the quantity desired. Then you can sit over there and have a smoke while we fill the order.” The clerk turned to the woman. “Belinda, be a dear and take the young man over to the sitting area. I have some chocolates here as well.”
Belinda nodded. “Of course, Jacop.” Richard went with Belinda while William filled out the list.
The clerk remained close by, watching the marks William put on the list and unnerving the man. Finally, William looked up and handed the list to the clerk. The bespectacled man wrinkled his nose as he perused the list. Then, he looked up and set the list on the counter.
“I’ll fill the order,” he said. “It will take a few minutes. You can take a seat over there with your…”
“Nephew,” William filled in for the clerk.
Jacop nodded. “With your nephew. However, I should tell you this is going to be expensive.”
William nodded once. “I understand.”
Jacop stroked his chin. “I might also tell you that Orin is a fine guide, but there is one who is
“Where?” Richard asked.
“If everyone here is too cowardly to take us, then we’ll go to the general store and get what we need and leave.”
Richard glanced back to the two trappers who were now pantomiming shivering in the cold and freezing to death.
“Let’s go,” William said, his words much harsher than before.
The two of them hurried through town to the general store, asking once for directions after turning down a road that nearly led them out of Cherry Brook. They entered the store and found a man sitting upon a stool behind a counter, reading a well-worn book.
He looked up as the door rang the bell and greeted them.
“Welcome folks, what can I do for you?”
William walked in briskly, determined to conclude his business and leave as soon as possible.
“We are going into the mountains, and we will need supplies,” he said.
The man pouted his lower lip and took his silver-rimmed spectacles down to wipe the lenses.
“How long is your trip?” he asked. The clerk put his glasses back on and eyed William carefully. “I have heavier coats for sale too,” he added.
William nodded. “Yes, we’ll each take two coats, a fresh pair of boots, gloves, hats, and we’ll need food and a tent as well.”
“Do you have horses?” the clerk asked.
William nodded. “We have two.”
“Well, if you are planning on staying out there, you’ll need blankets for the horses as well. Have you any weapons or tools?”
William hesitated at that question. He thought of his rapier hidden within a long cylinder hanging on the side of his saddle, and the pair of daggers he had concealed on his person.
“No, no weapons,” he replied.
“Well, you’ll need something out there.”
“Where are you going?” a soft voice called from around an aisle of goods.
William turned his head to see a reddish-brown haired woman come into view. She wore a well-tailored, red dress with a floral pattern along the bottom of the skirt that climbed up her left side, hugging her curves until it ended in a purple blossom of silk on her left shoulder. William knew instantly that she was not a native of Cherry Brook.
“Just out for a camping trip,” William said. “We are going north along the foothills and then back,” he lied.
“Poor season for such an excursion,” she said. “Have you a guide?”
William nodded. Better to be friendly with them rather than cut off their line of questions, to do otherwise might raise more suspicions.
“We spoke with Orin, do you know him?”
“Orin is an excellent choice,” the woman said with an approving nod. “If he is going with you, then you will have a wonderful time.”
“Still,” the clerk began, “I am surprised he would agree to go out so late in the year. However, I am not one to judge. Here,” the clerk set a piece of paper on the counter. “Make a mark next to each item you want. If you want more than one of something, then be sure to denote the quantity desired. Then you can sit over there and have a smoke while we fill the order.” The clerk turned to the woman. “Belinda, be a dear and take the young man over to the sitting area. I have some chocolates here as well.”
Belinda nodded. “Of course, Jacop.” Richard went with Belinda while William filled out the list.
The clerk remained close by, watching the marks William put on the list and unnerving the man. Finally, William looked up and handed the list to the clerk. The bespectacled man wrinkled his nose as he perused the list. Then, he looked up and set the list on the counter.
“I’ll fill the order,” he said. “It will take a few minutes. You can take a seat over there with your…”
“Nephew,” William filled in for the clerk.
Jacop nodded. “With your nephew. However, I should tell you this is going to be expensive.”
William nodded once. “I understand.”
Jacop stroked his chin. “I might also tell you that Orin is a fine guide, but there is one who is
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