The willowy brunette paced quietly as she stood her late-night watch. She had a lot on her mind, but part of it was doing well at her new guard posting. Fortunately, she could think on things so long as it was only her mind that wandered, and not her senses.
Part of that thinking was on how the nights were already getting cold. "I'll need to ask Pen what sorts of equipment he knows about, before I just ask Rhody for braziers or woolen coats. But I reckon keeping guards from freezing comes under Town management, and not just our own clothing."
She thought further on how she was suddenly being so responsible a citizen somewhere. Even her aunt, who was living in her house, might be surprised, should she find out. Of course, she'd then also learn that her fifteen-year-old son was a town guard, and that might be best deferred still.
"Hrm. But I can't take Framsel with me to move Belle… that would be too many guards gone at once. Besides, I only have the one horse." She sighed, shaking her head a bit as she scanned the tree-line once more. "And thinking on asking for another horse to use… whose? And they'd have to come along… no, I may have to rent a cart or something, if Belle has too much stuff in her room, but this has to be just me and her."
With that settled in her mind, the rest of her watch was as uneventful as she could hope. She trotted down the road to home, and the breakfast that Belle would have prepared. A quick bit of family-time and walking Rhody up to the town hall settled her preparations, or most of them. All but trying once again to settle details with her younger cousin.
"Belle, are you sure there's not going to be a problem with loose coins and such? Yes, I know, I know… you keep telling me you don't think it'll be a problem, but I'm not sure even yet I've got it through, sweetie. I really, truly, can't always help myself."
The young red-head smiled up at her. "I know! But it's locked up, we'll be fine. You'll see."
That last bit did not help to settle the older cousin's nerves, but she'd done what she could under the circumstances. She nodded, and they went over to the corral, such as it was, and got True ready for the trip. Clara had been making this trip often enough that she didn't take all that long at proper saddling up any more, and by some measures it was still dawn when she and Belle started riding up toward Bree.
Her passenger was rather quiet, but not asleep. She seemed to be looking around some, from what movements she felt against her back. "Hey, squirt. Was your mum any better yesterday? Between training and napping for my shift, I didn't really see her."
A shake of a head and a small sniffle came before the words. "Not really. She has her moments – well, you know that. But it was… it seemed the same, in between. And only about as much time being herself as it has been."
Clara sighed, then nodded slowly. "Well, she might need someone to talk to, and not just time, after all. And probably not one of us. I wonder… hnh."
"What?"
"Did you notice, how she didn't seem to mind all that blood on Carria? Like, at all?"
The youngster shook her head again. "No… but I was busy being… well, it bothered me. I mean, it was one thing to hear about such things from you and Rhody, but to see it! I… I didn't really know what to think."
"Mm. Can't blame you there, squirt. But I think, if anything, your mum was comforted by it. I'll ask if she has time to talk to her. She might not, but maybe that's who she needs."
That got her an unexpected squeeze around the middle from her passenger, and she nearly lost her breath.
"Don't get too hopeful, there, Belle. Might not work. And Carria might not have the time. Lots of things going on for her. But I'll ask."
"Thank you, Clara!" It was a bit muffled. Belle was hiding her face in her older cousin's back while still hugging her.
"What are you thinking of making for the harvest ball?" She figured a change of topic might do the little one good.
"Oh! Well, more cobblers, of course, since those went so fast! But some pies, too, I think, and it'll probably be supper-time, so I'll have to think on what I can do up for that night's meal there, too!"
The time passed more quickly and pleasantly that way, mostly letting Belle natter on about her options, and only giving little bits of feedback here and there, as needed – or to try to ensure that her own favourites would be included.
Eventually, with Belle winding down a bit as they entered Bree itself, they stabled True outside the Pony, and went inside. They let Barliman know they were there to move the youngster out, and to settle up the final accounting for her stay. Taking the key, they went to check just how much effort it was going to be.
"I… I didn't remember you having so little in here."
Belle snorted. "You were too busy fidgeting and dithering." She sighed. "Not that you didn't have reason – I get that now. But still, you were."
The brunette chuckled with a head-shake that tossed her curls about. "No doubt I was. And yes, you have a proper strong-box now, and not just that little jar from before. Good. Let's pack up and… right. On second thought, I'll pay Mister Butterbur anything left, so you don't have to open that thing around me. That would not be a good thing to do. But I can carry it out unopened, so long as it stays locked."
Belle sighed, rolling her eyes, but she nodded. "Right. I understand – I guess." She helped gather up the clothing which was about all else she had, and they made their way out to see the proprietor again.
Clara settled up the small handful of coins needed to square the bill, and they headed out, loading up the mare while letting her feed some, being careful about how they did so.
"All right, squirt. If there's anything you want to order from here in town, we need to have just you go in with your box, and leave me outside. I can pick up your orders later, but… I'm sorry. I know you think I'm being silly, even with my problem, but… I can't risk taking your money. Especially not today, when it might get me jailed and you stranded here."
That got her an appraising look from the red-head, who blew at her bangs and then nodded slowly. "I have a plan for that, for later, but I don't need to order anything here today. May as well get back, so I can be sure Rhody eats a proper lunch." It went without saying that she'd be feeding a lot of other people, too.
Clara nodded, and got them in the saddle and True walking south through town again. "I'm sorry, Belle. This… this sort of thing is why I was hoping someone else could come, too. So you could order things properly, without having to worry about… me."
That got her a little hug again. "It's all right. I know you tried, Clara. And I do have plans for how we can make it work. Just… now, in town… you're right."
"Thank you." She heaved a deep sigh. "And one thing we'll probably be needing to order for you soon is new clothes, eh? I think you're still growing some." She grinned impishly before adding. "Though you'll still be a squirt."
Belle poked her in the side for that, but then giggled. "Mmhm. I probably will need some new ones soon. Though I'm not sure I can justify it for this ball. Maybe if we get to do a good Yule one, though…."
"What do you have in mind for that, then?" Clothes and festivals seemed a much better topic to keep her on as they rode, and over the hour it look, she got some ideas, though she had no idea yet how to implement any of them.
Belle insisted on staying with her to the corral, and not being dropped off at the house. Well, the company was nice to have while seeing to her horse, and the squirt even managed to help, some. They then carried her things to the house, and inside.
Clara set the strongbox on the table, and started to take the clothes to the wardrobe in the other room, but Belle stopped her, tugging on her sleeve.
"Wait a minute, please?"
Clara nodded, setting the clothes on the table carefully.
"Framsel, Momma, I know this is going to shock you… but I have to do this."
Clara's eyes widened. What was her little cousin up to?
"Momma gave me money… to look after all of us, at first. But then, it turned out, really just to look after me. Well, I think the circumstances of that have changed again. Mum's not bringing in more right now, and Framsel's not… sorry, brother, but it's how it seemed then… not a lost cause with Fennel and Bram. So it needs to be used to look after all three of us. But we're costing Clara in the meanwhile. And Mum's not in any condition yet to manage the money, and Clara's been looking after me in her stead for the past year."
Clara sank into a chair. This couldn't be happening. Could it?
Belle took a deep breath, while Framsel pondered, and nodded slowly. "Clara, this is now yours. All of it. I trust you to keep looking after us, as you've already been doing. But now we won't be a burden to you!" She put her hands on her hips, almost defiantly, and probably expecting someone to tell her she was wrong.
Dahlia was apparently still too out of it to comment, and Clara was too dumbfounded, her thoughts whirling in a complete jumble. Framsel stood and stepped forward, putting his hands on his sister's shoulders reassuringly.
"I gotta say something. I may not say it well. Never been good at that." The lad gave Belle a light squeeze as he gathered his thoughts for a moment. "Clara, you know how people have talked about you. And they say 'where there's smoke there's a fire.' Of course, those who say that never seen Fennel try and cook…." That got him a quick giggle from Belle, at least. The older women were still not really able to. "But they also say… since, as I work it out now, you been taking care of Rhody and Bluebelle, you stayed out of trouble, and you been taking right good care of both of them. And sometimes at cost to you, even though you knew Belle had money from Mum."
He shrugged. "What I'm trying to say is… you changed. When it mattered, you stepped up, and you changed. I suppose it ain't really my place to say this, but… you've grown up. So my sister's right. We can trust you with this."
Clara could see Belle straighten. She'd been nervous before, but was truly certain now of what she'd done. And that was more than the older cousin could handle right then. She slumped off her chair onto the floor, pulled her knees up against her chest, and buried her face in her arms, dissolving into tears.
The teens looked at each other, suddenly uncertain what they should do, but then they heard their mother shuffle up to the doorway from the other room.
"I'm sorry… the fog in my head… can't say much. Belle, go to her, but let her cry. She says 'yes'. I… should be screaming. But you did right." With that, Dahlia shuffled back to her bed.
Clara felt Belle kneel and hold her. There went her last chance to escape this responsibility. Not that she really wanted to. Not this time. And why did being trapped like this feel so good?
