Page 5 ~ Slim Pickings

After getting the children settled in Mr. Blake and the Hardships got to work on cleaning up the storm debris. A short while later Lady Ashwurth dropped by.

Lady Ashwurth: Ah yes good indeed Blake. So you’re the new ones eh? I’m Lady Ashwurth and you will address me as such or the like. Mr. Blake may have hired you but you’re working for me. I have expectations and they will be met. Blake, you know what I require so get to work on it.

Lady Ashwurth departed and they set to work planting the garden plot. Helen had brought some vegetable seeds from her previous home and Almont agreed that it would be good to go ahead and give them a try. So they planted several, working late into the night to try to make up for lost time. Mr. Blake was quite adept at beekeeping and set his boxes in position.

Later on Helen sat and wrote in her diary about the events as well as gardening notes. Over the years she had become quite experienced with experimenting in botany. She had no formal education. Only what she had learned through trial and error. But she loved to dabble in using plants to help other plants. She didn’t know there was a technical term for it. Only that she tried things and sometimes it had good results.

The next day she got the laundry scrubbed and hung while Harrison was repairing something on the bench. Afterward she went for a walk. She noticed some unusual blue flowers on some bushes down the lane and collected few cuttings and seeds, while being careful not to damage the mother plants.

She returned and set about planting some to spruce up the landscape in the backyard.

A few weeks went by and both the garden and the flowers began to sprout.

Another few weeks passed and it was time for the summer harvest. The flowers too had grown perfectly with Helen’s care.

One Saturday morning Lady Ashwurth stopped by and when she saw the flowers she became furious and ferociously demanded to know where they came from.

Lady Ashwurth: How dare you touch those plants! I don’t care that they were just sitting by the road. This is my town and you will not just do as you please. You will do as what pleases me. Do you understand me? And Blake where did all these extra vegetable plants come from? Your allotment is only supposed to be 12 plants and you have several times as many. You will immediately remove the excess and throw them in the bin. Mr. Blake tried to reason with her but to no avail. So they set about removing the offending greenery.

A few hours later Lady Ashwurth to everyone’s surprise returned and seemed to apologize to Helen.

Lady Ashwurth: My Dear I hope I didn’t set you in too bad of a state earlier. I’ve thought about it and although I do not want you frittering about on your own unchecked I would be pleased if you would put your skills to use at the Manor house. I’ve had a hard time finding good landscaping help. Come by Tuesday morning.

Despite her bewilderment at the Lady's sudden turn, Helen could not pass up the offer. That is if it was an offer and not a demand. Either way...

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