|
|
|
|
|
|
defiantly. The others settlers entered the kitchen. "We need an early start," a dark-haired man in a blue-striped shirt told Francis. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He nodded. "If you would be so kind as to show us to our beds . . . " He looked at her. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"I need to finish here, but maybe Holly . . . " |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Come along," Holly said, and Mariah was relieved when Francis dutifully followed with the rest. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After the settlers were shown to their beds, Holly came downstairs. "Nice folk, aren't they?" She seemed wistful. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Very." Mariah wondered if Holly wanted to leave with them. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The rustic kitchen was clean, every dish put away. It was empty of people as well. No René. Or Thorn. A wistfulness crept through Mariah, too. She'd have liked to have said good night to her employer, to have him say good night to her. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
But why would he bother with a servant? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Time for bed," she told Holly. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Not without banking that." The younger woman pointed a slender finger toward the still-blazing fire. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Of course," Mariah agreed, with an inward sigh. She'd no idea how. Since she'd arrived here, René or Thorn must have dealt with that fire. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In fact, since she'd arrived here, she'd done nothing flu someone told her what to do and showed her how. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
She scrunched her mouth in misery as she considered her incompetence. She was used to taking care of details, relying only on herself. Being so efficient that others relied on her to organize entire multimillion-dollar movies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As she had early in her life. It was a feeling she detested. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fortunately, Holly knew the skills necessary for survival and was generous in sharing her knowledge, including how to bank the fire by piling ashes over it. She tactfully avoided questions about why Mariah was so inept. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Soon, they walked together toward the stable. "Now we |
|
|
|
|
|