Charlotte opened the door slowly not wanting to wake her granny who could be fast asleep. She had used the backdoor which led straight into the kitchen. Too focused on not disturbing, she could not hear the sound of the churning stick rapidly being spiralled by Maisy to extract butter.
"You are back" Maisy said smiling, Charlotte almost shrieked in surprise. Her grandmother was not fast asleep as she thought.She stood upright and cleared her throat
"Granny... good morning" Charlotte greeted strolling to Maisy who inhaled, Charlotte always smelled of medicine. She pecked Maisy bringing a broad happy smile on the old woman's face. "Charlotte" she called "hi" muttered Charlotte reluctantly, she had told granny to sleep, but it seemed like the woman was even more stubborn than 'she' was. Granny sold butter to the locals, it was her business and she always claimed Charlotte carrying all the burden will kill her faster than the stress from churning butter . Her gaze fell on Charlotte's finger, it was wrapped with a cloth, which looked like a strip from Charlotte's own dress. She shook her head in pity then heaved.
"Scorpion sting?" She asked in a mutter looking up at Charlotte who chuckled before replying; "yes. Mr Willow stung me when I tried feeding him..." "Mr Willow?" Maisy muttered amused. Charlotte nodded, she understood her granny's act. "He has a name granny...is his name sour?" She asked Maisy who moped "no, but no one names scorpions. And Mr Willow??... isn't that sire Adams' surname?" Maisy asked in return. Charlotte shrugged 'why is it such a big deal?'
"Yes...so what...he isn't the only one bearing that name" Charlotte replied. Maisy nodded then asked "besides... 'Mr'... how do you know it's male?" She raised her brows , but Charlotte could not be intimidated, she pulled a stool and sat next to Maisy
"I just know..."
"Mmm-hmm" hummed Maisy in disbelief
"Come on granny, I've been with these things for long" said Charlotte with enthusiasm, but Maisy was not buying it. Her granddaughter was crazy.
"I baked us some bread. It is still in the oven...let me finish churning the butter, we'll eat it together."Maisy said assuringly, she was sure Charlotte was hungry. Charlotte nodded then took the stick out of Maisy's hands. "Rest..." She said Maisy furrowed her brows, she nodded "I've got this granny... you'll be all slow and I am starving" she ended picking the churn. Maisy knew Charlotte just wanted to help, but she went along "you lack patience-you" she said jeering Charlotte who chuckled " I know right" she said scoffing. Maisy watched her for a while before remembering why Charlotte had left to Garrigill so early.
"How is the girl?, Nora right?" She asked. Charlotte moped amiss she treated a little girl, but didn't bother to inquire her name, but with common sense; it was obviously the 'Nora'. The butter was finished in what was left just almost clear buttermilk. A small pail of water sat on the floor, Charlotte washed her hands and transferred the butter into a pail with a lid. She covered it and stood up. Maisy watched Charlotte's movement closely, she was fine and had heard her, why was she silent?. 'the child doesn't like it when she loses a patient. She turns into a mucky figure. Did something go wrong? '. Maisy decided to ask and not to be lost in inconclusive wonderings.
"Do you think she will be fine?"
Charlotte nodded "yes, just a cold...I bought her some tea..." "Ohh... that is kind..." "With her mother's money of course" Charlotte cut in quickly chuckling. Maisy shook her head "and they still paid you ?" She asked Charlotte nodded making Maisy pop her forehead. "For a cold?, You made them pay for a cold??" Maisy asked in surprise. Charlotte furrowed her brows, why did granny act so shocked?.
"Why not?.Look granny, I need to tell you something; no one... and I mean no one, cares for us, so why care?. We starve, they flourish in the goodness of good food." Charlotte replied shrugging. Maisy tilted her head backwards "really?" She asked Charlotte who nodded
"So every chance I get; I will drain them. They paid ten shillings..." She flicked a coin, tossed it and caught it "ignorance is sin" she said chuckling.
"That is stealing" Maisy said Charlotte furrowed her brows in disagreement "no certainly not granny, I rendered a service...and they paid me. Now I can change the curtains." She ended with a smirk. "Greed is an evil spirit" Maisy said warningly. Charlotte had a good laugh "haven't you heard granny?" She asked, Maisy took her serious "what?" She asked in ignorance. Charlotte leaned in and whispered in her ear; "I am the devil" Maisy was not surprised. Charlotte was like that "Oh Charlotte..." Charlotte laughed leaving. She muttered to herself as she left but it was loud enough for Maisy to hear;
"Bread, lettuce, tomatoes, and eggs...oohh...a big sandwich"