The air was hot and heavy. It was now very obvious that summer had arrived. The valley had remained blessedly cool for the past month or so, providing a comfortable environment for the settlers and their crops.
Medea pushed her hair off her neck, trying to alleviate the heaviness and heat it held against her neck. She stood, trying to work it into a lopsided updo before giving up. Sweat dripped down her back regardless of her efforts and she felt itchy all over. It was this cursed dress and this ridiculous hair, she thought miserably. Most of the days now consisted of drying to wring the sweat from her dress in the evenings, and thinking up new ways to wear long hair with her sister.
"Anne?" she called. Evening had fallen and Medea retreated the the room they shared. Anne was just in the kitchen and came when she heard her name. Medea sighed. "Can you please help me? I think my corset has come undone. I've had this terrible itching all day."
Anne smiled sympathetically as she reached for the strings. "Ma said you don't need to wear the corset. We're not in town anymore."
"Anne?" she called. Evening had fallen and Medea retreated the the room they shared. Anne was just in the kitchen and came when she heard her name. Medea sighed. "Can you please help me? I think my corset has come undone. I've had this terrible itching all day."
Anne smiled sympathetically as she reached for the strings. "Ma said you don't need to wear the corset. We're not in town anymore."
"Even so, corset's a sign of a proper girl. Not that there are any men around here anyways." Medea sighed when the strings began to loosen.
"Well, Dane is awful cute," Anne giggled. "And Alistair's looking a little nicer ever since they sent him to work on logging." Medea wrinkled her nose at the thought.
"Are you about done? I need to do the washing tonight with Tamora and Matilda. If I keep Matilda waiting, she says she can make me weed until dawn-" Medea felt a sharp pinch at her lower back. "Oh, that hurt! Did you pinch me, Anne?"
"Noooo..." Anne's response was drawn out and unsure. "I think the sweat is irritating your skin. You have many red spots here and oh-"
"What?"
"MAMA!"
"Well, Dane is awful cute," Anne giggled. "And Alistair's looking a little nicer ever since they sent him to work on logging." Medea wrinkled her nose at the thought.
"Are you about done? I need to do the washing tonight with Tamora and Matilda. If I keep Matilda waiting, she says she can make me weed until dawn-" Medea felt a sharp pinch at her lower back. "Oh, that hurt! Did you pinch me, Anne?"
"Noooo..." Anne's response was drawn out and unsure. "I think the sweat is irritating your skin. You have many red spots here and oh-"
"What?"
"MAMA!"
Maud was just cleaning up after supper, which was an ordeal in itself everyday. The men had to be convinced to tidy the dishes every night, otherwise the women would be opverwhelmed with the amount of pots and plates. Of course, most of them thought that cleaning was just scraping off the excess food and being done with it. Oh no, that would not fly in Maud's kitchen. No, she had to sit them down and have a nice chat with some of them. Most notably that Dane fellow. It was like he was brought up in the wilderness sometimes.
Anyways, that was that for the dishes. Now where did Anne put that drying cloth? Silly girl was always leaving things in the wrong places nowadays. Perhaps it was just a phase, but Maud didn't want any bad habits to linger if they ever made it back to civilization-
"MAMA!"
Maud's head snapped up and her feet were already flying towards the back bedroom.
Anyways, that was that for the dishes. Now where did Anne put that drying cloth? Silly girl was always leaving things in the wrong places nowadays. Perhaps it was just a phase, but Maud didn't want any bad habits to linger if they ever made it back to civilization-
"MAMA!"
Maud's head snapped up and her feet were already flying towards the back bedroom.
There was a scene to be seen. Anne cowering in the back, with a half dressed Medea sobbing in the center of the tiny room.
"What is it, I heard screaming?" Morrys Foxe was right on Maud's heels, having also been tasked with dish washing duty.
Maud was swift in turning a confused Morrys away and stepping into the bedroom and shutting the door. "What is it, why is there screaming?" Maud asked. Medea only sobbed harder while Anne pointed at the puddle of clothes on the floor, and Medea's back.
Maud stepped back, horrified at the sight. Bugs.
"What is it, I heard screaming?" Morrys Foxe was right on Maud's heels, having also been tasked with dish washing duty.
Maud was swift in turning a confused Morrys away and stepping into the bedroom and shutting the door. "What is it, why is there screaming?" Maud asked. Medea only sobbed harder while Anne pointed at the puddle of clothes on the floor, and Medea's back.
Maud stepped back, horrified at the sight. Bugs.