“Oh, no, not at all. I am going to be setting up the longhouse and want to bring some of my things inside. I need a strong lad like you to help me.” She smiled now to show that she wasn’t disappointed with him.
Caden tugged the neckline of his tunic and nodded. “Aye, I can help ye. What about Connor? He is testy because he has naught to do.”
“Well then, we shall find something for him to do too.” They reached the longhouse and Eva opened the door. “Lawrence said the house was finished. There’s a remarkable difference on the outside. Come and see the inside.”
The boy peeked his head in the door and peered around before stepping in. She thought, perhaps, he was searching for spiders. It had taken her a bit of time to feel confident enough that she wasn’t about to find another one crawling on her, but Lawrence and the other workers had cleared them all out when they’d fixed the roof and walls. Now Caden said, “Aye, ye should have seen it when our uncle lived here.”
She smiled at Caden and meandered through the home. She couldn’t stop looking at all the changes. It was like a different house.
Now, the kitchen area was fitted with a nice-sized hearth and worktable. The floorboards were swept and cleaned, and a wall had been erected to give all of them privacy in the sleeping areas.
Before she got to the additional rooms she’d requested of Lawrence, Aymer entered with Connor on his back. He lowered the lad to the ground and helped him sit on the floor.
“Oh, I am gladdened you are here, Connor. My thanks, Aymer, for bringing him.”
Aymer gave a wave and left the house.
Eva grabbed Caden’s arm and motioned for him to sit next to his brother. Then she sat on the floor and faced them. “Whilst we are here, I wanted to talk to you about possibly living here with me andBreckin. I already spoke to Clare about it and if you want to…”
Both lads appeared pleased by her news and they smiled.
“Ye mean it, Eva? Ye want us to stay here?” Caden asked.
“I do, but you must promise not to pull pranks on me. You must do your best not to cause trouble for your brother. If you want to be part of our family, you must act like good family members.” She paused, letting her words take effect before continuing.
The boys nodded eagerly.
“And I have one more gift for you… My da sent horses, and at first, I did not want them, but I changed my mind. I asked Aymer to arrange to select a horse for each of you and one for me. Perhaps when we are bored, you can teach me to ride properly. Do you know how to ride?”
“Aye, we have ridden but not a lot because Breckin says we must earn it,” Connor said.
“Then I sadly must agree with him. You will earn the privilege of riding the horses by doing good and not getting into trouble. And, of course, you will need to each care for your horse. Make sure it’s fed, watered, groomed and…whatever else you do with horses. I’m not sure. But you will have to be.” She chuckled lightly. “Now, whilst we are here, Caden, will you help me bring in some items from outside?”
He nodded. “But what will Connor do?”
She turned to his brother. “Can you hop outside? You can keep us company while we go through the carts.”
“Aye, Milady.” He grinned.
“Eva. Call me Eva.” She helped him rise and kept hold of his arm as they made their way outside. At the back of the longhouse where the carts were stored, she settled him nearby on a grassy spot.
“I want to go through the carts, look at every item, and figure out what I want to keep.” Eva whipped the tarp from over the first cart. Dust streamed through the air around her. She blinked and sneezed. The boys giggled and she tossed them a grin before she peered at herbelongings.
Fond memories came as she went through the objects. Her dear da had sent many household effects: a dissembled table, two long benches, and a rolled carpet from the small solar next to the great hall. There were at least ten candle holders but she only kept five. The rest she put in a pile for Master Amos.
There were also two oil lamps and a container that held the olive oil used to keep them alight, chamber pots, small crates of candles, ornate jars and jugs, and various other household items that dear Luella must have included for the keeping of her home.
The second cart held her bed and a few small tables, all of which had been disassembled and needed to be put back together. She hoped with all her heart that the bed fit in her and Breckin’s bedchamber. There were sacks stuffed with blankets, embroidered tablecloths, small supper cloths, and other material items. She’d have to go through those later when she had time to sort them.
She and Caden moved all the items to Conner. She found a few cloths in one of the wagons for him to use to clean the road dust from things before they were moved into the house. He set to work and she and Caden moved all the bigger pieces she wanted to keep into the house. She placed them where she thought they should go. Even with disassembled tables and beds, the longhouse was beginning to look like a home.
They tired themselves with all the activity and the heat of the day had them overtaxed. She brushed her hands together to wipe off the dust and swiped the sweat from her forehead before setting her hands on her hips and looking at the boys. Exhausted, for once they were still. But they deserved a reward.
“I think that is enough work for this day. Why do we not go to the loch and cool off?”
“How are we going to get Conner there?” Caden asked.
“We shall find him a good walking stick. I will help him too.” Evagave her hand to him and pulled him to stand. “We shall take it slow, Connor. If it hurts too much, I shall have Aymer come and fetch you.”
