Seeded: Day 14

Word Count: 84,009

Summary of Events:

Brandt's dad revealed over supper that the irrigator on the one little piece of land they owned out by Rosemary wasn't working. Having completely forgotten about that piece of land, and realising its proximity to where Lark had said she lived, Brandt eagerly volunteered to go make the repairs; they went quickly and he was eager to use the spare time to see about figuring out exactly where Lark lived, only to be pleasantly surprised to see her riding through the field across the road. She came over and chatted with Brandt until an elderly man who had a gun in his truck that Brandt couldn't trust he wouldn't use if provoked told Brandt menacingly to go home. Lark was puzzled by the man's unkindness toward Brandt, musing on her way home that even if she knew he wasn't perfect, she didn't feel like he was quite fully deserving of the labels many people gave to him…

Excerpt of the Day:

Nevertheless, Brandt was respectful. He’d not sworn once around her, and she could tell that he’d even checked his details when it’d come to talking about the sins that he was inclined to commit which Lark found rather sickening and displeasing. Those probably were both effects of having Brandon as a friend, but they showed that Brandt was decent and courteous, even if he was a sinner, which was more than comments like the man had made about Brandt had led her to believe before she’d met him.

She steered Nia into the yard and over to the barn, where she dismounted and immediately loosened the cinch. She removed the saddle, blanket, and pad, setting them all on the rail of the fence before going and fetching a hard comb from the rooming box in the horse shed, which she used to give Nia a good scratch on the back, loosening the sweat-packed hairs.

Removing Nia’s bridle, Lark hung it over the saddle horn and walked over to the gate into the pasture. Nia followed her and trotted through the gate when Lark opened it, opening up to a canter in order to get to her herd mates faster.

Lark closed and locked the gate before taking up the tack and putting it in the shed on the rack reserved for it, as well as putting the brush away in the box and closing the shed door to keep birds and bugs out that wouldn’t like getting trapped inside.

“That was a longer ride than usual,” Dad said, causing Lark to startle slightly.

“Well, you often take longer places because you end up encountering neighbours and chatting,” Lark replied.

“Oh,” Dad said. “Who’d you run into?”

“Brandt Remington,” Lark replied. “Did you know they owned a piece around here?”

“Yes,” Dad replied, his face having taken on a reserved, displeased expression as soon as she’d uttered Brandt’s name.

“What’s wrong Dad?” Lark asked.

“I don’t know what I think of you talking to him,” Dad replied, looking past her.

“Why?” Lark asked.

“Well, his family aren’t particularly nice or upstanding,” Dad replied. “They’ve been particularly unkind. To us.”

Lark startled. She’d never heard her family say anything about the Remingtons, but the Remingtons hadn’t been nice to them?

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Dad shook his head and turned away.

Lark leapt after him and grabbed his arm. “Daddy, what do you mean?”

Stopping, Dad stood still for a moment, then gently removed her hand from his arm and clasped it between both of his, looking her in the eye, his eyes showing signs of moisture.

“This isn’t the right place,” Dad replied. “Or the right time. Okay?”

Nodding, Lark watched Dad’s face as he released her hand and turned, walking away briskly, his posture and expression showing signs of distress, which made her feel distressed in turn. What was that all about?

Pronunciation:

Nia: neeah