The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller

Author:Rowenna Miller [MILLER, ROWENNA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2023-04-11T00:00:00+00:00

32

Though adherents of fairy bargaining would certainly insist that the similarities between cultures’ lore indicate the reality of Fae creatures, the explanation is certainly far duller—primitive peoples’ limited abilities to comprehend the science of the world around them.

—A Ribbon, A Ring, A Rhyme: Cohesion of Folk Poetry Tradition, doctoral dissertation of Edith L. Showalter

AUNT IMOGENE RAPPED three times on the kitchen door, and Alaine rushed to let her in. “What a surprise, Aunt Imogene!”

“I should come up more often. You’ve got quite the nice setup here, Alaine. Not flashy like your ma’s place—just the right size!” Imogene helped herself to an overstuffed chair. “Your ma doing well?”

“Yes, quite—she’s hosting the garden club next week and is already in a tizzy, but aside from that—”

“Ha! Of course she is. And Horatio?”

“He’s fine, a little quiet since Del moved away, I suppose.”

“Figures.” Imogene rapped her stick on her palm. “He always liked having a crowd around. Must be a mite lonely up there with just him and your ma. He and your pa used to talk up a storm over a dram or two. ’Spose sometimes a fellow just needs a young buck around to remind him what he used to be like.”

“I should send Jack up?”

“If you need somewhere to send Jack, I need some help reshingling the shed.” Imogene rocked back in her chair. “But yes, you ought to think on looking in on old Horatio more.”

“And how have you been, Aunt Imogene?”

“Well enough. Do you know, I’ve had a visitor down at my place more often since summer’s come on.”

“Who might that be?”

“Ha! Figured you didn’t know. Em comes down some afternoons. Didn’t figure you minded, so I let her hang about.”

“Oh, Aunt Imogene, I’m sorry, I hope she’s no bother—”

“Now, didn’t I just say us old folk like having someone around who reminds us what being young was like?” She laughed. “And she’s much like I was. Muddy hems and stained face and all. Wild like a bird’s wild—knows the woods, knows her own way to fly.”

“I do hope she’s no trouble.”

“No, Em is a charmer. She helps around the house and would you believe it, but I think she actually likes all my old stories.”

Alaine paused. “What sorts of stories?”

“Well, that’s rather what I wanted to talk to you about. She’s gotten in mind to asking stories about fairy circles.” Imogene leaned forward, eyes suddenly bright. “You want her knowing more than you’re teaching? Or maybe you’ve been teaching without your knowing?”

“I don’t think I know what you mean.”

“I don’t know as I believe her. But she says she watched you one night, go off into the woods toward that old linden tree. Says you weren’t dressed proper for a stroll.”

Alaine forced her expression to remain calm even as she tamped down nerves. “It’s silly, I know, but sometimes I go for a little walk after I’ve gotten into my dressing gown. I shouldn’t, the neighbors might see—”

“Only if they’re trespassing, all the way back here!” Imogene cackled.

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