Wine and Roses by Li August

Author:Li, August [Li, August]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

BY THE last day of Y’Airns Market, they’d sold almost everything they’d brought, and Alain had taken orders for the next season he hoped he’d be able to fill. He would have to sit down and puzzle through the figures, but he felt optimistic he’d be able to give his workers their stipends, purchase wheat and apples to replace what had been burned, and have enough left over to buy some mature vines that could produce fruit as early as next year. For the winery to stay afloat, they needed to replace their hardiest, most versatile grapes: the sienscerre and verlaut. At least now they had a chance.

Courtenay and Fenn had had a lovely time at the bazaar, though by the midday meal on the fourth day, both children looked tired. Alain still needed to talk to them about Breeze, make them understand he’d chosen a different course for his life, and that it didn’t mean anything was wrong with them, but he’d yet to figure out how to order those necessary words, and he didn’t want to pop the happy little bubble they floated in. Having some extra money gave him ideas, and he itched to put them in motion.

“Can you look after the booth for an hour or so?” he asked Breeze. “If you wouldn’t mind, I have some shopping to do before we leave Y’Airns.”

“Why don’t you take him with you?” Courtenay asked, a twinkle in her eye. “I can look after things here. I know how to count coins, and I grew up on the vineyard. I could describe the difference between fierrine and verlaut by the time I was two. Not that we have much left to sell. Go on. Have a little fun. Fenn can load the crates if we sell the last little bit.”

To demonstrate, the boy rolled up his shirtsleeve and flexed his tiny bicep. “You can count on me!”

“All right, then. I’ll have some of the other vineyard workers come round and check up on things. Most of them are camped a little ways behind the booth, where they can see to the stock and load carts for customers, so if you need something, don’t be afraid to find someone.” Alain waited until they’d passed beyond the children’s hearing before he turned to Breeze. “Courtenay is wise beyond her years. They’re growing so fast.”

“They’re wonderful,” Breeze said. “Happy and loved. You’re doing a terrific job raising them, Alain. Don’t worry so much. They’re going to turn out fine. You make them feel worthwhile, and I can’t think of anything more important than that.”

His simple words reassured Alain, let him believe things might turn out well. Thanks to Breeze’s charm, Y’Airns Market had been more lucrative than it had in years. Alain had a little extra coin to spend. “I want to get something for them. To reassure them the vineyard isn’t sinking. I also do have to get that cloth, and the boots.”

“Need any soap or oils?” Breeze canted his head toward an apothecary stand.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.