The guardian and his last chance. Realization

XXXI

Once again I have taken out the cart from its storage place. On it I placed the empty basktets. All at all, it seems that Jacob and the pack had given me around 15 baskets. They are harvesting baskets. As they are wide and sturdy. I can fit many veggies and fruits in one. But my mission for today, is to see how much fruits that are on the trees. I will harvest them. And take all of them to Millard. I know it was abrupt. But I can smell a great opportunity in it. Becouse Millard is a owner of a restaurang. And they are always in need of seasonal veggies and fruits. What have I on my hand?

Yes, a farm. And next year the ground will be filled by greens. But right now I need to pick the fruits. Except the baskets that are on the ground beside me, Í had found one that have shoulder straps. A fruit harvesting basket. I put it on my back. The day has just started, so did I. I climbed the small step ladder I had found. With a fast tempo, I picked the fruit. Even if it is a fast tempo, I was careful. As fruits are easy to bruise. Those bruises will destroy the fruit faster.

At noon I step out from the shades of the trees. I have a smile on my lips. As I load up the cart, I whistle a happy tune. On the cart I have 4 baskets filled to the brim each, of apple and pear. This must be enough. I have no knowledge how much Millard are needing, for his order. But I would think this is good enough. If it isn´t I have more to gather. I look to the sky and see that noon has passed. The cart roll with ease. Back infront of the barn, I stop. I need to cover the cart. I step inside the building. Inside I look after a tarp or a oilhardened cloth. In one of the closets in the back, I find my price. A tarp. The tarp I drape over the cart. Giving the fruits some protection from the weather. With a smile, I start to make my way to the town. Knowing fully well the road there, will take around 1,5 hour. My steps are strong and long. I leave the farm behind. Becouse of my body get warm from the work of pushing the cart, I have thrown my jacket on the cart. I push the cart in a steady rythm. I come up on the ordinarie road. As the road to my farm, is a sideroad and build with gravel. I push on. Cars I meet and being past by. I can see that they look in confusion at me. But I just give the drivers and passengers a smile. I step out of the forest. Infront of me are the town. Before I come to the town, I need to pass the farmlands and pastures. I can see the farmers work the lands. Plowing and sow. I give them a wave, when they are close enough. Entering the town, I stop to rest a bit. Just a small stop, then I start to push again. The adults look at me as I am crazy and mad. I can feel their gaze upon me. The children are more curius. Soon I arrive to the forest mill. The outdoor seating are closed and put away. That made me frown softly. As I don´t like to sit like a herring in a can. But I smooth out my frown as fast as it came upon my face. I step away from my cart. It took me just a few step to walk up to the door. By the sign, I understood that the place were closed for now. As it will open later.  With a smile, I knock on the door, its window. I wait. And I don´t need to wait long. I heard a females steps before, long before, she opened the door.

"We are closed." The soft voice ecoed a bit.

I gave the waitress, a smile. "I am seeking, your father."

She blushed, as she remembered me. She nodded, and left calling for Millard. I smile at her. She blush so easily. And I remember her service well. Her mood, lighted up the atmosphere. A gem she is. But not mine. Soon Millard came. I heard him mutter, that he had not time to meet someone. I could sense his stress. First he gave me a chocked look. Then he streatched out his hand, for me to shake.

"Millard." He said with a smile.

I smiled back. "I know, Millard." He tilted his head trying to remember. "My name is Dragol." My smile widened. "It was I that beat your challenge."

"That was you!" he said in chock. He shook is head. "You need to excuse me. The chock of that, made me blank out." His grip hardened a bit around my fingers. "I have been told by Maria, that some stranger had beaten my challange." He chuckles and let go of my hand. "Since then many of the towns men have tried to redo your deed." He let a happy chuckle leave his mouth. "But failed. Are you here to eat? If you are, you need to wait."

I shake my head no. "I would want to get a late lunch, yes." I step to the side, showing the cart. "I got a call from Eric, from the Wolf howl." Millard nod. "He said that you are in great need of pear and apple." I saw the confusion in his eyes. "He spoke of a acute order, or something."

"He was not wrong." Millard said confused.

I gave him a big smile. "I have got the crest homestead from Jacob Solai." He gave me a confused look. "I started to prune and cut the mishandled fruit trees yesterday." I walked over to the cart, and loosened the tarp. I heard that Millard had followed me. "I found that some of the trees have still fruits on their branches." I knew that he had seen the baskets, by the gasp he let out. I turned to the owner. "Is this enugh, for your order."

"Yes, yes." He say in chock. "It is enough and more." His shine when they lock with mine. "The crest homestead, you said?" I nod as answer. He bend down and pick a pear. His eyes ask me if he can taste it. And again I nod. He bite down. I see the juice slip thru the corner of his mouth. He nods. I can see a tear threating to fall in his eyes. "This is good." He smiles at me. "My grandfather was the founder of the forest mill." Why are he telling me this? "He had a contract with the previous owner. I remember his apple and pear tarts and cakes made of fruit from the homestead." I let out a small aha. He turns to me. "Will you farm goods?"

I give him a big smile. "That is my thought. Mostly to feed myself."

By his expression I know that he is thinking hard. Then he nods. He give me a small gesture to follow. So I follow him inside the restaurant. As I have not been inside before. I look curiously around. The decor and interior are simple. But great. And giving the place a rustic and homy feeling. I stop at the bar, as Millard stormed in to the kitchen. I heard him shout three names. And some  more. As fast his voice died out, two men stormed out of the kitchen. Their step are long and fast. More like stride than step. Just as they come back with a basket each, in their hands, Millard came out. He walked up to me, but on the other side of the bar counter.

"Can I offer you a beer?" He ask smiling, as he pick up a glass to pour me a draft. I give the glass a glare. A young female voice resound. "Father, that glass is too small."

Millard look at his daughter that step around to his side. She gives me a varm smile. I nod lightly. And she draft me a beer in a pitcher. Still smiling she hands it to me. After doing that she slap her father´s stomach softly, before she walked off to do her prework work done. I grip the handle, and take a big sip. I smiled bigger. Millard looked confused at my hand around the pitcher handle. Then down to the beer glass, he holds. Slow he rise it. From a distance he seems to compare the glass to my hand. He shake his head, as he let a baffled sigh out. "I want to sign a contract with you."

I almost choked on the beer. As I cough I say. "What?"

"I want to sign a contract with you!" He say once again. I must look confused. "I don´t want all of it you farm. But I geuss that you will get a overflow." He is not wrong at that. Even if I can conserve much. There will always be some I can´t take care of myself. "I can pay, if that is what worries you." If I sign a contract, with Millard. I will have a steady income atleast. 

I nod. and put down my drink. "Alright. I will sign a contract with you." He smiles a great and happy smile. It shows in his eyes how happy he is. "But." I say, his smile disappears. "The price we will discuss at delivery. After that you have tasted the goods." He nods slowly, not smiling yet. "I will just say, that I can trade for something else."

"Like what?" He asks intrigued. 

I smile. "I can´t produce vinegar or sugar. A few things that I need but can´t produce for myself."

He nods. As he are thinking about it. I take sips from the beer. It is so good. I would say that it is a good deal for us both. Not anything that are hard to think about. He slaps his hands on the counter top. The chockwave thru the wood, makes the glasses tinkle. He looks up at me again. And his smile is back. "Deal, Dragol." He chuckle. "It´s a deal. It´s fair." We shake hands. "I will have the contract written, by the end of the week."

"Cheer." I laugh. "For a good future." 

He drinks some water. And I empty the pitcher halfway. I saw Maria go in to the kitchen. The scents blew out. Its a mix of spice, meat, fish and veggies. I gave him a small nod again. I redo my grip, to heave the rest of the beer. But as I rised the odd glass of mine to my lips, I see that Maria comes back out. In her hands are a plate. And I can see the steam rise from it.  She puts it infront of me with a smile. I look in chock at the food. Not knowing what to say. I hear Millard chuckle and Maria giggle. "Eat." They said in unison.

"I thought you don´t serve food yet." I said in confusion. I am confused as hell. But it is Millard that answer me. "I thought you are hungry." I gave fast glanze to his workers that came in with the last two baskets. "Those fruits are freshly picked. And then you travel on foot here." He smiles. "You have worked since dawn, to gather this for me." I taste the food. Its strong. But the heat is good. "I see that you like it." He chuckles. "So what do I owe you!?" He got serious in a blink of a eye.

I swallow down the stew. "Nothing." He stepped back. "With the food. And a contract for the future." I drink a small sip of the beer. "I would say that it is enough."