Thalia and Earth

Chapter 6: A Thalian Bedding

Chapter 6: A Thalian BeddingAndrew arrived at Kit's home shortly before the midday sustenance hour. There was a harried look on his lean face under the graying reddish hair. He was extremely busy between the negotiations with Rurhran and trying to receive records of the sheep costs and profits. He oversaw the beginning of the Don's leather factory production, getting the new Don schools up and running, the accounts for the three Don Centers, and the other small businesses that seemed to want a startup.

Rurhran's reluctance to open their clothing and material accounts for inspection had went on and on. Rurhran preferred the negotiations deal mainly with transferring the kine herds to Don and ignoring his remarks about the sheep and the profits from the subsidiary businesses of meat, oil, and cloth.

He was a lonely, tired man when he pressed the stone sculpture of a plow beside the door. It served on the worker's quarters the same purpose as a doorbell on his planet.

Kit welcomed him with a huge smile as she opened the door wearing the new light blue top with the wide sleeves, narrow wrists and waist. She had paired it with a short, blue leather kirtle. Her dark, sun streaked braided, brown hair gleamed and swung over her right shoulder.

The Earth being was taller than she, his hair was becoming the white hair of a natural Guardian, and his eyes a frightening light blue. Dear Gar, what had she agreed to? It did nay matter. The Maca had promised her security if she brought a smile to Andrew's face, plus she had this new blouse and the afternoon off.

Andrew's blue eyes seemed to smile, but then he was all business. “Where do you keep the display screen? We can set up there.”

For a moment Kit's eyes simply blinked. He did nay act like a lonely man. Mayhap Earth beings were different. She pointed to the wall that separated the activity quarters from the food preparation.

“Tis there.”

“Good, we'll have you entering things like an accountant before spring is here.”

Kit stared at him. Her brither, Kahli, used those things. He had tried to teach her, but there wasn't time. Finally, she licked her lips and asked. “Would ye nay like a brew first?”

Andrew pulled out a bag of crystals and a stylist from his pocket, some thin folded metal sheets from his inside suit jacket pocket, and pulled up a chair.

“No thank you, we've too much to go over. You'll need to bring over a chair, and, oh, yes, my name is Mr. MacDonald.”

Kit was truly puzzled. This man was House, the newly named Lad of Don, yet he was polite to one who was born Ab. If he did nay drink, how were they to proceed to the bedding? She brought over one of the chairs, but remained standing.

Andrew had the display on and was pressing the circles. “Yes, yes, there it is.”

He looked up at her. “I was making sure the forms I wish you to use are here. I routed them over yesterday afternoon. I've provided some sheets for you to practice on, but I've also put them on a crystal.”

Kit swallowed and her face remained blank. Kahli could write, nay her. She stared vacantly at the screen.

Andrew turned to her. “How many acres do you have planted?”

Kit shrugged. “I believe the Laird said two hundred and forty acres when he had Laten show me this place and where the field boundaries were. I requested the amount of seed I needed.”

For the first time Andrew really looked at her. “How did you know how much to plant?”

Kit smiled. “All fields are the same size for the planting. I had nay ordered before, but I kenned how much seed it takes. Don has been permitted to grow their own eating produce and somehow the Laird had the seed kernels for wheat.”

Andrew lowered his eyelids. He wasn't about to tell her that her Laird, his grandfather, might have purloined the seed on one of his raiding trips to Rurhran. He was beginning to suspect his mother had been correct about one thing: His grandfather wasn't above taking the law into his own hands. Then he remembered Lamar's comments about Abs nay learning anything.

“Uh, how much math and writing are you able to do?”

Kit smiled down at him. “I was Ab. I was taught nay of those things. Ye will have to teach me.”

Andrew slumped back. Grandpa Mac, her Maca, would have known. Why was he sent here? He turned to look at the woman who was smiling at him and leaning closer. Her scent was heavy like musk and he realized how long he'd been without female companionship.

“Mayhap we should have a brew while ye point out everything to me. Kahli showed me how to draw diagrams on there. Mayhap, I can learn to put numbers there.” Kit's smile deepened and she bent to touch her lips with his.

Andrew blamed his weak male nature and the years of lonely nights. He found himself standing and pulling her close and the urge of all mankind was upon him. Somehow Kit had dropped her kirtle and was moving his earth slacks downward and her hand found regions that sparked a desire so deep that both sank to the floor.