And old version of my story. ;)

no indentation, poor grammar. sappy. i havent even got to the part about when Fiador was a sentimental, maudlin man.


apologies.

you'll never see him that way.

i'll. uhm. never post that here.


Chapter The First


“Elsie? Elsie! Elisabeth Olivia Ingersoll, please come down for breakfast!!” Elsie’s father called. Oh, brother. I’m in for it! She opened her eyes, and saw that her sister Isabella’s bed was empty. How did she always manage to wake up before her? Especially since she spent most nights talking until Father comes in, robe hastily tied, to discipline us for staying up too late “Coming, Father….”
She yawned and pulled the patchwork coverlet around her. The morning was icy cold and Elsie didn’t want to get out of bed. At least, not until Father lit the fire. But, today was Monday and she had to go watch the Rosemont girls. The Rosemont’s were the Governor’s family.
Elsie often watched eight of their twelve girls. Looking outside, she almost reconsidered. All our trees were swaying violently with the wind and a constant draft from the window behind her told her it was cold. Icy cold. But, although the weather was cold and blustery, the sun was still shining.
And today was the day that Governor and Mrs. Rosemont had to attend the social gathering in Boston that a governor and his wife have to be present at. And you don’t want to leave twelve girls alone all day! She knew, as she was a female that girls bicker over anything. But those girls, on the other hand, were also charming young ladies that she enjoyed being with. Elsie admitted she shouldn’t have come to hasty conclusions. Looking outside, seeing the day in a new way, she felt blessed to be alive. She just had to share her thoughts with God. After praying, she felt a lot better. Elsie burrowed under her quilt, hoping for five more minutes.



But, the loft-stairs creaked, and suddenly her door opened. “Father asked you to come down, sister…And that means come down!” said Daniel, her 18 year-old brother. Elsie, surprised, sat up swiftly, banging her elbow on the wall. “Daniel…. Why is it always me? Why do you always choose to scare me, trip me, push ME?” she moaned, and rubbed her aching elbow. Daniel laughed quietly. “Father always says ‘It’s always your reaction to mischief that satisfies the mischief-maker.’ You are the prime example for that circumstance,” he said. Elsie was seething inside, but calmly steered Daniel out of the room and shut the door. Once she was alone, she undressed from her nightshift, and walked to her dresser. After some serious consideration, she pulled out a petticoat embroidered with sky blue flowers and her cornflower blue dress. She put them on and pulled on her stockings and shoes. Then, Elsie scrambled down the stairs and sat down at the table. Ten-year-old James and seven-year-old Isabella looked at her. “Sorry Father, she had a bit of trouble getting down to breakfast. Daniel had to bother me,” she said, still feeling the dull pain that seemed to flare up every time she saw Daniel. Then, Elsie had the most devilish idea for revenge. “Wait,” she said. “Did we wash our hands?” Everybody (even Father) groaned. They all hated to wash up at the outside pump. This time of year, the water was freezing cold and made their hands red and numb. But, she’d been put in charge of making sure they all washed up. Unfortunately, revenge, this time, included her.

So they all trooped out to the pump and, one by one, they turned on the pump and quickly scrubbed their hands with soap that Basil made. Elspeth Tanner-Basil is a freed black woman that lived in a hut on their land. More specifically, she was their sharecropper. She provided soap, medicine, and herbs for their family in exchange for living down in the everglade on our property.

"Elsie... I HATE washing my hands in the winter..." Isabella whined. Daniel interjected with a rolling of the eyes. "We all know she wanted revenge on me."
"I did not!"
"Did too,"
"No, I didn't."
"YES, YOU DID..." This said with a quiet smile, and a look of satisfaction. I stuck my tongue out.

After they finished, they all walked back in, warming our stinging hands in pockets of trousers and aprons. When they were inside, they all sat down again and relaxed while Father served us breakfast. Father set down a bowl of oatmeal in front of her. Elsie was about to lift her spoon to her lips, when Father cleared his throat. “Sorry!” she said, and folded her hands. Father closed his eyes, bowed his head, and began to pray:

Our Father,
Who reigneth over us in heaven, thank you for this meal.
Give us strength to do our work, and patience to deal with our siblings.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Then Elsie dug in, and ate with relish. Now, this was good. If she knew Father he had a sweet tooth and has always bought brown sugar from Carter’s to go with it; and every morning they had warm, fresh cream from Betsy, their Guernsey cow. But if they wanted cold milk, they'd have to trek down to the riverbed cellar where their milk chills. During the summer at least. Speaking of Betsy, Elsie thought she would go down to the barn to see if Betsy dropped her calf.

The barn was the best smelling place in the world. The mixture of meadow hay, grain, leather, horse sweat and manure (yes, you heard it right) make up the smell of the Ingersoll’s barn. And it’s always warm in there, even then, in that frosty November. Elsie walked over to Betsy’s stall and saw a russet colored calf, wobbling around, still damp from birth. “ Oh, you are so adorable!!! Let’s see you are. A boy?” Well, she thought, “Henry will have to do,” she said. Elsie placed a large armful of hay in the manger for Betsy. The mottled old cow lumbered over and sunk her head into the hay, beginning to chew ponderously. Elsie bid the sweet animal farewell, and then went over to the box stalls for their horses. The first stall held Van Irish, her Father’s cream stallion, calm as a summer breeze. Father found him as a foal, and has nurtured him into a pleasant steed. He shows him at the fair every year.

Well, except this year, because Van Irish had a twisted joint. Poor thing. Elsie inspected his hocks, and then unwrapped the bandage covering the swelled leg. The redness had faded, and the swelling had definitely gone down. “Good boy, Irish.” she said, scratching his cheek. He nuzzled her, breathing his carroty breath on her.

The next stall held Don Miguel, her brother’s pinto gelding. He tried to nip her as she passed, being a bad-natured horse from birth. Elsie pushed his head away. “Miguel, you are the most pig-headed horse I’ve ever set my eyes upon.” she said, and walked on. The next two stalls held Courage and Brevity, their Shires. They pull the plow and the wagon. Elsie rubbed Brevity’s nose and scratched her cheek. Courage thrust his head out and nosed her. “Alright, Courage, I see you” she said as she batted his ear.

Elsie then stopped in front of her mother’s old mare, Meadowlark. She fingered the necklace Mother had given her on her sixth birthday, just days before she died. Her dear mother had fallen from Lark’s back, trying to ride home during a storm. Elsie’s father, worried, rode off to look for her and found her lifeless, neck broken.

Now, Elsie’s father was courting a gorgeous but unpleasant lady named Irene Thoreau who didn’t like children. She told James that his shirt was wrinkled. Isabella burst into tears after being criticized about her scuffed up shoes. Elsie was told to act more like a lady. Daniel was lectured about his beau, Catherine Rosemont. Elsie did loathe Irene. Very much indeed. Well enough about Miss Sent Down From Heaven, Miss Prim, and Miss Proper. Ah, there she went again, calling her names. What was it with Irene?
Elsie patted Lark, gave her a goodbye kiss, and then arrived at the stall of her horse, her mare, Dearheart Moon. She was an Appaloosa, gray with marbled white speckles all over her. She also had unusual blue eyes. Elsie kissed her velvety nose and fondled her ears. Dearheart nuzzled her cheek, drooling affectionately.

Elsie dutifully gave her a measure of grain so she could eat. She also fed the other horses and rubbed Lark’s ears again. Then she leaned against the stall and sighed. The sounds of satisfied crunching filled the barn. This was paradise. “Elsie? Where are you?” Father called. “Ah, she sees Betsy had her calf. Male, good build, very nice color.” she came up to him. “He’s a Henry,” she said shortly, patting Betsy on her soft head. She moved closer so she could scratch her ears. Father nodded “Henry is a good name.” He murmured, and hugged her. “ How’s her fifteen-year-old daughter? Every time she sees you, you’re with the horses. You aren’t going to grow out of this, are you?” she shook her head. He laughed “Come on, let’s go back up to the house,” he said.

When they crossed the threshold, Daniel pushed past us. “Got to go, Catherine’s waiting!!” he yelled. She laughed. “Whatever manners he has, he’s forgotten them!” Father said. “Speaking of someone waiting, you’ve got to watch the Rosemont brood!!” he exclaimed. Elsie gasped. “Oh, no! Mrs. Rosemont isn’t going to be very pleased when I arrive late!! I’m going to get ready. Be right back!!” she ran upstairs and grabbed her leather satchel containing her sketchbook, pencils, erasers, and other assorted drawing utensils. When she heard Irene talking to Father, she sighed crossly and quickly ran a brush over her hair. Hearing her laugh at Father made her again touch her necklace from Mother. Elsie missed her. “There, all set!!” she sighed and sprinted quietly downstairs. Irene was making those eyes at him. “Those children of yours are quite…charming, Joseph. Naomi gave you quite a responsibility, going off and dying like that.” She purred and squeezed his arm. Elsie gave a stifled gasp. Father hated mentioning Mama. Let alone in a negative way. But, Father calmly kissed Irene’s ‘pale as ice’ cheek and led her to the kitchen. She rolled her eyes and ran out to the barn she quickly saddled Dearheart. She leapt on to her and cantered out of the barn. We would take the shortcut to save time. She steered her towards the side road and they cantered lightly along. Before long, she saw the Halfway Tree, as she called it looming up ahead. It was an immense pine, sweetly scented, and densely branched. She rode past it and looked ahead, searching for potholes and ditches. None apparent.

Soon she came to Rosemont Manor, a large mansion that the governor owned. The mannerly Rosemont brood composed of twelve charming girls: Arabella, Blair, Catherine, Deborah, Edeline, Felicity, Genevieve, Heather, Ivy, Jessica, Kathleen, and the smallest, Liberty, who was six months old today. What a responsibility. She doesn’t think she’d ever be able to handle twelve girls!

She opened the door, expecting a flood of Rosemont’s to come out. Instead two girls; they thanked her as they walked out, dressed for town. They were Catherine and Deborah. They were off to meet their beaux, which is French for courtiers, or men who come courting. In this case, the girls were going to the men. She herded the girls to the living room where Mrs. Luna Bella Rosemont was chatting with her bosom-friend, Stella-Marie Tidings, who had six boys. Overwhelming. She bade Mrs. Rosemont and Liberty (who was going with her parents) and Mrs. Tiding’s goodbye and ushered her to the door. She and her husband, Governor Sebastian Rosemont went off to their ball, or whatever they were going to. “Have fun, Mrs. Rosemont!” she called as they got in the horse-drawn carriage and rattled down the drive.

Elsie quietly closed the door. Jessica immediately jumped at her leg, while Kathleen and Ilyanna tugged at her arms. “We got a dog, Elsie and she’s pretty!!” Ivy said. Katy and Jessie nodded cheerfully. “Come see, come see!” Gisela said, and Heather led her down the hall to the kitchen. Edeline and Felicity were in the kitchen caring for the dog.

The dog was a shepherd mix; she guessed and came about to her upper thigh when it stood, hackles raised, but wagging its tail slowly as if to say, ‘I’m ready to bite if you’re bad, or she’ll lick you all over if you’re good’. She held out her hand and let the dog breathe in her scent. It woofed quietly and licked her fingers happily. “It’s a she! Her name’s Little Moon, because they found her under the full moon ” said Edeline, who was her age and was the one she could open her heart to, and tell her secrets. Like the one about her…. well… it’s a secret, so she shouldn’t tell. Felicity came up to her and said, “ Her paw is hurt, would you look at it?” she nodded and asked her to pick up Little Moon’s paw. She examined it and found a thorn, deeply embedded in her paw. Moon whined and nipped her hand, trying to make her drop her paw. She drew in her breath sharply as her teeth scraped across her hand. “She need someone to hold her head so she won’t bite her.” Edeline smiled and held Moon’s head away from her. She grabbed the thorn and pulled. Moon yelped and struggled against Edeline’s firm hold around her head. She eased the thorn slowly out of Moon’s paw. Moon whined as she held it up for the girls to see. They all stepped back and grimaced. Edeline patted Moon on the head lovingly. Moon licked her face and started to pant happily. Elsie scratched her under her jaw and she licked her too. “Moon likes you, Elsie!” said Ilyanna. Elsie smiled. “Well,” she said, “Shall they go outside?” All the girls cheered and went to fetch their shoes.

We ran around and played tag, snap-the-whip, and then hopscotch in the dirt-patch. After everyone had played enough hopscotch, they sat at the table beneath the old elm tree. Ann Marie, the maid brought out cookies and cold milk to refresh us. We chatted and ate. For a long time they were perfectly content. But they didn’t notice the gray storm clouds approaching. We looked up to see the sun gone and the sky gray and black. A strong gale began blowing, and she felt several large drops of water drip on her. A torrent of rain suddenly commenced and interrupted our cheerful picnic. There were screams and shrieks as the girls were, very quickly, she have to say, completely soaked to the skin. One by one, they quickly darted from under the elm tree and to the house. She made certain everyone was inside before shutting the door. Lorelei, the housemaid came from the kitchen and saw our drenched dresses. She sighed, “I’m so sorry, girls, let her dry those for you.” We all went up stairs to the large bedroom that housed the twelve girls, and shed our dripping clothes. Elsie borrowed Edeline’s cranberry housedress, which went well with her golden hair. We carried our dresses down from the bedroom and gave them to Lorelei. She hung them in front of the large fireplace, three at a time. It didn’t look like she was to get home by lunch after all. While our dresses dried, they all chatted and played hand games to pass the time. Edeline and she chatted about horses, and she told her that a new young man, quite eye-catching, was working at Carter’s General Store. His name was Caleb Yewbeam and he (when she saw him) was a very hard worker. She in turn told her about her cousin, Sarah Grace, who had fallen out of a tree and broken an arm and her leg. And then she invited her to come to the Lucky Leaf Tavern with her. “All her friends from England will be there! Abby, Sara, Celia, Elisabeth, Elaine, and Castile! Castile’s from England and she’s got fashion news for us!” she hesitated. Just then, Catherine and Deborah returned. They both had rosy cheeks, signs that they’d walked home. Catherine looked disappointed. She came over to her and quietly asked, “Did Daniel plan to see her, Elsie? Because he wasn’t at the party,” she told her she didn’t know, but she’d ask him if she wanted. She smiled and said she’d be obliged if she did. After a while, her dress was dry. Edeline said she could wear hers home and bring it back next week. She thanked her and stuffed her dress into her satchel. Elsie bade them all goodbye and opened the front door to more freezing rain.