Every saint has a bee in his halo.

[jamie_kincaid]

[Friday, March 12th (Day 285)]
[The Apothecary]
[Past lunch, not yet dinner]

My favorite meal is cooking away at home and hopefully Molly remembered to include the sweetbread.  I wanted to be done and back before dinnertime and if I finish here quickly, I might make it.  I look at my list again and I can't imagine why Molly'd ask for so much.

Angelica

Comments

[jamie_kincaid]

"Yeah, though your sister's temper ain't exactly a secret." I shrug, smiling and she looks over list, commenting on the items.

"I'll take whatever you have and I'll let her know about the dandelions. Can't be helped." I mention my burn and she mentions something I already know. Pleasantly, I say, "Normally, I'd use that but these burns are different. They take longer to head and have been getting infected quickly. Not sure why but I'll try the extract. Maybe it'll help."

I must be the most oblivious person because I don't notice how Tess stiffens when I start talking about Billy and Mary. She's very clear though when she says, "I doubt that very much, Mr. Kincaid, bein' as Pa's said none 'a them 'r t'see me 'n John. I've hardly seen Billy nor Mary since Christmas, and neither has my brother."

Not since Christmas? I feel bad for rubbing her feelings raw without knowing her situation. I'm about to apologize when she adds, "I am happy, though, 'n 'f you see 'em again you can tell 'em that I am quite happy, me 'n Kate both."

Kate? I'm quiet, trying to sort out where I should start first and I say, "I didn't mean to offend you, Tess, or bring up any sore spots. I saw your kin, we talked and that was it. I didn't know about the rest."

So Tess and Kate are together? I remember everything she told me and it's good that she has someone that makes her happy. "If I see them again, I'll let them know you said so and I'm glad to hear it for myself. Kate's a fine woman and deserves to be happy."

[tess_thiess]

"I'll take whatever you have," he says, "and I'll let her know about the dandelions. Can't be helped." The dried stuff's just in jars, and so it's easy to start measurin' it out from the scales t'the sachets. I suppose I should 'v expected he'd know t'use honey for burns. "Normally, I'd use that but these burns are different. They take longer to head and have been getting infected quickly. Not sure why but I'll try the extract. Maybe it'll help." What sort 'a burns is he gettin'? "There's just one type 'a burn," I say, "'less you've found some muck left over from 'afore. How'd you get it?"

Jamie backs off quick when I turn on him. "I didn't mean to offend you, Tess, or bring up any sore spots. I saw your kin, we talked and that was it. I didn't know about the rest." I tap my foot, watchin' him for a minute. He seems serious. "If I see them again, I'll let them know you said so and I'm glad to hear it for myself. Kate's a fine woman and deserves to be happy."

"She does," I tell him, "and she is." He definitely seems like he means it, so I relax some. "It's bin a bit hard, is all," I say. "I'll have t'go back for the catnip 'n willow bark. How much lavender will you need? The extract's pretty thick, so tell me what you'd normally use 'n I'll figure out the measure."

[jamie_kincaid]

"There's just one type 'a burn, 'less you've found some muck left over from 'afore. How'd you get it?"

I shake my head, "I don't think it's anything like that but it's on some of the older farm equipment. Still haven't figured out what it is. It acts like acid but smells like sulphur." I look at her and say, "There's only been a few small patches but I wasn't watching close enough when I tried to clean it up. Got myself in two places."

I mention Tess' family and she practically bites my head off. Guess they're not getting along well lately but I didn't mean anything by it and I tell her so. She taps her foot while I'm explaining, reminding me of Molly on her more demanding days. Glares like her too.

"She does and she is. It's bin a bit hard, is all." Sounds like it and I nod, not saying anything. It's not my business anyway and I offer her a small amber bottle when she asks me for a measurement. "I usually dilute it with witch hazel and rosewater."

[tess_thiess]

"I don't think it's anything like that but it's on some of the older farm equipment. Still haven't figured out what it is. It acts like acid but smells like sulphur." I nod, and turn back t'lookin' for the horse-heal. "There's only been a few small patches but I wasn't watching close enough when I tried to clean it up. Got myself in two places."

Sounds like bad stuff, and I try t'think 'a what it could be. "You might try askin' up at the wind farm, 'r one 'a the mechanics at the Carnival," I tell him. "There's a girl there, Zann, who knows 'bout lots 'a machine stuff. She might know how t'get rid 'v it safe."

He lets the bit 'bout my family go quick, and hands over a small bottle when I ask after measurin' the lavender. "I usually dilute it with witch hazel and rosewater."

I think for a sec. "I see," I tell him. "That makes sense. It'll just take me a minute," I tell him, and I step off towards the back. Think I'd 'a teased him 'bout not takin' anythin', but I'm still off from his bit 'bout Billy 'n Mary 'n so I dunt. "Just wait here, 'f you dunt mind."

[jamie_kincaid]

"You might try askin' up at the wind farm, 'r one 'a the mechanics at the Carnival," and recommends someone named Zann.

"I'll do that. No sense in waiting any longer than I already have." We talk about her family, and stung by her words, I leave it alone. I pass the amber bottle to her, telling her my normal recipe.

"I see. That makes sense. It'll just take me a minute." I nod, and she adds, "Just wait here, 'f you dunt mind."

Rushing people never works out and besides I'm ahead of my schedule enough to not mind. I smile politely and say, "It's fine. Just take your time."

[tess_thiess]

It dunt take me long t'measure things out, but I take a moment t'sip my cold tea. The flavour 'a bitter herbs takes away a bit 'v the sting 'a Jamie's words. I wonder 'f Billy 'n Mary really are thinkin' 'v Johnny 'n me, livin' here in town so far from the family? I suppose I could see it comin' from them 'n not someone else.

When I feel better I come back out, 'n start gatherin' the satchets on the counter, lookin' through the accounts books for the Kincaids, 'f they got one. They do, like I thought, 'n I set it down. "So this is all?" I ask as I start writin' down measures 'n items.

[jamie_kincaid]

Looking out a window and across the street at the General Store, I'm thoughtful. I didn't think Kate would end up with a woman but it just goes to show that I don't know everything. She's independent enough to choose who she wants and if that's Tess, then good for both of them. Tess seems alright and I'm glad she makes Kate happy. She comes back and puts the gathered pile on the counter. "So this is all?"

Pausing, I go over my list in my head and I say, "No, I need epsom salt too. That'll be the last thing though."

[tess_thiess]

He looks up like he's readin' back through his list, then looks back down 'n shakes his head. "No, I need epsom salt too. That'll be the last thing though." I think for a sec, then shake my head. "We dunt carry any, but Kate's got it at the store."

I finish up loggin' the purchase, then do up the bill. "'F you can just sign, then you can either pay here, 'r we can have it all delivered 'n you can pay then," I tell him.

[jamie_kincaid]

She shakes her head, answering, "We dunt carry any, but Kate's got it at the store."

"Okay. I'll stop there then. Thanks," and I smile politely. I'll see either Kate or Amanda, and maybe I'll ask after her mother. She tallies up my items, asking about payment. "I'll square it up now and take everything with me." I lay money on the counter, enough to cover my bill and my account.

After hesitating a minute, I say, "Please pass my good regards on to Kate, in case I miss her at the store. I'd rather tell you than Amanda because she might take it the wrong way."

[tess_thiess]

"Okay. I'll stop there then. Thanks. I'll square it up now and take everything with me." He counts out enough 'n I set it aside t'get locked up after he leaves.

I expect him t'say goodbye, but he waits for a moment and then says "Please pass my good regards on to Kate, in case I miss her at the store. I'd rather tell you than Amanda because she might take it the wrong way."

It's sort 'v a strange thing t'say, but I suppose they're friends. "Sure," I tell him. "Though dunt worry 'bout Amanda - she knows 'bout Kate 'n I, so I dunt see that she'd take it wrong 'f you left regards." Was he sweet on Kate? I could see it, a bit, but I never managed t'keep up with gossip in town 'till I moved in.

[jamie_kincaid]

I send my regards to Kate and Tess gives me a questioning look. I nod through her reply before saying, "Thanks, Tess, and thanks for the help too."

The sweetbread's waiting, along with Molly and I stow away my purchases, securing everything against falling out. I smile on the way out, "You have a good day and maybe I'll see you next time." One more errand for Epsom salt, and then home and dinner.