Chasing Scarlet

Chasing Scarlet: Chapter Two

My mother roused me up early, so that I could cook up a feast for the lord. I dressed quickly in my favorite old dress. It was straight, with no frills or lace, plain and my favorite color, red. I went down the creaky stairs and entered the kitchen. I grabbed my apron from its hook and tied it around my thin waist. My father used to always tease me by saying, "Never trust a skinny cook." But then after my mother's father passed away, she hadn't been the same, same for my father.  

I mixed up the ingredients needed for griddles and salted ham was thrown over the cooking fire outside. I fried the griddles over the fire too, the smell of roasting ham drifting over in the wind to the house. It was crisp and cool, just how I liked it. Only me and Father were up, my mother always went back to bed after she woke me. I heard him in the barn feeding the mules and the lord's horse.

I liked to cook, especially for big celebrations. I had always cooked for Christmas and other important holidays, my mother tossing me the cooking apron. She never cooked anymore, but that was fine. I didn't mind it.

As I sat, I watched the sun rise over the hills, and also watched the food. The sunrise was as beautiful as everyday, but something today made it feel dreary. Gray clouds lingered on the horizon, waiting for the day to start so they could rain on everybody. Footsteps sounded behind me, booted ones, and I turned around expecting to see Father, but staring at the lord. I focused back on the food, turning the ham a bit to roast the other side. I glanced up at the sky and sighed.

"It's going to pour buckets today. Big storm." I shivered as today's forecast rang through my head. I had these every morning, where somewhere deep inside me, I knew what the day's weather was going to be like. Father wasn't going to be happy with today's weather.

"Can you predict the weather too now?" asked a skeptical voice. I shook my head.

"I always have been able to predict the weather. Now, if you are standing there, you must want something?" I risked a glance at him. His black hair was tied neatly back into a ponytail. He was tall and broad shouldered and had sharp green eyes. He glared at me for awhile.

"Yes, I was wondering when breakfast was to be served?"

"When it's done." I stared at the food, guessing how much time was left before it was finished. "My guess is ten more minutes. If you can't wait that long, I suggest you eat hay." It was what I told my siblings when they were hungry and they usually pouted after I scolded them for asking. Cooking took time.

"Hmph. That is not how you talk to a lord." I could imagine Andra crossing her little arms and sniffing.

"Oh, you baby." I pulled a strip of ham off and handed it to him. He snatched it away and gulped it down as if he hadn't eaten in days. "When was the last time you've ate?"

"Yesterday at sunhigh. I had a couple of apples."

"Tsk, tsk. Don't worry, my food'll get you fattened up!" I grinned and Father came around the corner. I jumped up and rushed to him. "The weather is going to be nasty. There's rain and a big storm coming," I informed him. He gave a hefty sigh.

"Oh well. Now get back to that food. I'm hungry." I scowled as I walked back, noticing the lord had stolen more ham.

"Do not eat any more or there won't be enough for Father and Mother!" I yelled at him. He looked up at me, a frown on his face.  

"Do you not care about little Pete, Andra or even you?"

"I do, but Mother doesn't. She always gets the most, starving me and Andra. We take turns not eating, but since I'm leaving," I shrugged. "Andra will run away soon anyway. We've been planning it for awhile but we don't want to leave Pete behind for Mother to torture too."