Into The Woods

“Go to town and find a mason,” her mother had said. “And find one that can work cheap or in return for simplicities such as food and shelter.” Her mother had been very specific and firm on the “cheap” part of it. They weren't paupers, but they were not exactly living the high life either. For the most part, Rowan and her mother had everything they could ever want. Even her grandmother, who she frequently took baskets of fresh goods to, made do with the simple things. They were simple folk and they hardly considered themselves poor.

They were rich in love and life. They had a cow, which while she wasn't much, she gave them milk with which the made butter and cheese. They had a garden that they harvested from throughout the year. They had a strong relationship with the farmer down the road where her mother frequently traded mending, cooking and cleaning for their regular supply of eggs and freshly butchered meat.

What more did they really need? Rowan couldn't think of anything. ( Well, maybe there was something... )

Fred coughed and sputtered, waving her hands in front of her face in a futile attempt to clear the thick, charcoal-colored smoke from in front of her face. But the action only created eddies and swirls of movement within the cloud, rather than dissipating it, and finally she had the bright idea that it would be better if the smoke could get out of the small shack rather that simply being pushed around within it. Well she could hardly be blamed for not thinking of it right away. ( An explosion did sort of take one by surprise. )