Dwellers of the New World Chapter Nine ( Pt 6 ) Friendships

Gossip was rife around the camp, with news of the stranger. Some young people hung around the camp fire, talking, laughing and drinking with the older men.

Dogs barked hungry for food, watching as a wild pig was turned on a spit over an open fire.

There were four huge fires burning, with other smaller ones lighting up the clearing, each one fuelled with wood from the forest.

The young people added logs, enjoying the flames that reached higher and higher, they laughed in high spirits, intoxicated by the liquor.

“Hey Sam!” shouted one of the girls. “Go ask Brad who that girl is.”
she flashed a smile at him, brushing her long blonde hair back behind her ears.

Sam wasn't really interested in finding out. “Why don't you go ask yourself, if your so interested.” He thought girls were so nosy and wasn't about to get involved, he had enough stress with his father and didn't need any more trouble.

The young girl who's name was Daisy wasn't about to give up. She sauntered over to him. “Oh go on Sam...I'll give you a tongue kiss.”
She ran her fingers through his thick, dark shoulder length hair, which with his dark skin, complimented his hansom appearance. He knew he had charm and appeal, most of the girls were drawn to him like a magnet, but anything he did had to be on his terms.

“I'll go!” said one of the other boys, excited at the thought of a tongue kiss.

Daisy turned to him, taking a swig of the liquor which was now giving her a warm feeling inside. “Go on then Joe, hurry up, we're waiting.” She giggled as he walked over to the wagon.

As Brad was cleaning Cinnamon's cut leg, the curtain of the wagon was pulled back, the figure of Joe stood at the entrance.

“Hey Brad...what you found then?” he picked up the waiting dog, who began licking Joe's face.

“It's a young girl, she's pretty cut up, got caught in the wild brambles.” Brad looked at Cinnamon's wet clothes. “Joe...could you do me a favour?”

“Yeah sure...what is it?” replied Joe.

“Could you go get a change of clothing for the girl, she can't stay in these wet clothes. Oh yeah! And take River over to my wagon, but be quiet, my son's sleeping.”

The ever willing Joe turned and put the dog down. “Yeah sure thing Brad.” He turned to make his way over to Brad's wagon, slapping his leg uttering, “come on boy...we gotta get you to bed with young Simon, so you be quiet now.”

The dog looked up at Joe, its tail wagging in agreement, as if River understood every word the man said.

Once at the wagon, the dog jumped up and quietly made its way over to where the boy slept, making himself comfortable at Simon's feet, curling up, his eyes closed almost immediately, but he was always alert.

“Good boy,” whispered Joe.

He closed the curtain, then made his way across to one of the other wagons. Pulling the curtain back, he whispered in a hushed voice.
“Psst...hey Lea.”

A woman sat cross-legged on the floor of the wagon, sowing while her children slept, she looked up in surprise, being interrupted from deep thought. “Is that you Joe? What you want?”

Joe climbed into the wagon so he could whisper easier. “Looks like Brad's found a stray girl, she's pretty cut up, also in need of some dry clothes. Your Cassia is about her size, any chance of borrowing one of
her dresses, just until the girl's clothes dry?”

Lea put down her sowing and came to standing. “I don't think Cassia will mind, but she's sleeping at the moment and I don't want to wake her.” The woman thought for a moment. “Oh I don't see why not.”

Making her way over to a wooden chest, inside were her daughter's clothes neatly folded, ready to wear. Lea picked out a dress, that her daughter hadn't worn for ages, it was a bit old and tattered, but would probably fit the injured girl.

Closing the lid, Lea walked over to Joe and handed him the garment. “Now, mind you make sure and get this dress back Joe, I don't want to have to come and get it.”

Joe took the dress from the woman. “Thanks Lea...I'll be sure to give Brad the message.”

“I'll get back to my sowing if that's all then.” She settled herself back down on the floor, with the bone needle in hand.

As Joe left her wagon, he marvelled at her handy work, which she executed by candlelight and wondered how she managed to create such fine garments.

He whistled a tune, feeling pleased with himself, looking forward to the tongue kiss from Daisy. He thought she was a real looker and loved her beauty.

Once back at the wagon, pulling back the curtain, he declared. “Here you go, a nice, clean dress for the girl. I got it from Lea, she said she
wants it back as soon as possible and doesn't want to have to come and get it, it's one of Cassia's.”

Brad took the garment from Joe, thanking him.

“So where you from and what's your name?” he addressed the girl.

“My name's Cinnamon, I live right close to the barracks in one of the wooden cabins.”

“I ain't heard of no barracks,” replied Joe. “Where might that be?”

Cinnamon smiled at Joe. “It's just the other side of the forest, where I lost my way, I never realised how big the forest was, I've never been in here before.”

Joe beamed from ear to ear, a twinkle in his eye for Cinnamon, he felt a strange feeling that he'd never felt before, suddenly tongue kissing Daisy didn't seem to matter any more. He was also staggered that she'd never been in the forest.

Brad interrupted Joe's thoughts. “I think we'd better let Cinnamon change into the dry clothes.”

“Oh yeah!” replied Joe.

Cinnamon thanked Brad. As he turned to leave, he spoke softly in the dim light. “You know child, you were lucky that River has a good sense of smell and knows when someone's in danger, you could have been out there all night, if it wasn't for him.”

“I'm very grateful,” replied Cinnamon. “Thank you for taking care of me, I owe you my life.”

Brad smiled at her words, then left. Cinnamon stood up, removing the wet bedding, then continued to undress, her wet clothes clung to her skin.

She trembled, legs weak and body shivering. Finally naked, she picked up the new dress, unfolded it and slipped it over her head. Luckily it fitted fine, although it was a bit short, Cinnamon was used to having her legs covered up.

Putting the new bedding down on the wooden platform, she lay down and flung another sheepskin over herself. Laying there, the girl thought about how kind these people were, feeling comfy and cosy and blissfully tired.

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