"Can you keep secrets? Like cross my heart and hope to die if I ever tell a single soul type secret? Oh I hate getting into trouble!" Noreene spoke nearly in tears.
"Sure, I can keep my mouth shut. What's the secret? Is it about boys? Will it get you whacked?" asked Jacquelyn. She liked knowing secrets. There was something intriguing and mystifying about learning the deep dark truths hidden inside others. Also, it's sometimes fun to mock them about it.
"I am sick and tired of being the one who does the heavy end of the chores without the extra pay. I can understand Bessie since she is simple. But Caroline is an excellent student and can read and write well. So because she wasn't able to remember what to put down on her paper, I had to do both lists while she sat there and swung her legs. Now I have to do her chores because she is tired. And when the girls get married it will be worse for I will be the eldest. It is enough to make me want to leave the caravan." Noreene spoke heatedly.
"Isn't that enough? Oh yeah the wedding..... The usual stuff about how our females were taken advantage of their boys and the normal come back that their boys were enticed by our girls. It ended up being that Bessie was not at fault but Jacob. Jacob is only 15 but Mother said that will be better for Betsy considering her condition.
Olivia has had her eyes on James the last two time we came through. Since all three of them were there- Micki, Nicki and James-and they are brothers- James was the one who should have known better to succumb to Olivia's charms.
Both couples will be in our caravan. James for his strength and authoritative ways which Father will groom into a good caravan leader in the future. Bessie because of her condition and the fact that Jacob is a bit too young.
One large cake will be provided by us, the other two families will provide the meal. We will provide the music and dancing...... And that is about it." Noreene finished.
"I have no clue. You will get your duties when Father gives them to you. Myself, I have to fill the water barrel by myself tonight." Noreene spoke calmly. "How was the dance class?"
"It was alright. As long as there's not much foot movement, I can dance just fine," sighed Jacquelyn. She had seen the dance spectacle back in town. Caroline had leapt this way and that, gracefully arcing through the air. Had she done it, she would have wrecked the entire square. Best not get too disappointed about it.
"As long as you do your best Father won't say much. You should get a hobby of some sort so you make stuff to sell. Our next stop we can sell our goods. What kind of crafts can you do?" she asked.
"If it's money the family needs, I know a few methods of getting my hands on some," Jacquelyn said, grinning wryly. "It can't really be explained, I just have to show you. You'll see at our next stop."
"It's personal money. And it had better be legal way. Father also likes seeing us do things with our hands like crafts. I do beading. I wonder what Olivia is going to do with her beads and string....." she spoke absent mindedly.
"Well, I suppose I could try carving or textile work," mused Jacquelyn, while in her head thinking "Well, technically, in some areas there's no law per se, so everything is legal."
"You will need start up money. Want to help me with carrying the water? We could talk while we carry the buckets. It'll just be 5 trips if both of us work together."
Jacquelyn set one of the pails down under the pump. Then, she pressed down on the pump on top. Water gushed down from the pipe into the small wooden pail beneath. "So have you ever been to the north east? I heard from travelers that there were tigers there as big as houses with teeth the length of knight's swords! Did you see any of them?" she asked between presses.
"There are no land animals that large, Jacquelyn. The Elephant is the largest land animal. I saw one once and the trainer was a very nice guy. And quite handsome. I am not sure which way Father is going this time. He may be going north east." Noreene spoke as she waited for her turn at the pump.
"I have decided to go north east. I have heard of a man who is there. His name is Sura Kafkeh. Have you ever heard of him?" Sean spoke quietly as he approached the two girls.
"Never you girls mind. The wedding is tomorrow. We will leave right afterwards. The three of you will pack your belongings and move it into the new wagon. It has been built like you have diagrammed it and the Main Wagon. Nice job too. Bessie and Caroline will stay in here tonight. Now get moving. The men will finish filling the water kegs." Sean spoke firmly.
Jacquelyn opened the door to the new wagon. It wasn't large on the inside, but it was as large as it needed to be and looked friendly and cozy. She saw a bed on the left she immediately took an interest to, and sat on it, sighing in content.