𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙭

|12| The Stalls

EMARA

We make it to the front of the entrance, and I take Bear's leash, tying him to a post. It is much too crowded for him and the leash is long enough to let him walk around a little instead while we did our trading. After finishing, I walk toward the cluster of booths. The chatter of all the people laughing and bartering around the stalls is loud but also soothing. It helps remind me that even though times were crazy, we can still all come together as a community and help each other out and that I am not as alone as I feel.

Jace squeezes my neck a little tighter as he looks around, taking in all the people bustling around from stall to stall. He had woken up just as we were coming up to the town square. I rub his back to try to calm him down. He is a little anxious but also very curious, and his curiosity seems to be winning.

The stall we have to meet first comes into view. A smile lights up my face as the woman behind the table looks up from whatever she is working on.

"Jamie!" Evey giggles, running to the table.

Jamie gives her a big hug, and she turns her head in my direction. Her auburn hair is tied back in a bun, and her light brown eyes turn up with a smile when she sees me. "Emara," she nods. "How are ya?" Her mouth forms the shape of an O as she sees Jace in my arms. "Who is this guy? Last I saw, you didn't have another little one..."

"This is Jace," I smile.

"Mmm, cutie. Where did he come from, though?" she asks, her eyes flitting from Jace to me.

"Emara found him in the woods a few days ago!" Evey cuts in.

Jamie frowns at the mention of Jace being found alone and glances at me with a question.

I nod in confirmation. "Have you heard of anyone looking for a child? I was gonna see if I could find his parents."

"Oh, honey, no. I'll let you know if I hear anything. It's a good thing you found him." Jamie reaches out and gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

I nod my head solemnly. "Well, on a lighter note, I have something exciting for you."

"Oh?" she raises an eyebrow, and an amused look flits across her face, the moment of sadness passing. She sits back down in her seat.

"Oh, indeed," I tease. I take a few steps backward and set Jace down, pulling the cart with the mountain lion closer.

A gasp escapes Jamie's lips as she stands up from her seat once again. "A mountain lion?!" Jamie's eyes widen in shock. "Oh my gosh, Mara, are you ok? Did something happen?" she rushes around the table and grabs my shoulders, looking me over for injuries.

"Jamie! I'm fine." I push at her arms. "I didn't even get a scratch. I had some help from- someone," I say, deciding not to mention Taeric. It didn't seem like a good idea.

She notices my hesitancy but ignores it, instead giving me a tight hug. "Well, whoever this nameless help is, thank God for them."

Evey opens her mouth as if she wants to say who, but Lilly shoots her a glance that makes her clamp it shut.

My heart beats against my rib cage. I didn't exactly know what would happen, but I don't think broadcasting to the whole town that a giant alien man dropped out of the sky is a good idea. "I know..." I say, hoping she didn't notice as I try to move the conversation along. "Well, I have my usual, too," I tell her as I pick up one of the rabbits.

She chuckles, sliding back into her chair, not prying any farther. "Well, I can give you a pretty penny for this. How much were you thinking?"

She didn't mean literal money, of course. We used coupons instead, and they could be used for trading at the other stalls but would be worthless anywhere else. Depending on how much you brought in, you could set up your own stall or walk around and sell it to another booth instead. If you didn't bring anything in, you couldn't trade. It was as simple as that.