Eulia And The Butterfly Dragon

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Market Day

Eulia brushed out her hair then braided it in a single braid as she looked into the mirror. She was wearing her new necklace and a new dark green peasant style blouse and ankle length red brown patterned skirt that she had spent the last week sewing. The blouse extended to cover her to slightly below her hips overlapping the skirt and she had a green belt around her waist with her sling. Usually she kept the lacing that closed the neckline pulled tight, but today she loosened it wide enough to expose her shoulders and the necklace. The tiny shoulder scar of her branding of indenture hidden by the off shoulder short sleeve. She completed her makeup application and continued to examine herself in the mirror when her reverie was stopped when she heard Ian call her.

"Eulia, lets go it's a long walk to the county market in Houston-Whittier."

"She's just making herself beautiful Ian," Mari whispered teasing. Eulia grabbed her wide brimmed straw hat with the short round crown, fleece lined red oilskin cape, apron and guitar then ran out of the house.

"You look beautiful Euly," Ian said. Eulia blushed with pleasure.

"Thank you Ia...Dad."

"I like the sound of that daughter," Ian said smiling. "Rebecca Mae do you want to walk or ride in the wagon?"

"I want to walk with Sissy."

"OK, let us know if you get tired," Ian said.

Eulia put her cape and the guitar in the wagon next to her traveling bag and put on her straw hat and apron. Then taking Becky's hand began the long trek. Ian led the horse team pulling the wagon and the rest of the family and servants followed behind on foot. Mari rode in the wagon. They were joined by other wagons from the surrounding farms on the way to market. They passed through their tiny village and Jacob joined them.

"You're going to market too?" Eulia asked. "You're not thinking of becoming a farmer are you?"

"No I'm just a coopers son," Jacob teased, then laughed. "But I heard a beautiful farmer's daughter was going to the market and thought I'd come and see."

"There will be a plethora of farmer's daughters at market," Eulia said.

"There's one special one that interests me. I heard she never wears shoes because her feet stink." Eulia laughed.

"What are you going to do Jake. I've nothing for you to carry this time."

"Carry me Jake!" Becky said holding up her arms, "piggy back." So Jake assisted her onto his back. They stopped for a brief lunch. When they finished Mari, Becky and Eulia were picking wild flowers and weaving them into a crown for Becky and a hat band for Mari and Eulia. Jacob helped with the horses.

"I heard you adopted Euly," Jacob said.

"Yes, I wish we had done it earlier. I've always thought of her as family."

"How long has she been with you."

"Mari has always had poor health. My grandmother purchased her from a foundling home eleven years ago to help run the house. She presented her to us after Mari miscarried our second child. Eulia was five, almost six, and has been a godsend."

"Why did you wait so long to adopt her."

"Stupidity I guess." Ian said. "We should have done it years ago.You seen very interested in her."

"I want to marry her. But it will be another half-year before I make journeyman."

"Have you spoken to her?"

"Not yet. I'm still an apprentice and she was indentured so marriage was out of the question. I was planning to wait until she was free but now..."