Chapter 1791

She looked so pleased that Jude decided not to mention how much work the journal would require.

By midmorning, the garden was beginning to take shape. The soil had been loosened, the seeds had been planted, and small wooden markers stood in neat rows. Stella placed a simple protective fence around the patch so that the animals wouldn’t wander through it.

Scarlet arrived carrying a bundle of thin branches.

"I brought materials."

Stella examined them. "For what?"

"The bench."

"We haven’t even finished the garden."

"That’s why I brought the branches early."

Jude looked at the bundle. "Are those strong enough?"

"Of course."

He picked up one of the branches and bent it slightly. It cracked.

Scarlet stared at it.

"Perhaps," she said slowly, "we need stronger branches."

"Perhaps."

She turned toward the forest. "I’ll find some."

"Take someone with you," Jude called after her.

Scarlet waved without looking back.

Jude glanced at Stella.

"Should we be worried?"

"Probably."

They returned to their work.

Near midday, a shout came from the direction of the vegetable plots. A moment later, Natalie appeared on the path carrying a strange round vegetable with a pale green skin and a cluster of thin roots hanging from one end.

"Jude! Come and look at this!"

He put down his tools and followed her.

The eastern vegetable beds were thriving. Several rows of broad-leafed plants had grown taller than the previous week, and their roots had begun pushing through the soil. Natalie showed him the unusual vegetable.

"This one grew beneath the purple-leafed plants," she explained. "It wasn’t there when we checked last week."

Jude turned it carefully in his hands.

"Did you find more?"

"Three others."

Susan approached with a basket. "We haven’t tasted it yet."

"Good. Let’s examine it first."

Layla arrived a moment later, holding her journal. "The leaves resemble the plants we found near the eastern stream, but the roots are different."

Jude looked toward the beds. "We should mark the location and leave some of the vegetables untouched until we understand how they grow."

Natalie nodded.

They collected one sample for observation and left the others in the ground.

"Could it be useful for food?" Emma asked.

"Possibly," Jude replied. "But we won’t guess."

Susan smiled. "You sound like Layla."

"That’s a compliment."

Layla looked pleased.

The group spent the next hour inspecting the crops. They found several familiar vegetables, a few plants that had produced small blue fruits, and one vine that had grown around the wooden support poles.

Natalie was particularly pleased with the vine.

"It has grown almost twice as much as last week."

"Then we should build a stronger frame," Jude suggested.

"I can do that tomorrow."

"I’ll help."

"You said that about the western fence."

"And I’ll help with that too."

Susan folded her arms. "You have a habit of promising to help with everything."

Jude looked at the growing list of tasks in his mind.

"Perhaps I should stop making promises."

"That would be a sensible beginning," Rose said as she joined them.

By the time the sun reached its highest point, the village had become warm and busy. The smell of cooking drifted from the cabins, and the sound of wooden tools striking the soil could be heard from several directions.

Jude returned to the central firepit with Rose and Layla. They prepared a simple midday meal while the others finished their tasks.

Scarlet eventually returned from the forest with a much larger bundle of branches.

She dropped it beside the firepit.

"Now we can build the bench."

Jude examined the branches. "These are much better."

"I know."

"Where did you find them?"

"Near the western path."

"Did you cut them from a living tree?"

Scarlet hesitated.

Jude raised an eyebrow.

"I collected fallen branches," she said.

"Good."

"Why would I cut down a tree just for a bench?"

He gave her a look.

Scarlet considered it.

"Actually, don’t answer that."

After lunch, Jude helped Scarlet and Rose begin constructing the bench. They chose a spot beside the flower garden, beneath the shade of a young tree. The ground was level, and the location offered a clear view of the central firepit.

Scarlet wanted the bench to be wide enough for four people.

Rose thought three would be sufficient.

Scarlet insisted that four was better because someone might want to lie down.

"It’s a bench," Rose reminded her.

"It’s a comfortable bench."

Jude measured the branches and began arranging the supports. They worked slowly, tying the pieces together with strong vines and securing the joints with wooden pegs.

Scarlet was surprisingly helpful once she stopped trying to redesign the entire structure every few minutes.

Rose held the pieces in place while Jude secured them. When the frame was ready, they added several smooth planks for the seat.

"Try it," Jude said.

Scarlet immediately sat down.

The bench creaked.

Everyone froze.

Scarlet looked down.

Then she slowly stood up.

"It’s fine," she announced.

Jude tested the bench with his hand, pressing down on the seat. It held, though one of the supports moved slightly.

"Not quite."

He tightened the joint and added another crosspiece beneath the seat.

This time, when Scarlet sat down, the bench remained perfectly still.

She leaned back with great satisfaction.

"Excellent."

Rose sat beside her.

"It is comfortable," she admitted.

Scarlet smiled triumphantly.

Jude sat on the other side. "Then I suppose we have our first piece of garden furniture."

"Not the last," Scarlet said.

Jude looked at her.

She smiled innocently.

"Perhaps a table next."

"Let’s finish the garden first."

By late afternoon, the flower garden was almost complete. Stella had placed small stones around the planted sections, Grace had watered the soil, and Emma had added a narrow path through the middle.

The new bench stood beneath the tree, facing the garden.

Stella examined it with approval.

"I like it."

Scarlet placed both hands on her hips. "Naturally."

"You did a good job."

"Thank you."

"Even if the first branches were unsuitable."

Scarlet’s smile faded.