First shopping trip

Morning comes and Miles feels sluggish. The weight of last night was still on his shoulders. He drags himself out of his room and goes to Ezra's room. He finds the room empty and his heart drops. He runs from the bedroom and runs from each door in the house. He looks over each room, his heart racing in his ears. Once he's gone through the whole house he stopped. His breathing is shallow and rough. For a brief moment, he wonders if the dealmaker has taken Ezra. He bolts out the door and searches around the house. He runs to the barn and searches in there. Still nothing. He looks through the shed and in the garden. He stops at the chickens and sees Ezra standing by the chicken coop.

Ezra has the coop open. The chickens are all condensed in the furthest corner of the coop.

"What are you doing out here?" Miles asks with raised brows.

Ezra points at the chickens. They clucked in worrying tones.

"How about we leave them alone for a while. I'll get them some food and water." Miles stretches his muscles, "You want to help me feed the others?"

Ezra scratches at his neck and shrugs. Miles guides Ezra away from the birds. The two walk away and work to feed and water the cows and horse. Miles feeds and gives water to the chickens by himself. He picks up the black and white one as she is the only one who lets him pick her up once again. He looks over her and pets her soft feathers. The chicken relaxes under his attention. She looks up at him and then curls up. Falling asleep, the chicken goes near motionless. After a while, he places her back into the coop with the other chickens and leaves them with clean water and food.

Miles makes his way to the horse, "You ready for a trip?"

He whinnies and his tail whips about. Miles looks for a saddle and bridle. When he manages to find them, he places them on the horse. He pats the animal, "Look at you. Ready to go."

Ezra stares.

"Are you coming with me to town?" Miles asks.

The boy nods.

"Alright help with gathering a few things. Go find a basket. I believe I saw one in the shed." Miles smiles at the boy.

Ezra turns and runs off. Miles heads into the house to grab a cloth to wrap the eggs in. He grabs it and turns. He sees a note on the table with a small envelope. He holds the note up.

Hello Miles,

I left you some money to use as I'm sure you haven't figured things out yet. Be sure to learn from the people around you and take care.

After placing this note in the drawer with the previous one Miles looks in the envelope. He pockets it and meets Ezra near the chickens. Miles thanks the boy and takes the basket. He walks to the chickens and picks up what eggs they let him take. Miles thinks about what he should get while in town. Sure, he needs food and Ezra should get a new set of clothes. Miles considers getting two sets of clothes for the boy.

Ezra places a hand on the horse and eyes Miles.

"Okay time to go." Miles lifts Ezra onto the horse. He hands the boy the eggs to hold on to and then climbs up himself.

The horse trots off to Betty. She moos at them and then leads them through the woods. They then come out of the woods. Betty stays behind. As Miles passes Seline's and Emil's house, he notices the woman outside. She is kneeling near the flowers and pulling out small weeds.

Emil comes out with a metal cup. He trots over to Seline and hands it to the woman. She smiles up at the young man and takes the cup.

The two, upon hearing the horse whinny, look to Miles and Ezra. They wave as they pass. Ezra stares and Miles waves at the other two.

Once passed them they follow the road to town. It is full of people. They all walk to and from as if they can't get to where they are going fast enough. Miles slides off the horse and leads it to where they need to go. Thankful he remembered how to get to the shop. Miles releases a breath he didn't know he was holding. Ezra still holds the eggs, steady between his hands.

After tethering the horse to the post outside the shop, Miles helps Ezra off the horse. The child slides off the side of the animal and with sturdy hands on his waist he drops to the earth slow and steady.

The two enter the shop. Miles goes to the counter and asks the man there how much he can sell the eggs for. The man looks over each egg with a careful eye, searching for all imperfections. It doesn't take the man long but he offers a price. Miles accepts the price and takes the offered sum. The man smiles at him. Miles strays from the counter and looks around. He spots Ezra standing at a counter full of accessories.

Miles then turns his attention to picking out bags of food for the animals and food for themselves. He pays for the stuff and then asks the man where he could get some clothes. The man at the counter gives him directions to a place not far from there. Miles thanks the man and notices that Ezra is still at the counter with accessories.

He approaches the child, "What are you looking at?"

The boy points at a bracelet with dark red stones and dark green stones with a few spots of blood red.

Miles looks over it with mild curiosity, "We got to keep what money we have... if it sticks around long enough then we might get it. It's time to go."

Ezra points again at the bracelet.

"No," Miles says as his voice takes a sharp firm tone, "It's time to leave."

Still, Ezra points to the object, the action insistent.

Miles huffs. He takes the bought Items and walks out of the shop. He puts them in saddlebags on the horse and distributes the weight as close to even as he can manage. Then walks back into the shop. He wraps both arms around the boy's waist and lifts the boy from the ground.

Ezra struggles, almost knocking down the nearby counters. Miles maneuvers around this with the boy, and once outside hoist the boy over his shoulder. Moving on to the next place on Miles's list.

He crosses to the other side of the road and walks on for a few moments. Stopping at a shop with a window showing some dresses, Miles tethers the horse with one hand. At that moment the boy stops his struggle. Miles places the boy down. Then Miles goes to scold the boy only to stop before any words escape him. The child throws himself into Miles and presses his face into his lower chest. Raising a brow Miles wonders what prompted the boy's fear. Miles looks back but only sees people walking. Nothing stands out to him. He looks down at the boy, "Come on. Let's get this done and we will go back to the house."

The boy nods and the two walk into the shop. Inside a woman strides from one side of the store to the other. She talks to each person she goes past. With the speed and efficiency of a dragonfly in flight. It isn't long before stops in front of Miles and Ezra.

"Can I help you two?" She asks.

Miles clears his throat, "Yes, I'd like to get a couple sets of clothes for him."

Miles motions to Ezra. The boy looks up at the woman. She is clean and everything thing seems placed just so. Her hair is up in a tight bun and her lips are two thin lines. She looks over at Ezra and pulls out a measuring tape, "What kind of clothes are you looking for?"

Miles frowns, "Uh... Just normal clothes that would be comfortable and easy to move around in."

She raises a brow and looks at Miles for a moment, then returns her gaze to Ezra.

"Are there any specific colors or styles you prefer?" She asks her posture straight as a measuring stick.

"Simple will do fine," Miles answers, his eyes going to Ezra for a moment.

"How soon do you want them?" She ushers them to an area in the store with a multitude of fabric.

"How soon can you get them done?" Miles asks.

"A week... any sooner and I'll have to charge you extra." The woman answers.

"Ah, That's fine. A week is fine." Miles nods.

"Any fabric you would prefer? We have different kinds." She gestures to them.

Miles looks to Ezra, "Any you want?"

Ezra touches each one but by the end of it all, he shrugs. Miles sighs, "Whichever is suitable for garden and animal care would be appreciated."

The woman nods. She walks to a counter and pulls out a small sheet of paper. She writes some notes down. She then looks up at them, "Payment is due the day you come to pick them up."

"How much is it?" Miles asks.

She writes down the number and gives him the paper. Miles looks at the number, "I can pay that now."

Miles fumbles with his pocket but manages to pull out the needed amount. He holds it out to the woman.

She accepts the payment, counts it, and then smiles at them.

"Come back in a week and I will have them finished by then." She states.

"Thank you." Miles bows a small fraction.

Miles then takes Ezra's hand and leaves the shop. Miles goes to lift the boy onto the horse but Ezra insists on staying hidden behind Miles.

"What are you doing?" Miles grumbles as he reaches for the boy.

Taking the child's arm in his grip he pulls the boy in front of him. Ezra's eyes and wide and Miles can feel the boy shiver. Again, Miles looks around but doesn't see anything to be afraid of.

"Look the sooner you get on the horse the sooner we can get back to Betty and the others. Let's get out of here." Miles lifts the boy again.

This time the boy lets Miles do so. The child seems to whimper as Miles walks away to untether the horse. Once done Miles takes his spot on the saddle. Ezra presses his face against Mile's back as if to hide.

It doesn't take long for the horse to begin trotting.

"I wish you would tell me what's going on," Miles mutters as they pass by the buildings.

With that the ride to the woods is silent. Miles greets Betty and when the trip to the house through the woods is started it is quiet again. Once back to the house the boy slides off the horse and runs away.

"Hey, you need to help me carry this stuff in!" Miles calls to the boy.

But Ezra does not return. Miles mutters to himself and Betty. He alone puts the bought items away. When he finishes, he goes and searches for the boy.