Chapter 3.14

The brother spent the rest of the morning going through the patch and transporting the salvageable plants into the yard. Which were basically just the tomato and the cucumber. They were not touched; perhaps because they looked like weedy bushes as they were still developing. The beans and lettuce were thankfully in vats near the herbs, so they were safe.

As for the vegetables, many were completely crushed. Maybe a few potatoes and carrots could be eaten. Though, many potatoes were still unripe.

"The young potatoes can be planted again." Joseph assessed the situation once the transportation was over. "We managed to get some carrot and parsnip seeds. Onions and beets weren't able to form seeds yet, so we have none to plant."

The verdict did not look so gloomy. However, they could not eat seeds for the unforeseeable future. If they wanted to eat fresh vegetables, they had to plant them immediately and hope for them to grow by the end of summer or even fall. In the meantime, they could only buy vegetables in the market.

"Let's plant them." Lucas decided. There was nothing else to do for them anyway.

Looking at their resigned countenance, it made Isabelle realize that it must not have been the first time their patch was destroyed. Her stomach once again churned in anger. She was starting to regret being too lenient on those clowns. They really should have destroyed their patch! But then, they would not shake them off and she would have to see the hateful visage of that woman who started all that mess.

Right. No need to think about that. They could only move on!

Taking more deep breaths to assuage her anger, Isabelle strode towards the kitchen to make a hearty meal for their depressed moods.

She took out the last chunks of pork meat they had, cut them in even smaller pieces and spiced them. Then, she cooked them with a bit of oil. Once brown, she put them in a pot. In the same pan where she fried the meat, she put chopped onions, rosemary and some of the baby carrots the brothers brought from the ruined patch.

Once the mix was cooked, it was poured into the pot with the meat. She added some leftover broth they had from the chicken soup they ate at lunch the day before and let it slowly cook. In another pot, she put a few washed potatoes in water to boil.

When the brothers finished with their planting, Felix entered the kitchen to help. Isabelle immediately ordered him to peel, then mash the potatoes once they were soft. When mashing the potatoes, he added some salt and dried herbs to season it, having learned a few tricks in the kitchen while experimenting himself.

So, for lunch, they had a bed of mashed potatoes with pork stew on top of it. Felix even put some water to boil to prepare some chamomile tea after the meal. He thought they needed a soothing and relaxing beverage to wash away the grievances of that day, and chamomile had a soft and refreshing taste that successfully calmed their nerves.

Perhaps because of everything that happened in the morning that left everybody drained after drinking their tea and they all took a nap in the afternoon. Once awake, no one was lively and silently did their tasks. Even dinner and bathing with Lucas was made in complete silence.

"We should all talk about what we are going to do." Isabelle suggested, putting her new sleeping garments on. As the weather got warmer, nights were also worth sweating a bit, and sleeping with another person made it even hotter. So, Isabelle thought lighter clothes were in utmost need. When she saw the sateen fabric the perfect idea for sleeping garments came to her mind.

Silence answered her suggestion.

"Lucas?" When she turned to the too silent brother, she noticed he was standing frozen in the middle of the kitchen. "Is something wrong?" She worriedly asked him.

"No." He croaked, then cleared his throat. Isabelle immediately realized what was wrong. It was tenting in his pants.

One yard of fabric was barely enough to cover a body like hers. With her big boobs, she could only cover them with some sort bralette that also covered her stomach – barely at that – but left her back open. And, her perky and round ass was clothed with very short… shorts. The sight was too much for Lucas' poor heart that rapidly pumped blood to the nether areas.

Seeing his reaction, Isabelle felt a bit mischievous. It had been a while after all. "Do you like it?" She twirled to show him the whole set. Lucas nodded. Grinning, she sashayed towards him. "Do you want to take it off?" She purred while pressing against him, delightfully feeling his erection on her stomach. He grunted at the contact.

She leaned up as he leaned down, their lips meeting midway in a steamy and passionate kiss.

Her nails scratched his naked torso, making him hum appreciatively. She also moaned when he grabbed and groped her ass. Isabelle pressed more against him, and he seemed ready to carry her to a counter when the door suddenly opened.

"Why'd… Fuck, sorry." Ethan exited as quickly as he came in.

Lucas and Isabelle looked at the closed door, then at each other. He sighed and she huffed a laugh at the interruption. "Maybe next time." Isabelle proposed. Lucas easily nodded. She contemplated his easygoing demeanor and decided not leave him hanging, so she resumed the kiss and even hooked a leg around him.

Lucas did not lose time and hoisted her up. With her legs wrapped around his waist, he leaned on a counter and used his big hands to direct her hips. Isabelle moaned and followed his lead, grinding herself against his covered cock.

Whimpers and grunts escaped their joined mouths until Lucas stilled, quickly reaching his peak. Isabelle sighed relieved that it was quite quick. She already made a bit of a mess in her new garments; she did not want to completely ruin them with her own orgasm.

"I like you." She softly told him once they controlled their breathing.

"Like you, too." Lucas whispered back.

Isabelle gave him one last short kiss before climbing down his lap, then picked up the towels and dirty clothes while Lucas took the candle, and both walked out.

After he closed the kitchen's door, they headed to the still illuminated house. The moment she stepped into the house, three pair of eyes locked on her. She was getting used to their devoted attention, so Isabelle nonchalantly walked towards the bed, took off her shoes and got ready to sleep.

"No. Wait! This is definitely unfair." Joseph spoke up. "First, ye make clothes for them, and now ye show Lucas… this..." He gestured at her.

"You have seen and touched me more than Lucas. What are you dissatisfied about?" Isabelle easily countered. Which was the truth. Lucas had not licked and sucked her like Joseph had. Maybe in the future…

"I mean this! The clothes that can seduce even the dead." Joseph retorted.

Isabelle leaned on her side, crossing one leg over the other, give them a glimpse of the wetness that had not dried yet. "What clothes to seduce? These are my sleeping garments." She blinked innocently. They all sputtered and gaped. She laughed at their expressions. It was so fun to rile them up. The moment wiping away the gloominess that clung onto them since the event from the morning. And speaking about it… "Have you told Ethan?" She seriously asked.

The brothers immediately felt the seriousness of the topic and calmed down. "I'm aware." Ethan replied. He had washed and changed clothes while Lucas and Isabelle were still in the kitchen. "There's actually very few things we can do in this situation." He sighed. "We can only start over again and use money to buy what we're going to eat." He stated what seemed to be everybody's conclusion.

"Is there no way to prevent that from happening again?" Isabelle asked. Although she was sure the villagers would be deterred from her act; she could not fathom a person's heart and mind.

"Unless one of us stay in the patch to take care of it. The problem's that it's a bit far from the house." Joseph commented. He was right. The patch was a couple of minutes away from the house. In an emergency, they would not see or hear anything.

"Is there no land nearby that we can buy?" She asked them.

The brothers remained silent for a moment, sharing furtive glances, until Felix spoke up. "There's the land beside us. However, it's expensive." He pointed out. Isabelle had seen that plot; it was full of trees and shrubbery. Though, compared to the current patch they owned, it looked more fertile.

"How much?" Isabelle decisively asked.

The brothers shared a look and nodded. Immediately after, Joseph, Lucas and Felix walked out of the house while Ethan stayed behind to distract the confused Isabelle.

"Isabelle." Ethan softly called out, getting her attention as he grabbed her hand and knelt in front of her. "That's… We want to gift you that land when we get married." He confessed. Her eyes widened in surprise. She had no idea they had that plan… It was…

She had no words to express how she felt at that moment and only leaned down to kiss him. "Married or not, we are already together in this." She reminded him once they separated.

"I know. But it's the least we can do. We've nothing to give ye but our lives and a plot of land." He said. A knot formed in her throat. They claimed they had nothing but were willing to give her something as precious as their lives. The land was nothing compared to their companionship and affection.

"It is enough." She whispered. "I do not need more."

Ethan hugged her, then wrapped a sheet around her shoulders when there was a soft knock on the door. "We do need your answer to a very important question." He grinned at her befuddled expression. Taking her hands, he walked her out of the house. She gasped at the sight in the yard.

The letters were a bit wonky and the interrogation sign was backwards, but she could still make out the simple question drawn with flower petals, and illuminated with some candles around.

MARRY US?

Tears gathered in her eyes and she nodded at the men standing behind the proposal. It was so simple yet endearing that she felt her heart melt, her feelings for them soaring to a new high. "Yes." She managed to voice out.

As she was ensconced in their arms, she felt that her life was truly taking a turn for the best despite all the recent setbacks.