“Is it someone you know?” Gilly whispered quietly, staring at the Ranger crossing the yard.
“I’m not certain,” Benia replied, her instincts surfacing despite her relaxed manner. “Come, let us go inside and put these things away. At the moment I feel it would be a good thing to have my hands free!” She said lifting her arms slightly to show the bundles she carried.
“Ah, foolish me! Here, let me help you.” The hobbit said freeing Benia right arm of its burdens. “Begging your pardon Miss Benia, Ranger or no, his going about all cowled like that, on a hot summer’s morning, he’s up to some mischief, he is!”
“Yes Gilly, I agree. But let us not stand here and wait for him to come follow us in the door, unless you intend to invite him to second breakfast in order to discover his plans!”
With that they headed indoors, weeding their way though the throng of treasure seeking hobbits crowding the door. Benia looked questioningly at Gilly with one arched eyebrow. “Early party goers?” she inquired.
“No just the curious, the stingy and the well informed! Isn’t that right Mrs. Bunce?” she asked patting a middle-aged hobbit on the back.
“Too, right, I expected! But tell me Miss Gilly, which am I?” The hobbit returned.
“All of course!” Gilly said jokingly. “Benia, I’d like you to meet my neighbor, Mrs. Myrtle Bunce. Myrtle, this is a dear old friend of my family’s, Miss Benia, friend of hobbits.”
“Well met!” Myrtle said taking Benia tattooed hand. “Any friend of Gilly’s must be alright. You must stop by for tea and meet my family!”
“Yes, thank you,” the desert woman replied, anxious to get inside. With a nod and a polite smile she took her leave and passed though the door wishing her eyes would adjust quicker after the bright sunny day outside. She must move quickly.
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