[Primrose Bolger]

Cook had been most helpful with the calming down of the cider drenched Hobbit. She’d seen to him getting cleaned up and into some suitable dry garments that had once belonged to her late husband. His own, she’d had Ginger rinse out and hang over the backs of some chairs she’d set near the fire. A fresh mug of cider and a whispered conversation between Cook and Master Rowley, with several nods her way, and Ginger could see the fellow had quite come round in his anger toward Ferdy.

Once he was out the door, Cook called the lass to her, handing her a small bucket of hot soapy water and a couple of rags. ‘Might want to get the sticky mess well off the table’s top and the chair.’ Ginger hurried out the door to do as bid.

‘And after that,’ she could just hear the last of Cook’s instructions before the door swung closed behind her, ‘then take Master Ferdy out for a breath of fresh air. I don’t think he’s cut out to be a server . . .’

Ginger’s feet fairly flew over the polished boards of the Inn’s floor. With an economy of motion she soon had the table and chair back to their more welcoming condition. Ferdy had his head hung down as he mopped the floor in a rather ineffectual way. ‘Oh, here,’ she said, plopping her rags in the bucket and taking the mop from him. A few practiced swipes and the floor was also back to its original shape, if a bit damp. She thrust the mop back at Ferdy, motioning for him to bring it and his bucket back to the kitchen.

Cook was nowhere to be seen when they entered. Ginger grabbed the lad by his hand and hauled him toward the back door. She fetched her own cloak from the peg there, and handed him one the other servers used as they ran errands for Cook. Ferdy balked a bit as she opened the door and stepped out, pulling him along.

‘Come on, now,’ she chided him. ‘Cook says we’re to take a walk after our evening duties. Get a breath of fresh air. Then come back for a nice cup of tea.’ They could just hear someone coming up the stairs and into the kitchen from the cellar. ‘That’s her now. We’d best go.’ She pulled her hood up over her curls. ‘Race you to the old cottage!’ she grinned, taking off at a run down the dirt path.