It was a grand, imposing house of stone, stuck in a shady corner of a village close by, not like the comfy little one she shared with her bees, but it was warm with its rich wood furniture, hearths banked high and flickering brightly and her friend, her dear friend who was more like a sister and listened to every complaint, worry and joy since they first met several years ago.
Ainsleigh blew her nose into the white square of lace edged cotton, the sound echoing through the very large room. As she drew in quick, sharp, blubbering breaths, her friend consoled her with a loving arm protectively wrapped around her back
"Come now, y'aint stopped cryin' since y'arrived! Wha'evers 'appened eh?" Rosielea gave her an encouraging squeeze, her simple cotton night robe tied tight at her waist and her copper hair tied back with a pale ribbon. The buxom woman was akin to having something soft and plush, holding her, she didn’t even pull away when Ainsleigh let out another snotty blow of her nose into the now soggy hanky.
As Rosielea tried to coax some words from her friend, a small, fat dog came waddling over to them, it's face looked like it had been hit with a heavy cast iron pan, it's nose squished into its face and its large round eyes looking up at the two women, but realising there was no food to be had, nor much attention, he snuffled his way to the nearby fireside to gnaw upon one of his toys.
Eventually though, red rimmed eyes and an equally red tip of her nose, Ainsleigh managed to say through her ragged breaths "You happy Rosie? Like, really happy?". Her friend rested her head atop of hers and watched the dog at play as she responded without doubt "Aye, I am". Screwing the wet hanky in her fist, the young woman replied "but..but you trust him aye? Even though they say you shouldn’t?". Rosielea stroked her friends arm in a soothing manner as she held her close, her voice soft "With m' life Ains, maybe I'm wrong but, this aint about me fella now is it?". The young woman shook her head a tiny bit and then proceeded to tell her of the events that had transpired, of the trader she had met, of their conversations, their moments intimate and otherwise, and the cause of her recent upset.
"Oh Ains, tha’s fellas for y', always lookin' at other lasses, talkin' to 'em, jus' the way they are aint it? I mean, no 'arm in it if they don' do anythin'. I will tell y' this though, try as y' migh', you can't ever change a fella, he is wha' he is, so don' bother tryin'. Now, as f' his jestin'?" Rosielea lifted her head from atop of her friends and took the younger lass by the chin, guiding her head to face her, Ainsleighs eyes still damp with tears but she was now seemingly determined to try and keep them in. "Ains? I aint ever doin' tha', me fella would gut 'im I reckon, an' I 'ave more pride in meself an' wha' I share with 'im, and you, t'ever do tha'. Y'should 'ave known tha' y'daft blimmin' cow. If this lad of yours, if 'e 'ad really meant t'do somethin' like tha'? 'e aint goin' t' ask y' best friend now 'is 'e?". With her bottom lip quivering, the young girl nodded and sniffed back some of her emotion. "Oh c'mon now, enough of y' cryin'. 'Ow abou' I make us up a nice drink eh? Set you up a bed in a guest room, 'e 'as more rooms in 'ere than you've 'ad 'ot dinners I'd wager! Can't 'ave me girl walkin' 'ome in the dark like this, an' after one of these drinks, I doubt you'll be able t'walk anyway!". It was all it took, the comfort of a friend who understood, someone who had guided her through thick and thin, to bring a tiny smile to her lips. Wiping her eyes, Ainsleigh took her friends hands and simply said "I'd like that Rosie".
