Free The Mountains Rise by Michael G. Manning Page A

course, but
     the loss of his only other friend hit him deeply.
    His parents didn’t understand what had happened at the harvest festival , but they accepted it as a result of youthful passions. Helen was still upset, though.
     She had long favored Kate , and now she saw that her hopes of having her for a daughter-in-law appeared to have vanished.
    Although they had taught Daniel to read they had no books at home . Most of the farmers and herders in the valley were illiterate. The only people
     who needed to read were those who kept stores in town , so reading wasn’t common. As a consequence , their only entertainment during those months was music and conversation.
    Alan Tennick was a marvelous storyteller, but they had already heard all of his tales.
     He improvised new ones , but they still grew stale quickly. Daniel spent long periods simply playing the
     cittern. Where he had practiced before, now he lived with the instrument, using it
     to fill every waking moment that he was free from chores. His already rough hands
     developed tough callouses where his fingers touched the strings.
    Months passed and his inner pain seemed to ease somewhat. He still felt the loss
     keenly , but it was as though a scar had formed over his heart, dulling the sensations. Daniel
     saw Kate constantly while playing, and even more vividly while dreaming, but the sharp
     emotions evoked by the memories no longer hurt as much.
    As spring poked its head around the corner , Daniel’s mother asked him to make a trip in to Colne. The lower parts of the valley
     were warmer and the farmers there should be bringing in their first small harvests
     of spring vegetables. They were all looking forward to fresh foods again.
    When Daniel finally stopped the wagon in front of the general store run by Tom and
     Alice Hayes , he felt some discomfort at the thought of going inside. While Mr. and Mrs. Hayes
     had always been courteous and easy to talk to, their son was a different matter.
     Aston and Daniel had never been friends.
    Aston hadn’t grown as muc h as Daniel over the past year , so he no longer found the other boy intimidating, but he never looked forward to
     seeing him. He still couldn’t understand how two such seemingly kind people as Alice and Tom, could produce such a miserable ass of a son.
    Alice Hayes looked up from a table as he entered. She was stacking and organizing
     dry goods to make room for the newer items that would soon be filling the store.
     “Good morning, Daniel!” she greeted him with a friendly smile.
    Daniel ducked his head briefly as he walked in, “Ma’am.”
    Mrs. Hayes was blond, much like her son, although on her it was a much more appealing
     color. At thirty-five she was still attractive, though not excessively so. Aston
     was the youngest of her three children, the other two having already left home.
    Daniel glanced around, wondering whether he would have to tolerate Aston’s glares
     while they discussed business. Fortunately the other teenager was nowhere in sight.
    “Are you looking for Aston?” said Alice amiably. She seemed to have no awareness
     of their mutual dislike. “He went with his father to negotiate with Mr. Grath. He’s
     almost ready to bring in his first cabbages. He probably won’t be back for a few
     hours.”
    “No ma’am,” said Daniel promptly, “Mom sent me to see if you had fresh scallions yet,
     or any fresh greens.”
    Alice smiled, despite her pleasant appearance and soft demeanor she was an excellent
     businesswoman, which was why her husband left her in charge of the store most days.
     “We don’t have any greens yet, but we do have scallions. We also got some fresh peas
     yesterday. I’m sure your mother would like those.”
    Daniel nodded, “How much?”
    “For the peas, an eighth of a bale per bushel, for the scallions a tenth,” she answered
     immediately.
    The people of the valley didn’t have money, so all transactions were handled by barter.
     The Hayes