Free The Samurai's Garden by Patricia Kiyono

the land to the east of hers. Since the Nakamuras were her closest neighbors, she had gone there many times to barter for her needs. But in the past, she had dealt mainly with the servants. It was they who traded the fish in her stream and the vegetables from her fields for rice, tea, or other needs.
    She made her way to the doorway and greeted the maid who answered her knock. When the maid turned to lead her to the kitchen where she normally met with the cook, Hanako's voice trembled as she blurted, "I need to speak with — the mother of Nakamura-san."
    The maid turned in surprise but quickly masked her expression as she nodded and took her instead to an elegant sitting room. Hanako's heart pounded as she waited for the Widow Nakamura.
    She had met her neighbor, but only in passing. Reiko Nakamura was the daughter of a wealthy noble family and had come from Mutsu, on the main island of Honshu. She was an educated woman, and though her son now headed the family business, Reiko continued to hold a great deal of power and influence.
    "Good morning, Shimizu-san. What a lovely surprise." Reiko Nakamura glided gracefully into the room. The woman's fluid movements reminded Hanako of the nice okasan she had met so long ago.
    Remembering to keep her mind in the present, Hanako bowed low. "Thank you for seeing me, Nakamura-san. I am honored."
    The widow made a slight bow in return. "You honor me. Please have some tea with me." She gestured toward a low table, surrounded with beautiful silk cushions. When Hanako knelt on one, the widow clapped for a servant and gave instructions for the beverages to be served before joining Hanako at the table.
    "Now, as much as I am pleased and honored by your visit, I know you are far too busy to pay a social call merely to socialize. What can I do for you, Hanako? Has my kitchen staff not cooperated with you? Have they perhaps traded inferior foods in exchange for your crops?"
    Hanako felt her face warm. Though she had rehearsed her request, the words came out with difficulty.
    "Nakamura-san, I need your help. I — I have a financial agreement, and I wanted to be sure it says what I was told. I heard you are able to read, and—"
    "Of course, I would be happy to read it for you. What kind of agreement is it?"
    In answer, Hanako pulled the document from her yukata and held it out to her neighbor. It embarrassed her, showing her neighbor the details of the agreement. But after the incident with the so-called "tax collector," she had to be sure she understood what this agreement entailed before she could consider signing it. And though her heart yearned to trust Hiro, her head told her she needed the advice of a woman.
    Nakamura-san unrolled the paper, smoothed it out on the table, and read.
    Hanako fidgeted, waiting for the widow to finish. What will Nakamura-san think? Will she consider me nothing more than a mistress if I were to accept this offer? The maid's entrance with the tea was a relief, because it gave her something to do with her hands.
    The older woman's expression gave nothing away. Occasionally she would nod, as if agreeing with whatever the lines and swirls told her. Once or twice she looked up from the document, frowning in thought. She called for her maid to bring a soroban , which Hanako recognized as a tool used by several merchants in the village to calculate their sales. The clicking of the beads as the widow pushed them up and down their spindles made the only sound in the room.
    When Hanako thought she could bear the suspense no longer, the widow finally looked up. Hanako braced herself for the widow's interpretation of Hiro's proposal.
    "Tanaka-san and his friend have been very thorough. He has listed each item for which he will pay you, the amount per day, and multiplied that by the number of days he has been here."
    Hanako nodded. "That's what he told me. Do you think his rates are fair?"
    The widow regarded her closely. "They seem fair. And his calculations are