Chapter 6

• " Cate?! Are you awake?
• It was Lucinda, as lively and energetic as ever, banging on the door as if she intended to force it open.
• "I'm coming! Just stop banging, or the door will fall!"
• Cateline yelled to her sister, who immediately stopped knocking. After a few seconds, Cate allowed her sister to enter. As she opened the door, Lucinda raised her eyebrows at the state of the bed and her sister.
• "Cateline? What happened? Did you sleep with some animal?"
• Lucinda said, bouncing over to the bed and sitting down next to her sister, who was holding her head, her hair disheveled.
• "What was in that wine?"
• Cateline asked, turning to her sister. Her face was still red, and she could still feel the effects in her body, perhaps that's why the desire for that mysterious man hadn't faded.
• Lucinda began to laugh loudly as she stood up. She spotted one of the empty bottles on the floor and immediately thought she understood the situation.
• "So, that's it! You drank it all and went crazy in the room! I'll go tend to the carriage and give something for Drizzle to eat! It's way past his breakfast time!"
• Drizzle was the name of the old horse that had belonged to Cateline's late father. He had bought the horse as a colt on a rainy day. Due to the haste caused by the rain, he didn't pick the horse himself, just paid for the one that was closest. When he got home and saw the horse better, he regretted not choosing, so he named him Drizzle in homage to the rainy day when he was brought home. Despite not liking the little colt at first sight, he turned out to be one of the best horses Cateline's father had ever had. He was smart and learned everything he was taught. Now he was old but still helped on the farm and with chores.
• Lucinda left the room laughing, not even imagining the truth, that her sister had had a passionate night with a stranger. Even Cateline herself couldn't believe she had done such a thing.
• Cateline waved goodbye, watching her sister leave, and then continued to sit on the bed. After a few seconds, she sighed and got up, finally ready to carry on with the day, thinking it was best to forget everything. The man had probably gone back to his homeland and no longer remembered her.
• "You idiot!"
• Cateline scolded herself.
• "I can't believe I'm liking a guy I don't even know!"
• She grumbled as she organized things in the room, removing the bottle and the blankets from the bed. It all brought back memories every time she looked at it.
• After finishing, before leaving the room, she looked inside one last time. It was her first time with someone, and even though she wanted to forget, it would be impossible.
• Cateline fastened the necklace to her chest; the cord was long, making it fit between her breasts. She covered her wine-stained dress with her cloak and said goodbye to the room, closing the door behind her. She turned the key, keeping everything that had happened there in her mind.
• Cateline walked towards the makeshift stable next to the inn. Many people were gathering their belongings to leave and, in front of the taverns, it was possible to see that many had drunk until they could no longer stand. Some were still lying on the ground, drunk, while others were laughing and trying to get up.
• Lucinda finished tidying up the baskets and benches used for the celebration the night before. She laughed as she saw the elderly people staggering around and holding onto each other for support. Lucinda was distracted and, as she looked away, she saw her sister approaching, looking completely exhausted, probably from having drunk too much and, consequently, not having slept.
• "Cate? Are you all right, sister?"
• Lucinda asked, taking her sister's hand and walking with her towards the wagon.
• "I shouldn't have left the wine bottles with you!"
• The worry was visible in Lucinda's expression as she spoke to her sister. Cateline ran her hands through her still disheveled hair.
• "I did you a favor... if it hadn't been for me drinking them, you'd be the one feeling like this right now."
• Said Cateline with a slight smile on her face. Her head was still spinning from the alcohol; she wasn't used to drinking and this was her first experience of a hangover.
• "Wow, you're right... thanks for saving me from that."
• Said Lucinda, laughing. She was always in a good mood, making jokes and teasing.
• The two sisters arrived at the cart and finished preparing Drizzle's reins. He looked tired, as always, but he was ready to go. They climbed into the wagon and went to the front of the inn to say goodbye and return the room keys to Mrs. Ellen.
• Lucinda climbed down, leaving Cateline on the wagon seat to rest. Cateline looked around after seeing a silhouette pass her by. It was someone tall wearing an old, worn cloak, and the smell lingered in the air after the unknown person had passed. She wondered: was it the man from the night before? Cateline turned quickly, looking for the person who had just passed, but he had already blended into the crowd and disappeared.
• "I think I'm seeing things... I have to remember not to drink that wine anymore!"
• Said Cateline, turning her attention forward, trying not to think about it too much.
• Her sister Lucinda soon appeared at the door with Ellen, carrying a small package.
• "See you later, girls! Tell your mother to come to the village more often! I haven't seen her for a while."
• Said Ellen, waving to the girls. Lucinda jumped back onto the cart, tossing the package into Cateline's lap, and waved goodbye to her as the cart drove off.
• "It's some herbs to make tea... I'll make it for you when we get home, I'm sure your hangover will go away after you've had it!"
• Lucinda said to Cateline, who looked at the package curiously.
• "Thanks... I wish I could take it now."
• Cateline replied, feeling down.
• Lucinda was very worried about Cateline. Unlike her sister, she was used to the drinking that took place when they visited the village.
• A few hours passed and they finally arrived at the farm. Their mother was already waiting, with a big smile on her face when she saw them. Martin, Cateline and Lucinda's younger brother, ran to the cart anxiously, hoping that his sisters had brought him a present. He climbed onto the cart without even greeting his sisters and began rummaging through the baskets and boxes, looking for something.
• "Did you bring any presents?"
• Asked the little boy, disappointed, after realizing that there was nothing there.
• "Sorry, Martin, we didn't bring anything this time."
• Lucinda replied, watching the little boy get upset. They couldn't afford to buy presents every time they went to the village.