To say it was cold was an understatement. It was freezing, and as much as she had grown up in the cold, as much as she had been moulded and shaped by it, there was still a part of Hester that wished, just once, it would let up for the winter. Or at least for a day, so she could do her bartering in peace.
All she could do was sigh, and readjust the overstuffed bag of wool on her back for the dozenth time, trying to shift the weight in a way that kept her a little warmer, without there being an oppressive heat on her back.
It’s not going well, Hester taking a few steps, then pausing to shift, then a few steps again, over and over. And, on one such readjustment, her bundle decides it’s done with her, one of the straps on her bag snapping, sending Hester, and her cargo, tumbling to the ground, tufts of wool puffing our like a mockery of snow.
At least between the newly fallen snow and her load, it’s a soft landing, though that doesn’t have her rising any faster, a petulant huff on her face.
All she could do was sigh, and readjust the overstuffed bag of wool on her back for the dozenth time, trying to shift the weight in a way that kept her a little warmer, without there being an oppressive heat on her back.
It’s not going well, Hester taking a few steps, then pausing to shift, then a few steps again, over and over. And, on one such readjustment, her bundle decides it’s done with her, one of the straps on her bag snapping, sending Hester, and her cargo, tumbling to the ground, tufts of wool puffing our like a mockery of snow.
At least between the newly fallen snow and her load, it’s a soft landing, though that doesn’t have her rising any faster, a petulant huff on her face.
