Chapter 11 The Makeshift Screen

This makeshift bathing area was essentially a three-walled enclosure. The roof lacked a concrete covering, instead being adorned with a simple wooden plank and a scattering of decorative weeds. The doorway was made from an old grain sack, cut open and hung with sticks, serving as a makeshift curtain. While not exactly elegant, it served its purpose – offering some privacy, though basic, suitable for a modest bachelor's living quarters. "Oh no," Kenneth groaned, "I bought everything else today, but I completely forgot to buy something to cover this doorway." As he approached the entrance, intending to boil water for Casey's bath, he realized that the lack of privacy in the bathing area was definitely not appropriate for a young woman! "You know what, why don't you start heating up the water first? I'll go cut up one of the bedsheets we bought today to make it a makeshift screen," he suggested. "Oh no, please don't!" Casey protested. "Those are such nice bedsheets. We can wait until we go to town tomorrow to buy a new one. We'll manage for now." Casey said, pulling him back to prevent him from cutting up the beautiful bedsheets. "Tsk. Can we even save that much money?" Kenneth disagreed. "What's the big deal? Are you perhaps afraid I'll sneak a peek while you're bathing?" Casey teased playfully. "Pfft! What's there to see? It's you, my dear, who needs some proper covering. It's not exactly the most decent situation without it," Kenneth retorted, his voice conveying concern for Casey's modesty. "Oh, don't worry about me; I'm fine," Casey assured him, her voice laced with a hint of reassurance, a blush creeping up her cheeks. She was grateful for the dim lighting of Kenneth's oil lamp. Otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to continue their banter. "Alright, then, we'll make do with this for now. I'll help you pump up some water, and you can get the fire going," Kenneth suggested, his voice tinged with a hint of concern. "Eh, no need for a fire," Casey replied, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. "It's scorching hot outside, and I'm used to taking cold showers at home." "Alright then," Kenneth acknowledged. By the side of the courtyard wall stood a water-pumping contraption, its weathered metal frame bearing witness to countless summers under the Brighter Valley sun. The groundwater here was remarkably easy to access – a quick dig, and you'd have it, a refreshing elixir from the earth's depths. This contraption was a testament to Kenneth's grandfather's ingenuity and craftsmanship. Kenneth had tried it the previous night, and to his surprise, it actually worked! In no time at all, Kenneth had pumped up two full buckets of water. With a gentlemanly gesture, he helped Casey carry them into the bathroom. The rhythmic sloshing of water against the metal buckets provided a soothing soundtrack to their evening routine. "Um... could you wait outside? I'm a bit nervous about bathing alone here," Casey requested. She wasn't being coy; she was genuinely afraid of the surrounding chirps and calls of nocturnal creatures. The darkness seemed to amplify these noises, turning them into eerie whispers and rustling shadows. Back home, Kim would always join her during showers, offering comforting conversation. But here, in this unfamiliar setting with all the lights in Kenneth's yard out, her unease grew even stronger. "Hmm... alright," Kenneth agreed, settling on the other side of the wall. 'Urgh! I really need to go back to town again and get this stuff fixed ASAP!' Kenneth clenched his fists and thought to himself. He was a young man in his prime, after all. How many times could he stand guard at a girl's bathroom door? It was torturing him! "Hey, I'm done. You should wash up and hit the hay," Casey suggested. Thankfully, Casey showered quickly, or else Kenneth might have been in trouble. "Phew!" Kenneth sighed in relief and said, "Alright, you go ahead first. No peeking while I'm in there!" "Oh," Casey replied, her eyes darting down towards his lower body before quickly scurrying into the main house. Her heart pounded in her chest. Once inside, she could hear the shower running. Having just taken a cold shower and with the house feeling so chilly, Casey wrapped herself in the thin blanket and began to let her thoughts drift away. The following day, Casey woke up bright and early. She went home, gathered some food ingredients, and returned to cook breakfast for Kenneth. Kenneth couldn't help but notice her thoughtfulness and felt a bit uneasy with her consistent attention to his care. "Oh, you're up? Breakfast is ready. Come and eat," Casey urged. Seeing Kenneth get up, Casey flashed him a mischievous smile, her youthful innocence evident in her eyes. "Alright, but you don't have to go out of your way to care for me. You're going to spoil me," Kenneth said. "No, I naturally wake up early and like to see what's cooking. Today, I decided to cook," Casey explained, feeling slightly defensive. "Oh really? Then what about the alarm clock that went off before six in the morning?" he countered. "Oh... I set the alarm to get up and use the restroom!" she defended, her watery eyes darting around nervously. She was clearly flustered under Kenneth's amused gaze, showing her discomfort when caught in a fib. Casey lowered her head in frustration and said, "Well… you've done so much for me and my mom, I just want to give something back..." "I knew it," Kenneth chuckled. "I'm not sure what else I can do to help you besides chores like laundry and cooking," she said. "Ahem, well... I need to head into the mountains for a while later. Besides making lunch for me when I get back, I also need you to clean out this cabinet. Think you can handle that?" he asked. Kenneth couldn't stand to see this determined girl looking so down, so he decided to give her something productive to focus on. "Really? I promise I'll get the job done!" Sure enough, after Kenneth made the arrangements, Casey's smile lit up the room. "If that cabinet isn't sparkling when I return for lunch, I might have to cut your pay," Kenneth teased. "Huh? What do you mean by cutting my pay?" The girl looked puzzled. "From now on, you're my assistant for personal and work matters. I'll pay you $5,000 monthly, so I expect top-notch work," Kenneth explained. "Five thousand? Wow, that's a lot!" Casey exclaimed in disbelief. "Who's calling the shots here, me or you?" Kenneth retorted, rolling his eyes. "Well... you," Casey stammered, blushing a bit. "Then just do what I say. Tell them I'm up in the hills gathering herbs if anyone asks. And if Woody and his crew show up to cause trouble, head straight to the valley chief." "Got it!" Casey affirmed firmly. After giving instructions, Kenneth slung a freshly bought backpack over his shoulder and headed into the hills to gather herbs. The trail to the summit wound past Brighter Lake, and Kenneth used the opportunity to assess the water conditions again. Casa La Daniella in the county town had opened up a new sales avenue for Kenneth, but fishing here was proving challenging. The shoreline lacked beaches or any decent landing spots, instead lined with steep river banks. If only he had a boat, he could cast his net into the river and lake and haul in a plentiful catch. 'Maybe I should talk to the valley chief about this; I remember seeing some boats in the valley back in the days.' Kenneth thought to himself. With a newfound determination, he set off in the direction opposite Brighter Lake. This was the farm road leading into the mountains. The dirt path bore the marks of single-wheeled carts pushed by the townspeople. As a child, he often accompanied his grandfather on expeditions into the mountains. But they never ventured far beyond the foothills. His grandfather would always return home with a basket brimming with plants. Kenneth, still young at the time, didn't fully understand the significance of these plants; he simply knew they were herbs. Following faint memories of his childhood explorations, Kenneth reached the outer edge of the mountain range. As far as he could see, dense vegetation covered the narrow path ahead, a tapestry of plants, vines, and foliage. "Wow! This mountain range is untouched! These are all valuable and rare medicinal herbs!" Kenneth's eyes sparkled with excitement. He admired the stunning discovery before him. At his feet and before him were clusters of herbs, and the further he went in, the more herbs there were, and the better the quality!