3^rd Saga

Part One: The Meeting

The news of the death of Janice the Farmer came as a shock to Nina, The Wolf Woman, the revelation of the Testament and its contents, if anything, more so. The scars of the acrimonious split between the two women had never left Nina, despite the passing years. They had not spoken for four years and in that time the reasons for the split had become lost and forgotten, as is often the way of these things, only the memory of the harsh words, spoken in anger, remained. Nina now felt torn, she had worked very hard to make a life for herself and loved her little cottage but she couldn’t just ignore the Testament, she needed advice. Nina knew there would be no shortage of ‘advice’ in The Village, everyone would have something to say. She needed ‘wise council’, from someone she could trust.

So that is why Oggin the Ogg and Bob Weaver found themselves walking together in the morning sunshine, heading out of The Village toward the former home of Janice the Farmer. The two friends walked in silence, each with his own thoughts. Oggin understood that whatever was decided today would have a long term effect on not just the parties involved but the whole village. He had dressed in his best ‘meeting trousers’ and his second best sheepskin shirt, with the fleece side inside. This did tend to tickle a bit but he thought it appropriate. His beard was combed, his feet polished and he had two oat cakes, just in case. Bob ambled beside him, also deep in thought. He and Rob, his wife, had talked this summons over at length, Bob valued his wife’s common sense and her knowledge of village life.

Nina had arrived at the cottage early. This was the first time she had been here for a long time and it seemed to have changed very little. The term ‘cottage’ was a bit of a misnomer, in fact it was really a large wooden hut with a slate roof. The boarded sides were still green, if a tad faded in places and the roof had moss in abundance. She pushed the gate open and it let out a squeak of protest and almost without thinking, Nina dropped the end of Be-Be’s chain over the post just inside the gate. She looked down and a cold wave went up her back as she noticed it was still worn at the bottom, from almost constant use.

“You’m stay there girliy…” she told the Wolf, which lay down, head on its front paws.

Nina walked slowly toward the front door, fishing for the key in her trouser pocket. Suddenly, she stopped. She couldn’t go any further. Her mind raced and was filled with images of what, seemed like, someone else’s life. Voices flooded her thoughts and she started to tremble a little, a tear welled up and fell down her weather worn face and with a sharp intake of breath she turned and walked stiffly around the side of the cottage to the back garden. Nothing had changed here either, a rustic wooden table, flanked by two benches stood strangely forlorn on a group of flag-stones. She was just about to turn and run away from the pain in her chest when she heard the voice of Oggin, calling from the track outside.

“Nina…er…Nina….Are you there…?”

She hurried back to the front of the cottage, rubbing her eyes with the heel of one hand. Outside the gate, a long way outside the gate, stood Oggin and Bob. Both the men were occupied trying to melt into the hedge opposite the gate and staring at Be-Be, the she Wolf. In turn, Be-Be was standing, staring at them and letting out a low but very audible growl.

“Now, now girl, tis only Oggin the Ogg and Mister Bob….you’m lay down an’ leave ‘em be…”

The Wolf took a couple of paces back, turned to look at her mistress before laying down but kept watching the two men with cold eyes.

“Mornin’ Oggin…Mornin’ Bob….you’ms a’ll be safe now…come on in…”

Nina turned and made her way to the back garden again. The two men followed, almost tripping on each other’s feet, both keeping a very close eye on the Wolf and in turn it kept an even closer eye on them. They sat around the table, Nina on one side, Oggin and Bob on the other. Oggin noted the redness of Nina’s eyes but kept silent. She spoke first.

“I’da loike t’a say thanks to the both of youse fer comin’ an’ helpin’ me with this testament stuff an’ all. I don’t want t’a give up my place, I put too much hard work in’ta it and I’m wery ‘appy there, on me own. Havin’ said that, I feels it’d be a shame to let this place go to a stranger what’d not look a’fer it loike…”

The two men listened in silence, nodding as she slowly spoke. When she had finished, Oggin put both hands on the table, palms down and took a deep breath before speaking.

“Well now Nina, first off, we both feel honoured that you asked us….Now, what you’re saying is, you’d like a tenant to take over this place for you…but someone local…?”

“Yes Oggin but I’m not fussy ‘bout rent an’ such…tis the care of the place that is more important…to me anyways…”

The two men glanced at each other again and Bob Weaver spoke.
“Well’um…as I sees it…there’d a’be own’y wun person yere abouts as ‘ould suit fer tha’ koind’a thing…H’rsh the Boog…”

“I agree” said Oggin, “she is a little…well… strange but she has a heart like a horse and would take care of the place and the orchard too….”

“Aye” agreed Bob “an’ me an me boys would ‘elp ‘er out loike…if’n she needs it…”

Nina listened and paused before speaking.

“I thought she were tucked up wiv that other Boog wench…Tookie, is it…?”

“She is Nina” answered Oggin, “for now at any rate but the coin she got for her old cottage is running out….and well….to be honest, I don’t know how much longer she can support the pair of them...seeing as Tookie the Boog isn’t…well….”earning” so to speak….”

“I see….I thinks as this’n place would make a livin’ for ‘er…what with the orchard an’ such” said Nina, ”Do youse think as she’da go for it…?”

Bob rubbed his chin and spoke, “I caan’t see why not. From wot I ‘ears she’d a be a hard workin’ sort a body….loike Oggin says, she’da be a bit strange loike but tha’s not ‘ardly standout in these parts affer’all…”

Nina nodded and with the briefest of pauses, stood and offered her hand to the two men.

“Thas a deal then…H’rsh the Boog it is….who’s gonna tell ‘er…?”

Oggin stood and took her hand in both of his, he spoke.

“I will do that Nina…when do you want her to move in here…?”

“Just’a soon as she can Oggin…the orchard needs a goin’ over afore pickin’ season…”

“Right you are Nina…I’ll drop in and see her on my way home…”

Bob now also stood and shook Nina’s hand and nodded. The three then made their way back to the front gate, Oggin and Bob slid, with care, past Be-Be and went to the far side of the track.

“Soon as I get an answer I’ll send word to you Nina…” said Oggin

“Aye, I’ll get one of me boys to see ya…” chimed in Bob.

With that, the men went off on their way, back to the village. Oggin turned briefly to wave back to Nina but she was standing with her face buried in her hands, her shoulders slumped. Oggin realised that all this business had hit her hard and resolved to help in any way he could.

“Oggin, boy…um think we done the roite thing by yon woman…?”

“I think so Bob…I think so…but time’ll tell I reckon…”

That same friendly silence fell on the two friends as they walked back to the village, each consumed by his own thoughts.