Most of the vegetables in the garden had already been harvested but some of the leafy plants and herbs had survived the first frosts of the season. It was a homey sight and Flindra's eyes filled with tears when it came into view. Her Papa would not be with them to enjoy the bounty of the harvest this year.
There was smoke rising from the chimney of the big house and both Flindra and Leudh knew the rest of the family was awaiting their return in there.
"I'll get the horse and cart ready," Leudh said. He headed for the barn while Flindra continued towards the house.
As she approached the house, Flindra could hear a sob coming from her mother's room for the window was slightly ajar. She recognized her mother's voice and felt tears of sympathy well up in her own.
Flindra walked inside and followed the sound of the sobs to the bedroom her parents had shared. There she found her mother, Leudh's wife, Brehwan, and the twin boys, Alek and Arek. They were kneeling around the coffin, which was set up on two benches next to the bed. All their faces were stained with tears.
"Leudh's hitching up the cart," Flindra said in a low voice. She was relieved the lid to the coffin was already closed. She wanted to remember her father as he was in life and not as he looked embraced by death. She joined her mother on the floor and waited in tearful silence.
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