The Samurai's Garden Read Free Page A

be a simple girl , but she has some manners . It would not be her place to be seated with a man as he took his meal. "I have some questions, and since I am quite tired and would like to sleep after eating, I want to speak with you now."
    She hesitated another moment, and then nodded. She knelt demurely, keeping a respectful distance, and folded her hands on her knees. He noted her hands trembled slightly, despite her expressionless face.
    "Do you not have any relatives to help you?" he asked.
    "No," she replied. "My mother died in childbirth when I was young. My brother was sickly and lived only two years. My father and I lived here until he passed away three years ago. I have no aunts, uncles, or cousins who will acknowledge me, and my husband never talked about his family."
    "How long were you married?"
    "Six years."
    "So your husband took over the farm when your father died?"
    She took her time answering him. A series of expressions swept across her face: frustration, sorrow, defeat. He hadn't meant to evoke painful memories. Finally, she sighed and squared her shoulders. Her eyes still downcast in respect for his gender and rank, she answered in a clear, firm voice. "Father was — ill — for a long time before he died. My husband wasn't raised on a farm, so he didn't really know what to do. I — helped him with the work and the management."
    Hiro's compassion for the young widow grew. Apparently her father had left her to make all the arrangements and decisions, and now that her husband was gone she was left with all the physical labor as well. He would need to work hard to help her get back on her feet. But he knew nothing about agriculture, and even less about farm animals. He'd have to observe and take his cues from his hostess.
    He finished his meal then set the bowl down. "Thank you for the delicious meal. Are there any duties you wish for me to complete before I retire?"
    Hanako shook her head. "The animals are settled for the night, and since the light of day is gone, we can't do any work in the field. As soon as I have prepared your room we should sleep, and begin our work early in the morning." Since he had finished, she rose, bowed, and took his bowl. She placed it in the cooking area and hurried outside.
    Hiro took out his pipe and went out into the night. His years of warrior training had taught him to familiarize himself with his surroundings. The road to the village marked the northern edge of Hanako's land. Open fields lay to the east and west. To the south, dense woods guarded the fields. A narrow stream gurgled as it cut a path out of the woods toward the house then curved and returned back into the trees. Hiro examined the earth, digging at it with his toe. The cold harsh winter had left it hard-packed. It was no wonder Hanako wanted livestock to help with the plowing.
    The soft rustle of Hanako's kimono told him she had finished cleaning out his hut and returned to her own. Through the open doorway, he saw her scoop out her own meal and sit down to eat. If the thin soup was all she'd had to eat all day, it wouldn't do much to fill her. He would have to do all he could do to help.

 
Chapter Two
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    The bright morning sun woke Hanako from a deep slumber. She chided herself for oversleeping. There was so much to do, now that she had the animals. The chickens needed to be fed, the field needed plowing, and—
    She sat up, suddenly wide awake. Her guest! He would need something to eat before working outdoors all day. She scrambled to her feet, deciding what to do first. She would not have time to catch fish, but maybe one of the hens she brought home yesterday would have an egg or two.
    She stopped suddenly at an unfamiliar sound outside her hut. Who or what would be making that noise? The road was not well-traveled, and it was not the sound of an animal foraging for food. She peeked through the doorway, and her jaw dropped as she realized what she had heard.
    Hiro stood at the edge of