9 Chapter 9 Stella (2/2)

”Bring that bucket of water over her, girl,” said Stu, stirring a pot on the other side of the room.

The girl didn't hesitate in her movements, grabbing up the bucket in a fluid movement as she also grabbed a knife on a counter on her way. She grabbed something else after placing the bucket down, and returned to where she had been, to start peeling the tubers. It was obvious she knew her place and how to move around the kitchen. Stu, however, called her girl, instead of by her name, whenever he asked, or told, her to do anything.

While Joseph was impressed with the way they worked together, he was confused by the girl. She wasn't a slave, as he was very familiar with how they looked by now, but she didn't have the appearance of an apprentice, either.

”Stu? Who's the girl?” he finally asked.

”Oh, her? She works here, in the kitchen, and in return, I let her sleep on that cot over there, and she gets to eat whatever sc.r.a.ps are left at the end of the day.”

Joseph could see a small little cot, pushed up behind a couple of large baskets under the sink.

”No, I mean, what's her name?”

Stu paused for a moment, scratching his head in thought, then shrugged.

”Guess I never asked. She's only been here a few months. Knocked on the door and demanded a job. I told her to get to work, and if she caused trouble, she'd be back outside. I must admit, it was a bit of a surprise when she demanded the job. Never had anyone her age, do that before.”

He watched her work, curiously. For some reason, he seemed intensely intrigued by her. His main reason for coming to the kitchens had been pushed to the side, and he knew that until he got to the bottom of her mystery, he wouldn't be able to focus on his main goal.

”Girl, what's your name?”

She opened her mouth in a surprised little 'o', then curtsied in the quarter bow his father's slaves did to him. ”Stella, Master.”

”Stu, her name is Stella. Call her by her name from now on, instead of girl.”

”Of course, young master.”

With a nod, he turned to examining the various vegetables and fruits laid out, and began quizzing Stella and Stu on what they were.

”Stu, do you ever smoke anything other than meat?” Joseph asked after they finished telling him about the intricacies to smoking sausages.

”Why, no, young master, I don't think I ever have.” Stu seemed perplexed by this idea, as if it was the greatest thing to consider.

Joseph was dismayed to find that the vegetables in his memories from his other lives were different than the food items he was finding before him. Corn in this life was yellow but it was blue and had bigger kernels in a previous life. Potatoes in this life had a skin but something similar in a previous life had a husk, like rice. He didn't see sherp-like, desur-like, or rice-like grains, but maybe in other places?

It was something he would have to investigate.

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