7 The proposal- Part 1 (1/2)

Heidi stood still, holding the stick in the flowing water which had the mesh made wire at the end of it. Every once in a while Howard, the coachman of the Curtis' family and Heidi went to the river stream to catch freshwater fish and today was one of those days.

Her Uncle Raymond Curtis was visiting them with his wife in the evening and her father had asked her to prepare fish for dinner as it was his brother's favored meat. It wasn't that the market didn't have them. The market of their town had plenty of them, which was sold to their townsfolk as well as to the next nearby town. Howard and Heidi, instead of spending the money which was given to them to buy the fish, they saved it. Rather Howard gave it to her saying he was getting old for saving anything in his age.

Her feet were immersed in the cold water as it sped towards them while they were surrounded by the calm sound of the water that flowed at the same ever-changing pace.

”The fish count has decreased,” she noted. It had been nearly a month since they had last visited the stream and the amount of fish that swam down their town had definitely reduced.

Howard who had successfully caught two fish with a chiseled stick spoke with his deep voice as he got out of the stream, ”It might be because the stream first passed the town before us. They must be catching them for their own or to send it to the main city of Woville,” after placing the fish in the basket, ”How many do you have there?” he asked her.

”Three of them,” Heidi grinned making the middle-aged man smile.

”Of course,” he said across the bank of the water.

After months of experience, the young woman was getting better at catching the fish. He saw her lift the stick in concentration, the net dipping in and out along with the movements of her hand. She almost caught the fish before it jumped out, escaping from the trap she had set.

”Looks like we have company,” she heard Howard speak and she turned around to see a blonde man walking towards the river stream along with the sheep that had begun to scatter around. It was Noah Arendel. His golden hair radiated like the sun's rays, his walk not slow or quick but paced normally as he kept a look at his sheep. Seeing Heidi he gave her a surprised look before waving at her with a wide smile.

”Good afternoon, Ms. Heidi,” Noah greeted her and then bowed at Howard which the man returned.

”Good afternoon,” she responded back politely.

”You are quite talented, aren't you Ms. Heidi,” he complimented her seeing what she was doing, ”You know to catch a fish and also have a strong arm when it comes to carrying multiple things in your arms.”

”It isn't that hard. There are many women who carry heavier objects than I do,” she replied bashfully turning her head to the side so that the young man couldn't see her cheeks turning red with the compliment.

”It's hard to believe though,” he said rubbing the head of the lamb near him.