“Sure thing! Just take a seat and they will be delivered to you, or would you like to have them deposited directly into your inventory?” Manuel asked me, somehow speaking through his clenched smiling teeth.

“I… uh… I’ll just take a seat, thanks,” I said, backing away slowly from the strange man but keeping an eye on him. He walked briskly through the swinging saloon doors and headed to the kitchen to get me my bread.

I turned and looked for a place to sit. There was a small table by the window right behind the two girls and I walked over to it and plopped myself down in the wooden chair.

I sighed unconsciously and stretched out, it felt good to sit after so long on my feet. I didn’t have long to relax. Seconds after I sat down the ever-smiling Manuel appeared, a large foaming tankard of ale in one hand, a steaming hot loaf of bread in the other, startling me.

“Here you go, friend! Thanks for your patronage. Come get me if you need anything else!” Manuel rattled off the words like he was reading a script and then was gone as soon as he finished speaking.

Damn, he’s fast!

I hadn’t expected a simple loaf of bread to smell so good but my mouth was already watering. I had no cutlery but I didn’t care, I ripped off a steaming hunk of it and stuffed it in my mouth.

“Oh my god, that's fantastic!” I said out loud. Then I took a sip of ale and groaned in pleasure, unable to stop myself. It was yeasty, fragrant, and strong. I burped. I was almost giddy from the food and drink. I felt my energy and strength returning.

I heard giggling from the other table and saw the two girls steal a glance at me, lean over the table, and then continue their conversation with each other. I decided after that I should enjoy my food a little bit quieter and with more dignity. Even if this city had a medieval vibe at times, there was probably still etiquette to follow.

I didn’t think about much as I chewed through the loaf of bread and drank my ale to the bottom of the large mug, I just enjoyed the feeling of being full and satiated. It was the most content I’d been since I had started this crazy journey. When I was done I felt full, energetic, and a little bit tipsy.

[ Energy: 80/100 ]

Oh wow! So food and drink also increase my energy levels!

I stifled a burp and shifted unsteadily in my chair. I considered getting another drink but then reminded myself that I was flat-out broke. I got to my feet, slightly unsteadily. I was no tee-toatler back home so I was a little surprised at how strongly I was affected by this tankard of ale. Then again, I’d never had ale, nor done so on a nearly empty stomach. Steadying myself, I headed for the exit.

Once more I heard the giggling and whispering behind me. Oh come on, It’s not like I tripped and fell, ladies! I didn’t turn, just focused on my steps and opened the door, stepping outside into the… pouring rain!

God. Dangit!

My immediate thought was to go straight back inside but I had no money and I wasn’t about to have a showdown with Manuel. I stood under the awning of the bar and looked up at the unforgiving sky. The rain was pelting down and dark gray clouds covered the stars and moon. It was miserable.

Well, at least the tomatoes will be happy. I shouldn’t have wasted energy watering the little guys!

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The door behind me creaked open. “You need a lift back home, new guy?” a female voice teased me.

I turned to see the redhead from before, her hands on her hips, smirking at me. I hadn’t gotten a good look at her until now. Despite being a head shorter than me she was intimidating. She had pretty features, freckled and fair, but I could see a toughness in her brown-eyed gaze. She was a force to be reckoned with, this one, I knew it immediately. The skirt didn’t fool me.

“I do. But I don’t see any taxis or…”

The woman cut me off by putting her fingers in her mouth and generating an incredibly loud whistling sound. Bounding around the corner was a beautiful black horse topped with a brown leather saddle. She walked over to the horse and opened one of the bags strapped to the beast’s rump. From it she unfurled two large ponchos, one she put on and the other she tossed to me.

“Here, put it on first. You’ll get soaked otherwise,” she instructed.

I did as she said. Struggling for a moment but then slipping my head through the hole. She was already clothed and atop the horse by the time I’d done so. I was in disbelief. Was this a true country girl? She was both beautiful and tough as nails. I wasn’t quite sure I could keep up. Or if I wanted to.

She smiled as if reading my thoughts. “You have to be careful with the ale at the Moonshot. It’s about twice the strength of most. I can tell you aren’t from around here. Word has already been traveling. The Golden Acres farm, is it?” she asked.

I nodded.

“Right, well I’m Leyanna. I couldn’t let you get soaked and catch a cold on your first day out here. Hop on, and tell me your name.”

I walked over and, with a helping hand from Leyanna, managed to get up on the back of the horse. I was rather impressed with myself as I had done nothing of the sort since I was a young child on a field trip to a local farm. “I’m George,” I said. And you are correct. I’m not from around here. Thank you so much.”

“Don’t mention it,” she said with a chuckle. “Hold on tight, George. Don’t be afraid to grab my sides. This might be faster than you are used to.”

“Oh god!” I cried as she took off at full blast. All my dignity went out the window and I clung to Leyanna as we whipped through the cobblestone streets and she laughed and hollered. I suspected she might be getting a kick out of playing with the city boy. I supposed that was my payment for the free ride.

In no time we had arrived in front of my farmhouse. Max got to his feet, clearly having been napping on the porch the whole time, and gave us both a welcoming series of barks, his tail wagging. Leyanna got down first and gave Max’s head a reassuring pat before going over to my side and helping me off the horse. I held my breath as I stood, the ground was shaking before me and I felt both dizzy and a little nauseous.

Leyanna clapped my shoulder and side, looking me up and down. “You okay there big fella?” she asked, seeming, for the first time, genuinely concerned. “I just wanted to have a little fun not make yah sick!”

“Yes… I’m… fine… just give me a minute…” I said, taking deep breaths. After a few moments, my equilibrium returned and I felt well enough to move about. “Okay, I think I’m good now.”

Leyana gave me a broad smile, her face lighting up. “Good! Now I gotta go back to the Moonshot and pick up Ella. Poor girl doesn’t do very well by herself, god help me if Elrick or any of the locals start hitting on her while I’m away!” Leyanna tugged on the reigns of the horse and it whinnied and turned back towards the road.

She fixed me with a final look. “Goodnight George, I hope I see you again soon. I run the stables if you ever wanna stop by. To… you know… buy any animals, of course.”

Leyanna tucked a stray lock of her fiery red hair behind her ear and looked away. Then she whipped the reins and was off into the night.

“Am I just tipsy, or did she kind of hit on me at the end there?” I wondered aloud.

Max whined and tilted his head, then flopped over onto his belly, soliciting scratches. I chuckled and knelt down on the porch.

“I guess you wouldn’t know huh? Okay, I’ll give you a belly rub. But then let’s get to bed! It’s late!”

Red letters appeared in my field of vision.

[ The time now is 11:00 PM. Warning - you are getting very sleepy! ]

Yes, I know that, thank you very much!