Seeing no possible outcome where just going straight would lead anywhere good, they had to decide between Rutus's way, and Endermon's. The need for an actual bed won out over stealth and constant camping. So through town and on the main roads it was. So after a quick breakfast, they got on their horses and were off. Stopping of course to let the driver know which way they were going.
The riding was going well, there were only minimal attempts to buck Dresden off due to his bragging and boasting. As a way to pass time, they had mini races. It was only to rock outcroppings or clusters of trees. And to Dresden's dismay, he usually lost. After nearly being bitten or headbutted several times, he quit blaming the horse even though Endermon knew differently.
Stopping and letting the horses graze and have some water, Endermon suggested some humane hunting might be a good idea. She said she'd stay and watch the horses. Dresden and Rutus grabbed their hunting gear and headed iff to some particularly thick trees and set about getting some food.
Endermon got the fire ready and started thinking about what she should make. She was starting to wonder if they were even going to have lunch, Dresden and Rutus burst through the trees dragging a small deer. Well Dresden was, Rutus was busy cleaning her axe.
After cleaning the deer, they portioned it out so they had enough for them, some for later and they had some for the driver. After eating their fill, they wrapped up the leftovers to prevent spoilage, and Endermon buried the bones, minus some to use for later, and continued down the road towards town.
It qas getting dark as they rode up to the outskirts of town. They found a barn that would serve as a stopping point for the night. Even though Dresden swore it would be okay if they crashed there anonymously, Endermon thought they should at least inform them of their presence.
The owner was an older woman who was dressed in classic farm attire. She said she had no problems staying there, as long as she could get some assistance with some chores, as her hired help wouldn't be there til daybreak. They agreed and as Endermon put the horses in the nearly empty stalls, Rutus and Dresden got to work. By the time Endetmon got done, the other two had gotten the majority of the work done, and Dresden had talked his way into sleeping inside, 'for security purposes', and left Endermon with the most labor intensive jobs that the woman needed help with. Such as stacking woid and carrying haybales.
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Rutus helped for a bit, but doing most of the rest of the work, was pretty tired. She climbed into the loft and found a place to sleep. Endermon bid her goodnight and continued stacking wood. When someone else started helping, a comment died on her lips as she saw Shiloh carrying some wood as well.
They worked together in silence as they got the wood stacked. Then Shiloh said it would go faster if she did the hay herself. Endermon agreed, but it didn't stop her from trying anyway. Being shoo'd away, Endermon snickered to herself. It didn't take long before Shiloh to be finished, and damn it all if she didn't even look winded, with nary a hair out of place.
Ascending the ladder, Shiloh looked very smug and happy with herself. Endermon didn't want to encourage gloating, but it was a very endearing look on her. Feeling Endermon's eyes on her, Shiloh suddenly got self conscious and nearly fell off the ladder. Regaining her footholds, Shiloh continued climbing until she was fully in the loft nestling into the hay after fake falling.
There they lay together, fully clothed but still more intimate than they had ever been. They must have been making more noise than they thought they were, because mere feet away, Rutus mumbled sleepily to keep it down. Endermon said they would and with quieter cuddling, Endermon and Shiloh settled in to sleep. They stayed that way until dawn until Shiloh had to leave.
Starting the day, Endermon went to the door and was about to knock when an unkempt, or at least more unkempt Dresden stumbled put the door. The lady of the house was more than ready to start work, and he was preventing that. Endermon apologized for him and left some coins for the lodging. She gave a quick nod and they separated ways. The woman back to work and the group back to traveling.