Passages

Read the following excerpts from the Realm of Vail to get a feel for the story.

Passage I

The next days were relatively uneventful for Enid when taken in comparison to the previous week. She spent most of her time helping Beth prepare meals and perform chores. This was something for which Beth was eternally grateful, and rightfully so, since until now she had been the only woman in camp.

Enid had never realized how lucky she had been in her own time, not to have to make her meals literally from scratch. Here, the game had to be caught, then dressed and cured with salt or cooked before it spoiled. Enid purposefully remained away while the game was being skinned and dressed. She knew that her own food from her time had been prepared in a similar manner but she had not watched it then and she saw no reason to watch it now. She did not think she would be able to eat it if she did. What Enid could stomach, she aided Beth in and each day it became a little easier to accept the things she had once thought repulsive.

Being a patient woman, Beth was content to let Enid stir the soap in the kettle or fetch water or help wash the clothes. The old woman was developing a great attachment for "the child", as she called her. Beth's mood was lighter than it had been in years and she hummed as her gnarled fingers performed her chores with a new agility.