June stepped out of her room. She didn't see her father in the hall. She walked quickly down the hallway and the stairs. They led down to the back rooms of the Inn. When he built the place, her father had ensured their rooms had some privacy from their patrons. The only way to get there was through the kitchen and up this staircase. June still managed to sneak people in, though. She stopped and shivered at the memories. Her ruined orgasm had left an empty feeling just below her stomach. She knew what she needed to fill it and remove the ache. Apparently, her father needed her, or he wouldn't have bothered her, so she pushed the feeling down and walked past the storage and larder to the kitchen.
Edward was busy preparing food. In the morning, the Inn typically served some simple breakfast like oats, but Edward liked to have stew or something similar later in the day. Edward never considered himself much of a cook, but few people scoffed at his food. June always did it, although she always teased her father that she was a better cook than him.
"Morning, June"
"Good morning"
June tried again not to let her frustration into her voice. She didn't do well, and her father gave her a sympathetic look.
"Sorry for waking you, but I have to go and collect some things from around town today. So, I must leave this place in your hands for a while."
June sighed.
"Okay, I'll keep the place together. Just please hurry back. I had some plans with Jeni later today."
He shot her a look. "Out with Jenine as usual. You know, June, if you take this place over, you won't always have time to go out with friends. Not unless you find an extra pair of hands."
June turned away from her father's gaze hiding a pained expression. Her father had been doing this more and more lately. She made herself busy cleaning the prep table. She gathered the severed heads of carrots and peels of onions and shed potato skins into a bowl to toss later.
"I suppose I'll have to hire some extra help then. I'm sure someone will be happy with the job. I'll find a traveler or two, if not someone in the village. More than enough pass through here."
Her father mimicked her sigh. Knowing there was no point in pushing the issue of her settling down. He went back to minding the midday meal.
June was happy to pass the time in silence while they worked. A short time later, the stew was ready, and they ate together. They were chatting about the recent patrons and news in the town. After they finished, Edward set out on his errands, and June checked the guest rooms and the floor space. Most of the guests had cleared out by now. The capital was close, and that was where most of their patrons were heading. She spent the rest of her morning cleaning, preparing rooms, and getting stew for any stragglers who had slept in, including one man who had drunk too much and had been tossed into a nearby hog pen the previous night. The chores kept her mind off the lingering feeling in her body telling her to jump the nearest man.
Her lust had faded by the time her father returned that afternoon. June gave him a hurried peck goodbye and dashed out the door to meet Jenine.
She waited at their usual meeting spot by the obnoxiously large statue of the town's founder.
June found the statue absurd. Lord Gefoy stood etched in marble, hoisting a sword triumphantly. The statue implied he was some sort of warrior or general-he was an accountant. Jeni had told her the real story when they were kids. Gefoy only led the group that settled there, the group which laid the roads to the capital. He took the name Lord to pretend he was nobility. When they met under it, Jeni enjoyed spitting on the statue, a tradition June honored. A glob of spit landed on the deceitful man's face as a very sweaty Jenine jogged up to her.
June looked her friend up to down. Sweat soaked through Jeni's simple, green dress. The moisture caused her friend's bodice to slip down her chest and her underclothes to venture up. The fabric stuck to her chest, and the sweat glistened on her the crease of her cleavage. The dress hugged her friend's hips and swayed as she jogged up to June.
June shook herself, realizing she was indulging in her friend's body. She made sure to look directly into Jeni's eyes.
"Jeni, did you run all the way here? You look drenched."
Jenine scowled and rolled her eyes.
"Not the whole way, but I needed to get away. My parents have been working me like a horse today. I slipped out the back gate before they could say no and invent more chores."
Her scowl turned into a mischievous grin at that.
"You would think growing up would make them less overbearing. They just whine about me becoming an old maid and how my childbearing years are passing. I am working so hard that I have no time to meet anybody.
June walked from the shade of the statue and shook her head.
"My father has been doing the same. I think he wants me to leave the Inn-do something else. He keeps hinting at me having children."
June grinned back as she laid a hand on Jeni's shoulder
"Sounds like we both need a break, and you could use a bath.
Jeni wrinkled her nose and replied, "Let's go to the pond and get out of the heat."
"Brilliant idea. I was a little worried my dad might come looking for me. He will be furious that I left early, but I can deal with him later."
Jeni grabbed June's hand and squeezed it as they ran. They headed towards the edge of town and the Ironwood. June giggled at her friend's enthusiasm and tried to keep up.
After a trip to the edge of town, they followed the trail through the forest. June and Jenine gossiped about the town drama and the difficulties with their parents. The two young women never had to worry about encountering anybody on this trail.
