It had taken a few days of looking before Johnny found the right place ? places, actually, since his mother had sent him a message while she and his sisters were traveling.
?Johnny, I?ve been farmin? with yer pa m?whole life. If yer thinkin? I want another farm ta be takin? care of with no man around ta help, just take another think, m?boy. I want a place in th? city, near all th? shops, that doesn?t take keepin? up all hours of th? day an? night. If?n ya want a place out in th? country, too, that?s yer business ? but get me a place around people!?
It had rather surprised him, actually ? he would have expected his mother to want to move the family to a place as close to what they were used to as possible. Still, his mother?s word was his command, and Johnny found a house in the city that he thought would suit her. On the south side of the Marketplace, actually looking out over the Market Square, it was an old house that looked like it had seen better years, but it came fully furnished.
The price was exorbitant, its owner asking a small fortune due to its prime location and completely overlooking the work it would take to restore the house to its former glory ? or even a state past bare livability! It was still the only place near the Market that Johnny could find within reach of his budget, and buying it took most of the reserves he had built up over the years. He was able to buy it free and clear that way, though, without bringing a bank or a loan into the bargain, and the offer to pay in cash had lowered the asking price a fair bit.
Fortunately, Johnny had better luck looking for a farm out in the countryside. He still wanted that farm ? he knew not all of his sisters were happy about giving up the family homestead on Hope, and he wanted to offer them something that made up for it, at least partially. It had taken some hiking, looking for a place that was right, but finally, a good half-day ride by horse north of the city walls, he found it.
A small farmstead, it looked to have been abandoned for some time. It would take some cleaning, and some minor repairs, but nothing unreasonable. The house was closed up neatly, but there was no evidence of belongings that would have remained if the family were intending on returning. Inquiries in the city turned up no owners on record ? the last family to have owned the place had left the country suddenly. Effectively, it was free for the taking ? so he did, putting up a neat sign out front reading ?The Smith Farm?.
He would have to sell a few more pieces before he could afford to hire someone to do the repairs beyond his abilities. He would also have to make a trip out here with a wagon and cleaning supplies ? maybe Sianna would agree to help him with a day of cleaning. He drifted for a moment, thinking about that, and a smile worked itself onto his face without his notice.
Hopefully he would have time to get everything ready before his family arrived ? unfortunately, travel times were as reliable as they had been centuries ago, and the vast distances to cover only magnified the problems. He could only hope they would think to message him from Gateway Station, because for all he knew, they could arrive later today, or sometime next week. Johnny grinned, more excited than he would have expected, looking forward to introducing his family to the world that he had made his home.
?Johnny, I?ve been farmin? with yer pa m?whole life. If yer thinkin? I want another farm ta be takin? care of with no man around ta help, just take another think, m?boy. I want a place in th? city, near all th? shops, that doesn?t take keepin? up all hours of th? day an? night. If?n ya want a place out in th? country, too, that?s yer business ? but get me a place around people!?
It had rather surprised him, actually ? he would have expected his mother to want to move the family to a place as close to what they were used to as possible. Still, his mother?s word was his command, and Johnny found a house in the city that he thought would suit her. On the south side of the Marketplace, actually looking out over the Market Square, it was an old house that looked like it had seen better years, but it came fully furnished.
The price was exorbitant, its owner asking a small fortune due to its prime location and completely overlooking the work it would take to restore the house to its former glory ? or even a state past bare livability! It was still the only place near the Market that Johnny could find within reach of his budget, and buying it took most of the reserves he had built up over the years. He was able to buy it free and clear that way, though, without bringing a bank or a loan into the bargain, and the offer to pay in cash had lowered the asking price a fair bit.
Fortunately, Johnny had better luck looking for a farm out in the countryside. He still wanted that farm ? he knew not all of his sisters were happy about giving up the family homestead on Hope, and he wanted to offer them something that made up for it, at least partially. It had taken some hiking, looking for a place that was right, but finally, a good half-day ride by horse north of the city walls, he found it.
A small farmstead, it looked to have been abandoned for some time. It would take some cleaning, and some minor repairs, but nothing unreasonable. The house was closed up neatly, but there was no evidence of belongings that would have remained if the family were intending on returning. Inquiries in the city turned up no owners on record ? the last family to have owned the place had left the country suddenly. Effectively, it was free for the taking ? so he did, putting up a neat sign out front reading ?The Smith Farm?.
He would have to sell a few more pieces before he could afford to hire someone to do the repairs beyond his abilities. He would also have to make a trip out here with a wagon and cleaning supplies ? maybe Sianna would agree to help him with a day of cleaning. He drifted for a moment, thinking about that, and a smile worked itself onto his face without his notice.
Hopefully he would have time to get everything ready before his family arrived ? unfortunately, travel times were as reliable as they had been centuries ago, and the vast distances to cover only magnified the problems. He could only hope they would think to message him from Gateway Station, because for all he knew, they could arrive later today, or sometime next week. Johnny grinned, more excited than he would have expected, looking forward to introducing his family to the world that he had made his home.