Danuki Diary - pt 13

    So far today has been a rather normal day, James and I are taking a break before getting back to work. After finishing the last entry this morning Miyabi and I went and joined James and Emily for breakfast. It was then I learned that Emily doesn’t do the cooking due to her massive furry paws being cumbersome to hold the cookware, instead James served us rather generous portions of eggs, toast and a mix of sausage and bacon. I forget the finer points of the conversation, but Miyabi asked that instead of James running into town that she and Emily go in his place. After breakfast I went upstairs to write my prior log as you know journal, it took some time but when I came back I found James in the main lobby just tidying up.


“Just in time Anon,” James said as he noticed me coming down the stairs. “I’m gonna start prep work on the lodge we set aside for you. If you want to pack stuff to move when it’s done nows the chance.” he said.


The corners of my mouth turned down, “James if you want I can help with prep work,” I said. “It feels weird enough when I’m home with Miyabi and the maids do most of the work.”


“Well there’s not much left to do.” James mulled, “Unless you want to help move some firewood.”


“That works, I’m used to carrying firewood anyways.” I said, “just let me pack our stuff up and we can get on that.”


“Whatever works for you Anon, you’re the guest after all here. Just lemme know when you’re ready.”


    Repacking was easier than I though since neither Miyabi nor myself had really unpacked anything, aside from a fresh change of clothes for the day. I’ll admit there was one too many suitcases to carry which resulted in needing help from James to carry a few. It took a few trips, but it was probably easier for James than myself since he’s built like a bear from all the work he does up here. Our trip wasn’t long, the cabin he gave us was directly across the villa amongst a few other identical cabins, though they were spaced far enough to give a sense of privacy to them. When I stepped inside I noticed it was like the main lodge, the main room was a kitchen and living room mashed together with the bedroom and bathroom small rooms off of the main area. To draw a picture journal, as you entered you saw the kitchen directly across the room against the far wall. It had what you’d expect of a kitchen, though instead of a table and chairs there was a island counter like the one back at the estate the maids eat at. The living area it was a couch and a few chairs placed around a fireplace, in all honest it’s no different than what we saw at the main lodge. The bathroom and our bedroom are normal, though the bathtub seems large enough for a horse to rest comfortably in. I never asked James why so I have to assume there is a reason.


“Is this the last of them Anon?” James asked as we finished another trip to and from the main lodge.
“I think so,” I said looking at the pile of suitcases lying in the doorway. “I take it the firewood is next?”


“Yeah, For now let’s take a break,” James said rolling his shoulders. “It feels like you guys packed a few suitcases with just bricks.”


“That’s I think it’s a mix of Miyabi and my own fault for wanting to pack some books to read.”


James’ eyebrow cocked, “some of these are just books?”


“Miyabi brought some cookbooks, or that’s what she told me.” I said before pointing to a rather beat up looking suitcase, “and I just brought along some reading material myself.”


“Well far be it from me to tell you how to pack,” James said with a snort.


    James and I stopped for a break, which is where we are in things now. I told him I wanted to jot some things down while I ate our lunch. Nothing fancy, just a few sandwiches with some cold cuts. I’ll finish this entry later tonight after dinner, Miyabi this morning was adamant about cooking.




It’s rather late now, the sun has set and disappeared over the mountain range for the night from what I can see out the window. Sitting in the lounge chair in front of the fire I’ve decided to finish the day’s update, I honestly feel like there won’t be much anything of interest as I help Miyabi indulge in living a ‘normal’ life. I’ll be honest though, it’s hard to collect the day's thoughts as Miyabi cooks in the kitchen. Lots of pans and pots clattering over in the kitchen as Miyabi prepares something, she said it’s a roasted chicken with some soup so there is something to look forward to. While it smells good I need to focus on retelling what happened after lunch as that’s why I’m writing. After lunch James and I went and collected the firewood he had set aside and what he showed me I hadn’t expected.


I had followed James to a building off to the side of the villa, “here we are.” He said, “We’re going to need a cart for this.”


“For firewood?” I asked concerned.


“Anon, do you realize how much of the stuff you’re going to need? I say about 6 cart loads a piece should do it.”


I felt my jaw drop, “That many?” I asked. “Where are we even going to store it?”


“Simple, right beside the chimney on each lodge is a massive storage bin that I load from the top. You’ve probably already seen the chute, but the wood is fed through the top into the holding part.”


“This sounds like it’s going to take a bit.”


“It will, but with the two of us it should go by quicker, now come on and grab a cart!”


By the time the girls got back we were about near halfway done unloading my 4th cart of firewood into the hopper. James had been handing logs up to me when the girls came up to us with bags of groceries.


“Oh dear, poor James has put another guest to work.” Emily teased, “Anon, make sure he’s paying you.”


I shook my head, “I just wanted to help. It’s been ages since I’ve done any work myself.” I said taking another log from James and tossing it into the bin.


“Aww isn’t that adorable?” Emily teased again, “ no wonder Miyabi is crazy about you Anon.”


Miyabi just seemed concerned, “sweetie do you need anything?” She asked, “are you cold? I can get you another scarf, I got a nice yellow one in one of my suitcases.”


“I’m fine dear,” I said reaching down to grab a few more logs from James. “How was your trip though?”


“We have enough for a few days, Emily says it’s better to buy a bit at a time.” Miyabi said as she adjusted her grip on the brown bags. “Next time I go out do you want me to get you anything special sweetie?”


“Not really no,” I said with my mind more focused on my work than Miyabi’s words.


“Ok sweetie, just don’t push yourself too hard, alright?”


Emily again had that grin on her tanned face again, the one she reserves for teasing. “That’s so sweet of you two, like a storybook couple!” She bubbled. “Before I forget though James, Benji needs to talk to you about something later. We saw Wendy in town and she said to talk to him.”


“Alright...whoops” James said before losing his handle on a log, the heavy wood leaving an imprint in the snow. “I’ll see him hopefully on Thursday before the town meeting.”


“That’s settled, Come on Miyabi let’s finish unloading and let your big strong husband get back to his work.”
    Miyabi and Emily went back and forth several times bringing the bags inside, by the time we were done with the second cart of wood they had finished and had left us to our work. Though not before Miyabi asked me if I was too cold every time she saw me. The hardest part of it was the hauling, sometimes my cart would get stuck in a drift off to side when I pulled or the traction on the slippery ground under me made it a pain to pull. At one point I actually lost balance, a rare thing for me, and slipped. That got a laugh out of James while I picked myself up and out from under the cart’s body. Luckier still is the carts are 4 wheeled instead of 2 like the hay cart Pa has back home.


I’ll end my entry for today here, Miyabi just announced that dinner is done. Tomorrow I doubt I’ll have an entry, maybe I’ll go ask James about what his brother wanted to talk about. We were so busy hauling wood I forgot to ask.