Getting A bride

The wooden and metal large chicken coop was done in a breeze.

The homey chicken beds were made by Gerald whose been out of it for a month.

The chickens his brother brought are lively and plenty. Chicken eggs is a normal occurence now in their breakfast. Before they only ate once a day at most. Now three times a day they will eat. There's snack time and even movie time.

His life is better but they still don't have money. He really doesn't want to involve his third brother in his problem cause he's been using all his money already for the family.

But he still got caught and has to confess.

He sighs again.

He left the chicken coop and let the chicken let loose to their large coop to play.

When he entered the room.

He saw his whole family on the floor making something out of a bottles.

"What are those?"

Everyone stares at him.

He backs off a bit.

"Brother, we will get your bride." Cheska said.

"What?"

"We will sell tea leaves in the town. If it doesn't work out. I'll sell an item that I believe will fetch us that amount we need."

"You don't have to do this." Gerald said frowning.

"Just help out." His father said.

"What took you so long in making hen's bed? Did you also try if it is cozy enough?" His dad chuckles but Layla elbow him.

Gerald smiles and feel warm.

"Okay. What are we doing?" He asks.

"You filled it with tea leaf." Harvey gave the bottle that is finished.

The whole family works out together.

Even if it is colder outside the house is installed with heater so they don't feel it.

Arianne looks out the window waiting for Gerald to come. She is nervous every night. That Gerald will gave up on her. And that like the rumor, he is already dead.

She tried giving him food she stole from the kitchen but he will always refuse. Its almost winter. The night is getting colder. She waited and waited. When she saw a flash of light she stood up and open her window.

The cold air enters but she doesn't mind  she is about to give her shoal to him but sees him wearing a thick winter clothes.

"Where did you get those?" She asks as she helps him to her room by the window.

"My third brother, didn't I told you that him and father brought alot of strange stuff..How are you? Still unable to sleep?"

Arianne hugs him.

"How can I sleep? I want to marry you. Let's just run away."

"I can't leave my family and how can you leave your family?"

Arianne starts crying.

"Are you thinking I am a selfish daughter?"

Gerald shakes his head and wipes her tears.

"That is not what I mean."

"We will leave first. Then we will come back as husband and wife. I will be filial to my parents and your parents. But I don't want to marry anyone except you." She said wiping her eyes.

"Thank you, Arianne. For choosing me and loving me."

"Gerald. I am scared. Father already chose a man in the city. His family is a blacksmith. He is older but he has a stable job."

Gerald clenched his fist.

"Tomorrow morning,my dad and we brothers will come and ask your hand for marriage. But I still don't have the bride price money. I will ask for an extension."

"I don't need bride price money."

"Do not be silly! Don't worry. Trust me. I have to go now. You should sleep. Tomorrow it'll be alright."

"......."

Arianne is still worried.

Her father is just outside. Their house is small so of course how much they want to lower their voice. In this night, they can still be heard.

His wife pats his arms.

"You are just worried about her. You are not wrong, husband." She knows her husband is being very sorry for his daughter.

The next morning, wearing the clothes that Xavier personally ask the tailor to make they march to Arianne's house pushing things, they need to make the deal to succeed.

Layla and Cheska left at home.

The men already gone. They can relax.

Sitting on the chair is Arianne and her parents.

On the other side is Julius and Gerald.

"I will allow to marry Arianne to Gerald. I never said I wont." Arianne's father said.

"But I want to see proof that she will not get starve to death."

With that cue. Harvey and Xavier carry three sacks of white rice inside,sugar,salt and five live chicken. Baskets of eggs and bottle of oil inside their home.

"Mother and Cheska are actually cooking at home. We invite you to come in our home." Xavier said smiling.

Arianne eyes widen seeing all the things that are brought in.

This is more than 5 silver coins already!

She starts smiling and look hopefully at his parents.

Her father is frowning but his wife is smiling and sighing.

"We will give the bride price money. But can you wait for a month more? No two weeks?" Gerald said as he gets nervous.

"Okay." Finally Arianne's father agreed.

Everyone sighs in relief.

Xavier pokes his brother's back.

Gerald looks back and they both nods.

"I want to give this to future mother in law and my future bride." He said and hand over two jewelry flat boxes.

When the two ladies saw what's inside their eyes dilated.

A full set of earing, necklace, braclet and rings.

It is the same sparkly eyes that Cheska and Layla shows when received theirs.

Gerald smiles at Xavier.

He knows that the thing is halfway solve thanks to him.

Julius smiles.

He is not needed here.

But as a support, he needs to come as the groom's father.

The two family decided to go to the Austin's house for lunch.

The villagers all saw the things that Austin family brought for Arianne's house and confuse.

Now they all watch the two family move to the house on the outskirt of the village.