Page 39 of Vampire's Cupcake
Eli would have to agree, but he had nowhere to go."I'll...eh...will you be back soon?"
"We'll be in next week on market day.Do you want me to bring anything?"
"Will you have anything?"Eli looked at the crates.It was more than Joshua normally delivered, which had to mean he'd taken everything he could spare.
"Greens, and I might have some peas.I've experimented a little this year with the greenhouse."
"You have a greenhouse?"
Joshua shrugged."I put old windows together into a...shape."He formed a triangle with his hands."I experimented and planted some peas back in February.They're flowering now."
Eli gaped at him."Now?"His garden hardly had anything green in it yet."That's amazing."
"It was an experiment, so I didn't plant a lot.Didn't want to waste seeds if it wouldn't work.Next year, I'll do more.Depending on if I can save enough seeds, of course."
"Of course."It was on the tip of his tongue to tell him about Romeo's gardening book, but he'd promised not to.
Joshua nodded."See you next week."Then he focused on the crow still balancing on Eli's shoulder."It was nice meeting you."
The crow replied with a hoarse coo.
Grinning, Joshua waved a hand and slipped out of the shop, leaving Eli alone with the crow.
"I need to put these things on the shelves."
The crow flew off him and sat on the counter.Eli hoped the sheriff wouldn't be back.He looked at the crow again."Did you know there was a new sheriff?"They hadn't had one since the others had killed the last one ten months ago.
The crow shook its head.
Did it mean Thano hadn't known either?Eli went to grab an old bowl when he realized Joshua had tied the spinach into small bunches.He added some water to the bowl and arranged the spinach like he would a flower bouquet.
When the door opened behind him, he jumped.
"Morning, Eli."Alice smiled at him, and Eli relaxed.
"Morning.How are you today?"
She looked at the crates."Fresh delivery?"
"Yes.Joshua left only a few minutes ago."
Silence stretched, and Eli moved the radishes to one of the baskets on the shelves close to the counter.
"I've been thinking..."
Eli looked at her."About?"
"What you said about registering as a company."
He nodded."I think you should."
She wrung her hands."I'm afraid I'll mess up, and they'll throw me in jail.I like it here, much better than New Town, but I don't think I can handle..."Fear shined in her eyes.
"Hey."Eli walked over and took her hand."There is no jail in Last Hope."They simply sent people out into wild country to fend for themselves when they broke the law.Or killed them.A shiver went through him.Though, who was to say what the new sheriff would do."You won't mess up.All you have to do is take your money to the bank every day you sell something and pay for soil and seeds and such with the money in your company account.The teller at the bank will write everything down for you, and as long as you don't leave anything out, there won't be a problem."
"It's market day next week."
"Yes.Ask Romeo to go with you to the bank and register a company and bring a table to the market and sell your plants."
