The last tree in the orchard had been picked clean by mid-week, and it was time to take the harvest to the market. Some of it was kept by the family and turned into preserves that Mara and her youngest son stayed behind to work on. Another share was given to a family friend who sold the bushels in the village at his little shop. The rest were loaded onto a trio of carts to be taken the three days up north to the kingdom's royal marketplace. It was an annual trip Mr. Greely, and his boys took twice a year, once after the fall harvest and once after the spring. What they earned there each year was enough to support the family and occasionally a little extra to save.
Everyone was all smiles as that year's bounty was one of the best in memory and with Roy's help, they were able to pick i
