It was a sweltering summer day. Bull frogs screamed from the pond a mile North from the village and cows lounged in the field around them. Gela and Driek lay on the edge of the pond, lazily entangled in one another.

“Gela?” he spoke softly. His shirt half open to cool himself off in the summer heat.

“Yes, my love?” she responded equally softly, playing gently with his growing hair. Her skirt hiked up as far as common decency would allow.

“I've been thinking lately. About mother and the girls. And about what to do when my work here is done…” He nervously looked at Gela.

Gela nodded slowly, prompting him to continue.

“I think I would like to move away from here, to somewhere I can start anew. And I rather think, and I don't mean to put any pressure on you, but I think I would like for you to be my wife.”

“Funny you should say that,” Gela smiled. “Because I think I would rather like for you to be my husband.”

She snaked her arm around his waist, despite the uncomfortable summer heat, and pulled him in for a kiss, tasting of salt and iron.

*

"Gela!" mother yelled, snapping Gela out of her thoughts. 

"Yes?"

"I asked three times for you to help me in the field and no answer," she said sternly.

Gela only glanced away.

Mother sighed and sat down beside her, taking Gela's hand in her own. 

"If anything was bothering you, you'd tell me, right?"

She laid her head on her mother's shoulder. "Of course. Why do you ask?"

"Because all morning I've been wondering if that boy brought home a deaf, dumb and blind changeling yesterday. Listen, I like Driek just fine. I’m happy he makes you happy. But if he did anything to make you behave in this way he'll have me and my hoe to answer to!"

Gela laughed at the absurd accusation. Almost as much as at the absurd proposal of the other day. She’d never lied to her mother before. She didn’t want to, but she made Driek a promise. She intended to keep it.

"Mother, I promise, nothing of the sort happened. I just found myself thinking…"

"About Driek?"

Gela blushed.

Mother smiled and squeezed her hand.

"Think about that boy all you like, but if you can find it within yourself, do it while helping me out in the field."