#hemp rectangle

[chouhanrug]

Hemp Rug

https://chouhanrugs.etsy.com/listing/779265300

https://chouhanrugs.etsy.com

[itshomobirb]

the longer i stand the stupider i get.

anyway, pray that my edibles turn out alright. the hemp got waterlogged during the decarb, so i put in the oil and was like "oh ok ill stick it on a double broiler and heat the water until it evaporates!" and then i googled how to separate the water from the oil (coconut), and it was like "put it in the fridge, they'll separate, the oil will solidify, boom just pour out the water."

and i went "ok!" and stopped the double broiler, strained out the solid hemp matter, using several different jars and many utensils and approximately 10 coffee filters and spilling oil several times. dumped the hemp in the trash. did the dishes and started the dishwasher while the oil drained into the cup.

and then i was like "oh fuck i forgot to properly infuse the oil," so i dumped the oil back into the double boiler and let it boil for a few minutes. googled again. yeah a double boiler would infuse, but it'd take several hours (<- spoiled by "mason jar in the pressure cooker takes a lot less time").

ohfuck.jpeg. i already dumped the hemp. litcherally what am i infusing in the double boiler. it's just heating oil. ok. strain it again, put it in a container, put it in the fridge, and now im hoping there was enough time for it to infuse when i first put in the oil.

and during this entire time i was standing in my kitchen. losing braincells by the minute. trying to figure it out before the fog of war (brain fog) completely surrounded me.

[wildwood-faun]

Making medieval underwear - linen edition

So you want to make some medieval clothes? I, along with many others, would recommend you to start with a set of underwear. If you haven't sewn a lot before, it's a good way of getting into it with some slightly cheaper fabric before you break out your lovely wool (assuming you want to use period appropriate fabrics, that is). It's also a nice way of getting used to the shapes and checking fit, as shirts and shifts will often be similar to the clothes that go over them.

In Europe, underwear in the middle ages would most often have been made out of linen or hemp. These fabrics are great for garments you will wear next to your skin because they get softer the more you use them and they can take a beating so you can wash them as needed. Unfortunately, they also do not last very well from an archaeological standpoint - in conditions where animal fibres are fantastically preserved, plant fibres will rot away. This means that cold and wet places (north west Europe for instance) will have very few linen garments preserved that we can look at to see how they were made. We do have some shirts preserved, but I don't believe we have a single pair of braies - something that has led to a lot of head scratching regarding their construction. We do have a lot of depictions of them though!

But you're here for the links, so let's go.

A bit of everything

An article on underwear in the Maciejowski Bible - here we have a few different patterns for braies, some nice tables of hose and tunic colours, some information on hose construction (not what I want to focus on in this post but it's there), pictures of braies, shirts and shifts, plus links to further reading.

Shirts and shifts

Handcrafted History's medieval linen shirt tutorial - Handcrafted History is a treasure of a blog with plenty of tutorials. I'll probably be linking to other specific posts in the future but I can really recommend just having a browse if you're into medieval stuff.

Maille is riveting's medieval under linen shirt - shirts are fairly straight forward but it can be nice to look at a few different takes. This is another general blog recommendation as well!

Handcrafted History's viking/medieval shift or underdress - it's basically a shirt but longer!

Braies

I saved a bunch of links mostly focused on long braies when I was trying to figure out their construction. You could just open one of these links and go for it but I like to have options and there are a few different solutions going on here.

Experimental underwear - using 6th-7th century linen trousers from Egypt and Syria as a basis.

Quick&Dirty Braies - I'm into the H construction of these because they could theoretically be made from just one big rectangle with zero waste, and we know that people wasted as little fabric as possible.

Buck's Retinue braies - this site features two types of braies. The classic baggy ones plus a pair of short braies that appear later in the period as clothes get tighter and shorter. I feel like the short braies could be made in a very packer friendly way if that's relevant to your needs.

Maille is riveting's medieval long braies - basically the same pattern as the link above, but with more pictures. I think I want to try this version at some point in the future. (I particularly like cutting out a little rectangle of fabric to make attaching ("pointing") your hose easier. I have small eyelets on mine and it's. Frustrating.)

Damberg's brokor - a Swedish site with good pictures of some different types of braies. Google translate usually does fairly well with Swedish to English.

Viking history's early medieval braies video - this pair is slightly more fitted than many of the others.

ArmStreet's how to wear medieval braies - I had to share this as the posture of the guy putting on the braies is so endearing to me. I even giffed it so I could put it in the group chat. The construction of these seems pretty cool! I wish they sold a pattern for them as well because I don't want to spend that much money on something I could just make.

BONUS: Handcrafted History's bathing dress - you could definitely use this type of dress as a general purpose shift as well. Or make yourself a nice bathing dress!

[curiouscrux]

Tunic Weaving Process

Marking my second project on a rigid heddle loom, I finally got around to finishing my not-a-cosplay-I-swear tunic to be linked (heh) in the future.

(Edit: Final product here!)

This tunic splits the difference between the original reference image here, and the comic pages. The only noticeable factors are that the hem's curve is somewhat shallow, and that the sleeve details are three parts (as versus five).

The tunic shaping is also modified to be more... Tunic-y. That is to say, made of rectangles and straight seams—so no set-in sleeves, and a bit of a wider shape to account for the woven fabric type.

It will be accompanied by a linen under-tunic and hemp-amber necklace. Made because they all look nice together, but also separately.

[ALL IDs IN ALT TEXT]

Starting out, I calculated how much yarn would be needed for the body (incorrectly), and set up all of my warp threads.

After my first project's hiccups, the warp threads were individually tied so as to minimize risk of uneven tension.

For whatever reason, I decided to curve the hem as part of the piece, rather than enforcing, trimming, and hemming to a curve. (This was also incorrect—or at least a bad move.)

The full, finished back piece is pictured above, and is a little more loosely woven than the front panel, but is still absolutely warm enough to justify material costs.

The neckline for the front was made in two parts starting at the split. The widest part of the neckline was essentially cut away. All fringe was woven in on the neckline (and the hem), and the shoulder seams were bound together with this method as well. Side seams were just back-stitched.

The neckline was crocheted with a lighter yarn as a border, and a faux closure was attached to match the reference.

As mentioned, the smart move would have been to curve the bottom of the tunic through enforcement, trimming, and hemming, so to make the front more even with the back, this is what I ended up doing, despite that it was... Already curved.

The sleeves deserved a gusset, especially because those aid a place that would normally be a weak point on regular fabric, and would be extra prone to pulling on something handwoven like this.

Finally, sleeve decorations were chain-stitched in the accent color to match the neckline.

It took several months of intermittent work to finish, but could have probably been less had the tall task of weaving in several hundred loose threads not daunted me so much.

It was made from alpaca, which I justify via my intention to wear this as it gets colder in the northern hemisphere, but also because I could not get my hands on hemp yarn (which would have made more sense in the context of the setting).

[lowcarbloves]

These Keto Nut Bars are the perfect treat for when you want something fatty and nutty without the guilt! Packed with healthy fats, nuts, and a touch of sweetness, they’re a satisfying low-carb snack.

Ingredients:

1 cup toasted almonds, roughly chopped (toast at 350°F for 8 minutes)

1/2 cup roasted peanuts (or macadamia, walnuts, etc.)

1/4 cup sugar-free chocolate chips (like Lily’s)

4 tablespoons sesame seeds (or hemp hearts)

4 tablespoons sunflower seeds

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons melted coconut oil

3 tablespoons almond or peanut butter (used Fatso)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg white, lightly beaten

Cacao butter (for drizzling)

Monkfruit or stevia drops (for sweetening)

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 20 cm (8-inch) baking tin with parchment paper.

2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the toasted almonds, peanuts, chocolate chips, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and salt.

3. Melt Wet Ingredients: In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil, nut butter, and vanilla together. Stir until combined.

4. Combine Mixtures: Pour the melted mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir in the beaten egg white.

5. Press into Tin: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking tin. Press it down evenly.

6. Bake: Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.

7. Cool and Freeze: Allow to cool, then place the bars in the freezer until hardened.

8. Add Cacao Butter: Once the bars are set, melt the cacao butter over a double boiler. Add monkfruit or stevia drops for sweetening. Pour the melted cacao butter over the bars.

9. Optional Chocolate Drizzle: For extra indulgence, drizzle 100% melted dark chocolate over the bars.

10. Cut and Store: Once the cacao butter sets, cut the bars into squares or rectangles. Store in the fridge.

Enjoy these low-carb, high-fat Keto Nut Bars as a satisfying treat or snack!

[sophia-draws]

Hatsune Miko as a Black Mountain woman

A while back, I started drawing a fantasy comic, which later became a novel, about a place called the Black Mountains. Obviously the story had a main character, but probably the most important element of the story was the Black Mountain culture and how it fit - or didn't - with the rest of the story's world.

Miku here is dressed as Black Mountain women typically dress for an average day of work.

>Neatly braided hair. It would be inappropriate to go outside with your hair unbraided. If your hair is in order, your life is in order.

>Jewelry made of painted wood beads. A string of beads is also often worn around the waste on days when looking nice is more important than looking practical.

>A linen undershirt

>A wool tunic or dress

>A sash of brightly died fabric, often a more expensive piece made of higher quality rarer cloth such as cotton, with more expensive dyes imported from outside the village.

>Hemp fiber apron, made of a singular flat rectangle, tied with a simple string around the waist, under the sash. More recent fashion trends dictate a pocket be sewn onto the front.

>Sturdy wool trousers

>Simple hide boots held up with string. Thicker boots would be worn in winter.

>The hems of clothes and borders are quilted and embroidered with bright dyes and geometric patterns. The main body of the clothing is rarely patterned, though more formal pieces sometimes might have images embroidered onto them.

[nature-godsgardenofeden]

Tahini Seeded Crackers ❣️💛❤️ These are packed with protein and are a great alternative to ultra-processed crackers at the grocery store.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup chickpea flour

- 1/4 cup hemp seeds

- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds

- 1/4 flaxseeds

- 1/4 sesame seeds

- 3 tablespoons tahini

- 1/2 cup water

- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

- 1 tablespoon everything bagel seasoning

- pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with

parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine chickpea flour, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, nutritional yeast, everything bagel seasoning, and a pinch of salt. Mix well to

distribute the seeds evenly.

3. Add tahini to the dry ingredients and mix. Gradually add water while stirring, until the dough comes together.

4. You may need a bit more or less water, so add it gradually until the mixture forms a ball. Place the dough on a floured surface and roll it out to your desired thickness. For a cracker-like texture, aim for about 1/8 inch thickness.

5. Using a knife or a pizza cutter, cut the rolled-out dough into squares or rectangles.

6. Carefully transfer the cut-out crackers to the prepared baking sheet, leaving a bit of space between each cracker. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the crackers are crisp.

7. Allow the crackers to cool completely on the baking sheet.

[hiteshmehtasuspire]

An amazing way to accentuate your home while helping the environment! This set of two coasters is made from fabric waste of hemp fabric and features a quilted design and rectangle shape. Not only are these coasters stylish and chic, but they are also water resistant so you don’t have to worry about spills! Add this unique set of fabric coasters to your home today and help reduce fabric waste while adding a beautiful touch to your décor.

[softwaresolutiondesign]

How to Fold Cloth Napkins for Napkin Rings

To fold cloth napkins for napkin rings, simply lay the napkin flat, fold it into a rectangle, and slide through the ring. Ensure the napkin is smooth and centered in the ring. Napkin rings add a touch of elegance to any dining table. Whether it’s a rustic farmhouse wedding or a sophisticated dinner party, they elevate the decor. Burlap napkin rings with hemp rope offer a natural, earthy look,…

[chouhanrug]

Hemp Jute Rug

https://chouhanrugs.etsy.com

[deshily]

How to Fold Cloth Napkins in a Napkin Ring: Elegant Table Decor Tips

To fold cloth napkins in a napkin ring, first, fold the napkin into a rectangle. Then, insert the folded napkin through the ring. Napkin rings add an elegant touch to any dining setup, enhancing the overall table decor. Whether for a farmhouse wedding or a family dinner, options like the 150pcs Burlap Napkin Rings with Hemp Rope or the VOHJD Crystal Glass Napkin Holder offer various styles to…

[artsofjaipur]

Handmade Stair runner black Indian jute rug. Handmade Jute Runner Rug. It’s soft, durable, and sustainable. This jute rug is the perfect addition to my boho-chic decor. It’s made of natural fibers and has a beautiful woven.#juterug-

[indiantraders]

NATIVE AMERICAN BLANKETS – NAVAJO DESIGNS

Native American blankets are unrivalled in terms of quality craftsmanship and beauty. Full appreciation for these pieces of art requires some understanding of the blanket designs and their meanings. This article places a focus on the blanket weaving designs and techniques of the Navajo. The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American Nation in the USA today and is indigenous to the southwest.

Navajo Blanket Design History

Weaving is arguably the most important art form for the Navajo (alongside the artisanship of Navajo silver and turquoise jewelry). Navajo blanket designs are an expression of community, spirituality, and culture.

Navajo lore recognizes weaving as the most ancient, sacred tradition and that the Spider-People gave hemp seeds to the Navajo. (Before wool became available when the Spanish introduced sheep to the region, indigenous hemp fibers were used to weave blankets). Spider-Man taught the people to make the loom, while Spider Woman taught them to weave. The Navajo traded their blankets with other Tribal Nations for many centuries. According to tradition, newborn Navajo girls have spider webs rubbed onto their arms and hands so that they will be blessed to grow up to become good weavers, thereby carrying on Navajo culture.

Every authentic Native American blanket has its own story, and the weaver has determined exactly which motifs, symbols, colors to include in their blanket.

In the traditional Navajo setting, women most often wove blankets. In the early days of Navajo weaving, colors were limited to what was readily available in locally sourced mineral pigments – shades of black, white, brown, gray, and indigo blue. Red was highly sought but difficult to access – and whenever it was accessed, it was used to great effect. Red yarn was usually sourced from traded cloth (from Spanish settlers) that was unraveled.

Most Navajo designs used in weaving are linked to the legendary ancestors of the Dine people and are geometric. For example:

Crosses represent the Spider Woman, whose symbol was given to early Navajo women to help them remember her wisdom. The cross represents her teachings, spiritual energy, and the entire Navajo culture.

Diamonds are symbolic of the Navajo homeland (Dinetah) and the four corners of the diamond represent the four Sacred Mountains and the four directions of the Wind.

Zig-zags symbolize lightning bolts on which the deities who created the Navajo entered the world. Lightning is among the most powerful spiritual forces to the Navajo.

More complex patterns include:

Step Pattern – represents the steps of the Kiva, the traditional dwelling for religious rituals. Features repeating patterns of flat geometric shapes.

Eye Dazzler – concentric motifs of serrated diamond shapes, this style of the late nineteenth century represented desert storms, whirlwinds, and renewal.

Water-Bug – this motif was influenced by Asian patterns and originated at the Crystal, New Mexico trading post. The motif is a repeated X-shape with a horizontal bar crossing the center of the X.

Whirling Logs – a cruciform pattern resembling the traditional ancient swastika, it depicts a Native hero rescued by the gods from a whirlpool.

Native American Chief Blankets

Chief blankets were created on an upright loom and were only affordable for the Chiefs and other wealthy tribal members. There were historically distinct phases of chief blanket design:

Phase I – 1800-1850 – brown and white stripes, with wider stripes located at the top, center, and bottom of the blanket.

Phase II – 1840-1870 – darker stripes at the ends with red rectangles in the center.

Phase III – 1860-1880 – serrated diamond shapes incorporated at the center and the ends of the manta (blanket). These varied in color.

Phase IV – 1870-early 1900s – larger diamond motifs used at the ends and in the center of the blanket.

Navajo Blankets at Indian Traders

Indian Traders is very proud to offer a wide selection of top-quality Pendleton blankets, including some featuring Navajo designs. These stunning, meaningful pieces include the:

Preservation Series Early Navajo Child’s Blanket – this gorgeous blanket is a spectacular example of Navajo weaving from the Classic Period. Smaller in size, Child’s blankets had a high weave and complex patterns. Red variations in the color scheme derived from the red trade cloth the Dine weavers unraveled and rewove. The woven design in this blanket is based on an original weaving from the Durango Collection and the Preservation Series recreates historic weaving. For every sale of this blanket, Indian Traders donates a royalty to directly support Native American Art, Education, and Health outcomes.

Pendleton Naskan Saddle Blanket – Unnapped – This blanket celebrates Navajo mythology and the legend of Tsohanoai or The Sun Bearer, who moves across the sky on horseback dragging the sun behind him. Sacred blankets or Naskan are beneath this horse’s hooves. The pattern in this blanket depicts the four sacred mountains and the land of the Dine.

Preservation Series Early Navajo Sarape – This historic Dine design reflects the weaving of the First Phase Chief blankets. Simple stripes and step designs incorporated natural white and dyed blue and green hand-spun churro wool. Based on an original design from The Durango Collection, this color scheme is influenced by the Rio Grande Valley.

Every sale of this blanket donates a royalty to directly support Native American Art, Education, and Health outcomes.

Pendleton Los Ojos Blanket – This dramatic and striking black and white blanket design depicts Spanish crosses, diamond-shaped ojos (eyes) and the four Sacred Mountains of the Dine.

We also offer a variety of coats and bags featuring Navajo designs from our exclusive brand L7 Designs – clothing and other items crafted from genuine Pendleton blankets.

[professorpski]

Interweave Knits: Summer 2023

Summer knitting is here which means lighter yarns and shorter sleeves. There are 9 tops and a cardigan in this issue along with an intriguing article by Karen Frisa which has broken me forever from not swatching. She knitted then blocked and also hung four yarns used in this issue; some of them grew in width or length and if you then multiplied out the 2 extra stitches in the 4 inch swatch to determine the effect across an entire garment, you realize how far off your sizing could become. Better to spend some time in the beginning, I now think, than to despair over time wasted in the end.

But on to the patterns. On the cover is the Branchport Cottage Top by Laura Barker which is a top-down circular construction with short rows over the yoke and a shaped waist. its is a full 4 out of 4 for difficulty because of the complexity of the lace stitch yolk. It is made of Elsebeth Lavold Hepathy a blend of cotton hemp and modal, which is a kind of rayon.

I give you a close-up of the front shoulders of the Orlaya Shell in a pale pink by Elena Dimchevska. It is worked in the round from the bottom up with a more solid stitch pattern across the shoulders. It has a very simple shape and then a charted lace stitch. It is 3 out of 4 for difficulty and is made of Drops Cotton Merino which is just what it sounds like.  

Far simpler to complete, but needing care for its eyelet argyle motifs is the Serene Summer Pullover in minty color by Fiona Munro. It is a 2 out of 4 for difficulty and is a bottom up, circular needle project made in Quince & Co Wren another wool and cotton blend.

The pale blue green tee is done with wrapped stitches and called Patio Nights Tee by Debi Maige. It is a 2 out of 4 for difficulty despite having shaped shoulders. The yarn is Shibui Knits Pebble in Crete, a blend of silk, merino and cashmere. 

Cables and a lace stitch that looks like wheat appear in the V-neck Abundant Tee by Blazenka Simic-Boro a 3 out of 4 for difficulty made of Hikoo Rylie in Pearl which is a alpaca, silk, linen blend. While cables always strike me as a cold weather feature, I want to try the lace stitch on something else.

The cover garments is the only pattern here that has waist shaping, the rest are rectangles, so you may want to add your own shaping if you swim in rectangles as I tend to do.

You can find this at your local yarn store, or online here: https://www.interweave.com/product-category/knitting/knitting-magazines/

[the-puffinry]

mx. Vaiya's current (sleep, mostly) cage setup

I put some cardboard at the bottom because I noticed she doesn't like walking on the grate but will gladly go down if there's cardboard, so I got a big box and cut it up in multiple rectangles. When she has to go in the cage during the day for her safety I make sure to put one in. On the bottom there are also; a few riverstones (she likes exploring textures), her very own thyme plant, part of a birch tree, ladder.

Then the two swings I made her (woven poplar branches I knotted around a thicker one + fig branch I pushed RSV thread with hard acrylic heart beads + a big blue duck bead into), a repurposed sushi matt she loves climbing in, a mineral stone around a branch. It looks large but she likes to chew and sit on it). Her favourite big plastic swing... thing from the store. Bath, children's toy she likes to spin around). Today's cardboard tomato wrap she likes to chill in. Bath with sticker on because she likes the colours and doesn't chew on her bath. Empty toilet paper cardboard arpund branches because she likes to move them up and down the branch.

And of course various branches. A purple acrylic...thing. i put treats into which she then pries out.

she likes to hang from a few birch branches I wove together and hung some hard plastic rings from + a ball with a bell in it from a food-safe hemp string

[mileycyprus-hill]

A Simple Kindness

Kieran x Reader 

Had this on the back burner for a while and realized I haven’t written a Kieran x reader fic. So here’s a bit of fluff.  

Summary: You begin to sympathize with the new O’Driscoll prisoner, and decide to give him a little help. 

Warnings: none.

You weren’t exactly sure why this O’Driscoll was in your camp, but you didn’t bother to question it. You were taught to despise any member of Colm’s gang and you thought to do the same to this poor man. 

That poor man. 

He didn’t seem up to par to the common O’Driscoll, sniveling and begging for mercy while tied to that tree. He never cursed at any passerby. Never threatened death upon anyone once he would be free. 

He only begged for mercy. 

You never met a man that soft. 

Was this man really an O’Driscoll? A member of a ruthless, bloodthirsty, thieving, murdering gang? 

Hardly. 

It had been a week since Arthur had brought him back to that cold barn in Colter. He was tied up in the back of a wagon during the trip to Horseshoe Overlook like some prisoner. 

Well, he is a prisoner. 

Left to blister in the sun on this high bluff with no food and what little water he could swallow from the passing rain. That poor man sat there, his arms tied behind him on that birch tree. The papery bark scratched against his tender forearms while the thick hemp of his binds cut into his wrists. Blood red cuts and rash marks painted his pale arms that lay exposed beyond his rolled up sleeves. 

The past few days, you watched him struggle to stand against the tree, his head dropped to his chest in exhaustion and self-pity. Sitting from the table across the way, you’d watch his legs tremble and buckle beneath him as he’d struggle to hold his own weight. He’d squiggle and squirm and whimper to get just a little more comfortable. 

You had half a mind to shout at him, tell him to ‘man up’ and be strong. But watching him pull against his binds was like watching a stray dog pull against a short leash. 

Frightened. Alone. Starving. The only attention came from the daily beatings and tongue-lashings. 

A scrap of bread would be tossed at his feet. Barely enough to satisfy a hungry dog. It’d lay there, taunting him as he’d struggle to kick it closer to himself. Even if he could, how could he grasp it with his arms bound behind him? 

You’d watch him struggle for it anyway, his will driven by hunger. Day by day, that piece of bread would lay there. What was left behind by the pecking chickens would turn to mold and only the flys would claim it.  

How much longer would Dutch allow this to continue? Until the man dies? Or when he gives information that he deems satisfactory? 

From what you’ve heard while eavesdropping, this young man wouldn’t know anything reliable, being Colm O’Driscoll’s abused stable boy. 

You began to fear for him. Truly. 

What would he know, being a newly initiated member of Colm’s circle? For all you knew, he was excluded. Cast onto the edge of the social circle of the gang, left to chat only with the horses and other members of the lowest caste. 

Day by day, you struggled. What was it your mother always taught you? 

“If you watch an evil being done unto someone and don’t stop it, you will be judged for the same crime by doing nothing.” She would say. 

Could you stand there and do nothing? What kind of a person were you? The men around would say you’re a survivor. But is this surviving—torturing a man for information in a petty rivalry? 

When you reach those golden gates and are asked, ‘Why have you done nothing?’, what would you say? 

Because it wasn’t your place to interfere? Because you didn’t want to get in trouble? 

...........

You awake just as a the sun rises and decide this is enough. Only a select few gang members are awake as they stayed up too late and too drunk the previous night. Those who’re up are tending to their own business or had already left.

Walking towards the back of the provisions wagon, you notice he’s alone. Looks like no one’s started the torturing ritual yet. Bill’s talking to Arthur about some stagecoach job over by the horses and Dutch remains shut in his tent with Molly. 

You step briskly as you saw your chance, walking towards the small cooking fire and grabbing a tin cup that rests on the ground next to the warm percolator. 

Looks like Pearson just finished making the coffee. You peek over to his work station and find him deeply focused on preparing today’s stew.

“Psst!” You hear from your right. 

You dare not to look towards the source to avoid suspicion. Discreetly, you turn your head only slightly, pretending to check the hem of your skirt and peek from the corners of your eyes. 

From your downward gaze, you catch Kieran staring at you. You watch him desperately try to get your attention without alerting anyone else. 

Pretending not to hear him, you walk past him with your cup full of coffee and ignore his whispering pleas for water. You stop at the back of the food wagon, hiding yourself behind its large wooden panels. A bucket of rain water sits by a steel dish tub on the table, waiting to be dumped into the tub and used as dishwater. 

You hear Kieran drop his head in defeat behind you. An aching, heavy weight pulls downward in your chest. 

Taking a sip of your coffee, you fake a look of disgust. You take another sip and repeat your act before dumping the contents from your cup. 

Quickly, you dip your cup into the water bucket to rinse the taste from your mouth. 

The cool water touches your lips but you don’t sip, keeping your lips tight against the rim of the cup. 

The coast seems to be clear. No one’s watching or noticing. Checking around you, you dart over to Kieran. He hears your quick steps against the grass and almost yelps in fear. He looks up and sees your face close to his, causing him to drop his eyes and cringe in submission like a beaten dog. He pants pathetically and waits for you to strike him. 

Avoiding eye contact, you grasp his chin and gently prop his head up. He lets out a tiny whimper until you bring the cup to his lips. His eyes grow wide at this merciful gift. The cold metal clanks against his teeth and the cool water rushes through his chapped lips. He feels his throat expand as the water flows like a spring flood rushing through a dry desert canyon, washing away the dirt and dust.  

You continue watching around you for anyone who may come walking and hear him slurp from your hand.  

No one seems to notice, so you move your eyes over to watch him. He sips greedily from your cup, making you tilt it towards him so he can gain every last drop. His Adam’s apple protrudes from his throat in a sharp angle and bobs with every gulp. 

With a final gulp, he exhales in relief and attempts to breathe a ‘thank you’, to which you quickly silence with a finger to his moistened lips. 

“Nothing happened.” You stare at him with such intensity, it’s almost threatening. 

You step away with your dry cup and hear him speak to you in the softest whisper. He mumbles a sweet “thank you” under his breath, nearly undetectable. You smile softly on your way back to your tent until you see a pair of eyes watching you. 

Shit.  

Mary Beth. 

She stands by the rounded table, her hands paused from opening the domino box and watching you curiously. You freeze in place and plead her with wide eyes and upturned brows. 

Please don’t tell. You beg with a silent, sorrowful look. You don’t know what would happen if the others found out, but you’re sure it won’t be pleasant for you. 

A tight-lipped smile grows on her face and she gestures with an open palm towards the dominos. Her invitation is met with hesitation. Can you trust Mary Beth? You haven’t known her for that long and have kept your secrets to yourself. But the look in her eyes show comforting sympathy, not judgement. 

Stepping with bated breath, you bring yourself to the chair across from her. 

Neither of you speak while she shuffles the dominos on the table. The gentle clicking of the ivory rectangles seem so deafeningly loud compared to the unspoken words you pass to each other. 

Mary Beth gives an understanding nod and looks into your eyes with a sweet smile. No doubt she’s gushing at how romantic and noble your simple gesture was to the prisoner. 

You didn’t realize how long you had been holding your breath until you let out a relieved sigh through your nose. You sincerely hope Mary Beth can keep a secret. Sitting here with her, you begin to believe she’s more trusting compared to the others. 

However, you still worry she may not be the only witness to your act of kindness.

.........

Another day passes by and you hear a startled cry followed by angry shouts. The eruption startles you and the grooming brush drops from your hands. Your horse beside you immediately senses your alarm and reacts with a twitch of her muscles and a jerk of her head. She promptly resumes to grazing while you bend to pick the brush off the ground. Holding the brush against your chest, your fingers run against its thick bristles. Your heart rate quickens and you step over to look towards the dead birch tree. A sickening unease washes over you as you watch Arthur, Bill and Dutch surround the Duffy boy. 

You stop in your tracks as you watch Bill hold a pair of iron tongs with a sadistic look on his face. The edges of the tongs are glowing red and sparks fly with every metallic snap Bill makes. Arthur’s broad frame blocks your view of Kieran, but you can barely see his trousers that pool around his ankles. 

Your feet remain frozen in place. You hear Dutch’s voice but your mind doesn’t process his words as you’re too focused on what torturous act is about to happen. 

Tongue fat and lips glued shut, you stand there in the open, unable to prevent Kieran’s frightened pleas from entering your ears.

Just talk, boy. C’mon. Your thoughts scream. An internal conflict burns within you: desperate to intervene but the paranoia warns you’ll be ostracized and labeled a traitor for defending an O’Driscoll boy. 

“All right, I’ll talk!” He cries. 

It’s as if Kieran heard your thoughts. He spills everything. Colm...Six Point Cabin. 

But you don’t feel relief just yet, eyeing a disappointed Bill who still holds the hot tongs close to Kieran’s naked bottom half. 

It isn’t until you see Arthur cut his bonds that you finally loosen the tight fists at your sides. Your fingernails leave marks against the skin of your palms.

Pulling his trousers up to hide his shame, Kieran’s eyes catch you across the way. He sees the fear wash from your face as he follows the men to their horses. He still looks deeply terrified, unsure of whether this ride with John, Arthur and Bill will lead to his execution. 

“Be safe, boys!’ You call to them. 

The four of them, including Kieran who sits behind a disgruntled John, turn to you in their saddles. They look at you as if hearing a babe say its first word. The slight surprise mutes them for a moment until Arthur finally speaks. 

“We’ll be fine, (Y/N)” he says, “Don’tchu worry.”

You watch them ride off down the hill to Six Point Cabin, the location Kieran mentioned. You may not read people as well as others in this gang, but his words seemed true and genuine. You can only hope your instinct is true until the men return, and then you wonder if Kieran will be turned loose...or killed after the job is done. 

You sincerely hope it’s the former.

...........

It’s late afternoon and supper is just ready. The men have been gone for several hours now and your thoughts are no longer kept at bay by busy chores. You don’t hear the subtle hoof beats entering camp, nor the teasing remarks passed between the riders. 

Until a shrill voice startles you from behind, causing you to early spill your dinner. 

“Get this man a bowl!” Bill’s voice yells behind you, “We ain’t found Colm, but this lucky bastard here saved Arthur from gettin’ a bullet in the head!” 

Mumbled voices around the fire exclaim in shock and relief for Arthur’s sake, but little ‘thank-you’s are expressed to Kieran. He steps behind you as you turn to smile at him and Bill, grateful for their safe return. 

You watch him happily grab a bowl of stew and sit on a log next to Uncle, who makes a grimaced look of disgust and moves to a different spot—preferably upwind. 

“Thank you Kieran,” you gently call over, “For saving Arthur.”

He looks to you with those big doe eyes and smiles awkwardly at your statement of gratitude. 

Standing and rubbing your sore hip with one hand, you walk over and extend your bowl to him. He scarfed his food so quickly that his bowl looks almost sparkling clean. 

“Here,” you offer the rest of your dinner, “You sure look like you could eat.”

Kieran stammers, “Oh, no ma’am. I couldn’t do that.”

“Please. I’m not that hungry anyway...Hate for it to go to waste. And Pearson never makes enough for everyone.” You give a gentle smirk. 

“Thank you miss,” Kieran blinks. “That’s very kind of you.” 

He holds his bowl steady with his eyes darting nervously across your face as you transfer your leftovers. You nod and start to walk away until he stops you.

“Oh, and miss?” He whispers.

You turn to him, an eyebrow slightly arched at his politeness.

“Thank you for...yesterday.” 

“Don’t mention it,” you smile. “It’s the least I could do.”

Little do you know when you leave, Kieran feels eternally blessed by your act of kindness. It may not seem like much to you, but to him that showed your true soul. This world is brutal and unforgiving, but your empathy and tenderness is what gives him hope and comfort. Something he hasn’t felt in a long time.