Changing Seasons, Autumn II, part 3

autumn II, part 3 Hope was trying to decide if walking was a possibility or not. Barnabas did it – but Joy didn’t. As far as Hope was concerned, the jury was still out on whether it was a Good Thing or not. Joy was sticking with her blocks and her bottom firmly on the floor, thank you very much! It all looked a bit chancy, all this standing up and falling over stuff.
Barnabas couldn’t work out (a) why it was taking his sisters so long to learn to walk and (b) why the xylophone stick didn’t taste of anything much. And Patience? Getting out occasionally was making her so much happier. And tomorrow, Old Tench was taking her round some more of the horse country end of town. “Feeding time at the zoo,” Patience said with a laugh.
Barnabas was getting his last. He still had a tendency to throw his food everywhere if he thought he could get away with it. “I think it’s all the time he spent with Marcus as a baby,” Euan said darkly. “Have a great morning out, my lovely one. These wild animals can all go in the corral while I garden.” “This is Woodside Barns. Used ter belong to the Woodside family – they was horse breeders too, out of England. Kinda shows in the buildin’ style. They was into breedin’ show jumpers, whiles the Knight-Mayor stud was breedin’ racers, so they wasn’t competin’ against each other. Come up the road with me a ways an’ I’ll show you where all the glory was happenin’” “I thought the competitions were all over Newborough way?”
“Nope. They was right here too. Course, the Newborough stuff was bigger, but this was a real respectable place for an up-and-comin’ horse or jockey or stud to be seen.” “That’s Charles Woodside. Story has it, he was from some arry-stocratic family in England, an’ he fell in love with some farmer’s daughter, which didn’t suit his family none. Can’t remember if the trouble was because he did marry her or didn’t marry her, but anyway he got shipped off an’ ended up here eventually, settin’ up an’ runnin’ them stables.”
“So why the statue?”
“Cause he was the one as started all this off, ploughin’ all his profits into bringin’ the racin’ and the jumpin’ here.” “An’ that was where the jumpin’ happened. Time was, there’d be a crowd up there.” Old Tench pointed up at the seating. Patience looked down the length of the space, trying to imagine horses clearing the jumps, and the stands full of people, all cheering. Actually, just trying to imagine crowds of any sorts was a bit of a stretch these days. Old Tench had gone up and sat himself down on one of the few remaining benches.
“You sure get a good view from up here. Hey! There’s someone moseyin’ round the old Knight-Mayor stud. And it ain’t anyone from round here. Come on, young Patience. Let’s go chase this intruder off.” There was a horse! Patience couldn’t quite believe her eyes – and kept well back! Had they magicked the horse into being by talking about horses? And then an old guy appeared. He’s going to roast in those clothes, Patience thought, remembering how they’d felt when they first arrived. He must have come from quite a bit further north. Old Tench was definitely squaring up to the guy.
“Don’t believe as how we’ve met before. What’s bringin’ you down here? Name’s Tench.” There was no hint of Pleased to meet you, Patience noticed!
And then the scene changed completely. “Tench? Tom Tench? You ol’ son-of-a-gun, you still around?”
And a Old Tench peered at him, the stranger continued, “Artie. Artie Campbell. You can’t have forgotten me…”
And that was it. They were off, chatting, as they headed towards the house.
“Remember the time you, me an’ Bess Malton scared the livin’ daylights out’ve the bank manager, dressin’ up as ghosts and hauntin’ his garden…”
I think I’ll just head back home, Patience thought. This reunion could go on for quite a while… “So in the end, I just came away! I could tell it was Old School Reunion time. Made me think, though, how hard it must have been for Old Tench, with no-one here who shared his memories. I think that’s partly why he and Clara get on so well, because she’s read about things from his past. Well, that and the fact that they’re both very determined people!” This upstairs landing was the last awful bit of the house – and they were going to paint it soon! Patience couldn’t wait. “I’m not living up to my name here,” she thought. “I’ll have to re-christen myself Impatience!” “Wow!” Patience said as she came downstairs to the children already being fed, pancakes on the table…
“What’s all this in aid of?”
Euan looked at her as if she was slightly mad. “Ahem. It’s for you.”
“Me?”
“Happy birthday, darling!” “You wouldn’t think I could forget my own birthday, would you? But I’d totally lost track of the date. And of course, last year it got swamped by moving here, having triplets…we’ve never celebrated my birthday here.”
“There’s another little surprise for you later on this afternoon.” “You said you missed going out for a cup of tea…” Clara began.
“And Euan mentioned that it was your birthday – he asked us to pick up the flowers in Newborough,” Annette chimed in. "So we talked to Minnie and she arranged this. She’ll join us as soon as she’s finished cashing up – she said to start without her.” “I can’t quite believe this! What a fabulous surprise!” Annette smiled fondly at Patience as she poured the milk and the tea into the elegant cups and saucers. Clara was looking at Annette.
“How’s the finished house?”
“Lovely. Quite bare still, but lovely. Tell you what, though – I’m still whacked from all the work it was. Blake and Marcus can build the wine cellar without me!”
“I knew all that hole-digging was a bad idea. I’ll come and learn how to tread grapes though, if you like.” They sat there, chatting about nothing much, until the sun was setting and Annette had to head home to cook dinner. “Or Marcus will do it, and I don’t think I can stomach his cooking!”
“Clara, thank you. This was really special. It was more than just a cup of tea to me. A lot more.” “Aw shucks, it weren’t nothin’.” But Patience could see, in Clara’s eyes, something that hadn’t been there before. She’s beginning to feel like she belongs here, isn’t she, Patience thought. She’s beginning to feel like she’s found a home at last. “Thanks for having Barnabas, Annette! The girls – they’re no bother, we can get stuff done while they’re around: they’ll play nicely. But Barnabas! Turn your back and he’s in the wallpaper paste, or painting himself…The list is endless!”
“It’s no bother. As long as we keep the kitchen door shut, he can’t do anything bad because there’s nothing to wreck or to hurt himself on. And – well, I couldn’t resist that toybox that I found in the second-hand shop, but now Marcus can see that it’s being useful already!” Patience went in to pick up her son and admired Annette’s ingenious stairgate. They were going to have to think about something like that for themselves very soon. She’d seen Barnabas eying up the stairs. “Does Barnabas want a job?” Marcus asked as he climbed wearily out of the vat.
“One of the machines is playing up, we’ve had a bumper harvest, which is great, but we’re still doing everything by hand. We just can’t keep up! How do you think he’d be at treading grapes?”
“All too enthusiastic,” Patience said firmly. “Try Clara instead – she offered her services last week.”
“I might just have to do that! And put up with Blake winding her up and her winding Blake up. Never a dull moment round here!” “Here we are! Children in bed and decorating done. That was a clever idea of yours, Patience – to buy one roll of wallpaper and make this border. It looks much better than plain white walls.”
“Shame the perfect height for it was round all the windows and doors though! All that cutting…”
“But you were right about that. Hey, we should invite Artie Campbell round for a meal. Get to know him.”
“Another good idea, handsome! I wonder how he’s getting on? The house didn’t look that great…” “Well, this place ain’t what I was hoping for, horse. Gotta make sure that you’re okay though. You’re all I’ve got left now. I’ll get these weeds cleared as soon as I can. Hee hee; it was funny seeing old Tom Tench squaring up to me like a bantam rooster, ready for a fight. We’ll ride on down to his fishing hut, you and I, in a few days’ time. Need to tidy up here first though – get myself organised, like.” “Reckon I’d better get these weeds out of here. Wonder if that fridge works? Mind, Old Tom said he’d give me a hand fixing stuff ‘iffen I was needin’ it.’ What’s the walls papered with? “The racing papers and the racing sections. Heck, some of these go back years.” “I guess this could be a nice place to live. Need a lot of work though, and some money – and I got me a horse to feed too. Well, horse, you and me are going to have to find a way to make money.” “Stud fees, horse. Stud fees and maybe foals to train and sell. But to do that, you need a reputation. We’re going to have to get you back into training and enter some races. And do some winning. And I’m going to need to stay on your back. I’m getting a bit too old for falls now.” “I’ve finished making all the Christmas present shirts.” Patience nodded towards the neat pile. “But there’s probably enough fabric left to make one more – though it might have to be short-sleeved! Should I make one for Artie Campbell, do you think?” “I think that’s a brilliant idea. As long as you get mine made as well…”

Woodside Barns was made by Cyclone Sue at TSR

Artie Campbell and his house were made for me by LMC6254, ane they're available for download here:
https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=9394755