She already hates me.

He thought again and realised he couldn't do that to her. That would be going too far. Daniel forced a smile on his face and came up to the cash.

Bill looked at the items and tallied the prices on a sales receipt.

He looked up at Daniel. “You want this on your credit, young man?"

“No, Bill. I want to pay cash for this. And clear my credit."

Bill blinked his eyes. “Pardon, Daniel? You what?"

"I want to pay my credit. Clear it, with the interest. How much do I owe you?"

"How's that? You want to clear your credit? It's only mid-summer. You haven't sold your wheat."

"Don't worry, Bill. Just tell me how much."

Bill made a sound with his mouth and then turned and pulled out the folder with the credit lists. He rummaged through it and then pulled one out. “Here we are, Daniel Davies. Says here you owe eight silvers, and eleven copper for seed, fertiliser, cinch bug poison, and a bunch of other things. How'd that poison work for you? The others are having no luck at all. The poison was supposed to work.

City said it would.”

Daniel reached into his magic bag and pulled out ten silvers. "It worked just fine for me," he lied. "I had to work it into the soil really good. This here is ten silvers. All I have. It should cover the credit and pay for these clothes here."

Bill looked surprised. "You don't say. I'll let the others know it worked for you. You're the first. A couple of farmers lost everything.

ALL the fields destroyed. It's a right plague. Word is the King is sending an investigative team. Folks are hoping the King pardons their debt for this year. I sure hope so, it's not their fault. You now, with you having a working field, it might gum things up."

Daniel froze. He hadn't considered that the King would investigate the cinch bugs. How would he explain his fields being clear?

Bill must've sensed his fear. He tutted. "Don't worry none. Will keep you out it as best we can. Not your fault. Listen, I saw you speaking to my daughter. Everything all right?"

Daniel didn't know how to respond to the question and just stared back at Bill.

Bill chuckled. "It's all right, Daniel. She's a right bitch. I know that. She stirs up trouble wherever she can. She needs a strong man to straighten her out, I think. Make her see the stupidity of her ways. She causes nothing but harm, and I have to deal with the fallout every damn day. I blame her mother. She's plants all those stupid notions in her head. Thinks we're rich." Bill pointed at the credit folder. "Truth is, all those credit notes are going to kill me. Wipe me out. Don't say anything to anyone. Not sure why I even told you."

"Your secret's safe with me, Bill."

“aye, I knew it would be. You're a trustworthy sort. Not Like the rest of em." Bill paused a moment. “Anything else, Daniel?"

“No, sir. I'm good."

Bill counted out some coppers and handed them to Daniel. "Your change.”

"Thanks."

Daniel turned to leave with his clothes over his arm. Amy called out to him.