#rivervale_lodge

*** And Dagmar wakes up ***

A cool palm against her forehead, and a face she did not expect. Clem DeBuke, Chieftain of the farmhold.

But they're in the lodge.

She sits up abruptly, eyes wide. "Star?"

"Your horse is fine" Clem says taking her palm back, "Tended to her myself."

"She jumped the fence..."

"Well, she is okay now. And back in the stable" Clem says "I know my way around critters too"

She rubs her nose with the back of her hand. "Did you bring me here?"

"Yup. Klump was worried he'd break the floorboards if he moved too quick. Glomes are heavy"

A swallow and she nods. "He's big."

Clem nods "Powerful big. But I checked for fever and more"

Scowl.

"I'm not sick."

"Out in the cold, thought better to be safe, but nope. Now, no need to scowl"

"Well, I'm not."

"You aren't" She agrees. "But still not sure why the scowl. Can I get you a drink?"

"Um."

She looks around. "You didn't see nobody, did you?"

"Besides you, Klump and Star? Nope, can't say I did."

"Am I supposed to look for someone specific?"

She shakes her head.

"It'd be embarrassing. Please don't."

"then I won't" She says with a nod "Dagmar, you in a bad spot?"

Shrug.

"Just don't wanna have people making drama."

"Well, drama's part of life, drama, comedy, tragedy. Got a friend who would say something smart and educated about how we're each in our own story and everyone's story overlaps with some other folks and their stories, but that's not a bad thing. There can be strength in family and friendship. Aint' no burden to them to be leaned on now and then, least wise, not anymore than what they'll be needing one day themselves."

A grunt.

Clem says "Well, I can take a little drama if you need, but ain't my place to demand it of Valers"

"Why were you in the woods?"

"I was on my way from the footbridge to here. " She says

"Oh."

"Now, you don't feel chatty about why you were out there it seems. And I ain't gonna press, but if you change your mind and feel like talking you got a world of ear right here. " She says.

"You should feel good in body at least, I put a bit of a healing on you"

She bristles. "Shoulda woken up for that..."

"you mad at me? or yourself?" Curious brow

"Don't like the idea of stuff happening to me I'm not aware of."

"Mmm you got a point there. No reason to believe your life was in danger so I should have held off or woke you early"

"My apologies" She says and seems sincere "I'm used to being in charge lately and I'm not here"

"You're a chieftain."

"But not here," She says "I overstepped."

Shrug.

"Now, can I get you a drink while I'm up and about and so on?"

"...Dr Pepper?"

"One Dr. Pepper coming up" She moves into the kitchen for a moment

Voices , someone is in the kitchen after all.

And it's Gerd who comes out with the Dr. Pepper "Hey. Sorry. Didn't know the place was nearly deserted." She hands the drink over

Gerd is trying to be nice, but she has a grim expression.

"Hey Gerd."

"Hey"

"Why the face?"