The Thorn In His Side (Jessa)

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(OOC Note: The "Thorn" isn't Jessa, )

Clavus Namrick had sneaked his way on to the farm again, and had gotten into the ear of more farmhands about the "financial stability" of selling Barnabas' Hippogriffs to him behind the farm owner's back. Barnabas had been furious about this, especially knowing what the monster of a wizard wanted to do with the beautiful creatures he raised- slaughtering them... using their parts for potions. In Barnabas' eyes, Namrick was a walking, talking abomination.

So now Barnabas howled at one of his farmhands, a none too bright fellow named Ernie, about the latter's meeting with Namrick.

"He gave you a down payment and you took it?!" yelled Barnabas, caring little that his yelling embarrassed the man. Ernie deserved to be embarrassed. "When were you planning to sneak MY Hippogriff over to him, tonight?! While I'm in the city tomorrow?!" Barnabas then sighed and lowered his voice. "I'm sorry, Ernie, but I am going to have to let you go. I need men and women I can trust here, and I don't believe you are worthy of that trust any more. Go see Lila about your final wages and pack up."

And with that, Barnabas walked away from the dismayed man, showing sadness that he had to let a hard worker who had served him well for five years go. But as he said, a broken trust was a broken trust.

JESSA MAE JERGANS

[JESSA MAE JERGANS]

Jessa was tending to a bunch of pigs when she heard the shouting. It was a rare occasion for this kind of yelling to occur around the farm. Most of the time, if anyone was yelling, it was to call people in for a meal or to ask for someone else to come and give them a hand when they needed a little bit of extra help. It wasn't usual that someone would yell at someone else in a mean, fighting sort of way, but when Jessa made out the voice and put together the words that were coming out of the Farm Owners mouth, it all made sense. Someone was selling the Hippogriffs again. As a natural born Animal Lover, Jessa couldn't understand that type of behavior. Animals were meant to be loved and free: that was one of the main reasons that Jessa chose to be a vegetarian. While many of the farm workers were okay with eating animals even though they took care of them daily, Jessa couldn't do it. She couldn't stomach it.

When Barnabas fired the guy and began to walk away, Jessa decided to call him over, maybe helping her to dish out slop would help him calm down. "Hey, Barnabas!" Jessa called with a smile on her face and her curls falling in front of her eyes again. "Do you want to give me hand?" She asked, deciding not to pester him right away with questions about what had just happened. He was as good as her uncle and she wanted what was best for him, which, right now, was for him to calm down.

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Jessa was one of those people Barnabas couldn't say no to. He cared a lot about the girl. He considered her a member of the family by now. And it wasn't like he had never slopped pigs before. He had a wealth of experience in that.

"Sure," he said, though he didn't smile at Jessa as he usually did when he saw her. It was nothing against her. He was just so angry over what had happened and was stressed with the notion that another farm hand might try that. He had already lose two Hippogriffs. What happened to them was somewhat a mystery, but he suspected it was Namrick bribing other hands as he did Ernie.

Barnabas began helping Jessa and was quiet for a moment before turning to her.

"I guess you heard that," he said. "I'm sorry you had to hear it. I hated to let Ernie go. He was a hard worker. But this has to stop somewhere. These hands have to know there are consequences for these types of actions." He then looked at Jessa curiously. Not suspiciously, but curiously. "Have you seen Namrick around here since I kicked him off the property last time?"

JESSA MAE JERGANS

[JESSA MAE JERGANS]

Jessa was glad when he accepted her invitation, though she did notice that he didn’t smile back, and she didn’t blame him. After hearing what she had overheard, she knew that Barnabas was in no mood to smile, though she would continue to, hopefully it would make him feel a little better. After a quiet moment, he spoke again and Jessa listened. “Yeah I heard it…” She nodded. She understood why he had done what he had just done, and she even agreed with doing it publicly and loudly as he had. It was a good example for the rest of the staff, though most were nice and Jessa couldn’t imagine them doing anything like what had been happening. But then again, in her little naive way, she never wanted to think that anyone was bad enough to do something so cruel. “Namrick? No. I haven’t. Has he been back?” she asked. She remembered the last time. He had stolen and sold Hippogriffs, most of which had ended up being killed simply for his own profit. It made her sick. “Was Ernie working for him?” she asked.

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Jessa's reaction to all this told Barnabas he could always trust her. He already knew that to begin with though. Jessa was one of the most trustworthy young women he had ever met. He could tell this whole business with the Hippogriffs being taken had hurt her a great deal as well.

"I don't know if Namrick's been back here, but he must be meeting with the hands somewhere nearby," said Barnabas. "If it's off property, I can't do a damn thing about it without hard proof and Namrick probably knows that." Barnabas then sighed about Ernie. "I'm afraid he is, and I hate to think he could show up here again, but fully working for that monster and breaking in to steal from our flock." Barnabas looked over at Jessa. "I need to your help, Jessa. You're one of the few outside of my family that I have complete faith in around here now. I need you to keep watch. Anything, and I mean anything you see or hear that comes off as suspicious, let me know."

JESSA MAE JERGANS

[JESSA MAE JERGANS]

Jessa could help but sigh when Barnabas said that it was possible that Namrick had been back, or at least had eyes and ears on the farm working and spying for him. He was proof that you would never really know a person. People like that made Jessa's ears steam. "I can't stand what he does with those poor creatures." Jessa said and shoveled the slop a little too violently, spilling a little onto her boots, but not caring one bit. Boots could be rinsed off. Messes were easy to get rid of. Unfortunately, it was people who were more difficult. When Barnabas asked for her help, there wasn't a question in her mind that she would help him. He was almost an uncle to her. He had taught her to work and had given her a job. He had been such a good, loyal friend to her father. She honored and respected him. "Of course I'll keep an eye and ear open. Though, I doubt anyone would try anything near me. They know that I'm too close to you and Jake." She admitted.

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Barnabas always admired Jessa' big heart and how much she loved the animals here. She had been a true blessing, especially with working with the creatures.

"I know you do, and that's why I know I can rely on you," he said with a smile.

Barnabas wanted to believe what Jessa said about crooked hands not pulling anything around her, but by now he didn't put anything past them. he gently placed his hand on Jessa's right arm.

"If Namrick believes he can get away with it given what he's already done, he might get sloppy," he said. "I do think the men wouldn't blatantly try anything around you, but that doesn't mean he won't slip up... or one of them won't. Again, anything the slightest bit off and come to me. Thank you, Jessa."

He then went back to helping her, deciding to talk about something more pleasant.

"Have you been out to see the newborn Pegasus yet?" he asked. "He's beautiful, and is very friendly too. I think he'd like you a lot."

JESSA MAE JERGANS

[JESSA MAE JERGANS]

"I wish that they would do something when I am around." Jessa admitted. "That way I can stop it." She knew that while most of the people on the farm were good people, most wouldn't do anything if they saw an illegal deal going on. They wouldn't know what to do and they wouldn't want to get involved. She didn't blame them. It was a complicated situation, but at the same time, what kind of people would let a monster take an innocent creature. While Jessa wasn't very strong, she did have quite the protective side and she always tried to do the right thing, even if it meant that she had to be violent or use force. She knew how Animals felt and she connected with them on a deeper level than most others did.

When he asked if she had seen Pegasus, Jessa sighed and shook her head. "No, I haven't actually gotten the chance to go see him yet. I was helping dad tidy last night and then I decided to get all of my work done before I went to do have a visit." She explained. One could say that she was a little too invested in her work, but Jessa truly loved Animals. "How's he getting on with the others?" Jessa asked. She hated it when older animals rejected the younger ones. It was a rare thing to happen around this farm, but it had happened. 

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Barnabas shook his head when Jessa said she wished she could stop them.

"No," he said. "Look, I know you're a tough girl and as talented a witch as any I've seen, but nobody needs to take on that man alone. You come to me first, and we work it out from there."

Barnabas smiled when Jessa said she hadn't seen Pegasus yet.

"He's getting along just fine with the rest of the flock," he said. "His mother's taking good care of him." He then saw that they were done there. "Tell you what, let's go get washed up and head over there. I'll meet you there in around... fifteen minutes sound good?"

(Next scene)

Barnabas washed up quickly and was already in the fence kneeling next to Pegasus, who had of course grown as fond of the man as the other Hippogriffs did.

JESSA MAE JERGANS