Under The Harvest Moon

The lovespoon told of Isaac's feelings, but could he find the courage to present it to Miriam?

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Set in 1885 

AS he lay restless in bed, Isaac Rees tracked the passage of the waxing moon from one corner of the skylight to the other.

All around him, men slept, exhausted, but Isaac couldn't sleep for the weight in his heart.

The small, cold moon riding high in its silver halo seemed to regard him with little pity.

Beneath his shirt, next to his heart, lay the lovespoon he had been making for Miriam all summer long.

Its design was simple, but it was the first piece of woodwork eighteen-yearold Isaac had attempted.

On the stem he'd carved a heart atop a wheel to represent his eternal love.

For weeks he had been plucking up the courage to present her with it.

The extra time he'd spent smoothing and polishing the sycamore wood had created a pleasing finish, which longed to be held and caressed.

Isaac was shy by nature. He didn't think he'd given Miriam any clue as to how he felt about her.

At long last he'd arrived at the decision to present her with the spoon on the night of the harvest supper.

Now he doubted his plan.

If only he had given her the spoon before Morgan Huws had appeared at Trebwn Farm.

Now it seemed the girl he loved had fallen for another, and there was nothing Isaac could do.

Isaac's rival was lying asleep on a straw-stuffed mattress on the floor, together with the two other workers who'd been taken on to help with the harvest.

Along with old Pugh slumbering in the single bed on Isaac's other side, that made five bodies in the tiny garret room.

In his late twenties, Morgan was strong, handsome and goodnatured, and in the short time he had been there, everyone had taken to him.

Well, almost everyone.

Men like him spent their summers working their way around the local farms, offering their services at this busy time. They came from far and wide.