I harvested a few lemon balm plants. The leaves would make a nice tea. The rest I would use for more of my sunflower oil and cleaner once I harvested more sunflowers. I stood and placed the plants in my satchel.

“Now for the lobelia?” Lily asked. I nodded.

“Yeah. Do you know where to go?”

“Yep. Yam told me where the nearest plants are.”

“I haven’t seen her today,” I remarked.

“She’s on guard duty and giddy about it.”

“Really?”

“Uh huh. She wants to ride a bird and bomb a trespasser again,” Lily replied. “The same is true for April, May, and Willow.”

“Because having a bird crap on people is funny?” I asked as Lily led me further into the forest.

“You got it.”

“Do you want to join them?”

“No. I’d rather do other pranks,” Lily answered as she buzzed by me dragging a leaf that tickled my nose.

“Watch it!”

“I am. It’s amusing.”

“Not for me,” I retort.

“So.”

“Come here!” I shouted trying to snatch Lily from the air.

“Too slow!” my familiar laughed and flew just out of my reach while still leading me towards our goal while I ran after her.

*

“You know I’ve never used lobelia before,” I said to Lily. “Are you sure this tincture formula will work?”

“Yes. For every drop of the lobelia juice, add 10 drops of the vinegar. So, 10 tablespoons of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of lobelia, and a quart of water. You could use alcohol if you really want to extend the shelf live instead of vinegar.”

I laughed. “No. I just want this to last a couple of weeks and work.”

“In that case, this recipe should be fine,” Lily replied as I loaded the lobelia into the automatic mortar and pestle.

“The water will dilute the lobelia and vinegar even more,” I said.

“Yep,” Lily agreed as I took the container of juice from the machine. “That thing makes short work of what would have been a very time-consuming process, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. I’m glad you snagged it from the lab,” I replied as I poured the juice into a bottle. Lily handed me a label identifying the liquid. “Thank you. This come from the getting place?”

“Nope. I made it using labels we took from the lab and this pen,” Lily replied from the table I was working at holding a pen.

“Smarty pants!”

“Yes, yes I am,” Lily agreed wearing a Cheshire Cat smile on her face. “Except I rarely wear pants!”

“That’s true,” I agreed. “I’m not a fan of the vinegar smell.”

“Eh. Medicine should smell or taste bad,” Lily said.

“Is that so?” I asked as I added 10 tablespoons of vinegar to the quart jar of water I had already gotten.

“Not really,” Lily grinned as I added the 2 tablespoons of lobelia to the mixture.

“Is bad tasting medicine something the ancients had?” I asked as I tightened the jar’s lid. I shook the mixture for a few minutes.

“Could have used a machine for that,” Lily pointed out.

“I know. I just feel I need to do some things by hand. If we were making a larger batch I would use the machine,” I replied. “How much of this should we give to Carol?”

“Hmmm. Your ancestors often sold lobelia tinctures in 4-ounce bottles they sold for 15-20 dollars each,” Lily answered after a short pause. I sat the jar down and moved over to the other plants I had harvested. “So, I suggest charging 15-20 cents per bottle.”

“Would you make a small bottle using the tubing that size?” I asked.

“Sure! I’ll even use the glass cutter,” Lily replied flying over to the table that held the tubing and cutter.

“Just be careful!”

“I will,” Lily promised. “Are you going to cut the coneflowers and lemon balm up?”

“Yeah. Well, a few of the lemon balm anyway,” I answered. “I’ll charge her 25 cents for the bottle of lobelia and enough of the herbs to make two weeks’ worth of tea.”

“Good idea. You know you can use lobelia to make a nice relaxing bath too,” Lily said.

“Really?”

“Yeah. The tincture is good for relaxing sore muscles.”

“Giving me more ideas?” I asked.

“Of course!”

*

“Carol,” I said the woman’s name in greeting as she answered her door.

“I didn’t think you would come,” Carol replied.

“I said I would.”

“I know,” she replied. “I just…”

“Anyway. I have two herbs that you can use to make teas with. I also have a small bottle of a tincture for you,” I said cutting her off. I pulled two small pouches out of my satchel. “These are the herbs.”

“What good are teas?”

“A lot,” I replied. “They have been used as a delivery method of herbs for a very long time.”

“Ok.”

“A couple of cups of either one a day should work. The first is lemon balm,” I said holding that pouch up. I had stuck a label Lilly had made to it with the name written on it. “The second is coneflower. It is considered the more potent of the two. Both pouches have enough for two weeks in them.”

“The pouches are labeled,” Carol observed as she took them from me.

“Yes. Just use enough to cover the bottom of a cup, pour water over it, and let steep for 5 minutes. Then, strain into another cup. Add honey if she prefers a sweeter tea.”

“I know how to make tea, Jase,” Carol replied. I shrugged. “But thank you.”

“This is a bottle of lobelia,” I said holding up the small bottle. “Use this as the primary treatment. Just add four or five drops to a cup of water three times a day. It should last a month as long as you don’t overdo it.”

“Wow! Thank you,” Carol said. “Can I mix the lobelia with the other teas?”

“I wouldn’t,” I reply.

“Alright. How much do I owe you?” Carol asked.

“25 cents for all three.”

“Are you just charging that much because Trinity did?” Carol angrily asked.

“No! The lobelia alone should cost that much. I’m giving you the herbs for the teas for free!” I answered letting my own temper flare. Lily sent soothing feelings to me.

“I…thank you,” Carol said. She stepped further into her house but left the door open. I didn’t move. She returned a moment later and handed me the money. “Are you coming to the feast?”

“Take care,” I replied before turning and walking away.