#mariaramirezfh

On Trading Post Day, Chico is awake just after the sun, stool set beneath the goats as he works by habit and touch, the steady sound of milk hitting the pail. Maria hovers nearby, speaking to the animals as if they were old friends, patting their flanks and laughing when one noses at her sleeves. Chico allows it, as long as she stays clear of his hands and the bucket.

By the time the trading post begins to stir, Maria has claimed a small section of the square for herself, taking after her parents’ ambition. With apples and berries gathered from the woods and a jug of cider balanced proudly on the table, she announces her wares to anyone who passes. Her grin grows wider when Buck Grunt stops long enough to buy a cup, handing over his coins with a polite nod while Maria beams as though she’s made a fortune. She chatters about her “business” for the rest of the morning, guarding her stand like a seasoned merchant.

A sudden cold snap comes too quickly to the Ramirez household, and despite every effort, the family loses their goats to the freezing weather early in the season. The little shed stands painfully quiet afterward, the absence felt not only in the silence outside but in the worry that settles over the household about milk, cheese, and money for the remainder of winter. Still, life presses onward.

Tessa spends most days at her mother’s spinning wheel near the hearth, working diligently at some hand sewing while snow drifts past the windows. Her stitches are not even yet, but she works carefully, tongue pressed faintly against her teeth in concentration as she repairs hems and patches worn sleeves for the family.

Nearby, Lisa rests, unusually tired for that time of day, when suddenly – 

Pop.

The unmistakable surprise of pregnancy settles over the room almost instantly, and  Tessa gasps aloud, immediately congratulating her mother and squealing over the idea of having another sibling. 

When Lisa breaks the news to Checo, for half a second, he simply stares; then his entire face breaks into delighted disbelief.

“Lisa, mi amor!” He drops immediately, both hands already resting carefully against her stomach as though the baby might somehow hear him already.

“Hola, pequeño,” he says warmly to her belly, grinning like a fool and babbling about how the baby chose a cold winter to arrive.

Winter passes quickly in a blur of preparations, heavier meals, and steadily tightening waistlines. By the time the snow lies thick across Freedom Hollow, Lisa gives birth to twins; a healthy little boy and girl named Mateo and Marisol, and the volume of the house increases overnight. 

One baby cries, then the other answers moments later. Blankets and diapers hang constantly near the fire to dry while Lisa and Checo stumble through exhausted but happy evenings learning how to soothe two infants at once.

The morning at the Ramirez homestead begins slowly, the family still in their sleep-worn clothes as they gather around the table with plates of toast. While Chico and Lisa attempt to remove the sleep from their eyes, Maria is already talking a mile-a-minute, and Tessa's focus is on her toast.

After breakfast has finished and everyone has dressed for the day, Lisa steps into the garden, carefully picking ripe tomatillos while the sun climbs higher. Inside, Maria dances, balanced on Tessa’s toes, their laughter drifting out the open windows and toward the river. 

By noontime, the girls are sent toward the woods to fetch branches and buckets of water, Maria delighting in splashing through a rainy puddle despite her sister’s half-hearted scolding. With the house briefly quiet, Lisa and Chico take advantage of the rare solitude. “Mi corazón,” Chico murmurs with a grin, and Lisa answers in a hushed voice, “Date prisa!”

Before Freedom Hollow was even marked on a map, Chico Ramirez and his family had already made a home just beyond its borders. A skilled craftsman and basket weaver, Chico is known for his steady hands. He built their small home near the river where the reeds grow tall; perfect for weaving furniture and baskets that have become prized by both travelers and townsfolk. His work is intricate and often adorned with small patterns that harken back to stories from before the founding of Freedom Hollow.

A devoted wife and mother, Lisa manages the family’s trade dealings, ensuring that their work finds its way to the right hands in town. Her influence is felt in every finished piece, from deciding fair prices to maintaining the family’s good name among settlers and merchants alike. Warm but firm, Lisa raises her daughters with gentle discipline, believing that skill is important, but character matters more.

Tessa Ramirez stands between two worlds: the quiet life of her family’s homestead and the lively bustle of Freedom Hollow. She often accompanies her parents into town to help with trade, and more than a few locals have noticed that she’s as beautiful as she is talented. Tessa has begun adding her own touches to the family’s craft: brighter dyes, new patterns, and designs inspired by both old traditions and the new settlers’ fashions. Though her parents hope she’ll continue their craft, Tessa dreams of something larger; perhaps even a shop of her own one day.