04-09-2025, 07:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-09-2025, 07:28 PM by Tobias Appleton.)
The day was waning fast when Tobias was finally done with his business in town. As he had dreaded, it was too late to return to Castleton today. The Magistrate’s, the post office, the bank - at every stop understaffing and people’s timewasting nonsense had delayed him. And then there had been his least favourite part of the day, a meeting with his delightful father-in-law. God almighty! He’d put up with ten mothers-in-law if it meant he’d never have to speak to Ben Ward again. He was exhausted and wished for the quiet comfort of his home. Instead, he was making his way to the White Horse inn.
“You can stay at mine,” Tristan had suggested that morning.
Tobias had briefly considered taking the offer, despite still feeling optimistic about the rest of the day’s planning, then. But Tristan seemed even more exhausted than Tobias was. He didn’t know what was weighing on his friend’s mind – “I’m fine,” was the eternal reply – but whatever it was, he didn’t want to add to his friend's troubles. And coming to think of it, he wanted to get away from the whole affair.
“It’s just a few small errands left, so I should be able to catch the four o’clock, but thank you,” he had excused himself.
The sun had long dropped behind the buildings. The light was fading. Tobias dug his hands in his pockets against the increasing cold. He looked around for the right turn and noticed a tall man with a somewhat familiar face turning the very same corner in his direction.
“Mr. Willaby!” he called out. He tipped his hat. Perhaps he should have used the man’s first name, as they were technically “brothers”. But he had met this member of his extended family, what, once? Maybe twice?
He wasn’t even in a mood to talk. But Rose’s husband had looked so miserable, that instinct had drawn the greeting out of him before good sense could stop him. “How do you do, sir?”
“You can stay at mine,” Tristan had suggested that morning.
Tobias had briefly considered taking the offer, despite still feeling optimistic about the rest of the day’s planning, then. But Tristan seemed even more exhausted than Tobias was. He didn’t know what was weighing on his friend’s mind – “I’m fine,” was the eternal reply – but whatever it was, he didn’t want to add to his friend's troubles. And coming to think of it, he wanted to get away from the whole affair.
“It’s just a few small errands left, so I should be able to catch the four o’clock, but thank you,” he had excused himself.
The sun had long dropped behind the buildings. The light was fading. Tobias dug his hands in his pockets against the increasing cold. He looked around for the right turn and noticed a tall man with a somewhat familiar face turning the very same corner in his direction.
“Mr. Willaby!” he called out. He tipped his hat. Perhaps he should have used the man’s first name, as they were technically “brothers”. But he had met this member of his extended family, what, once? Maybe twice?
He wasn’t even in a mood to talk. But Rose’s husband had looked so miserable, that instinct had drawn the greeting out of him before good sense could stop him. “How do you do, sir?”
