Across the Western Grey

Chapter 2

Life over the next few days was anything but normal. Uncle James was a curious man, and soon after breakfast on that first day I found myself taking him on a tour of our little village of Trafton-on-the-Green. Considering I spent most of my days cleaning or fixing things, I can't say I minded the change. Since it was midweek, we really didn't have much in the way of business, anyway. I wondered why father didn't decide to take him around himself, but after that last snatch of conversation I overhead earlier that morning I sensed there was a little bit of tension between the two. I decided not to ask about it.

Even though we have horses and a buggy at our inn, Uncle James announced that he would prefer to walk, so he could "get some country air." As I didn't have anything better to do, and this would keep me away from my usual chores just that much longer, I did not hesitate to agree.  We walked down the road that led into town, me pointing out various people and places. Uncle James didn't seem too interested, really, but he kept up the charade of making half-hearted grunts of acknowledgment in all the right places as I spoke about the latest storm or town gossip. Finally, sensing that his mind was in other places, I stopped talking and just walked beside my uncle, a man who looked just like my father and yet was really a complete stranger to me.

We walked down the side of the road in silence. The few passersby we met nodded at us both, not realizing that the man who walked next to me was not Jeffrey Hennager, owner of Trafton's finest (and only) inn, but his more famous brother James, the inventor and adventurer. James clearly wanted to keep it that way, as he simply smile and nodded back. Years ago, when we were newer residents, the townsfolk would think it amazing that someone related to someone so famous lived with them, and try to engage in conversation about it all the time. My father, a quiet man, would politely avoid such topics, until the rest of the town took the hint. Now, he was simply the town's most recognized resident, but he was well-liked on his own merits, and preferred to keep it as such. Still, if they only knew . . .

The sun rose as we walked, turning the crisp morning air into mild, late morning warmth, the kind you get in late spring just before the days start to get really, really hot. The small houses slowly passed by as we walked, and up ahead of us the small but busy town of Trafton-on-the-Green loomed. I wondered what a man such as my uncle must think of such a small, out of the way little town, and mentioned as much. He smiled as he answered.

"Nonsense, Richard. As you know, your father and I grew up in a small town like this, over in the west." He stepped to the side to avoid a patch of horse manure as he continued. "I've been to a lot of interesting and large places, but there's nothing wrong with wanting to live a quiet life like this." He gestured towards town. Those who lived and worked were up and about now, and as we walked into Trafton itself we made sure to stay to the side of the main road to avoid the occasional horse as it passed, often times leading a wagon full of something or other.

"You're thinking of father," I responded, "and him living here instead of somewhere else."

"Yes," he said. "But not just him. It might surprise you, Richard, to know that your father is not the only person ever to leave the big city for a taste of small town life. Not everyone in a small town was born there." He stopped walking and placed his hand on my shoulder, stopping me short. He gently turned me to face him, and looked into my eyes. "And not everyone in a small town has to stay there, either." He let go of my shoulder and continued his walk, leaving me puzzled for a second as I tried to figure out what he meant.

I hurried to catch up. I smiled and nodded at a few acquaintances as I passed them on the street. The sun had made it even farther into the sky now, and I could feel a trickle of sweat sliding down my back as I increased my pace. "But father has no desire to leave this place."