Loving Willow

Chess and Jail

The Mayor nearly growled in frustration. The man at the desk was being entirely no help. "Listen here, young man." His irritation showed plainly in his voice causing the attendant to shrink back. "My darling daughters are expecting me and I will not disappoint them. If you know what's best for you, you'll just keep searching until you find me a ride out of this city."

The spectacled young man shrugged and shook his head. "I understand your frustration, sir. But there is nothing I can do. My job here is to sell tickets and send telegraphs. I'm just relaying the news, I didn't invent it."

"You are incompetent!" The mayor shouted. "I didn't ask for excuses!"

The young man shrugged again and took a step back from the counter. Personally, he was rather glad there was a counter between him and his irate customer. "Nothing I can do, if you must get to that town so badly I would suggest the fastest way is to rent a horse and ride it. Be prepared to go off the trail however. Like I said, the trail at this moment is impassable. The men from the mine have been working hard to clear it but it's taking some time."

"Time that I don't have." The Mayor was completely enraged now, leaning most of his weight on the counter he grabbed hold of the young man's shirt. "Get me a coach. NOW."

"There a problem here, Tony? "

The Mayor turned slightly to see a large figure blocking the door way. Tony forced a smile, "This gentleman is just upset that the coaches aren't running."

"Sir, " The sheriff moved closer to the mayor. "Young Tony is correct. It's probably going to be a week or so before coaches will be able to run again. Rock slides tend to cause quite a bit of trouble you know."

The mayor sneered at the sheriff, "You look t to be an able bodied man. You should be helping them clear it. You're a wasteful piece of human flesh."

The sheriff shrugged, "Sorry to disappoint you but I have to stay in town. Keep troublesome men like you from destroying it."

The mayor's face turned a nearly inhuman shade of red, veins bulged from his forehead and neck. "Why you incompetent ..."

"You know what, Tony?" The sheriff closed the gap between him and the angry man.

"What's that, Sheriff?"

"I think this man could benefit from a few nights spent in our town's jail cell."

"WHAT? YOU CAN"T PUT ME IN JAIL! I AM A SICKLY MAN!" Several people n the street stopped to star in at them before quickly moving along.

"Sorry," The Sheriff said. He didn't sound the least bit sorry when he pulled out a set of hand cuffs and secured them on the mayors wrists. "The way I see it, if you're healthy enough to cause such a ruckus, then you're healthy enough to sit in a cell for a few days. Let's go."

Tony sighed in relief as the sheriff practically drug  the man from the telegraph station. Some people.

-----

Trent sat down to lunch with a small frown creasing his forehead. 

"What is it, darling?" Willow asked as she placed the basket of biscuits on the table and took her seat.

"This is taking longer than I expected."

"Your grandfather?" Willow asked.

"We were warned of his approach nearly a week and a half ago. Why isn't he here? "

Willow shrugged, "I must admit it is rather strange but  perhaps we have been given more time just to prepare for his arrival."

"What it's doing is driving me insane." Trent countered. "I'm nervous for our families, and you."