Rosa slipped out of the Green Dragon early that Friday, collecting her pack from underneath the bench by the door.
It was time to go home.
While she walked, she thought about her mother's letter.
Your cousin Gladfred has disappeared, and from the note he has left with Uncle Raynard, it appears he has gone on some sort of Adventure.
That did sound like Freddy, she had to admit. He'd never been much for staying home, and had no interest in the apple business. Or the pipeweed business. Or any business generally, come to think of it--which was why he'd joined the Bounders. Chance to stretch his legs, he said, meet interesting folk and see new places.
Of course...wandering about the Shire was one thing. Wandering off OUT of the Shire, into Bree or even further? That was just dangerous. And while she could see why he'd left the note to Uncle Raynald, her mother's letter left no doubt that Fred's dad was more than just a little sore. There'd been a row, apparently, and at least one black eye, and Words had certainly been exchanged, the result of which was that half the family wasn't speaking to the other half and, seeing as how she'd been in Oldfurlong at the time, Rosafina was now the only family member that anybody was willing to speak to.
Neutral party, so to speak.
The chief disagreement, as far as Rosafina could tell from a rather rushed letter, was that Fred's dad wanted to hush the whole thing up, Uncle Raynald thought they should let well enough alone, and Rosa's own father (and Fred's uncle) thought the boy was certainly going to get himself in trouble, and that finding the boy was quite worth any embarrassment the family might suffer as a result.
As Rosa passed her Uncle Raynald's hole, she slowed. She and Freddy used to go fishing off the dock near here. And of all her cousins, she liked Fred the most.
Though come to think of it, they hadn't talked in quite some time. And she wasn't sure, now she thought of it, when she'd last written a letter home.
"I don't know, mum." Rosa sighed. "I don't see how I can help."
They'd been talking in circles round the matter for some time. They'd already polished off two of her mum's pies, and it looked like they'd be breaking into the biscuits shortly.
Her mother glanced round the kitchen. Her dad was out, and the hole was otherwise empty.
"You and Freddy were always close," her mum said. "I must admit, I was hoping you might have some idea where he'd gone."
"I'm sorry." She stared into her cup of tea. "I wish I did."
