Big Trouble in Small Town 5

Quiet. It’s so quiet out here in the country.

I see the town in the distance. A cluster of buildings just beyond the field of snow that we just crossed on a narrow trail.

The gentle sound of our cross-country skies sliding over the white is all that can be heard. It’s a much better sound than that of angry council members.

What made me think that I could fix this town?

Enough people had confidence in me that I won the election but I am only one man. I’ll need the support of my council if I hope to get anything done.

“Why so quiet Patrick?”

Brenda’s soft voice pulls me out of the whirlpool of my anxious thoughts.

“I’ve just got a lot on my mind I guess.”

“I believe that. There’s good news though, my grandmother is in the care home.”

I laugh. “For a minute there, I didn’t think that was going to happen.”

“Yes, my grandmother is stubborn.”

“She reminds me of someone…I can’t quite remember her name.”

Brenda laughs. “Yes, I know, I’m a bit like my grandmother.”

“A bit?”

“Well, maybe more than a bit.”

“You said it, not me.”

Snowflakes fall gently around us as we continue across the prairie covered in a pristine pale blanket.

“But, enough about me,” Brenda says as she stops and turns toward me. Despite her layer of thick winter clothing, her pregnancy is becoming obvious.

“Oh. Oh.”

“When are we going to get married?”

“I’m in quite the political battle right now, are you sure you want to be married to a corrupt person like me?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Brenda’s eyes sparkle with anticipation as she stares into my eyes.

“Well, then, let’s set a date.”

“Oh, when do you think?”

“How about two weeks from now?”

“That soon?”

“Well, our next council meeting is three weeks away and who knows what’ll happen then.”

Brenda scrunches her nose as she ponders this. “You’re right. We better get to work.”

“You always said you liked drama.”

“I meant drama on the stage.”

“Well, stick with me, you’ll get your share,” I say with a laugh. “But anyway, it looks like the wind is starting to pick up, maybe we start heading back.”

“Yes, we don’t want to get stuck out here.”

“Well, I’ll have to say, I enjoyed the peace while it lasted.”

“Me too. We won’t have much of it when we get back home.”

With that said, we turn our skis and head back through the growing storm toward the little town we had come from.

To be continued…