[Primrose Bolger]

The words and tears that her simple question had brought on surprised Ginger. She put down her bread and jam and got up quickly from her chair. Tim sat with his head in his hands looking as if he might bolt all together or burst into tears himself if she touched him or tried any words of comfort on him. Picking up her clean napkin, she went to Wren’s side.

Ginger put her hand round the girl’s heaving shoulders in a sympathetic manner. ‘Bree! Such a long way to have walked! No wonder you’re so worn out from it.’ She dipped the corner of the napkin in the small pitcher of cool water that sat on the table. Cradling Wren’s head against her shoulder, Ginger dabbed at the girl’s red cheeks where the tears ran. ‘Goodness, I’m in not yet in my tweens yet being just eighteen. And I’ve been hardly farther than the western edges of Hobbiton and the eastern edges of Bywater.’

She handed Wren the dry part of the napkin and told her to go ahead and blow her snuffy nose on it. The obvious question had been brewing in her mind since she’d first laid eyes on the two children. Big Folk or no, what were they doing wandering down the Great Road all alone it seemed.

‘Are you on your way to your folks, little one?’ Ginger asked gently. Then thinking that perhaps someone from the Inn could give the two a lift she inquired further. ‘Are they near?’