The Story of the Steal-Me Book

A place to post the twistynesses.

The rest of the bar/tavern scene...

The sound of glass breaking made Ree turn and scan the tavern. The Ash was a fairly tranquil place, especially during the day. An incident shortly after Lana opened - involving a few drunkards, Lana, and a length of ash wood - helped keep the worst of the ruffians away. It was easy to spot the source of the commotion. The man who Lana referred to as Trevor was holding the remnant of a glass mug, with ale dripping off the table and a sheepish expression on his face.

Ree couldn’t help but smile a little at this poor man. She leaned over the bar, picked up a cloth and made her way over to Evan and Trevor’s table. A few of the regulars she knew caught her eye and grinned as she passed. She felt her foul temper beginning to fade.

“Thank you so much,” Trevor said as Ree started wiping up the glass shards and ale from the table. “Tell Lana I will pay for this one too. And smile upon thee for helping.”

Evan looked Ree over with a smirk. He noted that while her dress was rather plain, it was of good quality. “I didn’t know Lana hired on another barmaid. Are you new here?”

“No. Lana and I have known each other for a long time.” Ree avoided looking at Evan to hide her annoyance at him thinking her a barmaid.

“Obviously, you aren’t married as you haven’t a ring on your finger.” Evan motioned at Ree’s hand with his mug. “Do you have a man to take care of you?” He took a drink of ale as if the question were of no importance.

“Some women don’t want or need some man to ‘take care of’ them, as you put it,” Ree replied haughtily. She felt her temper flaring dangerously close to flash point. “Would you like another mug of ale, Mr. …” she looked at Trevor, who was trying to brush the worst of the froth off his shirt.

“Trevor. Just, um, Trevor. I would, yes. Like another ale, that is. But you don’t have to get it for me, I’ll go and, um, just get it myself. Then I can apologize to Lana…again.” Trevor flustered. He really, really didn’t want to be anywhere close when he saw the barely controlled violence in her eyes.

“Then I’ll just leave Mr. …, what was your name again? Oh, that’s right. I’ll just leave Mr. Boorish Lout here to his mindless drinking.”

“Now, just a minute, girl!” Evan grabbed Ree’s hand, which was holding the rag she’d used to clean up the mess on the table. “There’s no need to be rude.”

Ree leaned down until her nose was an inch from Evan’s. “If you don’t release me this second, you will sorely regret walking in here tonight,” she said. Her voice was like a honeyed blade.

Trevor, who was backing away slowly, stopped and stared at the two, mouth agape. He had never heard anyone talk to Evan like this fiery redhead was doing.

“Is that so? What can you, a woman, do to me?” Evan patronized, squeezing her hand lightly.

One moment, Evan was sitting upright at the table, gripping Ree’s hand. The next, he was flat on his back on the floor, dripping ale. Ree had twisted her hand out of his grasp, seized his mug of ale with the other and dumped it over his head while simultaneously hooking her foot under the front leg of his chair and yanking it up.

Evan sat up, spluttering, and wiped the ale from his face. His eyes focused in time to see Ree walking out the front door, calling an apology to Lana over her shoulder.

posted by: MizLiciouss at October 22, 2005 22:59 | link | comments |
the tale

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