1
"I'll take four tankards of ale. Nay, five. Nay, six. Better make it an even number, eh?"
The man cackled, wobbling drunkenly at the bar. He was already leaning heavily on the counter to support himself, and Dominic dreaded to think of how he'd make it back to his table in that state, along with a tray of ale.
Usually, of course, the barmaid would come over to the table, all sweet, coy smiles and a fantastic knack for smoothing out disagreements. No spills, no brawls, and smiles all round.
But there was no barmaid inTheSinnerpubtonight, so they were all stuck with Dominic.
He didn't much go in for sweet smiles and demure comments.
He was a practical man of action, who got things done. Things like hiring a new barmaid, for instance, even though in this situation hiring a new girl to wait on the patrons ofTheSinnerwas proving remarkably difficult.
"Six ales, comin' right up," he responded curtly, not bothering to argue with the man about how much he'd already consumed. The man was a local whose name escaped Dominic at the moment, and so far, he was a generous, cheerful drunk with deep pockets.
Brodie appeared at Dominic's elbow.
"Somebody's vomited all down the outside wall," he muttered. "I thought I'd leave the cleanin' up to ye, seeing as it is your pub."
Dominic growled. "It's only eight o' clock in the evening. Who's drunk by now?"
"Everyone in the pub. Are ye blind, Dom?"
"Nay, I'm not. And don't call meDom, I've told ye that."
Brodie laughed with the irrepressible confidence of a twenty-six-year-old man. "Oh aye, and what would ye like me to call ye, then?Laird MacLennan? Mister Sutherland?"
"Gods, nay. Here, take these ales over to that table there."
Brodie pouted. "I'm not a barmaid."
"Just do it, aye? That fellow's goin' to drop them all over the floor if he tries to carry them."
Dominic pushed the tray of six tankards towards Brodie, fixing him with a stare. Not many people could look Dominic in his steely gray eyes, and Brodie – round-faced, cheerful, red-haired, and easily mistaken for somebody ten years younger – was no exception.
Muttering to himself, the young man picked up the tray and strode across the crowded floor of the pub, followed by the teetering drunk.
Dominic watched Brodie go, thoughtfully putting away the money in the cash box under the counter. Hadheever been so fresh-faced and earnest? Not at twenty-six, that was for sure. Dominic was into his thirties now, with premature gray starting to streak through his brown curls.
The gray hairs were deceiving, though. Dominic was comfortably aware that he was easily as strong – if not stronger – and well-built as men five or ten years younger than him. Coupled with his steely glare and lifelong habit of not smiling unless it wasreallynecessary, Dominic could acknowledge that he made quite an intimidating impression on most people.
Ideal for working in a pub, really. His friends – few and far between – made jokes about how serious and grim Dominic could be, although they weren't really jokes.
Well, that was their prerogative. The three of them – Dominic, Thomas, and Colby – had all started upTheSinnertogether, but now the other two were all caught up with their wives and their children, leaving Dominic to handle most of the day-to-day running of the pub. It was just as well that he was so serious and hardworking.
Wives and lovers take up a lot of time and energy,Dominic told himself firmly.I daenae have time.
That didn't stop him holding his breath when a woman pushed her way through the crowd. Then he got a good look at her and deflated a little.
No, it wasn't her. Or Her, as Dominic had privately taken to calling her.
He knew all of the regulars, of course. Mostly men, but there were some women among the crowd. Some were local lasses, keen to relax after a long day at work. There were a few ladies of ill repute, or whatever you wanted to call them.
Dominic didn't mind those women. They were astute and business-like, and more than happy to pay him a modest commission for customers they collected in his pub. He knew them all, and they'd chosen this work, so he didn't see it as his business to intervene.
Sometimes, Thomas' wife came down here to work as a healer. She was a proper lady now that she'd married Thomas, but she wasn't afraid to get down and dirty with the common people. Shewas a good healer, too. Dominic liked her, albeit reluctantly. She was a good match for flighty Thomas, and he adored her.
Brodie broke into his thoughts, leaning forward over the bar.
