Chapter III
Liam and Zack said goodbye to Silver and started walking around town looking for Miss Ryane. They found out that she had indeed gone missing from Miss Juniper’s about six months ago and that most of her belongings went with her, which made Zack worry less. They soon found a pub named Gray Whistle and went inside. Zack instantly jumped for joy as he spotted a beautiful young woman with long dark brown hair, stunning green eyes and the most beautiful body and face Liam had ever seen. “Miss Ryane! You’re alright!” He said running at her.
She turned to him and laughed as he went to hug her but Liam stopped him. “You’re filthy, boy. Don’t muss the lady’s dress.” She smiled a sweet and downright pretty smile.
“And who may I ask are you, sir?” She said with a curtsy. Zack freed himself from Liam’s grip and ran over to her.
He then said, “This is my good friend Liam. I was going to introduce you to my friend Silver, but he had to leave us. You might meet him someday, though.”
That beautiful smile never left that gorgeous face as she looked at Liam, who, could feel his knees turning to jelly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Master Liam.” She said with another curtsy.
Liam walked over and took her hand gently, bowing over it and looking up at her with a calm smile as he said, “The pleasure is all mine, Milady and please, call me Liam.”
She blushed softly as he kissed her hand and rose back to full height. She put a light hand to her chest and said, “My, you certainly know how to treat a girl and, if I must call you Liam, you must call me Ryane.”
He smiled and nodded. “Agreed, Ryane.” Her name was like honey on his tongue as he said it. He couldn’t help but wonder what her tongue actually tasted like…
“Liam, how about you let me and Miss Ryane show you around?” Zack said looking at another woman. “If Miss Beth will let her…”
“Go on, child.” Beth said as she went behind the bar. “I’ll hold your belongings for you until you get back.”
Ryane curtsied again to Beth and said, “Thank you, Miss Beth. I’ll make it up, I swear.”
“Don’t bother, dear. This strapping young man will have you busy all day.” She said as she went to the back, while Ryane blushed.
Ryane looked at Liam and said, “Come, I’m sure Zack is dying to show you around our wonderful home.”
Zack took both of them by the hand and led them out. Ryane was elegant, from what Liam could see. Nothing like the wild tomboy Zack had described. She was calm, collected, beautiful, and Zack had been right. His sketch did not do her justice. They came upon a rough looking tavern and Liam wanted to go in and check it out but when Ryane said that she’d wait outside, he thought better. Zack always talked about how good this girl’s judgment was, so, Liam chose to trust that judgment.
She started humming after a time. It made Liam smile and ask, “What song is that?” She turned to him and smiled, after the initial surprise of being pulled from her thoughts was over.
“I’m not sure. I make up songs a lot.” She said sheepishly. She saw a bunch of people in the street and seemed to want to go join their merry playing, singing, and dancing until she stopped Zack and reminded him, “Remember when I was arrested when I was sixteen?”
“Yea, but it was for a stupid reason! You were just dancing in the street.” He said folding his arms with a sour face.
She put a gentle hand on his shoulder and said, “Still, I was arrested and you remember how it ended last time. If it happens again, I’ll be publicly flogged. I got off with a suspended sentence for being a first time offender, I doubt I’ll be so lucky again.”
As if to prove her past, a stout fat man dressed in a blue uniform came up and said, “Not up to no good again, are we Miss Locke?” He said grabbing her arm.
She pulled away and said, “No sir, and I’ll thank you not to lay a hand on me.” As she spoke, it was clear to Liam that she did not like the constable.
“I’ll do as I please, wench.”
“H-” Zack started to defend her when Ryane stepped in front of him and said, “Abusing power is considered a sin, Jon. Would you have the Reverend after you?”
He glared coldly. “You dare threaten me?” She stood there calmly. She looked ready to hurt him rather than cower.
She straightened and said, “I asked a question. Take it how you will, but an innocent question does not call for battery.” Her gaze was direct and proud. She showed no fear of the man.
He went to slap her, saying, “Insolent child!” Liam grabbed his hand and said, stepping in front of Ryane, “I’ll thank you not to hit the lady.”
“Lady? Bah! She’s a stupid girl!” Liam was about to lose his temper as the constable went to hit Liam when Ryane jumped in between and took the blow to the gut instead.
She gasped and yelped in pain as Liam caught her, saying angrily, “You b*****d! How dare you hit her!” Before he could go at the constable, Ryane put her hands on Liam’s chest and looked him in the eyes.
She then said, softly and pleading, “He’s not even worth it. Please. He can arrest us both and I’d rather not make Zack watch me be flogged because I’m not afraid of the whip, I’m afraid of what that would do to him.” He could tell she was being honest so he calmed himself down and led her away, Zack following.
He refused to move his arm from around her shoulders until they were far out of sight and earshot of the constable, but she didn’t object. She seemed to be trying very hard not to cry or puke, or both. He led her over to a bench and crouched down in front of her as she sat, looking up at her face, he asked, “Are you alright?”
Zack then said, “Silver would have ripped him through! You know how he always talked about how you should never, under any circumstance fight in front of a lady! This is why!”
“Shut up, Zack.” Liam said softly but firmly. He looked back at Ryane. “Are you alright, Miss Ryane?”
She nodded, a hand on her belly. She then said softly, “I’ve been hit harder.”
Liam looked at her in respect and surprised. “Oh really? When may I ask, did such a brawl take place, Miss Ryane?”
“Please, Liam, I’ve kept up my end of the bargain. Call me Ryane.” He apologized and she went on, “I was at school and a girl named Cassandra Livingston was kicking one of the serving girls, Peggy, her name was I believe. Anyway, Peg was barely thirteen and brand new. She didn’t know how to iron a damn riding habit, excuse my language…” She said blushing.
“It’s fine, you’ll find that I’m worse.” Liam said smiling.
She smiled and went on. “Well, my temper got the best of me and well…after being arrested, it was enough to have me demoted to serving girl but I didn’t mind. I liked it better. Fewer expectations and a new skill. There was never a skill to be learned that wasn’t valuable so I was grateful, rather than put out.”
He smiled a little more and helped her stand. “Glad to hear it.”
Zack then piped up, making Liam realize what a negotiator he was, “I have an idea and it would help you learn another new skill, Miss Ryane.”
Liam had to interrupt, “You don’t get mad at him for calling you Miss Ryane.” He said with a big grin on his face.
She smiled. “That’s because I’ve been trying to get him to stop calling me Miss for years but he won’t. It’s been burned into his brain. I don’t like being called Miss too much so I don’t want you to start.” She turned to Zack. “Now about this idea?”
Zack smiled. “In a week, me and Liam, and maybe our friend Silver are going to be heading back to England. We’re sailing on a Whaler and the Captain is going to be getting his wife and son. You could come aboard and help his wife!”
Ryane smiled and said, “But sweetheart, here’s the beef with that. When we get to England, where will I be when you two get on a ship and sail away?”
Liam grabbed her hand. “Right there with us, of course.”
She smiled and said sadly, “Women are forbidden to sail. I’d only be allowed on the Whaler to help the Captain’s wife. Without a reason like that, I’d be booted.”
Liam swore softly. “She’s got a point there, Zack. I’d rather not ditch her in England, since it’s hard enough being a woman, being foreign might get her killed.”
Zack then said, “I have a crazy idea…” Zack and Liam looked at him expectantly. “She could…well…I don’t know, dress like a man?”
“Zack,” She said with a laugh, “Do you remember how poorly that worked when we tried that to get me onto the race tracks?”
“Oh…right…” He kicked the dirt. “Well, we’d think of something! Please say you’ll come!” Ryane looked like she really wanted to come, but a lingering nag kept her from accepting the offer.
Liam then said, “We would think of something, Ryane.” Ryane smiled and kissed Liam on the cheek.
“Alright then. I’ll come. I’ll go to England with you boys.” This made Zack jump for joy while Liam beamed at Ryane. Both boys hadn’t been happier in quite some time and Liam had a feeling that by the end of the voyage, he’d only be happier.
- - -
Ryane woke up the next morning in Miss Beth’s house in the guest room. Since Beth didn’t stay at the tavern overnight, she didn’t think it would be a good idea to let Ryane bunk there alone. Zack and Liam were back there, though. Ryane let out a soft yawn, thinking about how she would be able to follow the boys to England- maybe she shouldn’t go at all. Maybe she should just stay here, as Ryane, at least but then she would be denied the chance to see Liam another day. It was a problem that she had a week to solve, so she got out of bed and dressed. She pulled on her serving girl dress, having it cleaned last night, where the neckline came down a bit more than normal, and dropped her necklace down the front. The dress wasn’t big and goofy, it was loose but it hugged her body at the same time. It made her feet taut in the chest and belly area. It went down to her ankles to where it met her boots. She brushed her hair and spent five minutes trying to make it look just right before she went down to breakfast, ate, and then went with Beth to the tavern.
When they arrived, Ryane went in first, after Beth unlocked the door. Beth started taking down chairs and such and Ryane helped her start to get things ready for the day. Ryane could have screamed when someone poked her sides and whispered, “Boo.” In her ear. She turned and saw Liam. She smiled brightly at him and put a hand over her chest as she felt her heartbeat slow.
“You scared me.” She said still smiling as she continued to take down chairs and set up. Liam started to help and when Zack came down he did too. The tavern had a big downstairs. The bar was closed off to the public save for a swinging door that was no higher than the oak wood bar. Their were about forty tables and four chairs around each one, but by the end of the night, as many as seven or eight chairs could be gathered around one table. There was a small stage at the very front of the tavern and the door was about ten feet to the right of the bar. The stairs to go up to the rooms was in the back right corner. Paintings, random, but pretty were hanging on the walls, but only three or four.
“Good morning to you too.” He said with a grin. “Did you sleep well? Zack did. He kept me up with his blasted snoring.”
Zack rolled his eyes and made no comment and Ryane giggled as she said, “I slept fine. I never do sleep well…it’s just something weird about me but since Zack was keeping you up, I take you didn’t sleep well?”
He shook his head as he took another chair down, “I just didn’t sleep as long as I might have liked to sleep, Miss R-” She tossed him a look and he corrected himself, “Ryane.”
She smiled as Beth then said, with a nice hard laugh, “I see, Liam, that our dear Ryane is training you not to call her Miss. Is this correct or do my eyes betray me?” She said as she polished off the bar top.
Liam nodded. “That seems to be the gist of it. I don’t see why I bothers you so much, though, Ryane. It’s just being polite.”
She paused as she wiped off the dust that was on the tables. “Well, think of it this way. How much do you enjoy being called sir, or Master Liam, or-”
“I get it.” He said stopping her there with a smile. “I won’t call you Miss, okay?” She nodded and continued to clean up and prepare for early birds.
“Ryane,” Beth then said from behind the bar. “You’re witnessing today. Grab an apron and get ready, three are coming up the street now. Liam, Zack, my husband is out of town this week, could you cover and keep the place under wraps? You have my permission to beat anyone senseless that you have to.”
Ryane then said after Liam and Zack accepted the job, a worried tone and concerned look on her face, “What about Maud? He’s usually pretty…well, he scares me. That man is a serious pervert.” She said looking at Liam worriedly. “He’s dangerous too…”
Liam went over to her and took both her hands in his. He kissed her forehead and then said, softly as he looked her in the eye, “I promise. Zack and I will be careful around this…Maud. We also promise to walk you, and Miss Beth home every night this week to ensure your safety.”
She blushed and smiled up at him as Beth then said, “That’s mighty decent of you, Liam. I’ll pay ya extra to keep the lass here out of trouble. How long are you in town?”
Zack then piped, grinning at Liam as he still held Ryane’s hands. “A week and why pay him to spend extra time with a pretty lady such as Miss Ryane?”
Liam went to grind his knuckles into Zack’s head with a grin saying, chuckling, “Why you…” Ryane smiled, being able to tell that Liam meant no harm to Zack, not really. She went over to the bar and accepted an apron. She pulled it on, smiling at the two boys as Zack muttered “ow” under his breath while Liam gave him a nuggie.
“Ryane,” Beth said softly to her as the boys messed around in some free space. “Watch the bar for…three hours most? I need to go out and get more stocks. There’s enough to last you until I get back but if you run out, have Liam get rid of anyone who wants to complain.” Ryane nodded as Beth went out the back.
For about twenty minutes, it was just her and the boys. She was setting up and they were messing around but she didn’t mind. It was fun to watch. Soon, Liam apparently thought she looked bored as she was setting up the bar and he snuck up behind her while she was lost in thought and wrapped his arms around her, planting a kiss on her cheek. She blushed deeply and looked at him, “Liam!” She was smiling but blushing as he let her go and moved away.
He was grinning sheepishly. “Sorry, Miss Ryane. I’ve just always wondered what you’d do.”
She smiled at him and started to talk when she heard a voice she never wanted to hear again. “My, my, my, if it isn’t Little Miss Ryane Locke.” Cassandra Livingston, in the flesh. Cassandra was beautiful, that was well known. She had long golden hair and bright blue eyes. Her skin was light and she was slim. She wore a bright pink dress with a low cut neckline that hugged her body but not to a whorish point.
Ryane sighed. “Hello, Miss Livingston. How may I be of service to you this fine day?” She said slapping on her best fake smile.
“Me and my gal-” She paused as she set her sights on Liam. Oh great. Now she’s going to steal him from me too…just like everyone else I’ve ever really cared for… She thought as Cassandra then said, “Who is this fine gentleman, Ryane?”
Ryane looked rather annoyed. She was here to serve up food and ale, not chat idly. She then said, wearily, “Liam, may I introduce you to Cassandra Livingston, Cassandra, I’d like you to meet Liam Harrison.”
Cassandra walked forward, her heels clicking as she did, and extended her hand, which Liam politely accepted and bowed over, though, unlike when he had met Ryane, he made no move to kiss her hand. She blushed and said, acting all flustered, “My, you are a gentlemen!”
He rose to his foot six and seven inches and said, kindly, “One must be respectful to a lady such as yourself, Miss Livingston.” He called her Miss Livingston. That’s even more formal than he was with me…
She giggled. “Oh please sir, call me Cassandra.”
Liam then countered, “It would be improper, Miss Livingston, for me to call you by your first name.”
Ryane smiled at him, she had to. She couldn’t really help it. She then said to Cassandra, “Can I be taking your order, Miss Cassandra?”
“Miss Livingston, Ryane.” She said with a little ice in her tone. Ryane rolled her eyes which earned her a harsh comment from one of Cassandra’s girls, and then Cassandra said, “Learn your place, Ryane.”
Ryane was never good at holding her temper against this girl so she then snapped, “Learn to take off that mask of yours, Cassandra.”
“I wear no mask!” She said appalled.
Ryane shrugged and grinned. “Oops. My mistake, that’s your face then?” She said leaning on the bar a bit. Zack’s jaw had dropped and Liam had been slowly backing away from the two of them. A cat fight was sure to break out any second.
“Yes, this is my face!” She said, not really seeming to get the joke.
Ryane took on a sympathetic look as she said, “I’m sorry sweetie, there hasn’t been a cure made for ugliness yet…tough luck.” She said with a sweet smile and shrug.
“Why you!” She said taking a step toward the bar, daggers in her eyes. Ryane looked sweet and downright happy.
“Why what? Why were you born so repulsive? I don’t know. Ask your father which drunken whore he slept with while your mother was sleeping with his brother, maybe you’ll get some answers.” Her voice was colder than ice now.
“That’s it, you little b***h!” Cassandra said leaping toward Ryane. It did her no good, Liam jumped in the way and stopped her.
“Hold on now you two! Calm down! Ryane, apologize!” He said looking over at Ryane calmly.
She scoffed. “No. I don’t do retractions, Liam.” He rolled his eyes and then said, getting Zack to block off Cassandra who was although taller- skinny as a stick and weak.
Liam walked up to the bar as she polished a mug and said, “I’m not asking you to take it back, I’m asking you to apologize for the sake of peace and justice, it wasn‘t right for you to say those things to her.”
She slammed the mug down and said, “She puts innocent, good and innocent people to work as slaves!” She then said, her temper rising, “Where’s the justice? There is none! She deserves none! She deserves a nice boot to her face! Here, let me be the one to give it to her!” She said leaping over the bar at Cassandra.
Liam grabbed her and said, “You’re acting like a child!”
She shoved away from him and said, “Forgive me for hating someone who would put innocent people to slavery simply for being born black.”
Cassandra then said, “The savages deserve-”
Not even Liam or Zack could stop Ryane from attacking Cassandra that time. She punched Cassandra hard in the face, breaking her nose, then again, putting a nice bruise on her face. “You horrible, horrible witch!” She said as Liam hauled her off Cassandra. Cassandra had been too stunned to fight back.
“Ryane!” Liam said, his own voice rising now.
She shoved away from him and barked, “No! Get her out of here or I’ll just attack her again! She’s a horrible, racist b***h!” Ryane turned her back on them all and went upstairs, all the way up to the attic. He didn’t understand. None of them did. Ryane’s mother had been a slave and it ruined her. It made life incredibly difficult for her. Ryane’s mother, Joanne, had been bought by Ryane’s father but not as his slave, but to save her from life as a slave but to the rest of the world, she was still a slave who married her master. Her mother may have been made a slave simply for doing the same thing Ryane did, telling a Livingston just what she thought of them, but it didn’t make it anymore right.
“Ryane!” She heard Liam say from downstairs, coming up. She ignored him and didn’t answer. She pulled on a rope which unleashed a step ladder that led up into the attic. She grabbed a candle, lit it, and went up. She looked around and saw that it hadn’t been touched since her last visit. It was too dark to make much out, which frightened her a bit. She had never been very brave but her anger was bigger than her fear of what could be lurking in the shadows. She went up and started lighting more candles until the whole room was washed in light. She relaxed and pulled the step ladder up just in time to lock Liam out- at least for a minute.
She sat in the hammock, her dress hanging off the side a bit as she lay down, gently rocking back and forth. Liam came up and said, “You acted like a little child.” She ignored him again. “You could at least answer me.”
“You don’t understand me in the least, so there’s no doubt as to why you don’t understand my outburst.” She said turning her head to face away from him.
He pulled up a chair and sat in it backwards. “Start explaining then.” She looked at him for a real long time before explaining about her mother. Liam sat there for a time and said, “You shouldn’t let her get to you like that…”
Ryane sighed. “I don’t have much control on my temper with this kind of thing… I lost it, alright? I’ll apologize to you but not her. So here it is: I’m sorry.”
After staring at her for a long minute, he hugged her, which, made her swallow slowly, and rub his back saying softly, “Something wrong, Liam?”
He shook his head and pulled away, getting up and heading for the trap door, looking back at her with a smile. “It’s just…nothing. Forget I said anything.”
She got up and grabbed his hand. “Please tell me…please.” He turned to her and stepped close to her, making her cheeks get slightly pink, then slightly more pink as he gently stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers, his eyes hooded and a gentle smile on his face.
“Ryane…” He said softly, his face less than an inch from hers…
“Liam! Ryane! Where are you two? Customers are going to start coming in! C’mon! I need help down here!” Came Zack’s voice from below the ladder. Liam sighed softly.
He smiled at her and stepped back, saying as if nothing had just happened, “We should get down and help him, sound good?” He went down before she could answer and she heard him say to Zack, “You couldn’t have waited just two more minutes?” This made her smile and she went down.
She went up to Liam and pecked him on the cheek, passing him without a word. She saw Beth coming back and took the minor lecture for beating up Cassandra. Everyone in this town hated that girl, so, Beth wasn’t going to loose too much if the maybe ten people who liked her didn’t come back here compared to the hundred that poured in every day.
Over the day, Ryane served tables and sang and danced from time to time. She missed the call of the crowd and the rush she got when she sang. She missed it dearly. Sometimes, Liam would pick up a guitar and play for her while she sang and soon, this helped her in her discovery that he had a really good, deep, but good voice. They did a couple duets and several were love songs, making Ryane a little pink in the cheeks afterward at the thought of Liam meaning those songs to be for her but she tried not to think of it.
They were on their final act for the night, and Ryane was singing a love song, solo this time. Liam was sipping a watered-down ale. After a couple minutes, she saw him get up and grab his guitar again, singing along with her. She felt her heart sing and pick up pace. Her mind started to race and swim in a wash of light and joy. She wanted to run at him and throw her arms around his neck, and maybe plant a kiss on him but she didn’t. She did, however, smile brightly at him. This man…was amazing in more than just one way and she was determined to get to know him better and maybe even win his heart someday as he had won hers.
She started to sing a new song, only not one that could be made a duet. It was Celtic music, but it was among her favorite kind. She sat on a stool on the stage and blushed as she saw Liam smile that calm, kind, sweet smile at her. She sighed dreamily, softly as the music began. She tapped her foot very softly. The song told of a woman who wished to buy her lover a sword of steel, to generalize it. It was a very beautiful song, though. Difficult too, because she only knew half of it in English but the crowds never seemed to mind. They loved it anyway.
She then said softly, as she sat on the stool, “For those of you who are Celtics or Celtic fans, here is a beautiful song called "Siúil A Rúin." I hope you enjoy it.” She then began to sing.
“Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin
Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom.”
Here she paused for a time while the gentle music played, seeing as it was about time to calm down the bar for the night, she thought to do this song, seeing as it always calmed them down. It wasn’t a very rowdy or sexy song.
“Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin
Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán
I wish I was on yonder hill
'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill
Until every tear would turn a mill
I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel
I'll sell my only spinning wheel
To buy my love a sword of steel.
I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red
And 'round the world I'll beg my bread
Until my parents shall wish me dead.”
She sang the chorus three times over before the song ended. She smiled at the light but strong applause. She stepped down for the night. Liam walked up to her, with Zack in tow along with another tall young fellow. She shook his hand as Liam introduced him, “This is my best and oldest friend on God’s Green Earth, Will.” Will had light brown hair and friendly blue eyes. She could tell that he was a stable hand, right off. At least, he used to be. Harold, the old stable hand down at her old school had the same body build.
She smiled and said, “What’s your last name?”
“Jones, Miss.”
“Tell your father, Ryane Locke says hello.” She said with a big grin. She knew that body build anywhere. He was a Jones.
He looked a tad stunned as he nodded and said, “My father used to say how often you’d beg him to let you use the horses to sneak out or something along those lines.”
Ryane blushed. “Yes, that was me. I never did fit…in…with ladies…” She said as she watched a beyond gorgeous man from her past walk into the bar. He had deep, dark brown hair and gorgeous brown eyes. He was masculine and lean. He wasn’t too tanned or too pale. Girls instantly started throwing themselves at him but when Ryane marched his way, a slight fear came into his previously smug expression.
“Ryane…” Before her stood the only man who knew her inside and out. Before her stood Jared Lee Robert Locke, her eldest brother. Suddenly, there was a loud crrrrrack! Jared’s right cheek now had a deep red hand print on it and his head was turned to the side. He turned back to face her and said, looking now at his apparently furious sister, and started to say, “Good to see you to-”
“How dare you hit him!” Said one of his fan girls.
She then said in French, “I dare to hit my brother for not sending me a damn letter once in a while.” She then reverted to English and repeated it, so now everyone in the room was bound to know what she was talking about. She turned back to her brother and said softly, “Ten goddamn years. Not one letter?”
He gulped.
Liam and Zack said goodbye to Silver and started walking around town looking for Miss Ryane. They found out that she had indeed gone missing from Miss Juniper’s about six months ago and that most of her belongings went with her, which made Zack worry less. They soon found a pub named Gray Whistle and went inside. Zack instantly jumped for joy as he spotted a beautiful young woman with long dark brown hair, stunning green eyes and the most beautiful body and face Liam had ever seen. “Miss Ryane! You’re alright!” He said running at her.
She turned to him and laughed as he went to hug her but Liam stopped him. “You’re filthy, boy. Don’t muss the lady’s dress.” She smiled a sweet and downright pretty smile.
“And who may I ask are you, sir?” She said with a curtsy. Zack freed himself from Liam’s grip and ran over to her.
He then said, “This is my good friend Liam. I was going to introduce you to my friend Silver, but he had to leave us. You might meet him someday, though.”
That beautiful smile never left that gorgeous face as she looked at Liam, who, could feel his knees turning to jelly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Master Liam.” She said with another curtsy.
Liam walked over and took her hand gently, bowing over it and looking up at her with a calm smile as he said, “The pleasure is all mine, Milady and please, call me Liam.”
She blushed softly as he kissed her hand and rose back to full height. She put a light hand to her chest and said, “My, you certainly know how to treat a girl and, if I must call you Liam, you must call me Ryane.”
He smiled and nodded. “Agreed, Ryane.” Her name was like honey on his tongue as he said it. He couldn’t help but wonder what her tongue actually tasted like…
“Liam, how about you let me and Miss Ryane show you around?” Zack said looking at another woman. “If Miss Beth will let her…”
“Go on, child.” Beth said as she went behind the bar. “I’ll hold your belongings for you until you get back.”
Ryane curtsied again to Beth and said, “Thank you, Miss Beth. I’ll make it up, I swear.”
“Don’t bother, dear. This strapping young man will have you busy all day.” She said as she went to the back, while Ryane blushed.
Ryane looked at Liam and said, “Come, I’m sure Zack is dying to show you around our wonderful home.”
Zack took both of them by the hand and led them out. Ryane was elegant, from what Liam could see. Nothing like the wild tomboy Zack had described. She was calm, collected, beautiful, and Zack had been right. His sketch did not do her justice. They came upon a rough looking tavern and Liam wanted to go in and check it out but when Ryane said that she’d wait outside, he thought better. Zack always talked about how good this girl’s judgment was, so, Liam chose to trust that judgment.
She started humming after a time. It made Liam smile and ask, “What song is that?” She turned to him and smiled, after the initial surprise of being pulled from her thoughts was over.
“I’m not sure. I make up songs a lot.” She said sheepishly. She saw a bunch of people in the street and seemed to want to go join their merry playing, singing, and dancing until she stopped Zack and reminded him, “Remember when I was arrested when I was sixteen?”
“Yea, but it was for a stupid reason! You were just dancing in the street.” He said folding his arms with a sour face.
She put a gentle hand on his shoulder and said, “Still, I was arrested and you remember how it ended last time. If it happens again, I’ll be publicly flogged. I got off with a suspended sentence for being a first time offender, I doubt I’ll be so lucky again.”
As if to prove her past, a stout fat man dressed in a blue uniform came up and said, “Not up to no good again, are we Miss Locke?” He said grabbing her arm.
She pulled away and said, “No sir, and I’ll thank you not to lay a hand on me.” As she spoke, it was clear to Liam that she did not like the constable.
“I’ll do as I please, wench.”
“H-” Zack started to defend her when Ryane stepped in front of him and said, “Abusing power is considered a sin, Jon. Would you have the Reverend after you?”
He glared coldly. “You dare threaten me?” She stood there calmly. She looked ready to hurt him rather than cower.
She straightened and said, “I asked a question. Take it how you will, but an innocent question does not call for battery.” Her gaze was direct and proud. She showed no fear of the man.
He went to slap her, saying, “Insolent child!” Liam grabbed his hand and said, stepping in front of Ryane, “I’ll thank you not to hit the lady.”
“Lady? Bah! She’s a stupid girl!” Liam was about to lose his temper as the constable went to hit Liam when Ryane jumped in between and took the blow to the gut instead.
She gasped and yelped in pain as Liam caught her, saying angrily, “You b*****d! How dare you hit her!” Before he could go at the constable, Ryane put her hands on Liam’s chest and looked him in the eyes.
She then said, softly and pleading, “He’s not even worth it. Please. He can arrest us both and I’d rather not make Zack watch me be flogged because I’m not afraid of the whip, I’m afraid of what that would do to him.” He could tell she was being honest so he calmed himself down and led her away, Zack following.
He refused to move his arm from around her shoulders until they were far out of sight and earshot of the constable, but she didn’t object. She seemed to be trying very hard not to cry or puke, or both. He led her over to a bench and crouched down in front of her as she sat, looking up at her face, he asked, “Are you alright?”
Zack then said, “Silver would have ripped him through! You know how he always talked about how you should never, under any circumstance fight in front of a lady! This is why!”
“Shut up, Zack.” Liam said softly but firmly. He looked back at Ryane. “Are you alright, Miss Ryane?”
She nodded, a hand on her belly. She then said softly, “I’ve been hit harder.”
Liam looked at her in respect and surprised. “Oh really? When may I ask, did such a brawl take place, Miss Ryane?”
“Please, Liam, I’ve kept up my end of the bargain. Call me Ryane.” He apologized and she went on, “I was at school and a girl named Cassandra Livingston was kicking one of the serving girls, Peggy, her name was I believe. Anyway, Peg was barely thirteen and brand new. She didn’t know how to iron a damn riding habit, excuse my language…” She said blushing.
“It’s fine, you’ll find that I’m worse.” Liam said smiling.
She smiled and went on. “Well, my temper got the best of me and well…after being arrested, it was enough to have me demoted to serving girl but I didn’t mind. I liked it better. Fewer expectations and a new skill. There was never a skill to be learned that wasn’t valuable so I was grateful, rather than put out.”
He smiled a little more and helped her stand. “Glad to hear it.”
Zack then piped up, making Liam realize what a negotiator he was, “I have an idea and it would help you learn another new skill, Miss Ryane.”
Liam had to interrupt, “You don’t get mad at him for calling you Miss Ryane.” He said with a big grin on his face.
She smiled. “That’s because I’ve been trying to get him to stop calling me Miss for years but he won’t. It’s been burned into his brain. I don’t like being called Miss too much so I don’t want you to start.” She turned to Zack. “Now about this idea?”
Zack smiled. “In a week, me and Liam, and maybe our friend Silver are going to be heading back to England. We’re sailing on a Whaler and the Captain is going to be getting his wife and son. You could come aboard and help his wife!”
Ryane smiled and said, “But sweetheart, here’s the beef with that. When we get to England, where will I be when you two get on a ship and sail away?”
Liam grabbed her hand. “Right there with us, of course.”
She smiled and said sadly, “Women are forbidden to sail. I’d only be allowed on the Whaler to help the Captain’s wife. Without a reason like that, I’d be booted.”
Liam swore softly. “She’s got a point there, Zack. I’d rather not ditch her in England, since it’s hard enough being a woman, being foreign might get her killed.”
Zack then said, “I have a crazy idea…” Zack and Liam looked at him expectantly. “She could…well…I don’t know, dress like a man?”
“Zack,” She said with a laugh, “Do you remember how poorly that worked when we tried that to get me onto the race tracks?”
“Oh…right…” He kicked the dirt. “Well, we’d think of something! Please say you’ll come!” Ryane looked like she really wanted to come, but a lingering nag kept her from accepting the offer.
Liam then said, “We would think of something, Ryane.” Ryane smiled and kissed Liam on the cheek.
“Alright then. I’ll come. I’ll go to England with you boys.” This made Zack jump for joy while Liam beamed at Ryane. Both boys hadn’t been happier in quite some time and Liam had a feeling that by the end of the voyage, he’d only be happier.
- - -
Ryane woke up the next morning in Miss Beth’s house in the guest room. Since Beth didn’t stay at the tavern overnight, she didn’t think it would be a good idea to let Ryane bunk there alone. Zack and Liam were back there, though. Ryane let out a soft yawn, thinking about how she would be able to follow the boys to England- maybe she shouldn’t go at all. Maybe she should just stay here, as Ryane, at least but then she would be denied the chance to see Liam another day. It was a problem that she had a week to solve, so she got out of bed and dressed. She pulled on her serving girl dress, having it cleaned last night, where the neckline came down a bit more than normal, and dropped her necklace down the front. The dress wasn’t big and goofy, it was loose but it hugged her body at the same time. It made her feet taut in the chest and belly area. It went down to her ankles to where it met her boots. She brushed her hair and spent five minutes trying to make it look just right before she went down to breakfast, ate, and then went with Beth to the tavern.
When they arrived, Ryane went in first, after Beth unlocked the door. Beth started taking down chairs and such and Ryane helped her start to get things ready for the day. Ryane could have screamed when someone poked her sides and whispered, “Boo.” In her ear. She turned and saw Liam. She smiled brightly at him and put a hand over her chest as she felt her heartbeat slow.
“You scared me.” She said still smiling as she continued to take down chairs and set up. Liam started to help and when Zack came down he did too. The tavern had a big downstairs. The bar was closed off to the public save for a swinging door that was no higher than the oak wood bar. Their were about forty tables and four chairs around each one, but by the end of the night, as many as seven or eight chairs could be gathered around one table. There was a small stage at the very front of the tavern and the door was about ten feet to the right of the bar. The stairs to go up to the rooms was in the back right corner. Paintings, random, but pretty were hanging on the walls, but only three or four.
“Good morning to you too.” He said with a grin. “Did you sleep well? Zack did. He kept me up with his blasted snoring.”
Zack rolled his eyes and made no comment and Ryane giggled as she said, “I slept fine. I never do sleep well…it’s just something weird about me but since Zack was keeping you up, I take you didn’t sleep well?”
He shook his head as he took another chair down, “I just didn’t sleep as long as I might have liked to sleep, Miss R-” She tossed him a look and he corrected himself, “Ryane.”
She smiled as Beth then said, with a nice hard laugh, “I see, Liam, that our dear Ryane is training you not to call her Miss. Is this correct or do my eyes betray me?” She said as she polished off the bar top.
Liam nodded. “That seems to be the gist of it. I don’t see why I bothers you so much, though, Ryane. It’s just being polite.”
She paused as she wiped off the dust that was on the tables. “Well, think of it this way. How much do you enjoy being called sir, or Master Liam, or-”
“I get it.” He said stopping her there with a smile. “I won’t call you Miss, okay?” She nodded and continued to clean up and prepare for early birds.
“Ryane,” Beth then said from behind the bar. “You’re witnessing today. Grab an apron and get ready, three are coming up the street now. Liam, Zack, my husband is out of town this week, could you cover and keep the place under wraps? You have my permission to beat anyone senseless that you have to.”
Ryane then said after Liam and Zack accepted the job, a worried tone and concerned look on her face, “What about Maud? He’s usually pretty…well, he scares me. That man is a serious pervert.” She said looking at Liam worriedly. “He’s dangerous too…”
Liam went over to her and took both her hands in his. He kissed her forehead and then said, softly as he looked her in the eye, “I promise. Zack and I will be careful around this…Maud. We also promise to walk you, and Miss Beth home every night this week to ensure your safety.”
She blushed and smiled up at him as Beth then said, “That’s mighty decent of you, Liam. I’ll pay ya extra to keep the lass here out of trouble. How long are you in town?”
Zack then piped, grinning at Liam as he still held Ryane’s hands. “A week and why pay him to spend extra time with a pretty lady such as Miss Ryane?”
Liam went to grind his knuckles into Zack’s head with a grin saying, chuckling, “Why you…” Ryane smiled, being able to tell that Liam meant no harm to Zack, not really. She went over to the bar and accepted an apron. She pulled it on, smiling at the two boys as Zack muttered “ow” under his breath while Liam gave him a nuggie.
“Ryane,” Beth said softly to her as the boys messed around in some free space. “Watch the bar for…three hours most? I need to go out and get more stocks. There’s enough to last you until I get back but if you run out, have Liam get rid of anyone who wants to complain.” Ryane nodded as Beth went out the back.
For about twenty minutes, it was just her and the boys. She was setting up and they were messing around but she didn’t mind. It was fun to watch. Soon, Liam apparently thought she looked bored as she was setting up the bar and he snuck up behind her while she was lost in thought and wrapped his arms around her, planting a kiss on her cheek. She blushed deeply and looked at him, “Liam!” She was smiling but blushing as he let her go and moved away.
He was grinning sheepishly. “Sorry, Miss Ryane. I’ve just always wondered what you’d do.”
She smiled at him and started to talk when she heard a voice she never wanted to hear again. “My, my, my, if it isn’t Little Miss Ryane Locke.” Cassandra Livingston, in the flesh. Cassandra was beautiful, that was well known. She had long golden hair and bright blue eyes. Her skin was light and she was slim. She wore a bright pink dress with a low cut neckline that hugged her body but not to a whorish point.
Ryane sighed. “Hello, Miss Livingston. How may I be of service to you this fine day?” She said slapping on her best fake smile.
“Me and my gal-” She paused as she set her sights on Liam. Oh great. Now she’s going to steal him from me too…just like everyone else I’ve ever really cared for… She thought as Cassandra then said, “Who is this fine gentleman, Ryane?”
Ryane looked rather annoyed. She was here to serve up food and ale, not chat idly. She then said, wearily, “Liam, may I introduce you to Cassandra Livingston, Cassandra, I’d like you to meet Liam Harrison.”
Cassandra walked forward, her heels clicking as she did, and extended her hand, which Liam politely accepted and bowed over, though, unlike when he had met Ryane, he made no move to kiss her hand. She blushed and said, acting all flustered, “My, you are a gentlemen!”
He rose to his foot six and seven inches and said, kindly, “One must be respectful to a lady such as yourself, Miss Livingston.” He called her Miss Livingston. That’s even more formal than he was with me…
She giggled. “Oh please sir, call me Cassandra.”
Liam then countered, “It would be improper, Miss Livingston, for me to call you by your first name.”
Ryane smiled at him, she had to. She couldn’t really help it. She then said to Cassandra, “Can I be taking your order, Miss Cassandra?”
“Miss Livingston, Ryane.” She said with a little ice in her tone. Ryane rolled her eyes which earned her a harsh comment from one of Cassandra’s girls, and then Cassandra said, “Learn your place, Ryane.”
Ryane was never good at holding her temper against this girl so she then snapped, “Learn to take off that mask of yours, Cassandra.”
“I wear no mask!” She said appalled.
Ryane shrugged and grinned. “Oops. My mistake, that’s your face then?” She said leaning on the bar a bit. Zack’s jaw had dropped and Liam had been slowly backing away from the two of them. A cat fight was sure to break out any second.
“Yes, this is my face!” She said, not really seeming to get the joke.
Ryane took on a sympathetic look as she said, “I’m sorry sweetie, there hasn’t been a cure made for ugliness yet…tough luck.” She said with a sweet smile and shrug.
“Why you!” She said taking a step toward the bar, daggers in her eyes. Ryane looked sweet and downright happy.
“Why what? Why were you born so repulsive? I don’t know. Ask your father which drunken whore he slept with while your mother was sleeping with his brother, maybe you’ll get some answers.” Her voice was colder than ice now.
“That’s it, you little b***h!” Cassandra said leaping toward Ryane. It did her no good, Liam jumped in the way and stopped her.
“Hold on now you two! Calm down! Ryane, apologize!” He said looking over at Ryane calmly.
She scoffed. “No. I don’t do retractions, Liam.” He rolled his eyes and then said, getting Zack to block off Cassandra who was although taller- skinny as a stick and weak.
Liam walked up to the bar as she polished a mug and said, “I’m not asking you to take it back, I’m asking you to apologize for the sake of peace and justice, it wasn‘t right for you to say those things to her.”
She slammed the mug down and said, “She puts innocent, good and innocent people to work as slaves!” She then said, her temper rising, “Where’s the justice? There is none! She deserves none! She deserves a nice boot to her face! Here, let me be the one to give it to her!” She said leaping over the bar at Cassandra.
Liam grabbed her and said, “You’re acting like a child!”
She shoved away from him and said, “Forgive me for hating someone who would put innocent people to slavery simply for being born black.”
Cassandra then said, “The savages deserve-”
Not even Liam or Zack could stop Ryane from attacking Cassandra that time. She punched Cassandra hard in the face, breaking her nose, then again, putting a nice bruise on her face. “You horrible, horrible witch!” She said as Liam hauled her off Cassandra. Cassandra had been too stunned to fight back.
“Ryane!” Liam said, his own voice rising now.
She shoved away from him and barked, “No! Get her out of here or I’ll just attack her again! She’s a horrible, racist b***h!” Ryane turned her back on them all and went upstairs, all the way up to the attic. He didn’t understand. None of them did. Ryane’s mother had been a slave and it ruined her. It made life incredibly difficult for her. Ryane’s mother, Joanne, had been bought by Ryane’s father but not as his slave, but to save her from life as a slave but to the rest of the world, she was still a slave who married her master. Her mother may have been made a slave simply for doing the same thing Ryane did, telling a Livingston just what she thought of them, but it didn’t make it anymore right.
“Ryane!” She heard Liam say from downstairs, coming up. She ignored him and didn’t answer. She pulled on a rope which unleashed a step ladder that led up into the attic. She grabbed a candle, lit it, and went up. She looked around and saw that it hadn’t been touched since her last visit. It was too dark to make much out, which frightened her a bit. She had never been very brave but her anger was bigger than her fear of what could be lurking in the shadows. She went up and started lighting more candles until the whole room was washed in light. She relaxed and pulled the step ladder up just in time to lock Liam out- at least for a minute.
She sat in the hammock, her dress hanging off the side a bit as she lay down, gently rocking back and forth. Liam came up and said, “You acted like a little child.” She ignored him again. “You could at least answer me.”
“You don’t understand me in the least, so there’s no doubt as to why you don’t understand my outburst.” She said turning her head to face away from him.
He pulled up a chair and sat in it backwards. “Start explaining then.” She looked at him for a real long time before explaining about her mother. Liam sat there for a time and said, “You shouldn’t let her get to you like that…”
Ryane sighed. “I don’t have much control on my temper with this kind of thing… I lost it, alright? I’ll apologize to you but not her. So here it is: I’m sorry.”
After staring at her for a long minute, he hugged her, which, made her swallow slowly, and rub his back saying softly, “Something wrong, Liam?”
He shook his head and pulled away, getting up and heading for the trap door, looking back at her with a smile. “It’s just…nothing. Forget I said anything.”
She got up and grabbed his hand. “Please tell me…please.” He turned to her and stepped close to her, making her cheeks get slightly pink, then slightly more pink as he gently stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers, his eyes hooded and a gentle smile on his face.
“Ryane…” He said softly, his face less than an inch from hers…
“Liam! Ryane! Where are you two? Customers are going to start coming in! C’mon! I need help down here!” Came Zack’s voice from below the ladder. Liam sighed softly.
He smiled at her and stepped back, saying as if nothing had just happened, “We should get down and help him, sound good?” He went down before she could answer and she heard him say to Zack, “You couldn’t have waited just two more minutes?” This made her smile and she went down.
She went up to Liam and pecked him on the cheek, passing him without a word. She saw Beth coming back and took the minor lecture for beating up Cassandra. Everyone in this town hated that girl, so, Beth wasn’t going to loose too much if the maybe ten people who liked her didn’t come back here compared to the hundred that poured in every day.
Over the day, Ryane served tables and sang and danced from time to time. She missed the call of the crowd and the rush she got when she sang. She missed it dearly. Sometimes, Liam would pick up a guitar and play for her while she sang and soon, this helped her in her discovery that he had a really good, deep, but good voice. They did a couple duets and several were love songs, making Ryane a little pink in the cheeks afterward at the thought of Liam meaning those songs to be for her but she tried not to think of it.
They were on their final act for the night, and Ryane was singing a love song, solo this time. Liam was sipping a watered-down ale. After a couple minutes, she saw him get up and grab his guitar again, singing along with her. She felt her heart sing and pick up pace. Her mind started to race and swim in a wash of light and joy. She wanted to run at him and throw her arms around his neck, and maybe plant a kiss on him but she didn’t. She did, however, smile brightly at him. This man…was amazing in more than just one way and she was determined to get to know him better and maybe even win his heart someday as he had won hers.
She started to sing a new song, only not one that could be made a duet. It was Celtic music, but it was among her favorite kind. She sat on a stool on the stage and blushed as she saw Liam smile that calm, kind, sweet smile at her. She sighed dreamily, softly as the music began. She tapped her foot very softly. The song told of a woman who wished to buy her lover a sword of steel, to generalize it. It was a very beautiful song, though. Difficult too, because she only knew half of it in English but the crowds never seemed to mind. They loved it anyway.
She then said softly, as she sat on the stool, “For those of you who are Celtics or Celtic fans, here is a beautiful song called "Siúil A Rúin." I hope you enjoy it.” She then began to sing.
“Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin
Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom.”
Here she paused for a time while the gentle music played, seeing as it was about time to calm down the bar for the night, she thought to do this song, seeing as it always calmed them down. It wasn’t a very rowdy or sexy song.
“Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin
Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán
I wish I was on yonder hill
'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill
Until every tear would turn a mill
I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel
I'll sell my only spinning wheel
To buy my love a sword of steel.
I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red
And 'round the world I'll beg my bread
Until my parents shall wish me dead.”
She sang the chorus three times over before the song ended. She smiled at the light but strong applause. She stepped down for the night. Liam walked up to her, with Zack in tow along with another tall young fellow. She shook his hand as Liam introduced him, “This is my best and oldest friend on God’s Green Earth, Will.” Will had light brown hair and friendly blue eyes. She could tell that he was a stable hand, right off. At least, he used to be. Harold, the old stable hand down at her old school had the same body build.
She smiled and said, “What’s your last name?”
“Jones, Miss.”
“Tell your father, Ryane Locke says hello.” She said with a big grin. She knew that body build anywhere. He was a Jones.
He looked a tad stunned as he nodded and said, “My father used to say how often you’d beg him to let you use the horses to sneak out or something along those lines.”
Ryane blushed. “Yes, that was me. I never did fit…in…with ladies…” She said as she watched a beyond gorgeous man from her past walk into the bar. He had deep, dark brown hair and gorgeous brown eyes. He was masculine and lean. He wasn’t too tanned or too pale. Girls instantly started throwing themselves at him but when Ryane marched his way, a slight fear came into his previously smug expression.
“Ryane…” Before her stood the only man who knew her inside and out. Before her stood Jared Lee Robert Locke, her eldest brother. Suddenly, there was a loud crrrrrack! Jared’s right cheek now had a deep red hand print on it and his head was turned to the side. He turned back to face her and said, looking now at his apparently furious sister, and started to say, “Good to see you to-”
“How dare you hit him!” Said one of his fan girls.
She then said in French, “I dare to hit my brother for not sending me a damn letter once in a while.” She then reverted to English and repeated it, so now everyone in the room was bound to know what she was talking about. She turned back to her brother and said softly, “Ten goddamn years. Not one letter?”
He gulped.
