Then, as if their words had conjured her up, Lexie’s head appeared around the door to the bar. “There are a few dozen thirsty people here with their tongues dragging along the floor,” she announced. “Is there any chance that a certain young woman can lift her bottom from her chair and come tae help?” Lexie raised her eyebrows in a mischievous question mark.
Evanna giggled. “I suppose I am the young woman in question?”
“Indeed ye are,” Lexie replied, then she moved over to Evanna and hauled her out of her chair. “Please do not make me have tae carry ye.”
“I am comin’, ye evil woman!” Evanna grumbled. She looked down at her father. “Thank ye for yer wise counsel, Da. I will sleep better tonight.” Then she turned and went into the bar.
Bruce Mulholland watched his daughter as she left. He knew that his time was short, that his mind was slowly crumbling, and it broke his heart to think that he would likely never see his grandchildren being born. Even if he did, would he even know them? He sighed, hoping against hope that Fraser McLachlan would come back.
* * *
The tavern was full that afternoon, mostly with the regular customers whom the ladies knew and liked. In the hustle and bustle of all the activity of serving ale, dishing up food, and chatting amiably with the farmers, Evanna forgot her sadness.
“Evanna!” One of the farmers, John Brown, called her over. She went over to him and his brother Tam and raised her eyebrows inquiringly.
“What can I do for ye?” she asked.
“Settle an argument for us,” Tam told her. “We want to know… If ye could wed either one o’ us, which one would ye choose?”
Evanna looked at them, trying not to laugh. They were both stocky and small in stature with light brown hair and blue-grey eyes. Tam was older by two years and would inherit the family farm when his parents died, so she supposed he was the better prospect.
However, she had no intention of starting a family feud, so she laughed and said, “Both o’ ye, of course!” Then she walked away to serve another customer, leaving them laughing.
The day went on in the same happy vein until night fell and the last of the drinkers left to go staggering home. But as soon as the place was empty, gloom settled upon Evanna again like a black cloud.
* * *
Flora and Donna were sitting at a table eating dinner and laughing at something one of the customers had said that night, while Lexie was in the kitchen with Evanna washing dishes. She reflected that business seemed to be picking up, and Evanna had thought of hiring another young woman to help serve in the evening since her father needed more care now than ever.
“What was it he called that woman?” Donna was asking in a shocked tone.
“A crow, was it no’?” Flora replied, giggling. “He was a nasty piece o’ work—” She broke off and gave a piercing shriek as the door to the tavern burst open and in strode Fraser McLachlan with a look of grim determination on his face that put the fear of God into the two young women.
“Where is Evanna?” he demanded. “I need tae speak tae her.”
Flora and Donna exchanged frightened glances, but at that moment, Lexie came out of the kitchen, having been alerted by the noise.
“Can I help ye?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at him as if she were a tiger about to pounce on its prey. She looked down at the two young women and jerked her head at them to order them out of the room, and they immediately jumped to their feet and rushed back to the kitchen where they found Evanna. She gave them a warning look and put a finger to her lips to urge them to be quiet, then they all began to listen intently. Fraser’s deep rumbling voice was not hard to hear, and neither was Lexie’s sharp female one.
Fraser had met some intimidating people in his life, but most of them had been men. Women rarely scared him, but Lexie was in a class of her own.
“Do ye think she will want tae speak tae ye?” Lexie asked pointedly. “Ye were supposed tae come back and see her a while ago. She has been miserable.” She continued to stare straight at him, and the challenge in her deep grey eyes made him quake inside for a few moments, so he took a little while to answer her.
Then Fraser squared his shoulders and looked down his nose at her. Lexie was a tall woman, but he still had four inches on her, and now he used his height to its full advantage. He stepped so close that he was only two feet away from her. Lexie stood her ground, but he saw a twitch at the side of her mouth that betrayed her nervousness.
“I love Evanna, and I want tae see her,” he said firmly. “And if I have tae, I will take this place apart ’til I find her!”
Lexie opened her mouth to answer him in the usual defensive manner she used for those she considered to be bullies, but he put a finger on her lips, staring into her eyes.
“Please do not think I am making idle threats, Lexie.” His voice was menacing. “Because I never do that. If I cannot find her that way, I will stay here until she comes tae see me.”
However, the tall woman was not so easily intimidated. After her brief moment of fear, she was ready to hit back.
“Then ye will have a long wait,” she replied grimly, turning away.
18
“There is no need for that.”