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Big Bub, leaned back in his chair, his large stomach half exposed, a mustard stain on the front of the shirt that stretched over his girth, said, “You got a problem with me, Liam? Want me to take my business somewhere else?”
“Now, Big Bub, ye ken as well as I ken, ye arna allowed in any other pubs and ye ken if ye cause trouble in my pub, I’m goin’ tae have tae ask ye tae leave.”
He shoved his chair back and stood, weaving dangerously, then righting himself tae glare at me across the table with his chest all bowed out.
I said, “Big Bub, now ye’re up in m’face, ye’re goin’ tae hae tae leave. The lassie was comin’ intae my pub, and ye’re interferin’ in my business. Ye’re causin’ trouble — should I call your sister tae come get ye?”
“Nah, she’s being a nag.”
“Good, I’m sure ye deserved it — why daena ye go tae the bar, get yer last round, and join Jimmy at the pool table, while I talk tae the lassie.”
He turned around, almost falling over, and staggered over tae the pool table.
I turned my attention tae Blakely, who did, as Naisha had said, look as if she had been through an ordeal. “How come ye’re hangin’ around with the likes of Big Bub? He is nothing but pickled human wearin’ week old shorts.”
She put her head in her hands. “Ugh, I don’t know. I couldn’t figure out what to do—”
“Ye need a hotel, Lassie?”
“Yes, desperately.”
“Did Big Bub happen tae mention the Trailhead Motel, right out the back door here, within walkin’ distance?”
She dropped her arms down and looked up at me. “He made it seem like he would have to take me somewhere. What a dick. There’s a hotel?”
“Aye, but daena get yer hopes up. It is a motel and not a sophisticated one. Ye look like ye hae higher standards, but then again...” I looked over at Big Bub scratching his arse at the pool table.
She followed my eyes. “I guess it’s gotta be better than the alternative. What even was he planning — was I going to be trafficked?”
I sighed. “Nae, Big Bub is just a dumb-as-rocks hillbilly who thought he had shot with ye. Plus, he daena hae a car, I imagine his sister would hae put a stop tae his romantic plans. Where ye comin’ from?”
“Los Angeles, my flight just got in a few hours ago. I was supposed to stay in a cabin right over there.” She waved her hand toward the door. “But I couldn’t remember the code for the lockbox. My phone was dead...” She dug around in her big leather handbag and fished out a smashed phone.
“Och, tis nae a phone anymore. Do ye want another beer before ye check intae the motel?”
“Actually, no, I really want a Coke, please, for the caffeine, a water too, if it’s not too much trouble.” She pushed the beers away.
“Aye, and let me move this chair. It needs tae be hosed down since Big Bub sat in it with his arse hanging out.” I carried the chair tae the dark corner of the pub.
* * *
Naisha smirked when I returned tae the bar, and lowered her voice tae mimic me, “’Och, pretty lassie, let me pick up this chair and move it, look at my muscles ripple.’”
I chuckled. “Och, I couldna let her sit near the arse chair. I wasna showin’ off, I was bein’ considerate.”
“Right, and what is it you said you do back in Scotland? You pick up that big log and throw it? Is that to be considerate? ‘Hello, pretty lady, let me move this log for ye tae be considerate with my hot self.’”
I joked, “Aye, in Scotland it is the way we meet a lass, by throwing a log, tis why our datin’ app is called Timbr.”
She laughed. “Scotland sounds like a weird place.”
Naisha rang the bell for the last call. Twas nae necessary, the pub was small and we could hae just whispered, ‘last call,’ and all would hae heard, but we rang the bell anyway.
Then we passed out the last drinks, called Big Bub’s sister and told her tae come get his arse, did the last chores, and closed out the tabs.
Then Blakely came up tae the bar and held out her credit card.
“What ye tryin’ tae pay for? Yer drinks are on the house for the trouble Big Bub almost caused ye.”
