Captive

Chapter Twelve

"Well ain't you a sight for sore eyes!" Jim came round the bar and to her surprise enveloped her in a warm bear hug as she came in with Brian for her first night back at work a week after the incident that had landed her in hospital. In that week she had spent a couple of days in bed, only getting up to eat, drink and use the bathroom. But after that she more or less went back to her normal duties, feeling much better now she had her medication again. Bret had been a little distant and the promised telling off hadn't happened which she couldn't decide if she was disappointed about or relieved. It felt a little as if he didn't actually care as he barely spoke to her other than to occasionally ask if she was ok and if she'd taken her meds. When he was sure she was ok he had been happy to have her return to cooking, cleaning and laundry, though if her hand strayed to her chest he would be watching through eagle eyes to ensure she was actually alright. He'd insisted she kept one bottle of pills in the kitchen so that he could keep an eye on them, telling her that when one had run out she could transfer some from one jar to the other so she always had some in the bedroom as well.

"Did you miss me, Jim?" she asked, with a small laugh as he set her back on her feet.

"Just a little," he said, beaming at her. "But I have been scrupulous about keeping on top of the cleaning. You won't find a speck of dust anywhere." She smiled and went to inspect as he followed her like an eager puppy waiting for her to praise him.

"You've done a good job," she said and he gave her a grin.

"Just as well; we're likely to be busy today. We've got a crowd of wrestlers coming in I'm afraid. Stampede have hosted a battle royal over the weekend and they're all pouring in here tonight. Boss might even show his face for once. Are you going to be ok? I mean if you feel even the slightest bit unwell I want you sat down out the back with a cup of tea until you feel better ok? Don't you ever disappear in the bathroom to collapse again. I take it you've got plenty of meds now?"

"Yes I have," she said and he frowned folding his arms across his chest and looking a little more like the intimidating man she had thought he was for a moment.

"You ever scare me like that again young lady I'll put you over my knee and whoop your ass," he said, so sternly that she really believed he would.

"I won't," she said quickly and he relaxed as he went across to open the door for the first of their customers. It was so busy that Juliet didn't have time to get tired; there was too much to do to pause and consider how she was feeling but she was glad of it. Bret didn't show his face and she was a little disappointed by this but as the evening drew to a close she noticed a man about the same age as her sat at a table still drinking even as a lot of the men were leaving. He was a handsome man, maybe six feet tall and a similar build to Bret but with long dark blonde hair which was in a neat braid down his back and eyes the colour of the ocean somewhere between blue and green. He was tanned and when he smiled his teeth shone bright white against his skin. He leaned back in his seat and observed as she came to collect the glasses from his table.

"Howdy there little miss," he drawled and she felt her lips automatically curve into a smile at his playful greeting.

"Good evening," she responded and hearing her accent he leaned forwards in his chair.

"English?" he asked and she nodded, a little shyly. "Are you Juliet by any chance?"

"Yes," she said startled and he smiled.

"I'm a good friend of Mark's," he explained. "He told me his little sister lived in these parts and I was hoping I might meet you. I'm Shawn."

"Nice to meet you Shawn," she replied, taking the hand he held out to her but instead of shaking her hand he brought it to his lips, raising his eyes to meet her gaze flirtatiously. Juliet froze at the action, suddenly uncomfortable and glanced towards the bar where Jim was serving the last dregs of customers before they closed for the night. Shawn seemed to see her discomfort because he immediately dropped her hand and stopped the flirting, giving her an apologetic smile.