A Fateful Hand (Adams/Carlisle)

[Lovely]

Sept 20, Year 1
(Exact date lost to msn glitches )
Late evening


Mister Adams was in the habit of betting and losing at cards, so much so that it was no surprise his funds for the night were quickly dwindling and mister Carlisle's winnings were piling up. He'd lost just about all of his cash and would soon be out of the game or out of drink and neither appealed to him. He'd had a spat as he thought of their fights, with Aeilandra and taken a few of her pieces of jewelry from her as punishment. He had these in his pocket and started to use them in his wagers, he lost each piece and soon his own wedding band was in the pile. It was no real surprise to anyone when he lost that as well, but to him it was. He was becoming aggitated with how well the hands seemed to go in Carlisle's favor and how horribly they were in his own.

He was pissed that he lost his own ring so he upped the stakes some and offered Aeilandra's ring in an effort to get his own back, he lost again. The longer he sat at the table the drunker and more pissed off he was getting, thus the stupider he acted. He was making an offer to bet his wife! In effort to get his material possesions back he was tossing his wife into the pot, if the man at the table would take the offer.

At the bar a man was watching the game quietly, thinking of and nearly getting up from his stool to punch mister Adams out for his outrageous offer. Mister Adam's wife was a lady not an ante after all.. He kept himself in his seat, thinking and coming up with something better. Rory rose up and stepped to the table where the game was paused, with a sheet of paper in his hand. "I'm the town magistrate here, sir... if you're betting your wife I'm assuming you're cancelling your marriage? Sign here... you lose... you're legally, by the state of New Mexico, officially divorced."

"Bet the man Mister Carlisle... I'm sure he won't want to lose his wife in such a lowly game of cards," he said to his brother with a wink.

Adams huffed and pushed Rory aside, slurring drunkenly. "I win.. everything.. that whole pile you won.. is mine." He eyed some of Alex's winnings.

Alex watched his older brother curiously. A wink? Rory? What was he up to? "Alright, lad. Y'think you can take the pile, you sign the line there for the nice man and you and your wife have a lovely dinner on me. I win... your wife has dinner with me, if we understand one another?"

Rory restrained the jump across the table, knowing what his brother suggested behind the smirk. He held back the grumble and handed Adams a pen. "He's making you an honest deal, I'd say... sign here to make your bet complete."

He chuckled, his eyes remaining on the pile of winnings, so he hardly heard what the man next to him was saying. He grabbed the pen and started signing. "Dinner with my wife if I lose.. " His eyes smoldered, a sadistic smile twisting his face.. even if he lost he'd make Aeilandra 'have dinner' with the man and then he'd make her pay for it when she came home.

Alex watched, partly amused, partly horrified as the pen's ink scrawled the release of the man's marriage. He looked at Rory with a briefly questioning gaze and then to the dealer as he rolled up his sleeves. One thing Alex was not, was a cheat, though many, especially Cody, felt he was. The rolling of the sleeves was not for comfort, but assurance that no cards were concealed and no tricks were at work. "Right then lad... once your ink is dried, best to call on the lass and work up her appetite. If the magistrate would be so kind, perhaps he could fetch her to have her sit with the winnings?"

Rory's glance was cold and full of sharply gleaming daggers, warning his brother not to overdo or otherwise jinx the luck in his hand. If the man won the girl back fairly, no small amount of harm would come to her, he knew, although she'd have no idea why. Adams was a man who would blame her for his misfortune though she knew nothing about it. "I'll send someone, Mister Carlisle. Mister Adams... the paper and pen, please?" Rory, ever being attached to his office, pulled a seal from the deep pocket of his coat, two plates that when tamped together, would leave the mark of his office through the page.

[Lovely]

His nod was curt as he watched Alex carefully, or as carefully as a drunk man could. His hand reached without a glance to Rory, to pass him the paper and pen. "Send some one to fetch her.. So we might get this done with.. I'm eager for my winnings."

Lucky, the small boy with skill at working fast and running faster, was clearing glasses and bowls from tables and from beneath passed-out patrons waiting to be carried out. Rory called him over when he returned from the back room empty-handed. "Lucky... I want you to take my horse. Go to the far end of town, gather Mrs. Adams at the request of her husband and bring her here. If she's only in her dressing gown, allow her time to dress and pin her hair, but not ask or answer any questions. Alright? Go on...," he nodded, turning the boy and patting his back to push him toward the door. Maggie could manage without the boy for a few minutes as all eyes were beginning to turn to the table.

Alex smirked at the comment of the man believing he'd win. He closed his eyes and mumbled a nearly-silent prayer, pulling his charm from his collar for a kiss and thanks to his grandmother before turning his gaze back on the cards that lay on the table before him. He laid his hand flat over them, not lifting them up yet, but placing a higher than usual beginning bet to start the game off with entertainment value. "Your bet, lad... hope y'can go steep... I won't let you lose simply," he grinned.

"Boy!" He bellowed towards the kid who was going to fetch his wife. "To hell if she's in her dressing gown.. you get her right down here, tell her to bring my black satchel from the amoire.. and if she knows what's good for her she'll be here before I check my watch." His lip curled in a viscious grin, Aeilandra would know his meaning and if she wanted to be able to go out of the house in the next month, she would not spend a moment getting dressed or on her hair. Adams turned back to the table, and pulled money from his breast pocket, matching Alex's bet.

With a nod and the clever boyish gleam starting to glow in his eye, Alex pulled a swig of beer then slowly raised his cards, one at a time to lengthen the game. He started to whistle casually as he gazed on the cards, not giving the man another glance. Once the fifth card was raised, he tossed in an exaggerated raise, the extra coin clattering off the rings in the center as a reminder of what the man stood to lose.

He watched Alex with a dangerous angry look, one that normally had his wife shrinking into the corner. The clatter of coin against the wings, made his eyes darken further. "I'll enjoy dinner.. and a night of merriment at your expense."

The hand progressed back around to Adams. Alex had dropped three cards for replacements, but continued whistling jovially between sips of beer, seeming eased and calm regardless of the numbers showing in his hand.

Adams took time to study his cards, sipping of his drink as well. He looked to Alex with a smile, nodding to the man's glass. "Another round for our table." He called, reaching to slide money for the round from his meger pile on the table. He waited for Aeilandra to arrive with his satchel and more money for him to gamble with. After calling for the drinks, he too traded in three cards.

"Since we just sent the houseboy off to fetch the lass, perhaps the magistrate would be so kind to refill our cups?" Alex beamed a teasing smile at his brother. It wasn't certain whether Adams knew their relation. The boys were separated by a decade in age and looked quite different, Rory appearing darker headed like Sam and Patrick, and Alex having the more fair likeness of their mother. Best to keep that knowledge from the man otherwise for now he thought. "Brown ale and more whiskey for the kind sir who is emptying his pockets so generously."

His anger at the slight in the end of Alex's words was apparent as he mulled over his cards and watched the door for his wife to show up.

No end of contemptous glare was held on his younger sibling, though it broke away a moment as he turned to get them fresh glasses. The glare shifted instead to Adams again, the glass being set down and the paper resting, mocking him, in the middle of the table. Alex had best not lost this hand, he warned in the glance he gave him as he set down a fresh mug of dark ale for him.

[Lovely]

{Aeilandra joins from: Fetching Aeilandra

The bag in hand and she was swiftly on her way to the saloon, she could not help the worry or fear that ran through her. The boy's words had been truer than he could have imagined, the way Abraham acted up in 'public' was mild compared to the way he was at home. The ride was a blur, for her as she rushed to get to the saloon, praying he'd not be angry with her. Pulling up to the walk, she dropped gracefully from the horse and tied him to the rail.

The sound of the horse hooves outside and the heels on the wood planks, brought a wicked smile to Adam's face. He was possesive and obsessive about his wife, he knew the sound of her footsteps when she hurried in fear of his anger. His eyes flickered to the doors and then back to the pile on the table, settling on the gleam of their rings and the paper. His eyes shifted to Alex, there was no way he was going to let that or any man ever 'have dinner' with his wife.

Lucky ran off as fast as his legs would carry, but knew if she didn't pass him on the way, he'd have to stop short and wait or they'd both be hung. She flew past him only moments later and he paused for a breath. Looking up, he saw the sheriff leaning on the rail down the road, looking like he was closing up shop for the night. He waved the man down, only satisfied to stop reeling his arm in the air when he saw the smoke fly from the man's fingers to the dirt and the rifle get pulled up into his hand to head in his direction. Once he was certain he was following, Lucky entered just behind Aeilandra's hurried steps and came to the table. "Fetched her sir," he said quietly, not stating which 'sir' he spoke to.

She smoothed her hand over her hair and gave a shy, nervous smile to the men at the table, "Good evening." her eyes fluttering to her husband as she walked up, holding out the satchel for him.

Exagerrating the drink's affect on him, Alex watched Aeilandra approach and noted the tremor in her smile. "Yeah, I'd say I'm getting hungry already, lad," he said, now purposely avoiding his brother's gaze.

Rory stepped aside and pulled up a chair for her. "Not usual to have a lady at the table, Missus Adams, but not usual to have the stakes your husband seems fit to play this evening," he nodded to the paper that lay unrolled on the table, hinting that she read it.

Lucky watched her, then the Carlisle boys, then turned to see an even more-drunken Adams leaning over his cards and reaching for the satchel. He nodded that his deed was done and slipped out the door quietly to talk to the sheriff. If the man lost, it would get ugly pretty quickly and if he was half the terror he was at Tess's house, then here and full of drink, he'd be worse, he was sure of it.

Before she could reach for the paper to read it, Adams got to his feet, pulling her closer to him. "You'll be starving, Carlisle.." He said, quietly, indicating that Alex would not be winning the hand. He leaned into his wife, an arm wrapped tightly around her slender waist. He held the back of her head and laid quite the kiss on her, not caring that she tried to pull away. He laughed at the look of shock and mild disgust on her face and began to yank her coat from her. "Come on Aeil.. relax.." He shoved her down into the chair, his hand digging into her shoulder. "Sit down and be a good girl, now."

Her eyes had moved to Rory as he spoke and she was about look at the paper when Abraham grabbed her. She was embarrassed at his display in front of the other men and she hated when he touched her, adding to her embarrasment he pulled her coat from her, leaving her in her robe and night clothes. His fingers on her shoulder were sure to leave a mark, but she was thankful that he'd done nothing to hurt her further. Her eyes cast to his walking stick and the way his fingers curled around the top of it, as if mocking her when he sat back down. She noticed the way he seemed to sneer and smirk at Alex, as if trying to 'show off' for him. Aeilandra was to say the least, uncomfortable her eyes flickering to each of the men and her hand reaching to adjust her collar.

Rory winced on her behalf, knowing not to interfere before the game was over though he wanted to rip the man's hand from his arm at the moment. He did offer what he could, "Now, Mister Adams, it is a might bit chilly out... fall and all that. Might be best to let her keep her coat on, least in here with the cold drafts..."

[Lovely]

Something in Alex's smirk was a genuine attraction to the woman, he would be the first to admit. She was pretty to be sure, but nothing in the attraction warmed his heart in the way another girl in town had managed. His smile for her was nonetheless friendly and perhaps something warm for her to focus on besides the wrestlings of the man she was wed to... for how long that would last, he nodded silently to himself, glancing back at his cards. It was a winning hand to be sure, but would it beat what Adams held... he wasn't sure.

Adams glanced at Rory and then tossed Aeilandra's coat into the chair opposite of her. "She'll be fine... besides.. I think the lad doesn't mind how she's dressed.. gives him something more to wet his appetite, eh?" He chuckled taking a swig of his glass and then looking to his wife, with more warning flashing in his eye, than he would normally give her. He then focused on his cards again, opening his satchel and pulling more money onto the table. He even felt generous enough to place some coins in front of Aeilandra. "Have a drink." He chuckled and looked back to Alex. "Everything satisfactory? Shall we continue?" He glanced at Rory and then to his wife, his fingers running over his lips.

Nearly a hundred dollars and several coins lay out in plain view on the table already in addition to the rings and the signed paper. It was enough for two tickets out of the city and lodging for a couple weeks, but Patrick had merely asked for any gold he won. That would take a chunk of the total of the winnings, but Alex scarcely concerned himself with that. His winnings weren't his to keep as he'd promised to help Ciara any way he could and this money would go to her. He nodded that they continue, giving Aeilandra an apologetic grin as he turned back to his cards. The final raise was now laid on the table and he had to meet it. "A moment lad... add this to the pot," he said, reaching to untie the charm from his neck. "That and these few bills and we'll have a look at y'cards, now."

Rory's jaw twisted a little in disbelief that Alex would ever consider losing the medal from their gram. His expression was awed as he turned the chair across from Aeillandra and sat, resting partly on her coat as he watched. "Alexander...?"

Aeilandra was sitting, tensed up with her hands folded in her lap, her eyes flickered to the paper and her head tipped as she saw the gold bands. Her brow furrowed and she frowned, her eyes lifting in question as she recognised them.

Lucky came back in and busied himself with pulling up empty glasses around the room, taking them quickly to the back, half expecting any that remained out would soon be broken.

Everitt followed the boy in, Gertrude resting at his shoulder. "Gentlemen... game going well?" He said, seeming to take only a cursory interest as he passed the table. The quick glances to his brothers might not have been seen by anyone else. They would understand it that he was anticipating trouble and was ready for it, though others would see it as just a greeting. He slipped off to the bar, murmuring to Maggie and watching from the short distance away.

Adams smirked, but seemed a bit nervous as he stroked his chin. He watched Alex and all but ignored his wife, the others in the room faded to nothing for him. "Alright boy.. shall we ask my wife what she'd like for dinner?" He laid his cards out and watched Alex with a grin.

"Hopefully you'll like dining on crow, lad," he whispered coldly to Adams, unsmiling and casting a glance to sheriff. "Step away from the man, Missus Adams. Y'won't be goin' home tonight," his tone was not filled with the buzz of drink, but with a cautionary sobriety as he placed his cards on the table, first a pair to match the man's lowest, then a second pair, slightly lower than the man's. The fifth card was placed, a trio beside the pair. "Full house, lad, but yours'll be empty tonight."

It took a moment for his words to sink in but then she slowly turned towards Alex's voice. "I wont be.. going home." She whispered softly, "Where will I be going?" her eyes going back to the rings on the table and then to the murderous look on her husband's face. The rest of Alex's words floated to her ears as the shock set itself over her face and realization crept over her. "Me.. you bet me? You bet me.. " She shook her head, slowly.. it couldn't be true. "You bet me?" She repeated softly. "And you lost... " Her eyes closed and she licked her lips. "Oh my god.." She whispered, slowly opening her eyes and looking at Alex.. the man who had just won.. her from Abraham... He'd said she wasn't going home, she didn't want to think about what that meant. If she wasn't already sitting, she would have fallen to the floor.

[Lovely]

Adam's face twisted as his eyes fell to the cards Alex laid on the table and his words penetrated the screaming in his ears. "No." He said in disbelief as he looked again to the cards. His lip curled up in a snarl as he stood abruptly, his chair tipping back and hitting the floor. "Aeilandra.. get over here!" He barked, motioning the girl to him. "Carlisle.. you are not touching my wife."

Lucky was about to come out from back but heard Alexander and turned back around with a wimper, getting ready with the broom and bucket.

Aeilandra was too shocked to move, her eyes kept flicking from the rings on the table, to the cards and then to Alex. What kind of man would bet his wife, and what sort would accept such a bet? What was the intention and implication that she was not going home? The looks that had been cast and comments made between the two men, gave her an inkling of things and such thoughts made her skin crawl.

Adams stared coldly at Alex, teetering slightly as he was drunk. He was angry and there was no way he was leaving without his wife and there was no way he was going to let anyone else leave with her.

"You're right, lad, I won't be. But she's not going home with you. You have no legal power to order her to either," Alex trilled out, full of Irish feist. "I won her freedom fairly. She's not yours to bully about like that... not any longer."

"Mister Adams... best pick up your chair and leave quietly. You signed your agreement. She's no longer your wife," Rory stated calmly, pushing himself between her and the man.

"What do you mean.. I'm no longer his wife?" Between what Alex and Rory had said, her head was reeling.

"Sheriff, I do believe this woman is now under the guardianship of the county by document signed in agreement by Mister Abraham Adams. That leaves you in charge of her welfare, if you would, sir," he said, taking the paper he now rolled and held out to Everitt. "A divorce decree... "

Lucky watched, broom in hand, moving back again after seeing the look on Adams' face. "Sorry Miss Marguerite... somethin' I gotta do right quick," he said, dropping the broom and heading out to go back the Adams' home. He feared now for Janette's safety if the mister went home and the missus wasn't there.

The room spun for a moment and she gripped the table to steady herself. "Divorce?" She breathed, her head shaking slowly. "You didn't... please.. tell me you didn't." She looked to Abraham now, waiting for him to answer her.

Alex deftly pulled his charm back from the pile on the table and pushed it in his pocket along with rings. The paper monies were quickly pulled and stuffed as well and he'd risen to start on the coins. "He did, lass. I'm sorry," he murmured to her, motioning to the bar for a glass of water for her.

[Lovely]

Everitt looked at his brother curiously and took the paper, not reading it, but tucking it in his coat. "Don't seem proper to have such a thing happen over a hand of cards, boys, but what's done is done. The magistrate here says you're divorced from the girl, then the lad's right and you best be goin' on your way."

"You and I are not done yet." He reached to Grab Alex by the arm, his voice a growl. "I am not leaving without her." He spoke coldly, not turning to look at the sheriff. "If she knows what's good for her, she'll be coming home with me." He tipped his head with a malicious grin on his face. "and I'm sure she doesn't wish to be left with nothing but what she's wearing now." He smirked.

"Abe." She said softly, looking up to the man who was gathering his winnings, he was probably not much older than she was. She gave Alex a soft smile, that quickly vanished, her bright but troubled blue eyes shifting away. "Let him go, he won the hand fair, let him take his money.. you're the one who made the bet."

"Your threats don't hold water here, son. Now I'll ask you kindly to unhand the boy and be on your way. I won't be kind a second time," Everitt cautioned, rising from the stool.

Alex stilled and froze, actually chilled by the man's touch on his bared arm. He'd had enough drink to be in the mood to scrap and over a woman's honor was a better reason than most he'd had. He made note of the walking stick and Doyle's handiwork, making sure that would be the first out of the man's reach. "What's the matter, Sheriff? He thinks I have something of his, let him try to take it out of my hide," he taunted.

Adams held onto the boy a moment longer, his grin tipping and eyes taking an even darker hue. "See there sheriff, the boy is asking for a whooping.." He chuckled. "Aeil.. he might even save you from yours later." He yanked a bit on Alex's arm. "You won't mind me giving you her share too, will you?"

Alex pulled his arm away and gave him a look. That he threatened the girl more than once in front of him and mocked her at the same time was raising his ire that much more. He pulled the coin that was his to a hat and set it off to the side under the watchful eye of the dealer who'd been smart enough to pull back and not take part in the melee. He nodded to Alex and took the hatfull into his lap, conveniently tipping Adams' heavy iron walking stick to the floor. Alex stretched a foot beneath the table to roll it out of reach of the man. "If it'll keep y'from harming the girl, then come get me, lad," he taunted further in a harsh whisper. The man likely didn't know how fast and light the boy was on his feet.

Rory protested all of it now. "I can't condone you all having a fight over this. What he signed is legal and sealed. There's no arguing the point, Adams, she's a free woman under the state's charge, so if you'll be asking to have her back, you need to talk to that kind man over there with the rifle."

He was about to have at it with Alex, when Rory spoke, his balled fists dropped down and he turned to the man. With a laugh and a shake of his head, he took a swing at Rory. "Stay out of this." He staggered a bit, his swing wide and not likely to connect with the man, but more likely to end him in Aeilandra's lap behind him. "Get out of my way and get away from my wife!"

Rory dodged the swing and let the momentum carry Adams around in a spin. The more disoriented he became, the more likely Alex would have a short fight and be done, if not done before he began. "What's that, Everitt? Assault on an officer of the law and magistrate... that's an evening in jail, I believe, isn't it?"

[Lovely]

Everitt fought the grin, watching the man stagger and topple. "Public drunkeness earns him a second night. Alexander could rightly tell him that one himself."

Aeilandra rose, finally as Abraham angrily plowed into Alex. Her hand on Rory's arm, attempted to turn him towards her frightened and distraught gaze. "Please..." She said softly. "You're just going to make him angrier.. worse to deal with.. and for me later."

Alex jumped back as the man tumbled after him, knocking into the table behind him and tipping its contents to the floor and laps of the men seated there. "Sorry lads, he started it," he nearly chuckled, reaching for Adams' collar to pull him outside for more room.

Everitt was about to jump between them and emphasize his point when Aeillandra seemed to plead with Rory for the game to end and be forgotten. The paper was no game and he questioned his brother's motive for it, but seeing Adams carry on, he'd seen evidence enough that Rory was likely saving her life. "Take it outside boys or you'll be scrapping a week in my 'corner room'," he said, referring to the small cell by his office that was scarcely enough for one man let alone two.

Rory looked to her with the same look that had held wonder for the sunset he'd shown her, perhaps revealing more than was appropriate for the moment. "Somethin' that's needed doing ... or undoing for a long time," he said gently, brushing a finger over the darkening bruise on her cheek. "Can't condone it any longer... not on my watch."

"Divorced?" Her icey blue eyes filled with tears, one rolling down her cheek as he brushed his finger over the bruise on her face. "It's nothing.. nothing compared to what he'll do if I don't go home." She shook her head, bewildered and very afraid of the man she'd just been divorced from. "Where am I supposed to go? I don't have a home.. any longer.."

"Anywhere in this town but there," he said. "Or any town you choose. A ward of the state will allow you housing you choose..."

"Don't go off bein' an idiot, Rory... you're coming up to the house with me and Elizabeth, ma'am," Everitt chimed in, sneering at Rory. "Plenty of room, and it's got a locked gate. Seems your hero here didn't think that far ahead when he emancipated you."

She turned towards Everitt as he spoke. "Hero? I lost my home.. and everything that belonged to me.. I have nothing.. not even a respectable name..."

"I'll let you take that up with him by the light of day, ma'am. Meanwhile, since your... ex... husband will be spending the night down the street, I don't expect it'll be safe for you to be at home alone. Elizabeth would likely adore the company. Might even be she'll be somewhat compassionate to your circumstance. Sayin' I can only keep him the one night, maybe two based on the charges, ma'am. In his own home there ain't nothing I'm allowed to enforce, if we understand one another."

"No.. I really don't think I understand you.. or any of this." She said softly. "I was summoned here to find that my husband divorced me on a bet in a card game and now I have nothing but the clothes I'm wearing... and I'm to beg the kindness of some woman I have never met and hope she takes pity on me.." She half chuckled, half sobbed. "The mood I suddenly find myself in, I doubt any one will find my company pleasant." Her hands raised, her fingers rubbing her temples as her head swam. "You think it won't be safe for me to be home alone tonight? Except.. I don't have a home.. and it hasn't been safe for me, in three years. In case there was any question about that." She felt ill, relieved, angry and completely confused, lost... Divorced? What was she to do now? Options were few and none of them appealing at the moment.

[Lovely]

"Someone want to come out here and mop up when we're done," chimed Alex, poking his head in the door a moment, sporting a puffed and cut lip around the smile. He pulled away as quickly, dodging the fist that came at the door frame above his head.

Aeilandra flinched as the door was hit, cringing lightly as if she expected the other man to charge in and drag her out, despite the sheriff and magistrate who stood near her.

Adams for his part and in his drunken and enraged state, continued to plow after and attempt to give Alex a good thrashing. He was cursing, holding his hand for a moment after missing Alex and hitting the wood of the door. The moment passed and he went back after Alex.

Alex had little intention of damaging the man more than exhausting him, though his anger over the threats against his wife were enough to give him reason to split the man apart. A few solid punches were thrown, but he kept them moving in circles as the man dove for him. "You can do better, lad... c'mon, now."

Rory sighed, sorry for her and more for Alex's behavior. "If you're up for it perhaps a drink will help slow the room down some?" He offered, not knowing what else to do yet. Everitt was right that he hadn't thought that far ahead and what he'd like to do was far from appropriate at the moment. "Seems the sheriff's got the best idea. Only other'd be staying with us, or Tess's girls, though I'm not sure either'd suit you at all."

Her stormy eyes lifted to look upon, Rory again, she nodded to his idea of a drink and set her hand on his arm to steady herself as she eased back down into the chair. "Thank you.." She murmured, very softly, letting her head rest in her hands, her elbows propped on the edge of the table.

"Sure, now he's thinkin'... you just keep on thinkin' there Ror and ease her some. I'll be checkin' on the boys out front. Don't worry, ma'am... all this'll work out as it's supposed to. You'll be fine," Everitt said moving around them with his rifle to start keeping some of the peace.

A soft "Thank you." was murmured to the sheriff as he passed, though she did not feel like anything was going to work out.

Rory watched his brother head out and turned to the bar to bring Aeillandra something to drink along with water. "He's right, you know," he murmured softly.

Out in front, clouds of dust continued to loom around the two men, the last being from Alex's shoulder driving into the ground. He curled around himself a moment as the burst of pain clattered through him then sprung back up to his feet.

She tipped her head to bring her gaze to the man who brought her the drink and her eyes seemed to ask 'how?' How would it all work out? Her fingers grasped the glass and she brought it to her lips, taking a long draught of the liquor.

[Lovely]

Adams followed after Alex, but missed him as the boy was quick, and he was drunk. "Damn it.. you little jack rabbit, get back here.."

Everitt came out and leaned on the rail, setting Gertrude beside him. He pulled out a fresh cigar and lit it up and watched the two boys fight a while longer. Whatever Alex got he likely deserved some of and he'd invited the fight, so he let him, but if it got too unruly, he'd put a stop to it. He found himself shaking his head that Adams continued the onslaught on the boy who was easily ten, if not twenty years younger than him.

Rory slid back down in the chair alongside her, gently. His eyes were dark, but shimmered a little with worry and the same amount of caring he'd been trying to hide since meeting her. "The way the saying goes, you know.. wherever He closes a door, he opens a window, right?"

"Are you trying to make me feel better or get me to jump out a window?" Her voice was soft, and showed the strength that was hidden and had beaten down by the man who was outside trying to catch Alex. A slight chuckle, that was hardly there, rolled out as she reached to take another drink from her glass.

"Not doing either really. Definitely not the second part. Don't want you jumpin' nowhere. That was nice to hear though... don't know as I've heard it before," he said softly, watching her take her drink.

"Heard what before?" Her head turned, so she was facing him a little, her chin resting in one hand, while the other traced circles on the table. "Have you ever felt like you could laugh and cry at once?"

His hand went out to hers that traced the table, resting warmly around it. "The laugh... hadn't heard it before. It's nice. Even that little one made your eyes seem brighter... and yeah. I have," he let out his own slightly-embarrassed chuckle. "Don't do much of either."

"I don't laugh often.. most likely why you have never heard it." She didn't seem to mind his hand covering hers as hers stopped moving and stayed with his for the moment.

He didn't know when he noticed that her hand didn't move from his but he was glad it didn't. Whoever was in the room around them faded out to the low murmurs and to the louder hoots of those who'd moved off to watch the fight outside. He smiled gently, "I feel priveleged then, ma'am. Don't know what all I should call you now.. not missus.."

"No.. I guess not missus, not anymore... Could call me Aeilandra.. it is my name after all." She spoke in a soft tone, but it was not timid or full of fear as her voice normally was. There was still fear in her, but the near empty glass had helped to calm her nerves a bit, as was the man next to her, serving to further soothe her upset.

He looked down at their hands. "Kinda wish I could bring you a sunset right now. Give me something to talk about at least."

Alex's hand ran under the freely flowing bloody lip, trying to clear it from his face. Driven on to see the man drop, he circled around him again, pulling a trick he'd only ever done when Cody was being too big for himself. Turning himself in air, Alex let fly a limber ankle toward the man's jaw.

[Lovely]

A small smile came to her face and left as quickly, leaving a show of itself there. "I kinda wish you could too... Don't worry about having anything to talk about.. I'm not the greatest company right now, any how."

He was too angry and drunk to have a chance at blocking or ducking from the kick. He was sent backwards, blood spitting from his mouth as he head whipped to the side. He fell to the ground with hard thud and cloud of dust coming up were he slid. Adams attempted to push himself up once and just collapsed back down, not moving.

"Company's right fine... Aeilland..,"he started to say as one of the patrons came running back in with the report.

"He dropped! Irish done knocked him clean out," the man said excitedly between mumbles and coins being exchanged from the bets won and lost.

Alex stopped in mid turn, ready to come back at him with another swing when he saw him lay back down. Catching his breath, he leaned down over the man offering him a hand up. "Y'alright lad? C'mon now...," he said between labored breaths.

Everitt took notice of the kick and waited. Again he shook his head and came over to them cursing under his breath when the man didn't get up. "Adams... look alive, man," he threatened, reaching down to pull the man up to standing if he'd wake up enough. He was in no mood to carry anyone's full weight over his shoulder, but would if he had to.

He groaned but didn't really move at all, laying face down in the dirt where he'd come to a halt after Alex's kick.

"Adams, laddie, you're breathing up the street... pull yourself up now," Alex said, concerned that he'd done too much damage.

"Go get Sam," Everitt hissed, not planning on having to tell Alex twice. "Alright Adams... now will you believe he's won fairly? You're done, son... c'mon now. Got a nice warm bed waitin' for ya."

He groaned again and turned his face, spitting dirt and blood to the side. "Stupid.. Irish.. son of .." He slurred.

"That's one thing we like to call him, sure enough. You just go on and tell me all about it," Everitt said, pulling the man's arm and sliding under it and grabbing him around the other to support him into kneeling then standing. "That's it... c'mon."

"Touches my wife.. gonna kill 'im.." He mumbled, leaning heavily into Everitt.