Part 38 (2/2)
The boy tossed Lock a furious look but followed him back to the market.
Sea Storm stood quietly in front of the wagon, munching from the feed bag Lock had given him. Everything seemed just as he'd left it. He thought someone would have tried to steal both the horse and the wagon. Not that Sea Storm would have gone, but he'd have put up a fight that would have caused even more trouble in the marketplace.
Lock tugged away the leather covering on the back of the wagon and clenched his teeth, smas.h.i.+ng his fists against the wood and causing Sea Storm to snort.
”What?” the boy demanded.
Lock pointed to the empty wagon. ”Someone stole everything. Goods. Food. Even my d.a.m.n underpants!”
The boy clicked his tongue and laughed. ”I said you should have minded your own business.”
Lock cast him a quelling look. ”Shut up and get in. I have to go back to my camp.”
”You ain't got nothing now? No money? No food?”
”What money I have is none of your business, just as long as you get paid for what we hunt and sell in the market. I'll be getting more money tonight. I have work for the evening.”
”What kind of work?”
”Get that fire out of your eye. It's all honest work. From now on, that's all we do, you and me.”
”Right.” The boy hopped into the wagon.
”By the way, what's your name? Can't keep calling you boy.”
”That's all me mother ever called me-but I call meself Janos.”
”Janos, we've got work to do before tonight. Are you any good at drawing?”
”I guess so.”
”Good.”
”What kind of work are you going to do tonight, anyway?”
Chapter Twenty Five.
Sparrow rode silently toward the tavern, Opal's hands on her waist from where she sat behind her on the horse. The gypsy girl chatted about the day's events, but Sparrow thought only of Lock. For the past several days, he'd stopped at their site and walked her and Opal to the tavern, but today he hadn't come. Perhaps he was tired of her already. The thought made Sparrow's stomach drop, but if he reverted to his old ways, it was better that she hadn't agreed to marry him right away.
”Sparrow, are you listening to me?”
”No.”
”Thank you so much.” Opal's voice dripped sarcasm.
”I'm sorry. I was just wondering where-”
”Lock is? For a woman who had no intention of taking him back, he's all you seem to talk about.”
”I know I'm a fool, especially after what he did.”
”I know what he did to you, but I like him. He's interesting, funny, handsome.”
”He can also be arrogant, bull-headed, and rotten.”
”n.o.body's perfect.”
”Opal, he's too old for you.”
”I don't want him!” The girl giggled. ”At least for anything like marriage. Tell you what, Sparrow. I'll borrow him until you're ready to settle down.”
”You'll do no such thing!” Sparrow glared over her shoulder.
”It was only a joke. Besides, all he sees is you. It must be so nice to have a big, strong, handsome ex-pirate madly in love with you.”
Sparrow sighed. At times Opal seemed so bright for her age, but at other times Sparrow wondered if she had a brain in her head. Not that she entirely disagreed. Lock could be very winning, and just the idea of being in his arms made her entire body weak.
”Where is he tonight?” Sparrow muttered.
”He's probably still getting back from the village. He's a busy man, from what I hear. He'll make some woman a wonderful husband.”
”You haven't known him long enough to judge.”
”Sparrow, why don't you just admit you want him back?”
”Of course I want him back, but I can't let him know how much. Not right now. Lock's difficult. I have to be careful how I handle this situation. I have to...What's going on in there?”
Both women dismounted, and approached the tavern. From inside came the sounds of female voices shouting and laughing. Several men, mugs of ale in their hands, stood grumbling outside. Upon noticing Sparrow and Opal, their sullen expressions faded.
”Finally,” one of the men said.
”Lady dancers. Thank the G.o.ddess!” said another.
”What's wrong?” Sparrow asked. ”Why are you all out here?”
”That man who's been following you around is in there,” snorted a tall, skinny farmer, ”you wouldn't believe what he's doing.”
”And the women love it,” added a pot-bellied man in a stained tunic. ”Disgusting.”
”What are they talking about?” Opal asked.
Sparrow heard giddy shrieks from the women inside, and she muttered, ”I think know.”
She stepped into the tavern, Opal close behind her. Women and a few irritated men filled the room. In the center, surrounded by giggling ladies, Lock performed the most seductive of dances. Barefoot, dressed in a black leather vest and leather trousers that fitted to the hard length of his legs, revealing the enticing bulge of his crotch, he smiled and moved his hips and arms sensually. The open vest exposed his broad chest and muscled abdomen, thorns and branches painted across his skin, masking old scars.
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