Allison; Taking Control

Chapter 44

A few last words out of context were all the sailor at the counter could hear as Scott’s voice was drowned out. The fiddler near the hearth had decided to strike up a rather loud and sprightly tune to which a couple of spirited locals decided to dance. A man was cutting a lively jig with his hands folded behind his back while a woman circled around with him, swirling her skirts as she spun. They were quickly joined by more people while other tavern patrons clapped and whooped in time with the fiddler’s music.

Undaunted, the sailor slipped his pipe back into his pocket and slid deliberately off of his stool. He grabbed the rum bottle and slowly walked toward the blithesome commotion. Stopping at a small table, he took a generous swallow of rum from the bottle before setting it down. He then began clapping along with the others, stamping his foot in time with the rhythm of the buoyant strain. His attention, however, was still firmly fixed on the gentlemen in the corner who went on with