Part 14 (1/2)

”Oh- that was nice of him, of you. I wasn't expecting so- much.”

”The musicians are favored around here, and they draw a good crowd.”

”They're wonderful.”

”They play a fine tune, yes.” Darcy was more interested in Jude's earrings, and wondered where she'd bought them and what the price might have been. ”Here now, just keep in my wake and I'll get you to the bar safe enough.”

She did just that, winding and wending, nudging now and then with a laugh and a comment addressed to this one or that one by name. She headed for the far end of the bar, where she slipped her tray through bodies to the order station.

”Good evening, Mr. Riley, sir,” Darcy said to the ancient man at the very last stool.

”Good evening to you as well, young Darcy.” He spoke in a reedy voice, smiled at her out of eyes that looked half blind to Jude as he sipped his thick, dark Guinness. ”If you marry me, darling, I'll make you a queen.”

”Then marry we will Sat.u.r.day next, for a queen I deserve to be.” She gave him a pretty kiss on his papery cheek. ”Will Riley, let the Yank here have your seat next to your grandda.”

”Pleasure.” The thin man hopped off the stool and beamed a smile at Jude. ”You're the Yank, then. Sit down here, next to me grandda, and we'll buy you a pint.”

”The lady prefers wine.” Aidan, the gla.s.s already in his hand, stepped into her vision and offered it.

”Yes. Thank you.”

”Well, then, put it on Will Riley's tab, Aidan, and we'll drink to all our cousins across the foam.”

”That I'll do, Will.” He spread that slow smile over Jude, said, ”Stay awhile, won't you?” Then moved off to work.

She stayed awhile. Because it seemed polite, she drank toasts to people she'd never heard of. Because it required little effort on her part, she had a conversation with both Rileys about their relations in the States and their own visits there-though she knew she disappointed them both when she admitted she'd never been to Wyoming and seen an actual cowboy.

She listened to the music, because it was wonderful. Tunes both familiar and strange, both rousing and heartbreaking flowed through and over the crowd. She let herself hum when she recognized the song and smiled when old Mr. Riley piped out words in his thin voice.

”I was sweet of heart on your cousin Maude,” Mr. Riley told Jude. ”But she was only for Johnny Magee, rest his soul.” He sighed deep and sipped his Guinness in the same fas.h.i.+on. ”And one day when I went to her door with my hat in my hand once again, she told me I'd marry a la.s.s with fair hair and gray eyes before the year was out.”

He paused, smiling to himself as if, Jude thought, looking backward. She leaned closer to hear him over the thunder of music. ”And before a month had pa.s.sed I met my Lizzie, with her fair hair and gray eyes. We were married in June and had nearly fifty years together before she pa.s.sed on.”

”That's lovely.”

”Maude, she knew things.” His faded eyes looked into Jude's. ”The Good People often whispered in Maude's ear.”

”Did they?” Jude said, amused now.

”Oh, aye, and you being her blood, they may come whispering in yours. See that you listen.”

”I'll do that.”

For a time they sipped companionably and listened to the music. Then tears filmed Jude's eyes when Darcy slipped her arm around the old man's bony shoulders and matched her glorious voice to his on a song of endless love and loss.

When she saw Brenna pouring whiskey and pulling the taps behind the bar, Jude smiled. For once the cap was missing, and Brenna's ma.s.s of red curls tumbled down as they chose.

”I didn't know you worked here.”

”Oh, now and again, when there's need. What's your pleasure there, Jude?”