Page 19 of May I Kiss the Bride
She nodded, swallowing hard as if it would hold back the threatening tears.
“I hope I didn’t upset you.”
“I’m fine.” Viola exhaled slowly, then met his gaze. Could he tell her eyes were wet? “It’s all in the past now anyway, and by the end of the summer, San Francisco will have forgotten about my troubles. I can return in peace and live happily ever after.” She didn’t mean for bitterness to seep through her voice.
Rey opened his mouth to reply, but they were interrupted by a slurred greeting.
“Well … hello there, pretty lady.” Billy shoved his hands in his front pockets and rocked back on his heels. He wasn’t wearing his usual hat. Instead, his hair hung in greasy strands about his face.
Even from across the pie table, Viola could smell the alcohol seeping from his pores.
“Hello, Billy,” she said as primly as possible, pushing back all the emotions that had just been brewing. “What kind of pie slice can I get you?”
Billy shuffled closer, a slow grin spreading across his face. “I don’t need any pie, pretty lady. I came to ask you to dance with me.”
“That’s kind of you,” Viola began. “But I’m working the pie table tonight and not dancing with anyone.”
Billy’s palms thumped onto the table as he leaned toward her. “You gave that excuse to all the other fellas in here. But I’m different.” He grabbed Viola’s hand in a steel-trap grip. “I can make an honest woman of you and—”
Rey’s fingers clamped around Billy’s collar, and he tugged the man away from Viola. Next he drew Billy up to his face until they were nose-to-nose.
“I’m going to ask you once, Billy,” the sheriff growled. “Leave the barn and don’t come back tonight.” Rey held Billy in place for another several seconds, staring him down, then he let go of the man’s collar.
Billy took a stumbling step back. He looked as if he were about to turn and walk away when suddenly he lunged at the sheriff.
Rey barely dodged the man’s fist as the music around them faded, and people turned to watch what was happening.
“Settle down, Billy,” Rey commanded, one hand held up and the other gripping his gun holster. “Nothing you’re about to do right now will be worth it. Think before you act and before you sentence yourself to a night in jail.”
“I’m tired of you thinking you’re the boss of everyone in this town,” Billy ground out, spittle flying from his mouth. “If I want to ask this lady to dance, then that’s my business, not yours.”
“She turned you down, Billy.”
Billy sneered. “That’s because you’ve been hovering over her all night. Someone needs to teach you a lesson.”
Billy lunged again, and Rey simply sidestepped to avoid collision. Which was a good move on Rey’s part, but a bad move for the pie table. Billy plowed into the table headfirst.
Viola leapt back as gasps and cries echoed about the room.
“He ruined the pies!”
“Get the man out of here!”
Men moved forward to pick up Billy, probably to finish throwing him out, but he wasn’t moving.
“Wait,” Viola cried. “He might need medical attention.” She knelt next to the man who was lying face down and pressed two fingers against the side of his neck. His pulse beat steady and strong. “He has a pulse!”
Billy moaned and shifted as if he was going to try to turn over.
Viola scooted back, and Billy turned on his side, blinking at her like he wasn’t sure how he’d ended up on the floor. Blood dripped from his nose, and he raised a trembling hand to gingerly touch his face.
“You’ve broken your nose, Billy.” Viola’s stomach lurched, but she refused to let the sight of blood do her in like it had with the sheriff. She swallowed and looked up at the gathering crowd. “Can someone hand me the ice bowl?”
She snatched a nearby cloth—most of the pies had been delivered with a pie cloth. A young girl knelt next to her. “Here’s the ice. What are you going to do?”
Viola found herself staring into the eyes of Elsie. “I’m going to put the ice in this cloth, then hold it against this man’s face.”
All fire had faded from Billy’s eyes, and now that he was dealing with a broken nose, the pain kept him mellow.
