The Law of Surprise [On Hold]

Mayorsbroke

“Who’s the pretty little lady, Marsh?”

Sighing, he stepped to the side then waved his hand between them. “Tess, this is Irving. Irving, this is Tess.”

“Hello, Mister Irving.”

“Mister Irving.” Irv repeated and smiled wide at Marsh. He pulled a key from a small pocket on the front of his vest. “Do you hear that, Marsh? She called me Mister Irving.”

Marsh matched his smile. “She doesn’t know any better.”

Irv burst into thunderous laughter. He stood and motioned for him to follow.

Marsh glanced back at Tess. When he caught her eye, he pointed at the chair Irv had occupied. She complied and sat.

“Do I even want to know?” Irv asked as he led the way towards the back room and the safe.

“Is she even legal?” He added with a chuckle.

Marsh shook his head at the man’s poor taste in jokes. “Rewarded by the Law of Surprise. I saved her uncle from that thief at Rabbit Creek.”

Irv’s eyebrow arched. “You lucky man.”

“If you say so.” Marsh watched as Irv unlocked the large chest chained to the floor and pulled out a small pouch of coins from one of the interior compartments. The man placed it into his outstretched palm.

“I seem to remember you lucking out about four years ago with the Law of Surprise and that horse of yours.”

Marsh snorted a laugh. “And he nearly killed me before we came to an understanding.”

“Well,” Irv said with a shrug. “Maybe you’ll come to an understanding with this one too.”

****

True to his word, Marsh kept watch over Tess as she browsed through the market stalls.

Much to his surprise, Tess’ trick with the rabbit snares worked well. She caught two that first morning and another one at their second camp. Marsh couldn’t complain at the fresh meat roasting over the fire. It was better than the rough travel rations he typically packed.

“Are you sure he didn’t over pay me?” She asked Marsh in surprise as she showed him the coin the furrier had given her. “I never got this much when Uncle sold my pelts.”

Diplomatically, Marsh shrugged and kept his tongue. He didn’t hold the uncle in high regard but had no desire to deflate her mood.

Their stay in town would have to be short. Irv gave him information on a couple of livestock thieves holed up around an abandoned keep towards the southern border of the county. If it was him alone, it would be a three day ride, but with Tess in tow, it would take him longer.

“As much as I like rabbit, I could use a decent meal,” Marsh said after watching her pick up a set of wooden spoons to tumble in her hands. He had no idea what Tess saw in half the stuff she touched.

“Sure.” She replied as she flashed the vendor a smile and set the spoons down. The man deflated after realizing she wasn’t going to buy them.

“This way.”

Marsh led her from the crowds towards the back streets and alleys. The buildings that lined the cobble road were more rough and worn. Tess raised a hand and politely blocked some of the odor from her nostrils. Marsh smirked. With as many people that called Mayorsbroke home, the stench of life was part of its charm.

He pushed open a door beneath a sign that read The Red Stag and guided Tess into the inn. The room was dark, barely lit by a few lanterns that hung from the ceiling and the fireplace along the adjacent wall. Tables and an odd assortment of chairs took up the floor space.

Marsh made his way to the bar and flagged down the tender. A very tall black man smiled wide behind an impressive beard. It came to a point near the middle of his chest.

“Marsh, you are a sight! But you are late, my friend. I thought perhaps something had happened to you.”

From the pouch on his belt, Marsh pulled a small cloth bundle and slid it across the bar to the man on the other side. “I’m sorry, Jere. I was detained.”

“Then it’s a good thing I don’t need it for a few days yet.” Jere untied and unraveled it. Inside was a plain ring of gold. He smoothed his long fingers over it before tying the band back up and slipping the bundle into his coin pouch.

Jere glanced at Tess and smiled. “Who is your friend?”

“Jere — Tess, Tess — Jere,” Marsh said as he made the introductions with a wave of his hand. “Does our deal still stand?”

Jere nodded enthusiastically and his smile turned wry. “The services of my humble inn are yours, however I only have one room free tonight.”

Marsh studied Tess as he rubbed a hand over his chin, fingernails itching at it’s stubble. Her wide eyes shot back and forth between the two men and he enjoyed the resulting blush that came to her face.

“Let’s just start with supper for two and a couple pints of ale.”

“Find yourself a spot and I will bring it out when done.”

“Is there anyone you don’t know in this town?” Tess teased as she slid into the chair opposite of his. He picked a table near the fire.

“One or two.” He smiled and gave a shrug as he leaned back in the chair. “I go where the jobs take me. Meeting people is one of its hazards.”

Once the food arrived, he waited for the perfect moment to watch Tess sputter and cough when he happily announced “it's time to discuss our sleeping arrangement.”