tavern that was the
rendezvous spot.
When they arrived a couple hours later, Michael was certain
that even he looked haggard. Thankfully this planet seemed accustomed to
haggard people. A few customers turned to look at them as they entered but none
seemed overly interested in them as they made their way up to the bar.
“What can I get for you?” a young server asked as she ran a dingy
washcloth over the bar in front of them.
“Whiskey neat for the lady and three of your best brews for
us.” They had to drink or they’d stand out in the tavern but he didn’t want the
men to be drunk on top of tired. Renee, however, was a completely different
story. He needed her to be soundly sleeping when they met with Representative
Lee. It was the only way Adam could tell his side of the story and survive. He
loved the woman but his love wasn’t blind. He knew what she’d do the moment she
found out who Adam worked for. It wouldn’t matter to her that he’d fought to
keep her alive. Still, as frustrating as her black-and-white view of the world
was, he’d always admired how passionate she was about her causes.
“I take it you’re the potential buyers?”
Michael was pulled out of his musings by the dusty ranch
hand who sat down on the stool next to him. “That we are.” Michael lifted his
beer up to his lips, tipped it back and pretended to enjoy the bitter liquid as
it sloshed against his tongue.
“Zack McGree. Miss Kat sent me to collect you.” Zack stuck
his hand out in greeting and Michael shook it briefly. He didn’t have anything
against ranchers. He just didn’t want the guy to notice how smooth his hands
were. Sure, Michael could come up with a cover story to explain his lack of
calluses, but he’d meant it when he’d told the others that the fewer details
they had to remember the better.
Zack didn’t seem to notice Michael’s hands, however. He was
looking down at the floor instead. “Travel pretty light, don’t ya?”
They hadn’t brought any bags with them. They didn’t really
have anything to pack but even if they did it would’ve slowed them down. Still,
that wasn’t exactly something he could say to Zack. “Shuttle companies are
always losing our stuff.” He tossed the man a weary shrug. “If we don’t bring
it, they can’t lose it. Besides, we’re used to roughing it.”
Zack laughed as he signaled the server for a drink. “I think
I like you. We get too many dandies these days what with the man of the house.”
He paled and then cleared his throat. “Not that I’ve got anything mean to say
about the representative. He’s a fine and upstanding man.”
“His friends just require a lot of…upkeep?” Michael asked
with an understanding smile. “It’s the way the universe is going. The other day,
one of our interns was asking about some new shower system that they have at
the swanky hotels in the inner realms. What do we need with a shower that costs
more than a prize steer? He’s lucky we didn’t make him go bathe in the pond for
the next month just for suggesting it.”
Zack laughed and hit his hat against his knee. “That would’ve
taught him a lesson he never would’ve forgot.”
“Especially since that pond’s got leeches the size of my
fist.”
Zack laughed harder and took a large gulp of his ale. “I do
like you. You’re my kind of people.”
“Just call ‘em like I see ‘em.” In truth, Michael was
everyone’s kind of people. It’s what made him so good at his job. The more
people related to and liked him, the more they opened up. And the more they
opened up, the better the story was.
He hadn’t met too many people who were his kind though.
Well, except for Renee. She was as stubborn as they came but she had a sense of
fairness to her that most people lacked. She’d turn on her own blood if she
learned they weren’t playing aboveboard.
And Adam. He smiled as he thought about the man. Adam was
loyal and loyalty was a rare trait these
rendezvous spot.
When they arrived a couple hours later, Michael was certain
that even he looked haggard. Thankfully this planet seemed accustomed to
haggard people. A few customers turned to look at them as they entered but none
seemed overly interested in them as they made their way up to the bar.
“What can I get for you?” a young server asked as she ran a dingy
washcloth over the bar in front of them.
“Whiskey neat for the lady and three of your best brews for
us.” They had to drink or they’d stand out in the tavern but he didn’t want the
men to be drunk on top of tired. Renee, however, was a completely different
story. He needed her to be soundly sleeping when they met with Representative
Lee. It was the only way Adam could tell his side of the story and survive. He
loved the woman but his love wasn’t blind. He knew what she’d do the moment she
found out who Adam worked for. It wouldn’t matter to her that he’d fought to
keep her alive. Still, as frustrating as her black-and-white view of the world
was, he’d always admired how passionate she was about her causes.
“I take it you’re the potential buyers?”
Michael was pulled out of his musings by the dusty ranch
hand who sat down on the stool next to him. “That we are.” Michael lifted his
beer up to his lips, tipped it back and pretended to enjoy the bitter liquid as
it sloshed against his tongue.
“Zack McGree. Miss Kat sent me to collect you.” Zack stuck
his hand out in greeting and Michael shook it briefly. He didn’t have anything
against ranchers. He just didn’t want the guy to notice how smooth his hands
were. Sure, Michael could come up with a cover story to explain his lack of
calluses, but he’d meant it when he’d told the others that the fewer details
they had to remember the better.
Zack didn’t seem to notice Michael’s hands, however. He was
looking down at the floor instead. “Travel pretty light, don’t ya?”
They hadn’t brought any bags with them. They didn’t really
have anything to pack but even if they did it would’ve slowed them down. Still,
that wasn’t exactly something he could say to Zack. “Shuttle companies are
always losing our stuff.” He tossed the man a weary shrug. “If we don’t bring
it, they can’t lose it. Besides, we’re used to roughing it.”
Zack laughed as he signaled the server for a drink. “I think
I like you. We get too many dandies these days what with the man of the house.”
He paled and then cleared his throat. “Not that I’ve got anything mean to say
about the representative. He’s a fine and upstanding man.”
“His friends just require a lot of…upkeep?” Michael asked
with an understanding smile. “It’s the way the universe is going. The other day,
one of our interns was asking about some new shower system that they have at
the swanky hotels in the inner realms. What do we need with a shower that costs
more than a prize steer? He’s lucky we didn’t make him go bathe in the pond for
the next month just for suggesting it.”
Zack laughed and hit his hat against his knee. “That would’ve
taught him a lesson he never would’ve forgot.”
“Especially since that pond’s got leeches the size of my
fist.”
Zack laughed harder and took a large gulp of his ale. “I do
like you. You’re my kind of people.”
“Just call ‘em like I see ‘em.” In truth, Michael was
everyone’s kind of people. It’s what made him so good at his job. The more
people related to and liked him, the more they opened up. And the more they
opened up, the better the story was.
He hadn’t met too many people who were his kind though.
Well, except for Renee. She was as stubborn as they came but she had a sense of
fairness to her that most people lacked. She’d turn on her own blood if she
learned they weren’t playing aboveboard.
And Adam. He smiled as he thought about the man. Adam was
loyal and loyalty was a rare trait these
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