“No. I...”
“No boyfriend?” He gives another roar of laughter. “Hear that, boys? She’s got no boyfriend.”
The laughter turns to jeers and whistles.
I ignore them. “So, will you let me use your phone?”
The man’s grin vanishes. “How much you gonna pay for it?”
“Well, I don’t have any money on me right now but...”
“Hear that, boys?” the man shouts. “This missy has got no money on her.”
I roll my eyes. Really, does this man have to tell everyone in the tavern everything?
I don’t feel threatened. It takes me a minute to figure out that maybe I should. This time, the crowd does not make a sound. Seconds later, I hear the scuffle of boots, a customer standing beside me, the stench of lust on him as strong as the stench of alcohol.
It makes my stomach turn. Things are about to go south, and I’m surrounded by a bunch of drunken rednecks.
“Well, well, well.” This guy has got to be seventy if a day. He gives me a toothless grin. “I’d be happy to give you money. If you can give me something in return, that is.”
“Don’t listen to him.” Another customer stands on my other side, smelling just as bad as the first and looking no better. “Billy ain’t got any money. But I do.” He takes out his black leather wallet, slapping it on the counter. “How much do you need?”
“None,” I tell him, directing my gaze at the man behind the bar. “If you don’t have a phone, then I’m leaving to find one. Thank you.”
I turn away from the counter but a hand grabs my arm.
“Where are you going, missy?” A sickening voice hisses in my ear. “Back out in the cold? You’ll freeze out there. But I can keep you warm.”
My eyes dart to the ceiling.
Really? First, I nearly die in a plane crash. Then I get locked up by a maniac who I’m now convinced must have something to do with that ‘delusion’ I had about having certain abilities. I’ve just spent the past two days trudging through snow. And now, some drunkards who I’m guessing have seen more bears than women, are hitting on me?
I let out a deep breath. “You know what, boys? I’ve had a really rough day so I’d appreciate it if you...”
“Don’t worry.” The other man takes my other arm as he whispers in my ear. “We’ll make you forget all about it.”
Shit. Now, what?
I’d call for help but the last time I did, I ended up in even more trouble. I’m not doing that again.
I glance at the man on my right who’s winking at me and the man on my left who’s practically drooling.
Well there’s always the old standby. I could try kneeing them in the groin.
I’m still considering it when I hear a sound booming through the tavern.
“Let her go.”
I turn my head, my eyes resting on a man towering more than six feet tall, his shoulders so broad they look like they can carry a moose.
Please don’t tell me he wants a piece of me, too.
“Oh, come on, Theo,” the man on my left cajoles. “We’re just trying to have a little fun here. You know there aren’t that many wo...”
“I said let her go.”
The man looks like he just left the wrestling ring. He walks toward the bar like he owns it.