Chapter 4 – Asher

She carries a tray of drinks for one group of people over to a table in the corner, making it look easy, carrying ten pints of beer on a large tray over her head, to make room for the people around her to move. She also has on some pale blue near-skin-tight jeans that more than flatter her magnificent and curvaceous arse. The way they stretch as she bends to place the tray on the table has him looking away to regain some composure.

He notices Mal’s also staring, and he nudges him in the leg with his foot, so that he isn’t staring at her when she turns back around. He smirks at his brother, nods and sips his drink, also seemingly dumbstruck by the woman. He waits a few moments before looking for her again, letting his ears pick up anything he can to figure out her name, or anything else about her. A small group of what looked like stocky children walked in, she held her arms out wide,

“And the dwarves are here at last. The usual, guys, gals and or others?” She grabs a large tray and another ten pint glasses,

“Not quite boss. We’re after seven of the usual and three mixed drinks if that’s okay?” She smiles nods and starts to pour the seven beers from the tap, while she takes the orders for the mixed drinks.

“A blackcurrant full faith.” Says one,

“One orange the same, but I’d like some ‘SGS’ in it.” Says another, the redhead is grinning from ear to ear at this point and looks to the last one, who looks a little bashful,

“What other flavours do you have?” The woman rattles off a list of various fruits and other syrups that most bars in big cities might not even have,

“And I think we might have a little taste of the old country, hang on.” She has finished with the pints, and moved to stroll up and down the bar, looking at the optics and other bottles on the shelves. Finding what she wants, she brings it back to her group. “I found the dragon fruit syrup, so that’s an option if you want.” The unsure dwarf starts nodding aggressively.

“Yes please. That sounds incredible.” The redhead laughs, it’s a deep throated laugh, a proper laugh. She smiles and nods, turning her back to the bar to mix the drinks on the back of the bar. She makes the three drinks quickly, not seeming to measure anything, adding a dash of something to two glasses but not the third, and continues until they’re most of the way full.

She then covers each of them with a metal cup to shake them briefly without the contents going everywhere. She then releases the metal cup, rinses it and repeats the procedure twice more. She turns back to the bar with the three glasses expertly held in her hands. She lays them out on the bar and tells them which one’s which. They nod, and the one who’d asked for the dragon fruit drink chuckles,

“Thanks Boss!” The redhead nods,

“You’re welcome, don’t forget to say thanks to Albert for this. All drinks for the ‘G’, are on the ‘G’ tonight.” The dwarves smile and nod, making their way over to a table. The redhead chuckles and washes up the things she used for the mixed drinks ready for the next time they’ll be wanted. Ash looks away for a while, trying to maintain an air of dignity. Mal, however, is seemingly struggling as much as he is. He sighs and leans in to his ear to whisper,

“Mal, calm the fuck down. You’ll scare her off before we’ve even had a chance to talk to her properly.” Mal smirks and nods, sipping his drink and returning his gaze to his phone. “You find anything interesting?” Mal frowns slightly,

“Nothing about her being part of the pub’s staff, but the pub has great reviews online.” He shows Ash his phone. On the screen is a long list of five-star reviews, not a single one-star review. “But several people have called her ‘Boss’ since we got here, so I don’t know what that means, clearly Molly is the boss of the pub.” Ash nods handing him back his phone.

Out of the corner of his eye he sees her make a half-pint of Guinness, then walk it over to a small table in the corner. She sits with the occupant for a moment, the older woman looks shaken,

“Carol, you need to decide what you want me to do about Joey, he’ll keep coming back if we don’t deal with this properly. You deserve to be treated better than he ever could, and you did the right thing coming here tonight. You can stay with us if you don’t feel safe going home tonight. Eddie and Carlos should be in soon and they can sit with you, I don’t like the idea of you being alone right now.”

She speaks clearly, but quietly. Ash focuses his attention on his drink, not wanting to be spotted overhearing a private conversation. He reigns in his hearing too, so he can’t hear their conversation anymore. He wonders who this ‘us’ is and if she’s taken. He doesn't like the idea of anyone else being with her, but keeps his thoughts to himself.

Carol looks like a woman who’s been through hell. There are marks on her arms and face that she’s clearly trying to hide, some are faded, others look fresh. Ash wants to murder the man that would lay hands on his woman like that. But he calms himself, knowing that the redhead had seen him off once, and if Joey had any sense, he wouldn’t be coming back tonight. But who knows if the man has sense.