“Stranded For the Night – Part 2”

“So, you’re the money,” Alex said, grinning as he watched Dwayne down his bottle of VB in one long gulp.

“Appears that way, don’t it,” Dwayne replied, flatly, setting his drained bottle down on the table in front of him with a thud.

“So, how’d it go then?” Alex asked, motioning for Andy to bring over another round for the three of them. “I’m guessing, not so well, or you’d still be up there.”

Dwayne shook his head, “Just a temporary roadblock, I assure you, my friend,” he said, cockily. “If that stupid hot-headed mechanic hadn’t of shown up when he did, me and my bride would be up there right now getting reacquainted and celebrating our love for one another.”

“You mean Colin?” Arthur asked, then hiccupped.

“Yeah, that’s the guy. You know him?” Dwayne asked.

“Oh yes, I’d say I do. He’s my boss, you know, and a good friend. He’s an alright bloke then, just as long as you aren’t trying to steal his girlfriend away. He still hasn’t gotten over the last time that happened with Kate. They’d still be together you know if it weren’t for the Sid fellow stealing her away the way he did and then going off and marrying her.”

“Oh yeah? Well, in this case he’s the one doing the stealin’, my friend,” Dwayne replied. “Abby’s my wife and I intend to keep her my wife. She’s just a bit confused right now is all, but she’ll come around. You tell your boss to stay away from her or he’ll be sorry.”

“Abby.... married? Does Colin know about this?” Arthur asked, concerned.

“Well, if he didn’t, he does now,” Dwayne told him, angrily. “Which is why he shouldn’t still be up there with her alone in her room.” He drained the remainder of his second VB, looked over towards the staircase. “I’ve got half a mind to go back up there, drag his ass outta there.”

“Don’t go doing something that you might later regret,” Alex told him. “Sheriff and his deputy are residents here. Probably up there right now having a little chat with him over that door he busted down in his heroic attempt to save the woman he loves from the likes of you.” He chuckled. “Besides, the roads are out, remember? He’s pretty much stuck here in this little hole in the wall like the rest of us. Might as well just sit back, drink your beer and be a good boy. You can talk to the wifey-poo in the morning, when things have settled a bit.”

“Right, like I’m supposed to sit here with you guys while my wife if up there in her room – alone – with some grease-monkey. I don’t think so. If he’s not down here in 15 minutes, I’m goin’ back up to find him. Sheriff or no sheriff.”

“Settle down there, slugger,” Alex told him, “You go off all half cocked again she’s definitely not gonna be too happy to see you. Give her the night to cool her jets, think about you and how you came all the way across the world to get her back. And if that don’t work, maybe I could be convinced to put in a good word for you,” he grinned, rubbing his fingers together.

“Yeah, so how much will THAT cost me?” Dwayne asked, sarcastically.

“Depends,” Alex replied, tipping his head to the side and grinning. “On how much of a good word you want me to put in for you.”

“Enough to make her come running back to me and apologize for leavin’ the way she did,” he said, reaching for his wallet. “Think this will cover it?” He handed Alex a wad of 20’s.

A wide smile spread across Alex’s face, as he counted out the bills. “Yep, I’d say that’d not only get you an apology, but send her running back to you on her hands and knees.”

“Good. Now that that’s settled, where can a guy get a place to put up his feet for the night?”

Arthur looked nervously at Dwayne and then back to Alex and gulped. “My room is just a wee thing, really, not even a couch for you to sleep on.” He didn’t like Dwayne, didn’t like what he was up to and didn’t trust him one bit. If Colin found out that Arthur had put him up for the night... well, he just couldn’t live with himself if he did such a thing. No, Dwayne would have to sleep elsewhere, and that was that. He would have told him that, too, if he hadn’t of passed out from all the VB’s he’d consumed.

Alex chuckled, “Well, give me a hand with this guy and you can bunk with me for the night. But just the night. Tomorrow, you’re on your own.”

“Thanks, man,” Dwayne told him, as he grabbed one of Arthur’s arms and helped Alex carry him up to his room.

TBC...