and she spoke like a stupid child would. God, but she didn’t think he’d hate her so much. Embarrassed beyond belief, she stammered her apologies. “I-I-I am sorry for the trouble. Th-thank you for the offer, but I can’t take your money.” The back of her nose burned. Her eyes began to water. Damn it. She wouldn’t cry.
Alex wanted to stomp her feet when hot tears rolled down first on her left cheek and then the right.
* * * *
Tears. A woman’s most powerful weapon to make a man bend. Damn. Seemed like he upset her. What the hell. He’d offered the others money before, and they didn’t take offense. Given her accent, maybe she was an immigrant. That could be it. Maybe in her culture, it was offensive if a stranger offered them money.
From the doorway, he had a chance to observe her. She was barefoot. Her shoes were on the corner of the doormat. He thought it odd. Now, hearing her talk was even weirder. He really must talk to Bors and ask about her story. He hoped she wasn’t an illegal alien. With the immigration laws getting tighter now, she’d be back in the country where she’d come from in a hurry.
“I see this is really upsetting to you, but I’ve done this before. Bors had brought women here and I let them stay and gave them money so—”
“Bors brought women here and you gave them money?”
“Yes.”
“And you think I’m one of those women?”
“Aren’t you?”
“I’m not a loose woman.”
“Loose woman? Most women I’ve let stay here…Oh, wait. You think the women who stayed here are loose and I paid them?” The woman wiped her tears with her fingers then squared her shoulder. Her posture was so straight she reminded Gawain of his old toy soldier. She looked ready to punch him. “No. Not all of them are paid women. The majority of them has all kinds of drama or issues going on with their lives. My brother is helping them. I support his cause, but within the bounds of reason.”
“I beg your pardon, Gawain, but what drama are you talking about?”
“Whatever it is you’re running from.” Damn, it. He should have taken two Tylenol capsules. He was hoping he’d just show this woman her room, offer her food and that was it. If she wanted to stay with a friend, he’d let Bors know. He didn’t need this.
“You thought I’m one of the women Bors is trying to help.”
“Isn’t that why you’re here? You need help, don’t you?”
“Yes, I need help. But not—”
“That settles it. You need a place to stay. I have a room you could use. If you’d rather that you stay with a friend, that’s fine. That’s after Bors gives me his permission.”
“Who are those women Bors is trying to help?” Alex shook her head. “Forget I asked. I shouldn’t pry.”
“Can’t tell you anyway.”
Damn. Now she sounded so proper and her accent disappeared. Could she stand any straighter? Didn’t matter. At least she’d stopped crying. “All right.” Gawain raised his hands up in the air in a gesture that he capitulated. “We’ve started on the wrong foot here. You need a place to stay. I know, that.”
“And that is true, but I have to decline. It must have been difficult for you to have constant visitors. Like I said, Luke offered his place where I could stay when I get to the United States. I’ll stay with him.”
Obviously, she had education. Maybe she had money before and now found herself in a difficult situation. Thus, the pride. “No problem there.”
“Good. Now, please call Bors.”
The last woman Bors had tried to help tried to steal his wallet and gave him a shiner. This one might not do those things, but would drive you nuts with her pride. She was kind of shrewish, too.
Gawain looked at her ankle length dress. It had seen better days and was three sizes bigger than her. Her shoes were no better. She dressed like a transient wandering around in downtown Seattle. Well, at least she looked clean. Unlike a hobo who hadn’t showered in a month,
Alex wanted to stomp her feet when hot tears rolled down first on her left cheek and then the right.
* * * *
Tears. A woman’s most powerful weapon to make a man bend. Damn. Seemed like he upset her. What the hell. He’d offered the others money before, and they didn’t take offense. Given her accent, maybe she was an immigrant. That could be it. Maybe in her culture, it was offensive if a stranger offered them money.
From the doorway, he had a chance to observe her. She was barefoot. Her shoes were on the corner of the doormat. He thought it odd. Now, hearing her talk was even weirder. He really must talk to Bors and ask about her story. He hoped she wasn’t an illegal alien. With the immigration laws getting tighter now, she’d be back in the country where she’d come from in a hurry.
“I see this is really upsetting to you, but I’ve done this before. Bors had brought women here and I let them stay and gave them money so—”
“Bors brought women here and you gave them money?”
“Yes.”
“And you think I’m one of those women?”
“Aren’t you?”
“I’m not a loose woman.”
“Loose woman? Most women I’ve let stay here…Oh, wait. You think the women who stayed here are loose and I paid them?” The woman wiped her tears with her fingers then squared her shoulder. Her posture was so straight she reminded Gawain of his old toy soldier. She looked ready to punch him. “No. Not all of them are paid women. The majority of them has all kinds of drama or issues going on with their lives. My brother is helping them. I support his cause, but within the bounds of reason.”
“I beg your pardon, Gawain, but what drama are you talking about?”
“Whatever it is you’re running from.” Damn, it. He should have taken two Tylenol capsules. He was hoping he’d just show this woman her room, offer her food and that was it. If she wanted to stay with a friend, he’d let Bors know. He didn’t need this.
“You thought I’m one of the women Bors is trying to help.”
“Isn’t that why you’re here? You need help, don’t you?”
“Yes, I need help. But not—”
“That settles it. You need a place to stay. I have a room you could use. If you’d rather that you stay with a friend, that’s fine. That’s after Bors gives me his permission.”
“Who are those women Bors is trying to help?” Alex shook her head. “Forget I asked. I shouldn’t pry.”
“Can’t tell you anyway.”
Damn. Now she sounded so proper and her accent disappeared. Could she stand any straighter? Didn’t matter. At least she’d stopped crying. “All right.” Gawain raised his hands up in the air in a gesture that he capitulated. “We’ve started on the wrong foot here. You need a place to stay. I know, that.”
“And that is true, but I have to decline. It must have been difficult for you to have constant visitors. Like I said, Luke offered his place where I could stay when I get to the United States. I’ll stay with him.”
Obviously, she had education. Maybe she had money before and now found herself in a difficult situation. Thus, the pride. “No problem there.”
“Good. Now, please call Bors.”
The last woman Bors had tried to help tried to steal his wallet and gave him a shiner. This one might not do those things, but would drive you nuts with her pride. She was kind of shrewish, too.
Gawain looked at her ankle length dress. It had seen better days and was three sizes bigger than her. Her shoes were no better. She dressed like a transient wandering around in downtown Seattle. Well, at least she looked clean. Unlike a hobo who hadn’t showered in a month,
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