Page 34 of The Earl's Wrangler
Chapter 13
TO SAYthe building looked old was an understatement.The place had been built centuries before, and was laden with heavy wooden beams and dark, scuffed, worn wooden seats that had seen centuries of butts.The inside seemed permeated with the scent of tobacco, even though no one was allowed to smoke inside any longer.
As he entered, Sawyer made sure to put on a smile.A few heads turned his way with curious looks, but the entire room went silent when Randall came in.Sawyer swore he could hear his boots on the floor every time he stepped.
“There’s a table over there,” Sawyer said, gesturing toward the empty seats.Randall continued looking around, standing in the center of the room as everyone seemed to lower their gaze.
“What can I get your Lordship?”the man behind the bar asked after a slight bend of his head.
“Randall,” Sawyer said gently.“He and I will each have a beer, and what is your best dish?”
“Our shepherd’s pie,” the man answered.
“Then we’ll each have one of those and the beer,” Sawyer said.“Thank you.”He didn’t know what the protocol was at a moment like this, so he guided Randall to a seat.He took it, and eventually conversation in the room slowly began, only this time he was pretty sure all of it was about them.
“This was a bad idea,” Randall said softly.
“No.This is a great idea.You need to be seen, and they need to know that you aren’t some dragon in your castle or an ogre that is going to eat their children.You don’t have to be their drinking buddy, but you and they are connected.If you want to succeed, then you have to help them be successful, and that takes talking.And maybe having a beer with them occasionally.”The bartender brought their beers in pint glasses.Sawyer tasted his and licked his lips before downing a quarter of the glass.
“This is way better than the stuff at home.Though it should be colder,” he whispered and drank some more.Then he looked for the bartender and caught his eye.“This is very good.”
“You a Yank?”he asked.
“Yes.I’m an American.”He took off his hat and placed it on his lap.He’d forgotten he had it on.
“One of them cowboys?”a man asked from behind him.
“You bet.I wrangle horses and herd cattle out in Wyoming.I’m here staying with Randall for a couple of weeks.I met him when he was visiting mutual friends.”He refused to sayhis Lordshipbecause that was not who Randall was to him.He was his boyfriend, and their relationship was personal and had nothing to do with social hierarchy.He turned to the man who had asked.“I spend most of my time outdoors, the way you do, judging by how windblown and suntanned your face is.”
“And you’re here with his Lordship?”He sounded shocked.
“Sure.”Sawyer turned to sit forward in the seat.He kept his opinion to himself, but it was becoming clear that these people had no idea who Randall was or that he was a good guy.Sawyer drank some more of his beer, and when the food arrived, he dug in.
“Good?”he asked Randall, who nodded as he took a delicate bite.
“I haven’t had one of these since I was a kid.One of my nannies used to have it made for me.”
“If you like it, then tell the man.He looks like he’s about to shit a brick,” Sawyer said, and the man behind him chuckled.“Just treat these folks the way you did the people on the ranch.If they ask for your opinion, give it.If they do something good, praise them for it.If they need help, be there to provide it if you can.Everyone on the ranch worked together, because if they didn’t, the entire place would fall apart.”It was pretty simple to him, but then he wasn’t Alan or Mrs.J, and his name certainly hadn’t been on the sign at the entrance to the drive.
“You don’t understand how things are here,” Randall told him.
Sawyer shrugged.“It seems to me that things here are largely dictated by how you act.They will all follow your lead.So do that and be the one out front.”He ate some more of the shepherd’s pie.
“Is everything to your liking, your Lordship?”the bartender asked.He was probably the owner of the pub; he was doing everything but wringing his hands with worry.
“The pie is great.Reminds me of what I had as a child.Thank you,” Randall said, and damned if the barkeep didn’t give him a smile.“I’ve been away for a while, but it’s good to have some home cooking again.”
“Yes, this is wonderful,” Sawyer agreed as he dug in to finish off the last of it.He also finished his beer but turned down another one.If he had a second, he was pretty sure the jet lag would catch up with him, and the last thing he wanted was to go to sleep too early.At least that was what the internet told him.
The man beamed and hurried back behind the bar to fill other orders.
“So, gentlemen, what’s been happening in the village?”Randall asked, looking around.Again, no one said anything, maybe expecting it to be a trick question.“There has to be something interesting.I’ve been in America, and I got to work with some amazing horses.You always raised beauties,” he said, turning to one of the older men.“How does this year’s crop look?”
“Very good, your Lordship,” he answered softly.
“Would it be all right if we stopped by to see them?Sawyer absolutely loves horses.”Damn, Randall was really trying to break through, but these people were giving him nothing.Sawyer didn’t understand why, but Randall didn’t seem ruffled by it.
“You want to come see my horses?”Shock was plain on his face until he schooled it.“Of course.Stop by any time, your Lordship.”He actually seemed pleased, and Sawyer began to wonder if he should order that second beer after all.
