A VOYAGE TO REMEMBER
Chapter Fifteen
Isolde looked down to see Shamus
stomping towards her. She pressed herself against the wall. His face was red.
The scent of alcohol and cigarettes rolled off of him. She tried to act calm.
"Shamus," she began
slowly, in a motherly fashion.
"Don't Shamus me!" he
bellowed. "You were with him again!"
"With who?" she
inquired calmly.
"That man!" he
continued to rant.
"He's just a friend,"
she continued while shaking her head. "No need to fret."
"A friend?" he repeated
in disbelief. "He kissed you!"
"That was a misunderstanding,"
Isolde began to explain, but didn't have a chance.
Shamus grabbed her feet and
pulled her from the bunk. He flung her roughly against the wall. She still
stood defiantly, but winced at the pain that shot up her back. She was
determined to explain the situation. He was nearly a foot and a half taller
than her. Towering over her, he pointed a finger at her face. The alcohol was
stronger than ever.
"You've been leading him
on," he rumbled. "Just like you've done to me!"
"No!" she said angrily,
but didn't continue because he backhanded her across the face.
It stung, but she didn't respond.
He suddenly shoved her to the ground. He was about to kick her when Isolde saw
Flynn and Tommy rush through the door. Just as he was aiming, Flynn pulled
Shamus back as if he were a feather. The drinking had obviously had its effect
on the red-headed man. Tommy gingerly helped Isolde up. He placed her on the
top bunk again.
"You all right, lass?"
he inquired softly.
Isolde was still watching Flynn
yank Shamus through the door. She could hear the usually silent man bellowing
at Shamus about how to treat women. She turned her attention to the kind
Irishman, barely nodding. He looked at her face. It was sure to bruise by
morning. Other than that, she would be fine.
"How did you know to
come?" she asked suddenly.
"Aine told Flynn to keep an
eye on Shamus," he said with a shrug. "We went searching for him
after he disappeared."
She simply nodded again.
"Well," he began,
rubbing the back of his neck, "you should be fine. We'll watch Shamus and
keep him away from you."
Just as he was about the close
the door, Isolde called out, "Thank you."
"Never a problem," he
said with a genuine smile, tipping his hat to her.
Isolde lay back on her bed. She
couldn't believe she had been hit. This was the first time in her life. She let
the thoughts float through her mind. Her eyelids became heavy. A restless sleep
came upon her.