Free Angel Fire by Valmore Daniels Page B

returned to his barkeeping duties. Barry and his friends found a table at the other side of the dance floor. I knew he knew I was there, though he studiously avoided looking in my direction while he found his seat. Just a good old boy, he ordered a round of drinks from the waitress who floated by. Frank cracked a joke, and all three laughed.
    “Darcy, you’re going to bust a nail.” I glanced up at Beth, who had returned to the table. She was looking at my hands, which were clutching the edge of the table so hard my knuckles were white.
    I forced myself to relax my grip. “Maybe we should leave. This was a bad idea.”
    “Don’t be stupid,” said Beth. “We have just as much right to be here as he does.”
    I wrung my hands. “I don’t know.”
    “I do. There’s no way you’re getting out of here without a fight, princess.” Beth gave Neil a playful smack on the arm. “If you don’t ask her to dance soon, I’ll make you dance with me. I warn you, I have high heels and no sense of rhythm.”
    Neil blushed a deep red, and suddenly the tension drained from me. His embarrassment made me like him more. At the same time, I felt more than a little self-conscious.
    “Beth,” I admonished her. “I’m not sure—”
    “I warned you. If you don’t dance with him, I will!” She grabbed Neil by the wrist and pulled him out of his seat. With a helpless look on his face, he let Beth drag him to the dance floor. Joining the few other couples already attempting a line dance, the two fell into position and, with only a few missteps, got into the swing of things.
    John leaned over to me, his eyes full of laughter. “Are you going to help me make my wife jealous? Come on!”
    I took a sip of water and stood. “Absolutely.”
    “Yeah! That’s more like it.”
    We stepped into line and followed along. It was like I had sea legs, and I’m sure I looked like an idiot, but for a few minutes all my cares drained away. I was surprised to hear my own laughter.
    John spun me around. I almost lost my balance, but Beth grabbed me before I spilled over into someone’s table.
    “You home wrecker!” she called out to me with a smile. “Give me my husband back!”
    I laughed, and Beth and I switched positions. I partnered up with Neil. He was grinning like a fool, obviously enjoying himself.
    The band ended the song on a high note, and immediately started a waltz. I took a step back toward the table, but Neil took my hand and pulled me in for a slow dance.
    I closed my eyes, burying my head in Neil’s chest and basked in the security of his embrace. The rhythm of the music and the ebb and sway of our dancing was hypnotizing, and I felt all my cares drain away.
    When Neil was suddenly wrenched away from me, I cried out in surprise. It took me a few moments to get my wits about me.
    “That’s my wife you’re dancing with, bastard!” Barry, his fists clenched, had murder in his eyes as he stared Neil down.
    My shock instantly turned to rage. “I’m not your wife anymore, Barry. Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
    He pointed an accusing finger at me. “We took a vow. And like the man said, you’re mine until death do us part. Now you’re going to dance with me and you’re going to like it.” With that, he reached out to grab my arm.
    Lightning quick, Neil deflected his advance and then followed up with a strong shove.
    “You heard the lady,” he said. “She doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
    Barry smiled disarmingly and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. From experience, I knew what was coming next and called out a warning. Neil had already dropped his guard though, and Barry lashed out with a brutal roundhouse to Neil’s jaw, sending him flying back against the crowd that had gathered to watch.
    “Neil!” I cried, but before I could run over to see if he was all right, Barry backhanded me across the face. Stars exploded in my head. The blow didn’t quite knock me off my feet, and I caught