Spring
Wednesday 17 February
Stardrop Saloon
Early Evening

Joanna was craving something else than her regular microwave dinners and that was the only reason why she decided to leave the solitary comfort of her farm to go to the Stardrop Saloon.

Her parsnips that she had planted on Monday were doing well and seem to have taken in the carefully prepared fertilized soil. She had been extremely proud of herself for managing to clear a decent amount of space in front of the cottage, the week before and over the weekend. But she had to spend the whole day today constructing a scarecrow to protect her little seedlings. She had been, to her utter disgust and shock attacked…ferociously she might add, by two huge black crows that in no doubt were just waiting for her parsnips to sprout so that they could rip them from the ground.
"Go away…you…you scavengers!" Joanna had shouted at them as they had squawked at her from the roof of her cottage. Her scarecrow was very crudely constructed with two wooden poles held together in a cross shape with some rope, and wore her old JoJo company blue jacket stuffed with grass and an old farmers hat she had found in a crate at the back of the cottage when she had gone searching for tools. If anything the JoJo logo on the jacket should be enough to scare anyone off…Joanna had no love for the company which she had been a part of for almost seven years. The company is as bleak, dull and cruel as the board of directors that control it.

Joanna pushed open the saloon door and stepped inside. It was much less busier than it would normally be and for that she was extremely grateful. Willy, an old retired fisherman and Clint the local blacksmith were sitting at their usual table just to the right of the entrance chatting and drinking, and Pam, a boisterous middle aged golden blond was drinking beer at the end of the bar counter on the left.

"Good Evening, Joanna. Can I get you anything?" Gus the owner of the Stardrop Saloon smiled at his new visitor. He had heard the door open and when he had turned to see who it was after giving Pam her refill, he had been pleased to see that it was Joanna poking her head around the huge wooden door. She looked a bit frazzled and her hair was desperately trying to escape her two shoulder braids. As she stepped inside he saw that her jeans and shirt were dusty with sand and dirt. He shook his head at the thought that such a young girl should be doing hard work like farming but at the same time he admired her. His brief chat with her on Friday night had made him see the strength in her despite her bashful laugh and nervous chatter to everyone around her. He had been perturbed at Lewis for putting the poor girl into such an awkward and overwhelming situation to introduce her to every soul that had been here Friday night when it had been as plain as day that she was uncomfortable.
"Hi Gus, yes please…I would love to try your famous spaghetti I have heard about," she blushed as she moved forward to take a seat at the bar counter, "oh…and a cider, thank you!" Gus nodded and disappeared into the kitchen at the back of the saloon.

Joanna relaxed, and she removed her wallet and phone from her front pockets and placed them on the counter. She had not bothered with her backpack and had left it back at the cottage, since she was only going to eat dinner and go home again. Joanna liked Gus, just like Emily he was a bubbly and extremely likable person, chubby and just a few inches shorter than her. He had a huge handlebar moustache that would wiggle from side to side as he talked, brown and bushy to match his eyebrows and hair.

Gus came back in wiping his hands on his large white apron and he went to the one of the three mini fridges behind the counter to take out a cider for her. He popped it open then proceeded to pour it into a tall glass, and then with a towel that magically appeared in his hand he wiped the counter and placed the cold beverage in front of her.
"Dinner will be ready in a bit, enjoy!" He grinned and then with a wink turned his attention to Pam who was incoherently demanding another drink.

Shane stood frozen against the wall, hidden in the shadows annoyed and relieved that Joanna has actually not seen him…yet. He was clutching his beer bottle to his chest with one hand and the other was twiddling with a bunch of coins in his shorts pocket. She looked like she had one hell of day…her hair was messy and her clothes dirty...and still she manages to look pretty. Shane shook his head and rolled his eyes taking a sip from his beer and realized too late that, that little action had betrayed his position…

Joanna saw the movement out of the corner of her eye and she turned to look at the shadow in-between the fireplace and the bar. She squinted and saw that there was a man standing in the shadows, the top half of his body was completely enshrouded but his shorts and legs were visible and this she only knew because she had stretched to lean over to the right to look. The very familiar knee length blue denim shorts sat snugly over muscled thighs and as her gaze drifted down she saw the two agitated feet in a pair of blue sandals shifting on the wooden floor. That is why I did not see him on Friday night she mused.
"Hello Shane" she greeted then shifted back into her seat and took a sip from her cider.

Shane let out the breath he was holding and his shoulders sagged.
"Hey…" he murmured giving a nod in return as he moved out of the shadows to stand next to the bar in the dim lighting where his blue jacket was hanging over the bar stool. It had been hot on his walk to the bar and he had immediately removed it when he had stepped inside. He took another sip, actually he gulped the whole bottle and then he tapped on the bar. Gus looked over his shoulder, nodded and sauntered over to give Shane a new beer. Shane glanced over at Pam, she was really hitting the drink hard tonight, but then again she did most nights anyway. Shane took a sip from his new beer and he could feel Joanna's gaze on him and to say that is was giving him an unsettling neck cramp was an understatement.
"How is your hip?" he asked and he could almost kick himself for asking, the last thing he wanted or needed was to have a casual conversation with her.
"Oh…it is fine, thank you" Joanna actually sounding surprised and he stole a quick glance in her direction. She was looking at him and she was frowning…why was she frowning? He took another sip, this was really uncomfortable.

Emily came back in carrying a plate of spaghetti, "Here you go, love" she smiled at Joanna and placed the hot steamy plate in front of her. Joanna's stomach growled and she blushed, "That looks absolutely yummy! Thank you Emily!" Emily winked and then she turned to Shane.
"You all good there Shane?" she asked and Shane nodded lifting his beer bottle to her. Emily nodded smiling then whirled around to make her way back into the kitchen.

Shane could not help but steel another glance to look at Joanna as she ate, oh dear Yoba…this girl even eats pretty, shit. He looked away and he saw Willy and Clint with their heads together in a deep discussion. What are those two conspiring? He knew Clint only came to the saloon because of Emily the guy has been in love with her for years. Poor sod. Clint was not a bad looking guy with his short golden bronze brown ruffled hair and circle beard with moustache. The permanent grey scratchy sweater he wore every season with his standard brown blacksmith apron did honestly nothing for his physique. Clint was strong for his age he had to be wielding a hammer all day. And Willy? Well, he came for the beer and the company and anyone who would be willing to listen to his fish tales…and they were…real fish tales. The old worn out cap he wore hid his graying dark hair, but the sea blown wrinkles around his eyes and the scruffy beard with gray streaks showed his years. Willy had tried to teach Shane how to fish once but that had been disastrous…Shane chuckled, although if they had been sober it might have been more successful.

"Do you come here often?"
"What?" Shane looked at Joanna in surprise his thoughts gone when his eyes locked with hers.
"Do you come to the saloon often?" Joanna asked again. He looked away and frowned, this talking thing needs to be discouraged. He was not the best conversationalist and it would just be better for both of them not to engage in any type of talking activity…
"Yes…" he answered then "Look, I hardly know you…Why…why are you talking to me?" his tone was not rude, but it was not exactly nice either. Joanna opened her mouth, but then shut it again and turned her attention back to her plate. She sat quietly and for a few minutes just picked at the remaining food on her plate. Shane groaned inwardly. Shit!
Emily's frown and scowl was not lost on him as she had heard his comment when she had come back in with a tray of clean glasses.

"Sorry" Joanna said smiling weakly, "I just thought…" what had she thought? Joanna's shoulders sagged, she felt like an idiot now, trying to chat with Shane. But when he had laughed he had suddenly become approachable…obviously she had been wrong. She has never been one to initiate a conversation unless absolutely necessary. Why she had done so now only made her cringe inwardly. Shane was alone and he had been hiding in the shadows so obviously he was not here for company or apparently desired any.
Joanna finished her cider then grabbed her wallet and phone, she placed some coins onto the counter and then stood up and with a quick glance in Shane's direction she said "Goodnight Shane" then turned and headed for the door.
"Goodnight, Gus…Emily. Thanks for dinner!" she called over her shoulder opening the door and with one last quick look at Shane, she left.

Shane frowned as he stared at the closed door. It was better that she does not like him then later hating him. He can stand people not liking him but not when they hated him…he has been down that road. People in this town acknowledge him only but none of them are his friends the exception being Emily. Emily for some reason just would not give up being his friend and it did take her two years to finally break down his well built walls. And considering all the shit he put her through she deserves to be his friend…although that friend was now rather annoyed with him. He knew Emily was silently scowling him and he was most likely going to get a phone call later. Shane shrugged, but she should know better than anyone why he pushes people away. Emily and Marnie are the only ones who know why he had one night five years ago showed up at Marnie's doorstep with a three year old toddler. Jas was as far as the town was concerned Marnie's niece and his goddaughter. This family secret was one that should remain buried… and for as long as he can he will protect Jas and keep the shovel close by.

No…it would just be better if Joanna stayed away from him…or rather he stays away from her…not easy when you live in a freaking small town, but it will be for the best…for both of them.