CHAPTER 9
"Come on … it will be fun." Richie grinned at Beth over the counter as Esperanza shook her
head in amusement.
"You want me to be your partner … in a dart tournament … but you've never seen if I can hit a
target?" Beth laughed as she walked out into the main area of the store to wipe down one of the
tables. "You're crazy you know that?"
"I'm not crazy enough to miss the fact that you've been working way too much this week and you
need to relax a little … and have some fun." He moved closer to her and brushed a stray lock of
hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
Beth flushed a little and stepped back, still not giving him the answer he wanted.
"Ok … I promised I wouldn't twist your arm, but you give me no choice … Joe misses you … Mac
misses you … I miss you … and everyone at the bar misses your fried pies. Joe was kind of
hoping you'd be able to bring a basketful with you. Seems that if his customers are eating your
pies they don't go across the street to have desert at that new restaurant that moved in … and he
sells more beer."
"Ahhhh so the truth comes out. You don't want me … you want my pies!" Beth quirked one
eyebrow.
"All right all right … you know how we feel about you … and your pies. Joe mentioned maybe
selling the pies regularly … and if you stick your shop label on each one of them then you will
probably pick up more customers … You know how much everyone enjoys them."
Beth threw her hands up in surrender. "All right. I'll come to Joe's tonight … AND I'll bring a
basket of pies … but I'm not committing to the dart tournament … I'm not very good at the hand
eye coordination thing …"
"You'll be great." Richie grinned and turned to go before she could change her mind. "See you
tonight … bye Esperanza." And then he was gone. Esperanza shook her head and clicked her
tongue. "He's got it bad for you."
Beth didn't reply, but she knew Esperanza was right. Richie was falling and soon there would be
no way to keep from hurting him.
"Want to help me with a few more batches of pies?" She asked the older woman.
It was a little after nine when Richie finally realized his insistence that Beth be his tournament
partner might not have been the best idea.
"ooops" she laughed as the last dart embedded itself in one of the speakers a few feet away from
the board.
Richie rubbed his face with one hand and shook his head as she sheepishly offered to go get him
a beer.
"I warned you about this hand eye coordination I don't have." She said as they stood back to
watch their team go down in flames as the next competitors hit the bullseye every time.
Beth was just about to turn toward the bar when she saw his expression change. It was like he
was straining to hear something … and then his head turned toward the door.
"What is it Richie? What's the matter?" she asked as she saw him watching the dark haired man
who had just walked through the door carrying a duffle bag. "Do you know him?"
The man only gave Richie a passing glance of recognition.
Richie nodded and turned his attention back to her, wishing he had been more subtle. Mac told
him that would take years of practice …
"It's nothing … I felt the draft from the door … how about that beer?"
Beth didn't believe him, but Richie didn't want to talk about it so she turned her attention to the
bar area behind them where Joe was greeting the tall stranger with the very unpleasant frown on
his face.
"Adam … it's good to see you." Joe leaned over the bar to slap the man on the arm with one
hand while he sat a cold one in front of him with the other.
"If you say so …" Adam replied flatly, slumping a bit on the stool and guzzling half the beer in a
matter of seconds.
"What's got you in such a good mood? Rough flight?"
"Aren't they always?" Adam stated, feeling only a tinge of guilt that he was putting a damper on
his friend's obvious excitement to see him.
"I should have stayed in Paris. At least there I had a place to stay … a familiar place at that."
Adam muttered before finishing the rest of the beer and holding it up to Joe, hoping for another.
"Ok … what is this all about?" Joe asked as he sat another one down.
"All of my luggage didn't make it on my flight … some blasted mix up. So I told them where to
deliver it … you know … the rooming house where I've always stayed. The woman saves that
room for me … " Adam continues and Joe immediately realizes the problem. He also sees that
their conversation is not private … Beth is now standing only a few feet away and is obviously
hearing everything being said, but he was unable to stop Adam in time to control the damage.
"So I go there … to drop off this bag … and maybe change out of the clothes I've been wearing
for the past two days … and what do I find?" Adam pauses for effect. "A bloody pie shop."
Joe couldn't help but chuckle even as he winced when he saw the look on Beth's face. From
across the room Richie saw her pause and wondered why she hadn't asked Joe for the beer.
Bored with the game he was now completely losing, he decided to go over himself … he knew he
should probably say something to Methos anyway.
"Hey Adam … Mac said you might be coming into town." Richie squeezed Beth's arm as he
walked past her to greet a less than enthused Methos. Joe was still trying to think of how to
introduce Beth to the man who had just unwittingly insulted her … and was glad to at least have
backup, even if Richie was a bit out of the loop on what had just transpired.
"Richie" Adam nodded his greeting as a mere formality and then moved on to what he really
cared about. "Is McCloud around?"
It was about that time the sensation hit both of them … at least this time Richie managed to
cover.
"Speak of the devil." Joe chuckled as Duncan came into the club.
Duncan strode over to the bar … ignoring Methos obviously sour expression and extending his
hand in a way that the man couldn't easily refuse. "Glad to have you back old man." Duncan
said , clasping his hand and slapping him on the shoulder as Methos merely muttered something
uninteligible.
It was only then that Duncan noticed Beth standing a few steps behind Richie. "Beth sweetheart,
how are you. We've missed you this week." He pulled her into a hug that brought her right up to
the bar and face to face with the stranger.
Joe saw the flash in Beth's eyes and stepped back a little, wanting to distance himself from the
unusual flicker he saw rising from them. Methos vaguely realized that the woman had been
standing with Richie when he first walked in, but had been too distracted to pay much attention.
But it was obvious she was more than a casual acquaintance of Richie's and McCloud's … and
for some strange reason she seemed to dislike him. In fact, he could swear she hated him … he
searched his brain trying to figure out where they might have met before, but came up empty.
"Oh …you two haven't met?" Duncan asked, wondering why Richie and Joe hadn't bothered.
"Adam Pierson … this is "
"The owner of the bloody pie shop." Beth interrupted, surprising herself a little at the tone of her
voice. She was never this blunt … but then again … her hormones were on overdrive and she'd
never had someone who did not know her criticize her work so callously.
Duncan's eyes widened … as did Richie's and Joe almost doubled over … Methos immediately
wished he had never gotten on that bloody plane.
"Adam … this is Beth … Beth Parker … She moved to Seacouver a little over a month ago."
Duncan tried to recover from the awkward situation. "And I guess you figured out by now that she
is the one who purchased the boarding house where you used to stay."
"And I guess she's waiting for an apology?" Adam quipped, his eyes still locked with her dark
ones.
"Well that would be a complete waste of time now wouldn't it?" Duncan replied with a grin in his
voice, turning to Beth. "You see Beth … Adam never apologizes for anything … it's just
something his friends have gotten used to. But he's really not so bad when he's had some sleep
… and a shower …" he sniffed the air around his friend.
"Your attempt at humor is not appreciated." Adam replied dryly. "You could have at least warned
me I'd be homeless."
"What did he say to you?" Richie took the opportunity to ask Beth in a low voice while Duncan
kept Adam busy in conversation.
"Don't worry about it … I'm sorry if I was rude to your friend Richie … but he's not someone I
really care to be around. It's time I got home anyway … It's been a long day and I'm tired."
Beth turned to say a quick goodbye to Duncan and Joe … and managed to nod politely to Adam,
as Richie followed her to her car.
"Would somebody tell me what the hell happened?" Duncan asked as he looked pointedly at
Methos. "Beth is one of the sweetest women I've ever met and it seems that in two seconds you
managed to have her ready to scratch your eyes out."
"He was in a foul mood when he came in because his luggage got lost and is being delivered to a
place that no longer has a room for him. Unfortunately Beth heard him complaining about it …
and that's when you walked in." Joe gave a quick synopsis.
"Can I ask what really happened in there?" Richie asked through the open window as he leaned
against the car door.
"We just got off on a bad note. We were both tired and on edge … and I heard him telling Joe
that the place he used to live was now a 'bloody pie shop'." She replied, making a face and
imitating his accent.
"Ouch … " Richie winced. "I guess Mac should have warned him when he knew he was coming
to town."
Beth gave him a "whatever" look that said she was still hurt about what had been said.
I'd never seen you like that." Richie admitted, giving her shoulder a little nudge "Remind me to
never make you angry …"
Beth smiled. "I don't see that happening. You've been great to me … I really needed friends I
could lean on. I just hope all of you know how much I appreciate what you've been for me."
"Beth you've got to know how …" Richie leaned in closer as he began, but she put her fingertips
against his lips … silencing him because she knew what he was about to say.
"Richie please don't say it. Please just be my friend. I'm not someone you should pursue
something deeper with … I wish I could be … but I'm not. I come with way too much baggage …
more than you know … more than I can begin to tell you."
Richie looked down at the ground and then back up into her eyes. "Maybe you think that now …
but in time you may change your mind …" This time it was Richie who didn't let Beth interrupt.
"And before you say that won't happen … don't … because you don't know how either of us will
feel down the road. For now I'll be your friend. I am your friend. That won't change. But don't
tell me not to hope for something I really want … or to stop trying."
Beth's eyes misted over as she looked up into his. "I couldn't bear it if you hated me Richie …
but I'm afraid that might happen if you expect more than I can give. Just think about what I'm
telling you. And if it's too hard to just be friends … I'll understand … I'd miss you, but I'd
understand."
"I'm not going anywhere."
Beth nodded. She'd tried to tell him without hurting him … and there was nothing else she could
do.
"Good night Richie."
"Good night Beth." Richie brushed her cheek with his hand before stepping back so she could
drive away.
"Come on … it will be fun." Richie grinned at Beth over the counter as Esperanza shook her
head in amusement.
"You want me to be your partner … in a dart tournament … but you've never seen if I can hit a
target?" Beth laughed as she walked out into the main area of the store to wipe down one of the
tables. "You're crazy you know that?"
"I'm not crazy enough to miss the fact that you've been working way too much this week and you
need to relax a little … and have some fun." He moved closer to her and brushed a stray lock of
hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
Beth flushed a little and stepped back, still not giving him the answer he wanted.
"Ok … I promised I wouldn't twist your arm, but you give me no choice … Joe misses you … Mac
misses you … I miss you … and everyone at the bar misses your fried pies. Joe was kind of
hoping you'd be able to bring a basketful with you. Seems that if his customers are eating your
pies they don't go across the street to have desert at that new restaurant that moved in … and he
sells more beer."
"Ahhhh so the truth comes out. You don't want me … you want my pies!" Beth quirked one
eyebrow.
"All right all right … you know how we feel about you … and your pies. Joe mentioned maybe
selling the pies regularly … and if you stick your shop label on each one of them then you will
probably pick up more customers … You know how much everyone enjoys them."
Beth threw her hands up in surrender. "All right. I'll come to Joe's tonight … AND I'll bring a
basket of pies … but I'm not committing to the dart tournament … I'm not very good at the hand
eye coordination thing …"
"You'll be great." Richie grinned and turned to go before she could change her mind. "See you
tonight … bye Esperanza." And then he was gone. Esperanza shook her head and clicked her
tongue. "He's got it bad for you."
Beth didn't reply, but she knew Esperanza was right. Richie was falling and soon there would be
no way to keep from hurting him.
"Want to help me with a few more batches of pies?" She asked the older woman.
It was a little after nine when Richie finally realized his insistence that Beth be his tournament
partner might not have been the best idea.
"ooops" she laughed as the last dart embedded itself in one of the speakers a few feet away from
the board.
Richie rubbed his face with one hand and shook his head as she sheepishly offered to go get him
a beer.
"I warned you about this hand eye coordination I don't have." She said as they stood back to
watch their team go down in flames as the next competitors hit the bullseye every time.
Beth was just about to turn toward the bar when she saw his expression change. It was like he
was straining to hear something … and then his head turned toward the door.
"What is it Richie? What's the matter?" she asked as she saw him watching the dark haired man
who had just walked through the door carrying a duffle bag. "Do you know him?"
The man only gave Richie a passing glance of recognition.
Richie nodded and turned his attention back to her, wishing he had been more subtle. Mac told
him that would take years of practice …
"It's nothing … I felt the draft from the door … how about that beer?"
Beth didn't believe him, but Richie didn't want to talk about it so she turned her attention to the
bar area behind them where Joe was greeting the tall stranger with the very unpleasant frown on
his face.
"Adam … it's good to see you." Joe leaned over the bar to slap the man on the arm with one
hand while he sat a cold one in front of him with the other.
"If you say so …" Adam replied flatly, slumping a bit on the stool and guzzling half the beer in a
matter of seconds.
"What's got you in such a good mood? Rough flight?"
"Aren't they always?" Adam stated, feeling only a tinge of guilt that he was putting a damper on
his friend's obvious excitement to see him.
"I should have stayed in Paris. At least there I had a place to stay … a familiar place at that."
Adam muttered before finishing the rest of the beer and holding it up to Joe, hoping for another.
"Ok … what is this all about?" Joe asked as he sat another one down.
"All of my luggage didn't make it on my flight … some blasted mix up. So I told them where to
deliver it … you know … the rooming house where I've always stayed. The woman saves that
room for me … " Adam continues and Joe immediately realizes the problem. He also sees that
their conversation is not private … Beth is now standing only a few feet away and is obviously
hearing everything being said, but he was unable to stop Adam in time to control the damage.
"So I go there … to drop off this bag … and maybe change out of the clothes I've been wearing
for the past two days … and what do I find?" Adam pauses for effect. "A bloody pie shop."
Joe couldn't help but chuckle even as he winced when he saw the look on Beth's face. From
across the room Richie saw her pause and wondered why she hadn't asked Joe for the beer.
Bored with the game he was now completely losing, he decided to go over himself … he knew he
should probably say something to Methos anyway.
"Hey Adam … Mac said you might be coming into town." Richie squeezed Beth's arm as he
walked past her to greet a less than enthused Methos. Joe was still trying to think of how to
introduce Beth to the man who had just unwittingly insulted her … and was glad to at least have
backup, even if Richie was a bit out of the loop on what had just transpired.
"Richie" Adam nodded his greeting as a mere formality and then moved on to what he really
cared about. "Is McCloud around?"
It was about that time the sensation hit both of them … at least this time Richie managed to
cover.
"Speak of the devil." Joe chuckled as Duncan came into the club.
Duncan strode over to the bar … ignoring Methos obviously sour expression and extending his
hand in a way that the man couldn't easily refuse. "Glad to have you back old man." Duncan
said , clasping his hand and slapping him on the shoulder as Methos merely muttered something
uninteligible.
It was only then that Duncan noticed Beth standing a few steps behind Richie. "Beth sweetheart,
how are you. We've missed you this week." He pulled her into a hug that brought her right up to
the bar and face to face with the stranger.
Joe saw the flash in Beth's eyes and stepped back a little, wanting to distance himself from the
unusual flicker he saw rising from them. Methos vaguely realized that the woman had been
standing with Richie when he first walked in, but had been too distracted to pay much attention.
But it was obvious she was more than a casual acquaintance of Richie's and McCloud's … and
for some strange reason she seemed to dislike him. In fact, he could swear she hated him … he
searched his brain trying to figure out where they might have met before, but came up empty.
"Oh …you two haven't met?" Duncan asked, wondering why Richie and Joe hadn't bothered.
"Adam Pierson … this is "
"The owner of the bloody pie shop." Beth interrupted, surprising herself a little at the tone of her
voice. She was never this blunt … but then again … her hormones were on overdrive and she'd
never had someone who did not know her criticize her work so callously.
Duncan's eyes widened … as did Richie's and Joe almost doubled over … Methos immediately
wished he had never gotten on that bloody plane.
"Adam … this is Beth … Beth Parker … She moved to Seacouver a little over a month ago."
Duncan tried to recover from the awkward situation. "And I guess you figured out by now that she
is the one who purchased the boarding house where you used to stay."
"And I guess she's waiting for an apology?" Adam quipped, his eyes still locked with her dark
ones.
"Well that would be a complete waste of time now wouldn't it?" Duncan replied with a grin in his
voice, turning to Beth. "You see Beth … Adam never apologizes for anything … it's just
something his friends have gotten used to. But he's really not so bad when he's had some sleep
… and a shower …" he sniffed the air around his friend.
"Your attempt at humor is not appreciated." Adam replied dryly. "You could have at least warned
me I'd be homeless."
"What did he say to you?" Richie took the opportunity to ask Beth in a low voice while Duncan
kept Adam busy in conversation.
"Don't worry about it … I'm sorry if I was rude to your friend Richie … but he's not someone I
really care to be around. It's time I got home anyway … It's been a long day and I'm tired."
Beth turned to say a quick goodbye to Duncan and Joe … and managed to nod politely to Adam,
as Richie followed her to her car.
"Would somebody tell me what the hell happened?" Duncan asked as he looked pointedly at
Methos. "Beth is one of the sweetest women I've ever met and it seems that in two seconds you
managed to have her ready to scratch your eyes out."
"He was in a foul mood when he came in because his luggage got lost and is being delivered to a
place that no longer has a room for him. Unfortunately Beth heard him complaining about it …
and that's when you walked in." Joe gave a quick synopsis.
"Can I ask what really happened in there?" Richie asked through the open window as he leaned
against the car door.
"We just got off on a bad note. We were both tired and on edge … and I heard him telling Joe
that the place he used to live was now a 'bloody pie shop'." She replied, making a face and
imitating his accent.
"Ouch … " Richie winced. "I guess Mac should have warned him when he knew he was coming
to town."
Beth gave him a "whatever" look that said she was still hurt about what had been said.
I'd never seen you like that." Richie admitted, giving her shoulder a little nudge "Remind me to
never make you angry …"
Beth smiled. "I don't see that happening. You've been great to me … I really needed friends I
could lean on. I just hope all of you know how much I appreciate what you've been for me."
"Beth you've got to know how …" Richie leaned in closer as he began, but she put her fingertips
against his lips … silencing him because she knew what he was about to say.
"Richie please don't say it. Please just be my friend. I'm not someone you should pursue
something deeper with … I wish I could be … but I'm not. I come with way too much baggage …
more than you know … more than I can begin to tell you."
Richie looked down at the ground and then back up into her eyes. "Maybe you think that now …
but in time you may change your mind …" This time it was Richie who didn't let Beth interrupt.
"And before you say that won't happen … don't … because you don't know how either of us will
feel down the road. For now I'll be your friend. I am your friend. That won't change. But don't
tell me not to hope for something I really want … or to stop trying."
Beth's eyes misted over as she looked up into his. "I couldn't bear it if you hated me Richie …
but I'm afraid that might happen if you expect more than I can give. Just think about what I'm
telling you. And if it's too hard to just be friends … I'll understand … I'd miss you, but I'd
understand."
"I'm not going anywhere."
Beth nodded. She'd tried to tell him without hurting him … and there was nothing else she could
do.
"Good night Richie."
"Good night Beth." Richie brushed her cheek with his hand before stepping back so she could
drive away.