PART 23
Archie's focus remained fixed on Dan as he walked towards the podium. Jill having watched the horrible scene evolve moved quickly to take Lexie's hand and usher her away to a quiet corner. Lexie allowed herself to be led away, as she rubbed vigorously at her mouth, trying to erase the sense of Dan's violating kiss. Lucy looked on with a mixture of embarrassment and horror.
Climbing up onto the podium Archie's expression remained devoid of emotion, seeing the intense anger in his eyes Mandy, Dan's wife moved aside
"what exactly are you implying?" Archie asked Dan in a cold, calm voice. Lexie looked up at him aghast, concerned that Archie was actually perhaps believing Dan's accusation.
Dan paused before a smile broke out on his face "well, use your imagination you must know your wife, very accommodating and willing she is"
Archie looked directly at him "you're right I do know my wife, I know that she would never have done what you are accusing her of, I know exactly what she told me about how you have made her feel on numerous occasions, with your remarks and looks, why on earth do you think we decided not to be involved with you and the pub on a business level? She couldn't stand to be in your company..."
Before Archie could continue his anger escalating at Dan's abhorrent insinuations, he was interrupted by Mary who made her way onto the podium and began bellowing
"I saw you, I saw you that morning when I was collecting for the hospice you good for nothing lecherous creep, I saw you making Lexie feel uncomfortable, leering at her, trying to intimidate her, men like you make me sick" she then raised her handbag and began to hit him with it, as he put up his arms to protect himself, Archie slipped away to Lexie, who was crying silently being comforted by Jill.
He took hold of Lexie and hugged her tightly, he stroked her hair murmuring words of reassurance and comfort, as Jill slipped away leaving them alone. When the tears stopped she looked up at him
"you didn't believe him did you?"
"not for one second" he leant down and kissed her gently, then brushing the hair from her face asked
"you ok?"
she smiled "I am now, you always make me feel safe and that everything will be alright" she then started to giggle "the sight of Mary bashing that creep with her handbag was priceless"
Archie laughed with her, "it was probably just as well she came along as I'm not sure I'd have been so gentle"
"my hero defending my honour" Lexie teased
"of course my damsel in distress"
"I'm cross with myself for letting him make me cry just now"
"oh Lex" Archie said hugging her tighter "of course you'd be upset it was a horrible shock, don't be hard on yourself"
"I know it was, I couldn't believe what was happening first he kissed me" she winced as silent tears began to fall again "and the more that woman yelled the tighter his grip was on me, horrible" she shuddered at the memory
"I know Lex" Archie said feeling angry still himself, but desperately wanting to reassure and comfort Lexie
"you know Arch I am really angry as well, I mean the audacity of the man thinking I'd be interested in him, I mean I ask you he makes me squirm, can you imagine YEUCK" Lexie added getting some of her spirit back
"um actually Lex, I don't make a habit of imagining you with other men but I get your point"
Lexie laughed "well I'm glad about that" she said as she stood on tiptoe and kissed him
"what do you want to do now sweetheart, go home, stay here"
"well if I'm honest a big part of me really wants to go home, and curl up with you, with a mug of tea and for you to tell me silly stories and play with my hair" Archie smiled at her with a look of affection and love, "but if I do I'm letting that creep win, I've got nothing to hide, so come on lets go and watch Jill's class do their Maypole Dancing"
"that's my girl" Archie said kissing her and putting his arm round her shoulders
Just as they were about to walk off, they were approached by Mandy, at her appearance Lexie felt herself moving in closer to Archie and his grip around her shoulders tightened, they waited to see what she wanted
"look Lexie isn't it?" Lexie nodded "I just wanted to say I'm really sorry about earlier you were caught in the crossfire and well"
Archie had heard enough "well maybe you should have got your facts straight before you started making wild accusations about my wife"
"I know I am truly sorry but that man has led me a merry dance for years and well seeing him with you Lexie was just too much, I jumped to conclusions" her voice quietened and tears began to form in her eyes
"its ok I understand its not you who's at fault here it's Dan, look apology accepted I appreciate it" Lexie said
"thanks I thought I had to say something and I am going to stay around Banbridge for a bit, Margaret has offered to have me and Jake to stay, anyway I'm sorry and see you around" she finished nervously before walking away
"well" said Archie "if she is staying around looks like we can expect some fireworks and explosions"
"mmm" pondered Lexie "I feel really sorry for her, but you know good old Margaret taking her in, she's obviously not such a bad old stick after all, hey Arch just think if things work out between Duncan and Lucy, they'll all become his in laws!"
Archie laughed as they made their way over to watch the Maypole dancing, they spied Matt in the crowd with Emily sitting on his shoulders
"hello you two" he greeted them "you ok" he looked questioningly at Lexie
"I'm fine thanks Matt" Lexie replied, before he could respond, Emily jumped in
"look at me Lexie I'm taller than everyone"
"so you are Ems have you got a good view of the dancing"
"yes" then she put her head on one side and continued "you know Lexie you're not very tall not like Mummy, maybe you could sit on Archie's shoulders and then you could be tall and see too"
Lexie laughed "that's a good idea Ems, but I think I'm a bit too big to sit on Archie's shoulders, he might hurt his back"
"oh ok" Emily replied turning back to watch the dancing as Matt rolled his eyes at Archie and Lexie "excuse my daughter, takes after her mother!"
"what is that you are saying about my daughter Matthew?" asked Mary who appeared through the crowd
"nothing Mary nothing" Matt appeased smiling
turning to Lexie and touching her arm, Mary said "oh Lexie dear are you alright, I expect you are with your lovely husband there holding your hand"
"I'm fine Mary thanks and what can I say you're a mean shot with a handbag"
"ooo Lexie I had so much fun, bashing that creep, he'll be black and blue tomorrow you mark my words" Mary said as Archie and Lexie laughed "oh and have you heard" she continued
"what?" they asked together
"that Mandy is going to stay with Margaret"
"yes she told us when she came to apologise" Lexie explained
"apologise did she, good I know it wasn't her fault but, well anyway least said soonest mended, well I must be off, my stint now with the teas, see you later at the pig roast"
After Mary had gone, Archie and Lexie realised they had been so busy chatting they had missed the dancing and it was now over
"shall we go Lex" Lexie nodded in agreement, Archie turned to Matt "we're off to get changed see you back here in a couple of hours"
"yep see you then, bye" Matt called
Lexie sat on the bedroom floor crying with laughter, she was holding her side unable to speak just splutter, the sight of Archie hopping around the room attempting to put on a pair of tights had been too much. He stood beside her looking cross holding a pair of tights aloft in his hand, waiting for her to gain control of herself. Eventually she spoke
"if you could only have seen yourself, it was when you" and she started to laugh again. Archie slumped down on the bed
"oh Archie darling why don't you let me help you" Lexie said coquettishly as she crawled over to the bed and began trawling her fingers up his leg
"because I will not be defeated by a pair of tights for goodness sake"
Lexie sat back and watched him with a beguiling expression on her face as Archie began the charade again, eventually he stopped
"ok you win" he said begrudgingly smiling at her as he handed her the tights
Lexie began to ease his feet into the tights, as she did this she was unable to resist the urge to tickle them, whilst looking at Archie wickedly,
"I may be helpless at the moment Alexandra, but don't think you've got away with this"
"you know Arch I think you might look quite sexy in tights" she said putting her head on one side
"mmmm well I'm not so sure, talking of sexy, you promised me a medieval wench's outfit, and as delectable as you look in that dress it wasn't quite what I had imagined"
"hmmm" said Lexie sighing and slumping down to sit on the bed
Archie looked at her questioningly "Lex, what's going on?"
"its just, oh nothing" Lexie replied as she looked down twisting a corner of the duvet cover between her fingers
"well it doesn't look like it, it's Dan isn't it" Lexie looked up and nodded
"oh Lex me making a comment about how you look is completely different to Dan, I see the whole you, he sees what he wants to see. You would look beautiful to me in whatever you were wearing because I see the whole you it goes way beyond any physical attraction, but you know that and I don't need to remind you" he said smiling at her
"I know and you don't" she smiled "I just know he'll be there and I just don't want him looking at me"
"you know Lex I'm not so sure he will be there, I would imagine after his public humiliation he might want to keep a low profile and if he is there I think he'll be avoiding us, look lets forget about him, so are you going help me finish putting on these tights or not?" he asked pulling her to her feet
"of course" she smiled
"where on earth did Jill get these costumes from anyway?"
"well yours and Matt's she cobbled together using her many costume books as a guide and apparently this is what medieval princesses wore and it was all Jill could find in the am dram wardrobe" she said as she looked down at the purple dress, which flowed out from the waist down to her ankles, had a scooped neckline and sleeves that hung down at the wrist to the floor.
"you know its not so bad and there is that laced bodice" he said grabbing her round the waist
As Archie toyed with the laces on the bodice of Lexie's dress, she looked him up and down "and I have to say what a sight that is, my man in nothing but a pair of tights" she said suggestively "but if we aren't going to be late you need to put on your tunic and genuine medieval boots!"
"ok ok but only if you help me" he said pulling her in close for a kiss
"my pleasure" she said as she began to tickle him again, as they both fell backwards giggling onto the bed.
A little later they walked back to the village green. Archie looked extremely uncomfortable in his costume
"oh Arch relax its just a bit of fun, no one is looking at you, well they probably are, but the tunic covers......well" Lexie said giggling
"its alright for you Lex you're in a dress, I'm in tights!"
As they arrived at the village green they met Jill and Matt, the latter who looked even more uncomfortable than Archie. Jill and Lexie just looked at each other and collapsed in a fit of giggles. Emily who had just arrived with Mary, turned to her and said
"Granny why are Mummy and Lexie being silly and giggling and why are Daddy and Archie wearing tights? I thought only ladies wore tights?"
"well Emily dear that is a good question, lets just say at a medieval pig roast Mummies can giggle and be silly and Daddies can wear tights, but only then and at no other time"
"oh I see" said Emily pondering this thought
"right well when you two have composed yourselves we have work to do" Matt said glaring at Jill and Lexie
"ok darling at your service" Jill replied managing to control her giggling fit
They made their way over to the barbecue area, where the pig had been roasted to perfection. Archie and Matt set up the barbecue for the burgers and hot dogs whilst Jill and Lexie organised the relishes and bread rolls. When they finished Jill turned to Lexie
"Lex I didn't get a chance to say anything earlier, but you are ok aren't you after that horrible business with Dan"
"Jill I'm fine" said Lexie giving her a hug "and thank you for being there for me"
The smell of the pig roast and barbecue meant that very quickly a queue started of hungry villagers. One of the first people in the queue was Bill Taylor who ran the village post office with his wife Jean
"I hope you don't think I'm speaking out of turn, but well Jean and I just wanted to say we were very sorry about that business with Dan, he's not very popular in the village and what he did this afternoon was well unforgivable, we just wanted you to know"
Archie looked at Lexie to gauge her reaction, she smiled at him telling him it was fine she would say something in response, turned to Bill and said " thank you its nice of you to take the trouble to say something, its hard with Archie and me being new to the village"
"don't you worry about that dear, people here already can see you are decent, honest people, a welcome addition to Banbridge" at Bill's words Lexie could feel her eyes welling up after the emotional turmoil of the day, realising this Archie moved over to her, took hold of her hand and thanked Bill.
After that many other villagers echoed Bill's thoughts about Dan's behaviour.
"every cloud has a silver lining eh Arch, I can't believe how lovely people are" Lexie remarked her eyes welling up again
"I know Lex" said Archie giving her a reassuring hug, Jill and Matt exchanged a look
"I think you two deserve some time out, look we'll finish up here, you go and start tripping the light fantastic at the barn dance, and we'll catch up with you there" Matt said
"you sure" Archie asked
"yes go" Jill replied laughing
"Lex how much of that cider did you drink" Archie asked as she stumbled on their walk home after the barn dance
"mmm not sure Arch think I might be a bit pished"
Archie laughed as he put his arm round her waist to support her "you know Lex, I think you might be right!"
"thing is Arch I've never really drunk cider before, ooo I think I'm almost seeing two of you! ooo two Archies, mmm I think one is enough" Lexie giggled
"that's the trouble with cider, I think I'm going to have to carry you home"
"carry me home, no I can walk" said Lexie as she tripped again "oops" she giggled and then stopped in her tracks "you know Arch I really really love you" she continued as she moved to kiss him her hands going behind his neck up into his hair, when suddenly a voice boomed at them
"so you two think you can humiliate me AND get away it do you"
On hearing Dan's voice Lexie immediately felt sober as she and Archie moved slightly apart
"well you picked the wrong man I can make trouble, oh and wouldn't it be a shame to see your nice new business in ruins" he said venomously. Seeing he was getting no reaction from either Archie or Lexie his anger grew and he continued
"and as for you darling" he said leering drunkenly at Lexie "well you missed your chance with me we could have been so good together and I could have fulfilled you in ways you would never have dreamed possible and certainly more than you'd ever get from your precious Archie."
Lexie took a step towards Dan, knowing his words were meaningless and looked him straight in the eye "Do you know what you are? You are an arrogant, pathetic specimen of an excuse for a man, and I wouldn't touch you even if you were the last man on this planet you repulse me and the sooner you crawl back under the stone you come out from the better." Dan stood there dumbstruck, Archie looked on full of admiration as he stepped forward and said
"well Dan I think Lexie has pretty much summed things up, but don't even think of trying to sabotage our business, you won't get anywhere and from what we've heard this evening, we have earned more respect in this village in a short space of time than you have or for that matter are ever likely to. Now if you'll excuse me I am going to take my wife home to bed."
Dan stormed angrily back to the pub
"Well Lex you certainly told him" said Archie holding out his hand and pulling her in close
"Arch, I think you and I have got better things to do with our time than standing here wasting time talking about Dan"
Archie replied "oh I couldn't agree more and I'm still a little concerned about the effect of the cider, so I'm taking no chances and carrying you home." Lexie giggled in reply as he picked her up.
