Danny had barely slept. Soreness and the thoughts of an injured Beth had kept him up most of the night. In the daylight he realized he had no idea where in Ballykissangel he was. It had been so long since he'd visited his uncle Eamon, and country-sides all looked the same to him now. He decided he'd ask Beth when he checked in on her this morning. He hoped she wasn't too badly hurt. Once he reached her house he tied Razor to the fence post and knocked on the door. No one answered for a moment. Then, he heard someone coming.
He knocked again.
"Who is it?" A timid female voice called.
"It's Danny. From last night."
Beth opened the door and for a moment she forgot all sense and reason. Even more handsome and much more dangerous looking than he'd been last night. His dark hair fell across his forehead, and lead her to his eyes again. Those eyes. She gathered her wits.
"Danny! Good morning"
"Mornin',"
She was busy admiring his looks, and he was busy analyzing her as well. She looked tired, he thought. Her eyes were red.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Grand. Would you like to come inside?"
Danny shrugged, "Sure."
Beth lead him through to the kitchen where she made him a cup of tea, and one for herself as well. She sat across from him at the table.
"So, tell me Danny, how was it you came to my rescue last night?"
"I was just out riding."
Beth tilted her head. "You're not from around here. Are you?"
Danny tapped his fingers on his teacup. "No,"
"Where?"
"Dublin,"
"What brings you to BallyK?"
Danny leaned back in his chair and stared at her. "You ask an awful lot of questions,"
"Were you sleeping outside? In the wood?"
"So what if I was?"
If there's one thing he was good at, it was going on the defensive.
"Relax. I was just asking. Curious is all,"
Danny shrugged. "So, how's the knee?"
Beth grimaced. "The knee is dandy. The ribs, not so much."
"Ya need a doctor?"
"Nah, I'm alright. Nothing a hot bath won't help." Her cheeks warmed, and she hoped her visitor wouldn't notice the redness creeping into her face.
Danny looked around, curiously. "So, where are your parents?"
"Away,"
Danny smirked. So she wanted to play it coy. He understood all about that.
"Well, I can see you're fine. So, I should be going now."
Beth sipped her tea. "Yeah, I have to be getting to school."
"Ah, yeah. Good little Catholic girl," he teased.
Beth squinted, "And?"
"Nothin',"
He walked to the door and she followed him. "I'm glad you're okay. Really,"
"Thanks,"
"Say, you wouldn't happen to know where Eamon Byrne's place is?"
"All the way across town. The other side of Ballykissangel."
He shook his head. "Thanks,"
"Is that where you're headed?" she called after him.
He just waved as he climbed on Razor and rode away.
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