Copper to Red (The Dillwyns' Stories) by Ceri Bladen

into the conversation with a nudge.
    Willow
looked at the clock, only an hour to go.  She was eager to have the chat with
Tom.  All afternoon she had been going over all different scenarios, all ending
up with her in his arms; she felt herself blush at the thought, catching his
knowing look made her colour even further.  It had been such a long time since
she had felt this kind of anticipation; it was making working normally quite
difficult.  She felt the tingle radiate down her spine and she knew before
turning that Tom was at the bar.  “I’ll serve Tom, Dad.”  She noticed her
father raise his eyebrows at her mother again.  “What can I get you?” Willow
hoped her voice wasn’t giving away any of her feelings.
    A smile
played at the corners of Tom’s mouth as he leaned closer over the bar and
whispered so only Willow could hear, “I think I would be thrown out by your Dad
if I said what I would like you to get me.”
    She giggled
as she straightened quickly back up, taking a quick peek to see if her mother
or father had heard.  “Mild or draught?” she smiled sweetly at him, the
laughter making her eyes sparkle.
    He pretended
to look dejected, “Okay, make that five milds and two draughts then please.” 
Tom dug for the money out of his pocket.  “You still all right for a chat
tonight?”
    “Yes.”
Willow continued to pull the pints, placing them in a line on the counter.  “It
is my night to lock up as Dad does the accounts, with Mam’s help.  Just stay
behind after the others have left.”  She looked towards his friends.  “Unless
they will think it’s strange that you’re not leaving.”
    Tom looked
towards his table. “Not really.  Michael and my Dad aren’t here tonight; they
are working down the mines, so no one will notice.”  He picked up two pints to
take over while Willow poured the rest.  He stopped and turned back around,
“Willow?”  She looked up.  “I am really looking forward to our chat tonight.”
    “And me.” 
She whispered almost to herself as she watched him turn and walk towards his
friends, pints in his hands.
    “Here you
are boys, drink up.  I’ll go and get the rest.”  Tom turned back towards the
bar just as the pub’s door swung open. 
    Mr Dai Davies,
the local greengrocer, stood in the door way, red faced, eyes adjusting to the
lights, searching for something.  His eyes zeroed in on Tom as he strode
towards him. 
    Tom gave a
perplexed smile when he noticed it was him that Mr Davies was making a bee line
towards. “Hi Mr Davies…” Tom didn’t have enough time for the rest of the
sentence as he was grabbed by the smaller man, his anger and surprise giving
him the distinct advantage.  Pints went flying as tables and people sprang up.
    “…why this
is where you are hiding, you worthless son of a bitch!” Dai spat the words out,
as close to Tom’s face that his height would allow. 
    Tom grabbed
Dai’s hands which were gripping his clothes.  He certainly didn’t want a punch
off this man, the anger coming off him was making the smaller man shake.  Tom had
no idea what was going on, so he tried to calm the situation down.  From the
corners of his eyes, he saw his friends circle around them and he heard the
shout from Willow’s father, to take it outside.  Tom wanted to sort out any
trouble without fists, he had his fair share of fights when he was younger, but
it wasn’t something he desired now. “Hey now Dai, calm down.  Let’s sit down and
discuss what’s wrong.”
    Dai looked
around at all the faces and released his grip slightly, colour bleeding back
into his knuckles that were previously white.  He wasn’t ready to entirely settle
down though.  “Don’t tell me you don’t know what’s wrong!”
    Tom was
relieved when the older man released him, but he had the feeling he wasn’t out
of the woods quite yet.  Tom shook his head slowly, frantically searching his
brain, “No…”  He took a step back when Dai