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Silas lay his head on the bench “Go on”

After cleaning the wound and re-stitching it, the doctor handed Silas another bottle of cleaning alcohol and sent him on his way

Silas returned to the tavern and sat next to the fire

Jennifer came over “Ale, love?” Her smile beamed like always

The throbbing wound“Foolish to, foolish not to”

“D’you want one or not?”

Silas frowned Very abrupt all of a sudden “Maybe just the one today, ay?”

Jennifer walked away

What’s got into her? Had enough of me? Can’t blame her I’m a waste of her ti herself a husband?

Jennifer returned with the ale and slid it toward him “Two coppers”

Being charged? She really has had enough Maybe I’ll owe for all the rest Silas dug into his coin pouch A lot less in here than I thought I had He pulled out the coins and held them in a clenched fist over Jennifer’s open palm “Jennifer, I –”

“Who? I think you got the wrong girl, love”

Silas’s stomach sank A hot flush rushed over his face and over the top of his head “Ha I’hts I –”

“Listen here, love You really have got the wrong girl”

What? Silas dropped the coppers into her hand, dumbfounded