"Oh crap" he thought - "now it's done." Moving quickly to the other side of the tavern he managed, just barely, to escape the initial onslaught. He couldn't see Jen, whoever that was, but he wasn't excited about Sis with an iron skillet!

He started to apologize but stumbled with the words. "Dang it Sis - you know me and luck - never had much of it to speak of. And I didn't know you were here." He laughed out loud - couldn't help himself - she looked a bit out of sorts (actually she was bright red with smoke comin' out her ears) but had stopped her initial movement towards him.

"I am sorry I left you with Dad's stuff - but I figured I'd just get mad and ruin it for everyone else anyway." "And Barkeep - I'll have a beer - in a tall bottle if you wouldn't mind." The mouse was all ears, and cleavage bound, at the sudden ruckus. The fiddler and guitar stopped for a moment - uh-oh he thought - we don't need a lot of quiet right now and the silence was a bit much. The folks at the bar were looking a bit amazed at the sudden upset to the normal quietness of the place.

"So Sis hang on for a sec' and I'll . . . " It was then he saw the tears. Oh geezz Louise. It was a risky move but he figured he'd best take the chance and head her direction - no frying pan had appeared yet -

The fiddler and guitar man were starting up again with a slow aire that must have come from Ireland - it had an incredible calming effect on the room. From tense to a hint of sadness mingled with relief of family thought dead and gone was alive.

It had to be the music - Lord he wished he hadn't pawned his guitar - but it suddenly occurred to him that maybe he could make it up to his Sister. As a kid she always loved to sit on the porch and listen to him play old mountain tunes - requesting the one's she liked the best. "Wildwood Flower" and "Pickin' Flowers on the Hillside" were a couple of her favorites. Maybe she had kept Dad's old Harmony.br> But first things first - he held out his arms for a hug - "Damn Sis - it is good to see you. You look great."