Who Needs Enemies With Friends Like These? 

Of course I knew who he was. Everyone in Beechworth knew who Aaron Sherritt was. Only usually he drank at The Hibernian where the police apparently paid for his drinks, or so I had heard from Anna who knew one of the girls who worked there. I knew Aaron was a friend of Joe’s though Joe had never mentioned him to me. There was a lot about Joe that I knew nothing about and I suppose he preferred it that way. It added to the aura of mystery and danger surrounding him and made him even more irresistible. I knew I was by no means the only woman in his life but whenever he was with me, he was there completely. For a brief shining moment I could have Joe Byrne all to myself and that to me was worth any price I might have to pay, then or later. 

Aaron was looking at me with an amused expression while all these thoughts were going through my head and I blushed.  

“He has always had good taste.” The words were spoken quietly, only for me to hear, to let me know he knew exactly what I had been thinking about and I could feel my cheeks burning.  

“What can I get you, Mr. Sherritt?” I put on my best smile, determined not to let him rattle me.  

“Please, call me Aaron – Kate.” It was like a caress, the way he said my name and I felt an involuntary shiver. He was very good-looking but in a slightly flash way, his elegant clothes enough to make him stand out but the most arresting feature about him by far were his bright blue eyes. They seemed to draw you in so that you couldn’t look away and I was reminded of a story I had heard about some snakes doing that to their prey, mesmerising them by staring at them so that they never saw the venomous bite coming. His face was framed by curling blond hair that gave him an almost angelic appearance but I knew the moment he took my hand that it wasn’t anything innocent he was after.  

“Some of that Irish whiskey that Joe speaks so highly of would be excellent, my dear Kate.” His voice was full of hidden meaning and his thumb was caressing the inside of my wrist in a very suggestive way and I quickly pulled my hand away and busied myself with pouring his drink.  

For once when I would have welcomed Old O’Brien’s presence at his usual spot by the bar he wasn’t there and as luck would have it, it was a pretty quiet night with only a few of the regulars around and they were all engrossed in a card game at the other end of the room and no help to me as a distraction.  

“There’s nothing wrong with being friendly Kate, now is there?” I really had no reason not to talk to him but I made sure I stayed far enough away so he couldn’t touch me again.  

“No, I suppose there isn’t.” I threw him a quick smile and started polishing the already shining glasses, just to give myself something to do but that didn’t deter Aaron.  

“You must be feeling a bit lonely, with Joe having been gone for so long.” I was but I wasn’t about to tell him that.  

“Oh, I’m too busy working to think about much else”. If he was fishing for information, I wasn’t going to give him any.  

“Fact is, he asked me to look in on you.” The surprise must have shown on my face because he added: “Joe and I… we have been mates since forever you know lass, we share a lot of things…” I swallowed the nausea rising into my throat as his meaning became clear to me. I didn’t know what game he was playing exactly but I knew Joe would not have been party to what he was suggesting. 

“Thank you for your concern – Mr. Sherritt. As you can see, I’m fine. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready to close up.” I moved away after pouring him one last drink to attend to the others but I could feel his eyes follow me. He seemed in no hurry to leave and finally when everyone else was gone and I was ready to close the door, standing there looking at him expectantly, he got up and walked towards me.  

“How about it then, Kate? I promise you won’t regret it.” I held the door open and gave him a cold stare.  

“Good night, Mr. Sherritt.” He stepped closer and made as if to touch my face when there was a sharp voice from the darkness next to the door.  

“Aaron?”  

His head whipped round to face Joe who had suddenly appeared in the dim light of the doorway. “I need to speak with you.” He took hold of Aaron’s arm and after a quick “I’ll be right back Kate” pulled him along into the shadows. I couldn’t make out the words but I could hear the tone of their discussion was quite heated. In a moment they were back, Aaron giving me an ingratiating smile while Joe glowered next to him.  

“I beg your pardon, Kate. I meant no harm. Good night.” His tone was apologetic enough but his eyes were saying something else entirely and I had a bad feeling of things to come as I watched him untie his horse and ride off into the darkness. 

“Come on Kate, let’s get this door closed,” Joe pulled me inside and still taken aback by his sudden appearance I just stood there, watching him slide home the bolt. “Aaron won’t come here again.” There was a hint of steel in his voice and then he smiled and pulled me into his arms. “How about a welcome back kiss then lass? It’s been too long…” Before his lips even touched mine, my body melted against his, his strong arms lifted me up and I wound my legs around his hips while my hands were fumbling with his buttons. “What are you doing Kate,” he murmured against my neck as his mouth slid lower, “I’ll have you right here if you don’t stop.” I laughed; I was burning for him and felt quite wanton and reckless.  

“Now you’re talking,” I said as my hands found him ready and burning for me too. He groaned and backed me against the door and I sank my fingers in his hair and pulled his mouth to me. “Jesus I missed you Joe,” I gasped before my mouth was on his in a bruising kiss and then he was inside me. I wondered fleetingly if the door would hold and if we were making too much noise but then all rational thought became impossible and I surrendered myself to just feeling as Joe Byrne loved me. 

Still out of breath, I started laughing as I sat on Joe’s lap, his back against the door and the long legs stretched out.  

“Well to be sure I’m pleased that you’re in such high spirits lass, but I have to admit that was not exactly the effect I was going for,” Joe said, his eyes twinkling and his fingers gently combing through my hair. I gave him a quick kiss.  

“I’m laughing because I suddenly had an image of the door crashing out into the street and Constable Kennedy discovering us on top of it.”  

Joe chuckled. “I’m afraid even I wouldn’t be able to talk my way out of that situation!” He kissed me thoroughly. “So I suggest we move upstairs now unless you really are that keen to have the good Constable scarred for life…” Our laughter echoed in the quiet bar and I pushed all nagging thoughts of the police and Aaron out of my mind. This night was Joe’s and mine alone and I wasn’t planning on wasting a minute of it on anybody else. I grabbed the bottle of whiskey that was still standing on the bar.  

“Room service for you, Mr. Byrne. Come along now.” His hands were all over me again and “I thought you’d never ask Miss Kate” in my ear was followed by a nibble of his teeth and I had half a mind to just stretch myself out on the bar but Joe swept me up in his arms and we did make it upstairs this time – though only just.