text:
- Mon-Fri: Runs every 60 min. *
- Sat-Sun: Runs every 60 min. *
* For most operating hours. Exact times may vary.
Regular Fare
For all Local Bus customers who aren't eligible for a discounted fare.
Discounted Fare
* For students, seniors 65-69, or people with disabilities who aren't METROLift customers.
* Requires discounted fare card
Ways To Pay
About Route 98
Next Bus Arrival
There are various ways that METRO can provide you with reliable, estimated bus arrival times. These real-time updates allow you to stay informed and avoid delays.
Receive the next bus arrival time directly to your phone. Text your bus stop number followed by a space and your route number to 697433. You'll receive a text back with the estimated real-time arrival (RT) and scheduled arrival time (SC) of the next buses at your stop.
See the next bus arrival times by using the map to select the location where you'll begin your trip. Select your bus route from the routes shown along the left side of the screen and then choose the direction you're traveling in. Estimated real-time arrivals are shown in green and scheduled times are shown in white along the bottom of your screen.
See the next bus or train departure times by entering your destination and selecting the transit icon (usually a bus or train symbol). You'll see the timing of scheduled departures from your stop and any delays will be shown in red next to the scheduled time.
After entering your destination, select the public transportation icon (usually a bus or train symbol). Google Maps™ will display your route options. Choose the route that suits you best and tap on it to view more details. You will see the scheduled time as well as the estimated real-time arrival of the next vehicle(s).
See estimated real-time bus and train arrival information on digital signs.
At select bus stop locations, you'll see digital signs like the one pictured above. Additionally, all METRORail and METRORapid platforms feature scrolling LED digital signs, and most transit centers feature scrolling LED digital signs or high-definition LCD monitors. In addition to estimated arrival times, the LCD screens may also display service alerts, detours, stop closures and other METRO announcements.
Track Your Bus or Train directly from the homepage of the METRO website. Select your route, destination and stop. Click or tap on Track Now and you'll see the route number and estimated real-time arrival as well as the next scheduled departures.
Reach METRO's automated next bus arrival system by calling Customer Service at 713-635-4000. When prompted, enter your bus stop number followed by your route number, or press the pound sign (#) for stop number lookup. Estimated real-time and scheduled times of the next buses at your stop will be recited.
Select Another Route
If you'd like to explore other METRO local bus routes, select one below. Otherwise, you can scroll down to view Common Questions about riding a local bus or access Rider Tools to plan your trip.
Common Questions
The regular fare to board is $1.25
The discounted fare is 60 cents.
The following passengers ride free:
- Children five or younger, accompanied by an adult
- People 70 and older who have a discounted METRO Q® Fare Card
- Disabled or decorated veterans who have a METRO Veterans Pass
- METROLift customers with a METROLift Freedom Q® Card, and up to one assistant
You can pay your local bus fare using any of the following:
- METRO Q® Fare Card
- METRO Q Mobile Ticket
- METRO Day Pass
- METRO Money card
- Cash
The All About Fares page has information on where you can obtain various fare cards.
If you pay your fare using a METRO Q® Fare Card, METRO Q Mobile Ticket, METRO Day Pass or METRO Money card, you're entitled to free transfers between any of these METRO services for up to three hours in any direction:
- Local bus
- METRORail
- METRORapid
- METRO curb2curb
For transfers to Park & Ride bus service, you only pay the fare difference for up to three hours in any direction.
If you wish to pay with a mobile ticket and plan to ride or transfer to a Park & Ride bus during your trip, you'll need to purchase and activate a Park & Ride mobile ticket. It's valid for three hours once activated and entitles you to free transfers between any METRO service of equal or lesser value during that time.
Only regular fare mobile tickets are available for purchase.
Trip Planning
A route selector is accessible directly on the website home page, linking you directly to a page for the local bus route of your choice.
At the top of each individual route page, you'll find:
- Frequency of service on weekdays and weekends
- Stop-by-stop schedule
- Link to view PDF schedule which you can then download and/or print
On the METRO website, there's a route map on each individual route page.
You can also use the website's Interactive System Map (best viewed on a desktop or laptop computer). In the bus section of the map, you can check a box next to any METRO bus route and the map will draw a line showing the entire route and where it runs.
If you'd prefer a physical map, we include a map image in the printed brochure for each individual bus route. Brochures are available for free at all METRO RideStore locations:
- Downtown Transit Center - 1900 Main St.
- Fannin South Transit Center - 1604 West Bellfort St.
- Main Street Square - 1001 Travis St.
- Northwest Transit Center - 7373 Old Katy Road
Trip planning tools are available on:
- Various pages of the METRO website, including the home page
- RideMETRO app for your smartphone ("Plan Your Trip" section)
- ONE to Ride app for your smartphone
- Google or Apple maps
Prior to arrival
METRO local buses make stops at the following locations
- Along city streets, at intersections where you see a METRO bus stop sign and/or bus shelter
- At select Park & Ride lots around the region
- At more than 20 transit centers around the region
All METRO buses have large, bright destination signs on the front of the bus above the windshield and along the passenger's side, near the front door. These digital displays include the route number and destination.
Route Alerts or detours could affect your vehicle's arrival time and/or the length of your trip. Subscribing to receive this information is a convenient way to know before you go.
On the METRO website, you can subscribe to receive notifications direct to your phone or email for the bus, rail, METRORapid and/or METRO curb2curb routes of your choice.
The quickest and easiest signup option can be found on each individual route page.
If you prefer, there's also a Get Text and Email Alerts page where you can subscribe to multiple routes simultaneously.
All subscriptions are free and you can unsubscribe at any time.
If you don't wish to subscribe, you can use any of the following:
- Routes and Schedules tab on METRO website home page - it will transport you to your route page. If there are any active alerts, a link to view them will be visible near the top of the page.
- RideMETRO app (click or tap Service Alerts on main menu)
- ONE to Ride app (a red triangular icon will appear on the screen if your selected route is experiencing a service alert)
- Trip planning tool, which can be accessed in multiple places. More information about that can be found in the Trip Planning topic (see question titled "How do I plan my trip?")
METRO offers a rider tool called Next Bus Texting. To use it, you'll need to know your stop number. It's posted on the bus stop sign at every bus stop location. Just text that stop number to 697433. We'll then text you back the scheduled arrival time (SC) and estimated real-time arrival (RT) of the next bus for all routes that stop at your location.
Estimated arrival times can also be accessed on:
- METRO website home page ("Track Bus or Train" tab)
- ONE to Ride app for your smartphone
- Automated phone line by dialing 713-635-4000
- Google or Apple maps
Increasingly, estimated arrival information will also be displayed digitally at bus stop locations and transit centers throughout the region. Transit centers are sheltered waiting areas where you can transfer to other METRO routes and services that provide access to even more destinations. They're often found at the beginning or end of a bus route.
These digitally displayed passenger information enhancements are part of the METRONext Moving Forward Plan, to create a better customer experience.
If you don't require assistance, enter through the front doors, pay your fare and choose an open seat. Please avoid sitting in the priority seating areas for the elderly and people with disabilities, marked by the International Symbol of Access (Wheelchair Symbol).
If you're using a wheelchair, mobility scooter, or walker, wait for the operator to activate an accessible ramp which will allow you easy access through the front doors. You can then pay your fare and proceed to one of the priority seating areas.
Any METRO fare card:
Tap your card on the validator and the fare amount will be deducted. If you prefer to go contactless, you can wave your card close to the validator as well. Make sure the light registers green in the upper right when you tap or wave.
METRO Q Mobile Ticket:
Activate the ticket on your smartphone before boarding. It will display animated colors and motion on your phone. Show that to the bus operator as you board.
Deposit cash and/or coins into the farebox when you board the bus.
No change is given and transfers to other METRO services aren't included.
Yes, based on the guidance below:
Service animals
You're allowed to travel with a service animal.
Service animal means any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, and must be kept under the handler's control.
Non-service animals (including emotional support animals)
You're allowed to travel with non-service animals (pets) on METRO vehicles, but they must be transported and properly restrained in an animal carrier at all times.
Rider Tools
Below are some tools to make your METRO riding experience easier and more convenient so you can drive less and do more.
System Map
Explore METRO transit services near you
Questions and Answers
Valuable information to help you ride
Savings Calculator
Compare your cost of driving vs. what it would cost to ride METRO - and see how much money you'd save each month.


text:
There are no reviews yet.
75 in stock
There are no reviews yet.
€5.29 Original price was: €5.29.€4.59Current price is: €4.59.
60 in stock
Sweet Moments at Your Doorstep
Orders $50 or more
Spending more
When you sign up
Mega Discounts
Within 30 days
Your one stop for Retro Sweets, American Candies, Crisps & Drinks
+353 1 663 7793 Support Center
Get Free Delivery on order Over €79
© 2023, Sweets Moments – All rights reserved
No products in the cart.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Today, the Senate is scheduled to vote on a bill that would, if it passed, make abortion protections part of federal law rather than relying on the Supreme Court. Here's Patty Murray, a member of the Senate Democratic leadership.
PATTY MURRAY: When we vote on this bill, every single senator is going to have to go on the record as to whether they want to take their constituents' rights away.
INSKEEP: Of course, everyone's waiting for a Supreme Court ruling on abortion. But even before the roll call, it's known this vote will fail because Democrats don't have the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. And there's even a question about whether they will have unanimous support within their own party. I spoke earlier today with NPR congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell.
KELSEY SNELL, BYLINE: That is, at this moment, still unclear. And as is often the case, we are watching Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Now, he has voted against abortion protections in the past, but he has avoided giving reporters any answer on this specific bill. Now, the legislation they're voting on would guarantee the right of women to obtain abortions and for providers to provide them without, as the bill calls them, medically unnecessary restrictions. You know, a version of this bill did fail in February. And, you know, Democrats say they're trying again because they say this is different now. It is a live issue. This is not a theoretical question, as a result of that draft opinion.
Now, Manchin voted against the version of the bill that was on the floor in February. And there had been some hope among Democrats that they could pressure two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, to vote for this bill because Collins and Murkowski have supported abortion rights in the past. But that seems kind of unlikely at this point. You know, Collins and Murkowski have their own bill, and that does include some restrictions that Democrats reject.
INSKEEP: On the other side, would Republicans really pursue an abortion ban if they regained control of Congress?
SNELL: Well, you know, it kind of depends on who you ask. If you ask Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, he says that Republicans do not support getting rid of a filibuster, and no issue is exempt from that. Though, you know, he never explicitly said that they would never get rid of the filibuster to pass an abortion ban.
MITCH MCCONNELL: I think the sentiment in my conference is for this issue to be dealt with at the state level if we are, in fact, confronted with a final Supreme Court decision that throws this issue back into democratic processes.
SNELL: Now, that's a long way of - from saying that he would make that decision. He's basically saying that he wants the states to decide. He's also saying that both parties have held abortion votes in the past, and both parties have failed to get 60 votes when they've tried. But this is right now. Even if Republicans win control in November, President Biden would still be the president. And there's virtually no chance that Republicans would have enough votes to overcome a veto. So it's kind of a question that will be up for debate for many years to come.
INSKEEP: OK. Congressional stalemate, as on many, many issues, as a matter of fact. So what do Democrats, the people in control for the moment, plan to do next?
SNELL: There really isn't much that they can do. You know, some are promising a vote, and they want to keep voting and voting and voting to keep up the pressure. But, you know, that's not really a tactic meant to change the votes inside of Congress. It's more of a defensive strategy and an attempt to show voters that Democrats are trying on an issue that's very important to voters. And it's not clear that voters actually think that's useful. Virtually every Senate Democrat I've spoken to - and that's dozens in the past week - says that they just need more Democrats in the Senate. So they plan on campaigning on it. But like you said, this is a tale Democrats are all too used to right now - police reform, voting rights, climate change. You know, all of these things are things that voters want and Democrats can't pass.
INSKEEP: NPR's Kelsey Snell, thanks as always.
SNELL: Thanks. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
A job, or occupation, is a person's role in society. More specifically, a job is an activity, often regular and often performed in exchange for payment "for a living"Many people have multiple jobs e.g., parent, homemaker, and employee. A person can begin a job by becoming an employee, volunteering, starting a business, or becoming a parent. The duration of a job may range from temporary e.g., hourly odd jobs to a lifetime e.g., judges.
An activity that requires a person's mental or physical effort is work as in "a day's work". If a person is trained for a certain type of job, they may have a profession. Typically, a job would be a subset of someone's career. The two may differ in that one usually retires from their career, versus resignation or termination from a job.
Types of jobs
Jobs can be categorized, by the hours per week, into full time or part time. They can be categorized as temporary, odd jobs, seasonal, self-employment, consulting, or contract employment.
Jobs can be categorized as paid or unpaid. Examples of unpaid jobs include volunteer, homemaker, mentor, student, and sometimes intern.
Jobs can be categorized by the level of experience required: entry level, intern, and co-op.
Some jobs require specific training or an academic degree.
Those without paid full-time employment may be categorized as unemployed or underemployed if they are seeking a full-time paid job.
Moonlighting is the practice of holding an additional job or jobs, often at night, in addition to one's main job, usually to earn extra income. A person who moonlights may have little time left for sleep or leisure activities.
The Office for National Statistics in the United Kingdom lists 27,966 different job titles, within a website published 2015.


text:
The Santa Ynez Valley is a mecca for rural real estate. Santa Ynez Valley homes with acreage offer a rural lifestyle yet close to Santa Barbara and an easy commute to L.A. Santa Ynez Valley horse property is well known because the "Valley" is the land of Arabians, yet owners and trainers of horses of all breeds and disciplines reside in the Santa Ynez Valley. Santa Ynez Valley horse property offerings range from modest homes with a couple of stalls to huge upscale equestrian centers.
Santa Ynez Valley vineyards for sale offer the grapes grown in the regions made famous by the movie, Sideways. Visitors to the Santa Ynez Valley can obtain wine trail maps and follow the routes featured in the film. Many growers have compared the quality of the Santa Ynez Valley wine appellations to those found in the Napa Valley. Mature vineyard property for sale is a rarity, yet land suitable for planting grapes can readily be found.
The Santa Ynez Valley offers that wonderful small town community feel and quaint country charm. Schools are great, crime is low, and the living is easy. The Santa Ynez Valley includes the communities of Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Solvang, Buellton, Los Alamos, and rural Lompoc. For Santa Ynez Valley homes, horse property, vineyards, land and farms, see the list below or search for a Rural Real Estate Specialist.


text:
by Selena Montgomery
Always on the run . . .
Playing the odds has always been Fin Borders' forte. She knows when to get out to keep from losing everything. But an innocent woman has been accused of murder, and to help, Fin will have to go back to the small southern town of her birth. It's a place she's been running from her entire life, a place of violence, where she got by with nothing more than her wits. Returning to Hallden, Georgia, means facing the ghosts of a brutal crime that Fin will never forget—and risking her own life.
But Fin isn't the only one in Hallden hunting for a killer. FBI Special Agent Caleb Matthews is deep undercover, hiding his true identity and his own desperate history. Working alone is far too dangerous, so he and Fin must learn to trust each other. But as they grow closer, they are unprepared for the passion that takes hold . . . and the shocking deception that could destroy everything they hold dear.


text: J. Norman Reid is a woodworker, writer, and woodworking instructor living in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his wife, a woodshop full of power and hand tools and four cats who think they are cabinetmaker's assistants. He is the author of Choosing and Using Handplanes. He can be reached by email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: The dastardly Hacker (Christopher Lloyd) takes over the Radopolis cybersite, declaring himself King in "Totally Rad," the season premiere of CYBERCHASE. In an effort to dethrone him, the kids challenge the Hacker's extreme team to a winner-take-all skate-off. There's just one catch: high-scoring tricks need as much area as possible and the field keeps mysteriously changing! With Digit ( Gilbert Gottfried) as coach, the kids put on a dazzling display of blading, boarding, and biking, but can they match their performance to the changing arena? The Big Idea: Different shapes bounded by the same perimeter can enclose very different areas. Math Topic: Perimeter/Area.


text:
Word! Farsighted
Article Translations: (Spanish)
Say: far-sy-tid
If it's easy for you to see things far away but you have trouble seeing things that are close, you might be farsighted. A lot of kids who have trouble reading books are farsighted. Being farsighted is the opposite of being nearsighted (which means you're able to see things that are up close). But don't worry about being farsighted because some cool glasses will get you reading in no time.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2024 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com


text:
In collaboration with the legendary music brand Marshall we helped celebrate the campaign 'Bring the Big Stage Home' for a new range of Marshall Bluetooth Speakers.
Whether social celebration, coming of age or sharing a moment with a loved, each film portrays how the Marshall speaker enriches the listening experience transporting us to a new world of atmosphere. Original songs by Richard Atkinson and Sam Worskett.
We invited singers Mia Nicolai, Sophie McCreddie and Lance Ellington (and our very own Richard Atkinson) who brought their individual sound to each of the films.


text:
The silent turbo-drive sprinkler with spike for large areas
With the GARDENA Comfort Turbo-Drive Sprinkler, you can quietly irrigate your lawn. It is made of sturdy plastic and is thereby very low-noise. The dirt-resistant, turbodrive gear is patented. It works whisper-quietly and evenly distributes the water, thanks to the 2-zone watering and specially shaped deflector. On the specially assembled adjustment rings, you can easily set the sector to be irrigated with fine range selection from 20° to 360°. The selected sector can be well viewed from these adjustment rings at any time. With the large, easy-to-use rotary knob, you can set the range. This can be set from 10 m to maximum 24 m. An area from 75 m² to maximum 450 m² can be irrigated. The sprinkler is mounted on a plastic spike. This allows secure positioning in the lawn. And it can just as easily be removed and placed in another spot. The sprinkler is equipped with the GARDENA System Connector and the end cap. You can use it right away in your garden. A fine-mesh, easily removable filter catches dirt. It can be easily removed and cleaned. If you would like to water a larger area, simply connect several sprinklers using the GARDENA Tap Connector (Art. No. 901). For convenient irrigation of your garden.


text:
From lifehacker:
We've shown you how to build an XBMC media center using a Raspberry Pi, but if you prefer the features of Plex (and many of you do), now there's a build that'll work like a charm on your Pi-powered home theater.
RasPlex, a build of Plex that also uses OpenELEC, fully supports the Raspberry Pi, as you can see in the video above. It's still an early build, so while it works fine, expect frequent updates and revisions to add more features and improve performance. As it stands, the video above shows RasPlex running on a 256MB Raspberry Pi with a Class 10 SD card installed. If your Pi is underpowered by comparison, you may notice some lags, but once it's cached it should work pretty well.Best of all, all of the features that make Plex so great are in the Raspberry Pi-supported build. You even get Airplay and AirTunes support. You can read more about the current status of the project at the RasPlex FAQ page, or hit the link below to download it and give it a try on your Raspberry Pi.


text:
No excuses for Baby Broncos, says Henjak
Brisbane will head into Saturday night's NRL clash with Cronulla confident of causing an upset, despite missing eight regular first-graders through injury or State of Origin duty.
Broncos assistant coach Ivan Henjak said there would be no excuses if his makeshift squad, including debutants Andrew McCullough and Isaak Ah Mau, failed to leave Toyota Stadium with the two points.
"They've trained really well this morning and they're going in positive and confident," Henjak told reporters.
"It's going to be a hard task but they're really looking forward to the challenge.
"We've got no excuses with the guys who are out.
"These guys are ready to play and they want to get the job done.
"Ever since I've been at the Broncos (since 2006) there's been an expectation that we win every game, it doesn't matter who's playing.
"I think the same attitude is being taken into this game."
The Broncos have lost six players to Origin commitments - Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday, Karmichael Hunt, PJ Marsh and Ben Hannant for Queensland and Blues halfback Peter Wallace.
Champion five-eighth Darren Lockyer and centre Steve Michaels are also unavailable with knee injuries while the Sharks will be missing NSW Origin pair Paul Gallen and Greg Bird.
Henjak said it would be a "really big ask" for the Broncos considering the severe disruption to the team, particularly in the halves where David Stagg and Shane Perry have been named.
"I think we're a lot more disrupted this week than Cronulla have been," he said.
"In saying that, it's also good that two of their best players are out."
Henjak expressed surprise that Marsh and Wallace would play in Wednesday's Origin series opener but added he was "really happy for them".
Veteran lock Tonie Carroll (hamstring) has been cleared to play after missing last week's loss to Manly.
Back-rower Corey Parker will skipper the Broncos for the first time.
"I found out pretty early," said Parker, who returns from a knee injury.
"It was a great feeling and something that I'll remember for a long time."
Perry, who helped steer the Broncos to the 2006 premiership, will play his fourth game of the season.
"Shane's done a really good job every time for us over the last two years," said Henjak.
"He hasn't had much of a chance this year but I've talked to him recently and he said he's really happy about where he is with his footy.
"We're quite confident in his ability to get us around the park tomorrow."
Ipswich Jets front-rower Ah Mau has been plucked out of the Queensland Cup while utility McCullough has been given his chance to shine after impressing in the Toyota Cup.
The Broncos have beaten Cronulla in six of their past seven clashes.
0 Comments about this article
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.


text:
Christine Young
Excerpt Heat Level: 1
Book Heat Level: 4
BLURB: Highland Song
With her white-gold hair and azure eyes, Lainie MacPherson is as wild and untamed as the rugged Scottish Highlands where she was raised. Lainie vowed to avenge a crime against her. Recklessly, she defies English laws and the man who raped her puts a bounty on her head. The man who is sent to bring her to Edinburgh sets a dangerous trap. With nothing left to live for the beautiful Scottish spy steals the sealed documents the English soldier has tempted her with.
When the exquisite temptress takes the bait and runs off with not only the forged documents but the purses of the men in the tavern, Aaron Slade vows to hunt her down and bring her to justice, never dreaming she will tame his jaded soul. When Aaron discovers the truth about the tempestuous woman who stirs his passion to the point of madness, he dares not love her, but desires her with all his soul.
Lainie MacPherson let the crumpled wanted poster drop to the ground. Her stomach knotted and fear snaked down her spine. Beneath the shadows of the hooded cape she wore, Lainie searched the room for her enemies.
Every man here fit that description.
Forced into a trap of her own making, out of courage, friendless, and terrified Lainie did the only thing she could think of to bring the pig Bertram to his knees.
She would steal the temptingly displayed secret papers that were on the table in front of her. Papers she hoped showed troop movements--papers stamped with the King's seal--papers she could hand over to her brother, Hawke.
First Lainie made sure the shadows in the tavern hid her from view, shrinking into the dark interior, hiding her face with the hood of her cape. She tried not to stare at the dark-haired stranger who had absent-mindedly set his jacket and satchel on a table with the documents she sought poking out almost as if they challenged her with a secret invitation. The man's dangerous, dark looks sent a strange sensation of heat coursing down her spine.
English soldiers like Jericho Manning and Rory Slater were more dangerous and more terrifying than any highland lass should have to deal with. To make the situation worse, she didn't need a dark-haired stranger to make her fingers shake and her insides quake.
Lainie inhaled a deep steadying breath. Easy, she told herself. Go nice and slow. The stranger looks half-drunk and the tavern maid sitting on his lap has all his attention.
"What's in it for me?" Rory asked Jericho, his haggard features lighting up with anticipation and snagging Lainie's attention.
"Only what Bertram wants to give you himself." The dark stranger looked at the
English officer. The fingers on one hand tapping the oaken table top impatiently.
Rory's toothless grin sent a shiver of fear down Lainie's spine.
"Jericho always gives me his left-overs," Rory said. "You going to give me this one?"
Rory's diabolical laughter sealed the darkness in her heart.
Jericho nodded then leaned forward. "I want the lass. And I'll have her before I give her over to Bertram. She's only a whore."
Lainie nearly gasped but stopped herself. Courage, Lainie, you've been in tighter spots than this. It was not her plan to give herself away to these men.
She inhaled a long, deep breath once more and reached for the satchel beneath the soldier's jacket. A few more seconds and all would be hers. A few more seconds and she would hand the papers over to a friend. Someone who would carry them to the Scottish King.
She committed no treason here.
She was Scottish to the core.
This was for the good of her country--not England. Besides she'd already been labeled a traitor by the crown of England. She had nothing to lose.
If Bertram suffered a set back, his lack of attention caused the problem.
Aaron Slade let his hands slide up and down the arms of the lass sitting on his lap while his steely gaze seemed to be riveted on Lainie MacPherson.
He knew what the young woman was up to before she'd committed herself to stealing. He had read the determination in the girl's posture when she backed into the shadow-filled corner of the tavern, pulling her dark cloak around her slender frame and letting her hood shadow her face. The combination of steady eyes and slightly trembling fingers had given her away.
He would make sure neither Jericho nor Bertram could get their sweaty hands on the girl. He'd heard stories. He believed them--every word.
Jericho didn't even realize the girl he sought stood in the corner. Moreover, Slade didn't mean to tell Jericho. Slade had his orders. He was to find her and bring her to Edinburgh where she would be tried for high treason. The charges were lame. Now that he watched her stealing the phony papers he'd planted in the pocket of his jacket, he wasn't quite so sure.
The rumors had it that a lot of men had wanted the lass, but none had gotten her. He'd thought all along Bertram had been one of those men. A cynical smile shifted the line of Aaron's black mustache. There was nothing new in that particular game. Teasing and promising men something they wouldn't give was a primal game played by every woman ever born.
But there was something very different about this woman.
An air of sadness and vulnerability emanated from her. Aaron methodically lowered his lids when he glanced from the girl who sat in his lap to the woman whose fingers were closing over the sealed documents. He couldn't help but stare at her. The woman's eyes were a clear, uncanny blue that matched the color of the sky on a bright summer day. The few strands of hair escaping her hood were so blond they were nearly white. The cloak she wore was plain, but did nothing to hide the lush fullness of her figure beneath the cloth. The vision he imagined set him to thinking about what it would be like to unfasten the cloak, strip away all the other fabric covering her and touch the luminous skin that lay beneath the tattered cloak.
Aaron was irritated at the direction his thoughts went. He was certainly experienced and old enough to keep sexual need away from his mission. He had been taught and teased by the most expert females on this earth. He'd learned more than one lesson at their hands.
Looking at Aaron, Jericho swirled the contents of his tankard.
"I don't figure I can trust any man. Who's to say that if you find the girl, you won't want to keep her for yourself," he said to Aaron. "She might be worth a damn sight more than what old Bertie is paying you to bring her to him."
The devil you say," Rory retorted with a smug grin. "I have it on good authority and knowing old Bertie for years, he likes nothing better than to share soiled goods. We both know he's the only one who can save the girl from a conviction of treason."
Jericho looked coldly at Aaron but didn't refute Rory's statement.
Aaron urged the tavern wench from his lap and kept his eye lids lowered slightly. He watched the girl, and if he was right, she was about to dip her hand into the pocket of another man. She had moved from her spot near his table, using the shadows in the tavern to hide herself. She brought up a fat purse and slipped it inside a different sack than the one she'd put the papers she'd stolen from his satchel.
The stories about her were intriguing enough, but it was the rumors of Lainie MacPherson's spying that held his interest. To him any one who could spy on his country was a traitor. But Lainie MacPherson, if she was anything like her brothers, was Scottish bone deep. To Lainie, what she did here would not be treasonous because she would be loyal only to the Scottish King James. In addition, the rumor--the ones of Lainie prostituting herself for information--didn't bother him. Women did what they had to do to survive. And if the rumors were true, he would find a way to enjoy her charms while he took her to Edinburgh for trial. To him women's flesh was sweet and soft, but women were as fickle as newborn kittens. They were far too easily corrupted, and so many times they turned out to be less than they seemed. He never let any woman touch his heart.
Silently, Aaron measured the distance between the door and the MacPherson wench and wondered at the innocence, or was it guilt, he saw flash in her eyes for one brief moment when she met his glance. From what he'd heard, the Scottish cause was everything to the MacPhersons. This would not be the first time they pitted their clan against the English crown.
But this time it was the most foolhardy.
The smile he gave Lainie made her look away. He watched as her shoulders quivered, and she shrank back into the shadows. He felt a wave of nausea sweep through him when he thought of Lainie being at the mercy of a man like Bertie for even a single night, much less until Bertie grew bored with her and gave her to Jericho and Rory.
Silently, he told himself he would never let her fall into Bertie's hands, because he meant to bring her straight to the authorities in charge. If she were guilty of treason, she would be prosecuted. If she were not guilty, he would see she was set free and he would personally escort her home.
For the first time, he felt justified in his mission and the exorbitant pay he would receive for handing the girl over. If anything, there was a certain justice in cheating Bertie out of his spoils. He acknowledged that once he caught Lainie, he would have not only Rory and Jericho after him, most likely the MacPherson brothers would be on his tail as well.
A man bumped into Lainie near the door. Aaron thought he would see her pick this man's pocket too. The movement was quick. Except for the slight of hand and Aaron's vigilance, he would have never seen the exchange of the satchel from Lainie's hand to the man's. The document Lainie just handed over was worthless, but the stolen goods were not. They would find out soon enough he had baited her, set the trap, and she'd fallen for it. Would he have Lainie in his possession when that was accomplished? Or would Jericho?
Aaron shifted slightly, not wanting to give Jericho and Rory any indication that he meant to leave. His hand was on the hilt of his sword. Silently, he measured the catlike elegance of the girl with the determined posture and long back. It would not be much longer when Jericho and Rory discovered their own missing goods.
He rose and walked toward the door, barring her way if she meant to flee yet he was not sure he would stop her. "You sure you wouldn't want to stay a while and keep me company, Miss…what was the name again?" Aaron asked, though he knew very well.
"'Tis naught your business," she said softly, lowering her dark sooty lashes as if she meant to flirt. "A gentleman would not ask a lady he didn't know."
Lainie MacPherson's voice sounded calm and controlled. Nevertheless, he knew she'd been in this position often enough, that she knew how to handle herself and no longer hesitated, knowing full well the consequences if she did. In any case, her compliance was not a part of his plan for her abduction.
Aaron's instincts kept whispering that this woman was somehow different from women like Sarah and Anna, unfeeling women who cared nothing about anyone save themselves and the fortune and titles that could be gained from marrying into the right families. At the same time, he had no doubt Lainie MacPherson could kill a man.
"You should take heed," Aaron said softly, ignoring the other man who had now slipped quietly out the door.
"Remove your hand. sir," she told him indignantly.
Aaron shrugged, outwardly indifferent, his fingers settling once more on the hilt of his sword, ever wary of the girl and her next move.
The tavern's hush changed into a humming of male voices as people left their drinks and focused on the pair standing so close to the door where unbeknownst to them an unspoken challenge had just been issued by both parties.
The stakes revolved around a woman named Lainie MacPherson and release from the commission he'd bought so many years ago he couldn't remember. As for the bounty, Aaron Slade didn't care a damn about it.
Aaron was certain he would end up the winner in this cat-and-mouse game. Besides the obvious, he wondered how the woman with trembling mouth and steady blue eyes had ended up on a wanted list issued by King Henry himself and standing in one of Scotland's most infamous taverns. So intrigued by her he would move heaven and earth to learn her story.
"I know what you handed over to your companion," Aaron said with a bit of impatience, trying not to give away his purpose before it was necessary.
"I don't know what you mean," she said softly with a sardonic smile gracing her intriguing mouth.
"You stole something that was mine. I mean to get it back. You need to remember that England rules this land--all of it." He inhaled deeply the soft scent of her that seemed to be hers alone. It seemed to possess all his senses.
Her shoulders stiffened as her gaze raked over him. "I'm Scottish, and loyal to James," she said, her voice wavering. "Henry doesn't rule me or my kin."
"Slade," Jericho said, stepping forward, "what's--"
The wolfish smile Aaron gave Jericho stopped him cold in his tracks.
"Who's the girl?" Jericho asked pointedly. "You the sharin' kind, Slade?"
"No one of interest," Aaron said smoothly lying to Jericho.
Aaron moved in front of Lainie, blocking the men from seeing her face and her hair. He didn't know if they'd recognize her but something Rory had said earlier made him think Rory at least had met her. Given a choice, he would have taken her by the arm and escorted her away from these two cutthroats. Now he didn't have a choice. He would have to let her go and hope he could catch up to her.
Lainie could melt into the forest if given a chance. She knew these lands better than most. And her companions were sure to be waiting for her a safe distance from the tavern. If her friend wasn't waiting for her, where would she go? A sudden and unmistakable sickening feeling swept through him. Fear for this slip of a woman clouded his judgment.