[James had been sitting in one of the corner tables having helped himself to a small bottle of wine. He was dressed in his fading blue admiral uniform, but unlike before he appeared to be at ease and not drowning himself in the alcohol or launching a bar fight he couldn't handle. He was behaving and not over indulging himself with the drink like he had used to. In fact, it was rare for him to even drink these days.

At first he thought his eyes were deceiving him when he saw Elizabeth enter the bar. She had been so against to the presence of rum. He was quite disappointed to see her in the usual men's clothing she now wore instead of the pretty dresses she once wore. Then that was a thing in the past. Both had gone their separate ways. He had with held from approaching her or saying anything until he was sure it was Miss Swann. He took a drink of his wine before he allowed himself to speak.]

Out of all the places I expected to ever find you...the Black Stallion was not one of them.