The bartender who had been so eager to enlist the constable's help was idly wiping down the counter while someone that was neither Elijah nor Elijah's 'cousin or brother' gulped down the pitcher.

Anita gasped in horror. Noah? Her angel? Get a girl pregnant without proposing first? She turned to look at her son, and stepped back as Crane stumbled to his feet.

"You could have just said so," she mournfully exhaled, hands clenched.

... And the reality of the situation began to hit her.