"The hard part might be getting the chance to interview the elusive Mister Steelgrave." Phin said, "Going out to the Everegreen might not be the healthiest tack to take. But then catching him in town is nigh onto impossible, he's here so seldom."
"I don't think he would do anything to harm you. He would know that we here in town would know that you had gone out there. Besides, you want an interview with him, and he likes to be the center of attention, and an interview in the paper would go to a lot of people." Leah told him, "And, it is an opportunity for him to make himself look good to all of your readers. What do you think, Mason? I mean, I believe that it would be safe enough."
As for the what to ask Isaiah hardly even knew what to say. "No ma'm, not really. I'm suppos'n you will teach him the basics, readin', writin', maybe some history?" He asked with a raised brow. Honestly to him the reading and writing were the most important, anything else was just a cherry on top.
Kate smiled, "Yes the basics are important things to learn. Perhaps after Josh has settled in, we can find out what else he likes."
She looked at the clock on the wall, and stood up, "If you are inclined to, we can discuss this matter at another time but for now, it's time for school start." Picking up the school bell, she continued, "It's been nice to meet you Mister Chappel and you are more than welcome to stay for a little while to make sure Josh is alright."
@ [MD]
@ [Javia
"Three!" and Justus heaved, his effort, along with Constance's, caused the rocks to shift, and all in a few short instants, the baby moose's foot came free, Justus pushed up with his shoulder, baby scrambled away, Justus slipped on the same algae that Constance had earlier, and, arms flailing, he fell backward, only just catching a glimpse of Baby Moose running off into the trees beside Mama Moose, before water washed over his head.
In a heartbeat, he sat up, shaking water from his eyes, looking around frantically. "Constance!"
On his back and staring at the ceiling, Priest didn't realize his predicament.
"Come along. Let's get this over with," he grumped.
Flo and her sister Pat had, at one point in their lives, had to take care of their invalid Grandfather, and the girl was more than capable of getting a man undressed and into his nightshirt. She overtly averted her gaze, of course, when his 'kidney prodder' was exposed, but her peripheral vision told her that the man, who must have only actually been in his early 50s, was not wanting in the wedding night department.
Yes, take away the stove-pipe hat and the spectacles, ignore the hair, white with worry (or an-ill spent youth) and Mr Priest was not as decrepit as one first assumed. The next thing that happened proved his virility was still, if not rampant, then a force in his life.
Flo stooped down to pick up the fallen Bible and noticed that a photograph had fallen out. Once she had goggled at it for a second or two, mouth gaping, she recovered her wits enough to bounce to the bed and sit beside him, showing him her find.
"Oh, Mister Priest, what a devout bookmark you have... it is a portrait of Pharoah's Daughter, is it not, bathing in the Nile just before finding Moses in the Bullrushes?" She had never seen such a portrait before in her life, but she flattered herself that her own derriere was as plump and shapely as the model in the carte de visite image.
"Yeah, just lemme..." Shifting around, Justus squatted down behind the toddler so that his shoulder was under its bottom. "I'm gonna try an' give him a boost once he's free."
Just as he was explaining his plan, wouldn't you know, she placed one foot on the wrong rock, green stuff on it slippery or something, and suddenly she fell backward, landing with a big splash into the cold water. Alright so now she was completely soaked! Just grand! Muttering darkly, she scrambled back on her feet, everything dripping including her drenched hair.
"I'm fine! Nothing hurt but my pride," she assured him, not forgetting the true focus here, save the moose, "Go on!"
"All right, here's th' plan. You grab th' rock there, an' I'll get it here, on three we heave, an' I'll boost Matilda up," he instructed. "Just keep yer head down, an' turn yer face away in case she kicks."
"Hummppff, maybe she'd kick some good sense into me," Constance grumbled but no less determined to succeed in this good deed. She bent down and positioned herself as directed then looked to him.
He took a breath. "Ya ready? One...two...three!"
On 'three' she gave it her best with a big grunt.
Weedy agreed that it would be good to visit Mrs. Orr sometime after school, but allowed as how that had to be adjusted depending on homework, chores, whether or not Addy and Isiah felt the need to escort the boys home after school...They'd have to talk it over at lunch.
The bell rang, followed by a flurry of kids, scrambling to get into the building at one time. Weedy grabbed Josh's wrist so they didn't get separated, and tugging him along to his desk, scooting over in the seat to make room for his cousin. The class was divided by grades, so he wasn't sure if Miss Bowen would split them up, but he hoped that, at least for this first day, she'd let Josh stay by him.
"Mister Priest!" Flo snapped forcefully "You will give yourself an apoplectic stroke!"
"Oh for pity's sake," grumbled Priest.
She eased him back up straight.
"Now, you will allow me to undress you. I will not take 'no' for an answer. If there is an inappropriate moment I shall... I shall avert my gaze."
"I should hope so, young woman," he intoned, all prurient thoughts now vanished from his mind.
She sank to her knees on the carpet beside the bed and deftly pulled his boots off, then his socks, then lifted his feet up so he naturally went into his back. She was stronger than she looked.
Priest felt weakened.
She then picked up a nightshirt from the back of his chair and held it up.
"Now, let's get you into this and make you comfy."
"That's my favorite nightshirt," Priest moaned. It's got a moth hole in it now, though."
On his back and in a fit of pique, Priest reached over to where is hat lay on the bed sheets. He picked it up and flung it off the bed to where it landed on his nightstand, sending the Bible to the floor. And, as happened either by accident or some divine intervention, the Good Book opened and out flew a French Postcard, ostensibly used as a bookmark.
The card depicted a nubile woman stepping into a bathtub. Her back is to the viewer and she is draped in a filmy white covering, though it didn't cover up the top half of her buttocks. She is looking over her shoulder at the viewer, her face with a come hither look.
On his back and staring at the ceiling, Priest didn't realize this predicament.
"Come along. Let's get this over with," he grumped.
The crowd dispersed, Speed stood for the moment, the weight of Boyd's death weighing on him. He had not shot to kill. He meant to wound Boyd, to stop him from taking another life as he started back into the house, he heard Takahashi say he was leaving so he waited, he had an idea that might work out for the man. It was clear that he was a long ways from home.
When he saw him in the doorway, he said, "Take you up to the saloon? Buy you a beer, I think I could use one myself." He said. "Everything here is under control, believe the lady will be alright, as well as her housekeeper. Took a nasty blow, she did."
Eve was in two minds about whether to help Ben out or not. Part of her felt sorry that Ben was being subjected to the unwanted advances of one of the Patterson Forde twins but then again this might be somewhat fortuitous. She turned to Arabella and smiled, "Passionate isn't exactly what I would call it but it does serve a purpose. It will stop Ben from pursuing Miss Bowen...at least for now."
Looking at the watch she carried in her skirt pocket, she took a deep breath and spoke in a loud voice, "Everybody, back to work. I want everyone involved in the cave scene to take their places."
Taking one last look at Ben, she smiled. He was a big boy and well capable of finding his way out of trouble but Patricia Patterson Forde was certainly giving it all she had which was a pity as she knew the girl would never succeed.
@ [Javia
"I'm coming on in!"
"Oh, ya don't gott..." Well, she was already in the water, sloshing across to him. And besides, he figured that she probably did 'gotta', since he wasn't going to move that rock on his own.
"We try to move it together? Maybe on a count of three?"
"Yeah, just lemme..." Shifting around, Justus squatted down behind the toddler so that his shoulder was under its bottom. "I'm gonna try an' give him a boost once he's free." After all, even without its leg trapped, the baby moose might not be able to scramble up the bank on his own. Or maybe her? Justus hadn't had time to check its neathers yet. not that it mattered.
"All right, here's th' plan. You grab th' rock there, an' I'll get it here, on three we heave, an' I'll boost Matilda up," he instructed. "Just keep yer head down, an' turn yer face away in case she kicks."
He took a breath. "Ya ready? One...two...three!"