"I don't believe so. The business arrangement we've made for her family's company to provide goods and services to the mine is quite well constructed with .. er.. mutual advantages."
Sally gave Mr Priest the kind of frown usually reserved for the use of schoolmarms when they are being told disingenuous fibs by naughty schoolboys.
"I'm not talking about that, Mister Priest, and I think you know it" she scolded him gently.
"You see, I remember the story of Merlin and Vivien from when I was little and we had a picture book of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table" she began. She might have added 'are you sitting comfortably children? Then I shall begin'.
"You see, Merlin was a wise old wizard, just like you Mister Priest, well, maybe you're not that old, but you are wise. And anyway, he was clever and wise and told King Arthur what to do and how to do it and the kingdom flourished. But he had one Achilles Heel... that's like a weak spot in his armour..."
She reached over and tugged at the photograph peeping out from the bible. She cleaned this room on a regular basis, she knew all about Mr Priest's seedy collection of feminine portraiture. For the second time that day, a young lady was showing him the picture of the blonde vision with her bottom on display... but this time it was as a warning.
"... her name was Vivien... the bored, spoiled daughter of King Olaf... and, Mister Priest, she was as beautiful as she was selfish and greedy. Just about everyone in Camelot knew it, but somehow, wise old far-seein' Merlin didn't. She was his blind spot, and he became 'fatuated with her. She stole all his spells, he taught 'em to her, all his biggest secrets, and all he got in return was to worship at her dainty feet, and that was the beginning of the end for Camelot..."
She slipped the photograph back in the bible and patted the invalid on the hand (the one that wasn't under the blankets)
"Now Flo's a nice girl really, and real pretty when she takes her specs off, but some women well, they can't resist temptation, and sometimes do things they hadn't ought to do and take advantage of fellers' natural weaknesses... so just you try to be careful Mr Priest, will you promise me that?" she asked as her motherly hand brushed away a strand of grey hair from his temple.
Address me as Hon. Hiram Priest, esq.
Hiram was of two minds. One mind was driven by indignant umbrage. He was a lawyer, a judge and a town Mayor. He had been places and seen things. He was an advisor, a confidante, and businessman. To be lectured by a young Miss as if he were a scamp, caused him to get his back up.
But there was another mind.
This precious and kind young lady was taking time to take an interest in his welfare. It reflected that she thought, though he be advanced in years, that he was worth salvaging, and that he was young enough to benefit from her lovely moral grounding.
The later won out.
She reached over and tugged at the photograph peeping out from the bible. She cleaned this room on a regular basis, she knew all about Mr Priest's seedy collection of feminine portraiture. For the second time that day, a young lady was showing him the picture of the blonde vision with her bottom on display... but this time it was as a warning.
"... her name was Vivien... the bored, spoiled daughter of King Olaf... and, Mister Priest, she was as beautiful as she was selfish and greedy. Just about everyone in Camelot knew it, but somehow, wise old far-seein' Merlin didn't. She was his blind spot, and he became 'fatuated with her. She stole all his spells, he taught 'em to her, all his biggest secrets, and all he got in return was to worship at her dainty feet, and that was the beginning of the end for Camelot..."
She slipped the photograph back in the bible and patted the invalid on the hand (the one that wasn't under the blankets)
He thrilled with the touch, but in a different way that he had with the Patterson-Forde woman.
"Now Flo's a nice girl really, and real pretty when she takes her specs off, but some women well, they can't resist temptation, and sometimes do things they hadn't ought to do and take advantage of fellers' natural weaknesses... so just you try to be careful Mr Priest, will you promise me that?" she asked as her motherly hand brushed away a strand of grey hair from his temple.
"I appreciate your concern, Sally Cutts. It shows me that you are a well-brought-up young lady, and one worth heeding. Yes. Flo has all the talents of a sorceress, but I withstood temptation and walked myself back from the edge of.. How did you put it? Oh yes, "from the beginning of the end."
He hoped he hadn't tipped his hand too much.
"Ours will remain a business relationship. And I promise you that it will be no other relationship."
Priest caught himself.
"I must confess that I gave her a gold nugget. It was completely of my own will, and void of any corruption."
That wasn't completely true.
"Where did you read the Arthurian Legends, my dear? You are full of surprises.
"I appreciate your concern, Sally Cutts. It shows me that you are a well-brought-up young lady, and one worth heeding. Yes."
"Th.. thanks" Sally was a little taken aback by that complement, especially as, apart from a brief sojourn up in New England during the War, staying with her Father's family, while he was fighting on the Potomac, she had been dragged up in various regular army barracks in forts all over the country.
"Flo has all the talents of a sorceress, but I withstood temptation and walked myself back from the edge of.. How did you put it? Oh yes, "from the beginning of the end."
"Well, just be careful... especially with your heart trouble" she chided kindly. She was a good practical girl and would make some lucky man a very fine wife sometime soon. "Mister Boyd says you must avoid too much excitement over the next few days, and I'm afraid that dear Florence might... well, provide too much excitement!" She namedropped the local pharmacist: a good fellow, and so much cheaper than consulting a physician like Dr Danworth, and such a nice man... well, until he turned out the be the local serial murderer.
"Ours will remain a business relationship. And I promise you that it will be no other relationship."
"Well, just stick to her wages... don't start giving her presents or anything, or..." she suddenly caught a slightly hangdog look in his face, like a puppy who has been caught making a mess on the carpet. "Oh, Mister Priest.... no?!"
"I must confess that I gave her a gold nugget. It was completely of my own will, and void of any corruption."
The look of disappointment she gave him! He changed the subject quickly.
"Where did you read the Arthurian Legends, my dear? You are full of surprises."
"Hmmm, I'm not the only one" she countered.
"If you must know, there was a big book of the 'Mordy Arthur' at my aunt's when I was a little girl. When I was worried about poor Papa, off fighting those awful rebels and maybe getting hurt or even killed, I used to look at the brave Knights of the Round Table in there, and think he was just like them. My favourite was Sir Gareth... because he shows that it's not being rich or powerful that makes a body important... it's being good!" Her big brown eyes glittered like little stars when she said this.
Address me as Hon. Hiram Priest, esq.
"I must confess that I gave her a gold nugget. It was completely of my own will, and void of any corruption."
The look of disappointment she gave him! He changed the subject quickly.
"Where did you read the Arthurian Legends, my dear? You are full of surprises."
"Hmmm, I'm not the only one" she countered.
"If you must know, there was a big book of the 'Mordy Arthur' at my aunt's when I was a little girl. When I was worried about poor Papa, off fighting those awful rebels and maybe getting hurt or even killed, I used to look at the brave Knights of the Round Table in there, and think he was just like them. My favourite was Sir Gareth... because he shows that it's not being rich or powerful that makes a body important... it's being good!" Her big brown eyes glittered like little stars when she said this.
It was then that Hiram Priest Esq. was overtaken with personal decision-making and finances. He had children, both of whom were doing quite well in the World. They had their lives to lead, and he seldom figured in any of their plans. In fact, he seldom received any letters from them and, in the past year, there had been none. He would now foster this beautiful and caring creature. It would be her who would inherit his money and properties, plus his share of business interests.
It was Sally Cutts who cared enough about him as to see that he took his medication, and it was Sally Cutts who cared for his welfare in a moral sense. Yes. He'd made up his mind. Miss Sally Cutts would get it all.
He smiled.
"Ah yes, Le Morte d'Arthur, Thomas Mallory," He corrected without appearing to. "And that wonderful legion of characters: King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table. And Gareth, one whole book dedicated to him. We will have to have long talks about the that tome in the weeks and years to come."
Hiram looked to his left, and the nightstand which held his Bible. An empty glass sat by it.
"My dear, would you please pour me some water. I am suddenly quite thirsty. There's a pitcher of water on the bureau." He nodded toward the oak bureau set against the wall across from his bed.
Sally, of course, knew nothing of Mr Priest's avuncular thoughts toward her and his plans to leave her his fortune; if she had, she would have admonished him and also taken the thing with a pinch of salt. Men often said rash things after a brush with the grim reaper. Instead, they talked pleasantly of the Days of Olde, When Knights were Bold.
"Ah yes, Le Morte d'Arthur, Thomas Mallory," He corrected without appearing to. "And that wonderful legion of characters: King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table. And Gareth, one whole book dedicated to him. We will have to have long talks about the that tome in the weeks and years to come."
Neither of them knew that in less than a month, following a whirlwind romance, the girl would be married and gone as Mrs Sally Flagg, but right now she could pat his hand and nod at the notion.
Hiram looked to his left, and the nightstand which held his Bible. An empty glass sat by it.
"My dear, would you please pour me some water. I am suddenly quite thirsty. There's a pitcher of water on the bureau." He nodded toward the oak bureau set against the wall across from his bed.
She got up smartly and did as she would bid. She was so fresh and innocent and mousy: somehow if Flo had done exactly the same task, she would have turned it into a sexual come-on!
Sally felt Hiram's forehead, without really knowing what she was testing for, she'd just seen doctors do it.
"I think you should get some sleep now. I'll tell Mister Fortner what's happened... you just try and get some rest." she gave him a little smile, stood up, bent over and kissed his forehead and left the room.
Address me as Hon. Hiram Priest, esq.
Sally felt Hiram's forehead, without really knowing what she was testing for, she'd just seen doctors do it.
"I think you should get some sleep now. I'll tell Mister Fortner what's happened... you just try and get some rest." she gave him a little smile, stood up, bent over and kissed his forehead and left the room.
Hiram sipped from the glass and nodded in compliance as kissed his forehead.
After she left, Hiram spent a long time with his fingers knitted behind his head and staring upward. The candle on his nightstand quietly cast a saffron glow on the ceiling, making it a blank canvas. On it, he imagined scenes from his life. Scenes from his youth, hiking the Adirondacks with his friends. Ah! In those days he walked tall and straight, and had endless vigor. The scene dissolved into a classroom scene from his University days: old Professor Lumpkin lecturing at great length about contract law. "The terms of a contract are contained on the signed document!" He drew a square shape in mid-air. "Verbal changes to it are meaningless if it is not contained within the boarder of the document." He drew the square once again.
After several more scenes, the face of Sally Cutts appeared; pretty and caring.
Sometime soon after that, he was in dreamland.
[Is this a good stopping spot?]