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Taking Chances, by E. L. Van Hine and L.H. Nicoll
richardg49:
Do I get to go first? Must be one of the advantages of being an antipodean!
One of the excellent 'running jokes' all through the book is those phone calls Ellery keeps getting from Bill, always coming at an inconvenient moment, the moments becoming increasingly inconvenient as the story goes on. Here we get a typical full-on example of 'Ellery-speak', from Chapter44:
“If that is Bill I’m hangin up.” He strode over to the telephone. “Hello? Well, if it isn’t Bill Early.” Ennis stopped eating, but stayed seated, his fingers bunching into fists.
“Thank you kindly for that apology Bill. I forgive you.” His voice paused. “No, you can’t come over an apologize in person, an no I ain’t alone if that’s the real question. I am dining right now with a friend and would like to get back to it.” Another brief pause. “No it is not any of yer fuckin business, and if you want another black eye you just come right on down an I am sure Ennis would love to give you one. Now that answers yer other question. Good bye Bill.” He hung up and strode back into the kitchen. “Fuckin Bill,” he sighed.
What's especially good about this is that you can easily work out what it is that Bill must be saying at the other end, and exactly what is the real reason for the call: he's filled with suspicion and jealousy of Ellery's developing relationship with Ennis. I had totally missed this in the previous two readings I have made of the story. Bill was interested in Ennis and offered him $100 so that he would stay at the Red Stallion over the weekend, not really to look after Pete, but so that he (Bill) could have the opportunity to seduce Ennis. No wonder he's so frequently calling Ellery - Ellery has 'stolen' Ennis away from him before he had a chance to do anything.
louisev:
I wasn't sure that many people got the "running joke" nature of Bill's ever-more-inconvenient phone calls... but it was a good buildup to when Wayne eventually showed up and he got all of the Bill-wrath that had been stewing for the entire first book!
louisev:
chapter 42:
Ennis swallowed down the remains of his coffee, feeling slightly more awake. “Maybe if I had more schoolin an less ranchin I coulda done somethin like be a policeman.”
“You got a real good right hook Ennis, you could take down a perp in a bar brawl like a champ.”
Ennis grinned. “Bill shouldn’t a laid hands on ya, Ellery, that made me really mad.”
“Yer right about that boy. There’s only one man I want ta lay hands on me an I’m lookin at him. Want some more coffee or you ready ta get fancy again?”
Ennis blushed bright red at his use of the words and what they had come to stand for. “Might... need some rilin up fer that.”
Ellery stood up and came over, sliding a leg up over Ennis’s rubbing a hand up his bare back. “I got a whole lot a rilin in me, but we best get to it. It’s almost two an I got to get in the office by nine.”
“Shit, I didn’t know.”
“Yeah, it’s Tuesday mornin. I work Tuesdays. But at this rate, I think I’ll be takin off work early. You gonna stick around a couple a days?”
“Maybe more, thinkin bout that barbecue. No hurry if I just won a reward for the ring, that’s over two months pay fer me normally speakin.”
“I’ll bring in the ring an put in the claim, maybe get the money in a couple days.” Ellery bent down and brushed his lips against Ennis’s cheek. “You can stay as long as you like boy.... now come on, I got another jar a vaseline in there an I haven’t got off yet.”
belbbmfan:
chapter 43 Reward
'Time to get a move on' Ennis thinks. And so he does. He does what Jack told him in his dream and calls Jack's mother, he buys new clothes, tells junior he loves her, cooks dinner. Looks like Ennis has turned a new leaf.
And this is my favorite line in this chapter:
“I died an went ta heaven. Whose this cowboy lyin here in my living room I wonder?” he said in a sultry voice.
:)
(and thank god no one is going to make anymore remarks about the condition of ennis's old boots!)
mariez:
--- Quote from: belbbmfan on December 12, 2006, 07:58:28 am ---chapter 43 Reward
'Time to get a move on' Ennis thinks. And so he does. He does what Jack told him in his dream and calls Jack's mother, he buys new clothes, tells junior he loves her, cooks dinner. Looks like Ennis has turned a new leaf.
And this is my favorite line in this chapter:
“I died an went ta heaven. Whose this cowboy lyin here in my living room I wonder?” he said in a sultry voice.
:)
(and thank god no one is going to make anymore remarks about the condition of ennis's old boot!)
--- End quote ---
Good Morning all! I was just about to hit the reply button when I got the notification of a new post - I was just about to quote the exact same line - may favorite, too!
And then Ennis replies:
“Nobody special.”
Ennis's modesty is so endearing - and so dang sexy! I could picture this scene in my mind's eye so perfectly! Nothing like a cowboy in a tight pair of jeans!
Great quotes this morning!
Thanks - Marie
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