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Taking Chances, by E. L. Van Hine and L.H. Nicoll
MaineWriter:
From Chapter 77:
Stew folded his hands. “Tell him everything you know about it, and insist he launch an immediate investigation. I warned you about Bill Early a long time ago, Ellery....”
“Shit, Stew, I know.”
“You suffer from excessive loyalty, Ellery. And as your lawyer, I want you to know that I have conducted my own brief background investigation of Mr. Del Mar here. I am happy to say that he has no criminal record, and not so much as a traffic ticket for a broken rear turn light.”
Ennis blanched. Ellery stared at him. “You are pokin into Ennis’s background? Isn’t that a little forward, Stew?”
“Considering the current dilemmas I am helping you with, Ellery, it seemed prudent. I can’t really rely on your professional instincts when it comes to... personal matters.”
Ellery stood up. “Can’t say I blame ya there. I hope ya don’t think worse a poor Ennis just because he had a light out on his truck.”
Stew smiled tightly. “Have a good night Ellery. And keep your doors locked.”
Leslie
MaineWriter:
A pivotal moment in Chapter 78:
Ennis blinked, glanced once more at the sullen Ellery, and then fixed Wes with a look. “Sir, are you offerin me a job?”
Wes smiled a little smile. “Well, depends on if you think you can pick healthy horses with a good temper when they’s just fillies, an if you got a good hand with em. No mistakin yer a quiet sort, keeps to yerself, an seein as how you’re already in the family, so ta speak...” he nodded at Ellery, who looked up, silently, exchanging glances with Wes... “I don’t see as how it is a losin proposition. We’d have ta agree on hours an salary an all that. You ain’t got someone ta answer to, no ranch work outstandin right now you got ta go back and finish?”
Ennis shook his head. “No sir. Ranch I worked went out a operation last summer, an cause I been there five years the owner gave me a bit of a severance from it. Name’s Carl Scrope, I’m sure he can give ya a reference fer what I done for em. Horses an cattle, but more lookin after em than actual saddle trainin, last couple years.”
Wes nodded. “You write down his name an I’ll make a call. This way I can make sure you stay close round here while we attend to some of the less pleasant duties my wife don’t want me ta go into at the dinner table.”
“Right,” Edna chimed in.
“I’ll surely do that. I’ll be goin back soon as my truck’s squared away... that’ll be Thursday sometime, an maybe come back Sunday....” he once again glanced over at Ellery.
“You gonna need a place ta stay, Ennis?” Edna said, cutting her meat into delicate slices.
“Uh...”
“No, he don’t need a place ta stay unless he’s sick a me,” Ellery interjected.
“I’m all set, at least fer now,” Ennis said, a blush creeping across his face. He had not expected to be arranging to stay with Ellery while at the dinner table with the sheriff and his wife, and even less, to be offered a job.
L
notBastet:
--- Quote from: MaineWriter on December 19, 2006, 10:24:29 am ---A pivotal moment in Chapter 78:
“No, he don’t need a place ta stay unless he’s sick a me,” Ellery interjected.
“I’m all set, at least fer now,” Ennis said, a blush creeping across his face. He had not expected to be arranging to stay with Ellery while at the dinner table with the sheriff and his wife, and even less, to be offered a job.
L
--- End quote ---
I just love picturing that last moment there...
;D
MaineWriter:
More from chapter 78:
Ennis busied himself with the delicious pot roast, the meat’s excellence reminding him of the dinner he had had a couple of weeks before, the night that Ellery had “wined and dined” him. It seemed like a year ago. He felt like he was walking on air... being offered a job, working for people that Ellery trusted and considered his friends... only twenty minutes’ drive from Ellery’s house... and, staying with him.
He pushed the thought back out of his mind, but it continued to resurface through a hot apple pie and ice cream dessert, and then coffee and brandy as the dinner wound down. Does this mean he had just agreed to move to Laramie and move in with Ellery? He felt slightly dizzy, and told himself it was the brandy and the heavy meal.
L
MaineWriter:
And more! Same chapter (78)
“Sure enough,” Ennis said, his mind still whirling. Ellery pulled the cruiser up his driveway and shut off the key.
“But that ain’t the big thing on yer mind, is it, sweetheart?”
“Nope.” Ennis looked down at his hands in the quiet.
“It’s about us.”
“Yup.”
“Then let’s go in an have about six scotches an then we’ll talk about it, okay?”
Ennis nodded, a smile on his face, and knew that Ellery understood just how frightened he was of the choices he was about to face.
L
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