Taking Chances, by E. L. Van Hine and L.H. Nicoll

[MaineWriter]

Chapter 53:

“You got another business too besides in the sheriff’s office huh?” she said at last.

“Yep. I run a men’s bar.”

“Men’s …?”

“Yeah, it’s just for… homosexuals.”

Junior blushed red once more. “That’s what my daddy is helping ya with, a … queer bar? Yer a bartender at nights Daddy?” she looked both shocked and disgusted.

“Bouncer actually, darlin. Don’t make it sound so bad. It’s good ta have a place for queer boys ta go ta meet up,” Ennis said, poking his head out of the kitchen and wiping his hands.

“Daddy I never dreamed…” she said, looking down into her clasped hands.

“Well neither did I darlin, but it’s kind a good for me, get used ta bein around queers an all.”

“But you ain’t like… you ain’t like those… “ she glanced quickly at Ellery… “Well you ain’t either… you both seem, well, you know, normal an all. Beggin yer pardon.”

“Bein queer is normal, Alma. Fer queers,” Ellery said matter of factly. “Now most a the world, maybe you too, disagree with that statement, but you ask a man when he knew he was queer an most of em will tell ya they felt different from the get-go, some of em in real early childhood, when they found they liked ta play only with boys, some of em liked ta play dress up if they’re a more feminine type… there ain’t one kind a queer, ya know.”

“Sure enough,” she said, keeping her eyes averted.

“Yer entitled to yer opinion, here Alma, I ain’t gonna bite yer head off or nothin. An believe me I have had this discussion enough times with enough people I got it pretty much in memory. As long as yer civil ta me an yer daddy here it won’t offend me if ya think we’re all twisted perverts, as long as ya don’t make it a big issue.”

“Well… not quite that way… but… I do find it kind a disgustin.”

“That makes us even then… cause I find a man an a woman bein together ta be mildly disgustin too…” he grinned.

“Then I guess… we are even then…” she said, looking up at Ennis, who was standing next to the chair where Ellery lounged, looking completely relaxed and not at all threatened by her attitude.

“I’m sure… we can still all get along… ain’t that so?” Ennis said, his voice suddenly raspin. “Cause dinner’s ready an I wouldn’t want anyone stalkin off right now.”

Junior nodded, keeping her eyes on Ennis’s face. “A course Daddy. An I brought some nice brownies fer dessert too.”


L

[mariez]

Happy Monday, all - Thanks for the quotes, Leslie! 

"Getting to know you," indeed!  LOL!!!  This is another favorite section - I always think of it as "When Worlds Collide!"  LOL!

I'll pick up with Chapter 54 - I had completely forgotten that Wayne shows up!

“If this is Wes I am gonna pitch a fit I am warnin ya right now.” Ellery said, rising, licking his fingers. “I ain’t in the mood for round three a Judge Worrell this week.”

He went to the door, while Ennis poured himself and Junior more lemonade. Peeking through the peephole, he let out an aggravated sigh, and opened it.

“Hello Wayne,” he said. “It’s dinnertime yer interruptin now. An company.”

Ennis got up immediately, his face turning stormy. “Not him, not now.”

Junior dropped her voice. “Who is it Daddy?”

Ennis loomed in the doorway as Ellery blocked the front door.

“Well you ain’t returned my calls an I figured you’d hit the roof if I called ya at work, so I had no choice but ta stop by about you know, what we talked about before.” He smiled sunnily. “Oh hey Ennis.”

“What’re you doin here Wayne?” he said, his tone frosty.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call ya back but I got this little thing called a job an then this other little thing called a bar, an then just on the side I happen ta have a man an a relationship an a life,” Ellery snapped.

“Well did ya even think about it a little minute?” Wayne said, whining.

“Yeah I did.”

“Can I come in out a the sun ? Ya know these antibiotics make my skin real sensitive.”

“Oh for Chrissake Wayne,” and Ellery moved aside as he slipped by him into the living room, sitting down without invitation.

“Awww, Ellery…” Ennis said, shoulders sagging. Junior got up and peeked from behind her father.

“Who is it?” she asked in a small voice.

“Company, huh? You gonna introduce me?”

“Wayne, “ Ellery sighed… “This is Ennis’s daughter, Alma.”

Junior smiled uncertaintly at the stranger in his tight red tank top and snug short-shorts, showing a considerable length of slender leg in the seated position.

“Daughter? Holy shit Ennis, you got married an had kids? You married a woman?”

“No I picked one out of a cabbage patch, Wayne,” Ennis hissed.

Wayne shivered. “Hard ta believe. I mean I always suspected ya of bein bi or something but never thought ya had a wife an family in the background.”

“Shut the fuck up, Wayne,” Ennis growled.



We can always count on Wayne to liven things up!

Marie

[mariez]

A big moment for Ennis in Chapter 55:


Ellery fell silent, and Junior grinned. Shortly after the film ended, Ennis got up to change to go to the Stallion, putting on one of his older, less flashy shirts, and his black hat. He leaned over the sofa to give Junior a peck on the cheek and a one-armed hug, then straightened up, meeting Ellery’s level gaze, took a deep breath and put his arm around him, pressing his lips against his mouth, exhaling a hard breath as he did, then pulled back, not lingering. His face was bright red. “Be home about one,” he said, his voice rasping.

Ellery smiled. “Don’t get punched, boy.”

Junior clenched her fingers together, looking away from the brief embrace, and then Ennis was out the door, almost tripping on his way out.

Ellery looked over at Junior. “You going to start breathin again soon?”

“Hm? Whut?” she said, her voice soft.

“Gee you do that just like yer daddy.”

“Excuse me?” She gulped, blushing.

“Get embarrassed. I mean after he kissed me. I think you stopped breathin about then. You can start breathin now.”

“Took me by surprise is all, no offense.”

“None taken.”

“I can’t believe Daddy would do that... in front a me, is all...” she said, her voice hushed.

“He is changin, Alma. Learnin how to accept bein what he is.”

She narrowed her eyes. “He’s changed a lot, Mr. ... Ellery,” and there was a tone of resentment in her. “He moved down here ta be with you... it had a whole lot ta do with you, if you don’t mind my sayin so.”

He nodded. “But he didn’t decide ta move down here an accept my offer ta stay until he got a job. Otherwise I think we would just be seein each other on weekends an such an he would still be in Riverton.”

“I don’t know, I don’t think so,” she said, that edge still in her voice.

“Are you still unhappy that he moved to Laramie to be with me?”

“Well yes to be quite honest.” She kept looking down at her hands, and Ellery let the silence stretch while she struggled with her words. “I don’t think my Daddy was all that happy stayin with me an he sure did need ta find some work. An if he hadn’t a done we would all be in a terrible pickle right now so I am glad for that. An... he looks a whole lot healthier an even happy. But ... he ain’t the Daddy I know is all. He’s different.”

“Maybe he just needs some gettin used to. It would be real nice if you an he can get used ta each other a bit more now that he ain’t hidin him bein queer, or that he is in love with another man.”

She looked up and fixed him with a very familiar gaze, unblinking. “So you think this is gonna go on for a while.”

He nodded. “That I do, Alma. He was in love for a very long time with a rodeo boy who got killed, an it wasn’t too long ago he got ta spread his ashes. Ennis don’t fall in love easy, an he ain’t one a them men who just goes out lookin fer fun.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” she murmured softly.

“He didn’t come down here lookin for a man either, an I sure wasn’t lookin for em. But we found somethin in each other that we both were missin for a real long time. So yeah. It ain’t no casual date.”

“Well I wasn’t suggestin...”

“You were hopin he was gonna get over it an find a nice woman ta settle down with an marry maybe?” he smiled sadly.

“Well, that would be what I would prefer, but I can see he got other ideas in mind. I guess that is why he gave you that kiss.”

Ellery shook his head, laughing softly. “He gave me that kiss because he always kisses me when he leaves the house unless I ain’t here or I’m asleep, an sometimes even when I’m sleepin.”

“Never seen em do much a that even when he was livin with my momma,” she said, almost as an accusation.

“Then he has changed quite a lot,” Ellery said.


Indeed he has - and we will see that even more changes are in store!

Marie

[mariez]

And the end of Chapter 55.  Such big adjustments for everyone involved - but Ellery handles the situation so perfectly - I just love him!

Once again she confronted him with that unwavering gaze. “You didn’t talk em into this queer stuff?”

Ellery shook his head. “He was queer before you was born, little girl. He had a man he loved like life itself. It isn’t somethin that rubs off like poison ivy off a plant. An that happened long before I showed up.”

“So... you don’t think it is somethin he is just gonna get over...?” she said, doubtfully.

“I never got over it yet. Never wanted to but... no, I don’t think so.”

“He was married to my momma for twelve years.”

“A lot a men get married cause they feel they have to, or like you... they think it’ll wear off in time.”

“An... it don’t...”

“You think your lovin yer husband an wantin ta make love with him is gonna wear off one day an yer gonna start chasin girls in miniskirts all of a sudden?”

She giggled suddenly, putting her hand over her mouth. “No sir, that won’t never happen.”

“Well that is just as likely as Ennis wakin up tomorrow an decidin he needs to find a good woman. Women don’t interest em, not in the intimate sense. But yer just gonna have ta trust that he is learnin more about himself an that will make him a much happier man. He is still quite young, an he is healthy as an ox an has a good career as a horse trainer, an there ain’t nothin to be ashamed of in yer daddy. I am proud ta know em, an you should be proud to call em your daddy.”

“I ... ain’t ashamed ... well, not exactly.”

“Sure you are, if you think that it’s wrong or dirty. You ain’t unusual if you think that way, but as long as you do, it is going to make it difficult to accept him, an accept me. I have to deal with people who hate queers all the time... but your daddy is a little different. He doesn’t even like to think about bein queer, or callin himself that, an he doesn’t like people ta know, so rejectin him bein queer makes it even more difficult for him to accept. That is why I asked em ta do some work at the bar. So he can get used to it.”

“Why does he have ta get used to it as you say, though?” Junior’s cheeks were burning with indignation, embarrassment, and not a little intimidation.

“Because after all this time, he ain’t gonna stop bein queer, so he better get used to it one way or the other or he is gonna hate himself a little bit every day. An that is a terrible way ta live.”

She dropped her eyes. “I guess... you got a point there.”

“An it would not be good for em ta know that the ones who love em couldn’t get used to it. It happens, but somethin tells me you’re a whole lot more open minded than you think you are, otherwise you wouldn’t a driven down here. Am I right?”

“Sure enough,” she said.

“You know an I know you coulda asked yer daddy ta send you a Western Union with that money, no need ta make a trip. You made the trip to come see what was up here, an that was a brave thing ta do.”

“Yeah, well...” she smiled faintly, a carbon copy of Ennis’s embarrassed smile... “just don’t tell my daddy that or he’ll think I’m spyin on em.”

“It’ll be our secret. You want some more lemonade?”

“Yes sir, thank you.” This time when she smiled, she looked Ellery directly in the face, and he felt at last, communication had been achieved

Thank You, Ellery!

Marie

[MaineWriter]

Hey Marie, thanks for helping out with the quotes!

Here's another line I always loved, from chapter 54:

Junior wiped her mouth delicately with a bright paper napkin. “That was delicious Daddy, thank you,” she said.

“Got any more a them?” Ellery said, rising and peering over at the stove.

“You just set. I swear you got a hollow leg,” Ennis grumbled, and picked up Ellery’s plate, bringing two more tacos over to him. “That’s all she wrote. But you won’t have no room for brownies.”

“Oh I got room no fear,” Ellery smiled. “Homemade baked goods just slide down my throat.”


LOL!

L

[mariez]

Hey Marie, thanks for helping out with the quotes!

Here's another line I always loved, from chapter 54:

Junior wiped her mouth delicately with a bright paper napkin. “That was delicious Daddy, thank you,” she said.

“Got any more a them?” Ellery said, rising and peering over at the stove.

“You just set. I swear you got a hollow leg,” Ennis grumbled, and picked up Ellery’s plate, bringing two more tacos over to him. “That’s all she wrote. But you won’t have no room for brownies.”

“Oh I got room no fear,” Ellery smiled. “Homemade baked goods just slide down my throat.”


LOL!

L

   

Oh My God - I just spit coffee all over my screen!   

(And you're more than welcome  - this is a lot of fun!)   

Marie

[belbbmfan]

Thanks for all the great quotes. I was going to quote Wayne's visit from chapter 54 but you girls beat me too it 


“Wayne, “ Ellery sighed… “This is Ennis’s daughter, Alma.”

Junior smiled uncertaintly at the stranger in his tight red tank top and snug short-shorts, showing a considerable length of slender leg in the seated position.

“Daughter? Holy shit Ennis, you got married an had kids? You married a woman?”

“No I picked one out of a cabbage patch, Wayne,” Ennis hissed.


     Funny Ennis! Love that!

[louisev]

I came home from a meeting in Heidelberg and sat here and read back through all the quotes instead of cranking out a new chapter, and I got such a kick out of the Junior/Ellery dynamic and also the foreshadowings of Dupree's eventual self-discovery.

No wonder things didn't work out with Janice or Tatiana!

[MaineWriter]

We are at 600 pages on this thread! Woo-wee!

Okay re-readers, today we have chapters 56-60 on tap.

http://louisev.livejournal.com/65216.html

From chapter 56:

The phone over the bar rang, and Rudy picked it up. “Red Stallion. Yeah hold on.” He held the phone out to Dupree. “It’s fer you, it’s the Sheriff’s department.”

“Dupree. Well who woulda figured, you gonna put a warrant out for em? Um let me see, driver was about oh thirty thirty five, light brown hair, short,, brown eyes, about six foot two thirty five ta two fifty pounds. Passenger was about six foot, dishwater blond, short hair, short beard an moustache, unkempt, medium build, both wearin jeans an jean jackets, no noticeable tattoos or scars.” He hung up once more and the phone rang immediately. He picked it up again.

Ennis was surprised, he had noticed very little of these details when he had gone out to the truck.. noticing more than anything Dupree’s attitude and the cut of his jeans over his muscled rear. I’d make a terrible policeman, he thought to himself, ignoring the implications of his looking at Dupree’s ass for the time being.

“Hey is there anybody here by the name a Freeze?” Dupree asked, looking around.

“Shut up Dupree,” Ennis growled, and snatched the phone out of his hand. “Hey Ellery.”

[MaineWriter]

Something funny in chapter 57:

Junior nodded. Ellery got up to get her an ice water, cracking open a tray of ice from the freezer, noting that Ennis had defrosted and cleaned it. I got ta start payin attention ta that boy, he cleans way too much, he thought, as he plopped the cubes into a large glass and filled it, bringing it in for her, before picking up the phone once again.


and then,

“Yeah I don’t know if I can stay fer that... party...” she said doubtfully, sipping on the ice water. “Maybe if I get a good night’s sleep an all...”

“Well let’s get things set up for ya, okay? An don’t worry about yer Daddy. One a the advantages a livin with a member a the law enforcement community is I can have the Sheriff himself over here any time a the day or night if I really needed em, an I have only needed em over here once.” He did not tell her how recently that once was, however, and went to the bathroom closet to get the spare sheets, blanket and pillows, returning with an armload and setting them on the recliner before pulling out the coffee table.

“Can I help ya with that?” she asked, rising from the sofa as he moved toward it, and as Ellery looked up he found her staring at him. He glanced back down and stifled a grin. Not a shy girl, just acts like one, he thought.

“Nah, don’t take but a little tug right here,” he said, straightening up, feeling those luminous brown eyes on his body. An damn good thing Ennis ain’t here ta watch her watchin me too, he thought as he flipped out the convertible bed and locked it in the open position, then reached for the sheets and plopped them down. “Ya can help me with these maybe.”

“Sure enough,” she said, and he noticed she was blushing.

“Everythin okay?” he asked softly.

“Oh yeah, just a ... little tired is all,” she smiled weakly, as if knowing that he had noticed.

“Course. Comes on ya all of a sudden don’t it? Boy when my back gives out I have ta make a beeline to my bed an nothin’ll get me out of it, not even fresh biscuits. Okay, maybe fresh biscuits,” he joked.

“You an my daddy must eat a lot a biscuits if ya both love em that much. I should give ya the recipe ta make em fresh.”

“Hell no, we start mixin up dough in that kitchen Ennis’s’ll be bakin all day an cleanin all night, can’t have that.”


L