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Authors: A Place Called Rainwater
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Jones. Your aunt is a great kidder.”
From the tone of her aunt's voice and the look on her face, Jill wasn't sure that her aunt was kidding.
“Hello, Mr. Madison. I saw you at the meeting.”
“I wanted to speak to you, but you left before I could get away from the mayor.”
“Is this a business or a social call? ”Justine asked briskly.
“Both.” He patted the paper in his shirt pocket.
“I don't do business on Sunday.”
“Course you do. You don't close the hotel on Sunday.” He turned to Jill. “How do you like our raw little town? We're doing our best to civilize it.”
“That's going to take some doing.”
At first Jill thought Lloyd Madison's face was friendly and boyish in spite of the blood-red birthmark that flowed down over his cheekbone. On a closer look, his smile didn't reach the eyes that turned on her, analyzing, assessing through the wire-framed glasses. Like a dash of cold water, they poured over and touched her everywhere.
It was hard not to stare at him. It didn't seem to Jill that the man resented being stared at. Tall, thin, with wiry blond hair, he appeared perversely to display the thick, blood-red mass by turning his head in such a way as to keep it in full view.
“Jill, will you excuse us? He's determined to have private words for me before he goes.”
“Of course.” Jill stood up. “Nice meeting you, Mr. Madison.”
“Call me Lloyd, Jill. We'll be getting to know each other better … I'm sure.” He glanced at Justine when he said the last two words.
At the door, Jill looked back at her aunt's flushed face and was tempted to go to her. There was no doubt that she was irritated with the lawyer. Both seemed to be waiting until she passed through the doorway, so she reluctantly opened the door and went into the lobby.
“Pretty as a speckled hen.” Lloyd removed his glasses and wiped the lenses with a white handkerchief he took from his back pocket.
“Stay away from her.”
“Why? She's single. I'm single. My bloodline is as good as hers.”
“Stay away from her. I mean it.”
“Ah, come on, Justine. I waited damn near a month before coming to meet her. I wasn't sure she'd last that long. When I heard that she'd been seen with Westfall, I hotfooted it right over.”
“You're too late. She's been spoken for.”
“You mean … Westfall? ”
“No, I mean her sweetheart from back home is here.”
“That dirty roustabout who yanked her away from Westfall last night? I heard about him.” Lloyd laughed. “I heard she threatened to slap him into tomorrow. It doesn't sound like she's very fond of him.”
“Why did you come here? Get to the point.”
“Every time I come to see you, you look worse. Last time I thought you were on your deathbed. I'm happy to see that you came out of your decline enough to sit on the porch.”
“Horseshit! It'll be a cold day in July when you're concerned about my health.” Justine's voice was heavy with sarcasm.
“Why wouldn't I be? It's been a while since I've seen you. Just before Jill arrived, wasn't it? By the way, how is that darky who guards you as if you were a virgin about to be ravished? ”
“That darky is the best friend I ever had. You bother her and I'll blow your damn pecker off.”
Lloyd's laugh rang out. “God, I love it when you talk trashy. It comes so natural.” He pulled the paper from his shirt pocket. “I've got something here I want you to sign. We'll need a witness. I'll call Jill.”
“What is it? ”
“It's giving me power of attorney, the authority to look after your affairs.”
“Are you out of your mind? I'll never sign that! I'd rather turn my affairs over to a mangy dog! ”Justine was breathing hard and fast. “I want you to stay away from me.”
“Watch it, dear. You could have a heart attack.”
“It's what you want, isn't it? ”
“No, not quite yet.” He put the paper back in his pocket, leaned back and was silent until a car went by, leaving a trail of dust in its
From the tone of her aunt's voice and the look on her face, Jill wasn't sure that her aunt was kidding.
“Hello, Mr. Madison. I saw you at the meeting.”
“I wanted to speak to you, but you left before I could get away from the mayor.”
“Is this a business or a social call? ”Justine asked briskly.
“Both.” He patted the paper in his shirt pocket.
“I don't do business on Sunday.”
“Course you do. You don't close the hotel on Sunday.” He turned to Jill. “How do you like our raw little town? We're doing our best to civilize it.”
“That's going to take some doing.”
At first Jill thought Lloyd Madison's face was friendly and boyish in spite of the blood-red birthmark that flowed down over his cheekbone. On a closer look, his smile didn't reach the eyes that turned on her, analyzing, assessing through the wire-framed glasses. Like a dash of cold water, they poured over and touched her everywhere.
It was hard not to stare at him. It didn't seem to Jill that the man resented being stared at. Tall, thin, with wiry blond hair, he appeared perversely to display the thick, blood-red mass by turning his head in such a way as to keep it in full view.
“Jill, will you excuse us? He's determined to have private words for me before he goes.”
“Of course.” Jill stood up. “Nice meeting you, Mr. Madison.”
“Call me Lloyd, Jill. We'll be getting to know each other better … I'm sure.” He glanced at Justine when he said the last two words.
At the door, Jill looked back at her aunt's flushed face and was tempted to go to her. There was no doubt that she was irritated with the lawyer. Both seemed to be waiting until she passed through the doorway, so she reluctantly opened the door and went into the lobby.
“Pretty as a speckled hen.” Lloyd removed his glasses and wiped the lenses with a white handkerchief he took from his back pocket.
“Stay away from her.”
“Why? She's single. I'm single. My bloodline is as good as hers.”
“Stay away from her. I mean it.”
“Ah, come on, Justine. I waited damn near a month before coming to meet her. I wasn't sure she'd last that long. When I heard that she'd been seen with Westfall, I hotfooted it right over.”
“You're too late. She's been spoken for.”
“You mean … Westfall? ”
“No, I mean her sweetheart from back home is here.”
“That dirty roustabout who yanked her away from Westfall last night? I heard about him.” Lloyd laughed. “I heard she threatened to slap him into tomorrow. It doesn't sound like she's very fond of him.”
“Why did you come here? Get to the point.”
“Every time I come to see you, you look worse. Last time I thought you were on your deathbed. I'm happy to see that you came out of your decline enough to sit on the porch.”
“Horseshit! It'll be a cold day in July when you're concerned about my health.” Justine's voice was heavy with sarcasm.
“Why wouldn't I be? It's been a while since I've seen you. Just before Jill arrived, wasn't it? By the way, how is that darky who guards you as if you were a virgin about to be ravished? ”
“That darky is the best friend I ever had. You bother her and I'll blow your damn pecker off.”
Lloyd's laugh rang out. “God, I love it when you talk trashy. It comes so natural.” He pulled the paper from his shirt pocket. “I've got something here I want you to sign. We'll need a witness. I'll call Jill.”
“What is it? ”
“It's giving me power of attorney, the authority to look after your affairs.”
“Are you out of your mind? I'll never sign that! I'd rather turn my affairs over to a mangy dog! ”Justine was breathing hard and fast. “I want you to stay away from me.”
“Watch it, dear. You could have a heart attack.”
“It's what you want, isn't it? ”
“No, not quite yet.” He put the paper back in his pocket, leaned back and was silent until a car went by, leaving a trail of dust in its
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