Welcome to Gayberry – 26
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26
No one said anything. Ben went back into the cell and sat on his cot. Randy went to sit with him. William went to get fresh coffee for the two men and took it to them.
"The warden didn't say anything about Marv and whether he is alive or...?" Ben asked, his voice trailing off.
"No, and I'm sorry, Ben," the sheriff said. "I'm afraid I was too stunned to ask. "
"I understand, sheriff," the man said.
"If you like, my deputy can take you home" the sheriff said.
"If you don't mind, I'd really like to stay here and wait" Ben said somberly. "I know it may not be good news but I don't think I should be alone right now. Will that be okay?"
"Absolutely okay" the sheriff said. "Would you like to go ahead and grab a shower?" the sheriff asked. "I can have Arney gather you some towels and soap and shampoo."
"Thank you, sheriff," he said. "That would be great."
The sheriff had the deputy gather the things and Ben disappeared into the back room.
The phone rang again and Randy answered.
"Is he okay?" William heard them ask. "Thank you! I'll be there in just a couple of minutes."
"Can you drive me to the school?" the sheriff asked William. "Mark's been injured."
The two men jumped into the Buick and drove to the school in record time. When Will got there, he parked in front of the theatre and both ran in. They saw Jimmy waiting for them and motioning them to follow him into Mr. Churchill's big office.
"He's all right" Jimmy said. "It just scared all of us."
They went into the office to find Mark lying on one of the big sofas with Frankie sitting beside him. Michael was kneeling, holding his left hand.
"What in the world happened?" the sheriff asked. "Mark , are you all right?"
"I am" the boy answered. "It scared me when I saw all the blood though. Mr. Churchill and Mr. Blount have taken really good care of me and they have it all bandaged up now. I think I may have passed out for a little but I'm good now. Just some pain in the finger I smashed with the hammer."
"You smashed your finger with a hammer, son?" the sheriff asked."
The boy and Frankie Blount nodded.
"I had gotten onto him about paying attention to what he was doing" Frankie Blount related. "We were finishing the building of the steps which will come off the end of the runway. Some of the contestants were practicing their walks and their turns on the runway. They had a rehearsal going on and all the contestants were there. I had noticed one of them flirting with young Mark and she seemed to be trying to distract him and Jimmy. Jimmy completely ignored her and even told the girl to leave him alone. But Mark was finding the attention hard to ignore, especially when she came right over where we were working. I saw her getting all close to him spreading that pussy scent and flirting and I should've run her off but I didn't. I too am at fault."
"Who was the girl, Mark?" the sheriff asked.
The boy didn't answer.
"I asked you a question, son" the sheriff said.
"It was Jenny," the boy confessed. "She'd been flirting with Jimmy first but he told her to get away from him. He told her she'd got him in enough trouble and he didn't want no part of her. So then she started up with me. We both knew what she was doin' and Jimmy even told me to ignore her. He said she was nothin' but trouble. I should've listened to him. He was tellin' me right. But when she got close and she put her hand on my pants and she started kissin' on me and I smelled her, the next thing I knew I had smashed my finger and there was blood everywhere. I'm sorry. She was laughin' while I was there bleedin' all over creation. I'm so sorry, Mr. Blount and I'm so sorry, sheriff."
"The boy's finger is fine" Mr. Churchill said. "I called the school nurse immediately and she cleaned it and put a couple of stitches in it. It will heal just fine. I think the boy may have learned a very valuable lesson here today."
"I did, sheriff," the boy said. "I'm so sorry. Jimmy tried to warn me. If I'd only listened to him. He told me she was nothin' but trouble and heartache."
"It's okay, Mark," the sheriff said. "I hope you've learned an important lesson today. Mr. Churchill, do you remember the conversation we were having earlier, during your measuring of the Colonel for his tuxedo, regarding what you had in your drawer?"
"I certainly do, sheriff," the man said, recalling their conversation about the chastity devices he used on all the boys who earned lead roles in his plays.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"I think that is an excellend idea."
Mark had no idea what the men were talking about. But the sheriff began to rub the front of young Mark's pants. It felt good and Mark closed his eyes, remembering the time the sheriff had wanked him. He was surprised the sheriff would do this with other men around watching, but he didn't care. He remembered how good it felt when he came in the sheriff's warm, big hand. He felt the sheriff undo his jeans and begin to slide them down his legs. He felt the cool air on his legs, then felt a pair of big hands rubbing his legs from his ankles to his thighs. He opened his eyes and saw the man rubbing his legs was Frankie. The man began to lower the boy's briefs and Mark raised his hips to allow them to be taken off, leaving him nude below the waist. The cool air felt good on his body as he felt someone massaging his heavy nuts. He felt his cock stiffening and he felt a finger teasing his hairy hole. He spread his legs farther apart to allow access. He wasn't sure he had ever felt so good and he thought the men must be making him feel good to try to erase the pain he had when he smashed his finger. He felt something cool on his penis and realized it was some kind of lotion as a hand began to stroke his cock. The hands continued rubbing his thighs and teasing his hole and rubbing his nuts. He felt a finger circling his hole and teasing it gently. He wanted the finger to enter him, almost as if there was an itch there which needed scratching.
"Please" the boy moaned softly.
"Do you like this, boy" a voice asked him.
He thought it was Mr.Churchill's voice but he wasn't certain as the slick finger slowly entered his hole.The finger inside him felt amazing as it went in and out, rubbing that sensitive spot inside him. He opened his eyes again to see his friend Jimmy put his mouth on his cock and take him to the root. Mr. William was right behind him so he thought it surely was finger inside him. Jimmy was sucking on his hard cock now with his hot mouth and moving up and down with long, sucking strokes. Mark had never felt such complete pleasure in his life as he saw the sheriff now rubbing his boy titties and tweaking his nipples.
"Thank you" the boy said, as the sheriff smiled at him.
"Oh, this feels so good" the boy said as he moaned with each mouth stroke on his cock. "I'm getting close. Real close."
He felt his nut begin in his balls. Deep, very deep, he felt it start to build. He wanted Jimmy to speed up the mouth strokes on his dick and he wanted the finger to pound harder. But they were just keeping the same tempo. He needed more.
"Please" he begged. "Please, harder and faster. Please" he was pleading now as he bucked, trying to get the finger to massage his fucknut faster.
"Jimmy please" he begged. "I'm awful close. I need to empty these nuts."
Then it changed and he knew he was there. He felt his climax start and he was riding the wave and he knew he was going to shoot. Just as his entire body went rigid, the mouth came off his cock and the finger was taken from his hole.
"No, please don't" he begged, as he reached for the hand that had felt so good in his ass and for Jimmy's head. It was futile and he was being held down and not allowed to touch his own cock. The finger was gone and he felt so empty. His climax had been so close and it was ruined. He then looked between his legs and Mr. Churchill was putting a tight ring abound his nut sac and his still-hard cock. He knew what was coming and he knew resisting was futile. He knew he was being put in a cage like his friend. And he knew he deserved it. He calmy lay there, tears rolling down his cheeks, as they got the ring in place, the put his slowly-softening cock into the tube. Then he heard the lock.
He felt the sheriff guiding him into his lap and holding him.
"I'm sorry, son," the sheriff said. "You know I don't want to hurt you. It's a painful lesson but a lesson that you need for your own good."
"I understand, sir," the boy said quietly. The sheriff held the boy as he wept quietly.
"I'm sorry I disappointed you" Mark said quietly.
"Son, you didn't disappoint me" the sheriff said. "You've been through a rough patch lately and it may get rougher. I hated to do this to you but I do want you to learn lessons your own paw didn't learn. I hope you know that's why I did this."
"I understand" he said quietly.
Mark dozed off and the sheriff just held him for a few minutes as he watched Frankie and Michael measuring students for their tuxedoes. The men seemed to have an easy rapport with the handsome guys and Randy wondered if all of these were guys who used the theatre glory hole on a regular basis.
Randy and Will headed back for the courthouse. The boys had wanted to stay and continue helping with preparations for the pageant and had been allowed to do so. The sheriff really wanted to assess the situation with news from the prison and he felt it would be better for Mark not to be at the courthouse when Warden Biden arrived. The sheriff was expecting the worst.
As the two men drove to the courthouse, they were quiet.
"You think he's dead, don't you?" William asked.
"I'm very afraid that's what we're about to find out" Randy said. "The warden obviously was upset and I think he just didn't want me to find out bad news on the phone."
"I know you're blaming yourself, my friend," he said, "but the truth is that you made a wise decision for his family and for this town. The man was out of control and a danger to himself and everyone around him. None of this is your fault and I just won't hear otherwise. You were doing the best you knew how to do. "
"Thanks, friend," he said. "I do take some comfort hearing those words from you."
When they got back, the warden had still not arrived. Ben seemed calmer and more resigned to hearing bad news.
"I was a little worried that the crazy bitch who started all of this might show up while I was gone" the sheriff said. "I'm glad that didn't happen."
"So am I, sheriff" he said. "I've never even thought about hitting a woman or mistreating a woman in any way, but if I could right now, I believe I'd beat that fucking bitch's brains out with a fucking baseball bat."
"I understand that" William told him. "Just don't ever forget about those two boys you've got who are gonna be needin' you for a long time to come. Try to keep that in mind. I totally understand because there was a day when I came close to killin' my father-in-law. I actually went to his office with a gun in my pocket. I was going to blow his fucking brains out but I realized I might never see my boys again. Somehow I realized that even if I didn't end up getting shot to death, I'd probably face the electric chair or being locked up for the rest of my life. That pulled me through."
Ben went back to his cell and just sat, staring into space and waiting.
"There's something I need to talk about to Ben" the sheriff said. "I guess there's no time like the present. Will you join me?"
Both men walked into the cell and sat on each side of the young principal.
"Ben, I know you have a lot on you right now and the last thing I want is to pile on" the sheriff said. "God knows what we may all be facing with the coach, but we have to know life goes on. You're got a couple of sons entering puberty and it seems one of them is havin' a difficult time. This mornin', Mark went in to wake the boys. He found Dopie and Jeffy sucking each other's little willies, the way boys do. They was both tryin' to get their tinglies. Both them boys was naked and just havin' a good time, as only boys that age can do."
"Of course they were" Ben said. "I still remember the first time I got the tinglies."
"Nothing could be more normal" the sheriff said. "Until recently, I was real uncomfortable bein' around my own boy bein' naked. I've realized, with help of my good friend Will here, that I wasn't being fair. I started loosenin' up and now me and Dopie have a whole new relationship. I really like being naked with him and seein' him and his buddies naked. I love watchin' him get the tinglies. It makes me happy and it makes him happy. The problem this morning was your son, Walter's reaction."
"Walter's just a very modest boy, sheriff" the man said, staring at the floor.
"I don't think that's it, Ben," the sheriff said. "I don't know what's goin' on and it's between you and your boy, but Walter kept his underwear on the whole time the other boys was playin'. When Mark put them in the shower together, Walter insisted on going to his room and lockin' the door while he showered. Now I've seen Walter, Ben. He's one of the tallest, handsomest boys in their class. And there ain't no question about his development. He's way far ahead of Dopie. My boy ain't even got a single pubic hair yet and I noticed Walter already has some light fuzz on his tummy. He's got pit hair and even leg hair. I know the boy's developed. Then he told Mark he'd like to have people see him naked but you're the one who don't want that to happen. Somethin' just ain't addin' up here, Ben. If he's got some kind of deformity to his penis, them other boys ain't gonna care. They probably won't even notice. If he's got a little tiny one, that's okay too. All boys have tiny little cocks at that age and they don't even think about that. I just feel like you are keepin' that boy from doin' things he'd like to do and,as a paw, that worries me. If it's somethin' like that, I wish you'd tell me and Will cause we got boys too and we'll do our best to help you and Walt get past it."
The man was silent for a moment. Then he started to speak.
"Guys, I just haven't known how to deal with this" he began. I've been knowing I would have to deal with this sooner or later but I've just kept putting it off. I can't do that forever. I need to trust somebody and both of you have proven yourselves worthy of our trust. I've never told another soul about this – not even the coach knows. No one except Walter's doctors have been in the loop but it's time for me to unburden myself."
Just as the principal was about to unburden himself Warden Eamon Biden walked into the front door. All three of the men jumped up and went to greet him. Eamon had a very serious expression on is face. Randy was expecting the worst news possible and he put his hand on the principal's low back.
"Warden, I'd like to welcome you to Gayberry, but I wish it was on a happier occasion" the sheriff said.
"As do I, sheriff," the warden said. "I have never had the opportunity to spend any time in your town before but I can see that it is a lovely place. And the news I bring is nowhere near as dire as it might have been."
Ben looked up hopefully. Randy realized he had not introduced them, so he introduced the principal and Deputy Arney to the warden.
"I've had some very rough nights at that prison but last night was one of the worst" the warden said. "I had some prisoners that I had felt earned some modicum of trust. A couple of them went off last night and exploded. When something explodes in a powder keg, it is never pretty. But I am glad to tell you the coach is alive. He was beaten as badly as I've ever seen a human beaten and he was bitten and he was raped repeatedly. But that man must have been in simply amazing shape or there is no way he could have made it through."
"How is he?" Ben asked anxiously. "Have you taken him to the hospital? Can I see him?"
"He was in surgery for over 2 hours, but he is stable now" the warden saqid. . We still have him sedated and on pain medication. His vital signs have completely stabilized and he has been trying to speak. We can take him to a hospital, but my recommendation would be a quieter environment with someone to give him round the clock care. He doesn't require skilled nursing care except for catheter maintenance. It is nothing a home health nurse couldn't take care of. Is it possible he could go home?"
"There is no way Marv can go back to his house with that woman there." Ben said. "I can take him to my house. Sheriff, I won't leave his side. I swear to God, I'll never leave his side again unless he forces me to. I've let him down so many times and I won't do it again."
"But, Ben, you should think about your sons" William said. "This would likely be totally disruptive for the boys and upsetting, especially to little Jeffy, who is still struggling with so many issues. He's going to be having to come to grips with the fact that the coach isn't really his father. I understand you want to take care of Marv, but is that really the best plan, given the situation?"
"I may have a suggestion that will work" the sheriff said. "What if we put the coach in our new space in the back room of the jail? There's plenty of room to add a hospital bed for coach and Ben can sleep on the new bed we just moved in there. There's a shower and everything needed in there. We can have Doc Foster take a look and arrange for nursing services as needed. Ben, would that work for you?"
"Of course it would, sheriff," he said. "But I'll need to arrange care for my boys."
"Don't worry about that, Ben," the sheriff said. Unless you have a problem with it, Mark and me can stay with your boys. Dopie likes both of your boys and he's always wanted brothers. I'll just move in there as long as you need to be down here with the coach."
"Would you actually do that for us, sheriff?" Ben asked.
"Of course I would, Ben" the sheriff said. "What are friends for? Even new friends can become great friends real fast when the need rises."
"Just know that Billy Paul, Jimmy, and I will be glad to help out however we can" Will said. "Ben, it may be that your place will become central headquarters for this Founders day thing. Is that all right with you."
"I can't imagine a better use for the space" Ben said. "I bought it when we moved here and I bought five or six times the house Walt and I needed. My dad had just died so money was no object. I always had the fantasy that the coach and his kids and maybe even Peggy and Walt and I could all live together as one big family. I know now that it was a silly fantasy, but it was my fantasy. I'll be glad to see the house being used for a good cause and I know you'll take good care of my boys. I've seen enough to know you put those boys before anything else."
"I'll run across the street and arrange for a hospital bed" William said. "They'll have it here in under thirty minutes or they'll all take a beating."
"I'lll tell the ambulance attendants to bring him on in here" the warden said. "Just be prepared. He looks bad. It was a bad beating. I blame myself for not realizing how horny those fucking animals are and most of them had never seen a man in as fine a shape as the coach. They were all determined to get a piece of that athletic ginger ass. I feel terrible for not realizing how bad it could be."
The warden went back outside and Arney went to make coffee. William had left to arrange a hospital bed, leaving Ben and the sheriff alone.
The young principal reached out and embraced the sheriff.
"Sheriff, you'll never know how much I appreciate this" Ben said quietly. "None of this could have happened if it weren't for you. I'd likely be locked up and possibly on the way to Statesville myself if you hadn't been willing to listen and try to find the truth. I can never repay you."
"Yes, you can, Ben," the sheriff said. "Get the coach all healed up and y'all take another shot at finding some kind of happiness. That'll be repayment enough. I feel like I have to take some blame in all this too for sendin' him to that fuckin' rape farm."
The doors burst open and it was Will, directing two young men in rolling a hospital bed into the court house. He directed them to the back room and had the bed in place, plugged in and made up with fresh, crisp sheets in minutes.
The warden came back in laughing.
"I never saw a crazy bastard having a hospital bed rolled across a town square in the middle of the day!" the warden said. "I never saw nothin' like it!"
"That man may be a crazy bastard, but he's our crazy bastard" the sheriff said.
The ambulance attendants rolled in the gurney with Coach Thomas on it. They couldn't see much for all the sheets covering him, but it was apparent the man was lying on his front side with pillows all around him. His face and head were totally covered in bandages and his right arm was splinted. They rolled him to the back and got him transferred to the bed. The attendants said he should stay on his stomach. Will had called Dr. Foster, who showed up to take report from the attendants.
Dr. Foster was in his early to mid-forties, a distinguished-looking man with thinning gray hair. He had lost his wife to cancer a couple of years earlier and the couple was childless. Randy had not had many interactions with the man, but he introduced him to William as the deputy brought coffee for all of them, gathered around Randy's desk.
Ben was still in the back room with the coach, getting further advice on his care from the attendants.
"Warden, please don't take this wrong, but you look very tired" the sheriff said.
"I am about as weary as a man can be right now, sheriff," he said. "I have no choice but to shoulder the blame for this incident. You entrusted a healthy, robust prisoner to my care and I brought back a very wounded man. My pride got in the way of my judgment, sheriff. I allowed myself to be convinced I had rehabilitated some men when the truth was that they were still vicious animals."
"Warden, I understand what you're saying" the sheriff said. "I have struggled with my decision to send the coach up to your place since I've learned certain things about his wife and his daughter. I think the man may have been pushed beyond limits no reasonable man could have taken. If I'd spent more time getting to know the man and to understand what he had been through, I'd likely never have brought him to Statesville."
"The truth is that neither of you should feel guilty here" William said. "It sounds to me like you were both doing your jobs in the best way you knew how. Warden, your job is to incarcerate and rehabilitate some of the worst criminals in the country. Sheriff, your job is to keep the peace and protect the citizens of Gayberry. You were both doing your jobs to the best of your abilities."
"Thank you, William," the warden said. "But I didn't know just how bad one of my prisoners was until after all of this. I didn't know he had murdered eight people in Chicago. No one bothered to tell me that. The coach set the man off by calling him a `faggot' and he went berserk. He lined up men to rape the coach repeatedly. The man was raped at least 22 times by different men and a few came back for seconds. It isn't often we get men as handsome and healthy as the coach in Statesville. He was nothing but pretty, fresh meat for them and their animal instincts won out."
"How did it all end and how did the coach survive?" the sheriff asked.
"The dog who was holding a knife to the coach's neck told me he would slit his throat unless I came into the cell to talk to him. He insisted that I strip down so he could make sure I had no weapons. I am no hero, but I knew he was ready to kill the man. I knew I couldn't live with that. So I stripped down and went into the cell. I was able to talk him into getting all the other prisoners out of that cell so that it was just the three of us. He was taunting me. He made jokes about how my dick would be more fitting on a horse than a man. He told me how much he had enjoyed having the coach's manpussy. He bragged about how he'd been the first one to fuck him. I taunted him back by telling him that he wasn't the first. I told him I'd fucked the coach in my office before I sent him in to the dogs. I told him all he'd got was sloppy seconds, just like he'd done for all his life. I was trying to rile him to get him to make a mistake. But he insisted I fuck the man again. He made me get hard. It took a little, but I got it hard. He kept the knife to the coach's throat while I fucked him. It was ugly. He was a bloody mess. He told me not to cum in the coach cause he wanted to see me shoot my load. He told me to pull out when I was about to shoot so I did. He was yelling at me to jack my big black dick and I did. I just made sure I aimed for his eyes when I shot my load. In case you've never had cum in your eyes, it's very alkaline and it burns like hell. Apparently he didn't know that so when my load hit his eye, it startled him and he dropped his knife. I jumped him and we struggled, but the asshole ended up with the knife in his own heart. I later found out he had gotten the knife from a crooked guard. I will deal with that when I get back."
"That is an amazing story" William said. "You should tell it to a reporter from Life Magazine."
"Hardly, my friend," the warden said. "I haven't seen any stories in Life about a nigger warden takin' out his big old black dick and jerkin' it off in a prisoner's face. Have you?"
They all laughed.
"You have a point there, warden" the sheriff said. "I don't think that's a magazine Aunt Flea would allow on her coffee table. I'd like to thank you for putting us in touch with the governor. The fact he's comin' to our little celebration is the biggest thing to happen in this part of the state in quite a while. I couldn't be more grateful and I look forward to meeting him and Mr. Levin."
"Oh," the warden said. "Abraham is coming with him. I thought he might bring Mrs. North but I know he loves to get out of town with Abe whenever he can. They are old friends and gentlemen who have similar tastes."
"So we have heard" William said. "I hope we can find suitable entertainments for them here in Gayberry."
"I don't know either of you well, but I think you will find things to entertain them" the warden said with a wink. "The governor doesn't often take Abraham to the more rural areas of the state with him. He may be trying to push the envelope which is something I admire about him."
"How is that?" the sheriff said.
"Abraham Levin is a Jew, sheriff," William said. "I hadn't even thought about that. We better check with the hotel on that."
"Check on what?" the sheriff asked.
"One of the things I love most about my new friend, in addition to the way he fills out those sheriff's pants, his very nice muscles, and his wavy dark hair, is the fact that he is sometimes naïve about things."
Randy looked puzzled.
"Sheriff, have any Jews ever stayed at the Gayberry Hotel?" the warden asked.
"Well, I wouldn't rightly know" the sheriff said. "I don't go around askin' folks where they go to church, especially if they're just visitin' our town. I figure it ain't none of my business."
"I'm glad you feel that way, but I assure you that not everyone feels that way" William said. "You remember what just happened at the high school his morning?"
"Oh yeah, the rock thrown through the window" the sheriff said. "I figure that was some harmless prank."
"And I seriously doubt that" William said. "There have been over a dozen incidents of vandalism at the high school theatre, all of them targeting Jews, Negroes and homosexuals. I'm afraid we may have a klan problem around here and that is a problem that can take off like wildfire."
"I couldn't agree more" the warden said. "Do you have a large Negro population in Gayberry?"
"Why no, sir," the sheriff said. "None in the city limits. "There's a group of about ten or twelve families that lives just outside of town in a little community we call the Colony. They have their own school and we rarely see `em. Ben was tellin' me earlier that he plans to shut down the colored school and bring all them students into the Gayberry School System. He thinks they'll get a better education and have more opportunities. I agree and I don't think there'll be no problem with that."
"I'd love to think you're right, sheriff" the warden said. "Has Principal Whaley announced those plans yet?" the warden asked.
"I don't rightly know about that" Randy answered. "I'm sure he'd be glad to talk to you about it if you're interested."
"I think I would like that, sheriff," the warden said. "I have a driver coming down to fetch me back to Statesville, but it's going to be a while before they come. Does your hotel have a day rate? I am feeling the long night I had in my bones right now. I'd love a shower and a nap."
"Why that ain't necessary, warden," the sheriff said. "I'd be happy to take you over to my house and you can have a nice long bath and a nap. I'd be honored for you to do that."
"That's very nice, sheriff, but I wouldn't want to impose on you" the warden said. "I'd like it if you would accompany me over to the hotel."
"Well of course I will, warden," the sheriff said. "I'm just glad to have you here in our town. I am gonna insist that you join Will and me for some lunch over at my house. My Aunt Flea and a couple of her friends is bakin' for the Founders Day Bake Sale and they'll have a big old lunch ready in about ten minutes. If you'll join Will and me for lunch, then we'll take you over to the hotel and let you rest a bit."
"I would be honored, sheriff. And thank you for your warm hospitality."
They checked with Ben to see how the coach was doing. He was still sleeping and no problems had been encountered. The young principal and the doctor seemed to have hit it off and the doctor had instructed the young principal in basic care techniques like care of an indwelling catheter. The sheriff noticed that Ben's hand never once lost contact of some kind with the body of the sedated coach. They told the two that they would bring them some lunch when they returned.
The men loaded up in William's Buick to drive the short distance to Randy's house.
"Weren't your aunt and that Bedford woman helping the Colonel set up his store on Main Street this morning?" William asked.
"Oh yes, but I'm sure they were done with that hours ago" the sheriff said. "I'm sure the Colonel walked them back to my house and they have enticed him with some of their baked goods. Aunt Flea always has a hot lunch for me and the deputy and enough for three or four more folks too. The only way she don't do that is if I tell before I leave in the mornin' that she's to bring our lunch to the court house."
"Sounds like you have quite an efficient aunt, Sheriff Gaylor and it sounds as if you have her very well-trained" the warden said. "And here I was thinking Mr. Lincoln had freed all the slaves."
They all laughed but the sheriff wasn't sure why the other two found that remark amusing.
William and the warden excused themselves to wash up and Will led the way upstairs for Eamon. Aunt Flea came in, bringing a bouquet of fresh flowers for the table.
"We'll need two extra places, Aunt Flea," the sheriff said. "William and the warden from up in Statesville is joining us for lunch. Looks like you've already set a place for the original Miss Meddlesome Bitch of Gayberry!"
"Randy, watch your language" she chided. "The mayor's wife helped us set up the store for Colonel Watkins this morning. Then he was kind enough to see us all back here. I'm surprised he hasn't made it back. We all fed him some fresh baked apple pie and then he and the mayor's wife went across the street. She said she wanted to show him a new rose she had blooming. I thought he would be back here by now but he must have decided to head back to his store. I told him Tara and I would come back and handle things after lunch. He said he had plans so we assumed he would be headed to the high school for pageant rehearsals."
She went back to the kitchen asTara Bedford came into the room, bearing plates, napkins and silver. She began setting the table.
"Sheriff, I really feel I must say something" she said. "You know I try to mind my own business at all times, but I think the decision to have those homosexuals from the school involved in Miss Gayberry is a problem. We don't want to look as if we condone that sort of thing. I knew there'd be a problem when they hired that new principal from out of town. No one knows a thing about him or his family. They should have hired that cute Will Barrow. His father was once principal of the school and he would have been the right choice. He respects traditionand he's from a strong, respected Gayberry family, much like my own. Instead, they gave the job to that new out of towner. It just wasn't right."
Randy kept his nose in his newspaper, trying to ignore her.
"And having that grease monkey from the service station singing is just not the proper thing to do" she said. "Why, the boy will likely show up in his dirty overalls all covered in oil and grease and I can't even imagine what he will sound like with that backwoods, colonel cornpone southern drawl of his. He probably cannot find a pitch or hold a note. And for him to be singing "All Hail to thee, Miss Gayberry" is sheer sacrilege. I have been singing that for years during the crowning and, while I may not be Beverly Sills, everyone loves the way I sing that song. It has special meaning for me and everyone says it shows in the way I perform it."
Randy was silent.
"And to deviate from the script I wrote for the pageant will just disappoint everyone" she said. "I understand wanting to use a different emcee for this year" she said, "especially when a man so charming and handsome as Colonel Watkins is available, but the words I wrote in that script are just perfect. Everyone says so and I think they would love hearing my words read by his beautiful baritone voice."
"Come along, Randy, lunch is ready" Aunt Flea trilled as the sheriff moved to the table and took his seat. Aunt Flea and Mrs. Bedford took their seats across from one another so that the boy, girl, boy girl arrangement would be honored. Randy, as always, sat at t he head of the table and Aunt Flea and Mrs. Bedford each had an empty chair beside them, awaiting their guests.
Tara Bedford saw the warden first, as her chair faced the stairs.
"Oh my God, Flea, it's a nig..." Tara Bedford said, her voice trailing off.
She suddenly sat as erect as if a steel rod had been jammed into her asshole. She gasped audibly and Aunt Flea's eyes widened as the warden took his seat beside the widow Bedford and William beside Aunt Flea. Mrs. Bedford grabbed her plate and stood.
"I have been coughing all morning and I fear I may have picked up a germ" she said, without making eye contact with anyone else at the table. "I think it best if I eat in the kitchen rather than risk infecting all of you."
Aunt Flea popped right up, also grabbing her plate.
"I will join Tara in the kitchen so she won't have to eat alone" Aunt Flea said.
Randy was silent. William looked straight at his plate. The warden chuckled.
"Guess who's coming to lunch. Don't let it bother you, sheriff" the warden said. "I'd like to say I'm used to it, but it's still disconcerting. Look at the bright side. There's more fried chicken and mashed potatoes for the three of us."
As they were enjoying their meal, the Colonel came in. Randy introduced him to the warden and asked if he would like some coffee.
He accepted and Randy called into the kitchen for Aunt Flea to bring the coffee pot.
"I'm sorry, Randy," she said from the other room. "I'm awfully busy right now."
"I'm sure the ladies are busy baking a watermelon pie for me" the warden chuckled. "Let me get it."
The warden stood, went into the kitchen and returned with the coffee pot, pouring for all four men. They thanked him.
"So, Colonel," the sheriff said. "we hear you have been looking at the mayor's wife's roses. Was it a satisfying trip through the rose garden?"
"Most satisfying, I assure you" the Colonel answered with a chuckle and a wink.
The warden smiled, seeming to pick up on the hidden meaning. They continued ispeaking in lowered voices to prevent the women from hearing.
"William and I witnessed the warden in action with Coach Thomas, much as we witnessed you with the mayor's wife" the sheriff said quietly. "I can only say that both of you are men of great talent and exciting to watch. Colonel, the warden here is man who has been gifted with a very generous endowment."
"Thank you, sheriff," the warden said.
They filled the warden in on the plan for the Colonel to impregnate both the mayor's wife and William's wife.
"That sounds like an excellent arrangement. I would offer to help you out with your task, but I find most white women in these parts would never want anyone to know they liked black cock. Many of them love it but they can't ever let anyone know. If you know of any ladies who might enjoy some black meat, I am at your service."
"Sheriff, I don't want to be a problem, but I'd like to thank the cooks for a wonderful lunch" Warden Biden said. "Do you think you might call them out here?"
"Of course, warden" the sheriff said, calling for Aunt Flea and Mrs. Bedford to come to the dining room.
"We're much too busy to come out right now, Randy," Aunt Flea shouted from the kitchen.
Randy stood up at the table and slammed his open palm on the table, making a very loud sound.
"Both of you old bitches get the fuck into this dining room right this goddamned minute or you can pack your shit and leave this house forever, Aunt Flea!" he shouted angrily. "And I mean right this fucking minute."
Both women came into the very edge of the room, refusing to look any of the men in the eye and standing defiantly.
"I just wanted to thank you women for one of the most delicious meals I have ever eaten anywhere" the warden said, charm dripping from his voice." I love fried chicken and have tasted some of the best in the world. But you two women really know how to handle the dark meat!"
Both women were too stunned by the words to even move as the men headed for the door, all of them chuckling and patting one another on their backs.
The colonel said he had loaded one of his valises with bottles of liniment and was heading over to William's house, hopefully to meet the man's wife.
"Haven't you been with the mayor's wife all morning?" the warden asked.
"Yes, but that was about two hours ago" he said. "I recharge much faster when there is a new flower to pollinate" he chuckled. "There's something about a new piece of pussy that just won't allow my cock to soften."
He got into his station wagon and drove off in the direction of William's home. The other three headed downtown to the Gayberry Hotel. When they arrived, William suggested he and the sheriff go in first. The warden agreed, figuring out what William had in mind.
"Good day, Mr. Print," William said. "Hope you are doing well. We have a guest in town. He is the distinguished warden of the state prison up in Statesville. He was here on a very important mission. He has to return later today, but he is in need of a room where he might nap and shower before making the return trip. I have been told you have a day rate which is most reasonable. He is accustomed to nice accommodations, so if the Governor's Suite is available it might be suitable."
"Our day rate is most reasonable and our Governor's Suite is well-appointed" Mr. Print said. "Would you be interested in seeing the accommodations?"
"That would be lovely, sir," William said. "I'll get the sheriff. You may not have heard yet but the governor will be in town this weekend. The sheriff and I were thinking we might reserve the suite for him and his assistant if it is not booked for the weekend."
"The governor is coming to Gayberry?" the man asked."The suite is available and I should be most happy to book it for you at a discount."
"Oh no, Mr. Print," William said. "We wouldn't consider taking a discount. Money is no object for this visit. After all it is a holiday so I would suggest you substantially increase your rate."
He led the men into a three room suite, consisting of two bedrooms, a sitting room and a shared bathroom. The place was clean enough but smelled musty and the furniture was from the previous century.
"I think this will be fine, Mr. Print," William said. "We will take the suite for the day and for the entire weekend. I think the suite really could use some updating, sir. We have been given a very generous budget for the weekend. We would be willing to pay in full if you could get a painter in to paint the walls and we'd be glad to replace any of the furniture you would like to replace. If you could get some new drapes – anything you can get done in such a short time. Money is not an object, I assure you. Gayberry needs a nice place to host visiting dignitaries. The warden who is using the suite for today is a very, very close friend of the governor, by the way."
They all went back down to the lobby. As they went down in the elevator, William suggested he heard a creaking. The elevator stopped and jerkily restarted twice.
"I am sure we can get funds for you to replace this old elevator, Mr. Print," William said. "If you'll get on it, get an estimate and let me know. We will cut you a check for everything."
Randy was wondering if William had lost his mind, obligating them for thousands and thousands of dollars in renovations to the owner of the hotel. They returned to the front desk where William pulled out his wallet and laid a wad of cash in front of Mr. Print.
"Randy, why don't you go and get the warden" William suggested. "I know he is ready for a hot shower and a nap."
The sheriff left and gave the owner of the hotel cash for the day rent of the suite. Mr. Print then wanted details so he could complete the reservation of the suite for the weekend.
"So your guest will be Governor North and his assistant?" the man asked. "Do you have a name for the assistant?"
"Why of course I do" William answered. "That would be Abraham Levin. L-E-V-I-N." I believe he uses his formal title also which would be Rabbi Abraham Levin."
Mr. Print's eyes got wide and he started to shake his head.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Walker, but we cannot allow Mr. Levin to stay here. We welcome the governor but we simply cannot accommodate Mr. Levin. I'm sure there are rooms available at the Butter Cup Motel out on the highway."
"Why is that, Mr. Print?" he asked. "Why can you not accommodate Mr. Levin when he will be sharing the suite with the governor?"
"There is a new rule that in any suite in our hotel, we can only accommodate one guest" he said, speaking quickly. "Yes, that's it. Only one guest per suite. Putting too many people in a suite creates a fire hazard. One guest per suite. That is the new rule."
"Well, that is unfortunate, but I guess I can find other accommodations for Mr. Levin" William said calmly. And look, here comes the warden."
The man's eyes were as large as saucers as he saw the sheriff entering the lobby with a tall, handsome black man.
"I'm so very sorry, Mr. Walker," the man said, "but I just recalled that the night clerk told me that we would have a guest arriving in the early afternoon in the Governor's suite. I am so very sorry!"
"That is not a problem" William said. "Any room will do for the warden. He just needs a shower and a nap."
"No other accommodations are available" the man said quickly. "Every room we have is booked. I am so very sorry we cannot accommodate you, Mr. Walker."
"As am I" William said.
"I do hope you will still fulfill the offer you made about updating and upgrading our Governor's Suite. What you said is the absolute truth. We do need appropriate accommodations for dignitaries in our town."
"No, sir," William said as he reached across the counter, retrieving his wad of cash and tearing up the credit card slip he was about to sign to pay for the suite for the entire weekend.
"I wouldn't spend a night in this fleabag if my life depended on it, Mr. Print" William said. "The only thing I might agree to pay for in relation to this ugly turd of a backwoods whorehouse is a match to be used to burn this nasty little shithole to the fucking ground!"
With that, he turned and walked out with the sheriff and the warden.
The warden turned as they reached the door.
"I hope you have a very nice day, sir" the warden said to the man with a wide smile.
They headed back to the court house for the warden to call his driver. Randy apologized for the treatment the man had received.
"Warden, I'm so sorry" he said. "I'm pretty ashamed of my hometown right now."
"They're everywhere, Randy," Eamon said. "It ain't just Gaybery. I'm thankful we got men like Governor North holdin' office now. He isn't good with the old ways. He'll make changes even if it seems slow to us. Just be glad we aren't down in Alabama or Mississipp. Hell, we got nothin' compared to what they're contending with."
"Thank you for understanding," warden. "I just never run across this before. My eyes are opened and this makes me a lot more suspicious of the vandalism at the school. If I got assholes livin' under my own roof, who knows how deep this shit goes?"
William looked in the back seat and the warden had dozed off. When they got to the court house, they assisted him inside and led him to the back room, putting him in the new double bed beside the coach's hospital bed. William managed to get him out of his shoes, his shirt and his pants and covered him with the light coverlet. The man was out like a light. Ben had assisted Will in undressing the warden.
"You don't hold a grudge against the warden?" Will asked Ben?"
"How could I? Ben asked. "The man was doing what he thought was right. Just like the sheriff was. And the warden saved the coach's life. How could I not be grateful? Who knows? Maybe this awful stuff will turn out to have been salvation for the man I love?"
William hugged the young principal, noting how nice he smelled.
"You smell nice" he told the young man. "But you look tired. I doubt you've had much sleep since you got attacked in your house. Looks like the coach is sleeping pretty well. Why don't you climb in beside the warden? I know he won't mind and I promise Randy and I will keep our ears open for Marv."
"I do feel pretty tired and I will need some energy when he wakes up." Ben said. "Who knows how wild he may be when he wakes up and realizes what has happened. We may need restraints."
"We have those if we need them" William said. "But for now, try to catch a few winks. It'll make you feel better. And don't worry about your boys. The sheriff and I have got this for as long as you need us to."
Thank you, Will" he said. "For the first time in a long time, I actually feel like I have friends."
He got into bed beside the sleeping warden. The warden sensed someone in bed with him and put his arm around the handsome principal. Ben seemed to like being held. Will tucked them both in and left the room. Both men were sleeping soundly as was the coach.