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Ninety Days Inside The Empire: A Novel by William Appleman Williams

A Visit with The Judge

Page 37

"Takes more than one to make a neighbor, Henry. Thank you and the others. You all got a big credit here when you need it."

Henry pushed his tumbler over. "Half a fist more. Don't worry it, Marsh, it comes out even. We got it roughed-in pretty easy. If the Negroes will work regular we can get her a crop that will more than pay the bank installment and maybe even give us all a little pocket money. You want to work it up?"

"You do that with her. If you want it formal I'll do the paper."

"You nervous about seein' that lady too often?"

Marsh leaned back in the chair and smiled. "You gettin' too smart, Mr. Watson."

"I think Marlene out there will be upset, along with a few others."

"I's married to the law and justice."

"Three's better than two I always say."

Henry stood up, finished his drink, saluted Marsh with the empty glass and lazied out the door.

And then one Sunday afternoon out working in his little garden Marsh was cooled by a quiet shadow. There she was; fresh and neat in her riding clothes with a basket over her arm.

"You do care about the land, Mr. Harland."

"Dirty fingernails never hurt in a court of law, Mrs. Langdon."

-- You stupid ass.

"Silly talk, Mr. Harland. We all know you love people and the land. I'm here to pay my respects and thank you. And I brought some wine and food. Made both myself."

"I'll accept all of that, Mrs. Langdon, but you'll have to make do for yourself until I get clean. There is some corn in the kitchen, and some books and cracky records in the living room, or you can walk as far as you want until you run into a fence. You can put your horse...."

"All done, Mr. Harland."

-- What the hell is all this about? We got it done for her and it's over.

When he came out from his bath and shave she was reading a book with Mozart concerto wheezing away on the victrola.

"Very cozy in here, Mr. -"

"That won't do. My name is Marsh and yours is Rebecca."

"Becky."

"Well, Becky, if you've got some second thoughts about the arrangement then you talk with Henry Watson and work it out."

"You mentioned some drink, Marsh."

He made them and backed off across the room.

"That's all fine, Marsh. I just thought now we could be people. We care about some of the same things and now I see you like books and music and I don't get too much of that. I also thought it funny and interesting that your secretary and Mr. Watson were nervous about me."

Marsh laughed from his belly. "You right about that, Becky."

"People seem to be trying to marry you off or keep you from marrying off." An impish smile.

"Some of them are serious and the others just funnin' me to fill their lazy time."

Four hours later they were still scrambling around the room from one book or record to another and finishing the wine and food. Becky first heard the horses scuffing along the rails in the little corral.

"My chaperone is getting nervous."

"I'll ride you home. Becky."

They said nothing across the four miles, but looked at each other full when they got to her barn. Then they did the horse work together and Marsh thanked her for the visit and got in his saddle. She gave his horse two cubes of sugar.