Subj: TAKEN TO TASK, PART 3
Date: 6/25/00 1:27:49 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Carol H. Monterosso
"He doesn't have to teach me nothin'! Your cane keeps me in line," Willie defiantly spoke. As his head went up and his jaw jutted out, a lock of blond hair fell on his forehead. He brushed it aside with his hand. His old self was ready for a fight even though he knew it would be a lost battle.
"Do you see what I mean, Reverend Trask? A person of your stature having to listen to the insolence of a servant. It's unheard of and I won't have it! He needs to be taken to task." With a wave of his arm, Barnabas ushered Trask into the drawing room where they both took seats in front of the fireplace. Willie stood his ground by the window.
"It would be my pleasure to persuade the young man in the fine art of discipline. Hired help is hard to find these days. Once one has chosen a perspective servant, it would be best to begin immediately." The Reverend Trask eyed Willie lasciviously; then turned to Barnabas nodding his approval of the candidate." He will do nicely."
"I don't know what you two have in mind but you're not going to subjugate me anymore than you already have!" Both Trask and Barnabas were astonished at Willie's vocabulary. They raised their eyebrows almost simultaneously and looked at Willie in surprise.
"Where did you learn that word, Willie?" asked Barnabas with a smirk. It was incredulous that the boy knew of what he spoke.
"At the library. I go there when I'm done workin' here and I read." Again, both were shocked at this revelation. Barnabas had no idea what Willie did in his free time. He really didn't care. But this bit of news intrigued him. Trask was impressed as well.
"And what do you read, Willie?" asked Trask. He fondled his bible that laid in his lap and awaited the answer. The bible was always good reading, he thought. He'd make sure the boy would learn from it. And learn it well.
"Anything. Mostly the newspapers. Then I just walk up and down the aisles until I find something that I like. That's all. Why do you care what I read?" Willie's annoyance was evident in his voice. He didn't like them suddenly questioning his private life.
He wasn't about to tell them the real reason that he spent so much time at the library. Ever since the new library clerk started two months ago, Willie decided it was time to expand his limited knowledge of literature. Just grabbing a book from the "New Releases" section wasn't going to impress this pretty college educated woman. He had finally gotten up enough courage to ask her advice and she wisely sent him to Classic Literature instead of popular fiction. She seemed to sense his shyness and possibly, his limited education. She didn't want to overwhelm him with Shakespeare so she thought Mark Twain or Charles Dickens might be a start.
He thanked her for her advice and chose Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. She even helped him get a library card--his first! Gosh, she was nice, he thought. She didn't wear a wedding band nor did she have an engagement ring sprouting from her left hand, third finger.
He didn't want to rush but he was anxious to learn more about her. After visiting the library as often as he could, he approached the young woman at closing time one day and asked if she'd be interested in a cup of coffee. Thankfully, Collinsport rolled up Main Street at exactly 9pm. If they wanted a bite to eat with their coffee, they'd have to go to the next town. Unfortunately, she said "No." Her parents were expecting her home that evening but Sunday afternoon would be okay.
He wasn't expecting a daytime date since most of the women he had known preferred the night life with plenty of drinks, dancing, and sex. But, that's how it began for them.
Willie nervously picked her up at her parents immaculate Cape in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood. Introductions were made; her parents were elderly but seemed nice and solicitous toward their only daughter. They warmly welcomed him with offers of iced tea while he awaited her descent from the second floor.
Sitting on the chintz covered sofa with crossover sheers at the windows, Willie had a feeling of contentment. This is what a real home looked like. Vases of sweet-smelling peonies clustered on the mantlepiece; the smell of succulent roast beef coming from the kitchen; her father smoking a pipe and reading the Sunday papers. This was far from his tenement upbringing and life at the Old House that he was amazed at how well he acclimated himself to this new environment. He suddenly felt at ease and had a good feeling about their future.
She took him to a Monet exhibit at the Bangor Museum of Art. Again, this was a new experience for him. A museum? To view art work and not steal it? If Jason could see him now, he'd roar with laughter and say, "Ah, my boy, you're pullin' my leg now" in his delightful brogue. He quietly followed and listened to her explanations of each painting and respectfully kept his silence lest she fathom the extent of his ignorance. Occasionally she'd wander away to let him observe and form his own opinions. Then she'd come back, take his arm and give it a little squeeze.
He knew he was in over his head with this girl. He also knew he was hopelessly in love.
She never asked about his past. She sensed that he was waiting to feel secure within their relationship before he would reveal more. All she knew were the basics: his name, where he lived, what he did and who he worked for. The Collins name impressed her. They were THE prominent family in town. Occasionally she'd see young David come in to borrow a book or study for exams. That was her extent with the Collins. They didn't exactly travel in the same circles. She could have a friend, who went into law enforcement, do a background check on Willie but she felt that was an invasion of his privacy. He'd have to tell her himself if he wanted this relationship to continue.
They finished their tour of the art exhibit, had lunch at an outdoor cafe and drove home. He had enough sense not to drop her off, blow the horn and speed away. She wasn't the type to be trifled with. He walked her to the door of her parents house, told her he had a wonderful time and....just stood there. He desperately wanted to kiss her but didn't want to ruin his chances by seeming too forward. He certainly didn't expect this shy librarian to wrap her arms around his neck and place her lips agains this. He opened his lips slightly, hoping their tongues would meet. They did. Their mouths opened wider to gain access to regions unexplored. She clung to his mouth, moving her head left or right to accomodate their tongue movements. Willie put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer to him. He wanted her to feel his erection against her pubic bone and what she could have if she chose him.
The porch lights flickered twice. It was an old fashioned symbol her father held fast--a quick kiss was all that was needed. You didn't have to let the neighbors see everything. And, so they parted that night knowing what would come next.
Little did Willie know the change that was about to occur with Barnabas and the repercussions to his own life.
"I don't care what you read. It's just that I'm impressed by your knowledge of words. 'Subjugate' isn't a word you would normally use, Willie. You must've read it somewhere and are now using it in its proper form. You do know what it means, don't you?" Barnabas was now toying with his servant. He enjoyed watching Willie squirm under his gaze; even better, under his cane. The power he held over another human being intoxicated him.
"Yes, I do. It means to be subservient. And that what I am to you!" Barnabas became agitated by Willie's insolence in front of a guest. He was hoping he would falter in his explanation but he didn't. In doing so, Willie signed his life away to Trask.
Barnabas rose from his chair, took two forceful strides towards the window where Willie stood and backhanded him across the face. Not expecting the slap, Willie lost his footing and started to fall over but Barnabas deftly grabbed his arms and brought them behind his back. With brute force alone, he managed to hold Willie's wrists with one hand while his other hand pulled a length of rope from his pocket. With one hand, he looped the rope around his wrists and tied them together; with two hands, he tightened the knot.
"Whaaaaaat are you doin'?" Willie asked, trying comprehend what had just happened. Barnabas still had him bent over at the waist; one hand on his back, the other holding the rope.
"YOU are going with Trask!" The venom dripped from Barnabas' mouth as he spoke. "He's going to show you what discipline REALLY means!"
Willie's eyes opened wide and he started to breathe harder at this latest turn of events. Barnabas had never needed to tie his hands or even lock him in the cellar. As long as he stayed honest, Barnabas had never harmed him. All it took was a slight hesitation during an explanation and Barnabas knew he was lying. He had tried only once to skim $15 off of a jewelry sale and it never happened again. Grabbing his neck for emphasis, Barnabas had threatened him with bodily harm; a fate worse than death had been drilled into his skull. The verbal tongue lashing still resonated in his mind.
But this was horribly different. He didn't know the monster that held him fast while Reverend Trask rose from his chair and leisurely walked over to Willie. He caressed the bruise forming on Willie's right cheek with his left hand.
"Come, we must go." Barnabas pulled Willie upright and turned his prisoner over to Trask.
"Barnabas! Please don't let him take me! Don't you see something is wrong with you!" Willie's pleading fell on deaf ears as Trask dragged him out of the Old House.
Barnabas stood in the doorway of the Old House watching Trask yank and pull Willie down the path until they could no longer be seen through the heavily leafed woods. His head rose haughtily as a victorious smile crossed his face. He had won this round.
to be continued...........