The Librarian

Episode 7

It took another week for the last of the drovers to spend their money and drift out of town. Some with new prospects. Some with long held plans and many in a drunken haze bearing unpleasant reminders from the girls at Dolly's Doves.

The saloon announced one free drink for an hour, to celebrate the business boom it enjoyed at the first annual auction, and the crowd was as eager as might be expected. Sheriff Becker paid to have the cells swabbed clean again, and launder the blankets that could be salvaged then told his deputy to get over to the general store.

"Tell Pritchard you want half a dozen blankets and to send the bill to the mayor, unless you wanna take it over." The sheriff said.

"I ain't lookin' to rope that cow," the deputy grinned as he left the office.

****

Aaron looked around when he heard the general store door open and the deputy wandered in.

"Harv."

"Aaron. Wife read me the story on the school teacher in your paper. How's she doin'?"

"Okay I guess. School never missed a day, but I imagine she's carrying a lot of upset still."

"So what's the news for yer next edition?"

"Well our first annual cattle auction was a huge success, but other than that, just dry stock prices and the church social, unless Alf here wants to advertise a sale on these socks and pants."

Alf Pritchard looked over the top of his glasses impassively as he totalled Aaron's bill.

"And what can I do for you, Harv?" Alf asked.

"Sheriff wants six of them blankets, and you can send the bill to the mayor."

"Why can't you take it?" Alf was obviously annoyed.

"Like I told Dan, I ain't ropin' that cow," He grinned widely.

"I'll drop it off, I'm going that way," Aaron said.

"You will!" Both men chorused.

"Sure, it's not a problem."

"Danged if I don't need to place a new ad in your paper, Aaron." Alf beamed, handing him the blanket bill.

"Is there something I should know?"

"Just that we both appreciate yer gesture, Aaron." Both men stood grinning like fools.

****

Aaron entered the mayor's office and saw Harriet sitting on the waiting bench beside the desk of Edina Walsh, Mayor Devlin's bookkeeper.

"Miss Folio! Haven't seen you for a while, have you been keeping well?" He nodded to Edina and placed Pritchard's bill on her desk.

"Quite well, thank you, Mr. Trenholme."

"What's this?" Edina asked briskly.

"Bill for jail blankets. I'm dropping it off for Alf." He turned back to Harriet. "How is the library working out, successfully I would imagine?"

"Also quite well, although if I have to spend my time here waiting, business will suffer." She cast a glance at Edina.

"What's the hold up, Miss Walsh, Avery enjoying one of his imported cigars?"

"I'll ask again," she huffed, pointedly taking the bill, and getting up from her desk and entering the mayor's office.

Aaron chuckled and turned back to Harriet. "He loves to pretend he's busy. You have to assert yourself."