Just A Stale Mate by J. Ivanel Johnson

Author:J. Ivanel Johnson [Johnson, J. Ivanel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-07T16:00:00+00:00

PART TWO

“All we have gained then by our unbelief

Is a life of doubt diversified by faith,

For one of faith diversified by doubt:

We called the chess-board white, —we call it black.”

-Robert Browning, Bishop Blougram’s Apology

CHAPTER TEN

Three days later…

Ruth McCorkle put down a saucepan, grabbed a salt shaker and, with one hand poured the salt onto the scrambled eggs while she deftly flipped bacon with the other. Where was that dashed Clara? She’d only asked her to run a crate of extra toilet paper rolls to the bathrooms upstairs. She should be back by now!

Dr. Flintwinch poked his head in the kitchen door. “All right in here, Ruth?”

“ ‘sa bit crazy, Doctor, but don’t you worry none. If Clara’d get back down here, I’d manage fine.”

“I just passed Della in the Bubble & Squeak. She’s just finishing cleaning in there and said to tell you she’ll be back here in ten minutes.”

“That’d be somethin’ of a relief. Don’t know what any of us’d done if that girl hadn’t stepped up to the plate, like, these last few days. With poor Sealie out of action, I mean. If we could’a had Daniel back temporary, that’d been good, but I guess he’s too busy with all his other jobs now.”

“It’s just as well, Ruth. You know what I mean, don’t you?”

“You stay steady, now, Doctor. You’re our rock.”

“Well, Sela’s said she wants no more sedatives as of today, and if I know her she’ll want to be back to work tomorrow. No, no more coffee thanks, I’ve had enough this morning. Let’s not forget the OPP are finished here today. Officer Biro was just telling me. Apparently, they’ve been instructed to turn it all over to Toronto, and Detectives Ames and Steele.”

“Well, better the enemy you know, than all them you don’t,” Ruth said shortly as she dished the eggs into two huge serving bowls, warmed in the oven.

“The new guest arrives at eleven, so I’ll meet her myself. I’ll just work in Sela’s little office here until then. Are we putting her in Lucy’s old room, or one of the smaller ones?”

“I let Della make that decision, and she thought the smaller one, Room Three. She knew that even though this new lady hasn’t heard about our troubles at the moment, the guests will certainly fill her in, and if she was in Lucy’s old room she might feel uncomfortable.”

“True enough. Well, you and the girls get on with breakfast and thank you again for all your extra hours, Ruth.”

“I’d do anythin’ for Sealie, or you. You know that, Doctor. Get on with you, now. I’ve got to get these here trollies down the hall. Monty Tigg’s been helpin’ me out with dishes, bless her. Though ‘twould be nice if she didn’t bring so many bits of straw and horse hair into my kitchen.”

“ Well, I’m glad to see that since the guests have had to extend their stays here indefinitely, some are at least pitching in.”

Jeremiah Flintwinch pushed back through the kitchen

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