The Count of Castle Rock

Chapter XXVI- A Ride with Gianna

Leesa balances the box of bottle rockets on her hip and shoves the storage room door closed with her foot. Placing the box down on a sealed crate, she locks the back room and takes a moment to catch her breath. Mopping her brow, she listens to the gentle creaking of the floorboards overhead. Above, Maribelle guides a pair of customers from one display to the next.

Like a musical waltz, the dance tells the story of Father's shop. Mary tiptoes over to a new display case, batting her eyelashes to the beat of the customer's heart. He follows, drawn by the novelty and pulled by her alluring gaze. He asks the price. She asks his favorite color. He smiles and adds to his order. Jesse adds the new additions to the bill. Maribelle chortles, and on to the next display.

Leesa chuckles as she grabs the box and heads toward the steps, seeing it all play in her imagination. Mary has a way of talking men out of their senses and their coin with an ease that makes her the envy of any traveling salesman. Leesa lugs the box up the stairs, pausing at the top to catch her breath.

Jesse leans beside the register, her ample bosom as hypnotizing as Mary's expert flirting. Maribelle guides their current patrons to a window display and shows them a pair of loud noisemakers. They don't make much of a show, but they can shatter glass windows if the operator isn't careful. Father has struggled to sell them, but Mary is determined.

Leesa places the box beside Jesse and watches as Mary works her magic. She takes the younger of the two men by the hand and gushes about the noisemakers. Powerless against her special brand of magic, the men are drawn into the idea of being the first in their town to demonstrate Father's craft. Mary gives Leesa a thumbs up behind the men's back and Lee runs back down to get a set of the noisemakers from their inventory.

Leesa marvels over the family's fortune as she searches through the back room. They've made similar sales back to back for weeks, tripling their annual income from a year ago. All thanks to The Count of Castle Rock. She sees Methuen's face as he leaned in to claim her virtue. Leesa closes her eyes and tries not to think about the cost.

"A complete change of our fortunes. All for a sip of our souls."

A jolt ripples across her chest. She can't breathe. She can't see. All she hears is the pulse pounding in her ears. Then comes the call.

"Leesa!"

"No," she whispers.

"Leesa!"

"I'm losing my mind."

"Leesa, we need those noisemakers," Jessica calls from the steps.

"I'm coming."

She hurries upstairs and adds the merchandise to the customer's order. Jesse wraps everything nicely in a single package while Mary ties up the transaction with a fine bow of words. The gentlemen leave with sparkles in their eyes and promises on their lips. They schedule a delivery for a month later. And the younger of the two has a date with Maribelle in his immediate future. They pay their bill and say their farewells.

The bell over the door chimes as the door swings closed behind them. The girls breathe a collective sigh, punctuated by the closing of the register. Mary locks the door and puts up the OUT TO LUNCH sign. The Talbert sisters adjourn to the lounge just off the showroom. Jesse loosens her belt and Mary kicks off her shoes. Leesa claims the cushioned chair for herself and puts her feet up on the matching ottoman. The other two share the couch.

"That was quite a sale, Mary. You might have outdone yourself today." Leesa doesn't hide her pride in her sister's handiwork.

"Don't sound so surprised, Lee." Mary yawns. "I'm good at what I do."