Chapter 7 Duke
Jack kept the list attached to the fridge door and every time he passed it by it reproached him for his inability to tackle the last item. Everything had gone so well and then he'd come up against a huge brick wall. Every plan he'd come up he'd discarded as just rubbish. Nothing would work. He couldn't go straight to Manna, he knew better than that. Whatever he said to Manna wouldn't remain a secret for long. Any words that went into Manna's ears came straight out through her mouth. That woman had no sense of discretion and she just didn't know when to shut up. He'd been so confident he could do this but time was running out on him. He'd gone over every person who could help him with her and there was no one. Not one person in Mineral town would be willing to chance Manna's displeasure. She could be a good friend but her nagging could drive a person insane. It was becoming increasingly apparent that this part of his plan was a none starter. With only a few days to go he was having to make major readjustments. Maybe he could still make it work without Manna but he just couldn't be sure. The plain fact was that it might work without her but with her his plan had a much greater chance of success.
With a snort of frustration Jack threw the harvesting basket to the ground. Hell, he'd had enough of this he was off to the Inn for a session. Maybe if he relaxed in good company, with a few beers the answer might come to him. He locked up the farmhouse and headed off into town. A light mist from the sea speckled his skin and glistened in his hair as walked along the cobbled path from the farm. He tried hard not to think about his problems but they were hard to shake. As he entered the bar he looked around to see who was there. Basil and Kano were seated at one table discussing botany and Saibara was seated at another, staring gloomily into his tankard. Doug was stood behind the bar polishing a glass.
"Welcome, Jack," he called. "What can I get you?"
"I'll have a beer,"Jack replied.
Doug shrugged and pulled a pint then pushed it across the bar to him. Out of the corner of his eye Jack could see Duke at the far table. He was sat alone. Jack went over in his mind different excuses, trying to decide whether to go over to the sullen vintner. He was just about to take a step forward when the inn doors opened and Karen walked in. She went straight over to where Duke was seated and placed her hands on the table confronting him. Jack leaned back against the bar and waited to see what was going to happen. She looked quite calm but he could tell how angry she really was.
"I see you were in the shop again this afternoon, Duke" Karen began.
"Yes," Duke replied, putting down his drink and waving Doug over. "Sit down Karen pet and have a drink with me."
With a sigh Karen sat down and, when Doug came over, she ordered a Moon trip cocktail.
"Drinking alone again tonight, Karen sweetie," Duke purred nastily. "No Rick?"
"Yes," Karen answered. "And Rick's just and old friend, nothing more," she added, taking a sip of the fizzy pink drink.
"Ah, just as well, seeing as how that little Celia in the valley seems to have excited young Rick's interest." Duke teased her.
"Look Duke," Karen's voice rose a little as she snapped the glass down onto the table. "You can't keep coming into the shop and putting everything on credit. We've a living to make and you owe enough as it is."
"Surely that's up to Jeff, not you my little flower," Duke laughed. "Even one who can hold her drink like you? You might pretend to be tough but you're still just a little girl."
"A little girl eh?" Karen mused. "I tell you what Duke, if I can out drink you then you clear your bill with my father. Is it a deal?"
"Are you challenging me to a drinking duel?" Duke said, astonished at Karen's audacity.
"I guess I am." Karen agreed.
"O.K.," Duke laughed, "Bring on the drinks, Doug."
Jack watched with growing amusement as the pair settled down opposite each other and began to drink. In no time at all the lines of glasses began to empty. They were both drinking Blue Punches at an alarming rate. Duke began to show signs of being the worse for wear; his shiny black and silver hair was tousled and disarrayed. He kept running a finger around the inside of a collar that seemed to be getting too tight. While his face became hotter and hotter Karen appeared unaffected. Yes, Jack mused, Karen might be alright but that vase of flowers on the table was going to have a killer hangover in the morning. Somewhere around his tenth glass Duke began to sway alarmingly and, with an explosive start, his elbow slipped off the table and he slipped off his chair. There was a gasp all around from the others as he sprawled on the floor. Jack started forward but Karen stood up and made to leave.
"I guess I win, " she pointed out, looking down at Duke. "We'll see you tomorrow in the shop Duke and bring your chequebook with you. No." she gestured to the others in the bar, "I'm fine but I think one of you should help him home."
With that she visibly straightened herself up and left the Inn. Jack felt like bursting into applause. What a woman! He knew he should go after her but this was the chance he'd been looking for. He waited for a moment and then volunteered to get Duke home. His offer was quickly taken up as no one else wanted to chance meeting Manna with her totally inebriated husband. God, was he going to get it when she saw him and whoever was with him stood to catch the fallout. Jack heaved the drunken man to his feet and dragged Duke's arm over his shoulder. What a weight! It was going to be a long walk home. Coming out of the Inn Jack went left instead of right to the winery. Instead of helping Duke home Jack took the roundabout way back to his own farm. It took ages but at last they got there and Jack took Duke to the warm stable. There was no way he was having the drunken idiot in the farmhouse. As soon as he hit the straw Duke fell asleep, snoring like a small piglet. With a secret smile Jack closed the stable door and went home to bed.
In the morning Jack pushed open the stable door. He was carrying a glass of water with two Alka Seltzer fizzing away. He walked over and nudged Duke with his foot.
"Oh my god!" A groan came from the pile of straw in the corner. The horse was well over the other side keeping out of the way of the suffering man.
"How are you, Duke?" Jack called, holding out the glass.
"Keep it down, Jack" Duke muttered, holding onto his head. "Where the hell am I? What happened?"
"Karen drank you under the table, that's what happened," Jack explained, "and you're in my stable where you spent the night."
Duke grimaced against the light from the door and drank the glass, scowling at its bitter taste.
"What am I going to do?" Duke wailed, putting his head in his hands. "Manna's going to kill me."
"I think I can help you there," Jack said quietly. "Come into the house and get cleaned up before you go home."
"What…what can I say to her?" Duke went on.
"Just tell her I was taken ill at the bar and you helped me home," Jack explained. "You can tell her you stayed the night to make sure I was O.K."
"That's the sort of thoughtful guy I am," Duke mused "But what if someone tells her the truth?"
"Who?" Jack asked. "Can you think of anyone who'd drop you in it like that? No and me neither. Just go round to Jeff's and pay what you owe and that'll be that."
"Jack, you're a life saver," Duke groaned, getting to his feet. "I'll never be able to repay you for this."
"Now you come to mention it there's something you could do for me," Jack mused.
"Anything, dear boy, anything," said a grateful Duke.
"Come on into the farm for coffee and a shave and we'll talk about it," said Jack with a wolfish smile.