SIX
Matilda McBride served lunch on the deck of her rough sawn timber-clad home that overlooked the Milton River, only half a mile upstream of the falls that gave the town its name.
Easily the most vivacious widow in Milton Falls over the age of fifty, Matilda was dressed in a wildly splashed pink, yellow and green colored shirt and tight jeans that revealed only an entree of 'dropped' ass.
Matilda had indirectly told her new friend and business associate, Betsy Milton-Stewart her age. In conversation when they'd last met, Matilda that said she was twenty-four when son Kenny was born, and a little later she said he was four when they arrived in Milton Falls.
Betsy, aware that she required one more figure to arrive at an interesting conclusion, casually asked Matilda how long had she resided in the town and was told twenty-eight years.
Very interesting.
That meant Kenny was thirty-two and he'd told Betsy that the first night he'd fucked her, come to think of it. Yes, that computed: age four when he came to the town twenty-eight years ago totals thirty-two years. Matilda was twenty four when Kenny was born thirty-two years ago which made her fifty-four, give or take a year perhaps.
Well, here was the fifty-four year old coming to greet her. Betsy watched the way Matilda walked towards the door, the way her hips and shoulders moved and her purposeful stride – she certainly look to be on the low side of fifty-four.
They waved a greeting through the glass and the lovely warm smile Betsy received stimulated a sexy thought: if Matilda smiles at men like that she'll get all the sex she can handle! I could even be interested, smiled Betsy, quite startling herself and thinking that was a somewhat loopy thought as she hadn't had a female lover since college dorm days.
The door opened and Matilda commented innocently, "My, that's a sexy smile."
"Hullo, Matilda. Sorry, had a rogue thought in my mind."
"Care to share it? It had the look of an exciting thought."
"Nah, not at all. I was just reminding myself to buy some fresh flowers," said Betsy, not embarrassed by telling that porky. "How are you, love?"
They kissed, and Matilda held her for a moment longer than perhaps necessary and Betsy was surprised at the strength of the woman. The perfume was strong and sexy – one of the oriental blends and clearly Matilda had chosen a bra to be noticeable.
Betsy mused, why all this for me? She then dismissed it – almost in a giggle – as an over-reaction because of her own frivolous thinking.
"You look lovely Betsy," Matilda said softly, running the tips of her fingers over Betsy's open back between the crossed straps of her multi-colored sundress. "Fancy matching the lens of your expensive looking Continental sunglasses with the color finish of your sandals."
"Not that clever actually," Betsy said, holding up her left foot and extending the toe of the sandal forward. A shoemaker obligingly made up the right color to re-dye my footwear – these and pair of shoes."
Both women looked at the slender foot so elegantly presented, no doubt thinking different things.
"You look so lovely – you should be busily sorting through available males as suitable escorts for formal functions in your business life – and area where Kenny would prove inadequate."
Betsy thought, what's this? A mother hinting that she knows something has occurred between her son and me, and hinting of a son's inadequacy. Why am I being told this?"
"Does Kenny spill crumbs?" she giggled.
Matilda laughed easily but Betsy could tell that her shoulders did not quite have the relaxed pose of someone laughing fulsomely.
That was confirmed: "By nature Kenny is a rough and tumble lad; the females that really appeal to him are the sort who live in trailer homes.
Go lightly, was the message Betsy's brain signaled. This is a sensitive area.
"Oh goodness, I'm not Kenny's taste in women because I'm not sophisticated enough and don't live at the right address?"
"Don't joke about it, Betsy. I just don't want to see you hurt, possibly physically. Kenny faced two disciplinary charges in the Army relating to women. He received minor punishment on one charge and on the other loss of promotion along with a severe tongue lashing or whatever they do. Before he went into the Amy I had to use a good attorney holding a fistful of money to deal with two incidents involving very upset women."
"My God, you are warning me, aren't you?"
"Yes dear, but just gently. Socially you are going places beyond the reach of Kenny. Use him as a plaything, but nothing more and remain alert that your toy has sharp edges.
"I'm setting Kenny up in a business that will exploit his talents – an assets repossession business. The town lacks such a specialist operation; with the region's high population of transients working in seasonal work in forestry, we get many people arriving and leaving this community with possessions not rightfully theirs."
"So there's a gap waiting to be exploited?"
"Yes, a big one according to my investigations – and one that the Kennedys have overlooked."
Both women turned to watch the arrival of Kenny's car, a black beast purring and looking gleaming as if having just been through a vehicle grooming facility.
"We're just purchased O'Reilly's Vehicle Grooming Services going head-to-head with Franco Kennedy who runs the family's business acquisitions and disposals operation. The family was after the land as it's a strategic half-acre of largely undeveloped land near cross-roads. We will development the site for Kenny's repro services while retaining the well-patronized vehicle grooming facility."
As Kenny entered Matilda turned her cheek to be kissed, saying "Hi, Kenny."
He then called "Hi Betsy" and looked at Betsy momentarily through lowered lids but did not move to touch her. "You look pretty."
"Why thank you, Kenny," responded Betsy, doing a mock curtsy. "Matilda says you're starting up in Repo."
"Yeah,"
"Will the name be Kenny Repro Services?"
"Dunno. What do you think?"
"It's your business, my opinion is immaterial."
"I'd like to know what you think as mom and I can't agree. She like's Kenny's Professional Repossessions whereas I like We Get It Back, Inc."
"We would value your opinion, Betsy," encouraged Matilda.
"Right – if you don't mind me saying so Kenny, 'We Get It Back' is more of a company slogan than a company name which means it could be incorporated as an extension of the more formal company name. I would be a little uneasy about the use of 'professional' simply because it may well turn small clients away, yet their money is also good.
"I would tend to go for a generalized name but with a hint of what the company is about: for instance, The Collection Agency or perhaps Blue Bird Recovery Services."
"Really?" commented Kenny. "You think clients prefer a softer kind of name?"
"I do."
"Actually, so do I now that you mention it," said Matilda. "But let's have lunch; wine please, Kenny."
"Right, I favor Blue Bird Repossessions."
"Sound good, Kenny, but the wine, please. Betsy and I need our midday fix."
Caesar salad served with crispy white bread are a wonderful combination on a warn day accompanied by chilled off-dry white wine, and Betsy said that. Matilda looked pleased. That course was followed by a fresh fruit platter with dried figs.
"Little protein for me but this lunch will keep the fat off the hips of you babes," growled Kenny, who was told by his mom to pull his head in.
Kenny served coffee and they got down to business.
"I'd like to be kept informed on the planning of anti-Kennedy operations," said Matilda. "It won't be long before news of my financial involvement with the newspaper is circulated. That means I then become a possible reprisal target."
Betsy looked at Kenny.
"I'm being advised both by Kenny and another former military intelligence specialist Mike Street…"
"What, the taxi driver with the beer belly?" exclaimed Matilda. "I find that difficult to believe, especially when comparing him with Kenny who looks like a mean, well-oiled fighting machine."
"He was a strategist, sitting behind a desk, mom. I worked in the field."
"So that makes him good?"
"Despite his fat gut he probably was an effective spoke in the wheel, mom."
"Right, as I was saying," said Betsy, I have been advised by two former specialists who have advised different strategies."
"I wouldn't trust Mike Street," Kenny said darkly.
Betsy decided this was an appropriate moment to tell an untruth.
"Funny, he said the same thing about you."
Betsy was surprised to see Kenny grin rather than scowl. Why was that?
"So, all they've done is to confuse you?"
"No, not at all, Matilda. There is total agreement that we work cleverly, keeping our heads down that that while we may be suspected, even to the point of being hot suspects, an element of uncertainly remains."
Matilda looked thoughtful, refreshing her lipstick.
"I'd agree with that. Not only would subterfuge be effective in itself, but with the Kennedys having so many enemies or angry people at the end of rough deals, they really wouldn't know what way to look if our battle plan is developed with superior intelligence."
"Our battle plan," grinned Kenny, wolf-like displaying his teeth.
"Oh, yes. I wish to be in this all the way – I have no desire to curl up in afternoons for a nap or watch TV soaps here by myself at midday," said Matilda, attempting to stare her son down.
"Betsy?"
"It's fine by me, Kenny. Your mom is the money bags. She has a right to be in the team."
"Thank you, Betsy. I take it you wish to be commander-in-chief."
"Yes."
"What am I?" asked Kenny.
"Director of manpower and resources."
