Once upon a time there was an establishment known as The Prince Velvet Embrace. This establishment had a long history in the Campbell-town area. This breathtaking picturesque enterprise sat high up on a hill on the edge of the village square, with a bourbon tinted creek perpetually purling serenely behind it. The architecture was classical Greek revival style, with big elegant Doric columns supporting a sporty banister style of porch. Once one entered inside through the huge wooden double doors there was a nice beckoning ballroom area, a wooden check-in counter to the right hand side of the door with a man behind it, donning a tuxedo and ready to accommodate potential new customers; a Boganyi piano off center of the ballroom floor and a bar located in the far right hand side of the ballroom displaying every liquor variety from Rip Van Winkle twenty five years old, to Passion Azteca. The place was long noted for fine food, splendid accommodation and always having clean comfortable rooms. Rates were upper medium to expensive in range. No mentioning of this establishment can occur without a decent description of its unique choices in entertainment, however.
Local six string bands often showed up to display their latest talent and songs. Traveling stage companies sometimes did skit performances in the ballroom on Friday and Saturday nights. At Christmas time and on other holidays, caroling clubs would stop by to sing for the patrons at the management's request. Famous movie stars, fighters, and singers would pause by for occasional visits when passing through town. It was said that famous people of their day, from Jessie James, to Machine Gun Kelly, to Bonnie and Clyde, to president Kennedy himself stopped by, although not all of these claims could be verified. With various soldiers passing through Campbell-town during times of war through the years, the establishment quickly gained a national, if not an international reputation.
The Prince Velvet Embrace was managed by none other than Miss Clementine Rose, maybe the most business-like enterprising woman the entire broad area had ever laid eyes on. Her mere scene upon entering the ballroom from intelligently veiled rear chambers commanded the utmost attention, even if more than a hundred people danced on the floor and lounged around at the bar. There she would suddenly appear, as was always her uniquely elegant style, donning a luxurious, floor-length gown made of deep crimson silk that shimmers in the light. The bodice was intricately adorned with black lace appliqués, delicately tracing floral patterns over a sweetheart neckline. The dress attire Miss Rose selects always hug her figure perfectly, accentuating her body curves with a cinched waist and a voluminous, flowing skirt trailing cheerfully behind. The backs almost always bear a dramatic, low-cut design, skillfully adding a touch of allure. Paired with long, satin gloves and a statement necklace of sparkling diamonds and rubies, her general ensemble exudes an atmosphere among gathering patrons of irresistible opulence and educated sophistication.
More often than not, Miss Rose farmed her position out, since she was part owner of this establishment and more; from Deadwood, all the way down to Athens, Savanna, and far south as Jupiter, then all the way back out to Abilene. Some even claim she owns restaurants and various vineyard establishments as far west as Napa and Santa Barbara. Miss Rose wasn't married, far as anybody ever could tell, but then there was much nobody ever knew about her. Nobody knew where she was from, anything about her family or her past in general, let alone where she was going next. You see, Miss Clementine Rose was strictly business in personality and nature, and she only spoke in terms of business and in regard to matters of personal enterprise. There was no man nor friends, no family to be specific; only business associates and the enterprise network. Conversations attempting to gravitate into opposing directions were met with a prompt clearing of the throat, and an eventual gravitation toward another location.
Miss Clementine Rose truly did have her affinity for frequent patrons, offering them occasional food and beer on-the-house as both a marketing effort and a gratuity for their dedicated patronization. Many long term patrons even managed to occupy rooms at no cost for a night, but only after a period of years and if their personalities were of the type managing to court a sparkle in Miss Clementine's green eyes. Such treats were rare, however.
After harvest season in the land of Golden Leaf, Snookum would often ease out for a stop on the sly when Faye was visiting her parents or out of town with her sister. This time he had invited Big Earl to ride out with him, since he had managed to land both of them a kind gift of free beer on-the-house. When he and big Earl walked through the double doors, everybody seemed to freeze where they stood. Only Miss Clementine Rose had a warm smile to offer, breaking the ice surrounding them.
"I see you made it back in, already again, did you?," she said
"Yeah why not? It's harvest time, wives are gone and we're all alone," Snookum replies.
"Who's ya friend ya got there?," Miss Rose asked with a polite smile.
"Why, I want ya to meet Big Earl here," Snookum says to Miss Rose.
"Well nice to meet you, Big Earl," Miss Rose smiles and says to him.
Earl smiles his broad smile, his otherwise hard face suddenly breaks.
"Hello," Earl says.
"Well Miss Rose, folks have to ignore Big Earl there. He don't mean anything by it, but he just don't have much to say," Snookum tells her.
Miss Rose laughs.
"I see, but I'll tell you fellows what. You both have a beer or two on the house tonight, and I'll drop back by to check in on you a-bot later on. What about it?"
"Sounds fine by us," says Snookum.
Miss Rose slaps her open palm down flat onto the bar.
"Chester, give 'em one a piece. Don't worry about payments, they're both covered tonight. I have concerns to attend"
Miss Rose turns around and walks back across the ballroom floor.
Snookum gazes all around. Scantily clad, yet half-wholesome appearing barmaids walk past the two donning colorful Can-Can dresses. Suit and ties mixed with blue jeans and boots men crisscross in front of Big Earl and Snookum as they both sit perched atop the bar stools sipping from large tall frosty mugs. Virtually nobody seems to notice either one. A man donning bright crimson slacks and a white dove tail dress coat assumes the bench before the piano. Soon he commences tinkling out the tune of Saint James Infirmary.
"What ails ya?," asks Big Earl after glaring at Snookums for a bit.
"Why might ya ask?," replies Snookum as he continues glancing around.
"You're actin' like it," rumbles Big Earl.
"Your perception amazes me Big Earl," laughs Snookum in his coarse cigarette choked laughter. "I've been inside this place many a damn time, but something hereabouts just ain't addin' up."
"The place has plenty O' snoot 'n free beer, so what's the fuss? I don't see it," says Big Earl as he gazes around in every direction.
"I don't know. I just can't seem to lay my finger on it, to speak the truth," rumbled Snookum through a sun-dried and darkly browned face."I noticed somethin' different in the way Miss Rose was actin' tonight.
"That booty still looked right 'n tight to me. I don't know what your damn problem with it was," rumbled Big Earl. "I'd pay her a hundred dollars to drink a gallon of her piss, just to see where it came from!," rumbles Big Earl in a display of heavy coarse laughter. Snookum joins in with him.
"But you kin perish the thought, cause that aint available to nobody for any price, I'm a-feared," replies Snookum. " I'm goin' to look for a sign. Somethin' 's not right. That's all I got to say about anything, and it don't take a genius to sense it."
"Well, your senses must be up your ass, while mine's still in my cod, cause I don't see what you're talking' about," rumbles Earl as both he and Snookum break out in heavy laughter.
From out of nowhere Miss Rose appears in the center of the ballroom by the piano man, who begins promptly singing what he has been playing. Soon she walks over toward Snookum and Big Earl. She proudly pauses before the two.
"What could The Prince's Velvet Embrace do for you two gentlemen tonight?," she asked. "Anything in particular in mind?"
"You could do a plenty fer me, to tell the truth about it" snaps Big Earl with a broad smile and hearty laugh.
"Honey I might if my time was right, but everybody knows I'm never on anybody's tab," she laughs heartily, "An establishment can't turn a profit like that."
