Half of Paradise

Barn Dance,” Hunnicut said. “Remember it was Jim sent you there.”

“I ain’t high-minded about nothing.”

“Let the boy alone,” Lathrop said. “He’s just gotten off a long train ride and he’s full of piss and vinegar. He’ll be all right when he has some sleep.”

“I ain’t writing no song, Mr. Lathrop.”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

“It don’t matter. I ain’t going to do it.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Hunnicut said.

“I got rights about what I’m going to do and what I ain’t.”

“We’ve been through this before. I told you over the phone I didn’t want any more of it.”

“Let’s drop it, Virdo,” Lathrop said. “He can eat breakfast and come back later. We’ll talk over the money situation then. I think he’ll find he can do real well with me.”

“I ain’t bitching about my salary.”

“I’m not a hard man to deal with. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Lathrop said.

“He can walk out that door anytime he takes a mind to,” Hunnicut said.

“You ain’t in no rush to get me out. You made a lot of green off me.”

“I pushed you up to the top. You didn’t know how to button your pants till I taught you.”

“Let’s stop this,” Lathrop said. “Go eat breakfast, J.P. Have one of those pork chops.”

Lathrop walked to the door with him and opened it.

“We can straighten out whatever differences we have,” he said. “We talk the same language. I’m a country boy myself.”

“You talk pretty smooth to be from the country.”

“I’ve been with these city folks too long.”

Lathrop closed the door after J.P. and went back to finish his coffee.

“When did you start soft-gloving people?” Hunnicut said.

“I’m an old fellow now.”

“The best way to handle J.P. is to walk all over him,” he said, his face big and sweating.

“He’ll do as I tell him, just as you do, Virdo, and I don’t think any more needs to be said about it.”

Hunnicut’s eyes flicked away from Lathrop’s face. He wanted to say something to regain his pride, but the words wouldn’t come and he sat silent in his chair.

J.P. had breakfast in the dining room, and then asked at the desk for April’s room number. He had to get her to contact Doc Elgin. He took the elevator to the fourth floor and walked down the hallway to her room. She was in bed. She pulled the sheet up to her chin and told him to kiss her. Her mouth tasted bad.

“It’s a long time for a girl to be alone,” she said.

“I heard about Troy.”

“For God’s sake, don’t bring up Troy. That’s all anybody talks about. Everyone feels so sorry for Troy. I wish you’d seen him the last night he was here. He broke in my room and tried to climb all over me. The hotel dick had to drag him out of the room.”