Laying the groundwork

Usher had two more stops planned for the day and it was with a spring in his step that he made his way to the saloon next. He was slightly perplexed at how the usually frigid shopkeep had reacted to him - perhaps his new status as a married man was impacting his confidence or at least how others percieved him. Whatever it was, he could get used to this... and what he had planned later for that bitch Mrs Grady stretched his grin even wider.

Usher burst into the saloon on a high and when he spotted just a couple of patrons he announced loudly that the next round was on him. He collected his drink then made his way over to a table where the big city gentleman was seated - his midday appointment. The pair sat for hours, drinking and talking in hushed tones, the lawyer scribbling down notes from time to time. Finally when they were done Usher shook the man's hand heartily, then patted him on the shoulder has he left. "See you back at my place in an hour..."

Next Usher headed to the bank where he withdrew a large wad of notes which he tucked into his waistband before heading back home.

Lisa sat at the kitchen table opposite Billy Connors, the pair sipping at glasses of hooch as they chatted idly, waiting for Usher to return home. Lisa had been uncertain about offering the lad booze but he had been adamant that he was old enough and could handle his drink. In truth he had only tried the stuff once before and it had made him violently ill, but he didn't want to look like a stupid kid in front of sexy Mrs Usher and so it was Billy found himself struggling to sip down the powerful alcohol without pulling a face.

By the time Usher returned home the pair were well on their way to drunkeness, poor Billy grinning stupidly as his eyes wandered over Lisa's barely covered body. Usher grunted a greeting as he closed the door behind him, Lisa bouncing up off her chair and rushing to hug him and peck a kiss on his cheek. Billy looked away embarrassed but his attention was soon drawn back to the pair as Usher addressed him.

"Glad ya here boy." he barked as he fished around in his trousers to retrieve the wad of cash, then threw it on the table where it landed loudly. "That there is a loan... fer you and ya sister. Reckon with that ya can get all the supplies and tools ya need to not only stay afloat, but likely turn ya whole business aroun."

Billy's eyes went wide as he stared at the money, Usher continuing. "Now... ya will have to pay it back in time, o'course, but once yer up and running again properly that won't be no problem."

Lisa gushed, hugging her husband tight and letting out a joyful mewling sound, "Oh thank you darling!" she blurted in between raining kisses upon the old man's face, "Thank you so much!" Lisa turned to Billy. "We can help get the stables back to running how they used to... help set you and Beth up for life."

Billy looked from Lisa to the money and back again, his dopey smile wavering slightly. "But, what do you want in return?" he asked dubiously.

"Just that ya pay it back son, but don worry... ya won't have to pay a cent until yer fully grown. What's that, a year?" Usher asked.

"I turn eighteen in ten months Sir." Billy replied, trying his best to sound proper.

"Good, good..." replied Usher when a knock at the door interrupted him. "Ahh, perfec timin it is..." he said, turning to answer it, revealing the big city lawyer who nodded curtly to each of them ad they entered the room.

"Harry..." the lawyer began, pulling out a piece of paper and handing it to Usher. "All drawn up as we discussed. Nobody can touch the stables until this lad here is of age, then upon repayment of the loan, the property and business becomes his by law."

Usher nodded along, then turned to Billy. "Ya see son, since ya pa never left no will ya be in a dangerous predicament. Technically those stables don belong to no one now and anyone could just come along and snatch em up. This here contract says that until such time as you're a man in the eyes of the law, the lovely Mrs Usher here will act as yer guardian and oversee the business." he flashed a grin at Lisa before continuing. "Once ya turn eighteen ya just pay us back the loan and she's all yours... the stables I mean, not me wife." Usher chuckled, noting the lad's blush at that.

Usher then laid out the paper flat on the table and signed with a flourish before handing Billy the pen. Billy tried to read the contract as best he could but in truth his words and letters weren't very good, nowhere near as good as his sister's much to his chagrin. He could tell where he was supposed to sign however, so to avoid any additional embarrassment he quickly scratched out his initials and stepped away from the table.

"Very good." clucked the lawyer as he snatched up the contract and tucked it away in his coat pocket. "I shall go and file this with the authorities. Congratulations son, that's all yours." He added, nodding to the stack of notes. "Spend it wisely...". With that he ducked back out the door into the fading evening light.

Usher offered Billy a celebratory cheers to which they all drank, before Billy scooped up the cash and headed home to stash it away somewhere safe. Although holding that much money gave him a thrill and he felt a certain sense of pride at having saved the stables, worry began to nag at the back of poor Billy's mind. What if there was more to the contract than he was letting on? Beth would kill him! Maybe it would be best not to tell her about the contract... just drip feed her some of the money and say it was simply earnings for odd jobs. Billy slept poorly that night, his mind twisting and turning with thoughts of how to break the news to Beth.