Pumpkin Spice, стр. 19
Barnabas greeted Penelope with a glass of wine, and a white rose. She, of course, refused to accept either. Barnabas invited her in, offered her a seat, and talked about the situation. Barnabas told Penelope that Bo was in the wrong, Bo knew it and would learn from it, and until he had learned from it, he would no longer have anything to do with the Barabbas Boys business. This was a lie. Penelope shook her head; it was not enough for her. She wanted other women to know what kind of “man” Bo truly was. Barnabas clenched his teeth. He took Penelope’s rejected wine and chugged it down his throat. “My youngest little brother Billy tells me you’ve taken a likin’ to that Reuben Burrows fella, that right?” His smile revealed several missing teeth, Penelope nodded her head before making the following threat “You so much as touch a…” Barnabas raised his hand to stop her from continuing, “I’d never hurt another man.” He placed his hand on his heart. “I know works tough, especially for a coloured fella such as Reuben.”
“Whatever it is you’re trying to say spit it out.” Penelope’s tone was firm, she was not in the mood for small talk or games. Once again Barnabas smiled, his blackened teeth had their own eco system. “I want to offer Reuben a job. If y’all have any intentions on marrying each other yer gonna need an income, are you not?” Barnabas made a point. “I don’t want Reuben going into Kobold woods.” Barnabas shook his head, “No no no. Reuben’s a smart lad, he’s got it where it counts.” Barnabas pointed to his head, “Clerical work. He’d be my clerk.”
“What about Cassidy?”
“Cassidy would be his boss. The Barabbas business is growing rapidly, Ms. Penelope. We could use all the help we could get, and good help is hard to come by. And… I suspect Reuben would be good help.” Barnabas picked up a cigarette and placed it between his lips. “He would be, he’s smarter than most know. Smartest man I’ve come to know.” Penelope hissed. “Then the job is his. If you’d let him.” Penelope was not entirely thrilled with the outcome, but Reuben was in need of a job, and the Barabbas boys, as shady as they were, offered steady work. “I’ll talk to him.” And with that Penelope stood from her chair, grabbed the white rose, “Thank you kindly for your time.” And then she left. Barnabas watched from his seat. He lit his cigarette and smiled a devious grin.
Reuben accepted the position and by weeks end he was the newest member of the Barabbas boys, and the only one not to have to familial connection. Cassidy took him under his wing and taught him everything he needed to know. To Barnabas’ surprise Penelope wasn’t lying, Reuben was quite intelligent and took to the job well and with a certain ease. To top it all off Reuben was trustworthy. That isn’t too say Barnabas would be letting his guard down or indulging Reuben with any inside information, Cassidy would report Reuben’s daily progress to Barnabas.
Barnabas needed the Tatum land. He needed to own Hastings, and he needed it as soon as possible. Bo was meant to marry Penelope, but his hotheadedness got the better of him as per usual, and now Penelope was with a man with no blood ties to the family. This would need to change. But how? Barnabas concocted an idea, a brilliantly awful idea. He would set up the wedding of Reuben and Penelope, offer to pay for it even, then he would offer Reuben a promotion. At this point in time, the Goblin of the woods would take Reuben, leaving Penelope to grieve on her own. That’s when Barnabas himself would enter the scene. He would offer the heartbroken Penelope his shoulder to cry on, then would then trick her into falling in love with him. He had all the confidence in the world she would, because who treated Reuben better than he? Who wanted Penelope to have the best life possible? Penelope would fall in love with Barnabas, and then once they wed, Penelope would face the same grim fate as her first husband.
Soon Barnabas asked Reuben how he was enjoying the occupation and what his plan was with Penelope for the future. if he saw wedding bells and all that? Reuben was a shy personal fellow and was not at all comfortable with these types of discussions, but seeing as it was that Barnabas was his employer it would probably be in his best interest to answer, and to answer honestly. “I hope to marry her someday, when the time is right.” His voice was soft and honest. “How can one ever be sure when the time for such a thing is right? How can today not be the right time?” Barnabas put his hand on Reuben’s shoulder. Reuben looked up at his boss with a painful glance, “For one thing I can’t afford it. Couldn’t pay for a ring to even ask her to be my bride.” This was exactly the type of answer Barnabas was counting on. “Reuben Burrows are you telling me, Barnabas Barabbas, that I do not compensate you enough?” Barnabas pretended to be offended, “No not at all Sir… Mr. Barabass, it’s just that I’ve only been working here a few short weeks and, well...”
“Say no more. You go out there,” Barnabas now