Charles remained perfectly still in silence as he studied the images in oil in front of him. To the far left was 'Sir Galahad', a dark grey and silver stallion, then Mr.Whiskey, a strong muscular copper colored gelding, next was Mr.Friday, a massive black thoroughbred with a blaze of white down its long nose, then, the most magnificent horse of all, Iguazu, a young white Andalusian stallion; which Oliver had painted with the beautiful waterfall in northern Argentina, the horses namesake, in the background. So perfectly executed were these paintings, the image looked like a photograph, Oliver putt G.W.Stubbs to shame. The range of color and play of light and shadow to the glossy coats of the animals left Charles and Mr.Pruce thoroughly impressed.
"I can't believe you painted these." Charles said amazed.
"Well, I am kinda famous for doing this, you know."
"Yes but with all your various addictions, I assumed your talent had dried up, but I can see now I was wrong to think that about you Oliver, and for that I am sorry." Charles said in all sincerity. "You can not know how lucky you are that God has blessed you with such talent." Charles smiled knowing he would not have to kill for Xation today and this filled him with a little joy.
"Thank you.., sorry I didn't get your name." Oliver smiled reaching out his hand to Charles who would not shake hands with him. He merely stared down at Oliver's extended palm.
"Yes, that is correct, now bring a clean sheet or drop cloth so I can wrap this up and take it." Charles instructed him. Oliver did not like this handsome stranger so Oliver said nothing, he went to his room put on a robe and brought Charles a clean sheet from the closet.
"I have to ask, have we met before?" Oliver asked Charles who laughed a little.
"Actually we have met before, you probably don't remember, you were quite drunk at the time." Charles said as he carefully placed the paintings one at a time covering each unframed piece with the sheet.
Oliver did not remember. Mr.Pruce looked at Oliver and laughed "Oh yeah Ollie, that reminds me." he said as he took a picture out of his wallet and showed it to Oliver "Xation wanted you to have this." Oliver looked at the tiny photo in his hand it was of a newborn baby. He wondered why on earth he gave it to him. "Whose baby is this?" he asked Mr.Pruce who smiled wide and said "That baby, is your baby."
"What?" he asked as a feeling of sickness pooled in his stomach.
"Oh I'm sure you remember little Marina, you know the young girl Charles saw you rolling around in the hay loft with."
"Yes, I remember." he said sheepishly staring at his feet "But how can you be sure I'm the father?"
"Because Oliver, you seduced a sixteen year old virgin, you jack of clubs!" Mr.Pruce said smacking him hard on the back of the head. "Now where is the watch Xation gave you?"
"What?"
"The watch Xation gave you, he wants it back." Mr.Pruce informed him and when Oliver did not responded quick enough Mr.Pruce slapped him hard in the face with the back of his hand "Bring it to me!"
"Okay, okay I'll get it." he said rubbing his swollen red cheek.
"You know Oliver Xation really liked you, he thought you and he could be friends but you come into his house and cause so much needless drama, now bring me the Rolex and we will leave you in peace."
Charles sighed went back to securing the paintings for easy transport when he and Mr.Pruce heard a noise at the front door. Someone was unlocking it. Mr.Pruce pulled out his concealed hand gun and hopped up the two little stairs to the foyer to stop whom ever it was from coming in, and before he put a hand on the door a woman walked in with a large dog on a leash she screamed when she saw the gun and her dog leapt up to protect her. Mr.Pruce yelled out as the dog clamped down on his wrist, he dropped the weapon, took three steps back where he teetered on the edge of the foyer and fell back hitting his head hard on the marble tile. Crack! The fat, bald man lay motionless on the floor.
"Oh my God! Call 911!" the beautiful long haired woman screamed up at Charles "I think I just killed this poor man!" she cried out her big blue eyes welling up with tears as her long strawberry blond hair cascaded around her face. Charles stood there in shock staring down at the beautiful screaming woman.
.
"I can't believe you painted these." Charles said amazed.
"Well, I am kinda famous for doing this, you know."
"Yes but with all your various addictions, I assumed your talent had dried up, but I can see now I was wrong to think that about you Oliver, and for that I am sorry." Charles said in all sincerity. "You can not know how lucky you are that God has blessed you with such talent." Charles smiled knowing he would not have to kill for Xation today and this filled him with a little joy.
"Thank you.., sorry I didn't get your name." Oliver smiled reaching out his hand to Charles who would not shake hands with him. He merely stared down at Oliver's extended palm.
"Yes, that is correct, now bring a clean sheet or drop cloth so I can wrap this up and take it." Charles instructed him. Oliver did not like this handsome stranger so Oliver said nothing, he went to his room put on a robe and brought Charles a clean sheet from the closet.
"I have to ask, have we met before?" Oliver asked Charles who laughed a little.
"Actually we have met before, you probably don't remember, you were quite drunk at the time." Charles said as he carefully placed the paintings one at a time covering each unframed piece with the sheet.
Oliver did not remember. Mr.Pruce looked at Oliver and laughed "Oh yeah Ollie, that reminds me." he said as he took a picture out of his wallet and showed it to Oliver "Xation wanted you to have this." Oliver looked at the tiny photo in his hand it was of a newborn baby. He wondered why on earth he gave it to him. "Whose baby is this?" he asked Mr.Pruce who smiled wide and said "That baby, is your baby."
"What?" he asked as a feeling of sickness pooled in his stomach.
"Oh I'm sure you remember little Marina, you know the young girl Charles saw you rolling around in the hay loft with."
"Yes, I remember." he said sheepishly staring at his feet "But how can you be sure I'm the father?"
"Because Oliver, you seduced a sixteen year old virgin, you jack of clubs!" Mr.Pruce said smacking him hard on the back of the head. "Now where is the watch Xation gave you?"
"What?"
"The watch Xation gave you, he wants it back." Mr.Pruce informed him and when Oliver did not responded quick enough Mr.Pruce slapped him hard in the face with the back of his hand "Bring it to me!"
"Okay, okay I'll get it." he said rubbing his swollen red cheek.
"You know Oliver Xation really liked you, he thought you and he could be friends but you come into his house and cause so much needless drama, now bring me the Rolex and we will leave you in peace."
Charles sighed went back to securing the paintings for easy transport when he and Mr.Pruce heard a noise at the front door. Someone was unlocking it. Mr.Pruce pulled out his concealed hand gun and hopped up the two little stairs to the foyer to stop whom ever it was from coming in, and before he put a hand on the door a woman walked in with a large dog on a leash she screamed when she saw the gun and her dog leapt up to protect her. Mr.Pruce yelled out as the dog clamped down on his wrist, he dropped the weapon, took three steps back where he teetered on the edge of the foyer and fell back hitting his head hard on the marble tile. Crack! The fat, bald man lay motionless on the floor.
"Oh my God! Call 911!" the beautiful long haired woman screamed up at Charles "I think I just killed this poor man!" she cried out her big blue eyes welling up with tears as her long strawberry blond hair cascaded around her face. Charles stood there in shock staring down at the beautiful screaming woman.
.
