782. Chapter 782

After Kill the Messenger

Episode 2.08

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I have received a message that I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

Mistress Nikki Heat, owner of the Golden Arches Inn located on what had been Great George Street, but since the Revolution was known as Broadway, was thrilled. Since the newly elected President, George Washington, had eaten there before his inauguration at Federal Hall, the inn was packed. Nikki looked as patrons ate her specialty, ground beef on a bun, covered in melted cheese, with vegetables added, the potatoes that she had named after the Marquis de Lafayette, but which were now known as French fries, and a sweet fizzy drink of her own concoction.

She felt the arm of her beloved husband, Jameson Rook, go around her waist. "We'll have to knock out a wall and expand if we get any more customers." He said happily.

Nikki nodded. "Actually, I've been thinking of opening more Golden Arches Inns around the city."

Rook frowned. "But how would you manage all of them? You're very particular about the ingredients, the service, the cleanliness of the inn, and everything else. Managing more inns would be too much for you." Rook hoped that suggesting that anything was beyond the abilities of his wife wouldn't start an argument.

But Nikki nodded. "I agree. But I have come up with a plan. I will ask hardworking American patriots to fund the building of further Golden Arches Inns and in return I'll allow them to use the name. I'll also insist that they follow my rules exactly, and I will inspect them regularly. In return, I'll receive a modest percentage of the profits."

Rook thought about it. "What a wonderful idea. Why, with that idea there could be Golden Arches Inns all the way to Yonkers! To White Plains, even."

Before Nikki could respond, their attention was drawn to a dark haired man who stepped boldly through the door. He looked around and headed straight for Niki and Rook.

"Be silent, Love. You know the Golden Arches Inn is open to all. Unless they abuse my hospitality." She added coldly.

"Good day to you, Mr. Rook, Mistress Heat." The man made a leg.

"Mr. Vaughn." Nikki said, without warmth. "I had hardly expected such a well known Loyalist to come here. We are all patriots here."

"As am I." Vaughn said. In fact Vaughn had made a tidy profit selling watered whisky and defective muskets to both sides. When his customers had complained, he had told the British that Americans had sabotaged his goods and then told the Americans that the British had sabotaged what he had sold to the patriots. When the British had surrendered at Yorktown, he had finally switched his allegiance to the American cause.

Rook, who as a journalist, had revealed Vaughn's duplicity in the New York Ledger, was unimpressed.

"If you wish to purchase food, sir, you should go see Mr. Raley at the counter. We're having a sale on the Big McNikki today." Nikki said.

Vaughn looked with distaste at the succulent patties of ground beef, melted cheese with Nikki's famous secret sauce and grimaced. In fact, he was still much in favor of bubble and squeak, bangers and mash, toad in the hole, room temperature beer and spotted dick. "No thank you. I've come on a matter of business. I have noticed that your daughter Alexis is both beautiful and brainy and I greatly desire her as my wife. I'm prepared to pay top dollar for her. Name your price, Mr. Rook."

Rook's fists clenched, but he retained control of his temper. "My daughter is not to be bought like some animal. She will marry who she chooses and I cannot imagine she would choose you."

"What?" Vaughn said disbelievingly. "You would pass up gold, coin of the realm, in favor of allowing your daughter to marry some nobody? You are a fool, sir."

"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave, sir." Nikki said, casting a meaningful glance to Mr. Ochoa, a stern Hispanic who was testing his blade on the cunningly baked rolls Nikki used for her sandwiches.

Vaughn glared at them, a pitiful glare compared to the glare that Nikki was capable of. "You have not heard the last of this, sir."

As Vaughn left, Rook muttered, "No, I don't think we have."

Some hours later, Alexis, the lovely flame haired daughter of Jameson Rook, entered the Inn looking quite distraught. "What has happened?" Rook asked.

"I was walking past Mr. Vaughn's counting house when a rough sailor asked me what my price was, as if I were a common harlot. I was most upset."

Rook frowned. His hands curled into fists. His eyes narrowed. The blood rushed to his face. "Show me where this oaf is, dear Alexis."

"In the hospital, dear father. I fear I was a bit unladylike to him."

"How unladylike?" Asked Nikki.

"He probably won't be walking upright for some months, I fear." Alexis grinned. "And I believe he'll be no fun on dates for even longer."

Rook shook his head. "Why would he be interested having fun with the fruit of the palm tree?"

Nikki and Alexis decided it would be wiser not to enlighten her father.

They were interrupted by Roy Montgomery, the head of the local Watch. "Word on the street is that Vaughn is angry that you turned down his offer of marriage to Alexis."

"Vaughn!" Alexis cried. "I'd sooner die a…." She looked quickly at her father. "As a completely inexperienced virgin than marry that man."

Rook hugged his daughter. "Way to go, Pumpkin."

Roy continued. "The sailor incident was just the start. He intended to so soil Alexis' reputation that no man would have her as his wife. Leaving Vaughn as her only suitor."

"I have tons of suitors." Alexis said.

"You do?" Rook said, in shock. "Why have you never brought them around?"

"Because you frighten them with that German made pistol of yours, Father."

"If I may continue," Montgomery said, "he's sending over some bully boys to start a fight here and beat up your customers and wreck the place. I can send a few of the Watch over if you'd like and…"

"No need." Rook said. "We can handle it."

Just at the dinner rush hour, six burly thugs entered the Golden Arches Inn, looking ready for a fight, and armed with clubs. They smiled and walked to the counter only to find themselves face to face with Senor Ochoa and a half a dozen of his brothers and cousins, all wielding sharp knives. Ochoa smiled at them. As he thugs turned about, they found themselves facing the entire Raley clan, armed with shillelaghs and humming The Minstrel Boy.

"Uh, we're not looking for trouble." The biggest thug said.

"We are." Replied Raley. They chased the thugs out and gave them many a bruise and scrape in doing so.

"This worked tonight." Nikki said. "But we can't ask the Ochoas and the Raleys to leave their jobs and families every night. We must do something."

"That won't be necessary." Said Alexis, coming into the Inn. "I had a chat with Mr. Vaughn and I convinced him I would be a terrible match for him."

"How did you do that?" Rook asked.

"Why, I reasoned with him, Father, as one rational human being to another."

That's my girl." He said, hugging his daughter and wife.

Oddly enough, after that night, Vaughn didn't walk upright for a full year and then only gingerly. And he never did marry or have children.

Author's note: As a history buff, I have to confess that the Raleys could not have sung The Minstrel Boy in this story. George Washington was elected President in 1789 and The Minstrel Boy was written by Thomas Moore to commemorate friends who died in the United Irish rising in 1798.