Good Night, Sweet Strop

Rosetta watched Strop enter the hotel again. "That's a face?" She wondered what had happened. What could have taken place?

When Strop stormed out he had Ronan in hand. Rosetta couldn't hear but it looked like Strop continued to reprimand.

Ronan was upset, stormed off. Strop didn't appear any better. She knew she shouldn't pry but that just wasn't in her.

She hopped off her fence and went to his shop. He was in the middle of a tirade. "Strop?"

"Now's not a good time, Rosetta."

"That much I can see."

"Good, cause then you won't be offended when I ask you to leave."

"Not going to happen, Strop. I'm really good at listening. Especially when a ... friend ... of mine is obviously hurting."

Strop took off his jacket. He fell into one of his barber chairs. He could say nothing just gave her an empty stare.

Rosetta pulled out the bottle she had hid behind her back. "Careful," she said handing it to him. "It can pack quite a smack."

His eyes met hers they seemed a bit vacant. He took a swig. She waited... patient. 

He coughed and she giggled. "I gave you fair warning."

"What are doing up, anyway, this early in the morning?"

"Denver's boys came around, but I sent them chasing a goose. Petra and Buck have struck a truce. Snuck away together."

"I'll be damned, guess the transformation worked,"  Strop said with a slight smirk.

He took another large swallow. Color returned to his cheeks but to her,  he still appeared hollow.

"How did YOU do tonight?"

 He gave her a hard look.  His head, he shook. 

Rosetta grinned. "Just asking to be polite."

"Ms. Folio is a fine woman to be sure. We dined, we danced and I left at her door."

Rosetta waited expectantly but got no more. She frowned. "That's it! No... goodnight kiss?" 

She knew she shouldn't have asked him this but she couldn't help wanting to know how the night ended. How did things go? 

Strop took another long swallow. "My business, my life but so you don't keep pressing poor Ms. Folio, I have a wife."

"A wife?" Rosetta said. She took back the bottle. She took a long swig, trying to shake the sensation of being throttled. 

She could see for the first time Strop smile true. His younger self shown through. 

"No one better than my Heather. Can't wait for us to be together."

Rosetta wondered how you can hate someone you've never met. "I'm sure she brilliant."

"The best you can get." He drank some more, she'd seen his eyes get heavy.

"Whoa there big guy. Let's get you up to bed before to tonight you say goodbye."

He stood but was a little unsteady. Rosetta put her bottle down. Reaching out to steady him, she asked, "Got both feet on the ground?"

"What the hell is in that stuff?" His voice sounds a little rough.

"Don't worry about that now. We gotta get you up those stairs somehow."

He put out his hand, "I got this?" But his head spun. Rosetta laughed, he shook his head, "Son of a gun!"

"Should I make you up some of Johnny Diamond's secret sauce?"

"Good heaven's no!" Strop said rather cross.

"Come on," Rosetta giggled. "I'll help you to bed."  The look he gave her, made her grin. 

She tsked... "Strop, such dirty thoughts in your head."

Her words only made him glower more. Rosetta chuckled as she led him across the floor. 

She got up him up the stairs and to his room. He belly flopped on the bed was out the moment the pillow hit his head.

Rosetta rolled him over. She pulled off his boots. She covered him with a blanket, wishing he didn't look so cute. Leaning over she kissed his cheek. "Good night, Strop." He did make a sound not even a peep.

She went down the stairs. Grabbed her bottle of brandy knowing she'd want to keep it handy. Married? A heavyweight that information carried.

Rosetta left the Barbershop. She thought to lock it but then stopped. Best to leave it open just in case, for Ronan.