Read The Man Who Ivented Florida for Free Online Page B

they found him, they knew what to do. They tied his hands and feet with plastic tie wraps and threw him facedown on his bed. Four hours later, when he was released, old Bright Eyes in the next bed made an observation about Indians that Joseph found offensive. In his dark mood, there seemed only one honorable thing to do—beat the little bastard to death. He would have done it, too, if one of the fat nurses hadn't banged into the room, looking for the individual she referred to as "the perverted son of a bitch who stole our TV Guide."
    The orderlies tied his hands and feet again; left him bound all night.
    On the morning of the fifth day after Tuck's visit, Joseph awoke, finding a mature but attractive rest home volunteer standing over him. The woman had a sponge in her hand and a name tag that read MARJORIE. Joseph rubbed his eyes clear and saw that she was staring at him, a vexed expression on her face. Which puzzled Joseph until he noticed that the sheet over his hips peaked with the abrupt contours of a two-man mountain tent. He peeked under the sheet to see what created the tent, then returned from beneath the covers, surprised and pleased.
    "Mr. Egret," the woman said, "I hope you're not hiding something under that blanket." She said it primly, but kindly, too. Her hair was gray-blond, she had nice brown eyes, and the pink volunteer's uniform brought out the color of her face. He had never seen this woman before; they rarely got volunteers.
    "Please," the woman said, "I'm giving you a chance."
    Joseph combed his fingers through his hair, hoping he looked as good as he felt.
    "I'm scheduled to give you a sponge bath, but if that's a liquor bottle under the covers, I'll . . . well, I won't report you—just as long as you take it to the bathroom right now and dispose of it."
    Joseph settled himself, folded his hands behind his head, and smiled rakishly.
    "Please, Mr. Egret. If you don't cooperate, I'll have to notify the nurses, and you will be in a great deal of trouble." The woman tried to sound stern, but sounded nervous instead. Maybe it was her first day as a volunteer. Maybe it was her first sponge bath. Joseph wagged his eyebrows and said nothing.
    The woman took a deep breath, reached up, and pulled the privacy curtain around his bed, then threw back the sheet that covered Joseph's hips.
    The woman was astonished. Joseph would have known that from the expression on her face, even if she had not sputtered, "Goodness gracious!" Surprised and maybe a little bit pleased, too, for Joseph was guilty of hiding neither a wine nor a whiskey bottle. He was only in a romantic mood. "Why ... I'm very sorry!" The woman's face was red, and she was smiling but trying not to, and he hoped he recognized a flicker of interest in her eyes.
    Joseph didn't mean it, but he said, "I sure am sorry about this, too, ma'am. But a woman pretty as you, I just can't help myself." Testing the sincerity of her interest, watching her face.
    "You don't have to apologize.... I should have been more . . . then I was just so surprised...I mean, it's not like I haven't... I mean, I have a gentleman friend, but we don't . . . then to see that..."
    She was stammering so badly, Joseph reached out and took the woman's hand. Then he held her when she made a unenthusiastic effort to pull away. Joseph was no bully, but it had been his experience that a woman came to a man's bed only for one reason.
    "Please, Mr. Egret, I'm working."
    He was pulling her closer, closer, then he pressed a friendly kiss to her mouth, tasting the lipstick.
    "You can't do this, Mr. Egret.... We can't... I don't even know you: I'm not well; I'm not. I have this heart condition .. . please!"
    Joseph interrupted modestly, "Aw ma'am, I'm pretty sure your heart's outta my range."
    But the woman would not consent, and so she sat and talked to him for nearly an hour. He told her stories. He made her laugh. He knew white people liked to hear the old stories about what it was like to be an