Guardian Bride (16 page)
have a bath. I even got wheat dust in my pockets." He turned
one pocket inside out in demonstration and shook it. A cloud
of dust formed. "See?"
August jumped off his chair, this time Snake caught the
empty glass before it clattered to the floor. "There's no dust
in my pockets. They're as clean as a whistle." His hands were
buried in his pockets.
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Snake glanced to Summer. A deep connection entered her
soul as a knowing grin covered his face. If there was one
thing August didn't like, it was taking a bath. Snake hadn't
said it, but nonetheless, she knew his thoughts. She nodded,
telling Snake he'd hit the nail on the head.
He grinned, as if acknowledging her silent communication,
and then glanced toward August and let out a loud sigh. "I
need a bath, too. But I don't think I could climb into the one
outside."
"No—" Summer started. She'd seen the huge tub behind
the woodshed. Stephanie said Snake had built it a few years
ago for the brothers to use. He couldn't possible think he was
going to hobble all the way out to it, let alone climb in it.
There was also a large, hammered-brass tub in the lean-to,
she, September, and August had used it a couple times
already.
Bug, interrupting her protest, gave Snake a stern stare. "If
you think I'm carrying you all the way out there, you got
another thing coming, big brother," he said. "But, I'll carry
Ma's into your room."
August crept up beside Snake. "Summer can't make you
take a bath if'n you're too sick. She done told me that."
Her cheeks grew warm.
"She did, did she?" Snake asked.
"Ah-ha, when you were sleeping, and she made me take
one. She said you was the only person who didn't need to
take one, 'cause you were too sick." August turned his
somber face to her. "Ain't that right, Summer? You just
washed him with a rag, didn't ya?"
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It was the truth, and a simple fact, but for some reason
she was mortified.
"I'm feeling a whole lot better now, buddy, and I think a
bath will make me feel even better," Snake said. His gaze had
settled on her cheeks, which were blazing.
"A
bath
will make you feel better?" August was clearly
horrified. His little body shivered from head to toe.
"Yup, and when I'm done, you can jump in." Snake caught
August by the waistband of his britches.
Trying to escape, August's arms pumped at his sides. "I
got chores to do. Don't I got chores to do, Summer?"
"None that I can think of, August," she answered, rising
from the table.
He wasn't about to give in that easily. His worry encrusted
face went to September. "We got chores to do, don't we,
Sissy?"
The girl cracked the first smile Summer had seen in weeks.
"Not that I can think of, August," September said.
The activity in the room flew into high gear. While she and
September cleared the table, Stephanie set water on to heat,
and Bug carried in the tub. August followed Snake into the
bedroom, and though she couldn't hear what he said,
Summer had no doubt he was attempting to convince Snake
just how awful baths really were.
"The boys are going to put in a tub like Hog has in his
hotel in Dodge, complete with hot and cold running water."
Stephanie, helping September dry the dishes, sounded
breathless. "They already ordered it, and I'm itching for it to
arrive. No more hauling buckets, you just climb in, turn on a
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handle, and low and behold, your tub fills up with hot and
cold water. Afterwards there's a little plug you pull, and the
water just drains away."
"Beth Timmer told me about those tubs," September said.
"She and her sister Mary were at the big party there."
Summer rinsed another plate and handed it to September,
not commenting. It was good to hear her sister talking.
September hadn't willingly conversed with anyone lately—not
that she knew of anyway.
"Oh, yes, I met them. They watched the children that
night," Stephanie remarked.
"Yes, Mary said a woman stole one," September said. "And
that the hotel caught fire."
Stephanie's face puckered, then relaxed. "Yes. Yes, there
was a very mean woman there that night. She stole little
Winifred. You've met her, Kid and Jessie's baby. But we got
her back, and she's just fine and dandy."
"Did the hotel catch fire, too?"
"Yup, but the boys put it out. There was no real damage
done."
Summer recalled the event—the party that is—all of Dodge
was in attendance, except for her of course. She never
attended social gatherings. She'd heard of the fire, and the
arrests of Thurston Fulton, the man running for Governor,
and his wife. It was more news than the cow town had had in
ages. Yet, it had slipped her mind.
"So, you used those bathtubs, the ones with hot and cold
water?" September asked.
"Yup," Stephanie answered.
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"Mary said they were made of gold."
Stephanie laughed. "No, they aren't made of gold. But
they sure are nice. You'll see. After the boys put it in, you can
be the first one to take a bath."
September's eyes sparked. "You mean it? I could be first?"
"Sure."
Bug entered then, carrying the big tub from the lean-to on
the back side of the house. The empty tin clanged and
banged as he shouldered it across the kitchen to Snake's
room. Summer was sad his entrance had interrupted the
conversation between her sister and Stephanie. Maybe there
was something September liked besides reading—baths.
She'd never complained about taking them like August did,
but then again, up until recently, September never
complained about anything.
"You best go make sure he gets it situated." Stephanie
bumped her hip against Summer's. "September and I will
finish up here."
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Snake sank into the hot water. He wasn't covered in wheat
dust, but he did feel as grubby as an earthworm. Must be all
the sweating from lying in bed so long. The temperature of
the water caused his skin to sting at first, but as he grew
accustomed to the heat, the aches and pains of sore muscles
and injuries dulled. He rested the back of his head against the
rim, sighing with contentment.
"Don't get too comfy, I ain't got all night." Bug sat on the
edge of the bed, tapping the toe of his boot. "There's a storm
moving in, and I want my bath before the rain commences."
Snake closed his eyes and exaggerated another sigh.
The tapping increased.
"Go take one then."
"I can't. You heard Summer. I can't leave this room until
you are safely out of that tub and lying comfortably in this
bed."
Snake didn't bother to open his eyes, but a smile did form
on his lips. That was exactly what Summer had said. Safely
and comfortably. He could get used to all the pampering she
gave him. There was something to be said about being fussed
over by a beautiful woman.
The bed springs squeaked. "I suppose you want me to
wash your hair, since you only got one arm."
"I've still got both arms. And no, I don't need you to wash
my hair."
"Hoping that wife of yours will come in and do it?"
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Snake's grin grew. His mind conjured up how fun it would
be to wash her hair, and every other inch of her sweet body.
The clomping of boots—Bug pacing the room—played havoc
with his visions. "Go take your bath."
"Can't."
"Go."
"Can't."
"Tell Summer I said you could. Just don't take all night. I'll
probably need your help when I'm ready to climb out."
"Probably?"
He kept his eyes closed but pointed to the door with his
good arm. "Go."
The door banged shut, and voices sounded on the other
side. A cooling breeze said the door opened again. He lifted
one lid.
August snuck in and shut the door behind him. "Hi," he
greeted nervously.
"Hi," Snake repeated in-kind.
"I'm supposed to sit in here and holler for Summer if'n you
try to get out before Bug comes back." His back was pressed
against the door as if the tub full of water could snatch him
up like a frog does a pesky fly.
Snake grinned and pointed to his dresser. "In the bottom
drawer, there are a bunch of magazines."
August frowned.
"There's neat pictures of thrashing machines and windmills
and horses and dogs and—"
"Dogs?" The kid scampered toward the dresser. "I like
dogs."
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By the time Bug reappeared, August, stretched out on the
bed, was surrounded by a good dozen magazines, and Snake
wondered if the wrinkles on his fingers and toes would be
permanent. The boy had helped him rinse the soap from his
hair, but other than that, he'd managed just fine.
"It's about time," Snake said between clenched teeth. The
wound in his leg protested against climbing out of the tub.
"It takes a while for a man to get this good-looking," Bug
recanted, jutting across the room. He grabbed a clean sheet
off the dresser top and held it open for Snake to wrap around
his dripping loins. "I had to shave and comb my hair, and—"
"Just help me to that chair," Snake interrupted. Bug did,
and after a few deep breaths that helped ease the torture
tearing at his leg and shoulder, Snake rearranged the sheet
and held out a hand. "Get my shaving stuff. I feel as wooly as
one of Gustafson's sheep."
Bug gathered the supplies from the top of dresser. He wet
the soap block and stirred up a good froth. Lather hung off
the brush as he asked, "Want me to shave you?"
Snake glared at the teasing glint in his brother's eyes. "No.
I've spewed enough blood lately. Just hold the mirror."
"I could hold the mirror," August offered, climbing off the
bed. His wary glance went to the bath tub. "That way Bug can
haul that out of here."
"Why don't you take a quick bath while Bug's holding the
mirror?" Snake swirled the foamy brush over his face.
"There's no sense in wasting good water."
"No, that's all right." August inched his way back onto the
bed.
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Scraping the long blade over the curve of his jaw, Snake
kept his gaze on his reflection. "Suit yourself. I was gonna
give you some of those magazines. If you took a bath."
"The ones with dogs in?"
"Whatever ones you want."
"Why do I have to take a bath?"
"Cause it would make Summer happy. She works real hard
and anything we can do to ease her load would be a kind
thing to do."
"I don't see how my taking a bath would ease her load. Or
be kind."
Snake wiped the blade on the towel hanging over Bug's
arm. His brother's eyes glistened with merriment. Snake's
reflection proved his were just as shiny, but he didn't want
August to see his cheerfulness, and hid a smile behind the
shaving suds on his face. "Well," he offered as he scraped the
other side of his face. "Don't you think Summer would be
surprised if you took a bath without her having to force you
to?"
"Yeah."
"Well, then, that would ease her load. I bet she'd be so
downright happy, she'd give you another piece of cake before
you went to bed."
The bed springs creaked, and the magazines fluttered
against one another. "You think so?"
"I do. Don't you Bug?"
"I surely do. I'd say chocolate cake and dog magazines are
a fair trade for one old bath."
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The splash sounded so quickly Snake wondered if the kid
jumped in with his clothes on. He wiped the blade again and
glanced toward the tub. August scrubbed the bar of soap over
one tiny arm so hard bubbles exploded in the air. A
haphazard pile of clothes sat beside the tub, catching droplets
of water now and again.
"Do I gotta wash my hair?" August asked.
"Yes," Snake and Bug answered in unison.
Another splash sounded, followed by spits and spatters. By
the time Snake was done shaving, August was done bathing
and had pulled on his britches. He looked like he'd just
walked in out of the rain.
"Don't you want to dry off before you get dressed?" Snake
asked, running a comb through his own disheveled hair.
"No, that's all right."
"Here, at least sop up the river running off your head."
Bug tossed an extra towel at the boy.
Giggling, August pulled the towel from where it landed on