"You did a good job, Half-pint."
Cole examined horse's foreleg.
The swelling of the past two days was the gone.
"Whatever you did, it worked."
"Aw. It was just a salve made of cactus juice and mud that my pa taught me."
"You're one fine horseman. I know a lot of ranchers, would give their best send bull to know what you know." As Cole walked away, the little boy beamed with pm Nearby Jessie felt her heart swell. Did Cole have any i what his kindness did for her little brother's self-esteem?
" Cole.
On his way to the creek, Cole turned at the sound Danny's hushed voice.
"Cole? Could I talk to you?"
"Sure, Danny."
He paused beside the gnarled sun-bleacl tree limb where Danny was sitting.
Setting down his buc] he propped a foot on the branch and rested both hands on knee.
"What about?"
"It's about--" Danny's Adam's apple bobbed as he sw lowed and tried again.
"---Morning Light."
Cole felt a wave of compassion for the lad in his first thn of lovesickness.
At least now he understood the look on Danny's face.
"Sure. What would you like to know?"
"Will Two Moons choose a husband for his sister? Is that the way it's done?"
Cole shrugged.
"Sometimes a husband is chosen, especially if the girl has no suitors."
He fought back the smile that threatened.
"When a maiden is as pretty as Morning Light, there will probably be plenty of braves hoping for her favors."
Danny's face became bleak.
"She is pretty, isn't she?"
"But she has grit, as well," Cole added quickly, sensing Danny's sense of despair.
"I don't think Morning Light would take a husband unless he was the one she wanted."
A spark of hope glinted in Danny's eyes.
"What if she refuses to choose a brave? Will the chief allow her to wait for the man she loves?"
Cole dropped a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"The chief would be a fool to try and force a girl like Morning Light to marry against her will."
Cole's voice lowered.
"Two Moons is a smart man and a fair one.
Besides, he loves his sister.
I think he'll at least try to respect her wishes.
Danny nodded, wanting desperately to believe what had just been said by a man whose wisdom he respected.
As Cole stood, he asked in a rush, "How long does it take a man to become a doctor?"
Cole shook his head.
"I don't really know, Danny. I guess it depends on how smart a man is, and how much he wants to learn. There are a lot of things a man can only learn by doing."
"Yeah."
Danny seemed to weigh Cole's words before he stood and extended his hand.
"Thanks, Cole. I've had a lot on my mind that's been troubling me.
It's good to be able to talk to a man. I'd never be able to talk to Jessie about things like this."
He gave a sheepish grin.
"You understand."
"Sure I do. Sometimes it's not such a nice feeling to find yourself caring about a woman. Then you find yourself taking on her troubles, as well as your own."
"Yeah."
With new insight Danny glanced up at Cole.
that how it is with you and Jessie?
Cole nodded.
"I wish more than anything in the world I could find your pa for her, so things could be easier for than they are now."
"Things were never easy for Jessie," Danny said in a markable display of wisdom.
"Pa wanted a son when he Jessie. And she's tried to be one for him ever since."
"Instead he got himself one amazing daughter and two f sons."
Danny met Cole's gaze and felt a lightness around his he where only minutes ago there had been a heaviness.
"Well think I'll get some sleep now."
As Cole watched, the young lad strolled back toward the camp fire.
His shoulders were straight, his head high.
And when he walked, there was a jaunty air to his steps.
If only, Cole thought, taking up the bucket and headin toward the creek, every problem in life could be solved s easily.
As he entered the shadows, the prickly feeling returnee Things had gone smoothly for too long.
He glanced up at the full moon and watched the clouds scudding past.
He hated to see only the dark side of things, but something told him the trail was about to get bumpy once more.
Chapter Eighteen
“'I know you've seen lots of small towns since you left your home," Cole said." But you've never seen anything to compare with Fort Worth .
"Is it as big as Little Creek?"
Thad asked.
Cole swallowed back his laughter.
"Bigger."
"Bigger'n Little Creek?"
Thad glanced at Danny and saw the look of expectancy.
On their journey they had stopped in several small towns.
Most of them looked alike, with a main street consisting of a scattering of wooden buildings that housed a general store, a church or schoolhouse, a saloon and sometimes a hotel above, and at the end of the street a blacksmith and stable.
Each time they visited a town, they stocked up on necessary supplies.
In every store, saloon and stable they inquired about Big Jack Conway.
Each time, they received the same reply.
No one had seen a man matching his description, though many had witnessed large herds of cattle being driven through the territory.
.
"We ought to be coming up on Fort Worth before the day is through," Cole cautioned.
"I think we'd better plan on taking a day there before we head out.
It'll give us a chance to take on supplies before we hit more wilderness. Besides, I think you three will be goggle-eyed by all you'll see."
"Huh."
Jessie felt a rush of annoyance at the look on her brothers' faces.
"It's just another town. The only reason I'm willing to stop is to see if anyone spotted Pa."
"I don't think one man would be remembered in a town like Forth Worth."
"Are you telling me the town is so big they wouldn't notice a man like my pa?"
"I guess you'll just have to see for yourself, Jessie."
Cole urged his mount forward and the others followed suit.
"I don't believe what I'm seeing."
Jessie sat astride her horse and stared at the town spread out before her.
Her brothers' eyes were as big as saucers trying to take in the amazing sight.
Fort Worth was situated on a broad plateau.
The Chisholm Trail had made Forth Worth a booming cow town filled with saloons, gambling casinos, variety theaters and dance halls.
Wooden buildings had sprung up everywhere to accommodate the tired, dusty drovers on their way to Abilene.
"Come on," Cole said, taking the lead.
"We'll stable our horses and get rooms at a hotel."
"A--hotel?"
Jessie thought about the meager funds left in her saddlebag.
"Won't that cost a lot of money?"
"I'll buy."
"We can pay our own way."
Jessie's mouth curved down into a frown.
Just because she loved him didn't mean she'd stopped taking care of herself and her brothers.
"If you'd like, the boys can bunk with me," Cole said softly, understanding her need for independence.
"That way you only need to get one room."
She gave him a weak smile of gratitude and turned to stare as they entered the town.
Cowboys, spurs jingling, six-shooters strapped at the hip, milled about, clogging the dirt streets and wooden walkways.
In the doorways of saloons and gambling halls stood women in gaudy dresses, beckoning to th
e strangers.
"Jessie, look."
Thad pointed to the doorway of a variety theater where a thin wiry man juggled pistols.
As they spun crazily in the air, he'd catch one, fire it into the air for attention, then toss it and catch another, following the same routine.
Within minutes a crowd had gathered, and a man began urging them to step inside and see an even more exciting demonstration during the show.
"Can we go?"
Thad was twitching with eagerness.
"Maybe later," Cole said.
"First we have to stable the horses and get a room for the night."
They stared in fascination as horses and wagons vied for the right-of-way in the narrow dirt road that was the main street.
Easing through the congestion, they made their way to the E1 Paso Hotel, a tall three-story wooden structure.
As Danny began untying his bedroll, Cole stopped him.
"Just bring in your saddlebags. We'll leave the saddles and bedrolls with the horses at the stable."
All three slung leather saddlebags across their shoulders and followed Cole inside.
"Yes, sir?"
The clerk looked up from his ledger.
He wore a black broadcloth coat and vest to match.
Across the vest draped a gold chain on which Was attached a gold watch.
He had shiny black hair neatly parted in the middle, and the ends of his mustache were waxed to keep them from drooping.
"Two rooms," Cole said.
"That'll be two dollars a room. Fifty cents extra with bath."
The clerk seemed to be taking special notice of the young woman with pale yellow hair who was wearing men's britches and a faded shirt.
Even in such clothes she was pretty enough to make a man suck in his stomach and straighten his shoulders.
"We're looking for a man," Jessie said, feeling her cheeks redden at the insolent way the man studied her.
"His name is Big Jack Conway. He was heading for Abilene with a herd of longhorns."
The clerk's gaze shifted to a man across the room who had suddenly stilled at the girl's words.
Pushing his way through a crowd of drovers, the man stood at the other end of the counter and pretended to be engrossed in watching the crowds of people.
"He's a big man," Jessie said, "with dark curly hair and a mustache and side whiskers."
"He always wears an old leather vest with the initials JC carved into it," Danny added.
"And his saddle has those same initials carved into the side."
"Do you know how many men pass through this town?" the clerk asked in a bored voice.
"Yes, but--" "Half the drovers never stay in a hotel anyway," the man went on.
"Most of them camp outside of town with their herd and only come in to get drank or to get--" he glanced up at the scowl on Cole's face, then continued nervously "--some other pleasure."
Cole gave the man a piercing look and slapped his money on the counter.
"We'd like our rooms now."
The clerk wisely tore his gaze from Jessie.
"This way, please."
"Jessie, you and the boys follow the man to your rooms."
"Where are you going?"
"I'll see to the horses."
Jessie nodded and herded her brothers toward the stairs.
As they passed, the stranger studied them carefully, then walked to the clerk's ledger and turned it.
Tracing a finger along the names, he halted, read the room numbers and strolled away.
"This is the gentlemen's room," the clerk said, stepping aside as Jessie and her brothers crowded into the neatly furnished room.
There were two wide beds and a wooden dresser.
Over the dresser was mounted a mirror.
In the corner stood a wooden washstand with a pitcher and basin.
Beneath each bed was a covered chamber pot.
A window overlooked the main street.
Outside the window was a wide balcony that ringed the entire hotel.
"The lady's room is next door," the clerk said.
Jessie and the boys followed him.
When they stepped inside the second room, Jessie stared about in silence.
In this room there was a single big bed covered with a plain crocheted coverlet.
Being a corner room there was a window on either side, affording a view of nearly all of the town.
Fresh white curtains billowed at the open windows.
Beyond them was a glimpse of the balcony.
The wooden dresser and washstand were identical in size to the pair in the other room.
But the pitcher and basin were decorated with a delicate rose pattern.
And the oval mirror above the washstand was rimmed with a band of hand-painted roses.
To one side of the door, a pair of chairs flanked a small round table.
The chairs, Jessie noted, were covered in a rose needlepoint design.
"I hope you'll be comfortable, ma'am."
"Thank you. It's lovely."
"How do we take a bath?"
Danny asked.
"The men's bathhouse is next door. For the lady, a tub and water will be brought to the room if requested."
"Yes, please," Jessie said shyly.
I'll see to it immediately.
" The clerk turned away with an air of importance.
"A bathhouse."
Danny let out a long slow hiss of air when the door had closed behind him.
"I wonder what that's like."
"I don't know. But I want you to stay with Thad. The looks of some of those cowboys worded me."
Thad's eyes danced with unconcealed excitement.
"Aw, Jessie. After what we've been through on the trail, what could happen to us here in a big civilized town like Fort Worth?"
What indeed?
She pushed aside any lingering fears.
As the tWo boys left, she walked around the room, touching a hand almost reverently to the pristine coverlet on the bed.
How Ma : would have loved a room like this.
She crossed the room and touched the basin and pitcher.
They seemed too pretty to wash in.
She resisted the urge to fill the basin and wash her face and hands.
She would wait until her bath.
Reaching into the saddlebags, she removed the rose-scented soap and laid out a clean shirt and britches on one chair.
Almost timidly she sat on the edge of the bed and tested the soft mattress.
What luxury.
Even back at home the bunks had been stuffed with grass.
She had never felt anything so soft in her life.
Growing bolder, she stretched out, feeling the mattress sag beneath her weight.
Cradling her head was a down-filled pillow so soft it felt as if she were cushioned on air.
With a sigh she curled up on her side and closed her eyes.
She would only rest a moment.
Then she would check on Danny and Thad.
Jessie sprang up, confused, disoriented.
Someone was knocking loudly on her door.
How long had she been asleep?
A glance at the window showed that the sun had long ago drifted across the sky.
Early-evening shadows filtered through the gauzy curtains.
When she opened the door, a young boy entered carrying a round washtub.
Behind him was a young woman carrying two buckets of steaming water.
"Sorry this took so long," the girl said with a smile.
"There were so many requests for water, and we can only heat six buckets at a time on the cookstove."
"That's all right. I didn't even notice the time."
The boy placed a folded blanket on the floor and helped the girl pour the buckets of hot water into the tub.
"The water is still warm," the girl explained as she laid out linen towels.
"But by the time we carry it up the st
airs and pour it, it's already losing some of its heat and by the time you undress, it will be growing even cooler. Most folks prefer a warm bath when they come in from the trail."
"Thank you."
Jessie followed them to the door, threw the lock and began removing her clothes.
When she was naked, she bent over the tub and ran the soap through her long hair, soaping and rinsing until it was thoroughly clean.
Wrapping a towel about her head, she dipped a toe into the water.
Perfect.
She stepped into the tub and sank gratefully into the warm water.
She lathered her body and leaned back with a sigh.
At a slight scuffling sound she glanced up to see a black-booted foot slip through her opened window.
Just as she was about to scream, a figure in lean black pants and a white linen shirt appeared.
"Cole."
She whispered his name on a whoosh of air and found herself studying the way he looked--droplets of water sparkling in his freshly washed hair, crisp new clothes molding his hard lean figure.
"Why are you coming in through the window?"
He gave her a wicked grin.
"Since your two brothers are so exhausted from their baths that they're sound asleep on my bed, I thought this might be the best way for a gentleman to call on a lady."
She gave him an appraising look.
"In that getup you do look like a gentleman. Where did you get the clothes?"
"The same place I got these."
He removed a bundle from beneath his arm and lifted out a gown of ivory gossamer.
Jessie's mouth dropped open.
For a moment she couldn't speak.
Then, finding the words, she gasped, "Cole, where did you find something so beautiful?"
"You can find anything in this town, if you know where to look."
He dropped the gown across a chair and laid a package beside it, then crossed the room and stood beside the tub, stating down at her.
"I didn't know I'd find you looking so fetching when I walked in."
In a tone of voice that told him she had learned the art of flirting, she said, "A gentleman shouldn't watch while a lady takes her bath."
"And why not?"
He folded his arms and studied her through narrowed lids.
"This gentleman has sen you in creeks and rivers, remember? In fact, this gentleman has · helped you take your bath. A number of times."
"A gentleman should never tell such things about a lady."
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