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Without making sure the boy followed, he walked briskly back up the hill toward the main core of town. Behind him, he could hear the boy’s feet shuffling on the dirt road as he hurried to keep up. Wade led them to a strip of buildings where he entered one that had a red and white pole above the hand painted barber shop sign.
Cow bells jangled above the door when he stepped through the entrance, the boy directly at foot. The barber was in the process of shaving a customer, but acknowledged Wade’s presence. “Good morning Mr. Haddock. Come for a cut or shave?”
“Neither,” he said and reached behind to draw the boy forward. “What can you do with this?”
The barber looked surprised, as did the boy who looked around his surroundings with misgivings. Rubbing his chin, the barber abandoned his client temporarily to approach the boy. He leaned forward and examined the mop on the top of his head, then said, “Could definitely do for a good shampooing.”
“Whatever it takes.” He turned to leave, then on an afterthought stopped to look back. “By the way, the boy doesn’t speak a word and, apparently, has a fear of water.”
“Good to know,” the barber said as he led the boy to a seat to wait his turn.
Wade didn’t even bother to look back. He was certain he would have seen misgivings read all over the boy’s face. The kid was laced with fear. A lot of it to do with the unknown. He wouldn’t have doubted the boy had never seen the inside of a barber shop before.
Back on the main street, he turned toward the saloon. Though he could have done with a cut and trim himself, he had something more pressing to do. Ever since the little incident with the kid near the bullpen, Wade was left with an uncomfortable urge. He didn’t search out the how or why, just the remedy. Even though it had only been two nights since he had last been with Marion, his body had an overwhelming need.
* * *
“How about a shave boy?” The barber beamed down at her, knowing full well her soft skin showed no sign of stubble. He purposely ignored her alarmed expression. “Mr. Haddock gets one every time he comes in for a cut.”
Which she figured from the look of Wade Haddock’s scruffy look was probably once a year.
“Go on boy.” Another client in the shop encouraged. “It’ll make you feel like a man.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw the barb
er wipe a shiny and extremely sharp looking blade on a white cloth. Her eyes widened in fear.
“Relax, boy. I haven’t cut anyone yet.” He reached over and produced a bowl of white fluffy stuff she assumed was shaving cream. She had seen her father and brother use it before.
It was cold where he covered her face with it, but she kept very still. As he ran the sharp blade along her sensitive skin, she could feel the scraping of the razor as it passed along her sharp jaw line and pronounced cheekbones. She held her breath, fearing any movement would cause the barber to slip and slice a portion of her face open. When at last the shave was done, he gave the blade one last run over her hairless skin. Then when she thought she was able to breathe again, he dropped a steaming hot cloth over her entire face. Her first reaction was to scream, but when she went to open her mouth was only reminded of her inability to speak.
Thankfully, he didn’t leave the cloth on for long. Whipping it off her face, he spun her around in the swivel seat on which she sat so she could see her reflection in the wall of mirrors behind her. The barber looked mighty proud of himself as he eyed her new look in the reflection.
The girl saw a stranger staring back. It took a second, but at last she recognized the pale skin beneath the fiery crimson of her cheeks and a pair of large chocolate eyes. Her long dark locks were gone completely. In their place was a boy’s short hairdo cut close to her head, over the ears, and parted to one side. Any trace of the woman was gone.
The cow bells rang as the door to the barber shop opened and she heard Wade Haddock’s voice say, “How is the boy doing, Carl?”
“See for yourself.”
She was spun around once more and came face to face with the man who had taken her in and given her shelter. His reaction was delayed, initially staring at her with a stunned expression, then he blinked and let out a low whistle. “Wow, kid, you clean up nicely.”
“I gave him a shampoo, cut and even threw in a shave.” The barber informed Wade, who chuckled at this last comment.
“Well, if nothing else, you at least put color in the boy’s face,” he said in reference to the raw scraping her flawless skin received.
Outside a dozen people rushed past the window. Their footsteps pounded the wooden planks on the boardwalk in front of the shop, and caused the assorted glass jars lining a shelf on a side wall to rattle. The activity caught the men’s attention inside.
“What the devil is going on?” Carl, the barber asked.
“I don’t know,” Wade replied, cranking his neck near the large window in the front of the barber shop to follow the scurrying crowd’s direction. They were surprised when more folks joined the gathering. Turning, he opened the door and went outside. The barber followed, along with the other patron. The woman scampered off the barber chair and trailed after Wade.
She found him stopping a town official. When she reached his side, she heard Wade ask. “What’s happening?”
“Forest fire.” The man shouted over the commotion on the now busy street.
“Where?”
“On the northwestern side of Mount Louis.” The official went to leave, but then turned back to say, “Gather as much help as you can, we’ll need to fuel that fire before it gets out of control.”
