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The stench of too many hours in multiple layers was more evident with every piece of clothing she removed. She’d have to soak for a week to get the stink off of her. “Speaking of Jesse, did you know he was back in town?”
“Yes. He got in a week ago.” Laurel handed her a dressing gown and gathered up the discarded dress. “I’m surprised you’re just now seeing him.”
Guilt caused Alex’s face to heat. She hadn’t been in town to see anyone, let alone Jesse Samuels.
“He showed up here the other day with Ben Atwater,” Laurel said. “He didn’t stay long and if I had to guess, I’d say he was looking for you.”
Alex’s heart skipped a beat. “Me? Why?”
“Because the entire time he was here, he kept glancing at the house. What else would he have been looking for?”
Alex snorted. “I doubt it was me. We hate each other, remember?”
Laurel laughed. “So you keep reminding everyone.” She grabbed the soiled dress and petticoats and folded them so the manure was inside the fabric and wouldn’t spread more than it had. “I’ll go light the water boiler for the tub so you can have a real bath.” She looked at the soiled dress in her hands and sighed. “Then I’ll try to do something with this dress. It will be a miracle if it ever comes clean.”
Alex nodded as she left the room. She tied the dressing gowns belt to hold the edges closed and ignored the dress and petticoats Laurel had laid across the bed. Crossing the room to the wardrobe, she opened the doors. As long as she was at the ranch, she didn’t have to pretend to be the proper lady everyone assumed she was and she wasn’t wearing that dress unless she had to.
As always, the wardrobe was filled with clothing but nothing inside looked like hers. “What in the world?” She riffled through the garments, her horror growing when she saw nothing but gingham dresses, traveling frocks of silk, and blouses that buttoned clean to the chin.
Laurel chose that moment to walk back through the doorway. “What is all of this? Where are all my clothes?”
“Those are some of the older dresses I had and a few Sarah and Emmaline didn’t need. We were going to donate them to the church clothing box. I didn’t have anywhere else to put them.”
“Where are all of my old clothes?”
“Gone.”
She glanced back over her shoulder. “Gone where?”
Laurel sighed. “Your father got rid of them.”
“Got rid of them?” Her voice was louder than it should have been. She turned back to the wardrobe and stared at the dresses now taking up the space. All of her things were gone? “Why?”
She heard Laurel sigh again. “Because he wants you to act like a lady, Alex, and it’s hard to present yourself as one while you’re wearing men’s clothing. He doesn’t want you wearing them, even out here on the ranch. You’re lucky he hasn’t raided the wardrobe in your room behind the school. If he had his way, you’d never wear another pair of trousers, ever.”
Alex gritted her teeth and shut the wardrobe doors. “Are you sure getting rid of my trousers is all pa’s doings and not yours?” At the look on Laurel’s face, Alex shook her head and said, “You know what? Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
She crossed the room and picked up the things Laurel had laid out for her. “I just want to bathe and talk to pa. I still have to go by the mercantile before it gets dark.”
“And your father wants to talk to you. He’s none too pleased about you sneaking off to Missoula by yourself. He almost went after you.”
He knew? “Is he mad?”
Laurel laughed. “I’m not sure mad is the word I’d use. Don’t expect any favors for a while.” She gave her a pointed look. “He’s got a lot on his mind, Alex. With all the new ranch hands roaming around and him trying to get everything settled before that cattle drive, he has too much to think about to have to stop and worry about us, too.”
Alex’s pulse leaped at the mention of the cattle drive. She hadn’t been able to think of much else since her father informed them he’d be driving the cattle to market himself. Even though she wanted nothing more than to talk about the upcoming ride, she stuck to the current conversation and said, “I’m not helpless. I did spend six months in Missoula without anyone watching over me in case you’ve forgotten.”
“You had Mr. Colby to protect you then. This is completely different and you know it. You took off without anyone knowing. Anything could have happened to you.” Alex knew the conversation she wanted to have with her pa would turn into a fight quicker than she expected now. He was upset she’d ventured into Missoula alone. She’d hoped he’d never find out until it was too late but as always, her every move was observed by someone. It was one of the hazards of having such a large family and living in a town full of people who made sure to make everyone’s business their own.
She followed Laurel without a word to the kitchen, then beyond to the new bathing room, pausing at the door.
The new addition to the back of the house was a thing of beauty. It was every bit as fancy as the one her uncle Morgan had in his home. When Laurel started filling the tub, Alex laid her things on the small table butted up against the right-hand wall. She glanced into the mirror above it and cringed. She looked a mess. And Jesse saw you like this.
The words whispered themselves across her mind and she tried to find a reason not to care but failed.
Laurel pulled the door shut behind her as she left and within minutes, she was soaking in soap bubbles and washing away the stench lingering on her skin. Her thoughts kept veering toward Jesse and the fact his presence upset her irritated her more than anything else had in months. Why was he even back in town?
She still remembered the look on his face when he stepped up to board the stagecoach to Boston all those years ago. He’d stopped and turned, scanning the crowd of people there to see him off. When his gaze fell on her, he’d smiled. It wasn’t the same as the hundred of other smiles he’d given her. That one had seemed…special somehow. As much as she loved to hate him, that tiny smile had meant something. It was a truce of sorts. For all their fighting, him acknowledging her as he left made her feel special.
