CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Belle, are you ready for more hot water?” Lavinia called from the other side of the cloth screen. “The delivery boy just brought some.”
Belle lolled in the oblong silver tub the hotel had sent up a half hour ago. With her washed hair wrapped in a towel, she scrunched down into the bubbles as far as she could go, letting the lavender-scented water soothe away her aches and pains.
“Please. There’s just enough room for one more bucket. Then I must get out and dress. I feel guilty for not helping Blake, at least a little. Knowing him, he’ll finish up early and leave me behind without a second thought. I have no illusions about that man.”
Lavinia inched her way in, the weighty bucket swaying between her legs. Both hands gripped the wooden handle, and water came precariously close to slopping over. As careful as she was, water splashed on her dress and the floor. She made a face. “This is difficult.”
Belle dunked deeper into the bubbles. “Be careful not to hurt yourself. That looks heavy.”
“I am. Scoot to the side so I won’t burn you when I pour this in.”
Belle promptly obeyed. The sound of the door opening was almost concealed by the splashing of water.
“They had everything you wanted at the Toggery,” Emma called while the crinkle of paper being unwrapped and crumpled filled the room. “Two more pairs of pants like you bought before, and two more shirts. That was all of the smaller sizes they had. Mr. Buns, the clerk, will put in an order for the rest of us. It’ll be at least a week before the garments arrive, but he’s promised to send them to the hotel the moment they do.”
Belle smiled at the silly name. She’d met the man on her visit to the shop with Blake. He’d seemed nervous; Henry had told them the shop managers were all aware that one of the girls would be its new owner. Just wrapping their heads around the ranch was so overwhelming, she had no idea when they’d feel ready to divvy up the other businesses.
She’d made an effort to put Mr. Buns at ease; still, he had dropped several items, stuttered twice, and had to search for more than five minutes for the account book. “Thank you,” Belle called to the ceiling. “Wearing those same grubby clothes for another day would have sent me to my grave.”
“Don’t say such a thing,” Emma replied. “What you’re doing out at the ranch is no small feat.” She cleared her throat. “I do have to voice my concern about the Toggery without sounding overly prideful about myself. Whichever sister ends up with that establishment will have a task on her hands. I was horrified to see what they consider a dress-and-hat section. It’s like Mr. Buns doesn’t realize there’s more than one sex. One dress, one hat—that looks as if it’s been there for ten years—no gloves, scarves, or unmentionables. I’d have to guess most women in town sew their own things.”
Belle felt a smile. “I’m sure one of us will bring the place up to snuff in no time. The clerk is nice enough. He was very helpful—when he wasn’t fainting with fear.”
Lavinia and Emma both laughed.
“Yes, I’ll give you that,” Emma said in agreement.
“I’m sorry about taking the last of the riding clothes.” Belle swished the warm water around, enjoying it immensely.
“Don’t think a thing of it,” Emma replied. “I’m planning to stay in town for the time being. I’m not ready to start ranching yet, but I do intend to in the future. We all must make a concerted effort to learn everything we can. Six months will pass quickly.”
Belle lathered her washcloth with the lavender soap and began scrubbing her arms and legs a second time. “Have either of you met Nicole Day?” she asked, keeping her voice casual.
“No. Who’s she?” Lavinia asked.
“The sheriff’s younger sister.”
“Really?” Lavinia said. “How old?”
“Sixteen.”
“We met the handsome Sheriff Dawson yesterday morning,” Emma said. “Are you sure they’re brother and sister?”
“Yes. His half sister. I can find out more about her on the way back to the ranch.”
Lavinia knocked once on the screen and looked around. Belle plunged down into the sudsy water.
“Don’t do that, Belle,” Lavinia said. “Blake will think we’re nosy.”
“He already thinks I’m nosy, and every other bad thing that a person can be. Anyway, I don’t care. We need something to talk about on that long wagon ride back. By the way, where did Mavis and Katie make off to?”
“I’m not sure,” Emma said. “You almost finished? If you get dressed, we can go find out. I like exploring the town. There’re actually quite a few shops and restaurants. I hear with the mining that’s exploded the last few years, Eden has grown quite a bit.”
“Blake says you should be careful where you go. Speak with Henry before wandering off. And if you do go out, go in pairs—not alone.”
“You’re getting to know Blake quite well.” Lavinia’s tone held a mountain of meaning.
“What do you expect? We’ve been working together for three days.” Belle reluctantly stood and reached for the towel folded on the chair. Being careful not to slip, she stepped out of the tub and dried herself. Securing the towel around her body, she crossed the room to the bed, looking over her new clothes.
Emma smiled as Belle picked up her new shirt and looked over the garment. “Whoever thought I’d be so excited over a man’s shirt?”
“I’ll drop off the dirty clothes at the laundry house for you,” Emma said. “I spotted it one street over.”
“You’re learning the town.” Belle couldn’t hide her envy.
“And you’re getting to know Blake and the ranch. The ranch hands and all the rest. We all must do what we can and then share our knowledge.”
Belle brightened. She was beginning to feel a little down about leaving soon. “That’s a wonderful idea. Today’s Monday. Let’s plan a meeting as soon as most of the work with the roundup is done. We’ll each give a short talk on what we’ve learned. How does that sound?”
“How does what sound?” Mavis asked, stepping through the door.
“That after a few days, we get—”
Mavis stepped quickly to the bath screen and looked behind it. “Where’s Katie?”
Belle gaped at Lavinia and then Emma. “We thought she was with you. She must be in the other room.”
“No. I stopped there first,” Mavis said, shaking her head. “I’ve been across the street at the mercantile.”
The walls closed in on Belle as she dropped the towel and quickly pulled on her unmentionables, not caring who saw her nakedness. “She’s probably downstairs in the café. Did you look there?” All that mattered was Katie, and that she was safe.
Blake made it quite clear we weren’t to go off on our own.
Mavis had assumed a general’s posture. “I glanced in on my way to the stairs, looking to see if any of you were there. Did she say anything about going anywhere?”
“No,” the three said at once.
“The last time I saw her, I was going to my room.” Belle fumbled twice with the stiffness of her corset. “And she went into hers. You left with her to fetch Emma’s book. That’s why I thought the two of you were still together.”
Mavis’s mouth was a hard, straight line. “She was still there when I departed for the mercantile.”
Finished lacing, Belle slipped her arms into the shirt and quickly fastened the buttons. Next she pulled on trousers. The girls were already headed for the door. “Wait until I pull on my boots,” Belle barked. “And we need a plan. We can’t just fly out the door.” She buttoned up the fly and, with her fingers, quickly racked her wet hair back and tied it with a ribbon.
“Belle’s right.” Lavinia stood with hands on hips. “Mavis and I will find Blake and tell him. Then we’ll search up and down Main Street, as well as that small touristy area where we went to supper. Check all the stores and alleys. Someone may have—”
Lavinia’s voice broke, and Belle gently put her hand on her sister’s shoulder.
“Nothing bad has happened to Katie.” Belle prayed her words were true. “Emma and I will go alert Henry and then search up and down Falcon Haven and the Old Spanish Trail that runs through town. She’s just wandered off. Distracted by . . .”
“That handsome Santiago Alvarado?” Emma whispered. “She wouldn’t, would she?”
“No, she wouldn’t.” Belle headed to the door. “She has more sense than taking up with a man she doesn’t know.” She let the others precede her through and then locked the door with a shaky hand, shoving the key deep into her pocket.
Nothing would be worth losing Katie. Not all the money in the world, or even learning about Father and our history. We have to find her, and quickly. A deep dread began to burn inside. As she followed the girls through the hall and then down the stairs, she wondered if this had anything to do with Praig Horn. Moses’s beaten face and broken ribs flashed through her mind. That man better not have touched my little sister or I’ll kill him with my bare hands.
Plunging out the front door of the hotel, Belle grasped Emma’s arm and followed Mavis and Lavinia, already on their way to the mercantile to look for Blake. When she and Emma reached the building, they bounded up the outside steps to Henry’s office, but the room was empty. Belle crossed the office and pounded on the door that led to his private rooms. No answer.
How could he be gone when we need him most?