Free Fancy Pants (Only In Gooding Book #1) by Cathy Marie Hake Page A

man always pays his debts.”
    “I’ll take that to heart.” Reluctantly, she went back to the field of stones.
    As suppertime drew nigh, Velma came out and perched her hands on her hips. “Boy, you done a good enough job for today. Go on up to your room and wash up. I even toted up water for you. You’re plumb tuckered out.”
    Nodding, Sydney trudged to the house, still carefully wiped her boots on the mat, and forced herself up each step to her bedchamber. She grimaced when she saw her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was lank and dusty, her face caked with grime. She’d never worn filthier clothes, and as she peeled off the shirt, she noted that the dirt went clear through the binding and actually made a small ooze of mud in the sweat that trickled down her front.
    She almost cried when she started to unknot the strip of cloth. In her haste that morning, she’d left a raw edge up under her arm, and it seesawed with her motions enough to actually start abrading her delicate skin.
    For a woman who had never in her life even had to sweat, let alone work, this was a terrible first. Still, she had no choice. Having chosen this path, she had to stay the course.
    After all, she owed a debt to Gulp.
    A single knock sounded on her door, and it opened before Sydney could react.

Chapter Five
    Velma slipped in, shut the door behind herself, and whispered, “Don’t you worry. Your secret’s safe with me. These men are the world’s biggest pack of fools God ever made. One look at you, and I knew straight off that you are a girl. Mercy sakes, you’re a mess. Let me help you before you get poisoning of the blood from all that dirt in your hurts.”
    “I’m too tired to protest,” Sydney admitted in a soft tone. “I’m afraid I’ll have to put myself in your capable hands.”
    “Child, why you doing this, anyhow? It’s got to be one of the craziest notions I ever did see.”
    Sydney winced as Velma started to help her.
    “Didn’t you bring talc along to keep from rubbing yourself raw?”
    “Everything I had was scented with lilac. I didn’t dare.”
    Velma scowled. “You’re raw as can be. Best thing for that is burnt flour.”
    “Flour?”
    “Yep.” She nodded. “You dust it on just like those fancy talcs, and it’ll help you heal right up. I’ll burn you some. Look for it in your bottom drawer tomorrow morning. It’ll be in a
coffee cup, so don’t go spilling it.”
    “You have my undying gratitude.”
    “Honey, that’s about the onliest thing in this room that isn’t dying. You look dead tired!”
    Sydney groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
    “You were going to tell me why you’re going through all of this nonsense.”
    “I have to keep it a secret until January. Uncle Fuller made it clear he didn’t want women here—I mean you no offense. If I want to stay here—and I do—then I have no choice.”
    “The truth doesn’t bother me. I’m the only female he lets on the ranch. What you’re saying makes perfect sense now. Fuller wants nothing to do with women.”
    “Why not?”
    “I wasn’t here. Years ago, he got sweet on the housekeeper. They even planned to marry up, but the week before the wedding, the gal ran off with his lead man. After a time, he took on another housekeeper. Several months went by, and it came apparent she had herself an embarrassing problem. Most folks blamed Fuller and demanded he salvage her honor. Things got pretty ugly, but she up and popped out a nine-pound baby after knowing Fuller only seven months. That put the rumors and questions about Fuller’s morals to rest.”
    “Oh, my goodness.”
    “To his credit, Fuller paid for her to go back east to be with her family again. Other than me, he hasn’t had another petticoat on the grounds since.”
    “I can’t blame him. He’s certainly been through enough to make him wary, but Big Tim Creighton is an absolute bear.”
    “He’s got good reason, too.” Velma took a washcloth and attacked Sydney’s