Free The Gentleman Outlaw and Me-Eli by Mary Downing Hahn Page B

called a woman to fetch hot water, towels, and soap.
    In the washroom were a couple of hip tubs separated by a sheet hung on a rope. Not much privacy—especially if a person has a reason to hide his or her body. What saved me was the hot water. The woman brought a cauldron from the stove. When she poured
it in the tub, the steam rose up dense enough for me to strip fast and jump in before Calvin saw anything—which meant I just about cooked myself.
    I scrubbed till I was as pink as an Easter ham. If I missed a spot, Calvin might decide to wash me himself. I could hear him on the other side of the sheet, splashing around and singing "O, Susanna!" It seemed to me he'd recovered his spirits mighty fast.
    After a few minutes he called out, "Are you clean, Eli?"
    'Yes!" I hollered, but he came to check anyway. Thank the Lord, he'd put on his trousers. I sunk down in the water, glad my chest was still as bony and flat as a boy's. As for the rest of me, I prayed the soapsuds were thick enough to keep him from noticing anything strange about my lower regions.
    "Whew," said Calvin. "Just look at that water. It's positively black. I hope that's proof you've scrubbed the dirt off."
    All of a sudden he reached out and grabbed my locket. "What the dickens is this?"
    I tried to pull away, but I was afraid of breaking the little silver chain. Besides he already had it open and was studying Mama's and Papa's tiny faces.
    "This is a peculiar thing for a boy to wear around his neck," Calvin said.
    I huddled in the dirty water, so scared I could hardly breathe. "That's Mama and Papa," I whispered. "I wear it so's I won't forget them."
    Like Miss Pearl, Calvin nodded sympathetically and snapped the locket shut. Letting go of the chain, he watched it fall back against my chest. "Do you intend to soak in that dirty water all day?"
    "You go away," I muttered. "Then I'll get out."
    Calvin laughed. "If you aren't the biggest Nancy-boy I ever saw. Do you think I care what in Sam Hill you look like naked?"
    When he reached for my arm, I slid under the water, praying I was too slippery for him to get a good grip on me.
    "Lord, Eli, if it bothers you so much, I'll turn my back. I don't want to be responsible for a drowning."
    When I was sure he'd done as he promised, I scrambled out of the tub and pulled on my clothes without even bothering to dry myself first. I couldn't help noticing how nasty my shirt and overalls felt against my clean skin. They were so dirty they could have stood up all by themselves.
    "Are you decent yet?" Calvin asked.
    For an answer, I wanted to kick him in the rear end, but I didn't dare. I just said, "Yes," and stood there red-faced while he inspected me.
    "Except for the lamentable condition of your clothing, you look almost respectable," he said. "Not perfect, mind you, but definitely an improvement."
    Taking a deep breath, I followed Calvin and Caesar outside, still feeling shaky. First the bath, then the
locket. I'd come perilously close to giving away my most precious secrets. If my true name and nature were gold coins, the Gentleman Outlaw would surely have pulled them out of my ears by now.

13

    O UR FIRST STOP WAS A GENTLEMEN'S CLOTH ing store. After tying Caesar to a hitching post by the door, Calvin led me inside.
    "Good afternoon, sir," he said to the clerk, just as polite as can be. "My brother and I need to be outfitted with a decent set of clothes, as you can plainly see."
    The clerk nodded. He could indeed plainly see. And smell, too. Wrinkling his nose in annoyance, he said, "If you're seeking to buy overalls, try the general store on Front Street."
    Calvin gave the man a stare cold enough to freeze his eyeballs and slapped my gold eagles down on the counter. "I don't wish to repeat myself," he said softly. "I want a suit for the boy and one for myself, as well as shirts, ties, good shoes, stockings, and proper underwear. All of the finest quality. Do you understand?"
    The clerk began to perspire.