Later that evening, Ms. McCormick left Chavez to a hot bath shortly after giving him dinner. He clenched his teeth and hissed as he felt the warm water stinging on his wounds. After easing himself into the water, he leaned his sore back against the back of the tub with a sigh.
He was indeed in pain, but enjoyed the feeling of a full stomach.
Chavez couldn't get the sour old man from earlier out of his mind. There was something about Anthony that made his skin crawl. One thing he did know was that he hated the way he had spoken to Ms. McCormick, and the way he had glared at them as they passed by.
Suddenly, Chavez's head started to hurt. He then decided that he was probably dwelling on something that really meant nothing and tried to relax his mind a bit.
His relaxation was interrupted by the opening of the bathroom door. He was surprised to see Ms. McCormick walking into the bathroom with a small pile of folded clothes, while humming plainly.
"Um...can I help you?"
"Oh! Sorry I didn't mean to startle you. I had just forgotten to put out a set of clothes for you," she said in a rather casual tone.
She set the clothes down on the edge of the counter top.
"Uh...thank you?"
Chavez couldn't help but ask himself why the nanny would merrily stroll into a bathroom with a naked man inside. Was she not a respectable woman?
Jean McCormick suddenly went quiet. She fondled with the neatly folded clothes with a thoughtful expression on her face. Like she was picking out words for the question to follow.
"What was it like riding with Billy the Kid?"
Chavez's eyes went wide. He hadn't thought that anyone he'd meet in this house so far really knew who he was. Apparently she did. He sat in his bath, silent.
"I'm sorry was that rude of me in some way," Ms. McCormick asked looking embarrassed.
"N-no. But how did you...I thought..."
"If you don't want people to know who you are, you should probably change your name. Luckily, Mr. Moody doesn't know the first thing about the wanted criminals in New Mexico. He only cares about the ones here in Texas. In speaking of that, why are you in Texas?"
Chavez just continued to stare at her.
She quietly laughed and said "Don't worry. I'm not gonna tell a soul."
He let out a relieved sigh and rested his back again the wall of the tub. Ms. McCormick quietly giggled.
"Well anyhow, you still haven't answered my question. What ARE you doing here in Texas?"
"Well... I uh... don't know. I guess I never really had much of a plan."
He thought to himself. Much less a plan to end up in Texas at all. Why of all places would the spirits send them here?
"Oh I see. You're just drifting then."
"Sure, if that's what you wonna call it."
She laughed again.
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of screaming children, coming from down the hall. Ms. McCormick stepped towards the doorway.
"Welp, I'd best go put them down for bed before they disturb their daddy. Goodnight Chavez."
Chavez couldn't help but laugh "Goodnight Ms. McCormick."
As she was walking out the door, she turned and said "And no more of that Ms. McCormick business. It's Jean. That's what all my friends call me. Just Jean."
She smiled, and left to tend to the children.
Chavez gave a sideways smile as she left. He thought to himself. All right then, Just Jean.