Chapter 7

Face slept for nearly twelve hours and was begging for more when Hannibal woke him early the next morning. "Son, we have got to get going. We need to catch up with the wagon train as soon as possible, so while you wash your face and hands we will saddle Dandy and get ready to leave."

Face slowly got to his feet and wandered still groggy towards the watering hole where he splashed water on his face before heading back. Hannibal looked at him with a critical eye before muttering, "I guess that will have to do for now, but once we get back you are taking a bath!"

He gave him some jerky and threw him up into the saddle and they were on their way. It wasn't until they were on their way back for Hannibal's statement about bath to sink into Face. "Hannibal, I don't need a bath!"

"Kid, you've got to be kidding. Have you looked at yourself lately? Or take a good whiff of yourself?"

Face just looked at him blankly. "When I washed Dallas off I also washed the stuff off me and I don't smell bad."

"Colonel, he's gotten used to it!" Coop reminded Hannibal but then turned back to Face to add,

"Trust us kid…you smell bad….and you need several baths before you will be clean and smelling better. I just hope the train has stopped next to a good size watering hole!"

"But Hannibal…."

"I don't think your grandmother is going to accept you rinsing off as the same thing as bathing, Face."

"Why?"

"Because she will see what we do, and most importantly smell you. Trust me, kid, she will have you in a tub of water as soon as BA has it filled, and if you continue to argue she will most likely bathe you herself!"

"She wouldn't!"

"Do you want to bet on it, kid?"

Face turned red at the thought of being bathed by a woman, much less his grandmother, and didn't say another word.

They may excellent time following Coop's lead. The scout knew this country better than them and took them to cross country in hopes of catching up with the train. They stopped only long enough for the horses to rest and graze while they ate more jerky and water. As dusk was falling they saw lights a few miles ahead and knew that they had indeed caught up. It was a weary threesome that rode up to the Smith wagons. Coop bid them goodbye and rode to report to Chris.

"FACE! You're back!" greeted Murdock, who was the first to see him. Murdock's greeting brought everyone running. As soon as BA got there and got a good look and whiff at the boy, he turned on his heel and went to his mother's wagon to pull out the bathtub and set it up behind the wagon. He then snagged Murdock, handing him a bucket and they began the task of filling up the tub while Hannibal smilingly took the reins of the three horses to take care of them.

Maggie and Mrs. B exchanged glances when they got close enough to get a good whiff. "Honey, I'm so glad you are home, but what did you get into that smells so bad?" Mrs. B was trying to be tactful.

"I did this on purpose to hide my scent from the Indians when I rescued Dandy. Their dogs would have noticed me if I didn't," explained Face.

"Well, it worked since I see that you returned riding Dandy," Maggie remarked.

"Yes ma'am, I washed it off but I guess the scent remained. Mama, I'm hungry. All I've had since I left has been jerky and water."

"Baby, wouldn't you feel better if you bathed first, and then once you are clean we can all sit down and eat as a family again."

Face looked unconvinced. "I'm not that bad…can't we eat first?"

Before either Maggie or Mrs. B could reply BA took matters into his own hands and picked Face up. "Come on little brother…your bath awaits!"

Before Face could protest he found himself dumped into the bathtub, clothes and all being washed by his big brothers. They soaped up the clothes and when they felt that they were at least cleaner than they were they stripped them off his body. They kept doing that until Face was left only in his underwear when he was pulled out only long enough for BA to empty the water. He then was put back in while buckets of water were poured over him and his underwear was pulled off. By then the tub was refilled and Face was handed a bar of soap and washcloth and told to wash. "And you had better be clean, little brother because if you aren't I'm sending Mama to bathe you herself!" BA's threat caused Face to turn red with embarrassment and to start scrubbing himself at once.

When BA returned he was happy to see that Face was just about finished. "I think you are nearly there little brother. Let me wash your back and hair and then I think you will be finished."

It was during these latter stages that Murdock returned with another bucket of water which he unceremoniously dumped over Face's head dosing him completely with the warm water that had a scent of sour apple to it.

"What was that for," sputtered the boy as he glared at his lanky older brother.

"Mrs. B told me to do it…something about it being able to neutralize your scent. If you have a problem with it talk to your grandmother."

Face glared but slowly stood up and reached for the towel BA was handing him. He soon was dried and reclothed in fresh clothing and trying to talk Mrs. B into something to eat. "I'm hungry Mama B, can't I have something to eat now?"

Mrs. B took pity on him and gave him a couple of biscuits. "This should hold you until your father gets cleaned up and joins us. Go sit out of the way while BA gets the table out so we can sit down like a family and have our supper!"