Jacob smiled and handed several coins to the two boys who had hauled the last buckets of water up the stairs. Both of them grinned and thanked him profusely as he closed the door. Flicking the lock into place, he turned to see Allie standing by the steaming tub with her back to him.
She had removed her hat and laid it on the dresser next to the brown paper package she had asked Mrs. Jackson to send over to the hotel as soon as possible. He quietly removed his gun belt and draped it over the chair. Walking across to where Allie was standing, he tenderly placed his hands on her shoulders before running them down her arms to her hands where he threaded his fingers through hers.
“Are you sure about this, Allie?” he asked quietly. “I don’t want you doing anything you aren’t ready for.”
He fe
