Relentless Read Free Page B

hair?
    And wear boys’ clothes?
    She was momentarily confused and then realized her father was right. The disguise could work. She would make sure of it. Her whole life was going to change, but she didn’t care. She and her father only had each other now, and they needed to be together. She looked at him, tears shining in her eyes. “I want to be with you, Papa. That’s all that matters.”
    Hugely relieved, he managed a melancholy smile as he got up to go and hug her.
    “We’ll buy the clothes today, so you can start getting ready.”
    It was late in the afternoon on the following day when Francie arrived at the house to see Dusty.
    “I’m glad you could come over,” Dusty told her friend as she let her in. “I need your help.”
    “Of course, what can I help you with?” They hadn’t talked since Dusty had returned home with her father.
    Dusty quickly explained how she was going tobe traveling with her father when he left town the following day.
    “So you’re just going to be riding along in the stage with the passengers while he’s driving?
    ”
    “It’s a little more complicated than that—”
    “What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
    “Well—” She paused for a moment, knowing her friend was going to be shocked. “Actually, when we leave, I’m going to be riding shotgun for him—”
    “You’re what?” Francie could only stare at her.
    “I want to stay with my father, so he said I could ride shotgun with him, but to do that—”
    “What are you talking about?” She was still trying to accept the surprising announcement.
    Dusty met her friend’s gaze straight on. “With my mother gone, this is the only way I can stay with Papa, but to do that I need your help. Come on into my room with me.”
    She grabbed Francie by the hand and drew her down the hall to her small bedroom, shutting the door behind them.
    “Here.” Dusty handed her a pair of scissors.
    “You want me to cut your hair?”
    “Yes—real short. If I’m going to do this, I have to look like a boy.”
    Francie looked from the scissors to her friend’s beautiful, long, thick mane of dark hair. “You’re sure about this?”
    Dusty looked at Francie, her expression serious. “Yes. I’m sure.”
    “All right.”
    True friend that she was, Francie set to work.
    Half an hour later, Francie was waiting in the parlor when Dusty appeared in the doorway.
    “Well, take a look. What do you think?” Dusty asked. She had changed into the boys’ clothes her father had bought her and was as ready as she would ever be to start her new life.
    Francie spun around to face her friend and was amazed by the complete change in her appearance. Standing there before her clad in loose-fitting pants, a work shirt, boots and hat was someone who appeared to be a young boy of maybe fifteen or sixteen.
    “I can’t believe it—”
    “I really look like a boy?”
    “Oh, yes.” Francie doubted anyone in town would recognize Dusty at first glance. “This disguise is going to work.”
    Dusty grinned. “Good. Papa will be glad. This will make things a lot easier for us.”
    “Are you comfortable?” Francie knew Dusty had had to tightly bind her breasts with a length of cloth to disguise her figure.
    “I’ll get used to it. I have to.” She twisted and shrugged a little, testing the binding.
    Francie went to her and gave her a quick, reassuring hug. “I’m going to miss you while you’re gone.”
    “I’m going to miss you, too, but I’m trying to look at this as a big adventure. I’ve always wondered what Papa did on his trips, and now I’m going to find out.”
    “Just be careful.”
    “I will be.”
    They visited for a little while longer and thenFrancie had to go home. She gave Dusty one last hug, knowing her friend was going to have a lot of wild stories to tell her when she got back to town after this first trip.
    Charley returned home a short time after Francie had left. He’d been down at the stage office making sure