Chapter 14
The water came up to Chad’s waist. He found a bench inside the tub below the surface. He sat down and let the warmth of the water drain the fatigue and emotional stress from his body and mind. After a few moments of relaxation he rose and began to wash.
As he did he looked around the tub. It was not large. Chad wondered just how many bodies would fit in it if this was the communal tub. He relished his luck at being the only patron.
Chad washed his hair, then ducked under the water to rinse out the lather. When he surfaced, he rubbed his eyes to remove the soap. When he opened them he saw, directly in front of him on the wooden platform, a pair of boots. His eyes traveled up from the boots to the brawny body, and finally to the face of a handsome man looking down on him. The man had a scruffy beard and handlebar moustache.
“Howdy,” the man said with a smile. “How’s the water?”