Chapter 12 - Twelve
A persistent rapping on the door jolted Suzy awake. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, before her gaze fell upon the unfamiliar surroundings of the inn room. Memories of the previous day, the attack, the gunshot, the infuriating Duke, flooded back.
The knocking resumed, more insistent this time. Suzy cleared her throat and croaked, "Come in."
The door creaked open, revealing a kindly-faced woman with a gentle smile. She wore a simple, yet clean, dress and her hair was pulled back into a neat bun.
"Good morning, milady," the woman greeted, her voice warm and soothing. "May I come in?"
Suzy, her voice still hoarse, managed a weak nod. "Yes, please," she rasped.
"I see you’re awake. I woke you early, but I hope you’ve had a restful night." The woman said in a gentle voice
Suzy managed a weak smile in return. "I did, thank you." she rasped, her voice still rough from disuse. The memories of the night before flooded back – the attack, the gunshot, the infuriating Duke who turned out to be Ryan.
"I brought you a new dress," the innkeeper continued, holding out the bundle. "There’s not much in the way of fancy clothes here, but it’s clean and will do the trick until you reach Carleton."
Suzy looked down at the worn white shirt she was currently wearing, Ryan’s shirt. A wave of resentment flickered within her, quickly replaced by a sense of gratitude towards the innkeeper.
The innkeeper beamed. " There’s also a pail of water for you to freshen up, some soap, and a pair of boots," she added, setting the items down on a nearby chair.
"Thank you," she said sincerely, taking the dress. "It’s very kind of you."