Room and a bath.

Without a bath or a decent bed since Seattle, Joyce made her way up the street to the hotel. Entering the lobby brought all conversation to a halt. Being a woman alone would have been enough to grab the men's attention, but Joyce's beautiful features, albeit hidden under weeks of hard traveling, assured that all eyes were on here. Joyce paid no attention to the stares, if she noticed them at all as she gave no indication, and walked up to the register. The manager behind the counter was, obviously, not used to having a woman as stunning as Joyce approach him in any capacity. Joyce removed her gloves, looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and cocked head bringing it to his attention that he was staring and not talking. He stammered as he turned the register around for Joyce to sign.

The hotelier turned the register back so he could read the name, and was taken slightly aback.

"Uh... Mrs. Jacobs," he spoke softly. "Will Mister Jacobs be..."

Joyce rolled her soft green eyes and sighed.

"There is no Mister Jacobs, so he will not be joining me," she said, with not a bit of weariness. She was growing used to the inane question but took comfort in that this should be the last time. "My trunks are at the dock if you will have them brought to my room. I will be needing a bath as well."

"Yes ma'am," the manager replied as he hit the desk bell and called for the bellboy.

"See Miss Jacobs to her room and have Maizy draw a bath."

The young boy acknowledged the manager, took the key and asked Joyce to follow him.

Before Joyce reached the first step of the stairs, a large, fur-covered man with an unkempt beard and the smell to match his appearance stepped in front of her, blocking the stairs.

"Excuse me, sir," Joyce said politely, as she tried to step around the man. Whatever way she moved, he stood in her way. Finally Joyce looked up at the barrel-chested man, coldly and unimpressed.

"Was there something you wanted?" she said, not bothering to hide her annoyance at the man's boorish manners.

He smiled with a mouthful of unmaintained teeth, some having been replaced with gold. "A pretty little thing like yourself shouldn't be here in such rough country without someone to protect you, and give you whatever you need." He laughed which was echoed by a group of men obviously acquainted with him.