Page 58 of Mountain Boss

Was this all some sort of test?

Was this his plan all along?

Or did seeing me cry last night convince him to cave early?

Is that why he sent me shopping today? So he could replace the mattress when I wouldn’t see it?

I purse my lips, thinking about him in here, all alone, with my things.

My eyes move to the edge of the bunk.

He would’ve seen my bed of clothes when he came in here.

My cheeks start to heat.

But I quickly tell my body to knock it off.

I won’t be embarrassed about trying to make myself comfortable. Even if it didn’t work.

Speaking of my clothes…

Glancing around the room, I don’t see a pile of laundry.

I grip the mattress and lift it.

No clothes.

But… there’s another bedspread. Under the mattress.

I tilt my head and look at where the edge of the plywood board should be visible. The rough edge that’s caught my clothing more than once.

There’s a thud as my water bottle rolls down the angled mattress, landing in the space against the wall.

But I stay focused on the bedspread.

“Are those…?” I try to reach out, but the mattress is awkward to hold one handed, so I let it drop.

Then I crouch down and look at the underside of the board, where the blanket has been wrapped around the raw edge and stapled into place. Confirming the little bits of silver I saw above were also staples.

I stand back up.

He covered the board with a blanket, securing it in place so it won’t scrape me anymore.

I lightly trail my fingers over the edge.

Was this part of the test too?

I frown.

That doesn’t feel quite right.

The mattress, though cruel, has the feel of a test.

Atough it outsituation.

But the edge of the board, the bit that can inflict actual injury… even though I’ve endured it for days, it feels… wrong.

Like maybe he forgot.

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