Warrior's Embrace

by Peggy Webb

“Good evening, Walter.”

  Walter Martin stumbled backward and fell onto his backside. Hawk urged his stallion closer, so close, his horse was almost stepping on Walter.

  “What do you want?” Walter’s voice had gone high with fear.

  “What do you think I want, Walter?”

  “I... I didn’t do it.”

  “Didn’t do what?”

  “That woman of yours... I wouldn’t do nothin’ like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well... you know...”

  “No. Tell me.” Hawk dismounted so fast, Walter barely had time to flinch. Then he caught the man’s collar and jerked him off the ground. “Tell me, Walter... what did somebody do to Elizabeth McCade?”

  Walter swallowed hard and stared at his captor.

  “Did they ambush her, Walter? Did they defile her with their dirty hands? Did they bruise and bloody her and jeopardize her baby? My baby? Did they, Walter? Did they?”

  Hawk never raised his voice, never changed his expression, but at that moment Walter Martin would sooner have been in a den of rattlesnakes than facing the wrath of Black Hawk.

  “Oh, please. Please don’t hurt me.”

  “Why not, Walter? Why shouldn’t I do the same things to you that you did to Elizabeth?”

  Walter’s mouth worked, but no sound came out. Watching him, Hawk suddenly felt his blood lust vanish, and in its place was a cold and deadly determination. With one hand he reached for the rope looped around his saddle horn.

  “What are you doing?” Walter whined as Hawk twisted his arms behind him and tied him up.

  “I’m taking you in, Walter. You’re not worth the time and effort it would take to give you what you deserve.”

  Relief made Walter’s shoulders sag. Hawk finished trussing him up, then slung him across the back of his stallion.

  “Assault and battery, attempted murder, arson.” Hawk named possible charges as he mounted. Walter Martin had been the one with a Winchester the night Hawk’s house had burned. His had been the voice calling out in the forest: “I got him.” Hawk was confident that at last he had caught the ringleader of all the plots against him. Whether Walter had been motivated by hatred of the Chickasaws or hatred of him personally, Hawk didn’t know. And he didn’t want to know. It was best not to probe Walter’s sick, twisted mind, best to let the law have him and get on with his life.

  “I think they’ll keep you for a long, long time,”

  Hawk said, and the he headed toward town with his vanquished enemy.

  o0o

  Elizabeth lay in her hospital room in the dark. She hadn’t seen Hawk since early morning, since she sent him away. She pressed her hands over her flat abdomen.

  “Don’t you worry, little one. I’ll take care of you. I’ll take good care of you.”

  One tear inched its way down her cheek, and then another. Her movements were angry and determined as she wiped them away. There would be no tears this time. She would be strong. Women alone had to be strong.

  Her door opened, and in walked Hawk. Elizabeth squelched her quick surge of hope. She didn’t believe in fairy tales anymore.

  “Elizabeth.” Hawk came toward her bed but stopped just short of taking her hand. The small omission made her feel lonelier than a thousand good-byes. Elizabeth clasped her hands tightly together.

  “Black Hawk.” She acknowledged him with a nod of her head, being careful to use both his names. “My lovers call me Hawk,” he had said. Well, she carried his child, but she was no longer his lover.

  “I caught the man who did this to you.”

  “You caught him?”

  “Yes. His name is Walter Martin, and he’s now in the hands of the law.”

  “I’m glad. Thank you, Ha... Black Hawk.”

  She saw his eyes darken. Hawk didn’t miss a thing. But if her attempts at formality bothered him, he didn’t show it.

  “For you, Elizabeth, I would have followed him to the gates of hell.”

  “Thank you for stopping by to report. I’ll feel safer now that he is behind bars.”

  Hawk moved closer to her bed, and she clenched the edges of the sheet.

  “You’re healing rapidly, Elizabeth.”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re a strong woman. That’s good.”

  “Yes, I’m strong.” Unconsciously she put one hand over her abdomen. Hawk saw the movement but didn’t comment. “Please leave now.”

  “You took care of me once, Elizabeth. I want to take care of you.”

  “I don’t need you.”

  “I need you.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m not that strong. I’m not strong enough to handle anybody’s feelings except my own. All I know is that I want to get through this by myself and get on with my life.”

  His eyes were very dark as he bent over her swiftly and caught her face between his hands. “Your life and mine are intertwined, Elizabeth.”

  “No,” she whispered. He kissed her with such tenderness, she almost changed her mind. “Please go.”

  “I’ll leave. If that’s what it takes for you to get well, I’ll leave. But I’ll be back. When you’re strong again, I’ll be back, Elizabeth McCade. I promise you that.”

  The door closed behind him, and Elizabeth stared at the wall. Hawk had once said he was a man driven by his passions. Would he be making such passionate promises to return if he knew she was carrying his child?

  o0o

  Hawk sent his brother home and took the watch outside Elizabeth’s door. Even though the man who had attacked her was behind bars, Hawk had to be certain Elizabeth was safe—not only Elizabeth, but the baby, his baby.

  “You can’t stay here round the clock,” Steel protested.

  “I’ll leave here only for one thing, to meet with the Secretary of Native American Affairs. Inform me when he arrives, then come back and take my watch—and don’t argue with me.”

  Steel had been about to do just that. He shut his mouth and did as the Hawk asked. No, commanded. The Hawk didn’t ask anything; he gave orders.

  When Steel left, his brother was sitting in the chair with his back to the wall and his eyes searching the hall.

  o0o

  Elizabeth was making a rapid and remarkable recovery. The doctor and all the nurses who passed through her door told Hawk so. They also informed him when she was sleeping. At those times, he slipped into her room and sat at her side, sometimes holding her hand, sometimes tracing her face with his fingers, sometimes even lying beside her on the bed, holding her in his arms.

  As always, she slept the sleep of the dead. She never even knew she had her own personal guardian angel. Though Hawk never considered himself in those terms. All he knew was that he had to protect the woman he loved, protect her... and then win her trust.

  The day of Elizabeth’s release neared, and Hawk consulted Gladys in the hallway.

  “You’ve been a faithful friend, Gladys.”

  “So have you, Blackie. I’m sorry for these circumstances, but I’m glad we got a chance to get to know each other. I don’t know why she won’t see you.”

  “Does she speak of me?”

  “No. I don’t understand that. I talk about all my old flames, but Elizabeth acts as if you don’t even exist.”

  “She’s a very proud woman.” Hawk couldn’t keep the pride from his own voice.

  “I call it cutting off your nose to spite your face.”

  “No. Elizabeth is strong. She’s always been strong.”

  “Thank goodness for that, or else she might have been here much longer.”

  “Are you going to take her home tomorrow?”

  “Yes. I promised you I would, and I’m not about to back out, even if I have to hog-tie her and drag her to the car. There is no point in her trying to do everything by herself, and I told her so.” Gladys patted Hawk’s hand. “Don’t you worry now. I’ll get her home safe and sound, and I won’t say a word about you planning the whole thing.”

  “Tha
nk you, Gladys.”

  o0o

  Late that night while Elizabeth slept, Hawk entered her room. He stood for a while, just inside the doorway, studying her. Her color was back, and she had only faint signs of bruising.

  He walked to the bed then lay down beside her and took her in his arms. She sighed softly and wrapped her arms around him. “Hawk?” she murmured in her sleep as she rested her cheek in the curve between his neck and shoulder, and snuggled close.

  “You are my woman. Mine.”

  Nine

  Elizabeth woke up in the middle of the night with the strong sense that she was not alone. For a moment panic gripped her. Without moving her head off the pillow, she slid her hand slowly under the covers and toward her night table. Only when she felt the cold hilt of her gun did she feel truly safe.

  In one quick movement she sat up, bracing herself against the headboard and pointing her gun into the semidarkness.

  “Don’t move or I’ll shoot,” she called out.

  “Elizabeth, you’re safe. Nobody is going to hurt you.”

  Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she found the man to go with the voice. He was sitting in an easy chair on the other side of the room. She snapped on the light and laid down her gun.

  “What are you doing in my bedroom, Hawk?”

  “Watching over you.”

  His dark eyes lit in the center as he watched her, and she was suddenly conscious of her skimpy red lace gown and of what his gaze was doing to her body. She pulled the covers high around her neck.

  “I don’t need you here, and I don’t want you here. Please go.”

  He got up and started toward her.

  “Don’t,” she said, holding up her hand. “Please don’t touch me. I can’t be strong when you touch me.” He kept on coming.

  “Night after night I touch you while you sleep.”

  She shivered, but it wasn’t fear that made her react; it was pleasure. The thought of Hawk’s hands on her body made her weak, almost weak enough to forget their past, forget the baby, forget everything except the quick, hot passion between them.

  “How long have you been here?” she finally asked.

  “Since you came home from the hospital. I’ve come here every night for two weeks, Elizabeth.”

  “Why? I’m safe. You caught the man who attacked me.”

  Hawk sat on the edge of her bed. She felt his body heat as his hip pressed close to her thigh. She inched away.

  “Yes, I did. He won’t ever hurt you again. I promise you that.”

  “Then why are you here? I’m out of your life and out of your bed. Remember?”

  “You will never be out of my life, Elizabeth. You carry my child.”

  She sucked in her breath.

  “How did you know?”

  “The doctors at the hospital told me.” He leaned over her, his face fierce. “Did you mean to keep it from me, Elizabeth?”

  “It’s my body and my baby.”

  “It’s our baby.” Hawk’s voice became gentle. “I was waiting for you to fully recover before I talked to you. In fact, I had meant to talk to you in the morning, but since you’re awake...”

  He smiled, and her heart melted. When her Hawk smiled, it seemed as if the whole world must be smiling too. Only... he was no longer her Hawk.

  “We’ll be married. I’ll rebuild my house. You can help me with the design. There’ll be a special room for this baby... and plenty of room for all the ones who come after him.”

  “Him? Him? Elizabeth tried to control the fury in her voice. She jerked herself out of Hawk’s grasp and scooted to the other side of the bed. “That’s just like you to start giving orders.” Hawk’s gaze was roaming her body, and she could feel his desire reaching out to her. She jerked the covers high and glared at him.

  “Do you think all you have to do is declare that this baby—my baby—will be a boy, and God will sit up and listen? Do you think all you have to do is mention marriage, and I’ll come running? Well, you’re sadly mistaken. I’m in charge of my own life, thank you very much. When I marry, it will be for the right reasons, not because some Chickasaw warrior wants to claim his son.”

  “Elizabeth...”He came across the bed and pulled her into his arms. “It’s not like that.” Hawk caught her face and forced her to look at him. “I love you, Elizabeth... I want you.”

  “No...” she whispered as his hands slid slowly across her shoulders, taking her straps with them. “You’re just saying that...” He bent down and brushed his lips across her throat.

  “... because of the baby.” The covers rustled as he leaned over and snapped off the light. “I can’t... I won’t,” she murmured, but the fire that only Hawk could ignite blazed through Elizabeth, and she lost all control.

  They loved as they always had, with single- minded intensity and magnificent creativity. They loved as they always had... and yet, they loved differently. There was an added element of tenderness, a fine edge of caring.

  Around them the night shadows lifted and a faint glow of pink crept into the room. As release came, Elizabeth and Hawk called out to each other. And then he held her in his arms, caressing her hair and murmuring over and over, “I love you.”

  Elizabeth didn’t believe him. She wanted to. How desperately she wanted to. But the lessons of her past had been hard, and the things Hawk had told her had been specific. He was a warrior. He was ruled by his passion: That much was clear. But he was committed to one thing and one thing only: the Chickasaw cause. She had known that from the beginning. And she had accepted it.

  Only now... with Hawk’s baby growing inside her womb, the acceptance did not come easily.

  They fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms. Elizabeth allowed herself that one last pleasure, for she knew that only too soon the morning would come.

  o0o

  He was waiting for her downstairs when she got up.

  “I made you breakfast.”

  “Please, no. Even the smell of food in the morning makes me sick.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t think of that. I guess I’m not used to being a father-to-be.”

  The words came to him so naturally that she was almost fooled. He even looked like a contented father-to-be, standing in her kitchen over a skillet of scrambled eggs.

  “Black Hawk, about last night...” The minute she had said his name, he had tensed.

  “Yes,” he said quickly. “About last night.” He loosened his grip on the skillet and came to her. Before he could touch her, she turned away.

  “I love you, Elizabeth.”

  “You don’t have to say that just because I’m pregnant. Reality doesn’t make me fall apart anymore.”

  “What we had last night—”

  “—was magnificent passion,” she said, interrupting him. “It was a beautiful way to say goodbye once more.”

  He grasped her shoulders and turned her back to face him. “Elizabeth, I didn’t mean to let passion overcome me. I had intended to earn your trust first, to prove my love to you.”

  “Look, Hawk. The baby is yours. There’s no doubt about that. And I won’t be selfish. I’ll let you see him... or her. But I don’t want any false pledges of allegiance that you can’t and won’t keep. It’s not fair. It’s not fair to me or to you.”

  “This is not a false pledge. This is not a pretty speech motivated by my desire to claim my son. “

  “I wish I could believe that, Hawk. But I can’t.”

  He took small encouragement from her familiar term of endearment. Gently he urged her closer until her head was resting on his shoulders. Then he began to massage her back.

  “My dear, stubborn Elizabeth. I’ll prove my love to you.”

  “It won’t work.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve learned the hard way, Hawk. A woman never forgets the hard lessons of experience.” She lifted her face to his. “And I know you. Fighting is in your blood. This land battle will be over soon, but there will be another. Som
e grand and worthy cause will capture your attention, and you’ll feel the lust for battle again.” She pulled out of his arms and stood back, looking at him. “I won’t be the cause of you staying at a safe distance, watching from afar while others take the chances and face the danger.”

  “I make my own choices, Elizabeth.”

  “Precisely.” She whirled around so he wouldn’t see the gleam of tears in her eyes. “You didn’t choose to conceive this baby.”

  “I chose you. Pregnancy is always a possibility when there is passion. Especially when there is a passion such as ours.” She heard the smile in his voice, but she was not seduced. “Elizabeth, I love you,” he added softly.

  She turned back around so she could see his face. “How long have you loved me, Hawk?”

  “Probably from the time I saw you standing in your cellar with a gun.”

  “How long?” She thrust out her chin and dared him to make up a lie.

  “I realized I loved you the day you came to the barricade, the day of the shooting.”

  “But you waited until now... until you found out about the baby to say anything about it.” He started to speak, but she held up her hand. “Please. Please, don’t say anything that will embarrass both of us. I know why, Hawk. I don’t fit in with your lifestyle. I didn’t fit in then, and I don’t fit in now. You’re a warrior, not a family man.”

  “Elizabeth, I will fight for you. But I need to know my enemy. What terrible thing happened to you that keeps you from my arms?”

  “Let it lie, Hawk.”

  “Look at me, Elizabeth.” He tipped her face toward him. “Don’t you know that I would never hurt you? Don’t you know that I would never leave you?” His hands caressed her tight jaw. “Tell me. Trust me, Elizabeth.”

  “I can’t.” She twisted away from him. “I’m leaving now. When I come home from work, I don’t want you to be here.”

  She jerked up her purse, then turned for one last word. “I won’t keep you from seeing this baby, Hawk, but I will keep you out of my bed.”

  He watched her leave. Then he quietly cleaned up the kitchen. He had never expected such resistance. If he thought too much about it, he might even convince himself that Elizabeth was right, that he was offering marriage only for the sake of the baby.