Hannah's Half-Breed

by Heidi Betts

  Poor Little Bear looked like he was being chased by a band of armed warriors. And Walker knew from past experience with his sisters that if they caught the boy, he'd likely be wishing for torture at the hands of brutal, spear-clad tribesmen.

  Luckily for Little Bear, just as he trundled up the front porch steps, tripped, and would have been set upon by the shrieking girls, they spotted their brother. Screeching to a halt, they left twin sets of ruts in the ground with the heels of their shoes and made an about-face, heading straight for Walker.

  "David!” they screamed in unison.

  He let go of Hannah's hand and braced himself as they barreled toward him, wrapping themselves about his waist

  "You're home! You're home!” Olivia, the older of the two, cried.

  He laughed. “I haven't been gone that long, sweetpea. We ate breakfast together this morning."

  "But it seems like forever,” she told him, using her favorite I-can-make-you-feel-guilty-for-anything tone.

  "We was afraid you was never comin’ back,” Emily put in.

  He swung the child onto his hip, hugging the other tight to his side. “Of course I came back. I told you before, even though I sometimes go away for a while, I'll always come back."

  "Mama says the same thing. Only she worries you'll fall in love with an Indian girl in the Comanche village someday and be so busy with your life there that we'll hardly ever see you. That makes Mama cry."

  Hannah watched David's face very carefully after that revelation. Leave it to outspoken, uninhibited Olivia Walker to pass along information her mother probably hadn't meant David to hear. He gave her a wry smile, followed by what she could have sworn was a blush of embarrassed color to his cheeks.

  Doing his best to turn the girls’ attention away from anything else his mother might have said that he didn't want Hannah to hear, David set Emily back on her feet and pried their fingers loose of his clothing, turning them to face her. “Olivia, Emily, you know Miss Blake, don't you?” he asked.

  Olivia straightened immediately, looking ashamed that she'd acted so childish in front of her teacher. “Hello, Miss Blake."

  "Hello, Olivia. How have you been?"

  "Fine, thank you. Mama says I haven't had to go to school lately because you've been away. Now that you're back, does that mean classes will start again?"

  "Bright and early Monday morning,” Hannah told her cheerfully. Olivia didn't look quite as enthusiastic.

  "And how have you been, Emily?” she addressed the other, younger girl.

  "Fine, thank you,” she singsonged loudly, mimicking her sister. “You're the schoolteacher from town, the one who teached my sister her letters."

  "That's right,” Hannah replied, ignoring the child's grammar.

  "Mama says I'll be old enough to go to school next year and that you'll teach me my letters, too."

  "I sure will. Your letters, and numbers, and everything else. Would you like that?"

  "I suppose,” the girl answered, twisting the toe of one shoe back and forth in the dirt. “Mama says I have to stay at school all day and I've never been away from my mama for that long before."

  Hannah's heart twisted as the child's bottom lip began to quiver, and she quickly hunkered down until she was level with Emily's hazel eyes.

  "That's true,” she told the girl, “but it's not as bad as it sounds, especially since your sister will be there with you. The time goes by very quickly, and we stop lessons a couple of times a day so the younger students can go outside and play. And there's always the midday meal. You can eat your lunch outdoors when the weather is agreeable, and your mama can come by to see you then, if you like. There are lots of other kids around for you to make friends with, too."

  Softening her voice conspiratorially, she added, “You'll be so busy, you probably won't miss your mama much at all after the first day. But don't tell her that or it might hurt her feelings."

  Emily's vision was no longer damp and she seemed to seriously consider Hannah's words. Glancing at her sister, she waited for Olivia to indicate whether Hannah was telling the truth. When Olivia gave an affirmative nod of her head, Emily in turn inclined her head in understanding at Hannah.

  The four of them stood in silence for a moment, and then David's gaze went to the front of the house. “You can come out now, am?. I'm pretty sure the girls are finished chasing you for the time being."

  Hannah turned to see the boy standing—or, more probably, hiding—behind the white slatted railing of the porch. He looked at the two girls, who made no move to tackle him again, and started warily down the steps toward his uncle.

  "Where's your mother?” David asked.

  "Inside. With the lady."

  "That lady is my mother,” David told his nephew without censure. “My white mother, anyway, and a very nice woman. Besides, I thought she said you could call her Regan or Mrs. Walker."

  Little Bear nodded, looking a little sheepish.

  "Have you and the girls been getting along?” David wanted to know.

  At that, the boy's eyes went wide, and he shook his head emphatically. “They're mean, ara?,” he declared. “They poke fun at me and chase me, and right after you left, they tried to put ribbons in my hair. They wanted to make me look like a girl."

  "He has such fine hair, David,” Olivia put in. “Long and straight and soft. We don't know anybody who has such straight hair. No boys, at least, ‘cept you. We just wanted to play with it a bit."

  Hannah chewed hard on the inside of her lip to keep from laughing at Little Bear's horrified expression. Aside from the fact that he'd been an only child for the past seven years, he'd probably never in his entire life encountered two girls quite as exuberant and opinionated as the Walker children. From her experience, they seemed to take after their mother. Which didn't bode well for Little Bear, if they'd set their narrow sights on him already.

  "Let's go in the house,” David suggested, taking her hand as the children ran off ahead of them. Little Bear hung back, noticeably avoiding getting too close to the spirited girls.

  "I want to talk to Ma and Bright Eyes about this new plan of yours to hide them away in one of Wade Mason's line shacks,” David continued. “Then I think I'll ride into town and see if Pa wants to go over there with me to see if Mason is amiable to the idea."

  As they started up the front porch steps, he leaned close to press a kiss to her cheek. “Will you be all right here with Regan and Bright Eyes and the kids while I take care of the details?"

  "I'll be fine.” She smiled reassuringly, thinking how sweet it was for him to be concerned about her comfort. “I like your mother and sister. And I happen to have quite a bit of experience dealing with young children for long periods of time. Besides,” she added with a wry smile, “it's probably a good idea for me to stick around and see that your sisters don't try to dress up Little Bear like one of their dollies."

  He grinned. “From the sound of things, that could be an imminent possibility."

  As he held the door open for her and ushered her into the house, she shot over her shoulder in a hushed whisper, “When you get back from your errand, you may just find that you have two new nieces instead of only one."

  "And Ta?ahpu help me if they turn out to be anything like my little sisters."

  "Please?"

  "No."

  "Please?"

  "No!"

  "Please? Please? Please?"

  "No!"

  "Miss Blake, tell Little Bear he has to play with us."

  "Tell them to leave me alone, Hannah,” the boy put in desperately. “They want to play army and tie me up like a Comanche prisoner."

  Hannah dragged her gaze from where she'd been searching the distance to find a deep scowl on Little Bear's face. She couldn't blame him. Ever since they'd all come out on the porch to see David off on his trip to town and then on to the Mason ranch, and the children had decided to stay outside and play, Olivia and Emily had been badgering Little Bear over one thing or another. />
  He'd apparently learned early on that trying to avoid them didn't work, either. If he stayed indoors with his mother, the girls stayed indoors, too. If he came outside to get away from them, they followed. And no matter which, they tortured him mercilessly, wanting to dress him up, tie him up, or decorate his hair with ribbons and bows.

  "Girls, he shouldn't have to play if he doesn't want to,” she told them, swaying gently back and forth in a rocking chair on the porch while they stared up at her from the yard below.

  "Or perhaps you're just not suggesting the kinds of games he'd like."

  Both girls cocked their heads to the side as though they'd never before considered asking Little Bear what he'd like to do.

  "I think he'd enjoy something more along the lines of playing Indian raid. Wouldn't you, Little Bear? You could take Olivia and Emily as hostages, tie them to trees, maybe even shoot them with arrows.” She added the last with a sly wink to Little Bear, followed by an encouraging nod.

  "That doesn't sound as fun as us tying him up,” Olivia complained.

  But Little Bear seemed to understand Hannah's meaning and turned on the girls. Before he made even a single move in their direction, they both opened their mouths, screamed at the top of their lungs, and started running as fast as their little legs could carry them into the trees near the barn. Tables turned, Little Bear threw Hannah a wide, grateful grin, and then took off after them.

  Hannah chuckled, watching them go. She was happy to sit out here with the children and keep them occupied while Regan and Bright Eyes both took a much-needed, child-free rest. But really, she wanted to stay on the porch so she could watch for David's return.

  He hadn't been gone that long yet, perhaps an hour or two, but still she felt the need to stand guard, in a manner of speaking, awaiting his return.

  For the last little while, she'd been noticing a cool breeze moving in and a blanket of dark clouds floating across the late afternoon sky, and a clap of thunder far overhead confirmed her suspicions. A storm was brewing, and rolling in fast, as was typical of summer weather in Texas. If David didn't get home soon, he was sure to get caught in the downpour and end up soaked to the skin.

  As the first raindrops began to fall, Hannah got up from the rocker and made her way down the porch steps. “Kids!” she called, walking in the direction in which the children had disappeared. “Olivia! Emily! Little Bear! It's starting to rain. I think we should go in."

  Entering the woods at the far end of the yard, she found the two girls bound and gagged to a wide tree trunk with what appeared to be strips from their own small petticoats. They weren't tied tightly, she noticed, but it was enough to keep them still and quiet. Probably for the first time in their young lives, judging by the amount of energy they normally exuded.

  A very smug Little Bear stood a few feet away, smiling broadly. “You were right, Hannah, it's better to play Comanche warrior and his captives."

  At that, the girls let out muffled shrieks of indignation.

  "All right,” she said around a chuckle. “You've had your fun. Untie them so we can get into the house before we get any wetter."

  Little Bear did as she asked, dodging slaps and punches and ignoring the girls’ outraged tirades. It took several minutes for Hannah to regain order, but finally she had the girls calmed down and everyone headed back to the house.

  As they were crossing the yard, Hannah thought she heard hoofbeats. When she paused, quirking an ear to listen, the children stopped with her.

  Sure enough, three riders came into view in the far distance. Her heart skipped its rhythm as she realized they must be David, his father, and Wade Mason. If Mr. Mason was along, they must be coming to take Bright Eyes, Little Bear, and the baby to one of the line shacks on his property for safekeeping.

  She smiled, waiting for them to ride closer, a hand over her eyes to protect them from the now hard-falling rain. Her dress was beginning to cling to the curves of her body, her braided hair sagging with the growing weight of its dampness.

  But it wasn't a cold rain, and getting wet was a small price to pay to see David safely returned. The children apparently agreed, for they stood at Hannah's side, equally uncaring of the rain.

  But the closer the men got, the more the warm, happy feeling in her belly turned cold and dark. She felt suddenly anxious . . . and then downright frightened.

  This wasn't David riding into the yard with his father and friend. This was someone else altogether. Someone bad, someone . . . dangerous.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  "Little Bear. Get in the house, and take the girls with you"

  "But—"

  "Now,” she ordered sharply without bothering to turn in his direction. Her only assurance that they did what she told them was the sound of several small pairs of feet pattering across the damp ground and up the front steps.

  The children had no sooner run out of sight than the three strangers rode into the yard, stopping a scant few yards from where she stood.

  The man in the middle looked to be tall and rangy, with a thin, dark mustache curving over the top of his sneering lips. Rain splattered off the brim of his hat and fell to the front of the variegated Mexican-style parka he wore to protect himself from the elements. The other two men were similarly dressed.

  "Howdy, ma'am,” the lead fellow greeted. “You're getting mighty wet standing out here in the rain."

  Hannah clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering. The warm summer rain was drenching her clothes and seeping through to her skin, but the chill came entirely from the sinister sensation emanating from the men before her.

  "Can I help you?” she asked without preamble, setting hands on hips and standing her ground in the hope that they would realize they weren't welcome and leave.

  "As a matter of fact, maybe you can, ma'am. We're looking for some people. An Injun squaw and her bastard son. The woman was breeding, so she may have two bastards with her by now."

  Eyes narrowed, Hannah studied the men before her, trying to recognize which of them might have burst into the room where David had hidden his family and had her play the part of a paid companion back at the Devil's Den. She couldn't tell, but felt strongly that these were the same fellows who had been searching Hell for Bright Eyes and Little Bear. She also wondered briefly how they could justify calling anyone else a bastard when they were obviously less than respectable citizens themselves.

  "I'm sorry, I don't know who you're talking about."

  The man in the middle, stationed slightly ahead of the other two, the one she assumed was the notorious Ambrose Lynch, leaned forward in his saddle and narrowed his ugly, beady eyes on her. “You sure, little lady? We were told the squaw's half-breed brother lives here with his family.” He spat the last word, making his opinion of a part-Comanche living with whites clear as a windowpane.

  Hannah took a deep breath, biting off a rude retort. Instead, she smiled at the man who had so mistreated Bright Eyes, her son, and her unborn child.

  "Quite sure, sir. I think I would know if a half-breed had taken up residence in my house.” It made her physically ill to use those words, and to lace them with such derision. But if adopting an attitude similar to his own got Lynch and his men away from Bright Eyes, it would be worth suffering through her nausea and crawling skin.

  Obviously doubting her claim, Lynch glanced around, looking toward the barn, the paddock, the wooded area at her back. Then he examined the house, his gaze lingering on the windows as though he might spot his quarry.

  "If that's all you needed,” she interrupted his study of the property, “I think I'll go inside now. I am getting wet, as you pointed out."

  He pulled his gaze back to her and ogled her bosom, where wet fabric no doubt outlined the curve of her breasts. His mouth turned up into what could only be described as a leer.

  A shiver of revulsion rolled down Hannah's spine. Leave, she silently begged, Leave, leave, leave.

  Finally, he shifted on his mount and with two
fingers tipped his hat down a fraction more over his brow. “Well, well be on our way, then. Thanks anyway, ma'am."

  The breath rushed from her lungs in relief as the men turned their horses. Then, just as they started away, three more riders came into the yard.

  As soon as David saw her standing behind the group of strangers, he kicked Thunder into a gallop and raced to her side. Jumping to the ground, he pulled her against him and raked his concerned eyes over her rain-soaked form.

  "Are you all right?” he demanded, shooting Ambrose Lynch a murderous glare. “Did he hurt you? Touch you?"

  "No, no, I'm fine.” She brushed a strand of wet hair away from her eyes, ignoring the bite of David's fingers as they dug into her upper arm.

  Lynch and his men had swung around once again to face her and David. In response to David's protective stance, David's father and Wade Mason had come around to flank him on either side. They remained in their saddles, offering added protection without a word, and Hannah noticed both men slowly move their hands to rest on the butts of their sidearms.

  "And you said you didn't know no half-breeds,” Lynch taunted nastily. “Why, there's an Injun right there, missy, and you seem to be awful friendly with him."

  "Back off, Lynch,” David growled. He stepped forward, putting an arm out to keep her safely behind him. “She's not a part of this."

  "No, she's not,” Lynch returned. “But you are, ain't you, Walker? Come to my ranch to visit your sister and end up stealing my wife and son away."

  "Bright Eyes isn't your wife,” David spat, “she's a woman you keep around to abuse. And I wouldn't have had to steal them away if you hadn't been beating them, you bastard."

  Swinging his leg over the saddle and hopping to the ground, Lynch was careful not to make any sudden moves that might invite Sheriff Walker or Wade Mason to shoot him. Of course, his men had their hands on their firearms, too, which could create a deadly crossfire.