by Lenore Wolfe
Hawk glowered at him. “What the hell do you want?”
Doc’s grin widened at Hawk’s discomfiture. “I just heard the news, and now I’m here to admonish you two for not telling me first. In fact, I was the last to hear it.”
Mandy flushed deeper. “Doc Mallory...”
“Sorry, Doc,” Hawk broke in. “We sort of surprised ourselves, and Meg happened to be here. The rest is self-explanatory.”
“Yes,” Doc agreed, still grinning. “I can see that. Meg has a great love for rubbing things in McCandle’s face.”
“You got here just in time, though. We’re sort of celebrating.” Hawk glowered at Doc’s amusement as he reached into his pocket, producing a small, satin-covered box. “It was my mother’s.”
Mandy stared at it. Her hands shaking, she fumbled to open it, and Hawk’s larger ones covered hers. She looked up into his eyes as he helped her open it. Inside was the most exquisite ring she’d ever seen. “Oh Hawk,” she breathed. “It’s beautiful.”
Hawk lifted the ring from its nest and took her left hand into his, slipping it slowly onto her ring finger. He let out a relieved breath when he saw how well it fit her.
Watching her face as she stared at the ring, he marveled at the light shining there. His heart jumped in his chest. Then he scowled. If half the people he knew could see him now, mooning over her as if he were a love-sick schoolboy...
He looked down at Mandy’s face, then at the still-grinning doctor.
“Don’t even think about running now, lad,” the old man teased him.
Hawk glowered at him. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Mandy looked up at him, smiling. “He has promised to stick with me, no matter what it takes,” she told Doc.
Doc chuckled. “Well, Hawk, I reckon it will take a lifetime.”
Hawk felt the blow of those words. “Yeah—I reckon it will,” he answered.
Mandy had felt the blow of those words too. Her heart skipped a beat. He would be here... until the threat of McCandle was over, but what then? She half-watched as Hawk crossed the room and began to pack his saddlebags, mumbling an answer when he told her they needed to pick up more supplies.
“We’ll leave first thing in the morning, Mandy.” He finished packing and looked up. “Mandy?”
“What?” she murmured. Then, “Oh, yeah—that will be fine.”
Doc smiled at them. “Well, I guess I will see you two young people at dinner.” He stretched his back and headed for the door.
Hawk nodded at him as he crossed the room to stand in front of Mandy. “What’s wrong; second thoughts already?” He cocked a dark brow. “And here we are, just engaged.”
Mandy shook her head, trying to throw off the shadows. “No, just...” She smiled. “It’s been a long day.”
Hawk lifted her chin with his finger. “What did I tell you about lying to me?”
Mandy avoided his eyes, shivering at his touch.
“Mandy, I’m not a good choice for a husband. Hell, I’m not even a bad one. I am the worst one you could make.” His gaze went to the window, taking on a far-away look. “And when I have to go, you will still be stuck with me. I do not even know when I’ll be able to come back,” he said this mostly to himself.
Mandy frowned. He had never said anything about coming back before. Was he forced to leave? Did it have something to do with his mysterious identity as a gun hand?
Hawk looked at her, seemed to correctly read her thoughts, and looked away. For a second, she thought she saw pain flicker through his beautiful, golden eyes. In the next instant it was gone, making her think she’d imagined it.
“You’re a crazy woman for getting into a marriage with me.” Hawk picked up the saddlebags, but stared at them as if he could not comprehend what they were. “A woman like you does not go around marrying a man like me, with the type of past I have. No matter our destiny. No matter the lifetimes we’ve shared. It will damage you.”
“No—you won’t,” Mandy whispered, putting the correct meaning to his words.
A shadow passed over his face. “Mandy, you do not know what you are saying.”
Mandy touched his brow. “Yes, I do, Hawk,” she answered softly.
“Let it go, Mandy,” he growled.
Mandy dropped her head for a second, letting her hand fall to her side, then straightened resolutely. “We’d better wash for dinner.”
Hawk’s nod was curt. “I want to make an early night of it. I want you to come with me to pick up those supplies.”
Mandy blinked. “I just got supplies.”
“I have other things in mind.” His tone brooked no argument.
Mandy’s delicate brows shot up. “Fine,” she bit off.
Hawk’s golden gaze rooted her to the spot. “If you do exactly what I say, when I say, you might stay alive. Do you understand? It might well mean your life.”
Eyes blazing, Mandy swept out of the room.
Hawk was hot on her trail.
Chapter Eleven
Mandy followed Hawk down the sidewalk. “What did you mean by war?” She had lost track of how many times she’d asked him that same question in the last hour. Hawk did the same thing he’d done each time she’d asked. He simply didn’t answer her, only ushered her along. He’d updated the provisions she’d sent out to the ranch, adding a wagonload of supplies of his own. She looked at all the provisions he had laid in the wagon. “What are you planning?” she asked him again. He had enough supplies to wage two wars. But, once again, he only pulled her along, this time into Cord’s Mercantile.
Her heart hammered: Cord. Well, Cord would lecture her. And Hawk--she threw up her hands. With Hawk, who knew?
He steered her to the front of the store, giving Cord an intense look until Cord stopped what he was doing and looked up.
“Morning, Mr. Hawk.”
“Just Hawk.”
Cord glanced at Mandy. “Hawk,” he repeated. “Everything you ordered to your satisfaction?”
“They were fine,” Hawk reassured him, “but I need you to order a dress. A very special dress.” He took hold of Mandy’s hand. “It’s for our wedding.”
Mandy stared at him.
“A wedding dress?” Cord stammered, looking from Hawk to Mandy and back again.
“I’m going to need it to be ready within the month,” Hawk clarified.
Mandy felt her heart drop down through her soles--the wedding! That’s what this was all about. This is all a show for Ashley—to flush him out.
Cord’s face waxed bloodless. He looked at Mandy. “Does this means your father...?”
“I assure you,” Hawk growled, “there is no mistake.”
“My father knew all about my fiancé,” Mandy reassured him, getting into the role.
Cord stared at her, dumbfounded. “Mandy, have you talked to your father’s attorney yet? You better let him know your—um—mysterious fiancé has finally shown up.”
Mandy watched as Hawk’s eyes narrowed on Cord. Yep, he had taken exception to the word finally. She bit her lip, shaking her head. She hoped Hawk wouldn’t pay attention to the mention of her seeing Perry.
It was a short wish.
Hawk looked at her—and frowned. “We’ll do that next, then. Now, about the dress?”
“Dash it!” Mandy muttered.
That damnable eyebrow shot up. “My dear?”
She bit down hard on her tongue to keep from retorting.
Cord left for the back room to grab the catalogs. When he returned, he handed them to Hawk. He looked—relieved. Mandy frowned at him, wondering at this new development. But she didn’t have time to wonder long.
Hawk set the catalogs down at a table with a beautiful, flowered cloth thrown over it. He was looking at her expectantly. She looked down at the first catalog. When she looked at Hawk, she found he was already examining a dress. She’d have never thought he’d be so attentive to such a thing.
It melted her heart.
The two of them poured throu
gh the books for the next hour, until she came across the perfect dress and paused to look at it more closely. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
“We’ll take this one,” Hawk told Cord.
Cord was busy sweeping—and whistling. Again Mandy frowned at him. Why did he suddenly seem so—happy? He came right over. He smiled when he saw the dress. “An excellent choice.”
“How long will it take?” Hawk was already pulling out some bills.
“Three or four weeks,” Cord answered, looking over at Mandy, who was staring at him like he’d grown two heads. “What?”
She tilted her head to one side. “I don’t know.” She frowned.” Why are you so happy all of a sudden?”
“Can’t I be happy for you?” Cord retorted.
Mandy’s gaze narrowed on him. Something was up, and she wouldn’t rest until she figured out what it was.
“Is there anyone who can do alterations?” Hawk asked Mandy.
Mandy frowned at him now, puzzled about why he worried over such details. “Actually, Meg is very good at sewing.” She could just see the Grandmothers smiling.
“I also need to see your wedding bands,” Hawk informed Cord.
“You might want to order those, too,” Cord replied. He finished writing down the size of dress, then measured and wrote out all the details for ordering the rings as Hawk watched over his every move. “Will there be anything else?”
“That will do.” Hawk paid him and led his speechless fiancée to the door.
“Wasn’t that going a bit far?” Mandy demanded outside the door.
“What?” Hawk asked, innocently.
“The ring. The alterations.” She pulled a face. “The dress...” Mandy clarified.
“Not at all.” Hawk took her arm and led her down the walk. “Where is this attorney’s office?”
She pointed at the office. “Couldn’t we come back and see him another day?”
Hawk’s eyes narrowed on her face. “No,” he said simply, and led her across the street to the door that said Perry, Attorney at Law.
A happy, young attorney with a pointed nose and watery eyes greeted them at the door and ushered them toward two high-backed chairs setting in front of his mahogany desk. When they were seated, he sat down and steepled his fingers, looking at Mandy. “I think you’ve been avoiding me.” He adjusted his spectacles and unlocked a drawer, taking out a sheaf of papers. His hands shook slightly when he thumbed through them. “You have an idea of what your father put into his will, don’t you?”
Mandy winced. Hawk’s eyes narrowed on her again, and she steeled herself not to squirm. His golden gaze dropped to Perry’s trembling hands.
Perry took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and continued, “You know your father didn’t believe in your mysterious fiancé. I’m glad to see he was mistaken.”
Mandy merely nodded and waited for him to continue.
“He didn’t want you to run The Northern Rose on your own.”
“Yeah,” Mandy frowned, “so what did he do?”
“Now, don’t go getting crazy on me, Mandy. It’s not a problem, now that your mysterious fiancé has finally shown up,” Perry stammered.
Mandy’s gaze shot to Hawk’s face. His eyes had narrowed dangerously on Perry’s face. She swallowed and turned back to the attorney. “What did he do?”
Perry cleared his throat, having realized that he had inadvertently drawn the entirely wrong kind of attention from Hawk, and straightened his papers, clearing his throat again. “He gave you three months to marry this mysterious fiancé. Unfortunately, you wouldn’t see me, and over half of that time is up.”
Mandy face turned molten. “He did what?”
“Why do you think I so desperately wanted to talk to you?” Perry stood up. “Did you think if you ignored me it would all go away?” he yelled back, then immediately backed off at the warning in Hawk’s eyes. He shifted. Swallowing hard, he sat back down.
“Or what?” she bit out between clenched teeth.
Perry swallowed, plainly taken aback. He glanced at Hawk. “Or what?” he repeated, still watching Hawk’s face. He looked as if he was mentally counting the seconds until his death. The look on his face was almost enough to cause Mandy to laugh out loud. Whether in amusement or crazy rage, she couldn’t tell.
“What if I didn’t produce my mysterious fiancé?” she enunciated with mounting anger.
“Oh, that.” Perry licked his lips and cleared his throat, never taking his eyes off the deadly gunfighter. “Well, as I said, it’s not a problem anymore.”
“Perry!” Mandy warned, jumping up and leaning over the desk at him.
Hawk sat forward, and Perry looked hard put not to jump up and run. “He arranged for you to marry Cord,” he stammered.
Mandy went still as death.
Hawk frowned.
“And if I’d refused?”
“Mandy, it doesn’t matter now that you’re marrying Hawk, here. The rest is irrelevant.”
“If I had refused?” Mandy repeated through clenched teeth.
Perry swallowed. He clearly did not want to reveal what her father had put into his will.
“Perry!”
He glanced at Hawk. “He arranged for the ranch to be sold—to the McCandles,” he nearly whispered.
Mandy’s knees buckled. Hawk stood in a flash, guiding her down into her chair. “Goddess. How could he? They murdered him! He knew what they were. How could he hand over the thing they were willing to murder him for?”
Perry’s voice gentled. “He knew. But none of that was as important to him as making sure you didn’t try to take McCandle on by yourself.”
She swallowed hard at the tears that stung the backs of her eyes. How could this be happening? “But to give it to them?” She shook her head in shock. “Why marry Cord? He’s a store manager. How could he possibly stand up against McCandle?”
This time, it was Hawk who answered her. “He wasn’t always a store manager.”
She frowned, waiting for him to continue.
“I thought I recognized him.” He looked at Mandy. “He used to pack a gun,” he told her gently. “Was good at it, from everything I’ve heard. A bad bunch murdered his wife when he was in his early twenties?” He looked at Perry for confirmation.
Perry only nodded, and Hawk continued, “He went crazy, killed the entire bunch. When it was over, he put up his Colts for good. The mercantile was a good way to make sure people didn’t uncover his past. It was one of the last places people would expect to find a man who was good with a gun.”
“Why didn’t I know this? And why would he take them down for me?”
“Because he came here for a fresh start,” Perry answered. “He didn’t want anyone to know. Your father must have either guessed, or Cord told him.”
Hawk touched her face. “But he would have taken his Colts down for you, love.” His eyes were so gentle, Mandy wanted to cry.
“But he’s not that old. How could a man have lived two lifetimes already?” She splayed her hands in confusion. “And to give himself away—for me?” Tears filled her eyes at the realization of what he’d been willing to do for her. And with it, the realization of what he’d nearly given up... and why he’d been happy when he’d heard their news.
He was in love with Meg.
And honor-bound to Mandy.
Hawk took her gloved hand into his own, rough one, gently squeezing it.
She shook her head. “We’ve always been great friends. He watched me grow up. He’s like a brother I never had,” her voice continued to rise. “But to be his wife—how could you papa?” She turned her face away and whispered. “I never really knew Cord at all.
“Or you, pa,” she whispered to herself.
Hawk pulled her out of the chair. “Come on, Mandy,” he tucked her firmly to his side, “we’re going to get you home.”
“Home?” she murmured, looking lost.
“So you’ll marry soon?” Perry persisted. “Time’s
up October 28th.”
Barely a month away.
“We’ll let you know the date.” Hawk maneuvered Mandy towards the door. “But we won’t be waiting long.”
Perry grinned, clearly relieved.
Hawk opened the door. At the last second, just before Hawk could guide her outside, Mandy turned back to Perry. “What would have happened if I had married Cord, and then divorced him after the wedding?”
Perry’s lips thinned in a straight line. It was clear he didn’t want to answer. Finally he answered, his voice so quiet Mandy nearly couldn’t hear him, “You would still forfeit the ranch.”
Mandy’s gaze was riveted on Hawk’s face. He managed to get her out the door before she tried to hit him. “What the hell are you doing?” she raged at him. “It’s a fake! It’s all a fake. How could you go on pretending?” She gave a laugh that bordered on hysterical. “You heard him...” She swallowed a sob and whispered, “You said yourself. No matter what, when this is done, you’ll go. I can’t marry you and have you take off after we’ve taken down McCandle! It will violate my father’s will. I have to marry Cord—or lose everything.” She glared at him in wild anger—and hurt. “If I marry you, you will just run off and leave me alone.”
“Like bloody hell!” Hawk roared.
Mandy jumped, brows raised, and glared at him. “If I marry you, you will just run off and leave me alone,” she repeated, tears coursing down her cheeks.
He caught her chin and forced her to look at him. “You will not now, nor ever, entertain the notion of marrying Cord!” he ordered.
“Hawk, you heard Perry. If I marry you, you’ll have to go when we’re done fighting the McCandles, and then the same thing will happen all over again with some other cattle lord looking for an easy ranch to add to his collection and seeing a woman, on her own, as easy prey. McCandle, or the next cattle baron, they’re all the same. I don’t have a choice!”
His gaze swept over her face. He reached up and ran a finger down her cheek. “When I walked away, you were supposed to marry someone decent, someone you could love and be happy with—have babies.” He gnashed his teeth. “I’m not going to walk away—have the light go out of my life, so you can marry someone who’s led the same lie as me.”