by Lenore Wolfe
Hawk called on all his will to keep a neutral expression, but he would have to remember how well she had played this little performance.
Ashley glared at her, then Hawk, before rounding on her, “You belong to me, Mandy, and it matters not what games you play. You will be my wife. I’ll see you dead before you marry this—man,” he sneered up at Hawk. “So you’d better hear me, Mandy. Marry me—or watch the buzzards pick his bones, then your own.”
Mandy had sobered during this attack. She’d never thought he would go so far, or be this blatant, with his attacks. The man was either a fool, or he knew that no one here in this valley had the power to stop him.
And Mandy knew that Ashley was no fool.
“Then, you’d better kill us quickly,” Hawk growled, “because we will marry—and soon.”
Mandy gasped. Hawk had just challenged Ashley!
Jake rounded the corner of the ranch house. Upon seeing him, McCandle backed up, but only a step. “You had better watch your back, Hawk,” he hissed. “For the instant you let your guard down, I’ll be there. You can count on it.”
Hawk held his hand out to Mandy. She placed her smaller one in his without hesitation. He pierced Ashley with a menacing glare. “I’ll be waiting,” he answered, his voice low and cold.
Ashley winced from the violence he saw in Hawk’s eyes. But he turned his back on him and went down the steps. He mounted his horse while eyeing Jake, who now had his Colt trained on him, before looking at Hawk again. “You may be fast, but you’ll lose. Simply because you care too much, and you have honor.” He grinned, his handsome face now ugly with his hate. “I would have shot you in the back, just now.”
Hawk grinned at him. Genuine amusement glittered in his eyes. “I know. That’s what makes this so much fun.”
By this time, half the ranch had spotted the commotion. Tommy ran up to Jake and handed him his rifle. Nick had another trained on Ashley from the barn.
Ashley’s face twisted in rage. If he saw the hands had surrounded him, he paid them no mind. “You’re so damn sure of yourself, aren’t you?” His ugly smile appeared again. “But you’re right about the fun. I will enjoy myself, immensely, when I slowly gut you. And I’ll take great pleasure in listening to your every scream. You will beg me to let you die.” He laughed. “And I will grant you your wish.” He whirled his horse and left, Jake’s rifle trained on his back until he was out of sight.
Hawk hugged Mandy to him. She shivered and hugged him back. “He’s dangerous, Hawk.”
Hawk leaned back, looking at her. “A worthy opponent,” he smiled.
“This isn’t a game, Hawk. He’ll kill you if he gets the chance,” Mandy yelled, hitting his chest with her fists.
He grabbed both her tiny fists in one of his. “It is to me,” he answered. “I know this land, Mandy, and I know what I’m doing.”
“He was raised in this area, too,” she reminded him.
“But he never took the time to know the land,” Hawk told her.
“And what difference will that make when he shoots you in the back?” she railed at him. “He’s right; you’re just so damn sure of yourself!”
“I heard that,” he growled.
She hugged him tightly to her. “Be careful.”
He smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead and eyes, then her nose and gently brushed her lips. “I’m not taking any chances.”
He picked her up and carried her into the house and gently set her on her feet. He looked down at his wet clothes, then hers. “I’m going to change and go out to talk to your men. I want you to get out of those wet clothes and get some sleep.” He turned her towards the hall. “I told you I’d come. Why did you wait for me? It’s obvious you haven’t slept in some time.” He frowned at her.
“I was afraid you’d changed your mind,” she answered. She turned and made her way down the hall. Hawk watched her walk away. Shaking his head, he went to change.
Chapter Thirteen
Lydia was no lady to be mocked. She’d been the housekeeper for Mandy’s father ever since Mandy could remember. For propriety’s sake, she’d been dubbed, Aunt Lydia. There had been more than one rumor over the years of a hidden love affair between her and Mandy’s father, but no one ever said this to either of them.
And no one doubted that Lydia was, indeed, a lady.
The dark, exotic eyes of the beautiful, older woman glared at Hawk with an intensity that belied her tiny, five-foot frame. She was standing in the doorway of her kitchen and staring at Hawk, who was sitting at the kitchen table as though he owned the place.
Her feathers were ruffled like a Spanish hen.
Mandy grinned. “Aunt Lydia, this is my long-awaited, mysterious fiancé, finally arrived.” She sensed, rather than saw, Hawk tense at the table.
Lydia puffed up as though she were a chicken protecting her chicks.
Mandy stifled a giggle.
“All of this time.” Lydia wagged a finger at him, “and you have not shown your face. Why show up now?”
“Would I let my love marry McCandle?” He grinned at her.
“No, of course not.” Aunt Lydia flushed at his smile.
Mandy rolled her eyes dramatically. Was there any woman immune to his charms?
Aunt Lydia turned, her dark eyes boring into Mandy’s. “I never believed that story about your mysterious fiancé. Where did you meet him?”
Biting back another grin, Mandy fought to sound plausible. “You remember, when I went visiting Sarah over three years ago.” She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Aunt Lydia frown. After all, it was during that time she’d started telling Ashley she was engaged. Her father simply refused to believe it, and so, it appeared, had Aunt Lydia.
Huffing and grumbling under her breath, Aunt Lydia shooed Hawk from the kitchen with her tiny, manicured hands. “Go on now—I’ve got supper to put on.”
Giving her his most charming smile, Hawk rolled easily to his feet. His lithe grace did not escape Aunt Lydia, if the admiration in her eyes was anything to go by. Mandy groaned. Aunt Lydia was already half won over.
Hawk charmed Aunt Lydia all day, and by the time they sat down to dinner that night, anyone could see Hawk had completely won her over.
When Lydia looked away, Hawk winked at Mandy and grinned.
“Doesn’t it bother you he’s a gun-fighter?” she blurted out.
Hawk glared at her.
“Of course not, child,” Aunt Lydia hastily assured her, smiling at Hawk. “He’s just what we need around here. He is, after all, an able-bodied man, capable of saving the ranch. And it’s plain you two love each other.”
It was Hawk’s turn to scowl, and Mandy’s turn to grin at him.
“What would you think if I took Mandy into town to go shopping?”
Aunt Lydia turned and bestowed him with a beautiful smile. “Why, I think that is a lovely idea.”
She beamed. “Since her father died, she’s had little to bring her joy. It would be wonderful for her.” Her eyes were soft. “Thank you, Hawk.”
Mandy rolled her eyes.
Chapter Fourteen
They had a visitor that afternoon; a very handsome, young man Hawk introduced as Kid. Mandy could tell he was about half Lakota, which must be how he knew Hawk. They exchanged a warm, warrior’s greeting, telling her they knew each other well, and appeared close, like brothers.
Kid’s sharp gaze told her that, in spite his youth, he was dangerous. He didn’t miss anything, and he didn’t miss the way Hawk kept looking over at Mandy. So when Hawk introduced Mandy, Kid’s eyebrows shot up in question, and Mandy groaned. Jake folded his arms, clearly enjoying himself.
Hawk scowled.
Kid just stood there waiting. Hawk snarled at Jake, and Jake raised one brow at him in amusement. Hawk glared at the Kid. “Okay Kid, have it your way. You want an explanation...” He put his arm around Mandy. “I’ve decided to marry.”
Kid’s brows shot up in perfect imitation of Hawk and he grinned. �
��You’re kidding, right?”
Hawk folded his arms as though challenging Kid to dispute him in this.
Kid started to laugh. “You’re not kidding.” From the depth of his bowels he rocked back and forth on his heels with his head thrown back, and he shouted his laughter to the sun till tears ran from his eyes and he had to hold his sides.
Hawk growled every bit as menacingly as any cougar Mandy had ever heard. She jumped at the sound and retreated several steps, shivering at the menace in his eyes.
Kid saw it and only laughed harder. “I’m sorry,” he said between big guffaws. “But this,” his laughter filled the air, “is too perfect.”
Mandy stared at him as though he’d gone mad. The look on Hawk’s face would freeze most men to their toes—and Kid only laughed harder. The man was either a fool, or he had nothing to fear from Hawk.
No. He was a fool.
Kid swung Mandy into a big hug. “Do I get to kiss the bride?” Then, he kissed her before Hawk could say, no. Or perhaps because he knew Hawk would say no.
Hawk growled again, and Mandy jumped back.
“Ahhh..., she’s beautiful,” Kid said. “And man can she kiss.”
Mandy groaned. Kid was a fool. No doubt about it.
Hawk literally snarled. “Touch her again, and I’ll break every bone in your fool neck.”
Kid laughed with delight. “I do believe you’ve got it bad, old man.”
Mandy stared at Hawk with new interest. How odd. Surely he couldn’t be jealous? She smiled to herself, the thought warming her to her toes.
At Kid’s last remark, Hawk realized how much he was giving away and pulled up short. He was making an ass of himself.
Kid sobered. “I got your message. I came as fast as I could.”
Hawk grunted.
“You’re preparing for war, I see.”
“Yes,” Hawk told him and clapped him on the shoulder. “Come, I’ll introduce you to the hands, and we’ll tell you all about it.”
“Oh, no!” Mandy exclaimed when the three of them appeared ready to walk away and leave her standing there. “You don’t get to dismiss me. This is my war—okay, our war,” she amended, because—that look was back in Hawk’s eyes. “But you’re not going to just dismiss me as some unimportant piece of fluff.” She wagged her finger at him.
“Then, come on,” Hawk invited, stepping off the porch.
Mandy stood there a second—not trusting what she’d just heard. That was too easy, she thought after a moment, and took off after them.
Chapter Fifteen
Moving with the stealth of a cat, Mandy moved silently across McCandle’s yard. With practiced ease, she slipped behind a tree and dashed across the darkened grass. She’d been doing this for a long time—but never with Hawk around. He’d have her hide if he caught her.
Slipping a knife from her pocket, she picked open the lock on the veranda door. She closed the door quietly behind herself, and started her weekly search of Ashley’s desk. She had been searching this room periodically for more than a month—to no avail.
She just had to find the combination to his safe. Grandmothers help me sense where to look.
Hearing a noise, she slipped behind the curtain that had become her hiding place whenever he’d come into his office. Once more she kept the vigil that tried the very ends of her patience until Ashley finally went to bed.
What kind of business caused a man to get up in the middle of the night so many times?
Two hours later he finally left, and Mandy breathed a deep sigh of both relief and total frustration. She resumed her search for another half-hour, then silently made her way back out of the house and across the yard.
Maybe next time.
When she arrived home, almost an hour later, she quietly walked her horse toward the barn and prayed she wouldn’t be caught. She unsaddled her horse with trembling hands and brushed her down, settling her in for the night. Then, she slipped up to her room on trembling legs. She scowled. She’d never been afraid before. And it wasn’t Ashley McCandle who made her afraid now.
It was Hawk.
This nightly routine was getting old; and every time she went the stakes got higher, and the risk greater. But now, with Hawk, the risk was simply too great. She could only hope she’d find what she was looking for soon—or catch Ashley opening the safe—because she was bound to be caught by one of them. And, somehow, she thought it would be better to be caught by Ashley.
She lay beneath the covers and tried to calm the rapid beating of her heart. If he didn’t do what she wanted soon, she had little doubt she’d be caught.
She was amazed she hadn’t been already.
How she’d managed it, night after night, both frightened and exhilarated her. Well, it was true—she had help—someone on the inside. Sneaking in wasn’t hard. His hands all turned in before dark for an early morning. Sitting in the same room with him some nights, however, tried her to the limits. But doing so, on so many nights... Sooner or later, he would have noticed the lock on the veranda was sometimes unlocked in the morning—if she hadn’t met Star Flower on her third night there. The beautiful, young Indian maiden had been covering her tracks ever since. But, sooner or later, he would become aware that he was no longer alone in the room—and then, Goddess help her.
Chapter Sixteen
Mandy had been locked down on the ranch for two weeks when she finally had enough. No, they still hadn’t made that trip to town. The problem was, Hawk had her men watching her to make sure she didn’t leave the ranch without him. She chewed this over for a couple of hours before deciding she’d just have to hope she got lucky.
She walked to the barn, acting nonchalant while considering the rage Hawk would be in if he caught up with her. She managed to get her horse saddled without incident, but was mildly surprised when--after waiting for Chuck to walk to the other side of the barn--she was able to lead her horse straight down the lane. Once she was out of hearing distance, she got onto her horse and rode fast.
The problem was—Chuck had also been the one on watch when Ashley had succeeded in sneaking onto the ranch.
She knew a twinge of conscience when she thought of the set-down Chuck would receive if she didn’t beat Hawk home, but the joy of being free after two stifling weeks was too wonderful to allow her to fret for long.
An hour later, she reached town and headed straight for the livery. She walked her sorrel mare to the rear of the stable, unsaddled her, and started brushing her down. Ben always teased her about currying her own horse, but she insisted on doing it herself.
When she arrived at Meg’s house a few minutes later, her friend hugged her. “Where’s Hawk?” Meg looked around her. Not seeing him there, she guessed correctly what Mandy had done, then pulled her friend inside and shut the door. “Mandy tell me you didn’t come alone.”
“The men were all busy.” Mandy laughed. “I wasn’t about to pull one off work, when I can handle a gun as well as, or better than, any of them.”
“Mandy, Ashley has been in a rage. The whole town is talking about it. He’s acting crazy.” Meg’s shoulders dropped. “Well, you’re going to do what you want, despite what I say, but do be careful.”
Mandy frowned. “I will. But I’ve always been able to sense him before. It’s the smell of evil, you know? You can’t mistake it, once you’ve got a good sniff.”
Meg wrinkled her nose and linked arms with Mandy. “Come on, we’ll have tea. You can tell me everything that’s happened.”
Mandy sat down in a comfortable chair in the parlor and told Meg all about Kid. By the time she finished, tears were rolling down Meg’s face.”
“Well, I can’t stay long. I don’t dare risk Hawk beating me home. But it sure has been fun. When this is over, you and I are going to go shopping and eat at fancy hotels. We’re going to do all the things we used to do before McCandle got in the way,” she said with meaning. Just saying it reminded her of all that McCandle had cost them.
“Take c
are of yourself.” Meg handed her a pastry to take along. “Don’t sneak in without Hawk again.”
“I’ll be fine.” Mandy tucked her Colt in her skirt pocket.
When she reached the stable, she again didn’t wait for the livery boy but, instead, began saddling Chance herself. “I know this was a short visit, but it can’t be helped. I’ll give you a little extra grain when we get home,” she told her.
She did not get the slightest sniff of evil and therefore, when it came, she did not sense it coming.
“You’re not going anywhere,” came a snarl from behind her.
She jumped, pivoted around, and came face-to-face to Ashley. She went for her Colt but had no sooner cleared it from the folds of her skirts before he slapped it from her hand. “Damn you, Ashley,” she hissed. And damn the propriety that had kept her from wearing the holster where she’d have had an easier reach.
He grabbed her by the hair, forcing his fingers through her bun and tearing it out. She could never seem to keep her hair up lately, she thought wildly.
He yanked her to him and covered her mouth in a brutal kiss. Mandy was stunned for a second, then gagged and struggled violently. She clawed his face and yanked at his hair, tearing hunks of it from his head, but he paid her no heed. He was mad with his rage, she realized, just as Meg had warned, and didn’t notice the blood running down his face.
“Tell me, Mandy, have you slept with him?” he hissed, twisting her arm.
Mandy paled and shook her head, unnerved.
He stroked her face with his free hand. “I believe you. And I also believe that, if I take your maidenhood, you will marry me.”
“No, I will never marry you!” she screeched in fear. “Never. Do you hear me? Why won’t you listen?”
He sneered. “We’ll see, Mandy, love.” He drug her over and flung her in the hay, nearly crushing her when his body followed, landing heavily on top of her. He pinned her hands above her head and ripped her bodice down, his hands returning to squeeze her breast, painfully.