by Lenore Wolfe
“I’ll kill you,” she screamed at him.
Why wouldn’t anybody come? Surely half the town could hear her. Were they so afraid, they’d let him rape her? She opened her mouth to give a full-blown scream and received a stunning blow for her efforts. She knew little else from that moment on, her mind too hazy from the blow. Then, all went black.
Mandy had no idea how much time had passed when she felt cool air and realized she wasn’t being crushed anymore—but she couldn’t seem to focus.
She wondered if she was even conscious at all. But she could feel the Grandmothers, there, with her.
Center on the Goddess, child, they warned her. You will need to focus more than ever, now. His power grows strong.
Grandmothers, how could this happen? How could I have let this happen?
He has blocked you from detecting McCandle.
He... you mean the man in the dark suit?
Yes, child. There is much danger around you. More than ever before. His power grows strong.
Gentle hands lifted and carried her. A voice spoke softly in her ear. Hawk, she thought drowsily. It had sounded like Hawk. But, no, it couldn’t be him. He didn’t even know she’d left the ranch.
A while later, she woke in Doc’s office. She tried to lift her head, but the pain... she groaned and laid back. “Hold still, Mandy, and it won’t hurt so much,” a voice spoke next to her ear. Gentle hands moved over her, soothed her.
She licked her lips. “Hawk?” she whispered.
“Yes, love, I’m here.”
She took a deep, ragged breath and whispered, “How did you know where to find me?”
“The Grandmothers warned me you were in danger,” he whispered by her ear.
“You can hear them?”
“No. I just knew. And... then, I knew who warned me.”
“Ashley—he...”
“Shhh, love, it’s over,” Hawk told her, softly. “And, for now, he’s hurting too bad to give us much trouble for a few weeks,” he finished with a growl.
She licked her lips. “Did he? Did he...?” she couldn’t say it.
He took her hand in both of his. “No, love, I got there in time to stop him.” Rage filled him at how close of a call it’d been.
“You didn’t kill him?” she hissed. “Good.”
Hawk frowned at her. “I thought you’d be angry that I didn’t. In fact, I would have, but Ben and several other men pulled me off him. Funny thing, since I know every single one of them wanted to kill him, too.”
“Probably instinct,” she whispered. She licked her lips. “I want to kill him, myself. Do you understand? He’s mine. He will die by my hand,” she choked out, struggling to sit.
“All right, Mandy,” he whispered near her ear, pressing her back. “We’ll talk more when you’re well.”
“I mean it, Hawk,” she mouthed, her eyes drifting shut.
Hawk’s eyes glittered with dangerous menace. He was consumed with rage. Never had he known such fear. He’d thought she was lost to him.
“Easy, boy,” Hawk felt the doc’s hand on his shoulder. “That kind of anger will make you careless, and you can’t afford to make mistakes.”
“I just made one. And Mandy paid the price,” he raged in a voice threaded with deep emotion. “What if I can’t protect her?” he bit out through clenched teeth.
“You can, better than anyone I know,” Doc told him. There was a long moment of silence before Doc thoughtfully added, “Who better than you? It makes sense, doesn’t it; him being so dangerous, and you the only one who can take him down?”
Hawk swung and locked eyes with the old man’s. Did he know something?
Doc shrugged. “You got to get over this hate. It’ll eat you up.”
Hawk stared at Mandy. He’d never told the Doc, never told anyone, except Jake—and Kid. “I wish I could forget,” he mumbled.
“Why are you fighting this particular battle?” Doc shot at him.
Hawk’s gaze narrowed on him. “Maybe, in the beginning, I thought I had been handed my revenge on a silver platter—but things change.”
“What things?”
“Her,” Hawk answered, still watching her. “I want her for my wife in fact, not in some farce of a game. I want the life it offers. I’m tired of roaming, never belonging and,” he looked away, “the loneliness.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” The old doc grinned. “Get this behind you, and I wish you much happiness.”
“Thanks,” Hawk said, finally smiling. Now he just had to convince her.
She was dreaming. She knew it, but she didn’t want it to stop.
A peaceful smile touched Mandy’s lips. She dreamed of warm, strong hands that drew her near and wrapped her in a blissful cocoon. Nothing could touch her here.
Here she felt safe.
She fought the light that was shining brightly on her face, threatening to wake her—and make her face reality. She wanted to snuggle in his arms, even if it was only a dream. But warm sunshine, streaming in the open window, forced her into total consciousness. Up, and up, she drifted, until dark lashes lifted and revealed the handsome white Indian lying beside her.
With a start she realized, it wasn’t a dream. She was, in fact, wrapped in Hawk’s possessive embrace. His large, muscular leg lay over her and firmly pinned her to the bed. His arm draped around her, holding her cheek close to his massive chest. From the even rise and fall of his chest, she guessed him to be asleep.
The instant she shifted, that changed.
His beautiful, golden eyes opened, his full, sensual lips turning up at the corners as he mumbled a husky, “Morning.”
Mandy licked her lips and tried to swallow past the dry lump in her throat. Her voice, when she spoke, was a whisper. “Hawk?” she got out. “You shouldn’t be here. Do you realize how this looks?”
His husky voice, when he answered, sent tremors down her spine. “I wasn’t about to let you out of my sight again.”
“You said it yourself; Ashley’s too laid up to bother us for a while,” she pointed out, trying to dislodge his arm.
His arm only tightened. “He can still give orders,” Hawk told her. “Besides, the only one here is Doc.”
With a sigh, she gave herself up to the overwhelming need to be right where she was, snuggled in his protective embrace. It had been so long since she felt safe. The need to hold him—and be held by him—felt so powerful, it frightened her with its intensity.
She realized, with a start, how much she loved this wild, untamed man. That nothing in her life would ever be the same again and, with frightening clarity, she knew she never wanted to know what living without him would do to her, now that he’d woven his way into her heart. Without him, she would never again know happiness, at least not without a shadow darkening it.
So intense was her love for him, it wracked her soul and caused tears to spring to her eyes. Her love for him filled her heart to overflowing, till she felt her heart would burst with joy. She listened to the steady rhythm of Hawk’s breathing as he drifted back off to sleep. She wondered at how easy it was to hold each other now, so peacefully, when every other time they’d gotten within arm’s reach of each other it led to volatile passions: kisses, war, anger and even more violent kisses. But now, here they lay, entwined, with all these intense feelings inside her, yet she felt content to just—be.
Her eyelids grew heavy, and she succumbed to a peaceful sleep with the same blissful smile touching her lips as before.
It was late the next morning when Mandy finally awoke. Hawk had slept, with his head in his arms, at the foot of the bed; had been, in fact, dreaming of Mandy’s kisses—and sunshine. She stirred, and he lifted his head, now fully awake, looking quickly to her.
“You’re awake.” She smiled. “You look like hell.”
“So do you,” he answered with a teasing grin.
She groaned. “I’ll bet I do.”
He came forward and took her hand into both of his. “I oughta tan your
backside for what you did.”
She looked into his eyes. “Would it help to say I’m sorry?”
“If you ever place yourself in danger like that again, you can expect swift retribution.”
Mandy lowered her eyes. “It was really foolish, wasn’t it?” And if he knew about her weekly escapades to Ashley’s house... and every effort to get inside his safe... “But I honestly thought I could take care of myself. I could always sense him before. But I did not this time,” she whispered. “I cannot believe I did not sense him.”
Hawk’s gaze narrowed on her. “Do you know why that is?”
She looked up at him. He wasn’t going to like this. “It is the man in the suit.”
A muscle jumped in his jaw, and he looked away.
“The Grandmothers tell me he grows stronger.”
Hawk looked at her with such tenderness, it made her heart jump. “Then we will just have to be more careful; more so now than ever, because I’m never losing you to the likes of him.” He pushed a hand through his hair in frustration. “Mandy, it’s time we got married,” he told her bluntly, then wanted to kick himself for being such a clod. He should have asked her, not told her. But he was just so afraid she’d say no. Well, he’d come this far, there could be no help for it, now.
“Just like that. You say it, and it’s done. Is that it?”
“Ashley has upped the ante, and besides, you’ve only a few days left to marry—or forfeit your ranch.”
Mandy was crushed. She knew they were going to get married. He’d made that clear. The Grandmothers had made that clear. Heck, her dreams had made that clear. But she’d hoped he’d want to marry her; not to fix her father’s will, not to stop McCandles, not even for destiny—but for her. “And what happens when it’s over? Do we divorce?” Mandy asked, holding her breath.
“Heed me well, my woman. You will always be mine,” he growled. “You marry me—there will be no divorce. I will never let you go.” With that, he strode from the room.
Well, she thought with a smile, it’s a start.
When next Mandy woke, it was to find Hawk next to her again, his lips nuzzling her neck, and a wild, raging fire tearing through her breast. Where before she’d felt a warm tingling, now that was replaced by an all-consuming heat. She felt hot—and when she turned and met Hawk’s lips—her last coherent thought was that he felt hot, too.
A knock on the door had Hawk springing from the bed, and Mandy snatching up the covers with a hot flush staining her cheeks. Meagan opened the door an instant later, sweeping into the room with a beautiful wedding gown in her arms.
“It’s ready?” Hawk questioned with an ease that had Mandy glowering.
How could he be so calm, while she, herself, lay shaking to the point she had to hide her hands and bite down on her trembling lips?
“With a few alterations, as soon as Mandy tries it on, it will be,” Meg answered, with a lighthearted giggle. “Oh Mandy, how I envy you—snapping up a man like Hawk.”
Mandy frowned. What had gotten into her friend? “What’s going on?” she demanded.
Hawk’s golden eyes held her aquamarine ones. How could he touch her so from across the room? She was quickly reminded of the events of just moments before that, to her irritation and his delight, had her blushing again.
“I know it’s every bride’s dream to wear a beautiful gown to her wedding,” he told her softly. His words caressing her like a kiss.
“Oh dear,” Meg murmured, finally noticing Mandy’s well-kissed lips.
Mandy turned a baleful glare on her friend. “Not one word,” she warned.
Meg only laughed. “I can’t wait to see Ashley’s face.”
“Not until after the wedding!” Hawk reminded her sharply.
Meg blinked. “Well, of course.” Her answer was a smug smile. “But then, I shall march right over, the instant you’re on your way home, and relay the happy news.”
Listening to them, dawning crashed over Mandy’s head. He intended to marry her—now—today. “There’s not going to be a wedding!” she growled, sending two pairs of eyes in her direction. “Not today!” she quickly amended, seeing Hawk’s fierce, dark look.
“Explain yourself!”
Hawk, I simply can’t go to my wedding with a giant bruise on the side of my face.”
Hawk’s eyes glittered. He swallowed his disappointment at her obvious lack of enthusiasm.
“The bruise is on the side of your head, Mandy. Your face is virtually unmarked.” He fetched a mirror off the highboy and held it front of her so she could see.
She sat up and bent her knees, looking in the mirror.
“I swear he’ll pay for what he’s done to you,” he said, misreading the pain in her eyes.
“He already has, from what everyone has told me,” she told him softly. But her eyes had been betraying her anguish and fear at having no more barriers to put up against him. She could not let the McCandles win.
Maybe Hawk would love her—someday.
“That’s only the beginning of what I have planned for him,” Hawk growled, dragging her thoughts back to the present.
Meagan sat on the other side of the bed and examined her head. “Why, if he had hit your face as hard as he hit your head, he’d have broke your jaw,” she breathed, her crystal-blue eyes wide with shock. “The whole side of your head is purple.”
Mandy’s own eyes flew to Hawk’s, and saw a menacing expression run over him unlike anything she’d witnessed before. But then, she hadn’t been very alert when he’d pulled Ashley off of her. She changed the subject before he decided to have another go at Ashley. “Hawk, I can’t do this today...”
“Be there at three.” He slammed out of the room.
“Arrogant, insufferable brute,” she flung after him, hitting the bed with her fists, “always telling me what to do!”
“I heard that Mandy,” he growled from the hall.
Meagan shook her head with reproach, peeking out into the hallway to make sure Hawk had actually gone this time. “Mandy, you should have seen him when you were unconscious,” she told her, when she was sure he was gone. “He was quite out of his mind. He only wants to protect you from Ashley.” Meg’s eyes narrowed on her friend in total seriousness. “He really cares for you. Let him love you, let him help you and protect you, as only a husband would.
Mandy snorted, unladylike. “And how long will he care, Meg? How long before he gets restless and moves on? I will not fool myself into thinking this is a real wedding. It’s a bargain—nothing more. A farce I started with my anger. I get a husband’s protection and Ashley off my back; on at least the marriage part.” She looked down at the coverlet she was picking at with her nail, and took a deep breath so her voice wouldn’t betray her pain. “I’ll probably never know what Hawk’s getting out of this. He’s after his own revenge, but he won’t tell me what it is.”
Meagan frowned. “He knew Ashley—before meeting you?”
Mandy nodded. “Knew him—and hates him more than I do, if you can believe that.” She ran her fingers through her hair and turned away. “I’ve seen how he looked at Ashley when he didn’t think anyone was watching him. He hates him with a bitterness that can only bode ill for all of us.” She glanced at Meg, and was surprised to see her friend’s frown deepen until it furrowed her brow.
Meg’s eyes suddenly brightened, and she smiled. “Maybe so, but I saw Hawk hover over your bed, frantic with worry. He cares deeply for you, no matter his thoughts of revenge for Ashley.” She brushed imaginary wrinkles from Mandy’s wedding gown. “And you love him, despite your own vows of revenge against the McCandles. So, you see, your love and your mutual goals will see you through.”
Mandy fell back against her pillows—and groaned.
Meg looked at her and frowned. “Besides, aren’t you forgetting something? Isn’t that the destiny the Grandmothers have told you about?” She smiled when Mandy buried her face. “You would like to pretend otherwise, because it scares you so mu
ch. But the Grandmothers have told you that he is. And you, yourself, have dreamed of him for many years.” She shook her head when Mandy would have argued. “No, Mandy. You have dreamed of this—for years. You know this is your path—as you say.” She laid her hand on Mandy’s arm. “You’re just scared. And it’s understandable. He affects you deeply, anyone can see that... but the Grandmothers were right—he is your destiny. So stop fighting it!” She grinned.
Mandy buried her face in the covers and resigned herself to her fate.
Chapter Seventeen
Beads glittered on Mandy’s dress and veil, matching the tears glistening in her eyes. She stared at her reflection in the old mirror, held in place by gnarled, curled hands of carved oak. It was her wedding day. Brides are supposed to be happy on their wedding day, she thought with despair. What kind of bargain had she made? What kind of happiness could she ever find in such a bargain; forever loving him, and he never returning her love? Eventually getting restless; maybe even taking up with town whores. “Not bloody likely!” she growled aloud, making Meg jump. She’d kill him first.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her gown was exquisite. It clung tightly to her waist, thrusting up and enhancing her bosom. The v-shape made her small waist appear tiny. The gown was covered with yards of lace; Meg’s lace, she thought with a smile. Meg had a passion for lace.
She gave Meagan a hug, causing her friend to frown with worry. Meg had piled her hair up high on her head. Hundreds of tiny ringlets spilled softly down, and a beautiful lace veil lay in folds over her hair and shoulders.
“You’re a beautiful bride,” Meg whispered, with tears in her eyes.
Mandy smiled through her own tears.
Doc cleared his throat at the door, and both women turned and smiled at him. He grinned at Mandy. “My dear, you are indeed a vision.”
Mandy crossed the room and hugged him. “Thank you for agreeing to give me away,” she whispered in his ear, afraid to speak out-loud for fear her voice would betray her.