by Lenore Wolfe
The little girls put up tipis, and the young boys brought them small game, pretending to be great warriors. Mandy smiled at their antics and laughed out loud when she spotted two boys snatch some meat off the drying racks and run.
She sat, trying to picture having Hawk’s son. What would he be like? Would he have Hawk’s golden-green eyes? Would they sparkle with mischief like these boys’? She placed her hand over her lower abdomen. Was it possible that, even now, she carried his son under her heart? In the heat of the sun, she lay back and went to sleep on the grass.
In her dreams, she ran like the wind. She had done it now. He would paddle her for sure. She’d been teasing him all morning, making him want her, then eluding him. She had no more guards to put against him. It didn’t matter whose blood ran in his veins. She loved him with all her being.
And when she woke, she knew—she would run from her husband—no more.
She was laughing, running though the creek near where they bathed, when he caught her. She went down and came up sputtering. “Damn you, Hawk.” She looked down at her beaded dress. “You’ve ruined it.”
He picked her up and hauled her to shore. Setting her down, he pulled the dress off over her head.
She shivered, not from the cold but from the heat in his eyes and the answering tempo in her body.
“I can see it in your eyes,” his husky voice settled over her like his fingers on her skin. “Now, say it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’ve waited for you to decide,” he growled. “Only your stubborn pride is stopping you from saying the words.”
She lifted her chin, and he pushed his hand though his hair in frustration. When he looked at her again, his eyes were warm. He cupped her face. “I need you, now. I know you want to be with me, Mandy. You set me on fire. You’re making me crazy.”
She looked up with tears in her eyes. She lowered them, but he hooked his finger under her chin and brought her eyes back to meet his. “Say it, Mandy. Say, you don’t want to leave me. Say you want to be with me.”
Her breath shuddered within her when she looked into his eyes. The emotion she saw there completely undid her, and she did him one better. “I love you.”
Hawk went completely still. Every beat in his heart had waited for this moment. Every dream a man could dream, but was too afraid to hope, lay suspended on a silvery thread in that very moment. “Say that again. I need to be sure I heard you right.”
Mandy smiled at him, her heart in her eyes. “I love you, Hawk. I love you with my whole heart, and my whole being. I love you with everything there is, and everything there ever will be inside me.”
He crushed her to him. “And I love you,” he whispered in her hair. He laid her in the grass. He kissed her, ravaging her mouth with a fierce love, born from the fear he’d felt when he’d thought her lost to him. She matched him, kiss for kiss, raking her fingers over his naked, muscular back. “Skuye—sweet.” He possessively laid claim to her breast. “Wiwasteka—beautiful Woman.” He teased her until she whimpered and begged for more. Only then, did he move between her legs and enter her in one hard thrust.
With each rock of his body, he brought her with him, took her to a place only lovers go. And when she climaxed violently, he was with her. Then, he lowered his head to hers, and with warm tears in his golden eyes, he said those words again. “I love you, my woman. Mitawin... wastelakapi—forever beloved.”
She turned on her side, watching him. Taking a piece of grass, she tickled his nose until he playfully swatted at her. “What were you thinking about?” she asked, softly, when he had successfully pinned her down.
Hawk smiled wryly, and flopped back over onto his back. “A lot of things,” he answered with a sigh.
“This is the first time in seven years that I’ve slowed down long enough to do much thinking. Truth be told, I think I ran away from having to do any thinking.”
She gave him a soft smile. “That’s understandable. Many people run from pain.”
They lay there in the grass, enjoying the warm, autumn day, listening to the babble of the brook and smelling the warmth of the sunshine on the grass, with the lingering scent of autumn flowers.
“Tell me how you were captured?” she asked after a moment.
His expression turned stony, and she instantly regretted the question. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t mean to bring back bad memories.”
Hawk watched her for several long moments. “My mom died when I was six. One day she was there—and the next... She died giving birth to my sister.
“My father wouldn’t even look at her—I guess he blamed her. Then, one day, several months later, he took me and headed west.” He stared at her, but didn’t see her. He was deep in the past. He absently rubbed a lock of her hair between his thumb and fingers. “He was never the same,” he nearly whispered. He cleared his throat. “One day, weeks into the long wagon ride west, he told me to go to the river, and no matter what, not to come back until he came for me.”
“When I heard the gunshots, I disobeyed him and came back. I hid in the nearby bushes, frozen with fear.” Hawk paused, lost deep in thought, seeing it all again as though it were yesterday. “They were white men.” His voice went hoarse. “They killed every man, woman—and child. And then I got the biggest shock of all—my father was one of them.” His tone held so much hate that Mandy wanted to cry. “He helped them kill our friends.”
Mandy gasped, her hand flying to her throat. He must have thought her mad when she’d accused him of getting the ranch for such a man.
“Anyway, when it was over, the burning wagons drew a hunting party, and a Cheyenne warrior from the party adopted me as his son. They raised me as one of their own. I knew much love and happiness there.” He laughed, remembering.
Mandy was speechless, imagining it all. “Why did he do it?” she whispered. “Why would he do such a thing?
He looked at her, his eyes flinty. “For the money.” Mandy shook her head, unable to imagine such butchery—and for so little gain. Fighting for survival was one thing. It was what the Lakota fought for, and while she didn’t always agree with their methods, she did understand them. But this...
“I told you the Crow killed my Cheyenne father,” his voice pulled her back. “White man’s disease killed my Lakota family, and almost half my tribe, as the doc told you if I recall right.”
Yes,” she said softly. “I remember.” That’s when you met Doc, after you were beaten for being an Indian.”
Hawk nodded. “And you know the rest.”
“Your father said he was sorry he rejected you. What did he mean by that?”
Hawk scowled. “I found him after my Lakota family died, right before the doc found me.” He flipped over on his stomach. “He wasn’t too pleased with the changes in his son.”
Tears welled in Mandy’s eyes. She reached out and touched his shoulder, and he rolled over onto his side and kissed her. “You’re all that’s right in the world,” he whispered in her hair. And he made slow, passionate love to her again.
Mandy was flabbergasted when Hawk, and several of his friends, came over that evening, leading nearly a hundred horses loaded down with blankets, guns, bows, arrows, and other such items. They staked these horses outside the tipi.
So many horses were unheard of. What was he doing? She was already his wife.
Ten Bears didn’t even look up for several long moments. Finally, when Mandy knew her heart would leave her chest, Hawk’s emissary entered the tent and, when invited to, sat down, and they smoked and made small talk.
Two Stars took Mandy’s hand and led her away.
“What are they doing? I’m already Hawk’s wife!” Mandy exclaimed.
Two Stars shrugged. “Your man wants to do this thing the Lakota way. It is good he wants this.” She giggled. “Father is enjoying this.”
“Too much,” Mandy growled in perfect imitation of Hawk.
She watched
Hawk’s emissary leave, then her eyes widened to see all the male members of her adopted family enter the tent. “They’re taking this way too seriously,” she muttered under her breath.
Two Stars took Mandy’s hands in hers. “Father will not refuse him. Your man is a great warrior. He will welcome him into the family.
But Mandy didn’t relax until they had distributed the horses amongst the relatives—a signal they had accepted the match.
Two Stars painted Mandy and braided her hair. Then, she brought out a beautiful, white, buckskin dress.
“It’s beautiful,” Mandy breathed.
Two Stars giggled and lowered her eyes. “We worked on it all night—to surprise you.”
Mandy’s eyes were shining. “Pilamaya—thank you.”
When they had her all dressed, Two Stars stood back. “You are wiwasteka—a beautiful woman.”
They heard the laughter, then, and the many people approaching the tent, long before they arrived. The closer they got, the harder Mandy’s heart drummed in her chest. She had married Hawk in the way of the white eyes. Now, she would marry him in the way of the Lakota. Somehow, this time took on much more meaning. Maybe it was because, this time, she knew Hawk wanted this—as much as she wanted him.
When he came for her, she closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing normally. When she knew that he was outside the tipi, she thought she would strangle from her thundering heart.
He rapped on the tipi door, and she called, “Tima hiuwo—come in.” He threw back the door and entered the tipi and just stood there for a moment. All the love he felt for her shining in his golden eyes.
Finally, he strolled forward and took her hand. “I love you, my woman. My wife.”
She breathed deep—and trembled. “I love you, my husband.”
He led her outside to a beautiful mare. Mandy’s eyes flew wide when he set her on the mare’s back.
“For me?” Mandy whispered.
Hawk nodded. “You may name her whatever you wish.”
An old woman, named Twin Flowers, led the mare to the tipi of the family who had taken in Hawk
One of Ten Bears’ wives followed, leading several of the gift horses.
Several of Mandy’s male, Lakota relatives carried her in and set her on the blankets. There, several of the females redressed her in the new buckskin dress they’d specially made for her. Then, they re-braided her hair and reapplied her paint. When they were finished, she stood beside Hawk as Ten Bears said a few words.
Hawk turned to her when he was finished. “I promise to love you, provide for and protect you, all the days that I live.”
With tears in her eyes, Mandy squeezed the hand holding hers. “I promise to love you. I will cook for you and keep your home. I will bear your children and keep you warm at night.”
Hawk chuckled and hugged her. “You better,” he whispered in her ear.
“But I won’t promise to obey,” she whispered back.
“You already did—in the way of the white eyes.” She scowled at him.
All the women sent up a cry into the wind. The warriors all whooped as Hawk led her to the tipi. And long into the night, the Lakota celebrated their union.
Hawk and Mandy had a celebration of their own.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Mandy breathed deeply of the smells of autumn. It was just her and Hawk out here. It was so nice to have some time alone together. She just couldn’t figure out why Hawk was so quiet. He’d hardly said a word all day.
Hawk pulled up. “We’ll camp here tonight.”
“Why are we stopping so soon? We still have plenty of daylight left.”
“You have been looking pale all day, and I don’t want to push it too hard. We don’t want anything to happen to you, or the baby.”
“Is that why you have been so quiet all day?”
“I suppose it is.” He helped her down from the mount, and pulled her bag off the saddle. “I’ve been thinking about you—and the baby.”
“Here I thought I had done something.” She started to unsaddle her horse.
Hawk stopped her. “Let me do that.” He pulled her hands gently from the straps. “There’s a hot spring just through those bushes.” He nodded in the direction he wanted her to go. “You could go have a nice, long soak. I’m sure it has been a long day for you.”
Mandy squealed in delight. “Oh that sounds so wonderful, but are you sure?”
“Of course,” he grinned. “But only if I can join you in a few minutes.”
“Mmmm, that sounds marvelous,” her voice was husky. She went to get her soap and a clean night-shirt out of her saddle bags.
“I’ll be along shortly then.”
Mandy walked away, smiling. Things were okay after all. She could barely keep herself from skipping along. Coming to the small pond, it looked like she had found heaven. Everything was green. It had grass banks on one side, and a cliff going straight up on the other, with a waterfall coming over it. Lush, green trees and bushes made it completely secluded.
She took her off clothes slowly, indulging in how it felt to stand gloriously naked there, in the warm, fall breeze—it felt more than a little erotic. Letting her hair down, one pin at a time, until it fell loosely down her back, she shook it free and reveled in the feel of it against her skin.
Hawk stopped as he came around the corner, all the breath sucked out of his lungs. She was beautiful standing there. He felt as though someone had granted him a special spot in the circle of things, to be a part of her life. They would be together—for always.
Coming up behind her, Hawk reached up and ran his fingers through her hair, a hiss escaping through his teeth.
Kissing the side of her neck and nipping at her ear lobe, Hawk whispered, “I love you.” Mandy giggled at him and went to pull away but, instead, found herself pinned—in his embrace.
He picked her up and set her gently on the grassy bank, loving her with slow, silky caresses.
Laying contented in Hawks arms, later that evening, she watched him sleep. Mandy wondered if there was any way possible they could be together, forever.
The next morning, Hawk woke Mandy by tickling her nose with a feather.
She kept rubbing her nose, trying to brush away the tickle, until she finally opened her eyes to find him grinning down at her. “Oh you—what a beast.”
“What am I supposed to do, let you sleep all day?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was so late.” She stretched and started to get up. “We’d better get going.”
“That’s not exactly what I had in mind. I was thinking more along the lines of this.” Hawk leaned over and kissed her. Then, kissed her again, and again, until his kisses were no longer soft—but passionate, and her responses matched his own. They made love all morning, then went for a long walk.
Late that afternoon, Hawk went hunting. While he was gone, Mandy straightened up the camp. Then, she sat down to finish beading a pair of knee-high moccasins she was making for Hawk, barely getting them hidden before he came back to camp, carrying a small deer over his shoulder.
“Is that dinner I see slumped over your shoulder, or do you always go around offering rides to the game.” It was lame, and she blushed, but she had accomplished what she set out to do—distracting him.
“Actually, it is dinner, and you could be a good wife and cook it for me. But if I were to be offering rides to anyone...” He gave her a lecherous, suggestive gaze.
Mandy blushed, promptly changing the subject.
After skinning the deer, they relaxed while they were waiting for it to cook. Hawk went to move the lump under his back, pulling out the moccasins she was beading for him.
He looked at her, uncertainty showing in his eyes.
“What are these for? Why did you hide them?”
Mandy couldn’t look up, suddenly shy. “They were a present for you. I just finished them while you were gone.” She finally managed to look at him. “I’ve been working on them s
ince we went to the buffalo hunt. I had a hard time keeping them a secret from you.”
Realizing she was rambling, she bit out. “Why don’t you try them on and see if they fit?”
Before she even got finished, Hawk was taking off his old moccasins and putting on the new ones Mandy had made for him.
“Do they fit?” She bit her lip. “Do you like them?”
“I love them. They’re perfect. Especially since they came from you. I’m sorry I reacted that way. It’s just nice, you making me moccasins.”
Looking into Hawk’s eyes, Mandy saw that they seemed so soft, like melted butter. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her so softly she wanted to weep with it. “I have never had someone do something so special for me before. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything at all.”
The forest smelled of the fresh scent of pine as the sun warmed the trees, causing the sap to run. A warm breeze lifted Mandy’s hair as they rode along the trail.
She breathed a contented sigh as her horse slowly picked its way through the rocks. The warm sun shone on her face, and she felt as though she could smile forever.
If only there wasn’t the ever-present shadow of Ashley McCandle looming over her shoulder.
She watched Hawk riding his horse ahead of her, the muscles in his back rippling. She could watch him forever.
“If you keep looking at me like that, we’re going to take another break.”
Mandy giggled. “And how exactly am I looking at you?”
Hawk growled, swinging down from his mount.
Mandy laughed, and swung her horse around to run, but Hawk drug her off into his arms.
He made love to her, slowly, with hunger, right there in the grass.
Tears stung her eyes, her emotions were so overwhelming. He pushed her hair back from her eyes and kissed her face. “I love you,” she told him and buried her face in his shoulder
“I love you.” He kissed her gently. “And we are never going to make it home.”