Wild Innocence (30 page)

“Amelia is fine. The babe will be fine if my wife rests like she should. Rachel was doing Amelia's chores, but she's injured herself.”

Black Hawk stared at the house, waiting for some sign that he could enter and see the woman he loved. “How bad is Rachel hurt?”

“Her father is with her now. She has a nasty cut, but I'm sure she'll be fine. John stitched the wound.”

Black Hawk closed his eyes as relief made him weak. “This is good.”

“Why are you here, Black Hawk?”

The brave looked at his friend. “What is wrong? Why are you angry?”

“Why am I angry? I'll tell you why in one word. Rachel.”

Black Hawk stared at his good friend. “Rach-el.”

Daniel nodded. “You've hurt her,” he snarled. “You touched her!”

“I love her,” Black Hawk said softly.

“You should've—” Daniel halted.
“You what?”

“I love her.”

“You love her,” Daniel echoed. He looked confused. “I see.” He scowled. “No, I don't see, Black Hawk! Tell me again why you're here.”

“I love her. I must see her.”

“And if she doesn't want to see you?” Daniel asked.

“Then I will leave here. I will not bother her again.”

Daniel saw his friend's pain and responded. “Black Hawk—”

A loud shuffling sound from the direction of the cabin porch drew both men's attention.

“I told you to get out!” a feminine voice cried.

“Hold on here!” a male voice answered. “I just want to talk with her.”

Black Hawk's eyes widened as he saw Amelia Trahern dragging the white man out of the house with a firm grip on his ear.

“Get out, Jordan Sinclair!” she scolded. “Go away and don't come back. Rachel doesn't love you. She loves—”

Amelia stopped and turned suddenly to stare at the Ojibwa brave. “Black Hawk!” she whispered.

Jordan jerked free. “Just let me talk with her,” he pleaded. “I made a mistake and I'm sorry. I must tell her I'm sorry. She loves me. I know she does. Just let me talk to her.”

Hearing the commotion from inside the house, Rachel rose from the sofa, where she'd been resting.

She heard Jordan and Amelia arguing as she crossed the great room. Her father had stitched her wound, and her hand throbbed with pain.

Rachel had almost reached the door when she heard Jordan's pathetic appeal to speak to her.
Go away, Jordan! Amelia's right. I don't love you. Go away!

She felt weak and dizzy as she grabbed the door frame and clung. “Jordan!” she gasped.

The young man looked up with relief. “Rachel! Please, I need to talk with you. Please tell your sister to let me inside.”

“Go away,” Rachel said. She closed her eyes and clutched wood and her mind reeled. “I don't want to see you again. I don't want to hear your voice. I want you to leave me alone.”

Jordan placed a foot on the bottom porch step. “I know I behaved badly.”

She issued a short bark of laughter. “Badly?” she said. “That's an understatement, Jordan. You were a cad, and I hate cads. So, please just leave me alone.” Her knuckles whitened as she held on.

“I apologized, didn't I?” he whined. “Why won't you forgive me?”

She raised her eyebrows. “You want my forgiveness.”

He nodded.

“Fine,” she said. “I forgive you.” She sighed. “Now go away.” Feeling sick, she started to turn.

“Rachel!”

“I don't love you Jordan,” she said without looking back. “I love Black Hawk.” She started back across the room toward the sofa.

“An Indian!” he cried as he climbed the porch steps.

Rachel spun back to him in her fury and nearly fell. She caught the edge of the dining table to steady herself.

“He's more of a man than you'll ever be!” she cried.

Stunned by the scene that was rapidly taking place, Black Hawk started toward the house. A hand stopped him on his arm.

“Wait, Black Hawk,” Daniel said softly.

Black Hawk gazed at his friend, then glared at Jordan. His muscles coiled, ready to strike, as the things Jordan was saying increasingly angered him.

As he stared at the house, he saw Rachel at the door, ordering Jordan to back away. The white man stepped back, but only as far as the top porch step.

Jordan got ugly then, abusing Rachel with words, and Black Hawk sprang forward to attack.

“No, Black Hawk,” Daniel said, grabbing the brave's arm. “He's mine!”

Before Black Hawk could react, Daniel was at the man's side, dragging Jordan down the porch steps.

“Daniel, be careful!” Amelia cried as Daniel raised his fist and took the first swing.

Jordan stepped back and threw up his hands. He attempted to hit back, but Daniel caught hold of his wrists and stopped him.

Suddenly, John Dempsey appeared from the trading post across the street. “Let me!” he cried, and he hurried to reach his daughter's former fiance.

Daniel, seeing his father-in-law, stepped back and allowed John to grab Jordan by the collar and give him a lecture while he shook the man silly.

Jordan was disheveled, dirty—and bruised where Daniel had managed to get in one good punch.

It wasn't long before John released Jordan, who scurried away, cursing. He'd admitted he had no hope of getting Rachel back.

John Dempsey and Daniel looked at each other and exchanged grins.

Black Hawk stared at the house, searching for a glimpse of Rachel. He'd wanted to fight Jordan, but the doctor and Daniel had had things well under control.

While the two men congratulated themselves for ridding Rachel of a problem, Amelia spied Black Hawk and waved him inside.

Black Hawk hesitated before climbing to the porch and entering the house. He looked at Amelia. Rachel's sister gave him an encouraging smile.

“You heard her say it,” she said. “She loves you. Isn't it time you told her the same?”

He nodded. Rachel loved him, he thought. He grinned at Amelia and stepped inside.

The interior of the cabin seemed dark after the bright outside light. Black Hawk waited a moment for his eyes to adjust before he searched for Rachel. He didn't see her at first. Then, he saw movement and spied her lying on the sofa across the room, her lovely chestnut hair spread about the seat cushions, her face pale. He stared for a moment at her bandaged hand, until his concern for her pulled him forward. She had her eyes closed, but he was sure she was not asleep.

“Rach-el,” he said in a quiet voice.

He thought he heard her gasp before she sat up and looked back.

His heart started to pound. He saw surprise ... love ... and gladness, until she quickly masked her expression to protect her private thoughts.

He clung to the memory of her loving look. Encouraged, Black Hawk approached the sofa and crouched near Rachel's side. He looked up to meet her gaze.

“I thought you had gone,” he said. “I thought you had gone with Jordan.”

“You did?” Her mouth suddenly went dry as Rachel stared at the man she loved. She could hear the wild pounding of her heart.

“I thought you had married him. I thought you had gone back to Baltimore.” He seemed to hesitate before he spoke again. “You do not love him,” he said, his eyes burning brightly.

Her senses began to hum as the blood began to flow hotly through her veins. “Jordan?” At his nod, she shook her head. “No, I don't love Jordan.”
I love you.

“I am glad.” Black Hawk smiled and rose. He held out his hand, and she took it. He gazed at her with a smile as he gently helped her to stand. “I love you, Rachel Dempsey. If you can forgive this man, I would be most honored to take you as wife.”

Rachel had to swallow against a lump. “You love me?” Her eyes filled with tears when he nodded. “You want to marry me?”

“Yes.”

Rachel couldn't believe it. Black Hawk was here, and he loved her!

“I want to marry you.” He caressed her cheek. “I wish to give you children.”

Her tears escaped to trickle down her cheeks. “Oh, Black Hawk,” she sobbed.

He frowned. “Why do you cry? You do not want me for husband?”

She closed her eyes. “Yes, yes, of course I do.” She sniffed. “I am crying because I'm happy.”

His features brightened. “Then you forgive this man?”

She opened her eyes. “Forgive you?” she asked. “For what?”

“For leaving when I should have stayed.” He wore a scowl as he released her. Then he pulled her into his arms. “For putting vengeance before love.”

She drew back to cradle his face with her hands. “You didn't kill He-Who-Kills-with-Big-Stick,” she said. Rachel smiled. “Spring Blossom told me,” she explained when he looked surprised.

“I wanted you more than vengeance,” he said. “I want you more than anything on this earth.”

“Oh, Black Hawk ...” She felt weepy as she leaned forward and kissed him.

She withdrew and gazed into his eyes. He seemed troubled. “What's wrong?” she asked, afraid.

“Even now, this man has anger.”

She felt a jolt. With her? she wondered. With his father's murderer? Would he ever be free of his pain? “I see.”

“No,” he said as he cupped her shoulders with his hands. “My anger is not with you or He-Who-Kills-with-Big-Stick.” His smile was grim. “It is with the white man Jordan. I did not hit him, and I wish to strike him for hurting you.”

Rachel's eyes widened. She saw the amused resignation in his expression as he looked longingly in the direction Jordan had gone. She grinned. He was all she wanted and more.

“Too much anger to love?” she whispered.

His eyes twinkled. “My anger is not in my heart. There is only love in my heart, Rach-el ... my love for you.”

“Oh, Black Hawk ...”

He pulled her into his arms. When he kissed her, Rachel's world spun, then leveled itself.

“You will be happy in my village?” he asked with concern.

She raised on her toes to initiate another kiss. “Oh, yes,” she gasped before she kissed him a second time.

Rachel pulled back to compose herself. “Yes, Black Hawk,” she said, “I will be happy in your village ... I'll be happy anywhere ... as long as you're there by my side.”

The sound of a baby's wail broke the stillness of the forest. Cries of joy resounded about the Ojibwa village. Ripple-on-the-Water had given birth to a son.

John Dempsey left the wigwam where Rachel and the babe rested. “Black Hawk, you may go in now.” He smiled. “Mother and babe are doing fine.” The doctor appeared happy with his new grandchild as he joined his friends and family, including his visiting sister Bess, where they waited in the village clearing.

Trembling, Black Hawk entered the wigwam. He was anxious to see his wife and child. His gaze fastened on Rachel first. His heart gave a jolt. She lay on her sleeping pallet with her eyes closed, looking tired and pale, but so beautiful that she stole his breath.

As if sensing his presence, she opened her eyes. “Black Hawk,” she whispered, and held out her hand to him.

He went to her without hesitation. “Have you seen our son?” she asked as she captured his hand. She kissed his fingers.

He shook his head. She smiled and gestured toward a cradle that sat on the other side of her bed. Black Hawk skirted the sleeping platform to view his son.

The child was pink, perfect, and had a smattering of dark hair. Black Hawk reached to lift the infant. “He is a fine son,” he said in a choked voice.

“I love you,” Rachel said softly. There was a smile on her lips and love in her eyes for him and their newborn son. “I love you, Black Hawk, and I love our baby.”

He didn't answer her as he returned his son to the cradle. Then he sat on the edge of Rachel's sleeping pallet.

“I love you, Ripple-on-the-Water,” he said. His voice was husky with emotion as he'd seen her tears. Overwhelmed with love for this woman, Black Hawk bent and kissed her.

“Kisakeen,
” he whispered.
“I love you.”

And she smiled.

And life was perfect for them.

Candace McCarthy is the author of 20 romances—18 historicals and two contemporaries. She won the National Reader's Choice Award for her book,
White Bear's Woman,
and has been voted one of
Affaire de Coueur
's Top Ten Favorite Authors on many occasions. She lives in Delaware with her husband Kevin, whom she married over 36 years ago. Candace and Kevin have one son, who is now grown and married, and three granddaughters. She is currently at work on new stories. Readers can find more information on Candace and her books at
www.candacemccarthy.com
.

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