Bobbi Smith (24 page)

Hawk hadn’t given up like Wade and the others.

Hawk hadn’t come back empty-handed.

Sheriff Spiller had said Hawk was the best tracker around. Jack was counting on Hawk to prove it.

Wade settled in at the bunkhouse. He was acting normal, but, in truth, he was on edge. He’d gotten lucky with the rainstorm during their search for Randi, but that didn’t mean Hawk had gotten rained out, too. As far as he knew, the breed was still out there following Randi’s trail. Wade just hoped Fred was moving fast enough to avoid getting caught.

Wade knew he was safe at the ranch for now. No one had any idea he’d been involved in the rustling with Pete. He’d outsmarted them all. The only danger he faced was if Hawk caught Fred, and Fred didn’t keep his mouth shut. For the time being, though, Wade was convinced that everything was going fine. He’d bide his time and hope for the best—he’d hope Hawk never came back.

It was still dark outside when Hawk awoke. Randi was nestled against him, so he remained unmoving, savoring her nearness and the beauty of their love. Those long days on the trail fearing for her safety had been agonizing for him. He had been a driven man, haunted by the memories of another time. Forever he would be thankful that he’d reached Randi in time.

Randi came awake slowly to find herself curled against Hawk. She lifted her gaze to look at him and found that he was awake, too, and that he was staring off into the darkness. His expression was very serious.

“Hawk?” Randi asked softly in a sleep-husky voice. “Is something wrong?”

He was surprised to find she was awake. He smiled down at her.

“No, nothing’s wrong.” Hawk gathered her even closer, knowing it was time. He had to tell her of his past. It wouldn’t be easy, but he wanted Randi to know.

“Good,” she replied, drawing him to her for a gentle kiss.

When the kiss ended, Hawk drew back.

“I was just remembering . . . thinking back to another time. . . .”

“When you were young and lived in the village?”

“No, it was after that.” He paused for a moment before going on. “Randi, there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“I know I love you,” she told him.

Her words touched him deeply. “I love you, too. I never thought I would feel this way again.”

“Again?” She was confused.

“There was a time,” he began slowly, “before I lived in Dry Springs, that I had a different life.” He paused to look at Randi. “There was a time, when I lived with my aunt and uncle on their ranch, that I was married.”

Randi was stunned. “You were married? But—”

“Her name was Jessie, and I loved her very much.” Hawk knew he had to be honest with Randi if they were to have a future together.

She heard the pain in his voice and sensed he was about to tell her something terrible.

“I was gone one day. I was out checking stock with several of the hands when an Apache raiding party attacked the ranch.”

She was horrified by his story. She could see the pain etched in his expression as he went on.

“By the time we returned, the house and outbuildings had been burned to the ground. We found everyone dead—everyone except Jessie.”

“What happened to her?” Randi had to know.

“They’d taken her captive.” Hawk looked at Randi, and their gazes met in understanding.

“Oh, Hawk.” She slipped her arms around him to hold him tightly to her and to comfort him.

“We went after the raiding party. We tracked them for days and were just closing in on them when we found Jessie.”

“Was she . . . ?” For a moment Randi was hopeful, but Hawk’s next words ended her hope.

“Jessie was lying dead on the side of the trail.”

Randi could imagine the horror he had faced.

“Oh, Hawk—I’m sorry.”

He drew a ragged breath. “After losing Jessie, I never thought I would be able to care for anyone again, but then I met you.” Hawk paused for a moment before going on. “I love you, Randi. When you were taken captive—”

She quickly spoke up. “Hawk, you saved me.”

“Thank God.”

“I love you,” she whispered, drawing him down to her. She kissed him, a passionate, caring kiss. She wanted to show him without words the depth of her feelings for him.

Hawk responded to her fully. They came together in a glorious sharing of true love and devotion. With each kiss, with each intimate caress, their passion grew untamed until rapture’s ecstasy burst upon them. They were lost in the splendor of their desire.

Sated, their passion spent, Hawk cradled Randi in his arms. They treasured the intimacy and peace of the moment.

Randi stared around the interior of the tepee and smiled to herself.

“You’re smiling,” Hawk noticed.

“I was just remembering the first time I saw you. I thought you were a warrior.” She raised herself over him to look down into his face. “Now here we are in a tepee, and I know for sure you are one. You’re my love warrior.”

Hawk didn’t say a word. He just showed her how a love warrior responded to an invitation.

It was some time later when exhaustion claimed them both, and, once again they slept.

Hawk awoke at dawn and moved carefully away from Randi. After dressing, he went out to face the new day. The village was still quiet, so he made his way down to the nearby spring to wash up. He was surprised when a pretty young maiden appeared on the bank a short distance away.

“You are the one they call Hawk,” Dove Song stated, moving a little closer to him. She’d just left her own tepee when she’d seen him heading down to the spring. She knew she was being very bold, but she didn’t care. He was so handsome and strong. She wanted to let him know of her interest in him. Her gaze went over him hungrily, taking in the broad width of his shoulders and his lean waist. She was tempted to reach out and touch him, but she stayed a slight distance away.

“Yes, I am Hawk,” he answered her.

“You are new here in our village. Have you come to stay?”

“No. My woman and I must return to our home.”

Dove Song was irritated to learn that the injured white girl was his woman. She had hoped he was unattached and would find her attractive.

“That is too bad,” she said, giving him an inviting look. “You could have been happy here—very happy.”

Hawk didn’t bother to respond. He did not want to encourage her. Randi was the only woman he cared about, the only woman he wanted.

Dove Song left, her disappointment evident.

Hawk took the cloth from his head. The wound was beginning to heal, so he left the wrap off. When he’d finished getting cleaned up, Hawk started back toward the tepee to look in on Randi.

Randi woke up to find Hawk gone. She was sorry he wasn’t with her, but as she lay there, remembering all that had happened between them in the long, dark hours of the night just past, she smiled. Hawk had been a thrilling lover. What they’d shared had been beautiful. Even in the light of day, she had no regrets about giving the gift of her innocence to him. She loved him and wanted to be with him always.

It surprised Randi that she’d slept so soundly. She stretched carefully and was glad to realize she was feeling much better this morning. The potion the medicine man had given her had worked wonders.

Getting up, Randi saw the container of water nearby and was glad. She took the time to bathe as best she could under the circumstances. She longed for clean clothes, but settled for shaking the dirt and dust out her own garments before donning them again. She stepped out of the tepee, feeling a little uneasy going out into the village alone, but she wanted to find Hawk.

Randi was tentative as she made her way through the maze of tepees. She was very aware that the Comanche women and children were staring at her with open interest. She smiled at them, but they didn’t smile back. They just watched her pass by. The villagers’ cool reaction to her definitely made it clear to Randi that she didn’t belong there with them, that she was an outsider. Randi felt isolated, but she continued on, hoping Hawk wasn’t too far away.

Dove Song saw the white woman coming in their direction and pointed her out to Moon Flower.

“There is the white woman. Why does Hawk want her? She is ugly,” she said snidely.

“He has lived in the white world too long,” Moon Flower agreed. “It is too bad.”

“I know. I would have enjoyed being married to the warrior who claimed the phantom stallion for his own.”

They turned their backs on her.

Randi noticed the looks the two younger women had given her and the way they’d turned away as she walked by. She continued on a little farther, but when she saw no sign of Hawk, she retraced her steps. Settling down again inside the tepee, she anxiously awaited his return. She hoped he wouldn’t be long.

Hawk had been on his way back to Randi when he’d noticed Running Wolf standing near a clearing at the far end of the village. He went to speak with him and found that some of the men from the tribe were there breaking horses.

“How is your woman?” Running Wolf asked.

“Sun Chaser is a fine medicine man. The potion he gave Randi seemed to work well.”

“Will you stay with us for a while?”

Hawk would have liked to linger there and visit with his old friend, but he knew how worried Jack must be back at the ranch. “It will depend on Randi. If she’s feeling strong enough to ride, then we will have to leave today.”

“One of the warriors found her horse and brought it in for you this morning.”

“Thanks.”

The news was a relief to Hawk. He’d known he could bargain with Running Wolf for one of the tribe’s horses for the trip back, but he’d been worried about Randi riding one of them, especially without a saddle. It would have been a difficult trek, even for an accomplished rider like Randi.

Hawk stayed on with Running Wolf for a little while longer, then left him to return to Randi. He was anxious to see how she was feeling this morning. He reached the tepee and went in to find her awake and dressed already. She was sitting on the blanket, her hair loose around her shoulders.

Randi had not heard Hawk’s approach, and she tensed when the flap was thrown aside. When she saw it was him, she relaxed and smiled brightly in welcome.

“Good morning.”

“Yes, it is,” he responded.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” Randi said. Her heartbeat quickened at the sight of him. He was so tall and lean and handsome—and he was hers.

“I like the sound of that,” he said, going to Randi and taking her in his arms. “How do you feel?”

“After last night . . .” Her words were softly spoken, and she actually blushed a bit at the memory of the passion they’d shared. “I feel fine.”

Hawk couldn’t resist any longer. He kissed her, savoring the sweetness of her lips. They clung together for a moment; then Hawk put her from him. If she stayed in his arms, he would be hard-pressed to concentrate on making their plan to return to the ranch.

“Are you strong enough to ride out today, or do you think you need another day’s rest?” he asked, ignoring the heated ache that had grown within him at the touch her lips.

“I think I’m strong enough, but how’s your head?”

“It’s much better.”

She was glad to hear that. “Good.”

“Running Wolf said one of the warriors found Angel and brought her in for us.”

Randi smiled happily at the news. “That’s wonderful! I was afraid I’d never see her again.”

“She’s here and ready to go whenever we are.”

“I’m ready. I need to get home. I need to make sure my pa’s all right.”

“Then I’ll let Running Wolf know we’ll be riding out today.”

“Hawk . . .” She said his name softly and went to him, slipping her arms around him and resting her head against his chest. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“I love you, Randi.”

He held her close and tried to ignore his concerns about their future in the real world. This tepee had been their haven, but now they were going to have to leave it. Wanting to treasure this last moment of time they had alone, he held Randi to his heart.

Randi looked up at Hawk. He saw the invitation in her eyes and couldn’t resist. His lips sought hers, and they stood locked in each other’s arms, unaware of anything but the depth of their love.

With great reluctance, Hawk finally put her from him.

“If we don’t leave now, we may never make it back to the ranch. In fact, we might never leave this tepee again,” he told her with a wry grin.

Randi ached to go back into his embrace, but somehow she managed to control the urge.

“You’re right.” She smiled up at him. “We’d better go while we still can.”

They left the peace and serenity of their haven and went to find Running Wolf. He was eating breakfast near a campfire at the center of the village, and they joined him in that meal.

Hawk told him of their plan to leave that day.

Randi was hungry and glad for the food, but she felt out of place and uncomfortable as she listened to Hawk and Running Wolf speaking in their native tongue. She came to understand then just how difficult it must have been for Hawk as a child to leave the tribe and the only way of life he’d ever known, and go to live with his aunt and uncle in the white world. He would have known no one, and he would not have been easily accepted into white society.

She looked up at him and realized, too, what a hard life he’d had. He had learned the white man’s ways and worked to fit in. He had found happiness with Jessie, and then the whole life he’d made for himself had been destroyed. Randi had always known Hawk was a strong man, but now she knew just how strong he really was.

Running Wolf said, “It would be good if you could stay on with us.”

“I have missed you, my friend, but I must take Randi home to her father.”

“You are taking her to her father?” Running Wolf gave him a curious look. “I thought you said she was your woman. You have not taken her as your wife?”

At his words, Hawk faced the reality of what was to come once they returned to the Lazy S. He loved Randi and wanted to make her his wife. It wouldn’t be an easy life for her, being married to him, but he hoped their love was strong enough to overcome any troubles that might come their way.