Surrender to Love (14 page)

    Perhaps it was time to move on with his life.

Chapter 18
    THE SKY was cloudless the following morning, adding to Jordan's good mood. Having slept eight hours, she woke refreshed and excited for the day ahead, knowing she was spending the entire day with Gray Hawk.
    Being a workday for Kari, she'd already left for town and the children were staying on at the ranch to spend the day with Shane. Some of the other hands had already left for Brogan, but Jordan and Gray Hawk lingered a while longer, enjoying breakfast together for once.
    Though she would have preferred to ride her horse into Brogan, she had a long list of supplies, and therefore opted to take the wagon. And she was glad when Gray Hawk joined her, their legs touching as the wagon rocked along the rutted roads.
    She loved the possessive feel of his long fingers on her thigh, and the heat of his body as the wagon rolled along. Gray Hawk pointed out different types of flowers, trees and birds to her. She realized how much he respected the land. She listened intently as he talked, loving the sound of his voice, enjoying being able to stare at his strong profile without seeming obvious. It brought back memories of being with him at his village where it seemed they had much more time alone. There they had at least been able to sleep in the same quarters, within inches of the other. Here, that would be unthinkable.
    With every mile she yearned to ask him if he intended to stay, or if one day he would return to his people. Yet every time she opened her mouth to ask, she became too frightened of what the answer might be, so she chose instead to remain silent.
    When they arrived in Brogan, she stepped down from the wagon, deciding to leave it near the mercantile. "Do you want to join me, or would you rather see what the men are up to?" she asked, knowing what his answer would be. There wasn't a man around who would willingly want to go shopping.
    "I'll see what the men are up to," he said with a boyish grin.
    "I'll meet you in half an hour right here," she said, flashing a smile before heading off to do the shopping.
    Gray Hawk could feel the stares of the townspeople all the way to his bones. As he walked along the dusty street, he heard a man whisper `dirty breed', under his breath. A woman who had been walking toward him, saw him and crossed the street, her expression full of shock as though she couldn't believe he had the nerve to be in her town. Her young son buried his head into his mother's skirts as though he would shrivel into nothing if he were to look Gray Hawk in the eye.
    Pretending not to notice, Gray Hawk moved in long strides toward the saloon, looking forward to spending a few minutes of idle time with the men of the Triple T, all of whom had become good friends.
    Brogan would be like any other town. There would be those who feared him, and those who didn't--like Shane and his men, Kari, Rebecca, and of course, Jordan. She was the only thing that felt right these days. For all that he enjoyed his life now, he missed his father, and felt with every day he stayed away, he was betraying him and his people. He should return to them, yet he couldn't when he was so unsure of the future. Never had he been so torn as he was now. For all that he enjoyed ranching, he missed his friends and family, and the hunting.
    Hearing the sound of the piano coming through the swinging doors across the street, he headed in that direction when a voice stopped him.
    "Can I help you, partner?"
    Gray Hawk turned to face a man, who was not much older than himself. His piercing blue eyes were not kind as he lifted his chin. There was an air of arrogance about the man that set Gray Hawk's teeth on edge.
    "I'm just going to the saloon," Gray Hawk said, taking another step in that direction when the man lowered his rifle, blocking his way.
    "What ya doing in Brogan, boy?"
    Gray Hawk's shoulders stiffened, and when he met the man's lethal glare, he noticed his thumb inching the hammer of the gun back. "I work at the Triple T."
    The sheriff lifted his brow. "The Triple T, huh? We don't get much of your kind around here?"
    "And what kind would that be?" Gray Hawk fought to keep the rage he felt from his voice.
    The man rolled back on his heels, the corners of his mouth lifted in a smirk. "Where exactly you from, boy?"
    It was all Gray Hawk could do not to plant his fist in the man's face. "Who you calling boy?" Gray Hawk asked, taking the step that separated them until he could smell the strong scent of liquor on the man's stale breath.
    "Are you trying to pick a fight with me, boy?"
    Gray Hawk lifted a brow, but remained silent, holding onto what little patience he had left.
    "I asked you a question."
    "And I've answered it. Now I wish to be left alone."
    "Listen, if you want trouble, you've came to the wrong town."
    "I'm not making trouble. I'm just wanting to go into the saloon and have a beer with my friend."
    The sheriff spit at his feet. "We don't want your kind here."
    Gray Hawk shook his head. What a fool he was to think he would be accepted in this kind of society. He was different from them, not only by looks, but by cultures, and as they saw it, he was beneath them.
    He glanced up to see a crowd had gathered around, obviously anticipating a fight. Women huddled together, their eyes wide with fear, while the men watched him with expectation, as though they knew it would end in a fight.
    A wave of homesickness swept through Gray Hawk.
    He had left his people for this?
         HAVING COMPLETED her shopping early, Jordan crossed the street with the intention of visiting Kari at the dress shop before finding Gray Hawk and heading back to the ranch. She was so excited at the prospect of being with him the whole day, it took her a moment to realize that something was wrong.
    Seeing a crowd forming in the street, Jordan felt a sense of foreboding when she saw Gray Hawk, his tall frame standing head and shoulders above the others. Her pulse skittered. If she wasn't mistaken, the sheriff was with him.
    "He's a breed. Who does he think he is coming here? We don't want his kind," an old gentleman was saying, keeping a safe distance from the ensuing argument.
    Another lady shuddered. "He scares me. He's so, so filthy."
    Murmurs of agreement sounded by the others, then a gasp rang out over the crowd. "Look, the sheriff's going to fight him," another said, excitement lacing his voice. Jordan was horrified to see that Gray Hawk and the sheriff were arguing.
    "They should hang him," one man said as they watched mesmerized.
    "The sheriff's always hated breeds. Once heard his father had a soft spot in his heart for some squaw. I bet he puts a bullet in him."
    Jordan's breath lodged in her throat, finding it hard to believe these people could be so callous. She was close enough to see the lethal expression on Gray Hawk's face, and knew if she didn't do something fast, things could turn deadly.
    Wedging her way through the people, she went to Gray Hawk and took his hand. "Let's go," she said, ignoring the sheriff whose eyes rounded in disbelief.
    "You with this man, Miss?" he asked, his words sounding more like a dare than a question.
    "Yes, I'm with him. Is there a problem?"
    "You work at the Triple T as well...with Miss Hoffman, is that right?"
    Jordan met his gaze unflinchingly. "Yes, we're cousins."
    The sheriff's smile was almost predatory as he stared at her, his gaze slipping down her body in disgust. "Well, I suggest you and your...friend here, head back to the Triple T, where you belong."
    Unable to stand his horrible sneer any longer, Jordan, with Gray Hawk at her side, walked away from the sheriff and onlookers. His fingers were stiff beneath her hand. She could feel his hatred and humiliation.
    "Don't pay any attention to them," she said, squeezing his hand tight. "They don't know anything about you."
    Still, she could hear the gasps and outraged comments of the onlookers, but she didn't care. The only concern she had was for Gray Hawk. "I love you, Gray Hawk," she whispered, not sure if he heard her or not because he didn't respond.
    But a moment later he stopped and looked down at her, his expression full of pain. "You don't have to do this. I can take care of myself." Even though he said the words matter-of-factly, there was pain in his eyes that contradicted his words.
    She cocked a brow and grinned. "Are you saying you're embarrassed to be seen with me?"
    His smile was slow in coming, but devastating when it did. "You know I'm not."
    "Good, now let's get back to the ranch and have that picnic lunch by the pond."
    Gray Hawk swept a wayward curl out of her eyes. Jordan wished people knew this man the way she did. He was compassionate, warm, sincere, and she loved him with all her soul.
    "Injun whore!"
     Jordan flinched as though struck. The word was said with such venomous loathing, she felt it all the way to her bones. She met Gray Hawk's tortured eyes and bit her bottom lip as she turned to her accuser, an older gentleman, who looked to have seen better days. But she didn't have time to respond, because Gray Hawk was in his face before she could blink.
    "You owe the lady an apology," Gray Hawk said, his fury evident by the nerve ticking in his jaw.
    The man was trembling, but he puckered his lips, then spit right in Gray Hawk's face.
    Then to Jordan's horror, all hell broke loose.
         "DAD, SOMETHING'S wrong."
    Shane threw the shovel aside as he followed the direction of Tanner's gaze. Coming over the hill were twenty or more men on horseback, followed by a wagon, and if he wasn't mistaken, there was a person lying in the back.
    "You and Rebecca go inside."
    "But Dad--"
    "Tanner, go," he said, grabbing his hat and running to meet the wagon.
    His heart pounded in his chest the closer they came. He did a head count of his men, wondering which one was injured, or God forbid, dead. In all these years he'd been fortunate not to lose anyone, but he feared his luck had changed when he saw Jordan in the back of the wagon.
    He knew then it had to be Gray Hawk.
    "What happened?" he shouted, as the wagon came to a stop.
    "He was shot," Hank said, anger lacing his words.
    "Shot?"
    "Boss, we were all in the tavern, when we heard this big ol' ruckus outside. That's when we saw Gray being beat up on by a whole group of men. We joined in, but the next thing we know is a shot's fired and Gray hits the ground. Think the sheriff did it, but the weasel says he's innocent and no one is talking."
    "That son of a bitch," Shane said through clenched teeth, helping Jordan down.
    Jordan's face was streaked with tears. Shane took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "It's going to be all right. We'll take care of him. Why don't you go in and have Tanner and Rebecca get the things we need to clean him up."
    She nodded and raced up the stairs.
    Gray Hawk's face was white, his once blue shirt stained red with blood. Shane had seen a man bleed to death before, and he knew the same could easily happen to Gray Hawk. As he helped his men pick him up, he thought back to the day when he had met the half-breed, a man who held a place of honor with his own. Here he'd come to Brogan wanting a chance at a different life, a life he was entitled to and look what the
good
people of Brogan had done to him.
    "Boss, it was bad. You should have heard the things that they were saying."
    Shane shook his head, disgusted at the people he had come to think of as friends. How dare they make Gray Hawk feel less than human? "What about the doctor?"
    "He's out at the Carter's delivering a baby. Jake is headed there right now to tell him," Hank said, wincing under Gray Hawk's weight.
    "We'll just have to do the best we can until he gets here. I'm glad you were all there to help. I'm proud that you stood up for him," Shane said, as they lay Gray Hawk on Shane's bed since it was the closest at hand. Shane closed the door and sat for a while at Gray Hawk's side as Jordan cleaned the wound as best she could. Gray Hawk opened his eyes once, his gaze fixing on Jordan before closing again.
    "I'm so sorry," she whispered, taking Gray Hawk's hand in hers and bringing it to her lips.
    Shane watched the unspoken emotions pass between the two. It had been obvious from the first time he'd met them that the two fancied each other, and now their feelings were out in the open for all to see. He respected Gray Hawk for facing people's hatred, yet he wished with all his heart he'd been there to help.
    "Gray, who shot you?" he asked, not wanting to lose the only chance he may have at finding the killer, just in case the worst happened and he died from his wounds.
    "The sheriff," he said, his voice weak and strained.
    Shane nodded. The fury he felt making him shake with rage. "You hang in there, buddy. The doctor will be here soon."
    Knowing Gray Hawk was in good hands, Shane patted Jordan's shoulder, went to his study, grabbed the rifle off the wall, shoved his pistol in the waist of his pants, and walked out the front door to the stables.
    "Boss, where you going?" Hank asked, following close on his heels.
    "To town."
    "Not without us, you're not."
    Shane turned to his foreman and put a firm hand on his shoulder. "I appreciate the offer, but this day has been a long time coming. Plus, I want you here protecting the children and the ranch just in case we have some unexpected visitors."
    Hank nodded. "Okay, if you're sure."
    "I'm sure."
    "Good luck."
    Shane's adrenaline raced through his body as he pushed his horse at a dangerous clip toward Brogan. How dare that arrogant son of bitch gang up on one of his own?
    He had never got along with the wiry sheriff ever since they had both dated Rose, a woman who hadn't returned the sheriff's favor if she were to tell it. Whether the sheriff was angry about being jilted by a woman that neither one of them ended up with, it made no difference to Shane. There was nothing the man could say or do to make up for having shot Gray Hawk. And now Shane was resolved that he wouldn't get away with it.
    As he rode into Brogan, people literally ran out of his way. Jumping off his horse while it was still in motion, he stormed into the sheriff's office only to find it empty, save for a drunk, who cursed at him and used his hands to shield the blinding sun from his eyes.
    Having checked a few nearby establishments, Shane came to the conclusion that Kincaide had conveniently left town. In an effort to control his anger, Shane lit a cigarette. He saw a few townspeople watching him from nearby businesses, and he met their stares, daring them to say something to him.