Dark Warrior: To Tame a Wild Hawk (Dark Cloth) (31 page)

“Where is he now, McCandle?” Hawk asked, drawing Ashley’s attention off Mandy.

Ashley smiled. “Wouldn’t you like to know.” He waved the pistol around as he spoke. “I’m sure he’s around town somewhere.”

“What else could he possibly want to do?” Jake asked.

Ashley cocked his head at him. “Well, see, people are blind. They just want to be led. They’re like lambs to the slaughter. They select their leader, or whatever, and they believe their job to be done, that they’re now taken care of. And they’ll do what they’re told.” He stepped forward a step, aiming the gun right at Jake’s chest. “But you watch and mark my words. One hundred years from now—two hundred years from now—they will be the ones ruling the world. And no one will even question who’s really in power.”

“That will never happen,” Mandy said, drawing the attention back to her.

“It already is,” Ashley sneered. “Why do you think the United States’ capital flies its own flag? Why do you think the Vatican flies their own flag? Why do you think there’s a place in England—that also flies its own flag?”

Mandy swallowed. “And they are a power who is more spirit than man,” she whispered. “Which is why they fear a people who might betray their secrets.”

She leaned out towards him as far as her chains would allow her. “But no one would believe them. They’d see them as heathens. They’d never believe their words about an unseen force.”

“Not now they wouldn’t,” Ashley said. “But someday . . . .”

“And they couldn’t risk that.”

“And now you know.” Ashley saluted her, this time with his free hand, smiling at Hawk. He looked back at Mandy. “I tried to keep you where you couldn’t do any harm. I tried to keep you alive. But you had to go and choose—him.” He waved the pistol toward Hawk.

“They knew you were to help save the people. I tried to keep you where you wouldn’t. But you just wouldn’t listen . . . so now, you have to die.” He leveled his pistol on Mandy. He looked a bit regretful.

“You should have listened.”

Mandy tensed—waiting for the shot. This was it.

This was the moment she’d always dreaded. She had never wanted to go like this—at the end of a gun barrel. But what about the life she and Hawk were supposed to have? What about their children?

She’d seen it, in them, in her dreams.

When it came, she jerked—but felt no pain. She opened her eyes to see Ashley sliding to the floor.

Chapter Thirty-Three

T
he gun slipped from Star Flower’s fingers. Jake caught her just before she hit the floor.

“He beat her!”
Jake grated out.

The muscle in Hawk’s jaw pumped furiously.

Star Flower’s eyes opened. “I had the right,” she whispered. “I know you—wanted him, Hawk . . .” she looked up at her brother, “but he killed my mother—and our father.”

“Jason?” Hawk stared at her, speechless.

“The key,” she breathed.

“Where?” Hawk asked her, gently.

“My skirt pocket. I followed him. I saw where he . . . .” She passed out.

Hawk found the key and unlocked Mandy’s shackles. Wrapping her in the blanket from the bed, he picked her up.

The smoke in the hall was thick now. He couldn’t see a thing. It wouldn’t be long before the fire reached them. They felt their way along and found themselves in the kitchen. He set Mandy down and poured water from the basin over some cloth, pressing it over Mandy’s mouth and nose, then handing another to Jake for Star Flower before getting two more for them.

Finding their way into the next room, Jake pointed to a large window. He lay Star Flower down and picked up a chair, heaving it though it. He grabbed a large braided rug and threw it over the frame, then lifted Star Flower through it. Hawk followed with Mandy.

Outside, they gulped huge breaths of fresh air.

They turned and watched as the fire reached the part of the ranch house where they’d just been. Within minutes, it was all gone, like flames to dry kindling.

Mandy cupped Hawk’s face with her small hands. “You’re alive,” she breathed, covering his smoke-covered face with kisses, tears coursing down her own face. He hugged her so tightly she thought her bones would pop. “For a few minutes, I thought I wouldn’t make it.”

He squeezed her again. “My life would be meaningless without you.”

Remembering their audience, they both turned to look around, expecting to find Jake scowling. To their amazement, he hadn’t been paying any attention to them.

He was too busy, staring at the vision in front of him. “Hawk, is she okay?” Jake had more than a little panic in his voice.

Hawk let Mandy go, upset to realize he’d forgotten his sister.

A moment later, Star Flower groaned and there was a collective sigh of relief.

“Let’s get her to Doc.” Jake picked her up and headed for his horse. He didn’t wait for the others to follow.

Charlie had come around the barn, leading several horses. When he saw Jake doting over Star Flower, his jaw fell open. He started chuckling. “Done caught what’s go’n around?” he teased.

Mounting up behind Star Flower and reining in his horse, Jake glared furiously at him, then turned and headed down the trail.

Hawk picked up Mandy and headed for his own horse.

“I can ride,” Mandy protested.

Hawk put her on his horse, mounting behind her.

“Bring her horse,” he said to Charlie. “Put the rest of the hands on bringing the cattle home.”

“Got it,” Charlie grinned.

Mandy snuggled close to Hawk’s chest, and they headed down the trail.

Two hours later, Hawk had laid Mandy on the bed to wait for Doc, hovering over her for a moment. He looked at her, then at the door, then back at her.

Mandy saw the confusion in his eyes and instantly knew what the problem was. Taking his hand in hers, she gently squeezed it. “It’s all right, Hawk. I’m fine—truly. Except for some lumps and bruises, I’m not hurting anywhere. And except for worrying about Star Flower, I couldn’t be happier.” She smiled at him, gently. “After all, it’s not every day a woman gets a second chance at life with the man she loves.”

He squeezed her hand in return and kissed her softly. “Have I ever said what a fortunate man I am?”

Mandy giggled. “No, but I’ll be waiting to hear it—later.”

“Witch,” he growled, and Mandy laughed. He went to Star Flower’s room and took her hand in his. “How is she?”

Doc had examined every inch of one side of her scalp, looking for reasons why she wouldn’t wake up. “She looks to have some cracked ribs,” he answered. He turned her head and examined the other side. “Her abdomen isn’t distended or hard, so I don’t think she’s bleeding inside. She has a couple of nasty bruises on her head; probably why she hasn’t woke.”

Hawk’s dark eyes pierced him. “Her head, Doc?”

Doc shook his head. A great weight pressed down on his shoulders. “Only time will tell.”

When he was done with everything he could do for Star Flower, he went to Mandy. “Hawk here tells me you might be carrying a little one.”

Mandy blushed. “I’m fine, Doc.”

“Just the same, I want’a take a look at ya.” He waved Hawk out of the room, letting Meg—who had shown up by that time and was raising a ruckus—stay.

When he came out a few minutes later, Hawk was pacing the hall, a muscle in his jaw ticking.

“Practicing?” Doc couldn’t resist.

Hawk let out a heavy breath, “Is that your roundabout way of telling me they’re all right?”

Doc grinned. “They’re both fine. Mandy’s healthy as a horse, and she’s showing no signs that she will miscarry the babe.”

Hawk smiled. Jake, who’d stepped out in the hall upon hearing the doc telling Hawk the good news about Mandy and the babe, broke into a full grin, slapping Hawk on the back before going back in to watching Star Flower.

“Now,” Doc told Hawk, “it’s your turn.”

Glaring furiously at Doc, he relented and sat down, letting him take a look at his head and ribs. Doc was just finishing bandaging his ribs when the sheriff walked in.

“I hope you have a good explanation as to why both the McCandles are dead, and nearly half their men with them.”

Hawk turned deadly eyes on him. “You take a good look at Mandy. Then, you take a good look at my sister, and then you come and ask me that.” He waved his hand towards Mandy’s room, cocking one brow at him.

Hat in hand, Sheriff Tucker walked past him into Mandy’s room. He did take a good look at her and expelled a sigh. “Why is it, everywhere you go, people wind up dead?”

Mandy laughed at him. “Are you sorry to see the McCandles gone?”

The sheriff shook his head. “Nope, I ain’t gonna say that. But I had better see it a whole bunch quieter around here from now on.”

Mandy nodded. “I’ll give it my best, Sheriff.’

Sheriff Tucker stared dubiously at her. “Somehow that doesn’t make me feel any better,” he muttered, hat in hand as he left the room.

He went into Star Flower’s room next and stood for a moment, once more, hat in hand, looking down at her. “What a shame,” he said under his breath. He turned as Hawk entered the room. “Let me know when she wakes up.” Hawk frowned.

The sheriff shrugged. “I just want to know how she’s doing, is all.”

Hawk relaxed and nodded.

“Well, I’ll see myself out.” The sheriff set his hat on his head and adjusted it. “Stay out of trouble, hear?”

Hawk went back to watching his sister sleep.

They took turns pacing the hall throughout the whole of the night. Mandy begged to have her turn, but Hawk wouldn’t hear of letting her out of bed.

Jake tried to get himself royally drunk, but his body wasn’t cooperating.

Finally, just before dawn lit the sky, Doc came out, wiping his hands and beaming. “She’s awake.” When everyone started whooping, he added, “She has a splitting headache, which, I’m sure, you all just contributed to.”

Everybody looked properly remorseful for all of five seconds, then went back to grinning and congratulating one another.

It was three days before Hawk would let Mandy out of bed, and another week before Doc released Star Flower. Mandy moved her right into the ranch house, and Aunt Lydia clucked over both of them like a mother hen.

In fact, it wasn’t too long before the two women were planning their next escape.

On Star Flower’s third day home, Perry rode up in his black buggy. When Aunt Lydia had him comfortably sitting in the parlor, and all was quiet, everyone looked at him expectantly.

Perry cleared his throat and adjusted his spectacles.

Mandy smiled. Having three gunmen so close was clearly setting him on edge.

Hawk’s gaze narrowed on him. “So what did the old man want?”

Perry looked askance at him.

“I assume that’s why you’re here?”

Perry nodded. “But . . . .”

“Save it,” Hawk settled his Stetson on one knee. “There was no love lost between me and McCandle.”

Perry settled the papers into order in front of him. “He’s left you the ranch and everything that goes with it.”

Hawk didn’t move. Only a muscle, ticking in his jaw, betrayed what he was feeling. “What the hell am I supposed to do with that? I don’t want it.”

“Well, it’s yours, regardless.”

Hawk looked up at Jake. “Can I do what I want with it?”

“Yes.”

“Anything?” Hawk reiterated, looking back at Perry.

Perry nodded.

Hawk grinned. “Good.”

Jake shifted uncomfortably, his steel-gray eyes trying to gauge Hawk.

Hawk stood and turned his back, then turned back to Perry. “I give half to Jake and half to Kid.”

Perry’s face registered surprise. “As you wish.”

Kid grinned at Hawk. “I’ve always wanted to raise this one breed of horses. I’ll give you a third of the proceeds, or in horse stock, whatever you wish.”

Hawk nodded. “And a portion of the cattle to the Lakota and Cheyenne already on the reservation.”

Kid’s eyes lit up. “An excellent idea.”

Jake scowled for a moment. Then, Star Flower walked in the room and his eyes cleared. “I’ll accept,” he stated simply. “I’ve always wanted to breed this new strain of beef cattle. I think they’d do well. And—I, too, would be willing to be part of taking cattle to the Lakota and Cheyenne.”

Hawk nodded, and Mandy sighed and settled to his side, her arms around his waist. She laid her head on his chest with such an intense feeling of contentment she could have wept with it.

Perry picked up his papers and set them in his case.

“I’ll have the papers ready for you in a few days.” He moved to leave the parlor.

“Perry?” Mandy asked before he reached the door. He turned and gave her a questioning look. “You haven’t seen that man who was hanging around all summer, have you? You know, the one in the long, dark suit. He would have stood out in the middle of summer in such a suit.”