Magnificent Passage (15 page)

W
e'd better make camp and start again at first light.” Hawk reined up his big roan. “We might miss her tracks and lose even more time.” Pitch dark and still no sign of her. Her trail in the soft mud had disappeared when she'd descended into a rocky ravine and had ridden into an area of granite crowns on the other side of the mountain. They'd searched well into the night, looking for hoofprints where her horse had left the rocks.

“I curse the day we took this job, and all females from here to California.”

“We'll find her, Hawk,” James said.

Visions of the delicate and pampered governor's daughter alone in the Rockies filled Hawk's mind. There were a hundred deadly perils just waiting for the unwary. The girl had no experience with the mountains. She had no weapon; he wasn't even sure she had enough sense to make a fire. Damn! He should have been more careful. His stomach knotted as he thought of wolves, snakes, and mountain lions, to say nothing of the deadly hundred-foot crevasses she might accidentally stumble into. He pictured her scared, crying, alone in the night, but somehow the image
didn't fit the woman he was seeking—a woman savvy enough to lose a Cheyenne brave in his homelands. He chided himself. There was no way she'd planned to camouflage her tracks. She'd just gotten herself lost.

“She'll be all right,” James was saying. “She's learned a lot these past few weeks. If she just stays calm, she'll be fine.”

Hawk hoped James was right. He had to admit she'd held up a lot better than he'd expected. She pulled her weight and, though she constantly tried to slow them down, she was handling the tough trip just fine.

In the distance he heard the lone, bitter howl of a wolf, echoed by several others. He lifted his hat and ran an anxious hand through his hair. Damn her! Damn her to hell for making him feel so lousy.

Mandy awoke with a start. Something rustled the leaves in the rocks beside her. She shivered and hoped they would find her soon. She decided she would circle her campsite until she cut back across the trail, assuming she hadn't gone too far astray. Then she could either continue her ride back toward Fort Bridger, or, she prayed, be “recaptured” by her handsome companions.

The night had seemed endless. The distant howl of a wolf pack kept her nerves on edge, though she'd finally gotten a little sleep. The sun was just creeping over the mountain, beginning to warm the clearing. Ignoring the hunger gnawing her stomach, she lifted her gear and walked to the glistening sorrel dancing at the end of her rope. Mandy was already attached to the pretty little mare with the white-stockinged feet. She petted the velvet muzzle and placed
the blanket, then the saddle on Lady Ann's back. Being near the little mare gave her some measure of confidence. She tightened the cinch and mounted, pulling her tattered riding habit up to its usual place on her calf.

She wished she'd brought more clothes, but the men's unexpected arrival and their demand she take only what she need had distracted her. The rest of her clothes, they said, could be sent west by stage. Now she was paying dearly; there were rips and tears in everything. The only clean thing she had left to wear was the pair of men's breeches Julia insisted she bring, and they were far too revealing.

She'd hoped to use some of Julia's money to buy some new things along the way, but the men carefully avoided any place with people. Well, Great Salt Lake City was not far off. If they ever found her.

With that last disquieting thought she rode off, slowly circling, hoping to find her way. She'd ridden for about three hours when she pushed through some tall grass and came upon the main trail. Awash with relief, she relaxed a little in the saddle, content that at least she was no longer lost. Almost immediately she sighted horsemen on the trail behind her and recognized Hawk's rugged tanned features followed by James's more genteel ones. She felt her heart lurch with such joy it surprised her. Shrugging it off, she thanked God she didn't have to endure another miserable night alone, no matter how insufferable their company.

As Hawk crested the grassy ridge, he spotted the little mare and its pretty rider. His chest tightened at the sight of her. She had stopped in the middle of the trail and just sat there, bare calves exposed, head held high, her mane of thick
dark hair falling around her shoulders. She looked almost regal, even in her torn riding clothes. She must have known it was useless to run farther. Instead, she just sat arrogantly awaiting her captors.

Seeing her safe and unharmed, Hawk's worry changed to blinding rage. How dare she sit there calmly when they'd been up half the night searching for her! He rode up beside her, reached an arm around her waist, and pulled her roughly off her saddle onto his.

“All this trouble for your wonderful Jason?” he sneered, his temper murderous. “Did you really think you could get away with this? Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused us, you spoiled little? . . .” He clenched his teeth. “And for what? So you can prove something to your father! Well, I think he's right. The only person you'll ever love is yourself.”

Mandy's excitement and relief at being found disappeared as she listened to Hawk's vicious tirade. The hurtful phrases made her wish she'd tried harder to escape. Though he was right about the trouble she'd caused, she'd only done what she had to. She hadn't meant to get lost. She wished she could tell him the truth.

“We should have left you out there alone for a few days. It might have taught you a lesson,” he snapped.

Mandy couldn't take any more. Wasn't he the least bit concerned about her welfare? She could have been killed out there by herself!

“I love Jason, you cruel-hearted bastard,” she retorted defensively. “At least he would be happy I'm safe. The only thing you care about is my father's money.” Mandy didn't
care what she as saying as long as it stopped Hawk's vicious remarks.

Hawk was like a man gone mad. He'd hardly slept all night for worrying about her, and here she was, calmly riding back to Fort Laramie and her lover. He longed, at that moment, to put his hands around her slender throat and choke some sense into her.

He let her down from the horse and dismounted. He moved toward her and she circled like a wild animal, wary yet ready to pounce at any moment.

“You don't care about this Jason,” he taunted. “You just want something your father has forbidden. Well, this time you aren't going to get your way. Do you hear me?”

Every word was a challenge.

“I hear you. And I'm telling you I'll do exactly as I please. And nobody, especially an overgrown bully like you, is going to stop me.” Tense and frustrated to the point of breaking, Mandy sprang at Hawk. She pounded his chest, clawed and scratched like a wildcat.

Hawk grabbed her hands and held her easily at bay, a cynical smile curving his lips. “Why you little she-cat, you really don't care about anyone but yourself, do you?”

How could he be so heartless? She was the one who'd suffered out in the dark all alone. She was the one who hadn't slept all night, who'd had no gun for protection, no food since yesterday.

With a huge effort, she broke free. Before she could stop herself, she drew back a hand and slapped Hawk across the face with all the force she could muster, the resounding crack so loud it echoed across the clearing. A fleeting look
of surprise flickered across his handsome face. Panicstricken, she widened her eyes with horror at what she'd done. In an instant Hawk captured her again, a look of grim determination turning his features almost demonic.

“I should beat you the way the Cheyenne do their women when they misbehave, but I doubt your father would approve. So instead . . . ” As he talked, one arm grasped her wrists, the other tightened like an iron band around her waist. He was half carrying, half dragging her across the damp earth.

Before she realized what was happening, Hawk had reached a fallen cedar log, had draped her over his lap, and was raising her tattered skirts over her head.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, her voice shaky. “Are you out of your mind?”

“I'm doing what your father should have done years ago.” His fingers tugged at the cord holding up her cotton pantalets. Frustrated, he growled and ripped them down to her knees, exposing her bare bottom.

Mandy flushed from head to foot. How could he? She squirmed and wriggled, trying to escape. “Let go of me!”

Hawk ignored her. His strong grip pinned her across his knees. Without hesitation, he began to spank her—fast and furiously, the flat of his wide hand smacking her bottom again and again.

“Let go of me—you monster! You're hurting me!” Tears of rage and frustration filled her eyes, and her voice cracked. But Hawk was relentless. The more she wiggled and squirmed, the harder he spanked her—the stinging, burning sensation worse every time his hand connected.

She began to cry in earnest. “Please, Hawk,” she pleaded, her breath coming in ragged gasps. “I'll do whatever you ask. Anything . . . I promise.”

As his hand began to hurt, Hawk's temper cooled and his senses returned. The girl lay unresisting across his lap, sobbing, her smooth round bottom pink with the imprint of his hand. Remorse inched its way into his thoughts. He pulled up her now worthless pantalets and her skirts down, and cursed himself for losing his temper.

Lifting her off his lap, he helped her to her feet. The tears on her cheeks tugged at his heart. Damn! If only she hadn't hit him. He couldn't believe how badly he'd lost control. What was it about this particular woman that infuriated him so?

Mandy refused to look at the big man. “I hate you! You're cruel and heartless,” she swore between sobs. “I'll never forgive you for this. Never!” Shame and humiliation drove her to risk his anger again. Holding together the shredded clothing as best she could, she bolted for the woods.

“You shouldn't have been so tough on her, Hawk,” James said accusingly, returning to the clearing. He had walked away from the pair when he realized what was about to take place, not wanting the girl's humiliation to be worsened by his presence. He felt more than a little disconcerted by the whole episode; now, hearing her muffled crying, he wondered if he should have intervened.

“Leave me alone, James,” Hawk told him bitterly.

James met his friend's brooding gaze and realized Hawk was more than a little disconcerted himself. James walked
away, leaving his friend alone with his thoughts. He could hear the big man's moccasined feet padding stiffly back toward the horses.

After the morning's misadventures, Hawk determined there would be no further travel until the next day. Since the area they'd stopped in would make an acceptable campsite, he proceeded silently with his usual responsibilities, and James did the same.

With hours remaining before dark, Hawk set out to find fresh game for supper, a small peace offering. Walking quietly up and over a grassy knoll, he spotted a jackrabbit unfortunate enough to be outside its burrow. As it bolted for its hole beneath a clump of sage, Hawk dispatched it neatly with a throw of his knife. The knife was just one more precaution. The less noise they made in these mountains the better. They'd already been far too conspicuous.

When Hawk returned to camp, James volunteered to skin the rabbit. Then he skewered it on a green pine bough and placed it over the fire, the succulent drippings soon searing the hot rocks below.

The delicious aroma of the rabbit drifted through the forest. Mandy smelled it and her stomach growled, a reminder she hadn't eaten since yesterday. Knowing she must face her companions sooner or later, and in concession to her growing appetite, she threw back her shoulders, held her head high, and marched into camp with all the dignity she could muster.

She accepted the tin plate James offered and, throwing
him a sidelong glance that accused him of abandoning her in her time of need, ate ravenously. Hawk turned away guiltily when he noticed she preferred to stand while eating the delicious rabbit.

After dinner she helped James with the few dishes they used, her silence almost tangible.

“We'd better turn in early,” Hawk suggested with a scowl. “Tomorrow's going to be a long day.” He wanted to travel hard to make up for lost time.

It was a silent camp as each of the men made his way to his sleeping place beside the fire. Mandy followed at a distance.

James had no trouble relaxing, his thoughts on Great Salt Lake City. There would be no gaming tables, but a bath and a real bed, and maybe a comely maid to eye if he got lucky.

He wished fervently they were closer to Virginia City. There he could find a little companionship of the sort to warm his bed and lessen the strain he was feeling from eyeing the governor's daughter as she worked around the camp.