The man sat down once again, leaning forward in his seat. "Yes, she's at a ranch not far from here."
"And is there another woman with her?"
"You mean, Kari?"
Frederick nodded at the mention of his daughter, surprised the man would use her given name. "Yes, Miss McGuire."
"Oh yes, Kari--I mean Miss McGuire lives there at the ranch as well, but you know what, she works right here in town."
"Works?" Frederick repeated, unable to believe what he'd just heard. His daughter
worked
for a living? The very idea was ludicrous. Kari was not a commoner, but a lady who was used to being waited on by servants. In fact, once she saw him, she may very well beg him to take her back to Virginia.
The sheriff looked confused. "Yes, she works at the dress shop. She sews clothes, and does a mighty good job, if I should say so myself. I own a shirt she made."
Frederick eyed the man's ripped shirt and too small breeches. "Really?" he said, trying to at least sound surprised. "Is she working today?"
The sheriff's brows furrowed together as though concentrating took all his energy. "Well, let me see. Naw, since today's a Saturday, she'd be off. Just comes in during the weekdays when there's school."
"School?"
"Yeah, the Catalono children attend the school just outside of town. Kari, I mean Miss McGuire, drops them off and picks them up every day." The sheriff lit a cigarette and exhaled. "So when do I get my reward."
Frederick waved the smoke out of his face and watched the sheriff for a long moment. The blankness in his eyes indicated he wouldn't care if and when he took the women out of his jurisdiction.
"Soon enough. I would like my visit to my niece and daughter to be a surprise. You see...I don't want Jordan arrested, I simply want her and Kari back home. Mind you, if she doesn't cooperate, then I'll take her by force, and I would appreciate your help if that's the case. When I have them in my carriage headed for Virginia, you'll see your money."
"Yes, sir." The sheriff hesitated, glancing up at his deputy, before turning back to Frederick. "Oh, and just so you know, she's been hanging out with a breed."
Frederick's eyes narrowed. "Breed? As in a half-breed--an Indian?"
The blood roared in Frederick's ears as one side of the sheriff's mouth tipped into a confirming smile.
"Yeah, and they've been." He wiggled his brows. "You know."
He needed no affirmation as to what the sheriff meant. The innuendo was quite clear, and startling. "You do mean Jordan, and
not
my daughter?"
When the sheriff nodded, Frederick felt vast relief, knowing it wasn't his daughter. But that did cause a problem. If Jordan wasn't a virgin...he closed his eyes. The girl had left his side no more than seven months ago and already she was spreading her legs for an Indian. Her father was no doubt rolling over in his grave. Had he taught her nothing? Then a horrible thought raced through his mind. "What about Kari? Does she have a...beau?"
The sheriff shook his head. "No, she's a lady through and through. I kind of even liked her. Wouldn't mind her being my bride one day, but that damn Catalono--"
"Over my dead body," Frederick said under his breath as he stood, not wanting to hear another word out of the man's mouth. Even in his worst nightmare things hadn't been this dire. "I'll be staying over at the hotel in room twenty-one. Should you need me, knock twice, then three times fast."
He rolled his eyes when the man quickly wrote the instructions down on a piece of paper.
"I've had a trying day, so I'm going to head back to my hotel room and have a nice dinner before retiring. I would ask that you not disturb me tonight under any circumstance. I have business to attend to." Without another word, he left the two men staring after him.
His steps were light as he walked across the muddy road, not caring he was ruining his most expensive pair of shoes. His mind raced with his next plan of action. Hopefully, Jordan's lover was away when he visited the ranch. Having never seen an Indian firsthand, he decided he'd rather keep it that way.
As he climbed the steps to the hotel, he felt like a young man, his blood pumping in his veins as he marched down the hall to his room. Unlocking the door, he closed it slowly behind him, smiling to see the whore was still asleep in his bed.
Chapter 23
JORDAN'S HEART sank with every mile she put between her and Kari. After spending so many years together, being away from her cousin for any amount of time was difficult, but now it was necessary.
And just maybe the time apart would do them both some good, give them time to think about their futures now that they both had men in their lives.
Jordan turned to Gray Hawk, who stared straight ahead, quiet, just as he'd been since leaving the ranch. She knew he was feeling guilty for having brought so much trouble to Shane, but she also worried that he was mad at her for not telling her the truth about who she was from the beginning.
Or maybe his silence was because of the ridicule he'd experienced in Brogan--or maybe because he was returning home.
They had talked little about the past, aside from the fact he had been asked to leave the village, to go on a vision quest. The farther they traveled, the more silent he became.
Despite Gray Hawk's present mood, Jordan tried to tell herself she didn't want to go back to the village, she was actually looking forward to seeing the Cheyenne again, except for one.
But she put Running Deer far from her mind, and instead focused on her future, which she could only hope included the man at her side. He was her lover now. He'd proven that he cared, and she had to believe that he loved her--even if he refused to say it.
Making camp, Jordan sat down next to him as he skewered a rabbit and set it over the roaring flame. She loved to just watch him, his concentration so complete as he went about any given task.
He glanced up at her, his smile soft. "You hungry?"
She shrugged.
"We haven't eaten for hours."
She sighed. "I am hungry...but not for food."
His smile widened as he kissed her, and with a moan, took her to the ground, kissing her, his hands pulling up her dress as she fumbled with his breeches.
"It seems like so long--"
"It seems like forever," he said against her lips, rubbing his rigid length against her. Without bothering to undress completely, he thrust within her.
Gray Hawk slowly moved within her, wanting to prolong the ecstasy. For days now he'd kept his hands off her, telling himself that putting some distance between them would be for the best, but it had been torture, and he was pleased she felt the same need as he did.
Her hands moved under his shirt, gripping his back, and moving lower over his buttocks as she pulled her hips up against him. Would he always feel this way with her?
Feeling the fluttering of her climax, Gray Hawk could no longer hold himself in check and with a satisfied groan, spent himself, collapsing on her, smiling as she kissed his shoulder.
KARI TOOK Shane's advice to heart and never strayed from the ranch. Every day that passed she waited for the sheriff to arrive and start asking questions about Jordan.
Having put her mind at ease for the time being, Kari watched as Shane took off on his horse. The last week he had been incredibly sensitive and kind, going out of his way to make her feel wanted and safe.
And she enjoyed it. She liked being at the ranch, cooking, cleaning, washing...taking care of he and the kids. It was almost like having a family of her own. The kids were great, asking her to tuck them in at night, and even read a bedtime story. Tanner, though hesitant at first, seemed genuinely happy to have her at the ranch, and even told her once.
Without Jordan around there was a lot to be done, but it was better than having too much time on her hands. With all the chores, including mending the men's clothes, she didn't get a chance to miss her job as a seamstress.
Sometimes her mind would wander and she'd worry about Jordan, wondering if she and Gray Hawk had made it back to the village by now. A part of her wished she had gone with them, yet every night when she stared across the table at Shane, she was glad she'd stayed. She belonged here for now. Along the way, something had changed in their relationship. There was no sarcasm, just warmth that radiated from him, making her feel wanted.
Last night he'd asked her about her father and Jordan's engagement to Marvin. He also asked about her husband, and she felt her cheeks burn having to tell him she had lied to him. "When I told you that story, I hadn't realized you'd lost your wife," she said, and the sweet smile on his face said he already forgave her.
Having come clean with the truth was a huge relief, because now there was nothing standing between them. He had yet to kiss her, or even touch her for that matter, but she could see the look in his eye when he watched her. How soft his face became. She smiled to herself. He was coming around. It was just going to take awhile.
The sounds of pounding hooves on hard ground interrupted her thoughts. Seeing her father through the window, Kari's breath caught in her throat, and she ducked, hoping he hadn't seen her. There were a few men with him, among them was the sheriff.
"I'll get it!"
Before Kari could stop Tanner, she heard the door open and the sheriff say, "Hey there, boy, could you tell me if Jordan and Kari are here?"
Kari's heart lurched in her chest, her mind racing, wondering what she would do. Shane was off in the fields along with the other hands. Rebecca was over at a friend's house, leaving she and Tanner alone.
"No, she's not here?" Tanner replied in a steady voice.
"Which one?" the sheriff asked, exasperation obvious in his voice.
"They're both gone. They don't live here anymore."
The sheriff cursed.
"What about the breed--Gray or whatever it is they call him?"
"He's gone, too."
Dropping down to the floor, she crawled on her hands and knees toward the back door, the blood pounding in her ears. She stopped where she was, just shy of escape. She couldn't leave Tanner here alone.
"Do you know when they'll be back?"
"Nope."
"Can I help you gentlemen?"
Kari almost collapsed with relief hearing Hank's firm voice from outside. Prying the back door open, she looked around and seeing it clear, she darted for the brush.
She ran for what seemed forever, her heart hammering heavily in her ears, her stomach clenched in a tight knot, sure that any minute the sheriff would step out, or even worse, her father. Just the thought of him taking her away from Brogan and back to Virginia made her run faster. Knowing her father, he probably had a double wedding planned.
After all this time she couldn't imagine facing him. She'd always considered him a decent person, but she knew now what a horrible man he was. He hadn't always been so mean. When her mother was alive, he had been easy-going and affectionate. But when her mother died, part of her father died too, and when Patricia came along, the Frederick McGuire she had known and loved no longer existed.
Patricia took control of every facet of his life. The house and everything in it belonged to her now, and no matter what anyone said, they were wrong--Patricia was right. How Kari hated the woman, almost as much as she hated her stepsisters who acted like pampered princesses.
After running for what seemed like hours, Kari collapsed in the meadow grass trying to regain her breath. Lying back on her elbows, she looked up at the sky. "Lord, I knew this day would come, but I beg you to help me...to help us." How desperately she wished Jordan was with her now--her cousin always knew what to do.
She looked in all directions, and her heart plummeted to her toes. Everything was unfamiliar. She had never been any good at direction, and being in such a state of panic, she hadn't thought to pay any attention to which way she was headed. Now all she knew was that she was a long ways from the ranch, and the sun was close to setting. If she didn't find her way back soon, she'd be spending the night out here in the open. It wasn't something she hadn't done before, but this would be the first time she was alone and unprepared.
Blinking back tears, telling herself not to panic, she started walking again, focusing her mind on all the things that had happened to her and Jordan in the last seven months. She laughed, smiled, and even cried thinking that for all the hell and torment, it was without a doubt the most exciting time of her life. She wouldn't trade a moment of it for anything. Not even the time in the village, for there she had learned a truly valuable lesson. Everyone was equal, no matter what race or creed. A fact she'd been oblivious of living in her father's household, where the rich white man ruled supreme.
She stopped abruptly, listening carefully. Dropping down behind a large rock, she waited for the horse and rider that was coming her way. From the sounds of it, it was only one horse, making her think of the sheriff, a man she despised, and quite frankly, was terrified of. Daring a peek, her heart skipped a beat when she recognized the familiar figure. She stood and yelled, "Shane!"
Relief etched his handsome face as he raced toward her. He jumped from the saddle even before the horse had stopped. Taking her up in his arms, he squeezed her tight, nearly taking all her breath. "You scared me to death," he said against her forehead. "I thought...never mind, I'm just glad to find you."
Her heart hammered heavily against his chest as her arms encircled his neck. For so long she'd wanted this, to be in his arms, to kiss him. As she stared up at him, he bent his head, his lips just inches from her.
Sighing, she leaned into him, accepting his kiss, opening her mouth to him when his tongue traced the seam of her lips.
It was all Shane could do not to take her to the ground and make sweet, passionate love to her. But now was not the time. With Kari he needed to take it slow. He broke the kiss and put her at arms length. "We should get you back now."
"That's a good idea," she said, shifting on her feet, reminding him that she was a lot younger than he was. He traced the line of her jaw with his thumb, and couldn't help but kiss her once more, but this time a chaste kiss that promised more was ahead.
FROM THE moment they entered the village, Jordan knew they would be safe. For the first time in a good many days she wasn't looking over her shoulder, as though expecting the sheriff or her uncle to be there.
Yet misgivings began to plague her just within hours of their arrival, for soon Gray Hawk shed his ranch attire for his leather breeches and vest. He was once more transformed into the Indian, and gone was the cowboy she'd known at the Triple T.
That evening he spent a long time in his father's teepee. Tawanka told Jordan that soon Three Moons would die and Gray Hawk would be Chief.
"He will lead our people," she said, taking Jordan's hand into her own. "Gray Hawk is a strong man, who can lead us against our enemies, against our foes."
She didn't mention whites, though Jordan knew it was the issue that concerned them most. As it should be. On her journey West she'd heard enough about the gold rush in California, and knew that the whites were coming in record numbers. It only made sense that the Indians should fear them.
That evening while sitting across the fire from the others, she noticed a few of the cool glares she received. It wasn't until Running Deer approached her, an icy glare on her face, did Jordan realize that she wasn't welcome. "You should leave here. You do not belong, and you will only bring hardship on my people."
"I came with Gray Hawk."
"Gray Hawk belongs with us now. You have steered him away from his purpose. We need him. Go back to your own kind and leave him to us."
Jordan swallowed the lump in her throat. "He is not yours to have. He is a grown man who will make his own decisions."
"Do you not see that you have bewitched him?" Running Deer went down on her haunches in front of Jordan, to where her face was mere inches away. "Release him. If you care for him at all, leave here and never look back."
There was something in the other woman's eyes that made Jordan stop and think about what she was saying, but for all that she understood it, she was too selfish to give him up. "I love him."
Running Deer's jaw clenched tight. "I love him, too."
"He loves me," Jordan replied just above a whisper.
"He has told you this?"
Jordan paused for a moment. Gray Hawk had never told her he loved her, and now that she faced her foe, saw the pleased expression on the other woman's face, she realized it didn't make sense to love a man who didn't love her back. It would only give her more heartache.
"If you do in fact love him, then leave him." Without another word, she stood and left Jordan watching the fire silently. Tawanka said nothing, but her presence was soothing none-the-less, and Jordan felt like she was her only friend in the village.
Jordan's gaze shifted to Three Moons' teepee. What should she do? It was obvious she wasn't wanted. Just like Gray Hawk hadn't been wanted in Brogan. Neither one of them would be accepted by the others world.
Therefore there was nothing more to think about.
Tawanka took her hand and squeezed it tight. "Follow your heart, child. Do what it tells you." Without another word, Jordan was left alone, a solitary figure by the fire.
GRAY HAWK touched his father's forehead. How thin his skin was, and how very old he looked--how very tired.
Three Moons opened his eyes. He blinked a few times, then a soft smile came to his face. "My son, you have returned to us."
Seeing the hope in his father's eyes, Gray Hawk smiled warmly. "Yes father, I've returned."
"I knew you'd come back to us. I knew it."
The words were like a double-edged sword. For every mile of the journey that had led him back to his people, Gray Hawk had tried to convince himself that this is where he belonged; that his people needed him just as much as he needed them.
"You will lead our people." Though he didn't state it as a question, Gray Hawk knew it was indeed one. A question he wasn't ready to answer, yet as he stared into his father's eyes, he knew he could not deny him.
He nodded. "Yes father, I will lead our people."
A shadow fell over him. Gray Hawk turned to find Iron Bear standing behind him.
"So, you've come back."
Gray Hawk nodded. "Yes."
The displeasure on his brother's face hurt far more than Gray Hawk would ever admit.
"He will be Chief," Three Moons said, closing his eyes.
Iron Bear's jaw clenched tight, but he remained silent.