Savage Intentions

“Hawke, would you please stop that pacing? You pace more than any other person I have ever met in my life! You know I heard once that if a man digs a big enough hole he could fall clear through the earth and land in china. I think you’re probably getting pretty darn close with that ditch you’re wearing in the yard with them feet.” Jack exclaimed as he sat on the newly built porch and sharpened the knife that Hawke had given him. Hawke stopped pacing and glared over at him.

“Yes and you talk more than any person I have met in my life. I think if someone tied your mouth shut, your head would fill with so much hot air that it would explode.” he replied. Jack grinned broadly.

“Boom.” he said with a chuckle. Hawke just looked at the boy and shook his head. He heard a loud moan of pain come from inside the cabin and he began pacing again with Wolf following his every step.

“I should be in there.” he grumbled. He kept thinking of his mother who had died after giving birth. He could not lose Lily and he prayed to God to let him keep his wife. Jack nodded.

“And if you hadn’t been being such a grouch, Allie and Doc Mason wouldn’t have run you out.” he said matter of factly.

“Give me a piece of that.” Hawke said holding out his hand as Jack pulled some jerky from his pocket. Jack handed him a piece and they both began to chew for all they were worth.

Three long hours they had been outside in the frigid January air. Hawke had been pacing and Jack had been sharpening. By now Jack was pretty darn sure this knife would slice through steel like hot butter.

“How long does it take to have a baby?” Jack said, tapping his foot impatiently on the wooden boards of the porch. Just then the loud cry of an infant came out of the cabin and Hawke nearly knocked Jack out of his chair as he ran into the house.

“Did you see that, Wolf?” Jack asked with a chuckle. “He darn near took my head clean off.” Wolf huffed out a breath and then flopped down on the ground, relieved that the alpha had finally stopped pacing.

Hawke had never been as nervous as he was standing outside of the bedroom door and trying to compose himself before walking in. Doc walked out of the room and smiled at him.

“Your wife is fine, Hawke.” he said patting him on the back. “And your daughter is beautiful.” Hawke felt his heart swell. He had a daughter. Hawke had never thought that he wanted a family and now he could not imagine how he could ever go back to living without them.

“Well what are you waiting for? Get in there.” Doc said. “I’ll ride out tomorrow and check on everybody.” Hawke nodded and walked into the bedroom. Allie had her hands full of wrapped up sheets and towels and she smiled at him.

“I’ll leave you three alone.” she said and she left the room to go get started washing laundry. Hawke looked over at the bed and felt a pride like he had never felt before fill him. Lily was lying in the bed, propped up against the wall and holding their tiny baby in her arms. Lily’s hair was wet with sweat and her face was tired and pale but her dark eyes were bright and full of happiness when she smiled up at him.

“She’s a girl.” Lily said with a sleepy voice. Hawke nodded and walked slowly to the bed. He sat down beside of Lily and smoothed her sweaty hair from her face before pressing his lips to her forehead.

“We have a daughter.” he said and Lily shook her head as she smiled up at him.

“You are an amazing man, Hawke. You are the best man that I know.”

“Being with you makes me better.” Hawke replied honestly. There had been a time when he had been cold and indifferent to the world around him but not anymore. Lily had opened his eyes to how warm life could be and because of that simple gift he would do anything for her.

“Do you want to hold her?” Lily asked. Hawke felt his heart drop down into his stomach.

“But she is so small.” he said and Lily could not help but laugh lightly at the nervousness in his voice.

“You can hold her, Hawke. You won’t hurt her.” Hawke looked at Lily and saw that she was nearly falling asleep where she sat and he knew that she needed some rest.

He held out his arms and Lily placed the tiny bundle in his hands. Hawke looked down at the babies sleeping face and felt love fill him. He did not care if it was not his blood flowing in her tiny veins. This child was his.

He had been the man to hold Lily’s hair when the sickness had caused her to run to the outhouse. He had been the man to make late night runs into town and wake poor Ed up at the mercantile because Lily had to have peppermint candy and jerked beef immediately. He had been the man to hold Lily’s growing body up against his own and feel the tiny movements inside of her. He had been the man to hold Lily in his arms and kiss her head tenderly and rub her back when the labor pains had started becoming more intense.

This tiny little girl in his arms with her tiny nose and her dark hair and pink skin was his and he would gladly hurt anyone who dared to say otherwise. He would be the man that she called daddy. He would teach her to walk and talk and he would make sure that she always knew that she was safe and loved.

Hawke heard a light snore come from beside of him and he realized that Lily was sleeping.

“I believe your mommy has fallen asleep, little Sarah.” he whispered. He lay down in the bed beside of Lily, keeping Sarah wrapped tightly in his arm and watched both of his angels while they slept.

888

“Daggone it’s colder than a well diggers ass out there.” Jack said, stomping the snow off of his boots as he walked into the cabin. Allie looked up from where she was scrubbing the last of the dirty towels clean in the hot soapy water.

“Quiet.” she scolded. “Lily is sleeping.” Jack grinned sheepishly.

“Sorry.” he whispered much more quietly. “Looks like you’ve been busy.” he added looking over at the rope strung across the living room that was loaded down with sheets and blankets.

“Yes I have. Do you think you could put some more wood on the fire for me? That stuff will never get dry if we don’t keep the fire up.” Jack nodded and walked over to he fireplace but the woodbox was empty. He looked over at Allie and she gave him a guilty grin and bit her lip.

“You’ll have to get some from the woodshed.” she said. Jack pulled his wool coat tighter around himself and let out a loud breath.

“You’re gonna owe me big, doll, it’s cold out there.” he said with a wink. Allie blushed a deep crimson and turned her attention back to the towel she was scrubbing against the washboard. Jack was chuckling as he walked back out into the cold. He had been flirting more and more with Allie the last couple of months. Almost losing her to Nathan had made him realize even more that she was the only girl for him and while he wanted to move beyond the friendship they had and be able to kiss her and hold her hand and hold her close to him he had not had the chance to.

Hawke watched him like a hawk around Allie and if he wasn’t watching him then Wolf was and he and Allie were never left alone. Allie was fourteen now so that met there was just two more years. Two more years and maybe just maybe the girl would want to marry him and then he would be able to kiss her and hold her whenever he wanted.

Jack shivered as a cold gust of wind blew against his face. He quickly gathered up a large armful of wood from the woodshed. The sun was getting low in the sky and the clouds were darkening. From the looks of it Jack figured they were fixing to get some more snow. He made his way through the foot of snow already on the ground and kicked the cabin door gently.

Allie opened it quickly and dried her hands on her apron while he dropped the wood into the wood box and put a few logs on the fire.

“Thank you.” Allie said as she turned her attention to the stove where Jack could smell venison stew cooking. He looked at Hawke and Lily’s closed bedroom door and he realized that he and Allie were as alone as they had been in eight months.

His stomach did a flip as he wiped his sweaty hands on his pants and walked closer to Allie. He pulled himself up on the counter and sat down letting his feet dangle.

“That smells pretty darn good.” he said taking a deep whiff from the pot beside of him. Allie smiled.

“I think I’m finally getting the hang of this cooking thing.” she replied.

“I’d say you’re right.” he took a deep breath, puffing out his cheeks and then let it all out in a quick rush.

“IreallylikeyouAllie.” he mumbled, the words all coming out in one big jumble. Allie raised a dark eyebrow.

“Huh?” she asked. It wasn’t like Jack to mumble. He was a professional talker, or at least that’s what Hawke was always saying. Jack took another deep breath and then said, much more slowly,

“I really like you Allie.” Allie’s eyes widened. “I know that we’re too young right now. You’re only fourteen and I’m just sixteen but I think I might love you.” Allie’s hand slipped on the spoon and bumped up against the hot pot, burning her finger.

“Ouch!” she yelped and stuck her finger in her mouth. Jack jumped quickly from the counter and grabbed her wrist.

“Let me see.” he said. Allie’s heart was pounding in her chest and butterflies were dancing in her stomach as he took her hand and looked at the red blister forming on her finger.

“You gotta be more careful, doll.” he scolded gently and then he pressed a gentle kiss to her finger. Allie wanted him to kiss her. For so long she had been wanting him to kiss her.

“Can I kiss you, Allie?” he asked with shakiness in his voice.

“No you cannot.” Hawke’s deep voice came from behind her and both she and Jack jumped at the sound and looked up at him. He was standing there with one sculpted brow raised, his lips set in a firm line and his arms crossed over his broad chest.

“Can’t what?” Allie asked quickly as she turned back to the stew. Hawke looked at Jack and Jack shifted his feet.

“Porch. Now.” Hawke said sternly and Jack followed him outside while cursing under his breath with every step. Jack looked at Hawke as they stood on the porch in the icy wind and wondered why he didn’t look colder. He was wearing only his buckskin shirt and pants and the wind was whipping through his shoulder length hair and yet if Hawke noticed the cold it didn’t show.

“What’s up, Hawke?” Jack asked doing his best to ignore the cold as well so that he could appear to be just as tough as Hawke. Hawke was always on his ass about something or another so he was used to these ‘lectures’.

“She is only fourteen.” Hawke said looking out over the frozen forest.

“Yeah and I’m only sixteen.” Jack replied. Hawke nodded.

“Exactly. You told her that you love her.” Hawke looked over at him. “That is not something you should ever tell a woman unless you are sure.”

“Don’t lecture me about being sure! I’ve known Allie for almost a year. How long had you known Lily before you were spouting out words of love and vowing to raise another man’s baby.” Jack knew he had stepped over a boundary the second the words were out of his mouth but it was too late to take them back. He was just tired of living under Hawke’s shadow all the time. The great Hawke. Tough as nails, hunts with a knife, best husband ever, perfect perfect Hawke.

It was hard living up to Hawke’s expectations of him as well. Hawke wanted him to be just as perfect as he was and Jack knew he never could be. Jack was just, well, Jack.

“If you were not my family I would make you regret saying that. Sarah is my child and you will not ever say otherwise again.”

“I know, Hawke. I’m sorry.” Jack said and he really was. He owed his life to Hawke. If Hawke had not taken him in he could very well be starved to death and dead on the streets by now. And Hawke really was a good man and Jack knew that deep down he was just jealous that he couldn’t be more like him.

“Jack, I know that you are sixteen now and you want to be a grown man but Allie is still a child. Just do not rush things. Two years is a long time and you both have a lot of growing up and changing to do before then.” Hawke said and Jack shoved his freezing hands deep into his pockets and nodded.

“Yes sir.” he said.

“Lily just got done feeding the baby and she wanted you to come in and meet her.” Hawke said matter of factly. “Besides that, it is freezing out here and I am getting too old to be standing out in it.” Jack laughed and the tense atmosphere was gone.

“Come on then, old man. Let’s get you in before you get hypothermia and we gotta haul docs ancient ass back out here.”

Chapter Two

Help me to speak the truth quietly,

to listen with an open mind

when others speak and to remember the peace

that may be found in silence.

~Native American Prayer

“I’ll never get it, Lily. You just need to give up on me now and save yourself a whole heap a trouble. There are just some things that Jack Bennett cannot and will not ever be able to do.” Jack said looking down at the book that Lily had been trying to teach him how to read. Lily shook her head and Allie slapped him lightly on the back of the head as she walked to the couch and sat down with her now two month old niece in her arms.

“Allie, you know how I feel about hitting.” Lily scolded, throwing her sister a pointed look. “But she’s right, Jack. That was a ridiculous thing to say. You’re getting better everyday.” Jack blushed and looked back down at the book. It was really a good book about a soldiers life during the civil war. He read an entire paragraph out loud without messing up and Lily smiled brightly.

“See, I told you that you could do it!” she exclaimed.

“I should have learned how to read and write years ago but ma and pa never really cared if I went to school and then once they died I stopped going all together.” Lily stood up and walked over to the oven to pull out the bread that had been baking.

“Hawke never did go to school.” she said.

“He didn’t?” Jack asked with disbelief. Lily shook her head.

“The school teacher said that his kind was not allowed and his father taught him how to read and write and do numbers and all of the other things you learn at school.”

“Well I’m already good at numbers. It’s just this reading and writing thing that I never caught on to.”

“It sounded like you were reading good to me.” Hawke said walking into the cabin.

“Thanks.” Jack said awkwardly. He wasn’t used to Hawke complimenting him because he didn’t do it very often. Hawke walked to the sofa and bent over Allie to kiss Sarah’s soft head and then walked into the kitchen and pressed another gentle kiss to Lily’s forehead. He walked over to the oven and took a deep breath of the ham that was baking before coming over to sit at the table across from Jack.

“Did ya get plenty of furs this morning?” Jack asked knowing that Hawke had been out checking some traps that he’d had set. Hawke’s expression darkened as he shook his head.

“Most of our traps were destroyed.” he said and then he looked over at Lily. “I will not be able to take you into town today.” Lily’s face fell.

“Hawke, it has been almost three months since I have left this cabin and gone into town.” Hawke sighed.

“Without traps, I’ll have no furs and without furs we’ll have no money. I have to fix them.” he said matter of factly.

“What happened to the traps?” Jack asked. Hawke shrugged but Jack could see the anger in his eyes.

“Someone destroyed them.” he replied simply.

“Again? This is the second time.” Jack demanded angrily. “You need to be kicking somebody’s ass.”

“Jack, please watch your language.” Lily scolded as she stirred the beans that were heating on the stove.

“Sorry ma’am.” Jack replied as he picked at the white lacy tablecloth. “I’ll take the ladies to town Hawke.” Hawke shook his head.

“I will need your help getting the traps fixed.” he said before turning to Lily. “I will take you into town tomorrow morning.” Lily sighed with defeat and nodded and Hawke rubbed the back of his neck and was about to stand when Allie spoke up.

“Why don’t Lily and I just go alone?” she asked.

“What?” Lily demanded and Hawke hated the fear he could hear in her voice. After getting kidnapped by Nathan; Allie and Lily had both changed. Allie had become more outspoken and hot tempered. She had made Jack teach her how to load and shoot both the rifle and his revolver. She had become more independent and unafraid of anything.

Lily had done the opposite. She had not been anywhere outside of the cabin and the lake without Hawke since the kidnapping. She was scared of guns and refused to touch them. Any sign of violence caused her to shut down and she did her best to hide. Hawke hated the change in her and it made him wish that he could bring Nathan back to life so he could carve out his black heart himself.

“I am not going anywhere alone!” Lily said shaking her head and wrapping her arms around herself. Hawke rose and went to her and she buried her head in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Come on Lily, you won’t be alone. I’ll be with you and we’ll take the rifle.” Allie said standing up and walking over to the table.

“Just drop it Allie. I won’t go anywhere without Hawke. It’s not safe is it, darling? You’ve always told me that it isn’t safe.” Lily asked looking up into his eyes. Jack stood up quickly and stuck some jerky in his mouth.

“I’ll just be waiting outside, Hawke. I’ll go ahead and get Buck saddled and we’ll be ready when you are.” he said and he quickly went out the door. Hawke looked down at Lily’s fearful brown eyes and sighed. He hated how afraid that she was and he regretted how protective he had been of her for the first few weeks after Nathan’s death. He had insisted that he had to be with her at all times and he had hovered and overprotected her and in doing so he had added to her fear.

“ Naakiiwa , I think you and Allie taking Sarah into town would be a good thing. You will not be alone,“ he added seeing the panic come into her eyes. “You can take Wolf with you.”

“Are you sure?” Lily asked as she began to chew on her lip. Hawke put his finger on her lips, sending flames through her body and stilling her nervous habit.

“I am sure. Nothing will happen to you, Lily.”

“Besides,” Allie spoke up. “If anything does happen you’ll have me for protection. Jack says I’m a better shot than Calamity Jane herself.”

“Jack would say anything to you as long as it made you smile.” Lily replied matter of factly as she stood straight and smoothed out her dress. Allie blushed and hid her smile in Sarah’s dark hair. The infant cooed and reached out for Lily, who gladly took her and held her to her chest.

Lily knew she needed to be stronger for her daughter. She needed to stop being so afraid all of the time and she thought she was getting better. But there were still times when she would close her eyes and she would see Nathan on top of her, raping her on the dirty stage office floor. She would feel his hot breath on her face and the cold metal of the gun barrel pressed into her temple. She would remember the terror and desperation she had felt when she had been certain she and her sister were going to die and in those moments she would once again be paralyzed with fear.

“Okay. I’ll take Allie and Sarah into town but only if Wolf comes along.” Hawke smiled and kissed her forehead.

“I am glad. Make sure you get some more jerked beef from the mercantile. Jack goes through that stuff like crazy.”

---

“Who keeps doing this Hawke?” Jack asked as the two of them finished repairing another trap.

“The same men that have been doing it for a long time.” Hawke replied, wiping the sweat from his brow despite the cool spring breeze that was blowing.

“Do you know who it is?” Jack asked. Hawke nodded as he swung himself into Triggers saddle.

“Why the hell do you let them do it then!” Jack demanded. “Ain’t no man alive that would come destroy my stuff and get away with it. You oughta…”

“What?” Hawke said calmly, cutting Jack off. “What should I do? Go to their homes and destroy their livelihoods? Ride into town and beat them up? Shoot them?” Jack nodded as he jumped on Buck and they started to the next trap.

“Any of those things would work.” he replied. Hawke shook his head as he scanned the woods for any sign of fox or beaver. Both furs brought good prices in town.

“They would solve nothing.” he replied simply.

“They would solve a whole hell of a lot.” Jack argued loudly. “They wouldn’t be destroying your traps anymore!” Hawke sighed and gave up looking for fox and beavers. Jack’s mouth was sure to have run everything away by now.

“There would be a new man to take their place. The men who did this to my father were replaced by the men doing it to me. It is an endless cycle.”

“Beating the crap out of ’em would make an example out of them for anybody else that thinks destroying our traps is a good idea.”

“I would rather just fix our traps and take care of my family. I think that by surviving and thriving despite all of their attempts to run me off, I am teaching them a far better lesson than I ever could with my fists.”

“Figures. You always gotta be perfect.” Jack muttered under his breath and then he winced when he saw Hawke raise his brow. He should know by now that he couldn’t mumble quiet enough so Hawke couldn’t hear.

“What is wrong with you, Jack? Everything I say lately makes you angry.” Jack grunted and picked at his saddle horn.

“That’s because every damn thing you say lately is meant to make me feel like an idiot.” he replied angrily. “You gotta constantly let me know how much better than me you are. I know you’re better than me Hawke. I don’t need you to tell me everyday.”

“The things I say are the things I was taught by my father. I am simply trying to pass them down to you.”

“I’m sixteen, Hawke. I’m a grown man and I want to be treated like one.” Jack stated matter of factly. Hawke just shook his head and said nothing. Hawke was proud of Jack and saw him as a son despite the fact that Hawke was only eleven years his senior. Jack was smart, hardworking and brave. He talked too much but usually what he had to say was entertaining and he filled the cabin with laughter. Yet despite all of that Jack was still a boy and he had a lot to learn about life.

“Aren’t you gonna say anything?” Jack asked. He had been expecting another lecture, not complete silence.

“No. You are a grown man and I will treat you like one.” Hawke replied as he pulled Trigger to a stop at the next broken trap. Jack jumped down and got to work helping Hawke fix it but his mind was still on their conversation. He was pretty sure he had just won an argument with Hawke for the first time… So why then did he feel like he had lost something far more important?

“I wonder how many people Wolf has scared witless so far in town?” Jack asked after several minutes of tense silence. Hawke shrugged and amusement sparked in his eyes.

“They do not realize that Allie is much more dangerous. I have never met a girl with a hotter temper when you get her angry.” Jack grinned.

“She sure is something. That temper is great.” he said and Hawke snorted and shook his head.

“You may not think so if you all get married. She may get angry with you one day and destroy your whole cabin.”

Chapter Three

“See we made it town safe and sound.” Allie said as she pulled the cart to a stop beside the mercantile. Lily nodded and took a deep breath and a long look around. If felt good to finally be out of the house, even though she was still nervous about not having Hawke’s protection. Sarah let out a loud squeal as she grabbed at Lily’s long hair hanging on her shoulder and Lily laughed.

“You’re happy to be out of the house too aren’t you my angel?” she asked. Lily and Allie both jumped down from the cart and Allie slipped the rifle sling over her shoulder.

“I hate that thing.” Lily said with a shudder. Allie shrugged.

“If a big old bear comes after us on the way home you’ll be glad we have it.” she replied. Lily shook her head.

“A big old bear would never dare to come after us with Wolf keeping us safe.” She said with a smile. Wolf looked up at her when she said his name and she laughed when he leaned against her leg as she scratched him behind his ear.

“Hawke says we’ve turned him into a spoiled, lazy baby who just sleeps all day.” Allie replied while scratching Wolf behind the other ear and causing the canine to nearly collapse onto the ground with pleasure.

“Hello there, ladies.” A voice with a deep Texan accent said from behind them. All doubts about the danger Wolf presented were forgotten when he whirled around and put himself between the man and the women as he growled low and threateningly in his throat.

“Whoa there!” the man said holding his hands up. He didn’t look threatening. He was tall but shorter than Hawke and closer to Jack’s height of about six feet. His hair was the same dirty blond color as Jack’s beneath his hat and his face was tan and boyish despite the several days worth of beard. He looked scared to death as he stared down at Wolf and Lily noticed his hand inch closer to the gun on his hip.

“Wolf, come.” she said sternly and Wolf reluctantly backed away from the newcomer and sat down beside of her, his eyes never leaving the strangers face.

“Nice dog you got there.” the stranger said. Allie rolled her eyes and adjusted the gun strap on her shoulder.

“He’s a wolf, not a dog.” she said. The man looked down his wide nose at her and then turned his attention back to Lily.

“I’m new in town and I was hoping I might be able to find somebody to tell me the best place to eat.” he said. Lily shifted her feet uncomfortably but reminded herself that she was trying to be less afraid. There was no reason for her to fear this man.

“I’m afraid Great Valley only has one café’ and that is Sandy’s down the road a ways.” She replied fixing Sarah’s bonnet so that the sun would not be in her eyes. The stranger tipped the black leather cowboy hat on his head.

“Thank you very much, ma’am.” he said in a voice that was warm and friendly. “I guess I’ll be seeing you ladies around. Take care of that baby.” he added and then he walked away down the road with his hands in his pockets while whistling a tune.

“He seemed nice.” Allie said while pulling her shopping list from her pocket. Lily nodded and looked at the mans retreating back.

“He looked familiar.” she said trying to think of where she had seen him before. “I think it’s because he kind of looks like Jack.” Allie shook her head.

“No he doesn’t!” she said waving her hand dismissively. “Jack is a lot more handsome.” Lily laughed.

“Let’s just get this shopping done. We have a lot of work to do in the garden after supper tonight.”

They walked into the mercantile and Ed looked up from the paper he was reading and smiled happily.

“You brought the baby!” he said, his deep voice booming and joyful. “You better let me holler up at Martha or else she’ll skin me alive.” He walked over to a door and opened it revealing a long staircase that led up to the apartment he and his wife lived in above the store.

“Martha, honey! Allie and Lily are here and they brought the baby!” Lily and Allie heard the footsteps coming down the stairs and then Martha was there in all her flamboyant, gray haired glory, squealing and cooing at Sarah.

“Oh she is beautiful!” Martha exclaimed, pulling Sarah out of Lily’s arms and hugging her against her ample chest.

“She is a good baby too.” Allie said, grabbing a small burlap bag and filling it with scoop fulls of cinnamon candy

“That wasn’t on the list.” Lily said taking the list out of her hands and handing it to Ed. Allie shrugged.

“Wolf and I like it.” she said and Wolf wagged his tail in agreement.

“Why don’t you leave the supply gathering to Ed, that’s what I keep him around here for, and you ladies come on upstairs with me and have some tea.” Allie and Lily nodded in agreement, though they didn’t have much of a choice given how quickly Martha had taken off up the stairs with Sarah in her arms.

---

“You girls come back soon and visit with me some more!” Martha called as Lily and Allie climbed up into the cart nearly an hour later.

“We will Martha. It felt nice to get out of the cabin and talk to someone new for a while.” Lily replied.

“Yes well Hawke never was one for conversation.” Ed said with a chuckle. Martha nudged her husband with her elbow.

“Don’t worry dear. With the new outfit Lily bought today they won’t be doing any talking.” Allie suddenly grew very interested in a small stain on her skirt while Lily blushed crimson red and shook her head at Martha.

“Outfit? I don’t remember loading an outfit.” Ed said scratching his thinning gray hair. He looked in the back of the cart and saw the blue satin bag and threw his hands in the air.

“Martha, please tell me you’re not selling that darn stuff you bought out of that catalogue! I told you not to sell that trash in my store.”

“You didn’t call it trash the other night when I modeled it for you.” she replied with a wink. “And besides you said I couldn’t sell it in your store, you never said a word about the house.” Ed blushed red and coughed into his hand.

“You.. Uh.. You shouldn’t be talking about our personal business on the street.” he said. Martha smiled and patted his bearded cheek.

“It will be okay, my dear.” she promised.

“Well we gotta go.” Lily said quickly. “We’ll see you both around.” She nudged Allie who waved at the two store keeps and then quickly snapped the reins and drove the cart out of town.

888

The man was watching them as they left town. Wolf could smell him and when he looked toward where the scent was coming from he could see the man standing in the doorway drinking from a large bottle in his hand.

Wolf did not like the man. He smelled like the loud one, Jack, but he was different. He smelled evil, not good like Jack. Wolf glared at the man who nodded his head in greeting when he noticed Wolf’s stare. Wolf growled low in throat and increased his pace to keep up with the cart.

He was eager to get away from this evil man and he hoped that the man stayed away from his pack and his alpha. They had been through enough.

Wolf heard the puppy squeal in the female’s arms and he shook his head as the noise hurt his ears. Puppies were loud and they did nothing but sleep, drool and make noise. Wolf could not wait until the puppy got old enough to play with.

888

“Are you and Jack okay?” Lily asked Hawke later that night as she nursed Sarah in their bed. Hawke nodded as he pulled off his boots.

“Yes. Why?” he asked. Lily shrugged.

“I don’t know, I’ve just sensed some tension between you two lately.” Hawke pulled off his buckskin shirt and laid in the bed with his hands behind his head wearing nothing but his buckskin pants and Lily found her eyes roaming over his hard bronze chest and sculpted arms.

“Jack says I am too hard on him and I say things just to show him that I am better than he is. He says he is a grown man now and so that it how I am going to treat him.” Hawke replied as he watched his daughter suckling Lily’s breast. It amazed him that Sarah’s entire life could be supported by Lily’s body.

“He might have a point.” Lily replied gently as she changed Sarah to the other side.

“You think I am a cold, judgmental asshole too?” Hawke asked looking up at the wood planked ceiling. Lily sighed and shook her head.

“You know better than that. You are the least judgmental person that I know and you are definitely not cold or an asshole but sometimes when you talk to him it does sound like all you do is criticize.” Hawke sighed and looked over at her.

“I was taught to never show weakness, Lily. Only with you do I ever show a softer side.”

“And you think that by telling Jack that you are proud of him or patting his back when he does good would be showing weakness?” Lily asked as she laid Sarah on her shoulder and patted her back gently.

“My father never patted my back or spoke of being proud of me. I did what he said when he said to do it and that was that.”

“And you turned out proud and strong so it worked with you but Jack was used to fending for himself Hawke and now he has you wanting him to live up to your expectations and you are a hard man to live up to.”

“Why do you say that? I am just me.” Lily smiled warmly at her husband and carried Sarah over to her cradle. She laid the sleeping baby down and covered her gently before turning back to the bed.

“Hawke, you don’t even realize how much that boy looks up to you do you? In his eyes you are perfect. He wants your approval and while I can tell how much you care about him and how proud you are of him, he can’t. I know that you look at him almost like you would a son and so you are treating him the way your father treated you but maybe Jack needs more. Just try to take it a little easier on him.”

“I am going to treat him the way he wants. I am not going to interfere in what he does any longer. If he wants to be a grown man then I will treat him like one.” Hawke replied stubbornly. Lily sighed.

“Do whatever you think is best. You know I will support you no matter what. I just want what’s best for both of you.”

“What would be best for me would be to have you in my arms right now.” Hawke said, his green eyes turning hungry as he looked her up and down. Lily felt her heart begin to beat faster and suddenly she remembered the outfit that she had bought from Martha earlier that day. She and Hawke had not made love since Sarah had been born and Lily wanted to make it special.

“Get out of here for a minute.” she said suddenly. Hawke raised a brow and looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

“Please, Hawke, just go out for a minute and I’ll open the door when I’m ready for you to come back in.” Hawke stood from the bed and walked over to the door.

“You are going to kill me, naakiiwa .” he said before walking out and shutting the door quietly behind him.

He thought about what Lily had said about Jack as he waited outside the door. Could it be that he was too hard on the boy? He didn’t think that he was but he and Jack had been raised two different ways and maybe Hawke’s way of doing things made Jack feel bad. Hawke could hear the boy moving around in his room and he could hear the scraping of a knife against a rock.

He walked over to the door and knocked and Jack opened it quickly.

“Hawke.” he said with surprise. Hawke raised a brow.

“Were you expecting someone else?” he asked looking over at Allie’s closed bedroom door. Jack shook his head quickly.

“No of course not.” he replied. “Is something wrong with Lily or Sarah?”

“No.” Hawke shifted his feet and cracked his knuckles and Jack found these to be strange actions from a man who was always very still.

“Is everything okay, Hawke?” Jack asked. “You act like something is on your mind or something. You know my pa always said alcohol was good to take a mans mind off of his troubles. Of course my pa thought alcohol was good for pretty much everything.” Hawke stared down at him with amusement.

“You talk too much.” he said matter of factly. “But I wanted to thank you for helping me with the traps today. Without your help that would have taken me at least two days.” Jack wondered if maybe Hawke had gotten his hands on some of that pipe smoke those Indians were always smoking on the reservations.

“You’re welcome.” he said. Hawke nodded and then took a step back.

“Well that is all I wanted.” he said matter of factly. Jack nodded slowly, finding this whole thing to be a little weird. Hawke never thanked him for things. It was nice but at the same time it was…. Well weird.

“Goodnight Hawke.” he said and he shut his bedroom door. Hawke heard his own bedroom door open and realized that Lily was letting him back in. He walked into the bedroom.

“I talked to Jack…..” His words died in his throat when he caught sight of Lily sitting in the bed. She was wearing a tight red lace corset and matching satin panties. He felt his mouth go dry and his heart race as he took in all the inches of her soft porcelain skin that were on display for him.

The corset pushed her tiny breasts up and he stared at the line of cleavage between them. Lily rose up on her knees and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

“It’s been a long time, ninaa. “ she said in a husky whisper. Hawke could not agree more. He crossed the room in three long strides and joined her on the bed.

“You are beautiful, naakiiwa. “ he replied wrapping his arms tight around her and pulling her long body up against his own. She stared up at him, her brown eyes bright with passion and he lowered his lips to hers. He kissed her long and slow.

Lily threw her head back and moaned as his lips moved lower to her neck and bare collarbones and his hands roamed over her body, setting her blood on fire with expert skill.

“It has been too long since I have tasted you.” Hawke whispered as he moved his lips lower to the curve of her breasts.

“Make love to me, Hawke.” Lily said breathlessly as she moved her hands over the hard rolling muscles of his bare back. Hawke laid her down on the bed and moved himself over her as he lowered his hand to her legs and ran his fingers up to the hem of her satin panties. He smiled when he felt her tremble beneath his touch.

Hawke wanted to take his time but it had been too long since he had made love to her. He was aching for her soft body and he quickly slid out of his pants and pulled her panties down her long legs before tossing them to the floor.

Lily dug her fingers into his broad back as he slid himself inside of her. Only Hawke could ever make her feel this way. Their bodies, hearts and souls entwined as one. The love they made was passionate and intense. Hawke’s lips devoured her own as the pace increased and their light moans filled the air.

When finally they both collapsed against the mattress and Hawke got his breathing and heart rate back to a somewhat normal rhythm he turned on his side and wrapped his arm tight around her waist. He picked at the lace of the corset and smiled.

“Where did this come from?”

“I bought it in town today.” Lily replied while blushing and suddenly feeling shy under his gaze. Hawke nodded.

“I will let you go to town without me more often if you come home with something like this each time.”

A/N: I’m not sure if I needed to do the Blackfoot translations for this story but I’ll do them anyway

Naakiiwa-

my woman

Ninaa-

my man

Chapter Four

“I’m going for a walk to the lake.” Allie said the next morning as Lily started gathering up the breakfast dishes.

“Help your sister clean up first.” Hawke replied from where he was holding Sarah on the couch. Jack chuckled when Hawke nuzzled the babies soft cheeks, causing her to coo and wrap her chubby little hand tight around Hawke’s long hair.

“Ow… Let go of daddy.” Hawke said sternly and Sarah’s hand instantly let go of his hair.

“How the heck does he do that? Wolves listen to him. Horses listen to him. Babies listen to him. You know I heard once that there are people that can use their brains to control those around them. They can just think about what they want somebody to do and that person automatically has to do it! They just can’t help themselves.” Hawke stared hard at Jack until the boy was shifting in his seat.

“What the hell you staring at me for?” he asked.

“It does not work.” Hawke said matter of factly.

“What doesn’t?” Jack asked with confusion. Hawke shrugged.

“My mind was telling you to forget how to speak.” Jack glared over at him and shook his head.

“Haha.” he said, crossing his arms over his chest and slumping down in his chair. Hawke fought back a smile as he turned his attention back to Sarah. Oh yes, Jack certainly seemed to be a grown man… Except of course for the pouting.

“Allie, go ahead and go for your walk. I can get this on my own.” Lily said shaking her head at the interaction between Jack and Hawke.

“Are you sure?” Allie asked as she sat a stack of dirty plates on the counter. Lily nodded.

“Of course I’m sure. It’s a beautiful day and I may want to take a walk later and you’ll have to watch Sarah for me so go out and enjoy yourself now.” Allie nodded, grabbed the rifle from beside the door and walked out of the cabin. Jack stood from the table and sent a defiant look in Hawke’s direction.

“I’m going with her.” he said. Hawke did not even look up from Sarah’s face as he nodded. Jack had been expecting a fight since Hawke never let him be alone with Allie but Hawke did not say a word. Jack turned and walked for the door.

“Jack,” Hawke called and Jack stiffened his spine and waited for the lecture or warning that was sure to follow.

“What?” he asked while keeping his back to the inside of the cabin.

“When you get back I will need your help checking traps.” Was all Hawke said.

“Yeah, sure, Hawke.” Jack replied and then he walked away with a satisfied smile. It looked like he had finally gotten through to Hawke and the man was finally going to start treating him like a grown man. No more stupid lectures, no more stupid life lessons. Jack knew about life. Hell he’d taken care of himself just fine for five years. True he owed a lot to Hawke and he respected the man but that did not mean he wanted to hear his thoughts and opinions about everything he did.

“I’m proud of you.” Lily said to Hawke as she watched the boy walk down the same path Allie had taken into the woods. “You’re giving them a little more freedom together. I know it makes you nervous but Allie and Jack are both good kids.”

“You’re giving me too much credit.” Hawke replied. He stood up and walked to the cabin door.

“Wolf.” he said sternly and Wolf rose from where he had been sleeping in the sun and walked over slowly, stretching out his legs as he did so.

“What are you doing?” Lily asked, drying her hands quickly on her apron.

“Wolf, follow and pr….” Lily clamped her hand over Hawke’s mouth before he could finish and his green eyes narrowed as he looked down at her.

“Don’t you dare do that to those poor kids. If you want Wolf to follow them then that is fine but don’t you dare say the other word you were about to say.” Hawke glared at her for several seconds but then he nodded and she removed her hand. Hawke looked down at Wolf who was staring up at him as if trying to decide whether to stay and wait for the command or go lie back down in the sun.

“Wolf, follow.” Hawke said pointing toward the trail that Jack and Allie had taken. Wolf let out a huff and then took off at a fast lope into the woods.

“You have to give them a little bit of space, Hawke. I promise it will be okay.”

“I still think that he will break her heart. He has a lot that he still has to figure out about life even though he thinks that he is a man.”

“And if Allie does get her heart broken, she won’t be first girl that it has happened to and she will be fine. There is always a chance that he won’t break her heart and they will live happily ever after just like us.” Lily replied, raising up on her toes and pressing a gentle kiss to his smooth hard cheek. Hawke shook his head and laid a gentle kiss to her forehead before carrying a sleeping Sarah into their bedroom and laying her in her cradle.

“You are never allowed to grow up.” he whispered gently to the little pink angel.

888

“Is there room on that rock for me?” Jack asked walking up to Allie who was sitting on a rock beside the lake and tossing pebbles into the water. She smiled and patted it with her hand. “Have a seat.” she replied. Jack sat down and he picked up a flat smooth stone and skipped it across the surface of the water.

“How did you do that?” Allie asked looking at him with awe. Jack grinned proudly.

“It’s not hard. You want me to teach you?” he asked. Allie nodded and Jack looked around and found two more rocks that would work. He put one of them in Allie’s hand.

“Now hold it like this.” He said showing her with his own rock. “Then you fling out your arm like this and flick your wrist while letting the rock fly.” Jack threw his rock and like the last one, it skipped five times across the surface of the water before sinking down.

“Here I go.” Allie said and she tossed her own rock which skipped twice before sinking down.

“Great job!” Jack said proudly. “I told you it wasn’t hard.” Allie smiled, even as she blushed a little. Jack stretched his arms over his head, trying his best to look innocent, and when he lowered them down his left arm wrapped around Allie’s waist. He waited for her to yell at him and tell him to move but instead she laid her head against her shoulder and he thought for sure his heart was going to beat right out of his chest.

“I’ve been…” Jack started but then he realized his voice didn’t sound quitet as deep as he would like it to so he cleared his throat and spoke again, working harder to make his voice sound deeper.

“I’ve been thinking about getting a job in town.” he said. Allie felt like she was in heaven as she felt his strong arm wrapped around her. Nothing could be more perfect than this simple moment.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I’m sixteen now. I’m a grown man.” he said matter of factly. “I’d like to start making my own money and setting some aside for when I move out on my own.”

“I can’t wait until I’m sixteen.” Allie replied. She loved her life and she loved helping Lily with the house and taking care of little Sarah but she knew that at sixteen she would be old enough to get married and she wanted nothing more than to marry Jack.

“Do you remember when I asked you if I could kiss you?” Jack said, hoping that she wouldn’t hear the nervousness in his voice. Allie nodded.

“Yeah I remember.” she replied. She bit her lip and waited anxiously for him to speak again.

“What was your answer gonna be?”

“Yes.” Allie said quickly. “My answer was going to be yes.” Before Jack could respond they heard claws clicking on the rocks and looked behind them to see Wolf walking over. He flopped down in the sunshine beside of them and laid his head on his paws while he looked out at the water.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Jack said with irritation. “Wolf, go home.” he said sternly. Wolf just raised a brow and then snorted and looked back at the lake.

Jack squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. He was going to kiss Allie whether Wolf liked it or not. If the damn beast bit him he figured it was worth it. He’s been waiting to kiss the girl for almost a year.

Allie’s breath caught in her throat when put his hand on her cheek and turned her face to his. Butterflies attacked her stomach as they both closed their eyes and leaned toward each other. Their lips met and Allie was sure the sun shone brighter.

The kiss was tight lipped and gentle, both of their first. Jack might have kissed girls before Allie but never one he loved the way he loved Allie. As Jack pulled away, breathing just a little faster he heard Wolf growl. He rolled his eyes and turned to face the stupid canine.

“Go ahead and bite me you pain in the …..” Jack stopped talking when he saw Wolf stalking off into the woods, clearly in hunting mode. Jack’s own defenses rose as he listened for any sign of what Wolf was going after.

“Where is he going?” Allie asked. Jack shrugged. He stood up and took Allie’s hand, pulling her to her feet as well. The scream of a mountain lion filled the air, followed by a ferocious snarl from Wolf.

“Go to the house!” Jack said sternly to Allie who shook her head.

“I’ve got to help Wolf!’ she replied with just a touch of panic in her voice. Jack took the rifle from her and she glared at him.

“I will help Wolf. You go to the house and tell Hawke.” Allie quickly nodded when a pain filled yelp filled the air. Jack handed her his revolver just in case she ran into trouble going back up the path and then he watched her until she was out of sight.

He headed into the woods the way Wolf had gone and it didn’t take him long to find Wolf and the mountain lion circling each other. Wolf had blood covering his muzzle and was favoring on his front left leg. The mountain lion was bleeding from the throat. The mountain lion saw Jack and decided it had had enough. It turned to run but Jack aimed the rifle and fired a shot, hitting the beast in the back of the head and dropping it where it stood.

“You okay, Wolf?” Jack asked as Wolf licked his bleeding leg. Jack pulled a piece of jerky from his pocket and tossed it to Wolf who happily gobbled it up.

“Thanks for that, Wolf. That darn lion would have gotten us for sure if you hadn’t been around.” Jack was about to pick the mountain lion up and carry him back to the cabin when he heard something whine in a nearby bush. Wolf tilted his head and walked over to the bush. He stuck his head inside and then jumped back quickly with a yelp.

“What is it boy?” Jack asked. He kept his finger on the rifles trigger and used the barrel of the gun to push aside some of the bush. He yelled and jumped back as a ball of white fur jumped from the bush and curled up at his boots.

Jack scratched his head and looked down at the white wolf pup that was shaking and whining on the ground. He looked over at Wolf who just sat down and tilted his head as he looked at the puppy.

“Are you okay little guy?” Jack asked as he crouched down and looked at he pup. There was blood covering the fur on his back leg and Jack figured the mountain lion had probably had a hold of him.

“The pack must have left her.” Hawke’s voice came from behind Jack and made him jump.

“Dammit, Hawke, you need to start making some noise when you walk before you end up giving me a heart attack.”

“Pick her up and take her to the house so we can check out her leg. I’ll get the mountain lion.” Hawke said and while Jack scooped the pup up into arms and tried to get his face away from its licking tongue, Hawke grabbed the mountain lion and tossed the huge cat over his shoulders like it was nothing.

888

“She’s adorable!” Allie said as she took the wolf puppy away from Jack.

“I really hope it’s a she.” Jack replied with a grin that showed off his dimples. “Because the darn thing has been kissing me all the way here.”

“What happened to her leg?” Lily asked looking at the deep bite wound and blood. Jack pointed to the mountain lion that Hawke had just finished hanging in the barn.

“I think the lion got her. Hawke says the pack left her.”

“They do not like the white wolves to be in the pack because they are not camouflaged well for hunting.” Hawke said walking over. “She is probably about six weeks old or so.”

“Can I keep her, Hawke?” Allie asked as the pup began to nibble at her dress. Hawke nodded.

“She stays outside with Wolf.” he replied. Allie looked up at him and pleaded with her dark eyes.

“Please let her come in, Hawke. At least until she gets healed up. I’ll make sure she stays in my room at night and I won’t let her destroy anything.” Hawke stared hard at her for several moments but then finally nodded, falling victim to the look of innocence in her eyes.

“She suckered you right into that.” Lily said as Allie carried the pup into the house. Jack was chuckling as he stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels.

“I’m glad you are entertained.” Hawke said to the boy as he raised his brow and crossed his arms over his chest. “I have to check traps. You skin the mountain lion, hang the meat in the smokehouse but keep some out for the pup. Get some milk from the cow for the pup too.”

“I thought you wanted me to help you.” Jack said with more of a pout than Hawke thought a grown man should ever have.

“You are a grown man now and a grown man has to take care of any animal he kills. Take care of the lion.” Hawke kissed Lily’s forehead tenderly and then jumped up on Trigger who he had already had saddled before Allie had come running to the cabin and telling him there was trouble.

Lily watched him ride away with Wolf by his side as Jack walked to the barn, kicking the grass with his boot and mumbling under his breath. She shook her head and cursed men and their inability to communicate before walking into the house to make sure the pups wounds did not need stitches.

Chapter Five

Wolf was just settling down onto his favorite spot of grass… Where the sun shone so perfectly and warmed his fur better than anywhere else. He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the birds singing in the trees and then the sound of panting invaded his ears.

He opened one eye, just a crack, and there she was standing inches from his face and staring at him with bright blue eyes full of curiosity. Three long days Wolf had been putting up with this nuisance. The two leggers called her Janna and Wolf knew she was here to stay and he was not happy about it.

Janna reached out her paw and swatted Wolf in the nose and he growled low in his throat and snapped at her.

“Wolf!” Allie scolded. “Be nice to her.” Wolf looked over at the two females hanging clothes on the line and sighed. He didn’t understand the words but he knew he was being scolded for snapping at Janna.

“Janna.” The alpha’s stern angry voice came from the cabin door. Wolf saw Janna drop down to her belly and turn to face the alpha with a whine. It had not taken her long to learn who the alpha was in this pack. The alpha snapped his fingers and motioned for her to move away from Wolf. Wolf looked on happily as Janna moved several feet away. She whined again as she looked up at the alpha but his green eyes just hardened more and Janna laid down in the grass and rolled over onto her back showing her submission.

Wolf laid his head back down on his legs and went back to warming his fur with a satisfied sigh.

“Why did you do that?” Allie asked Hawke angrily as she hung up one of Sarah’s tiny dresses. “Janna wasn’t doing anything wrong! She was just playing.”

“Allie the wolves see this family as a pack and in a pack there is a certain rank that everyone carries. Janna has to learn her place.”

“Oh and you’re the boss of everybody?” Allie asked with sarcasm. Lily threw her a sharp look but before she could say anything Hawke spoke up again.

“To the wolves, yes I am. I am the alpha. Lily is my mate and so they will look at her as a leader too.”

“Where am I at on this chain of command?” Jack asked, walking out of the barn and leaning on the rake he had been using to clean the stalls.

“Wolf sees you and Allie as being equals to him.”

“Equal?” Jack asked with a snort. “To an animal?” Hawke shrugged.

“Just be glad you are not below him or else he would treat you like he does Janna.” Jack just shook his head and walked back into the barn.

“Why does Janna have to be below him?” Allie asked scratching the wolf pup behind the ears.

“Because she is a puppy. And the young ones are always lower in the pack than the older, stronger and more intelligent wolves.” Hawke was looking into the barn as he said this but then he quickly turned his attention back to his daughter in his arms.

“Well I’m off to town.” Jack said, coming out of the barn on Buck. Hawke wanted to ask where he was going but Jack wanted to be treated like a grown man and Hawke would never ask another grown man about his business.

“Where are you going?” Lily asked for him.

“Richard Mitchell in town told me I could start coming to his blacksmith shop and he’d teach me the trade and then once I get a good hang of it, he’s gonna let me have a job there.”

“Good. It is good for a man to know a trade.” Hawke said with a nod. Jack found himself smiling at the unexpected show of support from Hawke.

“I’ll be back before dark.” Jack promised Lily and she nodded as she went back to hanging clothes.

“Be careful.” she said.

“Bye, Jack.” Allie said waving at him. Jack blew her a kiss and winked.

“See ya later, doll.” he said and Allie blushed while Lily grinned and Hawke shook his head.

888

Jack wiped the sweat off his brow, spreading black soot across his face.

“You did good today, kid. Come on back in tomorrow and if you keep up the good work then I’ll hire you on here and pay you for your work.” Richard Mitchell said smiling beneath his thick black mustache.

“Thanks, Richard.” Jack said and he walked out of the blacksmith shop feeling proud of himself. He really had done good for having no experience working with metal.

Jack walked into the mercantile and Ed looked at him and laughed loudly.

“Jack, you are filthy!” he exclaimed. Jack nodded and smiled his white teeth shining brightly against his soot blackened skin and lips.

“I got me a job.” he said. “Working at the blacksmith shop.” Jack saw a man and woman walk into the store out of the corner of his eye but he didn’t recognize them and so he didn’t pay them any attention.

“Good for you, Jack. I knew that Hawke would mold you into a good man.” Jack felt a spark of jealousy but pushed it down. He would have been a good man with or without Hawke’s input and he was tired of Hawke getting the credit for every good thing that he did. But he knew Ed was just trying to be friendly and so he didn’t voice his angry opinion on the matter.

“I was hoping I could start a credit here at the store since I’ll be making money soon.” Ed looked uncertain for a moment and Jack knew he was thinking about the time Jack had stolen some candy from his store.

“I promise I’ll pay ya just as soon as I start making some money. Richard said I’m real good at the job and he doesn’t think it’ll be long before he hires me on for real and I start making money.” Ed sighed and nodded, causing his thinning hair to bounce in the sunset coming through the window behind him.

“Alright fine. But nothing big. Only small purchases until you start making some money.”

“Thanks Ed.” Jack grabbed two tiny burlap sacks and filled one with the cinnamon candy that Allie loved and another with jerked beef. He put both of these up on the counter and then grabbed a fresh cut flower out of a jar on the counter and sat it down on the bags.

“Let me guess you got the candy for Allie?” Ed asked putting the bag on the scale to determine the price. Jack nodded.

“She loves that stuff.” Jack replied. “And if I get her something I have to get Lily something. I can’t have any jealous women at home.” he added with a wink as he touched the white rose.

“Uh-oh… Hawke has competition.” Ed said with a chuckle as he weighed the bag of jerky. Jack shook his head and grinned.

“Naw, there’s only one girl for me, Ed.”

“Lily and Allie? Did you say you know Lily and Allie?” The woman who had walked in asked. Jack looked at the couple more closely for the first time. The woman was average height, about the same as Lily and she had a slender build, dark hair and brown eyes. Her eyes were old and tired looking and deep lines shown around their edges.

The man was tall and his hair was turning gray. He was clean shaven and very skinny with sunken in cheeks and eyes that were nearly black. Jack instantly did not trust either one of them and was suspicious.

“I might have.” he said turning on his heels to face them. “Who wants to know?”

“Allie Jackson and Lily Yeary?” the man asked. Jack shook his head.

“Lily ain’t a Yeary no more. Why do you want to know about them?”

“You live with them. I heard you talking to Ed.” the woman said with what could only be described as desperation in her voice.

“So much for privacy.” Jack muttered under his breath.

“Take us to our daughters.” the man said with an edge of irritation and anger. Jack’s eyes widened.

“You’re Frank and Violet?” he demanded and they nodded. “I ain’t taking you to Lily and Allie. Far as they’re concerned the both of you are dead and I say good riddance. Now if you’ll get the hell out of my way, I gotta get home.”

“We’ll just follow you.” Violet snapped. “We deserve to see our daughters. And why isn’t Lily a Yeary anymore? We gave her….”

“Yeah you gave her to Nathan Yeary but uh… he died.” Jack cut in. “I don’t think her new husband would welcome you both with open arms so why don’t I just tell them you’re in town and they can come see you if you want to.”

“We’ll just follow you if you don’t take us willingly.” Frank said very matter of fact and Jack sighed. He turned back to Ed who was watching the whole scene with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

“Hawke is going to kill me.” Jack whispered and Ed nodded. Jack banged his fists on the counter and then scooped up the bags and the flower and headed quickly for the door.

“Come on if you’re coming. We ain’t got all day. It’ll be dark soon and I would hate for a bear to eat either one of you fine people for supper.”

888

Brian took a puff of the cigarette in his hand and breathed out, while watching his younger brother through the cloud of smoke. Jack had changed a whole lot since the last time he had seen him… Of course Jack had only been five years old the last time he’d seen him.

Despite his dirty appearance now, Brian was sure this was his brother. He had seen him when he had first come into town and the family resemblance was too strong to deny. Brian had been tracking his brother for nearly a year and he had finally found him.

He took a swig of the whiskey out of the bottle in his hand and looked at the whore lying back on his hotel bed sound asleep. He had been too rough with her and she was bruised and no doubt hurting but he planned on using her again just as soon as Brian junior was up to the task. Brian never had been one to care about rules or what was right. He had chosen this whore because she looked kind of like that dark haired woman he had met in town the other day. The one with the baby.

He licked his lips as he thought about her. Before he took Jack out of town he was going to make sure he had a go at that delicious looking temptation. A man would have to be dead to let an opportunity like that pass him by.

888

“Jack must be coming.” Lily said from the porch rocking chair where she was just getting Sarah to sleep. Wolf had jumped to his feet and was now standing at the edge of the porch growling, ignoring Janna who was nipping at his legs.

“Why is Wolf acting that way?” Allie asked. “He knows Jack, he wouldn’t be so protective.” Hawke rose from the chair he’d been sitting in and grabbed the rifle from against the banister. He stepped off the porch and he and Wolf both stood in the yard waiting for whoever was coming to show themselves.

“It’s Jack.” Hawke said once he saw Buck coming out of the trees. “But he is not alone.” Allie and Lily both looked up at the newcomers who were sharing a horse. They were too far away to make out at first but as they got closer Lily and Allie recognized them.

Hawke turned to his wife and sister in law when he heard Allie’s knitting needles fall to the porch with a clatter. Lily and Allie both had looks of shock and horror on their face. He turned back to the newcomers and eyed Jack questioningly. Jack gave him an apologetic look and shrugged.

“Sorry. They were going to follow me either way.” he said as he jumped off of Buck. The newcomers jumped down from their horse as well and Hawke eyed them with distrust as Wolf continued to growl.

“Who are they?” he asked Jack. Before Jack could answer Lily spoke up from the porch.

“Mother. Father. What are you doing here?”

Chapter Six

Hawke saw red. So these were the people that had handed Lily to that good for nothing son of a bitch Nathan. These were the people who had delivered her into the hands of that devil.

“Leave.” he said his voice as cold and hard as steel. He pointed the rifle at them. “Get off my land and never come back here.” Wolf’s growls became louder as he fed off of Hawke’s intense anger.

“An Indian! My daughters are living with an Indian?” Violet demanded with horror.

“He’s a hell of a lot better of a man than that jackass you gave Lily too.” Jack said, coming quickly to Hawke’s defense. Hawke’s face was hard and emotionless but his eyes were burning with rage and the muscles in his arms and chest could be seen bulging and tensing beneath his shirt as he gripped the rifle tight.

“Where the hell is your husband Lily?” Frank demanded looking up at his oldest daughter who was still standing dumbfounded on the porch. She shook her head as if coming out of a trance and pointed to Hawke.

“He is pointing a gun at you.” Violet and Frank were both standing motionless in front of the man and wolf that were glaring at them. It was hard to tell which one looked more deadly or more angry.

“No Nathan is your husband.” Frank said matter of factly. Lily shook her head again.

“Nathan is dead.” she replied.

“I’m pretty sure I already told you that.” Jack added under his breath.

“Hawke is my husband now.” Lily finished. Violet and Frank both looked at Hawke with a mixture of disbelief and disgust.

“Hawke, that’s a fitting name. A savage named after an animal.”

“Actually he spells it with an E on the end so it’s not really like the animal.” Jack said. Hawke gave him a look that clearly said ‘shut up’ and Jack shrugged.

“I was just saying.” he mumbled.

“Did you two come here just to insult my husband or is there another reason for your visit.” Lily asked coming down off the porch and standing beside of Hawke. Violet noticed the bundle in her arms and her eyes widened.

“I have a grandbaby?” she asked with awe. Lily shook her head and moved Sarah away from her outstretched hand.

“I have a daughter. You have nothing. Why are you here?”

“We were worried about our daughters.” Frank replied. Hawke wanted to demand that they leave or get shot but he was happy to see Lily showing strength again after being weak for so long and he knew she needed to stand up to them herself.

“Don’t lie to me. There is not a single bone in your bodies that is capable of caring about anyone other than yourselves.”

“How dare you speak to me that way.” Violet said taking a step toward Lily. Hawke quickly put himself in between the two woman and Violet jumped back and nearly fell in her haste to get away from the six and a half foot Indian.

“Do not touch her.” he said in a low and threatening voice.

“She is my daughter.” Violet said, feeling much more confident from several feet away.

“She is my wife. You do not deserve to call her or Allie your daughters. You need to leave.” Hawke replied. Allie made her way down into the yard with Janna held tight in her arms. She came to a stop next to Jack and he wrapped a dirty arm around her waist and pulled her tight against his side. Allie felt some of her tension melt away as she leaned into the support and protection that he offered.

Before anyone could say anything else the sky began to blacken and thunder boomed in the distance.

“Lily, you wouldn’t turn us out with this storm coming would you?” Frank asked his oldest daughter as the wind began to pick up and both Wolf and Janna began to shift uncomfortably as they smelled the weather turning bad.

Lily was tempted to tell them to get lost. She owed them nothing… As a matter of fact she owed it to them to send them into the wilderness in the middle of a thunderstorm. She looked up at Hawke for guidance but he just shrugged.

“I will stand behind you, naakiiwa . The choice is yours.” Lily looked over at Allie but her little sister who had been acting so brave and tough for nearly a year was hiding her face in Janna’s white fur and clearly afraid. The thunder boomed again causing Lily to jump and raise her hand to her chest.

“Fine. You can stay the night but in the morning you have to leave. You aren’t welcome any longer than that.” Lily looked up at Hawke to judge his reaction and as usual his face was nearly unreadable but she knew him better now and she was certain she saw anger at her decision and she knew she was probably going to hear about it once they were alone.

888

“Bunch of horse shit is what it is. The damn baby sellers get my room and I gotta sleep on the damn sofa that is a foot shorter than I am.” Jack said angrily. Allie nodded in agreement but Lily shook her head.

“I’d rather have you out here where you can keep an eye on all of our things than give them free range of the house.” she said. “I trust you. They aren’t exactly known for their honesty and trustworthiness.”

“My damn back is gonna be killin’ me come morning.” Jack grumbled as Lily laid a pillow and blanket down on the sofa. Hawke growled while he paced back and forth across the room and glared at Jack’s closed bedroom door where Violet and Frank had taken refuge.

“Be quiet.” he snapped. “A grown man would not whine about what needs to be done. He would just do it and move on.”

“I ain’t whining, dammit.” Jack said, flopping himself down on the couch and pulling off his boots and hat. “I just don’t see the point in it is all. It’s not like they deserve a nice warm bed.” Hawke grunted and then went into his and Lily’s bedroom leaving the door open behind him and making it clear that he expected Lily to follow.

Lily bit her lip and wished she could think of some reason to stay up longer but there was none. She gave a little wave to both Allie and Jack and then drug her slippered feet into the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

“Don’t mind Hawke, he’s just grouchy because he’s tense.” Allie said once she and Jack were alone. Jack sat up on the couch and patted the cushion beside of him. Allie sat down and nervously folded her hands in her lap.

“I know. Just sometimes I wish he’d lighten up a little bit… It’s like he’s always gotta put me in my place. I’m a grown man.” he replied with frustration. Allie nodded.

“Yeah but he’s that way with everybody not just you. I’ll bet Lily is gonna get an earful too.”

“You better get some sleep, doll. I have a feeling tomorrow is gonna be a long day.” Jack said looking over at Janna who was chewing on the kitchen table leg. “You might want to get your girl or else Hawke will kick her out of the house for sure.”

Allie jumped up quickly and ran over to Janna.

“No. Bad girl.” she said sternly as she picked the pup up. Janna licked her face and yipped. “Shhh… All we need is for you to wake Sarah up.” Jack stood up when Allie walked back over to the couch. He reached out and smoothed a strand of her dark hair behind her ear before pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth.

“Goodnight, doll.” he said. Allie took a step back and nearly tripped over the tiny end table. Jack grabbed her elbow to steady her and grinned.

“You okay?” he asked. Allie nodded and blushed bright red.

“Of course, I’m just fine.” she said running her hand through her hair. “Good night, Jack.”

888

“I cannot believe you let those people stay here.” Hawke said as he paced back and forth across the bedroom. Lily sighed as she adjusted the blanket over Sarah and then walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

“They’re my parents, Hawke, I couldn’t just let them go wandering through the woods alone.”

“They are nothing to you. They gave you to a man who would have killed you if I had not found you just so they would not have to pay their own debts.”

“I know and in the morning they will leave.” Lily promised. Hawke stopped pacing when he heard the uncertainty in her voice and came to the bed. He sat down and pulled her into the warm strength of his arms. “I am so confused, Hawke. Why are they here? I know it’s not because they were worried. What if they want to take Allie away? They could you know. She’s only fourteen.” Hawke could hear the panic in her voice and it brought out his urge to protect to. He smoothed her long dark hair from her face and kept one big calloused hand on her cheek.

“ Naakiiwa , this is my family. I have never had one before and I will not let anyone tear it apart. Allie will not go anywhere. This I can promise you.“ Lily leaned into her husbands strong embrace and took comfort in his warmth and confidence. She knew Hawke would protect Allie and do anything to keep her safe. This thought both comforted and scared her at the same time because she knew her parents could very likely die if they pushed the man too far.

888

Jack listened to the ticking of the clock as he once again tried to adjust himself on the tiny sofa.

“Bunch of horseshit.” he mumbled under his breath and then he hissed in pain when he threw his arms to the side and his knuckles cracked against the side table.

Those worthless sons of bitches had his bed and he had a sofa. That just did not sit well with Jack. He had been a long time in his life without a real bed and now that he had one he didn’t like having to give it up. Not for people like Frank and Violet Jackson.

Jack stretched out and felt a twinge of pain in his back. Great, now not only was he going to be tired as hell tomorrow from no sleep but he was gonna be walking like a damn hunchback too. He let out a long breath and closed his eyes, determined to finally get at least a few minutes of sleep when he heard loud angry whispers coming from inside his bedroom. Frank and Violet were arguing and he wanted to know why.

He stood and walked silently to the door. He put his ear against the wood and listened closely.

“Violet, we can’t. Did you see the size of that savage? And then that boy looked like he and Allie had a thing going. If we try to take her away we’ll end up dead.”

“She is our daughter, Frank. She belongs home with us and Gus has agreed to forgive our debts if she looks like the type of woman he wants to marry.”

“But what about Nathan? Do want to end up dead at the hands of that savage because I would say that is what happened to him.”

“You know how loving and soft hearted Lily is. She wouldn’t let him kill her parents. We’ll just get help from the law in town if we have to. Allie belongs to us and we will take her home.”

The conversation ended and the room fell silent. Jack stood outside the bedroom door fighting the urge to bust it down and put a bullet in both of their heads.

He looked at Hawke’s bedroom door and wondered if he should go in there now and warn him and Lily but then he decided to just wait until morning. If he could come up with a plan on his own to keep Allie here, it might just make Hawke respect him. Jack stretched back out on the couch the best he could and let his mind race.

Chapter Seven

“Why are you cooking them breakfast?” Allie demanded of her sister as the scent of frying bacon filled the air.

“Because they are our parents whether we like it or not and they probably don’t have a dime to buy their own meals.”

“I want them to leave.” Allie said, wrapping her arms tight around herself. Hawke nodded in agreement from where he sat sharpening his knife at the table. Violet and Frank were out on the porch watching the rain that was still falling heavily from the sky. Jack was standing in the doorway spinning the cylinder of his revolver; letting the sound of the clicking metal fill the tense silence.

After a few moments of watching Violet and Frank, Jack locked the cylinder back in place and slid the gun back into his holster and then he walked into the cabin closing the door behind him.

“Hawke, I need to talk to you.” he said to the Indian. Hawke didn’t question him, simply stood and followed Jack into Jack’s bedroom. Lily and Allie watched the men and then looked at each other questioningly.

“Hawke, they plan on taking Allie.” Jack said once the men were alone. Hawke nodded.

“I knew there was another reason they were here.” he replied.

“That’s not all. They want to take her back to Virginia and sell her to a man to pay off more of their debts.”

“Just like Lily.”

“I don’t know what the damn idiots think they’re gonna do the next time they get in debt. I mean I don’t know if they got a family dog or nothing but if I was him I’d be getting the hell out of town cause he’ll be next.” Hawke just nodded at the boys rambling.

“I will not let Allie leave this home.” Hawke said matter of factly.

“Neither will I.” Jack added putting his hand on his gun. Hawke ran his own hand along his knife in the leather sleeve on his leg and nodded.

“The law is on their side.” he said thoughtfully.

“That’s what they said last night. I could hear ’em talking and Violet said they could just go get help from the law in town.”

“Marshall Yale is gone on business and Deputy Timmons would have no choice but to give her to them.”

“Yea but I got a plan…” Before Jack could say anything else Allie came bursting into the room with Lily trying desperately to calm her. Allie threw herself into Jack’s arms and Jack held her tight while looking desperately at Lily.

“What’s the matter with her?” he asked as Allie sobbed and clung tightly to his black button down shirt.

“She heard you talking.” Lily replied. “We both did.” she added with trepidation. Allie was shaking in his arms and Jack rubbed her back, doing his best to comfort her.

“Can we have a minute you two?” Jack asked Hawke and Lily. Hawke nodded, wrapped his arm around Lily’s waist and led her out of the room.

Jack pulled Allie away from him enough so that he could put his hands on her cheeks and force her to look up at him. Her face was wet with tears and her dark eyes were wide with fear.

“I can’t go back to them, Jack! I can’t leave you and Lily and Sarah and Hawke! You don’t know what it’s like with them and if they sell me to some man.. Oh God! What if he’s like Nathan and he does the things to me that Nathan did to Lily. Jack I would….” Jack pressed a quick, hard kiss to her lips to quiet her and she stopped talking and stared up at him.

“I have a plan, Allie. You have to trust me okay? I won’t let them people take you anywhere.” ‘Even if it means I gotta kill them to keep you safe’ he added silently. “Do you trust me, doll?” Allie stared up into his bright blue eyes and knew with all of her heart that she did trust him. Jack was her hero. He had come to her rescue that day in that train station in Helena, he had saved her from Nathan and he had been by her side ever since.

“I trust you, Jack.” she replied and Jack could hear the sincerity of her words and he knew that he could not let her down. He would save her from her parents no matter what he had to do.

888

“Well the rain’s let up. I guess that mean it’s time for us to escort you fine folks back to Great Valley so you can get the hell on outta Montana.” Jack said to Violet and Frank after everyone had finished their tense breakfast. Jack had not had time to explain his plan to anyone and he just hoped that Hawke would follow his lead.

“I’ll saddle the horses.” Hawke said as he rose from the table and walked out the cabin door.

“Lily and Allie, you both are going to come see your father and I off aren’t you?” Violet asked smiling brightly at her daughters.

“No ma’am. It’s just gonna be me and Hawke taking you into town. Lily’s got the baby to take care of and it might get to raining again.” Jack replied as he pulled his hat down tighter on his head. Violet and Frank shared a look of concern but then they both nodded to each other.

“Well give me a hug then dear.” Violet said stepping toward Allie. Lily put herself in between the two of them and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Do not touch her.” she said sternly and Jack nearly laughed because she sounded and looked so much like Hawke. Jack could see that Violet was about to argue with Lily and so he put his arm around Frank’s shoulders and led the skinny man to the door.

“Come on, Violet, it’s time to go.” Jack said. Violet huffed and gave one last icy stare toward Lily before turning and following Jack and Frank. Jack turned his head back toward the women before walked out the door.

“See ya both later.” he said with a wink and though Allie was scared to death she couldn’t help but smile.

888

Hawke wondered if it would be illegal to cut Jack’s vocal chords. They were nearly to town now and the entire way he had been talking about poker and gambling with Frank and Violet. Hawke hated constant noise and as far as he was concerned having meaningless conversations about things that did not matter was a waste of perfectly good air.

“I am the best gambler you will ever meet.” Frank said matter of factly as they topped over the hill and town came into view.

“A good gambler would not have to sell his daughter.” Hawke said, speaking up for the first time.

“That was because of Violet.” Frank said defensively and Violet snorted from where she was sitting behind him on their rented horse from the livery.

“How was that my fault?” she demanded.

“Because you are no good.” Frank replied. “I have one hundred dollars in my pocket and I guarantee I could go into the saloon today and walk out with at least a thousand.”

“Uh-oh that sounds like a challenge.” Jack said with a smile. They were playing right into his hands. He wanted to get them into the saloon… He needed them to be in debt to him in order for his plan to work.

“I bet you the hundred dollars I have on me that you won’t walk out of that saloon with a dime.” Violet said to her husband.

Hawke looked at Jack and saw that the boy was clearly happy with the direction the conversation was taking and he wondered what his plan was. Hawke was not used to going along with someone else. He was used to taking control of situations himself but this time he was handing Jack the reins. He knew that Jack cared about Allie and would do anything to keep her safe.

“You’re on.” Frank said to his wife. “Take us to the saloon Jack.” he added. Jack nodded.

“Yes sir.” he said. Once they arrived at the saloon and were walking into the doors Frank turned to Jack.

“I want to play a few hands against you at the poker table to get warmed up. I won’t play against the savage. I’ve heard his kind are cheats.” Hawke was used to insults and so he gave no outward sign that it bothered him but inside his blood was beginning to boil and he hoped that Jack had a good plan because if Violet or Frank came back to his property he would kill them with pleasure.

“Violet, honey, you keep your money tucked away in your pocket. You can’t be gambling away what we got to get home on.” Frank said, giving his wife a stern look. Violet narrowed her brown eyes and stuck her hands on her thin hips.

“I have better self control than you do.” she promised and Jack took note that she patted the pocket on the left side of her cotton dress. Jack had learned how to run a pretty good scam in his sixteen years of life and he was fixing to run one on Violet and Frank.

The saloon was fairly empty this early in the day and the poker tables in the back only had a few men sitting around them playing. Frank sat down at an empty table and motioned for Jack to sit down as well and he did. The sleepy dealer took their money and gave them chips and then began to deal out.

Jack lost a few hands on purpose just to raise Franks confidence and then he backed out of the game.

“I’m done, Frank. I’m afraid I just ain’t no good at this game.” Frank laughed.

“It takes a real man to play poker son. You’re too young a boy to win against someone like me.” he said. Jack looked over at Hawke and nodded at the table. Hawke raised a brow and Jack nodded at the table again. He knew that Hawke was a damn good poker player. His serious nature gave him the perfect poker face.

“I am a real man. I will play against you.” Hawke said getting the message that Jack was sending.

“I don’t want to play against a savage!” Frank declared.

“ Kitai ko pohpa? “ Hawke asked. Frank shook his head.

“What the hell did you just say to me?” he demanded. Hawke shrugged.

“Does three of a kind beat two pair?” he asked feigning ignorance. He did not know exactly what Jack’s plan was but he knew that Jack had lost on purpose to raise Frank’s confidence and so he acted as if he didn’t know what he was doing for the same reason. He saw a predatory look come over Franks face.

“Get your chips then Hawke and we’ll play some poker.” he said.

“You want a beer, Hawke?” Jack asked. Hawke raised a brow and shook his head. “I’m gonna get me one.” Jack said. “Make sure you win now.” he added pointedly and Hawke understood. Jack had lost on purpose but he wanted Hawke to take all of Frank’s money.

Jack came back several moments later with a big mug full of beer and stood beside of Violet to watch the game. Hawke had already won several hands and Frank’s pile of chips had noticeably shrunk.

“What’s with that husband of yours?” Jack asked as he nudged Violet with his elbow. “I thought he was the best gambler alive.” Jack nudged her again and his beer spilled down her dress. “Oh damn, I’m sorry ma’am!” Jack said setting his beer on the table and trying to wipe the beer off of her dress.

“Why don’t you be more careful?” Violet snapped. Hawke was watching Jack from the corner of his eye he saw the boys hand reach into Violet’s pocket and come out with a handful of money that he quickly stuffed into his own pocket.

The movement was fast and barely visible and went unnoticed by everyone else in the saloon and by Violet herself. Jack stuck his hand deep in his pocket and rocked back on his heels and he let out a whistle.

“Doesn’t look like he’s doing too good to me.” Jack said matter of factly as Violet took several steps away from him to stand behind her husband. Jack looked around the saloon for someone he could use to complete his plan. His smiled when he saw Greg from the stage office sitting at a table by the door looking at papers.

He walked over to the table, unnoticed by Frank and Violet who were too busy concentrating on the game.

“I need a favor.” Jack said.

“What?” Greg asked looking up.

“That man over there playing poker with Hawke is going to be out of money in a minute and he’s going to be wanting more and I want you to offer it to him. Just give him ten or twenty dollars to keep playing with. I promise I’ll get your money back to you.”

“Why am I doing this?” Greg asked with a sigh. Jack just grinned.

“Cause we’re friends.” he said with a wink. Greg nodded and Jack made his way back to the poker table.

“Shit!” Frank said as Hawke pulled the last of his chips over into his pile.

“Oh tough luck!” Jack said. “So much for being the best gambler in the world huh, Hawke? The damn man couldn’t even beat a savage like you.” Hawke nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked across the table at Frank.

“I just need a little more money and I could turn this around! I am better than an Indian!” Frank looked up at his wife.

“Give me some money.” he said. Violet shook her head.

“No dear. You told me to keep my money in my pocket and that is exactly what I plan on doing.” she replied sarcastically. Frank glared up at her and then looked around the near empty saloon.

“Somebody loan me a couple of bucks so I can show this damn animal how a real man plays poker!” he called. Most everyone either ignored him or looked at him as if he was crazy but Greg stood up and walked over.

“Here you go.” he said, handing Frank ten dollars. “I never did like Hawke anyway.” he added. Hawke knew the man was lying and since he had seen Jack go talk to him earlier he knew this must be part of his plan.

“Deal us another hand.” Frank said as he wiped the sweat from his upper lip and looked very much like an addict getting a fix of laudanum. Jack had known a few people like Frank in his life. People who could not say no to gambling even when they stood no chance. People who would sell off everything they owned just to pay to play the game… Even their children.

“Honey, maybe you should stop.” Violet said as she polished her nails on her dress. Frank just waved his hand dismissively and focused on the dealers hands as he dealt.

Minutes ticked by as Jack watching on and prayed he would get the outcome he wanted and he was not disappointed.

“Dammit!” Frank said, as once again all his chips were pulled to Hawke’s side of the table.

“Thought you said you were going to win.” Greg said angrily after Jack had nodded at him to do so. Frank stood up and shifted his feet nervously.

“He’s a savage. He probably cheated.” he said matter of factly. Hawke stood as well and laid his hand on the hilt of his knife.

“I do not cheat.” he said coldly. Frank just let out a nervous laugh and looked over at Violet.

“Honey, pay this man the ten dollars I owe him and then we’ll go take care of what we needed to take care of.” he said. Violet blew out an irritated breath.

“You need to stop gambling until you learn how to play the game.” she snapped. She reached into her left pocket and then her right pocket and her eyes widened with shock.

“Where is it?” she demanded.

“You lost the money?” Frank said angrily. She shook her head.

“No, I couldn’t have!” she said digging into her pockets with panic.

“I want my money.” Greg said taking a step toward Frank and clenching his fists. Jack would have laughed at the short, skinny guy trying to look threatening if he wasn’t running a play and needing to act serious.

“I’m sorry.” Frank said. “My wife has lost it.” he added.

“I did not.” Violet replied still digging in her empty pockets as if hoping the money would magically appear inside.

“Calm down everybody.” Jack said stepping forward. He pulled some of Violets money from his pocket and handed it to Greg. “That should cover what he owes you Greg… There ain’t no reason any of this has to turn mean. It was just a friendly game of poker.”

“Thanks.” Frank said. “Now if you all will excuse us my wife and I have some business we need to take care of.” Frank grabbed Violet by the arm and led her out of the saloon. Hawke and Jack followed quietly behind them and listened to what they were saying.

“We have to find a sheriff or deputy and get his help to go pick up Allie.” Violet said.

“How are we going to get home when you lost your money?” Frank whispered angrily.

“Don’t blame all of this on me! You gambled all of your money away to an Indian.” Violet snapped. “I can sell my necklace and that should get us enough money to get back home.”

Frank and Violet were just stepping up onto the jail porch when Jack finally spoke up.

“Hey!” he said angrily. Frank and Violet both turned and their eyes widened. Clearly they had not known they were being followed.

“What can we do for you?” Frank asked nervously. Jack squinted up at the sun and stuck his thumbs through his belt loops as he looked at Frank.

“I want my money back.” he said. “I gave Greg ten dollars to keep him from coming after you but now you owe me.” Deputy Timmon heard Jack’s loud rant and came out of the jail.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“I”ll tell you what’s going on!“ Jack exclaimed angrily. “These damn people are refusing to pay me back ten dollars that they owe me, deputy.”

“We don’t have any money.” Violet said wringing her hands. “We can’t pay you back right now.”

“I’d be willing to take something other than money.” Jack replied matter of factly. Hawke crossed his arms over his chest and fought back a smile as he realized exactly what Jack was doing. Deputy Timmon was an old friend of Hawke’s and so he just leaned against the porch banister and stayed out of the discussion.

“We don’t have anything.” Frank said as he wondered why he always seemed to find himself in these situations. He probably should give up gambling.

“I’ve got an idea.” Jack said with a grin. “You guys just leave Allie here with me and I’ll forget all about any money you owe me.”

“No we can’t do that.” Frank replied.

“Yeah we owe that other man a lot more than we owe you.” Violet added without thinking. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand when she realized what she had just said. Hawke saw the change come over Jack and it shocked him.

His good natured smile left instantly as his jaw hardened and the muscles in his cheek started tensing and jumping. His blue eyes turned to ice and his posture became as still as stone.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Jack said in a low voice.

“Hard way?” Frank asked. Before anyone had time to realize what he was doing, Jack pulled his gun and pressed it against Frank’s forehead. Sweat instantly covered Frank’s face and his black eyes were full of fear as he looked up at the gun.

“You either leave Allie here with me as payment or I’ll take the payment in blood.”

“Please don’t kill my husband!” Violet begged with tears in her eyes. “We’ll leave Allie here! We won’t take her away.. .Just please don’t kill my husband!” Jack smiled and holstered his gun.

“Great!” he said with a wink. “I knew we could come to an understanding. Now, just so there are no hard feelings between any of us I’ll give you all another ten dollars to get yourselves a hot meal and some tickets home.”

“We don’t want to owe you anything else.” Frank said as he stood on shaking legs.

“Naw, this is a gift.” Jack said matter of factly. He pulled ten more dollars of Violet’s money from his pocket and held it out to Frank who just stared at it. Jack shrugged and stuck the money into Frank’s vest pocket and then he pointed down the road to the stage office.

“That’s where you’ll catch your ride outta here.” he said. “Take care of yourselves.” Frank and Violet nearly ran down the road in their haste to get away from who they considered to be a very unstable crazy person.

“I don’t want to know.” Deputy Timmon said holding up his hand. “Just go on home you two. Hawke, that boy is crazy.” Deputy Timmon shook his head and walked back into the jail.

Jack smiled proudly and pulled the remaining eighty dollars from his pocket as he and Hawke made their way back down the road to their horses.

“I am good. I got rid of the pain in the asses, rescued the girl and made eighty dollars all in one day.”

“If those were hardworking people I would say that taking their money was wrong.” Hawke replied, shaking his head.

“You want half?” Jack asked.

“No.”

“Suit yourself.” Jack said stuffing the money back in his pocket.

“You’ve done that before.” Hawke stated and Jack grinned.

“I’ve always been pretty good at getting what I want. When you live with a whore and drunkard and then find yourself homeless, you gotta do what you gotta do.”

“It was well done.” Hawke said with a nod and Jack stood just a little straighter with pride. He was about to say thank you when a throat cleared behind them and they turned to see a man standing behind them with a cigarette hanging off his lip.

“Good thieves run in the family.” he said with a smile that looked like Jack’s. “Nice to see you again little brother.”

Blackfoot Translations:

’

Kitai ko pohpa’

• Are you afraid

Chapter Eight

Hawke looked over at Jack but the boys normally animated face was completely unreadable.

“My brother is dead.” Jack said in a cold and empty voice. “Let’s go, Hawke.” Jack turned and walked away. Hawke looked at this new man. His eyes and smile were the same as Jack’s only this man did not have dimples and his eyes had a coldness in them. A hardness that could only be described as evil. It was the same coldness that Hawke had recognized in Nathan’s eyes nearly a year ago.

Hawke turned quickly and followed after Jack. They reached their horses and jumped into the saddles. Jack took off at a fast gallop out of town. Hawke looked back at the new man once more but he was just standing in the middle of the road, smiling as he blew out a puff of smoke.

Jack continued at the fast pace until they were nearly halfway home and both horses were beginning to get winded.

“Who was that?” Hawke asked as they continued more slowly through the woods. Jack shrugged.

“Hell if I know.” he replied. “Did you see the look on Frank’s face when he realized he had lost his money to you? It was truly priceless… Or at least worth eighty dollars.” he added with a wink as he patted his pocket. Hawke looked at him out of the corner of his eye.

“You did not tell me you had a brother.”

“I don’t have a brother, dammit. I used to but he died when I was five. I don’t know who the hell that was and I’d really rather not talk about him anyway. I’d rather talk about just how good that scam was I just pulled on mister and misses stupid.” Jack replied, hitting his saddle horn angrily. Hawke nodded. Hawke knew the man in town had to be related to Jack. The resemblance between the two of them could not be denied however if Jack wanted to deny it and act as if he didn’t know the man then Hawke would let him.

“It was a good scam.” he admitted. “How many times have you done that?” Jack grinned.

“More times than I can count. It’s easy to pickpocket but sometimes just to have a little more fun I’d do something like what we did back there.”

“I am proud of you.” Hawke said looking out over the woods and for the first time in his life Jack was speechless as he stuck some jerky in his mouth.

He wondered who that man was in town. His brother was dead as far as he knew. His ma and pa had told him that Brian had died and Jack had only been five so he hadn’t asked for any details or reasons. And he had never questioned the fact that there hadn’t been a funeral or a body.

Jack shook his head. That couldn’t have been Brian. If his big brother had been alive all of this time surely he wouldn’t have just abandoned Jack and left him to fend for himself after the whore and the drunkard had died.

888

Brian looked away from the Indian and his brother once they topped over the hill and rode out of sight. He was about to go back to the hotel and the woman he had left there when he saw the man and woman that Jack had held at gunpoint walking toward the livery. They were close enough to him that he could hear their words.

“We’ll get a horse and some food and ride to Helena ourselves since there’s no stage for a couple of days and then we’ll find somebody to come back here and kill that good for nothing savage and that boy and we’ll take our daughters and our granddaughter back home.” Frank said angrily and Violet nodded.

“That sounds like a good plan to me. That boy probably took my money when he spilled that beer on me! The damn thief!” she exclaimed. They moved out of hearing distance as they continued down the road and Brian took another long draw of his cigarette.

There was no way he was letting anyone kill his little brother. Not when he had just now found him after all of these years. He spit onto the dirt road and walked over to the hotel where his own horse was still hitched. He leaned against the beast and waited for the man and woman to leave town. He would follow them and make sure they never threatened his kin again.

888

“Jack, I knew you would save me!” Allie exclaimed as she jumped into his arms and he hugged her tight feeling more proud in that moment than he had ever felt in his life.

“You stole from our parents?” Lily asked incredulously as she looked up at Hawke. Hawke shook his head.

“I earned what I took.” he assured her, thinking about the one hundred and ten dollars he had won at the poker table.

“I figure after all they put the both of you through it was worth at least eighty dollars.” Jack said matter of factly. He pulled the money from his pocket. “Here you can have it. Get yourself something nice, compliments of Frank and Violet.” Lily looked down at his outstretched hand and shook her head.

“I don’t want their money, Jack, you go ahead and keep it.” Then Lily hugged him tight. “Thank you so much for thinking of that and keeping my sister safe.”

“Don’t mention it.” Jack said, wiping some dirt off his pants after she pulled away. “This is the first real family I’ve ever had. I couldn’t let them tear it apart.”

“Time to go check traps, hero.” Hawke said swinging himself back up in the saddle. Jack sighed. So much for hoping the savior of the day would get the day off.

“When you men get back you’re going to be busy because us women want to learn how to play poker.” Lily said matter of factly.

“We’ll teach you. But just don’t feel bad when you lose because poker is a mans game.” Jack said with a wink.

“That would be why I always win when Jack and I play.” Hawke added and Jack was in a good enough mood from his recent victory that he was able to laugh. Hawke was the only man he knew that cracked jokes without cracking a smile.

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“Well I have been put in my place real darn good I guess.” Jack said scratching his head as he stood with Allie next to the sofa. Lily laughed from where she sat at the table with Sarah and Hawke.

“I have learned to never challenge a woman. They will always win.” Hawke said rising from the table. “I am ready for bed. I have a lot of hunting to do tomorrow. Our smokehouse is getting low.”

“Goodnight you two.” Lily said standing and following after Hawke as he went to the bedroom. “Maybe tomorrow night you can earn some of your money back.” Lily added to Jack with a wink. Jack put a hand over his heart and feigned pain.

“Cruel, mean woman!” he said and Lily was laughing as she shut the bedroom door.

“That was real smart of you to come up with that plan, Jack.” Allie said as she scooped Janna up into her arms. She pulled Lily’s knitting needle from the pups mouth and quickly put it back on top of Lily’s yarn. “Bad Janna! You must really want Hawke to kick you out.” she scolded the pup who simply licked her face in response.

“I told you I would keep you safe, Allie doll.” Jack replied. Allie raised on her toes and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.

“Goodnight, Jack.” she said and then she quickly turned and walked into her room, closing the door before Jack could reply.

When Jack laid in bed that night, his mind was on Allie at first as normal but then an image of that man from town came to his mind. He didn’t remember much about his older brother Brian who had died at the age of twelve. He had only been five and Brian was too old to care anything about playing with a baby like him. He wondered who this new man was and why he would think that Jack was his brother. He probably thought that Jack was somebody else and he would realize his mistake and find his real brother.

Jack forced his mind to go back to Allie and the great kiss they had shared by the lake a week ago.

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“Hawke, do you think they are really gone?” Lily asked as she laid a sleeping Sarah down in her cradle and walked over to the bed. Hawke nodded as he pulled off his clothes and slipped beneath the covers.

“They seemed like they were leaving. I think Jack really scared them. One moment he was laughing and joking, the next he had a gun at their heads and then in the next instant he was back to being good natured and happy. I would have left too when faced with that kind of insanity.” Lily couldn’t help but laugh lightly as she slid off her dress and pulled on her white sleeping gown.

“Jack is a good kid.” she said and Hawke nodded in agreement.

“I worry though.” he said as a concerned look came over his face and turned his green eyes a little darker.

“What’s wrong?” Lily asked. Hawke laid on his back and held out his arm and Lily curled up against him laying her head on his shoulder.

“There was a man in town. He said he was Jack’s brother.” Lily’s eyes widened and she raised up on her elbow so she could look at Hawke’s face.

“What did Jack say?” she asked.

“That his brother was dead. When I tried to question him further on the way home he refused to talk about it.”

“It probably hurts to talk about a dead brother.” Lily said lying her head back down.

“Maybe. But this man looked a lot like Jack. Only I sensed something not good about him.”

“Hopefully he just thought Jack was somebody else and he’ll leave town and not cause us any trouble. God knows we’ve head enough of it to last us a lifetime.” Lily replied. Hawke nodded and pulled her tighter against him.

“Whatever happens, I will protect our family.” Hawke promised. “Never again will anyone get close enough to harm any of you.”

“If this is Jack’s brother than I’m more concerned about our hearts. What if he leaves us?” Hawke sighed.

“Do not worry about things that have not happened.” he said. “Jack is part of this family and he knows that.” Lily nodded and kissed his jaw but inside she was still worried. She could not shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen and it was going to have something to do with Jack.

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Brian waited until the two ignorant city folk made camp. He had been following them all day and he hadn’t even had to be very sneaky. They clearly didn’t realize the danger that was lurking on these roads in western Montana. The land was largely unsettled and law men were scarce. The eastern part of the country might be civilized but out here it was still very much the wild west. Outlaws, bandits, thieves and wild animals ruled out here and Brian figured he was doing these two a favor because if he didn’t end their lives, a bear or mountain lion would.

He took a final draw off of his cigarette and tossed the still burning butt into the river he was standing next to. The couple’s campfire was burning brighter than the full moon itself and Brian made his way easily into their camp using its light. He pulled his gun from his holster silently and cocked the hammer back.

The couple’s eyes flew open at the sound and the man grabbed his wife and stared up at Brian in horror.

“What are you doing?” he demanded as he shook with fear. “We don’t have any money.”

“I ain’t after money.” Brian replied as he pointed his gun at the mans head. “I am here for blood. I heard you say you were gonna kill my little brother and see that is just something I can’t allow.”

“I ain’t gonna kill nobody! I don’t even own a gun.” the man assured him, his voice full or panic.

“Too bad for you. Maybe if you had a gun you’d be able to save yourself and your pretty little wife here.” Before either of them had a chance to scream or yell two quick shots sounded in the cool night air, echoing off the surrounding trees.

“Damn liar.” Brian said as he pulled a few dollars out of the dead mans pocket. “You said you didn’t have any money.” The man didn’t reply of course. He simply lay there with a look of horror on his face, his dark eyes no longer seeing anything as blood trickled into them from the hole in his forehead. Brian did not search the woman’s pockets. He might be a murderer but even he had some morals and robbing a dead woman went against his beliefs.

Chapter Nine

Wolf lay in the cool grass with the warm sunlight on his fur and closed his eyes to take a well deserved nap. He had just drifted off to sleep and was busy running through a field full of wild flowers chasing rabbits with fluffy white tails when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his tail.

His eyes flew open as he yelped and jumped to his feet and there she was. Janna. Her teeth were latched onto his tail and as he spun in circles trying to shake her off her paws lifted off the ground and she spun through the air behind him.

Wolf snorted and sat back down. He glared at Janna and she let go of his tail and rolled over onto her belly, snorting happily. Wolf grunted and laid back down. He was four years old and far to too old to be putting up with this pups nonsense. Janna stood up and walked up to his head that was resting on his paws. She sat down and whined and Wolf knew she was wanting him to get up and play.

He grunted and turned his head away from her. He had just spent the morning out hunting with the alpha and the loud one Jack. The alpha had sent him home to protect the females and he did not have time for playing with the pup. She raised her paw and swatted his nose. Wolf swatted her back and she yipped happily. Wolf sighed…

If you can’t beat them join them. He thumped his tail several times and rolled over onto his stomach. Janna jumped on top of him and the two of them began to wrestle around the yard. Wolf kept allowing Janna to tackle him and hold him down by the throat. He told himself that he wasn’t playing, he was simply giving her a good lesson for hunting and protecting when she got older.

Suddenly a scent reached Wolf’s nose and he growled low in his throat and jumped up to his feet, his body tensing. Janna sensed the change in him and she sniffed the air as if wanting to find the scent he was so threatened by.

Wolf recognized the scent. It was the evil man from town. The one who smelled like Jack only different. Wolf knew the man was hiding just behind the tree line and he started forward with slow and deliberate steps, his growling growing louder. Just then the man stepped out of the trees, he was leading a horse by the reins and he pulled his gun when he saw Wolf. Wolf just lowered his head and kept walking to the man. This was the Alpha’s land and this man did not need to be here.

Lily heard Wolf’s growling through the open cabin door and she ran outside to see a man walking out of the woods with a gun pointed at Wolf, who was stalking toward the man with Janna right behind him.

“No! Don’t shoot him please!” Lily called out as she ran off the porch. “Wolf, Come.” She said sternly. Wolf stopped in his tracks and slowly turned and walked over to Lily, though he remained tense and on edge as he stood beside her and stared hard at the man.

“What’s going on?” Allie asked walking out on the porch. She saw the man and quickly went back inside to get the rifle.

“Who are you?” Lily called out nervously. The man walked closer and Lily saw he was leading a black horse by the reins. He put his gun away and smiled.

“We met in town the other day ma’am. I was passing through the woods and came across your cabin.” Lily’s fear was nearly a living tangible thing as she looked at the man. She recognized him from town and the same uneasy feeling she had gotten that day came back only this time it was stronger because they were out here at the cabin, where no one would hear her cries for help.

All she could think of was Nathan taking her from her home nearly a year ago and waking up on that cold stage office floor. She shook her head and forced herself to take a deep breath. There was no reason to believe this man would hurt her and she knew that Allie was right behind her up on the porch with the rifle. She would never be a victim again. If this man did have bad intentions she would not allow him to act on them.

“Why did you stop here?” Lily asked forcing her voice to remain strong despite her shaking knees.

“No real reason, ma’am. Just trying to get to know folks around here is all.” Brian was really out looking for his brother but stumbling on this woman was definitely a pleasant surprise. And hell since the other girl was here too he would be getting a two for the price of one deal. Of course he would have to get that rifle away from the younger one first. She looked like she would shoot him for sure as she stood up on that porch with an itchy looking trigger finger.

“You two ladies aren’t alone out here are you?” Brian asked with his friendliest smile. He knew that most people trusted him instantly because he looked the part of a friendly guy… People were stupid.

“We aren’t helpless if that’s what you mean.” Allie replied angrily from the porch. She had thought this man looked friendly enough in town a week ago but seeing him here, at their home, while Hawke and Jack were both gone made him look a whole lot scarier. His smile was warm and friendly and his blue eyes were twinkling but there was something about his posture that put Allie on edge.

“Course not ma’am. That’s a scary looking rifle you got there.” he replied tipping his hat. “Do you actually know how to shoot that thing?”

“Of course I do. Jack says I shoot better than any other woman he knows… And most men too!” Allie said proudly.

“Jack?” Brian asked. Was this girl talking about his brother? And if she was, how did these ladies know him?

“Yeah, he lives here and if you don’t leave before he comes back, he won’t be very happy that you’re here.”

“Allie!” Lily snapped. She had not wanted this man to know for sure that they were home alone.

“I’m not scaring you am I, ma’am?” Brian asked Lily. “I’m looking for my brother actually. Jack is his name.”

“Jack said his brother is dead.” Lily replied, laying a hand on Wolf’s head to try to make him relax. He was still standing tensely and nearly shaking with a barely contained urge to lunge at this man. Brian nodded sadly.

“He believes I am, ma’am. But I’m alive and well as you can see. I’d like to be able to talk to him.” Lily nodded.

“He’ll be back shortly. He and my husband are out hunting. Why don’t you come on in and I’ll make you a quick lunch while you wait on them?” she asked. Though she was scared of having this man in her home without Hawke around she believed that he was Jack’s brother and that made him family.

“Thank you, ma’am. I don’t mind if I do.” Brian replied. Lily smiled and shook her head.

“Call me Lily, please.” she said. “And that is my sister Allie.” she added pointing up at Allie who had the rifle laid over her shoulder.

“Nice to meet you Lily and Allie. My name is Brian.”

“Just hitch your horse to the barn, Brian, and come on in.” Lily said and she walked into the house with Wolf and Janna on her heels. She was going to make sure Wolf stayed in the house with her and this man, just to make her feel a little safer.

Brian was cursing his luck as he hitched his black mare to the barn and made sure she could reach the bucket of water that had been sitting there. He couldn’t have his way with these two women yet.. Not until he knew what they meant to his brother. He would gladly rape just about any woman but even he wouldn’t rape a woman that belonged to his own brother.

888

“Damn, Hawke, we didn’t get a single deer.” Jack said. “Just a bunch of squirrels and rabbits.” He patted the bulging leather bag strapped to his saddle.

“You have to learn to be more quiet when hunting deer.” Hawke replied matter of factly. Jack rolled his eyes.

“I was being as quiet as I could. Sorry I don’t have any of that darn injun blood in me that makes me move like a gosh danged ghost or something.”

“You have to learn how to listen instead of talk. And you have to learn to feel your way through the forest instead of just stomping around like a bear.”

“Nothin’ I ever do is good enough for you is it? Just yesterday I remember saving everyone’s ass and getting rid of Violet and Frank before they could cause any trouble.. Now you’re riding my ass because I don’t walk quiet enough.” Jack said angrily as he spit at the ground from atop his buckskin. Hawke’s green eyes narrowed and his jaw tensed as he looked straight ahead.

“I am only trying to help you. One day you will be hunting alone and if you would only listen…..”

“I survived plenty of years without your help Hawke. I’ll be just fine on my own without you getting on my case all the time.” Hawke nodded and said nothing else. Jack did not want to hear anything he had to say and so he was not going to waste his breath or energy on an ignorant child unwilling to learn.

“Where are you going?” Hawke said as Jack turned his horse away from the path.

“Hunting. We need a damn deer.” Jack replied. “I don’t need you to come along. I can do just fine on my own.” Hawke nodded and continued on his way toward home. Jack was a puzzle that Hawke could not figure out. They had been fine all day until Hawke had tried to teach Jack how to remain quiet while moving through the forest and Jack had been irritated and on edge since. Hawke did not know why Jack responded this way every time he tried to help him.

Hawke only said the things he did because he cared about the boy so much and he wanted to make sure that Jack would be able to take care of himself. Why couldn’t Jack see that?

Hawke was pulled from his thoughts when he saw a black mare hitched to his barn. He jumped from Trigger and ran quickly and silently up onto the porch. He pulled his knife and threw open the door.

Brian jumped from the table, and pulled his revolver. Allie screamed and jumped behind the couch with Sarah in her arms.

“Don’t shoot my husband!” Lily exclaimed. She tried to jump between the two men because she was certain that Brian was going to shoot Hawke and she wanted to protect her husband. Hawke caught her with his free arm and pushed her behind his back as though she weighed no more than a feather.

’Put your gun away.“ Hawke said. His voice was calm but there was no mistaking the threat in his tone. Lily was once again shocked by the amount of power that her husband could exude when threatened. His mere presence had the air charged with intensity and danger.

Brian sensed it too and he knew instantly that this Indian was not a man that he wanted to go up against. He would have to put aside his fantasy of having the pretty dark haired woman because he had no doubt that this injun would feast on his still beating heart if he made a move toward her.

“Sorry about that.” Brian said with an innocent smile as he stuck his gun back in its holster. “It’s a nervous habit I’m afraid.” Hawke nodded and put his knife away as well.

“I remember you.” he said. Brian sat back down and went back to eating his soup.

“Yeah you were in town with my brother yesterday.” he replied with a mouth full.

“Jack said his brother is dead.” Hawke said still holding Lily behind him. Brian nodded.

“He thinks I am. I took off when I was twelve and he was five. I’m just now getting around to finding him again.”

“Wolf.” Hawke said and Wolf looked over at him from where he was standing just a few feet behind Brian. “Protect.” Hawke added and then without another word he grabbed Lily’s hand and pulled her out on the porch. He pulled her down to the end of the porch and away from the open door.

“You tried to jump in front of me.” he accused angrily as he pulled her in front of him and glared down at her with his hands wrapped firmly but gently around her upper arms.

“Of course I did.” Lily said while biting her lip. “I thought he was going to shoot you.”

“Do not ever do something so foolish again.”

“It wasn’t foolish….” Lily started to argue but his green eyes flashed and she quickly shut her mouth.

“If I lost you, naakiiwa… “ Hawke stopped and blew out a long breath. “Do not do that again.” he finished firmly. Lily nodded and he released his hold on her arm.

“How long has he been here?”

“About an hour or so. He is waiting on Jack.” Lily replied and then she looked around. “Where is Jack?”

“Hunting still. He is angry with me again.” Hawke replied rubbing the back of his neck. “Let’s get back inside. You keep your distance from this man.” Lily nodded in agreement and followed Hawke back into the cabin.

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Jack thought about everything Hawke had taught him over the past year as he moved through the woods. He took a deep breath and turned off his mind. He felt the wind blowing on his face from the east and he listened to the noises of the busy forest.

The sound of rustling in the leaves to his right drew his attention and he turned to see a pair of chipmunks running and playing across the forest floor. He stood and walked into the wind moving silently, just how Hawke had taught him to. Never setting his foot down without first making sure his path was clear of sticks.

He crouched down and settled all his weight on his heels so he would be ready to move at the first sign of prey. The snapping of a twig to his right drew his attention. Whatever had snapped that twig was bigger than a squirrel or a chipmunk. He kept his breathing calm and silent and his eyes peeled and then the buck walked into view.

Jack pulled his pistol and cocked the hammer back. The big buck’s head popped up and looked in his direction and Jack froze…. Hawke had taught him well and he wanted to prove to Hawke that he had been paying attention and could kill a deer by himself.

After several tense moments the buck went back to nibbling at the grass on the forest floor and Jack took aim. He let out a long breath knowing he would only get one shot before the buck bolted and he squeezed the trigger slowly as he let out a long breath.

The buck stiffened and ran a few steps before falling dead to the ground with a bullet through it’s heart and lungs. Jack let out a loud whoop and holstered his gun as he stood up.

Jack rode into the cabins clearing and saw Hawke busy gutting and skinning the squirrels and rabbits he had killed earlier. Jack rode over and stopped in front of him.

“Look what I got us, Hawke.” he said proudly. Hawke looked at the buck and nodded.

“It is nice. Get it hung up and I will clean it.”

“I’ll clean it, Hawke. You’re the one who told me that a man takes care of the animals he kills.” Jack said jumping down off of Buck. Hawke shook his head.

“You have more important things to do.” he replied, while wiping his bloody knife off on his buckskin pants. Jack raised his brow and grinned

“Like what?” he asked. Just then the man from town the day before walked out of the barn.

“Like getting to know your big brother.” he said with a smile.

Chapter Ten

“My brother is dead. Who the hell are you?” Jack asked while taking a wide legged stance and putting his thumbs through his belt loops. Hawke took Buck’s reins and led the horse into the barn to put him in his stall and hang the deer.

“It’s me Brian. I’m not dead, Jack.” Jack looked at Brian and though he wanted to deny that he was his brother, the family resemblance was too strong.

“Where the hell have you been all these years and why did ma and pa say you died?” Jack asked through his shock. He had spent the last five years believing he had no real family left and right here was his brother who was supposed to have been dead the last eleven years.

“They ran me off when I turned twelve.” Brian replied with a shrug. “Guess I got to be too much of a man for that drunk bastard to want around.” That wasn’t the truth but that was what he was going to tell Jack for now.

“I can’t believe you’re here.” Jack said. “I can’t believe I have family.”

“Do not say something like that in front of Lily. She considers you to be a part of this family.” Hawke’s deep, emotion free voice came from inside the barn. Jack was struck with a bit of guilt. He would have to make sure to be more careful about what he said around Lily, Hawke and Allie. He didn’t want any of them to think he didn’t appreciate all they had done for him. But standing in front of him was his family. His real family and he was happier than hell to find out he had a brother.

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“Well thank you for the dinner, Lily. That was just about the best venison stew I’ve ever eaten.” Brian said as he pushed his bowl away and patted his belly. He pulled out some tobacco and papers and began to roll a cigarette.

“I’m glad you liked it.” Lily said with a tight smile. She did not like Brian. All evening he had been telling Jack stories about living the life of freedom. He had been bragging about living with no rules and no bosses. Sleeping under the stars and having no responsibilities and Lily could tell that Jack was taking in every word.

This Brian was trouble and Lily was afraid that Jack was going to fall for his lines and leave them forever. The sound of Sarah crying in her cradle came from the bedroom and Lily quickly left the room, happy for an excuse to get away.

Hawke watched her go and shook his head sadly. He hated to see his wife hurting and when it was the very boy he considered to be a son that was causing her the pain it just made him angrier and more confused. Hawke knew without a doubt that Jack and Brian were brothers because Brian talked just as much as Jack did. Between the two of them there had not been a quiet moment all evening.

Hawke ignored Brian’s words and instead focused on Jack’s reaction to them. Jack was a sixteen year old boy and he was looking at Brian as if he was some kind of hero when Hawke knew that Brian was nothing more than a good for nothing outlaw. He spoke of freedom and no responsibilities but Hawke got the feeling that Brian was part of something bigger. Hawke would not be surprised to learn that he was part of a gang and he was scared that Jack would get pulled into it as well.

“It is almost dark.” Hawke said, his voice was hard and cold as he looked at Brian. “You should be getting back to town.” Brian laughed as he struck a match and lit his cigarette.

“I ain’t afraid of the dark, injun.” he replied matter of factly. Then his eyes narrowed and he jumped from the table.

“You damn mutt!” he yelled angrily as he stormed across the living room and jerked his hat from Janna’s mouth. Her teeth had put holes in the brim and he raised his foot to kick her in the head.

“No don’t!” Allie screamed. She jumped from the sofa and threw herself in front of Janna and Brian’s boot caught her in the leg. She cried out in pain as Jack and Hawke both rose from the table.

“I’m sorry, kiddo.” Brian said putting his hat on his head. “I was trying to punish the damn mutt for tearing my hat up. I didn’t mean to kick you.” Allie held Janna tight against her with one hand and rubbed her throbbing leg with the other.

“It is time for you to leave.” Hawke said in a voice so full of ice that it would have frozen the very fires of hell themselves. Brian nodded and blew out a long puff of smoke on Allie’s face causing her to cough.

“Sorry about kicking you, kiddo.” he said again and only Allie could see the cold smile on his face that told her he really was not at all sorry. She shivered and he replaced the cold smile with a real one when he turned to face Jack and Hawke.

“I’ll be going. Jack, you want to ride with me into town?” he asked. Jack looked at Hawke and Allie and then nodded.

“Yeah sure.” he said. Brian walked out the door and Jack was about to follow him when Allie quickly walked to him and grabbed his arm.

“Jack, I don’t like him.” she said. Jack jerked away from her.

“He’s my brother, Allie.” he said matter of factly. Allie bit her lip and hugged Janna tighter against her.

“He hurt me, Jack.” she said quietly. Jack was kind of pissed about that himself but it had been an accident.

“He didn’t mean to. That stupid pup of yours chewed up his hat. You should have let him kick her instead of jumping in front of her like that.” he said. Allie felt her own anger rise. Not only had he called her puppy stupid but he was talking to her as if she was just some stupid child. He had never talked to her that way before.

“What is wrong with you? You haven’t known that man for more than a few hours and already your acting different.” Jack rolled his eyes.

“I’m not acting different, Allie, you’re just being too darn sensitive.” he replied impatiently.

“Have fun with your brother.” Allie snapped and then she turned on her heel and stormed into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Jack fought the urge to run after her. He didn’t want Allie to be mad at him but she didn’t seem to understand just how big of a deal finally having his brother back was to him. He sighed and grabbed his hat off the hook on the wall and was about to walk out the door when Hawke spoke up.

“Jack.”

“What?” Jack asked bracing himself for the lecture he was sure to get for making Allie angry.

“Remember who it is that cares about you.” Hawke said and Jack was taken aback by the gentleness in his tone. He’d never heard Hawke sound that way before. At least not when he was talking to him.

“Don’t lecture me, Hawke.” Jack replied pulling his hat onto his head.

“Remember who was there when you needed them. It was not your brother.” Hawke replied calmly. Jack snorted with anger.

“Shut up. You don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t have a clue about what happened when he was twelve so stop acting like you know everything. You think just because you’re an Indian and you know a lot about surviving on your own that you know everything there is to know but you don’t know a damn thing.”

“Neither do you.” Hawke replied sadly. Jack’s face turned blood red in his anger and he turned and stormed out the door without another word. Hawke watched Jack and Brian ride away and shook his head sadly. The boy was heading down a dark road and there was nothing anyone could to stop him.

“I told you this was going to happen.” Lily said from the bedroom door. Hawke turned to see her standing there with tears on her cheeks as she nursed Sarah. Hawke went to her and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. Lily saw the sadness in his eyes and she ran her free hand through his shoulder length black hair.

“Why can’t he see it, Hawke? Why can’t he see that we are the ones who love him and why can’t he see that something about Brian is not right?” Hawke sighed and shook his head sadly.

“He is blinded by the fact that Brian is his blood brother. His family. Maybe he will see the truth soon.”

“We are his family. He’s only been here a year, Hawke, but I can’t imagine how empty this cabin will feel if he is suddenly gone for good.”

“Do not worry about things that have not yet happened, naakiiwa. “ Hawke said gently. “Jack has to grow and find his own path. We can hope that his path leads him in the same direction that we are in but we truly have no control over which way he goes.”

“I don’t like Brian.” Lily said with a shiver. Hawke kissed his daughters soft dark hair.

“Neither do I.” he admitted. “You go talk to Allie, she needs you. I will clean the kitchen tonight.”

“Are you sure?” Hawke nodded and Lily kissed his hard jaw and walked to Allie’s door. She knocked and then walked inside, closing the door behind her. Hawke hated to see his family hurting, especially when there was nothing he could do to ease their pain. He liked dealing with physical problems not emotional ones… He could always just kill a physical problem.

888

“You’re lucky Hawke didn’t shove that knife of his through your head when you kicked Allie.” Jack said to his brother after they had been riding a while in silence. Brian took another long draw off his cigartette and snorted.

“I didn’t mean to kick the foolish girl, I was after that damn mutt. This is my favorite hat.” he said fingering the hole that Janna had chewed into the brim. “So what is Allie to you? Is she like your girl or something?”

“Yeah.” Brian nodded but said nothing. He would talk to his brother later about how stupid it was to tie yourself down. Especially to a girl with a bad attitude and an ugly scar on her cheek. Silence fell on the brothers again as they rode through the darkening woods.

An owl hooted in the distance and crickets chirped while frogs croaked. Jack wasn’t sure what to say to his brother. He was happy that he was around but he felt like there was something Brian hadn’t told him and then there was Hawke’s warning…. Surely his brother cared about him. Why else would he be here now?

“Well I’m going to the saloon for a while.” Brian said as they rode into town. “You coming with me?” Jack shook his head.

“I should be getting back home. I’ve got to work tomorrow.” he replied.

“Work?” Brian asked with a chuckle. “What the hell does a gambler as good as you worry about working for?” Jack eyed him suspiciously.

“How did you know I was a good gambler?” he asked. Brian smiled proudly.

“You’re my brother ain’t ya? Being a good gambler runs in the family.”

“Yeah but I actually like blacksmithing and Hawke says…” Brian waved his hand impatiently and cut Jack off.

“That man is an ass. He doesn’t respect you. As a matter of fact he acts like you’re some kind of stupid kid or something. You’re a grown damn man! What the hell you putting up with that for?” Anger flashed in Jack’s eyes and he was about to jump to Hawke’s defense when he realized that Brian had simply said out loud the same thing that Jack had been thinking for a long time. Hawke didn’t respect him as a man.

“Hawke took me in and gave me a chance.” Jack said though his voice sounded uncertain even to him. Brian jumped down from his black mare and hitched her to the saloon post.

“He probably just took you in because you were free labor. You help him hunt, garden, trap. Sounds like he’s got him a good little slave.”

“I ain’t nobodies slave.” Jack said angrily as he jumped down and hitched Buck to the same post. Brian smiled proudly.

“That’s more like it. Be your own man, not a puppet to some stupid injun.”

“Don’t call Hawke stupid.” Jack replied. “He might be a lot of things but he’s definitely not stupid.”

“Come on in and have a few beers with me Jack and we can talk. I’m sure we’ve still got loads to learn about each other.” Jack nodded and followed his brother into the crowded saloon.

It was Friday night and the saloon was full of farmers, trappers, gamblers and family men. Some were here to drown their sorrows, some to just kick up their heels and have fun and others were here for the female company of the scantily dressed saloon girls serving drinks and leading men upstairs with giggles and promises of a good time.

Jack and Brian sat down at an empty back table and ordered two beers from a giggling blond in a tight blue corset and black skirt with a slit all the way up to her hip. Jack couldn’t help but stare at her large breasts, pushed up high and her long leg that she expertly stuck out the skirt and wiggled at him.

“Hello there, cowboy.” she said in a high pitched, breathless voice. “Haven’t seen you around before.” Jack forced his eyes up to her heart shaped face and those soft painted red lips, big blue eyes and freckled nose. He couldn’t seem to form words as she bent down and those large breasts were mere inches from his face.

“Seems my brother is a bit shy.” Brian said with a chuckle. “Why don’t you come on back after he’s had a few beers and loosened up?” The girl smiled and walked away and Jack watched her hips swing back and forth.

“You’ll have to have a go with her later. She likes you.” Brian said, snapping Jack out his trance. Jack shook his head.

“No… No I don’t think Allie would like that very much.” he replied and he took a big swig of his beer.

“Who cares? She would never have to know. What a woman don’t know won’t hurt her none.” Brian replied with an evil grin. Jack laughed but inside he was torn.. That damn woman was beautiful and he had never been with a woman before.. She would be a good start.. Of course he wanted to marry Allie but surely Allie didn’t expect him to wait almost two years before having a woman. He could practice on this saloon girl and then he’d know what he was doing when he finally got a chance to be with Allie that way.

The two brothers made small talk and laughed for hours. Jack’s brain began to get fuzzier and fuzzier as he downed beer after beer. He knew there was something he wanted to ask his brother but for the life of him he couldn’t remember what.

“You’re shit faced.” Brian said matter of factly as Jack tapped his fingers on the table.

“Naw I’m not.” Jack replied with a sloppy grin.

“Since you’re in such a good mood now, I’ll tell you why I really left home back then. I left because our real father came and got me.”

“Real father?” Jack said with a laugh.. He wasn’t sure why he was laughing but right now everything just seemed funnier.

“That damn drunk that raised us was not our pa. Our ma and him ran pa off because ma was a whore and wanted a new man. You were just a baby when he left. He came back and wanted me to come with him. He wanted you too but you were too young and still needed ma.”

“You mean I got a pa too?” Jack asked happily. “This is the best day ever. I got a brother and I got a pa and I got a full glass of beer.” he added before taking another swig. Brian was glad he had gotten Jack drunk before telling him about their pa. Of course he still wasn’t telling the complete truth. Their pa had abandoned them and their ma and she had married the drunkard Tom in order to support her kids. And their pa hadn’t wanted Jack to come with him when he had come for Brian because Jack was a baby and useless in the line of work he was in. But he figured what Jack didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

“Pa is actually on his way to Great Valley. I saw you leaving town a few days ago and sent him word and he’ll probably be here tomorrow sometime.”

“That’s great.” Jack said laughing again. “What’s he like?”

“He’d be proud of you, I can tell you that much. That’s where you got your gambling blood and your talent for getting your hands on things that aren’t yours. He never pushed me to be nothing more than what I was and he just let me be my own man. Never once gave me a stupid lecture or tried to act like he was better than I was.”

Jack thought that sounded perfect. It would be nice to have a pa that wasn’t constantly riding his ass about something.

Just then the blond saloon girl in the tight blue corset walked back over and stuck that long leg out through the slit of her skirt again.

“Can I interest you in anything else tonight?” she purred at Jack. Jack gave her a sloppy drunk grin and looked over at Brian who nodded.

“Go for it. I won’t tell nobody if you don’t.” he said taking a swig of his beer. Jack knew he should say no but for the life of him he couldn’t seem to remember what that reason was. Jack stood up and it took his drunk legs several moments to steady themselves. The blond looped her arm through his and led him toward the stairs. He was seeing three different sets and so he let her lead him up what he hoped was the right ones.

“Alone at last cowboy.” the blond said once they were locked inside a room. Jack nodded. “My names Trista.” she purred has she grabbed his gunbelt and unsnapped it. Jack’s virgin body responded instantly to having her so close and she laughed.

“Looks like you’re ready.” she said grabbing him though his pants. Jack nearly jumped with shock and he licked his lips nervously.

“Yeah.” he managed to mumble.

“Don’t worry, cowboy.” Trista said, sensing that this was his first time. “I’ll take real good care of you.” She pushed him down on the bed and Jack let himself get lost in her expert touches.

Chapter Eleven

Jack awoke the next morning and cursed at the sunlight shining much too brightly on his face. He groaned at the pounding in his head and cracked his eyes open trying to figure out where he was. He couldn’t hear the sound of Sarah crying or Lily singing softly like she often did in the morning.

He looked around the room and realized he wasn’t at home. ’ Where the hell am I?’ he wondered. He thought back to the night before. He remembered going to the saloon with Brian and getting drunk. Too drunk. His head rebelled painfully with a throb when he tried to think harder and he ran his hand over his tired face.

He forced himself to sit up and his stomach rolled. He ran to the washbasin in the corner and lost the contents of yesterdays dinner and the barrel of beer he had drunk the night before into it.

“What the hell….” he said out loud when he realized he was naked. “Why am I naked?” He forced his pounding head to think back to the night before and he groaned and nearly vomited again when he remembered the blond saloon girl.

He couldn’t really remember what they had done but the fact that the sheets on the empty bed were tangled and he was naked gave him a pretty good idea about what had went on. He gathered up his clothes, which were lying in different spots around the room and pulled them on. He was just fastening his gun belt around his lean hips when he saw the piece of paper lying on the bedside table.

He picked it up and read the letter, feeling fresh waves of guilt as he remembered the long hours that both Lily and Allie had spent teaching him how to read.

Cowboy,

I went ahead and took my money out of your pants since you weren’t up to it. Thanks for the ride big guy and just come on back when you are ready to go again.

Trista

Jack crumpled the letter and threw it to the floor. He reached in his pants pocket and realized she had taken out several dollars but most of his money was still there. He breathed a small sigh of relief that she hadn’t robbed him blind.

What had he done? He loved Allie. How had he gotten so drunk the night before that he could forget that? He put his hat on his head and walked out of the room and down through the empty saloon. The barkeep looked up and gave him a nod as he walked through and Jack tried to nod in return but it sent pain shooting through his head and so he groaned instead.

He pulled his hat down lower to block the bright morning sunlight from his eyes as he stepped outside. He was just stepping off the saloon porch when a hard hand wrapped around his upper arm and pulled him away from the steps.

“Congratulations you are finally a man.” Hawke’s hard angry voice sent shockwaves of pain through his head and he cringed.

“Hawke…” he said his voice barely more than a groan.

“But are you a man that you can be proud of?” Hawke added. Jack felt his temper rise.

“I’m not in the mood, Hawke. Back off.” he snapped as he pulled his hat even lower against that damn sun.

“Allie loves you and you convinced her that you loved her too. I told you not to do that unless you were certain.”

“I am certain.” Jack said kicking at the dirt with his boot as guilt tore at his heart. He looked up at Hawke’s face and saw that his jaw was tense and his green eyes were angry. He thanked God that Hawke wasn’t the type to lose control of his temper or else Hawke’s fist would probably be connecting with his jaw right about now.

“So you are the type of man that kisses one woman in the daylight and then lays with a whore at night?” Hawke asked raising a brow. Jack wanted to yell and get mad and tell Hawke how unfair he was being but he knew the man was right. Jack was a piece of shit. A giant asshole. He let out a long breath and crossed his arms over his nauseous stomach.

“I’m sorry.” he mumbled. Hawke just shook his head.

“I am not the one who you owe an apology to. Lily and Allie are in the mercantile.” Jack’s eyes widened with panic and flew to the mercantile across the street. “You go to the livery, your horse is there. Go home and clean up. They do not need to see you looking the way you do. That whore had an interesting shade of lipstick.” Jack groaned and wondered where that particular shade of lipstick was on him.

“Please don’t tell Allie.” he begged. Hawke’s face was unreadable but Jack had a feeling he could probably crack a walnut in his jaws right now.

“It is not my place to tell her.” he replied. Jack sighed with relief and started across the road. “But you should.” Hawke added and Jack’s shoulders slumped as he continued on his way.

Hawke watched the boy and shook his head sadly. He had worried that Jack would do something that would break Allie’s heart. Of course he had not thought the boy would go so far as to lie with a whore and he knew that Brian had probably had something to do with it.

“Hawke! Can I get something for Jack?” Allie called from the mercantile door. “I feel bad for getting so upset with him yesterday.” Hawke let out a long breath and nodded before walking across the road and joining the ladies inside the store.

888

Jack had an hour to think about what he had done as he rode home and by the time he got there he had himself convinced that what he had done was not that bad. Allie was the only woman in his heart and what did it matter if he laid with a whore? Once they were married he would never touch another woman again but didn’t he deserve to have fun until then? Besides, like Brian had said, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her and Jack knew that Hawke would not tell on him. Hawke might be an arrogant pain in the ass most of the time but he was a man of his word.

He put Buck in the stable and walked inside to get some clean clothes and soap before walking to the lake. He let the cool water wash away the scent of alcohol and the blond woman and once he put his clothes back on he felt much better.

He went back in the house and found the wooden pendant he’d been carving for Allie for the past few days. He had it done now and he had slid a piece of yarn through a hole he’d made in it to make a necklace. Allie would love the tiny heart shaped pendant. It was two hearts connected and he had carved a J into one and an A into the other. He sat down hard on his bed and put his head into his hands as he realized just how foolish he had been.

He loved Allie with all of his heart and he had betrayed her. No matter how he had justified things in his own mind on the way home, he knew that what he had done was wrong. He laid back on the bed and covered his face with his arm. He had to tell her. When she got home he would take her down to the lake, tell her about what he had done and pray that somehow she could forgive him for it.

He lost track of how long he had been lying in his bed when he herd the cart pull up outside. He forced himself to his feet and though his boots felt like they were full of rocks he managed to move them out onto the porch while sticking the necklace in his pocket.

“Jack, your’e home!” Allie exclaimed when she saw him. She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist and hugged her close, hoping that it wasn’t the last time he got to do so.

“Where were you last night? We worried when you didn’t come home.” Lily said as she propped Sarah in one arm and picked up a bag of supplies with the other hand.

“I talked to Brian until it was really late and so I just spent the night at the hotel with him.” Jack replied though he couldn’t bring himself to meet anyone’s eyes as he did so. He looked over at Hawke but as usual his face was solid stone and impossible to read as he unloaded the cart.

“Allie, I wanted to talk to you….” Jack started and Allie pulled away with an excited smile on her face.

“Wait, I got you something.” she said. She bounced over to the cart and pulled out the pearl handle grips she had bought for his gun. She handed them to him and he thought for sure the guilt he was feeling was going to kill him.

“You like them don’t you?” Allie asked seeing the sad look on his face. “You were always talking about wanting some.” Jack nodded and managed a smile.

“Yeah I like them a lot. Thank you.” he said and he laid the grips on the porch banister. “I really want to talk to you though. Will you walk to the lake with me?” Allie wondered why he was acting so strange and she wondered if it was because they had argued the night before.

“Hawke, can I walk to the lake?” Allie asked. Hawke just grunted and gave a slight nod as he went about unhooking Trigger from the cart. Lily smiled at the two of them.

“Just be careful. Jack, don’t let anything happen to her.” she said with a wink. Jack forced a chuckle out of his mouth and nodded.

“I’ll guard her with my life.” he promised.

“They are so cute together.” Lily said as she watched Jack and Allie walk hand in hand down the path to the lake with Janna running in circles around their feet.

Hawke nodded and took Trigger into the barn without a word.

888

“What did you need to talk to me about?” Allie asked Jack as the two of them sat together beside the water. Janna was busy chasing butterflies and leaving them alone for the moment.

“I’m sorry about getting mad at you last night.” Jack replied looking down at the water and cracking his knuckles nervously.

“Me too.” Allie replied, laying a gentle hand on his knee. Jack looked down at her soft hand on his knee and then over at her face. Her bright brown eyes, her soft cheeks, her full mouth. Her dark hair that curled just a bit as it fell down her back. His eyes fell on that long thin scar on her cheek. The one Nathan had caused with his knife and memories of that day came back to him. Then memories of all of the days of the last year came back. Talking, laughing and spending every second they could together.

Allie was not only the girl he loved but she was his best friend and he couldn’t lose her. If he told her the truth he would lose her…. He couldn’t tell her. He had made a mistake but he would never do it again.

“Was that all you wanted to say?” Allie asked raising her brow. Jack was acting strange today. Jack shook his head and forced a happy grin on his face and Allie felt her heart beat just a little faster at the sight of those dimples she loved so much.

“I made you something.” he said and he reached into his pocket and pulled out the necklace. Allie took it in her hand and she felt tears fill her eyes as she stared down at the joined hearts.

“The J is for Jack and the A is for Allie.” Jack said rubbing the back of his neck.

“I figured.” she said with a watery laugh. “Will you put it on me?” Jack nodded and as Allie lifted her hair he slid it around her neck and tied a knot in the yarn to hold it in place. The yarn formed a long chain and the pendant hung far down on her chest.

“I didn’t want to give it to you in front of Hawke. You know how weird he can be about you and I.” Jack said as Allie fingered the hand carved pendant.

“I know.” she said with a giggle. “It’s like he thinks you’re going to break my heart or something. He doesn’t realize how much we care about each other and that you would never break my heart.”

“No, never.” Jack agreed though he feared at any moment the skies were going to open up and a giant bolt of lightning was going to blast his ass to hell.

“We better head back.” Allie said standing up. Jack rose as well. “I need to help Lily get everything put away.” Jack nodded and held her hand gently as they talked and walked down the path. They came to where the path opened to the cabin clearing and Jack saw that Brian’s black mare was there along with a white and brown paint he had never seen before.

“Shoot!” Allie said not noticing the horses.

“What?” Jack asked even as panic filled him. He hoped his brother would keep his mouth shut.

“Janna isn’t coming. I’ll have to walk back and get her.”

“I’ll come with you.” Jack said. Allie shook her head.

“I’ll be fine. It’ll just take a minute.” Jack nodded and watched her walk away. He was standing there waiting on her when Brian walked out of the barn and jogged over.

“Hey little brother. How are you feeling today?” he asked with a smile as he patted Jack on the back.

“Like shit.” Jack replied honestly.

“So did that whore show you a good time last night? I was the one that went ahead and stabled your horse since I knew you’d be busy. She was a pretty one alright and it looked like she was pretty damn eager to rip your clothes off.”

“What?” Allie’s heartbroken voice came from behind them. Jack turned to see her standing there with tears in her dark eyes and Janna in her arms.

“Allie, I….” Allie’s hand caught him sharply across the cheek and his mouth clamped shut.

“Don’t lie to me anymore.” she snapped. “I’ll bet she was beautiful and I’ll bet she didn’t have an ugly scar across her cheek!” she added covering her own scar with a shaking hand. Jack felt his heart break and his eyes became red with tears.

“Allie, you’re beautiful, doll.” he said earnestly. Allie laughed harshly and shoved him back when he tried to move closer to her. Janna growled and snapped at his hand when he tried to smooth Allie’s hair and he jerked his hand away.

“Do not call me doll. I am not your doll anymore, Jack.” She sat Janna down and reached her hands behind her neck to untie the necklace which she threw at his chest and he caught with his hand.

“Go tell your lies to someone else, you bastard.” Allie spat and then she scooped Janna back up and ran into the house and out of sight. Jack quickly swiped his hand across his face to dry his tears as Brian patted him on the back.

“Sorry about that, brother.” he said, smiling guiltily. “I didn’t realize she was around.” It was a lie but Brian was a master liar and he knew that Jack would believe him.

“It’s my fault. I’m the one that slept with the whore.” Jack replied sadly as he shoved the necklace deep in his pocket. Brian waved a hand toward the house and shrugged.

“Forget about her anyway, Jack. You don’t want to be tied down to just one woman! There are too many beautiful ones out there to enjoy.” Jack shook his head.

“You don’t understand. I lo….”

“Don’t even say that you love her. You might have thought you did but you don’t little brother or else you never would have slept with that whore last night. That was your inner outlaw demanding to come out. You’ve kept him locked up inside trying to be what these people want you to be and he finally broke through just a little bit. It’s all about becoming a man, Jack, and a real man don’t never let a woman tie him down.” Was Brian right? Did Jack love Allie or had he just thought he did? Surely if it was true love like Lily and Hawke shared he would not have been tempted by that woman last night no matter how much alcohol he had in his blood.

“Anyways I got good news. Do you remember that I told you last night that our pa was on his way?” Brian asked putting his arm around Jack’s shoulders and leading him toward the barn. Jack nodded, even though he couldn’t really remember.

“Hey pa!” Brian called and Jack’s eyes widened with shock when a tall, lean, trail hardened man stepped out of the barn.

“Hello son.”

Chapter Twelve

It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons. ~Johann Schiller

Wolf did not like these two men. They both smelled like Jack only different. There was something evil inside of them. He looked at the alpha but he was just glaring at Jack and the two men and Wolf could smell his anger. He could smell the small female Allie’s pain as well though she had already run into the cabin and shut the door. He could smell the alpha’s female’s confusion and he hoped they stayed inside.

He would rip out throats, hunt and kill, anyone that hurt his pack and he had no doubt that these two men would hurt his pack if given the chance. Wolf walked up onto the porch of the house and laid down beside the steps to guard the house and the two females and pups inside.

888

“How could he do this to me?” Allie asked as she sobbed into Lily’s dress. Lily rubbed her back and held her tight.

“I don’t know.” she replied feeling her own heart break with every tear her sister cried. Lily knew what it felt like to be betrayed by a man but not by a man she loved and she had no idea what to say to comfort Allie. She was sure that Jack sleeping with that whore had to have had something to do with Brian and her blood boiled. How dare that man show up and hurt her family like this.

“I love him, Lily. I really really do. I don’t care if I am only fourteen. I thought I was going to marry him one day. He even gave me a necklace today with two hearts and our initials.  He gave me that necklace knowing that he had touched another woman just the night before. How could he do that?”

“I don’t know, Allie.”

“What would you do if Hawke did this to you?” Allie asked and then she snorted and pulled away from her sister. “What am I saying? Hawke would never do this to you. Hawke loves you and he is a good man.”

“Yes he is.” Lily replied gently as she smoothed Allie’s hair from her face.

“It’s because I’m ugly.” Allie said matter of factly as she scratched Janna behind her ears. Lily slapped her arm gently.

“Hush. You are not ugly.”

“Then why?” Allie asked begging for Lily to give her a reason. Any reason to justify her heart breaking apart in her chest. A reason to account for the pain she feared might kill her.

“Because he is a confused young man who has never had a bit of guidance his entire life.” Lily said sadly.

“What about Hawke? Hawke has guided him.” Lily nodded.

“Hawke has tried.” she agreed. “But sometimes Hawke’s best attempts come across the wrong way because of his serious nature. Jack has suddenly had a brother that he thought was dead come back into his life and he is desperate to get his approval.”

“Why is he so stupid?” Allie asked suddenly sounding angry. “Why would he throw this away?” she demanded pointing to her chest right above her heart.

“I don’t know, baby.” Lily said hugging her sister tight against her again. “I am so sorry.”

“I want to be alone for a while.” Allie said pulling away and using her skirt to dry her face. Lily nodded and stood up.

“If you need anything just yell.” she said. Allie nodded and Lily walked out of her room, closing the door gently behind her. Lily checked on Sarah who was still sound asleep in her crib and then walked out on the porch to give Jack a piece of her mind and figure out what the damn boy was thinking.

“He’s busy.” Hawke said from the rocking chair on the porch before Lily could yell. She looked over at him.

“With what?” she demanded.

“Talking to his father.” Hawke replied.

“His father is dead.” Hawke just shook his head and pointed to Jack and Brian standing in the yard and the man standing with them. He was about the same height as both Jack and Brian and he was muscular but lean beneath his white shirt, brown vest and black trousers that were covered in dust. He had a gun belt hanging low on his hips and his graying blond hair was slicked back on his head. His face was tan and covered in deep wrinkles from years spent in the sun and his blue eyes were alert and cold when he looked up at her.

She shivered under his gaze and he turned his attention back to Jack.

“Great. Just great. Another person to take Jack away from us.” Lily said feeling tears filling her eyes. Hawke grabbed her arm and tugged her gently into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her hair though his eyes remained intense and focused on the men in the yard. Wolf’s golden eyes looked the same way as he too stared at them.

“He is already lost.” Hawke said and Lily could hear the sadness in his voice and it broke her heart. She knew how much Hawke loved that boy.

“Do you know what he did to Allie?” Lily asked and Hawke nodded.

“I found him walking out of the saloon this morning. I had hoped he would be honest with her. At least I told him to be.”

“How did this happen, Hawke? I thought he was a good kid, I really did.” Lily said feeling guilt that she had been the one to insist Jack stay with them. Her entire family had fallen in love with the boy and now because of these new men he was breaking all of their hearts.

“He is a good kid, Lily. But even the strongest of oak trees will eventually break when faced with an unyielding wind in the wrong direction.”

“And they are the wind.” Lily said curling her nose at the two new men. Hawke simply nodded and hugged her a little closer.

888

“Why do you care about me all of a sudden?” Jack demanded of his father as the three of them stood alone in the yard.

“I’ve always cared about you.” John replied. “Your ma and that good for nothing bastard Tom ran me off when you all was just kids and it’s her fault you never knew about me.”

“You came back and got Brian.. Why didn’t you get me too?”

“Because I don’t have a home, Jack. I didn’t have a place for you to grow up and your ma and Tom did.” Jack looked up at Hawke and Lily sitting on the porch and remembered Hawke telling him to remember who had always been there for him…

“So you just left me to fend for myself with that whore and drunk? You didn’t even care enough about your own son to come get me once they died? I had to fend for myself for five years.”

“And look at the strong man you’ve become.” John said with a proud smile. “You turned out damn good and I didn’t know the kind of man that Tom was and I had no idea that they had died. I went to their house on you thirteenth birthday and that’s what I found out they were dead and me and Brian’s been searching for you ever since.”

“You think I turned out good?” Jack asked thinking about the pain he had just caused Allie and doubting his father’s words.

“Of course I do. You’re my son and I am as proud of you as a man could possibly be.” Jack couldn’t help but be filled with pride at his fathers words.

“I want to get to know you son. I’d like to spend some time with you.” Jack wanted to spend some time with him as well. He had a lot he wanted to know about his father. Finding out that he wasn’t related to that drunk son of a bitch that raised him had him wondering what kind of blood really flowed through his veins. Anything was better than Tom.

“I’m going to go to town with my pa and brother for a while. I’ll be back sometime tonight.” Jack said looking up at Hawke and Lily.

“You are supposed to help me with the garden.” Hawke said, standing up and walking down off the porch steps. Jack shifted his feet.

“I’ll help tomorrow. It can wait until then.”

“Your word no longer means anything to you?” Hawke asked crossing his arms over his chest and raising a brow. Jack knew he was talking about more than just the garden. He was talking about Allie as well.

“I…” Jack started to defend himself but John stepped forward.

“Don’t you be insulting my sons word, injun.” he said placing a hand on the gun in his holster. Jack did not know what to do or who to defend as Hawke laid a hand on the knife strapped to his leg. Should he defend Hawke, who had been like a father the last year or his real father?

“That stupid injun ain’t done nothing but insult Jack and ride his ass since I’ve been here. Bunch of bullshit if you ask me because he ain’t nothing to Jack.” Brian spoke up.

“You guys, Hawke and his family have been good to me the last year.” Lily came around Hawke and quickly crossed the yard to stand in front of Jack with Wolf standing behind her and watching the other two men with a threatening gleam in his golden eyes.

“Hawke and his family? Is that what we are now? Two days ago we were your family too, Jack. How quickly you forgot about the people who love you.” Jack rubbed the back of his neck and tried to think of something to say. Lily just shook her head and walked back up onto the porch and into the house.

“Back off of me, Hawke. I can do whatever I want. I’m a grown man.” Jack said finding that it was easier to be angry than it was to admit that he had hurt Lily. Lily had never been anything but good to him. Just the same as Allie.

“That’s damn right, you’re a grown man.” John spoke up. Hawke just shook his head and waved his hand.

“Go. I will take care of the garden myself just as I did before you came.” Hawke was angry and he was tired of Jack’s nonsense. He was not going to pet the boys head and stroke his ego just to earn his loyalty. If all they had been through and all the time they had spent together in the past year had not earned him the boys loyalty then Hawke did not want it. He turned and walked into the house and Jack picked up his guilty conscious and followed his brother and pa into the barn to saddle his horse.

Chapter Thirteen

“Do you want us to come with you, son?” John asked as he took a puff of his cigarette in the hotel room the next morning. Jack shook his head.

“That’s right. He don’t need no help. He’s a grown man and he’s ready to break out on his own. Ain’t that right?” Brian said with a smile and he nudged Jack with his elbow. Jack nodded and picked at a string on his shirt.

“I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” he said and he grabbed his hat off the bed and pulled it down tight on his head. Brian and John watched him walk out and then looked at each other with a satisfied nod.

“We played him just right didn’t we, pops?’ Brian asked flopping down on the bed.

“It was easier than I thought it would be.” John agreed. “Tell the boy a few stories about how great a life of freedom is and he is jumping at the chance to experience it with his loving pa and his great big brother.” They both chuckled.

“Should we tell him about the other men in the gang before we leave? Let him know that once he’s in and he can’t never get out?” Brian asked as he looked out the window and saw Jack starting out of town on his buckskin. John shook his head and blew out a cloud of smoke.

“No. He is stupid, young and foolish but that damn injun he has been living with has tried to put self righteous ideas in his head about how a man should always do right. Who is that damn savage to determine what is right and what is wrong? I take what I want when I want and as far as I’m concerned those are the actions of a real man.”

“You think Jack’ll try to leave once he finds out what he’s got himself into?” Brian asked as he pulled out his gun and began to spin the cylinder. John nodded.

“Probably at first.  But I have a lot of faith that that boy will become something special. It’ll take a while to break him down and get rid of those foolish morals but once they’re gone he’ll be a true outlaw.. And one of the best if I’m right in my thinking.”

“Yeah and hopefully we won’t have to kill him.” Brian said as he holstered his gun. John and Brian shared a cold smile and then kicked back to wait on the prodigal son to return.

Jack was tempted to forget about his few belongings, turn his horse around and hightail it back to town when Hawke’s cabin came into view. He had to remind himself that a real man wasn’t afraid of anything and that he owed it to Lily, Hawke and even Allie to say goodbye.

The decision to leave had come easily enough. He knew Allie hated him so he wasn’t tempted to stay because of her. Brian and John had both told him that women only get in the way and that real love between a man and woman did not exist… Jack didn’t believe that. He knew that he loved Allie but he also knew he didn’t deserve her anymore.

Jack saw Hawke walk into the barn without even looking in his direction and he decided he wasn’t ready to face the Indian yet. He would go in the house and get his things before telling Hawke he was leaving. He walked into the cabin and he saw that Allie’s bedroom door was open but she wasn’t there. He could hear Lily moving around in her room and he wasn’t ready to face her either.

He walked into his room and grabbed a canvas bag from beneath the bed. He stuck his clothes inside, remembering the day when Lily had first given him the handmade pants and shirts and the way he had truly felt like he was part of the family.  Things had changed so much since then.

Hawke made him feel like he was never good enough, Lily was mad at him for wanting to spend time with his real family and Allie hated him for sleeping with that whore even though he hadn’t done it on purpose. Life would be so much easier with his pa and brother. They wouldn’t make him feel worthless like Hawke, or guilty like Lily or like a jackass the way Allie did. He would be able to be his own man. Sleep under the stars, close down the saloons. No rules and no bosses.

Jack saw the pistol grips that Allie had gotten him sitting on the table and he let out a heavy sigh before picking them up and putting them in his bag. He pulled Allie’s necklace from his pocket and grabbed a piece of paper, pen and an envelope from the cabinet in the kitchen. He wrote down what he wanted to say to Allie and then slid the letter and necklace into the envelope and wrote Allie’s name on the front.

He laid it on the table and walked out onto the porch. He was about to walk down the porch steps when he heard Lily’s footsteps behind him.

“Jack, where are you going?” she asked. Jack turned and looked at her and felt guilty when he saw the tears in her eyes. Then he felt angry that he felt guilty. He had no reason to feel guilty. John and Brian were his real family and Hawke and Lily should be happy for him.

“I’m going with my family.” he replied adjusting the bag over his shoulder.

“What are we?” Lily asked as she pulled Sarah a little closer to her chest. Jack looked down at the baby who was staring at him with her dark eyes and he wondered what babies thought. Did Sarah hate him as much as everyone else did?

“You all have done a lot for me and I appreciate it but you’re not my real family.” Lily felt the sting of his words deep in her heart.

“What are we then?” she demanded. “I have fed you, clothed you, I taught you to read and you taught me to play poker. Hawke has taught you to hunt, farm and trap. He has done his best to teach you everything he knows. We have all been through bad and good together. You saved Allie’s life and she gave you her heart. It sounds a whole hell of a lot like we are a real family to me!” Jack was taken aback at first by the anger in her voice. Whatever Nathan had taken from her, she was clearly getting back.

“You are not my family, Lily. John and Brian are. I will never be good enough for you people.” he said angrily and then Jack’s jaw dropped when Lily’s hand connected with his cheek. He raised his hand and rubbed his face, hoping to ease the sting as he stared at her with shock. Lily hated violence. She hadn’t even allowed it in play in the house and she had just slapped him across his face.

“Maybe one day you’ll be as smart as you think you are and you’ll realize that this is your home.” Lily turned on her heel and Jack could hear her crying as she shut the door.

He was still rubbing his cheek as he walked to the barn to tell Hawke he was leaving. He didn’t want to face Hawke but a real man did what had to be done and moved on. What Jack did not take the time to realize was that Hawke had been the one to teach him that lesson.

“Hawke.” Jack said from the barn door. Hawke did not turn around. He was wearing only his buckskin pants and his muscles were tense and bulging as he went about cleaning the stalls.

“Do not speak to me.” Hawke said and Jack could hear the anger in his tone.

“Why? I’m leaving and I wanted to say goodbye.” he said squaring his shoulders. His legs nearly forgot what they were for and collapsed beneath him when Hawke threw the rake aside and turned on him. His power and strength radiating off of him as he stood straight and glared at Jack.

“If you were anyone else you would already be dead. My wife is crying because of you. Because of your foolishness and selfishness.”

“I am not foolish and I am not selfish. They are my family.” Jack exclaimed angrily. He might be shorter and leaner than Hawke but he was not going to let the man intimidate him.

“We are your family and the fact that you can throw us all away as if we are nothing tells me just what kind of man you are.” Hawke spat as he looked down his nose at the boy he thought of as a son. He had never been so disappointed in a person before and he supposed it was because he had never believed in someone as much as he had believed in Jack. He had done all he could to give Jack a chance at a good life and it had been for nothing.

“I’m a grown man, Hawke, Not some little boy for you to lecture.”

“You are foolish. Those men do not care about you.”

“They love me.” Jack argued though whether he was trying to convince Hawke or himself he wasn’t sure. “My brother and my pa love me.” Hawke shook his head and his green eyes flashed with an angry intensity.

“We love you! We are your family. We have been there for you no matter what. We have given you everything. We stand behind you, beside you and would even jump in front of you to keep you safe. What can you say for those men in town? Do you think they will do the same?” Jack didn’t know what to say. Hawke had never said he loved him before and he had never said anything like what he said after that either. Jack was starting to wonder if he was making a mistake but it was too late to back out now. He had burned his bridge with Allie and Lily and Hawke would never forgive him so he might as well just leave and be with people who didn’t expect so damn much out of a homeless, pick pocketing street kid like him.

“Yes they would.” Jack replied making sure his voice sounded much more certain than he felt. Hawke shook his head.

“Go then. Go be a big bad outlaw. Go run with men who have no rules, no morals and no true beliefs other than to take what they want. See what happens when everything comes crashing down on your head and you realize that men like those men in town will NEVER truly care about you. They cannot because they do not truly care about anything other than themselves.”

“Hawke…” Jack started to argue but Hawke held up his hand and despite wanting to stand up to the man there was something about Hawke that made men obey him.

“Leave. I will not waste another second of my time on you. I have depended on you for a year and you are leaving me without help so I have a lot of work to do around here.” With that Hawke turned away from Jack and picked the rake back up. He went back to raking the stalls and Jack kicked at the ground before stomping out of the barn.

He jumped up in Buck’s saddle and was starting down the trail to town when he heard Wolf yip behind him. He pulled up on the reins and looked back at the beast. He was too angry to smile so he just nodded.

“Goodbye, Wolf. I wish I could say we’ve had some good times but mostly you’ve always tried to bite me and I’ve always wanted to shoot you.” Jack pulled a piece of jerky from his pocket and tossed it to Wolf who sniffed it but left it lying there and looked back up at Jack.

“Protect Allie, Wolf. Don’t let nothing happen to her.” Jack said feeling a pain deep in his chest that he quickly pushed aside. His place was not here with these people, it was with his real family out living under the wide open sky. He looked out ahead of him and snapped the reins leaving the only real home he had ever had behind.

888

Hawke saddled Trigger and didn’t even bother putting his shirt on before jumping into the saddle and starting toward town. Wolf tried to follow him but Hawke shook his head.

“Stay. Protect.” he said pointing back at the cabin. Wolf turned and walked back to the cabin and Hawke continued on his way. He knew Jack was well ahead of him and he wasn’t trying to catch the boy, he just wanted to see him off. A part of him still hoped the boy would change his mind.

888

Jack made it to town and found his pa and brother waiting for him beside their horses on the edge of town.

“You ready to get to living, son?” John asked with a grin and Jack looked around the small town and nodded.

“Yeah I’m ready.” he said. The three of them started out of town when Jack heard Doc Mason’s voice calling to him and he stopped and turned his horse around.

“Come here, boy!” Doc Mason called from the mercantile porch.

“Wait for me.” Jack said to Brian and John and they nodded and folded their arms across their saddle horns. Jack rode Buck down to Doc Mason and looked over at the old man from atop his back.

“What is it, Doc?” he asked.

“Where are you going?” Doc asked.

“I’m leaving with my pa and my brother.” Jack replied. “I got a family now.” Jack expected the doc to be happy for him but the doc shook his head sadly.

“You already have a family boy.” he said and he pointed the opposite way down the road. Jack followed his gaze and saw Hawke sitting atop Trigger and watching him from the other end of main street. Jack looked back the other way at his brother and pa and shook his head.

“Hawke ain’t my family.” he said. “Those men are my blood kin.” Doc Mason shook his head and let out an irritated breath.

“You young ones today think you’re so smart. Blood doesn’t mean a thing. My blood father was a bastard. A drunk, a gambler and a worthless piece of trash that never amounted to anything for as long as he lived. The man who raised me, the one I called pa was a good man. He was hard and expected a lot from me but it made me strong and it made me push myself harder because I wanted to make him proud. It was because of him that I became a doctor and I cried real tears the day he died because blood or no blood, that man was my father.”

Jack looked up and down the road again. Hawke at one end of the road and his brother and pa at the other end.

“Looks like you got a decision to make son.” Doc Mason said. “Make the right one.”

888

Hawke watched on as Jack looked up and down the road and he knew the boy was trying to decide what path to take and then Hawke felt his heart fall to the ground as Jack turned his back to him and chose the other path.

Hawke saw doc Mason walking his way and he did not want to talk to anyone right now so he quickly turned Trigger and disappeared into the woods.

888

“What’s wrong, Lily?” Allie asked as she walked into the house and found her sister crying into the peach pie she was putting together. Lily sniffed and used her apron to dry her face.

“Jack is gone.” she said sadly. “He came and got his things and left town with Brian and John.” Allie felt her already broken heart shatter even more.

“He left without saying goodbye.” she said with disbelief as she wrapped her arms tight around herself. Lily pointed to the envelope lying on the table.

“He left that for you.” she said. Allie bit her lip and forced herself to keep from crying as she grabbed the envelope and went into her room, closing the door behind her.

With shaking hands she opened the envelope and the necklace he had made for her fell into her lap. She pulled out the letter and tears fell from her eyes as she read his sloppy handwriting.

Allie,

I aint very gud at riting yet but hopfuly you can read this. I am sorry I hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you. I do luv you with all my hart so I want you to keep the neckless. I know you hate me and I don’t blame you but may be one day you wont hate me so much. I finaly have a chance to no my real pa and brother and I am taking it. I pr… swear to you that I’ll luv you forever and may be one day I’ll com back to visit and you wont hate me no more and we can be frends again.

Luv You Doll

Jack

Allie held the letter to her heart and cried for a long while. She wanted to hate Jack… Lord knew she wanted to hate him for hurting her so much but she couldn’t. When she thought of Jack she thought of that dirty, rag wearing, charming boy that had come to her rescue in that train station in Helena. The boy who had jumped across a table and taken a bullet trying to save her. The boy who had shot a man to save her life. The boy who had held her hand gently, and kissed her tenderly. The boy who had taught her to shoot a gun, spit like a man and skip a stone across the lake. The boy who talked nonstop and made everyone laugh with his jokes and wise cracks.

That was how she wanted to remember Jack. Not as the mean, grumpy boy who had turned his back on her and the family. Not as the boy who had broken all of their hearts. She picked up the necklace and tied it around her neck. She stuck it under her dress, hiding it from view.

She had faith in the Jack she remembered. Those men had changed him but the old Jack would come back. Surely he would not be able to stay gone forever… Not after everything they had shared.

A/N; This is the end of Savage Intentions. The third story in this series ‘Savage Redemtion’ is completed and on my profile. Thank you for reading!