| |
Kitree paced back and forth on the lodge porch. Hawke had promised he’d be there last night. If he hadn’t radioed and told Tuck he would be here today, she wouldn’t have slept last night.
Sage was cleaning the bunkhouse, making it ready for them to sleep in tonight. She said with Dani coming home and all the trouble gone, they could start living like a family.
But was the trouble gone? They hauled off the people who had been trying to kill her, but did they find whatever the people were after? Would they come for her again? How could she live up here on the mountain without Hawke to watch over her if the bad people came back? That fear had kept her awake long into the night. She’d heard coyotes yip, an owl hoot, and even the digging of something outside her window. That sound had scared her the most. Had someone come back to get her?
Dog walked up and licked her hand. He’d been her protector last night. He’d slept on the bed and gave her comfort when her heart had raced. With Dog here, she knew Hawke would come back.
Sage walked across the area between the bunkhouse and lodge. “The circles are getting darker under your eyes. Are you sure you don’t want to take a nap?” She put a hand on Kitree’s shoulder.
“I’m fine. I can’t sleep until Hawke gets back.”
Dog woofed and headed to the trail heading down the mountain.
Kitree stared at the trail, waiting, holding her breath.
Jack’s head appeared, then Hawke. Behind him on another horse rode Dani.
She took off at a run toward the horses. “You’re back!”
Dog woofed in excitement running around the horses and her.
Hawke reached down, and she put her hand in his. He lifted her up behind him on Jack. “I told you, I’d be back. Didn’t Tuck tell you last night I’d be here today?”
She put her arms around Hawke. “He did, but I didn’t know if people were still looking for what Momma hid.”
They stopped at the hitching rail by the barn. Dani dropped off her horse and headed to the lodge. Hawke eased her around to his lap and holding onto her, he stepped off the horse, placing her on the ground in front of him.
“No one will be looking for you again. I turned the information over to a real FBI agent. They will make sure everyone knows they have it and not you.”
“Thank you!” She flung her arms around the man she’d come to think of as her best friend and cried.
Hawke felt the warm wetness and looked down. Tears poured out of Kitree’s eyes. “Hey, there’s nothing to cry about.” He knelt beside her. Kitree’s small arms tangled around his neck. “You have nothing to be afraid of. Tuck and Sage will love you and take care of you, and Dani will be here when you want to vent about your parents.”
The child leaned back and looked at him with a furrowed brow. “What do you mean ‘vent about my parents?’”
“All kids get mad at their parents now and then. I’m sure being first time parents Tuck and Sage will make some rules you don’t think are fair...”
“Tuck and Sage. My parents...” Her tears dried and as the words worked their way into her mind her smile grew. “My second parents.”
“That’s right. Not many kids can say they’ve had two sets of parents. You’ll have the ones that brought you into the world and Tuck and Sage who helped you grow.”
“I like that.” Kitree put her hands on her hips. “Get Jack unsaddled, Sage made chicken and dumplings for dinner.”
Hawke watched her skip off to the lodge. “Now I have another female toying with emotions I’ve buried.”
Dog sat at his feet and yawned.
«»«»«»