Robin Lee Hatcher Read Online Free

swallowed his disappointment. “Well, I reckon I’ll go anyway. You gonna change your mind and come with me?”
    Hawk shook his head.
    Rand understood his friend’s reluctance to mingle with the town’s growing population. He’d come to know Hawk pretty well in the five years they’d been together, well enough to know that he’d suffered his share of scorn from folks when they learned he was a quarter Sioux. Didn’t matter that Hawk had spent his whole life living with white folks, that he was as upright and honest as any man Rand ever knew.
    Never ceased to amaze him how otherwise kind and caring folks — even some who called themselves Christian — could act like that. Made him ashamed, it did. Downright ashamed.

FOUR
    Bethany stared at the ceiling, watching as the encroaching dawn lightened her bedroom, all the while twirling a strand of hair around her index finger and worrying her lower lip.
    Now that she’d found Mr. Chandler, how was she to get him to church? She couldn’t wait for her father to go visiting again. Papa would take his own sweet time. How could she win her bet with Ingrid that way?
    I wonder if he’s married.
    Oh, how very much she hoped not. She could still win the wager if he was, but it wouldn’t be as rewarding if he had a wife.
    She pushed away the blankets and swung her feet over the side of the bed. A ride would help clear her thoughts. And if that ride happened to take her near the Circle Blue, perhaps she would learn if there was a Mrs. Chandler. Her father wouldn’t approve of her riding out so far from town, of course. Well, she needn’t tell him. Besides, as long as Ingrid was with her, what harm could there be?
    She poured water from the pitcher into a bowl and quickly performed her morning ablutions. Then she ran a hasty brush through her unruly curls before capturing her hair into a bun at the nape. As she slipped into her riding habit, she heard a door open and close, then the creaking of the stairs. Her father was up for his morning prayer time. She and Ingrid would have to wait until he emerged from his study before they could leave.
    She checked the mirror one more time, approving her appearance and dark umber riding habit. Then she hurried down the hall to Ingrid’s bedroom. “Get up, sleepyhead.”
    Sprawled on her stomach, Ingrid opened one eye. “What time is it?”
    “Time to get up if we want to go for a ride.”
    “What ride?”
    “Our ride. Don’t you remember?” Bethany pulled back the coverlets on the bed. “We wanted to go for a ride today.”
    Suspicion clouded her friend’s face as she sat up. “I do not recall anything about a ride.”
    “Oh, you’re so forgetful.” Bethany swept over to the chair near the window and perched herself on it. “Look outside. It’s going to be a beautiful warm day, and I’m not leaving this room until you’re up and ready to go riding with me. I had such a lovely time with Papa yesterday. The countryside is beautiful. Especially over by the — ” She caught herself. “Over by the mountains. I want you to see it. Maybe we’ll see some buffalo. Wouldn’t that be exciting?”
    While Bethany chattered, Ingrid got out of bed, washed, and went to her wardrobe. Not until she was dressed did she speak again. “You do not fool me, Bethany. It is not buffalo you wish to see.”
    Bethany feigned hurt feelings. “Must you be so suspicious of me?” Then she laughed, her excitement bubbling to the surface despite her best effort.

    The stallion quivered, his eyes wild with fright, his legs braced. Rand gripped the rope, holding the horse steady while Hawk stepped into the saddle.
    “Okay. Let him go.”
    For one moment after Rand stepped backward, the rangy black didn’t move. Hawk wasn’t fooled. He tightened his hold. A second later, the horse erupted into the air with fury, his body twisting in a vicious attempt to unseat its rider. All four hooves struck the hard earth with teeth-jarring impact. Horse and