by Leah Brooke
Squinting against the late-day sun, Phoenix gritted his teeth. “There’s no reason we can’t get one of those brides for ourselves. Why the hell is he so damned stubborn?”
Blade smiled at that. “I think he was born that way. Besides, it doesn’t look like any women are showing up, so wantin’ one is just a waste of energy. Go on and get the rest of the supplies. I want to get back to the ranch before it gets too late.”
Phoenix glanced toward the train station as he started back into the store. “Who knows? Maybe Hawke’ll come back with someone.”
Shaking his head, Blade moved around the buckboard to tie the other side. “Doubtful, but if he does, you can be sure she won’t be interested in bastard half-breeds.”
Chapter Three
Irritated at himself, Hawke strode down the street to the train station, anxious to finish the chore so he and his brothers could get back to the ranch.
Each week, someone came to town to stock up on supplies, and they always came on the day the train came in.
Each week, the men at the ranch waited anxiously to see if a potential bride appeared, and each week, they ended up disappointed.
As he walked up the stairs to the platform, he tried to convince himself that he didn’t hope for a woman of his own, too.
Having a woman just wasn’t in the cards for a man like him.
He’d wandered from place to place with his brothers his entire adult life, never fitting in anywhere. He’d finally found a home at the Circle T ranch. He’d made friends there, something he’d never thought possible, and felt as if he belonged for the first time in his life.
Eb and Jeremiah were easy to work for, and seemed to draw people in who didn’t fit in anywhere else.
They’d become a family, one that Hawke had begun to trust.
He and his brothers had settled in at the ranch, and he’d been content—until the women started coming.
Soon, there would be children running around the ranch—sharp reminders of what he couldn’t have.
What he wanted more with every breath he took.
Restless again, he’d begun to think about moving on.
Another town. Another job.
But he knew he could never escape from himself—or his need for a woman he could love.
Pushing his thoughts aside, he headed toward the counter, standing aside to wait for others to buy their tickets, while scanning the small depot for arriving passengers who might need a ride to the Circle T.
He hated crowds, and being in town smothered him. The activity and number of people all around him made him nervous as hell, and he couldn’t wait to get the hell out of here.
He should have sent Phoenix, but his youngest brother seemed hell bent on goading him into the whorehouse, probably hoping that fucking a woman would somehow change his mood.
Phoenix didn’t understand that it was the yearning for a wife that plagued him—a hunger for a sweet woman who would be strong enough to put up with him and his bad moods.
He wanted a woman of his own—a woman who would accept him for what he was.
He wanted a woman who would look at him the way Maggie and Savannah looked at their husbands—a woman he could protect and give all the love that had been building inside him for years.
It would never happen, but as hard as he tried, he couldn’t fight the yearning inside him.
Fisting his hands at his sides, he called himself all kinds of a fool and concentrated on the throng of people, impatiently scanning the platform.
The fear on people’s faces as they gave him a wide berth irritated him, but at the moment, also gave him a small amount of satisfaction. He was taller than most of the people around him, but their distance made it even easier to see through the crowd. He remained motionless, his arms crossed over his chest as he waited.
Phoenix loved the crowds and the energy of crowds, and Blade didn’t seem to mind one way or the other.
He had a calm about him that nothing seemed to ruffle, an edge to him almost as sharp as Hawke’s.
He didn’t quite understand his brother’s desire to explore the more edgier of sexual acts with women Hawke had always been content to give as much pleasure as he got and give the woman the affection and closeness that would give her the security he knew they craved.
Aware of the wary looks he received, Hawke clenched his jaw and continued to scan his surroundings. Inwardly sighing at the number of people in line, he leaned back against the wall, prepared to wait until the line disappeared before speaking to the man behind the counter. As soon as he confirmed that no one had come in on the train, he could get the hell out of town.
When the line moved again, he found his gaze drawn to a woman standing in it that he hadn’t noticed before.
She didn’t stand much above five feet tall, blending into the crowd with ease.
Watching her, he got the feeling that she wanted to remain unnoticed.
Intrigued and inexplicably drawn to her, he watched her, seeing by her body language the exact moment she realized it.
Stiffening, she somehow managed to make herself appear even smaller, hunching over the small bundle she held tightly in front of her.
She kept her head down, scuffling along as the line moved, making his hands itch to reach for her and tear the ugly, worn scarf away.
It was hot as hell outside, but she gripped the scarf tightly against her neck as if freezing.
He couldn’t take his eyes from her, finding himself captivated by her defensive posture. Lifting his gaze, he searched for anyone who might have accompanied her, his hands clenching into fists at the thought of her being with a man who couldn’t give her the confidence she appeared to desperately need.
Finally she reached the front of the line, and he stepped closer, irritated that she wouldn’t look up at him.
And then she did, and the kick to his gut almost took him to his knees.
Her stunning blue eyes met his, the impact stealing his breath.
She was pale—too pale, her delicate features making her stunning blue eyes appear too large for her face.
The sadness and desperation in them tugged at his heart, his chest swelling with the knowledge that he could wipe the sadness from her eyes—if only she would let him close enough.
Cursing himself for his fanciful thoughts, he continued to watch her, unable to look away.
The flash of fear in her eyes angered him more than usual, but she seemed to be afraid of every man who got close to her—not just him.
“Excuse me. I’m going to Desire. To the Circle T Ranch. Can you tell me how to get there?”
Entranced by her soft voice, and distracted by the vision of her whispering to him in the dark, he didn’t catch the meaning of her words at first.
When he did, his heart leapt, the longing to make her his own as sudden as it was unexpected. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his heart pounding nearly out of his chest. “I’m Hawke Royal. I’m from the Circle T.”
He wanted her—badly.
He wanted to surround her with all the warmth he could give her, and wipe the sadness and loneliness from her eyes.
Her beautiful eyes went wide, and she looked as if she might bolt, until Lee, the man at the counter, smiled—a tender smile Hawke had never seen from the elderly man before. “He’s tellin’ the truth, ma’am. He’s from the Circle T. He’s trustworthy. The men on the Circle T are the most trustworthy men I’ve ever known. I’d trust him with my life.”
He turned to Hawke, but Hawke barely glanced at him. “Hey, Hawke. When I saw you standing there, I knew you were looking for one of those brides the Tylers advertised for.”
Hawke nodded, anxious to get her away from the crowd so he could have her undivided attention, biting back a grimace when she deftly avoided his touch. “Thanks, Lee.” Taking her arm in a light grip, he bent low, instinctively lowering his tone the way he did when dealing with a frightened animal. “We’re attracting a lot of attention.”
&nbs
p; Nodded, she went with him. “Is the Circle T close to Desire?”
“The Circle T is Desire. The men who own it are building a town, and women’s safety is one of their main priorities.”
“Are there many women there?”
Frowning when she stiffened again, he shrugged. “Only two so far. The owners share a wife—the reason they bought the place to begin with. They don’t want their wife open to criticism. The sheriffs also share a wife.”
Stopping abruptly, she stared up at him, the sadness in her beautiful eyes replaced by shock and intrigue. “They share a wife? Oh, God. Are you telling me that the women are outnumbered?
Hawke rushed to reassure her, her fear of men obvious. “Yes, they’re outnumbered, but they’re protected at all costs. Women aren’t exactly growing on trees there. It only makes sense to share them. Believe me, the women are guarded and spoiled. Their safety is our first priority. They make it work and they all seem really happy.” Fighting bitterness, he took her arm again and led her away from the crowd, biting back a groan at the quiver that went through her.
Her responsiveness to his light touch created an ache inside him that he could no longer ignore.
He forced a smile, wanting her more with each passing minute. “Did you come to be a bride?”
God help him.
He wanted to throw her over his shoulder and carry her to the minister, staking his claim before taking her to the ranch and letting one of the others have her.
If he didn’t take her as his own, he’d have to avoid her as well, because he sure as hell couldn’t stand seeing her with another man.
She didn’t answer at first, her eyes darting from one person to another as if she expected someone to jump out and attack her at any moment, her fear heightening his senses. She shrugged her small shoulders. “I-uh, yes. I guess I did. Um, who am I supposed to marry?” Her cheeks turned an enticing shade of pink, but it was her eyes that enthralled him. They gleamed with curiosity despite her obvious shyness, tugging at his heart and making him wish for things that could never be. “Am I supposed to marry you?”
Hawke stilled, his heart pounding furiously at the trust displayed when she edged closer as a group of people passed, including the men who’d avoided him earlier.
Anger fisted his hands at his sides, the recognition that no woman would ever want to tie herself to a man like him hurting like never before. “You wouldn’t want me for a husband. There are several men at the ranch looking for a bride. You can meet them and decide who you want to marry.”
His words sounded colder than he’d intended, but the look of panic in her eyes created an odd sensation in his stomach.
Her smile had a nervousness to it that made his arms itch to hold her. “Why wouldn’t I want a man like you?”
* * * *
Sarah found herself edging closer to him, uneasy at being in such a large crowd. Expecting Willy and his men to appear at any moment, she tried to hide herself, keeping Hawke between her and the bustle of people on the platform.
The men who’d just passed her looked at her the way Willy had, scaring her so badly that she edged closer to Hawke.
He had a way of talking to her—looking at her—that gave her a warm feeling inside, much like the feeling she’d gotten from Mr. Anderson, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Johnson.
Over the years, she’d learned to trust her instincts, and her instincts told her that she could trust Hawke.
He was a big man, so it proved easy to hide behind him, but he drew attention to himself like no man she’d ever met.
Wearing a gun belt with a gun and what looked like an axe dangling from it, he looked more than capable of taking care of himself. With a bow strapped to his back and some kind of oddly-shaped wooden stick over his shoulder next to it, he was an intimating sight.
His shoulders were wide, wider than she’d ever seen on a man. His hair, so black that it gleamed with blue highlights, hung down to the middle of his back, straight and so silky looking that her hands itched to touch it. He looked and smelled so clean and fresh, with no trace of whiskey or tobacco clinging to him.
He wore his hair loose, giving him a wild, untamed look that created an aura of danger around him that appeared to scare those who walked by him.
She knew that she probably should have been scared as well, but something—a loneliness that had lived inside her so many years and she recognized easily—shone in his eyes and made her feel safe with him.
He moved in a way that she’d never seen a man move before, a gracefulness in every step that didn’t resemble the swagger of the cowboys and outlaws like Willy Krenshaw and his gang at all.
He moved with purpose, and with the kind of strength she never knew existed—the strength of a man who didn’t have to show off or speak loudly to intimidate others.
A confidence that he could handle anything life threw in his path drew her in closer, making her yearn to lay her head on his shoulder and feel his strong arms come around her.
She could only imagine how safe she would feel in his arms.
She knew it was silly to feel that way about a stranger, but he had the kind of confidence a woman could depend on.
Fascinated, she found herself enthralled by him, his presence making her feel safe for the first time in her life.
He kept himself between her and the rest of the world in a way that made her feel protected.
For the first time in memory, she could breathe.
Straightening, she took a deep breath and smiled at the sense of freedom.
She felt so safe with him.
His eyes narrowed. “It’s not possible. I won’t ever get married.”
Her face burned at his abrupt answer. Lowering her head, she looked up at him through her lashes, captivated that such an obviously dangerous man could have such gentleness in his eyes—a sorrow that tugged at her heart. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me.”
Hawke folded his arms over his chest, his posture making him appear even larger and more intimidating, but his eyes held a concern and tenderness that seemed to rip away the protective shell she’d built around herself. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You keep looking around. Who are you looking for?”
Startled by the question, and even more surprised that he’d noticed, she lowered her eyes again, knowing that it was only a matter of time before Willy found out she’d bought a train ticket and where she’d gone.
Shocked when Hawke gripped her chin and lifted her face to his, she gulped. “No one.” She’d had to tell lies her entire life in order to survive, but shuffled with unease at lying to Hawke. Hoping her face wasn’t as red as it felt, she met his gaze squarely. “I don’t know anyone in Tulsa.”
Hawke’s dark brows went up, his eyes lit with amusement. “Except me, and you haven’t even told me your name.”
“My name’s Sarah.”
“Sarah what?”
Her face burned. “My mother said it was Smith, but she said she wasn’t really sure.”
Cursing her own stupidity at leaving a trail for Willy to follow, Sarah chewed on her lower lip. “I think I made a mistake. Is there a hotel where I can stay until another train comes?”
Hawke stiffened, lowering his arms to his sides as another Indian, one who looked very much like him, approached. “What kind of mistake?”
Alarmed by the appearance of the other man, Sarah took several steps back. “It doesn’t matter.” Pulling her shawl closer, she started to turn away, alarmed when Hawke’s hard hand gripped her arm and turned her back. It brought back the memory of Willy grabbing her in Rose’s bedroom. “Please. Don’t hurt me.”
She tried to twist away, cursing herself for letting her guard down, and allowing herself to be drawn in by his tenderness.
The small pouches of gold coins hit her legs, a sharp reminder of what her impulsiveness might cost her.
She couldn’t allow herself to trust anyone.
To her surprise, Hawke released her at once, his eyes glittering wit
h anger. “I’m not going to hurt you. Who did? Is that who you keep looking for?” His gaze lifted, his eyes narrowed as he scanned the crowd as if relishing the thought of confronting whoever had hurt her.
Panic made her stomach clench, the enormity of what she’d done hitting her hard. She had no choice but to keep running. “No one. I’m sorry. I can’t go to the Circle T.”
Hawke shot a glare at the man who’d joined them. “Nice timing, Blade.” His eyes gentled again as he turned back to her. “Sarah, this is my brother, Blade. You have no reason to fear him. Blade, Sarah’s here to be a bride.”
The other man smiled, a flash of white against his dark skin, the tenderness in his eyes so much like Hawke’s that she smiled. “I wondered what was taking you so long.”
Blade had to be the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.
Hawke frowned at his brother before turning back to her. “Sarah, when was the last time you had something to eat?”
Surprised by the question, Sarah studied Blade, startled by the hardening of his features, which made him appear almost as fierce as Hawke. “I’m just thirsty. I finished the water in my canteen hours ago. Do you know where I might refill it?”
Blade’s jaw clenched, his eyes hardening as some unspoken message passed between him and Blade. “We’ve got canteens of water in the wagon. Why don’t we get out of here?”
She was so thirsty that she would have done almost anything for a drink of water. “Thank you.”
With Hawke on one side and Blade on the other, she made her way across the platform, the sense of security surrounding her bringing tears to her eyes.
She allowed them to lead her through the crowd, their big bodies on either side of her protecting her from being jostled as they led her down a wooden walkway toward the bustling town. She couldn’t help but notice that people kept their distance, even the men who had a glint in their eyes that reminded her of Willy.
