Page 16 of Rawhide and Ransom

To her enormous gratitude, the white bohemian blouse she’d picked out fit comfortably. The leggings were a little long, but she fixed them by rolling them up at the cuffs. She took a minute or two to scrunch her damp hair so it would dry in blonde waves. Then she hung up her towel and padded barefoot from the bathroom, feeling like a new person.

Hawk was in the kitchen, warming and setting out the food from the to-go boxes he’d brought back from the diner.

“Wow!” He gave her an admiring look. “Should I reintroduce myself?”

“Annalee Gilbert.” She stuck out a hand. “The clean version.”

His warm hand curled around hers and gave it a hearty shake. “Hawk Chesney. The luckiest guy in Texas to have not one, but two lovely guests for breakfast.”

Miley gave a happy laugh as she plopped down on one of the bar stools. “Being your guest sounds a lot better than being a pesky trespasser. Or a squatter.”

“You did what was necessary. I won’t be holding it against you…much,” Hawk teased as he pulled out a stool for Annalee. Bowing his head, he said grace over their food. Then he angled his head at Miley, exchanging a silent message with her.

Miley promptly lifted the electronic device beside her to-go box of breakfast and set it closer to her mother. She tapped on the screen to pull up a photograph. “This is what Running Bear looks like.”

Annalee eyed the stoic-faced man. “How long has Uri Dakota been a councilman?” Her late husband hadn’t mentioned his position in the tribe. Maybe it was a recent development.

Hawk lifted his burrito to his mouth. “For as long as I can remember.” He took a bite. “A few decades, at least.”

It wasn’t a recent development then. Annalee wondered if Uri Dakota’s status as a leader on the rez would make him more or less likely to help her and Miley.

She toyed with the breakfast burrito in front of her. “I don’t know what all Miley has told you, but we’ve never met him before. We’ve only been told about him.”

Hawk didn’t look surprised. “I happen to know him very well. We even attend the same church. If you and Miley attend the Sunday service with me in the morning, I could introduce you to him then.”

“Tomorrow?” Annalee’s voice rose uncertainly. “I was hoping to make his acquaintance today.”

“Nope. That’s the soonest I can make it happen.” He shook his head. “He’ll be impossible to reach before then.” He didn’t say why as he pointed at her breakfast. “You might as well eat and rest up.”

There was nothing she’d rather do than rest right now, but there was so much to do before she could climb into bed again. “Is there a hotel or motel around here that you’d recommend?”

“Oh, I can do better than that.” He crinkled the corners of his eyes at her. “I have a fishing buddy with a travel trailer he’s been trying to unload. It’s actually one of those tiny houses you see in magazines. I called him while you were in the shower, and he assured me it’s still available.”

“A travel trailer,” she repeated slowly. “I’m afraid that’s not in my budget.” Nor did she have a vehicle to pull it with.

He snorted. “It wouldn’t matter if you were as rich as the prince of Wales, because I already purchased it. He’ll be delivering it in the next few hours.”

“Oh.” She blinked in confusion, not sure why he was telling her this.

“It’ll serve as your room and board in exchange for helping me with a little project.”

“How little?” A project that came with room and board sounded like a pretty big deal to her.

“I’ve been wanting to transform a few acres behind my cabin into something the whole neighborhood could enjoy.”

“Oh, wow!” She was intrigued. “What do you have in mind?”

“A little bit of everything.” He went on to describe what sounded like a mini paradise to her — complete with a walking path, playground, vegetable garden, berry patch, and fruit grove. “Not only will it serve as a recreation area, it’ll also help supplement the grocery bills of those struggling to make ends meet.”

She studied him in amazement. “It sounds like you’re gunning to become a tribal councilman yourself.” He already possessed the heart of a community servant.

“Eh, maybe someday.” He didn’t sound too concerned about it. “Any chance you’d be interested in serving as our resident master gardener of the project I just described?”

“Interested is an understatement. It sounds like your project is right down my alley!” She was embarrassed to admit what she was about to say next, but someone as generous as Hawk Chesney deserved to know what he was getting into before hiring her. “In the spirit of transparency, you should know that Miley and I don’t have any place else to go. A squatter claiming to be me is currently in possession of all my earthly possessions.” Or what was left of them. She’d managed to sell off the biggest pieces of farm equipment to square up their debts.

“I’m not so sure that’s the case.” He sounded cautious.

She frowned at him. “What do you mean?”

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