Page 20 of Rawhide and Ransom

Miley stirred restlessly in her sleep, moaning a little.

“Her name is Miley, sir. She injured her arm.” Annalee wasn’t sure what Hawk may or may not have told the councilman about their situation. “It got infected, and she’s running a fever. Hawk bought some antibiotics for her that we’re hoping will kick in soon.”

Running Bear abruptly dropped her hands. “I’m going to need some ginger, honey, and apple cider vinegar.” He caught Hawk’s eye. “I assume you have them on hand?”

“I do, thanks to you.” Hawk’s voice was warm with affection as he pointed toward the kitchen that had once belonged to the councilman.

Running Bear angled his head at Miley. “Keep the cold compress going while I mix her some very old medicine.”

His quiet, efficient manner spurred Annalee into motion. Though she wasn’t sure she liked the sound of “old medicine,” there was nothing alarming about the ingredients he’d listed.

She hurried back to Miley’s side to remove the cloth from her forehead. It had grown warm from her fever. She dipped it in the bowl of icy water she’d set on the end table earlier, wrung it out, and returned to swabbing her forehead and temples.

Miley stirred restlessly, muttered something that Annalee couldn’t understand.

“I’m here, my sweet baby girl.” She hummed an old hymn beneath her breath as she drew the cloth down Miley’s cheek and rested it momentarily against her hot neck.

Miley shivered and muttered something again.

Annalee had to bend her head closer to make out what she was saying.

“Smoke,” her daughter repeated.

Annalee gave the air a tentative sniff. “Yeah, I smell it, too.” She hadn’t noticed it before Miley said something, though. “I bet someone has a grill going outside. Probably making BBQ for dinner.” It was a good smell. A homey smell. However, she could understand why it disturbed her daughter.

“Fire,” Miley hissed with more energy. Her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks, and she groaned as she struggled to sit up.

Annalee sniffed the air again, surprised to find the scent of smoke was growing stronger. She glanced toward the kitchen where Hawk and Running Bear had their heads bent over the concoction they were mixing.

“Do you smell that?” she called to them.

Hawk raised his head to meet her gaze, giving the air a sniff. Then he leaped into motion, running toward the front door and throwing it open. “Fire!” He dashed onto the porch.

Annalee followed him and was horrified to see flames licking their way across his front yard. Her head spun frantically. “Do you have a garden hose?”

“Yep.” He yanked out his cell phone. “But I think this will be quicker.” He tapped a few buttons, and a set of sprinkler heads popped up from the ground, spritzing water in perfectly placed intervals across the yard.

The blaze sizzled in protest for a few moments before being reduced to smoke.

She gaped at the hissing, steaming patch of scorched earth that was left behind. “How?” Fear gripped her at the possibility that their enemies had found them. She’d known it would happen eventually. She’d been fully expecting it, just not this soon. She’d only been on the rez for a few hours!

“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” Hawk stalked past her down the porch steps, striding across the yard to the scorched section of it. He walked through the sprinklers, allowing them to spatter droplets against his dark t-shirt and jeans. He squatted down to examine the ground. Then he stood with something glowing between his thumb and forefinger.

“Cigarette butt.” He walked back to Annalee, growing more soaked by the second. “It’s still smoldering.” He mounted the steps and held it out so she could see it for herself. “This is what caused the fire. This, combined with the fresh straw I’d laid out over there to cover some new grass seed.”

She wrapped her arms around her waist as she peered more closely at it. “So, you don’t think?—?”

“No,” he said firmly. “Miley isn’t locked in the cabin, and I happen to know who smokes this brand. He’s an older fella who drives past here every day about this time on his way home from work. You can be assured he and I will have a little chat about it later on.”

“Hawk,” Annalee sighed. “I want to believe you more than anything, but…” She shook her head in distress. Could she afford to take the risk?

“You can’t run forever.” He shoved back a handful of dripping black hair. “Eventually, you’ll have to choose a hill to stand on and fight. And on this hill,” he pointed down at the porch they were standing on, “you’ve at least got family at your side.” His dark gaze glinted into hers. “And you’ve got me.”

There was something formidable in his gaze. Something that gave credence to what her daughter had said to her earlier about his reputation for being the toughest bodyguard on staff at Lonestar Security.

She straightened her shoulders. “I never said anything about running.” She might have her back against the wall, but she was no weakling.

“You didn’t have to.” He stalked past her to the front door. “It’s written all over your face.”

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