Page 45 of Rawhide and Ransom

Afterward, it had probably been no trouble for someone as diabolically clever as Mirabelle to watch and wait for the right moment to make her move.

“She was never adopted, was she?” Annalee pressed both hands to her aching heart.

“Not exactly,” Tucker said slowly. “The Gilberts, who were your biological grandparents, by the way…”

She drew a sharp breath at his verification of her other suspicions. “I wonder why they never told me.”

“There’s no telling.” He shook his head at the computer screen. “Maybe they thought they were protecting you.”

From Mirabelle.Annalee nodded in misery. The truth was so terrible that their caution was understandable.

“It took a lengthy legal battle for them to be granted guardianship over your sister,” he continued. “From that point forward, the Gilberts paid for her medical care and made sure she received an education. It took another legal battle that dragged on for many years to receive clearance for your adoption.” He rubbed a hand over the lower half of his face. “That’s it, in terms of a paper trail, though it feels like we’re still missing something.”

“It does.” Annalee shivered. “In the meantime, I have a mentally unstable sister on the war path for being institutionalized most of her life, and she wants somebody to pay.”

Tucker exchanged a troubled look with Hawk. “Not just somebody.”

No, not just somebody. He was right about that.

She’s taking her wrath out on me and everyone I care about.

Which meant the nightmare she and her family had been living in wasn’t even close to being over. It was just beginning.

Chapter 8: A Ring and a Rose

September

“Ican’t believe this is actually happening!” Miley gazed dreamily around the L-shaped booth that her mom and Hawk had just finished helping her set up. “We’re officially in business, folks!”

They were camped in the parking lot of the rodeo grounds on the Comanche reservation with a few dozen other vendors — mostly Native Americans, though a few citizens from Heart Lake had managed to squeeze through the stringent application process with their buffalo jerky and herbal plant displays. It was a well-attended event year round. For some of the Comanche vendors and their families, it was their primary source of income.

Hawk experienced a sense of indulgent pride as he surveyed the exorbitant number of rawhide and leather products he and Miley had on display. Instead of reminding her he’d been in the rawhide business since before she was born, he raised a hand to give her a high five.

“Looking good, partner!” She’d worked hard. She’d earned this. He hoped she made a whole pile of cash today.

She ignored his attempt at a high five and launched herself into his arms.

While he was swinging her around, she wickedly announced in his ear, “If you propose to my mom right now, I promise to say yes for her!”

Though she was laughing, he heard the underlying angst in her voice. Setting her carefully back on her feet, he drew her behind the booth where they could speak with more privacy. “Pretty sure Running Bear will have me thrown out of the tribe if I steal his thunder and propose to your mom right now. What’s this really about, kid?”

Running Bear was proudly strutting around the parking lot with Annalee on his arm, introducing her as his niece to all of his friends. The fact that she wasn’t related to him by blood didn’t seem to faze him. She certainly looked the part today with her long blonde hair in braids and a flowery dress that made her look like a garden nymph.

Miley followed his gaze and burst into tears.

“Whoa!” Hawk reached for her shoulders, searching her face. “Start talking.” She was really starting to worry him.

“I can’t lose my mom, Hawk! I’d rather die than lose her!” Tears slipped and slid down Miley’s cheeks.

“The good Lord isn’t gonna let that happen, and neither am I,” he answered in his steeliest voice, still not sure what her outburst was about.

“I know you’re trying to make me feel better, but it’s not working.” More tears dripped down her cheeks. “Because of what happened to my dad, I’ve already learned first-hand that life isn’t fair, and bad things happen to really good people sometimes.”

Ah.He hugged her again, starting to see the issue. “Well, anyone who tries to get to you and your mom will have to come through me first.” Not to brag, but dealing with him was something bad hombres usually feared, and for good reason.

“Thanks, Hawk.” Her arms curled around his middle, and she pressed her cheek to his heart.

“Not sure what set you off,” he muttered, cupping a hand around her head to hold her there, “but this is supposed to be a happy day.”

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