Page 61 of Rawhide and Ransom

He caught her hand and tucked it around his arm. “Most of these folks are here out of respect for Running Bear.” He glanced around the crowd.

She did the same, hoping to catch a glimpse of Running Bear, but he was nowhere in sight. “I wonder if he’s back in town yet.”

A tall Native American wearing a headdress approached them.

Annalee was tickled to pieces that the chief of Hawk’s tribe was honoring Running Bear and his family with his presence today. She’d heard a lot about him, but she’d not yet met him in person.

Hawk made the introductions. “Chief Lighthorse, this is my girlfriend, Annalee Gilbert. Annalee, this is our chief, Wayne Whitaker. Or Chief Lighthorse, as most of us call him. Take your pick. He answers to both.”

“It’s good to meet you.” Chief Lighthorse held out a hand to her. “I’m sorry about the circumstances, though. Very, very sorry about the loss of your father-in-law.”

“Thank you, sir.” She shook his hand, surprised by how young he was. In the movies, chiefs were typically older, whereas he was roughly her and Hawk’s age.

“Call me Wayne. Please,” he insisted.

“His family runs the rodeo grounds,” Hawk informed her. “He’s a busy guy during rodeo season.”

Wayne snorted. “We’re busy year-round now that the Saturday morning market is running so smoothly.”

“My daughter loves being a part of the Saturday market,” Annalee gushed. “Thank you for hosting it.”

“Thank you for participating. I’ve heard great things about her and Hawk’s leather products.” He nodded admiringly at Hawk. “I’m going to have to make my way to your booth soon.”

“Anytime, Chief.” Hawk clasped the man’s hand before he moved on to greet the next person.

Annalee smiled proudly up at the man at her side. “Is he that nice to everyone, or is it because you’re a councilman in the making?”

Hawk’s lips twitched. “He’s nice to everyone. One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.”

A little boy with fly-away hair and a cowlick ran up to them. Annalee had seen him playing in the park several times.

“Miss Annalee?”

“That’s me, sweetie.” She squatted down to bring them eye to eye. “Whatcha need?”

He gave her a shy smile, pressed a small square of paper into her hand, and dashed off.

He’d passed the note to her so quickly that she doubted anyone had noticed, even Hawk. She glanced over at him and found his attention on a semi-circle of kids gathered around Rex and Miley. Kids were his biggest weakness, so Annalee chose not to interrupt the moment.

She took a quick peek at the note and was surprised to see a message scrawled on it from Running Bear. Her heart leaped with excitement and relief to receive confirmation that he was finally back in town. The message itself was a little concerning, however.

Will you meet me in the greenhouse real quick? I’d like to share something about Ace’s will with you before it goes public.

—Running Bear

Her heart thudded with anticipation. The last she’d heard was that Ace Dakota had disinherited Chayton in lieu of leaving everything to Edward. Was that no longer the case? Was it possible he’d undergone a last-minute change of heart? If that was the case, it was no wonder Running Bear had been out of town for so long. It was distinctly possible he was now the heir to Dakota Farm.

She stepped closer to Hawk. “I’m gonna make a quick detour to the new greenhouse to check on something.” The greenhouse was the newest addition to his property. He’d built it for her only a few days earlier.

His eyebrows rose. “Want me to go with you?”

She shook her head. “No, that’s okay.” The tone of Running Bear’s message suggested he’d like to meet with her alone. “I won’t be gone long, and you can watch me here, Mr. Bodyguard, sir.”

He tipped her chin up to brush his mouth against hers. “Hurry back.”

She smiled. “I will. It’s not like they’re going to begin the ceremony without Running Bear, anyway.” Since she’d probably walk back to the memorial service arm-in-arm with him, she wouldn’t miss a thing.

She walked on the balls of her feet to the greenhouse to keep the heels of her sandals from digging into the grass and dirt.

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