Read Online Hawk's Way by Joan Johnston - Free Book Online Page B

pickup cab she could hug her thoughts to herself. It was only after they had gone several miles that she thought to ask, “Did you tell Dallas about that suspicious man I saw on my property today?”
    There was only the slightest hesitation before Jesse replied, “Yes. He said he’d look into it.”
    â€œDid you have a good time tonight?”
    â€œI had forgotten how much Dallas and I have in common,” he said.
    â€œOh?” She hadn’t thought the two of them were much alike at all. “Like what?”
    Jesse was quiet so long Honey didn’t think he was going to answer. At last he said, “I can’t think of any one thing. Just a feeling I had.” He couldn’t say more to Honey without raising questions that he wasn’t prepared to answer.
    â€œHow did you like Angel?”
    â€œFine.” When she wasn’t cringing from me. He couldn’t say that to Honey, either. He wasn’t sure what it was about him that frightened Angel Masterson. He only knew she was terrified of him. His lip curled in disgust. She had probably heard stories about the savage Comanche. A hundred years ago his forebears had been savage. Perhaps Angel had been a victim of Comanches in another life.
    Jesse shrugged off the uncomfortable feeling he got when he remembered Angel’s fear of him. There was something about her that bothered him as much as he bothered her. If he stuck around long enough, maybe someday he would find out what it was.
    â€œJesse? Is something wrong?”
    He hadn’t realized he was frowning until Honey spoke. He wiped the expression off his face and said, “No. I’m okay.”
    â€œCan I ask you something?”
    â€œAnything.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me you have a family?”
    Jesse shrugged. “It didn’t seem important.”
    Family not important? Honey shook her head in despair. Everything she learned about Jesse confirmed him as a loner. She had to stay away from him if she wanted to survive his eventual leave-taking heart-whole.
    â€œNow I want to ask a question?” Jesse said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWhy did you marry so young?”
    â€œI was in love.” She paused. “And pregnant.”
    That wasn’t the answer he had been expecting, but it didn’t really surprise him. He could imagine her youthful passion. He had tasted a little of it himself.
    â€œWere you ever sorry?”
    How could she answer that? Maybe she regretted losing some of her choices. But she didn’t regret having Jack. As for having to marry…
    â€œI met Cale when I was fourteen years old and fell in love with him at first sight,” she said. “I never wanted to be anything but Cale’s wife, the mother of his children, and to work by his side on the Flying Diamond.”
    Honey had never put her feelings into words, but it made her loss seem even greater when she realized that her whole life had been focused on Cale. Now that Cale was gone, she was forced to admit that they had never had the partnership she had imagined when she married him. Those youthful dreams were gone. The children were only hers to love for a little while before they grew up and left her. All she would have in the end was the Flying Diamond. Except now the Flying Diamond was being threatened as well.
    â€œI wish someone would catch those rustlers,” she said, expressing her fears aloud. “About the only thing that’s keeping the ranch afloat with the losses I’ve had is the service fees I get for General. I sure can’t afford to lose any more stock.”
    He thought of the devastation she would feelwhen the bull was stolen, but pushed it from his mind. “You won’t be losing any more cattle,” Jesse said and then could have bitten his tongue.
    â€œHow can you be so sure?”
    He shrugged. “Just a feeling I have.”
    One of those uncomfortable silences fell between them. Honey