Native Hawk (California Legends Book 3) by Glynnis Campbell

Author:Glynnis Campbell [Campbell, Glynnis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Glynnis Campbell
Published: 2016-11-28T18:00:00+00:00

Catalina was awakened shortly before dawn by a soft knocking on her door. When she opened her eyes in the dim room and saw the empty, feather-littered mattress beside her, she gasped in disappointment. He’d left.

Before her disappointment could bloom into full heartbreak, the knock came again.

“Just a moment,” she croaked out.

She climbed out of bed, snatching up her loose drawers before they could slither down to her ankles, and then giving them a hasty tie. She snagged her wrapper from the wardrobe and staggered through a sea of feathers toward the door. The impatient knocking returned as she slipped on the wrapper.

“I’m coming,” she muttered with a frown.

When she cracked open the door, Jenny stood there, shaking, her face obscured by her hands and strands of her tangled hair.

Without a word, Catalina immediately widened the door and ushered her in, closing it carefully after her.

Jenny began sobbing at once.

Catalina narrowed her eyes in concern. “What’s wrong?”

When Jenny lowered her hands, Catalina could see her swollen, bloody lip and the bruise on her cheekbone.

She gasped in shock, and her gaze was drawn lower, to the tear in the beautiful yellow gown she’d altered for the girl.

She didn’t need to ask what had happened. It was obvious. Jenny’s client had been rough with her.

Catalina’s shock turned rapidly to fury. “Where is he?”

“Gone.”

“He cannot do this to you,” Catalina growled in frustration, wishing she could wring the bastard’s neck.

“He called me bad names,” she whimpered, as if that were worse than the beating he’d given her.

Catalina was filled with such rage, she was trembling. But if he was gone, she couldn’t do anything to the man who had hurt Jenny now. She had to do what she could to help the poor girl.

“Come.” She took Jenny gingerly by the elbow and patted the bed. “Sit here.”

Jenny hesitated, furrowing her brow at the mess of feathers. “What happened?”

“Nothing. An accident.”

Jenny perched carefully on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry about the dress. You worked so—”

“It is not important. You are what is important, Jenny.” She bit back her anger. “It is not all right, what he did.”

Jenny lowered her head. “It’s on account of I don’t know what I’m doin’,” she said, sniffling. “I never done this kind o’ thing before.”

“That makes no difference,” Catalina said with fierce conviction. She too was inexperienced, but that didn’t excuse a man being rough with a woman. Drew had not been rough with her. “What he did is wrong. If Miss Hattie knew—”

“I don’t want Miss Hattie to see me like this.”

“She should see you,” Catalina insisted. “It is not right for a client to beat you.”

Jenny clutched at Catalina’s hand in desperation. “Please don’t tell her. I need this job. I don’t want her to find out I don’t know how to do it. Please, Catalina, promise me you won’t say anything.”

Catalina gulped. There was a terrible logic to Jenny’s words. And yet the situation was so wrong. She placed a calming hand atop Jenny’s and nodded.

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