Wyoming Wild by Sarah M. Eden

Author:Sarah M. Eden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Published: 2022-12-12T17:14:19+00:00

Chapter 16

Hawk had never passed a more awkward two days in his entire life. The journey from Platteville to Savage Wells had consisted of only the necessary comments and near-silent work of cooking meals, tending the horses, laying out bedrolls—on opposite sides of the fire each night—and little else.

He’d told himself that he’d do best to keep a distance, to think of Liesl Hodges as simply another resident of the territory he’d sworn to protect. They’d managed that perfectly during the last two days of their trek; he’d hated it.

What in tarnation was wrong with him?

They rode into Savage Wells late in the afternoon of the day he’d planned to arrive. Even the stop to reshoe Liesl’s horse hadn’t slowed them overly much. At least that part was going according to plan.

All was quiet as they rode down the street. This was a town he didn’t have to keep a constant eye on. Cade managed that perfectly well. That afforded Hawk a rare chance to breathe.

“This is bigger than Sand Creek.” Liesl eyed the buildings as they passed.

“And still growing,” Hawk said.

Their first stop was the jailhouse. Cade was inside, sitting in a chair with his booted feet crossed on his desk.

“Hard at work?” Hawk said.

“Always.”

Cade slipped his feet from the desk and rose to his full height. His pistol, a particularly lethal variety the maker had named after him, hung at his hip. Everything about the man was intimidating. Hawk had heard it said that when he and Cade entered a room together, even the most unrepentant of sinners began praying for mercy.

“I see you’ve managed to not get yourself killed.” Cade eyed him.

“That’s always the goal.” Hawk motioned over his shoulder to Liesl and lowered his voice so he’d not be overheard by anyone happening to pass by the door. “This is Miss Hodges.”

Cade dipped his head to her. “Miss.”

“Sheriff O’Brien.” Her voice shook a little. Cade could be terrifying, even when he wasn’t trying.

“You’ve nothing to fear from me,” Cade said. “In fact, I’m about to be your favorite person.” He turned toward his deputy, who was sitting in a corner, bent over a book. “Keep an eye on the place, Andrew.”

“Will do, Sheriff.”

Cade motioned Hawk and Liesl to follow him from the jailhouse. Hawk’s eyes swept the street. He hadn’t the least doubt Cade’s did as well.

“We’re for Dr. MacNamara’s,” Cade told them.

“Why are we seeing a doctor?” Liesl asked.

“He has something for you.” Cade offered nothing more.

“For me?” Liesl gave the tiniest shake of her head, her forehead creased.

“You’ll discover,” Hawk said, “that the infamous Cade O’Brien likes being difficult.”

She smiled a little. Hawk hadn’t seen her smile since Platteville. He was quick to squelch any emotional reaction to that. John Butler had the freedom to relish making her laugh; John Hawking couldn’t afford to let his concentration slip.

Doc’s sign telling arrivals to come in without knocking hung in the window by the door. They did as instructed.

Doc had a fine home, the largest in Savage Wells.

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