“Crazy Horse had a vision,” Ice Raven told him.
“And Henry Pierpont told us where they were taking you.”
Hawk smiled. “Ah.”
Skylar felt his eyes touch down upon her. “Let’s go home,” he said. She nodded. She leaned more closely against him.
“All the monsters are slain!” she agreed softly.
It had probably been the most horrible day of her life.
She had never felt better.
Skylar convinced Ice Raven and Blade to stay with them just one night. She understood their need to be free Indians, but she was so grateful to them both, and they were her relatives through Hawk, and she wanted them to know that she would always be there for them as well.
At Mayfair, though she was somewhat bruised and battered herself, her energy level seemed astounding. She arranged with Meggie, Sandra, and the others to get all the guests to rooms, prepare baths, find clothing, and arrange a meal. She and Hawk were both delighted to discover that Meggie had proclaimed Henry much better than anyone might have imagined. The bullet had traveled cleanly through him. He was going to have to stay in bed for a few days, but he was just incredibly proud of himself, and he didn’t mind being bedridden because Sandra was doting on him.
Sandra, in turn, informed them that she found lawyers to be wonderful men.
They had a fine dinner that evening, Skylar and Hawk, Sloan, Sabrina, Willow, Ice Raven, and Blade. They’d sent for the military, determined to tell the entire story to the general and see to it that the truth about Dillman was made public for the world to know. Skylar was especially happy to feel that at long last justice had been done for her father.
It was very late when Hawk and Skylar were at last free to retire.
To her room.
Their room. She felt it now, as soon as they entered together. As soon as he closed the door. As soon as he cupped her face in both his hands and kissed her lips. Warmly. Fully. Passionately.
They fell upon the bed together. Kissing. Struggling somewhat in their haste to remove one another’s clothes.
“Are you alright? Truly? I know he drew blood today—” Hawk began.
“I’m not hurt.”
“I wouldn’t hurt you further?—”
“I’m not hurt! I’m alive, I’m well—we’ve got to build another cabin.”
“I thought you hated the cabin.”
“I loved the cabin.”
“It burned.”
“With my past!” Skylar breathed, finally undoing the last button of his shirt, meeting his eyes, and pressing her lips against his chest.
“I’ll be happy to build another cabin. I thought you hated it because I…well, I rather forced you that night?—”
She shook her head solemnly. Then smiled with a silver glitter in her eyes. “I had dreams of you ravishing me there again.”
He groaned. “I’ll build quickly,” he promised. His lips found hers again.
“How strange. How sad, though. Sloan and Sabrina don’t seem to get on well at all.”
“Maybe they just haven’t had a chance to get to know one another,” Hawk suggested.
“Maybe. Oh, well…Hawk, we won’t let the Sioux take any blame for what happened today. I mean, truly, there’s no way that they can be involved, right? Ice Raven kept telling me that it wouldn’t matter, that it would put an end to things?—”
“There will be no blame upon the Sioux for Dillman’s evil. You needn’t worry,” Hawk said, triumphant as he tugged her pantalettes from her. With them both naked at last, he bounded atop her, the fullness of his flesh rubbing against hers. He sighed with both contentment and growing ardor.
