Free Hawk: by Dahlia West Page B

had the head for business that his father did. Perhaps it’s best he didn’t live to see Aaron lose it.” Her eyes then cut to Tildy, and she felt herself shrink under her mother’s scrutiny. “It’s always hard when children are a disappointment.” She turned back to Abby. “How do you know Matilda ?” She emphasized Tildy’s name as though Tildy was a piece of toilet paper clinging to Abby’s boot, rather than an actual friend.
    Then Tildy reminded herself that she and Abby Raines weren’t actually friends. She started to panic a little. Her mother could never know about Hawk, Maria’s or the barbecue.
    “Skylar,” Abby said matter of factly.
    Deirdre considered it and nodded. “Skylar’s cousin had her wedding at the Custer in May.” She wrinkled her nose. “Frankly, we weren’t that impressed. Aaron really let the place go. We were going to have Matilda’s reception at the Washington.”
    Abby pressed her lips together, hiding the fact that this was the first she was hearing of Tildy’s impending nuptials. “I know,” she replied. “I’m hard at work now on renovations. The Custer should have its official historic status on the first of the year.”
    Deirdre smiled. “Well, we’d love a tour when it’s complete. I was thinking of a spring wedding.” As though she’d just officially realized she was chatting with a hotel mogul, rather than one of Tildy’s college friends, she said, “I’m sorry. Would you like some tea?”
    Tildy held her breath. The longer Abby and her mother talked, the more chance s there would be that something might slip. Thankfully, Abby shook her head. “Oh, I can’t stay. I have plans. I just came to check on Matilda.”
    Both women turned to Tildy.
    “I still don’t feel well,” Tildy said quietly. “I’m going to lay down.”
    Deirdre nodded, Tildy all but forgotten as she led Abby downstairs, schmoozing her all the way.
    Tildy sighed in relief. She brushed her teeth to hide the smell of alcohol, changed into more comfortable clothes, and crawled into bed. For reassurance, she pinched the medal tucked into the pillowcase and closed her eyes.
     

Chapter 12
     
    Hawk could say that he was relieved Tildy left without incident. It wasn’t worth it to get mixed up with a girl like that. He didn’t do drama, period. As he happened to glance over his shoulder, past the brunette on his arm, he realized that drama was about to be forced upon him- regardless of his opinion.
    His eyes narrowed as he saw Raina, his slightly older sister and her two kids bouncing along in front of her, Kyle, 10, and Seth, 7. Raina wasn’t the problem, nor were the kids. Even though Raina was older, Hawk had always felt responsible for her. Raina may have been the older sibling, but she was a bit more naive than Hawk- at least in matters of the heart- or she had been.
    Raina had been working at a store on the edge of the Rez when she met a white man with flashing teeth and a million dollar smile. It was actually worth quite a bit less than that, Hawk would venture to guess, but still more than Raina had ever had in her life. It wasn’t that his sister was a gold digger- or silver digger in this case- but when your whole life had been hardscrabble, and a man in Tony Llamas and a solid silver belt buckle tells you that you’re the prettiest thing he’s ever seen, well, Hawk couldn’t blame her momentary lapse of judgment.
    Later, Raina would claim that she saw an easy life behind that easy smile , and it made her wonder what, exactly, an easy life would be like. She had taken care of their mother when she’d fallen ill while Hawk had been in Afghanistan. It had been a losing battle, and it had, without a doubt, taken its toll on her. Hawk couldn’t blame Raina for wanting to settle into a marriage and fill her empty heart with kids.
    He just wish ed she hadn’t chosen a silver miner, especially one that didn’t actually live, officially, in South Dakota. Or even less