Free Westward Dreams by Linda Bridey Page A

incredibly soft and sweet and he wanted more, but knew it wasn’t proper.  He slowly ended the kiss and smiled down at her.
    “I think should take you home,” he said.
    Hannah said, “I don’t want you to, but I think you’re right.”
    Owl laughed and rose from the ground.  He helped her up and said, “Be right back.”
    He disappeared and Hannah used the privacy to regain her composure.  When Owl returned he held a bucket with water in it.  “Stand back.”
    Hannah moved away and Owl poured water on the embers.  He ran back to the stream for a second bucket.  He wasn’t taking any chances of a fire starting.  Once the fire was out, he helped Hannah mount up again and jumped on behind her. 
    Owl rode Hank right up to the hotel and helped Hannah down from the horse. 
    “Thank you for a wonderful night, Owl,” Hannah said.  “I’ve never had a nicer first date.”
    Owl smiled.  “I am glad.  It was very special.”
                  His kiss goodnight was soft and slow and Hannah would have been happy to stand there all night with him.  When it ended he said, “You go in so I know you are safe.”  His voice was husky with desire.
                  Hannah knew how he felt.  “All right.  Goodnight, Owl.”
                  “Goodnight,” he said.
                  Once the door shut behind her, Owl turned and leaned against Hank for a moment.  It had been a long time since he’d experienced passion like that and it was a heady sensation.  After a few deep breaths, Owl mounted up and rode through town towards home.
     
     

Chapter Six
     
                  “He went on a date?” Tessa asked Jack the following morning after breakfast.  She was helping Jack clean up the cookhouse so he could get to his deputy job on time.
                  “Yep.  Said it was a big success, too,” Jack said as he put a stack of dishes on a shelf.  “Of course, I helped him with the menu and the little extras like wine.  He’s not used to dating white women,” Jack said.
                  Tessa snapped Jack hard on his backside with her towel.
                  “Ow!  What the hell was that for?” Jack said as he grabbed his rear end.  He didn’t normally swear in front of his mother, but she’d surprised him.
                  “For not telling me,” Tessa said.
                  Jack laughed.  “He swore me to secrecy, Mama.  You know I never betray a confidence.”
                  “Yes, I know.  It’s very annoying,” Tessa said.
                  “You crack me up, you know that?  So is Grandpa or Grandma nosey like that?” he asked.
                  Tessa smiled and said, “Papa.  It drives him mad when people have secrets.”
                  “I guess that apple barely got off the branch, huh?” Jack said and jumped out of her reach.  His rear still stung from her last towel snap and he didn’t want another one.
                  Tessa laughed and said, “Go to work.  Don’t keep the sheriff waiting.”
                  “Ok.  ‘Bye, Mama,” he said.  He kissed her and ran out the door.
                  Tessa sighed.  She worried about him from the moment he left for his job until he returned.  There were times when she looked at him that she still saw the adorable little boy he’d been when she first met him.  Tessa shook off her musing and finished straightening the cookhouse.
                  She left the building and was promptly enveloped in a hug.  Tessa cried out in surprise and then laughed.  Owl was always sneaking up on her.
                  “Gotcha!” he said with a wicked laugh.
                  Tessa switched to Lakota and said, “One day I get you back.”
                  Owl’s grin got wider.  “Not bad, sister.