Page 31 of Red Hawk's Woman

After all, what could it harm if they spent a few more moments in one another’s company? Especially since it did appear they were alone. Glancing around once again, she found herself saying, “Very well. I suppose you’re right. We have much to discuss, and perhaps now would be a good time to settle a few matters between us. The only condition I demand is that you remain seated with your back to me until I am ready to receive you properly.”

“Soka’pii. This I will do,” he said, and she relaxed. He broke the spell by adding, “I wonder if it is a good time to tell you that I have been here for some time, and I have already seen you in your beautiful red dress.”

Immediately embarrassed, she uttered, “But how? I looked carefully around before entering the water, and I saw nothing.”

“Then you need to be taught how to look.”

“I see just fine.”

“And yet I have been here all this time, and I was not hiding.”

She raised her eyes in disbelief.

“Do not despair,” he went on to say. “’Tis a trait I have found common amongst the white man. He does not often live in peace with his environment, and so many times he does not see that which is right in front of him.”

“And Indians miss nothing, I suppose?”

“Upon a rare occasion, they might. But it is taught to the young Indian lad and maiden that if a man does not know his environment well and does not observe the obvious, the error could cost him his life. Wise ones are never at their ease. They are always alert, except perhaps when they are within the safety of their village.”

“Maybe so,” she retaliated, “but you are lecturing me, and I do not like to argue so much. Besides, we leave the point. You may have spied me in this dress before I entered the water, but it is not the same when the clothing is wet. Water emphasizes…curves.”

“I understand.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hawk. I am glad that you do. However, the arrangements for our talk will remain, as I have already stated, at least for the time being.”

“As you say.”

Slowly, she rose out of the water and waded to shore. As she had intended all along, she glanced down at her skirts, then breathed in a sigh of relief. It was good. The bathing suit covered not only her, but the artifacts as well.

Very well. One problem solved.

She sat next to Mr. Hawk, who reclined in the grass. “Would you please hand me my towel? It is on the ground beside you.” She gestured to where she had left her cloak even though she knew he couldn’t see the motion.

He reached for the cloak, but his hand stopped midair. “Aa, that I will do—for a price.” He glanced at her over his shoulder and smirked.

“A price? And keep your head turned away from me, Mr. Hawk.”

“As you say.” He looked forward once again.

“And no peeking,” she commanded. “What is it that I must pay, Mr. Hawk? And do hurry to tell me, for I am cold.”

“It is simple. I would like you to tell me what it is you hide.”

Chapter

Eight

Effie gulped. “Hide? What makes you think that I hide something?”

“I sense it,” he said. “Common reasoning would tell me this, also. You must be concealing something. Either that or you have committed an offense so worthy of another’s wrath that they would enter your room and shoot at you.”

Ah, she thought as she drew in a deep breath to calm herself. He wasn’t inferring she was hiding something on her person at this very moment.

She said, “Well, I think that your reasoning is faulty.”

“Aa. I believe I understand you. What you are really saying is that you won’t tell me.”

“Exactly.”