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funny about her complaint. He reached across the table and caught her hand. "I'm sorry you're sore,
Victoria, but I'm so happy about what's happened between us that I'm about to bust."
The Silver Heiress Sarah Winn 392
A small frown creased her forehead, and she pulled her hand from his, so she could push the
bowl of mush toward him. "Eat some of this."
"Yes, ma'am," he said and kept right on grinning as he spooned runny mush onto his plate.
"I put too much water in it, didn't I?"
The mush flowed over his bacon. "It's just the way I like it, sweetheart." He scooped a
spoonful into his mouth to prove his declaration.
A hint of a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth, and he grinned even more, making it
difficult to swallow the soupy mush.
She turned her attention to her own food, spooning a small portion of the mush onto her plate.
Hawk began to crunch his bacon into small pieces and mix it with the mush. Victoria apparently
thought that a good idea and began to copy him. They were even eating alike!
"Will you be here for lunch?" she finally asked.
"No, we're sweeping the south range."
"Will biscuits and bacon be all right to carry with you?"
"Sure."
The Silver Heiress Sarah Winn 393
He mopped up the last of the mush, knowing he should leave. Carlos was probably waiting for
him. But Hawk didn't want to leave her. "What are you gonna do today?"
"It's Monday. Laundry day."
"Why don't you let the laundry wait until I'm here to carry the water for you?"
"And when will that be? I thought you were in a hurry to gather up the cows."
He nodded to her point. "Well, just wash what you absolutely have to."
"I have to do the sheets. One of them is--" a pink glow flushed her cheeks, "stained."
With a full smile, Hawk stood, moved to her side, and pulled her to her feet. Holding her body
lightly against his, he looked down at her. Her copper curls brushed against his chin, and his insides
felt as soft as her squishy mush. "I'll make all this up to you, honey. I swear it. As soon as the
roundup's over I'll start on a new house. And it'll have three bedrooms right from the start."
"Why three?"
"One for us, one for the boys, and one for the girls. The way we go at it, we'll have lots of
both."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Children?"
Hawk didn't like the slight quiver in her voice. "You want kids, don't you?"
The Silver Heiress Sarah Winn 394
"I--I hadn't thought about having them now."
She was just a little afraid. He leaned down and placed a light kiss on the tip of her nose.
"Don't worry, honey. You've got at least nine months to get used to the idea." Then he enclosed her
in his arms and brought his lips to hers for a real kiss.
A horse's whinny near their front door caused him to raise his head. "That darn Carlos always
shows up at the wrong time."
Victoria hurriedly pushed out of his arms."Your lunch!"
As she wrapped leftover biscuits in a napkin, he opened the front door. "I'll be there in a minute,
Carlos." He stepped over to the clothespress and buckled on his gun belt. Victoria met him at the
door with the bundle of food.
"I'll miss you today," he said and tried to land a quick kiss.
She turned her face aside. "Carlos is watching."
"Carlos has seen married people kiss before." Nevertheless, he respected her modesty and
turned to mount his horse.
After she closed the door, Victoria moved to the window and watched Hawk ride away. New
house. Bedrooms. Boys. Girls. What had she done?
The Silver Heiress Sarah Winn 395
Obviously Hawk assumed their love making had solved all their differences, and he no longer
needed to honor his promise to return her to her father. He'd also made it abundantly clear last night
that he'd never agree to a long-distance marriage.
The two mounted figures disappeared from her view, and total silence descended over the cabin.
Even the wind that often whipped between the mountains and whistled through cracks in the cabin
wall had ceased. She tried to imagine years of living in this desolate valley, with a house full of
children, and Hawk away most of the time. She'd go mad!
She thought of his smiles and jaunty steps this morning. His happiness had been so apparent
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