Page 30 of Red Hawk's Woman

“I believe that I might. ’Tis rumored in this town that your—what did you call it, expedition?—is cursed.”

“Cursed? I don’t believe this. That is so unfair.”

It was her hope that her words might obtain a respectable degree of sympathy from him, but he didn’t so much as move a hair in response. After a slight pause, he continued. “’Tis also said that someone broke into your quarters during the night. This person shot at you. If these things be true, then I would venture to say you already have trouble. If I am to guide you and protect you, I would know what awaits us.”

Effie sighed, looked away from him and remained silent. The man had certainly done his homework.

Suddenly, she felt cold, and glancing down, she was dismayed to witness that the entire bottom half of her body was still standing in the water. She’d almost forgotten. Glancing up at him, she said, “Would you mind if I wade to shore? I am getting chilled as I stand here.”

He motioned her forward.

She hesitated. “I don’t think you understand. I cannot leave the water so long as you are here.”

He frowned. “You wish me to leave?”

“Yes.”

“That is to be regretted. Perhaps I should not have spoken out so readily or so soon. Have my words caused you grief?”

“It’s not that.”

“Nor do I mean to frighten you.” He held up his hands. “I hold no guns, no weapons. I am not threatening you. Would you like my word that I will not⁠—?”

She cut him off. “It is for modesty’s sake that I ask you to leave, Mr. Hawk, nothing more.”

“Modesty?”

“Yes, modesty,” she repeated. “Now, do not pretend ignorance of what I speak, if you please. You are a man, I am a woman. We are alone. I must ensure there is nothing scandalous about my attire or about my demeanor. But I would do so in private.”

“Aa, now I understand. ’Tis foolish of me not to have realized this before.” He turned his head away from her, and rotating so his back was turned toward her, he folded his arms over his chest. As soon as he had done so, he continued speaking. “It is good that you bring this to my attention, for I have seen nothing dishonorable about you this entire morning.”

“Thank you.”

“Once, long ago, you wore less clothing than this.”

“Yes, I did,” she agreed. Then sarcastically, she added, “And how kind of you to make mention of it.”

She watched as he bowed his head and shook it back and forth. If she hadn’t known better, she might have thought he laughed at her. From what she could see of it, his chest certainly quaked.

He said, “’Tis good to behold that there is nothing wrong with your tongue.”

“No, there’s not, and there’s nothing wrong with my voice either should I choose to scream.”

“What you say is true.” He nodded absentmindedly as though her words were profound. “If you want me to go so you have more seclusion, I will leave. But I would be unthinking and unkind if I did not tell you that I think you would be unwise to make me go.”

“Unwise? Why?”

“Because as long as a man is in front of you, you can know where his eyes tend. But send him from you, and he may hide and watch you while you are unaware.”

She snorted. “Then that man is not honorable.”

He shrugged. “Men are men.”

Yes, they are, she thought. Then, aloud, “I believe you use this as an excuse to remain here, Mr. Hawk.”

“Perhaps I do…aa, it could be true. Surely, I have thought of you often in these many years. And though I know I should go and let you have the privacy you seek, I must admit I do not want to leave you. At least not yet.”

As she stared at the back of his head, Effie felt a glimmering spark of kinship with the man. Couldn’t the same be said of her?