Page 44 of Red Hawk's Woman

“Yes, perhaps. Let us hope you are right. Carl,” Effie added. “You and the others haven’t by chance been talking about our project where the townspeople could hear, have you?”

Carl hesitated, and despite his tanned complexion, his face turned a deep shade of red. “I’m sorry, Miss Rutledge. We have been so enthusiastic that we have discussed the project openly.”

“Do you know of anyone who has overheard you?”

Carl grimaced. “To tell you the truth, we have spoken of the project to many people—the shop owners, the men in the livery, several tradesmen. We should have been more discreet, but these people ask so many questions…”

“I see.”

He hung his head. “I’m sorry. We had no idea it would come to this.”

“No need to ask pardon,” Effie offered politely. “However, if this be the case, and several people know what the project entails, then it could be anyone who is doing this.”

No one in the room seemed to have a reply to that, although Carl again muttered, “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, but it’s all right,” whispered Effie. “It is better to know what one might expect than to continue to speculate.”

“I’m sorry too,” said Madeline, who was still kneeling at Effie’s side. She squeezed Effie’s hand.

“As I am too,” murmured Henry. Only Lesley remained silent.

“Well, the women had best be seeking their beds yet again this night,” Carl suggested, “thus allowing you a chance to recover. I hope you will excuse us. Have no fear, Miss Rutledge. Henry and I will take turns standing guard by your door.”

“Yes,” Effie agreed. “It would be very good of you to do this.”

So it was on this note they all said their good nights, each one of her friends squeezing her hand before leaving. Madeline hugged her as well.

Effie smiled at the other woman, thinking it was indeed a stroke of luck that Carl and Madeline had consented to join her on this excavation. Perhaps by the end of their journey, she and Madeline would be fast friends.

Red Hawk was the last to leave, and his gaze was stern, though strangely, something in his look tugged at her heart. But then, even he turned to leave.

Effie was having none of that. “Where are you going, Mr. Hawk? I believe we have several matters to discuss.”

He directed a questioning gaze at her.

“And where have you been, I might add?” said Effie. “As memory serves me, didn’t we have an appointment tonight?”

She rose from where she had been seated, and with her arms crossed in front of her chest, she fixed the man with a heated glare. “I waited for you tonight for a time which seemed without end. In truth, so long was it, I fell asleep. Or had you forgotten we had an appointment?”

He remained mute.

“I can’t help feeling that if you had been here, as you were supposed to be, that, well…the whole incident would not have happened.”

Red Hawk stood still, staring at her. After a while, a half grin pulled at the corners of his lips.

“How can you smile?” she complained.

“Perhaps it is not good I find amusement in this, a serious moment. But I am thinking it is well that we have earlier spoken of marriage.”

She frowned. “I do not follow your reasoning.”

“Do you not? Can you not see that already you treat me as a wife might a wayward husband?”

The statement silenced Effie, at least for a moment. In due time, she sighed. “Come in, Mr. Hawk, and please close the door behind you. There are some matters we must discuss.”

This time, with a quick nod, Red Hawk took a step into the room.

Chapter