Hawk pulled into the stables and felt his heart drop. Tara was waiting for him - with Sarah. He hadn't seen Sarah in over 3 months. Now she shows up? He had taken the new horse out to clear his head. So much for that.
Francesca was one of the many women in town who had been making blatant advances towards him. He had staved them off for years. Nothing broke his resolve, until the beautiful woman standing before him broke his heart. He couldn't blame her. It was his own fault.
His shame had led him down an even darker path, however. He gave in. He wasn't even attracted to Francesca. She was just always there. Always teasing. He was angry. At himself, at Charles, and at Sarah. She wouldn't accept his apology. She blocked his calls. Did he want revenge?
He had made the mistake so many of us have before. Time heals things, not getting drunk and giving in to temptation. Now Francesca was showing pictures to the entire town, claiming she had taken his virginity. He knew it wasn't true. He had lost it long ago.
With a cautious look he greeted them. "Hello." Tara took the horse's reins. "What do you think of her Hawk? You are the only one she has let ride besides me. I'm surprised."
"Maybe Hawk just has a way with wild women," said Sarah. She looked playful, not angry. He knew better than to take the bait. He kept silent.
"I see there is only one way to get you two to talk with each other," said Tara, "on the horse. Both of you. Now."
Hawk beckoned for Sarah to go ahead. She beckoned right back. He climbed up and slid forward in the saddle. She climbed up and settled in behind him, taking hold of the reins. He was in a dangerous spot with his balls resting against the pommel.
Tara slapped the horse in the rump.
Hawk thought they would both be thrown off. His instinct was to protect Sarah, but how could he, being in front of her? They were nearly thrown, but Sarah had skills with horses he didn't know about. She kept her balance and wrapped him tight to help him keep his. She was saving him from falling, or was she making sure he didn't miss the chance to have the pommel pound his testicles as much as possible?
Instead of fighting the horse as it bucked and kicked, she slowly coaxed it into moving forward. It's energy was spent on a gallop, not trying to throw them. Hawk was thoroughly impressed. "Is there anything you aren't good at?"
"Some might say forgiveness," she said, "but I just like to ask for a little penance."
"I failed you there.I'm sorry. I should have been more patient."
"Did you? One look at those buck teeth of hers and I would say you withstood some severe punishment. Also, the pommel pounding was your sister's idea, but I didn't object."
He looked back at her. Was she forgiving him? His hopefulness gushed forward. "She did NOT take my virginity."
"I know."
"How do you know?"
"Because no virgin could make me feel the way you did using your tongue like you did the other night in the stables. That takes experience."
"Or motivation like I have never felt in my life. Please forgive me, Sarah. I have been such a fool." He was nearly in tears, and not because his balls were starting to swell.
"That you have, but dry up a bit. Your sister is tough enough to take without that huge grin on her face." They were back in the stables. He hadn't even noticed.
----------
"HE WHAT?"
"He made bail. I'm sorry Ms. Keller. I have no say over what the court decides. I can only offer you protection. I can have someone with you 24/7."
"No," she said, "have them at my house. He will go after the children next."
"You don't intend to stay there as well?"
"Chief Andrews, I have no intention of letting this slimeball dictate my behavior. He was lucky I didn't kill him before. I will not be so forgiving again."
Sarah couldn't believe this was happening. Charles was a doctor. He was acting more like the one-armed man. Finding a sham office in this town with a phone that forwarded calls to his office in San Francisco was a major crime. He lost his license to practice medicine and his world slowly unraveled. Sarah had no idea how low he had gotten until he showed up in town and tried to kill her. He blamed her for his problems. Like most pathetic losers, he wouldn't accept the responsibility himself. Pathetic losers were no longer going to dictate her behavior.
Jason was much better now about handling things. While Captain Andrews provided incompetent officers at her home, Jason made sure that Charles didn't make a move without her knowing about it. Tara and he protected the house. The family was very well connected and provided people to shadow Charles and people to watch the studio. Some of the men doing the latter were quite rough looking. Perhaps horse breeding wasn't the only business the family got into.
