Savage Desires (1st in Savage Series)

Chapter Thirteen

Lily watched Hawke pace the cabin and worried that at any moment he was going to either catch the wooden floor on fire or go straight through to the dirt below.

"Hawke, you're making me dizzy." she said with a tired sigh as she stirred the thick venison stew she was cooking. Hawke stopped abruptly and looked over at her.

"How can you say that Nathan deserves to live after what he has done to you?" he demanded. Lily shook her head and laid the mixing spoon down on the counter before crossing her arms over her chest.

"I did not say that he deserves to live, I just said that you cannot kill him."

"Doc Mason needs to learn to mind his own business." Hawke grumbled as he threw himself down in a chair at the table.

"Hawke, you aren't thinking about this clearly." Lily said walking to him and dropping to her knees in front of him. She took both of his hands in hers and locked her eyes with his. "If Nathan is murdered, everyone will suspect you because they have seen us together. They will know that you killed him to have me all to yourself and they will come after you without a second thought. I've heard about the posse's that form out here where there isn't much law. Marshall Yale would be powerless to stop them and they would hang you and then what would happen to me? I love you, Hawke, and I can't lose you… I just found you."

Hawke's green eyes softened, just a little, and the tension in his jaw eased slightly as he looked at her.

"What is your plan then?" he asked. Lily sighed.

"Doctor Mason told me about this thing called divorce. He is talking to a lawyer friend of his in Helena about what I would need to do… If I divorce Nathan, then he will no longer be my husband." Her eyes took on a happy excited light. "Isn't that wonderful? I could be your wife! And Allie is already on her way so Nathan won't be able to threaten me with her… Everything will work out just fine."

Hawke knew that Lily was wrong. Nathan would not just divorce her and then walk away without a word. Lily's life would be in danger for as long as Nathan breathed and Hawke had already vowed to keep her safe. He would kill Nathan but he did not want Lily to worry needlessly. Nathan would not be back for several more weeks.

"How long until supper is ready?" he asked changing the subject. Lily's eyes narrowed.

"Hawke, did you hear what I said?" she asked. Hawke nodded.

"I heard you. We will try your way but you need to understand that to keep you safe I will do anything." Lily sighed in defeat. She knew Hawke would kill Nathan if he felt he had to and that scared Lily to death. Nathan deserved death.. He deserved it a thousand times over for the things he had done to others but she did not want Hawke being the one to kill him. In Hawke, lie every dream and hope that she had for her future. She wanted to live her entire life by his side, loving him and being loved…. If he killed Nathan she had no doubts that he would hang and if that happened then she might as well be swinging from a rope beside of him because her soul would die when he took his last breath.

"How long before supper is ready?" he asked again. Lily shrugged.

"An hour or so. I still have to bake the bread." Hawke nodded and stood up pulling her up with him.

"I must go get some things done. Just yell for me when it is ready." He kissed her forehead gently and then walked out of the cabin. Lily shook her head as she walked to the kitchen counter to mix up the bread dough. She hoped it wouldn't take long for Doctor Mason to get in touch with his lawyer friend because she wanted to be able to ease Hawke's mind. He was so protective of her that he was sure to drive himself crazy if Nathan was not out of their lives soon. Lily knew that once she got the divorce Nathan would leave. He was too big of a coward to try to take Hawke on. Nathan only went after people who were physically or mentally weaker then he was and Hawke had him beat on both accounts.