Savage Desires (1st in Savage Series)

Chapter Eighteen

Hawke wondered if he could drop his hammer on Jack's head and convince the women that it had been an accident. Seven. Long. Days. Seven days the boy had been talking. Hawke was beginning to think that he did not know how to stop.

Maybe Hawke could 'accidentally' give Wolf the kill command. It would be awfully hard for Jack to keep telling Hawke stories about all his adventures if he did not have a throat. But then again Wolf had not been around for seven days. Hawke had seen him several times at the edge of the clearing and down by the lake but the sudden appearance of two new people had him keeping his distance from the cabin.

Hawke looked over at Jack and shook his head as the boy laughed out loud at his own joke. A joke that Hawke had not even heard. Hawke had to admit that though the boy was annoying, he had been a big help with the cabin. Already with the two of them working together they the walls done except for patching the cracks with mud and they were currently nailing on the split wood planks that made up the roof onto the support beams.

"Can you believe that Hawke!" Jack asked with a loud laugh. "A darned old preacher man caught buck naked climbing out of the whorehouse window!"

"Perhaps he simply got lost on his way home." Hawke replied with a shrug and this caused Jack to laugh again.

"You crack me up Hawke. You say the most hilarious things without ever cracking a smile." Hawke finished nailing in a plank and then wiped the sweat from his brow.

"I am hungry. I will go down and see if Lily and Allie will make us a sandwich." Hawke said.

"I'll do it!" Jack said quickly and then without another word, he threw his knees over a support beam and dropped down into the house so that he was hanging upside down from the roof. Hawke shook his head but couldn't help but smile at the boys antics.

"Hello…." Jack called. Allie walked into the room and let out a small, shocked scream before breaking down in laughter. Jack's hat had fallen off and his dark blond hair was hanging in the air as he swung upside down and gave her a smile.

"Hello doll. Me and the big guy are getting hungry. Do you think you ladies could whip us up a sandwich or two?" Allie slapped his stomach and he grunted and reached out to tickle her sides.

"No fair attacking a man when he's unable to defend himself." he scolded. Allie just rolled her eyes as she stepped out of his reach.

"We'll make your sandwiches but how on earth do you plan on getting out of the rather awkward position you've gotten yourself into?" she asked raising a brow and handing him his hat. Jack grinned and gave her a wink.

"That's easy, doll." his replied, his blue eyes shining. With a grunt he tightened his legs on the support beam and swung his body upward until he was again sitting on top of the beam. He looked back down into the room and Allie was looking up at him and shaking her head. He blew her a kiss which caused her to blush and quickly leave the room. He put his hat back on his head and turned his attention back to Hawke and nearly fell off the roof at the protective, angry look in his eyes.

"She is only thirteen." Hawke said. Jack swallowed hard and nodded.

"Yeah and it was only an air kiss." he replied. Hawke swung the hammer hard, driving a nail through the plank and deeply into the support beam with one whack.

"That had better be the only kisses you are sharing." her said sternly. Jack gave a nervous chuckle and nodded. So far air kisses were as far as he had gone with Allie but he was hoping to have the real thing soon. He figured that if he liked breathing, he better not let Hawke know that though.

"Take the tools back to the barn. I am going hunting after lunch." Hawke said as he stood up on the beam.

"Careful, old man.. You don't wanna break no bones." Jack said with a grin. Hawke raised a brow and Jack couldn't believe his eyes or his ears when Hawke jumped from the beam and landed on his feet as silently and gracefully as a cat, on the floor of the cabin below.