Hunger of the Heart Read online

  “I don’t want you going into town alone. Until these threats are gone, you will have at least two of us with you if you leave the house, understood?”

  “Now, just a minute. I called you to help my friends. That does not give you the right to dictate to me.” She stomped her foot and poked his chest with her finger.

  He crossed his arms, his feet apart, and gave her one of her father’s really expressions. “Did my men read the signs wrong? Is Teter not bothering you? My man noticed him earlier here and, from your message, I took it this person was giving you a hard time.”

  She closed her eyes and let her breath out, knowing he spoke the truth. “No, you are right.” Kizzy heard her coffeepot beep, and she needed coffee. “Please come in and have a seat. We might as well compare notes. Coffee?”

  Kizzy peeked over her shoulder at him as she reached for a cup. With a quick shake of his head, he said, “We’ve taken care of the back taxes on the properties you informed me of, and a few of my men have heard that the mayor and this Teter have a fondness for you.” He settled at her small table, which made him appear all the larger.

  “Teter has been bugging me and going around town telling everyone we are engaged, but the mayor hasn’t said boo to me since I showed up here.” She poured herself a cup of coffee and inhaled a deep breath of the scent. “Love fresh coffee in the morning.” Her gaze met his heated one over the rim of her cup as she burned her tongue, gulping too much at once.

  “Damn.” She reached for a glass of cold water to soothe the burn. After drinking it all, she remembered something. “Well, there was the dance last year. But Dana, the mayor, danced with everyone.” She shrugged, taking in Running Wolf’s features. She would love to run her fingers through his long black hair. His dark eyes seemed to take in everything around him, and Kizzy would kill to have high cheekbones like his. “So, do you think they’ll give up bugging Lone Star and his family, now that you’re here?”

  “No, men like that are never happy when we interfere. It will get worse before it gets better. Later today, would you mind introducing us to your friends? Do you really believe he and his people are from the Shawnee tribe?” He stretched his legs out in front of him, seeming to relax a little.

  Someone knocked on the door, but Running Wolf beat her to it, pulling it open from where he sat. The man waiting outside wasn’t as tall as Running Wolf, but he had shoulder-length hair and wore a black leather vest with no shirt, showing off a six-pack that would make any woman drool. “Kizzy, this is my second-in-command, Sun Bull. If you can’t find me, you go to him.” Running Wolf shut the door, waving toward the table. “Have a seat, Sun Bull. She’s going to tell us what is going on.”

  “Well, let’s see.” Kizzy took another sip of coffee, more careful this time, and slipped into the chair Sun Bull pushed a little closer to her. “Okay, um, I’ve been here for about two years. I bought the land outright before I even arrived. I own something like two acres.” She caught herself and took a deep breath. Running Wolf’s presence played with not only her hormones but her damn head.

  “Okay, first weirdness began when I heard Rose crying, sitting in her garden holding dead plants that would have been food for her family. It was the saddest thing I’d ever seen. Rows and rows of food stomped on and destroyed. The ground was covered in a gas/oil mixture. I helped her and her children shovel what they could into bags and take it to the proper dumping grounds.”

  “Did you call the police?” Sun Bull asked.

  “No, Rose is terrified of the police, and her husband does not want any publicity. It was so sad.” Kizzy took a deep breath. “That was also the day I first ran into William Teter.”

  His woman shivered. He scooted a little closer to reassure her she was safe. “He can’t harm you now.” He reached out and squeezed her arm. “We will deal with this William Teter.” Her phone rang before she could respond.

  “Excuse me.” Kizzy got up and moved into the other room. Why did she need privacy to answer the phone? Sure, he hadn’t known her long, but the unusual circumstances made him edgy.

  “What did you find out?” Running Wolf asked his friend.

  “Teter is VP of the local bank. Why they want the land, I have no idea yet. The acreage had been sitting empty for years before your woman bought her place and the small group of Shawnee bought theirs. And, yes, they are Shawnee. Raining Tom did some checking, and family lines go back to the right time of their disappearance. But Lone Star’s family isn’t the only one in the area. There are four other small groups. They have been slowly buying local properties. Maybe Teter found out?”

  Kizzy’s raised voice carried to them. “William, I am not putting up with this crap. What I do is none of your damn business. If I want twenty men in my damn house, I’ll do it, you….” Running Wolf stood and moved into the living room where she glared at the phone in her hand, shaking as if it were a snake. He took it out of her hand and tucked her under his arm, pulling her back to her seat and her coffee.

  He lifted the phone to his ear and spoke. “My name is Running Wolf, and you will not be calling here again hassling Kizzy. You have a problem, you will speak with me only. My men and I are not going anywhere anytime soon.” He disconnected the line.

  Kizzy moaned and plopped down into her chair, reaching for the coffee cup. “Why would you do that? You need to help Rose and Lone Star. I can leave. They invested everything they have in their acreage and some farming equipment, and they don’t want to uproot their children again.”

  “You’re not going anywhere, unless you want to. No one is going to drive you away from your land. Now, tell me what else has happened.” He pushed her cup toward her.

  “Someone in the city raised their taxes. Also, Lone Star and Rose woke up one morning to find their house covered with spray-painted threats. Once, Rose and I were taking her kids to a Halloween thing when a red SUV ran us into the ditch beside the road. We told the cops about that, even the threats in the mail, but Lone Star won’t share most of what has happened. He knew the police wouldn’t do anything, and he was right. Rose broke down last week and told me she was terrified.” She wrapped both hands around the cup and took a deep drink.

  “Anything against you personally?” Sun Bull asked.

  She tilted her head to the side and put her coffee down. “I really didn’t even think about that. I mean, my truck was keyed in town last week. A big scratch down the side. I bank at an out-of-town institution and do everything online to avoid William. Most of the people in town are decent, but there are a few who aren’t too friendly.” Kizzy got up and moved to the big window, staring outside while sipping her coffee. “And there are others, but they are everywhere, not just here.” Kizzy laughed and came back to the table.

  “Anyway, I’ve been planting wild crops around the woods so others won’t see, telling Rose where they are. I’ve also doubled my crop this year. Rose comes over and helps me. But I’m afraid I can’t do much more, seems the asses raised my taxes, too. I received a small inheritance when my parents were murdered. I invested it in the stock market and I have to say I did pretty good.” She smiled. “But I trusted the wrong person and lost a lot of it. I spent the rest of the money on this house and the new garden. My online store barely brings in enough to keep me going,”

  “What do you sell online?” he asked, trying to learn a little more about her.

  She moved to a cabinet and opened it, showing him her wares. “I make all my own soaps, shampoos, dried herbs and spices, and different craft things. Mostly, I live off the land, canning my own vegetables and such. My mom taught me a lot before she was killed.” She closed the door and poured herself some more coffee.

  “You do so much, but don’t you get lonely out here?”

  “No, I lived in a city. No one stops. Everyone is always in a hurry. I enjoy the quiet. So, tell me about you guys. Why and how did you organize all that you do?” She returned to the table.

  “Well, that is my cue to leave.” Sun Bu
ll stood and stretched. “I need some sleep since I’ll be on guard next.” He bowed his head to her. “It was great meeting you, Kizzy, and we’ll talk more later.”

  “What did he mean by his watch?” Kizzy asked.

  “You will have a guard on you until this has been sorted out. I have a few men setting up camp over at your friends’ house also. As for our story, I’ll share that with you tonight. I hope you don’t have any plans. I thought we could have a cookout and bonfire? Tell some stories. What are your plans for today?” he asked, standing up.

  “Work a little online and in the garden this morning, but I do need to go into town for a few things this afternoon. Rose wanted to go with me. We started sharing rides into town when things got dicey.”

  “Could you wait till late in the afternoon? I’ll take you both, and we’ll get what we need for the cookout. My treat, of course.”

  “No problem with that. Running Wolf, do you believe in dreams?” She followed him toward the front door.

  “I do, why? Do you have them?”

  Chapter Three

  “Five or six years till the dark days are upon us. Would he find his woman and be able to help her in time? Would she accept him?” Dark Horse, Enforcer, White Buffalo MC

  “I’ve had them since I was a child.” She tilted her head to the side. “Sometimes gifts are not welcome, especially when they are things you can’t change.” Kizzy reached out to pat his arm but stopped herself. “I won’t keep you. I know you’re tired from the long ride, but I want to say one thing. If I’m hurt or killed, I’d like you to contact my brother. He’ll know what to do.”

  Running Wolf advanced on her, moving so fast she blinked. He cupped her face. “You are not going to die, and, tonight, we will discuss the dream that has you so upset. For now, I leave you with this.” He leaned down and placed a small kiss on her lips. “I, too, have been told about you.” His expression heated, he took in every inch of her body before coming back up to once more capture her gaze. “There is a connection between us. I knew it when I heard your voice on the answering machine and even more when I was handed a picture of you. We will be exploring it in depth.” He kissed her cheek and strode out the door before she could say a word.

  “Well, damn,” she mumbled. “Sure wasn’t expecting that.” She moved into her room and grabbed her clothes. She’d wait on the shower until she was done in the garden. Kizzy smiled at the picture hanging to the left of the dresser of her brother and her. She hadn’t talked to him in the last two months, she’d been so busy helping Rose.

  “Hmm, better call him. My luck, he’ll show up here and cause a whole lot of problems.” Kizzy grabbed her phone and headed into the bathroom to get dressed.

  Ten minutes later, she wished she had never called. Order her to Florida? Who the hell did he think he was? Kizzy grabbed her iPod. Most of the men would be sleeping, but, after the chat with her brother, she needed some music.

  She pushed in her earbuds and stepped outside, taking a deep breath. God. She loved the fresh air. Moving around the side of the house, she acknowledged a few men who stood together in the yard with a wave of her hand. No doubt the ones on “guard.” She reached down and flipped on her music, humming along.

  Yep, digging in the dirt would put her world back on the path of peace. Kizzy opened the door and stepped inside her toolshed, reaching for a hoe. A hand landed on her shoulder. Kizzy jumped and spun, bringing up her knee before she knew who it was.

  Running Wolf stepped backward just in time, grunting.

  “Don’t do that to me.” She took out an earpiece then placed her hand on her chest, trying to catch her breath. “Damn. Sorry about that. Natural reflexes kicking in. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  “I was going to suggest you use one earpiece so you can hear someone sneaking up on you.” Running Wolf rubbed his chin, staring down at her. “Nice outfit.”

  “What?” Kizzy wiped her hands on her faded jeans and tank top. “These are my gardening clothes.”

  “Gardening clothes,” he moaned, eyeing her top. “It’s a little skimpy, isn’t it? You do know I have thirty men here, right? I’d hate to see what you wear when you dress up.” He left her to her work.

  She grabbed her tools, laughing and already planning on wearing her favorite peasant outfit to the cookout. Maybe not as skimpy, but the lacing made it sexy. Two men peeled off from the group standing by the house and followed her into the woods to her wild garden.

  “You might as well tell me your names, so I know who is guarding me,” she said.

  “I’m Night Song and this is my brother Walking Elk,” the taller one said..

  Her gaze moved past them and she froze in horror. “Those mother fuckers! I’ll fucking burn every single one of their houses,” she screamed and dropped her tools, ready to assess the damage, but strong arms pulled her back.

  “Don’t touch anything till we get pictures and search the area.” Running Wolf placed a kiss on her cheek. Where had he come from? “I’m sorry, Kizzy. We’ll get this person, I promise.”

  She growled. “But that doesn’t help all the plants we’ve lost. I have over six hundred dollars invested in this garden, and it’s ruined.” Kizzy stomped her foot, clenching her fists. “Shit, this is going to kill Rose. We worked so hard. Sometimes I wish I knew my mom’s curses.”

  Kizzy rushed back to the house and slammed the door behind her, ready to make a list of all the plants she would need to replace. There was no way they would stop her, and her brother could jump in the ocean if he thought she was going to leave her friends. Now they just pissed her off, but —

  Her brother’s ring tone vibrated in her pocket, and she grabbed the phone.

  “Marcus, don’t start on me. I have a question. Do you have the box Momma kept under her bed?”

  “The really old one?” her brother questioned.

  “Yes, that one. It has some of Mom’s seeds and some other things I’d like to have. Please send it to the post office box I gave you.”

  “Come get it yourself,” he ordered.

  Kizzy peeked over her shoulder. Running Wolf stalked to the doorway, and she waved him inside, continuing her conversation. “What? Marcus, that is blackmail. I told you I’m not coming there. I even have a bodyguard until this mess is over with.” She rolled her eyes and held out the phone to Running Wolf. “Tell him you and your men are here so he’ll stop acting like a fool.” Before he could take it, she jerked it back and yelled, “I swear you’d think I was ten again!” Then she handed Running Wolf the phone and moved into her bedroom, searching for her notebook.

  If he hadn’t been so furious, he’d be laughing. The way Kizzy dealt with her brother was so cute, but her brother didn’t seem to think so. He hollered so loud, it was hard to make out what he said.

  “Calm down so I can understand you. My name is Running Wolf.”

  He let her brother ask all his questions, answering them as best he could. Finally, the man apologized. “I appreciate your being there for my sister even if she’s too stupid to know what’s best for her.”

  “I promise you, nothing is going to happen to your little sister and, before you ask, yes, I have a personal interest in her safety and happiness. But that is between your sister and me. I have to go.” He hung up the phone. Kizzy returned to his side as he heard a car pull up the drive.

  “Shit! Can my day get any worse?” she moaned, opening the door staring at the Jeep.

  “Go back inside, Kizzy, and allow me to deal with this man.” Running Wolf stepped outside in front of her.

  She took a quick peek at the car. “Fine, that I can do because, right now, I don’t think I can deal with the weasel.” She disappeared inside, shutting the door behind her.

  “Kizzy!” the man shouted, stepping out of his car and moving forward.

  “Mr. Teter, I do believe you were warned to back off, but let me tell you again. Kizzy does not like you or want anything to do with you. I suggest you get back in your vehicle a
nd leave now.”

  The short man’s face flushed beet-red. “W-who exactly are you?”

  Running Wolf leaned forward, his face inches from the man. “I’m her guard and friend. Seems she and her other friends have been having some problems. You wouldn’t know anything about those, would you? It might help me when I speak with Frank. Frank Welldon, the state prosecuting attorney? He’s coming tonight for our cookout and to help me figure out the tax hike only these people have been dealt.” Running Wolf held back a snort when the man paled. Oh yeah, this creep was knee-deep in this shit.

  “I have no idea. Kizzy should have told me. I would have researched it. Rest assured I will when I get back to work on Monday. I do have some contacts I can use. If you will excuse me, I forgot about a meeting.” Despite his words, he took a step toward Kizzy’s door, but Running Wolf blocked his way. After eyeing him, the guy did an about-face and headed toward his car.

  “You know they’ll just stop until you leave if he’s the one doing it,” Kizzy said, opening the door.

  “No, I think they are on a timeframe for some reason. Things are likely to heat up before we catch them, but the rest of the day should be quiet.”

  “Do you really know the state prosecuting officer, and why in the world would you tell my brother you were interested in me?” She must have been listening to his conversation.

  “Yes, I know Frank, and he’ll be here with a few local officials. I informed your brother so he’d know my intentions toward his sister.” He focused on her over his shoulder while he listened to the man starting up his car, leaving. Two of Running Wolf’s men followed him out of the drive on their bikes.

  “My men will help clean up your garden tomorrow, but we really need sleep. Maybe it would be wise to work inside till we go into town later.”

  Kizzy focused on the road. “Fine. I’ll have to call Rose and tell her about what has happened. If she wants to come over here before we go, we can make lists of what we’re going to need and, Running Wolf, I haven’t agreed to anything yet.” She stepped back inside, shutting the door behind her.